Mighty to Save Celebration Tour & Giveaway

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Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book

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Book: Mighty to Save

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: May 15, 2017

Contrary to her parents’ wishes, Evelyn married a nonbeliever, but it all works out . . . or does it? Not only did the love of her life accept Christ, Nathaniel got baptized by fire and became a minister of the gospel. Woven into the breathtaking tale of love and redemption are two additional stories, Evelyn’s novels of faith, family, and forgiveness.

About the Author

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Caryl McAdoo loves writing stories for all ages that glorify God and is thrilled Christian fiction fits her life purpose so well. Bold not bashful, she’s quick to share the Bible principles she lives by through her characters and hopes each title ministers His love, mercy, and grace. Known as the “Singing Pray-er”—with a YouTube channel to prove it—the prolific hybrid author also loves praising Him with new songs He gives her. Her high-school-sweetheart-husband moved the family from the DFW area—home for fifty-plus years—to the woods and seat of Red River County. After Ron, Caryl counts four children and sixteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings. The McAdoos live a few miles south of Clarksville in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State with two grandsons.

Guest Post from Caryl McAdoo

Mighty to Save, book nine, is unlike all the other stories in the Texas Romance family saga as the heroine, Evelyn Eversole—you’ll remember her as little Evie in book eight, Covering Love—and hero, Nathaniel Nightingale, are already married in Chapter One. Where’s the romance, Caryl? You may ask. But I think you’ll see that Mighty to Save is brimming with all the stuff love is made of!

The depth of the Nightingales’ love is revealed and tested, and because Evelyn is a novelist like her MayMee (May Meriwether), we are privileged to experience the love of another couple whose progeny is intertwined with the Nightingales’ lineage. (knowing the characters of the next novel Chief of Sinners that was written over twenty years ago and served as the foundation of the Texas Romance series, it’s been a labor of love, tying all these characters together.

And while a very few have remarked that it’s a little hard jumping back and forth in time, the majority of readers have expressed their satisfaction and appreciation for getting to know the backstories in such a fun way. This tale deals with imperfect people—as we all are. I hope my characters come across as real, someone in your family or who might live next door.

In this world, we will have tribulation . . . but being of good cheer isn’t always so easy. Sometime those trials knock us off our foundation, and we find ourselves in an ocean of mire, like trying to swim through jello . . . weary of it to the point where only God can save us. And so we cry out to Him. And He does.

Should that mean what waylaid us no longer has any effect on our lives? Not every time.

I pray that you will enjoy Mighty to Save. This story is another reason why I’m so blessed that God led me to publish independently of the traditional houses, as I’m most certain it would definitely not fit their pigeon hole titled Christian Romance. Life offers hills and valleys. Could we truly appreciate one without the other?

Fair warning, don’t be expecting same-O same-O!

Thank you so much for being a part of my Celebrate Lit Blog Tour Launch! Bloggers, readers, reviewers, and visitors all—everyone at the awesome Celebrate Lit Tour Company, too—y’all are such blessings to me! So much so, I could never repay your kindnesses, encouragement, and support. But my Father can, And I pray He will send every blessing back to you a hundred fold!

Blog Stops

May 16: Inklings and notions

May 17: Carpe Diem

May 18: Christian Bookaholic

May 19: Captive Dreams Window

May 20: A Greater Yes

May 20: The Power of Words (Spotlight)

May 21: Radiant Light

May 21: Connie’s History Classroom

May 22: cherylbbookblog

May 23: Bigreadersite

May 23: Daysong Reflections

May 24: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

May 25: A Baker’s Perspective

May 26: Karen Sue Hadley

May 27: Mary Hake

May 28: Bibliophile Reviews

May 29: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

Giveaway

Grand Prize

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away:

Grand Prize: ALL NINE books in the Texas Romance series!

1st Prize: Four first books in four of Caryl’s series

2nd-6th Prize: Print Copy Vow Unbroken

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

Saving the Marquise’s Granddaughter Review + Kindle Fire Giveaway

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Purchase your copy of Saving the Marquise’s Granddaughter here.

About the Book

SavingTheMarquisesGranddaughter_w11911_750In a land fraught with religious strife, they must break the barriers between status and faith to forge a fresh future in a new world… After her Huguenot father is arrested, aristocrat Suzanne Richelieu escapes Versailles. Handsome German peasant, Johan Rousch, risks his life to bring her to the safety of his family’s farm in the Palatinate duchy, but when Suzanne’s brother and the French army arrive with a warning that they plan to burn the area, she and Johan are forced to flee. With no money or options, both become indentured servants in exchange for safe passage to Philadelphia. Suzanne falls gravely ill aboard ship and marries Johan, only to survive with no memory of the wedding—a reality made worse when Johan spots the “priest” who married them working as a surveyor and later in Quaker cleric garb. Are their wedding vows valid? When Suzanne’s former fiancé arrives in port, planning to abduct her, Johan must save her again—but can he do so before Suzanne is lost to him forever?

My Two Cents

What a wonderful, gripping story.  I kept wanting to read and not put it down.  There were so many twists and turns, it kept my attention until the very end.

The time period Carrie chose is very unique and I learned a lot that I did not previously know about this time in history.  It is very apparent that Carrie did her research prior to writing this novel. I loved how Carrie used history to move the story plot along. It was very interesting to see how two very different people, dealt with the circumstances they were thrown into.

The characters in this book are very well written and have great depth.  Many times when there are several secondary characters, a story can become convoluted and confusing. This is not the case with Saving the Marquise’s Granddaughter. The secondary characters richly add to the story.

My favorite aspect of the story is the theme of faith that was interwoven between its pages.  Johan believed God was leading him to do something very dangerous yet he trusted the Lord.  Suzanne’s love and care of her mother was touching and her faith was inspiring.

I give Saving the Marquise’s Granddaughter 4 out of 5 stars. Adventure, mystery, suspense, romance….What more could you ask for? Definitely a book to add to your TBR pile!

I was given this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was given.

To learn more about the Celebrate Lit Blogging program, click here.

About the Author

Carrie headshotCarrie Fancett Pagels is a multi-published award-winning author of Christian historical romance.  Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn’t “cure” her overactive imagination! She resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which is perfect for her love of history. Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time!

 

Guest Post from Carrie Fancett Pagels

Hi, I’m Carrie Fancett Pagels, so excited to see this particular book “baby”, Saving the Marquise’s Granddaughter, finally being “born!” I started working on this over eight years ago!

Roush book 1Would you believe it was a genealogical search that began this story? We had a lot of research on my father’s side of the family but not on my mother’s. Sites like Ancestry.com were getting big. One of my mother’s cousins posted the genealogy that he’d found, on one of the genealogy sharing sites and I got that information but only back to where I found two Rousch cousins marrying. I honestly didn’t want to go on after that, as it appeared they were first cousins – yikes! But after praying about it, and knowing my mom was curious, too, I went forward.
colonial Patriot marchers DSCN4653While I am interested in genealogy, as a former psychologist, I’m more interested in people’s stories.  So when I discovered that the two cousins were the grandchildren of Johan Adam Rousch, who had been acknowledged because nine of his ten sons had fought in the American Revolution, I wanted to know more about him and his family and ancestors.  Since there were books already written about him, I went up to the University of Virginia Rare Books Library and read what people had to say about the real life Johan. He sounded fascinating. He was an immigrant from the Palatinate of Germany and lived in the western part of Virginia, after immigrating via Pennsylvania.

I had joined the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) group and had been working on a novel set in the Charleston, South Carolina area, where I’d previously lived. I got so interested in Johan and his story that I began to write. But I couldn’t wrap my mind around Susanna, his real life wife who likely also came from the Palatinate, possibly on the same ship. No matter how I tried to work on her, through various writing classes I took, I couldn’t make her “real” because she just wasn’t speaking to me. I tried and I have the old scenes to prove it!

rousch monumentWhen I write, I pray. I asked God to show me scriptures for each scene, which were included on my rough drafts (they are not there in the final novel.) I did some research, at the library, and a massive tome about the Hundred Years War was recommended to me and one on European History from that time frame. By learning of some of the reasons the Palatinate was persecuted, such as the French punishing them for taking in Protestants, I began to imagine a different sort of heroine for my story. Of course, although the story was inspired by Johan and Susanna, this book is fictional. That freed me up for God to inspire me to make this story about faith. A core tenet of the book is that we must find our own faith – we cannot “borrow” it from someone else!

Since I was still practicing as a psychologist, as I developed Suzanne’s character I included traits that would be common in someone is the situation she was in. She’s living in an aristocratic French family, with parents who are actually of the Huguenot faith. If they are discovered there can be drastic consequences, including death. So a young lady like that may become more obsessive and compulsive as a way of dealing with that anxiety.

I hope those who read this story will be inspired by the message of overcoming and of finding one’s own path to faith in the Lord!!!

Blog Stops

May 24:  D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

May 25: Blossoms and Blessings

May 26: The Power of Words

May 26: Just Commonly (Spotlight)

May 27: A Greater Yes

May 27: Cassandra M’s Place (spotlight)

May 28: Christian Bookaholic

May 29: Bigreadersite

May 29: Mary Hake

May 30: Reading Is My SuperPower

May 31: inklings and notions

June 1: Singing Librarian Books

June 2: Karen’s Krayons

June 3: Rhonda’s Doings

June 4: Southern Chelle

June 5: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberation

June 6: Simple Harvest Reads

Giveaways

Kindle grand prize meme

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away a Kindle Fire 7, one signed copy of Saving the Marquise’s Granddaughter along with Postcard & bookmark and Fleur de Lis Earrings. Click the link to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/9a1a

Carrie is also giving an ebook copy of her book to one lucky commenter who answers the question, “How has your faith seen you through some difficult times?” This giveaway closes on June 9th at 11:59 PST.

Charity’s Cross Review + KINDLE FIRE Givaway

Charity’s Cross by MaryLu Tyndall is a 328 page novel in the Christian historical fiction genre.  It was published by Ransom Press and released on January 16, 2016.  To purchase your own copy, click here.

About the book

charity's cross amazon.Suspected of killing her husband, Charity Westcott flees on the first ship out of Portsmouth, England heading for the colonies. Loathing all men after her abusive marriage, she hopes to reunite with her family in Charles Towne, but the ship ends up in Nassau. When she spots her husband’s brother, who is intent on seeing her hang, boarding her ship, she jumps overboard.

Elias Dutton, preacher and son of the famous pirate, Rowan Dutton, must get to Barbados as soon as possible. His sister is in danger, and his parents have charged him with her safety. He cannot let them down—again.  But after rescuing a madcap woman from the bay, he now finds himself tricked into masquerading as her husband so they both can procure passage to Barbados.

Pirates, storms, shipwreck and betrayal threaten to delay the couple in their journey even as sparks fly between them. With her brother-in-law in fast pursuit, the last thing Charity wants is help from a man, especially a religious one, but she has no choice. After Elias’ heart was broken by a sordid woman who nearly ruined his life, he seeks a godly woman pure as the virgin sands of the Caribbean. He believes he has found such a woman in Charity. Until he discovers she is a murderer and is now faced with two choices: letting her go or turning her in to the authorities.

About the Author

MLtyndall-HeadshotAward-winning author MaryLu Tyndall dreamt of pirates and sea-faring adventures during her childhood days on Florida’s Coast. With more than seventeen books published, she makes no excuses for the spiritual themes embedded within her romantic adventures. Her hope is that readers will not only be entertained but will be brought closer to the Creator who loves them beyond measure. In a culture that accepts the occult, wizards, zombies, and vampires without batting an eye, MaryLu hopes to show the awesome present and powerful acts of God in a dying world. A Christy award nominee and Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award winner, MaryLu makes her home with her husband, six children, two grandchildren and several stray cats on the California coast.

My Two Cents

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. I can not emphasize those words enough! In fact, I loved this book so much, I am going to add a giveaway for you to win the ebook version. You have to read it! I picked up the book and could not put it down – I was captivated from the start.  Literally.  Pirates, escape, betrayal. I was on the edge of my seat.

