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Tuesday, June 30, 2020

WELCOME TO THE LADY AND THE MOUNTAIN MAN REVIEW PROMO BLAST PRESENTED BY CELEBRATE LIT



Leah Townsend, a recently orphaned heiress, flees Richmond after discovering her fiancé’s plot to kill her after their wedding. She needs a safe place to hide, and finds herself accepting a newspaper marriage proposal from a God-fearing young rancher in the Montana Territory. But when Leah arrives at the mountain ranch, she learns her intended husband was killed by a grizzly, leaving behind a bitter older brother and a spunky younger sister.
When Gideon Bryant finds an eastern lady standing in his log cabin, his first thought is to send her back where she came from. He’s lost too many people to the wild elements of these mountains––his parents, his wife, and now his brother. His love for this untamed land lives on, but he’s determined not to open his heart to another person.
But when an accident forces Leah to stay at the ranch for seven more months, can Gideon protect his heart from a love he doesn’t want? Has Leah really escaped the men who seek her life?

Genre: Christian historical romance
Title: The Lady and the Mountain Man
Author Name: Misty M. Beller
Series Info: (The Mountain Series, Book 1)

Book link to get the eBook: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/wfrrm3vc0j



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.
She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
God has placed a desire in Misty's heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God's abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. 


Author Links:
http://www.twitter.com/MistyMBeller
https://www.facebook.com/MistyMBellerAuthor
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/misty-m-beller
https://www.goodreads.com/MistyMBeller
http://www.pinterest.com/MistyMBeller
https://amazon.com/author/mistymbeller

 MY REVIEW
This has been a wonderful look at the life in the days when mail order brides were a common thing. I would expect our leading lady not to entertain the thought  of becoming a  mail order bride. Well things do change and our lovely Leah has found herself in a bit of a pickle. She is not happy with the choice her father made as to who her husband was to be. Since he has passed, Leah's life is in danger. Greed shows its ugly head in the image of Simone Talbert. I didn't like him at all. He was money hungry and Leah was his ticket to wealth. 

 Leah leaves as soon as she can when by chance she overhears a conversation that threatens her life. I loved her spunk and adventure as she travels as far as she can away from the mean spirited Simon. I loved how she became this woman who would do whatever it took to survive on her own. Meeting Gideon may change her life but he isn't real excited to see her. Remember the mention of mail order bride earlier, well Leah was all set to do that but the groom past away. Gideon is not very talkative and is ready to find passage for Leah back to wherever she calls home. I wonder if Gideon will start to become attractive to Leah? 

 God is in the midst of this story as Leah finds herself wanting to find a place to belong. She knows God has a plan for her and she has to trust His direction. The story is clean and  easy to read and filled with adventure. It spotlights a woman who reads her Bible faithfully to make sure she is not being lead astray. I loved how two strangers find a way to co exist and learn to trust each other. The author is consistent in her writing and always brings readers stories of encouragement and strong  faith filled characters.

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

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About the Book

Book:  The River Beautiful
Author: Andrea Carmen
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 26, 2020
A difficult past. A strange letter. An unsolved mystery.The River Beautiful final
Someone is following Lena, mapping her every move.
Where strength can be weakness and vulnerability-an asset, the greatest danger that threatens Lena may just be herself.
After the death of her father years ago, Lena ran from the quiet community of Kennerdell, but she’s back, forced to face a past she’d rather forget.
To make things more difficult, awkward, and terrifying, her old friend, Will, is back in her life. Even worse, she needs him there if she hopes to figure out what the letter she found in her father’s study means. They’re on a mission to find answers before her stalker does.
The River Beautiful mingles history and legend in a fast-paced ride through the deceptively peaceful Allegheny Mountains on a quest for answers amid loss, strength in the face of love, a whirlwind of self-discovery, and learning to use faith to illuminate even the darkest places.

