A Future to Fight For ~ Book Spotlight with Excerpt and Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for 

A Future to Fight For by Mindy Obenhaus, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book:

Title: A Future to Fight For
Series: Bliss, Texas
Author: Mindy Obenhaus
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: August 1, 2021
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

All their dreams will come true… 

 if they can work together. 

 

Widow Paisley Wainwright’s so close to taking her Texas event-planning business to the next level by turning Renwick Castle into a wedding venue. Only one thing stands in the way: her longtime rival, Crockett Devereaux, who wants the building to become a museum. When the building’s owners insist they collaborate to implement both plans, can Paisley and Crockett put their differences aside…and fight for their dreams together?

Purchase Links*: 

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

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About the Author:

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

 She’d love to connect with you via her website or on Facebook.

Connect with Mindy: 

Website | Facebook | Instagram

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Excerpt:

He studied the remarkable woman across from him. “Paisley, I believe I owe you an apology.”

“For what?”

Still holding her hand, he stood, rounded the table, and pulled her to her feet. “For underestimating you. You are a strong woman, stronger than most men. Myself included.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“I don’t. The fact that you were able to move past your pain and start a new life here in Bliss, all the while holding tight to your faith, is something to be admired. It makes me ashamed of how I treated you in the past.”

“Now who’s pitying me?”

“Paisley, the only pitiful one here is me.” It really bugged him, the way his hackles used to go up whenever he was around her.

“That’s not true. You’re a good man.” She released his hand and moved toward the window. “This rain isn’t going to let up anytime soon. What do we do about the castle?”

“We wait. It may be a few days before we can get back in there.”

Yawning, she nodded. “I think I need a nap.”

At least her mood seemed to have improved, so he wouldn’t have to worry about leaving her while she was down. Problem was, he didn’t want to go. Like someone who’d just uncovered a rare treasure, he wanted to stay and admire it.

And that was a problem he’d never anticipated.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of A Future to Fight For and a $25 Amazon gift card!

The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway began at midnight August 2, 2021, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 9, 2021. 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.

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.

Lethal Cover-Up ~ Review

Lethal Cover-Up

By Darlene L. Turner

Madison Steele has just lost the most important person in her life again. This time it was the sister that she had just recently connected with. Worse it wasn't an accident and now the killer is after her too. Leah uncovered a cover-up at the pharmaceutical company she worked for and now the public is paying the price for what she uncovered.

With tainted drugs crossing the border it's only a matter of time before the deadly effects are realized. But stopping the flow will mean spending time with Tucker Reed, the high school sweetheart whose heart she broke years ago. Can they find Cicada with the few clues they have? Or will this murderous mastermind add them to his growing list of victims?

Lethal Cover-Up takes the reader into the action from page one and it continues non-stop throughout the book. Readers familiar with Love Inspired Suspense will be thrilled with the clean reading suspense offered that doesn't sacrifice the story to achieve this goal. And you can be assured of a satisfying ending - so curl up in your favorite reading spot and get ready to enjoy a few hours on the Canadian/US border.

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:

Some secrets are dangerous… 

But uncovering the truth could be deadly.

Border patrol officer Madison Steele knows her sister Leah’s fatal car crash was no accident. Someone’s willing to kill to cover up a pharmaceutical company’s deadly crime of distributing tainted drugs. Now they are after Madison to tie off loose ends. But with her high school sweetheart, Canadian police constable Tucker Reed, at her side, can Madison expose the company’s deadly plan before she becomes the next victim?

The Trouble with Jenny ~ Review

The Trouble with Jenny

Wind River Chronicles #1

By Kathy Geary Anderson

Jenny Westraven is a beauty who has a sizeable inheritance to her name and as a member of New York's social elite, she is a highly sought-after prize. And that is the problem - she doesn't want to be valued for the financial windfall she will bring her husband. Rather she yearns for a marriage built on love, one like her late parents had. But more than anything Jenny wants to feel as if she belonged somewhere as if someone wanted her for her. 

When Jenny has an opportunity to work in a law office as a typewriter for her childhood acquaintance, Ben, she's more than willing to throw herself into the work. There's just one tiny little problem her guardians are less than thrilled that she is working and that she is found in a most appalling situation - kissing her employer!

With her singular skill at getting herself into trouble, Jenny soon finds herself heading West, banished to live with her brother until she is invited back into her aunt and uncle's good graces and home. But it seems that wherever she goes trouble follows. And the person most likely to be on the painful end of Jenny's adventures is Ben. 

When Jenny finds herself in a situation that could ruin her, she is determined to fight back. But she needs Ben's help to do so. Can a man with a broken heart truly be her best defense? Jenny is about to find out just where she belongs. 

The Trouble with Jenny is a delightful read. Set at the dawning of the Twentieth Century it is interesting to contrast what was with what is. Women had no voice. Those born into wealth were expected to be nothing more than ornamentation on their husband's arm. And wanting adventure is a total no-no. Too bad Jenny is determined to live life to its fullest.

Overall this book is excellent reading. The characters captured my attention and I dearly hope to visit them again in future books. If you are looking for something new to read in the historical romance genre this is one you have to try. This is clean reading that is perfect for mid-teens and up.

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

Series: Wind River Chronicles #1
Publisher: Purple Autumn Press
Release Date: April 20, 2021
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

She’s always getting into trouble. He’s always getting hurt.

At the turn of the 20th century, New York socialite Jenny Westraven is in trouble . . . again. An orphaned heiress from a large banking family, she’s expected to follow the rules of society and marry according to her wealth and status. But Jenny craves adventure and anything BUT the ordinary. So, when her guardian aunt and uncle return from a European vacation to find Jenny working as a typewriter girl in a Newark law office, they are appalled. Worse yet, they interrupt a kiss between her and her young boss Mr. “Ben” Bennett.

Jenny has been getting Ben in trouble since he was ten, so he’s secretly relieved when her guardians reject him as a suitor. He has other plans for his life, and they don’t include his troublesome childhood friend. When Jenny uses outrageous methods to reject the suitors her family does approve for her, her aunt and uncle decide to send her to her brother in Wyoming.

Then, a family tragedy takes Ben out west as well, and his path crosses with Jenny’s once again. As they work together to end an injustice, what was merely an attraction between them develops into something more. Unfortunately, Jenny’s involvement with another man comes between them and puts her in the worst trouble of her life.

Now Ben must decide whether to risk his heart to rescue her once again or cut his losses and let her go.

Chasing Failure ~ Review with Excerpt and Giveaway

Chasing Failure:

    How Falling Short Sets You Up for Success

By Ryan Leak

Foreword by Jon Gordon

No one wants to fail but sometimes you have to fail to get a better future.  Failure refines you and makes you better if you see it as a blessing rather than a detriment. 

As children, we dream about the future, but as we move towards the freedoms an adult life brings we allow doubts and reality to keep us from our dreams. We talk ourselves out of our dreams because we fear failure. But you fail by default if you never make an attempt. Each time you make an attempt, your fear of failure will lose its hold on you and your dream. The first step is the most important, and failure is not the end but the motivation to continue chasing your dream.

You are your biggest hurdle to success. Missing the mark makes you better because you keep trying until you get better, and then you go to the next step of your journey. How you deal with your failure reveals your character. Do you see failure as a challenge to do better or does it crush you into abandoning your dream?

But sometimes failure is an invitation to chase a new dream - sometimes your passion finds you. But is your passion a hobby or does it have career potential? Sometimes you have to create your own opportunity. What do people, other than family members, encourage you to try? Start small and work your way forward. Don't dump your job before you make sure you can do what you are going after. Reaching your full potential takes work and fulfills you, but is the personal cost worth the risk? For every success, there is a cost - will it be to your family, your health, your time? Only you can answer whether the cost is too high.

