Rival Hearts, Quilts of Love #19 by Tara Randel

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About Book

Molly Henderson and Ben Weaver have been rival magazine writers for the same publishing group for years. When both come up for the same promotion, they find themselves in an unexpected competition to win the spot. Molly, editor of Quilter’s Heart, and Ben, editor of Outdoor Adventures, must switch roles, each working for the other for one month, then submit an article at the end of their quests.

Can girly-girl Molly survive the outdoor adventures that Ben has planned? Can Ben navigate the perils of the social dynamics of quilting events without destroying a valuable quilt in one short month? More importantly, in this he-said, she-said situation, will Molly and Ben give in to their attraction and fall in love, no matter who wins?

Available now at:

Amazon

Barnes & Nobel

Abingdon Press

About Author

Tara Randel is the author of heartwarming romance, including Magnolia Bride, Rival Hearts, Orange Blossom Brides, Lasting Love, Melody of Love and This Time Love. Tara is also the lead author of the Annie’s Mysteries series with The Lady in the Attic (see AnniesMysteries.com). 

Website: http://www.tararandel.com/

My Thoughts

Molly is editor for a quilting magazine and Ben is editor of an outdoor adventure magazine.  They both are competing for a new position within the pubishing company.  Their boss wants them to switch roles and magazines to see which person is the most suited for the new position. Of course they both are confident they are the best person for the job and are ready for any challenge put before them. Also, they have the attitude that surely no one can do their job better than themselves.

Since they did not know one another other than in passing they did not seem worried about stepping on each others toes.  I enjoyed the slow but sure attraction the two had for each other even though they would dared not admit it.  They both had personal issues that kept them from moving on their feelings. But God is the mover and shaker with this couple and he has plans of his own.

So many of us tend to let our past get in the way of enjoying our future. The author gives us a perfect example in this couple.

I like this verse...
"Many are the plans in a human heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
                                                                            ~ Proverbs 19:21~

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I recieved a free copy of this book from Litfuse/Abingdon Press/Netgalley for an honest review.

Threads of Change, A Quilting Story, Book1 by Jodie Barrows

About Book

In 1856, the political unrest is growing in the South. Lucas Mailly gathers his granddaughters and sends them west by wagon with a handful of men to lead them.  He must stay behind to sell their beloved Riverton home and timber mill. The recently widowed Elizabeth Bromont doesn't want to disappoint her grandfather and pushes her own emotions aside to do what is expected. She takes charge of this band of women on their adventure across the frontier.

With every turn along the wagon trail, these cousins, filled with city social graces and charm must learn how to handle the hardships and heartaches they face. Elizabeth finds herself with an unexpected suitor-her deceased husband's best friend. Her sister, Megan, encourages her, while keeping a secret of her own. Abby and Emma, the Mississippi cousins that have journeyed west, peel away the emotional layers put there by their heavy-handed plantation owner father and mother.

On the road west, through wagon accidents, total exhaustion, raging storms and wild animals the small band of travelers learn about survival on the prairie and the individuals they need to become to survive.

Relieved to finally arrive at the abandoned military post at Fort Worth, Texas they begin the hard work of establishing a home.  The cousins help build schools and churches, and try to civilize the community with manners. Friendships are mended together around the quilting frame. But, they soon realize it that heartache has followed them. When their strength is put to the biggest test of all, they become true warriors of their heart, mind, and souls.

Published by: Moody Publisher
ISBN: 978-0-8024-0937-9
Publish date: June, 2013
Page Count: 224

Where to buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD

Check out Threads of Home (A Quilting Story #2)

About Author

JODI BARROWS has spoken to quilting audiences throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, South Africa, and Australia. The unique method that she teaches is called Square in a Square. Jodi has written twenty-four books, produced four tools, two video/dvds, five teacher books, and several fabric lines. Jodi has been commissioned to compose quilts for many state and national organizations as well as working with the Kansas Historical Society. Jodi was raised in southwest Kansas, has two grown sons, a granddaughter, and is married to Steve, her high school sweetheart. 

Visit  her blog/website http://squareinasquare.danemcoweb.com/blog/

My Thoughts

Lucas Mailly has made the the decision to sell his home and business in Louisiana in anticipation of the war between the North and the South.  He is making the move to Fort Worth. Texas.  Four of his granddaughters will be heading out ahead of him on a wagon train. Along with the girls will be some of his most trust worthy hired hands to protect his family and their belongings.  

The journey is not easy there are many dangers and mishaps including some bad weather before they reach there destination. What makes these women think they are ready for such a dangerous adventure into the Texas frontier. One of Lucas's granddaughters, Liz is recently a widow and the other three are single.  These young women are brave with a fortitude that amazes not only the hired hands but surprisingly themselves. They each are looking forward to building a new life which includes a mercantile, a dress shop and maybe even a husband.  

