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Saturday, February 22, 2020

From Sky to Sky FB Banner

About the Book

Book:  From Sky to Sky
Author: Amanda G. Stevens
Genre:  Christian Suspense/ Fantasy
Release Date: February, 2020
Sky to SkyZac Wilson can’t die.
Daredevil Zac Wilson isn’t the first celebrity to keep a secret from the world, but his might be the most marvelous in history: Zac doesn’t age and injuries can’t kill him. What’s more, he’s part of a close-knit group of others just like him.
Holed up in Harbor Vale, Michigan, Zac meets two more of his kind who claim others in their circle have died. Are their lifetimes finally ending naturally, or is someone targeting them—a predator who knows what they are?
The answers Zac unearths present impossible dilemmas: whom to protect, how to seek justice, how to bring peace to turmoil. His next action could fracture forever the family he longs to unite. Now might be the time to ask for help. . .from God Himself. But Zac’s greatest fear is facing the God he has run from for more than a century.

Click here to get your copy.
MY REVIEW 
I did have a very hard time getting into this book. I was not really sure what was going on and wished I had read the first book in the series. With that being said I wanted to give this book a fair chance. After all it is not the fault of the author that I didn’t read the first book. The story is set in a fantasy type setting which opens the door for imagination to soar with expectations. Over the last year I have come to embrace this genre with guarded anticipation. Some are over the top and hard to grasp, but this story felt easy to jump into with little trouble after the first chapter. I began to know the characters and how they think. Their objectives began to come clearer and yes I was hooked to some extent. 
I liked Zac from the start. I don’t know if he was easy to relate to or easy to be leary of. Being a famous person for him certainly had its quirks but underneath all the fame, was a person desperate for answers. The author brings the subject of immortality to the surface and dives into the what if’s with intense emotions from characters. Would you want to live forever? What if there was a high price to pay, would you still take it?  Even though I could sympathize with Zac I still felt like the author was leaving parts of the story out that were vital for the story to flow smoothly. 
I did get a sense that Zac struggled with faith and wasn’t sure if  God existed at times. You can feel his turmoil that stopped him from seeking God at times . What really struck me was his ability to feel  emotions from other people. What would that be like to feel pain, loneliness, abandonment, hopeless and other emotions? Zac became this person who needed answers and deep down he knew who could help him. There are several things going in the story that helped keep me interested. The struggle Zac was having trying to save and protect others while trying to understand his own life was emotionally draining  at times for him. The author does achieve an intriguing concept that makes readers think about their own mortality. 
In the end I wanted Zac to find the answers he was looking for and embrace the feeling that God is allowing him to feel. Could it be that he feels like Jesus does? Zac could represent any of us as we struggle with just knowing God in His infinite wisdom and learn to accept why we are the way we are. Zac gave me hope and I loved the spiritual elements throughout the book that will have me reminiscing for days.  We may think we can run from God, but He sees us and for Zac he will have a divine appointment that will impact his life.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
From Sky to Sky FB Banner

About the Book

Book:  From Sky to Sky
Author: Amanda G. Stevens
Genre:  Christian Suspense/ Fantasy
Release Date: February, 2020
Sky to SkyZac Wilson can’t die.
Daredevil Zac Wilson isn’t the first celebrity to keep a secret from the world, but his might be the most marvelous in history: Zac doesn’t age and injuries can’t kill him. What’s more, he’s part of a close-knit group of others just like him.
Holed up in Harbor Vale, Michigan, Zac meets two more of his kind who claim others in their circle have died. Are their lifetimes finally ending naturally, or is someone targeting them—a predator who knows what they are?
The answers Zac unearths present impossible dilemmas: whom to protect, how to seek justice, how to bring peace to turmoil. His next action could fracture forever the family he longs to unite. Now might be the time to ask for help. . .from God Himself. But Zac’s greatest fear is facing the God he has run from for more than a century.

Click here to get your copy.

About the Author

AmandaStevensAs a child, Amanda G. Stevens disparaged Mary Poppins and Stuart Little because they could never happen. Now she writes speculative fiction. She is the author of the Haven Seekers series, and her debut Seek and Hide was a 2015 INSPY Award finalist. She lives in Michigan and loves trade paperbacks, folk music, the Golden Era of Hollywood, and white cheddar popcorn.

More from Amanda

For years, the theme of immortality has intrigued me. I love the Elves of Middle-Earth, the “happiest and saddest” of the peoples Tolkien created as they watch the ages pass. I love the exploration of aged sorrow in Tuck Everlasting. I’ve stuck with TV shows which shall remain nameless (but, ahem, a few feature vampires) because I’m always wondering how did this writer tackle immortality? Anything new? Are the characters convincingly old and young at the same time?
The thing is, while some of these fiction works satisfy me more than others, I’m always left with a tug of incompletion. Eventually I figured out this tug was a story in my own head and heart wanting to come out, a contemporary story that included the gospel. What might God’s plan be for those whose earthly days seem unnumbered? How would their age affect their interactions with humanity and with faith? These questions were the springboard for the No Less Days series, and of course the answers vary with the individual. Ultimately this is why I write: to explore people, their inner selves, their relationships. My goal is always to create characters that breathe from the page.
In From Sky to Sky, we get a look into the head and heart of Zac Wilson, who has been on the run from God longer than any of us could imagine: a full century playing the prodigal. I always try to be honest about how much life can hurt, “even” for the Christian; if we had triple the number of years to accumulate hurt in this broken world, we’d have a lot of it. That’s true of all my ageless characters, including Zac. To scratch the surface, this man fought in two world wars and has outlived all his children.
But the sum of Zac is much more than his collected wounds. He is a deep-feeling, fun-loving, generous guy. He enjoys music and physical activity. He has an insatiable sweet tooth and a need for open spaces. He’s not afraid to laugh at his own expense, and he has a boundless love for people and the stories of their lives.
My hope is that readers will grow to love this young old guy as they journey with him through some dark times toward redemption and light.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 22
Inklings and notions, February 23
Inside the Wong Mind, February 23
deb’s Book Review, February 25
For Him and My Family, February 26
Mary Hake, February 26
Older & Smarter?, February 27
Blogging With Carol, February 28
Life love writing, February 28
Hallie Reads, March 3
Simple Harvest Reads, March 4 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Pause for Tales, March 5
Remembrancy, March 6
Bigreadersite, March 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amanda is giving away the grand prize package of a a $25 Amazon gift card and a free copy of From Sky to Sky!!
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/f5cf/from-sky-to-sky-celebration-tour-giveaway About the Author

AmandaStevensAs a child, Amanda G. Stevens disparaged Mary Poppins and Stuart Little because they could never happen. Now she writes speculative fiction. She is the author of the Haven Seekers series, and her debut Seek and Hide was a 2015 INSPY Award finalist. She lives in Michigan and loves trade paperbacks, folk music, the Golden Era of Hollywood, and white cheddar popcorn.

More from Amanda

For years, the theme of immortality has intrigued me. I love the Elves of Middle-Earth, the “happiest and saddest” of the peoples Tolkien created as they watch the ages pass. I love the exploration of aged sorrow in Tuck Everlasting. I’ve stuck with TV shows which shall remain nameless (but, ahem, a few feature vampires) because I’m always wondering how did this writer tackle immortality? Anything new? Are the characters convincingly old and young at the same time?
The thing is, while some of these fiction works satisfy me more than others, I’m always left with a tug of incompletion. Eventually I figured out this tug was a story in my own head and heart wanting to come out, a contemporary story that included the gospel. What might God’s plan be for those whose earthly days seem unnumbered? How would their age affect their interactions with humanity and with faith? These questions were the springboard for the No Less Days series, and of course the answers vary with the individual. Ultimately this is why I write: to explore people, their inner selves, their relationships. My goal is always to create characters that breathe from the page.
In From Sky to Sky, we get a look into the head and heart of Zac Wilson, who has been on the run from God longer than any of us could imagine: a full century playing the prodigal. I always try to be honest about how much life can hurt, “even” for the Christian; if we had triple the number of years to accumulate hurt in this broken world, we’d have a lot of it. That’s true of all my ageless characters, including Zac. To scratch the surface, this man fought in two world wars and has outlived all his children.
But the sum of Zac is much more than his collected wounds. He is a deep-feeling, fun-loving, generous guy. He enjoys music and physical activity. He has an insatiable sweet tooth and a need for open spaces. He’s not afraid to laugh at his own expense, and he has a boundless love for people and the stories of their lives.
My hope is that readers will grow to love this young old guy as they journey with him through some dark times toward redemption and light.

Blog Stops

ZTexas Book-aholic, February 22
Inklings and notions, February 23
Inside the Wong Mind, February 23
deb’s Book Review, February 25
For Him and My Family, February 26
Mary Hake, February 26
Older & Smarter?, February 27
Blogging With Carol, February 28
Life love writing, February 28
Hallie Reads, March 3
Simple Harvest Reads, March 4 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Pause for Tales, March 5
Remembrancy, March 6
Bigreadersite, March 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amanda is giving away the grand prize package of a a $25 Amazon gift card and a free copy of From Sky to Sky!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Friday, February 21, 2020

Annas secret FB Banner

About the Book

Book: Anna’s Secret
Author: Blossom Turner
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Release Date: May 1, 2019
Anna's SecretAnna Clarke has faced loneliness for years, caring for a sick and distant husband. Recently widowed, with all that brought meaning to her life gone, the consummate good girl falls from grace in a moment of weakness and passion.
Horrified to find she is pregnant, she is surprised when those closest to her assume the baby is her late husband’s. Guilt and pride allow the lie to live until her deceit hits a wall when the biological father Dr. Matthew Carmichael comes calling.
Shocked at how one lie bled so easily into another, Anna realizes her reputation of devout Christian living is about to disappear like a leaf caught in a windstorm. She hears the whisper of her loving Heavenly Father, who longs to restore her soul, but does she have the courage to face the scandal and the truth of her feelings toward the handsome Dr. Carmichael?

