Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Meet Me on the Porch Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: Meet Me on the Porch

Author: Erin Stevenson

Genre: Christian fiction

Release date: May 13, 2022

Brynne Lockwood has come home to Brattleboro, Vermont after a humiliating job loss. She’s weary and broken, and still hasn’t truly forgiven herself for a former unhealthy relationship with long-lasting consequences. She doesn’t believe that she deserves anything good and can’t imagine that God could ever use her.

After recovering from a shattering loss, Pastor Adam Johnston is on his way to a new assignment. A mix-up takes him and his baby daughter to beautiful southern Vermont. If he stays, he’ll face opposition, but God has prepared his heart for ministry, and he’s committed to serving there.

Adam and Brynne connect quickly and unexpectedly, but circumstances demand that they be cautious.

Now, you are invited to join Adam and Brynne on the porch at her grandparents’ home—a special place where you’ll experience their joy as Adam and Brynne build a friendship rooted in Biblical principles, find healing for their wounds, and discover God’s plan for their lives.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Erin has been writing fiction since 2014 and is published independently and with Pelican Book Group and Winged Publications. She is a 2021 American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award Finalist.

Erin was raised in Illinois and has lived in many places in the U.S., including on both coasts, but is a Midwest girl at heart. She spent many years as an educator from pre-school through college levels, and currently works in communications for a global corporation.

When she’s not writing, Erin loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and playing in the garden (which equates to mostly pulling weeds) at her central Iowa home. Her secret indulgence is plain M&Ms.

More from Erin

This book is part of Pelican Book Group’s Destination Romance collection, one set in each of the 50 US states. There were three random objects required to be worked into the plot: lace, shampoo, and a shovel. The twist was that they had to be presented in an interesting way—not, for instance, “Brynne was disappointed to discover that her favorite shampoo was out of stock.”

Here’s an excerpt of how I incorporated shampoo into this story:

Adam led her to the swing. After she sat, he set the mug on the table, then picked up a bulky case and placed it on top.

“What’s that?”

Adam smiled. “This is my sample case. Allow me to show you my display of shampoos.”

“Shampoos?”

“Yes. I have orange blossom, lemon verbena, strawberry vanilla.” He lifted out each bottle and lined them up. At least six more followed, each a different scent. “And this one is—um, oh, sorry, that’s for lice.” He grimaced.

Brynne nearly spewed her drink. “Adam Johnston, what are you doing?”

“I’m a shampoo salesman.” He lifted a shoulder. “Last night you said you would date me if I was a pilot or a shampoo salesman.” He sighed. “I’m terrified of flying.”

She had to hold her laughter as she put her hand over her heart. “You are beyond cute. Where did you get all this stuff?” A giggle escaped.

He let out a sigh. “It wasn’t easy, believe me,” he muttered.

MY REVIEW

What caught my attention right away was reading about the beautiful setting of Vermont . You can feel the small town atmosphere and how friendly people are. Going to the home where she was raised, Brynne feels at peace. Her grandparents are so nurturing and adore their granddaughter. They raised her and are thrilled to have her home. I loved how comfy I felt as I read the book. The title reminds me of when I was at my granddad’s farm every summer. We would sit on the front porch and talk for hours. I never tired of his stories and thought he was a remarkable man. This story gave me such good memories and I enjoyed getting to know everyone in the book.

Brynne is a sweet character who is looking for a direction for her life from God. Coming back to her grandparents place gives her a place to rest and be surrounded by people who love her. The author slowly has Brynne open up about something from her past. It lets us see the hurt and shame she has carried.

Adam and his beautiful one year old daughter Lace have come to the town to start a new life. After a tragedy he is ready to take on the new Pastor’s job at the church. I did laugh at the mix-up of how he got there but God had a plan for why Adam was sent to this particular place. His daughter steals the scenes at times with her bright smile.

The story is a nice look at two people who are searching for a place to belong. I loved the talks that Adam and Brynne share on the porch. It is a special time as they open up to each other and allow themselves to be vulnerable. One of the things that stand out in the book is how mindful Adam is about being respectful and following God’s Word in his personal life.

We witness two people that each have a past that holds then back at times. As the author unveils their secrets, we see God’s footprint on their lives. I loved the sweet message of forgiveness and finding grace. I wasn’t prepared for the ending to be so emotional so make sure you have tissues handy when you read this beautiful story.

“Grace is when God gives us what we don’t deserve. Mercy is when He doesn’t give us what we do deserve.”