You'll need to budget your time for what is important - what are your goals? Have you made time in your day and your calendar for your dreams? Is your time going towards your goal, or is it going towards binge-watching an entire television series? Discipline is the key to keeping your time on track. One place to put your time into is knowledge - you need to understand how to accomplish your goals - sources of knowledge are readily available - you just need to find it.

Are you ready to chase failure to find the success you desire? If so, this book from Ryan Leak will give you the tools and guidance you need to fail so that you may ultimately succeed.

The audio version has a bonus - at the end of each chapter, questions from early readers are answered. The audio version is read by the author Ryan Leak; it is well-presented and well-paced. The chapters are not too long so that you can easily turn your commute into a step on your path to success.

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:

By blending personal stories, inspirational anecdotes, riveting psychology, get-up-and-go encouragement, and just plain practical step-by-step advice, Ryan Leak shows how chasing failure just may be the quickest way to success.

We all have something we’d love to do, but often our fear of failure outweighs the potential of our destiny. But what if we found out that failure could actually help us succeed? Through Ryan Leak’s journey of chasing the girl of his dreams to his NBA fantasy and his encounter with five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, Chasing Failure helps us remove every excuse for not pursuing the life we want to live.

In this book Ryan also talks about the science behind why people are afraid to fail, mixing in real-life stories and adding practical steps to help us intentionally chase failure. As he says, “God promises to be with you always, even through the failure.” This book is for the dreamers who have been afraid to move–and even those who have been afraid to dream. Ultimately, Chasing Failure will help us build confidence in what God has called us to do. As a motivational speaker, whether addressing people in corporations, churches, or youth events, Ryan has a message of hope: failure is right around the corner, so be brave enough to chase it! The good life is on the other side.

Purchase Links

Thomas Nelson | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Ryan Leak

Ryan Leak is an author, speaker, executive coach, and filmmaker. He’s known for two documentaries: The Surprise Wedding and Chasing Failure. The son of a preacher man, Ryan grew up in the church with a marketplace passion. Today, Ryan splits his time between speaking in churches and doing executive coaching and speaking in Corporate America through his company, The Ryan Leak Group, LLC.

Ryan has a unique church position in that he is on the teaching team of five megachurches. He rotates speaking at each of them seven to eight times a year. He regularly teaches 48,000 people between those five churches. Ryan does about 120 events each year, reaching 200,000 people, and trains approximately 15,000 leaders. Ryan and his wife, Amanda, reside in Dallas, Texas, with their two children, Jaxson and Roman.

Pre-order Chasing Failure: How Falling Short Sets You Up for Success for your Kindle today.

Connect with Ryan

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Excerpt:

Befriending Failure

Once you have the framework for realizing what

dreams to pursue and the game plan to start working

toward your aspirations, you, my friend, are ready to

start chasing failure. And in the process, you’ll find

successes, you’ll find innovations, you’ll find fulfillment,

you’ll find challenges. You’ll find friendships.

And you’ll find your dreams evolving.

My dream to join the NBA shifted. And while I

still play basketball and have come closer to beating my

friend who used to be in the NBA, I began to set my

sights on other dreams as I grew and realized my purpose

on earth could be better fulfilled by speaking to

people. My dreams now include inspiring people to live

their best lives and to go after their dreams, helping

companies win in a way that doesn’t sacrifice relationships

but instead builds them up, being the best husband

to my amazing wife, and making sure I’m the world’s

best dad to my kiddos. I fail at these things every day.

But in setting my standards as high as possible and, in

doing so, setting myself up to chase failure, I am living

the most fulfilling, interesting, and dream-realizing

life I could have ever imagined for myself.

Instead of playing in the NBA, I now have the privilege

of working with NBA players and executives. One

day, I was in the middle of a chapel service for a few

NBA players via Zoom while they were in their bubble

season, and my son came in wanting my attention.

