Clash of the Titles Vote!!!!!!!

Welcome to summer!

Scroll through these FIVE new reads and vote below 

for which you'd pick up first to take to the poolside.

It'll be a tough choice! But somebody's gotta do it.
 May as well be you!

Finders Keepers by Sarah Monzon

Summer Arnet will go anywhere to capture the perfect shot that will get her marine photography noticed by the prestigious nature magazine, Our World—even diving in waters haunted by great white sharks. When a treasure hunter with a ladies’-man reputation approaches her about a sunken ship at one of her dive locations, it may be the chance she’s been looking for to launch her career…if his charming smile doesn’t derail her first.

~~~~~~ 

Resilience by L.R. Burkard

In this spell-binding sequel to the post-apocalyptic thriller PULSE, L.R.Burkard takes readers into a landscape where teens shoulder rifles instead of school books, and where survival might mean becoming your own worst enemy.

~~~~~~

A Matter of Courage by Wendy Holley

Abused by her famous husband, Irene Brennan is forced to flee to a small town in Montana, leaving everything behind. Trent is used to protecting wild animals from careless hunters, but can he protect Irene from her crazy husband?

~~~~~~

Astray (Ariboslia Book 1) by J. F. Rogers

Troubled-teen, Fallon finds hope and family through an unwanted prophecy. In her travels, she learns about the One True God and how desperately she needs Him. Perhaps, with His help, she’ll find the way to fulfill her destiny.

