About Me I am a retired librarian and I now support books and authors through my reviews.

I have always loved to read and I was able to share that love through my work as a public librarian for 22 1/2 years. I now promote literacy by reading, and then writing reviews. I love to support authors by sharing my reviews with others!

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Anticipation Thursday: When Stars Light the Sky by Elizabeth Camden

 Anticipation Thursday!

I appreciate when other readers share what they're reading because I love hearing about new books that are about to be released. Today, for  Anticipation Thursday, I'm sharing a new book scheduled to be released on January 21, 2025. I've long been a fan of this author's historical fiction novels so how can I not be excited about When Stars Light the Sky?


ABOUT THE BOOK

Inga Klein's carefree life in New York takes a dramatic turn when she sails for Berlin, Germany, to serve as the secretary for America's ambassador. Amid the glamour of life at the embassy, she continually finds herself at odds with the straitlaced and imposing Benedict Kincaid, the diplomatic chief of staff who harbors deep misgivings toward the German-born Inga.

As Europe hurtles toward World War I, Benedict's determination to keep America out of the conflict adds to the already tense atmosphere. Despite their relentless sparring, Inga and Benedict succeed in keeping the embassy afloat through one crisis after another. But when they run out of diplomatic options, a marriage of convenience between them may be Inga's only hope of escape from the impending war.

In this entrancing Gilded Age romance, Inga and Benedict will be swept into a dangerous world on the brink of war, where two hearts must navigate shadows of uncertainty when stars light the sky.

Why is my anticipation so great?

When Stars Light the Sky is the second book in The Women of Midtown series and it promises to be another great story by Elizabeth Camden. I'm always impressed by her ability to weave true facts and fictional details into mesmerizing tales that keep me turning the pages! 

'New York, 1898.  America was supposed to be the land of opportunity, but it seemed more like a land of hunger and confusion to Inga. Why was November in New York so much colder than November in Bavaria? '

In the prologue, Inga is ten, but we soon see her as an adult when the story quickly progresses to 1914. The world hovers on the brink of war and Inga is thrust into a life of uncertainty. Is a marriage of convenience her only option to escape the danger of the impending WWI?  

Sound like something you'd like to read? When Stars Light the Sky is available to pre-order NOW! Learn more by visiting Camden's website, https://elizabethcamden.com.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Camden is best known for her historical novels set in Gilded Age America, featuring clever heroines and richly layered story lines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won Christy, Carol, and RITA Awards and have appeared on the CBA bestsellers list. She lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband, who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books.


Learn more by visiting Elizabeth's    Website   Facebook  Instagram


Sunday, January 5, 2025

Pray Naturally: Finding Your Spiritual Confidence as a Woman Loved by God by Rachel Britton

Pray Naturally: Finding Your Spiritual Confidence as a Woman Loved by God
ABOUT THE BOOK

Prayer can be hard. How do you know what to pray for? Is God even listening? 

This refreshing book on prayer shows you how to have honest conversations with God, knowing that He knows and cares about every detail. Deepen your prayer life with thoughtful Scripture reflections and guided prayers for you to speak to your heavenly Father. Be encouraged and inspired by strong women of the Bible—including Eve, Miriam, Hannah, and Esther—who encountered God and His blessing as they poured out their hearts to Him. 

This uplifting, gift-worthy prayer guide includes:
  • 120 reflections on women of the Bible and their stories of faith, failure, and experiencing God’s love
  • Daily fill-in-the-blank prayers that address specific situations, needs, and everyday concerns
  • Guidance on bringing your desires, disappointments, and joys to God with renewed confidence

AMAZON     BARNES & NOBLE     TARGET     





MY THOUGHTS.....

Pray Naturally is a treasure that uses God's Word as its foundation! Author Rachel Britton guides us through 120 devotional prayers by showcasing women from the Bible who struggled, endured, and conquered. Eve, Sarah, Naomi, and Esther are just a few of the women mentioned and they remind us to step out in faith, trust Him to help us along the way, and then work diligently to make our prayers happen! There is so much to ponder and savor, but I especially love the prayer prompts at the end of each selection. Blank spaces allow me to record my thoughts so that these prayers become MY prayers!

Pray Naturally is a wonderful resource that is perfect for personal use but it could also be used in a small women's group setting. Grab a copy so that your prayer life can flourish and deepen! What better way to begin a new year?

I received a complimentary digital copy but there were no expectations of a positive review. These are my thoughts.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars





ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Britton is a British-born author, blogger, and speaker. She is a contributing author in a number of traditionally published books, Guidepost publications, and online with Bible Study Tools.

Rachel is represented by Books & Such Literary Agency. She holds a Masters in Religion from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

She is the creator and writer of an Amazon Alexa skill: “Say a prayer,” which receives approximately 1,500 requests each day.

Rachel co-directs reNEW - spiritual retreat for writers and speakers, an annual retreat for Christian writers and speakers in the north east USA. In addition to writing and speaking, Rachel is a professional speech coach with Robyn Dykstra’s Christian speakers organization.

Moving from the UK with her husband, Rachel and her family have lived in the United States since 1995. Her career began in newspaper and magazine publishing in London where she worked for The Independent newspaper and BBC Worldwide.

Learn more by visiting Rachel's Website.

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