More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer

More Than Words Can Say ~ After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he's always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council. Despite not wanting to get involved, he can't turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.

Abigail Kemp needs a man's name on her bakery's deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. That person definitely isn't the stoic lumberman who oozes silent confidence whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can't even control her pulse when she's around him.
When vows are spoken, Abigail's troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. Can she put ever more trust in Zach without losing her dreams of independence?

Heidi here. Another winner by Karen Witemeyer in More Than Words Can Say! The premise is simple, Abigail is forced to marry someone to keep her bakery. I adored the twist where Abigail and Zach don't have "relations" until she is ready. So they basically marry and then he courts her. I loved, loved, loved how the reader had a backstage pass to the journey of them falling in love with each other. The love grew in such a tender and organic way.

This book held great tension and very nice plot twists to keep me interested until the very end. Grab your copy of More Than Words Can Say today!

CELIA GARTH -- Review by Shirley Raye Redmond

This New York Times bestseller set during the American Revolution is “an exciting tale of love and war in the tradition of Gone with the Wind” (Chicago Tribune).

A bustling port city, Charleston, South Carolina, is the crossroads of the American Revolution where supplies and weapons for the rebel army must be unloaded and smuggled north. From the window of the dressmaker’s shop where she works, lovely Celia Garth, recently engaged to the heir to a magnificent plantation, watches all of this thrilling activity.
 
When the unthinkable occurs and the British capture and occupy Charleston, bringing fiery retribution to the surrounding countryside, Celia sees her world destroyed. The rebel cause seems lost until the Swamp Fox, American General Francis Marion, takes the fight to the British—and one of his daring young soldiers recruits Celia to spy on the rebels’ behalf.
 
Out of the ashes of Charleston and the Carolina countryside will rise a new nation—and a love that will change Celia Garth forever.

Shirley here. Last month I attended a writer’s retreat in Charleston, South Carolina.
One of the charming women I met there had just read and recommended an
historical novel set in that fascinating city—Celia Garth by Gwen Bristow.
The book was first released in 1959 and recently reissued as a classic.
When I learned that Francis Marion, better known as the Swamp Fox, is one
of the important secondary characters in the novel, which takes place
during the American Revolution, I decided I had to read it. I’m so glad I
did. I liked the spunky, sassy-faced young seamstress at once. Celia is
independent, loyal, and creative. She’s also a committed Christian,
certain—even in the midst of a cruel, unfair war—that God will work all
things for good.

I loved the way the author immerses her readers in Charleston’s wartime
drama so thoroughly. When Celia is hungry because the British blockade
prevents food from coming into the city, I felt her hunger pangs. When
Celia nervously eavesdrops on Tory customers, hoping to glean bits of
information that may help the patriot cause, my hands got clammy for fear
she would d be detected.

If you’ve been to Charleston—or wish you could go— read this exciting
novel of love and war. Its vivid sense of history, with all the thrills
and threats of wartime, will keep you turning the pages.


Shirley Raye Redmond is an award-winning author of more than 30 books and
hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles. Her nonfiction reader, Lewis
& Clark: a Prairie Dog for the President (Random House) became a
Children’s Book of the Month Club selection. Her upcoming title Courageous
World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God will be released by
Harvest House this coming January. Visit her author page on facebook or at
www.shirleyrayeredmond.com

Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble

SECRETS AT CEDAR CABIN: Her mother lied about her identity and her husband wasn’t who she thought he was—can Bailey even trust herself anymore?

Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down. 

Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava. 

Filled with Colleen Coble's custom blend of suspense and romance, Secrets at Cedar Cabin takes us back to the evocative landscape of Washington's coast where nothing is quite as it seems. 

Heidi here. SECRETS AT CEDAR CABIN may be my favorite Colleen Coble book yet! I liked how hurt and afraid Bailey was when we met her, yet she was a strong character. When we meet Lance, we are shown how skilled he is, yet he is deeply wounded by his missing sister that he has spent years trying to find.

There were so many secrets that the author released at just the right moments to keep me wanting to read more. I especially liked how tightly braided the plot and subplots were. Grab your copy of SECRETS AT CEDAR CABIN by Colleen Coble today!

