Saturday, April 4, 2020

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About the Book

Book:  Eden
Author: Brennan S. McPherson
Genre:  Biblical Fiction
Release Date: April 1, 2020

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000035_00026]“You want me to tell of how I broke the world.”
It’s the year 641 since the beginning of the world, and when Eve passes away, she leaves Adam the only man on earth who remembers everything from the beginning of the world.
When Enoch, God’s newly appointed prophet, decides to collect the stories of the faithful from previous generations, he finds Adam in desperate need to
confess the dark secrets he’s held onto for too long.
Beside a slowly burning bonfire in the dead of night, Adam tells his story in searing detail. From the beginning of everything, to how he broke the world, shattered Eve’s heart, and watched his family crumble.
Will Enoch uncover what led so many of Adam’s children away from God? And will Adam find the redemption and forgiveness he longs for?

Click here for your copy.

MY REVIEW
 I understand that when an author writes Biblical fiction, they may choose to take some liberties in retailing the story. I have taken that fact into consideration as I write this review. I am disappointed in this story for many reasons. I didn’t want to read an account of Adam and Eve that barely resembles the true story from the Bible. Unfortunately this is one that took too many turns away from the truth and made it almost a completely different story that is unrecognizable . 
The very beginning is easy to follow when God creates everything. We are introduced to Adam and suddenly I felt like God was not a Heavenly being but an actual person. We see the two chatting like old friends and walking around together like buddies. One of the things that really struck me as weird was Adam having conversations with the serpent. I don’t ever remember Adam walking around talking to the serpent about cucumber seeds or anything at all. Why does that bother me so much? It has to do with Eve being the one the serpent enticed. The Bible clearly states that Eve was tempted by the serpent and never was there any mention of Adam talking to the serpent.

I enjoy Biblical fiction but not when it completely rewrites the story in a way where facts that are important have been embellished in a way that is almost a fantasy. I can appreciate the imagination that an author has while writing  a story ; so in  that aspect the author has achieved his goal.. The author does portray the serpent pretty close to what the Bible describes but again I don’t think Eve looked to Adam to give the final say in eating  the forbidden fruit. 

There are a few things I did like about the book. I like that the author reminds us that God never goes back on His promises . He will never leave us nor forsake us. He wants us to repent of our sins but He gives us free will. We decide if we want to ask for  forgiveness and feel the unconditional love of The Heavenly Father. Perhaps I am being too hard and not appreciating what the author wanted to do with this story. After all it is a fictional account of Eden. I can’t recommend this book, but I always want readers to decide for themselves.

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

About the Author

brennanBRENNAN S. MCPHERSON writes epic, imaginative biblical fiction with heart-pounding plots and lyrical prose, for readers who like to think biblically and feel deeply. He lives with his wife and young daughter in the Midwest, and spends as much of his spare time with them as possible.

Read an Exclusive Excerpt

In my beginning was not darkness, but Light.
As I opened my eyes for the first time, I saw dust motes swirling around five bright points. I reached for them and realized the dust was not blowing past me but instead settling across the complex shapes in my arms.
Distracted, I twisted my wrist, seeing muscle, tendon, bone, and a partial layer of skin. Clenching my fingers one by one, I saw the movement in my joints.
Fascinated, I watched as a swathe of dust poured over me like a sheet of silk and morphed into smooth, brown flesh. I ran my fingers across my new skin, and when the sound of shifting sand settled, noticed what sounded like gentle Music riding on the breath that flowed into me.
I inhaled.
Exhaled.
Inhaled again.
“Adam,” I said, for I had heard that name—my name—in the Music.
I realized that my Father was singing over me, and in his singing, he had given me life and form, and had named me Adam.
He smiled at me, with those dark brown eyes, and let soft melodies fall from his tongue as I lay on my back.
He lifted me from the mud and burned the remaining dust from my skin with the heat of his presence. But he did not hurt me as a natural flame might. Instead, he filled and cleansed me. And the joy of him filled me with an insatiable desire to experience everything around me, to understand the world he had sung into existence.
I’ve never since felt so whole as I did with him in Eden. Because inside me was nothing that did not belong. Only him, and the breath he gave, and the Music he sang, and the smells of Eden, and the touch of his Light, and the taste of his name on my lips as I spoke for the second time. “Father.” I smiled and laughed.
He stood magnificent, warm, compassionate. The image of the invisible condensed in a life foreknown before the foundations of the world were formed.
I felt his pride over me and laughed again, only now with tears.
My first moments were not like those of a newborn child come from a womb. Instead, they were of a child gone into the womb. Swaddled in the Light of God. Cocooned in his satisfaction.
I was Adam. Man fully formed. Reflection of perfection.
In joy, I fell to my hands and knees and bowed my forehead to the ground. Tears flowed to the soil I’d been formed from. How great! How wonderful this being was who had made me for himself, and who so unendingly satisfied me. Nothing I’ve experienced in my long years could ever make me forget it. That sense of purpose. Of everything being right.
Ah, yes. I see wonder on your face, Enoch, at how tears could be present in a world yet unbroken by sin.
Have you never wondered why the kiss of a lover can bring tears to our eyes? It is because some goods are so great that they must be given vent. For not all tears spring from sorrow. And not all aches are unwanted.
Yet still, my Father lifted me and wiped my cheeks. Then he led me across hills and valleys, puddles and rivers. He pointed at plants and skittering animals and insects, and it seemed as though I could hear the echo of his melodies in their movements.

Blog Stops

Mary Hake, April 3
Genesis 5020, April 6
Betti Mace, April 9
EmpowerMoms, April 10
Pause for Tales, April 11
Hallie Reads, April 13

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Brennan is giving away the grand prize package of a “McPherson Publishing bundle”, which includes the following books: a copy of Flood, Babel, the three Psalm Series novellas, and The Simple Gospel book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Friday, April 3, 2020

About the Book

Book:  Hope in the Mountain River
Author: Misty M. Beller
Genre:  Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: March 31, 2020
This epic journey is not at all what she expected. 
Joel Vargas can’t believe he’s lost his older brother in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains after surviving their harrowing voyage across the Atlantic. And he can’t shake the feeling that Adam—his only living relative—is in dire trouble. No matter what the cost, he and his band of friends won’t stop until Adam is found. He doesn’t have time to contend with the two Indian women who seem to be shadowing his every move.
After the devastating loss of her daughter and husband to a sickness that swept through their Nez Perce camp, Elan is desperate to find an escape from her grief. As she and her friend journey through the mountains toward the great river, a band of white men is the last thing she expects to find, especially as winter blows in full force.
When the dangers increase, accomplishing Joel’s mission becomes the only hope for all their survival. If the elements don’t consume them, Elan has a feeling life will never be the same for any of them.
From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and intense adventure.

Click here to get your copy.
MY REVIEW 
 The story is so descriptive that it is easy for me to feel like I’m there shivering in the snow as  the horses trudge along. It is not an easy journey that Elam and Joel take through the mountains. The majestic beauty of snow topped mountains are to visualize  as the story delivers a realistic look at December 1830 in Montana. As I read the story I kept thinking how we sometimes take things for granted. Can you imagine having to use a cave as a way to stay warm or a campfire that required wood throughout the night? 
Elam and Joel find danger that threatens them from accomplishing their mission. I liked how the author slowly builds their relationship. What I really liked was how Elam came to know God in a way that she never thought possible. I am really enjoying this series and have to say how every story has a great message that we can all glean from. Hope, trust and faith are the main themes in this story and the author captures each one with several characters who struggle surrendering to God. The book can be read as a stand alone but I would recommend the first one to get a feel for the characters better. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. 

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Todaybestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.
She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

More from Misty

I’ve always been a horse lover, and was blessed to grow up on a farm. My brother and I each had ponies of our own and rode hours each day. When we were old enough to graduate to full-size horses, we met neighbors who also had horses and loved to ride together. The two mares they rode had a mottled black and white spotted look, which I knew to be part of the Appaloosa breed. Through hears of riding together, I developed a deep appreciation for those two Appaloosa horses, as well as respect for the entire breed! Those two mares proved they could outrun and outlast any of the other horses in our riding group.
I’ve long wanted to include Appaloosas in one of my stories, especially since the breed was said to have begun in the Nez Perce tribe who lived just west of the Rocky Mountains. I’m so excited for you to meet Elan, the heroine in Hope in the Mountain River!
Elan and her friend are traveling through the Rockies on their Appaloosa horses, animals who can ride faster and longer than all the other horses in their group—even through the treacherous terrain of the Rocky Mountains!
I pray you love this story as much as I loved writing it. Enjoy a glimpse of the famous Appaloosa horse!

Blog Stops

Mary Hake, March 31
Genesis 5020, April 2
Rebecca Tews, April 5
Splashes of Joy, April 6
Bigreadersite, April 6
Betti Mace, April 7
Simple Harvest Reads, April 9 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Artistic Nobody, April 12 (Guest Reviewer Donna Cline)
Pause for Tales, April 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize of 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.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

WELCOME TO THE REVIEW PROMO BLAST FOR TATIANA
PRESENTED BY CELEBRATE LIT



Tatiana Bergman views life through a different lens than most. She says and does what she likes without regard for hurt feelings on the way. Living in the 1840s in rural Pennsylvania, her passionate, impulsive behavior confounds her sisters and appalls her peers.

Life only gets more complicated when Tatiana befriends Jonny Creek, a mischievous young man whose Native American blood puts him on the fringes of society. Jonny is trouble; Tatiana is intrigued. Together they spell out disaster. From being chased by wolves, to bashing around fancy gatherings, the unlikely pair get into one scrape after another.

When tragedy strikes the Bergman family, Tatiana is compelled to leave the security of her childhood home to live in the bustling city of Philadelphia. There, she is forced into adulthood as she deals with a mysterious young coworker and an unsavory employer.

Tatiana struggles to subdue her wild spirit and keep her heart pure while making the right choices and wrestling with her own woman she finds herself in a battle of her will between two young men and the God she serves.


Purchase Link
https://amzn.to/2RH8H39


MY REVIEW

What a nice story about a young girl who discovers Jesus and along the way grows into a faithful woman. Tatiana is a handful for her sisters with her sassiness and rebellious attitude. I laughed several times at her quick wit. I loved how hungry she was to learn the Bible and be a better person. It is a book  chocked full of faith. Jonny is someone who I just knew Tatiana would connect with. They seemed to have similar curious manners and defiant at times.  It was interesting to see their friendship develop over the years.

The story is set in the 1830’s where we see families struggling to survive. Times were hard for them but I could sense the joy Tatiana had for living her life to the fullest. Prejudice does come into the picture and I liked how the author handled it. As Tatiana becomes older she catches the eyes of several young men. I wonder who she will choose? It is a good book I think young teens would enjoy. 

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





Madeline Brock's love of people, history, the Lord, and good storytelling flows over into her writing. She was born and raised in Northwest Ohio and came from a homeschooling family of seven. Madeline has loved reading and writing from a very young age.

In childhood, a favorite activity was taking family road trips across the country. Several unique part-time jobs filled her teen years. Among these were: music teacher, nanny, and a historic museum costumed guide. A chocolate factory and a produce stand were also memorable work experiences.

After graduation, Madeline spent two years on a Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. Her primary activity was teaching at a private school. Now California's beautiful Central Valley is her home. She resides with four cats, her carpenter husband, and their infant daughter.

Two of Madeline's favorite books are Little Women and Anne of Green Gables. She loves the timeless way the authors relate and portray their characters. Madeline strives to write with the nostalgia and emotion of her favorite authors.