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 2

Texas Book-aholic, August 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 4

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, August 5 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Book Reviews, August 5

Inklings and notions, August 6

deb’s Book Review, August 7

Guild Master, August 8 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 9

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 10

For Him and My Family, August 11

Artistic Nobody, August 12 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 13

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 14

Simple Harvest Reads, August 15 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erin is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card & 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/20709/meet-me-on-the-porch-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, August 1, 2022

The Wonderland Trials Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: The Wonderland Trials

Author: Sara Ella

Genre: YA Dystopian Fantasy / Alice in Wonderland retelling

Release date: July 12, 2022

Solve the clues. Face your fears. Survive the Trials.

All Alice Liddell wants is to escape her Normal life in Oxford and find the parents who abandoned her ten years ago. But she gets more than she bargained for when her older sister Charlotte is arrested for having the infamous Wonder Gene—the key to unlocking the curious Wonderland Reality.

Soon, Alice receives a rather cryptic invitation to play for Team Heart in this year’s annual—and often deadly—Wonderland Trials. Now she has less than twenty-four hours to find her way into Wonderland where nothing is impossible . . . or what it seems.

The stakes are raised when she discovers players go missing during the Trials each year. Will she and her team solve the clues and find the missing players? Or will betrayal and distrust win, leaving Alice alone in a world of her own? Follow the White Rabbit into this topsy-turvy fantasy where players become prey, a sip of the wrong tea might as well be poison, and a queen’s ways do not always lead one where they ought to go.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Once upon a time, Sara Ella dreamed she would marry a prince and live in a castle. Now she spends her days homeschooling her three Jedi in training, braving the Arizona summers, and reminding her superhero husband that it’s almost Christmas (even if it’s only January). When she’s not writing, Sara might be found behind her camera lens or planning her next adventure in the great wide somewhere. She is a Hufflepuff who finds joy in the simplicity of sipping a lavender white mocha and singing Disney tunes in the car. Sara is the author of the Unblemished trilogy and Coral, a reimagining of The Little Mermaid that focuses on mental health. Her latest journey into the world of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland feels like coming full circle after her time spent chasing the White Rabbit around Walt Disney World. Sara loves fairy tales and Jesus, and she still believes “Happily Ever After is Never Far Away.” Connect with her online at SaraElla.com or find her on Instagram at @saraellawrites.

More from Sara

Welcome to Wonderland!

When I started this journey down the rabbit hole, I had no idea where it would lead me. From switching publishers to signing a book contract during a pandemic, this writing journey has certainly been an adventure for the books!

As with every story I write, life handed me a few trials along the way with this one. I didn’t know how it would end until a few weeks before deadline. With that time crunch came an epiphany that altered a good portion of the plot—an idea that had me scrambling to rewrite entire scenes right up until the final hours before I turned the story in to my editor. It was difficult, but the book is better for it—I am better for it.

It could be said that an author shapes the story, but I personally believe it’s equally true that the story shapes the author. Every book I have written has changed me in some way. With The Wonderland Trials, I can pinpoint three takeaways that helped me grow in ways I never expected.

I learned to not take life so seriously.

We all have to do the adulting thing. We have bills to pay and homes to clean and deadlines to meet. But in the midst of all that chaos and craziness is a time to laugh. To play. To make a mess on the living room floor building Legos with my toddler or take a walk to the park.

I found myself often rushing through time with friends because I had to write or work or check more boxes off my task list. But feeling stressed and cutting friend and family time short didn’t accomplish anything. It didn’t get my book written faster. I’m not saying to put things off that need to be done—it’s important to be responsible. I am saying I learned that I have to balance work and play, and most importantly, I need to be present for those in my life.

It’s not only okay to sit back and relax now and again, it’s necessary. I need to let go of the constant to-do list and invest my time in things that bring me joy. That way, when it’s time to sit down and pound the keys, I’m filled and inspired, rather than tired and anxious.

I learned to see the beauty in found family.

They say you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. I disagree. As a girl who was raised by a stepdad who has loved me unconditionally as his own from the time I was two, I think there is something truly special about family that you find and make your own.

There have been times I’ve felt jealous of my friends who still have their biological parents around. I lost my mom in 2012 and my birth dad in 2020. I have maybe a handful of blood relatives left. I love them to bits, and I’m so grateful for them! But my family extends beyond the boundaries of blood. When I really think about it, I have family coming out of my ears and then some.

