Wednesday, November 13, 2019

About the Book

Book: Deadly Christmas Pretense

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Christian Suspense, Mystery, Romance

Release Date: November 4, 2019

A cowboy to her rescue…but she’s not who he thinks she is.

Posing as her sister for Christmas is the only way to save her, but Maggie Lofton needs help—even if it means working with her twin’s cowboy ex-boyfriend, Liam Pike. But between the bull’s-eye on her back and the dangerous connection she’s forming with Liam, Maggie’s mission is harder than expected. Will their tenuous partnership be enough to shield her when the killer closes in?

Book #2 in the Roughwater Ranch Cowboys series

Click here to get your copy.

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Harvest House. Dana was thrilled to be a semi-finalist in the Jeanne Robertson Comedy With Class Competition. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, a chubby box turtle and a feisty parakeet. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

More from Dana

I just love Christmas, don’t you? In our area we have a lovely holiday train. It’s an old steam type train which is decked out in lights for festive holiday tours. I was so thrilled that this cover features just such a train. Of course, in the novel the train is the scene of hair raising danger! Maggie, our heroine in this novel, is a cook. She serves up some mouth watering dishes (when she’s not dodging a killer.) I thought perhaps you might enjoy a Mentink holiday family recipe! God bless you as we enter this holiday season!

It's a high stakes adventure in this fast paced story filled with intrigue. I have always been fascinated by twins whether they be fraternal or identical. They sense what the other is feeling or thinking. In this story we meet Maggie and Tammy who are fraternal twins. Maggie finds herself in a dangerous cat and mouse game as she tries to help her sister out. Will pretending to be Tammy cause Maggie's life to be in danger? Maggie is a very smart character who is a bit leery of her ex- boyfriend. Why is Liam so insistent in helping Maggie?

The chemistry between Maggie and Liam was interesting to read. I wasn't sure if I trusted Liam and wanted him to prove what his true motives were. Liam's relationship with his dad was written with a peek into his soul. You can feel the pain of abandonment and the need for his dad's love. It helped me to understand Liam more and see how much he wanted to be accepted by Maggie. He has this desire to save the world and keep people safe. The more I read about him, the more vulnerable he became. Even the strongest person can have feelings of rejection. Liam has been good about hiding those feelings but how long can he keep it hidden?

I love how the author takes characters and exposes them so we can understand their thoughts and emotions. Maggie's need to protect her sister stems from something that happened when they were seventeen. I almost think Maggie feels guilty for surviving back then and it has haunted her all these years. The story is intense at times and filled with unexpected twists.

The quest to find the jewelry that someone is willing to kill for is a race that have characters scrambling for their lives. I enjoyed Jingles the dog and thought he was a great addition to the story. Jingles becomes part of a heart pounding rescue when Maggie's life is hanging by a thread. Get ready for an ending that will have you on the edge of your seat.

"Sometimes you have to take risks to protect what's important."

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 1

Among the Reads, November 1

Emily Yager, November 1

KarenSueHadley , November 2

Blogging With Carol, November 2

Batya’s Bits, November 2

Bigreadersite, November 3

My Devotional Thoughts , November 3

She Lives to Read, November 3

Reading Is My SuperPower, November 4

Genesis 5020, November 4

mpbooks, November 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5

Betti Mace, November 5

Quiet Workings, November 5

Blossoms and Blessings, November 6

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner , November 6

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 6

Older & Smarter?, November 7

Maureen’s Musings, November 7

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 7

Splashes of Joy , November 8

For Him and My Family, November 8

Moments, November 8

Christian Bookshelf Reviews, November 9

Simple Harvest Reads, November 9

EmpowerMoms, November 9

Through the Fire Blogs, November 10

Remembrancy, November 10

Pause for Tales, November 10

For the Love of Books, November 11

Hallie Reads, November 11

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, November 11

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, November 12

To Everything There Is A Season, November 12

Daysong Reflections, November 12

Texas Book-aholic, November 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 13

janicesbookreviews, November 14

Inklings and notions, November 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize package of a a book necklace, Amazon gift card, and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ed7d/deadly-christmas-pretense-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

About the Book

Book: The Bright Unknown

Author: Elizabeth Byler Younts

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: October 22, 2019

Two young friends embark upon an epic journey across 1940s middle America in search of answers, a family, and a place to call home.

The only kind of life Brighton Turner understands is the one she has endured within the dreary walls of a rural Pennsylvania asylum. A nurse has thoughtfully educated and raised Brighton, but she has also kept vital information from her in order to keep her close. Brighton befriends a boy whom she calls Angel—he doesn’t know his name—and as the two of them learn more about what lies beyond the walls they call home, they fight for their release and eventually escape.

However, the world outside the only place they’ve ever known is not what they expect. They have no real names, no money, and no help—and they must rely upon the kindness of strangers as they walk and hitchhike from Pennsylvania to Michigan to find their last hope of a home.

