Bookmarks and PDFs

 

 

I turned in my final edits for Worth the Wait, which is a little nerve-wracking but even more exciting!

 

I have bookmarks to giveaway to anyone who would like a few.

 

Also, I'm preparing a list of reviewers. If you'd like to receive a PDF file of Worth the Wait in exchange for an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, or some place like that, please email me at laurajacksonwrites at gmail dot com. I just need your first and last name and the email address where you'd like the PDF sent.

 

 

I know I did a call for influencers earlier, and I'm thankful to those who responded. I have your emails saved and will send you a copy of the book, along with some bookmarks and pens, when the book releases.

 

This option is for those people who would like an electronic copy and promise to write an honest review the book.

 

 

In other news, Happy New Year's Eve. I hope it's a fun one. I have no plans and am happy with that.....I think. 

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February Bride: A Review

 

Allie is good at running away. Just like her mother and grandmother before her, she bailed on her groom Marcus just before walking down the aisle. When they're thrown together a few minutes later for a mutual friend's wedding, Allie learns sometimes, love is worth staying for.

This novella is cute. I liked the characters although I sometimes grew frustrated with Allie's inability to commit. Sometimes it's hard to evaluate a novella for character development because they're so short, but I loved seeing Allie grow from a confused girl to a confident one, sure of her worth in Christ.

The romance is sweet, and while the ending was predictable, it was an enjoyable ride to the end.

Fans of Christian fiction should definitely check out this author's other books.

I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

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Redeeming Love: A Review

 

Even though I read this book years ago, I still stayed up until 3 a.m. on Christmas morning to finish it because the story grabbed me once and again and wouldn't let go until the last page. What perfect timing---reading a fictional example of the great love Jesus has for us.

Redeeming Love is one of the all-time best Christian fiction books. A retelling of the story of Hosea, Michael and Sarah/Angel/Amanda are beautiful characters. Sarah's written so realistically that my heart hurt for her, especially as I remembered the thousands of girls just like her being sold and used today in America and around the world.

With great heartache as Sarah runs from Michael's love over and over, the story could become melancholy and a little depressing, but hope fills the story....just like our own life stories.

Fans of Christian fiction will love this book. It's an amazing story of love, redemption and hope.

I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

 

 

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A December Bride

 

 

Usually when you read a marriage of convenience story, it's a historical novel. After all, why would someone have to get married these days? But Denise Hunter does a great job pulling it off.

 

Layla blames Seth "Murphy" for her fiancé running off with her cousin. So, when they're thrown together and Murphy says their engaged to save Layla some embarrassment, it opens the door for a huge job opportunity for Layla....if she can just pretend to be in love for a few weeks.

 

Murphy is a fantastic character. I wish he was the main character in a full-length novel. He's steady and calm, balancing Layla's frantic desire to build her company on her own.

 

Although it was short, the story didn't feel rushed or the characters un-developed. It's the perfect holiday quick read.

 

Fans of Denise Hunter as well as fans of contemporary Christian fiction will enjoy this novella.

 

I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

 

 

 

 

 

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Dear Mr. Knightley: A Review

 

 

 

Over the years, I've taught several kids in foster care and mentored two seniors in foster care as part of a PAL program, so I loved the characters of Sam and Kyle. Their raw emotions were strong and pulled me into the story. Although foster care situations can be horrible, the author handled such events with realistic hope, keeping the book from being melancholy or trite.

 

Sam has the chance to go to college, to make a future for herself, if she'll write monthly letters to her mysterious benefactor. Needing someone to listen, she pours out her heart, never hearing a response. Through the course of letters, readers see Sam blossom as she discovers people can be trusted.



 

I enjoyed the characters, especially Kyle, who I pictured as so many boys I taught. I also enjoyed the set-up of the story being told through letters. The author's voice is fresh, and the book is well written.

 

The only disappointment is the ending. I could see it coming, and I hoped I'd be wrong. It wasn't a bad ending....just not as strong as the rest of the book. 

 

Overall, it's a great book with strong characters. I look forward to reading Katherine Reay's next book.

