To Love a Stranger by Colleen Coble

Book Description:  Bessie Randall had no intention of moving to Wyoming. But could the life she would never choose be better than the one she had planned?

Bessie is shocked when she finds out that her sister Lenore has used her name to correspond with a soldier she's never met—and that she’s actually married the man by proxy with Bessie’s name. And if Bessie contests it, her sister could go to jail for forgery. Bessie has always felt responsible for her younger sister, and she believes she has no choice but to do the honorable thing and travel west to meet up with Jasper Mendenhall.

With his sister Jessica’s reprimand about marrying sight-unseen still ringing in his ears, Jasper is shocked when he meets the stagecoach. The little wren who meets him is not the beauty whose picture he holds in his hand. Jasper plans to annul the marriage and send Bessie back to Boston. She’s a city girl and he’s not sure she could even survive—much less be happy—at Fort Bowie.

But Jasper’s orders to return to Fort Bowie are moved up, and he has no choice but to take Bessie with him. To his surprise, he finds much to like in the quiet young woman: things like humor and grit. But even those qualities may not be enough as the Apaches move in, determined to eradicate the fort in their midst. Can God mend their hearts together in spite of the circumstances?

My Thoughts:    I enjoy Colleen Coble's stories so much that I've been re-reading many off them this summer.  And then I couldn't believe my eyes!  A new book!  {reader's happy sigh!}

If you are "lucky" enough to have a sister you know that sisters can be a help or a "pain.

As in, To Love A Stranger, Bessie is hocked, shocked I tell you to find out that her dear sister, Lenore, has been writing letters to a poor solider.  But that's not the shocker....Lenore has been using Bessie's name.

Bessie is in quite a quandary when she finds out, because she is married to the man by proxy!  Oh, My, Stars!  Bessie doesn't want to contest the proxy wedding because then Lenore will go to jail.  so, she moves on with her life.

Of course, her newly wedded hubby comes to get her.  But imagine his shock when he meets Bessie, not quite the young lady in the picture.

Then he gets orders to return to Fort Bowie and has no other alternative but to take Bessie with him.

To his surprise and delight he finds that he likes the quiet young woman with grit and humor.

Oh, What, A, Story!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 19, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0529103451
• ISBN-13: 978-0529103451

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

A cool treat for summer!  

 20 oz can drained crushed pineapple or fruit cocktail 

16 oz cottage cheese

small box of lime jello 

8 oz whipped topping. 

Mix together and chill for a wonderfully refreshing 

side dish or summer time dessert.

COTT {Clash of the Titles} Vote for a New Fav!

Summer's Sizzlin' Which of These Do You Want Sittin' Next to Your Glass of Iced Tea?

Summer's Sizzlin'

Scroll through these THREE new reads and vote below 

for which you'd pick up first to read while sippin' iced tea.

It'll be a tough choice! But somebody's gotta do it. May as well be you!

Almost Like Being in Love by Beth K. Vogt

She’s won an all-expenses-paid, luxurious wedding — all she needs now is the groom! Winning a destination wedding would be a dream come true … if Caron Hollister and her boyfriend, Alex were already engaged — and if her ex-boyfriend, Kade, wasn’t back in her life, causing her to wonder “what if?” when she thought she was ready to say “I do” to someone else.

~~~~~~ 

Rescue Me by Sandy Nadeau

Risking her life to save him is easy. Risking her heart to give him a second chance is impossible.

