This was a fun and inspirational Amish romance. I loved that Esther knew very little about how to take care of a baby once her sister left her niece with her. Levi is a great character that is helpful, handy and great with babies. This is a great story. I look forward to reading many more books by this author. This was funny and inspirational. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
In the first in an engaging new series, an Amish quiltmaker moves from Pennsylvania to a new settlement in Colorado, where adventure, challenges, and love are waiting . . .
Esther Zook is starting over after her father’s death, piecing together a new life with as much care as she puts into her intricate quilts. When her wayward sister abandons her baby, it throws all those plans for a fresh start asunder. Esther had accepted her status as an old maid—but a mother? And a single one, at that? Not that she hasn’t noticed Levi Kiem, the eligible young man who’s making repairs in her house. Yet he surely has no interest in Esther as anything other than a friend . . .
It’s true that Levi has plenty of marriage prospects. His dat has even offered to send him to Ohio to find a wife. Yet the more time he spends with Esther, the more intrigued he becomes. Feisty and independent, she’s nothing like the wife he once imagined for himself. Yet just as a quilt is crafted from contrasting cloth, they might find that together, they can create a family to cherish . . .
This is a great series and this is another wonderful story. This story features singers, murder and psychiatry. This bounces back and forth between 1895 and 2020. I was never confused as to what era we were in. I enjoyed the descriptions of Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. I really liked the characters in both time periods. It was interesting to read about how Lily and Willa were going to figure out what they were doing with their lives. I received a copy of this book from Barbour and Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
About the Book
Book: Behind Love’s Wall
Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels
Genre: FICTION/ Christian/Romance
Release date: November 1, 2021
Two successful women, a hundred-and-twenty-years apart, build walls to protect their hearts. Modern-day Willa, a successful interior decorator, is chosen to consult for the Grand Hotel’s possible redesign. She discovers a journal detailing the struggles of a young woman, Lily—which reveals dark secrets. The renowned singer wasn’t who she pretended to be. As Willa reaches out to Lily’s descendant, a charismatic and prominent landscape artist, she lets down her guard. Should she share the journal with him, or once again erect a wall as she struggles to redesign both the Grand and her life?
ECPA-bestselling author Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., is the award-winning author of over a dozen Christian historical romances. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn’t “cure” her overactive imagination! A self-professed “history geek,” she resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia but grew up as a “Yooper” in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time! You can connect with her at http://www.CarrieFancettPagels.com.
More from Carrie
Why I Wrote This Novel
I got a chance to write another novel set on Mackinac Island!!!
I’m the author of over twenty published stories. I have many books, both novel and novella length, set at the Straits of Mackinac including Maggie Award winner and Romantic TimesTop Pick My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island. In the summer, I go up to the area and I’m blessed to sign books at the Island Bookstore—sometimes hundreds of books which is such an amazing thing I can’t tell you! Now that MHBoMI is out of print, Barbour has been helping by doing limited print runs for while I am up there.
My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island was originally part of a full series that I pitched but it didn’t get picked up for all three stories. MHBoMI got picked up as part of the My Heart Belongs series that Barbour put out a few years ago. The second book in my original Brides of Mackinac series was heroine Sadie’s story, which was published as a novella “His Anchor” in First Love Forever collection. So I had two of my book babies delivered out into the world and Lily’s story sat there for a while.
In the Covid summer of 2020, I arrived in my home state of Michigan and over dinner with a close friend I learned that the folks at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island were having legal trouble with their previous long-time designed Carlton Varney suing them. I’d been disappointed that the Mussers, who’d owned the Grand for generations, had sold the hotel but this new development really bugged me. While I was in the Upper Peninsula, I finished an Indy book, Dogwood Plantation, which only figures since I often write my Michigan stories while I am in Virginia and vice versa! I knew the only other book I wanted to work on was to complete my Brides of Mackinac trilogy (not exactly since they aren’t all in one series!) with Lily’s story. I also had a manuscript about 70% done that was my very first contemporary Women’s Fiction novel. When my agent encouraged me to submit a Mackinac Island story set at the Grand Hotel to Barbour’s Doors to the Past series, I knew immediately that the only story for historical I wanted to write was Lily’s. That meant that I needed, for this dual-timeline series, a contemporary story. That wasn’t just a chance sharing at dinner—I believe the info about the lawsuit was meant to be passed on to me one of those God-incidences. My modern-day heroine then became an established resort designer who had a trunkful of issues just like Lily did.
Was I ever glad that I had finally written my first contemporary Women’s Fiction (Butterfly Cottage) because that skill set came in very handy in writing the modern-day 2020 story of Willa in Behind Love’s Wall! This was the most difficult novel to write that I have done so far as I write in character and going back and forth between the 1895 and 2020 timelines could be draining. I tried to write each character and setting on separate days but that couldn’t always be managed.