I have besties who became my soul sisters and women who stepped in as moms and grandmas. I have big brothers who would protect me with their lives and nieces and nephews I get to spoil on holidays and birthdays. As Alice says in The Wonderland Trials, “Sometimes family isn’t the one you’re born with. It’s the one you find. Or the ones who find you.”

I learned to believe in the impossible.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m the pessimist in my family. I try to see every worst-case scenario when making a decision. I ask all the what-ifs in the book. I’m like MJ in the Spider-Man movies— “If you expect disappointment, then you can never really get disappointed.”

My husband, on the other hand, has the faith of a child. When I’m lacking in faith, he’s there to remind me of all God can do. And God almost always surprises me with how He goes about doing those things. In a world with drive-thrus, mobile bank deposits, food deliveries, and every other form of instant service we can think of, the call to be patient and wait on the Lord is often forgotten.

I want answers now. I want my family member to be healed now. I want the baby we’ve been waiting over a year to adopt now. God can do the impossible, right? So why doesn’t He hurry up and do it already?

Because God is not a vending machine. And just because He chooses not to perform the miracle I want when and how I want it, that doesn’t mean he isn’t working. In fact, it’s the waiting period when God tends to do His best work on me.

More often than not, I am the impossible one, the impossible heart that needs changing. The stubborn clay that needs molding. The cracked tea cup that needs to be fixed and filled with rivers of gold. What I see as impossible to fix or change, God sees as an opportunity to help me grow. So I’ll keep believing in the impossible. After all, God took me, an impossibly helpless sinner, and made me into something new.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts and for giving this little book a chance. Happy reading, Wonders! The impossible awaits!

Sincerely,

Sara Ella

MY REVIEW

I would think it would be a challenge to retell a fairy tale and give it enough imagination that it captures readers attention. The author has achieved that in this book with one of my all time favorite fairy tales. When I was in elementary school I played Alice in a play. It was fun and I never forgot how the story gave me chills and intrigued me. To say that I was excited about this book would be an understatement. I have to give a big shout out to the cover as well. It is everything you would want to grab the attention of readers.

The journey in this story is familiar yet different in ways that broadened my imagination. All the characters are represented but with a slight twist. We are caught in a world where fear seems to reign and a game where the outcome could change everything. Alice is thrust into a rabbit hole where she finds strange decor and a game where players disappear. I loved the descriptions that made me feel like I was sitting beside Alice as she looked at her cards.

The relationship between Alice and her sister is filled with intense moments. Alice clearly understands that Charlotte wants to control her and perhaps hides a secret that Alice must not find out about. I enjoyed the dynamics between these two and wondered if Charlotte could be trusted. Does she want what is best for Alice?

I did like little references that could be used as faith lessons. One example was Chess and Alice talking about believing in the impossible. Alive is adamant that she has to see things in order to believe. Chess tells her, “You have to know it here. In your heart.” Faith is like that. We may not see God working, but in our heart we need to believe in Him.

The story is definitely a page turner with unexpected twists that kept me glued to the book. The author captures the characters with precision yet gives them a little something that adds her own touch to each one. The action gets going as Alice gets closer to entering the game and investigating where people are disappearing to. The Trials are dangerous for some and Alice will have to have her wits about her to stay safe. Alice learns a valuable lesson in working as a team which is more powerful than doing things alone.

As they go into the last door there awaits something different for everyone. Their biggest fear is facing them in that moment. With riddles and puzzles to decipher, Alice and her team work together to expose secrets that have been hidden for so long. The author kept me entertained throughout the story and just as I saw the ending coming, the author does the cliff hanging wait till the next book to find out what happens farewell for now see you later entry. Now I must wait till next time to continue my journey.

“Fear makes people do senseless things.”

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 30

Rachael’s Inkwell, July 30

A Reader’s Brain, July 31

For Him and My Family, July 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 1

Texas Book-aholic, August 2

Where Faith and Books Meet, August 3

Inklings and notions, August 3

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 4

deb’s Book Review, August 5

Live. Love. Read., August 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 7

Mary Hake, August 7

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 8

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

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 9

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 10

Melissa’s Bookshelf, August 10

Wishful Endings, August 11

Blogging With Carol, August 12

Rebecca Tews, August 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sara is giving away the grand prize package of a signed Limited Edition Hardcover of The Wonderland Trials, $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card, and $15 Starbucks 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/2038e/the-wonderland-trials-celebration-tour-giveaway

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.