Top 10 Books on My Wish List This Fall

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

***

I am horribly remiss in participating in memes on a weekly basis.  I'd love to find just *one* that I could follow through with...for once in my life.  Maybe this will be the one.  *wink*

So, the Top Ten List this week is something to the effect of one's personal, most wish-listed books.  I'm going to go along with the main post by compiling a list of books scheduled to release between Sept. 1 and Nov. 29, which is my birthday.  Every one of these books would be a lovely gift to receive...maybe I should point my hubby to this post.  :o)

***

1.  Forsaking All Others by Allison Pittman - This is book 2 in Allison's Sister Wife Series, and I have no doubt it will be as *incredible* as the first one!  It's a little out of the norm when it comes to Christian fiction because it follows the early days of the Mormon church and the practice of polygamy.  Scheduled to release 10/1/2011.

2.  The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall - After just meeting Cindy in person earlier this month, I'm so anxious to read her newest book.  I've not been disappointed yet with any of her books.  Scheduled to release 10/4/2011.

3.  Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist - Anything by Deeanne is a must-read.  Her mix of edgy writing and humor always make for fabulous stories.  :o)  Scheduled to release 10/1/2011.

4.  A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander - Don't shoot me, but I've not yet read one of Tamara's books, despite countless recommendations to do so.  I'm intrigued by this one mostly because 1) it's historical and 2) it's set in TN, my home state.  And do you see that cover??  Love!!  Scheduled to release 11/1/2011.

5.  The Lady's Maid by Susan Page Davis - Ever since reading Susan's Ladies Shooting Club series, I've been eager to read another one of her historical novels.  The cover of this one is beautiful to me, too.  Scheduled to release 10/1/2011.

6.  Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock - I always go for Terri's books when I want a good suspense story that's tied together with a social issue.  Lately, she's been writing a series of books that deal with drug addiction that have been impossible to put down.  Shadow in Serenity is bound to keep me occupied until I can get my hands on the next book in her Intervention Series.  Scheduled to release 9/27/2011.

7.  Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren - A few months ago, I got my first taste of Susan's books, and I'm hungry for more!  This one sounds like a perfect Christmas read, and it's releasing well in advance of Christmas to give me plenty of time to read it and get in the Christmas spirit.  :o)  Scheduled to release 9/1/2011.

8.  From Ashes to Honor by Loree Lough - This book has been on my radar for a long time now, and kudos to Loree for writing a book based on the events of 9/11.  I've only read books by Loree that included a good dose of humor, so it'll be interesting to transition to something more serious from her.  Scheduled to release 9/1/2011.

9.  A Necessary Deception by Laurie Alice Eakes - I've been wanting to give Laurie a second chance ever since I read her last novel, Lady in the Mist.  It was a good book, but it just needed a little more focus.  I'm hoping this next full-length novel will be better than her last.  Scheduled to release 10/1/2011.

10.  The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson - Last, but certainly not least, is Melanie's second novel.  Her first novel was wonderful, and it was young adult to boot (which I don't read a lot of)!  What makes this book extra special is that it's scheduled to release ON my birthday, which, I believe, is a first since I've been reading CF devoutly for the past few years.  ;o)  Scheduled to release 11/29/2011.

***

Geez, after all that, I wish it was my birthday like, tomorrow!  Oh, well...patience is a virtue, as my dad is known to say.  I suppose I can wait.  It's not like I don't have enough books to occupy me in the meantime!  :o)

Thanks for stopping by!

Book Review: Wagered Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher/2.5 Stars

About the book:

When Bethany Silverton left the genteel life of Miss Henderson’s School for Young Ladies back in Philadelphia for the raw frontier town of Sweetwater, Montana, she had no idea how much she would enjoy the freedom and danger of this wild country.

A conservative preacher’s daughter, Bethany can’t resist the challenge of charming the most attractive cowboy in town into attending her father’s new church. She never dreamed that the cowboy would charm the lady.

But Hawk Chandler isn’t the only man vying for Bethany’s affections. Ruthlessly ambitious Vince Richards thinks Bethany is perfect for him: attractive, gracious, just the woman to help him become governor. And he is determined to get what he wants at any cost.

