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A Thousand Shall Fall

By Andrea Boeshaar

A story of love, hope, and healing set in the midst of the Civil War

Nineteen-year-old Carrie Ann Bell is independent and spirited. The only thing she really fears are the Union soldiers fighting against her Confederate friends. When her youngest sister runs away from home, brave Carrie Ann is determined to find her and bring her back. Disguised as a soldier, she sets off—only to find she’s fallen into the hands of the enemy.

Her childhood friend Confederate Major Joshua Blevins has warned her against these Yankees: they’re all devils, ready to inflict evil on unsuspecting young women. When Colonel Peyton Collier arrests her for her impersonation of an officer, it seems to confirm all her fears.

Soon, though, she finds herself drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel. He rescued her, protected her, and has been every inch the gentleman. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally—and more than that, someone she could love. But the arrival of Joshua in the Union camp as a spy will test her loyalties. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she trust?

Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, A Thousand Shall Fall is framed around compelling and a very romantic setting in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Andrea Boeshaar’s extensive research guarantees historical accuracy and romance genre enthusiasts and Civil War buffs alike will enjoy the Christian perspectives on actual historical events.

ISLAND BREEZES

Carrie Ann’s sister has run off with a passing peddler, and Carrie Ann is determined to do whatever it takes to find her. This includes impersonating a Yankee officer.

That didn’t last too long before a Yankee colonel arrests her. Then she’s stuck moving around with the Union Army. She discovers that the blue coats aren’t all a bunch of vicious devils.

In fact, she begins to fall in love with the colonel who captured her. But there’s no easy road to romance. It gets downright dangerous. Sometimes it’s difficult for Carrie Ann to tell who is friend or foe. She learns that a seemingly innocent secret between childhood friends can put many people in danger.

Thank you, Ms Boeshaar, for this story which drew me in. It still doesn’t want to let me go.

***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***

Andrea Boeshaar is the co-founder of American Christian Fiction Writers and runs “The Writer’s ER,” a coaching service for writers. She is the author of thirty published works, including Threads of Faith, a finalist in the Inspirational Readers Choice Awards. Andrea is also the author of a popular devotional and regularly blogs on a number of sites.

I often get lost on You Tube. Yesterday I went on a Wintley Phipps binge. This music video added to my knowledge, but most of all it touched me greatly. This is one of my favorite hymns. Wintley’s rendition brought tears.

Rescuing Finley

By Dan Walsh

Amy Wallace has made plenty of mistakes in her young life, but she didn’t see this one coming. Chris Seger is a marine serving in Afghanistan. His life is forever altered by a single, fateful step. A mother of another Afghan war vet suffers a devastating loss, which changes the course of Finley’s life for good.

Finley is a mostly golden retriever, who suddenly finds himself alone and confused in a dog shelter. Later, he’s brought to a local prison to be trained in a special program for female inmates. Could this prison actually become the place where Finley finally finds freedom? Rescuing Finley tells the story of how one rescue dog powerfully impacts three tragic lives and puts all of them on a road toward redemption and healing.

 
Dan Walsh is known for page-turning, character driven novels. Fans of Dan’s other novels, as well as dog-lovers everywhere will especially enjoy Rescuing Finley.

ISLAND BREEZES

Finley definitely needs rescuing. So do several people. Who’s going to rescue whom? Finley is a dog who doesn’t understand why people continue to abandon him.

Amy feels abandoned, too, but she knows she’s the cause of that. She alienated all her friends and family. Now swhe’s alone in the midst of people who mostly scare her.

Is it possible that Finley and Amy can rescue each other? What about the man who is going to take Finley away from her?

 
This book may bring tear or two to your eyes before you finish reading it. I used more than one tissue while reading it.

I never met a Dan Walsh book that I didn’t love. This is no exception. I only wish I could meet Finley in person.

***A special thank you to the author for providing a review copy.***

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of 14 novels and 1 nonfiction devotional, including The Unfinished Gift, The Reunion and The Discovery. He has won 3 ACFW Carol Awards, 3 Selah Awards, and 3 times his novels have been named as finalists for RT Reviews Inspirational Novel of the Year.

