Thursday, February 27, 2020

The Hope of Glory By Jon Meacham GIVEAWAY!

Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jon Meacham explores the seven last sayings of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels, combining rich historical and theological insights to reflect on the true heart of the Christian story.

For Jon Meacham, as for believers worldwide, the events of Good Friday and Easter reveal essential truths about Christianity. A former vestryman of Trinity Church Wall Street and St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, Meacham delves into that intersection of faith and history in this meditation on the seven phrases Jesus spoke from the cross.

Beginning with “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” and ending with “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,” Meacham captures for the reader how these words epitomize Jesus’s message of love, not hate; grace, not rage; and, rather than vengeance, extraordinary mercy. For each saying, Meacham composes an essay on the origins of Christianity and how Jesus’s final words created a foundation for oral and written traditions that upended the very order of the world.

Writing in a tone more intimate than any of his previous works, Jon Meacham returns us to the moment that transformed Jesus from a historical figure into the proclaimed Son of God, worshiped by billions.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Glory-Reflections-Words-Jesus/dp/0593236661/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1582340104&sr=8-1

Jon Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer. The author of the New York Times bestsellers Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House, Franklin and Winston, and Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush, he is a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University, a contributing writer for The New York Times Book Review, and a fellow of the Society of American Historians. Meacham lives in Nashville with his wife and children. 

My Thoughts...
This is a book for new converts. They don't already know and have their minds made up on the seven last sayings. So that makes them ready to learn from this historian , which is what Meacham is called.
I would say this is would make a gift book for new converts.
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.

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

God Gave Us Easter By Lisa Bergren


ECPA BESTSELLER • A delightful illustrated picture book for readers ages 3 and up, God Gave Us Easter features the adorable polar bear Little Cub, talking with her father and learning about God's design for the Easter season and what it really means.

"God loved us so much he wanted us to always be with him too. That’s why God knew he’d need to give us Easter.” 

As Little Cub celebrates Easter with Papa, Mama, and her brother and sister, she begins to ask her papa questions about this very special day of the year.  Papa lovingly explains God’s plans for his children, while taking Little Cub on a memorable walk through her stunning Arctic world, and he shares how Easter came about in clear, simple terms that even the littlest cubs can understand.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/God-Gave-Us-Easter/dp/0525654445/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1582338880&sr=8-1

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling author of over fifty novels, children's books, and nonfiction books. Lisa and her husband Tim reside in Colorado with their three big kids and a white, fluffy dog named Talisker Beatrice.

You can find out more about Lisa & stay up to date by following her...
On the Web: www.LisaTawnBergren.com
On Facebook: Lisa Tawn Bergren; River of Time Series
On Twitter: LisaTBergren

My Thoughts...
 This is a board book, for ages 2-5 year olds. It is a very long read for that age range, most kiddos that age cant sit still that long.
I found it a good story and the illustrations were so much fun.
I recommend this for the little ones Easter basket this year.
4 stars and great gift 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.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Death in the Family By Tessa Wegert

A storm-struck island. A blood-soaked bed. A missing man. In this captivating mystery that's perfect for fans of Knives Out, Senior Investigator Shana Merchant discovers that murder is a family affair.

Thirteen months ago, former NYPD detective Shana Merchant barely survived being abducted by a serial killer. Now hoping to leave grisly murder cases behind, she's taken a job in her fiancé's sleepy hometown in the Thousand Islands region of Upstate New York.

But as a nor'easter bears down on her new territory, Shana and fellow investigator Tim Wellington receive a call about a man missing on a private island. Shana and Tim travel to the isolated island owned by the wealthy Sinclair family to question the witnesses. They arrive to find blood on the scene and a house full of Sinclair family and friends on edge.

While Tim guesses they're dealing with a runaway case, Shana is convinced that they have a murder on their hands. As the gale intensifies outside, she starts conducting interviews and discovers the Sinclairs and their guests are crawling with dark and dangerous secrets.

Trapped on the island by the raging storm with only Tim whose reliability is thrown into question, the increasingly restless suspects, and her own trauma-fueled flashbacks for company, Shana will have to trust the one person her abduction destroyed her faith in—herself. But time is ticking down, because if Shana's right, a killer is in their midst and as the pressure mounts, so do the odds that they'll strike again.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Family-Shana-Merchant-Novel/dp/0593097890/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1582338095&sr=8-1

Tessa Wegert is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, The Huffington Post, Adweek, and The Economist. She grew up in Quebec near the border of Vermont and now lives with her family in Connecticut. Tessa writes mysteries set in Upstate New York while studying martial arts and dance. DEATH IN THE FAMILY is her first novel. 

My Thoughts...
Book number one of the Shana Merchant series, This is Wegert's debut novel. Let's say this avid reader can't wait for book number two in this series.
This is more a mystery than a thriller. I loved the setting the characters. It was a fun whodunit read.
If you loved Agatha Christie you are going to have a new author to fill that void.
I gave this book 4 stars and can't wait for the next book. I recommend this new author.
 The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Monday, February 24, 2020

A Woman of Substance By Barbara Tayor Bradford 40th Anniversary Edition

A celebration of an indomitable spirit, here is New York Times bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford's dazzling saga of a woman who dared to dream--and to triumph against all odds...
In the brooding moors above a humble Yorkshire village stood Fairley Hall. There, Emma Harte, its oppressed but resourceful servant girl, acquired a shrewd determination. There, she honed her skills, discovered the meaning of treachery, learned to survive, to become a woman,
and vowed to make her mark on the world.
In the wake of tragedy she rose from poverty to magnificent wealth as the iron-willed force behind a thriving international enterprise. As one of the richest women in the world Emma Harte has almost everything she fought so hard to achieve--save for the dream of love,
and for the passion of the one man she could never have.
Through two marriages, two devastating wars, and generations of secrets, Emma's unparalleled success has come with a price. As greed, envy, and revenge consume those closest to her, the brilliant matriarch now finds herself poised to outwit her enemies, and to face the betrayals of the past with the same ingenious resolve that forged her empire.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Substance-Barbara-Taylor-Bradford/dp/0007321422/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1582337492&sr=1-1

Barbara Taylor Bradford, OBE is one of the world's best loved storytellers. Her 1979 debut novel, A Woman of Substance, ranks as one of the top-ten bestselling books of all-time, with more than 30 million copies in print. All 31 of her novels to date have been major worldwide bestsellers. Her 32nd book, Secrets Of Cavendon, will be published in hardcover and eBook on November 21 by St. Martin's Press.

Bradford was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire (UK) as the only child of Freda and Winston Taylor. She grew up in the Leeds suburb of Armley and after Town Street Church of England School worked in the typing pool at the Yorkshire Evening Post before going into journalism. By the age of twenty she was the fashion editor of Woman's Own Magazine and an editor and columnist on Fleet Street for the London Evening News.

Bradford's books have sold more than ninety one (91) million copies worldwide in more than ninety (90) countries and forty (40) languages. Ten (10) of her books have been made into miniseries and television movies, making her one of the best-selling authors over the last 30 years.

In April of 2003, Mrs. Bradford was inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame of America alongside Mark Twain, Langston Hughes and Dr. Seuss. She was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list for her contributions to literature. Her original manuscripts are archived at the Brotherton Library at Leeds University, alongside the works of the Bronte sisters. In 2009, Barbara's publishers began a worldwide 30th anniversary celebration of A Woman of Substance. The first annual Woman of Substance Awards took place on September 10th 2009 at the Dorchester Hotel in London. She lives in New York City with her husband, of 51 years, television producer Robert Bradford.