Drawn to one man, an obsession of another, Bethany’s quiet life is thrown into turmoil. She wagered her heart on love. Now she has gotten more than she bargained for—and the stakes are about to become life and death.

My thoughts:

It pains me to say this, but I'm sincerely tired of reading rewritten stories. I wasn't aware that Wagered Heart happened to be one until I reached the author's note at the very end. Had I known that prior to starting the book, I think my expectations might have been a bit different. Instead, all I could think as I read chapter after chapter was that this was not Robin's best work. She has written some seriously good historical fiction over the years (the Coming to America series being some of her best), and I was anxious to read something new and original by her that would be equally as enjoyable.

I'm sorry to say that this book was not it, mostly because the love story was a little over the top.  Bethany was "in love" with Hawk almost from the word go, and reading about it over and over again just got on my nerves.  Also, the middle of the book got a little too crazy for my taste with too many emotional changes happening in rapid succession--marriages, deaths, moving, etc. 

It just wasn't the book for me...I don't think I can put it any plainer than that.  Robin has rewritten several of her general market romances over the years with some being very good and others, like this one, falling a bit short.  In the future, I may need to stick with her contemporary novels only because I've yet to read one of those that I didn't like. 

2.5 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

Southern-Style Meet & Greet with Marybeth Whalen Plus Giveaway!

Y'all, I am super excited about this week's Southern-Style Meet & Greet!  I just had the enormous pleasure of reading her latest book, and I'm bursting at the seams to let you know about it!  :o)  But first things first, gotta wrap up all our fun from last week's Meet & Greet with Beth Wiseman.

Remember, Beth was super sweet to offer a copy of her newest book which happens to be a collection of all of her Amish novellas.  For those of you that entered the drawing and didn't win, I hope you'll be able to get your hands on a copy of it very soon!  It was a wonderful collection of stories that is sure to be enjoyed by many.  :o)

So, thanks to our friends at Random.org, the winner of Healing Hearts by Beth Wiseman is:

Diana (dianalflowers@...)

Diana, thank you so much for signing up!  I'll be in touch with you shortly to get your mailing address.  :o)

And now, for this week's author!  You may have seen Marybeth Whalen several places on the web, and if this is your first time meeting her, you are in for a real treat!  In addition to being a successful author, she's also a contributor on Southern Belle View, and the founder of SheReads.org.  I hope you enjoy our chat this week!
____________________________________

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I have always written and I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to write novels.

What genre do you most like to write?

Contemporary women’s fiction with a southern flair.

Do your own personal experiences, or those of family and friends, ever find their way into one your stories?

Pieces of me and the people I know and love will always be in my characters. My husband and friends have learned to be very careful with what they tell me. This newest novel, She Makes It Look Easy, was inspired by something that happened to me and at the same time to two of my friends. We all three knew very together, family-oriented women who walked away from their families. In part, this novel was my way of digging into what would make a woman do that.

What do you hope readers “take away” with them after they read one of your books?

Hope, and the sense of understanding themselves better because of the time they spent with these characters.

What is your latest book release?

She Makes It Look Easy released June 1st, 2011.  Here's the back cover blurb:

Ariel Baxter has just moved into the neighborhood of her dreams. The chaos of domestic life and the loneliness of motherhood, however, moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood playdates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable.

Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that “perfection” isn’t always what it seems to be.

A novel for every woman who has looked at another woman’s life and said, “I want what she has,” She Makes It Look Easy reminds us of the danger of pedestals and the beauty of authentic friendship. 

Are you currently working on another novel, and if so, can you give us a snippet about it?

I am working on another Sunset Beach, NC love story, in the same vein as my first novel, The Mailbox. This one revolves around a mysterious guestbook in a beach house that unites two people over time and against the odds.

Now that I've read your latest, I'm making it a high priority to go back and read your debut novel very soon.  :o)

What was the last Christian Fiction book that you read that you couldn’t put down?

Susan Meissner’s upcoming book A Sound Among The Trees. I started that one at 4 pm and finished it at midnight. She’s one of my faves and has been an inspiration to me. I love how she ties historical and contemporary plot lines together.

