Anneliese Dalaba's Blog, page 6

First Line Friday #100

Happy Friday! The book I’m featuring today is Love in Lead by Kari Trumbo. This is book 3 in the Seven Brides of South Dakota Series.

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First Line:

Eva hid in a cedar thicket. It was a skill she’d honed to perfection.

Description on Amazon:

He found her at her worst, can she love him at his?

Eva Arnsby can’t stay indoors, her need to draw the woodland creatures around her home near Lead, South Dakota gets her in a heap of trouble. And none more troublesome than a shadowy stranger who steals her notebook and her spirit.

Ranger, Captain George Roth, is suspicious when he finds a small woman in man’s trousers sneaking around in the woods. Determined to discover the woman’s secrets, he takes on an assignment, ready to investigate her under the guise of a harmless town dandy.

A chameleon in a suit, Mr. George Roth is asking too many questions, and wearing too many masks. Despite Eva’s reluctance, they work together, and soon, she sees parts of George she can’t resist. Shouldn’t she follow her heart? But when the mask slips, and Eva realizes George isn’t who she thinks he is, the damage to her heart may never be mended. 

One lie will break them apart, and George must convince her that the man she fell for in Lead is the same man who loved her in the woods. 

My Thoughts:

Since this is my current read and I’m only in Chapter 11, I cannot tell you a whole lot about the book yet. However, this is the third book I’ve read in this series and I can tell already that it’s going to be another good one. George is suspicious of Eva’s actions. How foolish will he feel when he realizes how innocent she is. His cynical mind has definitely led him down the wrong path. I only wonder how long before he realizes it.

I have definitely been pulled into the story right from the start. Their first encounter was not a good one. And since Eva fell unconscious before getting a good glimpse of Captain Roth, she has no idea that he’s the same man when he disguises himself to investigate her. I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy the rest of this book.

Click on the book cover or the book title to buy it on Amazon.

Your Turn:

Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post. 

Book Review: God’s Outrageous Claims

I just finished listening to the audible of God’s Outrageous Claims by Lee Strobel. It was filled with so much information that when I finished it, I went to the beginning and listened to it a second time.

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AUDIBLE — KINDLE — PAPERBACK

In God’s Outrageous Claims, Lee Strobel answers some of the toughest questions that we have been asked or that we have grappled with ourselves. Many of these claims we say we believe but can’t find the words to explain why we believe them.

For example, how do we know that what we believe about Christianity is really true? Have you ever doubted what you’ve been taught about Christianity? Be honest. Have you ever dared to ask yourself if what you believe is really true? Lee Strobel explains this better than I’ve ever heard it before. And since he comes at the question from both ends—having been an atheist who became a believer and now a Christian who, like any of us, doesn’t have all the answers—he is able to clarify the issues of our doubts and leaves us with a deeper understanding of our faith.

Did you see the movie, The Passion of the Christ? I’m certain not many of us missed it. The hardest part for me to bear in that film was when they flogged Jesus—almost endlessly. Wait until you hear what Mel Gibson told Lee Strobel about that scene. The former Lee Strobel—the atheist—wanted to disprove that Jesus was God. It seemed impossible to his intellectual mind and he researched every aspect of the crucifixion, death, and resurrection to prove his case. After you listen to this portion, I assure you, your doubts will be laid to rest.

There is so much more I could tell you about this powerful and in-depth study, but you should read or listen to it for yourself. It is filled with captivating stories and illustrations that keep the reader enthralled to the end.

Under the book cover above, you will see links to whatever your preference is for reading a book. And, after you finish, don’t forget to leave a review on Amazon. That’s the best way to thank an author for their hard work.

First Line Friday #99

The book I’m featuring today is not my current read, but it is a book I enjoyed reading. Lady at Arms by Tamara Leigh is a Medieval Romance.

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First Line:

Prologue: “Gilbert!” Heedless of the brigands ransacking her dowry wagons, Lizanne Balmaine pulled free of her maid and rushed past the torn and blood-strewn bodies scattered over the ground. The old woman called to her, but Lizanne ignored her desperate pleas.

