Land of Dreams

Amalia and her parents were making a difficult journey across the ocean from Norway to America. America was the "Land of Dreams".

That sure sounded familiar to my Mom's journey in the 1950s.  Thank God, the ship was more modern and probably an easier journey.  She immigrated with her Mom and siblings to America from England. Her father came the year before to save up for them to come.

My Mom has told me how difficult it was to fit in and be accepted.   Her father got a house in an Italian neighborhood.  There were language difficulties. Cultural differences. 

Amalia experienced this when she first arrived. Fortunately, she met some wonderful neighbors. She was accepted and cherished. 

A wonderful story. Lauraine Snelling knows how to write a book that leaves you wanting more.  The characters were wonderful. The plot keeps you turning the page.

Just lovely to read.

I received this from Celebrate Lit to review.

#blogtour

#CelebrateLit

About the Book

Book: Land of Dreams (Home to Green Creek Series Book One)

Authors: Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron

Genre: FICTION / Christian / Historical

Release date: April 1, 2025

From Norway to America, they must strive for resilience amid unpromising new beginnings.

On the ship to America, Norwegian immigrant Amalia Gunderson makes a solemn promise to a dying mother, vowing to watch over her five-year-old daughter, Ruth. Together, Amalia and Ruth trek to Iowa to claim the farm and former boardinghouse that Ruth has inherited, despite opposition from a difficult cousin. Struggling with an empty house and scarce resources, Amalia resolves to return the boardinghouse to its former purpose, aided by the kindness of strangers and the resilient spirit of her young charge.

As Amalia and Ruth fight for their new home, a trail of orphans shows up on their doorstep, and Amalia makes a promising friend in Absalom Karlsson, the magistrate’s son. With each challenge they face, Amalia and Ruth find hope in believing that faith and determination can overcome even the most daunting of trials.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of more than one hundred books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold more than five million copies. She makes her home in Tehachapi, California.

 

 

 

More from Lauraine

Different stories come about different ways.  One of the things I’ve learned through these years of writing is the value of slowly waking up and paying attention to what was going on in my mind. I saw a young woman standing at the railing of a ship tossing on rough seas. A gray day. And I heard the splash as her father’s body sank into the waves. I sniffed, mopped my eyes and settled back, hopefully to sleep awhile longer. But the dream, if that was what it was, continued. A little girl named Rut, or Ruthie, joined Amalia at the rail, slipped her hand into the young woman’s and asked if she could please come, her mother wanted to see her. And my internal game of what if continued for these people on a cholera attacked ship from Norway to Amerika.

I knew a new story had begun but had no idea where it was going. As I said, I treasure that time between sleeping and waking when I can part the curtains to my subconscious mind and see what it has been playing with. What a gift God has created in us.

Around about the same time, something brought a story that one of my aunts on my father’s side told me when I asked her what she remembered of her growing up years. Auntie Harriet chuckled and asked, “Have you heard of the rutabaga years?” I shook my head and settled in to listen. They were a family of eleven children, my dad being the eldest, they lived in a big two story house with a huge garden, a flock of chickens and bad weather. Late spring freeze, early fall freeze and much of the produce killed off. All but the root crops, and rows of rutabagas. Many were dug and stored in the cellar, lots left in the ground, to be dug up later. Rutabagas can be fried, boiled, mashed, grated, turned into soup and stew, mixed with other vegetables, added to pancakes, even turned into pie. Ah, yes, the rutabaga years, Auntie Harriet said she didn’t particularly care for rutabagas for a long time after that. But in the mean time, they became part of Amalia and Ruthie’s new life at a big house Ruthie inherited in Green Creek. North and West of Decorah Iowa in 1819. Come join a delightful cast of characters in Land of Dreams.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 12

Devoted To Hope, April 12

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 13

Texas Book-aholic, April 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 14

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 15

lakesidelivingsite, April 15

The Avid Reader, April 16

Girls in White Dresses, April 16

Pens Pages & Pulses, April 17

Bizwings Book Blog, April 18

Leslie’s Library Escape, April 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 19

Stories By Gina, April 20 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 20

Betti Mace, April 21

Books You Can Feel Good About, April 21

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 23

For Him and My Family, April 23

Cover Lover Book Review, April 24

Holly’s Book Corner, April 25

Jeanette’s Thoughts, April 25

Giveaway

 celebrate her tour, Lauraine is giving away the grand prize of a $25 gift card to the Baker Book House website and paperback copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54198

The Resistance Girls

 

Quite an interesting story. It's about strong women who felt a duty to serve their country. 

Wren came from a privileged family. But she felt that she needed to do something more for her country during the war. Now she had the opportunity to show what she was made of.  And boy, she was amazing. I couldn't believe what she did and what she experienced.

Action packed from beginning to end. A page turner. 

I received this book from Boldwood to review.

#rararesources

#blogtour

The Resistance Girls

They said women were a liability in war. They were wrong.

An intriguing invitation…

Hampered by a controlling father and overlooked by everyone she knows, Serenity Ashworth (Wren to her friends) is determined to do her duty for the war effort and take advantage of the new opportunities for young women like her. So, when a mysterious letter from a Major Belinda Stapleton arrives, Wren is intrigued.

A secret army of women…

Major Stapleton invites Wren to join her Secret Army – a select group of women operating undercover to combat enemy agents. It’s an opportunity to play a critical role in the British Resistance should Hitler ever invade Britain’s shores. Eager to sign up, Wren must first complete a tough training program and, if she succeeds, will enter a world of secrets and spies where the only people she can rely on are the other girls she's trained with.

A daring and deadly mission

Unable to share her secret with anyone, Wren must be ever alert. But when her twin brother Tommy is reported missing in action, Wren's devastated, and even more determined to hit back at the enemy any way she can. When an unexpected opportunity arises to save Tommy, Wren must overcome all self-doubt and take a chance to save those she loves - even if she pays the ultimate price...

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/TheResistanceGirls

Author Bio – 

Alice G. May writes contemporary, historical and saga fiction.

Her new series, The Resistance Girls is inspired by the true story of a highly trained secret army of women working undercover to protect British coastal communities during World War Two.

Having always dreamed of being a writer, Alice finally put pen to paper in her forties.

She lives in the New Forest on the Dorset/Hampshire border and gains inspiration from walking both in the forest and along the coast.

Alice also writes non-fiction, including a memoir (The House That Sat Down Trilogy) and a colourful series of 'How to Draw The Alice May Way' books, suitable for all ages. She loves public speaking and regularly attends writing festivals, libraries and social groups to give presentations.

Social Media Links 

Facebook: @AliceMay

Twitter: @AliceMay_Author

Instagram: @alicegmay

Being Content God’s Way and the Being Content God’s Way Workbook

About the Book

Book: Being Content God’s Way and the Being Content God’s Way Workbook

Author: Scott LaPierre

Genre: Christian Nonfiction

Release date: May 21, 2024

Philippians 4:12 reveals a profound truth: there is a “secret to learning contentment.” As Paul declares in the next verse, the secret is the strength Christ provides: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Just as a tree’s unseen root system gathers vital resources for the tree, the unseen part of contentment is being “rooted and built up in Christ” (Colossians 2:7).

With Being Content God’s Way, you will…learn to “be content with what you have” (Hebrews 13:5) enjoy personal stories and application to daily life be equipped to put off covetousness (Colossians 3:5) receive biblical answers to common questions discover why “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

Contentment is not an elusive concept. Instead, it is a tangible reality within our reach through a relationship with Christ.

About the Workbook

The perfect companion to Being Content God’s Way!

James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” A common mistake with God’s Word is believing we have done enough by learning without applying. Our responsibility goes much further than simply obtaining information.

This 13-week in-depth Bible study will reinforce the teachings from the book so you can be not just a hearer (or reader) but a doer (or obey-er). You will be given the tools to apply the reading and cement the teachings in your heart.

Inside, you will find:

Helpful guidelines for deepening your relationship with Christ

Thoughtful questions for self-reflection

Insightful observations to help you grow spiritually

The workbook is a 3-month study to help you become rooted and built up in Christ. This great tool is perfect for individual use or group study.

Book Excerpt

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About the Author

Scott LaPierre is a teaching pastor, author, and popular conference speaker. He holds an MA in Biblical Studies from Liberty University. God has blessed Scott and his wife, Katie, with ten children.

My wife, Katie, and I were walking through the woods hand in hand, enjoying observing the trees around us. Many trees were enormous, old, and gnarly but healthy and thriving. Unseen by the two of us, the trees’ vast root system stretched below ground to gather needed resources. We only see the tree above ground, but the roots below provide the strength. Similarly, the essential part of Christian contentment is the part nobody sees—the strength Christ provides. We will discuss these verses in depth in chapter ten, but for now, as the apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11, 13). We must have roots deep into Christ to obtain the strength to be content. 

The Old Testament looked forward to this:

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit (Jeremiah 17:7−8).

Drawing the Line

Samantha Price wrote this cute story of how two people from completely different worlds meet. Their meeting was quite a collision course. 

Handsome, rich and nice guy, Ethan, meets artistic Maya. She's not anything like the other women he has dated or even looked at.  Maya has no interest in this billionaire who has destroyed her life.

You never know what might happen. A weekend away. A few non-dates. Sparks fly and the unexpected happens!

I have been reading Ms. Price's books for awhile now. I am amazed that she can write Amish romance, contemporary fiction and even Amish fiction. I have loved them all.  This one is enjoyable. Maya's Mom is a hoot. She sure is pushing for a rich husband for Maya. Maybe Ethan will fit the bill?

I received this book from the author to review.

Samantha Price

Samantha Price wrote stories from a young age, but it wasn't until later in life that she took up writing full time. Samantha is best known for the Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries series and the Expectant Amish Widows series.

To learn more about Samantha and her books, visit: SamanthaPriceAuthor.com

#blogtour

#SamanthaPrice

Resolve

Trust is trying to do what's right. But her past keeps getting in her way.

I almost gave up hope on Trust. She lives between good and evil. What direction will she go? What or who has the bigger pull?

An exciting book that I couldn't put it down. I was hoping for a positive ending for Trust.  Could this include a future with a handsome FBI agent?

A fantastic conclusion to a series of books by Samantha Price called Shunned by the Amish.

I received this book by the author. Thank you, Samantha Price.

#SamanthaPrice

#blog

AUTHOR:

Samantha Price is a USA Today bestselling author of Amish romance books and cozy mysteries. She was raised Brethren and has a deep affinity for the Amish way of life, which she has explored extensively with over a decade of research.

She is mother to two pampered rescue cats, and a very spoiled staffy with separation issues.

Samantha loves to hear from her readers. Connect at:
samantha@samanthapriceauthor.com
www.facebook.com/SamanthaPriceAuthor
Twitter @AmishRomance
www.pinterest.com/AmishRomance
www.SamanthaPriceAuthor.com

Tough Times On Coronation Close

I feel like I'm coming home when I return to Coronation Close. The neighbors make the street lively and quite interesting.

I am quite fond of Thelma and Jenny. They have had hard lives but they stand tall in times of trouble. They are there for each other as well as all the other neighbors.

War is hard for the men who are fighting in it.  But the women and the families left behind find it difficult as well.

My Mom lived in a town close to London during WW II. She has told me about rationing, going to the bomb shelter and living without many things we take for granted.  It was touched upon in this story.  Jenny and Thelma had to reuse old tea leaves for three or more times to have a "cuppa".  We just grab a tea bag after one use and toss it.

I'm looking forward to reading the next chapter about these amazing women. The next book will introduce new relationships and the further adventures of Coronation Close.

I received this book to review from Boldwood Books.

#rararesources

#blogtour

Tough Times on Coronation Close

As the war rages, the women must keep the home fires burning…

Bristol 1941

Coronation Close survives the brutal Bristol Blitz but with rationing, call up papers and new rules and regulations everyone’s lives are changed forever.

Resident do-gooder PC Percy Routledge obsession with rules being upheld finds him spying and reporting fellow neighbours on the slightest infraction whilst his poor brow-beaten wife, Margaret can only watch on in shameful silence. It’s whispered that one day he’ll get his comeuppance…

Times are hard for everyone and Thelma Dawson certainly has her fair share of upset. Devastating news arrives that her son Charlie’s ship has been torpedoed and sank in the Atlantic, his whereabout unknown. Will he ever return to his wife and their unborn child? Meanwhile, seventeen years old daughter Mary has had her head turned by a certain overseas soldier. But where will temptation lead them?

Tough times, it seems are her to stay and the woman of Coronation Close all have their own battles and problems to overcome. As friendships are nurtured and relationships are tested, tragedy strikes and some home truths need to be faced.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/toughtimescc

Author Bio – 

Summer time and the eightieth anniversary of D Day. I visited the veterans cemetery above Omaha Beach some years ago. The rows of gleaming crosses brought tears and I could barely speak. Those soldiers were so young, not much older than my grandchildren. Besides writing the Coronation Close series and the Orchard Cottage Hospital series, two other books will be published in August that refer back to the Second World War. The first begins in Hong Kong around Christmas time 1941. Pearl Harbour had been attacked in early December. Now it was the turn of Hong Kong and then Singapore. My heroine in this is a doctor who got caught up in the horror of the Christmas Day massacre at a Hong Kong hospital. Doctor of Kowloon. The second of these two is Escape from Kowloon. Her fear for a man obsessed with possessing her in body and mind forces her into another war - this time in Korea.

Why do I write about war? Because I recall those of the war generation who were relatives and neighbours of my mother's generation. I'm handing the stories on - perhaps in the hope that such horror never happens again. I was impressed by the stoical women of that time. Somehow, despite the shortages and the fear, they carried on. Not so much keep calm and carry on for its own sake or for governments or general - but for the sake of their families and their hope for the future.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @jean.goodhind

Twitter: @baywriterallat1

Instagram: @baywriterallatsea

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LizzieLaneNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lizzie-lane

A New Home at the Wartime Hotel

 

I find myself drawn to WWI or WWII historical books.  My mother and my maternal relatives are from England.  My mother lived in England during WW II. 

All the main characters are very much aware of the danger of having a bad reputation and being the source of gossip. Each woman had to face this gossip and continue on. 

Kitty, Lily and Beatrice became sources of strength for each other. Their friendship was unique and beautiful to read. It is so rare to see in today's world. 

I did enjoy watching Kitty taking charge and doing what she needed to do to keep her home. Survival.  Her daughter and eventually her friends depended on her.

I loved it!

I received this book to review from Boldwood Books.

#rararesources

#BoldwoodBooks

A New Home at the Wartime Hotel

The first in a nostalgic and heart-warming WWII saga series by bestselling author Maisie Thomas, that readers of Ellie Dean and Lesley Eames will love.

Manchester, 1941

Kitty learned early on in her marriage that her husband, Bill Dunbar, isn’t reliable with money. So when they inherit the Dunbar family hotel at the start of the war, she's hopeful that their financial worries are over… until the bailiffs turn up! With Bill away fighting, it’s up to Kitty to turn things around for her family, or risk ruin.

Lily worked as a chambermaid at Dunbar’s before the war. She met Daniel there, but their relationship was complicated by class differences and the disapproval of Daniel’s mother. Now Lily is pregnant – and with Daniel away at sea, she is all alone. When tragedy strikes, will Kitty and Dunbar’s come to her rescue?

Beatrice is in her forties, unmarried, and working in a job that exposes her to the harsh realities of poverty and sacrifice. She wonders whether the war might give her the opportunity to change lives for the better - including her own. But when she's accused of a crime she didn't commit, the future looks bleak... until Kitty makes a surprising suggestion.

Can the community around Dunbar’s hotel pull together and provide a beacon of hope and resilience, in the dark days of war?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/HomeAtTheWartimeHotel

Susanna Bavin and Polly Heron. As Polly, she writes the 1920s saga series, The Surplus Girls. As Susanna she has written four stand-alone sagas and is also a new WW2 saga series, The Home Front Girls, of which the first three books will be published in 2024.

Maisie was born and brought up in Manchester, which provides the location for her Railway Girls novels. She now lives on the beautiful North Wales coast with her husband and their two rescue cats. They have enjoyed many holidays chugging up and down the UK’s heritage steam railways and their favourite is the Severn Valley Railway.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @MaisieThomasAuthor

Twitter: @maisiethomas99

An Unexpected Grace

Johanna St. John was not that young girl anymore that was so infatuated with Parker Bennett. She was a widow raising her young daughter alone. 

But can she trust her heart? Parker is back in town after being away for a few years.

I loved the story. There was plenty of action and romance. James, her brother-in-law was one to watch out for.  I didn't like him. His intentions were evil.

This book was written by two of my favorite writers: Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse. I trust that the story will be Christian based and entertaining. And I was right with this book!!

The Way Home

Just like Dorothy Gale said in Wizard of Oz- "there's no place like home."

Cal was a big time lawyer.  He was not out to impress anyone except his Dad. He did his job. But he yearned for something more.

 Amy was the complete opposite. She was driven to reach the top. But the closer she got to it, the more she doubted if that really was  what she wanted.

Two people. Both looking for that something more. Both looking for happiness. What did they have to give up to be happy?

Redeeming Rupert

She had to save her home.  Her only hope was to marry Henry.  

Her home meant everything to her.  She was responsible to take care of her invalid brother plus her aunt and uncle.

Rupert just inherited Uncle Henry's place. He had no desire to marry. He thought he would remain a bachelor forever. But he didn't meet Hannah Whitfield.

I was a little surprised how quickly Rupert was willing to help Hannah.  I would have thought he would be a little more hesitant.  Hannah must have been a beauty to turn his head that fast.  I loved seeing how their relationship changed. 

Of course, the evil Mr. Prescott was not going to let them have a quiet life.  He wanted that house desperately but why? How far would he go to get it? 

He went pretty far but Rupert proved to all that he was the right choice for Hannah.

I received this book from Celebrate Lit to review.

#blogtour

About the Book

Book: Redeeming Rupert

Author: Susan Pope Sloan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: February 25, 2025

In the aftermath of the Civil War, a young woman’s fight to save her family’s legacy leads her to an unexpected alliance.

Hannah Whitfield has given up on her own dreams of love and marriage, dedicating herself wholly to her family’s welfare. But when a ruthless carpetbagger threatens to seize Whitfield Hall, Hannah’s last hope lies with the elusive trustee named in her late father’s will. Desperate to secure her brother’s inheritance, she steels herself to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Rupert McNeil, haunted by the loss of his loved ones, has vowed never to marry. Following in his uncle’s footsteps, he becomes the go-to person for those in need. When he inherits his uncle’s farm and the responsibility to help save Whitfield Hall, Rupert finds himself at a crossroads, torn between his own legacy and his duty to others.

As Hannah and Rupert’s paths intertwine, a marriage of convenience seems to be the answer to their problems. But with a scheming relative lurking in the shadows, will their newfound alliance be enough to safeguard both their inheritances? Can love blossom amidst the challenges they face, or will the wounds of the past prove too deep to overcome?