I just got this book in the mail last week, and contemporary/historical plots combined together usually make for some of my favorite books.  :o)

Where can readers find you on the web?

www.marybethwhalen.com

What is your most favorite thing about the South?

The people. I love the way we talk and act. I love that “where do you go to church?” is as likely a question when you meet someone new as “where are you from?”

Iced Tea—sweet or un-sweet?

SWEET. My husband used to say that you could put my tea in the hummingbird feeder. I have since tamed it down, I’m happy to report.

LOL!  That's almost as good as the line from comedian Mark Lowry--"I like my tea so sweet that if you run out of syrup, you could pour it over your pancakes!"

BBQ Pork or BBQ Beef?

Pork

Dolly Parton or Elvis Presley?

Dolly all the way, although my husband hails from Memphis so I might get voted out of the family for that answer.

I may have to side with your hubby on this one since I'm a Memphis girl, too.  :o)


Historical House—Plantation or Log Cabin?

Plantation. I can swoon with the best of ‘em.

Country gal or city gal?

I was raised in the country but have gotten much too spoiled by having city convenience now...I doubt I could go back. I need a Starbucks within 5 minutes of me.

You, you all, or y’all?

Y’all.
___________________________________

Did y'all have as much fun as I did?!  I surely hope so!  And you're bound to have even more fun when you see that Marybeth is offering to give away one copy of She Makes It Looks Easy to one special person.  :o)

Contest is open to US residents only, and ends on Sunday, September 4th.  Click the link below that says "Read More," and then, follow the directions to be entered in the contest.  To get your mandatory entry in, simply click "I Did This" in the "Name and Email Address" section.  The other two entry choices are optional.  :o)

Good luck everyone, and thanks for stopping by my front porch this week!

Book Review: She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen/5 Stars

About the book:

Ariel Baxter has just moved into the neighborhood of her dreams. The chaos of domestic life and the loneliness of motherhood, however, moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood playdates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable.

Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that “perfection” isn’t always what it seems to be.

A novel for every woman who has looked at another woman’s life and said, “I want what she has,” She Makes It Look Easy reminds us of the danger of pedestals and the beauty of authentic friendship.

My thoughts:


Let me start this review with one word...superb.  The writing, the storyline, everything.  There's probably no telling how many times this story has played out in it's entirety in real life, which in and of itself, is quite scary among Christian circles.  It's a story that will always stick out in mind as a gentle reminder that "the grass is not always greener on the other side."

I couldn't help but think of myself standing in front of a mirror and finding Ariel's reflection looking back at me.  There were so many similarities between us that I felt like the only thing different about us was our first name.  Like Ariel, I feel like I'm constantly making mental checklists to get things done, and often forgetting about the little things but remembering the important things.  And also like Ariel, I've had those thoughts of inadequacy because I don't always have the cleanest house, or I've forgotten to put my makeup on, or I didn't have enough time to make dinner from scratch.  In spite of my imperfections, though, I'm thankful that I have a husband who loves me wholly and completely.  Ariel's husband did, too...it just seemed to take him a little longer to show it.

And Justine...whew!  That girl just needed to slow down!  Well, that and a few other things which I won't mention, lest I spoil the story for anyone.  I couldn't help but feel pity for her, and wonder how she could possibly be happy with her life.  It didn't take me long to realize how truly unhappy she really was.  In the end, her Southern Living facade came down quicker than a house of cards, and she had no one to blame but herself.

Suffice it to say that Marybeth Whalen's books will always be on my radar!  I can't believe this book has been under my nose for weeks now, and it took me *that* long to pick it up and read it.  And trust me when I say...this is one of those books that will have you saying "just one more chapter and then, I'll go to sleep."  Yeah, right.  :o)

5 Stars

Southern?  Yes
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

Book Review: Healing Hearts by Beth Wiseman/4 Stars

About the book:

Beth Wiseman's Amish novellas are now available for the first time in one collection.

