Two Roads Home by Deborah Raney

My Thoughts:

Two Roads Home is the second book in the charming Chicory Inn series by Deborah Raney. It focuses on Corinne and Jesse Pennington (innkeepers Grant and Audrey Whitman's daughter and son-in-law.) Jesse is a handsome and successful businessman and Corinne is happily living her dream to stay home with her young daughters. All seems to be going well until an attractive lady coworker begins flirting with Jesse. Jesse tries to put an end to this and shades of Fatal Attraction wreak havoc on his family, not to mention his career and marriage. When his daughters disappear and a mysterious letter is received, Corinne and Jesse realize that this situation is beyond anything they can handle on their own...

I enjoyed Two Roads Home because it was exciting and suspenseful and yet family was always evident to give it heart. The Whitman family is endearing with their Tuesday night dinner gatherings at Chicory Inn, sister chats and playful banter between Grant and Audrey Whitman. I did feel that the ending was a bit abrupt and thrown together. Too neat and tidy compared to the thrilling build up at the beginning of the story. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

About the book:
Two Roads Home (Abingdon Press, June 2015)

What if it's too late for dreams to come true?

Minor---but-nagging setbacks continue to sour Grant and Audrey Whitman's initiation into the world of innkeeping, but larger challenges brew when an innocent flirtation leads to big trouble for the Whitmans' son-in-law, Jesse. Jesse Pennington's friendly, outgoing personality has always served him well, especially in a career that has earned him and his wife Corinne a very comfortable lifestyle. But Corinne and Jesse are both restless---and for similar reasons, if only they could share those with each other. Instead, too many business trips and trumped-up charges of harassment from a disgruntled coworker threaten their marriage and possibly put their three precious daughters at risk.

With their life in disarray, God is tugging at their hearts to pursue other dreams. Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before it all crumbles beneath them?

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1BdaEcG

About the author:

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.

Find Deborah online: website, Twitter, Facebook

*I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Summer's List by Anita Higman

                                                                      My Thoughts:

Summer's List is the story of a young woman, Summer Snow, who is on a mission to complete a list of activities given to her by her beloved grandmother. Summer's grandmother is dying and wants more than anything for her granddaughter to find happiness, possibly love, before she leaves this earth.

I loved Summer's grandmother- such a dear lady with a precious faith in the Lord. Granny adores Summer and knows what her grand daughter needs to be happy. The clever idea of completing this list allows Summer to uncover what's been missing in her life and heart. Granny is one smart cookie with a heart of gold and the way she calls Summer "little love" is utterly endearing. I'd love to read a prequel to Summer's List that told Granny's story along with the early days of when Summer and Martin were young.

The premise of Summer's List intrigued me. Completing a check list of activities (taking a hot air balloon ride, building a treehouse, solving a mystery, etc.) and rediscovering an old friend after 20 years is disarming! Don't we all wish we could go back and revisit the past at some point in our lives? I wanted to root for Martin and Summer- I truly did. To be honest, their banter and relationship felt forced to me. Perhaps flashbacks to their past would have made the story more believable? The dialogue, pillow fights, secret glances, etc. never quite rang true in my opinion and while their quirky relationship aimed for approval it just came off as a bit desperate at times. Sweet story but not one I would recommend to others.

A dying wish alters the course of a young woman's life.

Life hadn't been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness---caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother's bookstore---she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love . . . didn't turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something---or someone.

Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer's past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1GKqprL

About the author:

Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Find Anita online: website, Twitter, Facebook

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*

Savor by Shauna Niequist- Delightfully Comforting Devotional & Cookbook!

My Thoughts:

It felt like Christmas morning when I downloaded the newest book by Shauna Niequist, Savor. I absolutely adored Shauna's book, Bread and Wine, (sticky notes are scattered throughout the pages and there's red wine vinegar spills aplenty!) and knew I MUST get my hands on her newest creation! The name is perfectly appropriate- savor. Just like your favorite blanket, Shauna covers you, comforts you with her stories, mouthwatering recipes (I can't wait to try Lindsay's Green Chile Strata and Curried Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches!) and a beautiful focus on the Lord. Part devotional, part cookbook and all heart. I've bookmarked many pages and highlighted passages that I'll be revisiting again and again, just like an old friend. Savor made me sigh, dream, cry and reflect on my life. I'll definitely be gifting this book to friends and family. It's a treasure. Thank you, Shauna Niequist.

Book Description

Part devotional, part cookbook, all Shauna!

Focusing on food, faith, and Shauna's genuine, heartfelt voice, this devotional for women will be as comforting as a pan of homemade mac 'n' cheese on a cold winter's night.

Combining content from Bread and Wine, Cold Tangerines, and Bittersweet with takeaways, this devotional from Shauna Niequist speaks spiritual truths to women in easily digestible bites that are perfect any time of day.

A foodie, gourmet cook, and master entertainer, Shauna writes about the beautiful and broken moments of everyday life-friendship, family, faith, food, marriage, love, babies, books, celebration, heartache, and all the other things that shape us, delight us, and reveal to us the heart of God.

