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

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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!

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:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Her Darkest Secret ~ Blog Blitz with Excerpt and Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 

Her Darkest Secret by Jessica R. Patch, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Her Darkest Secret
Author: Jessica R. Patch
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired TRADE
Release Date: June 28, 2022
Genre: Christian, Psychological Thriller with a romance thread

When a cold-case serial killer returns, FBI special agent Fiona Kelly has one last chance to stop him before he claims the prize he’s always wanted—her. 

The sight of a goose feather at a murder scene modeled after a children’s poem is enough to make FBI special agent Fiona Kelly’s blood turn to ice. Almost two decades ago, a feather was left with her sister’s body—and with every subsequent victim of the Nursery Rhyme Killer. Now he’s back. Only this time, his latest gruesome murder is a message to the only one who ever got away: Fiona. Finding “Rhyme” is an obsession that’s fueled Fiona’s career—and destroyed her marriage to fellow FBI agent Asa Kodiak. Now Fiona and Asa have to put their past tensions aside and work together one last time. But Rhyme is watching, and catching this killer may force Fiona to reveal her biggest, darkest secret…the one only he knows.

Purchase Links*: 

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

 

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Excerpt

Rhyme easily blended in with the rest of the onlooking crowd.

Asa Kodiak.

The name alone gave him a sour taste on his tongue, but things couldn’t have panned out any

better. Kodiak’s new girlfriend was in charge of the crime scene. Not that it would have mattered

who had been lead—Kodiak would have been called in once they saw Jenny’s body. Saw the feather.

Asa was right now seeing it. A million thoughts flying through his thick skull—one in particular.

Before the day was out, Kodiak would call for Fiona. Tell her he needed her back in Memphis to

work the case, but she’d know that it was Rhyme who had actually beckoned her.

It was time to come home.

To him.

 

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About the Author

 

Jessica R. Patch is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her dry wit, signature twists, and complex characters. She loves reading true crime books, discussing cold cases over chips and salsa with her girlfriends, and hunting down serial killers in her romantic suspense novels and psychological thrillers.

Jessica loves to encourage and inspire people to forward living through her Patch of Hope devotions in her monthly email newsletter. You can join the Patched In community at her website: www.jessicarpatch.com. She resides in the Memphis area with her husband, two young adult children, and her spoiled tri-color Shetland Sheepdog. Jessica is represented by Rachel Kent at Books & Such Literary Management. 

Connect with Jessica: 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of Her Darkest Secret, 
Brain Games WHODUNIT:  Solve Crime Scene Puzzles Book, 
and a Shine cross necklace!

 

The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway began at midnight on June 28, 2022, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 5, 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!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Impending Strike ~ Spotlight with Excerpt

 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for 

Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams and Lynette Eason, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Impending Strike 
Series: Elite Guardians Collection #2
Author: Sami A. Abrams and Lynette Eason
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: June 28, 2022
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Protecting him just might cost her everything… 

Elite Guardian Charlie Lee knows that there is no future with the woman he loves—fellow Guardian Lizzie Tremaine. And, he gets it—as a single mom, Lizzie has to protect her daughter. But more than anything, he wants the chance to prove himself. 

Then, the unthinkable happens—while working undercover, Charlie is seriously injured…and his memory of the past four years is lost. Could it be the fresh start that he didn’t realize he longed for? 

Despite a friendship that’s turned flirtatious at times, Lizzie Tremaine has held Charlie at arms’ length. She’s lost all the men she’s ever loved, and is unwilling to risk her heart again. Still, she’s glad to keep an eye on him—as his bodyguard—and while she’s at it, help him put the pieces of his past together, including discovering who attacked him, and why. 

But Charlie seems to have forgotten their agreed-upon professional distance—and suddenly, all the rules are off the table. She’s seeing a side of Charlie she could possibly let into her heart. Problem is, the closer he gets to uncovering his memories, the closer he gets to trouble. 

It’s her heart…or his life. What will protecting Charlie cost her? 

Another edge-of-your-seat Elite Guardians thriller!

Purchase Links*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

More books in this series

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Excerpt

Each planned drug buy raked on Charlie’s nerves. The lifestyle wore on him. After a year of
setting up his presence in the drug scene and five weeks of full work undercover, he wondered how
much more he had in him to continue.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and fiddled with his burner phone. His touchstone. His
lifeline to the safe world. No names, only speed dial numbers of his Elite Guardians Agency
teammates and Quinn. The women had insisted that he include their numbers. He’d resisted, not
wanting to put the members of the agency in danger. But they’d reminded him that’s what a team
did. They had each other’s backs. He was honored to be included among the top bodyguards in the
nation, even if he was the only male. Not that he had a problem with that. He trusted them more than
he trusted the police officers he’d served with on the Atlanta PD. And that said something.

