“I Love to Tell the Story” by Faith Blum

I Love to Tell the Story

(Librarians of Willow Hollow #2)

 by Faith Blum

Synopsis: 

Her heart is in the right place…

Bored with her life in Castle Town, Montana, Lillian Sullivan follows her friend’s suggestion and joins the horseback librarian program in rural Kentucky. Not only does she anticipate sharing her love of books, but she also wants to spread the gospel among the mountain people.

However, Willow Hollow presents her with one trouble after another and she struggles to step outside her shyness to share the gospel.

What will it take for Lillian to share her love of the Best Story? Can the power of the gospel overcome the shyness of her own heart?

This novella is part of a series with different authors, but can easily be read as a standalone.

About the Author:

Faith Blum is a small-town Wisconsin girl. She has independently published over 25 books in over five years. Most of her books are Christian Historical Fiction with an emphasis on Westerns. During an eBook sale, she was #2 overall in Kindle eBooks on Amazon. 

Faith resides in Central Wisconsin with her husband, son, and their cat, Smokey. When not writing, you can find her cooking, doing dishes, sewing, reading, or spending time with her husband and son. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her on her website: https://faithblum.com.

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. I was excited to read this book! I think it’s very fun how it ties with book 1, by Amanda Tero. I enjoyed seeing the setting and people through another pair of eyes. Every chapter had a journal excerpt from her mother’s journal, and I felt like they had nothing to do with Lillian’s story; but still, it was interesting to see her mother’s story. But these journal excerpts dealt with her journey with miscarriage and becoming pregnant with Lillian, and while I understand that there needs to be awareness of this, there were just a few mentions that made me personally a little uneasy and that I’d wipe out before handing to a younger child. I liked how Lillian was challenged to share the Gospel and the lessons she heard about that. And I enjoyed her exchanges with Crow! I also was intrigued by Edna and Ivory! Like book 1, I recommend this for ages 16+.

A Favourite Quote: “‘I want to smile again the way everybody remembers me from when I came here.’”

A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘This here is Miss Edna O’Connell. She’s a local girl.’

“‘Woman,’ Edna stated.... ‘I’m an adult. I’m a local woman—well, by extraction, at least.’

“Curt didn’t seem to understand her point, but it didn’t matter because Ivory charged around the table. ‘I’m pleased as punch to meet you.’

“‘So I see.’ Edna tapped the tip of her pencil against her notebook page and eyed Ivory dispassionately.”

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

Purchase this book:
Canada | America

eBook Sale – ATW

The prequel novel of I Love to Tell the Story is on sale this week for just $0.99. It is all  about Lillian’s grandfather.

Caroline and I walked out the back door and went into the barn.
“What are we going to do?” Caroline asked.
“Head out on our own. Saddle Whitey, please.”
Caroline’s mouth gaped open. “They’ll find us.”
“I know.”
Caroline sighed. “What can we do then?”
I shook my head. “We can stick together. Always.”

Tragedy stole everything from him … except her …
Three years ago, an illness orphaned Henry and Caroline Sullivan. The harsh years at the orphanage have forged a strong bond between the pair.
But Henry’s about to age out.
He must choose whether to leave his only family behind in relative safety, or take her with him as he pursues dreams of owning a farm. Henry trusts that God has a plan for him, but little does he know that others have plans for him and his younger sister as well. He will need all his faith to find the right path. 
Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
Note: 50% of my income from this series will go to the World Orphans organization.

Giveaways

Make sure you enter the best giveaway on the internet!

Included:

2 bags Peppermint Tea

1 limited edition mug

Paperback of I Love to Tell the Story

Paperback of All the Way My Savior Leads (about Lillian’s grandfather)

5 Postcards

Enter here: https://kingsumo.com/g/nmyffj/i-love-to-tell-the-story

I’m also doing a giveaway for my International friends!

International giveaway is a full eBook set of the entire series!

Enter here: https://kingsumo.com/g/pbjlda/i-love-to-tell-the-story-international

Blog Tour Schedule

August 18

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Blog Tour intro

A Brighter Destiny – Book Spotlight

In the Bookcase – Book Review

Amanda Tero – Author Interview

Old-Fashioned Book Love – Book Review

 

August 19

Nook of Grace – Book Review and Author Interview

Jane Mouttet – Book Review

 

August 20

Clothed with Scarlet – Book Review

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Similarities

 

August 21

Reviews from the Stacks – Book Review

Christian Author: A.M. Heath – Book Spotlight

 

August 22

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Blog Tour wrap-up and giveaway winner

“A Strand of Hope” by Amanda Tero

A Strand of Hope

(Librarians of Willow Hollow #1)

 by Amanda Tero

Synopsis: 

Lena Davis is the daughter her mom never wanted.

