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Tristan was Fern’s childhood imaginary hero, saving her from monsters under her bed and outside her walls. As she grew up and his secret world continued to bleed into hers, however, it only caused catastrophe. But, when the city is rocked by the unexplainable, Fern is forced to consider the possibility that this young man is not a hallucination after all—and that the creature who decimated his world may be coming for hers. My ReviewThe Girl Who Could See by Kara Swanson is a fast-paced Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy novella that is a quick read. It will mostly likely satisfy readers who enjoy this genre and want the ending neatly tied together. For me, however, this is an “almost” book. It is “almost” in the fact that I liked it, but not well enough to try anything else by this author. It almost hit emotional notes in me and it almost worked as a complete story. But a few niggling thoughts dampened my engagement in this book. The main character, Fern, has almost a complete turnaround on her “imaginary” friend in a scene that is about four sentences long. As a novella, I expected the accelerated pacing, but after ten years of ignoring him and trying to convince herself Tristan wasn’t real, her sudden belief in him and what he was saying about the world destroying danger did not feel earned. The book is told entirely in first person, a staple of the Young Adult genre and one that generally turns me off from reading in this particular genre. Ms. Swanson handles the first person POV well, but I wanted more insight into both main characters, especially Tristan. His world sounded fascinating and we don’t learn much about it. For a book that deals with heavy subjects, including kidnapping and experiments on children, it lacks depth. The characters, premise, and setting are all very thin and I did not feel as if the characters were real people. Present tense is hard to pull off, and Ms. Swanson doesn’t quite manage it here. There are tense changes that interrupt the flow of the book and jumping back and forth in between the past and present times also interrupted the pace of the story. I can see the foundation for a good book here, and it almost gets there. Unfortunately it doesn’t quite gel into a complete story. I am giving this book 3/5 stars. I can recommend it to fans of the YA genre who like quick, light reads but for readers who are looking for a story with in-depth character moments and an engaging setting, I would skip this one. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
Guest Post from Kara SwansonDid you have an imaginary friend growing up? I did. And I think most of us probably understood what it was like to use our childhood imaginations to create friends and take us places. The Girl Who Could See follows Fern Johnson, a young woman who’s imaginary friend, Tristan, first appeared in her life when she was eight years old—and has never left. Now nineteen, Fern still sees Tristan, only he is no longer her friend. Now he is her curse. The source of her insanity. The reason Fern cannot keep a job and has been passed from one psychologist to another. The reason she is one step away from a psych ward. However, Tristan disagrees. He says that he’s not a figment of Fern’s imagination and is determined to prove it. But, if his existence is real, it has dangerous implications not only for Fern, but for her world. Because the creature that decimated Tristan’s planet is coming for Earth—and only the girl everyone says is crazy can stop it. I wrote the novella as a way to explore the idea of what would happen if someone had an imaginary friend who never left. What would the psychological and daily implications be? And what if that imaginary friend wasn’t imaginary? The story that grew from those sparks of ideas became an adventure that I hope you’ll enjoy as much as I did. Blog StopsJune 27: A Baker’s Perspective June 27: A Simply Enchanted Life June 27: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations June 28: Kristin’s Book Reviews June 28: Christian Chick’s Thoughts June 29: Fiction Aficionado June 29: Genesis 5020 June 30: Smiling Book Reviews June 30: The Fizzy Pop Collection July 1: Blogging With Carol July 1: remembrancy July 2: Inklings and notions July 2: Ashley’s Bookshelf July 3: Zerina Blossom’s Books July 3: Margaret Kazmierczak July 4: Book by Book July 4: Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses July 5: Dragons Read History July 5: Through the Open Window July 6: It’s Storytime with Van Daniker July 6: Baker Kella July 7: Pause for Tales July 7: Edits and Reviews By Leslie July 8: Books, Books, and More Books. July 8: Pursuing Stacie July 8: The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate July 9: Reader’s cozy corner July 9: A path of joy July 10: Neverending Stories July 10: Henry Happens GiveawayTo celebrate her tour, Kara is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
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Traci and Marc may be the perfect match, but they don’t know it yet. With God’s guidance and the help of Gina’s matchmaking skills honed by her career as a bestselling romance novelist, there is hope for a happily ever after for these two broken hearts. My ReviewA Second Chance by Alexis Goring, the first work I’ve read by this author, presents an interesting premise and is a quick read. Traci, the main character, is given a letter from her mother detailing the requirements for Traci to get her inheritance from him: she must be married and her mother must approve of Traci’s spouse. I’ve read this “must get married to get inheritance” in historical novels, but never in a contemporary. And though Traci worries about what to do as she is currently drowning in bills from her called off wedding, she seems to accept this condition without any problem. She’s likable. Marc, the other main character, does not trust women because his exes keep lying to him. Marc was likable enough, though he falls into the “overprotective and I will hurt anyone who hurts you because you’re mine” trope when he meets Traci’s ex-fiancé and I HATE that in my romance characters. The big misunderstanding” is based on Marc finding the letter about the inheritance by looking inside an envelope on the table—which Traci left out because she planned to tell him about the conditions to her inheritance—and assuming she’s dating him to get married to gain the money. He’s also mad because she lied to him about it, which is the only part of the conversation that I can stand. Marc never apologizes for the invasion of privacy and Traci acts as if the entire mess of the disintegrating relationship is her fault. I was so livid about the invasion of privacy and the non-apology that I almost put the book down. The characters are also seriously old-fashioned, with Traci’s passiveness and Marc’s overprotective jealousy disguised as caring for her. Traci spends most of the book waiting for Marc to make the first move, even though he takes weeks to contact her after their first meeting and doesn’t contact her quickly after their dates, either. There was also a case of “insta-love” as these characters are convinced they are in love with each other after one date and so are both of their friends. I did appreciate that both Traci and Marc have friends and families outside of the relationship, which does not always happen in romance novels. These characters needed to seriously talk with each other. At one point, they try a long-distance romance and I couldn't believe it. If they couldn’t even make it work in person, how would long-distance work? It’s much harder and requires much more communication, which neither of these characters do well. There is a lot of telling rather than showing, and much of the romance seems to happen off-screen. Part of the quickness of the romance is due to the length of the book, and I was expecting the romance would feel rushed. However, it also feels incomplete. We’re told the characters love each other, but with both stubbornly refusing to discuss problems and not trusting the other, it was hard to see it. I give A Second Chance 2/5 stars. The characters are overdramatic and uncommunicative, the plot feels contrived, and the entire romance feels rushed and incomplete and as a result I cannot recommend this book. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the AuthorGuest Post from Alexis Goring“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) God has good plans for every single person living here on Earth. It’s important to remember to trust Him because no matter how bleak a situation looks, hope is always on the horizon when God’s in the picture…and the good news is that no matter what God is always in the picture. I thought that it would be a good idea to explore the theme of Jeremiah 29:11 through a fictional story about characters who are in need of a second chance in life and love. So I create Traci and Marc and wrote their story, A Second Chance. Traci and Marc are entry-level journalists therefore they struggle with the industry’s tough system of paying your dues and they know the conflicts firsthand about struggling to pay your bills because of that system. But it’s not just the bills that weigh heavily on their hearts. Traci and Marc are facing battles that are unique to their individual life stories but common to people in the real world. When the reader meets Traci, they see that she is bitter and cynical because she was left at the altar. Her fiancé ran off with her Maid of Honor and left Traci with a mile-high stack of bills to pay for their wedding that never happened. So when Traci’s Mom shows up on her doorstep with an inheritance letter that stipulates Traci must be married before receiving her inheritance from her late grandfather, Traci is closer to destroying the letter and being a bachelorette for life than she is about husband hunting. When the reader meets Marc, they see that he is smitten with Traci at first sight. But they soon learn that he has trust issues because of his previous romantic relationships with women who would dump him because he was “too nice.” However, his niceness is of invaluable help to his newly widowed sister Gina who is struggling to raise her children in the wake of her firefighter husband’s death. Naturally, Marc wants to help his sister. So he volunteers to babysit her kids and take them out of the house so that she can meet her book deadlines. Gina is a bestselling romance novelist. All of these main characters go on their own faith journey with God. Some resist His love at first (like Traci), some draw back because of broken trust (like Marc) and some heal slowly from pain (like Gina) but they all realize how much they need God in their life. Faith elements are a woven lightly throughout this story but also go deep as the characters work toward wholeness and restoration. If anything, this is a story about how the Creator of the Universe (God) loves humankind and desires to restore broken hearts, homes and lives. I hope that you will enjoy reading this book! God bless your heart. Sincerely, Alexis A. Goring Author of A Second Chance Blog StopsMay 4: A Baker’s Perspective May 5: Inklings and notions May 6: Blossoms and Blessings May 7: Moments Dipped in Ink May 8: Books. Books. And More Books. May 8: Captive Dreams Window May 8: Daysong Reflections May 9: Christian Bookaholic May 9: A Greater Yes May 10: Quiet Quilter May 11: Remembrancy May 11: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations May 12: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner May 13: Reading Is My SuperPower May 13: Through the Open Window May 14: Carpe Diem May 15: Neverending Stories May 16: my site/autism mom May 17: Avid Reader Book Reviews GiveawayTo celebrate her tour, Alexis is giving away four eBook copies of her book – A Second Chance!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/b54b Click here to purchase your copy. About the Book
Hope Beyond Savannah Lily Allman and Nikotemo (Nik) Lagatuo were the poster children for the term “opposites attract.” He was an evangelist and CEO for a non-profit from Samoa who grew up in a large loving family. She was a blond bombshell with a funky style and no family to call her own. Two of the most unlikely people meet in the most unlikely of places, but God had a plan when He brought them together. They never let their differences deter them from the love they had for each other, but when Nik’s mother comes to the States for the wedding, the idea of wedded bliss is shaken. Can prejudices be over looked, insecurities overcome, and hope for a better future be restored so that these two can have all that was promised? My ReviewI generally do not read romance novellas as I feel the stories often become rushed and as such, a little less believable that the couple will make it beyond the end of the book to their happily ever after. However, I have been trying to broaden my reading horizons and when A Spring of Weddings by Toni Shiloh and Melissa Wardwell became available, I knew I wanted to try it. See, I love reading wedding stories, and the only thing better than one wedding is two! Ms. Shiloh’s story, “A Proxy Wedding”, is first in the book and it’s a great story. I’ve only read one other book with a marriage by proxy and it was a historical, so I was interested in finding out if it would work in a contemporary. And I think it does, because the main characters, Carly and Damien, are getting married as stand-ins for their respective best friends, who are both in the military. I loved Carly. She’s trying not to repeat mistakes her parents made so she doesn’t make any tough decisions. She is also perfectly content to teach art even though it doesn’t make her extremely happy the way creating her own work does. And I relate to that! I think we’ve all had moments where we’re content with our lives but not necessarily happy. Damien is uptight. He’s also a divorced workaholic who is terrified of repeating mistakes that led to his previous marriage dissolving. Watching him slowly learn how to unwind and relax is extremely rewarding. I liked this story. The characters are great and Ms. Shiloh packs a lot of character development, lessons on second chances and forgiveness into her story, though the romance does feel a bit rushed. However, it doesn’t detract from the story all. I give “A Proxy Wedding” story 4/5 stars and recommend it to readers who love contemporary romances. “Hope Beyond Savannah” is by Melissa Wardwell, and I’ve never read any of her work before. I love trying new authors and this novella is wonderful. We rarely see stories start out with the couple already in love and planning a wedding, so it was a treat to see a couple at this point in their life together. Lily and Nik come from very different racial and cultural backgrounds and it made the story even more interesting. I liked Lily, as she’d been brought up in less than ideal circumstances and had made a good life for herself. I liked Nik, too. He’s open and affectionate. He loves Lily and his family and is absolutely torn in two when his mother doesn’t immediately love Lily as much as he does. I did think the resolution with Nik’s mother happened a little more quickly—I would have liked to see it take a little longer to resolve, but of course the novella format condenses the storytelling. I did believe it was sincere. Ms. Wardwell has written a great story that deals with interracial dynamics with family and the couple. I give “Hope Beyond Savannah” 4/5 stars and recommend it to readers who love contemporary romances. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the authors through CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the Authors
Guest Posts From Toni and MelissaA Proxy Wedding By Toni Shiloh Spring is here! I love it because I always think of new beginnings as the flowers bud and then bloom. The trials and tribulation of the winter season are no longer on my mind. My hope that the winter season would not linger begins to become visible as new life takes shape on the bare trees. The seeds I planted in faith of God’s faithfulness sprout up in hope and promise. When I sat down to write A Proxy Wedding, I had to imagine spring time, because the dreary, overcast skies outside my window were a constant reminder that I was in a season of sickness. One person would get sick, then the next, and the next. By the time the last person got sick, the round would start over. Visits to the doctor were made. Miserable kids were constantly whining in their discomfort. It. Was. Rough. It made perfect sense for me to throw my characters into a new situation. One that would make the stretch, take them out their comfort zone, and search for God’s goodness. I wanted to give them a hint of goodness and throw in a trial or two so they could make the decision that sometimes, risk is worth it. Just as we all react differently to new situations, so did my characters. Carly was intent on making lemonade from her lemons. She tries to get the handsome broker, Damien, to see the importance of smelling roses and lingering over new adventures. Of course, Damien wasn’t partial to the frivolity. He’s so intent on becoming a success that he had no time to slow down. In order for them to see God’s handiwork in their lives, I had to remind them that they were not products of their past. That in God, they’re a new creation with new opportunities available to them. I hope you enjoy A Proxy Wedding. May you think of the Father’s love as you take time to stop and smell the roses. Hope Beyond Savannah By Melissa Wardwell I hope you enjoy this story of love, acceptance and new beginnings. It was a joy to write because there is much more to it than the hope of marriage. It is about the blending of two families who are from two completely different cultures. Researching the island traditions, beliefs, and customs was not only fun, but enlightening. Being able to return to my background in bridal as well as the most beautiful city in the United States was just an added bonus. With Nik and his family being from another country, I gave you a glossary of words and phrases used so you knew what was being said. I found the language to be rather beautiful and to not include it would take away from who these people are. I also give a small explanation as to what Rock-a- billy is. Lily is a funky chick who dresses in a fun and exciting way. When I saw this couple in my head, I knew it would be quite the uncommon match. As you will soon see, they fit together quite nicely. My point in using a bi-racial couple for this story was based on what we have been seeing in the news lately. It is unlike anything I have ever done but after talking to friends in similar relationships, I knew I had to step out on this limb. I think it is time we begin to look at people through the eyes of God and not man, then we would see how beautiful we all are. It doesn’t matter what color our skin is or what our past contains, we are all God’s creation and we are beautifully and wonderfully made. Blog StopsApril 25: Blossoms and Blessings April 25: Lighthouse Academy April 26: A Baker’s Perspective April 26: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS April 27: Blogging With Carol April 27: Avid Reader Book Reviews April 28: Moments Dipped in Ink April 28: Mary Hake April 29: Reading Is My SuperPower April 29: The Power of Words (Spotlight) April 30: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations April 30: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner May 1: Quiet Quilter May 1: Kristin N. Spencer May 2: Kat’s Corner Books May 2: Karen Sue Hadley May 3: Books. Books. And More Books. May 3: History, Mystery & Faith May 4: Jeanette’s Thoughts May 4: A Greater Yes May 5: Carpe Diem May 5: Christian Bookaholic May 6: These Splendid Sentences May 6: Just Jo’Anne May 7: God is Love May 7: Ashley’s Bookshelf May 8: Autism mom May 8: Caffeinated Reads May 9: Bibliophile Reviews GiveawayTo celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit Publishing is giving away a Kindle! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
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When Permilia overhears a threat against the estimable Mr. Rutherford, she’s determined to find and warn the man. Disgruntled at a first meeting that goes quite poorly and results in Asher not believing her, she decides to take matters into her own hands, never realizing she’ll end up at risk as well. As Asher and Permilia are forced to work together and spend time away from the spotlight of society, perhaps there’s more going on behind the scenes than they ever could have anticipated. . . . My ReviewI rarely read books set during the Gilded Age, so I was excited to try Behind the Scenes, the new release by Jen Turano. The back cover sounded like something I would enjoy and Ms. Turano is an author I have never read before. And I am disappointed that I did not enjoy this book, though some parts of it worked for me. The romance is very low-key but enjoyable. You can see the characters beginning to respect and like each other and it is believable when they fall in love. I can see this couple making it after the end of the book and I don’t always see the couple that way at the end of a romance! The characters are done well, as both Permilia and Asher are fully realized and have believable positive traits and flaws. Asher is a little more relatable to me because I understand his desire to change after the realization he had become someone he didn’t want to be. Permilia is a little too outlandish for me. Every time she would commit a societal faux pas or insert her way into the action in a way that was often unsafe and over the top, I became embarrassed for her! The back cover makes it seem like the mystery of who is trying to kill Asher is a big part of the book, but it feels as if that plot thread goes away in the later portion of the book until the reveal. The mystery was convoluted though I was genuinely surprised by who was trying to kill Asher. I’m rarely surprised by a book’s outcome so that was nice! The characters’ faith felt like an afterthought and I would’ve appreciated more of it. There are a few scenes where the characters talk about learning God’s plan for their life but I just didn’t feel as if the characters truly lived their faith. The book itself felt light and frothy (even with a murder plot) and I enjoy my stories a little darker and more serious, so I did not enjoy the tone of the book. I’m not sure I would read any of Ms. Turano’s work in the future, simply because of the style. I give this book 2/5 stars. The characters are nice, the setting is unusual and imagined well, but I just can’t recommend it as I do not appreciate this specific type of humor and found Ms. Turano’s writing extremely wordy—the ball where Permilia finds out about the murder plot takes over half the book! People who enjoy light and frothy romances and do not have an issue with over the top humor and extremely talkative characters will enjoy this book more than I did. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
Interview with Jen TuranoWhat is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you personally? Amusing things happen to me all the time, but I think my favorite was back in college when I was a lifeguard. You see, there’s a lifeguard code – You will be cool at all times, especially when you’re sitting in a lifeguard chair, twirling your whistle exactly so, and, you know…looking cool. So, there I was, in my black lifeguard bathing suit – swinging my whistle. It was an unusually hot day, so I’d angled my umbrella exactly right as I watched the diving-board section. Now, I know this might come as a surprise, but being a lifeguard at the neighborhood pool isn’t exactly thrilling. It’s rare that anything exciting happens, and that particular day was no exception…until a large gust of wind came out of nowhere and the umbrella took it upon itself to close – right over me. And because it was now really gusty, the umbrella then lifted up, taking me with it right off the chair and into the depths of the deep end of the pool. From all accounts, it was quite the sight. First, there I was, swinging my whistle and looking groovy. Then all you could see were my legs flailing about as the umbrella covered the rest of me, and then…I was plummeting toward the pool, hit the water with the umbrella over me, and promptly sank. Obviously I managed to get out of the umbrella, but in the process, part of my bathing suit came off, and…well, that’s a story for another day. What is your favorite book from your childhood? “Andrew Henry’s Meadow.” It was actually my little brother’s book, gotten from one of those book of the month clubs, but I loved it. I recently found a copy on an e-site and ordered it, and it’s just as delightful today as it was back in my childhood. Who does the cooking and cleaning in your house when you are on a deadline? I don’t actually cook much even when I’m not on deadline, so that’s not really an issue. Al and I do a lot of salads or throw some chicken on the grill. We also have a lot of grocery stores that have wonderful deli and gourmet foods, so we get a lot of things there. As for cleaning, I’m one of those neurotic people who can’t work without everything being in place, so I do a lot of tidying up before I go to bed. And, because I do some of my best thinking when I clean, I’ve been known to abandon my writing when I get stuck and pick up a mop or cleaning rag, which means my house is rarely a disaster since I need to get unstuck a lot. Where is your favorite place to write? I do the majority of my writing in my office, although I will occasionally take a pad of paper and a pen outside to handwrite when I get bored of my office or it’s a really nice day and I don’t feel like being trapped inside. It’s not that my office is my favorite place to write, it’s more that my writing is my job and I’m more focused on that writing when I approach it as such. What is your favorite part of the writing process? I really like when characters and new story ideas begin to fester. That normally happens when I’m in the midst of another series. By the time I’m done with whatever series I’m working on, the next series is pretty firmly set in my mind, which means I can jump right in as I wait for edits on recently completed work. My absolute favorite part of writing, though, is when I turn in the very final edit on a book and don’t see it again until it comes out in print. Although, I must admit, I’ve never, not once, read one of my books after it has gone to print. Seems rather pointless since I do always know how the book is going to end. Why did you choose the timeframe or setting this book is written in? I’ve been wanting to set a book during Alva Vanderbilt’s famous costume ball of March, 1883, for years. Since I decided to slowly travel through the Gilded Age, I just reached 1883 on my plot timeline, so knew I was finally going to get to throw some characters into the very midst of Alva’s ball. It was a blast to write, loved going back to all my books on this particular ball and seeing the pictures, and only wish the Vanderbilt house at 660 Fifth Avenue was still standing so I could visit it in person to visualize the splendors located inside a little more clearly. What inspires you? I think like most writers, I simply get inspired by the world around me. I love to people watch, and I love to imagine all sorts of outlandish scenarios as I do that watching. I also get inspired by reading the headlines of the daily papers, and by the research books I read. I also love to look through old photographs of the Gilded Age, and became intrigued with Alva Vanderbilt’s ball when I saw a picture of a young lady, Miss Kate Strong, with a stuffed cat on her head and wearing a choker necklace with the name Puss engraved on it. That was all it took for me to investigate the Vanderbilt ball further, delighted to discover it truly was a ball that only comes along every blue moon. Blog StopsApril 27: Reading Is My SuperPower April 27: The Scribbler April 27: Genesis 5020 April 27: These Splendid Sentences April 28: Back Porch Reads April 28: Smiling Book Reviews April 28: Fiction, Faith, and Fun April 28: Just the Write Escape April 29: Bookworm Mama April 29: Book Reviews From an Avid Reader April 29: Books. Books. AND More Books. April 29: Karen Sue Hadley April 30: Lighthouse Academy April 30: Radiant Light April 30: Bigreadersite April 30: Lane Hill House May 1: Faithfully Bookish May 1: Counting Pinecones May 1: Blogging With Carol May 1: Moments Dipped in Ink May 2: inklings and notions May 2: Blossoms and Blessings May 2: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses May 2: Neverending Stories May 3: For The Love of Books May 3: Singing Librarian Books May 3: Book by Book May 3: Pause for Tales May 4: A Baker’s Perspective May 4: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner May 4: cherylbbookblog May 4: Rachel Scott McDaniel May 5: With a Joyful Noise May 5: Baker Kella May 5: A Reader’s Brain May 5: Southern Gal Loves to Read May 6: A Greater Yes May 6: Christian Bookaholic May 6: Connie’s History Classroom May 6: Splashes of Joy May 6: Just Commonly May 7: A Simple Life, really?! May 7: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS May 7: Daysong Reflections May 7: The Power of Words May 8: Ashley’s Bookshelf May 8: Eat, Read,Teach, Blog May 8: Giveaway Lady May 8: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations May 9: Bibliophile Reviews May 9: History, Mystery & Faith May 9: I Hope You Dance May 9: Simpleharvestreads May 10: His Grace is Sufficient May 10: History, Hope, Laughter & Happily-ever-after May 10: Raining Butterfly Kisses May 10: Reader’s Cozy Corner GiveawayTo celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away a $25 Barnes and Noble Gift Card and the four books: After a Fashion, In Good Company, Playing the Part, Behind the Scenes!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
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A nanny with a past… Becoming a nanny was the perfect solution when Teresa Cooper needed a place to hide ten years ago, but now that she’s no longer in danger, she’s ready to move on and make a new life for herself. When Ben asks her to take the children to an unknown relative in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she finds herself in hiding again, this time with four children in tow. As the children explore the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula, Teresa begins to wonder about God’s plan for her future. Who is this stranger Ben trusts with his children? Why here? Can a city-bred nanny find joy in this wild corner of God’s creation? My ReviewI don’t read a lot of Mysteries or Romantic Suspense, but I am trying to broaden my reading scope. So when Baggage Claim by Cathe Swanson became available, I thought I would give it a try. And I enjoyed reading it, and am looking forward to trying more books by Ms. Swanson and more in this particular genre. Ben Taylor is the main character, and I will admit it took me awhile to like him. He’s not evil, or a villain, just sheltered. He found himself in a hard place early in life and his parents helped him out of it, and have continued to help him. However, it has stunted his emotional growth and at twenty-five, he seemed much younger than a widowed single father of four children should have! I’m not saying he should’ve been completely mature (I certainly wasn’t at his age) but he was naïve and couldn’t even clean the house or do laundry! But as he gets embroiled in a potential fraud case and it becomes dangerous for him and his family, he grows as a character and the place he is in at the end of the book is satisfying. Luckily, he has Teresa Cooper, who is a nanny for Ben’s children. She initially became a nanny to hide from an abusive ex-husband who had vowed to harm her after he was released from jail. Teresa is extremely competent and handles the four children, and Ben, with skill and dedication. She’s aware of Ben’s failings and is trying to gently steer him into being more involved as a father, but she’s also tired. She is pondering what she wants out of her life once she will no longer be needed as a full-time nanny and when she is forced to go into hiding, discovers what she really wants. Jonah Campbell is the third main character, and he’s delightful. He is an important part of Ben’s story (though I don’t want to spoil who is actually is, though we find out fairly quickly into the story) and he’s a well-rounded, competent character who handles the changes that Teresa, Ben, and his family bring to his life with grace and humor. The book itself is well-written, with good descriptions, especially of the scenery. The characters do a lot of introspection and also a lot of talking, which is refreshing! A lot of authors rely on the characters not communicating to cause conflict, but the three main characters in Baggage Claim communicate wonderfully. Both Teresa and Jonah are believers, and they do attend church and talk about their relationship with God, but I did not feel the Christian message overshadowed the book itself. If you like your books with an extreme focus on religion you may not like this book as well as I did. I recommend this book to those readers who enjoy Christian mystery/suspense novels and give this book 4/5 stars for the good characters, setting, and the subtle yet sincere Christian message flowing through it. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
