Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway - A wish for Home - By: Jo Ann Brown - Hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours

A Wish For Home JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Wish for Home by Jo Ann Brown, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: A Wish for Home

Series: Secrets of Bliss Valley #1

Author: Jo Ann Brown

Publisher: Love Inspired Trade

Release Date: March 30, 2021

Genre: Christian contemporary romance/Amish

Caught between who she is…and who she was.

Lauren Nolt hasn’t forgiven the Amish community of Lancaster County for shunning her parents. But returning as a successful Englischer working for large developers is just what she needs to get a promotion and give her parents the life they deserve. Coming face-to-face with her childhood bully, Amish widower Adam Hershberger, is the last thing she wants. Yet when her world’s shaken by a shocking discovery, Adam’s the only one she can confide in…

Adam’s never forgiven himself for the part he played in Lauren’s past, nor what drove him to do it. But as developers threaten his great-grossdawdi’s farm, she’s the only one who can help. And with his little girl determined to bring him and Lauren together at every turn, keeping his distance is impossible. Now they must learn to trust each other—even as their secret feelings grow stronger. But is love enough to bridge the gap between their very different worlds?

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Walmart | BookBub

The trade paperback version of A Wish for Home is available exclusively at your local Walmart or Walmart.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Publishers Weekly bestselling author Jo Ann Brown has created characters and stories for as long as she can remember. After college, serving as a US Army quartermaster officer, getting married and increasing her blessings with three children, she sold her first book in 1987. Since then, she has sold over one hundred titles. RT Book Reviews called her “a truly talented author.” She loves teaching and established the romance writing course at Brown University. She divides her time between Florida and Massachusetts with her husband of over forty years. Find out more about Jo Ann and her books at www.joannbrownbooks.com.

CONNECT WITH JO ANN: Website

MY THOUGHTS

A wish for home By: Jo Ann Brown is book 1 in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series. This is also the kick off of the Love Inspired Trade publishing. Love Inspired has now expanded to expanded paperback publishing. These fuller length novels will include romantic suspense, historical fiction, historical romance, Amish Fiction and Contemporary Women's Fiction. This is the first book that I have read by Jo Ann Brown.

In this story, we will meet Lauren Nolt. Lauren has been hurt by the Amish community when they shunned her parents. She has really tried to be successful so that she can give her parents the life she thinks they deserve. Part of her pain came from Adam Hershberger. He used to bully her when she was a child. However, now he is a widow. Adam has struggled with what he has done to Lauren in the past. Running into Lauren at this stage of his life has caused him to do some soul searching. He has had a difficult time also. He is now risking losing his family farm - he realizes that Lauren may be the only one that can help.

Sticking with the original love inspired, this book has a faith filled message woven into it. This story is one of forgiveness, grace and second chances. Adam's daughter will win over your heart.

I received a copy of this book through the Publisher and JustRead Publicity Tours -- all thoughts are my own.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Wish for Home!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 30, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 6, 2021. Winner 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.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway -Framed in Death Valley Author: Dana Mentink On tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Framed in Death Valley

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Suspense

Release date: March 1, 2021

Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, firefighter Beckett Duke gave up on everything—including his marriage to spirited Laney Holland. That is, until Laney’s life is threatened. Knowing the real killer is still at large, Beckett now has one purpose: protecting the woman he loves…and their unborn child. But sometimes an innocent man’s second chance comes with a deadly price.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Poisoned Pen Press. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle.

More from Dana

What’s up in Death Valley?

As the desert vistas opened up in front of Papa Bear and me, I felt an amazing sense of peace. Mind you, we were visiting Death Valley in the fall. No braving the 130 plus summer temperatures for this couple! I simply cannot describe to you the wonder I felt, as a suburbanite from a bustling, noisy Northern California city. There is never a moment at home when I see only open horizon, when I hear nothing but quiet breezes. I was, quite simply, stunned.

I had done some research about places to visit as potential series settings, and Death Valley was at the top of the list. The websites did not disappoint. Artist’s Palette, the gorgeous peak painted in a rainbow of rock colors? Check! Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, glistening with salt and not so lifeless as one might think…check! How about my favorite moment…jouncing along the precarious trail through Titus Canyon? Check! Would all of these incomparable locations be suitable for a six book suspense series? Roger that!

It’s ironic that I felt so welcomed by such an inhospitable locale. Visiting is one thing, but it takes a certain rugged breed of individuals to live in such a hostile climate. What fodder for fiction! I simply could not wait to get home and start creating the Duke family. And you know what? When this pandemic is over, Death Valley is the first place I want to return…in the fall, of course! Do you have a place near and dear to your heart? What’s first on your travel list after the world opens up again?

My Thoughts

Framed in Death Valley By: Dana Mentink is part of the Love Inspired Suspense series. I have read several of the author's books - and each one that I read becomes my favorite. If you have never read anything by this author - you need to stop what you are doing, and get one of her books. She is also hilarious. If you follow her on Facebook you will find fun videos, fun questions to answer and so much more.

