Thursday, April 1, 2010

Review/Giveaway: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa

 A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa
Author: Melanie Dobson
Genre: Christian fiction/romance
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: April 25, 2010
Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway.  This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.
---------------



This week, the




Christian Fiction Blog Alliance




is introducing




Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa




Summerside Press (March 1, 2010)




by




Melanie Dobson






ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Melanie Beroth Dobson is the author of the inspirational novels Together for Good (2006), Going for Broke (2007), The Black Cloister (2008), Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana (2009), Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa (2010), Refuge on Crescent Hill (2010), and The Silent Order (2010) as well as the co-author of Latte for One and Loving It! A Single Woman's Guide to Living Life to Its Fullest (2000).



Prior to launching Dobson Media Group in 1999, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family where she was responsible for the publicity of events, products, films, and TV specials. Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. She has worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for fifteen years including two years as a publicist for The Family Channel.



Melanie and her husband, Jon, met in Colorado Springs in 1997 at Vanguard Church. Jon works in the field of computer animation. Since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. These days they are enjoying their new home in the Pacific Northwest.



Jon and Melanie have adopted their two daughters —Karly (6) and Kinzel (5). When Melanie isn't writing or entertaining their girls, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, traveling, hiking, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.





ABOUT THE BOOK



Times are hard in 1894. Desperate for work, former banker Jacob Hirsch rides the rails west from Chicago with his four-year-old daughter, Cassie. When a life-threatening illness strands the pair in Homestead, Iowa, the local Amana villagers welcome the father and daughter into their peaceful society. Liesel, a young Amana woman, nurses Cassie back to health, and the Homestead elders offer Jacob work. But Jacobs growing interest in Liesel complicates his position in the Amanas. Will he fight to stay in the only place that feels like home, even if it means giving up the woman he loves? Or will Liesel leave her beloved community to face the outside world with Jacob and Cassie at her side?



If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa, go HERE.

What I Liked:  I love books where I learn - about a time period, a culture, etc.  This one had me learning all about the Amana community in Iowa in the late 1800s, with a little diphtheria and bank failure background added in, too.  It's an easy, sweet read about honesty, hard work, and what's really important in life, and a little romance, too.

What I Didn't Like: Not really a criticism of the book, but rather the subject:  I struggled a little bit with the Amana community concept.  I may be one of those Americans who bought into the individualism ideal, but what bugs me the most is the seemingly inward focus; and when people did want to join, it was difficult!  What happened to Christian outreach?  To be fair, the Amana community took in the homeless and hungry who showed up on their doorstep (in this book) without reserve, but they were only allowed so far until they had proven themselves.

Anyway, this made me think about the Acts community after Christ's death, and why a socialized system is so tough/impossible when there are human beings with flaws involved every step of the way.

59 comments:

Casey said...

This book looks great, please enter me! Email in profile.

Casey said...

I am a follower

Email in profile

Merry said...

I enjoyed your review, I think you brought up some great points. I'd love a chance to win this, thanks!

worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I follow with google reader.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

409cope said...

This looks like a great read!cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

Katie said...

Please count me in! And... I'm a subscriber!

kateh12783@Hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

You bring up some good points about the community. I have studied alot about that time period. It was a tough time to live through. This sounds like it would be a interesting book.
debp
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I am a email subscriber.
debp
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Simply Stacie said...

I follow.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

grannyvon said...

I would love to read this book it sounds like something different from the ordinary romance. I'm so tired of those. Thanks for the chance to win it. ybutler@oppcatv.com

grannyvon said...

I follow thanks for the entry. ybutler@oppcatv.com

misskallie2000 said...

Another great book. Would love to win. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.


misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I am a follower and subscriber.



misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I would absolutely love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of your blog.
I also subscribe via email.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

McKim said...

I've visited the Amana Colonies in Iowa, so would be especially interested in this book

mverno said...

i love to read this would be good mverno@roadrunner.com

mindy said...

looks like a wonderful read thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

Unknown said...

would like to read this.

rugerpuppies at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I love to read Christain fiction


mjmeeks5@netscape.net

scottsgal said...

sounds wonderful thanks for the chance
msboatgal at aol.com

Anita Yancey said...

This book sounds really good. I would love to read it. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

I am a follower, and email subscriber.

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Nancye said...

This looks like a great book. I haven't read about the Amana's.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Karen said...

Looks great :)

ktgonyea at gmail.com

Rhonda said...

Interesting premiss

I would like to read this

rhondastruthers atyahoo dot ca

Mystica said...

Please count me in

mystica123athotmaildotcom

Mystica said...

I follow

mystica123athotmaildotcom

Jen V said...

I have read some of the other Love Finds You series and have enjoyed them. So I would love to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win it!

ssovrnej (at) gmail.com

Jen V said...

I follow your blog through Google Friend Connect as Jen V.
ssovrnej (at) gmail.com

Jlefkovenj said...

This book looks great!

Cheryl (Tx_Sweetie) said...

Great review! I'd like to read this.

Nickolay said...

yeah Iowa! Thanks for the chance

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Nickolay said...

Blog Follower

Nickolay

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Melissa B. said...

I'm very interested in reading this book.

Renee G said...

I would love to read this, and I know my mom would love to read it once I'm done.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

theolotto said...

I'd love a good book to read.

theolotto@yahoo.com.au

theolotto said...

Email subscriber.

Unknown said...

It sounds great. i would love to read it. garrettsambo@aol.com

irish said...

This books sounds so good and I love the way you always give such honest reviews.

irish said...

email subscriber

Amanda said...

I live just north of Amana in Robins, IA! I would love to read this.

Amanda said...

I follow you on Google Friend Connect!

Unknown said...

Haven't read the book yet. It sounds really interesting. I enjoying reading. I am hoping this will be one of my favorites!

lknott said...

I do enjoy Christian Books!This one looks to be of special interest, I am an Iowan!! Thanks for the chance to win.



lknott@partnercom.net

CATHIE said...

Please enter me. Thank you.

lovemybabysquid@yahoo.com

Liz Mays said...

Please include me in the drawing. doot65ATcomcastDOTnet

Liz Mays said...

GFC follower! doot65ATcomcastDOTnet

Jinxy and Me said...

Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I would love to read :
Love Finds You in Homestead
Zestywonderland@gmail.com

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW!
zestywonderland@gmail.com

lilyk said...

I subscribed to your blog.

grannyvon said...

I like to read something that there might be a different view of looking at things from mine. Doesn't mean that it would chance me but it would hold my intrest. Thanks for the entry. ybutler@oppcatv.com

grannyvon said...

I follow on GFC and also subscribe. Thanks for the extra entry. ybutler@oppcatv.com