Tuesday, July 9, 2019

About the Book

Book: Risking Love

Author: Toni Shiloh

Genre: Christian fiction, contemporary fiction, diverse fiction

Release date: June 25, 2019

Nikki Gordon lives with a perfect trifecta of noes. No guys. No dates. No way.

The past holds her bound with ropes made of fear-infused steel, and she’s determined that no one will ever cut through them. If only her heart would cooperate whenever Shorty comes around. Things go from complicated to confusing when he appears at The Maple Pit in the company of another woman—a drop-dead gorgeous one at that.

With everything to lose and to gain, Nikki steps out in faith and prays for the courage to let him in… before it’s too late.

Gregory “Shorty” Smalls finally has the chance to take his burgeoning business to the next level. Then maybe, Nikki will quit seeing him as a goof-off and give him a real chance.

Finding out he isn’t the problem? The best and worst news possible.

Just how much healing has to take place before he has a chance to move from friend zone to love of her life?

And does he even have a chance?

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys in northern Virginia. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Virginia Chapter. You can find more information at http://tonishiloh.com.

This story was very emotional to read. It brought some bad memories ans I was a bit hesitant to read it. Nikki

More from Toni

Risking Love has been a long time in coming. You see when I wrote Buying Love, book one in the Maple Run series, I had only intended for it to be a standalone. But soon the other characters clamored for attention and you, the readers, sent me messages asking for Shorty and Nikki’s story.

Like any good writer, I sat in front of my laptop prepared to whip out their story in the speed in which I wrote Buying Love. Yeah, it did NOT go as I anticipated. You see, Shorty and Nikki refused to talk to me. They wouldn’t answer my questions about their past, about how it affected them. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

So I wrote book two, Finding Love, featuring Luke and Delaney. They were more than willing to share their heart. I fully intended to then make Shorty and Nikki’s story book three. I figured they’d had enough appearances through book two that they were fully ready to reveal all to me and let me write their story.

Wrong.

As you know, if you’ve been reading chronologically through the series, book three is about Belle and Micah. They spoke with me freely. I just couldn’t understand why Shorty and Nikki wouldn’t be so candid. Fortunately, while writing Belle and Micah’s story, Nikki began to speak. Then Shorty spoke, and I knew I’d finally be able to write their story.

Y’all, writing Risking Love was tough! They fought me at every turn. I can’t recall how many times I complained about them. Thank goodness my critique partners had patience with me as I fought for every word in this story. And now that their story is out in the world, I’m wrecked with nerves. Will they live up to your anticipation? Will the story truly show how tenuous the relationship between these two are?

As you began to read Risking Love, I pray it blesses you. Whether you’re reading strictly for entertainment or seeking God’s greater truth, I pray you experience those things. And more than that, I thank you for picking up their book and joining me once more in Maple Run. It’s been a blessing as I return to tell the stories in this fictional Virginia town.

Blessings,

Toni Shiloh

This story was very emotional for me to read. It brought back some bad memories and I was a bit hesitant to read it. Nikki has been through a very traumatic event and decides to move away from her town to try to heal and start fresh. She has always been close with her brother but now they were distant to each other. Nikki won't let anyone in and I could really relate to her. Her trust is gone and all she wants to do is work and then go home to her place and be alone. But was she really living? Her joy had been taken away and she needed to find a way to overcome her pain and fear.

Shorty is the perfect example of a gentleman. He likes Nikki but knows something is holding her back. I loved how he approached her as a friend and never pushed. The scriptures they start texting each other was a great way to communicate and share their heart with each other. His gentleness towards Nikki is so nice and I loved how he never crossed boundaries.

The author offers many scriptures in the story that really help Shorty to encourage Nikki that she is special and worthy to be loved. She sees herself as damaged goods, but Shorty sees a woman who is beautiful, caring and needs someone to show her how a gentleman treats a lady. The story is well written and shares insight into a broken family that needed healing. Nikki make amends to her family. But more importantly, she needs to forgive herself and know it wasn't her fault. As she digs deeper into scripture, we see glimpses of a heart beginning to heal. Will Shorty be the man she learns to trust? Can he show her how blessed he is to have her in his life?

