Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Meredith Andrews - Not for A Moment

Saturday, February 11, 2017

The Young Victoria (2009) - "Marry me"

Friday, February 10, 2017

First Line Fridays

Happy Friday! I hope everyone is having a lovely February. Thus far, I am doing well with my 2017 Goodreads reading challenge--I have already read six books! And I am about to start another novel, which is the first line I am highlighting today. Jocelyn Green's book, The Mark of the King, is set during the 18th century, and the reader finds Julianne Chevalier facing perilous times in the new land of Louisiana. I love historical fiction, so I cannot wait to finish this story, and I will post a review on my blog for this text soon. As always, please be sure to check out the book lines from these other amazing bloggers too:

Carrie from Reading is My SuperPower

Sydney from Singing Librarian

Rachel from Bookworm Mama

Beth from Faithfully Bookish

Andi from Radiant Light

Sarah from All the Book Blog Names are Taken
Robin from Robin's Nest

Katie from Fiction Aficionado
Bree from Bibliophile Reviews

And I want to welcome Kathleen to the First Line Fridays fun!

Kathleen from Kathleen Denly

Click the links above to be taken to their posts and...
If you would like to join us, send Carrie a message and let her know!

Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line!

Today I am going to post a line from:

The Mark of the King

by Jocelyn Green

And the first line is...

Paris, France

September 1719

"There it was again. Suddenly wide awake, Julianne covered her ears. Straw crunched beneather her, needling her skin through the ticking as she inched away from the dank stone wall and closer to the warm body beside her."

Happy reading and happy Friday!

Thursday, February 9, 2017

The Newcomer - My Review

Suzanne Woods Fisher's book The Newcomer is the second novel in the Amish Beginnings series. After reading this story, I am excited to go back and read the first novel, Anna's Crossing. The setting for this book is the New World. Men and women have traveled by ship through the perilous waters of the Atlantic in the hopes of finding a better life in this beginning land. Coming from Germany, there is so much to learn about the strange terrain they will encounter, because it is so different from anything they have ever known. And they will have to learn English; however, there are several individuals who believe it will not be necessary, because they expect to live and work only amongst their people. Yet, Bairn and Anna know it will be incredible difficult to communicate with anyone unless they understand this language. After all, they must learn to interact with those in the town in order to live, eat, and survive in the days ahead.

Anna knew it would be difficult. After saying goodbye to her grandparents, she takes a leap of faith as she boards the Charming Nancy to enter an unknown journey. Hopeful that the days ahead will be less difficult than her life in Germany, the people around her are leaving their homes in search of religious freedom. So much happens throughout their time together though and Anna begins to wonder if peace will ever enter their church family again. Why is God allowing so many terrible things to happen to them? After leaving the ship, it seems her church faces one traumatic event after another. And when a strange man enters their midst, his positive outlook seems to give all the answers regarding each and every moment of their days. Does this man really believe all he says? And why did he decide to join their church? His character puzzles Anna, because she does not completely understand his thinking. Nevertheless, more confusion occurs when she starts to realize the stranger is falling in love with her.

Bairn's life has not gone according to plan for many years now. His childhood was not what it should have been, and he has spent so much time trying to heal from its physical and mental scars, and also the anger he has towards his father. Being at sea helps him to deal with the past, yet he will soon learn that you cannot run away from your problems. His love for Anna causes him to want to protect her; however, sometimes his decisions regarding the life he wants to give to her, does not leave Anna in the best place. It leaves her alone and quite vulnerable to those in her company. Despite his mistakes, Bairn wants to do what is honorable, yet time is always involved when a person needs to grow. And Bairn needs to work though his own pain in order to realize what he has gained in life.

This book is a wonderful read, because the story in so engaging. One scene flows easily into the next, and I could not wait to hear what happened in each character's life. Interestingly, there is an intense turn of events toward the end of the story that I did not see coming. And with each turn of the page, the lives of this small Amish community become more and more challenging, which is why I cannot wait for book three in this series, The Return. I am so happy Fisher is writing another saga to this amazing adventure. If you enjoy stories of family, faith, love, and perseverance, then you will love this novel. I highly recommend checking out this book and other books written by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Revell Publishers for my copy.

About The Book

*In 1737, Anna Konig staggers off a small wooden ship after teen weeks at sea, eager to start a new life in the vibrant but raw Pennsylvania frontier. It's a time of new beginnings, and for Anna and Bairn's shipboard romance to blossom.

But this perfect moment cannot last. As Bairn grasps the reality of what it means to be Amish in the New World, his enthusiasm evaporates. When a ship captain offers him a first mate position, he grabs it. Just one more crossing, he promises Anna. But will she wait for him?

As a newcomer joins the church, Anna is torn. This man is everything Bairn is not--bold, devoted, and delighted to vie for her heart. And he is here. Bairn is not.

Far from the frontier, an unexpected turn of events weaves the lives of Bairn, Anna, and the newcomer together. When the secret is revealed, which true love will emerge?

*Synopsis is from the back cover of the novel.

About The Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including Anna's Crossing, The Bishop's Family series, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

New Books from Revell Publishers

*When Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job but in his private life. He's the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father's accidental death. And he's the one--perhaps the only one--who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she's nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding-heart sister, Willow.

Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on--namely, nabbing the job of her dreams. Best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart.

Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love.

*When Maddy McKay and Quinn Holcombe don't show up for Quinn's birthday party, his friends know that something is very wrong. Their search turns up little beyond evidence that Quinn and Maddy have vanished. And it soon becomes apparent that they did not leave of their own accord.

Maddy awakens in a cement room with no idea where she is. But it's not long before she realizes she's in the clutches of a madman who exacts revenge through games--hunting games. His prey of choice? Humans. Now Maddy and Quinn must run for their lives and outwit their killer when their game begins.

Because if they don't win this game . . . they die.

*In 1737, Anna König staggers off a small wooden ship after ten weeks at sea, eager to start a new life in the vibrant but raw Pennsylvania frontier. It's a time of new beginnings, and for Anna and Bairn's shipboard romance to blossom.

But this perfect moment cannot last. As Bairn grasps the reality of what it means to be Amish in the New World, his enthusiasm evaporates. When a ship captain offers him a first mate position, he grabs it. Just one more crossing, he promises Anna. But will she wait for him?

As a newcomer joins the church, Anna is torn. This man is everything Bairn is not--bold, devoted, and delighted to vie for her heart. And he is here. Bairn is not.

Far from the frontier, an unexpected turn of events weaves the lives of Bairn, Anna, and the newcomer together. When the secret is revealed, which true love will emerge?

*When famine visits Bethlehem, some hold out hope for rain, while Naomi and her family make a long journey to Moab in search of greener pastures. The harvest there is plentiful, and for a time it appears the Lord is blessing them. But when calamities strike, one after another, Naomi is left alone in a foreign land with only her widowed daughters-in-law for comfort.

Downhearted and destitute, Naomi is determined to return to Bethlehem alone. But her daughter-in-law Ruth refuses to leave her side. Despite the fact that she and Naomi will almost certainly live out their days in widowhood and poverty, Ruth holds out hope for a better future . . . and maybe even a second chance at love.

*Each synopsis is from the back cover of each novel.

Friday, February 3, 2017

Surround Me - My Review

Marguerite Martin Gray's book Surround Me is the second book in the Revolutionary Faith series. The first book was titled Hold Me Close, and there is a review of that novel on my blog too if you would like to check that out. I recommend reading these texts in order so that you can understand not only the chronology of historical content, but so that you can also grow with the hopes, dreams, and struggles of each character. I thoroughly enjoyed each of these books, and I highly recommend reading both of them. I love historical fiction, because it helps the reader understand another time period, as they come to see it through the eyes of various individuals in the text. And hopefully it adds a level of appreciation and respect to those people who lived during such challenging times.

This book continues with the familiar characters that were introduced in the first book. Louis Lestarjette is still battling with his thoughts and feelings when it comes to the present state of the colonies. He continually considers his family in France knowing how much France wants to side with and help this new land. Britain is still trying to tax the people, and many of them are beginning to rebel against the Crown. The Sons of Liberty obtains more followers daily, while Louis listens to the preaching and predicaments of the people; however, he will soon realize they are his people, because his home is now in Charles Town. Yet how will the present turmoil among the people affect his family business? And what will perilous times suggest regarding his affections toward Elizabeth? What could it mean for their future?

Elizabeth Elliot knows she loves Louis, but she has to convince those around her of his worthiness. After all he is an outsider when it comes to her family--a Frenchman and a member of the Sons of Liberty. What will it take to help her parents understand how much she wants to marry him? Her father is still loyal to the Crown; therefore, he does not grasp why Elizabeth and her sister Anne have changed their loyalties. As the ocean waters between the colonies and Great Britain begin to grow more hazardous, Elizabeth wonders what her future will look like. All she has ever wanted is to enjoy the simple luxuries in life, but she knows she must stay informed with all that is happening in the world in order to take a stand with the Daughters of Liberty.

It is so interesting to consider that several of the people Gray wrote about in these books did truly exist. There really was a Louis Lestarjette and a Elizabeth Elliot. And several of their friends, who they worked with on a daily basis, also lived in Charles Town during the late 1700's, including Elizabeth's sister and brother-in-law. This makes these novels that much more enduring, because Gray took the time to travel to these places in order to learn more about them, as she researched these particular times in history. And I am so happy to announce that she is working on book three in this series! The title for the third book is Bring Me Near, and I cannot wait to read more about the joys and challenges surrounding Louis, Elizabeth, and the new colonies. Happy reading!

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Singing Librarian Books for my copy.

Series: Revolutionary Faith

Genre: Christian, Fiction, Historical

Publisher: WestBow Press (Author)

Publication date: September 27, 2016

Number of pages: 277

Set in 1773 Charles Town, Surround Me takes the reader into the lives of colonists confronting imminent change and unpredictable circumstances binding them together to become a formidable force.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | B&N | CBD

Marguerite Martin Gray is the author of Hold Me Close, Revolutionary Faith Book One and Surround Me: Revolutionary Faith Book Two. She enjoys studying history and writing fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and has degrees in French, Spanish, and Journalism from Trinity Univeristy in San Antonio, Texas and a MA in English from hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Marguerite is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Abilene Writers Guild, and Daughters of the American Revolution. Originally from Louisiana, she currently lives in Abilene with her husband.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed Hold Me Close--what prompted you to research this time period in history?

My father surrounded me with history from the old antebellum house where we lived, the stories he shared, and the travels he provided. My eight times great grandfather is Louis Lestarjette, the hero of the series. Although I have fictionalized him, he lived and breathed in Charleston and fought in the American Revolution. My interest revolved around how ordinary citizens faced the threat of a war at their front doors. Since my research, I have joined the Daughters of the American Revolution to continue to learn all that I can.

2. I love that you threaded fact with fiction--was it difficult to include so much historical detail into a fictional text?

I use historical characters to ground my work to a certain place and time. I do my best to stick with the real historical facts. My fictional characters including my ancestors act in a fictional world within an historical background. What I have found is that historical figures had to live, marry, eat, travel and work just like everyone else so I have them share their lives with my characters.

3. Historical works are some of my favorite to read--what advice would you give to new authors who want to explore this genre of writing?

Do the research. Read other authors—some of my favorites are Edward Rutherford, James A. Michener, and Jean Plaidy as well as all the wonderful Christian authors. Check your facts with at least two other sources. Historical Fiction does not have to be one hundred percent historical, but the main background and facts need to be consistent with history. Weave the fiction in with your characters’ dialogue and actions leaving the background to the historical facts.

Research for the series

Research was intense. I found books in Charleston and local bookstores that dealt with history, national characters, 1800s, the colonies, money, clothing, houses, and furniture. I read children’s books and biographies as well as young adult and adult fiction. Some of my unique research materials were cookbooks and paper dolls. In all I used 25 sources and listed some of them in my first book. Here are a few of my favorites: Patriots, Pistols, and Petticoats (Walter Fraser), Everyday Life in Colonial America (Dale Taylor), Christopher Gadsden and the American Revolution (Godbold and Woody), A Colonial Plantation Cookbook (Richard Hooker), The Huguenots of Colonial South Carolina (Arthur Hirsch), and Founders (Ray Raphael).

January 23--Christy's Cozy Corners
January 24--Fiction Aficionado
January 25--Katie's Clean Book Collection
January 26--Cordially Barbara
January 27--
January 28--Reading Is My SuperPower
January 29--Toni Shiloh Soulfully Romantic
January 30--Paulette's Papers
January 31--Smiling Book Reviews
February 1--Singing Librarian Books
February 2--Mel's Shelves
February 3--Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
February 4--Henry Happens

First Line Fridays

Happy Friday and happy February! Welcome to a new month and to a new first line for this week. For 2017, I'm trying to read even more each month, so that I can reach my Goodreads reading challenge. Last year, I read 36 out of 50 books, but hopefully, I can read and reach my 40 book challenge this year.

This week, I started looking at Suzanne Fisher's book The Newcomer. Check back in the next couple of weeks, because I will have a review posted for this novel. I just finished Surround Me by Marguerite Gray, and it was excellent. If you enjoy historical pieces, you will love this book. As always, please be sure to check out the book lines from these other amazing bloggers too:

Carrie from Reading is My SuperPower

Sydney from Singing Librarian

Rachel from Bookworm Mama

Beth from Faithfully Bookish

Andi from Radiant Light

Sarah from All the Book Blog Names are Taken
Robin from Robin's Nest

Katie from Fiction Aficionado

Bree from Bibliophile Reviews

The Newcomer

by Suzanne Woods Fisher