Chapter One: By degree, Ranulf Wardieu became cognizant of his surroundings.

Description on Amazon:

HE WAS THE VILEST OF MEN
Lizanne Balmaine has spent years honing her skills at arms, determined she will never again be at the mercy of any man. When she comes face to face with the one who stole her future, she seizes the opportunity to exact revenge. Soon he is her prisoner, at her mercy. But something is different about him, something that makes her question her purpose. Is it possible a man can be so changed? More, can she right the wrong that could lay ruin to her family?

SHE WAS A QUESTION NEVER BEFORE ASKED OF HIM
Ranulf Wardieu does not seek a bride, nor a settling of scores when his mission for the king places him in the path of a beguiling, raven-haired maiden. But fascination turns to fury when she imprisons him. Accused of wrongdoing, the nature of which she refuses to reveal, he discovers the lady is as skilled at wielding a sword as she is at verbal sparring. When he bests her at her game and his jailer becomes his captive, he is determined to learn what wrong he has done her. However, as they engage in a battle of wits and wills and he glimpses her woman’s heart, he discovers Lizanne is a question never before asked of him—one his own jaded heart refuses to answer.

My Thoughts:

This was an exciting read. The story captured my attention from the first page and held it to the end. Lizanne was often immature in her actions at the beginning—perhaps the first half of the book. But since she’s only 19, it is perhaps understandable. She allowed her actions to be guided by her emotions before considering the consequences. However, you see her mature and make wiser choices as the book progresses.

I liked Ranulf from the beginning to the end of the story. Though he is strong, he is caring of others. You especially see that as he patiently deals with Lizanne. However, he is still a warrior and certainly not someone to be pushed around.

The storyline and how it is developed is believable and well thought out. It is listed as a Christian story. It’s clean and there are several times when someone says they are praying or God is mentioned, so perhaps that may suffice to place it in the Christian romance genre. I did not come away feeling inspired in my Christian walk. But it was a very enjoyable, clean, and entertaining read. Tamara Leigh is a gifted writer and storyteller. For that reason, I gave this novel 5 stars.

Click on the book cover or the book title to buy it on Amazon.

Your Turn:

Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post. 

First Line Friday #98

I am sitting in my recliner with a scarf around my neck, wooly socks on my feet, and a warm blanket over my lap. Although our trees are starting to bud in Michigan, we woke up to about an inch of snow on the ground two mornings ago. Thankfully, it melted by the middle of the day. Spring is fighting winter off the premises. Hopefully, we can finally see the end of freezing temperatures very soon.

The book I’m sharing this week is a mail-order-bride story called Misunderstood Meg, written by Jo Grafford. This is the fourth book in the Mail Order Brides Rescue Series. I have not read any of the other books in this series. What attracted me to this particular one was that the heroine is an heiress. Why would an heiress find it necessary to sign up as a mail-order bride? I will tell you more about it below.

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First Line:

Introduction: Meg Gladstone is a vastly wealthy heiress who’s never tasted life outside the palatial fortress where she was reared and raised for her own safety.

Chapter 1: Margaret Vivienne Gladstone took one last walk around the near empty ballroom of her late father’s palatial Boston mansion. She wasn’t going to miss it—the endless parties, charity events, and other social obligations; the pressure to dress and act and talk just so; the endless pursuit of gossip columnists and newspaper reporters; and the crushing scrutiny of the social elite who’d never quite accepted her father for his lack of old family connections.

My Thoughts:

Shad is a secret-service marshal who is tired of his lonely existence. In a moment of weakness, he writes to a mail-order bride service. He hopes to acquire a very grateful bride. One who is so happy to have found a husband to provide for her that she will not ask a lot of questions about his comings and goings. She will gladly create the home he longs for while he goes about his duties. Shad only wants a happy home and family to return to after each mission for the secret-service.

Meg is a rich heiress who has felt imprisoned by her father’s wealth. When her father dies, she sees her chance for freedom. But everyone in the East knows her family. She will have to go far from home to achieve anonymity, so she can finally experience a normal existence. Becoming a mail-order bride was not something she had considered until she read the letter Shad had sent to the agency. He writes about the very things Meg’s heart longs for. She does the unthinkable. She writes to Shad.

