Search This Blog

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

About the Book

Book: Freedom in the Mountain Wind
Author: Misty M. Beller
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: January 14, 2020
The last epic journey before her life changes forever. 
Susanna Wilkins will do anything to make her father’s final dream come true, including trek along the path Lewis and Clark explored into the untamed wilds of the Rocky Mountains. Every mile is more crucial now that lung cancer is stealing Pa’s last days faster than she can come to terms with losing him. The journey becomes harder than she ever expected, but paddling upriver through fierce rapids and fighting hungry grizzlies isn’t what terrifies her the most.
Beaver Tail endured more than he can stand from the women in his Blackfoot camp, but the last disaster gave him the final shove he needed to join this band of brothers searching for one of their group who’s gone missing. The last thing he expected was to find a white woman and her sick father stranded at the base of massive waterfall. His plan is to help them carry their oversize canoe and supplies, then leave them to their strange mission. Yet, the more he learns about the pair, the more he realizes his life is about to be derailed—again.
From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.

Click here for your copy.

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

When God Directs a Google Search…
I’m a history lover, but you may have guessed that since I write historical romance stories. 😊 Most of my books are set in the Rocky Mountains during the mid-1800s, but as I began brainstorming ideas for this new series, my heart became drawn earlier to the earlier part of the century—a time period with which I wasn’t quite as familiar with the history.
I love when God orchestrates even the most mundane part of our lives, including Google searches! During one particular search (I can’t even remember what I was originally looking for), I stumbled across part of a journal entry from the Lewis and Clark expedition, which trekked across Montana during the time period I was looking into. I’d forgotten that expedition had even entered the territory that would later become Montana, but now I was fascinated.
After finding an audiobook of the abridged journals of Lewis and Clark, I happily listened to almost 19 hours of fascinating stories from the Corp of Exploration’s journey up the Missouri River and across the mountains to the Pacific Ocean, then back mostly the over the same path they’d come. The stories the men told were so amazing, and the detail of their trials so absorbing, I’ve actually re-listened to the audiobook twice! Many of the true tales wouldn’t be believable in fiction, but as I listened, my mind formed the premise for Freedom in the Mountain Wind: a father/daughter duo who sets out almost two decades after Lewis and Clark’s journey, determined to retrace the steps of that famous expedition.
I hope you enjoy this story as much as I loved writing it! And whether you’re a history lover or not, I pray that you too will be touched by this “epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.”


Review.jpg

All historical fiction readers please pay attention. There is a new book out that you must read. This story is rich in history and adventure with land that only God could have made. The author is superb in making the story come to life and make you feel you are part of it. I loved reading how determined Susanna is in making her father's dying wish come true. I worried that he would not make it as his health deteriorated.  The terrain was rough and dangerous. I could here the bears off in the distance as they cried out to their cubs.  I envisioned Susanna on her journey and  she explores the land and hears the waterfall off in the distance. i love waterfalls and think they are soothing and a sign of God's beauty.

Beaver Tail is an honorable man who stumbles upon Susanna and her father. It is clear they need help and I admired his strength and gentle spirit. The adventure really starts as they begin their long journey. At first he is not  sure he wants to continue helping them but the more he is around Susanna the more he finds himself wanting to help. I really liked how the author took  two people from different cultures and placed them together to show how everyone can get along. Susanna's father shares his faith with Beaver Tail and I began to wonder if  his heart would soften to God's love. There is no lack of danger as they come upon snakes, bears and other animals in the forest. 

The story is very clean and has a nice spiritual aspect that flows throughout the book. It details how people work together and perhaps find love along the way. Will Susanna's father make it to his destination? Can Beaver Tail find happiness with Susanna? Don't miss this exciting new series that is filled with a bit of danger and lives  that are changed forever.

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

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, January 15 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Daysong Reflections, January 15
Genesis 5020, January 16
Connect in Fiction, January 17
SPLASHES of Joy, January 17
Emily Yager, January 18
Mary Hake, January 20
Wishful Endings, January 21
All-of-a-kind Mom, January 21
Pause for Tales, January 22
Bigreadersite, January 22
Betti Mace, January 23
Older & Smarter?, January 24
Rebecca Tews, January 25
She Lives to Read, January 26
Blessed & Bookish, January 27
janicesbookreviews, January 27
deb’s Book Review, January 27
Texas Book-aholic, January 28
Hook Me In A Book, January 28

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.
The Portrait of a Christian FB Banner

About the Book

Book:  The Portrait of A Christian
Author: Raymond Sopp
Genre: Non-fiction, Theology
Release Date: November, 2019
Front cover The Portrait of a ChristianThe apostle Paul, with great knowledge of Scripture, said in Philippians 3:7–8: “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.” (NASB)
It takes a courageous person to take a second look—to lay down their life—just as the apostle Paul. Are you willing to take a second look, to lay down your life? The Portrait of a Christian was written to help you do so.
For more than thirty-eight years, Minister Raymond D. Sopp studied the Scriptures, not to parrot God’s Word through memorization but just to know God’s heart as He communicated through His Word. To know anyone’s heart, you must listen to their words.
Raymond wrote The Portrait of a Christian to challenge and provoke thought to those who desire a closer relationship with Christ. He wanted to paint a portrait of God’s heart through thirty-one separate commentaries—starting with the importance God placed on His Gospel and ending with a Lost Love. All of us must earnestly contend for the faith!

Click here to get your copy.

About the Author

Minister-SoppMinister Raymond D. Sopp has been a born-again Christian for more than thirty-eight years and ordained for more than eighteen years. He is not affiliated with any organization, nor a denomination. This has given him a unique opportunity to view the entire realm of Christianity from an objective point of view. His heart broke when he saw so many inconsistencies within the Church at-large. He inherently knew in his heart that the best way to point out error is to expose the truth in a way to provoke thought and challenge the Christian reader, while at the same time reach out to the nonbelieiver.
 Concerned by the teachings that he heard, or better yet, what he did not hear, he started a ministry on May 1, 1996 solely focused on reaching the world. (Sopp Ministries became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization on January 1, 1999.) The only purpose this ministry has is salvation both within and outside the Church at-large. Being somewhat overwhelmed, he knew he needed to stay focused on delivering a narrow message—a message that will cause all to examine themselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) to see if they’re literally born-again—to a true and biblical salvation—a simple message that has both temporal and eternal implications.

More from Raymond

Do you believe we’re approaching the Last Days? Are you seeing the season change—beginning to see leaves fall to the ground? Yes! Then, The Portrait of a Christian, is a must read for you.
There are several warnings given to the professing Christian in God’s Word; to me, the most terrifying warning to the professing Christian for this time we’re living in is what Jesus said in Matthew 7:15–23: “‘Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.’ Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (NASB)
The book I wrote, The Portrait of a Christian, is to help the professing Christian not to be one of those who just say “Lord, Lord.” Are you willing to take a second look at your Christianity? If so, then The Portrait of a Christian was written for you.


Review.jpg

Although the author is very upfront about his passion for Christ, I sometimes had a very hard time following him. He talks about miracles that Jesus performed but explained that He didn't want  anyone to tell of them. It made me reread the paragraph to grasp what the author was trying to say. We don't want a church that is big on productions or worldly things but a church that is reverent to God. Miracles happen everyday but the author is wanting Christians to go beyond that. The authors focus is on "God's holiness and righteousness, which was, and still is, my greatest need." 

I think of an onion that has been stripped of all its layers. It is exposed and has no way to hide its imperfections. That is how we need to see ourselves. God wants to strip away our bitterness, unforgivesness, pride and anything else that stops us from being in His presence. As I read the book I realized how much deeper the author goes into scriptures and how little I really knew. He makes some good points that I want to live by. We need to be genuine in everything we do. When we pray we need to be genuine while praying for others. I thought that was so powerful to read. Are we genuine when we tell someone we will pray for them?  If someone asks me to pray for them, I stop and do it right then.  People put on Facebook all the time that they need pray. The comments are "I will be praying." As a Christian I want to be genuine when I say I'm praying. 

