Getting in the Christmas Spirit with The Band Perry

The Making of the 25 Days of Christmas video:

CMA Awards: The Band Perry and Lady Antebellum

Watch The Band Perry's performance of "All Your Life" from last week's CMA Awards.  We loved the vintage-inspired set!



The Band Perry had a great night, winning Song of the Year, Single of the Year, and New Artist of the Year! Much deserved successes!



Lady Antebellum won Vocal Group of the Year.  View other winners on www.cmt.com

Review of A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander

Rating: 5 Stars

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Synopsis from Bethany House: Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.

Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.

Review: A Lasting Impression is a stunning novel both inside and out.  I was first captured by the rich details on the cover design and Tamera Alexander's writing conveys similar beauty and grace.  The novel's setting from New Orleans to Nashville is captured in fine detail.  Alexander paints an exquisite portrait of the Belmont Mansion and its residents.  I visited the Belmont Mansion several years ago, and truly feel as though I have visited again.  It is beautiful and opulent now as a house museum, but Alexander takes us back to its prime in the pages of her novel.  The result is breathtaking.
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Equally well-crafted is the cast of characters.  Alexander's depiction of Adelicia Acklen is most memorable as the strong, influential, and determined matriarch of Belmont.  I empathized with Claire during her first meetings with Mrs. Acklen, but her loyalty and kindness were revealed as the novel progressed.  Mrs. Acklen is truly an inspiring woman, especially considering the numerous losses that she suffered throughout her life.  Combining the real-life Mrs. Acklen with fictional characters adds another layer of realism to the plot.  
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Claire's struggle to overcome her past as a forger and Sutton's fight to defend his family's land and honor add depth to the plot. Claire's past lingers throughout the novel with a sense of foreboding, leaving me wondering when her secrets will be revealed and what impact they will have on her new life.  Her resulting growth in faith and self-confidence is satisfying as is her growing love for Sutton. Their love story is developed and not rushed, a spot of beauty even amid the uncertainties that they face.  
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As Tamera Alexander states in her Author's Note, we all leave impressions on those around us, each in our own way. She demonstrates that concept in A Lasting Impression; and as with her other novels, Tamera Alexander leaves an impression on the hearts and in the minds of her readers. 
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Read an Excerpt: 

A Lasting Impression

Review of The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

Rating: 3 Stars

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Synopsis from WaterBrook Multnomah: After Gideon coldly broke her heart, can the warmth of the season revive Mattie’s hopes?
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Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve. Three years later, will learning the truth behind his rejection restore her Christmas joy – or open the door to even deeper heartbreak? Spend Christmas with the Amish in this story of love, romance, heartache, and restoration.
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Review: The Christmas Singing is a quick weekend read, great for busy readers during the holiday season.  Its hard cover and attractive dust jacket also make it a nice gift for fans of Amish fiction.  Readers who enjoy reading Amish fiction will likely appreciate this novella's journey with Mattie and Gideon.  
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I have often been turned off by the tragedy and grief that have been present in many of the Amish fiction novels that I have read in the past.  I hoped that The Christmas Singing would be an exception. Within the first hundred pages, I felt that nearly every main and supporting character had some past or present heartbreak, grief, or physical malady.  I found myself exasperated with some of the more "depressing" details.  Physical and emotional issues are parts of real life and should be included in fiction as well; but in a short novella, I felt that the details cluttered the plot and diverted my focus.  The ending was promising with a tidy and happy resolution.  
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There is potential for a few additional novellas featuring some of the characters from this novella whose stories need conclusions.  Readers who enjoyed The Christmas Singing and its predecessor, The Sound of Sleigh Bells, can read more of Aden's story in the February 2012 release of The Scent of Cherry Blossoms. 
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Click Here to Read an Excerpt from The Christmas Singing. 
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review of The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz

Rating: 5 Stars

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Synopsis from Revell: Roxanna Rowan may be a genteel Virginia woman, but she is determined to brave the wilds of the untamed frontier to reach a remote Kentucky fort. Eager to reunite with her father, who serves under Colonel Cassius McLinn, Roxanna is devastated to find that her father has been killed on a campaign.

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Penniless and out of options, Roxanna is forced to remain at the fort. As she spends more and more time with the fiery Colonel McLinn, the fort is abuzz with intrigue and innuendo. Can Roxanna truly know who the colonel is--and what he's done?

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Immerse yourself in this powerful story of love, faith, and forgiveness set in the tumultuous world of the frontier in 1779.

Review: Autumn has chased away the lingering summer and cloaked my area in an early chill. It has been the ideal weather for nestling in a cocoon of blankets and immersing oneself in the pages of an engaging novel.  I have been anticipating my opportunity to read Laura Frantz's latest release, The Colonel's Lady, and I savored the beautiful novel from the cover to the very last word.

Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. The design of The Colonel's Lady is elegant and intriguing, capturing the essence of the book to perfection.  It is the plot that truly shines, however.  I enjoyed the danger of the new frontier and witnessing the experiences of life in a remote fort. The untamed lifestyles and ruggedness that defined America's wilderness provide an exciting setting, conducive to unexpected twists and turns.  The pace of the novel is steady throughout, but gains even more momentum towards the end.

Of course, I adore a novel with a timeless love story to balance the action.  The romantic tension between Roxanna and Cass is evident throughout the plot.  In many ways Cass reminded me of Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre.  Roxanna was a bit spunkier and outspoken than Jane; but I saw similarities in the growth of their relationships. The addition of sweet little Abby added some lightness to the thread of danger woven in the plot. With her quiet presence, she provided a common ground between Roxanna and Cass when their relationship was on delicate ground.  Frantz's blend of characters is seamless with the right proportions of love and conflict.  The Colonel's Lady is the type of novel that you close with a contented sigh.

Laura Frantz has become synonymous with fluid descriptions and dialogue, compelling plots and characters, and interesting historical detail.  The Colonel's Lady is no exception to the high standard set by The Frontiersman's Daughter and Courting Morrow Little.  Each of these novels can be relished again and again.