1.05.2015

Angels Without Wings ~ Book Blast with Giveaway



Title:  Angels without Wings: Scepter of Faith
Series: The Angels without Wings Series - Book 1
Author: Chris Smith
Genre: YA Christian Fantasy
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Publication Date: March 5, 2013
ISBN: 978-1622956319

For God, we fight; all angels have heard the command. Troy Decker has heard it from his parents countless times. All he wants in life is a chance to prove himself and be granted his scepter - the first gift angels receive from God in their war against Lucifer. Standing in his way is fallen angel Kyle Downey, who used to be best friends with Troy’s parents but is now on a quest to destroy all that is good in the world.

Will Troy ever earn the scepter that God has prepared for him? And what happened between Kyle and Troy’s parents? As the War for Sins rises to heights not seen in generations, Troy must find the strength to hold his faith when demons target his friends and family. In this war, there is only one winner. Will the world fall to demons or be saved by angels?

Book Excerpt:
Chapter 1, Page 1:

Not for the first time in his life, Troy Decker woke from a dream of howling demons. He paused for a moment and reflected on the scene, wishing for what had to be the thousandth time that the dream had been real. He’d prayed for the chance to go on a demon hunt with his dad so many times he’d lost count. He closed his eyes and saw the black claws slashing toward him and heard the fangs snapping at his legs. He could almost feel a sword in his hands, ready to strike the monsters down.

Hunting demons was what he’d been born to do. Most of his prayers to God included a begging request for the chance to stand before the beasts of hell and send them screaming back to the darkness. But as it was, he rubbed sleep from his eyes on the morning of May the 1st knowing he wouldn’t have the opportunity anytime soon. He’d heard so many stories from his parents about the adventures they’d had with his Grandpa John almost twenty years before, but for Troy, only his normal, dreary life lay before him, as usual.

From the look of the sun streaming through the blinds of his bedroom window, it was going to be a glorious day—or should have been, except that it happened to be Troy’s fourteenth birthday. He rolled onto his side and brought his empty hands in front of his face. Only the disappointing emptiness of his skinny fingers and creased palms was present. He closed his hands with one more wish (added to the tally of millions of prayers) that a sword or some other cool weapon was there instead. The lowest of sighs brushed from his lips before he could stop its escape.

“Good morning Troy,” his mom called as she swung open his bedroom door. “Happy Birthday! Fourteen years old… you’ll be driving before you know it.” Her smile welcomed him into the new day better than any ray of sunshine could ever hope to do. “I’m pretty sure you grew an inch last night,” she continued when Troy rolled out of bed to throw on his Nike t-shirt.

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Title:  Angels without Wings: The Path to Sacrifice
Series: The Angels without Wings Series - Book 2
Author: Chris Smith
Genre: YA Christian Fantasy
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Publication Date: August 4, 2013
ISBN: 978-1491022399

For Troy Decker, the world of angels has always been a familiar mystery. Robes, halos, and wings have filled his dreams since he was old enough to crawl. But it wasn’t until the last year that he truly felt like he was one of God’s chosen angels.

He’d thought only a miracle would allow him to receive his scepter. And he was one hundred percent correct. When God granted Troy his scepter, he never dreamed it would be for saving ones of his closest friends. But with many things in his angel life, Troy had to sit back and trust in his faith. Not only in God, but in himself and his family and friends.

Unfortunately, peace rarely finds Troy. With his first gift from God in hand, he must concentrate on the second gift; the robes of an angel - granted for an act of sacrifice. Hindering his progress is a former friend of his parents, Kyle Downey. Kyle is the leader of a group of fallen angels and his sinister plans for Troy bring howling demons and monsters stampeding into the War for Sins.

Can Troy follow the path God has set in front of him? How will he know what to sacrifice to receive the precious gift? And why, more than anything else in the world, does Kyle Downey want Troy to fall?

Book Excerpt:
Chapter 1, page 1:

For the first time in his life, Troy Decker was on a demon hunt with his dad. Not that it looked to be particularly exciting or dangerous, but it was better than mowing the yard or picking up his room. All they were doing at the moment was staring at an abandoned warehouse near a neighborhood of small, shabby houses on the southwest side of Oklahoma City.

Troy had been shook awake on the fine spring morning to his dad hovering over his bed with a look of confused determination on his almost always calm face. The normal, perfectly straight part, on the right side, split his brown hair. Barely a sparkle of the yet risen sun filtered through the blinds of Troy’s bedroom.

“Get ready,” his dad had whispered. “You’re coming with me today. Don’t wake up your mom. Bring your dagger. You may need it.”

“It’s Saturday,” Troy had responded as he swiped sleep residue from his eyes and stifled a yawn while he pulled the small sheath, which held a dagger sharp enough to slice paper without trying, from under his pillow. “Where are we going?”

“Have a job to do,” his dad had given as a cryptic response.

So Troy had rolled out of bed, wolfed down an energy bar, offered by his dad, and shot out the door. Not until they were five minutes down the road did he find out where they were headed.

“Nylla?” Troy scrunched his face. “How big of an infestation is it?”

“Big enough to warrant our attention,” his dad had answered never taking his piercing eyes off the road. “We’ve been noticing some activity in the area for the past month. Demon numbers have been increasing all over the place.”

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Title:  Angels without Wings: Love's Sweet Sword
Series: The Angels without Wings Series - Book 3
Author: Chris Smith
Genre: YA Christian Fantasy
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Publication Date: February 21, 2014
ISBN: 978-1494324575

A ghostly smile haunts Troy Decker’s dreams. A smile of love and sacrifice. A smile that brings heart wrenching waves of guilt. For God, we fight. Troy has long heard the ancient command to God’s angels. His parents have whispered it in his ears with each step. But the last five months have taken a toll on his faith. The War for Sins has raged from one bloody battle to another at the hands of fallen angel, Kyle Downey. Angels have been killed and hordes of demons torn from the depths of hell.

With the help of his friends, Troy struggles to fight the nightmares of the past. Lurking behind a wall of agonizing blame, his dad stresses the importance of the gifts granted to angels by God. Troy has his scepter and robes, but an act of love stands in the way of his sword – the third gift. His eyes often land on his friend, Angela. On her blonde hair and pink angel marks. On the way her smile leaves him breathless with delight. Each heartbeat brings a vision of drawing her slowly into his arms and softly kissing her lips.

Can Troy put the past behind him? What will he need to prove to God in order to be granted his sword? Or will Kyle Downey ravage the world and bring an end to the War for Sins?

Book Excerpt:
Chapter 1, Page 1:

For the first time in his life, Troy Decker was on a demon hunt alone. He’d walked and jogged over four hours to find the street where he was standing. Dark houses lined the neighborhood with only a few overhead lights sparking any hope in the gloom. Troy pressed with the Spirit and approached his target with a determined grin on his narrow face.

It was the eve of his sixteenth birthday, but the normal time of celebration for most teenagers was only another shadowy day to Troy. The last five months had been the worst of his life. Demons filled his dreams whether he was awake or asleep. Howling and cursing, the monsters ate tiny chunks of his soul with each passing minute. Troy shook his head as the memory of the lion-like beast threatened to creep into his thoughts and send a quiver of pain shooting through his chest.

Quickly, he reached into the pocket of his Nike athletic shorts and withdrew the picture he always had stored somewhere close.

On it was a chubby, white haired baby with a giant toothless grin. Holding the laughing boy was the prettiest woman in the history of the planet.

Dirty blonde hair hung past her shoulders and fell perfectly across her thin back. A pointy chin was nuzzling the baby’s cheek, but everything paled in comparison to the smile.

The love of the Lord thrived in the lifting of her mouth.

Troy swallowed an unbidden sob as he peered at his mom. She’d been dead now for over five months. Killed by the poison of a sinna demon’s barb. And it was his fault. Every time he looked at his dad, that fact screamed into his face with thundering certainty.

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Title:  Angels without Wings: Hunting Halos
Series: The Angels without Wings Series - Book 4
Author: Chris Smith
Genre: YA Christian Fantasy
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Publication Date: October 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-1500750237

The past lingers on Troy Decker’s every thought. Losses have piled into the shadows at his heels. The War for Sins has taken a devastating toll on his life. And now, Lucifer has his eyes set on Troy’s very soul. With his chief fallen angel, Kyle Downey, spreading violence and discord around the globe, Lucifer has set plans in motion to end the War and bring a reign of terror upon the Earth.

For Troy, that means he must rush to receive his final two gifts from God. Gifts that will make him a fully-fledged angel and give him the power to resist Lucifer and all his demons. The granting of his fourth gift – a halo – looms as he struggles to stay one step ahead of Kyle and his Dark Hearts. A simple act of redemption stands in Troy’s way for this blessed sign of an angel. In a race against time, Troy must find the correct path to follow, not only in the eyes of his loved ones, but also for himself… or risk losing everything he knows and loves.

Book Excerpt:
Chapter 1, Page 1:

For the first time in his life, Troy Decker was hunting a human. Or a man who appeared to be human, at least. He’d been dogging the man’s trail on and off for two weeks. Watching and waiting while reading all the news on the mid-term Senate race in northern California.

