Friday, February 17, 2023

About the Book

Book: A Trail So Lonesome

Author: Lacy Williams

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: January 12, 2023

Spending five months eating trail dust wasn’t Leo Spencer’s first choice. Or his second. He’s not one to run away, but some situations can’t be fixed and his family—two brothers and a sister—needs to start over. Which is how he finds himself on a westbound wagon train.

Evangeline has a secret, one that has sent her on a journey across the plains on the Oregon Trail. When her father is badly hurt and she needs help, Leo is there. A deal is struck and the two unlikely friends form an alliance… that leads to more.

But Evangeline’s secret looms over her… and Leo’s family troubles are far from over.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see in Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published sixty books in a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog. Find tons of bonus scenes and reader extras by becoming a VIP reader at www.lacywilliams.net/vip

More from Lacy

Leaving Home

Do you remember what it was like when you left home? Was it a specific event that sticks out in your mind? Or was it gradual?

I moved into the dorms at my university when I was eighteen. After that, I felt sort of… in transition. I went home for winter break and during the summer, but I didn’t feel like my parents’ house was home anymore. I married my sweet hubby when we were both twenty and that’s when I felt like I had a true home again. (Even though it was a tiny one-bedroom apartment!)

My new series, Wagon Train Matches, is all about travelers on a journey across the country in their Conestoga wagons. In the 1850s, people would leave home, leave everything and everyone behind and travel across the plains and mountains mostly on foot. It was difficult and dangerous. And when they arrived, they didn’t have houses ready and waiting for them!

It’s been a lot of fun researching for this series. Understanding why people would risk everything for a new start. I think it would be both exciting and terrifying!

In A TRAIL SO LONESOME, heroine Evangeline wants to leave home for a new start. She’s carrying a secret with her (a bigger secret than the library of books she’s packed in the wagon!) and believes that starting over in Oregon will change everything.

Only it doesn’t take long on the trail for someone to discover her secret. Hero Leo has secrets of his own. He can’t afford Evangeline to look too closely at his family. But he also can’t seem to stay away from her.

Eek! I’m really excited to kick off this new series with A TRAIL SO LONESOME. I hope you love these characters as much as I have while writing them.

-Lacy

MY REVIEW

I loved how the author wrote a story that captures a realistic look at what it may have been like on a wagon train . The long hours, restless nights and weather conditions all play a part in this incredible story. Whenever I read a story like this it reminds me of my grandfather. He traveled by wagon to Oklahoma to homestead his land. The stories he told about his travels were very intriguing.

Evangeline convinced her father to join the wagon train to find a better life. She wants to get away from all the gossip that is surrounding her and make a fresh start. She is hiding a secret that she thinks will cause others to turn their back on her. I thought her father was an honorable man who supported his daughter and wanted a good life for her. Her decision to move will cost more than she realizes as danger soon follows.

Leo is a great character who has a soft spot for Evangeline’s “little sister.” I loved how caring he was and soon was agreeing to help Evangeline on the trail. Their arrangement was interesting and I wondered how long it would last. Leo also has his hands full trying to help keep everyone in line while still keeping an eye on Evangeline.

The story is emotional and lets us get to know Leo and Evangeline better. Their interaction is tense at first because Evangeline is very stubborn and prideful. She is so worried that her secret will be discovered that she keeps everyone especially Leo at arms length. I loved watching these two slowly start to trust each other even though it does take Evangeline a bit longer. I’m excited that there will be more books coming in this exciting series.

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

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 16

Pause for Tales, February 16

Vicky Sluiter, February 17

Texas Book-aholic, February 18

deb’s Book Review, February 19

Labor Not in Vain, February 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 20

Lighthouse Academy, February 21 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 22

Connie’s History Classroom, February 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 24

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, February 24

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 25

Britt Reads Fiction, February 26

Simple Harvest Reads, February 27 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Karen Baney, February 27

Cover Lover Book Review, February 28

For Him and My Family, March 1

Holly’s Book Corner, March 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lacy is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and 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/24517/a-trail-so-lonesome-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Underground Book Readers: The Secret Society

Author: Terry Overton

Genre: Upper Middle Grade, Pre-Teen, Teen, YA Christian Fiction Dystopian

Release date: December 15, 2022

In a world without books, schools, churches, and parents, how can teens and pre-teens find each other and work to bring back a world like the world before? Ever watchful, this group of friends meet in an underground cavern in the mountains of Virginia. Rumors of spies, enemy soldiers, and the possibility of finding their parents, keep these friends searching to make a better life for everyone.

