Pinto ~ Review with Spotlight and Giveaway

 Pinto!

 By M.J. Evans

 Pinto wants to do something with his life - something important. When George Beck purchases him in 1912 he is about to get just such a chance. A 20 thousand mile trip across the United States of America with a visit to all 48 state capitals what better way to make history?

 But declaring their intentions was the easy part of this journey. With mountains to cross, and rivers to forge it will take determination and a whole lot of heart to go from start to finish. Pinto is the story of this true event. An event that took just over 3 years to complete.

 Pinto is told from the perspective of Pinto, a young Morab (Morgan/Arabian cross), who was the only horse to complete the entire journey.  The "Overland Westerners" set a date of June 1, 1915, in which to arrive in San Francisco and bring their epic trek to its conclusion.

 Pinto is an interesting look back at the US when the world was vastly different from what we know today. Social media was non-existent at this time - spreading the news of this once-in-a-lifetime undertaking was all word of mouth and getting newspaper coverage at their various stops. It wasn't easy and the Overland Westerners had to work to obtain the funds they needed to provide their day-to-day needs. Sometimes the kindness of a stranger helped them along their way. 

 Though it is written for a younger audience others will enjoy this book as well. Readers of American History and fans of a good horse story will enjoy this newly revealed historical gem. I have to admit the description intrigued me but the cover sold me on this book and I was not disappointed. We have an old book that has been in the family for years titled The Mountain Pony and The Pinto Colt and Pinto, though very different, reminded me of this book published in 1947. There are moments where defeat seems the likely victor but these Overland Westerners are not about to give up while they can still draw breath. Will their dream become reality? Only time will tell...

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

Book Details:

Book Title:  PINTO! Based Upon the True Story of the Longest Horseback Ride in History 

Author:  M.J. Evans

Category:  Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12),  243 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher:  Dancing Horse Press

Release date:   October, 2019

Content Rating:  G. This book is taken from the actual journals that were kept by the men on the journey. There is no bad language or explicit scenes.

Book Description:

In 1912, four men, calling themselves the “Overland Westerners,” decided fame and fortune awaited if they embarked on the longest horseback ride in history. Their goal was to visit all forty-eight state capitals over the course of three years and complete their journey at the San Francisco World’s Fair on June 1, 1915. Facing rugged roads, raging rivers, thieves and near starvation, the men went through seventeen horses. Only one horse completed the entire journey…Pinto, a little horse with a heart as big as the whole country! This is Pinto’s account of his arduous adventure.

Buy the Book:
Amazon.com ~ B&N ~ Books-A-Million
Book Depository ~ IndieBound

Also from the Author:

About the Book:

Book Title:  In the Heart of a Mustang 
Author: M.J. Evans
Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 359 pages
Genre: Contemporary Coming of Age
Publisher: Dancing Horse Press
Release date: October, 2017
Content Rating: PG. Some suggested violence but not explicit

Book Description:

A boy is told that his father was a brave and virtuous man, a soldier who traded his life to save the lives of countless others. He was the man that Hunter needed to emulate. The only problem is the whole story is a lie, all of it. The truth, which Hunter discovers as he begins his sophomore year of high school, is that his father has actually spent the boy’s entire life in jail, paying his debt to society, but not mending his ways. A wild mustang mare, is rounded up by the BLM. The spring rains had been sparse, the forage on the plains even more so. The mare and her herd are rescued from certain starvation and placed for adoption. In a sandy corral at Promise Ranch, a home for troubled teenage boys, the boy and the mare meet. A weathered, old cowboy brings them together – a mentor for one, a trainer for the other. The bond that forms between boy and horse becomes one that saves the lives of both.

Buy the Book:
Amazon.com ~ B&N ~ Books-A-Million
Book Depository ~ IndieBound
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Award-winning author M.J. Evans grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Upon graduation from Oregon State University, she spent five years teaching high school and middle school students. She retired from teaching to raise her five children. Mrs. Evans is a life-long equestrian and enjoys competing in Dressage and riding in the beautiful Colorado mountains. She has published fourteen books, most of which are fiction.