This is my first time reading MaryLu but it will not be my last.  I loved her writing. Although this is book four in the series, it can be read as a stand alone.  This is the first book I read but I have since bought books 1 – 3 because I enjoyed this one so much.

Charity’s Cross was fast-paced and well researched.The plot line was expertly written and easy to follow.  The characters had depth and breadth.  I loved that there were time that I wanted to reach in and shake a character. Those make the best books!

MaryLu weaves themes of Christianity throughout the book.  When I finished reading Charity’s Cross, I was reminded and encourage by one theme in particular: GOD IS FAITHFUL. Sometimes we question if God hears us. Sometimes we question if God cares.  He does and Charity’s Cross shows that powerfully.

I give this book an absolute five out of five stars! An encouraging read.  A must read! At $4.99 for the ebook…this is a steal!

Want a chance to win the ebook version of this book? Answer this question below: What aspect of the book interests you? Comment below and be sure to add your email in a safe format (For example, simpleharvestreads(at)gmail(dot)com). If I get a minimum of ten comments, one lucky person will win! This contest will end on March 9. Be sure to share with your friends for them to have a chance to win!

Giveaway

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Enter the Charity’s Cross giveaway here.

Blog Stops

March 2: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

March 2: simpleharvestreads

March 3: Reading Is My SuperPower

March 3: Mary Hake

March 4: Christian Bookaholic

March 4: Heidi Reads…

March 5: Just Commonly

March 6: cherylbbookblog

March 7: Daysong Reflections

March 8: Cassandra M’s Place

March 8: Splashes of Joy

March 9: The Editor’s Note

March 9: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

March 10: Bigreadersite

March 10: Bukwurmzzz

March 11: A Greater Yes

March 11: Texas Book-aholic

March 12: Singing Librarian Books

March 13: Raining Butterfly Kisses

March 14: Seasons of Opportunities

Shattered Memories + Huge Giveaway!

 

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Be sure to come to the Facebook party to celebrate the release of Shattered Memories on Feb 29.  RSVP here.

Shattered Memories is a 265 page novel in the Christian Historical genre and was released on February 14, 2016. You can purchase the book here.

About the Book

Shattered Memories smallest fileThe Charleston earthquake has left destruction like nothing Doctor Andrew Warwick has ever seen. On a desperate mission to find the lady who owns his heart, he frantically searches through the rubble. He finds her injured and lifeless. After she regains consciousness, the doctor’s hopes are quickly dashed as he realizes she doesn’t remember him. Things only get worse when he discovers she believes she’s still engaged to the abusive scoundrel, Lloyd Pratt. Now Drew is on a race with the wedding clock to either help her remember or win her heart again before she marries the wrong man.

Waking in a makeshift hospital, Olivia Macqueen finds herself recovering from a head injury. With amnesia stealing a year of her memories, she has trouble discerning between lies and truth. When her memories start returning in bits and pieces, she must keep up the charade of amnesia until she can find out the truth behind the embezzlement of her family’s business while evading the danger lurking around her.

My Two Cents

One of the best books I have read. Ever. Intrigue, love, faith. This book has it all. It drew me in from the beginning.  I began reading and read for two hours straight because I could not put the book down.  I craved to see what happened!

The writing made me feel I was right there with the characters watching what happened.  This was the first time I read anything by Costello, but it will not be my last.  I love her writing and I rank her up there with my favorite authors.

This book takes place around the great Charleston earthquake. It was very obvious that Costello did her research while writing this book.  Shattered Memories brought to light what the people of Charleston suffered as well as the courage of the doctors who treated the patients.  The characters were well developed having breadth and depth.  The plot line was fast paced and unfolded well.

Shattered Memories was a joy to read. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.  This book is only $3.99; A steal  for such a great book.  Pick this book up. You will not be disappointed!

Thank you to Celebrate Lit and Debbie Lynne Costello for giving me this book in exchange for a review.  No monetary compensation was received and all views are my own.

About the Author

debbielynneDebbie Lynne Costello is the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller Sword of Forgiveness, a medieval romance. She has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina where she has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children’s Director. When not spending time with her husband, four children and grandchildren she hangs out with her Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses.

Giveaway

I am excited to announce that there are TWO different giveaways for Shattered Memories!

  1. Enter the HUGE giveaway going on with Celebrate Lit that includes a KINDLE FIRE and a GIFT BASKET worth over $100 plus other great prizes! Enter here.shatteredmemoriesprizes
  2. If I receive 10 comments on this post, one lucky commenter will receive a copy of any DebbieLynne Costello books. Be sure to share with your friends!

 

Blog Tour Stops

Feb 15: Quiet Quilter

Feb 16: Daysong Reflections

Feb 17: Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

Feb 18: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

Feb 18: Simpleharvestreads

Feb 19: Rhonda’s Doings

Feb 19: Buwurmzzz

Feb 20: A Greater Yes

Feb 21: 100 Page Per Hour

Feb 22: The Editor’s Note

Feb 22: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

Feb 23: The Christian Bookaholic

Feb 24: Blossoms and Blessings

Feb 24: Cassandra M’s Place

Feb 25: Bigreadersite

Feb 26: Singing Librarian Books

Feb 27: cherylbbookblog

Feb 28: Texas Book-aholic

Feb 28: Mary Hake

Feb 29: Raining Butterfly Kisses

Daughters of the Heart

Daughters of the Heart by Caryl McAdoo is a 310 page novel in the Christian historical fiction genre. It is the fifth book in the Texas Romance series but can be read as a standalone.  Daughters of the Heart is an indie publication and was released on August 28, 2015.  To purchase your copy, click here.

Daughters of the Heart

Overview

God’s perfect plan is oft so hard to determine. In his life, Henry Buckmeyer has never been so beside himself. His little girls are so young, just babies, too young. He hates the whole idea of men coming to take them away and is inclined to shoot every one of them, but praise God for a level-headed, loving wife and step-mother! She helps keep him sane amidst the female chaos. Packed with fun, romance, deception, action, heartbreak and tears, this delightful Christian novel keeps the twists and turns coming. Gwendolyn, Cecelia, and the youngest, Bonnie, make a pact never to break their father’s heart like their big sister did. Then their determination is sorely tried when suitors show up, and he gets so pigheaded with his rules. Will Henry survive his daughters coming of age? Will they endure and keep their promises to each other? From one man asking to court her—who Daddy sends packing—Gwen goes to three! How can she ever decide? Cecelia knows exactly who she wants, but she’s still a year away from Daddy’s acceptable courting age. What if her beau doesn’t know or won’t wait? And Bonnie hates being the baby and wants to be grown-up more than just about anything…except her man. She is for sure and for certain in love. Will the Buckmeyer home ever be settled and peaceful again? Will any of his daughters find true love…a man he’ll approve and to whom he can give his blessing?

My Two Cents

I thoroughly enjoyed Daughters of the Heart by Caryl McAdoo.  She has a way of writing that feels authentic and reflects her love of the Lord.  I loved the quirky sayings she included and the added humor made the book light-hearted and fun.

There were several characters in Daughters of the Heart, but the storyline was easy to follow.  The characters are well written and had depth.  There was tension, love, heartache, and the conflict of honoring your parents while staying true to yourself.  

I loved following the drama of the Buckmeyer sisters. It kept my attention throughout because I wanted to see what the girls did and if their father finally approved of a suitor. Having teenagers myself, I could relate to the Buckmeyer parents. However, at times I also felt bad for the girls.  Loving and being frustrated with characters make for a good story! Caryl did not disappoint!  

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you love historical romance that is God centered, you won’t want to miss this book!

Thank you to Celebrate Lit (celebratelit.com) and Caryl McAdoo for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  No monetary compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

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Award winning, bestselling author Caryl McAdoo currently writes four series: the historical Christian ‘Texas Romance’; a contemporary ‘Red River Romance’; The Generations, her Biblical fiction and a mid-grade The King’s Highway. The prolific novelist loves singing new songs the Lord gives her and painting. In 2008, she and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the DFW area—home for fifty+ years—to the woods of Red River County. Caryl counts four children and sixteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come from God. Praying her story gives God glory, she hopes each one will also minister His love, mercy, and grace to its readers. Caryl and Ron live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State with two grandsons, Christian and Benjamen.

Giveaway

Caryl is giving away some great prizes:

  • Grand Prize: Set of Texas Romance books #1 thru 5 (Vow Unbroken, Hearts Stolen, Hope Reborn, Sins of the Mother, and Daughters of the Heart)
  • First Prize:  Set of The Generations Biblical fiction series (A Little Lower Than the Angels, Then the Deluge Comes, and Replenish the Earth)
  • Second Prize:  Your choice of the Texas Romances
  • Third Prize:  A Texas Surprise!

Click the word “Form” below to enter the giveaway. This giveaway ends on Sept 30 at 11:50 pm PDT.

Irish Meadows

Irish Meadows by Susan Anne Mason is a 384 page novel in the Christian historical fiction novel.  It is the first book in the Courage to Dream series.  Irish Meadows is published by Bethany House and was released on July 7, 2015

irish meadows

Overview

Faced with an uncertain future, sometimes all you have left is the courage to dream.

Brianna and Colleen O’Leary know their Irish immigrant father expects them to marry well. Recently he’s put even more pressure on them, insinuating that the very future of their Long Island horse farm, Irish Meadows, rests in their ability to land prosperous husbands. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.

Brianna, a quiet girl with a quick mind, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry—as long as her father’s choice meets her exacting standards of the ideal groom. When former stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from business school and distant relative Rylan Montgomery visits Long Island during his seminary training, the two men quickly complicate everyone’s plans.

As the farm slips ever closer to ruin, James O’Leary grows more desperate. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to avoid being pawns in their father’s machinations and instead follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?

My Two Cents

Have you ever had someone plan your life thinking they know what is best for you? Or had your life all planned out to find that God has a different plan for you? This is exactly what the characters of Irish Meadows experience.  This book captures you from the beginning and I did not want it to end.

The historical accuracy in Irish Meadows is flawless.  I learned a great deal about history surrounding 1911; especially in regards to women’s rights.  At times this history was a little overwhelming and it could distract from the storyline.  However, it is plain to the reader the author conducted a significant amount of research and wanted to present the history as accurately as possible.

My favorite part of this story were the characters.  It was a joy to see how they grew in their maturity and their faith.  There were times I was so frustrated I wanted to throw the book, however, this makes for a good story! The characters had depth to them and although there were several characters, I could follow the story easily.  Sometimes when a story has many characters the story can get muddled.  That is not the case with Irish Meadows. Each character is well written.

I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars.  If you are a fan of historical fiction, you won’t want to miss this book!

About the Author

Susan Anne Mason’s debut historical novel, Irish Meadows, won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA. A member of ACFW, as well, she lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children. She can be found online at www.susanannemason.com.

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Mason’s Irish Meadows. To enter, click on the word “form” in the link below. This contest ends Friday, September 4, 2015 at 11:59 pm PDT.

A Bride at Last

A Bride at Last by Melissa Jagears is a 368 page novel in the Christian historical romance genre.  It is the third book in the Unexpected Brides series but can be read as a stand alone.  A Bride at Last is published by Bethany House and was released on July 7, 2015. To purchase your own copy, click here.

a bride at last

Overview

Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts.

Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she’d been deceived about her intended groom, she’s now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she’ll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony-until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy’s father.

Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony’s wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

To learn more about A Bride at Last, click here.

My Two Cents

A Bride at Last is a faced-paced love story that makes you sad to see the story end because you want to read more.  It is well-written with developed characters and storyline. I loved how the book does not end where you expect it to and shows how God can heal the lives of people.

A Bride at Last deals with addiction; how those vices effect the ones around us and have consequences for years to come.  However, it also displays how love, hope, faith, and forgiveness can help us to overcome our addictions. I was encouraged by the blessings the characters received by following God and having faith in Him even when it is hard and sacrifices are made to do so.

The hard choices that women had to make in the late 1800’s were well written into A Bride at Last. Abandonment and its lasting consequences on both children and adults were woven into this story as well.  One of my favorite aspects of this story is how it shows that family is not always made up of flesh and blood. Love makes a family a family.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.  It is a book a really enjoyed and will be reading again!

Thank you to the LitFuse Chicks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  No monetary compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade and the author of ABride for Keeps and A Bride in Store, is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. She’s a member of ACFW and CROWN fiction marketing, and her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly.

Find Melissa online: website, Facebook

Two Giveaways

Simple Harvest Reads Giveaway

To enter my giveaway, click on the words “Entry-Form” below.  This giveaway ends on July 19, 2015 at 11:59pm PDT.

Melissa Jagears A Bride at Last and a $100 memory making giveaway:

Can Silas and Kate overcome their rocky start and experience healing—and possibly love? Discover the answer in Melissa Jagears’ new book, A Bride at LastNeither Kate nor Silas is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light as they attempt to prove nine-year-old Anthony’s paternity to the court. Can their wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

Celebrate the release of A Bride at Last by entering to win a $100 Memory-Making giveaway and RSVPing to Melissa’s August 4th author chat party!

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One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A $100 gift card to Netflix (for a family movie night), Shutterfly (to create a family memory book), or TablePlayGames (for a family game night)
  • One copy of A Bride at Last

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4. The winner will be announced at Melissa’s 8/4 A Bride at Last Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Melissa and fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

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RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

The Innocent

The Innocent by Ann Gabhart is a 384 page novel in the Christian mystery romance genre.  It is published by Revell and was released on July 7, 2015.  To purchase your copy, click here.

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Overview

Carlyn Kearney has spent two lonely years not knowing whether to mourn or to hope after she receives word from the Union Army that her husband is missing. The war ends without further word. Now penniless, in debt, and forced from her home, Carlyn seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill, only to discover that they will not allow her to keep her beloved dog, an animal that has been her faithful companion since her husband went off to war. Sheriff Mitchell Brodie has pity on the lovely young woman and agrees to take the dog. Carlyn is just settling into life as a sister in the Shaker village when she receives a devastating letter confirming her worst fears. As she wrestles with whether to commit herself fully to the Shaker life, mysterious deaths begin to occur, and Carlyn comes under suspicion. Can Sheriff Mitchell help her expose the true culprit?

My Two Cents

The Innocent is a well-written novel that keeps the reader interested from the beginning.  The story line displays well the dangers that can come when people abuse religion and power. I enjoyed the mystery that was added to the story line making this novel not your typical love story.

It is apparent that Gabhart has done her research both about the culture of the post-Civil War era and about the Shakers. The Innocent shows a side to the Civil War that is not often shown; the soldiers who were missing and the effect it had on their loved ones.  Wives found themselves destitute with no way to collect on the pensions offered from the government. They had limited resources and limited options.  This created an environment where women were not safe and could easily be taken advantage of.

There were many characters in this story and it added to the depth of the novel.  A couple of the characters added tension to the novel which made the book hard to put down.  I really enjoyed the relationship Carlyn had with her dog who was a wonderful companion to her.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.  It is a sweet story although a bit predictable.

Thank you to Revell Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  No monetary compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels–The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted–as well as Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home, Words Spoken True, and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.

Giveaway

To enter to win The Innocent by Ann Gabhart, click on the words “Entry-Form” below.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 17 at 11:59pm PDT.

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor Review

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor by Melanie Dobson is a 352 page novel in the Christian mystery genre.  It was published by Howard Books and was released on June 16, 2015. To purchase your own copy, click here.

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Overview

When Heather Toulson returns to her parents’ cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder.

Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.

Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She’s mourning her father’s passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family’s belongings left behind in the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s history.

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways.

Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

My Two Cents

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor is a fast-paced book about love, forgiveness, and the harm that secrets can bring to a family.  The storyline goes seamlessly between past and present which allows the story to unfold in a way that makes you want to keep reading. I was drawn in from the beginning and could not put the book down.  I wanted to find out the secrets and what happened to each of the characters.