Knowing that God was watching over him and that the team was a phone call away allowed
him to maintain his calm demeanor and play the part of the cocky, confident dealer of his alter ego,
Rod. He left the phone in his pocket and strolled down the sidewalk like he owned the neighborhood.

“I can do the hit.” A gruff voice drifted on the night air.

Charlie froze and scanned the area, searching for the source of the words.

“Not so fast,” a second man argued. “You can’t mess this up. We have one shot at killing her,
and if we miss, they’ll close ranks.”

The hair on the back of Charlie’s neck rose. He ducked behind a row of trash cans next to an
apartment building, grimacing at the strong garbage odor, a mixture between fish and rotten eggs.
Forcing himself to focus, he strained to hear the conversation, but the men moved out of earshot.

Charlie slipped from his hiding spot and clung to the shadows on the edge of the street,
following his targets. His ratty shirt and stained jeans, not to mention his unkempt hair, gave him the
ability to blend into the neighborhood, but a hinky feeling of being watched crept in and stayed.

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About the Author

 

Sami A. Abrams grew up hating to read. It wasn't until her 30s that she found authors who captured her attention. Now, most evenings you can find her engrossed in a romantic suspense novel. In her opinion, a crime plus a little romance is the recipe for a great story. Sami lives in Northern California, but she will always be a Kansas girl at heart. She has a love of sports, family, and travel. However, a cabin at Lake Tahoe writing her next story is definitely at the top of her list. 

Visit her at http://www.samiaabrams.com.

CONNECT WITH SAMI: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of Life Flight and the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. 

Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com. 

CONNECT WITH LYNETTE: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Impending Strike and a $25 Amazon gift card!

 

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight June 20, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 27, 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

---

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Midnight's Budding Morrow ~ Review with Excerpt and Giveaway

Midnight's Budding Morrow

Regency Wallflowers #2

By Carolyn Miller

Midnight's Budding Morrow is the second book in Carolyn Miller's Regency Wallflowers series. Now if you haven't read the first book in the series that will in no way affect or reading or enjoyment of this book. And if you love your Regency fiction with a touch of Gothic intrigue you will want to move this one up to the top of your Summer TBR list - yes, it is that good. I have read all of Carolyn Miller's Regency fiction from Kregel and have never been disappointed and, in my opinion, each has been better than the previous book.

But I'm sure you want to learn more about the story that this delightful cover adorned. First off, we meet Sarah Drayton, who is an orphan from a good family, just not one of wealth or title. At the urging of her dearest friend Beatrice Langley, Sarah is about to visit the Langley home in Northumberland. There is just one little problem with her visit with Beatrice. Bea's brother James, with whom Sarah recently had a most uncomfortable public encounter, has come home, begging funds from his father. But to get the funds for his accumulating debts James must marry a woman of his father's choosing. Unfortunately, for James and Sarah, Sarah is the chosen bride. 

Sarah is determined to make the best of the situation she finds herself in. She is going to make a place for herself on the Langley estate but the staff and neighbors see her as a less than desirable addition to the family, the home, and the community. How can she improve the home she has been given if she is given little to no respect. And when her husband returns from war will he still hold her in disdain? 

James knows his father blames him for the loss of his mother. And then there is the drinking and gambling that find him causing public disgrace, as his first meeting with Sarah aptly proves. Is it possible to repair the damage he has caused or will he stay trapped in this endless cycle of dependence?

Not to give away anything that will detract from your enjoyment of the book but there are a couple of secondary characters that are just Uggggggghhhh! Superior attitude, cruel streak, and just overall unlikeable.

Overall this was a highly enjoyable book, but I will admit I did need tissue for a scene or two. So I would recommend this for home reading and not your lunch break at work. 

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:

Can real love grow between a wallflower and an unrepentant rogue?

Sarah Drayton is eager to spend time with her best friend at her crumbling Northumberland castle estate. Matrimony is the last thing on her mind and the last thing she expects to be faced with on a holiday. Yet she finds herself being inveigled into a marriage of convenience with her friend's rakish brother.

When James Langley returns to his family's estate, he can't be bothered to pay attention to his responsibilities as the heir. War is raging and he wants only distraction, not serious tethers. But his roguish ways have backed him into a corner, and he has little choice but to obey his father's stunning decree: marry before returning to war, or else. Suddenly he finds himself wedded to a clever and capable woman he does not love.

