Susan May Warren has her latest book out for the Christiansen family series, When I Fall In Love. My review will be posted towards the end of the blog tour on August 8th, but in the meantime, make sure to read below and see how to enter the contest she is running with her new release!
Susan May Warren's newest book in the Christiansen Family Collection, When I Fall In Love, has won over readers' and critics' hearts alike. With critical reviews like, ". . . an exquisite romance. Profoundly touching on the topic of facing fears, this book is a true gem," and more than 60 five-star reviews at Amazon, When I Fall in Love is sure to please. Susan has teamed up with some amazing food bloggers for a fun food challenge and a KitchenAid Mixer giveaway!
Grab your aprons and wire whisks and buzz on over to the When I Fall in Love website to learn more and enter the Hawaiian Chef Showdown! Susan is challenging you to make a Hawaiian-inspired dish using coconut, mango, or one of the other ingredients mentioned in the book. You’ll get extra points for creating your own recipe—plus she might share it on the When I Fall in Love site! Or if you're not up for an adventure in the kitchen just click one of the icons below for easy entry. Hurry, the giveaway ends on August 10th. All winners will be announced August 13th at Susan's blog.
Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Susan's blog on the 13th to see if you won!
Jewel of the Pacific is the third and final novel in the Dawn of Hawaii series by Linda Chaikin and it did not disappoint! Read below for the book synopsis and my review.
From the Back Cover:
The fire that almost ended Eden's life has put an end to the promise of marriage. While saving Eden, Rafe lost not only his eyesight, but also his independence, his determination, and his pride. In a short letter, he ends Eden's hope for happiness. Hurt and angry, Eden sails to the leper colony on the island of Molokai where her mother is suffering.
During Eden's year-long absence, Rafe seeks medical care in San Francisco and eventually regains his sight. Returning to his coffee plantation on the Big Island, Rafe find the beautiful Bernice Judson waiting.
This is the year of decision. Hawaii is on the brink of revolution. The anti-Royalists threaten to depose the Hawaiian queen and bring the Hawaiian Islands under the Stars and Stripes. Eden must choose a side in politics and where to put her trust.
Will Eden discover the painful lesson God wants her to learn? And will she ever find healing for her broken heart with or without a life that includes Rafe?
My Review:
Rafe and Eden struggle a lot in this final book making you wonder if the two of them will ever find a way to be together. Their relationship has seen many ups and downs because of the difficulties that they themselves created. There are a lot of great life lessons to be learned through all of the characters' difficult trials that they have endured. Many of the characters battle with telling or concealing the truth, and I appreciated that the author showed the importance of telling the truth in spite of the consequences. Linda Chaikin does a great job wrapping up this series. All of the
different loose ends are neatly tied up as this story comes to a close. This whole series has been quite enjoyable to read and one that I think others would love to have in their library as well.
***I received this book from Moody Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In this latest book
of the Imagination Station Series, Beth and Patrick have traveled
through time again, but this time they have no idea what time period
they are in when they get to their destination. The time machine has
just picked a location and sent them there after their successful
mission in China with the golden tablet. We finally get to learn who
the mysterious Albert is. We also learn who the knight is and how he is
able to follow them in the Imagination Station around through time.
Will Beth and Patrick be able to save Albert? You'll have to read Revenge of the Red Knight to find out.
My daughter and I have been thoroughly enjoying reading this series together. These books would make
a wonderful addition to any library for kids. The series is recommended for children ages 7 and up, but my 6 year old daughter has really been interested and begging for me to read just one more chapter every night we read. It has
proven to be a delightful series filled with mystery, but also includes
some history as well. So, if you're looking for a good series that will
encourage your child to read, make sure to pick this one up! Look for
book 5 in the series called: Showdown with a Shepherd where Beth and
Patrick travel back in time to the Holy Land in the 10th century B.C.
**We are reading these books for the Tyndale Summer Reading Program. This book was checked out from our local library.
Hawaiian Crosswinds is the second book in the Linda Chaikin series, Dawn of Hawaii. Read more below about this exciting series and find out what I thought about book 2.
