One thing that you can always know you’ll get when you pick up an Elizabeth Camden novel is history. I’m not talking about a time period, necessarily, but a lifestyle. You will learn so much about the era she chooses to write in. You will learn how they lived, worked and loved.
This time she takes us to the Turn of the Century. In a time of booming industry, factories, wires, and even plumbing, she intertwines a beautiful story. Of course, there is much more than that to it! You can count on love and intrigue. You’ll find deep characters that are easy to love (and some to hate!).
Be sure to pick up a copy of this new series! Link is above in pic. Thanks so much for this awesome book in exchange for my review. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
Catching You Up: Amish farm girl, Hannah, is being stalked by an English boy that is in love with her. Her family must flee for her protection. With her siblings resenting her and her family going through another crisis, she must sort through her fears and learn to trust again.
My Thoughts: When I think of Amish, all I can think of is how “dark” the lifestyle is. I know it’s because I am a visual person and life without a lot of color is VERY SAD! One of the things I love about Shelley Shepard Gray is that she brings color out of their lifestyle. As strange as it sounds, reading her Amish fiction is the first time I can really connect with the characters.
This is a short and light read, but that does not take away from the content. Her characters are always well developed and complex. I am not usually surprised, but there was definitely some intrigue that got me! Well done, Shelley!!!
Need a great read for a flight? Something you can grab and go – pick up and put down without missing a beat? This is your story! I definitely recommend anything by this author. Make sure to pick up a copy! Link is in the pic above!!
Ervil LeBaron was one of the most famous Mormon fundamentalist leaders. He was a self-proclaimed prophet that thought he was a god. He was imprisoned for the blood atonement killings that were done in the name of god.
Anna was his daughter.
This is one of those books that will be heavy on your heart for days to come. The darkness just sits in your mind and you find yourself thinking on it. Her story is brutal, but written with such forgiveness, kindness and love. A love that only the One, True God could put in her heart.
Please pick up this book. It is eye opening and incredible. It’s not written in anger or spite. It’s written by a girl that has come through the darkness into the light of the One, True God. It’s difficult, yes. It’s also powerful. I highly recommend!
Thank you for this book in exchange for my review. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!
The Remnant is the latest in a long line of dystopian fiction. It’s based in 2063 in a world that is run by one government. They have tried to purge the world of any religion by burning all religious articles and sending those that refuse to be “retrained” to work camps.
This story centers on Grant Cochrin as he tries to escape his work camp and find other Christians in a rumored Christian Community. He has his family and friends with him on this perilous and very long journey.
The Remnant is a great read. It’s very detail oriented, which is a bit much for me, but I definitely don’t hold it against the author! Many people enjoy details. I thought that it was intriguing and definitely holds your attention. Check it out for those teenagers of yours this Christmas season! They are sure to love it!!
Thanks for this book in exchange for my review. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
Today, I have a super fun lady facing-off with me! The author of more than two dozen novels, Sarah Price brings twenty-five years of experience of living among the Amish to her books, many of which have been Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers. In 2013, she signed with Realms, a division of Charisma House, to publish the Amish Classics series. Initially focusing on the retelling of Jane Austen’s timeless classics from within an Amish setting, her first traditionally published book, First Impressions, A Retelling of Pride & Prejudice, debuted on the ECPA bestseller list.
She intends to continue retelling classics, including the Bronte sisters and Victor Hugo, as she enjoys “raising the bar” on her own intellectual stimulation as well as that of her expansive base of loyal readers.
In 2014, she signed with Waterfall Press and published An Amish Buggy Ride which became a #1 bestseller in Religious Romance.
Let’s have some fun!!!!
The rules are simple. I ask Sarah some random questions. She replies and then I give my answers. Each winning answer is worth one point and I get to decide whose answer is better.
It’s my blog.
Here we go!
1. What is the WORST Jane Austen adaptation kiss scene?
Sarah – I’m not really a movie watcher sooooooo I’m a bad person to ask. I’m a reader. I will tell you the BEST Jane Austen kiss scene (of the few that I’ve watched): Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy at the end of the movie.
*sigh*
Matthew Macfadyen is just the perfect Mr. Darcy. I’m not certain I could have held out from his first proposal like Elizabeth did. Not if Matthew Macfadyen proposed to me. His dark, broody nature is just…*sigh* (she writes as she raises her hand to her forehead and swoons onto her bedroom’s lounge chair).
Charity – Well, I won’t go into THAT because I am not a Kiera Knightley fan. Matthew Macfadyen was a great Darcy though. I just like the 1995 version. *Sigh*
Now, onto the grossest, wettest, slobbery-est kiss of all time? Persuasion 2007 wins.
