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My ReviewLife After by Katie Ganshert is the kind of book that makes you think. About life, and death, and finding purpose after tragedy. One of the characters in the book says a quote that I feel demonstrates one of the themes that Ms. Ganshert was striving for in her book: “It’s not easy to keep going. It’s not easy to get back up after life knocks you a hard one.” Autumn Manning, the main character, knows this well. She’s the sole survivor of a train bombing and the book picks up a year after the event. In that time, she’s learned about the people killed and is struggling with survivor’s guilt. Paul Elliot is the other main character, and his wife died in the train accident. He’s raising their two kids alone now and is trying his best. He avoids mentioning his wife to the kids, which causes problems for him and his daughter. This book is a well-written and heartbreaking examination of tragedy, loss, survivor’s guilt, and God’s plan for our lives. Questions of “why did this person have to die and why did I get to live” permeate Autumn’s entire story arc, and the resolution of it is so satisfying I nearly cheered—and probably would have if it wasn’t close to midnight when I finished reading it As a family member, Paul’s grief and guilt is different than Autumn’s, but is also excellently examined. The resolution of his character arc is as emotionally charged as Autumn’s as well and also immensely satisfying. This book is heart wrenching. Several places had me in tears, and I identified with Autumn more than I want to admit to. Ms. Ganshert has seamlessly woven in real events into her book and the world the characters live in feels very real. All of the characters feel like people you’d meet in real life, and the different stories of the family members of those killed do not feel as if they are there only for Autumn and Paul’s character development—they seem like real people’s stories you’d hear after a tragedy. I read Life After in one sitting and I cannot say enough about this book. I don’t want to spoil any of the character’s arcs, as discovering their secrets and motivations is an essential part of the reading experience, but I urge you to pick up Ms. Ganshert’s book. Life After is not easy reading, but it was well worth the emotional upheaval I felt while reading it. I will be pondering this book for a while. I give this book 5/5 stars for the characters, the examination of the core themes of tragedy, loss, and survivor’s guilt, and the full immersion into the lives of the characters I experienced while reading it. I will be adding Life After to my keeper shelf and know I will return to it when life’s losses get to be too much for me. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Waterbrook Multnomah. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
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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 About the Book
My ReviewAn Uncommon Courtship is the first book I've read by Kristi Ann Hunter, and it definitely won't be the last. And I will be buying the rest of the Hawthorne House series. Marriage of conveniences are one of my favorite tropes in fiction, and I especially love them when the characters don’t know each other well. Trent and Adelaide are thrown into marriage after spending a completely innocent night stuck in a crumbling ruin. Adelaide is a great character. Due to an upbringing where she is ignored unless her sister needs something, and an overbearing social climber mother, she is very reserved and doesn’t always know how to express her needs or wants. Watching her break out of this shell and become more assertive and aware of her needs is one of my favorite parts of the book. I adore Adelaide. Trent is also a great character. He is honorable in marrying Adelaide to prevent her reputation from being destroyed, and his relationship with his brother is one of my favorite aspects of the book, though it didn’t overshadow the romance. When he realizes he may have feelings for her and how uncertain Adelaide feels in her new life as his wife, he decides to court her to win her affection. Ms. Hunter is a very capable writer. The setting is so detailed I could picture every scene perfectly and it’s excellently researched. A pet peeve of mine is when titled characters aren’t addressed correctly, so I was glad to see it done perfectly in this book! The secondary characters are also well-done and aren’t merely there to move the plot along. This book is part of a series but can stand alone. I do, however, recommend you read the rest of the series simply because I think this author has written an amazing story and I hope the others are just as good. I can’t wait to read the rest of them. I give this book 5/5 stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy a sweet romance with rich historical detail, main characters who live their faith, and excellent secondary characters. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
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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
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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