It is a beautiful story that takes a tragedy and turns it into healing and freedom from the past. I felt like Shorty had so much patience and never gave up on Nikki. He is a true example of a Godly man. I hope you grab a copy of this book and let Nikki and Shorty's story fill you with hope, forgiveness, freedom from the past and unconditional love.

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

Blog Stops

Melissa Henderson, July 1

Inklings and notions, July 1

Among the Reads, July 2

Through the Fire Blogs, July 2

Blossoms and Blessings, July 3

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, July 4

Remembrancy, July 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 5

janicesbookreviews, July 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 6

Mary Hake, July 6

Back Porch Reads, July 7

Emily Yager, July 7

Simple Harvest Reads, July 8 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Creating Romance, July 9

Texas Book-aholic, July 9

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, July 10

A Diva’s Heart, July 10

Britt Reads Fiction, July 11

Cultivating us, July 11

Reading Is My SuperPower, July 12

KarenSueHadley, July 12

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, July 13

Just Your Average reviews, July 13

A Reader’s Brain, July 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Toni is giving a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a finished copy of Risking Love!!

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/e544/risking-love-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Blessing Bentley

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Fiction / Christian / Romantic Women’s Fiction

Release date: June 13, 2019

Bentley Girard’s about to propose… to a guy she doesn’t even love.

Not THAT way anyway.

After studying everything the Bible has to say about marriage, she’s decided she wants in. Now. So who’s going to take her up on that offer?

And just why did no one reminded her that those vows include that little word, “love.”

Oops!

With her Bible in her hip pocket, and a shiny new ring on her finger, Bentley navigates this new world of marriage with grace and… oh, who is she kidding? She flounders until she gets a sure footing and hangs on tight.

About the Author

Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her on the web and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

If You Need to Save Time, Don’t Ask for Help

Not from my friend anyway. It all started with a conversation about Bentley…

She pops up now and then—the most ubiquitous (and yet not) of my unpublished characters, you might say. Who is this unsung Bentley, and why should we care about her? For that matter, why has her story been languishing in my “to be edited” pile for over a decade?”

It’s worse than that. Bentley isn’t the only book that’s been sitting there, unedited, waiting for a chance at daylight. There’s also Tait’s story. Andi’s story. Ami’s story… all the unpublished stories. Those don’t even include the partially done ones.

It’s an illness, I tell ya.

Some people may not know this about me, but I plot out my books while I’m driving. I get in the car, turn on my voice recorder, and talk to myself. You can’t know how grateful I am for cellphones. I don’t own or use one, but man I’m glad they exist. Know why? Because people don’t give you weird looks when you talk to yourself in the car now. When I was a kid, that wasn’t true. Not that I know from personal experience or anything. *whistles*

So one trip down south (it’s an hour and a half to go anywhere from my house, and most of my trips are at least three hours one way), I realized that Tait and Bentley’s stories could be merged. It would be awesome. Two books. One stone. If I did that to a bunch of my languishing manuscripts, I could clear out that unfinished file in no time! (Okay, let me dream here. Eternal optimist, remember?)

And that brings us back to Blessing Bentley

I was at my friend Sandy’s house (if you know Celebrate Lit, yes, that Sandy), and I told her I needed a new title. Why? Because now it included Tait and his story.

We talked. We schemed and plotted. Sandy wanted something to happen that just can’t. I’d seriously have to rewrite the entire series. Oh, and then there would be issues with already published books. Ahem.

Then it happened. She said the words. “It needs to be two books.”

I could have put an ice cube down her shirt. Do you remember how excited I was to have two combined into one??? Now we’re back to two books. Still, they were written as two. I just don’t have a satisfactory ending for Tait’s.

That’s when things got fun. Sandy tossed out one idea. I tossed it back. She remolded it and flipped it in the air. I caught it, made a few changes, and voila! We had a BOOK. And it would be adorable.

Then she swore at me.

Okay, so she actually just said, “You really need a third book, friend.”

Anyone who has ever heard her talk, can hear her voice there. I know you can. Still, as sweet and kind as she might have meant to sound, I heard swearing.

Another book. You’ve got to be kidding me! I went from having two books morphed into one being split back in two, and now you want to add one? I’m trying to reduce the to-do pile!

