Their Yuletide Healing ~ Review

Their Yuletide Healing 
Bliss, Texas#4

by Mindy Obenhaus

They deserve a perfect Christmas...

and Max and Maggie's foster mom Rae Girard is prepared to do everything in her power to ensure that they get it. But how to reach two children traumatized by the abuse they saw will take some work and maybe some help. And Rae doesn't do help easily.  

When Bliss's Mistletoe Ball lands in the middle of her life Rae is less than thrilled, especially when Cole Heinsohn is asked to "help" her pull it all together. Cole is everything Rae isn't aloof, grim, unsocial, and not a fan of Christmas. How such a person is expected to help is beyond Rae's imagination, but Cole proves to be a surprise especially when he takes an active interest in both Max and Maggie.

Romance is something neither Rae nor Cole is interested in due to their painful pasts so of course one expects that to go out the window. And what follows is a sweet story of care, concern, and a chance at family. Their Yuletide Healing is one of those leave-you-happy books though there are a few times you may want to have a tissue or two nearby. A perfect book to get you in the holiday spirit. And there is even a special visit with Santa that is more than a little touching.

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: Their Yuletide Healing 

Series: Bliss, Texas 

Author: Mindy Obenhaus 

Publisher: Love Inspired 

Release Date: November 30, 2021 

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance 

As her plans unravel, can she give her children what they truly need? 

Foster mom Rae Girard’s determined to make her children’s first Christmas with her the best they’ve ever had—and she’s shocked when the town scrooge, attorney Cole Heinsohn, offers to pitch in. Rae’s young charges have melted Cole’s heart, and he wants them to experience the special day he never had. But when disaster strikes, an imperfect holiday might bring them something better: a family…

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | ChristianBook | BookBub

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups and countless cattle. She’s passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, you’ll likely find her in the kitchen, spending time with her grandchildren or roaming the ranch in search of inspiration. She’d love to connect with you via her website, mindyobenhaus.com, or on Facebook.

CONNECT WITH MINDY: Website | Facebook | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a copy of all four Bliss, Texas series books and a $20 Amazon gift card.

 

(1) winner will receive a copy of four Bliss, Texas series books and a $20 Amazon gift card. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on December 6, 2021.) 

To Enter, go to my Instagram post and follow @mindy.obenhaus, @justreadtours, & Tag 2 friends in the same comment on this Instagram post or any other hosted post of this tour. Enter up to 3x per post.

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Initium ~ Review with eBook Giveaway

Initium
The SNAP Agency #0.5
by Natalie Walters 

Initium is set mainly in 1998 with glimpses in time from 2013 to 2020. Why this jump in time, you ask. Well, this is the origin story of how SNAP came into existence and the various ways the team members who we see in action came together.

CIA Intel officer Tom Walsh is less than pleased when the CIA pulls out of Ireland leaving one of their own behind. Tom feels there is a better way to get the job done and not risk the lives of his people unnecessarily.  Can such an endeavor be possible? Tom is determined to make it so and only the best people for the job will be on his team.

This is a prequel to Lights Out and can be read either before or after Initium. I read this after reading Lights Out and in some ways I liked that because I got to know the SNAP Agency the same way CIA analyst Brynn Taylor did. 

This book is a novella so it is a quick and engaging read. I felt a connection with Tom as he made every effort to determine what happened to his friend and fellow operative Sean when he went missing after a bombing in Ireland. Was Sean the villain, a victim, or a convenient scapegoat for a mission gone wrong? Tom is going to find out even if he has to go it alone.  I highly recommend this as a great breaktime read and the price is excellent and well worth it.

About the Book:

When an explosion rattled the cobblestone streets of Ireland in 1998, it left the CIA questioning one of their own, but Intel officer Tom Walsh refuses to believe his friend Sean is guilty. Tom is certain Sean wasn’t behind the misdirection of information that led to the deaths of dozens, but he’s missing and the CIA won’t go back to find him or the truth.

Unwilling to let Sean become a scapegoat for a botched mission, Tom quits the CIA and takes an unsanctioned contract job with the hopes of finding his friend and those responsible for the deadly attack. But when the new mission goes awry, Tom finds himself in a battle against an Irish dissident paramilitary group determined to strike again.

With only a hunch to go on and a red-headed bartender’s help, Tom puts himself in the path of danger and discovers his own passion for stepping in where the government can’t.