From the Back Cover:
Torn between family loyalties,
political ambitions, and their commitment to each other, Rafe and Eden
must fight to protect the people and place they care about so deeply.
The
year is 1892 and the small island nation of Hawaii is in turmoil. Rafe
Easton and a small but influential band of Hawaiian patriots are
quietly pursuing annexation to the United States out of concern that the
monarchy will fall to a less noble power. But Rafe is not the only one
with secrets. And as political tensions mount, some of the island's
most prominent families are faced with revelations that could unravel
everything--the future of the country and Rafe's future with his
beautiful and beloved fiancee, Eden Derrington.
Just as the enemy
of righteousness stalks his prey, danger prowls Hawaii's beaches and
pineapple plantations. The man who murdered Rafe's father now threatens
his mother and adopted son. And Eden is compelled to join her leper
community--a community that shelters the mother she never knew.
Will their own love survive?
My Review:
In this second book of the series, the twists and turns in the plot do not let up ending in quite the climax! This book will keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning....I should know. Linda Chaikin has again done a wonderful job in weaving her story. The history is informative and the storyline is enjoyable. And again I so appreciate her use of Scripture. She comes right out and states what she believes through the dialogue of her characters. Usually, I find that authors are pretty vague about the doctrines of Scripture with their characters, especially when it comes to an actual point in time when they trust Christ and turn from their sin. The characters have always had some connection with God, but it is vague and emotional. This series will one that I keep in my library for sure. And I'll definitely be looking for other books by Linda Chaikin. You can see her other novels here at her website.
***I received this book from Moody Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Do your kids need some fun to get them through the last weeks of
vacation before school starts again? Sign up for the Odyssey Adventure
Club—only $5 for a limited time! https://www.oaclub.org/
Colleen Coble's newest book in the Hope Beach Series is out! This is the third book in the series and is another great murder mystery novel. You can read my reviews of book 1--Tidewater Inn here and book 2--Rosemary Cottage here.
From the Back of the Book:
Elin Summerall was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she get a heart transplant, but the donor was a perfect fit. A miraculously perfect fit.
But when Elin begins having violent flashbacks--and vivid dreams of being strangled--she realizes that she has been the recipient of more than just a new heart...Elin is remembering her donor's murder.
Her strange affliction has attracted some unwanted attention: from the press, from the authorities...and from the killer himself. Now, living alone with her young daughter and aging mother, Elin is being stalked--by a man she's only met in her nightmares.
The police are dubious of her story, but one off-duty FBI agent agrees to help her: Agent Marc Everton.
Now, in a remote cottage on Hope Island, Elin and Marc must probe the secrets buried in her borrowed heart. And there's no time to waste. One man is desperate to silence her--before she remembers too much.
My Review:
Colleen Coble has written another great novel. It was a quick read since the story compelled me to stay up to the wee hours of the morning finishing chapter after chapter. The characters really draw you into the story and the plot has you wondering who is the real culprit. Elin has a lot of changes happening in her life with her mother, heart transplant and husband. I appreciate the vulnerability written into her character. It makes her believable; although, the cell memory theory was a new one to me. I had no idea there was such a theory like that out there. This theory believes that a the recipient of a heart transplant, as in this case, actually has cravings and memories from the deceased. I will say that strange things can happen, but who knows.
So if you're looking for a series that is thrilling and will keep you up reading late at night, pick up Colleen Coble's Hope Beach series.
***I received this book free from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I have recently picked up Linda Chaikin's series, Dawn of Hawaii and finished book 1 The Spoils of Eden and book 2 Hawaiian Crosswinds. Below you will find a synopsis for both books from the back cover as well as my personal review.
From the Back Cover:
Rafe Easton rescued an abandoned baby from certain death on a forbidden island. Now that courageous act could cost him his pending marriage and reputation.
