The Christmas Prayer by Wanda Brunstetter

About the Book

Book Title: The Christmas Prayer

Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter

Genre: Historical Christmas Romance

Release date: September, 2018

Beloved, bestselling author of Amish fiction, Wanda E. Brunstetter takes readers on a journey in 1850 along the California Trail.

Only the brave—or foolhardy—would attempt a cross-country journey late in the season. Three wagons meet up in Independence, Missouri, in April 1850, and their owners decide to keep forging ahead despite many setbacks and delays. December finds them in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when a sudden snowstorm traps them, obscuring the trail.

Cynthia Cooper is traveling with her mother and the man she has promised to marry. But as Christmas is upon them and they are hunkered down in a small cabin, she is forced to reevaluate her reasons for planning to marry fellow-traveler Walter Prentice. When a widowed father heading to a California ranch and a gold prospector both show an interest in Cynthia, she weighs her dreams for marriage alongside her responsibility to care for her mother. Can love win over her timid heart?

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this novella. It is an interesting story about love. Cynthia is set to marry Walter, her mother arranged it so that Cynthia would be well taken care of in life. I have to admit that I didn't like Walter in the least and Cynthia's mother wasn't much better.  Walter was uncaring and pigheaded. I did love the children.
When they head out on a journey with an interesting group of others, and not the wagon train, I couldn't wait to see how that went.  The trip itself had its hardships and without the other men along, the trio of Cynthia, Walter and her mother wouldn't have made it. I figured what would happen before the end but still enjoyed the story. It was a good, quick read.
It was a 4/5 for me.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via Celebrate Lit). I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Guest Post from Wanda

A cross-country journey in 1850 leads to high mountain danger—and romance.

Only the brave—or foolhardy—would attempt a cross-country journey late in the season. Three wagons meet up in Independence, Missouri, in April 1850, and their owners decide to keep forging ahead despite many setbacks and delays. December finds them in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when a sudden snowstorm traps them, obscuring the trail.

Cynthia Cooper is traveling with her mother and the man she has promised to marry. But as Christmas is upon them and they are hunkered down in a small cabin, she is forced to reevaluate her reasons for planning to marry fellow-traveler Walter Prentice. When a widowed father heading to a California ranch and a gold prospector both show an interest in Cynthia, she weighs her dreams for marriage alongside her responsibility to care for her mother. Can love win over her timid heart?

Find out in The Christmas Prayer from NY Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter.

Try this Exclusive Bonus Recipe Found Inside the Book!

Cynthia’s Fried Apples

Instructions:

Without peeling, quarter as many tart apples as you would like. Lay apples close together, skin side down, in frying pan with salt pork fat or butter. Cover until well steamed then uncover and brown both sides, turning and watching closely to prevent burning.

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, September 18

The Avid Reader, September 18

The Power of Words, September 18

Lighthouse Academy, September 18

Just Commonly, September 19

Carpe Diem, September 19

A Baker’s Perspective, September 19

Blossoms and Blessings, September 20

Britt Reads Fiction, September 20

Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, September 20

Connie’s History Classroom, September 21

Luv’N Lambert Life, September 21

Not Enough Time for Books, September 21

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, September 22

Lis Loves Reading, September 22

Literary Reflections Book Blog, September 22

Babs Book Bistro, September 23

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 23

Janices book reviews, September 23

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 24

Mary Hake, September 24

Two Points of Interest, September 24

Inspiration Clothesline, September 25

Inklings and notions, September 25

Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 25

Fiction, Faith, and Fun, September 26

Girls in White Dresses, September 26

Book by Book, September 26

Splashes of Joy, September 27

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, September 27

The Morning Chapter, September 27

The Mimosa Blossom, September 28

Pause for Tales, September 28

Have A Wonderful Day, September 28

Miss Tina’s Amish Book Reviews, September 29

To Everything A Season, September 29

Cafinated Reads, September 29

Bibliophile Reviews, September 29

Quiet Quilter, September 30

Southern Gal Loves to Read, September 30

proud to be an autism mom, September 30

Texas Book-aholic, October 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 1

Bigreadersite, October 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Wanda is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a free copy of The Christmas Prayer with an autographed book plate inside!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d297/the-christmas-prayer-celebration-tour-giveaway

More than a Phoenix by Ashlyn Chase

Book Description:

What do you get when you take
Two phoenix shifter brothers
Throw in one powerful witch
And one...monkey shifter?

Mallory Summers is losing it. She's discovered she can talk to dead people—and she might be able to shift to monkey form. Firefighter Dante Fierro knows the quirky beauty isn't crazy—just supernatural. But what would she think if she knew his secret?

Hothead Noah Fierro has his own sparks flying with gorgeous ER doctor Kizzy Samuels. While the attraction is mutual, so are the supernatural secrets. With this much sizzle going on, how do you not get burned?

Fighting fires is easy... Finding love is the hard part.

Phoenix Brothers series:
Hooked on a Phoenix (Book 1)
More Than a Phoenix (Book 2)

My Thoughts:
I wasn't sure how the author was going to combine two of the Fierro brothers' stories but this one makes sense. Dante and Noah are best friends so it just fits that they would meet their ladies at the same time. Both are firefighters, as is everyone in the family except the one brother. I love how close all the Fierro family is. 
Kizzy gets pulled in because she is an ER doctor when Mallory is brought in by Dante. The two of them just click and I couldn't wait to see her reaction to the paranormal world. The fact that everyone has secrets is amusing. All of them think they are the only ones with secrets only to find out all of them have one. Overall, I enjoyed it thoroughly!
It was a 4/5.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas by Katie Ruggle

Book Description

First in a brand new series! 

"Vivid and charming." —CHARLAINE HARRIS, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

In the heart of the Rockies
In the arms of a cowboy
One white Christmas can change everything.

When firefighter and single dad Steve Springfield moved his four kids to a Colorado Christmas tree ranch, he intended for it to be a safe haven. But he never expected danger to follow them to his childhood home...

Or that he would come face-to-face with the one girl he could never forget.

Folk artist Camille Brandt lives a quiet life. As the town's resident eccentric, she's used to being lonely—until Steve freaking Springfield changes everything. Brave and kind, he's always had a piece of her heart, and it doesn't take long before she's in danger of falling for him and his rambunctious kids. But as mysterious fires break out across the sleepy Colorado town, Steve and Camille will have to fight if they want their happy family to survive until Christmas...

My Thoughts:
Good story! Camille is a bit of a recluse. Ok, so she only ventures out when she must and tries to make it where she avoids as many people as she possibly can.  That's normal, right? Steve has just moved him and his kids home to live/work on his family's tree farm. I absolutely adore his youngest daughter! She is just adorable.
Camille unintentionally gets sucked into a bit of sibling rivalry but she only has eyes for Steve. He has always been good to her and her favorite of the Springfield boys. The story flowed well and had a lot in it that I didn't expect. I had guessed who the bad guy was but was really hoping I was wrong!
It was a solid 4/5 for me. I do want to know more about this family!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

It’s Momplicated

About the Book

Book Title: It’s Momplicated

Author: Debbie Alsdorf * Joan Edwards Kay

Genre: Non-fiction

Release date: September 4, 2018

Let’s face it: when it comes to mothers and their daughters, things can get a little . . . complicated. Momplicated, you might say.

Whether your relationship with your mom has been wonderful or stressful, redeemed or broken, close or nonexistent, it’s one of your life’s most important and defining connections. Its effects have probably followed you into adulthood.

If you have conflicting feelings toward mom—or if you wish you could get past some of the baggage that holds you back—this is your book. Combining spiritual disciplines and the best of current therapeutic practice, It’s Momplicated will help you discover

• How your early connection with your mother may have impacted your sense of self and your other important relationships—and what you can do to break the cycle
• Why you and your mother have the relationship you have—the underlying reasons that may be contributing to strain and unease
• Tools and exercises to help you cope with some of the most common effects of a broken relationship, including anxiety, depression, lack of confidence, and trust issues
• How to be the daughter and mother God wants you to be even if your mom wasn’t who you needed her to be.

It’s never too late to love, never too late to heal, and never too late to trust God to turn the pain in your story into a redemption song. As you read It’s Momplicated, you’ll realize that while God doesn’t promise to fix all your circumstances, He does promise to uphold you and lead you to a healing place of knowing you are truly precious and loved, no matter how your past has affected you

My Thoughts:
Wow, this is a good one. It is not my normal book to review because it isn't fiction but I loved it.  I have a good mother/daughter relationship with my mom, but I still felt it. The words and scenarios the authors describe are great and make me think.  Your mom isn't just your mom.  She is a person, with her own life/walk/problems.  Even if you have a good relationship, that is sometimes difficult to remember that she isn't just your mom.
It is also good to help you if you are a mother with a daughter.  It made me stop and think about how I interact with her and what I want her to think of me. We have a good relationship but it can always be better and this book helped me with that. Overall, it is a book I think any mom/daughter can read and get something from so I would recommend it.
It is a 5/5 for me.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via Celebrate Lit). I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Authors

Debbie Alsdorf: For the past twenty-five years, through her speaking and writing, Debbie Alsdorf’s mission has been to help women live a better story by leading them to the heart of God’s love and the truth of his Word. Debbie is a biblical lay counselor, a Christian life coach, and the founder of Design4Living Ministries. She and her husband, Ray, have raised a blended family of four adult children. Today Debbie’s favorite role is being a grandma to ten little ones.

Joan Kay Edwards: Joan Edwards Kay is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the East Bay of San Francisco and has been an adjunct professor at Western Seminary. She received her bachelor’s degree from Vassar College and her master’s degree from Western Seminary. She is happily married with two adult daughters, four stepdaughters, and five grandchildren.

Guest Post from Debbie and Joan

Mom. Mother. Mommy.

What do those words evoke in you? Wonderful memories of home cooked meals? A longing for nurture that was never fully met? A sense of not being enough? Gratitude? Sadness and loss? Anger and resentment?

Most women have a complex reaction when asked to think about their mothers–a mix of positive and negative, gratitude and hurt, happy and sad memories. Our relationships with our mothers are unique, rich, and complicated.

Allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Debbie Alsdorf and Joan Edwards Kay, friends who have written a book together that explores the issue of moms and their profound effect on daughters. It’s Momplicated: Hope and Healing for Imperfect Daughters of Imperfect Mothers releases this September 4th, 2018. Since every woman is a daughter, this book is for every women.

Every daughter receives less-than-perfect programming from her mother. The messages may be about our value, or how to relate to others, or even about how we think about bodies. However, God is our perfect parent who wants to rewrite that imperfect programming with his truth. Many of us don’t realize the wrong messages that are deep in our souls.

I (Debbie) grew up with a mother who was cold, distant and unavailable. I have one sister who was in her teens when I was born and married by the time I started school, leaving me to be raised as an only child. I grew up wondering what was wrong with me, “Why didn’t mom want to spend time with me? Why didn’t she hug me and hold me close like other moms did? Why was nothing I did to earn her approval good enough?” I was deeply imprinted with wounds of rejection and carried them through most of my adult life, even though I pasted on a smile, kept trying to do better, and could be the life of any gathering. On the inside, I was sad for as long as I can remember. Through working on this book, I have experienced a phenomenal inner healing, the exposing of lies long held secretly in my heart, and the ability to see the way the enemy of my soul has tried to use the “not enough” belief against me. I am beyond excited for other women to have the courage to own their own story, inviting Jesus to meet them in any points of pain and any relationships that need healing.

I (Joan) had a stay-at-home mom who cooked dinner every night, took us to the library and the beach, did art projects with us, and made me feel safe and happy. However, when I was nine years old, my father and then my brother both died of cancer within a year and my relationship with my mother changed. Understandably, she struggled to just hold herself together, but in my young mind I felt abandoned by her. I didn’t have the capacity to deal with all the loss and she didn’t have the strength to help me. I felt emotionally lost and alone. I longed for my mother to comfort me and show me how to overcome my pain. In retrospect, I wish she had shown me faith in a God who could bring hope and meaning to the devastation that had hit our family. But she was not a believer and did her best to stuff away the feelings and soldier on. I was deeply imprinted with the belief, I’m alone and can only depend on myself. As I worked on this project, the root of many of my struggles became clear to me and God has been comforting those young, lonely parts of me with his presence and his love.

What is your story with your mother? What false beliefs has this important relationship imprinted on your heart, and how does God’s truth rewrite them? It is our hope that every woman, as God’s daughter, will learn the beauty of who she is and receive her own healing so she can leave a legacy of faith, hope and beauty to the generation of women that follow.

One thing we know for sure: there are no perfect moms, just women partnering with a perfect God.

Blog Stops

A Baker’s Perspective, September 8

Texas Book-aholic, September 8

Carpe Diem, September 9

Lighthouse Academy, September 10

Luv’N Lambert Life, September 10

Life Faith & Health, September 11

Real World Bible Study, September 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 13

Multifarious, September 14

Reading is my Superpower, September 14 (Interview)

Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 15

proud to be an autism mom, September 16

Bigreadersite, September 16

Bibliophile Reviews, September 17

All-of-a-kind Mom, September 18

For the Love of Books, September 19

Janices book reviews, September 19

Reader’s Cozy Corner, September 20

margaret kazmierczak, September 20 (Interview)

Living Life Free In Christ, September 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 21

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Debbie and Joan are giving away a grand prize of a “I’m Not Like a Regular Mom” T-Shirt!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d56c/it-s-momplicated-celebration-tour-giveaway

JACLYN AND THE BEANSTALK by Mary Ting

Book Description:
What fate awaits a girl who hears monsters at night…

Sixteen-year-old Jaclyn looks up to her father. An honest man who once fought for the king, he now teaches Jaclyn how to use her wits—and her sword. 

But he has a secret. And his secret may have a connection to the one thing Jaclyn is hiding from him. 

Upon hearing “monsters” are terrorizing the small villages around Black Mountain, Jaclyn’s father and his friends head out to hunt them … but they don’t return.

Armed only with her sword and three magic beans—a gift from a mysterious old woman—Jaclyn sets out for Black Mountain to save her father. 

On her climb, one bean drops and grows into a beanstalk, catching her when she falls.

She isn’t the only one that takes the ride. Jack, her childhood friend and secret crush, is following her. 

Jaclyn and Jack will have to work together to save not only their fathers, but the townspeople the beasts plan to lay waste to before it’s too late.

My Thoughts:
I always enjoy Mary's books and this one was awesome! It is a twist on Jack and the Beanstalk but it didn't go the way I expected. Jaclyn is a beloved daughter and she dotes on her parents.  I love how they let her be herself and her father teacher her to take care of herself.  The monsters were completely freaky!
Jaclyn is so strong and courageous.  There were times I could have smacked Jack through the book but he was great too.  The author did wonderful with her cast of characters and I loved the retailing of this fairy tale. The parallels she did were masterfully done and I liked that if you wanted to, you could see a moral to the whole thing.
It was a 5/5 for me. Loved this book!

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Stormy Haven by Elizabeth Goddard

Description

He’s her undercover bodyguard—but she can’t know

A Coldwater Bay Intrigue story

When someone tries to kill former government agent Jonna Strand, Ian Brady comes to her rescue. Now Ian must keep Jonna safe and catch the would-be killer—without revealing he was sent undercover to protect her. But when Jonna learns the truth, can she look past his secrets and lean on him to ensure they live through the storm-ridden night?

My Thoughts:
This was a good one. Ian has been sent by his uncle to keep watch over Jonna. The problem is, she doesnt' know it and he is supposed to keep it a secret. I really liked how the author did her descriptions. Jonna is not a damsel in distress, but a competent former agent. She doesn't know exactly why she is being targeted but she is done hiding.
Ian is a strong man with his own past and issues to overcome. Jonna is his mission and more. Even if he hadn't been sent, he would have protected her anyway. That is just the kind of man he was. I really liked that his uncle was protective of Joanna too. The story itself was good, pulling you along.
It was a 4/5 for me. I enjoyed the read.

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Unraveling by Sara Ella

Book Description:

“A sequel that outshines its already brilliant predecessor.” —Nadine Brandes, award-winning author of the Out of Time trilogy

What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?

Eliyana Ember doesn’t believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what’s right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she’s trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about—like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.

Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua’s finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something—or someone—is missing?

When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections—and keep herself from falling for him in the process?

My Thoughts:
I do believe I like this book even better than I did the first in this series. I knew the characters and immediately dove in. It was great being back! El is determined to focus on what is real and she can deal with. She wants to forget Ky, but maybe she doesn't.
I love the random lyrics and reference the author sprinkles in. I guess I'm one of those that will never get too old for them :) Plenty to keep you attention and pull you on through the story. Love, magic, good, evil and a lot more.
It was a 4/5 for me. I'm absolutely going to continue with this series.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I recieved this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.