Saturday, November 7, 2020

Mountain of Peril banner updated

About the Book

Book: Mountain of Peril

Author: J. Carol Nemeth

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: January 25, 2018

Mountain of Peril When Molly Walker graduated from college, she was thrilled to be hired on as a ranger at Deep Creek Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She arrived ready to begin her career and to enjoy all the aspects of her new job, but the one thing she hadn’t counted on was the local poachers and their illegal shenanigans. Molly and fellow ranger Jake Stuart try to put a stop to the escalating poaching problem while protecting the animals. In the meantime, Molly finds the handsome ranger, who is also a local, is a great partner to have on her side. She also finds she’s losing her heart to him when she’d planned to stay focused on her career. Can she give her heart and have a career? She and Jake find themselves in a battle against a group of men with a hidden agenda far more sinister than poaching. Can they be stopped before Molly’s life is snuffed out?

Molly and Jake are in a battle against a group of men with a hidden agenda far more sinister than poaching. Can they be stopped before Molly’s life is snuffed out?

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

Without leaving my house I have experienced the Great Smokey Mountains thanks to the author. The description is so vivid I felt like I was walking in the woods and camping along the beautiful lakes. It was fun to read about the animals that lived there and how much they are protected by the rangers . This place is now on my bucket list to visit.

Molly was an exciting character and I cheered for her when she was hired as a ranger. I loved reading the duties of a ranger. I didn’t realize that there were problems with poachers and it saddened me to read how the bears are hunted down for profit. The author goes into detail about why bears are desired by poachers and what they are used for. Once again we see that “the love of money is at the root of all evil.” How sad that people don’t appreciate the animals and allow them to live peacefully in their habitat. Molly has a run in with a couple of men and she will find out how people want revenge even though she was doing her job. The story touches on greed, jealousy and deceit. It is hard at times to know who to trust in the story. I had my suspicion about one particular character and couldn’t wait to see if I was correct.

Jake is a great ranger and I thought his dedication to the job was admirable. He seemed to never tire of being out watching over campers and making sure that everyone was safe, There is definitely chemistry between Jake and Molly and I liked how they took their relationship at a slow pace. There is a lot of danger that brews throughout the story which I was very intrigued by. When a young boy goes missing everyone goes into action, The teamwork was good and I loved learning how they track someone.

With a kidnapping, poachers, selling bear parts on the black market and danger this story will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is a good amount of faith throughout the story that blends well and highlights how important it is to trust God. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

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

About the Author

A native North Carolinian, J. Carol Nemeth has always loved reading and enjoyed making up stories since junior high school, most based in the places she has lived or traveled to. She worked in the National Park Service as a Park Aid and served in the US Army where she was stationed in Italy, traveling to over thirteen countries while there. She met the love of her life, Mark Nemeth, also an Army veteran, while stationed in Italy. After they married, they lived in various locations, including North Yorkshire, England. They now live in West Virginia, where, in their spare time, Carol and Mark enjoy RVing, sightseeing and are active in their church. They have a son, Matt, who serves active duty Army, a daughter, Jennifer, her husband Flint, who serves active duty Air Force, and three grandchildren, Martin, Ava and Gage. Their four-footed kid, Holly, a black Lab, loves traveling in their RV, and when they pack up to go, she’s waiting inside for them to head out.

More from J. Carol

I worked for the National Park Service at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park many moons ago before I met my husband. The setting for Mountain of Peril, Faith in the Parks Book 1 is in that park. I met a lot of interesting people and there was never dull moment. Something was always happening. I was either helping trap wild boar, riding horse back for back country patrol, or doing search and rescue for missing persons. I used several of my own experiences in the story, tweaking them a bit here or there to fit with the flow of the narrative. This book is near and dear to my heart just as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is. Working there was the best job I ever had, other than writing of course, and I loved it. I hope my love of the park flows through my characters and spills out for readers to experience and enjoy.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 4

Bizwings Blog, November 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 5

For Him and My Family, November 6

Blogging With Carol, November 6

Texas Book-aholic, November 7

For the Love of Literature, November 8

Artistic Nobody, November 8 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

deb’s Book Review, November 9

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 10

Betti Mace, November 11

Labor Not in Vain, November 11

Inklings and notions, November 12

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 13

Mary Hake, November 13

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 15

Pause for Tales, November 15

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 16

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, J. Carol is giving away the grand prize 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/10330/mountain-of-peril-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, November 6, 2020

vibrant banner

About the Book

Book: Vibrant

Author: Carol McLeod

Genre: Christian Living, Women’s Interest

Release Date: November 3, 2020

Vibrant Have you ever met someone who possessed a quiet radiance so rich, so dynamic, that you ached for more, someone whose presence is so compelling you feel refreshed by a single conversation with them? If you know someone like this, you anticipate your times together. You realize their joy is contagious, their peace is deep, and their compassion is engaging.

Such people are “vibrant.” Regardless of their socioeconomic status, their education, their marital status, or their health, these people are determined to live joyfully, seeing each obstacle as an opportunity for growth. The vibrant individual’s persona is attached to their convictions rather than their circumstances.

Author Carol Burton McLeod believes everyone can choose to be Vibrant: Developing a Deep and Abiding Joy for All Seasons—and such a life begins by emulating Jesus. His life was filled with challenges and yet people were drawn to Him. Every character trait that we are called to embrace, every action of kindness or love, and each word of compassion or tenderness is a telling reflection of Christ within us. We are called to be a vibrant show-and-tell of what God is able to accomplish through one ordinary person.

Carol explores what it means to follow Jesus in a world filled with disappointment, rejection, and discouragement. And she provides gentle encouragement and suggestions from Scripture to help us do just that.

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

I have been excited about reading this book since I found out about it. I have been needing encouragement and learn how to smile in good times and bad. Let’s face it, we all want to be vibrant. I love finding out the meaning of words and the author open doors to a world where I can understand what being vibrant really means. One of the definitions she found for vibrant was, “ flourishing in every season.” Oh yes that definition grabbed hold of me and I shouted for joy. See I want to be able to praise God no matter what my circumstances are. When things aren’t going well, I want to thrive in His presence and show others that God is in control.

I loved how the author set the book up with different topics accompanying by prayer at the end of each chapter. She gives us questions to think on and digs deep into the Word with easy to understand illustrations. With all the information she provides the one thing that really summed it up was, “read your Bible.” There in the pages of the most important book ever written is truth, encouragement , hope and joy.

This book goes through different steps to show how we can be vibrant everyday. I was thinking I would tell readers what my favorite chapter was. I can’t do that because each chapter builds on each other like building blocks. When the last block is placed, we have the tools to live a vibrant life. It all works together step by step with wisdom and prayer. It is not something that we will achieve overnight and there are some tough subjects the author addresses. Prepare your heart and allow the Word to soak in as you discover how to be vibrant.

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

About the Author

carol_mcleod Carol McLeod is a popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats through Carol McLeod Ministries. She is the author of more than a dozen books, including Significant: Becoming a Woman of Unique Purpose, True Identity, and Irrepressible Hope; StormProof: Weathering Life’s Tough Times;Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue; and Joy for All Seasons.

Carol hosts a twice-weekly podcast, A Jolt of Joy!, on the Charisma Podcast Network, and a weekly podcast, The Joy of Motherhood, which is heard by thousands of moms around the world. She is also launching a new podcast entitled Significant Women. Her blog, Joy for the Journey, formerly A Cup of Tea with Carol, has been named in the Top 50 Faith Blogs for Women. After her 2013 devotional 21 Days to Beat Depression had nearly 100,000 downloads in the first month, YouVersion picked it up, where it has been read by over a million people. She has authored nearly twenty additional devotionals and is among YouVersion’s most popular authors. Carol writes a weekly column for Ministry Today and often writes for Charisma magazine as well.

Carol served as the first women’s chaplain at Oral Roberts University and served for many years on its Alumni Board of Directors.
Carol has been married to her college sweetheart, Craig, for over forty years and is the mother of five children in heaven and five children on earth. Carol and Craig are now enjoying their new titles as “Marmee and Pa” to their captivating grandchildren. The couple live in Oklahoma, where Craig serves as the North American Director for Global Partners, a missions organization that plants churches in remote areas of the world.

More from Carol

Vibrant provides a roadmap to living a joyful life, viewing each obstacle as a stepping stone to becoming a better person and thus emulating Jesus.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, November 6

She Lives To Read, November 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 8

Inklings and notions, November 9

Simple Harvest Reads, November 10 (Spotlight)

deb’s Book Review, November 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 11

For Him and My Family, November 12

Artistic Nobody, November 13 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 14

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 16

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 17

Spoken from the Heart, November 18 (Spotlight)

Mary Hake, November 18

Godly Book Reviews, November 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away a $20 Starbuck’s 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/10356/vibrant-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

THE PRICE OF VALOR

BY SUSAN MAY WARREN

This story is an adventure from the beginning. I have really been enjoying this series and getting to read how they interact with each other. I do think it would be good to read the books in order so you become familiar with the characters. The author does an excellent job of reacquainting two people who have had a strained relationship. Navy Seal Hamilton is one tough person. He takes his job seriously and his daughter’s safety a high priority. The relationship he has had with the mother of his child is not exactly happy times. Ham has wondered what happened to Signe and if it is possible that a secret is being kept.

Signe I thought was a great character who was doing everything she could to keep Ham and their daughter safe. She is one person I would want on my side if I was going into harms way. Without giving away too much, let’s just say that the author explodes on the pages with secrets, deceit and danger at every turn. Can Ham and Signe forgive each other and work together? This has to be the best book I’ve read by this author. She takes risks and makes them work while using faith at the perfect times. Ham and Signe are center stage in the story with intense emotional moments that define their relationship. If you are wanting to read a story that has action, danger, surprises and a lesson on forgiveness, then grab a copy of this book.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads. The review is my own opinion.

About the Book

Book: Axiom

Author: Kristofor Hellmeister

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, YA

Release Date: February 2020

Death and violence do not exist in Axiom. There is no strife, no war, no suffering. There is no hunger, no sadness, and no pain. Axiom is a place of perfection. But, at what cost? In Axiom, mankind has willingly submitted itself to one man–the Lord Protector–who controls the destiny of every human being. Emotions have become outlawed. Relationships are forbidden. Any sign of the Disease is treated with hostility. Under the eternal guidance of the Lord Protector, mankind no longer knows what it means to be human. But, stirring within the hearts and minds of a few individuals is a reality which cannot be ignored. It is this reality which will cause the spark of rebellion to be born.

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

This was hard for me to get into. I had trouble following the characters and what was going on at times. I do appreciate the author’s imagination in making a world that was suppose to be utter peace and all needs met. What disturbed me was the control that was over the people in this world. I would never want to live in a place where my thoughts, movements and emotions were being controlled. I think back on history where there were leaders who strived for that perfect world.

Using numbers to identify people made me think of people in prison. They lose their identity and become known as a random number. I tried to keep up with the characters but I had to keep rereading paragraphs in order to understand the story. I do have to say that the author gave me lots to ponder about and stretched my mind to accept a world that was very active with surprises. People were treated like slaves and if they became ill, nothing was done to help them. What if this place existed? How would we react to some of the conditions in this future world?

The book is rather long and at times was a slow read. If it had been shortened and certain things left out, the book would have kept my attention more. I always want to be fair in my reviews. I think the author did a good job of giving readers who like this genre a story that explores the what if’s. The ending leaves me with questions that I hope the author will answer in another book.

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

About the Author

Kristofor Hellmeister is an alien—a legal alien born in Canada who has lived in Georgia since he was a young boy. Presently, he lives just outside of Atlanta with his wife, Kristie, and his three-year-old son, Maddox. Kristofor has always pursued writing, ever since he was in first grade writing about dinosaurs, tornadoes, and man-eating plants. He published his first book—a historical fiction called Brothers of Baseball—in 2017. Axiom is his first foray into science fiction and is the first book in the Axiom Chronicles. Kristofor enjoys reading anything from military fiction, to the newest Star Wars or Halo book, to fantasy and spy novels. He also enjoys spending time outdoors whether it is running a 5k, taming his wild backyard, or going on an adventure with his family. The core theme for all of his stories is that of redemption, for he believes this is reflected all around us and throughout history.

More from Kristofor

The source of this novel comes from multiple experiences. I remember sitting in a church in downtown Atlanta at an event called TheoEd Talks. It was a theological discussion by leaders of the religious community that was designed much like a Ted Talk. I remember listening to a gentleman, I don’t recall his name, who was elaborating on a tension he was trying to navigate. At the time, there were riots and demonstrations were occurring in cities across the United States due to racial unrest. The man was a pastor and was asking the question, “What should I do?” I remember him elaborating on how he was not an activist, he was not a civil leader, he was not a politician, and yet he still had a role in the job he did best—pastoring. His challenge to us—do what you are passionate about and let this become your source of aid to the world’s problems. At the time, I was struggling with mental health, cynicism, and a gnawing sense of despair. I used these elements to create a novel which addresses a world in which culture is leaving behind Enlightenment thinking and embracing emotionalism. Axiom frames these cultural changes through the eyes of characters who are flawed but passionate in their desires. Entwined with my faith, I hope to have created a story that draws readers into a world where rationalism, emotionalism, and spirituality all must be embraced in order for us to be truly human.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 4

Texas Book-aholic, November 5

Blogging With Carol, November 5

Inklings and notions, November 6

For Him and My Family, November 7

deb’s Book Review, November 8

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 10

Artistic Nobody, November 11 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Emily Yager, November 11

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 12

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 13

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 15

amandainpa, November 16

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Kristofer is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and an audiobook version 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/1032f/axiom-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

About the Book

Book: Desire of the Heart

Author: Anne Perreault

Genre: Christian Romance

Release Date: April 2020

It all started with a hike…
Cady Jackson’s vacation plans were simple. Go to Yellowstone National Park, enjoy the scenery, take lots of pictures. She and her cousin, Ashley, have grown up in a strict, conservative Christian family in upstate New York. Cady has never been encouraged to spread her wings. This trip is an opportunity to do so. Only, she doesn’t know how much her life is about to change when she has an unfortunate encounter in the middle of nowhere.
Why would God take a personal interest in someone like her?
Grant McClintoch generally loves his job as a ranger in the oldest national park in the country. That it includes rescuing stranded visitors to the park is unfortunate. He has been trying to rebuild his life after it had nearly been destroyed. Grant doesn’t realize that God isn’t done with him yet when he stumbles onto an injured hiker.
But can he place his past in God’s capable hands where it belongs?

