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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
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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
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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
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Sunday, May 12, 2019

shadow among sheaves FB Banner

About the Book

Shadow amonght Sheaves
Book: Shadow Among Sheaves
Author: Naomi Stephens
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Release Date: April, 2019
A Timeless, Beautiful Allegory of the Biblical Love Story of Ruth and Boaz
The Great Rebellion of 1857 was a remarkably bloody business. At a time when Britain’s imperial influence in India was sparking brutal clashes on both sides, no one could have expected Rena, an Indian woman, to marry a British officer—nor do they understand her decision to follow her mother-in-law to England after her husband’s tragic death.
Once the two widows are in Abbotsville, the stern yet compassionate Lord Barric attempts to help them despite his better judgment. Soon he is torn between the demands of reputation and his increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart for his own.

About the Author

Naomi StephensNaomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. She received a M.A. in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and now lives in Ohio with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock.

More from Naomi

A Timeless, Beautiful Allegory of the Biblical Love Story of Ruth and Boaz
The Great Rebellion of 1857 was a remarkably bloody business. At a time when Britain’s imperial influence in India was sparking brutal clashes on both sides, no one could have expected Rena, an Indian woman, to marry a British officer—nor do they understand her decision to follow her mother-in-law to England after her husband’s tragic death.
Once the two widows are in Abbotsville, the stern yet compassionate Lord Barric attempts to help them despite his better judgment. Soon he is torn between the demands of reputation and his increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart for his own. Which will he choose? Find out in Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens.
Read an Exclusive Excerpt from Shadow Among Sheaves: 
She smiled, stepping closer and placing her hand on the horse’s wet snout. Samson was a pretty beast with wide, ponderous eyes and a few splotches of gray around his nose. The soft puff of air Samson snorted into her palm brought a delighted smile to her lips, and she gasped as he bowed his neck to nuzzle his nose against her stomach. She felt her smile leap into a grin. It was a delightful change, to feel joy so deep it finally showed.
Barric circled around Samson to stand beside her, his hands never leaving the reins. “He’s fond of you,” he remarked as Samson dropped his snout against her hip.
“Unsurprising, I suppose. Though he could also be searching you for a carrot.”
Surprised to hear Lord Barric speak so teasingly, and pleased by the gentle light she found in his otherwise tired eyes, Rena laughed her faint agreement. “That will teach me to come empty-handed, won’t it?”
Their smiles both dropped as a young, lanky stable hand came rushing out to take Samson, and Barric relinquished his hold on the reins, nodding his silent thanks.
As soon as the stable boy had disappeared with Samson, Bar¬ric glanced back at Rena. “Are you going home?” he asked, nodding toward the dusty road looping down the hill to William’s house.
She stepped back, realizing she had dawdled longer than she’d first intended. “Yes,” she answered. “I often come this way to avoid the other workers.”
“Might I walk with you?” He turned to hang his whip on a peg. “Just a short stretch of the road?”
Stunned by his request, and a bit suspicious of his motive, she nonetheless nodded. “Yes, of course.”
Barric drew up beside her, his even strides betraying no unease, though he was silent for some time as they made their way down the golden-colored hill.
“You have seemed tired these past few days,” he observed. Rena did not bother to deny it. She’d been working hard to keep up with the others, as Barric had told her she must, and felt wearier for it. She had tried to split her days in half, the mornings spent binding sheaves with the women and the afternoons spent picking for her own stores, but the work was backbreaking, and, as he had already pointed out once before, she was not used to hard labor. “I realize I haven’t really asked you how you are settling in,” he went on.
“Perhaps you’ve been too busy provoking me,” she answered before she could stop herself.
Barric’s eyebrow inched up as he slanted an approving smirk down at her. “Perhaps.”
Rena cursed her honest tongue. She must have been more tired than she thought, to speak so freely to a man of title. “I have been well,” she tried again, a bit more diplomatically. “The house suits us, if that is what you are asking.”
“The people here do not speak to you unkindly?”
“The people do not speak to me at all.” She had meant to sound casual, unaffected, but heard the hurt in her own voice she hadn’t been able to weed out. As Barric’s expression tightened, she hastened to amend, “Except for you, my lord. Of course. And the Wilmots.”
“They are good people,” he agreed quietly. “And will you be coming with them to the festival this evening?”
She hesitated. According to Alice, harvest home was a yearly tra¬dition, a night of raucous drinking and dancing to celebrate the close of the harvest. All of Abbotsville would be there—landowners, stew-ards, even tenant farmers and common laborers. But Rena was none of those things, and she and Barric both knew it.
“Come,” Barric teased, “do not tell me you are afraid to go. I would never have thought it of you.”
“I am not afraid,” she insisted. “I just had not thought about it.”
At her defensive tone, he smiled—a true smile—one that pinched the corners of his eyes and pressed grooves along the outer edges of his mouth. “You ought to come,” he decided. “Everyone in Abbotsville is welcome, and many are the men who would feel lucky to dance with you.”
But, of course, Lord Barric knew this was not true. The men in his fields regarded her mostly with contempt and made no secret of it— they would not count themselves at all lucky to dance with her. Was Lord Barric trying to offer her words of comfort? Or was he trying to convey a message?
Did he want to dance with her?
This was hardly a safe question, and so she asked another. “Do you dance, Lord Barric?”
When he met her gaze, so direct, she was all the more glad she had not stammered in her reply. The man walked a dangerous line whenever he deigned to speak to her. Far too close, she’d think, and then stern enough to cool her blood with a word.
He surprised her with another smile, this one a faint twist at the corner of his lips. “Perhaps you would have to come to find out.”




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This book has been a joy to read. The author has taken a story from the bible and retold it in a way that brings readers right into the scenes with ease. I felt like I was there as the story unfolded. My heart broke for Nell and Rena as they found themselves penniless and no where to live. The deep compassion Rena has for her mother-in-law is compelling. The depths that Rena will go to in order to keep Nell safe and well is what I would call unconditional love. 


Rena and Nell both are grieving a loss but must find a way to survive when there is no one willing to help them. I can't imagine how hard it was for Rena to be called such horrible names by people and still honor her promise to her mother-in-law. I really admired Rena's strength and integrity and she found ways to provide for Nell.  The time period was quite fascinating to read about and I loved the British theme in the story. 

It is easy to see Rena out in the fields as she collected the loose grains left behind by workers. She never complained about how hard it was to be in the field all day as the hot sun cast heat across her body.  When we are introduced to Lord Barric I was immediately drawn to his compassion and humbleness. He was a character that gave off quiet strength and a heart that was pure.  Being of British descant Barric is enthralled by the young woman from India. The rumors abound when he takes interest in her. The people who surrounded Lord Barric were concerned that his reputation would be damaged if he was to show any sympathy for Rena. It is funny how people jump to conclusions that Rena must be after Lord Barric's money and that since she is a foreigner she is not worthy of him.

The story is similar to Ruth and Naomi from the bible but is told in a way that delves into more of what it was like to be an outcast and feel like you have been forgotten by God.  It also highlights how a person is treated if they are from another country. The author kept my attention by telling a story that went into detail of the struggles of a young woman who made a promise she was willing to keep at all costs. The story flows easily and reminds readers that there is always hope. 

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

Blog Stops

Mary Hake, April 30
Worthy2Read, April 30
Bigreadersite, May 3
Hallie Reads, May 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Naomi is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a finished paperback copy of Shadow Among Sheaves!!
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/deb9/shadow-among-sheaves-celebration-tour-giveawa
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