Welcome back to another day at The Mustard Seed. Here's my book review of Yield by Bryan K. Johnson.
 Title: Yield Author: Bryan K. Johnson Publisher: Bedside Books Length: 425 pages Category: End of Days Purchase Link: Purchase Link for Yield Devin Bane is an ex-fire chief who said good-bye to his family one day as he headed out for an interview for a new job. He thought it was just another day and he’d see his family again and hopefully have a successful interview. He is unaware that on that fateful day his life and the lives of everyone in the country will never be the same again. My Review: Mostly I read romantic suspense novels and don’t usually read other genres. When I started to read this book, I had no preconceived notions on how good or not good it would be—but I wasn’t sure how I would enjoy reading an “end of days” novel. Let me just say that I was pleasantly surprised and if I can find other books in this genre, which are just as well-written, I may start reading them. One thing that stood out to me as I read was that from the very first page, the author caught my attention and held it for the entire book. This book was very realistic in the story line and that was actually quite frightening. It related so well to current events and how things could go from bad to worse in one second that Bryan K. Johnson’s writing brought this scenario close to home. Anyone who reads this book will definitely be given pause for thought. As the horrific scenario of a potential third world war played out in the book, I clearly imagined myself, my family, friends, neighbors and everyone in our free world—potentially dealing with this real-world scenario in real life. When the traumatic events happened, it was interesting to see how the majority of the people in the book panicked and human decency vanished and it was every man for himself. The book was well-written, with highly descriptive scenes, drawing the reader deeply into the dramatic story. Each action scene was believable and the characters were well-developed and pulled the reader into their lives—in such a way that by the end of the book, the reader can’t wait to find out what will happen to them next. The writing had just the right amount of details, yet not too technical to overwhelm the readers. I highly recommend this book and am eagerly looking forward to reading Book Two in this series. My Rating (Yield): 5 Stars—Outstanding Fiction 5 Stars-- Outstanding Fiction: Rivals my love affair with the classics of Jane Austen 4 Stars-- Top Notch Fiction: Highly recommend you read this book and watch this author 3 Stars-- Ordinary Fiction: Not earth shattering revelation of greatness, but worth reading 2 Stars-- Disappointing Fiction: Hoped for more and you won’t find this book fulfilling 1 Star-- Not-so-good Fiction: Difficult to keep reading; you won’t want to read it either (Disclaimer: I reserve the right not to post reviews with a rating below 3 Stars) A gratis copy of this book was sent to this reviewer by the author / or publisher in exchange for an impartial evaluation.
I am finally back on track with completing my book review schedule and am happy to share this review with you today. If you read this book or are now going to read this book, I'd love to find out your thoughts. Thanks again for stopping by The Mustard Seed.
 Title: Kincaid’s Hope Author: Grace Greene Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press Length: 298 pages Category: Contemporary Romantic Suspense Rating: Sweet Purchase Link Kincaid's Hope on Amazon Beth Kincaid endured an unhappy childhood and left the small town life to start over in the city. Her bottled up emotions from the past cause her to live the “tidy” life she thinks she wants to live—yet does not realize isn’t good for her emotional sanity. When a personal crisis ensues, she must return to her childhood home and all of the issues from the past overwhelm her and are a catalyst to bring necessary change to her life. She discovers secrets and learns the truth about the woman who raised her. These revelations unravel her tightly-bound emotions and move her forward into a life-changing journey. My review: I read Ms. Greene’s debut novel, Beach Rental, and enjoyed that book and was not disappointed with her second novel, Kincaid’s Hope. This is a unique modern-day romantic suspense novel, with eerie gothic tones—a well-played combination, expertly woven into the storyline. This was a different type of book from Ms. Greene’s debut; yet, not in the least disappointing. Rather, she rode the wave of excellent writing in her first novel with the same complex writing style which easily draws the reader in to these interesting characters’ lives. The characters were relatable and I enjoyed immersing myself into their story. Once I started reading, I had a hard time stopping at my self-imposed two chapters a night rule. I enjoy reading romantic suspense and loved the intense, suspenseful scenes woven into this novel. I highly recommend Kincaid’s Hope and look forward to reading more of Ms. Greene’s books. My Rating (Kincaid’s Hope): 5 Stars—Outstanding Fiction 5 Stars—Outstanding Fiction: Rivals my love affair with the classics of Jane Austen 4 Stars—Top Notch Fiction: Highly recommend you read this book and watch this author 3 Stars—Ordinary Fiction: Not earth shattering revelation of greatness, but worth reading 2 Stars—Disappointing Fiction: Hoped for more and you won’t find this book fulfilling 1 Star—Not-so-good Fiction: Difficult to keep reading; you won’t want to read it either (Disclaimer: I reserve the right not to post reviews with a rating below 3 Stars) A gratis copy of this book was sent to this reviewer by the author / or publisher in exchange for an impartial evaluation.
