Books I’ve Reviewed – Madi's Musings

Review + Giveaway – Counterfeit Faith

June 1, 20231 Comment

Madi’s Musings is participating in the tour for Counterfeit Faith by Crystal Caudill, which is hosted by JustRead.

Read on to find, in this order, more about:

the book
the author
the review
the giveaway

About the Book

Title: Counterfeit Faith
Series: Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age #3
Author: Crystal Caudill
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: May 16, 2023
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

She’s losing her faith in mankind. He’s lost his faith in God. Can working together restore them both?

As matron of Final Chance House of Refuge, Gwendolyn Ellison has dedicated her life to serving the children deemed delinquents by society. She’ll protect them with everything she has. So when she suspects someone is using Final Chance for criminal deeds, she’s determined to investigate and put a stop to it. But villains don’t like to be crossed–and they’re willing to kill to get their way.

Gwendolyn knows she can’t quit fighting. More than her own life is on the line if counterfeiters go free. She must find someone she can trust to help her expose the criminals and protect the children under her care.

Charming and chivalrous Secret Service operative Josiah Isaacs has never been able to turn his back on a woman in trouble–and capturing counterfeiters is his job, after all. The danger he’s truly worried about is his growing attraction to Gwendolyn when his heart wants to remain faithful to his deceased wife.

As both peril and interest grow, he begins to consider whether a second love may be possible–if they can live through this case. At the same time, he’s put off by her faith in a God he no longer trusts. How can a future together even be possible when their beliefs are at odds?

“Page-turning action combines with depth and richness to create a full-bodied, rewarding read.”

–Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of The Metropolitan Affair

“Readers who love romance, suspense, and a graceful amount of faith won’t want to miss this story.”

–Toni Shiloh, Christy Award-winning author

“With a host of sympathetic and likable characters (and a few not so likable), a riveting plot that clips along at the perfect pace, and a relatable faith thread, this book [is a] completely enjoyable read.”

–Kimberly Duffy, Carol Award finalist and author of A Tapestry of Light

PURCHASE:

Check out the rest of the series:

Counterfeit Love

Counterfeit Faith

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Crystal Caudill is the author of “dangerously good historical romance,” with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Caudill can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio.

Connect with Crystal by visiting crystalcaudill.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

RATING:

4 Stars

REVIEW

Counterfeit Faith contains an interesting plot, lovable characters, and odious villains who’ll make you want to clobber them with Red (if you know, you know). I especially enjoyed the research that went into this book. The historical Secret Service and Pinkerton agencies have always intrigued me.

PLOT
The plot is Christian historical romance mixed with suspense. I don’t usually read suspense, and I’ve certainly never heard of it mixed with Christian historical romance before, so I was holding my breath as I read. These poor characters! I dare say my heart still hasn’t quite recovered yet.

CHARACTERS
Gwendolyn has the prettiest name, and I liked how Caudill made her a strong female character, but not a feminist. Josiah is a solid MMC and I liked his character arc.

The kids were adorable, I want Wilhelmina’s story (pretty please), and other characters like Mrs. Flowers made me laugh. I still have mixed feelings on Mrs. Issacs, though. Hopefully she’ll eventually come fully around.

FAITH
This book had plenty of faith, and I loved it. I mentioned Josiah’s character arc, and this was where he really grew.

There are plenty of prayers, characters attend church and mass, and God’s will and timing are reflected upon. This looks like a short list, but there is a ton of faith packed in this book.

ROMANCE
Completely clean and sweet, just the way I like it. Characters kiss once.

CONTENT WARNING
An opiate addiction is discussed, characters are injured by the nasties, characters are cut, kicked, beaten, and battered, there is a counterfeit ring, and there’s a brief mention of a young man raping two women, who are then forced to become prostitutes.

Caudill handles everything with tact and non-gratuitous references. Nothing was improper and everything is tastefully addressed.

CONCLUSION
Counterfeit Faith is a book I believe all fans of Christian historical romance and suspense will enjoy, and I recommend it to everyone seeking clean romance with plenty of faith.

*I receive a copy of this book from the publisher in conjunction with JustRead. The opinions expressed are my own.

GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive print copies of Counterfeit Love, Counterfeit Hope, and Counterfeit Faith, a set of bookmarks, 2 stickers with quotes, and a magnet with a QR code to a “test your Secret Service knowledge” quiz!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 31, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 7, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Review + Giveaway – Murmur in the Mudcaves

May 23, 20234 Comments

Madi’s Musings is participating in the tour for Murmur in the Mudcave by Kathleen Denly, which is hosted by CelebrateLit.

Read on to find, in this order, more about:

the book
the author
from the author
the review
the giveaway
tour stops

About the Book

Book: Murmur in the Mudcaves

Author: Kathleen Denly

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 16, 2023

He came to cook for ranch hands, not three single women.

Gideon Swift, a visually impaired Civil War Veteran, responds to an ad for a ranch cook in the Southern California desert mountains. He wants nothing more than to forget his past and stay in the kitchen where he can do no harm. But when he arrives to find his employer murdered, the ranch turned to ashes, and three young women struggling to survive in the unforgiving Borrego Desert, he must decide whether his presence protects them or places them in greater danger.

Bridget “Biddie” Davidson finally receives word from her older sister who disappeared with their brother and pa eighteen years prior, but the news is not good. Determined to help her family, Biddie sets out for a remote desert ranch with her adopted father and best friend. Nothing she finds there is as she expected, including the man who came to cook for the shambles of a ranch.

When tragedy strikes, the danger threatens not only her plans to help her sister, but her own dreams for the future—with the man who’s stolen her heart.

About the Author

Kathleen Denly lives in sunny Southern California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

From the Author

THE MAKING OF A HERO

Picture in your mind the typical male rancher or cowboy. Can you see him? If we’re going for the full stereotype, you’re looking at a tall, handsome man who is, above all, strong. Particularly in the nineteenth century, it takes strength to build a house, install fencing, chop wood, haul water, heft hay bales, and most of all manage cattle. Not to mention the 101 other things it takes to start and keep a ranch running.

Now consider the aftermath of the American Civil War. Many men never returned from the battlefields, and those who did often returned with injuries that would remain with them the rest of their lives. Some would suffer chronic pain until the day they died.

In considering whose story I wanted to tell next, I wondered about that last group of men in the context of running a ranch. How could a seriously injured man, suffering chronic pain, keep his ranch going in an era where able-bodied men were more difficult to find? And what about those whose ranches were too new and small to support the cost of hiring help?

This was the beginning of my inspiration for Gideon Swift–a Civil War Veteran still struggling daily with the consequences of having gone to war, ten years after his injuries sent him home.

Raised to believe true men were strong and weak men were next-to useless, Gideon’s identity is shattered when an explosion leaves him with brain damage that causes recurring migraines with aura and the loss of periphery vision in one eye. For those unfamiliar, a migraine with aura is a severe headache preceded or accompanied by sensory disturbances called aura. Examples of such disturbances include flashes of light, blind spots, general blurry vision, and blurry or shimmery lines in vision. There can also be speech or language difficulty, muscle weakness, and/or numbness or tingling in one side of a person’s face, one hand, or one limb. Gideon experiences most of these at different times, but his most common sensory disturbance is a curled shimmery line that appears in his vision.

He is further humbled by a series of tragic losses partially triggered by his medical condition. These are the events that send him to California, determined never to work with cattle again, and never to marry.

I am often asked how much of myself I put into my characters. In Gideon’s case, I modeled his pain partially after my own. While I have no peripheral vision loss, nor brain damage, I do have recurring migraines. In my case, these are brought about by my menstrual cycle and only occasionally involve aura symptoms. Still, these severe headaches have lasted from a mere hour, up to nearly a week, and are frequently beyond anything my medications can alleviate. Too often, this pain leaves me unable to function. If I’m lucky I can sleep through it. If not, I lay awake in a darkened room for hours with pain preventing me from drifting into blissful unconsciousness. Nauseousness, foggy thinking, dizziness, and exhaustion are frequently parts of my experience. I have also experienced one-sided tingling numbness and the same curly, shimmering line that Gideon experiences. Yet, I know others who have far worse migraines. So, in describing Gideon’s episodes, I combined my own experiences with those of family and friends whom I have witnessed suffering.

Through Murmur in the Mud Caves, we see how God works in Gideon’s life and heart to remind him of where his true value and strength come from. It is my hope that his journey will touch the hearts of readers and encourage them in whatever trials they may be facing. We are never alone. Whatever God brings us to, He will bring us through. He loves us and has a good purpose for everything we endure in this life, even when we cannot understand His reasons.

Rating:

5 Stars

Review

To Bridget “Biddie” Davidson, baking and family are everything. And it’s that loyalty and love that drives her to help and visit someone who wants her monetary help, but nothing else. Well, too bad for that person, because Biddie refuses to ignore those in need–especially when they’re family.

PLOT
The plot was quite unique and original, and I found it intriguing. And I love, love, love, loved the adoption thread.

SETTING
I usually don’t care for anything related to California, but this book drew me in, and the setting is partially responsible. Mudcaves? Never heard of them until now. Do I want to visit them? Absolutely not. Did I find reading about them absolutely interesting? Absolutely. Denly painted the setting such a way that I didn’t mind “visiting”, and I felt like I was there, sweating away and blinking sand out of my eyes.

CHARACTERS
I found Biddie to be a tenacious, spirited, lovable character. Her drive to help and protect her family is admirable.

Gideon. Oh, Gideon. Such a broken soul, so in need of a rekindled faith. He was my favorite. I really, really liked his character arc.

The cast of secondary characters was strong. Ginny–poor dear. I wanted to slap her sometimes, but Denly made her quite the sympathetic character.

FAITH
This book contains a beautiful and heartfelt faith element. I especially appreciated how men rallied around Gideon. In today’s culture, it seems like discipleship for men is overlooked and cast aside. I found Gideon’s discipleship refreshing.

ROMANCE
Very pure and sweet and is in no way unwholesome.

CONTENT WARNING
Characters are injured, a character was in the Civil War, characters endure hardship, pain, and struggles; it is indicated a woman was raped in her past, and an off-the-screen occurrence of a character we never meet is briefly mentioned. It is insinuated what men would like to do to a kidnapped woman. Cattle are rustled, a fire happens, and threats are made.

CONCLUSION
Murmur in the Mudcaves is an enjoyable Christian historical romance that fans of the genre will be sure to find an engaging read.

I liked the Author’s Note, and on a slight side topic, Denly is to be lauded for persevering through personal health problems. Writing is no easy task when one is in good health, let alone when you suffer from health issues. Though those trials persisted, Denly delivered a quality, heartwarming tale.

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher in conjunction with CelebrateLit. The opinions expressed are my own.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of 1 set of beautifully engraved, metal measuring spoons, 1 pouch of “Baking Day” potpourri, 1 Cat and Mouse kitchen timer, 1 vintage wooden sign with Christian encouragement message, 1 Cowboy Hat cookie cutter with recipe for Cowboy Sugar Cookies, 1 Kitchen towel that reads, “This Home is our Happily Ever After”, and 1 Kathleen Denly engraved pen!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the button below to enter.

Enter Giveaway

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, May 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 18

Books You Can Feel Good About, May 18

Texas Book-aholic, May 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 20

Melissa’s Bookshelf, May 21

Connie’s History Classroom, May 21

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 22

Betti Mace, May 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 23

Madi’s Musings, May 23 (YOU ARE HERE)

Pause for Tales, May 24

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 25

Kristina Hall, May 25

Vicky Sluiter, May 26

Blossoms and Blessings, May 26

Blogging With Carol, May 27

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 28 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 28

Cover Lover Book Review, May 29

Holly’s Book Corner, May 30

Karen Baney Reviews, May 30

Review: A Tender Hope

May 16, 2023Leave a comment

As far as Thea Michener is concerned, it’s time for a change.

Series: Cimmaron Creek Trilogy

Author: Amanda Cabot

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Publisher: Revell

About

As far as Thea Michener is concerned, it’s time for a change. With her husband murdered and her much-anticipated baby stillborn, there is nothing left for her in Ladreville. Having accepted a position as Cimarron Creek’s midwife, she has no intention of remarrying and trying for another child. So when a handsome Texas Ranger appears on her doorstep with an abandoned baby, Thea isn’t sure her heart can take it.

Ranger Jackson Guthrie isn’t concerned only with the baby’s welfare. He’s been looking for Thea, convinced that her late husband was part of the gang that killed his brother. But it soon becomes clear that the situation is far more complicated than he anticipated–and he’ll need Thea’s help if he’s ever to find the justice he seeks.

Amanda Cabot invites readers back to Cimarron Creek for a tender story of loss, betrayal, and love in the majestic Texas Hill Country.

Rating

4 Stars

Review

This was an enjoyable Christian historical romance.

The characters (the ones that should be liked) are sweet and perfect for their roles. It was good to meet up with Thea again after Paper Roses, and Jackson is quite the likable hero. Aimee and the cast of secondary characters are good too, although I wasn’t that fond of Edith Harris. Persnickety old hen needed a wallop to the upside of her noggin.

The plot was a gentler, slower pace, allowing the reader insight into Thea’s healing. I must admit I was a bit disappointed because the ending felt a little anticlimactic.

I am in no way a Texas person, nor would I ever want to live there due to the heat and tornadoes, but Cabot made Cimarron Creek sound lovely.

One of my favorite parts is a certain adoption thread. I adore pro-adoption stories, and this book is endeared to me because of it.

FAITH
Characters pray, attend church, and rely on God.

CONTENT
There are insinuations of rape. Not graphic, and Cabot handled it so tastefully, but younger readers do beware. Because of this a secondary character has a child out of wedlock.