This was a real page turner for me.  There was lots and lots of action packed in this one book. I had to keep running my family out of the room so I could read.  I definitely enjoyed reading this story. The author gave these women some major backbones for sure. The love of family for this grandfather and his trust in God to protect his granddaughters was heartfelt.  This is what it took to settle in the Texas frontier. It was as if the author had been an eyewitness on this journey.  In this story is romance, adventure and so much more.  

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from MP Newsroom/Moody Publishers/River North for review.

QUILTS OF LOVE - MAYBELLE IN STITCHES by JOYCE MAGNIN

About Quilts of Love: 

Quilts tell stories of love and loss, hope and faith, tradition and new beginnings. TheQuilts of Love series focuses on the women who quilted all of these things into their family histories. A new book releases each month and features contemporary and historical romances as well as women's fiction and the occasional light mystery. You will be drawn into the endearing characters of this series and be touched by their stories.

About the book: 

Maybelle Kazinzki can't sew. She was after all, the only girl in the seventh grade Home Economics class to sew the zipper in the neck hole of the A-Line dress they were supposed to make. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother's house she gets the crazy idea to finish it---somehow, come heck or high water. She thinks it will help fill the lonely nights while her husband, Holden, is serving overseas during World War II.

Her recently departed mother's quilt is made from scraps of material Maybelle traces back to her mother's childhood, her grandmother's childhood and her own childhood. She tries to add one of Holden's stripes to it but the sewing is not going well and neither is her life. After receiving some harsh news, Maybelle's faith falters and she puts the quilt away and stops trusting God. But God is faithful---no matter what. And it'll take a group of neighborhood women armed with quilting needles to help Maybelle believe that.

Learn more about this book and the series at the Quilts of Love website.

Tour Schedule: here

About the Author: 

Joyce Magnin is the author of the Bright's Pond novels, including the award-winning The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow. A member of the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Fellowship, Joyce is a frequent workshop leader and the organizer of the StoryCrafters fiction group. She lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Learn more about Joyce at: http://joycemagnin.blogspot.com

Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Maybelle in Stitches, by Joyce Magnin. Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it.

Joyce is celebrating the release with a $200 Modcloth giveaway. Enter today for a chance to spruce up your spring wardrobe!

  One winner will receive:

• A $200 ModCloth.com gift card
• Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron
• A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare
• Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 19th. Winner will be announced on April 21st on the Quilts of Love blog!

Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER.

My Thoughts

Maybelle couldn't believe she was going to attempt to finish a quilt her mother had started. Her dear friend Doris said it was a memory crazy quilt since it had pieces of fabric from Maybelle's heritage.  After great contemplation they decided to add more than her childhood scraps to the quilt she would add pieces of memory of her husband and others whom were enduring this Second World War. The fact that her husband was missing in action makes finishing the quilt more important than ever.

There is one big problem Maybelle can't sew and needed help. She had several women workers from the shipyard renting rooms in her home.  She too worked at the shipyard as a welder building ships which was her contribution to the war. Some of the women staying in her home and a couple of other she worked with was interested in helping her with the quilt even adding some of their own memories to the quilt and at the same time they would teach Maybelle to sew.  

I found the character Maybelle to be pessimistic in many ways. For instance her lack of faith in God to keep her husband safe or to get her through life's everyday trials and tribulations. She did not think she was capable of  learning to cook or sew in other words most things women were expect to know by her age. She had no faith in herself or God. She came off at times as being self-centered.  Especially when there others were worried about their husbands being missing or becoming casualties of war.  

I loved the story line of the shipyard women workers, but the rest of the reading was slow.  The reading seemed repetitive at times about the characters daily lives.  But the story line kept me reading and waiting for something interesting to happen which it did occasionally through the story.   

My own father was in the Navy during WWII.  He died from Leukemia in 1955 when I was four years old.  I have no memory of him.  A memory quilt would have been nice.

I do recommend this book. 

I rated this book a 4 out of  5.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group/Abingdon Press for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review. This review is my honest opinion.

Win a NEW Spring Wardrobe from @TheQuiltsofLove | “Maybelle in Stitches” Giveaway! 4/11

Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Maybelle in Stitches, by Joyce Magnin. Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it.

Joyce is celebrating the release with a $200 Modcloth giveaway. Enter today for a chance to spruce up your spring wardrobe!

  One winner will receive:

• A $200 ModCloth.com gift card
• Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron
• A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare
• Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 19th. Winner will be announced on April 21st on the Quilts of Love blog!

Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER.