tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90859247934665920602024-03-18T18:54:49.386-04:00Beauty in the BindingJolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.comBlogger1522125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-23927886903676973202024-03-15T21:42:00.000-04:002024-03-15T21:42:51.122-04:00Book Review: Mom Enough by Rachel Marie Martin<b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Book:</span></b><br /><br /><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vjhbWTnd82S5H5E4KtipXQloc4Drs4KKLAzYEgHRMvsuxPD7lRb9iLxolTpVFXjC9NdLYwHAD5MymUjvf_hGxWdH0uJ8vsJbN5ibIRKag3M4OArsvMyvW97rEKNRIZRcNv4TCptL049ud011_K1QD-NjfAHlW8H1pZghDGJyrrS3FLjl2qRIfOMlwxWM/s445/51FzEXJ5M7L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vjhbWTnd82S5H5E4KtipXQloc4Drs4KKLAzYEgHRMvsuxPD7lRb9iLxolTpVFXjC9NdLYwHAD5MymUjvf_hGxWdH0uJ8vsJbN5ibIRKag3M4OArsvMyvW97rEKNRIZRcNv4TCptL049ud011_K1QD-NjfAHlW8H1pZghDGJyrrS3FLjl2qRIfOMlwxWM/s320/51FzEXJ5M7L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Author, influencer, and founder of the popular social media community FindingJoy, Rachel Martin offers encouragement for moms by sharing her own personal journey through heartache, self-doubt, and the challenges of motherhood. With over forty letters of encouragement, from one mom to another, she tells mothers they're "mom enough."</i><br /><br />Through this gorgeous gift book of heartfelt letters, beautiful photography, and viral quotes, Rachel offers hope and encouragement to moms feeling overwhelmed by life's twists and turns. Her vulnerable and authentic voice will inspire mothers to embrace their imperfections and find joy at each stage of motherhood.<br /><br />With each letter, Rachel encourages readers to reflect on the things that truly matter, connect with their inner strength and resilience, and believe in their ability to overcome the daily obstacles that mothers face. Rachel's words help moms from all walks of life embrace the beauty and power within and to remind them they are never alone on this journey. She writes vulnerable letters to moms titled:<div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Dear mom, you are enough</li><li>Dear mom, who worries if she is a good mom</li><li>Dear mom, who needs to let go of mom guilt</li><li>Dear mom, with littles</li></ul><i>Mom Enough </i>is a love letter to every mom that serves as a reminder that being a mother is enough, that their struggles are valid, and their dreams are worth fighting for. So moms, take a deep breath and let Rachel's words be a warm conversation of support from one mother to another.<br /><br /><span>
<hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully
Exhausting but Totally Normal Days of Motherhood </i>by Rachel Marie Martin is
the most encouraging book I’ve read on motherhood. Many parenting books have an
agenda or parenting style to push, but <i>Mom Enough</i> just offers
encouragement to strengthen, affirm, and inspire a mother’s heart without
trying to sell a product, religion, or philosophy. I so appreciated this approach
and benefited from the welcoming, no-shame invitations.</p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">I wish I had read <i>Mom Enough</i> when both my children
and I were younger, but I’m glad I read it now. The book is appropriate for any
mom with kids at home, though certain sections are devoted to different stages
of mothering. I read them all and found myself nodding at the tween stage,
reminiscing through the young child stage, and approaching the teen stage with curiosity.
Rachel Marie Martin’s authenticity and experiences are easy to relate to. <i>Mom Enough</i> is a book I could reread
each year and benefit from repeatedly. Recommended for moms who love their children. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7ryHsggCOZQ7B2cNCbNx5qeafMCHuDK47mavPc-fuq39zLvPQboWlC01Nd7t9juTdBjRof6PMVoN9etvtMH5gosziUo_KWBsAkTD-hcwEg7UlOqzrZZDPPnOtsyfZuLJQVNOdyxMX1qsRztsUzupwaeF1HDV7waWDdNGLwa3ukGg6QzkAMMLYjVBYzhJ/s3024/2024-02-23%2009.43.00-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7ryHsggCOZQ7B2cNCbNx5qeafMCHuDK47mavPc-fuq39zLvPQboWlC01Nd7t9juTdBjRof6PMVoN9etvtMH5gosziUo_KWBsAkTD-hcwEg7UlOqzrZZDPPnOtsyfZuLJQVNOdyxMX1qsRztsUzupwaeF1HDV7waWDdNGLwa3ukGg6QzkAMMLYjVBYzhJ/s320/2024-02-23%2009.43.00-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of
this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.<o:p></o:p></p><br />Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-72001202942654939562024-03-12T02:00:00.017-04:002024-03-12T02:00:00.140-04:00Book Spotlight: The Mercy Seat by Henry O. Arnold<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Mercy Seat JustRead Blog Tour" class="alignnone wp-image-28813" height="207" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Banner_TheMercySeat_Blog_JR.jpg" width="570" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Blog Tour for <span style="color: #f16323;"><i><b>The Mercy Seat</b></i></span> by Henry O. Arnold, hosted by <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/03/11/welcome-to-the-mercy-seat-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours</a>!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #f16323;"><b>About the Book</b></span></h3><div><span style="color: #f16323;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRXhUFxlYBZWxXjotGPFQGTJcod4keHH8cK9cVN8-blZWh99xaAe7bLXPlNUc_0Pp7NGiFgvpqw-RqMkV_fDSde9TFbQPBtmEXNxPtlm-ZURamMbEmkuOsIOwaQyrJVRDLbMjZ_h1IhONJCSH-7LOYhm_ookddk23pHJu0Bv2k9r00aTObGAyHzQV-ps/s1360/The%20Mercy%20Seat.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="880" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRXhUFxlYBZWxXjotGPFQGTJcod4keHH8cK9cVN8-blZWh99xaAe7bLXPlNUc_0Pp7NGiFgvpqw-RqMkV_fDSde9TFbQPBtmEXNxPtlm-ZURamMbEmkuOsIOwaQyrJVRDLbMjZ_h1IhONJCSH-7LOYhm_ookddk23pHJu0Bv2k9r00aTObGAyHzQV-ps/w259-h400/The%20Mercy%20Seat.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Title:</b> <i>The Mercy Seat
</i><b><br />Series:</b> The Urban Chronicles #1
<b><br />Author:</b> Henry O. Arnold
<b><br />Publisher:</b> Mountain Brook Ink
<b><br />Release Date:</b> March 5, 2024
<b><br />Genre:</b> Christian Contemporary Fiction</p><p>
<b>Hells Canyon is a neighborhood in Richland, Tennessee where tourists never venture, and locals fear to tread.</b></p><p> Maxwell Crane, former Marine chaplain and pastor of The Mercy Seat church, struggles to provide a beacon of hope. </p><p>But others have their eyes set on Hells Canyon: power elites, robber barons, and street gangs seek their own gain at the cost of the beleaguered urban neighborhood. For the people who live there, it’s been a fight to exist their whole lives, and that fight is getting harder. </p><p>Maxwell doesn’t have to stay in Hells Canyon. He and his family could leave to live a comfortable middle-class existence. Instead, Maxwell chooses to risk his life—and the lives of those around him—to stand against the oppressors. </p><p>But what happens when this pastor crosses a line, taking justice into his own hands? Will his family, his community, and his God ever forgive him? Will he ever forgive himself?
<span style="color: #f16323;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #f16323;"><b>PURCHASE LINKS</b>:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203819512-the-mercy-seat" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CR849X7F" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mercy-seat-henry-o-arnold/1144492953" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/mercy-seat-henry-o-arnold/20975616" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bookshop</a>
</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #f16323;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></h3><br />“God forgive me. God forgive me. God forgive me.” How many times would he have to say those words before forgiveness would prove itself true? Maxwell paced. He crawled on all fours and then fell prostrate on his face, weeping, pleading for the glimmer of hope he urgently needed to feel. “I know, I know, I know,” he cried, broken, crushed, and desperate. He hoped beyond hope that the Psalmist’s words were true, that God would not despise the contrite heart.<br /><br />Sometime in the night, while Maxwell lay still on the floor, he sensed a trembling hand on the back of his neck and felt the electric snap of live flesh touching live flesh. Kenda knelt beside him. He took her hand into his own and held it against his face. This was not a vision. After an anguished night of sweat and tears—he felt as though his body had drained a rain forest leaving him with a desert thirst—the kind touch of his wife’s warm hand was a spark of life against total exhaustion and his wilted power began to revive.<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #f16323;"><b>About the Author</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Henry O. Arnold" class="alignnone wp-image-29259 size-medium" height="300" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Chip-8-Henry-Arnold-225x300.webp" width="225" /></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b>Mr. Arnold</b>'s career as an actor/author spans over five decades with multiple stage and film credits. His most recent film is <i>The Hiding Place</i>. He has recorded over one hundred audiobooks and is the author of the multi-volume biblical/historical fiction series entitled <i>The Song of Prophets and Kings</i>. When not writing he can be found hiking on a trail somewhere on the planet. He and his lovely wife Kay have two beautiful daughters, married to two handsome men, with three above-average grandchildren.</p>
Connect with Henry by visiting <a href="https://henryoarnold.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">henryoarnold.com</a> to follow him on social media and sign up for email updates.
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #f16323;"><b>Tour Giveaway</b></span></h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">(1) winner will win a print copy of The Mercy Seat & $20 Amazon Gift Card!</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Mercy Seat JustRead Tours giveaway" class="wp-image-29261 size-large aligncenter" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Giveaway_TheMercySeat_Blog_JR-400x400.webp" width="400" /></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 11, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 18, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Giveaway is subject to <a href="https://justreadtours.com/disclosures-giveaway-policies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies</a>.</i></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="e-widget no-button" href="https://gleam.io/393E9/the-mercy-seat-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><b>Enter Giveaway</b></a>
<script async="true" src="https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js" type="text/javascript"></script></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Follow along at <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/03/11/welcome-to-the-mercy-seat-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Tours</a> for a full list of stops!</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="JustRead Publicity Tours" class="wp-image-13204 size-thumbnail aligncenter" height="150" src="https://justreadtours.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/justread-logo-final.png?w=150" width="150" /></div>
<p></p>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-57701562486848778752024-03-10T22:42:00.001-04:002024-03-10T22:42:12.801-04:00Book Review: Up from Dust by Heather Kaufman<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> About the Book:</span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DCulJCAdk_CjO6pSVlOfUQYFM_VUTBv9-1z4iItxE4t1RJ1HurCRf_FluxpZXZwmB8uvzyFB-4w8Whsgnvr-W5JART5MOew_8YXNohH-4V7ebA8AxzlC0L9pY1pxo7ycO6SPgDhQVsOEXKMJlCV7ocWeGhi5BUjaVk-1bCsPv4TSOLCBwEmdgGDHTmSA/s2000/Up%20from%20Dust.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1294" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DCulJCAdk_CjO6pSVlOfUQYFM_VUTBv9-1z4iItxE4t1RJ1HurCRf_FluxpZXZwmB8uvzyFB-4w8Whsgnvr-W5JART5MOew_8YXNohH-4V7ebA8AxzlC0L9pY1pxo7ycO6SPgDhQVsOEXKMJlCV7ocWeGhi5BUjaVk-1bCsPv4TSOLCBwEmdgGDHTmSA/s320/Up%20from%20Dust.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />Martha of Bethany is no stranger to adversity. After her mother’s untimely death, Martha shoulders the responsibility of raising her siblings–quiet and studious Lazarus, and wild and rambunctious Mary. She finds solace in friendship and the beginnings of first love, but just as Martha begins to imagine a new future, hardship strikes again and her dreams crumble into dust.<br /><br />Ten years later, Martha’s friend pleads for the new teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, to come and heal her husband. When Martha discovers that the carpenter-rabbi is connected to her past, she’s not sure she can trust him with her future. But as he continues to perform miracles, the invitation to believe becomes harder to resist, renewing Martha’s hardened heart, even as she faces an unknown future.<div><br /></div><div>Purchase Link: <a href="https://amzn.to/3P0MV94" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br /><p><span></span></p><hr /><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In <i>Up from Dust: Martha’s Story</i>, Heather Kaufman brought
to life Martha of Bethany. In years past, the Biblical account of Martha tended
to be told with a negative slant (“Be more like Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus
instead of Martha who served resentfully”). More recently, church culture has
backed off giving this woman such a bad rap, but some stigma regarding the well-known
scene remains. In this fictionalized account, Kaufman infused the famous moment
with such beautiful love and invitation that I wanted to cheer for Martha and
for the positive representation.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Written in first person point-of-view, <i>Up from Dust</i> draws
the reader straight into Martha’s mind and heart. From childhood through
adulthood, the most intimate details and feelings were shared as the narrative dove
deep into her traumas, experiences, and hopes. This intense investment made for
an emotionally moving story, and I cried a bit for all the hardship Martha
faced. Loss, grief, and brokenness permeated much of her life and family, yet
Martha found hope in Jesus, the Christ.</p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Up from Dust: Martha’s Story</i> by Heather Kaufman held
a lot of sadness, but beautiful spiritual truths balanced the pain. Smooth
writing and a flowing plot strengthened the book while the love triangle made me
cringe slightly. This novel commences Kaufman’s Women of the Way series. Four
stars!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWqJdw0TgSmJj2MW4rmULSwWXr4Ubaq8uuiov9QAutkr75Ee0jZhmrtGXYzcbJ_iAIoc5K2ecl5rSOtGeUc2oXSx4q_uZY44opbLgwXFFyc3qEsqMjBdo-UVDnhM0gIzG6yknGdpOdA3s7HDrpLHHNamqe7HPh3YewAJ4xYr_xrgPIl7sSyZfYJdS_kC3/s3024/2024-02-12%2016.18.11-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWqJdw0TgSmJj2MW4rmULSwWXr4Ubaq8uuiov9QAutkr75Ee0jZhmrtGXYzcbJ_iAIoc5K2ecl5rSOtGeUc2oXSx4q_uZY44opbLgwXFFyc3qEsqMjBdo-UVDnhM0gIzG6yknGdpOdA3s7HDrpLHHNamqe7HPh3YewAJ4xYr_xrgPIl7sSyZfYJdS_kC3/s320/2024-02-12%2016.18.11-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of
this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-48537835938659552512024-03-08T02:00:00.018-05:002024-03-08T02:00:00.135-05:00Book Spotlight: Allie's Amish Family Miracle by Tracy Fredrychowski<div class="separator"></div><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Allie's Amish Family Miracle JustRead Blog Tour" class="alignnone wp-image-28663" height="207" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Banner_AlliesAmishFamilyMiracle_Blog_JR.jpg" width="570" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Blog Tour for <span style="color: #873d78;"><i><b>Allie's Amish Family Miracle</b></i></span> by Tracy Fredrychowski, hosted by <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/03/05/welcome-to-the-allies-amish-family-miracle-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours</a>!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #873d78;"><b>About the Book</b></span></h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"></p><p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img alt="Allie's Amish Family Miracle" class="alignleft wp-image-29200 size-large" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AlliesAmishFamilyMiracle-257x400.webp" width="257" /></p><p><b>Title:</b> <i>Allie's Amish Family Miracle </i><b><br />Series:</b> The Amish Women of Lawrence County #5
<b><br />Author:</b> Tracy Fredrychowski
<br /><b>Publisher:</b> The Tracer Group, LLC
<br /><b>Release Date:</b> March 5, 2024
<br /><b>Genre:</b> Amish Fiction</p><p></p><p>
<b>Two worlds collide when true love enters an Old Order Amish community. Can this young woman go against tradition and find happiness in forbidden love?</b> </p><p>Allie Mast struggles to fit into her new community. Determined to prove her family wrong, she can't help but notice how her Mennonite background and Reuben's Amish roots are causing tension between their two families. Every family has hurts and deep wounds, but the constant conflict pushes her to a place where she will do anything to get what she wants. </p><p>Reuben Raber has no desire to take over Raber Farms & Produce. When his overbearing mother, Saloma, is set to ruin any hopes of him making a life with Allie, his faith is tested beyond measure, and he experiences a crisis of conviction.
<i> </i></p><p><i>Can this determined couple find the courage to step out in faith and pursue peace and healing even when persecuted for their unconventional union?</i></p><p><span style="color: #873d78;"><b>PURCHASE LINKS</b>:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157247093-allie-s-amish-family-miracle" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5NB5TRB" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/allies-amish-family-miracle-tracy-fredrychowski/1144720278" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/allie-s-amish-family-miracle-an-amish-fiction-christian-novel-the-amish-women-of-lawrence-county-book-5-by-tracy-fredrychowski" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BookBub</a>
</p>
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<h3><span style="color: #873d78; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">More Books In This Series</span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0911RTVT7" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-29201" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/emmas-amish-faith-tested-194x300.webp" width="162" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HYKH6KW" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-29202" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/rebeccas-amish-heart-restored-194x300.webp" width="162" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09T89523R" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-29203" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/annas-amish-fears-revealed-188x300.webp" width="156" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BB3D5CVF" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-29204" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/barbaras-amish-truth-exposed-188x300.webp" width="156" /></a></p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #873d78;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></h3>
<br />“Allie, have you seen Mrs. Raber’s wallet?”<br /><br />There it was again; a daunting look in Saloma’s eyes left Allie on edge as she moved toward the counter. As she moved things around and looked around the floor, she replied, “I haven’t seen it. Are you sure you didn’t leave it at the bank?”<br /><br />Looking at her mockingly, Saloma said. “I’m not senile! I tell you it was in my purse when I arrived.”<br /><br />With a sudden urge to defend herself, she exclaimed. “Well, I didn’t touch it.”<br /><br />Her glaring eyes slid and landed on Allie’s bag, pointing with an accusing finger. “There. Check her bag. I bet she put it in there.”<br /><br />Allie reached for her bag and held it out. “Check it. I have nothing to hide.”<br /><br />With a look of apology, her uncle took the canvas tote. “This is ridiculous, Saloma. Allie would never…” His words stopped midair as he retrieved the black leather wallet from the top of Allie’s bag.<br /><br />“See. I told you it was her. You can bet I’ll not let this pass. I’ll be telling all my friends to shop elsewhere. If your employees can’t be trusted, we have no business shopping here.”<br /><br />His glance grew sharper, and he quickly averted his scornful eyes and pleaded with Mrs. Raber. “Now, don’t do anything hasty. I’ll take care of this problem immediately; you can be sure of that. I’ll not tolerate such behavior from my employees.”<br /><br />Abruptly, a wave of nausea encased Allie. It was like she was in a dream. Unable to form words, she could only stand by and watch the woman manipulate her uncle into believing the unspeakable. As Mrs. Raber turned to leave, a dangerous smile tipped her face. At that moment, Allie knew there was little hope she would ever have a future in Willow Springs or with Reuben Raber.<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #873d78;"><b>About the Author</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Tracy Fredrychowski" class="alignnone wp-image-29205 size-medium" height="300" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tracy-Fredrychowski-257x300.webp" width="257" /></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b>Tracy Fredrychowski</b> is a country girl, author, homesteader and everything simple living. She has a passion for writing about the simpler side of life, much like the life she lived growing up in rural Pennsylvania.</p><p>
Her life has always been intertwined with the Amish, and it’s only fitting that she has a genuine passion for their simplicity, sense of community and God-centered lives. </p><p>Growing up in Northwest Pennsylvania she spent her childhood immersed deep in Amish Country. The clip-clop of horse and buggy woke her each morning as Amish men drove past her childhood home on their way to work. As a young woman, she was traumatized by an Amish murder that involved a family member and changed her life forever. </p><p>Even though she currently lives in South Carolina her travels take her through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin’s Amish Country every year. During those stops, she researches the communities she visits and prides herself on writing Amish fiction that truly represents the Amish culture. She considers herself very fortunate to have made friends in those communities and values the information they share and wants nothing more than to represent their lifestyle as accurately as possible. </p><p>Connect with Tracy by visiting <a href="https://tracyfredrychowski.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">tracyfredrychowski.com</a> to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
</p><hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #873d78;"><b>Tour Giveaway</b></span></h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">(2) winners will win a $25 Amazon gift card!</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 5, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 12, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Giveaway is subject to <a href="https://justreadtours.com/disclosures-giveaway-policies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies</a>.</i></p>
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<p></p>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-48780602778098347872024-03-07T21:45:00.000-05:002024-03-07T21:45:30.241-05:00February 2024 Reading Recap and March 2024 TBR<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My February 2024 </span></b><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Reads: </span></b></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wVf5ctINFkdaFWZ3E6amopCtjMr-Q3tBcntH3SQdlvnFxajkPBGDHOIDlfz7PRBmUfGFEo-vfc88dWjK9UAy5EG0KR_hyNvqlrrzb965zTlsEL_sDxpgFurdBCITpJw0qzeU3pBTn_bWqiztHM7wwIJ_9mKlz3sI-gK6ytb2YbIqOsSLrEM3uHmX2g/s816/2022-12-31%2020.26.21.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><i>Ladies of the Lake</i> by Cathy Gohlke - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - <a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-review-ladies-of-lake-by-cathy.html" target="_blank">Read my review</a>.</li><br /><li><i>A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure </i>by Angela Bell - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - <a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/03/book-review-ladys-guide-to-marvels-and.html" target="_blank">Read my review</a>.</li><br /><li><i>While the City Sleeps </i>by Elizabeth Camden - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - <a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-review-while-city-sleeps-by.html" target="_blank">Read my review</a>. </li><br /><li><i>Manor for Sale, Baron Included</i> by Esther Hatch - ⭐⭐⭐ - This novella had a likeable heroine, swoony moments, and great potential. Had it been a full-length novel with more character development and certain story elements flushed out, this could have been a five star novel.</li></ol><div><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14yirhU8pvLjOU1ZKdZH5tjnKN48uX52z63cAo62Y1Z9shzXxHy3X28I00We-YlzZgMYeoSCMUTJZVpKN5cMdrOxeQe4GbJrFOEBmwFJ_uuUVnPji9XvmMrZhdvOOBnwmVNoHECPGpfho6FM8p9l4GiYYmCc1aWJh3iTHmdGMhMBS25xJ4ZOt4VdhtwbI/s1500/While%20the%20City%20Sleeps%20cover%202024.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14yirhU8pvLjOU1ZKdZH5tjnKN48uX52z63cAo62Y1Z9shzXxHy3X28I00We-YlzZgMYeoSCMUTJZVpKN5cMdrOxeQe4GbJrFOEBmwFJ_uuUVnPji9XvmMrZhdvOOBnwmVNoHECPGpfho6FM8p9l4GiYYmCc1aWJh3iTHmdGMhMBS25xJ4ZOt4VdhtwbI/w129-h200/While%20the%20City%20Sleeps%20cover%202024.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPL7pnIX2zg6HS7qk9x16TlUa3JZesh9W8yMm8dw8dDlFyV0YzAFcKOvPbbXmO-CFoqKjuhmLPOFDdoTREGvM5u2LTmKSxQhN-Iv_OEsDhF0TkpnuAAJIEw8oZj4TFC8NEhfp-_G5LD3hahOo0ZPxIeFZ5VqXixFsFg4pxJa-9o0hZRR1ESp3y0OEAgTRP/s1350/978-1-4964-5353-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPL7pnIX2zg6HS7qk9x16TlUa3JZesh9W8yMm8dw8dDlFyV0YzAFcKOvPbbXmO-CFoqKjuhmLPOFDdoTREGvM5u2LTmKSxQhN-Iv_OEsDhF0TkpnuAAJIEw8oZj4TFC8NEhfp-_G5LD3hahOo0ZPxIeFZ5VqXixFsFg4pxJa-9o0hZRR1ESp3y0OEAgTRP/w133-h200/978-1-4964-5353-2.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i4GTPZSsLlLdaTjkXuzp5B-XaAsp-uUNudcmRo2JZKVRED9rhAwSC96Zfy9sW3lHLVg6qp52ejkNeLRqdgsgfJfdARWloVA3D7mn6qeHE681zFpC4IvVfQSMwYv-BmKhRAt50fAl7CZ7U8oYvJtUHG9lYqSex79OkZb0QyVsTc53c9PhmtLv9tu5gyHU/s1500/A%20Lady's%20Guide%20to%20Marvels%20and%20Misadventure%202024.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i4GTPZSsLlLdaTjkXuzp5B-XaAsp-uUNudcmRo2JZKVRED9rhAwSC96Zfy9sW3lHLVg6qp52ejkNeLRqdgsgfJfdARWloVA3D7mn6qeHE681zFpC4IvVfQSMwYv-BmKhRAt50fAl7CZ7U8oYvJtUHG9lYqSex79OkZb0QyVsTc53c9PhmtLv9tu5gyHU/w129-h200/A%20Lady's%20Guide%20to%20Marvels%20and%20Misadventure%202024.jpg" width="129" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: left;"><hr /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Expected March 2024 Reads:</span></b><div><ol><li><i>Up From the Dust</i> by Heather Kaufmann.</li><br /><li><i>Don Quixote </i>by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!</li><br /><li><i>The Peasant King </i>by Tessa Afshar - My local book club's March selection. <a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2023/11/book-review-peasant-king-by-tessa-afshar.html" target="_blank">Read my review</a>.</li><br /><li><i>Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully Exhausting but Totally Normal Days of Motherhood </i>by Rachel Marie Martin. - Currently reading.</li><br /><li><i>Mostly What God Does</i> by Savannah Guthrie.</li></ol><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjbEX1VNDnQVJcevyFyItzFFpuKIedHKtagiXd_kE9MIuyl5ufY0YnJW7whTWRv0-I3H9hTuHf15bRVAAx_qem7TmQyAKWfHk9uefHwMnSMzy_H2Y38tpoe0WabZFBEhoGT9MEN0EV3qQS62r28Zakkf0Qr3qDnwUb5GIAxc4Tpm-_u4j0hPfPFK4Zx-W/s2000/Up%20from%20Dust.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1294" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjbEX1VNDnQVJcevyFyItzFFpuKIedHKtagiXd_kE9MIuyl5ufY0YnJW7whTWRv0-I3H9hTuHf15bRVAAx_qem7TmQyAKWfHk9uefHwMnSMzy_H2Y38tpoe0WabZFBEhoGT9MEN0EV3qQS62r28Zakkf0Qr3qDnwUb5GIAxc4Tpm-_u4j0hPfPFK4Zx-W/w129-h200/Up%20from%20Dust.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0H_XnTzlBZM_A3gdozb04D2t8unQ9OGr1Cf_hXxL9XkibZM_tJgBmEAsqhyUHnWIOHsPJDTCEEwAvhX4ij34pkGIurPB5sBeQ-p55PvCWIQxqL5Kb9jgytAcS8t9Kdr9aHrbxRVG_k5nRHs1TTIimrMQ7nWxPhAbjSQPYtKPI2oDKVVsx1R_sxm1Q10Bj/s445/51FzEXJ5M7L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="334" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0H_XnTzlBZM_A3gdozb04D2t8unQ9OGr1Cf_hXxL9XkibZM_tJgBmEAsqhyUHnWIOHsPJDTCEEwAvhX4ij34pkGIurPB5sBeQ-p55PvCWIQxqL5Kb9jgytAcS8t9Kdr9aHrbxRVG_k5nRHs1TTIimrMQ7nWxPhAbjSQPYtKPI2oDKVVsx1R_sxm1Q10Bj/w150-h200/51FzEXJ5M7L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5C0wrEzpzAMdc8wm3gMscmD-IlDhHzcwOd4D9Zexwto9q648ANdNwrRXl7ZJrczn7PEpp8mLlpjSAEkFlxq5I7ARGoE-m2cdYQlX4zyVgRrFJZX_dvt1JQeqghiuWty_uMpDPR37tBFSc8TAS3VRVSsNBfGyFCeSDhs0RoceuOxn-1xUhn2ToWnjdaeCT/s1350/978-1-4964-5826-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5C0wrEzpzAMdc8wm3gMscmD-IlDhHzcwOd4D9Zexwto9q648ANdNwrRXl7ZJrczn7PEpp8mLlpjSAEkFlxq5I7ARGoE-m2cdYQlX4zyVgRrFJZX_dvt1JQeqghiuWty_uMpDPR37tBFSc8TAS3VRVSsNBfGyFCeSDhs0RoceuOxn-1xUhn2ToWnjdaeCT/w133-h200/978-1-4964-5826-1.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What will you read this month?</span></b></div></b>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-72735954834509074722024-03-06T02:00:00.043-05:002024-03-06T02:00:00.139-05:00Author Interview: The Last Disciple: Exile in Ephesus by Kurt Brouwer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2I9bYKBMlLkaWo7oMZmjUkwxZ32-cxFlSAzf20QLaImRTXHqoFPB86iaBQu9EGuJl_laQWl6PCyOGWXIKvIzmuOjeVTG4n6A6coc7-LZjN2ldmXvEKWs4ju3em40DTnTWaqx3Ijpa4ksTqp7tEM772Xwyz7cbqgLuF3h6ORUUx6r1PuHiADOJm5cXd4w/s851/exile-in-ephesis.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2I9bYKBMlLkaWo7oMZmjUkwxZ32-cxFlSAzf20QLaImRTXHqoFPB86iaBQu9EGuJl_laQWl6PCyOGWXIKvIzmuOjeVTG4n6A6coc7-LZjN2ldmXvEKWs4ju3em40DTnTWaqx3Ijpa4ksTqp7tEM772Xwyz7cbqgLuF3h6ORUUx6r1PuHiADOJm5cXd4w/w640-h237/exile-in-ephesis.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_uDdLUyPYKVQI9xsqzeI5WG8vtjGWqPjEuIT7lBdO2VrhqfJcUTkeoPoubiVLp3bWEffvLTnd5eUgwyLlhr-pg4W9LeyrazKkQ2Q5MyvLveLU9kOZPgRyQsBxajCbYjkbTW4qi4hnuWCVzVKkHyY6Ec5ijT32GMrDLEoUfFfuzdDj1x0JV7lwtM5lKKG/s300/Ebook-Cover-The-Last-Disciple-Exile-in-Ephesus-03-188x300.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="188" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_uDdLUyPYKVQI9xsqzeI5WG8vtjGWqPjEuIT7lBdO2VrhqfJcUTkeoPoubiVLp3bWEffvLTnd5eUgwyLlhr-pg4W9LeyrazKkQ2Q5MyvLveLU9kOZPgRyQsBxajCbYjkbTW4qi4hnuWCVzVKkHyY6Ec5ijT32GMrDLEoUfFfuzdDj1x0JV7lwtM5lKKG/s1600/Ebook-Cover-The-Last-Disciple-Exile-in-Ephesus-03-188x300.jpeg" width="188" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><strong>Book: </strong><i>The Last Disciple: Exile in Ephesus</i></p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Kurt Brouwer</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Christian Historical Fiction</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>March 15, 2024</p><p><strong>He awoke jailed in squalor…</strong></p><p><strong>Would he complete his final mission?</strong></p><p><strong>Or would he fail to record the story only he could tell?</strong></p><p>The epic saga of the Last Disciple continues in this captivating Christian historical novel from Kurt Brouwer.</p><p>After surviving imprisonment, John faces his greatest challenge–exile in the distant city of Ephesus. Struggling with grief and despair over the destruction of Jerusalem, John doubts his ability to complete the mission entrusted to him by Mary—to write the true gospel account of Christ’s life.</p><p>But in Ephesus, John finds unexpected allies—Timothy, Priscilla, and Tychicus, who share his passion for spreading the message of God’s love.</p><p>As John shares the good news of Jesus, he makes dangerous enemies, including the influential high priest, Alexander Cosmo, who will stop at nothing to suppress the growing Christian faith.</p><p>Amid opposition from without and internal divisions from within the early church, John must contend with those pressuring believers to adopt Jewish law and compromise the radical teachings of Christ.</p><p>When tragedy strikes those close to him, can John’s fragile hope be rekindled? Will he finally show the world all the signs, miracles, and events he witnessed on his journey with Jesus?</p><p><strong>Don’t miss this page-turning story of faith, courage, and love.</strong></p> Click here to get your copy! --- not on amazon yet.<br /> <h1><span><hr /></span><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlflEuI3x7LDViFskHwpchJD-B7yYboy9Wy5oYZ0F4IJ3HiK9W8sw-pBTlQXYmOWBO1u6ojoGqWE9C32q-Q3Eb2aCRcw45VnxTuRtZoxDg03gXByECcTalUWknK53JkVjRhpORkNsG3vwL_Jqus8DWZNvws9vB5t_acQ8JbwMaPdRupAD-R_2Pa_q-psJy/s300/h0lta90ja88m2hvjqhuf7gsbeh._UX300_-300x300.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlflEuI3x7LDViFskHwpchJD-B7yYboy9Wy5oYZ0F4IJ3HiK9W8sw-pBTlQXYmOWBO1u6ojoGqWE9C32q-Q3Eb2aCRcw45VnxTuRtZoxDg03gXByECcTalUWknK53JkVjRhpORkNsG3vwL_Jqus8DWZNvws9vB5t_acQ8JbwMaPdRupAD-R_2Pa_q-psJy/s1600/h0lta90ja88m2hvjqhuf7gsbeh._UX300_-300x300.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="”StandardCxSpFirst”"><strong>Kurt</strong> is a Christian and a member of a vibrant Christian church on the Big Island of Hawaii. He also loves to write. In addition to all the usual temptations writers face, Kurt has to fight off the lure of beautiful beaches, pounding surf, great weather, and lush golf courses. Can you imagine?</p><p class="”StandardCxSpMiddle”">Despite those temptations, he writes The Last Disciple series of Christian historical novels and he regularly writes blog posts.</p><p class="”StandardCxSpMiddle”">A few years ago Kurt did a study for his church on the Apostle John. That little project got him hooked on the man who started out life as a fisherman and then became the last disciple of Christ. The more Kurt learned about John, the more he wanted to know.</p><p class="”StandardCxSpMiddle”">If you’ve ever been obsessed by anything, you’ll understand that he couldn’t stop researching the life of John and all those around him. And the result of all that research is:</p><p class="”StandardCxSpMiddle”"><b><i>The Last Disciple Series</i></b></p><p class="”StandardCxSpMiddle”">The Last Disciple is a series of Christian novels based on the Bible and Christian history. The first in the series: <b><i>The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem</i></b>, begins in the year 62 AD. In it, you walk with John through the streets of Jerusalem. See how he faces multiple crises and comes to understand what it is to stand alone and lean only on the Lord.</p><p class="”StandardCxSpLast”">This book, <b><i>The Last Disciple: Exile in Ephesus </i></b>is the third in the series, with two more books planned. Kurt is now writing the fourth book, <b><i>The Last Disciple: Gospel of John.</i></b></p><h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>More from Kurt</span></h1><p>It all started one day when I learned that the Gospel of John was published fifty years after Jesus died. Fifty years! What did John do all that time? Where did he live? Why did he wait?</p><p>But wait, there’s more. On the Cross, Jesus placed his own mother under John’s protection. How long did John take care of her? Where did they live?</p><p>I think you can tell I got a little obsessive about this man, who outlived all the others to become the last disciple.</p><p>In fact, that very phrase, the last disciple, came to me early one morning when I was reading about John and Peter going to Samaria in Acts 8. John lived so long that he outlived all the others and became the last disciple.</p><p><strong>The Youngest Disciple</strong></p><p>What do we know about John? He walked with Jesus when he was very young, probably a teenager or very early 20s. He and Andrew were the first disciples of Christ. Before that, they both followed John the Baptist.</p><p>Anyone who reads the New Testament would know John as:</p><ul><li>The son of Zebedee, his father, and Salome, his mother</li><li>Brother to the disciple James</li><li>A fisherman on the Sea of Galilee</li><li>He and his brother James were friends and even fishing buddies with Peter and his brother Andrew</li><li>Youngest of the 12 disciples.</li><li>Author of five books of the Bible:<ul><li>The Gospel of John 80-90 AD</li><li>The Letters or Epistles of John 90-95 AD</li><li>The Book of Revelation 95-98 AD</li></ul></li></ul><p>But after the mention in Acts 8, that’s it for John. Radio silence for nearly 50 years. Why did it take him so long to write the Gospel of John? And that is the very question I seek to answer in The Last Disciple Series.</p><p><strong><em>The Last Disciple Series</em></strong></p><p>The Last Disciple is a series of Christian novels based on the Bible and Christian history. The first in the series: <strong>The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem</strong>, begins in the year 62 AD. In it, you walk with John through the streets of Jerusalem. See how he faces multiple crises and comes to understand what it is to stand alone and lean only on the Lord.</p><p>This book, <strong>The Last Disciple: Exile in Ephesus </strong>is the third in the series, following <strong>The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch</strong> and <strong>The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem. </strong></p><p>I’m now writing the fourth book, <strong>The Last Disciple: Gospel of John</strong>.</p><h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Author Interview with Kurt</span></h1><br /><b>Q:</b> What was the inspiration behind the novel? <div><br /></div><div><b>Kurt: </b>It all started one morning when I learned that the Gospel of John was published fifty years after Jesus died. Fifty years! What did John do all that time? Where did he live? Why did he wait? Frankly I got a little obsessive about John, the man who became the last disciple. That morning something else hit me--John outlived all the others to become the last disciple. I couldn't stop thinking about how lonely it must have been to be the last one standing. A few years later, I began writing The Last Disciple Series of Christian historical novels about the life of John. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How long did it take you to write this novel? <div><br /></div><div><b>Kurt: </b>About eight months<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Do any of the novel’s characters hold a special place in your heart? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Kurt: </b>I'm a bit obsessed with John, the last disciple.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you hope readers take away from this novel? <div><br /></div><div><b>Kurt:</b> One of my readers expressed precisely what I'm trying to do on a survey on my website. The reader wrote, 'I hunger to learn more of the Bible and the interpretation of scripture as it relates to historical significance and current application.' That's what I'm writing to accomplish.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Who is an author you would recommend to anyone and everyone? <div><br /></div><div><b>Kurt: </b>John<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Where can readers find out more about you and your novel? <div><br /></div><div><b>Kurt:</b> I hope readers will stay in touch with me by signing up for a free subscription to my website. Go to the link below to join. It’s free. When you do, you'll receive an email link to instantly download a free eighteen-page ebook: <i>John’s Journey with Jesus</i>. Click this link to get your free subscription: <a href="https://kurtbrouwer.com/mailing-list/">KurtBrouwer.com</a>.<br /><h1 center=""><hr /><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><br /><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</a>, March 2<br /><br /><a href="https://www.jodiewolfe.com/blog">Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet</a>, March 3 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</a>, March 4<br /><br /><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/">Texas Book-aholic</a>, March 5<br /><br /><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/">Beauty in the Binding</a>, March 6 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/">Book Reviews From an Avid Reader</a>, March 7<br /><br /><a href="https://shelivestoread.com/category/book-reviews/">She Lives To Read</a>, March 8<br /><br /><a href="https://litteraegaudium.wordpress.com/">For the Love of Literature</a>, March 9 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://exploringthewrittenword.blogspot.com/">Exploring the written word</a>, March 9<br /><br /><a href="http://www.carolkeen.blogspot.com/">Blogging With Carol</a>, March 10<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/">Locks, Hooks and Books</a>, March 11<br /><br /><a href="https://rbclibrary.wordpress.com/">By The Book</a>, March 12 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/">Cover Lover Book Review</a>, March 13<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lightsinadarkworld.wordpress.com/">Lights in a Dark World</a>, March 14<br /><br /><a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</a>, March 15 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mary.a.hake">Mary Hake</a>, March 15<h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5soYUrmZWsSBcLJG6X0CXXiyETkyFXkTV9PM-xlQRbss3F9AH4BC6rmh_BmtFskptV2vNNr4OJizYsh0edfai6gcbUNQSj6brMi-7_9QcuIwagJhtxzjvP-o6U042lwPTYjGN7zLYxnjWo4KlRgMrJJ0v8pVLSPVstDoACpxGG_SoUWaslGJyrRl27rEz/s940/Exile%20in%20Ephesus%20Giveaway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5soYUrmZWsSBcLJG6X0CXXiyETkyFXkTV9PM-xlQRbss3F9AH4BC6rmh_BmtFskptV2vNNr4OJizYsh0edfai6gcbUNQSj6brMi-7_9QcuIwagJhtxzjvP-o6U042lwPTYjGN7zLYxnjWo4KlRgMrJJ0v8pVLSPVstDoACpxGG_SoUWaslGJyrRl27rEz/s320/Exile%20in%20Ephesus%20Giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p center="">To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p>Link for giveaway: <a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2a3f6/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2a3f6/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></div></div></div></div></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-75470875824038025802024-03-05T02:00:00.005-05:002024-03-05T02:00:00.245-05:00Book Spotlight: Forever Free by Hope Toler Dougherty<div class="separator"><img alt="Forever Free JustRead Blog Tour" class="alignnone wp-image-28261" height="207" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Banner_ForeverFree_Blog_JR.jpg" width="570" /></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Blog Tour for <span style="color: #47512c;"><i><b>Forever Free</b></i></span> by Hope Toler Dougherty, hosted by <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/03/04/welcome-to-the-forever-free-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours</a>!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #47512c;"><b>About the Book</b></span></h3>
<p></p><p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><b><img alt="Forever Free" class="alignleft wp-image-29188 size-large" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Forever-Free-253x400.webp" width="253" /></b></p><b><br /></b><b>Title:</b> <i>Forever Free
</i><br /><b>Series:</b> Forever #4
<b><br />Author:</b> Hope Toler Dougherty
<b><br />Publisher:</b> Scrivenings Press
<b><br />Release Date:</b> January 29, 2024
<br /><b>Genre:</b> Christian Contemporary Romance<p></p><p></p><p>
Phoebe Sinclair combines her love of flowers and teaching to nurture a cut flower business on her grandfather’s land. She’s got her hands full growing the farm, growing her customer base, and dealing with her growing attraction to the aloof man who’s volunteered to help make her farming dream come true. </p><p>Can she focus on her main job, or will a pair of yearning eyes and a hurting heart divert her worthy goals? </p><p>Heath Daniels has resigned himself to a life of singleness as he watches his siblings couple up and set wedding dates. Tracking their happiness, however, is more difficult than he expected. A real struggle, in fact. </p><p>Feeling the old troubles creep back to tempt him—troubles from the bad time when he dropped out of college to explore less-than-noble pursuits—propels him to volunteer for manual labor that leaves him exhausted at the end of every day and out of trouble. </p><p>His additional hours of agri-business, however, lead to more struggles with an intriguing farmer. Does he have the strength to resist old temptations as well as a beautiful new one, too?