The Hawaii of 1891 is not untamed as it was when the first missionaries arrived, but the dangers haven't disappeared. Power, wealth, and ambition still drive the affairs of island life, and Rafe Easton is poised to win big on all three--except for one thing. The woman he loves is walking away from their promise of life together on account of a baby boy...and the forsaken people of the island he came from.
For her part, Eden Derrington must choose between her father's lifelong dream of curing leprosy, and a life of privilege with the man she's loved since childhood. Will Rafe wait for her while she serves alongside her father? And what if she herself falls victim to the dreaded disease that took her mother many years ago?
Set against the backdrop of tropical paradise, revolutionary intrigue, hidden motives, and deadly secrets, The Spoils of Eden sheds light on Hawaii's colonial era and the men and women whose sacrifices yielded such unexpected results.
My Review:
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this series. Linda Chaikin's novels are well written and so informative on the historical time period of the late 1800's in Hawaii. I am learning a lot about what when on in Hawaii during that time. It's funny that we know so much from our history classes about what went on in the lower 48 states, but little when it comes to the state of Hawaii. I had no idea that there was a leper colony on Molokai. Here are some links of the history behind that colony--Molokai, Kalupapa, and old photos. Besides the facts concern Hawaii's culture, this book has a great plot full of mystery and a great love story. I also appreciate the fact that Linda Chaikin doesn't shy away from the truth of God's Word. She weaves it into her stories so beautifully.
If you're looking for a great series to read and add to your library, make sure to pick this one up. It's a keeper!
***I picked this book up on Amazon and reviewed on my own initiative. All opinions are my own.
Cindy Thomson is a new to me author that has published her second book in the Ellis Island series called Annie's Stories. I have yet to read her first book in the series, Grace's Pictures, but I'm eagerly looking forward to reading that one too. Below you can read the back of the book description, see a short video by the author and read my review. So take a look and see you think about this new-to-me author.
From the Back of the Book:
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is taking New York City by storm, but for Irish immigrant Annie Gallagher, the book is more than mere entertainment. It's a sweet reminder of her father, a traveling Irish storyteller. After his death, with only a dream and his handwritten stories, Annie flees to America, finding work and friendship at a boardinghouse in the heart of the city.
Just as Annie is settling into her new life, a friendly postman begins to show a particular interest in her--and in her father's unpublished writing. He suspects the tales may hold a grand secret. But Annie isn't sure she wants to risk sharing her last remnants of home with the world. More trouble brews when authorities make accusations against a fellow boarder and threaten to shut down Hawkins House, jeopardizing everything Annie holds dear.
Facing obstacles on all sides, Annie must forge her own path to aid her friend and build a new home to call her own.
My Review:
I was delightfully surprised by this new-to-me author, Cindy Thomson. I really enjoyed her writing style, and I was able to read the book in 3 dayswhich is quite an accomplishment with two little kids running around.The story transports you in time to an age when things were quite different for the modern society. I loved reading all the history, especially the inclusion of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It makes me want to pick that book up and read it since I only ever saw the movie version. I also loved all the detail about Ireland since that is the land of my ancestry, and I have the red hair to prove it. The story does include some unsavory topics such as reformatories for girls of ill repute who faced some abuse by the ones claiming to help them. So I would caution giving this book to a minor to read.
As far as the characters, I enjoyed Annie's character. She had so much to overcome and deal with in her life. It was easy for me to identify with her love for literature that she had learned from her father. Stephen Adams on the other hand seems a little lost to say the least, and his character was frustrating at times. He has a good heart, but not much common sense.
The overall story was very interesting and I'm looking forward to picking up the first book in this series. Cindy Thomson is definitely an author I'll be looking for when I'm deciding on books to read. Her thoughts flowed well and the story was very enjoyable. I would recommend reading the books in order since Grace does appear in this second book and details of her life are shared that would be more meaningful if I had already read the first book.
**I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Peril in the Palace was another exciting adventure in the continuation of the
quest to save Mr. Whittaker's friend, Albert. You can read my reviews
of book 1 here and book 2 here.
Much like the other books, Patrick and Beth learn about the history and
culture of the time they have been transported to. In this book, they
travel back in time to the year 1271 to the land of China to meet Kublai
Khan. Their mission is to find the golden tablet of Kublai Khan. Mr.
Whittaker gives them several packages to give to others as gifts in
order to help them with their mission. Some of the gifts prove
helpful, while others do not seem to work and get them into more
trouble. You'll have to read the book to find out if they complete
their mission in finding the golden tablet in time to help Mr.
Whittaker's friend, Albert.
My daughter and I really liked the previous
2 books of this series and the third book did not disappoint. The
books are great for this age group (ages 7 and up). I think that the
writing is well done and the plot even keeps my 6 year old's attention. It's fun to hear her laughing at the funny parts. I definitely recommend this series! You can read the first
5 pages of the 4th book in the series The Revenge of the Red Knight here on Adventures in Odyssey's The Imagination Station website. Just click on the read button that says Watch a Click Book.
***This is a book we already own. I'm reading this series with my daughter for the Tyndale Summer Reading Program. All opinions are my own.
From the Back of the Book:
The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has
never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are
legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds
herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her
as a servant in far-off Scotland.
With two months to devise a
better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is
denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into
society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and
deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum,
and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her
mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds
herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most
powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets
on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.
My Review:
My initial response to the opening chapters I read was that this was going to be a great read. Jessica Dotta has done a great job in crafting her words to paint wonderful pictures. Her story is filled with intrigue and the mystery that is unfolding is captivating. My enthusiasm waned when Julia encounter some compromising situations with a "gentleman." While the scenes that were described show the true character of this man, I didn't really care for my mind to dwell on them. When I pick up a Christian book, I'm looking for something that is in accordance with Philippians 4:8--true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. This kind of tainted the book for me. However, I will say that the mystery not only picked up pace at the end, but is definitely compelling me to read the next book. I'm hoping that the next book isn't filled with more compromising circumstances because I was really impressed with her writing skills. If it is....I'll probably be done with this series.
**I checked this book out from my local library to read for the Tyndale Summer Reading Program. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For a limited time, you can listen to a new episode of Adventures in Odyssey for FREE! Album 58, The Ties that Bind, will be available this fall for digital download and CD purchase, but if you join the Odyssey Adventures Club, you can listen to the full album now! Guess what? The $5 special held last month was extended through the end of July, too, so you can join in the fun for only $5!
Here's what part one is about (which you can listen to for free HERE):
It’s a time of surprises as Wooton becomes the celebrity guest at Comic-Connellsville and Whit finds himself in conflict over the upcoming “Let’s Get Together Festival” in Odyssey. Plus, hear an interview with writer-director Paul McCusker about the entire 14-part series.
Album 58 was inspired by Focus on the Family’s The Family Project, a 12-session small group experience that explores the theological, philosophical, and cultural underpinnings of the traditional family, and combines that information with inspiring stories and practical tools to help 21st-century families thrive.
One way families can carry out God's design for families is by serving their community—right where God has planted them, being His hands and feet together. Want to serve your community with your family, maybe make a day of out it? Here are some fantastic ideas from some Adventures in Odyssey bloggers and club members:
Make scarves through the year and deliver them to your local homeless shelter at the start of winter, or regularly donate food to your local food bank. —Shirley
Our family likes to help with Meals on Wheels. We also do reenactments of the Civil War and WWII to help educate people on history. I like to show my kids that we should be servers and givers by taking meals to people who need them (i.e. baby just born, someone died, someone had surgery, etc.). —Erin
We have been visiting a nursing home with friends once a month. The kids just sing and then we fellowship, but the ladies love it! —Lisa
We make lap blankets for nursing home residents and take the time to visit with them. We also collect food for the local food pantry. —Donna
We make blessing bags to give to the homeless when we encounter them. We also donate clothes and food to a local shelter. —Amy
Our MOPs (Mothers of Prechoolers) group supports our local Pregnancy Support Services with donations, gifts, and notes. We also supports the Durham Rescue Mission, which helps people break free from addictions and restore families. —Melissa
We live in a very rural area. Our church serves two of the poorest zip codes in the state, and about a decade ago, they started operating a food pantry out of a closet. It has expanded since then, so we now use the closet for storage, but the pantry is basically a classroom. The kids and I serve over there a lot. My 17-year-old and I go to Care & Share (50 miles away) to get food to bring back to the pantry. All of us help unload and stock shelves. On pantry days, everyone can get involved with helping people go through the line, playing with the kids, carrying boxes out to cars, etc. There are so many hungry folks, especially in the summer when school breakfasts and lunches aren't available, and helping a bit to put food on some tables is such a blessing for us all. —Debra
We pack food bags each month for the homeless and needy through a thrift store that offers an outreach to the community. We also help clean our church and our Sunday school. —Michele
We work through our AHG troop to do several service activities a year. My girls just recently made bracelets they are selling, which 100% of the profits goes to Hope House in Africa to help young girls. —Sarah
Our church works with a homeless shelter in downtown Atlanta. We cook food ahead of time, and when our schedules allow we ride down with the group to serve the food. My son always reminds me when we haven't been for awhile, so it's something he looks forward to. —Maria
We do lots of random acts of kindnesses within our community: pay for others' meals, leave change at a vending machine, hand out Gatorade/granola bars to people on the side of the road asking for food. We also love to support Mobile Loaves and Fishes. —Kathryn
Did that provide some ideas to give your family service activity the kick-start it needs? What other ideas do you have for serving your community? Share in the comments!
My daughter and I have finished the second book in the Imagination Station series called Attack at the Arena. In this book, Patrick and Beth's
adventure continues when they head back in time to ancient Rome. Their
mission is to find a silver cup in the hopes of helping a mysterious man
named Albert. Patrick and Beth discover a lot about ancient Rome and
get into a little bit of trouble along the way.
We
really enjoyed reading this second book in the series. This book does
a great job carrying over the exciting mystery that was begun in the first
book. The story includes lots of historical facts about the city of Rome during the time of the games at the Coliseum. The story does include the facts about the prisoners fighting to the death, so be prepared to answer some questions about what when on back then. Just like with the first book, this story ends with another mystery that will make your kids want to start the next book right away!
You can read the my review of the first book, Voyage of the Vikings here. And be on the look out for my review of the next book in the series, Peril in the Palace (book
3).
Since Tyndale House Publishers is doing their annual Summer Reading Program this year, I decided to pick up the Imaginations Station books and read them with my daughter this time around. We have been thoroughly enjoying reading through them together. She is always begging to read just one more chapter before bedtime.
Voyage with the Vikings is the first book in the
Imagination Station series. The imagination station is a time machine
that a local inventor has at his workshop. The machine transports the
children back in time to Greenland in the year 1000 during the time of
the Vikings. They learn a lot as they work together to find a
mysterious item called the sandstone that they must retrieve before
going back home. The book shows how doing the right thing may be hard,
but it is always the right choice. The book ends with another mystery
that must be solved which leads into the next book of the series: Attack at the Arena (book 2). I think there are a total of 15 books now in this series! The
series is recommended for children ages 7 and up. That being said, my 6 year old is really enjoying them this year.
This series would be
great for a child to read on his own or to read it together as a
family. The plot was laid out well and the mystery makes you desire to keep reading
more and more. I thought the ending was great in that it led to another mystery
to be solved in the next book. The books not only teach history, but
they also teach good moral principles too. I would highly recommend
this series to anyone with children 7 and up. This would also be a
great series to encourage kids who are not excited about reading. I
think it would keep their attention and show them that reading can be
fun! You can read a sample of the book here. And you can buy the book from Amazon.com here.
Make sure to check back to read about the next books in the series as my daughter and I finish them!
