Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Thief By: Stephanie Landsem


I laughed, cried, and cheered while reading this book. The Thief is set during Jesus’ time and we experience His arrest, trial, and crucifixion through the eyes of a centurion and a thief. I cannot wait to read more books by Landsem.

Landsem’s ability to bring characters, places, and history to life pulls you right into her story. When you stop reading, it takes a little bit to readjust to the present. I felt like I was living in Jesus’ time, with the Romans, experiencing life as the thief lives it.

Nissa is Jewish. When Jesus’ disciples ask who sinned and caused his blindness, Nissa slips closer to hear the answer. She can’t believe it when He heals her brother. Now life will be easier; she won’t have to steal any longer. She is so wrong. God has abandoned her and healing her brother has only made her life worse. Nissa is in the crowd when Jesus tells the woman accused of adultery to go and sin no more. She hears Peter deny Jesus. Seeing and hearing through Nissa makes you experience the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.

Longinus is a Roman centurion. He is enthralled with the news of Jesus coming and wants to meet this healer. When he does, his life is changed. He is on the frontlines as Jesus is whipped, led up Golgotha, and crucified with the two thieves. He wants the peace he sees on Jesus’ face as He is doing His Father’s will.

As in the words of Nissa, but whatever had happened at the foot of the cross—and at the tomb—had changed her forever. I was changed after reading this book. Experiencing Jesus’ last days on earth made me realize what He went through to die on the cross for me. Nissa and Longinus are changed forever and bound together by the suffering and death, miracles and mercy, and love and forgiveness they have witnessed. Experience this life-changing novel for yourself.

The Well is the first in this historical Biblical fiction series. The Tomb comes out next year. I cannot wait to read more by this talented author. I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.


thiefbloggerbuttonDon't miss Stephanie Landsem's outstanding sophomore effort, The Thief.



Best-selling author Tosca Lee had this to say of the book: Filled with memorable characters, The Thief is a tale of hopelessness turned to hope, of high stakes made higher, and ultimate love. What happens when a character at the lowest rung of society crosses paths with the most well-known figure in history? The story of The Thief. I couldn't stop reading.



Stephanie is hosting a Kindle Fire HDX and book giveaway at her website.

CLICK THE BUTTON to find out more and enter to win.



Find out what readers are saying HERE. (Click the REVIEWS bar.)

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

First Kisses Inspy Kisses Collection 1


The Rambler’s Bride by Linda Goodnight
I loved this story by Linda Goodnight. Jericho North has preconceived notions about his sister-in-law Ester since she used to work at a saloon. When Jericho receives word that his brother has died, he travels to their ranch in the lawless prairie to kick her out, since Jericho was named in the will as the rightful owner now. She had tricked his brother into marrying her, was the cause of his death, and now she deserved whatever she got.
Ester married Silas and now he is dead. She is trying to keep the ranch going without her husband. But she was pretty much doing it all even before her husband died. Now Theo, who is married to her cousin, is trying to make her sell her ranch for the railroad that is coming through. This is all she has; she isn’t giving it up.
When Jericho and Ester meet, she throws herself into his arms for a heart-stopping kiss in front of Theo, in order to get Theo to leave. Jericho follows her plan, but he just thinks it proves his point. She is a loose woman; she just proved it. And since she is the reason for Silas’ death, he doesn’t care what happens to her after he kicks her out. But then he realizes he has a nephew. What is he supposed to do now? He can’t kick her out with a baby.
I loved the interaction between Ester and Jericho. Both have secrets they want to keep from each other, but can they build a future after the truth is told?

Lovebirds at the Heartbreak Café by Janet Tronstad
I cried when I finished this story! Have you ever read a romance, and when the story was over, you sighed because it was just perfect? That is this story!
Buddy Hamilton is a truck driver who stops in at the Heartbreak Café to eat. Penny Rose stops in looking for a job, with 6 children in her car. Buddy doesn’t want to get involved with someone who already has kids, but he can’t just leave her. She’s recently widowed and has all those kids to care for. The closer Buddy gets to Penny and her kids, the more he realizes he doesn’t want them out of his life, especially when he finds out from Ellie, one of the daughters, that Penny’s their aunt taking care of them.
The other truck drivers, local businesses, and ranchers pitch in to help Penny and her family. When they have church, one of the truck drivers leads the services. They introduce each other by the truck they drive or what they haul. Buddy talks the other drivers into helping Penny’s wheat farm produce wheat so she’ll have money to go back to school to find her prince. With Penny’s faith and love for God, Buddy realizes anyone can change with God’s help. But will she see Buddy as her prince? You’ll have to read the story to find out!

Her Mule Hollow Cowboy by Debra Clopton
I loved this sweet romance by Debra Clopton. Maddie had been an orphan, left at the post office as a baby, unwanted. Could she trust Cliff with her heart? She didn’t trust anyone. She didn’t want anyone telling her what to do.
Cliff was a bull rider. Could he give up his lifestyle and settle down with Maddie?
You’ll love this romance as Maddie and Cliff come to terms with their past and forge their future together.
Deadly Hunt by Margaret Daley
This is a great suspense story! Who is trying to kill Shane Burkhart and why would they want to? He runs Digital Drive Inc and is in the process of a company merger. Is there someone who doesn’t want to see that merger take place? Would they resort to murder to keep that from happening?
Tess Miller is a professional bodyguard. She is on vacation in the mountains at her uncle’s cabin when Shane falls through her doorway. He’s been shot, but has no idea who would want to kill him. Shane talks Tess into protecting him until the merger goes through by posing as the woman he’s dating. How can she pretend when it’s really what she wants? But how can she know that already? They just met. She’ll just have to get this job over with and go back to her normal life.
If you love a romantic suspense love story, you’ll love this one. See if you can guess who is behind the murder attempts! Shane and Tess are great characters, the plot is believable, and the ending is pure bliss!

