Paws for Love

A Novel for Dog Lovers

by Dana Mentink

Description

The Only Thing Sweet About Jellybean Is His Name

Jellybean the terrier is about to unleash some serious mayhem on the unsuspecting town of Albatross.

There's no quiet on the set when over-the-hill screen star Lawrence Tucker brings his naughty terrier, Jellybean, on location to the beachside town of Albatross, California. When Jellybean develops a rapport with Tucker's violin tutor, the painfully shy, socially awkward Misty Agnelli, her arm is twisted into minding the mischievous animal. Trailing Jellybean leads Misty into the candy store of Bill Woodson, a handsome chocolatier with a painful secret and a three-year-old niece to raise.

Misty must deal with the unstable Tucker, a temperamental Jellybean, her budding feelings for the mysterious Bill, and the high-pressure atmosphere on the set. Though she wants nothing more than to flee, how can she tell her Grandma, Lawrence Tucker's biggest fan, that she abandoned the star and his dog?

It's actors, animals, and antics galore when Jellybean gives his own heartwarming performance.

Biography

Dana Mentink is an award winning author of Christian fiction. She's written more than twenty five mystery and suspense novels. She is honored to have received two ACFW Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion Award, and a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award. Please visit her on the web at www.danamentink.com or find her on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest. Dana hosts monthly contests at www.dmentink.wordpress.com and on her YouTube channel.

My Thoughts ~

Paws for Love is one of the most delightful books I've read in a long while. Jellybean is a mischievous and strong willed little dog who overtakes the town of Albatross and all its residents. He is not quite the dog you'd imagine by his sweet name. Misty Agnelli was originally hired to tutor an actor in playing the violin when the actor's dog overtakes her life. Trouble appears to be Jellybean's middle name! The only real advantage was her accidental introduction to Bill Woodson, local chocolatier, as Jellybean takes a detour into the shop tugging Misty with him.

Characters in this sweet tale are truly "characters," quirky, comical, eccentric and sensitive. I loved Misty and Bill, and the relationship(?) that developed by way of Jellybean's shenanigans. Both young people have some pretty serious issues to deal with, but Jellybean's antics are a great distraction. 

The small community of Albatross is well depicted, quaint and colorful. The visions that come to mind from the escapades in this story will brighten your day. I thoroughly enjoyed Paws for Love and recommend it highly. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed in my review are my own. 

The Amish Princess

(The Paradise Chronicles #2)

by Patrick E. Craig

Description

Opahtuhwe, the White Deer, is the beautiful daughter of Wingenund, the most powerful chief of the Delaware tribe. She is revered by her people a true Indian princess. Everything changes when the murderous Delaware renegade known as Scar brings three Amish prisoners to the Delaware camp. Jonathan and Joshua Hershberger are twin brothers that Scar has determined to adopt and teach the Indian way. The third prisoner is Jonas Hershberger, their father, who has been made a slave because he would not defend his family. White Deer is drawn to Jonathan but his hatred of the Indians makes him push her away. Joshua's gentle heart and steadfast refusal to abandon the Amish faith lead White Deer to a life-changing decision and rejection by her people. In the end, White Deer must choose between the ways of her people and her new-found faith. And complicating it all is her love for the man who can only hate her.

Biography

Best-selling author, Patrick E. Craig, is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful songwriting and performance career in the music industry to follow Christ in 1984. He spent the next twenty-six years as a worship leader, seminar speaker and pastor in churches, and at retreats, seminars and conferences all across the Western United States. After ministering for a number of years in music and worship to a circuit of small churches in Northern California, he is now concentrating on writing and publishing both fiction and non-fiction books. In November, 2011, Patrick signed a three book deal with Harvest House Publishers to publish his "Apple Creek Dreams" series. His Latest work, "The Amish Heiress" (Book One in The Paradise Chronicles series) has been on the best seller lists on Amazon since August. Patrick is represented by the Steve Laube Agency.

My thoughts ~

Patrick E. Craig is a favorite author of mine. His books are rich in history, detailed and well researched. The story of the Amish Princess is haunting. Apahtuhwe, the White Deer, is the daughter of Wingenund, great chief of the Delaware Indian tribe. Apahtuhwe's grandmother was French, bestowing her with pale skin and incredible beauty. 