~~~~~~

Her One and Only by Becky Wade

When NFL super star Gray Fowler is threatened by a stalker, his team hires a professional bodyguard to ensure his safety. But when Gray's "protection" turns out to be a woman half his size, he's indignant. Will Dru Porter--a former Marine and expert markswoman--prove herself worthy of the job? And meanwhile, who's going to guard Gray's heart?

~~~~~~

VOTE HERE!

If you have trouble viewing the entire survey, click here to load a dedicated page to the survey.



*I haven't read any of these titles (yet).

No Other Will Do Review!!!!

No Other Will Do by Karen Witemeyer

 +Karen Witemeyer 

Book Description:
Men are optional. That's the credo Emma Chandler's suffragette aunts preached and why she started a successful women's colony in Harper's Station, Texas. But when an unknown assailant tries repeatedly to drive them out, Emma admits they might need a man after all. A man who can fight--and she knows just the one.

Malachi Shaw finally earned the respect he craved by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad. Yet when Emma's plea arrives, he bolts to Harper's Station to repay the girl who once saved his life. Only she's not a girl any longer. She's a woman with a mind of her own and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn't deserve.

As the danger intensifies, old feelings grow and deepen, but Emma and Mal will need more than love to survive.

My Opinion:
Karen is still one of my all time favorite authors!  This book was SO much more than I thought it would be after reading the book description.  Although, a fabulous story is what I always expect from Karen! :)  She doesn't disappoint!  The descriptions that she uses are fabulous and unique.  Instead of the same old, same old "butterflies in the stomach" I enjoyed Karen's renditions for describing this feeling!  There were some parts that I thought slowed the pace of the story a bit, but then the suspense would sky rocket you through the next couple of chapters! :D  And there are also many heart melting moments included as well!  I LOVE the plot and the ending!  The characters are awesome and I AM SO Happy that more of these characters will be getting there own stories as Karen continues the series in novels and novellas!!!  I am DEFINITELY looking forward to more!  A fun, Faith filled, entertaining tale that snatches you up with a fabulous beginning and leads you to a sweet end!

Songs: {Thus far I can't come up with a soundtrack for this one....  Have you read No Other Will Do yet?  Do you have a song that would go nicely with the story?  Leave me a comment and let me know! :) }
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Psalm 18

~ASC

*I requested and received this book from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about No Other Will Do. ~ASC

Jilted Review!

Jilted by Varina Denman

Book Description:

Jilted (David C. Cook, June 2016)

Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago.

Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.

Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must---once and for all---leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/237iWMF

About the author:

Varina Denman is author of the Mended Hearts series and a native Texan. She spent her high school years in a rural town and now writes stories about the struggles women face in similar small town settings. She and her husband live near Fort Worth, where they enjoy spending time with their five mostly grown children.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

My Opinion:
I'm not sure how I feel about this one.  This is the first in the series that I've tried to read and I didn't finish it.  There was just some reason why I couldn't get into it.  I couldn't really connect with the main characters and the twisty plot had a few (of what I considered) crude things in it.  After trying and trying to get into it I finally skipped ahead and read the epilogue.  I'm not sure if I start this series again from book 1 and read all the way through if that will help (but I did like some of the other characters so I might try someday).  At this point Jilted isn't a book for me personally.  Lovers and followers of this series and author will be happy to find returning characters from the first books.  However if you want to start here I recommend you read the preview sites supply before making your decision about this book.

Content may be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

~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 Jilted. ~ASC

http://litfusegroup.com/author/vdenman

Varina Denman’s ‘Jilted’ $50 Sweet Summertime Giveaway

Can all things really work together for good, and can the joy of living be found once again? Don't miss one woman's story in book three, Jilted, of Varina Denman's Mended Hearts series. Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.

Celebrate the release of Varina's Jilted by entering to win a $50 gift card.

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Jilted to kick off a summer of reading
• A $50 Kohl's gift card to make your summertime sweet

The giveaway ends on July 1st. The winner will be announced July 5th on Varina's website.

June 2016 New Releases

Here's what's coming out in June 2016!

[these are the books I'm looking forward to this month]

Which ones are you most excited about?  

Leave me a comment with your list! :)

Did I miss a June Christian Fiction release 

that you've been looking forward to?  

Give it and the author a shout out in the comments!


The Ringmaster's Wife by +Kristy Cambron
(This is a fabulous book!  I recently read and reviewed this title 
