A Dream of Home (Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel) by Amy Clipston

Book Description:  When she moves to Amish country to find peace and healing, Madeleine finds a special community—and a special man—who pull her out of her solitude into a new life.

Moving to Pennsylvania wasn’t in Madeleine’s original plans. She should still be in California and should have married her pilot fiancé a year ago—but death has a way of changing everything. Now the former Air Force flight nurse is living alone in Paradise, Pennsylvania, and working as a maid at the Lancaster Grand Hotel. She isn’t exactly a widow . . . but she sure feels like one.

Saul Beiler isn’t exactly a widower . . . but his wife is long gone. His eleven-year-old daughter, Emma, doesn’t know that her mother fled the Amish community—and married another man—but she does know that her dat is lonely, and that a pretty young maedel just moved in next door. Madeline’s numb heart begins to thaw as she spends more time with the innocent and ever optimistic Emma. The stronger her friendship grows with the young girl, the more intrigued Madeline grows about the humble, strong, man raising her on his own.

But even as a strange attraction pulls Saul and Madeleine across a stark cultural divide, they—and everybody else—have to wonder: What could they possibly have in common besides heartache? Will love allow Madeleine to finally find the home she’s been dreaming of all along?

My Thoughts:  Amy Clipston pens another great read in A Dream of Home.  This is the third book in a series. I had read book one, A Hopeful Heart but somehow missed book two, A Mother's secret.

Madeleine has moved to Pennsylvania from California to find peace and healing since the unexpected death of her fiancee. For either an Amish or Englisch person this must be quite a culture shock . . .especially for a former Air Force flight nurse . Needless to say,life in Pennsylvania is a little slower, especially since Madeleine is now a maid at the Lancaster Grand Hotel.

Then she meets Saul, who has an eleven year old daughter....just one problem Saul is single but not a widower!  Saul's wife just up and left and married another man!

This is where it gets interesting!  Saul and Madeleine are attracted to each other and Madeleine begins to grow close to Saul's daughter, Emma, BUT Saul is "divorced" and I wasn't sure how the Amish would rationalize Saul's previous marriage.  And then to boot both Saul and Madeleine seem like to skittish colts since they were both hurt in previous relationships.

Some twists and turns because life never goes quite like we think it will.

I plan on making sure I don't miss the the fourth book, A Simple Prayer.

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Series: Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (November 4, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031033585X
• ISBN-13: 978-0310335856

{A "Gotta" Read} The Auschwitz Escape (a novel) by Joel C. Rosenberg

Book Description:  A terrible darkness has fallen upon Jacob Weisz's beloved Germany. The Nazi regime, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, has surged to power and now hold Germany by the throat. All non-Aryans -- especially Jews like Jacob and his family -- are treated like dogs.

When tragedy strikes during one terrible night of violence, Jacob flees and joins rebel forces working to undermine the regime. But after a raid goes horribly wrong, Jacob finds himself in a living nightmare -- trapped in a crowded, stinking car on the train to the Auschwitz death camp.

As World War II rages and Hitler begins implementing his "final solution" to systematically and ruthlessly exterminate the Jewish people, Jacob must rely on his wits and a God he's not sure he believes in to somehow escape from Auschwitz and alert the world to the Nazi's atrocities before Fascism overtakes all of Europe. The fate of millions hangs in the balance.

My Thoughts:  Joel C. Rosenberg writes with a death defying description that left this reader gasping for breath and a rapidly beating heart.  

The scenes, the senselessness of it.all, the hope, the courage and the escape!  Oh!what!a!read!  

Reading about WWII is a passion of mine but when an author like Mr. Rosenberg writes a novel that feels so real, that feels like it took place yesterday, and when the events seem as if they could be happening right now, in this very country....well, the reader may, just as I did, gently close the book, take a deep breath and timidly open the pages again to read about Jacob.  

Ah!  This was not an "easy" read for me.  Breath taking, heart pounding, mind boggling...how could people...how could one man {Hitler} be so cruel!??!  Why would people follow a mad man?!?! How do these atrocities come to pass?!?!?  

At times it was hard to read but yet, hard not to read!  Wanting to know what was going to happen but barely daring to breathe...now that's a book that begs to be read by all!

What a read!

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (March 18, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414336241
• ISBN-13: 978-1414336244

The Princess Spy (YA Romance Fairy Tales #5) by Melanie Dickerson

Book Description:  Margaretha has always been a romantic, and hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle, claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead. And only Margaretha—one of the few who speaks his language—understands the wild story.

Margaretha finds herself unable to pass Colin’s message along to her father, the duke, and convinces herself “Lord Colin” is just an addled stranger. Then Colin retrieves an heirloom she lost in a well, and asks her to spy on Claybrook as repayment. Margaretha knows she could never be a spy—not only is she unable to keep anything secret, she’s sure Colin is completely wrong about her potential betrothed. Though when Margaretha overhears Claybrook one day, she discovers her romantic notions may have been clouding her judgment about not only Colin but Claybrook as well. It is up to her to save her father and Hagenheim itself from Claybrook’s wicked plot.

My Thoughts:  I have been waiting and waiting for this read to become available!  

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson is technically a YA read...noticed my word technically {Smile}.  I love and have read all of the Fairy Tales that Melanie Dickerson has "rewritten."

But I'll admit that The Princess Spy is my favorite of all the fairy tales.  I loved this well written story!

The Princess Spy is The Frog Prince story retold.  Oh! My!  So good!

Margaretha is bold, spunky, unafraid to do right, she is just a great spy princess!  

Sword fighting, intrigue, spying and light romance!  

Even though this is suppose to be a "rewriting" of the Frog Prince, this story reminded me oh!so! much of the Princess Bride...I love the story of the Princess Bride!  There is more spying and intrigue in The Princess Bride, though!  And to be honest one cannot really compare these stories since each story has its own complex inner workings and the characters have their own unique personality traits.

This is a fantastic read!  A read that teens and adults alike will want to read!  

This is one of those books that makes a great gift too!  

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (November 4, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310730988
• ISBN-13: 978-0310730989

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

I was looking for an easy but yet "healthy/no flour" cookie and found this recipe by barefeet in the kitchen on Pinterest. I love this Flourless Chocolate Turtle Cookies:

COOK'S NOTE: The parchment paper in this recipe is a requirement. 

Flourless Chocolate Turtle Cookies

Yield: 24 cookies

3 cups powdered sugar

3/4 cups dutch process or special dark cocoa powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 large egg whites

1 large egg

2/3 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup caramel bits

1/2 cup chopped pecans, plus a few more for topping if desired

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
Whisk together the powdered sugar, cocoa, and salt.                                                 

Add the eggs. Whisk again until smooth. 

(Using an electric mixer will make this even easier, 
but it's quite simple by hand.) 

Stir in the chocolate chips, caramel bits, and pecans.

Drop by tablespoons onto a parchment lined baking sheet. 

Top each cookies with a few extra pecan pieces, if desired. 

Bake 12 minutes, until the cookies are just set. 

They should be puffy and cracked across the top.

 Let cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet 
before transferring to a wire cooling rack. 

Let cool completely before 
storing in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Threads of Faith (Fabric of Time Series, Book Two) by Andrea Boeshaar

Book Description: Can Julianna and Daniel start a new life in a new country?

Julianna Wayland is running for her life! She hides in a crate on London’s dock, only to be loaded onto a ship bound for America. During the voyage she meets Captain Daniel Sundberg, and by the time they reach New York’s harbor, she is certain she’s in love with him. The only problem is, Daniel has plans for himself--plans that don’t include her.

As Julianna struggles to find her way in a new world, will trouble from her past derail the life she is looking for?

My Thoughts: Threads of Time by Andrea Boeshaar is the second book in the Fabric of Time Series.  Having read book one, Threads of Hope, I was anxious to read this book, book two.  

I was enthralled with the cover of this book and the title...Threads of Faith brings to mind many pieces of string that are woven together to make a beautiful fabric . . . in my mind somewhat of an imagery of our lives and how God, through our lives, makes a beautiful fabric from our faith and hope in Him.

