Saturday, June 4, 2022

Wonders in the Deep

About the Book

Book: Wonders in the Deep

Author: Chuck Carr

Genre: Christian Fiction, Inspirational

Release date: April 29, 2021

Wonders of the Deep Coveer Love. Loss. Hope. Heroism. Is there safe passage through the torrents and storms of life?

Wonders In the Deep is a dramatic illustration, an emotionally charged depiction of the elements that keep us human, fuel our spirit, and give us the courage to continue.

The life of eighteen-year-old Brandon Lawrence is one riddled with questions. Pained sore inside, he seeks answers that have been swallowed deeply by his own grandfather, whom he lovingly calls Pap. How did his parents and grandmother die? Why does his grandfather resent Natalie, Brandon’s best friend since childhood? Why is he forbidden to step foot on a boat, to ride the waves of the sea? Will he ever find answers?

Pap’s journals. Could they hold the secrets?

Set in the rocky and rugged coastline of Maine, the story uncovers Brandon’s world in the summer of 1998. The 1930s and 40s of his grandfather’s world are now over, along with the flat plains of a corn-belted Illinois town he had decided to leave as a young man. What had happened to cause a man to run from a life he couldn’t handle? What had turned Pap into a man withdrawn from life? A man holding tight to the secrets of his life.

Sitting alone on the same weathered dock Brandon had come to with Pap every Thursday growing up, he tries to piece together the puzzle of an unspoken life. Face to face with the only solution he knows, he must choose between honor and answers; an act of thievery plagues him hard, haunting and jolting his conscience. If his grandfather is too brokenhearted to speak of such things, could Brandon steal the answers he needs from the journals?

Wonders In the Deep is a soothing balm, medicine to a hurting and wounded soul. Faced with the harsh realities of grief and loss, two men embark on a great journey to find healing in the deep and uncertain oceans of life. As you journey with Brandon and Pap, you may identify with their struggles.

Is there true triumph over adversity? How far will one go for answers? How far will you go?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Chuck Carr Photo Inspired by life events, Chuck Carr takes lessons learned over his years and forms them into words and phrases meant to lift others from the same hardships he has faced himself. He wraps and weaves the essence of what life is all about into this, his fourth book, a novel. Filled with his own energy, blood, and tears, Chuck combines this powerfully lifting message with one of his greatest passions in life¾his passion for the sea. As a former youth pastor, Chuck Carr has influenced hundreds of people throughout his life. He desires to help others live effectively despite hardships, as his testimony proves that sufferings can be changed into blessings. Losing a spouse in 2008, he strives to help those hurting from the same pain. A life altering accident in 2018 left him with a traumatic brain injury, and his vision and life goals have been refocused to help others heal from devastating traumas. He is a writer of both fiction and nonfiction, publishing The Convergence, Navigating Grief, and All That the Locusts Have Eaten, which carry the message that one can live the abundant life God desires for us regardless of hardships and shortcomings we face. His audience at www.Chuck-Carr.com has been blessed by inspirations about topics such as Christian faith, overcoming loss and grief, and achieving purpose in life. Now remarried to a woman of shared life goals, Faerie, he has chosen to live with purpose despite his injuries, being an inspiration to others, residing in New Alexandria, Pennsylvania.

More from Chuck

There was never a time in my life so confusing, so emotionally raw and puzzling as when my first spouse passed away in her twenties in 2008. She had to say goodbye to our two boys ages 5 and 3. The event changed everything about me in one way or another. The things I was forced to face since that day are things that unfortunately so many other people are also forced to face as well. It isn’t fun. Thus, the birth of my desire to help those who know what I’m talking about.

Initially, I was attacked with the obvious¾the daunting question of “why.” It never fails. We all ask it. Sooner or later, that single question begs our attention, and how we answer it will determine our outlook on everything else in life. It is an unavoidable roadblock that cannot be dodged or taken lightly. If not properly handled, that monster will bite you from behind and consume you¾it is a foe one cannot play around with. But not all things are black and white. Another thing I learned out real fast, was that some things don’t have a right or wrong answer in life. Yes, I avoided it like the plague. Almost a certainty, those who meant no harm would bring it up and shove it in my face unknowingly. It came with incredible pressure, the prod or question no survivor ever wants to look at. “You’ll find love again.” Maybe. But should I love again? The prompt comes in various forms, yet none look pleasant to the one who has tasted loss.

These two insurmountable difficulties are what prompted me to write the novel Wonders In The Deep: A Tale of Healing. I wanted others to learn that the “why” is a tremendous opportunity for us if we allow ourselves to go on the journey God promises to walk beside with us. Only there¾in this incredibly intimate and personal space¾can we understand the richness of a God whose heart is broken right along with ours. I also wanted to show readers that some may choose to honor those they have survived¾and that is ok. Some, choose to love again. It is a deeply personal choice that is extremely hard to navigate. This book illustrates it well, a way to sort out feelings one might not be able to do alone.

Wonders In The Deep. A place where one can cross the great divide of heartache to healing. A journey of a lifetime. One I hope you will cross with me.

MY REVIEW

With a deep appreciation for this book I have to say that I was swept away by the beautiful story that gave me a feeling of both hope and expectation of healing from within my soul. The author captures a love story that is so personal I felt like I was invading upon moments that were too precious to share. Through the pages we see inside a man’s heart, witness his grief as he comes to terms with a past that changed him forever.

It was easy to figure out that grandson and grandfather have a close relationship but maybe there was something buried deep within the journal that Brandon finds that will explain some unanswered questions. Why was Brandon’s grandfather so angry at God and the world? Could those emotions have been passed to Brandon? The vividness of the storm Alan was in was very emotional. The author captures how we feel when we are in the midst of a storm. It may be from grief, struggles in our life or feeling lost but God is there with us as we go through the storm. I loved the reference of the lighthouse which for me has always been a beacon of light. Over the years I have collected lighthouses because it reminded me of the dark days I had and how God shined His light on me and gave me hope.

I enjoyed the times that Brandon and his Pap spent together. Their time sitting on the dock looking at the water was soothing but it didn’t help the mood Pap was in lately. Yes there was much for Pap to share but he just couldn’t push himself to do it. He knew Brandon wanted to know what had happened to his parents and grandmother but there was grief and anger holding Pap back from sharing.

“A noose of grieving heaviness rested around his throat like a chain.” That one sentence brought me to tears. That is actually how I have felt the last few years after losing my brother. We can try to push those thoughts away but that grip is tight and at times consumes us. Pap was in so much turmoil trying to get past his pain that he pushed everyone out of his life. His relationship with Brandon should have been deeper but he was afraid to show weakness around him.

Through the journey we take with Brandon and Pap we witness forgiveness and healing. Pap has always wanted to protect Brandon from pain and forced his insecurity and fear on his grandson. I loved how the author takes two characters and weaves them into a lesson on trust, letting go of the past and finding hope in the midst of a storm. With trips out to sea we come to understand that in the storms we face, light is there if we look for it.

“Light triumphed over darkness.”

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 3

Through the Fire Blogs, June 4 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 4

Texas Book-aholic, June 5

Inklings and notions, June 6

For Him and My Family, June 7

deb’s Book Review, June 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 9

Bizwings Blog, June 10

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 11

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 13

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, June 14 (Author Interview)

Rebecca Tews, June 14

Blogging With Carol, June 15

Beauty in the Binding, June 16 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Chuck is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card & signed 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/1e7e2/wonders-in-the-deep-celebration-tour-giveaway

If any place on God's earth was designed to help one heal, it is Meadowland. Surely here, at her brother-in-law's Kentucky farm, Rose and her daughters can recover from the events of the recent past--the loss of her husband during the 1918 influenza epidemic, her struggle with tuberculosis that required a stay at a sanatorium, and her girls' experience in an orphanage during her illness. At Meadowland, hope blooms as their past troubles become rich soil in which their faith can grow.

Dirk Meadows may have opened his home to his late brother's widow and her girls, but he keeps his heart tightly closed. The roots of his pain run deep, and the evidence of it is written across his face. Badly scarred by a fire and abandoned by the woman he loved, Dirk fiercely guards his heart from being hurt again. But it may be that his visitors will bring light back into his world and unlock the secret to true healing.

Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart explores the tender places within the human heart in this character-driven story of trusting God to turn our burdens into something beautiful.

