EmpowerMoms

“Miriam’s Song” by Jill Eileen Smith

I absolutely love biblical fiction and I especially love books by this author so I was thrilled to have a chance to read it!

I read this book in about 2 days because it was interesting and easy to read in my opinion. The book was divided up into multiple parts (5 parts) and spanned over 40 years. It was interesting to read about the life of Moses thru Miriam’s eyes as well as the time period and the slavery of the Jews.

There were a couple parts in the story that I questioned whether they were from scripture or just fiction added to enhance the scripture. But the story and characters lives felt real and alive to me which I loved!

I love reading biblical fiction because it makes the stories and characters more relatable and human to me. I really enjoyed this book! I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
In her eventful lifetime, Miriam was many things to many people: protective older sister, song leader, prophetess, leper. But between the highs and the lows, she was a girl who dreamed of freedom, a woman who longed for love, a leader who made mistakes, and a friend who valued connection.

With her impeccable research and keen eye for detail, bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith offers this epic story to fill in the gaps and imagine how Miriam navigated the challenges of holding on to hope, building a family in the midst of incredible hardship, and serving as a leader of a difficult people, all while living in her brother’s shadow. Follow Miriam’s journey from childhood to motherhood, obscurity to notoriety, and yearning to fulfillment as she learns that what God promises he provides–in his own perfect timing.

Purchase your copy here:

Biography
Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, Wives of the Patriarchs, Daughters of the Promised Land, The Heart of a King, Star of Persia, Miriam’s Song, and the nonfiction When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams, and She Walked Before Us. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable, “helpful” cat Tiger. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Contact Jill through email (jill@jilleileensmith.com), her website (http://www.jilleileensmith.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith).

Dreams Rekindled (Mesquite Springs Book #2) by Amanda Cabot

“Dreams Rekindled” is book 2 in the Mesquite Springs series which follows “Out of the Embers”. While each book can be enjoyed as a standalone, reading them in order helps with character development and is more enjoyable in my opinion.

This story follows Dorothy (who is mentioned in book 1) and Brandon’s adventures as they begin their new printing press in the town of Mesquite Springs. I liked reading about their new friendship and working together on the “Chronicle”. I also liked reading about the time period of mid 1850s and their lives back then. Forgiveness and love were underlining elements in this clean Christian fiction book. I can’t wait to read more adventures from Mesquite Springs Texas! The author does a great job with having interesting characters and stories with some clean romance and drama throughout.

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

About the Book:
Though she hopes for a quiet, uncomplicated life for herself, Dorothy Clark wants nothing more than to stir others up. Specifically, she dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers–until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is.

Brandon Holloway has seen the disastrous effects of challenging others and has no intention of repeating that mistake. Instead of following his dreams, he’s committed to making a new–and completely uncontroversial–start in the Hill Country.

As Dorothy’s involvement in the fledgling newspaper grows from convenient to essential, the same change seems to be happening in Brandon’s heart. But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who’s determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon’s livelihood.

With this second novel in the Mesquite Springs series, bestselling author Amanda Cabot invites you to discover the healing power of truth.

Purchase a copy of the book here:

About the Author
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of Out of the Embers, as well as the Cimarron Creek Trilogy and the Texas Crossroads, Texas Dreams, and Westward Winds series. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at www.amandacabot.com.

Catching Mr. Right: A Clean Romance (Seasons of Alaska, 7) by Carol Ross

I have read most of the “Seasons of Alaska” books and have really enjoyed them because of the community of people and setting. Although this story was mostly about fishing-which is not of interest to me-I still enjoyed it and getting to know Vic, Seth, Hazel, Henry, Scarlett, and others.

I liked reading about Victoria’s family and life in Louisiana at her campground resort. As she gets to know fellow fishing competitor Seth, they develop a friendship and travel around with Romeo Reels fishing group. I liked reading about their traveling adventures and their passion for fishing and educating others.