Get ready for Lights Out with this glimpse into the life of the man behind the SNAP Agency and what pushed him to find a better way to strategically protect and neutralize threats against America and her citizens. In this fast-paced novella you’ll meet Director Walsh as he assembles his team: Jack Hudson, Lyla Fox, Nicolás Garcia, and Kekoa Young.

Giveaway:

One winner in the US will win a copy of this novella as a Kindle ebook.

You will supply the email address you want the ebook notification sent to.

This giveaway is sponsored by Blooming with Books as a special thank you to my followers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To Stand in the Breach ~ Review

To Stand in the Breach

Strike to the Heart #0.5
By Danielle Grandinetti

Katy Wells does as little to draw attention to herself as possible, but with the threat of a strike looming she needs to take a stand for her patients. Most wouldn't think of speaking up for cows but Katy treats them when they have health issues arise and with the low price of milk hurting the local farmers she knows she must speak up. But her concerns are brushed aside, after all, she is but a woman and most likely highly excitable, especially where political and financial concerns are being discussed. Welcome to 1933 Wisconsin, whose problems surprisingly are similar to those facing dairy farmers in 2021.

Katy has come to Eagle, Wisconsin, to hide from her uncle, a man who sought to lock her away for life. When she receives word that her uncle has managed to track her from Ireland to her current home - she has a choice before her, flee as she has done in past or stand firm in the face of open hostility? She's never placed her trust in many men but to survive the threats coming her way she may have to trust Joey Moore, a deputy with the police. But trust means vulnerability and that is something Katy never wants to appear.

To Stand in the Breach is a quick read that is an introduction to A Strike to the Heart which releases in April of 2022. This novella sets the stage for us allowing a glimpse into a time and place struggling for survival. Farming is a hard unrewarding life and the barely-there prices that farmers are getting for their milk is driving them from their farms, seeking better prices the only way they can - by threatening to strike. But strikes have a history of solving little while costing much. It was interesting to get a glimpse into a world that has the same issues facing it today. I'm interested to see how everything plays out in A Strike to the Heart.

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:

Series: Prequel Novella to A Strike to the Heart Publisher: Hearth Spot Press Release Date: October 12, 2021 Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense She came to America to escape a workhouse prison, but will the cost of freedom be too high a price to pay? 1933, Wisconsin - Large animal veterinarian Katy Wells takes her patients’ welfare personally, so it’s no surprise when she stands up to angry farmers planning a milk strike or takes in an injured draft horse to save its life. But after a visitor from the past discovers her location and reveals a threat, she must choose between her work and her freedom, and whether to trust a man to keep her safe. To Stand in the Breach is the prequel novella to A Strike to the Heart, which will release in April 2022.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookBub

Deadly Target ~ Review

Deadly Target

Rocky Mountain Courage #2

By Elizabeth Goddard

Erin Larson has been running from her past and from her future. She's carried a secret for most of her life a secret that has controlled everything. In her spare time she revisits cold case through a podcast - hoping to bring justice to those who have received none and to bring answers and closure to their family and friends.

When Erin receives word that her mother tried to end her own life she wonders how she, a criminal psychologist, could have missed the warning signs. Leaving her life in Washington state behind for the foreseeable future she returns home to Montana to care for her mother. But returning home means she'll have to face Nathan Campbell at some point.

Nathan always thought Erin was the one for him, until she broke his heart and fled to the Pacific Northwest. Spending time with her is the last thing he wants to do, but he needs her help. Someone tried to kill his father and Nathan needs her expertise to get answers to questions. 

But soon Erin and Nathan's search for answers puts them directly in the line of fire. The only question is why? Is it something from the past? Their current investigation? Or Erin's search into the past?  With few clues to go on they'll need to move quickly if they hope to stay ahead of the danger and get the answers they seek.

Deadly Target is the second book in Elizabeth Goddard's Rocky Mountain Courage series. If you haven't read book one you really should just to get some background info on some of the other characters, but you can easily read this book without that previous knowledge. 

Looking for fast-paced heart-pounding excitement but without the graphic violence or over-the-top-language? Like a touch of romance in your suspense? Second-chances? Well this book has all that and more to keep your attention glued to the pages from beginning to end. Those familiar with Elizabeth Goddard's work will have no disappointments with this newest book.

