Sunday, July 31, 2022

Grace on the Mountain Trail Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: Grace in the Mountain Trail

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre:Christian Historical Romance

Release date: July 12, 2022

This epic journey is her last hope to find her lost brother—the only family she has left.

When Lola Carson’s father died, his last words spoke of a half-brother she’d never known about. And now, to claim her own inheritance and come to terms with her father’s secret life, she must find this mysterious man—whose last known whereabouts are somewhere west of the wild Rocky Mountains. After hiring family friends to accompany her on the trek, she sets out for a fresh start. His newfound faith is the one anchor in his life. He’s desperate to learn more about the God he’s committed to follow and become an interpreter for the missionaries who led him to faith. But he barely starts his journey when a hunting accident nearly kills him. The woman who discovers him in the midst of his fevered delirium seems to be a gift from above.

But the more White Owl learns about Lola’s companions and her dangerous quest, the more he realizes his own calling is clear—to take her safely to her brother. The question is, will he have to sacrifice more than his heart to accomplish that goal?

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

Is this the book for you?

With so many books out there, it’s sometimes hard to know if a new book will be the right fit for you or not. I thought it might be fun to share some highlights that may help you know if you’d like to read Grace on the Mountain Trail. 

If you…

Love adventure and don’t mind being snowed in (at least in your imagination as you sit snuggled in your comfortable house).
Fall for Native American heroes who are, yes, strong and capable, but also searching for a fresh start and eager to grow in their fledgling faith.
Find unusual and remote settings fascinating, especially the Rocky Mountains!
Enjoy historical detail and are eager to live vicariously in the early 1800s Montana frontier.

What to expect from Grace on the Mountain Trail?

Emotion-rich sweet romance.
Native American heroes who know how to be both tough and gentle.
The grandeur of the Montana Rockies.
Tough heroines who do what needs to be done.
Adventure that will keep you turning pages.
A peek at one of our favorite characters from earlier in the series!

If Grace on the Mountain Trail sounds like the right fit for you, I pray you love Lola and White Owl’s story!

Blessings!

Misty

MY REVIEW

Nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains we travel with Lola on a journey to be reunited with her half-brother. She has a deadline to find him so she doesn’t lose her family home. I liked how fearless she was at times and never seemed to back down from hard work. Her compassion is evident as she and her companions stumble upon White Owl. I don’t think everyone was happy that the trip is delayed so Lola can nurse White Owl back to health.

I didn’t care for Will very much. He is arrogant at times and is not happy that White Owl has joined their excursion. I’m not sure if Will has feelings for Lola or if he is wanting to hurt her. This part of the story was intriguing to me and I was anxious to see which direction the author would take us.

There are some treacherous moments traveling with snow so deep you can’t see in front of you. Danger lurks around them as they trudge on to their destination. As they travel Lola and White Owl are able to get to know each other better. Their relationship is sweet and without any pressure on either one. I loved how White Owl spoke of scriptures from the Bible and lived his life as peaceful as he could. This quality seems to draw Lola to him.

I loved how the story led up to one moment in time when everything was revealed and Lola finally saw the truth. She knew that she couldn’t go any further on her journey until she got her heart right with God. You could feel the peace in her body as she gave her full heart to God. It was a wonderful moment to witness and the author writes this part with such compassion.

The story is not without sadness and greed. It made me cry to witness how a person could be so consumed with anger and greed that they would take another’s life to benefit themselves. This has been a beautiful journey of discovering God’s love, trusting and finding happiness in the midst of turmoil.