"Healing Hearts"

Levina Lapp and her husband Naaman are alone for the first time in 30 years. When Naaman left to visit cousins in Ohio, Levina wasn't expecting him to be gone a year. Now that he's back, will they be able to move beyond this estrangement and fall in love again?

"A Change of Heart"

Leah is a writer in a community that does not encourage such fruitless endeavors. She lacks the skills necessary to be a good Amish fraa. Aaron knows these things about Leah, but his heart is captured by this spirited young woman.

"A Choice to Forgive"

Lydia has loved two men in her life. Daniel disappeared one Christmas Eve long ago, leaving only a note saying he wanted to live in the Englisch world. And Elam, Daniel's brother, to whom she has been happily married for 15 years. When Elam dies, Lydia gives up on ever loving again. But she is shocked when Daniel wants to return to the Order and her life.

These novellas previously were published in An Amish Love, An Amish Gatheirng, and An Amish Christmas.

My thoughts:

What an enjoyable time I had with this book!  For someone who doesn't prefer novellas, I had a hard time pulling myself away from the ones in this anthology.  Each one had a beautiful love story that was unique in it's own way, and I found myself smiling, laughing, and cheering on all of these sweet Amish characters. I also thought this book painted a clear picture of what it truly means to forgive, and how, if we give all our cares over to the One who can use all things for good, He'll give us a song in our heart, a joy in our step, and a peace like we've never known. 

Next to Cindy Woodsmall, Beth Wiseman is my favorite Amish storyteller.  Seriously, she gets better with every new release. Her stories have a way of getting into my heart every single time, and I can't ever seem to put them down!  I'm always anxious to see what she'll come up with next, and believe me, it's worth the wait every single time.  :o)

4 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  Briefly.  A crazy woman named Auntie Ruth comes to mind.  :o)

**Many thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.

**If you'd like a chance to win a copy of this very book, be sure to check out the interview I did with Beth earlier this week.  She's giving away a copy to someone, and it just might be you!  Click here for more details.


 

What a Blessing to Have Such Sweet New Friends!

Y'all...I am seriously speechless by these sweet folks' generosity!  Three lovely ladies have passed on this beautiful award to me at various times in the past couple of weeks, and I have been a slacker of the worst sort by not properly thanking them here.  So, a special thanks goes out to:

Melanie at Christian Bookshelf Reviews

Tracy at Tracy's Treasure of Books

Michelle at Sweet Treats and Inspiration

And now, here are the rules for the Liebster:

The Liebster is awarded to bloggers with less than 200 followers. It is an opportunity to shine the light on great blogs and their authors in an effort to build readership.

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.

2. Give the Liebster Blog Award to five bloggers and let them know in a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Have faith your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.

5. Have blogging fun!

Have blogging fun, eh?  Well, that's not hard at all!  I would love to pass on this lovely award to the following ladies....I "have faith" (rule #4) that y'all will spread the bloggy love!

Ruth at Booktalk & More

Kav at Best Reads

Anne at Stuff & Nonsense

Margaret at Through the Fog

Shoopette at Shoopette's Book Reviews

Southern-Style Meet & Greet with Beth Wiseman

So glad you joined me again this week for another Southern-Style Meet & Greet!  As always, there's lots of fun in store this week with another fabulous author, so stay tuned for a great opportunity to get to know Beth Wiseman.

But first, I can't wait to share the name of last week's giveaway winner of To Die For by Sandra Byrd.  There were a LOT of entries last week, and I can't say enough how much I wish that all of you could be winners!  But, we can only choose one, and thanks to random.org, that person is...

Charity U (photographer4ever832@...)

Charity, I'll be in touch with you shortly to get your mailing address.  Congrats on your win!

And now, time to start this week's Meet & Greet!

