About the Book

Book: Song of Sugar Sands

Author: Debra Coleman Jeter

Genre: Christian Romance

Release Date: August 21, 2019

Award-winning book that recently earned acclaim from the prestigious 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards!

Acadia Powers knows herself to be too selfish, too sinful, and too skeptical in her faith to marry a preacher. And yet she does. God truly does work in a mysterious way. Acadia nearly lost her faith at an early age due to what she saw as the hypocrisy of her parents’ generation. In college—where the novel begins—she meets and falls in love with Peter O’Neil, who is fervent in his faith and wants to share the good news with the world. Can she reach deep enough inside, or beyond herself, to find what she needs to keep on trying, or has she made too many mistakes already?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 MY REVIEW 

How do I start this review without crying? I have been shedding tears hours after finishing a story that reached deep into my soul. The author is incredible at sharing a story that spans a period of a young couple as they graduate college and marry. At first I wasn’t sure if Acadia would really marry Peter. She has doubts right up until the preacher pronounced them husband and wife. 

Acadia seems in turmoil through most of the story. I began to think of her as “Doubting Thomas.” She wasn’t very encouraging  to Peter as he begins his journey as a new pastor of a church. I did understand how Acadia felt she was never good enough for her parents and that did cause problems throughout the story. In her heart she wanted to believe that God loved her, but something was holding her back. I realized she was dealing with guilt from her past and insecurity that made her run every time there was a crisis. Not wanting to face her own problems only distanced herself further from her husband and God.

Peter was easy to like with his compassion for others. He is very patient with Acadia and wants to show her how much she is loved by many. Peter does have his own hurdles to face as members of the church don’t  support the changes he wants to make. Oh how I wanted to tell some  of those people to stop being so judgmental and set in their ways. The author does a great job of letting us see how being a pastor is difficult at times. His personal life is starting to make him lose focus. Can his marriage be restored? 

There are two very special secondary characters in the story that for me were the highlight of the entire book. They each had very tough issues they were facing and through them we witness forgiveness, unconditional love and trusting God. I wanted to hug them both and tell them that they made a difference in many people’s lives.The author tackles some tough issues with grace and honesty. I loved how we witness what it is like to reach out to others in their  darkest moments and show them they are accepted and loved. 

I wonder what it would be like if we all did what Jesus called us to do? He wants us love, accept and support each other. We don’t need to point out sin, but instead show love to one another. Many of us have struggled with our faith and at times are ashamed to talk to God. There are days that I question why God allows things that hurt to happen. I cry over the people I have seen lose their battle with cancer and get angry. Then I read a book like this and know that God never gives us more than we can handle. He puts people in our lives for a reason and He always is there waiting for us to embrace Him. We are forgiven and can find unconditional love when we surrender all to Him.

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

About the Author

Jeter is thrilled her most recent novel, Song of Sugar Sands, has received acclaim as a Finalist in the Christian Fiction category of the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. A Professor Emerita at Vanderbilt University, Debra Coleman Jeter has published in popular magazines, including Working Woman, New Woman, Self, Home Life, Savvy, Christian Woman, and American Baby. Her first novel, The Ticket, was a finalist in two categories for a Selah Award. Her short story, “Recovery,” won first prize in a competition sponsored by Christian Woman; and her book “Pshaw, It’s Me Grandson” was a finalist in the USA Book News Awards. She is a co-writer of the screenplay for Jess + Moss, a feature film which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, screened at nearly forty film festivals around the world, and captured several international awards.

 

She loves to be in the water—whether snorkeling, water skiing, boogie boarding, or just floating around—which may explain the setting for her newest series. Her family suspects her of being selkie. The Sugar Sands novels are set in a small beach community in LA (lower Alabama). Each book in the series stands alone.

 

More from Debra

I’m thrilled that Song of Sugar Sands earned recent acclaim by being named a Finalist in the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the category “Christian Fiction.”

 

Although I’ve always been someone who seeks a higher power (and feels such a presence in my life), I’m also a person who struggles with doubts: doubts about churches, denominations, religion, and myself.  So I decided to put a character with these kinds of doubts (Acadia) in a relationship with a man of such a deep faith he feels compelled to share his faith with everyone he encounters (Peter).

 

Song of Sugar Sands is a novel about—in the words of William Faulkner—the human heart in conflict with itself. Who hasn’t, at least occasionally, struggled with doubts about her faith in God or about God’s personal interest in her life? Also, relationships are difficult at their best, but particularly so when the individuals have differing views on faith. Still, there is hope. Song of Sugar Sands tells the journey of Acadia’s relationship with Peter and of her path toward deeper faith.

 

Inspiration for characters: My daughter, like Acadia, went to Pepperdine University. She met her husband, Jared, in California. Jared’s father and brother were both ministers, but Jared had no interest in this career path. I decided it would be more interesting to make Peter O’Neil the opposite—the first man of faith in his family, while Acadia struggles with her faith. In the novel, Beatrice Wood is a widow who befriends Acadia and helps her through a difficult time. Beatrice is based loosely on a friend of mine from church, who mourned the passing of her husband even as she became a strong business woman. The character Sybil was inspired by one of my former students.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 27

Batya’s Bits, October 27

Texas Book-aholic, October 28

Inklings and notions, October 29

Captive Dreams Window, October 29

For Him and My Family, October 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 31

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 1

Artistic Nobody, November 2 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

lakesidelivingsite, November 2

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 3

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5

Simple Harvest Reads, November 6 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

deb’s Book Review, November 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 7

Splashes of Joy, November 8

Godly Book Reviews, November 9

CarpeDiem, November 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Debra is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

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/102ac/song-of-sugar-sands-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book: Miss Fanshawe’s Fortune

Author: Linore Rose Burkard

Genre: Sweet and Clean Historical Romance (regency)

Release Date: September 8, 2020

Miss Frances Fanshawe’s past is shrouded in mystery. Raised genteelly by her mother in the knowledge she is heir to a fortune, she is forced to question everything after her mother dies and leaves her with only a single clue to the money. Unless she can locate her father or otherwise prove her heritage, not only the fortune but her very respectability is at stake.

In line for a baronetcy, Sebastian Arundell has no time for sorting out questionable tangles for young women with dubious histories. No matter if they are young, appealing, and have ridiculously large chocolate eyes to melt a man’s heart. But when it becomes apparent that other people are after Frannie’s supposed fortune, he is drawn to investigate. As the search deepens, Frannie falls in love with handsome, proper Sebastian. But if it only proves what he suspects—that she’s an illegitimate pauper—will all hope to win his heart be lost?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 MY REVIEW 

Frannie has had tragedy in her life that would be hard for anyone to overcome. Losing a parent can be difficult and for Frannie her mother’s death has left her with many unanswered questions about her father. I liked how well mannered and sweet Frannie is . It shows that she was raised with love and compassion. 

Frannie is lost without anywhere to go and in desperate need of help. Her heritage is in question and she needs to find her father in order to unscramble the mystery of her trust fund. I loved the setting of the story and how prim and proper the characters were. I embraced the way the author told the story in a regency dialect. It made the story more realistic and I could feel the power that a few characters had with their title and wealth. It was easy to visualize the attire they wore and the demeanor they conducted themselves with. 

I don’t want to get into too much of the story but I must touch on a few points that stood out to me. One of them was the character who was hard of hearing. Her condition is not funny, but the way the characters had a hard time trying to figure out the proper way to describe her disability made me giggle. They wanted to be delicate with their words yet it became comical at all the different terminology they thought of. The author’s description of what at one time was used to help overcome deafness was easy to visualize. 

Sebastian is a very dignified man who decides to help Frannie find her father and thus be rewarded her trust fund. I think Frannie wasn’t sure of herself and seemed to think she was not worthy of anyone. Not having her father around made her feel unwanted but Sebastian slowly shows her that she is loved and treasured by many. There is a little bit of greed in the story which I thought the author used as a great example of what “the love of money is the root  of all evil, ” depicts. 

The story  is a clean  read and gives readers characters that are easy to follow and relate to. Frannie is a good example of appreciating what you have and giving with her whole heart. Sebastian was just what Frannie needed to help her self esteem. I appreciate the message in the story about how important family is. Past mistakes can be forgiven and unconditional love is priceless. 

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

About the Author

Linore Rose Burkard is a serious watcher of period films, a Janeite, and hopeless romantic. An award winning author best known for Inspirational Regency Romance, her first book opened the genre for the CBA. Besides historical romance, Linore writes YA contemporary suspense and contemporary romance. Linore has a magna cum laude English Lit. degree from CUNY which she earned while taking herself far too seriously. She now resides in Ohio with her husband and family, where she turns her youthful angst into character or humor-driven plots.

 

More from Linore Rose Burkard

Introduction:

Today we have a multi-published author with us, Linore Rose Burkard. She writes “Romance to warm the Heart, Fiction to Stir the Soul.”  Linore’s first novel, an Inspirational Regency Romance, was actually the first of its kind and opened the genre for the CBA.  Linore, welcome. Please tell us more about yourself as a writer.  I understand  you feel very purpose-driven in you  vocation.

Linore:  I do.  Newer writers usually say their purpose is to write  whatever specific book they’re working on. But I believe our purpose goes deeper than that, deeper than any single book. My purpose—which  some may consider a humble calling—is to write smart, well-researched romance infused with humor that literally warms the heart. My readers close my romance novels with a smile and the feeling—at least for a few minutes—that all is right with the world.

2. When did you realize that was your purpose?

A writer needs to be humble enough to accept what their giftings are.   I had to accept that I wasn’t going to write the next ‘great American novel.’ I wasn’t going to be a Hemingway.   Having been schooled in the classics, both British and American, writing inspirational romance seems lightweight.  Georgette Heyer, a writer I greatly admire, once said she ought to be shot for what she writes! Because there’s this perception among the literati that romance literature is less than respectable. But I’ve learned that heartwarming romance is worthy in itself, whether it is overtly evangelistic or not, and whether English professors would agree or not.  Readers have written to me with such gratitude that it showed me that what I write is no less valuable –to those who will be blessed by it—than the classics.

3. How did you get started? 

I’ve been an avid reader all my life and was always was drawn to write, even as a child. But I saw a need for something specific that wasn’t out there—Regency Romance that included a Christian worldview.  I wanted to read that book, but it didn’t exist.  So that’s what I started out writing. My first three novels   with Harvest House were Inspirational Regencies. The genre since then has grown by leaps and bounds, which I think is great.

4. Would you like to give a tip for writers? 

It’s important to write the book on your heart, not the one you think you should write because it will make money, or because it’s what people want.  A lot of gurus are out there saying you should research the audience before putting pen to paper to make sure your book will be marketable.  Well, there is some truth in that—if you write a book about some obscure dog breed that only 200 people own, you’re not gonna have  a bestseller. But there’s a big danger in that method, too. The book on your heart, the story that won’t go away, is most likely the one that will help point you to your purpose in writing; and it will be the one that resonates with readers.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 26

Genesis 5020, October 26

Texas Book-aholic, October 27

Blogging With Carol, October 27

Worthy2Read, October 28

deb’s Book Review, October 28

Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 29

Labor Not in Vain, October 29

Inklings and notions, October 30

Heidi and Books, October 30

For Him and My Family, October 31

Mary Hake, October 31

She Lives To Read, November 1

KarenSueHadley, November 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 2

Remembrancy, November 2

Connie’s History Classroom, November 3

Artistic Nobody, November 3 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 4

Betti Mace, November 4

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 6

Blossoms and Blessings, November 6

Simple Harvest Reads, November 7 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Romances of the Cross, November 7

Splashes of Joy, November 8

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Linore is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/102ab/miss-fanshawe-s-fortune-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book: Grow Over Your Wall

Author: Matt Sorger

Genre: Christian Living/Spiritual Growth

Release Date: September 18, 2020

Experience God’s Unstoppable Blessings and Breakthrough!

You may be facing an issue that’s seems like an insurmountable barrier in your life. Or, your circumstances may be so difficult you feel surrounded by walls with no way out. You ask God to knock down those walls, just as He did for Joshua at Jericho. But they’re still standing. Sometimes, God removes the obstacles from our lives immediately and dramatically. But what can we do when the change doesn’t occur, when the breakthrough doesn’t come, when God’s promises aren’t fulfilled, even when we pray?

That’s when we have to plant ourselves in God’s Word and presence and let Him grow us over the wall. The breakthrough starts as our roots grow deep. This is what Joseph did when he was in the pit and the dungeon. He grew over his wall by adopting a heavenly perspective rather than an earthly one. The result was a multitude of blessings for him, his family, and the world: “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall” (Genesis 49:22).

You can grow over your own wall of difficulty, opposition, hindrance, or limitation. As you grow, your wall won’t look as high as it used to. And one day, you will grow over it. Every negative situation will divinely position you to be where you need to be in life. You will grow over circumstances you thought were too powerful for you. You will grow over the wall of limitation that once surrounded you. You will grow over the dead end or impossibility that threatened to defeat you. The trials of life have no power to stop you from being abundant and fruitful in God, receiving His blessings, and fulfilling the plans He has for you. Like Joseph, let your branches grow over the wall. Then, your breakthrough will become a breakthrough and blessing for others, too, enabling them to grow over their own walls of difficulty.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Matt Sorger is a prophetic minister and a strong preacher and teacher of God’s Word, mentoring and equipping the body of Christ to live in the realm of God’s power and glory. He carries a unique anointing that fills entire rooms with the tangible glory of God, with many people saved, healed, set free, and filled with God’s presence. Through Matt Sorger Ministries, he has ministered in more than thirty-five nations and has reached more than two hundred nations by television and other media. He is the author of Power for Life: Keys to a Life Marked by the Presence of God. Matt and his wife, Stephanie, oversee Rescue1, an organization that rescues children from trafficking around the world. Their vision is to see at least 1,500 children set free. The Sorgers have two children and reside near Charlotte, NC.

 

More from Matt

Turn your pain into power and experience God’s unstoppable blessings and breakthrough.

Blog Stops

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 24

Artistic Nobody, October 25 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Texas Book-aholic, October 26

For Him and My Family, October 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 29

Simple Harvest Reads, October 30 (Spotlight)

deb’s Book Review, October 30

Older & Smarter?, October 31

Inklings and notions, November 1

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 2

Spoken from the Heart, November 3

Captive Dreams Window, November 3

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 5

Through the Fire Blogs, November 6

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Matt is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card and finished copy of the book!!

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/102aa/grow-over-your-wall-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book: Ruby Moon

Author: Jenny Knipfer

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 2019

Ruby Moon embodies a tale of grief, guilt, and redemption…

On the shores of Lake Superior in Ontario during the mid 1890’s, Jenay, a young woman of mixed French and Ojibwe descent, must survive the trauma of causing a horrific accident.

Amidst this drama, Jenay is caught in a web spun by Renault, a rich, charming man who once threatened ruination of her father’s shipping company but now seeks something even more valuable…

Jenay must find where her strength lies in order to face the challenges life brings her or be washed away like driftwood on the tumultuous shores of Lake Superior. Life’s richest dramas are played out under the banner of two ruby colored moons and become the hidden gems which forge her into a mature strong woman. Jenay realizes God is by her side, using even the harsh events of life to create something precious in her.

Fans of historical fiction, Christian historical fiction, split-timelines, and mystery will enjoy this stimulating read!

 

Click here to get your copy!

 MY REVIEW 

It was easy to be intrigued by this story with an opening of Jenay holding a knife in her hand trying to remember what happened. That sent shivers down my spine. It did take me a bit to catch on that details matter in this book. I learned that I needed to be alert  to dates that are at the beginning  of each chapter. The author cleverly takes us back and forth in time and slowly unravels who Jenay is. Oh how I cried about the mother she never knew. She sometimes wondered if her mother would be proud of her as she realizes she is a bit different than others around her. 

I loved her free spirit and how comfortable she was with her heritage. It was just the right combination to make her unique but very in tune with nature. Her thirst for knowledge is witnessed throughout the story. I loved the faith element and how the author used it to compliment the story with biblical principles. Her father is a blessing  with his  wisdom of God. 

Jenay is learning new things everyday about her heritage and I was very interested in learning about her culture. As she experiences new things she embraces the thought that God has a plan for her life.  I loved reading how Jenay became more confident and allowed  her heart to open up to new adventures. I was unprepared for the darkness that overcame Jenay after a traumatic event happens. The story takes a turn as we discover what the beginning of the book was about. 

The author depicts a young woman who becomes a fixation for someone. This person is angry that her affection is bestowed upon someone else. Even though I thought the character was despicable I liked how the author used him to show us what greed and jealousy can do to someone. There are moments that I wanted Jenay to realize that the enemy was slithering into her life and tempting her to betray someone. Her memories of a certain event will cause an avalanche of guilt as she relives an unthinkable encounter. Through everything she  faces, her faith grows as she is surrounded by family and friends. The ending is good but leaves readers with a bit of a cliffhanger. I know I will be reading the next books  available in this series so I can see where the author takes us next on our journey. 

