EmpowerMoms

“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.

“The Christmas Swap” by Melody Carlson

This short story grabbed my attention from the very first chapter with the interesting and complicated characters-Emma, the Landers Family, and finally Tyler. I liked the idea of the house swap although I would never want to do that personally. I loved reading the imagery of Colorado, the snow, mountains and skiing. The author did a great job and I felt like I was right there along side them.

I especially liked Emma’s helpful and positive character. The Landers family, especially the mom and Gillian (who was supposedly Emma’s good friend) were simply awful and toxic. I do not understand why such a positive, good hearted person like Emma would want to have a friend like Gillian. I felt like the selfishness and manipulative behavior took away from the whole Christmas, fun feel of the book.

Clean romance, fun fiction Christmas story about failed expectations, hope, love and the holiday spirit. Overall, I enjoyed reading this quick holiday story.

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

About the Book:
All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas. But the young teacher and struggling musician sure can’t find that in sunny Arizona. Luckily, there’s someone living in a perfect mountain home in the Colorado Rockies looking to make a vacation trade this year.

Tyler Prescott is an in-demand songwriter and talented musician who put his own singing career on hold to write songs for celebrity acts to perform. When his mother convinces him to do a vacation trade for Christmas, he never imagined one of the houseguests would be so sweet–or so strikingly pretty. Naturally, he decides to stick around, and, to get better acquainted, he poses as the house’s caretaker. But when Emma’s friend Gillian discovers his true identity and sets her sights on him, things
get . . . messy.

Fan favorite Melody Carlson is back with another delightful Christmas tale to warm your heart on those cold winter evenings.

Purchase a copy of the book here:

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/

“Until I Met You” by Tari Faris

I really enjoyed reading this sweet, easy to read Christian fiction book! Clean romance, great characters in a small town of Michigan where Otis the mysterious moving hippo lives.

This story mostly focuses on Austin, his brother Pastor Nate, Libby, and her roommate Olivia. Other characters including the father and characters from the town and book 1 are mentioned throughout, although it’s not necessary to read the books in order. I loved the characters, especially Libby and Olivia; although Austin frustrated me the most with his lack of forgiveness and grace towards others-especially his wayward brother. But that’s real life and sometimes we have a hard time giving others second and third chances even though we know we should. I liked and could relate to Libby and her passion for books and building a town Library. All four main characters had different strengths and it was fun to read how they all helped each other with various things as the book progressed.

Lots of laughs along with the theme of love, forgiveness, bravery, and faith sprinkled throughout the story line. Highly recommend-I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down!

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

About the Book:
When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.

All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town’s new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints–and possibly even his heart?

Novelist Tari Faris invites you back to the small town with a big heart in this second book in the Restoring Heritage series.

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About the Author
Tari Faris is the author of You Belong with Me. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she is the projects manager for My Book Therapy, writes for learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis Award winner. She has an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with her husband and their three children. Although she lives in the Southwest now, she lived in a small town in Michigan for 25 years.

“The Doctor and the Midwife” by Sarah Alva

This story was hilarious and I enjoyed reading it cover to cover.

I loved getting to know Dr. Audrey and Dr. Ammon as their jobs kept intertwining at the hospital and with clients. I could relate and understand both Doctors points of view in regards to medical care and quality of care. They were both passionate about hiking and patient care and had alot in common, even though they clashed and irritated each other constantly. It was a shame they had to be friends online first instead of giving each other a second chance to really get to know the other. Definitely a good example in real life-that we need to stop and get to know others and not just form a firm opinion after one encounter or experience.

Clean Christian romance with lots of laughs and groans of frustrations-highly recommend this quick, easy reading! I loved it!

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

About the Book:
As a midwife running her own home-birth practice, Audrey Novak deals with pressure like a superhuman. Until, that is, she meets her handsome and arrogant neighbor, Dr. Ammon Parker. Ammon, who believes only in modern medicine, is just as unprepared for the infuriating—and inconveniently beautiful—midwife. When the two are repeatedly called to the same labor and delivery unit, their clashing ideals and fiercely independent personalities threaten to derail both their professional goals and their pride.
Outside of work, Audrey is a passionate rock climber, tantalized by a secret route she’s heard about in an online forum. Her hunt for the climb’s location leads her to the intriguing BelayingOnOfHands, a man who claims to have set the route. Soon their anonymous virtual flirtation and witty exchanges deepen into a true connection. But when Audrey discovers the man from online is actually Ammon, she’s blindsided. It seems they have more in common than she could have imagined, but will their differences keep them from making the climb to true love together?

Purchase your book copy here:

Biography
Sarah Alva lives in Salt Lake City but calls Arizona home. She graduated from the University of Arizona with degrees in creative writing and political science. In college, she once told a creative writing class she wanted to grow up and be a stay-in-bed mom. She is almost living that dream as a mom to two little boys who don’t like naps or sleeping in as much as she does. When Sarah’s not busy doing mom or wife things, she enjoys reading romance novels in excess, shopping online, and listening to National Public Radio. You can find her on social media at facebook.com/sarah.alva, @writerlysarah, or at sarahalva.com.

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