MY REVIEW

A very good story about a time period where influenza was running rampant and tuberculosis that cause some a lifetime of suffering. I loved Rose and how desperately she wanted to be well. Being separated from her two girls has cause all them heartache. I was so upset when I read how the girls had been treated in the orphanage. With their resilience and hope they knew that someday their mother would come for them. There are moments in the beginning that you could feel sadness as mother and children tried not to give up.

Dirk was shocked when he received a letter from Rose and one of the children asking for help. He has been in his own little world after a tragedy that changed his life. The author talks about the scars Dirk carries that are visible for everyone to see. It made me think of the emotional scars we hide so no one knows we are hurting. I loved how Dirk came to their aide even though he was hesitant in doing so. If he can let go of the past, perhaps he can find happiness again.

The highlight for me was the bond between sisters. Their relationship is very special as they have had to depend on each other while their mother was away getting treatment. They have an innocence about them that is refreshing and I adored watching them become more confident and happy as they lived with their uncle. There was much to explore at Meadowland as Calla and Sienna loved being outside, It is easy to picture their smiles and hear their laughter as they start to feel like they finally are safe.

The story is a beautiful reminder to forgive and trust God. Letting go of the past leads to freedom. I loved how the mystery was solved in the book that had haunted Dirk for years. “There are so many times we wish we could go back and do things over, but we can’t. We can only ask for forgiveness.”

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

Ann H. Gabhart caught the writing bug at the age of ten and has been writing ever since. An award winning author, she's published many books for both adults and young adults. Her books cover several genres from historical to small town family stories to cozy mysteries (mysteries published with author name A.H. Gabhart). Her ideas are sparked by events in Kentucky history and by experiences in her own family. Her first Shaker novel, The Outsider, was a finalist for the ECPA Christian Fiction Book of the Year. Love Comes Home won the Selah Book of the Year award, and These Healing Hills was the Faith, Hope & Love Readers' Choice Women's Fiction Book of the Year.

Ann lives on a Kentucky farm not far from where she was born. She and her husband have three children and nine grandchildren. Ann enjoys hiking on her farm with her grandkids and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. See more about her books at www.annhgabhart.com or join the conversation on her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/anngabhart.

Friday, June 3, 2022

Souls Astray

About the Book

Book: Souls Astray

Author: Kellyn Roth

Genre: Historical Women’s Fiction

Release date: April 5, 2022

KC1 - Souls Astray Adele Collier has sought a carefree lifestyle ever since her tragic childhood. Determined to never allow anyone or anything to control her life or emotions again, she consistently seeks distraction in gaiety. But shaking her ghosts isn’t as easy as she’d like.

Troy Kee has been alone in the world since the Great War took his parents and left him in charge of his younger sister. When she marries, he’s left to seek after his goal of a healthy, complete family. But how can he focus on his dream when trouble plagues his family vineyard?

When Adele and Troy meet, a whirlwind romance begins—but can two lost souls have a healthy relationship?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kellyn Roth is a historical romance & women’s fiction author who writes about the empty places where hope has the most room to grow. Her novels include the inspirational Victorian family saga, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the Kees & Colliers series, which follows a broken family in the tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century.

Kellyn is a student of the Author Conservatory and a writing coach. When not building her author career, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, watching period dramas and facetious comedies, or spending time with her husband.

More from Kellyn

Hello everyone!

First, I wanted to thank you all for checking out this blog tour! In this fast-paced world, the fact that you took a moment out of your day to read this is actually a pretty big honor. I appreciate you checking out my little book and taking the time to read my introduction.

Souls Astray was the book I wrote when my granddad died. We were very close, and at the time he died, I was a lonely teenager, recently graduated from high school and unsure of my next step. I was heartbroken by his death – it felt like the nail in the coffin of my family, and it felt a little like he was the last person who believed in me.

This wasn’t true, but my, did it feel my dramatic self with lots of thoughts! I poured those into the book, writing it all in about three weeks, and then I spent the next few years revising it.

This book (and the other novels in its series) are of a different tone than my usual books. Even though I delve into difficult topics in all my stories – such as grief and loss, miscarriage, assault, serious mental health issues – this story somehow ended up with a tone I don’t think I could replicate if I tried.

This was the story I wrote out of my own grief and desperation, my own feeling that my world was falling apart. It’s like sharing a piece of my own heart to share it. Though Adele and Troy had very different journeys than mine, which is pretty peachy compared to their lives, I still relate to them.

This was also the first book I didn’t dedicate to a real person – the dedication ended up being inspired by a song, actually, which was comforting to me during this time: God Only Knows by For King & Country. “For the lonely, for the ashamed, the misunderstood, and the ones to blame. What if we could start over?”

Thank you again for your time!

Kellyn Roth

MY REVIEW

The book is a look at two people from different backgrounds that find each other. It is an enjoyable journey where I found myself understanding how Adele as a child felt unwanted. Her favorite brother goes off to war and completely devastates her when he doesn’t return, It is important to note how much Adele depended on her brother emotionally. I sometimes thought she idolized him a little which was unhealthy. Her mother is quite cruel to her and I cringed every time they encounter each other.

Adele going out on her own was a cry for acceptance and she searched for men who would love her. It was sad how she wandered from relationship to relationship with little care about herself. There is one moment in the story where Adele goes to church with her friend that upset me. I couldn’t believe these women would gather around Adele after service and belittle her. To be told you are not welcome at church broke my heart. In her mind she thinks that God will never accept her and will she will never feel His unconditional love.

Troy has seen his share of tragedies and has raised his little sister Lola, after his parents died. They have a close relationship and at times Troy is very overprotective of her. It was so hard for him to accept the marriage between his sister and new husband and is worried about her constantly. I think he thought he was the only one who could keep her safe.

When Adele and Troy meet I wasn’t sure if this was a healthy relationship for either one. Adele falls quickly for Troy and is ready to give herself to him before marriage. I was shocked by her attitude but understood that for her it was how she felt loved. To be rejected by him would destroy her in a way. Now she began to worry that he would think less of her. Did she just destroy a relationship that could have been the right one for her?

Troy is maybe a little taken aback by Adele’s forwardness but assures her that they must wait til marriage like God had ordained. When he finds out that Adele is not a Christian he knows that marriage is out of the question. He can’t be married to a woman who doesn’t believe in God. What they do next really shocked me.

The story illustrates rejection, bitterness, acceptance, listening to God and finding happiness. It give readers a look at a couple who decide to follow their desire and try to make their relationship work in spite of red flags that should not have been ignored. Adele has such bitterness in her heart that forgiving her mother seems unreasonable. Troy has compromised his faith to be with Adele and now faces questions he is afraid to answer. Can two people find happiness that are not equally yoked? I can’t wait for the next book in this series to see where the author takes these characters.

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

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, June 1

Miriam Jacob, June 1

lakesidelivingsite, June 2

Texas Book-aholic, June 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 4

Rebecca Tews, June 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 5

For Him and My Family, June 6

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, June 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 8

deb’s Book Review, June 9

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 10

To Everything There Is A Season, June 10

Connie’s History Classroom, June 11

Splashes of Joy, June 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 13

Pause for Tales, June 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kellyn is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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/1e7d7/souls-astray-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, June 2, 2022

The Egyptian Princess: A Story of Hagar Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: The Egyptian Princess: A Story of Hagar

Author: KD Homberg

Narrator: Lillian Rachael

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release date: March 11, 2021

Two women, one ancient Egyptian harem, and the bold decision that changed the course of history.

Princess Hagar has always known her destiny in the opulent court of Egypt’s tenth dynasty. One day, she will marry Crown Prince Merikare and become the Great Royal Wife, the most powerful woman in Egypt. But dark dreams afflict Hagar when she hears of the latest addition to Pharaoh’s harem: the stunning, iridescent Sumerian, Sarai. Princess Hagar feels a powerful presence around the Sumerian woman. She suspects Sarai has brought black magic into the palace, but what can she do to convince Pharaoh?

The intrigue of Pharaoh’s court pales in comparison to that swirling in the Royal House of Women among the wives, children, and concubines of the king. Sarai’s arrival upsets the already precarious balance. Loyalties divide, and betrayal, jealousy, and tragedy plague the once peaceful household. When a series of disasters befall Egypt, Hagar must make a daring decision, and the stakes could not be higher. She could lose everything—position, power, family, and even her life.

Torn between the silent gods of Egypt and the powerful presence that surrounds Sarai, Hagar’s world falls apart around her. She must acknowledge the terrible price of truth and decide for herself who she will serve.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

KD HOLMBERG is a retired flight attendant who turned an empty nest into a workshop for creating stories around remarkable women. She and her husband live in the foothills of the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains and love to travel and golf. They also run a girl gang of seven granddaughters, courtesy of their five adult children, and have one male grandchild that the author can safely declare as her favorite grandson.

About the Narrator

Born in the United Kingdom, LILLIAN RACHELgrew up in East Anglia and moved north to Durham before marrying her US military man and Atlantic hopping between Europe and North America.
She’s now settled in the Washington D.C. area, where she is an award winning narrator from her personal home studio.

There’s not much she loves more than telling your story in the most engaging way. Sophisticated or sassy, with a range of accents and character personas, she brings your words to life and draws your listeners in.

More from KD Holmberg

Novel Inspiration and Tiger Nut Sweets

Who was Hagar?

That thought occurred to me during a Bible study in Genesis, which revealed:

God met with Hagar twice.
He called her by name.
She was the first to give Him a name, El Roi
She received the same promise as Abraham to become a great nation.

I was aware of Hagar’s general gist of her love triangle with Sarah and Abraham that produced Ishmael and how mother and son were sent into the desert to die. But her name niggled at me because she didn’t die. She survived and thrived as a single mother in the ultimate man’s world. How could a throwaway, uneducated handmaid accomplish such a feat?

The Hebrew and Arab traditions of Hagar gave me insight into that question. They teach that she was the daughter of the pharaoh who seized Sarah in Genesis 12. This quote from Amenhotep III made me even more curious, ‘from old, the daughter of an Egyptian king has not been given in marriage to anyone.’ A practice that prevented foreigners from having a claim on the Egyptian throne.

So how did a princess of Egypt end up in the tribe of Abraham?

I researched what life looked like for a princess in ancient Egypt. I discovered Pharaohs educated their daughters along with their sons. They learned reading, writing, medicine, politics, religion, and mathematics. An education and growing up in the luxury and privilege of the most sophisticated culture on earth rounded out my view of Hagar. It also reminded me of one of my favorite Bible verses, Deuteronomy 31:8, “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (NKJV) God had gone before this remarkable woman and prepared her with the tools she would need to exist and endure.

The Egyptian Princess: A Story of Hagar is fiction, but the historical details in my world-building are as accurate as possible. I created an ancient Egyptian harem and placed Sarah and Hagar together. I added plagues and other information from Hebrew history and imagined a twist-and-turned, life and death scenario where a princess of Egypt ended up in the first Hebrew tribe.

Book two in The Women of Valor series, More Than a Handmaid—which releases March 22. 2023 —picks up where this one leaves off. We follow Hagar as she navigates life as a handmaid and steps into the world alone, holding firm to her faith and hope in the Lord.

Tiger Nut Sweets

Tiger Nut Sweets are a favorite treat of one of my supporting characters. Foodies out there; this is one of the oldest recipes in the world and was found on a piece of ancient Egyptian pottery dating to 1600 BC. The tuberous root of the yellow nutsedge (also known as tiger nut) was used in the original recipe.

1 cup pitted fresh dates

Splash of water

1 tablespoon cinnamon (or to taste)

2 tablespoons roughly chopped walnuts

Honey

2 tablespoons finely ground almonds

Grind the dates with a splash of water to form a rough paste. Use a food processor. The Ancient Egyptians would have used one if they had it!

Place the honey and almond meal in a shallow bowl.

Transfer the date paste to a bowl and add cinnamon and chopped walnuts.
Mix thoroughly with your hands and roll into small bowls.
Mix honey and ground almonds in another bowl.
Coat balls in honey and almond mixture and serve. I like to coat in honey first and roll in the almond mixture. Enjoy!

Many blessings,

KD Holmberg

MY REVIEW

As a first novel this is a beautiful account of a woman who sometimes is overlooked in the Bible. The author doesn't shy away from some facts that are not pleasant to read about. I like how the author writes with ease and opens up a door to the past where Jesus lived. I am very impressed with how the author took a Biblical figure and gave her life through a fictional account. There are enough details in the story that makes me feel like I am reading from the Bible. Hagar has long been a mystery to me as I haven't studied her much. Now I feel as though I walked beside her as her journey unfolded. The story checks all the boxes for research, authenticity and characters that jump off the page. The emotions are definitely there are I applaud the author for writing a story rich in history, biblical truth and just enough fiction to make me want to read it again.

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