My review: The Warrior's Vow

The Warrior's Vow is Christina Rich's newest book!  It follows the story of Jesse, who we met in her previous book, The Guardian's Promise!  (anyone else going "yes!" when you read that?)

Description:
He Was Hers to Command

Swept away from her home and into the desert, Abigail is as much a prisoner as she is a princess. A ruthlessly ambitious captain of the palace guard intends to force her into marriage and rule Judah through her. Yet the badly beaten soldier Abigail rescues offers another choice—if she dares trust him.

She is royalty, yet Jesse is surprised by the gentle compassion Abigail shows him as he heals. In return, he will help her escape to Jerusalem, protecting her life with his own. But Abigail's rank and Jesse's deadly past makes any future impossible, unless forgiveness forged by love can triumph over all.

About the Author:
Christina Rich is a full-time housewife and mother.  She lives in the Mid-west with her husband and four children.  She loves Jesus, history, researching her ancestry, fishing, reading and of course, writing romances woven with God's grace, mercy and truth.
You can find more about her at www.authorchristinarich.com
(Book description from Amazon, Author Bio copied from book, and cover photo from Christian Book)

My review: 4 stars
Great sequel!
The Warrior’s Vow is Christina Rich’s second book for Love Inspired Historical, after The Guardian’s Promise. It picks up right after the first book ends, following Jesse’s story, whom we met in the previous book. While it is technically a sequel, you don’t have to read the first book to understand this one - they both standalone very well. I liked Jesse in The Guardian’s Promise, so I was very excited to read his book and am happy to say that I really enjoyed it!
I loved all the historical details Ms. Rich included in this book. It is set in Bible times, during the very early days of King Joash’s reign, and she brings this time to life, with interesting descriptions and compelling characters. While most of the characters in this book are fictional, they often felt so real that I had to remind myself they were not.
Abigail is the heroine in this book and I have to say that I really liked her. She has spent most of her life in the palace, locked in her rooms, and has a sort of childlike wonder about the world she has suddenly been thrust into. She learns strength, courage, faith, forgiveness, and love. I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the story. Her curiosity about the Lord also endeared her to me. She has heard little about this God that her mother forsook and desires to learn more. It is actually because of this desire that she helped Jesse in the first place - that and she is a softie who hates to see anything in pain. 
Jesse is also an interesting character. I confess that even though I know he was in the last book, I didn’t remember much about him. We are quickly reintroduced to him, though, so I didn’t feel like I was missing something by not rereading the first book. He is strong, stubborn, and sure of himself. When we first meet him, he has been injured, and Abigail decides to take care of him in order to learn about the God he serves. We are shown a softer side of him as he grows closer to Abigail and begins to teach her a bit about the Lord. I enjoyed knowing his thoughts and getting to know him and his family (I’m hoping they come back for another book).
The romance between them seemed a bit rushed at times, but looking back on it now, I can see where the author intentionally slowed it down or changed the focus. They know each other such a short time in this book, but considering all the time they spend together, it evens out. I adored how sweet it was and how almost poetic Jesse’s thoughts about her were. There were several times I wanted to sigh aloud because of something he thought or said to her. No worries though, he doesn’t come off as anything less than manly. 
The spiritual part was interesting. Jesse seems to teach more by deed rather than word, which I really liked. It made his witness to Abigail and the others more real. Abi also remembers a lot of things someone had taught her when she was a child, so that was woven into the story as well. Jesse struggles with letting go and trusting God - he would much rather rush into a situation, then pray about it. I was able to appreciate this struggle, as I’m sure many people can - we react first and think later. I liked watching him learn and grow in this area, as he had to let go over and over. 
The suspense was a nice touch too. It helped keep the story moving and didn’t drag on as some books are prone to doing. 
My only complaint about the book is that I felt the epilogue either should have either been longer or perhaps just left off. It seemed a little too pat an ending for me, I guess. I would have been very happy had the book ended at the last chapter and that final page been left out.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with down-to-Earth characters, a bit of suspense, and a very sweet romance!
I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

 I hope you enjoyed my review!  If you're interested in purchasing a copy of the book I will add a couple links below, where you can preorder it.  Also, it can be found at most local bookstores, Wal-Mart, and K-Mart after July 1, 2014! 
Thank you for stopping by! :)

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Christian Book




 

My Writing: Broken Pieces

Broken Pieces
Lord, I kneel before You,
all my brokenness clutched in my hands,
held so tightly I feel the jagged edges cutting my skin.
The pain becomes so intense that I finally release my burden.
I drop it at You feet, so ashamed of my poor offering,
I refuse to look up.
“Who would want someone so damaged?” I think.
“Just look at the mess I’ve laid before Him.”
Just as I steel myself to start gathering up the pieces,
sure You won’t want them,
I look up and see the kindest,
most loving expression on Your face.
You aren’t disgusted at the mess I’ve made of my life.
You don’t ignore or ridicule me,
or tell me I’m unworthy.
Instead, You reach down,
scoop up the pile
and quietly offer to help me put the pieces back together again.
What I looked at and saw as irreparable and unwanted,
You saw as a potential for great beauty.
After all, stained glass windows are made from broken pieces.




After looking through many pictures of stained glass windows, I finally chose this one of a cross, because I'm constantly reminded that when broken, messed up people surrender at the foot of the cross, God puts us back together again.  We become whole and beautiful, maybe with a few more scars then before, but like stained glass windows, our cracks just make us more able to shine God's light.  

My review: A Place in His Heart

A Place in His Heart is the first book in Rebecca DeMarino's newest series, The Southhold Chronicles. 

Description: Anglican Mary Langton longs to marry for love. Puritan Barnabas Horton is still in love with his deceased wife and needs only a mother for his two young sons. And yet these two very different people with very different expectations will take a leap of faith, wed, and then embark on a life-changing journey across the ocean to the Colonies. Along the way, each must learn to live in harmony, to wait on God, and to recognize true love where they least expect to find it.

About the Author:

Rebecca DeMarino is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and The Southold Long Island Historical Society. She was a 2011 Genesis Award semi-finalist. Rebecca is retired from a major airline and lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Tom. Learn more at www.rebeccademarino.com.

My review - 2 stars

Barely finished it.

A Place in His Heart is the first book in Rebecca DeMarino’s new series The Southhold Chronicles. I am always intrigued by marriage of convenience stories, so I was really interested to see what Ms. DeMarino would do with that. I was also curious about the time period - I haven’t read many books set in the 1600s. I’m sorry to say that after all my anticipation, I did not enjoy this book. It felt more like a nonfiction book that a romance novel. The descriptions were great, the historical detail well researched, but the relationships and characters fell flat. The historical detail overshadowed pretty much everything.
I found the heroine, Mary Langton-Horton to be a very annoying character. She spends the first few chapters of the book telling her father she wishes to marry for love - her excuse to not marry the man her father has chosen for her. But, she then marries Barnabas, a man she knows doesn’t love her and who is only marrying her so that his young sons will have a mother. This would have been okay, but during what seemed like every chapter (actually, it was probably only about half of them) she laments about her husband not loving her. I could not connect with her, at all.

Barnabas Horton was even worse for me. This book covers about 9 years and for all but the last chapter, he still misses his late wife and compares Mary to her. How could he be married to Mary for 9 years and still not care anything for her? He says wants to please her, but he ignores her, all-but forces her to leave England for Massachusetts, and doesn’t seem to respect her. All he thinks about is his church, his late wife, and the fact that his current wife isn’t giving him the children he desires. I couldn’t find it in me to like him at all. I really just wanted Mary to wise up and realize that he wasn’t worth her time.

The main thing, other than Barnabas’ attitude, that bothered me was how the book jumped months or even years at a time. I would finish a chapter, then have to flip back to the beginning of it to find out how much time had passed. I felt like I missed so much of their lives because of this. Granted, if she hadn’t done that, the book would’ve been huge, but still, that really bothered me. It was also one of the reasons I couldn’t connect with the characters.
The romance also falls short of what I expected. The characters spend time together, but there is little to no love shown. There were several times where I really wanted there to be a sweet moment between Barnabas and Mary, but if there was one, it ended quickly, swallowed up by one of the seemingly endless descriptions. Or it would get cut off by the end of a chapter, which would then skip a minimum of a week.
There was also a major theological problem for me. Mary desires to have children of her own and when she doesn’t, she and Barnabas come to the conclusion that God will give them a child after they have completed the work He has for them - going to the New World, building a home and a church, etc. I don’t agree with this. It gave the impression that they had to earn God’s favor.
I so often felt like an uncaring bystander while reading this book. I wanted it to draw me in and engage me, but this is a book that I wanted to finish as soon as possible, not to know what happens, but just to get it over with and move on.
The reason I gave this book 2 stars is because it was well researched and Ms. DeMarino brought the scenes to life with her descriptions.
I recommend this book if you like history and are interested in reading about a often ignored time period.
I received a copy of this book through The Christian Manifesto for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed my review.  If you've read this book, what did you think?  I'm always interested to hear other opinions (yes, even opposing ones), so if you have time, I would love to hear your thoughts! :)

My review: Sanctuary Lost

Sanctuary Lost is the first book in Lisa Phillips' new series, WITSEC Town!  It is fast-paced, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns that will keep you up late, wanting to know what happens next!

Description:
U.S. Marshal John Mason gains full custody of his son and is transferred to Sanctuary, a WITSEC town that isn't on any map.  When the town's first ever murder occurs, John's plans to reconnect with his boy are derailed by the investigation.
Andra Caleri gave up her old life a long time ago, but someone wants her out of Sanctuary-to pay.
As accusations fly and John uncovers a conspiracy that stretches all the way to Washington, Andra's past comes back in a true test of the mercy she received.
Can John give up what he wants the most to bring the truth to life?

About the author:
Lisa Phillips is an ex-pat Brit who crossed the pond to attend Bible College.  She and her husband have two kids and lead worship together at their local church.  Lisa studied the craft of writing with the Christian Writers Guild and is a board member of her local ACFW chapter, Idahope Writers.  She can most often be found with a cup of proper tea and her nose in a book. 
Find out more at www.authorlisaphillips.com
(Description and author bio copied from back cover.  Cover photo from Barnes & Noble.com)

My review: 4 stars
Great start to a series!
 Lost Sanctuary is the first book of Lisa Phillips’ new series, WITSEC Town. When I first heard about this series, I was very intrigued. It is about a town that the U.S. Marshals service created for those in witness protection. It is completely “off the grid,” no one knows about it, and is a lot like an old West town. When one of the residents is murdered, fingers are pointed and the new sheriff must find out who the killer is while fighting against biases, secrets, and pressure from all sides to make an arrest. Oh, and did I mention lack of evidence, no real resources, and the moonshine and weed problem? Sounds like fun, right?
This book started out a little slowly, but as I got to know the characters and figured out who was who in Sanctuary it picked up and became a quick read. I didn’t want to put it down! The mystery held my attention, with so many twists and turns, that just when I thought I knew who did it, another wrench would be thrown into the works and I would have to find a new suspect. And I was still wrong in the end! Which I actually really enjoyed. I love a book that can stump me and keep me guessing.
John Mason is our main character and hero. I wasn’t sure what to make of him at first. He really wants to be a good father to his son, whom he hasn’t seen in over a year. He also has to balance working on the murder case, protecting a suspect who all the town is convinced it guilty, along with taking care of his son. I felt his son got the raw end of the deal at times, because of how busy John was with everything else. John was an interesting character, though, and seemed very realistic. I really liked the voice Lisa gave him - he is honest, a little sarcastic, and strong. He stands up for what he believes in and for those he loves. 
Andra Caleri is the heroine. I really liked her character and was able to connect with her quickly. Like everyone in this town, she has a past, though hers is worst than most. Because of that past, she chooses a life of solitude and only has a couple friends, despite having lived in Sanctuary for 10 years. She is an anomaly to everyone in town and most of the town folks don’t like her simply because she doesn’t fit in. She is also strong, but it is a quiet strength that we learn comes from her faith in God. There were several times that I really wanted her to stand up and defend herself, but she didn’t. Instead, she trusted that God would fight for her.
I really enjoyed the spiritual aspect of Sanctuary Lost. Andra has such a strong faith, which contrasted with John, who has little to no faith. She has a better understanding than most of mercy and what it means to be redeemed, while John doesn’t like the word mercy because he felt mercy meant there was no justice. Andra’s struggles with her faith really hit home with me. She wanted to trust that God had a greater plan in everything that was going on, but at the same time, was concerned that His will might mean she faced Him a lot sooner than she hoped. I really like this quote, because it illustrates where John and Andra were spiritually, “She’d given God control of her whole life. Who just surrendered like that?” - John Mason, page 155 (quotation used with permission from the author)
I should probably now explain why I’m only this book 4 stars, instead of the 5 stars I would really like to. There were two things that bothered me. One, was that the romance seemed a little unbelievable. They only knew each other a short time and by the end of the book were talking about marriage. The other thing is that while Andra had this great faith, John’s was shallow. Even at the end, he only prayed in extenuating circumstances and still knew little about God. I’m hoping that if he is in the next books, Lisa will expand on that a bit more.
All that said, I am looking forward to the next book and am really excited to find out what happens next in Sanctuary!
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy fast-paced mystery and suspense!
I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to give a positive review and have not been compensated for it in anyway. All opinions expressed are my own. 


Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed my review and will consider buying a copy of the book when it releases June 30th!

My Review: Fatal Exchange

 

Fatal Exchange is the second book in Lisa Harris' newest series, Southern Crimes!

 

 

Description:

Emily Hunt might come from a family of cops, but she never goes looking for an adrenaline rush. She lives the quiet--well, relatively quiet--life of a teacher and thrives on making a difference in the lives of her students. But she'll have to draw on a well of strength and savvy she didn't know she had as student Rafael Cerda takes her class hostage for ransom money to save his brother's life.

Undercover cop Mason Taylor has been working with Rafael to find his brother and bring the cartel thugs who hold him to justice. Can he talk Rafael down from his impulsive actions? And is there something more sinister at work here than he realizes?

About the author:

Lisa Harris is a Christy Award finalist and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times. The author of more than twenty books, including Dangerous Passage, Harris has spent over ten years living with her family as missionaries in Mozambique, where she leads a women's group and runs a nonprofit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. Learn more at www.lisaharriswrites.com.
(Book description and author bio from Amazon.com. Cover photo from Deeper Shopping.com.)

My review:

Fast-paced suspense novel - 3.5 stars
 Fatal Exchange is the second book in Lisa Harris’ newest series, Southern Crimes. This is the first of her books that I’ve read and I enjoyed it. It is fast-paced and held my attention.
Since I didn’t read the first book in the series, Dangerous Passage, I didn’t understand at first why we had Avery’s point of view. Once I found out book one was hers, it made more sense. Though this is book two in the series, it can very easily be read as a standalone, though there is a bit of a cliff-hanger at the end to ensure you will want to pick up the next book when it releases in Spring of 2015. There were undoubtedly several things I missed because of not reading Dangerous Passage first, but nothing noticeable enough to detract from the story.
Emily Hunt comes from a family of cops, but is the odd one out because she chose to be a school teacher. I really liked Emily’s character. She was very believable and likeable. I enjoyed that while the author threw her into a high-stress, high-risk situation, she didn’t try to make her into a super heroine. She was scared, tense, emotional, everything I imagine I would be, if I were to face a similar crisis. There seems to be a fine line in writing, between having a strong, independent heroine, and a clingy, annoying one. I really appreciated that Ms. Harris finds just the right balance to make Emily feel real.
Our hero is Mason Taylor and he is a great character! He is strong, determined, while also being kind and compassionate. The undercover cop character sometimes seems overdone and worn out, but Ms. Harris finds just the right balance for his character, too. While he is a cop, we see more than just one side of him. He has loved Emily for years, but has stayed just a friend out of respect for her faith. I was a little surprised that when he gets the chance to reconnect with her, he doesn’t immediately jump at it. Yes, there is a lot going on so that wasn’t really an option, but he mostly continues to be the friend she needs, while weighing the possibility of something more.

I was slightly disappointed that Ms. Harris left Emily and Mason’s relationship on the sidelines for most of the book. This book is mostly suspense with a little romance. I suppose since the book covers a very small time frame, the romance would have seemed rushed had she done more with it, but I would also have liked there to have been a bit more depth to it. Hopefully she will pick it up again in the third book.

My main complaint is that this book is more suspense than mystery, which wouldn‘t be a problem, except she tried to make it a mystery. The few “twists” seemed to lack originality and I could guess what was going to happen next without putting much thought into it. Also the “surprise” villain was very obvious. I saw it coming almost as soon as it happened, the only surprise was why they did it and that never seemed to be clearly defined. We are left with the “we may never truly know the reason,” excuse. That was frustrating for me. 

I was impressed with how she wove faith into the story. It isn’t a major part of it, but she highlights what is there very well. The main spiritual theme is forgiveness, focusing on forgiving others. This quote sums it up rather well, I think, “My father always told me that forgiveness is a choice. A conscious decision to let go.” Emily Hunt, page 279 

Mason and Emily struggle with this through out the book. Mason must forgive someone from his past and Emily has to let go of the betrayal she feels. Forgiveness is never an easy topic to broach and while Ms. Harris does a great job of it, it did get a bit overwhelming for a couple pages at the end. I know she was trying to tie up the story and bring it to a close, but it felt both condensed and strangely long at the same time. She piled a lot into a few pages, then drug the last chapter out. 

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast paced suspense!

I received this book through The Book Club Network for my honest opinion, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.



My writing: Waiting

 

 

Waiting

You used to call on My name, but now you say I don't hear you.  You used to reach out to Me for My peace and the comfort of My arms, but now you say I don't care.  What happened to your faith, dear one?  The day you walked away is one I will never forget.  You turned your back on Me and said, "enough!  I won't do this anymore!"  When I called to you, you ignored Me, unwilling to listen.  It seems like just yesterday, when you gave your life to Me, but now the pain and trials of this life are immense, and they are trying to drown you.  Right now, it seems they're succeeding. 
Your smile is gone, no one has seen it in what seems like ages.  That joy you had that was so contagious, it has disappeared too.  Now all you do is frown and hold people at a distance - you are so afraid of being hurt again that you shut everyone out.  When will you learn to trust again?
I miss you so much.  Your smile, that laugh; it was music to My ears.  I miss the sound of your voice raised in praise to Me.  I miss hearing your prayers, all those thoughts you would pour out to Me.  Please, turn back to Me.  My arms are open wide, awaiting your return.  I long to cover you with My love and grace, to hear you say My name like you used to: with love, joy, and reverence.  Now only disdain drips from your words when you speak of Me.  But, I know that you will come back one day, hopefully soon.  Just know that I am here, waiting, whenever you are ready.

 

Love,

Your Heavenly Father

 

 

I actually wrote this for a character in a book.  I read Rachelle McCalla's Royal Wedding Threat and the heroine, Ava Wright, struck a chord in me.  I hope this encourages you in some way!  God bless! 

Silenced Giveaway!!

 

 

I'm giving away a copy of Dani Pettrey's newest release, Silenced!  This book follows Kayden McKenna and Jake Westin as they search for a killer and come face to face with the past . . . and love.

 

Description:

Jake Knew Something Was Wrong.
But He Never Guessed How Wrong.

A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.

Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.

(cover photo and book description from Deeper Shopping - italics mine)

 

The giveaway will be open until midnight EST Monday, June 9.  To be entered, please tell me about one of your favorite suspense authors or books and leave your email address in a similar spam protected format (suchandsuch[at]something[dot]com).  You must leave your email address to be entered.  This is open to US only.

For an extra entry you can follow my blog  by email or subscribe (options at the top on the right)- if you do, please tell me in a comment. 

Hope you have a blessed weekend!  :)

 

 

 

My review: Full Steam Ahead

 

 

Karen Witeymeyer's newest book is a great read with a compelling storyline, quirky characters, and interesting historical detail!



Description:
When love simmers between a reclusive scientist and a wealthy debutante, will they abandon ship or is it full steam ahead?
Nicole Renard returns how to Galveston, Texas, to find her father deathly ill.  Though she loves him, Nicole's father has always focused on what she's not.  Not male.  Not married.  Not able to run Renard Shipping.

Vowing to find a suitable husband to give her father the heir he desires before it's too late, Nicole sets out with the Renard family's greatest treasure as her dowry: the highly coveted Lafitte Dagger.  But her father's rivals come after the dagger, forcing a change in Nicole's plans.

After a boiler explosion aboard the Louisiana nearly took his life, Darius Thornton has been a man obsessed.  He will do anything to stop even one more steamship disaster.  Even if it means letting a female secretary into his secluded world.

Nicole is determined not to let her odd employer scare her off with his explosive experiments, yet when respect and mutual attraction grow between them, a new fear arises.  How can she acquire an heir for her father when her heart belongs to another?  And when her father's rivals discover her hiding place, will she have to choose between that love and her family's legacy?
(Description copied from back cover - italics mine)

About the author:
Two-time RITA finalist and winner of the coveted HOLT Medallion and ACFW Carol Award, CBA bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance because she believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters.  She is an avid cross-stitcher and shower singer, and she bakes a mean apple cobbler.  Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.  Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com
(Author bio copied from book.  Cover photo from DeeperShopping.com)

My review: 4 stars
Karen Witemeyer does it again!I’m a huge fan of Ms. Witemeyer’s, so of course when I saw this book listed as an upcoming release back in January I was really excited and couldn’t wait to read it. The title alone had me curious and when I found out it was about a man who spent his time blowing up engines I was sure I was going to love the book. I’m happy to say that I was exactly right and liked this book very much!
Nicole Renard is a little bit of the stereotypical heroine. She is a Texan, so she is strong, spunky, stubborn, and determined. What sets her apart is her intelligence and refinement. She isn’t one of the pioneer women a lot of people expect in a historical novel set in Texas - the one who carries a shot gun and has a passel of children (though, she does have a dagger). Instead she is smart - almost as intelligent as Darius sometimes, and she doesn’t hide it, which I appreciated it. I liked her almost at once. While being all the things I listed above, she is also sweet and caring. I loved how she took care of Darius and stood up to him when he was being bullheaded. I enjoyed getting to know her and following her thoughts throughout the story.
Darius Thornton is our hero and what an captivating character he is. He is part mad scientist, part gentleman, and part tortured soul, which makes for a strangely compelling combination. I liked him right from the start. We get to know his background in the prologue, so I felt I had a pretty good grip on his characters, but then there’s a twist - before Nicole meets him, she is warned about the loony Easterner who blows up stuff on his property! What could be more intriguing? I really liked how analytical he is, but that doesn’t stop him from being impulsive too. He is also sweet and kind, when he manages to pull himself out of his work. I also said he is tortured, which is true. He feels responsible for an accident and desires to atone for what he sees as his biggest failure. I really enjoyed this part of the story, because it allows Ms. Witemeyer to explore one of the main spiritual themes in this book: forgiveness. I love this quote from the book, “But when you continue clinging to your feelings of guilt, this God-given mission becomes nothing more than self-imposed penance.” Nicole Renard, page 185
Darius felt so guilty that he wouldn’t allow God to forgive him, to make him new. I really appreciated how Karen handled this rather sensitive subject, allowing it to play out in a way that brought resolution, but not without a struggle for Darius. A struggle to accept what God was offering and to let go of the past.
Nicole also has a struggle to face. She has spent all of her life trying to make up for the fact that she wasn’t born the son her father desired. So when he tasks her with finding him an heir (and therefore a husband for herself), she is determined to find the kind of man her father needs for his business, without even thinking of what kind of man she needs for a husband. She also feels the family heirloom dagger means more to her father than she does. I hated that she felt that way and just wanted to shake her father for ever letting her think that, let alone believe it! My favorite part of the story is when her father finally tells her how much she means to him.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I have a complaint. The romance between Darius and Nicole felt rushed. This book only covers a matter of weeks, so that is to be expected, but it still bothered me a little. They were kissing only a few days after meeting and after the first kiss, Darius decides she is “his match.” I’m sorry, but that seems a bit far fetched to me.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical romance with quirky characters and a compelling story.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishing for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are mine.

Thank you for stopping by my blog and taking the time to read my review!  I hope you enjoyed it! 
If you are interested in reading more reviews or perhaps purchasing the book, here are a few links to help you out:

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Full-Steam-Ahead-Karen-Witemeyer-ebook/dp/B00GHXRQ6K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401818125&sr=8-1&keywords=full+steam+ahead+karen+witemeyer

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/full-steam-ahead-karen-witemeyer/1117107052?ean=9780764209673 

Christian Book:
http://www.christianbook.com/full-steam-ahead-karen-witemeyer/9780764209673/pd/209673?product_redirect=1&Ntt=209673&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP 


Thanks again!  I hope you have a blessed day! :)