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:

Criminal psychologist Erin Larson's dreams of a successful career come to a screeching halt when she nearly loses her own life in a boating accident on Puget Sound and then learns that her mother tried to commit suicide. She leaves her job as a criminal psychologist to care for her mother in Montana. At least she is able to produce her podcast, which focuses on solving missing persons cold cases.

Nathan Campbell's father was investigating such a case when he was shot, and now Nathan needs to enlist Erin's help to solve the case. She's good at what she does. The only problem? She's his ex.

As the two dig deeper, it becomes clear that they, too, are being targeted--and that the answers to their questions are buried deep within the past Erin struggles to explain and longs to forget.

The race is on for the truth in this gripping and complex tale of suspense, intrigue, and murder from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard.

Lights Out ~ Review

Lights Out

The SNAP Agency #1

By Natalie Walters

Brynn Taylor's job and future are on the line when an Egyptian spy goes missing in the DC area. What's worse he's in the country on her say-so for a program she's developed to foster goodwill among foreign agencies in the war against terrorism. 

SNAP (Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency) has been handed control of the mission to discover the whereabouts of a missing Egyptian spy and determine what threat he is to US security. Heading the team is Jack Hudson. And he is less than thrilled to learn that Brynn has been assigned as their CIA liaison on the case. Her betrayal nearly a decade ago has him questioning her trust factor, especially with her career drive.

The deeper Brynn and SNAP dig the more questions they uncover and the more Federal Agencies pull in. A vital piece of the puzzle is missing and until they uncover it nothing is making sense. And time is against them.

Lights Out is the first book in The SNAP Agency series and if this book is any indication it is going to be an on-the-edge-of-your-seat, can't-put-it-down series. Who needs big-screen thrillers when you have a book by Natalie Walters in your hand? This is your next must-read book!

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:

CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of them, Egyptian spy Remon Riad, is missing.

Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn't at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It's hard to trust a woman who's already betrayed you.

Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning--the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.

Can Brynn surrender control to a man who doesn't trust her? And can Jack ever get over what she did to him? The fate of the world--and their hearts--hangs in the balance.

Songs in the Storm ~ Review

Songs in the Storm

Wind River Chronicles #2

by Kathy Geary Anderson

Songs in Storm is the sequel/companion book to The Trouble with Jenny but it follows the couple who accompanied Jenny on her trip to Wyoming. Rob and Maddie Skivington have had their lives upended when Rob's cough turns out to be something more - tuberculosis. Often a death sentence - Rob has been given hope that if he leaves the life he has known behind and head to the open clean air of Wyoming he could recover and live a long fairly healthy life.

But leaving their friends, family, and their life behind isn't any easy choice especially for Maddie. But with Rob's life as the cost of staying they have no choice.

The life they embark on isn't easy but it is one that they have chosen.

Songs in the Storm is a good addition to the Wind River Chronicles and it can easily be read as a stand-alone title as it runs somewhat parallel to The Trouble with Jenny chronologically speaking. The troubles and obstacles that Rob and Maddie face will either strengthen or divide them. And Maddie isn't about to let anything divide them not if she has a say in the matter.

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.

Series: Wind River Chronicles #2 Publisher: Purple Autumn Press Release Date: October 19, 2021 Genre: Christian Historical Fiction The blood on the handkerchief changed everything. The year 1900 promises to be a good one for Rob and Maddie Skivington. Recently married, they look forward to building a home near family and friends in the busy industrial city of Newark where Rob owns a fledgling jewelry business. Then, an irritating cough that has plagued Rob for months turns out to be something far more insidious:  tuberculosis. When Rob’s doctor suggests a change in environment and climate, they sell their business and head to Wyoming in a desperate quest for health. They soon find themselves pitted not only against the harsh environment and natural predators but also against a group of ranchers who seem determined to send them back to Newark.        But sometimes the strongest storms of all are those that rage within. When despair and loneliness and tragedy strike, the couple must turn to God to help them weather those onslaughts or risk being torn apart.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 

Enamored ~ Review

Enamored

Knights of Brethren #1

By Jody Hedlund

She's never wanted to rule but she is her uncle's chosen heir and she has choice before her. She must choose who will rule at her side. Elinor hoped for a love match but the noblemen gathered for the weeklong courtship have not touched her heart. With only a week to decide she is feeling the pressure to make a decision that will benefit the kingdom if she doesn't find the man whose heart calls to hers.

Maxim never wanted to leave Elinor behind but as a child he was given little choice - their friendship was a threat to what can be. After years away Maxim has been summoned home by the father who never approved of him. And now Maxim is slowly being trapped by Rasmus's machinations. With a mind adept at solving the most complex problems Maxim only hopes that he can find a way out of the problem he now finds himself in. 

Can he save the kingdom and people who mean the most to him? Or will he become but the latest pawn in this battle of minds?

Enamored is the first book in the Knights of the Brethren series and it will quite literally leave you wanting the next book now. This is an all too delightful book filled with intrigue, danger, daring and romance. Pick it up and you too will be enamored from the beginning. Jody Hedlund's YA books are the perfect weekend or nighttime get-away and a must read!

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:

During a time when legends were born . . .

ENAMORED

A princess in need of a husband, a young Sage who cannot have her, and a web of deceit that threatens their love

Having been raised by her childless aunt and uncle, the king and queen, Princess Elinor finds herself the only heir to the throne of Norvegia. As she comes of age, she must choose a husband to rule beside her, but she struggles to make her selection from among a dozen noblemen during a weeklong courtship.

With aspirations to become the wisest man in the land, Maxim is summoned home by his father Rasmus, a Royal Sage. Reunited with Elinor, once his closest friend, Maxim is quickly enamored with her even though he can never be considered a prospect for her husband.

Elinor’s feelings for Maxim are rekindled too . . . until she learns he has been unwillingly drawn into Rasmus’s scheme to take control of the throne. With the kingdom under attack both from within and without, can Elinor and Maxim overcome the deceit spinning around them? Or will it destroy their love once and for all?

The real story of Excalibur.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque ~ Review

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque

By Todd M. Johnson

Having read the author's previous works which were not historical fiction I was interested to see how he did in this new genre. The story overall was attention-grabbing - a ship arriving at the Port of London late at night and immediately seized for acting as pirates against a French ship. The Captain declares that he was working under a Letter of Marque provided by the Crown. Hanging or deportation to a prison colony is all that Captain Harold Tuttle can look forward to in his future and his cousin and uncle could lose everything to the debt the money they invested in the venture.

With little hope of fighting the Crown and winning, Lady Madeleine Jameson seeks to secure the skills of William Snopes a barrister whom she feels is her best chance of securing her cousin's freedom and the cargo held within the holds of her seized ship.

Since he turned his back on the home of his childhood and his father's misdeeds William Snoopes has done nothing to gain the favor of London's upper-class into ranks he was born. He never fought on their behalf once he became a barrister on his own. That is until Lady Jameson managed to appeal to his sense of justice.

Now I am in no way a historical expert so as to the historical soundness of the book I can make no statement one way or the other. But I will say I found the book to be an engaging and enjoyable experience. Political intrigue, subterfuge, mystery, murder, piracy, and a coverup and little time to prepare for their day in court. I for one would love to read another book starring Barrister William Snopes.

I enjoyed this book with both a paperback and the audible version. The narration by Samuel Roukin was excellent and highly recommended. Perfect for your commute or as a companion to your daily chores. The audio pacing didn't drag and the various major characters were presented so that they were identifiable. 

I received a complimentary copy of the paperback book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion  ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

As a barrister in 1818 London, William Snopes has witnessed firsthand the danger of only the wealthy having their voices heard, and he's a strong advocate who defends the poorer classes against the powerful. That changes the day a struggling heiress, Lady Madeleine Jameson, arrives at his door.

In a last-ditch effort to save her faltering estate, Lady Jameson invested in a merchant brig, the Padget. The ship was granted a rare privilege by the king's regent: a Letter of Marque authorizing the captain to seize the cargo of French traders operating illegally in the Indian Sea. Yet when the Padget returns to London, her crew is met by soldiers ready to take possession of their goods and arrest the captain for piracy. And the Letter--the sole proof his actions were legal--has mysteriously vanished.

Moved by the lady's distress, intrigued by the Letter, and goaded by an opposing solicitor, Snopes takes the case. But as he delves deeper into the mystery, he learns that the forces arrayed against Lady Jameson, and now himself, are even more perilous than he'd imagined.

Something New ~ Review

Something New

Cornwall Brides #2

By Rebecca Connolly

Something New is the second book Cornwall Brides series and this time we follow a new couple whose marriage is a business arrangement in which our lovely bride - Miss Adelaide Dyer is less than thrilled with the arrangement her father has undertaken on her behalf. Lord Harrison Basset lives in Cornwall of all places - some out of the way hidden place of no importance. Worse she wanted a match with affection at least a possibility - with Lord Basset she never laid eyes on him until after the contract was signed.

With such a beginning one can hardly expect much in the way of a happy marriage. But one could be surprised.

This is at times a humorous read while at others it is tragic. It was interesting getting to know both Adelaide and Harrison and the community around them as they navigate this new chapter in their lives. Can love grow from disdain and resignation? Or will the looks good on paper match be that only on paper? Overall a delightful read that can be read as a standalone IF you have not yet book one - Something Old (but it is one you'll want to read later if not before).

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectation other than that I provide my honest opinion - All thoughts expressed are my own. 

About the Book:

Harrison, Lord Basset, wants a simple, polite marriage of convenience. Nothing emotional or dramatic, nothing that will give him any cause for concern or strife. Arranging a match with the beautiful Miss Adelaide Dyer fits his needs perfectly, and all seems rather straightforward. Until he meets her.

Adelaide has no say in this marriage her father agreed to, but that does not mean she must submit quietly. Lord Basset might be strikingly handsome, but if he thinks to have a calm, biddable wife, he is mistaken. And as for living an uncomplicated married life in the wiles of Cornwall... Well, she would see about that.

When fire and ice come together, til death do they part, will either of them succumb to their growing attraction? Or will their mutual stubbornness keep the tension at bay?

Right Here Waiting ~ Review with Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 

Right Here Waiting by Michelle Sass Aleckson 

presented by Susan May Warren, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Right Here Waiting
Deep Haven Collection #6
By Michelle Sass Aleckson 

Presented by Susan May Warren

Nick Dahlquist is determined to prove to Deep Haven and the Dahlquist family that he isn't the failure who almost burned down the family restaurant all those years ago. So maybe he didn't inherit the family cooking gene but he is going to succeed as a dog musher, he just needs to get out from under his ever growing mound of debt and fast.

Jae Lynn Washington is Deep Haven's newest CRT team member and she's looking for a place to call home. She's followed Nick online for awhile and even struck up an online friendship with him. But their first face-to-face doesn't go how she could have imagined. Nope it was bad. 

With such a stellar first meeting it could only get better, right? 

As Jae and Nick get to know one another they'll have deal with their pasts if they have any hopes for a future. And suddenly the future doesn't look quite so bleak. But learning to trust someone with your innermost thoughts as and feelings feels exposing.

Right Here Waiting is the sixth book in the Deep Haven Collection. It like the previous books in the series can be read as a standalone title. Overall this is good read. Jae and Nick both have major trust issues going on and asking for help is not something either wants to do. Can they overcome what stands between them or will they spend life filled with regrets? This is one book you don't want to miss!

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: Right Here Waiting
Series: Deep Haven Collection #6
Author: Michelle Sass Aleckson presented by Susan May Warren
Publier: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: November 9, 2021
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

She doesn’t belong in his world—but she’s determined to try.

Sled dog musher and outdoor adventurer Nick Dahlquist doesn’t mean to be a loner—he just feels at home in the woods, with his dogs, and online in his vlogging world, where he’s amassed nearly a million viewers. But he’s just a simple guy, with simple goals—care for his dogs, teach people how to survive the cold, and run the Iditarod. Unfortunately, life turns cold when his lead dog is injured, and he’s low on funds. Good thing he has LadyJHawk to chat with. She’s become an online friend he can turn to, and he’s starting to need her more than he’d like to admit. But the last thing he wants is for some random woman to show up on his doorstep… 

Chopper pilot and Texas gal Jae Lynn Washington has been following Nick’s DogQuest videos and Get Lost in the Woods vlogs since she inherited her deceased boyfriend’s military working dog. Three years later, his online friendship has made her wonder if he could be more than a friend. What if she moved to Deep Haven? Would that be considered stalking, even if she got a bonafide job on the Crisis Response Team? 

When Jae shows up in Deep Haven—and on Nick’s doorstep—he’s not at all the man she met online. And when Nick is tapped to train the team, he’s pretty sure petite, summer-loving Jae won’t last a moment in the brutal cold—a fear he pours out to LadyJHawk. As their training takes a personal turn, their chilly start begins to thaw. But what will happen if he discovers that Jae and LadyJHawk are one and the same? 

When a blizzard strikes, and the CRT is called out into the storm, more than just their relationship is at risk… 

Cozy up to this delightful twist on You’ve Got Mail set in the snowy escape of Deep Haven. 

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

ALSO AVAILABLE

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Susan May Warren is the USA Today best-selling novelist of 80 books. With more than 1.5 million books in print, she is beloved by reviewers and readers around the world. Visit Susan at www.susanmaywarren.com.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

After growing upon both the east and west coasts, Michelle Sass Aleckson now lives the country life in central Minnesota with her own hero and their four kids. She loves rocking out to 80’s music on a Saturday night, playing Balderdash with the fam, and getting lost in good stories. Especially stories that shine grace. And if you’re wondering, yes, Sass is her maiden name. Visit her at www.michellealeckson.com.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter 

Merging the creative energies of best-selling authors Susan May Warren and Lindsay Harrel, Sunrise Publishing is the matchmaker for established authors who want to build on their current success for future growth and aspiring authors looking to break out, build an audience, and hone their writing skills. 

CONNECT WITH SUNRISE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | admin@sunrisepublishing.com

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card + 3 Right Here Waiting ebooks (one ebook for the winner and two to give to friends)!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight November 9, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on November 16, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US 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!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Carved in Ebony ~ Review with Giveaway

Carved in Ebony
By Jasmine L. Holmes
from Bethany House

Their faith shaped their lives and the lives of those around them and we can still learn from their example.

Carved in Ebony takes the reader on a journey through history to examine the lives of ten extraordinary women of faith who also were women of color. See how today we are still seeing the impact that their faith had even though they themselves are not common-tip-of-the-tongue names. 

I will admit I had not previously heard or read about any of these ten women of faith. Women who lived their lives guided by this faith. Women, who were shaped by the world they lived in - a world of slavery and prejudice - but yet they were not stifled or silenced by it. But they took a stand and lived a life worthy of examination and of emulation. The type of life we should all strive for - one of making the world around us better.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3lXqt2E #ad

Through the lives of Elizabeth Freeman, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Amanda Berry Smith, Mamie Till, and others, author and speaker Jasmine Holmes shares the significant role that Black women have played in the formation of our faith–and are playing in our formation as modern-day women of faith.

As these historical figures take the stage with Holmes, you will be inspired by what the stories of these women can teach us about education, birth, privilege, and so much more. Carved in Ebony will take you past the predominately white, male contributions that seemingly dominate history books to discover how Black women have been some of the main figures in defining the landscape of American history and faith.

Come along on Jasmine’s journey and be encouraged by the powerful and persuasive Black women of our past so that you can help inspire a better, more inclusive future.

Giveaway – (1) winner will receive a print copy of The Happy Crab, Prepare Him Room, and Make Their Day. (print US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 8, 2021.)

⇒ To Enter, go to Instagram follow @jasminelholmes @bethany_house_nonfiction @justreadtours & Tag 2 friends in the same comment on this post or any other hosted post of this tour. Enter up to 3x per post. 

Carved in Ebony ~ Blog Blitz with Excerpt

 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for Carved in Ebony 

by Jasmine L. Holmes, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Carved in Ebony
Author: Jasmine L. Holmes
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: November 2, 2021
Genre: Christian History / Biography

Through the lives of Elizabeth Freeman, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Amanda Berry Smith, Mamie Till, and others, author and speaker Jasmine Holmes shares the significant role that Black women have played in the formation of our faith--and are playing in our formation as modern-day women of faith. 

As these historical figures take the stage with Holmes, you will be inspired by what the stories of these women can teach us about education, birth, privilege, and so much more. Carved in Ebony will take you past the predominately white, male contributions that seemingly dominate history books to discover how Black women have been some of the main figures in defining the landscape of American history and faith. 

Come along on Jasmine's journey and be encouraged by the powerful and persuasive Black women of our past so that you can help inspire a better, more inclusive future.

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Jasmine L. Holmes has written for The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, Fathom Mag, Christianity Today, and The Witness. Jasmine is the author of Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope, and contributor for Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Our Identity in Christ, and His Testimony, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God. She teaches humanities in a classical Christian school in Jackson, Mississippi, where she and her husband, Phillip, are parenting three young sons.