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

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, August 1

Mary Hake, August 1

Inklings and notions, August 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 2

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 3

Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 4

The Book Club Network, August 4

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 5

Cover Lover Book Review, August 5

Betti Mace, August 6

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 7

Writing From the Heart Land, August 8

deb’s Book Review, August 8

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 9

For Him and My Family, August 9

Connie’s History Classroom, August 10

Lilys’ Book Reviews, August 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 11

Holly’s Book Corner, August 11

Blossoms and Blessings, August 12

Life, Love, Writing, August 12

Pause for Tales, August 13

Splashes of Joy, August 14

Sylvan Musings, August 14

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/21360/grace-on-the-mountain-trail-celebration-tour-giveaway

Raising Kids Who Care Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: Raising Kids Who Care

Author: Susy Lee

Genre: Non-fiction: Parenting and Family

Release date: June, 2022

Imagine knowing what your kids care about, having them listen to what you care about, then doing something about it, together!

Communication and connection are the key, and this is exactly what this book allows you to do. It guides you through 40 conversations to have with your kids, ones that really matter.

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, educator or just care about kids and the world they’re growing up in, this book will provide you with rich resources and surprising insights to create that genuine connection.

In our complex world, we need to be aware of looming pitfalls and be intentional in helping kids navigate their way to compassion and wonder, driven by values and purpose. This path of conversations leads to amazing hope.

We all want kids to have happy, loving lives. As a society, we need kids who are also capable of thinking and acting beyond themselves to help others have happy, loving lives too. This book gives you what you’ll need to achieve both.

Inside, you’ll discover:

Stories and research to inform your conversations
Relationship skills to build empathy (like listening and conflict resolution)
How to combat the worrying influences of our culture (like consumerism and technology)
How to grow resilience, self-confidence, character, and strength
How our kids can solve problems, rather than being brought down by them
Thoughts and tips from other parents
Advice from caring young adults about what worked for them!

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Susy Lee helps families build a strong culture of communication and contribution. Her book ‘Raising Kids Who Care’ is the winner of international prizes from the Best Indie, Royal Dragonfly and Feathered Quill Book Awards.

Majors in psychology and theology, and a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, helped Susy consider how parenting and wealth equity play roles in social cohesion. Her career twirls around the twin themes of social justice and children, including state and national education and consultancy roles with children and families, international aid and development, and advocacy.

Susy is also an engaging presenter who has taught in schools and churches, lectured at universities, and run conference workshops for parents and families.

She lives a bike ride from the beach in Sydney, Australia, dances whenever music plays, and has raised two caring sons with her husband Brian. Susy has created generational change in her family.

More from Susy

I didn’t grow up in a Christian family, but I loved watching my children grow up in our church community. They had relationships of all ages and many opportunities to practise caring – things I’d missed.My boys grew to be young men who are kind and faithful, with careers that will contribute to God’s world.

In my book I’ve brought together some useful stuff I’ve researched (because I didn’t trust my own broken upbringing), and that I’ve learnt in my ministry with caring Christian organizations. And I’ve made it a resource for families to talk together – kids are amazing when we make time to really listen to them.

This book is not just for Christians though. I wrote it for parents who care about growing compassion and generosity in their kids. I wrote for parents who want to protect their kids from the strong cultural forces in our world that would lead kids astray. And I wrote it for parents who want to raise kids who believe they can do something about the problems in the world, not be overwhelmed by them.

I also wrote it for grandparents to give to their kids who are now parents – maybe even those who no longer go to church. I wrote it for parents who want to be intentional – maybe because their parents were not. And I wrote it to help churches reach out to parents who need support and encouragement.

Just quietly: I want to change the world, one family at a time! I love the vision of the Kingdom of God, and I think that families who know how to communicate well, about all the issues that surround them, will be better equipped to help bring the Kingdom to earth, as it is in heaven.

I’m delighted that God has already blessed my work – the book has won several prizes including First Place in The 2022 Christian Indie Awards in the Relationships and Family Category. Many churches have already used the book to run events for families. You can learn more about me and the book on my website: https://www.raisingkidswhocare.info/

MY REVIEW

I loved how the book is easy to use and very inviting for both parents and children. There are charts to look at which helps parents decide what areas each child may need help in. The book includes ways to talk to our children and do activities with them that will help them in areas they may be struggling with.

I really liked the chapter about Love Languages because it helps us know what each child needs to feel loved and appreciated. Some may like words of compliments , others want to spend time with their parents, and some children like to help or get a hug. All these are important and when we learn what one our child responds to, we are able to show love by these actions.

I loved how each chapter consists of discussion questions and ideas of activities to encourage your children to join in with the family. We are in a society where everything is fast and hurried. Using this book will help families spend time together learning about struggles, concerns or things that make your children happy.

The best take away I got from the book was communication. It is the key to any relationship and without it there is a chance for failure. Teaching your children to be honest and having parents they can go to when they are having difficulties will strengthen your relationship with each other. I have decided to give this book to my son who has a two year old daughter and another daughter due in four weeks. This book will be a good tool for both parents as they raise children to be kind, respectful and caring.

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

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, July 29

Lights in a Dark World, July 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 30

Texas Book-aholic, July 31

For Him and My Family, August 1

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 3

deb’s Book Review, August 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 6

Spoken from the Heart, August 7 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, August 7

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 9

Cats in the Cradle Blog, August 10

The Christian Fiction Girl, August 11

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/2038b/raising-kids-who-care-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, July 29, 2022

Vanished Without a Trace Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: Vanished Without a Trace

Author: Sarah Hamaker

Genre: Romantic Suspence

Release date: June 28, 2022

A missing person case. A new clue. And a fight for survival.

After nine years searching for his missing sister, attorney Henderson Parker uncovers a clue that leads him to Twin Oaks, Virginia—and podcaster Elle Updike investigating the case. Partnering with the journalist is the last thing Henderson wants, until mysterious thugs make multiple attacks on both their lives. Now they’ll have to trust each other…before the suspected kidnappers make them disappear for good.

Click here to get you copy!

About the Author

Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s written romantic suspense novels and nonfiction books, as well as stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes. As a writers coach, her heart is encouraging writers. She’s a member of ACFW; ACFW Virginia Chapter; and Faith, Hope and Love, as well as the president of Capital Christian Writers Fellowship. Her podcast, “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” can be found wherever you listen to podcasts. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four teenagers, a preschool foster child and three cats. Visit her online at sarahhamakerfiction.com.

More from Sarah

As a podcaster myself, I’ve listened to many true crime podcasts, such as “Up and Vanished” and “Accused,” so when I was thinking about the plot for Vanished Without a Trace, I decided to have my heroine be a true crime podcaster investigating cold missing persons cases. I also am fascinated by unsolved mysteries, probably because I love history, and have a strong sense of justice—I want those who commit crimes to be caught. Of course, as a Christian, I do rest in the assurance of God as the ultimate and only truly righteous Judge, but I do find myself rooting for cold cases to be solved and criminals brought to justice. Thus the book combines my two of my interests—cold cases and true crime.

Personally, I can’t imagine anything more difficult than to have a loved one go missing and never be found or heard from again. The uncertainty of their fate must weigh very heavily on the family members left behind. I wanted to capture some of that with Henderson’s strong desire to find his missing sister, Helena, and reunite her with their mother. He’s seen how much Helena’s absence has taken a toll on their mother’s health and mental well-being, and when he has a chance to chase down the first real lead in years, he jumps at it.

Elle’s motives are no less personal than Henderson’s—her own heart aches for these grieving families. Having distant parents, she wants to help families heal by discovering what happened to a loved one if possible. But Henderson doesn’t trust her motives and the two clash more often than not over her podcast.

I hope you enjoy seeing how Elle and Henderson learn to work together to find Helena…and perhaps, their own happy ending.

MY REVIEW

I love a story that is filled with action, suspense and characters that are intriguing. This book checks all those boxes for me. The opening sets the stage for a puzzle that keeps readers glued to the edge of their seat. Missing people are probably one of the hardest investigations to be part of. With little clues the police have to rely on evidence that is hard to track down. In this story we find someone who won’t give up his search for his missing sister even after nine long years.