Her official website is: www.barbarataylorbradford.com


My Thoughts...
I reread this book after, well lets just say a long time ago. It was such a great read. It's a long one and one you can devour over a few days. Bradford is one of my favorite romance authors.
I am so happy for this 40 anniversary edition.
 I gave it 4 stars and even if you have read it in the past grab a copy and reread it, you will be so happy that you 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.


Thursday, February 20, 2020

Violent Delights By Hannah Boggs GIVEAWAY!

When seventeen year old Odette Sinclair and her family move across the country to be closer to the specialized medical care she needs, she has to give up everything she knew including pursuing her passion for dance.  The atrial septal defect she has keeps her isolated and, for the most part, sidelined from life as she attempts to avoid the triggers that cause her problems.  As a stranger in a new town, isolated and alone, Odette dreads her monotonous daily routine and struggles to balance what she can't do with what she wants to do. 
But then she meets the wealthy neighbors, the famous magical Mages Twins, Greer and Grayson, who instantly befriend her, and she is caught up in a world she could not have imagined.  Their talent is so real that some say the twins are pure magic; others say they are cursed.
The handsome and somewhat socially awkward Grayson takes a personal interest in protecting Odette, and she is enamored by the attention of someone so famous.  Greer is welcoming and seeks to include Odette, but she is very protective of her brother. 
Everything seems to be improving more than she expected but something isn’t quite right.  Since their arrival in this new place, Odette’s dreams begin to reveal something extra, something gives her cause for concern.  She discovers the dreams are revealing truths, and what she fears may be true. 
Nothing good lasts forever.  As Odette begins to settle into her new life things start to spiral out of control, and she needs to come to terms her life has become a waking nightmare that she can't escape.  She must reach deep to find a way to pull through this, and, just when it seems to get better it's not, and she has to make a deal for her life.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Violent-Delights-Hannah-Boggs/dp/1645708306/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1581821390&sr=8-1

Hannah Boggs from South Point, Ohio, wrote the manuscript for the novel “Violent Delights” when she was 16.  She completed the manuscript for the second book in the series, “Fire and Powder” before graduating high school.  She has always held a passion for reading and writing and can often be found anywhere with a book in her hand. Currently 18 years old and a college freshman, she enjoys reading Classic and YA Fiction.  Some of her favorite things include Audrey Hepburn movies, Paris, cats, the color pink, and anything related to Autumn and Halloween.

You can follow Hannah on Facebook (@hannahboggsauthor), Instagram (@han.boggs), and her website https://hannahboggsbooks.com/ 


My Thoughts...
Let me start by saying a 16 year old wrote this book, And it was a book that I could not put down. I love a good mystery. suspense.
I won't give anything away but I would love it if you all would support this young lady. She is going to be an author to watch out for.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend 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.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

More Than We Remember By Christina Nelson

One night changes everything for three women. . . .

When Addison Killbourn's husband is involved in a car accident that leaves a woman dead, her perfectly constructed life crumbles apart. With her husband's memory of that night gone and the revelation of a potentially life-altering secret, Addison has to reevaluate all she thought she knew.

Emilia Cruz is a deputy bearing a heavy burden far beyond the weight of her job. Her husband is no longer the man she married, and Emilia's determined to prevent others from facing the same hardship. When she's called to the scene of an accident pointing to everything she's fighting against, she's determined to see justice for those wronged.

Brianne Demanno is hiding from reality. She was thriving as a counselor, but when tragedy struck a beloved client, she lost faith in herself and her purpose. When her neighbors, the Killbourns, are thrown into crisis, Brianne's solitary life is disrupted and she finds herself needed in a way she hasn't been in a while.

As the lives of these women intersect, they can no longer dwell in the memory of who they've been. Can they rise from the wreck of the worst moments of their lives to become who they were meant to be?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/More-Remember-Christina-Suzann-Nelson/dp/0764235389/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1581820634&sr=8-1



Christina Suzann Nelson writes stories featuring women who survive circumstances to live lives closer to God’s calling. She focuses on changing legacies from dysfunction to hope.

