Review: Tomorrow's Garden

Tomorrow's Garden (Texas Dreams - Book 3) by Amanda Cabot

Publication Date: April 2011

Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

Genre: Christian Fiction/Western Romance

Pages: Paperback, 387pp

ISBN-13: 9780800733261

ISBN: 0800733266

(Received for review from Revell Books)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Christianbook.com, IndieBound

Amanda Cabot on the WEB: Website, Facebook,

Excerpt from Tomorrow's Garden

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

As a seed awaits the spring sunshine, so one young woman hopes for a brighter tomorrow.

Harriet Kirk is certain that becoming the new schoolteacher in Ladreville, Texas, is just what she needs - a chance to put the past behind her and give her younger siblings a brighter tomorrow. What she didn't count on was the presence of handsome former Texas Ranger Lawrence Wood - or the way he affects her fragile heart. But can Harriet and Lawrence ever truly conquer the past in order to find happiness?

Book 3 in the Texas Dreams series, Tomorrow's Garden is a powerful story of overcoming the odds and grabbing hold of happiness.

Thoughts:

Amanda Cabot takes readers back to Ladreville, Texas in her third installment in the Texas Dreams series, Tomorrow's Garden. Cabot's ability to take readers back to 1857 is remarkable. Her descriptions of life on the frontier and the people who lived in that time seem very authentic. Her characters believable and the message of God's love, comes through with flying colors. Cabot fans will be thrilled with this book and new readers to the series, will fall in love with this wonderfully told Western Romance.

Harriet Kirk is looking for a fresh start. She wants to leave the small town where she grew up and move to Ladreville to begin a new life for herself and her siblings. As the new schoolteacher she has the chance to outrun the pursuit of a man she doesn't want to marry, as well as help her brother get away from disreputable characters he had gotten mixed up with. When Jake becomes even more belligerent and threatens to become involved in even more trouble, Harriet is at her wits end. Ex-Texas Ranger, Lawrence Wood realizes that he and Harriet could have a chance at finding happiness together, but they have both had some tragic losses in the past. It will take time to win her heart. And it might help if he didn't have to arrest her brother...

Amanda Cabot has a gift for creating characters that readers want to read about. They are realistic and easy to understand. Even though the book is set in 1857 the characters face similar situations to many readers. Harriet wants to get away from her past, who doesn't? She is willing to sacrifice to for her family. She can't seem to get rid of unwanted attention. A lot of women can relate. Lawrence is also a character that people can get into. He is handsome, chivalrous, but still has the edge he needs to do his job. He is faced with a dilemma, do what he knows is right or do what he thinks will get him the girl? All situations that readers will find interesting and on their level. The storyline is believable and readers will enjoy reading about people who have the same kinds of problems they face every day.

Harriet is a great character. She shows a lot of courage and her faith is strong. She is willing to leave the town she grew up in, in hopes of finding a better life for her family. She will sacrifice a lot for siblings, even her own chance at love. She takes on the schoolteachers job with relish and seems to really enjoy teaching the children about more than just reading and writing. She has a great spirit about her that I think readers will find sweet and enchanting. Cabot does an excellent job of showing Harriet's strength in caring for her family and her vulnerability as she starts to have feelings for Lawrence. Readers will really see the growth that Harriet's character goes through.

Lawrence is a character that has appeared before in the Texas Dreams series and fans of Cabot's will enjoy finding out more about him in this one. He seems to have a very enduring faith that settles a sort of grace on his character. He is handsome and very much the gentleman. What woman wouldn't want to meet someone like him? One of the great things about romance is finding those characters that you wish were real. Lawrence is definitely one of them. I think readers will really fall in love with him.

I recommend this book to Christian fiction and Historical fiction readers as well. The story has some great western and frontier settings, but still clearly shows the message that the author wanted to get across. She doesn't overpower the reader with faith issues, but there is just enough to make a real difference for some readers. This book would be great for a rainy spring day or a day at the beach. It can be read as a stand alone or as part of the Texas Dreams series. I'm looking forward to more great books from Amanda Cabot in the future.