I just finished reading Muscular Faith by Ben Patterson. Hope you enjoy my review and check out this great book.
 Title: Muscular Faith
Author: Ben Patterson
Publisher: Salt River, division Tyndale House Publishing
Length: 261 pages
Category: Christian Life / Spiritual Growth
Rating: Inspirational
Purchase Link for Muscular Faith
Faith is not always easy, but is so rewarding. However, if we partner with Christ, knowing that challenges are a basic part of life—our faith experience can become an exciting and intrinsic journey for us. As a Christian, we should have as one of our goals, a desire to grow daily in our faith and relationship with Christ. Ben Patterson is an author and teacher who, in this book, is calling readers to develop muscular faith. He’s asking us to completely commit—in our heart, soul and mind—to developing a faith in our savior, Jesus Christ.
 My review:
Ben Patterson writes a book that is easily accessible to readers in its format and educational style; yet written in a voice that is down to earth and user friendly. Muscular Faith is filled with numerous stories of life-lessons learned by Patterson. He leads readers in a step-by-step plan to develop their own personal faith in Christ. From learning about fighting the good fight to the different kinds of faith-filled prayer warrior characteristics to finishing the race, Patterson teaches us to finish our lives well—it’s all about living life in a way that glorifies God and how we live a faith-filled life.
I enjoyed the scripture references and pertinent quotes Patterson provided at the beginning of each chapter. Scripture pertaining to this topic of faith and prayer and the spirit-filled life is rightly divided in this book—his understanding of God’s Word is perceptive and he brings that knowledge home to the reader in a way we all can relate to. This was definitely not a preachy book; but rather, a book filled with scriptural knowledge on a subject that is so relevant to every believer’s life. It is a must read for us all. I highly recommend this book.
My Rating (Muscular Faith): 5 Stars—Outstanding Non-fiction
5 Stars—Outstanding Non-fiction: Rivals my love affair with the classics
4 Stars—Top Notch Non-fiction: Highly recommend you read this book and watch this author
3 Stars—Ordinary Non-fiction: Not earth shattering revelation of greatness, but worth reading
2 Stars—Disappointing Non-fiction: Hoped for more and you won’t find this book fulfilling
1 Star—Not-so-good Non-fiction: Difficult to keep reading; you won’t want to read it either
(Disclaimer: I reserve the right not to post reviews with a rating below 3 Stars)
A gratis copy of this book was sent to this reviewer by the author / or publisher in exchange for an impartial evaluation.
I just completed another book review and wanted to share my thoughts with you. The author of this book, Pamela Thibodeaux will be a guest here on December 8th, so I hope you can stop back to visit.
 Title: The Visionary
Author: Pamela S. Thibodeaux
Publisher: Five Star
Length: 276 pages
Category: Inspirational
Purchase Link for Visionary
Taylor Forrestier is a visionary who sees into the past rather than into the future. She uses her gift as a means to create beautiful designs as an architect and interior designer. On the surface, her life seems to be going well; however, she and her twin brother, Trevor, are struggling to overcome the pain of horrible childhood abuses.
The question remains—will the twins allow God to bring healing into their lives and love into their hearts? Will they give over the pain of the past and lay it at God’s feet, acknowledging that He can make a way where there seems to be no way?
 My review:
The Visionary captured my attention from the very first chapter. This is one book that I had a hard time putting down after I squeezed in my two chapters a day. If I had the time, I could have devoured this book in a few days’ time. One factor that drew me in right away was the detailed setting. I’ve never been to Louisiana; however, the way Ms. Thibodeaux portrayed the setting and scenes, I felt as if I was right there with the characters.
Speaking of characters—Ms. Thibodeaux has the gift of excellent character development. The way she develops each character seems effortless to the reader; thus, allowing us to fully emotionally engage with each character. The writing was high quality and the prose flowed flawlessly together into the perfect mixture to come together to make an exquisite novel that everyone should read. The painful topics of abuse described in this book were handled delicately and with care and in a realistic manner.