<span style="color: #47512c;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #47512c;"><b>PURCHASE LINKS</b>:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204681202-forever-free" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CRSB77M8" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-free-hope-toler-dougherty/1144684567" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/forever-free-by-hope-toler-dougherty" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BookBub</a>
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<h3><span style="color: #47512c; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">More Books In This Series</span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BTZZWWC" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-29189" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/forever-music-193x300.webp" width="161" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6MND1QX" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-29190" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a-hatteras-surprise-193x300.webp" width="161" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6PW88PZ" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-29191" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/forever-home-193x300.webp" width="161" /></a></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #47512c;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></h3><br />So, she knew it all. He’d never been this honest with anyone outside his family or therapy. Tremors quaked his body. <br /><br />Phoebe tightened her grip on his hand. “Thank you for telling me, Heath. I don’t take this lightly, and I’ll keep it confidential.” <br /><br />Nodding, he let out a pointed breath. His story was out, but safe. Gratefulness released his shoulders, eased his lungs. <br /><br />“Dayna must have been a cool person for you to be interested in her.” <br /><br />He stiffened. No more talk about her. He removed his hand from her touch. “Thanks for listening. Let’s get back.” He counted to ten before she released the break and turned the golf cart around. As it coasted to a stop at the shelter, his boot touched the ground for a quick getaway, but she grabbed his arm. <br /><br />“Don’t you think she’d be upset knowing you feel this guilt about her? Don’t you think she’d wish you a happy life, free of panic attacks?” <br /><br />Hot and cold pin pricks played havoc through his body. Fisting his hands, he flattened his mouth and spoke quietly, careful to mask the anger screaming for freedom. “Don’t think by knowing my story you have the right to share your thoughts. Or give advice.” <br /><br />He pushed away from the cart, searching for something, anything to help him release the roiling emotions and the longing for a different way to assuage them.<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #47512c;"><b>About the Author</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hope Toler Dougherty" class="alignnone wp-image-29192 size-medium" height="277" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Hope-Dougherty-300x277.webp" width="300" /></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b>Hope Toler Dougherty</b> holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Her early novels are <i>Irish Encounter</i>, <i>Mars…With Venus Rising</i>, and <i>Rescued Hearts</i>. Her Forever series includes her latest, <i>Forever Free</i>, <i>Forever Music</i>, <i>Forever Home</i>, and the novella, "<i>A Hatteras Surprise</i>."</p>
Connect with Hope by visiting <a href="https://hopetolerdougherty.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">hopetolerdougherty.com</a> to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #47512c;"><b>Tour Giveaway</b></span></h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">(1) winner will win print copies of all 4 books in the Forever series, a $25 Amazon card, and a bookmark!</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Forever Free JustRead Tours giveaway" class="wp-image-29193 size-large aligncenter" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Giveaway_ForeverFree_Blog_JR-400x400.webp" width="400" /></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 4, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 11, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Giveaway is subject to <a href="https://justreadtours.com/disclosures-giveaway-policies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies</a>.</i></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="e-widget no-button" href="https://gleam.io/pF9Md/forever-free-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><b>Enter Giveaway</b></a>
<script async="true" src="https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js" type="text/javascript"></script></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Follow along at <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/03/04/welcome-to-the-forever-free-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Tours</a> for a full list of stops!</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="JustRead Publicity Tours" class="wp-image-13204 size-thumbnail aligncenter" height="150" src="https://justreadtours.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/justread-logo-final.png?w=150" width="150" /></div>
<p></p>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-89809701867434284612024-03-04T02:00:00.051-05:002024-03-04T02:00:00.131-05:00Book Review: A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> About the Book:</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i4GTPZSsLlLdaTjkXuzp5B-XaAsp-uUNudcmRo2JZKVRED9rhAwSC96Zfy9sW3lHLVg6qp52ejkNeLRqdgsgfJfdARWloVA3D7mn6qeHE681zFpC4IvVfQSMwYv-BmKhRAt50fAl7CZ7U8oYvJtUHG9lYqSex79OkZb0QyVsTc53c9PhmtLv9tu5gyHU/s1500/A%20Lady's%20Guide%20to%20Marvels%20and%20Misadventure%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i4GTPZSsLlLdaTjkXuzp5B-XaAsp-uUNudcmRo2JZKVRED9rhAwSC96Zfy9sW3lHLVg6qp52ejkNeLRqdgsgfJfdARWloVA3D7mn6qeHE681zFpC4IvVfQSMwYv-BmKhRAt50fAl7CZ7U8oYvJtUHG9lYqSex79OkZb0QyVsTc53c9PhmtLv9tu5gyHU/s320/A%20Lady's%20Guide%20to%20Marvels%20and%20Misadventure%202024.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Miss Clara Marie Stanton's family may be eccentric, but they certainly aren't insane.</b><br /><br /><i>London, England, 1860</i><div><i><br /></i>When Clara's ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it's all she can do to protect them from his desperate schemes, society's prejudice, and a lifetime in an asylum. Then Clara's Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing.<br /><br />Theodore Kingsley, a shame-chased vagabond haunted by the war, wants a fresh start far from Kingsley Court and the disappointed father who declared him dead. Upon returning to England, Theodore meets clockmaker Drosselmeyer, who hires him as an apprentice, much to Clara's dismay. When Drosselmeyer spontaneously disappears in his secret flying owl machine, he leaves behind a note for Clara, beseeching her to make her dreams of adventure a reality by joining him on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe. Together, Clara and Theodore set off to follow Drosselmeyer's trail of clues, but they will have to stay one step ahead of a villain who wants the flying machine for himself--at any cost.<p><span></span></p><hr /><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I enjoyed every minute of<i> A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and
Misadventure </i>by Angela Bell. The novel held my attention from start to end
and was hard to put down. I know so little of Victorian steampunk literature (and
did not see it marketed as such) that I missed the clues on the cover and in
the book synopsis. The story incorporated futuristic technology not present
during the 1860s, which required imagination and acceptance of tweaked
historical details, but this didn’t detract from the story for me.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure </i>held the
type of humor I find funny (typically I’m unimpressed with romcoms). Some of
Clara and Arthur’s verbal exchanges had me giggling, but Clara’s mother
provided the true comic relief. I laughed out loud so many times! The story
felt light and joyful even as it dealt with betrayal and heartbreak.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">A prominent issue in <i>A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and
Misadventure </i>was Clara’s desire to protect her family members in her own
strength and her own way. Clara’s distrust and overactive sense of
responsibility seemed very in-line with the thoughts and feelings that arise
when God doesn’t protect from hard situations. Clara’s character growth took time,
and I appreciated that changing her mindset was not a quick flip. The
relationship between her and Arthur/Theodore spurred both of them toward personal
healing and it was fun to watch their enemies-to-lovers romance unfold.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure </i>by Angela
Bell also held many quotable lines, travels around Europe, and a beautiful grandfather-granddaughter
relationship. This novel is a keeper for my bookshelf, and I look forward to
more books from this author. 4.5 Stars!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHS6oTQXbeexzGq9WJehZ7QBcTax-iJYd_NddswO3gEdIdnMkRnBcmDlo8KSXMxOgB9RzGJzcyyRv1tESwdg6KIIP5T_1d1YxoCF5TDIkTASBAKUXdan1DhG2ncUACCHjeEsPQpwAk4gca3l7aHcaclmgw2vT8qg9mItrGqO-FqlFvKM8VIdrxv_Cu_Ny/s2865/2024-02-12%2016.35.36-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2865" data-original-width="2865" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHS6oTQXbeexzGq9WJehZ7QBcTax-iJYd_NddswO3gEdIdnMkRnBcmDlo8KSXMxOgB9RzGJzcyyRv1tESwdg6KIIP5T_1d1YxoCF5TDIkTASBAKUXdan1DhG2ncUACCHjeEsPQpwAk4gca3l7aHcaclmgw2vT8qg9mItrGqO-FqlFvKM8VIdrxv_Cu_Ny/s320/2024-02-12%2016.35.36-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.</p><span><hr /></span><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWIpVo_2tVrhd3car4WpO8OfUyjHVdXoAUnrdubxumacVEp16sfpHxHd-2gJ7r7fnxpiS9V4lkiaqhz_WhPO9WENfu10SbHjbf4gx3ayD0R_DB1sCcbc_vh1oWyyYBF96UQh6hT9bRSyLz4aKFKQLqSg_G2tddQFS_XseAd4gH1-zU04nyc8y000ymCBf/s1080/A%20Lady's%20Guide%20Book%20Tour%20graphic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWIpVo_2tVrhd3car4WpO8OfUyjHVdXoAUnrdubxumacVEp16sfpHxHd-2gJ7r7fnxpiS9V4lkiaqhz_WhPO9WENfu10SbHjbf4gx3ayD0R_DB1sCcbc_vh1oWyyYBF96UQh6hT9bRSyLz4aKFKQLqSg_G2tddQFS_XseAd4gH1-zU04nyc8y000ymCBf/s320/A%20Lady's%20Guide%20Book%20Tour%20graphic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-4838147024229718752024-03-04T02:00:00.040-05:002024-03-04T02:00:00.131-05:00Author Interview: Ephesians (Real World Bible Study) by Joy Suzanne Hunt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadF1vca1LYBwaE1IbMSRE2k9hyphenhyphenAlwD2sbGizGB3UP06YDo9cpoqXBN9dDG8BTmVePVxZ0web1qpC4KkjKzpqVp2u4xzCZppv7WbRL9YtWuuAXT5HbDSNVqJssJK5XSNe2QpifwoV4CKa_ct2o8k9AiU475oLUFSh2ZWaSXykquP9U5oURN9Othth6b3iW/s851/ephesians%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadF1vca1LYBwaE1IbMSRE2k9hyphenhyphenAlwD2sbGizGB3UP06YDo9cpoqXBN9dDG8BTmVePVxZ0web1qpC4KkjKzpqVp2u4xzCZppv7WbRL9YtWuuAXT5HbDSNVqJssJK5XSNe2QpifwoV4CKa_ct2o8k9AiU475oLUFSh2ZWaSXykquP9U5oURN9Othth6b3iW/w640-h236/ephesians%20(1).jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS8sjlWEKTrh5drXMuMmML2HFcJN0Pa_ZXCstBEMg8OVNWM3VAYAi_4vRk1_gr6QUT8y9jYloa_482gVzj0Dp_-gvdvd8YhyphenhyphenrtHyYjtry3hfCbz91IMBBzGSA6gMBIPPMkA2ryJllgfiBc1c5HbxnXQ2kYRFYqlmL5cxX5HAoSNImF8aTCzFjrGj2_mT6/s300/Ephesians-Cover-Front-200x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS8sjlWEKTrh5drXMuMmML2HFcJN0Pa_ZXCstBEMg8OVNWM3VAYAi_4vRk1_gr6QUT8y9jYloa_482gVzj0Dp_-gvdvd8YhyphenhyphenrtHyYjtry3hfCbz91IMBBzGSA6gMBIPPMkA2ryJllgfiBc1c5HbxnXQ2kYRFYqlmL5cxX5HAoSNImF8aTCzFjrGj2_mT6/s1600/Ephesians-Cover-Front-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p><strong>Book: </strong><i>Ephesians (Real World Bible Study)</i></p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Joy Suzanne Hunt</p><p><b>Genre:</b> Bible Study Guide</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>December 15, 2023</p><p>God’s Word + YOUR Real Life</p><p>If you’ve ever had trouble building a Bible study habit or understanding God’s Word for yourself, you’re not alone. But God’s Word was actually written about real life, for real life! It’s meant for the real world!</p><p>Connect with God’s Word in 15 min a Day</p><p>Whether you’re a Bible Study veteran, or you’re brand new and don’t know where to start, this study guide is for you. In this study, you’ll learn the steps to understand Scripture for yourself and connect it to your life and community. Each week, you’ll complete 5 days of study on your own (in manageable chunks that allow you go to deeper if desired), followed by a group session to explore the text with friends or family, because we interpret Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit and community.</p> Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3OwGdaL" target="_blank">here</a> to get your copy!<h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiWIU0VAyfWgSxxImb6Dr9-JtS1QvIIxc4b2PT5Uzt8aSKxPOmCsaFJExffm_bDnYTVhzZHgeD30BuCpaDIc9Hxt2_tsfCiJt_QgYC4vIaRUAwWr3nW4jycAVmE3JoDCHx941trADPxYNQsJXFSPGVyVoNikQURPFjvulVgCmcXsAZrhgV2ynbyysBBT_/s300/Joy-Profile-2023-300x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiWIU0VAyfWgSxxImb6Dr9-JtS1QvIIxc4b2PT5Uzt8aSKxPOmCsaFJExffm_bDnYTVhzZHgeD30BuCpaDIc9Hxt2_tsfCiJt_QgYC4vIaRUAwWr3nW4jycAVmE3JoDCHx941trADPxYNQsJXFSPGVyVoNikQURPFjvulVgCmcXsAZrhgV2ynbyysBBT_/s1600/Joy-Profile-2023-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><strong>Joy Suzanne</strong> <strong>Hunt</strong> is the Pastor of Adult Education for CityWide Mosaic Church in Temecula, CA and a professor with SoCal School of Ministry. Her mission is to equip men and women to take ownership of their lives, faith, and finances. When she’s not teaching, writing, or coaching, you can find her walking her Temecula neighborhood, trying out crockpot recipes, or playing board games with friends.</p><h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Author Interview with Joy</span></h1><br /><b>Q: </b>Please give us a little introduction to your book. <br /><br /><b>Joy: </b>I’m a Bible college professor, and the one thing my students most often take away from our classes is the “three steps to interpret a Bible passage.” I follow these same three steps when I study a passage before preaching or writing about it, but they are steps any person can learn to follow:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What did it mean “back then when it was written?” We want to understand what the passage meant to the original hearers, so we need to know the historical and literary context as much as possible.</li><li>What does it mean in light of the rest of Scripture? We can use Scripture to interpret Scripture!</li><li>What does it mean in my life and community? This is the application step.</li></ul>When we follow these steps, we avoid some common interpretation errors, but it’s more than that - Scripture comes alive for us in a new way when we understand the original meaning and then build a bridge from that original audience to our world. I hope my readers can experience this for themselves as they study the book of Ephesians!<div><br /></div><div><br /><b>Q: </b>How long did it take you to write this book?<br /><br /><b>Joy: </b>It took about a month; I originally wrote it for my church’s summer small group series!</div><div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you hope readers take away from your book?<br /><br /><b>Joy: </b>I hope readers walk away feeling excited about God’s Word and more confident in their ability to interpret it correctly. I hope that new students of the Bible will develop a healthy Bible study habit that they can build upon and share with others.</div><div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you like to do when you aren't writing?<br /><br /><b>Joy: </b>I’m a financial coach which is a lot of fun! I love to read and enjoy playing French Horn and going on bike rides with my mom.</div><div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What are you reading now?<br /><br /><b>Joy: </b>I’m currently listening to Michael Hyatt’s <i>No Fail Habits</i>. And I received a copy of<i> God’s Smuggler</i> for Christmas which I’m looking forward to starting soon!<br /><br /> <h1><hr /><span underline="">More from Joy</span></h1><p>As a Bible college professor, I’m always looking for books written “by the seminary guys but for normal people,” meaning that I want the best scholarship and teaching out there, written in a way that everyone can understand. (Let’s face it: even if you’ve been to grad school, chances are reading someone’s PhD dissertation isn’t actually fun for you.)</p><p>And as a pastor, I choose study guides for our small groups that help teach members <em>how</em> to study the Bible and give them a framework to build Bible study into daily life. My favorite study guides pull in great background information and teach hands-on study skills, and are structured in a way that helps readers to spend time in God’s Word every day (whether they spend 5 minutes or 30). This study was born from our church calendar: all of my favorite study guide series’ are 13-week studies, and I needed to plan for a small group series that would last 7-8 weeks. What do you do when you can’t find the book you want? You write it, of course!</p><p>This study guide is built around the “3 Steps to Interpret a Bible Passage” that I’ve been teaching to my School of Ministry students for years. If you’ve never looked into the historical context of a passage on your own and made the connection to our lives today, you’re in for a treat. Getting into the context really makes God’s Word come alive for us and it helps guide how we handle difficult topics. I hope this study leaves you hungry for more – and armed with the tools to encounter and interpret God’s Word for yourself every day.</p><h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Blog Stops</span></h1><br /><a href="http://www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/">Book Reviews From an Avid Reader</a>, February 23<br /><br /><a href="http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/">Lighthouse Academy Blog</a>, February 24 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)<br /><br /><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</a>, February 25<br /><br /><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/">Texas Book-aholic</a>, February 26<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/">Locks, Hooks and Books</a>, February 27<br /><br /><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</a>, February 28<br /><br /><a href="https://proverb31titus2godlybookreviews.blogspot.com/">Godly Book Reviews</a>, February 29<br /><br /><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</a>, March 1<br /><br /><a href="https://becauseisaidsomyadventuresinparenting.blogspot.com/">Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting</a>, March 2<br /><br /><a href="https://batyasbits.home.blog/">Batya’s Bits</a>, March 3<br /><br /><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/">Beauty in the Binding</a>, March 4 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/">Artistic Nobody</a>, March 4<br /><br /><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/">Cover Lover Book Review</a>, March 5<br /><br /><a href="https://arynthelibraryan.com/">Aryn The Libraryan</a>, March 6<br /><br /><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/">Blossoms and Blessings</a>, March 7 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mary.a.hake">Mary Hake</a>, March 7<h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqozODtuk91vAITk_dYUynn1IQWxdz1f5kyvkNLjprQekny_A5hg5K14aVeTtUxJPpFDth-_gPoFdlnGw3ePtYraLARBVLV9fUGbpyz7TVQ-RUo1rMU7JftosHVKi6fSSUmE2bL2XZYvd2eMqQHtIN3UACfNGeKXfHhN7b7oVe7NmeXU911TePTanGyVn/s940/Ephesians%20Giveaway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqozODtuk91vAITk_dYUynn1IQWxdz1f5kyvkNLjprQekny_A5hg5K14aVeTtUxJPpFDth-_gPoFdlnGw3ePtYraLARBVLV9fUGbpyz7TVQ-RUo1rMU7JftosHVKi6fSSUmE2bL2XZYvd2eMqQHtIN3UACfNGeKXfHhN7b7oVe7NmeXU911TePTanGyVn/s320/Ephesians%20Giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Joy is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon Gift Card, copy of the book, and NLT Filament Bible Journal: Ephesians (Softcover)!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p>Link for giveaway: <a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2a258/ephesians-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2a258/ephesians-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-63807707717496874142024-03-01T02:00:00.000-05:002024-03-01T02:00:00.242-05:00Author Interview: When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir<div class="separator"><p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-28814" height="207" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Banner_WhentheFlamesRavaged_Blog_JR-1.jpg" width="570" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Blog Tour for <span style="color: #8c2e24;"><i><b>When the Flames Ravaged</b></i></span> by Rhonda Dragomir, hosted by <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/02/26/welcome-to-the-when-the-flames-ravaged-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours</a>!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8c2e24;"><b>About the Book</b></span></h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogoDjOZriHUf_xlgIX587KamZz3q0YnhdCW3P7h8YLKEusf8l8Jar2zf-jF2Ngq449SrSk_a2fXZaVVtoEUMSGeXlZb4Hzo8v5gvwQltkstfVCtSTBynpX72o8gqVgICy0HV0FxzprJyv_wSXNsnWNFpf8R3qsQwjF9y-rgtBjpUBJomUZbEiB0znRJ0/s1500/WhentheFlamesRavaged.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="985" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogoDjOZriHUf_xlgIX587KamZz3q0YnhdCW3P7h8YLKEusf8l8Jar2zf-jF2Ngq449SrSk_a2fXZaVVtoEUMSGeXlZb4Hzo8v5gvwQltkstfVCtSTBynpX72o8gqVgICy0HV0FxzprJyv_wSXNsnWNFpf8R3qsQwjF9y-rgtBjpUBJomUZbEiB0znRJ0/w263-h400/WhentheFlamesRavaged.jpg" width="263" /></a></b></div><b>Title:</b> <i>When the Flames Ravaged
</i><b><br />Series:</b> A Day to Remember
<b><br />Author:</b> Rhonda Dragomir
<b><br />Publisher:</b> Barbour Publishing
<b><br />Release Date:</b> March 1, 2024
<b><br />Genre:</b> Christian Historical Fiction<p></p><p>
<b>Will Faith Perish in the Big Top’s Flames?</b>
<i> </i></p><p><i>Introducing a new series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.</i> </p><p>Evelyn Benson’s husband perished in the Bataan Death March but not her faith. The World War II Gold Star widow is taken in by her brother and soothed by the love of his wife and children. Evelyn refuses to cower to grief. She may not understand God’s mysterious ways, but she has never questioned Him—until the circus fire. </p><p>The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus train chugs into Hartford, Connecticut, on a sweltering day one month after the Allies invaded Normandy. Among the roustabouts is a reluctant clown, Hank Webb. He may hide from his murky past behind grease paint as Fraidy Freddie, but God wants to offer Hank a chance to be found. Though first, what little Hank believes about God will endure a fiery trial. </p><p>On Thursday, July 6, 1944, a devasting blaze of unknown origins consumes the circus tent along with Evelyn’s hopes and Hank’s anonymity.
<span style="color: #8c2e24;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #8c2e24;"><b>PURCHASE LINKS</b>:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150206209-when-the-flames-ravaged" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CJ4G4KX6" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-the-flames-ravaged-rhonda-dragomir/1143461251" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/when-the-flames-ravaged-july-1944/9781636097862/pd/097862" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ChristianBook</a> | <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/when-the-flames-ravaged-july-6-1944-rhonda-dragomir/20069462" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bookshop</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/when-the-flames-ravaged-by-rhonda-dragomir" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BookBub</a>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8c2e24;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></h3><br />The pointed collar of Evelyn’s white blouse sported a round lapel pin with a gold star against a purple background. Not mere jewelry. Hank’s waitress was a war widow. He should be ashamed for thinking it was good news. More than ever, he wished he could use words, but it was against the clown code of conduct. Pointing to the pin, Hank mimed a trail of tears down his cheeks with both index fingers. <br /><br />The other clowns stilled. <br /><br />Evelyn’s lower lip trembled. <br /><br />Hank wrapped himself in a hug and rocked side to side, slowly shaking his head. Then he shrugged and extended upraised hands to her while arching his eyebrows. <br /><br />“George. My husband. He died in the Bataan Death March.” <br /><br />The fact pierced Hank’s chest like a bayonet. What an awful way for a man to die, and what a horror for the survivors. Hank might have been in Bataan, if only. . . Nope. Spilled milk. No crying.<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8c2e24;"><b>About the Author</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Rhonda Dragomir" class="alignnone wp-image-29101 size-medium" height="300" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2023amedium-Dragomir-Group-300x300.webp" width="300" /></p><p>
<b>Rhonda Dragomir</b> is a multimedia creative who treasures her fairy tale life in Central Kentucky, insisting her home is her castle, even if her prince refuses to dig a moat. She is an award-winning author with published works in several anthologies and periodicals, and she co-wrote numerous Bible studies used weekly by more than 20,000 women worldwide. </p><p>Barbour Books will release her debut novel, a historical romance, March 1, 2024. She is often invited to speak at writers' conferences on topics related to technology and graphics. </p><p>Connect with Rhonda by visiting <a href="https://rhondadragomir.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">rhondadragomir.com</a> to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
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<h3><span style="color: #8c2e24;">Author Interview with Rhonda</span></h3><div><br /></div><b>Q:</b> What was the inspiration behind <i>When the Flames Ravaged</i>? <br /><br /><b>Rhonda:</b> I received notice from my agent that Barbour Books sought proposals for stories written during a time of disaster. They included a list of more than thirty natural and man-made disasters, and the circus fire in 1944 caught my interest. I read several nonfiction books that inspired the composite characters I created in When the Flames Ravaged.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How long did it take you to write this story?<br /><br /><b>Rhonda: </b>From writing the synopsis to the final version, I researched and wrote for nine months. Editing with the publisher took another month.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Do you have a favorite quote from this book? <br /><br /><b>Rhonda: </b>Mrs. Riegel, a sympathetic supporting character is named for my grandmother. My heroine’s interaction with her contains some of my favorite quotes, including this one, when Evelyn asks how God chooses whom to rescue during a crisis:<br /><br />“Bernice shook her head. ‘That, my dear, is a question I plan to ask when I see Him.’”<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you hope readers take away from <i>When the Flames Ravaged</i>?<br /><br /><b>Rhonda: </b>I hope readers identify with Evelyn’s journey and find the courage to turn to God rather than away from Him during a time of crisis.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Would you share something about yourself that most readers would not know? <br /><br /><b>Rhonda: </b>Many of the ideas and comments about grief and loss are culled from my own experience after my brother was killed in an accident while I was on my honeymoon. My characters ask the same questions I did, and they come to the same conclusions.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How long ago did you start writing?<br /><br /><b>Rhonda: </b>My first essay in 6th grade won a competition. I wrote about how I knew my mother loved me – she let me have the last hot dog at dinner when she’d only had one. On her death bed in 2018, she told me she wanted me to use my inheritance to quit my job and write full-time. I did, and I often wish she’d lived to enjoy this moment with me.<div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What is your favorite thing about being a writer?<br /><br /><b>Rhonda: </b>I’m a history and research nerd. I love scouring the internet and books about historical events to help me describe life in another time and setting. One time I began researching medieval herbs for medicine, and I ended up reading about FDR and the Great Society. Such is the life of a writer.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Do you prefer to read ebooks or physical copies? <br /><br /><b>Rhonda: </b>My bookshelf is already too full, and I’m begging people to take my precious book babies off my hands. These days, I read exclusively on my phone or tablet.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How many bookcases are in your home?<br /><br /><b>Rhonda: </b>Will you really make me tell? (Insert coy, shamed emoji here.) I have six, but my pastor-husband has five more in his office at church.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you like to do when you are not writing?<br /><br /><b>Rhonda: </b>I had the extreme joy last year of building a home on my only child’s property in rural Kentucky. When I’m not writing, it’s Mama and Mimi time. And…when I’m not writing, I’m reading.<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8c2e24;"><b><span><hr /></span>Tour Giveaway</b></span></h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">(2) winners will each win a signed, print copy of When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir and a print copy of The Hartford Circus Fire: Tragedy Under the Big Top by Michael Skidgell!</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 26, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 4, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</p>
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<p></p></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-78232087393844006862024-02-26T02:00:00.017-05:002024-02-26T02:00:00.253-05:00Book Review: While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden<b><span style="font-size: large;">QUICK FACTS</span></b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Title: </b><i>While the City Sleeps</i></li><li><b>Series:</b> The Women of Midtown (Book 1)</li><li><b>Author:</b> Elizabeth Camden</li><li><b>Genre:</b> Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Gilded Age Fiction</li><li><b>Publisher:</b> Bethany House Publishers (February 13, 2024)</li><li><b>Length: </b>(352) pages</li><li><b>Format:</b> Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook</li><li><b>ISBN: </b>978-0764241710</li><li><b>Tour Dates: </b>February 12 – 26, 2024</li></ul><span><hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">BOOK DESCRIPTION</span></b><div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WVvtKhpSiN8s04-lvU9tGYKrOzAauypH8IGbpMY8W1W2Cyfk2yGaNNkw3xogdG63MD5ujPAzCIIVb0Z1wl5O_uU8oR2q6z-69jNLDtddNBm94i93Nyo0zLL6S7OAM6ibNUywc07zsQwFcfZwFOJtVMrSpR5JOtJLvrL_zAfM50ziBzQYaIyu5zTw4r2E/s1500/While%20the%20City%20Sleeps%20cover%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WVvtKhpSiN8s04-lvU9tGYKrOzAauypH8IGbpMY8W1W2Cyfk2yGaNNkw3xogdG63MD5ujPAzCIIVb0Z1wl5O_uU8oR2q6z-69jNLDtddNBm94i93Nyo0zLL6S7OAM6ibNUywc07zsQwFcfZwFOJtVMrSpR5JOtJLvrL_zAfM50ziBzQYaIyu5zTw4r2E/s320/While%20the%20City%20Sleeps%20cover%202024.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Amid the hushed city, two hearts must navigate danger and deception, bound by a love that outshines the stars.</b><br /><br />Katherine Schneider's life as a dentist in 1913 New York is upended when a patient reveals details of a deadly plot while under the influence of laughing gas. As she is plunged into danger, she seeks help from the dashing Lieutenant Jonathan Birch, a police officer she has long admired from afar.<br /><br />Jonathan has harbored powerful feelings toward Katherine for years but never acted on them, knowing his dark history is something she could never abide. Now, with her safety on the line, he works alongside her through the nights as they unravel the criminal conspiracy that threatens her . . . even as he keeps his deepest secrets hidden at all costs.<br /><br />Join award-winning author Elizabeth Camden for a sweeping and romantic adventure of dangerous secrets and wounded hearts, fighting to overcome the darkness while the rest of the city sleeps.<br /><span><hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRAISE FOR WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS</span></b><br /><br />"History, mystery, and romance set against the backdrop of New York City at night--a must-read!" <b>— Gabrielle Meyer, bestselling author of <i>When the Day Comes</i>, and <i>In This Moment</i></b><br /><br />"Elizabeth Camden brings the bustling metropolis to living color like no one else. . . A novel that will keep readers up late into the night." <b>— Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of <i>The Metropolitan Affair</i></b><br /><br />“I loved the historical details that make the story feel authentic.” <b>— Kim Prudhoe, <i>All the Lovely Pages</i></b><br /><br /><span><hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">MY THOUGHTS</span></b><div><br /></div><i>While the City Sleeps</i> by Elizabeth Camden made me want to eat yummy Italian desserts while flipping the pages. There was mystery, crime, romance, and danger to hold my attention, but also tidbits of scrumptious food, Italian family life, and Catholic faith, all of which added variety. The historical setting combined with these details to create a lively story with characters that felt authentic.<br /><br />Katherine, the lead female character in <i>While the City Sleeps</i>, held a unique occupation - a female dentist working the night shift in New York City. Though I couldn’t identify with Katherine’s night owl tendency, Lieutenant Jonathan Birch of the NYPD certainly did. Katherine and Jonathan matched well in certain aspects and not-so-well in other areas. Both characters had embedded flaws which offered opportunities for personal and relational growth. Though I sometimes wanted them to learn their lessons more quickly, I enjoyed the growth of their relationship and the romance.<br /><br /><i>While the City Sleeps</i> by Elizabeth Camden commences the Women of Midtown series and I look forward to reading the rest of the novels in this series. Four stars!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd_yiV7k3TYWs_k0WjnzVyUhS63qswVLoWTp0S54nHbB4a8M5MCBNSQOImScWB3WZi71cx_AmhQHyWNQarjbmQB6qCYylCQNYbwYkUQ9p4TT8W5yRBSpsA3cYI43i0jkyZOYCabPMwFOEQj6eQJbts7nUeOjU0tp0RqyAXa298uC5lUT1Exoqz_cbkK5b/s3024/4BBDCAB0-B5EF-46B6-A659-42B8E3E310F0.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd_yiV7k3TYWs_k0WjnzVyUhS63qswVLoWTp0S54nHbB4a8M5MCBNSQOImScWB3WZi71cx_AmhQHyWNQarjbmQB6qCYylCQNYbwYkUQ9p4TT8W5yRBSpsA3cYI43i0jkyZOYCabPMwFOEQj6eQJbts7nUeOjU0tp0RqyAXa298uC5lUT1Exoqz_cbkK5b/s320/4BBDCAB0-B5EF-46B6-A659-42B8E3E310F0.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.<br /><br /><div><hr /><b><span style="font-size: large;">PURCHASE LINKS</span></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3SmDQZ3">AMAZON</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/while-the-city-sleeps-elizabeth-camden/1143717378">BARNES & NOBLE</a> | <a href="http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/while-the-city-sleeps/415681">PUBLISHER</a> | <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/while-the-city-sleeps-elizabeth-camden/20204058?ean=9780764241710">BOOKSHOP</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/while-the-city-sleeps-the-women-of-midtown-by-elizabeth-camden">BOOKBUB</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181857660-while-the-city-sleeps">GOODREADS</a></div><br /><span><hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUTHOR BIO</span></b><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZaUPczhYGRo9AOIpY-AyZI__oXz7L-_pwC4ztcgWXmkHzBsTxctENMgBMg44eoWjmy0rf_ipnZQ-yq0p4guvwEAc0vH2k5XcWUtlopMuIscO0UgWfX0DsyDcyLAjU9nkB-9G1wB0gzYB33c1CuK_HJHmPFDA2zDhgxDX9PTm2QKM8x8B8MzZ34w0lwn6/s1080/Elizabeth%20Camden%20author%20headshot%20x%201080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZaUPczhYGRo9AOIpY-AyZI__oXz7L-_pwC4ztcgWXmkHzBsTxctENMgBMg44eoWjmy0rf_ipnZQ-yq0p4guvwEAc0vH2k5XcWUtlopMuIscO0UgWfX0DsyDcyLAjU9nkB-9G1wB0gzYB33c1CuK_HJHmPFDA2zDhgxDX9PTm2QKM8x8B8MzZ34w0lwn6/s320/Elizabeth%20Camden%20author%20headshot%20x%201080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Elizabeth Camden is best known for her historical novels set in gilded age America featuring clever heroines and richly layered storylines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won the RITA and Christy Award, and she lives in Florida with her husband who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://elizabethcamden.com/">WEBSITE</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethCamden/">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/authorelizabethcamden/">INSTAGRAM</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-camden">BOOKBUB</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4373995.Elizabeth_Camden">GOODREADS</a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><hr /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mMowSVA3FSjvbJmLySZmJIjHqFVdN8X5kww8wjbubYriXtAzK5BSRglHNx8BfyEo15Tbf0yfq4Oj-3mS9cVVKJVEPYw90tcZMjN9J7yO965JBRuJp7V9I1MDGjln-_JNv_IGCRlMc4bQK21NZOcKeKVu0Vnw2fxaJYcq3wEKd4lZEOYTofRUn2v98h-v/s1080/While%20the%20City%20Sleeps%20Book%20Tour%20Graphic%20v2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mMowSVA3FSjvbJmLySZmJIjHqFVdN8X5kww8wjbubYriXtAzK5BSRglHNx8BfyEo15Tbf0yfq4Oj-3mS9cVVKJVEPYw90tcZMjN9J7yO965JBRuJp7V9I1MDGjln-_JNv_IGCRlMc4bQK21NZOcKeKVu0Vnw2fxaJYcq3wEKd4lZEOYTofRUn2v98h-v/s320/While%20the%20City%20Sleeps%20Book%20Tour%20Graphic%20v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-79676809623249662282024-02-24T11:18:00.003-05:002024-03-01T20:23:20.279-05:00Epic Book Launch: The Last Disciple: Exile in Ephesus<b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Book</span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAA9bslv9vtLLm7M_JRjyVLjJtqusTiqVOjkcI1IBNy6LCZbyTYna49tmCtiTeQoZDZbI6y8TajyOK7QY69xEnbzcSkGHVwOnuSaX4kJXiKYXbK9D5LGMfOAsmgMbJ7fKI8c7uw6Gobafw-lGKitCeHBS9fmPCIrm8MBMqU-tl1OWu_4nRKLVe2wnPCrU/s300/Ebook-Cover-The-Last-Disciple-Exile-in-Ephesus-03-188x300.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="188" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAA9bslv9vtLLm7M_JRjyVLjJtqusTiqVOjkcI1IBNy6LCZbyTYna49tmCtiTeQoZDZbI6y8TajyOK7QY69xEnbzcSkGHVwOnuSaX4kJXiKYXbK9D5LGMfOAsmgMbJ7fKI8c7uw6Gobafw-lGKitCeHBS9fmPCIrm8MBMqU-tl1OWu_4nRKLVe2wnPCrU/s1600/Ebook-Cover-The-Last-Disciple-Exile-in-Ephesus-03-188x300.jpeg" width="188" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><b>Book Title:</b> <i>The Last Disciple: Exile in Ephesus</i><br /><b>Author Name:</b> Kurt Brouwer<br /><b>Genre:</b> Christian Historical Fiction<br /><b>Release Date:</b> March 15, 2024<br /><br /><b>He awoke jailed in squalor…<br />Would he complete his final mission?<br />Or would he fail to record the story only he could tell?<br /><br />The epic saga of the Last Disciple continues in this captivating Christian historical novel from Kurt Brouwer.</b><br /><br />After surviving imprisonment, John faces his greatest challenge–exile in the distant city of Ephesus. Struggling with grief and despair over the destruction of Jerusalem, John doubts his ability to complete the mission entrusted to him by Mary—to write the true gospel account of Christ’s life.<br /><br />But in Ephesus, John finds unexpected allies—Timothy, Priscilla, and Tychicus, who share his passion for spreading the message of God’s love.<br /><br />As John shares the good news of Jesus, he makes dangerous enemies, including the influential high priest, Alexander Cosmo, who will stop at nothing to suppress the growing Christian faith. Amid opposition from without and internal divisions from within the early church, John must contend with those pressuring believers to adopt Jewish law and compromise the radical teachings of Christ.<br /><br />When tragedy strikes those close to him, can John’s fragile hope be rekindled? Will he finally show the world all the signs, miracles, and events he witnessed on his journey with Jesus?<br /><br /><b>Don’t miss this page-turning story of faith, courage, and love.</b><br /><br /><span><hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Book Excerpt</span></b><br /><br />He remembered his shock and anger when the emperor’s son arrested him. He growled as he saw yet again that smirking, leering face mocking him. Remembered being bound in chains and marched off.<br /><br />John suspected he’d been beaten at some point, for every rasping breath hurt, but he remembered little. Only disjointed images and mostly questions, nothing but unanswered questions. What happened to Bartholomew and Emmaus? Why had the emperor’s son arrested him? Why had General Titus and Queen Berenice left without him?<br /><br />With those fruitless thoughts running through his mind, he slipped into a dull, restless slumber. After a time, he started out of a feverish sleep at the loud clanging of metal doors, followed by a sharp, inhuman scream. All sound around John ceased. He heard one more whimpering cry and, after that, nothing other than the breathing of many men and the gibbering of hungry rats.<br /><br />John lay there, knowing nothing would come of fighting the cold iron chains. His head hurt and he could not seem to think, at least not in any sequence or order. He remembered the man who’d spoken earlier. He raised his head. “Eh, my friend. Dozed off. Any water here?”<br /><br /><span><hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">All Excerpts</span></b><br /><br />Excerpt One: <a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-by.html">https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-by.html</a></div><div><br />Excerpt Two: <a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/02/epic-book-launch-last-disciple-exile-in.html">https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/02/epic-book-launch-last-disciple-exile-in.html</a></div><div><br />Excerpt Three: <a href="https://carolkeen.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-epic.html">https://carolkeen.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-epic.html</a></div><div><br />Excerpt Four: <a href="https://storiesbygina.com/2024/02/29/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-epic-book-launch-with-celebrate-lit-publicity/">https://storiesbygina.com/2024/02/29/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-epic-book-launch-with-celebrate-lit-publicity/</a></div><div><br />Excerpt Five: <a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus.html">https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus.html</a></div><div><br />Excerpt Six: <a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-book-excerpt/">https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-book-excerpt/</a></div><div><br />Excerpt Seven: <a href="https://www.guildmaster97.com/posts/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-epic-book-launch/">https://www.guildmaster97.com/posts/the-last-disciple-exile-in-ephesus-epic-book-launch/</a></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span><hr /></span>About the Author</span></b><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe0A40h32nOt35WJgu_VaQGDPmQ6V0SMmzwqME27zmER-c_KEBKtcuDVnmpP2Z1YHa9Un4AkjnE9_E1CemOCd8t_rrsP2SeXW1PC6G48nErT65gJdWav9FrbMs5yM71K90JmOHRurPDSOS9rjKlfMr9pKu20goyA0IMS0SIt6R2mXmQVnsVJhJhgvb8of/s300/h0lta90ja88m2hvjqhuf7gsbeh._UX300_-300x300.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe0A40h32nOt35WJgu_VaQGDPmQ6V0SMmzwqME27zmER-c_KEBKtcuDVnmpP2Z1YHa9Un4AkjnE9_E1CemOCd8t_rrsP2SeXW1PC6G48nErT65gJdWav9FrbMs5yM71K90JmOHRurPDSOS9rjKlfMr9pKu20goyA0IMS0SIt6R2mXmQVnsVJhJhgvb8of/s1600/h0lta90ja88m2hvjqhuf7gsbeh._UX300_-300x300.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Kurt is a Christian and a member of a vibrant Christian church on the Big Island of Hawaii. He also loves to write. In addition to all the usual temptations writers face, Kurt has to fight off the lure of beautiful beaches, pounding surf, great weather, and lush golf courses. Can you imagine? Despite those temptations, he writes The Last Disciple series of Christian historical novels and he regularly writes blog posts at KurtBrouwer.com.<br /><br />A few years ago Kurt did a study for his church on the Apostle John. That little project got him hooked on the man who started out life as a fisherman and then became the last disciple of Christ. The more Kurt learned about John, the more he wanted to know.<br /><br />If you’ve ever been obsessed by anything, you’ll understand that he couldn’t stop researching the life of John and all those around him. And the result of all that research is:<br /><br /><b>The Last Disciple Series</b><br /><br />The Last Disciple is a series of Christian novels based on the Bible and Christian history. The first in the series: <i>The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem</i>, begins in the year 62 AD. In it, you walk with John through the streets of Jerusalem. See how he faces multiple crises and comes to understand what it is to stand alone and lean only on the Lord. This book, <i>The Last Disciple: Exile in Ephesus</i> is the third in the series, with two more books planned. Kurt is now writing the fourth book, <i>The Last Disciple: Gospel of John</i>.</div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-28015521343423167712024-02-23T02:00:00.051-05:002024-02-23T02:00:00.136-05:00Book Spotlight: Relying on the Enemy by Danielle Grandinetti<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Relying on the Enemy JustRead Blog + Review Tour" class="alignnone wp-image-28126" height="207" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Banner_RelyingontheEnemy_BlogReview_JR.jpg" width="570" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for <i><b><span style="color: #3f3f59;">Relying on the Enemy </span></b></i>by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/02/19/welcome-to-the-relying-on-the-enemy-blog-review-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours</a>!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3f3f59;"><b>About the Book</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Relying on the Enemy" class="alignleft wp-image-28638 size-large" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Relying-on-the-Enemy-1-256x400.jpg" width="256" /></b></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b>Title:</b> <i>Relying on the Enemy
</i><br /><b>Series:</b> Harbored in Crow's Nest #4
<b><br />Author:</b> Danielle Grandinetti
<b><br />Publisher:</b> Hearth Spot Press
<b><br />Release Date:</b> February 20, 2024
<b><br />Genre:</b> Historical Romance, with suspense</p><p>
<b>She’s protecting her children. He’s redeeming his past. </b><b>But there’s nothing convenient about saving their patchwork family.</b>
<i> </i></p><p><i>Wisconsin, 1931</i>—All widowed mother Marian Ward wants is to provide for her girls. However, she faces the dead of winter with no income and dwindling resources. Then she overhears a nefarious conversation, putting her life and that of her children in immediate danger. </p><p>Aiming to make amends to the Wards, Gilbert steps in when the threat to Marian escalates. It costs him dearly. Either lose his career or marry her, and be tied to his past until death do them part. </p><p>He leaves the decision to Marian, who will do anything to protect her girls, even marry the son of the man who ruined her family. How will their fledgling trust prove strong enough to fulfill their vows as winter tightens its grip and desperation stalks at the door? </p><p>Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.
</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b><span style="color: #3f3f59;">PURCHASE LINKS:</span></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198025144-relying-on-the-enemy" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CMMZPPC7" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relying-on-the-enemy-danielle-grandinetti/1144462720" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/relying-on-the-enemy-harbored-in-crow-s-nest-book-4-by-danielle-grandinetti" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BookBub</a></p>
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<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="color: #3f3f59;">More Books in This Series</span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BC9RWL2P" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="Confessions to a Stranger" class="alignnone wp-image-26825" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/confessions-to-a-stranger-194x300.jpg" width="162" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSVBZ9R9" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-26826" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/refuge-for-the-archaeologist-192x300.jpg" width="160" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRG4YW8T/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-29047" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/escape-with-the-prodigal-194x300.jpg" width="162" /></a></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3f3f59;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></h3><div><br /></div>Marian Ward battled the wind and her disgust as she pushed out of the door to the Lightning Bug, where the less reputable fishermen drank the winter away regardless of Prohibition. Never would she have considered asking for a job—and still not get one—at such a place, but she was desperate. If she couldn’t find a job, couldn’t heat their home, her little girls … she shuddered, and not because of the icy wind that ripped across a sluggish Lake Michigan only to slam into her threadbare coat.<br /><br />Where else could she look for work? The Lightning Bug was the last place in Crow’s Nest for her to try, and without money to buy gas for the old truck, how could she drive to Hawk’s River to look for a job? Were there any open positions left? Just one, at a place willing to hire a woman instead of a man. A woman with children, even if she was a widow. As times became leaner, those types of jobs became even more scarce. And how she needed one.<br /><br />Tears pricked her eyes as she turned her back to the deserted lake and ducked into the alley beside the Lightning Bug. Walking home along Main Street would provide a better buffer to the wind. It hadn’t snowed since the new year, making January bleak and gray. What little sunlight peeked through the overcast sky vanished in the narrow space between the buildings. However, she refused to give in to despair. Her girls, and her ill mother-in-law, depended on her. She would do anything for them.<div class="kojxzc"><div class="rg3hrb"><hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3f3f59;"><b>About the Author</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Danielle Grandinetti" class="alignnone wp-image-22810 size-medium" height="300" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Danielle-Grandinetti_Headshot-square-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></p>
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<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b>Danielle Grandinetti</b> is an inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books, and the occasional nature walk. A 2023 Finalist in the FHLCW Reader’s Choice Award, she has also won the UNW Distinguished Faith in Writing Award and the CROW National Excellence in Story Telling Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons.</p>
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<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Connect with Danielle by visiting <a href="https://daniellegrandinetti.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">daniellegrandinetti.com</a> to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3f3f59;"><b>Tour Giveaway</b></span></h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">(2) winners will win signed paperback copies of Refuge for the Archaeologist & Relying on the Enemy; a Crow's Nest Canvas Tote & a Crow's Nest paperback notebook!</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Relying on the Enemy JustRead Tours giveaway" class="wp-image-29046 size-large aligncenter" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Giveaway_RelyingontheEnemy_BlogReview_JR-400x400.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 19, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 26, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Giveaway is subject to <a href="https://justreadtours.com/disclosures-giveaway-policies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies</a>.</i></p>
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<p></p></div></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-9305705591272480992024-02-23T01:00:00.000-05:002024-02-23T01:00:00.247-05:00Author Interview: Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategy for Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRv9-PjRmLv0GntZqn8IKNFVlbw-vxpQGBVi8NNxP0aEiORBMplj6WiPKeAEDvNDfO2SVlU5A5xiRCBLmsLH4mQR_vtLZmJ-CNhXcbs_MGlP2bX7d8LW9trcZbresU0b7vG-JYEjWXVbEGdrpqA4-FettLwW2Mli0BuQWjpFaAB0t-J-6ysnaCqPBPxtA/s851/leading%20ladies%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRv9-PjRmLv0GntZqn8IKNFVlbw-vxpQGBVi8NNxP0aEiORBMplj6WiPKeAEDvNDfO2SVlU5A5xiRCBLmsLH4mQR_vtLZmJ-CNhXcbs_MGlP2bX7d8LW9trcZbresU0b7vG-JYEjWXVbEGdrpqA4-FettLwW2Mli0BuQWjpFaAB0t-J-6ysnaCqPBPxtA/w640-h236/leading%20ladies%20(1).jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GMZcMA-gVz-LghtL79pPFf5bb84uL7-8XWJf5tG38H2WruabDcu3DRPfYOUnIjwjJZnzmhVxA4biY3oc9Ynlfs-qPfSAfBwA6JE-t8e_3OLwcDVPuGOlP6p2pPvzaAAOihe68Qpa2jsyf-FLp4AtEObJgwhCs2fEA9VakgNAbpa5ZA7XYkw5LRiGvs7m/s300/llcover-218x300.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="218" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GMZcMA-gVz-LghtL79pPFf5bb84uL7-8XWJf5tG38H2WruabDcu3DRPfYOUnIjwjJZnzmhVxA4biY3oc9Ynlfs-qPfSAfBwA6JE-t8e_3OLwcDVPuGOlP6p2pPvzaAAOihe68Qpa2jsyf-FLp4AtEObJgwhCs2fEA9VakgNAbpa5ZA7XYkw5LRiGvs7m/s1600/llcover-218x300.png" width="218" /></a></div><p><strong>Book: </strong><i>Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategy for Success</i></p><p><strong>Authors: </strong>Amber Weigand-Buckley & Lisa Burris Burns</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Christian Leadership and Religious Leadership</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>May 25, 2023</p><p>SISTERS, IT’S TIME TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS!</p><p>Find out how to step up to God’s calling as these daring women redefine what leadership looks like. Authentic and heartfelt stories of world-changing women leaders of every hue, background, and job description, teach us by example how to battle to find our passion, connect with our gifts, and maintain forward-focused momentum in every season of life.</p><p>Join authors Amber Weigand-Buckley and Lisa Burris Burns — along with Babbie Mason, Candace Payne, Jacquelyn Marushka, Martha Bolton, Katy Nichole, Kymberlie Joye, and so many more powerhouse women–as they explore leadership purpose, and living a life that counts.</p><p>Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3vtN5yF" target="_blank">here</a> to get your copy!</p><h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>About the Authors</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdmVqS7LQcDMmjiR89ArdN0XmO47ARxacAR9CsdcMOJeJAQBTaSMC2TSL_GDj-Zar_P0Oasq4NmADilDYewGmm4seiDLyo6ecmJUrHNr31CniZmp4gccAwd-hWurTeKi7B0_pnr5oRblAWWiSwwrFgOhLfiyibRmXrcvtXnsgfIFtbctUWc0vlMoM_sLM/s300/Amber-Weigand-Buckley-223x300.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="223" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdmVqS7LQcDMmjiR89ArdN0XmO47ARxacAR9CsdcMOJeJAQBTaSMC2TSL_GDj-Zar_P0Oasq4NmADilDYewGmm4seiDLyo6ecmJUrHNr31CniZmp4gccAwd-hWurTeKi7B0_pnr5oRblAWWiSwwrFgOhLfiyibRmXrcvtXnsgfIFtbctUWc0vlMoM_sLM/s1600/Amber-Weigand-Buckley-223x300.png" width="223" /></a></div><p><strong>Meet Amber</strong></p><p><strong>Amber Weigand-Buckley</strong> is an author, speaker, multi-award-winning magazine editor, and art director, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (awsa.com) marketing director, Bold Vision Books’ creative director, and owner of #barefacedcreativemedia (barefacedcreativemedia.com). The Springfield, Missouri native navigates bipolar and anxiety disorder while embracing her best life. At its peak, her mental illness almost caused her to take her own life. Amber is a mental health advocate who knows that a diagnosis does not disqualify you from God’s leadership call.Amber, whose vision birthed <em>Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategy for Success</em>, is energized by helping world-changing women of all hues, backgrounds, and walks of life to find their wings, hone their skills, and take their God-call to the next level.</p><p>She has two grown daughters, Saffron, Imogen, and one teen Penelope, with Philip, her British hubby of 28 years, two Great Pyrenees pups—Stanley and Stuart, and a zoo of exotic pets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd-CyyDPz9ZO-tL8DnHw2H4fMxtSrsUTKUnMO-oDTFdyAfQeFyC9-keqO2q63v7Nhu6kppWDWloa_OsC_JxJ8o4pinKMh8mLQ_xq_iIii_HdCxXKEK16sL-Hl1aUa2gPFOCYuVFcmaTZOf4fhSM8KKefAykRUffmxj-f3SeJcGv3X-aId3PkGupia2FuJ/s300/Lisa-Burris-Burns-225x300.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="225" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd-CyyDPz9ZO-tL8DnHw2H4fMxtSrsUTKUnMO-oDTFdyAfQeFyC9-keqO2q63v7Nhu6kppWDWloa_OsC_JxJ8o4pinKMh8mLQ_xq_iIii_HdCxXKEK16sL-Hl1aUa2gPFOCYuVFcmaTZOf4fhSM8KKefAykRUffmxj-f3SeJcGv3X-aId3PkGupia2FuJ/s1600/Lisa-Burris-Burns-225x300.png" width="225" /></a></div><p><strong>Meet Lisa</strong></p><p>The diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder initially shattered <strong>LISA BURRIS BURNS</strong>’ ministry dreams as a vocalist and worship leader. Despite this, God opened opportunities for her journey and abilities to expand beyond what she ever anticipated for herself — to acting, stage performance, set design, and writing. As a vocal and performance coach with K.C. Superstar, a Kansas City-based competition likened to “American Idol,” she is passionate about fine-tuning artists’ creative expressions. Lisa thrives on the artistic process, especially everything yarn and crafty.</p><p>This avid Kansas City Chiefs fan lives with her husband, Randy, in Blue Springs, Missouri. The Burns have served in marriage and family ministry since 1988. They have six fantastic children, two amazing son-in-loves, and five adorable granddaughters.</p><h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>More from Amber and Lisa</span></h1><p>Are you ready to discover your God-given gifts and move in forward in all that He’s called you to be? Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategy for Success will help you identify your unique leadership abilities.</p><p>For a limited time, get the inspirational song “Lead Me On” recorded by Michaelah Weaver for FREE when your register as a Leading Ladies VIP at leadingladies.life.</p><p>Let “Lead Me On” be your empowering anthem as you read Leading Ladies and learn to boldly walk in your purpose. Download the song and book excerpt now at leadingladies.life!</p><h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Interview with the Authors</span></h1><br /><b>Q:</b> Please give us a little introduction to your book. (Perhaps more information regarding what the book is about beyond the back-cover blurb? Or just explain what the book is about in your own words.) <br /><br /><b>Lisa:</b> Our Leading Ladies book is a compilation of stories, thought provoking questions and notes of encouragement. Some of those stories are difficult to read about, while others are lighthearted and such a breath of fresh air. It was designed intentionally to inspire and encourage readers, with insights from voices they can relate to. We wanted to introduce you to women that when we see them we say “That! What she has. That’s a successful woman!” It was life changing to meet them, interview them, and now share them with our readers. They may come from entirely different backgrounds, cultures and life experiences, but their faith in, and reliance upon Jesus, is something we wanted to share. Life happens, and in the process we can all get off track and forget that we are here for a reason. We struggle with doubt, fear and feel like we don’t have anything to offer, when in reality we all have the ability to lead, influence and inspire right where we are right now. God has a plan and a purpose and our prayer is that what you read within these pages will help you reconnect with that vision.