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Friday, May 17, 2019

Shine the Light FB Banner

About the Book

Shine the LightShannon is out to save the world one caring act at a time. She’s stood by her best friend, Amber, through their whole lives especially when Amber lost her sight. She has an active outreach ministry to the homeless and disenfranchised. And she’s even let down her guard long enough to let a boyfriend, Justin, into her life.
Her life has settled into a pleasing routine of teaching, freelance photography work, quiet dinners with Justin, and taking Amber on treks to find new subjects for her visionary paintings. But when a man from her past shows up, her secure world crumbles into triggered PTSD episodes that threaten everything she relies on. Will she be able to overcome these old memories, or will her past crush any hopes she had for a future?

About the Author

April MsGowenApril McGowan loves to read and write inspirational fiction. She and her husband, two children, and her ‘mews’ (three cats!), live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. April is a member of Oregon Christian Writers, the Christian Author’s Network, and American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, homeschooling her son, or playing board games, you might find her at her drum kit, imagining she’s on a world tour. Hey, it could happen.

More from April

Writing About Tough Subjects—with Hope
I began writing over twenty years ago. And technically I wrote long before that as well. But those pieces were ‘just for fun.’ However, as I look back on my short stories, blog posts, and now my published work, there’s a definite theme: overcoming. Overcoming childhood abuse, overcoming an abusive marriage, overcoming loss—physical and emotional. And those overcoming stories were not about overcoming through our own strength, which is so often flawed and lacking, but by relying on the One who can heal us from every wrong, every hurt, and every loss.
After my first novel, Jasmine, I asked my readers what they’d like me to focus on in my next books—what subjects were overlooked in fiction today? The overwhelming consensus was adoption, loss, and mental illness.
As a contemporary fiction author, I stay current on social issues, so that wasn’t a huge jump for me. My readers saw a gap, and I did, too.
Not that it’s wrong to simply read for entertainment—shoot, I do! But I’ve always loved gripping stories with people I could identify with who were overcoming obstacles I’d faced, or watched a loved one face—stories that offer real hope in the face of tragedy.
So began my journey. In book one of this series, Hold the Light, I wrote about sight loss and adoption. I wrote about best friends who were solidly there for each other in the face of great hardship and pain. And in book two, Shine the Light, I’m doing the same—with a twist.
There’s a lack of representation and writing concerning mental illness and how it affects the sufferer and those around them. There is a stigma that is significantly changing, but it’s something we’re still hesitant to discuss. Myself and many I know are deeply touched by this issue, and I think we’re long past due letting those that suffer from mental illness and their families know that they are not alone. Or if they are, that they don’t have to be.
Book two, Shine the Light, is about Shannon’s life. Her love for the downtrodden, the lost, and the injured. Her passion for the underdog. How she became the stalwart friend she is to Amber in Hold the Light, the obstacles she’s overcome, and those she has to continue to grapple through with God’s help.
As with all of my books, I’ve vetted this story with people who have faced these situations and am very careful to respect their stories as well as staying true to my characters. I hope you’ll dive in and find Shannon to be a deep and real and identifiable character. I hope you’ll discover in her a friend.
I know you’ll grow to love her as I do.
The giveaway: Many of my books are set in Portland, Oregon, and as a celebration of that, I’m offering a giveaway celebrating two of my favorite things about the city: Powell’s books and super good coffee! Also cats…but I can’t give one of those away in a contest! Well…I could try, but I’d probably fall in love with it and never send it to you…so for now, books and coffee!


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I wish I could say that this story didn't affect me but it took an emotional toll on me. The author hits hard with very sensitive subject matter and I appreciate the honest and open approach she took. Being homeless, dealing with mental illness,  abuse, living in foster care, or becoming a drug addict all are things people try not to talk about.  In this book we read Shannon's story with realism and pain. I instantly took to Shannon and could feel the hurt of a little girl who wanted to be loved by someone. 

I like how the author goes back and forth telling her story by memories or flash backs she starts having. PTSD is hard to live with and you never know what may trigger an episode. I know this first hand because I have PTSD.  Shannon is  one not  to trust many people and the circle of friends she does have are starting to become concerned for her. It was hard to read how Shannon had to find ways to feed herself as a child when her parents had checked out on her.  I am impressed with the strength she has and the ability to care for others.

I don't want to give anything away from the story because it is one that will stay with you forever. The turmoil Shannon faces as she comes face to face with her past will test her faith. Will she be able to forgive the person who abandoned her? The author does an incredible job of highlighting mental illness in a way that takes away the stigma of it. People who deal with mental illness are sometimes treated poorly and this book opens readers eyes to how devastating it can be for families and the person who suffers from it

Shannon's friends' Justin and Amber are very vital to the story. They care deeply for Shannon and I loved their loyalty to her. It's not everyday you can find people who are always there for you. With all that Shannon has had to deal with, she still reaches out to the homeless. I think with her knowing what it is like to be homeless, her empathy for them is genuine .

Justin reminds me of my husband in so many ways. They both are strong, have integrity and love unconditionally. God knows just what we need and always places the right people in our lives to help us. When Shannon said she was damaged goods, I knew exactly how she felt. This book has been hard to read but I am thankful for an author who will tackle the hard subjects and bring the truth to the surface. 


"I think if we give over the hard things to God, He can use it to shape us, and then we can help other people."

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

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, May 6 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Mary Hake, May 10
Carpe Diem, May 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, April is giving away a grand prize of a $20 Powell’s gift card, a Powell’s coffee mug, and Stumptown coffee!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e21c/shine-the-light-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Moments we forget banner

About the Book

Book: Moments We Forget
Author: Beth Vogt
Genre: Contemporary fiction, woman’s fiction
Release Date: May 7, 2019 Moments We Forget cover
Jillian Thatcher has spent most of her life playing the family peacemaker, caught in the middle between her driven, talented older sister and her younger, spotlight-stealing twin sisters. Then on the night of her engagement party, a cancer diagnosis threatens to once again steal her chance to shine. Now, Jillian’s on the road to recovery after finally finishing chemo and radiation, but residual effects of the treatment keep her from reclaiming her life as she’d hoped. And just when her dreams might be falling into place, a life-altering revelation from her husband sends her reeling again. Will Jillian ever achieve her own dreams, or will she always be “just Jillian,” the less-than Thatcher sister? Can she count on her sisters as she tries to step into a stronger place, or are they stuck in their childhood roles forever?

About the Author

Beth-VogtBeth K. Vogt is a nonfiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A women’s fiction novelist, Beth’s first novel for Tyndale House Publishers, Things I Never Told You, released May 2018.
Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA® finalist. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publishers Weekly‘s Best Books of 2014. A November Bride was part of the Year of Wedding series by Zondervan. Having authored nine contemporary romance novels or novellas, Beth believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us.
An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Novel Rocket and also enjoys speaking to writers’ groups and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com.

More from Beth

“A sister is like yourself in a different movie, a movie that stars you in a different life.”
Deborah Tannen (1945-), sociologist
I’m launching Moments We Forget, book two in the Thatcher Sisters series, and I’ve just turned in the final book in the series. I’d love to share book three’s title with you, but I don’t know what it is. (Of course, book three might have a final title by the time you read this—that’s part of the fun of prerelease deadlines.)
One thing I do know: the theme of “Little Women gone wrong” is woven through all of the books . . . thanks to the Thatcher sisters: Payton, Pepper, Jillian, and Johanna.
Sisters, be they real or imaginary, can be complicated.
Of course, there are sisters who have close relationships. They “get” each other and love doing life together.
But then there are the sister relationships that are like mismatched socks. Or those expensive jeans you loved in the store, but when you bring them home, they never quite live up to those moments in the dressing room.
Such are the Thatcher sisters. Johanna, Jillian, Payton, and Pepper grew up in the same family. They’re all tall. They love Broncos football and board games. But in so many ways their lives are like different movies because they each made different choices. Choices that changed and separated them. Moments We Forget continues to explore whether the Thatcher sisters can find a way to understand each other enough to bridge the distance between them.



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This book should come with several warnings. You should make sure you have set aside a proper amount of time to read this book. Be warned that once you start, the book will continue to absorb you until the last page. Don't forget to have tissues handy as they will come in handy while reading the story. The three sisters in the book will have you examining your own life and relationships with others. If you follow these warnings, you may begin the book.

I can't quite put into words how deeply this book touched me. Each sister has their own insecurities and struggle with finding happiness. I really understood how Jillian felt about being unimportant. She was always in the shadow of her older sister who was beautiful and smart  and her younger twin sisters who were gifted in many things. Finding out she has cancer puts Jillian's life into perspective and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She has strength that is undeniable but still feels inadequate around her sisters. 

I really loved reading how the three sisters tried so hard to bond but something prevented them to really open up to each other. It was interesting to read about how they each questioned their faith. You can''t believe in something unless your whole heart is in it. The story is powerful and blends faith and family in a compelling way. I liked that the author didn't just focus on one sister, but gave us a story with three powerful yet vulnerable sisters trying to find their purpose in life. 

Payton and Johanna are so different yet they share a sense of belonging and a bond that sisters can't deny. It was funny to see them try to all get together for a book club. They can't be in the same room without arguing and Jillian playing referee.  There are a few surprises in the book that defines the sisters to look at themselves. Why are they unhappy? Is there something from their past that has caused them to be cynical at times? 

The dynamics between the three sisters makes the story come alive with realism. I can even go as far as to say it would make a great movie. There are moments of pain, confessions and anger that make this story so touching.  It has all the elements of a wonderful drama with a message of faith, family and hope. 

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

Blog Stops

Livin’ Lit, May 7
Carpe Diem, May 8
Simple Harvest Reads, May 10 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Remembrancy, May 10
Genesis 5020, May 13
By The Book, May 13
Bigreadersite, May 14
Moments, May 15
Hallie Reads, May 19

Giveaway

 
To celebrate her tour, Beth is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card plus a softcover copy of Moments We Forget!!
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/e26d/moments-we-forget-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Surrendered FB Banner

About the Book

  Book: Surrendered
Author: Jennifer Seines
Genre: Christian Fiction, Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Romance
Release Date: April 30, 2019   Surrendered Cover
Her father’s will is clear; do what he demands, or lose everything, including guardianship of her younger sister. But there’s a force at work–an evil set on destroying her and her sister. If only she knew whether the enigmatic man helping them is friend–or deadly foe… After the reading of her father’s will, Tess O’Shay’s panic attacks return. In death, Sean O’Shay is attempting to accomplish what he couldn’t do in life—force Tess to finish her education, a dream she abandoned after being raped on campus. Unless she complies with her father’s wishes, she will lose all claim to the only home she’s ever known as well as to the family business. Worse, she’ll have to give up guardianship of her younger sister to Jake Holland, a secretive man fleeing from his past. Fine! She’ll show Jake and her father. She’ll muster whatever meager energy and strength she has, get her degree, and keep what matters most to her. No matter what. Then the man who assaulted her reappears, shattering what little strength she has left. Now she must dig deep to find the remnants of her mustard-seed faith…because that’s the only way she can face the past and right a wrong in order to secure the future.
Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Jennifer SiennesJennifer Sienes holds a degree in both psychology and education but discovered life-experience is the best teacher. She loves Jesus, writing and romance and puts it altogether in inspirational contemporary fiction. California born and raised, she recently took a step of faith with her real-life hero and relocated to Tennessee.

More from Jennifer

Since I was twelve years old, I’ve been writing stories. I even wrote fan-fiction before it was a thing—a Happy Days episode, which I’m sure dates me. I took every creative writing class I could, starting in high school, and even declared journalism as my college major until I realized I like fiction a whole lot more than truth, because I can create the characters any way I like.
Tess O’Shay, the main character in Surrendered, came by way of accident. She was a minor character in my first novel (which will be the last published in the series) and my critique group loved her. They wanted to know if she would have more scenes. She did not. In fact, she was deleted with the rewrites. But I couldn’t get her out of my mind—it was like she’d become a real person and refused to be ignored. I loved writing Surrendered because Tess O’Shay and Jake Holland ran away with the story and it was everything I could do to keep up.
The first two novels I wrote were inspired by actual events—my brother’s suicide in the first and my daughter’s near-fatal car accident in the second. These are dark themes, yet I wanted to present them with humor and hope—both of which have gotten me through some tough circumstances. I strive to create characters my readers can connect with—three-dimensional and human—but also fall in love with. I think the best books are those that leave us wanting more.



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The story was a bit hard to get into at first. There was a lot of background information and skipping from character to character.  I am not a big fan of first person stories where I have to keep up with the characters and what they are doing. Now for what I really liked about the story. I loved the concept and surprises that the author put in. It was hard to see Tess and Katie grieve the loss of their father. What really surprised me was how Jake became part of their lives. 

One of the main themes in the book is about secrecy. I have learned that keeping a secret always comes back to smack you in the face. The secret Tess is keeping has made her stop fulfilling her dream and settle for less. She never has wanted to run the family business but her secret prevents her from stepping out in faith. She lives in a world where she doesn't trust anyone and keeps her feelings to herself.


I laughed as I read the part about Tess and Katie's fathers' will. What father in his right mind would bring in a stranger to take over everything and expect his daughters not to have a problem with him. Jake is in way over his head as he tries to fulfill the stipulation in the will. It is hard not to give away anything in the story so I will just say the tension between these characters are strong and I'm not sure who will come out the victor. 

Jake also is keeping a secret that has him questioning his abilities. His previous profession causes him to walk away from everything when an unforeseen tragedy happens.  I think I have a love/hate relationship with this book. At times the story was almost unbelievable  and silly at times. I think I had more problems with the father's story line and thought it was a bit much. There are times when Tess was so stubborn and downright mean to Jake that  I wanted him to pack his bags and run away from her.  

The story does have some good moments that helped me like the book and I was able to see what the author was trying to achieve. The bottom line is that secrets can hurt others and when you turn your back on God, you leave yourself open to not trusting people, being angry and running away from the truth. 

"God always has a way of putting a spin on the ugliness in life."

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

Blog Stops

Genesis 5020, May 6
Emily Yager, May 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away a grand prize of a $25 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/e1c0/surrendered-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, May 13, 2019

Tongues of Fire FB Banner

About the Book

Book: Tongues of Fire
Author: Various Authors
Genre: Christian non-fiction, Pentecost Devotional
Release Date: April 19, 2019
Tongues of FireA fifty-day devotional for Pentecost featuring the words and teachings of writings of faithful men and women of God, both classic and contemporary authors, regarding the miraculous power available through God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. Includes excerpts from Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake, William Seymour, Aimee Semple McPhearson, Maria Woodworth-Etter, Andrew Murray, E. W. Kenyon, R. A. Torrey, John Wesley, Mary K. Baxter, Guillermo Maldonado, James Goll, Bill Johnson, and many more. Let this collection of charismatic classics help you to celebrate the wild tongues of fire that signified the coming of Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and be filled anew with the powerful presence of God.






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The book is a great way to explore The Holy Spirit and delve into different teachings by  people. I didn't recognize everyone that contributed to the book, but they each had encouraging words to share with readers. The book is designed to read a section per day, but for the purpose of this review I read the entire book at one setting. 

The book helps define who The Holy Spirit is and how he works in our lives. There were times when I would hear teachings about The Holy Spirit at church that made me uncomfortable. It seemed like the pastor would use it as a scare tactic to people who were not speaking in tongues. I finally understood that The Holy Spirit is not to be feared but to be welcomed with excitement. He is there to help us and comfort us, not to condemn us.

I did like the part where it is explained that when you ask for The Holy Spirit it will be given. It was interesting to read how some people were discouraged because they didn't speak in tongues right away.  There could be several reasons why this happens such as not  believing that we will receive what we pray for. We can have no doubt in our thoughts and trust God to fill us with The Holy Spirit.  The book goes on to explain Ten Reasons to Speak in Tongues. I liked how it was broken down and easy to understand. 

I did like Day 26 that talked about "Standing in the Gap." Any church i have gone to has always had intercessors.  These were people who spent time together in prayer. They would pray for the needs of people in the church, the pastor and whatever else the Holy Spirit laid on their heart. I always appreciated how faithful this group was and how important it was that they were led by The Holy Spirit.

The book has a lot of scriptures that  I liked reading and different ways of explaining what The Holy Spirit is. This book may not be for everyone but I really enjoyed it and welcomed the time i spent reading it.

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



Blog Stops

Mary Hake, May 10
Artistic Nobody, May 17 (Spotlight)
Power of Words, May 18 (Spotlight)
Simple Harvest Reads, May 20 (Spotlight)

Giveaway

To celebrate the tour, Whitaker House is giving away a grand prize of a $20 Starbucks 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/e318/tongues-of-fire-celebration-tour-giveaway