by Crystal Caudill | Mar 21, 2017 | Book Reviews
The Widow’s Captive by Lucette Nel
Alright, so this is a “Christmas” novella and I am reviewing it in March. Despite the fact I think Christmas should be celebrated year-round, this book is not so wholly centered around Christmas as to be a Christmas season only read.
The Widow’s Captive is the story of a mother doing anything to survive being pursued by a dangerous man while being mere weeks away from childbirth and caring for her other two children. Help comes at the unlikeliest of times, during a blizzard, from a sheriff bearing gifts for the town drunkard.
This novella is a quick read with a focus on romance and an element of danger. Readers who enjoy stories with children, humor, and innocent love will enjoy this novella. The sheriff does get some time being a traditional hero, but most of the time he is a hero through the sweet acts of kindness and protection of this vulnerable family.
I recommend this story no matter the time of year. The warm cozy feeling you feel as you read it never goes out of season.
Purchase your own copy at:
Amazon.com
BarnesandNoble.com
Christianbook.com
“On the run with two small children and a third due within weeks, Adeline Spencer fears the approaching blizzard will seal their fate. An abandoned cabin is an answer to her prayers. She hopes it will shield them from both the storm and the enraged brother-in-law hot on her tail. But when a stranger knocks at the door, she is convinced they have been found by one of Ward’s lackeys.Blamed for the death of his friend, Sheriff Jonah Hale is determined to prove himself worthy of his badge, even if it means riding into a blizzard to check on a crazy miner. When Jonah reaches the cabin, he’s caught off guard by a pretty and very pregnant young woman wielding a skillet. Bound to a chair while the storm rages, and as Christmas settles in around them, he must find a way to earn Adeline’s trust…and perhaps her heart.”
– Blurb from Amazon
by Crystal Caudill | Jan 24, 2017 | Book Reviews
The Scarlet Coat by Angela K. Couch
SQUEE!!!! I just finished reading Angela’s latest and I have to shout, I LOVED IT!!!!! SQUEE!!! (Imagine Crystal dancing in circles with the book clutched to her chest.)
If you made it past all my squealing, then it will come as no surprise that The Scarlet Coat is my absolute favorite book from Angela Couch so far!
My favorite part of studying the Revolutionary and Civil Wars is the relationship struggles caused by family, friends, and neighbors taking opposing sides. The Scarlet Coat was the best representation I have seen of the relational side of war.
You immediately become attached to the characters, rooting Rachel on in her disagreements with her brother. Swooning at the restrained moments of affection and love. Shouting “No!” at all the twists and turns.
I loved how I didn’t believe the troubles Rachel, Andrew, Joseph, and Daniel could get any worse but they DID! Talk about throwing your characters under the bus! I held my breath for the entire last half of the book! Wow, I just used way too many exclamation points. I promise to calm down… some. There were so many unexpected plot twists that I didn’t see coming.
The Scarlet Coat releases on February 1st, but you can go ahead and preorder it at the links below. I highly recommend doing it. I received and Advanced Reader Copy, and boy am I glad I didn’t have to wait! Now I must wait with baited breath to follow the next journey in April.
Links to Purchase:
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Visit her at https://angelakcouch.com/ or on Facebook.
Come back tomorrow for an interview with the amazing Angela!
“Surrounded by the musket fire of the American Revolution, Rachel Garnet prays for her family to be safe. When the British invade the Mohawk Valley and her father and brother don’t return from the battle, she goes in pursuit of them. She finds her brother alive but her father has been killed at the hand of the enemy. Amidst the death, how can she ignore a cry for help? Rachel reluctantly takes in a badly wounded British officer. But how long can her sense of Christian duty repress her hatred for his scarlet coat? Passages of Scripture and fleeting images of society are all Andrew Wyndham recalls after he awakens to the log walls of his gentle prison. Even his name eludes him. Rachel Garnet insists he is a captain in the British army. He mourns the loss of his memory, but how can he hope to remember war when his “enemy” is capturing his heart? Andrew’s injuries are severe, his memory slow to return, and the secret of his existence too perilous to ignore. As Rachel nurses him back to health, his hidden scarlet coat threatens to expose the deeds of her merciful heart, and Andrew is forced to face a harrowing decision-Stay hidden and risk losing the woman he loves or turn himself in and risk losing his life.”
– Blurb from Amazon.com
by Crystal Caudill | Nov 29, 2016 | Book Reviews
For the next bit, you will find a number of Mary Connealy books reviewed. One of my assignments to grow as a writer is to study the writing of a writer I admire, and she is one whose books have been lining my shelves long before God called me out of my four walls.
