To Win Her Favor Review Part 1!!!!!

To Win Her Favor by Tamara Alexander

Book Description:

To Win Her Favor (Zondervan, May 2015)

A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who could help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing forever.

An Irishman far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He's come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and begin farming, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he'd wagered, especially when Maggie Linden's father makes him an offer he shouldn't accept yet cannot possibly refuse.

Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance---and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder---Maggie's father, aging, yet wily as ever, makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail---Maggie must marry a man she's never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1OYbn27

About the author:

Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville, Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious---and precocious---silky terrier.

Find Tamera online: website, Facebook, Twitter

My Opinion:
Excellent read!  I just LOVE God things! :)  He guides me so much I just love when I see His hand at work!  Quite a while ago I had read the first book in this series and then as time went by and I read more books I had forgotten to check back for other's in the series.  Then I get an invite to read and review To Win Her Favor and because it sounded interestingly awesome I put in for a copy!  It wasn't until I received the book that I realized it was the sequel in the Belle Mead Plantation series!  I just think that's awesome! :)  Anyways this is only the second book from Tamara that I have read and I'm LOVING it even more than the first!  I really enjoyed To Whisper Her Name and found the characters and plot well rounded and interesting!  The same flows into To Win Her Favor!  I absolutely LOVE all of these characters and the concept for the plot is great!  Tamara's writing is amazing!  I can just picture every scene so clearly it feels like I'm there with the characters, through spine tingling suspense to breathe taking rides!  I would say that I definitely find this to be for a more mature readership.  The animals add to the story beautifully and are well written.   In the times after the civil war when anger is still stirred up and men succumb to wickedness how will good men and women live and survive?  Especially when just the color of your skin or the sound of your voice cause people to hate you?  This is a wonderful read that I don't want to put down!  TO BE CONTINUED!  Stay tuned for Part 2!

Psalm 61:3

~ASC

*I requested and received this book as a member of Litfuse for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about To Win Her Favor. ~ASC

http://litfusegroup.com/author/talexander

MUSIC MONDAY!!!!!!!!

MUSIC MONDAY

I TRUST IN JESUS - Third Day

Matthew West - Hello, My Name Is (Lyrics) from matthew-west on GodTube.

If you are viewing this in your inbox and there are no music videos 

please click through to ASC Book Reviews to view them! ~ASC

Dauntless Review!!!!!!!

Dauntless by Dina L. Sleiman

Book Description:
Where Legend and History Collide,
One Young Woman Will Fight for the Innocent
Born a baron's daughter, Lady Merry Ellison is now an enemy of the throne after her father's failed assassination attempt upon the king. Bold and uniquely skilled, she is willing to go to any lengths to protect the orphaned children of her former village--a group that becomes known as "The Ghosts of Farthingale Forest." Merry finds her charge more difficult as their growing notoriety brings increasing trouble their way.

Timothy Grey, ninth child of the Baron of Greyham, longs to perform some feat so legendary that he will rise from obscurity and earn a title of his own. When the Ghosts of Farthingale Forest are spotted in Wyndeshire, where he serves as assistant to the local earl, he might have found his chance. But when he comes face-to-face with the leader of the thieves, he's forced to reexamine everything he's known.

My Opinion:
WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK!!!!!  First let me start by telling you that I don't usually read Young Adult books.  I just never thought they'd be something I was interested in...BOY was I wrong! ;)  After getting hooked by the book description I decided to give this one a chance because I wanted to see if it would be good for one of our Tweens at church.  I am SO glad God lead me to this book!  Even though, after reading it, I think it is still a little advanced for the young girl at my church; I and my mother HIGHLY enjoyed it!  In my personal opinion this is a great read for 16 and up, unless anyone younger is mature beyond their years! ;)  Anyways let me get back to the actual story!  Filled with awesome characters and amazing scenes I absolutely LOVED how Dina writes!  With hints of Princess of Thieves, Robin Hood, and a little Princess Bride thrown in I could read this book over and over again!  There were times I didn't want to or couldn't put it down!  With twists, AMAZING Faith scenes, WONDERFUL messages, and a touch of romance, Dauntless is a MUST READ!  I can't wait to see what Dina writes next!  Her pace and setting is fabulous and kept me engaged from the very first page to the very last!  There is no way I can express to you how much I LOVE this book without giving things away so I will end with..I HIGHLY recommend Dauntless and think you should read it!!! ;)

