About the Book

Book: Muldoon’s Minnesota Darling, a Novella

Author: E.V. Sparrow

Genre: Historical fiction

Release Date: May 10, 2023

A heartsore widower with hidden fears and little faith…
The naïve daughter of a farmer guarding a repulsive secret…
A township unaware of the hidden menace amongst them…

Heartbroken from losing his family and his farm, Mick Muldoon is hopeful as he emigrates to America with his siblings. All he finds is despair and no work. Were America’s rumored promises of plenty all lies? Would God ever hear and answer his prayers?

Seventeen-year-old Shauna McGann is determined to marry Mick Muldoon despite her mother’s objections. His past and his limp might repulse others, but not her. What burdens Shauna is her terrible secret – a secret she promised her friends she would keep. Now Shauna needs help and protection. Could she trust Mick, or will she lose everything by telling him?

Will Mick finally be free of loss and find success in America? Will Shauna overcome her fears and finally feel safe?

In this Muldoon’s Misfortunes prelude novella, author E.V. Sparrow creates a provoking tale of flickering faith and enduring hope through an emigrant’s efforts to adapt, and a young woman’s unprejudiced love.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

E.V. Sparrow is a short story writer turned novelist. Her readers encounter God’s unexpected presence through her character’s escapades. Her own adventures she wrote about involved traveling in over twenty countries. Sparrow lived on an Israeli kibbutz, worked for the U.S. 

Army in Bavaria, and hopped a freight train for a weekend.

A highlight for Sparrow is when Guideposts and Bethany House Publishers accepted four of her anthologized  stories before she signed a 3-book historical fiction series contract with Celebrate Lit Publishing.

Her father’s family’s immigration from Ireland, their letters and documents, and some family stories inspired her current historical fiction novels.

In E.V.’s personal and church life, she ministered through prayer, worship, mission teams, and in Divorce Care and Singles. California native relocated to North Carolina, E.V. Sparrow and her husband enjoy family time with their grandchildren and exploring their new state.

More from E.V.

I’m writing books inspired by my father’s family because they believed in God but wrestled with their faith. Faith doesn’t come easy for every believer. We grapple with intimacy with God, but does God battle with us?

My oldest brother shared some stories of our great-grandfather, who emigrated here after losing his wives and children in Ireland. Yes, at least two families. I wondered, how could a suffering heart and soul survive those losses? Our great-grandfather’s inner turmoil didn’t change once he resettled in America. I read letters he wrote to his son—our grandfather and sifted through family photos. Certain aspects from the timeline of great-grandfather’s life fashioned my main character, Mick Muldoon. Mick encountered God’s unexpected presence several times without recognizing it.

Thinking through a Scripture verse, 1 Corinthians 13:13, (NIV) “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love,” reveals what remains when all else we are accustomed to is gone. I assume hope is as powerful as faith and love. It’s a triangle of strength for us until it goes wobbly. What happens when one or two of the three stabilizers are weaker than the others? Wounded, confused, and resilient characters named Mick, Orla, and Liam Muldoon.

MY REVIEW

Mick has suffered several losses and travels to America to start over. Being from Ireland  he will face challenges but I admired his determination. He has a limp that  at times causes other to think he is not capable of working. How easy it is for people to judge him when they don’t take the time to get to know someone. It was sad that Mick had lost two wives and several children at such a young  age. Mick is struggling with finding work and has attracted the attention of what I would call a bully. This man is someone to be careful around as rumors about him are not good. 

Shauna has caught Mick’s eye and thinks perhaps he may ask permission to court her. She has kept a dark secret that she shares with Mick as they begin their relationship. Even though Mick promised he would not tell, he knew he had to do something before  a tragedy occurred. 

I enjoyed reading how Mick and Shauna became closer and began a commitment to each other. Mick is worried when his wife becomes pregnant. Will the same thing happen to this baby as his others? He has this darkness around him that tries to get him to not believe in God. There is much tragedy in the  story but the author illustrates how God is always there. As Mick continues to feel like something is bringing death around  him, his wife continues to speak to him about God. 