So here we go, Book # 1 in the Lassoed in Texas series.
Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy 
“Sophie Edwards is doing just fine, until a strange-yet oddly familiar-man rides into her life, insisting on rescuing her and her four daughters. Can she find a way to love a headstrong mountain man? When Clay McClellan discovers his brother has been murdered, he’s bent on finding the killers and seeing them properly hung. But first his Christian duty demands that he marry his sister-in-law. After all, Sophie needs someone to protect her – right? Faith and love help unruly wed newlyweds find common ground and a chance at love on the Texas frontier.”
– Amazon.com Blurb
The book starts right off the bat with action and suspense, making it a difficult task to lay down the book when your children start asking, “When’s dinner?”
There were lots of twists and turns in the book that I didn’t expect and although there were instances of what seemed to be coincidence, they were put together in a very believable way. Even a miracle of God appeared throughout the story, one I particularly loved and believe is plausible even in today’s world.
I loved how strong and independent Sophie and her girls were, and especially in how sweet she was in letting Clay think that he was teaching her and the girls new skills when, in fact, they had already mastered them years ago. As a reader, I wanted to be Sophie and think that I could defend my family the way she did.
Clay was a hoot, too! Mr. Macho had no idea how to deal with women, but he was all too willing to step in and fulfill his Biblical brotherly duties to marry his brother’s widow. His take charge attitude was met with some hilarious results. Some parts of the romance seemed to happen too quick for me, but it didn’t keep me from enjoying the story.
The plot was not straight-forward either. Mrs. Connealy did a marvelous job of bringing in all sorts of ties from unexpected places. Every single detail had its place and even when things seemed part of a different plot they all came together to make one cohesive story. I really marvel at how she did that and am specifically breaking down each chapter to discover just exactly how she did that.
I would recommend anything she writes, but I would definitely recommend reading this series first. So many of the people in this first series appear in later series. Mrs. Connealy does a magnificent job of creating a cohesive story world across series. So meet the characters first in this series.
It seems as if this book is no longer in print, but you can find it through third-party sellers at Amazon.com. You can visit her website at http://maryconnealy.com/.
by Crystal Caudill | Nov 2, 2016 | Book Reviews, Writing Craft
Have you struggled with flat characters? Difficult to plot stories? A lack of knowledge on how to correct these issues?
Oh my! I must admit I fall very solidly in this category. After the ACFW Conference, I realized just how much of a beginner I am. It feels like I have scrapped my story for the umpteenth time, but this time I have a solid plan.
One of the many benefits of attending the conference was connecting with Susan May Warren, a wonderful author and teacher. She has created this wonderful online community that is lesson based. It does require a membership, but the investment has been definitely worth the cost so far.
Due to the fact I do pay a membership, I have been hesitant to share what I have learned. I would not wish to break any copyright laws nor infringe on what Susie has spent so much time creating.
But lucky for you, one of the most helpful sets of lessons has recently been transcribed into a book that, even with access to the courses, I have added to my library of resources.
The Story Equation: How to Plot & Write a Brilliant Story From One Powerful Question by Susan May Warren
Susie’s wonderful method is based on developing your POV characters from the inside out. I will not steal her thunder, for the information is not mine to share, but I will say this has become my new favorite method to work my story.
It is organic and naturally encourages great depth. The plot, theme, and premise developed around my characters with surprising results. My story already feels stronger with the use of the Story Equation (SEQ).
I will not lie. As a beginner, I have spent many hours doing the courses, redoing them, and reading the book over and over again, working my characters as I did so. My characters are finally (mostly) solid and I am working on developing my major plot points.
The Kindle Edition of the book costs only $6.99. Let me tell you, this is an AMAZING price for an invaluable book. It is a quick and easy read, and easy to apply. If you can afford a monthly membership to her community, The Novel Academy, I would HIGHLY recommend that as well.
Below is the book blurb from Amazon. If you have any questions or experiences with the SEQ or Novel Academy, please comment below. I am so excited to share this resource with you!
“Discover The Story Equation!
One question can unlock your entire story! Are you struggling to build a riveting plot? Layered characters? How about fortify that saggy middle? Create that powerful ending?
You can build an entire book by asking one powerful question, and then plugging it into an “equation” that makes your plot and characters come to life. You’ll learn how to build the external and internal journey of your characters, create a theme, build story and scene tension, create the character change journey and even pitch and market your story. All with one amazing question.
Learn:
- The amazing trick to creating unforgettable, compelling characters that epic movies use!