Tomorrow's Garden is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Amanda Cabot is an accomplished author under various pen names and a popular speaker. The author of Paper Roses and Scattered Petals, she is also a charter member of Romance Writers of America, the co-founder of it's New Jersey chapter, a member of the ACFW, and an avid traveler. She lives in Wyoming.

Review: A Fierce Radiance

A Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer

Publication Date: March 2011
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Pages: Paperback, 560pp
ISBN-13: 9780061252525
ISBN: 0061252522

(Received for review from TLC Tours)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Lauren Belfer on the WEB: Website, Facebook, Twitter

Excerpt from A Fierce Radiance
Reading Group Guide

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

In the anxious days after Pearl Harbor, Life photojournalist Claire Shipley finds herself covering one of the nation's most important stories. At New York City's renowned Rockefeller Institute, researchers are racing to save thousands of wounded American soliders and countless others by developing a miraculous new drug they call penicillin. For Claire, a single mother haunted by the loss of her young daughter - a death the miracle drug could have prevented - the story is cuttingly personal, especially after she unexpectedly begins to fall in love with the shy and brilliant head physician, James Stanton. But Claire isn't the only one interested in the secret cure. When a researcher dies under suspicious circumstances, the stakes become starkly clear: someone understands just how profitable the new drug could be - and will stop at nothing to get it. Now, with lives and a new love hanging in the balance, Claire will throw herself into harm's way to find a killer - no matter what price she may have to pay.

Thoughts:

Author Lauren Belfer combines medical and military history together with romance and mystery to create a novel that readers will not soon forget. A Fierce Radiance is a glimpse back in time to the days after Pearl Harbor, when life hung in the balance for many soldiers and citizens. This book centers around the amazing, miracle drug, penicillin and how it changed the face of medicine. Readers will love the Belfer's engaging style and believable characters. It has adventure and romance all rolled up into one great novel!

Claire Shipley a photojournalist for Life magazine is onto the story of a lifetime. As the United States enters World War II, after Pearl Harbor, the race to mass produce antibiotics like Penicillin and it's "cousin" drugs heats up. Claire is assigned to photograph the first human trials on the drug being developed at the Rockefeller Institute. Claire's emotions run high as she realizes this drug could have potentially prevented the death of her daughter, who died of blood poisoning. As a single mother raising a young son, romance wasn't in her plans, but she finds herself drawn to James Stanton, head physician on the Penicillin project. When Jamie's sister Tia, a researcher on the project mysteriously ends up dead, it becomes apparent that other people know how profitable these drugs will be. When Claire begins to suspect her father may have something to do with this, the mystery and romance suddenly heat up.

Lauren Belfer's first book City of Light made her an instant sensation. Her second book, A Fierce of Radiance will likely cement her as one of the great writers of historical fiction. Belfer's portrayal of New York City during World War II is both harrowing and compelling. Her characters are full of spirit and determination as they are involved in something that will change not only their own lives, but history. But, as with all great things, there is a price. The author delves into the subject of industrialism and medicine. Is is ethical to seek profit from medical discoveries? Readers will be amazed at the ruthlessness that surrounded the production of the life-saving drug penicillin. Belfer does a remarkable job of making this time period come alive, with the stark reality that profit can sometimes outweigh good judgment.

Claire Shipley is a great character. She is a bit unconventional for her time. A single mother, a recent divorcee and a woman with a career. Her determination and plucky spirit ring true. She is very believable and authentic. She's a thirty-six year old woman, who has been through a lot in her life, the death of her daughter from blood poisoning, raising her young son, Charlie on her own and dealing with a messy divorce. When she meets Jamie, it is like a breath of fresh air in her life. She is the kind of woman and character who deserves for something really good to happen in her life and this romance has that potential. But, it is also fraught with it's own problems. Jamie is shy and very gifted. He is wrapped up in his work and can't see past it sometimes. On top of that Claire is just started to foster a relationship with her father, who is a very ruthless businessman. It would definitely be hard to contemplate a relationship with a man, when your father could have ordered the death of his sister... I think readers will love Claire and root for her romance with Jamie. I think they will sympathize with her over the death of her child and feel the exhilaration with her at the prospect of being a part of something so much bigger than herself. Belfer did such a wonderful job of creating Claire and giving the reader a chance to know her.

