Thursday, October 13, 2011

Along Wooded Paths

Along Wooded Paths
by
Tricia Goyer




My Thoughts
This is the second book in the Big Sky series, Tricia's first Amish series. As I mentioned in the review for the first book, she takes a fresh new approach to Amish fiction and I love it! You will definitely want to read book one, Beside Still Waters, before you read this one.

In Along Wooded Paths, Marianna becomes more involved with the Englisch community around her and is surprised by the variety of lives others live. She realizes the joys of serving others outside her community and grows in her faith as a result. But the real crux of this story is the depth of her angst over her future. As it becomes obvious that Marianna will have to choose between her childhood love and the Amish way of life or the Englisch man she is drawn to an her newly expanded faith, Tricia's writing pulls the reader right into Marianna's heart.

There are so many wonderful twists, turns, and paths in this story that it keeps you fascinated all the way through, and I almost found myself praying for the characters as they found themselves in difficult dilemmas! The ending is incredibly intriguing and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the third installment of this book!

You can buy a copy here.

Read what others are saying about the book here.

Come to a Facebook Party and Live Author Chat!

Tricia is celebrating the release of Along Wooded Paths with a Fabulous Facebook party on October 18th. She'll be giving away prizes and a sneak peak at the next book in the Big Sky series.

Then during the second half of the party she'll be hosting a LIVE AUTHOR CHAT on her website and

announcing something BIG! CLICK the button (below) to RSVP for the party -

Along Wooded Paths Party

then go here to sign up for the Live Author Chat.

About Tricia:

Tricia Goyer is the author of thirty books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock , Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

For more about Tricia and her other books visitwww.triciagoyer.com

About the book:

All she wanted was a simple Amish life . . . But now Marianna Sommer finds herself depending on Englisch neighbors. Although proud of living apart from the world, she and her newly relocated Amish family have discovered that life in the remote mountains of Montana requires working together.

As Marianna begins helping those different from herself—and receiving their help—her heart contemplates two directions. She’s torn between the Amish man from Indiana whom she has long planned on marrying and the friendly Englischer who models a closer walk with God than she’s ever seen before.

Who should have young Marianna’s heart? What is God asking her to sacrifice? Her traditions? Her community? The answer is found along the wooded paths.

Find out about book 1, Beside Still Waters, here: http://www.triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#BesideStillWaters

Read an excerpt.

View the trailer.




Thank you to the Litfuse Publicity Group and B&H Books for providing a copy of Along Wooded Paths for this review.

Monday, October 03, 2011

Heiress -- And a GREAT Contest!

MY THOUGHTS:
This is another fabulous book by one of my top five favorite authors. Susan May Warren seems capable of writing intriguing books set in almost any time frame! In Heiress, she drops us into the midst of a world most can barely imagine -- that of the extremely wealthy at the turn of the 20th century.

Despite having everything money can buy, it is quickly apparent that this is not a life of fun and games. Oh, there are games alright, but they are definitely the political type. And unfortunately a man's daughters are not beyond being pawns in the bigger picture of business consolidation as marriage is being considered.

I love Susan's portrayal of the differences between Jinx and Esme, two sisters wanting very different things -- both caught up in a world that doesn't care much about the desires of women. Both are strong, capable women willing to do whatever it takes to be successful, never realizing what the real cost of success can be.

This book is no typical 'formula' historical romance. There is a lot of substance, grit, and raw emotion as the characters agonize over difficult choices and the repercussions that follow. This is a fabulous new series and I can't wait to read the next book!


ABOUT THE BOOK:
They can buy anything they want—fame, power, beauty, even loyalty.

But they can’t buy love.

The beautiful and wealthy heiress daughters of August Price can buy everything their hearts desire. But what if their desire is to be loved, without an enormous price tag attached? When one sister betrays another for the sake of love, will she find happiness? And what happens when the other sets out across the still untamed frontier to find it—will she discover she’s left it behind in the glamorous world of the New York gilded society? What price will each woman pay for being an heiress?

Set in the opulent world of the Gilded Age, two women discover that being an heiress just might cost them everything they love.

Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1609362187/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=sprightly-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1609362187&adid=1JF1JHWKFXYX80AEG4NY


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia , Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota ’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota , where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at:www.susanmaywarren.com.



AND NOW, THE CONTEST!

Win an opulent Gilded Age Prize Pack fit for an Heiress from Susan May Warren!

Susan May Warren is thrilled to announce the release of her latest historical book, Heiress!

Find out what the reviewers are saying here!

Heiress, a richly complex historical romance, is the first in Susan's three book Daughters of Fortune series. In honor of Heiress’ debut, Susan is hosting a FABULOUS Gilded Age Giveaway and giving away an opulent prize pack fit for an heiress!





One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A $100 gift certificate to ModCloth.com

  • A sleek silver iPod™ Shuffle

  • A beautiful strand of Pearls

  • Titanic DVD

  • Speakeasy Compilation Music CD from Starbucks™

  • Heiress by Susan May Warren

Click one of the icons below to enter. But do so soon - this giveaway ends 10/5/11. The winner will be announced Thursday, October 6 on Susan’s blog.



Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter


Thanks you to the Litfuse Group and Summerside Press for providing a copy of this book for review. They in no way influenced the review.