EmpowerMoms

“One More River to Cross” by Jane Kirkpatrick

This historical fiction story caught my eye because I enjoy reading historical novels in the west during that time period. This story is not a lighthearted, easy story to read however.

These “pioneers” had major struggles like starvation, death, illness and separation from loved ones. It was hard (and depressing) to read their struggles and at times I was confused since there were alot of main characters and women in this story. The author attached a listing of characters in the beginning of the book, but again, there were so many it was hard to keep track. Women from that time period had alot of struggles and did not enjoy the freedom, respect and conveniences that we have today. Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded of that so I can be more grateful.

If you have read other historical novels by this author, I’m sure you will also enjoy this one! I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book
In 1844, two years before the Donner Party, the Stevens-Murphy company left Missouri to be the first wagons into California through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Mostly Irish Catholics, the party sought religious freedom and education in the mission-dominated land and enjoyed a safe journey–until October, when a heavy snowstorm forced difficult decisions. The first of many for young Mary Sullivan, newlywed Sarah Montgomery, the widow Ellen Murphy, and her pregnant sister-in-law Maolisa.

When the party separates in three directions, each risks losing those they loved and faces the prospect of learning that adversity can destroy or redefine. Two women and four men go overland around Lake Tahoe, three men stay to guard the heaviest wagons–and the rest of the party, including eight women and seventeen children, huddle in a makeshift cabin at the headwaters of the Yuba River waiting for rescue . . . or their deaths.

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About the Author
Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling and award-winning author of more than 30 books, including Everything She Didn’t Say, All She Left Behind, A Light in the Wilderness, The Memory Weaver, This Road We Traveled, and A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have won the WILLA Literary Award, the Carol Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2016 Will Rogers Medallion Award. Jane lives in Central Oregon with her husband, Jerry. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com.

MY REVIEW:
This was a GREAT continuation of the last book (Ford’s story)! RJ (Ruby Jane) and York are still trying to find the Russian killer who is after them and Wyatt goes to Russia to find Coco and bring her safely to the USA. Wyatt tries desperately to protect her while they are on the run, not knowing who is after them and why.

I liked reading about Wyatt’s struggles with his relationship with his dad not knowing his dads sacrifices and reasons, and then finding out why he did what he did. It made it very real-the struggle sometimes that children have with their parents not knowing the whole story or being mature enough to handle adult reasoning.

I absolutely loved the mom Gerri’s role in the book-especially towards the end with her talking to Coco and praying over her. I had tears reading it-such faith! This story had such a powerful testimony about God’s love and about forgiveness.

This love story of Wyatt had lots of intrigue, murder, nonstop action, clean romance… I absolutely LOVED IT and can’t wait for the next book!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for Wyatt, the fourth book of The Montana Marshalls series by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

He’s lost her twice…he’s not going to lose her again…

NHL Hockey Goalie Wyatt Marshall has everything–fame, money and a thriving career. But he’s hiding the two things that matter most…a career-ending injury, and his broken heart. He’s been in love with Coco Stanley since she walked into his life at age fourteen, a foster child for the Marshall family. She stole his heart years later, when, after a secret tryst, she returned to her home country of Russia. But she won’t let him back into her life—and he can’t figure out why.

She’s harboring a secret that could cost lives…

Coco Stanley is tired of living her life undercover. Or at least, with an assumed name, always pretending to be someone she’s not. And that’s not the only secret she’s harboring. If Wyatt discovers the real reason she left him, it might just destroy him. She’s resigned herself to loving him from afar…

But when he discovers she’s in danger…

Wyatt is horrified when he learns Coco has been shot and left in Russia, her fate unknown. There is nothing—nothing—that will stop him from finding her. So what if he’s not one of his super-heroic brothers, not a Ranger, not a SEAL…Wyatt is a hockey goalie, a special kind of crazy brave. Except, is he brave enough to face the secret Coco is keeping, or will it destroy everything he’s hoped for?

What will it cost them to save her?

What Wyatt and Coco don’t know is that revenge is stalking her and bringing her home just might cost them their long-awaited happy ending.

Continue the breath-taking Montana Marshall series!
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award-winning novelist of over sixty-five novels. An eight-time Christy award finalist, a three-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.

A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: The Story Equation.

She is also the founder of MyBookTherapy.com, and Novel.Academy, a school for aspiring novelists.

 
 CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

TOUR GIVEAWAY

“Christmas in Winter Hill” by Melody Carlson

This was a fun, short, light-hearted Christmas story that I really enjoyed reading!

I loved the main characters Krista and her daughter Emily, as well as Conner and his daughter. Single mom Krista and her daughter move from Arizona to Washington for a new job and a new start. The weather is different, the house is different, the town people are different…As they get more involved with work and school, they both start getting excited for Christmas but are left wondering if it will lead to disappointment like so many holidays in the past.

Sweet holiday story about love, trust, new beginnings and community. Absolutely loved it!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages.

As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn’t always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, “Where’s the snow?” Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista’s Christmas spirit before the big day?

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Biography
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including Romantic Time’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/