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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.

War for the Waking World

By Wayne Thomas Batson

Would you be willing to fight for your dreams?

Fifteen-year-old Archer Keaton has the ability to enter and explore his dreams. He is a Dreamtreader, one of three selected from each generation. Their mission: to protect the waking world from the Nightmare Lord who dwells beyond the Slumber Gate. But as Archer’s dreams become more dangerous and threatening, so too does his waking life.

In this fast-paced conclusion to the exciting fantasy trilogy, the dream world and the waking world bleed into each other when a rift is formed between the two. People in the real world suddenly find their waking lives resemble their wildest dreams. Now it’s up to Archer and his fellow Dreamtreaders to race to reverse the rift before too much damage is done and to battle Archer’s ex-best friend, Kara, who sits on the throne of the Nightmare Lord. Kara is building an army of her own. Will Archer be strong enough to stand against her?

ISLAND BREEZES

Dreams or nightmares? Sometimes night time dreams can become waking nightmares. It’s becoming a real mess, and the fate of the world hangs on a teenage boy, his friend and his little sister.

It took me a little while to get into this book. That could be because I’m a few decades older than the intended audience. But once this book grabbed me, I didn’t want to put it down. I also had to daydream a little about what it would be like to really have a bit of their magical powers.

This is a good stand alone read, but as with any trilogy, it’s good to read the previous books first to get a better handle on the background.

I do like these young people. I hope Mr Batson will include them in future books.

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

Wayne Thomas Batson is an American writer. He has been married to his wife, Mary Lu, for seventeen years and has four children. He currently works as a teacher at Folly Quarter Middle School teaching sixth grade English language arts and is the youngest of four children. His most recent series, Dreamtreaders published by Thomas Nelson Inc (2014), is a modern-day paranormal YA adventure dealing with the subject of dreams.

 
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen. For by it the elders received commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen did not come from anything visible.

Hebrews 11:1-3

Miracle Drug

By Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

Overcoming these odds will take more than a miracle drug—it will take a miracle.

The infection wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did. The treatment was supposed to take care of it, but it didn’t. Then Dr. Josh Pearson discovers why—his patients, including the former President of the United States, have been dosed with a different strain of the original virus, one that is universally fatal. The only chance for survival is treatment with an experimental drug, but the manufacturer might already have discarded its supply.

As if treating the President of the United States isn’t stressful enough, the situation goes from bad to worse when Rachel Moore, a nurse Josh is falling in love with, falls ill. With the nation’s eyes on him, Josh must pull off a miracle to save a man who holds a good deal of power and the woman who holds his heart.

ISLAND BREEZES

Boy, do these people ever need a miracle drug! Once they locate the drug, they need another miracle to find more of it.

There’s intrigue and suspense galore. This is one of those books you can neither put down nor turn the pages fast enough.

As always, Dr. Mabry keeps the adrenalin flowing. Being a nurse, I also appreciated seeing proper protrayal of medical ethics, protocol and procedures. Thank you, Dr. Mabry.

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

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes “medical suspense with heart.” His novels have won multiple awards: a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers’ debut novel; finalists for the Carol Award, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and Romantic Times’ Reader’s Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. “Miracle Drug” is his ninth published novel. He and his wife live in Frisco, Texas.

For if we keep on sinning willfully after we receive the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a fury of fire about to devour the enemies of God.

Anyone who rejected the Torah of Moses dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.

How much more severe do you think the punishment will be for one Ben-Elohim underfoot and has regarded as unholy the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy, and has insulted the Ruach* of grace?

For we know the One who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, ” and again, “Adonai will judge His people.”

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 10:26-31

*Spirit

Therefore, since we have a great Kohen Gadol* who has passed through the heavens, Yeshua Ben-Elohim,** let us hold firmly to our confessed allegiance.

For we do not have a kohen gadol who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all the same ways – yet without sin.

Therefore let us draw near to the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need.

Hebrew 4:14-16

*The high priest who served as head official; the only one to enter the Holy of Holies

**Jesus, Son of God

The Splendor of Ordinary Days

By Jeff High

The pastoral charm of small-town Watervalley, Tennessee, can be deceptive, as young Dr. Luke Bradford discovers when he’s caught in the fallout of a decades-old conflict.

After a rocky start as Watervalley’s only doctor, Luke Bradford has decided to stay in town, honoring the three-year commitment he made to pay off his medical school debts. But even as his friendships with the quirky townsfolk deepen, and he pursues a romance with lovely schoolteacher Christine Chambers, several military veterans’ emotional wounds trigger anger and unrest in Watervalley.

At the center of the clash is the curmudgeonly publisher of the local newspaper, Luther Whitmore. Luther grew up in Watervalley, but he returned from combat in Vietnam a changed man. He fenced in beautiful Moon Lake, posting “Keep Out” notices at the beloved spot, and provokes the townspeople with his incendiary newspaper.

As Luke struggles to understand Luther’s past, and restore harmony in Watervalley, an unforeseen crisis shatters a relationship he values dearly. Suddenly Luke must answer life’s toughest questions about service, courage, love, and sacrifice. Purchase a copy here.

ISLAND BREEZES

This is the first Jeff High book I’ve read. I loved it and am looking forward to reading more about Watervalley and the people who live there.

Watervalley has secrets that are hurting people. Will it hurt them even more when the secrets are out in the open? I must warn you that even though you will laugh while reading this book, you may very well need a box of tissues near the end. I did.

 
You will find a bonus here. But please don’t read this until after you read the part in the book where Connie and Estelle are discussing their family reunion.

 
Thank you so very much, Jeff High.

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

After growing up on a farm in rural Tennessee, Jeff High attained degrees in literature and nursing. He is the three-time winner, in fiction and poetry, of an annual writing contest held by Vanderbilt Medical Center. He lived in Nashville for many years, and throughout the country as a travel nurse, before returning to his original hometown, near where he now works as an operating room RN in open-heart surgery. He is the author of the Watervalley novels, including More Things in Heaven and Earth and Each Shining Hour.