Click here to get your copy!
 MY REVIEW 
This  book is  so rich in history , romance and faith that I am having a hard time coming back to the present. It is easy to get so involved in a story that nothing around you exists. Lena is a woman that is like a time bomb of emotion ready to burst at any moment. She is not a complicated person, just someone who has bottled up her anger for too long. I could feel her tense up every time her dad was mentioned. Losing him was devastating for the family but Lena can’t let go of how she feels. Her mind  is  swirling around with thoughts that God did this to her. He took away someone precious to her so how can she have faith? I loved how vulnerable she was even  though she thinks she hides her feelings well. 
Will is the kind of man that any woman would be blessed to have in their life. His faith is steady and he loves with his whole heart. Having Lena back in his life has renewed his hope that he can finally let her know how he feels. I was upset at Lena through most of the story because she pushed Will away every chance she could.  Oh if only she could see how much Will loved her and wanted to protect her. I felt a little upset with myself because the reason Lena couldn’t commit was simple. She didn’t want to go through the pain of losing someone again. I think we have all experienced that in our lives. It is easy to see why Lena has put walls up around her heart. I have done the same thing for years. Being alone doesn’t really solve the issue, it only allows the enemy to continue to isolate you from the One who can turn bitterness into joy. 
The other part of the story involves a mystery that Lena’s  dad was working on before he died. Lena and Will work together to try to find the missing pieces that will lead them to the truth. I loved the suspense and how Will became this person who was willing to sacrifice himself in order to protect Lena. The story behind the mystery was intriguing but I think I would have liked a bit more focus on it rather than the relationship between Lena and Will. It wasn’t hard for me to figure out who was behind the continued threats on Lena’s life. The author does  try to deflate the clues of who it is, but there was obvious directions she took that pointed to the culprit. 
I did enjoy the story and was pleased with the faith scattered in the mix but I really wanted Lena to have a more meaningful God moment where she breaks down on her own. Let’s face it, when we are staring at death we are certain to cry out to God to save us and forgive us. It doesn’t mean you are not  sincere, just that why did you wait so long? Lena has been in turmoil through the entire book and  I think I was  disappointed in how she suddenly needs Will back. The ending was a little abrupt and wrapped up way too fast. The mystery got lost in the middle and gets solved so quickly that it was almost an afterthought at the end.
I hope that my critiques don’t discourage you from reading what I believe is a good story. Not everyone sees a story the same way. I ended up liking Lena  at the end and realized that I was a little like her. Maybe for me it was hard to feel like I was looking in a mirror as I experienced Lena’s emotional daily meltdown. There is the key for why I think this author is worth watching. Her ability to take a character with flaws, have readers relate to them and show them how to heal is nothing short of brilliant. She uses faith in a way that took me into Lena’s world and shows me where I need to work on things in order to feel His unconditional love.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

About the Author

Andrea Carmen enjoys writing Romantic Suspense and Sweet Romance from a Christian perspective. A lover of bygone times, her modern-day novels contain a spark of history, a hint of mystery, or a little bit of both. Andrea finds inspiration by getting outdoors every chance she gets to explore and enjoy nature, but her favorite pastime is spending time with her family and best canine friend, Zoey.




More from Andrea

The River Beautiful is my first novel. The story means so much to me, and I am so happy to finally share it with you all.
This book has been years in the making and covers so many topics that are important to me. Many of them were fun to write about, but a few were hard to deal with at times.
Three elements stand out to me when I think of Lena’s story:
Love, Loss, and Legend.
Love- Love is a beautiful gift. In fact, I would say it is the most precious gift God ever gave us. Love, in its correct form, is free, unconditional, and the basis our salvation. God’s love for us cannot be altered or blocked by darkness, not even the paralyzing darkness of grief. So, when love comes into play in this story, it comes from that perspective. Lena struggles to accept love, but I think that is a place many of us have been at one time or another.
Loss can be lifechanging and usually not for the better. To turn The River Beautiful into the story it is, I had to bring up emotions from my own experiences with grief. Churning up those feelings after I’d had them tucked away for so long resulted in many tearful typing sessions. But at the end of the day, I think it brought unexpected healing and a level of authenticity to the story that it would not have had otherwise.
Legend- Researching the legends of the Lenni Lenape people was enlightening. I have always felt a connection to history and the past intrigues me so that I could not help but bring in some element of mystery from the area’s indigenous inhabitants. My usual go-to when it comes to history tends to be Early American and European, but for this project I was able to bring in a blend of all three for a fictional retelling of key events—and that was exciting!
By combining the elements of Love, Loss, and Legend, I hope I have created a story that not only entertains but moves readers as well. And I hope you love it!

Blog Stops

For the Love of Literature, June 27 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, June 27
A Baker’s Perspective, July 1 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, July 4 (Author Interview)
Betti Mace, July 6
Book Love, July 7 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Andrea is giving away the grand prize of 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.
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Monday, June 29, 2020

About the Book

Book:  Cleansed by Death
Author: Catherine Finger
Genre: Thriller/Suspense/Mystery
Release Date: June 2016
Haunted by an evil presence she can’t quite grasp, Police Chief Josie Oliver finds herself drawn into the crosshairs of a vicious serial killer. Fighting for her marriage, faith, and fate, Chief Josie is confronted by an Adversary that only God can conquer–if she decides to let Him in.