Instead of ignoring my son, I decided to invite him

into the moment. I said, “Hey, buddy, why don’t you

come over here and meet some of my friends?” He was

initially shy and hesitant to come over. So I said, “Hey,

you know, they are actually about to play on television

in like twenty minutes.” His eyes opened wide and he

got so excited. It was a cool moment for me to realize

I’m still living the dream.

I never thought that chasing failure would bring me

where I am today. Running up and down that court in

Phoenix, I never could have imagined it would turn into

all this. To be able to come alongside NBA players now,

long past my ability to play professional basketball, is

really cool for my son to see. I can make a difference in

the lives of people on or off the court. And I love that I

am able to set an example of chasing failure for my son.

I not only tell my son to go after whatever he

dreams of doing, whether he decides he wants to be an

astronaut, or a firefighter, or Black Panther; I am also

living by example. I don’t want my son to be afraid

of failure. I want him to chase after it, knowing that

when he takes action to go after his dreams, failure is

an inevitable part of getting closer to those dreams.

Your dreams are worth chasing. And yes, you will

experience failure along the way, but that has to stop

being a deal breaker. Stop failing by default. Chase it

down, look failure in the eye, greet it if you are feeling

friendly, and befriend it. You’ll be hanging out with

him a lot as you chase your dreams. Let failure remind

you that you are getting closer and closer every day to

achieving what you once thought was impossible. Find

your sweet spot, figure out your game plan, and go

after your dreams.

So one more time, I must ask you:

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

I certainly hope the world finds out.

5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

Taken from “Chasing Failure” by Ryan Leak. Copyright 2021 by Ryan Leak. 

Used with permission from Thomas Nelson.

Book Giveaway:

Open to US residents who have a US mailing address. 

One (1) winner will win a hardcover copy of this book.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email with

their full name and US mailing address

or an alternate winner will be selected.

Ends at 11:59 pm on Monday, July 26, 2021

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Review tour:

Monday, July 5th: @irishgirliereads (audiobook)

Wednesday, July 7th: She Just Loves Books and @shejustlovesbooks (audiobook)

Thursday, July 8th: @baytownbookie (audiobook)

Friday, July 9th: Living My Best Book Life and @livingmybestbooklife

Monday, July 12th: Books with Jams and @bookswithjams

Tuesday, July 13th: Mammanatty’s Raves and Reviews

Wednesday, July 14th: @itsbibliotherapy

Thursday, July 15th: @bluntscissorsbookreviews

Friday, July 16th: @deedlesbooknook

Monday, July 19th: Nurse Bookie and @nursebookie (audiobook)

Tuesday, July 20th: Blooming with Books (audiobook)

Wednesday, July 21st: @rozierreadsandwine (audiobook)

Thursday, July 22nd: @lyon.brit.andthebookshelf

Monday, July 26th: @jenniaahava

Tuesday, July 27th: Tabi Thoughts

Wednesday, July 28th: @createexploreread (audiobook)

Thursday, July 29th: @thecalicobooks

Wednesday, August 4th: Run Wright and @karen_runwright

TBD: Saturday, July 10th: Leighellen Landskov and @mommaleighellensbooknook

Frosted Roses ~ 6 Fairytale Retellings coming soon

The Frosted Roses are coming this September and they are available to preorder now!

Brothers and Sisters and Bears, Oh My!

Six exciting new retellings of Snow White and Rose Red

For a limited time, all six books are only 99 cents each to preorder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   Rose Petals and Snowflakes
   By Kendra E. Ardnek
  An Austen Mashup
  Goodreads||Amazon
  September 20th





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          Runaway Lyrics
          By C.O. Bonham
         A Steampunk Adventure
        Goodreads||Amazon
        September 21st

   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

     As Long as We Live

     By Cortney Manning

    An Epic Fae Romance
    Goodreads||Amazon
    September 22nd





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
            Secrets of the Mountain
            By Wyn Estelle Owens
           A Nordic Saga
           Goodreads||Amazon
           September 23rd

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Gilded in Ice
    Sarah Pennington

    A Jazz-Age Mystery

    Goodreads||Amazon
    September 24th






~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          The Bear
          By Rachel Roden
         A Western Fairy Tale
         Goodreads||Amazon
         September 25th

Cover Reveal ~ To Treasure an Heiress

Today we are having another cover reveal. 