There are several things going on in this book and Belfer seems to be very adept at making them all come together to create a great story. You have the romance between Claire and Jamie, the shaky relationship between Claire and her father, against the background of an exploding medical discovery that shows the ruthlessness of drug companies and the extent they will go to, to make a profit. The scientific aspects, as well as the historical aspects of this book are just phenomenal. I loved reading about how penicillin was developed and I honestly had no idea before reading this book that there was such a controversy over it's production. Belfer's descriptive style really enhanced this story and made something that sounds kind of boring on paper, into a great adventure story. I loved it!

I can't recommend this one enough to historical fiction fans. This one will also appeal to mystery fans as well, as Claire races against time to find out who killed Tia and how it all ties into the story. Romance fans will love the scorching heat between Jamie and Claire and those who love stories about families will be intrigued by Claire's relationship with her dad. There is something for just about every kind of reader in this one!

A Fierce Radiance is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





Lauren Belfer is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel, City of Light, a number one Book Sense pick, a Discover award nominee, and a New York Times Notable Book. Her fiction has appeared in the Michigan Quarterly Review, Shenandoah, and Henfield Prize Stories. She lives in New York City.

Review: Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain

Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain by Margaret Irwin

Publication Date: April 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: Paperback, 336pp
ISBN-13: 9781402229985
ISBN: 1402229984

(Received for review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Margaret Irwin on the WEB: Goodreads, LibraryThing, Wikipedia

Excerpt from Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain, courtesy of Aisle B

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

Philip, prince of Spain, the unwilling bridegroom of Queen Mary, has been warned about the queen's half sister Elizabeth. According to all reports, she is a heretic, a rebel, and a potential enemy, and has a "spirit full of enchantment." Philip is immediately intrigued. Idolized by his aging wife, Philip holds the power to save the young princess, who has been accused of treachery by Mary and is under threat of death. The brilliant Elizabeth must walk the razor-thin line between Blood Mary's jealousy and Philip's uneasy ardor. The final book in Irwin's timeless trilogy, Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain follows the triumphs and tragedies, the battles of wit and will, between Henry VIII's spirited daughters.

Thoughts:

Margaret Irwin (1889-1969) is a quintessential writer of historical fiction. Her works have captivated readers for decades and the reprint of the final book in her trilogy based on Queen Elizabeth I, Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain is a remarkable look into the lives of Henry VIII's daughters. Readers who have never read Irwin's work will fall in love with her descriptive prowess and smooth writing style. Long time fans will relish in the fact that Irwin's books are still in print and available to a new audience.

Princess Elizabeth is constantly a thorn in the side of her powerful and ruthless half-sister, Mary. The dynamic Elizabeth intrigues just about everyone she meets, including Mary's unwilling husband, Philip, Prince of Spain. Philip and Mary have similar views and ideas on most things from religion to the crown, but Elizabeth a Protestant arouses Philip with her intelligence and beauty. When Mary figures out a way to get rid of Elizabeth by accusing her of treachery, Philip holds her life in his hands. Mary loves Philip desperately and it is in his power to change her mind about Elizabeth. Mary, who is known as Bloody Mary to her subjects and Philip will decide the fate of one of the most interesting players in English history.

Margaret Irwin's book, Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain was originally published in 1953 to great acclaim. It is the final book in her "young Bess" series, which has been re-told many times and made into a movie. Irwin's ability to write about the Tudor women has garnered her a great following. She takes the reader inside court life to the heart of the relationship between King Henry's VIII's daughters.

