Found: Psalm 23 by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Are you familiar with the Jesus Storybook Bible? Then this new little board book will seem very familiar to you.  The same author has published a new book called Found that is based on Psalm 23. This new book illustrates the beautiful Psalm with some great pictures and helps you talk through the Psalm with your child.

I've appreciated Sally Lloyd-Jones' work and how she points to the main character of the entire Bible, Jesus. Her books are beautifully written and the illustrations are engaging for children. This board book on Psalm 23 is great for children ages 4-8 yrs. If you're looking for something for a child's Easter basket this year, check out Found. It would make a great gift!

***I received this free book from BookLook Bloggers.  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin

Sarah Sundin's next book in the Waves of Freedom series is out. This third book, When Tides Turn, tells the story of Tess Beaumont and Lt. Dan Avery.

From the Back Cover:
Tess Beaumont is tired of being thought of as just a pretty face. Eager to do her part for the war effort, she joins the Navy's newly established WAVES program for women. Perhaps there she can convince people that there is more to her than meets the eye.
Lt. Dan Avery has been using his skills in the fight against German U-boats and hoping to make admiral. The last thing he wants to see on his radar is a girl like Tess. Convinced that romance will interfere with his goals, Dan is determined to stay the course, no matter how intriguing a distraction Tess is.
But love, like war, is unpredictable. When Dan is shipped out at the peak of the Battle of the Atlantic, he finds himself torn between his lifelong career goals and his desire to help the beguiling Tess root out a possible spy on shore. Could this fun-loving glamour girl really be the one?

My Review:
I enjoyed reading this series by Sarah Sundin.  Her first two books (Through Waters Deep and Anchor in the Storm) provided such fun reading that I was looking forward to getting this third book. When Tides Turn was just as great as the first two.  This book continued the fun story that was begun in the first book, Through Waters Deep, and finally told the story of the beautiful Quintessa Beaumont.  From the start, the book pulled me in, and it was hard to put down. I loved the part of the story where Tess is trying to figure out who among Yvette Lafontaine’s group of French ex-patriates is possibly a spy. The added suspense of a traitor in their midst is great! This time in history was also interesting to read about since women were now able to join the military and help in their own way to fight for their country. The story helps you re-live an era that we can only read about.  If you're looking for some fun reading, pick up this great series from Sarah Sundin!

***I received this book free from Revell.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions are my own.

Seeing Jesus by Nancy Guthrie

Tyndale Momentum has published a new 60 day devotional called, Seeing Jesus: Seeking and Finding Him in the Scriptures by Nancy Guthrie.  The excerpts from this book were taken from Nancy's book, The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament.  Each day has two Scriptures--one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. Nancy then talks the reader through how the Old Testament Scripture relates to the the New Testament Scripture. The daily devotional then ends with a written prayer for the day.
I loved this devotional book. Now, don't be fooled by the picture! This book is not that big, and is what you would expect the size of a gift devotional book to be.  The leather-like cover is a nice touch. I thought the insight that Nancy provided was well thought out and gave deep material for the reader to contemplate for the day.  This devotional would make an excellent gift for any woman on your list!

***I received this free book from Tyndale Publishers.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions are my own.

The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson (Book 7, Hagenheim/Fairy Tale Romance series)

Who doesn't like to read a good fairy tale? Melanie Dickerson's The Silent Songbird is her newest Fairy Tale re-telling and was released in November 2016.  This novel is a re-telling of the Little Mermaid story.

Like the little mermaid, Evangeline has the feeling of being trapped. She might not being underwater or a mermaid, but she has been trapped inside a castle under the guardianship of King Richard II. Now that Evangeline is of a marriageable age, King Richard betroths her to his most trusted advisor, Lord Shiveley, in order to make a strategic alliance. But Evangeline sees evil lurking in this man and cannot submit to the King's authority.  She flees the castle under cover of being a peasant to avoid being found out. But can Evangeline remain hidden or will the evil Lord Shiveley find her?

Fairy tales are always a fun read, and I like how you can see the familiar elements from the Little Mermaid story in this re-telling. Evangeline feels trapped by the proprieties of being of royal blood. She feels restricted by having to serve the good of her country rather than having the choice to marry for love. Her character grows in the story from the girl who has everything provided for her to the servant doing hard manual work for her livelihood. And with that hard work, the strength of her character emerges. I like that the story moves along at a good pace and keeps the reader interested with its twists and turns in the story line. The plot is not complicated and doesn't require you to remember a lot of information or keep too many characters straight in your mind.  The reading is definitely light and just fun, and could be read over a weekend. I would definitely recommend this book.


***I received this e-book from BookLook Bloggers.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions are my own.

Beneath a Golden Veil by Melanie Dobson

Melanie Dobson has a new Historical, Romantic Fiction book out called Beneath a Golden Veil.  This story takes you back in time to a place when slaves where nothing more than property and sentenced to a life of hardship. It tells a story of bravery during a time where the color of your skin meant you were nothing. Read below about a story where people tried to fight against this injustice and make things free for all Americans.

From the Back Cover:

As elegant as the Sacramento residence she operates, Isabelle Labrie keeps her past concealed, like the treasure she hides under the Golden Hotel. It’s 1853, the heyday of the California Gold Rush. Isabelle is full of hope, staking her claim on the city’s refined clientele and her future on a sweetheart’s promise to marry her when he returns from the gold fields. Then, unexpected guests—fugitive slaves seeking safe passage to the North—force her to confront her past and reconsider her path.
While Isabelle learns to trust God’s provisions, a law student in Virginia must confront his father’s cruelty and rescue a young slave from his family’s tobacco plantation. As the two escape to freedom, and Isabelle risks everything to harbor runaway slaves, the past and present are set on an inevitable collision course—one that reveals hidden treasures of the heart.

My Thoughts:
 Truthfully, I had a hard time at the beginning keeping all the different people straight in my mind.  There are two different stories going on at the beginning of the book and I had to keep looking back to previously read material to remember who was who.  The story does eventually merg all the characters together, but it was a rough start for me as a reader. The history concerning California and slavery I found quite interesting, and I liked how the story included harboring runaway slaves and fighting for their freedom. Overall, this story was just okay for me and not one I would say is a must read.

***I received this e-book from the author through NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The InnKeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen

 If you love historical fiction and have not picked up any of Julie Klassen's books, you are missing out!  Julie has written another great novel that is the first book of the Tales From Ivy Hill series.

From the Back Cover:
The lifeblood of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. When the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, become the reluctant owner--and learns that a large loan is due in three month's time. Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to her mother-in-law, Thora, for help. Thora has been struggling to find where she belongs. But as she and Jane work together, Thora's wounded heart begins to thaw. When she encounters two men from her past, she sees them--and her future--with different eyes.
Can Jane save The Bell? And will Thora embrace the possibility of a second chance at love?

My Thoughts:
Julie Klassen has written another wonderful novel. I loved reading this story about Ivy Hill. She weaves together so many different people's stories in a way that makes you feel as if you know the characters well. The added mystery in the story line will keep you flipping the pages well into the night to find out how it all ends. I would definitely recommend this book.

**I received this book free from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Newton & Polly: A Novel of Amazing Grace by Jody Hedlund

Amazing Grace has become one of those well known and loved songs of all time. It's one of those tunes that if you started singing most people around you would be able to sing-a-long.  Author Jody Hedlund has taken John Newton's story and put it into to a fictional re-telling called, Newton & Polly.

From the Back Cover:
"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found..."
Now remembered as the author of the world's most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father--until the night he hears Polly Catlett's enchanting voice, caroling. He's immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.
An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John's reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?
Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book! Jody did a wonderful job bringing this story to life. She did a great job staying true to the historical facts while weaving in the emotional side that ties you to the story. I had only heard that John Newton was a slave trader and gave his life to Christ while on a ship, but to read all of the other facts presented in this book made me come to know the great hymn writer even better. I didn't realize the British and French were facing war and how unstable the political scene was at this time in Newton's life. This is definitely a book you'll want to pick up and add to your personal library!

***I received this book from Blogging for Books. I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions are my own.

About the Author:

About Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund is a CBA best-selling and award-winning author of more than a dozen books. Among a variety of genres, she especially loves bringing long-forgotten women of history to life. She is the author of Luther and Katharina, which was awarded the ECPA Book of the Year Award in Fiction. Her other novels have won the Carol Award, the INSPY Award, and the Christy Award. She resides in Midland, Michigan, with her husband and five busy children.