Waiting on Wednesday | Captured by Love

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is ...

Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund

Bethany House | July 1, 2014

About the Book

Michigan Territory, 1814
A voyageur and a young woman swept up in a time of upheaval and danger discover firsthand the high price of freedom.

The British Army has taken control of Michilimackinac Island and its fort, forcing the Americans to swear an oath of loyalty to the crown in order to retain their land. Pierre Durant is a fur trader who returns after being away from the island for years, only to find the family farm a shambles and those he cares about starving and at the mercy of British invaders.

Torn between the adventurous life of fur trading and guilt over neglecting his defenseless mother, Pierre is drawn deeper into the fight against the British--and into a relationship with Angelique MacKenzie, a childhood friend who's grown into a beautiful woman. She now finds herself trapped by the circumstances of war and poverty, and the cruelty of her guardian, Ebenezer Whiley.

As tensions mount and the violence rages on, Pierre and Angelique must decide where their loyalties rest and how much they'll risk for love.

Why I Can't Wait to Read It

When I discovered Jody Hedlund, she quickly became one of my favorite authors! She is also introducing me to new places and periods of history. I'm looking forward to visiting Michigan again with her in this new book.

Nashville Sweetheart by Rachel Hauck (Review)

Nashville Sweetheart
by Rachel Hauck
NashVegas series, Book 1
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Available April 2014
Thomas Nelson
320 pages

---

About the Book

What do you do when the past you've been dodging shows up at your door with cameras rolling?

Aubrey James ruled the charts as the queen of country for over a decade. She'd rocketed to fame in the shadow of her parents' death—both of them pioneers in gospel music. But while her public life—high-profile romances and fights with Music Row execs—made for juicy tabloid headlines, the real and private Aubrey has remained a media mystery.

When a former band member betrays Aubrey's trust and sells an "exclusive" to a tabloid, the star knows she must go public with her story. But Aubrey's private world is rocked when the Inside NashVegas interviewer is someone from her past—someone she'd hoped to forget.

Buy a copy  |  Find out what others think

My Thoughts

Despite being "the queen of country," Aubrey James hasn't had the easiest life. She agrees to a series of interviews with a local news program and begins an introspective journey digging deeper into her life. She definitely gets more than she bargained for when she agreed to the interview!

Nashville Sweetheart gives readers a glimpse at the behind the scenes life of a country music star. There's a great romantic thread running throughout, but mostly this book focuses on learning about yourself and finding your true self in Christ. At times, I was confused by how the story was laid out. It's definitely a unique style. But once I got used to it, I really enjoyed it. Nashville Sweetheart reminds me a lot of the TV show Nashville (but a cleaner version) and was a really fun read! [4 stars]

NOTE: Nashville Sweetheart was originally published in 2007 with the title Diva NashVegas.

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, best selling author of critically acclaimed novels such as RITA nominated "The Wedding Dress" and RITA nominated "Love Starts with Elle," part of the Lowcountry series, the Nashvegas series and the Songbird Novels penned with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Their novel "Softly and Tenderly,' was one of Booklists 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals. A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, she worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in an uncomfortable chair to write full time in 2004. Rachel serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and leads worship at their annual conference. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker. Rachel writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

  Rachel Hauck Online

Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?!

"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey where we share what we're reading and our goals for the week.

What I Read Last Week ...

Apparently, I'm just going to post this every other week during the summer. I keep forgetting! Oh well! I've been reading some great books!

What I'm Reading Now ...

Audio

What I Hope to Read This Week ...

That's what I'm hoping to read this week. What are you reading?