Things I Never Told You by Beth Vogt

Things I Never Told You: It’s been ten years since Payton Thatcher’s twin sister died in an accident, leaving the entire family to cope in whatever ways they could. No longer half of a pair, Payton reinvents herself as a partner in a successful party-planning business and is doing just fine—as long as she manages to hold her memories and her family at arm’s length.

But with her middle sister Jillian’s engagement, Payton’s party-planning skills are called into action. Which means working alongside her opinionated oldest sister, Johanna, who always seems ready for a fight. They can only hope that a wedding might be just the occasion to heal the resentment and jealousy that divides them . . . until a frightening diagnosis threatens Jillian’s plans and her future. As old wounds are reopened and the family faces the possibility of another tragedy, the Thatchers must decide if they will pull together or be driven further apart.

Heidi here. Beth Vogt's novels just keep getting better and better. I've read and enjoyed each one. Things I Never Told You is absolutely amazing. There are times when the emotion is so raw that I hurt for the character.

Things I Never Told You is about broken sibling relationships. A frightening diagnosis throws all the sisters into "fix it" mode. During the course of the novel, the issues they have with their own lives and the wounds they have with one another come to light. No answers come easy and Beth doesn't tie every issue up with a pretty ribbon, but the story is amazingly real and tender.

Payton and Jillian and Johanna are incredibly different and three-dimensional characters. At times the conflict is pretty intense, but in the end they do come together and form a united front. Grab your copy of Things I Never Told You today!

The Rancher's Twins by Carol Ross

The Rancher's Twins:

She’s not the country nanny he advertised for

But she could be perfect for him…

Jon Blackwell needs a woman ready to tackle the duties of a cattle ranch and two lively, take-no-prisoners twin girls. But ever since Lydia Newbury showed up at his six-generation Montana spread, the frazzled single father is rethinking, well, everything. The Philadelphia dazzler is a marvel. What he doesn’t know is the secret that has Lydia on the run…


Heidi here. I just loved The Rancher's Twins by Carol Ross. I think this was the first Heartwarming book I have read, and it surpassed my expectations.

I loved how Lydia, the nanny, was way more than Jon expected, except it wasn't obvious to him at first. Slowly he realized that Lydia was exactly what his girls needed and perfect as a wife!

The plot was well thought out and very interesting to read, there were some twists that I wasn't expecting. The characters were awesome. Jon had simple expectations and since Lydia didn't fit in his "rancher nanny" box, he pretty much dismissed her at first glance. But as time went on he was willing to accept he might have been wrong. Lydia, on the other hand, had a deep backstory that bled into how she treated and taught the girls.

I really liked the characters from the start and thoroughly enjoyed The Rancher's Twins! Pick up your copy today.

Blueberry Muffin in a Mug ~ no sugar, low carb

Blueberry Muffin Mix (no sugar, low carb), serves one

Heidi here. This is an amazing recipe that I modified from Simply Keto: A Practical Approach to Health & Weight Loss, with 100+ Easy Low-Carb Recipes.

Dry ingredients:
3 Tbl blanched almond flour
1 Tbl cocnut flour
1 Tbl plus 1 tsp Swerve confectioners'-style sweetener
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Because this serves one and is a lot of work, I actually batch up the dry ingredients into baggies by putting out a bunch of bowls and measuring the ingredients into the bowls. Then, I whisk the ingredients to mix well and pour them into snack sized baggies. So, in the morning when I'm ready to make breakfast, it doesn't take too long.

Put all dry ingredients in a medium microwave-safe mug.

Add wet ingredients to mug:
1 large egg
1 Tbl unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp avocado oil
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

mix well.

Gently stir in 10-14 blueberries, depending on size. Use the back of a spoon to press the batter down and smooth the top.

To the right is the blueberry muffin ingredients all mixed together and ready to go into the microwave.

Place the batter-filled mug in the microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds, you may need to add an additional 15 seconds.

Run a butter knife around the cooked muffin to release it. Flip mug upside down over a plate and allow muffin to slide onto the plate.

To the left is the muffin, fresh out of the microwave, cut in fourths. I drizzle additional melted butter (about 1 tsp) over the meal. So yummy!

BTW, I got the unusual ingredients at Whole Foods. If you aren't close to a Whole Foods, try Jet.com.