— I asked for worst…
Charity 1 / Sarah 0
2. If you were going to have as many kids as the Duggers and name them all with one letter, what letter would you choose? Sampling of names?
Sarah – Z. And I’ll tell you why. How much fun in would be to come up with amazing Z names???? Just make them up if you have to. And I am fairly certain that not too many people would have them! Zebediah, Zara, Zinga, Zorse, Zarry, Zia, Zephron, Zate. Plus, Z’s are fun to draw. Did you ever try it?
Charity – Oh, wow. I haven’t given it as much thought as you have…clearly! I do like the “Z” idea. Here’s the thing. If I was going to have as many kids as the Duggars, you could just shoot me now. I mean, I love my kids. I especially love them when they are teenagers! No. More. Babies!!!
How about “P” though? Peter. Piper… Oh, wait.
— You get that one!
Charity 1 / Sarah 1
3. Who would be your dream cast for Persuasion?
Sarah – Oh boy. This totally depends if I’m on set or not.
Robert Pattinson has the sulky “I’m miserable” look that would be picture perfect for Frederick. But I wouldn’t do that to Frederick. So, I’m going to have to select Ben Affleck. He’s still broody-looking but not so miserable. If, however, I get to be on set, I’m going for Colin Farrell (but only if he plucks his eyebrows a bit and doesn’t slick back his hair).
Hey, if I have to lounge around on set, I’d like to enjoy myself a bit.
Anne: A brunette Scarlett Johansson unless I get to be on set. Then I’m voting for Lindsay Lohan, just so I can be privy to her antics. Between Lindsay and Colin, something interesting is BOUND to happen.
Sir Walter Elliott: Morgan Freeman. You have to love his voice! I can see him pulling off a wicked awesome Walter, fretting and mumbling all over the set.
Elizabeth Elliott: Angelina Jolie. Just because I don’t care for her. I doubt that it would be a stretch for her to play a vain Elizabeth.
William Elliott: Jim Carrey. How much fun would THAT be? Let’s kick it up a notch and have some outrageous humor!
Musgrove Sisters: Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence. They are both lively and fun, both on and off the screen!
Mary Musgrove: Rebel Wilson. Hands down, she will win over every viewer and steal the show as Mary.
Charles Musgrove: Ansel Elgort. OK, so I just totally heard my thirteen-year old scream in my head. Sorry, Cat, I know you love him but Mommy finds him completely dull and blah in interviews. He could just stand there and not act and he’d nail Charles’ role as the hen-pecked husband of Rebel Wilson.
Captain Benwick: Seth Rogen from Neighbors or Zach Galifianakis from the Hangover movies. Hands-down. Again, really fun people that, presuming I haven’t been kicked off set yet, I want to hang with these guys for a while.
Charity – Oh, wow! Now to try to follow that… Here we go:
Frederick – Jake Gyllenhaal is pretty brooding. I thought that Rupert Penry-Jones was a fabulous choice though. too hard. Ok, I am going to go with Gerard Butler! hahaha. He would be fabulous!
Anne – Emmy Rossum
Sir Walter Elliott – Anthony Hopkins
Elizabeth Elliott – Kate Winslet
William Elliott – How about…Ben Affleck for that one! The ladies man.
Musgrove Sisters – The Fanning Sisters! (Elle and Dakota)
Mary Musgrove – I LOVE your Rebel Wilson idea! hahahaha
Charles Musgrove – Ansel is a great one for him too!!!! Or Robert Pattinson…
Captain Benwick – Paul Rudd would be fun!!
— Tie
Charity 1 / Sarah 1
4. Would you ever consider a life as a unicyclist?
Sarah – I would not.
My balance ability is ZERO (see the Z?). But, when I was eighteen, I did run away with the circus. I helped with tigers and elephants. I also did a little “clowning” around (pun totally intended). I was “in love” and wanted to marry an acrobat who juggled his brother on his feet. Luckily I bounced back to reality (pun intended).
True story.
Obviously, I didn’t marry him. However, I’m still in touch with him. He gave my daughter her dog, Peekaboo (Pica, for short). Apparently Pica was a circus reject, probably because she runs away all of the time.
Charity – Oh my word!! Best Story Ever! I can’t believe you ran away with the circus for an acrobatic, human juggler! HAHAHA! That’s amazing.
— You get that FOR SURE!!!
Charity 1 / Sarah 2
5. Who is the dumbest Disney princess? haha
Frankly, all of them are basically stupid from an intelligence perspective.