World Watch List | Laos

[ World Watch List Challenge • #20 Laos ]

Laos These are three stories of real Christian women in Laos: * Onaona loves her husband Kahoku. She longs for him to know Jesus, but he laughs at the idea of accepting Him into his life. Whenever Onaona tries to share the gospel with him, they end up fighting. Kahoku despises Onaona’s faith so much, that he files a police report whenever a pastor visits their home. Pray that God strengthens Onaona, and opens Kahoku’s heart to believe in the Lord Jesus. * Dea wants to attend church services, but her husband Mong, who’s addicted to alcohol and drugs, forces her to work on Sundays. Dea cuts grass and harvests from the fields, while Mong gets intoxicated. Ask the Lord to give her the strength to fulfill her duties as a homemaker, while learning more about God. Pray that Mong would encounter Jesus, and be freed from the bondage of his addictions. * Jeanitha is new to the Christian faith. She finds it difficult to fully let go of the rituals she has grown up with. Sometimes, she still invokes spirits, and seeks advice from fortune tellers. When she loses objects, or when animals in her care are missing, she consults shamans, or witchdoctors. Some of her fellow Christians offer meals to spirits when their loved ones die. Lift Jeanitha and those who share her struggles up to the Lord. Pray for God to give them courage and boldness to “shed their old wineskins”; that they may be redeemed from their old ways, and be renewed in Christ day by day. *Names, photographs and other information have been changed for security purposes   Share This Story Quick Facts on Laos Rank: 21 Previous Rank: 18 Leader: President Choummaly Sayasone Government: Communist state Religion: Buddhism Population: 6.5 million (187,000 Christians) Source of persecution: Communist oppression/Religious militancy Pray Christians in Laos need your prayers. Post a prayer or word of encouragement. Share Be a voice for persecuted Christians in Laos. Share their stories and make others aware of their plight Give Help us in assisting Christians around the world who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Donate to help the persecuted church Your gift goes to Bible and gospel development, women and children advancement, and Christian community restoration.

Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt (Blog Tour + Review)

Somebody Like You
by Beth K. Vogt
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Available May 2014
Howard Books
368 pages

---

About the Book

Can a young widow find love again with her husband’s reflection?

Haley’s three-year marriage to Sam, an army medic, ends tragically when he’s killed in Afghanistan. Her attempts to create a new life for herself are ambushed when she arrives home one evening—and finds her husband waiting for her. Did the military make an unimaginable mistake when they told her Sam was killed?

Too late to make things right with his estranged twin brother, Stephen discovers Sam never told Haley about him. As Haley and Stephen navigate their fragile relation­ship, they are inexorably drawn to each other. How can they honor the memory of a man whose death brought them together—and whose ghost could drive them apart?

Somebody Like You is a beautifully rendered, affecting novel, reminding us that while we can’t change the past, we have the choice to change the future and start anew. 

Buy a copy  |  Read an excerpt  |  Find out what others think

My Thoughts

After reading Beth's last two novels and her most recent novella, I was dying to read Somebody Like You. Wanna know a secret? I agreed to read and review this book without even reading the synopsis or taking a second glance at the cover! I saw "Beth K. Vogt" in the email and hastily signed up.

When I received the book and read the synopsis, I was completely intrigued—even more so than before. A woman who's recently lost her husband to war, meets his—surprise!—identical twin brother for the first time, and begins to feel more for his twin than she feels is right for a freshly widowed sister-in-law. Wow. I mean, how in the world was Beth planning to pull this off without it becoming the next year's worth of Days of Our Lives episodes? But I had faith in Beth's abilities and eagerly dove right in.

I was not disappointed. Somebody Like You was every bit as dramatic, romantic, and sigh-worthy as I hoped it would be! I felt the intense emotions that Haley faces on a daily basis as she struggles to make a life on her own. I could feel the surprise, anger, and even betrayal as she discovers Sam has kept some pretty big secrets from her. I could feel the curiosity, desire to be cared for, struggle to maintain her independence as Stephen begins to worm his way into her life. Seriously, this is a big book of feelings. 

There's so much that takes place in the book, and I don't want to give any spoilers away, so let me just say it's amazing. There were times that might heart nearly stopped at the raw emotion and then began galloping away at the sweetness and tenderness of the moment.