I pray that this story will touch readers’ hearts. I pray that someone, like the young waitress I meant on Mackinac Island who had been spiritually moved by My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island (she read her grandmother’s copy after her grandma passed away!), will read this book and feel that connection to our Maker. That’s what Christian Fiction is all about!
This is a wonderful, sweet Christmas story about the true meaning of Christmas Trees. The story is great and will bring tears to the eyes. The illustrations are perfect for the story. I love the trees eyes and his smile. I think this story could become a story to be read every Christmas. This story shows what can happen to Christmas trees over time. I received a copy of this book from ireadbooktour for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
Bruce the Spruce has Christmas all wrong.
Thanks to his fancy decorations and adoring admirers, this artificial spruce tree doesn’t just wear a star at Christmas, he IS the star. But when his longtime family gets a new tree, it sends Bruce on a holiday adventure through New York City.
From a party in Brooklyn, to a run-in with rats, to a revelatory visit to Rockefeller Center, Bruce the Spruce takes an unforgettable journey to discover the true meaning of Christmas trees!
Meet the Author: A.A. Cristi was born and raised in the world capital of Christmas trees and musicals – New York City. By no small miracle, she has managed to make a living writing about both topics. When she is not dreaming up fantastic adventures for inanimate objects, she is covering the Broadway industry as a journalist and editor at BroadwayWorld.com. Though writing is her calling, her true passion is playing mother to a neurotic wiener dog named Jack and Aunt Rah Rah to two truly remarkable kids.
Enter to win a signed copy of Bruce the Spruce: A New York City Fairytale About the True Meaning of Christmas Trees by A. A. Cristi! (one winner/USA only) (ends Dec 17)
I really enjoyed this story that helps children to understand that playing games on their phones or tablets is fun but it can also lead to bad things happening. This helps kids learn about security like using passwords. This also talks a little about bullying. I loved the illustrations and what was said. This is a great book for children who can read on their own or if parents want to read a story to them. I received a copy of this book from ireadbooktour for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
Book Description: Halloween is here, and it is Alicia’s favorite time of year. What’s not to like about dressing up in a costume and getting free candy? But there is something even more exciting happening this year. For the first time, Alicia and her friends are throwing a virtual party in TullyTown!
Putting together a party in TullyTown isn’t easy, and Alicia and her friends want to do the best they can to make sure it is enjoyed by plenty of avatars in TullyTown. For one of Alicia’s friends, getting ready to throw a TullyTown party leads to looking for easy treats. But what if it’s a trick?
Alicia has been using her tablet for a while and is getting more used to how to use the technology. However, there is always something new for her and her friends to learn. Buy the Book: Amazon Barnes & Noble ~ Indie Bound
Meet the Author: Fisher is an award-winning author who has spent decades in the computer engineering field, with the last 10 years in cybersecurity as a leader, speaker, and instructor. His passion has been to take complex security topics and make them simple and easy to understand. He holds several security certifications and teaches cybersecurity at Temple University, where he is also an external advisory board member to the cybersecurity program. Alicia Connected: Tricked With Treats is the first book in the Alicia Connected series. The first book, Alicia Connected: The Big Gift, was a second-place recipient of the prestigious Purple Dragonfly Award in the STEM category.
This series never disappoints. Eve, Peabody and Rourke always get there man. This story has a lot of twists and turns and we get to hear about almost all of the minor characters. I look forward to reading every book in this series.
I give this story a five out of five stars.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Lieutenant Eve Dallas must hunt down the deadly snipers terrorizing Manhattan in this fast-paced In Death thriller from J. D. Robb.
The shots came quickly, silently, and with deadly accuracy. Within seconds, three people were dead at Central Park’s ice-skating rink. The victims: a talented young skater, a doctor, and a teacher. As random as random can be.
Eve Dallas has seen a lot of killers during her time with the NYPSD but never one like this. A review of the security videos reveals that the victims were killed with a tactical laser rifle fired by a sniper, who could have been miles away when the trigger was pulled. And though the list of locations where the shooter could have set up seems endless, the number of people with that particular skill set is finite: police, military, professional killer.
Eve’s husband, Roarke, has unlimited resources—and genius—at his disposal. And when his computer program leads Eve to the location of the sniper, she learns a shocking fact: There were two—one older, one younger. Someone is being trained by an expert in the science of killing, and they have an agenda. Central Park was just a warm-up. And as another sniper attack shakes the city to its core, Eve realizes that though we’re all shaped by the people around us, there are those who are just born evil…
This is a sweet story and the illustrations are perfect. I love all the things that Eva invents and of course I love what God has invented. This is a wonderful book to read to young children and I think older children would enjoy reading this to themselves as they learn to read. I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook and Multnomah for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
This delightfully illustrated picture book tells the story of inventor extraordinaire Eva—and the God who created her to be a lot like Him.