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About the Book

Book:  For Whom The Sun Sings
Author: W.A. Fulkerson
Genre:  Young Adult Fiction / Religious / Christian / Fantasy
Release Date: March 17, 2020
Fulkerson - For Whom the Sun SingsThe world is blind…then one boy is born with sight.
Nestled in a mountain haven, the remaining people of the world live in a village that is ordinary but strict. A severe peace must be kept severely, as they say. It’s all that keeps them from descending into the chaos that claimed the world a hundred years ago.
Led by the Prophet Valdas and his Regents, the villagers work, play, marry, and have families. They gather in ceremony once a year to celebrate their Day of Remembrance. Life is planned, precise, and predictable until the special abilities of eleven-year-old Andrius threaten to undermine it all.

Click here to get your copy.
MY REVIEW
Is it wrong to love a book so much that you want to be a character in it? Well I want to be in this book and explore with Andrius. His strength and special abilities make this book a must to have in your possession.  The author is well versed in descriptive words and I easily found myself in the village waiting for the big celebration. The story is so well done it is like light spread across pages with no gaps. It is a story to rejoice in and embrace the gift the author gives us through his story. 
I needed this book to read because I wanted to escape what was going on around us in the world right now. I wanted a story that would capture a place where I could join in the journey as the story comes to life. Is it possible that the author has reached his pique with this book? I say a big no loudly as I sway to the music that Andrius hears. He is such a special character that it is hard to believe that he only lives in a book. But wait, that isn’t true. His character is alive as he teaches us how important and valuable truth is. 
I loved reading about Andrius when he was a baby. It sets the stage for a wonderful bonding moment as his father explains how he rescued Andrius. The love between father and son is well displayed by words of encouragement, wisdom and compassion. Their relationship will be tested at times but Andrius honors his father at all times. 
The brilliance in this story is not what is said but what is not said. Scattered throughout the story are little nuggets that gather in your mind as the story and its meaning become clearer. It will be a story I will remember forever as a turning point for me. I was reminded about hope when you can’t see it and faith  when you want to give up. I loved every moment I spent with Andrius as he discovers truth and sees past the darkness. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

About the Author

W.A. Fulkerson photoW. A. Fulkerson is the author of ten books, including Writing With Purpose: A Step-By-Step Guide to Producing Your Best Book. He works in film as a screenwriter, having written the award-winning documentary Save My Seoul with Jubilee Media. He teaches regularly at San Diego Writers, Ink in Point Loma, CA. Fulkerson is a voracious reader across genres, but J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Isaac Asimov, Michael Crichton, T. H. White, Pablo Neruda, and John Donne are particular favorites. In his free time, he enjoys coaching wrestling, training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and studying languages. He lives in San Diego with his wife and son.

More from W.A. Fulkerson

You know the feeling.
Your co-worker is clearly lying again and again, but your boss doesn’t see it. People in your neighborhood keep voting for the same crooked politicians, but they don’t listen when you suggest an alternative. You know you’d be the perfect couple if he/she only gave you a chance. You’ve found the secret to living a better, freer life, but no one else cares to participate.
Sometimes, it seems like the whole world has gone crazy, and you’re the only one who refuses to swallow the crazy pills. It’s an aggravating feeling, and it lies at the heart of my new novel For Whom the Sun Sings.
It’s dedicated “To everyone who has ever felt alone in knowing the truth,” but the book is not an allegory. It doesn’t hint at political points or try to convince you of anything. It’s a catharsis, vented by way of a story that will hopefully have you putting off your to-do list so you can finish the book. (A lot of the advance readers have read it in just one day, which makes me feel good, as the author.)
The main character, Andrius, is the ultimate expression of that frustrated feeling of something being so clear to you, but you lack the ability to explain to, cajole, or convince anyone. Writing it felt like healing, for that reason, and I hope it’s refreshing to you as well.

Blog Stops

Wishful Endings, April 3 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, April 5
Emily Yager, April 8
Pause for Tales, April 10
amandainpa, April 11
Simple Harvest Reads, April 12 (Guest Reviewer Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, W.A. is giving away the grand prize of an autographed copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.