26 Below ~ Review with Excerpt

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 

26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

26 Below
Alaskan Cyber Hunters #1
By Kimberley Woodhouse

Darcie Phillips is the new director of Fairback's Emergency Operations Center. And with an older woman making dire predictions about what would happen when the temperatures drop to -26 degrees. Well, it isn't anything good. And when you throw in other random but serious issues, you know you are in trouble.

Jason Myers is a cyber-security expert who has been assigned to Darcie's team. Soon he is busy in the extreme as various systems begin having issues throughout Fairbanks. Is it just a coincidence, or is this part of a greater problem?    

As the thermometer inches ever downward, time is running out.

This is the first Contemporary Romantic Suspense by Kimberly Woodhouse that I have read. I've read her historical fiction titles in the past and was curious how she would translate into the now. Well, 26 Below was excellent reading as the story is told from both Darcie's and Jason's POV. The suspense slowly builds as the temperature drops and the problems increase. 

This is the first book in the Alaskan Cyber Hunter series, and if it is any indication of how the series will play out, this will be a page-turning must-read! There is a resolution in this book, but in no way does it wrap everything up in this book. There is an appetite-whetting teaser included for the next book, which will have you getting in line for when it comes out. 

Now while this is a Romantic Suspense title, 26 Below finds the main characters struggling with personal issues as well. Darcie struggles with never being enough, while Jason deals with family issues. And then there are the demands of the job and regular life that's just normal. 

I highly recommend this book, especially if you happen to be living somewhere where the threat of dangerous below-zero temperatures is currently nonexistent. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book

Title: 26 Below
Series: Alaskan Cyber Hunters #1
Author: Kimberley Woodhouse
Publisher: ‎ Kregel Publications
Release Date: April 4, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

"A THRILL RIDE . . . AS CURRENT AS TODAY'S FRONT-PAGE NEWS!" --Colleen Coble, USA Today best-selling author

A curse.
A killer.
A chill in the air. 

 

Temps are dropping and time is running out. 

 

In her new role as Emergency Operations Center director for Fairbanks, Alaska, Darcie Phillips prevents disasters. But none of her training can prepare her for the terror that's coming. 

 

As a cybersecurity specialist, Jason Myers is determined to ferret out any threats to the town he now calls home--and that includes his reckless brother and his ecoterrorist friends. 

 

When an old woman's wild prediction--widespread destruction as soon as the Fairbanks temperature falls to 26 below--hits national headlines, neither Darcie nor Jason sees a real risk to anything but tourism. 

 

Then the bodies start dropping. 

 

Darcie is relying on her experience and intelligence to stop a killer; Jason is relying on God to guide the way. But they'll have to work together to find the truth and prevent their Alaskan town from becoming a city of nightmares. 

 

"An action-packed page-turner that . . . blew me away. If you like stories of intrigue, action, romance, and biblical hope, this is the story for you." --Tracie Peterson, ECPA and USA Today best-selling author

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

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About the Author

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling author of more than thirty books and novellas, including A Deep Divide, Bridge of Gold, and The Mayflower Bride, as well as the coauthor of the Heart of Alaska series with Tracie Peterson. Kimberley’s writing has earned a Carol Award, the Christian Market Novel of the Year, the Holt Medallion, and many others. A proud former resident of Alaska, she now makes her home in the Pennsylvania Poconos.

Connect with Kimberley by visiting kimberleywoodhouse.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

 

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Excerpt

Natalie ran through a field of magenta fireweed, just as she had when she was young.

Wait . . . Her feet stilled, and she studied the sky. White clouds moved across the blue background as if
the world was spinning faster and faster. She closed her eyes and opened them once more. She was
young again. Glancing down at her hands, she watched them transform from wrinkled and aged back to
smooth and firm. Young for now. Wherever she was.

Thump, thump, thump.

The field changed. Fireweed and blue sky morphed into floor and walls. Her home. The one where she’d raised six children and buried Tito. The home she lost after he died.

Thump, thump.

With a blink, she now fought the Alaskan wind. Struggled against the blinding snow. A small part of her
brain recognized she was dreaming. The people at the clinic in Anchorage had warned her the disease
would ravage her brain. The most frustrating part was not always recognizing what was real and what
was a dream or a memory. The dreams and memories were places she begged to stay.

Reality much harder to swallow.

Where would her mind take her now? The wind bit through her sweater and sent a chill up her arms.
Shelter. That’s what she needed. Before she froze. Shelter . . .