If you enjoyed this post and have any interest in hearing more about the simple things I learned from this book that I've been able to integrate into my daily life, please sound off in the comments and I'll do some follow up posts (breakfast ideas, lunch ideas, dinner ideas, general Kato tips).

Surprise Giveaway!

Good thing you kept reading 😃  Leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for the colonial recipes from Amber Schamel's Dawn of Liberty collection. Sam Adam's favorites!

Going in Circles by Jodie Bailey

Going in Circles: Sometimes you have to go where you've been to get where you're going. 

Public relations manager Samantha Dellinger spends her days making stock car drivers shine while keeping her own imperfections well hidden. If only good PR could fix what's wrong with her soul. After a scandal threatens the Dellinger racing team, Sam can't afford to take any more chances. But that's exactly what their new driver, Nate Thomas, wants her to do… take a chance on him. As the two grow closer, the idea seems ever more appealing, but Sam has a secret she can't risk exposing. Even if Nate could accept her past, Sam isn't sure she'll ever be free of it. And when that secret shows up at her door, eager to tempt her back into his arms, will she fall back into old ways, or will she finally confront the past and risk her future for the kind of love she never dreamed existed? 

Heidi here. Oh my, reading Going in Circles by Jodie Bailey was such a treat! Jodie has written a number of suspense novels with Love Inspired, but Going in Circles is all romance💓

The first book of the Dellinger Racing Series, Going in Circles gripped me from the very start. When I first met Samantha and Nate they were both so very broken, and that emotional baggage endeared me to them from page one. That brokenness and honesty from both characters kept me flipping pages wanting to know how their story ends. The author writes in first person, has an amazing sense of humor, and a marvelous storytelling voice.

The settings were amazing. I felt like I was sitting with Sam on her swing overlooking the lake. And in her basement apartment with her father living above her. And in the backseat of the car while Sam and Nate were together or when Sam and Ryan, her cousin, tooled around. The house Nate bought in the middle of the book, I want to live there! Oh, and last but not least, I want to eat at Mervin's because Shirley sounds like the funniest waitress😀

The plot involved car racing, which I am not very familiar with, but I found that world quite fascinating. Though I must say, car racing took a backseat to the romance Jodie Bailey built in this novel.

Suffice it to say, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Going in Circles and can't wait for the second in the series, Stalled Out, to release! 

The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble

The House at Saltwater Point: Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can’t focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie’s boat. Ellie knows her sister isn’t on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn’t kill her—would he? 

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. The problem is convincing Ellie, who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, but truth—and family—is often more complex than it first appears. From international terrorism to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

Heidi here. The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble had an interesting plot, it kept me up too late a couple of nights!

Colleen did a great job weaving in multiple plot lines, which made the read even more enjoyable. The book held a nice suspense, not too much, not too little. The plot held a home renovation, but those elements didn't detract from the plot, instead the reno helped things move along nicely.

Highly recommend. Grab your copy of The House at Saltwater Point today!

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck

The Love Letter: Romance has never been actress Chloe Daschle’s forte—in life or on screen. But everyone knows who to call for a convincing death scene . . . and it might be killing her career.

When Chloe is given a peek at the script for an epic love story, she decides to take her destiny into her own hands and request an audition for the lead female role, Esther Kingsley. The compelling tale, inspired by family lore and a one-page letter from the colonial ancestor of scriptwriter Jesse Gates, just might break her out of this career-crippling rut. Jesse would rather write about romance than live through it after his past relationship ended in disaster. But once on-set together, the chemistry between Jesse and his leading lady is hard to deny.

Centuries earlier, in the heart of the Revolutionary War, Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow wrote their saga off the silver screen. Esther’s Loyalist father opposes any relationship with Hamilton, but Esther must face her beloved father’s disapproval and the dangers of war in order to convince Hamilton of their future together. Hamilton has loved Esther for years, and on the eve of battle pens the love letter she’s always wanted—something straight from the heart.  

Set in stunning upcountry South Carolina, The Love Letter is a beautifully crafted story of the courage it takes to face down fear and chase after love, even in the darkest of times. And just maybe, all these generations later, love can come home in a way not even Hollywood could imagine.

