MISSTEP BOOK BLAST by DEBORAH DEE HARPER 

PRESENTED by CELEBRATE LIT

Strangest Town on Earth

Pastor Hugh Foster: His heart was in the right place, even if, in hindsight, it appeared he’d clearly taken leave of his senses.

It’s December in Road’s End, Virginia, a tiny town long forgotten by anyone but its residents, where Colonel Hugh Foster and his wife, Melanie, have chosen to live—for better or worse. The jury’s still out on that one!

Road’s End is comprised entirely of senior citizens whose kids have grown and left for greener pastures. Hugh, Melanie, and Bristol (one of the few sane people in town) are faced with a crumbling church in desperate need of repair and renovation, a dwindling congregation of opinionated, ornery senior citizens, and a camel—yes, a camel. And if that's not enough, the trio and the rest of the Road's End residents are soon mired in danger and intrigue when a group of gun-toting drug dealers arrive in town, bent on killing the church handyman, and conspiring to ruin the doggonedest record-breaking blizzard the town has ever seen.

Poor drug dealers.

About the Author:

Deborah Dee Harper writes from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and specializes in humorous, inspirational Christian books for both children and adults. Her novel, Misstep, is the first book in her Road’s End series for adults (although children are welcome to read them as well). She’s also written a children’s adventure series, Laramie on the Lam, that is inspirational, humorous, and full of fun. (Many of Laramie’s fans are adults!)

Her website is at www.deborahdeeharper.com.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2r0ffwD

I really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know all the characters. The town sounds quirky but I think I would love to live there. It's a forgotten town that has seen better days. When Hugh and Melanie move to the town, I don't think they were prepared for what was to come. The blizzard alone would have me rethinking my brilliant idea to move Road's End, Virginia. The name is interesting and makes me think of a road that leads to nowhere.

I laughed at the neighbor's chickens that had a mind of their own. They could leap from tall buildings in a single bound or something like that as Hugh said. The poor chickens just wanted to explore and perhaps make new friends. I found the historic church to be quite intriguing. The congregation is down and the committee is trying to raise funds, but no one has any great ideas. I wonder why the town consisted of senior citizens? Where did all the young people go to?

Hugh finds himself as the new pastor of the in dire straights church. That sure happened fast as he wonders how he got into this mess. I'm sure his wife will be thrilled with the news. Now what great idea will he come up with to raise money for the church? I have a feeling he and the town are in for a few surprises.

When something horrible happens to the church the town comes together to help solve the mystery. The characters are so fun to get to know. I will say my favorite character is Emma. She is a recluse that the town has forgotten. When Hugh takes the time to get to know her, he discovers her painful childhood. Emma was so real to me, that I wanted to sit and visit with her everyday. Emma becomes a very integral part of the story and I found her part in the story to be impressive.

The story has some funny moments and the characters are very easy to like. I loved how there were times when Hugh and the ladies would pray for guidance. It's a story filled with intrigue, forgiveness, family and redemption. The ending is very emotional and very surprising. This book has really been a journey for me as it has reminded me that God forgives and he never leaves you. I can't wait to read more books from this very talented author.

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

GUARDED PROGNOSIS by RICHARD L.  MABRY,  M.D.

There is nothing better than sitting down and reading a new book by this author. It is always filled with intrigue and characters that jump off the pages. This book is one that keeps you guessing and has action throughout the story. I loved how the author gives us characters that intrigue us.

Caden is a very respected doctor and is confused when DEA agents show up at his office. If someone showed me credentials I wouldn't know if they were real or not. Is Caden being deceived by these men? I was fascinated with the investigation into illegal drug prescriptions. The investigation seems legitimate but Caden was starting to wonder if he should be worried.

Henry is a very complex character. He doesn't have the greatest relationship with his son, Caden  which makes their phone conversations strained. The news isn't good and Caden is a bit frustrated that his dad is so calm about the news he shares with his son. Henry made me want to scream at him sometimes and tell him to let Caden be part of his life.

I loved how there were a story within a  story and it focused on trusting God. Caden is not only dealing with what's going on at his clinic but the diagnosis his father has received. Their relationship will take a lot of work to heal wounds that have long been buried.  The realism of their fragile relationship is captured very well with the talented writing of the author.

Caden will have to be on his toes as the investigation into  his clinic grows into a dangerous situation. Who can Caden trust? Will he let others help him or try to fix it on his own?  One of the subjects I loved the most in the book was how Caden and Henry were prideful. They each wanted to ignore people and do things their way. Sometimes when we go out on our own, we end up making situations worse. As the story intensifies, Caden realizes that not everyone and everything is as it seems. Who is behind the illegal drugs? Will Henry resolve his relationship with his son before it is too late? Don't miss this latest book from one of the best authors who writes stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats with intense action and intrigue.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

Disorderly Conduct (A Maggie McDonald Mystery)
by Mary Feliz

Disorderly Conduct is in a cozy mystery class all by itself and I highly recommend it.
~The Power of Words

I found Disorderly Conduct to be nicely written and to have a quick pace.
~The Avid Reader

The emotions that I felt while reading this book were very strong . . . I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.
~MJB Reviewers

What I most enjoyed were the characters – unique, human, and realistic responses of the teens to the initial tragedy, as well as the dangers they encounter on the trail.
~Christa Reads and Writes

About the Book

Disorderly Conduct (A Maggie McDonald Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Lyrical Underground (July 10, 2018)
Print Length: 233 pages
ASIN: B076GNYKM8

Professional organizer Maggie McDonald manages to balance a fastidious career with friends, family, and a spunky Golden Retriever. But add a fiery murder mystery to the mix, and Maggie wonders if she’s finally found a mess even she can’t tidy up . . .

With a devastating wildfire spreading to Silicon Valley, Maggie preps her family for a rapid evacuation. The heat rises when firefighters discover the body of her best friend Tess Olmos’s athletic husband—whose untimely death was anything but accidental. And as Tess agonizes over the whereabouts of her spouse’s drop-dead gorgeous running mate, she becomes the prime suspect in what’s shaping up to become a double murder case. Determined to set the record straight, Maggie sorts through clues in an investigation more dangerous than the flames approaching her home. But when her own loved ones are threatened, can she catch the meticulous killer before everything falls apart?

About the Author

Mary Feliz writes the Maggie McDonald Mysteries featuring a Silicon Valley professional organizer and her sidekick golden retriever. She’s worked for Fortune 500 firms and mom and pop enterprises competed in whaleboat races and done synchronized swimming. She attends organizing conferences in her character’s stead, but Maggie’s skills leave her in the dust.

Author Links:

Website: www.maryfeliz.com

Blog: www.maryfeliz.com/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryFelizBooks

https://www.facebook.com/mary.feliz.581

Twitter: @maryfelizauthor

Kirkus: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/mary-feliz/preview/

Purchase Links: 

Amazon     B&N  Kobo   Google Books

Wildfires have been in the news a lot lately. They destroy everything in their path and seem to have a mind of their own. How frightening it would be to see the threat of a wildfire close to your home. Maggie is facing that very danger and decides it is time for action. She prepares her family for evacuation and I enjoyed reading how detailed she was about what to bring and how to prepare the home they were leaving behind. There must have been butterflies going their stomachs as they saw the fire rage closer to them. 

When a body is found among the area where the fire is , it shakes the town up. Maggie's  best friend, Tess is about to get some very upsetting news. I did like how detailed the author was when the body was identified at the morgue. We have all seen those shows where they pull the body out of a slot and the family stares at it. Technology has come a long way and I think it makes more sense to look at the body on a screen to soften the agony the family is going through. I wasn't surprised that Tess was arrested, but I was quite impressed with her son. He is one sharp teenager asking questions that the officers should have been asking others instead of his mom. The big question is why was Patrick up there near the fire and who wanted him dead?

The author gives us several suspects to consider and I tried really hard to figure out who did it and why. I was unsuccessful and pleased that the author had me guessing till the end. There are many twists in the story and I loved how Maggie was determined that her best friend would not be found  guilty. It felt like a story that could happen in any neighborhood and of course there is always those gossipy people. I often wonder why people say unkind things when a family is going through a traumatic event. It makes me furious when the media interviews neighbors who want their fifteen minutes of fame. 

The story is very well written and brings friends closer together while being able to depend on the truth to come out. Several of the characters were a challenge to like such as Robert Wu. He works with Tess and didn't hide his dislike for Patrick at all. Robert was rude in a way and hinted that Patrick was holding Tess back in her job. I found Robert to be very unpleasant and wanted to slap the smirk off his face.  I enjoyed the different people Maggie interviewed to clear her friend's name. Each character seemed to have a reason to kill Patrick so my list of suspects was getting longer. The story gets more intense as Maggie digs further into what happened the day Patrick was killed. 

The ending is quite explosive and really  intense . I loved learning about the swat team and other law enforcement agencies involved. I didn't expect how in depth the mystery went.  I was so engrossed in it, I didn't want it to end. I love how the story started as a murder but turned into so much more. At the end of the book the author has given  readers information about emergency preparations. It is filled with helpful websites that readers should look into so they will not be caught off guard in an emergency.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 9 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

July 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

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July 11 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

July 12 – Reading Authors – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 13 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

July 13 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST

July 14 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

July 14 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 15 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 16 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

July 17 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

July 17 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST

July 18 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 18 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

July 19 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 19 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

July 21 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW, GUEST POST

July 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

July 22 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

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A WIDOW'S HOPE BY VANNETTA CHAPMAN

What a beautiful story about tragedy, hope and love. I loved the theme in the book about scars. Some people have scars that are visible. People tend to stare at the scars and judge a person. Other scars are deep and emotional. You can't see them but they are there.

Hannah is a good character and I liked how she dedicated her life to her four year old son in a wheelchair. She has had a hard time with
a loss and now must come to terms with her son's disabilities. It must be so hard to see your child go from a vibrant person, to one who needs help with simple everyday things. My heart went out to Hannah. Some may think she is overprotective, but I could understand how she wanted to make sure he was happy and enjoyed his life.

Jacob is a welcome gift from God. At least that is how I saw him. He was humble but carried a great burden that holds him back from being happy. His business is in need of some help and Hannah is perfect for the job. Her accounting ability may help get Jacob out of trouble with the IRS. I did laugh as they started spending time together because I wasn't sure who was the most stubborn.

The best part of the story for me was how a young boy named Mathew never saw himself as handicapped and never allowed Jacob's scars to stop him from being his friend. Their bond was genuine and I loved how the author used that relationship to remind us that if we look past scars and disabilities, we see what God sees in people. Emotional scars may be hidden, but God will bring those out in order to heal. Matthew is a great character who taught this reader what it means to not judge, not be afraid and to never give up.

I received a copy of this book from the author The review is my own opinion.

About the Book

Title: Sons of Blackbird Mountain

Author: Joanne Bischof

Genre: Historical Romance

After the tragic death of her husband, Aven Norgaard is beckoned to give up her life in Norway to become a housekeeper in the rugged hills of Nineteenth-Century Appalachia. Upon arrival, she finds herself in the home of her late husband’s cousins—three brothers who make a living by brewing hard cider on their three-hundred acre farm. Yet even as a stranger in a foreign land, Aven has hope to build a new life in this tight-knit family.

But her unassuming beauty disrupts the bond between the brothers. The youngest two both desire her hand, and Aven is caught in the middle, unsure where—and whether—to offer her affection. While Haakon is bold and passionate, it is Thor who casts the greatest spell upon her. Though Deaf, mute, and dependent on hard drink to cope with his silent pain, Thor possesses a sobering strength.

As autumn ushers in the apple harvest, the rift between Thor and Haakon deepens and Aven faces a choice that risks hearts. Will two brothers’ longing for her quiet spirit tear apart a family? Can she find a tender belonging in this remote, rugged, and unfamiliar world?

A haunting tale of struggle and redemption, Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a portrait of grace in a world where the broken may find new life through the healing mercy of love.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

JOANNE BISCHOF is an ACFW Carol Award and ECPA Christy Award-winning author. She writes deeply layered fiction that tugs at the heartstrings. She was honored to receive the San Diego Christian Writers Guild Novel of the Year Award in 2014 and in 2015 was named Author of the Year by the Mount Hermon conference. Joanne’s 2016 novel, The Lady and the Lionheart, received an extraordinary 5 Star TOP PICK! from RT Book Reviews, among other critical acclaim. She lives in the mountains of Southern California with her three children. Visit her online at JoanneBischof.com, Facebook: Author, JoanneBischof, Instagram: @JoanneBischof.

Guest Video from Joanne Bischof

I have been anxiously waiting to read this book. The author is a superb storyteller and makes the historical details precise and interesting. The three brothers are each different but blend well together to make a strong family. I would love to visit their orchard and partake in harvesting the apples. It was easy to picture the land with such vivid descriptions that the author uses. Cider was plentiful and the family made a great living but it sure was hard work. 

Thor was very much my favorite character. He reminds me of a gentle giant. He is deaf and mute but the author does an exceptional job of showing how to interact with him through sign language. Thor has gotten a taste for the hard cider. At times I thought he could be dangerous, but it really was to ease the pain Thor has dealt with for so long. Will he be strong enough to give up the hard cider? The struggles he goes through are heart wrenching and I felt tears gather in my eyes for him.

Aven is quite a determined young woman. When she finds out that her aunt has passed, she realizes that now she is there in the Appalachians with three grown men and no place to go. I think I would be a bit uncomfortable around them, but soon Aven seems to settle in and start working to help the brothers. What happens when the brothers start to show their attraction to Aven? The dynamics of the time Aven and Thor spent together is worth every moment as the author sweeps readers up in a whirlwind of understanding, devotion and respect. I can't say enough about how beautiful the story is and how gifted the author is in writing a story that captures the time period in perfection. 

The story does have some intrigue in it that pits brother against brother and neighbor against neighbor. There are some moments that I almost held my breath not knowing what was about to happen. The ending is pure beauty and gives us a glimpse into the next book. I will be counting down  the days until I get to continue this enchanting story of brothers who hold honor with the highest regard and love that heals wounds that have been buried deep beneath the surface.

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

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Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Joanne is giving away

Grand prize of a country crate, a jar of apple butter, a bag of gummy berries, journal, bath salts, honey spoons, copper earrings, and a blackbird sign!!

Click below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d140/sons-of-blackbird-mountain-celebration-tour-giveaway

ROOM ON THE PORCH SWING by AMY CLIPSTON

I cherished every word as I read this book. The author is such an eloquent writer and brings the characters to life with her words. I loved  the significance of the porch swing in the story. My grandfather had a porch swing and every summer I couldn't wait to visit him. We would sit for hours just talking and the wisdom he shared with me I will never forget.

When certain characters would sit on the porch swing, I knew it was going to be a time of memories and unconditional love. It was a place for people to sit and share their worries and be comforted. I loved Laura right away and admired her compassion to help out when her best friend passes away. It was difficult for Laura to adjust to not having her friend around, but she was blessed to be able to help take care of the baby that was missing her mother. Laura is still grieving the loss of her own mother and the loss of her best friend is a bit much for her.

Allen is a very humble man and tries his best to take care of Mollie and still run his business. The arrangement he makes with Laura to be his nanny seems like a great idea. Laura has a lot to deal with and I wondered if she took on too much too soon. Her devotion to Mollie is special and maybe being around Mollie helped her to deal with losing her best friend.  I have to say I was quite surprised that Laura stayed overnight at Allen's house.  Is this something that the bishop would be alright with? It was sure to cause problems with her boyfriend and I loved the way Laura prayed and asked for guidance.

The story is wonderful and really made me think how important it is to be happy in a relationship. Rumors and gossip can cause misunderstandings and draw people apart. The author does a great job of exploring a relationship between Allen and Laura. Is Allen ready to love again? Will Laura decide if her boyfriend is right for her? Don't miss this beautiful story of letting go and listening to God .

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

   HONEYSUCKLE DREAMS by DENISE HUNTER

There is nothing better than a book that sweeps you up and puts you smack dab in the center of the story. The author knows how to capture characters with real problems and let them unfold with emotions. I loved the characters so much that I was hoping someone would turn the book into a movie.

It's not everyday you hear about a single father but Brady is an example of not running away but stepping up to his responsibilities. He is so kind and loves his son Sam with all his heart. I loved reading about the interaction between father and son. Brady knows what it is like to be abandoned by parents and will do everything he can to make Sam feel loved and wanted.

His best friend Hope is smart, pretty and smitten with Sam. I liked how she helped Brady out by watching Sam when needed. She has a great career on the radio with hopes of one day getting the job of her dreams. Hope has carried around a fear of losing people she loves since the loss of someone special some years back. I think that holds her back from being in a serious relationship.

When there is a chance that Brady  could lose custody of Sam he asks Hope for help. I was quite surprised at what he wanted them to do, but I admired him for wanting to keep Sam. The story is filled with surprises and keeps readers glued to their seats. It's a love story like none I've ever read. How far would you go to help a friend?  Fear plays a big part in the story and I liked how the author used faith examples to help the character work through fear. Both Brady and Hope deal with abandonment issues and it causes distance between them. Can they work through their problems and give Sam a safe and loving home? Don't miss the discussion questions at the back of the book. They are good questions that make you examine your life and increase your faith.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.