I know Christmas in July is coming early this year.

The only thing is this Christmas surprise will have to go

on your book wish list.

Roseanna M. White's The Secrets of the Isles series is about to

reveal the lovely cover of book 2 - To Treasure an Heiress.

And it is a lovely cover and is one I personally can't wait to read.

But the book isn't releasing until January 2022 but what a great book

to be at the top of your 2022 TBR list.

Now for a glimpse of the cover.

 

Title: To Treasure an Heiress

Author: Roseanna M. White

Series: The Secrets of the Isles Book 2

Release Date: January 2022

Preorder a SIGNED copy: https://bit.ly/2TjhJbB

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AhtEXT

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2SFJzye

Author Info:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

1906

Beth Tremayne has always been drawn to adventure. During her childhood, she fed that desire by exploring every inch of the Isles of Scilly. As an adolescent, she dreamed of love in London’s ballrooms. Now, stumbling across an old map on her family’s property, she’s found more adventure than she ever dreamed in the hunt for pirate treasure. Unfortunately, Beth can’t escape the attentions of her family’s guest, Lord Sheridan.

Sheridan has spent years pursuing whatever archaeological interest caught his imagination. And when he discovers that Beth’s search connects with one of his favorite pirates of history, he can’t help getting involved. Plus, he finds her irresistible, even though she insists he stole a prized possession of hers.

As they work together following different clues and drawing closer to danger, they start to piece together a story of tragic love and piratical adventure. But the true surprise is the treasure they discover in one another.

The Weight of Memory ~ Review

The Weight of Memory

By Shawn Smucker

Forty years ago Paul Elias left his hometown behind forever. But when he learns that he has little time left he returns to Nysa - the place of his greatest joy and his greatest loss. But he is doing it for Pearl. His granddaughter has no one other than him and he hopes that somehow he can find someone to give her what he no longer has - a future.

The Weight of Memory takes the reader on a journey - a journey of life, of memory. But returning to Mysa is not what Paul expected - it is a town that under a cloud. This very sadness is something that touches Pearl, who has a depth that is beyond her years. 

There are times that this book has an almost spooky feel to it but as it unfolds the reader gradually is made aware that there is more to the tale than first meets the eye. This is a layered story that has a subtle yet powerful appeal and is one that should not be missed.

Shawn Smucker has once again created a world that you'll want to revisit just reexamine everything once you've reached the climax. You'll want to search through it all to discover what you may have missed the first time through. If you have read Shawn in the past you won't be disappointed in this newest work. The back and forth between the present and Paul's memories is typical of his work and in no way has it lost its power to reveal a complexity of thought while entertaining. I highly recommend this book.

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

About the Book:

When Paul Elias receives a terminal diagnosis, he leaves his physician's office in a fog. Only one thing is clear to him: if he is going to die, he must find someone to watch over his granddaughter, Pearl, who has been in his charge since her drug-addicted father disappeared. Paul decides to take her back to Nysa--both the place where he grew up and the place where he lost his beloved wife under strange circumstances forty years earlier.

But when he picks up Pearl from school, the little girl already seems to know of his plans, claiming a woman told her.

In Nysa, Paul reconnects with an old friend but is not prepared for the onslaught of memory. And when Pearl starts vanishing at night and returning with increasingly bizarre tales, Paul begins to question her sanity, his own views on death, and the nature of reality itself.

In this suspenseful and introspective story from award-winning author Shawn Smucker, the past and the present mingle like opposing breezes, teasing out the truth about life, death, and sacrifice.