Heidi here. Rachel Hauck has another winner on her hands with her latest novel, The Love Letter. She expertly flipped back and forth between modern-day Chloe Daschle and Jesse Gates and the story between Esther Longfellow and Hamilton Lightfoot from centuries ago. I tell you, I kept wondering in my mind which couple I loved best, I did make a choice in the end, but I don't want to give away the ending ;-)

The historical part of this story was beautifully written, I felt like I was in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. The current-day part was emotional, thought-provoking, and almost envy-inducing as Chloe lives in Hollywood with her director father and actress mother, which means money, influence, abundant opportunities, mansions, pools, and servants.

The Love Letter held a deep spiritual message, it also kept me flipping the pages, the word choices were unique yet not over the top, and the plot moved swiftly. Pick up your copy today!   

More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

More Than Meets the Eye: Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Eva has two--Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers. 

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?

Heidi here. Isn't this the cutest cover ever? I just loved the premise to More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer. Three orphaned children build themselves a little family. We meet them as adults, Eva, Seth, and Zach. Except, Logan Fowler is seeking justice. But, guess who he falls for? Right, mismatched eyes Eva. I hated how no one was nice to Eva, and so did Logan! Eva is kind and sweet to Logan. They have immediate chemistry that intrigues Eva, but Logan keeps trying to push it away because she's "the enemy."

More Than Meets the Eye has great character development, a nice plot that arcs at just the right point, and a subplot that keeps the pages turning. I'd have to say one of my favorite parts is that Eva has that pet pig, and dresses her up!

I highly recommend Karen Witemeyer's latest novel, More Than Meets the Eye.

The Mountain Between Us

 By Charles Martin

You guys. This book. It has all the feels and all the fuzzies flowing off every page.

First of all, we meet two fine people who hire a small plane (and pilot) to get them out of Salt Lake City just ahead of a mammoth snow storm. The plane crashes. One of them breaks a leg. The other one does everything possible to save them both.

While it’s an incredible survival story (albeit fiction), we also learn about the wife and the fiancé who don’t know that these two people even stepped onto the small aircraft which filed no flight plan before taking off. They are utterly lost in the wilderness. And as the situation becomes worse every day, we follow two amazing individuals and what their lives were like pre-plane crash.

The emotional current throughout is infectious, engaging, addictive. I lost sleep over this story and it was my second time reading it! Yes, you’ll have to suspend belief just a bit…but the powerful emotional journey is second to none! 

Obviously, this book was made into a movie (Yep - I used the Movie cover). I have not seen the movie. The reviews from readers who I know loved this book: mixed. But one thing I find wonderful about the whole thing: the movie has introduced a slew of new readers to an amazing author who is unapologetically Christian, though he's published in both the Christian and general markets. His stories reflect his faith, though not always in an overt manner, and his skill as a writer is unparalleled. 

I am addicted to reading this author. Charles Martin. His stories always resonate deeply and are finely crafted from start to finish. I can easily recommend anything I’ve read by him and I think I’ve only missed one.

This book has been out awhile, but if you've not read it, I think you'll love it! And if you have read it, try something else by the same author. His stories get better with every book.

Do you re-read books? I don't very often, but some books are just worth re-visiting. Leave us a comment for this week's giveaway. 

The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

The Writing Desk: Tenley Roth’s first book was a runaway bestseller. Now that her second book is due, she’s locked in fear. Can she repeat her earlier success or is she a fraud who has run out of inspiration?

With pressure mounting from her publisher, Tenley is weighted with writer’s block. But when her estranged mother calls asking Tenley to help her through chemotherapy, she packs up for Florida where she meets handsome furniture designer Jonas Sullivan and discovers the story her heart’s been missing.

A century earlier, another woman wrote at the same desk with hopes and fears of her own. Born during the Gilded Age, Birdie Shehorn is the daughter of the old money Knickerbockers. Under the strict control of her mother, her every move is decided ahead of time, even whom she’ll marry. But Birdie has dreams she doesn’t know how to realize. She wants to tell stories, write novels, make an impact on the world. When she discovers her mother has taken extreme measures to manipulate her future, she must choose between submission and security or forging a brand new way all on her own.

Tenley and Birdie are from two very different worlds, but fate has bound them together in a way time cannot erase.

