About the Book

Book: Taming Julia

Author: Jodie Wolfe

Genre: Christian fiction

Release date: November 2011

In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery’s sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation’s ultimatum that he marry or leave, forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy.

Jules Walker strides into Drew’s life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle–more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she’s not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family, and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Donna

What I think you should know:

Taming Julia is Christian Historical Fiction by Jodie Wolfe. It is the first book in the Burrton Springs Brides Series. The book is set in 1875 Kansas and features Pastor Drew Montgomery and Julia “Jules” Walker who has married him by proxy before meeting him.

 

What I think about this book:

I adored Jules, while she was not your traditional 1800 heroine she was such a fun character to read about. She was more comfortable on the trail than she was tending house so it was hard for her to adjust not just to home life, but town life. While I hated it for her when she did not fit the expectations placed on her I enjoyed reading about learning to complete  household tasks and learning to use “The Beast”. I didn’t not like Drew as much and while I understand his frustration at having married someone who was nothing like he expected I do not feel like he gave Jules the opportunity to win his heart until too late in the book. I  I can’t wait to read more in this series

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers, and COMPEL Training. She’s been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania.

 

More from Jodie

I love mail-order bride stories, so I wondered what would happen if a pastor advertised for a genteel woman and the opposite showed up instead. I thought I could further complicate things by having the couple marry by proxy before she even arrives. Just that scenario alone made for a fun story to write.

 

My heroine, Jules Walker moved to Kansas from Texas to be a mail-order bride, even though she didn’t know what that was at the time. For most of her adult life, she’s helped her brother track outlaws in Texas as part of his job as a deputy US Marshal.

 

As part of the story, she has to come to terms with a traumatic event in her past. I won’t share more so I don’t spoil it for you, but I needed somewhere in Texas for this incident to take place. Because my husband’s aunt and uncle live in Texas, they were a wealth of resources when it came to accurately describing the area. One place in particular is called the Narrows and it’s situated close to them, but it’s on private property.

 

A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to travel and visit them. We received special permission to go on the private ranch and see the Narrows. It’s an unexpected area with sharp limestone rocks, and a deep cavern carved out by the Blanco River. Most times, it’s a sleepy waterway, but when the area has a flash flood, water rushes through the cavern and often to the top. When this happens, you can hear the water gushing from far away.

 

I so enjoyed being able to see the area first-hand. There are places where the water is shallow and others that are extremely deep pools. It has such a distinct beauty. At some point I hope to use this setting in another book.

 

That’s a small snapshot into how Taming Julia came to life. I hope you’ll enjoy the story of two unlikely people who are thrown together.

Blog Stops

A Baker’s Perspective, May 25 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 26

Simple Harvest Reads, May 27 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, May 28

deb’s Book Review, May 29

For the Love of Literature, May 30 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 1

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 2

Connie’s History Classroom, June 3

Inklings and notions, June 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 5

Blossoms and Blessings, June 6 (Author Interview)

Vicarious Living, June 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jodie is giving away the grand prize of an audio CD of 12 historical novels and novellas. Stories of chivalry, adventure and romance!!

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/1e36a/taming-julia-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Stranded on Sparrow

Author: Rachel Skatvold

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: April 26, 2022

If His eye is on the sparrow, where does that leave her?

Lia Diaz’s life has become an illusion. Fired from her perfect job, she’s living a lie to avoid censure from her critical family. So when Lia gets a call about her nana’s recent fall, she heads to Nana’s house to help out and regroup.

Things are looking up until she discovers that her childhood refuge, Nana’s home on Sparrow Island, has been condemned in the wake of Hurricane Arley. Time to regroup—again.

Getting stranded on Sparrow Island while visiting the house was not in those revised plans.

After “rescuing” his niece and a motley crew of animals, some might say Zachary Nolan has a hero complex. Zachary never thought that he would live life as a single dad. However, as a web designer he is able to spend lots of time with Violet, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. A call for help when Lia gets stranded there sends him rushing to the rescue. That hero complex thing again.

A hero and his niece offer new hope to Lia—maybe God’s eye is on Sparrow Island after all.

Read the next Sparrow Island novel in the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Donna

What I think you should know:

Stranded on Sparrow by Rachel Skatvold  is part of the Independence Island Series and the fourth book set on Sparrow. The series is contemporary Christian fiction set on a fictional Island chain off the coast of Georgia, USA. This book does give updates on characters in previous books so for fullest enjoyment I would not recommend that you start with this book.This book features new characters Lia Diaz and Zachary Nolan.

 

What you might need to know:

Kendall and Tyler from Her Merriweather Hero are in this book.

****SPOILER****

Tyler goes missing in action while serving overseas.

