About the Book

Book: To Bring You Back

Author: Emily Conrad

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release date: August 16, 2021

He’s determined to confront the past she’s desperate to forget.

Broke in more ways than one, the last thing Adeline Green can afford is for her now-famous high school crush to descend on her quiet life.

People in the small town of Lakeshore, Wisconsin, think of her as the hard-working church secretary or as the local food truck’s lunch-hour cashier. They’d never suspect the shame she’s hiding.

She attended high school with both the lead singer and the drummer of the rock band, Awestruck. In fact, she used to play in the band herself, but that was back before Awestruck made it big—and before her relationship with lead singer Gannon Vaughn took a turn that ultimately led to tragedy and heartbreak.

She’s living a different life now, but when Gannon shows up, he brings with him a public spotlight that threatens to expose her deepest regret. The closer she gets to him, the more she risks the carefully curated life that’s finally brought her a measure of peace.

Gannon Vaughn and his rock band, Awestruck, have conquered the music industry, but he can’t overcome his feelings for Adeline.

She may have been right to cut off contact between them years ago, but thanks to the grace of God, he’s a changed man. When he hears Adeline’s struggling, he sets out to turn her life around and win back the love he lost to poor choices eight years ago.

But when Gannon’s fame and their mutual regrets jeopardize their relationship anew, will grace be enough to bring them back to God and each other?

A meaningful Christian romance with a side of fame and fortune for readers who enjoy faith-filled escapes and happily-ever-afters where no one is beyond hope of redemption.

MY REVIEW

The book tackles some sensitive issues like suicide, depression, drugs and domestic abuse which may be a trigger for some. The author does look  at these issues with an honesty at how these topics can affect someone. We get some background on the characters and how their lives interacted with each other. Fitz is a focal point between Adeline and Gannon. There may have been signs of Fitz’s depression when they were in high school together, but it was overlooked because fame was knocking at their door. Adeline didn’t follow the group and stopped playing all together. It has been years  since the tragedy happened yet she still blames herself. I found it interesting that she volunteered for everything maybe to not feel guilty about what happened or maybe she thought if she did all this volunteer work people would think she was a good person. Her shame has caused her not to face the truth and carries her burden deep so no one will ever know. 

Gannon showing up after all these years unsettles Adeline. Over the years the  band that Gannon is in has become famous.  I liked the look at what a band goes through as they start to get popular. It reminded me of bands today who break into the Christian genre. They have to find the right songs that reflect their beliefs and a label that will stand with them. Gannon is very determined to get Adeline to deal with her past and learn to forgive herself. I will say he never gave up and that is just what she needs. 

The book examines two people who share a past and how they each coped with what happened. The honest look at struggles that we face when we don’t feel deserving of grace is well represented by Adeline and her constant battle with forgiveness. In a way she seemed upset that Gannon has moved on and  hasn’t paid for his sin. I wonder if we do that to people ? We get upset when someone is forgiven when we don’t think they deserve it. The bottom line is we are not to question God’s ways. 

With characters that struggle with the past this book is a great lesson in redemption. I loved how much Gannon wanted to help Adeline and his genuine compassion for her to regain her faith is unquestionable. The author slowly restores their friendship to a point where they can be real with other. Putting aside the tabloids and flurry of paparazzi, they can finally open up and heal wounds that have prevented both of them to be free.  

Get ready for a journey where two people seek redemption and forgiveness. The road is not easy as one tries to play hero over and over again. Gannon thinks his worth is always being  there when someone is in trouble. He can’t let them down for fear of failure. Adeline can’t find her way to where God is waiting to comfort her. Her journey will take her to a place where healing is and freedom is felt. It’s an emotional story that opens the door to grace and a real relationship with the One who loves unconditionally. 

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

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Emily Conrad writes contemporary Christian romance that explores life’s relevant questions. Though she likes to think some of her characters are pretty great, the ultimate hero of her stories (including the one she’s living) is Jesus. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their energetic coonhound rescue. Learn more about her and her books at emilyconradauthor.com.

 

More from Emily

A Guilty Pleasure with a Purpose

When a reader called the Rhythms of Redemption Romances a guilty pleasure, I had to smile because that’s exactly what To Bring You Back, the first book in the series, was to me as I wrote it.

Don’t get me wrong, To Bring You Back is firmly Christian fiction, and it’s not “guilty” of being blush-inducing. Because of the characters’ history, theirs is a slow-burn romance that focuses more on the emotional side of their relationship than the physical.

But, To Bring You Back is a rock star romance.

When I first started writing it, I was embarrassed to admit that’s what I was working on.

After all, rock star romance has a reputation for being an unrealistic and shallow escape from reality with “guilty pleasure” written all over it.

Maybe there was some of that escapism going on. At that point in my writing journey, I was dealing with disillusionment, and I enjoyed the break of writing about rich and famous characters.

However, as I wrote To Bring You Back and went on to read others’ romances about famous characters, I found that the characters’ occupations and net worth don’t impact the most important elements of their stories.

The tales can still showcase meaningful relationships and God at work in the lives of people who—rich and famous or not—need redemption.

Fame, money, and music help up the entertainment value, but those same features add even more rich conflict to explore.

The men of Awestruck, starting with lead singer Gannon Vaughn in To Bring You Back, have allowed me to ask questions like: How good is grace? What does it mean to live in forgiveness? What gives a person worth? And, when is living the dream no longer worth the price?

To write this post, I took a break from working on the first draft of the final book in the series, and it’s been fun to look back and see how much my opinion of these stories has changed.

If To Bring You Back and the books that follow are a guilty pleasure, they’re a guilty pleasure with a purpose. God has worked in my life through them.

It’s my prayer that He’ll also use them in your life, both to explore meaningful questions and to provide a few hours of entertaining escape.

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, April 25

The Sacred Line, April 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 26

Inklings and notions, April 27

Remembrancy, April 28

Wishful Endings, April 28

Texas Book-aholic, April 29

deb’s Book Review, April 30

For Him and My Family, May 1

Spoken from the Heart, May 1

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 2

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

Miriam Jacob, May 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 5

Britt Reads Fiction, May 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 6

Simple Harvest Reads, May 7 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Pause for Tales, May 8

Of Blades and Thorns, May 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Emily is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and an ecopy of To Bring You Back!!

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/1d0b1/to-bring-you-back-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book: No Longer A Captive

Author: Carol James

Genre: Christian Fiction

Release date: October, 2021

When Ethne O’Connor’s brother tells her of father’s unexpected death, Sean asks her to do something she promised herself she’d never do. Come back home.

A victim of childhood abuse, Ethne left her father and the small Texas town of Crescent Bluff ten years ago on the night of her high school graduation. She’s determined to end the cycle of abuse and believes the only way to do that is remain single. If she has no husband, she’ll never have children that can be abused.

Then she meets Daniel Spenser, a handsome doctor with chocolate-kiss eyes. Daniel understands her past in a way no one else does. He’s lived it.

Will Daniel be able to help Ethne break the chains of captivity around her heart?

And will God release her from her past, to be free to trust the man she comes to love?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Carol James is an author of inspirational fiction. She loves creating Redemptive Romance. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia, a small town outside of Atlanta, with her husband Jim, and a perky Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe.

Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she’d been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.

Her debut novel, Rescuing Faith, was an Amazon number one best-seller. Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter to be the first to learn about new releases: www.carol-james.com

Just recently, Carol allowed Zoe to start Instagram and Facebook pages with two of her dog friends. Follow them at Instagram: 3DogsandtheirAuthorsIG or Facebook: 3DogsandtheirAuthorsFB to learn the behind the scenes info about being a writer.

Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, and serving in the production department at her church. And most days, in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.

 

More from Carol

One question people always ask me is, “Where do you get the ideas for your books?” Oh, ideas hover all around us. We need only open our eyes and see the common and everyday through the lenses of our faith.

 

Several years ago, my husband and I began attending a large church near our home. We’d heard people talk about the inspiring sermons their pastor, Buddy Hoffman, preached.

 

Buddy was unlike any preacher I had ever heard. He had a folksy manner, and he absolutely delighted in tripping all over the English language. Once he told us about a recent mission trip to Asia where he saw Kubotas (i.e. pagodas) dotting the landscape. A picture of a hill covered with riding mowers and tractors popped into my mind.

 

One Sunday morning, he preached about forgiveness. Ten years later, I don’t remember the major points of the sermon. I remember only one statement he made. “Unforgiveness is a prison.” My English-major self tensed, knowing unforgiveness wasn’t even a word. My husband would have called it a Buddy-ism. But it didn’t matter that unforgiveness wasn’t listed in the dictionary or that spell-check would underline it. That brief statement carried a depth of meaning that entire books might not. Later, in the same service, our worship pastor led us in the song “No Longer Slaves.” And from this service, the idea for No Longer a Captive was born.

MY REVIEW 

I did like the book even though the subject was extremely hard for me to read. I instantly connected to Ethne and what  she went through starting at a young age. My scars are mainly emotional which is hard to forget. Like Ethne I can still here my dad say, “You are stupid and will never amount to anything.” Ethne overcame those words by being a successful business owner. Now she has to face her past once again when she returns to her hometown. Walking through the doors where her father practiced as a doctor pierced her heart with a sense of fear. What really intensified the story was when she went upstairs to the apartment where she and her family lived. I use to hide in my closet just like Ethne did. Those moments that Ethne remembered sent shivers down my arms as I understood her feeling of anxiety. 

Daniel has come by an inheritance that he never expected. I liked how his dream came true to have his own practice. Ethne and her brother were generous in giving him their dad’s place where he once was a doctor. Getting to know Daniel better helped me understand why he is cautious at times. His childhood was filled with foster parents and an absent mother who thought of Daniel as a mistake. The similarities between Ethne and Daniel’s past is the pathway where forgiveness needs to take place. Both have held onto bitterness and allowed others to hold them emotionally captive. Will they find their way to the cross and seek to forgive those who have hurt them? 

I liked how the author explained how forgiveness works. Ethne tells Daniel that she has tried to forgive her dad over and over but he never repented. That’s not how forgiveness works. Once we forgive it is done. We are not held captive anymore. Just because we forgive someone doesn’t mean they are going to confess their sin. That was something I had to learn. It took me many years to forgive but now I do feel free. Ethne has a hard lesson to learn and hopefully she will find a way to forgive her dad.

The story is one that I would recommend to everyone. It illustrates how our heart can become hardened if we don’t forgive. We are held captive by our anger and lack of trust. If we continue with an attitude of bitterness then the enemy wins. I appreciate how the author used Ethne and Daniel to show us the steps we can take to forgive and be set free. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

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

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 28

Inklings and notions, April 29

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 30 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 30

For Him and My Family, 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

Splashes of Joy, May 6 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 7

Blossoms and Blessings, May 8 (Author Interview)

Spoken from the Heart, May 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 10

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 11 (Author Interview)

Miriam Jacob, May 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and an e-copy of No Longer a Captive!!

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/1d3b9/no-longer-a-captive-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book: Finding Love in Big Sky Montana

Author: Angela Ruth Strong

Genre: Sweet romance/western

Release date: September, 2016

Bright Star Ranch led him to her–but will he stay?

Josh Lake is forced to head home for the holidays after he’s suspended from his job in the city, but running into Paisley Sheridan could be exactly what he needed. Not only does she board him at her ranch in exchange for his advertising expertise, but spending the Christmas season with her in Big Sky, Montana, brings more joy than he’s felt in a long while. Is he willing to give up the lavish lifestyle he’s worked for in exchange for the gift of love?

The last thing Paisley wants for Christmas is to spend time with Josh Lake—the guy who broke her heart in high school—but until her bank loan goes through, she has to take all the free help she can get. Unfortunately, Josh seems to want back in her life again, and the town’s quirky coffee shop owners don’t help by hanging mistletoe at every opportunity. Will Paisley succeed in driving him away, or will she find the healing needed to have hope for a future together?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Twelve years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky filmed on location in Montana and will air in spring of 2022. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.

 

More from Angela Ruth

Having my book made into a movie is a dream come true, and getting to be an extra on the set in Montana blew away all my expectations. There’s nothing like walking into a world you created and seeing your imaginary friends come to life.

