“These Tangled Threads,” by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Posted on April 30, 2024 by WordPress.com Support

A Sticky Situation!

Lorna, a master weaver, must find a new pattern, or she will lose her job at the Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Industries. She was expected to create another beautiful pattern like the ones she had done in the past. But she couldn’t do that again because those designs had been done by someone else, although Lorna had taken credit for them.

Now, she must find the person who really made them. Without the help of Arthur, the man whose love Lorna has spurned for years, she doesn’t have a chance. Ultimately, she will also need help from Gentry, the person Lorna got the designs from that she claimed as her own.

This story had a lot of facets. An unfair boss, double-crossing, deceit, forgiveness, faith, change of heart, surprising friendships, rejection of parents, along with backwoods people that shoot first, and ask questions later. All this excitement will keep the pages turning to find out how it is resolved.

This clean, five-star story is recommended to fans of history, The Biltmore Estate, and convoluted tales that can’t possibly work out, but do!

Thank you, Bethany House Books, for providing Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of,  “These Tangled Threads,” by Sarah Loudin Thomas, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SarahLoudinThomas

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/SarahAnneThomas

The Author’s Website:  https://sarahloudinthomas.com/

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Seven Book Giveaway! “To Catch a Coronet”

Posted on April 17, 2024 by WordPress.com Support

I am excited to tell you about a chance to win seven novels, including the latest by Grace Hitchcock, “To Catch a Coronet.”

Muriel, once a country baker, now a heiress, is non-conventional, and constantly setting tongues wagging because of her antics. When a penniless Earl crosses her path, all kinds of commotion results.  There is romance, humor, mystery, and ferreting out a spy.

All of these books are great, and you will love them. They are:

1 Paperback of Colleen Coble’s The Mercy’s Falls COLLECTION: 3 Historical Romance Novels!

1 Paperback of Carolyn Miller’s Dawn’s Untrodden Green

1 Paperback of Crystal Caudill’s Counterfeit FAITH

1 Paperback of Pepper Basham’s The Cairo Curse

1 Paperback of Grace Hitchcock’s To Catch a Coronet

ENTER HERE RIGHT AWAY.

It ends April 27, 2024. One winner gets all seven books. US only.

Pre-order at the places below to make sure you get, “To Catch a Coronet.”

Barnes & Noble

ChristianBook

Baker Book House

Autographed Paperback

Amazon

 

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“Just for the Summer,” by Melody Carlson

Posted on April 12, 2024 by WordPress.com Support

The Grass is Greener….

Ginny manages an upscale boutique hotel in Seattle, and she can do her job in her sleep. Everything runs like a well-oiled machine unless her boss, Diana, steps in. She is famous for causing problems, blaming them on Ginny, and expecting her to fix them.

After Diana’s latest escapade, Ginny is ready for a change, and she just found it–a site where people swap jobs for sixty days.

Jacqueline manages her grandfather’s run-down fishing lodge. It is in the backwoods, and she hates every part of it. When Jacqueline stumbles on the job swap site, she knows this is her way out.

Both women connect, and immediately make arraignments to trade jobs.

Although Jacqueline lied about the condition of the lodge, Ginny is thrilled to be in such a beautiful location. She immediately rolls up her sleeves to get to work improving the lodge.

Ginny finds herself fitting in well with everyone, especially the handsome fishing guide. She never wants to leave.

Despite pulling out all the stops, Jacqueline’s plan to catch the attention of Diana’s son has barely gotten off the ground. Additionally, she is not used to working as hard as Ginny. It doesn’t take Diana long to demand that Ginny come back.

Jacqueline creates a bunch of lies designed to get Ginny to leave the fishing lodge. Will it work?

This entertaining story is a page-turner, and the job swapping idea is a great twist. It is fun to read about the ideas Ginny has, along with wondering if the lies Jacqueline has told will catch up with her. I highly recommend this clean tale. It will be enjoyed by fans of DIY, stories of starting over, and well-written books.

Thank you, Revell Books, for providing Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, “Just for the Summer,” by Melody Carlson, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/melodycarlsonauthor/

 

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“The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane,” by Michelle Griep

Posted on April 11, 2024 by WordPress.com Support

Wedded Bliss?

This is a lively mystery that takes place in 1887 London. Kit starts off wrong the first day she and her dad, Henry, open a detective agency. She immediately takes a case she was not supposed to, and everything goes downhill from there.

Despite working with false information, Kit uncovers things that get her in hot water. Her husband, Jackson, is already overworked as the police chief inspector, but he gets pulled in to help.

Clandestine work uncovers a dangerous drug ring, but they are determined to find the leader behind it all. Their lives are threatened, and a hired assassin is after them.