********

 

What I think about this book:

While Lia and Zachary were new characters this book still had enough of the previous characters that the book felt familiar. The story really tugged at my heart. Lia doesn’t feel like she lives up the expectations of her family.   Zach was such a wonderful, sweet character, I was rooting for him from the beginning.  I really enjoyed the interaction between the two characters. Violet and her barnyard full of animals were a wonderful addition to this story! I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Rachel Skatvold is a Christian author and stay-at-home mom from the Midwest. She enjoys writing Christian romance and devotionals. Rachel has published over a dozen novels, including books in the Hart Ranch Series, set in the Montana wilderness and the Ladies of Ardena Series, set in medieval times. She is also a contributing author in the Whispers in Wyoming and Brides of Pelican Rapids Series. Other than writing, some of her hobbies include singing, reading and camping in the great outdoors with her husband and two young sons. You can find more information about Rachel and her books on her website: www.rachelskatvold.com.

 

More from Rachel

When I first saw the beautiful purple shade of the cover for Stranded on Sparrow, I knew I wanted to dedicate the book to my older sister, Jenny. Purple is her favorite color and like the main character in my book, Jenny is a talented photographer. She has taken most of my author photos and also our family photos every year. She has a good eye for choosing the right lighting and pose to perfectly complement the people she’s photographing. When my youngest son was a toddler, no professional photographer could persuade him to smile for a picture, except Jenny.

Besides her photography, Jenny was a positive role model for me growing up. She taught me how to be independent, comfortable in my own skin, and willing to try new things. She was also the person who taught me how to do my makeup. Similar to Lia in my book, Jenny’s adventurous and spunky personality makes her a fun person to be with. Through funny movie quotes, inside jokes between us and much more, she always manages to make me laugh when we are together. I am blessed to have a big sister like her.

This book is also inspired by a verse from Mathew 10:29-31. The verse says, “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

There is a song my mom used to sing at church when I was a child that still encourages me called, “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” It is comforting to know our Heavenly Father takes such good care of His creation and cares even more for us. Things will go wrong in life but we can have peace knowing God is in control and never abandons His children.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, May 27 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 27

Texas Book-aholic, May 28

Inklings and notions, May 29

lakesidelivingsite, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 30

deb’s Book Review, May 31

Aryn the Libraryan, June 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 3

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 4

Miriam Jacob, June 4

Blossoms and Blessings, June 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 6

She Lives To Read, June 7

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, June 7

Blogging With Carol, June 8

Sylvan Musings, June 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a 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/1e374/stranded-on-sparrow-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: All That the Locusts Have Eaten: God’s Redemption Through Loss and Heartache

Author: Chuck Carr

Genre: Narrative Nonfiction, Christian Inspirational

Release date: August 22, 2020

Are you suffering from loss? Confused? Do you feel like the world is set against you? Inspiring, this dynamic narrative non-fiction read tells the true story of how one man journeyed from the pit of despair to the purpose filled life God intended him to live. Mingled with poetry, scripture, and literary allegories, this artistically crafted masterpiece is sure to breathe life into even those in the deepest struggles.

Chuck Carr was raised on a farm by Christian parents and attended church each Sunday. Right after graduation, he married his college sweetheart and lived a life of fulfilled dreams.

Until it all fell apart.

In the true story of All That the Locusts Have Eaten, Chuck recounts how tragedy after tragedy struck his life, nearly destroying him. Depressed, desolate, and devastated, Chuck leaned into his faith in God to find answers.

Interwoven in this raw and personal account, Chuck shares intimate journal thoughts and asks hard-hitting questions designed to make the reader think. In a hero’s journey applicable to us all, he reveals how he found restoration after years of heartbreak, and how God put his life back together.

All That the Locusts Have Eaten will encourage readers who have suffered any type of loss. If you have struggled with overwhelming difficulties, you are not alone. Like Chuck, you, too, can discover hope for the future once again.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

As a former youth pastor, Chuck Carr has influenced hundreds of people throughout his life. Author of The Convergence, Navigating Grief, All That the Locusts Have Eaten, and Wonders In The Deep, he desires to help others live effectively despite hardships, as his testimony proves that sufferings can be changed into blessings. Losing a spouse in 2008, he strives to help those hurting from the same pain. While working on the family dairy farm, a life altering accident in 2018 left him with a traumatic brain injury, and his vision and life goal has been refocused to help others heal from devastating traumas. Now remarried to a woman of shared life goals, he has chosen to live with purpose despite his injuries, being an inspiration to others. He currently continues writing books and blogging and can be found at www.Chuck-Carr.com.

 

More from Chuck

Sometimes life hits you unexpected, and when it doesn’t let up, you might feel a bit bewildered. That was me, when time after time I kept getting up, only to get knocked right back down again. I couldn’t understand why bad things kept happening to me, a good person, a good man. I was doing things the right way, so I thought. I married a God-fearing woman. I was using my life for God’s purpose. I had devoted my life to teaching the next generation as a youth pastor. Everything should have been smooth and easy, right? Amid a dark storm, nothing seemed easy. Why hardship hit so relentlessly was a mystery to me. Things didn’t seem fair. And when nothing made sense, I was reeling, searching, and found myself on the backside of the wilderness screaming to a God who only seemed to have a deaf ear turned my way. Sound familiar? In this book, I take you on a great journey to find answers when most answers seemed bleak, if not non-existent. Take God’s hand with me, he’s there, I promise. I’ll show you how his voice is so clear and distinct, even when we have trouble seeing which way is up. All That the Locusts Have Eaten is a testament to how God can bring us through, and that, in unexpected ways.

