Litfuse Blog Tour Event: Beyond the Ashes by Karen Barnett

Beyond the Ashes (The Golden Gate Chronicles #2) by Karen Barnett is a riveting story that captures real life events and makes the lives of her characters compelling to read. From beginning to end, the characters of this book are challenged with facing their fears, while learning that conquering them brings more worth then they could ever imagine.  Second chances and new beginnings start to bloom as each character learns to trust in God for the amount of time they are given. 

Summary

Where better to rebuild and face one s fears than in 1906 San Francisco, a city rising from the ashes? Ruby Marshall, a young widow, is certain she ll discover new purpose assisting her brother Robert with his cancer research, but she doesn t anticipate finding new love. Dr. Gerald Larkspur dreams of filling his empty home with family, but he d always hoped it would be a wife and children. In the aftermath of the great earthquake, the rooms are overflowing with extended family and friends left homeless by the disaster. When Robert s widowed sister arrives, the close quarters seem close indeed. Ruby and Gerald s fledgling romance is put at risk when Gerald develops symptoms of the very disease they're striving to cure. Together they must ask is it worth a second chance at love when time might be short?" 

My Thoughts 

To be honest, I liked this story more than I thought I was going too.  The writing of this story is very well researched and developed.  From the scenery of San Francisco during the tragic earthquake and fire in early 1900's, and the beginnings of finding a cure for cancer in medicine.  I thought that this book was going to be another historical romance, but it was more than that. It felt real, and as a reader it made the reading experience more enjoyable. I also really appreciated the way Barnett handled her characters.  They were human, and as a reader I love reading about character's that have real human attributes and characteristics. It didn't seem as if the author was trying to make them appear human (hopefully that makes sense).  Basically, her character's are full of strengths and weaknesses and they strive to learn what it means to live their lives dependent on God.  They learn to walk by faith into the multitudes of "what ifs?". 

Gerald was a fantastic character to read.  I don't know if the summary gave too much away above, but Gerald is a doctor trying to find the cure for cancer.  He's already had too many patients die on him and he's starting to feel the guilt and remorse weigh heavily on him.  What is even more compelling about his character is that his body starts to show signs of the certain disease he is trying to find the cure for.  I won't say if he does or does not have the disease, but as the reader those passages were very interesting to read (in a good way). 

Ruby was a good balance for Gerald, and their connection of helping those in need gave them a good common ground.  It also made them want to help each other with their own internal battles and from there feelings started to grow.  Ruby at times I felt was a tad bit rash or said more things that I felt could have been a little out of character, but then she would add a comment that she wasn't "feeling herself" or would recognize that her actions weren't right.  As a reader, I like that.  Nothing is worse than reading about a character that says whatever they want and doesn't think back on those words.  Also, her transformation from the first chapter to the last one was good. Fears that developed in her life started to dissipate as she began to over come her fears.  One fear was that she was afraid of automobiles, so as a way to conquer that she learned to drive the very thing that gave her anxiety.  It also helped bond her and Gerald, as he helped her learn to drive.  It was evident that Ruby was beginning to heal from the early death of her first husband, and was growing to love the new family that her brother had made (which can be read about in the first book) and the new man who had appeared in her life.  

Overall, this book was really well done.  From the interactions of the characters to the development of the story, Barnett treats her stories with much care and precision.  Looking forward to the next one. Disclaimer: this book can be read alone! 

Rating: 3 out of 5 bookshelves 
I received a free copy from Litfuse Publicity in return for an honest review.

About the Author 

Inspired by God’s devotion to His people and her own passion for research and learning, author Karen Barnett creates historical romances that explore her characters’ faith and how their experiences impact the way they view God.

Link to Author's: Facebook, Website, Twitter and Goodreads

Purchase her book: Amazon, B&N

Happy Reading! 

In His Grace, 
Taylor Reid 

Hot Body Year Round by Cassey Ho

Hello reiders! It is summer time and that means reading and eating delicious food! Yet, we also got to keep not only our imaginations active but our bodies as well! This is the perfect time to read Cassey Ho's book, Hot Body Year Round. Reiders, it's seriously the best fitness book out there! It's written with love by Cassey Ho, Blogilates.com fitness guru, who has placed encouragement notes secretly within the pages of her book, simple but effective workouts, plus fun and delectable recipes for reader's to use to help find their happy place with their body.  Don't wait for next year for that hot body, get it now! 