Characters are injured through knife-and-gun related injuries. Two characters we never meet are murdered. A gang’s past crimes are discussed. There is the potential for infidelity from a character we never meet. Like I said before, Cabot handled everything tastefully, and I thought no aspect was questionable or gory. Mature teens can read this without issue.

ROMANCE
Very clean, which I liked. A few kisses, neither of which go “too far” in description.

CONCLUSION
This was the only Amanda Cabot book available at the library, and you can bet I’ll be returning for the rest when they’re returned (why must others have the audacity to check out the books I want to read?).

A Tender Hope is a book I recommend for every fan of sweet Christian historical romance.

Review: Love in the Headlines

May 9, 20234 Comments

Can paper and paw prints draw these two nemeses together?

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Age: Adult, although readers 15 and up can read it.

About

Can paper and paw prints draw these two nemeses together?

All Carleigh Adams wants is a relaxing evening. But Sullivan Theodore IV, her wayward shih tzu, has other plans. After escaping from home, Sullivan Theodore unlawfully enters what Carleigh assumes is a stranger’s house via a doggy door. Much to Carleigh’s horror, it is actually the home of her coworker and nemesis, Trey “The Irritating” Montgomery.

Trey Montgomery has had to work with “Quirky Carleigh,” his top competitor for the best articles at The Oakville Daily, for the past two years. It’s safe to say that she and her criminally-minded pet are his adversaries. Trey’s attempts to keep his distance from her are demolished when their boss thrusts them together as The Oakville Daily Duo, forcing them to work as a team on every. Single. Article.

Petty crimes and crazy shenanigans in Oakville soon draw Carleigh and Trey into doubling as detectives. When dogs, including their own pets, begin to mysteriously disappear, Carleigh and Trey join forces to uncover the culprit. As they work to report the daily news and solve the crimes in Oakville, can these two stubborn reporters find love in the headlines?

Faith, plentiful humor, and tender romance round out the latest Christian contemporary romance novel by Author Penny Zeller.

Please note: this book is a faith-based Christian novel.

Rating

5 Stars

Review

How do you survive being forced to work with your nemesis on every. Single. Project?

That’s the question Carleigh Adams is asking…and the question to which she’s desperately seeking an answer.

***
PLOT
Crazy shenanigans, a strong-willed Shih Tzu, a chew-happy German Shepherd, and ornery coworkers keep the reader laughing in this fun, lighthearted tale. Romance with a brush of mystery, the reader will be swept into Small Town America where everyone knows everyone else and everyone else’s business…well, most of it.

The plot flowed well and I liked the dollop of mystery. Everything was logical, and the zaniness kept me snickering.

CHARACTERS
Staying true to her brand, Zeller incorporates characters you can’t help but love. I identified so much with Carleigh because she is an aspiring writer. Her flamboyant personality contrasted well with Trey’s snarkiness, and the two were absolutely hilarious.

Their pets, too, were perfect. Sullivan Theodore IV is such a brat. I think I’d agree more with Trey when he called the Shih Tzu a fluffy-rat dog. Jaxx is a dear dog, albeit a nervous sort, which also made me laugh because it’s funny to think about a dog belonging to such a big breed that’s portrayed as tough and invincible needing doggy toys to keep him from chewing through Trey’s furniture.

FAITH
While lighter than Zeller’s historical novels, Love in the Headlines incorporates prayer, church attendance, and Bible verses.

ROMANCE
Perfectly clean. Enemies-to-more is one of my favorite tropes, and Zeller pulls it off perfectly in this Christian rom-com.

CONTENT WARNING
This is an extremely clean book. A bloodied nose is mentioned after a fight with Sir. Nasty, and it’s mentioned some dogs are kept in poor conditions, but there is nothing questionable at all.

CONCLUSION
I rarely read Christian contemporary, but I was so glad I read this one. If you abhor exercise, all you need to do is pick up Love in the Headlines , and you’ll have dream abs in no time, you’ll laugh that much. This needs to be made into a movie.

Fun and entertaining with canine capers aplenty, Love in the Headlines is a delightful tale you’ll not want to miss.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Darkness Draws Near

May 2, 202311 Comments

Life’s worth fighting for…

Author: Kristina Hall

Series: Kentucky Midnight, Book Two

Genre: Christian Dystopian

Appropriate Age Range: 16 and up

ABOUT

Life’s worth fighting for …

When Mellie Rivers takes in a young mom, she knows there’s risk involved–both from the government and from her own inadequacies.

Working as a missionary and a mechanic is already a challenge, but now Friedrich Wolf faces an unknown threat–a threat he must stop before he loses all too much.

Friedrich and Mellie will have to fight for life … even as darkness draws near.

RATING

5+ Stars