I enjoyed this easy reading, clean romance story about hope, love and family-and of course fishing! I can’t wait to read more Alaskan adventures by this author. I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
They can’t both win…
Can they?

Louisiana angler Victoria Thibodeaux needs the spokesperson contract with Romeo Reels to keep her business going and give her daughter a better life. But her hard-won confidence sinks to the bottom of the bayou when her rival, Alaskan fisherman Seth James, arrives. With his smooth-talking charm, handsome Seth could steal both her job and her heart, unless secrets from her past catch up with her first…

USA TODAY Bestselling Author

Seasons of Alaska

Book 1: Mountains Apart
Book 2: A Case for Forgiveness
Book 3: If Not for a Bee
Book 4: A Family Like Hannah’s
Book 5: Bachelor Remedy
Book 6: In the Doctor’s Arms
Book 7: Catching Mr. Right

Purchase your copy here:

Biography
USA Today and national bestselling author Carol Ross grew up in small-town America right between the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains, in a place where you can go deep sea fishing in the morning and then hit the ski slopes the same afternoon. The daughter of free-range parents, she developed a love of adventure and the outdoors at a very early age. She’s grateful for the “research material” that every questionable decision, adrenaline-charged misstep, and near-death experience has provided.
Stop by her website: http://www.carolrossauthor.com/
Or sign up for her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bB60jr

Can’t Buy Me Love (Deep Haven Collection Book 2) by Susan May Warren, Andrea Christenson

“Can’t Buy Me Love” is book 2 in the Deep Haven Collection. This was such a fun, sweet story to read!

I really liked the main characters Ella and Adrian and their funny encounters all through out this story. Their first encounter though was pretty alarming and one of my biggest fears of happening to me.

I especially liked Ella’s business sense and her love for the environment and finding healthy alternatives to cleaning products. This is something my family and I are also passionate about. Ella and Adrian’s community service eventually brings them closer together as friends, but they continue to struggle on agreeing what improvements should be made to the Deep Haven community.

Another enjoyable, clean romantic Deep Haven story. I can’t wait to read more!

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

About the Book:
She’s not looking for love…

Housekeeper-slash-entrepreneur Ella Bradley prides herself on being ready for anything. After all, with a father who died—and lied to her—and a stepmom and stepsister who despise her, she has no one else to depend on. But on the biggest night of her life, she’s unprepared to be trapped in an elevator with the man of her dreams.

He doesn’t mean to lie…

Wealthy prince-to-a-fortune Adrian Vassos wants nothing more than to shed his reputation as a party boy and prove that he is a savvy businessman. Even, a gentleman. But when he’s trapped with a woman who knows his reputation but not his face, he gives into the temptation to be someone else—and lies.

A disastrous beginning leads to a fresh start…

When serendipity brings them together again—this time to work off community service—can their combined sentences spark a new ending? Maybe…if Adrian’s lies don’t find him out. Again.

The magic of Deep Haven enchants in this modern-day Cinderella story.

Purchase your copy here:

About the Author
Susan May Warren is the USA Today best-selling novelist of 80 books. With more than 1.5 million books in print, she is beloved by reviewers and readers around the world. Visit Susan at www.susanmaywarren.com. Rachel D. Russell is a member of Oregon Christian Writers and My Book Therapy’s Novel Academy, and is a regular contributor to the Learn How to Write a Novel blog. The mother of two teenagers, she often interrogates her husband on his own military and law enforcement experience to craft believable heroes in uniform. The rest of her time is spent cantering her horse down the Oregon trails. Visit Rachel at www.racheldrussell.com. Want more of Deep Haven? Book 1: Still the One (January, 2021) Book 2: Can’t Buy Me Love (March, 2021) Book 3: Crazy for You (May, 2021) Book 4: Coming Soon Book 5: Coming Soon Book 6: Coming Soon

Andrea Christenson lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two daughters. When she is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on, bake bread, eat cheese, and watch Netflix. Andrea’s prayer is to write stories revealing God’s love. Visit Andrea at www.andreachristenson.com.