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Thursday, May 7, 2020

About the Book

Book:  Rocky Mountain Redemption
Author: Lisa J. Flickinger
Genre:  Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: May 5, 2020
A Rocky Mountain logging camp may be just the place to find herself.
To escape the devastation caused by the breaking of her wedding engagement, Isabelle Franklin joins her aunt in the Rocky Mountains to feed a camp of lumberjacks cutting on the slopes of Cougar Ridge. If only she could out run the lingering nightmares.
Charles Bailey, camp foreman and Stony Creek’s itinerant pastor, develops a reputation to match his new nickname — Preach.  However, an inner battle ensues when the details of his rough history threaten to overcome the beliefs of his young faith.
Amid the hazards of camp life, the unlikely friendship growing between the two surprises Isabelle. She’s drawn to Preach’s brute strength and gentle nature as he leads the ragtag crew toiling for Pollitt’s Lumber. But when the ghosts from her past return to haunt her, the choices she will make change the course of her life forever—and that of the man she’s come to love.

Click here to get your copy.

MY REVIEW
 I liked the setting of the story about a logging camp. The author describes the place well with a group of men working long hours and barely  having time  to rest between shifts. I could see off in the distance the bunk house they stayed out and how cramped they were  living in close quarters. 
The story takes on a sensitive subject that I felt was done in good taste. The author introduces us to Isabelle who is forced to work at the camp in secret. The story will give readers details of why Isabelle was sent to work alongside her Aunt Lou so I won’t expand on that part of the story. I want to talk about Preach. He accidentally runs into Isabelle and immediately he is attracted to her. For some reason that really bothered me. I didn’t like him through the majority of the story because he acted a bit superior to others at times. He persists in getting to know Isabelle and I found him to be too pushy and judgmental when it came to Isabelle. 
Isabelle is young and felt  tossed aside by her parents as she is forced to live at the logging camp hidden so no one knows she is there. The traumatic event she endured was unthinkable and made my blood boil. I don’t think her parents gave her any time to tell her side of the story before she was whisked away. The demand her father makes on her is hurtful and I wanted to hug Isabelle and tell her that God loves her. She keeps all these feelings bottled up and it begins to take a toll on her. 
The story is good as far as how the author handled the attack on Isabelle. It is told in a way that readers can grasp what happened without too much detail.  Preach has a past that is briefly explained but  for me I didn’t feel like he was all that upset about how he use to be. Then to my dismay I realized that I had judged him and expected him to be brought in front of everyone to confess his sin. God had forgiven him so why was I still expecting him to confess  to the world? We as the body of Christ at times think people should be publicly shamed in order for us to feel satisfied. 
The book took a turn for me the more I read how the author used different people in the story to show different sins. Each character was pivotal to the story as their characters interacted and forgiveness was shown in God’s way. I loved the story more than I thought and was taught a good lesson on judging others. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.  

About the Author

Lisa J. Flickinger lives and writes from the cliff of a river along the majestic Rocky Mountains. When not writing or reading, you will find her scouring antique shops or sipping a maple latte with friends and family. To learn more about her other books, visit www.lisajflickinger.com


More from Lisa

I have a confession to make. I’m a square dancer, a real live square dancer who do-si-dos and allemande-lefts my way around a square every Thursday night. And lest you think it’s a room full of eighty year olds, our youngest dancer is a mere twenty-four.
It was on the dance floor I first met Larry. Logger Larry, the Paul Bunyan like soul who regaled me with tales of chopping trees in the Rocky Mountains. He told stories about grizzlies who hunted men for their next meal, brawls in the bunkhouse only the hardy could survive, and life threatening axe injuries when they had to carry the wounded through the forest for miles.
Larry’s stories provided a great background for a romantic novel and sent me on a mission to research late 1800’s logging camps. It’s at Pollitt’s Lumber, in 1898, where we meet our hero and heroine, Preach and Isabelle, and join their cautious journey toward love. It’s also where we meet a ragtag bunch of lumberjacks whose antics would get on anyone’s last nerve.
I fell in love with the characters of Rocky Mountain Redemption as they tromped onto the pages, and I’m thrilled to introduce them to you in Book One of the Rocky Mountain Revival Series.
Dear reader, enjoy!