Little Eva is a budding engineer who loves to invent machines, toys, and robots that bring her joy. But where does her curiosity, creativity, and pizzazz come from? Meet God. He loves to invent, too, and delights in His creations, especially Eva.
God and Eva are A LOT alike because God made Eva to be just like Him.
Eva loves her inventions, but maybe not their earlier versions. God loves Eva, every version of her, and He wants her to know just how much. Parents and children alike will relish the playful illustrations and the gentle reminder that the image of God is alive in each of us.
This series just keeps getting better and better. I love Mae and the Laundry Club. It was hard to be upset when you find out who is murdered because they do not seem to be the nicest person but I love how they find out who the killer is. There are some twists and turns. I love that Mae and Hank are finding a way to work well together. I cannot wait to see what happens next. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
Around here we say BLESS HER HEART and sometimes it’s just not in a good way.
Take Neva Hudson for instance, bless her heart, she’s the town gossip, not to mention someone who likes to toot her own horn.
Two toots too many ‘cause bless her heart, someone has strangled Neva and left her for dead in of all places…the church’s Christmas play.
Trust me when I say there’s no shortage of suspects since her tongue lashed a few too many lies about people.
More importantly, my dear friend Dottie Swaggert has been on the tall tale end of Neva’s lies and she’s got the most motive. Thank goodness me, Mae West, and our group of friends, the Laundry Club Ladies have traded our Christmas play elf hats into sleuthing caps because Santa’s bringing Dottie a big ole present of FREEDOM when we find the real killer.
’Tis the season for murder in the small town of Normal, Kentucky. When the town gossip is found strangled to death in a church, there’s no shortage of suspects.
This is the fourth book in this series but you can enjoy this one even without having read the others. If the others are this good I recommend reading them all. This is a quick mystery that is solved in a great way. The characters are nice and quirky. Wonderful small town mystery. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this novella a five out of five stars.
An unexpected visitor. A deadly fall. Unanswered questions.
An impromptu visit from cousin Ginny upends Kelly and Grandma Iris’s spring plans. But fond reminiscences turn to horror when an old friend is found dead.
Was it really a natural death? Or is someone in Marchville targeting the elderly?
Kelly and Grandma Iris race to find out what really happened before someone close to them falls victim.
This was definitely a funny way to look at what might of happened between Ponce de Leon and the American Indians in Florida. This did not really make Ponce a likable character at all. I did grow to like Juarez though and many of the Indians. If the explorers that came to America were all that self centered I do not think we could have found the new world. This was an interesting story. I received a copy of this book from iReadbooktours for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will
I give this book a four out of five stars.
Book Description: Two Florida State geology students found the pages written by Ponce de Leon’s chronicler in a dry limestone cave in the northwest panhandle. The original Spanish papers, five hundred years old, were found in relatively good shape, protected from time and moisture in a heavy triple-walled leather case. They chronicle Ponce de Leon’s second expedition to Florida in search of the fountain of youth.BUY THE BOOK: AMAZON Meet the Author: Jim Halverson grew up in the rural, gold-mining town of Mokelumne Hill, CA and received his MBA from Golden Gate University. He spent part of his life on a ranch and is an avid student of psychology. He recognizes the struggles of all men and women seeking equality and respect. Jim and his wife, Gail, spend their time traveling from their small farm in Forestville, CA.
Giveaway: Enter to win a signed copy of Jim Halverson’s Ponce: What Actually Happened at the Fountain of Youth! (USA only) (ends Nov 26)
Fantastic. This story will keep you guessing almost to the end as to who is the murderer. There were a lot of twists and turns. The characters grow in their knowledge of being BAU analysts and in what they can do with their lives. I cannot wait to see what will come next in this series. This really has you thinking about what people are capable of doing. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House and the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
He has a deadly endgame in mind–and he’s already chosen each victim . . . including her.After putting to rest the most personal case of her career, Alex Donovan is ready to move on and focus on her future at the FBI’s elite Behavioral Analysis Unit. When the BAU cofounder is discovered dead in his hotel room, the FBI is called in to work on the strangest case they’ve ever faced. How do you find a killer who murders his victims from a distance?When it becomes clear that the killer is targeting agents in Alex’s unit, they are ordered into lockdown, sheltered in the dorms at Quantico. Alex bunks with controversial agent Kaely Quinn, and as they work together, Alex discovers in Kaely the role model she’s never had–despite being warned away. As Alex questions the type of agent she wants to become, things get personal when the brilliant killer strikes close to home. Now Alex will do anything to find the killer–even at the risk of her own life.
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