It seems that book one is about the courage of Kristen but book two is about Julianna and she's running away.  In fact, she becomes a stowaway on Captain Daniel Sundberg's ship by accident!  Julianna had hidden in a crate not knowing it was to be loaded on a ship.  And that the ship would be sailing immediately.  Oh! the horror!  Oh! the fright!  

Julianna and her "accident" become a thread. . . .another thread in her 

faith.  

This story seemed like a stand alone read . . . Julianna's story. But it never hurts to read the first story before reading the second {smile}.

A great adventurous read incorporating love and faith!  

A truly enjoyable read...this book/this series would make a great gift for that reader on your Christmas list. 

*This book was provided for review by Bookteria*

• Series: Fabric of Time (Book 2)
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Realms (October 16, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616388412
• ISBN-13: 978-1616388416

COTT {Clash of the Titles} Announcing the 2014 Laurel Award Winner!

2014 LAUREL AWARD WINNER

Author Ruth Reid's novel 

A MIRACLE OF HOPE

is the winner of Clash of the Titles's fourth annual Laurel Award.

CONGRATULATIONS, RUTH!

Ruth will receive the following: a beautiful banner to display on her website; a year-long page on COTT dedicated to the winning book, A Miracle of Hope; a "Heart of the Matter" radio interview with author and Christian Authors Guild board member, Cynthia L Simmons; a feature tour on COTT's Blog Alliance; a lovely plaque.

A Miracle of Hope was chosen by a panel of judges who narrowed the list of competing authors to three. From there, the panel put their choices to a straight vote. Ruth finaled in last year's Laurel, but this year her novel, A Miracle of Hope, took home the crown.

Special thanks to each of our judges who volunteered their time to this contest!

BRIEF SUMMARY OF A MIRACLE OF HOPE: 

Lindie Wyse is pregnant out of wedlock and thinks an arranged marriage is the only way to preserve her future. Josiah Plank is certain he’ll never love again, but he needs someone to care for his eight-year-old daughter, Hannah. The two take on their arrangement tentatively at first but soon realize they are each in for more than they imagined.

Stay tuned for the full-length feature of Ruth's winning novel, A Miracle of Hope!

PURCHASE THE BOOK ON AMAZON

****

OLYMPIA OPENING SOON!

Authors, take note! 

In ONE WEEK, Clash of the Titles opens its doors for submissions to the 2015 Olympia.

The Olympia is COTT's yearly contest for unpublished writers. The submissions are judged by their audience—readers well versed in Christian fiction yet not associated with the CBA industry.

Authors write for readers, so why not have readers be the judges?

Finalists in the contest will also have their work read and judged by three industry professionals!

With a submission fee of only $15, easy electronic submission, a bevy of prizes, and judges devoted to Christian fiction and author encouragement, the Olympia is a contest like no other.

But once our doors are open, you'll need to act quick! Slots are limited. To avoid overburdening our volunteer judges, we are limited in the number of submissions we can accept.

Submissions:

Oct. 31, 2014-Dec 12, 2014 

For more details, please visit our site.

Stay tuned for updates by 

subscribing to COTT's blog and “liking” our Facebook page.

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

SoooGoood!  Pumpkin Pie French Toast!

I won this cook book from $5 meals

and love this recipe for a fun supper:

Ingredients

• 12 slices whole wheat sandwich bread 
• 3 eggs 
• 1/2 cup milk 
• 3/4 cup canned pumpkin 
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• Butter and syrup for serving 
• Fresh fruit or smoothie as side 

Directions

• Set out the bread for dipping.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, pumpkin and pie spice until smooth.
• Dip each side of the bread and cook on a hot, greased griddle or skillet. Flip after 1 – 2 minutes.
• Once all are cooked, serve with butter and maple. And a side of fresh fruit or bacon/sausage.  
• If freezing, let cool completely to reduce freezer burn.
• Enjoy this perfect fall “breakfast for dinner”!