My first 2014 contest ended around two weeks ago, and I have yet to announce the winner! I am very sorry for the late announcement! My life has been very crazy this past week what with school, work, and other things that life throws my way.
Now enough about me and more about the winner!
The winner is...
Erin Zachjj for It Had to Be You
I have e-mailed you with the next step in order to get you the signed copy of It Had to Be You :)
Thank you everyone~ Have a great Sunday!
In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Litfuse Blog Tour Event: Dancing with Fireflies (A Chapel Springs Romance #2) by Denise Hunter
Goodreads Summary
Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.
Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she'd never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.
The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He's loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she's back, his feelings are stronger than ever.
As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she's hiding secrets from her family, and she's strangely attracted to the man who's always called her "squirt." Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.
My Thoughts
I liked this book. As I touched on before, Hunter uses a painful experience from Jade's past that leaves her pregnant. This subject is rape. When I first started to read this book I was shocked. I never thought that this would be the main obstacle that would latch onto Jade from the beginning of the book, but once I finished it I understood and appreciated this story that Hunter so graciously wrote and brought to her readers.
This is a story and subject that is much more common in today's society than many want to believe. I feel that seeing this in books is an astounding opportunity and new ground for this tough issues to be talked about and shown that there is healing--and that is the love of God who gives it.
I admired Jade a lot. She was a strong and courageous young woman who had many hurdles she had to overcome. Such as flashbacks from her ordeal and learning to release her secret and lean on others instead of being ashamed and blaming herself. From the beginning of the book to the end of the book, Jade was a completely new person who was more open to loving again and being honest and truthful to her family. She wasn't allowing that one moment in her life steal from her a chance at living again and being weak. She was fighting for a chance at living again, but it took a little coaxing from a very good friend to help her through it all.
That friend was Daniel, another character that I really liked. He's the type of man you would want as a friend. He was giving and honest and always willing to help. He was committed to God and to loving Jade (so much so that he was willing to put her happiness before his own). He was able to bring Jade out of her lonely cocoon she was wrapping herself in. Instead, he lured her back into life, back into embracing dancing outside with the fireflies like she did when he first meet her.
I admired the transition of friendship to loving-relationship that Jade and Daniel developed. Jade was a young woman with a lot of baggage, and Daniel was the first person that she confided in about her secret. Together these two healed and loved on each other, of course there were times where I wanted to strangle one of them and tell them both, "Speak your feelings!!!!!!" Their chemistry though was on fire, but in the good kind of way! It was romantic in the best ways I felt. Read it and see for yourself! ;) I like that Hunter writes her characters with real desire, but that they know their boundaries as well.
This is the second book of Hunter's, A Chapel Springs Romance Series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Let's be honest though, most times when you read the second book of a series you end up having to read the first one to see what you missed out on! I highly suggest if you aren't reading a series at the moment that you give this one a chance.
Preview to first chapter
Rating: 4 out of 5 bookshelves
Disclaimer: I received a free copy for an honest review from Litfuse Publicity Group.
About the Author
Link to Author's: Facebook, Website, Twitter, Goodreads
Purchase a copy: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, ChristianBook
Don't miss Denise Hunter's latest Chapel Springs Romance, Dancing with Fireflies. Reviewers have already labeled Dancing with Fireflies "swoon-worthy" and "the perfect love story."
Join Denise in celebrating the release of her new book by entering her Kindle HDX giveaway and RSVPing for her April 10th Facebook party.
- A brand new Kindle Fire HDX
- Dancing with Fireflies and Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter
Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN on the event page. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 10th!
In His Grace, Taylor Reid
Sunday, March 23, 2014
A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley
The symbolism in the cover alone is the worthwhile factor for reading this book. Meg Moseley has written a beautifully deep tale that is full of secrets, past scars and the future promises of forgiveness and healing. A Stillness of Chimes is one of those books that will leave an impact on you. You will be thinking about this books for days after you finish it.
What it's About
What if the pain of the past revealed an unknown sacrifice that changes everything?
When teacher Laura Gantt comes home to Prospect, Georgia to settle her recently-deceased mother’s household, the last thing she expects to encounter is a swirl of rumors about the father she lost to the lake twelve years ago—that he has reportedly been seen around town. Elliott Gantt’s body was never found and he was presumed dead.