and REALLY enjoyed it)
What is revealed when you draw back the curtain of the Greatest Show on Earth?

Rosamund Easling is no stranger to opulence. As the daughter of an earl, she’s grown up with every comfort money can buy. But when hard times befall the family’s Yorkshire estate in the aftermath of the Great War, Rosamund’s father sells her beloved horse, setting the stage for a series of events that would extend beyond even her wildest dreams.

Though expected to marry for a title instead of love, Rosamund feels called to a different life – one of adventure outside the confines of a ladies’ parlor. She abandons all she’s known and follows in pursuit as her horse is shipped to the new owner – an American entertainer by the name of John Ringling. Once introduced to the Ringling Brothers’ circus and knowing she has much to learn, Rosamund agrees to a bareback riding apprenticeship in the shadow of the Ringlings’ winter home—Ca’D’Zan. It is at that mansion, in what would become the last days of the enigmatic Mable Ringling’s life, that Rosamund finds a deeper sense of purpose in the life she’s been given, and the awakening of faith in her heart.

With a supporting cast of characters as mysterious and dazzling as the Ringlings’ big-top world, Rosamund’s journey takes her from the tradition of the English countryside to the last days of America’s Roaring ‘20s—a journey that forever changes what one life might have been.



No Other Will Do by +Karen Witemeyer 

Men are optional.  That's the credo Emma Chandler's suffragette aunts preached and why she started a successful women's colony in Harper's Station, Texas.  But when an unknown assailant tries repeatedly to drive them out, Emma admits they might need a man after all.  

A man who can fight--and she knows just the one. 

Malachi Shaw finally earned the respect he craved by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad.  Yet when Emma's plea arrives, he bolts to Harper's Station to repay the girl who once saved his life.  Only she's not a girl any longer. She's a woman with a mind of her own and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn't deserve.  

As the danger intensifies, old feelings grow and deepen, but Emma and Mal will need more than love to survive.

A Haven on Orchard Lane by Lawana Blackwell
In difficult circumstances, Charlotte Ward, once a famed stage actress, tries to restart her career--only to experience disaster. Against her better judgment, her estranged daughter, Rosalind, comes to her mother's rescue and moves her to a quiet English coastal village.
Charlotte is grateful to get to know Rosalind after years apart. As one who has regrets about her own romantic past, it's a joy for Charlotte to see love blossom for her daughter. For Rosalind, however, it's time away from teaching--and now she must care for the mother who wasn't there for her. And what could be more complicated than romance? 
Together, mother and daughter discover that healing is best accomplished when they focus less on themselves and more on the needs of others.
 

From This Moment (From This Moment #1) by +Elizabeth Camden 
Romulus White has tried for years to hire illustrator Stella West for his renowned scientific magazine. She is the missing piece he needs to propel his magazine to the forefront of the industry.
But Stella abruptly quit the art world and moved to Boston with a single purpose: to solve the mysterious death of her beloved sister. Romulus, a man with connections to high society and every important power circle in the city, could be her most valuable ally. 
Sparks fly the instant Stella and Romulus join forces, and Romulus soon realizes the strong-willed and charismatic Stella could disrupt his hard-won independence. 
Can they continue to help each other when their efforts draw the wrong kind of attention from the powers-that-be and put all they've worked for at risk?



We have another .5 coming out!
Of Dubious and Questionable Memory 
(Herringford and Watts Mysteries #1.5) 
by Rachel McMillan
Ne'er-Do-Wells of New England—You've Been Warned!

Merinda Herringford and Jem Watts are never lacking for mysteries of the curious and commonplace, but lately business has been a little less curious and a lot more common.

With only missing jewelry and a kidnapped rooster on the case docket, Merinda is bored stiff. Jem welcomes the reprieve as she settles into married life, attempting to learn the domestic skills that have cunningly evaded her as a bachelor girl detective. 

The lull in business is short-lived when a telegram arrives from the detective duo's suffragette friend, Martha Kingston, detailing the mysterious disappearance of a school chum's sister in Concord, Massachusetts. 

No sooner do Jem and Merinda arrive in the States to investigate than they find themselves embroiled in a world of strange affairs, purloined letters, and a baffling mystery whose clues lead directly to Orchard House, the homestead made famous by its long-time resident, Louisa May Alcott.

The Ringmasters Wife Review!!!!!!!

The Ringmasters Wife by Kristy Cambron

+Kristy Cambron 

Book Description:

An ounce of courage.

A leap of faith.

Together, they propel two young women to chase a new life—one that’s reimagined from what they might have become.

In turn-of-the-century America, a young girl dreams of a world that stretches beyond the confi nes of a quiet life on the family farm. With little more than her wit and a cigar box of treasures, Mable steps away from all she knows, seeking the limitless marvels of the Chicago World’s Fair. There, a chance encounter triggers her destiny—a life with a famed showman by the name of John Ringling.

A quarter of a century later, Lady Rosamund Easling boards a ship to America as a last adventure before her arranged marriage. There, the twenties are roaring, and the rich and famous gather at opulent, Gatsby-esque parties. The Jazz Age has arrived, and with it, the golden era of the American circus, whose queen is none other than the enigmatic Mable Ringling.

When Rosamund’s path crosses with Mable’s and the Ringlings’ glittering world, she makes the life-altering decision to leave behind a comfortable future of estates and propriety, choosing instead the nomadic life of a trick rider in the Ringling Brothers’ circus.

My Opinion:
What a Journey!  This is my first from Kristy and I LOVED it!  First off, it is one of my favorite ways a book starts.  Beginning with a scene to come, maybe the end or close to it, and then taking you back and showing what led up to this!  But Kristy even takes it step further by weaving the two stories together, past and present.  Bouncing from chapter to chapter, sometimes in a way that makes you devour each one!  This is one of those books that kept me intrigued and loving every part of it no matter which character's chapter I was led to next!  Both ladies lives are highly intriguing and all of the characters show a depth from trials and their pasts.  I wish there had been more prayer throughout, but found the Faith messages lovely when expressed.  And the twists keep coming rabidly towards the end!  I've always loved the circus so to find a fabulous, clean, Christian, circus read is the icing on the cake for me and I highly recommend this one!

Songs: "Jesus Loves the Little Children" by Paul Eakins' Mortier Belgian Band Organ, "God Gave Me You" by Dave Barnes, "Roses of Picardy" by Janice Weber, and "Hurricane" by Natalie Grant
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Psalm 146:8

~ASC

*I requested and received a copy of this book for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about The Ringmaster's Wife. ~ASC

Fading Starlight Review!

Fading Starlight by Kathryn Cushman 

Book Description:

A Tale of Unexpected Friendship and Old Hollywood Glamour

Lauren Summers is hiding. 

Her fashion house internship should have launched her career, but a red carpet accident has left her blackballed. The only job she finds is unpaid, but comes with free lodging--a run-down cottage in the shadow of a cliff-side mansion. Unsure of what comes next, she's surprised to be contacted by a reporter researching a reclusive former Hollywood ingenue who lives in the nearby mansion. 

Kendall Joiner wants Lauren's help uncovering the old woman's secrets. In return, she'll prove the red carpet accident was a publicity stunt so Lauren can regain her former job. With all her dreams in front of her, Lauren's tempted by the offer, but as she and the old woman get to know each other, Lauren realizes nothing is quite as it seems.

My Opinion:
FABULOUS read!  This is my first read from Kathryn and I'm dying to read more! :)  I requested this book because I found the book description interesting....it is SO much better than the description!  A beautiful story of persistence in the face of adversity and Faith in the face of false accusation unfolds with very interesting and completely lovable characters!  I truly truly love Lauren's best friend and best friends mother!  They are some of my favorite characters of all time!  Lauren herself is also a favorite and I really enjoyed following her through this journey!  With just a passing hint of romance this book is more about Faith, discovery, and friendship!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fashion and designing aspects of this story and I find myself studying movie costumes even more after reading this. :D  It did take me a little while to get into it in the very beginning, but then scandal, unjust accusations, plots, and mystery swept me away so much I didn't want to quite reading!  Overall this book was so much more than I expected and one of the coolest stories I've read this year!

Songs: "The God I Know" by Love & The Outcome, "Moonlight Becomes You" performed by Ella Fitzgerald, and "God Is on the Move" by 7eventh Time Down
 Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Psalm 116

~ASC

*I requested and received this book from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about Fading Starlight. ~ASC

"Children of God" CD review! :)

Phil Wickham “Children of God”  CD

SOCIAL – CORNER

Buy Links:

iTunes: http://smarturl.it/PW-COGiTunes


Spotify: http://smarturl.it/PW-COG-Spotify

 

YouTube Music Video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQyXsJMkUPg

My Opinion:

Lovely. :)  I really enjoy Phil's voice.  "Children of God" is a nice CD with mellow and calming music as well as some songs you can really jam to!  There are times when I wish the lyrics didn't repeat quite so many times, but some of them are nice lyrics so....  I LOVE rocking out to Your Love Awakens Me and Body Mind & Soul.  Overall I think this is a great worship CD and I enjoy Phil's new sound.

*I requested and received this CD as a member of flyby promotions for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and these are my true thoughts and feelings about the Child of God CD.

A Daughter's Dream Review and 5 book giveaway!

A Daughter's Dream by Shelley Shepard Gray

Book Description:

A Daughter's Dream (Avon Inspire, May 2016)

A young teacher and farmer discover they have much in common, especially when it comes to healing old wounds from the past . . . and finding love in one another.