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW
The book is very emotional and so powerful that I think I cried, screamed and shook my head so many times I lost track. Anna could be your next door neighbor, your friend at church or even yourself. Her character is developed so well, I couldn’t help but want to be her friend. I wanted to pray  with her and tell her she is forgiven. Have you ever had a secret that you knew would destroy so many lives? What if you were persecuted by friends and family when you confessed your sin? Would you turn your back on God? 
All these questions is exactly what Anna faces in this  story of loneliness, forgiveness, pride and guilt. Taking care of her husband as he wilts away consumed Anna. I know how she felt as she watched a loved one slowly slip away. It may be hard for her friends to understand, but she feels like she lost her husband years ago. I wouldn’t say she was happy when he passed, but her emotions were all over the place. I wanted to know Anna’s inner thoughts and the author delivers that with exceptional glance into her heart.  We begin to  see a woman who has been through so much needing to be wanted again. 
The story does  not lack people who are so critical of Anna that it made me grieve for her. Two people very close to her show nothing but contempt towards her. The sad thing is they are more worried about how it will affect their lives. Their selfishness is a key subject we all can learn from. It is important to remember that it isn’t all about us. Each of us is loved the same by God and He forgives each of us. 
The secret Anna carries around will be shocking and it opens the door for an extremely realistic lesson in judging others. The beautiful story in the Bible about the woman  who stands there waiting to be stoned  is illustrated with compassion and grace through Anna’s journey. As Anna hears God whisper to her, I felt chills go up and down my arms. God in His magnificent grace shows Anna she is not alone. Her story will change lives and restore hope to a woman who felt she was unworthy of God’s love. The ending is worth grabbing tissue as you soak in the beauty of grace and new beginnings.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. 

About the Author

Blossom TurnerBlossom Turner is a free-lance writer published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, former newspaper columnist on health and fitness, an avid blogger, and published novelist. Her authentic understanding of the power of forgiveness through life experience has inspired this compelling novel, Anna’s Secret, where failure, God’s love, and romance collide. She and her husband, David, have two grown children and live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Read more at blossomturner.com.

More from Blossom

MORE ABOUT WHY I WROTE ANNA’S SECRET
I am a hopeless romantic, it has been at the core of my being from a child up. I dreamed of a love that would whisk me far from the pain of my childhood upbringing.
When I first started to write Anna’s Secret, I had not yet learned all I needed to know about forgiveness. I was half-way through the book when sorrow and betrayal hit my marriage. (See “About Me” at https://blossomturner.com) I stopped writing for years.
However, as God healed the broken and restored my soul, words of love once again danced within my being. God directed that I finish this book weaving in all I learned from the crucible of suffering in my own life. Through understanding the restorative power of God’s forgiveness when humanity fails, I wrote Anna’s Secret with a strong thread of hope woven into its fabric.
Readers have expressed to me that the authenticity of this book has brought them to tears and given them a love story that entertained. However, the part I love the most … Anna’s Secret has inspired some readers to ask God for the help to forgive themselves, or for the power to offer the gift of forgiveness to another.
My prayer is that you will find Anna’s Secret an entertaining romance, inspiration to your soul, and that you will enjoy the happy ending … always a happy ending. After all, God is the God of happily ever after, and heaven is the home in which all His children will find the greatest love of all.

Blog Stops

Robin’s Nest, February 18
Rebecca Tews, February 19
Maureen’s Musings, February 20
Texas Book-aholic, February 21
Blogging With Carol, February 22
deb’s Book Review, February 22
Pause for Tales, February 23
janicesbookreviews, February 25
Inklings and notions, February 26
Quiet Quilter, February 27
For Him and My Family, February 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Blossom is giving away the grand prize package of a signed copy of Anna’s Secret and 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.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

DEAD TO THE LAST DROP by TONYA KAPPES

As I slipped into the story I felt a hug as the town embraced me. I was finally back in Honey Springs where the people were friendly and the rich smell of coffee greeted me. Roxy is there in her coffee shop serving up aromas that invite you to stay. Oh look there is Aunt Maxi all decked out in purple hair. The author makes me feel at home every time I read this series. The characters are so hospitable that I have decided to pretend I know them.