Necessary Proof by Camy Tang
This is a great story filled with suspense and intrigue. Alex Villa is accused of a crime that he didn’t commit. As a confidential informant, he is used to being on the right side of the law. He steals a laptop from the bad guys, and in order to prove his innocence, he asks Jane Lawton to bypass security protocols on it to see what information is contained that can help his case. The bad guys show up at her place ready to attack. Alex and Jane start running and the action never stops.
Jane is a Christian out of habit. Things haven’t gone well for her over the past year; she feels alone, like God has abandoned her. She feels her distrust of men has spilled over into her relationship with God. Her faith has become lukewarm and she feels like no one, especially God, loves her. She has to learn that God’s love can heal her, that it’s real, nonjudgemental, and unfailing. With this kind of love in her life, she can rebuild her life.
Jane’s faith journey is a perfect element in this story. She agrees to help Alex, and in the process, discovers her strengths. Alex and Jane are great together, making a wonderful suspenseful love story!

Kissed by a Cowboy by Lacy Williams
Haley Carston wants to go to the prom, but no one will go with her. Her best friend, Katie Michaels sets her up with her older brother, Maddox. They get along well, but things don’t work out, Haley moves away, and Katie dies, leaving a little girl Olivia for Maddox to take care of. When Haley’s aunt gets sick, Haley comes back to take care of her and runs into Maddox again.
Maddox has always been under the strain of everyone else’s expectations. He was the star football player. But he comes back home without a degree, trying to keep the family farm afloat, raise his niece, and watch over his brother Justin who suffers from depression.
Haley has always wanted to fit in. When she finds out she can help Olivia start an ice cream business, it doesn’t matter that she’s just a little girl. She’s going to do it while she’s in town taking care of her sick aunt.
Olivia is such a sweet girl. Haley and Maddox work together, even though they have unresolved feelings about each other from their past. She helps Maddox and Olivia with their pain from Katie’s dying. She even brings about a change in Justin.
Haley feelings of inadequacy keep her from telling Maddox how she feels. Maddox is under too much pressure, feeling like he can’t dream any more, taking care of everyone else. This is a great story of love overcoming all. It’s a great ending to a great collection of romances!

I received this collection free in exchange for an honest review.

Coming Home By: Laura Scott

I enjoyed this story by Laura Scott! It’s a nice romance story with mystery and suspense thrown in. Can’t wait to read more by this author! Meredith Haines is the ER Charge nurse. Her ex-boyfriend suffers from a psychiatric disorder and has beaten her. She is running from him, hoping he doesn’t find her. She is staying at her friend’s place, dog-sitting for them. Zack Crain is her friend’s brother. He lost his wife and his daughter to cancer. He has turned his back on God and ever finding love again. He can’t replace his wife and daughter with another and doesn’t want to try. Then, he finds signs that someone is hanging around Merry, stalking her. Has her ex-boyfriend found her again? Merry is ready to run again, but Zack won’t let her. She must trust Zack with her past, so he can help her now, and Zack must learn to trust God again before either of them can move forward. Can Merry find peace from being stalked by her ex-boyfriend? Will Zack find peace with his past? When you need peace, you need to pray. Coming Home is a great story with interesting characters who have realistic flaws and issues. I enjoyed getting to know Merry and Zack and look forward to reading more about some of the other characters. I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Friend Me By: John Faubion

Friend Me is John Faubion’s first novel. I hope he writes many, many more. This was a great book full of suspense and mystery. I kept turning the pages, waiting to see what would happen next. Faubion has a unique way with words that brings the characters to life and pulls you into the action. What happens when you can’t talk to anyone and you feel like you don’t have any friends who care? Technology has progressed to the point that a company can make virtual friends. They can be friends with you on facebook, send you emails, and even video chat. You supply all the information about what you want this friend to think, act, say, and do. Want this virtual friend to replace a deceased family member or friend? No problem. Send in a picture, voice tapes, characteristics of the person, and your virtual friend comes to life on your computer screen. Scott works hard and comes home late. Rachel is lonely and creates Suzanne, a virtual friend. She starts putting ideas in Rachel’s head about what Scott could be doing working so late and not spending time with her. Does she really need a friend like that? Scott endures pressure at work, trying to make a financial account worth more. He employs a scheme he knows he shouldn’t, but he can’t afford to lose his job. Does he discuss it with his wife? No, but he discusses it with his virtual friend, who has become all the things he wished Rachel could be. Does he remember she isn’t real? Probably, until he thinks he sees her walking around in real life. What happens when his virtual friend decides he’s the husband for her and his wife needs to be permanently out of the picture so she can take her place? If Scott and Rachel had just communicated what they were feeling, Rachel would not have felt neglected nor needed a virtual friend to confide in, and Scott would not have needed to create Alicia. This puts events into motion that would change their lives. Add in a person who is mentally unstable, and you have a thriller like no other. Once you start this book, you will not be able to put it down till you get through all the twists and turns to the end. Can Scott and Rachel save their marriage and their lives before it’s too late? You’ll have to read the book to find out! John Faubion is celebrating his debut novel, Friend Me, with a Kindle HDX giveaway!
friendme-400

One winner will receive:
  • A brand new Kindle Fire HDX
  • Friend Me by John Faubion
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 22nd. Winner will be announced February 24th on John Faubion's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by John's blog on the 24th to see if you won.