Her first novel, If We Make It Home, released from Kregel Publication September 2017, gleaned the honor of debut of the month from Library Journal. The book was recently named a BEST BOOK of 2017 by Library Journal.

Christina’s second novel with Kregel is scheduled to release in the fall of 2018.

The Oregon Christian Writers named Nelson the 2017 Writer of Promise.
In 2010, she was a finalist for the ACFW Genesis contest in both contemporary and women’s fiction. Her manuscript, Torn Edges, was named the 2014 overall winner in the ACFW Phoenix Rattler competition, a finalist in the 2015 ACFW Genesis, and won third place in the annual Idahope contest for unpublished novelists. Another of her manuscripts, The Azalea Sisters, made the semi-finals in the contemporary category of the ACFW Genesis for 2015.

For the past ten years, Christina has been a member of Oregon Christian Writers and American Christian Fiction Writers. She attends conferences and workshops throughout the year including the national ACFW conference. Within ACFW, Christina has served as the northwest zone director.

Christina lives in Oregon’s gorgeous Willamette Valley with her husband of twenty-five years and their four children. The family owns a small farm where the kids raise animals as 4H projects.

She is honored to be a member of the steering committee for Every Child, Benton and Linn County, where she has the opportunity to influence the lives of families and children in the foster care system. 

My Thoughts...
All the feels. This book has them all you will cry, you will laugh, you want to reach out and let them know you care and are there for them.
As I read this book, I was emotional, at first so much was going on I was not sure how I felt but it was a book I won't soon forget.
This was my first time reading this author but I can say it will not be my last book by Nelson.
5 stars in my opinion and I HIGHLY 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.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Isaiah's Legacy By Mesu Andrews



The drama of the Old Testament comes to life as Judah's most notorious king ascends to the throne in this gripping novel from the award-winning author of Isaiah's Daughter.

At eight years old, Shulle has known only life in a small village with her loving but peculiar father. When Uncle Shebna offers shelter in Jerusalem in exchange for Shulle's help tutoring King Manasseh, Judah's five-year-old co-regent who displays the same peculiarities as her father, she's eager to experience the royal court. But Shulle soon realizes the limits of her father's strict adherence to Yahweh's Law when Uncle Shebna teaches her of the starry hosts and their power.

Convinced Judah must be freed from Yahweh's chains, she begins the subtle swaying of young Manasseh, using her charm and skills on the boy no one else understands. When King Hezekiah dies, twelve-year-old Manasseh is thrust onto Judah's throne, bitter at Yahweh and eager to marry the girl he adores. Assyria's crown prince favors Manasseh and twists his brilliant mind toward cruelty, beginning Shulle's long and harrowing journey to discover the Yahweh she'd never known, guided with loving wisdom by Manasseh's mother: Isaiah's daughter, the heartbroken Hephzibah. Amid Judah's dark days, a desperate remnant emerges, claiming the Lord's promise, "Though we're helpless now, we're never hopeless--because we serve El Shaddai." Shulle is among them, a girl who becomes a queen through Isaiah's legacy.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Isaiahs-Legacy-Novel-Prophets-Kings/dp/0735291888/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1581819741&sr=8-1

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), begins the Prophets and Kings series and explores the life and ministry of the prophet Isaiah and the tumultuous days of Judah under kings Ahaz and Hezekiah. But its focus is on the woman Hephzibah--a fascinating character in Jewish legends. OF FIRE AND LIONS, Book #2 in Prophets and Kings (WaterBrook/Multnomah), released in 2019 and tells the familiar childhood stories of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the technicolor detail of grown-up research and awareness of Babylon's splendor. 2020 holds #3 in the P&K series and the conclusion to Hephzibah's story, ISAIAH'S LEGACY, when Andrews introduces King Manasseh to her readers and describes the most wicked king of Judah's stunning prodigal story.