In Book 1, The Secret Society, the original four members of the group discover new documents, clues, and tools to assist in their adventures. In the hope of someday finding others who can help establish a new settlement, they study, plan, and make discoveries that will propel them forward in their journey. Are others hiding from the World Force Soldiers? They are determined to find the answer.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Terry Overton obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology and her Ed. D. in special education. She taught in public schools and was a school psychologist and a professor before retiring in 2016. She began her second “career” after retirement writing Christian fiction books and devotionals. She hopes to share the Christian worldview through her writing and touch the lives of her readers. Her books have earned Bookfest Awards, Firebird Award Winner, American Writing Award Gold, International Finalist Book Award, Reader Views Awards, and Reader’s Favorite Awards. She currently resides in Laguna Vista, Texas, near the Texas-Mexico border. She enjoys Biblical history and general Bible studies, writing, and enjoying family and friends. She has seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

More from Terry

This book came from my concern about children and teens not being able to read many of the classic books we cherish. My concern that many children and teens do not value reading, our faith, and our freedoms, is the reason for the book being a dystopian story. In this new world, there are no books, school, or churches.

Here is the intro:

The world was not ready for what happened. And in the mountains and valleys of Virginia, a group of young friends wondered what to do in this different world. Their parents and older siblings were taken away, or “disappeared,” and have not been seen since that fateful day. Schools were destroyed, churches burned, and books banned. There was no fuel or electricity available for the anyone. Cars and other vehicles no longer worked and were found abandoned beside the roads rusting and in disrepair. Only the World Force military had fuel and vehicles.

The discovery of books, documents, tools, clues, and other teens hiding in the countryside, brought hope to group of friends who met daily deep in the cavern. Follow their journey of hope and adventure through the series: The Underground Book Readers.

And what do teens do when their world has changed and there are no parents or other friendly adults? They find each other, find forbidden books such as Huckleberry Finn and the Bible, hide in a cavern, read, study, and plan for a better world.

MY REVIEW

This is a great story for middle school and up as we journey through what it may be like when the world is taken over. Can you imagine being all alone as a young child and find out that what you use to call The United States is now run by those who want to control everything? The author paints a picture of survival and banning together in order to survive. When we are introduced to this group of young children I was in awe of how structured they were. They shared food, looked out for each other, read books together and attended their own church. I was impressed with how easy it was to find myself waking beside them as they went for food rations each day.

Each child has something of value for the group and it was interesting to see how they figured out how to survive each day and keep their faith. I really enjoyed their time in church as they went through scriptures and talked about the different people in the Bible. I liked how one of the kids said, “ I think people forgot about the important things and were not paying attention.” We do that today with our busy lives and forget about what is really important. People stop going to church and before you know it the world is changing from God first to worldly things. The author does a great job of sharing God’s Word through these characters who are very wise. They see how things have changed and want to try to get back to the way God wants us to live. He desires us to worship him, love each other and share the Word with others.

The story is full of surprises and secret documents that will help the group in the days ahead. The author leaves readers with a cliffhanger and I will be anxiously awaiting for the next book in this exciting series set in the future.

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

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 14

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, February 14

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 17

Texas Book-aholic, February 18

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 19

deb’s Book Review, February 20

Simple Harvest Reads, February 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 21

Aryn The Libraryan , February 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 23

For Him and My Family, February 23

Cover Lover Book Review, February 24

Lily’s Book Reviews, February 25

Mary Hake, February 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 26

Blogging With Carol, February 27

Lights in a Dark World, February 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize package 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/24515/the-secret-society-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, February 16, 2023

About the Book

Book: Priscilla’s Piggy

Author: Marisa Masterson

Genre: Sweet Historical Romance

Release date: Febraury 10, 2023

This marriage needs something more than a pig to hold it together—

Jack Dixon knew his mother was right. It was time he married. He’d go along with whatever she writes in the letter to the matchmaker.

