The IE Mommy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A native of southern Illinois, Stephanie Grace Whitson has lived in Nebraska since 1975. She began what she calls “playing with imaginary friends” (writing fiction) when, as a result of teaching her four homeschooled children Nebraska history, she was personally encouraged and challenged by the lives of pioneer women in the West. Since her first book, Walks the Fire, was published in 1995, Stephanie’s fiction titles have appeared on the ECPA bestseller list numerous times and been finalists for the Christy Award, the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year.

Her first nonfiction work, How to Help a Grieving Friend, was released in 2005. In addition to serving in her local church and keeping up with two married children, two college students, and a high school senior, Stephanie enjoys motorcycle trips with her family and church friends. Her passionate interests in pioneer women’s history, antique quilts, and French, Italian, and Hawaiian language and culture provide endless story-telling possibilities.

ABOUT THE BOOK

An unlikely attraction occurs between two passengers on a steamboat journey up the Missouri River to Montana…

She is a self-centered young woman from a privileged family who fears the outdoors and avoids anything rustic. He is a preacher living under a sense of duty and obligation to love the unlovable people in the world. She isn’t letting anything deter her from solving a family mystery that surfaced after her mother’s death. He is on a mission to reach the rejects of society in the remote wilderness regions of Montana. Miss Fannie Rousseau and Reverend Samuel Beck are opposites in every way… except in how they both keep wondering if their paths will ever cross again.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Most Unsuitable Match, go HERE.

This is a classic Christian love story mixed in with some adventure in the wild west!  It was a good combination of plots and characters making it interesting all the way around.  Fannie loses both of her parents within a very short time period and is left only with her beloved maid Hannah in her families huge family home.

In the course of going through her Mother’s belongings she discovers a hidden picture and letters from a mysterious family member she knew nothing about.  Driven by the desire to find her only living family and the need to escape the monotony of her high society life, Fannie does the unthinkable!  She boards a steamboat headed for Montana with Hannah in search of her long lost Aunt Edie.

Aboard the steamboat we meet Samuel, a hired hand also headed west in search of a lot family members; his sister.  The two become fast friends and after a terrible accident that claims Hannah’s life, Samuel becomes somewhat of a protector and guide and they continue on together in their journey.

Montana is a fire cry from the home she left behind and Fannie has to constantly adapt to fit in to her new surroundings.  She draws much attention as one of the few women in a city of predominantly men.  A man named Abe quickly takes her under his wing and gives her a job to pay for her room and board.  Samuel continues to grow in his faith and becomes somewhat of a preacher for the town.

Samuel and Fannie also grow in their love for each other although they remain focused on their searches and don’t pursue this love initially.  Both of their searches finally come to an end as they find their long lost family members.  Tragedy leaves one with an unhappy ending but it ultimately leads them to profess their love for each other and bring them even closer.

This was an inspiring story of love, faith, hope and triumph.  Fannie becomes somewhat of a heroine in her own right as she conquers a territory few women have survived and ultimately decides to call it her home.   Whitson writes with great wisdom and knowledge of the time period making it a true joy to read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

PENELOPE WILCOCK is a full-time author living in Hastings, Sussex, on the southeast coast of England. Her blog, Kindred of the Quiet Way, is about a simple and spiritual Christian lifestyle. Her other books in The Hawk and the Dove series are The Hawk and the Dove, The Wounds of God, and The Long Fall.
ABOUT THE BOOK

This latest in Wilcock’s The Hawk and the Dove series takes readers into the world of a fourteenth-century monastery struggling to forgive an old enemy seeking refuge.

The first of three sequels to the celebrated The Hawk and the Dove trilogy takes place one year after the end of the third book, in the early fourteenth century. A peaceful monastery is enjoying its new abbot, who is taking the place of Father Peregrine, when an old enemy arrives seeking refuge. Reluctantly taking in Prior William, the upended community must address old fears and bitterness while warily seeking reconciliation. But can they really trust Prior William?

In her fourth book in the series, Penelope Wilcock wrestles with the difficulties of forgiveness and the cautions of building trust. Taking the form of journal entries, her story will delight the imaginations of readers captivated by a time and place far distant from our current world. Her timeless themes, however, will challenge our prejudices today as we, along with her characters, are forced to ask ourselves, “What is the hardest thing to do?”

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Hardest Thing, go HERE.

Wilcocks tale of a group of Monks in the fourteenth century is her fourth in her ‘The Hawk and the Dove Series’ and while I hadn’t read the first three, I didn’t find it at all difficult to understand the story.  Sometimes with sequels it’s hard to follow if you haven’t read the first but this book is definitely a standalone work.