The rivalry between Mary and Elizabeth is brought into sharp focus in this book. Mary wants nothing more than to be free of Elizabeth. She sees her as a enemy and a heretic most of the time. She realizes that Elizabeth has the potential to destroy her and on top of that Mary's husband Philip is quite taken with Elizabeth. Irwin descriptions of court life and the tension that brewed between Mary and Elizabeth is a thing of beauty. Her writing brings out the stark reality that Elizabeth was facing. Mary was often ruthless and uncompromising, and Philip's ardor was something Elizabeth had to keep in check at the risk of her life. I thought Irwin's portrayal of Mary was masterful. Mary really came to life under Irwin's pen. She became not only a historical woman who was known for her brutality but also a woman who feared what her sister could do to her. She was a very three-dimensional character.

Elizabeth's rise to power and her later rule as Queen are never more in danger than during this time in her life. She is caught between Mary and Philip in such a way that if she made one wrong move, her life would be at an end. Irwin's portrayal of the pressure that rested on Elizabeth was remarkable. Irwin showed the reader just how perilously close Elizabeth came to being nothing more than Mary's half-sister. Irwin's ability to get into the head of Elizabeth sets this book apart. She was able to show Elizabeth as young, vibrant woman, on the edge of greatness. Both Mary and Elizabeth are drawn as exceptional women who had the ability to make history, while still being vulnerable and susceptible to the cruelty of others.

I really enjoyed this book as well as the other two books in the trilogy. I recommend this one to fans of Irwin and historical fiction lovers. If you are interested in King Henry the VIII and his family this a great book for you. It is filled with great historical detail and it's easy to see why Irwin is regarded as one of the great writers of historical fiction. It is not a long book or difficult to read. It can easily be read as a stand alone or as part of the Young Bess series.

Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Margaret Irwin (1889-1969) was a master of historical fiction, blending meticulous research with real storytelling flair to create some of England's best-loved and most widely acclaimed novels including, Young Bess, Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain, The Gay Galliard and The Stranger Prince.

Review: Mourning Gloria

Mourning Gloria (China Bayles - Book 19) by Susan Wittig Albert

Publication Date: April 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: Hardcover, 320pp
ISBN-13: 9780425239131
ISBN: 0425239136

(Received for review from Berkley/Obsidian)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Susan Wittig Albert on the WEB: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter
China Bayles Website

Excerpt from Mourning Gloria

Synopsis (Book Jacket):

Susan Wittig Albert, "who consistently turns out some of the best-plotted mysteries on the market." *delivers the charm and suspense in her latest herbal treat, Mourning Gloria. Now ex-lawyer and current herbalist China Bayles must stop a killer whose evil is burning through Texas...

China is relishing the scents, produce, and even the showers of spring. She's also busy manning her booth at the Pecan Springs Farmer's Market. It brings additional customers to her herb shop, Thyme and Seasons, and residents find rare ingredients they wouldn't otherwise find in the supermarket. Everybody wins.

But as the town bustles back to life in the warmth of the season, one woman's life is tragically brought to an end. China happens upon a burning house trailer and hears a woman screaming for help. The evidence leaves no doubt that it's an arson-homicide - but who would commit such a ghastly crime?

Jessica Nelson, an intern-reporter at the local paper, is assigned to cover the story. Drawn to the case by its similarity to own tragic loss - Jessica's family died in a fire - she soon finds herself deeply involved and in danger. And when Jessica disappears, China becomes determined to help find her before she becomes a headline herself...

Thoughts:

Once again Susan Wittig Albert intrigues fans and gets them looking for those all important clues. The 19th book in the China Bayles series, Mourning Gloria takes readers back to Pecan Springs, Texas and the Thyme and Seasons herb shop. Long time fans will enjoy reading new adventures of their favorite characters, while new readers will fall in love with China and the eclectic residents of Pecan Springs.