Rebecca Kinsinger has always dreamed of being a teacher. But when she's given the opportunity she's been waiting for at Charm Amish School, she's dismayed to discover that teaching is hard work---work she's afraid she's not very good at.

That is, until Lilly Yoder joins the class. A thirteen-year old who's just lost her parents, Lilly is in need of someone like Rebecca. For the first time since starting her new job, Rebecca feels a sense of purpose. But when she meets Lilly's uncle, Jacob, his good looks and sweet, easy-going temperament are hard to ignore. How can she even entertain romantic thoughts of Jacob when his niece is her student?

Suddenly becoming Lily's sole caregiver, Jacob Yoder never thought he'd be a single parent---or a farmer. Having been living in Florida as a carpenter, Jacob feels more at home wielding a hammer than a backhoe. The only bright spot in his life is Rebecca Kinsinger. As Lily and Rebecca develop a bond, Jacob's fondness for the pretty teacher grows, too.

But when a fateful accident brings them together, Rebecca and Jacob must choose between duty and desire. Will they follow the path before them? Or set out to find true happiness . . . and true love?

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/20vVAye

About the author:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

My Opinion:
Sweet Read.  I think I enjoyed this one more than the first one!  Nothing against Lukas and Darla (I like them as characters to), but ever since being introduced to Rebecca and Amelia I wanted to read their stories!  First is Rebecca's turn and it leaves me more than ready for the next one (Amelia's story)! :)  This is a nice series that is an easy and entertaining read!  I LOVE the animal additions that Shelley always puts in!  Romances galore I really enjoy the dynamic of these siblings and the addition of those that love and marry them just brings even more to the table.  The secondary plots are always interesting and entertaining as well.  I do wish that there were a few more characters from the last book brought back, but I'm holding out hope that Shelley will catch us up with them later on.....  Overall this is a nice, sweet read filled with hope leading to happiness!  

This one like many Amish stories is difficult for me to come up with songs.....have you read the book yet?  What songs do you think fit?
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Jeremiah 29:11

~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 A Daughter's Dream. ~ASC

http://litfusegroup.com/author/sgray

Melanie Dickerson’s ‘The Beautiful Pretender’ Once Upon a Kindle Giveaway

Inheriting the new title of margrave means Reinhart has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise? Find out in the new medieval fairy tale, The Beautiful Pretender, by Melanie Dickerson. Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?

Join Melanie in celebrating the release of The Beautiful Pretender by entering to win her Once Upon a Kindle giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Beautiful Pretender
• A Kindle Fire tablet
• A $25 Amazon gift card
• The choice between a Funko POP Disney Beauty or Beast doll

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 7th. The winner will be announced June 8th on Melanie's blog.

The Beautiful Pretender Review & GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson

+Melanie Dickerson

Book Description:

The Beautiful Pretender (Thomas Nelson, May 2016)

What happens when a margrave realizes he's fallen in love with a servant?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina is only responsible for two things: making sure her deception goes undetected and avoiding being selected as the margrave's bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

Despite Avelina's best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can't deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse---far deadlier---consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?

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

About the author:

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Google+

My Opinion:

AWESOME!  I've heard GREAT things about Melanie's books, but until now I hadn't read one!  After reading The Beautiful Pretender I am going to be one of the ones to praise her writing style and imaginative plot!  I CAN'T WAIT to read more from Melanie!  Beauty & The Beast has long been one of my favorite fairy tales.  A bookish, somewhat odd girl finding love in spite of trials....who doesn't like that?! ;)  But I have to say that Melanie has made it EVEN BETTER!  A lot of the key points in B&tB are threaded throughout, but she has written completely unique and different circumstances, characters, and settings for the plot to play out!  I DEVOURED this book! :D  And would happily read it again and again!  Filled with fabulous and lovable characters and amazing twists and turns this is an adventure you don't want to miss out on!
I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this Christian Beauty & The Beast!!!

Songs: "Hurricane" by Natalie Grant
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

~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 The Beautiful Pretender. ~ASC

http://litfusegroup.com/author/mdickerson


GIVEAWAY TIME!  :)
This giveaway is for US residents only.

Ok Here's How to Enter!:

Just leave me a comment with your email address!

Have you read Melanie's books before?
Which ones and which are your favorite?

Or just say howdy! :) 

But make sure to leave me an email address in a safe format 

(example ascphotos87063ATgmailDOTcom) 

where I can get in touch with you in case you win!!!