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

This story is so well written I hated it to end. The author takes us to Yellowstone National Park and I felt I was right there among the trees. I enjoyed learning about the park and all it has to offer. I wasn’t real thrilled about bear sightings but after all we are on their land. Let the adventure begin.

Let’s start with Cady. She has grown up in a very strict home and her feelings on falling in love are mixed up. Her parents have made her feel that she can never make a mistake and has sheltered her from any chance of finding someone to love. Her upbringing does cause her to be a little judgmental at times especially with her cousin Ashley. I’m surprised they took a trip without any supervision. After all their families still treat them like children. The tension that develops between the cousins are due to someone being a bit high and mighty and the other giving in to temptation. This part of the story is worth mentioning because it’s a great example of learning to forgive and look past a sin to give grace.

The story really gets good when Cady meets the handsome Park Ranger Grant. He is quite upset to find her out by herself injured . I did enjoy their banter as he insists on taking her to get looked at. Seeing a bear would scare me and Cady was so lucky she wasn’t attacked by him. Grant is certainly not looking for a relationship but God may have other plans. As we slowly find out about his past, I understood why he was so hesitant to keep his feelings in check.

I loved how the author showed a young woman who needed to branch out on her own and trust God. Her parents made me angry by the way they never trusted her. I felt like she was living in a home where she was seen but not heard. Cady girl you need to start relying on God to direct your path, and stop worrying about making mistakes. I was so hoping she would soften up and give her concerns to God.

Grant is still feeling guilty over a tragic loss and won’t allow anyone to capture his attention. But what happens when these two people start to pray, open up to each other and trust God? The story is filled with faith and I loved seeing how several characters grew and began to be set free from their past and learn to forgive people who have judged them.

There is a little danger in the story that I felt was the perfect addition to draw Cady and Grant closer to each other and God. They both seek God to show them His plans for their lives. Oh it’s an emotional journey of love, forgiveness and trust. I am so excited to learn that there is a second book to follow.

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

About the Author

Anne Perreault was born and raised in Germany. By the time she was 14 years old, her family moved to Dubai, UAE. While living in this exotic place, she traveled extensively to various countries around the world. After graduating from an American boarding school in Austria, she attended college in England, where she met her husband. She graduated from New England College with a degree in biology, and settled down in Connecticut. Anne became a horseback riding instructor as well as a certified therapeutic riding instructor. She and a group of friends started a therapeutic riding center in Bristol, CT. During that time, Anne also received a masters degree in secondary education and began to homeschool her three children. While raising their three children, she began to write an inspirational story primarily for her daughter. Anne, her husband, and two of their grown children now reside in Southern Vermont, where they are building their home. Besides writing, Anne enjoys reading, spending time with her husband, grown children, and grand-dogger.

More from Anne

Desire of the Heart…

This book is so special to me. I had been pondering what to write a few years back and the thought came to me that I should base my next character on some of the adorable quirkiness of my beautiful daughter, a young woman filled with integrity and strength. Except, when you first meet her, you might think she’s too naïve or too sweet. She has a fire in her and a passion. And then I watched a TV show and one of the character’s were named Cady. I knew I had my main character. My daughter loves to travel, and a few years ago, she and her cousin traveled to Scotland together. It was kind of like fiction came to live right then and there. I had already paired Cady up with her cousin, a young woman who is the complete opposite to Cady. Of course, in real life, my daughter and her cousin are incredibly similar to each other and are both such amazing young women of God.

Her counterpart came about because I was looking for someone with strength and also with great integrity, but someone who was wounded by life. I also realized that I wanted to set the story in a national park. I’ve always enjoyed nature and wanted my main character to be working in some capacity with nature. Grant naturally became a park ranger. It fit his personality so well, I secretly rubbed my hands together in glee.

Setting the story at Yellowstone allowed me to research that beautiful part of the country. I have always been a wildlife enthusiast. My oldest son loves wolves and has studied them all his life. I wanted to include wolves in the story… enough said. I fell completely in love with the park and I will one day travel there and stand where Grant and Cady did.