The author gives great examples such as people being on a jury. He explains that the jury decides the fate of a person by what they hear. They didn't see the crime happen but are willing to put someone in prison or set them free. Now lets put that principle to our faith. We can't see Jesus but we have facts that He is who He says He is.  There is a lot of information in the book and scriptures that I have decided to reread the book as a bible study. I'm not clear on all the points the author made so I need to allow God to show me where I am struggling. I do think the author is passionate about God and desires for everyone to know Him. He delivers a good message with examples that did help me in some areas I didn't quite understand. Overall I think reading the book gives us things to think about and perhaps dig deeper into what the Word says. 

" We must never forget that whatever trials we find ourselves in , God is in control."

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


Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, January 28
Artistic Nobody, January 30 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, February 1
janicesbookreviews, February 2
Discipling4Life, February 3
Blossoms and Blessings, February 4 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, February 4
Through the Fire Blogs, February 7 (Author Interview)
Godly Book Reviews, February 9

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Raymond 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.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

COLLATERAL DAMAGE bit LYNETTE EASON

 I liked the theme of the book how the author explored military personnel and the repercussions war has on them.  It was nice to read about PTSD in a realistic way and show how hard it is to overcome this illness. The title is perfect for this story and was intriguing to read.

Two peoples lives collide in this action packed story as a dead body turns up and danger follows. The two main characters work well together and I liked how they each had a past that was similar.

It is a fast paced story that looks at the military and delivers an  edge of your seat thrilling book with danger, adventure and a bit of romance. This is one book you don’t want to miss.

I received a copy of this book from Librarything Early Readers Program.  The review is my own opinion.
DEADLY DECEIT by NATALIE WALTERS

This story had me from the first few pages and I knew this would be a great book. Vivian is a journalist who receives  a call from her boss to meet him. You could feel the uneasiness in  Vivian who thought it was odd he wanted to meet her. When she gets to her destination she finds her boss dead. What did he want to tell her? Her instincts kick in as she starts to dig into his death.

Ryan is a detective who is serious about his job. When he teams up with Vivian the intrigue heightens. I liked how the author showed how two characters work together as they slowly develop feelings for each other. It was nice to have the focus on the mystery more than the romance.

The author doesn’t disappoint suspense readers as the investigation finds Vivian and Ryan in danger. The twists in the story are unexpected which makes for an exciting read. I have found a new to me author who can write intriguing stories that are clean, adventurous and filled with wonderful characters.

I received a copy of this book from the Librarything Early Readers Program. The review is my own opinion.



THE WAY OF THE BRAVE by SUSAN MAY WARREN

The story is filled with adventure as the author takes us into a world of danger and intrigue. I loved getting to know Orion. He had the characteristics of a moody, unhappy yet brave personality. He can’t forgive himself for something  that happened in the past.

Jenny reminds me of a daredevil who holds a secret that is controlling her life. When the pair team up,  the action starts and emotions flow into an explosive journey. I absolutely loved reading about Alaska. It was easy to visualize the area with  details the author provides. The author never disappoints with stories that weave faith throughout as we sit on the edge of our seat as daring rescues keep the characters busy.

I liked reading about mountain climbing and appreciated how people put their lives on the line to save others. I can’t imagine dangling from a rope as they use their skills to rescue others. Get ready for a super charged action filled story that will make you want to read as fast as you can to see what happens.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing Blogger Program. The review is my own opinion.

Hidden Current FB BannerAbout the Book

Book: Hidden Current
Author: Sharon Hinck
Genre: Christian Fantasy
Release Date: January 14, 2020
Hidden_CurrentThe dancers of the Order direct their floating world of Meriel with their movements, but are they steering it toward destruction ?
Calara spent her life learning dance patterns and seeking to become the perfect servant to her people. When she discovers the work of the Order is built on lies, she flees with a rough-edged herder, Brantley of Windswell.   Pursued by soldiers of the Order, her journey through the suffering villages of the rim leads her to a forgotten truth that sends ripples through her world—and through her soul.
Calara’s seeks clues to her forgotten family, discovers newfound courage in the face of danger, and awakens a growing but forbidden affection for Brantley. Yet even his support can’t fully be trusted, since he’d rather destroy the Order than bring reform.
She is a lone woman facing opposition from rim villages and treachery from the all-powerful Order. Can she restore the dance to its true purpose and bring freedom and hope to her people?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

CRW_2024 copyAward-winning author of the ground-breaking Sword of Lyric series, Sharon Hinck is a wife, mom, and recent grandma, has an M.A. in communication, and has served as the artistic director of a Christian performing arts group, a church youth worker, and a professional choreographer, and an adjunct writing professor. To learn more about her writing, visit her at www.sharonhinck.com.