Priscilla Pringle fell in love with the man who wrote such a tender letter. Too bad that the man she meets in Missouri is his opposite. She’d leave and go home except for the little piggy she is bottle feeding.

Will she stay after the piggy is weaned? Is Jack the only one who needs to change

to make a marriage work?

Read to find out.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

The smiling teacher. That’s what her students called her. How did this dedicated teacher end up as an author? A spinal cord injury took her out of the high school classroom. After seven years of healing, she asked the Lord what He had for her. Now, thirty-seven books later, Marisa is still enjoying the direction He sent her when God opened the door for her to begin writing.

Marisa’s sweet romances often are set in her home state of Wisconsin. Growing up, she loved hearing stories about her family who pioneered in that state. Those stories, in part, are what inspire ideas for her books.

Though she’s from Wisconsin, Marisa and her husband of thirty-four years live in Saginaw, Michigan. They have two grown children and a precious three-year-old granddaughter, Hunny Junebug. She’s been Marisa’s best physical therapy and keeps her moving.

More from Marisa

As a girl of about ten, I remember holding a glass 7-Up bottle for the orphaned piglet. My grandpa attached a black rubber nipple and had me feed it—just like Fern in Charlotte’s Web. Unlike Fern, I knew not to name it or grow attached. It would be sold when it reached 40 pounds.

That memory came in handy with Priscilla’s Piglet. I wondered what I could add to keep my heroine at the farm after she decides the hero is not her perfect match. The memory prodded my brain. Who doesn’t love a baby that is in need—even if it’s a baby pig! It seemed the perfect fit for this story.

MY REVIEW

This was a nicely written story about a young woman who becomes a mail order bride. Priscilla is desperate to get away from her father and jumps at the chance to become someone’s wife. She has no idea what she is getting into, but she knows that she is safer away from her father. Her father was a preacher but he treated his daughter with anger that sometimes would be frightening to her. The letter she received from her intended was sweet and gave Priscilla hope.

I don’t think Jack makes a good impression on Priscilla when they first meet. What happened to that kind hearted man who wrote such an endearing letter to her? Jack isn’t all that thrilled with Priscilla but will marry her to make his mother happy. Looks like there will be a time of getting to know each other before they should marry.

I loved piggy wiggy and thought how nice it was for Priscilla to have her help adjust to her new home. The poor little runt needed extra attention and this gives Priscilla a reason to stay. The author uses this time to explore the two main characters and find out that they both have this need to be wanted. Jack becomes very protective of Priscilla when she explains that someone may come looking for her. Jack is having problems adjusting being home from the war. They both find themselves growing closer to each other as they get accustomed to their new lives.

The author adds a bit of danger to the story which exposes how pride can get the best of someone. This part of the story was intense and added an illustration of forgiving, understanding , unconditional love and allowing God to soften your heart. The ending is nice and I hope piggy wiggy makes another appearance in a book soon.

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

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 13

Stories By Gina, February 14 (Author Interview)

Girls in White Dresses, February 15

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, February 16 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, February 17

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 18 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, February 18

Pause for Tales, February 19

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 20

For the Love of Literature, February 21 (Author Interview)

Connie’s History Classroom, February 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 23

Artistic Nobody, February 24 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, February 24

For Him and My Family, February 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marisa 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/242ae/priscilla-s-piggy-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

About the Book

Book: A Not So Persistent Suitor

Author: Sandra Merville Hart

Genre: Christian historical romance

Release date: Febraury 14, 2023

He’s fighting for his career…She’s bent on achieving her own goals…Will their love survive a second chance at happily ever after?

Cora Welch dreams of a future teaching kindergarten, which is in its infancy, and marriage to Ben Findlay, her beau and her twin brother’s best friend. But she returns to college from summer break to learn of Ben’s unwise choices in pursuit of his career—choices that destroy her trust in the man she thought she knew and loved.

Ben is working hard toward his dream to become the best reporter in the city. He’s no stranger to fighting for a goal against all odds, ever since he was orphaned at age thirteen. Even though Cora has captured his heart, he makes the mistake of escorting the boss’s daughter to a fancy banquet to further his career—with far-reaching repercussions. Now he’s hurt Cora and botched his career goals.

Winning Cora’s trust again proves harder than Ben expects, especially as they both face struggles of their own. When events spiral out of their control, catapulting them into hardship and even danger, only God can restore their dreams—though the outcome may look far different than either of them planned.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sandra Merville Hart, award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of inspirational historical romances, loves to discover little-known yet fascinating facts from American history to include in her stories. Her desire is to transport her readers back in time. She is also a blogger, speaker, and conference teacher. Connect with Sandra on her blog, https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.com/.

More from Sandra

I have wanted to write a story set in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the 1880s for several years. It seems to me that it was on my heart to write while I was still working as a Programmer Analyst and writing was but a dream.

Twins Cora and John had been living on their family’s farm before moving to Cincinnati to attend college. John went rogue on me (he does that in Book 3 too ) and got a job at a newspaper working with Ben, and decided not to go to college. Meanwhile, Ben begins to court Cora.

When our story begins, Cora is in her second and final year at the Cincinnati Kindergarten Training School. Kindergarten is still in its infancy in 1883, when our story begins. In fact, the demand for kindergartens grew in the 1870s. There were about four hundred kindergartens by 1880, and the need to train teachers for them was a natural part of that growth.

A training school in Cincinnati was organized in March of 1880. At first, kindergarten students (aged four – six) learned the 3 R’s –reading, writing, and arithmetic. Before long, principals in higher grades complained that kindergartners also needed a basic knowledge of music, drawing, and manual training.

This led to greater training for kindergartener teachers, who learned teaching tools that included games, songs, and handwork.

I imagine that incorporating games, songs, and activities engaged the children’s interest in a new and fun way for them.

Part of my research included The Songs and Music of Friedrich Froebel’s Mother Play by Fro. Bel. Friedrich. Early training schools used Friedrich Froebel’s writing extensively in their training so I mentioned his Mother Play book within the story.

Though demand for kindergartens was growing, most schools didn’t address the needs of these four to six-year-old children by providing a kindergarten class. Cora has to fight for a local school to start a new class to open the fall after she graduates.

Another fun thing about this novel is the places I’ve included that the modern reader familiar with Cincinnati will recognize:

Fountain Square, the Suspension Bridge, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and the Zoological Gardens to name a few.

Follow characters you’ve grown to love in A Not So Convenient Marriage, Book 1 in the “Second Chances” series into A Not So Persistent Suitor, Book 2!

MY REVIEW

The author captured the time period so well that I pictured myself walking the town and visiting Cora at the shop where she works. Her dream is to be a kindergarten teacher and I loved following her on her journey to fulfill her dream. She is sweet, kind and has a gift for reaching children. I found it interesting that the author gave us a character that wanted to teach children at a young age and give everything to this vocation.

Ben was so endearing and I loved his flawed character. He seemed so realistic and his emotions could be felt through the pages. He wants to be the best news reporter and finds himself having to prove himself to his boss. There is someone in the office that is jealous of Ben and tries to sabotage him at every turn. I thought Ben handled this well and showed how he wouldn’t fall for the lies that were being spread about him.

The story is very entertaining and I especially liked the two big news stories focused on devastation of a city and a murder trial that sets off riots in the city. When the author described the floods I could see the water rising and the hopelessness people felt. Cora decides that while she can’t attend school right now, she will volunteer to help those who have been displaced due to the flood. I loved this part because it shows how we should help others in need. The riots were vivid and I felt tension in the air as people wanted to take the law int9 their own hands.

The best part of the story for me was when Ben sees his father after many years. There is anger in Ben’s heart and he has a hard time seeing his father. The author uses this as an illustration of forgiveness. All those years Ben wasted turning away from God because he was angry has caught up with him. As he and his father begin a new relationship there is hope.

The ending is beautiful and wraps up the story with a new beginning for some, forgiveness and letting go of the past and finding unconditional love. I loved how the author uses each character to teach us about faith and never giving up.

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