Sarah craves love and a place to belong, neither of which James offered before returning to the battlefront. Now everyone around her thinks she married above her station, and they have no intention of rewarding her for such impertinence. It isn't until her husband returns from war seemingly changed that she begins to hope they may find real happiness. But can she trust that this rake has truly reformed?

When tragedy strikes, this pair must learn to trust God and his plans. Will they be destroyed . . . or will they discover that even in the darkest depths of night, the morning still holds hope?

Click here to read an excerpt.

About the Series:

While most stories set in Regency England focus on the rich, the young, and the beautiful, award-winning author Carolyn Miller decided she wanted to give readers something different for a change. Her new Regency Wallflowers series follows the commoners, away from the hustle and bustle of 1810s London, out in the Lake District of England. She tells the stories of women who are slightly older and have few prospects for marriage, women who might be considered “wallflowers.”

Midnight’s Budding Morrow is the second book in the Regency Wallflowers series. The first book in the series is Dusk’s Darkest Shores.

About the Author:

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children.
 
A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. She enjoys music, films, gardens, art, travel, and food.

Miller’s novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. 
 
Learn more about Carolyn at www.carolynmillerauthor.com, or find her on Facebook (Carolyn Miller Author), Instagram (@CarolynMillerAuthor), and Twitter (@CarolynMAuthor). 

Giveaway:

https://www.audrajennings.com/2022/05/win-copy-of-midnights-budding-morrow.html

Mask of Scarlet ~ Review with Snippet

Mask of Scarlet

Bastian Denell, PI #3

By Sarah Pennington

Bastian isn't too sure when a potential client seeks his assistance in finding the most beautiful woman ever. But all he has to do is discover the identity of this mystery woman and that can't be too difficult, surely someone at the party got her name. It seems easy enough with the greatest danger being that his new client won't like the answer that Bastian uncovers.

All too soon this new case proves to be more difficult than it first appeared. No one knows the identity of the mysterious woman. And the Families are involved - YIKES!!!! But Bastian isn't easily dissuaded.

Now, if he could just figure out what's going on with Dayo. For some reason, she seems to be giving him the brush-off. Can Bastian find true love not only for himself but also for his client? Maybe if he can keep the Fair Folk and the Families out of his case. 

Mask of Scarlet is a fun twist on Cinderella set in a 1920s era with a good dash of fantasy thrown in just to keep it even more interesting. This is the third book in the Bastian Denell, PI series, and each book goes together chronologically, but each book can be read as a standalone title. (But I personally think it reads better in series order.) I highly recommend this series and book as it is a fun and engaging read.

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

Book Description:

Bastian Dennel is a detective, not a matchmaker.

But he’s also not one to turn down easy mazuma. So when one of Innsjøby’s richest young sheiks hires him to find his so-called true love — a girl he’s met only once at a masked party — Bastian is on the case. After his last few high-risk adventures, he’s ready for a job where the hardest part will be collecting his payment. Sure, all he has to go on is a guest list and a description . . . but how hard can it be?

Of course, easy money always has a catch, and what should’ve been a simple search turns out to be anything but. Everyone seems to have their own opinion on who this mystery girl should be, whether or not it matches reality, and even the Families are getting involved. To make matters worse, Dayo is acting cagey, and Bastian doesn’t know why.

Bastian’s business is the truth. But what can he do when everyone around him has already decided what they want the truth to be? Find out in this Jazz-Age take on “Cinderella,” book three of the Bastian Dennel, PI mysteries! 

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09RQFLHCM 

Add Book on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60307521-mask-of-scarlet 

Find the rest of the series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09869T5NJ

Author Bio:

Sarah Pennington has been writing stories since before she actually knew how to write, and she has no intention of stopping anytime soon. She is perpetually in the middle of writing at least one or two novels, most of which are in the fantasy and fairy tale retelling genres. When she isn't writing, she enjoys knitting, photography, and trying to conquer her massive to-be-read list. 

Find her online at: Author Site || Wordpress Blog || Blogspot Blog || Goodreads || Facebook || Amazon

Book Snippet:

Bastian’s office door swung open so hard it banged against the wall. A burst of early autumn wind and a swirl of drying leaves halfway between red and brown swept in, along with a young man wearing a bold purple suit in a cut that said it cost more than Bastian made in a good year. “Bastian Dennel?” the man asked.

 

“That would be me.” Bastian stood, taking in the figure who’d invaded his office. Short red curls poked out beneath a fedora that matched the suit. Blue eyes gleamed in a face a few shades too dark to be purely Stjernesøkeren or Daoinoic, a face whose lines Bastian had seen in the papers more than a few times—typically in the gossip section. The man moved in sudden, eager bursts, though with the particular grace that came with the certainty that he was too important for anyone to refuse.