Mindy’s Q&A with Chuck

What does success as an author look like to you?

In my writing journey, I have found that success is a never-ending reach for something just beyond the obtainable.  I suppose that success comes in various forms to various people, but what I have found, is that just when one is on the cusp of taking hold of it, the form of success changes.  Goals that I have had are a great example of this.  A shifting sand, a moving target, one day’s huge achievement is only a momentary joy in the tomorrow.  Success is always like that.  It is a vapor in the wind.

One thing that has remained constant though, and that is the measurable effect my writing has on other people.  It is a much more satisfying measuring stick to gauge my writing with.  Instead of looking at Amazon reviews, sales data, and other fleeting pursuits or accolades, I’ve tried to look into the hearts and souls of the reader¾the real reason I write¾and make my words count on a personal level.  When I hear from real people that what I write matters, when I have inspired someone else to keep going in the dead of night, when one more person has the courage to turn the page of life and take another step¾that is how I define success.  In my estimation, writing is an incredibly satisfying profession, one that my passion is pouring into.

Which chapter was the most difficult to write?

That’s easy¾the chapter on divorce.  Simply put, divorce is a stigma that is very difficult to tip-toe around in the Christian community.  A difficult and hot topic, people are very emotionally charged to it, or already have negative and preconceived connotations about it, or will taint your character, image, and name with the stereotypes of it if you’ve gone through one.  It’s a very touchy subject to handle.  It was hard for me.  Sometimes, it’s sad, because people make judgments about you without knowing your situation.  In the days following divorce, you feel like a public outcast, or a misfit, or an undesirable¾making your situation worse.  But the truth, sometimes¾as spoke to me by a good friend of mine¾is that things are not always like that.  There are crazy situations out there, and sometimes there are very valid reasons for Christians to go through divorce.  We shouldn’t be quick to judge.  I hope that this book can help take the edge off the judgment that some of us have felt having gone through it.

What inspired this book?

Life can be hard.  I know mine has not been easy.  But the truth of the matter is that the Lord is with us through thick and thin, no matter what we face, and that he is never going to leave us.  Through the hard trials of water and the intense furnace of fire¾even when I couldn’t see him¾the Lord was standing right there with me.  When the Lord brought me through, and I stood on the other side of these hardships, I stood with so much good stuff in my heart and head that I felt the world needed to know as well.  I wanted to share the things that I had learned, the things I stood on, and the things that made the difference to me.  All That the Locusts Have Eaten is not really a book about me.  I hope others can see that.  In the end, I hope that readers see that it is a book about them.  Internally, I hope it grips them.  I hope they read the words and hear their own spirit speaking.  I hope they hear their own voice calling in the night.  I hope as the pages turn they see the candlelight of hope start to grow inside their own soul and spirit.  That way, the same inspiration can be theirs as well.  My inspiration for this book is to transfer that hope to each reader, someone who needs the same anchor to latch hold of as I did

What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

I love to visualize things on a deep level.  Certainly, scripture is full of such illustrations.  To me, one of the most powerful verses of the Bible is the short and simple challenge of Psalm 34:8 which says: “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”  I love drinking deep of the good things of life.  Taking walks through the forest after a rain when the sun has crept back out.  Resting on a weathered dock in the flat calm of a shallow bay before the morning fog has lifted.  Watching lightning strike in a coming storm cloud.  I love to take the beauty of the world in, enjoy it, and wonder in its marvel.  Yet sometimes, we treat the Lord different.  How many of us know him but never enjoy him?  Hear of him but never talk to him?  To taste and see that the Lord is good is something that most never truly appreciate.  I assure you, they are missing out.  To taste, is to sample something that you will be yearning for more of.  And that is where he and I are—if others only knew.

What would you like your readers to get out of this book?

If we still breathe the breath of life, there is still hope.  No matter how bad and desperate things may look or seem, as long as air passes through our lungs and a heartbeat pumps in our chest, we still have the hope that God can do something significant in our lives.  He always is working.  I want readers to read the pages of this book and see the small candlelight of hope grow in their own life.  As they see what God did with me may they see a hope reflected in themselves.  Hope.  That’s what it’s all about.

Thank you, Chuck, for letting us get to know you together!

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, May 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 24

Simple Harvest Reads, May 25 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, May 26

For the Love of Literature, May 27 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 27

deb’s Book Review, May 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 29

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 30

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 31

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 1

Beauty in the Binding, June 2 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 3

Splashes of Joy, June 4

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, June 5 (Author Interview)

Miriam Jacob, June 5

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Chuck is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card & 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/1df1b/all-that-the-locusts-have-eaten-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: If You Really Knew Me

Author: Alison Cheah

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Release date: December, 2021

Tommy is glad of friendships which make him forget the situation at home. His father’s illness makes his behavior so unpredictable that the whole family must tip-toe around him for fear of becoming the butt of his anger.

Elise wishes her twin sister didn’t think being champion swimmers was an adequate goal for their lives. She has her own dreams to fulfil.

Carrie hides a secret, avoiding other students so nobody will ever find it out. But Tommy and Elise both look to Carrie to save them from their situations.

Until she disappears.

Tommy’s protective instinct kicks in, and Elise reassesses her priorities so she can help keep Carrie safe.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Alison Cheah worked at Youth for Christ for five years and volunteers with her church youth group. One of her favorite activities is preparing Bible Studies and seeking how to connect the stories of the Bible with her students’ own stories.

As a child she was always to be seen with her nose in a book, and nothing has changed. One of her favorite authors was Patricia St. John. Her characters are people you want to know, and you are rooting for them to overcome their problems, but for Alison, the added dimension was that each person discovers their answers in Jesus. She saw that the faith she had grown up with had applicability in real life.

Her prayer is that this story has the same result for you.

 

More from Alison

I spent five years working at Youth for Christ with middle school students like Tommy, Carrie, and Elise. They are not based on kids I met, but they are inspired by my experiences then.

My friend and mentor in youth ministry was Anna-Marie Valles who is also a character in Tommy, Carrie and Elise’s story helping them to make sense of some of the questions they have.

We don’t get to know her well in the book, but I had a chat with her recently about youth ministry and here is an extract from that conversation. I think you will enjoy getting to know her better.

 

Alison: In the story, Elise shares her problems with you. Do you find teens want to talk to an adult about their problems?

 

AMV: Kids are hungry to be able to unload their stories on people who are willing to listen. I remember in one club a student said that all day, adults were telling him what to do. But club was a space where people were asking him, “How are you feeling? “What are your thoughts on this?” He was shocked.

 

Alison: You were only eighteen when you started in youth ministry. After all these years, how do you stay current so kids still want to talk with you?

 

AMV: If you come to kids with a willingness to learn, you become relevant. Say to them, “Tell me what’s going on?” Don’t pretend you have all the answers. I find that has worked for me. “I don’t know your culture like you do. But I’m willing to see through your lens if you’re able to share that with me.”

Age is interesting. I always worried I would age out. At my application interview for seminary I said, “I always thought if I aged out of youth ministry, I’d be a chaplain.” And the professor called me out on that. You never age out because kids still need that safe place where someone is willing to listen.

 

Alison: The profits from this book will be used to send kids to camp. Why is this important to you?

 

AMV: Youth ministry is all relational. But trust can take a while to build. The beauty of camps is that you can create a bond in one week that could take two years without.

 

And at camp they hear the gospel presented in different ways by different speakers. Other people’s creativity and presentation may reach my students in a way that I haven’t been able to.

 

What saddens me is not everyone can go because camps are costly. My desire is that every student who wants to go will have the opportunity to do so.

 

For more of this conversation, see alisonrcheah.com

(Interview transcribed by https://otter.ai )

My prayer is that the story of Tommy, Carrie and Elise will be one of those different speakers Anna-Marie talked about, helping kids to begin their own relationship with Jesus.

 

Thank you.

Alison

Mindy’s Q&A with Alison

What does success as an author look like to you?

My goal as I write is to create stories that engage middle grade readers and at the same time show them that because Jesus loves them, living with him as the center of their lives makes complete sense and will bring the best of all possible outcomes. If I can help some readers to become lifelong followers of Jesus, I will be successful.

Which character did you connect to best in this book?

Tommy, who is mischievous and full of fun. He’s the sort of friend you’d want because you know he’ll always have your back. I love the way he stands up for his brother Mikey, and then takes on responsibility for Carrie, too. At the end he even begins to understand his own father. But it’s a heavy burden for him because when things go wrong, he blames himself. I’m glad that in the end he finds that God has his back.

Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?

It was a new challenge to write a boy character. I wanted to make sure I was giving him a truly masculine perspective.

Tommy’s relationship with his dad required special handling. At first, Dad was too abusive, and my editor pointed out that I couldn’t leave Tommy in an abusive relationship and not address the issue. I took some time to get to know his dad better and when I learned about his own strict upbringing and the chronic illness he suffered from, I understood why he treated Tommy and Mikey the way he did.

One of my favorite things about writing is that when I’m stuck, I pray for God to show me the way. It awes me when he gives me ideas to lead me out of the labyrinth I’ve written myself into.

Which author influenced you the most?

When I was a child, Patricia St. John was the leading name in children’s Christian fiction in England. I loved her books and still return to them. Her characters learn to love Jesus and discover that he has answers to the problems they are coping with.

Growing up in a Christian home, these books helped me move beyond Sunday School answers and showed me that knowing Jesus was not boring but gave me guidance for living in the real world.

If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?

Many years ago, England had a weekly radio program called Desert Island Discs. Each week, they interviewed a different celebrity and asked them to choose the ten music recordings they would want to have with them if they were marooned on a desert island. The final question was, And one book besides Shakespeare and the Bible? I suppose they considered that these were books that all English people at that time would have had on their shelves as a matter of course. So, I’m going to answer this question as though having the Bible with me was a given. But as my knowledge of Shakespeare is not as good as that of my predecessors, I will choose for my one volume The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. In between learning how to crack a coconut without losing all the life-giving water and constructing a shelter to keep off the worst of the tropical rainfall, I’ll spend hours becoming better acquainted with England’s greatest playwright.