~~~~~~

River Rest by Susan Page Davis

Unable to depend on her father to heal the crumbling family, Judith is afraid to trust the mysterious neighbor, Ben, who lives with his own grief. When Ben is injured, she is the only one who can help him. 

~~~~~~

VOTE HERE!

If you have trouble viewing the entire survey, click here to load a dedicated page to the survey. 

Deadly Encounter (FBI Task Force, Book 1) by Diann Mills

Book Description:   Airport Ranger volunteer Stacy Broussard expected a peaceful Saturday morning ride around the perimeter of Houston’s airport. What she encounters instead is a brutal homicide and a baffling mystery. Next to the body is an injured dog, the dead man’s motorcycle, and a drone armed with a laser capable of taking down a 747.

Though FBI Special Agent Alex LeBlanc sees a clear-cut case of terrorism, his past has taught him to be suspicious of everyone, even witnesses. Even bleeding-heart veterinarians like Stacy. But when her gruesome discovery is only the first in a string of incidences that throw her life into a tailspin, Alex begins to wonder if Stacy was targeted. As a health emergency endangers Stacy’s community, and the task force pulls in leads from all directions, Alex and Stacy must work together to prevent another deadly encounter.

My Thoughts:  I am so pumped that Diann Mills has started a new series . . . The FBI Task Force and this book, Deadly Encounter, is the first book!  

I love the way Diann Mills brings true to life incidents to life through the exciting world of words.

I got so caught up in Stacy Broussard and Agent Alex Leblanc's work that I actually "lost" a day reading.  Yeah, I became one of them!

It seems that as Stacy, who is a airport ranger volunteer, is checking the perimeter of the Houston airport comes upon a dead man lying by his motorcycle and an injured dog And there is also a drone with laser capabilities.  Stacy calls in the scene but when Alex comes in he sees an act of terrorism. 

Now that Stacy and Alex are on the case it seems that someone has sinister thoughts and they are on the hot trail of something "bad."

Alex begins to think that Stacy is the target but yet, things don't add up.

A wonderful, fast paced suspense read!

*This book was provided for review by Tyndale Publishing*

Read first chapter HERE

Author Bio

DiAnn Mills DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader's Choice, and Carol Award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian fiction category for Firewall. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, International Thriller Writers, and the Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America. She is the co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She also speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own beans. She's an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com. Series: FBI Task Force (Book 1) Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (August 1, 2016) Language: English SBN-10: 1496410971 ISBN-13: 978-1496410979

WOW! {Warm Oven Wednesday}

It's HOT in Texas so this is now my favorite salad!                     

And oh!So!good!  Another great recipe from Pinterest:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2-3 heads of lettuce (such as butter crunch), washed, dried, cut in large pieces
• 2 cups of watermelon, cut in small chunks
• 2 cups of strawberries, sliced
• 2 cups of rotisserie chicken, chopped in small pieces
• 1/2 cup red onion
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup pesto
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice

DIRECTIONS:

Cut the lettuce and place in a large bowl.

Cut the watermelon, strawberries, chicken, and basil. Lay on top of the greens.

Mix together the pesto, honey, lime juice.

Right before serving add the dressing; toss and serve.

Precious Moments: Happy Harvest Board book by Jean Fischer

Book Description:  Celebrate the harvest season with the bestselling Precious Moments^®characters.  Full of the beloved artwork and timeless messages of gratitude, Happy Harvest is a sweet reminder to enjoy every season together.

As the leaves change and fields yield their fruit, it is time to celebrate a Happy Harvest with all of God’s creation! Talk with your children about God’s beautiful world in autumn and all the joys it holds—falling leaves, big round pumpkins, warm cider, and crackling fires that bring us closer together.

This charming board book will remind you of all your favorite aspects of the harvest season and invite you and your children to thank God for His abundant provision.

My Thoughts:  I love Precious Moments maybe because the pictures are so beautiful or maybe because the children's eyes are so cute or maybe because of all sweetness that seeps through the pages.

Whatever the case, this book Precious Moments Happy Harvest by Jean Fischer is another beautiful board book for children ages 2-4.

The colors are bright and vibrant in this lovely book.  But best of all little hands can hold this book and if those little hands are dirty then an adult can gently wipe the book clean with a wipey or damp cloth. 

I read this book to a class of two year olds and they loved it.  The pages are all about fall...pumpkins, poems, precious children.  They recognized trees, leaves, kitties and other fall items.

A beautiful book for the little people on your book list.

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Age Range: 2 - 4 years
• Grade Level: Preschool and up
• Board book: 32 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Brdbk edition (August 2, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718032411
• ISBN-13: 978-0718032418

{Kregel Blog Tour The Cantaloupe Thief (A Branigan Powers Mystery, #1) by Deb Richardson-Moore