Click here to get your copy!
 MY REVIEW 
This is the book that starts the exciting series that pushes this author to the top as a suspense writer. I have read the other books in the series but it is still nice to read how it all started. Josie is a take charge  kind of woman when it comes to her job as Chief of Police. I wish I could say the same for her marriage. It really bothered me that  she refused to report her abusive  husband   and have him arrested. It seems ironic that as a police officer she investigates domestic violence but she won’t stop it in her own home. But we have to dig deep to understand what makes Josie make decisions that go against her oath  to protect and serve. 
She is very close with an FBI agent named Nick. It is obvious that there is an attraction between the two. At some point Nick will get tired of seeing bruises on Josie and hopefully get Josie   to finally leave her husband. At this point I have to say that we are all flawed. We may be Christians but we stumble like everyone else. I’m not justifying Josie’s attraction to  Nick, but I want you to remember this woman is in need of someone to love her, make her feel important and protect her. It is easy to judge others when we aren’t in their situation. Her friend Gino is a wonderful character who reminds Josie that God loves her and He is waiting for her with open arms. There is a scene in the book that may be sensitive to some when suicide is thought about by a character. It shows how desperate someone can be and how much they need to find peace that only God can give. He can heal the broken hearted and the unloved and fill them with joy.
Josie has been called in to help in the investigation of a serial killer. The gruesome murders are hard to read and at times I had to take a break from the story. I feel like the author is finding her style in this book and trust me the other books  just get better and more intense. I enjoy her writing and love that she keeps readers glued to the story. 
The killing spree gets more gripping as the serial killer is out of control. There are questions of who it is and why certain women are being targeted. The author lays out the investigation in subtle hints that at the end will fit together like a puzzle.  The ending is Oscar worthy as the police get closer to finding out who the killer is. The author integrates powerful techniques to reveal the person behind the  destruction, torture and an reveals an unstable mind. The faith element grows strong at the end and shows  a transformation of several characters. I recommend you find a place where you won’t be disturbed and get ready to immerse yourself in a suspenseful story that  never lets up till the last page. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. 

About the Author

Catherine Finger loves to dream, write, and tell stories. Recently retired from a wonderful career in public education, she celebrates the ability to choose how to spend her time in a new way during the second half of life. So far, she chooses to write books, ride horses, serve others, and generally find her way into and out of trouble both on the road and at home.  She lives in the Midwest with a warm and wonderful combination of family and friends.
Capsized by Death, the fourth novel in her Jo Oliver Thriller series, was released by Elk Lake Publishing in December, 2019. Anchored by Death, the third of her Jo Oliver novels, was a Bronze Medal winner at the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards; a 2018 Selah Awards finalist; and a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Awards. Her second Jo Oliver Thriller, Shattered by Death, was a finalist in the International Book Awards and the National Indie Excellence Awards. Catherine and her novels have been featured on radio stations, blogs, and in numerous articles—all posted at www.CatherineFinger.com.
Catherine loves to interact with her readers at www.CatherineFinger.comFollow her on Facebook at Catherine Finger, Author, and on Twitter at CatherineFinger@BeJoOliver.


More from Catherine

Welcome to our Jo Oliver Thriller series Celebrate Lit Tour!

Cleansed by Death, the first book in the series of four novels, began with an idea to write a book about strong women struggling with life, love, and loss while embedded in traditional male roles. I wanted to show real women dealing with difficult internal and external struggles and create tension for my readers. Playing with the question of whether such challenges make our characters better—or bitter—added depth and twists to my story.
It took a long time to get this story to the point of releasing it into the world. I stopped writing it twice, shelving it for about a year each time. Every summer as I percolated over the story, I read it cover to cover and realized I still loved both the voice and the bones of the story. Adding the faith piece in a way that felt authentic and edgy was the frosting on the cake and it happened as a half vision, half spiritual warfare experience in Jo Oliver’s head and heart. This experience developed her unique brand of conversation with God as she understands Him and added a spiritual dimension to my stories.

My Midwestern roots showed themselves with reckless abandon in this debut—becoming a cornerstone of future installments. As I write this kick-off note to you, I sit in front of my computer facing a wilderness scene that features prominently in this story. Writing in the midst of the corona virus leads me back to some of my favorite places for comfort—the woods and lakes of Wisconsin.

Enjoy the read!


Blog Stops

Bigreadersite, June 30
Betti Mace, July 1
Emily Yager, July 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Catherine 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.
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Sunday, June 28, 2020

AMISH FRIENDS FARMHOUSE FAVORITES COOKBOOK by WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER
The book is well designed with beautiful pictures and a sturdy spiral notebook design that is perfect fir use in the kitchen.  It is full of wonderful  and easy  recipes. I was so excited when I received my copy and spent hours looking at the easy recipes. I loved the garden tips found at the end of the book.  It has recipes to help rid your garden of pesky bugs uses ingredients that are not harmful .

There are also household tips from how to unclog drains to removing rust stains. The book reminds me of my granddad’s farm. He used simple ingredients also  to make soap
and cleaning products  to keep windows shiny. The author takes you back to days where cooking was simple and delicious. I have tried several recipes and found them to be easy to make. I loved the Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad. It is so good and even comes  with an easy to make dressing to pour over it. This is a must for every kitchen to have when looking for recipes that are tasty and easy to make.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Barbour Publishing. The review is my own opinion.

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Saturday, June 27, 2020

About the Book

Book:  Texas Twin Abduction
Author: Virginia Vaughan
Genre:  Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Release Date: June 2, 2020
Texas Twin Abduction CoverThis twin’s past is a blank…
And she might not have a future.
Waking up in a bullet-ridden car with a bag of cash and a deputy insisting she’s his ex-fiancée, Ashlee Taylor has no memory of what happened—or of Lawson Avery. But with her twin missing and someone hunting her down, she must trust him with her life. Can Lawson save her and her sister—even as Ashlee’s forgotten secrets become an inescapable trap?


Click here to get your copy!
 MY REVIEW 
The first installment in this new series is action packed and lacks nothing for suspense fans. I was intrigued by the title because I have always thought twins were fascinating. Bree and Ashlee are identical twins but one wanders off into the world where danger awaits. The opening pages set the stage for a story filled  with drug dealers, secrets and a bit of romance. 
I wasn’t sure at first if I would like the storyline of one of the twins having amnesia but the author plots the story in a way that captures mystery and questions that kept me reading. It is a fast read but don’t be fooled by that. It is packed with characters that I wanted to know more about. I can’t say much about the story because I can’t give anything away. The author threw in a few twists that I didn’t see coming. I’m pretty good at guessing plots, but this one took me by surprise.
Lawson adds an element of knight in shining armor as he lays  aside the past. The faith element is just enough that it is not preachy but definitely shows how someone can change when they give their life to Jesus. Lawson is determined to find out what is going on and why his ex fiancée is involved. I loved , loved, loved the way the author shows us through a character that God is a God of second chances. I hope the author is hard at work on the next book in this exciting series.

 I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit.

About the Author

virginia-vaughan-HR-2Virginia Vaughan is a multi-published author of inspirational romantic suspense. Blessed to come from a large, southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself. A former investigator for the State of Mississippi, Virginia utilizes her criminal justice background with her love of writing to transform words into powerful stories of romance and danger.



More from Virginia

Thanks for joining me for a brand new adventure. TEXAS TWIN ABDUCTION is the first book in my new Cowboy Lawmen series and it’s a departure from what I normally write. I love writing about cops and serial killers so when my editor first suggested the cowboy/western theme, I was hesitant. I’m a city girl at heart so this was so far out of my comfort zone! But I couldn’t resist for long. After all, who doesn’t love a cowboy? Thankfully, I found a way to merge what I loved—law enforcement, FBI, US Marshals—with the cowboy/family themed books my editor wanted to see by making my group of hero brothers a family of law enforcement types with ties to the family ranch. The best of both words. Score!
Book one in this new series, TEXAS TWIN ABDUCTION, begins with my hero, little brother Lawson Avery, in a quandary. All he ever wanted out of life was to run his family’s Texas ranch, but his ex-fiancée Ashlee’s final words to him as she skipped out on their wedding was that his desire for the simple life made him unambitious and unworthy of her love. Her words broke him, sending him searching for something more meaningful to do with his life, eventually winding up as a deputy in the sheriff’s office. But, despite law enforcement being in his blood, Lawson finally realized that life wasn’t for him and made plans to return to the ranch. However, his plans are sidetracked when he finds Ashlee unconscious on the side of the road in a bullet-ridden car with no memory of him or their past together. When it becomes clear that someone wants her dead, Lawson steps in to act as her protector. But will digging into the mysteries of her past cost him the future he still longs to have with her?
I hope you enjoy this book and this brand new series! Look for the next book—older brother US Marshal Miles Avery’s story—coming in TEXAS HOLIDAY HIDEOUT this October.

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, June 24
Bigreadersite, June 24
Simple Harvest Reads, June 28 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Betti Mace, June 29
Genesis 5020, June 29
Emily Yager, July 3
Hookmeinabook, July 4
EmpowerMoms, July 5
Mary Hake, July 5
Hallie Reads, July 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Virginia is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card and a copy of Texas Twin Abduction!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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