For those who haven’t read Dan’s books, reviewers often compare him to Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans. Although more recently, Dan has also started to pen suspense novels (like, What Follows After and When Night Comes). Dan has been writing full time since 2010. He and his wife Cindi have been married 38 years and have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren. They live in the Daytona Beach area, where Dan grew up. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter, read his blog, or preview all his books by visiting his website at http://danwalshbooks.com.

I’m sure most of you all have things for which to be thankful, including your big family dinner. Now it’s time to sit back, relax and have a laugh or two.

George E. Lawson

Our veterans should be thanked on a daily basis for all they’ve gone through to keep our country and freedoms safe. Any time you see a veteran remember to show your appreciation for their service.

And that goes for current military members. If you see someone in uniform, don’t hesitate to walk up and say, “Thank you for all you’re doing for our country.”

It’s fitting that our Veterans Day is the same day as the Remembrance Day of our allies.

A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest

By J. A. Myhre

A Boy Named Mu, an African Journey, and You

Mu, a ten-year-old orphan, has lived his entire life in the heart of Africa. For as long as he can remember he has served in the household of a great-uncle where he is unloved and ignored. In his drudgery-filled life, Mu has little hope of happiness, and little hope that anything will ever change.

But one day, everything does change. On his way to draw water one morning, Mu is astonished when a chameleon greets him by name and announces that they will embark on a quest together. And what a quest it turns out to be! Mu faces danger and finds unexpected allies as they journey through a fascinating and ever-changing landscape.

A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest blends magical realism with a compelling story. The exciting story line combines an orphan’s journey to find a home with the plight of child soldiers and the dangers of the Ebola virus and, along the way, highlights universal themes of integrity, loyalty, faith, and love. Written by long-time medical missionary J. A. Myrhe, the artful story is laced with subtle gospel themes and handles cross-cultural issues with grace and sensitivity. Kids will encounter good and evil and learn the truth about hope, happiness, and what it means to be human in this page-turning first book in a new series.

What you’ll find in A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest:

A page-turning children’s action and adventure story set in a fictional African land
Blends magical realism and compelling storytelling with gospel themes to draw kids gently into the truth
Deals with real-life but (seemingly) faraway themes like the plight of orphans, the duties of child soldiers, and the reality of the Ebola virus
Written by a long-time medical missionary to Africa who handles cross-cultural issues with grace, sensitivity, and love

ISLAND BREEZES

A boy who doesn’t know his real name and a talking chameleon who leads him on a quest. For what, the boy hasn’t a clue and the chameleon isn’t telling him.

It’s a good thing the animals can talk to each other. If they couldn’t, the boy would never had been able to escape all the dangerous circumstances they encountered along the way.

Even though this book is written for younger readers, I thoroughly enjoyed it as well as the illustrations. I think this is a book my grandson would enjoy.

Thank you, J.A. Myhre for sharing your children’s stories with us. Thank you, Acacia Masso, for your lovely illustrations.

***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***

J. A. Myhre serves as a doctor with Serge in East Africa where she has worked for over two decades. She is passionate about health care for the poor, training local doctors and nurses, promoting childhood nutrition and development, and being the hands of Jesus in the hardest places. She is married to her best friend and colleague Scott, and together they have raised four children for whom many of her stories were written as Christmas presents. You can find Jennifer online.

Isle of Hope

By Julie Lessman

She stole his heart.
He stole her peace.
Can hope steal their pain?

At the age of eighteen, Lacey Carmichael was a wild girl bent on fun, promised to Jack O’Bryen, a straight-and-narrow pastor’s kid bent on the seminary. When her father kicks her out of the house, she runs away from Isle of Hope, turning her back on everything she loves. Now, eight years later, she’s back as a woman of faith, hoping to make amends to the father she defied, the boyfriend she deserted, and the best friend she denied. Only the bridges she’s burned are still smoldering, kindled by an adulterous affair by Jack’s pastor father that damaged his son’s faith. But can a turning of tables—and hearts—lead the way back to “hope” for them all?

ISLAND BREEZES

This is a book about forgiveness. Some people need to forgive. Others need forgiveness. Still others need both.

Lacey is one who needs both. After a long absence she returns to Isle of Hope to try to make things right with her family and friends. Her return really stirs things up. Her presence digs up old feelings that have been shoved as far back in memory as possible. Sometimes it’s just easier to shove that pain and anger down than to actually have to deal with it.

