About the Book

Book:  The Hesitant Heiress

Author: Dawn Crandall

Genre: Christian Historical  Romance

After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy in her hometown of Seattle, Washington, disappearing before her very eyes. Now, the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: Marry within the year to inherit the immense fortune of her estranged grandmother. Amaryllis reluctantly moves in to her aunt’s Boston home and rubs shoulders with fashionable society. Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself quickly falling in love with the most unlikely of men–Nathan Everstone, the envy of every eligible female, whose father has haunted her dreams for the decade following her mother’s tragic death. However, Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems…and everything she never knew she wanted. But just as everything Amaryllis has recently hoped for comes to fruition, it all falls apart when she finds that the real culprit who has been managing her life isn’t who she thought at all.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Dawn Crandall’s debut Gilded Age Victorian romance, The Hesitant Heiress, was a 2015 ACFW Carol award finalist in the debut category and received the 2015 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2015 Write Touch Reader’s Choice Award and the 2015 Romancing the Novel Reader’s Choice Award. Her follow-up novel, The Bound Heart, received the 2016 Laurel Award from Clash of the Titles. Dawn earned a BA in Christian Education from Taylor University. She’s been balancing books and babies lately as her two sons were both born as the four books of her Everstone Chronicles series were being released from Whitaker House from 2014 to 2016. Dawn lives with her husband and two young sons on a hobby farm in her hometown in northeast Indiana.

 

More from Dawn

Some things just float your boat, you know? What are some of yours? I’m thinking, for many of you, having piles of awesome newly released novels to read is one of those things. Do you remember what it was that you loved to do more than anything else… when you were a kid? Well, for me, at least, it hasn’t changed much. I remember being in third grade and KNOWING that I was meant to write books. But having ADD in the 80’s and feeling like I was a pretty lousy student through most of my school years sort of put my dreams of being a published author in the category of “pipe dream”. Then during my senior year of college, I had one glorious spring break week of creative thinking, and I came up with the name of the heroine I would (hopefully) write someday—Amaryllis Brigham. And I also came up with the last name of the hero, and the family I would write a series about—the Everstones.

Five years after I graduated from college, I got married. And because I had lots of extra time at that point, I decided to check out some books about character development from the library. Which was the first clue to my husband that I wanted to write a novel. Yes, I hadn’t even told him! Then another five years went by while I worked full time at a daycare. I had definitely thought more about writing it by then, but I didn’t really know how to start.

But then I did. At the age of 32, during January 2010, I finally started writing The Hesitant Heiress. I just dove in, half planned and half one-chapter-at-a-time. I love history so much, when I’m doing research the world as it was just comes to life in my imagination and the story possibilities are endless! And really, I wrote Nathan and Amaryllis’s story for myself—for the joy of writing! Creating story, I found, was my favorite hobby beyond reading them! I did have a dream once during the two year process of writing THH, and I very vaguely saw a cover face out on a shelf. But again, to me it seemed like an impossibility, and I just kept focused on the joy I attained from writing it. If you would have told me back then that that first novel I loved writing would be traditionally published and on the market two and a half years after I finished writing it, I would have laughed in your face! And then, when I first saw Amaryllis on the cover of that first book in my series of five… I thought back to the dream I had that one time, and she was it. The way Amaryllis Brigham is situated on the cover of my published novel was very similar to the vague book cover of my dream. God had done it; He had taken the biggest desire of my life, given me a dream even when I was too cautious to hope, and He had made it a possibility.

MY REVIEW 

I have been wanting to read this book for awhile. I can’t figure out why it has taken me so long to do so. This was a very enchanting story that swept me away to a time where balls take place and the most available of bachelors can be found. I loved that  Amaryllis is an accomplished pianist and has dreams of opening her own school someday. I was flabbergasted by the letter that was sent to the school she attended. That letter finds Amaryllis removed from the school and her dreams shattered. Her self esteem is at its lowest when her grandmother’s will is read. Why do people insist on making silly declarations in their wills? Amaryllis has no desire to get married by a certain date in order to inherit what her grandmother has left her. 

