Annie's Stories by Cindy Thomson

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

The year is 1901, the literary sensation The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is taking New York City by storm, and everyone wonders where the next great book will come from. But to Annie Gallagher, stories are more than entertainment – they’re a sweet reminder of her storyteller father. After his death, Annie fled Ireland for the land of dreams, finding work at Hawkins House.

But when a fellow boarder with something to hide is accused of misconduct and authorities threaten to shut down the boardinghouse, Annie fears she may lose her new friends, her housekeeping job… and her means of funding her dream: a memorial library to honor her father. Furthermore, the friendly postman shows a little too much interest in Annie – and in her father’s unpublished stories. In fact, he suspects these tales may hold a grand secret.

Though the postman’s intentions seem pure, Annie wants to share her father’s stories on her own terms. Determined to prove herself, Annie must forge her own path to aid her friend and create the future she’s always envisioned… where dreams really do come true.

Cindy Thomson writes excellent historical fiction. The second in her Ellis Island series (preceded by Grace’s Pictures), Annie’s Stories once again ventures into New York City life at the turn of the century, and at every point within the story, I felt immersed in the cultural and social reality of the day. Thomson touches on many prominent historical aspects and their effects – some with which I was previously unfamiliar – including Magdalene Laundries, Ellis Island inspections, the assassination of President McKinley, the Post Office Department. I especially enjoyed the prominence of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz throughout the storyline, as Thomson uses its plot points to reflect character growth and development. I had not realized what a cultural phenomenon this book was when first published, but I feel like I need to go read it now.

Overall, Annie’s Stories is a sweet story with flawed but lovable characters and bits of romance, mystery and drama. I recommend it for fans of historical fiction. (It is not necessary to first read Grace’s Pictures. Both novels are able to be read on their own.) It’s an entertaining and enlightening read, and I can’t wait to read more from Cindy Thomson. I thank Tyndale BlogNetwork for providing me with a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. 

The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

In The Revealing, the riveting conclusion to the Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

Suzanne is celebrating by giving away THREE iPads!

  THREE grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• The Inn at Eagle Hill series (The Letters, The Calling, and The Revealing) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Five second place winners will receive:

• The Inn at Eagle Hill series (The Letters, The Calling, and The Revealing) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 20th. All winners will be announced July 21st at Suzanne's blog. AND... if you're looking for more in the Inn at Eagle Hill series, be sure to pick up the ebook novella, "The Rescue", for just $1.99!

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!
Suzanne is also giving away two 10-book mystery prize packs! 
One of the major themes of The Revealing is learning to trust your intuition and instincts. These are God-given qualities that we sometimes are too timid or unsure of to act on. For a chance to win one of the 10-book prize packs, leave a comment on this blog and share about a time when your intuition or instinct saved the day — or a time you ignored it and missed an opportunity. 
Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 21st to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

About the Book

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Love does extraordinary things to people…

Naomi King, soft spoken, loyal, and easily overlooked, has a gift. She sees what others can't see. Intuition, she calls it. Others in Stoney Ridge don't know what to make of it and dismiss her hunches and inklings altogether.

When a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with a shocking secret about Tobe Schrock, Naomi fears the worst. She can't ignore the feeling that something sinister is at work - something more than a threat to the tenuous love begun between her and Tobe.

As signs mount, they begin to point to Jake Hertzler, the elusive mastermind behind Schrock Investments' downfall. Soon, events spiral hopelessly out of control and Naomi must decide whether to listen to her head or her heart.

In this riveting conclusion to The Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

Having fallen in love with the Schrock family in the previous novels, The Letters and The Calling, and novella, "The Rescue", I could not wait to see how Suzanne Woods Fisher would wrap up the Inn at Eagle Hill series in The Revealing. Eagerly I flew page after page through this novel to see what would transpire – and it was worth it. This third installment wonderfully concludes the Inn at Eagle Hill series. Fisher fills her plot with surprise after surprise, employing suspense, misdirection and a bit of romance, humor and sweet moments, and nicely, satisfyingly ties up the plot ends involving Tobe, Jake Hertzler and Schrock Investments. At no point within the storyline was I bored, and I enjoyed every moment while reading it. However, I do wish Fisher provided a few more answers in regards to Bethany, Mim and Jimmy Fisher – but perhaps their stories aren’t completely finished yet? I can only hope to see them again in a future novel… To fans of Amish fiction, I recommend reading The Revealing – but I would suggest starting from the beginning of the series in order to best follow the storyline. Don’t worry - all three novels are entertaining, heartwarming, worthwhile reads.

Thanks Revell Reads, I was able to receive a copy of The Revealing in exchange for my honest review. I am also participating in the LitFuse Publicity Group tour of this novel - be sure to check out others' reviews here. And don't forget to purchase a copy of The Revealing here.