I liked the story and  how we got a bit of history which I enjoyed.  We witness sadness, loss and how a man comes to faith. It is a quick read with characters that are flawed. I was a little sad about the loss that  continued for Mick and Shauna. In the end the author brings happiness and renewed faith that shines a light where darkness use to be. 

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

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 23

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 24 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 25

Bizwings Book Blog, January 26

Sylvan Musings, January 27 (Author Interview)

An Author’s Take, January 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 28

A Reader’s Brain, January 29 (Author Interview)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 30

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 31 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, February 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 2

By The Book, February 3 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 3

For Him and My Family, February 4

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 5 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, E.V. is giving away the grand prize package of an eBook copy of Muldoon’s Minnesota Darling and an Amazon $50 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/299bb/muldoon-s-minnesot-darling-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Faces in the Window

Authors: Andrew Busch and Melinda Busch

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October, 2022

Franz Maedler, an officer in the Wehrmacht, loses a leg in Stalingrad and is evacuated just before it becomes impossible to do so. He returns to a desk job with the Army General Staff in Berlin but is deeply conflicted. His father is committed to the Nazi cause, as seems to be his brother Friedrich. Yet his girlfriend Katrin is a devout Christian, as was his now-deceased mother, and his conscience is haunted by things he was a part of on the Eastern Front. He wants to marry Katrin, but she will not agree until he decides who he is and who he follows. Then, unexpectedly, a moment of crisis forces Franz to choose. Will he side with the cross or with the swastika? And what will it cost him?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Authors

Andrew and Melinda Busch were both born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, and were introduced in 1994 by their junior high school math teacher. They married in 1995 and have three grown children. They now live in Rialto, California.

Andrew teaches American government at Claremont McKenna College in southern California. He has authored or co-authored about two dozen books on American politics, government, and public policy. He received his Ph.D. in Government from the University of Virginia. Melinda is a freelance author who has published numerous short stories and children’s books. She received her Master’s degree in education from Concordia University-Portland. Faces in the Window is their first co-authored book.

More from Andrew and Melinda

We came up with the idea for our book after a trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. in 2006, but didn’t start writing it until late 2019. The COVID lock-down gave us a lot of time at home to work on it.

Writing together was fun. Sometimes one of us would draft a section and the other one would revise it and then we would go back and forth until we were satisfied with it. Other times, when there was important dialogue, we would each pick a character, go onto Google Docs, and have the conversation in real time. We had to be sharp, since our characters often found themselves in a tight spot. Though we planned out the story, sometimes the conversations took on a life of their own, and things went in a different direction.

One of us is a poet and an author of children’s books, fantasy stories, and fan fiction, while the other is a professor who has written extensively about American government but has never before dipped his toe into the vasty depths of fiction. Together, we had a great time!

MY REVIEW

This book was an emotional  read and one that made me really think about the theme. I have read many books about WWII but each time I seem to learn something new. The authors definitely did their research well as historical facts are defined in the story. It is hard to pinpoint when I became engrossed in the  book but from the beginning I knew I had to pay attention to the storyline. 

Franz is coming  home after serving  his country due to an injury. He worries how he will be welcomed by some back home. How sad it was that he was concerned that his father may not be excited to see him. The war was hard for Franz but coming home may be  more stressful. He looked in people’s eyes who were sad, desperate or lonely. It is something that will stay with him forever. Those faces if war remain ingrained in his heart forever.

Seeing his sweet Katrin now makes  him happy  yet does he see a hint of uncertainty in her eyes? Are their plans still moving forward or will she want to postpone their future together? This part of the  story was intriguing as I wondered why Katrin would have  second thoughts of marrying Franz. 

Franz does question when he first returns from the  service if he still believes in God. All the suffering Franz has seen makes him question his faith. Have you ever been through something that made you doubt God? I liked how the authors used this to illustrate how people can stray from their faith and then be reconciled when they surrender and trust Him again.  

With secrets, hints of disloyalty and questions of faith, this story captures the  turmoil one young man has as he struggles to find his purpose . His father is not easy to talk to and takes great honor in letting his son know he does not believe in God. Who will Franz be loyal to? Will he find out who to trust before  it is too late?