Cinderella…her best friend is a mouse and she wears glass slippers. Seriously? How do you walk without breaking them and cutting up your feet?
Snow White: Someone is trying to kill you, Girl! And you take food from an old yucky witch? That’s just plan ignorant.
Alice: I cannot imagine her surviving the real world. She’d be the dream consumer for advertisers, buying everything and anything just because the companies put a little “Buy Me” sign on the product.
Aurora: The fairies warned her not to touch anything and she touches the spindle anyway? (rolls eyes).
Ariel: Seriously, who gives away their voice box? And to Ursula of all people? That was dumb. But Daddy to the rescue, right?
I like Belle. She’s my fav. Her sacrifice for her father is admirable. Plus, I love animals so Beast is right up my alley. I’m not grooving on the yellow gown, though. Mango orange, perhaps.
Charity – Oh my gosh! I am rolling right now. This is amazing. haha! I can’t compete with that…
— I concede!
Charity 1 / Sarah 3
6. Favorite recipe?
Sarah – 1-800-GrubHub.
On Mother’s Day, I was informed by my seventeen-year-old son that I am a “not a great cook” to which my daughter and husband nodded their heads.
I can’t argue with them. I get distracted and burn things all the time. Or I don’t have all of the ingredients so I substitute something and it turns out horrendous. However, to be fair, my husband and daughter do not show up until late (he’s working at the barn and she’s at the barn riding her horses). So I do NOT take responsibility for dried out food.
Charity – No! NO! Not on Mother’s Day!!! HAHA! That’s amazing!!!!
I, uh…., love food. SO, I have way too many. I do love this one though!!:
Link in the pic
— I am taking it!
Charity 2 / Sarah 3
7. How do you strive to bring the most glory to God in your life?
Sarah – Do good, be good. John Adams used to tell that to his children before he left on long journeys. Growing up, my mother always told me that I should never do something that would hinder me from looking at myself in the mirror.
God gave us a user’s manual: the Bible. I read it almost daily and try to behave as God wants and instructs us. I’m not perfect; none of us are. But He gave me a gift and that was breast cancer. That gift was a game changer. So many horrible things happened since May 31, 2013 when I was diagnosed that I couldn’t even begin to describe them. I maintained a positive, healthy attitude throughout, but as Heraclitus said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
Doing good and being good in this world has to maintain a balance with those who view ‘doing good’ as a home-court advantage from them. Especially when you are successful. People want to latch their dreams on your hard work. I write my novels because I love writing. It’s my passion. I believe God tells me what to write. And I’m not going to write to make other people “famous.”
I’ve found that the more good you do for others, the more those people expect from you. And when you put your foot down, feathers get ruffled. Well, feathers can get ruffled. I don’t have to be taken advantage of in order to bring glory to God, as long as I can look myself in the mirror each morning. And I do.
Charity – Wow! Thank you for sharing that, Sarah. I had no idea! God definitely uses those things to grow us.
— God wins!!
8. Have you ever done Regency re-enacting? If so, have you been to the Jane Austen Festival or stayed at the cottage from Sense and Sensibility? (you can totally rent it!!!) ❤
Sarah – I have not!
But I do have Regency Days in my house. I pretend I’m Elizabeth Bennet and my family goes bananas. They HATE Regency days. My husband is French and he can’t always understand me when I’m speaking regular. When I try to talk like a high society woman from the early 1800s? Forget it. I might as well be speaking Pig Latin to him.
However, even better…Soap Opera Hour! I respond to everyone as if I’m an actress on a soap opera. Sometimes I can get my son and daughter to play along. My son is actually really good, although I doubt he has ever watched a soap opera. Try this in public. It’s hilarious to see people’s reactions, especially when your family plays along.
Charity – HA! How fun!! We sometimes will act like we are in a musical. My husband and I will sing everything to the kids. They hate it!! They are like, “STOPPPP!!!! Please! I can’t stand it!!!”
Oh, and: That’s me with the blue top on. Woot Woot!
— Tie
Charity 2 / Sarah 3
9. What is the funniest viral video you have ever seen?
My son gets soooooo irritated because whenever we go to a drive-thru, I do the Dane Cook’s drive-thru Pickle Person Voice. My daughter rolls with laughter in the back of the car. We usually wind up not getting anything because the drive-thru attendant ignores us after the first thirty seconds. But a great belly laugh builds character (and muscles!)
