Love Stays True, The Homeward Journey, Book One by Martha Rogers ~ A Booketeria Review

About Book

THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY, Book One

It is April 1865, can Sally and Manfred overcome the distance that the war has put between them and find love?

Three strong women from the South forge ahead to new territories to establish a new life and find happiness through their staunch faith. Related not only by blood but also by courage, they prove that love knows no boundaries, and when all else is gone, love will be there. Covering the themes of family, loyalty, belonging, and the journeys we take to find love, this new series by the popular author of Becoming Lucy will be sure to please her many fans.

• ISBN-13: 9781621362364
• Publisher: Realms
• Publication date: 5/31/2013
• Series: The Homeward Journey , #1
• Pages: 304

Where to purchase: Amazon, B&N, CBD

About Author

Martha Rogers is a freelance author of both fiction and non-fiction and a speaker. Her stories and articles have appeared in a number of compilations and magazines. Her first fiction novella released in 2007.

Her experiences as a public school teacher, Sunday school teacher, youth leader, First Place leader, Mom and Grandmother give Martha a unique field of ministry.

Martha is am alumni of CLASS and is available to speak at Women's Retreats, conferences, and luncheons on topics of interest to women of all ages.

As an author, she is available to speak at writing conferences and workshops on a variety of topics of interest to writers.

Visit Martha's website here. 

You can also find her on her blog Martha Writes.

My Thoughts

Sallie Dryer has been through a traumatic time during the war between the North and the South. She fears God has turned away from her.  In her mind she has done the unforgivable. What if her childhood love, Manfred Whitman is not able to forgive her either?  Sallie watches for her sweetheart to return.  He is the first thing on her mind when she awakes and then dreams of him through the night.  What if he never returns?  What if he has been killed?  All of these things among others is what go through her mind day in and day out.

Manfred along with his brother Edward, unbeknownst to his loved ones, have just been freed from being imprisoned by Union soldiers.  They have a long journey before they reach the their home. They have been through bad and good on their journey home but God has guided and protected them every step of the way. He is anxious to see his family but most of all he wants to see his sweetheart Sallie Dyer. Will she feel about him as he feels about her after all this time apart?  

I have no doubt that the author writes from her heart.  She gives us many life lessons be learned from reading this story.  Most importantly is trust in God which the character Sallie was unable to do therefore it instilled her with doubt and fear.  The author is a wise woman in that she creates stories that will encourage the weary and downtrodden soul to turn to God with our every need.  I love an inspiring historical romance and that is exactly what the author has given us with much to ponder on in our daily walk with God..

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book from Booketeria/Realms for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  This review is my honest opinion.

If you found this book helpful vote yes or no here.

Catherine's Pursuit ~ McKenna's Daughters Series, Book 3 ~ by Lena Nelson Dooley ~ Giveaway

The search for her sisters will become a spiritual journey for the entire family.

Raised by her father, Catherine McKenna has never lacked for anything, surrounded by people to take care of her every need. On her eighteenth birthday she discovers that not only did her mother die when she was born, but she has two identical sisters. Although her father vowed not to look for his daughters, Catherine made no such promise. Setting out on her own with one clue and her maid in tow, she's determined to find her sisters.

Collin Elliott has seen better days. After losing his ship to a violent and unexpected storm, he is trying to recover--physically and emotionally. When Angus McKenna sends him to find, follow, and protect his daughter, he wants nothing more than to finish his task and return home. Can he help her find her sisters?

And will the discoveries they make along the way teach them both what's most important in life?

What people are saying about "Catherine's Pursuit".

"A heartwarming tale filled with history, adventure, faith, and love." --Lisa Wingate, bestselling and award-winning author of Dandelion Summer and Firefly Island

Author: Lena Nelson Dooley

Title: Catherine's Pursuit

Series: McKenna's Daughters, book 3

ISBN-10: 1621360199

ISBN-13: 978-1621360193

BISAC: FICTION / Christian / Romance / Historical

Buy links: Amazon, CBD, Barnes&Noble

About Lena Nelson Dooley

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 700,000 books in print.

Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with over 20 signing their first book contract after her mentoring. Three of her books have been awarded the Carol Award silver pins, and she has received the ACFW Mentor of the Year award. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books.

Her 2010 release Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, won the 2011 Will Rogers Medallion Award for excellence in publishing Western Fiction. Maggie’s Journey appeared on a reviewers Top Ten Books of 2011 list. It also won the 2012 Selah award for Historical Novel. Mary’s Blessing released in May 2012. It recently appeared on a review site’s Top Five Reads in 2012 list. Catherine’s Pursuit is coming in February 2013.

In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. She is also one of the co-hosts of the Gate Beautiful blog radio show.

Lena has an active web presence on Shoutlife, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Linkedin and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books.

Find her online here:

Website: www.lenanelsondooley.com

Blog: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lenandooley  

Official Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/333031.Lena_Nelson_Dooley

Shoutlife: www.shoutlife.com/lenanelsondooley

Blogtalk Radio: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/gate-beautiful-radio-show/

Other blogs where she’s a regular contributor:

http://christianfictionhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/

http://justthewritecharisma.blogspot.com/

http://www.bustlesandspurs.com/

GIVEAWAY ~ U.S. residents only

Provided by Lena Nelson Dooley

Win a Paperback Copy of 

Catherine's Pursuit

 1 Winner

Just leave a comment below with your email.

(I need your email to contact you if you are the winner)

Ends April 5th, 2013

Winner announced on April 6th, 2013

My Thoughts:

Catherine McKenna is all excited about her party.  She is turning eighteen years old and her father has arranged a party for the special occasion.  When she heads downstairs she hears raised voices. As she nears the source, it is apparent her father and Aunt are arguing about something her Aunt felt her father should tell Catherine.  She surprised both of them by asking her father what was it that he needed to tell her.  He looked very upset and he was pale.  He apologized and told her there was something he had been keeping from her but had planned telling her when she was older.  That something was, that when she was born she was a triplet and had two other sisters at which time her mother died giving birth.   Her father walked out of the not able to say more.  From this she assumed her sisters had died at birth along with her mother.  When she discovered her sisters were alive and had been adopted by two different families. She schemed to sneak away to find them taking her maid and only leaving a note for her father.   She had little information to go on but she was a spoiled headstrong girl not aware of the danger she might confront.

Collin Elliot has recovered from an injury he acquired when he was Captain of a McKenna ship.  He felt like a  failure because the ship sank but was able to save the crew.  Angus McKenna had offered Collin a job to find his daughter and protect her at any cost.  Just what Collin wanted to do was track down the spoiled Ice Princess.

Sure enough when he found her she was being accosted by a drunk.  He intervened for her until the drunk called her Mary Murray, which was her sister's name.  Could this drunk really know her sister?  Collin kept trying to keep the drunk away from her and when she realizes that Collin is her father's employee she agreed to let him continue on with them to find her sisters.  Was she close to finding Mary?  Even though she thinks Collin is handsome he may become a problem in her quest to find her sisters.

Lena Nelson Dooley writes of the third McKenna daughter and the search to put all three girls together again.  It was funny, heartbreaking, mysterious, adventurous and romantic.  It was the whole package an amazing series wrapped up in a big bow.  Angus McKenna  finally forgives himself by the grace of God and prays to be reconnected with all three of his daughters.  Could Angus possibly wish for more?  Leave it up to this author to give more!

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:  I won a free copy of this book from the author's.  I was not required to write a review.  This is my honest opinion.

If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here.

Christmas at Holly Hill, Winds Across the Prairie Series #6 by Martha Rogers

About Book

Can Clayton Barlow prove he has changed his ways in time for Christmas? 

It is October 1898, and Clayton Barlow has just returned home after serving time in prison for his part in a bank robbery. His family welcomes him, but the townspeople are skeptical. Bored with life in the small town but determined to make a new start, he goes to work with his father, hoping to regain the town’s trust.  

Clayton recognizes the schoolteacher at the Prairie Grove School as his childhood friend, Merry Lee Warner, and old feelings surface. Still, he doubts that he could ever get a woman like Merry to love him.

As the townspeople prepare for Christmas, their suspicions about Clayton lead to trouble. Will the trusting heart of an unlikely new friend be enough to restore Clayton’s relationships with his neighbors and reunite him with God and Merry?

• ISBN-13: 9781616388379
• Publisher: Charisma Media
• Publication date: 9/30/2012
• Pages: 304
• Series: Winds Across the Prairie, book #6

Where to buy:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com

About Martha

Martha Rogers is a former schoolteacher and English instructor. She served as a newsletter editor for the writer's organization, Inspirational Writers Alive! for six years and is the state president. She is also the director for the annual Texas Christian Writer's Conference and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Her first novel Not on the Menu (May 2007) is a part of Sugar and Grits, a novella collection with DiAnn Mills, Janice Thompson, and Kathleen Y'Barbo. Rogers has a Master's Degree in Education, worked for twenty-eight years as a secondary teacher, and has worked as a supervisory teacher at University of Houston Clear Lake and as an instructor of English Composition at Houston Community College. Martha and her husband live in Houston, Texas and have worked with teenagers at First Baptist Church for twenty-four years.

Visit Martha's Website here

My Thoughts

Clayton Barlow arrives at his father's store not sure what kind of welcome if any he will receive.   You see he has been in prison for the past five years of his life for bank robbery.

To his surprise and great pleasure his parent's welcomed him back with open arms.  His father did advise him to keep on the straight and narrow and stay away from bad company.

But not everyone was as glad to see him back home.   When Merry Lee Warner, the new Prairie Grove school teacher caught sight of Clayton standing in the door of his father's store she ran to him throwing her arms around him.   Merry was his sweetheart when she was sixteen years old.  But he must not let on how much he is still in love with her for fear of destroying her reputation with the school board.  He has to prove to this community that he is a changed man before he let's her know how he really feels.  If not he might have to leave town.

Merry was so glad to see him but he did not seem to have the same feelings.  This really hurt and confused her.  She would not give up, she would come and talk to him everyday until she figured out where her school sweetheart was under this man's tough exterior.

Has Clayton turned his life around?  Does he trust God enough to ask for help?  He feels as if God had turned His back on him when he went to prison.  

Many of us feel at times that God may have abandoned us when in reality we abandoned Him.  God is constant He never leaves us.   Clayton's character learned this lesson the hard way and then God Blessed Clayton Abundantly with a Very Merry Christmas.

Martha always entertains me with her writing.  The characters are bold, heroic, soldiers of God ready to do His bidding.    I always come away feeling as if I have learned a great lesson after reading one of her books.  

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book  5 out of 5.

Disclosure

I received a free copy of this book from Charisma/Realms for review.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  It is my own opinion.

If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here.

Giveaway/Review of Mary's Blessing (McKenna's Daughters series #2) by Lena Nelson Dooley

About Book

Mary's Blessing

By Lena Nelson Dooley

Series: McKenna’s Daughters Series, Book 2

ISBN: 978-1-61638-617-7

Realms/Charisma House
May 2012

When her mother dies, Mary Lenora must grow up quickly to take care of her brothers and sisters. Can love help her to shoulder the burden?

Mary Lenora Murray knows she is adopted. As she was growing up, her mother called her “God’s blessing.” But now that she’s gone, Mary no longer feels like any kind of blessing. Her father, in his grief, has cut himself off from the family, leaving the running of the home entirely in Mary’s hands.

As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Mary can’t see anything in her future but drudgery. Then her childhood friend Daniel begins to court her, promising her a life of riches and ease. But her fairy-tale dreams turn to dust when her family becomes too much for Daniel, and he abandons her in her time of deepest need.

Will Daniel come to grips with God’s plan for him? And if he does return, can Mary trust that this time he will really follow through?

Where to buy:  KOBO, Amazon & Kindle, Barnes&Noble & Nook, Sony Reader Store, IndieBound

About Lena

Age: 68

Gender: Female
Industry: Publishing
Occupation: Author
Location: Hurst : Texas : United States

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 675,000 books in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers http://www.acfw.com/ and president of the local chapter, DFW Ready Writers. She’s also a member of Christian Authors Network, CROWN Fiction Marketing, and GatewayChurch in Southlake, Texas.

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas,Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not the same year. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with fifteen signing their first book contract after her mentoring. Three of her books have been awarded the Carol Award silver pins from American Christian Fiction Writers and she has received the ACFW Mentor of the Year award at their national conference. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate. 

Her latest release is Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, from Summerside Press which recently won the Will Rogers Medallion Award for excellence in publishing westernfiction. Lena is currently under two 3-book contracts with Charisma House/Realms. 

In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally.

 Lena has an active web presence on Shoutlife, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books. You can check out her books and find out more about her on her blog by clicking the tabs across the top.

Her interests include:

Reading, knitting, crochet, travel, spending time with family.
She has ecclectic tastes in music: contemporary Christian, jazz, some classical, some pop, some country.

She reads a lot. Some of my favorite authors are Brandilyn Collins, Pamela Griffin, Lisa Harris, Andrea Boeshaar, Martha Rogers, Colleen Coble, Gail Sattler, Tracey Bateman, Susan May Warren, Kathleen Y'Barbo, Janice Hanna Thompson, Tracie Peterson, Cathy Marie Hake, Deeanne Gist, Margaret Daley, Mary Connealy, James Scott Bell, and many, many more. My list could go on for a long time.

To learn even more about Lena on her website go here.

I loved book one, Maggie's Journey

and book two did not disappoint me.

I am looking forward to book three,

Catherine's Pursuit coming in 2013.

My Thoughts

Ever since Mary Lenora Murray was eleven years old she has been sister, stand-in-mother and care taker of her younger sister and  two young brothers. This was after her mother and two older sisters died.  She has not just been the caretaker of the children but of all the household chores that had been taken care by of her  mother's and older sisters.  

Mary's father has disconnected himself from his family as if he no longer was a father other than the care of the farm and she was at least thankful for that.  But it would nice to have someone to confide in and lean on when it came to the children and the house.  

