The Amish Cowboy's Homecoming By Ophelia London GIVEAWAY!

 

What happens when a traditional horse whisperer clashes with an unconventional trainer within the charming Amish community of Honey Brook?

Grace Zook has always held a talent with horses, ever since she was a child growing up in her quaint Amish village of Honey Brook. Now, as an adult, she’s become a master trainer―but still struggles to prove to her father that she is worthy of taking over the family’s horse farm. With a fiery new stallion coming soon, Grace knows this challenge is her chance to prove she can finally take the reins.

When widower and horse whisperer Isaac King is offered the lead training job on a new farm out of town, he’s thrilled to finally make a name for himself and provide some permanent roots for his young daughter. But not only is the stallion seemingly unbreakable, so, too, is the owner’s headstrong daughter Grace, who has drastically different ideas about how to handle the impossible horse. Yet somehow, he can’t seem to get the confident, beautiful woman out of his mind...even though as his boss’s daughter, she is completely off-limits.

There’s too much at stake for Isaac to gamble his future on Grace...even though suddenly, he can’t imagine one without her.

Each book in the Honey Brook series is STANDALONE:
* Never an Amish Bride

* The Amish Cowboy’s Homecoming 

Pick up your copy here...

The Amish Cowboy’s Homecoming (Honey Brook, 2): London, Ophelia: 9781682815717: Amazon.com: Books

USA Today bestselling author Ophelia London was born and raised among the redwood trees in beautiful northern California. Once she was fully educated, she decided to settle in Florida, but her car broke down in Texas, and she’s lived in Dallas ever since. She enjoys cupcakes, treadmills, reruns of Dawson’s Creek and obsessing over her Italian Greyhound, Peanut. Ophelia is the author of THE AMISH COWBOY’S HOMECOMING, book #2 in her Honey Brook series! As wells as the Sugar City series, the Perfect Kisses series, the Abby Road series, and other adult, NA and YA sweet romances. Visit her books HERE. But don’t call when she’s streaming The Walking Dead.

My Thoughts...

The Amish Cowboy’s Homecoming by Ophelia London is the 2nd book in The Honey Brook Series. But I read it as a stand alone and I was not lost at all.

It seems as if everyone is writing Amish fiction these days. And most of them are the same stories  just different locations and different names. That was not this case with London's latest. It was a fresh story one that has not been done before and  one that you will not be able to put down. The perfect setting, with likeable characters.

Grab this 4 star Amish book and devour it before her next book makes an appearance on book shelves every where.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own. 

This GIVEAWAY is open to those who follow this blog (click the blue follow button on the right hand side)  and leave a comment.

Oliver By Steven Carino

 

He Was Searching for a Lost Dog. He Found More Than He’d Ever Hoped For.

On Valentine’s Day 2019, someone stole Steven Carino’s dog, Oliver, from his car. Having lost his mother at thirteen and grown up with an alcoholic father, he could always count on his dogs for comfort and company. But now, with his beloved Oliver missing, Steven felt utterly alone.

Then, the miracle. In a series of near-impossible coincidences, people from different walks of life crossed paths with Oliver and with Steven. Hardworking immigrants, wealthy suburbanites, car mechanics, deli workers, old friends, close relatives, street cops, gang members, a TV news reporter, social media followers around the world, and one very gifted hairdresser all played a part in Steven’s desperate journey to find Oliver. In the middle of it all, Steven realized that no one is ever truly alone--and that the power of community can be life-changing.

Oliver is not just a book about a stolen dog. At its core, it’s a story about kindness, friendship, and the power of faith. As Steven says, “This is more than just a dog story. This is an everybody story. This is a love story.” 

Pick up your copy here...

Oliver: The True Story of a Stolen Dog and the Humans He Brought Together: Carino, Steven J., Tresniowski, Alex, Laura Schroff: 9781400223237: Amazon.com: Books

Steven Carino was born in Huntington, New York. The youngest of five children, he graduated from SUNY Brockport with a Bachelor of Science in American History. He worked as a DJ in New York City before launching careers in advertising and real estate and starting his own employment agency. Today, Steven has his own driving business and lives in a cottage in Bedford, New York, with his best friend, Oliver, and an array of sheep, goats, chickens, a horse, a rooster, and a mini-cow named Anna Belle. Oliver is Steven’s first book.

My Thoughts...

Wow, what an emotional read. I cried so much. I can't even imagine what Steven went through. I would not survive  my baby missing.   I love it turned out for the best and I have to tell you this is a book that you will still be thinking about long after you read the last page.

5 stars I HIGHLY recommend this fantastic book.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

I'm Waiting For You By Kim Bo-Young

 

In this mind-expanding work of speculative fiction, available in English for the first time, one of South Korea’s most treasured writers explores the driving forces of humanity—love, hope, creation, destruction, and the very meaning of existence—in two pairs of thematically interconnected stories.

Two worlds, four stories, infinite possibilities 

In “I’m Waiting for You” and “On My Way,” an engaged couple coordinate their separate missions to distant corners of the galaxy to ensure—through relativity—they can arrive back on Earth simultaneously to make it down the aisle. But small incidents wreak havoc on space and time, driving their wedding date further away. As centuries on Earth pass and the land and climate change, one thing is constant: the desire of the lovers to be together. In two separate yet linked stories, Kim Bo-Young cleverly demonstrate the idea love that is timeless and hope springs eternal, despite seemingly insurmountable challenges and the deepest despair.

In “The Prophet of Corruption” and “That One Life,” humanity is viewed through the eyes of its creators: godlike beings for which everything on Earth—from the richest woman to a speck of dirt—is an extension of their will. When one of the creations questions the righteousness of this arrangement, it is deemed a perversion—a disease—that must be excised and cured. Yet the Prophet Naban, whose “child” is rebelling, isn’t sure the rebellion is bad. What if that which is considered criminal is instead the natural order—and those who condemn it corrupt? Exploring the dichotomy between the philosophical and the corporeal, Kim ponders the fate of free-will, as she considers the most basic of questions: who am I? 

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                         I'm Waiting for You: And Other Stories: Kim, Bo-Young: 9780062951465: Amazon.com: Books

 My Thoughts...  

I don't usually read short stories, But I am so happy that I was sent a copy of this book. I took my tie reading it because the stories made me really stop  and think. It was an amazing book.

I want to give it as a gift to people I love. 

I have to say 4 stars all the way for this one. I had no idea I would enjoy it as much as I did.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.                                                                                                       

Love Me In The Waiting By Krystal Ribble

 For times when the world seems to be on pause, Christian leader, mentor, and author Krystal Ribble pairs biblical stories with the current familiar waiting periods of our lives, showing how we can be sure that God is with us while we wait.

Now more than ever, Sit and Wait seems to be on everyone's agenda. Weaving stories of waiting from familiar Bible characters, Love Me in the Waiting helps readers to consider that the waiting times in life are always full of purpose, even if they aren't seen or felt. In Love Me in the Waiting readers will be encouraged as they wait, learning how they can benefit from the timeless wisdom of those who waited before us. In doing so, they can draw strength and comfort from these collected stories and know they're not alone in the waiting seasons.

A companion to the waiting you're sitting through right now or have experienced in the past, Love Me in the Waiting takes readers through ten different biblical passages, focused on:

1. Waiting for the Storm to Pass
2. Waiting for New Life
3. Waiting for Love
4. Waiting for Reconciliation
5. Waiting in the Wilderness
6. Waiting for the Future
7. Waiting for your Troubles to Pass
8. Waiting for Deliverance
9. Waiting on the World to Change
10. Waiting for the Resurrection, Here and Now

These passages including the stories of Noah, Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Job, Daniel, Habakkuk, and Lazarus help anyone yearning for meaning to understand their seasons of waiting and answer questions like:

• Why is the Lord taking so long to give me the ending He s promised?
• What is He doing or teaching me while I'm waiting?
• How do I wait on a promise that I can't see?
• How can I support my loved one who is in a season of waiting?

When your patience has worn thin or you're beginning to doubt God will be around for you, take heart from the pages of scripture. This book shows that modern experiences of waiting are similar in many ways to those who have come before, and that we have more in common with our spiritual ancestors than we realize. God will never waste a minute of your waiting, and Love Me in the Waiting provides a reminder of that truth for us all. 

Pick up your copy here...

Love Me in the Waiting: Trusting God's Purpose While You're Longing for What's Next: Krystal Ribble, Russ Ramsey: 9781947297258: Amazon.com: Books

Krystal Ribble is a freelance writer and author of The Church’s Orphans. She aims to breathe new life into and bring a modern understanding to the stories we’ve read about in the Bible all our lives, showing readers how those stories are still relevant today. Her writing builds on experiences mentoring college-aged students and advocating for orphans and vulnerable children across the United States.

Krystal earned a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology and Health Care Management from North Greenville University and Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School. She now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Jared, and their three boys. Love Me in the Waiting is Krystal’s second book.

Find out more about Krystal at www.krystalribble.com and by following @krystalribble on Instagram.

My Thoughts...

If you are like me and hate waiting then maybe you would like to dive into this new book. Maybe even get a small group of like minded friends to join you in a small group setting for this study.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own. 

The Perfect Daughter By D.J. Palmer

 

Penny Francone, age sixteen, is a murderer. Her guilt is beyond doubt: she was found alone in the victim’s apartment, covered in blood, holding the murder weapon. The victim’s identity and her secret relationship to Penny give Penny the perfect motive, sealing the deal. All the jury needs to decide now is where Penny will serve out her sentence. Will she be found not guilty by reason of insanity, as her lawyer intends to argue? Or will she get a life sentence in a maximum-security prison?
Already reeling from tragedy after the sudden passing of her beloved husband a few years before, now Grace is on her knees, grateful that Massachusetts doesn't allow the death penalty.

As Penny awaits trial in a state mental hospital, she is treated by Dr. Mitchell McHugh, a psychiatrist battling demons of his own. Grace’s determination to understand the why behind her daughter’s terrible crime fuels Mitch’s resolve to help the Francone family. Together, they set out in search of the truth about Penny, but discover instead a shocking hidden history of secrets, lies, and betrayals that threatens to consume them all. 

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Perfect Daughter: A Novel (9781250267924): Palmer, D.J.: Books

D.J. Palmer is the author of numerous critically acclaimed suspense novels. A former e-commerce entrepreneur, D.J. Palmer now resides in New Hampshire and is currently at work on a new book.

My Thoughts...

What in the world, I just read a thriller that has me shaking my head and I never saw the murderer until I was hit in the face with him. This was the best book I have read by Palmer to date. I loved the characters and the whole story was fantastic. This is not one to be missed. You are going to be blown away with this book.

 You will never see it coming. I really enjoyed this 5 star thrill ride.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Crescent City Moon By Nola Nash

 

Things put underground in New Orleans don’t often stay there. Even things that should - like bodies, and secrets.

How do you fight an enemy you can’t see that can kill on a whim? In 1820s New Orleans, on the eve of her twenty-first birthday, Zéolie Cheval discovers the mangled body of her father murdered in his bed and a maniacal voice haunting the recesses of her mind. When the priest sent to comfort her is killed while the house is swarming with police, Zéolie becomes entangled in a web of mystery that takes her from the French Quarter, to the Ursuline Convent in the Ninth Ward, and deep into the Louisiana swamps.

Officer Louis Saucier, who is losing his heart to Zéolie and his grip on logical reality, helps her find the pieces to her puzzle. The mother superior of the Ursulines offers assistance from a mediumistic nun and a voodoo priestess, blurring the lines between the spiritual and the supernatural.

After opening the family crypt to find it uninhabited, Zéolie realizes that her father lied about her mother’s death – amongst other things. Now, Zéolie must come to terms with magic she inherited from her grandmother and the price that comes with it.

Step inside the magic and mystery of the 1820s French Quarter to see if an unlikely menagerie can help Zéolie take down a murderous maniac while she shields the officer she loves. Can she harness powers she didn’t know she had? Or, will she make the ultimate sacrifice? 

Pick up your copy here...

Crescent City Moon: Book 1 in the Crescent City Series: Nash, Nola: 9781950627240: Amazon.com: Books

Originally from south Louisiana, Nola Nash now makes her home in Brentwood , Tennessee, with her three children. Growing up in Baton Rouge, she spent long hours onstage or backstage in the local community theaters. Her biggest writing inspiration was the city of New Orleans that gave her at an early age a love of the magic, mystery, and history.

When she isn’t writing, Nola is teaching middle school English or hosting The Second Line Show - A bookish live talk show on Facebook and YouTube. She also considers tacos and coffee major food groups.

My Thoughts...

Set in New Orleans. A mystery, Historical. Fast read. This checks all the boxes of what you want in a book. I read this book so fast and was so sad to see it come to an end. 

I will say I am want to read more from Nash now.

I gave this book 4 stars.. I recommend it.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Sunflower Sisters By Martha Kelly

 Georgeanna “Georgey” Woolsey isn’t meant for the world of lavish parties and the demure attitudes of women of her stature. So when war ignites the nation, Georgey follows her passion for nursing during a time when doctors considered women on the battlefront a bother. In proving them wrong, she and her sister Eliza venture from New York to Washington, D.C., to Gettysburg and witness the unparalleled horrors of slavery as they become involved in the war effort.

In the South, Jemma is enslaved on the Peeler Plantation in Maryland, where she lives with her mother and father. Her sister, Patience, is enslaved on the plantation next door, and both live in fear of LeBaron, an abusive overseer who tracks their every move. When Jemma is sold by the cruel plantation mistress Anne-May at the same time the Union army comes through, she sees a chance to finally escape—but only by abandoning the family she loves.

Anne-May is left behind to run Peeler Plantation when her husband joins the Union army and her cherished brother enlists with the Confederates. In charge of the household, she uses the opportunity to follow her own ambitions and is drawn into a secret Southern network of spies, finally exposing herself to the fate she deserves.

Inspired by true accounts, Sunflower Sisters provides a vivid, detailed look at the Civil War experience, from the barbaric and inhumane plantations, to a war-torn New York City, to the horrors of the battlefield. It’s a sweeping story of women caught in a country on the brink of collapse, in a society grappling with nationalism and unthinkable racial cruelty, a story still so relevant today. 

Pick up your copy here...

Sunflower Sisters: A Novel (Woolsey-Ferriday): Kelly, Martha Hall: 9781524796402: Amazon.com: Books

Martha is a native New Englander who lives in Litchfield County Connecticut. She worked as an advertising copywriter for many years, and raised three wonderful children who are now mostly out of the nest. Her debut novel Lilac Girls, about Connecticut socialite Caroline Ferriday who championed a group of Ravensbruck Concentration Camp survivors known as The Rabbits who survived WWII Nazi experiments, was her first novel and an instant New York Times bestseller. The prequel to Lilac Girls, Lost Roses, was also an instant NYTimes bestseller. It features Caroline's mother Eliza Ferriday and her fight to save a group of Russian women, former aristocrats who lost everything in the Russian Revolution. The Lost Roses paperback published March 3rd, 2020 and the third book in the series, a Civil War novel about Caroline's great grandmother's family, arrives spring 2021. You'll find more info about both books on Martha's website: www.marthahallkelly.com and on Pinterest. 

My Thoughts...

Did you enjoy “Lilac Girls” and “Lost Roses,” if you said yes then you are going to love the final book in the  Lilac Girls series. 

I have to say Kelly has a knack for writing historical in a such a way its like you are living it out.

I might just go as far as to say she is the queen of historical fiction.

Sunflower Sisters is not to be missed. You might as well read the whole series if you have not yet. 

4 stars and highly recommended.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.