This Song just played in my mind as I was reading and I feel it reflects the emotions of the story in many ways! :)  "He Knows" by Jeremy Camp
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Isaiah 61:3

~ASC

And the Winner is............

And the winner of Crossroads is:

Rachel

{who was Mara ;) }

Please leave a comment here 

with your email address 

so I can contact you and get your other info!

THANK YOU to all who entered!

This was a BLAST!

Music Monday!

MUSIC MONDAYS!

I am sorry I haven't kept up with this!

So I guess I should say that we will have Music Mondays when my schedule allows and my brain works properly! LOL!  

Because sadly this may happen again!  

April is just flying by and out of my control!  

So without further ado here is Music Monday!

The Creole Princess Review!

The Creole Princess by Beth White

Book Description:

Torn between loyalties to family and flag, one young woman is about to discover that her most important allegiance is to her heart.

It is 1776, and all along the eastern seaboard the American struggle for independence rages. But in the British-held southern port of Mobile, Alabama, the conflict brewing is much quieter--though no less deadly. 

Lyse Lanier may be largely French in heritage, but she spends most of her time in the company of the ebullient daughter of the British commander of Mobile. When a charming young Spanish merchant docks in town, Lyse is immediately struck by his easy wit and flair for the dramatic. But is he truly who he makes himself out to be? Spies abound, and Spain has yet to choose a side in the American conflict. Is Lyse simply an easy mark for Rafael Gonzalez to exploit? Or are his overtures of love as genuine as Spanish gold?

With spectacular detail that brings the cultural gumbo of the Colonial Gulf Coast alive, Beth White invites you to step into a world of intrigue and espionage from a little-known slice of the American Revolutionary War.

My Opinion:

What an amazing book!!!!!!!  I enjoyed the first book enough to want to read on in the Gulf Coast Chronicles, and I am SO happy I did!  I LOVE this book even more than the first one!!!!  Within the first three or four pages I knew it was going to make it to My Favorite Books List!  There were times it was so good I was left speechless, but then we'd have no review!  ;)  So I'll try to put into words how amazing this book is without giving too much away!  From the beginning I immediately fell in love with the characters!  And I really enjoyed how Beth weaves in connections to the last book while keeping it a possible stand alone!  Though I did find it was cooler when I would read something and know exactly what they were talking about as far as past characters!  Spunky doesn't even begin to describe Lyse and charming doesn't even begin to describe Rafael!  These two are quite the pair and only the beginning as far as awesome characters!  The Historical aspects in the story are also fabulous!  I never really knew Spain's role in the American Revolution and I found it all highly intriguing and very interesting!  I also think that Beth expressed the atrocities slaves faced in this day and age well; just scratching the surface and not going too deep or getting too graphic.  A wonderful pace takes us through years as these characters grow and change together as war looms then comes.  Twists and surprises pop up as the plot thickens!  The only thing that seemed a little sad for me is that it ended kind of abruptly; though I think that could just be because I didn't want it to end at all!  Because I didn't want it to end I can not WAIT for the next book!  Shocking surprises and great adventure awaits within these pages and I HIGHLY recommend you read it!!!!!

Songs: "De Colores" sung by José-Luis Orozco, "Fix My Eyes (Radio Version)" by for KING & COUNTRY, and "Beulah Land" sung by Casting Crowns

Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Psalms 16:1

~ASC

*I requested and received this book from Revell for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about The Creole Princess. ~ASC