What It's About 

Cassey Ho, internationally renowned fitness instructor, is known for her irresistibly popular workout videos which have been shared millions of times online. She runs the #1 women's fitness channel on YouTube, Blogilates. Her unique format, POP Pilates© is a fusion of ab-chiseling, butt lifting, total body sculpting exercises that are performed using only your bodyweight. Cassey's personality is bubbly, inspiring, and infectious. But don't let the smile fool you - her workouts will leave you sweating and sore for days. By following Ho's super effective workout plans and clean-eating recipes, you will transform your body towards a stronger, sleeker, and happier version of you.

Hot Body Year Round is your ULTIMATE exercise and nutrition guide to living a fit, happy, and healthy life while sculpting your HOTTEST body.

Cassey will show you how to stay motivated throughout the year, no matter what the challenges are. You will get:

- 120 of Cassey's BEST total body transforming exercises
- The complete POP Pilates exercise library - fully photographed and easy to follow
- 20 full length workouts
- 40 brand new, ridiculously delicious & nutritious recipes
- Foods for beautiful hair, skin, and nails
- 4 complete clean eating meal plans & grocery lists that complement each season
- Cassey's personal daily meal plan
- Motivational tips to stay inspired year-round
- 256 pages of full color, glossy inspiration

My Thoughts  

Yes! I just want to start off by saying that I love Cassey Ho and her Pop Pilates Youtube videos. They are so fun that you literally forget that you are working out (until you are reminded from the crazy intense burning sensation that your legs or other body parts are feeling from the workouts).  Cassey is the type of instructor you want.  She is encouraging, fun and wants people to achieve their full potential and I totally see that personality  throughout the book that she made. 

The quailty of the book is top notch.  It's glossy pages and beautiful color scheme make it exciting just to read! This whole purpose of this book is to Plan, Eat Clean, And Live Happy in Every Season. So what I really liked was that for every season there was a list of foods that were in season for grocery shopping, and new meals for each season.  This book almost feels like Cassey Ho is holding your hand and encouraging you on this walk to happiness with one's self.  From the detailed notes to the helpful tips Cassey did not cut corners when it came to creating this book for her fellow blogilates followers, or just a new person picking up this book from Target. 

I loved the recipes! They were soooo good! Plus, the workouts were so easy to understand and I just loved the extra detail of the different backgrounds that she chose for each season. For spring, she was pictured doing the exercises in a field of flowers, for summer she was on a beach, etc.  This book is just loaded with fun, creative ideas that make it pop and come to life! It makes me excited to work out and cook healthy meals that are good for my body.  She even has special guidelines for beginners and lays out meal plans for those just beginning this new lifestyle.  

I also love how she ends each season with an encouraging specialized letter to the reader.  It just shows how much she cares about the individual using her book.  Cassey Ho clearly wants people to succeed and I think she has provided the right amount of tools to enable people to find strength to be the person they want to be. In other words we're learning to Train like Beast, Look like a Beauty. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 bookshelves 
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

About the Author 

Cassey Ho is an international renowned award-winning fitness guru and online personality with hundreds of millions of viewers.  As a certified Pilates and group fitness instructor, she is the creator of the POP Pilates format and certification program, a DVD star, the founder/writer of Blogilates.com, and the designer of BODYPOP Activewear, her own line of high-fashion, high-intensity workout wear. 

Link to Author's: Website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads
Purchase the book: Amazon and B&N (also available at Target)

Happy Reading~! 

In His Grace, 
Taylor Reid 

Litfuse Blog Tour Event: Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund

Hearts Made Whole (Beacons of Hope #2) by Jody Hedlund is one the suspenseful, romance novels of the summer.  From beginning to end the story feels like an episode of Dateline "Who did it?" mixed in with two characters finding love and comfort while depending on God.  This novel will keep you anticipating the end and holding out for the war torn hero and the burdens that hang on the young heroine's shoulders.  This is a must read for summer! 