Mrs. Chelsie Elliott was the front running Democrat in the Senate race, but her aide and assistant was Troy’s true target. The man was tall and thick. Broad shoulders stretched the expensive three piece suit flashing in the California sunlight. A blood red tie tucked crisply behind the shiny buttons. Neatly cropped hair was parted on the left. Soft grey eyes smiled warmly wherever he happened to look. But a menace resided under the glitzy exterior.

“We can’t do this alone,” Mrs. Elliott chanted into a microphone behind a wooden podium. “Each of us has a responsibility to turn this country in the right direction. And I’m here to make sure we steer this great ship back on the correct path.”

Troy shook his head as a gust of hot wind brushed across his face. He was mixed with a crowd of eager voters, but without trying he picked out several staged crew members of the candidate who had been placed to start the cheers and rousing ovations at the right spots of her speech.

For twenty minutes, Mrs. Elliott blared from one wrong doing of her opponent to the next – never actually discussing any plans to truly help her future constituents’ lives. Troy lingered at the edges of the crowd after she finished and kept his eyes on the man who was constantly scribbling notes to hand to the soon-to-be State Senator.

As Troy walked to the rented car, a half a block down the street of the small town he’d driven to that morning, his scepter glowed to life in a peaceful hum against his chest. The foot and a half long golden rod had been gifted to him by the very hand of God nearly three years ago. The memory made a smile lift instantly.

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About the Author:

Chris Smith ignited his love of stories on his sixteenth birthday when his parents gave him a leather bound copy of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Every year since, he has picked up the book and fallen into the world of hobbits, wizards, warriors, and orcs. To him, it’s a birthday present that will continue to be given each and every year for the rest of his life.

He began writing at the age of nineteen as a way to purge his mind of cascading plots and reveal the untold stories of characters who follow him around in his day-to-day life. To date, he has written fifteen novels falling mostly into the young adult, fantasy genre; but he has delved into suspense, crime drama, and post-apocalyptic categories as well.

Currently, Chris is in the middle of writing the Angels without Wings series. The books are young adult fantasy with Christian themes of faith, sacrifice, love, redemption, and forgiveness. Being the father of three young boys is the most important aspect of his life. Worlds of fun and adventure revolve constantly under the roof of their home in Mustang, Oklahoma.

Contact Chris at:
Amazon Author Page


Contest Giveaway

Pump Up Your Book and Author Chris Smith are
teaming up to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms and Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
* One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive the prize.
*This giveaway begins November 28 and ends on January 30, 2015.
* Winner will be contacted via email on February 1, 2015.
* Winner has 72 hours to reply.
* VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


1.03.2015

1.01.2015

Tried and True ~ Review

Tried and True
Wild at Heart 1
By Mary Connealy

Kylie Wilde is tried of pretending to be something she's not.  After all she's wants to be a woman, wear dresses, have teas, and be courted.  But if Pa has his way she'll be an old maid of 23 before she can even try for that kind of life.

But when she is alone at her own homestead Kylie sees no problem with being civilized and wearing a dress.  At least there was nothing wrong until the new local land agent started coming around looking for the man who had filed claim to the land.  Even worse Kylie has claimed her service exemption to get time off her time requirement - a claim only men can take.  But Kylie served and her exemption should be honored even if she isn't a man.

And when Kylie's secret comes out she knows it is only a matter of time before her sisters' secret comes to light.  But her big sisters are determined to go along with Pa's plan pretending to be the sons he doesn't have.  If only Pa could see his daughters as they are and not as a means to create a memorial to his fallen son.  But Pa seems unable to accept that Bailey, Shannon, and Kylie are girls and should be treated as such.  But Kylie sees this revelation as a blessing and a chance to maybe change Pa's opinion of her.

The Wilde women are enough to exasperate any man.  And for Aaron Masterson the exasperation is worse because these "men" have filed homesteading claims using their service exemptions. Exemptions the US government won't recognize and Aaron has to uphold the law.

But when someone tries to drive Kylie from her land - Aaron is determined to help her protect herself.  And Kylie just may let him.  But getting to the bottom of these attacks is Aaron's sole focus (or so he keeps telling himself).  After all Kylie is determined to return to the East and civilization and Aaron determined to never return to the hate and destruction the war has left behind.

But sometimes our hearts betray us, sending our plans awry.  Enjoy some fun in 1866 Idaho Territory with Tried and True!