I found it difficult to really get into this book.  Maybe because the subject matter wasn’t of much interest to me or maybe because the story itself was a little slow.  Either way, it was a challenging read as it did little to hold my interest.  The story takes place during the days of Lent and each chapter is a new day and thus named ‘The First Day’ and so forth.  Sometimes when books are told in “real time” they tend to be a bit slower as true life is also typically not exciting every day!

It’s the story of a group of Monks and their monastery who has just appointed a new Abott:  John.  We simultaneously follow the goings on of the monastery along with John’s long trip home to take over his new position.

During the course of these same chapters we also learn that another monastery has been intentionally burned to the ground leaving few survivors.  One of the survivors named William happens to have an evil past with the monastery.  William seeks refuge elsewhere but because of his bad reputation, is forced to beg for mercy at the monastery shortly after John’s return home and appointment to Abott.

This is William’s story of redemption and seeking forgiveness.  He battles the hatred of the monks he’s hurt along with his physical burns from the fire.  The monks, particularly Brother Tom, struggle to forgive a man who has hurt those he loves.  This part I found endearing as it is a struggle with all of humanity that anyone can relate to.

William takes sanctuary in the monastery as the monks care for him.  He finds healing in his heart and soul right alongside his physical healing.  After an initial setback in which he almost loses his life, William’s find the forgiveness, love, acceptance and redemption he seeks and becomes the man he was always intended to be.

Forgiveness is a topic anyone can relate to and will find relevant in this story.  However, it is a slow story, and understandable because of the monk’s lifestyle, is an equally slow read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Yvonne Harris earned a BS in Education from the University of Hartford and has taught throughout New England and the mid-Atlantic. Unofficially retired from teaching, she teaches writing at Burlington County College in southern New Jersey, where she resides. She is a winner and three-time finalist for the Golden Heart, once for The Vigilante’s Bride, which was her debut novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Texas Ranger Jake Nelson patrols the U.S.-Mexico border, protecting the settlers from cattle rustlers, outlaws, and bandits. Sparks fly when Manuel Diego stirs up a revolt against the government, which leads to the murder of a newspaperman, who is the son of a U.S. senator, and the kidnapping of his sister, Elizabeth Madison, a journalist in the making.

With Elizabeth’s photograph in hand–a dark-haired beauty with smiling eyes–Jake rides over the border to find her. After the Rangers defeat the marauders and rescue Elizabeth, Jake is surprised to learn she’s not the spoiled daughter of a senator that he was expecting. In fact, he finds himself taken by her. And she by him.

But the Mexicans won’t give up that easily, as Elizabeth becomes the target of an all-out hunt. Leaving Elizabeth back at Fort Williams, Jake and his men set off again, this time to go after Diego himself–to apprehend him and his renegades and bring them all to justice.

Meanwhile, Jake knows what’s begun between him and Elizabeth is undeniable. Amid all the turmoil, Jake finally admits how much he loves her. She tells him the same. Until now, they’ve lived in different worlds, yet it is those differences that drew them together.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A River to Cross, go HERE.

A River to Cross starts off with an explosion of excitement and it it doesn’t end until the end of the story!! The story is filled with action packed adventure, suspense and a sweet love story woven within!

Elizabeth is an upcoming journalist at her brother’s newspaper business and the daughter of a U.S. Senator. After she watches her brother get killed, right in front of her for exposing the dangers along the Mexican border. The killers then decide to kidnap her and take her with them in hopes of using her for leverage!

Texas Ranger Jake Nelson hears about the brutal murder of his friend and the kidnapping of the young beauty Elizabeth by the revolting Mexican Manuel Diego and decides he will not rest until she is safe and sound and Diego is brought to justice!!

Jake sets out to find Elizabeth and when he succeeds not only does he begin to realize that she is nothing like he expected but much more, but he also severely ticks off Diego!! That begins the hunt Diego initiates to find Elizabeth and have her murdered!

The spiritual threads weaved throughout the book were subtle and enjoyable!! A River to Cross was not like that for me!! There were moments of references to God and spirituality but it was woven in very nicely and didn’t deter from the story! What a great story.

Sometimes you stumble across a person or a company that tugs on your heart and you want to help.  Hopefully the IE Mommy blog will be able to help this family a bit

Go to their website and learn about their story…there may be a way you can help and if nothing more then “like” their Facebook page to show them encouragement!