Guest Post from Cathe SwansonWhen I was in high school, I thought I might like to become an occupational therapist. Instead, I got married, had babies, raised the children and launched them into the world. I took a few years to regroup, and then I started thinking about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Shortly after that, my dad had a stroke, and when he came home from the hospital, I was fascinated by the work of the visiting therapists. I did some research and learned that physical and occupational therapy assistants make pretty good money and are able to do the best part of the job – the therapy. Therapists are often bogged down in paperwork and periodic assessments. The assistant has all the fun, and it’s just a 5-semester program. So I trotted on down to the local community college and asked what I had to do to get signed up. The counsellor talked for a while about prerequisites, petitions, waiting lists, internships, and other such things. Eventually I realized she was trying to tell me that I was too old to embark on this career. Too taken-aback to be offended, I went home and wrote a book about it instead. After all, I’d invested a lot of time in research. I’d been writing stories for years, and already had the bones of Baggage Claim. Once I gave my young hero a job as a physical therapy assistant, the story took on life. My mother’s interest in genealogy had sparked a question: What if a nice, normal person wanted to track down their biological family and it blew up in their face? So that’s where I sent my hero, and as one of my reviewers said, “It was not a Hallmark moment.” I’m very happy as an author and have no real interest in becoming an occupational therapist. Indeed, that rejection was a turning point for me. I could have pushed forward and got that degree, but instead I went home and wrote. I have no regrets. Blog StopsMarch 28: Books. Books. And More Books. March 28: Book Reviews From an Avid Reader March 29: Chas Ray’ s Book Nerd Corner March 29: A Greater Yes March 30: Genesis 5020 March 31: Reading Is My SuperPower April 1: Quiet Quilter April 2: autism mom April 2: Avid Reader Book Reviews April 3: Moments Dipped in Ink April 3: Faithfully Bookish April 4: Inklings and notions April 5: Blossoms and Blessings April 6: Blogging With Carol April 7: Carpe Diem April 7: A Baker’s Perspective April 8: Christian Bookaholic April 8: Karen Sue Hadley April 9: History, Mystery and Faith April 9: Bigreadersite April 10: His Grace is Sufficient April 10: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations GiveawayTo celebrate her tour, Cathe is giving away Grand prize themed gift box that will include:
A decorative suitcase box Earl Grey Tea A handmade mug rug A pretty mug 14 handmade all-occasion cards And a paperback copy of Baggage Claim!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/b2c8 Click here to purchase your copy. About the Book
Jasmine Avery doesn’t trust men, especially not handsome ones who come bearing gifts. She’s been badly hurt and has walled herself off from love. Reluctantly, she agrees to attend church with Mark on Easter Sunday, not realizing how it will change her life and her future. But soon after she discovers the secret to a happy life, her whole world turns upside-down. Will these unexpected changes prove Mark can’t be trusted either? Or can she and Mark overcome their past heartbreaks to forge a new life together? My ReviewAngels Aware by Rachel J. Good is a lovely book, which I enjoyed reading. It is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Good. And I can recommend it, though with a few reservations. The pace of this book felt very fast as Mark, the main character, moved from annoyance to friendship to love. The narrative is quite clear that it is taking place over a longer period of time, but for some reason the way it is written makes the timeline feel very short. In my head I knew it wasn’t but I had trouble remembering that the action in the story was taking place over a longer period of time. Mark is the hero of the book, and the story is told entirely from his point of view. In a romance, I am not a fan of only one character’s point of view. And it’s because I don’t always believe the character’s interpretations of their interactions with the non-POV character. Sometimes people see what they want to see and not what is actually happening. And I wanted to hear Jasmine’s story, her thoughts as she discovered how God is there for us and learned to love Him. In my opinion her background made her a much more intriguing character than Mark and I wanted to know her personally and not only through Mark’s eyes. I feel that by not including her POV Ms. Good missed an opportunity to really dig deep into the themes of the book. I know this sounds like I didn’t enjoy the book! I did like it. It is a quick read and both of the main characters are struggling with their pasts and seeking to forgive themselves and others. Mark’s faith is present from practically the first line of the book and Jasmine also grows her faith. There are a few spots that hit my emotions regarding fear and forgiveness, and how easy it is to isolate ourselves in fear, and I appreciated those as they gave the emotional weight of the story more depth. I give this book 3/5 stars and recommend it to people who like a quick, emotional read regarding faith and forgiveness. For those who do not like a single POV in their romances, I’m not sure it would be the best book for you, though I would encourage you to give it a chance. And as I enjoyed the writing style and how prevalent the themes of faith and forgiveness were throughout the book, I will be trying more books by this author. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
Guest Post from the AuthorOne of the important lessons in ANGELS UNAWARE is looking beyond the surface, seeing with new eyes. In the story, Mark has many opportunities to do this. When he first approaches Jasmine with a plate of chocolate chip cookies, she’s unwelcoming and prickly: The door opened a crack. “What do you think you’re doing?” Mark turned. The woman’s narrowed eyes and belligerent stance made him quake. He took a step back. “I…um…here…” He held out the plate of cookies. “What’s that?” Mark took a deep breath and regained his composure. He smiled and started his usual spiel. “Hi, I’m Mark Daniels, and I just moved into the neighborhood—” “I know.” She didn’t sound too pleased. “That’s not what I asked. What’s that in your hands?” “Oh, these? I baked chocolate chip cookies and thought I’d share some with you.” “Do you know what sugar does to your system?” she demanded. “I never touch sugar.” That explained why she was so thin. So much for cookies then. Mark wracked his brain for another offering. “A meal perhaps? I make great spaghetti and meatballs.” She drew back. “A meat eater? It figures.” Oh, terrific. Mark cringed at the acid in her tone. He’d just offered a meat dish to a vegetarian. So much for his diplomacy mission. After a start like that, many people would have given up. But Mark feels led to share God’s love with this neighbor, and he tries again and again. Eventually he discovers she’s hiding some deep personal pain. His persistence brings unexpected rewards to both of them. I wanted to write this story because we usually avoid people who criticize us or hurt our feelings. Yet, often those who are unkind are actually aching inside. And they need God’s unconditional love and forgiveness, because only God can heal their pain and suffering. After God touches Jasmine’s heart, Mark can see her softer, kinder side. And she’s proof of that saying, “An angel resides in every heart.” Could your grouchy neighbor or critical boss be an angel in disguise? Maybe these annoying people have been sent into our lives to help build our character or to teach us a lesson. The Bible warns us to be hospitable to everyone, because we never know when we’ll come upon an angel “unawares.” “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Heb. 13:2 KJV Each person you meet has been sent into your life for a reason. Sometimes these angels come into our lives in unlikely disguises. We don’t always realize their purpose until much later. Looking back, though, we can see God’s hand in the encounters. Other times, we discover – like Mark did – that we’re supposed to be angels to those who are unkind to us. We may be the only ones who have ever touched their lives with God’s light. Who in your life needs God’s love? Can you be an angel to that person? Blog StopsJanuary 24: Blossoms and Blessings January 25: autism mom January 26: Books. Books. And More Books. January 27: Moments Dipped in Ink January 28: A Greater Yes January 29: Carpe Diem January 30: Petra’s Hope January 31: A Baker’s Perspective February 1: Christian Bookaholic February 2: Karen Sue Hadley February 3: Quiet Quilter February 4: Daysong Reflections February 5: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations February 6: His Grace is Sufficient GiveawayTo celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away:
Grand Prize:
One copy of the ANGELS UNAWARE ebook Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post to earn 9 extra entries in the giveaway! https://promosimple.com/ps/af23 Click here to purchase your copy. About the Book
Sherriff Clay Dalton is grimly fighting several battles of his own as he stays on at the Albright farm to work off his debt to the family that has saved his life and taken him in. He is torn between his past commitments in the South and his unlikely present among this quiet Quaker community in the North. Almost against his will, he begins to ponder the impossible idea of a future with Rebecca.… When tensions between North and South escalate, Rebecca and Clay find themselves propelled on a journey to discover just who God has called them to be, and they soon realize that each holds a key to the other’s answer. My ReviewI do not know much about the Quakers or the time where this story takes place. I mostly read Regency historical romance so it was exciting to read a book taking place in a different time. Summer on Sunset Ridge is set in the mid-1850s in Pennsylvania. Summer on Sunset Ridge is the first book I’ve read by Sharlene MacLaren, and I’m happy to say it won’t be my last. Her characters drew me straight into the book, and the lovely descriptions of setting and everyday life among the Quakers is interesting while also informative. Rebecca is the heroine, and she’s wonderful. At twenty-one, she’s technically an adult, though unmarried and still living at home. Rebecca is kind and helpful, and she also feels God calling her to help with the Underground Railroad, which her father already does. Rebecca’s struggles with honoring her parents as she is torn between duty and a growing love for the hero, Clay, and unsure of how to know which of her own dreams and thoughts are part of God’s plan. Clay, the hero, is a sheriff who loses his memory during a scuffle trying to catch an escaped slave. He stays with Rebecca’s family while he recuperates, and begins to fall in love with Rebecca. Clay’s a great hero and a wonderful complement to Rebecca. Because of his amnesia, he is unsure of who or what he is and so becomes uncertain of the path he’d been following before. Watching him realize his previous life held little appeal is an encouraging journey for all of us who struggle with what we’ve done in our pasts. Ms. MacLaren has researched thoroughly and I was fully immersed in the setting and lives of these characters. All of the characters are people with concerns and desires of their own, but the focus doesn’t waver from Clay and Rebecca’s story. Each of the other characters complement the story without being cardboard. I enjoyed reading about the Quakers, a group I have never studied before. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a pre-Civil War romance with excellently researched historical detail, compelling characters who drive the story rather than the story driving them, and give the book 4/5 stars. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
Her novels include the contemporary romances Through Every Storm, Long Journey Home, and Tender Vow; the beloved Little Hickman Creek series (Loving Liza Jane, Sarah, My Beloved, Courting Emma, and Christmas Comes to Little Hickman Creek, a novella), and three historic romance trilogies: The Daughters of Jacob Kane (Hannah Grace, Maggie Rose, and Abbie Ann); River of Hope (Livvie’s Song, Ellie’s Haven, and Sofia’s Secret); Tennessee Dreams: Heart of Mercy, Threads of Joy, and Gift of Grace. Blog StopsJanuary 19: Reading Is My SuperPower January 19: Giveaway Lady January 19: A Reader’s Brain January 20: Books. Books. And More Books. January 20: The Power of Words January 21: Bigreadersite January 21: just the write escape January 22: Moments Dipped in Ink January 22: For The Love of Books January 23: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses January 23: Genesis 5020 January 24: Pause for Tales January 24: His Grace is Sufficient January 25: Book by Book January 25: A Simple Life, really?! January 26: A Greater Yes January 26: Connie’s History Classroom January 26: A Baker’s Perspective January 27: Christian Author: A.M. Heath January 27: Splashes of Joy January 28: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS January 28: Christian Bookaholic January 28: History, Mystery & Faith January 29: Stuff & Nonsense January 29: Bibliophile Reviews January 30: cherylbbookblog January 30: Daysong Reflections January 31: Blossoms and Blessings January 31: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations February 1: Reader’s cozy corner February 1: Rhonda’s Doings GiveawayTo celebrate Sharlene’s tour, Whitaker House is giving away:
Grand Prize Brown and tan fashion purse with cross, multiple interior and exterior pockets and Five Sharlene MacLaren titles: Summer on Sunset Ridge (Forever Freedom #1); Heart of Mercy (Tennessee Dreams #1); Livvie’s Song (River of Hope #1); Hannah Grace (Daughters of Jacob Kane #1); Loving Liza Jane (Little Hickman Creek #1) Second Prize “Keepers of the Light” Orange/Cinnamon/Clove candle from www.acheerfulgiver.com and Summer on Sunset Ridge Third Prize Summer on Sunset Ridge Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post to earn 9 extra entries in the giveaway! https://promosimple.com/ps/af21 Click here to purchase your copy. About the Book
Abbie tends the wounded stranger in her home only to realize he assumes they’re married. Although she knows she needs to correct Nathaniel’s mistake, his presence calms Gramps and provides a way to prevent eviction from the lighthouse. The longer the charade continues, the harder it gets for Abbie to tell Nathaniel the truth, more so as she begins to fall in love. Everyone she’s ever loved has abandoned her. Will Nathaniel leave her too, once he discovers he’s not really her husband? My ReviewMistaken identity and amnesia stories can be tough to read, though I do enjoy them. It is imperative that the reveal of the true identity is handled correctly and that the character who recovers from the amnesia receives time to process it. For me, how it is handled can break my enjoyment of a book. And Jody Hedlund handles it wonderfully in Never Forget. I won’t spoil when or where it happens, but both the hero and heroine are given appropriate reactions and time to come to terms with it. Never Forget is the story of Abbie and Nathaniel, both wounded souls, though in two very different ways. Abbie is struggling to keep her home on the island as lighthouse keeper as she worries what will happen to her Grandfather, who has a form of dementia, if they are forced to leave. She has a husband who’s gone missing and is trying to run the lighthouse herself. She is also working through feelings of abandonment over her mother and husband, and wondering why people she loves won’t stay for her. Abbie is a great character. She is busy and so her time with God and her faith have become almost an afterthought in her daily routine. She also feels guilty she’s lying to Nathaniel about the fact they aren’t husband and wife. Abbie’s growth from beginning to end is a logical progression of the events in the story. Nathaniel is a wealthy young man who drinks and sleeps with women. It doesn’t actually happen in the book (it is only mentioned) but if you don’t like that in your heroes you may not like this part of Nathaniel’s character. He is in a yacht accident and loses his memory, and through a series of circumstances thinks he is Abbie’s husband Nate. It’s obvious once he becomes “Nate” that he actually is a good person, as he helps Abbie and her grandfather around the island and with the lighthouse, but he knows he wasn’t a good person before his accident. It’s absolutely wonderful how Nathaniel grows in this story into the person he’s supposed to be instead of burying grief and anger through his prior actions. The setting is fantastic. It is so well drawn that the bay where the lighthouse stands almost becomes its own character. Abbie’s love for the lighthouse, the area, and the water shines through so clearly. The secondary characters, including Abbie’s sister and brother-in-law and Nathaniel’s mother and brother, do not appear much in the story but create impact through their own actions. I’ve never read any books my Ms. Hedlund, but I will be buying her other books. I truly enjoyed this one and it will be going on my keeper shelf. I give this book 5/5 stars and recommend it to people who like Christian Historical Romance, lighthouses, water, and stories of redemption over guilt and grief. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