Ex-lawyer and herbalist, China Bayles has her hands full with the spring season kicking into high gear. Between her herb shop, her farmer's market booth, and her ever increasing family, she is finding it difficult to find time for everything, including planning a seminar on psychoactive herbs for the garden club. When she drives by an abandoned house trailer in flames, she stops to call 911 and realizes that someone is inside. When she tries to help the woman she hears screaming for help, an explosion erupts. It's obvious to China and the police that this was an arson-homicide. The woman had been tied up and shot before she was left in the burning trailer. Jessica Nelson a new intern at the local paper starts to investigate the case, which hits close to home, since her entire family was killed in a fire. When Jessica gets too close to the killer and disappears, China knows it's up to her to find the killer before it's too late.

Susan Wittig Albert has long delighted fans with cozy mysteries that are intriguing, full of suspense, and keep the reader on their toes from start to finish. The nineteenth installment in the China Bayles series certainly falls into the same category. Mourning Gloria, gives long time fans a chance to pick up where they left of with the wonderful residents of Pecan Springs, but it also gives new readers a chance to find a great long-lived series to capture their interest. This book can be read as a stand alone or as a part of the series. The author does a great job of letting new readers know a little about what has come before without making long time fans rehash the entire series over again. Just enough information!

Pecan Springs is such a great little town filled with interesting characters and personalities. In Mourning Gloria there are several story lines that either derive substance from the past or set up new avenues of thought for future books. The story of the romance between police chief, Shelia Dawson and Sheriff, Blackie Blackwell has been brewing for awhile. In this latest book, we find Shelia and Blackie at a crossroads. One of them will have to step down from their job in law enforcement if a wedding is to take place. Fans will enjoy seeing how this plays out in future books.

Also, the story behind the scenes of China's family is also ramping up. In Mourning Gloria, readers get to see China as a mother, as she is raising not only her stepson, Brian but also her niece, Caitlin. I think the author does a spectacular job of making China appear as more than just an amateur sleuth. She's a business woman, a mother, an herbalist. She has a life beyond solving mysteries and I think that makes her more accessible to readers and more believable.

Susan Wittig Albert is a master at weaving a plot. She gives readers a great cast of suspects to choose from and convinces them that it can be more than one, if not all of them that could have committed the crime. With twists and turns that will leave readers scratching their heads. Just when you think you've got it all figured out... you don't! (LOL)

I loved the way that Albert inserts lots of information about herbs and their uses into every chapter. The particular book focuses on psychoactive herbs and I thought that was very interesting. If readers come into this series without any background in herbs and what they are used for, I think they will come away feeling like they have not only been entertained, but educated a little bit as well. Which is a great feat in fiction writing.

As a heroine, China Bayles is such a great character. She is intelligent and insightful and full of ideas. Having been a lawyer, gives her credibility as a sleuth. She knows what kind of evidence is real evidence that can be used to convict someone or just circumstantial stuff that isn't necessary. I think her decision to become an herbalist is fascinating, since it isn't what you would expect from a lawyer. Interesting career choice, that really seems to work for the character. Her interaction with her family is priceless. She becomes a real person to the reader, as she deals with the same kinds of things that they do on a daily basis. Getting the kids to school, parenting issues, family drama all while trying to figure out who the killer is. I give props to Susan Wittig Albert for creating a character that is so three-dimensional.

I recommend this one to Susan Wittig Albert fans as well as new readers who are looking for a great series. The China Bayles series is an excellent example of a cozy mystery series, but it also packs some of the punch of more mainstream mysteries. Mystery fans of all kinds will enjoy this one. With information on herbs in every chapter and some great recipes in the back. This is a great book for herb fans as well.

Mourning Gloria is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





Susan Wittig Albert grew up on a farm in Illinois and earned her Ph.D at the University of California at Berkeley. A former professor of English and a university administrator and vice president, she now lives with her husband, Bill, in the country outside Austin, Texas. In addition to the China Bayles mysteries, she writes the Victorian Mysteries series, along with her husband under the pseudonym Robin Paige.