Of course, Meg is nothing like the woman Shad had dreamed of acquiring, but could she be exactly what he needed? Shad is used to protecting and rescuing people. How will he be able to protect his unexpected heiress when all she longs for is freedom?

I enjoyed both main characters. The romance between them was sweet. There is suspense because of Shad’s job. When he drops her off at his ranch after they marry and leaves almost immediately for a mission—without telling her—Meg is left in a house full of strangers. She must show them that as the new mistress, she expects them to follow her orders. Why do some of them look at her askance? Will this ever feel like home to her or has she entered another prison?

Click on the book cover or the book title to buy it on Amazon.

Your Turn:

Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Line Friday #97

Happy Easter!! In spite of churches being closed and our state of Michigan being in lockdown, that doesn’t mean I will skip Easter this year. I plan to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who died for my sins so that I can live for all eternity with Him. Hallelujah!!! Happy, happy Easter!!!!

The book I’m featuring this week has nothing to do with Easter. Lol! I’m sharing The Shotgun Proposal (Heroes of Hays Book 3) by Barbara Goss.

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First Line:

Rance Balcomb stood at his parents’ graves, and bent to set the bouquet of flowers near the tombstone.

My Review:

This story is absolutely entertaining, often keeping you at the edge of your seat. How can two strangers marry who cannot even communicate with each other? How can such a marriage work? Elsa speaks a dialect of German since she’s from Russia. Rance is an American and only speaks English. Yet they are forced to marry.

What begins as a trial of major proportion, ends as a romantic blessing created by God. This story truly is as Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.”

This novel is a beautiful, believable romance mixed with mystery and suspense.

Your Turn:

Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post. 

Two-Minute Video Book Review

I had never heard of such a thing, but I think it’s a great idea. It doesn’t take up much of our valuable time, but we get a glimpse into a book and can decide if it interests us.

I am excited to discover that my novel, Reluctant to Wed, is featured on Book Reviews in 2 TODAY! What an honor this is! Thank you, Dan Henderson, for considering my novel worthy of a spotlight.

Would you like to see it? Click HERE or on the link below.

First Line Friday #96

The book I’m featuring this week is A Love Most Worthy by award-winning historical romance author, Sandra Ardoin. This is a heartwarming, mail-order bride novel that takes place in Alaska.

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First Line:

Feminine laughter drifted across the water toward the Alaskan beach at Nome. With the faint sound, cold fingers of dread tiptoed up Rance Preston’s back.

“Is that our new aunt laughing, Uncle Rance?”

Only if God had frowned on him.

(I gave you more than the first line because it was just too good to pass up.)

My Review:

Rance needs a mother for his two nephews. With feelings of guilt and having been deceived by a former love, he wishes to marry in name only. Hallie takes her cousin’s place as Rance’s mail-order-bride. She hopes to finally have a family of her own.

This story is exciting because of its location in Alaska and the adventure of living there. It’s a page-turner because it moves along at a brisk pace. I loved Rance and Hallie and their adorable boys. This is a lovely romance.

Back Cover Description:

She didn’t know which was colder, an Arctic winter or her new husband’s heart.

Hallie Russell believes life should be lived to the fullest. For that reason, she sails to the gold rush town of Nome, Alaska to take her cousin’s place as the mail-order bride of a respected shopkeeper. But when her aloof husband’s wedding-night announcement rocks her plans for their marriage, Hallie sees her desire for a family to call her own vanish as quickly as the dreams of hopeful miners.

Tragedy led Rance Preston to repent of his rowdy ways and open a general store for the miners in Nome. He’s content in his bachelorhood, but his two orphaned nephews deserve a proper and serious-minded mother. Duped once by a vivacious female, he’s determined to never again let his heart overrule his head…until the high spirits of his new bride threaten his resolve to keep theirs a marriage of convenience. 

When a misunderstanding comes to light, will they allow the gale force winds of insecurity to destroy what they each need most?