This heartbreaking journey, narrated in gorgeous prose, explores what it means to belong—and to scour the universe with fresh eyes for the brightness within.

Click here to grab your copy!

About the Author

Elizabeth Byler Younts gained a worldwide audience through her first book, Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel The Solace of Water and the Promise of Sunrise series. Elizabeth lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, her two daughters, and a small menagerie of well-loved pets.

More from Elizabeth

The Bright Unknown was born out of a seed of a true story that my husband’s grandmother, Gigi, shared with me. Gigi told me that when she was a young girl living in Oklahoma her mom had a friend who was a nurse. During one of her visits over coffee she would occasionally talk about her patients at the local asylum. One particular story really intrigued Gigi and even decades later she still remembered it. The story was about a patient who had a baby while at the hospital and while Gigi remembers nothing about the patient or the child, she knew that when she moved out of Oklahoma several years later that asylum-born girl was around eighteen and still living within the walls of that hospital along with her patient-mother.

That story stuck with me. This trapped girl and her mother wouldn’t let me go. I began to wonder over her and ask all sorts of unanswered questions. Slowly but surely my imagined story for her came to life. Layer after layer I learned about Brighton, my name for her. I also named two characters after Gigi, her first and middle, as an honor to her. This story was born from a memory but now these characters feel real and present in my life today and I hope you will journey with them in The Bright Unknown.

In the dark and dusty hallway of the asylum lives a mother and daughter. I felt shivers race down my arms as I began to read this story . It is hard to imagine what it was like long ago to be in a place where there was no where to go. Day after day you see your mother tortured by the demons in her mind. Brighton grows up in this place where only the forgotten and unwanted are. There is no way this story will not get into the crevices of your mind as you weep and applaud the girl that wants to go beyond the four walls of a hospital.

There are so many secrets buried between the cracks of the hospital that it is frightening. Brighton overhears something about her friend Angel that shakes her to the core. It was hard to read how Brighton was treated when she threatened to tell what was going on. A young girl tied to a chair and treated like one of the patients became a nightmare that was hard to wake up from.

I enjoyed reading about Angel and Grace. I think with them being there with Brighton it helped her to cope with her need for stability. It was interesting to go back and forth in time and learn who Nell was. Each chapter is intense and the book consumed me. It was dark at times but the author is able to shine hope and forgiveness between the pages. Brighton wants so bad to live outside the hospital but knows it may never happen. You can feel her desperation to live a normal life as she accepts that she is trapped in a world where people are dropped off and forgotten.

The power the hospital has over their patients in this story is unimaginable. What person thinks it is right to sterilize women to prevent pregnancy against their will? How can they justify medication to keep patients quiet and out of touch with reality? This hospital is an example of what happened to people long ago when they knew very little about mental health. Trapped in their bodies were people needing love and compassion, but instead received cold shoulders and uncaring attitudes.

I don't think I have read a story that is so realistic as this one. The author has a knack for weaving characters that tear at your heart while at the same time wanting to pray for them. I am impressed with how the story flows so easily from the past to present. Along the way secrets are revealed that I didn't expect. The faith element is not overwhelming but with the perfect blend of hope. It is easy to get so caught up in the story that everything around you becomes a blur. The selfishness by adults in this book is deplorable. They were more worried about what others would think instead of accepting their own child. I have heard about getting lost in the system, but this became more of a cover up.

There is a big significance in the meaning of names in this book. I know that I have never liked my name because people usually pronounce it wrong. What if you have always been called by a particular name only to find out it was not your given name? This is a big part of the story which I was fascinated by. A name is one's identity and it stays with you forever.

The journey the author takes us on is one I will never forget. I couldn't wait to see if Grace would ever be found or what happens to Angel. One decision make by different people change the lives of three very important characters in this story. I admire the author for the way she is able to take words and create a story that gives you hope, forgiveness and most of all peace.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

The Power of Words, November 2

A Reader’s Brain, November 2

Living Life Free in Christ, November 2

The Christian Fiction Girl, November 3

Inspired by fiction, November 3

Fiction Aficionado, November 4

Genesis 5020, November 4

janicesbookreviews, November 5

Blogging With Carol , November 5

All-of-a-kind Mom, November 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 6

To Everything A Season, November 6

The Becca Files, November 7

Bigreadersite, November 7

A Baker’s Perspective, November 8

Connect in Fiction, November 8

Moments, November 9

Bloggin’ ’bout Books, November 9

Simple Harvest Reads, November 10

Betti Mace, November 10

Pause for Tales, November 11

Inklings and notions, November 11

Mary Hake, November 11

Texas Book-aholic, November 12

Hallie Reads, November 12

For the Love of Literature, November 12

Through the Fire Blogs, November 13

For Him and My Family, November 13

Remembrancy, November 14

mpbooks, November 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 15

Godly Book Reviews, November 15

About the Book

Book: Soul Mend

Author: Luann Dunnuck

Genre: Christian Non-fiction, Christian Personal Growth, Counseling

Release Date: April 12, 2019

Restore your emotional health!

