The Book of Mortals Series - Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee - GIVEAWAY

This is posted on Ted Dekker's Facebook page:

Want a FREE copy of the Books of Mortals series? Read on...

The story that's taken readers on a redemptive journey just like The Circle did is drawing to an epic close. Sovereign, the third and final book, hits stores June 18th. To celebrate we're giving away one complete set (all three novels) every Friday between now and then. 

Throw your name in the hat. All you have to do is click LIKE. We'll announce the winner right here on Monday. And just so you know,Tosca Lee is also giving copies away on her Facebook page. : )

Being a fan of Dekker's, I was a little wary after finishing Mortal, book 2 in this series. I went ahead and signed up for the giveaway. Once I eventually get a copy of Sovereign, I'll be going into it hopeful that I won't be disappointed. Knowing the talented writers that are involved, I am honestly hoping that it's going to be a great ending.

Keeping Track of the New Books/Giveaways

I have come to realize that I read so many books I find it hard to keep track of everything that comes out.  Then there's things like giveaways and such that I've missed. To be honest, for some reason it never occurred to me to look up authors that I've enjoyed reading to see if they put out a newsletter so I would be able to keep track of new releases.

I had a comment on my review of Love in Disguise by Carol Cox that informed me there was a new book, Trouble in Store, coming out and there was going to be a giveaway happening starting next week, June 3.

The whole thing made me think about how much I miss, so I went back through the books I enjoyed and went about looking the authors up and tracking them through email newsletter, amazon author alerts or their blogs.  When I am informed of a new book or giveaways, I'll share them with you.  This should enable me to add books that I would really enjoy to my watch list and I shouldn't have to come across them by accident anymore.  Hopefully it will help some of you out as well.

So, on the right side of the page is the full list of who I'm keeping track of.  If I have any news, I'll share it here!

Fairer Than Morning (Saddler's Legacy #1) - Rosslyn Elliott

I have had this one on my Kindle for a while and decided to give it a chance.  This is my first time reading this author.  This book appealed to me because of the uniqueness of the saddler profession and also because I grew up in Ohio.  I don't think I've ever been to Rushville specifically, but it is close to my old stomping grounds!

Ann has the task of taking care of her two sisters while her father is away a lot of the time. He is a circuit preacher and makes saddles to make ends meet.  Ann doesn't like when he's away since her mother died during one of his trips.  When he is asked to go to Pittsburgh to make a saddle, Ann convinces him to allow her and her young siblings along for the trip.  Ann needs to get away for a while and she has found some letters that she would like to find the owner of.

Once they arrive, her father is going to work at a fellow saddler's workshop next door to where they are staying.  The problem is that the saddler is a cruel and harsh man who beats and abuses his apprentices.  Ann sees firsthand the effects of the man's cruelty, but according to law, there is nothing anyone can do.

Will has learned how to survive under the hand of his master but longs for escape.  He sees Ann while she's visiting and thinks highly of her.  She tries to return his letters, but he asks her to keep them until he can be free of his master.  If his master were to find the letters, they would be destroyed.  Will feels that he won't be good enough for Ann and tries to forget her.

With the help of some good Christian people, Will begins to see that no man can take your soul unless you let them.  Ann begins to realize that her childhood dreams may not be what she really needs.  It's possible that they need each other, but can they overcome the obstacles that stand in their way?

I couldn't put this book down!  The originality really intrigued me and I enjoyed reading it. The next book in this series, Sweeter Than Birdsong, is the story of Will's son, Ben. These were real people that the author based her series off of and I think that's great.  I have done a lot of research into my own family history and I like to find out everything I can about their stories.  I think that's one reason why this series appeals to me so much.  I don't have the second book in the series, but I do have the third, Lovelier Than Daylight, which appears to be the story of Will's niece.  I have been tracking the second book for some time and I plan on waiting a little longer before skipping it and reading book 3.  It doesn't appear that I would miss much, but I'd like to read them in order if possible.  Good Book!

All in Good Time (The Gilded Legacy #2) - Maureen Lang

After reading Bees in the Butterfly Garden, I was pleased to find out there was another book in the series.  Thanks to a heads up by the author and my eReaderIQ watch list, I was able to get this one for $2.99.

Henry is a banker who has made his start by less than honest means.  Now, he's a serious, no-nonsense man who guards his secret almost as much as he guards his investments.  When a young woman comes into his bank wanting a loan for her charity, he isn't quite on board.