Your Turn:

Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post. 

First Line Friday #95

I hope everyone is home and staying healthy during this COVID-19 crisis. Unfortunately, I do have friends and family of friends who are struggling with this disease—some in critical but stable conditions. While praying for them, I am thankful that my family has remained healthy. Hopefully, in another month, this will all be behind us.

The book I’m featuring today is Constance: Bride of Florida by Patricia PacJac Carroll. This book has been in my to-be-read pile for quite some time. I’m glad I finally picked it up. It was an enjoyable read.

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First Line:

Peeking from under her umbrella, Constance Penny stopped in front of the old, red-bricked apartment.

My Review:

Constance is afraid of her own shadow but somehow manages to find the courage to answer a mail-order bride ad. The people she encounters on her voyage to Florida change her life forever. Will she find the courage to love?

Drake has only one dream—to sail the ocean. He doesn’t want to waste his life working in his father’s store. His father offers to give him his inheritance if Drake will marry. So he places an ad for a bride who will be too desperate not to agree to his terms. He will marry her, provide for her, purchase his ship, sail away, and only return to his wife on occasion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this romance. The author did a splendid job of developing the story.

Your Turn:

Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post. 

First Line Friday #94

This week, I’m featuring Teach Me to Love by Kari Trumbo. It’s a historical romance that I truly enjoyed.

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First Line:

It wasn’t right to pray he would just die. Yet her wicked heart screamed the words she’d learned to swallow over the last year.

My Review:

Izzy’s husband died and she refused to mourn over the brute. She knew her parents wouldn’t understand how she felt about him, so she runs to her closest friend, Lula, who married Barton.

Conrad is Barton’s older brother. The secret Conrad tries to hide from everyone is that he’s illiterate. Unbeknownst to him, his family is aware of what he considers his weakness, so they ask Izzy to secretly teach Conrad to read.

Izzy has no interest in marrying again, but Conrad stirs feelings in her she cannot deny. However, hadn’t she felt enamored before and ended up disappointed? Can she trust her feelings this time?

I enjoyed how this romance steadily progresses throughout the story. Izzy’s conflicting feelings and hesitation are believable. Conrad is a true hero. This is a well-written romance.

Your Turn:

Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post. 

Born at Yale

My husband and I drove from Michigan to Connecticut on Saturday, February 1st, to await the soon arrival of our first granddaughter (third grandchild). The next day, we took a brief tour of Yale Hospital where our granddaughter would be born, followed by a tour of the Yale Medical Library.

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[image error]The Doctor, 1891, by Samuel Luke Fildes

I especially loved some of the beautiful artwork displayed there. This particular painting by Sir Samuel Luke Fildes is abounding with emotion for me. The sick child, the grieving and praying mother, the father who looks with worried eyes at his child while offering comfort to his wife, and the doctor who thoughtfully ponders what else can be done.

As we enjoyed our tour, my daughter said she was feeling some cramping. We hoped she would deliver within the next two or three days so my husband would not miss too much time from his job and could enjoy his new granddaughter for a few days. Little did we know that that very evening we would return to Yale Hospital and be admitted to the Maternity Ward. On February 3rd at 9 AM our darling Leila Jade was born.

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We are thankful to God for another healthy grandchild and for safely bringing our daughter through the delivery.

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I am so happy to spend over a month with my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter in New Haven. It’s been a joy watching my daughter become a mommy. The maternal instinct has fully kicked in and she has become the nurturing mother her daughter needs. It’s hard to believe that my own first baby that I held in my arms is now holding her first baby. How is it possible that the years have slipped away so quickly? Yet I don’t grieve the years gone by. I’m enjoying this new stage of my life as much as I enjoyed raising my children. God has shown His faithfulness to me over and over again.

Unfortunately, for those awaiting book three of The Arranged Marriage Series, you will have to wait a bit longer. I haven’t gotten to any writing since arriving in Connecticut. But I will be heading home in a couple of weeks and plan to get right back to completing the first draft of book three. Thank you for your understanding and patience. I’ve enjoyed writing this third book and look forward to sharing it with you.