Intricate details kept me reading and wanting to know more about the characters I’ve come to care about. This is a story about life and pain and how God works everything out to our good. It is a love story, not only for two couples, but a love story between God and his creation. I didn’t want this novel to end and wanted to continue learning more about their life journeys. Ms. Thibodeaux wrote an outstanding work of fiction here—which strongly rivals my love affair with the classics. I highly recommend that you read this novel.
My Rating (The Visionary): 5 Stars—Outstanding Fiction
5 Stars--Outstanding Fiction: Rivals my love affair with the classics of Jane Austen
4 Stars--Top Notch Fiction: Highly recommend you read this book and watch this author
3 Stars--Ordinary Fiction: Not earth shattering revelation of greatness, but worth reading
2 Stars--Disappointing Fiction: Hoped for more and you won’t find this book fulfilling
1 Star--Not-so-good Fiction: Difficult to keep reading; you won’t want to read it either
(Disclaimer: I reserve the right not to post reviews with a rating below 3 Stars)
A gratis copy of this book was sent to this reviewer by the author / or publisher in exchange for an impartial evaluation.
 EXCERPT from The Visionary:
“Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
“I’m not through yet,” he mumbled, then slid off the couch and swung her up in his arms.
Fear snuck in, darkening her eyes. She stiffened and opened her mouth to protest. He brushed his lips over hers and silenced her objections.
“I just want to hold you,” he whispered and laid his forehead against hers. “That’s all. I promise,” he added, unable to camouflage the need in his voice.
*******
He’d offered her another step to relinquish her fear and trust him. Triumph lit his expressive eyes when she wrapped her arm around his neck, smiled, and whispered, “Okay,” then snuggled her face against his shoulder and let him carry her to the bedroom.
With exquisite tenderness, he laid her on the bed, crawled up beside her, and took her in his arms. Taylor felt the strength of his need in the heat and tensed against the hardness of his body. He eased his grip and propped up on one elbow beside her. His eyes pleaded for grace when he stroked the hair off her face and said in a soft, husky voice, “Please don’t be afraid of me; please trust me. I will never force or even persuade you to give more than you’re ready to.”
They gazed at each other for a long, tender moment. She cupped his cheek in her hand, brushed her thumb over his mouth, then curled her fingers in his hair and urged his head down to fasten her lips to his. A low moan escaped his throat, yet he held himself taut.
Taylor ran her hand over his shoulder and back in a soft caress then wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hold me, Alex, I trust you.”
The emotions reflected in his tone caressed her heart when he thanked her in that beautiful velvety-rough voice. He rolled onto his back, pulled the covers over her, and held her while she slept.
Welcome to The Mustard Seed. So glad you've decided to visit again. Looking forward to another week of great authors guesting here. Today, I am posting a book review.
 My Book Review of Living on the Edge, by Chip Ingram
Title: Living on the Edge
Author: Chip Ingram
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Length: 268 pages
Category: Christian Life / General
Rating: Inspirational
Purchase Link: Purchase Link for Living on the Edge
Chip Ingram writes about being a Romans 12 Christian—how God desires for us to live like a disciple of Jesus and have a fulfilling personal relationship with him rather than living every day based on how we perform and obey or not obey God’s rules. This book, with the tagline--Dare to experience true spirituality also offers a small group study, which complements the Living on the Edge book. The book discusses the model for Christian living which Jesus provided for us. Are you ready to become and r12 Christian today?
 My review:
My husband and I started reading this book during our devotional time after our Pastor told the congregation that we would be studying this book during Sunday morning services and in our small groups. I definitely enjoy reading books together with my husband during our devotional time and this book was no exception—I enjoyed the depth of knowledge of God’s word that Mr. Ingram displayed in every chapter. His writing was detailed, yet easy enough to read where you didn’t feel as if you were lost amongst a web of theological jargon.
This book is addicting in the fact that you will want to read more to find out how God wants to transform your life. You’ll enjoy the true life stories that Mr. Ingram shares and want to read more each day. I truly agree with the other tagline from this book, A proven pathway to become like Jesus—this is definitely true…and if you take the time to read this book and participate in the study helps, you’ll grow by leaps and bounds in your spiritual life and your faith.
I’ve been a Christian for many years and have read the Bible a few times and done different Bible studies before, but reading this book was refreshing in the fresh perspective Mr. Ingram brought to the table. I learned how to give God my best and live how He wants me to live—intimately with Him, as he powerfully transforms my life. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to delve into a closer relationship with the Lord and needs the Biblical blueprint on how to get there.