Dessa has her own secrets, but she is determined to see her friend's dream come to fruition.  While her friend didn't intend to borrow so much, Dessa feels that there is no better time than the present to start saving women from lives where they sell themselves just to make enough money to survive.

Henry's uncle pushes through the loan, but Henry takes more convincing.  These two seem to almost be from opposite ends of the spectrum.  Henry is quiet and somewhat cynical while Dessa wants to see the best in everyone. 

They both have to fight their secrets before they can consider feeling something for each other.  More like they will admit their feelings.  Henry has given up a relationship before to spare the woman any shame should his secret come out.  Dessa gave up any hope of marriage for the same reason.  The secrets have to come out eventually but they both fear the consequences.

I enjoyed this book.  I couldn't put it down and really liked the characters.  This book has totally different characters than Bees in the Butterfly Garden, so you don't have to read them in order although I recommend reading that one as well.  Had a comment from the author on my review of the first book that mentioned The Gilded Legacy being a two book series.  While I wish there was more, I enjoyed these two.  Good Book!

A Conspiracy of Ravens (Lady Trent #2) - Gilbert Morris

Last month I read book 1 of this series, The Mermaid in the Basement and enjoyed it so much that I ordered the second one from Paperbackswap since it was available.

Serafina and Dylan have cleared Serafina's brother of murder.  In this mystery the two come together again and solve a different type of mystery.  There is a murder in there, but it is toward the end of the book.  I think the main story ends up being the journey of the characters of the book.

Lord Darby and his wife, Heather, have discovered that the son that they thought dead is actually alive.  A deathbed confession by a criminal reveals that the woman switched the babies at birth.  Knowing Serafina and Dylan have a knack for solving mysteries, he asks them to track down his long-lost son and heir to the estate.

Trevor hasn't had the best life growing up.  He's been in and out of jail and has had to scrape for everything he has.  Being discovered has made him uncomfortable and sad. Feeling that he will never be what his new-found parents expect, he finds a friend in his cousin, Gervase.  She is willing to show him the ropes and is such a sunny personality that he finds it difficult to be depressed in her presence.

Trying to fit in is hard, though.  There are a number of members of the family who don't make their dislike of Trevor a secret.  When the murder occurs, it becomes clear that Lord Darby was the target and Trevor becomes the main suspect.  It's up to Serafina and Dylan to uncover the truth.

While there were many reminders of what happened in book 1 of this series, I feel that it is best to read these in order.  Following Serafina's journey of figuring out about how she feels about God and Dylan is the best part of the book for me.

As with book 1, I did enjoy the book and it was an easy read.  I also learned that "conspiracy" is the collective noun for a group of ravens, so the title is really quite clever! I never knew that and it was a neat thing to discover.  I'm anxious to read book 3, Sonnet to a Dead Contessa, but I have the feeling I'm going to have to wait a while. There's a wait list on Paperbackswap and the ebook is $9.99.  I have put it on my watch list, so we'll see what happens!  Good Book!

Sixteen Brides - Stephanie Grace Whitson

This is the first time I've read a book by this author.  I was a little wary at first, hoping that I wasn't going to have to try and keep track of sixteen individual stories.  I would have needed to take notes!  Fortunately, it wasn't like that at all and there's only really six widows to keep straight.

All six(teen) women are widows that have taken advantage of an opportunity to acquire 160 acres of land in Nebraska and homestead on the property.  They are a part of a society, but they soon learn that their escort has other ideas for them.  When they arrive in Nebraska, they are supposed to find husbands.  Some of the women are made aware of the situation and stay in a different town to find out what they wish to do.  They end up with four homesteads connected together with one house where the properties all come together.  They name their new home "Four Corners."

The women we follow are: Caroline, Ruth and her son Jackson, Hettie, Sally, Ella and her mother Zita.  Not everyone ends up being completely honest.  Hettie gets on the train with the other women, but her decision to stay with the others is a spur of the moment decision and she isn't quite sure what she's getting into at first.  Her knowledge of medicine comes in handy.

Ruth and Jackson have been asked to leave their home.  Ruth's sister wanted her to marry, but Ruth decided to be the master of her own fate and create a better future for her son.  She's one of the stronger characters and I liked her spirit.

Sally is an outspoken woman who isn't afraid to just speak her mind and what will be will be.  I don't feel we get much of her story and what we get ends up coming out with Caroline's.  Caroline is the "southern belle" of the group and the beauty.  She's trying to find her place in the world and find relationships that are more about who she is and not what she looks like.

