Laura Jackson's Blog, page 18

Submerged: A Review

 
Friends had been telling me how great this series is for a long time, but it somehow kept slipping to the bottom of my to-read pile. I finally got to it, and it's fantastic!

Bailey left Alaska, leaving her heart there with Cole McKenna and swearing never to return. When a death in the family pulls her back, she becomes involved in a police investigation that leads her into harm's way and Cole's arms.

The mystery is interesting, but the characters are what make this book such a great read. The McKenna family is full of interesting backstory (which will hopefully be developed in the rest of the series). I loved the family and community dynamics.

Christian fiction often seems a balancing act of characters who follow Christ but remain true to the real world, full of flaws and weaknesses. I think that's what I liked most---the characters struggle with real issues while trying to walk in faith. It was a nice balance to many characters who are too good to be true.

Fans of Christian suspense will enjoy this book as much as I did. Dani Pettrey is right there with Dee Henderson, Irene Hannon, and Lynette Eason in the ranks of Christian romantic suspense!

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Giveaway: Into the Whirlwind

 
Today, I'm giving away a copy of Into the Whirlwind, which is a fantastic book. I love Elizabeth Camden's books. She brings history to life through her well-researched books.

To enter to win, leave a comment about a time you felt a whirlwind of emotion. I have when I got the contract for my first book and when we found out my dad had pancreatic cancer. Both were a whirlwind of emotion even though they obviously were different feelings.

I can only ship to the US.
I'll pick a winner next week.
BE SURE to leave an email address.
Finally, if I don't hear back from the winner within two weeks, I'll pick a new winner.



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Giveaway: Submerged

Congrats to Lisa, who won last week's book. Today, I'm giving away Submerged, which is FANTASTIC. I had been hearing how good it was for a while now, but somehow it kept getting overlooked on my bookcase....even though I bought two copies by accident.
But, the good news is that now I have all three in the series, which means as soon as I finished this one, I started book two. I love that...waiting for the next book in a series is so hard!

To enter to win, leave a comment about what you're submerged in right now. I'm submerged in writing a second book and brainstorming ideas for marketing my first book. But, to be honest, I'm feeling convicted and inspired (at the same time) to submerge myself in God's Word....maybe it's because I just left a Bible Study a few minutes ago about self-control!

Be sure to leave an email address. If there's not an email address, I'll pull a different winner.
I can only ship to the US.
I hope y'all have a great week!

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Cover Reveal!

The cover for Worth the Wait, releasing February 4, 2013, has been finalized.     I LOVE it for a few reasons.1. I love pink. 2. I like the shadows....people's faces on covers aren't my favorite because I like to picture the characters the way I want to picture them.3. I love the fresh green look with the pink and the fence. I hope you like it. It's available for pre-order on Amazon: Worth the Wait on Amazon Happy Reading!     '

Into the Whirlwind: A Review

Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian, and it shows in her books. The details of the Chicago fire rang true and the events drew me into the book from the first page when Mollie Knox, the owner of a watch company, and Zack, the lawyer for her biggest buyer, flee the city as it burns.

Although she could walk away from her destroyed company, Mollie refuses. Many of her employees are wounded veterans who fought with her dad in the Civil War. Instead, the remaining members of the 57th come to help her rebuild the company named after them. With the group comes the beloved leader, Richard, who shows an interest in Mollie. Will he win her heart with his promise of security? Or will Mollie run into the whirlwind that surrounds Zack?

I enjoyed the fire between Mollie and Zack? They had energy, depth, and wit. They both annoyed me at times, but I think it was because there was sometimes so much feeling between them that I wanted them to just admit it already! I loved Mollie's strength in running a company even when certain businessmen looked down on her, and I loved Zack's street-smart way of getting things done. Sophia, a young girl who is a minor character, also shines bright.

The book starts off with bang with the fire blazing, and it keeps a steady chain of events until the end.

I definitely enjoyed this book and look forward to Camden's next book.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.
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Giveaway! The Shadow of your Smile

 
Today I'm giving away The Shadow of your Smile by Susan May Warren. I love this series. I also love the cover because it promises that winter is coming. This Houston heat is too much!

To enter to win, leave a comment about your favorite thing about winter? Be sure to leave an email address.

I don't usually reply to comments because I don't want it to interfere with picking a winner through random.org. However, I do read them all. I think I'll start replying because I do appreciate the time you take to reply and enjoy your responses!

Have a fantastic week!
As always, I can only ship to the US.
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Critical Pursuit: A Giveaway!

 
I have no idea how I got two of these books. I think I bought one and then got one through the Tyndale Summer Reading Reward program.
Anyway, I'm giving it away this week. I haven't read it yet, but I have read a few by the author and enjoyed them.

To enter to win, leave a comment about something you are pursuing. I'm pursuing that second book....I've got about 17,000 words written, which isn't bad but not where I want to be.

I can only ship to the US. I'll pick a winner next week.

Happy first day of school to all of you who go back to school or have kids go back tomorrow. I'm eager to have kids back in my library!
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Always the Baker, Finally the Bride: A Review

After designing hundreds of cakes for brides, it's finally Emma Rae's turn to create her own wedding cake....except she can't decide. And when fiancé Jackson is offered an amazing amount of money to sell the hotel that brought them together, it's more than Emma can take and her health suffers. Is being a bride more than she can take?

Fans of the series will enjoy this book that features all the couples from the previous books. They're back and funny as ever with disastrous receptionists and a rogue kid on the loose in the hotel. Each character is highlighted and given closure. I've loved Emma and Jackson since the first book, and I liked seeing their story come to a happy conclusion.

Sometimes the book seemed to have the same thing happening over and over as Jackson wrestled with his decision, but enough was going on that it didn't become tedious.

My favorite part is Fee with the rogue hotel stowaway, who has the tenacity and spunk to one day have her own book. I don't want to give too much away about the plot, but it was heartwarming.

I recommend this series to Christian fiction fans who like romance with a touch of humor.

I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

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Giveaway--Gone South

   Congrats to Cindi for winning Stealing the Preacher. I'm impressed with everyone's clean record. :)  Today, I'm giving away Gone South. It's a cute read. To enter to win, leave a comment with the best place you've gone. I loved Boston. It's my favorite city. I loved Colorado. It's beautiful.But, the best place I've gone is a little orphanage in the Mexican desert. I went two summers in a row, and it forever changed me. In fact, I used it as the model for the mission trip my characters take in my first book (releasing February 4, 2014)!     To get a second entry, follow the blog and leave a second comment telling me you do. I can only ship to the US. I'll pick a winner next week.   '

Bending Toward the Sun: A Review

   Although everyone around her is falling in love and settling down, Emilie is focused on continuing her education and helping her father run their store. When a childhood friend returns from fighting in the Civil War, Emilie is forced to rethink her plans even if it means defying her father. Novellas are sometimes hard for me because I'm a character-driven reader, and it's hard to get to know characters in such a short time. However, I liked Quaid and Emilie a lot. They were sweet.  I also enjoyed getting to know the various characters. Small towns are always full of colorful characters who have their own story to tell, and I enjoy the historical aspect as well as the community.  Fans of Christian Historical Fiction will enjoy this novella. It's the second in the series, but I read it without having read the first one and had no problem. I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.  '