Love Finds You In Treasure Island, Florida by Debby Mayne

This is a guest post by Tina L. Scott (formerly Miller). Tina is a freelance photographer from Merrill, Wisconsin with a passion for writing. She can be reached at PhotographyByTina.com


Book
Love Finds You In Treasure Island, Florida

Author
Debby Mayne

The Review
When 45-year-old Jerry Simpson arrives in Treasure Island, Florida, for an annual vacation with his aging parents—his father, Harold, who is starting to suffer from the effects of Alzheimers and his mother, Rosemary, who just learned she has Parkinson’s disease, he’s not looking for anything more than a little stress relief and a chance to enjoy the place he’s loved since childhood. But when he goes to the local bicycle shop to rent a tandem bike for them and meets Amanda Burns, the blonde-haired blue-eyed 39-year-old owner of the shop, his mind turns to how different his life is now from the way he imagined it might be at this stage and what it might be like if he met the right woman.

But Amanda isn’t looking to date anyone or risk getting her heart broken again after being literally left at the altar by her former fiancé. She likes her life the way it is—calm and content except for dealing with her irresponsible and erratic mother and listening to the occasional drama of her younger sister Lacey’s career as a kindergarten teacher. So when she starts having lingering thoughts over Jerry and his handsome good looks, she stops herself short.

Still, as Jerry and his parents become more frequent visitors to her shop and she gets to know him, Amanda finds herself drawn to Jerry and opening up to the possibility of a friendship. That’s all it can ever be, she assures herself, since Jerry is just another tourist here on vacation and this is where she has lived her entire life, built her business, and has her church home. Besides, she would never even consider dating someone who wasn’t a strong Christian, she reminds herself. Then Amanda finds out that Jerry and his parents are Christians. Will this change things for her? Enough to make her take a chance on love again?

Now, of course, I’m not going to give anything away about the ending because you’ll want to read this story for yourself! But I do want to confess that when I initially started reading some of the books in the Love Finds You series, I was expecting to find a rather formulary romance story. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that was not the case and the story was very interesting and engaging—complete with interesting characters and a strong reference to the importance of faith.

But what impressed me the absolute most was a romance book that provided a hint of wisdom to any young single women who might happen to read it. In this story, Amanda Burns made up her mind that she would not date anyone who wasn’t a Christian—regardless of any attraction that might develop. She wanted to protect her heart, yes, but more importantly, she wanted to live a life in keeping with her beliefs and convictions and she knew she could not do that if she found herself unequally yoked to a non-believer or someone she would need to coerce into a church. From my perspective, I hope single readers of all ages will come to realize that this is the
take-away value of this romantic story—that romance and faith can go hand-in-hand and they most definitely should. And you don’t have to give up one to find the other. Because God wants us to find love here on earth and in our faithful devotion to Him!

Order Love Finds You In Treasure Island, Florida Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio, Lisa Harris

This is a guest post by Tina L. Scott (formerly Miller). Tina is a freelance photographer from Merrill, Wisconsin with a passion for writing. She can be reached at PhotographyByTina.com

Book
Love Finds You In Revenge, Ohio

Author
Lisa Harris

The Review
Revenge, Ohio, is a small town in the late 1800’s that is about to live up to its name. When the story begins, 25-year-old Catherine Morgan is running her family’s general store and helping to care for her 3 younger sisters, fulfilling a promise she made to her mother on her deathbed 7 years prior. While Emily is happily married and expecting her first child and Emily’s twin, Audrey, is engaged to be married—and even the youngest, 17-year-old Lilly, is in love and being courted with her engagement seemingly imminent, Catherine hasn’t had much time to think about her own prospects for love. She wonders if she is destined to be a spinster.

It wasn’t always that way. Catherine had been engaged once—to her beloved Corbin Hunter—but Catherine had sent him away when she made her promise to her dying mother, determined she would not make him responsible for her three younger siblings. And Corbin had gone. Immediately and far away. And he hadn’t returned since.

