Friday, July 29, 2016

‘A Beauty Refined’ Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Facebook Party

 Tracie Peterson has released her second book in the Sapphire Brides series, A Beauty Refined. This story is not only one of love, but of mystery, greed and faith.  So take some time to read below and find out about this newest series from a great author.  And make sure to put the facebook party on your calendar and enter the giveaway!

From the Back Cover:
What does it take to reveal the true beauty of a hidden gem?
Phoebe Von Bergen, the daughter of a German count, is excited to visit America for the first time while her father purchases sapphires in Helena, Montana.  Little does she know, however, that her father's intentions--both for her and the gemstones--are not what she thinks.
Ian Harper, a lapidary working in Helena, finds the dignified young woman staying at the Broadwater Hotel more than a little intriguing.  Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her family story is based on a lie--a lie she has no knowledge of.  And Ian believes he knows the only path that will lead to her freedom.
Meeting Ian has changed everything for Phoebe, and she begins to consider staying in America, regardless of her father's plans.  But she may not be prepared for the unexpected danger that results when her family's deception begins to unravel.

My Review:
 Tracie Peterson has written a compelling story that will hold your interest and have you racing to the end to find out what happens to the Bergen family.  I enjoyed reading this story and loved the fact that she includes a little mysterious surprise in the story line.  This book was an easy read for me and I finished it quite quickly.  This would be a fun read for a weekend.  The only comment I will make that is negative is that the father does have some immoral habits and because of that I would caution again teens reading this book.  Nothing is stated implicitly, but it is implied and plants a seed of thought I wouldn't want my young daughter reading.  I did appreciate all the references in this book to Scripture and the truth of salvation through Jesus alone.  It's great to see that in a book! Overall, it was a great, fun read.
If you want to read some other reviews of this book, head over to the blog tour landing page by clicking here.

***I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

 

Facebook Party and Giveaway Info:


Little does Phoebe know that her father's plans—for the sapphires and his daughter—are not what they seem. If you love historical fiction, romance, and adventure, don't miss Tracie Peterson's A Beauty Refined. When Phoebe meets Ian, everything changes. Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her family story is based on a lie—a lie she has no knowledge of. And Ian believes he knows the only path that will lead her to freedom.

Join Tracie in celebrating the release of A Beauty Refined by entering to win her Precious Gems giveaway (details below) and by attending her author chat party on August 9!

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One grand prize winner will receive:
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/9. The winner will be announced at A Beauty Refined Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Tracie and fellow fans of historical fiction, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

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RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 9th!

Friday, July 8, 2016

Miriam by Mesu Andrews (Treasures of the Nile series)

Biblical fiction can be a fun read if it is done well, and Mesu Andrews has done a fabulous job with her novel, MiriamMiriam is the second book in the Treasures of the Nile series.  I absolutely loved this book.  So, take some time to read below why I found this book fascinating.

From the Back Cover:

The Hebrews call me prophetess; the Egyptians, a seer. But I am neither. I am simply a watcher of Israel and the messenger of El Shaddai.  When He speaks to me in dreams, I interpret.  When He whispers a melody, I sing.

At eighty-six, Miriam has devoted her entire life to loving El Shaddai and serving His people as both midwife and messanger.  Yet when her brother Moses returns to Egypt from exile, he brings a disruptive message. God has a new name--Yahweh--and has declared a radical deliverance for the Israelites.
Miriam and her beloved family face an impossible choice: cling to familiar bondage or embrace uncharted freedom at an unimaginable cost. Even if the Hebrews survive the plagues set to turn the Nile to blood and unleash a maelstrom of frogs and locusts, can they weather the resulting fury of Pharoah?
Enter an exotic land where thousands of pagan deities are worshiped, Pharaohs rule, and the Israelites cry out to a God they only think they understand.

My Review:
When I saw this book, I thought it looked intriguing, and I decided to take a chance on this author I had not read before.  Wow, am I glad that I picked this book up!  It was amazing!  I loved how the author told the story of Miriam, Moses, and Aaron.  She did a great job being true to the Biblical account of the plagues in Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea.  This story made me once again desire to dig in and read the Biblical account of the Israelites.  This wonderful and familiar story now had different aspects I wanted to re-read carefully.  It's so easy to just read through a familiar story and overlook small details.  This story helped me to imagine what it must of been like to live under an Egyptian ruler as slaves.  And I what I really loved about this story was that it made me think about God and His work in the lives of His people. This book is right up there with Lynn Austin and will definitely be counted as one of my favorites.  I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

You can read the first chapter below:
http://insight.randomhouse.com/widget/v4/?width=600&isbn=9781601426017

About Mesu Andrews

Mesu Andrews is the award-winning author of Love Amid the Ashes and numerous other novels including The Pharaoh’s Daughter. Her deep understanding of–and love for– God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for readers. Mesu lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband Roy and enjoys traveling to visit her growing tribe of grandchildren.

***I received this free book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.