About the Author

Shauna Niequist is the author of Bread & Wine, Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet. Shauna grew up in Barrington, Illinois, and then studied English and French literature at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. As an author and blogger, Shauna writes about the beautiful and broken moments of everyday life - friendship, family, faith, food, marriage, love, babies, books, celebration, heartache, and all the other things that shape us, delight us, and reveal to us the heart of God. Shauna is married to Aaron, who is a pianist and songwriter. Aaron is a worship leader at Willow Creek and is recording a project called A New Liturgy. Aaron and Shauna live outside Chicago with their sons, Henry and Mac.

*This delightful book was given to me by Booklook Bloggers in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*

As Waters Gone By- A Literary Masterpiece for your Heart- by Cynthia Ruchti

My Thoughts:

While reading As Waters Gone By I worried about how to convey to you the depth of my love for this book. I savored every page, painstakingly reading and rereading passages that spoke to my every emotion, be it sadness, joy, heartache, hope, and more. I devoured the story and it filled my heart. Oh, to be able to move to Madeline Island and befriend Emmalynn Ross and Bougie Unfortunate... 

As Waters Gone By is a story of rebirth, forgiveness, faith, love and friendship. The characters living among it's pages are unique and fascinating and I guarantee you won't soon forget them. Bougie Unfortunate, owner of the Wild Iris Inn, is one of a kind. An old soul with a penchant for "recycled" prom dresses, an unwavering faith in God and a gift for tending wounded souls who've lost their way in life, she's larger than life. Cynthia Ruchti, you've outdone yourself with Bougie- Bravo!  Emmalynn Ross is broken, almost past the point of being salvageable. Her husband is in jail, her dreams of children never materialized, she's lost her home and her business and all that's left is an old hunting cottage and a broken heart. The beauty of Emmalynn is the way that God reached out to her in her brokenness. It's when we're at our lowest that we realize how very much we need the Lord. In love he draws us near and heals us in a way that the world can never do. Hope Elizabeth (Emmalynn's husband's daughter from a previous relationship) is another character that I absolutely adored. Just 12 years old with nowhere to go, she comes to stay with Emmalynn in her darling little cottage on the beach. She's a keeper. :) And Comfort, sweet Comfort, the little dog that wanders into Emmalynn's life. How much better we'd all feel if we had a little Comfort in our lives. Precious.

Needless to say, Cynthia Ruchti is my new favorite author. I'm going to read every one of her books- and reread them. As Waters Gone By is definitely a masterpiece for the heart. 

About the Book:
How can a marriage survive when separated by hundreds of miles and impenetrable prison walls?

Emmalyn and Max Ross may have to endure the fight of their lives to mend the tattered fabric of their marriage. His actions ensured she could never be a mother and put him in prison, giving their relationship a court-mandated five-year time-out. On a self-imposed exile to beautiful but remote Madeline Island, one of the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior, Emmalyn has just a few months left to figure out if and how they can ever be a couple again.

Nudged along by the exuberant owner of the Wild Iris Inn and Café, a circle of misfit people in their small town, and a young girl who desperately needs someone to love her, Emmalyn restores an island cottage that could become a home and begins to restore her heart by learning what it means to love unconditionally. Yet even as hope begins to find a place within the cottage walls, Emmalyn still wonders if she's ready for Max's release. She may be able to rebuild a cottage, but can she rebuild a marriage?

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1Gs5M3Q

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.

Can a marriage survive when separated by hundreds of miles and impenetrable prison walls? Find out in Cynthia Ruchti's new book, As Waters Gone By. Emmalyn and Max Ross may have to endure the fight of their lives to mend the tattered fabric of their marriage. His actions ensured she could never be a mother and put him in prison, giving their relationship a court-mandated five-year time-out.




Cynthia is celebrating the release of As Waters Gone By by giving away a summer of fun to one lucky reader!







 




One grand prize winner will receive:




• A $100 cash card to put toward your trip to Madeline Island (discover the beauty of the setting of As Waters Gone By) or your summer vacation destination


• A book-club set (10 copies of As Waters Gone By and a downloadable starter kit) so you can start your own summer book club

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 10th. The winner will be announced June 11th on Cynthia's blog.

 



Plus, now through mid-July, sign up for Cynthia's mailing list for a five-day virtual tour around Madeline Island for the chance to win a Hemmed in Hope prize pack. Each day begins with an email from Cynthia that introduces where you'll be “visiting” that day (all key places from As Waters Gone By) with various interactive elements, including“I wish you were here” postcards, trivia quizzes, and an ongoing Island scavenger hunt. The person who interacts the most will win a Hemmed in Hope prize pack (valued at more than $200). That includes:




• The letterpress block Hope sign from DaySpring


• A set of 6 Hemmed in Hope notecards showing a hope-themed Bible verse


• A leather “I can’t unravel, I’m hemmed in hope” journal


• Signed copies of each of Cynthia’s books, fiction and non-fiction




*I was given a copy of this wonderful book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*