 

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

 

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Yay!

The Kindle giveaway has ended, and I'm thrilled to announce Cindi won! I feel like I've won too. :)

She choose the Amazon gift card. I hope you enjoy it.

If you didn't win, don't worry. I'm going to give away some books soon. 

Merry Christmas!

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Last Chance to Win!

 

 

The HopeSprings authors are teaming up to offer some Christmas cheer. Here's your last chance to enter to win a prize and a chance to win a kindle (or 90.00 Amazon gift card).

Stop by Ginny Hamlin's blog:

http://eghamlin.com/Gblog/2013/12/I'll-be-home-for-christmas/

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Trapped: A Review

 

 

Librarian Laura (it's so weird to write that since that used to be the name of my blog) will admit adjusting to living with her half sister is harder than expected, but when Darcy runs away, Laura will stop at nothing to get her back.

 

Irene Hannon is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, and this one doesn't disappoint. I loved Laura and Dev, and my heart hurt for Darcy, who had lost everyone she loved. But, it was the action and the insight into the villain's mind that intrigued me the most.

There were times I raced through the pages to see what happened next, not realizing I was holding my breath.

 

There were twists and turns, and the ride is fantastic. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to book three.

 

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

 

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Congrats, Cindi!

 

 

 

Congrats to Cindi for winning a copy of Worth the Wait, a gift card and some lotion. Thanks for being a loyal blog reader. I'm so thankful for you!

 

There's still time to win a kindle. Here's the link to the Entry:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Another HopeSprings Giveaway!

 

The HopeSprings authors are celebrating Advent with giveaways galore. Each author is doing a giveaway and there's a grand prize giveaway for a Kindle (or Amazon gift card).

 

Stop by Angie's Blog to enter to win:

http://angiebrashear.com/2013/12/16/angels-and-snowflakes/

 

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Critical Pursuit: A Review

 

Brinna's life mission is to rescue kidnapped girls just like she was rescued. Jack is just trying to survive until the sentencing of his wife's killer. When the two are thrown together on patrol for two weeks, they have to learn to work together in order to confront the past and its secrets.

I've read Cantore's other books, and while I liked them, I loved this book. Brinna and Jack are real---full of flaws and failures, which is why I liked them so much. I also liked the fact that their relationship was more about figuring out who they were than romance although I wouldn't be sad or surprised if something develops.

The action is fast. There were several serious events that happened in a short time. They could have been more meaningful if one or two were kept for a later book. However, the suspense kept me reading and left me waiting for book two!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for me review, and my thoughts are my own.

 

 

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Another HopeSprings Giveaway!

 

 

We HopeSprings authors are continuing our Advent Celebration.

Join Sydney Avey on her blog for a chance to win the audio copy of her newly released novel.

http://sydneyavey.com/2013/12/12/less-perfect-christmas/

 

You'll also be able to enter to win the grand prize, which is a Kindle (or Amazon gift card).

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A Place to Belong: A Review

Engaged to Lucas, Cassie should feel settled into her new home. She's found a family, she's able to compete again, and she finally has a home. Yet, she's still longing for more. Will she find that when her fiancé starts looking at another girl?

A Place to Belong offers a satisfying conclusion to the Wild West Wind series. Ransom, who has been my favorite character, finally finds a balance of working hard to support the family and enjoying the life he has. I also liked that Cassie finally had to face the guy who ripped off her dad with the Wild West show, leaving Cassie destitute and desperate. The character growth for both Cassie and Ransom were my favorite parts of the book.

I enjoyed the glimpse of history as well....how life was in the early 1900s from saving calves in a snowstorm to gardening with a little shooting in between.

While I enjoyed the book, I had kinda been hoping Mavis would find a happily-ever-after as well. And what about the son Jesse who was away at college to become a doctor? There are more stories for this family, and I hope the author shares them.

I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

 

 

 

 

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Waiting

 

 

 

There were 400 years between the Old Testament and the New.

 

400 years of silence.

 

400 years of waiting for the promised Messiah, the One who would set the captives free.

