The Last Year of the War By Susan Meissner

From the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life and As Bright as Heaven comes a novel about a German American teenager whose life changes forever when her immigrant family is sent to an internment camp during World War II.

Elise Sontag is a typical Iowa fourteen-year-old in 1943—aware of the war but distanced from its reach. Then her father, a legal U.S. resident for nearly two decades, is suddenly arrested on suspicion of being a Nazi sympathizer. The family is sent to an internment camp in Texas, where, behind the armed guards and barbed wire, Elise feels stripped of everything beloved and familiar, including her own identity.

The only thing that makes the camp bearable is meeting fellow internee Mariko Inoue, a Japanese-American teen from Los Angeles, whose friendship empowers Elise to believe the life she knew before the war will again be hers. Together in the desert wilderness, Elise and Mariko hold tight the dream of being young American women with a future beyond the fences.

But when the Sontag family is exchanged for American prisoners behind enemy lines in Germany, Elise will face head-on the person the war desires to make of her. In that devastating crucible she must discover if she has the will to rise above prejudice and hatred and re-claim her own destiny, or disappear into the image others have cast upon her.

The Last Year of the War tells a little-known story of World War II with great resonance for our own times and challenges the very notion of who we are when who we’ve always been is called into question.

Pick up your copy here...
 https://www.amazon.com/Last-Year-War-Susan-Meissner/dp/0451492153/ref=sr_1_2?crid=GN5W5N57GMWI&keywords=the+last+year+of+the+war+susan+meissner&qid=1553646117&s=gateway&sprefix=The+last+year%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-2

I cannot remember a time when I wasn't driven to write. I attribute this passion to a creative God and to parents who love books and more particularly to a dad who majored in English and passed on a passion for writing.

I was born in 1961 in San Diego, California, and am the second of three daughters. I spent my very average childhood in just two houses. I attended Point Loma College in San Diego, majoring in education, but I would have been smarter to major in English with a concentration in writing. The advice I give now to anyone wondering what to major in is follow your heart and choose a vocation you are already in love with.

I'm happy and humbled to say that I've had 17 books published in the last dozen years, including The Shape of Mercy, which was named one of the 100 Best Books in 2008 by Publishers Weekly, and the ECPA’s Fiction Book of the Year, a Carol Award winner, and a RITA finalist. I teach at writers' conferences from time to time and I've a background in community journalism.

I'm also a pastor’s wife and a mother of four young adults. When I'm not at work on a new novel, I write small group curriculum for my San Diego church. Visit me at my website: http//:susanmeissner.com on Twitter at @SusanMeissner or at www.facebook.com/susan.meissner

My Thoughts...

 Are you ready for a history lesson like no other? I fell into this book and ate up every page of this friendship and the rich history. A historical drama you are not soon going to forget.
Elise begins her journey to find Mariko and we get a look into her life.
My hope is that everyone gets to read this work of art.
Elise's was taught that people are all the same, regardless of race, religion, or where they are born.
4 stars and 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.

Half Finished By Lauraine Snelling

In bestselling author Lauraine Snelling's new novel, a group of women realize that life is full of half-finished relationships and projects. However, they discover that the outcome is not as important as the journey.

Recognizing how common it is for crafters to start many projects and finish few, a group of women join together to form a guild-Unfinished Projects Anonymous-to keep each other on track and accountable. Three of the friends are tasked with the job of home visits for their guild. Laughingly called "the Cartel," they snoop around craft rooms and knitting baskets to report on progress for the members. They even expand their mission to include checking on half-trained dogs and half-weeded gardens.

As life unexpectedly changes for one of the members, this ensemble of women in bestselling author Lauraine Snelling's new novel discovers that much of life is half-finished-projects, friendships, the raising of children, even our very relationship with the Lord. And that may be perfectly fine.

Pick up your copy here...

 https://www.amazon.com/Half-Finished-Novel-Lauraine-Snelling/dp/1478920076/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=2G4LKAQPQTA12&keywords=half+finished+by+lauraine+snelling&qid=1552856087&s=gateway&sprefix=half+finished%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has over eighty books published with more than 4 million copies in print.


Shown in her contemporary romances and women’s fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine’s style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story. Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Inspirational Fiction, the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.


As a sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply ... if only her paintbrushes and easel didn’t call quite so loudly.

Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a watchdog Basset named Winston. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem “a work in progress”. 

My Thoughts...

 This felt a little bit different from Snelling's other books that I have read in the past. Slow, and an over load of characters to keep up with. The friendships and the settings were real good but I had a hard time with this book for some reason. I like a bit of a faster paced read I guess. You read and see if you feel the same way.

I gave this book 3.5 stars. Let me know what you think of it after you read 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.