Mary has always none she was adopted but did not know the circumstances of the adoption or her birth parents.  She knew her adoptive parents loved her deeply.  Although her father grieved  much over the death of his wife and two daughters Mary knew he loved her and her young siblings.  She just would like to here some encouraging words from him.  

When would she ever be able to have a life of her own with all she had in her present life?  Her childhood friendship with Daniel seems to be turning into more than friends.  She just did not know how to meld the two lives together. That of a future with Daniel and the life she had now.

Daniel knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Mary and give her all the things she deserved.  He would prove to her he would be a responsible husband and provider.  He would move her away from the farm and hire someone to care for the beautiful house he planned to buy in town.  

This is how the story goes, this is not a fairy tale this is real life.  The author writes a beautiful yet heart wrenching story of tragedy, responsibility, love and faith in God.  God always has a plan and it is not always what we expect.   Sometimes a tragedy can pull us away from God and sometimes it brings us closer.  Life is not a bowl of cherries.  If it were it would get mighty boring.  This book is definitely not boring.  I had to make myself put the book down so I could do what I needed to do.  

Lena did not disappoint me with book two of Mckenna's Daughters. 

I loved book one, Maggie's Journey, book two was just as good.  

Can't wait to read book three, Catherine's Pursuit coming in 2013.

I highly recommend this book/series.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure
I purchased this book for my personal reading pleasure.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  It is my own opinion.

If you found this review Helpful Vote yes or no here.

 Now for the giveaway 

 one copy of Mary's Blessings

is provided by 

Giveaway will be from 9/6 until 9/13.

USA entry - print copy
International entry - ebook format 

 1+. All you need to do is leave a comment 

about why you would like to win this book.  
Be sure to leave your email address in the comment

 so I can contact you if you are the winner. 

example of email:  johndoe(at)yahoo(dot)com

  I would like to invite you follow me by

 email, GFC, Linky Follower, Facebook or Twitter 

this is not mandatory for giveaway. 

 The winner will be announced on 
Friday, September 14. 

 GOOD LUCK!

Annie's TRUTH (Touch of Grace series #1) by Beth Shriver

About Book

After learning the truth about who she really is, can this prodigal daughter be accepted back into the safety and security of home?

Annie Beiler seems to have it all—a loving family in a tight-knit Amish community and the affections of an attractive and respected young man. But when she learns that she was adopted after being found as an abandoned newborn, she sets out on a journey to find out who she is.

Her father is strongly against her decision to leave, as it could mean Meidung, or excommunication from the community and even her family. But Annie knows she must find “the path that has her heart.”

As Annie’s search brings her into the fast-paced world of modern life, she is confronted with all of the temptations she was warned of. Can she make her way back to the order and security of her family? Or will she remain an outsider—torn between her two worlds?

Paperback, 304 pages

Published May 15th 2012 by Realms/Charisma

ISBN 161638607X (ISBN13:97816163868)

Where to buy: CBD, Barnes&Noble, Amazon

About Beth

Childhood memories of her grandfather's ranch came alive as Beth wrote her first Amish story. Her parents grew up in the country, so she appreciates pastoral life and respects those who make a living off the land. She visits a nearby Amish community just south of Fort-Worth for an occasional church service or brunch with the bishop and his wife. And on the way home she stops at the community store to get some plum jam!

 Beth received a degree in social work and psychology from the University of Nebraska. She worked as a caseworker for Boulder County Department of Social Services before starting a family. Beth and her husband, two children, along with two cats, a beagle, and a fish named Fish live in Texas after moving from their first home in Colorado. She freelances for the local papers in her area and writes columns, devotionals for magazines, and novels in a variety of genres in both fiction and nonfiction. Beth is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Literary Agency


My Thoughts 

Annie Beiler is the daughter that most Amish girls strive to model after and mother's trusted with their children. She is the oldest daughter in her family and her parents know she is a dedicated, respectful and dependable daughter. It has also been taken for granted within the community that she will marry the young man next door whom she has been best friends with since childhood.

All of this fell into jeopardy when she finds evidence that she had not only been adopted by her Amish parents but that she had been abandoned as a newborn in a corn field at night and left to the bitter elements of nature and would have died if her adopted father had not heard her weak cry and rescued her from death.

She feels disconnected  from her present life and is adamant she search for her birth mother and find out the circumstances of her being abandoned.  Her parents and the Reverend of the community do not and will not approve for her to leave her community.  They believe God expects her to accept the life God has blessed her with.

This is a heartbreaking story! Keep the tissue box handy.

The author did such a great job writing about such a sensitive subject. Just when you think you know what Julie should do the author has such a better scenario for each and every predicament.  You've heard of Father Know Best.  Well this was Author Know Best.  That what makes me the review and her the author.

Julie's adopted parents should have held onto this verse. Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

I highly recommend this book.

I rate this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure
I received a free copy of this book from Charisma for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  It is my own opinion.