About the Author

Born into a family of storytellers, Susan Pope Sloan published her first articles in high school and continued writing sporadically for decades. Retirement provided the time to focus on writing and indulge her avid interest in history. Her Civil War series begins (and ultimately ends) in her home state of Georgia with references to lesser-known events of that period. She and husband Ricky live near Columbus where she participates in Word Weavers, ACFW, and Toastmasters.

More from Susan

With Redeeming Rupert, I bring the series back close to where it started and closer to my hometown. This final book begins in 1866 with all the McNeil brothers picking up their lives after the Civil War. Rupert is the third son of John and Connie McNeil, introduced in previous books as a dependable helper. He is the opposite of older brother Simon, who was the impetuous, adventurous troublemaker in the family. In contrast, Rupert is a quiet, steady rule-follower who never gives his parents cause for concern.

When he inherits his Uncle Henry’s farm, Rupert is ready to settle into the peaceful life of a bachelor…until Hannah Whitfield shows up at his door and upsets all his plans.

For these Southerners, struggling to restore their homes and resume a sense of normalcy after the war, their family legacy is linked to the land. Both Rupert and Hannah consider it their richest inheritance and stand ready to defend it at all costs. But their marriage of convenience tests them in ways they never expected.

Blog Stops

Life on Chickadee Lane, March 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 20

Betti Mace, March 21

Stories By Gina, March 22 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 23

Pause for Tales, March 24

An Author’s Take, March 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 26

Artistic Nobody, March 27 (Author Interview)

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 27

For Him and My Family, March 28

Cover Lover Book Review, March 29

Holly’s Book Corner, March 30

Guild Master, March 31 (Author Interview)

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54177

The Riverside Maid

Fliss had a hard life. Her Aunt treated her as a maid. Her cousin was abusive and threatened her happiness. Only her Uncle showed any kindness.  

Day to day life at the pub was hard work. Her Uncle loved the pub and tried to protect it at all cost. But Fliss had no idea that she was part of his plan.

This was a very emotional read. Could Fliss ever find complete happiness? 

I can't get enough of historical sagas.  I especially love Annemarie Brear.  She writes wonderful stories.  I finish her books way too fast! Now I have to wait for her next one.

I received this book from Boldwood Books to review.  Thank you, Boldwood for these wonderful stories.

#rararesources

#BoldwoodBooks

#AnnemarieBrear

The Riverside Maid

From rags to riches... but will happiness follow?

Orphaned as a child, Fliss Atkins has spent her life working at her uncle’s pub, The Bay Horse Inn, nestled along the banks of the River Calder. Life has been anything but easy for Fliss. Her aunt is unloving, and her older cousin Gerald is cruel.

Then she meets Oscar Nolan, whose adventurous spirit makes her wonder if there might be more to life beyond the only home she’s known. Could Oscar and his dreams of travel be her chance at a fresh start? The thought is tempting, but leaving her best friends, Lorrie and Meg, and their beloved families behind seems unimaginable.

When tragedy strikes, Fliss is presented with an unexpected opportunity to shape a new life for herself. But will new riches bring her the happiness she longs for, or will it lead to even greater troubles for this riverside maid?

A compelling and emotional read set in Victorian Yorkshire, perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Rosie Godwin.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/RiversideMaid

Author Bio – 

An award winning and Amazon UK best seller, Australian born AnneMarie Brear writes historical novels and modern romances and sometimes the odd short story, too. She has a love of old country houses, travelling, chocolate (except dark chocolate - not a fan), researching historical eras and looking for inspiration for her next book.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @annemariebrear

Twitter: @annemariebrear

Instagram: @annemariebrear

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AnneMarieBrearNews

Bookbub profile:https://www.bookbub.com/profile/annemarie-brear