About the Book

Title: The Wilderness Journey

Author: Misty M. Beller

Release Date: April 24, 2018

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

He’s been sent to retrieve the new missionary… But she’s not at all who he expects to find.

Joseph Malcom has spent his life protecting those in need, but now that his sister is safely settled with her new family in the Canadian Rockies, his help is no longer required. That is, until he’s asked to safely retrieve the priest’s cousin to help minister to the local Indian tribe. But his passenger is not at all who he expects.

After the death of her mother, Monti Bergeron has nothing to keep her in Montreal. While the prospect of ministering to the Indians out West is daunting, she looks forward to assisting her beloved cousin in his mission work. The life of a nun may be just what she needs to heal her grief, serving her Heavenly Father and fellow mankind, especially if no more pesky suitors are around to ask for her hand in marriage. But the man who’s been sent to guide her through the mountains might make her second-guess her plans before she even begins.

As Monti settles into her ministry, Joseph finds his wandering feet drawn back to the Indian camp. Monti’s focus on God is more unsettling than he’d like to admit. Add to that her beauty which tests his willpower at every turn, and she’s made it crystal clear she doesn’t want a husband. But when his determination to keep distance between them puts Monti in danger, protecting her might require something Joseph might not be able to give.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Guest Post from Misty Beller

The Frontier Cook

I love to write frontier romance, where the challenges were tough and the people had to be even tougher. And one of the things I love to imagine is how my characters cooked during those days.

Can you imagine how hard it would be to cook over an open fire? Every. Single. Meal. Of course, it’s not like they had a lot of variety to work with. Once you learned how to make a decent stew or corn mush, you didn’t have much to worry about, right?

Yet, many of the frontier women became quite adept at cooking over their cabin’s hearth, or even over an open campfire. In my new book, This Wilderness Journey, Monti (the heroine) came from a middle-class home with a paid chef and never had to learn to cook at all, much less without the use of a wood stove (which is still so much harder than heating a hot-pocket in the microwave). After she burned the corn mush their first night on the trail through the Canadian wilderness, Joseph (the hero) taught her a few basic meals.

As I was researching some creative ways frontier women cooked in an open hearth, I discovered the wide use of puddings, mostly because of how easy they were to make. By wrapping the ingredients in a cloth or pudding bag, they could be dropped in a pot of boiling water and left until the ingredients had softened and expanded. An entire meal could be made with a few ingredients, a pudding cloth, and a pot of boiling water.

One of my favorite cooking scenes in This Wilderness Journey is the making of the Oatmeal Pudding. What do you think? Sound like something you’d like to try?

I knew from the first few pages that this would be a great adventure. Joseph has been assigned to  escort Monti Bergerson safely. I laughed when they meet and Joseph is shocked to find out Monti is a woman. Their journey will take them into dangerous territories and Joseph isn't sure Monti will survive. He tries everything to talk her out of going, but to no avail. 

Monti is one tough woman. After  losing her mother she decides to take a trip to minister to the Indians. I loved her faith and how determined she was to do what God had called her to do. I can't imagine being in the wilderness having to depend on a stranger to keep me safe. I loved the description of the area and how protective Joseph was of Monti.  When it became obvious that Monti knew nothing about cooking, I had to laugh. Monti and I have something in common when it comes to cooking. Many disasters later, my husband is the official cook in the family.

It was nice to read about Monti meeting Joseph's sister. Emma is a gentle person and made Monti feel right at home. There is a part in the story where the two main characters share a moment that was written so eloquently that I found it to be one of the best parts of the story. The author does a good job of talking about Monti being  with the Indians. It shows how gentle her heart is and how brave she is to tend to their needs.  It is a good story that has adventure, faith and romance. I enjoyed getting to know Monti and Joseph. Will they find what they are looking for to be happy?

"The things that happened to you don't have the power to make you more or less than that. It's up to you to decide whether you'll live up to His plan for you."