Giveaway info at end of review! 

Summary

After her father’s death, Caroline Taylor has grown confident running the Windmill Point Lighthouse. But in 1865 Michigan, women aren’t supposed to have such roles, so it’s only a matter of time before the lighthouse inspector appoints a new keeper–even though Caroline has nowhere else to go and no other job available to her.

Ryan Chambers is a Civil War veteran still haunted by the horrors of battle. He’s been given the post as lighthouse keeper, and the isolation where he can drown in drink and hide from his past is appealing. He’s not expecting the current keeper to be a feisty and beautiful woman who’s none-too-pleased to be giving up her position. They both quickly realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but Ryan’s unwilling to let anyone close, ravaged by memories and guilt. Caroline’s drawn to this wounded soul, but with both of them relying on that single position, can they look past their loss to a future filled with hope…and possibly love?

My Thoughts  

Wow. I just finished this book and my blood is still pumping from the most intense and heart wrenching ending chapters I've ever read in a Jody Hedlund book.  She has definitely stepped up her game when it comes to making the reader physically shake the book with anticipation of the next event.  I liked this book.  There were a few qualities that were easy to figure out before it was revealed.  Yet, still it kept me on my toes as I was reading in eagerness of how it was going to be revealed to me as the reader. 

This is the second book in the Beacon of Hope series and I am pleased to say that you don't have to read the first book to get to enjoy the characters of this book.  I did not expect this book to be as intense as it was, there was some crazy things that took place in this book so if you are squeamish or don't like to read sections that could make you slightly uncomfortable I'm not sure if this is the book for you.  I would recommend another Hedlund book if you are looking for something a little more calm.  But if you like books that make you search for clues in the actions and responses of character's then this is the book for you.  This book also deals with addiction and substance abuse and how healing comes into that.  So this is not a light book, but there are light scenes that break up those sections that make it more enjoyable for the reader. 

There were writing decisions for characters that I felt were a little overboard in my opinion, but then again this is set in a different era such as the late 1850s and people did act differently then. So that is probably just a personal commentary on my account.

I did like how independent and strong Caroline was as a character.  I did wish that I got to see more interactions with her other siblings instead of just Tessa.  And Ryan was as complex as it gets with character development.  He was wounded physically and mentally and was constantly working on his spiritual walk with God. Yet, there is one quality that really struck me that was a writing choice and it was Ryan knew he couldn't marry Caroline until he got better himself instead of relying on her.  He knew he had to rely on God and that it was a battle within himself that God could help him defeat.  Great writing choice on Hedlund's part! 

I think that this will be an enjoyable read for those who already love Hedlund's stories and those who haven't even read anything by her yet.  It's a suspenseful read that has just the right amount of romance that will leave the reader satisfied. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 bookshelves  
I received a free copy from Litfuse Publicity in return for an honest review.    

About the Author  

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances including books for adults and youth. She currently makes her home in central Michigan with her husband and their five busy children.

As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she's not busy being a mama, you can find her in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories.

Link to Author's: Facebook, Website, Twitter and Goodreads
Purchase her book: Amazon and B&N 

Happy Reading~! 
 
In His Grace, 
Taylor Reid   

Don't miss Jody Hedlund's new book, Hearts Made Whole, a story of loss, forgiveness, hope, and true love set in 1865 Michigan. When Ryan's failings endanger others, he and Caroline realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but he’s unwilling to let anyone close enough to help. Can Caroline forgive the hurting man who costs her the role she loves?

Celebrate the release of Hearts Made Whole by entering to win an Afternoon at the Beach prize pack and RSVPing to Jody's June 23rd author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Hearts Made Whole
• A picnic basket set
• A beach bag
• Flip flops
• A beach towel

One second-place winner will receive:

• A copy of Hearts Made Whole
• A lighthouse journal

One third-place winner will receive:

• A copy of Hearts Made Whole
• A lighthouse necklace

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 23rd.Winner will be announced June 23rd at Jody's Facebook party. RSVP here!