Henderson goes to Twin Oaks, Virginia to retrace his sisters steps. He has hopes of finding her and bringing her home. I can’t imagine not knowing where a loved love disappeared to and the hopelessness you would feel. Henderson and his sister were very close so he can’t understand how she would just disappear without a trace.

Elle is also in town hoping to interview Henderson for her podcast. She convinces Henderson to join with her in hopes of finding answers to what happened to his sister. I wasn’t quite sure if Elle was trusting and had to follow closely to see why she was so interested in Henderson’s case. When they join forces that is when danger starts for them. A snake in Elle’s bathroom, an attack on their lives and a strange encounter at a clinic gives them reason to believe they are on to something.

The story takes on a dark and dangerous turn of events. I didn’t expect the outcome of the story at all. The author does a sharp turn into the world of drugs and power which leads to a secret place that has been on the FBI’s radar for awhile. I liked how the author gives us a trail of what is coming up with glances of a person Henderson recognizes. I won’t say anything else about the story because it is best for readers to discover the truth themselves.

I did notice that there was not much of a faith element in the story and I didn’t care for the forced relationship between Henderson and Elle. It just seemed was to fast without much chemistry between them. I would have liked to seen more character development so the characters could be more relatable to the story. It is a nice story but the ending was rushed and almost too perfectly wrapped up.

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 25

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, July 25

Bizwings Blog, July 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 27

Through the Fire Blogs, July 27

Betti Mace, July 28

For the Love of Literature, July 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 29

Pause for Tales, July 29

Texas Book-aholic, July 30

Inklings and notions, July 31

Genesis 5020, August 1

Bigreadersite, August 1

For Him and My Family, August 2

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, August 2

deb’s Book Review, August 3

Livin’ Lit, August 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 4

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 5

Paula’s Persuasion, August 5

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 6

Blogging With Carol, August 7

Mary Hake, August 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away the grand prize package of a Vanished Without a Trace branded tote bag, Vanished Without a Trace pin, a print copy of the book, plus a $75 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/1ffe1/vanished-without-a-trace-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Restored Grace

Author: Kathleen J. Robison

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: June 21, 2022

They promised Jesus would be with her through everything, but is that enough?

Free-spirited vintage thrift shop owner, Carol Scape, wallowed in grief after her boyfriend’s murder. However, with newfound faith, she’s finding out what it means to die-to-self and put others first. Even if it could cost her life.

Carol is on a mission to save a runaway teen and an at-risk girl from Will Boudreaux, the man just released from jail for running a prostitution ring. The same man who previously terrorized Bay Town residents. Can’t the town get a break? Can’t she?

She’s up for the challenge, but when sparks ignite between her and the town mayor, it muddles things. Having sworn off men, he’s getting in the way of what she feels she must do. Or is he?

Restored Grace is the second book of the Bay Town Series, continuing one year after Shattered Guilt. It’s a stand-alone, amped-up, romantic suspense. Buckle your seat belt. You’re in for a ride.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kathleen J. Robison is an Okinawan-American, born in Okinawa, and raised in California, Florida, Mississippi, and Singapore. Her travels and her family are the sources of her inspiration for her books. Kathleen and her Pastor husband have eight adult children. Seven are married, blessing them with eighteen grandchildren and counting. Her ethnically diverse background extends to her family of currently thirty-five personalities which provide many opportunities to share God’s amazing love amidst the challenges of real life.

More from Kathleen

I love writing inspirational romantic suspense featuring heroic women. In Restored Grace, Carol Scape embodies my efforts. She’s impulsive, she’s wild, she’s crazy…and she’s back. With a newfound faith in Christ, she tackles the bad guy with a style all her own.

The main character in Restored Grace is a favorite of mine. In fact, I brought her back from Book One because my Library Critique Group loved her so much. When I read a chapter from Shattered Guilt, where Carol plays a minor role, the Branch Manager Librarian laughed and quipped, “I know women just like her, and you nailed her perfectly!”