Thank you, Alison, for letting us get to know you better!

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 14

Texas Book-aholic, May 15

Beauty in the Binding, May 16 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, May 16

For Him and My Family, May 17

Inklings and notions, May 18

Blossoms and Blessings, May 19 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, May 20

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 21

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 22

Simple Harvest Reads, May 23 (Author Interview)

Vicarious Living , May 23

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 25

Guild Master, May 26 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Alison is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a 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/1db4d/if-you-really-knew-me-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Knowing and Following

Author: Jeannine Bennett

Genre: Christian Nonfiction, Women’s Bible Study Format

Release date: December 12, 2021

What do you do when you realize God is love? Do you remain stuck in a life of bondage, or do you follow His ways to live a life of freedom?

Imagine how easy life would be if everything happened by chance simply to give each of us our heart’s desires. It sounds pretty amazing until you realize not all individuals have the same innocent aspirations as we might. Some individuals would inevitably rise to the top while others would fall to the bottom forever, stuck in the rut of life. Chaos would flourish. It actually sounds pretty familiar, doesn’t it?

In Knowing and Following: Living a Life of Freedom, the third and final book in the God’s Way series, Jeannine Bennett shares a better option: recognizing that we have a mighty God who does not do anything by chance. There is freedom in knowing that we do not have to wait around, hoping good things will happen for us. In this book, Jeannine shares more about our Creator to help you grow in your knowledge of Him and what He does. God is love, and freedom comes from knowing Him and following His ways.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Jeannine Bennett is wife to Hayden, mom to four children, and grandmother to eight grandchildren. Her children are Sandra, Brittany, Camryn, and Zachary. Her grandchildren are Colin, Lilyana, Cooper, Willow, Savannah, Winter, Hope, and Everest. She is the founder and CEO of Vision to Purpose, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business for Liberty University Online, and an executive coach for The Honor Foundation.

To those who know Jeannine, she is simply a woman who loves Jesus, is devoted to her family, and struggles with life’s challenges like the rest of us. She is not immune to bad hair days, weight gain, or sleepless nights. She loves learning and sharing her acquired knowledge to help others learn, too. Her favorite ice cream is a toss-up between butter pecan and mint chocolate chip. And although she has lived in Virginia for more than thirty years, she still calls a water fountain a bubbler – a term she grew up saying in her hometown of Racine, Wisconsin.

 

More from Jeannine

I wrote Knowing and Following: Living a Life of Freedom to close out the God’s Way Series. My intent was to share more about God our Creator, to help people grow in their knowledge of Him and what He does for them so that they can live a fulfilled life of freedom in following Him.

A pattern unfolded in the first two books in the series, Broken to Beautiful: Brokenness is Not the End of Your Story and Blessed and Transformed: Living the Life God Intended. In Broken to Beautiful, I shared my testimony of brokenness—lots of brokenness. I then purposefully conveyed the blessings that resulted when I finally embraced God.

The second book, Blessed and Transformed, further detailed those blessings in my life. It was exciting to realize that God does not have a one-and-done mindset regarding blessings. Instead, He continues to bless us beyond what we could ever imagine. I felt it was essential to testify that a relationship with God transforms us. Through our transformation we begin to appreciate just how loved we are by Him, and we start to live the life He intended for us.

Finally, in Knowing and Following, I focus on the freedom God gives us. We solidify our knowledge that the God of the universe is love. There is no one more intelligent, powerful, or present. His ways are beyond our ways. Yet, despite His greatness, He loves us and gives us the power to overcome the obstacles of this world that keep us stuck in a life of bondage. With spiritual perseverance, He helps us finish the race of our earthly life well. In knowing Him, we are drawn to our calling to live a meaningful life of service.

In following His ways, we begin to understand why it is better to embrace His will over ours, use good judgment, lift others up, and not concern ourselves with the fears of this world. Instead, we can choose to lead with humble hearts, connect with and care for others, and embrace the importance and power of forgiveness.

It is my absolute honor to share God’s Word with you in this final book of the series. I pray that you will be blessed by what you find.

In Christ,

Jeannine

Mindy’s Q&A with Jeannine

What does success as an author look like to you?

Given I write Christian Bible Studies for women, success to me is knowing that I have reached women with God’s Word. I write Christian Bible studies because I remember being broken until I found God. I experienced a lot of heartache from both the choices I made in my life and from the choices other people made for me. I want women to know that God loves us and has a plan for us. He can take our brokenness and make something good come from it. If I can help women understand that, then I have succeeded.

What inspired this book?

I am always inspired by God to write books. Some books I have had in my heart for years. I felt it essential to share that God is freedom with my readers. Given Knowing and Following: Living a Life of Freedom is the third and final book in the God’s Way series, I had to write it.

In the first book, Broken to Beautiful, I shared my testimony of brokenness—lots of brokenness. However, I could not leave anyone wondering how that brokenness changed me, so I purposefully conveyed the blessings that resulted when I embraced God.

The second book, Blessed and Transformed, further detailed blessings in my life. As every blessing transforms you, you begin to appreciate just how loved you are by God.

In Knowing and Following, I wanted people to see that God is freedom. In knowing Him, we are drawn to our calling to live a meaningful service life. In following His ways, we begin to understand why it is better to embrace His Will over ours, use good judgment, lift others up, and not concern ourselves with the fears of this world.

Ultimately, my thought was, what happens after you receive those blessings and are transformed? Praise be to God; you live a much freer life!

What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

My favorite bible verses, outside of John 3:16, is Matthew 5:14-16. My desire is to be a light with the words I write.

What would you like your readers to get out of this book?

I would like my readers to know that they can live a fulfilled life of freedom by following God.

What is your most well-loved and well-used house appliance?

Definitely, my Ninja coffee maker. I am not a big coffee drinker—only one cup of coffee

per day, but that little appliance is so fantastic. It has a separate water feature so I can boil water to make tea and hot chocolate without worrying that either of them will taste like coffee. I just love it!

Thank you, Jeannine, for letting us get to know you better!

Blog Stops

Guild Master, May 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 12

Inklings and notions, May 13

Texas Book-aholic, May 14

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 15 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 17

deb’s Book Review, May 18

Through the Fire Blogs, May 19 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 20

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 22

Simple Harvest Reads, May 23 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 24

Lights in a Dark World, May 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jeannine is giving away the grand prize of a $50 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/1db4c/knowing-and-following-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Corner Booth

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release date: March 17, 2015

A daring move forges the love of a lifetime

A rushed lunch and a bold move introduce Carlie to a stranger—one who hardly acknowledges her existence as he sits across from her, sharing his booth to save her a wait in a long line.
What began as a random encounter becomes a weekly date in which Carlie chatters about her life to a silent lunchmate. Much about him interests her–his slightly Euro fashion sense, his commitment to the work he does as he eats his lunch week after week, and his evident attention to the running monologue she shares between bites of meals that he inevitably pays for.
Dean gets to know the woman across from him–looks forward to their lunches each week, learns valuable lessons about himself—but when the cafe is threatened, and then when she doesn’t show up one day, he suspects their unusual friendship means more to him than he imagined.

Settle into the booth with Carlie and Dean and learn just how eloquent silence really is.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Donna

What I think you should know:

Corner Booth by Chautona Havig is a contemporary Christian Romance. It is set In Havig’s Rockland universe and will give you glimpses of some of her other characters. You can read this as a standalone.

 

What you might need to know:

Carlie stays in a mentally relationship for a portion of the book.

 

What I think about this book:

This is such a fascinating book! I always love Havig’s stories because you never know what unusual or completely ordinary circumstances she will take and turn into a book that you don’t want to put down. It is also a treat for me to read a book set in her Rockland universe because I know I will at least get surprise glimpses of “old friends”. In this story we meet Carlie and Dean and watch as they develop a friendship while Dean never said a word!   I got frustrated  with both main characters at times and wished that they would make better choices, but I love how things turned out.  For me one of the best parts of the book is when Dean says “ I realized that if I never saw you again , I..  I wouldn’t be okay with it”   I loved this book and will definitely continue reading more of Havig.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author of Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

 

More from Chautona

You know, originally, I had Dean as a guy who was too wrapped up in his own little world to care about anyone else—the stereotypical academic. I pictured him buried deep in original Biblical manuscripts, annoyed that anyone would dare to invade his study time.

But you know what? That’s the easy character.

When I went back to edit the book, I had this thought. What if Dean weren’t reclusive at all? What if he were kind of a know-it-all who couldn’t keep his thoughts to himself. Maybe a child prodigy who was used to people thinking him rather brilliant and looking for his insights.

Yeah… I could get into that.

There was just one small problem. I’d written the entire book without him talking much at all on those Wednesdays. Now what?

After much deliberation, even more prayer, and a bit of fudging, I came up with the solution. What if he just challenged himself for “one lunch?” Just one hour or so of not talking to prove to himself (and his peers) that he could do it.

How could he possibly know he’d set things up for months of wordless lunches—on his part? And what would a person learn in a situation like that?

I’ve never admitted this before, but I tested it a bit. At situations where I could, I forced myself to listen to people’s stories, their questions, their opinions. The hard part was not spending my listening time formulating my response (how rude anyway!). I really had to focus on exactly what they said, how their voice altered based on their emotions, and what others around us had to say to encourage (or not—too often not, I’ll admit).

I learned a lot with the experiment, and I’ll be honest. I still catch myself listening with an ear to how I’ll respond instead of really listening. No, I don’t expect to find some café romance for myself. My guy is amazing, and he’s probably the only person on the planet who could put up with me, so… I think I’ll keep him. But I do expect to keep learning how to really hear people. You know… kind of like Jesus did. Imagine that.

Blog Stops

Pause for Tales, May 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 9

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 10

Lots of Helpers, May 11

Miriam Jacob, May 11

Texas Book-aholic, May 12

By the Book, May 13

Inklings and notions, May 14

Spoken from the Heart, May 15

For Him and My Family, May 15

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 16

deb’s Book Review, May 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 18

Mary Hake, May 18

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 19

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 20

Blogging With Carol, May 21

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, May 21

Simple Harvest Reads, May 22 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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/1d735/corner-booth-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Light of Mine

Author: Allen Brokken

Narrator: Stacey Bradshaw

Genre: Middle grade Christian Fantasy

Release date: November 10, 2021

Darkness is spreading through Zoura. Beyond the borders of the heathlands, innocent animals are being turned into monsters, and good men into pawns of the Dark One. Father has vanished after joining the Mighty Mercenaries and mother has gone missing in search of him.

Alone on the farm, twelve-year-old Lauren and her brave little brothers, Aiden(9) and Ethan(5), must guard the Tower of Light that will guide both parents home. But when a hooded stranger is caught trespassing the farm, and a new bishop claims the church, confusion pervades their close-knit community. Will the children be able to recognize who is a threat to the Tower and who is there to help them protect it?

With little else but the aid of a trio of blessed pets, three holy weapons, and their growing faith, Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan find it is up to them to stop the agents of The Dark One from putting out the Light and dooming the heathlands to Darkness.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age appropriate way. He’s dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off to college he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media @allenbrokkenauthor, and through his blog https://www.allenbrokkenauthor.com.

 

More from Allen

When my kids were young there was really nothing better than getting out of my car at the end of a long day at work and having my three little kiddos run up to me and give hugs because Daddy’s Home! As a Father of three young children I was very concerned about the direction society was taking. I wasn’t sure that with how things were going that I had the knowledge or the skill to train them up in the way they should go, as the Bible directs.

Then in 2008 I took a new job that had me traveling four days a week. It was one of the hardest times of my life, the stress of a high pressure job, the loneliness of being on the road, and uncertainty of being a young parent really brought me to the end of myself. However, all of the travel gave me a lot of time to study the scriptures and learn from the writing of great bible teachers.

It was during this time that I began to write stories for my children. At first I brought my children’s stuffed animals to life for silly adventures. But then one day while we were putting together a play fort in our back yard I saw a sunrise pattern in the wood in the top of the tower. I thought:

 

“What if there was a Tower of Light shining God’s goodness over the children and their animals?”

 

“What if the children experienced the indwelling of the holy spirit in a real way like Sampson or David?”

 

“What if the full armor of God was physical armor they could use to defeat the darkness?”

 

As I shared my story with my children, they loved it.

 

I believe you and your children will love it too.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, May 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 3

Guild Master, May 4 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, May 5

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 6 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 6

Vicarious Living, May 7

Vicky Sluiter, May 8 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, May 8 (Spotlight)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 10

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 11

Artistic Nobody, May 12

Simple Harvest Reads, May 13

Blossoms and Blessings, May 14 (Author Interview)

Cats in the Cradle Blog, May 15

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Allen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 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/1d3be/light-of-mine-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Finding Love in Big Sky Montana

Author: Angela Ruth Strong

Genre: Sweet romance/western

Release date: September, 2016

Bright Star Ranch led him to her–but will he stay?

Josh Lake is forced to head home for the holidays after he’s suspended from his job in the city, but running into Paisley Sheridan could be exactly what he needed. Not only does she board him at her ranch in exchange for his advertising expertise, but spending the Christmas season with her in Big Sky, Montana, brings more joy than he’s felt in a long while. Is he willing to give up the lavish lifestyle he’s worked for in exchange for the gift of love?

The last thing Paisley wants for Christmas is to spend time with Josh Lake—the guy who broke her heart in high school—but until her bank loan goes through, she has to take all the free help she can get. Unfortunately, Josh seems to want back in her life again, and the town’s quirky coffee shop owners don’t help by hanging mistletoe at every opportunity. Will Paisley succeed in driving him away, or will she find the healing needed to have hope for a future together?

 

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Donna

What I think you should know:

Finding Love in The Big Montana Sky by Angela Ruth Strong is a Contemporary Sweet Romance. It is the second book in the Resort to Love series, however it can be read as a standalone. This book is set during Christmas, but I think that it is enjoyable anytime of the year!

 

What you might need to know:

****SPOILER*****

Paisley has diabetes

Paisley was  mentally abused by her father.

 

What I think about this book:

This is such a sweet story of how God can use all things for His good. Josh’s world is turned upside down when he loses his fiance and his job.  Paisley’s life didn’t turn out the way that she expected, but she is determined to make the best of her “new” chance.  I loved getting to read more about the Lake family. It was hard to see Josh from Paisley’s perspective , but it was a great reminder that  we don’t always know everything that we think that we do!  I really enjoyed this story and will definitely read more from this author.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Twelve years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky filmed on location in Montana and will air in spring of 2022. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.

 

More from Angela Ruth

Having my book made into a movie is a dream come true, and getting to be an extra on the set in Montana blew away all my expectations. There’s nothing like walking into a world you created and seeing your imaginary friends come to life.

 

I knew what was going on before anyone told me. I pointed around the set as I narrated: “They are going to hang that star on the barn. The horses are named Butch and Sundance. And that big red truck is going to break down because I WANT it to break down.”

 

I got it all right except for one thing. “Actually, Angela, the truck really did break down.” Oops.