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California.

Find Suzanne online at her website, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Download Suzanne's free app here!

MindWar by Andrew Klavan

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

When Rick lost the ability to run, he came one step closer to becoming a hero.

New High Score! New Record Time!

Rick nodded with grim satisfaction. He laid the game controller aside on the sofa and reached for his crutches.

Rick Dial was the best quarterback Putnam Hills High School had ever seen. Unflappable. Unstoppable. Number 12. But when a car accident left him crippled, Rick’s life as he knew it ended. He disavowed his triumphant past. He ignored his girlfriend. He disappeared into his bedroom — and into the glowing video screen.

But Rick’s uncanny gaming skills have attracted attention. Dangerous attention. Government agents have uncovered a potentially devastating cyber-threat: a Russian genius has created a digital reality called the Realm, from which he can enter, control, and disrupt American computer systems... from transportation to defense. The agents want Rick, quick-thinking quarterback and gaming master, to enter the Realm and stop the madman — before he sends America into chaos.

Entering the Realm will give Rick what he thought he’d never have again: a body as strong and fast as it was before the accident. But this is no game, there are no extra lives, and what happens to Rick in the Realm happens to Rick’s body in reality.

Even after Rick agrees to help, he can’t shake the sense that he’s being kept in the dark. Why would a government agency act so aggressively? Can anyone inside the Realm be trusted? How many others have entered before him... and failed to return?

In the tradition of Ender’s Game and The Matrix, MindWar is a complex thriller about a seemingly ordinary teenager who discovers a hidden gift — a gift that could make him a hero... or cost him everything.

Before MindWar, I had never heard of Andrew Klavan, much less read any of his books. I didn’t quite know what to expect when I started reading, but the mention of Ender’s Game, a book I have obsessively read several times and absolutely love, in the blurb had me intrigued from the get-go. And though I don’t know if it would be possible to top Ender’s Game (in my opinion), Klavan’s MindWar still did not disappoint. Fast-paced action drives the novel, so finding a safe place to stop for a moment is a challenge. I read much later into the night than planned simply because I had to know just a bit more and then a little more about the Realm and the MindWar Project. And in the midst of the action, Klavan adds great moments of reflection for Rick, as he transforms into the hero he needs to be and understands how to define his identity. Fun and imaginative, MindWar combines many fantastic elements of Ender’s Game and The Matrix, but also throws in a few all its own for good measure. (Interestingly, the idea of the Realm, when introduced in the novel, first reminded me of Veil of Secrets with its terrorist group threatening the presidential campaign. I didn’t expect that connection...) I enjoyed this first foray into Andrew Klavan’s fiction, and I know I’ll pick up the second book in the MindWar trilogy when it comes out. Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of this book and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

Atlas Girl: Finding Home in the Last Place I Thought to Look by Emily T. Wierenga

About the Book

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Emily Wierenga left home at age eighteen with no intention of ever returning.

Broken down by organized religion, a childhood battle with anorexia, and her parents' rigidity, she set out to find God somewhere else – anywhere else. Her travels took her across three continents in buses, cars, and planes, across mountains and over deep blue seas.

What she hadn't realized was that her faith was waiting for her the whole time – in the place she least expected it.

Poignant and passionate, Atlas Girl is a deeply personal story of the yearning we all share to be truly known, entirely forgiven, and utterly loved.

Emily T. Wierenga’s memoir, Atlas Girl: Finding Home in the Last Place I Thought to Look, is simply beautiful – painfully, hopefully, poetically beautiful – and I have once again been reminded of how much I love reading memoir. Memoir is not a genre I tend to gravitate toward or venture into often – but when I do, I do not regret my choice. Wierenga masterfully weaves together scenes from her childhood and adulthood in a thematically-driven narrative. Vividly depicting her particularly roving journey to the God worthy of her faith and a place to feel at home, she fills the pages with brokenness and disillusionment and sorrow and loneliness, but also with healing and growth and love and joy and contentment. Entirely singular yet encouragingly relatable, Atlas Girl is inspiring and heartfelt, and I admire and appreciate the honesty and humility with which Wierenga shares her well-written story. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Baker Books and Revell Reads, I received a copy of Atlas Girl and the opportunity to provide an honest review. 

About the Author

Emily T. Wierenga is an award-winning journalist, columnist, artist, author, and blogger at www.emilywierenga.com. She speaks regularly about her journey with anorexia and lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, Trenton, and their two sons.

Top Ten Tuesday: Classics I've Read & Want to Read

Hosted weekly by The Broke and the Bookish.

Five Classics I've Read (and Loved):

Five Classics I Want to Read: