About the Book

Book:  Yellowstone Yondering

Author: Kristen Joy Wilks

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Release Date: January 17, 2020

When a free-spirited wildlife photographer loses her Scottish terrier in a herd of bison, she sets out to rescue her furbaby before he is devoured. But will she succeed when Yellowstone National Park is chock full of boiling, bubbling, and rampaging hazards (both mammalian and geographical) — not to mention a rule-obsessed park ranger whose many rescues thwart her efforts to find her poor pup?

They say opposites attract, and when it comes to Kayla Dineen and Ranger Alexander Brandt, no two people have ever been more opposed…or attractive. Old Faithful isn’t the only thing making noise at Yellowstone this season.

Click here to get your copy!

 MY REVIEW 

I have never had the pleasure of visiting Yellowstone National Park. There are plenty of Books that  are filled with pictures of large trees, camping sites and oh yes bears, moose, coyote and raccoons. Kayla is such a delightful character. I loved her enthusiasm and adventurous personality. She does not make a good impression on Park Ranger Brandt. Boy is he a stickler   for rules. I wanted Kayla to kick him to see if he was alive. He was like a robot boring everyone with rules. 

Alexander loved his job but he needs to lighten up some. He sure does spend an excessive time explaining the rules to Kayla. I could tell we were in for an adventure like no other. I absolutely love when author’s include animals in their story. Ainsley stole my heart and I wanted to sneak away with him for a few hours to cuddle with him and watch him run around. There is a gut wrenching moment when Ainsley gets away and is suddenly lost in this big park with dangerous wildlife. All Kayla wanted to do was get her pictures so she could send them in to be used in a story. Now she will have to find strength and faith to trust God to lead her to Ainsley. 

There are sone really good laughs in the book when Kayla and Alexander team up to find out why dogs are suddenly disappearing, I loved seeing how they worked together and fought like cats and dogs at other times. Two people who think they are right will learn to comprise and trust God to keep them safe. I was surprised when the mystery was solved. It was so disappointing that greed and pride were behind the missing dogs. 

I enjoyed my time reading the story and how detailed the author was as she took us on a tour of a breathtaking park surrounded by beauty, animals that God had created and a wonderful place I would love to visit. Kayla and Alexander make the story exciting and grew  closer as they work together to unravel who was behind in endangering lives and animals. Overall a very clean story with nice characters and an adventure that takes us deep into the crevices of a famous park. It is a sweet story of trust and opening your heart to new beginnings. 

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

About the Author

Kristen Joy Wilks lives in the beautiful Cascade Mountains with her camp director husband, three fierce sons, and a large and slobbery Newfoundland dog. She has blow-dried a chicken, fought epic Nerf battles instead of washing dishes, and discovered a stealthily smuggled gardener snake in her sons’ bubble bath. Her stories, devotionals, and articles have appeared in Nature Friend, Clubhouse, Thriving Family, Keys for Kids, The Christian Journal, Splickety, Spark, and Havok. She writes romantic comedies for Pelican Book Group, including Copenhagen Cozenage, The Volk Advent, Athens Ambuscade, Spider Gap, and Yellowstone Yondering. Kristen writes about the humor and Grace that can be found amidst the detritus of life.

More from Kristen

Greetings and Salutations!

My name is Kristen Joy Wilks and I am a mountain woman, married to a camp director, who lives at a remote Bible camp where we don’t have access to electricity, water, or garbage services unless we do it ourselves. Yes, it is totally possible to do all these things. But it does mean some frantic running about when the generator starts making a strange noise or the water inexplicably cuts off. As a girl I did have one or two mountain kid adventures that were perhaps not typical for the average tomboy. Such as when I rode my horse through a herd of 200 elk or when I got together with my brother and cousins to build a homemade snake pit so that we could dangle one another over it by our legs from a tripod made of logs in classic Indiana Jones style. Of course, we caught snakes for our pit!

Why do you ask?

We managed to find over twenty and it was a huge success, except for the tiny issue of me being too tall and all those snakes getting into my hair. As you can plainly see, mountain kids do have more fun. I’m now the mom of three fierce sons, six pet chickens, and a large and slobbery Newfoundland dog named Princess Leia Freyja Wilks. I spend most of my time thwarting my sons’ attempts to smuggle their pet chickens onto their bunk beds and trying to keep my husband from filling another wall of our dinning room with strategy board games. Yes, you would think that 300 would be sufficient, but there is always another one, apparently. Well, he does have a point when he insists that they are great for camp ministry. I spend a great deal of time over at Camas Meadows Bible Camp photographing the daily comings and goings of counselors and campers so that their parents can look online and see that everyone is still alive. During all that photo taking, I have seen many a shy child open up after playing an exciting game of Camel Up, Snorta, or Star Trek Ascendancy. I also write the camp blog, step in as camp mother when homesickness pops up, and volunteer at our local public schools with Princess Leia Freyja who excels at reading therapy … yep, she just flops on the floor next to children while they read, which is definitely her spiritual gift. I can also be found at 4:00AM, with a cup of Jasmine Monkey King tea, tucked under my Star Trek quilt, writing crazy stories that might sound insane, but always have a tiny hint of truth. Thank you for joining me today to see what kind of misadventures I managed to put my unsuspecting characters through.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 4

Quiet Quilter, June 5

You Read It Write, June 5

Book of Ruth Ann, June 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 7

Texas Book-aholic, June 8

Inklings and notions, June 9

Emily Yager, June 10

For Him and My Family, June 11

deb’s Book Review, June 12

Reflections From My Bookshelves, June 13

Holly Jo Morris, June 13

reviewingbooksplusmore, June 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 16

Artistic Nobody, June 17 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kristen is giving away the grand prize of a delicious dark chocolate bar with candied ginger bits!!

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/fc19/yellowstone-yondering-celebration-tour-giveaway

THE GREEN DRESS by LIZ TOLSMA

I am enjoying this series that lets readers into a world of crime and what it might have been like to be there when it happened. This story was particularly interesting to me because of the weapon of choice to murder. It is a slow and painful way to die.

Harriet is overwhelmed when she learns her dear friend becomes very ill. It was unnerving to learn other members of the family had died much the same way. Every time I read that someone had become ill  I knew what was about to happen. The author does an amazing job of detailing the deaths and leaving a trail of suspects. The historical period was very vivid and I felt myself travel make in time to stand beside Harriet.

It was eerie to read that Mrs. Robinson continues to sew on a green dress. I had to find out what the significance the dress was to the story. I needed to know why Mrs. Robinson had premonitions about the deaths. It was a little weird that she thought her dead husband had something to do with the mystery. The story gave me chills as  I continued to read. The author keeps her readers interested with subtle hints of the mystery and what the green dress had to do with everything. The ending is a shocker and be prepared to say “I didn’t see that coming.”

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

DEAD SILENCE by ROBIN CAROLL

Hold on to your seat and get ready for a thrill seeking adventure. What would you do if you read someone’s lips that spoke of a murder? What if it was about someone powerful and happens to be about your mother-in-law? I think I would run to the police as fast as I could. Elise is ready to do just that when she gets a message that her son has been injured. I bet her adrenaline is pumping as she races to the hospital. At the back of her mind is the thought that she needs to get in touch with the police but right now her son is upmost of importance. Is it a coincidence that her son is injured right as she finds out her mother in-law is in danger?

The story is exciting and I rooted for Elise as much as I could. She does have a problem with her faith and I couldn’t wait to see the road Elise will take to gain her faith again. It is no surprise that there is a murder and Elise is right in the middle of the investigation. The police don’t seem overly friendly towards her when they realize she may have been able to prevent a tragedy.

The author does an excellent job of educating readers about lip reading and sign language which Elise uses to communicate with her son. I took classes in sign language because I had a child in Sunday School who was deaf. I was determined that the child would not be left out. The first Sunday I started signing as I taught, I saw a big smile come from that  child. I will never forget the moment she signed thank you to me.

Now back to the story. Oh yes we have Elise in danger after someone finds out what she knows. I was a bit disappointed when Elise’s son was kidnapped because it was very predictable. What I did like was the sheer determination Elise has to rescue her son and end the threats against her. The story does not lack twists and surprises and the author writes a story that had me on the edge of my seat.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Welcome to the Comparison Girl Review and Giveaway 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Women compare constantly—on social media, in their neighborhood, at church, even in the school drop-off lane. They glance sideways and ask themselves, "How do I measure up?" All this assessment feels like a natural way of finding a place in the world. But it pulls them into feelings of inferiority or superiority, guiding them into a trap of antagonism by the enemy.


Satan would like women to strive to measure up, constantly adding to a tally sheet that can't ever be balanced. The way of Jesus is completely upside down from that philosophy. Instead, he says the last shall be first--and the greatest are those who empty themselves, lay down their lives, and serve each other.

Through conversations Jesus had and parables he shared, Shannon Popkin has created a seven-week Bible study to address this tendency to compare and judge ourselves and others. Each chapter is divided into lessons, allowing women on a time budget to read a Bible passage, engage in a complete train of thought related to the topic, and then make the content personal--all in one sitting. And the informal teaching tone will make women feel like they're meeting with a trusted friend.


Suited for both individual and group study, Comparison Girl will guide women to leave their measure-up ways behind, connect with those around them, and break free from the shackles of comparison!

MY REVIEW

This has been a really good book for me. I’m guilty of comparing myself to other women. I can even say I am jealous of other women. We all ask the question “Why can’t I be as pretty as her, or as thin as her or as outgoing as her?” We get so caught up in the “why” we forget that God made each of us in His own image. The enemy loves to divide us and spread ugly gossip about others just so we can feel better about ourselves. Isn’t that what a bully does? Oh Lord do I did help in this area. I feel inadequate and point out faults in other women just so I don’t have to look at my own faults. 

I loved every chapter of this book and how it spoke to me. I could feel a sense of peace come over me as I discovered that I am important and God has given me gifts to reach others. We are a part of a big family and need to start encouraging each other instead of trying to divide ourselves. The book has scriptures and Bible stories that help us understand that we are equal in Gods eyes. This would be an excellent book for a Women’s Bible Study. I loved this scripture the author used, “The person who exalts herself will be humbled, but the person who humbled herself will be exalted. (Luke 18:14).

The book asks some  hard questions and lets us see deep into our heart. What areas in our life do we need to change? Are we lifting each other up with encouragement or tearing them down with jealousy and pride?  “Living by faith is what God rewards. Living by sight-fixated on the here and now-is how we let the rewards skip through our fingers.” God knows what is in our heart. We can’t hide anything from Him. Through this book I have seen areas I need to work on. I can’t do it alone, but I can pray and ask God to change my thoughts. I would encourage every woman to get a copy of this book. Take your time as you read it, look up the scriptures and answer the questions to go deeper with God. He loves us unconditionally and never compares us to each other.

I received a copy of this book from Read With Audra Blog Program. 






ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shannon Popkin is a writer, speaker, and Bible teacher who loves pointing others to the truth of God’s Word. She combines her gifts for humor and storytelling with her passion for Jesus. She regularly speaks at Christian women’s events and retreats, encouraging women of all ages to put their hope in God.

Popkin is also a regular contributor for the Revive Our Hearts True Woman and Leader Connection blogs. Her articles have been published by Family Fun, Focus on the Family Magazine, MOMsense and others. She is the author of several books, including Control Girl: Lessons on Surrendering Your Burden of Control from Seven Women in the Bible, Influence: Building a Platform That Elevates Jesus (Not Me), and Comparison Girl: Lessons from Jesus on Me-Free Living in a Measure-Up World.

Popkin and her husband, Ken, have been married for more than twenty years and live in West Michigan. They have three children—one in high school and two in college.

Connect with Shannon Popkin by visiting her Website or following her on Facebook      Instagram or Twitter

GIVEAWAY

To win a copy of this new book please enter HERE

Welcome to Cross Shadow by Andrew Huff – Review & Giveaway

About the Book

All journalist Christine Lewis wants is the truth. All pastor John Cross wants is to avoid it.

Former CIA agent turned evangelical pastor John Cross is busy caring for the small community of believers he ministers to in Virginia. Journalist Christine Lewis is busy with the demand for her talents from top news agencies in New York City. Neither has any time left for their relationship, which began eight months before when they paired up to prevent the detonation of a chemical bomb in the nation’s capital.

But when Christine hears that her stepbrother has been arrested for murder in Texas, they team up again to discover the truth about the crime. Untangling a web of conspiracy, the couple finds themselves in the center of another dangerous situation-and in trouble far deeper than they expected.

With an assassin on the loose, a trusted colleague acting as a double agent, and unreliable artificial intelligence connected to mercenaries who have Cross on their hit list, these two may not get out of the Lone Star State alive.

Amazon | B&N | BAM! | Book Depository | Christianbook | Goodreads

Other Books in the Series

 

MY REVIEW

I hope you are ready for an adrenaline rush. This story is pure action packed from beginning to end. I’m glad to be back with John and see him in action. How would he know that a trip to see Christine would place him in the wrong place at the wrong time? The author does a great job of bringing the two back together in another adventure filled with danger and faith. I love John’s character because he is a pastor first then a CIA agent. Okay maybe he is retired from the CIA but it is hard to tell when he gets tangled up in  a tech company. I have to say the technology is kinda  spooky and almost realistic. 

The author is good at keeping the action going with chase scenes and near death experiences. Is John Cross over his head this time? Will he walk away from his church or follow God’s direction? There  is a little more to the relationship between John and Christine which delves more into their past. It was a hard book to put down and I look forward to the next in this explosive series. 

I received a copy of this book from Audra Reads Book Tours. The review is my own opinion. 

About the Author

Huff spent ten years in local church ministry as a youth pastor and creative arts pastor before pursuing God’s calling into creative storytelling and media production as the product director at Igniter Media, a church media company (ignitermedia.com).

He is a two-time finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest for unpublished authors (2014, 2017) and also won the best screenplay award at the 2015 48 Hour Film Festival in Richmond, VA. A Cross to Kill and Cross Shadow in the Shepherd Suspense series are his first releases.

Huff holds a bachelor of science in religion degree from Liberty University and a master of arts in Christian education from Dallas Theological Seminary. He resides in Plano, TX, with his beautiful wife, Jae, and their two boys.

Learn more Andrew Huff and the Shepherd Suspense novels at www.andrewhuffbooks.com. He can also be found on Facebook (@huffwrites), Twitter (@andrewjohnhuff) and Instagram (@andyhuff).


GIVEAWAY

https://facebook.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=312d9c42859d078a024ef39aa&id=2895b4013f&e=d1b194c6b6

About the Book

Book:  Valley of Shadows

Author: Candace West

Genre:  Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: March 17, 2020

Forgiving is far from forgetting.

Lorena Steen gave up on love years ago. After arriving at Valley Creek to visit her daughters, she stumbles first thing into Earl, the husband who abandoned her.

As for Earl, facing Lorena while fighting his own demons tempts him to flee town. How can he rebuild a relationship with his daughters and cynical neighbors when guilt shadows every step?
While the storm brews between them, another storm descends on Valley Creek. Will a ghost town stand in its wake?

But then the townsfolk devise a plan. All they need is a former concert pianist and violinist. A wife and husband estranged.

Can Lorena and Earl set aside their feelings to rescue a community? Even though it sweeps them back through valleys best forgotten? Especially when a forbidden love claims his right to win Lorena’s heart?

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

Get ready for a journey that is filled with emotions that reach deep into your soul. I know there are things in my past that I have asked for forgiveness.  The hardest thing to do is forgive yourself. In this story Earl has done some unthinkable things. His pride gets in his way when his wife leaves him. I can’t blame Lorena for leaving Earl after he physically hurts her and one of the children. Anger gets the best of Earl when he kidnaps one of his daughter’s and runs as far away as he can. 

The pain that Lorena feels is unbearable as she comes to terms with what her husband has done. On a trip to see her daughters she runs into Earl after sixteen years. This is where the meat of the story is. The author lets readers into Earl’s life and the struggles he has had over the years. Some people in the little town where he lives think of him as a drunk. I loved how Earl took each day with prayer and faith that God would redeem him and maybe people would see him in a different light. 

I liked how the town came together after a tragedy destroys everything. Can they find a way to rebuild? It was exciting to read about the idea the town came up with to raise money. It puts Lorena and Earl in a difficult position but I know it was God's plan all along. I admire Lorena for always standing by her vows and never once thought of divorce. The author easily captures the deep hurt Lorena has felt over the years. I must say I liked Earl the most because he represents each of us who have traveled down the dark road where shadows follow. They remind us of what we have done and try to keep us from turning to God. It made me think of a rear view mirror. We look in it to see what is behind us . What if we applied that to our sins and stopped looking in that rear view mirror and started looking forward where forgiveness is waiting for us? 

I loved the story and thought it was a great example of letting go of the past, forgiving and seeing people the way Jesus does. He forgives us with unconditional love. Earl and Lorena will both need to forgive themselves and each other before they can move forward . The faith element is rich throughout the story with glimmers of hope and restoration. Never give up hope, because God is a God of second chances.  He can do the impossible if we allow ourselves to surrender to Him. 

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

About the Author

Candace West was born in the Mississippi delta to a young minister and his wife. She grew up in small-town Arkansas and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Monticello. When she was twelve years old, she wrote her first story, “Following Prairie River.” In 2018, she published her debut novel Lane Steen. By weaving hope-filled, page-turning stories, Candace shares the Gospel and encourages her readers. She currently lives in her beloved Arkansas with her husband and their son along with two dogs and three cats.

More from Candace

Why I Wrote Valley of Shadows

Can a villain become a hero? When I ended my debut novel Lane Steen, I knew someday I had to discover if a kidnapper and alcoholic was worth saving. Could that same person save a town after tragedy strikes while wrestling with his own demons?

Earl Steen had a dark valley to cross.

With a destroyed reputation, Earl must prove in Valley of Shadows that God has not wasted His efforts on him. Also, Lorena, his estranged wife, has her own score to settle. How can she when the villain no longer exists?

Nothing tugs at my heart more than lost, unrequited love. My second book focuses on their lost relationship. Earl and Lorena had haunted one another long enough. Could God mend what Earl had shattered?

Sitting down to write, I returned to Valley Creek and uncovered places within Earl’s heart that I never knew existed. Lorena’s struggles became mine as she grappled with understanding and forgiving. The dark places of their past somehow had to merge with the light of a hopeful future.

Getting Earl and Lorena to rediscover their love was a journey fraught with tension, grief, frustration, and hope. Was it worth every rewrite, every long hour staring at my computer screen waiting for my characters’ next move?

You bet!

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 4

For the Love of Literature, June 5 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, June 6

Texas Book-aholic, June 7

Older & Smarter?, June 8

Betti Mace, June 9

Artistic Nobody, June 10 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, June 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 11

Through the Fire Blogs, June 12

For Him and My Family, June 13

Blossoms and Blessings, June 14 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, June 15

By The Book, June 16 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Candace is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card, one signed paperback copy of Lane Steen and Valley of Shadows!!

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/fc17/valley-of-shadows-celebration-tour-giveaway