 

I knew what was going on before anyone told me. I pointed around the set as I narrated: “They are going to hang that star on the barn. The horses are named Butch and Sundance. And that big red truck is going to break down because I WANT it to break down.”

 

I got it all right except for one thing. “Actually, Angela, the truck really did break down.” Oops.

 

Not only was I in on the inside jokes, but I kind of made them up. For example, during the “almost kissing” scene, Josh’s brother walks into the kitchen to look for ice cream. The actors got a good laugh afterwards whenever they were practicing the kissing scene because the actress would turn away with an “I’m going out for ice cream.”

 

I was only on location for one day, but it was the best day. I saw them film both kisses, the mentor scene, and we were extras in the cowboy ball. (I’m the one in the blue dress who signs up for the silent auction.)

 

However, my husband Jim was really bummed we couldn’t be there for the scene in the auto repair shop. He took his own coveralls just in case he could be an extra mechanic. We joked with the actress about it, and when we watched the final cut, we were surprised to see her call back into the shop to a “Jim.” I messaged her to ask if she did that on purpose, and she said she did. Such a sweet tribute.

 

On our last day, we ate breakfast at the Western Café (another film location) with the director, and we visited the jewelry shop where my hero had a necklace made for the heroine with the logo of her ranch on it. Jim gave me the exact same necklace for Christmas.

 

Everyone was so fun and nice, and even if I someday get to have another book made into a movie, I don’t think it could top this experience. I really hope you enjoy both the novel and the film. And may the message of how “you are a treasure” carry you forward toward your own dreams.

MY REVIEW 

This story is a great example of two people who are emotionally lost in the world. They each seek to find a purpose for their life as they unravel their past.   We may be happy where we are, but are we where God wants us to be? 

Paisley has a big job ahead of her restoring the ranch with little to no funds. I liked her attitude of never giving up and opening her heart to help Josh out. The connection they had was a long time ago but maybe they can repair their friendship. At least Paisley has help at the ranch now so perhaps  things will turn around for both of them.

Josh is not  having a good day when his idea is stolen and everything he has worked for is gone, How will he prove that he was cheated out of a big job? Right now all he has is a car and a place to sleep at Paisley’s ranch. Oh that word pride sneaks in as Josh has no money, can’t get anyone from his company to call him back and is stuck working for free at a ranch.  There is one thing that Josh says that really stood out to me. When he says, “A scar is proof that I’m stronger that whatever tried to hurt me,” that really made me think. How many scars do you carry that made you stronger? Was it the scar of rejection that helped you become more confident? Whatever those scars may be , remember that God healed those wounds and gave you freedom from whatever was trying to keep you away from Him.

This feeling of never being  good enough, or wanted by anyone seemed to follow our characters. Paisley especially had this thought  planted in her from something that happened to her at one point in her life. The hardest moment in the entire story is the confrontation between Paisley and her dad. The cruel things he says to her broke my heart. This was an emotional scene to read and then I understood Paisley so much more. The back and forth struggle she has had in sharing her feelings makes sense now. After the way her dad has always treated her, it is hard for her to trust anyone. The story is a sweet look at how God will direct your path and turn mourning into joy. 

“When you find God’s direction, it doesn’t only bless you. It blesses others as well.”

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

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 27

I luv the books, April 27

Inklings and notions, April 28

The Sacred Line, April 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 29

For Him and My Family, April 30

Rebekah Reads, April 30

deb’s Book Review, May 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 3

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, May 3

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 4

Vicky Sluiter, May 4

Bizwings Blog, May 5

Back Porch Reads, May 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 7

Miriam Jacob, May 7

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 8 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 8

Blossoms and Blessings, May 9

A Baker’s Perspective, May 9

Simple Harvest Reads, May 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Angela is giving away the grand prize package of a movie package with a $25 gift certificate to the movies, popcorn, popcorn bowl, and an autographed copy of Finding Love in Big Sky, including author notes in the margins!!

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/1d0b4/finding-love-in-big-sky-montana-celebration-tour-giveaway