Book Tour & Review: Life, In Spite of Me! by Kristen Jane Anderson and Tricia Goyer

Title: Life In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice
Author: Kristen Jane Anderson and Tricia Goyer
Publisher: Multnomah Books
Publication Date: May 4, 2010
Hardcover: 224 pages
ISBN: 978-1601422521
Genre: Inspirational/Non-Fiction

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About the Book
:

After her fatal choice… extraordinary hope.

Why does my life have to be so painful?
What’s wrong with me?
It’s not going to get better.
It could all be over soon, and then I won’t hurt anymore.

Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook on life. Once a happy child, Kristen’s world darkened after three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a depression that didn’t seem to have a bottom.

One January night, the seventeen-year-old made a decision: She no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited-for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.

Fear coursed through me. I squeezed my eyes tighter.
It’s going to be over now. The pain is going to end. I’ll be in heaven soon.
As the train whistle blew, the vibration of my body stilled.
The sound stopped. The wind stopped. The train stopped.
Am I dead yet?

Amazingly, Kristen survived her suicide attempt… but the 33 freight cars that ran over her severed her legs. Now she not only had to deal with depression; she also had to face the physical pain and life without legs.

But Kristen’s story didn’t end there. After her darkest days Kristen discovered a real purpose for living. Now, in her compelling book Life, In Spite of Me, Kristen shares her journey from despair to hope.

Includes letters from Kristen that share messages she wishes someone would have told her-when she was depressed and struggling with loss, shame from sexual abuse, and suicidal thoughts.

My Review:

Grab a box of tissues prior to settling in to read Life In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson and Tricia Goyer. Kristen was a healthy active 17-year-old with a loving family when a series of events beyond her control began to cascade down upon her making her feel no longer in control, no longer worthy, tired, and longing to go to Heaven. Life In Spite of Me speaks openly and candidly to the reader about Kristen’s experience, her thoughts on the evening she decided to end her life, the immediate hospitalization afterwards, and a flash back to what brought her to that terrible day by the train tracks and the rocky road to her physical, mental, emotional and spiritual recovery. Interspersed throughout the book are notes written by Kristen, speaking directly to the reader trying to reach out to those who despair, to let the reader know she understands as others do and it will be alright, but one must talk about their feelings and seek help. Life In Spite of Me is an extraordinary book about an amazing teenager who faced what many of us thankfully never shall, who overcame the obstacles and who grew to become a better person through her struggles and now reaches out to help others. I highly recommend Life In Spite of Me to all readers.

About the Author:

Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-four books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. For more info, please visit www.triciagoyer.com

Follow the blog tour here.

Watch the Video Trailer.

Enter the contest:

Tweet this: Don’t miss Life, In Spite of Me by @TriciaGoyer! The amazing story of #KristenAnderson journey back from #suicide! http://bit.ly/98PKmo
(must use both hashtags #kristenanderson and #suicide)
For a chance to win a 5 book Tricia Goyer library – any five books of your choice!

And/or

Leave a comment here for a chance to win 1 of 5 copies of Life, In Spite of Me.

I received a complimentary copy of Life, Inspite of Mee by Kristen Jane Anderson and Tricia Goyer from LitFuse Publicity. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: Life, Inspite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson

Title: Life In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice
Author: Kristen Jane Anderson and Tricia Goyer
Publisher: Multnomah Books
Publication Date: May 4, 2010
Hardcover: 224 pages
ISBN: 978-1601422521
Genre: Inspirational/Non-Fiction

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From the Publisher:

She wanted to die. God had other plans.

Why does my life have to be so painful?
What’s wrong with me?
It’s not going to get better.
It could all be over soon, and then I won’t hurt anymore.

Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression.

One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.

But Kristen’s story doesn’t end there.

In Life, In Spite of Me this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival, the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living.

Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured.

My Review:

Grab a box of tissues prior to settling in to read Life In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson and Tricia Goyer. Kristen was a healthy active 17-year-old with a loving family when a series of events beyond her control began to cascade down upon her making her feel no longer in control, no longer worthy, tired, and longing to go to Heaven. Life In Spite of Me speaks openly and candidly to the reader about Kristen’s experience, her thoughts on the evening she decided to end her life, the immediate hospitalization afterwards, and a flash back to what brought her to that terrible day by the train tracks and the rocky road to her physical, mental, emotional and spiritual recovery. Interspersed throughout the book are notes written by Kristen, speaking directly to the reader trying to reach out to those who despair, to let the reader know she understands as others do and it will be alright, but one must talk about their feelings and seek help. Life In Spite of Me is an extraordinary book about an amazing teenager who faced what many of us thankfully never shall, who overcame the obstacles and who grew to become a better person through her struggles and now reaches out to help others. I highly recommend Life In Spite of Me to all readers.

