Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Summer Plans

About the Book

Book: Summer Plans and Other Disasters

Author: Karin Beery

Genre: Women’s Romantic Fiction

Release date: April, 2021

Summer Plans_final Elementary school music teacher Callie Stevens thinks she’s finally figured out God ’s plan for
her life—she even made a list to keep her on track. Moving in with her brother and reconnecting
with her ex-boyfriend are at the top of the list. What ’s not on the list is running into her
childhood crush, Ryan. God wanted her to connect with Kyle, right? Trying to figure out God ’s
plan is hard enough. But a dating-averse older brother, the young blonde who adores him, a
pregnant best friend, and Callie ’s continual mishaps make her wonder whether her best-laid
plans were truly God-inspired.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Beery, Karin_417x625 Karin Beery grew up in a small, rural Michigan town where she wrote her first novel in high school. She’s still writing today, telling contemporary stories with a healthy dose of romance. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s editing or teaching it. And when she’s not doing that, she enjoys time at home with her husband and fur babies, once again living in a small, rural Michigan town.

More from Karin

I discovered audiobooks two years ago, and they have changed my life! Now I look forward to long car rides and endless hours cleaning and cooking. Well, I don’t really look forward to the cleaning and cooking, but at least the chores are tolerable because I just turn on a new book and listen to a story while I work! I know I’m not the only one who multitasks with audiobooks. I had a few friends ask me when my books would be available in audio form so they could listen—with long commutes and families at home, they prefer listening to their books in the quiet of the car.

That’s why I’m so excited to bring Summer Plans and Other Disasters to audiobook, and I’m just as excited about my narrator, Jasmine Zhwalen. Summer Plans was my first published book, and now it will be Jasmine’s first too. As soon as I heard her audition, I knew I wanted her to give Callie, Jack, Stacey, and Ryan their voices. Considering it’s the first go-round for both of us, I think it turned out pretty well!

Thanks for listening!

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 14

Books and Everyday Life, May 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 15

Older & Smarter?, May 16

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 17

Kayem Reads, May 17

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 18

Texas Book-aholic, May 19

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 20

Inklings and notions, May 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 21

For Him and My Family, May 22

deb’s Book Review, May 23

By The Book, May 24

Cultivating Us, May 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 25

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 26

Truth and Homeschool Academy, May 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karin is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Audible 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/10bbb/summer-plans-and-other-disasters-celebration-tour-giveaway

THE SILVER SHADOW by LIZ TOLSMA

I absolutely love this series and look forward to learning about crimes that have taken place during different time periods. This story is set in the 1900s where women were not welcomed in the world of working outside the home. Men believed they should be at home tending to children, doing housework and be at their husband’s beck and call.

I welcomed the star of the story with enthusiasm. Polly was out to prove that women could work outside the home and do it just as well as men. Her time as a reporter was not welcomed by some and I liked how determined she was to succeed. Her strength and wisdom suited her well as she became involved in a story that shook the quiet neighborhood she lived.

Denver was thriving and there was much going on as the city grew and crime picked up. As readers are introduced to this mysterious person who was harming women, I knew it was going to be a race to solve the crime. The author does state that she did take some liberties in the story but I think she did a good job of bringing the characters to life. I was trying to keep up with the little crumbs of evidence but couldn’t quite figure out who it was.

Edwin is a good police officer who won’t rest till he finds the culprit that injured women in vicious and random attacks. The choice of weapon made me cringe. As the author described the attacks, I could feel the pain that radiated in the victim’s head. It was a horrible crime and I’m glad that Polly and Edwin teamed up to capture the person. The only problem I had with the story was the way Polly seemed to act like was not concerned about her safety. Why did she keep going out at night by herself knowing someone was out there attacking women? She had been warned many times but she was so determined to break the story she forgot her own safety.

Overall the book was entertaining but it did lack the punch that other stories in the series have had. It lacked details at times and some were not consistent with the story and was confusing. I did like how a group of men came together to help catch the person but they disbanded quickly. The police department was not very equipped to handle a case like this as they continually arrested someone who turned out to be innocent. The story is good but I felt like the ending was rushed and I was hoping for more attention given to the person behind the crimes. It was a great opportunity to delve into the reason he did it and perhaps go back to his past and allow readers to see why he chose to target women.

