"Gunpowder Tea" by Margaret Brownley

The "Phantom," an infamous train robber, may be hiding on Last Chance Ranch. Two agents, unknown to each other, find a way onto the ranch to capture him. Will either Miranda Hunt or Jeremy Taggart uncover the Phantom? Will they learn to trust each other?

Miranda works for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and she is one of their best agents. She wants to apprehend the "Phantom" more than anything, and when she discovers that he may be hiding on the Last Chance Ranch, she knows she has to find a way in. Luckily, she sees an ad that opens that door for her. Meanwhile, Jeremy is an undercover Wells Fargo agent looking for the same person Miranda is. When they meet, sparks of many types fly. Neither knows who the other really is, and don't trust easily. But, there are also romantic thoughts occupying their minds. Will either of them uncover the Phantom? Will they learn to trust each other and work together? Will they fall in love? In her third book of "The Brides of the Last Chance Ranch" series, Margaret Brownley answers these questions and much more.

Margaret Brownley truly knows how to weave a wonderfully entertaining story. With characters and scenarios that come alive, her books are not easy to put down. If you like a little mystery, a little romance, and a lot of good story telling, this book is for you. I received my review copy from Litfuse Publishing in exchange for honest participation in the blog tour.

Book Info

About the book: In a case that could change her career, Miranda uncovers a love that will change her life. When Miranda Hunt sees the classified ad for an heiress to the legendary Last Chance Ranch, she knows assuming the identity of Annie Beckman is the perfect cover. As one of the finest agents for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Miranda has been tasked with apprehending the Phantom---an elusive and notorious train robber thought to be hiding on the sprawling ranch. But she isn't the only one at the ranch with something to hide. Wells Fargo detective Jeremy Taggart is working undercover as well. Their true identities may be a secret, but it is impossible for Jeremy and Miranda to hide the sparks flaring between them. Neither is about to let romance interfere with such a huge case. Besides, Miranda hasn't removed Jeremy from her list of suspects yet. The closer they get to uncovering the identity of the Phantom, the more dangerous he gets---and no one on the ranch is safe. The longer Miranda and Jeremy spend working together, the harder it becomes to keep their feelings in check. Their careers-and their lives-depend on solving this case. Love will just have to wait. "In the exquisitely intriguing finale to her Brides of Last Chance Ranch trilogy, Brownley blends faith and romance with a dash of mystery to serve up a cozy, fulfilling story set in the Arizona Territory of the 1890s . . . .This enchanting account of the hardships and wonders of the Old West features many delightful characters. The story stands on its own merits, independent of the first two in the series, drawing readers into a world that is difficult to leave."  ---Publishers Weekly Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/pS1iy Meet the author: Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this---except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter at the time. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, "Maybe God's calling you to write fiction." So that's what Margaret did. She's now a New York Times bestselling author and a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist with more than 25 novels to her credit. Her first non-fiction book Grieving God's Way: the Lasting Path to Hope and Healing has won much critical acclaim. She is currently working on the third book in her Brides of Last Chance Ranch series. Not bad for someone who flunked 8th grade English. Just don't ask her to diagram a sentence. Learn more at Margaret's website: http://margaretbrownley.com

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Landing page:  http://litfusegroup.com/author/mbrownley

"What Once Was Lost" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Brambleville Asylum for the Poor was the home for people needing help, lovingly and carefully run by Christina Willems. But a fire has taken that away. How will Christina keep these people together and safe? Will someone come to their assistance?

Christina desperately needs help to get her family back together. She needs to be able to repair the farm and provide a safe home for them. Tommy is a young blind boy who needs more attention than she can spare while working, so reaches out to Levi Johnson for help. Levi is a recluse who reluctantly agrees to take in Tommy. The relationship flourishes and changes both of their lives. The real question for all of them is whether or not they will not only open their hearts to what God has to say, but also whether or not they will follow Him. Pick up this book and take the journey with Christina, Tommy, Levi, and the others, and see what happens when they do and don't listen.