Until now, that is. Suddenly Catherine discovers that Corbin is back in Revenge, Ohio, to serve as the interim sheriff and try to bring down a deadly bank robbing gang. But it’s clear his motivation here is all about revenge in the true meaning of that word, especially when Catherine learns that the bank robbers killed Corbin’s father. Her initial hopes that he might have returned for her are crushed—or should I say she crushes them when she stuffs them down deep inside herself and tries not to let those hopes see the light of day.

Catherine has some issues with men who leave and don’t return. It started with her father who left years ago, before her mother died, to search for gold in Alaska. Gold fever must have been more important to him than his family, because—despite promises that he would return—he never came back, not even after her mother died. While Catherine loves her sisters, a small part of her harbors resentment toward a father who would abandon his children.

This scenario should sufficiently introduce you to the saga of the Morgan family as it unfolds in Revenge. I won’t go any further with details lest I give away something important. Suffice it to say, however, that this introduction really is just the beginning of many things to come.

Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio, is filled with suspense, mystery, history, and romance. In addition, it is inspirational, as Catherine Morgan calls upon her faith time and time again to get her through the difficulties of each day and even more now as her family’s life—and her heart—are turned upside down.

If you enjoy mystery and suspense combined with faith, history, and romance, you’re going to truly enjoy Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio.

Order Love Finds You In Revenge, Ohio Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas by Janice Hanna

This is a guest post by Tina L. Scott (formerly Miller). Tina is a freelance photographer from Merrill, Wisconsin with a passion for writing. She can be reached at PhotographyByTina.com

Book
Love Finds You In Poetry, Texas

Author
Janice Hanna

The Review
I read Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas, in less than 24 hours. It was an easy read and delightful at that, full of whimsy and humor and good people. While I cannot say I found too many surprises in the story, I found it very pleasing. In fact, as I read I couldn’t help but compare it to two of my favorite television shows—though I haven’t had the opportunity to see either in years, so it wasn’t like they would otherwise have been on my mind.

The story line and characters called to mind visions of Laura Ingalls Wilder in “Little House on the Prairie” and the small but growing town, with more men than women— many in search of a wife, reminded me of the town depicted in “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” I’m sure the cover art helped, because the dress on the heroine on the cover—Belinda, I’m sure—was from a similar era. But I couldn’t help but think that Belinda was much like Laura Ingalls Wilder’s character in the shows—always meaning well, trusting in the Lord, but still having just a bit of a match-making romanticized demeanor.

Though Belinda Bauer—at least in her character at the beginning of the book—would never have described herself as romantic. On the contrary, the 27-year-old young lady who decided to open her own marriage broker business in a small town in Texas in 1904 and proclaimed she would probably never marry described herself as “a strong, independent woman” and “practical.” In fact, after she announced her wild and crazy entrepreneurial idea to her cousin—and shortly thereafter the entire town in one manner or another—she also declared her philosophy for matching up prospective grooms with their ideal bride saying she had a “formula of sorts” that combined “science...coupled with faith.”

Indeed, Belinda Bauer does have a strong faith in the Lord and this is evident throughout this book, which I another characteristic about her that I was pleased to read about. The book has a pleasant storyline that runs throughout with many happy endings along the way—and ultimately a happy ending for its conclusion, as all good romance books do—and though there were no real tragedies along the way, there were enough mishaps to make the story amusing and enjoyable. Like I said, all in all it truly reminded me of watching a delightful episode of “Little House on the Prairie”—that being one of their lighter episodes that did not deal with sorrow or tragedies. And in fact, I noticed a very peculiar reference in the story that constantly called to mind the “Little House” stories for anyone who is familiar with them. The cologne Belinda wore—which was mentioned several times in this volume—was lemon verbena. And anyone who has watched “Little House” knows lemon verbena was a favorite with Laura Ingalls and is a bit of a theme in the show.

Throughout the story, we meet some delightful characters that add whimsy and interest to the story—especially when mismatches come about. And in keeping with the book’s title, the little town is described in quite a poetic nature. In fact, stores in the town have poetic names and poetry is a theme carried throughout this book from start to finish, as is faith. Lines from classic poets and poems are even quoted, with one of my favorite being this line from Henry David Thoreau: “How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”

I also enjoyed and appreciated the take-away from this story—which is quite nicely summarized in a quote from the book: “...walk at least one pace behind the Almighty, never in front.” The meaning is clear: We can make plans and set our minds on certain things, but God alone controls and determines the outcome, and we should always remember to keep His will at the forefront of our thoughts, desires, and prayers. In this way, we can always be assured that all will end well.

Order Love Finds You In Poetry, Texas Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

The Right Way To Write, Publish, And Sell Your Book

The Right Way To Write, Publish, And Sell Your Book consists of 16 chapters filled with tips and advice from the author of 24 books. Fry’s style is direct and to the point. Throughout the book, you’ll learn hands-on lessons learned the hard way, through Fry’s personal experiences—plus insider secrets as she discusses some of the industry’s rigorous publishing standards.

In The Right Way To Write, Publish, And Sell Your Book you’ll learn what it really takes to write and sell your book, how to find the right publisher, how to write a winning book proposal, and how to promote your book. There are even two sample query letters that won Fry two publishing contracts.
If you’re new to publishing and would like a book that shows you the ropes, pick up a copy of The Right Way To Write, Publish, And Sell Your Book today.


Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of this book to review.

Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlink

This is a guest post by Tina L. Scott (formerly Miller). Tina is a freelance photographer from Merrill, Wisconsin with a passion for writing. She can be reached at PhotographyByTina.com


Book
Valley Of The Shadow

Author
Tom Pawlik

The Plot
Valley of the Shadow is a frightening look at what the “other side” might look like if we don’t make it directly to heaven. A cast of characters in this fictional story all experience near death or almost death experiences. One has a heart attack and dies momentarily. Another is shot and dies but is resuscitated. Two others experienced auto or motorcycle accidents and lay in a coma, kept alive physically only by life support machines. All are transported to a frightening place where the world as they have known it has ceased to exist.

In its place they find unimaginable horrors, terrorizing “aliens,” and beings intent on dragging them out into the woods into the unknown where they will be devoured. None of them remember what happened to them or know where they really are. They don’t realize they are in another world. This is their new reality—and a horrifying one it is. That is, until two of them are revived and begin experiencing flashbacks to the place where they were.

Conner Hayden is the man who had the heart attack and recovered physically. But though his body may be back to “normal,” his mind cannot forget the things that happened to him on the “other side” in his near brush with death. The memories haunt his nightmares and terrify him daily. He wonders if the people he met “over there” are actually real people, and so he does a little investigating of his own.

Conner soon learns of the connection between them—the dates of their death or near-death experiences—and he also learns the current condition of one of the other men he met there—Mitch Kent. Mitch remains in a coma, but Conner doesn’t know for how long. In fact, his prognosis is not good, and Conner fears that his family will shut off the life support systems that keep him from certain death.

Still, it’s not Mitch’s actually death that Conner fears. It is what lays beyond for Mitch if he does die—because it is clear to Conner from where he was together with Mitch during his near-death experience that Mitch is not going to heaven if he dies now. In fact, it looks pretty certain his fate will be horrendous. But Conner is convinced he lived and recovered for a reason. He is convinced God wants him to reach out to Mitch and help him turn his life around before it is too late and his fate is sealed forever.

So begins Conner’s mission. But some of the people Conner confides in think he is crazy, and Mitch’s father will not even see him to discuss Mitch’s condition. Then Conner confides in a minister who doesn’t brush off his experience as simple crazy talk but suggests that Conner may indeed have come back from his brush with death for a purpose—just not necessarily the purpose he thinks. And so begins a novel of suspense and terror interwoven with crossovers between life as we know it, the afterlife, and that largely unknown but fear-filled place in between as souls struggle to survive.

This is a gripping story that will definitely give you reason to rethink the life you’re living and how ready you might be for the end of your life as you know it (or might not be), whenever that might be.

Order Valley Of The Shadow Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.