More from Sharon

Have you ever felt that nothing you do is ever enough? Not good enough? Meaningful enough? Do you ever think that if you could be more perfect, all your problems would be solved? In my new novel, I explore a character whose entire culture tells her that she must achieve perfection – and that answers to her world’s problems rest solely on human effort. Set in an imaginative fantasy world, I hope her journey will ring true for readers in our world.
I’m so excited to finally be able to share my new novel, Hidden Current, with readers. Can you see me Snoopy dancing?
And speaking of dancing …

What inspired this new series?
 Years before I wrote my first novel, I worked as a dance teacher, choreographer, and artistic director of a Christian dance company. So, when my agent and I were discussing ideas for my next book, he said, “In all your other novels, you’ve never drawn from your experience in dance. I’d love to see you create a brand-new fantasy world and utilize dance in some way.”
I began mulling the idea, and within days, a character had come to life.
In my new novel, Hidden Current, the dancers of the Order direct their floating world with their movements but are steering it toward destruction. One lone dancer fights to overcome opposition from rim villages and treachery from the all-powerful Order and bring a forgotten truth to her people.

Is this part of a series?
Yes, but this is a stand-alone story. That means that although I’ve written more books with these characters, you don’t have to wait for the series to release, fearing an unresolved ending to book one. The story is complete of itself, with just a hint of the next adventure to follow. I’ve already done my revisions on the second book and have finished writing book three. J

Why should I order soon?
This is being released in limited edition hardcover. That means when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Is this similar to the Sword of Lyric books?
Yes and no. It’s not a “portal fantasy” – no modern-day character visits this world. However, like my other fantasy series, the book was inspired by spiritual themes, delves deeply into the heart of a character that many of us can relate to, and paints a unique story world full of both beauty and dangers. I’m so excited for its release!
Review.jpg
At first I seemed so lost as I read the book. I couldn’t figure out what  was going on and then I settled down and started absorbing the words that glided  across the pages. Dancing plays a huge part in the story and it seemed to have power over people and the earth. The author does an incredible job of describing the rhythm of the dance and you could feel the ground tremble as the dancers set to work. It was a very strict place called The Order and Calara wanted to please those who cared for her. 
Day after day she danced patterns hoping that she would become perfect. I liked the doubt Calara had about The Order and her desire to get away from their control. She escapes and finds herself trusting Brantley. The rumors Calara hears about The Order make her sad and she knows she must never allow them to control her again. It was interesting to be introduced to the Maker and hear whispered words being told to Calara. It is a story filled with adventure and beings that are different from what we have ever seen. 
What I liked most about the story was the theme of good vs evil. When Calara realizes that she has been lied to, she desires to hear the Maker’s voice more clearly. Can the Maker free her from the evil she lived in?  Calara will have to decide who she can trust and if she can be set free from The Order. Reading about what Calara endures while under The Order’s power is frightening at times. If you don’t do everything perfect, they toss you aside like garbage. There were many secrets that started  to unravel as Calara rebels against a force that has kept her from her family and everything she loves. 
I enjoyed the story and how the author shared a world where battles against evil were challenged. The truth will set Calara free but at what cost? Will she be able to save those she loves? Can the Maker give her peace and show her a better life? Grab a copy and escape into a world where adventure awaits.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. 

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, January 26
Artistic Nobody, January 28 (Author Interview)
Fiction Aficionado, January 29
janicesbookreviews, January 30
Emily Yager, January 31
Wishful Endings, February 2 (Author Interview)
Mia Reads, February 2
Blogging With Carol, February 4
Worthy2Read, February 6
Pause for Tales, February 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sharon is giving away to two winners each the grand prize of a gift box full of goodies including: a Hidden Current book bag, a selection of other books by Sharon Hinck, Tsalla tea from Adagio (the tea they drink in the novel), chocolates, a packet of “star rain” (also from the book), an artistic book mark, and autographed book plate!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.