Book Description:  A crime novel set in NE Georgia, USA, and featuring a reporter, Branigan Powers, who is commissioned to investigate a cold case, an unsolved murder of a wealthy widow ten years previously. She enlists the help of Malachi Ezekiel Martin, a homeless man who is both a possible suspect and a possible sleuth: the idea being that homeless people get overlooked, and hence see things that are concealed from the rest of the population. An important twist in the story is that Branigan’s own twin brother is a derelict, his promising career destroyed by drugs. This is the first in an intended series of novels featuring Branigan, Martin, and Branigan’s friend Liam, who runs a shelter for the homeless.

My Thoughts:  A ten year unsolved mystery and a on.the.scoop.reporter.  What a crime and what a reporter!

Homeless man seems to somehow be involved intros age old crime.  But Billy, the homeless man, is also mentally unstable.  

Poor Branigan Powers does not have an easy time with this investigation.  So, she enlists the help of a homeless man, Malachi Ezekiel Martin.  However, Malachi is also a suspect in the crime.  But it becomes apparent that homeless individuals are invisible to others so Malachi also becomes a great sleuth.

Deb richardson-Moore is a pastor and ministers to the homeless so it was quite interesting to see the homeless portrayed in such a true way.

This is a clever, cozy mystery that will draw into the passages of another's life.

Of course, as Branigan is pulled into this case it becomes apparent that she needs to solve this mystery before she or a family member become the next target.

What an interesting story for the armchair detective.

*This book was provided for review by Kregel Publications*

• Series: A Branigan Powers Mystery
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Lion Fiction (June 27, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1782641920
• ISBN-13: 978-1782641926
• 
  

Courageous (Valiant Hearts, #3) by Dina L. Sleiman

Book Description:  Inspired by the vision of the Young Lady Sapphira, Rosalind of Ipsworth joins a group of men, women, and children as a defender of the cross, seeking to free captives from prisons near Tripoli. She gladly gives herself to the cause, as she's haunted by a tragic mistake and no longer deserves such joys as marriage and family might bring.

Sir Randel Penigree was reared to serve in the church, but dreams of protecting the innocent as a knight. Joining a crusade to escape humiliation at home, he finds himself drawn to Rosalind as they partner to train and protect a group of young adolescents. When they face political machinations, danger, and an unknown enemy bent on their destruction, they are forced to reconsider their priorities and the very nature of the God they serve.

My Thoughts:  I was ready to read something other than mysteries...I know *gasp*....so I was excited to receive a book by a new author to me.  And I must tell you this read by Dina Sleiman is quite a read.

As I began reading I had thoughts of Mary Queen of Scots and Joan of Arc . . . great women in the medieval ages!

Rosalind of Ipsworth joins a group of people who defenders of the Cross  on a mission to free captives from prisons near Tripoli. 

why would a young woman seek to arm herself and go on a dangerous mission to free innocents?  Because she feels that she has made a tragic mistake in her past and doesn't deserve to marry or have a family.  It's somewhat of  a self imposed sentence.

But Rosalind doesn't count on another person joining the group who also has feelings of humiliation...enter Sir Randel Pedigree.  

I loved this medieval read!  

The romance was *just right* and the crusades were interesting as well as the faith.

This is a grandastic summer read!  Go grab your copy today!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

• Series: Valiant Hearts (Book 3)
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 5, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764213148
• ISBN-13: 978-0764213144

COTT {Clash of the Titles}

Featuring the 2016 Laurel Award Winner

2016

LAUREL AWARD WINNER!

This year, At First Sight took home Clash of the Titles's sixth annual Laurel Award. Over the course of six weeks, the novel's first chapters were read and judged by avid readers of Christian fiction who determined At First Sight to be the worthiest to receive the 2016 Laurel Award.



Clash of the Titles extends a heartfelt congratulations to author Delia Latham for her exemplary writing. We wish God's richest blessings on her future work. 

About At First Sight :

Reagan Massey has gone through a great deal of trouble to make her cousin irresistible to the visiting single minister but things get a little sticky when Reagan falls in love with Cord Phillips herself… 

Cord doesn’t believe in marital bliss after seeing the mockery his parents made of their vows. He’s promised himself he’ll live as the Apostle Paul lived, dedicating himself solely to God. When his heart turns traitor, Cord has to completely rethink his position on love. 

Things around Riverbend House of Worship take on some humorous, heart-touching, soul-stirring twists and turns, with Reagan and Cord so busy getting in God’s way that they can’t see the path He has laid out for them to travel…together.

At First Sight is part of the Pure Amore bundle of 12 novels that celebrate purity. Use the code Laurel2016 to receive the bundle at 50% OFF. (expires 31 July 2016)


PURCHASE YOUR BUNDLE TODAY


LISTEN TO A RADIO INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR!

 

Delia in her own words:

A born-and-bred California gal, I grew up in a little community called Weedpatch. Nope, that's not a typo. It's a few miles southeast of Bakersfield, and in the...well, I won't say how many years since I left there...Weedpatch has even found its way onto a map or two.

Writing has been my passion since third grade, when I won an essay writing contest and took home the coveted prize: a beautiful bed doll with an overstuffed pink, quilted satin skirt. Remember them? Huge, padded skirts, some (like mine) with flat cardboard bottoms to accommodate display. The doll's feet were hidden away somewhere in all that finery, never again to see the light of day.  These fancy ladies were most often used as centerpieces for beds, and that's where mine went - smack in the middle of my unimposing bed in my unmatched, Salvation Army-furnished bedroom. It was the most elegant item I had ever owned, and I was one proud little lassie.  (Ahem ... surely someone  else remembers those dollies?)​