This is a wonderful book filled with hope, fear, love, desperation, and redemption. Ms. Sawyer weaves a wonderful story with realistic characters and settings. I recommend it to readers of all types because it has a message for us all. I received my review copy from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.

"Dark Halo" by Shannon Dittemore

There is a deadly battle raging over Stratus, Oregon. Most people can't see what is happening, but if they could, fear would grip their hearts. Brielle can see everything because of the halo she has. But, she feels alone and frightened because Jake is gone. Will she be able to withstand the assault from Satan himself, or will she stand strong for God? In this third, and final, installment of her "Angel Eyes Trilogy," Shannon Dittemore gives us the answers.

Brielle is at a crossroads in her life. Jake was taken by the evil Damien, and she fears he is lost forever. She can see the terrible battle raging for the hearts and souls of the people all around her. She knows demons are entering her world in larger numbers and more easily each time. How much time does her world have? Will the angels of God win the battle? She is tired of fighting when she finds herself in a desert with the Prince of Darkness. He is offering to help her. He is offering to shield her sight from the battle and give her Jake again. She just has to take a new halo from him. But, what is the cost? Will Brielle stand strong, or break under the pressure? What has happened to Jake? Come, finish this series and find the answer to all these questions and more.

What a great ending to the series. It was intense and captivating; a real "edge of your seat" ride. I enjoyed the other books, and was sorry to see the storyline end. The characters and story pull you right in and hold your attention. I recommend this to readers of all types, and also recommend that you read the books as a series. I received my review copy from Book Sneeze in exchange for an honest review.

"Bake Through The Bible" by Susan Bentley-Taylor and Bekah Moore

Children like to "see" things from Bible stories, which is why the use of pictures and models, anything hands on, is so important. I can remember wanting to know what manna tasted like, or unleavened bread, or any of the other foods mentioned in the Bible. In this new book for children, Susan Bentley-Taylor and Bekah Moore give children the opportunity of not only learning some Bible truths, but also baking something to remind them of that truth.

Mothers know that keeping a child's attention on a lesson can be challenging at best. These two mothers put 20 Bible lessons together with an activity children love - baking and eating - to keep the learning fun. Here is a sampling of cooking activities from the press release.

"Cooking activities include:
- Sparkly promise cookies to remember God’s wonderful promises to Abraham
- Happy crepe faces in response to God’s promise to send His Rescuer and Forever-King
- Spiral tuna wraps for a picnic that links with Jesus’ miracle of feeding thousands
- An empty bread tomb with Easter dips to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection"

This is a really fun book! I enjoyed trying the recipes, remembering how my now grown sons loved to cook/bake something new and then eat it. The cookies are fun and can be in different shapes, have sprinkles, or have a dirty/clean side. (Get the book to find out which is which!)This is a great book for parents or grandparents, and will make for some great memories! I received my review copy from Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review.

About the Authors:
Susie grew up near Birmingham, UK. Having studied in Durham, in the north-east of England, she now lives in Oxford and is part of Magdalen Road Church. Susie has a background in secondary-school English teaching and worked full-time in that context for five years. She is married to Pete and they have a son called Joshua.

Bekah was born and brought up in South Yorkshire. She studied French and Russian in Durham. She then taught French before teaching teenagers with multiple learning difficulties in a Special School. Bekah is married to Nick and currently lives in Oxford with their two-year-old son Simeon. They are part of St Ebbe’s Church.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eoXEa9dYzQ&utm_source=Cross+Focused+Reviews&utm_campaign=0bff5c6f88-BakeTheBible_09_10_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d628dd295f-0bff5c6f88-47357465

"A Plain Disappearance" by Amanda Flower

Katie Lambright is dead and there is evidence that a man named Billy had something to do with it. Was it murder? Is Billy who he says he is? Timothy and Chloe embark on a journey to help the police find the truth. What/who will they find?