Charity – So fun to torture our children with those antics. *Sigh*. Life is good…
I have so many that I like. This one is at the top:
— Tie
Charity 2 / Sarah 3
10. If you had to quote a speech from one of our founding fathers, could you?
Sarah – It depends how many words you want. “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union…” That’s it. That’s all I got. And I’m not even sure that’s right. Is it?
Charity – haha. Oh man. No, I don’t think I could and I have no idea if that is correct…”I regret that I have but one life to give for my country”?? Nathan Hale’s speech (That he may, or may not, have given…).
— Tie
Final:
Charity 2 / Sarah 3
again.
Thank you, Sarah! This was great getting to know you 🙂 Check out her books below! Links are in the pics:
I love books that deal with real, dark and deep issues. In A Love Like Ours, Becky deals with the tough issues of PTSD, single parenthood and a terminally ill family member. She doesn’t pull any punches, but really puts them out there. There are real relationships with God and that is another thing that is often times glazed over.
Jake Porter has come home from serving in Iraq where he was injured and saw the death of those he was close to. Lyndie, his childhood best friend, has come to work for him exercising his thoroughbred race horses. While there, she senses that God is calling her to a deeper issue than horses. She knows that God wants to use her to help Jake heal.
Absolutely loved it. The writing was wonderful, the characters were loveable, and the story held my attention. The only thing that I did not like was the idea of a girl saving someone that doesn’t believe in God. I don’t think it’s ever a good idea to be in a relationship, or physical with someone that is not on the same page. Especially when it’s the idea of changing or healing him. As a novel, it was fantastic. As a true to life, I would say almost never. Still, the book was really great! Becky is a truly gifted writer!! 5 Stars!
Thank you, Litfuse, for giving me this awesome book! As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
What a beautiful book! This is an in depth look at five different women that were affected by Jesus while He was here on Earth. We have the woman caught in adultery, the prostitute that covered Jesus’ feet with perfume, the Samaritan woman He met at the well, the woman that grabbed His cloak and Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
To start with, each story is told from the first person point of view, then the actual Scripture is produced. After that, there is some theological musings on what transpired. I found it very interesting. I’ve never really seen a book written in this style before. I enjoyed it immensely.
Most of these stories are a mere few verses in the vastness of the entire Bible. Easily overlooked or breezed over. I liked taking the time to think about it and what it really meant. It is obviously in the Bible for a reason and we shouldn’t overlook it. I highly recommend this. It is co-authored by Mary Demuth and Frank Viola. It’s well written and will appeal to many genres. If you would like to pick up a copy, the link is in the picture above.
Thanks, Baker Books, for this great read! As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
From the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, to the “Men’s Only” Island in Greece, with a stop at the Westboro crazies, Jared went around the world. These are only a few of the destinations that he visited in his year of learning to pray. Oh yeah, lunch with the Pope? Wha???
His great wit, charismatic personality, VERY PATIENT wife, and desire to learn new things leads him on a once in a lifetime journey that will keep you turning the pages. Through it all, he is seeking the different ways that people pray and worship God through different “Bible believing” sects/denominations/whatever you want to call it.
It was a really fun book with so much information. Loved it. Would definitely recommend!! Link is in the pic.
Thank you, Tyndale House, for this awesome read. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
Another Amish story? That’s two this month. A record! I am pleased to announce that I have enjoyed both. Maybe there’s hope for me yet (;
This is the first book in the Amish Brides of Pinecraft series. It’s different than most Amish stories in that it takes place in sunny Florida! The town of Pinecraft is a regular hotspot for Amish and Mennonite vacations. I like that this book was so “colorful” (which, when I think of Amish, I usually think in black and white).
Leona is engaged to be married. As she heads to Florida for a two week vacation, she is happy to be getting away to give herself time to think. Her intended is overbearing and has stated more than once that he is not interested in her opinions. As you can imagine, once in Florida, she meets another fella. Zach is a man that watches out for everyone else before himself. A Godly, selfless man. Leona must choose her future. Does she not go back on her word and stay with a man she cannot love, or should she break her word and follow an unknown path?
What I really liked about this book is the kindness and honesty. There are no big dramatic scenes. The characters are loveable and stay true throughout. I found it odd that there was a side story that never came to a conclusion. In fact, it seemed extremely random. I have to assume that it is just because they will be characters throughout the series. Although, in the preview of the second book, they aren’t mentioned. Not sure what to make of that. We shall see, shan’t we?
So, you need to pick up a copy! I definitely recommend it, especially if you love Amish fiction. It is a light and easy read. If you click HERE, you will find a link for a giveaway of this book (and a few others).
Thank you, Litfuse, for a copy of this book. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
