"With Every Letter" Book Review {Giveaway}

Latest News: Enter to win a copy of Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund and congratulations to our latest winner, Monica, who has won a copy of What a Difference a Mom Makes by Dr. Kevin Leman.

With Every Letter - Book One in The Wings of the Nightingale Series 

About the book: 

Lt. Mellie Blake is a nurse serving in the 802nd Medical Squadron, Air Evacuation, Transport. As part of a morale building program, she reluctantly enters into an anonymous correspondence with Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer in the 908th Engineer Aviation Battalion in North Africa. As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other's true identity. When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face to face for the first time. Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage to their past? And can they learn to trust God and embrace the gift of love he offers them?

My thoughts:
I have been a fan of Sarah Sundin since the moment I started her Wings of Glory series, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on her latest book! I love reading and I love history, but I am the type of person who picks apart details and demands historical accuracy and Sarah never disappoints me! In fact, her thorough research and attention to detail is amazing.

With Every Letter hit every mark and had me captivated from the beautiful cover. Once I started, I couldn't put it down, I had to know how it ended! I loved both Mellie and Tom, they (and all of the other characters) are so well written, it was like you knew them. Ms. Sundin's writing style puts you right into the story. You can feel the emotions of the characters, hear the bombs going off in the background and smell the couscous at the souk. 

This is one of the best books I have read in a while. I can't wait for the next one in the series and please give us an update on Mellie & Tom!

About the author: 
Sarah Sundin is the author of A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow. In 2011, A Memory Between Us was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards and Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist.  During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.

Check out Sarah’s website for more amazing material, including detailed, interactive maps of Algeria, Tunisia, and Sicily with historical photos and a video of her flight on a B-17 Bomber!

With Every Letter is available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The prize and fine print:
The winner will be mailed a copy of Sarah Sundin’s With Every Letter via media mail. This mailing is limited to US (including APO/FPO) and Canadian addresses.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are all mine and I was not required to give a positive review. 

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Unending Devotion Book Review {Giveaway}

Don't miss your chance to win a copy of Sarah Sundin's With Every Letter!

About the book: 

Michigan, 1883
In Her Darkest Hours, Is He the Man She Needs?

Lily Young longs to find her lost sister or will die trying. Heedless of any danger, she searches logging camps and towns, posing as a photographer’s assistant. And then she arrives in Harrison, Michigan–and the sights of Connell McCormick.

Connell is determined to increase the fortune of his lumber-baron father and figures as long as he’s living an upright life, that’s what matters. But when Lily arrives in town she upends his world, forcing him to confront the truth that dangerous men have gained too much power while good men turn a blind eye.

Vexing but persuasive, Lily soon secures Connell’s help, drawing them ever closer to each other. Will standing for what’s right cost them both everything?

Watch the book trailer here!

My thoughts:  
I was so excited to read Unending Devotion. I have read both of Jody Hedlund's other books and really enjoy her writing style and skill of drawing you into the story in such an amazing way. However, I couldn't wait to read this story because it was like picking up a piece of my family's past. My great, great-grandfather (and probably his father before) was a lumber jack in New York before the Civil War. After the war, they settled in central Michigan, where my great-grandfather grew up and became the first policeman of Midland Township. He married a first generation American and daughter of Scottish immigrants and they raised their family there. My grandfather became a doctor and would made house calls with his black bag into the 1950's and 60's.

Ms. Hedlund wove so many details into her story, I could just imagine what my great-grandmother thought when she moved from Bay City to these lumber towns. Did she feel the same way as Lily? For me, this book was a chance to step back into time. 

The sweet and tender love story between Lily and Connell was wonderful. Lily's love and concern for her sister, and her passion to rescue those around her, made my heart ache for her. Connell's devotion to his family - good and bad. Will Connell and Lily do what is right in the end or take the easy way out? The characters in the story became so real. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and was sad for it to end.

About the author: 
Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of "The Doctor's Lady" and "The Preacher's Bride". She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan, with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog.

Visit her website: http://jodyhedlund.com/

 
 The prize and fine print:
The winner will be mailed a copy of Jody Hedlund's Unending Devotion via media mail. This mailing is limited to USA (including APO/FPO) and CAN addresses.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are all mine and I was not required to give a positive review.

 

Use the new, handy-dandy Rafflecopter widget to enter for the prize! 
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What a Difference a Mom Makes Book Review {Giveaway}

Congrats to the winners of the last two giveaways!
Poekitten won a copy of Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon

and 

Kati won a  copy of Raising Financially Confident Kids by Mary Hunt
Thanks for entering and please check your email :)

Since I love giveaways, I wanted to let you know about one that Dr. Leman is running right now. If you purchase What a Difference a Mom Makes: The Indelible Imprint a Mom Leaves on her Son's Life and review it, he is giving you TWO of his books for FREE! (Free is one of my favorite words.) For all of the details, please visit his website. And if you buy the book and then are chosen as my winner, I will send you an Amazon gift certificate for $10 in place of the book! (Proof of purchase required.) 

If you have never read anything by Kevin Leman, you are missing out! Not only does he give great advice, he is incredibly funny and makes reading his books a joy. I have had the pleasure of seeing him live and he talks just like he writes, he is real and not afraid to share his own mistakes and you can hear his heart and passion for families. 

About the book: 

Think Father-Son Bonding Is the Only Thing that Matters? Think Again.

Dr. Kevin Leman Tells Why A Mom’s Relationship with Her Son Matters Uniquely - And How to Make It Stronger At Every Age

“You’ve always dreamed of having that precious little daughter – one who is a little replica of you. And then you show up at the doctor’s office for your sonogram.  “What’s that?” you say pointing at a little something you can’t quite place on the blurry black-and-white image.  And the doc says, “That’s a penis.”  You frown, not understanding.  “My daughter’s got a penis?”  Then realization dawns.  “A boy?”  Inside you start to panic.  What do I do with a boy?  I don’t know a thing about boys!  Ah, but you will.”

For some moms, sons are confusing right from that first diaper change on. But by the time a mom makes it through the treasures a boy brings home in his pockets during grade school, the extra dirt her boy seems to find every time he goes outside, and the changes that puberty and driving privileges bring, she’s sure of only one thing- she does not understand boys! 

But if any of that tempts a mom to leave the big stuff to Dad, she’s missing out on an amazing opportunity, says Dr. Kevin Leman. “Of all the people in the world, you, Mom, make the biggest difference in your son’s world.” Leman says “He’ll never reveal it to you straight out, so I’ll say it plainly. Your boy wants to please you. And that driving need will stay with him for a lifetime.”

By recognizing the deepest desire of her son, a mom can speak into her son’s life in ways that help him develop good relationships with other women, understand his own sexuality, fight his own battles, and command respect.

And along the way, it is possible, Leman believes, to learn some key coping skills for parenting your son and keeping a sense of humor along the way. True, moms may never understand why some things are funny to your son that are just disgusting to you, but you can still embrace the chance to leave an indelible imprint on your son’s life with fun and grace.

My thoughts:
Wow. What a great book. Very impacting and maybe stuff I already know (to a point), but have ignored (because it is easier) or needed encouragement to implement. I really enjoyed how the chapters were broken down and covered everything from birth order, sex and even how I as a mom allow myself to be treated. There is a lot of material covered in this book and honestly, it will be read again as I try to digest it all. I really wish I would have had it earlier - since my son is 12 years old. Thank you Dr. Leman! 

About the author: Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally known psychologist, humorist, and New York Times bestselling author of Have a New Kid by Friday.  He is the author of many books, including TheBirth Order Book, Making Children Mind without Losing Yours, Have a NewHusband by Friday, and Have a NewTeenager by Friday.  He is a radio and television personality, and speaker who has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and common-sense psychology.  He has made house calls for hundreds of radio and television programs, including Fox & Friends, The View, Today, Oprah, The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and Focus on the Family.  He has also served as a contributing family psychologist to Good Morning America.  

Dr. Leman and his wife, Sande, live in Tucson, Arizona. They have five children and two grandchildren. Visit his website at www.birthorderguy.com.

The prize and fine print:

The winner will be mailed one copy of What a Difference a Mom Makes: The Indelible Imprint a Mom Leaves on Her Son's Life via media mail.

This mailing is limited to USA (including APO/FPO) and CAN addresses. (Sorry, the costs to ship overseas were killing my blog budget!)

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are all mine and I was not required to give a positive review.

What a Difference a Mom Makes is available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
 

Use the new, handy-dandy Rafflecopter widget to enter for the prize!

(Note: You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible!)

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