This book is now my favorite Mentink book. I did not think that was possible after Cold Case Pursuit. Check my review: HERE. Framed in Death Valley is the first book in the Desert Justice series. I am very excited for the rest of the series. In this story, we see firefighter Beckett Duke and Laney Holland. Beckett has been framed for a murder that he did not commit. Because of this Beckett has given up on everything in his life. This also includes, Laney. However, then Laney is in danger and Beckett knows he needs to protect her. Just like all of Dana's books - this book will start off with so much action and will continue throughout the whole book. Right before Beckett is released from prison, he is jumped by fellow inmates. He is given a message. The brother of the woman that Beckett is accused of killing states that he will kill Beckett and Lacey. Beckett rushes back to the small town that Lacey lives and needs to protect her. Will they be able to dodge them?

Fun characters, action packed story line, great description of death valley. I cannot wait until the next book. I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program. All thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Hebrews 12 Endurance, March 16

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 16

Among the Reads, March 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 17

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

For the Love of Literature, March 18

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 18

Genesis 5020, March 18

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 19

Betti Mace, March 19

Lighthouse Academy, March 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 20

Bizwings Blog, March 20

Texas Book-aholic, March 21

Reviewingbooksplusmore, March 21

Inklings and notions, March 22

Remembrancy, March 22

Simple Harvest Reads, March 22 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

For Him and My Family, March 23

Blogging With Carol, March 23

Older & Smarter?, March 24

Fiction Book Lover, March 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

KarenSueHadley, March 24

She Lives To Read, March 25

deb’s Book Review, March 25

Through the Fire Blogs, March 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 26

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 27

Labor Not in Vain, March 27

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 28

Pause for Tales, March 28

Blossoms and Blessings, March 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 29

Daysong Reflections, March 29

Hallie Reads, March 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a $30 Amazon gift card, a set of six mini cactus candles, and a signed copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/1093d/framed-in-death-valley-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, March 26, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway: Awakening Author: Beckie Lindsey on tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Awakening

Author: Beckie Lindsey

Genre: YA fiction

Release date: September 2020

Every girl has a secret she hopes the light will never find—but the demons already have.

As four high school girls are faced with life-altering decisions, their new-found faith will be tested. Although warrior angels are assigned to guard and assist the unlikely friends, they must rely on their faith to withstand the evil Duke Astaroth and the beast’s demonic horde.

Now that their spiritual eyes are open to daily battles between unseen forces of good and evil, lives are at stake.

Lifelong friends Krystal and Bryce are finally an official couple. But can their love survive the greatest trial they’ve ever faced?
Since Mackenzie’s mentally ill mother was hospitalized, she secretly worries that her deepest nightmare may come true.
While best friends Tammi and Sadiecontinue healing from their abusive pasts, each wrestles with temptations that threaten to undermine their recovery.

Can beauty arise from the ashes of despair and loss?

Will the girls embrace who and whose they truly are?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Beckie Lindsey is an award-winning author of the Beauties from Ashesseries, poet, blogger, and the editor of Southern California Christian Voice, a division of One Christian Voice, a national news syndicating agency. She is a major coffeeholic and enjoys a good book with a cat on her lap. She also loves to hike and hang out with family and friends. Beckie and her husband, Scott have three adult children, two adorable cats, and live in California.

More from Beckie

Why I write YA and the BFA series

I believe a teenager still exists inside each of us.

We hear a familiar tune from our “glory days” and are instantly tapping our toes. Mentally, we’re back in high school —poofy bangs, scrunchie, neon off-the-shoulder sweatshirt — and all. Oh, wait. That’s me back in the ‘80s!

Ah, yes. There is something wonderfully awful about those coming-of-age years.

From the first kiss to the first breakup, there are memories we cherish and some we don’t care to ever revisit. Being a teen can be exciting, confusing, painful, joyous, or even all of those things at once!

No matter how different your teenage experience was from mine, one thing is true for us all: these years have an enormous impact on who we become as adults. We can all sympathize with the plight of puberty and the longing for independence and acceptance. Yeah, there’s still a teenager in all of us!

These are the reasons I write YA.

My hope is to use the power of storytelling to move past barriers and open hearts to accept how much God loves and desires a personal relationship with us.

At every age, we all need the grace and love of Jesus.

In the Beauties from Ashes (BFA) series, I write about relatable characters with difficult issues and traumatic pasts to enlighten readers about the unseen spiritual battle referred to in Scripture. Each character has a secret that has left them vulnerable to the battle in an invisible realm where demonic creatures fight to keep them chained to their pasts and angels of light work to free them.

The characters and their issues are complex, just like real life. In fact, some of the topics are often considered too taboo to talk about openly. But what is left in the dark, festers and grows. It is only in the light that we can be free. In the BFA series, readers experience the character’s quest for truth, love, grace, and freedom while hopefully finding the same for themselves.

My Thoughts

Awakening by Beckie Lindsey is a YA fiction book. This is book 4 in the beauties of ashes series. I have not read all the books in the series. This book covered a wide variety of topics that teens are faced with in this crazy world. The series has followed four teenagers –Krystal, Tammi, Sadie and Mackenzie.

Topics that are covered: suicide, abortion, depression, incest, teen pregnancy and other sensitive topics. This book can be heavy at times. This book does cover spiritual warfare. The author presents it in such a way that I felt she was writing right to me. While I am not a young adult, this book spoke volumes to me. The author has done a great job on weaving in God’s truth, His love and forgiveness.

I have not read anything by this author before. I wish I would have read this book 10 years ago when my oldest daughter was struggling with some of the subjects. This is highly recommended for any k-12 library or youth group reading material.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program. All thoughts are my own

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, March 20

Nancy E Wood, March 21

Blogging With Carol, March 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 22

Texas Book-aholic, March 23

Inklings and notions, March 24

Remebrancy, March 25

For Him and My Family, March 26

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 27

deb’s Book Review, March 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 29

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 30

Stories By Gina, March 31 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 31

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 1

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Beckie is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/1098a/awakening-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, March 22, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway - Dead Man’s Watch Author: Kay DiBianca On tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Dead Man’s Watch

Author: Kay DiBianca

Genre: Cozy mystery

Release date: September 2020

Half-sisters Kathryn Frasier and Cece Goldman stumble into another mystery in this second book in the Watch series. When a former acquaintance of Kathryn’s is accused of murder, she and Cece go on a mission to prove his innocence by finding the real killer. But things are never what they seem in this tangled web, and Kathryn’s spunky determination to solve the mystery pushes her closer and closer to a deadly climax.

Join the adventure as these two young women commit themselves to live up to the quote from the Jerusalem Talmud: “Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kay DiBianca is a bestselling author who loves to create literary puzzles for her readers to solve. Her characters come to life as they struggle to solve mysteries and create relationships amidst the ongoing themes of faith and family. Her first novel, The Watch on the Fencepost, won an Illumination Award for General Fiction and an Eric Hoffer Award for Mystery. The second book in the Watch series, Dead Man’s Watch, was released in September 2020.

Kay is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime. An avid runner, she can often be found at a nearby track, on the treadmill, or at a large park near her home. Her background in software development fuels her fascination with puzzles and mysteries, and her dedication to running helps supply the endurance and energy she needs to write about them!

Kay and her husband, Frank, live, run, and write in Memphis, Tennessee.

You can connect with Kay through her website at https://kaydibianca.com.

More from Kay

RUNNING AND WRITING

I’m a runner. Over the years I’ve discovered so many benefits from running, including improved health, good outlook, sense of well-being, and even a spark to creativity. That’s a lot to get from an investment in a pair of running shoes!

Of course, running is also a great metaphor for life. This one sport exemplifies so much that we experience in our lives: success, failure, injury, joy, and pain. So, it’s not surprising that although my books are not specifically about running, they contain running scenes.

I got the idea for my first mystery novel, The Watch on the Fencepost, while I was out running. The first chapter of that book introduces the main character, Kathryn Frasier, as she runs a five-miler while training for a marathon. Kathryn deals with the sorrow of her parents’ recent deaths by putting in hard miles on the trails around the fictional town of Bellevue. As I wrote that narrative, I could almost feel Kathryn’s effort, her struggle to maintain pace, the pain in the final sprint, and the satisfaction of finishing well.

The second book in the series, Dead Man’s Watch, takes place just a month or so after the first one. Kathryn continues her training by running a half-marathon race. Once more I run with her as she experiences the elation of being in the lead pack (I’ve never been there!), the exhaustion as the miles build up (I do know about this), and a dramatic event as she nears the finish.

I hope readers will see the analogy between the Kathryn’s experiences on the trails and her efforts to try to solve the mysteries in each story. I’m working on the third book in the series now. I haven’t written any running scenes yet, but I’m sure Kathryn’s going to insist on putting one in.

Dead Man’s Watch By: Kay DiBianca is a Cozy mystery. This is also book 2 in the Watch Series. I have not read the other book. I will be going back and reading book 1 since there are repeat characters. This being said, I was able to follow along. Half-sisters Kathryn Frasier and Cece Goldman find themselves involved in another mystery to solve when one of Kathryn's acquaintance is accused of murder the sisters set out to find the real killer.

My Thoughts

I will say that the author did a good job throwing me off track. I went back and re-read some of the clues when it came to an end since I did not guess right. The story takes a lot of twists and turns. Since this is a Cozy Mystery, you will not have to worry about foul language or overly gory descriptions.

The book contains well written characters, a fun storyline and is an enjoyable read. I look forward to more from this author.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.