Fans of Mary Connealy will enjoy this first book in her newest series.  The West will never be the same when the Wilde sisters are through with it.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher through TBCN/BookFun in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book: 
Saddle up for a wildly fun ride with the Wilde sisters!
Kylie Wilde is the youngest sister--and the most civilized. Her older sisters might be happy dressing in trousers and posing as men, but Kylie has grown her hair long and wears skirts every chance she gets. It's a risk--they are homesteading using the special exemptions they earned serving in the Civil War as "boys"--but Kylie plans to make the most of the years before she can sell her property and return to the luxuries of life back East.

Local land agent Aaron Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her future?

Always on My Mind ~ Review

Welcome to a New Year and a New Christiansen Family novel

Always on My Mind
A Christiansen Family Novel #4
By Susan May Warren

Casper just can't stop thinking about the woman he left behind - the woman who broke his heart.  But Raina has a secret that just may totally destroy what little feelings Casper has left for her - she's expecting a baby and soon.  But the biggest blow is when Casper learns who is the father of Raina's baby.

But this time instead of running off in search of lost treasure Casper returns to Deep Haven determined to be someone that can be counted on.  But old feelings die hard and Casper still is seeking his worth.  A worth that he feels will forever be as hidden as the treasure that he seeks.

But trying to forget Raina seems impossible especially when she somehow ends up in Deep Haven too.  But Raina has told Casper that she wants nothing to do with him, even before Eden's wedding and the fight with Owen that tore their family apart.  But Casper can't stand to see Raina hurting and he's worried she might be hurt again.

Meanwhile the family's resort is still struggling to recover after the fire that nearly destroyed it.  But Darek is struggling to save the resort at the cost of his family.  But he can't let go and allow Casper to shoulder part of the load - after all Casper isn't dependable, always off seeking treasure.

Like most families the Christiansens are struggling.  Fearing that they won't measure up to their own expectations or those they think other have, they often overlook the offer of help from family.  Raina feels as if she is outside looking in wanting the very thing that the Christiansens have - family to love and support you even when you stumble.  And she is sure that the choice she made will forever keep her on the outside.

Adding to the the skill with which Susan May Warren crafts this story is a mystery of old - a mystery which sparked Casper's fascination with treasure.  And the time may be right for Casper to finally find the treasure which he has sought.  The only question is is it a treasure of the heart or one of worldly worth...

If you have read the previous Christiansen Family novels and novellas you won't be disappointed and you'll be eagerly anticipating book 5 The Wonder of You (summer 2015) which seems to be hinted at in the epilogue of Always on My Mind.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book: After a failed dig in Honduras, aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his unresolved feelings for Raina Beaumont, the woman of his dreams. But when he arrives unannounced on her doorstep, he receives the shock of a lifetime: Raina is pregnant with someone else’s baby.

Heartbroken, especially when he discovers the identity of the baby’s father, Casper tables his dreams and determines to be dependable for once, helping his older brother, Darek, prepare the family resort for its grand reopening. Casper longs to be the hero of at least one family story, but a never-ending Deep Haven winter and costly repairs threaten their efforts—and the future of the resort.

Worse, one of Casper’s new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can’t seem to forget. A tentative friendship begins to heal fresh wounds, but can they possibly overcome past mistakes and current choices to discover a future together?

Happy New Years ~ 2015


Special Guest Post from author Susan May Warren

What better way to start off the New Year than with a special guest post from author of the Christiansen Family series ~ a series which follows the Christiansen family as the they live life.  Lives filled with joys, struggles, sorrows, and triumphs.

~ Susan May Warren ~  
It’s January.

This is what my town looks like in January.


Do you see the cold pallor? The icy streets? Right now, I am currently sitting under a blankie,
with little half-gloves on to keep my fingers warm.

I know, I know. WHY do we live here?

Because it’s a gorgeous place to set a story. Located on the rocky shores of Lake Superior, It’s a
little touch of Lake Woebegone – all the men are good-looking, all the women heroic. And it has
the overtones of small town Cheers, where everyone knows your name. Which means that
when you get into trouble, the entire town knows about it. Ack!

Welcome to Deep Haven, the home of the Christiansen family!

Their resort...Evergreen Outfitters and Cabin Rentals is located on an inland lake in the woods,
nestled among the pines, serenaded by the call of the loons and the waves against the shore.

And If you haven’t met the Christiansens, they’re a crazy, love big and live life out loud family
who *might* be a little like my family. (and one that might feel like yours, too!) The 6 adult
children and two parents, run a resort and try to figure out faith while living life (that often goes
wrong). They make mistakes, but they love each other through them.