About the Authors:

Kristen Jane Anderson has been featured on Oprah and is a popular speaker at colleges, women’s and youth events, churches, and suicide prevention outreaches. A graduate of Moody Bible Institute and the founder of Reaching You Ministries, Kristen seeks to help those who are hurting, hopeless, lost, suicidal and depressed.

Tricia Goyer is the author of three hundred articles for national periodicals, as well as fourteen novels and six nonfiction books, including Blue Like Play Dough.

Chapter One may be downloaded.
An video interview may be viewed here.

I received a complimentary copy of Life, Inspite of Mee by Kristen Jane Anderson and Tricia Goyer from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Tour & Review: Songbird Under A German Moon by Tricia Goyer

Title: Songbird Under A German Moon
Author: Tricia Goyer
Publisher: Summerside Press
Publication Date: February 1, 2010
Paperback: 320 Pages
ISBN: 978-1935416685
Genre: Fiction

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About the book:

The year is 1945. The war is over and 21-year-old Betty Lake has been invited to Europe to sing in a USO tour for American soldiers who now occupy Hitler’s Germany. The first nights performance is a hit. Betty becomes enthralled with the applause, the former Nazi-held mansion they’re housed in and the attention of Frank Witt, the US Army Signal Corp Photographer. Yet the next night this songbird is ready to fly the coop when Betty’s dear friend, Kat, turns up missing. Betty soon realizes Franks photographs could be the key to finding Kat. Betty and Frank team up against post-war Nazi influences and the two lovebirds’ hearts may find the answers…in each other.
But will they have a chance for their romance to sing? The truth will be revealed under a German moon.




My Review:

Songbird Under A German Moon
by Tricia Goyer is set in post-war Germany. WWII ended 5 months ago and Germany is occupied by the allied troops to restore peace. 20-year-old Betty Lake has recently arrived on her USO tour and is stationed in Bayreuth, Germany and singing in Festspielhaus. Frank Witt an Army Air Corps photographer as well as an OSS agent has been assigned to cover Festspielhaus, which allows him a reason to be near Betty, whom he recently met but instantly fell for. Rumours have been going around that Festspielhaus is unsafe, some say haunted, for none can account for the mysterious things that occur there, especially in the evenings. Dierk has been sneaking into old ammunitions buildings to collect pieces he needs to stop the town of Bayreuth and Wagner from further being disgraced. Tricia Goyer has woven together a brilliant story told through the narratives of Betty, Frank, and Dierk. Songbird Under A German Moon will take the reader back to post-war Germany, combining historical accuracy with a sweet romance as well as a well laid out mystery, steeped in historical information. Goyer covers many areas superbly with her beautiful prose, historical accuracy and well designed plots making Songbird Under A German Moon a delightful and thoroughly enjoyable novel to read, reminding the reader that even under some of the most horrific circumstances, good does indeed prevail.

About the Author:

Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty books including From Dust and Ashes, My Life UnScripted, and the children’s book, 10 Minutes to Showtime. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in the mountains of Montana. Find out more about her and her books at her website.

Follow the blog tour here.

WHAT ERA? CONTEST
! (this contest is not being hosted by me or my blog Rundpinne)
Enter to win one of three signed copies of Songbird Under a German Moon.
*Leave a comment on Tricia’s blog or send an email through her website CONNECT page and answer this question: “What era in history do you wish you’d lived in and why?”
*Earn extra entries:

  • Sign up for Tricia’s Newsletter here.
  • Become a Fan on Facebook.
  • Tweet about the contest on Twitter (use hashtag #songbird)!

I received a complimentary copy of Songbird Under A German Moon by Tricia Goyer from LitFuse Publicity Group. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Teaser Tuesdays- Songbird Under A German Moon


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine:

Evil had dwelt in this place. Madness had walked these halls.”

~Page 192 , Songbird Under A German Moon by Tricia Goyer
What are you reading?

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Book Tour & Review: All Things Hidden by Tricia Goyer

Title: All Things Hidden
Author: Tricia Goyer
Publisher: Guideposts
Publication Date: 2009
Hardcover: 244 pages
Genre: Christian Fiction

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About the novel:

Charlotte is cleaning out the basement of Bedford Community Church when she comes across a tattered and yellowed newspaper article. The clipping, published more than a century ago, implicates her great-great-grandfather in the loss of funds intended to help finish building the church. Charlotte has heard stories about the incident through the years, but now it seems the past has come back to haunt her. Is it just her imagination or are people treating her differently now that they think she’s descended from a crook? Will Charlotte be able to clear her family’s name once and for all?

