Saturday, September 17, 2022

About the Book

Book: Ezekiel’s Song

Author: Naomi Craig

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release date: August 16, 2022

A prophet’s heart broken, a woman’s joy gone. What does Yahweh have planned for His people?

On the brink of Jerusalem’s demise, devoted priest, Ezekiel, sees the insincerity of Judah’s worship. Despite his efforts to call the people back to true worship of Yahweh, priests, artisans, valiant warriors, and royals are exiled to Babylon. When God gives him messages of continued judgment for the people in his homeland, his heart breaks. How can he minister to the people from so far away?

The presence of the Lord is tangible when Shiriel sings in the temple, and her voice prepares the hearts of many to worship. When she is exiled to Babylon, her faith is shaken. Does the Lord’s presence extend beyond Jerusalem and His holy temple?

Ezekiel is struck mute and paralyzed as he begins his prophetic ministry, and Shiriel devises a plan to get the Lord’s message back to the unfaithful people of Judah. Shiriel struggles with discontentment as serving the Lord looks nothing like she’d imagined. Can she provide for her family and carry out her husband’s ministry when her joy is gone, and her own dreams are placed on hold?

How will Yahweh save His people from themselves? Find out in Ezekiel’s Song!

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, pastor’s wife, Naomiloves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church, trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes or convincing her rescue dog, Freeway, to be cute on command for Instagram reels, you’ll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi co-hosts #BehindTheStory with Naomi and Lisa, an author interview show on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice.

More from Naomi

What do you recall about Ezekiel?

The wheel within the wheel?

The dry bones living.

Ezekiel 4:9 bread?

Did you know the Lord asked him to prepare his food over human dung? Or that he was paralyzed for about 14 months? What about mute for seven years?

There are so many bizarre prophecies and symbolisms in the book of Ezekiel. So many prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled. Raise your hand if you tend to skim through these parts of God’s word.

I do.

But when I read Ezekiel a couple years back, the story really jumped of the page.

What about the people who lived with the prophecies and symbolisms?

Ezekiel saw the Lord, and the message He gave was one of Jerusalem finally meeting their just reward.

Only problem is Ezekiel is already in Babylon.

Oh and there’s the whole paralyzed and mute thing.

How is a man who is physically and geographically bound able to get this message a world away?

What was it like to live on rations of war (contrary to how today’s scientists have discovered the right combination to make nutrient dense, protein packed super bread?) in a land that wasn’t suffering from famine or scarcity.

How did the prophet respond when the people who heard the message in Babylonia and Jerusalem brushed it aside as inconsequential?

Ezekiel’s Song explores the lives of those affected by the prophecies. You’ll meet Ezekiel–in the priestly service, turned prophet, Shiri—the Bible states Ezekiel had a wife, her name and her backstory is my imagination, and Gilead—a fictional valiant warrior from Jerusalem.

Discover the book of Ezekiel like you’ve never seen it before!

MY REVIEW

I love how the author brought this Biblical story to life with a prophet who desires to share what God has told him. Will the people listen to his warning or suffer consequences that will have a lasting impact on many? I love how the author gives power to Ezekiel’s voice with clarity and urgency. He wants the people to heed the warning of God before it is too late. Have you experienced a time when you felt this urgency to obey God did not have faith and trust to do so? Some of the people listening to Ezekiel’s words are not sure if what they are hearing is true.

I love reading Biblical fiction because it encourages me to read what the Bible says. I appreciate how the author didn’t falter from the story but only added a few characters that for me was a nice addition . The Bible talks about Ezekiel having a wife and the author has used that information to name the wife Shiriel. She becomes integral in the story as she protects her husband. Getting to know Shiriel better we see there was tension between her and Ezekiel at first.

The author explores the hardships Ezekiel encountered while warning people to repent . You can feel his desperation for the people to listen to him. The author gives a voice to Ezekiel with her descriptive words. I enjoyed how the story was written and found myself going to the Bible after I finished the book. I needed to read more about Ezekiel and soak up how this man obeyed his calling even though it brought hard times upon him. Would we be bold enough to go and share what Ezekiel was chosen to do?