Review: Wickham's Diary

Wickham's Diary by Amanda Grange

Publication Date: April 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Austin Inspired Fiction
Pages: Paperback, 208pp
ISBN-13: 9781402251863
ISBN: 1402251866

(Received for review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Amanda Grange on the WEB: Website, Twitter

Excerpt from Wickham's Diary

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

11 July 1784 Why should I be beneath Fitzwilliam? I am just as handsome as he is; I am just as intelligent, even though he works harder at his books; and I am just as amusing; in fact, I dare to say I a great deal more amusing for Fitzwilliam is so proud he will not take the trouble to entertain other people. Yet although he is no better than me, when he grows up eh will inherit Pemberley and I will inherit nothing...

HE WASN'T ALWAYS THIS COLD-HEARTED... George Wickham had everything going for him. He's handsome, charming and sincere. Old Mr. Darcy loves him like a son. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the companion of his youth, is powerful and moral. What are the forces then that would turn this young man's destiny from one of promise to one of treachery and villainy? And could it happen again?

Thoughts:

Lover's of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice will enjoy Amanda Grange's take on George Wickham. Grange steps into the mind of Wickham in Wickham's Diary and gives the reader an idea of how Wickham and Darcy's relationship changed over the years. Readers will love her insight on the influences and reasons for Wickham's resentment and eventual loss of friendship with Darcy. If you enjoy Austen inspired fiction this one is for you!

Amanda Grange has taken the character of George Wickham from Pride and Prejudice and really expanded the readers knowledge of him in her novella, Wickham's Diary. Using the diary format, readers will get to know more about Wickham and how he and Darcy came to be together. Darcy being the son of the owner of Pemberley and Wickham being the son of the steward shows the reader the stark differences between classes during this time period.

We pick up Wickham's story at age twelve when he is already beginning to show signs of resentment toward Darcy. Wickham's mother influences him greatly and encourages him in feeling less than friendly towards Darcy throughout the novella. She plants the seeds in his mind and he waters them. She suggested that because of his station he would need to marry an heiress to get ahead and Wickham chose Georgiana Darcy because of his resentment of her brother.

I thought the author showed great depth and understanding in developing Wickham's character. She showed how a young boy went from being a trusted companion to being a rival. I thought she brought out the reasons for Wickham's behavior in a very insightful way. The diary was easy to read and even though this book is a novella, because of it's length, it gives the reader a real sense of who Wickham was and why he did the things he did.

I especially enjoyed the section about the years that Wickham and Darcy spent at Cambridge and how they differed so strongly in how they lived their lives. Darcy being sedate and moral while Wickham went in the totally opposite direction, with gambling, women and just about everything else. It was one of those situations that we find ourselves in sometimes. We try and try to help someone and when it becomes obvious that there is just nothing else we can do, we have to move on and I think Grange showed why Darcy became so strongly opposed to Wickham, especially after his treatment of Darcy's sister.

This was just a great little book, which brought Austen's original character of Darcy into better focus. I thought Grange did an outstanding job with this one and I look forward to reading her other diary format novels based on Austen's work.

Don't forget to check out the sidebar for a chance to win a copy of Wickham's Diary!

Wickham's Diary is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





Amanda Grange is a popular author of historical fiction in the UK. She specializes in creative interpretations of classic novels and historical events, including Jane Austen's novels and the Titanic shipwreck. Her novels include Mr. Darcy's Diary, Mr. Knightley's Diary, Captain Wentworth's Diary, and Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. She lives in England.

Review and Giveaway: The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted

The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted by Bridget Asher

Publication Date: March 2011
Publisher: Random House Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: Paperback, 448pp
ISBN-13: 9780385343916
ISBN: 0385343914

(Received for review from TLC Tours)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Bridget Asher on the WEB: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Excerpt from The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted

Synopsis (Barnes & Noble):

"Every good love story has another love hiding within it."