The overarching theme of the book deals with betrayal and family connections. There's a sense that the author is trying to pound into her characters' hearts—and the readers' as well—that we don't know how much time we have on this earth. Let's don't let unforgiveness hold us back from God's best for our lives. What a great message ... and a great avenue for sharing it with the world.

This is an amazing book! But don't take my word for it. Go get your copy TODAY! You'll love it! I promise!!! [5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice), though she said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four, though she said she’d never have kids. She’s discovered that God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Her contemporary romance novel, Wish You Were Here, debuted in May 2012 (Howard Books), and Catch a Falling Star releases May 2013. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also the Skills Coach for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren.

Beth K. Vogt Online

Website & Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

All My Belongings | Enter to win a $200 Visa Card from Cynthia Ruchti & RSVP for 6/11 LIVE Webcast Event

Cynthia Ruchti asks what it takes to overcome your past and become who you were meant to be in her latest novel, All My Belongings. Cynthia has woven a heart-wrenching tale of forgiveness, grace, and learning what it means to truly belong.

Cynthia is celebrating the release of her latest novel with a fun giveaway and a live webcast event!

 
One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa cash card
• All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the All My Belongings LIVE webcast event on June 11th. Connect with Cynthia for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Cynthia will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, fun prizes, and gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of All My Belongings and join Cynthia and friends on the evening of June 11th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 11th!

All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti (Blog Tour + Review)

All My Belongings
by Cynthia Ruchti
Christian Fiction / Contemporary
Available May 2014
Abingdon Press
336 pages

---

About the Book

A new life and a new identity can’t protect Becca from a past that refuses to go away.

After spending years running from the shame her father put on her family, Jayne is determined not to let him steal her future in the same way he stole her childhood. Changing her name to Becca Morrow, she moves to California and settles into a new life and new job caring for ailing mother of handsome young businessman, Isaac Hughes.

But just as she’s wondering if she and Isaac are headed for a relationship, Becca’s patient passes away under unusual circumstances. Suddenly, her past catches up with her and the unnerving details of her heritage threaten to destroy all sense of home and all hope for love.

Even if she could clear her name, a phone call wraps a suffocating shroud around her heart. Her estranged father needs her help. But can Becca open her new life to the man who ruined her past?

Buy a copy  |  Find out what others think

My Thoughts

Wow! What a surprising (in a good way!) book! Based on the synopsis, I knew I would enjoy reading All My Belongings, but I had no idea how much I would love it! 

Isaac and Becca are both fantastic lead characters. They may be two of my favorite book friends this year! I liked them both right away but still found myself wanting to get to know them better. While the romance thread is very light throughout most of the book, there was enough of a spark early on that had me hoping for a happy ending for these two.

I was shocked by the depth of topics the author addresses in this books—this is no light, fluffy romance novel! Ruchti brings some pretty serious subjects into the book (i.e., "mercy killings" and adoption) and manages to do so in a natural way.

The author does a wonderful job of bringing everything full circle. I was surprised by a few things, but happy at the way it all played out. I also loved that where many books conclude, this author gave us about 60 more pages to truly bring things to a more natural—and finished—ending.

My only criticisms are very minor. There were a few times when I was confused by how close Becca and Geneva were. Initially, Becca calls her "Geneva" but later she calls her "Mrs. Larkin." Not a huge deal, but I was confused. I also felt like there were a couple of points where the plot moved a little too fast. Again not a huge deal, but I would have liked to see these moments stretch out a little more.

All in all, I truly loved All My Belongings. Cynthia Ruchti has written a moving and deep story that I am so glad I read! I can't wait to go back and read her previous novel, When the Morning Glory Blooms! [4.5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Abingdon Press through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Cynthia Ruchti has more than three decades of radio broadcast experience with "Heartbeat of the Home" radio and currently serves as Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers.

Cynthia Ruchti Online

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter