Cott Blog Alliace

It's common knowledge that authors find their muse in many different places, but one author found her muse while teaching Sunday school.

Author Barbara M. Britton recently was featured on the Books of the Month TV program. Today we host the episode, now available online, on demand, courtesy of Preach the Word Worldwide TV Network. Learn how teaching Sunday school to children helped to spur Barbara's story ideas for her now-popular Biblical fiction series "Tribes of Israel."




(if you can't see the video, click here to visit the Preach the Word Worldwide Network TV station page.) 


Purchase Providence: Hannah's Journey today
Pre-order Building Benjamin: Naomi's Journey 

October November Clash Champion!

 Congratulations to Kara Isaac, with 

 Can't Help Falling

  

 

 Buy on Amazon
 Buy on Barnes and Noble


 A funny, heartfelt romance about how an antique shop, a wardrobe, and a mysterious tea cup bring two C.S. Lewis fans together in a snowy and picturesque Oxford, England.

 Emelia Mason has spent her career finding the dirt on the rich and famous. But deep down past this fearless tabloid-reporter façade, there’s a nerdy Narnia-obsessed girl who still can’t resist climbing into wardrobes to check for the magical land on the other side. When a story she writes produces tragic results, she flees to Oxford, England—home to C.S. Lewis—to try and make amends for the damage she has caused.

 Peter Carlisle was on his way to become one of Great Britain’s best rowers—until he injured his shoulder and lost his chance at glory. He’s determined to fight his way back to the top even if it means risking permanent disability to do so. It’s the only way he can find his way past failing the one person who never stopped believing in his Olympic dream.

 When Peter and Emelia cross paths on her first night in Oxford, the attraction is instant and they find common ground in their shared love of Narnia. But can the lessons from a fantasyland be enough to hold them together when secrets of the real world threaten to tear them apart? Cobblestone streets, an aristocratic estate, and an antique shop with curious a wardrobe bring the world of Narnia to life in Kara Isaac’s inspiring and romantic story about second chances.

 What Voters Had to Say:

 These authors are all a blessing! Please keep writing...You encourage us all!

 The cover alone makes me want to read the book, which sounds like a wonderful read. :)

 Loved Can't Help Falling. More please! :)

 Keep writing, Kara! Love your books!

 Kara Isaac, I have just discovered your books and love them. Keep it up! 

 I loved Kara Isaac's first book, Close to You, so am really looking forward to reading Can't Help Falling. I enjoy her style of writing. I recommended Close to You to my book club, so hopefully we'll be reading and discussing it sometime in 2017.

 I have read, and enjoyed, Can't Help Falling. As far as the covers, I have to vote for this one because what little you see of the guy's face, it looks like my son!!

 I won Kara Isaac's Can't Help Falling on a Facebook giveaway and was wonderfully surprised at how much I loved this book! The cover is amazing and it really catches the eye!

 Kara has a zany unique writing style that combines substance with heartfelt laughter

 I'm not familiar with some of these authors but really like some of them!  Keep up the good work!

 Kara Isaac, you have such a gift bringing comedy, romance, and meaning to your stories. I love them!!

 Wish I could have picked two books here, because Can't Help Falling caught me just by the description. I'll be looking for this one!
 

 About the Author:

 

 

 Kara Isaac lives in Wellington, New Zealand. When she's not working her day job as a public servant, chasing around a ninja preschooler and his feisty toddler sister, she spends her time writing horribly bad first drafts and wishing you could get Double Stuf Oreos in New Zealand. Her debut romantic comedy, Close To You, released April 2016. Her sophomore novel, Can't Help Falling, releases in October 2016 and is an RT Reviews Top Pick. She loves to connect with readers on GoodReads, Twitter, Facebook and through her website.

Mattie's Pledge, Journey to Pleasant Prairie, Bk 2, by Jan Drexler

About Book

When she feels the pull of both home and the horizon, which will she choose?

Mattie Schrock is no stranger to uprooting her life. Even as her father relocated her family from one Amish community to the next, she always managed to find a footing in their new homes. Now as the Schrock family plans to move west from Somerset County to a fledgling Amish settlement in Indiana, she looks forward to connecting with old friends who will be joining them from another Pennsylvania community--friends like Jacob Yoder, who has always held a special place in her heart.

Since Mattie last saw Jacob, they've both grown into different people with different dreams. Jacob yearns to settle down, but Mattie can't help but dream of what may lie over the western horizon. When a handsome Englisher tempts her to leave the Amish behind to search for adventure in the West, will her pledge to Jacob be the anchor that holds her secure?

Tender, poignant, and gentle, Mattie's Pledge offers you a glimpse into Amish life in the 1840s--and into the yearning heart of a character you'll not soon forget.

ISBN 9780800726577

Publisher: Revell Publishers

Journey to Pleasant Prairie Series

Pub. Date: Sep 2016

pages 384

Where to buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bookstore

About Author

Jan Drexler brings a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs to her writing. Her ancestors were among the first Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and their experiences are the basis for her stories. Jan lives in South Dakota with her husband of thirty-four years and their two active dogs. She is the author of several novels, including Hannah's Choice.

Goodreads Author Page


My Thoughts

Mattie Schrock is always ready to move further westward to see the image she has created in her head as the her perfect destiny. Her father is moving the family to Indiana to meetup with other families with the desire to maintain their Amish faith.  They will be with friends like Mattie's dearest friend from her youth Jacob Yoder.

After joining Mattie's family and friends Jacob wishes more for him and Mattie which leads to a pledge she makes to not leave her family and Jacob.  But the pull is so strong to leave, especially after meeting a handsome sweet talking Englisher. 

Can Mattie keep her pledge?

I found Mattie to be very naïve of man.  In her case she needed to step back and look at the full picture but she was blinded by scenery. 

Thanks goodness for Godly men and their built in protectiveness of their family and friends.  God is the main character for these young people he knows the path they are to follow but Mattie was not always listening or chose to ignore HIM.

The story was not without hardship or adventure on their trek westward.

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book from Revell/Netgalley for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review it is my own opinion.

My Enemy My Heart by Laurie Alice Eakes

About Book

The sea has always been Deirdre MacKenzie’s home, and the crew of her father’s Baltimore clipper is the only family she loves. She’s happier wearing breeches and climbing the rigging of the Maid of Alexandria than donning a dress and learning to curtsey. But, when the War of 1812 erupts, the ship is captured by a British privateer . With her father, the captain, dead, Deirdre sees her crew herded into the hold as prisoners-of-war. Their fate is the notorious Dartmoor prison in England. Her fate as a noncombatant prisoner is uncertain, but the one thing she knows—she must find a way to free her crew.

Kieran Ashford has caused his family one too many scandals. On his way to exile in America, he is waylaid by the declaration of war and a chance to turn privateer and make his own fortune. But he regrets his actions as soon as the rich prize is secured. Kieran figures his best chance at redeeming himself in the eyes of his family is to offer Deidre the protection of his name in marriage. He has no idea that secrets from his parents’ past and Deirdre’s determination to free her crew are on a disastrous collision course.

Love and loyalty clash, as Kieran begins to win Deirdre’s heart despite her plot to betray him and his family. While Kieran works to mend the relationship with his family, he begins to love his bride in spite of what lies between them.

Available in Paperback, Ebook, and Audible CD at Amazon.com and Digital Download at Audible.com.

Publisher: Waterfall Press

Published: November 15, 2016
ISBN-10: 1503937631
ISBN-13: 978-1503937635

About Laurie Alice Eakes

“Eakes has a charming way of making her novels come to life without being over the top,” writes Romantic times of bestselling, award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes. Since she lay in bed as a child telling herself stories, she has fulfilled her dream of becoming a published author, with a degree in English and French from Asbury University and a master’s degree in writing fiction from Seton Hill University contributing to her career path. Now she has nearly two dozen books in print.

After enough moves in the past five years to make U-Haul’s stock rise, she now lives in Houston, Texas, where she and her husband are exploring their new neighborhood. Although they haven’t been blessed with children—yet--they have sundry lovable dogs and cats. If the carpet is relatively free of animal fur, then she is either frustrated with the current manuscript, or brainstorming another, the only two times she genuinely enjoys housework.

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurieAEakes

Read excerpts from her books at: http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com
Website: http://lauriealiceeakes.com/ 


My Thoughts

Deirdre MacKenzie may be a female but she prefers life in the rigging and sails of her father's Baltimore Clipper.  Her love is the sea and at times she can be as unpredictable as the very seas she sails.  Her father can no more tame Deidre than he can the roaring of the sea.  The crew admires her tenacity and would give their very lives to protect her.  Even though she disguises herself as a young boy not all are fooled by the disguise.

Kieran Ashford is not on good terms with his father and decides to purchase a ship when the War of  1812 explodes his world. Instead of going to America he becomes a British privateer.  The first ship he comes upon is none other than the Baltimore clipper, which he takes over without a fight but the Captain succumbed to a natural death before Kieran and his men even boarded the clipper.  He will have to take his prisoners to Dartmoor prison in England.  There does seem to be a problem when he comes upon a sailor that is most definitely not a man but a beautiful young woman and the daughter of the deceased captain.  He can not risk damaging her reputation so he must take steps to make sure she is protected, especially from his so called dark past.

I have not read a swashbuckler in a long time.  This was fun, full of adventure, romance,deception and much more.  I love Deirdre's character so high spirited and undoubtable tom boyish to the highest degree.  She does not want to trust herself or Kieran if it means turning her back on her crew, they are her family first and foremost. You would think Kieran would be a scoundrel but in this story Deidre seems to hold that title very well. 

Makes me want to go sailing on a schooner but I will skip the pirates. 

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Waterfall Press/NetGalley for an honest review.

I was in no way compensated for this review it is my own opinion.

Christmas At Dove Creek by Scarlett Dunn

About Book

With snow on the prairie and the stars heralding new hope, it’s the season for the lost to find their way home–and love to unite solitary hearts…

She rides like an angel and she’s a crack shot. And Lily Starr is determined to shepherd a helpless group of outcasts from Missouri to Wyoming by Christmas–including a pregnant woman whose blessed event is drawing near. So encountering handsome Thorpe Turlow along the dangerous trail is a welcome unexpected gift, for he’s as formidable as he is reserved. Besides, understanding this gentle, secretly wounded man is another challenge Lily isn’t about to resist…

After the heartbreak he’s found, Thorpe just wants to retreat to his peaceful Dove Creek ranch. But he’s never met anyone as resourceful and straightforward as Lily. Somehow, she’s reigniting his faith and giving him the courage to trust again. And if they survive the arduous trip ahead, he’ll do whatever it takes to give her a lifetime of joy and love…

ISBN: 9781420142235
Publish Date: 10/25/2016
  by Zebra Publishers

	Amazon, B&N, BAM, IndieBound, Target, Walmart, Hudson Booksellers GOODREAD GIVEAWAY expires Dec. 10, 2017

About Author

SCARLETT DUNN is an author of historical inspirational romance novels. She has always loved the history of the American West, and the men and women brave enough to accept the challenge to venture to the untamed territories. Once Scarlett ended her entrepreneurial pursuits, she decided it was time to write the stories she always knew she would write. Her interest in history led her to write novels set in the old west.

Her novels feature regular people with flaws, but they also have the strength to face the challenges of the time, and come out stronger. It is important to her for her characters to have imperfections, like all people, and they make many mistakes along the way. As she writes, she is always reminded of her favorite biblical character: King David. He was a man with many, many flaws, yet he was described as a man after God’s own heart. Like King David, Scarlett’s heroes have good hearts with a desire to do what is right, but sometimes do the wrong thing as they are trying to figure out this thing called life. In the end, they are better men, and have won the hearts of the right women.

Scarlett lives in Kentucky, the bluegrass land of beautiful horses. An avid animal lover, she is surrounded by various four-legged creatures

Her website:  www.scarlettdunn.com , Facebook Page

My Thoughts

Thorpe Turlow is headed on a long ride back to his Ranch in Wyoming.  His luck is about to run out when he is rescued from a confrontation with a group of Indians on his tail.  He finds himself in the camp of several women and one lone man. This rag tag group is traveling from Missouri to Wyoming praying to arrive by Christmas.  Thorpe decides to joined the group due to the fact that the journey is dangerous and he can not see how their leader, crack shot Lily Starr thinks she can be their sole protector.

The journey brings additional oddballs to their group such as an outlaw wanted for murder and the Sheriff whom arrested the said outlaw.  This makes Thorpe and Lily uneasy having the outlaw travel with them.  One of the women is pregnant and due to deliver in December this is why they must be at the end of the journey before the baby comes.

Lily and Thorpe can not deny the spark growing between them.  But they can not give in to that spark due to both of their lack of trust in the opposite sex.   They keep hitting a wall in their trek to Wyoming.  They knew from the beginning it would be hard but not as hard as what they have had to face. there for no time for sparkin.

Will they make it to Wyoming unscathed?  Is there a rainbow at the end of their trail?  The good Lord only knows.  He will lead and protect them if they trust and believe in Him.

Lily is one tough little lady. Maybe she can find someone to care for her instead of her feeling like she is the only one that can get the job done.  Trust!

You will not want to put this book down. It is  fast, furious, full of adventure and danger at every turn of the page.

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a free digital copy of this book from Kensington/Zebra Books via NetGalley for an honest review.  I was in no way compensated for this review it is my honest opinion. 

Clash of the Titles Oct-Nov 2016

It's the end of our CLASH year, and we've lined up some awesome holiday reading (and gift ideas!) for this month's Clash of the Titles.
Vote for your Ideal curl up in front of a fire read!

Scroll through these releases and cast your vote for your perfect idea of a next read.

It's a tough choice, but it's up to you to determine our Clash Champion!

Risking Love

Brenda S. Anderson

A play-it-safe bank employee falls for a down-on-his-luck, risk-taking widower.Can she risk loving a man whose home she may have to take away?

An Unexpected Role

Leslea Wahl

Josie's island getaway becomes the summer of her dreams as friendships grow,romance blossoms and a series of thefts surround her with excitement. But asshe sets out to solve the mystery she has become entangled in, she not onlyrealizes the importance of relying on her faith but along the way alsodiscovers her true self.

Forest Child

Heather Day Gilbert

Historically based on the Icelandic Sagas, Forest Child brings the memorable,conflicted persona of Freydis Eiriksdottir to life and is Book Two in thebestselling Vikings of the New World Saga.

 

Can't Help Falling

Kara Isaac

A funny, heartfelt romance about how an antique shop, a wardrobe, and amysterious tea cup bring two C.S. Lewis fans together in a snowy andpicturesque Oxford, England.

The Cautious Maiden

Dawn Crandall

In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement witha taciturn acquaintance; Vance Everstone. With danger stalking her and a newfiance who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trustand who to leave behind. 

The Thorn Healer

Pepper D. Basham

A wounded nurse battles resentment against a German prisoner as the two work together to save an Appalachian town from deception and disease in the wake of World War 1.

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