If you follow me here with either Networkblogs 

or the "Join this Site" with Google Friend Connect button

on the left 

let me know and I'll give you a second entry!

And if you share with either twitter or facebook copy the url link of your post or tweet and paste them into your comment; 

you'll be entered for a THIRD entry!

(All followers and sharing will be verified.  

So make sure to paste url links and to follow with Networkblogs or the "Join this Site" button so I can find them and you

for the entries to count)

Giveaway ends May 27th at midnight Mountain time
This giveaway is for US residents only.

The Quieting Review & Giveaway!!!!!!!

The Quieting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

+Suzanne Woods Fisher 

Purchase your copy of The Quieting here.

Book Description:
The Stoltzfus family faces serious problems, both in the church and at home. Everyone in the community expects minister David Stoltzfus to fix things–fast. But David doesn’t work fast. He prefers to wait for God to work in individual hearts. However, even he is left wondering if the solution to their most pressing problem might be a Quieting.

When David’s mother arrives, uninvited, more upheaval is in store. She has matchmaking plans for everyone in the family, including David and her eligible granddaughters–and especially for David’s niece Abigail. When Abigail stumbles onto a curious connection during her genealogical research, it could help David solve one problem–but will it create another?

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher takes fans back to Stoney Ridge, delivering the twists, turns, and romance they adore.

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author whose most recent novels include Anna’s Crossing and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

My Opinion:
GREAT READ! I'm really loving this series! :) Coming back to these characters is like meeting up with old friends! The Stolzfus family are some of my all time favorite characters! And Suzanne just keeps introducing us to more! There were times that I really connected with Abigail and her only black and white point of view and was really happy with how she grows through these circumstances! Returning characters from David and Birdy to Katrina, Andy, Jesse, and Mim make for someone mighty entertaining reading! :) Twists, surprises, and hilarious scenes flow from character to character. I love the way Suzanne writes. How she keeps up with all these characters is beyond me, but she switches from one character to the next in a way that keeps you wanting to read on and on! I CAN NOT WAIT for the next book!

Songs: "God Is on the Move" by 7eventh Time Down 
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Philippians 4:6-7 

~ASC

*I requested and received this book as a member of Celebrate Lit for the purpose of reviewing it. This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about The Quieting. ~ASC

Blog Stops

May 17: Singing Librarian Books

May 17: Heidi Reads…

May 18: Just Commonly

May 18: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

May 19: ASC Book Reviews

May 19: A Holland Reads

May 20: Inklings and Notions

May 20: Quiet Quilter

May 21: Daysong Reflections

May 21: cherylbbookblog

May 22: The Power of Words

May 22: Giveaway Lady

May 23: Texas Book-aholic

May 23: Splashes of Joy

May 24: Lane Hill House

May 24: Book by Book

May 24: Mary Hake

May 25: Jeanette’s Thoughts

May 25: Seasons of Opportunities

May 26: Book bites, Bee Stings & Butterfly Kisses

May 26: For the Love of Books

May 27: Southern Gal Loves to Read

May 27: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

May 28: Reading Is My SuperPower

May 28: Cassandra M’s Place

May 29: Bukwurmzzz

May 29: Bigreadersite

May 30: Blossoms and Blessings

Guest Post from Suzanne Woods Fisher

Twenty years ago, my husband and I attended a large church with a dynamic senior pastor. Each Sunday, we would sit spellbound during 40 minute sermons—he was that good a preacher. And then a terrible thing came to light—this very man had been taking advantage of vulnerable women during counseling sessions. Fourteen women, it turned out, and the pastor remained unrepentant. As issues were dealt with, our entire church suffered. We were a hurting community. The sins of one affected all.

As I plotted out ‘The Bishop’s Family,’ I wanted to borrow the theme of how a leader’s sins hurts the church community. (Now, I need to clarify that this is not a novel that addresses sexual sin. However, it does address unrepentant sin in an ordained leader.) First, I spoke to some Amish friends to see if my story idea had any merit. Was I was on the right track? To my amazement, a similar situation to my novels had occurred in one Amish friend’s church, and it resulted in a “quieting.” That’s an Amish phrase that means revoking the responsibilities of an unrepentant ordained leader. Just like it sounds–he is, essentially, “quieted.”

In this novel, you’ll see the behind-the-scenes of Amish church leadership, and get a sense of how a community is hurting. And how it begins to heal, too.

This series began in the Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania community with The Imposter. More twists and turns are coming to Stoney Ridge after The Quieting—so stay tuned for The Devoted to hit bookshelves in early October. Just in time for autumn reading by a warm fireplace!

Warmly, Suzanne

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away a grab bag of Amish-made gifts worth over $100! Click the link to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/99a8