Glory Road By Lauren K. Denton

The only thing certain is change—even in a place as steady as Perry, Alabama, on a street as old as Glory Road.
Nearly a decade after her husband’s affair drove her back home to South Alabama, Jessie McBride has the stable life she wants—operating her garden shop, Twig, next door to her house on Glory Road, and keeping up with her teenage daughter and spunky mother. But the unexpected arrival of two men makes Jessie question whether she’s really happy with the status quo.
When handsome, wealthy businessman Sumner Tate asks her to arrange flowers for his daughter’s lavish wedding, Jessie finds herself drawn to his continued attention. Then Ben Bradley, her lingering what-could-have-been from high school, moves back to the red dirt road, and she feels her heart pulled in directions she never expected.
Meanwhile, Jessie’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Evan, is approaching the start of high school and navigating a new world of emotions—particularly as they relate to the cute new guy who’s moved in just down the road. At the same time, Jessie’s mother, Gus, is suffering increasingly frequent memory lapses and faces a frightening, uncertain future.
In one summer, everything will change. But for these three strong Southern women, the roots they’ve planted on Glory Road will give life to the adventures waiting just around the curve.

Pick up your copy here...
 https://www.amazon.com/Glory-Road-Lauren-K-Denton/dp/0785225226/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?crid=2WFHORGIBEEUZ&keywords=glory+road+lauren+k+denton&qid=1553645619&s=gateway&sprefix=Glory+Road%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

LAUREN K. DENTON is the author of USA TODAY bestselling novels The Hideaway and Hurricane Season. She was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and now lives with her husband and two daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. Though her husband tries valiantly to turn her into a mountain girl, she’d still rather be at the beach. Website: LaurenKDenton.com; Instagram: LaurenKDentonBooks; Facebook: LaurenKDentonAuthor; Twitter: @LaurenKDenton.


My Thoughts...

I really enjoy southern fiction. And I need to say Denton has done it proud y'all are going to enjoy this. Grab a mason jar full of some sweet tea and kick back on the front porch because this is a good read. The characters were fun getting to know, and Denton throw in a little romance for fun. I can't wait to read her next 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.

Eat Live Thrive Diet By Donna Demetre & Robyn Thomson GIVEAWAY!

From the well-known health and lifestyle coaches of the widely popular website Lean Healthy Ageless (formerly Ageless Woman Living) comes a practical, science-based diet book that unravels the mystery of why women gain weight as they age and includes a sustainable plan to permanently lose the pounds and inches.Eat, Live, Thrive Diet shows women how they can not only lose excess body fat permanently but also improve their overall health in critical areas such as brain function, resistance to disease, slowing down external aging, and increasing energy. This highly effective eating plan is presented in a compassionate voice by two experienced health coaches who share personal experiences of battling weight and emotional eating issues. Whereas most diets are short-lived or require substantial upkeep to maintain, Eat, Live, Thrive Diet is a viable eating plan that women can adhere to indefinitely. In addition to minimizing sugar intake, the plan emphasizes the importance of short-term intermittent fasting--a simple lifestyle change that makes it easier and more effective for many mature women to reach their health and weight loss goals. The book also highlights health risks and drawbacks of many popular fad diets that can be harmful on a long-term basis.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Live-Thrive-Diet-Metabolism/dp/0525653163/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=2S1SEA9JPSEN1&keywords=eat+live+thrive+diet+book&qid=1551289755&s=gateway&sprefix=eat+live+th%2Caps%2C338&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

My Thoughts...

This is not some fade diet plan. This is a solid life style change that will help you to live your best life now.
I have had this book for ten weeks and read it and studied it and have lived it.
So many changes have taken place over the last ten weeks. I feel like a new person. The chapter on sleep has made a huge difference in my life.
The recipes are easy and the ingredients are not hard to find in fact I had 90% of them already in my pantry. 
I hope that if you are looking to make changes in your life that you will pick up a copy of this life changer.
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 Testament of Harold's Wife By Lynne Hugo GIVEAWAY!

From award-winning author Lynne Hugo comes a witty, insightful, refreshingly unsentimental novel about one woman’s unconventional path from heartbreak to hope . . .
After losing her husband, Harold, and her beloved grandson, Cody, within the past year, Louisa has two choices. She can fade away on her Indiana family farm, where her companionship comes courtesy of her aging chickens and an argumentative cat. Or, she can concoct A Plan. Louisa, a retired schoolteacher who’s as smart, sassy, and irreverent as ever, isn’t the fading away type.

The drunk driver who killed Cody got off scot-free by lying about a deer on the road. Harold had tried to take matters into his own hands, but was thwarted by Gus, the local sheriff. Now Louisa decides to take up Harold’s cause, though it will mean outsmarting Gus, who’s developed an unwelcome crush on her, and staying ahead of her adult son who’s found solace in a money-draining cult and terrible art.