Connect with the author:  

Website ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~ Pinterest  ~  Instagram ~ Goodreads

Tour Schedule:

July 27 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of PINTO! / guest post / giveaway
July 27 - Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of PINTO! / giveaway
July 27 -My Journey Back – book review of In the Heart of a Mustang / guest post / giveaway
July 28 – Splashes of Joy – book review of PINTO! / author interview / giveaway
July 28 - She Just Loves Books – book review of In the Heart of a Mustang / giveaway
July 29 –Svetlanas reads and views – book review of In the Heart of a Mustang / giveaway
July 29 - Adventurous Bookworm – book review of PINTO! / giveaway
July 29 - Krisha's Cozy Corner - book review of PINTO! / author interview / giveaway
July 30 –Splashes of Joy – book review of In the Heart of a Mustang / guest post / giveaway
July 30 -My Reading Journeys – book review of PINTO! / author interview / giveaway
July 31 – Literary Flits – book review of PINTO! / giveaway
July 31 - T's Stuff - book review of PINTO! / giveaway
Aug 3 - T's Stuff - book review of In the Heart of a Mustang / author interview / giveaway
Aug 3 - My Journey Back – book review of PINTO! / giveaway
Aug 4 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of In the Heart of a Mustang / giveaway
Aug 4 - She Just Loves Books – book review of PINTO! / giveaway
Aug 5 – A Mama's Corner of the World – book review of PINTO! / giveaway
Aug 5 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of In the Heart of a Mustang / giveaway
Aug 5 - Adventurous Bookworm – book review of In the Heart of a Mustang / giveaway
Aug 5 - My Reading Journeys – book review of In the Heart of a Mustang / giveaway
Aug 6 – A Mama's Corner of the World – book review of In the Heart of a Mustang / giveaway
Aug 6 - Blooming with Books - book review of PINTO! / giveaway
Aug 7 - Svetlanas reads and views – book review of PINTO! / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

Win 1 of 5 print copies of PINTO! 

or 

1 of 5 copies of

 HEART OF A MUSTANG! 

(USA only) 

(10 winners)

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Vying for the Viscount ~ Review

Vying for the Viscount
Hearts on the Heath #1
By Kristi Ann Hunter

Bianca Snowley loves horses, a most unbecoming past time for the daughter of a gentleman, especially one that is expected to marry well. But Bianca isn't like other young ladies in Newmarket and marriage is going to be on her terms. At least that was her plan until for stepmother set her sights on her. What's worse her stepmother seems determined to marry Bianca off to the worst possible man.

Hawksworth is Hudson's destiny. His whole life has been in preparation of assuming the title Viscount Stildon. Following the death of a grandfather he never met, Hudson finds himself as out of place in England as he was in India. The instructions he thought of as preparing him for life among the aristocracy are sorely lacking. But admitting his lack will just open him up to ridicule and scorn among those who are now his peers. With help scarce, he turns to the only person he can trust - his next-door neighbor - Miss Bianca Snowley.

Desperate to thwart her stepmother's plans Bianca agrees to Lord Stildon's plan in exchange for his help in helping her secure a future of her own choosing. Soon the most unlikely friendship forms -one that could be the undoing of all their plans. But sometimes the plans we make aren't the ones that are best for us. But can Bianca and Hudson discover what it is they truly want before they set themselves on a course of unhappiness?

Vying for the Viscount is the first book in Kristi Ann Hunter's Hearts on the Heath - a series that may have a character or two from the author's previous series (I'm not saying more as that would ruin the surprise). I like Bianca and Hudson but I really enjoyed getting to know Aaron Whitworth who is the stable manager for Hawksworth and is both frank and insightful as the situation requires. I look forward to additions to this series as this was an excellent offering from the author that is not to be missed.

Fans of Regency-era historical fiction will enjoy this clean-read offering. Those who have read Kristi Ann Hunter in the past will not be disappointed and those new to her work will be delighted. This would make an excellent book club selection. 

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


About the Book:
For Hudson, the newly titled Viscount Stildon, moving to England from India where he was born and raised was already an arduous enough endeavor. When he learns the fate of the racing empire he inherited along with his title depends upon him getting in the good graces of another stable owner, he's even more at a loss.

The stable at the neighboring estate has been Miss Bianca Snowley's refuge for years, and when a strange man appears to be stealing the horses, she jumps to their protection without a second thought. Upon learning Hudson is actually the new owner, she can't help but be intrigued by the area's newest eligible bachelor.

Any thought of romance is quickly set aside, however, when Hudson proposes they work together to secure suitable spouses for each other. As their friendship grows, Hudson and Bianca begin to reconsider what they truly want in life. But will societal expectations and the weight of their responsibilities keep them from pursuing their true desires?

About the Author:

Kristi is the award-winning author of Regency romance novels from a Christian worldview. Her books include the Hawthorne House series, the Haven Manor series, and the recently published first stories of the Hearts on the Heath series. Beyond writing, she is also speaker, teaching classes in writing as well as Biblical and spiritual topics. She has spoken to writers' groups, schools, and young women's groups at churches. 

​

When she is not writing or interacting with her readers, Kristi spends time with her family and her church. A graduate of Georgia Tech with a computer science degree, she can also be found fiddling with her computer in her free time. A born lover of stories she is also an avid reader. From very young she dreamed of sharing her own stories with others and praises God daily that she gets to live that dream today. 

Learn more about Vying for the Viscount

Tracking a Kidnapper ~ Review

Tracking a Kidnapper
True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn
By Valerie Hansen

Right place, right time puts Officer Vivienne Armstrong in the perfect position to stop a kidnapping. While exercising her K-9 partner Hank, Vivienne all but stumbles onto a kidnapping. She and Hank set off in pursuit and manage to recover the young boy. But someone has decided that Vivienne needs to be eliminated and they are targeting her no matter where she goes.

FBI Agent Caleb Black has been called in to profile a killer for the Brooklyn PD and is asked to assist with Vivienne's case. He takes his job seriously and is determined to keep Vivienne safe. There is just one problem Vivienne reminds him of his late wife and this case is hitting too close to home.

As Caleb and Vivienne work to identify the kidnapper they have to deal with their growing attraction and deal with the other's take-charge attitude. Can they trust God to be in control Tof their lives and this case?

Tracking a Kidnapper is a clean read romantic suspense that delves into a spouse's survivor's guilt, kidnapping, and stalking. There are no graphic scenes so this book won't give you nightmares or unpleasant mental images. Overall this was a good read and several hours away from one's normal life experiences. So if you have a weekend that you want to spend in Brooklyn while enjoying the comforts of your favorite chair look no further. I have to admit the dog on the cover was all the motivation I needed to check out this book. I admit it the cover drew me in before I had even read the description. But I have no regrets for the time spent and it was a pleasant diversion to the news of the day (just saying).

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Foiling a criminal’s plans makes an officer and her K-9 partner targets.

Thwarting a kidnapping has thrust Officer Vivienne Armstrong and her K-9 partner, Hank, right into the culprit’s crosshairs. Now, even with danger stalking them at every turn, Vivienne refuses to stop working, but FBI agent Caleb Black intends to do his job and safeguard her. Together, can they stop the would-be kidnapper from striking a final, fatal blow?

Explosive Situation ~ Review

Explosive Situation
True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn
By Terri Reed

Detective Henry Roarke has been stuck in the office since he was falsely accused of using excessive force. Now with a new IA officer on the case, Henry is starting to feel the stress. He needs to be out on the street doing his job with his partner Cody. But until he is cleared of all charges he is stuck filing and training with the other K-9 officers.

Adding to Henry's stress is his little sister Riley. For the last 6 years, he and Riley have been it and she is eager to get out from under his protective wings. When a bombing threat is sent to Henry's phone he knows he has to act fast as Riley is in the vicinity of the threat location. IA officer Lieutenant Olivia Vance is more than a little annoyed when Detective Roarke leaves in the middle of her questioning. When Henry on restricted duties she feels compelled to go along with him to ensure that he follows protocol and finds his sister in time.

Olivia is good at her job but the animosity Internal Affairs officers face is not one of its perks. She's determined to get to the truth about the night in question. Henry seems on the up-and-up but there are no witnesses to verify either version of events. She needs to get a feed of how he works and whether he is as good as his fellow officers' claim.

Explosive Situation finds Henry and those close to him being targetted - does it have anything to do with the potential charges against Henry or is it something else? Only time will tell as Henry works to keep those close safe and to keep his heart unentangled, which is becoming harder to do the more he gets to know Olivia Vance.

This is yet another good read from the True Blue K-9 Unit series. This book follows the Brooklyn Unit but some of the officers that were in the original True Blue K-9 Unit series are well represented in this series. And come on everyone loves a good dog story and this one has dogs aplenty. Want to get away from your everyday routine? This is an excellent way to spend a few hours unwinding from your ordinary.

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:

With his K-9 partner at his side,

can he survive false accusations and a bomber?

Detective Henry Roarke’s determined to prove his innocence to internal affairs officer Olivia Vance—but first he must survive the bomber targeting him and his bomb-sniffing K-9, Cody. With a coming baby to protect and an investigation to pursue, Olivia has her hands full…until she becomes a target, as well. Can they catch the bomber before they all lose their lives?

Inside the Sun ~ Review with Giveaway

Join Us for this Book Series Tour from Jul 7 to Aug 10, 2020!

Inside the Sun
The 8th Island Trilogy #3
By Alexis Marie Chute

Ella Wellsley is dying and instead of providing a cure to her cancer, Jarr may take her life even sooner. 

Archie, who accidentally transported a cruise ship to the planet Jarr, has finally realized who he is. His link to the Olearons has been revealed, fulfilling a vision revealed years before by was believed to be the last Steffanus. 

War has come and the Wellsley family is caught in the middle. The Star beneath the ocean is their goal. Ella must reach it before it is too late. There is a sacrifice that she alone can make, one that shows Naiu that there is still love in the created worlds. If she fails all the worlds will die with her.

Ella's family, friends, and allies attempt to keep the Millia at bay long enough for Ella to achieve her goal. The Millia is determined to sink Jarr-Wyn into the ocean and thus achieve their greatest desire to capture and possess the Star. What few realize is the Star's true nature - a nature to which Tessa and Ella, through Tessa, are able to communicate. Through her dreams, Tessa's true self is revealed - an almost unbelievable truth that links her to Jarr. And this link, like Arden and Archie's, is just what is needed as Jarr faces its greatest threat. The Wellesleys are in a battle to determine the fate of all worlds. Their very existence at this point in time may be the only hope that every living being has. Time is of the essence and it is against them

Inside the Sun is the third book in The 8th Island trilogy, a series that promises a conclusion worth waiting for. The storyline is excellent if a bit bloody and violent. Not bedtime reading by any stretch of the imagination unless your dreams are never troubled literary influences (I for one am not so I will admit to staying up late to read this).

If you are a fan of Scifi, fantasy, and parallel worlds, this is a book you don't want to miss. The unimaginable is real, and the impossible is probable, but not everything seen with the eyes is real until it is. 

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

Book Details:

Book Title: Inside the Moon by Alexis Marie Chute
Category:  Young Adult Fiction (13 to 17 yrs), 368 pages
Genre:  fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult
Publisher:  SparkPress.
Release dates:   April 2020
Tour dates: Jul 7 to Aug 10, 2020
Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.

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Book Description:

All worlds are dying, and it’s up to one broken and dysfunctional family from Earth―the Wellsleys―to save the day.

Cancer-ridden Ella celebrates her fifteenth birthday beneath an enchanted mountain, but it is what lies even farther below―the mysterious Star in the sea―that demands she grow up quickly. While Ella grapples with the sacrifice she must make and the lies she is forced to tell, her mother, Tessa, is hell-bent on protecting her.

Through bizarre encounters, love-sick Tessa realizes that she is not the lonely orphan she believes. Her husband, Arden, and father-in-law, Archie, are not the only ones with magical bloodlines. This revelation changes everything. As Archie chooses to embody his unexpected ancestry, he learns that leading the charge in the ultimate battle against evil won’t be as easy as he thought. He’ll need his family―and the strange allies he has gained―by his side to give Ella enough time to set things right.

Can they defeat the unstoppable Millia sands―and another unexpected foe―before everything they hold dear is destroyed? Or will their adventure tear them apart for good? The finale to The 8th Island Trilogy will hold you spellbound until the final page, and long after.

Buy the Book:Amazon ~ Amazon.ca
BN.com ~ Bookshop ~ Target
Book Depository ~ Google Play
Add to Goodreads

Series Description:

The 8th Island Trilogy includes Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun. Over the three books, we follow the adventures of a quirky family, the Wellsleys. The main characters are frumpy senior citizen Archie, his daughter-in-law, Tessa, and his ill fourteen-year-old granddaughter Ella.

Archie, searching for his missing son, accidentally transports his family—and a cruise ship full of people—to a magical planet. There, they uncover the truth: all worlds are dying. Yet hope is not lost. A way to restore all that will soon be destroyed is revealed, along with the realization that Ella will play a role no one could have imagined—especially not her.

On the mysterious island of Jarr-Wya, many races of creatures battle for dominion, and magic lurks around every corner. When the world falls dark, that is when bravery must shine the brightest, and the Wellsleys will reveal the strength they never knew they possessed—as well as the power of love to save the day. 

"A Wrinkle in Time meets The Princess Bride."

Review by Lee Lee Thompson, The Perpetual You Magazine

"Chute's novel weaves STAR WARS-like characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for booklovers of all ages."
US Review of Books

"Fast and bizarre… Never a dull moment. "
Foreward Reviews

 SERIES DETAILS:
Series Title:  The 8th Island Trilogy by Alexis Marie Chute
Category:  Young Adult Fiction (13 to 17 yrs) (368 to 448 pages)
Genre:  fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult
Publisher:  SparkPress.
Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.

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 Meet the Author:

Alexis Marie Chute is an award-winning author, artist, photographer, art curator, filmmaker, and public speaker. She has received over 40 noteworthy distinctions for her visual and literary work. Her award-winning fantasy series The 8th Island Trilogy includes, Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun. The series has been described as "A WRINKLE IN TIME meets THE PRINCESS BRIDE" by The Perpetual You magazine, and "Fast and bizarre… never a dull moment" by Forward Reviews. The 8th Island Trilogy "weaves STAR WARS-like characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for booklovers of all ages" – US Review of Books. Chute's bestselling memoir, Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing, and Pregnancy After Loss, was a top Kirkus title of 2017 and received a plethora of other literary distinctions. The memoir was accompanied by the feature documentary of the same name, which has screened internationally for the last three years. Chute received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design from the University of Alberta, Canada, and studied at Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand. She graduated valedictorian with her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, USA. Chute is a highly regarded public speaker. She has presented on art, writing, bereavement, and the healing capacities of creativity around the world. Contact the Author/Artist for bookings info@alexismariechute.com When not in her art/photo studio or at her computer, Chute loves to spend quality time with her family, read fiction and non-fiction, watch reality TV, paddleboard, and canoe. She is not a winter person but lives in frosty Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with her husband and their three living children.

Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram ~
                                              Pinterest ~ YouTube ~ LinkedIn

Tour Schedule:

July 7 – Splashes of Joy – series spotlight/guest post/author interview/giveaway
July 7 - Working Mommy Journal – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 7 - fundinmental - series spotlight/giveaway
July 7 - Corinne Rodrigues | Booksnista - series spotlight/giveaway
July 8 -Leels Loves Books – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 8 –Book Bustle – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 8 - Living in a Bookworld – series spotlight/giveaway
July 9 - Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 9 – I'm Into Books – series spotlight/guest post/giveaway
July 10 - She Just Loves Books – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 13 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 13 - Books and Zebras – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 14 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 14 - Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 15 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 15 - Blooming with Books – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 16 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 16 - Books and Zebras – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 17 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 17 - Writer with Wanderlust – series spotlight/guest post/giveaway
July 17 - Rajiv's Reviews - book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 20 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 20 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 20 - Adventurous Bookworm – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 21 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 21 - Stephanie Jane – series spotlight/giveaway
July 21 - Leels Loves Books – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 21 - Merlot Et Mots - book review of Below the Moon
July 22 – T's Stuff – series spotlight/author interview/giveaway
July 22 - She Just Loves Books – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 22 - Blooming with Books – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 23 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of Inside the Sun/guest post/giveaway
July 23 – Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 24 - Books and Zebras – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 24 - Rajiv's Reviews - book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 27 –  Book Bustle – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 27 - Adventurous Bookworm – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 28 –  Working Mommy Journal – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 28 - Olio by Marilyn – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 28 - Library of Clean Reads – series spotlight/giveaway
July 28 - Merlot Et Mots - book review of Above the Star
July 29 – 411 on Books, Authors, and Publishing News – series spotlight/guest post/giveaway
July 29 - Blooming with Books – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 29 - Rajiv's Reviews - book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 30 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 30 - Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 31 – She Just Loves Books – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 31 - Pen Possessed - series spotlight/giveaway
Aug 3 – StoreyBook Reviews – series spotlight/author interview/giveaway
Aug 3 - Leels Loves Books – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
Aug 4 –  Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
Aug 4 - Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of Inside the Sun/guest post/giveaway
Aug 5 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
Aug 5 - Adventurous Bookworm – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
Aug 6 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
Aug 6 - Olio by Marilyn – series spotlight/author interview/giveaway
Aug 7 - Jazzy Book Reviews – series spotlight/guest post/giveaway
Aug 10 - Books for Books – series spotlight
Aug 10 - Merlot Et Mots - book review of Inside the Sun/author interview
Aug 10 –Book Bustle – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
TBD – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
TBD – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
TBD – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Say Yes to What's Next ~ Review

Say Yes to What's Next
By Lori Allen

How to Age with Elegance and Class
While Never Losing Your Beauty and Sass

Say Yes to What's Next offers insights to women who are in the 50+ category, women whom society has decided should just step aside and let the rest of the world pass them by. All too often women listen to this and believe that they aren't worth the effort. They sacrifice their appearance in the hustle and bustle that their life has become. They even sacrifice their health because there is too little time to make room for one's self.

Lori disagrees with this and encourages women to take some of the efforts they put into their family towards themselves. Yes, your children doing well and succeeding is important but not at the cost of you. Make an effort to look your best. You are worth more than the bargain-basement table.

Work on your health, all parts of it are important and work together for a better you. Your health has three different parts - physical, mental, and spiritual. As Lori puts it your life is your journey through these three. It is a journey based on the choices you make daily. Don't neglect your physical health, when you make time for it your mental health will benefit. And make time for God daily to strengthen your spiritual health - God's ears are always open to your concerns.

As you have aged so too has your marriage and your husband.  With the passing of years, your situation may be in flux with retirement and/or an empty nest situation. Putting your focus on yourself may seem selfish to your husband. In fact, he may feel threatened by this change in how you are behaving. Talk. And more importantly, take time to listen. This simple activity can open a new level of relationship between you. Something that you lost while raising your children and working (yes, stay-at-home-mom counts as work). This is a chance to reconnect as a couple and rediscover who you both are now.

Your children are now grown and most likely out of the house. It is time to let them make their own decisions and if they are married allow them to make decisions as a couple. Don't offer advice that is not asked for it will be seen as a criticism of them and relegate your adult children as children to their way of thinking. Don't do it or you just may not see too much of your grandchildren - if or when they join the family.

Be a friend. Reach out to your old friends who you may not have had time for over the years. Reconnect and support one another. Friends help you when you need them most and the more friends the better.

Do you understand your financial situation? If not please do so, a change of your martial or working situation can be a rude awakening if you are not at least somewhat familiar with your checking account.

Say Yes to What's Next will help you as you transition from mom back to you. It will offer advice and explain why it is important - Lori uses her own life experiences as a baseline. No two people experience life the same but her tips will at least give one a starting point for getting from here to there. And this would be an excellent book to read and discuss with your friends either in a book club or in an informal setting.

Now I will admit I don't find myself in many of the situations in which Lori presented. But I can apply the information she does present to my own life situation and prepare for my own what's next.

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.



Hardcover: 240 Pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 14, 2020)

About the Book:

From the star of Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, now filming its eleventh season for TLC, comes a book and a life-makeover movement for women approaching fifty and beyond.

Move over, girlfriend, Lori Allen is here to help you say yes to what’s next! Star of Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, Lori Allen uses her confidence, wisdom, and signature humor not only to help young brides on their most important day ever but also to model to them and their mothers how to live out the coming years as the best of their lives.

Lori Allen is owner/operator of one of the biggest and busiest bridal mega-salons in the country, Atlanta’s Bridals by Lori. But she’s also a wife, mother, grandmother, and breast cancer survivor.

Whether you’re feeling invisible, disappearing into the fabric of your couch a little more every year, or simply being indecisive about what’s next, Lori offers herself as the poster child of what to do, not do, and how to see your way through the unexpected.

In Say Yes to What’s Next she addresses essential issues, such as

• don’t let yourself go,
• marriage is awesome, but it’s no fairytale,
• keep your mouth shut and your heart open to your kids (and they’ll bring you grandkids),
• make time to parent your parents,
• maintain a close circle of girlfriends,
• get off the couch and live your passion,
• take charge of your money, and
• what to do when life gives you a faceplant.