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

Blog Stops

A Baker’s Perspective, June 7

Among the Reads, June 7

Two Points of Interest, June 8

The Power of Words, June 8

Blossoms and Blessings, June 9

The Christian Fiction Girl, June 9

Mary Hake, June 10

Splashes of Joy, June 10

Kathleen Denly, June 11

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, June 11

Maureen’s Musings, June 12

Kat’s Corner Books, June 12

Mommynificent, June 13

Reading Is My SuperPower, June 13

Moments Dipped in Ink, June 13

Bibliophile Reviews, June 14

Luv’N Lambert Life, June 14

Pause for Tales, June 15

proud to be an autism mom, June 15

Texas Book-aholic, June 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 16

Janices book reviews, June 17

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 17

Carpe Diem, June 18

Red Headed Book Lady, June 18

Connie’s History Classroom, June 19

Bigreadersite, June 20

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, June 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cd16/this-wilderness-journey-celebration-tour-giveaway

THE WEAVER'S DAUGHTER by SARAH E. LADD

This is  great story that opened my eyes to a trade I knew little about. The author does an exceptional job of giving readers historical facts that make the story come to life. Kate is a wonderful character who has dreams of becoming a part of her father's business. I loved how she tried to convince her father that she should be more involved in the company.

Henry is a pleasant enough person but he sure shocks everyone when he returns home after being feared dead.  There is definitely friction between Kate and Henry's family. You can feel the tension in the air when they encounter each other. I thought it was funny that Kate and Henry kept running into each other. Is romance in their future?

Technology seems to be playing a part in the industry new machines  being introduced. Will this cause weaver's to lose their jobs? Can Kate and Henry find a way to work together to save their families businesses? I liked how Henry stood up to his grandfather. His loyalty to his sister is admirable and I wanted the author to spend a bit more time on where she was and why she is being shunned  by her grandfather.

The story is filled with danger, loyalty, fear, suspense and a romance that makes the story a success. Overall a great book that keeps readers intrigued by the smooth writing of a very gifted author. I can't wait for her next book to come out.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

BLIND BETRAYAL BY NANCY MEHL

Every time I read a book from this author I am always amazed at how she can weave a story that captures your full attention. The action is non stop and the characters are exceptional. I loved how the author made it hard to determine who was the good guys and who wasn't. Just when I thought a character was trust worthy they fool me. There is definitely something strange going on when the FBI makes me question their integrity. It becomes clear that not everyone is on the same page.

Casey is a fierce character who is determined to protect a witness that has been slated to testify. Her partner E.J.  is well trained and has a keen sense of reading people. The action starts when a bomb explodes in the marshals office. The goal is to get the witness to a safe place, but obstacles get in the way. I was starting to mistrust the witness Valerie when she seems to help the bad guys find her. It's a race against the clock in this explosive and powerful cat and mouse game. Can Casey and E.J. keep Valerie alive to testify? Who is really behind all the danger that puts Casey and E.J. in danger? I love the complexity of the story and how the author puts the pieces together in an intense way that keeps you guessing till the end.  The ending is masterfully written with surprises that lead to a closure that will make you cheer.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Bethany House Publishers. The review is my own opinion.

ARMS OF MERCY BY RUTH REID

The author has a beautiful way of taking a story and bringing it full circle with a depth of emotions that you  feel in your heart.  I loved how the author allowed readers to experience what it is like to find your faith again and reach out for mercy and hope. Catherine is a great character who I think perhaps acted impulsive  when she decided to go to Florida. Her decision made, she gets on the bus timidly ready for her adventure.

I liked that the author had Elijah on the same bus as Catherine. I didn't think Catherine was thrilled with him being there, but his presence plays a big part in the story. I remember a few months back riding a bus that took me to a town three hours away. I was scared the whole trip because I  didn't know anyone. These thoughts kept running through my mind, "What if the bus crashes?"  What did I forget to bring with me? I left my faith behind and allowed the enemy to have a field day in  my mind.

I was alarmed at all the tragedies that Catherine and Elijah endured. The first one was enough to send me back home. When the next one hit, I was beside myself. The story takes on a theme of a roller coaster ride as two people try to find their way back to each other .Elijah's determination to not give up just gave me chills. I didn't like the lawyer in the story at all. He was a person who preys on other people's tragedies for money. It just reminds us how some people are selfish and only looking out for themselves.

 The story flows very well and blends two characters together as they find their purpose in life. They each travel to places that are not familiar but find hope along the way. The journey is filled with disappointment, hope, and above all mercy.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

THE HEART BETWEEN US BY LINDSAY HARREL

As I write this review I reflect on my life and how precious our lives are.  This story is emotionally charged with characters that penetrate the deepest part of our souls. I loved the character Megan. She is definitely a fighter and when given a second chance at life takes it with full force. I admired her determination to fulfill someone's bucket list. The connection between Megan and her donor heart is without question written with pure compassion and respect.

