Excited about Reading: Love’s Unfading Light

Do you ever get in reading slumps? It seems I’ve been in and out of one for a couple of years now. But, as a writer, I’m finding it increasingly challenging to dive into reading a book and getting involved with characters when I’m so invested in my own characters and their story. So, I tend to read less while I’m working on a book. And, HELLO, when am I not writing?? Can any of my writer friends relate?

But I just finished Love’s Unfading Light by Naomi Rawlings and knew I needed to tell you all about it. I snatched it up when it was free on Amazon and finally opened it, but it didn’t take long for the main and secondary characters to draw me into their circle and for me to feel as if I stood on the shore of Lake Superior under the lighthouse in Eagle Harbor, Michigan, in 1880.

Excited about Reading Love's Unfading Light Fiction Faith & Foodies book review Dora Hiers

The author did a great job of bringing the setting to life during the early stages of the US Lifesaving Service.

“The wind whipping across the lake, the waves froth-tipped and vicious, and the North Star caught in the uncontrollable swells.”

Can’t you just picture a boat being tossed about without any hope of rescue?

Tressa, a widow from a loveless marriage, left with a son, a bakery and a tremendous amount of debt. After her husband’s death, she seemed to do a decent job supporting her and her son, until a robbery unleashes all her dead husband’s creditors to conspire against her. Poor woman lost ground fast. Just thinking about her circumstances makes me so grateful that I wasn’t born in that time period. And Mac, an assistant lightkeeper, willingly sacrificed everything for her without expecting anything in return. Without coming across as preachy, Mac modeled Christ’s love for us.

Although subtle, Love’s Unfading Light packs a powerful message tucked inside those pages. Like how we judge others based on their associations. How sometimes we’re certain we’re following God’s path for our lives, but then He turns us around and points us in a different direction. How God has the power to transform an impossible situation into a blessing. I can’t wait to dig into Love’s Every Whisper, Elijah and Victoria’s story!

To Ponder: Sometimes we can’t see the bigger picture, the whole truth regarding our circumstances, but God knows. Do we accept the current situation as truth and allow the bleakness to overwhelm us or do we look past the circumstances to trust the God who loves us with a limitless love?

At the time of this posting, Love’s Unfading Light was still free on Amazon. Purchase here.

Disclaimer: I purchased my own copy of Love’s Unfading Light when it was free on Amazon. This review is my fair and unbiased opinion, and I was in no way compensated.

Count ’em, yes, count ’em. Six FREE books for kindle!

Pelican Book Group Pure Amore Dora Hiers

Six FREE Pure Amore Romances for Kindle!

Just One Kiss: Wendy Davy https://www.amazon.com/Just-One-Kiss-Romance-Enjoyment-ebook/dp/B00WH0TFDO

Date Night: Marianne Evans https://www.amazon.com/Date-Night-Amore-Romance-Enjoyment-ebook/dp/B01MXWXXS6

When Hope Rises: Dora Hiers https://www.amazon.com/When-Hope-Rises-Romance-Enjoyment-ebook/dp/B01N1R4JMZ

At First Sight: Delia Latham https://www.amazon.com/At-First-Sight-Romance-Enjoyment-ebook/dp/B01N1QVJH9

Simple Blessings: Mary Manners https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Blessings-Amore-Romance-Enjoyment-ebook/dp/B01MTZOUOV

Battle of the Flowers: Clare Revell https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Flowers-Amore-Romance-Enjoyment-ebook/dp/B01MYYIAVM

Enjoy!

 

Excited about Reading: Not A Sparrow Falls by Lynnette Bonner

It’s always fun to win a free gift from visiting and commenting on one of your favorite blogs, doubly thrilling to win a book from one of your favorite authors. Sending a big hug of thanks to Gail Johnson and Lynnette Bonner!

The Cover Story

Not A Sparrow Falls Bonner Fiction Faith & Foodies Dora Hiers

Schoolteacher Charlotte Brindle is relieved that her long journey from Boston to Wyldhaven is about to come to an end. And then the bullets start flying! As she sprawls on the floor of the coach and curls her arms around her head, she wonders whatever in the world possessed her to give up the civility of a Boston school for the promise of adventure on the wild frontier?!

Her fellow passenger, an elderly man named Patrick Waddell, has obviously angered the men outside. And he has no intentions of going down without a fight—or without a bargaining chip!

Sheriff Reagan Callahan grinds his teeth in frustration when Patrick Waddell emerges from the coach with the tiny slip of a schoolteacher as his hostage. Reagan’s perfectly planned-out capture has just been shot to smithereens. What had the town’s founder been thinking when he hired a woman like her? A petite and prim woman was not the kind of teacher Wyldhaven needed. He should be back at his desk drinking coffee! Instead, he now has to mount a rescue!

Take the next stagecoach to Wyldhaven,
where the coffee’s perked hot,
the sheriff likes his apple pie fresh from the oven,
and adventure invariably waits just around the next river bend.

Let’s Chat

After a second failed relationship, Charlotte believes the school teacher’s position in Wyldhaven is the answer to her prayers. Once she arrived, though, she experienced second thoughts…

“This certainly couldn’t have been the leading of the Lord, could it?”

How many times have I asked the same question? How many times have I prayed and asked God to lead the way, only to struggle with whether or not I’m following in His footsteps? I could so relate to Charlotte’s doubt.

The sheriff was the perfect hero for Charlotte, even though initially she blamed him for…well, you’ll just have to read the book! I will say that this story tugged me right in, and one particular scene reminded me of a Mary Connealy book.

With some laugh-out-loud moments and just as many “oh, no!” situations, the fast-paced plot and the snappy dialog kept me turning pages, but it was more than that. So many facets to appreciate about this book…the other potential romantic entanglements, a few deep faith questions, and the depth and complexity of the secondary characters, especially Liora and Dixie. I can’t wait to read Dixie’s story in On Eagles’ Wings (next in line), and I hope (hint, hint, Lynnette! Can you please write faster?? lol) we’ll finally learn more about the infamous Liora as well.

With a setting similar to Hope Valley, fans of When Calls the Heart (waving to my fellow #hearties!) will enjoy this book. Just plan to set aside an entire afternoon because you really will not want to put it down!

To Ponder:  After you pray for direction and God opens a door, do you second-guess where God leads you? How do you experience peace about whether you’re following God’s will for your life?

I won an ebook of Not A Sparrow Falls. Other than the free book, I was in no way compensated and this review is my fair and unbiased opinion.