Sunday, August 16, 2015

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: Lilacs for Juliana (The Christy Lumber Camp Series Book 3) by Carrie Fancett Pagels

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Synopsis: Petite Juliana Beauchamps possesses a vivid imagination, which comes in handy as a librarian. When a handsome giant of a lumberjack comes to town and rescues her from possible tragedy, she’s shaken by the event. A dashing beer baron, James Yost, from Milwaukee also pursues Juliana’s attention. Meanwhile, a library trustee determines push out the female librarians. 

Set in 1891, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Book Three in The Christy Lumber Camp Series focuses on Richard “Moose” Christy, the youngest of the sons, as he prepares to manage his first lumber camp. When Yost hires Juliana to organize his personal library, and her letters from Wisconsin suggest foul play, will Richard need to save her once again? And will his secret need to be revealed to win her heart?


Review: This is the story of Juliana and Richard, and their romance. Juliana has had her heart broken many times, thanks to a multitude of losses. She tries to find ways to fill her life by helping others. When she meets Richard in the library, her heart is warmed, and she determines to get him to invite her to the Lumberjack's Ball. 

Through the course of the story, we are privy to the thoughts of the two main characters--thoughts which I kept wishing they would share with one another. They are both immersed in family obligations, and they are both hard-working people of faith. It's impossible to read this story and not root for a happy ending.

I found it entertaining to think that it could have been lilacs--my favorite flowers as well as Juliana's--which came between this amazing couple. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sweet, clean Christian story.

**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**


Rating: Five stars

GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment and your email address on this post for a chance to win an ebook copy of the book. Winner will be chosen by random.org next Sunday.

Random.org has chosen our ebook winner: 
Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com

 photo 7043690_zpsuyerrhxp.jpgAbout the author
Carrie Fancett Pagels (www.carriefancettpagels.com) “Hearts Overcoming Through Time” is a Christian historical romance author. "Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter" releases from Pelican Group/White Rose in 2015. "The Lumberjacks' Ball" (2015) is the second book in The Christy Lumber Camp Series. Her historical romance novella, Selah Award finalist, The Fruitcake Challenge (2014) hit the #1 spot bestselling in genre on Amazon and was also finalist for the Family Fiction Book of the Year. In July, 2014, Carrie won in Historical Genre for Family Fiction's The Story 2014 contest, with her short story The Quilting Contest, now available in published anthology from Salem Publishing. 

Carrie's novella, Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance, was an Amazon Civil War best seller and remained on the top-rated list for a year. Her short story "Snowed In" was published in Guidepost Books A Cup of Christmas Cheer. Nonfiction chapter contribution to Selah Finalist God's Provision in Tough Times by Cynthia Howerter and LaTan Murphy (Lighthouse of the Carolinas, 2013). 

Represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency. Founder of Colonial American Christian Writers group. Owner/administrator of the group blogs "Colonial Quills" and "Overcoming With God." Member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and FaithWriters. 

Was a licensed psychologist for over twenty-five years. Has an adult daughter and a middle school aged son. Married the love of her life, Jeffrey D. Pagels, in 1987.

Carrie is the former ACFW Zone Mid-Atlantic Zone Director and Virginia/West Virginia Area Coordinator and continues to serve as co-hostess of the Tidewater Area Christian Writers group. 

8 comments:

Carrie Fancett Pagels said...

Thanks so much Teresa, for this first blog post review for Lilacs for Juliana! And thank you for your kind words! Richard was a different kind of hero for me to work with. He's not really very communicative I'm afraid! Blessings!

Unknown said...

Enjoyed checking in and reading the post. I am really looking forward to reading Lilacs for Juliana. Please do not include me in the drawing since I have been blessed to already receiving a review copy from Carrie.

Teresa Kander said...

Carrie...glad to be among the early readers/reviewers of this book and to help you spread the word about it. :)

Ann....thanks for stopping by and reading. Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Teresa for this review of Carrie's book. This is a great series. Loved the others and sure will love this one too.
Hoping to win. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

Unknown said...

I really like the sound of this historical fiction. :)
@dino0726 from 
FictionZeal - Impartial, Straightforward Fiction Book Reviews

Carrie Fancett Pagels said...

Thanks so much for being on the team, Ann Ellison! I'm using your last name for one of the characters in my upcoming novelette, "The Substitute Bride" which releases in about a month! Blessings!

Carrie Fancett Pagels said...

Thanks so much, Maxie, and I hope you'll love "Moose" and Juliana's story! Hugs!

Carrie Fancett Pagels said...

Hi Diana! TY for commenting on Teresa's review! I'd love for you to read my books! Many blessings!