Where had she found shelter? A glimpse of hope at the tip of her mind wouldn’t materialize. What could
she do? Where could she go?

Cold. So cold.

Thump, scrape.

A little jolt took her breath away. She blinked several times. Where was she now? Wait . . . she wasn’t
cold anymore.

Her favorite blanket was around her. A soft pillow under her head. Blinking several times, she looked at
the wood planks above her head.

That’s right—she’d found shelter in a tiny cabin about three miles from Fairbanks.
(pp 16-17)

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 15, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 22, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US Amazon accounts only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

The Shifting Current ~ Review with Excerpt

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for 

The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

The Shifting Current 

Coastal Guardians #4  

By Dani Pettrey

Logan Perry loves his job as a Special Agent with the Coast Guard's Investigative Services division. And he especially loves working with Emmy Thorton; she makes him a better investigator. And makes him want to be a better man. But the secrets from his past will forever stand in the way of any future they could have.

When Logan gets word that Colt, his grandfather, the man who raised him, has been murdered, he returns home. He needs to lay his grandfather to rest and find justice. But he won't be going alone; Emmy insists on helping him because together, nothing can stop them from getting to the truth. And she refuses to allow him to suffer such a loss alone.

The Shifting Current brings the Coastal Guardians series to a conclusion. It is interesting to finally get Logan's back story, to learn who and what shaped him into the man he is. But throughout, we get to see Emmy and Logan working together to discover not who but why someone decided to kill Colt. And as they get closer to answers, danger comes ever closer. Overall this was a good book, it is a novella, so it is just under 200 pages and a relatively quick read. The action keeps the story moving while maintaining the tension of wondering, "What's next?" The fact that we've gotten glimpses of Logan and Emmy's rather complicated relationship throughout the series makes this the "cherry on top," where their romance is concerned. And to best enjoy this book, you should probably read the first three books in the series first, but it is doable even if you pick this up first; it's just like skipping to the end of the book (only in this case, it would be the series).

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book

Title: The Shifting Current 

Series: Coastal Guardians novella 

Author: Dani Pettrey 

Publisher: Gracie & Johnny Inc. 

Release Date: May 2, 2023 

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

An elusive killer. A false identity. A deadly maze of lies.

When Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent LOGAN PERRY’s beloved grandfather is murdered, Logan races to his hometown of Cauldron Creek, New Mexico to investigate the murder. His teammate and friend, EMMY THORTON, insists on joining him. Not a good idea—not when he loves her, but carries a secret that he knows will tear them apart. 

Emmy knows Logan will pursue the investigation no matter the cost, and she won’t let the man she loves plunge into a dangerous situation alone. She needs to be at his side, even if he believes friendship is her only reason for joining him. 

What looks like a robbery gone wrong rapidly shifts, drawing Emmy and Logan into a dizzying maze where nothing is as it appears. Every lead slips through their fingers as threats against them grow deadlier at each turn. Having only each other to rely on, their love for one another deepens, but will they live long enough to admit their attraction to each other? 

They’re in the killer’s sights. One wrong move puts their future together and their lives on the line.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books in this Series

        

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Excerpt

Em was a natural. He knew she’d be. She took to everything so easily, her easygoing

nature just adapting. He loved her so. The lyrics for “I Lived” by OneRepublic tracked through

his mind, especially the part about hoping the person found love and that it hurt so bad. Hurt in

a good way. It was the strangest dichotomy, but he understood it. He ached for her.

“Now we’re going to have to go through a narrow stretch along the trail. Just go slow.”

“Where exactly are we headed?”

“There’s an outcropping on the far ledge. We’ll tie up the horses and head out on the

boulder. Sitting there, away from any man-made lights, you can see a gazillion stars.”

“A gazillion, huh?” She laughed. “Oh.” Her voice went up an octave. “I see what you

mean about the trail narrowing.

“You’ll be good. Just let Wrangler do his thing. The horses have walked this trail so many

times over the years, it’s second nature to them.”

Em stared down at what was visible of the steep drop-off in the moonlight. It had to be

well over a hundred-foot drop.

“Easy now,” Logan said. “Nice and slow. You’ve got this. Just trust your mount—he

knows what he’s doing.”

A noise like the crack of a whip sounded a millisecond before the rock by Em’s head

shattered.

Wrangler reared back, and Logan’s heart lodged in his throat. Em.

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About the Author

Publishers Weekly, #1 Parable, #1 Amazon, ECPA, and CBA bestselling author, Dani Pettrey has sold nearly 800,000 copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters (Publishers Weekly), gripping storyline[s], (RT Book Reviews), and sizzling undercurrent of romance (USA Today). She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland.

Connect with Dani by visiting danipettrey.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a "The Best is Yet to Come" mug, 

gourmet roasted coffee from NYC, 

and the full Coastal Guardian series 

including The Shifting Current in paperback!

(1) winner will receive a "The Best is Yet to Come" notebook, 

gel pens, and a paperback copy of The Killing Tide!

(1) winner will receive a "The Best is Yet to Come" vintage sign 

and a paperback copy of The Crushing Depths!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. 

The full tour schedule is linked below. 

The giveaway began at midnight May 5, 2023, and lasts 

through 11:59 PM EST on May 12, 2023. 

The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway 

and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of their prize. 

US only. 

Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

Safeguarding the Witness ~ Review with Excerpt

Safeguarding the Witness
The Protectors
By Laurie Winter

Kayla Swartz’s return to Snowberry, Montana, was a last-minute trip after a call from her estranged father. Her little sister is in need of someplace to stay. And Kayla answered the call, but when she arrives, her father has been murdered. 

Worse, the killer was looking for something - stolen jewels. Could her father's old ways have again gotten him into trouble? Trouble that he couldn't get out of this time. 

But Nicholas Galanis, Kayla's high school boyfriend, claims that her father had changed. But after years of living under the shadow of her father's ill reputation, she has a hard time believing he could have changed. And when someone makes a threat against Kayla and Olive, Kayla turns to Nicholas for help. Their lives depend on staying one step ahead of the killer. And this killer isn't going to back off until he gets what he thinks Trevor Swartz gave to his daughters. 

In Safeguarding the Witness, Nicholas and Kayla have to deal with their shared past - one that resulted in their plans for the future going completely off-track, and Kayla was the one everyone blamed. 

This book is part of the Love Inspired Suspense series, and as such, you know that you will get a clean read without getting the story lost in a lot of graphic details. The story opens by jumping right into the action. Something was very wrong. How could this not draw you in? What was wrong? And not only was it wrong, but it was very wrong. And from here, it just ups the tension and builds to the climax. This is not to be missed if you are a fan of Love Inspired Suspense or Christian Romantic Suspense.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book

Title: Safeguarding the Witness
Series: The Protectors
Author: Laurie Winter
Publisher: ‎ Inspirational The Protectors Collection (Love Inspired Suspense)
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

 

A treasure worth killing for…  

 

Unless the bodyguard can protect them 

 

Kayla Swartz’s return to Snowberry, Montana, has been a living nightmare. She found her estranged father murdered, and unless she retrieves some missing jewels, Kayla and her three-year-old sister could be next. With nowhere else to turn, Kayla entrusts their lives to bodyguard Nicholas Galanis. But is hiding at a remote cabin in the mountains their best chance to survive…or the perfect opportunity for an ambush?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop/IndieBound | BookBub

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About the Author

Multiple award-winning author Laurie Winter is a true warrior of the heart. Inspired by her dreams, she creates authentic characters who overcome the odds and find true love. She keeps her life balanced with jogging and binge-watching true-crime shows. When not pounding the pavement or the keyboard, she's enjoying time with her family, who are scattered between Wisconsin and Michigan. Laurie has three kids and one fantastic husband, all who inspire her to chase her dreams.

Connect with Laurie by visiting lauriewinter.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Excerpt

Kayla raced outside after Nicolas but couldn’t react quickly enough. The blast caught her off guard, knocking her off the front stoop. She tumbled down the stairs and landed on a patch of brown grass. Her ears rang, and she pressed her hands over them to muffle the sound. She blinked, trying to soothe the sting of tears.

Nicolas! her mind screamed. He’d been close, too close. If he was hurt—or worse… Kayla halted her anxiety-producing theories. She pushed herself back onto her feet. Her vision narrowed in on Nicolas’s large form sprawled on the front lawn. He’d always seemed indestructible to her. Please let him be okay.

The front door swung out, and Detective Reimer sprinted out, barking orders into her cell
phone. She skidded to a stop by Kayla. “Are you hurt?”

Kayla shook her head. “No. Nicolas was near the blast.” 

“Emergency services are on their way. Stay here.” Detective Reimer left Kayla with firm instructions before heading to Nicolas.

Nicolas would be all right. He had to be. The alternative clawed inside her.

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JustRead Tours 

The Last Chance Cowboy ~ Book Spotlight with Excerpt

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for 

The Last Chance Cowboy by Jody Hedlund, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Last Chance Cowboy 

Series: Colorado Cowboys #5 

Author: Jody Hedlund 

Publisher: Bethany House Publishing 

Release Date: February 14, 2023 

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

With danger drawing ever closer, their only hope of saving their futures lies in each other.

As a midwife, Catherine Remington is successful in bringing new life into the world, but she's failed one too many times in finding true love. When she's accused of a murder she didn't commit, she's forced to flee to Colorado to honor a patient's dying wish by delivering a newborn infant to his father. 

The repentant prodigal Dylan McQuaid is finally back in Fairplay. As sheriff, he's doing his best to prove to the town he's a changed man and worthy of their trust. When a woman shows up with an infant son he didn't know he had, Dylan is left with only complicated choices on what to do next. 

Having grown attached to Dylan's son, Catherine doesn't want to part ways with the infant, but what she doesn't bargain for is how easily she'll fall for the charming sheriff, or how quickly the past will catch up with her and put their love and lives in danger.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Christianbook | BookBub

More Books In Series

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Excerpt 

“What’s a fine lady like you doing in this establishment at this time of day?” His words were

hard and biting, almost as if she’d imposed upon him with her presence.

“As a matter of fact, I’ve been here all night assisting one of the young women during her time

of travail.”

He cocked his head, his brows lifting.

“I’m a midwife. I’ve been here delivering a baby.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you stepped into the hallway when you did, isn’t it, boys?” Rocky

directed his question toward two men standing just inside the open doorway above the dead

body. They stepped over Stretch until they were both positioned behind Rocky, arms crossed

and staring at her.

She’d noticed the men with Rocky on occasion. Perhaps they served as his guards or his

servants. Either way, she wouldn’t let them intimidate her.

“Young lady,” Rocky said, “I’ll need you to testify to the police and the judge on my behalf, let

them know Stretch came after me and that I was left with no choice but to shoot him or lose

my life.”

Had Stretch provoked him? She glanced at Stretch’s crumpled body. There wasn’t a weapon in

sight. Blood poured out of the open wound in his bare chest, forming a dark puddle on the

floor. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kenna, but I can’t testify to that end—”

“Sure you can. You were right here.” He straightened his suit coat as though his business was

finished. “You saw everything just the way I said.”

He wanted her to lie for him? So he could get away with murder? Well, if he didn’t already

know, he was about to learn that she was a woman with as much integrity as her father. “No,

actually, I didn’t see Stretch do anything to harm you.”

Rocky started down the hallway toward her, and his men followed on his heels. Their footsteps

tapped a dangerous rhythm. If he could kill Stretch, what would stop him from killing her?

The Last Chance Cowboy • Jody Hedlund

Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group © 2022 used by permission

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About the Author

Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of over 30 historical novels for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards, including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Awards. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband, busy family, and five spoiled cats.

Connect with Jody by visiting www.jodyhedlund.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive the full paperback set of the five books 

in the Colorado Cowboys series!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. 

The full tour schedule is linked below. 

The giveaway began at midnight on February 22, 2023, 

and goes through 11:59 PM EST on March 1, 2023. 

The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway 

and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. 

US only. 

Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

The giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

---

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

Scars ~ Book Spotlight with Excerpt

Today I'm taking part

in the Blog + Review Blitz for 

SCARS by Linda K. Rodante, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Book Excerpt

They rode in silence for a while and finally pulled into Howard Park. A short distance across the causeway, he parked on the far side near the water. Evening was dropping fast. Seagulls called, the wind blew cool and damp, and sea-salt smells filled the air.

After kicking off their shoes, they headed across the sun-warmed sand. When they hit the hard sand along the water’s edge, she turned and headed up the beach at a fast clip. Garrett hesitated a moment then met her stride.

They circled the small island, passing a few other late comers. He wondered if a park service employee would run them off soon. The park closed at dark, and dark was almost on them.

Ryann stopped abruptly and glared at the dark waters. So, did she want to talk anymore, or should he leave it?

A half-moon rose over their shoulders competing with the setting sun. The wash of tangerine, blue and sapphire would be gone soon fading into night. Shallow waves rushed and withdrew, their hush-hush sound background music to his thoughts.

He cleared his throat. “I keep hearing about this forgiveness stuff.”

“Yeah, me too. Only if you forgive, that doesn’t change the other person.”

Ah. There was someone she felt should change. His dad kept acting like Garrett should change, and Garrett was sure his dad should. “What if they don’t feel they need to change?”

Her laugh sounded like a bark. “That’s the thing. They don’t feel they have to. So why should I forgive?”

He was sure she should, but she was getting out of his league now. Pastor Alan or Reece could help with that question. “You should ask someone who knows this stuff.”

Ryann shook her head. The wind tossed her hair across her face, brushing her lips. He swallowed, stared over her head at the Gulf waters.

“Maybe?”

She huffed. “Maybe.”

“Someone important hurt you. Let you down. They tell me that’s the stuff you gotta deal with.”

She huffed again.

“That guy you were facing off with at the church? He’s one of those that hurt you, right?”

“Matt? Maybe.”

“Lot of maybes here.” He tilted his head, wondering if he should pry anymore. “Come on. Let’s walk.”

She turned, sent him a long look from under her lashes. “You do this often?”

“Walk at the beach? Just started since joining IronWorks. Some of the guys there come out regularly. I like it. Seems the wind blows dust from my mind.”

“Why did you join the gang?”

He said nothing, but watched the wind catch her hair, twirl it. Behind her, across the waters, the sky had turned dark violet. Warmth stirred in him that had nothing to do with physical desire, but everything to do with the pleasure he felt being with her, that she’d wanted to come, that she’d shared something of herself with him. It made her question not so intrusive, and he gave her the condensed version about his mom dying and his father’s descent into alcoholism and abuse.

She stopped. “I’m sorry about that.”

He could feel her concern. “Yeah, me too.”

“How are you and your dad now?”

“Still a long way from where it should be.”

Her chin dipped as if acknowledging that, and she started walking again. He caught up in two steps. Moonlight shimmered on the waves now. The rush and crash from their interplay creating a hypnotic effect.

Ryann wandered near the water, kicked spray into the air. A hundred lights caught the moon’s glow and winked at them—a counterpoint to her frustration.

He drew close, making sure she could hear him over the wind and waves. “So, Matt?”

She glanced his way but didn’t answer.

Okay then…

He lifted a hand to her cheek. The moonlight glinted on her hair, across her nose. Her lips pulled in, and he felt her studying him, felt her hesitation. He slipped his hand down her jaw, under her hair, to the back of her neck.

How long had it been since he’d wanted to kiss a woman, nothing more on his mind? Since he was fourteen? Sixteen? In the gang, women were objects. To be used. Yet right now all he wanted was to continue this closeness that had suddenly developed between them, to get to know her.

He pulled her gently forward, his gaze searching hers. Lowering his head, turning it, he pressed his mouth against hers, feeling its softness. She didn’t pull away. He dropped his hand down her back, let his arm draw her close, felt the length of her against him.

About the Book

Title: SCARS 

Series: Spiritual Warfare #4 

Author: Linda K. Rodante 

Publisher: Independently published 

Release Date: September 2022 

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romantic Suspense

He tried to leave the past behind, but it won’t leave him…

Ex-gang member Garrett Lovett is a new creature in Christ. At least, he’s trying to be. He’s got a wholesome routine, a place on the IronWorks football team, and a pretty woman he wants to know better. But when the old gang resurfaces with the ultimatum to re-up or face consequences, Garrett has tough decisions to make. These guys know how to get to him—his addictions, his fears. When things get life-threatening, Garrett must decide if this God he’s heard about is real or not.

And if so, can he rescue Garrett and those he loves before it’s too late?

Purchase Links*: Goodreads | Amazon

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About the Author

Linda K. Rodante is a Florida transplant now living in Tennessee. She loves sweet tea, apple butter and both the mountains and the oceans. Her work with crisis pregnancy centers and anti-trafficking groups gave her a heart for women struggling in today’s society, while still respecting the role God has given men.

She writes Christian romantic suspense novels. Her books wrap sweet romance in real-life issues women face today with an edge of mystery and suspense. She desires to entertain and encourage women in their walk with the Lord. Her books can be found on Amazon She’s a past finalist of ACFW's Genesis contest and a member of Word Weavers International.

Connect with Linda by visiting lindarodante.wordpress.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive 

a signed copy of WARRIOR (Spiritual Warfare Series #1) 

and $25 Amazon Gift Card!