Will Lacey’s return make things even worse?

Thank you, Ms Lessman, for this book. This is a timely topic as this is the time of the year that we are focused on thankfulness. As always, I’m looking forward to your next book.

***A special thank you to the author for providing a review copy.***

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” not only underscores her intense passion for God and romance, but her staunch advocacy for sexual purity before marriage as well.  Julie was named American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered 17 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also named on Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction list. Her latest novel, Surprised by Love, appeared on Family Fiction magazine’s list of Top Ten Novels of 2014, and her independent novel A Light in the Window is an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers’ Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.
You can contact Julie and read excerpts from her books at www.julielessman.com.

Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6

Another Way Home

By Deborah Raney

Sometimes God’s ways are not at all what we expect . . . and exactly what we need.

Grant and Audrey are adding grandchildren to their family left and right, but middle daughter, Danae, and her husband, Dallas Brooks, have been trying for years with no baby in sight.

Though Danae is ready to consider adoption, Dallas will not even discuss it. Despairing of ever having a family of her own, Danae decides to pour her passion and energies into volunteer work with a newly opened women’s shelter in town. Looking for a good cause to fill her lonely days, she never expects to give her heart to the hurting women she meets there. She’s finally learning to live her life with gratitude, but then heart-wrenching events on Thanksgiving weekend threaten to pull the entire Whitman clan into turmoil-and leave them all forever changed.

ISLAND BREEZES

We’re going back to Chicory Inn where another daughter of Grant and Audrey is having problems. She really wants a baby, but has nearly given up after of trying. She tried talking adoption, but her husband wouldn’t even consider that possibility.

To fill up her time and take her mind off her problems, Danae starts volunteering at a shelter for abused women. It’s there that violence entered her world along with an adorable little boy.

She falls in love with him knowing she’s leaving herself open for pain. You know, I can’t really tell you anything else without giving away the plot. You’ll just have to read this for yourself. You won’t regret it.

I’ve enjoyed every Deborah Raney book I’ve read and am looking forward to the fourth Chicory Inn book, Close to Home. There’s a teaser at the end of this book, but we’ll have to wait until June, 2016 to read the rest.

***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***

Deborah Raney’s books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas-the setting of many of Deborah’s novels—for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita, where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away.

Valley of Decision

By Lynne Gentry

Every choice has a consequence in the explosive conclusion to the Carthage Chronicles as Lisbeth returns to third-century Carthage for a thrilling final adventure.

Thirteen years ago, Lisbeth made an impossible decision—leave third-century Carthage and her husband Cyprian behind for good. She knew it was to protect her daughter Maggie, so Lisbeth gathered the strength to move on with her life.

All these years, Lisbeth has thrown herself into her work and raising her headstrong daughter, all to live up to the promise she made to Cyprian. But Maggie is sick of being protected. In an act of teenage rebellion Maggie decides to do what her mother can’t—secretly returning to the third century on a quest to bring her father back, leaving Lisbeth no choice but to follow.

With Maggie’s surprise arrival in Carthage, chaos ensues. She finds her grandmother on trial for murder and attempts to save her, but instead the diversion sparks a riot that nearly destroys the plagued city. Only one thing will appease the wrath of the new proconsul of Carthage: the death of the instigator.

Will Lisbeth arrive in time to save her daughter from the clutches of Rome? How can God possibly redeem such a slew of unwise decisions and deep regrets? Filled with heart-wrenching twists and riveting action, Valley of Decision brings the romantic adventure epic, The Carthage Chronicles, to an electrifying conclusion.

ISLAND BREEZES

There are lots of decisions in this book. Some of which aren’t so good. The book starts with one decision which create a domino effect.

Some of these decisions precipitate action which will have you on the edge of your seat.. This is a time travel novel which gives one a better perspective of what early Christians had to endure.

Although this is the third book in The Carthage Chronicles, it is a good stand alone read. But it would definitely be good to read the first two before this one to have the background of these characters.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I certainly wish Ms Gentry had more up her sleeve for these characters. I will miss them.

***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***

Lynne Gentry has written for numerous publications. She is a professional acting coach, theater director, and playwright. Lynne is an inspirational speaker and dramatic performer who loves spending time with her family and medical therapy dog.