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

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, September 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 18

Inklings and notions, September 19

Holly’s Book Corner, September 19

lakesidelivingsite, September 20

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 21

For Him and My Family, September 22

deb’s Book Review, September 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 24

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 25

Connie’s History Classroom, September 26

Books I’ve Read, September 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 28

She Lives To Read, September 29

Blogging With Carol, September 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Naomi is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 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/21815/ezekiel-s-song-celebration-tour-giveaway

Calm in the Mountain Storm Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: Calm in the Mountain Storm

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: September 13, 2022

This epic journey will test his strength and ability to protect his children—and they’re all he has left.

When Elise Lane and her brother set out as missionaries to the native tribes in the Rocky Mountains, she knew the work would be challenging. But nothing fully prepared her for the hardships, nor the joys of getting to know the people. And even more so when some of them decide to accept God’s grace. When they discover the entire village where they’ve been working has been massacred, the mysterious brave standing at the edge of the devastation appears to be part of the danger. Especially when Elise realizes he’s holding a baby she recognizes as the daughter of one of the women who now lies dead.

Gone far too long on a mission to return his son who’d been taken by an enemy war party, Goes Ahead is relieved to return home with the boy. Until they reach their village, and the death they find there ignites his fury. His wife has been killed, along with all their friends and neighbors. No one is left alive—except their infant daughter. It can’t be coincidence that both his children have survived such evils. Now he must keep them alive and cross the mountains to return to his family, people who can help protect his family from further danger.

Traveling with an infant not yet four moons old—and no mother to feed her—is more than even Goes Ahead can overcome. Allowing the white strangers to accompany him seems the only choice since one in their party is already nursing a babe of her own. As winter closes in and the mountains prove treacherous beyond anything Goes Ahead can control, only a strength and love greater than his own can save his children—and the woman he’s come to love.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

Early Missionaries to the Rocky Mountain Native American Tribes

One of the things I love about writing stories set in the 1830s Rocky Mountains is that Eastern civilization hadn’t yet touched the frontier. The only people who lived in or visited the Rockies during that were Native Americans and mountain men (usually trappers, but sometimes just explorers).

From that limited experience with white people, two of the native tribes realized they wanted to learn more about the white man’s God and his “Book of Heaven” (the Bible). In 1831, a delegation of four Native Americans—two Nez Perce and two Flathead—showed up in St. Louis, Missouri, asking for someone to come and teach their people about God.

Over the next several years, a number of people went west as missionaries, and this was the real-life inspiration for the heroine in Calm in the Mountain Storm. Though the characters in this story are fictional, the events certainly could have happened!

When Elise Lane heard that the Indians actually wanted to learn about God and simply needed someone to come tell them, she knew she had to answer that call. Of course, her brother Benjamin couldn’t let her go into that danger alone, so together, they set out on an expedition they knew would likely change them forever. Elise doesn’t have any idea exactly how much!

I pray you enjoy reading the story of Elise and Goes Ahead, the brave she meets who’s desperate for help getting his young children across the mountains. As with our hero and heroine in the story, I pray your faith is inspired!

Blessings!

Misty

MY REVIEW

If you haven’t had a chance to read the books in this series I would highly recommend them. Each story has characters from previous books and highlights them in a beautiful setting of the Rocky Mountains. Set against breathtaking scenery we follow characters on their journey during the 1830’s. The hardships facing our characters show the strength and faith they have.

This book gives us more insight into Elise and her adventure that has her facing a devastating loss at an Native American Indian village. What is discovered there is destruction and lives taken by unknown enemies. It became clear that Goes Ahead is not sure of the visitors and isn’t sure if they are responsible for his wife’s death. With Elise, her brother Ben, White Owl and wife Lola and baby standing before Goes Ahead there is tension in the air. Will he trust them and join them as they travel the mountainside?

The beautiful illustration of leading someone to Christ is very well written in this story. Elise with her grace and wisdom shares God with Goes Ahead. His desire to change and live a life that honors Gods so heartwarming. With a newness inside him he feels hope and a new beginning for him and his children. I loved how the author showed how Goes Ahead felt this peace come over him as he accepted Christ. It is a moment that expresses how God forgives us of our sins and welcomed us with open arms.

The story has danger, hardships and two people who find themselves drawn to each other. Elise thinks that her and Goes Ahead are too different to be together. God shows her that he has brought them together for a reason. She needs to give her fear to God and trust Him. Faith helps them realize that they can work things out and be happy together. I look forward to the next book in the series which featured Elise’s brother Ben.

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

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 16

Texas Book-aholic, September 17

Holly’s Book Corner, September 17

Inklings and notions, September 18

Pause for Tales, September 19

Betti Mace, September 19

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 20

For Him and My Family, September 21

Blossoms and Blessings, September 22

deb’s Book Review, September 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 23

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 24

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 24

Connie’s History Classroom, September 25

For the Love of Literature, September 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 27

Mary Hake, September 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize of a $50 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/21812/calm-in-the-mountain-storm-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, September 16, 2022

About the Book

Book: Lost in the System

Author: Nancy Jo Wilson

Genre: Christian Science Fiction

Release date: September 7, 2021

Jaded, 24th century grifter Smullian O’Toole has been sentenced to 1000 days of Life Modification Therapy. All is well until the glitch.

Smullian enjoys serving his prison term. Other than the daily upchucking, Life Modification Therapy is the sweetest sentence 24th century Earth offers. The system biotransposes his essence into a different 21st century person daily, whereas his body stays in the future. The therapy rehabilitates felons by teaching them the value of honest labor. On day 777, Smullian hears a disembodied voice utter, “Father to the Fatherless.” Thus, begins the mother of all system glitches that shatters Life Mod rules and regulations.

Instead of following the usual program, the system thrusts Smullian into the case of David Hawthorne, a missing teenaged orphan. The case cuts a little too close to home for the grifter, who has been on his own since he was twelve. As Smullian bounces from host to host, he realizes the glitch shows purpose and design. Someone, maybe the Father to the Fatherless, controls the situation, not the technicians at Life Mod. This someone peels back the façade Smullian has placed between himself and the world. Against his will, he begins to care about the kid and his older sister, Lydia. Each new host forces him to confront his own inner demons—as well as pointing him to David.

What initially seems the clear-cut case of a runaway—grows more ominous with every clue. Smullian knows he’s not the hero type. But he’s all David has.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Nancy Jo Wilson wrote her first short story in second grade and continued writing throughout childhood. In high school, she wrote for the teen section of the local newspaper and received a writing scholarship from the state of Tennessee. After high school, she moved on to the college of her dreams—Florida State University. The dean who spoke at the college orientation encouraged students to major in what challenged them, not what came easily. So, she pursued science, majoring in Biology Education, as well as Theater electives. She came to regret the decision, because her first love was always the written word.

She returned to writing in her mid-thirties. Through mystery shopping reviews and online writing challenges, she sharpened her skills. Many times, she earned the distinction of editor’s choice on Faithwriters.com. She published a few articles, but mainly focused on her blog, six5mom.com. She wrote her first book Escape the Amoz, for her oldest son and published it through Kindle Direct. It won second place for science fiction in the 2009 Do it Write! competition. Lost in the System, her current book hit stores in fall 2021.

Now, she balances ministry, writing, and homeschooling. A Jacksonville, FL native, Nancy currently resides in Thomaston, GA with her husband, younger son, dog, and three cats.

More from Nancy

Street signs often inspire my character names. Not kidding. Drive through downtown Jacksonville, and you’ll see many of the names from my first novel spelled out on those green rectangles. When I drove past Smullian Trail, a handsome, charming, fast-talking character popped into my head. I immediately thought, “He’s mischievous.”

Before long, I wondered what would happen if Smullian, who has no knowledge of Christianity, meets the holy God. What obstacles would Smullian have to overcome? How do you explain to someone who views love as a transaction that God is love? Lost in the System tackles the tough questions unbelievers ask about Christianity but wraps the heavy content in a fuzzy blanket of sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek humor. Science fiction may be the core of this story, but mystery, romance, and redemption fill it out.

