Saturday, July 24, 2021

About the Book

Book: Regaining Mercy

Author: Carolyn Miller

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: June 29, 2021

regaining Mercy A mom ready to do anything for her son. A man determined to win the woman he loves.

Going on Love at First Glance had seemed like such a good idea. She didn’t care about finding Mr. Right. No, Mindy Murray chose the reality TV show for more mercenary reasons. A mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do when it comes to feeding her son.

When Mindy returns to Elnora, the girl from the “wrong side of the island” just wants a chance to rebuild her reputation. Too bad the folks at church don’t practice what the preacher preaches.

Enter Dermott Reilly. The interim boss at Greener Gardens has always had a soft spot for Mindy and her son, but with his new responsibilities, an important garden competition, and a few other concerns, he finds it difficult to prove himself to her.

A tropical storm and a missing child prove that sometimes grace appears in the most unusual ways.

Regaining Mercy concludes the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series, featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

carolyn-miller-HR-4 Carolyn Miller is an Australian author of inspirational romance, particularly that of the Regency era, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds where flawed people can grow in faith, hope and love through stories that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives.

More from Carolyn

Have you ever wondered what might happen if a failed TV reality star was to return home to her narrow minded community? What if she’s been tarred and feathered with disgrace?

In our world of insta-fame, selfies and fakebook, I find it fascinating that so many people are entranced by so-called reality TV, with its editing and narratives and shiny-eyed hopefuls chasing money, love and dreams. But what if it doesn’t work out? What happens next? How do you resume ‘normal life’ when you’ve been living in a very artificial world?

I enjoy writing fiction that is grounded in reality, with realistic, flawed characters who are on a God journey to find faith and freedom. My contemporary and historical novels often see characters struggle with the choices they’ve made (don’t we all?), which is exactly what single mom Mindy is dealing with.

Combine Mindy’s challenges with those faced by gardening expert, Dermott, a man whose stone wall building skills are better than his way with women, or his inability to hide his attraction to his former co-worker’s younger sister.

Regaining Mercy encourages us to see ourselves as God does, to not let the labels of the past to shape our future. Along the way, readers will enjoy the honest portrayals of family, friendship and faith.

I’m so glad people are really enjoying my new contemporary books, where I can bring my love of gardens (& my horticulturalist hubby’s expertise!) to a new audience. Want to see what’s growing in my garden? Check out my website www.carolynmillerauthor.com – and you might even see some of my husband’s famous stone walls!

If you enjoy stories of hope, heart and humor, then you’ll be sure to enjoy this novel about a prodigal and the patient gardener who helps her find God’s mercy – and renewed hope for her heart.

Happy reading!

Carolyn

MY REVIEW

If you have not started reading this series, what are you waiting for? I really liked this story and have a soft spot for your feature character Mindy. While I have never been on a reality show, I can relate to her in other ways. Her childhood was not the best and it has left scars on her heart. It broke my heart that others judged her because her parents were not the best role models.

Mindy is trying to survive and support her son the best way she can. Now maybe she didn’t make the best decision by being on a show but all she wanted was to provide for her son Jon. Coming back to the island after her appearance on the show brings out sone very unfriendly people who have no problem insulting her. I cringed at the comments made by some of the people about Mindy. There is some positive in her life though. Her neighbor Tina is a blessing to Mindy and is always there to lend a hand. She is a perfect example of helping those in need and loving unconditionally. I loved how Tina stood by Mindy as she struggles with her life. She gives words of encouragement and is a great person to lean on.

Dermott was a good character who has a big heart. He is friends with Mindy and stands up for her when someone says hurtful things to her. That part of the story in the grocery store reminded me of things happening today. We need to stand up for each other and not allow hatred and bullying to happen. I thought the author did a great job of illustrating how important it is for us to speak up and not allow the enemy to damage a person’s self esteem.

I want to mention Jon because I think he is a very important character in the story. Mindy has raised him on her own and we see glimpses of Jon struggling with interacting with people. I know Mindy wanted to seek help for him, but money was a factor and I think pride was peeking its head out as well. She doesn’t want to accept help because she feels like a failure. But really what she is doing is not allowing Jon to get the help he needs to live a normal life.

Mindy is in desperate need of finding her way back to God. She has a problem with trust, pride and forgiveness. It was interesting to see how the author addressed these topics with faith. I enjoyed the story and would love to see a follow up story about her.

