Deborah is a writer and champion of books. She is an independent reader/reviewer, uncompensated for major and minor publishers. With degrees in Fine Arts, ArtHistory/MuseumStudies and English Lit., her interests are eclectic, as are her reading preferences. Surrounding herself with books,artworks, assorted papergoods and a collection of pens, she reads constantly, writes reviews...writes and writes!View Full Profile
SUMMARY : When Sarah Carr's husband Jamie drowns, her young life is shattered and takes a turn that she never expected. Pregnant and now widowed, she reaches out to Jamie's family for help but they are unwilling. Instead they devise a plan to have her kidnapped and taken to the Colonies to live a life of servitude.
In the wilds of Maryland, Sarah endures the hardships of being indentured and the debasement of being a woman. In despair, she offers up faithful prayers that are answered. But Sarah's new life in the Colonies finds her surrounded by a family's whirlwind of secrets, while she hopes the young doctor she loveswill bring her freedom.
PARTICULARS OF THE BOOK : Published by: Abingdon Press Pages: 336 Genre: Historical Fiction/Inspirational Author: Rita Gerlach Find Out More: Scarlet Dawn Series
THE BOOKISH DAME REVIEWS :
Having just finished the long-awaited final book in The Scarlet Dawn trilogy, I'm a little sad. I fell in love with the characters of these books, as I said in my earlier reviews (the most recent one just last week). Rita Gerlach has a gift for writing historical fiction. She never fails to entertain, but more than that, she doesn't fail to bring a note of truth and spiritual warmth to her stories. I always come away feelingbetter for having read one of her books.
In "Beyond the Valley" we find the conclusion and story behind Sarah, the quiet and gentle helper Eliza found for her time of need in "The Scarlet Dawn." Sarah was always a character that touched my heart and left me guessing. I was so delighted to know that Rita was going to resolve her story.
Sarah is a rich character with strengths that only a young woman whose life is centered on God can come to terms with. Her kidnapping and enslavement, as well as her loss of a child could have made her bitter and angry to the point of self-destruction, but Gerlach shows us another way out of Sarah's nightmarish predicaments. It is her faith in a God that makes this heroine memorable. Despite every odd that says otherwise, Sarah has faith that God will provide for her and show her loved one the way to her. She is the greatest of Ms Gerlach's creations.
This is a series that I highly recommend for hours of very enlightening and heartwarming reading. Rita Gerlach only gets better as the years go by. Her writing ranks with the best of historical fiction authors.
SUMMARY : A tale of love won and love lost, and the faith to find it again.From the banks of the Potomac to the misty moors of England, Darcy follows a path where the secrets of the past slowly rise to the surface in this dramatic saga that began in Before the Scarlet Dawn. She meets Ethan Brennan, an aspiring English horse breeder, who embraces her independent spirit and marvels at the simplicity of her faith. Ethan and Darcy fall in love, but are kept apart by a promise to another and a sworn oath to a dying woman whose long-hidden secret threatens Darcy’s and Ethan’s lives.
PARTICULARS OF THE BOOK : Published by: Abingdon Press Pages: 326 (Including Bookgroup questions & recipe) Genre: Historical fiction/Inspirational Author: Rita Gerlach Series: "The Daughters of the Potomac" Book 2 Find out more: Rita Gerlach
ABOUT MS GERLACH:
Rita Gerlach lives with her husband and two sons in a
historical town nestled along the Catoctin Mountains, amid Civil War
battlefields and Revolutionary War outposts in central
Maryland.
She was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in a large
family in the Maryland suburbs. Her family claims that storytelling is their
blood, handed down from centuries of Irish storytellers. Rita believes there
just may be something to that theory.
"Romantic historical fiction that has an inspirational
bent, is one way people can escape the cares of life and be transported back to
a time of raw courage and ideal love," she says. "The goal of my writing is to
give readers a respite from a stressful world.."
In many of her stories, she writes about the struggles
endured by early colonists, with a sprinkling of both American and English
history. Currently she is writing a new historical series set in the Gilded
Age.
A quote from Rita:
"Ever since I was old enough to read, I have loved
books. That is why I write inspirational historical dramas.
Inside the pages of my novels you will find romance,
stories about relationships, forgiveness, redemption, faith, and loyalty. Each
character has good points, but they are also flawed human beings that make
mistakes and fall hard, and at some point struggle through the adversity, dust
themselves off and move on—reminders that God never forsakes us, especially in
our most trying moments." The Bookish Dame Reviews: Rita Gerlach is the best of historical fiction writers who gives us a slice of Americana and inspirational story together. She is a wonderful author of human relationships, and she's a solid storyteller. Her books simply wrap me up from the first sentence and keep me reading far into the night. I've come to love the characters she's invented in "The Daughters of the Potomac" series, as well as their great attachment to our country in its early years. Her knowledge and application of scripture bolsters her story but never becomes intrusive in the plot and development. I can't tell you how much I look forward to reading her books! In "Beside Two Rivers" we find the daughter of the first star-crossed lovers of "Before the Scarlet Dawn" (reviewed here a year or more ago...please search!) grown up in America and wondering what happened to a father who abandoned her as a young child to his brother and family. As far as she knows, her mother is dead, and she has no way of knowing if her father is, too. Darcy is a strong willed and strong minded young woman who gains the attentions of a dashing young man from England who visits to find horse stock. They fall in love and off goes the book! This is not a sappy romance novel, rather the romance is beautifully and well-defined within the historical novel. Darcy's story helps round out the story of her parents who I came to love in the first book in this series. A story of redemption and forgiveness, this is told from the perspective of a child whose heart might have hardened in being injured and rejected, but whose faith and love caused her to rise above it. Rita Gerlach's characters are so loveable and fully developed that they linger in the heart and mind long after her books are read. I've never forgotten Eliza, the main character of "Before the Scarlet Dawn," nor had I forgotten and stopped worrying about what happened to Darcy! I can't wait to read the next book in this wonderful series....which I'm going to do right away. I'll be reviewing "Beyond the Valley" asap! These books are available in paperback or ebook. Please do yourself a favor and get the whole series. You won't want to stop after the first book. I can guarantee that much! 5 stars Deborah/TheBookishDame
A view of the Potomac River where Darcy loved to climb and watch...
May I just say that this is the first book in a very long time I've read that made angelic beings seem real and perfectly awe-inspiring?! I loved every single thing about this book. The writing is inspiring and brilliant, the characters are engaging and strong, the plot is beautifully crafted and the tension is perfectly pitched. This is a book you have to have. A book that you won't want to stop reading once you start it. I was very pleasantly surprised when it began and I was hooked from the first paragraphs. I'm a tough sell on these types of books. The emotions of Dittemore's Brielle just leap from the pages! Her angelic beings both good and evil shattered some of my imaginings and I loved it!! I highly recommend this book to YAs and the adults in their lives. A perfect cross over fiction. It's an inspirational read that will touch your heart and keep you thinking about the protection and love that surrounds us every day, even when we may not see it.
Once you've seen, you can't unsee. Everything changes when you've looked at the world through . . .Angel Eyes
Brielle went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She's come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can't seem to shake.
Jake's the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.
Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what's going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.
A realm that only angels and demons-and Brielle-can perceive.
About Shannon:
Shannon is a wife and mother. A sister. A daughter. A friend. She was
raised in Northern California by her parents-pastors of their local church and
constant figures of inspiration.
As a youth, Shannon traveled with an
award-winning performing arts team, excelling on stage and in the classroom. As
a young adult, she attended Portland Bible College, continued acting, and worked
with an outreach team targeting inner-city kids in the Portland-Metropolitan
area.
