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Saturday, April 20, 2019


DEAD RINGER by SUSAN SLEEMAN

What would it be like to suddenly find out a secret from your past that shatters your world? Emory will face that crisis in a fast pace story that delivers an exciting ride into secrets and danger. The author has really stepped up her game in this latest book. The characters are relatable and fierce. Emory is determined to find out the truth as she helps Blake find a missing woman.

It was fun to have old friends from the Blackwell Tactical Team in this story. I am fascinated by the knowledge the author has with weapons and tactical teams. I can’t image bring a part of an elite group like that without my heart thumping out of my chest at every mission. Emory and Blake are both hard headed and it makes for a tug of war of ideas between them. I think of this story as CSI meets Criminal Minds meets Chicago P.D..

The beginnings pages set the tone for an action packed journey as one woman fights for her life as another one tries to discover who she really is Emory knows she can decide what to do with the information about her sister as we.all have free will. I’m sure God has rolled his eyes at me a few times with my decisions. It’s nice to know that we do have the freedom to choose and I’m thankful I choose to follow Him everyday. Emory and Bake will face roadblocks, trust issues and learn about forgiveness and unconditional love. This is a great start to a new series and one I will be following closely as I  await the next book to come out.

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

Friday, April 19, 2019

Beauty in Hiding FB Banner

About the Book

Book: Beauty in Hiding
Author: Robin Patchen
Genre: Christian romantic suspense
Release Date: March 12, 2019
Beauty In Hiding
Book 2 in the Beauty in Flight series: 
Harper’s second chance at life will become a second stint in prison if anyone connects those two dead men to her. 
Nutfield, New Hampshire, is as good a place as any to hide from the murderer Harper left behind in Maryland. All she has to do is lie low and make enough money to keep herself and Red alive until she can figure out who her enemies are.
Jack Rossi isn’t sure what to make of his beautiful new tenant and her confused grandfather. Something’s not right, but the love he sees between them and the care she takes of the old man convinces Jack they’re trustworthy. As drawn as he is to Harper, she’s his tenant, so she’s off limits.
Derrick, Harper’s ex-boyfriend and Red’s grandson, needs to find his grandfather and get his hands on the old man’s money before Derrick ends up with a bullet in the skull. And when he gets his hands on Harper, she’ll be sorry for what she’s put him through.
Harper and Jack grow closer, but so do her enemies. If Harper can’t trust Jack with the truth, she may lose more than just this glimpse of true love. She may lose her freedom—or her life.


About the Author

Robin PatchenAside from her family and her Savior, Robin Patchen has two loves—writing and traveling. If she could combine them, she’d spend a lot of time sitting in front of her laptop at sidewalk cafes and ski lodges and beachside burger joints. She’d visit every place in the entire world—twice, if possible—and craft stories and tell people about her Savior. Alas, time is too short and money is too scarce for Robin to traipse all over the globe, even if her husband and kids wanted to go with her. So she stays in Oklahoma, shares the Good News when she can, and writes to illustrate the unending grace of God through the power and magic of story.

More from Robin

I was raised in a Christian home. Our parents took my sister, my brother, and me to church every Sunday. They taught us right from wrong, but eventually, kids have to make their own choices. In my case, I chose wrong for a long time.
Don’t misunderstand: I was always a pretty nice person. I wasn’t a thief, and I didn’t kill anybody, but I made a lot of bad decisions. Sinful decisions. I discovered that one bad choice often led to the next and the next until I was trapped in a life of my own making with no idea how to get out.
But God… two of my favorite words in the English language.
God had a different plan, and He pulled me out of the muck and changed my life. He showed me that I was not the person I’d been acting like. He showed me who I was, and He taught me to walk in the truth of my identity.
Harper Cloud isn’t me, not at all. First of all, she tall and blond and drop-dead gorgeous. More than that, her choices are nothing like mine were. But she’s in the same boat I was. Thanks to a series of bad decisions, Harper was in a hole, and she didn’t know how to get herself out of it. She used drugs to quiet the condemning voices and told herself lies to make herself feel better. Someday, she told herself, she’d get her life together enough to go home to her parents. Because she couldn’t go when she was a mess. She couldn’t go until she’d done something they could be proud of.
Thanks to a bad choice in boyfriend, Harper not only didn’t go home, she ended up in prison.
Harper’s story begins two years after she’s released. It’s the story of a woman desperate to be free of her past, clinging to hope when there’s every reason to despair, and desperate to believe what she’s been told about this Savior, Jesus Christ.
Harper will learn about love and redemption and salvation in the course of the three books that make up the Beauty in Flight series. That is, if she can survive the danger that seems to follow her wherever she goes.





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The reason I loved this book so much was because Harper is such a great character. I instantly liked her and how dedicated she was to taking care of Red. He might not be related to her, but she knew that his life was in danger and she would do anything to keep him from harm. There is some background on Harper that helps readers understand why she doesn't trust anyone. Her life has not been easy and I could understand her need to be loved and wanted by someone. 

The story is packed with intrigue and there are many twists in the story that make this a well written book. The author allows us to glimpse what it could be like to care for a person who may have dementia. Red is crabby at times, but when he remembers things he is a vast of knowledge. At one time he was a powerful businessman who made lots of money. That little bit of info is what drives his grandson to try to harm him. 

Jack is a good character and tries so hard to help Harper as she struggles to put food on the table and a roof over her and Red's head. He knows there is something she is not telling him, but he wants her to trust him enough to share her past. I thought at times Jack was a little pushy and I could see why Harper was on guard with him. 

I really enjoyed getting to know more about Harper and what a good heart she has. It is going to be hard for her to keep hiding from the truth. Will she finally trust Jack and tell him everything?  The action and mystery in the story is good and keeps readers glued to the story. The only thing I don't like is having to wait for the next book in the series to get answers to some questions. It is a great cliff hanger and I can't wait to read the next in the series.

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

Blog Stops

amandainpa , April 13
Genesis 5020, April 15
Among the Reads, April 16
Remembrancy, April 18
Just One More, April 18
Emily Yager, April 19
EmpowerMoms, April 22
Simple Harvest Reads, April 22 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)
Bigreadersite, April 23
The Lit Addict, April 24
Older & Smarter?, April 25
Pause for Tales, April 26
The Becca Files, April 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and the entire Beauty in Flight Series!!
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/de7a/beauty-in-hiding-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, April 18, 2019

The Governess of Penwythe Hall FB Banner

About the Book

The Governess of Penwythe Hall
Book: The Governess of Penwythe Hall
Author: Sarah Ladd
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: April 16, 2019
In the first of a new series from beloved Regency romance author, Sarah Ladd, Delia, a governess to five recently orphaned children, would risk anything to protect them . . . even her heart.
Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.
Cornwall, England, 1811
Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate. She can’t abandon the children now that they’ve lost both parents, but their new guardian lives at the timeworn Penwythe Hall . . . back on the Cornish coast she tries desperately to forget.
Jac Trethewey is determined to revive Penwythe Hall’s once-flourishing apple orchards, and he’ll stop at nothing to see his struggling estate profitable again. He hasn’t heard from his brother in years, so when his nieces, nephews, and their governess arrive unannounced at Penwythe Hall, he battles both grief of this brother’s death and bewilderment over this sudden responsibility. Jac’s priorities shift as the children take up residence in the ancient halls, but their secretive governess—and the mystery shrouding her past—proves to be a disruption to his carefully laid plans.
Rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love, this first book in the Cornwall Novels series introduces us to the Twethewey family and their search for peace, justice, and love on the Cornish coast.


About the Author

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing family and spunky golden retriever. Visit her online at SarahLadd.com; Facebook: SarahLaddAuthor; Twitter: @SarahLaddAuthor.

More About The Governess of Penwythe Hall

5 things to know about Cornwall, England:
  1. Throughout its early history, Cornwall’s inhabitants called the country Kernow.
  2. Early inhabitants largely spoke their own language known as “Cornish,” which became nearly extinct in the 1800s
  3. The country has a long and rugged coastline and there were frequent shipwrecks.
  4. Fishing was a major industry, with herring, mackerel, and sardines being common catches.
  5. In 1870, novelist and poet Thomas Hardy called Cornwall “the region of dream and mystery.”

Imagine yourself in The Governess of Penwythe Hall with these pictures of 19thCentury life in Cornwall

Sources:


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This book was one I found very intriguing from the beautiful landscapes to the danger and greed that brought a family pain and sorrow. It is not everyday that you meet a person who is as elegant and compassionate  as Cordelia . She leaves her home after a tragic loss and amid rumors and finds a place that she will fit into. I loved how the children took to her and how at peace she seemed once she was at Penwythe Hall. The children are captivating and long for someone to want them. We can't overlook the heartbreak they have gone through. I think the connection Cordelia had with the children was one of longing to be accepted and loved.  Her love for the children is evident as she protects them and surrounds them with love. 

Jac has taken on a big responsibility when he finds himself the caretaker of his brother's children and along with them their governess. I could just imagine the look on his face as they marched into his rather quiet place. He is already concerned about his apple orchard  and now he has little children running around and a woman he knows very little about. It was interesting to see him gradually start to become attached to the children, because he didn't seem like the type who wanted children around. He is a bit unsure of Cordelia and wonders if she can be trusted. 

The story is surrounded by rumors of Cordelia's past and how worried she is  if Jac believes them. I loved the secrets, danger and how hard it was to know who to trust. There are several surprises in the story that give it a twist. The author does a great job of keeping the suspense at a nice level and how easy it is to fall prey to well meaning people.  The ending is action packed and well worth waiting for. The book is a great start to a new series and I look forward to the next installment in an enchanting series that grabs your attention right away.

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

Blog Stops

Back Porch ReadsApril 11
LifeofLiterature, April 11
Moments, April 11
Genesis 5020, April 11
Mary Hake, April 12
KarenSueHadley, April 13
EmpowerMoms, April 13
The Avid Reader, April 14
Wishful Endings, April 15
Simple Harvest Reads, April 15 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
The Becca Files, April 16
Remembrancy, April 17
Worthy2Read, April 18
By The Book, April 18
Pause for Tales, April 21
BigreadersiteApril 22
Hallie Reads, April 23
Henry Happens, April 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away a grand prize of a finished paperback copy of The Governess of Penwythe  Hall!!
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/de80/the-governess-of-penwythe-hall-celebration-tour-giveaway
moriahs wings FB Banner

About the Book

Book: Moriah’s Wings
Author: Iris Carignan
Genre: Christian Children’s Fiction
Release Date: March 26, 2019 Moriahs Wings Final Cover
She’s just a slave girl. What does she know? Desparity’s life couldn’t have been worse, she thought. However, when she’s captured and sold into slavery, Despairity discovers that things can get worse—much worse. However, her new mistress, Naaman’s wife, gives her a new name. Moriah Asha—a name that means “chosen of God” and “hope.” Moriah now can only pray that her new name will bring a little of that hope to her life. When Moriah discovers a hidden treasure in her doll’s pocket, she discovers a mystery that changes everything. With her faith in God to guide her and complete trust in His goodness, Moriah may be able to do more than be a living testimony to God… she may be able to save Naaman’s life! A fictionalized imagining of what the little servant girl in II Kings may have been like, Moriah’s Wings tells the story through word imagery and stunning illustrations. Discussion questions provided to enrich the reader’s faith.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Caraigan Iris portrait pic_8591Iris Carignan’s passion for writing and art finds inspiration through faith and family. She is the author of “Fresh Eyes: Seeing God in the Unexpected,” a published poet, and has written several children’s books. “Moriah’s Wings” debuts Iris as both author and illustrator.

More from Iris

An Author Peers Deeper
As an author, I have learned that writing is a most revealing craft. Consuming a story may fill the reader with insights for their own life, but it may also peer into the heart of the author’s own soul.
If that sounds a little backwards, it probably is. But, for me, writing has always been an overflow of my own experiences, hopes, dreams, and soul-searching wounds. So, naturally, some or all of those may float to the surface of a fluid story. Perhaps that is why my latest book, Moriah’s Wings, reflects so much of my own seasoning.
Most surprising, though, is how my own words sometimes return full circle to me. Just recently, I was struggling with some new tasks and responsibilities that were not resolving. Frustration overflowed as all my best efforts continued to fail. Then I picked up my book, “Fresh Eyes: Seeing God in the Unexpected,” and began reading. There, shouting from the pages of my own hand, lay wisdom, inspiration and a reminder of God’s solution to my dilemma. The title of the story-“Keeping the Goal in Sight,” was about how we can reach our goals.
Using the powerful racehorse, Secretariat, in comparison to its jockey, it read:
“I considered how the rider must feel as he becomes one with the horse, experiencing its power, strength, and exhilarating force flow through his spirit…” “What a beautiful metaphor for all believers, equestrian or not, as we ride through life…” “When we become one with the Lord in purpose and goal, we harness His power, like a jockey whose horse takes him to the finish line. Whether we are at the pinnacle of a life changing moment or working our way through everyday stuff, only through His might and strength, will we run the race He has set before us.”
So there is was all laid-out before me, clear as day and speaking back into my own soul. The irony wasn’t lost on me as I began to think about a biography I’d written for “Moriah’s Wings.” Though it wasn’t my first, that particular one unearthed an epiphany. All the puzzle pieces came together as an amazing trifecta. I suddenly realized that it was at the age of nine that three key factors had a profound effect on my life. At nine, I took my first painting lesson, wrote my first book and I came to faith in Christ. All three became my fountainhead as an author, artist and woman of faith.
In many ways, the story in “Moriah’s Wings” is a tapestry of these same experiences. Its inspiration struck as I read II Kings 5 about Naaman and a young girl who was captured and sold into slavery. When I came to the part where she suggests that Naaman go to Elisha for healing, the story began to develop. I visualized what the girl must have felt and experienced. I saw how she served a godly purpose and pictured Naaman’s wife giving her a new and hopeful name. Then, using mental clippings from my own childhood, the story completed its course and message.
So, just as that first book I wrote as a nine year old was based on a true story, “Moriah’s Wings,” has its foundation in a Bible story. Uniquely, though, it brings together truth and fiction creatively illustrating its message.


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What a beautiful story of a young girl whose heart is filled with love for God.  The slave girl captured a woman's attention and before she knew it, she was swept off to a new place to live. She can still hear her mother screaming as the men kidnapped  her days earlier. The woman has decided to call her Moriah Asha which means "chosen of God" and "hope." 

Her days are spent attending to others needs but her spirit is full of joy. The story is perfect to share with children and the illustrations enhance the beautiful story. The book is loosely based on Naaman but the star of the book is Moriah Asha. She is a delicate child filled with faith and not afraid to speak up when someone needs healing.  The book is short but really captures the meaning of faith and how a young girl endured being a slave. It is an excellent book to share with children. At the end of the book are questions you can use in a discussion with the children in a classroom. 

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

Blog Stops

Carpe Diem, April 10
Mary Hake, April 12
Lots of Helpers, April 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Iris is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card!!
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/e403/moriah-s-wings-celebration-tour-giveaway