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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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My ReviewRaining Fools is the story of a second chance at love. It is the second book in the Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast series. I haven’t read the first book in the series but this works as a standalone novel, though you may appreciate the moments in this book between Ethan and Haley (the hero and heroine of the first book) if you have read the previous book in the series. Ms. Castle is an author I have never read but I love trying new authors and second chance romances are one of my favorite scenarios (I have a lot of favorite scenarios). Bekka and Stephen, the main characters, had a relationship years ago that ended abruptly—though I won’t spoil the “why” here as it’s revealed early in the story. I relate to Bekka’s struggle with what she wants to do with her life and career. She’s close to my age and I still struggle with the decisions I made for my job and life and if it’s the right one or not. That struggle forms a large part of Bekka’s narrative and it was easy for me to understand Bekka. She is also struggling against her brother Ethan’s desire to control her life, which I’m sure that any one of us that has younger siblings can understand the push and pull of sibling interaction. It took me longer to warm up to Stephen. He is written as someone who nominally believes in God but does not consider himself a Christian. He smokes and drinks during the story. I appreciated his character arc as he begins to turn away from sin and lean on God. Stephen’s interactions with his mother are some of the best in the book and elevate Stephen’s character in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I enjoyed this book while reading it, but the story did not “stick” with me after. It is nicely written and the characters are well-rounded and likable, but there was nothing in it that hit enough emotional notes for me to ruminate on the story and characters once I had finished reading it. I also found the “prologue” with Ethan and Haley quite jarring in tone when compared to Bekka and Stephen’s story. Because I enjoyed the characters and the writing style, I will more than likely try another book by Ms. Castle. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys small-town contemporary Christian fiction with likable characters who struggle with what God wants for them. I give this book 3/5 stars. ** I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
Now she lives in her comfortable Texas home where she spins entertaining tales and enjoys relaxing in the evenings with her husband Bob, their children and grandchild. Her favorite pastime, besides reading, is traipsing through her imaginary worlds in search of another story. Find out more about her shenanigans over at Jackie Castle’s Story World: www.jackiecastle.com. There you can also sign up for her monthly newsletter. Guest Post from Jackie CastleI’m best known for my fantasy series, The White Road Chronicles, and I love the make-believe world of Alburnium. But as these stories have traveled towards the ending, I’ve decided to venture into a more modern world. I enjoy a good, clean romance as much as anyone else, and I love writing stories about communities where people band together for the greater good. So, I came up with Madison Creek, a small town on the verge of dying out. But the people there aren’t ready to give up. They decide that if they band together, maybe they can revive their little lakeside town and make it thrive. My husband is from Michigan. I’m from California. We met in the middle: Texas. He’s adapted quite well to the south, loving the hot summers, hot food, and well, he simply likes being warm. Though I miss my moderate California, I’ve also grown to love Texas. Whenever we travel up north to visit his family, we lament over to lack of flavorful food and the ability to stay warm. (Even in the summer we’ve had to wear winter coats!!) We are often teased by his family for how we put two syllables into words such as fire, dead and y’all. (Yes, he’s been in Texas long enough now to have developed a bit of a twang). I don’t know how many times we’ve talked about moving up north to open a BBQ joint so there’d be somewhere good to eat. Except, we both hate the cold and I’m sure I’d never survive a Michigan winter. I spent two weeks up there once in December, and swore I’d never do that again. I mean, 4 feet of snow in one night? Good Lord have mercy! Basically, that’s how I came up with Haley Madison, the blond Texas gal who inherited her grandpop’s farmland in Madison Creek, Michigan. Her life has been one big mess after another and she’s determined to take this opportunity to set things right. She’s lived on ranches for over half her life and loves to cook a lot of food for folks. (My family was always big on cooking lots of food at holiday gatherings, so it just seems natural.) Haley ends up meeting Ethan Winters, who she calls the handsome Yankee that plays a violin. The first book, Snow Belle is about how they meet. The second book, Raining Fools, continues Ethan and Haley’s story in the background. But in Raining Fools, you’ll meet Ethan’s sister Bekka and his best friend, Stephen Gaines who have a history with each other that neither cares to remember, except those old feelings they had for each other refuse to go away. Bekka, though strong in her faith, is uncertain about what God wants her to do with her life. Stephen, a playboy with a troubled past, appreciates his friend’s strong faith, but believes God doesn’t care about the ‘little people.’ At least, not until a series of mishaps has him taking a second look at the Winters’ beliefs. What I hope people take away from my story beside an entertaining tale, is that God loves them. That they belong to a kingdom that’s bigger than themselves. That we are stronger together than apart. These are themes that readers can find in my stories. I have several more ideas for novels and novellas that will continue Haley and Ethan’s story while we meet various people who visit the B&B when they come to Madison Creek hoping to start a new life. My hope is that readers will come to enjoy visiting this quirky little town as much as I do when I write the stories. Texas might have its spicy food and natural ruggedness, but I do love Michigan’s wild beauty and kindhearted folks. I just love it more in the summertime. Blog StopsNovember 3: Quiet Quilter November 4: Bibliophile Reviews November 5: Daysong Reflections November 6: Proud to be an autism mom November 7: Reviewing Novels Online November 8: Janet Pecorella November 8: The Power of Words (Spotlight) November 9: Moments Dipped in Ink November 10: A Greater Yes November 11: Blogging With Carol November 12: inklings and notions November 13: Carpe Diem November 14: Mom Is Forever November 15: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner November 16: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations GiveawayIn honor of her tour, Jackie is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card! 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/a81d
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My Review Buying Love is a contemporary marriage of convenience Christian Romance. I was excited to see this premise in a contemporary as it is not that common and it is one of my favorite scenarios in historical fiction, where I do most of my reading. Ms. Shiloh is a new author for me, and I must say that I was very pleased with this story. While some parts of the book are serious, there is a lot of humor as well that makes the characters more relatable. The book opens with the meeting between the main characters, and we quickly learn Dwight answered Nina’s advertisement for a husband because she offered money if they married, and his family’s restaurant is failing and is desperately in need of some cash. Nina grew up in orphanages after being abandoned as a baby and is determined to follow her specific and highly organized life plan, which is to have a husband quickly so she can have a child before she’s thirty-five. She is analytical and precise and approaches her personal life using those characteristics. And while I am none of those things, I had no trouble relating to Nina’s desires for a family of her own. I also appreciated her interactions with Kandi, who is an orphaned teenage girl that Nina mentors. Dwight owns a restaurant with his family and I could envision it clearly and wanted to eat there! His family is interesting and each of them feel like real people and have motivations that makes sense for who they are. I want to meet this family! Ms. Shiloh sets the scene wonderfully and each place felt very different from each other with the supporting characters behaving exactly how you’d expect from a rural/city divide. The theme of what constitutes a family is handled delicately and the resolution of that feels very natural for both characters. The Christian message of Buying Love was evident from the beginning of the book, and it is very prevalent. If you like your inspirational romances with a strong and clear message, you will enjoy that aspect of the book. If you prefer a simpler or subtler approach, it may be too much for you. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a clean Christian romance with relatable characters, an intriguing and uncommon contemporary premise, interesting discussions about family, and a strong message of what exactly God is to us and what he does for us. I give this book 4/5 stars. **I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.** About the Author
Guest Post from Toni Shiloh Hi, Reader Friends!! I’m so excited to be here at Celebrate Lit for the kick off of my new release, Buying Love. I wrote this book last year for National November Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). In one month, I managed to write a little over 50,000 words. However, that’s not why this book holds a special place in my heart. No, it’s the message in the story. Nina Warrenton has struggled with being alone in life. Thus, she decides to take matters into her own hand and places an ad for a husband, complete with a monetary offer. What seemed like an intelligent and simplistic way to get a husband, soon proves to have a multitude of complications. Not only that, but Nina has to discover who God is in her life and the body of Christ fits into that. Y’all have you ever felt alone in a room full of people? Or felt isolated? Or maybe you’re an orphan…whatever your background, I hope that this book shows you that God loves you. He loves you so much, He’s adopted you into the body of Christ. So if you’re a believer, we’re family. As a person who always wanted a friend and lots of family, that’s music to my soul. It’s what I wanted Nina to discover and what I hope the readers discover. Ephesians 1:4-6, “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved” (KJV). Blog Stops October 27: Bibliophile Reviews October 27: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations October 28: Reading Is My SuperPower October 29: Moments Dipped in Ink October 30: Reviewing Novels Online October 30: Artistic Nobody October 31: A Baker’s Perspective November 1: blogging it out November 2: Christian Author: A.M. Heath November 3: autism mom November 3: Simple Harvest Reads (Spotlight) November 4: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner November 5: inklings and notions November 6: just the write escape November 7: Carpe Diem November 8: Quiet Quilter November 9: Bukwurmzzz November 9: The Power of Words Giveaway In honor of her tour, Toni is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card! 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/a650
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