Bethany House; 336 pages; $15.99; Amazon

Bethany House; 384 pages; $14.99; Amazon

Collecting dust on top of my needs-to-be-reviewed pile  is the historical-romance Undaunted Hope (book three in the Beacons of Hope series) by author Jody Hedlund. I had read the book as soon as I received it in the mail from Bethany House (a division of Baker Publishing Group) last year, but I went ahead and reread it yesterday, so I would have the story fresh in my mind for this review.

Set in 1871, the novel centers on Tessa Taylor, a young woman who accepts a job as a teacher to a group of children of miners in Eagle Harbor, Michigan. Upon arriving, she learns that the town requested a male teacher, so her arrival is a shock to everyone. Luckily, Percival Updegraff, the superintendent and chief mine clerk, says she can stay through the winter months, because it's too late to send for a replacement teacher.

Now Tessa has a plan, which involves being the best teacher she can be for her students, so the town will see she is irreplaceable. The last thing on her mind is love, but out of nowhere she has two love interests. One is the father of two of her students, who are trying to play matchmaker, and the other is Alex Bjorklund, the assistant lightkeeper.

Bethany House; 352 pages; $15.99; Amazon

Now available from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is the Amish-fiction drama A Plain Leaving, book one in The Sister's of Lancaster County series, by Leslie Gould.

The novel centers on Jessica Bachmann, an Amish woman who had left her family and Amish community after clashing with her brother, Arden, and the bishop over the future of their family's farm. Three years later, she returns to Lancaster County after learning of her father's death.

They say that you can never go home again, and well, that's exactly what Jessica is thinking, as she returns home. While she grieves her father's passing, she must deal with the past, which includes her brother's decision to allow fracking on the family's land.

With all the emotional trauma, Jessica has to deal with, she must always come face to face with Silas Kemp, a man she once thought she had a future with.

Some stories are evergreen, their themes and lessons standing the test of time and connecting with readers generation after generation. Reconnect with Catherine Marshall's beloved Christy as it celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new edition! As nineteen-year-old teacher Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home of Cutter Gap, some see her-and her one-room school-as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove. Yearning to make a difference, will Christy's determination and devotion be enough?

Celebrate the new 50th anniversary edition of Christy by entering to win one of TWO $50 Visa cash cards (details below) and by attending a Facebook Live party on December 5!


TWO grand prize winners will receive:

• One copy of Christy
• One $50 Visa Cash Card

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 5. The winner will be announced at the Christy Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with authors who've been impacted by Christy and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

Bethany House; 336 pages; $15.99; Amazon

Now available from Bethany House (a division of Baker Publishing Group) is the Amish fiction drama The Ebb Tide by New York Times bestselling author Beverly Lewis.

The novel enters on a young Amish woman named Sallie Reihl, who plans on joining the church, but before she does that, she wants to accomplish her dream of traveling around the world. When an unexpected opportunity for a summer nanny job in Cape May crosses her path, she takes it. The only problem is that she has to delay her baptism for an entire year.

Sallie does accepts the job and travels to Cape May for the summer. Out of the blue, she meets Kevin, a young Mennonite man who's interested in marine biology, and she quickly begins a friendship with him, which eventually turns to romance.

Revell; 367 pages; $14.99; Amazon

Yeah, my plans of posting all my needs-to-be-reviewed books by November 1st changed, as here I a writing another Review Catch Up Marathon! post on November 8th! Why the delay? Well, all my Halloween-themed posts last month was the main reason why I delayed writing the reviews.

Anyhow, today I'm reviewing Where She Belongs by Johnnie Alexander, and if I recall correctly, the book was released in January 2016. Sadly, this showcases how backed up I am with needs-to-be-reviewed books.

Where She Belongs centers on a widowed mother named Shelby Kincaid, who plans on moving forward with her life (and her daughters' lives) by buying her family's old homestead, which is called Misty Willow. Her plan is to remodel the abandoned house, so she can raise daughters there. However, there's one small problem - a man named AJ Sullivan owns the property.

AJ Sullivan is stuck owning Misty Willow due to the little fact that it was his late grandfather's dying wish for him to live there. Since his grandfather's death, he has let the property fall into ruin. He's more than glad to hand over the reigns to Misty Willow to Shelby, but she sort of hates the Sullivan family. Years ago, the Sullivans stole Misty Willow from the Kincaids, causing problems between the two families.

Of course this is a romance story, so you can imagine that the impossible happens and sparks fly between AJ and Shelby.

Earlier in the year, I had received five Fox Cinema Archives DVDs, which consisted of Woman's World (read my review here), Zane Grey's Western Union (read my review here), Coney Island, Sentimental Journey, and Sitting Pretty. I had watched the all the films back in May, but for some reason or another I never wrote the reviews for three of the titles. So instead of posting three separate reviews, I'm featuring my thoughts on all three DVDs in one post.

