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Saturday, March 23, 2019

About the Book

Book: The Arrow Bringer
Author: Lisa Mayer
Genre: Allegorical Fantasy
Release Date: March 19, 2019
Evie could’ve saved Aletheia. Now it might be too late.
Evie Lewis has just been diagnosed with leukemia at sixteen. Then, a powerful being called the Arrow Bringer offers her a choice: spend her last days in peace or save Aletheia. She stays. But then Shawn Lawrence—the closest person she has to a friend—goes in her place. Now Evie must save Shawn and race to fix her mistake as a shadow falls over Aletheia. Even as leukemia consumes her body, a new enemy and more imminent perils pursue her. And she must endure all and save Aletheia while keeping her darkest secret:
that it’s all her fault. 

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Lisa Mayer recognizes, far better than most, the power of words. She also understands that what people need to know about Jesus is that His love is unconditional, His mercy is unending… and that there are no lengths to how far He’ll go to save His people.
Jesus melted Lisa’s hard heart through words. Now, she hopes to use her words to do the same for others. She loves Jesus and His people and you won’t find a judgmental bone in her body. She lives in Indiana with her husband, Rich, and her furbaby, Scooby. She loves writing, and in her free time, you’ll find her curled up in her superhero pajamas binge-watching her favorite movies and TV shows.

More from Lisa

The Lamp Post
The inspiration to write a book often starts with a dream. Mine started with a lamp post.
I had no idea that after watching The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in December 2005 my life would never be the same. From that moment, I read every Narnia and C.S. Lewis book I could get my hands on. I searched for Narnia in every wardrobe and ended up finding it deep within my heart… and that’s when I knew I wanted to write a modern Christian-fantasy series inspired by Narnia. And the first book of The Aletheian Journeys came to life—The Arrow Bringer.
I’d like to say that my first draft was pure magic. But my journey was only beginning, and I had a lot to learn. Writing is an art and requires the patience of a sculptor. I began with a large block of marble and a vision, and then sculpted away until I discovered the beauty underneath.
In truth, it wasn’t just the writing in and of itself that makes The Arrow Bringerspecial to me. It’s about what The Arrow Bringer reflects—that as I became a better writer, in a way I also became a better person. I learned who I am and accepted myself, my characters taught me to be strong, and I fell more in love with Jesus.
Don’t get me wrong. I want The Arrow Bringer (and the six following novels in The Aletheian Journeys) to make it—make an impact, make a difference, make straight His paths. C.S. Lewis changed the world with Narnia. Anyone who reads it knows what it is to love Aslan better here by knowing him first in Narnia. And yet all of us still hunger for something that we can’t explain—and that is Jesus Christ.
At its heart, The Arrow Bringer is a love story. The story of the love of the Arrow Bringer for this people, for friends and family struggling to save Aletheia, and a story of love between us and Jesus. The story is meant to inspire, to bring hope, and to remind you of how much you matter. I sincerely hope, with all my heart, that you will find the Arrow Bringer not only in Aletheia… but in every chapter of your life.
It wasn’t just my writing journey that began with a lamp post… but my journey with Christ. By coming further up and further in, I found more than I ever could have dreamed. I hope the spark from that lamp post will fuel The Arrow Bringer, honoring the legacy of C.S. Lewis, and inspiring a new generation. Within The Arrow Bringer, I hope you’ll find joy, romance, friendship, and adventure. Most of all, I hope you discover that Jesus’ mercy has no end… and He loves you far more than you could ever imagine.



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The book is a real journey into a world that defines light versus darkness. At the beginning we find out that Evie at the young age of sixteen has been diagnosed with leukemia. Her parents are in shock and Evie is trying to come to terms with her mortality.  Suddenly we are swept into another world where she is given a choice. 

I really liked the way the author told the story and how Evie was told, " You alone choose your path during life-him, or me." We each decide who we want to follow until our last breath. This was such a good scene and one I hope everyone will take note of. Evie must choose where she wants to spend eternity, just like we have the same choice right up to the last breath we take. The story goes on to explain that we are forgiven when we follow Him. 

The Arrow Bringer is powerful and compassionate at the same time.  Evie finds herself in a place where she must decide to spend her last days in peace or do something that could change everything. She has the chance to save Aletheia. At first I thought maybe she was dreaming but the author thrusts us into a world that Evie has known from birth. This place is where she came from. She will find adventure , danger , deceit, forgiveness and peace. 

The story is easy to follow and the message is clear. Who will Evie follow? Will she trust The Arrow Bringer to keep her safe as she tries to do the right thing? The love that God has for each of us is definitely represented in this story and sends a message of hope.  Can Evie ever believe that she is loved? Can she finish her mission before it is to late? There is so much in this story that can teach us about forgiveness and unconditional love. One of the things I liked was the sacrifices made because of love.  The ending is an epic battle that will send shivers down your spine.  

" Every sacrifice has a purpose." " All will be revealed to those who are courageous enough to persevere."


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


Blog Stops

Multifarious, March 22
Aryn The LibraryanMarch 27
The Becca FilesMarch 28
Artistic Nobody, March 30 (Spotlight)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lisa is giving away a grand prize of a Narnia gift basket that includes a signed copy of The Aletheian Journeys: The Arrow Bringer, the entire The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe on Blu-ray and a movie companion booklet, and two of Lisa R Mayer’s favorite Narnia reflection books in pristine condition from her personal collection: The Heart of the Chronicles of Narnia: Knowing God Here By Finding Him There by Thomas Williams and Believing in Narnia: A Kid’s Guide to Unlocking Secret Symbols of Faith in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia by Natalie Gillespie!!
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/ddeb/the-arrow-bringer-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Uninvited FB Banner

About the Book

Uninvited Cover
Book: Uninvited
Author: Beckie Lindsey
Genre: YA
Release Date: 9/16/2018
Every girl has a secret she hopes the light will never find—
but the demons already have.
Battles between unseen forces of good and evil have made unlikely friends out of high school juniors Krystal, Mackenzie, Tammi, and Sadie, who share similar secrets from their traumatic pasts.
As Krystal’s lifelong friendship with Bryce grows into something more, her new friendship with Mackenzie is tested.
While Tammi and Sadie heal from their injuries caused by a horrific accident, their deeper wounds fester as tension grown between them.
When a handsome nurse and a sultry singer join the group, things become even more tangled.
Will the relationships survive the epic spiritual battles raging around them? Or will the demons keep them chained to their secrets?

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Beckie LindsayBeckie Lindsey is an award-winning author, poet, blogger, and the editor of Southern California Christian Voice, a division of One Christian Voice, a national news syndicating agency. She is a major coffeeholic and enjoys a good book with a cat on her lap. She also loves to hike and hang out with family and friends. Beckie and her husband, Scott have three adult children, two adorable cats and live in California.

Guest Post from Beckie

WHY I WRITE YA AND THE BFA SERIES


I believe a teenager still exists inside each of us.

We hear a familiar tune from our “glory days” and are instantly tapping our toes. Mentally, we’re back in high school —poofy bangs, scrunchie, neon off-the-shoulder sweatshirt — and all. Oh, wait. That’s me back in the ‘80s!

Ah, yes. There is something wonderfully awful about those coming-of-age years.

From the first kiss to the first breakup, there are memories we cherish and some we don’t care to ever revisit. Being a teen can be exciting, confusing, painful, joyous, or even all of those things at once!

No matter how different your teenage experience was from mine, one thing is true for us all: these years have an enormous impact on who we become as adults. We can all sympathize with the plight of puberty and the longing for independence and acceptance. Yeah, there’s still a teenager in all of us!

These are the reasons I write YA.

My hope is to use the power of storytelling to move past barriers and open hearts to accept how much God loves and desires a personal relationship with us.

At every age, we all need the grace and love of Jesus.

In the Beauties from Ashes (BFA) series, I write about relatable characters with difficult issues and traumatic pasts to enlighten readers about the unseen spiritual battle referred to in Scripture. Each character has a secret that has left them vulnerable to the battle in an invisible realm where demonic creatures fight to keep them chained to their pasts and angels of light work to free them.

The characters and their issues are complex, just like real life. In fact, some of the topics are often considered too taboo to talk about openly. But what is left in the dark, festers and grows. It is only in the light that we can be free. In the BFA series, readers experience the character’s quest for truth, love, grace, and freedom while hopefully finding the same for themselves.



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If you haven't read the first book in this series, I would recommend grabbing a copy. It will help you get a feel for how powerful the author takes subjects and lays them out in realistic terms. The four girls in this story face real issues that some people feel uncomfortable talking about. The author hits subjects like depression, suicide, eating disorders, rape, incest and many other hard topics with a hard punch of realism. It is not an easy read but one that delivers a very simple message. The enemy is out there to devour our teens and will use any scheme it can to turn them away from God.

One of the things I found interesting was how the author showed an adult trying to commit suicide. This really opened the doors to revealing the hard truth of how a family especially with teens can be affected by it. We hear about teens trying to kill themselves, but what if it was a parent? How would the children react? Would it cause them to turn to something that could help them cope with a parent with mental illness? For one teen they may spiral out of control and turn to drugs or make a wrong choice and feel peer pressure trying to take over .

The book is not an easy read but one that hits home for some. The author has given a Trigger Warning at the beginning of the book, which I hope everyone will read before starting the book.  Some of the subjects in the book were difficult for me but I knew that each time I  face a trigger, I become stronger with God's help.

I loved how one of the girls tells her friend , " The Bible says we will find God and the truth when we seek Him with all our heart. So, I suggest you pray and tell God you want to understand."  It's an important part of the story because with the enemy causing havoc in lives, we need to remember to pray and never cease praying. We are important to God and He wants to heal His children. We are not alone in our battle and calling out to Him makes the enemy weaker.

The ending is a real cliff hanger that will have readers anxious for the next book. I really thought the author does an excellent job giving us a glimpse into what teenagers deal with and how important it is to pray for them.

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

Blog Stops

Genesis 5020, March 14
RemembrancyMarch 17
The Becca Files, March 20
BigreadersiteMarch 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Beckie is giving away a grand prize of a $50 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/dcc2/uninvited-celebration-tour-giveaway
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About the Book

Vivir kindle cover
Book: Vivir el Dream
Author: Allison K Garcia
Genre: Christian Latino Fiction
Release Date: May 19, 2017
The fates of an undocumented college student and her mother intertwine with a suicidal businessman’s. As circumstances worsen, will their faith carry them through or will their fears drag them down?
Linda Palacios crossed the border at age three with her mother, Juanita, to escape their traumatic life in Mexico and to pursue the American dream. Years later, Linda nears college graduation. With little hope for the future as an undocumented immigrant, Linda wonders where her life is going.
Tim Draker, a long-unemployed businessman, has wondered the same thing. Overcome with despair, he decides to take his own life. Before he can carry out his plan, he changes course when he finds a job as a mechanic. Embarrassed about working at a garage in the barrio, he lies to his wife in hopes of finding something better.
After Juanita’s coworker gets deported, she takes in her friend’s son, Hector, whom her daughter Linda can’t stand, While Juanita deals with nightmares of her traumatic past, she loses her job and decides to go into business for herself.
Will the three of them allow God to guide them through the challenges to come, or will they let their own desires and goals get in the way of His path?

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Allison GarciaAllison K. Garcia is a Licensed Professional Counselor, but she has wanted to be a writer ever since she could hold a pencil. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Shenandoah Valley Writers, Virginia Writers Club, and is Municipal Liaison for Shenandoah Valley NaNoWriMo.
Allison’s short story, “At Heart,” was published in the Winter 2013 edition of From the Depths literary magazine, along with her flash fiction. Her work, “You Shall Receive,” was published in GrayHaven Comics’s 2014 All Women’s anthology. Winning an honorary mention in the ACFW Virginia 2015 short story contest, “Just Another Navidad” was published in A bit of Christmas. Allison’s book, Vivir el Dream, published May 2017, has won several prestigious awards: 2016 ACFW Genesis Contest Finalist, 2018 Eric J. Hoffer Montaigne Medal Finalist, Honorary Mention in the 2018 Eric. J. Hoffer Awards E-book category, and 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards Finalist in the Christian/Relgious Fiction category. Her highly-anticipated novel, Finding Amor, was released in September 2018.
Latina at heart, Allison has been featured in local newspapers for her connections in the Latino community in Harrisonburg, Virginia. A member of cultural competency committees for work and a participant in several pro-immigrant rallies and other events in her region, she also sings on the worship team and enjoys get-togethers with the hermanos in her church. With the help of her husband, Julio, and their son, Miguel, she has been able to nurture her love for the Latino people.

More from Allison K. Garcia

Authenticity and Love

When I wrote my debut novel Vivir el Dream in 2012, I never imagined that it was going to win five awards, that I would be invited to churches and universities and NPR to speak about it, or that it would be taught on a college campus. That’s not why I wrote it. Sure, I hoped that people would read it and love it, but I never imagined the impact it would have and the book’s relevance seven years later.
There were two main reasons I wrote Vivir el Dream: authenticity and love.
They go hand-in-hand, but I shall tell you a little about how God sparked the story in my heart.
In 2011, we had three church members deported, and one of them was a dear friend—a good man who loves his family, greeted the congregation at the door, helped take the collection every Sunday and set up the tables and chairs for special programs. To see our friend, and hermano en Cristo, treated in a way that traumatized his children and nearly tore apart up his family, was something that broke my heart. But what broke it worse was seeing how the media spoke about undocumented people and sadder yet, having conversations with other Christians who spoke anger and hatred towards “illegals.”
God spoke to my heart about this. How could my brothers and sisters in Christ be so unkind and uncaring? Hadn’t they read The Good Samaritan? Didn’t they remember about loving our neighbors? It happened again and again, and I realized, with God’s help, that one of the challenges was that people didn’t understand the real story. They were fed a certain stereotype by the media, an image of a tattooed person in a gang or a drug dealer.
They hadn’t actually met anyone undocumented. Or at least they hadn’t realized they had.
In my life and in my job as a counselor, I had met tons of undocumented immigrants, and I had known them the great majority to be kind, hard-working people who wanted the best for their family and were willing to risk it all for the chance at the American dream. I saw love, I saw bravery, I saw strength, I saw faith. And I believe that God showed me those things so that I could reflect that in my novels.
A wonderful thing happens when we’re reading a book. We jump into the shoes of the main character. We understand their plight. Their hopes are our hopes. We feel their story, their dreams, their love, their anguish, their joy. That is one of the great things about reading. We escape our own lives for a while and experience a new adventure, gain a new understanding. We go places and meet people and do things we would never be able to in our own lives.
So that is what God placed on my heart to share with the world: an authentic experience of a mother and daughter who are undocumented Christians.
It’s controversial, but then so was the Gospel. What is more controversial than Jesus’ teachings? To love those who hate us. To turn the other cheek. To give away all possessions to join Him. I mean, what is more controversial than being asked to believe that a man born over 2,000 years was the Son of God and was risen from the dead after three days and that giving one’s heart over to Him will save one’s soul so as to live for all of eternity with God in Heaven?
And yet, that is the very heart of the Gospel.
To love God and to love others.
So, in the spirit of loving God and listening to Him, I wrote Vivir el Dream and published it even when the world pushed against it and continues to do so, perhaps more now than in 2012. All the more reason to love our neighbor more and to hold tighter onto God and His teachings.
I hope you enjoy my book. I hope it takes you on a new, heartwrenching adventure that carries you from the anguish in crossing a desert with your three-year-old daughter on your hip to the freedom in cooking tamales in the kitchen while swaying to cumbia, from the stabbing fear of living in a country that doesn’t want you to experiencing the joy of first love, and from the desperation of staring down an empty barrel to the understanding of truth for your fellow man.
God bless. And happy reading.




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I remember reading another book by this author recently and thinking how thought provoking the story was. This book is just as powerful and really takes readers into the world of how an undocumented person has many obstacles trying to better their life. Linda is the main character in this story and I really loved how hard she worked and how much she wanted to help her family. The struggles that the author describes when Linda was a child was very hard to read.  I liked how the author pointed out  how children crossing the border with their parents have no choice whether to stay or go. It made me think how unfair these children have been treated here in the United States when their choice to come here was decided by their parents.

I can't imagine what it must be like to experience what Linda has as she attends college all the while worried that her secret may be found out. What would it be like to always look over your shoulder wondering if someone was there to arrest you because you are in the country illegally? I enjoyed learning about the Dream Act which I had never heard of before. 

The story is well written and opens doors of discussion about immigration. There are many opinions about this subject and the author offers us a different way to view this issue. These people are just like everyone else. They seek to provide for their  family, make a better life for them and follow their dream.

There is one character that really irked me most of the time. He thought he was better than others and had a real problem with immigrants. His prejudice was overwhelming and I liked that he had to swallow his pride and find a job that he felt was beneath him. Will he change his mind about immigrants, or will his bitterness destroy him? The constant belittling from his wife will take a toll on him as well.

The author makes a great point when talking about immigrants from European places. I remember reading about immigrants coming to Eliis Island fresh off boats waiting to enter the United Stares. We forget sometimes that many people from different nationalities are immigrants.  Linda is very passionate about explaining this to her college classmates. Not everyone agrees with her but I loved her passion and her strength in standing up for what she believe in. 

The ending is filled with a dangerous situation and brings heartache to several characters. The book is a realistic look at immigration and the effects it has on people. As in her other book, the author uses Spanish through out the book with footnotes at the bottom of the pages to translate the words into English. I continue to wish the author would put the English translation in parenthesis next to the Spanish words. It was very distracting for me to have to continually look down at the bottom of the page to understand what was being said. 

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

Blog Stops

Multifarious, March 16
The Becca Files, March 26
Power of Words, March 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Allison is giving away a grand prize of a gift basket that includes 4 Christian novels, secret recipes for some of the Mexican cuisine described in Vivir el Dream, and authentic arts and crafts from Guadalajara, Mexico or by preference, a $40 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/dd7f/viver-el-dream-celebration-tour-giveaway