<br /><br /><b>Amber: </b>Originally designed for women grappling with questions of purpose, feelings of loss, and self-worth tied to achievements, the book has transformed into a guide for self-discovery and empowerment. Its aim is to inspire women to recognize their intrinsic value and unique contributions, emphasizing that success should be measured by personal fulfillment rather than societal standards.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What was the most surprising thing you discovered while researching and writing this book? <br /><br /><b>A:</b> The most unexpected revelation came when the lady I invited to share her story, Tracy Glass, which appears after mine in the book inspired me to be more candid about my struggles. This newfound boldness allowed me to break free from feelings of shame and the fear of putting some things on paper that I never thought I would ever want to admit to those I loved, let alone for public knowledge.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> How long did it take you to write this book?<br /><br /><b>Lisa:</b> Fall 2021 to Early Spring 2023, so roughly a year and a half.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> What do you hope readers take away from your book? <br /><br /><b>Lisa:</b> My desire is that they recognize themselves in the stories of our amazing chapter contributors. You know, life tends to come at all of us (both the good stuff and the downright hard) and we get caught up in the whirlwind. Many of us start to put our God given dreams and aspirations on hold. We forget that we’re here with purpose, or we place those dreams up on the top shelf, way back in a corner. My greatest prayer for readers is that the book inspires them to rediscover their purpose and do whatever it takes with God’s help to step out, start over, keep going! Philippians 3:12-14<div><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> Are you working on another book now? <br /><br /><b>Lisa: </b>Yes we are! We are currently finishing up a companion workbook/journal to the Leading Ladies book. It should be released in March. It gives space to contemplate, journal and dream as you read Leading Ladies. We’ve added a few fun things like some <br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know? <br /><br /><b>Lisa: </b>I absolutely love to watch those wilderness survival shows…you know, you’re allowed to take a few items with you and you’re dropped off in some remote place to build shelter and find food. I wouldn’t last a day out there on my own, but I sure like to think I could! Lol!<br /><br /><b>Amber:</b> In addition to being a writer, my family is actively involved in herpetological education, caring for about 10 snakes and 2 lizards. We participate in community events to educate people about reptiles.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> In what setting do you enjoy writing the most? (Inside of outside? In silence or with music? Etc...) <br /><br /><b>Lisa:</b> I like a cozy chair in a quiet corner, where I can put my feet up. Light my favorite candle and hand me a coffee with heavy cream and it's the perfect setting.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> What do you like to do when you aren't writing? <br /><br /><b>Lisa:</b> I enjoy time with my family, travel, and anything yarn crafty. My favorite is loom knitting.<br /><br /><b>Amber:</b> Outside of writing, I find joy in spending time with my family and cruising around town with my two Great Pyrenees pups, Stanley and Stuart, who accompany me everywhere, leaving a trail of white dog hair in my wake.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> What do you wish you’d known when you were younger?<div> <br /><b>Lisa: </b>That everything is going to be okay even if I don’t have all the answers right now.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> What are you reading now? <br /><br /><b>Lisa:</b> I just started the new Jackie Hill Perry devotional <i>Upon Waking</i>, and Ann Voskamp’s <i>Waymaker.</i><br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> Who is an author you would recommend to anyone and everyone?<br /><b><br />Lisa:</b> I appreciate fiction, mostly historical fiction. Harper Lee/<i>To Kill A Mockingbird</i>.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> Where can readers find out more about you and your book? <br /><br /><b>Amber:</b> For more information, readers can visit leadingLadies.Life. Additionally, my co-author Lisa Burris Burns and I host a podcast called "Coffee Chat with Amber and Lisa: Real Life. Real Influence. No Makeup Required." It explores the messy aspects of leading ladies' everyday lives, providing insights and support for women striving to fulfill their purpose. The podcast is available on all major platforms.<br /><h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Blog Stops</span></h1><br /><a href="https://proverb31titus2godlybookreviews.blogspot.com/">Godly Book Reviews</a>, February 16<br /><br /><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/">Artistic Nobody</a>, February 17 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/">Fiction Book Lover</a>, February 18 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</a>, February 18<br /><br /><a href="http://simpleharvestreads.com/">Simple Harvest Reads</a>, February 19 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://shelivestoread.com/category/book-reviews/">She Lives to Read</a>, February 20<br /><br /><a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</a>, February 21 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/">Texas Book-aholic</a>, February 22<br /><br /><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/">Beauty in the Binding</a>, February 23 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</a>, February 24<br /><br /><a href="https://litteraegaudium.wordpress.com/">For the Love of Literature</a>, February 25 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</a>, February 26<br /><br /><a href="http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews">Tell Tale Book Reviews</a>, February 27 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/">Cover Lover Book Review</a>, February 27<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/">Locks, Hooks and Books</a>, February 28<br /><br /><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/">A Reader’s Brain</a>, February 29 (Author Interview)<h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvF_DjHZKGBfP4HVnme-Kne_vtLJO6DoNObBXZtbWegMwBKaUB6CD2-muhb9aPqMxN7PA2RtssGsOvIK7hkQbhuOxebEiU-WUmxRUH7eeSpt9jBtNhvztBRdBYNQALk_I7C9nAvfFmewjeow0R6n4LrDr5MH-g8Tecgv3t3GMH04e2dt4n8sPTN3Oph2ui/s940/Leading%20Ladies%20Giveaway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvF_DjHZKGBfP4HVnme-Kne_vtLJO6DoNObBXZtbWegMwBKaUB6CD2-muhb9aPqMxN7PA2RtssGsOvIK7hkQbhuOxebEiU-WUmxRUH7eeSpt9jBtNhvztBRdBYNQALk_I7C9nAvfFmewjeow0R6n4LrDr5MH-g8Tecgv3t3GMH04e2dt4n8sPTN3Oph2ui/s320/Leading%20Ladies%20Giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate their tour, Amber and Lisa are giving away the grand prize package of a copy of the book and a $50 Amazon gift card!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p>Link for giveaway: <a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2a0cf/leading-ladies-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2a0cf/leading-ladies-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></div></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-9064437048051870822024-02-21T02:00:00.001-05:002024-02-21T02:00:00.145-05:00Book Spotlight: The Rhythm of Fractured Grace by Amanda Wen<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Rhythm of Fractured Grace JustRead Takeover Blitz" class="aligncenter wp-image-28123" height="207" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Banner_TheRhythmofFracturedGrace_TakeoverReview_JR.jpg" width="570" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for <strong><em><span style="color: #126a78;"><i>The Rhythm of Fractured Grace</i></span></em></strong> by Amanda Wen hosted by <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/02/21/welcome-to-the-the-rhythm-of-fractured-grace-takeover-review-blitz-giveaway">JustRead Publicity Tours</a>!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #126a78;"><strong>About the Book</strong></span></h3><div><span style="color: #126a78;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
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<strong>Title</strong>: <i>The Rhythm of Fractured Grace </i><div><strong>Series</strong>: Sedgwick County Chronicles #3 </div><div><strong>Author</strong>: Amanda Wen </div><div><strong>Publisher</strong>: Kregel Publications </div><div><strong>Release Date</strong>: February 20, 2024 </div><div><strong>Genre</strong>: Christian Split Time Romantic Women's Fiction
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><em><strong>Is Siobhan too far gone to respond to the song of a God who's calling her back to him?</strong></em></p>
When a new customer brings a badly damaged violin into Siobhan Walsh's shop, it is exactly the sort of challenge she craves. The man who brought it in is not. He's too close to the painful past that left her heart and her faith in shambles. </div><div><br /></div><div>Matt Buchanan has had a rough start as the new worship pastor. A car accident on his way into town left him with a nearly totaled truck, and an heirloom violin in pieces. When he takes it to a repair shop, he's fascinated with the restoration process--and with the edgy, closed-off woman doing the work.
As their friendship deepens and turns into more, they both discover secrets that force them to face past wounds. And the history of the violin reveals more about their current problems than they could have ever expected. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the nineteenth-century frontier, a gruesome tomahawk attack wiped out most of Deborah Caldwell's family. Her greatest solace after the tragedy is the music from her father's prized violin. Given her horrendous scars, she'd resigned herself to a spinster's life. But Levi Martinson's gentle love starts to chip away at her hardened heart, until devastating details about the attack are revealed, putting their love--and Deborah's shaky faith--to the ultimate test. </div><div><br /></div><div>Full of forgiveness and the message that no one is too damaged for God's healing touch, the final book in the split-time Sedgwick County Chronicles will thrill fans of Rachel Hauck, Lisa Wingate, and Kristy Cambron. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #126a78;"><strong>PURCHASE LINKS: </strong></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195649897-the-rhythm-of-fractured-grace" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CRWQ7XSN" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/the-rhythm-of-fractured-grace-3/9780825448492/pd/5448492" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Christianbook</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rhythm-of-fractured-grace-amanda-wen/1143868807" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-rhythm-of-fractured-grace-amanda-wen/20384520" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bookshop</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-rhythm-of-fractured-grace-by-amanda-wen" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BookBub</a>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #126a78;">More Books in Series</span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QYG69SH" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="Roots of Wood and Stone" class="alignnone wp-image-28953" height="200" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Roots-of-Wood-and-Stone-194x300.jpg" width="129" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B15J747M" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="The Songs That Could Have Been" class="alignnone wp-image-28954" height="200" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/The-Songs-That-Could-Have-Been-194x300.jpg" width="129" /></a></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #126a78;"><strong>Excerpt</strong></span></h3>
<div><br /></div>Hot. Rich. Creamy. Sweetly spiced. And just enough rocket fuel to get her through the rest of the day.<br /><br />Such was the perfect chai latte, Siobhan’s weekly indulgence at Frontier Coffee. Okay, more than weekly. But the only time she came in and sat down was during coffee dates with Sloane Kelley-Anderson. Siobhan marveled at the dark-haired woman across the table from her who shared half her DNA. Yet Sloane was someone she’d never even known about until four years ago. Her mother—their mother—Kimberly, had had another daughter. A daughter five years older, born from an affair and left on a city bus in Seattle, only to be randomly reunited in Wichita three decades later.<br /><br />Well, Mom wouldn’t say it was random. Neither would Sloane. Both were quick to credit God.<br /><br />Siobhan would have too, once upon a time.<br /><br />And now these occasional coffee dates had a third party, the tiny bundle sacked out on Sloane’s shoulder. Domenica Rose Anderson came with her father’s deep-blue eyes, her mother’s dark-brown hair, and the fortunate ability to sleep through just about anything. So far, anyway.<br /><br />(pg 27)<div class="author-meta"><div class="author-meta"><div class="bp3-collapse"><div aria-hidden="false" class="bp3-collapse-body"><div class="FpZ6SU"><div class="oppjnA _24WQTW"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #126a78;"><strong>About the Author</strong></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Amanda Wen" class="aligncenter wp-image-28989 size-medium" height="300" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Wen-Amanda-225x300.jpg" width="225" /></p>
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<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><strong>Amanda Wen</strong> is a Selah Award–winning, Parable best-selling author of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction, including <em>Roots of Wood and Stone</em> and <em>The Songs That Could Have Been</em>, and a professional musician. Wen currently lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband and three children.</p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Connect with Amanda by visiting <a href="https://amandawen.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">amandawen.com</a> to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #126a78;"><strong>Tour Giveaway</strong></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">(1) winner will receive a signed copy of the book, a mug, chai mix, and a kitsugi heart necklace!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Rhythm of Fractured Grace JustRead Giveaway" class="aligncenter wp-image-28977 size-large" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Giveaway_TheRhythmofFracturedGrace_TBlogReview_JR-400x400.jpg" width="400" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 21, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Giveaway is subject to the policies found <a href="https://justreadtours.com/disclosures-giveaway-policies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Follow along at <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/02/21/welcome-to-the-the-rhythm-of-fractured-grace-takeover-review-blitz-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Tours</a> for a full list of stops!</p>
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</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-7881335568335129602024-02-18T13:02:00.001-05:002024-02-18T13:02:43.869-05:00Book Review: Ladies of the Lake by Cathy Gohlke<b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Book:</span></b><br /><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeLVz0czLMdcjrywOFKaEA1zOpXW1IL9enjx94UQogUsg6B8cUKn8af4TxJYv6FW1-9TD3UIrhGjmUeUuPf0XsIPU9v_IvArBfEHfPCdnTAbOhply0UoY1LWJ1apvwOnxBiTmpm3QcOChrUKZzeKs_if93GIKAlQjJGFrHOxF_lvQusY9Dy7VlOMbPA0f/s1350/978-1-4964-5353-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeLVz0czLMdcjrywOFKaEA1zOpXW1IL9enjx94UQogUsg6B8cUKn8af4TxJYv6FW1-9TD3UIrhGjmUeUuPf0XsIPU9v_IvArBfEHfPCdnTAbOhply0UoY1LWJ1apvwOnxBiTmpm3QcOChrUKZzeKs_if93GIKAlQjJGFrHOxF_lvQusY9Dy7VlOMbPA0f/s320/978-1-4964-5353-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>After the deep bond of friendship between two young women is torn apart, what will it take to bring them together again? In <i>Ladies of the Lake</i>, the beloved author of <i>Saving Amelie</i> and <i>Night Bird Calling</i> returns with a transformative new historical novel about the wonder and complexities of friendship, love, and belonging.</b><br /><br />When she is forced to leave her beloved Prince Edward Island to attend Lakeside Ladies Academy after the death of her parents, the last thing Adelaide Rose MacNeill expects to find is three kindred spirits. The “Ladies of the Lake,” as the four girls call themselves, quickly bond like sisters, vowing that wherever life takes them, they will always be there for each other. But that is before: Before love and jealousy come between Adelaide and Dorothy, the closest of the friends. Before the dawn of World War I upends their world and casts baseless suspicion onto the German American man they both love. Before a terrible explosion in Halifax Harbor rips the sisterhood irrevocably apart.<br /><br />Seventeen years later, Rosaline Murray receives an unsuspecting telephone call from Dorothy, now headmistress of Lakeside, inviting her to attend the graduation of a new generation of girls, including Rosaline’s beloved daughter. With that call, Rosaline is drawn into a past she’d determined to put behind her. To memories of a man she once loved . . . of a sisterhood she abandoned . . . and of the day she stopped being Adelaide MacNeill.<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></b></p><hr /><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ladies of the Lake</i> by Cathy Gohlke landed as my first
five-star read of 2024. This story gripped my attention from the start and the question
of what happened between Dorothy and Adelaide urged me on. Gohlke’s smooth
writing made the transitions between time periods easy to grasp. The expert plot
pacing and clever prose kept me blind to an unanticipated plot twist. I
actually reread sections trying to decipher how I was so hoodwinked!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The female friendships in <i>Ladies of the Lake</i> reminded
me of the importance of connecting with others on a regular basis to maintain
relationships. I loved how the characters’ friendships were presented in youth
and adulthood, showing the way relationships can grow (or wither) over time. While
the story emphasizes the power of friendship, quieter points about physical
trauma, emotional brokenness, living with regrets, and speaking truth support
the character journeys of Addie and Dot.</p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ladies of the Lake</i> by Cathy Gohlke has a permanent
spot in my bookcase. I read this amazing novel with my church book club, and we
had plenty of material to discuss plus a delightful chat with the author. Five
stars for <i>Ladies of the Lake</i>!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEj2oofpPbCOH7C2GdZP3vLLbdf-405jIYxe3V_2-ATIXHZSHtrKKwHYqfZ-AWsJkRUb_91Bx9sUYX1CQ1tuE9azr8YSa3UlW4VmBVWCYwWAPJ1-yD26T2BB10HBj4Cd8ZIdRZ2v3bCs6mLjSokE92wCu-Z8tp9q7KT-lVJD9_bri2jyWAA-wSxvp5sQE/s2807/2024-02-12%2016.00.55-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2807" data-original-width="2807" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEj2oofpPbCOH7C2GdZP3vLLbdf-405jIYxe3V_2-ATIXHZSHtrKKwHYqfZ-AWsJkRUb_91Bx9sUYX1CQ1tuE9azr8YSa3UlW4VmBVWCYwWAPJ1-yD26T2BB10HBj4Cd8ZIdRZ2v3bCs6mLjSokE92wCu-Z8tp9q7KT-lVJD9_bri2jyWAA-wSxvp5sQE/s320/2024-02-12%2016.00.55-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of
this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.<o:p></o:p></p><br />Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-51325679569913231712024-02-18T09:49:00.002-05:002024-03-01T20:33:16.653-05:00Epic Book Launch: What Color is God’s Love? by Xochitl Dixon<b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Book</span></b><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WAnm-dRGH8Cab4kcoyA339IXC3kiF6r8CMGXupVvNc1l_J8sZu7e_qbXsM2vDu7hyphenhyphenwJ196XYD3gf28OKWMztoaXmxqtFr04cV5RBKHqrmIkm3G6wY9fhfCbGCTVY1-jk_XhgRoZF0RUne_qnaaaER4ijqqR3ASE1_yp1pQVIHeAmvufL7Ah1QWaHLahT/s2775/1-%20What%20Color%20is%20God's%20Love%20-%20Book%20Cover%20-%20Official%20High%20Res%20-%20CAN%20RESIZE%20-%20RCVD%20August%2011,%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="2775" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WAnm-dRGH8Cab4kcoyA339IXC3kiF6r8CMGXupVvNc1l_J8sZu7e_qbXsM2vDu7hyphenhyphenwJ196XYD3gf28OKWMztoaXmxqtFr04cV5RBKHqrmIkm3G6wY9fhfCbGCTVY1-jk_XhgRoZF0RUne_qnaaaER4ijqqR3ASE1_yp1pQVIHeAmvufL7Ah1QWaHLahT/s320/1-%20What%20Color%20is%20God's%20Love%20-%20Book%20Cover%20-%20Official%20High%20Res%20-%20CAN%20RESIZE%20-%20RCVD%20August%2011,%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><b>Book Title: </b><i>What Color is God’s Love?</i><br /><b>Author Name: </b>Xochitl Dixon<b><br />Genre:</b> Children’s Picture Book<br /><b>Release Date: </b>March 19, 2024<br /><br /><br /><i>All the colors displayed in this world that God made—<br />every glorious, fabulous, beautiful shade—<br />show how good God is and will always be.<br />But what is the color of love? Come and see!</i><br /><br /><br />In <i>What Color is God’s Love?</i>, a little girl and her service dog join their diverse friends through a whirlwind of adventures. As they celebrate the spectacular spectrum of colors God designed, each color invites readers to explore their God-given emotions and becomes a reminder of God’s unchanging character.<br /><br />While encouraging children to acknowledge God’s constant presence with every turn of the age,<i> What Color is God’s Love?</i> also empowers children, with and without disabilities, to play, work, and serve God together, by simply letting the colors of His love shine through them.<br /><br />With each turn of the page, the focus shifts to a specific color—orange, yellow, blue, green, pink, black, white, gray, brown, red, purple. Each lyrical rhyme invites readers to engage with God through empowering and faith-building truth-statements that incite worship and encourage a lifestyle of loving God and neighbors.<br /><br /><i>What Color is God’s Love?</i> is now available for pre-ordering wherever books are sold.<br /><br /><span><hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q&A with the Author</span></b><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> Your logo and the cover of What Color is God’s Love? share an interesting flower. What is the name of that flower and what is its significance?</div><div><br /><b>Xochitl: </b>The flower on my logo and on the top corners of What Color is God’s Love? is called a Passion Flower. Darshika Varma surprised me and added the Passion Flower on the cover and in the book on the purple page. I mentioned it when we were in our first conversation. I didn’t ask her to add the flower. She added my heart to the illustrations, by listening to me and caring about what was important to me. You can feel her love and my love in this book.<br /><br />I chose the Passion Flower as a part of my logo to symbolize a passion for Christ. You can find out why it’s my favorite flower, how God used and uses it to deepen my faith, and how the Passion Flower got its name, if you visit my website at <a href="http://www.xedixon.com">www.xedixon.com</a> and look under “The Passion Flower” page. It’s all about Jesus!<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> What do you want kids to take away from your book?</div><div><br /><b>Xochitl:</b> For parents: I want kids to feel safe processing emotions in the constant presence of God, while using colors to remember biblical truth that affirms His unchanging character and His unconditional love flowing for them and through them.<br /><br />For kids: God understands us and is always with us, using all the colors He made to remind us who He is, as He fills us with love so we can love others . . . together.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span><hr /></span>All Interviews</span></b></div><br />Q&A 1: <a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/what-color-is-gods-love-author-qa/">https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/what-color-is-gods-love-author-qa/</a><div><br />Q&A 2: <a href="https://www.guildmaster97.com/posts/what-color-is-gods-love-epic-book-launch/">https://www.guildmaster97.com/posts/what-color-is-gods-love-epic-book-launch/</a></div><div><br />Q&A 3: <a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/02/epic-book-launch-what-color-is-gods.html">https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/02/epic-book-launch-what-color-is-gods.html</a></div><div><br />Q&A 4: <a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/epic-book-launch-and-interview-what-color-is-gods-love-xochitl-dixon/">http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/epic-book-launch-and-interview-what-color-is-gods-love-xochitl-dixon/</a></div><div><br />Q&A 5: <a href="https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/2024/02/18/what-color-is-gods-love-epic-book-launch/">https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/2024/02/18/what-color-is-gods-love-epic-book-launch/</a></div><div><br />Q&A 6: <a href="https://www.amoderndayfairytale.net/2024/02/what-color-is-gods-love-epic-book-launch.html">https://www.amoderndayfairytale.net/2024/02/what-color-is-gods-love-epic-book-launch.html</a><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span><hr /></span>About the Author</span></b><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwJ8frKpHiZ1oAkJbBNhdy51m-BjDAFplBib8gFusk_QModYI6_SVF_vUcS756TnliV9AqJPwUN3wcu9vQZE-6qxbxiKiqVaXAs_Cgqz3k37JseDA0z9a5y6qL1u1qYBwAA13RBQWUlTUFBCS97Mh12Q3VwOvf_2gTfjbhcQkUDsZ9Ag-dE0ZBfUC30oE/s2400/Author%20Photo%20-%20Xochitl%20Dixon%20-%20Headshot%20with%20Callie%20-%20Rochelle%20Wilhelms%20Photography%20-%20November%2030,%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1773" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwJ8frKpHiZ1oAkJbBNhdy51m-BjDAFplBib8gFusk_QModYI6_SVF_vUcS756TnliV9AqJPwUN3wcu9vQZE-6qxbxiKiqVaXAs_Cgqz3k37JseDA0z9a5y6qL1u1qYBwAA13RBQWUlTUFBCS97Mh12Q3VwOvf_2gTfjbhcQkUDsZ9Ag-dE0ZBfUC30oE/s320/Author%20Photo%20-%20Xochitl%20Dixon%20-%20Headshot%20with%20Callie%20-%20Rochelle%20Wilhelms%20Photography%20-%20November%2030,%202022.jpg" width="236" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br />Xochitl (So-Cheel) Dixon, contributing writer for <i>Our Daily Bread</i> and <i>God Hears Her</i>, is the author of <i>Waiting for God: Trusting Daily in God’s Plan and Pace</i>. She loves Jesus and people, as she crosses cultural, generational, and international lines with encouraging and sound biblical teaching. Celebrating diversity and inclusion, she advocates for disability awareness with her beautifully diverse family and her service dog, Callie. Her first children’s picture book,<i> Different Like Me</i>, now available in Spanish, is a 2021 ECPA Christian Book Award Children’s Book Finalist. In March 2024, Xochitl’s second picture book, <i>What Color is God’s Love?</i>, is releasing with WaterBrook. She connects with readers at www.xedixon.com.</div></div><div><br /></div><br /></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-29636706126964187892024-02-16T02:00:00.033-05:002024-02-16T02:00:00.252-05:00Author Interview: Refuge of Grace by Tracy L. Smoak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dm5ogrUNXQpy41YEf5xo_RceDRNRCXs1W5d43H02y_166FZmfDWFoPrHkY2P1YO6MJumL3jm8k-Jt8beBvl_sA2-9ET7dPfzRUahcC1ghlnpA6S6xG9rBI476uESqegeU5RQfBsIz0AYf1_m9Xx9EUghe6_nnbkm423aNJXQe9W8KcRQgw8RYau8xrIZ/s851/refuge-of-grace.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dm5ogrUNXQpy41YEf5xo_RceDRNRCXs1W5d43H02y_166FZmfDWFoPrHkY2P1YO6MJumL3jm8k-Jt8beBvl_sA2-9ET7dPfzRUahcC1ghlnpA6S6xG9rBI476uESqegeU5RQfBsIz0AYf1_m9Xx9EUghe6_nnbkm423aNJXQe9W8KcRQgw8RYau8xrIZ/w640-h236/refuge-of-grace.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9V-fibeGJSg9MMN3hPEhCurX_fyfrd7qaNHKnHD0E7rzA8WLDuMReY0sT_825lC9Ex9L11sGzCgSswis6L88FOSMiy0xhA_4vTjp3M7zGN5xnCXVJTBWtUJ8LzV38voG_PPRPJMn-f2KO6nxuoWtHstWPXd8xpdeosJcN7vOAcWki4nxWp2_x_OzbFaa/s300/Refuge-cover-2-188x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="188" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9V-fibeGJSg9MMN3hPEhCurX_fyfrd7qaNHKnHD0E7rzA8WLDuMReY0sT_825lC9Ex9L11sGzCgSswis6L88FOSMiy0xhA_4vTjp3M7zGN5xnCXVJTBWtUJ8LzV38voG_PPRPJMn-f2KO6nxuoWtHstWPXd8xpdeosJcN7vOAcWki4nxWp2_x_OzbFaa/s1600/Refuge-cover-2-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><p><strong>Book:</strong> <i>Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place</i></p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Tracy L. Smoak</p><p><b>Genre:</b> Non-Fiction</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>September, 2023</p><p><strong>”This book is a life-saving manual meant for any soul who has bottomed out and can only look up for help.” </strong><strong>– George Firehammer</strong></p><p>Need a stronger connection with God? A safe place?</p><p>Anyone hoping for straight talk to bring Jesus close will find refreshment in Refuge of Grace. Learn from a fresh look at 22 little-told Bible passages via Tracy L. Smoak’s engaging storytelling and vivid imagery.</p><p>These scriptures offer true comfort in your everyday struggles. From hearing Gomer’s perspective about shame to imagining Jesus arriving in a Rolls Royce for the family reunion, you will know God’s working on your behalf-right now.</p> Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3RTq01p" target="_blank">here</a> to get your copy!<h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpWUOyFEzuA_-5lCP69p4vUuQ2KGsQjbHmL0tja5Gr6ydGaF-Q3rlTBtl4IZ7gRMzuQE1qQakiU-0XEf_iGsabqxP1b8GQA7MvipfgcPfy4VXrF03WKq7zCreU1-vRjev3488D57M9WkJlIkZYwfmfR6CoRANIfdXobL2QrC8G9-x4IHp3nISZO_56hIx/s300/headshot.Tracy-Smoak.lake_-225x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="225" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpWUOyFEzuA_-5lCP69p4vUuQ2KGsQjbHmL0tja5Gr6ydGaF-Q3rlTBtl4IZ7gRMzuQE1qQakiU-0XEf_iGsabqxP1b8GQA7MvipfgcPfy4VXrF03WKq7zCreU1-vRjev3488D57M9WkJlIkZYwfmfR6CoRANIfdXobL2QrC8G9-x4IHp3nISZO_56hIx/s1600/headshot.Tracy-Smoak.lake_-225x300.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p>A native Floridian, <strong>Tracy L. Smoak</strong> grew up riding horses and climbing citrus trees. Her passion is to encourage others in their faith journey. Smoak writes for <em>Guideposts</em>. Ambassador International released her debut novel, <em>Who Brought the Dog to Church?. </em>Bold Vision published her Bible study about encouragement titled <em>Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place.</em></p><p>She loves photography and authored two hardcover devotionals with her original nature art (<em>Living Water to Refresh Your Soul – </em>tranquil lake scenes; and <em>Arranged with Love</em>- floral landscapes).</p><p>Smoak holds a master’s in Education and a bachelor’s in Communication. At her church home, she leads small-group Bible studies. She is an active member of Word Weavers International.</p><h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview with Tracy</span></h1><br /><b>Q: </b>Please give us a little introduction to your book. <br /><br /><b>Tracy: </b>If you feel discouraged and are facing hard times, this book offers encouragement. There are 22 little-told Bible stories about ordinary men and women who persevered with God’s help. Each chapter features a promise of God’s that they held onto, and that we also can draw strength from to overcome.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What was the most surprising thing you discovered while researching and writing this book?<br /><br /><b>Tracy: </b>God speaks in an amazing variety of ways. Sometimes, he used a picture, like of medieval armor, to spark ideas about battle. Other times, He drew my attention to nature, like when I saw sandhill cranes literally dancing in an open field at dawn. Each time I slowed enough to listen, God spoke with such tenderness to teach.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you hope readers take away from your book?<br /><br /><b>Tracy: </b>Bad stuff happens and we want to fall apart. Sorrow, disappointment, anger, and failure lurk around many corners. But these obstacles don’t have to destroy our faith. The hardships refine us into hardy soldiers who can go into the fray to help others in the trenches. Our best ministry isn’t from being “perfect.” Our ability to truly comfort others comes from being able to say we also survived the hardship they are going through.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Are you working on another book now?<br /><br /><b>Tracy:</b> Yes, I am researching scriptures about wisdom and where God would have us invest our time. To go along with this theme, I have taken photographs of foreign coins to pair with Bible verses about how to store up heavenly riches. This devotional is under contract, and I hope will be released in 2024.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you wish you’d known when you were younger?<br /><br /><b>Tracy: </b>After achieving each milestone, there will be another mountain to climb. Life is about stretching and growing. Complacency robs us of the next blessing. I’d tell my younger self not to fear failure. That each attempt to move forward gains new skills.<div><br /></div><div><b>Q: </b>Any thing else you would like to share:?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tracy: </b>If you like devotions and birds, this one-minute reel features my nature art photography with a Bible verse at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyGwqfrBIxs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyGwqfrBIxs</a>.</div><div><br />My website for details: <a href="http://tracysmoak.com">tracysmoak.com</a>.<br /><br /><h1><span><hr /></span><span underline="">More from Tracy</span></h1><p>When life knocks you down, where do you go for hope?</p><p>We all want to be brave, but sometimes circumstances overwhelm us. Health declines, bank accounts empty, and friends disappear. No matter the disappointments, one absolute certainty we can count on is God. He will stand with us through every adversity.</p><p>Ideas for <em>Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place</em> began at 3 a.m. on a January workday in 2021. I tossed and turned in bed, wondering how I could continue teaching in a public school under all the pandemic constraints. We wore masks, developed lesson plans for both in-class instruction and online modules, and juggled a revolving door of student quarantines with absences.</p><p>Fear surrounded us on all sides.</p><p>Others also struggled. My older son managed an emergency department in a large city and had to find ways to supply unprecedented needs. My younger son worked in the financial industry and watched markets reel. Neighbors lost jobs and income.</p><p>How could we model resilience and move forward?</p><p>I turned to the Bible for inspiration and studied stories about how believers overcame hardship. Six months and 22 chapters later—all the while teaching full time—this collection renewed hope and kept me going.</p><p>My prayer is that reading these Bible promises of God’s faithfulness also will empower you.</p><h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Blog Stops</span></h1><br /><a href="http://www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/">Book Reviews From an Avid Reader</a>, February 9<br /><br /><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/">Artistic Nobody</a>, February 10 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</a>, February 11<br /><br /><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</a>, February 12<br /><br /><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/">Fiction Book Lover</a>, February 13 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://girlsinwhitedresses.wordpress.com/">Girls in White Dresses</a>, February 14<br /><br /><a href="http://itsmamasafe.wordpress.com/">Its Mama Safe</a>, February 15<br /><br /><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/">Beauty in the Binding</a>, February 16 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://rbclibrary.wordpress.com/">By The Book</a>, February 17 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mary.a.hake">Mary Hake</a>, February 17<br /><br /><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/">Cover Lover Book Review</a>, February 18<br /><br /><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</a>, February 19 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/">Texas Book-aholic</a>, February 20<br /><br /><a href="http://simpleharvestreads.com/">Simple Harvest Reads</a>, February 21 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</a>, February 21<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/">Locks, Hooks and Books</a>, February 22<h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iEmLZsikg2aJF6pPUnvPVTg8Y5FmSo0T-JknlrbzBROcrQlL-33owIW597MEhHU2M-7XqXW5gvwLL__oYbxHOBhNkSiYLqrWpSN7UN0sagG0NvDDgSYRaMWXYxiCxBB7iGwa59wKYeZJKvL7rFg_PEme_JxneMJ2kbH8SPdxgCVTFpuxOoDajOFWnWVq/s940/Refuge%20of%20Grace%20Giveaway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iEmLZsikg2aJF6pPUnvPVTg8Y5FmSo0T-JknlrbzBROcrQlL-33owIW597MEhHU2M-7XqXW5gvwLL__oYbxHOBhNkSiYLqrWpSN7UN0sagG0NvDDgSYRaMWXYxiCxBB7iGwa59wKYeZJKvL7rFg_PEme_JxneMJ2kbH8SPdxgCVTFpuxOoDajOFWnWVq/s320/Refuge%20of%20Grace%20Giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Tracy is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy each of Who Brought the Dog to Church? and Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p>Link for giveaway: <a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/29c57/refuge-of-grace-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/29c57/refuge-of-grace-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-87875504186841291342024-02-14T02:00:00.046-05:002024-02-14T02:00:00.133-05:00Author Interview: Nellie by Amy Walsh<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Nellie Blog Tour" class="alignnone wp-image-27864" height="207" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Banner_Nellie_Blog_JR.png" width="570" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Blog Tour for <span style="color: #bf5f84;"><i><b>Nellie</b></i></span> by Amy Walsh<b>,</b> hosted by <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/02/12/welcome-to-the-nellie-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours</a>!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #bf5f84;"><b>About the Book</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nellie" class="alignleft wp-image-28935 size-large" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Nellie-eBook-Cover-259x400.jpg" width="259" /></b></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b>Title:</b> <i>Nellie
</i><b><br />Series:</b> Apron Strings #2
<b><br />Author:</b> Amy Walsh
<b><br />Publisher:</b> Walsh Mountain Publishing
<b><br />Release Date:</b> February 15, 2024
<br /><b>Genre:</b> Historical Romance</p><p>
Finances are tight for the O’Dwyer family who live on a mountain outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1931. Life gets even harder when their beloved Dadaí must cease work as a coal miner to become a patient at the West Mountain Sanitarium. </p><p>Nellie is her preferred name, but family and friends have heard Mam shout “Fenella Aileen O’Dwyer!” all too often with the countless predicaments she got herself into throughout childhood. So, it’s not altogether surprising when Nellie impulsively accepts a job as an assistant cook at the Clarinda House in a case of mistaken identity -- though she’s the last person her family would ask to prepare a meal.</p><p>Fortunately, along with determination, a talent for acting, and the gift of blarney, Nellie has Mrs. Campbell’s Cookery Book, a treasure she discovered at a Red Cross drought relief sale. </p><p>As her reluctant admiration for her employer grows, Nellie wishes she could be the sort of truthful woman of faith that Mr. Mason Peale esteems. If she confesses all, will she lose her job along with the friendships she’s formed at Clarinda House?
<span style="color: #bf5f84;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #bf5f84;"><b>PURCHASE LINKS</b>:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199585560-nellie" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nellie-Apron-Strings-Vintage-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CKC4WGST" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #bf5f84;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></h3><br />Through the small window, she caught glimpses of Mason conversing with Mam, as on the straight stretches he turned his head to smile at Mam and even laughed a couple of times. <br /><br />How she wished she could hear what Mam was saying. Was she telling him stories about her antics over the years? Nellie cringed, thinking of a few tales her father often told when company came. One of Daidí’s favorite memories took place when she was Johny’s age, and she replaced Father Doyle’s prayerbook with her cousin’s volume of Grimm’s Tales within the pulpit. With its cover being a similar shade of brown, the priest hadn’t noticed before he started his homily. Father must have been quite distracted that day, for he began reading the page where Nellie had marked her favorite tale with his bookmark. He read all the way down to the part of “Sleeping Beauty” where the frog appeared to the queen while she was bathing and promised her a babe would be born within the year before he slammed down the volume and shouted, “What heresy is this?” Later a fearful Nellie confessed she had just been trying to help him make his sermons more interesting.<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #bf5f84;"><b>About the Author</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Amy Walsh" class="aligncenter wp-image-28936 size-medium" height="300" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/amy-walsh-260x300.jpg" width="260" /></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b>Amy Walsh</b> writes historical and contemporary romance, mysteries, speculative fiction, and women’s fiction. She is a 5th-grade writing teacher in an urban public school. Amy and her husband, Patrick, have three children. Amy considers herself greatly blessed in the roles God has given her as an earthling, including aspiring wordsmith, teacher of youngsters, nature appreciator, tea aficionado, avid dessert fan, book fanatic, lover of family and friends, and Christ-follower.</p>
Connect with Amy by visiting <a href="https://walshmountainpublishing.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">walshmountainpublishing.com</a> to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #bf5f84;"><b>Author Interview with Amy</b></span></h3>
<br /><b>Q:</b> What was the inspiration behind <i>Nellie</i>? <div><br /></div><div><b>Amy: </b>Sometimes stories just pop into my head, inspired by a Bible verse, a house we drive by, song lyrics – you name it. But in the case of<i> Nellie</i>, since this was a multi-author project, I was assigned a decade, and there were series requirements. For example, I needed a character to show spiritual growth, and she had to live in a small town or outside of a city. She had to be in need of a cookbook. I also had my own bucket list of things to try. I’d wanted to experiment with twins and mistaken identities – and with the age gap trope. I thought how fun it would be to have a character who would have been labeled with ADHD if she was in a 2024 classroom. Additionally, I wanted to include real life characters I had fallen in love with while writing my last book, Voices in the Sanitorium, and I wanted an Irish heroine. To all these variables, I also added nuggets I found in old newspapers and in files at the Lackawanna County Historical Society. The last piece of the puzzle was when I saw the cover model. She looked like she would be mischievous and a tad dramatic. That’s when I knew I wanted Nellie to be an aspiring actress, and all of the variables settled into a storyline in my mind. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How long did it take you to write this story? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Amy:</b> It probably took me about a month to write the rough draft of <i>Nellie</i> last summer. As a schoolteacher I have the summers off. A few of those days I was probably typing twelve to fourteen hours straight. It takes me much longer to write during the school year. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Do you have a favorite quote from this book? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Amy:</b> I do! I think it’s extra special because it stemmed from a “God sighting” during a moment when I needed to be reminded that God must delight in variety. I was beating myself up a little, wishing I could be more detail-oriented, more serious. I probably had lost a piece of mail or something–I can’t remember. But I looked up the hill from our house and for the first time I noticed that a poplar tree looked like it was whirling with activity even though it wasn’t the least bit windy. The surrounding trees appeared very somber, still, and stately. That inspired this passage:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>She rolled onto her back again and rested her hands under her head. Why had God decided to create poplars just as He had? With leaves that bristled and danced in the faintest wind even when other trees stood solemn and immovable. Was there a message from the Creator in these heart-shaped leaves with silver underbellies? In how from a distance, these trees looked like a swarm of joyful fairies celebrating sunlight?</i><br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>In the story, Nellie uses Mrs. Campbell’s Cookery Book. Can you share a favorite recipe of your own? <br /><br /><b>Amy: </b>I do have a favorite recipe of my own. I wanted to invent a recipe to go with my novel Elsie Whitmore about a schoolteacher whose YouTube video goes viral and captures the attention of Graham Thurston, a former teen superstar now producer. In his attempts to woo her, Graham Googles ‘world’s most loved dessert’ and has his housekeeper make it (Sticky Toffee Pudding). I wanted to make a Pennsylvania version of the dessert that included apples. This is what I came up with, “Mrs. Whitmore’s Upside-Down Apple Sticky Toffee Cupcakes”: <a href="https://walshmountainpublishing.com/2021/10/31/a-recipe-inspired-by-elsie-whitmore/">https://walshmountainpublishing.com/2021/10/31/a-recipe-inspired-by-elsie-whitmore/</a><br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you hope readers take away from <i>Nellie</i>? <br /><br /><b>Amy: </b>I’ve already alluded to one takeaway with my poplar tree quote – to appreciate the variety of personalities God created, and to stop comparing oneself with others. Piggybacking on that is that message that God can use us as we are, both our gifts and our deficits, to bring Him glory, and to help others. The hero of the story has his own lessons to learn. In the midst of the Great Depression, Mason sees acting as a frivolous aspiration. He thinks differently after the Actor’s Guild of Scranton donates the proceeds of an entire weekend of performances to the Drought Relief Fund. (Which actually happened!) <br /><br /><br /></div><div><b>Q: </b>Would you share something about yourself that most readers would not know? <br /><br /><b>Amy: </b>Something random. I am allergic to newsprint. How inconvenient! I have to take a Zyrtec to read a newspaper. And if it’s an old and dusty book, I have had to take Benadryl on occasion. To follow up with the allergy theme–I adore cats. My husband is severely allergic to them so for several years of married life I was catless. However, we discovered there were “hypoallergenic” cats when my youngest was a toddler. We’ve had cats ever since! <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How long ago did you start writing? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Amy: </b>I started writing poems, songs and short stories by the end of first grade. I wrote a short YA novel in high school but never showed it to anyone but my writing teacher. I wrote my second novel, <i>A Misplaced Beauty</i>, while I was on maternity leave for my youngest child. (She just turned eighteen, so that was quite some time ago.) This time I shared it with friends and family. Once I went back to teaching, I needed to focus on my home kids and my school kids, so I went back to writing songs, poems, and short stories. It wasn’t until Election Night of 2020 that I began another novel. I had been teaching online for months due to COVID, all my children’s activities, and my ladies ministry activities had been curtailed, and there I was crawling out of my own skin with stress over what would be the outcome of the election. I remember thinking, ‘I need a break from reality. Time to take on a big writing project.’ I stayed up most of that night, and by early morning I had almost ten thousand words written of Elsie Whitmore. It’s been one writing project after another ever since! <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What is your favorite thing about being a writer? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Amy:</b> I have many favorite things, but one is that just like writing has been a break from reality for me, I like giving readers the same respite. I’ll never forget the reaction of a dear older woman from my church after reading <i>A Misplaced Beauty</i>. She wasn’t in the habit of reading novels, but she gave the book a try to support me. After reading it, she was just about glowing as she talked about the characters as if they were real people, and was just so excited to talk about some of the happenings in the novel. I realized that I had given her the gift of forgetting her health issues and her grief over having lost her husband while she was living within the pages of the novel. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Do you prefer to read ebooks or physical copies? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Amy: </b>Ooo! Hard question. I love physical copies of books by my favorite authors. I collect antique books, especially children’s books. I also will pick up just about any used hardcover book that is a shade of blue/green since my first floor has a beachy aesthetic. However, most of my reading is done on the Kindle app of my phone – out of convenience. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How many bookcases are in your home? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Amy: </b>Eleven. And sadly, I have boxes of books in the attic. And piles in random corners. I’m a bookaholic. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you like to do when you are not writing? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Amy: </b>Read. Ha ha! Even when I am doing chores, driving my car, or exercising, I am listening to audiobooks. I love to walk outdoors. I love racquet sports – ping pong, tennis, and pickleball. I enjoy playing card games and board games with family and friends. Singing – I love practicing with my church’s praise team, and when we have karaoke time. I love entertaining. Oh – and social media. I love interacting with others in my groups on Facebook. I hope you’ll stop by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/apronstringsreaders">Apron Strings Book Series </a>group or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/wwwordsmithing">Wisdom, Whimsy, and Wordsmithing</a> and chat sometime! <br /><br /><hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #bf5f84;"><b>Tour Giveaway</b></span></h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">(1) winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card, print copies of Nellie and Voices in the Sanitorium, and some historical memorabilia from the West Mountain Sanitarium!</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Nellie JustRead Tours giveaway" class="wp-image-28937 size-large aligncenter" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Giveaway_Nellie_Blog_JR-400x400.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 12, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 19, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Giveaway is subject to <a href="https://justreadtours.com/disclosures-giveaway-policies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies</a>.</i></p>
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<p></p><p></p></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-38366329539415530992024-02-13T10:19:00.005-05:002024-02-13T16:13:57.643-05:00Author Interview: Biblical Finances by Lisa D. Pedriel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7niOwjMEtY7nbBpJUwmbJ4_VIuVwux0niIalllQW_xYU9Dx0o1yzKm4GryYnzys7sEjxs-9jrc5RsNIBWP4iZB3sIlg9cfs5BQOEz_XQ4YptQvgZdM_CVPNRlkmTH1_ETrZq6j9yKm6eSuZl4HsOOH0VpwN8hyE06LSfEYRN7indPKC6K2tV3GXHdfBVL/s851/Biblical-Finances-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7niOwjMEtY7nbBpJUwmbJ4_VIuVwux0niIalllQW_xYU9Dx0o1yzKm4GryYnzys7sEjxs-9jrc5RsNIBWP4iZB3sIlg9cfs5BQOEz_XQ4YptQvgZdM_CVPNRlkmTH1_ETrZq6j9yKm6eSuZl4HsOOH0VpwN8hyE06LSfEYRN7indPKC6K2tV3GXHdfBVL/w640-h236/Biblical-Finances-1.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GQNQXUhOwsfX8-4QWHSSW9arLvwKQ5S9AW-XAgwO75y7qDELmZhAKKy-9Hnux9HNSR1LR3WAe4ceEYfqfRkBVULaOyFxOi2A9Qx-bmFsM8qABRNtwfFk1jyW9wDDwkoQDEZyIx-eOsLJNy6bfaYf_qhYJB_1R3DyQXtRRcDP6_F1B6i58pTcZb0ndYYN/s300/Biblical-Finances-2-195x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="195" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GQNQXUhOwsfX8-4QWHSSW9arLvwKQ5S9AW-XAgwO75y7qDELmZhAKKy-9Hnux9HNSR1LR3WAe4ceEYfqfRkBVULaOyFxOi2A9Qx-bmFsM8qABRNtwfFk1jyW9wDDwkoQDEZyIx-eOsLJNy6bfaYf_qhYJB_1R3DyQXtRRcDP6_F1B6i58pTcZb0ndYYN/s1600/Biblical-Finances-2-195x300.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><p><strong>Book:</strong> <i>Biblical Finances Jesus Christ: The Financial Advisor</i></p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Lisa D. Pedriel</p><p><b>Genre:</b> Christian, Christian living, Finance, Wealth Management</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>May 3, 2023</p><p>The objective of this book is to help readers manage their finances using biblical standards and principles. The main benefit of doing this is that our finances will be built on a sure foundation (Isaiah 33:6), which is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Word. Jesus is concerned about every aspect of our lives, and the management of our finances is no exception. Throughout His Word, He gives us advice on how to get and manage the wealth He has made available to us. Therefore, it is imperative that we study the scriptures and apply them to our lives and finances. In summary, this book looks at wealth and finances from a biblical perspective.</p><p><b>Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3tGx8F7">here</a> to get your copy!</b></p> <h1><span><hr /></span><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05gWsILHCXYvS4yJQnCUbTrk1fTbizufGut5MxtXtcUT7CCclnBVgQdp-9pKTOBJ_DcXN9oKE4YiA7H5AFrAM-SeHnzqrefmclRxMWwVpRthlEbFT3LAwOU_1Opjd9S84XuxZgu_meS6s3CK4PC9WwPANNGnUONHuINrwEf9zytt1ngjV7t_UDkopSE2V/s300/Picture-225x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="225" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05gWsILHCXYvS4yJQnCUbTrk1fTbizufGut5MxtXtcUT7CCclnBVgQdp-9pKTOBJ_DcXN9oKE4YiA7H5AFrAM-SeHnzqrefmclRxMWwVpRthlEbFT3LAwOU_1Opjd9S84XuxZgu_meS6s3CK4PC9WwPANNGnUONHuINrwEf9zytt1ngjV7t_UDkopSE2V/s1600/Picture-225x300.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><strong>Lisa Pedriel</strong> is a child of the King, who serves as an intercessor in the body of Jesus Christ. She gave her life to Him on March 25, 2017, while walking on Lily Drive in St. James, Barbados. She started off her writing journey by penning poems and love notes to the Lord. Lisa is a qualified accountant and an auditor by profession. She currently resides on her native island Saint Lucia and lives a quiet and private life.</p>
<h1><span><hr /></span><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><br /><b>Q:</b> Do you have a favorite quote from this book?<br /><br /><b>Lisa:</b> As believers we are wealthy, prosperous, successful and limitless in Jesus Christ. Jesus is abundance and opulence. Therefore, in Him there is no lack, no poverty and no want. Although, some of us may not have the earthly riches, we have One Who is greater. My encouragement to everyone who reads this book is to set your heart and eyes on the spiritual riches that are in Jesus Christ. This is what truly matters!<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> What do you hope readers take away from your book?<br /><br /><b>Lisa: </b>Sound financial principles are important, and the bible speaks about them however Jesus Christ is the true treasure. The bible says in Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. We are spiritually rich in Jesus Christ.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> Are you working on another book now?<br /><br /><b>Lisa: </b>Yes. I am currently working on a new book called Biblical Leadership- Jesus Christ: The True Leader. This book will look at leadership from a biblical perspective.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> In what setting do you enjoy writing the most? <br /><br /><b>Lisa: </b>I prefer to write inside in peace and quiet.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q:</b> What do you like to do when you are not writing?<br /><br /><b>Lisa: </b>I love to bake, travel and sleep.<h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Blog Stops</span></h1><br /><a href="http://www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/">Book Reviews From an Avid Reader</a>, February 1<br /><br /><a href="https://vickysluitercom.wordpress.com/author-spotlight/">Vicky Sluiter</a>, February 2 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/">Locks, Hooks and Books</a>, February 3<br /><br /><a href="https://rbclibrary.wordpress.com/">By The Book</a>, February 4 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</a>, February 5 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/">Texas Book-aholic</a>, February 5<br /><br /><a href="http://simpleharvestreads.com/">Simple Harvest Reads</a>, February 6 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</a>, February 7<br /><br /><a href="https://litteraegaudium.wordpress.com/">For the Love of Literature</a>, February 8 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://becauseisaidsomyadventuresinparenting.blogspot.com/">Because I said so – Adventures in parenting</a>, February 9<br /><br /><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</a>, February 10 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</a>, February 11<br /><br /><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/">Fiction Book Lover</a>, February 12 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/">Beauty in the Binding</a>, February 13 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</a>, February 13<br /><br /><a href="https://www.guildmaster97.com/">Guild Master</a>, February 14 (Author Interview)<p></p>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-38656122157979702902024-02-10T02:00:00.037-05:002024-02-10T02:00:00.250-05:00Author Interview: Fall When You're Ready by Jennifer Carr<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Fall When You're Ready JustRead Blog Tour" class="alignnone wp-image-28815" height="207" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Banner_FallWhenYoureReady_Blog_JR-1.jpg" width="570" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Blog Tour for <span style="color: #4c434e;"><i><b>Fall When You're Ready</b></i></span> by Jennifer Carr, hosted by <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/02/06/welcome-to-the-fall-when-youre-ready-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours</a>!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c434e;"><b>About the Book</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fall When You're Ready" class="alignleft wp-image-28859 size-large" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/fall-when-youre-ready-new-cover-261x400.jpg" width="261" /></b></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b>Title:</b> <i>Fall When You're Ready
</i><b><br />Series:</b> Real American Country #1 <b><br />Author:</b> Jennifer Carr
<b><br />Publisher:</b> JCarr Writes
<b><br />Release Date:</b> February 1, 2024
<b><br />Genre:</b> Contemporary Clean Romance</p><p>
Rachel never wanted to get in the way of Jordan’s dreams, but they were supposed to chase their dreams together. They made promises and swore to remain best friends through it all. But, just as all good things must come to an end, it would seem that applies to promises as well. When Rachel and Jordan end up on separate paths toward their own versions of success, they each learn the hard way that letting go is easier than it sounds. But when those paths bring them both home, all of those promises come flooding back and they have to decide whether it’s worth the risk to reopen the chapter they closed on their story so long ago.
<span style="color: #4c434e;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c434e;"><b>PURCHASE LINKS</b>:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202643509-fall-when-you-re-ready" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CNYD96W8" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fall-when-youre-ready-jennifer-carr/1144715212" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/fall-when-you-re-ready-real-american-country-book-1-by-jennifer-carr" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BookBub</a>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c434e;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></h3><br />We stared into the darkness for a long time before he said, “You know how when you read a book and the author is a cruel piece of work and kills off one of your favorite characters?”<br /><br />I turned my head to look at him. “For a brief moment, you might put the book down or, as I’ve seen some people do, throw the book across the room,” he gave me a nudge causing a smile to barely make an appearance on my lips.<br /><br />“You might even vow never to read to the end because you can’t bear the thought that it might happen again or that there will be no chance at redemption. After some time, however, you pick the book back up with severe anxiety and a hesitant eye and read the first sentence of the next chapter. And then you read the next sentence and the next.<br /><br />Turning the page might even be excruciating. But the story continues, Rachel. Your story continues and the exciting part is that you get to write it. And because I know you, I know it will be spectacular.”<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c434e;"><b>About the Author</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Jennifer Carr" class="alignnone wp-image-28860 size-medium" height="300" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/JCarr-Author-Photo-218x300.jpg" width="218" /></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">A wife, mom, author, marriage and family counselor, a former AP Psychology teacher, and a podcaster,<b> Jennifer Carr</b> draws from her life experiences and imagination to connect with her readers and listeners through the written and spoken word.</p><p>
Married to her childhood best friend and the mom of a creative daughter, Jennifer enjoys a quiet life on their farm in Alabama. </p><p>When she’s not wearing one of her many hats, you’ll find her tucked away with a book and what's likely her third coffee of the day. </p><p>Connect with Jennifer by visiting <a href="https://www.jcarrwrites.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">jcarrwrites.com</a> to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
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<h3><span style="color: #4c434e;">Author <span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Interview</span> <span style="font-size: 18.72px;">with</span> Jennifer</span></h3><br /><b>Q:</b> What was the inspiration behind <i>Fall When You’re Ready</i>?<div> <br /><b>Jennifer:</b> The title actually comes from a song! I am a sucker for 90s Country music. Brantley Gilbert sings a song called <i>Fall Into Me</i> and one line says, “Fall When You’re Ready, babe…” One day the song came on the radio and all of a sudden these two characters popped into my head and said, “Hey! This is our song!” I pulled out my phone, started leaving a note to myself using voice to text, got home and interpreted it the best I could, and here we are!<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How long did it take you to write this story?<br /><br /></div><div><b>Jennifer:</b> I sent my first round of notes to my editor/sister in February 2023 but we were still wrapping up edits on a book that came out in June 2023 so FWYR didn’t get nearly the attention it required until June but I would sit down and write a random chapter here and there as the story unfolded in my mind. (When I say random, I mean, it could be chapter 3 one day and chapter 18 the next… and I never know until I sew it all together what it’s going to look like!)<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Do you have a favorite quote from this book?<br /><br /></div><div><b>Jennifer:</b> One of my favorite parts of writing<i> Fall When You’re Ready</i> was writing the short snippets between chapters. Some of them are “lyrics” written by the male main character Jordan whose stage name is Christopher Jordan. Others are taken from “an anthology” put together by our sweet female main character Rachel Redmayer – who happens to be an author. Hers were my favorite to write. This one can be found right before chapter 64 and is at the top of my list of favorites:<br /><i><br />In moments of solitude, I find solace in knowing that our friendship, though different now, has shaped me in profound ways. You are woven into the fiber of my being. I have loved you for always and I’ll love you forevermore.<br /></i><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you hope readers take away from <i>Fall When You’re Ready</i>?</div><div><br /><b>Jennifer:</b> Sometimes you have to take a risk, take a chance, make that hard decision. You will never know what it is that you’re missing out on and how amazing it might be if you don’t step outside of the fear or the anxiety. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Would you share something about yourself that most readers would not know?</div><div><br /><b>Jennifer:</b> If I could, I’d go back and tell my younger self that I didn’t NEED to go to college right out of high school. But, I was 17 and it’s what everyone else was doing. I floated adrift for YEARS. It took me a decade to finish school. I walked away with a Master’s Degree that I am proud of but still paying for and not officially using these days!<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How long ago did you start writing?<br /><br /><b>Jennifer:</b> I have always loved writing. I was scribbling really bad poetry on paper as early as fourth grade. I actually stumbled across some of it when we cleaned out our attic a few years ago and it was embarrassing and hilarious to say the least. And no, it will never see the light of day again! HA! HA!</div><div>But, writing has always been a natural way for me to process my thoughts and emotions. I entered and won multiple writing and oratorical contests all throughout middle and high school. I did not, however, know that I could write a book and love doing it until 2021. And now, I can’t stop!<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What is your favorite thing about being a writer?</div><div><br /><b>Jennifer:</b> The research! There’s always SOMETHING I don’t know or want to understand better when I’m writing a book. And before I’ll put it in writing, I need to know that I’m being as close to accurate as I can get. Sure, I sometimes take a creative license here and there but I stay as close to reality as possible!<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Do you prefer to read ebooks or physical copies?</div><div><br /><b>Jennifer:</b> E-Book. I discovered the magic of Kindle Unlimited a couple of years ago (much to my husband’s chagrin 😆). I also love that I don’t have to keep one more thing in my Mary Poppins bag of a purse in order to have a book with me! BUT, I do have physical copies of books that I deem “my favorites”. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How many bookcases are in your home?</div><div><br /><b>Jennifer:</b> Also a reason I don’t keep a ton of physical books - we only have room for about 2 bookcases and they are both FULL!<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you like to do when you are not writing?</div><div><br /><b>Jennifer:</b> I host a podcast for creatives, and I cohost a podcast for authors and I love every second of that networking and connection. I love walking alongside other creatives and authors who may just be getting started and sharing the resources I have at my disposal through those connections.</div><div><br />If I’m not “working” I’m reading… and likely drinking coffee.<br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><hr /><span style="color: #4c434e;"><b>Tour Giveaway</b></span></h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">(1) winner will win a signed copy of Fall When You're Ready and a 6-month Kindle Unlimited Membership!</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Fall When You're Ready JustRead Tours giveaway" class="wp-image-28861 size-large aligncenter" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Giveaway_FallWhenYoureReady_Blog_JR-400x400.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 6, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 13, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Giveaway is subject to <a href="https://justreadtours.com/disclosures-giveaway-policies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies</a>.</i></p>
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<p></p></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-6655149323929093122024-02-08T02:30:00.013-05:002024-02-08T02:30:00.134-05:00Book Spotlight: Renewed Hope by Carmen Peone<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Renewed Hope JustRead Blog Tour" class="alignnone wp-image-28436" height="207" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Banner_RenewedHope_Blog_JR.jpg" width="570" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Blog Tour for <span style="color: #347cae;"><i><b>Renewed Hope</b></i></span> by Carmen Peone, hosted by <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/02/05/welcome-to-the-renewed-hope-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours</a>!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #347cae;"><b>About the Book</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Renewed Hope" class="alignleft wp-image-28850 size-large" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/RenewedHope-267x400.jpg" width="267" /></b></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b>Title:</b> <i>Renewed Hope
</i><b><br />Series:</b> Seven Tine Ranch Romance #3
<b><br />Author:</b> Carmen Peone
<b><br />Publisher:</b> Iron Stream Fiction
<b><br />Release Date:</b> February 6, 2024
<br /><b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Western Romance</p><p>
<b>Can they find her son in time?</b> </p><p>Sophie Cayes is on the road to success as an artist. Until her ex-husband threatens to sue for full custody of their son. Upon learning of a guest ranch in Eastern Washington that keeps a room open for women in need, she grabs her son and bolts. Although Chad Davis loves starting colts on the Seven Tine Guest Ranch, his goal is to have his own spread. Everything’s on course until a woman and her preschool son show up. He’s not thrilled about helping out. Until the boy comes up missing. On his watch. Along with a tribal cop, they head back to Montana in search of the boy, knowing his dad was the one who kidnapped him. Sophie prays they find him before her ex-husband and his new wife go on the run. Taking her son with them. </p><p><span style="color: #347cae;"><b>PURCHASE LINKS</b>:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123277909-renewed-hope" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BYK9VMRM" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/renewed-hope-carmen-peone/1143235972" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/renewed-hope-carmen-peone/9781645263647/pd/263647" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ChristianBook</a> | <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/renewed-hope-carmen-peone/19902697" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bookshop</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/renewed-hope-seven-tine-ranch-romance-book-3-by-carmen-peone" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BookBub</a>
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<h3><span style="color: #347cae;">More Books In This Series</span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BDGHQNJS" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="Captured Secrets" class="alignnone wp-image-24471" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CapturedSecrets-1853x2780-72dpi-200x300.jpeg" width="167" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX2G4CNB" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-27505" height="250" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Broken-Bondage-194x300.jpg" width="162" /></a></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #347cae;"><b>Excerpt</b></span></h3><br />Emotionally. It all hit home with Sophie. Her insides had been tied up for years now, the abuse always on the edge of her mind.<br /><br />“So, I stuffed her brochure in a drawer and continued to live my life in fear. After one of his violent episodes, I found the Seven Tine brochure and my notes. I’d jotted down her invitation for any women in need to come. Anytime. Without calling first. To just show up. She promised to always keep a room open. I packed a bag and came.”<br /><br />“<i>Anytime. Without calling first. To just show up.</i>” The words soothed her like a sweet-scented balm. Her mouth parched, she took a sip of water. She got the feeling God had set up this conversation. His doing warmed her insides.<br /><br />“When I arrived, Sydney wasn’t here. Feeling a bit helpless and terrified after my ex found me and threatened to bring me back home, I ended up going on the road with Robert. He was a bronc rider. I hated bronc riders. They were <i>all</i> arrogant. Cocky. Womanizers. Or so I’d experienced before meeting the love of my life.” Rita laughed.<br /><br />Sophie chuckled too. But hers had come out edgy from the mutual understanding of the fear of men. Of terror turning into hate. No, she wasn’t laughing at the hate. She laughed because she wasn’t alone. She laughed because it felt good to find relief.<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #347cae;"><b>About the Author</b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Carmen Peone" class="alignnone wp-image-24472 size-medium" height="300" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Carmen5030a-med-resolution-242x300.jpg" width="242" /></p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><b>Carmen Peone</b> is an award-winning author of Young Adult and Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense and lives with her husband in Northeast Washington and on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation. She weaves threads of healing, hope, and horses into her stories that lead to happily ever after.</p>
Connect with Carmen by visiting <a href="https://carmenpeone.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">carmenpeone.com</a> to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #347cae;"><b>Tour Giveaway</b></span></h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">(3) winners will win a signed copy of Renewed Hope, a $25 Amazon gift card, and a story-related postcard!</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Renewed Hope JustRead Tours giveaway" class="wp-image-28851 size-large aligncenter" height="400" src="https://justreadtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Giveaway_RenewedHope_Blog_JR-400x400.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 5, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 12, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Giveaway is subject to <a href="https://justreadtours.com/disclosures-giveaway-policies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies</a>.</i></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="e-widget no-button" href="https://gleam.io/f56w1/renewed-hope-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><b>Enter Giveaway</b></a>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Follow along at <a href="https://justreadtours.com/2024/02/05/welcome-to-the-renewed-hope-blog-tour-giveaway" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JustRead Tours</a> for a full list of stops!</p>
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<p></p>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-85990327549988786142024-02-07T02:00:00.051-05:002024-02-07T02:00:00.131-05:00Author Interview: Water’s Break by Sophia Hansen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM4AWFXPs1-glLb4gqph3vw6qpYYhkjng3mgtWXJEQx84FH61dkiog7UOtn02YZl7G4n64StfzhEmueSEetHKq_m7LiLxrTopC-YRnGB59Kx5IlGfDMols3HKcVM9BIIhNi2muT6KJ5U3uGvH_0Q5_MRug32FKd_OgQhIVyd2aAf1OPjih_8x88QQiKnC/s851/waters-break.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM4AWFXPs1-glLb4gqph3vw6qpYYhkjng3mgtWXJEQx84FH61dkiog7UOtn02YZl7G4n64StfzhEmueSEetHKq_m7LiLxrTopC-YRnGB59Kx5IlGfDMols3HKcVM9BIIhNi2muT6KJ5U3uGvH_0Q5_MRug32FKd_OgQhIVyd2aAf1OPjih_8x88QQiKnC/w640-h236/waters-break.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDO0_xfNEQ010qOdntM4Q32fmrfIZiEJMZS82_4bzj2FrYIrEgncNBuYHd0IAtrpdjma8zr1DMIci4NeBvcZHQ6vfkaTRlmwpHkxynIvEsDAcjuhr_lNCFQYUcwz3IB68YT8TdI-5VWS53vpMQHz_9F68gYVjn1H3STX3CvwgrO6jENsDPlTPXQbNXfDsw/s300/Hansen-Waters-Break-LOW-RES-1-194x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="194" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDO0_xfNEQ010qOdntM4Q32fmrfIZiEJMZS82_4bzj2FrYIrEgncNBuYHd0IAtrpdjma8zr1DMIci4NeBvcZHQ6vfkaTRlmwpHkxynIvEsDAcjuhr_lNCFQYUcwz3IB68YT8TdI-5VWS53vpMQHz_9F68gYVjn1H3STX3CvwgrO6jENsDPlTPXQbNXfDsw/s1600/Hansen-Waters-Break-LOW-RES-1-194x300.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><p><strong>Book:</strong> <i>Water’s Break</i></p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Sophia Hansen</p><p><b>Genre: </b>YA sci-fi</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>January 9, 2024</p><p><strong>What if fear itself is the deadliest undercurrent of all? </strong></p><p>Nica would do anything to avoid the hassles of her sister’s bonding ceremony—the wrap fittings, hairstyles, and braided fire coral—but she never imagined that the waters covering her planet would be broken. As the heavens rained fire and stone, mountains erupted from the sea and dry ground was birthed on the Deep, dividing the water—and the Olomi people—for the first time in their history.</p><p>In the wake of her world’s violent re-formation, Nica’s family is shattered. When the rookie Guardian leaves the safety of the Deep to find her sister, she is abducted by strange landwalkers who possess strength and technology beyond her imagination. Nica realizes that the disaster from above was by their design—a calculated plan to terraform the water planet and conquer her people. All Nica wants to do is find her sister and swim home to safety, but with the landwalkers closing in, escape may not be possible. And if Nica can’t save herself, how can she hope to save her sister—or her people?</p> Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3NwWagB" target="_blank">here</a> to get your copy!<br /><h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCMH3Izdtvk9Vsn0FZHyAf2lB91LVm9mVe6AJh0lkV3zh39zv93N_U7npFFZEKB-5Nrl106sfbBKXNkRwcCDU35CiomFqAeTWm-b0o9Ele5Mt9lunYcn0LIZ7U1995lvtFyJAqVJ9zWICZFwtOZH3zgz73kduvJO_N-XfrpA96LSsLgXPBiuF5XvPSysJ/s300/image-2-300x200.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCMH3Izdtvk9Vsn0FZHyAf2lB91LVm9mVe6AJh0lkV3zh39zv93N_U7npFFZEKB-5Nrl106sfbBKXNkRwcCDU35CiomFqAeTWm-b0o9Ele5Mt9lunYcn0LIZ7U1995lvtFyJAqVJ9zWICZFwtOZH3zgz73kduvJO_N-XfrpA96LSsLgXPBiuF5XvPSysJ/s1600/image-2-300x200.png" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><strong>Sophia L. Hansen</strong>, raised in the melded cultures of Korea and America, understands not fitting into society’s boxes. Born on a tiny island in Alaska, then growing up in New York City and Boston, she now resides in the Southeast, writing and editing between fresh(ish) cups of coffee and slices of crisp bacon. She embraces life with her husband, their adulting children, and her new grandson, but her favorites are Jesus, family, coffee, and dark chocolate, mostly in that order.</p><h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Author Interview with Sophia</span></h1><br /><b>Q:</b> What was the inspiration behind this novel?<br /><br /><b>Sophia:</b> My first what-if was “What if someone fell into a river, was too surprised to fight drowning, and discovered they could breathe?” That set off a quest to back-engineer the story – figuring out what would lead to this.<div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How long did it take you to write this novel?<br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>I started this story as a NaNoWriMo project in 2016, and finished its first, full, self-edit in 2020.</div><div> <br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What was the most surprising thing you discovered while researching and writing this novel?<br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>Denticles! These epidermal teeth (think shark skin) were such a cool thing to discover that I had to write them into the story. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Do any of the novel’s characters hold a special place in your heart?<br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>Ugh. Don’t all of them for any author? I’m pretty empathetic by nature, and a role-playing gamer if I have the chance, so I pour myself into each of my characters, imagining what brought them to that state and what I might do in the same situation.</div><div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Do you have a favorite quote from this novel? <br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>This is one of my favorites:<br /><br /> “Should we be taking risks like that?”<br /><br />“Not if we want to survive,” he shrugged. “But if we intend to live, we don’t have the luxury of playing it safe.</div><div> <br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you hope readers take away from this novel?<br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>That we should not allow ourselves to be defined by the opinions of others or our circumstances. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>If the novel was made into a movie, who would like you to see play the main characters?<br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>Wunmi Mosaku most closely resembles Nica. I based Nica’s best friend, Pescha, on Dichen Lachman. And Morris Chestnut most closely resembles Girac, Nica’s lovc interest.</div><div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know? <br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>Since this is my debut novel, not a lot of people know much about me. One cool fact is that I was born in Sitka, a tiny island in Alaska’s panhandle that had just 12 miles of highway.</div><div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>In what setting do you enjoy writing the most?<br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>I enjoy writing in my office – two big monitors and a good bit of desk space. But I love the fact that I can bring my laptop anywhere. So as long as I can sit and ignore the world around me, I can get some writing done.</div><div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What are you reading now? <br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>I’m about to break into <i>Lumen</i>, JJ Fischer’s highly anticipated and newly released follow up to <i>Calor</i>.</div><div> <br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How many bookshelves are in your home? <br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>Not enough! We moved this summer, and all my books are still in boxes!!!</div><div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Who is an author you would recommend to anyone and everyone?<br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>I love Enclave authors because they’ve made it past a pretty grueling submissions process. Sharon Hinck and Cathy McCrumb are beautiful writers, and I love Lindsay Franklin’s Story Peddler series. And Kerry Nietz is an amazing SciFi author.</div><div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you like to do when you aren't writing? <br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b>Read, cook, spend time with my adult kids and my grandson.</div><div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Where can readers find out more about you and your novel? <br /><br /><b>Sophia: </b><a href="https://watersbreak.com/">https://watersbreak.com/</a> is all about my debut novel, and <a href="https://www.sophialhansen.com/">https://www.sophialhansen.com/</a> points you to all my interests.<br /><h1><span><hr /></span><span underline="">More from Sophia</span></h1><p><em>Once upon a time, there was a mom.<br />A mom with many children.<br />She was a very busy mom.<br />One day the pastor’s wife asked her to write something for the Christmas program.