Meanwhile, Sam is spending time with a new girl in town—and is keeping secrets from his grandparents about where they go. Christopher is trying to get an article published in the local paper, and Emily reluctantly partners with a foreign exchange student on a class project and eventually comes to see that they’re not that different after all. As old secrets are brought to light, the whole family is reminded that the truth is often more complicated than it seems.

My review:

All Things Hidden written by Tricia Goyer is the 18th novel in the Home To Heather Creek Series and it is one that will not disappoint long-time series fans or those new to this series. In All Things Hidden, Charlotte is part of the women’s group cleaning out the church’s basement in preparation for the 130th Anniversary when an old newspaper clipping is discovered. The newspaper clipping contained an article about her great-grandfather, Elijah Coleman, which featured him pleading not guilty to theft. Charlotte is at once humbled and embarrassed that this old family legend has been brought back into light. Charlotte grew up hearing the allegations and has decided to discover what actually did happen back in 1870 to her great-grandfather and the missing money allocated to build the Bedford Community Church. At the same time her granddaughter is struggling with friendships, her grandson is involved with a girl Charlotte knows nothing about, and her son is preparing to marry. Tricia Goyer writes a wonderfully touching novel of family love and honesty along with the beauty of friendships and the power of faith as well as trust. All Things Hidden speaks of past generations and how each generation impacts the next is such a tender and loving manner. I would recommend this book to any reader looking for a sweet and pleasant novel.


About the author
:

Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-three books including From Dust and Ashes, My Life UnScripted, and the children’s book, 10 Minutes to Showtime. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in the mountains of Montana. Visit Tricia Goyer’s website.

Don’t miss your chance to win the entire 18 book series of Home to Heather Creek!

Tweet THIS: (must use hashtag #AllThingsHidden to be entered – no limit on entries! Tweet away!)

Read #AllThingsHidden by @triciagoyer http://ow.ly/14nNd! RT for a chance to win all 18 books in the Home to Heather Creek series!

Please visit the other blog tours for this book.

I received a complimentary copy of All Things Hidden by Tricia Goyer from LitFuse Publicity Group. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Love Finds You In Lonesome Prairie, Montana : A Book Tour and Review

Title: Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana
Author: Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss
Publisher: Summerside Press
Publication Date: December 1, 2009
Paperback: 348 pages
ISBN: 978-1935416296
Genre: Fiction, Christian, Romance

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About the Book:

In 1890, Julia Cavanaugh travels west from New York City to unite orphans in her care with new families.

Imagine her horror when she discovers that she’s to be “delivered,” too–as bride to an uncouth miner! But with no return fare, Julia’s options are bleak.

What does God have planned for her on the lonesome prairies of Montana?

A more detailed excerpt is here!

My Review:

A murder trial, a mail order bride, orphans and a confused preacher are just a few elements that make Love Finds You In Lonesome Prairie, Montana not the traditional Christian western romance; rather the novel is a multi-layered novel of love, hope and belonging. Goyer and Fleiss take the reader through a beautifully descriptive novel to Lonesome Prairie, Montana, where homesteading has recently begun, and through a variety of characters, the reader learns what it truly means to belong, to have a home. I found this novel to be a quick, sharp, and heart-warming read and believe it will delight many a reader, especially ones looking for a rich novel filled with an unforgettable cast of characters, beautiful prose, and meaningful life lessons. This is indeed a novel to pick up.

About the authors:

Tricia Goyer is the author of several books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW’s Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Montana. To find out more visit her website.

Ocieanna Fleiss is a published writer and has edited six of Tricia Goyer’s historical novels. She lives with her husband and their four children in the Seattle area. Connect with Ocieanna on Facebook!

I have been informed there is a fantastic contest underway!

Fall in Love with Lonesome Prairie!

The authors, Tricia and Ocieanna, have put together one humdinger of a contest for this blog tour! Enter the Fall in Love With Lonesome Prairie Contest and WIN a perty Montana Gift Basket!

To enter, simply fill out the entry form (then tell 5 or more friends about the contest)! The winner will be announced December 14th, just in time for an old-fashioned Montana Christmas. Giddy-up!

The Winner of our ‘Fall in Love with Lonesome Prairie’ giveaway will receive a fantastic Montana Gift Basket, including:
*Winter fleece throw
*Huckleberry chocolate bar
*Paula Dean candle
*Burt’s Bees gift set
*Wild Huckleberry taffy
*Montana stationary notebook
*Montana greeting card set
*Montana ball cap
*Montana apron
*Montana refrigerator magnet
*Charlie Russell 2010 Montana Calendar

For more fun and reviews follow the book tour.

I received a free copy of Love Found Me In Lonesome Prairie, Montana by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss from LitFuse Publicity Group. Receiving a free copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Lonesome-Teaser Tuesdays


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine:
“Why did I let myself hope? I has no right to expect a happy future-not for me, a poor orphan with no family but a flighty headmistress.”

~Page 211, Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss
Tour and Review

What are you reading?

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The Swiss Courier: A Tour and A Review

Title: The Swiss Courier
Authors: Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: October 1, 2009
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN: 978-0800733360
Genre: Historical Fiction

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A brief synopsis:

It is August 1944 and the Gestapo is mercilessly rounding up suspected enemies of the Third Reich. When Joseph Engel, a German physicist working on the atomic bomb, finds that he is actually a Jew, adopted by Christian parents, he must flee for his life to neutral Switzerland. Gabi Mueller is a young Swiss-American woman working for the newly formed American Office of Strategic Services (the forerunner to the CIA) close to Nazi Germany. When she is asked to risk her life to safely “courier” Engel out of Germany, the fate of the world rests in her hands. If she can lead him to safety, she can keep the Germans from developing nuclear capabilities. But in a time of traitors and uncertainty, whom can she trust along the way? This fast-paced, suspenseful novel takes readers along treacherous twists and turns during a fascinating–and deadly–time in history.

My review:

The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey is a fast paced, brilliant spy novel, which takes place towards the end of WWII. Alternating fluidly between Germany and Switzerland, the reader is drawn into the worlds of the Third Reich as well as the resistance movement. The characters are so well written into the story lines one cannot help but feel as if they are there with the characters. The fluidity of the novel along with the impeccable details of the various sites, from Davos, Switzerland to Heidelberg, Germany, one cannot help but feel transported back in time. The story lines flow with a brilliant fluidity while maintaining secrets, hidden identities and agendas until the very end. The Heroine, Gabi, is a strong and intelligent woman, yet not overbearing, rather quite the opposite, and on the surface a seemingly unlikely courier. She is a loving daughter, loyal friend, hard worker and stands up for what she believes to be right, in a time that dictates the opposite. With so much riding on the OSS to keep Joseph Engel out of the hands of the Gestapo, this novel portrays just how important the role of the OSS was during the later stages of WWII as well as the brave men and women who stood their ground, followed their hears and risked their lives to bring the truth forward. The Swiss Courier, in my opinion, is a novel that will be of interest to all readers.

About the Authors:

Tricia Goyer is the author of several books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW’s Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Montana. To find out more visit her website.
Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including the bestselling Every Man’s Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California. To find out more visit his website.
Listen to an interview with the authors.

  • Buy the book.
  • Contest: and this includes CHOCOLATE!)Pst…pass it on! Help Spread the word about #SwissCourier on Twitter and enter to win a signed copy & Swiss Chocolate! Just tweet this: The Swiss Courier by @triciagoyer fast paced and suspenseful! Don’t miss out! http://tr.im/Ahjs RT #swisscourier and we’ll enter you into a drawing for 1 of 5 SIGNED copies of The Swiss Courier.
  • Blog Tour!

I received a copy of The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey from Litfuse Publicity Group as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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The Swiss Courier: Teaser Tuesdays


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine:
“Jean-Pierre’s misson would soon be complete, but at what cost? Another agent-a good woman and friend-had been sacrificed.”

~Pages 19, The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey
My review will be up this Friday.


What are you reading?

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Sunflower Serenade: A Review


When I was approached to be a part of the book tour for Tricia Goyer’s latest book, Sunflower Serenade, I was a bit apprehensive. Being an avid reader, I was curious, since Christian Fiction is not a genre I am overly familiar with. Compounded with the fact that I had never read any of Goyer’s previous works in her Home to Heather Creek Series I was uncertain whether or not I would be able to fully appreciate the novel and to be quite honest, I was a little nervous.
As soon as I began the novel my worries and doubts began to disappear. Sunflower Serenade was a welcoming book and I found myself easily envisioning myself on the farm in Bedford, Nebraska. The characters in this novel are quite endearing and one cannot help but feel as if one is right there, in the kitchen making pies with Charlotte, overseeing the farm with Bob, or living the excitement of the county fair through the eyes of Charlotte’s grandchildren.
Sunflower Serenade is a heart-warming novel of a loving extended family, living in rural Nebraska, gearing up for the county fair and trying to deal with having their farm used to make a country music video. The novel deals with everyday family and friendship issues everyone can relate with and Charlotte’s words of wisdom cannot help but stay with the reader long after the novel is over. I would not hesitate to recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a nice cozy read.
I am very pleased to have been a part of the Sunflower Serenade Blog Tour and encourage my readers to see what others have to say about this heartwarming novel.
Sunflower Serenade is available through Guideposts’ Home to Heather Creek’s website.