It was in Portland that she met her husband, Matt. They were
married in 2002. Soon after, they took the reins of the youth ministry at Living
Way Community Church in Roseville, California where they continue to serve in
that capacity. In October of 2004, their son Justus was born, followed by their
daughter Jazlyn, born in 2008.
Listen a while to this audio recording:
GIVEAWAY!!! GIVEAWAY!!!! GIVEAWAY!!!
Follow this link to find out more about the Fabulous Giveaway and more tours on "Angel Eyes"
Welcome to the launch of best-selling and award-winning author Lisa Tawn Begren's brand new historicial fiction series, Grand Tour! The first book, Glamorous Illusions releases this month! To celebrate, Lisa has teamed up with her publisher David C. Cook for a "Glamorous" Giveaway and fun Author Chat party on Facebook. Details below!
The Grand Tour Series details the life of Cora Diehl Kensington, a woman of the Montana plains, swept up into a life of riches and privilege. Belatedly finding out a terrible secret about her parentage, Cora struggles to find out who she really is–as a child of God–in the midst of an enlightening, as well as dangerous, trip across Europe.
Here's a trailer!
A Summary of the Book :
It was the summer of 1913, and Cora Kensington's life on the family farm has taken a dark turn. Not only are the crops failing, so is her father's health. Cora is carrying on, helping her mother run their Montana farm until a stranger comes to call, and everything changes. Cora then learns a secret that will radically change her future: she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king who has come to claim her. Cora is invited to take the "Grand Tour" of Europe, a journey intended to finish a person's education, to solidify an understanding of ancient culture and contemporary refinement.
As she travels from England to France with half-siblings she's never known, Cora encounters the blessings of the Kensington family name, as well as the curses. But when an unbidden love begins to form, she realizes the journey is only beginning.
Faced with the challenge of accepting her father, new family, and the identity that comes with it, Cora also struggles to accept that she is also the daughter of the one true King-a Father who is the only One who can truly heal.As she travels from England to France with half-siblings she's never known, Cora encounters the blessings of the Kensington family name, as well as the curses. But when an unbidden love begins to form, she realizes the journey is only beginning.
About Ms Bergren:
Lisa T. Bergren is the award-winning author of over thirty-five books, with more than 2 million copies sold. A former publishing executive, Lisa now divides her time between writing, editing, parenting three children with her husband, Tim, and dreaming of her next trip to Italy. She lives in Colorado Springs.
For more information on Lisa and to view other books written, please visit her website.
The Dame's Review :
With all her usual skills in writing a beautiful, spiritually inspired novel, Lisa Bergren once again captured my imagination with "Glamorous Illusions." From the first pages when her main character, Cora returns home to her farming family to find disaster to the final papes, I was caught up in her story. Bergren is a storyteller of the first ranks. She is a consummate writer of historical fiction.
What's the best of this book is the spirit of Cora who brings a feistiness along with her Christian values. Too often in spiritually contexted books we find syrupy sweet characters whom it's difficult to identify with. It's not so with Lisa Bergren's characters. While they are steeped in a quiet strength and are prayerful, there is a steel-backed determination and a sense of themselves that comes from hope and courage. Cora is able to be true to herself and her values despite the adversities and challenges she faces on her Grand Tour with siblings and family she's never met before, among other stumbling blocks she faces as the illegitimate daughter of a very wealthy man. Her example has a strong effect on her spoiled and ner-do-well half siblings!
Fast-paced, a story of romance and lavish life-style, this is also a journey of travel to exotic places, and of inner struggles. The European adventures and worldly sights are exciting and the people are beautiful in their dress and surroundings. This book has all the historical fiction features to be an absorbing novel for those seeking that genre. Far-reaching in its ability to please many readers, I highly recommend "Glamorous Illusions." I'm delighted to know it's a Grand Tour series!
4 stars for a grand book!
What is our "true" identity? Join the conversation at Lisa Tawn Begren's Author Chat Facebook Event Page. On the evening of 6/27 we'll gather to talk about our spiritual journey, share our stories and a few laughs. In the meantime, celebrate with Lisa by entering her Glamorous Illusions Giveaway! One "glamorous" winner will receive a "Glam Prize Pack":
A $350 Visa Cash Card (Oh ... think of what you could do: treat yourself to a mani/pedi, a fabulous new dress, dinner for two, or even a two-night escape in a lovely hotel - you're only limited by your imagination!)
Glamorous Illusions (by Lisa Tawn Begren)
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 6/26/12. Winner will be announced at Lisa's "Glamorous Illusions" Facebook Party on 6/27{Fun begins at 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT}. Lisa will be hosting an evening of meaningful chat, fun trivia, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Lisa via video or phone.) So grab a few of your friends and your copy of Glamorous Illusions and join Lisa on the evening of June 27th for an evening of fun.
Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!
{Blog Tour Schedule} Click on the link to activate it, please...
6/7
Alicia | Surrendering All of Me http://surrenderingallofme.blogspot.com/
Amanda | Short and Sweet Reviews http://oneminutebooks.blogspot.com
Amber | Seasons of Humility http://www.seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com
Amber & Crystal | Winterhavenbooks http://winterhavenbooks.blogspot.com
Amy | A Nest in the Rocks www.anestintherocks.blogspot.com
6/8
Angie | Never a Dull Moment Http://neveradullmoment-angie.blogspot.com
Anjanette | Raising the Barrs http://www.raisingthebarrs.com Athena | Our Crazy Life http://mama2six.blogspot.com
Babs Book Bistro http://www.babsbookbistro.net/blog
Beckie | By The Book http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com
Lena | A Christian Writer's World http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
6/9
Becky | Christian Chick's Thoughts http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com
Billy | Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer http://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com
Blossom | Noth Laurel Home & School http://www.nlfamily.net
Briana | I Can't Decide http://briana-icantdecide.blogspot.com/ Britni | Book Nook Club http://booknookclub.blogspot.com Brooke | I Blog 4 Books http://iblog4books.blogspot.com
6/11
Caroline | Happy Four http://happyfour.blogspot.com
Celena | The Traveling Sisterhood http://thetravellingsisterhood.blogspot.com
Charity | Hosanna's Journey http://hosannasjourney.blogspot.com
Christy | Critty Joy http://www.crittyjoy.com
6/12
Crystal | Cinnamon Hollow http://thecinnamonhollow.com Crystal | Just Another Book Lovin' Girl http://abooklovingirl.blogspot.com
Dawn | A Passion For Pages http://www.dawncrandall.blogspot.com
Deborah | The Bookish Dame http://abookishlibraria.blogspot.com
Elizabeth | Libby's Book Blog http://libbysbookblog.blogspot.com
Erin's Fiction Tidbits http://erinshepherd623.wordpress.com
6/13
Faith | Labor Not in Vain http://labornotinvain.blogspot.com Heidi | Buzz4Mommies http://buzz4mommies.blogspot.com/ Holly | 2 Kids and Tired Books http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com
Holly | Shelf Life Http://hollysrenee.blogspot.com
Jaime | The Dancing Lawn http://jaguarhero.blogspot.com/ Jendi's Journal http://jendisjournal.com
6/14
Jennifer | Book Reviews from a Book Love http://Bookreviewsfromabooklover.blogspot.com
Book Reviews By Jenny http://bookreviewsbyjenny.blogspot.com
Jessica | A New Leaf http://jandjnewleaf.blogspot.com/ Splashes of Joy http://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com
Julie | More of Him http://www.moreofhim.net
Julie | My Favorite Pastime http://myfavoritepastime.blogspot.com
Karla | Ramblin' Roads http://ramblinroads.blogspot.com
6/15
Karyn | Teach Beside Me Http://teachbesideme.blogspot.com Katie | Legacy of a Writer http://katie-mccurdy.blogspot.com Kaycee | Crafty Zoo with Monkeys http://craftyzoowithmonkeys.blogspot.com
Kelli | The Zen of Motherhood http://www.thezenofmotherhood.blogspot.com
Kemi | Homemaking Organized http://www.homemakingorganized.com/blog
Kianna's Korner http://kiannaskorner.blogspot.com
Vera | Luxury Reading http://www.luxuryreading.com
6/16
Kim | Window To My World http://berlysue.blogspot.com/ Kimberly | A Novel Affair http://www.a-novel-affair.com/ Laura | Day by Day in Our World http://daybydayinourworld.com
Lauri | Knits, Reads and Reviews http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com
Leticia | My Daily Trek http://leticiasworld.blogspot.com Linda's Lunacy http://lindaslunacy.com
6/18
Mocha with Linda http://mochawithlinda.blogspot.com
Linda | One Desert Rose http://www.onedesertrose.wordpress.com
Lindsay | Live To Read ~Krystal http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/
Lisa | A Casual Reader's Blog http://ellsey.blogspot.com
Lori | Morning Glories and Moonflowers http://www.perfectisboring.blogspot.com
Lydia | Squid Mom http://squidmom.com/
6/19
Margaret | Creative Madness Mama http://creativemadnessmama.com
Mary's Cup of Tea http://www.mmbearcupoftea.com Maureen's Musings http://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/ Megan | The Joys of Life http://www.raunandmegan.blogspot.com
Melissa | Bibliophile's Retreat http://www.bibliophilesretreat.com
6/20
Mel's World with Melissa Mashburn http://www.MelissaMashburn.com
Michele | My Blessings From Above http://koreamom.blogspot.com
Michelle | Life in Review http://lifeinreviewblog.com/
Mindy | A Room Without Books is Empty http://detweilermom.blogspot.com
Pamela | Daysong Reflections http://daysongreflections.com
6/21
Pamela | The Pondering Princess http://www.livelaughlovewiththeponderingprincess.com/ Patricia | (Live and) Dream a Little Dream http://liveanddreamalittledream.blogspot.com/
Patty | Broken Teepee http://brokenteepee.com
Renee | Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot http://steelergirl83.blogspot.com
Rissi | Scribbles, Scripts and Such http://scribblesscriptsandsuch.blogspot.com
6/22
Ronie | Rapid Fire Fiction http://roniekendig.com/blog
Ruth | Booktalk & More http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com Ruth | My Devotional Thoughts http://www.mydevotionalthoughts.com
Ruth | This That and the Other Thing http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com
Sophie | The Opening Lines http://theopeninglines.blogspot.com
Stephanie | A Cooking Bookworm http://www.acookingbookworm.com
6/25
Tara | Ramblings of the Blonde Mother Bear http://theblondemotherbear.com
Theresa | Just One More Paragraph http://tweezlereads.blogspot.com
Tina's Book Reviews http://tinasbookreviews.com
Vic's Media Room http://vicsmediaroom.wordpress.com
6/26
Whitney | Rambles of a SHAM http://ramblesahm.blogspot.com
Suzanne | Clicking Her Heels http://www.clickingherheels.blogspot.com
Tammi | Our Homeschooling Pilgrimage http://ourhomeschoolingpilgrimage.blogspot.com
Carly | Carlybird's Home http://www.carlybirdshome.blogspot.com
6/27
Ashley Book Labyrinth http://booklabyrinth.blogspot.com Tammy is Blessed http://tammyisblessed.com
Lydia | The Overweight Bookshelf http://overweight-bookshelf.blogspot.com
Chelsey | Charming Chelsey's http://dwellinpossibilitybooks.blogspot.com
Pam | Southern Gal Loves to Read http://southerngallovestoread.blogspot.com
Michelle | Healing Hearts Book Review Blog http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com
Thanks for stopping by! I know you're busy today... Good luck on this giveaway! If you win, stop by and let us know!