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

Monday, May 17, 2021

About the Book

Book: Road to Freedom

Author: Leigh Lincoln

Genre: Christian Literary Transformational Fiction

Release date: October 16, 2020

A marriage which shouldn’t be. The path to forgiveness begins in unlikely places. And love can bloom among the thorns.
Immigrant Francisco has escaped the cruelty of Cuba, but has been a man without a true home. Now terminal cancer has driven him into the arms of Stacy.
Traveling half-way around the world together, they each have a journey to take. Francisco confronts his past. While Stacy tries to open her heart after a devastating first marriage. Both pushing each other in ways they are unwilling to accept.
Can he make amends and say he’s sorry for his wrongs? Can she learn to let go and be free to love again?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Leigh has spent the better part of the last thirty years involved in homeless and poverty advocacy in one way or another. Her first novel – Road Home – was born out of this work. She wanted to make people think about their lives and how they live. But most importantly, about how they treat others and how they want to be treated. Her second novel – Road to Freedom – looks at how our lives don’t always follow the path we choose. But yet somehow we must pick up the broken pieces and move on. How we grow and where our strength comes from is what’s most important. These two novels form the basis for her series – Broken Roads. Each shows how life is raw, painful and often leads us on journeys we never expected or imagined. While each book doesn’t seem to relate, the final book in the series will connect the dots of how these characters have touched the lives of each other in ways they never knew. Keep watching for updates on when new books will come out!

Leigh loves to travel, paint and hike. You never know where she’ll end up next, for she’s on her own journey of discovery.

More from Leigh

I wrote this book as my pandemic project – with all this time on my hands I needed something to do. No traveling, no meeting new people, no leaving my house, no, no, no. Fine, I thought to myself, I’ll sit at my computer and remember people I’ve met on my journeys, places I’ve been, things I’ve seen, foods I’ve savored. And then cram them all into a book. For those of you who want to be adventurous, I’ve learned how to make paella. It works best in a heavy skillet on a gas stove, but a non-stick pan or an electric stove will work as well. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup stock, 1/8 cup olive oil, 1/4 large onion finely chopped, 1 clove fresh garlic minced, 1/3 cup tomato sauce, handful of fresh peas, 3/4 cup pearl or valencia rice, 1 large bay leaf, 1 cup meat (chicken, Spanish chorizo or seafood – or go crazy and do a mix of meats), salt, pepper and saffron to taste. Instructions: Saute onions, garlic, bay leaf in olive oil until soft. Add rice, continue to saute for 3-5 minutes until rice is a golden brown. Add about a 1/4 cup of stock, tomato sauce, peas, and spices. If you are using chicken add it at this point. Cook on low or medium low, shaking the pan from time to time, making sure the rice ends up level. Slowly pour about 1/4 cup of stock evenly around the pan every 5-10 minutes. Do not allow it to come to a boil, do not stir and do not cover. When the rice is almost tender, add Spanish chorizo or seafood if that’s your meat of choice. I often serve paella with fresh bread, a bowl of olive oil to dip the bread in and a few slices of lemon if people want some tang added to their paella.

MY REVIEW

The book was hard to read at times because some of it was in Spanish. The author at times translates for readers and other times does not. That led me to be discouraged at times in trying to figure out the story. I didn’t give up and found between the pages a gritty, emotional journey that two people take to find peace and forgiveness.

It wasn’t easy to like Francisco because he was an angry miserable man. Therein lies the reason God loves Him. He sees past his flaws and never leaves Him. Francisco was not having anything to do with God and blames Him for everything. I think we all may do this at some point in our life when our world falls apart. I did like the part where Francisco desperately wants to make amends to those he has hurt. The pain his children must have endured knowing their father left them was painful. The author does do a good job of focusing on scripture as she unwraps the road that would lead to freedom.

Stacy really surprised me when she made her decision to marry Francisco. She hasn’t always had an easy life and I was shocked when she resigned from her position at church. That really speaks of faith to me, to give up everything to help Francisco in his last days find peace. It was hard for her to see her husband try to speak to his son. The anger was so thick a knife would not have cut through it. The emotions are strong during their exchange of words and I cringed when Francisco spoke of his wife as , “She’s nothing more to me than a nurse.”

The book does have a few words I thought were not appropriate for a Christian fiction book and had hoped the author would have found another way to express those words . I don’t know why but I was angry throughout the book. I soon realized I was understanding Francisco more as he faces his faults. The anger he has let build up comes out in hurtful ways. I wanted to like him, to sympathize with him, but I needed to wait till I read to the end to come to grips with my feelings for this character.

The author takes us to foreign lands where survival was hard for Francisco. His hope was to seek forgiveness and along the way feel at peace. The road he travels is not easy and at times I wondered how he survived. I have come to the end of the book and can now say, “Francisco I felt your pain and now understand why it was so important for you to find love.” The author wrote a character that bothered me and now I understand why. He reminded me of someone who holds on to bitterness and finds reasons to blame others. I see myself in him at times and though our journey is different, we both desired forgiveness and unconditional love.

“God is always here, even in the broken pieces we make of our lives.”

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 15

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 17

Texas Book-aholic, May 18

Inklings and notions, May 19

For Him and My Family, May 20

deb’s Book Review, May 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 22

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 23

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 24

HappyWhenReading, May 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 25

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 26 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, May 27

Through the Fire Blogs, May 28 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Leigh is giving away the grand prize package of a signed copy 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/10bbc/road-to-freedom-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, May 13, 2021

The Elnora Monet

About the Book

Book: The Elnora Monet

Author: Rachel Skatvold

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: April 27, 2021

Islanders call him the Elnora Monet.

Is that island speak for “pompous, arrogant jerk?”

When Carly Mulligan volunteered to make house calls on Elnora, she never imagined treating the richest cat on the islands. What other feline has his own wing in a mansion like the Belshaw Estate?

After a wrong turn in the mansion, Carly stumbles across a secret room—one filled with incredible paintings. Perhaps there’s something more to the man than she first thought.

Most people envy Jean-Luc Belshaw’s position. The heir to a lucrative business and family fortune, he should have everything he could dream of.

But Luc dreams of days past. Days when he traveled the world with his wife and painted the breathings of his soul disappeared with Angeline’s passing. Faith and inspiration gone, he wonders if returning to France to take his place in his father’s business is the right thing to do.

Carly has a few relational demons of her own, and she’s reluctant to trust him, but Luc’s paintings draw her in even as his story touches a long-empty place in her heart.

Only God can transform two broken pasts into a work of art.

The Elnora Monet continues the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

rachel Rachel Skatvold is a Christian author and stay-at-home mom from the Midwest. She enjoys writing inspirational romance and encouraging blogs. Rachel completed her first series, the Riley Family Legacy Novellas in 2014 and is now working on the Hart Ranch Series, set in the Montana wilderness and the Ladies of Ardena Series, set in medieval times. She is also a contributing author in the Whispers in Wyoming and Brides of Pelican Rapids Series. Other than writing, some of her hobbies include singing, reading and camping in the great outdoors with her husband and two young sons. You can find more information about Rachel and her books on her website: www.rachelskatvold.com.

More from Rachel

Thank you for helping celebrate the release of The Elnora Monet by following this Celebration Tour hosted by Celebrate Lit. I hope you enjoy learning a little more about the characters and what inspired the story. Please follow the other stops on this tour and don’t forget to enter in the giveaway. Thank you!

It has been a wonderful experience working with the talented authors and editors in the Independence Islands Series. Each of these stories has a heartwarming message of faith and the characters always teach me something new. Ever since writing Kendall Mulligan’s story in Her Merriweather Hero, I’ve been excited to share her free-spirited younger sister’s story.

Carly had many struggles in the first book, questioning what purpose God had for her life. This time around, her feet are more grounded, but she still has some growing to do when it comes to faith. Carly has been a fun character to write about because of her witty extroverted personality and some of the humorous predicaments she ends up in…one of them including getting caught snooping around a billionaire’s mansion.

While not outspoken as Carly, I can relate to the character’s search for direction. Sometimes it is difficult learning to trust, especially during troubling times, but we can rely on God’s promises. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your paths, and he will keep your ways straight.” This verse means so much to me because I know even when I can’t understand something, He is behind the scenes guiding me in the right direction. For Carly, it leads in a direction she never expects, but it is worth it in the end.