The Hershbergers are an Amish family who settled near Ft. Pitt, close to the Ohio River. The family farm was invaded by Indian warriors, resulting in bloody violence. Left were only the father and his twin sons, Jonathan and Joshua, identical except for the color of their hair. Captured by the warriors, they were taken as slaves to the Indian tribe. White Deer captivated both young men with her beauty. 

A detailed and fast paced discourse of life in early 1700s America, two vastly different cultures fought for land to call their own. Immigrants had forced Indian tribes farther and farther to the west, leaving them angry and violent. Mr. Craig has captured the spirit of these early days in our nation's history, embellishing history with poetic description and revelations of graphic portrayals of death and destruction. 

I'm always impressed with the beauty in which the author presents his creative narrative. As an example, the following is taken from The Amish Princess: "The gray of dawn was pushing the stars back to their resting place, and the indigo heavens were surrendering to the slowly awakening sky."

I highly recommend this impressive book. Like the author's previous books, this one is another winner in my "book!" It will remain a part of my permanent library.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author. All my opinions in this review are my own, and there were no expectations from the author for a positive review.

Raging Storm

(The Remnant Series Book #2)

by Vannetta Chapman
GIVEAWAY, EBOOK OR PRINT COPY, YOUR CHOICE!

Description

In the Darkness,
Anarchy Awakens

When a massive solar flare wiped out all modern technology across the globe, the small town of Abney, Texas, was thrown into chaos. Shelby Sparks and her teenage son, Carter, have found refuge, but Shelby knows she can't simply remain hidden. Carter is a type 1 diabetic in need of insulin—and Shelby will risk her life traveling to Austin to make sure he gets it.

Shelby's best friend and high school sweetheart, Max Berkman, won't even consider letting her make the perilous journey alone. Together, they manage to reach the capital—only to discover that while things are desperate in Abney, Austin has turned into an urban nightmare on the brink of anarchy.

Shelby and Max's search for medical supplies will lead them into terrifying territory, where the only thing more uncertain than finding what they need is the hope of making it out of the city alive.

* * *

In this second book in an eerily plausible, action-packed dystopian series, survival will be threatened and faith will be put to the ultimate test as a raging storm engulfs America.

Biography

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She has published more than one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her novel Falling to Pieces was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner. A Promise for Miriam earned a spot on the June 2012 Christian Retailing Top Ten Fiction list. Anna's Healing was a 2015 Carol Award finalist. Chapman writes Amish romance, Amish cozy mysteries, and Christian dystopian (suspense). Chapman was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time. She lives in the Texas hill country with her husband. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com 

My thoughts ~

The second book in the Remnant Series, Raging Storm is a followup of Deep Shadows, the first in the series. Raging Storm can be a stand alone novel, but by all means, don't miss Deep Shadows for the backdrop of this dystopian thriller. It reveals the background and continuation for the fast paced action in Raging Storm.

The characters are complex and diverse, and the relationship between Max and Shelby is somewhat complicated. Max is an admirable hero figure, as Shelby is at times frustrating. The two make a very engaging team. Horrifying situations make their relationship intense as they take on a mission to obtain insulin for Shelby's teenage son.

A massive solar flare has changed the world into a war zone. Survival alone has created a volatile situation in which everyone is fighting for their lives. Massive hysteria has become the norm, and attempting to obtain insulin and other necessary medications is next to impossible. The true nature of humans surfaces throughout terrifying situations. 

Raging Storm will increase your heart rate and shock you into the possibilities of a very conceivable event. This novel is one to be absorbed with the concept that our complex world is dependent upon an environment that our ancestors couldn't imagine. We all have much to learn from this eye opening phenomenon. 

I highly recommend Raging Storm. It is another unforgettable narrative from an extremely talented author, Vannetta Chapman!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All expressed opinions are my own. 

CONTEST GUIDELINES: Please leave a comment and your email address using [at] and [dot] to protect your email address. Giveaways are limited to residents of the continental US only, please. I am not responsible for loss or damage through the postal service. Winners have one week to claim their prizes. Thank you so much for visiting my blog! I appreciate all of your comments!

Optional: For additional chances to win this giveaway, share this contest through either Twitter or Facebook, and sign up to follow my blog. Please let me know what you did for extra chances to win. Deadline for this giveaway is Tuesday, 2-21-17.