EmpowerMoms

“The Price of Valor” Global Search and Rescue by Susan May Warren

Ham and his story about his daughter and missing wife begin in earlier books so we finally get to discover what happens to Signe and why she is always running away from Ham and her family.
Throughout the book we get glimpses into Ham and Signe’s life and relationship. This story had non stop action, drama and heartache. I read this book in one day because I didn’t want to stop reading and I had to find out what was going to happen next!

I loved how all the characters from previous books were mentioned at the end of the book as this series comes to a close. I highly recommend reading this series in order to get the full benefit of character development and their individual stories.

I have been reading Susan May Warren’s books for many years and every time I think her books and series can’t get any better-she proves me wrong! You will love this series!

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

About the Book:
Former Navy SEAL Hamilton Jones thought that the love of his life was dead. But when a girl claiming to be his daughter shows up with a dire message from his wife, Ham knows he will stop at nothing to find her and bring her home.

Kidnapped by rebels while serving as an interpreter in Ukraine, Signe Kincaid has spent the past decade secreting out valuable information about Russian assets in the US to her CIA handler. Fearing for her daughter after being discovered as an operative, Signe sends her to Ham for safekeeping. She’s ready to give her life for her country, and she can hardly expect Ham to rescue her after breaking his heart over and over.

When Ham discovers the reason Signe has kept her distance, he must choose between love for his wife and love for the nation he has vowed to protect. Will he save the many? Or the few?

Biography
Growing up in Minneapolis and attending the U of MN, I learned to love city life, although I’m a woodsy girl at heart. Or maybe I’m an adventurer — having lived and traveled all over the world, including Siberia Russia as a missionary for eight years. Probably that’s why my characters can’t sit still, and seem to get into one scrape after another — they’re too much like me! I love God, my family, my country, my church, and feel privileged every day to be able to write stories.

With over 1 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA and Carol award-winning author of over seventy-five novels with Revell, Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com and Christmas novellas.

“A Life Once Dreamed” by Rachel Fordham

Sweet, Christian romance set in the early 1880s in a pioneer Dakota territory. The story was pretty predictable but I still enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. Agnes and James were great characters and I especially liked Jame’s determination to court Agnes and figure out what went wrong in their relationship 6 years prior. I also liked reading about the small town and how they helped each other be a strong community thru sickness and health. I love reading about pioneer life in that time period.

This was an easy to read, historical romance about second chances, love and forgiveness.

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

About the Book:
Six years ago, a shocking secret sent Agnes Pratt running in search of a new start. She found it in Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory, where she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid. But the past has a way of catching up with people.

When childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor, Aggie’s pleasantly predictable days suddenly become anything but. James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves–but he is the one person who can never know.

In the shadows of the Black Hills, can a healing light be shed on the past? Or will the secret Agnes can’t seem to outrun destroy her chance at happiness?

About the Author
Rachel Fordham started writing when her children began begging her for stories at night. She’d pull a book from the shelf, but they’d insist she make one up. Finally, she combined her love of good stories with her love of writing, and she hasn’t stopped since. She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.

Forget Me Not (The Gents Book #1) by Sarah M. Eden

I really enjoyed this easy to read, historical romance. The characters were great, story line was interesting and kept my interest from beginning to end. I did find myself annoyed at Julia alot because I felt like she was overly clingy and had too high expectations for Lucas with wanting him to be around all the time. She did have alot of loss in her life which is why she acted that way. I liked Lucas better even though he seemed clueless to Julia’s needs and her desire for his time and attention.

Lucas’s friends “The Gents” were the best part of this book! I loved all their different personalities and nicknames! I loved their friendship, camaraderie, and determination to help Lucas succeed in his marriage-now those are good friends!

Lots of laughs-really enjoyed it! I can’t wait to read more about “The Gents” in future books!

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

About the Book:
A Georgian Romance
Nottinghamshire, 1785

Julia Cummings has long been acquainted with loss-her mother, her brother, her sister, her friend, all gone too soon. But the loss that pushed her grief to the limit as a young girl was that of her best friend, Lucas Jonquil, who abandoned her without looking back. Now, eight years later, Lucas has returned to Lampton Park, and Julia has steeled herself-she will never forgive the man who broke her heart.

After losing too many of his friends and family to early deaths, Lucas vowed to live life to the fullest. And after traversing the world, he has returned from his adventures to find his family and home as he left them-except for Julia. The little girl he left behind has blossomed into a captivating lady, a lady who makes it clear she despises him. With little hope of reconciliation, the former friends are blindsided when their parents make a shocking announcement. Lucas and Julia have been betrothed without their knowledge and are to marry immediately. Now Lucas must rely on the help of his closest friends to win the heart of a lady who loathes him-a lady he s coming to love more deeply every day.

Purchase your copy here:

Biography
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today bestselling author of multiple historical romances, including AML’s “2013 Novel of the Year” and Foreword Review’s 2013 “IndieFab Book of the Year” gold medal winner for Best Romance, Longing for Home, and the Whitney Award’s “2014 Novel of the Year,” Longing for Home: Hope Springs. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah lives with her husband, kids, and mischievous dog in the shadow of a snow-capped mountain she has never attempted to ski.

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“The Paper Daughters of Chinatown” by Heather B. Moore

This story was unlike any book I’ve read before or choose to read; but I have read all this author’s books so I gave this one a try. I read the beginning of the book which included why the author wrote this book, her references, and the history behind this story. Which was very interesting! I recommend you read it before jumping into the actual story.

I would recommend this book for more mature audiences based on the content, but it was not graphic at all. It made me sad, but more aware of the issues they had back in the late 19th century with human slavery, drug addictions, and illegal smuggling into the US. This story took place in California specifically.

I was amazed again and again of Donaldina’s bravery, faith, determination and love for the Chinese woman finding themselves tricked into slavery. Although this was a heart wrenching story, it was full of bravery and hope; which kept me up very late reading for two nights so I could finish. I recommend reading this historical fiction book based on actual events-which I’m sure will be eye opening to you like it was for me.

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

About the Book:
A powerful story based on true events surrounding Donaldina Cameron and other brave women who fought to help Chinese-American women escape discrimination and slavery in the late 19th century in California.

When Donaldina Cameron arrives at the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in 1895, she intends to teach sewing skills to young Chinese women immigrants, but, within days, she discovers that the job is much more complicated than perfect stitches and even hems. San Francisco has a dark side, one where a powerful underground organization–the criminal tong–brings Chinese young women to America to sell them as slaves. With the help of Chinese interpreters and the Chinatown police squad, Donaldina becomes a tireless social reformer to stop the abominable slave and prostitution trade.

Mei Lien believes she is sailing to the “Gold Mountain” in America to become the wife of a rich Chinese man. Instead she finds herself sold into prostitution–beaten, starved, and forced into an opium addiction. It is only after a narrow escape that she hears of the mission home and dares to think there might be hope for a new life.

The Paper Daughters of Chinatown throws new light on the age-old scourge of human trafficking. The heroes who fought this evil and the victims who triumphed over it more than a hundred years ago offer a bright example of courage and determination for anyone wishing for a better world.

About the Author

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty publications. Her historical novels and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women’s fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.

“A Heart of Gold” by Stacy Henrie

Sweet historical fiction about love and second chances.

Tava and Jess travel to the Klondike (Canada) in search of her ill father; but not without trials and drama during the peak of the gold rush. The author did a great job describing the beauty and difficulty of traveling during that time period-I felt like I was right there along side them.

Tava and Jess both have personal issues to overcome-especially Jess, before they can progress in a relationship. I loved the main character Tava and found her strong and capable of anything! I really enjoyed this clean, easy to read, historical romance.

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

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About the Book:
They’ll have to conquer more than the Klondike Trail to reach her father in time—they’ll have to overcome their past too.

After months of silence from her father in the Klondike, Tava Rutherford finally receives word from him. Only the outdated letter reveals that her father is ill and may be dying. Desperate to discover his fate, Tava resolves to make the journey to the wilds of northwestern Canada. But Jess Lawmen, her ranch foreman and the man who broke her heart, insists she doesn’t go alone. Jess intends to keep his promise to look out for her—even if that means traveling thousands of miles with Tava, the woman he claims to feel just friendship for but has never stopped loving.

With their own ragtag group of travelers in tow, Tava and Jess confront one challenge after another as they join the hundreds of stampeders scrambling to reach the goldfields. But as the two of them come face to face with their past hurts and mistakes in their race to reach Tava’s father, they will have to decide whether to cling to safety or risk their hearts for something even greater.

Purchase your book copy here:

About the Author
Stacy Henrie is a USA Today bestselling author specializing in inspirational historical romances. Her book, Hope at Dawn, was a 2015 RITA Award finalist for excellence in romance. Born and raised in the West, she received her degree from Brigham Young University in public relations. She currently resides in Utah with her family where she enjoys reading, interior decorating, and chocolate. For more information, please visit stacyhenrie.com.