Celebration Lit Presents…The Wedding Shop by Rachael Hauck plus Giveaway

21 Sep 2016 Leave a comment

by Splashes of Joy in Blogging for Books, Rachel Hauck, Uncategorized

To purchase your copy, click here.

About the Book

Two women separated by decades. Both set out to help others find their dreams when their own have crumbled.

It’s the early 1930s, but Cora Scott is walking in stride as a career woman after having inherited her great aunt’s wedding shop in Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, where brides come from as far away as Birmingham to experience her famed bridal treatment. Meanwhile, Cora is counting down the days until her own true love returns from the river to make her his bride. But days turn into months and months to years. All the while, Birch Good continues to woo Cora and try to show her that while he is solid and dependable, he can sweep her off her feet.

More than eighty years later, former Air Force Captain Haley Morgan has returned home to Heart’s Bend after finishing her commitment to military service. After the devastating death of her best friend, Tammy, and discovering the truth about the man she loved, Haley is searching for her place in life.

When Haley decides to reopen the romantic but abandoned wedding shop where she and Tammy played and dreamed as children, she begins a journey of courage, mystery, and love.

As Cora’s and Haley’s stories intertwine through time in the shadow of the beloved wedding shop, they both discover the power of their own dreams and the magic of everyday love.

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

Wow, this is an amazing story! I fell in love with the characters early in the story. I loved the way Ms. Hauck interweaves Cora and Haley’s stories, and though one was historical and one modern, the story was beautiful written in a way that made me crave more of each character. I couldn’t put this book down because I wanted to find out what was happening with each lady.

Cora was the sweetest young lady with a lot of disappointments and heartaches. Rufus, well I just wanted to give him a piece of my mind. And Birch was a sweetheart, a man every women dreams of. Haley was independent like Cora, and wanted to open the Wedding Shop, despite what her parents thought. She was determined to try and forget her ex forever. And I really liked Cole as well. He has his share of disappointments and heartaches too. And I love the way Rachel Hauck interweaves the stories of these four characters in an amazing way, weaving together their dysfunctional lives with their faith in the Lord. And she shows that even though our lives don’t turn out the way we want, and despite the heartaches and disappointments we may go through, Jesus will always be there in us and with us. And He can take all of our baggage and make something beautiful from it all.

The Wedding Shop is another beautiful story from author Rach Hauck. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good clean heartwarming read. And if you haven’t read The Wedding Dress and The Wedding Chapel, I encourage you to check out these two books as well.

I received this book from Celebration Lit Blog Tours to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

About the Author

Rachel Hauck is a USA Today Bestselling author. Her book, The Wedding Dress, was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Her book Once Upon A Prince was a Christy Award finalist.

Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and two pets and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at rachelhauck.com, Facebook: rachelhauck, and Twitter: @RachelHauck

Guest Post from Rachel Hauck

Hey everyone! I’m so excited to share The Wedding Shop with you. This book is one of my favorites.

While all books are my “babies,” this one found a special place in my heart.

This standalone novel is part of the Wedding Collection – The Wedding Dress and The Wedding Chapel – and it came to life when I discovered the story of Cora Scott, a 1930s wedding shop owner.

At 30, she’s an old maid, but the best “bride’s maid” in fictional Heart’s Bend, Tennessee. But she’s in love with a charismatic, charming river boat captain.

The contemporary heroine, Haley Morgan, is a retired Air Force captain returning to Heart’s Bend to restart her life. She’s recovering from a broken heart. The handsome, dynamic, charming man she loved was nothing but trouble.

Returning home, Haley is set on keeping a childhood promise she made with her best friend—to open the old wedding shop.

The shop is legend in Heart’s Bend. Haley grew up with stories of Miss Cora and the shop, hearing the town’s mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers reminiscing about their “day in the shop,” walking down the grand staircase in their wedding gown.

But in 2016, the shop is dilapidated, neglected and in need of more money than Haley possesses.

While writing this story, I had to ask a lot of questions. Why reopen the old shop? Why not just open a new one?

Haley was a combat veteran, deployed to Afghanistan twice, why would she want to open a wedding shop?

I also investigate the meaning of the shop to the town? To Cora? To Haley?

As I developed the backstory for the characters, the shop and the town, Cora’s came to life. She fascinated me. I admired this fictional woman. She exuded ingenuity, courage, and deep, deep devotion.

On the other hand, Haley was a bit of a mystery but from the start, she saw value in something no one else did.

What if we all saw value in people or places others wanted to reject?

Isn’t that what Jesus does for us?

The heroes of the book, Birch and Cole, are just stellar guys. Princes among men. I love writing about slightly wounded but strong and tender men.

The theme of family and community populates the story. Also, how misconceptions and preconceived ideas often ruin relationships.

Booklist gave The Wedding Shop a Starred Review and called it, “Spellbinding.”

There’s a lot of fun drama in this book! I hope you enjoy spending time with Cora and Haley, the men they love and the shop they bring to life.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Connect with me at www.rachelhauck.com.

Blog Stops

September 13: History, Mystery & Faith

September 13: A Holland Reads

September 14: Giveaway Lady

September 14: Daysong Reflections

September 15: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses

September 15: Bibliophile Reviews

September 16: Bigreadersite

September 16: The Scribbler

September 17: Books,Dreams,Life

September 17: ASC Book Reviews

September 18: Book Babble

September 18: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

September 19: Pause for Tales

September 19: Book by Book

September 20: The Power of Words

September 20: Lighthouse Academy

September 21: Proverbial Reads

September 21: Splashes of Joy

September 22: Faithfully Bookish

September 22: Singing Librarian Books

September 23: Tell Tale Book Reviews

September 23: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

September 24: Quiet Quilter

September 24: Reading Is My SuperPower

September 25: For The Love of Books

September 26: His Grace Is Sufficient

September 26: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away her Wedding Collection Series! Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/a366

The Flower Workshop: Lessons in Arranging Blooms, Branches, Fruits, and Foraged Materials

21 Sep 2016 Leave a comment

by Splashes of Joy in Blogging for Books, Flowers, Uncategorized

The Flower Workshop: Lessons in Arranging Blooms,
Branches, Fruits, and Foraged Materials

by Ariella Chezar and Julie Michaels

the-flower-workshop

About this book

Written by a celebrated floral designer and lavishly illustrated with full-color photography, this book not only provides step-by-step instructions for 50 stunning floral projects from simple to spectacular, but also equips readers with the skills to customize arrangements at home.

Whether hosting a party, helping out with a friend’s wedding, or wishing to incorporate the beauty of flowers into everyday life, The Flower Workshop allows you to create dazzling arrangements that go beyond merely pretty and into realms of the dramatic, the unexpected, and sometimes even the magical. Written by a celebrated floral designer and lavishly illustrated with full-color photography, this book not only provides step-by-step instructions for more than forty-five stunning floral projects from simple to spectacular, but also equips you with the skills to customize arrangements at home.

Known for her hands-on flower workshops at FlowerSchool New York, Ariella Chezar walks you through the nuts and bolts of creating a variety of small flourishes, tonal arrangements, branch arrangements, handheld bouquets, wreathes, garlands, grand gestures, and more—all accompanied by detailed photography. Chezar offers advice and philosophy on everything from texture and color to foliage and containers, providing an overall approach to living and working with flowers, with an eye toward fresh, local, wild, seasonally influenced floral design. For every occasion, from relaxed and simple to lavish and monumental, The Flower Workshop celebrates the special moments in your life with glorious, fragrant floral arrangements and enhances your surroundings with abundant beauty.

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

This is a beautiful book inside and out. I love the beautiful flowers on the cover. This book would sure stand out on any bookshelf or bookstand in a store. If you are into flower arrangements, or decorating with flowers, this book would be an awesome choice for you to pick. It is hardbound, so it is more durable while you are working with it.

The fifty flower arrangements taught in this book are amazing, and I might could do a decent job of doing an arrangement after going through this book. No only does she show you how to do these 50 beautiful arrangements, Ms. Chezar gives you enough tips and ideas that you will be able to make your own arrangements. It may take a little time, and going back to the book for help at first, but the more you work with the flowers, the easier it becomes. This author leaves nothing out, she gives you full instructions, the kinds of flowers, what is in season when, and tells you the tools you need to make your flower arranging successful.

And I can’t leave out all of the full color pictures. They are simply gorgeous. This is a book you can have fun just looking through over and over again, just to see the beautiful pictures of the flowers.

I received this book from Blogging for Books to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

Really Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs

19 Sep 2016 Leave a comment

by Splashes of Joy in Uncategorized

Really Bad Girls of the Bible
by Liz Curtis Higgs

Discover the Truth About
God’s Sovereignty
from the Bible’s Really Bad Girls.

Eight of the Bible’s most notorious females strut across the pages of Really Bad Girls of the Bible with troubles that still hit home in the twenty-first century.

The Medium of En Dor crossed over to the dark side. Jael stood up to a ruthless enemy. The Adulteress was caught between a rock and a hard place. Athaliah made a bid for power that ended badly. Bathsheba captured the wandering eye of a king. Herodias made a cruel request of her husband. Tamar exchanged her widow’s weeds for a harlot’s garb. And the Bleeding Woman had a serious health issue only a great physician could handle.

“Higgs does such a remarkable job telling their stories that many of the Good Book’s ‘bad girls’ become downright sympathetic.… Higgs is a refreshingly astute biblical commentator…(and) ably points readers to ‘good girl’ tips they can apply from the Bible’s cautionary tales.”
—Publishers Weekly

Really Bad Girls of the Bible shines a spotlight on God’s sovereignty, demonstrating one life-changing truth: God rules the lives of those He loves with mercy, compassion, and hope.

Includes Discussion Questions and a Study Guide

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

Liz Curtis Higgs has written the most wonderful Bible Studies for women. After enjoying the study Bad Girls of the Bible, I wanted to see which Bible ladies made it to the Really Bad list. One thing I love about this study is that Ms. Higgs shows us that women have been facing a lot of the same issues since the beginning of time. And even though the ladies in this study lived long ago, the story of their lives can help us today in our daily lives. The situations and principles are the same. To be honest, some of these ladies I either had never heard of or just barely remember hearing about in the Bible, so a lot of it was all new to me.

I appreciate the way Ms. Higgs tells the stories of each lady in her study, and then guides everything back to the real reason we have for doing this study, and that is Jesus. She always makes a point of putting Jesus first, in everything. And explaining that life is nothing without Him. This is a wonderful study for your church group or Sunday school group. It has study questions you can answer as a group, and this is always more helpful to me. I love hearing everyone else’s thoughts on what we have read and studied. I encourage you to check out this really neat study.

About the Author

Liz Curtis Higgs

Biography

Liz Curtis Higgs admits, “My goal is simple: to help women embrace the grace of God with joy and abandon!”

Her latest release, It’s Good to Be Queen, encourages readers to become as bold, gracious, and wise as the queen of Sheba, who journeyed across the desert to test the mind and heart of King Solomon.

In her best-selling series of Bad Girls of the Bible books and videos, Liz breathes new life into ancient tales about the most infamous–and intriguing–women in scriptural history, from Jezebel to Mary Magdalene. Biblically sound and cutting-edge fresh, these popular titles have helped more than one million women around the world experience God’s grace anew.

Liz also offers a twenty-first century take on the book of Ruth in The Girl’s Still Got It, dishing out meat and milk, substance and style, in a highly readable, always entertaining, and deeply personal journey.

And you’ll find a heartwarming Bible study wrapped inside a beautiful gift book with The Women of Christmas. Verse by verse, Liz unwraps the biblical stories of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna, who each welcome the Christ child into the world in a marvelous and miraculous way.

Liz’s award-winning historical novels, which transport the stories of Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Dinah, Ruth, and Naomi to eighteenth-century Scotland, also invite readers to view these familiar biblical characters in a new light.

According to Publishers Weekly, “Higgs is a stickler for period authenticity.” To that end, Liz has traveled sixteen times to Scotland, the setting for her novels, and has filled her shelves with nearly one thousand resource books about Scottish history and culture.

Also a gifted professional speaker, Liz has presented more than 1,700 inspirational programs for audiences in all fifty United States and fourteen foreign countries. When the National Speakers Association honored her with the Council of Peers Award for Excellence, Liz became one of only 35 women in the world named to their CPAE-Speaker Hall of Fame.

On the personal side, Liz is married to Bill Higgs, Ph.D., who serves as Director of Operations for her speaking and writing office. Liz and Bill enjoy their old Kentucky home, a nineteenth-century farmhouse in Louisville, and are the proud (and relieved) parents of two college grads.

“I have three abiding passions: encouraging my sisters in Christ, exploring the stories of women in the Bible, and writing novels set in Scotland of old. When I’m not traveling, speaking, or spinning a story, I connect with readers online, take copious photos, read historical novels, watch period films, and immerse myself in research–the more books, the merrier. I’m a lame housekeeper, a marginal cook, and a mediocre gardener, but home is still my favorite place to land.”

Visit Liz’s Web site: http://www.LizCurtisHiggs.com

A Memory Worth Dying For by Joanie Bruce, Plus Kindle Fire Giveaway

02 Sep 2016 1 Comment

by Splashes of Joy in Celebration Lit Blog Tours, Joanie Bruce, Uncategorized

To purchase your copy, click here.

About the Book

“Do Not Return To Texas!” Marti Rushing gets the message, loud and clear. If she returns to Texas, her life is in danger. If she stays in Tennessee, she’s safe. But when she receives a letter telling her that Daniel, her ex-husband and the love of her life, is dying, she knows she has to defy the stalker and return to Texas to see him. Three years ago, Daniel accused her of things she couldn’t remember doing. Without waiting for an explanation and after four wonderful years of marriage, Daniel kicks her off of his family’s Quarter Horse ranch. Now, three years after their separation, he walks into her art reception in Tennessee and acts like he doesn’t remember her. Does the memory loss have anything to do with the letter she received, or is Daniel pretending? Is he the one stalking her, or is it someone with a deadly, sinister motive? Ignoring the deadly warnings, she leaves for Texas, but on the way there, the attempts on her life begin. Will she be able to evade her pursuer’s attacks? Or will Daniel’s face be the last one she sees?

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

When Marti gets the message not to return to Texas, she realizes that if she does return, her life will be in danger. But when she gets the call that her ex-husband is dying, she has to go see him once more, no matter the danger. Daniel and Martha had such a wonderful marriage, but when an accident happened that was Martha’s fault, their world, as well as their marriage was torn appart, and their lives were changed forever.

This is my first book by author Joanie Bruce, and I didn’t realize what an awesome read I was in for! I love Daniel and Marti’s story. And I really liked that Ms. Bruce uses the verse, Joel 2:25a. “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” in this story because it is so fitting for Marti and what she goes through.

Daniel and Marti were loveable characters that I fell in love with immediately. Marti did such as awesome job of being around Daniel, even though he couldn’t remember who she was. That would have to be a difficult situation to be around the love of your life, and they don’t remember you. And to make matters worse, the nasty little villain that was so sure Daniel was going to marry her kept popping into the picture. Joanie Bruce gives readers an amazing story of love, grace, forgiveness, redemption and second chances in this heartwarming suspense thriller. I want to say so many thing about this book, but I don’t want to give it away and ruin the read for anyone. So I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of A Memory Worth Dying For and enjoy this wonderful read.

About the Author

Joanie has a strong passion for reading, and her love for books with nail-biting suspense, inspires her to write contemporary suspense books. Thankful that God has given her the ability to write from her home in the country, she strives to use that opportunity to honor Him in all of her writing. Joanie and her husband, Ben, live in a country home near Madison, Georgia, right in the middle of a pasture full of beef cows. There they raised and homeschooled their three children. She enjoys cooking, taking long walks, painting oil portraits, and caring for their home in the country.

Guest Post from Joanie Bruce

Hello everyone. My name is Joanie Bruce, and I’m happy to visit with you today and tell you a little about myself and my book, “A Memory Worth Dying For.”

The idea for this book actually started from a simple memory. Years ago, I watched a movie about a woman whose father-in-law ruined her marriage. That thought raised a question in my mind: What would happen if a married woman was kicked out of her home by her father-in-law, and her husband never stood up for her against his father?

Many questions and solutions emerged from that one idea, and the brainstorming began… One answer lead to another problem, and the answer to that problem produced another question. When all was done, the plot for this book emerged.

After adding suspense, mystery, love, and a growing spiritual aspect to that one idea, I was able to combine them to form an interesting plot. Finally, after several months of work, “A Memory Worth Dying For” was born.

I love this story because it shows forgiveness at its highest peak. Marti and Daniel have a wonderful marriage, but because of greed, selfishness, and a colossal misunderstanding, that marriage is dissolved. Even though they are separated, the love they feel for each other never wanes. Marti’s love for Daniel throws her into a dangerous situation, but that same love also gives her the perseverance and determination to stay in Texas and fight for the happiness of the man she loves even though her life is threatened if she does. I’m sure you’ve all read the Bible verse Joel 2:25a. “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten.” That verse is the one Marti clings to throughout the story.

As I do my writing each day, I pray that God will teach me something. Writing this book taught me so many lessons. Not only did I fall in love with the characters, but with the idea of practicing forgiveness in my own life. It also reinforced the knowledge that I should never jump to conclusions and get the facts before I make decisions. In this book, Daniel jumped to a conclusion and listened to gossip which caused the break-up of his marriage and unnecessary stress in his life.

Years ago, one of my Sunday School students gave me a book for Christmas called “In His Steps.” If you remember, that book started the campaign that encouraged you to ask “what would Jesus do?” before every action. I was convicted while reading that book because I knew I wasn’t doing things in my life for the Lord’s glory. So the next Sunday in church, I dedicated my life back to the Lord, and I began praying He would use me in whatever way He chose.

After those sincere prayers, the Lord began showing me how I could use my life and the talents He gave me for Him. It was shortly after that prayer I found out I had the ability to paint portraits, and not long after starting my art career, my first attempt at writing was accepted for a publishing contract. I realized then that following the Lord’s leading in my life and an attitude of gratefulness and obedience all worked together so the Lord would bless my efforts.

If you take anything away from this post, I hope it will be that the Lord can use anyone who is willing to be used. If you surrender your talents to him, no matter what your age or limitations, God can still use you for His glory.

Thank you for listening to my ramblings. I hope and pray that God blesses each of you in all of your accomplishments.