Buy Link: Amazon

Up first is the 1943 'Gay Nineties' Musical "Coney Island." Directed by Walter Lang, the film stars Betty Grable, George Montgomery, Cesar Romero, Charles Winninger, and Phil Silvers!

The film centers on Eddie Johnson (played by George Montgomery) arriving on Coney Island to find a way to make some quick cash. This is when he runs into his old friend (and rival) Joe Rocco (played by Cesar Romero), who is running a popular saloon. Throughout the film, Eddie and Joe fight and scheme for the affection of Kate Farley (played by Betty Grable), a saloon entertainer.

While I'm not the biggest fan of musicals, I enjoyed watching Coney Island. The plot reminds of Holiday Inn, where two friends are scheming to get the attention of a beautiful entertainer. While there are plenty of silly moments, the best thing about the film is the comedic chemistry between Cesar Romero and George Montgomery.

Buy Link: Amazon

Based on the short story The Little Horse by Nelia Gardener White that appeared in an issue of Good Housekeeping in 1944, Sentimental Journey (1946; directed by Walter Lang) tells the story of a dying actress, Julie Beck Weatherly (played by Maureen O'Harha), who takes in an orphaned girl named Hitty (played Connie Marshall), so her husband (played by John Payne) will have someone to take care of him after her death.

Today, Val Muller, the author of the young adult novels The Man with the Crystal Ankh and The Girl Who Flew Away, has taken a few minutes out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about his writings.

Buy Link: Amazon

Free Preview & Discount Code; Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

When did you become interested in storytelling?

When I was very young, my dad read “The Night Before Christmas” to me several times each night. As the days and weeks went on, he left out one word here, then two words, then a phrase, until I had basically memorized the whole poem (with a little prompting). They were “big words,” and I wasn’t sure what all of them meant, but one day the meaning became crystal clear.

We were up in Connecticut, where I grew up, and it had snowed that day. It was evening, and I was in my pajamas. My dad called me to the dining room window and told me to look into the back yard. There, the pristine snow was sparkling as it reflected the full moon. He recited the line to me: “moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below.” We talked about what that meant, and it was at that moment that I realized how powerful words were. I realized I could be on the beach in the heat of summer, and that line would evoke this particular image in my head, one of a nighttime snowfall. It was then that I knew—subconsciously, at least—that I wanted to be a writer.

What was your first book/story published?

I always jokingly say that my first “book” was written in third grade. It was made of several pieces of notebook paper cut down into quarters and stapled together. I wrote an illustrated a mystery tale in which the neighbors engage in vigilante justice after their friend’s murder.

2008 is when I started taking my writing seriously. Although I always wanted to be a writer, it was something I assumed just “happened.” After college, I realized I had to make it happen. My first published story was written for kids and was published by New Moon Girls magazine. It was a spooky tale about camping inspired by my experiences in Girl Scouts.

What inspired you to write The Man with the Crystal Ankh?

I have played the violin since third grade, and I was always fascinated with the power of composers (like writers and artists) to reach beyond their lifetimes and inspire those who were born after their deaths. In Crystal Ankh, one of the characters takes that literally and prolongs his life using supernatural methods.

What character in The Man with the Crystal Ankh is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I see parts of myself in the protagonist, Sarah Durante. In some ways, she’s like me: a little bit of a misfit, a little dorky, and loves the violin. But because of the nature of the tale, she gets into spooky situations that terrify me even thinking about them. So in that sense, I’m glad she’s not me.

I have had several spooky dreams and premonitions, and those was scary enough for me.

What is your favorite part in The Man with the Crystal Ankh?

I really enjoy the musical scenes. During these scenes, Sarah enters a trance-like state and is able to physically leave her body, wandering close by. In these scenes, she’s able to sneak upstairs or down into the basement to discover various pieces of the puzzle. There’s something chilling about leaving the body.

What was the hardest part to write?

In one scene, the antagonist possesses his dog so that he attacks the protagonists. The would-be kind canine thus becomes the enemy. My characters are literally up a tree and have to decide what to do. Their only option is to attack the dogs. With two corgis of my own and always having loved dogs, this scene was difficult for me to write because it contradicts the way I feel about dogs—both how they act and how people should treat them.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

Well, I’m a high school English teacher, and I love being able to talk about writing and literature all day. But if I could choose from absolutely anything, I would choose to be a photographer specializing in outdoor shots. I love being outdoors, and finding unique angles with a camera invigorates me.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Lamplighter Mysteries; 302 pages; Buy Link; Blog Tour

Now available from Lamplighter Mysteries is the mystery thriller Murder in Disguise: A Preston Barclay Mystery by Donn Taylor.

The novel centers on Preston Barclay, a visiting professor who's working at a state university for the summer. Out of nowhere, he finds himself investigating the strange death of a department chairman. While the local authorities have ruled the man's death as a suicide, Dr. Barclay believes foul play is at hand.

With the help from Mara Thorn, Dr. Barclay seeks out to find the truth behind the mystery, while at the same time trying to dodge a sexy assistant, campus radicals, and criminals.