Heidi here. Rachel Hauck is one of my favorite authors, and The Writing Desk doesn't disappoint! Rachel is such a wordsmith, she strings together the most beautiful sentences; but it isn't ostentatious in the very least, it fits the mood of the moment. Also, she uses words I'm not familiar with, but they are used in such a context that I immediately understood the meaning. For me, it was refreshing to read a novel without the same old words used over and over again.

Tenley and Birdie are such strong women, I just loved their characters. Some backstory was needed as the author wove several stories together, but it was inserted seamlessly into dialog. The internal monologue was beautiful, a work of art. I loved how everything tied together in the end, even when I wasn't sure how the stories interconnected.

Awesome read, grab your copy today!

The Church in the Wildwood

 

 

“There's a church in the valley by the wildwood, No lovelier spot in the dale;

No place is so dear to my childhood as the little brown church in the vale.”

 

 
I grew up in a one room, white church situation on the top of the hill, and this song was a favorite of the small congregation that attended Rolls Hill. Except we always sang it as “the little white church on the hill.”

 If you're not familiar with the song click here for country music star Dolly Parton's rendition of the hymn. 
 

Recently I learned the story behind this song while searching for the words to write a hymn-based musical devotional on the song. I thought the research interesting enough to share.

 

“The Church in the Wildwood”, often referred to as “The Little Brown Church in the Vale”, was written in 1857 by Dr. William S. Pitts about a church that didn’t even exist at the time he penned the song. While on a stagecoach ride to visit his fiancée in Fredericksburg, Iowa, the coach made a stop in Bradford, Iowa. Dr. Pitts disembarked and took a walk around the area where he spotted a wooded valley near the Cedar River. Pitts imagined the spot to be a perfect place for a church. Unable to get the vision of the church from his mind, when he returned home he wrote the song “The Church in the Wildwood.”

 

In 1855, the First Congregational Ecclesiastical Society of Bradford founded a church, meeting in storefronts and homes as new churches do while waiting for a building. Upon Pitt’s return to the area in 1862, he discovered a church had being erected where he had imagined it five years earlier. The church was even painted brown. The congregation hadn’t heard of Pitt’s song, they just used the cheapest color of paint, which happened to be brown.

 

photo from Wikipedia

At the dedication of the church in 1864, Pitts had his singing class perform the song. This was the first time anyone, besides Pitts, had sung “The Church in the Wildwood.”

The song was later sold to a music publisher for $25. Pitts used the money to pay for his enrollment in Rush Medical College. The song was forgotten for years until the 1920’s when the Weatherwax Quartet used it as their trademark song. During their travels, they often talked about the little church, which was having a revival of its own after the Society for the Preservation of The Little Brown Church was founded. The church had closed in 1888 due to the town’s decline, but by 1914, services were again held in the building.

By the mid-1920s, as the song grew in popularity and the US Highway system made travel easier, many visitors came to the newly reopened little church. By 2005, 72,000 weddings had been performed in the church and 60,000 visitors annually had visited "the little brown church in the vale."

I’ve sung this song ever since I was a child, with the modifications mentioned above. Every time I do, it brings back fond memories of growing up with God-fearing, loving Christians who guided me toward an awesome God and eternal life. Today the song isn’t sung much as schools feel it is too religious and churches think it doesn’t give God glory. But for me it has memories of times spent praising the Lord, learning his word, seeing friends come to Christ, and fellowshipping with his children, young and old. After all, isn’t that what the church is all about?

Do you have a special hymn that you love with an interesting history?

 

Don’t forget to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for the CSPA Book of the Year Award winner Dawn of Liberty  by Amber Schamel! Winner will be announced in the Weekly Windup on July 2^nd. Paperback giveaways are for U.S. residents only.

 

 

Catherine Castle has been writing all her life. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. Besides writing, Catherine loves traveling with her husband, singing, and attending theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.

 

Her debut inspiration romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing was an ACFW Genesis Finalist, a 2014 EPIC finalist, and the winner of the 2014 Beverly Hills Book Award and the 2014 RONE Award. Her newest book, a romantic comedy with a touch of drama, entitled A Groom For Mama, is due out September 2017, from Soul Mate Publishing. You can follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, Facebook or through her blog Romance for the Ages.