Not unlike our family. (That’s us, not the Christiansens. Just in case you might be confused.)


The Christiansen family series follows each one of the adult children through their trials and
triumphs of falling in love and finding their way in the world. The next book hits the shelves in
the next month – Always on My Mind, a story about Casper, brother #2, who just can’t get the
wrong girl off his mind...

Right now, I’m hunkered down writing book #6...The Day After Forever, the last story in the
series, a story that asks...can Prodigals come home? (Um, I sure hope so!)

I wanted to write a series about a family with adult children, learning what it meant to carry on
the legacy of faith into their lives. And I wanted to write a series that would really let readers
dig into the family, feel like they were a part of their journey. The first two books ignite the
series not only by introducing us to Darek and Eden, the two oldest children, but also set up the
series with the loss of the family resort to a forest fire. Book 3, When I Fall in Love brings us to
Hawaii and back home and sends our prodigal on his way, and scatters the family.


Book 4 picks up the pieces of the prodigal’s actions and brings home the family peace-maker,
Casper in Always on My Mind, and Book 5 adds in a new twist, when daughter Amelia has to
choose between a hometown boy and a rich European she met while overseas. (And hello –
have you see the hunk on THAT cover? The Wonder of You, baby!)

And then there’s Owen. Troublemaker Owen who just might surprise them all when he comes
home...just in time to save the day. Or not... (Cover still pending!)

As the Christiansens rebuild their resort, the kids need to decide whether they want to carry on
the family legacy...or if life and faith might bring them somewhere else.

And, did I mention romance. Oh yeah – we have to have something to keep us warm up here
during the chilly months.

It’s a series full of family drama, community and...some really great food.

And cookies. (Seriously – check out: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/blog/2014/11/11/tuesdays-tasty-treat-eden-graces-lucky-kiss-peanut-butter-cookies/)

That’s the news from Lake, um, Superior.

Have a great January...and try to keep warm – Susie May the Siberian

12.31.2014

Forever Amish ~ Review

Forever Amish
Legacy of Lancaster County 3
By Kate Lloyd

I'll be perfectly honest when I got this book I had a hard time getting into it.  It wasn't the book - it was me.  So I put the book aside for a bit of time and read other books that I needed to review.  I then picked up Forever Amish this last weekend and had no trouble getting lost between the covers.

I have not read the first two books in this trilogy, but I don't think that is necessary as the story is Sally Bingham's and she is new to the series too.  So seeing everything through her eyes is as new to me as it is to her.

Sally has been lured to Lancaster County by a young woman Lizzie Zook who is seeking to purchase a dog.  But when Sally arrives she is shocked to discover that Lizzie isn't quite how she pictured her. Lizzie is Amish and her father is a no-nonsense type who won't have a dog in his house.

But the really reason behind Lizzie's motives does not become immediately obvious.  And when the truth comes out Sally's entire world is rocked to its core.  As Sally struggles with rediscovering who she is, Lizzie is going through her own struggles as she to tries to determine what path her life will take.

The root story of Forever Amish seems to be family and the love and support that they can offer us.

I was provided a copy of this book through TBCN/BookFun and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:
Sally Bingham needs some time away to sort through the changes in her life and to rethink her upcoming marriage. Despite her ailing father’s hesitations, she takes off for a bed and breakfast in Lancaster County for a weekend away. But her best-laid plans leave her in a near collision with a bishop’s buggy and in the home of a mysterious Amish woman named Lizzie. Lizzie introduces her to a different perspective on life, a charming farmhand named Armin— and opens a Pandora’s box that will forever change Sally’s life.

The latest book in the Legacy of Lancaster trilogy, Forever Amish introduces us to a young woman about to uncover a shocking secret and find an invitation to a new way of living. This is a story of forgiveness, legacies, and the ties that bind through generations.

About the Author:
Author Kate Lloyd is a passionate observer of human relationships. A native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, PA, the inspiration for her best selling novels Leaving Lancaster and Pennsylvania Patchwork, and her newest release, Forever Amish, the third book in the Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy.

Kate is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest, the setting for Kate's first novel, A Portrait of Marguerite. Kate studied art and art history in college. She's worked a variety of jobs, including car salesman and restaurateur. As a younger woman, she raised show dogs.

For relaxation and fun, Kate enjoys walking with her camera in hand, beachcombing, and playing with her two young grandchildren.

Find out more about Kate Lloyd at her Website: www.katelloyd.net
Blog: http://katelloyd.net/blog/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/katelloydbooks
Twitter: @KateLloydAuthor
Pinterest: @KateLloydAuthor

Kate loves hearing from readers!