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....
Get ready to see the Old Testament come to life between these pages.
Andrews has got a way to bring the Bible to life like no other Fiction author.
You are going to love this story, and see the love of God.
I flew through this one and I am dying to read Andrews next Biblical fiction book.
I gave this book 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.

Monday, February 17, 2020

The Falcon's Prey By Susanne Sims

THE FALCON’S PREY, set in France during 1415–1416 – a time and place of chivalry at its height – reveals a real world hidden beneath fairy tales of valiant knights and fair maidens. Sixteen-year-old AmĂ©lie lives in the castle of her uncle, the chevalier Sieur Denis des Étoiles, where she is betrothed by her aunt to a rich old man she’s never met. AmĂ©lie tries to hide her fear of her impending marriage until Hue, her cousin and esquire to her uncle, reveals to her that her betr
othed committed a capital crime on the battlefield at Agincourt. AmĂ©lie faces a dilemma. If she marries a man she fears, she’ll enjoy the life of a lady. If she flees, her status will become uncertain – or worse!

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Falcons-Prey-Medieval-Tale-1415-1416-ebook/dp/B06WVH5H3Y/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1581901399&sr=8-1

SUSANNE CHIERA SIMS turned to writing historical fiction when multiple sclerosis kept her virtually homebound. Intrigued by the challenge of writing history, drawing upon her years as a wife and mother and a student of science, she imagined a family of French chevaliers she could follow to the Battle of Agincourt – and beyond.

“I’m writing a series,” she says, “because I wanted my AmĂ©lie to have years to grow and change. In THE FALCON’S PREY, she’s sixteen and distressed by her many fears. In my coming book, she’ll be eighteen.”

“My tale follows a large family of chevaliers living in late medieval France. Defeat at the hand of England’s Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt tested her chevalier father and uncles more directly than it tested AmĂ©lie and her cousins, but all France was devastated by the loss.”

“Still, life went on. AmĂ©lie found herself enchanted by a chance encounter with an intriguing young chevalier - though she was betrothed to a rich, old man. Circumstances thus set in motion threatened to overwhelm her.”
“The tale was a pleasure to write. I hope you find it a pleasure to read.” 

I wanted to share this book with you all. It is FREE right now and I would love for you to leave a review for this wonderful lady on Amazon and GoodReads. Thank you all so much! Please feel free to share this blog post.

Thursday, February 13, 2020

A Long Bridge Home By Kelly Irvin

After her community in the awe-inspiring Montana mountains is suddenly consumed by a raging wildfire, one young Amish woman finds herself in a new town where she’s introduced to the Native culture of the Kootenai people. 
When the Mast family is forced to evacuate their home in the West Kootenai region of Montana, Christine chooses not to move with her family to her father’s childhood home in Kansas. Instead, she wants to stay closer to home and to her beau, Andy Lambright, who has yet to ask for her hand in marriage and who seems to be holding tightly to secrets from his past. 
Now, living with her aunt and uncle in St. Ignatius, Christine is on her own for the first time in her life. While working in her uncle’s store Christine meets Raymond Old Fox, whom she befriends, and he introduces her to his rich native culture with strong ties to the earth and nature. Despite the warnings of her aunt and uncle, Christine is inexplicably drawn to Raymond, and her mind is opened to a history and heritage far different from her own. 
With her newly expanding horizons, Christine wonders if she can return to the domestic life that is expected of her. Her heart still longs to be with Andy, but she isn’t the same person she was before the fire, and she wonders if he can accept who she is becoming. Has too much distance grown between them? Or can they bridge the gap from past to present and find their way back together?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Long-Bridge-Home-Amish-Country/dp/0310356733/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1581100428&sr=8-1

Best-selling novelist Kelly Irvin's latest series, The Amish of Sky Country, features an Amish community in Northwest Montana affected by wildfires that destroyed thousands of acres in the state in recent years. The first book, Mountains of Grace, debuted in August 2019, and delves into the impact on not only an Amish man and woman, but also a smoke jumper, a sheriff's deputy, and a young English woman forced to confront her past because of the fires.