The full tour schedule is linked below. 

The giveaway begins at midnight on October 26, 2022, 

and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 2, 2022. 

The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway 

and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. 

US only. 

Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

The giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers ~ Spotlight with Excerpt and Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers by Hope Bolinger, Linda Fulkerson, Rowena Kuo, and Carrie Schmidt, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers 

Authors: Hope Bolinger, Linda Fulkerson, Rowena Kuo, and Carrie Schmidt 

Publisher: Scrivenings Press LLC 

Release Date: October 11, 2022 

Genre: Nonfiction / Writing

Remember when Dorothy finally reached the Emerald City only to be halted by the Gatekeeper, blocking her hopes of seeing the Great and Powerful Wizard?

The path to publication is like that. Agents, and Editors, and Publishers, oh, my! 

Each one is a barrier between you and a publishing contract. 

 But what if you understood what agents, editors, publishers, and readers really want? 

 If you’re struggling to get past the publishing gatekeepers, this book will give you a behind-the-scenes peek at how to win the heart of each type of publishing professional. In fact, Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers won’t just give you a peek—it will give you a guided tour. In this book, four publishing professionals—an agent, a publisher, an editor, and an influencer—share what it takes to unlock each “gate” within the publishing industry. 

 Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers is a must-have resource for all aspiring authors, and it offers insights to help multi-published authors as well. 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub

Subscribe to the Publishing Gatekeepers newsletter and receive a tip sheet on 

12 ways for getting past the gatekeepers.

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Excerpt

~ from the section on editors, written by Rowena Kuo

At writers’ conferences, I expect to see rough drafts, as that is a big part of the experience.

Authors go to conferences to learn and receive help with their manuscripts. However, before

you submit your work to an agent or a publishing house, I recommend that you get your

manuscript edited and polished. A freelance developmental or content editor can help with

that process. They point out loopholes in your story, may suggest rearrangement of chapters,

or strengthening of your plot, conflict, and characters.

Where do you find freelance editors? We come in all genres and all budgets. You can find us on

social media, through referrals from other writers, and you can find us at writers conferences. A

developmental edit can cost you between $300-$2500, depending on word count and the time

it would take to edit your book. If writing your novel takes you a year or more, having it edited

could take just as long. Be patient. Before you obtain the help of a content editor, a way to

improve your manuscript would be for you, the author, to become a Master of Firsts.

How many numbers are there between 0 and 1? As there is an infinite number between 0 and

1, so, too, are there infinite word combinations to consider before you even write your first

sentence. A Master of Firsts recognizes the gift of infinity to lift the limits off how the story

comes to life. What separates failure and greatness fall to just one word: and.                                                                           

What is your and? With what content will you fill your pages? There is infinity between failure

and greatness. “And” equals infinity. Decide now that failure is not an option.

You have only one chance to make a first impression, so the opening lines of your work need to

have impact. The first sentence intrigues the reader, must be compelling enough to hold the

reader’s attention, and may or may not be its own paragraph. The first sentence introduces the

author’s voice. The first line, which sets the tone, can be a quote from a character, and may be

in the middle of an action. A Master of Firsts draws the reader in by the first paragraph. Every

word matters, so don’t waste any. Use strong, active verbs.

An ideal first page has between 100-300 words. You are developing a relationship with your

reader. With your words, you are painting a picture of what your characters are experiencing.

This establishes a dialogue between you and your reader. Your first page should also establish

your Point of View (POV) character.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Hope Bolinger is an acquisitions editor at End Game Press and the author of 21 books. She's contributed to 10 other books, in addition, including Getting Past the Gatekeepers. She loves to model, do theater, and get lost in the woods.

Connect with Hope by visiting hopebolinger.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

USMC veteran Linda Fulkerson began her writing career as a copyeditor and typesetter at a small-town weekly newspaper. She has since been published in several magazines and newspapers, including a two-year stint as a sportswriter and later the online editor of a midsize daily. Linda also served as the director of digital services for the largest media outlet in central Texas. She is the author of two novels, two novellas, and several nonfiction books. In 2020, she founded Scrivenings Press LLC, a traditional publisher of clean and Christian books. 

Linda and her husband, Don, live on a ten-acre plot in central Arkansas. They are part of an RV ministry group and travel the country volunteering at various entities. Linda and Don have four adult children and eight grandchildren. In addition to kicking back in her recliner with a good book, Linda enjoys photography, travel, and spoiling her two dachshunds. 

