Welcome to my Book Review Blog. My goal is to connect readers with the wonderful and amazing books I am blessed to reveiw. And to introduce you to the talented and wonderful authors responsible for writing these books. May my love for books show through my reviews on this site.
It is 1755, and the threat of war with France looms over colonial York, Virginia. Chocolatier Esmée Shaw is fighting her own battle of the heart. Having reached her twenty-eighth birthday, she is reconciled to life alone after a decade-old failed love affair from which she’s never quite recovered. But she longs to find something worthwhile to do with her life.Captain Henri Lennox has returned to port after a lengthy absence, intent on completing the lighthouse in the dangerous Chesapeake Bay, a dream he once shared with Esmée. But when the colonial government asks him to lead a secret naval expedition against the French, his future is plunged into uncertainty.Will a war and a cache of regrets keep them apart, or can their shared vision and dedication to the colonial cause heal the wounds of the past? Bestselling and award-winning author Laura Frantz whisks you away to a time fraught with peril–on the sea and in the heart–in this redemptive, romantic story.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
A Heart Adrift By Laura Frantz – Five Stars
I haven’t read a Laura Frantz book for a while so I was more than thrilled with the chance to read A Heart Adrift. The amazing book cover drew me in from the beginning. Isn’t it just stunning? And now for the story. Set in 1755 colonial York, Va., Chocolatier Esmée Shaw runs her mom’s Chocolate shop. I love her character because she has such a caring personality, always willing to help those in need. And always thinking of her old fame Henri and wonder if she will ever see him again. Will the war, the distance and the years keep the two apart forever? Esmée is just the sweetest. I enjoyed getting to know her so much, and oh my, all that Chocolate! I could literally smell the chocolate as I read this book. Henri had to grow on me somewhat, but I found that the two are just perfect together. The attention to vivid details takes this book to a different level. Author Laura Frantz does a fantastic job of research as well as creating wonderful characters and writing a story her readers will not soon forget. I can’t seem to get Esmée and Henri off my mind. I am sure I will be reading this one again in the near future. I think anyone who enjoys a good clean historical fiction with elements of faith running through will love this book. A Hearts Adrift by Laura Frantz deserves Five Stars from me.
This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.
Award-winning, bestselling author Laura Frantz is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.According to Publishers Weekly, “Frantz has done her historical homework.” With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California. Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.netFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurafrantzauthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/LFrantzauthorPinterest: http://pinterest.com/laurafrantz/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurafrantzaut
Fairy tales and wishing upon stars are for those who still believe in romance.
Sometimes misplaced trust injures more than ourselves, and doesn’t Elaina Hensley know it. When her oldest daughter is left suffering the consequences, Elaina vows to protect her girls at any cost. Nothing, not even her own happiness, will sway her again.
Or will it?
She’s got this protective self-denial down pat–right up to the moment her best friend’s brother arrives on the scene like a fairytale knight, vowing to slay all her dragons. She must—she will resist.
However, when her worst nightmare comes back to haunt her, Elaina has to admit she needs that white knight on her side.
In Wish Upon a Star, Jennifer Sienes gives readers a very beautiful story of how we can learn to trust people, even though it is very difficult. I love this story and love following Ryan and Elaina, and especially Eliana and all of her struggles. Ryan was a sweetheart and perfect for Eliana, even though it took her a while. The author does such a fabulous job dealing with such sensitive and harsh realities, and does it in a way it doesn’t defend, but brings those involved closer to the Lord. I love how Jennifer Sienes weaves the Christian life into her characters, and in this case shows that God can forgive and He is the giver of second chances. I didn’t read the previous book with some of these characters but I didn’t have a problem reading this one as a stand alone. If you enjoy a good clean story of love and forgiveness, this is one you don’t want to pass up.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About the Author
Jennifer Sienes holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in education, but discovered life-experience is the best teacher. She loves Jesus, romance and writing–and puts it altogether in inspirational contemporary fiction. Her daughter’s TBI and brother’s suicide inspired two of her three novels. Although fiction writing is her real love, she’s had several non-fiction pieces published in anthologies–two in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has two grown children and one very spoiled Maltese. California born and raised, she recently took a step of faith with her real-life hero and relocated to Tennessee.
More from Jennifer
Do you remember what Christmas was like as a child? I do. Some of my fondest memories come that holiday when I was growing up. There was a deep sense of family and tradition that I desperately wanted to instill in my own children. No small part of that was the innocence that came from being protected by the harsh realities of life. I envisioned growing old with the grands and great-grands gathered around a Christmas tree bursting with ornaments and sharing the customary Christmas dinner.
My future didn’t quite pan out the way I’d envisioned it. What was it John Lennon said? “Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans.” Or if you want to keep with the Biblical viewpoint: In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps (Proverbs 16:9)
Although my innocence went by the wayside as I became an adult, I held onto that dream until the Christmas morning my first husband announced he was leaving me. It was then I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. He anchored me in the following months along with my full-time teaching job, two teenage children, and a mother who was dying of leukemia. It wasn’t until October rolled around when my then seventeen-year-old son burst into my bedroom early one morning and said, “I just realized, Christmas will never be the same” that it hit me. I wasn’t the only one affected. For him, the dream died much too early. He was right—when splitting time between divorced parents, things get rather disjointed and complicated. Christmas was never the same for any of us.
But our God is a God of redemption. He takes our brokenness and disappointments and uses them for our good and His glory. Wish Upon A Star isn’t the traditional Christmas story you might find on the Hallmark channel. It’s about a broken family in need of a merciful Savior, and one woman in need of a white knight.
Just like Elaina Hensley, the main character, God had a more perfect plan for my life, too. Without the brokenness we cannot be made whole through Him to be who He calls us to be. In the years since that fateful Christmas morning, He’s given me my own white knight, a godly husband who loves to serve, and the opportunity to follow another childhood dream—to write the stories He’s laid on my heart.
Genre: Contemporary Christian romance / Amish romance
Release date: November 1, 2021
Torn between family loyalty
and her dreams for the future…
Grace Beiler’s shocked when Zach Miller arrives at her family’s farmhouse seeking forgiveness for his teenage mistake that cost her sister’s fiancé his life. But when her father gives Zach a job, Grace gets to know the man he’s become…and starts to want more than friendship. Can love bloom amid hidden secrets and family grief, and give them a fresh start at Christmas?
Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see on Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published fifty books in almost a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog. Find tons of bonus scenes and reader extras by becoming a VIP reader at http://www.lacywilliams.net/vip .
More from Lacy
The Best Part of a Barn Raising
Have you ever had your community rally around you? Maybe some of your friends threw you a baby shower. Maybe your church helped with a meal train when you were ill for a time. Maybe you played sports and raised money together as a team.
Has your community ever built you a house?
I’ve written lots of historical books. I’ve written a barn-raising or two into my books. Until I started researching for THE AMISH OUTCAST’S HOLIDAY RETURN, I didn’t realize that community “raising” events still happened in 2021. They do!
In some Amish communities, builders will gather all the materials for the house or barn and on (usually) a Saturday, the entire community will gather to build the whole structure. There’s a really cool timelapse of a barn raising on YouTube that you can check out.
I’ve always loved writing about these events because of the community aspect. We need human connection and there’s something special about having your community surround you and show their love in a tangible way. Imagine walking into your home that your friends built for you. Every time you walked over the threshold you could remember the friend who built the door frame. When it storms, you could appreciate the roof over your head that many friends helped stretch the frame for. What an amazing feeling of belonging.
Of course, barn raisings and house raisings wouldn’t be complete without the food. Typically, the women and girls put together a giant potluck for the men and boys who are doing the physical work of building the structure. Brainstorming for this always makes me remember church potlucks when I was a child. Our church met at the local 4-H building. We would stretch out folding tables and chairs in long rows. And the food. Pasta salad. Fried chicken. Chocolate cake!
(I also remember roller skating in the back of the massive building with my friends, but that is a whole other story…).
Memories and friendships are forged at church potlucks and barn raisings. And when you are on the inside, it creates a lovely sense of belonging. But the hero in THE AMISH OUTCAST’S HOLIDAY RETURN, Zach, is not on the inside. He’s an outsider who has come home and is searching for a place to belong. The barn raising/potluck is the moment when heroine Grace sees a hint of vulnerability in Zach—because he wants to belong. It changes everything in their new acquaintanceship.
Want to know more about this book? Check out the “read inside” feature and try Chapter One on your favorite retailer.
Shirley Davenport is as much a patriot as her four brothers. She, too, wants to aid her country in the war efforts, but opportunities for women are limited. When her best friend Joan informs her that the Coast Guard has opened a new branch for single women, they both enlist in the SPARs, ready to help protect the home front.
Training is rigorous, and Shirley is disappointed that she and Joan are sent to separate training camps. At the end of basic training, Captain Webber commends her efforts and commissions her home to Maine under the ruse of a dishonorable discharge to help uncover a plot against the First Lady.
Shirley soon discovers nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust? Why do the people she loves want to harm the First Lady? With the help of Captain Webber, it’s a race against time to save Mrs. Roosevelt and remain alive.
Saving Mrs. Roosevelt, by Candice Sue Patterson, is another story in the Heroines of WWII series from Barbour Publishing. Before reading this book, I didn’t know about the WWII women’s Coast Guard Reserve, which are called SPARs. I found it very interesting reading about what these women do to help during WWII. In this book, the mission was to save Mrs. Roosevelt from the harm that was coming her way. Shirley plays her part well as she was thought to be dishonorable discharge to uncover a plot against Mrs. Roosevelt. But can Shirley really trust those she is working for? I enjoy reading books about the First Ladies and this is one that will stay with me. The characters were so realistic, I loved reading this interesting story. The plot was well thought out and flows well, with enough interest to keep me reading to the very end. If you enjoy reading about our first ladies, this is a really good one to start with. I give this one four stars.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About the Author
Candice Sue Patterson studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature and is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, splitting wood, or decorating cakes, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes Modern Vintage Romance—where the past and present collide with faith. Her debut novel How to Charm a Beekeeper’s Heart was a 2012 ACFW First Impressions finalist and made INSPYs Longlist for 2016.
More from Candice
The idea for Saving Mrs. Roosevelt literally came overnight. I had just finished writing a contemporary romance set in Maine, centered around a harbor town where lobstering is prevalent. My agent called me and told me about the Heroines of WWII series and asked if I’d be interested in writing a WWII novel. If so, I needed to come up with a story and proposal fast because spots were limited and filling quickly. My mind was so consumed with research of the lobster industry that I felt I couldn’t clear my brain fast enough to come up with another story on such short notice. That’s when I started wondering how I could take the knowledge I already had and make it work for a WWII novel. I googled Maine during WWII, came across an article that mentioned the SPARs, and the idea for Saving Mrs. Roosevelt was born.
I don’t want to give too much away, but the Nancy Drew deep inside me figured out a unique way to merge lobstering with espionage.
Though the plot is purely fiction, there are some characters and events that are historically accurate that were fun to include as well. I love Maine, but I’m Hoosier born and raised, and in my SPAR research, I discovered that Dorothy C. Stratton–the woman the Coast Guard asked to direct the SPARs–was the Dean of Women at Purdue University in Indiana. She was a woman of true character, grace, and strength. I knew right away she needed a cameo in my story.
Within twenty-four hours of receiving my agent’s call, I had plotted the entire story and sent a proposal. Weeks went by, and as fall ushered in its beautiful colors, my husband surprised me with a trip to Monhegan Island, Maine. We walked the trails, ate amazing seafood, and took in the gorgeous view. While on the island, my agent called again, this time to let me know that Barbour had contracted Saving Mrs. Roosevelt. What a special moment it was to be standing on the very shoreline where the book is set when I received the good news.
Since the book is set in Maine where the heroine works on a lobster boat with her father, I wanted to share my favorite recipe for Maine blueberry pie.
Maine Blueberry Pie
Ingredients:
2 Pie crusts
1 quart of fresh Maine blueberries
1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
Freshly grated nutmeg
¼ c light brown sugar
¼ c white sugar
¼ c flour
2 tbsp tapioca for thickening (if the berries are juicy)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place the berries into a large bowl, add lemon juice, and toss. Add the remaining ingredients and toss until the berries are well coated with the flour and sugars mixture. Line the pie plate with one crust. Put the berries into the pie plate and top with a solid or lattice-top crust. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the berries are bubbly and the crust is golden brown.
Time After Tyme is a fun and thought-provoking mystery about secret codes, university intrigue, and two young girls who fancy themselves 21st-century Nancy Drews.
When strange, coded messages turn up in the chapel prayer box at Bellevue University, the minister suspects a recent campus death may have been murder, so he enlists the help of amateur sleuths Kathryn Frasier and Cece Goldman to decipher the codes and solve the mystery. But when a couple of young girls get wind of it, they decide to find the killer on their own. Almost everyone on campus has something to hide, and the story fluctuates between the rational search for the truth by the adults, and the occasionally misguided, but surprisingly perceptive, insight of the children.
Set on the campus of a modern university, Time After Tyme is both a joyful romp through a cozy mystery and a serious look at the search for truth. The book reminds us of the seasons of our lives, from the irrepressible curiosity of youth to the treasured experience of maturity.
BOOK EXCERPT
Time After Tyme Excerpt 5Or maybe she’d admit she murdered him because he was going to hire a younger woman to replace her. Or maybe she’d just call my dad and tell him to come pick me up. Her face became stern, more than ever before, and her cheeks turned the same color pink as her glasses. “Reen, you shouldn’t be investigating a death.” Ah. The you’re-too-young-to-know-anything approach. “That was a gruesome thing and not one a young girl should be concerned with. If you want to be an investigative reporter, I suggest you look into something else.” She picked up a newspaper lying next to the stack of books. “Here. There’s a big story in yesterday’s paper about how the school system is funded. You could investigate that and find some positive ways to help the community. Looking into a terrible accident isn’t a good idea.”I leaned against the desk, trying to look older and nonchalant like reporters did in the old movies.
Kay DiBianca is an award-winning author who loves to create literary puzzles in the mystery genre for her readers to solve. Her characters come to life as they struggle to solve murders and create relationships amidst the ongoing themes of faith and family. Her first novel, The Watch on the Fencepost, won an Illumination Award for General Fiction and an Eric Hoffer Award for Mystery. The second book in the Watch series, Dead Man’s Watch, was a Silver Falchion Award finalist.
Kay is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime, and the Collierville Christian Writers Group. An avid runner, she can often be found at a nearby track, on the treadmill, or at a large park near her home. Her background in software development fuels her fascination with puzzles and mysteries, and her dedication to running helps supply the endurance and energy she needs to write about them.
Kay and her husband, Frank, live, run, and write in Memphis, Tennessee. You can connect with Kay through her website at https://kaydibianca.com.
Trent Raines’ opinion, happily ever after has four paws and doggy breath. He spends his days isolated at the shelter, taking care of animals. Especially now that romance seems to be spreading across the islands faster than fleas in summer.
She lives a safe life behind the camera lens.
Kara Parker’s job at the animal shelter keeps her too busy to worry about romance. Sure, the boss is cute and all, but her introverted nature is perfectly happy as a photographer and website designer, thank you very much.
Even a quick trip to the mainland to retrieve a truckful of animals won’t change their minds.
Or so they think.
As Trent comes to understand Kara, he discovers there’s more than meets the eye in his quiet employee. Together, they plan a Christmas adoption festival that’s certain to empty the animal shelter in record time. Until a blast from Trent’s past puts all the animals in danger.
Sure, Trent and Kara are fine on their own, but they’re even better together.
What will it take for these soulmates conquer their fears and rescue the animals before it’s too late?
Footprints on Her Heart continues the Hooper Island stories of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
Footprints on Her Heart by Tabitha Bouldin IA through Fifth book in the Hooper Island series. I have really grown to love these Island stories. I hope they continue because I would sure hate to see the ending of these Island. This book has a different take of life on the island I think. Trent Raines owns an Amina shelter and Kara works there as well. She is also a photographer and web designer, so this keeps her pretty busy. She does think her boss is cute, that’s for sure, but no romance. She Just doesn’t have time to include anything else into her life.
I really enjoyed this story, and was glad to see Trent have his own story. I really like this guy. And Kara, she’s just waiting to shine in this story and she surely does that. I think both Trent and Kara’s dedication to the animals at the shelter shows how kind and caring they both are. I was glad to see them working more together and spending more time together. The attraction is sure there between the two. There is a lot going on here in the story, lots more tension and taking care of their sweet animals at the shelter. If you haven’t read any of the Independence Island Series books, you are missing out. These books will appeal to anyone loving a good sweet and clean read.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About the Author
Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has been writing since 2015. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, you’ll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.
More from Tabitha
I love animals. Always have. I was the kid who always brought home the injured animals and tried to make them better. I am the adult who feels guilty for walking by a hungry cat without feeding it.
When I write, those animal-loving tendencies come out. My characters will rescue animals, care for them, and love them unconditionally. My contributions to the Independence Islands are no different. When it began, I knew I needed a pet groomer, and the animal shelter developed from Mel’s love of animals. That’s when Trent showed up.
Trent walked onto the page as Mel’s partner in founding the animal shelter, Forever Pals, but I didn’t know he wanted his story told until several months after I started writing the series. I tried putting him off, but Trent was having none of that. He’s a bit overzealous and ready to share his love story with you, even if he’d rather I didn’t tell you about his troubled past.
The more I dove into Trent’s story, the more I realized he’s the kind of guy you’d call in the middle of the night when a stray dog shows up in your backyard. He doesn’t care. He’d upend his entire life to care for the animals, and he loves each one instantly, no questions asked. People…not so much.
I had the best time writing this story. Footprints on Her Heart is one of those books that I fell in love with from the very beginning. The story put itself on the page, all I had to do was be the engine and let it come to life. Those are my favorite. I wish every book came as easily as Footprints. Even though that isn’t the case, I’ll always hold this one as a dear friend. Kara and Trent make such a cute couple that I think they need to make an appearance in every island book I write from here on out.
When Psychologist Rocky Devos lost his wife to cancer, he also lost his faith in the fairness of God. For over a year, he lived in the thin space between his love for God and his hatred for what he believed God did. Each night, he banged on heaven’s gate demanding an explanation.
“Why Rachel, Lord? Why would you let her suffer like that? Why didn’t you do something? Why didn’t you give us a miracle?”
The longer his prayers went unanswered the more frustrated he became. Eventually, he meets God’s silence with a silence of his own. But then, a year and four months later, the answer arrives disguised as a homeless vagabond who claims to be the apostle Paul. Clearly, Rocky believes he was delusional. But in their court-appointed sessions, he finds a kindred spirit. As Paul unpacks the pain of losing his wife in childbirth the two men connect. Rocky believes he’s there to help Paul. Paul believes the opposite.
The book explores the thin space between faith and doubt. Rocky’s questions are our questions. At some point we will all lose someone we love. When we do, we will find comfort in the company of those who have walked the path of suffering before us. Rocky invites us to join him on his journey of redemption. His conversations with Paul will not only change the way he thinks about God, they may do the same for you as well.
Click here to get your copy!
Now join me as I read this interesting interview from thr author
Why fiction instead of nonfiction?I’ve done a little of both. I wrote part of a commentary series for Baker Publishing entitled, Teach the Text, and I write sermons every week. The thing I like about fiction is that it allows me to talk about God, the bible, and eternity with people who might not ever darken the door of a church.
9.] How much of your personality goes into your stories? In my first novel, The Gate, the main character Sky, was loosely based on my life and my family so there was a lot of my personality in it. In The Thin Space, the main character Rocky is trying to juggle his career, his faith, and his desire to be a great father to his daughter and there’s a lot of me in that too. I also put some of myself into a minor character named Jacob Lankheet.14.] If a film were made of your book, who would you cast in the leading roles? I think that I’d cast Ben Afleck, Ryan Reynolds, or Matt Damon, as Rocky. Paul’s a little harder. My first thought is Tom Hanks would be great if he could master the middle eastern accent. Other choices might be Oded Fehr (from the Mummy), or Jonathan Roumie (Jesus in the Chosen).
25.] If I write a review of your book, what do you want to hear?I want to hear that it moved you emotionally, made you think more deeply about God, and inspired you to give the book to a friend who’s struggling with death or doubt or both. My prayer as I wrote The Thin Space was that the book would bring people comfort and bring people closer to God.29.] What would the main character in your book say about you? I’m sure initially he’d be skeptical of anything I might say or do because I’m a pastor. But I would hope that after he got to know me, he’d say that I was a straight shooter, someone with integrity, and that what I said and did was a reflection of what I believed deep in my bones.
About the Author
DANN STOUTEN (DMin, Western Theological Seminary) is the pastor of Leadership and Teaching at Christ Memorial Church in Holland, Michigan. Dann has always been a lover of stories. He believes if we write about hope, it’s because we have found hope. If we write about tragedy, it’s because we have experienced tragedy. If we write about love, it’s because we have been loved well or want to be. If we write about faith, it’s because we have wrestled with our doubts and come out on the other side. Doubt is the enemy of faith and nothing stirs up doubt like death.
When we lose someone we love, our faith is either strengthened or strangled. That death will drive us closer to God or drive us farther away. We find ourselves in The Thin Space between wanting to believe and wondering if we do. For a time, faith and doubt play tug-o-war with our souls. In the end, whether we chose to believe or not is often decided by the stories we’re told. My prayer is that my words might bring people comfort and bring them closer to God.
More from Dann
There is a thin space between faith and doubt, and when we lose someone we love, the lines can sometimes get blurred. Unanswered prayers hang heavy on our hearts, and grief can even cause us to question God. In those moments of uncertainty, we often find comfort in the company of those who’ve walked the path of suffering before us. Their story and our stories intertwine. The Thin Space invites us to walk alongside of Rocky DeVos as he tries to navigate life’s most challenging moments. It is honest, comforting, and dares ask the questions we so often are afraid to explore. It will challenge the way you think about God and is a must read for anyone who’s lost someone they love.
Creating new Christmas traditions is a priority for single mom Faith Harper. But the handsome widower next door, police officer Roan Donovan, is struggling to make the season merry for his two girls. Sunny Faith could brighten the holiday for Roan. And the way he protects his daughters touches her heart. Will facing their challenges together unite their families…and build a love to weather all seasons?
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I love reading Christmas heartwarming books during the Holiday season because they take me away from the world and all its problems fir a while. Her Christmastime Family by Tara Randel is a sweet story you don’t want to miss this Christmas. Faith and Roan were both single parents, but for different reasons. They both wanted to show their children a wonderful Christmas and it was do much fun reading about their lives. Golden, Georgia is a perfect setting for this story, and the Matchmakers Club is the perfect addition to this interesting town. Randel does a wonderful job with each character and their development as the story unfolds, creating a story that will stay close to your heart for a while after you finish reading the story. I highly recommend this Tara Randel story for a few hours of sweet entertainment.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
A home renovation… Could change this friendship forever
Heidi Welch has her eye on the perfect home…until Reid Masterson buys it! Now Heidi has one last chance to get back the home of her dreams from her childhood friend and longtime crush. If she helps Reid with the renovations, he’ll sell her the house. But “just friends” seems just about impossible…especially when friendship keeps getting in the way of falling in love.
USA Today Bestselling Author Tara Randel has enjoyed a lifelong love of books, especially romance and mystery genres, so it didn’t come as a surprise when she began writing with the dream of becoming published. Family values, mystery and, of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets inspire the creation of heartwarming stories, filled with love, laughter and the occasional mystery.
Prize #1: Signed print copy of His Honor, Her Family and Stealing Her Best Friend’s Heart, a Christmas ornament and a $25 Amazon Gift Card. (Open to US only)
How many near misses does it take not to be a coincidence anymore?
Melanie Thompson has spent her entire adult life trying to overcome the mistakes of her youth. Just as everything is looking up, it all begins to unravel as one problem after another piles on top of each other, each with one goal in mind. Get her out of the way.
Determined to make a better life for herself and her daughter, and with the help of her father, Melanie looks at alternative ways to make her dream of owning a storefront for her bridal business come true. Complications with her ex-husband, the new business, and a threatening landlord all conspire against her, and everything seems lost when tragedy strikes not once, but twice.
What will it take for Melanie to accept the alternate path the Lord has laid out for her?
Revived Hope, the prequel to the romantic suspense Bay Town Series, paves the path for Melanie and Lacey’s move from Orange County to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and a new life in Bay Town.
Kathleen J. Robison is an Okinawan-American. Born in Okinawa, raised in California, Florida, Mississippi, and Singapore. Her travels are the inspirational settings for her stories. She and her Pastor husband have eight adult children. Seven are married, blessing them with fourteen grandchildren and counting. The diversity of their 31 family members provide the inspiration for more lively characters than can be imagined. Her husband grew up in the streets of Los Angeles raised by a single working mom, and that life provides fodder for many of the conflicts of her characters.
Tackling difficult life’s trials with God’s strength are the central theme of Kathleen’s stories. She hopes to inspire her readers to trust God and with His strength, weather through and rise above trials and tragedies. If you like suspenseful stories with a thread of romance, you will enjoy Kathleen’s Bay Town Series
Interview with
Kathleen J. Robison
11. How did you go about developing the setting(s) for this story?
It was pretty easy. With Revived Hope as the prequel to Shattered Guilt, it made sense to go back to Melanie’s roots. Since I live in Southern California and have spent most of my life here, it’s familiar territory. Some touching scenes take place in my childhood home, so it was very special to write those. My mother and father were the inspiration for Melanie’s parents in this story, so I relished the experience of writing their scenes that took place in their home. I also live near the beach, so it’s always lovely describing God’s beautiful creation out here.
14. If a film were made of your book, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I love this question. It’s so much fun to envision. When I write, I must have a personality in mind for my characters, and it often begins with a celebrity. But they evolve quite a bit from there. Revived Hope was written after Shattered Guilt, Book 1, so even back then, I had the actor, Greg Kinnear, his younger self, in mind for Chris, Melanie’s ex-husband. I love that actor, and he often plays a bit of a tool—fun-loving but self-centered, like in the movie Sabrina.
Melanie, the main character, is a difficult one. She’s crafted off one of my daughter’s personalities, and there’s just not anyone quite like her out there. I never equated her to a celebrity. Maybe Anne Hathaway? But that might be a stretch.
As for Pastor Desmond Brooks, I posted a photo of Henry Cavill, Superman, on my FB beta readers group to see what they thought. It caused quite a stir. One reader actually commented, “Wowza!” Perhaps a little too handsome. Another said he was exactly the type she had in mind. It’s all fun.
16. Which scene was most fun to write? Why?
A side-walk restaurant scene with Melanie’s ex-husband and daughter in Beverly Hills. He’s such a fun personality, as irresponsible as he is. Melanie has a lot of tragedy coming her way, so it helped me lighten the load by prefacing that impending doom with a bit of humor. Their daughter Lacey is a great buffer, with a quick wit as well. I especially liked taking the opportunity for a discreet but powerful Christian witness in this scene. It’s often the subtle things that count.
17. Which scene, character, or plotline changed the most from first draft to published book?
Oh, that would definitely be the sub-plot with Tito, the accountant for Melanie’s business. He went from being one of the bad guys to a sweetheart…well, not literally. I got so involved in writing his story as a reluctant criminal. He had his reasons, but I went way over the word count for a Novella. Tito originally embezzled money from the bridal shop and committed arson, causing injury to Gloria, another worker. He also abducted someone and had a gunfight with a detective. He was pretty intense. But when I needed to start cutting, my husband, who helps me with my plots, advised that Tito’s actions were a little far-fetched. I took his advice, and he’s definitely not the same person and has a small role now. But I saved those scenes, and perhaps he’ll be revived in the future.
23. Your favorite thing about writing?
I just love writing the story, and I love pounding out a book on my computer. Letting the characters live out their hardships and watching how God will transform them—experiencing their mistakes and seeing them come to the end of themselves and surrendering to God. Experiencing His mercy makes this life meaningful. It makes me love the Lord more because I’m reminded that He is a just, loving, and sovereign Lord.
25. If I write a review of your book, what do you want to hear?
I’d love to hear that you saw God at work in my story and the lives of my characters. When readers tell me that my book has led them to seek God more fully in other areas of their lives, that fills me with joy. I hope you’ll connect with a character that causes you to contemplate faith. It’s all for His glory, and we’re all here for that purpose.
More from Kathleen
In Revived Hope, the prequel to Shattered Guilt, it’s one year earlier. Melanie Thompson races through life’s challenges while navigating the trials of being a single mother, a budding entrepreneur, and a woman of faith, all with threats of danger.
Our past doesn’t define us, as Melanie learns, but it definitely frames who we become. Thankfully, we have a gracious God who uses all of the good and the bad to bring us to a place of communion with Him…desiring His will for His glory. And ultimately, it’s always for our good.
I love my character Melanie, and I hope you will too. I’ve spent so many years getting to know her that it was fun writing this prequel. I enjoyed writing about her past and introducing you to her family in California before the move to charming fictional Bay Town in Shattered Guilt. When I wrote of Melanie’s relationship with her dad, I laughed, I cried, and I left my heart in the book…in a manner of speaking.
But Revived Hope is not all sweetness and heartache. Things get pretty testy when Melanie tackles villains head-on and sometimes all alone. Often the world encourages us to do it all, and Melanie tries. Although tragedy strikes too many times, the lessons she learns strengthen her faith and trust in the Almighty.
Lastly, Revived Hope teases with a hint of romance but sets the stage for Melanie’s love story in Shattered Guilt, Book 1, Bay Town Series. I’m excited for you to meet Melanie and her family as you root for her in all her harrowing escapades.
Rascal the raccoon is sorry he ignored the warning signs He’s surprised by a whirlwind and he’s taken for the ride of his life. Now it’s up to the Bandana Buddies to help him learn the importance of thinking ahead. Can he stay out of trouble long enough to get back home?
Former teacher, Kathy J Perry has developed this series is for kids to enjoy as they bridge the gap between picture and chapter books. Or, read aloud to the younger. With an easy-to-read font, original watercolor illustrations, the series also packs additional educational helps: a glossary and a “What If” page to help readers think about what they’ve read.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About the Author
After the passing of my parents, I re-evaluated what I was doing with my life and my contribution to others. A former classroom teacher and homeschool mom, I’ve always had a heart for educating kids.
In 2016 my daughter and I attended a local arts and crafts fair where I stumbled upon some cute children’s art and thought, “That’s what I can do! Write children’s books.”
I set my mission. I would do my best to affect our youth through wonderful stories full of timeless character struggles.
More from Kathy
Even with short attention spans, kids learn to think ahead through consequences. As they mature, they understand that their decisions have a direct bearing on the results.
Rascal, a young raccoon, knows it’s about time to go home, but he stretches his exploring time just a few minutes longer. Too long. Suddenly, a storm pops up and a whirlwind whisks him away to the top of a tall pine tree. Now lost, he gets in even more trouble as he tries to find his way home. Through several mishaps, he eventually learns that he must think ahead BEFORE he decides and earns a green bandana to wear as a reminder.
Special things about this book (and series) include:
Proven easy-to-read font for early reader
italics, which I thought would be harder to read). Kids enjoy the color. In fact, struggling readers love to read just the colored parts to start – and then want to continue reading! (Each book has its own color for this.)
A glossary of newer words with definitions.
A “What If” section for discussion with five questions about the story, and five questions of how the theme plays out in real life. (Parents and teachers love these books!)
Rascal’s Trip is available in hardcover and softcover.
Help your kids learn to read with this fun story and cute watercolor illustrations. This early reader chapter book is perfect for ages 5-8 and can usually be read alone by 2nd or 3rd grades.
To celebrate her tour, Kathy is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card, a softcover copy of the book, digital artwork with motivational phrases, and a custom Hoo-Rag (better bandana), covered with artwork from the Bandana Acres series!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
‘Twas the Night Before Jesus is a beautifully illustrated picture book that introduces children to the life of Jesus and God’s promise of an eternal home in heaven. As the melodic rhyme carries children through Jesus’s birth, death and resurrection, they come to understand the true meaning of Christmas.
What a special book this is. I love it! The story follows the Bible about the birth of Jesus in a way that children will love having this read to them. And Courtney Smith does as exceptionally good job creating the fabulous illustrations. Each page looks like a masterpiece and the pictures go so well with the story on each page. I think every home should have this precious book about the night Jesus was born and the different things that happened. I highly recommend this book to everyone! Even adults will enjoy reading this one. And it gets Five Stars from me!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About the Author
Donna Wyland is an Award-winning author, editor, and coach who believes in writing books that entertain, encourage, and inspire. Her bestselling children’s book, Your Home in Heaven, sold thousands of copies and was gifted to more than 4,000 children around the world through churches, schools, and various ministry organizations in the U.S. and abroad. Reprinted in 2020 by Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., Your Home in Heaven has become a classic story that shares the love of God and the hope of heaven with an increasing number of children. If I Could Ask Jesus, Donna’s premier Christian bedtime story is bringing young hearts closer to God, too.
Donna lives in Ohio with her husband and a couple of bunnies that hide under the bushes outside. She loves to read, ski, jump on the trampoline with her grandson, and cross items off of her personal Bucket List.
More from Donna
Donna Wyland’s love for God and for Christmas inspired her to write ‘Twas the Night Before Jesus. Only recently did she discover how many websites offer Happy Birthday Jesus items to help families, Sunday schools, and more to celebrate the real reason for the season. Children of all ages have read and reviewed ‘Twas the Night Before Jesus. It received a rousing 5 stars! Glory to God! You can find some fun resources here!
I love Gingersnap Snatcher by Vicky Weber!! It is such a sweet book for any child to read or have read to them at Christmas! Three siblings come home from school so excited because their Abuela was making ginger snaps for them as an after school snack. But they only found the crumbs when they came in. So what do they do? They followed the crumbs to many places but didn’t find ginger snaps anywhere. Where do you think they would be?
This is a perfect book full of rhythms to tell they story. Vicky Weber does an excellent job writing this sweet story for children everywhere to enjoy during the Holiday season.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Meet the Author:
Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. As a Puerto Rican author of Taíno descent, sshestrives to create picture books that are fun, engaging, and educational.
All her current titles are based on her background in music education or her heritage. While she has taught a variety of grade levels, primary level education is where her passion lies. It has long been dream of hers to teach children through the magic of books and she hopes you love reading her works as much as she loved writing them.
He thought he was prepared to go to war with the Devil, but what if Satan’s not his true enemy?
Ever since the Devil donned a powerful amulet that allows him to walk the Earth, he has grown weaker—and so has his authority. As a result, mutiny is rising in Hell, and the Devil must fight to remain the king of the underworld. Little does he know, there is much more at stake than his title.
After the death of the nun who raised him and his best friend, Jordan Conway cannot think of anything but finding Sophia and keeping her safe. Luckily, he has a team of archangels on his side, and with their help, the two lifelong friends are reunited. But Jordan didn’t expect the reunion to include another of Sister Helen’s charges—the boy he’d loved like a brother but who had pushed him away, Dane. The three orphans never thought their lives would amount to much, but finding their way back to each other is leading them to finding out who they truly are.
All paths converge when the fourteenth sphere, a celestial object with a power like no other, appears at the Met. The angels must keep it from falling into the wrong hands, and soon, the lines between good and evil blur as they find themselves fighting alongside Satan to prevent the unleashing of a dark and dangerous force hell-bent on taking them all down. But in this world, nothing is as it seems, and the mysterious sphere is possibly the least of their concerns…
Get ready for another adventure as the three friends, and the angels they now consider family, travel the globe in search of a way to save each other—and the world.
The Revelation of Three by By Sara M Schaller is a continuation of book one in the The Empyrean Trilogy and we are again I’m the middle of Jordan and Sophia’s journey, and what a journey it is. I found that this journey was filled with action packed adventure. The returning characters developed even deeper and fuller in this second book and the new people we meet develop well.
There are a lot if twists and turns here in this book that will keep you guessing throughout this YA story. I encourage you to check out The Revelation of Three for your own enjoyment. I think after you read this one you will be waiting for the next book in this series.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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Bookstagram Tour
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Check out the Bookstagram Tour here, which has its own giveaway!
Eighteen-year-old Jordan Conway has always wanted to help people, but helping seven archangels to achieve their divine duty was never quite what he had in mind…
When Jordan is entrusted by the head nun of his orphanage to deliver a mysterious backpack to a New York City address, he comes unexpectedly face-to-face with Archangel Gabriel. Their acquaintance fast uncovers a labyrinth of secrets that connect Jordan’s once-normal life to an ancient heavenly prophecy. Now, he must help Gabriel to reunite the archangels before evil forces grow too strong.
Soon, Jordan and Gabriel find themselves on a divine quest across the globe, while deep in the pits of Hell, Satan plots his return to earth. To gain control, however, Satan needs the powerful prophetic objects locked safe inside Jordan’s backpack—and the devil will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
With that notion threatening his only family and the safety of his newfound friends, Jordan must do whatever it takes to protect the ones he loves and help the archangels succeed. If that means sacrificing all he thought he knew to go to war with the devil himself? Bring it on.
Sara M Schaller is a young adult author and publishing professional. She lives in Colorado and works at her local library. Sara likes to write stories for all ages in the fantasy genre, and her writing usually contains elements of speculative fiction and features a large cast of characters. Sara has a Bachelor’s degree in English, Art History, and Religious Studies from the University of Denver, and a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University. You can visit her online at http://www.saramschaller.com.
Kate had survived. She had lived through pain and torment and now she was on the other side, where all the happiness was supposed to be. But with Alec’s vengeful punishment for escaping him, she can’t touch anyone without hurting them.
Alec still wants to create a Level Five and he’s dangerously close. That power under his control would mean unraveling the world as it stands. The world Kate has not yet started to enjoy. She won’t be able to rest until her body, her mind is fixed, and Alec won’t get his beloved power without her help.
The two warring sides of Rogues and Shadows will have to meet. Kate will have to confront Alec and his cruel ambition once again. But every moment with the Shadows is detrimental to those she loves, especially Kylan. So she must find a way to outsmart the person who taught her everything she knows, the most feared Shadow in the world.
Kate is strong. She survived once. But even the strongest people can break with the right pressure, and Alec is ready to tear her life apart.
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EXCERPT FROM THIS BOOK
“Another power that Legends can have is the ability to extract energy from other Legends,” I explained, walking closer to her. “I have four powers—I’m a Level Four—and that’s one of the things I can do.”
She shook her head, moving away from me. Tears welled in her eyes. Her breath couldn’t keep up with how fast her lungs wanted to pull in the air. Adrenaline spiked in her body and she turned to the open street to run.
That only made me want her energy more.
“No,” Lisa hissed, running as fast as she could.
I had more energy than her already, so I was faster. I flashed in front of her and blocked her path. I put my hands on her arms, feeling her energy just underneath her skin.
For one more second, I needed her to be a person, someone that I didn’t want to hurt. Her curly hair crowded her face, her hands trembled at her sides, and she nervously shook her head.
“Let me go,” Lisa sobbed. She turned her face toward the street. “Help! Please, someone help me.”
“Lisa, stop.” I gripped her arms even tighter. “They won’t help you. They will kill you once they find out what you are.”
“No. No, I’m not like you.” She tossed her head from side to side, still trying to shove me away. “Help!”
Her eyes were bloodshot. She wasn’t going to calm down. The only thing I could hear over her screaming was the sound of the humans getting uncomfortably close.
She was drawing them right to us.
“Yes, you are. Whether you like it or not, you’re a Legend, just like me. I’ve seen humans attack like this and you will not survive if I let you run out there.” I rushed through an explanation.
“You’re lying.”
She slammed her eyes shut, jerking away from my body.
“Listen to me. If you don’t calm down and come with me right now, I won’t have a choice,” I begged her.
“You’re gonna kill me.”
Lisa froze, locked in my gaze. Her arms were warm under my hands.
That energy. I shook my head gently.
“No, I won’t,” I answered for both of us.
Her body twisted awkwardly. Hot tears poured down her cheeks. Her heart rate skyrocketed. The blood pumped through her veins, enough to turn her face red despite her brown skin.
The energy in her blazed. My mouth watered.
She was scared out of her mind. There was only one way for me to fix it.
I focused on that, on her fear, as I pulled the first energy from her body. The raw, unfettered power scorched through my arms. Every cell inside of me wanted a taste.
The energy flooded through my chest, down my legs, up to my head. Any part of me that worried about Kate or feared for Lisa’s reaction when she woke up was silenced by the roar of new energy in my body.
Angie Day found her love of writing while in college where she studied psychology and eventually went on to a master’s degree. She noticed the need for romantic and fantastic adult stories that were still wholesome and clean. So, she took matters into her own hands.
The Legends & Shadows Saga is her debut series. When she’s not devouring the next book, she is spending time outdoors with her husband.
She builds websites. He builds houses. Together, can they build a family for two orphans?
Irelynn agreed two years ago to help raise her best friend’s twins should anything happen. When she is called upon to fulfill that agreement, there is only one problem—Irelynn must share the responsibility with the arrogant but handsome Quinton Gregory.
Quinton takes the role of raising his niece and nephew with all seriousness. He will do anything for the twins, even if it means putting up with the beautiful but stubborn Irelynn Brady.
When forced to be in each other’s presence far more often than is comfortable, things slowly begin to change. Will the unexpected attraction between Irelynn and Quinton become a love under construction?
I encourage you to check this book out! Penny Zeller is one of my favorite author’s and I know you will love Love Under Construction!
About the Author
Bio:
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics. Today Penny is a multi-published author of several inspirational books. She is also a homeschool mom and a fitness instructor.
When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters while camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, cycling, gardening, and playing volleyball.
She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her www. pennyzeller.com and her blog, random thoughts from a day in the life of a wife, mom, and author, at http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com.
Join Us for This Tour from December 7 to December 17!
Book Details: Book Title: Verdaderamente Poderoso by Dr. Rosa Romero Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 124 pages Genre: Religious Book (spanish) Publisher: Mascot Release Date: December, 2021 Tour dates: December 7 to December 17 Content Rating: PG.
Book Description:
Allow
the powerful word of God to transform your life, changing your daily routine through your thoughts and the way you speak. In order to live according to truth and wisdom, you have to learn to reason yourself. With an important and simple message, Verdaderamente Poderoso will help readers find their purpose in life. Identifiable from beginning to end, the book is based on real testimonies that will touch the depths of one’s soul.
is a great woman of God, multifaceted with a doctorate in human letters, mother, businesswoman, ideology instructor, certified master coach, Pastor and Prophet who has been obeying God’s will with her husband Pastor Fredy Gonzales. Since 2015, they have served as Chief Ministers at the Christian Church Unity Life El Reyno de Dios para las Naciones in the Manassas area.
Movie Genre: Contemporary Romance (Loosely based on the book)
Release date: March 6, 2015
Against a backdrop of thievery and murder in the historic logging town of Bridal Veil, Oregon, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future.
Margaret Garvey had promised her heart to Nathaniel Cooper the night he disappeared from town. Four years later, just as she’s giving love a second chance with Andrew, a handsome logger, Nathaniel returns to town and delivers a devastating secret. While grappling with the betrayal of those she trusted most, Margaret risks her reputation and position by harboring two troubled runaways who might be involved in the murder of a local man. And as disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Finding Love in Bridal Veil Oregon by Miralee Farrell is a really interesting book. I read this book way back when it first came out as Love Finds You in Bridal Veil Oregon, and loved it both times I read it. I also enjoyed the movie very much. The book and the movie are very different. The book is historical, in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and the movie is contemporary romance. There are some thing that you can pick out in the movie relating to the book, but other than that I didn’t see a lot of resemblance. But the movie was very good and well worth your watching it.
I always would rather read a book thank watch a movie. Books have much more information. And I enjoyed Finding Love in Bridal Veil Oregon very much as well. The characters were well created and the story line flows well.
My heart went out to Margaret when her ex boyfriend shows up after leaving her and no word from him in four years. A lot of tension flying around and Margaret seems to be in the middle of it all. If you enjoy historical fiction you will love this one. And I encourage you to watch the movie as well.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About the Movie
Margaret Garvey (30s) is a successful architect whose relationship with her boyfriend has become distant due to their different work schedules. Having not talked with her estranged cousin, Susan, for years, Margaret is told that Susan has died in a car accident, and that she is entrusted by Susan to take care of her children and estate in Mountain View, AR. After her initial reluctance, Margaret decides to give it a try and gradually grows to love her life in Mountain View. While taking care of the children, Margaret gets to reunite with Andrew, an old love of hers, and reawaken their feelings for each other. Now she must decide which is more important to her – continuing with her old life, or honoring her cousin’s wish and make a new life with Andrew in Mountain View.
Miralee Ferrell is a traditionally published, award-winning, best-selling author of 25 books. Her most recent novel, From the Heart, released in October 2020 as an eBook and print as well as airing on The Hallmark Channel. She has two other books releasing as movies, including Finding Love in Bridal Veil, Oregon, a historical romance, which was remade as a contemporary romance for Hallmark, in October or November of 2021. She is the owner and publisher at Mountain Brook Ink, as well as the speculative line, Mountain Brook Fire, a traditional house in business since January 2014. She is also the lead acquisition editor at MBI and loves encouraging debut authors. Miralee lives in the Pacific N.W. with her husband, two black cats, sixteen chickens, and one very spoiled little dog.
More from Miralee
I thought it might be fun and interesting for readers to learn how this journey toward having a book made into a movie came into being—as well as to see how much God had a hand in it all.
In the spring of 2015, I received a phone call from a Hollywood producer. Imagine my surprise when she asked if I’d be willing to write a book for them. They were no longer producing the Love Finds You books into movies and were working on a different project for UP TV, a possible three-movie series, and she hoped I might be able to work with them. Of the thirty-five or so titles she’d read of the line, Finding Love in Sundance, Wyoming, was her favorite (retitled and re-released as Outlaw Angel). However, most channels didn’t want historical or old west movies, so she shelved it for then.
I’d gotten my rights returned to all of my LFY books and had retitled them Finding Love in Last Chance, California, Finding Love in Tombstone, Arizona, and Finding Love in Bridal Veil, Oregon. Finding Love in Sundance, Wyoming, became Outlaw Angel, and all four are still in print.
Here’s the amazing part. I came very, very close to turning down that contract with Summerside for Sundance. They sold the line to Guideposts, and that company didn’t continue the line much longer. Understandably, sales waned on their final releases. For a long time, I wished I hadn’t taken the contract and instead held out for one with another company for a three-book series. However, had I done that, I doubt Runaway Romance or the sequel, Follow Your Heart would ever have been written. It was Sundance that grabbed Chevonne’s attention and caused her to contact me.
It took several tries of sending ideas to UPTV for various storylines before they approved Runaway Romance, then the serious work began. Writing fifteen-page summaries of the book/movie idea, reviewing the script after it was written, and writing the book.
Since then, I’ve gone on to have two more books-to-Hallmark movies, with another one in the works. My newest (and it’s tied to the book being featured in this tour) is Finding Love in Bridal Veil, Oregon, which was renamed Finding Love in Mountain View for the movie. And is currently airing on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel. Again, Hallmark wasn’t interested in a historical, so the book was re-invented (with my help) as a contemporary romance. It’s been an exciting, amazing journey and I give God all the glory for bringing it to pass!
Book: Bandana Acres: Kit’s New Home & My Bandana Acres Journal
Author: Kathy J. Perry
Genre: Early Reader Chapter Book
Release date: November 1, 2018
Wait! That’s not a coyote. Is he here to help me?
FIRE! Kit must find a new home in the woods. She is surrounded by wild coyotes. A banana buddy comes to her rescue. Did she earn his friendship?
My Bandana Acres Journal
Explore your dreams, write, doodle and discover, with this guided journal!
Use the prompts and you will learn how to:
Be thankful and optimistic
Recognize the good things and learn from mistakes
Make positive decisions
Understand promise-keeping and secrets
Break down worries and reflect
How to ask for help
You don’t have to use the writing prompts or work in any particular order. So, if you want to start in the middle of the book, or at the end, go ahead!
Have fun!
Click here to get your copy of Bandana Acers: Kit's New Home!
Click here to get your copy of My Bandana Acres Journal!
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I love this sweet series of books. This one features Kit the fox. And Kit has a few valuable lessons he wants readers to learn. In this book Kit teaches how to be positive, honest, thankful and she also learns from the mistakes she has made and she learns to be loyal to her friends. Your children will love Kit and her story.
There is also a Journal that comes with this book, we’ll it goes with all of these Bandana Acres books. In these journals you can write down your favorite thoughts about all of the books. This is really a nice duo of books. I would encourage you to check out Bandana Acres: Kits New Home for your child. And I love the illustrations in the book. The pictures go so perfectly with the story, bringing it to life.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About the Author
A former classroom teacher and homeschool mom, I’ve always had a heart for educating kids.
I set my mission and started my own publishing company, Chickadee Words, LLC. I do my best to affect our youth through wonderful stories full of timeless character struggles.
More from Kathy
The inspiration for Kit’s New Home surrounds us everyday: people who say they’ll do something and then don’t; those who promise and then fail to deliver; people without reliability, honesty, or punctuality. This all boils down to the issue of TRUST. Trust is easily lost and so hard to get back.
Trustworthy people are successful, valuable, and popular in every area of life.
Make your yes, “yes” and your no “no”.
Mean what you say and say what you mean.
Keep promises.
Hurt no one. Help others.
Kit’s lonely and makes new friends in the farm yard. Ollie, the farm dog, explains the “rules” to him with which Kit agrees. He’s a good friend, until one day when he fails Zartie, the red-eared slider turtle.
Later, when he’s in trouble, Ollie proves to be a faithful, trustworthy dog and saves Kit from a coyote attack.
Here’s one question in the “What If” part at the end of the book:
What if you promise to play with a classmate at recess, but then you have a chance to play a fun game with someone else instead? What will you do?
Special things about this book (and series) include:
Proven easy-to-read font for early readers (Sassoon Primary)
In full-color with original watercolor artwork.
Leveled by Lexile and Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) for dialing in to your child’s reading level.
Purple words are the character’s inside thoughts (rather than italics, which I thought would be harder to read). Kids enjoy the color. In fact, struggling readers love to read just the colored parts to start – and then want to continue reading! (Each book has its own color for this.)
A glossary of newer words with definitions.
A “What If” section for discussion with five questions about the story, and five questions of how the theme plays out in real life. (Parents and teachers love these books!)
Kit’s New Home is available in hardcover and softcover.
Help your kids learn to read with this fun story and cute watercolor illustrations. This early reader chapter book is perfect for ages 5-8 and can usually be read alone by 2nd or 3rd grades.
Don’t miss the companion guided journal: My Bandana Acres Journal. Perfect for readers learning to write about their thoughts, dreams, or just doodle. Use for a deeper dive into the themes from the Bandana Acres series. Currently available only from my website shop. Ages 8-12
To celebrate her tour, Kathy is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card, a softcover copy of the book, digital artwork with motivational phrase, and a custom Hoo-Rag with artwork from the Bandana Acres series!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Amelia Balfour has one dream. . .to tour Egypt as a travel writer. But when her wish is finally within reach, her father dies, and her malformed brother Colin depends upon her to arrange for a revolutionary surgery. Amelia returns home, hoping he’ll recover before the ship sails for Cairo. Former Navy surgeon Graham Lambert is sick—of travelling, loneliness, and especially the injustice of the world. Leaving behind the military, he partners with a renowned surgeon, the man who promises new life to Amelia’s brother. But just as the operation begins, Graham suspects the surgeon is a fraud. After a botched procedure, Colin goes mad and escapes, terrorizing their neighbor, author Mary Godwin—planting the seed for her greatest creation, Frankenstein. Can Amelia and Graham stop Colin before he destroys everyone in his path and find the tender soul still trapped inside…or will they be too late?
Lost in Darkness is perhaps the best book Michelle Griep has written. And as always, Greip creates a cast of characters who are so realistic they soon feel like family. Well that is except the one Dr. who just may be a fraud. And as this story unfolds, the journey into the lives of these characters will leave you in awe. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Amelia and her brother Colin, as well as Graham, the Doctors assistant. Colin I felt bad for because of his problems coming from a long ago accident. Ms.Greip takes readers deep into the lives of these characters revealing so much more than I can tell you here. You just need to read the book to get the full effect for yourself.
I will say that I really enjoyed Lost in Darkness and can’t wait for the next book my one of my favorite author’s. This one gets Five Stars from me. If you enjoy Historical fiction, you really should check this one out.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book.I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About the Author
Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan.
More from Michelle
Are You a Monster Too?
“Look at that! The fattest girl in the class is the first one to get in line for a cupcake.”
Those words, spoken to me in junior high by a clueless boy, are forever seared into my memory. Just because I wasn’t a willowy stick-figure who didn’t match up to magazine covers, I was singled out. Made to feel ashamed. Made to feel like a monster.
Have you ever felt that way?
Chances are you have. We are all poked and prodded at some point in our lives…which brings up a few questions. How do you deal with the sometimes ugly perceptions with which others view you? How do you stop trying to prove your worth to others, when in their eyes you are somehow worthless? Why does God allow such hurtful things to happen anyway?
These are the questions I attempt to tackle in my new release, Lost in Darkness. And surprisingly enough, those are the very same issues contemplated in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Now hold on. Don’t go rolling your eyeballs quite yet—which is the usual response whenever Frankenstein is mentioned.
Most people’s conception of this great piece of literature has been forever ruined by Hollywood’s green creature. You know the one, the giant with bolts sticking out of his neck and a stiff-legged walk. So not true. The essence of Shelley’s “horror” story is instead about a creature who struggles with heartfelt needs that can only be met by his creator. In this story, Shelley respectfully handles the subject of what we owe our creator and what our creator’s responsibility is toward us as the created…the very same questions we all struggle with.
As does Colin Balfour, a man with a heart of gold and a face that causes children to scream. In Lost in Darkness, he hopes to undergo a life-changing surgery that will end his self-imposed isolation. But what really happens is a life change for his sister Amelia and the surgeon who tries to prevent it all from happening. For indeed, even if there be monsters, there is none so fierce as that which resides in man’s own heart.
splashesofjoy 