Certain parts of the story were inspired by my mom. If you have read Her Merriweather Hero, you know the Mulligan sisters are originally from New England, close to where my mom grew up. I love hearing about her memories of spending time at Nantasket Beach, drinking orange pop, and putting chips in her sandwich so they wouldn’t blow away. Even though I grew up in the Midwest, I still put chips in my own sandwich because of watching her do the same thing and her fridge is always stocked with orange pop to this day. Little bits of my mom’s childhood are weaved into this story, making it close to my heart.

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little more about characters and story behind The Elnora Monet. Now continue reading for a summary of the book and giveaway. Blessings!

MY REVIEW

I really enjoyed this story and hated to see it end. The author did a great job of developing the characters which made them come to life. I could easily see myself back on the island as the people strolled along the beach, ate from the wonderful food truck and enjoyed each other’s company. I loved the feeling of family as the author delivers a story filled with emotional treasures waiting to be discovered.

It was easy to love Carly as I remember her from another book in this series. She is quite outspoken and full of adventure. Helping her sister on the traveling vet mobile was fun and I learned quite a bit about the ins and outs of treating animals for different things. I love animals and anything that related to them grabs my attention right away. Carly’s encounter with Luc is funny since Carly is found snooping around in his mansion. Oh the details of his place were spectacular and I wanted to be invited there. The breathtaking paintings were easy to see due to the author’s words that eloquently described every detail. My husband airbrushes and paints so I really enjoyed learning more about Luc’s talent.

I appreciate that the author didn’t rush the attraction between Luc and Carly. It was sweet, romantic and very endearing. Luc sure knows how to sweep someone off their feet with his gestures of flowers, picnics and gifts. It is important to note that although they were getting to know each other, the two main characters had a few things that were holding them back from happiness. I think the main one was letting go of the past for Luc. He hasn’t allowed himself to be happy since his wife died. His faith is weak but there will be a moment that will change him forever as he helps someone very dear to him know Jesus. This is my favorite part of the entire book.

Carly is slowly beginning to have deep feelings for Luc but I think she is afraid to trust. Her hesitation may push Luc away but God has a plan for her. She has allowed her dreams to almost disappear but as she listens to God her faith grows stronger. There is much more to the story but I won’t ruin it for readers. Be prepared for a few tears along the way as the author sweeps us away on a journey to finding happiness, forgiveness and love.

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 10

Lakesidelivingsite, May 10

Rebekah Reads Lit, May 10

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 11

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, May 11

She Lives to Read, May 12

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 12

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 13

deb’s Book Review, May 13

Texas Book-aholic, May 14

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, May 14

Inklings and notions, May 15

CarpeDiem, May 15

For Him and My Family, May 16

Cultivating Us, May 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 17

Books and Everyday Live, May 17

Blossoms and Blessings, May 17

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 18

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 18

Lots of Helpers, May 19

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 19

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 20

Blogging With Carol , May 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 21

Godly Book Reviews, May 21

Kayem Reads, May 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 22

Connect in Fiction, May 22

Splashes of Joy, May 23

Simple Harvest Reads, May 23 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a 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/10bb3/the-elnora-monet-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

lighthouse point

About the Book

Book: At Lighthouse Point

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: May 4, 2021

at lighthouse Blaine Grayson returns to Three Sisters Island with a grand plan–to take Camp Kicking Moose to the next level. Her dream starts to unravel when she discovers Moose Manor’s kitchen has been badly remodeled by her sister, Cam, who doesn’t know how to cook. Added to that blow is the cold shoulder given by her best friend, Artie Lotosky, now a doctor to the unbridged Maine islands.

As old wounds are opened, Blaine starts to wonder if she made a mistake by coming home. Little by little, she must let go of one dream to discover a new one, opening her heart to a purpose and a future she had never imagined.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

suzanne Award winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected. With more than one million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the bestselling author of more than 30 works, ranging from novels to non-fiction books to children’s books. Currently, she lives with her very big family in the East Bay.

More from Suzanne

10 Curious Facts about Lighthouses

People love lighthouses. There’s just something special about those sturdy sentinels with their beacons of light, patiently sweeping the water, their mournful and haunting wail of a foghorn. Longfollow’s poem, The Lighthouse, written in 1850, captured the allure so well:

And as the evening darkens, lo! how bright,
Through the deep purple of the twilight air,
Beams forth the sudden radiance of its light,
With strange, unearthly splendor in the glare!