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 21

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 22

Labor Not in Vain, July 22

lakesidelivingsite, July 22

She Lives To Read, July 23

deb’s Book Review, July 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 24

CarpeDiem, July 24

Texas Book-aholic, July 25

Splashes of Joy, July 25

Connect in Fiction, July 25

Inklings and notions, July 26

Blogging With Carol, July 26

For Him and My Family, July 27

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, July 27

Aryn The Libraryan 📚 , July 28

Older & Smarter?, July 28

Lots of Helpers, July 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 29

Simple Harvest Reads, July 29 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 30

Lis Loves Reading, July 30

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 31

Kayem Reads, July 31

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 1

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, August 1

Cultivating Us, August 1

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, August 2 (Author Interview)

Daysong Reflections, August 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 3

Blossoms and Blessings, August 3

Joanne Markey, August 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carolyn is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1102c/regaining-mercy-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Project Scrooge

About the Book

Amazon Scrooge Can Scrooge find love from a friendship gone cold?

Sanford Stone cut ties with his best friend, Natalie, in favor of the love of his life … a woman who ended up walking out on him just before Christmas. Six years later, Sanford can’t bring himself to celebrate Christ’s birth with any joy. Little does he know, his grandmother and her companions have dubbed him the Scrooge and intend to help him overcome his bitterness and find happiness again.

The only thing that has hurt Natalie Dunivan more than Sanford cutting her out of his life has been watching his long-held grudges slowly destroy the man she has always loved. Together with Ms. Carol, Natalie devises a plan to reach out to Sanford.

Sanford accepts his grandmother’s challenge to celebrate Christmas for 31 straight days, but he didn’t count on her plan involving Natalie. Can his family and friends help their Scrooge see the error of his ways, or will Natalie’s presence only make things worse?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

AMHeath Besides being an Indie Author, I’m a wife, mother of four, ladies’ Sunday School teacher, sweet tea drinker, history fanatic, romantic, bubbly, lover of broccoli, and a retired cake decorator who has a soft spot for Christmas trees, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What I’m not is a laundress (or at least not one who keeps up very well), a duster, tall, or patient in a doctor’s office.

More from A.M. Heath

Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipes

It’s plenty hot outside but it’s just the right temperature for a tall glass of frozen hot chocolate!

Throughout Project Scrooge, Ms. Carol serves up a new cocoa recipe every day in December. So there was no better way introduce you to the cozy world of Garland, Tennessee and Ms. Carol’s cheery kitchen than by offering you two frozen hot chocolate variations. These are so easy and you likely have the ingredients already in your home.

Frozen Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

¾ cup of milk

3 Tb sugar

2 ½ Tb unsweetened cocoa powder

1 Tb creamy peanut butter

2 cups of ice

Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

¾ cup of milk

2 Tb sugar

2 ½ Tb unsweetened cocoa powder

1 Tb caramel sauce

pinch of salt

2 cups of ice

No matter which recipe you use, the directions are the same.

Directions:

Blend until ice is broken down. Enjoy! Sharing is optional. 😉

Which flavor will you try first?

MY REVIEW

This story has been such an inspiration to me. I love how the author gently reminds us about the real meaning of Christmas. You may recognize the similarities from a very well known Christmas story but the author has made it her own story in a compassionate way. I can definitely identify with Sanford in this story. He has not wanted to celebrate Christmas because he is bitter, unhappy and holds a grudge. Isn't he just such a cheerful person to be around? Many of us hold own to something that hurt us years ago and allow that to define our attitude. Sanford has let things make him someone who can't forgive and walks around with a big chip on his shoulder.

I loved Granny and wanted to be part of the family. I love cocoa and drink it every night. Oh how fun it would be to sit around drinking cocoa with her and eating her delicious food. The author touches on the subject of foster care. The characters that experienced that in their life all want to be accepted and part of a family. The story really shows how important a strong family is and the love they share.

Sanford will get to see what it is like when he takes a journey with the help of key people in his life to past, present and future Christmas. A Christmas challenge has been given and Sanford has accepted. This begins a story that gives us a glimpse into the past where Sanford's heart was broken and I think that is the key to his bitterness. I won't tell you much more of the story so you can enjoy discovering all the surprises the author has for readers. In this beautifully written story you will find forgiveness, redemption, relationships healed and the joy of Christmas.

