The Friday 56 & First Line Friday | My Hope Next Door

The Friday 56 is hosted weekly by Freda's Voice.
First Line Friday is hosted weekly by Hoarding Books.

Happy Friday!

Today, I'm reading Tammy L. Gray's My Hope Next Door and I'm liking this small-town drama so far. Enjoy the peek into its pages!

A Delightful Read With an African Setting | A Forest, a Flood, and an Unlikely Star by J.A. Myhre

ABOUT THE BOOK

Follow along with thirteen-year-old Kusiima in the third book of J.A. Myhre's The Rwendigo Tales.

Just thirteen years old, Kusiima has no time for school, sports, or hanging out with the other boys in his African village. With no father or mother to take care of him, he works long hours to support his grandmother and sickly baby sister. Then one day, Kusiima's life suddenly changes when he travels into a nearby protected forest. In the forest, Kusiima is presented with many choices, all with uncertain outcomes. Should he go along with illegal logging? Help to save an endangered baby gorilla? Follow a donkey to who knows where?

With each choice, Kusiima has to make yet another decision about what is right in front of him. As he does, he meets a mysterious doctor who holds the key to his past and his future. In the end, Kusiima is faced with the hardest choice of all. Can he forgive a great wrong and heal a broken relationship?

Readers of all ages won't want to put down this exciting book that addresses current realities, like AIDS, malnutrition, and environmental destruction, all set in a richly detailed African adventure story. Following along as Kusiima makes his decisions, readers will find themselves considering their own choices and growing in empathy for others. This action-packed tale of a boy, his sister, and an orphaned gorilla is also a clear call to give up bitterness and forgive deep hurts, restoring broken lives and relationships.

Goodreads | Amazon | Christianbook.com

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Waiting on Wednesday | The Sound of Rain

Hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine 

to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

(Similarly, Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings.)

Happy Wednesday!

Each one of Sarah Loudin Thomas's Appalachian novels is a pleasure to read, so of course, I'm excited for her newest one, The Sound of Rain.

Holiday-Themed Cozy Mystery | 12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of one thousand pounds. That’s enough money to bring her brother back from America and reinstate their stolen family fortune. But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, Benjamin Lane. 

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar.

Brought together under mysterious circumstances for the Twelve Days of Christmas, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.
 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook.com

Sweet Second-Chance Romance | Blue Ridge Sunrise by Denise Hunter

ABOUT THE BOOK

Former free spirit Zoe Collins swore she’d never again set foot in Copper Creek or speak to the man who broke her heart. But return she must when her beloved Granny dies, leaving the family legacy to Zoe—a peach orchard nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

When Zoe returns home with her daughter and boyfriend Kyle, she finds that she’s the only person in town who doesn’t expect her to give up the life she’s established far away from Copper Creek. Everyone believes she was born to run the orchard, but how can she make it her home after so many years? 

Cruz Huntley never quite got over his first love, Zoe Collins, the little sister of his best friend Brady. Not when she cheated on him during their “break,” not when she took off to parts unknown with good-for-nothing Kyle Jenkins, and not even now—five years later. 

As life-changing decisions and a history with Cruz hang over Zoe’s head, tensions rise between her and Kyle. Even as she comes to terms with the shifting relationships in her life, Zoe still isn’t sure if she can remain in Copper Creek with her new responsibilities ... and her first love.
  

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook.com

The Friday 56 & First Line Friday | The Evaporation of Sofi Snow

The Friday 56 is hosted weekly by Freda's Voice.
First Line Friday is hosted weekly by Hoarding Books.

Happy Friday!

I'm at home today (after experiencing the joy of wisdom teeth extraction), so instead of sharing a peek at my current read, I'm choosing to use one of the books that is currently closest to me: The Evaporation of Sofi Snow by Mary Weber. Enjoy!

Entertaining & Delightful | A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lucy Drake's mastery of Morse code has made her a valuable asset to the American news agencies as a telegrapher. But the sudden arrival of Sir Colin Beckwith at rival British news agency Reuters puts her hard-earned livelihood at risk. Newly arrived from London, Colin is talented, handsome, and insufferably charming.