Connect with Linda by visiting scriveningspress.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.   

Rowena Kuo is the CEO and Executive Editor for Brimstone Fiction, Brimstone Books and Media, and Brimstone Fire. With over 15 years of ministering to children, youth groups, young adults, women, and family groups, Rowena advocates for writers to build God-centered support systems consisting of people, perseverance, practice, and most of all, prayer. She has written for Christian Devotions, Written World Communications, Splickety, and the 168 Write of Passage. When not working on words or films, she is a full-time mom with secret aspirations for spaceflight. 

Connect with Rowena by visiting www.brimstonefiction.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.   

  Carrie Schmidt is an avid reader, book reviewer, story addict, KissingBooks fan, book boyfriend collector, and cool aunt. She also loves Jesus and THE Story a whole lot. Carrie started the popular blog ReadingIsMySuperPower.org in 2015 and since then has had the honor of co-founding the Christian Fiction Readers' Retreat and JustRead Publicity Tours. In addition to these endeavors, she is a regular contributor to Seekerville and has written for magazines such as RT Book Reviews and Christian Market. Carrie now lives in Georgia with her husband, though her roots range from East Tennessee to Central Kentucky and northern Illinois. 

Connect with Carrie by visiting readingismysuperpower.org to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $40 Amazon gift card.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 5, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 12, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

Shoal Waters ~ Blitz with Spotlight, Excerpt, and Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Blitz for 

Shoal Waters by Normandie Fischer, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Shoal Waters 

Series: Carolina Coast Stories #6 

Author: Normandie Fischer 

Publisher: Sleepy Creek Press 

Release Date: June 14, 2022 

Genre: Inspirational/Clean Women's Fiction 

Dementia, mad gunmen, and a yearning for something more make life difficult for the Beaufort folk in this series finale. 

Georgie's mind threatens to go walkabout, and she'd better get help soon if she's to stop her daughter from taking over. Enter granddaughter, Jeminy, a songwriter from L.A., and Eric, her lawyer. 

Jeminy hates herself and is pretty sure God does, too. There’s that huge unforgiveable sin, plus the boyfriend/manager who dumped her and lost her a music deal. Her mistakes. Her fault. 

When Mother plots to tuck Nana Georgie neatly into a nursing home to gain access to Nana’s money, Jeminy hightails it out of L.A. and back to Beaufort. God may still hate her in North Carolina, but at least she’ll be on hand to protect her beloved grandmother. 

Enter Eric, the lawyer hired to help Georgie protect herself--and possibly Jeminy, too. But Eric just rescued his orphaned stepson from Social Services, and while he’s adept at legal briefs and courtroom dramas, classrooms and angry second graders are brand new territory. 

Guitar in hand, Jeminy tries to write songs to jumpstart her flagging career, but when someone threatens her life, she has to ask why. Could it have to do with the money missing from her bank accounts (and maybe her unstable ex)? If she prays for help, will God even listen to someone with her baggage? 

With the help of the Beaufort crew, a new father and a terrified musician struggle to safeguard everyone they love, but it’s going to take more than good neighbors to show each of them the true meaning of grace. 

Purchase Links*

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub   

Excerpt

Jeminy didn’t—wouldn’t—care that her life had been reduced to a moderate

savings account and the plans she now had to make. Nana’s call precipitated her

decision to move out of Los Angeles, and that was no bad thing. It was past time.

This place of promise and glitter had captivated her until she’d looked more

closely at its underbellies, from enclaves peopled with the untouchable elite to Skid

Row’s un-helped homeless. Many of those living in between stumbled around on

the verge of bankruptcy as they clawed toward access to the gated communities.

Once upon a time, she’d been on the fringes of money and fame.

She didn’t—wouldn’t—care about the trappings of her big-city life she’d be

leaving, not the BMW she’d thought hers, not this apartment.

...Tomorrow, it would be off with the old and on with the new, whatever that

was and wherever it would take her and her guitar. A few more hours and this place

would be on the way to being forgotten.

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

 

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Normandie Fischer had the best of several worlds: a Southern heritage, access to schooling in the DC area (which meant lots of cultural adventures), and several years of sculpture studies in Italy. It might have been better for her if she'd used all these opportunities more wisely, but it's possible that the imperfect and the unwise also add fodder for the artist and the writer.