Winning that contest made a profound impact on my young psyche - enough so that I never stopped writing. From those first little songs and poems and (very bad) short stories, I graduated to Staff Writer for a large daily newspaper; freelanced for an upper-scale regional magazine; and finally began writing fiction...which was my goal all along.

Connect with Delia online:

http://www.delialatham.net/
http://www.facebook.com/delialatham 
http://www.twitter.com/delialatham 

 

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Flourless Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

25 mins

Chewy flourless double chocolate chip cookie that will make you weak in your knees. Gluten-free and your only cookie recipe needed.

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 1.5 dozen

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup unsweetened dutch cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper
3. In a bowl mix the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir slowly until combined.
4. Stir in the egg whites, vanilla extract.
5. Fold in the chocolate chips
6. ***The batter will look a little shiny and watery, that is fine. ***
7. Spoon a Tablespoon of batter onto the baking trays about an inch apart. Beware, they will spread out quite a bit. I used a toothpick in-between cookies in case they spread too much.
8. Bake for about 15 minutes. Cookies will start cracking on the surface.
9. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes then carefully remove them to a cooling rack.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 cookie Calories: 198 Fat: 8 g Saturated fat: 5 g Unsaturated fat: 0 g Trans fat: 0 g Carbohydrates: 34 g Sugar: 28 g Sodium: 22 mg Fiber: 3 g Protein: 1 g Cholesterol: 0 mg

COTT {Clash of the Titles}

Clash Champ--Her One and Only by Becky Wade

Congratulations to Becky Wade 

and her novel

Her One and Only

for taking home this month's Clash crown!

PURCHASE

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

About the book:

After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt–none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives — and their hearts — to one another.

Becky also has a FREE book sale going on RIGHT NOW!

Undeniably Yours

Free on Amazon

What Becky's voters had to say:

~I have read and loved Becky Wade's books for awhile now! She is talented and brilliant. I love having the option to read romantic fiction that is Christian based and clean for the soul. It's wonderful! Thank you!!
~I wouldn't even need a beach to want to read your book, Becky Wade!
~LOVE Becky Wade!! Loved the conclusion to the Porter Family Series!! Perfect book poolside or other Summer destination or really any place any time!! :)
~Even though I have only read one of the books on this list (I look forward to checking some more of these out) i want to thank all the authors for doing what they do. I believe God uses you to help others. I love reading because it can just help me escape sometimes and than start fresh and go forward. Also encouraging our relationship with God through seeing your characters growing in faith. Thank you for writing even when it toughs because it makes a difference and matters to people like me!!!
~I just received a whole set of Becky Wade's books and can't wait to read them
~Becky Wade, I love your books. Keep up the great work
~I have loved all of Becky Wade's books! I am never disappointed with any of her books - I look forward to each next one. They are always on my to purchase list as soon as they come out - one of my new favorite authors! :)

The Promise of Jesse Woods by Chris Fabry

Book Description:  The summer of 1972 was the most pivotal of Matt Plumley’s childhood. While his beloved Pirates battle for back-to-back World Series titles, Matt’s family moves from Pittsburgh to Dogwood, West Virginia, where his father steps into the pulpit of a church under the thumb of town leader Basil Blackwood. A fish out of water, Matt is relieved to forge a fast bond with two unlikely friends: Dickie Darrel Lee Hancock, a mixed-race boy, and Jesse Woods, a tough-as-nails girl with a sister on her hip and no dad in sight.

As the trio traipses the hills and hollers, Matt begins to fall for Jesse, and their promises to each other draw him deeper into her terrifying reality. One night, the wrath of the Blackwoods and the secrets of Jesse’s family collide, and Matt joins Jesse in a rescue that saves one life and ends another . . . and severs the bond of their friendship.

My Thoughts:  Wow!   Chris Fabry does it again!  

Quite a read about the backwoods of West Virginia, three unlikely friends, and a preacher's son.

Matt and his family move from Pittsburgh, PA to Dogwood, West Virginia.  What a change for Matt.  

Not only is Matt having to adjust to a new place and make new friends (he feels like fish out of water) but his dad as the new pastor of the church in Dogwood is under the thumb of the town leader, Basil Blackwood.  My heart hurt for Matt's and many a time as I knew exactly how that preacher must feel. 

There are many, many facets in this story and secrets.  It also entails  young love, the sad story of the backwoods thinking and Matt's dad as a new pastor in a small town (small minded, too).

Of course, if you've ever read a novel by Chris Fabry you know there are twists in the plot. So, just as the reader thinks the story is going one way . . . BOOM!  Twist!

Again, WOW!  What a read!  

Such a great read that I didn't want to give any spoilers...this is your one summer gotta read!

*This book was provided for review by Tyndale*

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 1, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414387776
• ISBN-13: 978-1414387772