“Unearthly splendor.” Wow, doesn’t that hit the nail on the head? A lighthouse, to me, represents a spiritual truth: Someone’s watching out for us, looking out for the dangers ahead, and always glad to welcome us home.

Here are 10 facts about lighthouses that you might not know:

THE FIRST KNOWN LIGHTHOUSE was Egypt’s Pharos of Alexandria, Egypt, built in the third century B.C. The lighthouse was made from a fire on a platform to warn sailors of the port’s entrance. This lighthouse was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

THE OLDEST EXISTING LIGHTHOUSE IN THE WORLD is considered to be La Coruna in Spain that dates from ca. 20 B.C. A Roman lighthouse is located on the Cliffs of Dover in the UK that was constructed in 40 A.D.

THE UNITED STATES IS HOME to more lighthouses than any other country.

THE FIRST LIGHTHOUSE IN AMERICA was at Boston on Little Brewster Island (1716). The first keeper was George Worthylake who, sadly, was drowned, along with his wife and daughter, when returning to the island in 1718.

THE TALLEST LIGHTHOUSE is on Cape Hatteras, NC. Built in 1872, it reached 196 feet tall.

THE FIRST WEST COAST LIGHTHOUSE was built on Alcatraz Island in 1854.

DAYMARKS are the painted colors and patterns (diamonds, spirals and stripes) on lighthouse towers to distinguish them from each other.

LIGHTHOUSE KEEPING was one of the first U.S. government jobs available to women, as far back as the 19th century. Most obtained their position when their husband died or became incapacitated.

THE RANGE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE LIGHT produces a light seen 25 miles at sea.

ABOUT 700 LIGHTHOUSES are still in active use in the United States.

As I wrote the third book in the ‘Three Sisters island’ series, I just had to give that little charred lighthouse its day in the sun. It had patiently played a role in the first two books, waiting for its turn on center stage. Not only did its setting provide a very unexpected “WHAT? How did that happen?” conclusion to the series, it even stole the headline! The undisputed title: At Lighthouse Point.

Do you have a favorite lighthouse? If so, please add your picture in the comments below. Don’t forget to include its location.

Thanks for reading! Stay well, stay home, and read.

Suzanne

MY REVIEW

I have waited for awhile for this book to come out. The journey that this series has provided has been filled with joy, obstacles, surprises and a family that surrounds each other with love. I decided in order to do justice to this series I needed a refresher. I went back and reread the previous story so I could escape once again into the world where lighthouses are prominent on an island full of hope.

As I write my final review of this series I feel emotional saying goodbye to my friends. The author has written a saga that allowed me to be part of a family who instilled in me the importance of following your dreams. They may stumble along the way but with God’s help they find their destiny. Now I was a little unsure about the man that Blaine brought hone from Paris. He irritated me somewhat until the moment I read what he had done for Blaine. Oh readers don’t miss this part in the story. It captures the pure unconditional love a person has for others. “God will never give up on you even if you give up on Him.” Those words spoken by a stranger to Blaine pierce her heart in a way that made her start to heal from her sorrow and pain. It was one of the most emotional sections of the book that defines the road to freedom.

I am one of those people who don’t like change. I like my little place in the world that may be boring to some but it is familiar and comfortable to me. The island is experiencing growing pains which some don’t care for. It was interesting to see how the town would take to technology coming in and perhaps new businesses popping up. With this change is the core group of townspeople who like things to stay just the way it always has been. The author shows us what it is like to allow change so we can grow and become more like minded.

I adore lighthouses and even have a collection of them in a curio cabinet. Each one is special because it reminds me of new beginnings. I couldn’t wait to see what Blaine has in store for the lighthouse on the island. It sat lonely for years crying for someone to bring it back to life. I loved the history behind lighthouses and appreciate the author’s research on them.

As the series closes the author demonstrates the importance of forgiving and trusting. This family has been through a lot but they have come to understand that they need each other as they seek new adventures, celebrate life and watch dreams come true. It is never to late to have a relationship with God and allow Him to soften your heart and find unconditional love.

“Most things work out in the end if you leave them in God’s hands and don’t meddle.”

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