Guest Post From Jody HedlundWhich Do You Prefer: Series or Standalones? By Jody Hedlund Readers usually have strong opinions about whether they like series or standalones. Some readers refuse to read books that are inter-related. Others can’t get enough books about their favorite characters. I see the pros and cons of both. For series, I don’t like feeling lost as I try to wade through previous characters along with their backstory. I recently started a series by a well-known author and was disappointed to realize the first book was connected to a previous series she’d already published. From the get-go, I felt left out as though I didn’t quite know who all the characters were or their significance. On the other hand, for standalones, I sometimes feel as though I would like the story to continue. I’ve invested in the setting and characters and so enjoy when I can return to that place and continue to glimpse the characters I’ve fallen in love with—even if from a distance. My favorites are books that fall in the middle between standalone and series. I like to think of them as standalones within a series. Becky Wade’s Porter brother series is like that. Each of the books centers around one of the brothers (and a tomboy sister). While characters from other books make an appearance in the stories, each plot is separate and complete without any reliance upon another book. My Beacons of Hope lighthouse series falls in the middle too. The books are related in that they all take place at lighthouses and share a symbolic “cross of hope” that is passed on from one book to the next. A minor character in a previous book becomes the hero or heroine in the next book. But each book can be read by itself without having read any of the others. In other words, readers can pick up my newest release, Never Forget, which is the fifth and final book in the series, and they wouldn’t be confused about who the characters are or what their history is. The plot starts with a bang and ends with a satisfying sigh. It is complete story unto itself. And yet, for those who’ve read other books in the series, they’ll get to see the happily-ever-after of a character from a previous book. And they’ll also get to find out where the cross of hope finally ends. If you’re not a fan of series, I encourage you to give the Beacons of Hope series a try. It might satisfy the need for standalones and series all in one neat little package. To that end, I’m giving away all FIVE books in the series as part of the Celebrate Lit blog tour to one lucky winner! Tell us: What is your preference: Standalones, Series, or Standalones within a Series? Blog StopsJanuary 10: Reading Is My SuperPower January 10: Karen Sue Hadley January 10: Bookworm Mama January 11: Faithfully Bookish January 11: Inklings and Notions January 11: Blossoms and Blessings January 12: Smiling Book Reviews January 12: Genesis 5020 January 12: Christian Chick’s Thoughts January 13: God’s Little Bookworm January 13: The Scribbler January 13: Bibliophile Reviews January 14: Daysong Reflections January 14: Blogging With Carol January 14: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner January 15: Moments Dipped in Ink January 15: Books. Books. And More Books. January 16: A Greater Yes January 16: Bigreadersite January 17: Connie’s History Classroom January 17: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS January 18: Book by Book January 18: Jeanette’s Thoughts January 19: Carpe Diem January 19: A Bakers Perspective January 19: Splashes of Joy January 20: Christian Bookaholic January 20: Stuff and Nonsense January 20: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations January 21: Radiant Light January 21: cherylbbookblog January 21: His Grace is Sufficient January 22: Neverending Stories January 22: A Path of Joy January 23: History, Hope, Laughter & Happily-ever-after January 23: Henry Happens January 23: Onceuponatime GiveawayTo celebrate her tour, Jody is giving away the entire Beacons of Hope series. Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/ad6d
Click here to purchase your copy! About the Book
When Colin finds himself at the center of a centuries-old Brighton tradition, he must decide whether to follow the path laid out before him or follow his heart to the only woman for whom he would ring the Pembroke Chapel Bell. Can Colin convince Avery to meet him at the chapel on Christmas morning—as tradition dictates—or will Avery run back to her St. Simons home and pursue a coaching career as planned? In the fourth installment of the Royal Wedding Series, New York Times bestselling novelist, Rachel Hauck, weaves a charming story of holiday romance as two broken hearts seek the love they once knew. My ReviewI have several books on my bookshelf by Rachel Hauck, including Princess Ever After, one of the books in the Royal Wedding series. After reading A Royal Christmas Wedding, they have been moved to the top of my TBR pile. A Royal Christmas Wedding is a wonderful book. In fact, it’s one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year. The characters, setting, story, and the Christmas magic mixes together to form a practically perfect book that is heartwarming and romantic. Avery Truitt and Prince Colin were in a secret relationship four years ago, which ended poorly. In the present, both Avery and Colin admit to themselves the feelings are still there, though they deny it to practically everyone else—including each other. We find out over the course of the book that their family members were not as ignorant of the relationship and their feelings, which brings both Avery and Colin into important realizations about their current relationship. Avery is a great heroine and is probably one of my favorite heroines from books I’ve read this year. I appreciate heroines with their lives in flux because for a long time I felt the same way, and so it makes it easier for me to relate to them and what the heroines are going through. She is struggling with choices and doesn’t know how to reconcile her feelings for Colin with her ambition to coach a college volleyball team. Her love for her family is evident throughout the entire story and the interactions between Avery and her sister Susanna (Queen of Brighton Kingdom and heroine of a previous book) feel very similar to how I interact with my own siblings. Colin is a great hero as well. He is very upfront with himself about his feelings, and the struggles he has with his father add depth and outer conflict to the romance between Colin and Avery. Colin is self-aware and sure of his feelings for Avery but when it comes to taking action is torn between duty and love. The scenes in which he finally decides which is more important are some of my favorite in the book. The setting of Brighton Kingdom is truly wonderful. The descriptions of the Christmas festivities and the city and country are so vivid I can easily picture it. And I want to live there! The two hosts of the TV show very entertaining and provide some fun commentary as they count down toward Christmas. The secondary characters, especially Avery’s mother and Colin’s father, are also well crafted and have their own motivations and personalities. A Royal Christmas Wedding is the fourth book in a series, yet in my opinion stands alone perfectly fine. If you have read the previous books in the series, you will definitely find much enjoyment in seeing the characters from those stories in this one. If you have never read any of the other books in the series, I don’t believe this will impede your enjoyment of this book. I give this book 5/5 stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading contemporary romance with great characters, a gorgeous and clearly rendered setting, and the magic of Christmas filling every page. I cannot wait to read the other books by Ms. Hauck! **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
Guest Post from Rachel HauckI don’t think we can ever get enough of royals or Christmas, do you? The two just seem to go together. The Bible tells us eternity is written on our hearts. (Ecc. 3:11) I wonder if it’s also written on our hearts to be princesses in a grand, beautiful, perfect kingdom. That being said, welcome to The Royal Christmas Wedding blog tour. My deepest thanks to all the bloggers, reviewers, and readers for hosting and visiting this tour. I’m excited to share this story with you all. The hero and heroine, Prince Colin and Avery Truitt, first met in Once Upon A Prince at King Nathaniel’s coronation. I hadn’t planned to write a spinoff story with the two of them. In fact, I didn’t even know Prince Colin existed until Avery walked into the abbey for the coronation and glanced across the sanctuary into his eyes. Here’s his introduction: Lean, aristocratic with an outdoorsman ruddiness, he nearly made Susanna swoon when he winked at Avery. I liked Colin immediately. So did Avery. As well as a lot of you. When my publisher asked me to write their story, it would be two years before the book would release. Plenty of time, right? But “time crunch” is the name of the game with most writers. Between life, rewrites, edits, and promotional activity, we often find ourselves hurrying toward a deadline. Well, at least I do. In the fall of 2015 I was writing The Wedding Shop and A Royal Christmas Wedding at the same time. I’d also dealt with a physical issue that left me shaky. Could I write two books in five months? Did I want to even make the attempt? If I said no, publication dates would be pushed