Beth Wiseman is high up on the list of my favorite Amish fiction authors.  It took me a long time to discover her books, but once I did, I was a goner.  *sigh*  I love her emotional stories, her believable characters, and her skillful writing. And if that isn't enough to convince you that she's great at her job, maybe this will:

**  2011 Inspirational Readers Choice winner -- Plain Paradise;

**  INSPY Award Winner and best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and The Land of Canaan series;

**  Author of the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year -- Seek Me With All Your Heart;

**  ACFW Carol Award Finalist, Retailers Choice Finalist, Booksellers Best Finalist, National Readers Choice Finalist

Quite a hefty list of accomplishments there, and every single one is so well deserved.  Last year, I had the enormous pleasure of being a judge for the INSPY Awards, and not to take away anything from the other nominees in the now-obsolete Amish fiction category, but her book, Plain Paradise, was one of the very best Amish books I have *ever* read.  Period.  I am so thrilled that she was a winner in last year's inaugural INSPY class among some very fine Christian authors.

So, without further ado, I hope you enjoy this week's special guest, Beth Wiseman!
___________________________________

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?  

I wrote my first short story to my grandparents when I was very young, maybe six or seven-years-old.  For as long as I can remember, I always knew I wanted to be a writer.  I worked as a newspaper reporter for years before I sold my first series to Thomas Nelson, and I think that experience helped me with regard to editing and meeting deadlines.  I loved being a reporter, but fiction is where my heart is.  I love to make things up!  :)

 

If you were not a writer, what would your dream job be and why? (This is, of course, assuming that writing IS your dream job!)  :o)

I wish I had an answer for this.  I honestly can’t imagine doing anything else.

Quite alright.  I'd say the same thing in your shoes. :o)

 

What genre do you most like to write?  

Love stories.  Not necessarily romances, but a love story of some sort—love between husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, mother and daughter, father and son, sisters, best friends, or between a person and God.  Love stories are endless, and my head is full of them.    

Do your own personal experiences, or those of family and friends, ever find their way into one your stories?

Yes.  Book #4 in my Daughters of the Promise series—Plain Paradise—is about adoption, and as an adoptee myself, I’m familiar with the emotions that go along with the storyline.  I’ve also written about autism, which stemmed from a friend who worked with autistic children.  There are lots of other instances.  Sometimes it’s hard to write things that are close to my heart, but always rewarding in the end if it helps one person to find peace through my stories.  

What do you hope readers “take away” with them after they read one of your books?   

The peacefulness that we all want and need comes only from God.  Live.  Laugh.  Love.  Forgive.  Cherish.  And pray. 

Well said.  :o)

What is your latest book release?    

Healing Hearts just released.  This is the first time that my novellas have appeared together in one collection.  This book is a great way for someone to ‘try me out’ so to speak.  There are three completely different short stories.  Here’s the back cover blurb:

Three heartfelt stories about second chances, trusting your heart, and the power of forgiveness.

"Healing Hearts"  Empty-nesters Levina Lapp and her husband Naaman have no children under their roof for the first time in 30 years. When Naaman leaves to visit cousins in Ohio, Levina never expected him to be gone a year. Now that he's back, will they be able to move beyond this estrangement, and rekindle the fire of the love they once shared?

"A Change of Heart"  Leah is a writer in a community that does not encourage such fruitless endeavors. She lacks the skills necessary to be a good Amish fraa—cooking, cleaning, quilting, and gardening.   Aaron is aware of Leah’s short-comings, but his heart is captured by this spirited young woman. Will Leah’s role as an Amish wife and mother force her to set aside her creative life--or will Aaron make an offer she never dreamed was possible?

"A Choice to Forgive"  Lydia has loved two men in her life. Daniel, who disappeared one Christmas Eve long ago, leaving only a note saying he wanted to live in the Englisch world. And Elam, Daniel's brother, to whom she had been happily married for 15 years. When Elam dies, Lydia gives up on ever loving again. But she is shocked when Daniel wants to return to the Order and her life. Is there enough forgiveness in her heart to overlook the past and move into a future that could fulfill her dreams?

Previously published in An Amish Love, An Amish Gathering, and An Amish Christmas, gathered together for the first time.

I just finished the first of those novellas a few weeks ago.  Can't wait to start on the other two!

Are you currently working on another novel, and if so, can you give us a snippet about it?  

I am very excited about the book that I just turned into my editor.  It’s my first non-Amish book titled Need You Now.  It’s contemporary fiction, and it releases in April 2012.

