Book Review: "The Fruitcake Challenge" by Carrie Fancett Pagels

"The Fruitcake Challenge" is the 3rd in the Christmas Traditions Series, but each novella is a stand alone story and they are not connected through their plots.  This story interested me when I first heard about it because it is set in my home state.  I always find it fun when a book is set in a familiar place.

Tom Jeffries signs on as the new axman in the family lumber camp run by Mr. Christy to be able to support his mother.  He takes an interest in Jo Christy, the boss's daughter, and announces a challenge that he will propose marriage to any woman who can make a fruitcake as good as his mother's. Jo  takes him up on his challenge, but only to be able to take him down a notch or two.  Jo wants out of the lumber camp, so she isn't interested in any shanty boy, but as she bakes fruitcake after fruitcake, Jo begins to wonder what she wants from life.  Will they clear a path that brings them together?

I have seen the vast White Pine forests in Northern Michigan.  I've also been to a recreation of a lumber camp.  I could picture the setting as I read the book. I liked the progression the characters made in their personal lives.  They grew and improved.  I found myself nodding as I read about the pasties and other references to life in Michigan.  I did get a little confused, though, as at the beginning of the book, Tom's sister's name is Rebecca and at the end it is Emily. I enjoyed the characters in the book, both the main ones and the secondary ones as well. I could see story plots that would work as sequels.

"The Fruitcake Challenge" is a fun, quick read that I'm sure those who like books about lumberjacks, Michigan, and historical romance will enjoy. 

"The Fruitcake Challenge" is available for Kindle:

• File Size: 4647 KB
• Print Length: 170 pages
• Publisher: Hearts Overcoming Press; 1 edition (September 9, 2014)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00NG5II28

and in paperback:

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Hearts Overcoming Press; 1 edition (October 24, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0692290036
• ISBN-13: 978-0692290033
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.4 x 8 inches

I won a copy of "The Fruitcake Challenge" on the Overcoming with God blog and was gifted a copy by the author. 

Book Review: "Sadie's Gift" by Niki Turner

I won a copy of "Sadie's Gift" from Overcoming With God and was gifted a Kindle copy from Carrie Pagels.  

"Sadie's Gift" is set in 1921 Colorado Springs.   Sadie Hubbard is a nurse in the Preventorium for children who have been exposed to Tuberculosis.  Her heart is burdened for their happiness, especially as Christmas draws near.  As she sets out to make sure they have their share of Christmas joy, she inadvertently causes Nathan Wells to have an accident.  He angrily demands she pay for the repairs, which adds more for her to worry about.  As their plans for Christmas are suddenly thrown together, will they find a way to move past the hurts they both carry to find their own Christmas joy?

Sadie's Gift covered a topic that I was not very familiar with--TB.  I did not realize that they had Preventoriums for those who were most at risk for contracting TB.  I think that Niki Turner did a good job in covering the topic and both Sadie's and Nathan's reactions to the disease.  The characters were real and had pains and heartaches that they needed to deal with.  Sadie had a quiet strength that others relied on.

It was a fun, quick read that I would recommend to others who like Inspirational romances.

Sadie's Gift is available for Kindle:

• File Size: 4295 KB
• Print Length: 61 pages
• Publisher: Grass Valley Publications (August 31, 2014)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00N73HEV0

Book Review: "Handcarved Christmas" by Cynthia Hickey

I won a copy of "Handcarved Christmas" from Overcoming With God and was gifted a Kindle copy from Carrie Pagels.

Laura Worth doesn't have any prospects of marriage at home. As the oldest of 10 children, getting married would be beneficial for her family as well, so Laura excepts an ad for a mail order bride.  She packs up her family heirloom nativity and a few mementos, and heads to Montana.

Benjamin Cooper had made his mother a promise as she lay dying: he would get married before his 30th birthday, which is coming up in a couple of weeks.  He hasn't done anything about his promise thus far, but his brother has.  Laura Worth shows up on his door step in a snow storm, a Christmas present for Ben.  He agrees to marry her as she has come so far and it will fulfill his promise at the same time.

As Christmas draws near, they struggle to find out how to best reach the other and if their love is true.  How will they get to know each other better when sharing a roof with Ben's brother, too?

I liked reading this story.  It had believable characters and just enough tension to keep the story moving forward.  I liked how they tried to find something special to do for the other for Christmas.
I enjoy being able to read a complete story in an evening.  The characters are Christians and seek to know what God's will is for them.

You can get "Handcarved Christmas" for Kindle:

• File Size: 4372 KB
• Print Length: 63 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Winged Publications (August 10, 2014)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00MMJQ286