<br />“Why would you ask me?” she replied. “I’m just a mom.”<br />“Because you love words,” was the quiet answer.<br />When the mom heard this, she realized it was true. And so, she began to write.</em></p><p><em>The Beginning</em></p><p><em>~</em></p><p>Stories don’t grow in a vacuum. Neither do they flourish in a pressure cooker. Our ideas are like seeds; full of potential but needing time and space to germinate. My season of writing started after more than a decade of birthing, raising, and educating my children. We had five at the time and I was full up. There was little space in church activities for attached moms whose children didn’t nursery well, and I spent more of my Sunday mornings in the playground rather than the pews. Then, finally, a friend invited me to a study in her home, and all children were welcome.</p><p>As my soul feasted on the fellowship, Bible study, and sharing, I felt like a child sitting down to a holiday meal. I’d been so busy taking care of others that I didn’t remember what it was like to have an oxygen mask for myself. It had been far too long since my spiritual self had been nourished. Out of that beautiful season the seeds of my words, long dormant, began to sprout, including my what ifs about what would become the world of <em>Water’s Break</em>.</p><p><em>Water’s Break</em> dives into Nica’s world, a water-covered planet inhabited by amphibian people. When disaster strikes, landmasses rise from the seabed, separating the water and its people for the first time in their history. Nica’s family is devastated: her father is gravely injured, her sister is missing, and her mother, grief-stricken. Nica, a rookie Guardian, is determined to find her sister and bring her home, even if it means she must venture out of the Deep. But no one knows what lies in wait abovewater.</p><p>I hope your hearts are encouraged as you join Nica’s fight to survive in a sea of oppression. And when survival is not enough, will she risk everything to choose life?</p><h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Blog Stops</span></h1><br /><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/">Texas Book-aholic</a>, January 30<br /><br /><a href="http://exploringthewrittenword.com/">Exploring the Written Word</a>, January 31<br /><br /><a href="http://www.carolkeen.blogspot.com/">Blogging With Carol</a>, February 1<br /><br /><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/">Artistic Nobody</a>, February 2 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</a>, February 3<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/">Locks, Hooks and Books</a>, February 4<br /><br /><a href="https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/">Guild Master</a>, February 5 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://www.beccahope.com/">Becca Hope: Book Obsessed</a>, February 5<br /><br /><a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</a>, February 6<br /><br /><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/">Beauty in the Binding</a>, February 7 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews">Tell Tale Book Reviews</a>, February 8<br /><br /><a href="https://www.wishfulendings.com/">Wishful Endings</a>, February 9<br /><br /><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</a>, February 10<br /><br /><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</a>, February 11 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theloftypages.wordpress.com/">The Lofty Pages</a>, February 11<br /><br /><a href="http://www.simpleharvestreads.com/">Simple Harvest Reads</a>, February 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)<h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWi-rLNylUGzMAI_TD6QV2eP-WK2BrIQZUtk5v7KcbhOqzu4wyUHAa45togb39LTAdtV2ltcf2EKYHSqAQ7YKtMwQI6MMz2AwH2R9B7U577bCFqEMnFwPjvjJ-rky2eewc99IlZa9GG_WQ0Dzg0jFYStsuxSJSOINjkeg7u7rd9rrb7yqUQJ2-C8da9tH/s475/Gift%20Bag.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="475" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWi-rLNylUGzMAI_TD6QV2eP-WK2BrIQZUtk5v7KcbhOqzu4wyUHAa45togb39LTAdtV2ltcf2EKYHSqAQ7YKtMwQI6MMz2AwH2R9B7U577bCFqEMnFwPjvjJ-rky2eewc99IlZa9GG_WQ0Dzg0jFYStsuxSJSOINjkeg7u7rd9rrb7yqUQJ2-C8da9tH/s320/Gift%20Bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Sophia is giving away the grand prize package of a signed hardcover with swag (bookmark, stickers, character cards)!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.<br /><br />Link for giveaway: <a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/29b05/water-s-break-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/29b05/water-s-break-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-50422407466028268332024-02-06T02:00:00.054-05:002024-02-06T02:00:00.249-05:00Author Interview: Winds of Ruach by D.M. Griffin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg001fZ8MDug0UA7AwUVPzTxBCQO_9-GePUC7xTAAWHiYygzKWdlDRpTkBVrz_JPA71NveIeU3qhes3j3pHGOjdY_5IRnAZq6LUO3DQndMomLgwn3VkXZZcoJPZ9-vTzhp8DnKDUj_m3lKGwLkVKAijBvbmGSA71wDElk2bSs_zNXAn3deQ4AFI5M5mlH6L/s851/winds-of-Rauch.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg001fZ8MDug0UA7AwUVPzTxBCQO_9-GePUC7xTAAWHiYygzKWdlDRpTkBVrz_JPA71NveIeU3qhes3j3pHGOjdY_5IRnAZq6LUO3DQndMomLgwn3VkXZZcoJPZ9-vTzhp8DnKDUj_m3lKGwLkVKAijBvbmGSA71wDElk2bSs_zNXAn3deQ4AFI5M5mlH6L/w640-h236/winds-of-Rauch.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKpnQCh3elgkE56UnjyiKoOEGEoWff1VqwXgY11WKfAgUzm7Y2Ajfdo8QnrreZnifwgRFUNsXE66VTflA3ycqVTjb87MM9-f2HOUneNPS3gTMygTube8xSlRn5MYty_sqJIIw2w-nJMfP91FqTp2L5rO8JQr579NK0EVDK-d6VKAOoV8-o0_DXTtY2K0v/s300/WOR-Cover-188x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="188" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKpnQCh3elgkE56UnjyiKoOEGEoWff1VqwXgY11WKfAgUzm7Y2Ajfdo8QnrreZnifwgRFUNsXE66VTflA3ycqVTjb87MM9-f2HOUneNPS3gTMygTube8xSlRn5MYty_sqJIIw2w-nJMfP91FqTp2L5rO8JQr579NK0EVDK-d6VKAOoV8-o0_DXTtY2K0v/s1600/WOR-Cover-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><p><strong>Book: </strong><i>Winds of Ruach</i></p><p><strong>Author: </strong>D.M. Griffin</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Biblical Fiction</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>October 18, 2022</p><p>Winds of Ruach is a compilation of five novellas fictionally traversing a period in Israel’s history that spans three hundred years. God used the prophets to speak to His people during a tumultuous time when faith was challenged and spiritual discipline was necessary. Five prophets lived out the message of God in a way that girded their faith and inspired those who truly listened to God’s voice. Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Obadiah, and Malachi were God’s chosen spokesmen.</p><p>Book One: Jonah felt he had every right to be angry when tragedy struck his household. He would soon learn that anger was a barrier to a right relationship with God no matter how justified the source of that anger. What happens when Jonah realizes that his deep-seated anger might cost him everything? Will he learn to embrace his forgiving God?</p><p>Book Two: Nahum was a victim of God’s wrath as it fell on the land of rebellious Israel. Intimidated for the majority of his life with little memory about his origin, Nahum struggles to trust God for vindication. Grappling to understand why everything keeps going wrong, will Nahum surrender to the only One who can truly defend him?</p><p>Book Three: As a child, Habakkuk’s faith was pure and unadulterated. As a priest serving in the Temple, however, Habakkuk realizes that something is keeping him from experiencing the fullness of that faith. He doesn’t truly trust God’s heart toward him. Will he learn to be brave despite the circumstances that threaten the very existence of the Temple?</p><p>Book Four: Obadiah lived in two worlds while feeling as if he spiritually belonged to one. Born to an Edomite father and Jewish mother, he was constantly at war with his brother. How long would it take for Obadiah to learn that the Lord was with him in the battle? Even if he lost it all, would having God be enough?</p><p>Book Five: Malachi wrestles with what he knows to be true about God and how his life is unfolding in contrast to that knowledge. What does it mean to worship with a pure heart, not with ulterior motives? As God has the final say with His people, will they listen and faithfully wait for the promised future of redemption?</p><p>Explore the themes woven into the books of the minor prophets through these fictional journeys that reveal how mighty the Winds of Ruach (Spirit) truly are as they blow across history into today.</p> Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3RvbrAN”">here</a> to get your copy!<br /><h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCzwDDwjs0LW62Ja6XYjoZVPaw-Uw7-FR9fh80EUDvIaE4jO8TXZPnPkAROwckdcFhqzkCdFDmTVMlqpQOT2H0dJuIrQuk0IyOa7FMND3jOR9F637AVI-6GB3AOCD0oKzYEbModO3xaVwm7-zyarrsSbei85sQ-1Ek7pL5zDXh0PeiihQUPwJWm6bNv3i/s300/Author-Picture-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCzwDDwjs0LW62Ja6XYjoZVPaw-Uw7-FR9fh80EUDvIaE4jO8TXZPnPkAROwckdcFhqzkCdFDmTVMlqpQOT2H0dJuIrQuk0IyOa7FMND3jOR9F637AVI-6GB3AOCD0oKzYEbModO3xaVwm7-zyarrsSbei85sQ-1Ek7pL5zDXh0PeiihQUPwJWm6bNv3i/s1600/Author-Picture-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><strong>D.M. Griffin</strong> currently resides in Northern California with her husband. They met in middle school a few days after she was transplanted to the West Coast at the tender age of twelve. She has three adult children who have been an endless source of delight and inspiration. She also has a precious new grandchild who brings her joy.</p><p>As a native New Hampshire girl, she fondly remembers spending her summers there as a child. Thick accents, small towns, and fascinating weather stirred the imagination of her young heart. She has always had a fondness for stories thanks to her imaginative mother who would make up wild, adventurous tales to tell her while tucking her into bed as a child.</p><p>She truly believes that a book that sits on a shelf unread is like a planted seed that never blossoms. Nothing delights her more than sharing a story.</p><h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Author Interview with D.M.</span></h1><br /><b>Q:</b> How long did it take you to write this novel?<br /><br /><b>D.M.:</b> I wrote this novel in three months. It was quite unexpected since the inspiration came when I was in the middle of writing a twelve-book series on the disciples. At first, I was going to dismiss it for a later time, but the ideas would not let go, so I accepted the diversion and wrote <i>Winds of Ruach</i>.<div><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Do you have a favorite quote from this novel?<br /><br /><b>D.M.: </b>A favorite quote from the novel: <i>His people, God’s chosen nation, were so similar to this tarnished vessel of praise. Layer upon layer of spiritual tarnish had accumulated over the years until the people of Judah and Israel were hardly recognizable as instruments of the Lord anymore. What would it take to polish away the defiling substance of their sin? Was the hand of God as weary and achy as Habakkuk’s were now? No matter how much he polished and refined them, God’s people did not reveal a purity worthy of Him. Placing the trumpet to his lips, Habakkuk blew a note. At least it still played. The fact that it was capable of making music lit the spark of hope inside of him. God always left a remnant, a faithful people who would praise Him even though the nation itself was tarnished.</i><br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>What do you hope readers take away from this novel?<br /><br /><b>D.M.: </b>I hope that readers are inspired by <i>Winds of Ruach</i> to trust heartily in the sovereignty of God even when nations are at war with one another. I also hope that readers take away a new appreciation for the old prophets and the messages they brought. So much of it applies to our lives today as much as it did back then. <br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>How many bookshelves are in your home?<br /><br /><b>D.M.: </b>There are three bookshelves in my home. One is dedicated to the books I have written. The other two are books I have read. However, I mostly read on my Kindle now because my library is just too big. And I like to take all my novels with me when I travel.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: </b>Where can readers find out more about you and your novel?<br /><br /><b>D.M.: </b>Readers can find out more about me and my other novels at <a href="http://devotedsteps.com">http://devotedsteps.com</a> I have a daily prayer section, book reviews, devotionals, and more on my website. <h1><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>More from D.M.</span></h1><p>I am a creature of habit who thrives on predictability. That being said, <i>Winds of Ruach</i> fell outside my comfort zone. If you have ever heard the phrase – if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans – you get the idea. I was deep in the throes of researching and writing a twelve-book series on the disciples of Jesus. My schedule was set. The routine was fixed. I had spent two years dedicated to The Follower Series. In between writing the first draft of book seven and editing book one, I was divinely halted. I didn’t exactly hit a block, so to speak. Instead, I was inspirationally diverted. It frustrated me for a short time.</p><p>Looking back on it now, I realize it was a blessing in disguise. At the time, my daily bible reading took me through the book of Jonah. Jonah 4:4 snagged my attention like a burr clinging to a pant leg. “Is it right for you to be angry?” That single phrase snared my heart with a compulsion to self-reflect. That meditation took me to places I had not been before. I followed the thread of anger woven throughout my life. Not the anger that manifests itself in hot, fiery outbursts but the hidden, silent anger that can turn into deadly pride or unrecognizable prejudice.</p><p>Anger wears many disguises. Some of those are loneliness and grief. I began wondering what might have happened in Jonah’s life to make him, a man of God, so angry that he would directly and blatantly disobey the Lord. The first short story was the beginning of a five-month diversion in my predetermined writing schedule.</p><p>I was inspired by other verses as I walked the landscape of Scripture through the books of the minor prophets.</p><p>With Nahum, I pondered how tragedy affects the trajectory of a life. With Habakkuk, I explored the difference between authentic worship and disingenuous faith. Obadiah is a short and sweet book of the bible, but it packs a punch. The theme of the resulting short story is about claiming one’s true identity as a child of God. Finally, Malachi wove the final thread into the fabric of this anthology which is ultimately about the Spirit of God moving through history to accomplish His will and purpose. Malachi is a story about knowing when to remain silent and when to ask questions of God. As I wrote Winds of Ruach, I thought about the importance of destiny and promise.</p><p>Some of my early readers asked me which was my favorite prophet. Honestly, the only way I could answer that question is to say that it is whichever story I am reading at the time. I was greatly blessed while writing Winds of Ruach, drawing out biblical themes I had never noticed before. These five prophets are near and dear to my heart. Truly, the imagination is a gift from God. And yes, I did go back to the ‘routine’ in writing. It took three and half years (half a year over my schedule) but the series I was working on prior to Winds of Ruach is now complete. God is good even in the distractions.</p><h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Blog Stops</span></h1><br /><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/">Fiction Book Lover</a>, January 31 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://lotsofhelpers.com/">Lots of Helpers</a>, January 31<br /><br /><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</a>, February 1<br /><br /><a href="https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/">Guild Master</a>, February 2 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/">Texas Book-aholic</a>, February 3<br /><br /><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/">Artistic Nobody</a>, February 4 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/">Locks, Hooks and Books</a>, February 5<br /><br /><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/">Beauty in the Binding</a>, February 6 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://abbasprayerwarriorprincess.com/blog/">Abba’s Warrior Princess</a>, February 7<br /><br /><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/">A Reader’s Brain</a>, February 8 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mary.a.hake">Mary Hake</a>, February 8<br /><br /><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/">Cover Lover Book Review</a>, February 9<br /><br /><a href="http://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</a>, February 10<br /><br /><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</a>, February 11 (Author Interview)<br /><br /><a href="https://reneek-littlehomeschoolontheprairie.blogspot.com/">Little Homeschool on the Prairie</a>, February 12<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lightsinadarkworld.wordpress.com/">Lights in a Dark World</a>, February 13<h1 center=""><span underline=""><span><hr /></span>Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YbL0PA0bhRHhWXyYG1yKAEWLwEiEIjlN4FZhLPZtqCebZVrLvL8-OdoC-YYF2TCWOdww-kQE0AR-Q2uH27INSUn3VGZNtDaSDiBrz-HpQVEmPlUKzaq1lPVoyhIyn2xY17mpooyzCay2_AqXNa3RqIkleiI2JkZ5hGa_W2ceP3DFOTbRhEn6D2_Kodst/s940/Winds%20of%20Ruach%20Giveaway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YbL0PA0bhRHhWXyYG1yKAEWLwEiEIjlN4FZhLPZtqCebZVrLvL8-OdoC-YYF2TCWOdww-kQE0AR-Q2uH27INSUn3VGZNtDaSDiBrz-HpQVEmPlUKzaq1lPVoyhIyn2xY17mpooyzCay2_AqXNa3RqIkleiI2JkZ5hGa_W2ceP3DFOTbRhEn6D2_Kodst/s320/Winds%20of%20Ruach%20Giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, D.M. is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card & copy of book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p>Link for giveaway:<a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/29b07/winds-of-ruach-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/29b07/winds-of-ruach-celebration-tour-giveaway</a><br /><br /></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085924793466592060.post-20820695227011143032024-02-04T13:25:00.001-05:002024-02-12T18:56:37.668-05:00Epic Book Launch: A Storm of Doubts by JPC Allen<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnXC4NMl868Y934OsIFBs3SpJDYXB0viYh7kRiwbL0CNmZkXWXwPhp-a7Owo__QnL4zkx9IOrFuh2I5g1clSrq2uFo0zTRg4nK_phzZ1ad-vwzGPG0gHO3xDYJcP6WY237jTqYN7DOwCge_W95gVmrDshcfAkfOqSIcW81_yjgSYb8E19MOL8aYU_AoOE/s2550/Storm%20of%20Doubts.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnXC4NMl868Y934OsIFBs3SpJDYXB0viYh7kRiwbL0CNmZkXWXwPhp-a7Owo__QnL4zkx9IOrFuh2I5g1clSrq2uFo0zTRg4nK_phzZ1ad-vwzGPG0gHO3xDYJcP6WY237jTqYN7DOwCge_W95gVmrDshcfAkfOqSIcW81_yjgSYb8E19MOL8aYU_AoOE/s320/Storm%20of%20Doubts.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Book</span></b><br /><br />Book Title: <i>A Storm of Doubts</i><br /><br />Author Name: JPC Allen<br /><br />Genre: YA Cozy Mystery<br /><br />Release Date: March 1, 2024<br /><br />Her dad said nothing could hurt their relationship. But what if he isn’t her dad? <br /><br />Summer gets off to a rocky start for twenty-year-old Rae Riley when the ex-wife of family friend Jason Carlisle claims their youngest child isn’t his and Rae’s con man uncle Troy returns to Marlin County, Ohio. Rae is already at odds with her father, Sheriff Walter “Mal” Malinowski, over her desire to help people in trouble. When she extends that help to Troy and Jason’s ex-wife, Ashley, she and Mal clash even more. <br /><br />Then Ashley disappears, and Jason and his brother Rick are the main suspects. As Rae and her aunt Carrie, a private investigator hired to protect Jason’s kids, work to discover what really happened to Ashley, Rae wrestles with Troy’s insinuations that she may be calling the wrong Malinowski “Dad.”<br /><br /><span><hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Book Excerpt</span></b><br /><br />"How about a race to shore?"<br /><br /> As an answer, I dove off the platform.<br /><br /> Christ beat me, of course, and waited for me when I stood in the shallows.<br /><br /> "You can't hound us because we're in public." That was Rick Carlisle.<br /><br /> Chris and I turned to his voice.<br /><br /> Rick faced a man and woman near the concession stand, pure fury pulling his narrow, bearded face thinner.<br /><br /> "We're not hounding you." The man was tall with finely sculpted pecs and abs—so fine they looked inflated, as if he worked out for a hobby rather than worked hard for a living. His hair was cut so short it appeared painted on his skull. "Ashley wanted to see her kids. Public areas are the only places we can do that."<br /><br /> "Rick," Jason called, holding Sylvie as Alli and Richard towels into a canvas bag. "Let's just go." His voice sounded strained, like he was fighting a deep pain in his gut.<br /><br /> "We can't run every time they show up" Rick glared at the couple.<br /><br /> The woman—Ashley—stood huddled in a bright teal jacket as if the breeze blowing over the beach chilled her. She lifted her hand and waved, but I wasn't sure at whom.<br /><br /> "Looks like trouble," Chris whispered, and then he strode over to Jason.<div><br /><span><hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">All Excerpts</span></b><br /><br />Excerpt One: <a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/epic-book-launch-and-excerpt-a-storm-of-doubts-young-adult/">http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/epic-book-launch-and-excerpt-a-storm-of-doubts-young-adult/</a><br /><br />Excerpt Two: <a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-storm-of-doubts-by-jpc-allen-epic.html">https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-storm-of-doubts-by-jpc-allen-epic.html</a><br /><br />Excerpt Three: <a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/02/epic-book-launch-storm-of-doubts-by-jpc.html">https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/02/epic-book-launch-storm-of-doubts-by-jpc.html</a><br /><br />Excerpt Four: <a href="https://carolkeen.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-storm-of-doubts-epic-book-launch.html">https://carolkeen.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-storm-of-doubts-epic-book-launch.html</a><br /><br />Excerpt Five: <a href="https://storiesbygina.com/2024/02/12/a-storm-of-doubts-epic-book-launch-with-celebrate-lit-publicity/">https://storiesbygina.com/2024/02/12/a-storm-of-doubts-epic-book-launch-with-celebrate-lit-publicity/</a><br /><br />Excerpt Six: <a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/a-storm-of-doubts-epic-book-launch/">https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/a-storm-of-doubts-epic-book-launch/</a><br /><br />Excerpt Seven: <a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-storm-of-doubts.html">https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-storm-of-doubts.html</a></div><div><span><hr /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author</span></b><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XtMILScY0x-gQQAtF6Fk0eb80sJr04KGWBUo77WK7zf_7p8K_4X6Cv240AQH18xdtef4Od6hv-UVqwKPDaLfR9DuH1-clyA8spq3wdGorvMusTzqLP44n4CI6MhTYb2Pw35vxVJmru3Ui5Ybxb_zT_Zkk_g5F3PO7PIDEI6AKix2IE5SSilQqL0G3EuU/s5050/6808%20original%202x3-4-6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5050" data-original-width="3367" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XtMILScY0x-gQQAtF6Fk0eb80sJr04KGWBUo77WK7zf_7p8K_4X6Cv240AQH18xdtef4Od6hv-UVqwKPDaLfR9DuH1-clyA8spq3wdGorvMusTzqLP44n4CI6MhTYb2Pw35vxVJmru3Ui5Ybxb_zT_Zkk_g5F3PO7PIDEI6AKix2IE5SSilQqL0G3EuU/s320/6808%20original%202x3-4-6.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">JPC Allen started her writing career in second grade with an homage to Scooby Doo. She’s been tracking down mysteries ever since. Her Christmas mystery “A Rose from the Ashes” was the first Rae Riley mystery and a Selah-finalist at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2020. Her first Rae Riley novel, A Shadow on the Snow, released in 2021. Online, she offer tips and prompts to ignite the creative spark in every kind of writer. She also leads workshops for tweens, teens and adults, encouraging them to discover the adventure of writing. Coming from a long line of Mountaineers, she’s a life-long Buckeye.</div></div>Jolenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789699263110968340noreply@blogger.com0