Reeling from the sharp loss of a parent, Laura must now grapple with painful memories surrounding her father’s disappearance and the sense of abandonment she experienced after his death. Life-long friend and former beau Sean Halloran wants nothing more than to protect Laura from the far-fetched stories of Elliott’s resurrection and to care for her, but he has his own reasons, troubling echoes from his childhood, to put Elliott’s disappearance to rest.
Working together, Laura and Sean begin to uncover the truth, one mired in the wooded peaks and deep waters of the Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding Prospect. Can they fathom how many secrets the steep hills hold? With surprising facts revealed, will Laura be able to understand the sacrificial choices made that forever changed her life? And can love and a peace with God be rekindled in her heart after so much time has passed?
My Thoughts
It's barely the end of March and the promises of Christian fiction this year is the best that I have seen since I began reading this genre a few years ago. I have been impressed book after book from each author's individuality of story telling, writing and how they use a Christian theme and center to bring it all together. Meg Moseley is an author this year that has blown me away with her newest novel, A Stillness of Chimes.
Cover alone this book is breathtaking, but the story that is between the two covers left me speechless throughout most of the book. This book was the perfect book for the changing of seasons where I live. As the winds change from harsh winter to a cooling breeze of spring, this book was just the kind of book that symbolized that. It was fresh, eerie feeling, and overflowing with uniqueness.
Every single character that was introduced by Moseley never went unattended. Each person was connected to one another. This story deals with the consequences of past sins being uprooted and brought out into the sunlight in a small Southern town. This book was not a book that shied away from hard and confusing tragedies, such as the possibility Laura's father never drowned and yet is indeed alive (seriously read the to the end the answer to this is something I never saw coming).
The qualities of this book showed me this wasn't an ordinary book from the Family Christian Book Store. This book could be an Indie movie, it's seriously that great! I personally will recommend and loan my copy out to my friends and family because the themes from the book and the cover alone could keep you talking for hours!
Highly recommend this book for book reading groups and for those of you who like a great twist of events that happen from beginning to end.
Rating: 4 out of 5 bookshelves
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
About the Author
Meg Moseley writes contemporary Christian fiction including A Stillness of Chimes, Gone South, When Sparrows Fall, and the novella A May Bride.
Link to Author's: Facebook, Website, Twitter, and Goodreads
Purchase a copy of A Stillness of Chimes: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, ChristianBook
In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Caught in the Middle (Ladies of Caldwell #3) by Regina Jennings
Caught in the Middle by Regina Jennings has been one of the most exhilarating and emotional reads this year for me. It had me laughing, squealing, biting my nails, and crying. This is the third book in the Ladies of Caldwell Series, and though it comes in third place it certainly does not come out in last place. This is the best of the series thus far! It's full of character's you will feel like calling friends by the end of the book and never want to say goodbye to.
Goodreads Summary
A Most Unlikely Heroine Takes Center Stage
in This Fun Historical Romance
The train to Garber, Texas, is supposed to bring Nicholas Lovelace to the next victory in his life and career. Instead, it gets held up by robbers who are thwarted by the last person Nick ever expected–Anne Tillerton from back home in Prairie Lea.
Anne’s been working as a buffalo hunter and hiding from polite society. She’s only coming to town to talk their runaway cook into returning. Instead, the woman flees–and leaves Anne with her infant son. With Nick the only person she knows in town who can help, the two form an unlikely team as they try to figure out what to do with the child.
Both soon find themselves stuck in complicated situations. To care for the child, Anne’s forced into polite society–and it’s not going well. Meanwhile, Nick is being pressured on all sides of his business, and being seen with Anne isn’t helping his reputation. Still he can’t quite seem to forget her and must make a choice between the leading of his heart and his plans for the future.
My Thoughts
As always I need to make a tiny comment about the cover: I love it. It's quirky and gives us a glimpse at the layered and deep character that is known as Anne Tillerton. I love the little peek of her dirty boots from beneath her dress, the expression on her face that shows she doesn't feel comfortable in that dress, and that one strand of hair that is out of place from her curls.
To me that cover picture exemplifies Anne. Anne is a strong independent woman who feels more comfortable when she is in control and I feel a lot of readers can relate with that train of thought. For Anne feeling in control helps her to prevent herself from being hurt by those she assumed loved her or those that she loved but didn't love her in return. Anne is character that brought out a lot of emotion for me due to the fact that her past was full of physical and emotional abuse. Then she meets Sammy. The baby who needs Anne to help him stay alive. Through the relationship Anne develops with Sammy she begins to develop love and attachment to life again. I loved seeing Anne transition from a tense character that wanted to cover herself up from the world to a woman who was putting Sammy's needs in front of her own even if it meant giving him to a better family.
So much happened in this book that I loved. I love, love, loved Nick. Can I call him Nick? I just grew so attached to his humorous behavior that he felt like a friend. Nick brings the lightness to this book that can sometimes have dark passages. He's also a great listener. Never did he not listen to Anne talk about her ex-husband and the terror that grew from that relationship. He was patient and loving towards Anne in a way that she wasn't familiar with and for that I love Nick. He did everything in his power to show Anne that not all men are the same and that some are better than she might think.
Their relationship was golden! Oh gosh the scene with the flower pot and his office is the best scene in the book! This is a book that can be read in public but warning it may cause sudden bursts of laughter and crying at parts that are unknown to reader!
Recommend this book to the moon and back for everyone who loves a great historical read that gives the reader more than they could ever ask for!
Rating: 5 out of 5 bookshelves
I received a free copy from Bethany House Publishers in return for an honest review.
About the Author
In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Book Review #17: Tide and Tempest (Edge of Freedom Book 3) by Elizabeth Ludwig
Summary
Two years ago, her fiance perished
during their voyage to America.
Now she discovers it may have been murder...Dreaming of a better life, Tillie McGrath leaves Ireland behind and, with her beloved fiance by her side, sets sail for America. But when illness robs her of the man she holds dear, she's left alone with only a handful of tattered memories. While forging on proves difficult, Tillie soon finds some new friends at her New York boardinghouse, and begins pursuing a new dream--to open a home for orphaned children.
Despite two years passing, Captain Keondric Morgan has never forgotten the lass who left his ship so heartbroken. When a crewman's deathbed confession reveals her fiance's demise was the result of murder, the captain knows he must try to contact her. But his attention draws the notice of others as well--dangerous men who believe Tillie has in her possession something that could expose their crimes. And to their way of thinking, the best way to prevent such an outcome is to seize the evidence and then hand Tillie the same fate as her naïve fiance.
My Thoughts
I want to start off by mentioning what a beautiful cover. Plus, extra brownie points for the cover having the male protagonist instead of the female. Now there is nothing wrong with having a woman on the cover of the book, but sometimes it's just nice to gaze at the cover and sigh. (Oh goodness was that too much information? Continuing on.) Yes, the cover has a wonderfully done detailed background and the color choices makes this cover just a tad more flashier and caught my eye.
Story wise, I absolutely enjoy Ludwig's writing style. It has the perfect combination of everything that I listed above: mystery, suspense, secrets and romance. I just love it all! Give me more please! I flew through this book because I had to know the ending. The unending amount of intrigue had me gripping the book willing myself to read just a tiny bit faster. The pace of the book really started to kick in around page 50ish which was a little hard for me, but other than that it was really easy and fast to read plus enjoyable.
Romance wise I thought it had similar situations of books that I have read before. It was still a good read and the relationship forming from friendship to relationship-status was well written, but I still couldn't help but feel I had read in multiple stories the same type of set up where the young lady volunteers to find out the secrets, the man in love with her goes after her, she gets put in a bind and is held against her will, he gets injured trying to save her, etc, etc. Still, I find that with Ludwig's writing it didn't bother as much as if I was reading another author I might have just whizzed a little bit faster through those pages because I could probably figure it out. However, the romance still make my heart do a little flutter towards the end of the book and I hope it does for you too.
I highly recommend this book if you have read the previous two! I have a feeling there might be another one because there was one character I would love to read about (*cough* Cass *cough*). Definitely something you'll want to check out!
Rating: 4 out of 5 bookshelves
[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."]
About the Author Elizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author whose work has been featured on Novel Rocket, the Christian Authors Network, and The Christian Pulse. Her first novel, Where the Truth Lies (co-authored with Janelle Mowery), earned her the 2008 IWA Writer of the Year Award. This book was followed in 2009 by "I'll be Home for Christmas", part of the Christmas anthology collection, Christmas Homecoming.
In 2011, her second mystery, Died in the Wool (co-authored with Janelle Mowery) was nominated for a Carol Award. In 2012, the popular EDGE OF FREEDOM series released from Bethany House Publishers. Books one and two, No Safe Harbor and Dark Road Home, respectively, earned 4 Stars from the RT Book Reviews. Book three, Tide and Tempest, received top honors with 4 1/2 Stars.
Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences and seminars where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Along with her husband and children, she makes her home in the great state of Texas.
Links to Author's: Facebook, Website, and Twitter
Purchase a copy of Tide and Tempest: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Christianbook
In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Life Support by Candace Calvert
Goodreads Summary
Nurse Lauren Barclay put her life on hold to keep a watchful eye on her troubled sister. It's why she's back in Houston. But that means confronting the brooding physician assistant who caused painful turmoil in her family--and left Lauren with memories her heart can't forgive.PA and single parent Elijah Landry is no stranger to stormy relationships, including one with his father, who is threatening him with a restraining order. It won't stop Eli from protecting his disabled brother--or from making peace with Lauren. He wants that and so much more. But as Lauren and Eli draw closer, a powerful hurricane roars toward Houston. Survival instincts take priority and everything changes. Can hope weather the storm?
My Thoughts
This is the third book in the Grace Medical series, but I am glad to report that this can be read as a stand alone~
Getting right down to business, this book was hoping! I loved how detailed and vivid Calvert's writing is down to the medical jargon. Being a former ER nurse shows in Calvert's writings because as the reader the story felt alive. I felt as if I was in the ER watching everything, and that is what made me like this book even more. Nothing is worse than a book that "kind of" convinces you that the character's work at the ER and save lives. Oh, no. Calvert succeeds and triumphs all medical series that I have read so far. Truly stupendous.
Similar to other authors, Calvert'sPOVs don't just stop at two particular characters. There was about two other point of views besides Lauren and Eli's story in the book. For this book though it worked only because the other characters were connected to Lauren and Eli in some way that kept the story going.
Drama factor this story was bringing everything to the table. From a powerful hurricane overshadowing the whole story and leaving everyone on edge, to the stolen drugs, people jumping off of roofs, and people being set-up, it's got just about everything and I loved it. It was like a continuous episode of ER that just kept shocking me at each chapter.
Romance factor, Calvert wrote a cute romance that bloomed between Lauren and Eli. Both of these characters have a lot of issues when we first meet them. Lauren is watching over her sister who is a little unstable, plus, she has her parents constantly thanking her for being so helpful this however leaves pressure to always help out with her sister. Then there is Eli who is a single-parent. His father hates him and wants him out of the picture with his older brother who is disabled. Also, Lauren's family hates Eli and Eli is not all that excited about God at this time in his life. From the beginning it seems that these two will never be together, but surprisingly so through many circumstances (which you need to read to know why) their ending ends a lot differently than they thought possible.
Very happy with this read! Something I would suggest if you want to mix-up your normal reading. It's awesome!
Here is a link of the first chapter from Life Support--> Click here
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 bookshelves
Disclaimer: Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
About the Author
Link to Author's: Facebook, Website, Twitter, and Goodreads
Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, ChristianBook
In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Litfuse Blog Tour Event: It Had To Be You (Christiansen Family #2) by Susan May Warren
Attention readers: I am giving away a copy of this book, it's also a signed copy. At the end of this review there will be a link to my giveaway on another post! ;)
Goodreads Summary
Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen's cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits--and starting to fear she doesn't have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen.
Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior--on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he's getting from Eden Christiansen isn't making things any easier. But when Owen's carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.
My Thoughts
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Once I got this book I was overwhelmed with excitement. I adore Susan May Warren's stories. She has this wonderful writing voice that she gives her female characters that always make them come off as admirable and likeable. There has yet to be a Warren story I have not liked, and It Had to be You was no exception.
I inhaled this story. I started page 1 at around 8pm Thursday night and ended it at 4am Friday morning. Who needs sleep when you have Jace~ I will get to Jace later in my review, don't you worry! It Had to be You is a book that gives off the best happy feels. I finished it and was happy. I read it and was happy. I look at the cover and I'm happy -- I understand why Eden is smiling on the cover.
This novel does have it's deep and emotionally raw moments too. Mainly with Eden and Jace both battling over their personal issues. For Eden it was taking on the role of cheerleader. Surely there couldn't be anything wrong with cheering on your brother when he's in the NHL? Yet for Eden it was consuming her life and she wasn't focusing on the life and roles that God was putting in her path. For Jace, it was coming to terms with forgiveness and letting go of hatred, plus, trying to walk away from the bad-boy image he had acquired from years of his NHL career.
Now Jace. Let's get to Jace. Be still my heart~ I loved Jace. I loved how he was patient around Eden, how he comforted her and showed her how her status or public image of herself wasn't what he saw. He was the type of man everyone could love. Extra fact: Susan May Warren said the actor she based Jace off of was Nathan Fillion. If you do not know me then I will share with you that I love Nathan Fillion. Seriously, Jace just gets better and better in my book.
Aside from my petty attachment to Jace, Susan did a beautiful job with this story. If you have read previous novels of Susan's you will know that Susan doesn't stop with just circling her story around two characters. Oh no. She goes over and beyond. There were two--possibly three-- other story lines that only made me love and cry more over this book. Susan gives a beautiful detail to human emotions and the trials everyone goes through on this crazy journey called life.
I highly recommend this book for young women, so mothers this could easily be shared I feel with a very mature teen. It's in my top ten already. Nothing can move it down. It's got a solid place in the top ten slots of 2014 for me.The novella at the end was the best bonus goodie ever so you have to read this story to know how the Christiansen family came to be~
Rating: 5 out of 5 bookshelves
Disclaimer: I received a free copy for an honest review from Litfuse Publicity Group.
Purchase a copy: Amazon, Barnes&Noble,ChristianBook
Link to Author's social media sites: Facebook, website, twitter
Susan May Warren is celebrating the release of her newest Christiansen Family novel, It Had To Be You, with a $100 Visa cash card giveaway and offering readers a free book club kit.
One winner will receive:
- $100 Visa cash card
- Take a Chance on Me and It Had to Be You by Susan May Warren
Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Susan's blog on April 1st to see if you won.
This is the link to the signed copy of It Had To Be You as a celebration hence the title Mini-Milestone Giveaway so click click click you just might win ;)In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
Friday, March 7, 2014
4,000+ pageviews means GIVEAWAY TIME [Closed]
[Updated giveaway news] Hello my fellow readers and new readers!
As you can grasp from the title of this post my little blog has hit a mini-milestone by achieving over 4,000 hits. That is extremely amazing and encouraging to me as a blogger. I still have a long way to go, but I am more than grateful for all of the faithful readers/followers that have visited this blog.
To show my gratitude I wanted to do a mini-giveaway! P.S. The book I have chosen to giveaway is signed by the author, don't miss out on a chance to win!
The book is:
1. It Had to Be You by Susan May Warren [signed copy, review]
This giveaway is only open to residents that live in the U.S. as I am paying for the postage and mail on my own. Also, entrants must be 18 or older, or have parents consent as I will need your address if you won one of the books above.
Can't wait to see who wins! God bless and happy reading!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
As you can grasp from the title of this post my little blog has hit a mini-milestone by achieving over 4,000 hits. That is extremely amazing and encouraging to me as a blogger. I still have a long way to go, but I am more than grateful for all of the faithful readers/followers that have visited this blog.
To show my gratitude I wanted to do a mini-giveaway! P.S. The book I have chosen to giveaway is signed by the author, don't miss out on a chance to win!
The book is:
1. It Had to Be You by Susan May Warren [signed copy, review]
This giveaway is only open to residents that live in the U.S. as I am paying for the postage and mail on my own. Also, entrants must be 18 or older, or have parents consent as I will need your address if you won one of the books above.
Can't wait to see who wins! God bless and happy reading!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
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