Blog Stops

CarpeDiem, May 10
Hallie Reads, May 11
Betti Mace, May 12
Moments, May 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lisa 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.
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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

About the Book

Book:  A Life Renewed
Author: Olivia Rae
Genre:  Christian Historical
Release Date: April 2, 2020
In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, “The Nine Days’ Queen” was executed for high treason. 
But what if, instead of feeling the blade on her neck she secretly survived?
Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree to his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes.
Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart?

Click here for your copy!

MY REVIEW

This has been a great look at what might of  happened if history could be changed. I didn’t know much about Lady Jane Grey. I found her story to be quite intriguing. The author does a  great job of exploring what turn of events could happen if Lady Jane had  survived. I was enthralled with Jane as she escapes death. Her travels were dangerous but God watched over her. Her journey lands her in a land where she must hide her  true identity. My heart would be beating out of my chest as I encountered people in the village. 

I was never  very trusting of the Prince who came to her rescue and found her a place to hide in plain sight. What is really good about this story is the history embedded in truth by an author who expertly brings twists to the book. I loved the mystery surrounding Asher as he is found critically hurt. He has come to find Lady Jane. Will he be able to carry out his mission? I came to really like Asher because he has a heart for truth and trusts God to guide him to do the right thing.  There is some violence in the story  but it is handled with little graphic details. 

What I really liked about the story is how the author combines truth with fiction and delivers a powerful story about faith, trust and freedom. Jane is admirable in wanting to lay  her life  down so others would be saved. Jesus did that for us and everyday we should be thanking Him for His sacrifice. The ending is perfect and gives readers a glimpse into the next story. I will be anxiously awaiting to continue the journey in this very promising  series. 

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

About the Author

Olivia Rae is an award-winning author who spent her school days dreaming of knights, princesses and far away kingdoms; it made those long, boring days in the classroom go by much faster. Nobody was more shocked than her when she decided to become a teacher. Besides getting her Master’s degree, marrying her own prince, and raising a couple of kids, Olivia decided to breathe a little more life into her childhood stories by adding in what she’s learned as an adult living in a small town next to a big city. When not writing, she loves to travel, dragging her family to old castles and forts all across the world.

More from Olivia

The Challenge in Writing About a Real Historical Person
I like creating a story out of a kernel of information. The idea of my new book, A Life Renewed came when I took a trip to England and learned about the tragic life of Lady Jane Grey. Her life was so disastrous, I just wanted to give her a second chance at happiness. So that’s exactly what I did when she escaped her execution instead of dying as she did in real life.
My greatest challenge in writing this book was picking a heroine that actually lived. I had to do a lot of research in Lady Jane Grey’s life and her family. It was very interesting. Lady Jane was what we would call a progressive protestant. The conflicts between the Catholics and Protestants (The beginning of The Church of England) was very real and very deadly at that time. What many people don’t know is that Henry VIII was actually against many other Protestant religions (Calvinists, Lutherans, etc.). He feared their religious influence as much as he did the Catholic’s. His son Edward was more progressive, like Jane. If he would have lived, Jane’s outcome would have been totally different. After Jane’s death, Queen Mary went on a mission to turn England back to Catholicism. In her reign she killed over 300 Protestants. Hence later in history she was known as “Bloody Mary.”

Blog Stops

Betti Mace, May 12
Genesis 5020, May 14
Bigreadersite, May 15
Mary Hake, May 15
Emily Yager, May 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away the grand prize packaged of an autographed copy of the book and a $25 Amazon gift certificate!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Mortal Sight FB Banner

About the Book

Book:  Mortal Sight
Author: Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Genre:  Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Release Date: April 14, 2020
Mortal SightWhen Worlds Collide, Shadow Wrestles Light
Seventeen-year-old Cera Marlowe wants a normal life; one where she and her mom can stop skipping town every time a disturbing vision strikes. But when a girl she knows is murdered by a monster she can’t explain, Cera’s world turns upside down.
Suddenly thrown into an ancient supernatural battle, Cera discovers she’s not alone in her gifting and vows to use her visions to save lives. But why does John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost keep interrupting her thoughts?
In a race against time and a war against unearthly creatures, will decoding messages embedded in the works of classic literature be enough to stop the bloodshed and protect those she loves?
Click here to get your copy!


 My REVIEW
This story is an interesting look at a world where a seventeen year old girl has gifts she can’t explain. Her mother knows what’s going on with her daughter but is keeping it from her. Every time Cera has a vision  it comes true. I though it was strange that her mother wanted to run each time Cera had these visions. 
Cera suddenly is thrust into a dark world that is different from anything she has ever witnessed. These people know she has a gift but I think Cera was fighting it a bit. She wanted to be something she was  not gifted as and I wanted her to embrace  what was placed in her trust. This poem kept coming up in the story called Paradise Lost by John Milton. I needed to know what this poem was about so I looked it up. I know it was important to this story and my curiosity had me finding the answer. The poem is about the The Fall of Man. It deals with the disobedience of Adam and Eve. The poet wanted to show how man fell and disobeyed God. It opened the door for satan  to come in. 
After learning this I had to know why Cera kept repeating this poem and what significance it was to her and her vision. The author really grabbed my attention with this mystery of a poem and I couldn’t wait to see where the story would travel to. Cera is in for the fight of her life as her visions become clearer and she has to act on them. The full meaning of the poem will come to light and it brings Cera peace and also knowledge that she will be hunted by those who want to stop her from seeing visions and stopping destruction. There is definitely a spiritual warfare going on and and her friends are in the middle of a battle that has been going on for centuries. The story kinda kept me wondering what happens next so I hope the next book comes out very soon. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. 

About the Author

Version 2Sandra Fernandez Rhoads is a Cuban-Colombian born in Queens, New York but currently lives in Dallas, Texas. Her previous experience includes earning a M.A. in her 17th century crush, John Milton, writing scripts and performance pieces, directing theater, acting, and running an employment consulting and marketing company. As an AFA-NIET National Finalist in Public Speaking, she welcomes an audience and dreams of playing the theme to Jurassic Park on her cello, named Lysander. Mortal Sight is her debut novel.

More from Sandra

I am so excited to share this story. The original story seed for Mortal Sight came from the premise: what if someone never felt like they belonged in this world because they really didn’t? They were born for a place they didn’t know existed, an unseen realm. And if so, what things in our everyday world would shout out this truth, point to this other world, and try to get their attention to let them know that the restlessness is intentional and they were called to something bigger than themselves. The use of art and literature throughout the story comes from my own love for art and the artist community. The unique way artists look at the world could point to this other realm. I chose Milton’s Paradise Lost, in particular because the poem speaks of things invisible and unseen wars. I have a deep love for artists and the creative community and love encouraging others to tell stories through art, whether it’s visual, music, poetry, dance, writing, etc. It’s in art’s narrative that we see broken pieces of ourselves. This story came from the idea that art could create common ground, kickstart community, and maybe even change the way we see ourselves, others or even the world.

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, April 30
Mia Reads, May 8
Genesis 5020, May 11
Emily Yager, May 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sandra is giving away the grand prize package of Mortal Sight hardback with exclusive signed bookplate, plus bookmark/Sticker/Button, $30 Amazon gift card, hardback copy of Paradise Lost, and writing Journal of Pierre Auguste Cot’s The Storm!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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Sunday, May 3, 2020

Marriage Matters FB Banner

About the Book

Book:  Marriage Matters
Author: Cheri Swalwell
Genre: Non-fiction/Christian Biblical Marriage
Release Date: November 22, 2019
Marriage Matters KindleMarriage joins two imperfect people who pledge to love, honor, and commit to each other for life. Eleven couples graciously chose to share their stories within the pages of this book because they believe in the sanctity of marriage. None of the couples are perfect, but they come alongside you and your spouse with experience and encouragement as you pray about how to live out your own marriage. Some of the couples work in full-time ministry, others have chosen the military as their career. Some couples have faced the issue of infertility while others have had to deal with sickness or death. Some couples have been remarried, others married later in life, and others have dealt with seemingly more than any one couple should have to face in a lifetime. All of the couples have one thing in common – their love for God and their commitment to marriage God’s way.Grab your favorite beverage in a comfy chair and get ready to be encouraged. Buy your own copy today, and one for a friend, because Marriage Matters!

Click here for your copy!
 MY REVIEW 
There are many resources available about marriage which at times can be confusing. This book is one that I would recommend to any married couple who wants to strengthen their marriage. It would be a great tool to use in marital counseling and a perfect gift for newlyweds.
The author uses personal stories from couples  to show what God’s plan for marriage is. It isn’t about who is right or in charge but learning to prefer one another. I enjoyed reading each story and how transparent the couples were. There is no such thing as a perfect marriage, but with God there is a marriage that honors the covenant made by two people with God as the center. I loved when the boom shared that if you doubt if you picked the right one, you did when you said I do. See when we say those words we have made a covenant. It is not to be broken and with God in your marriage all things can work out. We need to trust Him in the   good and bad times. “Healthy relationships aren’t when we look for it in the other, but when we focus on becoming the right one.”
The book is filled with stories that are encouraging and I don’t think I could pick just one as my favorite. They each touch on different subjects dealing with marriage while giving Godly examples that lead couples toward a marriage that is ordained by God. Praying together as a couple is important as you can share your thoughts and concerns. I liked how one of the couple’s talk about sharing all passwords with each other. The enemy would love for a spouse to hide a secret Facebook account . Being open is important in keeping the enemy out of your marriage. Communication is another important key in a marriage. Share your feelings with each other. Allow your spouse to know where you are struggling so that the enemy cannot divide you. 
I love how the book is designed and how the author includes scriptures that speak about marriage, trust, forgiveness and other emotions that make marriages healthy. The most important points I took away from this book was to keep God in your marriage, communicate with each other and pray together. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. 

About the Author

Cheri SwallwellCheri Swalwell is a Christ follower who thoroughly enjoys her calling to be a wife, mother, and writer, in that order. Cheri loves to encourage people through her Spoken from the Heart devotionals, Bible study Caring for the Caregiver and other compilation books dealing with the subjects of miscarriage and cancer. For a full list of books and where they are sold visit www.cheriswalwell.com. If you want to sign up to her newsletter to stay updated on all the latest news, you will also receive a full-length devotional free, as her way of saying thanks for joining!

More from Cheri

Back in 2007, long before writing was even on my radar, I had a conversation with God about writing a book that would offer hope to those who had lost a child. We had lost our baby the December prior, and I needed to know I wouldsmile again someday. Little did I know that conversation 12 years ago would result in a series of compilation books encouraging others about various topics. The first one, Hope During Heartache was published in 2014, and it’s 13 different men and women’s stories about how they found hope after dealing with the death of a child.
In early 2015, I had another conversation with God and asked Him … “What’s next? Do You have any other compilation books you’d like me to share with others to bring encouragement?” In 2018, Peace During the Pain was published (a book about how to find peace after the diagnosis of cancer) which is 12 different men and women’s stories either about their own personal journey or the journey of a family member.
The goal for 2020 is to publish Joy During the Journey, a compilation of people who have found joy despite living with chronic illness.
During my 2015 conversation, I asked God if He would allow me to write a compilation book about a “happier” topic than death, cancer, and chronic illness. And in His goodness, He said yes! That is when He told me I could write about the topic of marriage, a topic I truly love because being married and having children has always been my heart’s desire. Not only do I get to share encouragement, support, and wisdom from 11 different couples with you in this book, an added bonus is that one of the couples is my parents, another is my youth pastor and his wife, whom I’ve admired for over 25+ years, and yet another is my present pastor and his wife. All three of these couples have significantly modeled biblical marriage for me throughout the years. But that’s not all. There are also military couples, couples who have suffered circumstances no couple should ever have to face, and new friends I’ve met through the writing of this book. I believe you will enjoy as much as I have the encouragement and wisdom from each and every couple who took the time to share a little about their life with you. I’m excited to share the stories between these pages … so sit back, grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to get encouraged!

Blog Stops

Artistic Nobody, May 4 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, May 8 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, May 8
Through the Fire Blogs, May 12 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cheri is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Posted by at 7 comments:
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