books

Excited about Reading: Not A Sparrow Falls by Lynnette Bonner

/ Dora Hiers / 8 Comments

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.

How Do You Like Your Reading?

/ Dora Hiers / 4 Comments

“There’s so much more to a book than just the reading.” ~Maurice Sendak

So Much More to a Book Reading Dora Hiers Fiction Faith & Foodies

Finding peace.

Reclaiming faith.

Experiencing healing.

Overcoming fears.

Surrendering control.

Sometimes themes are woven into a book with such a gentle, subtle thread that we may not even recognize them until we finish reading. Other times, a particular theme flashes like a neon sign.

What themes do you appreciate in your reading?

Excited about Reading: SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE by Jill Weatherholt

/ Dora Hiers / 5 Comments

Today, I’m introducing a sweet online friend.

Jill Weatherholt is the most encouraging, friendliest, kindest, sweetest person I have EVER known. One day I hope to meet her in person. I just know that we’d chat and laugh and that it would feel like we’ve known each other forever.

Jill’s a huge fan of NaNoWriMo. She’s participated the last few years and her debut book, Second Chance Romance, recently released with Harlequin’s Love Inspired line. So, for all my writer friends who are on the fence about writing during what has to be the crazy-busiest month of the year or who have debated entering pitch contests like Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest, go for it! Here’s a little about Second Chance Romance and then let’s chat.

The Cover Story

Jackson Daughtry’s jobs as a paramedic and part-owner of a local café keep him busy—but the single dad’s number one priority is raising his little girl with love and small-town values. And when his business partner’s hotshot lawyer niece comes to town planning to disrupt their lives by moving her aunt away, Jackson has to set Melanie Harper straight. When circumstances force them to work side by side in the coffee shop, Jackson slowly discovers what put the sadness in Melanie’s pretty brown eyes. Now it’ll take all his faith—and a hopeful five-year-old—to show the city gal that she’s already home.

Second Chance Romance Jill Weatherholt Excited about Reading Dora Hiers

Buy on Amazon

 

Let’s Chat

Life has been yanked out from under Melanie Harper, and for the last year she’s slogged through a dark season, burying herself in her job. Jackson Daughtry struggles with trust issues, particularly with the female species. But you can’t help but admire and appreciate the single dad who dotes on his daughter, Rebecca, and is grateful for the support of the generous, compassionate people of Sweet Gum, where friends and neighbors come together to help when times are tough.

I enjoyed witnessing Melanie’s transformation from tightly wound attorney, focused solely on her job and her goal to move her Aunt Phoebe back to DC, to a woman who appreciates the warm and caring residents of the “valley,” including the handsome paramedic who rescued her. And Jackson? He was solid and sturdy in his faith and in his role in life and in his community, and reminded me so much of my own real life hero. 🙂

Country versus city made for some fun sparring, and big city lawyer pitted against small town dad in their battle over what was best for their beloved Phoebe. With a subtle faith element, Second Chance Romance embraces a big life question:

Why do bad things happen to good people?

“Sometimes bad things happen we don’t understand, but God knows…He’ll make it all good in the end.”

A sweet girl, a kind hero, a matchmaking aunt, all collide with a determined lawyer in Second Chance Romance, taking you on a journey that’ll leave a smile on your face when you reach the end.

Something to Ponder: Sometimes, like Melanie, we allow our identity to get so wrapped up in our job/career, that we lose our real selves in the process. How do we retain a sense of self outside our job?

Disclaimer: A free copy of Second Chance Romance was provided to me by the author with no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise. This review is my fair and unbiased opinion, and other than the free book, I was in no way compensated.