What I liked about Megan's sister, Crystal is her need to be wanted. For so many years she has lived in the shadow of her sister . Megan was always sick and kept her parents attention directly on her and Crystal is left looking on from the sidelines. I am guilty of doing that to my oldest son. His younger brother  was very sick and spent a lot of time in ICU. It is easy to forget the child who is well when all you see is your sick child suffering.

The story is one of discovery and healing for the sisters. It shows how relationships can be repaired and give hope to new beginnings. Their journey takes them all over the world. The author does an amazing job of describing the different places and helps readers feel like they are seeing the world with the sisters. The story is an inspiration to me because it reminds me that family is the most important gift you can have. I encourage everyone to grab a copy, tissues and get comfortable as the author takes you to far away places. If there is a hero to recognize in the story it has to be Amanda. She gave the gift of life and I love how Megan chose to honor her .

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

A Deadly Éclair: A French Bistro Mystery
by Daryl Wood Gerber

Great cozy mystery filled with all the things I love…great characters, great storyline, great food, and a dash of romance!
~Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews

What a wonderful start to a new cozy mystery series . . . This really is a must read for fans of the genre and food. I just loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

My vocabulary also got a workout, which I enjoy. Reading a good cozy should expand your world and this does that very well.
~Laura’s Interests

A DEADLY ECLAIR serves up a delicious blend of characters, setting, and mystery in the first French Bistro Mystery.
~Cozy Up With Kathy

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through most of the book, I felt like I was right there watching all of the action taking place. And the descriptions of the foods had me salivating.
~MJB Reviewers

Setting, characterization and plot all come together beautifully in A Deadly Éclair, book #1 in Daryl Wood Gerber’s entertaining new French Bistro series.
~The Power of Words

This was a great new series which leads us to another food cozy mystery . . . I love reading how Mimi clears her name.
~Community Bookstop

About the Book

A Deadly Éclair: A French Bistro Mystery
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Crooked Lane Books (June 12, 2018)
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1683316046
Kindle ASIN: B06XWDWRLF

It’s always been Mimi Rousseau’s dream to open her own bistro, but it seems beyond her grasp since she’s been chased back home to Nouvelle Vie in Napa Valley by her late husband’s tremendous debt. Until her best friend Jorianne James introduces her to entrepreneur Bryan Baker who invests in promising prospects. Now, working the bistro and inn until she’s able to pay it off and call it her own, Mimi is throwing the inn’s first wedding ever.

The wedding will be the talk of the town, as famous talk show host Angelica Edmonton, daughter of Bryan’s half-brother, Edison, has chosen the inn as her perfect venue. Anxious, Mimi is sure things are going to turn south, especially when Edison gets drunk and rowdy at the out-of-towners’ dinner, but by the evening, things begin to look up again. That is until six AM rolls around, and Bryan is found dead at the bistro with an éclair stuffed in his mouth. And the fingers point at Mimi, whose entire loan is forgiven in Bryan’s will.

Now it’s up to Mimi to clear her name and get to the bottom of things before the killer turns up the heat again in A Deadly Éclair, the scrumptious series debut by Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber.

About the Author

Agatha Award-winning Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries and CHEESE SHOP MYSTERIES, which she pens as Avery Aames. She will soon debut the new French Bistro Mysteries. Daryl also writes stand-alone suspense: DAYS OF SECRETS and GIRL ON THE RUN. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!

Author Links

Visit Daryl or Avery at www.darylwoodgerber.com.

Daryl’s Blog – Avery’s Blog – Mystery Lover’s Kitchen – Killer Characters –

Facebook:   Daryl      Avery 

Twitter: @AveryAames @DarylWoodGerber

Goodreads:    Daryl Wood Gerber     Avery Aames

Purchase Links

Amazon  B&N     Kobo    BookBub

What a wonderful start to a new series. The author has mesmerized me with her exquisite meals served at the beautiful restaurant our main character runs. The French Bistro and Inn was becoming quite the place to eat at. I found myself feeling like I was sitting at a table watching Mimi as she ran her business with precision. The way the author describes the menu makes you want to run in a French Bistro and order all the food in the book. 

Mimi is a delightful character with strong opinions and has a backer that has helped get her established. Bryan Baker has had a special place in his heart for Mimi and wants to be sure she succeeds. He reminds me of a grandfather who has all this money and lavishes it on his favorite granddaughter. Mimi is like an energizer bunny and seems to take on a lot to make her business successful.

When a famous talk show host books her wedding at the Inn, everyone is on high alert. Mimi knows this wedding could put her on the map. The chef has to have the perfect menu and everything has to be picture perfect . Will the bride and groom be happy with the setting for their wedding? Can the menu the chef has prepared live up to their expectations?

Sometimes we don’t always get what we want and Mimi finds herself in panic mode when several guests get drunk and start to get out of hand at the evening party. As the evening winds down Mimi hopes to sleep and get a jump start on the next day. What she finds the next morning will put a damper on the wedding and make her a suspect. Her beloved mentor is found dead with an eclair stuck in his mouth. Ok I did find that a bit funny. That’s one of the things I like about the authors writing. She puts humor in her story at just the places to lighten up the mood a bit . 

The story has some delightful characters that I found to be interesting. The list of suspects are many and poor Mimi is on the top of the list. Her sleuthing skills were very well thought out and I have to say she could easily get a job as a detective. Now the big question is who killed Bryan? He is very well off, and helped Mimi get her business off the ground. Does Bryan have family members that are willing to kill to get his inheritance? Or perhaps it is a jealous person that despised him for his success? The story is well written and kept me guessing till the end. Once again I didn’t figure out who the killer was. I love it when an author can write a mystery and fool her readers and surprise them at the end. I am looking forward to more books in this wonderful series. 

I received a copy of this book from the author and The Great Escape Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants

June 6 –  Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews  – REVIEW, RECIPE – GUEST POST

June 6 –  Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

June 7 –  Laura’s Interests  – REVIEW

June 7 –  Ruff Drafts  – RECIPE – GUEST POST

June 7 –  The Pulp and Mystery Shelf  – SPOTLIGHT

June 8 –  Babs Book Bistro  – SPOTLIGHT

June 8 –  Cozy Up WIth Kathy  – REVIEW*, RECIPE – GUEST POST

June 9 –  MJB Reviewers  – REVIEW

June 9 –  The Power of Words  – REVIEW*

June 10 –  Community Bookstop  – REVIEW

June 11 –  Valerie’s Musings  – REVIEW*, RECIPE – GUEST POST

June 11 –  The Avid Reader  – REVIEW*

June 12 –  My Reading Journeys  – REVIEW

June 12 –  Texas Book-aholic  – REVIEW*

June 13 –  Mysteries with Character  – REVIEW

June 14 –  Reading Is My SuperPower  – REVIEW*, RECIPE – GUEST POST

June 14 –  That’s What She’s Reading  – REVIEW*

June 15 –  Island Confidential  – SPOTLIGHT

June 16 –  A Wytch’s Book Review Blog  – REVIEW

June 16 –  Lisa Ks Book Review  – REVIEW*

June 17 –    The Cozy Pages  – REVIEW

June 18 –  The Montana Bookaholic  –  REVIEW, RECIPE – GUEST POST

June 18 –  Sapphyria’s Books  – REVIEW*

June 19 –  Melina’s Book Blog  – REVIEW

June 19 –  Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book  – REVIEW*

Plunge into Darkness Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Title: Plunge into Darkness

Author: Kristen N. Spencer

Release Date: February 27, 2018

Genre: Fantasy

Two girls.

A village with a dark secret.

Their only hope is a mythical figure Ever Morena has only read about in her father’s lone book.

Ten years ago Ever’s best friend disappeared without a trace. Though the loss of her friend only came close to killing her then, the truth of what happened might finish the job now—just when her future as the village healer is looking bright.

Ever must risk everything she loves in order to plunge into darkness on an impossible journey in the middle of the Concealed Forest.

Never before has redemption been so costly.

Please note: This book contains subject matter which some may find troubling as it spotlights helping those who have experienced abuse. I tried to handle this topic as delicately as I could, keeping the reader’s experience in mind.

About the Author

Kristin N. Spencer spends part of each day imagining up new worlds and beings when she isn’t busy taking care of her three children and writing partner husband T. E. Spencer. When she’s not writing you can find her working in full time ministry, sewing cosplay costumes, or watching geekesque movies. She writes whatever genre she wants including but not limited to Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Sci-Fi, Space Fantasy, and traditional Fantasy. Kristin studied Comparative World Literature at California State University, Long Beach and received a Bachelors, which she fondly calls a degree in reading. Her favorite movie is Sabrina (the Julia Ormond version) and her favorite person is Jesus.