out, causing a year delay on A Royal Christmas Wedding. And I knew that was something I did not want to do. Publishing is a long game. Books are contracted and due 12 to 18, even 24 months, before release dates. Time must be carved out for rewrites and editing, marketing and promotion. Review copies go out at least five months in advance. So I agreed to write both books. I told my editor, “Diamonds come from pressure.” Coming up with Avery and Prince Colin’s story wasn’t as easy as I’d planned. Since they met in Once Upon A Prince as teenagers, I struggled with how to advance their age and relationship, and how to present them as the book opened. Where had their relationship gone “between the books?” When I came up with the idea of the Pembroke Chapel bell, the story magic began to happen. One of the things I love in the royal wedding books is the fairytale aspect. Looking for something out of the ordinary. Even though my writing time was tight, writing Avery and Colin’s story was a joy. Once again I wish I could visit Brighton, eat a puff, and royal watch for the Strattons! I hope you found a few sweet spots in the story, all wrapped in Christmas holiday cheer, and enjoyed your time with me in Brighton Kingdom. Merry Christmas! Blog StopsDecember 8: Book Reviews From an Avid Reader December 8: New Horizon Reviews December 8: inklings and notions December 9: Reading Is My SuperPower December 9: Redeemed Hope Dweller December 9: Book by Book December 10: His Grace is Sufficient December 10: Blossoms and Blessings December 10: Pause for Tales December 11: Quiet Quilter December 11: Ashley’s Bookshelf December 11: Reviewing Novels Online December 12: Bibliophile Reviews December 12: Lights in a Dark World December 12: Splashes of Joy December 13: Moments Dipped in Ink December 13: Neverending Stories December 13: Through the Open Window December 14: The Power of Words December 14: Counting Pinecones December 14: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS December 15: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses December 15: Genesis 5020 December 15: CTF Devourer December 16: Lighthouse Academy December 16: God’s Little Bookworm December 16: Christian Bookaholic December 17: Smiling Book Reviews December 17: God is Love December 17: A Simple Life, really?! December 18: A Holland Reads December 18: The Scribbler December 18: Faith * Love * Books December 19: By The Book December 19: Karen Sue Hadley December 19: Southern Chelle December 20: Faithfully Bookish December 20: Books. Books. And More Books December 20: A Baker’s Perspective December 21: ASC Book Reviews December 21: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations GiveawayTo celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card plus a copy of A Royal Christmas Wedding and a copy of The Wedding Shop. Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post to earn 9 extra entries in the giveaway! https://promosimple.com/ps/aaeb
Click here to purchase your copy. About the Book
Sheriff Rex Truett doesn’t trust Ruby and doesn’t care who knows it. The keeper of Fairplay’s law and order makes it his business to find out why a stranger—especially a beautiful, rich, female stranger—would set up businesses, donate to schools, hire workmen to rebuild houses, and provide access to the best medical care. But when a cholera epidemic sweeps through the city, he is forced to reconsider. Will Ruby have the courage to tell Rex her family secret? And will love or justice win in Rex’s heart? My ReviewI first read a Loree Lough book in my late teens or early twenties, when I was subscribed to Barbour’s Heartsong Presents line. I still have one of them, The Wedding Wish, on my shelf, in fact. So I was excited to read Healing of the Heart, one of her more recent releases. And while I enjoyed it, there were a few decisions regarding the resolution of the story and the characters’ actions that made me unable to give this book as a high a grade as I wanted to. I want to be clear that I am recommending Healing of the Heart to those who like Christian historical romance despite a few personal nitpicks! Healing of the Heart is centered on Ruby McCoy, whose father is a bank robber who is hanged early in the book. She spends the next few years spending all the money he left her and her mother in the towns he robbed, in order to assuage her guilt over her father’s actions. She has now come to Fairplay, Colorado, which is to be their last stop before she can move on with her life. The hero is Sherriff Rex Truett, and he is a good hero. He’s smart, and initially has suspicions about Ruby and her mother because of their frequent traveling and ability to pay cash for a huge mansion in Fairplay. But eventually he realizes that behind Ruby’s money is a genuinely good heart and he begins to fall for her. This is one of my problems with the book. Ruby is spending her father’s money to help people and while she thinks it’s to help others who have been hurt by her father, it’s actually because she’s a good person. Ruby, when the entire town and your family is telling you you’re a good person, listen to them! She spends a large majority of the book ignoring that her actions are motivated by her good heart, not guilt. It may have started as guilt, but years later it is because she genuinely enjoys helping people. And her insistence that she’s not good enough for Rex (because of her father’s career and what her father did to his), is one of my biggest pet peeves in fiction. Ruby was a little too self-sacrificing in my opinion. Rex was a little too perfect and I felt he forgave two big secrets more easily than I expected for how he’d been presented as a character in the majority of the book. The romance had plenty of conflict between the hero and heroine so I felt the outer conflict of the cholera epidemic was a little tacked-on to try to make the story more exciting but I do not feel it was necessary. The story was interesting and enjoyable without it. The city of Fairplay feels like a real place, with the setting excellently drawn and doesn’t merely serve as a backdrop for the action. The secondary characters are not simply there to prop up the main characters but all have motivations and desires of their own. I especially love Silas, who is Ruby’s “scout” and has become a part of the family. I give this book 4/5 stars for the excellent writing, the detailed setting, the secondary characters who are not merely caricatures or cardboard, and the message of who is responsible for someone else’s sin. I took away one star for the lateness of the reveal between Ruby and Rex about what her father did to his and for how I disliked a few major aspects of both the hero and heroine. If a quick resolution or the characteristics mentioned above as part of Ruby and Rex do not bother you, you will enjoy the ending of this book more than I did. Healing of the Heart is the third book in a series but they are all standalones. I will most likely try more books in this series and others available by Ms. Lough. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a romance that has a wonderful message about guilt and family, great secondary characters, and an excellent setting. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
Blog StopsNovember 22: Bibliophile Reviews November 22: Jeanette’s Thoughts November 23: Neverending Stories November 23: Lane Hill House November 24: Reviewing Novels Online November 24: Christian Bookaholic November 25: Christian Author: A.M. Heath November 25: Redeemed Hope Dweller November 26: A Simple Life, really?! November 26: Moments Dipped in Ink November 27: inklings and notions November 27: Splashes of Joy November 28: Ashley’s Bookshelf November 28: Daysong Reflections November 29: Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Spot November 29: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations November 30: Bigreadersite November 30: Singing Librarian Books December 1: Pause for Tales December 1: Smiling Book Reviews December 2: A Greater Yes December 2: Genesis 5020 December 3: Reader’s cozy corner December 4: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses December 4: Karen Sue Hadley December 5: A Baker’s Perspective December 5: Rhonda’s Doings GiveawayIn honor of her tour, Loree is giving away her books: Secrets on Sterling Street series, Prevailing Love (3 in 1), Pricilla Hires a Husband, Lone Wolf, and Emma’s Orphans, a KJVER Study Bible, and an Abba pillar candle in a wicker basket! Click the link below to enter; be sure to comment on this post to claim your nine bonus entries for this giveaway! https://promosimple.com/ps/a81c
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