Where can readers find you on the web?  

www.bethwiseman.com 

http://blog.bethwiseman.net

www.amishliving.com

www.amishhearts.com 

and on Facebook (Fans of Beth Wiseman) and Twitter.

What is your most favorite thing about the South? 

I’m a born and raised Texan, and it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else—except maybe in August when it is SO terribly hot and humid here!  I love our Southern hospitality.  Recently, some friends visited from Canada, and they just went on and on about how friendly everyone is here.  I live in the country, so everyone waves and there really aren’t any strangers.  

Iced Tea—sweet or un-sweet?   

Depends on my mood…lol.  But my real favorite is raspberry tea.

BBQ Pork or BBQ Beef?  

Beef!  

Oh, dear...I sense a revolt coming on from all the pork fans!

Potluck dinner or restaurant dinner?   

Oh my…I love both!

Summer or Winter?  

I’m failing this part of the interview because I can’t seem to choose!  We have a pool and it gets hot in Texas, so we enjoy the summer.  BUT, we also have a fireplace, and some of my best books have been written in front of the fireplace.  So, it’s a toss-up!

Country gal or city gal?  

They say you can take the girl from the city, but you can’t take the city out of the girl.  I disagree.  I grew up in the city, but I’ve been out here in the country long enough to be country through and through.  :)

You, you all, or y’all?   

Y’all come back now…lol.  

What she said.  :o)

___________________________________

Oh, what a great time!  Love, love, love this stuff!  Thank you so much, Beth, for coming by my front porch this week, and giving us all the opportunity to get to know you a little better!  It's was a real treat.  :o)

Beth has also been so sweet to offer us a book to give away this week, too!  If you'd like the chance to win a copy of her latest book, Healing Hearts, simply follow the rules below.  Easy-peasy!

Giveaway rules:

1.  Leave a comment with your email address disguised like "yourname at yourdomain dot com" or something similar.  No email address, no entry...sorry.

2.  All entry comments must be left by Sunday, August 28th.

3. Contest is open internationally.

4.  Become a follower/email subscriber for an additional entry, and let me know in your comment if you're a new one or an existing one.  (No need to create a separate comment for this.  Combining everything into one comment is much easier.)  The upside?  You'll know what's happening here with future Meet & Greets...a win-win, for sure.  

Book Review: The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz/5 Stars

About the book:

Laura Frantz’s The Colonel’s Lady is historical fiction at it’s best, capturing readers with a powerful story of love, a search for the truth and, finally, forgiveness.

It’s 1779 when Roxanna arrives from Virginia to the Kentucky fort commanded by Colonel Cassius McLinn. Told that her officer father has died, Roxanna suddenly finds herself penniless and destitute and is forced to take her father’s place as the fort’s scrivener. It soon becomes clear that Cassius is attracted to her, but she realizes the colonel has secrets of his own, some of which have to do with her father’s sudden death.

Can Roxanne ever love Cassius as long as the possibility remains that he was, even in some small way, involved in her father’s demise?

My thoughts:

Very rarely does a mixture of heartache, forgiveness, and love come together in a more beautiful picture than The Colonel's Lady.  Very rarely am I entranced by a book with characters that are so flawed, yet completely human.  And very rarely do I discover an author whose books are like water to my parched soul. I drank in every drop of this book, and when finished, sat back and breathed a very contented sigh of happiness. 

There are a lot of talented authors in this world, but Laura Frantz is truly in a class of her own.  She takes a period in American history wrought with strife and bloodshed, and then creates beauty from ashes with a love story that is forever enduring.  It is a love story that, at times, is painful to read because war is on the horizon, not only with the enemy, but within the hearts of several at Fort Endeavor.  But it also a story of hope that lies in the eyes of a sweet girl named Abby who captures the hearts of both the colonel and his lady.

Out of Laura's three novels, this one is by far her very best.  Early American history has never been as fascinating to me as it is when I'm reading one of her well-researched stories.  I sincerely hope that Laura will never stray from writing about this particular era of history where life-changing decisions were made for so many, but love lasted for a lifetime.  My rating is a well-deserved 5 Stars.

Southern?  Yes
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy for review. Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.