My Rating (Living on the Edge): 5 Stars—Outstanding Fiction
5 Stars--Outstanding Fiction: Rivals my love affair with the classics of Jane Austen
4 Stars--Top Notch Fiction: Highly recommend you read this book and watch this author
3 Stars--Ordinary Fiction: Not earth shattering revelation of greatness, but worth reading
2 Stars--Disappointing Fiction: Hoped for more and you won’t find this book fulfilling
1 Star--Not-so-good Fiction: Difficult to keep reading; you won’t want to read it either
(Disclaimer: I reserve the right not to post reviews with a rating below 3 Stars)
A gratis copy of this book was sent to this reviewer by the author / or publisher in exchange for an impartial evaluation.
I am finally getting around to posting another book review. Thanks so much for stopping by The Mustard Seed today. Hope everyone has an awesome weekend! Looking forward to seeing you all here next week to meet more guest authors!
 Title: Matching Wits with VenusAuthor: Therese GilardiPublisher: Astraea Press, LLCLength: 334 pagesCategory: Contemporary RomanceRating: SweetPurchase Link: Purchase Link for Matching Wits with Venus Amelia Colliard is the owner of Happily Ever After by Amelia—a matchmaking business located in California. She has heard about the Roman gods and goddesses since she was a little girl. After tragedy strikes her significant other, she is bereaved and no longer believes in the existence of gods. Busily working in her matchmaking business, she enjoys bringing compatible people together in dating relationships. Unknown to Amelia, Venus, the goddess of love, feels extremely threatened by her matchmaking business. Venus sends her son, Cupid, out on a mission to destroy Amelia’s business and steal her secrets. That’s when the fun begins. He disguises himself as a mortal financial advisor and sets out to meet Amelia. Soon, he breaks through the walls of her heart and passion ignites. However, he feels guilty for not being honest with her. Cupid has a big decision to make—come clean with Amelia or risk the possibility of a lonely life lived without his true love.
 My review:
When I first agreed to review this book, I wasn’t sure how I would like reading about gods and goddesses. Would the book still be realistic or total fantasy? As I started reading and getting into this story, my fears were assuaged—this book was authentic in the local feel of the story line and during the descriptions of the deities, I found myself intrigued by the creative development of their characters. Ms. Gilardi did not just move the gods and goddesses along like pawns in a chess game. Each of them was allowed to fully express themselves to the reader.
I noticed a few minor point of view shifts, but truly enjoyed the main characters. Amelia was very likable and I totally connected with her desire to avoid conflicts and not always express how she truly felt. I appreciated the character development and how she grew by the end of the story. Cupid (a.k.a Colin) was an interesting character with romance from a different era, but also likeable because he had his own flaws as well. I liked all of the characters and Ms. Gilardi did very well with her character development—one of my favorite characters was Jennie, Amelia’s friend and colleague. Her spunky attitude and loyalty was very refreshing. She was a good counterpart to Amelia. Stella, Amelia’s mother was an interesting character and I enjoyed the scenes she took center stage in.
Ms. Gilardi’s writing was top notch and she added all the right ingredients into this novel to whip up a well-rounded sweet romance with the pinch of passion—that will have you thinking you’ve just bitten into the most luscious chocolate truffle. You don’t want to miss this novel. I highly recommend it.
My Rating (Matching Wits with Venus): 4 Stars—Top Notch Fiction
5 Stars--Outstanding Fiction: Rivals my love affair with the classics of Jane Austen
4 Stars--Top Notch Fiction: Highly recommend you read this book and watch this author
3 Stars--Ordinary Fiction: Not earth shattering revelation of greatness, but worth reading
2 Stars--Disappointing Fiction: Hoped for more and you won’t find this book fulfilling
1 Star--Not-so-good Fiction: Difficult to keep reading; you won’t want to read it either
(Disclaimer: I reserve the right not to post reviews with a rating below 3 Stars)
A gratis copy of this book was sent to this reviewer by the author / or publisher in exchange for an impartial evaluation.
I've completed another book review. I know you'll all enjoy this book.
 Title: Sweet Tea and Secrets
Author: Nancy Naigle
Publisher: Crossroads Publishing HouseLength: 324 pages
Category: Contemporary Romance
Rating: Sweet
Purchase Link for Sweet Tea and Secrets
Returning back to Adams Grove after the death of her grandmother, Pearl Clemmons, Jill is met with mixed emotions—she’s mourning the loss of Pearl but also not exactly excited to see her ex-fiancé, Garrett Malloy. She stays at her grandmother’s home to get her estate situated and there are a series of break-ins. That’s when they begin to realize their lives are in danger. Will Jill and Garrett find a way to escape the present danger and rekindle their romance?