Oh but standing in the wing is the dashing Nathan. I do believe this is the man for Amaryllis. Now if only she can be convinced this is her mate everything will work out fine. There is friction between the two  which entertains readers throughout the story. I so wanted to tell them to knock it off and get married already. However Amaryllis has a guilty conscience that prevents her from finding happiness. She doesn’t feel like her father loved her and the death of her mother haunts her everyday. 

The story is filled with unsavory characters as well. They are villains who want nothing more than to seek revenge. It plays out very well as the author takes us on a journey filled with action. I loved the story and appreciated the faith element as well. When a shocking secret is revealed it shakes the story up. What a tangled web it is and it will have more than a few characters in an emotional turmoil. Get ready for an adventure that is sure to please those who love historical fiction with a bit of intrigue and romance. 

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

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 11

Worthy2Read, February 11

Inklings and notions, February 12

Mia Reads, February 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 13

Labor Not in Vain, February 13

A Baker’s Perspective, February 14

deb’s Book Review, February 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 15

Rachael’s Inkwell, February 15

Rebecca Tews, February 16

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, February 16

Texas Book-aholic, February 17

Connie’s History Classroom, February 18

Blogging With Carol, February 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 19

Bliss, Books and Jewels, February 19

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, February 20

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, February 20

For Him and My Family, February 21

Simple Harvest Reads, February 22 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 23

Beauty in the Binding, February 23

Hallie Reads, February 24

Guild Master, February 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dawn is giving away the grand prize package of the complete Everstone Chronicles series in paperback and 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/10744/the-hesitant-heiress-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book:  Courting Country

Author: LoRee Peery

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: October 2020

One Secret Love + One Misdirection and Multiple Situationships = Courting Country

Taggart Bauman has secretly loved Kylie Gordon since they were young, but she married his best friend. When Kylie is widowed, Taggert promises to take care of her. And even though he could be free to profess his love, he chooses to keep his feelings a secret. If Kylie knew that he’d failed to save her husband, she’d never forgive him. He knows, because he can’t forgive himself.

After being alone for so long, Kylie believes an online dating service is her last chance at finding love. But she continually finds herself in “situationships” that require Taggert to rescue her. When at last she reconnects with Eldon Wenz, an old friend from their college years, she thinks perhaps this is finally her second chance at love…but just in case, she asks Taggert to accompany her when she travels to Eldon’s ranch.

But sometimes things are not what they seem, and when one more situationship crops up, Taggart vents his resentment and tells Kylie she needs to work out the choices she’s making.

Will Taggart lose Kylie forever, friendship and all, or will Kylie realize that what she’s been searching for has been right in front of her the whole time?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Nebraska country girl LoRee Peery writes fiction that hopefully appeals to adult readers who enjoy stories written from a Christian perspective, focusing on the romance. These include novels and novellas for women and men in the Contemporary, Romance, Historical, Time Travel, and Mystery/Suspense categories. She writes of redeeming grace with a sense of place. Her Frivolities Series and the book based on her father’s unsolved homicide, Touches of Time, are available on Amazon. She is who she is by the grace of God: Christian, country girl, wife, mother, grandmother and great-, sister, friend, and author.

 

More from LoRee

Whenever I’m asked to write about myself, I groan silently. I love reading and gaining insight into other authors, but always wonder what’s interesting about me. Just now, I glanced down at the few left-handed fingertips I’m using on my keyboard.

I am right-handed, but at this moment in mid-October, 2020 and for four more weeks, my right arm is in an immobilizer. I have strict orders not to use the arm at all. Here’s what happened…

Pain struck on Mother’s Day. I’d applied eye makeup for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown began in March. I lowered my arm and the stab took me to my knees. I’m used to something always hurting due to fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, and I have a high pain tolerance. If I’m nauseated I know the pain is high, and that sudden ice pick that didn’t abate was eight on the pain chart, which caused me to be sick to my stomach all day.

Good comes out of tribulation. I spent hours in the Bible, especially the Old Testament. One of those early mornings, probably between two and three, I picked up a yellow legal pad and praised the Lord through what I later called LoRee’s psalms. Many could be considered lamentations, but if I began downhearted, I ended noting how good my heavenly Father is to me.

I have no room for complaints. I’ve never asked “Why?” Patience grew in that waiting room of my heart. I learned I could write, rather print, with my left hand. I set aside my fictional story to honor my Savior. And I became humble, since I needed my husband to be my right hand.

MY REVIEW 

It is not unusual today  for people to go on dating sites to find a mate.  After my mother died, my dad moved  back to his home state. He told me he had purchased computer.  I knew right away what he was up to. Sure enough six months after my mother passed, my dad got remarried. Yes he found his new wife on the internet. My dad was lonely and I now understand why he went on the dating site. 

Kylie is a widower and has not been on a date in a very long time. She gets talked into putting a profile up on a dating site. Now there are several things wrong here. If she would only look right in front of her, she would see her dear friend Taggart. I did laugh when she goes  out on a date with someone she  knew in high school. Oh my, Eldon is not for her at all. His place was dirty, animals not taken care of and he just gave me the creeps. Poor guy tried with lovely emails he sends Kylie. However there is a secret about those emails. When Kylie finds out the secret, she is angry, hurt and disappointed. 

The story is all about second chances. The most important one in the story is the second chance  to reconnect with God. There is a good amount of faith in the story and although I liked it, I felt it was a bit preachy at times. I did like how the author illustrates how we can miss up, but God is there to give us another chance. It is a sweet story and I love second chance stories. 

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

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 4

Britt Reads Fiction, February 4

Godly Book Reviews, February 5

Sara Jane Jacobs, February 6

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 8

Simple Harvest Reads, February 9 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 9

deb’s Book Review, February 10

Inklings and notions, February 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 12

For Him and My Family, February 13

Artistic Nobody, February 14 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Labor Not in Vain, February 15

Texas Book-aholic, February 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, LoRee is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of Hiding from Christmas, a bluebird charm, a cardinal figure, and book bling!!

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/1070e/courting-country-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book:  Vanished in the Mountains

Author: Tanya Stowe

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: February 3, 2021

A search for missing women leads to a deadly pursuit.

When domestic violence counselor Dulcie Parker uncovers evidence of a human trafficking ring in the Four Corners area, she’s determined to stop it or die trying. With corruption all around her and killers on her trail, Deputy Sheriff Austin Turner’s the only one she can trust. But can they work together to expose the crime ring before she becomes the next victim?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Tanya Stowe is a Christian Fiction author with an unexpected edge. She is married to the love of her life, her high school sweetheart. They have four children and twenty-one grandchildren, a true adventure. She fills her books with the unusual…mysteries and exotic travel, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you…on a trip to foreign lands or a suspenseful journey packed with danger…be prepared for the extraordinary.

 

More from Tanya

When my children were very young, my husband and I took a trip to Colorado for a family reunion. After the reunion we traveled through Colorado to see the sights. We stopped in Silverton and my sister and I took my young son and daughter down the narrow-gauge railroad to Durango. Riding the swaying train down slopes covered in pine trees with the rushing white water of the Animas River below, I knew I’d write about the area someday. Many years later my husband and I took our first “kid-less” vacation in our motorhome. We stayed in a campground on the Navajo Nation next to Canyon de Chelly. We had no running water or electricity and that night, a storm blew in from the west. We watched the sky change to hues of purple and pink and then sat mesmerized as lightning strikes crossed the magnificent valley. Once again, I planted the scenes in my mind, determined to write about them one day. Little did I know both vacations would combine into one story. I hope you find my memories of the Four Corners area as unforgettable as I did! Blessings!