Her life changed radically when she married the love of her life at an age when some would have said she was over the hill and way past her prime. (Clichés often speak the truth, don't they?) A lifelong sailor, she was delighted to find that Michael also longed to cruise lovely waters, which is what they did from Northern CA to Mexico, spending too-few years in the incomparable Sea of Cortez. Sea Venture, their 50' ketch, is back home in North Carolina now because Normandie's mama needed care. Still, it's gorgeous there, too, and she can write from home as easily as she could on the boat. 

Her two grown children and two step-sons are handsome (or gorgeous, as the case may be), talented, and a delight. And now there's a granddaughter and grandson in the mix--woohoo! She just wishes they lived a lot closer to home.

Connect with Normandie by visiting normandiefischer.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and one signed book 
written by Normandie Fischer (winner's choice)!

 

The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight on August 10, 2022, 

and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 17, 2022. The winner will be notified 

within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk 

forfeiture of the prize. 

US/CAN only. 

Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

The giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

The Songs That Could Have Been ~ Review with Giveaway

The Songs That Could Have Been
Sedgwick County Chronicles #2

By Amanda Wen 

The Songs That Could Have Been is a split-time story that is set in the present day and the mid-1950s. In the present-day part of the story, we are introduced to Lauren Anderson and Carter Douglas who thirteen years ago as teens were in love but broke up leaving them with regrets. A chance meeting brings them back into one another's lives. Is this a second chance or an opportunity to put the past and its regrets behind them?

The past comes into play when Lauren's grandmother begins speaking of an Ephraim, a name neither Lauren nor her brother Garrett have ever heard her mention before. Who is Ephraim and can finding him settle their Grandmother Rosie's mind?

This book is an emotionally moving and even, at times, tragic story as secrets and prejudices threaten to tear two different couples apart. In 1955, Kansas mixed-race romance is not just unheard of, it is forbidden. But Rosie Gibson's life is much fuller after offering a "Hello," to Roosevelt High's newest senior. The present-day deals with binging, purging, drinking, and all the feelings of guilt and worthlessness that go hand-in-hand with it. But there is hope too, hope for what tomorrow offers and the hope that God offers. I would recommend this as a potential book club option or for anyone who loves split-time fiction.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book: Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace. After a devastating tailspin in her late teens, Lauren Anderson’s life is finally back on track. Then a chance meeting with Carter Douglas, her first love and the man who broke her heart, threatens to throw her well-balanced world out of control. Now a TV meteorologist, Carter is determined to make amends with Lauren. After all, she still owns his heart. But his old demons are forcing him toward the same decision he faced in the past. Is he courageous enough to make a different choice this time around? When Lauren’s elderly grandmother, Rosie, begins having nightmares about a man named Ephraim--a name her family has never heard before—a fascinating and forbidden past love comes to light. As Lauren and Carter work to uncover the untold stories of Rosie’s past in 1950s Wichita, they embark on a journey of forgiveness and second chances that will change their lives—and Rosie’s—forever. Along the way they’ll learn that God wastes nothing, his timing is perfect, and nothing is beyond his grace and redemption. The Songs That Could Have Been is full of the same deftly handled, resonant writing that readers and critics alike enjoyed in Amanda Wen's first book in the series, Roots of Wood and Stone. Fans of Lisa Wingate and Rachel Hauck will add Amanda Wen to their must-read shelves.

Click here to read an excerpt.

What Others Are Saying:

“A reading experience both heartfelt and heart-tugging, a timeless exploration of young and enduring love and the grace found in second chances. Amanda Wen is a rare and remarkable storyteller, and this is a novel I will not soon forget.” –Amanda Barratt, Christy Award-winning author of The White Rose Resists.

“A stunning journey of loss, love, and yearning. . . . Past and present are deftly woven together in this dual-timeline narrative that will leave readers flying through the pages.” – Amanda Cox, author of the 2021 Christy Award Book of the Year, The Edge of Belonging About the Author: Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple writing contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions contests. She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist. Her debut novel was a 2021 Christy Award First Novel finalist. Wen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She also frequently interviews authors for her blog and is a contributor to the God Is Love blog. She is the author of Roots of Wood and Stone and The Songs That Could Have Been. In addition to her writing, Wen is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team. She serves as a choral accompanist as well. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Wen lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat. To find Amanda Wen’s blog and short stories, visit www.amandawen.com.  Readers can also follower her on Facebook (@AuthorAmandaWen), Twitter (@AuthorAmandaWen), and Instagram (@authoramandawen). Giveaway:

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