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

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, July 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 23

Simply Susan, July 23

For Him and My Family, July 24

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 25

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 26

deb’s Book Review, July 27

Kayem Reads, July 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 28

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 29

Mary Hake, July 29

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 30

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 31

Vicky Sluiter, July 31

Blossoms and Blessings, August 1

Inklings and notions, August 1

She Lives To Read, August 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 3

Cats in the Cradle Blog, August 3

Labor Not in Vain, August 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, A.M. is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of Project Scrooge, 1 mug, 3 family sized bags of hot chocolate: Peppermint, Real Deal, and Strawberry!!

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/1102e/project-scrooge-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, July 18, 2021

The Ice Swan

About the Book

Book: The Ice Swan

Author: J’Nell Ciesielski

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: July 6, 2021

IS cover Amid the violent last days of the glittering Russian court, a Russian princess on the run finds her heart where she least expects it.

1917, Petrograd. Fleeing the murderous flames of the Russian Revolution, princess Svetlana Dalsky hopes to find safety in Paris with her mother and sister. But the city is buckling under the weight of the Great War, and the Bolsheviks will not rest until they have erased every Russian aristocrat from memory.

Born the second son of a duke, the only title Wynn MacCallan cares for is that of surgeon. Putting his talents with a scalpel to good use in the hospitals in Paris, Wynn pushes the boundaries of medical science to give his patients the best care possible. While treating Svetlana for a minor injury, he is pulled into a world of decaying imperial glitter and underground Russian clubs where drink, culture, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.

Out of money and options, Svetlana is forced into a marriage of convenience with Wynn, who will protect her and pay off her debts. It’s the right thing for a good man to do, but Wynn can’t help hoping the marriage will turn into one of true affection. As the Bolsheviks chase them to different corners of the earth, Wynn and Svetlana begin to see they will never be able to outrun the love they have for one another.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

J'nell Ciesielski official With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages Award and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com.

More from J’nell

When we think of the Great War we often only think about events happening right on the battlefield of France, Belgium, and Germany. It was a time of great upheaval for so many people and countries, none more so than Russia. It was during the Great War that the Bolsheviks rose up against the monarchy, assassinated the tsar and his family, and plunged Russia into civil war. The country was in such chaos that they pulled out of the war to deal with their own revolution. The Russian Revolution was the result of centuries of oppression and imperialism that finally boiled over. As the Bolsheviks seized power, nobles and anyone associated or favorable to the monarchy were stripped of their privileges and homes, many killed, and still thousands of others fled in fear of their lives where they became the great wave of White emigres.

The stories of the ill-fated Anastasia and the evil Rasputin are legendary, but it wasn’t until recently when I watched a Russian miniseries called Road to Calvary that I became fascinated with the nobles and their struggle and from all that an idea sparked that would become my upcoming release, The Ice Swan. It’s about a Russian princess fleeing the Revolution to Paris in 1917 where she meets a handsome surgeon who is breaking new grounds in cardiology. We see the plight of the White emigres who have taken refuge in Paris and founded their own little Russia in the heart of the city, the exhausted City of Light after four years of war, the overflowing hospitals, and highly controversial advancements in surgery. Plus, a romance to prove that true love can overcome any difference and who doesn’t need a little more love these days?

MY REVIEW

I had such a hard time getting into this book at first. I don’t know if it was the Russian language throughout the story, the broken English or the fact that I didn’t like Svetlana. I thought she was snotty and I was getting tired of being reminded that she was a princess in her country of Russia. Then I spoke to a dear friend who was reading the book also. She gave me a different perspective of the princess. Maybe she was being snotty to people because she was in fear. Wow. That made a lot of sense. When we are afraid we put up defenses to protect ourselves. Well no wonder she was acting the way she was. After all she had to flee her country to survive. With nothing but the clothes she had along with a few jewels and her mother and her sister she had to lean on her instincts to keep herself and others alive.

I enjoyed getting to know Wynn the most. His ability as a surgeon is much needed as the war rages on. When he finds himself helping Svetlana and her family their journey begins as we witness destruction and danger. It was interesting to read about how difficult it was to hide out and not be recognized as Svetlana tries to keep her family safe from the enemy. Finding shelter was hard and at times they did without warmth and food. There is one part of the story that I really liked. Wynn performs a surgery that others question and it does take a toll on him as his surgery comes into question by the board.

Although there is a lot going on in the story I just could not connect with Svetlana. I did like how we see pride becoming a stumbling block for the two main characters. They each had to find a way to let go of hurt and accept that sometimes change is to help us not hurt us. It is a good story that shows how determined people are when faced with struggles and I did like how Wynn was there to protect Svetlana. This is not one of my favorite books by this author, but I do think there were some great moments in the story that shows how important trust and forgiveness is.

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