MY REVIEW 

This is a fast paced story that screams of intrigue. I first want to mention the breathtaking scenery the author describes when the action is taken into the mountains of Colorado. I could picture the beautiful sky and see the beauty that God had made. I would love to visit Canyon de Chelly. I loved how the author incorporates Navajo people. It was interesting to learn more  about them and explore the land where history took place. 

I liked Dulcie and her work as a domestic violence counselor. She takes her job serious and is determined to keep women safe. It was interesting to hear about her past and what she had to endure as a child. Her past has caused her not to trust and it has become more intense as the years go by. When she finds out about a human trafficking ring, she is determined to stop it.  

Austin is a good cop but he has days where he can’t forget about his loss. He blames himself and feels like God could have prevented it. When he and Dulcie  team up to catch the people involved in the trafficking ring, danger  finds  them. Dulcie has some evidence that could put people away for a long time. These people will do anything to stop her. There is plenty of danger as these two try to stay one step ahead of them. There is a good faith element in the storyline that talks about trusting God.  I liked how Austin and Dulcie share their past and start to let each other in. 

The story highlights the human trafficking and how rampant it is. I can’t imagine how someone could treat others like they are commodities to sell without any remorse. I appreciate the author using this subject in her story to remind us that evil is out there.  There was one person I was shocked at that was involved in the crime. There are some  close calls that had me on the edge of my seat. It is a great story filled with intrigue, danger, faith and learning how to trust again. 

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 8

Through the fire Blogs, February 8

Lighthouse Academy, February 9

Among the Reads, February 9

Hebrews 12 Endurance, February 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 10

Betti Mace, February 10

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, February 11 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 11

Pause for Tales, February 11

KarenSueHadley, February 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 13

deb’s Book Review, February 13

Because I Said So – and Other Adventures in Parenting, February 14

Reviewingbooksplusmore, February 14

Hallie Reads, February 14

Older & Smarter?, February 15

Texas Book-aholic, February 15

Artistic Nobody, February 16 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Blogging With Carol, February 16

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, February 16

Inklings and notions, February 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 17

She Lives To Read, February 18

Genesis 5020, February 18

Bigreadersite, February 18

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 19

Labor Not in Vain, February 19

Simple Harvest Reads, February 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

HookMeInABook, February 20

Daysong Reflections, February 20

For Him and My Family, February 21

Fiction Book Lover, February 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tanya is giving away the grand prize of a $25 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/10712/vanished-in-the-mountains-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book:  Of Gold and Iron

Author: Nicki Chapelway

Genre: Young adult, fantasy, romance, mythology/folklore, faerie

Release date: Sept 20, 2020

“Swear on something else. Swear on your humanity.”

I suddenly find it very hard to swallow. My humanity? With a jolt I realize that there are far greater things at risk here than just my life. I’m in the faerie world, anything could happen. Even immortality.

The Otherworld is the home of the faeries, deceitful, decadent, and deadly. As the next in line to be-come Guardians, Jaye and her brother Thomas are tasked with defending the human world from all things magical. But when a routine scouting mission ends with them trapped in the Otherworld, it becomes pain-fully clear that someone doesn’t want them to leave the world of the faeries. Determined to not become an immortal’s pawn, Jaye kidnaps Ravven Crowe, an arrogant solitary faerie, so that he can guide them safely home. But things quickly go from bad to worse when they are captured by the Winter Court and embroiled in a plot to start a faerie civil war. Thomas is enslaved by an Unseelie faerie, and it seems that the only way to save her brother and avoid a war is for Jaye to ally herself with Ravven.

The faeries are governed by a set of strict laws. For their own safety, the Guardians have their own rules. But with Thomas’s life hanging in the balance there is only one way to save him that does not include breaking the faerie’s Fair Law, a crime that ends in death. Together Jaye and Ravven must compete in a series of deadly tests given by the faerie courts in order to earn Jaye the right to be named the Fair Assassin and wield the Blade of Gold and Iron. As the Fair Assassin she will be permitted to kill any faerie she so chooses, but first she has to live long enough. Walking a fine line between destruction and further entanglement with Crowe, Jaye is going to have to break her own rules if she wants to win. She must trust a faerie. Her life and humanity depend on it.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Nicki is a twenty-something author of clean YA speculative fiction. She has been writing since she was eleven years old, and has published several works including portal fantasies such as A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dresses and A Certain Sort of Madness; as well as Winter Cursed a dark fantasy Snow White retelling.