Have you felt trapped in an endless cycle of fear, anger, guilt, and other negative emotions? Has depression, anxiety, fear of rejection, or the inability to let go of past hurts robbed you of peace?

No matter how hopeless or discouraged you feel, freedom is possible. It’s time to get to the root of your pain so you can heal. In Soul Mend: Discovering Spiritual and Emotional Health, author Luann Dunnuck shows you how to uncover the source of your emotional struggles and experience wholeness with the help of God’s Holy Spirit.

See the connection between your mental and physical health. Find scriptural truths to help you work through emotional struggles. God has answers for you and declares in Jeremiah, “Is there anything too hard for Me?” Let Him do the impossible in you as you apply the concepts in this book, rely more heavily on God, and regain the joy of living!

Click here to get your copy.

About the Author

Luann Dunnuck is a conference speaker, author, and counselor. She has a heart for those who are seeking emotional wholeness and spiritual health. Luann earned her master’s degree in Christian counseling and a doctorate in theology, and is a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God.

Her message of hope and restoration has been heard on radio and television—including Words to Live By, produced by RBC Ministries, and Crossroads Magazine. She and her husband, Robert, have three grown children.

More from Luann

SOUL MEND was written to break people out of their emotional chains! I know first hand what such things as anxiety, strife, guilt, and unforgiveness feel like. I know first hand how devasting these emotions can be on the physical body. After walking through some of these issues and recovering from a debilitating diagnosis I decided it was time to go back to school, get my counseling degree, and help other people! In SOUL MEND I cover the three sources of negative thinking and how they impact our emotional and physical health. There are chapters on; a broken heart, stress, guilt, self-reproach, anxiety, and anger/bitterness. Each chapter contains study questions to help the reader identity and heal from toxic emotions. The book ends on a uplifting and encouraging note on how God created you to walk in His destiny and His goodness. There is always a purpose in your pain and the Bible is clear that what the enemy meant for evil God promises to turn around for God when we seek Him (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28). I am excited to go on this journey with you and help you discover the healing and destiny that awaits you

I don't know how many times I have said "Where is God? "Why is He allowing me to suffer?' Those questions haunted me all my life as I suffered from abuse . If God loves me so much, why is He letting me endure pain daily? I picked up this book and my answers started to come. "God is waiting to perform an even greater miracle in our lives." Through all the things I have been through, God had a plan that I couldn't see.

What we don't realize is that God is trying to get to the root and make us stronger. As we deal with anger, depression, anxiety, bitterness , unforgiveness and rejection., He is there to help us. We may be physically ill, but God wants to heal us emotionally as well. I have wondered over the last several years why I seem to be ill a lot. I can pinpoint when it started but at the time didn't recognize it. My brother came to live with me about three years ago. It was a blessing because we were able to talk about our childhood and help each other with the pain we went through. He became a shoulder to lean on. I did start to see my anxiety pick up a little as the days went on. What God was doing was allowing me to finally open up all the hurt I had carried . He gave me a person who understood it and comforted me.

The book talks about how your emotional state can affect your physical state. Finally, I understood that all this emotional turmoil was making me sick. I wasn't imagining headaches, colds, aches or pains. The enemy tries to be clever and trap us emotionally and before we know it we believe we have a dreaded illness that could be devastating. How many times have you gone from doctor to doctor trying to get answers? We keep seeking doctors waiting for bad news. God wants us to take a deep breath and allow Him to heal our thoughts.

I found it very interesting to learn about the three stages of stress. The author explains what they are and offers advice to overcome them. Eating better, taking vitamins and exercising are a few tools we can use to overcome stress. Stress seems to be part of our everyday lives. We need to take steps to not let it take over and find ways to become more relaxed and less anxious. In a spiritual sense we can pray and read our bible. What better way to feed our soul then to fill it with His word.

One of the chapters I really liked was about anxiety and panic attacks. The author shares what they are and how to get to the root of what is causing it. For me it is the pain of my childhood. "When hurts are buried so deep in our soul it is almost a shock when that pain is exposed." One of the steps is to forgive. I can say that just in the last few months I have been able to say that I forgive the people who abused me. I can't tell you what freedom I felt as I honestly was able to speak those words. After all these years, I finally feel peace.

The author includes questions and a prayer at the end of each chapter. I liked the questions because it helped me get a better grasp of what I read. The book is easy to read and I think is very helpful. Our job is to take the first step to healing. Seek God and ask for his guidance. Allow Him to direct your steps and heal you from the inside out.

"When we surrender our heart and soul to God, He comes to our rescue."

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.