An eccentric character, Ezra Catchpole, seems like a homeless man, but he is found frequenting an exclusive men’s club.  He may be the one behind things, or truly a down-on-his-luck man.  Trusting his information may mean life or death.   

Just when Kit and Jackson think things are wrapping up, a twist pops up that endangers all their lives, most importantly that of their little baby, Bella.

This is an exciting tale full of all kinds of peril. It is a clean page turner whose characters discuss their faith. Although part of a series, this story stands on its own. Fans of mysteries and thrillers will love this five-star book.

Thank you, Barbour Books, for providing Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, “The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane,” by Michelle Griep, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/michellegriep/

The Author’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/michellegriep?lang=en

The Author’s Website:  www.michellegriep.com

 

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“When the Flames Ravaged,” by Rhonda Dragomir

Posted on April 4, 2024 by WordPress.com Support

Death under the Big Top

It is 1944, and WWII still rages. All the more reason for massive excitement to sweep through the area when the circus comes to town. Evelyn is a war widow, but has found a new, happy home with her brother, his wife, and two children. All of them are excited to go to the circus together. Right before they leave, Evelyn is called to come work her waitress job.

While at work, someone notices a large plume of smoke, it is coming from the direction of the massive circus tent.

Hank, a circus clown, is inside the tent when he sees the fire. He gets to work trying to help the thousands of people attempting to leave. As chaos breaks out, people are trampled by the panicking crowd. One brave man helps toss people down where Hank gets them the rest of the way out. Before they can finish, the fire takes over, and Hanks loses consciousness.

Later when Hank comes to, he catches sight of Evelyn, the waitress he made a connection with at the diner. She is desperately trying to find her family, and Hank jumps in to help her. Before the search ends, they will journey to the hospital, the school, and all the other places where both the living and the dead have been taken.

Once again, Evelyn’s world crumbles. At the same time, a mystery surrounds the location of her nephew. Additionally, who is Hank? She has only known him a couple of days, yet he has joined her search, and works like he is a family member.

The war time-period, along with the panic after the fire, is portrayed vividly. This is a tragic story, all the more so since it is based on a real incident. Both Hank and Evelyn question God about the fire.

As the story goes on, the mysteries become very exciting, and provide an uplifting, happy ending to the tale. Because of the subject matter, I would caution against this book for younger readers. This clean, five-star book will be enjoyed by those who like historical, or well-written fiction.

Thank you, Barbour Books, for providing Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, “When the Flames Ravaged,” by Rhonda Dragomir, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/rhonda.dragomir.author

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/rhondadragomir

The Author’s Website:  https://rhondadragomir.com/

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“The Ark and the Dove,” by Jill Eileen Smith

Posted on April 3, 2024 by WordPress.com Support

The Last Eight People on Earth!

Ready to experience life on Noah’s ark? This book will give you a good idea of what it might have been like.

Shortly after this story begins, God tells Noah to build an ark. The only people on it will be Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives. Life is hard because peril lurks everywhere. People have turned away from God, and have become mean and dangerous. Hazardous Watchers are all around them, treating people badly, and influencing them to live the wrong way.

Two of their sons have wives, but Ham does not. They grab a wife quickly for him, afraid no one will marry into their family once news of the ark gets out.

As they work on the boat, they face ridicule along with people making it hard to get supplies. Some even try to destroy the ark. As the older generation dies off, Noah and his family are the only ones left that still believe in God.

When they finally get inside the ark, they face new tensions. The immense amount of work needed to care for the animals, coupled with just the eight of them being in the ark, is not easy.

There is also an underlying tension from the wife they quickly decided on for Ham. She often rubbed them the wrong way before they all lived on the ark. Being crushed together only made things worse, and Ham’s wife causes even more problems.

This is a fictionalized account, so some of the story is created according to the author’s interpretation.  I believe she captured much of what life was like on the ark, including the time before and after the ark.

If there was ever any thought this account was only a myth, this book will make you pause, because it clearly shows how it could have happened.  This story will pull you in from the first page, and I highly recommend this five-star book.

Thank you, Revell Books, for providing Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, “The Ark and the Dove,” by Jill Eileen Smith, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

The Author’s BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jill-eileen-smith

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith

The Author’s TwitterX:  https://twitter.com/jilleileensmith?lang=en

The Author’s Website:  https://jilleileensmith.com/

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“The Pathway to Success,” by Joyce Meyer

Posted on March 29, 2024 by WordPress.com Support

More Than You Ever Dreamed!

If you want success in your life, begin by asking God for help, keep Him first, and have faith the Lord will lead you the right way. Try out the desires of your heart like you would try on clothes. You may have to try different ones to find the one that fits.

Do not settle for something safe instead of what is truly in your heart. Dream big, and have a good self-image, remembering, “you are fearfully and wonderfully made,” Psalm 139:14. If you step out in faith, God can do things you never thought could happen.