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

Blog Stops

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 17 (Author Interview)

Bizwings Book Blog, January 18

Artistic Nobody, January 19 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, January 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20

Splashes of Joy, January 21 (Author Interview)

Betti Mace, January 22

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 23 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 24

Guild Master, January 25 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 26

Sylvan Musings, January 27 (Author Interview)

Connie’s History Classroom, January 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 29 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 30

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Andrew and Melinda is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/297c8/faces-in-the-window-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Loving Beth

Author: Bonnie Rose Ward

Genre: Christian Historical Romance Fiction

Release Date: June 8, 2023

A courageous woman, a bitter man, and God’s plan.

Times were hard after Beth McCullough’s father died in the Civil War, but she and her mother are getting by on their little farm outside Rosewood, West Virginia. The kindly banker holding the loan lets them pay what they can. Then Beth’s mother dies suddenly, and the banker’s arrogant son gives her only thirty days to pay her full debt. Beth is left alone and lonely and fears losing the only home she’s ever known. It would be nice to have someone in her life like Jacob, the handsome man who found her mother. Then to her horror, Beth discovers two small children who’ve been abandoned. It’s one more thing for her to worry about, but Beth has to keep faith in God’s ability to work miracles.

Although he has to travel to Baltimore to care for his ailing mother, Jacob Wallace can’t stop thinking about Beth, but he’d promised his late wife he’d never love again after her tragic death. After receiving a letter with terrible rumors about Beth, Jacob returns to Rosewood, angry, bitter, and disillusioned, more determined than ever to keep his vow to never love again. He’s right to close his heart against Beth.

As Beth struggles to protect the children and keep her farm, she’s also defending against Jacob’s unfounded suspicions. The danger escalates with an attack and threats to her life. But God moves in mysterious ways. Is there room in Jacob’s heart for a new love? Will they learn to trust each other and have faith in God’s plan to find their way together?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Bonnie Rose Ward, an award-winning author celebrated for her vivid memoirs recounting life in the Alaskan wilderness, currently resides in West Virginia with her husband. Bonnie’s homestead is nestled within the serene foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. The spirit of these mountains and her husband’s familial tales from the region breathe life into her compelling narratives of Appalachian resilience, strength, and the quest for love. Drawing from her fifteen-years in the wilderness, Bonnie’s present lifestyle encapsulates the essence of self-sufficiency. Together with Samuel, she tends to a menagerie of goats, chickens, Zebu cattle, and other barnyard animals, while also cultivating their verdant gardens. When not immersed in her rural responsibilities, Bonnie transitions into her writer’s persona. At her keyboard, she masterfully weaves new tales echoing the valor of women, the fidelity of men, and the extraordinary miracles that God orchestrates in their lives. Bonnie Rose Ward is not just an author, but a storyteller—painting vivid pictures with her words that resonate with the human spirit’s trials, triumphs, and faith.

More from Bonnie

My husband, and I lived in the Alaskan wilderness for many years. We built cabins and lived off the land. While there, Sam shared stories about his ancestors—especially those of his spunky great grandmother, Easter Mullens. I was fascinated by her life. We eventually purchased my husband’s mother’s old homeplace nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, and together we built our home by hand, reminiscent of the cabins we built in Alaska. Living in the wilderness for fifteen years gave me the skills and understanding of how our forefathers and mothers’ must have lived in the 1800s. Sam often talked about his aunts foraging from the land—they knew what vegetation you could eat and what you couldn’t. I became enamored with these hardy, resilient mountain people and their stories.

I started to write Easter’s story as nonfiction, but my imagination took over and a fictional story grew from the fragments of her life and circumstances.

As you know, characters are typically a composite of people we know and characters we imagine, with a bit of ourselves sprinkled in there. Beth originally was a combination of Sam and my ancestors—at least, how I imagined them to be. As I worked with her, she took on a life of her own. Instead of simply being impressed by her courage, I realized how vulnerable she is. I also realized that being so young, she is going to make mistakes a more mature person wouldn’t. But I think her driving characteristic is her spunk. She does what she has to do to survive in a harsh world and to protect those she loves.

Jacob is a decent man whose devotion to his departed wife leaves no room for another. He has to come to terms not just with his wife’s death, but with what is expected from him as he puts the pieces of his life back together. Most importantly, he must realize his harshest expectations are those he has cast upon himself—and that his stubbornness is destroying not only his own happiness, but the happiness of those he loves.

Faith, love, and determination are the main themes of the book. Faith has been so important in my own life and got me through so much when we lived in the Alaskan wilderness. Therefore, I wanted to illustrate the role faith played in the lives of Beth and Jacob. Love comes in so many different forms, and I wanted to explore the different types of love. There’s the love between a man and a woman; the love between parents and children—even if they are not biologically related; and, of course, the love that grows from relying on good neighbors and friends. Determination is what allows us to survive the unsurvivable. Without the determination that seeds in our guts and grows to see us through the worst times of our lives, we would not succeed. Of course, determination can also work against us. When we stubbornly adhere to principles that are no longer relevant, our determination cause much more harm than good.

MY REVIEW

As I read the opening pages, I knew this would be a story filled with loss, determination, survival and faith. Beth has seen tragedy in her young life but now losing her mother was almost too much for her. All she had was her sweet mother who did her best to provide for them. Now Beth is alone and must face challenges that seem overwhelming. She has to  fight to keep her home before  the  bank forecloses on it. You can feel Beth’s desperation as she seeks God for answers. The town tries to help but there is little money in this small community. Times are hard in the town but their closeness to each other is very inspiring. Will Beth be able  to save her home? 

Life was hard for  the people in this small community but I admired how they helped each other out.  Churning  butter to sell along with fresh eggs would help Beth for now but what happens when the chickens stop laying ? How will she provide for herself? I love  how Beth is a strong young woman who is always looking for ways to help her situation. I wonder how I would have done in this time period? 

When Beth stumbles upon a young boy and his baby sister her heart is full of compassion for them. Now she understood why eggs had suddenly gone missing from her coop. She wants to help the children and knows she can’t turn her back in them. Who in the world are these people who are mean and seem to not care about their children? Their harsh language made me cringe when they turned on Beth in a rage. 

Beth is startled  awake by a loud knock on her door. Who would be here on a cold night banging so loudly? To her surprise it is the sweet little boy Tommy. He is freezing and needs Beth to go get his sister. Those mean people left them all alone at the cabin with no food or heat. Beth sure has her hands full when she takes them in. There is no way she will let those horrified people take the  children ever again. The children have been abused and my heart hurt for  what they had been through. 

Jacob has challenges of his own as he leaves  his precious children with his cousin. He has been called home because his mother is very ill. He still remembers  how strong his mother was. Now as he sits with her, he sees how frail she has become. His heart is breaking as his mother seems to be slipping away. The story is filled with a little intrigue when Jacob learns that the fire that destroyed his mothers house was arson. Who would be so heartless to burn down a home that his sweet mother lived in? 

I loved how the author illustrated how people in town came to help both Beth and Jacob when they faced trials. The townspeople were comforting and showed compassion. With a few unsavory characters in the story we witness how greed and jealousy can turn someone into doing ungodly things. The author gives us a glimpse into how faith overcomes tragedy as trust leads to a new  beginning. 

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

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 13

Bizwings Book Blog, January 14

Exploring the Written Word, January 14

Holly’s Book Corner, January 15

lakesidelivingsite, January 16

Madi’s Musings, January 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 17

Lighthouse Academy Blog, January 18 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Cover Lover Book Review, January 19

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 20 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, January 20

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 21

Texas Book-aholic, January 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 23

Pause for Tales, January 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 24

For Him and My Family, January 25

Books I’ve Read, January 26

Connie’s History Classroom, January 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Bonnie is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card & a paperback 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/2979d/loving-beth-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: No Matter What

Author: Jennifer Carr

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: October 14, 2022

Jess Hayley, with her exceptional skill of deciphering people’s thoughts and emotions through body language and microexpressions, encounters Bryan Carsen, a member of the U.S. Army Cyber Force, setting her on an unforeseen path that challenges her beliefs and abilities.

As Bryan becomes embroiled in a covert investigation, Jess comes to grips with the consequences of his actions, which are further complicated by the arrival of a mysterious box of evidence that endangers everything she holds dear. Caught in a perilous web of intrigue, trust becomes elusive, and Jess must navigate a world turned upside down, even questioning the trustworthiness of those closest to her.

