icRKphJXQm-ezth8lntKydifkDg The Loose Screw: April 2017

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Book Review~Treasured Grace


About the Book: 
From the back cover: In untamed Oregon Country, one young woman fights to keep her family safe. Grace Martindale has known more than her share of hardship. After her parents died, raising her two younger sisters, Hope and Mercy, became her responsibility. A hasty decision to head west seemed like an opportunity for a fresh start but has instead left Grace in a precarious position. When missionary Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife agree to let Grace and her sisters stay at their mission for the winter, Grace is grateful. Until they hear from their uncle in Oregon City, the three sisters have nowhere else to go. 

As Grace adjusts to life in the West, she meets a fur trapper named Alex Armistead who intrigues and infuriates her in equal measure. But when a measles outbreak threatens lives at the mission and among the native Cayuse who live nearby, it is Alex who helps Grace use the natural healing remedies she learned from her mother to help where she can, despite Dr. Whitman's disapproval. As the death toll rises, so do tensions between the settlers and the natives, and Grace soon finds herself and those she loves n more danger than she imagined possible.  

About the Author: 


Tracie Peterson's love for history and research fuels the bestselling stories she writes. She is the author of over one hundred novels and the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award. Tracie and her family live in Montana. You can learn more about Tracie and her books at www.traciepeterson.com

What I Thought: 
I had heard of author Tracie Peterson, but had never read anything by her. When I first received Treasured Grace, I looked inside the front cover and was amazed at the number of books she has written! Now that I have finished reading Treasured Grace, I understand why she is such a popular author-what talent!

The character of Grace is an amazing, selfless, hard-working woman who is making sacrifices so her sisters can have a fresh start out West. The story is full of anguish, from the many deaths from illness to the Whitman massacre, which is a true event in our history. Grace is strong throughout everything, and relies on her faith heavily. She uses her midwifery skills to help many sick people, both white and Indian.  

Treasured Grace was a fascinating read; one I stayed up late into the night reading because I did not want to put it down. It is a clean story (no swear words or sexuality), with many Christian references and Bible verses. The topics of rape, kidnapping, and suicide are all touched upon, so it would not be a book for the younger crowd or those who might be sensitive to these subjects. I loved reading Treasured Grace, which is the first book in Tracie Peterson's new Heart of the Frontier series. I look forward to the next book in the series, and in the meantime I will be seeking out more of her books to read!

Treasured Grace is available to purchase at Baker Publishing Group.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
 

Monday, April 10, 2017

Book Review~Mississippi Nights


About the Book: 
From the back cover: Two brothers, one death-the bond of brotherhood faces its greatest challenge against resentment and guilt.

Can the love between two brothers eventually win against pain and guilt?

When firefighter David Boyette's fiancee perishes in a car fire, he blames his brother, Sgt. Jeremy Boyette, for her death.

Three years later, David returns home with a dark and devastating secret. With the help of family, a woman's love, and a small child's devotion, can David overcome insurmountable odds as he and Jeremy face the bitterness that enslaves him?

Together the brothers must decide if the bond of brotherhood is stronger than resentment and hate.


About the Author: 
D.M. Webb (Daphne Self), a transplant from Mississippi who fell in love with Iowa, spends her days writing, biking, antiquing, and planning adventures with her husband and sons. Having always dreamed of being a writer she pursues this dream with only one goal in mind: To Glorify His Name. D.M. not only writes, but she's an avid reader who devours books in many genres. Catch some of her latest reviews at  www.rebelbookreviews.blogspot.com. Beyond her writing and reading, she also volunteers as a judge for the Genesis Contest and Carols Awards through American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).​
Connect with Daphne at:
Author Website: http://authordmwebb.weebly.com/
Author FB page link is https://www.facebook.com/WebbDM
Twitter page link is http://twitter.com/DaphMichele
Amazon Page link is  http://www.amazon.com/D.-M.-Webb/e/B007D8TXVO/


What I Thought:  
Mississippi Nights is a good, clean story that kept my attention throughout the 383 pages. The Boyette family is a strong Christian family dealing with issues families have to deal with. The two sons are a firefighter and police officer, and so they come into contact during work as well as family time. The tension between the boys is coming to a head, stemming from the death of David's wife years ago. David's hidden alcoholism is quickly destroying him, just when he starts dating Maggie, a sweet local girl who is a positive influence on him. 

All of the characters were very relateable, and I enjoyed how the strength of faith, family and community was focused on. 

You can purchase your own copy of Mississippi Nights in Kindle or Softcover from Amazon.


I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew