Friday, March 16, 2018

HIS RISK BOOK TOUR PLUS GIVEAWAY

An undercover English DEA agent will do anything to protect the Amish girl he loves.
Calvin Fisher left the Amish community at fourteen and never looked back. Only his brother's illness can bring him back to Hart County. Now, as Calvin works to make amends, he meets Alice, a local nursery school teacher, and falls hard for her. But he has a secret that could threaten the happiness he's finally found.
Alice shouldn't like-or want-Calvin. He's English, has a questionable past, and an even more questionable job. Still, she can't help being intrigued. Though Calvin assures Alice that he's worthy of her, she's torn between surrendering to her growing feelings and steering clear of him.
When a sudden surge of criminal activity alarms the community and even targets Alice, Calvin fears that his double life has put everyone he loves at risk. As for Alice, she can't help but wonder if the brave and honorable man she's lost her heart to is far more dangerous than she could ever imagine.
About the Author:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a "New York Times" and "USA Today" bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.











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This has to be one of my favorite books by the author. She has mixed Amish country, gangs and DEA agents into one action packed story that should be made into a movie. The premise of the story is about Calvin coming back to his roots because his brother is ill. There are some hard feelings between the brothers that are very evident as they see each other. I loved how the author showed how bitterness can get in the way of relationships. Calvin has some deep secrets that could harm those he cares about. Will his presence back home bring danger to the community? I really liked Calvin because he wanted to do the right thing and hopefully along the way find forgiveness from his family. It would be hard for a family member to come back home after knowing he has been involved with illegal dealings. I wanted Calvin and his brother Mark to find their way back to each other. The author does an exceptional job of showing the dynamics between the two brothers and their lifestyle. Sometimes it isn't easy to come back home. 

Alice was the sweetest person I have read about. She is lovely, caring and adores her job as a gifted preschool teacher. When she runs into Calvin you could feel the uncomfortable feeling Alice had. Its not everyday she runs into a man dressed liked Calvin. His rugged good lucks did intrigue her and I kept thinking how opposites attract. I really liked how Alice and Calvin slowly started to each other. It must have been hard for them to let their guard down. Sometimes a girl is just attracted to the bad boy and Alice can't fight her feelings for Calvin.

The story is filled with intrigue and danger that heightened the story to a level of excellence. The author does an amazing job of giving us glimpses into Calvin's secret life. I'm not sure I could put myself in danger like he did. I came to really like him and loved watching his transformation. The ending is so powerful and edgy that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Fans of the author are in for a treat with this explosive story. Will Calvin be able to save his family and Alice from danger? There are a few other characters in the story that are a vital part to Calvin and his secret life. I won't say much more, but be prepared to be surprised and feel a bit sad as this explosive story takes us to the depths of evil where prayer and forgiveness will be needed. I enjoyed being reminded that we shouldn't judge someone by the way they look or where they come from. People can change and we need to give everyone a chance.

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

Landing page:





Enter to win a copy of His Risk. Five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced March 28 on the Litfuse blog!

Blog Tour Schedule:

3/8 
chantal | this chattanooga mommy saves 
Debra | 3 Partners in shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! 
Molly | Cafinated Reads 
Mary | The Mary Book Reader 
Lisa | Chickensbunniesandhomeschool/ 
Margaret | Frugal Shopping and More 
Kristina | The Avid Reader 
Meagan | Meagan Davenport
3/9 
vicky | Deal Sharing Aunt 
Alex | Inspiration Clothesline 
Margaret | The World As I See It
3/10 
Amy | A Nest in the Rocks 
Keri | My Table of Three 
Athena | The Loose Screw 
Sherry | My Journey Back 
Donna | Donna's BookShelf 
Erin | For Him and My Family
3/11 
Angela | A Busy Mom of Two
3/12 
Cheryl | cherylbbookblog 
Lena Nelson | A Christian Writer's World 
Dianna | Savings in Seconds 
Pamela | Daysong Reflections 
Kav | Best Reads (2010-2014) 
Jessica | A Baker's Perspective
3/13 
Nancy | sunny island breezes 
Zac | Buy, Borrow, Skip 
Carol | Buttercup Counts Her Blessings
3/14 
Jeremy | Christian Fiction Addiction 
Brittany | Britt Reads Fiction 
Leslie | Did YOU Hear about the Morgans? 
Carrie | Reading Is My SuperPower
3/15 
Pam | Southern Gal Loves to Read 
Rachel | EmpowerMoms 
Chastity | Chas Ray's Book Nerd Corner 
Sarah | Running Through The Storms 
Annie | Just Commonly 
Kemi | Homemaking Organized
3/16 
Deana | Texas Book-aholic 
Vickie | Vickie's Kitchen and Garden 
Alison | NOVA Frugal Family
3/17 
Angela | A Holland Reads 
Connie | Because I said so -and other adventures in parenting
3/18 
Lisa | A Rup Life
3/19 
Terra | Heck Of A Bunch 
Kristie | Moments 
Tressa | Wishful Endings 
Hallie | Book by Book
3/20 
Britney | Buzzing About Books 
Wendy | Wall-to-wall books 
Joy | Splashes of Joy 
Laura | Lighthouse Academy 
Jennifer | Mother of Three 
Inderpreet | Eloquent Articulation
3/21 
Billy | Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer 
Lisa | Seeking witth all Yur Heart 
Veronica | Veronica's 'Views
3/22 
Kristin | A Simply Enchanted Life 
Kendra | Happily Managing a Household of Boys 
Wendy | Life at Rossmont 
Rosalyn | All-of-a-kind Mom 
Janice | Janices book reviews 
Maureen | Maureen's Musings
3/23 
Stephanie | Have A Wonderful Day 
Amy | Locks, Hooks and Books 
Patty | tammycookblogsbooks 
Barbara | I'm Hooked on Books 
Amy | Pause for Tales 
Heather | Misadventures of the Dynamic Uno
3/25 
Cathy | Two Girls and a Book 
Dawn | Inventing Insight 
Vicky | Vicky Sluiter
3/26 
Connie | Gccbookworm 
Mindy | A Room Without Books is Empty 
LeAnne | Rockin' My Mom Jeans 
Renee | Little Homeschool on the Prairie 
Debi | 2014 and Beyond! 
Nick | Two Points of Interest 
Jennifer | Jen Around the World
3/27 
debbie | Debbie's Dusty Deliberations 
Bethany | The Perfect beginning 
Denise | The Help Meet Wife 
brandi | She Revelation Blog 
lori | Red Headed Book Lady 
Andrea | The Young Girl Who Loved Books 
Shondra | Give Me Today 


Thursday, March 15, 2018




Grac e Revealed: Finding God's Strength in Any Crisis(Broadstreet Publishing Group, January 2018)
Trust in the unmerited gift of God's grace
You can't escape the inevitable crises that will face you throughout your lifetime. Whether it's health problems, emotional issues, career challenges, gut-wrenching losses, or other failures, these experiences can destroy your morale and lead you into despair. Some crises may be a result of your own choices, while others may be completely out of your control. Whatever the source, there is a lasting solution that comes to you free of charge from above: God's amazing grace.
In Grace Revealed, you will:
-Experience real-life stories of others who discover they are not alone and that relief is within their grasp.
-See how devastating afflictions can be overcome through faith in Jesus and His love, mercy, and grace.
-Learn how God's grace transforms lives and leads you into enduring and rewarding Christian service.
-Be inspired to encourage others who are suffering but cannot seek help on their own.
Read these undeniable, modern-day examples of God's loving grace and its transformative power, and discover that God is always present in your time of need.

{MORE ABOUT FRED SIEVERT}



Fred Sievert is a speaker, author, and former president of New York Life Insurance Company. Following his early retirement at age fifty-nine, Sievert attended Yale Divinity School and received a master's degree. Sievert remains actively engaged in his greatest passions, which include speaking and writing about his faith, mentoring young executives, and serving as a lay leader of his church and on the boards of several organizations with missions well-aligned with his beliefs and values. Fred and his wife have five grown children, three grandchildren, and reside in East Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Find out more about Fred at https://www.storiesofgodsgrace.com.
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter



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At some point in our life we make a poor choice and feel ourselves spiraling out of control. We may be a survivor of abuse or have fought to overcome  drug addiction. No matter what we have faced, the grace that God has given us is so powerful we sometimes feel unworthy.The personal stories shared in the book are eyeopening and deeply emotional. I have often asked why would God give me grace after all the things I've done or been through? The answer is simply because "God is love , and that love is unconditional and unbounded." 

One of the first stories shared is about sexual abuse. I could very easily relate to this story. The woman in the story carried a secret for years and thought she was being punished by God. I think we all can feel that way at times.  It was hard for her to forgive her attacker but through grace she found freedom and grace. What an awesome gift that God gives us . I liked the point the book made about even though we may forgive our abuser, we are not condoning what they did. 

There is another story in the book that really touched me. I am a very overprotective mother. I would worry every time one of my sons sneezed. When I had to deal with my youngest son who started having seizure at eighteen months old, I didn't think I would be strong enough to handle what was happening to him. The story shared in the book by Shane and Sandra was very emotional for me. To watch their child experience seizures was overwhelming to them. They felt defeated and became angry with God. I asked the same question they did; Why is this happening? Why are you doing this to me and my family? Their faith was wavering just as mine had done. When I read "God allows crises to surface in people's lives to remind them that He is in control, so they don't need to be." I have learned through my experience to "let go and let God." We need to remember that God is in control and will see us through everything. To be surrounded by His grace is a wonderful feeling . I may sometimes mess up, but I know that God is there to wipe my tears away and love me unconditionally. 

The book is filled with stories that remind us of His grace and love. I enjoyed each story and am thankful for their transparency. At the end of each chapter is a section called, "A Time For Personal Reflection." I loved how it asks questions that relate to the stories in the  chapter. The book is well written and one I will go back to when I need encouragement and a reminder of God's grace.

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

Landing page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/FSievert


Tour Schedule:

3/6
Mary | Mary-andering Creatively
Dave | Shattered by the Gospel
Joan | Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

3/8
Joy | Deco My Heart

3/10
Ian | Reaching for Jesus

3/11
Eric | Create, Disciple, Design
Colleen | ColleenRichman.com

3/12
Spencer | For All It's Worth
Kristie | Moments

3/13
Meagan | Meagan Davenport

3/14
Cheryl | cherylbbookblog

3/15
Deana | Texas Book-aholic
Carole | The Power of Words
Annette | Impressions In Ink
Stacy | twogalsandabook.com
Kendra | Happily Managing a Household of Boys
Rebecca | Raventhreads

3/16
Sara | SK Bell
Mark | Thoughts of a Sojourner

3/17
Annie | Just Commonly
Molly | Cafinated Reads
Mary | The Mary Book Reader

3/18
Julie | More Of Him
Julius | The Little Friar
Leslie | Edits and Reviews by Leslie

3/19
Richard | Richard R Blake Wordpress - Inspiration
Mindy | A Room Without Books is Empty
LeAnne | Rockin' My Mom Jeans
Laura | Once Upon a Storyville

3/20
April | Dixie n Dottie
Bethany | The Perfect beginning
Alexis | God is Love
Amanda | Inklings and notions
Lydia | Noveltea
Urailak | Fruitbearers
Denise | The Help Meet Wife
Amanda | The Talbert Report
Amy | A Day Of Small Things
Shirley | A Mom after gods Own Heart
Leila | Leila's bookshelf
James A | Midwest Book Review
Mindy | The 700 Club

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Souls prisoner celebration tour copy

About the Book

Soul's Prisoner front
Book Title: Soul’s Prisoner
Author: Cara Luecht
Genre: Historical fiction with some suspense and romance
Release Date: December 15, 2015
Chicago, Winter, 1891
Rachel is in danger. She’s seen too much.
She creeps along the cement walls through the dank underbelly of the asylum. She’d never planned to leave her quiet farm life, never thought she’d find a place in the city, never imagined she’d be in the kind of danger that would have her cowering in Dunning’s cold, labyrinthine basement.
Jenny has finally found her place. After a childhood of abuse, she has friends, a real job, and her only wish is to give her adopted son the kind of life she never had.
A life of stability, without the risk and uncertainty of a father.
But when Jeremy, Rachel’s brother, stumbles into their warehouse, asking for help to find his missing sister, Jenny’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

140223_132100ph(2)Award winning author, Cara Luecht, lives in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin with her husband, David, and their children. Cara graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Currently, Cara is studying for a Masters of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Guest Post from Cara Luecht

The Setting for Soul’s Prisoner: Dunning Asylum for the Insane
Dunning Asylum for the Insane was built in the 1850s and housed psychiatric patients until the early 1900s. It has since been demolished, and a small park currently stands as the only remaining testament to the people who lived and died on the grounds.
The original plot of land also included a poor farm and a cemetery. A railroad used to connect the grounds to Minneapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee. It was nicknamed the “Crazy Train”—a phrase that still survives in our language today. Those buried in the cemetery include Civil War Veterans, victims of the Chicago fire of 1871, orphans, paupers, and the residents of the asylum for the insane. Most estimates agree that nearly forty thousand people were buried on the grounds.
There is no doubt that mental illness is hard on families, but in the 1800s, having a family member who struggled with mental illness was an embarrassment. With little understanding of mental health in general, and even less compassion for those who suffered, examples of this tragic response to the threat of mental illness can be seen in the numerous inmates who were there simply due to addiction or depression. There are even cases where women were committed because their families were humiliated by their giving birth outside the bonds of marriage. Often times, challenges with mental health were synonymous with the notion of moral failure or vice. Because of this, even many charities looked the other way when corruption or abuse was exposed. Reporters sometimes wrote about the horrors of the institutions, but once the sensational story was out, and the initial outrage worn away, few worried about the people who suffered on a daily basis. And because of the moral implication of mental illness, families commonly turned over their suffering members to the county, and later simply explained to friends that the person had died.
And that is exactly what the mentally ill would do in the institution. Live there until they died, forgotten.
And that’s how the story played out at Dunning, until late in the 1900s when developers began to dig the roads and foundations for a new neighborhood on the grounds of what was once the Asylum. At that time, Dunning, and the people who had resided there, were still within living memory, so when bones were unearthed, it was no mystery how they ended up on that patch of land. What had slipped from memory was the magnitude of the collective stories of suffering and hardship.
For this novel, the people and events are fictitious. However, when examining old news stories from an institution known for corruption, it is not hard to imagine situations like the ones in the novel. The details that are true are the nearly one thousand inmates, no hot water, little to no heat in the winter, bad food, and the general feeling of living ghosts, intentionally forgotten, and doomed to never leave the grounds.


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When I started this book the words, eerie, dangerous and evil came to mind. The author captures a time and place that the faint of heart would not survive. As Rachel went down to the basement, I could feel a chill creep down my spine. Her eyes told the story of unspoken evil lurking in air. The writing is superior and takes you right where the story is happening. I can't imagine being in a place where you had to look over your should every few seconds.

I screamed as Rachel's freedom was suddenly taken away from her. How can such evil happen with no one to question the outcome? Have you been locked in a room unexpectedly with no way out? You find yourself panicking as tears stream down your face. Rachel seems to lose hope as each day passes .  Will someone realize that she is missing? In the late 1850s asylums were  like torture chambers. The evil that went on was unspeakable. Rachel is treated with little dignity. I was mesmerized by the details that the author wrote about the evils of asylums that existed long ago. It reminds me of the saying, "If walls could talk."

Jeremy is a character I found to be very intuitive. He was determined to find out what had happened to his sister. Wouldn't it be unnerving to have a family member suddenly disappear without a trace? There were times in the book, I wasn't sure I could continue reading. It wasn't because the story was bad, but because the story was so masterfully written that it seemed almost real.

Jenny is a very complicated character. Wanting to have a better life for herself and her son seems right in the grasp of her hands. Jenny is haunted by her past and the author gives us pieces of her tormented life with words that reach deep into the soul where darkness is at times. Her story is one that she feels ashamed of and my heart broke for her.

The story is very intense and weaves a tale of mind games that only the strongest can survive. Will Rachel be rescued before it's to late?  What does she know that would cause people to want to hide her? I thought through the entire book how desperate Rachel felt as she saw her freedom slowly slip into oblivion. The ending is one that will have you on the edge of your seat and your heart pounding so loud you can here each beat.

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

Blog Stops

Multifarious, March 9
Remembrancy, March 9
amandainpa, March 12
Carpe Diem, March 14
A Greater Yes, March 17
Simple Harvest Reads, March 20 (Guest Post from Mindy)
Pursuing Stacie, March 20
Bigreadersite, March 21

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Cara is giving away a grand prize of a signed copy of Soul’s Prisoner and sketching art supplies!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cb74

Monday, March 12, 2018

Six Feet Under (A Kenni Lowry Mystery)
by Tonya Kappes

The plot lines this time are full of goodies, fraudulent handicapped parking passes, a pop-up botox clinic, the antics of Kenni and her mama checking out the other recipe contestant (be prepared to laugh out loud), and the murder of chef Frank Von Lee. Tonya Kappes twists it all together to make one heck of a story.
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
There are some very funny moments in this mystery along with plenty of down-home charm.
~Teresa Trent, Author
This is one of those books that there are a few characters that could be the killer and is in your hands to discover the truth.
~Varietats

About the Book


Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Kentucky
Henery Press (March 13, 2018)
Paperback: 268 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635113082
Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth. And let me tell you, this broth is in trouble. Get ready for a Southern showdown.
The residents of Cottonwood, Kentucky are sent into a tizzy when the Culinary Channel comes to town to film an episode of Southern Home Cookin’ with celebrity chef Frank Von Lee.
Especially Sheriff Kenni Lowry.
Her mama’s award-winning chicken pot pie is what brought Frank to town, and they don’t make hair in the South bigger than her mama’s ego after the news.
When Frank Von Lee is found dead from food poisoning and the most likely culprit is Mama’s chicken pot pie, Kenni’s poppa, the former sheriff, comes back from the Great Beyond to assist in the investigation.
But nothing’s prepared Kenni for such a personal tie to a case, and she finds herself pushing the limits of the laws she’s sworn to protect.
This book’s so delicious it’ll make your mouth water and leave you hankerin’ for more.

About the Author

For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been publishing numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plot lines and quirky characters but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans.
Sign up for her newsletter on her website at Tonyakappes.com .
Visit Tonya:
Facebook at Author Tonya Kappes,
https://www.facebook.com/authortonyakappes
Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N  kobo


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Its another great book from an author who uses southern charm to entice readers to her wonderful characters. I jut love her writing style and how the characters remind me of a cozy little town that blossoms with hospitality. They have little shops where the people in the community come to gossip and eat delicious foods. The big news in the town is that someone very important is coming to Cottonwood, Kentucky. I'm a huge fan of cooking shows and loved how the author introduced us to a celebrity chef that causes the town to go crazy. Everyone in  the town  wants to impress Chef Frank Von Lee and maybe get on television.

Sheriff Kenni Lowry is a character you like right away. She is charming and fair. Kenni loves her town and takes her job serious. Her mama is a handful though. Kenni's mama is all gaga over the chance to have her famous chicken pot pie featured in a well known cooking show. As the author described the dish, I started smelling the aroma of a chicken pot pie baking in the oven as I anxiously waited for it to be finished. When I was younger, I remember having chicken pot pie at least once a week. They were not home made, but very cheap to buy. I thought it was such a treat to have my own little pie filled with vegetables, chicken and a golden brown crust.

I cheered for Kenni's mama's as she prepared her dish expecting it to turn out perfect. I did laugh at her need to look perfect for the camera and the lengths she went to achieve perfection. The odds were stacked against her as she succumbed to a botch job of Botox. Her bad luck continues when Chef Von Lee is found dead with remnants of chicken pot pie around him. What do you think killed him? Well there is one hint I can give you,which is it wasn't a natural death. The suspects start liming up, well maybe just one suspect is on the radar.Poor Kenni has her hands full investigating the chef's death while trying to keep her poor mama out of jail. I adored poppa and his help during the investigation. Wouldn't it be cool to have someone like him around? Kenni takes his advice and he sure knows how to keep the story interesting.

I loved the fast pace story and the suspects that started to come out of the woodwork. The author sure knows how to weave a tale of mystery that entices readers to stay glued to the book. It was fun to read about Kenni and Finn. Their relationship can be a bit tricky but they seem to make it work. He sure is sweet on Kenni and patience almost to a fault. So who killed the chef and why? The answer is somewhere in this delightful story that oozes with excitement, and a mystery that is sure to keep you guessing til the end. If you haven't read any of the author's books, what are you waiting for? Her books are filled with southern hospitality charm with quirky characters that you can't help but love.  Grab a copy of this book, get some sweet iced tea and settle down for an adventure that is sure to give you laughs and a whodunit that brings the town together to help one of their own.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 6 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 7 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 7 – Queen of All She Reads – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY (Missed Post)
March 8 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 8 – Dee-Scoveries – SPOTLIGHT
March 9 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 10 – Christa Reads and Writes – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 10 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 11 – Varietats – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 12 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
March 12 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
March 13 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 13 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 14 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 14 – Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my! – REVIEW
March 15 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 15 – The Montana Bookaholic – SPOTLIGHT
March 16 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 16 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
March 17 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW 
March 18 – La libreria di Beppe – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 19 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 19 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
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