Book Review #26: Until the Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Until the Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas is the second addition to the Appalachian Blessings Series.  Thomas wonderfully blends a story that portrays grief, hope and the gift of healing: both for those who receive and for those who are able to give it.  For fans of the movie, The Green Mile, and stories set in the the 70's this is the perfect novel for the coming summer days.  Don't wait for the harvest to read it, instead read it now! 

Summary 

"Once in a while a new author...makes you sit up and take notice."--"Library Journal" 

When a family tragedy derails Henry Phillips's college studies, he's left unmoored and feeling abandoned. Although Henry tries to find escape in bad company, the only things that can tamp down his anger and grief are the family farm, his fiddle, and sweet but unusual pre-teen Mayfair Hoffman. 

Unfortunately, Mayfair's older sister, Margaret, with the freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has the opposite effect. Worse, she's his grandmother's housekeeper and helper, so she's always around and ready to push his buttons. At first he thinks she doesn't care about his loss, before beginning to understand she's facing her own struggles. Mayfair's health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries, and Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as both Henry's future and Mayfair's life are put at risk.

My Thoughts  

I am actually surprised that this is the first novel that I have read by Thomas.  This is the second novel (or third if we include the prequel novella) to this series that follows in particular this one family that keeps coming into contact with those who have unique gifts that are able to help others.  For this story, Henry comes into contact with Margaret and her sister Mayfair who has the ability to help others get better.  It's never said how she got these abilities, but that wasn't such a huge factor that hindered the reading.  For me, it felt like the movie Green Mile, where the one man in jail was able to take sicknesses from others, but in turn received some of the sickness as well.  

There are not many Christian books that really go into the supernatural of any sense, or how God uses people in ways that could be called miracles.  Yet, sometimes there are books that have tried to write it in their stories, but it can be done oddly or it doesn't quite fit.  For this book though it felt like it was done very well.  It didn't seem like Thomas added that element in so as to make this book more "unique" or "special."  It indeed intrigued me and made me want to keep reading.  I'm not sure as to if the third novel will go into more detail about this particular gift concerning Mayfair, but I feel that it is unlikely which is fine. 

As for the rest of the novel, such as characters and the quality of the story I really liked it.  I found it very powerful, and kind of relate-able.  The main character's were around my age group: college students!  Horray!  And for me this is a major plus because sometimes it can just be hard to relate to characters that are not in my age group at all.  I want to disclaim though: I think anyone of any age could enjoy this book.  (Parents: there is the subject of sex out of marriage because a young woman gets pregnant so it would have to be up to you if you choose for a young/older teen to read this series.)  Nonetheless, this story was so good! I want everyone to read Thomas's books.  I want to go back and read the first novel before this one which is based on Henry's mother. 

I loved all the layers of this book from forgiveness, to dealing with death, to trying to come to grips with the future.  Everything about this book felt real and authentic.  It felt right when I was reading it.  It was full of characters that were well rounded and dimensional.  Each had complicated background stories that made me want to read from their point of view.  And there was not one sentence throughout this entire novel that made me cringe from it's cheesiness or silly way of making Christians seem "perfect."  This novel felt completely human and through that humanness, showed the redemptive process that Christians must walk through when they want to turn their lives around.  I literally flew through this book when I picked it up today, finished it in one sitting. 

I agree with the Library Journal's quote, every once and a while there comes a author with a story that makes you take notice and grabs your attention.  This novel will grip you and believe me it will totally be worth it.

Also, welcome to my auto-buy list Thomas!  I am anticipating your next novel in this series!
 
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 bookshelves 
I received a free copy from Bethany House Publishers in return for an honest review.

About the Author 

Sarah Loudin Thomas is a Christian, wife, fundraiser and writer living near Asheville, NC.  She grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV.  She used to say “rural WV,” but realized that’s largely redundant.  She loves her home state and the fact that she's the seventh generation to grow up on the family farm. Her love of the Appalachian Mountains informs her writing. 

Link to Author's: Facebook, Website, Twitter and Goodreads
Purchase her book: Amazon and B&N


Happy Reading~!

In His Grace, 
Taylor Reid