 

Not only was I in on the inside jokes, but I kind of made them up. For example, during the “almost kissing” scene, Josh’s brother walks into the kitchen to look for ice cream. The actors got a good laugh afterwards whenever they were practicing the kissing scene because the actress would turn away with an “I’m going out for ice cream.”

 

I was only on location for one day, but it was the best day. I saw them film both kisses, the mentor scene, and we were extras in the cowboy ball. (I’m the one in the blue dress who signs up for the silent auction.)

 

However, my husband Jim was really bummed we couldn’t be there for the scene in the auto repair shop. He took his own coveralls just in case he could be an extra mechanic. We joked with the actress about it, and when we watched the final cut, we were surprised to see her call back into the shop to a “Jim.” I messaged her to ask if she did that on purpose, and she said she did. Such a sweet tribute.

 

On our last day, we ate breakfast at the Western Café (another film location) with the director, and we visited the jewelry shop where my hero had a necklace made for the heroine with the logo of her ranch on it. Jim gave me the exact same necklace for Christmas.

 

Everyone was so fun and nice, and even if I someday get to have another book made into a movie, I don’t think it could top this experience. I really hope you enjoy both the novel and the film. And may the message of how “you are a treasure” carry you forward toward your own dreams.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 27

I luv the books, April 27

Inklings and notions, April 28

The Sacred Line, April 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 29

For Him and My Family, April 30

Rebekah Reads, April 30

deb’s Book Review, May 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 3

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, May 3

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 4

Vicky Sluiter, May 4

Bizwings Blog, May 5

Back Porch Reads, May 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 7

Miriam Jacob, May 7

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 8 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 8

Blossoms and Blessings, May 9

A Baker’s Perspective, May 9

Simple Harvest Reads, May 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Angela is giving away the grand prize package of a movie package with a $25 gift certificate to the movies, popcorn, popcorn bowl, and an autographed copy of Finding Love in Big Sky, including author notes in the margins!!

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/1d0b4/finding-love-in-big-sky-montana-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Amish Twins Next Door

Author: Vanetta Chapman

Genre: Amish romance

Release date: April 26, 2022

Two little matchmakers could change everything…in this novel by USA TODAY bestselling author Vannetta Chapman.

Falling for a pretend suitor could cause real complications…

Amish single mom Deborah Mast is determined to raise her seven-year-old twin sons her way. But when neighbor Nicholas Stoltzfus takes the rambunctious boys on as apprentices on his farm, she’ll learn the value of his help with more than just the children. And when the two little matchmakers hatch a plan of their own, Deborah could also discover how to reopen her heart…

 

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway

The Amish Twins Next Door is a fabulous story filled with wonderful characters and two charming little boys with plenty of antics. Deborah Mast was a protective mother of her twins. Nicholas Stoltzfus and her dad had an agreement on raising goats. Despite her misgivings she allowed the twins to assist. This heartwarming, faith filled and touching story is true to life events that will tug at heartstrings while reading, plus provide plenty of laughter with the twins liveliness and cleverness to help. I enjoyed the different personalities of each twin that Chapman gave them. I’m always glad to read one of Chapman’s stories as they are filled with faith, action, romance and well developed characters that bring smiles and a warm feeling when finished.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit and the author without any obligation to write a positive review. I have shared my own thoughts.

About the Author

Vannetta Chapman is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of 39 full length novels, plus various novella collections. She has written for Abingdon Press, Harvest House Publishers, and Harper Collins Christian Publishing. She currently writes for the Love Inspired line of Harlequin Books. Chapman has received numerous awards including the ACFW Carol Award for best mystery (Falling to Pieces), and Christy Award finalist (Anna’s Healing).

 

More from Vannetta

When I married my husband 22 years ago, he had a 21-year-old daughter and 16-year-old twins. I was a single mom with a 10-year-old son. I was also a certified, experienced teacher. I could handle it. (Cue laughter) I had no idea what twins was like. I didn’t understand that special language they have with one another. I was perplexed by the way they could be fighting one moment and adamantly defending one another the next. Everything about twins confused me.

 

Now our children are all grown. They’re adults, and I wonder how the years have passed so quickly. The Amish Twins Next Door is my first book featuring twins, and I enjoyed every minute of writing it. I enjoyed telling a story about a mom who wonders if she will ever have a conventional family—because I was that mom. I also had way too much fun writing about a man who thought he could give parenting advice when he had no children.

 

Ultimately though, like all of my other books, The Amish Twins Next Door is a book about the over-arching grace of God and how it can carry us through all things. My hope is that you will laugh, maybe cry, and come away from the book feeling uplifted.

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, May 6

Connie’s History Classroom, May 6

She Lives To Read , May 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 8

Simple Harvest Reads, May 9 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 9

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 10

Inklings and notions, May 11

Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 12

For Him and My Family, May 12

Texas Book-aholic, May 13

deb’s Book Review, May 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 15

Miriam Jacob, May 15

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 16

Bigreadersite, May 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 18

Mary Hake, May 18

Lighthouse-Academy, May 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Vannetta is giving away the grand prize package of a signed copy of the book and a $50 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/1d72b/the-amish-twins-next-door-celebration-tour-giveaway