Heart on the Line

Back Cover

When danger arrives, it's more than just her heart on the line...

Grace Mallory is tired of hiding.  She hungers for a normal life, perhaps even a suitor like two of her friends in Harper's Station have found.  But when the man she believes responsible for her father's death discovers her whereabouts, survival takes priority.

Amos Bledsoe prefers bicycles to horses and private conversations over the telegraph wire to social gatherings with young ladies who see him as nothing more than an oddity.  His fellow telegrapher, the mysterious Miss G, has been the ideal companion.  For months, their friendship - dare he believe, courtship? - over the wire has fed his hope that he has finally found the woman God intends for him.  However, when he intercepts an ominous message and discovers her life is in peril, Amos must shed the cocoon of his quiet nature to become the hero Grace requires.

Review

Heart on the Line is a lighthearted read, with very tongue-in-cheek similarities to the modern world of online dating.  But in the case of Grace and Amos, the computer has been traded for a telegraph machine and emails for dots and dashes.  As I myself have been one of the many who have braved the scary realm of online dating, I found the inferences (whether intended or not) rather amusing in the "I totally understand" way - right down to the main worry of whether the person you come to know "online" is who they say they are in real life.  Their personality could be completely different in person - and are they really the age they say they are??

Online dating similarities aside, the characters of Grace and Amos were just wonderful.  Grace has pluck, determination, cleverness, and is a very classy lady.  Amos is incredibly endearing with his chivalry and protective nature towards Grace, preferring to use his wits rather than his fists in tense situations.  They were the perfect couple to navigate the dangerous scenarios that are encountered in the book. 

I greatly enjoyed returning to Karen's series, "Ladies of Harper's Station".  I wasn't even a chapter in when I paused my reading and came to the realization that it is novels like Heart on the Line that fostered my passion for reading wonderful fiction.  This novel had all the right elements with spot-on characters held together by some terrific writing.  I really, really cannot wait for the next instalment!!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

One Dominion

Back Cover

Canada is not a nation of one story alone, but of many stories, from ordinary people, and often ordinary people of faith, who helped form the foundations of our wonderful country.

This book takes time to pause and reflect on the stories of these ordinary men and women of God who contributed to the fabric of our nation.

Let us not just celebrate the blessings we enjoy today because of them, but learn from their example and, as we look to the future of our country, perhaps be inspired to action as well.

Review

With beautiful large photographs, One Dominion tells the story of Canada, and how our country was built on Biblical truths and morals.  It is evident from the beginning of our great nation that the founding fathers intended that Canada be a nation under God, governed by His precepts, for all citizens to follow.  In determining the name for Canada, the founding fathers decided upon "The Dominion of Canada" in reference to Psalm 72:8, "He (God) shall have dominion also from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth".  Even our Peace Tower, built in 1917 is etched with Scriptures pointing people to our Father in heaven for wisdom and guidance.

It was eye-opening the many different influences Christianity had in the formation of Canada.  From our laws, to education, work place rights, eradication of child labour, and healthcare, it was professing Christians who were instrumental in all the social reforms.  It is a very encouraging thing to read as there is always the hope and prayer that someday Canada will return to its Christian roots. 

One Dominion is a well-written history of Canada that is meant to be shared.  I will be passing around this book to many of my friends and family and re-reading it many, many times.

Book has been provided courtesy of Bible League Canada and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.