CONNECT WITH JASMINE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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EXCERPT

Chapter 8 – “A Refined Negro Woman: Lucy Craft Laney” from Carved in Ebony by Jasmine Holmes, pp. 135–136, 237 words (edited)

From the age of fourteen, Lucy Craft Laney knew what she wanted to be: a teacher. And she spent her entire life in dogged pursuit of this goal. Her focus was on the uplift of the Black youth of Augusta, Georgia, and she threw herself so completely into that focus that she lived on the campus where she taught. She operated within her small corner of the world with a faithfulness that we would do well to emulate, even if our different corners seem further reaching than hers.

Lucy is a testament to what it looks like to faithfully stick to a task. Although she was involved in activism as well as education, the bulk of her time was spent in the classroom and in facilitating the classroom experiences of other teachers. She does not have a host of speeches that I can pull from to illustrate her faith in Christ, but perhaps more than any other woman in this book, she has the testimony of the people who knew her and saw her service up close. 

What an incredible testimony of God’s faithfulness this woman was. From enslaved parentage to a thorough education lived out in quiet, humble intellect and service to others.

What a legacy she left, not only for her students, but for every person who picks up her story.

What a legacy she has left me.

What a legacy she has left you.

Excerpt from Carved in Ebony by Jasmine L. Holmes provided by Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Copyright Oct. 12, 2021. Used by permission.

http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a copy of The Happy Crab by Layla & Kevin Palmer, Prepare Him Room by Susie Larson, and Make Their Day by Karen Ehman.

 

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 27, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 3, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US 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!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Heirs of Falcon Point ~ Review with Giveaway

Heirs of Falcon Point

By Traci Hunter Abramson,

    Sian Ann Bessey,

    Paige Edwards, and

    A.L. Sowards

First off, let me just say -"You have to read this book!" The story from start to finish is excellent. 

Eighty years ago the Lang family lost everything to the Nazis when Austria came under their control. The three Lang children managed to survive the violence that came to their home but it forever separated them in a world being torn apart by war.

Fast forward to today and we are introduced to the descendants of the Lang children and the descendant of the man responsible for forever altering their lives and their world. Now, these cousins have never met one another nor were they aware of the existence of each other. But somehow they are all finding their way to the truths of their grandparents' (or great-grandparents') pasts. Anna and Cole have been searching with little to no success while Tess and Lars had no idea of their family's past.

But someone is determined to keep the truth hidden and prevent the Lang children from claiming what is theirs by birth. And if necessary murder is an option that could be employed to silence them forever. And these heirs have no idea of the danger they are in.

I really enjoyed this book - it was one of those can't put it down books. Before this year all of these authors were new to me and before this book I had only read Paige Edwards. When you have four authors create a book one would expect some weak spots where their work comes together but this book was excellent and seamless throughout the story and during scene/character transitions. I, for one, would love a follow-up book staring all of these characters just to see what happens next in their lives. That being said the story does come to a satisfying conclusion, it's just that I really enjoyed getting to know these characters so much. 

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:

In the early days of World War II, the Lang family lost everything. 

Eighty years later, it's time to take it back.

The Nazis have taken control of Austria, and wealthy widower Leopold Lang faces a difficult decision: join the ranks of the foreign power that has taken over his homeland or flee with his children to safety. Leopold makes his choice--but too late. His family is ripped apart, never to be reunited. But decades later, fate brings together the descendants of this broken dynasty in the place where it all began--Falcon Point.

Anna, Cole, and Tess have never met, each relying on fractured pieces of information to understand their Austrian heritage. But when unforeseen opportunities draw these Lang cousins to to Falcon Point, they soon discover they are not alone in their quest to claim the coveted property and the fabled treasure hidden within. Unfortunately, another claimant, one with a much darker heritage, is determined to eliminate the Lang family once and for all.

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Enter to win a paperback copy of 

Heirs of Falcon Point

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Heirs of Falcon Point Blog Tour Stops

Monday, October 18

https://emilyflynncrc.wixsite.com/readingwithemily

https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog

www.myboodaday.com

Tuesday, October 19

http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com

www.booksaresanity.blogspot.com

Literarytimeout.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 20

http://BloomingwithBooks.blogspot.com

https://booklooksbylisa.blogspot.com

www.bookconfessionsblog.com

Thursday, October 21

www.booksandsockrock.com

http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/

Friday, October 22

https://thereadingmamas.wixsite.com/website

https://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/

http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/