Book Mama Blog

Thursday, June 2, 2016

A Daughter's Dream - Review & Giveaway

A Daughter's Dream
The Charmed Amish Life #2

By: Shelley Shepard Gray

Releasing May 24, 2016
Avon Inspire

Review by Hope Smith

It’s always been Rebecca’s dream to be a school teacher. She has been given the opportunity to fill in occasionally, but has found connecting with the children to be a bit of a struggle. That is until Lily joins her class. But upon meeting her uncle, Rebecca is instantly taken by his good looks and charm, but doesn’t feel right entertaining the thought of any type of relationship with her student’s guardian.

Jacob has taken on the role of caregiver to his thirteen year old niece after she loses her parents in an accident. But being thrust into single parenthood practically overnight has proven to be a challenge. And moving back home with his parents and helping out at the farm, Jacob realizes more and more that farming is not the life for him.

This is the first Amish book I’ve read. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised in how the book read. I felt an instant connection with the characters and loved the premise of the story. Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone.

Buy Links:

Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

About the Author:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Hold Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Connect with the author at:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Enter to win one of three copies of

A SON’S VOW, book one in The Charmed Amish Life series

Gamer Girl - Review

Review by Emily Joseph

Since losing her parents at a young age, Meri Palmer has turned to video games to escape the loneliness in her life. She develops a connection to them that she has yet to find in the real world. Although her family and friends encourage her to engage in more social activities, the thought doesn’t interest her until she gets wind that her work’s bike messenger may have his eye on her.

Growing up in the age of video games, I was excited to see how the author would incorporate technology into a chick lit book. I was very impressed with how she transitioned from one world to the next, incorporating gamer lingo while also introducing us to a whole host of fun characters (I especially loved her grandmother!).

A fun, light read that will have you rooting for Meri to put down the remote and be the heroine in her own game of life.

Purchase the book at:

Amazon

About the Author:

Glynis never expected in her wildest dreams to be a writer. After thirteen years in the Human Resources Industry, she decided to stay at home with her two amazing sons. Ever in search of a project, she was inspired to write the story of how, in only six short months, she met and married her wonderfully romantic French husband, Sebastien. The end result became her first novel, French Twist. As this was just the beginning of their epic love story, Glynis continued to chronicle their adventures in the sequel, French Toast, and the final installment in the series, French Fry. After she finished milking her life story for all it was worth, she decided to write straight-up fiction with Gamer Girl, which infuses her beloved chick lit with a hint of fantasy.

When Glynis is not writing, she is trying to keep the peace amongst the three men and two cats in her life, finding missing body parts (Lego pieces are small!), supervising a myriad of homework assignments and keeping a tenuous hold on her sanity by consuming whatever chocolate is in the vicinity.

Connect with the author at:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop - Review & Giveaway

Review by Hope Smith

Bittersweet is the perfect word to describe Rosalia’s story. Kidnapped and abused, Rosalia was rescued by nuns and brought to the convent. There she turned to baking as a way to heal. Her story is the inspiration behind some of the delicious pastries. And when a food writer catches wind of this unique convent based bakery, she’s anxious to not only sample some of the desserts, but also learn more about the history behind it all. But what she’ll take away from it is more than just a fascinating story. She’ll see how food is much more than just nourishment for the body, but also food for the soul.

Both tragic and sweet, this story will bring about many emotions. The author does a delicious job incorporating mouth-watering desserts and even gifts us with some recipes at the end.

Overall a worth-while read and one I would definitely recommend.

Purchase the book at:

About the Author:

ROSANNA CHIOFALO is the author of Bella Fortuna, Carissima, Stella Mia and Seven Days of Christmas, a novella that appears in the When The Snow Falls collection.

An avid traveler, she enjoys setting her novels in the countries she's visited. A first-generation Italian American, her novels also draw on her rich cultural background. When she isn't traveling or daydreaming about her characters, Rosanna keeps busy testing out new recipes in her kitchen.

Currently, she is hard at work writing her next novel.

Connect with the author at:

Kensington Publishing is giving 1 lucky winner a print copy of

Rosalia’s Bittersweet Pastry Shop by Rosanna Chiofalo

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

The One That Got Away - Pub Day Review & Giveaway

Review by Marlene Engel

With a husband, two young children and a job that makes her crazed, Abbey’s life is hectic at best. When she makes a frivolous purchase for a bag that is way out of her budget, thoughts of bills that need to be paid guilts her into returning the bag. On her way back to the store she falls, only to wake up in another life. A life where she is not struggling financially, she’s married to wealthy Alex van Holt and living in the lap of luxury.

We have always wondered “what if”. What if we dated that guy? What if we took that job? What if we did (fill in the blank)? This book takes us on a journey of Abbey’s “what if’s”. How would her life differ if she had accepted a date from Alex van Holt all those years ago? And would money really cure all of her problems?

This is a light, fun read. I would definitely describe this book as an escape novel. Much of it is predictable, but a book worth reading none-the-less.

Purchase the book at:

About the Author:

Author Leigh Himes has spent fourteen years working in the public relations field. Born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, she now lives just outside of Philadelphia with her husband and their two children. This is her first book.

Connect with the author at:

Hachette Books is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

The One That Got Away by Leigh Himes

Monday, May 30, 2016

Don't You Cry - Spotlight #SRC2016

New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl and Pretty Baby, Mary Kubica returns with an electrifying and addictive tale of deceit and obsession.

In downtown Chicago, a young woman named Esther Vaughan disappears from her apartment without a trace. A haunting letter addressed to My Dearest is found among her possessions, leaving her friend and roommate Quinn Collins to wonder where Esther is and whether or not she's the person Quinn thought she knew.

Meanwhile, in a small Michigan harbor town an hour outside Chicago, a mysterious woman appears in the quiet coffee shop where eighteen-year-old Alex Gallo works as a dishwasher. He is immediately drawn to her charm and beauty, but what starts as an innocent crush quickly spirals into something far more dark and sinister than he ever expected.

As Quinn searches for answers about Esther, and Alex is drawn further under the stranger's spell, master of suspense Mary Kubica takes readers on a taut and twisted thrill ride that builds to a stunning conclusion and shows that no matter how fast and far we run, the past always catches up with us in the end.

Purchase the book at:

About the Author:

Mary Kubica is the New York Times bestselling author of THE GOOD GIRL and PRETTY BABY. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in History and American Literature. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two children and enjoys photography, gardening and caring for the animals at a local shelter.

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To learn more about BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 2016 click HERE!

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Friday, May 27, 2016

The House of Bradbury - #SRC2016 Spotlight

About the book:

Mia Gladwell’s life is going nowhere. The media has skewered her debut novel, her fiancé Carson, a successful Hollywood producer, has jumped ship, and now she’s living in her sister’s carriage house―unattached, unemployed, and uninspired. Then she learns that the Los Angeles estate of iconic author Ray Bradbury is up for sale, and she feels an immediate urge to buy the wonky old house, convinced that moving into the late author’s home will inspire her to create her best work yet.

Life in the Bradbury house is not what Mia imagined, however. Soon after moving in, to fulfill a debt she owes to Carson, she agrees to take in a pill-popping young actress as a tenant, and suddenly she finds herself in a balancing act between her needy ex, an unpredictable starlet, and her disapproving sister, who’s keeping a close eye on her. Add to this a series of mysterious sketches left at her doorstep by a stranger, and Mia’s life is more complicated than ever. As she searches for clues, though, Mia discovers insights into her own life. Maybe moving into Bradbury’s house was a big mistake―but maybe not.

Purchase the book at:

About the Author:

Nicole is a native Southern Californian who pulled up roots and moved to the Pacific Northwest. Because of this, her happy places include both the beach and the mountains.

After a career in advertising and spending time at home with her three kids, she chose to return to her first love, writing. Since then she’s enjoyed working as a freelance travel and lifestyle writer for several Oregon publications. And because she’s a self-proclaimed “travel girl,” she spends her free time fulfilling her wanderlust and blogging about it at HaveToteWillTravel.com.

Nicole lives in Oregon with her husband and children who kindly put up with her crazy spurts of creativity and writerly determination.

Connect with the author at:

To learn more about BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 2016 click HERE!

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