But she survived. Through stories. Because books didn’t judge. Books weren’t angry she was alive. Books never expected her to be anything but who she was.

As she grows up, her beloved library becomes her true home.

So when the library is designated part of President Roosevelt’s Packhorse Library Project, Lena is determined to get the job of bringing books to highlanders, believing she’ll finally be free of her mom forever.

But earning the trust of highlanders is harder than she imagined, and her passion for books might not be enough to free her from her chains.

(From Goodreads)

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

5+ stars & 7/10 hearts. Wow. Every time I read Amanda’s newest release, it discusses the very subject I need to hear. This one, although I didn’t realize it for a time, deals with hiding from life and its challenges. Am I ever guilty of that one.... I was almost moved to tears at certain points because the message hit me so hard. There was a whole other aspect, too, that I can’t say much about for privacy reasons but it was very similar to something I’m going through, and so it spoke to me too. And the bitterness message was SO true and so well done. I liked Lena and I learned a lot from her. The whole plot was very interesting and well done, and the characters were interesting. She is an illegitimate child, which is not hidden; and there’s a large drinking aspect to the story since her mother is a drunkard. Also a few mentions of “being with men,” and Lena’s traipsing over a mountain is considered suggestive. However, it was all handled very well and didn’t bother me a bit. Still, I recommend for ages 16+. It’s a very good reminder and a very good message, and it may just be my second-favourite Tero book. <33

A Favourite Quote: “‘Remember this, Lena: whatever you sow is gonna be reaped in more than your life alone. Others’ll have some reaping to do.’”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “The sky was melting from deep blue into bold hues of purple and gold.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Your horse decided he was bored and got to nosing around my place.’ He glanced back to grin at Lena. ‘Don’t worry, I tied him good this time.’
“That tattletale. So it was his fault Lena’s silence was disturbed.”

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

Purchase this book:
Canada | America

“There Was Always Laughter in Our House” by Sarah Holman

There Was Always Laughter in Our House

by Sarah Holman

Synopsis: 

What do you get when you mix two parents who grew up in the city, six kids who have always lived in the country, and add homeschooling? You get a whole lot of laughter!
Homeschool graduate and author Sarah Holman shares stories about her family that range from thought-provoking to side-splitting. She shares both hilarious mistakes and heartbreaking moments in her family. In this collection of stories, she endeavors to capture some of the answers to the questions people have often asked her about growing up in a conservative homeschool family as well as some of the wisdom she has gleaned along the way. Sarah invites you to open up this scrapbook of memories. She hopes that you come away encouraged, inspired…and laughing.

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎
4 stars & 4/10 hearts. I'm not even sure how to begin this review. I've followed Sarah online and on social media for a while, and was excited to get to know more about this sweet girl and her loving family. I laughed and retold some of the stories to my family; I cried (especially over Rebekkah's prayer chains and Grace's lost collection); I was challenged and encouraged (some of their traditions are so cool and beautiful, and Sarah has many good things to say); I related to Sarah in many ways; I was blessed by the Holmans’ endless and complete love for each other; and it was fun to read about a family a bit like mine (a large, Charlotte Mason homeschooling family with more girls than boys and me as the oldest). I think the chapter which spoke the most to me was the one about responsibility, because I have the same struggle. (My mother has an even shorter phrase than Mrs. Holman—“I'm the mum.” xD) I may not agree 100% with everything, but I really enjoyed this book.

A Favourite Quote: “I have a favourite thing about our family culture ... the use of 'I love you.' These three simple words are not often spoken, even in loving families. They're saved for special occasions and often people regret not saying them more. Not in our house.
"Every phone conversation between family members ends with that phrase.
"The parents regularly stop us, pull us into a hug, and say something like: 'Don't forget I love you.'
"After a hard conversation or an apology, we hug and say that we love each other."
A Favourite Humourous Quote: "Mom and a couple of the kids think it's a waste to have so many different keys to sing in but only use one in a song. They're trying to make sure that no key feels left out of any song."

Download this book:
Canada | America