Tommy and Chloe were both Amish growing up, but now are Englisdhers (the name for those not in the Amish church). They find each other and begin dating. It is Christmas time and Tommy wants to give Chloe her gift, but the place he selects leads to the discovery of the body of Katie Lambright. Evidence points to Billy, a friend of Tommy's, being involved. If that wasn't disturbing enough, they find out that he is an impostor and has been living as such for a long time. As doubt rages in Tommy, Billy disappears. Could he have killed Katie, or is he being framed? Why/what is he hiding? There is more to the story, but can Tommy and Chloe find the whole truth in time? See if you can solve these mysteries with the characters!

Amanda Flower has another hit on her hands with this third book in her "Appleseed Creek Mystery" series. She writes with a compassionate eye for her characters and their customs, while infusing the story with a great story line and setting. If you enjoy stories set in the Amish culture or mysteries, this book is for you. I received my review copy from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

"Return to Me" by Lynn Austin

Exiled from their home for decades, the Jews finally had hope of return when King Cyrus says they can return to Jerusalem. Babylon had been their dwelling place for a long time, people were wandering from their worship of God, but now there was hope! Who will make the journey home and how will they survive it? 

Iddo has been waiting for this time all of his life. He and his family can return home! But, what he didn't realize is that many members of his family were very comfortable in Babylon. They didn't share his excitement and joy of the return to Jerusalem. Life wasn't perfect in Babylon, but many were successful and happy. As God begins to make his voice heard, family members like Zechariah begin to listen. The journey home is difficult and not always happy, but God directs the movements those who are following Him. Come meet Iddo and Zechariah, watch them lead the people, and see the Bible books of Ezra and Nehemiah come to life.

This is Book 1 of Lynn Austin's "Restoration Chronicles," and I can't wait to read more! I love to read the Bible and imagine what life was like for the people I read about, and it is so nice to have a fictionalized account help with the images. If you enjoy reading about history, Bible stories, and good fiction, this book is for you! It would make a wonderful selection for book clubs, and could be followed as each new book comes out. I received my review copy from Litfuse Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Book Info

About the book: From the Acclaimed Author of Chronicles of the Kings After decades of exile, the prophesies are coming true---King Cyrus has declared the Jews may return to Jerusalem. Iddo, a priest, is sure this is a sign of God's renewed favor. For too long they've remained in Babylon, and many, including Iddo's sons, are losing the faith that sets them apart. And so only a few choose to leave everything to return---return to their home and their God. Nothing about their journey to the Promised Land is easy. As hardships mount, even the faithful, like Iddo's beloved wife, Dinah, question the sacrifice of following God's leading. Zechariah, Iddo's oldest grandson, feels torn between his grandfather's ancient beliefs and the family they left behind. But one life-changing encounter with the Holy One gives him insight that will change Zechariah---and history---forever. Bringing the Old Testament to vibrant life, Return to Metells the compelling story of two men living by faith in the midst of doubt, the women who love them, and the faithful remnant struggling to rebuild their lives in obedience to the God who beckons them home. Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/pfkmh About Lynn: Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live near Chicago. You can find out more about Lynn athttp://www.lynnaustin.org/.

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Landing page:  http://litfusegroup.com/author/laustin

"365 Pocket Devotions" by Chris Tiegreen

Daily devotions should be a part of each day we live. But, sometimes life gets in the way and the morning gets so hectic that we miss our first opportunity. This new devotional book is small and easy to carry with you to make any moment one of devotion.

This devotional is a little different from others in that it doesn't have a date but rather a day ( Day 1 - Day 365) for each reading. That enables the reader to start the book at any time during the year and be on time. The devotional readings are called "reflections," appropriate for the thought to carry through the day. There is then a short devotional reading and Scripture to start, or keep, the day running smoothly. A few of the reflections are: Eyes, Compassion, God's Word, and Trials. There is also a Topical Index at the back to help each reader find encouragement for specific topics.

I really like this devotional. Not only are the readings appropriate for my life, but it is small enough for me to take with me whereever I go. The cover is a soft leather and the orange color is inviting. If you enjoy books filled with inspiration and encouragement, or know someone who needs one, this book is for you. I received my review copy from Tyndale Publicity in exchange for an honest review.