Brokenhearted and still mourning the loss of her husband, Heidi travels with Abbott, her obsessive-compulsive seven-year-old son, and Charlotte, her jaded sixteen-year-old niece, to the small village of Puyloubier in the south of France, where a crumbling stone house may be responsible for mending hearts since before World War II.

There, Charlotte confesses a shocking secret and Heidi learns the truth about her mother's "lost summer" when Heidi was a child. As three generations collide with one another, with the neighbor who seems to know all of their family skeletons, and with an enigmatic Frenchman, Heidi, Charlotte , and Abbott journey through love, loss, and healing amid the vineyards, warm winds and delicious food of Provence. Can the magic of the house heal Heidi's heart, too?

Thoughts:

Using the pen name Bridget Asher, Julianna Baggott brings to the reader a novel that will comfort and sooth. With themes ranging from the effects of grief, to teenage pregnancy this book is a great new novel from a gifted writer. Baggott's ability to set the scene and bring the lush fields of Provence to life is one of the things that sets this book apart from the pack. With rich descriptions and three dimensional characters, The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted will touch the hearts of readers in ways they will never expect.

After the death of her husband Henry, Heidi's grief is unbearable. Her life seems to be spiraling out of control, as she tries to cope with her loss and the obsessive-compulsive behavior of her son, Abbott. At the suggestion of her mother and sister, Heidi decides to take Abbott and her sister's troubled teenage stepdaughter, Charlotte to the family home in France, which was recently damaged by fire. As Heidi begins to rebuild and renovate the house, she is once again startled to find that Charlotte is pregnant. Slowly, the peace and restorative powers of the house begin to work on the lives of those within it's walls. Heidi is re-introduced to Julien, once a young boy she played with as a child, but now a very handsome and lonely man. Charlotte comes to terms with her pregnancy and reckless choices in her life and Abbott begins to grow and change within the love of his family.

The author does such a remarkable job of creating a family that could be your next door neighbors. A family touched by grief and looking for answers. The characters in The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted are very three dimensional and complex. Asher takes her time in developing these characters and letting the reader find out more and more as they go along. Building a relationship with the characters and forging an emotional response with just about any type of reader.

We have all known someone or experienced heart-wrenching grief in our lives. We have neighbors or even family members who are dealing with children with problems like autism or attention deficit disorder. We've all seen the affects of teenage pregnancy on our communities and families. This is a book about people that readers can really identify with and say to themselves, "I am like this character or I know someone who has gone through this." That's what makes this book so compelling and full of inspiration. Life does go on and healing does occur and I think that's Asher's message with this one.

I loved the way the author used several difference themes within the book and was still able to tie them all together and harmonize the plot. Grief is something I think is different for everyone who goes through it, but there are stages and Heidi's character definitely goes through all of them. She gets angry, sometimes she is almost despondent, and then she starts to heal. It's a slow and extremely difficult process and I thought the author did a great job of showing the transformation that Heidi goes through.

I also liked the way that Charlotte's pregnancy brought the family together. Instead of dividing them and tearing them apart at the seams, it gives them a reason to really pull together. To show that they will be there for her and help her in any way they can. So many families today that are faced with this issue, sort of turn in on themselves and sometimes implode from the pressure. The author did a great job of showing how a family can cope with this issue and move on.

Abbott's problems seem to be tied to his mother's grief over his father's death and seeing him bloom into the little boy the reader knew he could be, was amazing. There are so many kids today who are being diagnosed with problems like obsessive-compulsive disorder and other various things like Austism or Hyperactive disorder. Our children are becoming over medicated and not learning to cope with their problems. I thought Asher did a wonderful job of showing what a parent with a child who isn't like everyone else goes through, and what is going on inside that child. The answers aren't always in a bottle.

I loved the book! It had a great group of characters, a great set of themes and a very heartfelt and romantic edge to it. The idea that the house itself contained healing properties was easy for me to believe. It made me think about places I go when I need to be restored in my own life. I think readers will find this an inspiring story about moving on with your life, even when you don't really want to. The descriptions of Provence and the scenery are fantastic. Makes me want to travel!