 

In short, he looked like trouble. But he was trouble with money, so Bastian wouldn’t complain. The slow shift from high summer to mid fall had brought with it a dry spell so far as work was concerned. And while his money hadn’t run out yet, with two additional people in the house, his savings were dropping lower than he’d like.

Turn My Mourning Into Dancing ~ Book Spotlight with Excerpt and Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for 
Turn My Mourning Into Dancing by Henri Nouwen, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Book Spotlight

Title: Turn My Mourning Into Dancing 

Author: Henri Nouwen 

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Release Date: March 8, 2022 

Genre: Christian, Spiritual Growth, Grief 

How do you find hope in hard times? Why is it important to have hope during difficult times? Turn My Mourning into Dancing will help you survive the difficult seasons and learn how to live a full life in the midst of them and beyond. With practical advice, Henri Nouwen will gently point you towards a way of life that is grounded in God’s constancy and rooted within eternal hope. 

In this updated edition, Turn My Mourning into Dancing discusses five movements we experience during hard times: 

 • From Our Little Selves to a Larger World 

 • From Holding Tight to Letting Go 

 • From Fatalism to Hope 

 • From Manipulation to Love 

 • From a Fearful Death to a Joyous Life 

Healing begins with taking our pain out of its diabolic isolation and seeing our sufferings in communion with all humanity, and all creation. Nouwen teaches us that our little lives participate in something much larger. Turn My Mourning into Dancing is a must-read for: 

 • men and women looking for growth and insight on life 

 • anyone going through the grief process and searching for real solutions 

 • anyone who has experienced a loss, betrayal, or hard times 

Everyone grieves differently. It is a process, not a science experiment. Mourning shouldn’t last forever. Do you want the kind of life that allows you to dance even in the middle of the darkest night? Get the answers and find hope within your hard times with Nouwen’s works on spiritual growth.

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

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About the Author

 

Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996) was the author of With Open Hands, Reaching Out, The Wounded Healer, Making All Things New, and many other bestsellers. He was the senior pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Toronto, Canada, a community where men and women with mental disabilities and their assistants create a home for one another.

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Excerpt

From Holding Tight to Letting Go

For years I have loved watching trapeze artists. The love began when my then- eighty-nine-year-old

father came for a visit. Let’s go to the circus, we decided one day. That evening we watched five South

African trapeze artists—three fliers and two catchers. They danced in the air! The fliers soared and all

was dangerous until they found themselves caught by the strong hands of their partners. I told my

father that I had always wanted to fly like that, that perhaps I had missed my calling!

I am constantly moved by the courage of my circus friends. At each performance they trust that their

flight will end with their hands sliding into the secure grip of a partner. They also know that only the

release of the secure bar allows them to move on with arcing grace to the next. Before they can be

caught, they must let go. They must brave the emptiness of space.

Living with this kind of willingness to let go is one of the greatest challenges we face. Whether it

concerns a person, possession, or personal reputation, in so many areas we hold on at all costs. We

become heroic defenders of our dearly gained happiness. We treat our sometimes inevitable losses as

failures in the battle of survival.

The great paradox is that it is in letting go, we receive. We find safety in unexpected places of risk. And

those who try to avoid all risk, those who would try to guarantee that their hearts will not be broken,

end up in a self-created hell. C. S. Lewis wrote in The Four Loves,

To love at all is to be vulnerable…If you want to make sure of keeping [your heart] intact, 

you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with 

hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket of your 

selfishness. But in that casket— safe, dark, motionless, airless— it will change. It will not be 

broken—it will become unbreak-able, impenetrable, irredeemable…The only place 

outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from the danger of love 

is Hell.

In so many ways, the more we insist on control and the more we resist the call to hold our lives lightly,

the more we have to deny the reality of our losses and the more artificial our existence becomes. Our

belief that we should grasp tightly what we need provides one of the great sources of our suffering. But

letting go of possessions and plans and people allows us to enter, for all its risks, a life of new,

unexpected freedom.

How can we live with greater willingness to let go? Another step in turning our mourning into dancing

has to do with not clutching what we have, not trying to reserve a safe place we can rest in, not trying to

choreograph our own or others’ lives, but to surrender to the God whom we love and want to follow.

God invites us to experience our not being in control as an invitation to faith.

Taken from “Turn My Mourning into Dancing: Finding Hope During Hard Times” by Henri Nouwen.

Copyright 2001 Estate of Henri Nouwen. Preface Copyright 2001 Timothy Jones. 

Used with permission from Thomas Nelson Publishing. www.thomasnelson.com

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive two print copies of Turn My Mourning into Dancing (one to keep, one to give!)!

 

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 26, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 3, 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!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.