Despite their rivalry, Lucy realizes Colin's connections could be just what her family needs to turn the tide of their long legal battle over the fortune they were swindled out of forty years ago. When she negotiates an unlikely alliance with him, neither of them realizes how far the web of treachery they're wading into will take them.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook.com

Waiting on Wednesday | Blue Ridge Sunrise

Hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine 

to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

(Similarly, Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings.)

Happy Wednesday!

So far, I haven't picked up a Denise Hunter romance that I haven't loved, and I always look forward to reading her newest release. Only a few weeks until Blue Ridge Sunrise (starting a new series!) releases, and I'm so excited.

A Great Resource for Studying the Bible | KJV Know the Word Study Bible

ABOUT THE BOOK

Gain a greater understanding of the Bible book by book, verse by verse, or topic by topic. 

The study of God's Word can be easy and rewarding if you break down the Bible into easy-to-understand segments. The KJV Know the Word Study Bible offers three easy ways to begin studying Scripture and helps individuals transition from being a casual reader of the Bible to becoming a regular student of the Bible. You can choose to study the Bible book-by-book, verse-by-verse, or topic-by-topic; each path offers powerful insights that will help you develop a daily routine of Bible study. 

The book-by-book series of notes leads you through the main points of each book of the Bible. The verse-by-verse notes help you to dig deeper into God's Word. The topic-by-topic articles, which cover 21 theological topics, guide you through a series of insightful notes and give you a thorough biblical understanding of each topic. With the beautiful and timeless text of the KJV translation, the KJV Know the Word Study Bible offers you choices of how to study Scripture and grow in your relationship with Christ. 

Features Include:

-King James Version Bible text 
-Three easy approaches to study the Bible: 1. Book by Book; 2. Verse by Verse; 3. Topic by Topic

-Insightful introductions for each book of Scripture

-Words of Jesus in red

-Beautiful two-color interior page design

-Comprehensive list of theological notes

-Concordance

-Full-color maps

-8-point type size
 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook.com

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The Friday 56 & First Line Friday | The Austen Escape

The Friday 56 is hosted weekly by Freda's Voice.
First Line Friday is hosted weekly by Hoarding Books.

Happy Friday!

I had hoped to be reading Katherine Reay's The Austen Escape today, but my current read is taking a little longer than expected to finish. Still, I'm so excited for this book that I can't resist sharing.

Engaging Biblical Fiction | Isaiah's Daughter by Mesu Andrews

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this epic Biblical narrative, ideal for fans of The Bible miniseries, a young woman taken into the prophet Isaiah's household rises to capture the heart of the future king.  

Isaiah adopts Ishma, giving her a new name—Zibah, delight of the Lord—thereby ensuring her royal pedigree. Ishma came to the prophet's home, devastated after watching her family destroyed and living as a captive. But as the years pass, Zibah's lively spirit wins Prince Hezekiah's favor, a boy determined to rebuild the kingdom his father has nearly destroyed. But loving this man will awake in her all the fears and pain of her past and she must turn to the only One who can give life, calm her fears, and deliver a nation. 

"Andrews (The Pharaoh’s Daughter) offers her unique brand of in-depth Bible knowledge and storytelling flair ... [she] is gifted at bringing the past to life..." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook.com

Waiting on Wednesday | Batman: Nightwalker

Hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine 

to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

(Similarly, Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings.)

Happy Wednesday!

Last week, I read and loved Leigh Bardugo's Wonder Woman: Warbringer. Now, naturally, I'm eager to get my hands on this next book in the DC Icons series (especially because Batman is my favorite). January feels so far away...

The Friday 56 & First Line Friday | Gone With the Wind

The Friday 56 is hosted weekly by Freda's Voice.
First Line Friday is hosted weekly by Hoarding Books.

Happy Friday!

I'm spending the day with the spirited Scarlett O'Hara, so here are a couple lines from Margaret Mitchell's classic novel Gone With the Wind.

Captivating, Intriguing & Excellent | Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer

ABOUT THE BOOK

Decades of loss, an unsolved mystery, and a rift spanning three generations.

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can’t understand her mother’s overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother’s inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan—a cold case agent—cherishes her grandmother’s lavish attention and affection.

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel’s painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that’s been lost?
 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook.com
Follow the Litfuse blog tour.