About the Book

Book:  Suddenly Forever

Author: Teresa Tysinger

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: October 6, 2020

On the outskirts of Laurel Cove, North Carolina sits a quiet lake tucked into gentle mountains carpeted with the brilliant colors of autumn. Grief binds the lake’s only residents into an unlikely family, where old and new love build a bridge between loss and hope.

For years, best-selling author Cora Bradford has worked tirelessly to tread the unrelenting waves of grief in solitude. That is until a new neighbor moves in down the road and threatens to disrupt what she’s carefully preserved of the life she once knew. Will God ever answer her prayer for peace and calmer waters?

Following a scandal, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Luke Bassett escapes to the one place in the world he’s ever experienced peace—his mother’s cabin on the lake where he spent childhood summers. But the memory of her and the mistakes he made are hardly peaceful. To make matters worse, he gets off to a rocky start with his bitter, but breathtakingly beautiful, neighbor. Was running away from the life he’s always known the biggest mistake of all, or the beginning of something he never knew he wanted?

Spunky, opinionated, and recently widowed Ina McLean is alone for the first time in over ninety years. When Cora and Luke come together to care for their only other neighbor, Ina’s belief in God’s goodness through life’s ups and downs works to restore their hope in learning to live—and love—again.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Teresa Tysinger is an author of Southern Contemporary Romance inspired by grace. She writes on the fringes of being a wife, mom, and full-time communications and public relations professional. Teresa is a member of ACFW, the Association for Women in Communications, and the Religion Communicators Council. She loves coffee, traveling, and prides herself in knowing and loving almost every genre of music. Born in Hawaii, raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, she now resides in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog.

 

More from Teresa

Hi Readers!

As an author, I love each of my stories. There’s no denying, though, that Suddenly Forever holds a special place in my heart. I think it always will. The second in my Laurel Cove Romance Series, Cora and Luke’s story came together differently than any other I’ve written.

Most often, a new story of mine begins with a simple notion or seed of an idea. I brainstorm and fit pieces together until a more complete idea begins to take shape. The process usually takes weeks and sometimes months. Suddenly Forever was completely different! One night I could not fall asleep. I tossed and turned for what seemed like hours. Characters’ faces sprang to mind like snapshots. Their personalities, fears, and desires sort of just clicked into place. Scenes played out from start to finish. The “noise” of this waking dream was so vivid that I eventually reached for my phone on my nightstand and punch out the ideas in my Notes app.

By the time I finally fell asleep that night, the entire story was clear in my mind. The next day, I sat down and began drafting Cora and Luke’s story. It was the fastest first draft I’ve ever written! The story just poured out of me. By the time I finished just over a month later, I felt as though I’d ran a sprint, getting the scenes down as fast as they’d come to me so I could get to the next. It was exhilarating and exhausting and super rewarding.

More than once, I wondered why this story had come to me so quickly and clearly compared to others. After some reflection and prayer, I believe it’s because this story isn’t mine at all. It’s God’s. I’ve always approached my writing with a prayerful heart that God would meet me on the pages and fill it in with His truths so readers might see Him. But this felt different. This felt as though God simply needed someone with fingers to type.

And so, my prayer as you read Suddenly Forever is that God’s messages come through loud and clear. To the reader who, like Cora, grieves a lost loved one, may you see God’s healing hand and feel His peace. To the reader who may one day encounter someone grieving, may you see the lessons of patience and compassion cultivated in Luke. May you all be reminded of God’s ever-present love for you!

I hope you’ll join me this summer as I invite you again to visit Laurel Cove. The third book in the Laurel Cove Romance Series, Someone Found, releases in May! Blessings and happy reading!

MY REVIEW 

This story is a wonderful example of letting go of the past and trusting God. I loved reading how Cora was a writer and the  wonderful little town she lived in. The town had this  feel of a welcoming atmosphere where you feel content. Cora has been through a great loss which she hasn’t gotten over yet. It’s been three years but Cora’s grief is still fresh and stops her from moving forward. 

Luke is a great  character who has come to the small town to get away from the chaos of his life. His job as a photojournalist was interesting and full of adventure as he traveled all over the world. His reason for returning to a place where he has fond memories will hopefully help him find a new direction for his life.

 When Cora and Luke start getting to know each I liked how it moved at a slow pace. The author gives readers a wonderful story about forgiveness, overcoming grief and finding love again. My favorite character was Ina. She was an older woman who had much wisdom. I loved how she encouraged the blossoming relationship between our main characters. Her candid talks with Cora about loss was beautifully illustrated with grace and love. Through this story we see how God heals  broken hearts and gives them hope. Ina was so special to this story because she not only helped Cora in her grief but shared her own special story with Luke and Cora. The faith element is good and reminds us that we are never alone. 

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

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 30

Books and Everyday Life, April 30

Texas Book-aholic, May 1

Inklings and notions, May 2

For Him and My Family, May 3

Remembrancy, May 3

deb’s Book Review, May 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 6

Blogging With Carol, May 6

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 7

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 8

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 9

Britt Reads Fiction, May 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 10

Through the Fire Blogs, May 11

Pick A Good Book, May 11

CarpeDiem, May 12

Labor Not in Vain, May 13

Godly Book Reviews, May 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her, Teresa is giving away the grand prize package of a Zippered Book Sleeve (8×10), a “Library” Candle (4 oz), a Suddenly Forever Book Quote Card (4×6), and a $10 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/10b5f/suddenly-forever-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book:  Realms of Light

Author: Sandra Fernandez Rhoads

Genre: Christian YA Contemporary Fantasy

Release date: April 13, 2021

From the Ashes, Spring Will Rise 

On the run from the brutal Sage and his army of Legions and Cormorants, seventeen-year-old Cera Marlowe knows the only place strong enough to protect her is the Alliance Council Estate.

Cera’s introduction to the Estate is far from welcoming. As a Blight, her dueling powers of light and darkness make her a half-breed threat to the Alliance’s sacred powers. Cera’s ability to decipher hidden messages in classical artwork buys her shelter temporarily, but the clock is ticking as she’s faced with a daunting choice that could cost her everything.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Sandra Fernandez Rhoads is the author of Mortal Sight. She is a Cuban-Colombian living in Dallas, Texas with her husband and four children. She has a deep love for the artist community, and is an active part of Art House Dallas and the Fort Worth Writer’s group. She holds an M.A. in English with a focus on John Milton and has an insatiable love for coffee, laughter, and adventure. And dinosaurs.

 

More from Sandra

What if there was an unseen war affecting our everyday world, but only a few could see the battle? And what if the secrets to this other realm and winning the war were embedded in classical art and literature?

These questions led me to the ideas that formed the Colliding Line duology, and final installment in the series, Realms of Light—the story about a select group of emerging artists called the Awakened that are given unique powers to help combat the forces of evil.

The protagonist, a young girl named Cera Marlowe, quickly took the lead in the first draft of the story. On a quest for her identity, she steps into her destiny by joining a community of unlikely warriors who would need to overcome great odds, learn to work together, and battle their past in order to defeat the enemy.

The story took more than five years to write and the first draft was over 180k words. The use of classical art emerged slowly over that time. But the verses from John Milton’s Paradise Lost fit seamlessly from the start, paralleling the fight for truth, identity, and war in our fallen world.

At its core, the story is about embracing the past to help shape our future. My hope is that readers see classical art and literature in a new way, and find their own creativity as a much-needed gift to the world.

MY REVIEW 

I was intrigued right from the beginning of this engaging story. It was easy to follow and had quite the adventure for readers. I like Cera and how much she wants to do the right thing. She is tempted several times and Sage was hard to read at times. I kept thinking how he painted this picture of harmony for Cera. Oh I think he may be deceiving her, but I had to hold my assumptions till the conclusion of the book. 

The author uses historical art to help tell the story that I thought was interesting. I did learn more about the art pieces and that alone was inspiring to me. The concept of Cera trying to free her mother and keep her and others safe was heart pounding. There are moments that I wasn’t sure who was trustworthy. 

Sage is good at taunting Cera and gets inside her head to steer her into him. I hated when he told her he knew what she really wanted. Don’t we all want to feel needed, accepted and loved? I wanted to tell her to run as fast as she could away from the trap that Sage is setting up. I couldn’t help thinking about the scripture in Romans 12:2 where it talks about renewing our mind. It is easy to fall for the trap of the enemy if we aren’t careful. I loved seeing how Cera fought Sage’s power and stood up for what was right. 

The author delivers an unforgettable battle as Cera faces the power who wants to be in control of everything. The danger is fierce and Cera will make a decision that will have lingering moments of change on others. Oh how I loved the battle at the end as Sage and Cera face off against each other. It is an exceptional ending that leaves me thinking how we should never give up. 

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

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, April 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 29

Texas Book-aholic, April 30

Inklings and notions, May 1

Woven by Words, May 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 2

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 3

Genesis 5020, May 3

For the Love of Literature, May 4

For Him and My Family, May 5

Wishful Endings, May 6

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 7

Through the Fire Blogs, May 7

deb’s Book Review, May 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 9

Blogging With Carol, May 10

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 10

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 11

April Hayman, Author, May 11

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sandra is giving away the grand prize package of $40 Christianbook.com gift card, custom Bookmark, custom signed bookplate, custom Realms of Light notebook, and library book pattern book / tablet sleeve!!

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/10b5d/realms-of-light-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book:  Rooms of a Mother’s Heart

Author: Dr. Carol McLeod

Genre: Christian Living

Release date: April 20, 2021

For thousands of years and in a myriad of cultures, women have forged identity, unconditional love, and vast purpose in the calling of motherhood. From Eve to Sarah, from Ruth to Mary, the Scriptures are filled with the accounts of the heart of a mother who was given a divine opportunity to raise the next generation for the purposes and call of the Father.

Inside the soul of every mother lies a heart that becomes a repository of sweet memories, hard lessons, glorious victories, ordinary days, glaring failures, and God’s grace over the years of mothering. The heart of a mother becomes home to jokes around the dinner table, holiday traditions, the tears of childhood, and the love that only a mother knows. And this tender heart that has given birth to the future of mankind or has lovingly adopted the seeds of the next generation also develops rooms of unsurpassed greatness and quiet strength. These are the Rooms of a Mother’s Heart.

With her characteristic charm, joy, and biblical teaching that she shares like a good friend over a cup of coffee, Carol McLeod examines what it means to be a mother and offers tender encouragement to all women who accept that calling.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

 About the Author

The president and CEO of Carol McLeod Ministries, Carol McLeod is a popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats. She is the author of a dozen books, including Vibrant: Developing a Deep and Abiding Joy for All Seasons, 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; Joy for All Seasons; Holy Estrogen; and Defiant Joy.

Carol hosts a twice weekly podcast, A Jolt of Joy! on the Charisma Podcast Network, and a weekly podcast, Significant. Her weekly blog, Joy for the Journey, has been named in the Top 50 Faith Blogs for Women. Carol also writes a weekly column in Ministry Today.

She has written several devotionals for YouVersion, including “21 Days to Beat Depression,” which has touched the lives of nearly one million people around the world. Her teaching DVD The Rooms of a Woman’s Heart won the prestigious Telly Award for excellence in religious programming.

Carol was also the first women’s chaplain at Oral Roberts University and served as chaplain on the university’s Alumni Board of Directors for many years.

Carol has been married to her college sweetheart, Craig, for more than forty years and is the mother of five children in heaven and five children on earth. Carol and Craig also happily answer to “Marmee and Pa” for their captivating grandchildren.

 

More from Carol

Evening Conversation …

I am working with my fabulous editor on the edits for my next book that will be released in April.

“The Rooms of a Mother’s Heart” is the title and writing it has caused me to travel back through the memory bank of my heart.

As I was working on the edits for the chapter, “The Nursery”, tonight, I came upon these words and thought that I would share them with all of you in my evening conversation.

It’s a lesson that I am still learning …

“The nursery is filled with little things, isn’t it?

It holds little bears and little clothes, tiny blankets and miniature books.

It is in the nursery of your heart that you develop an appreciation for the little things in life and where you begin to understand that these are actually life’s big things.

The nursery teaches that it is the little things in life that are capable of building a grand and historic life.

So often, during other years of my life, I have made the glaring error of living for the big moments, for the red-letter days of graduations, weddings, and championship ball games. The nursery has taught me that those monstrous occasions, as fabulous as they might seem at the time, do not construct a vital and enchanting existence at all.

A glass of iced tea on the back deck while the children are playing baseball, and the sweet giggle of a child just waking up from a nap—these give birth to a whimsical life.

The smell of the roses as I walk to the front door, a good book and a cup of coffee on a rainy afternoon, and making cookies with the children to share with the neighbors—these build a life of grand and lasting proportions.

A glorious life is built on one small but meaningful and carefully chosen building block at a time.

A wonderful life is composed of long walks along country roads while the children gather wildflowers.

It is pancakes on a Saturday morning and popcorn on Sunday evening.

In the nursery of my heart, I have been taught that the real stuff of life is as close and as dear as the morning song of the bird outside my bedroom window, the companionship of my daughter on my daily run, and the treasure of reading a devotional book that belonged to my grandfather.