There may be setbacks, and discouragement, but don’t quit trying.

Include God all along the way, in the words of Jesus, “apart from me, you can do nothing,” John 15:5. Talk to Him every day, read the Bible.

There is more information about each of these points in the book. But for success, follow these things:

Keep God first.

Have a goal or a dream that is clear in your heart.

Love yourself in a balanced way.

Strive to be the kind of person God wants you to be, before you try to be anything else.

Remain peaceful at all times.

Stay focused.

Be patient.

Speak and think what you want, not what you have.

Develop a strong work ethic.

Be good to people.

Take time to enjoy your life.

Never give up

Especially remember these “nevers”:

Never give up on your health. You can be healthy and feel great.

Never give up on those you love. God can change them.

Never give up on your finances. You can be debt free.

Never give up on your dreams. You can see them become a reality.

Never give up on yourself. You can overcome anything.

If you would like to change your life, I highly recommend this book. The author gives lots of examples from her own life, and more good advice. The biggest key to success is to keep God first. Get this five-star book.

Thank you, FaithWords Hachette, for providing Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, “The Pathway to Success,” by Joyce Meyer, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/joycemeyerministries

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/JoyceMeyer 

 

 

 

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“Strong: Psalm 1,” by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Posted on March 27, 2024 by WordPress.com Support

The Water of Joy!

In this book, simple text and illustrations are used to convey the message of Psalm number one to children.

From this Psalm, the author likens the strength and love that comes from God to the nourishment a tree gets when well-watered. Besides satisfying thirst, the water brings health and beauty. Because of the water, there will be lots of fruit. The tree stays green year-round, even in the winter. Growth and happiness come from this never-ending stream.

The author tried to convey these ideas to children through text, and lots of vibrant, eye-catching illustrations.

Unfortunately, this book does not do that.  I think it will be very helpful if someone explains the meaning behind these pictures and the text to little ones who are looking at this.  Otherwise, I think it will be too hard for children, on their own, to make the connections.

Children will like how sturdy this four-star board book feels.  It also has an impressively padded cover that little ones will love to hold and touch.

Thank you, Zonderkidz, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.

 

 

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“This Special Blessing for You,” by Eric & Meredith Schrotenboer

Posted on March 27, 2024 by WordPress.com Support

The Specialness of You!

Open this children’s picture book and sun beams and blessings will pop out–that is just some of the wondrous things God has for everyone.

Children will learn that God loves them so much, that they are filled to overflowing with His love. Everywhere they go, that love shines out of them. It comes out in many ways such as when they help others, or say something nice. The glow of it makes children beautiful.

When scary things happen, such as the first day of school, or thunder storms, God is there to make sure they are alright. No matter what a child is thinking, the Lord knows it all, even if he is afraid. Just turn to God, He is there for everyone.

This beautiful, amazing book tells children many of the ways God loves, blesses, and protects them. It is full of incredible pictures that reinforce all those ideas.

God’s love is like rain falling on dry, sun parched land. Children will not understand that statement, but they will understand those feelings–and that is what they will get from this five-plus-star book. I highly recommend it. Get it for Easter, get it for anytime, you will fall in love with it. Ages three to eight will enjoy this book.

This was inspired from God’s blessing in the book of Numbers:

“The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.”

Thank you, Zonderkidz, for providing Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, “This Special Blessing for You,” by Eric & Meredith Schrotenboer, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/freshwindstudios

The Author’s YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@freshwindstudios5380/videos

The Author’s Website:  https://www.freshwindstudios.com/thisspecialblessingforyou

 

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“Fiona and the Easter Egg Hunt,” by Zondervan, Richard Cowdrey Illustrator

Posted on March 26, 2024 by WordPress.com Support

A Fiona the Hippo Book

The Missing Egg!

Join Fiona, a friendly little hippo, who likes to wear bunny ears, and wants to do something special. She decides to hold an Easter egg hunt for her animal friends. Right before it starts, Mrs. Swan rushes in, frantic because one of her eggs is missing.

As the animals begin searching for Easter eggs, Fiona asks them to please help look for the lost swan egg. A massive search takes place, and in the end, Fiona gets a nice surprise!

The illustrations throughout this story are colorful and charming.

Children will identify with the fun of hunting for eggs, as well as, trying to find something that is lost. Everyone will breathe a sigh of relief with the return of the little swan egg. Kids will be sure to smile, if not laugh, about Fiona’s new friend.

This sweet story will be enjoyed by children ages three to eight-years-old. This five-star picture book would be a nice addition to an Easter basket, or fun to read anytime of the year.

Thank you, Zonderkidz, for providing Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, “Fiona and the Easter Egg Hunt,” Richard Cowdrey Illustrator, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

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