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!

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Expecting Danger (Small Town Guardians, Book 2) by Jennifer Pierce: Review Tour with JustRead Tours




ABOUT THE BOOK

Kate has been on the run from the men who killed her husband and left her for dead—which isn’t easy considering she’s eight months pregnant—but now they’ve found her. Again. Still reeling from her late husband’s betrayal, the last thing Kate wants is the help of a handsome stranger.

Security expert, Jacob Jones, is still grieving the loss of his pregnant wife, and he’s not ready to move on. But when he thwarts an attempted abduction of the beautiful Kate, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her. Despite her reluctance, he’s determined to do whatever it takes to save her, including giving up his own life.

Kate’s only option is to take a leap of faith and allow Jacob to help her. But can she trust him to keep her and her unborn baby alive? Or will he fail her like everyone else in her life?


MY THOUGHTS.....

"The hair on the back of Kate's neck stood on end, and the feeling of being watched crawled along her skin in goose bumps. She was supposed to be at home, savoring the last month of her pregnancy.....Instead, her husband was buried in a cold dark grave, and she was running for her life."

Expecting Danger begins with a rush and the thrills never let up, as Kate runs from the person or persons chasing her, while working to discover why she is their target. Thankfully, she is joined by Jacob "Jake" Jones, who happens into her life and attempts to keep her safe until she can deliver her baby. As they try to escape, Jake finds that he is facing another risk because Kate's pregnancy constantly reminds him of the wife and baby that he's lost. Emotional anguish can be as harmful as physical danger and Jake finds himself experiencing both! Will Kate and Jake find the answers they need to end this nightmare? Can Jake overcome his grief and let go of the past? Is there a future for Kate and her baby with this wonderful, caring man?

Author Jennifer Pierce grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I felt as if I was there as Kate and Jake continually faced perils and danger in their race to find the truth. I enjoyed seeing how the hurts from their pasts were slowly healed as they learned to trust each other and I loved the strong faith element that is at the core of this story. If you enjoy Christian romantic suspense, you will certainly find it in Expecting Danger!

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from JustRead Tours. A positive review was never required. These are my own thoughts.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


ABOUT THE AUTHOR  

Jennifer Pierce currently lives in Arkansas with her husband and two children. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and River Valley Writers, where she serves as secretary.

To learn more you can follow Jennifer on      Facebook     Twitter   

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Tuesday, September 1, 2020

The Year the Stars Fell by Elizabeth A. Wehman: Review & Giveaway with Celebrate Lit

 

About the Book


Book:  The Year the Stars Fell
Author: Elizabeth Wehman
Genre:  Christian Historical Fiction
Release Date: April 14, 2020

In the spring of 1833, newlywed Betsey Baker-Swain’s simple life changes when she and her husband, Aaron, make a hasty decision to join Betsey’s family on a move from Pennsylvania to Michigan Territory.

Along the way, rainstorms, freezing temperatures, seasickness, and lack of privacy pale in comparison to what the family will encounter once arriving at their destination. Soon, daily trials will include ear-piercing howls of wild wolves, bad weather, clouds of mosquitoes, and disturbing situations with the natives. Even then, Betsey wonders if this trip will finally quench her father’s adventurous spirit.

Over the next year, the Baker family will gain incredible strength, divine trust, and unexplainable courage, but will it be enough to keep them at the tiny cabin by the twisting Shiawassee River? Will uncertainty overtake their determination or will God’s intervention sustain them enough to become a part of the history of a new land?

Click here to get your copy!

MY THOUGHTS.....

I love it when a story can teach me as it entertains and this is certainly true of The Year the Stars Fell, It is an excellent historical fiction novel based on the life of Hosea Baker and his family as they traveled from Pennsylvania to the Michigan Territory in 1833 to begin a new life. Author Elizabeth Wehman takes us with them as they were plagued with wild animals, rugged terrain, and their fear of Indians. They also faced extreme hardship as they settled the land and were tormented by mosquitoes. Some even fell ill from a fever that was caused by mosquito bites but through it all, Hosea continued to trust in God.

"Trusting God when things are out of our control is when He shines the brightest. I've relied on God to protect my family, but most of all," Hosea pointed toward the sky, "I've relied on Him to take away the fear that often creeps into my heart."

In her author's notes, Wehman reveals more true details about this family's contribution to the settling of New Newburg and I enjoyed learning about another event that occurred in 1833. I had never heard of the Leonid Meteor Shower that looked as if the sky was falling and was visible across much of the United States in November of 1833. Including it near the end of this book was a lovely way to tie Hosea's joy of studying the stars with his deep trust in their Maker.

The Year the Stars Fell is an inspiring story filled with hope, faith, and perseverance and I recommend it to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction. 

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required and this is my honest opinion. 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

About the Author


Elizabeth Wehman’s writing career spans over thirty years and encompasses curriculum, periodical, journalism, and novel writing.

Her dream has always been to write novels and Elizabeth launched her first contemporary fiction, Under the Windowsill, in 2014. Since then, she’s added four titles to her shelf. They include: Promise at Daybreak, Just a Train Ride, Mere Reflection, and her latest complete historical work, The Year the Stars Fell.

She found the historical genre to be filled with rabbit trail research as well as walks through bygone cemeteries. The pioneers, of the early nineteenth century, reflected an amazing stamina and a determined courage to venture into the unknown. 

The Year the Stars Fell is based on a forgotten village established in the Territory of Michigan in 1833. She fell in love with the Baker family and the information she discovered about them gave way to folklore and tales of the early homesteaders. Two future novels are planned that will include the continuation of the nineteenth century farming community. The series will be called, ‘The Newburg Chronicles’.

In her spare time, Elizabeth loves to read and enjoys being out in nature. Her favorite places are digging in her flower garden, listening to the birds as they herald a new day, or taking a walk on the country roads surrounding her home in Michigan.

Elizabeth has been a trucker’s wife for over thirty years which helps supply the needed solitude to produce extraordinary stories. She has three grown children, four grandpuppies, and two sons-in-law.

More from Elizabeth

My “Stars” book began to emerge after doing research about the county where I live, here in Michigan. On an information discovery about another book, I came across the story of the Baker family. They were highlighted as the one of the first farming families to enter Michigan Territory in 1833. Hosea Baker brought his entire family from Pennsylvania to settle on 600 acres in an area beside the Shiawassee River.

Joining him there were his wife, Sally, his grown son Ambrose, his daughter and her husband, Betsey and Aaron Swain, and some younger daughters. While there, they hooked up with a boy named Alexander Stevens. Their first year included: building a home and barn, clearing and planting the first crops in the county, setting up a household, and Betsey giving birth to the first recorded child in the county. Betsey and Aaron named their new baby, Julia.

So much intrigued me about their story. I was excited to flesh it out with the help of short excerpts written in a Shiawassee County history book from 1888. From these short tidbits about the family, I soon embellished a story which is a mere glimpse into what their story could have included during their first year as settlers in a vast wilderness.

Much of the story is from my own imagination, but many of the highlights include the excerpts written about the family in 1888. After writing their story, I now feel a specific kinship to them.  This is my first complete historical fiction work. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
 

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Elizabeth is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of The Year the Stars Fell and a $25 gift card to Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, which can be used online!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

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