Kelly also writes romantic suspense novels. Her most recent forays into this genre include Tell Her No Lies and Over the Line, both set in San Antonio and South Texas. Of Tell Her No Lies, The Library Journal says, "Irvin creates a complex web with enough twists and turns to keep even the most savvy romantic suspense readers guessing until the end. Known for her Amish novels, this two-time Carol Award finalist shows that her talents span subgenres from tranquil Amish stories to rapidly paced breathless suspense.”

Kelly is also the author of the Every Amish Season series, which included four books that chronicle the lives of Amish widows who are in different seasons in their lives. These women are linked by life altering experiences that bring them together as wives, mothers, and grandmothers in the small town of Jamesport, Mo. The first book, Upon a Spring Breeze, received critical acclaim from the Library Journal: "A moving and compelling tale about the power of grace and forgiveness that reminds us how we become strongest in our most broken moments."

Kelly Irvin is also the author of The Amish of Bee County series, which includes the critically acclaimed The Beekeeper's Son. Publishers Weekly called the first book in the series a beautifully woven masterpiece and Romantic Times Magazine called Kelly a storyteller extraordinaire. It was followed by The Bishop's Son and The Saddle Maker's Son, which is an ECPA bestseller.

A two-time ACFW Carol finalist, Kelly's novellas have been included in numerous anthologies, including An Amish Summer, The Amish Christmas Gift, An Amish Market, an Amish Christmas Love, and Amish Quilt, An Amish Reunion, An Amish Picnic, and An Amish Christmas Bakery.

She also penned the Bliss Creek Amish series and the New Hope Amish series, both published by Harvest House Publishers. Love Still Stands, the first book in the New Hope series, debuted in September 2012, and the follow-up, Love Redeemed, released March 1, 2014. The final book in the series, set in Branson, MO., was A Plain Love Song, released in July 2014.

The Bliss Creek Amish series, set in Kansas, includes To Love and to Cherish, A Heart Made New, and Love's Journey Home.

In the New Hope series, familiar characters from Bliss Creek move to Missouri to start a new district and a new life.

Kelly is also the author of two romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine, set in San Antonio, Texas. Two more romantic suspense novels are on the horizon, with the first, Tell Her No Lies, slated for publication by Thomas Nelson Publishing in January 2019.


The Kansas native is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the ACFW San Antonio local chapter Alamo City Christian Fiction Writers, as well as Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Sisters in Crime.

A graduate of the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism, Kelly wrote nonfiction professionally for thirty years. She studied for three semesters at the University of Costa Rica, learning the Spanish language. As a journalist, she worked six years in the border towns of Laredo and El Paso, where she was exposed to culture and language that serves as fodder for her fiction writing. She has written hard news, features, entertainment pieces, restaurant critiques, editorials, and weekly columns. Writing awards include the Silver Star Award from the Texas Mental Health Association for articles pertaining to mental health and numerous awards in news, feature, and editorial writing from the Texas Press Association and Texas Press Women.

Kelly retired in 2016 from her position of 22 years as public relations manager for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, where her duties included writing and designing an employee newsletter, writing news releases, collaborating on marketing campaigns, coordinating ribbon-cuttings and groundbreakings, coordinating press conferences, updating the web site, and acting as a media spokesperson.

Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for more than 30 years, and they have two young adult children and three grandchildren. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories, read books by her favorite authors, and visit the babies.


For more information, visit http://www.kellyirvin.com 

My Thoughts...
Who's ready to go back to Big Sky Country with me. I liked book one in this series but I really enjoyed Book two.
You are going to love Christine and you are going to root for her and Andy. I won't tell you how it ends grab your copy and see if they find their way back to each other.
I gave this book 4 stars and I recommend this series. I can wait for  Peace In The Valley this fall.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.