Those events may seem small and even in consequential to you, but to me, they deliver joy.

There is no applause in a nursery, nor are there diplomas on the wall or trophies lined up across the changing table, but it remains the most splendid room in the entire home.

The nursery is absent of the rush of adrenaline, but it is filled with the sweet sighs of contentment.

Perhaps living inside a regular day in which nothing of earth-moving significance happens is at the heart of all that is truly meaningful and extraordinary.

The glory of life is found quite simply in the ordinary moments.

The treasure of a life well lived is acquired not in getting but in giving.

The substance of all that is good, rich, and meaningful is found in a thousand inconsequential gifts that are easily overlooked if one is not careful.

I hope that you will treasure the time spent in the nursery of your heart and remember that it is the little things that contribute to a large life.”

These are my thoughts for Sunday, January 31, 2021.

Blessings, my friends.

MY REVIEW 

I remember the first time I saw my first born child. With tears streaming down my face I couldn’t imagine loving this child any more than I did at that moment. Days later reality sank in  as my husband and I were all lone with this little baby. I had no clue what to do and no one to help us.

I would love to have had a book like this as I became a first time mother. The author gives sound advice for young mothers and encourages them to seek wisdom from experienced mothers. We as mothers don’t have all the answers, but we can give comfort and understanding to others. I never had a good relationship with my mother but she was there everyday to cook and wash clothes. After all these years, I can finally appreciate the things she did for me and my brothers. As we go through life, we make mistakes and mothers , you will have times that you feel like giving up. The author has written a book that examines the different rooms in our heart and expresses that , “the greatest work you will ever accomplish will be within the walls of your own home.”

The book is filled with biblical examples and scriptures that guide us to understand the importance of motherhood. I really enjoyed the chapter about teens. I wasn’t sure I would survive those years with my three boys. They each were different but similar as they tested my patience. I worried about them constantly and hovered over them almost smothering them. The author gives personal examples that I easily related to. I think this book would be an excellent gift for a baby shower. What a treasure to have this book to read as you prepare for motherhood. It can also be a great tool for parents to help them as they face uncertainty at times while raising a child. 

One of the most profound things for me to read was when you become empty nesters. I have struggled with this for several years. My three boys and I are extremely close. When two of them moved out and got married, my heart hurt. I knew our relationship would change and I cried. The author says, “The more I hang on to my grown children, the more that I lose them ;conversely , the more that I allow them to be independent, the more that I have them.” This really opened my eyes and I thank the author for her words of wisdom in this area. 

I highly recommend this  book to all mothers of every age . It is filled with Godly wisdom and prayers that help us all grow stronger as mothers. The greatest gift we could ever have is being  a mother and God is there to guide us as we raise His children. 

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

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 28

Splashes of Joy, April 28

Texas Book-aholic, April 29

Inklings and notions, April 30

For Him and My Family, May 1

Mary Hake, May 1

deb’s Book Review, May 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 3

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 4

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 5

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 6

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 7

cats in the cradle blog, May 7

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 10

Godly Book Reviews, May 10

Lots of Helpers, May 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Starbuck’s 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/10b5b/rooms-of-a-mother-s-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

 BLACKBERRY BEACH by IRENR HANNON

One of the wonderful things about this story is how the characters find out what is most important in their lives. Some may think fame and fortune will bring us happiness while others think being successful is more important. As the  characters maneuver in Hope Harbor we focus on Katherine and Zach. 

I liked how Katherine was introduced into the story with a hint of mystery surrounding her. The author gives us a person who wants to get away from all the responsibilities her life has brought her and rethink her future. Katherine was aloof and I think that is perhaps why I liked her so much. I’m not much into sharing anything personal so I was able to relate to her in that respect. 

Zach has changed his career and by doing that has caused his relationship with his father to fracture. What I liked most about Zach was how he was determined to find something that made him happy. His coffee shop is the perfect place for him to unwind and  mingle with the townspeople and be content as a store owner. 

There is much this book offers in the way  of lessons. One of the most important ones is finding  your place in live that makes you happy. Allowing yourself to trust others is another key lesson in the story. I think Katherine is a perfect example of learning to trust those around her that want the best for her. Zach feels  a stirring inside that draws him to make a choice to reconcile with his dad. This story has emotions that touch your heart and help you see how important it is to follow God’s direction. There are a few other things going on in the story but I won’t ruin it for anyone. This is one of those books that you can feel the turmoil of the  characters and watch them as they overcome obstacles to find  peace, hope and faith. 

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