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

MY REVIEW

This book is a mixture of Science Fiction and reality as the author introduces us to the main character. Smullian is being punished in a very unique way for his crime. What would it be like to be different people and experience their lives? Smullian faces one thousand days living as someone else and seeing how they go through their daily routine. I had to think what it would be like to not have a choice of who you could be and have to go back in time to relive someone’s experience whether it was good or bad. Thus begins our journey to see if Smullian will change.

Although the story is brash at times there are some valuable lessons to glean from. Being a criminal has placed Smullian into situations where he now must learn what it is like to be humble, forgiving and teachable. As Smullian becomes different people he begins to get frustrated. He keeps hearing this voice that says, “I am the Father to the Fatherless.” I could feel his anger as he begins to question who the voice is. Smullian has had a tough life and questions why “Father” didn’t rescue him when he was in need. Are these other people more important than him? He starts to unravel and I think this is where we all can relate. Our lives sometimes become unbearable with pain, trials, trauma etc. We begin to doubt there is a God, but we forget that “He will never leave us nor forsake us.”

I really liked how the author begins to show Smullian that what he has done to people in the past has affected them in some way. Now that he has been involved with finding a missing young boy, he starts to realize how important it is to have friends and believe in something. He is still not sure who this voice belongs to, but I can feel him start to soften his heart a little. “God’s word doesn’t say he prevents the bad stuff. It says He helps you through it.”

One thing that really stands out to me is how we blame God yet we forget that the choices we make have consequences. We may not make good decisions but we need to remember that God is still with us. The book was interesting and really makes you think. I won’t share the ending but one thing is for certain, “Love is sacrifice.”

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 7

Inklings and notions, September 8

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 9 (Author Interview)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 11

Blossoms and Blessings, September 12 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, September 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 13

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 14

A Baker’s Perspective, September 15 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 16

Through the Fire Blogs, September 17 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 18

Guild Master, September 19 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 19

Blogging With Carol, September 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Nancy is giving away the grand prize package of $50 Visa gift card and a 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/21599/lost-in-the-system-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, September 15, 2022

About the Book

Book: Texas Wildflowers

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Historical Christian Romance

Release date: September 3, 2022

Raise up your children in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will will not depart from it.
Getting them old is the key! Maisie Lowell and Rayne St. Laurent, both as beautiful as a wild Texas prairie rose, were born to privilege, reared in the fanciest hotel west of the Mississippi, and used to having their ways. In 1875 Dallas, Texas, the best friends determine to choose their own life paths to peace, love, and joy regardless of what their parents consider right or wrong. Do their choices and what their parents consider right or wrong. Do their choices and what their parents think have to be so different?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—over sixty published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen to a few on YouTube. Sharing four children and twenty-four grandsugars (six are greats), Caryl and her high-school-sweetheart-husband of fifty-three years Ron live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

As I write this, Texas wildflowers adorn hills and pastures and create beautiful ribbons along highways and byways! I love flowers! I love Texas! And I love Texas wildflowers! In my new novel by that name, the dear best friends, Maisie Lowell (Morgan and Charity’s third child and only daughter) and Rayne St. Laurent (daughter of Quincy, and stepdaughter of Priscilla, both of QUINCY & PRISCILLA fame) are growing up and becoming intensely interested in boys—or men as they see it.

It’s so fun when I think of it, because they are seventeen, and Ron and I were sixteen when we met and fell in love. Things are so different today. My oldest grandsugar-daughter married last year at the age of 30, and a grandsugar-son at the age of twenty-six. By then Ron and I had three children and eight years of marriage under our belts!

Isn’t it fun to think that only a hundred years ago, daughters were treasured and when men were ready to find a wife, they came courting, never spending any unchaperoned time alone with the young woman he wanted to get to know. My how things have changed as the Spirit of Anti-Christ is loosed in our world, and love, romance, and families have certainly suffered for it.