The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





Bridget Asher is the author of My Husband's Sweethearts, and The Pretend Wife. She lives on the Florida panhandle but is always happy to do research in Provence.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted to one lucky winner here at Debbie's Book Bag!

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Interview and Giveaway: Amanda Grange

Please join me in welcoming Amanda Grange to Debbie's Book Bag today. Amanda is here to talk about her new Austen inspired book, Wickham's Diary (Check out my review later today!) Sourcebooks has offered two copies of Amanda's book, Wickam's Diary for giveaway. Please see the details at the end of the post.

DEB: Amanda, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
AMANDA: I grew up in Yorkshire in the north of England, not far from the home of the Brontes, so I think writing was always in my blood. I went to university, where I studied music, and then became a teacher, but I had always wanted to write and so I finally took the plunge, becoming published in my thirties. I wrote a lot of historical romances before embarking on my Jane Austen-related books.

DEB: Tell us a little about your book, Wickham‘s Diary?
AMANDA: Wickham’s Diary is a novella about the childhoods and early adult lives of Wickham and Darcy, who grow up together on the Pemberley estate. But whereas Darcy will inherit everything when he grows up, Wickham will have to work for a living. I used that as a springboard for the changing relationship between the two young men and for Wickham’s decline into loose living, until he descended to the depths of trying to elope with Georgiana. It was great fun to write, because although Wickham is what is called “a wrong ‘un” in Yorkshire, he’s also handsome, charming and fun.

DEB: Have you always been interested in Jane Austen inspired fiction? Is this one a sequel, prequel, variation or something different?
AMANDA: I wasn’t really interested in Austen inspired fiction until I started to write it about seven or eight years ago, because I never really knew it existed, but now I’m hooked. Wickham’s Diary is a prequel to Pride and Prejudice, and it was a lot of fun to write.

DEB: What type of research did you do for your book?
AMANDA: I read Pride and Prejudice again, making a lot of notes, so that I could build up an accurate picture of Wickham’s early life, then I researched the practical details such as university life at the time. I worked out a timeline for the events and then I spent a lot of time thinking about his motivations, after which I started to write.

DEB: What is your normal writing day like? Do you have things that have to be in place to write comfortably?
AMANDA: I don’t really have a normal writing day. Sometimes I’m at my computer by about seven o’clock in the morning and I stay there until one or two o’clock the following morning. Sometimes I don’t write a word but instead I think about the characters and plot and I work out the details of the novel in my head. Most days fall somewhere between those two extremes.

DEB: What was it like when you got the word that your first novel would be published?
AMANDA: It was baffling because I didn’t believe it. I’d spent so many years getting rejection letters that when I finally got an acceptance letter I thought it must be a mistake! It was only when I saw the cover sketch that I believed it was real!

DEB: Do have any advice for new writers?
AMANDA: Write. It sounds simple, but there are a lot of distractions for new writers today: how to write books, conferences, meetings, Twitter, blogs etc. All of these things can be useful, but the one thing you have to do is to write. I have some writing tips on my website which might be useful http://www.amandagrange.com/writing%20tips.html

DEB: When your not writing, what kinds of books do you like to read? Do you have a favorite author?
AMANDA: I like to read a wide range of fiction and non fiction. I have a lot of favourite authors in different genres. All-time favourites include Agatha Christie, Georgette Heyer, P G Wodehouse and of course Jane Austen!

DEB: What are you working on right now?
AMANDA: I’m working on a few projects but it’s a bit early to talk about them, although one of them is definitely about Mr Darcy!

DEB: Tell us one thing that people may not know about you?
AMANDA: I love fuschias.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Sourcebooks is sponsoring a giveaway for two copies of Wickham's Diary by Amanda Grange.

~ You must be a Google Friend Connect follower to participate.
~ US and Canadian Addresses Only! (Publisher Request)
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST April 29th.

1.) Please leave a comment in appreciation of the author on THIS post!
2.) Please fill out the FORM.