In the midst of turmoil, Jess confronts the unsettling possibility that someone she trusted deeply may have harbored long-hidden secrets. Despite enduring numerous challenges, she must summon the strength to open her heart and rediscover the capacity to trust.

Amidst the uncertainty and concealed truths, Jess’s journey unfolds, marked by twists and turns, self-discovery, resilience, and the intricate interplay between perception and reality, showcasing the deep impact of unexpected encounters and the courage needed to move forward in the face of pain.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

A wife, mom, author, marriage and family counselor, a former AP Psychology teacher, and a podcaster, Jenniferdraws from her life experiences and imagination to connect with her readers and listeners through the written and spoken word.
Married to her childhood best friend and the mom of a creative daughter, Jennifer enjoys a quiet life on their farm in Alabama.
When she’s not wearing one of her many hats, you’ll find her tucked away with a book and what’s likely her third coffee of the day.

More from Jennifer

I loved writing this book. There were days that words poured out of me as though a dam had broken. Other days I stared at the screen until my eyes felt crossed and only touched the keyboard to text my husband how absolutely uninspired I was.

The day before I clicked PUBLISH, I reread the entire book cover-to-cover, word-for word and just as I had the first time through, I smiled, I cried, my heart swelled, and it shattered into pieces. Then it was gently put back together as I was reminded of the hope that is always waiting for us, no matter what. 

One of my favorite quotes from the book:

“…if you will let God redeem your losses, you might find that he restores you, too…”

MY REVIEW

This book is something you should read slowly and take in every moment as two  people  learn about themselves. I loved how the author captures a sweet relationship between Jess and Bryan. Oh how I enjoyed seeing each layer opened as the characters started to trust each other. This story will be one I will remember forever  because it shows a realistic look at how a relationship with God is the foundation to happiness and peace.

Jess is a unique character and I was able to relate to her very easily. Her gift is being able to read others and decipher traits about them. I have this discernment that can only be described as a feeing I get. I can sense when something is going to happen and sometimes I can tell you exactly what will happen. Some people have called me weird but I know this ability is from  God. Jess uses her gift to help others but still struggles with how it can be a burden to her. As she starts to be interested in knowing God, you see her heart open and begin to hunger for God. 

Bryan is such a kind and gentle person. The attraction he feels for Jess when they first met was  very believable. Sometimes you meet someone and just hit it off instantly. The more we get to know him, the more endearing he becomes. He is one of the good guys that women try to find. His faith is steadfast and he seeks God in every situation. I enjoyed watching this couple grow together. One of the  beautiful parts of this story is witnessing Jess giving her life to Jesus. It was a touching  and pure moment that brought me to tears. 

When we get to the second half of the  story it is several years later. Much has changed for Jess and Bryan so readers will have to experience what has transpired in those two years on their own. I don’t want to spoil one moment of their journey. The story does take on a serious note as Bryan seems to be dealing with something that he hasn’t shared with Jess. When Bryan does finally open up, the compassion that Jess shows is an illustration of a strong marriage grounded on faith. 

The author totally shocked me as something so shattering happened in the story. I was not prepared for it at all and  felt my heart skip a beat. This part is hard to write about. Without giving  anything away, God will be the only one to help in this situation. How can this be happening and why?  

I like how the author transitions by moving forward a few years, stopping to give us glimpses of characters and what happens to them. We then move forward and are surprised again when we catch up with Jess. Her drive to never turn away from  her faith  keeps her grounded as she makes decisions about her future. I’m thankful that I read this beautiful story and how the  author shows brokenness and redemption through characters who experience trials. 

“No matter how hard life got, there would always be something beautiful on the other side.” 

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 20

Texas Book-aholic, January 21

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 22 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 23

Artistic Nobody, January 24 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 25

Beauty in the Binding, January 26 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 27

Guild Master, January 28 (Author Interview)

Exploring the Written Word, January 28

Cover Lover Book Review, January 29

A Reader’s Brain, January 30 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 31

For Him and My Family, February 1

Through the Fire Blogs, February 2 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, February 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a Six Month Subscription to Kindle Unlimited ($60 value) and a copy of No Matter What!!

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/297d0/no-matter-what-celebration-tour-giveaway