This is one reason why I love writing historical Christian Romance, telling tales of sweet and modest young girls with parents who watched and ruled over them until they married. At twenty-four or five, a young lady loomed close to being a spinster! I had so much fun with Maisie and Rayne in TEXAS WILDFLOWERS!

I think you will love them, too! TEXAS WILDFLOWERS is book eight in the Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga, and I believe you’ll enjoy books one through seven just as much! In all my books God is highly praised and ways for us to live abundant lives as He promises are included for readers.

My author’s motto is “Praying my story gives God glory!” If that doesn’t happen, I’ve failed my Father, but do I worry about that? I do not! God is on the throne and in control. He’s the one who gives me such wonderful, fun stories to share with you all! Enjoy TEXAS WILDFLOWERS and be blessed!

Anyway, we have been talking about writing this book for years, coming across little clues for the story in Scripture studies now and again over that time. At last, God released us to write THEN JUDGEMENT based on the twenty-seventh verse of Hebrews, nineth chapter: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

I love searching the scriptures and telling a story that strictly adheres to God’s Book, His Living Word, the Holy Bible. I love His stories and so understand that His Word is bread to our souls, feeding us wisdom and knowledge of our Creator and His everlasting, never-ending love for us!

Creating Biblical fiction tales carries a lot of responsibility that I truly enjoy taking on, being a guardian of the Truth. I love to bring characters from those days gone by so long ago to life on the pages of my books! I do feel a bit like John when he said this, writing of our Savior.

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” John 21:27

Biblical fiction could easily become my favorite genre—if it isn’t already. I do write more historical romance stories set in the 1800s (a favorite time period) in Texas (my favorite state)! And as much as I love that research . . . nothing compares to digging into the Word!

I pray you will enjoy living through the three days that Jesus did not spend in the tomb! May my story cause you to dig a little yourself, checking out our theory! I know this to be Truth: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

Hallelujah! Glory be to His Holy Name! The righteous run into it and are saved! There is no one like unto Him! He alone it the Great King over all the earth! Worthy to receive glory and praise!

As always, I’m ‘Praying my story gives God glory!’

Blessings, y’all!

MY REVIEW

Maisie and Rayne are the best of friends and I love following them on their adventure. It seems like these two young ladies have marriage on their minds. Rayne has been in love with Maisie’s brother Baxter for probably forever. With his recent return home maybe he will realize that Rayne only has eyes for him.

Rayne can feel her heart pounding as Baxter shares how he feels. Did he just say he wants to court her? Will marriage be the next step? I think we are going to be in for a few surprises before this story is over. I adore the setting of this story and how the author transports readers back in time to Dallas, Texas, 1875. I admire how courting was a very serious business. There were rules Rayne and Baxter must follow and if they didn’t take it seriously then consequences would follow.

Oh how I love the faith that is beautifully written in this story as Baxter opens up about the two years he has been gone. His past is not pretty and having to confess what he did is painful for Rayne to hear. The good news is that Baxter has turned his life around and follows God’s direction now. It is important to note that even though Baxter sinned, God forgave him. Some people think they their sin is too big and God would never forgive them. I pray that if you feel this way, you seek out a pastor or a godly friend and let them share Jesus with you. He forgives and loves unconditionally.

Maisie is a sweet young woman who is thrilled that her brother is now courting her best friend. She is happy for them, yet she wants to be courted by someone herself. Maybe her brother’s friend is a possibility. Zach seems like a nice person and steps in when a man is becoming not so nice around Maisie. The aftermath is a very seriously injured Zach. I loved the little twist with Maisie suddenly having two men who wanted to court her. How will she be able to chose between Zach the man who defended her honor or Bart who has adorable children that she loves being around?

The story is filled with so many wonderful moments with young children who want a mother so bad to a very important lesson in learning to listen to God. I know sometimes I hear God but think I know better and find out the hard way that listening to Him is better. I loved Maisie so much and how she never wavered from making a decision until she clearly heard from God. As always when I read a book by this author my faith is deepened as I grow closer to God.

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