This book has everything you want in a story: Love, mystery, secrets, surprises, struggle, tension, and hope. As a teacher, I could tell that Melanie had done research on Autism and what it looked like for families who had a special needs child before they had diagnosis. She also shows the real-life struggle of parents in which society does not understand their child and thinks you are not a good parent.

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor is an extremely well-written book with well-developed characters. There is much we can learn through the relationships of the characters of the book.  Melanie’s display of the hurt that is caused by molding people into what we want them to be, not how God made them to be is evident throughout the book. The hurt caused by forgiveness and the regret we have at the end of our lives reminds the reader to think about our actions each and every day.

I give Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor 5 out of 5 stars. This book will keep you captivated from the very beginning.

Thank you to the Litfuse Chicks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  No monetary compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of thirteen historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels. Two of her novels won Carol Awards in 2011, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana in 2010. Melanie lives with her husband Jon and two daughters near Portland, Oregon.

Find Melanie online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Giveaway

To enter the giveaway, click on the words “Entry-Form” below.  This giveaway ends June 10, 2015 at 11:59 pm PDT.

An Interview with Molly Jebber

Today I am very excited to be featuring an interview with Molly Jebber! Be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the interview.

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What started you on your writing journey? 

My childhood imaginary friends, Bugs and Debbie. As an only child before my brother was born, Bugs was my little companion who got the blame for all the things I did wrong, and Debbie got all the credit for the things I did good. Mom laughed at my imaginary friends. Dad was a little worried about me. They were relieved when Bugs and Debbie went by the wayside when my brother, Mitch was born!  With my imagination, my friends and family encouraged me to write, and I’ve always wanted to.

What distracts you from writing the easiest?

My husband, Ed, suggesting we go to dinner or a movie. My daughter, Misty or my friends wanting me to go to lunch for a good gab session, movie, swimming or beach. Eyeing a really good book on my nightstand and picking it up to read a few pages, and then not being able to put it down.

What kind of books do you enjoy reading? (Book recommendations very welcome!)

Devotional, Romance and Mysteries – I loved “Breathing on Her Own” by Rebecca Waters

Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote? Why?

Becca – She’s kind, but speaks her mind. She’s got a large birthmark on her hand, but she doesn’t let it define her. She loves God and appreciates her Amish upbringing, but she struggles with how to react when she’s faced with difficult people and harrowing situations.

What is your favorite season of the year?

Summer! I’m happier when I can see my toes and have sunshine on me!

What do you like most about the area where you live and/or grew up?

Springboro, Ohio. It was a small town. Everybody knew each other. My brother and I had lots of children our age who lived on our street. My daughter, Misty, was also raised there, but it grew by leaps and bounds before she graduated from high school. We loved the festivals, history, school spirit, local church, and candy store! The family who bought our house years ago still have my playhouse in their backyard.  It’s been painted and is leaning a little, but I tear up every time I drive by it and remember my dad building it out of scrap lumber. He passed a few years ago.

Has some place you have traveled inspired something in your writing?

I love visiting Amish towns and learning from them. They inspire me with their strong belief in God and focus on Him. I find their way of life fascinating. I enjoy shopping in their stores and seeing their handiwork. The quilts and other dry goods are beautiful.

When is your next book due out and can you tell us about it?

My next book is part of an anthology titled, “The Christmas Sleigh” with Amy Lillard and Kelly Long. My story is “An Unexpected Christmas Blessing”.

As much as Charity Lantz’s children need a father, the young widow isn’t sure her new neighbor Luke Fisher can ever be the right choice. She’s drawn to him, but they’re having more disagreements and misunderstandings than snowflakes in December. Will God show them a way past their conflicts to a forever love?

“CHANGE OF HEART” is the first book of a three book Keepsake Pocket Quilt theme series.

“An Amish Christmas Sleigh” a separate Christmas story in an anthology with Amy Lillard and Kelly Long stories will be released October, 2015.

“GRACE’S FORGIVENESS” is the second book in the series and it will be released February, 2016.

Giveaway

Enter the weekend giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Change of Heart. To enter, click on the words “Entry-Form” below. Contest ends on June 29 at 11:59pm PDT.