The town is abuzz with excitement as a play is in the works at the local theater. Aunt Maxi is sure she is the lead until in walks some lady who says she is here to be the star in the play. Now I didn’t care much for the snotty actress who thinks she is all that. How dare she take the lead from our dear Maxi. The author sets the stage for a mystery that is sure to catch the locals off guard. Now it wasn’t a surprise who was killed but oh my I had a hard time figuring our who the killer is. Roxy has her hands full once again as a killer is on the loose and the suspects start piling up.

I loved the author’s description of the different coffees and how they were roasted. I’m not a big fan of coffee, but I love to smell the rich aroma it brings. It reminds me of sitting on my grandfather’s porch late in the evening at his farm. He loved his coffee and would sit in his rocker enjoying a cup while telling me about the good old days. The story is filled with danger, intrigue and characters sure to charm anyone. Don’t miss the recipes at the end of the book.

I received an arc copy of the book from the author. The review is my own opinion.
blessing on the fun FB Banner

About the Book

Book:  Blessing on the Run
Author: Alana Terry
Genre:  Christian Suspense
Release Date: December 16, 2018
Blessing on the Run coverDanger she can’t escape.
Temptation she can’t ignore.
And the secret that could destroy everything …
Blessing’s worked hard as a single mom. Caring for her son, struggling to pay the bills, and straightening out her life after years on the street … It’s the hardest job she’s ever loved.
Until her ex-boyfriend reappears with a secret that could cost her freedom, her family, even her very life.
Blessing promised herself never to return to the hell she escaped from. But that was before she had a child to worry about.
A child who will die if Blessing makes the wrong choice …
Or the right one.

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW 
There is so much packed into this story that I couldn’t put it down. I love the way the author chose to write the story with the character as the narrator throughout the book. It is hard to grasp what Blessing has been through and each detail became more painful than the last. By reading the story the author shows how a young woman becomes entangled in a life she didn’t choose. In the deep reaches of her soul, Blessing has always wanted to be truly loved and not used by men. 
The only way I can think of Jarrod is a person who preys on innocent children. I will say the author delivers a character that is realistic and easy not to like. He has the ability to get in Blessings head and make her believe he cares for her. I can understand her thinking since all she has known is abuse which she interprets as love. I wanted to jump into the pages and take Jarrod by the collar and throw him in jail. Oh he says all the right things to Blessing but his attitude is horrible when she goes through something no twelve year old child should have to. 
The story is definitely a hard one to read, but it shows how easy a young person can fall for lies when they have felt  unwanted for so long. It is easy to control them with words they want to hear and promises they believe are true. I think I stayed mad through the entire book because all I wanted to do was rescue Blessing. Her ability to write a story with topics that are not popular to talk about makes her writing so intriguing. I love how the author weaves faith into her stories while showing how easy the enemy can slip into someone’s life with broken promises. 

One of the best things about this story is examining forgiveness. It is hard to comprehend that God would forgive someone for murder, rape, abortion and so many other sins we see as horrendous. In this story that one word , forgiveness, is the most powerful word to  try to accept.  We must always remember that there is no such thing has a little sin or a big sin. Sis inGod’s eyes is sin. He doesn’t compare one to the other. He does however forgive each of us and wants us to find freedom. 

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

About the Author

alana terryAlana is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second.

More from Alana

Are you afraid of anything? Maybe you have a phobia, like a fear of spiders, heights, or (if you’re weird like me) fish. (That’s a story for another day!)
When I was pregnant with our first son, I had some weird nightmares which fueled my fears. One night I woke up my husband in a panic to tell him to pray for our baby because we were being chased by a demonic cheese grater (yes, you read that right – a demonic kitchen appliance!). Regularly in my nightmares, I dream that someone or something is after my kids (and they’re usually not possessed cooking utensils, by the way).
One way I work through my fears as a mom is to turn them into stories. And even though I haven’t found a way to work a demonic cheese grater into my novels, you can read about a mother’s worst nightmare in this novel, Blessing on the Run.
 Blessing has worked hard to turn her life around after a rough life on the streets, but in this exciting suspense novel, her past it about to catch up to her.
Join Blessing and her parents (if you’re a fan of the Kennedy series you already know who they are!) for an adrenaline-packed thrill ride you won’t soon forget.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 19
Inklings and notions, February 20
A Reader’s Brain, February 21
For Him and My Family, February 23
Betti Mace, February 24
Simple Harvest Reads, February 25 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, February 25
Bigreadersite, February 26
Emily Yager, February 27
 Artistic Nobody, February 28 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, February 29
For the Love of Literature, March 3 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, March 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Alana is giving away the grand prize of a $30 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.