Nicki lives in Ohio where she spends far too much time watching TV and sleeping. She listens to music basically all the time, and adores obsessing over mythologies, her shows, and her slew of fictional boyfriends. When not writing, she can usually be found at her desk with either a paintbrush or a pen in her hand.

 

More from Nicki

I find mythology fascinating, and one of my favorite mythological creatures are faeries (and dragons, but this book is mostly about faeries—although there is at least one dragon…). Growing up as a self proclaimed tom boy, I found faeries to be boring and trite creatures, all sparkle and not enough teeth. I preferred elves with their factions: wood elves, light elves, dark elves, high elves… etc.

Tolkien has inspired so much about my fantasy worlds—actually he is directly responsible for why I write fantasy—and because of that I adopted his own source of inspiration for many of the events of Middle Earth: myths.

I started reading up on myths, especially Celtic which is where Tolkien derived some inspiration for his elves (the elf part is of course Norse, but the returning to the Undying Lands is based on the mysterious disappearance of the Tuatha De Danan in Celtic myths which were originally considered to be gods but later became known as a type of faerie). As I dug deeper into Celtic myths and started reading Irish folklore, I came across creatures that were so complex that one individual could have the characteristics of light, dark, high, and wood elves all meshed together. I became fascinated by these walking contradictions. Immortals that can be harmed by such mortal things as iron and bread. Tricksters who cannot lie. Beings with powerful magic, but governed by a very strict set of laws and compelled into obedience.

And much, much scarier than the faeries I grew up hearing about.

Irish mythology gave me everything I needed, from many different forms of faeries to defining characteristics and names. All I had to do was fit them into my world… and come up with a plot and characters, of course, but those I actually got from a dream.

MY REVIEW 

Wow! Wow! Wow! I am so impressed with this story that I hated to see it end. I loved how the author takes us to the Otherworld where a true adventure begins.  I am going to tell you how much I loved Jaye. She is very intuitive. As she and her brother Thomas get trapped in the Otherworld I could envision the faeries and their powers in full display. It’s not everyday that a mortal is asked to be the Fair Assassin. It is an honor and with it comes great danger and power. 

Ravven is definitely my favorite character in the story. Oh I know he is a faerie but I think there is more that he isn’t sharing. There are subtle hints that he is more powerful than others . Jaye has to perform three tasks in order to pass the test and become the Fair Assassin. These tests are difficult and really show her strength mentally. Behind everything she is doing, she is trying to save her brother. Their bond is undeniable and I liked how the author showed the importance of standing up to protect family. 

There are quite a few characters that I wasn’t sure I trusted. They each have a desire for revenge. Is it possible that Jaye is being used ? It is hard for Jaye to trust Ravven  but I don’t think she has a choice. She needs to rely on her instincts to determine who is lying to her. Her life and her brothers life depend on her making the right choice. The ending is oh so good but alas it is cliffhanger. I hope the author writes fast, because I need to continue the story. I have become invested in the characters and I must know who has betrayed Jaye. 

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

Blog Stops

Through the Fire Blogs, February 12

Rebecca Tews, February 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 14

Texas Book-aholic, February 15

Blogging With Carol, February 15

Sara Jane Jacobs, February 16

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 17

Inklings and notions, February 18

Heidi and Books, February 18

For Him and My Family, February 19

deb’s Book Review, February 20

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 21

Artistic Nobody, February 22 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 25

Breny and Books, February 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Nicki is giving away the grand prize package of signed paperbacks of Nicki’s other three novels, a limited edition art print for Of Gold and Iron, and a coaster!!

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/10746/of-gold-and-iron-celebration-tour-giveaway