My review:
Sweet Tea and Secrets is a polished and sophisticated, yet laidback novel with a down home country feel. From the start, I felt like I was pulled right in to the quaint town of Adams Grove. The relationship between Jill and Garrett was fun and sassy. I loved the physical tension and how it was sweet, exactly right up my alley. The re-development of their relationship was something that kept my interest throughout the novel.
Ms. Naigle’s writing style was detailed but not with an overkill of unnecessary information. The plot line was exciting and very believable and I wanted to know more when the story ended. This story was so compelling and I would love to read more about Jill and Garrett and the characters of Adams Grove. I give Ms. Naigle 5 Stars for Outstanding Fiction.
My Rating (Sweet Tea and Secrets): 5 Stars—Outstanding Fiction
5 Stars—Outstanding Fiction: Rivals my love affair with the classics of Jane Austen 4 Stars—Top Notch Fiction: Highly recommend you read this book and watch this author 3 Stars—Ordinary Fiction: Not earth shattering revelation of greatness, but worth reading 2 Stars—Disappointing Fiction: Hoped for more and you won’t find this book fulfilling 1 Star—Not-so-good Fiction: Difficult to keep reading; you won’t want to read it either (Disclaimer: I reserve the right not to post reviews with a rating below 3 Stars)
Yesterday was such a fun day at The Mustard Seed with Marianne Evans as a guest. I so enjoyed the chat with everyone. Thanks so much for stopping by. I just finished reading Marianne's book, Hearts Communion and wanted to share my review with you.
 My Book Review of Hearts Communion, by Marianne Evans
Publisher: White Rose Publishing
Length: 53,840 words
Category: Contemporary Drama
Rating: Sweet
Purchase Link: Purchase Link for Hearts Communion
The one thing Jeremy Edwards dreams of is getting married and having a family of his own. He has strong ties to his own close-knit family.
Monica Kittelski runs a daycare and pours her heart out every day into the lives of other people’s children. She wonders if one day she will have children of her own to love and care for.
Jeremy and Monica meet and their attraction is intense, but once Jeremy learns of Monica’s infertility, can they overcome that unthinkable hurdle and find love despite their situation?
 My review:
Hearts Communion is the third book in the Woodland Series by Marianne Evans. I did not read the first two books in this series, but after reading Book three, I have added Book one and Book two to my TBR list. This first thing about Ms. Evans’ writing that caught my attention is the depth to her story telling ability. Once I started reading, I did not want to put the book down. The characters were captivating and I related so well to Monica’s story. Ms. Evan’s depiction of this struggle with infertility and the raw emotions involved were so true to life. She did not miss the mark on this one.
The second thing that kept me reading was the fiery chemistry between Jeremy and Monica. Their romance sizzled, but seemed grounded in reality as well. It tested the boundaries of true love and the possibilities of following the leading of your heart regardless of heart-wrenching circumstances. I love inspirational stories that show characters’ struggles with real life issues and how they connect with God and learn to trust in His plan for their lives. Ms. Evan’s depiction of that faith journey did not disappoint.
Hearts Communion is a novel of outstanding fiction. I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading the rest of Ms. Evan’s Woodland Series and her future books.
My Rating (Hearts Communion): 5 Stars—Outstanding Fiction
5 Stars--Outstanding Fiction: Rivals my love affair with the classics of Jane Austen
4 Stars--Top Notch Fiction: Highly recommend you read this book and watch this author
3 Stars--Ordinary Fiction: Not earth shattering revelation of greatness, but worth reading
2 Stars--Disappointing Fiction: Hoped for more and you won’t find this book fulfilling
1 Star--Not-so-good Fiction: Difficult to keep reading; you won’t want to read it either
(Disclaimer: I reserve the right not to post reviews with a rating below 3 Stars)
A gratis copy of this book was sent to this reviewer by the author / or publisher in exchange for an impartial evaluation.
Time for another book review. I just finished reading The Floating Palace, by JoAnn Carter. Hope you enjoy this review and if you've read this novel or are interested in reading it, I'd love to hear your comments.
 Title: The Roarin’ Twenties Book One: The Floating Palace Author: JoAnn Carter
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.
Length: 53,645
Category: Inspirational / Historical
Rating: Sweet
Purchase Link: The Floating Palace
Official Release Date: July 16, 2011
Ellie Dunkling is finally realizing her lifelong dream of working on the Ticongeroga, a steamboat running on Lake Champlain. The one obstacle towards achieving her goal—no one hired women to work on ships. She feels that her dreams are coming true when she is offered the job of stewardess on the Ti. Another obstacle along the way—dealing with Captain Philip Lawhorn…he is not thrilled with the prospect of having a female stewardess aboard his ship. Rather, he thinks it is a recipe for disaster.
 I’m not much of a fan of historical novels, but my journey though The Floating Palace was fun and enjoyable. I loved the spunky character of Ellie and delighted in her own journey with the Ti and Captain Lawhorn. I’m never one to spoil the ending for readers, but I can’t say enough how much you all are going to enjoy this novel.
In the past, I’ve read western romances and gothic novels as well as regencies; however, I’ve never read a book about the roaring twenties. So, I went into this book unsure how I would react. There even is a glossary of terms from that time period and I was like oh, no, how am I going to remember these words and will it disturb my reading time. I was pleasantly surprised.
Ms. Carter must have done her research because from the very first page until the last, you feel as if you are right there with Ellie and Philip and the crew. You are given vivid word pictures of settings and the tone of this novel flows so smoothly with the time period. Ms. Carter inserted colloquial speech from that time in just the right spots and you didn’t have to turn back to the glossary to refresh yourself on the definition of terms. Her prose just works, effortlessly, and stays with you long after you finish reading. I give Ms. Carter Five Stars for Outstanding Fiction…definitely a keeper on my book shelf. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
My Rating (The Floating Palace): 5 Stars—Outstanding Fiction
5 Stars—Outstanding Fiction: Rivals my love affair with the classics of Jane Austen
4 Stars—Top Notch Fiction: Highly recommend you read this book and watch this author
3 Stars—Ordinary Fiction: Not earth shattering revelation of greatness, but worth reading
2 Stars—Disappointing Fiction: Hoped for more and you won’t find this book fulfilling
1 Star—Not-so-good Fiction: Difficult to keep reading; you won’t want to read it either
(Disclaimer: I reserve the right not to post reviews with a rating below 3 Stars)
A gratis copy of this book was sent to this reviewer by the author / or publisher in exchange for an impartial evaluation.
Just completed another book review. Glad you stopped by to check it out.
 Title: Stealing JakeAuthor: Pam HillmanPublisher: Tyndale HouseCategory: Historical FictionPurchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Jake-ebook/dp/B0057Z87DK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1309004311&sr=1-1
Livy O’Brien used to be known as LightFingered Livy, but that was back in the days when pickpocketing was a way of life for her—a survival mechanism. Now she is a Christian and living in a small, but burgeoning town outside of Chicago. She lives with Mrs. Brooks at the local orphanage. Her experiences from the harsh childhood of living on the streets and stealing to survive have become a catalyst to her heart for saving children stuck in similar circumstances. All she wants to do is save the children and show them God’s love. Livy is not looking for love or marriage. Although, life has a way of sneaking up on us and she finds that out first hand. She never expected she’d literally run into the man of her dreams. Jake Russell is the Sheriff’s Deputy and he has his own problems to deal with—an outstanding loan on his family’s farm, investigating the culprits behind a surge of robberies in town and dealing with grief over the loss of close family and friends, in a mining accident. He wasn’t looking for love either. God has different plans for their lives and He shows up in the little town of Chestnut, Illinois…in a big way.
 I’m more of a contemporary romance kind of girl, so when I agreed to review this book, I wasn’t sure how I would like it. Stealing Jake stole my own reader’s heart from the get-go. Ms. Hillman’s writing style easily swept me into the story and I wanted to devour each chapter and actually went to bed late several nights all because I wanted to read just one more chapter.
One of the most appealing factors was the character development. I really got to know Livy and Jake and all of the other fascinating people of Chestnut. Ms. Hillman’s attention to detail was just the right amount to give me enough information about the historical setting and to see the scene without boring me to tears with endless, useless minutiae.
After I finished reading Stealing Jake and I visited Ms. Hillman’s website, I was surprised to learn that this was her debut novel. It read nothing like a debut. I thought I was reading the work of a seasoned multi-published author. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Ms. Hillman’s future novels. Stealing Jake is one book that I highly recommend.
Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.
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