Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter

 A new book by Denise Hunter! This was one of her best. I know I say that about all of them, but really, this one was probably my second favorite (right after A Convenient Groom) of her books. Denise has been writing for decades and she never fails to deliver the best romance--and they are always a clean read. 

Dancing with Fireflies is the story of a single young woman caught with an unexpected pregnancy. The way she deals with the heartbreaking circumstances is written with such grace that is to be admired. It also serves as a reminder that bad things do happen and we can't be too careful.

This would be a perfect book to take on a weekend getaway, took me a little over two hours to read it and I was completely entranced by the story.

Back cover copy:
Growing up in the midwestern river town of Chapel Springs, Indiana, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden. When she left, she'd thought she'd never look back. Now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.
The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right in with the boisterous McKinley family. He's loved Jade for years, but she always thought of him as a big brother. Now that she's back, his feelings are stronger than ever.
As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she's hiding secrets from her family, and she's strangely attracted to the man who's always called her "squirt." Returning home may prove more difficult-and more wonderful-than she ever imagined.

This book was provided for review by LitFuse. 

Summer of Joy by Ann H. Habhart

Summer of Joy by Ann H. Gabhart was a book that I wanted to love and devour but that I had a really hard time getting into. I've read other books by this author and have loved them (especially Scent of Lilacs). This one though I started and it just never grabbed my interest.

From the back cover:

Unbeknownst to Jocie Brooke and her family, two people are making their way to the small town of Hollyhill, Kentucky. One everyone thought was gone for good and the other no one's ever heard of. Still, one thing is sure-they promise trouble. The past is coming to call, threatening to destroy strong relationships that everyone has simply taken for granted.
The summer of 1964 may be winding down, but the controversy in this little community where nothing ever seems to change is just heating up. 

Bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you to Hollyhill for a story both exciting and enduring that will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

This book was provided for review by Revell.

The Power of a Half Hour by Tommy Barnett

The Power of a Half Hour by Tommy Barnett is written with such ease that it feels like you're sitting with Barnett enjoying a leisurely chat instead of reading his book. The pages are sprinkled with anecdotes of his own experiences, on how he used and abused short moments of time in his own life. He shares that every bit of time matters and that there are ways to make the most of them.
The section that impressed me the most was the chapter on forgiveness and his true story of how he turned anger into something else entirely.
He also shares, pastor to pastor, about the demands of ministry and what the pastor can do to protect his life, his heart, his marriage, his family, and more.

I really appreciated this book from a true leader who has a humble spirit and a hunger for more of God.

This book was provided for review by the Blogging for Books program of Waterbrook/Multnomah. 

Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck

Isn't this cover just gorgeous?

I've been a fan of Rachel Hauck's writing for years. Princess Ever After is her second in The Royal Wedding Series and I adored it. My time spent reading this was cherished, loved every minute. This is a modern-day fairytale princess story, woven with love and tied together with faith and trust in God. Beautiful!
If the cover alone doesn't convince you, Rachel writes with a gentle authority and in her fiction reminds us that God loves us and has a plan for each of us. 
Guaranteed a clean read and I highly recommend this one!

This book was provided for review by LitFuse.

All Things Hidden by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

 All Things Hidden is the first book written by both Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse. It is flawless, these two did a great job of working together to bring the 1930s Alaska wilderness to life. A little romance, some mystery, action, a murder or two--this book has it all. It also has characters who put their trust in the Lord when everything around them is falling apart.
I enjoyed reading the parts about the doctors and the patients that they aided. I've never given much thought to the early days of settling in Alaska and this book was interesting in the historical sense.
 Here's the back cover:

 Inside the book you'll find recommendations for other Bethany House books. This was provided for review by Bethany House (one of my favorite publishing houses).

My Amish Boyfriend by Melody Carlson

 Melody Carlson is back with another Amish YA novel. Her Amish books are the only ones that I can bear to read anymore. The others are so predictable. Melody draws the reader in and you experience the story along with the characters, they come alive in your mind and you begin to feel concern for them. This is - in my opinion - the work of a true artist.
This book, at 265 pages, was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed watching as Shannon learned what love is and what it isn't. I also found this quote in the book that made me pause:

"It was good....a happy memory never wears out." What a beautiful line!

Here's the back cover so you can learn more about the story. Melody is a master at fiction for all ages, but her YA stuff is something special. I love sharing her books with my favorite teenage reader and can't wait to pass this one along too.

This book was provided for review by Revel.

Here's another series that your YA readers might be interested in:

 Melody is an author that you can trust.

Distortion by Terri Blackstock

When I get a new book by Terri Blackstock it's like the world comes to a stop for me. I anticipate these so much that I want to savor every bit of it. Distortion is the second book in her Moonlighters series. I read the first book earlier this year and couldn't wait to continue on with the story and the family that its all centered around.
It did not disappoint. Fast action and easy to follow reading made this one that I didn't want to put down, plus Terri is able to add a salvation message to her books in a way that doesn't come across as preachy. She is a master storyteller and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Enter 2/24 - 3/11!







From the back cover:
When Juliet Cole's husband is murdered before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning, then returns home to break the tragic news to her boys. But a threatening voicemail takes this from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack.
Juliet realizes that she and her children are in danger too, unless she meets the killers' demands. But as she and her sisters untangle the clues, her husband's dark secrets come to light. The more she learns, the more of her life is dismantled. Was her husband an innocent victim or a hardened criminal?

Terri Blackstock has sold over six million books world-wide and is a New York Times bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Downfall, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series.

This book was provided for review by LitFuse.