Guest Post from Kristin N. Spencer

Life is messy because people are messy. While I was missionary in Athens, Greece I spent a lot of time around profoundly broken people who were making brave choices to change their lives and the lives of their children. Human trafficking creates a unique kind of broken, and the people that minister to people who have survived this difficult journey also have to reach an understanding of what the people they’re ministering to have been through. After a while serving in a ministry that works with women who have been rescued out of prostitution, the founder and director sent me a message. She said she wanted to have a sit down talk so we could get to know each other. As I nervously tapped my foot on the plastic metro floor on my way to the meeting, a picture came into my head. I saw a young woman sitting next to a dark pond filled with sledge, and knew instantly that something that could help her was inside there, and the only way to help her was to jump into the sledge and find it… to experience the darkness as a witness as a way to understand it. When I got to my meeting with the director, I told her about the picture I had seen on the metro. She said it was a perfect illustration for the work we do as advocates for survivors of sexual abuse. It was then that I thought, “This is more than a picture… this could be a story to illustrate how sometimes the only way to help hurting and broken people is to go through the darkness—though to a lesser degree of course—ourselves.”

When you have a friend or acquaintance that is healing from a difficult ordeal, one of the best ways for them to heal is to be able to talk about it. The simple truth is, hearing about someone being raped is horrific and uncomfortable. But imagine how much more horrible it is to actually be raped, and then never feel like anyone wants to let you talk about it. Not only are you reeling from the sexual assault, but also from the society imposed silence everyone expects you to keep.

Enter Ever, Dawn, and the Man of Sorrows. I don’t want to give too much away, but if you read the story, you will see the clear implications of how what I’ve just described came to be crafted into a fantasy story that deals directly with the character of man versus the character of an all loving, creative being. I hope you love this book and it leaves you wanting more even though the topic is a difficult one.

Ever and Dawn were friends that I enjoyed getting to now. It was hard for Ever to understand how Dawn did without so much. I loved Ever's heart and how deeply she cared for her friend. There were times I felt a bit lost in the story, but as I dug deeper I began to understand. To say that I enjoyed the story would be difficult, but I appreciated the tender way the author presented the topic of abuse. Coming from a violent and abusive childhood, the story was overwhelming at times. I wish I had been blessed with a friend like Ever.

Graves is a horrible person and it made me ill to hear her say to Ever, " What do you care 'bout that sack of a worthless child for?" Oh how I wanted to shake that lady and scream at her. The lies  she tells that her daughter has moved is horrible. It was like Dawn was just something to be tossed aside when her parents were done with her. Ever is devastated to learn her friend is gone. Her dad believes he must share the Man of Sorrows with Ever to heal her broken heart. The parallels between the Man of Sorrows book and the story of Jesus is woven together very well. God is the one who can heal our broken hearts and dry our tears away. 

The story takes on a dark and lonely road when Ever is reunited with Dawn. The abuse Dawn endured is so horrific I couldn't stop crying. Can Ever help her friend or is she locked away in her mind forever?  To give up on someone who has been damaged is like saying they are not important enough to be saved. As Dawn and Ever venture into the woods the book finally made sense.  The time they spend there opens Ever's eyes as to what needs to be fought in order to save Dawn. The darkness wants us to think we can't defeat it, but we can with God's help. Oh my it is such a powerful realization to know that The One is speaking about satan as we know him. The visions Ever has of Dawn's abuse is very graphic and gave me chills.  There is a lot to grasp from this story of torture and darkness.  The best point the author makes is when The Man tells Ever that others are guilty of what happened to Dawn. The villagers turned their back and ignored what was going on. They knew and did nothing.  The ending is gripping and I can say that I look forward to where Ever and Dawn are sent on their new quest. Thank you for taking a difficult subject and showing me that I was never alone as a child. I will cherish the story and the hope it brings me. 

 I do not see the outward appearance as man sees. I see the innermost thoughts and desires. I see into the heart."

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

Blog Stops

A Baker’s Perspective, June 5

Rebekah’s Quill, June 6

Blogging With Carol, June 7

Multifarious, June 8

Bigreadersite, June 8

Ashley’s Bookshelf, June 9

Two Points of Interest, June 10

Reading is my Super Power, June 10 (Interview)

Luv’N Lambert Life, June 11

Janices book reviews, June 11

proud to be an autism mom, June 12

Texas Book-aholic, June 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 13

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 13

Carpe Diem, June 14

Pause for Tales, June 15

Margaret Kazmierczak, June 16

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, June 17

For The Love of Books, June 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kristin is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card, ‘Plunge Into Darkness’ Paperback, Minimalism Art Classic Notebook Journal, and Huhuhero Fineliner Color Pen Set (10 Pack)!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/d070/plunge-into-darkness-celebration-tour-giveaway