 

 

How they longed for Him to come. I imagine each generation talked about His coming. Who would be the chosen mother? How would they know it was Him? How would He rescue them?

 

I also imagine many gave up looking for Him. After centuries of hearing nothing from God, perhaps the prophets had been wrong. Perhaps the prophets had made up the coming Messiah.   

 

And then He came. In a manager, unknown and uncelebrated except by a few. After 400 years of silence, there He was!

 

The Savior had finally come, the wait was over, but they rejected Him. Surely a baby born in a manger, a man who was silent when accused, a man who rejected the spiritual leaders of the day wasn't the answer!

 

But He was. And He still is.

 

Are you in a season of silence, of expecting waiting, of nearly giving up hope that God will do what He promised to do?

 

How often we reject Him because He doesn't answer the way we want Him to!

 

If you're in a season waiting, allow this verse to encourage you as it has me.

 

 

Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

 

Instead of waiting for a child, a spouse, a promotion, a new job, a new car, friends, let's wait on the Lord.

 

Waiting on people and circumstances will cause us to grow weary.

 

Waiting on the Lord will give us strength.

 

*I love my King James Version Touch Bible App. I can click a word, and it tells me the definition. Here in this verse, one of the meanings for the Hebrew word (Kaw-Vaw) means to bind together, perhaps by twisting.

 

This season, bind closer to Jesus, for He is always Worth the Wait.

 

 

I'm giving away a prize today!

Leave a comment telling me about something in your life that was worth the wait to win a copy of my February release Worth the Wait. (You'll have to wait till then to get it.)

To make the wait a little shorter, I'll send you this:

 

 

I'll pick a winner next Monday. Be sure to leave your email address. (I can only ship to the US.)

 

 

Finally, enter to win a Kindle donated by the authors of HopeSprings:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 



 

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Whispers in the Wind: A Review

 

 

I haven't read a Lauraine Snelling book in a few years, and after reading this book, I had to ask myself why it had been so long. Although I didn't read the first book in the series, I quickly caught up with Cassie's story.

 

When her father died and his partner in their Wild West Show went bankrupt, Cassie decided to return to the place her father had loved--a ranch in South Dakota, where the Engstrom family has lived since her father left. Will the two families be able work together as joint owners?

 

I loved the characters. Cassie is fun, Mavis is stable, and Ransom is mysterious. Cassie comes to town with a ragtag family of Chief, Runs Like a Deer and Micah, who I wish would have had a bigger part of the story. (Perhaps that was covered in the first book, which I didn't read.)

 

The characters' relationships are the main focus of the book, but the historical elements add to the story. I loved the aspects of how Native Americans were treated, the horse/shooting shows Cassie enjoys, and even how the justice system worked.

 

Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this series about a girl who's looking for a place to belong.

I certainly won't wait as long to read another book by Lauraine Snelling.

 

 

 

 

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Another Chance to Win!

 

 

 

Check out my friend Mary's blog for a chance to win a prize and enter to win a Kindle.

http://www.maryhamiltonbooks.com/dreaming-of-a-white-christmas/

 

Good luck!

 

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First Chance to Win a Kindle

 

 

 

Check out Elizabeth Maddrey's blog today for a chance to win a prize and enter to win a kindle.

Good luck!

http://www.elizabethmaddrey.com/a-story-and-a-giveaway/

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Paige Rewritten: A Review

 

When we last saw Paige, her ex-boyfriend and long-lost sister had both suddenly popped back into her life. In this second book in the series, Paige is dealing with broken relationships, juggling her responsibilities, and debating a job change.

While nothing huge happens in the book, Mangum does a fantastic job of telling a fun, witty story with drops of spiritual truth. I love the characters, and the minor characters are just as great as the main ones.

As with her other series, Mangum gives hints of who Paige will end up with but also creates to guys worth rooting for!

I can't wait until the third one comes out....why did this one have to end on a cliffhanger?

Fans of Christian fiction about girls in the 20s figuring out adulthood will enjoy this book.

 

 

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