Louisa's love of life is rekindled as the spring sun warms her cornfields and she goes into action. But even the most Perfect Plans can go awry. A wounded buck, and a teenage boy on the land she treasures help Louisa see that the enduring beauty of the natural world and the mystery of human connection are larger than revenge . . . and so is justice.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Testament-Harolds-Wife-Lynne-Hugo/dp/149671668X/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=2SKJIC8HZWYR2&keywords=the+testament+of+harold%27s+wife+by+lynne+hugo&qid=1551381145&s=gateway&sprefix=the+testament+of+h%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Lynne Hugo is an American author whose roots are in the northeast. A National Endowment For The Arts Fellowship recipient, she has also received repeat individual artists grants from the Ohio Arts Council and the Kentucky Foundation for Women. Her publications include eight novels, one volume of creative non-fiction, two books of poetry and a children’s book. She lives with her husband, a photographer, in the Midwest. They have two grown children, three grandchildren, and a yellow Labrador retriever who excels at barking and playing tennis ball shortstop.

Ms. Hugo has taught creative writing to hundreds of schoolchildren through the Ohio Arts Council’s renowned Arts in Education program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College, and a Master’s from Miami University.

When an editor asked her to describe herself as a writer, she responded:

"I write in black Wal-Mart capri sweatpants. They don't start out as capris, but I routinely shrink them in the drier by accident. And I always buy black because it doesn't show where I've wiped the chocolate off my hands. Now that my son and daughter are grown, my previous high grade of 'below average' in Domestic Achievement has dropped somewhat. But I'm less guilty about it now. I lose myself in crafting language by a window with birdfeeders hanging in the branches of a Chinese elm towering over the house. When I come up for air, I hike by the ponds and along the river in a nearby forest with my beloved Lab. My husband, with whom I planted that elm as a bare root sapling, joins us when he can."

My Thoughts...

This was a bit slow but once we got past all that Louisa had been through and all the hurt. And got to the revenge part of the story it picked up. I read it in one sitting. It's a short book with chickens hello yes I said chickens, You are going to have to read it to find out about the chickens.
I gave this book 4 stars and I hope that you will read this one.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.


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The Night Before By Wendy Walker

Riveting and compulsive, national bestselling author Wendy Walker’s The Night Before “takes you to deep, dark places few thrillers dare to go” as two sisters uncover long-buried secrets when an internet date spirals out of control.
Laura Lochner has never been lucky in love. She falls too hard and too fast, always choosing the wrong men. Devastated by the end of her last relationship, she fled her Wall Street job and New York City apartment for her sister’s home in the Connecticut suburb where they both grew up. Though still haunted by the tragedy that’s defined her entire life, Laura is determined to take one more chance on love with a man she’s met on an Internet dating site.
Rosie Ferro has spent most of her life worrying about her troubled sister. Fearless but fragile, Laura has always walked an emotional tightrope, and Rosie has always been there to catch her. Laura’s return, under mysterious circumstances, has cast a shadow over Rosie’s peaceful life with her husband and young son – a shadow that grows darker as Laura leaves the house for her blind date.
When Laura does not return home the following morning, Rosie fears the worst. She’s not responding to calls or texts, and she’s left no information about the man she planned to meet. As Rosie begins a desperate search to find her sister, she is not just worried about what this man might have done to Laura. She’s worried about what Laura may have done to him…

Pre order your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Night-Before-Novel-Wendy-Walker/dp/1250198674/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?crid=3EVF1IDBXAG61&keywords=the+night+before+by+wendy+walker&qid=1551732187&s=gateway&sprefix=The+Night+Before+by%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-3-fkmrnull

Wendy Walker is a former attorney and investment banker. Her first thriller, All Is Not Forgotten, has become an international bestseller, now published in over 22 languages. Her second thriller, Emma In The Night, was published the following year and coming in May, 2019, is her latest, The Night Before. Wendy is currently working on her next novel and managing a busy household of teenage boys.

My Thoughts...

This started out kind of slow for me, but about the halfway point it picked up and it became a great roller coaster of a ride. I could not put it down at that point. I  can now say that I am a Wendy Walker fan and can't wait to read her next 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.

Grace and Lavender By Heather Norman Smith

Recently retired Colleen Hill is always busy, constantly on a quest to make life more interesting.
When the ladies' group at her church partners with the local children's home, Colleen jumps in as usual, volunteering to share her passion for cooking with a troubled teenager named Grace. But Colleen must balance the new project with her pursuit of becoming a contestant on a television game show, along with all the other ideas her brain continually spins out.
Colleen's daughter Melody is quite different. She lives a calm, simple life and is content with who she is. That is, until an unexpected opportunity to work with Grace, too, pushes her to reevaluate life and dare to take on bigger dreams. The path starts with a newly-found interest in soap-making and leads her to responsibilities she didn't even know she wanted, including helping Grace understand the meaning of her name.

Pick up your copy here...
 https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Lavender-Heather-Norman-Smith/dp/1620208334/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3MSJ0L41JNRMG&keywords=grace+and+lavender+by+heather+norman+smith&qid=1552859204&s=gateway&sprefix=Grace+and+Lavend%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

 Heather Norman Smith is a devotional blogger and author of inspirational fiction. Her goal is to use the written word to entertain and encourage, while illuminating the redemptive love of God. She also enjoys writing songs and singing about Jesus.

Heather is proud to be a life-long North Carolinian and aims to present the beauty of the Tar Heel State in her writing. Her home is just outside Winston-Salem, NC, where she lives with one husband, two daughters, one son, two cats, and two dogs. Heather loves words and does not enjoy math, except when it comes to counting blessings.

My Thoughts...

Faith, Adoption, and family all in this little book.
The setting was sweet, and the characters are solid. The story was a little bit slow for me until about halfway through it.
 I love the cover. I'm waiting for the next book from Smith.
I gave this book 3.5 stars.
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 Two Tails By Katie Christine

As The Two Tails opens, the flock confronts a spiral of death and disappearance. Ensnared by a rapacious raccoon and desperate for a way out, Petunia, the backyard chicken, must throw herself at the mercy of the dark, open road with little more than gumption, a pair of useless wings, and a dubious companion as her guide.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Impeccable-Petunia-Part-II-Tails/dp/1719822859/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1551382690&sr=1-1-fkmr0

From a young age Katie's parents instilled in her a love of animals and art. She has many fond childhood memories of long summer afternoons spent curled up in a quiet corner of the local library. She lives outside Seattle, Washington with her husband/illustrator, Jonathan Edward, their Super-Sheltie, Niles and cats, Frankenstein and Penelope.

Katie Christine holds degrees from UCLA and USC, enjoys the outdoors, gardening, reading, and discovering new music.

My Thoughts...

Book number two in a children's series  Called Impeccable Petunia about a small hen.
I like most kids enjoy animal stories. This one is an easy read the illustrations are black and dark not sure what most of them are so buy the book for the story not the pictures.
Thanks to the author for sending us book one and book two.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

A Hero For Miss Hatherleigh By Carolyn Miller

As the daughter of Viscount Aynsley, Caroline Hatherleigh knows every rule of society--and she's always followed them precisely. But when she visits south Devonshire and encounters a fossil-hunting scientist and his sister, her assumptions about what is right are shaken. Questions she has never considered about the importance of friendship and faith suddenly confront her--and her comfortable understanding about how the world works is thrown off balance. What if God wants to be the center of her life, rather than merely a social obligation?

Gideon Kirby loves science, and hunting down proof of past lives is a joy he won't willingly give up. But his scientific leanings are being challenged both by his personal beliefs and by local smugglers in the Devonshire countryside. And every day his sister's illness becomes more desperate, her care growing more demanding. Adding a viscount's daughter to the mix is a complication Gideon never expected--especially since he must stay far away from this young woman he’s falling for in order to protect his beloved sister’s secret.

When a mysterious stranger visits the village, that secret will be exposed, no matter how Gideon fights. Then tragedy strikes in a smugglers' cave. And the threat of scandal may lead to broken hearts and passionless propriety. Will the shaky bond these two have nurtured be strong enough to overcome their differences--or will the trust they've withheld from each other tear three lives apart?

Pick up your copy here,,,
 https://www.amazon.com/Hero-Miss-Hatherleigh-Regency-Brides/dp/0825445892/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1552853598&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Hi, I'm Carolyn Miller, author of 'The Elusive Miss Ellison'.

I live in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

I'm married, with four gorgeous children, who all love to read (and write!) as I do (except not in the Regency genre - funny, that!).

My favourite authors are classics like Jane Austen (of course!), Georgette Heyer, and Agatha Christie, but I also enjoy contemporary authors like Susan May Warren and Becky Wade.

I try to write stories that are fun and witty, yet also deal with real issues, such as dealing with forgiveness, the nature of really loving versus 'true love', and other challenges we all face at different times.

My Thoughts...

If you are a fan of  Regency Romance  then you don’t want to miss this latest book by Carolyn Miller.

Caroline and Gideon had great chemistry and I loved the bond that Emma and Miss Hartherleigh shared.

This is going to be a book that stays on my shelf so that I can reread it again. I gave this book 4 stars and 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.

When Drag Racing Met Country Music By Terri Lynn Schmidt

In search of a new identity outside of marriage after the death of her husband, Terri Lynn’s collection of writings addresses all matters of the heart. Her message of Faith, Hope, and Love is supported by scriptures.

From the author: "Till death do you part.” Words I hung upon and waited for during the first wedding ceremony I attended after my husband died. Instantly our 3-chord unity, that had been tethered together for over 20 years, severed. Was I a free woman? Free to do what? Most certainly a heartbroken woman. After all I did not choose the tearing of hearts and certainly it was not what I had planned on happening at such a young age. No one to check in with upon returning home or to meet for dinner or a movie. Silence. Alas, there was One. My Heavenly Father became my best friend and my Husband. Rediscovering my love for writing, along with scripture, the collections inside helped in finding my way back to where my true identity lies. The wife of a Drag Racing Legend was who I had become; identity in Christ is where I am now. Whether you are a widow or searching for more meaning relating to heart issues, welcome. Let us sojourn together.

Pick Up your copy here...
 https://www.amazon.com/When-Drag-Racing-Country-Music/dp/1946889539/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ET99E3W3UVQQ&keywords=when+drag+racing+met+country+music&qid=1552855895&s=gateway&sprefix=when+drag+racing+met+country+music%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1-spell

A native of Dallas, Texas Terri started writing, along with her love of music, at a very young age. With music and lyrics being her life a move to Nashville as a young adult made sense. Following her career in Nashville at Opryland and entertaining for US Troops in Central America for a season, at 26, Terri married NHRA Drag Racing Pioneer Harry Schmidt; a Hall-Of-Famer of the famous Blue Max Funny Car. After 21 years of marriage on April 30th of 2012, Terri, and her daughter's lives would be forever changed when Harry lost his 4-year battle to cancer. In search of rediscovering her identity outside of being Harry's wife, Terri rekindled her passion for writing.

Terri co-authored a chapter in the book, "Dare To Be A Difference Maker". Branching from that experience she has endorsed 2 books and was offered a column position for writing in a Dallas Downtown Business Newspaper. Her column of 7 years running is called, "Beauty Is Fleeting: Inside Matters". Her inside collections of writings are helpful for healing after loss, finding hope, and seeing beauty in life and love, along with scripture, by addressing matters of the heart.

My Thoughts...

When Drag Racing Met Country Music Is an great biography. The author has captured every emotion possible by a book. I liked that she started the book with the childhood of her late husband, followed by the same of her childhood and then the story of how they met. The book is a great start for her to recapture her love for writing. I believe she did a good job.    

  The book to me didn't follow a specific pattern or time line. Each chapter in a way had a feel of a standalone short story. Each chapter is a story of how she overcome certain challenges or is dealing with the loss of her husband or how her faith has helped her through many pitfalls. She is a good story teller.

This was a 4 star 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.

Convergence By Ginny Yttrup

A psychologist paralyzed by fear.

A mother propelled by love.

A stalker bent on destruction.

Psychology professor Dr. Denilyn Rossi contends that the past is either a shadow that haunts us or a force that propels us. The choice is ours, she tells her students. What she doesn’t tell them is that her own past is a shadow she can’t seem to shake. Fear has immobilized her and is taking a costly toll.

Adelia Sanchez, however, has embraced Dr. Rossi’s teaching. She is ready to confront fear and render it powerless—using the trauma of her past to propel her to entrap the man who stalked and brutally attacked her.

As Denilyn’s past and Adelia’s present converge at the Kaweah River, a dangerous man bent on destruction threatens them both. Will he uncover the secret Deni and Adelia have fought so hard to protect?

Pick up your copy here...
 https://www.amazon.com/Convergence-Ginny-L-Yttrup/dp/1683227883/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1552438204&sr=8-4

 Ginny L. Yttrup is the award-winning author of five novels including Home, which released April 2017. She writes contemporary women's fiction and enjoys exploring the issues everyday women face. Publishers Weekly dubbed Ginny's work "as inspiring as it is entertaining." When not writing, Ginny coaches writers, critiques manuscripts, and makes vintage-style jewelry for her Esty shop, Storied Jewelry. She loves dining with friends, hanging out with her adult children, gardening, or spending a day reading a great novel. Ginny lives in northern California. To learn more about Ginny and her work, visit www.ginnyyttrup.com.

My Thoughts...
 
Where are my psychological thriller readers? You are in for a ride with the latest from Yttrup

I have been reading lots of psychological thrillers here lately so I must say I had very high hopes for this book. I was not disappointed at all.

I am not a reviewer who gives anything away. I will just say if you like psychological thrillers then you must read this book. I gave it 4 stars and 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.

The Secrets of Paper and Ink By Lindsay Harrel

Brought together by a charming bookstore in England, three women fight to defy expectations, dream new dreams, and welcome love into their lives.
As a counselor, Sophia Barrett is trained to help people cope with their burdens. But when she meets a new patient whose troubles mirror her own, she realizes she hasn’t dealt with the pain of her recent past. After making a snap decision to get away for the summer, Sophia moves overseas to an apartment above a charming bookstore in Cornwall, England. She is hopeful she will find peace there surrounded by her favorite thing: great literature.
Bookstore owner Ginny Rose is desperate to save her business without asking for help from a husband who’s decided to take a break from their marriage. Ginny never imagined she’d be solely responsible for keeping afloat her husband’s dream, but the unexpected friendship with her new renter has her feeling more optimistic. Between the two of them—and Ginny’s brother-in-law, William—the bookstore might stand a chance.
Then Sophia finds a notebook in the bookstore that contains journal entries from Emily Fairfax, a governess who lived in Cornwall more than 150 years ago. Sophia learns that Emily harbored a secret passion for becoming an authoress—as well as a deep love for her childhood friend, Edward, whose station she dared not dream to touch.
Eager to know more of Emily’s story, Sophia goes on a quest—dragging Ginny and William with her—to discover the heart of the woman behind the beautiful entries. Soon Ginny’s need to save the bookstore becomes more than a way to save her marriage, and Sophia finds new purpose of her own. Together they find that sometimes both heartache and hope can reach across the centuries.

Pick up your copy here...
 https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Paper-Ink-Lindsay-Harrel/dp/0718075722/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=154BP1UYP7X56&keywords=the+secrets+of+paper+and+ink&qid=1552522949&s=gateway&sprefix=the+Secerts+of+paper+and+ink%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

 Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd with a B.A. in journalism and M.A. in English. She lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. Lindsay has held a variety of jobs, including curriculum editor for two universities, medical and business writer, and copywriter for a digital marketing agency. Now she juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with working freelance jobs, teaching college English courses online, and—of course—writing novels.

When she actually has time to do other things, she loves to sing, read, and sip passion iced teas from Starbucks. She loves to watch God work in ordinary lives to create something extraordinary, and she writes to bring hope to those who may have lost it along the way. Connect with her at www.LindsayHarrel.com and any other place she hangs out online, including Facebook and Twitter.

My Thoughts...

 I felt such a connection to Sophia, She lost her husband and tried to lose herself in books. I just lost my only daughter and I try everyday to get lost in books. Sophia felt at home in a book store I to go to a book store on the weekends and feel at home. This book really was wrote for me. I loved all three ladies but Sophia was my hero. I gave this book 4.5 stars and I HIGHLY recommend it!
Thanks to my best friend for giving me a copy of it, I will reread it again and again in hopes that I to will find myself again!
 

Almost Home By Valerie Lusse

With America's entrance into the Second World War, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants--and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.

An estranged young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war--they're all hoping Dolly's house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.

When tragedy strikes, Dolly's only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

Award-winning and bestselling author Valerie Fraser Luesse breathes life into a cast of unforgettable characters in this complex and compassionate story of hurt and healing.

Pick up your copy here...
 https://www.amazon.com/Almost-Home-Valerie-Fraser-Luesse/dp/0800729633/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=X4RYK14N01Y&keywords=almost+home+valerie+luesse&qid=1552351063&s=gateway&sprefix=Almost+home%2Caps%2C789&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Valerie Fraser Luesse is the bestselling author of Missing Isaac and is an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she is currently a senior travel editor. Specializing in stories about unique pockets of Southern culture, Luesse has published major pieces on the Gulf Coast, the Mississippi Delta, Louisiana's Acadian Prairie, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Her editorial section on Hurricane Katrina recovery in Mississippi and Louisiana won the 2009 Writer of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

My Thoughts...

Loss, Love, friendship, and healing, well the story of our lives.  A very well written and moving story. I was so touched by it,
You get a little bit of everything. This was my first book by Luesse but I can't wait for more from her. 
This is a 4 star read you don't want to miss.
 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 Family Next Door By Sally Hepworth

Small, perfect towns often hold the deepest secrets.
From the outside, Essie’s life looks idyllic: a loving husband, a beautiful house in a good neighborhood, and a nearby mother who dotes on her grandchildren. But few of Essie’s friends know her secret shame: that in a moment of maternal despair, she once walked away from her newborn, asleep in her carriage in a park. Disaster was avoided and Essie got better, but she still fears what lurks inside her, even as her daughter gets older and she has a second baby.
When a new woman named Isabelle moves in next door to Essie, she is an immediate object of curiosity in the neighborhood. Why single, when everyone else is married with children? Why renting, when everyone else owns? What mysterious job does she have? And why is she so fascinated with Essie? As the two women grow closer and Essie’s friends voice their disapproval, it starts to become clear that Isabelle’s choice of neighborhood was no accident. And that her presence threatens to bring shocking secrets to light.

The Family Next Door is Sally Hepworth at her very best: at once a deeply moving portrait of family drama and a compelling suburban mystery that will keep you hooked until the very last page.


Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Family-Next-Door-Novel/dp/1250120896/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3AOHX6D9TN2L1&keywords=the+family+next+door+by+sally+hepworth&qid=1551958558&s=gateway&sprefix=the+family+next+door%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Sally Hepworth is the bestselling author of The Secrets of Midwives (2015), The Things We Keep (2016) The Mother's Promise (2017), The Family Next Door (2018) and The Mother In Law (April 2019). Sally's books have been labelled “enchanting” by The Herald Sun, “smart and engaging” by Publisher’s Weekly, and New York Times bestselling authors Liane Moriarty and Emily Giffin have praised Sally’s novels as “women’s fiction at its finest” and “totally absorbing”.

Sally's novels are available worldwide in English and have been translated into 10+ languages.
​
Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children.

My Thoughts...

Hepworth shifts gears at every curve with the cool efficiency of a Nascar driver. This book had so many thrilling twists and turns to it, I was glued to the pages from the start.
I can't wait to read Hepworth's next book.
I gave this book 4.5 stars. I HIGHLY recommend this 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.

$100 WINNER!

The WINNER of the $100 Amazon Gift Card for when we reach 1000 blog followers is DRUM ROLL Please... Trinity Clark. Trinity please email me your mailing address because I also am sending you a box  full of books.

As soon as we hit 1500 blog followers I will draw for the next Giveaway $500 Amazon gift card!

The next GIVEAWAY will be an ipad of the winners choice when we reach 2000 blog followers.

Someone has graciously agreed to buy one blog follower an apple ipad of their choice.   So spread the word and share this blog with your friends and family.


Thank you to all my blog followers and those who comment every day on my posts. I love you and and I am so thankful for your support!

The Baggage Handler By David Rawlings

When three people take the wrong suitcase from baggage claim, their lives change forever.
A hothead businessman coming to the city for a showdown meeting to save his job.
A mother of three hoping to survive the days at her sister's house before her niece’s wedding.
And a young artist pursuing his father’s dream so he can keep his own alive.
When David, Gillian, and Michael each take the wrong suitcase from baggage claim, the airline directs them to retrieve their bags at a mysterious facility in a deserted part of the city. There they meet the enigmatic Baggage Handler, who shows them there is more in their baggage than what they have packed, and carrying it with them is slowing them down in ways they can’t imagine. And they must deal with it before they can leave.
In this modern-day parable about the burdens that weigh us down, David Rawlings issues an inspiring invitation to lighten the load.


Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Baggage-Handler-David-Rawlings/dp/0785224939/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1551957929&sr=8-1-fkmr0

David Rawlings is an Australian author, and a sports-mad father of three who loves humor and a clever turn of phrase. Over a 25-year career he has put words on the page to put food on the table, developing from sports journalism and copywriting to corporate communication. Now in fiction, he entices readers to look deeper into life with stories that combine the everyday with a sense of the speculative, addressing the fundamental questions we all face.
Website: www.davidrawlings.com.au; Facebook: David Rawlings – Author; Instagram: davidrawlingsauthor.

My Thoughts...

We all have baggage. How we perceive it is what matters. This is such a thought provoking read. I read it in one sitting. It made me think of Andy Andrews books. This is a book I want everyone I know to read. I can't wait to read more from Rawlings.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Courting Mr. Emerson By Melody Carlson

When the fun-loving and spontaneous artist Willow West meets buttoned-up, retired English teacher George Emerson, it's not exactly love at first sight. Though she does find the obsessive-compulsive man intriguing. Making it her mission to get him to loosen up and embrace life, she embarks on what seems like a lost cause--and finds herself falling for him in the process.

A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around--which to him seems like all too often. He's not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them.

But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The question is, will his change of heart be too late for Willow?

With her signature heart and touches of humor, fan favorite Melody Carlson pens a story of two delightfully eccentric characters who get a second chance at life and love.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Courting-Mr-Emerson-Melody-Carlson/dp/0800735277/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1551732679&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

My Thoughts...

I always fly through Carlson's books they are fast easy reads. I did connect with one of the characters I to have OCD. So this was a fun read. I will tell you it is a fast one sitting read. I can't wait for Carlson's next book.
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.

Far Side of the Sea By Kate Breslin

In spring 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries on the front, receives a message by carrier pigeon. It is from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life--a woman he believed to be dead. Traveling to France to answer her urgent summons, he desperately hopes this mission will ease his guilt and restore the courage he lost on the battlefield.

Colin is stunned, however, to discover the message came from Jewel's half sister, Johanna. Johanna, who works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence, found Jewel's diary and believes her sister is alive in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust begins to grow between them.

When their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot, danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Far-Side-Sea-Kate-Breslin/dp/0764217828/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1551382259&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Former bookseller-turned-author Kate Breslin enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and family. A writer of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate received Christian Retailing's 2015 Best Award for First Time Author and her debut novel, For Such A Time, was shortlisted for both the Christy and RITA awards and received the American Christian Fiction Writer's 2015 Carol Award for Debut Novel. Kate's third novel, High As The Heavens, released June, 2017. When she's not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading or taking long walks in Washington's beautiful woodlands. She also likes traveling to new places, both within the U.S. and abroad, having toured Greece, Rome, and much of Western Europe. New destinations make for fresh story ideas. Please visit her at www.katebreslin.com

My Thoughts...

Historical book fans this is your lucky week.
If you have not read a book by Breslin then this is the book to start with.
Romance lovers even have a surprise in this one.
Very well thought out and  very well researched I even enjoyed this one.
I will say I felt a loss so just know that.
You are sure to be sharing this one with many friends.
I gave this book 4 stars. I hope that you enjoy 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.