But then I remembered another story that’s been percolating since I wrote 31 Kisses. Carson’s brother is newly single. And well…

Yep. Enter trilogy.

Marriage of Conviction—that was supposed to be the title of Blessing Bentley. Who knew that when I started writing that book fifteen years ago—who knew it would end up being the title of a series instead. Marriages of Conviction. Blessing Bentley, Tempting Tait, and Charming Chloe.

Welcome to a new look on marriage and a wild ride with these characters!

And remember… if you think I have too many series… Well, this one’s Sandy’s fault.

Oh my! Oh my! What a wonderful journey I just took with the talented author , Chautona Havig. Her books always entertain me, male me laugh, give me hope and fills me with scriptures. This story is going on my 2019 favorite books. If you have not read a book by this author, I insist you read all her books. Her characters are fun, sassy and so realistic they become your friends.

I'm not going into much details about the book because that is for you to experience. I will tell you that Bentley (I love that name) is one person I would want as a friend. She is serious in her walk with Jesus, studies her bible and wants to glorify God in everything she does. The plot of this story is quite different from anything I have ever read. Do I think Bentley has lost her marbles? Not at all. In fact she is a woman who wants to be married so her and her husband can glorify God . Maybe you haven't heard of that about marriage, so sit back and get ready for an adventure.

I loved, loved loved how the author takes us through scriptures about marriage and allows us to understand the thinking process of Bentley. Maybe it isn't proper, but Bentley doesn't hesitate to ask the man she believes God has for her to marry her. Well there are a few shall we say "things to work out." They don't really know each other, never been on a date together and never said "I love you to each other." Those are small details that Bentley feels will fall into place

This book is not a "how to get married" book, rather a book about one insight into what marriage means to them. Bentley is sure she knows what she is doing and I loved watching her and the man she wants as her husband try to decide if this was what they should do. There are funny moments in the book that is a fingerprint of the authors writing style. There is never a dull moment in the book and it really made me look at marriage from a different viewpoint.

I won't reveal the person she chooses but I will say that the author did catch me off guard a bit. Oh yes I had it all figured out who Bentley wanted, but in the authors style, she throws a curve ball and suddenly I'm swooning over Bentley's choice. Remember that this is a fiction book and the author is not saying this is the way to marry. What she has done is taken a topic and shown a different way to look at marriage still using scriptures while giving us much to think about. I can't say enough good things about this story without mentioning how creative the author is. I absolutely agree that there needs to be three books in this series. I eagerly await the next one and it can't come soon enough.

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

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, July 8

Cultivating Us, July 8

Texas Book-aholic, July 9

janicesbookreviews, July 10

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, July 10

A Reader’s Brain, July 11

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, July 12

CarpeDiem, July 12

Retrospective Spines, July 13

Splashes of Joy, July 13

Back Porch Reads, July 14

Inklings and notions, July 15

Through the Fire Blogs, July 16

Godly Book Reviews, July 16

Lots of Helpers, July 17

Captive Dreams Window, July 17

Daysong Reflections, July 18

She Lives To Read, July 19

Blogging With Carol, July 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 20

For Him and My Family, July 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a Blessing Bentley grand prize package that includes a paperback copy of the book, a book cozy, a Blessing Bentley Candle, and 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/e550/blessing-bentley-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, July 7, 2019

About the Book

Book: Married to a Stranger

Author: Laura V. Hilton

Genre: Christian Amish Romance Fiction

Release date: July 2, 2019

He marries her out of need. She marries him to escape. What does love have to do with it?

When her father falsely accuses a stranger of dishonoring her, Bethel Eicher finds herself promised in marriage to a man she’s never met. Not exactly a dream come true, but since she has spent several years caring for her handicapped mother, she’s already considered an old maid at twenty-five—and she longs to escape her lonely life as permanent caregiver.

When newly-called Amish preacher Gideon Kaiser learns he’s been accused of a dishonorable act, he’s horrified. But his wife died in childbirth and his baby needs a mother, so he figures marrying a woman he’s never met could be beneficial.

How can Bethel and Gideon possibly make their marriage work—especially when the truth behind the accusations is revealed?