Last, but not least, is Ella.  Her mother pops up here and there, but it's really about Ella. Not the traditional beauty, she has had her faults pounded into her by her husband.  She doesn't want to remember what he told her, but she hears his voice all the time. She covers up the pain by work and more work.

Amazingly enough, all of the main women (minus Ella's mother) end up with a love interest. You could see it coming, but I was a little curious at the end wondering what exactly would happen to Four Corners.  I suppose it is left to the imagination.  I really did enjoy the story and although I had some trouble keeping the women straight for the first part of the book, the author did a great job giving me little reminders on who was who.

This author has written many books including a recent series called The Quilt Chronicles. I really enjoyed this book, but I didn't place all of her other books on my watch list.  After browsing through some of the titles, I ended up placing A Claim of Her Own and A Most Unsuitable Match on my list.  I look forward to reading more from this author.  Good Book!

Beautiful Bandit (Lone Star Legends #1) - Loree Lough

I picked this one up back in March and was in the mood for a good western romance.  It ended up reminding me of Leather and Lace, which I read not too long ago, but it had its differences as well.

A murder/robbery at the bank puts Kate on the run.  She wasn't part of the gang, but she feels guilty that she didn't stand up to the leader, Frank.  She thought he was a gentleman and was surprised to find out that he was a ruthless outlaw.  When she escapes from him, she is determined to make her way to Mexico, where the Texas Rangers won't be able to find her and hopefully Frank won't either.

Josh was at the bank and he saw the beautiful woman riding with the gang, but when he comes across a beaten, scared woman on his way back to his ranch, he doesn't make the connection.  He only sees someone that needs his help in a big way.  Even later on, when he suspects the truth, he doesn't believe that Kate could have been part of that horrible robbery.  He decides to wait for her to reveal the truth.

I thought it a little unrealistic that Josh would wait so long to find out the truth of Kate's identity, especially with the safety of his entire family on the line.  It wasn't such a major issue for me that it took away from my enjoyment of the book overall.  It was a good story and I really liked it!  Josh is a quiet sort, but has deep feelings he is afraid to voice.  Kate is a caring person that has overcome a lot in her past and is trying to build a new future.  I appreciated her journey back to God.

There are two more books in this series.  Maverick Heart is the second book in the series and is about Josh's cousin, Daniel.  We see a little bit of his history and who he is in this book.  The third book is Unbridled Hope and tells the story of Micah, another cousin.  We don't read too much about him in Beautiful Bandit.  I'm not sure if these books would need to be read in order.  Unless Josh and Kate are main characters in the following books, I think it might be okay to read them out of order, but I can't say for sure at this point.  I've added the other two books to my watch list and hope they'll drop!  Good Book!

Bees in the Butterfly Garden (The Gilded Legacy #1) - Maureen Lang

Over the weekend, my poor little Kindie died.  I have no clue what is wrong with it, it just pops up the "kindle fire" screen and that's it.  I've tried the complete power down thing numerous time with no success.  I'll call customer service today, but I hold out little hope they can resurrect my Kindie.  I'm back to my old one.  Fortunately, I had a list of the books I hadn't read yet, so they are now on my old one waiting to be read.

On to the review!  While looking up other books by this author, I noticed one that looked familiar.  I apparently read it before I started my blog, but it is no longer in my Kindle library, so I'm assuming it wasn't one of my favorite books.  I'm glad I didn't know that before I got this one, I may have passed by it.

Meg's father has just died.  He has pushed her away from him for her entire life and now she finds that she can't muster up any feelings of sadness at his passing.  Deciding to go to the funeral, she discovers that he was a thief and made sure that she was well away from him and his dealings.

Ian was like a son to Meg's father and has taken up his lifestyle.  Being orphaned, her father took him in and gave him purpose.  Seeing Meg now causes mixed feelings with Ian. Her father didn't want her to have anything to do with his line of work and he definitely didn't think that Ian was worthy of Meg.  Ian loves her and wants to protect her, but Meg is determined to prove that she is her father's daughter by helping with a robbery.

I was a little confused at first.  I was almost halfway through the book and I hadn't seen much faith or God in the book.  I kept going and was impressed at the end.  The story line was unique and I was anxious to find out whether or not they would go through with it and what would happen afterwards.  It was such a great book, I'm glad that I picked it up.

In March, another book in The Gilded Legacy series came out called All in Good Time. Reading through the synopsis, I didn't recognize any of the characters.  I'm putting it on my watch list and hope that it will drop.  I believe that the other series was during WWI and that's not really my time period.  Good Book!  R.I.P. Kindle Fire!!