Of Fire and Lions By Mesu Andrews GIVEAWAY!

Survival. A Hebrew girl first tasted it when she escaped death nearly seventy years ago as the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. She thought she'd perfected in the many years amongst the Magoi and the idol worshippers, pretending with all the others in King Nebuchadnezzar's court. Now, as Daniel's wife and a septuagenarian matriarch, Belili thinks she's safe and she can live out her days in Babylon without fear--until the night Daniel is escorted to Belshazzar's palace to interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. The Persian Army invades, and Bellili's tightly-wound secrets unfurl with the arrival of the conquering army. What will the reign of Darius mean for Daniel, a man who prays to Yahweh alone?
     Ultimately, Yahweh's sovereign hand guides Jerusalem's captives, and the frightened Hebrew girl is transformed into a confident woman, who realizes her need of the God who conquers both fire and lions.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Lions-Novel-Mesu-Andrews/dp/0735291861/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?crid=2OMIAWAMYW9LS&keywords=of+fire+and+lions+mesu+andrews&qid=1551223184&s=gateway&sprefix=of+Fire+and+Lions%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-3-fkmrnull

Mesu grew up with a variegated Christian heritage. With grandparents from the Pilgrim Holiness, Nazarene, and Wesleyan Churches, her dad was a Quaker and mom charismatic. As you might imagine, God was a central figure in most family discussions, but theology was a battlefield and Scripture the weapon. As a rebellious teenager, Mesu rejected God and His Word, but discovered Jesus as a life-transforming Savior through the changed life of an old friend.

The desire for God's Word exploded with her new commitment, but devotional time was scarce due to the demands of a young wife and mother. So Mesu scoured the only two theology books available--children's Bible stories and her Bible. The stories she read to her daughters at night pointed her to the Bible passages she studied all day. She became an avid student of God's Word, searching historical and cultural settings as well as ancient texts and original languages.

Mesu and her husband Roy have raised those two daughters and now enjoy a tribe of grandkids, who get to hear those same Bible stories. Mesu's love for God's Word has never waned. She now writes biblical novels, rich with spiritual insight learned through fascinating discoveries in deep historical research.

Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell)--the story of Job and the women who loved him--won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year in the Debut Author Category. Her subsequent novels have released with high praise, shedding light on some of the shadowy women of Scripture. Love's Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) tells the story of the beloved shepherdess in King Solomon's Song of Solomon. Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell, 2013) tells the story of Hosea and Gomer and is the final stand-alone novel in the Treasures of His Love Series. Her fourth novel, In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) tells the fascinating story of Queen Athaliah and the courageous Princess Jehosheba.

The Treasures of the Nile series (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015-16) included The Pharaoh's Daughter and Miriam and spanned Moses' life from birth to the Exodus. Her 2017 release, Isaiah's Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah), explores the life and ministry of the prophet Isaiah and the tumultuous days of Judah under the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah but focuses on the woman Hephzibah--a fascinating character in Jewish legends.

Mesu writes in their log cabin tucked away in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Her best friend is an American Staffordshire Terrier named Zeke, who keeps her company on long writing days. Zeke also enjoys watching movies, long walks in the woods, and sitting by the fireplace on rainy days.

My Thoughts...

Do you remember the story of Daniel and the lions den?
Well you are in for a real treat with Andews latest Biblical retelling.
This was very researched and so worth the read. This book is written so well you can see it playing out in your mind on every page.
I have to tell you, you don't want to miss this. Historical lovers and biblical retelling lovers are going to devour this book.
I gave it 4 stars and 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.


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Other Bodies By Joel Ohman

For fans of The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Divergent and from the author of the #1 bestselling Meritropolis series comes the NEW dystopian thriller you won’t want to miss…In a world where immersive VR suits distort what is real from what is not, and the AI Personhood Act blurs the lines between body and bot, the choices sixteen-year-old Hattie Martins faces are very personal.How far would you go to undo your greatest regret?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Other-Bodies-Joel-Ohman/dp/1981916849/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1551223577&sr=8-1-spell

Joel Ohman lives in Tampa, FL with his wife Angela and their three kids. His writing companion is Caesar, a slightly overweight Bull Mastiff who loves to eat the tops off of strawberries.

Joel is the author of the #1 bestselling Meritropolis series—“The Hunger Games meets The Village with a young Jack Reacher as a protagonist” and the new YA release, Other Bodies.

Join the Joel Ohman Reader's Group for FREE giveaways and VIP access to pre-release books, gift cards, and special announcements. Join now at JoelOhman.com!

My Thoughts...

This is a futuristic book sad thing is, it is almost a present day story.
If you are not pro-life you may not want to read this.
I was glad to see a book of this type written and young girls getting to read it. I think it is for older girls 17 years old and on up.
I will say this is was edited well and the first half of the book was really good the second half  was very preachy to me.
I gave this book 3 stars it was worth the read.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.