About the Author

A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Laura V. Hilton is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with more than a thousand reviews published on the Internet.
Laura’s first series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Seymour, includes Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. In 2012, A Harvest of Hearts received a Laurel Award, placing first in the Amish Genre Clash. Her second series, The Amish of Webster County, consists of Healing Love, Surrendered Love, and Awakened Love, followed by a stand-alone title, A White Christmas in Webster County. Laura’s last series, The Amish of Jamesport, includes The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Birdhouse. Prior to Married to a Stranger, Laura published Firestorm, Love by the Numbers, The Amish Firefighter, and The Amish Wanderer.

Previously, Laura published two novels with Treble Heart Books, Hot Chocolateand Shadows of the Past, as well as several devotionals.
A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Laura earned a business degree from Ozarka Technical College. She and her husband, Steve, have five children and make their home in Arkansas. To learn more about Laura, read her reviews, and find out about her upcoming releases, readers may visit her blog at http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/.

Read an Excerpt

He marries her out of need. She marries him to escape. What does love have to do with it?

He’s falsely accused of dishonoring her. She longs to escape her father’s household. Can they make their forced, arranged marriage work?

“Gideon, choose love. Not loss.” Lizzie gave a quiet sigh and then her eyes rolled back in her head.

“It’s a lie.” Bethel straightened. “Whoever he described has never touched me. Nobody has.”

Either he marry the woman who’d accused him of sexually assaulting her—a woman he had nein recollection of ever meeting, not to mention the fact that he had never touched any woman besides his beloved frau—or his name would be dragged through the mud for a sin he hadn’t committed, a sin for which he’d be forced to kneel and confess.

It wouldn’t do any gut to ask der Herr for this stranger—what was his name, anyway?—to be nice to her, because it seemed apparent Gott hadn’t heard one word of her endless prayers over the last few days. Either that, or He callously chose to disregard her requests.

It was probably the only wedding nacht in history during which the groom had hidden in the basement and raged, huddled upon and beneath a pile of blankets for warmth—warmth that never seemed to reach his core—before he cried himself into a fitful sleep.

At least, with this situation being handled directly between Gideon and both their fathers, with nein preacher or bishop involvement, none of the potentially damaging dirty laundry was hung out to dry.

The condemning stares from Gideon’s family members seemed to bore into Bethel’s back the entire time she prepared their breakfast and then washed the dishes.

She should’ve packed her bags and run away instead of going through with the wedding. Which was probably what her sister had done, kum to think of it.

He could see the hurt and bewilderment lingering in her eyes, as if she still didn’t fully realize how she’d gotten here, or why her father had chosen to believe an old widower over his own dochter.

Bethel’s first time changing Elam’s diaper didn’t go as badly as she’d feared. Lying on the changing table in his bedroom, the boppli waved his feet in the air and blew bubbles at her, completely winning her heart.

This has been a very eye opening book because it talks about marriage and how God ordained it to be. Bethel is desperate to escape the man who her dad wants her to marry. When a horrible untruth is said about her and another man, she finds herself in a marriage to someone she hardly knows. My heart went out to Bethel because she really has little self confidence and thinks she is unworthy of a man loving her.

Gideon is a preacher who has recently lost his wife during childbirth. He now has a newborn to raise and a new wife due to accusations that could destroy his reputation. It is a wonder that someone didn't speak up sooner to stop this sham of a marriage. I am upset that Bethel's father would believe a lie about his daughter. Does he think so little of her that he would believe someone else over his own flesh and blood?

The words that the Bishop shares with Bethel and Gideon are exactly what they needed to hear. Forgiveness and grief are something they each need to deal with. It can't be easy for Gideon to have lost his wife and remarry so quickly. Bethel is struggling with forgiving her dad for not believing her. The story shares a marriage that begins without love, but will that change as Gideon and Bethel get to know each other better?

The lesson I learned from this story is to never give up. It doesn't matter what your circumstances are, just trust that God has a plan. Bethel and Gideon show us what it means to truly forgive and learn to love with a joyful heart. I loved reading how they each grew in their faith and especially watching Bethel begin to believe in herself.

The story has an element of suspense in it that I didn't see coming. It brings to light just how precious life is and how important it is to trust God. Misunderstandings can damage a relationship if we allow ourselves not to forgive. Enjoy this story about trust, pride. forgiving and marriage God's way.

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