Perhaps in some ways, I secretly (I guess it’s not a secret now) wish I was her. Impulsive, the life of the party, indifferent to what people think about her, and confident in her skin. Carol is 50ish, pleasantly curvy, a boho-chic hippie with long wavy, graying, red hair that constantly tangles in her arms, and others because she moves so quickly. She wears lots of loud, jingly jewelry, and always puts on her prettiest face (with light makeup but tempted to use a heavy hand). And I love her fashion style. Colorful swirling, tiered skirts, cowboy boots, peasant tops, and fringed shawls. If I was taller, I’d love to carry that off, so I let my alter ego, Carol Scape do it for me.

Yet, in some ways, women like her used to drive me crazy. They walk into a room, and in minutes their larger-than-life personalities can’t help but draw attention. But I’m so thankful the Lord has humbled me, and if someone drives me crazy … I look at myself and see what I need to work on. Still, call it envy, expectations, or too much energy, but people like her exist, don’t they? And we must admit, they’re a lot of fun. Are you a Carol, or do you know a Carol? Either way, we’re called to love everyone. And the most important thing is caring about all people enough to be concerned for their eternity. I don’t mean judging, but sharing, encouraging, and pointing them to Jesus, whoever they may be and wherever they are in their walk.

Three particular things that I hope you’ll identify in the new Carol are her struggle with God’s grace, her selfless desire to help others, and her discovered confidence in Christ. The beauty of writing inspirational romantic suspense is bringing to life how real people, with real problems, struggle with their faith just like us, as we trust that the victory belongs to the Lord.

I hope you enjoy reading Restored Grace, and I hope you’re encouraged and inspired to receive and extend the precious grace of our Savior, Jesus, to all those whom God puts in your path…much like Carol.

MY REVIEW

The second installment in this series is just as good as the first one. The author focuses on a minor character from the first book and gives her own story in this fast paced book. The subject is hard to read about but with her gift of writing about sensitive issues with compassion, the author delivers a powerful look at trafficking. It is sad to think that people disappear every day in our country from an epidemic like human trafficking.

Carol is an instant hit with her free spirit, outspoken and questionable fashion. Her past is somewhat tainted but with God’s help she has changed into someone who trusts God with her life. Her suspicions grow when she witnesses a scene at a drugstore. I like her instincts and how she knew something was off about the teen girl she saw on the toothpaste aisle. She was frightened and jumpy which made Carol notice. The man who addresses the scared teen makes Carol very uncomfortable. When she finds out later who he is, she goes full force trying to prove the man is up to no good.

I did think that Carol reacted to things without thinking through her actions. She is almost like a madwoman determined to catch the bad guy, that she puts herself in harms way. I loved how one of her friends describe her as, “a boulder rolling down a mountain with rocks flying out around her.” Carol is so set in doing the right thing and trying to overcome her past that she sometimes seems abrasive and kinda crazy. She has a big heart though and wants to help when she knows someone is in danger. I sure hope she keeps her wit about her because she may have several people wanting to do harm to her.

The author keeps the action going with a suspicious fire, threats of harm to several people and a blossoming romance that I am rooting for. Carol is hesitant to allow her heart to find love since she stills believe she isn’t worthy at times. I do like how she continues to read her Bible and seeks counsel during her struggles. The intrigue in the story is good and I did have my suspicions about one man in particular.

The story is fast paced and full of surprises. Danger follows Carol as she tries to prove that a certain man is dangerous and needs to be arrested before more people turn up injured. Although this story does deal with trafficking it also deals with letting go of the past. Her friend Melanie reminds Carol that , “ your new life doesn’t include suffering and grieving over your past.”

The story comes to an end in a very surprising way. I was so sure of the outcome but the author flipped the story in another direction. I think how she handled it was perfect because it shows how Carol found grace and now needs to walk through grace to find happiness and restoration.

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