- How to create riveting tension to keep the story driving from chapter to chapter
- The easy solution to plotting the middle of your novel
- The one element every story needs to keep a reader up all night
- How to craft an ending that makes your reader say to their friends, “Oh, you have to read this book!”
Using the powerful technique that has created over fifty RITA, Christy and Carol award-winning, best-selling novels, Susan May Warren will show novelists how to utilize The Story Equation to create the best story they’ve ever written.”
– Blurb from Amazon
by Crystal Caudill | Sep 13, 2016 | Book Reviews
The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson 
I have finally reached Melanie’s The Merchant’s Daughter in my TBR pile and all I can say is, why did I wait so long? I will readily admit that Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale of all time, and Melanie did an amazing job with the story.
For those hardcore fairy tale fans – the ones who read the original versions by Anderson and the Grimm brothers – you will not be disappointed. Melanie did a fantastic job of sticking to the core elements but fleshing them out into a real life scenario that is just as magical as the fantasy presented to us through the historical renditions.
Even though I was very familiar with all the different variations of Beauty and the Beast, I was still wonderfully surprised and held in suspense throughout the story. It is easy to fall in love with kind, sweet Annabell who has her own wounds and broken past.Lord Ranulf le Wyse is an amazing beast who is all at once ferocious and yet gentle. My heart went out to him almost immediately.
Spiritual truth was woven masterfully and naturally throughout the story. I found myself transported and looking at the Holy Writ, as Annabell calls it, in a whole new light and with an excitement that I sometimes forget.
I highly recommend this book and would sum up this review with The Merchant’s Daughter is a fairy tale that reaches down to the soul and brings joy just by reading it. You simply must read this, and heart be still, Melanie has written a whole Fairy Tale Romance series.
The newest book Silent Songbird comes out in November.
Check out the links to purchase and connect with Melanie Dickerson below:
Amazon.com Barnes and Noble Melanie’s Website
“An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf’s bailiff—a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff’s vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf’s future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.”
– Blurb by from Amazon
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 30, 2016 | Book Reviews
The Canadian West Series by Janette Oke
Okay after having to leave a two-star rating for my favorite author last week, I had to revisit my favorite series from her and give her a glowing review to make up for the disappointment.
The Canadian West Series:
#1 When Calls the Heart
#2 When Comes the Spring
#3 When Breaks the Dawn
#4 When Hope Springs New
# 5 Beyond The Gathering Storm
# 6 When Tomorrow Comes
The first four books are my absolute favorite. In the first book, Elizabeth Thatcher goes to the Canadian West to teach in a school near her brother. Only she finds out turning down the wrong man puts her in a school much farther west where she has to learn to live alone and teach in a little one room school house. The fun ensues with her mistakes and the challenges of teaching in a small community.
In When Calls the Heart, Elizabeth Thatcher goes to the Canadian West to teach in a school near her brother. Only she finds out turning down the wrong man puts her in a school much farther west where she has to learn to live alone and teach in a little one room school house. The fun ensues with her mistakes and the challenges of teaching in a small community. Of course, there is the dashing mountie, Wynn. The miscommunications and the romance that follows is wonderful to read.
When Comes the Spring begins with the wedding, honeymoon, and then the first year of marriage. It is such a wonderful book showing how a God-centered marriage works, even in the most challenging of situations. Not only do they have to leave the small community they had come to know and love, but Elizabeth follows Wynn to the far north to live in an Indian village where she is an outsider.
In When Breaks the Dawn, they must move yet again and Elizabeth works with the Indian community to survive a wildfire and then flood. It is an exciting read and I just love following their marriage.
When Hope Springs New is the last one to focus on their lives as husband and wife, mountie and teacher. This book touches on the difficult topic of not being able to have children and God’s grace. It is a wonderful read that leaves you with hope for the future.
Finally, Beyond the Gathering Storm and When Tomorrow Comes follow the lives of Wynn and Elizabeth’s two children. One is an adopted son and the other is their miracle daughter. Each struggle to find their way in the world and to be patient for love. I enjoy reading both of their stories and love that you get to see Wynn and Elizabeth in a different light.
This is one of those rare series that I would make everyone read if I could. Janette Oke reveals the true life trials of married life and how it can be done in a Godly manner. Even if you have no Godly couples to look to, you can really see a great example in this series.
I love Wynn and Elizabeth as if they were real people. Okay, so maybe that is a little creepy. But in the books that really impact you and you love, it feels that way.
So what are you doing? Go buy and read this series. I promise you won’t regret it AND it is way better than her newest series and even the When Calls the Heart television show (which I do like, but it is nothing like the books.)