God measures a person not from outward appearance, like mankind does, but looks at the heart of an individual to truly see what is there.”

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

About the Author

Jenny lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Ken and their pet Yorkie, Ruby. She is also a mom and loves being a grandma. She enjoys many creative pursuits but finds writing the most fulfilling.

Jenny’s education background stems from psychology, music, and cultural missions. She spent many years as a librarian in a local public library but recently switched to using her skills as a floral designer in a retail flower shop. She is now retired from work due to disability.

She authored and performed a self-published musical CD entitled, Scrapbook of a Closet Poet. 

She holds membership in the: Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, Historical Novel Society, Wisconsin Writers Association, Indie Christian Publishing Association, and Independent Book Publishers Association.

Jenny’s favorite place to relax is by the western shore of Lake Superior, where her novel series, By The Light of the Moon, is set. She has self-published the first two books, Ruby Moon and Blue Moon in her four-part series. Two more novels to complete the series are planned for 2020. She is currently writing a new historical fiction series called, Sheltering Trees.

Keep current with Jenny by visiting her website at https://jennyknipfer.com.

 

More from Jenny

The Creation of Ruby 

 

All things have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Let me share a glimpse of Ruby Moon’s creation with you.

The Beginning: 

Ruby Moon, the first book in my series: By the Light of the Moon, began many years ago—twenty in fact— with a hot, sticky July evening, a red moon, and a premise: what it would be like to recover from the guilt of being involved in an accidental death. Someone I knew had dealt with that same issue not long before.

Yes, I really did see a red moon on that July evening and while doing a mundane task of taking the garbage out. The image of the otherworldly blood-red sphere hanging above the treetops stuck with me, and before I got into bed that night, I wrote the opening scene to what would become Ruby Moon.

The Middle:

Insert life, kids, and a job into the picture. These took up the great portion of what I call my “author in the making” years. For a while I scribbled out Jenay’s story, but my life and family in general took precedence. Her story waited in the depths of our old IBM computer for just the right time.

Jenay is my main character and the crux of the novel revolves around how she handles the horrific accident, which takes someone’s life. Her help comes from several avenues. One being her ability to express her thoughts by journaling, which becomes an important part of Ruby Moon. I split the timeline, in which Jenay relays her own thoughts in a present tense and a third-person multiple perspective picks up the rest until the timelines converge on the fateful night.

When I first started Jenay’s story in Ruby Moon, I didn’t know what it was to grief or how the harsh places of life can gouge you out until hardly anything remains but hope or despair. Eventually, that’s where I found myself.

During that time, I expressed myself through writing songs, poems, and endless diary entries. I’d also started several blogs, back when blogging first started to be the cool thing to do. However, it wasn’t until a serious health crisis arrived on the scene that Ruby Moon emerged from her hiding place.

The Ending or Fruition:

In 2015 I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. My life since has been a series of ups and downs, but through it all I’ve tried to keep my eyes focused on God and the bigger picture. I drew from my past trials, knowing that He wouldn’t allow anything to come to me that wouldn’t bring Him glory and help me to grow.

On the day I had to quit my job as a floral designer because of my disability, I thought of Ruby Moon (I didn’t know the title then) and picked up where I left off at chapter 5. Over several months the rest of the book poured out of me, like water expressed from a sponge, as if I’d held Jenay’s story within me the whole time.

After months of revisions and with a hope and a prayer, I started down the publishing path. In hindsight I wish I’d been more patient and tried the querying path for a longer time before striking out on the indie road, but such is life. We can only move forward not back.

Now:

Here I am, with you. Thank you for reading about my writing journey. I hope that you’ll be able to pick up one or all of my books. If you read and like them, please tell a friend or family member about them.

It’s my mission to not only entertain my readers with a well-written story but to leave them encouraged and inspired afterward, which I hope you will be.

Please visit my website at jennyknipfer.com to learn more about me, my books, and how you can connect with me.

Blessings, Jenny

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 21

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 22

Inklings and notions, October 23

A Baker’s Perspective, October 24 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, October 24

Texas Book-aholic, October 25

For Him and My Family, October 26

Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 27

lakesidelivingsite, October 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 28

Artistic Nobody, October 29 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Connie’s History Classroom, October 30

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 31

Godly Book Reviews, November 1

Stories By Gina, November 2 (Author Interview)

CarpeDiem, November 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jenny is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10262/ruby-moon-celebration-tour-giveaway