Say Yes to What’s Next is a life makeover and therapy session from a relatable you-can-and-you-should-do-this straight-shooter as Lori helps women shape their own futures with confidence, style, and sass.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Lori Allen

Lori Allen opened Bridals by Lori just two weeks after graduating from the all-female Columbia College in South Carolina. Four decades later, she is one of the world’s foremost experts on bridal couture and the central figure of TLC’s reality show Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, filmed on site at Lori’s bridal salon and shown in more than 120 countries.

Lori’s role as a bridal expert, successful female business entrepreneur, TV personality, and breast cancer survivor has led her to interviews by top-tier media outlets, including CNN, ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s Today, and the Wall Street Journal. She currently resides in Atlanta with her husband, Eddie, and, thankfully, not far from their son and his wife, daughter and her husband, and granddaughters.

Connect with Lori

Facebook | Instagram

Instagram tour:

Monday, July 13th: @lesa_cap

Tuesday, July 14th: @books_with_bethany

Thursday, July 16th: @readtowander

Monday, July 20th: @wellreadtraveler

Tuesday, July 21st: @livingmybestbooklife

Monday, July 27th: @kelly_hunsaker_reads

Thursday, July 30th: @sweethoneyandbrei

Friday, July 17th: @thelit_bitch

 Review tour:

Monday, July 13th: Bibliotica – excerpt

Tuesday, July 14th: Lesa’s Book Critiques – author guest post

Wednesday, July 15th:  @mommaleighellensbooknook

Friday, July 17th: Novel Gossip – author guest post

Saturday, July 18th:  @nurse_bookie

Monday, July 20th: Well Read Traveler

Tuesday, July 21st: Living My Best Book Life

Wednesday, July 22nd: Running Through the Storms

Thursday, July 23rd: @bookscoffeephotography

Thursday, July 23rd: From the TBR Pile – author guest post

Monday, July 27th: Tabi Thoughts

Tuesday, July 28th: Blooming with Books

Wednesday, July 29th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Thursday, July 30th: Seaside Book Nook

Friday, July 31st: Bewitched Bookworms – excerpt

Monday, August 3rd: Book Reviews and More by Kathy – excerpt

Friday, August 7th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Friday, August 14th: What is That Book About

These Nameless Things ~ Review

These Nameless Things
By Shawn Smucker

Dan is waiting for the brother he left behind. Adam went back while he and the others escaped the torture and captivity that they had existed in on the mountain. Now those that have not continued on, live in the shadow of the mountain. Life is simple and uncluttered but their memories of before are just not there.

But everything is about to change when a stranger stumbles out of the edges of the mountain. Memories start to awaken among the survivors and Dan is troubled with what he knows and what he is remembering. But Dan isn't the only one who has started to remember and the memories all seem to have a person in common.

These Nameless Things is a book that makes you stop and take notice. There is an underlying spiritual thread throughout that the reader follows to the end. I had suspicions as to where this was headed but that in no way detracted from the reading experience.

This is the fourth book I've read by Shawn Smucker and I have yet to be disappointed in what he has put forth. All his books have been in the Speculative Fiction genre and well worth reading. This one focuses on guilt and forgiveness. What will one do to protect the ones one loves? And what of the consequences? These are matters most people will face, These Nameless Things presented all of these in a way that captured and held this reader's attention from the first page until the end. 

If you like Ted Dekker or James L. Rubart you will most likely enjoy These Nameless Things.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Dan escaped captivity from the mountain long ago but believes his brother is still there and waits, each day in a nearby town, for his escape. What Dan doesn't realize is that the rest of the townspeople are also waiting--but for reasons he never imagined.

Before Dan opened his door to find a wounded woman who had escaped from the tormentors in the mountain, his life had become rather quiet. He and the eight other people in the mostly abandoned town had become friends. They spent peaceful evenings around the campfire and even made vague plans to journey east one day and leave the ominous mountain behind.

But the woman's arrival changes everything. 
Who is she? How does she know so much about Dan's brother, who is still held captive in the mountain? Why are long-forgotten memories rising to the surface? And why does Dan feel so compelled to keep her presence in his house a secret?

Visionary writer Shawn Smucker is back with an unsettling story that invites us to consider two challenging questions: To what lengths will we go to assuage our own guilt? and Is there a limit to the things we will do for the people we love?