12.07.2023

Her Christmas Healing by Mindy Obenhaus // Just Read

Her Christmas Healing JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Her Christmas Healing by Mindy Obenhaus hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Her Christmas Healing Title: Her Christmas Healing 
Series: K-9 Companions #17; Hope Crossing #4 
Author: Love Inspired 
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 
Release Date: November 28, 2023 
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Christmas is around the corner…

And love might be right next door. 

Hope Crossing, Texas, is just what Jillian McKenna needs. Here, she can recover after a terrible attack…and create a home for her baby-to-be. But she also has a complication next door. She once saw a future with veterinarian Gabriel Vaughn—a future that feels impossible now. But with love, faith, a support dog and some Christmas spirit, maybe it’s not too late after all… 

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope. 


Lucie's Review: 

A powerful heart-tugging romance, about second chances and finding a forever family. 

Jillian's life is changed forever when she is attacked while out on a jog, she starts to rebuild her life with the help of her grandma, and a support dog that claims her as her own. Can she open her heart to the possibility of love too? 

Engaging from the start, my heart was touched by Jillian's plight. I thought that she handled all that she was put through with grace and wisdom. I absolutely adored Aggie, and how she sees Jillian's need and decides to help her out. Gabriel is a great guy, he doesn't understand at first, but he wants to understand what went wrong, and not give up if there is still hope. 

Overall, a touching and emotional read, with characters that capture your heart in this uplifting romance. I loved the solid faith, and great interaction between the characters. Plus, a truly amazing dog! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

More Books in Series

The Cowgirl's Redemption A Christmas Bargain Loving the Rancher's Children


About the Author

Mindy Obenhaus

Best-selling author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching the Hallmark Channel.

Connect with Mindy by visiting mindyobenhaus.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of the book and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Her Christmas Healing JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight December 6, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on December 13, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

12.06.2023

A Family for the Orphans by Heidi Main // Review


Lucie's Review: 
Walker and Trista have a lot on their plates, stepping up as guardians for their mutual friends' three children and working hard to give them the life that their parents dreamed of giving them. 

A heartwarming story about faith, family, and finding love. Trista and Walker make a good team, they've known each other since college and both work incredibly hard to give the kids the best that they can. The kids are super cute, and doing as well as can be expected with everything they've been through. I liked how Trista and Walker both take time to get to know the kids, and that they growth in their faith through their hardships. 

Trista has great business sense, and I liked her initiative to make the stable a success. She had a lot of great ideas. 

Overall, an enjoyable, heartwarming story of finding family in the wake of tragedy. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3Gtid3Q *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying

12.05.2023

An Accidental Romance by Karen Tuft // Review

Lucie's Review:

Rebecca's season is cut short before it even starts, when by unfortunate accident she breaks her ankle.

A charming regency romance, sweet and believable with great interaction and likable characters that you can cheer for. I loved how Rebecca's friends came to comfort and spend time with her during her recovery, especially Ben who feels particularly guilty for her accident. 

Engaging, quick read that pulled me in from the beginning, with great character growth as the story progressed. Highly enjoyable clean romance. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3Ta1bze   *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases

12.04.2023

The Prince of Egypt : The Musical // Review & Giveaway


You’ve grown up with this story, and now you can watch the filmed live stage production! Buy or rent The Prince of Egypt digitally starting December 5th! 

 Filmed live at the West End's Dominion Theatre, London, the show features a cast and orchestra of 60 performers, making it one of the biggest musicals ever staged. The Prince of Egypt: The Musical is the must-see event for all fans of musical theatre. Based on the classic DreamWorks Animation film the classic story has been brought to life by Stephen Schwartz’s “miraculous music” (Time Out), including Academy Award®-winning song ‘When You Believe’ and Sean Cheesman’s “astonishing choreography” (The Guardian). This epic, critically acclaimed production tells an inspiring tale of resilience and hope. Journey through the wonders of Ancient Egypt as two young men, raised together as brothers in a kingdom of privilege, find themselves suddenly divided by a secret past. One must rule as Pharaoh, the other must rise up and free his true people; both face a destiny that will change history forever.

Buy or rent The Prince of Egypt on digital starting December 5th! https://www.theprinceofegyptmusical.com/




My Review: 

Watch the story of Moses come to life in a whole new way, in this imaginative west end production of The Prince of Egypt. 

I was blown away by the attention to detail, use of interpretive dance and the set pieces, and the amazing talent of the entire cast. Meticulously put together show, I loved how the stage came alive through the dancers that brought the musical to life in a innovative way, I was riveted to the screen because I didn't want to miss a single thing! 

The actors are all incredibly talented, with strong pitch perfect voices that capture the emotions of the music. This is probably one of the best musicals I have ever seen, and it was easy to become immersed as it all came to life, and I can only imagine that it will be even bigger and better on the big screen. A wonderful experience for the whole family, with strong themes of legacy and faith. Highly recommend!

 #PrinceOfEgyptMIN #PrinceOfEgyptMusical #MomentumInfluencerNetwork 

Many thanks to NBC Universal for providing a sample of the product for this review.  Opinions are 100% my own.



Giveaway: $10 Amazon giftcard 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only).


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12.03.2023

Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams // Celebrate Lit



About the Book



Book: Of Sea and Smoke

Author: Gillian Bronte Adams

Genre: YA Epic Fantasy

Release Date: November 21, 2023

He rides a seablood, a steed of salt and spray, born to challenge the tides.

Six years ago, the wrong brother survived, and nothing will ever convince Rafi Tetrani otherwise. But he is done running from his past, and from the truth. As civil war threatens Ceridwen’s tenuous rule in Soldonia, Rafi vows to fight the usurper sitting on the imperial throne of Nadaar, even if it means shouldering his brother’s responsibilities as the empire’s lost heir.

The stolen shipload of magical warhorses offers just the edge he needs. But the steeds have been demanded in ransom by the emperor’s ruthless assassin, and if Rafi hopes to raise a band of riders, he must first outwit his brother’s murderer.

Yet when his best efforts end in disaster, and an audacious raid sparks an empire-wide manhunt, even forging an unexpected alliance might not be enough to help Rafi turn the tides, let alone outrace the wave of destruction intent on sweeping them all away.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Review: Picking up in the aftermath of the previous book, more closely following Rafi as he takes up his fallen brother's mantle in the fight against the usurper. 

Engaging, with plenty of new twists that stretch the characters into growth. I loved that we got to see more sides of Rafi, the author does an excellent job of building on the foundation laid down in the first book to develop real growth and complexity in her characters. Ceridwen is a compassionate leader, with a true heart for those she serves, and I admired her for the hard choices that she had to make. 

A gripping addition to the series, with action, suspense, faith, great world building and character development, and a stunner of a cliffhanger ending. It will be exciting to see where it goes in the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

About the Author



Gillian Bronte Adams writes epic fantasy novels, including the award- winning Of Fire and Ash and The Songkeeper Chronicles. She loves strong coffee, desert hikes, and trying out new soup recipes on crisp fall nights. Her favorite books are the ones that make your heart ache and soar in turn. When she’s not creating vibrant new worlds or dreaming up stories that ring with the echoes of eternity, she can be found off chasing sunsets with her horse, or her dog, Took.

 

 

 

More from Gillian

One of my favorite things about writing epic fantasy is not actually what you might expect. It’s not the fantastical elements, although I absolutely love creating worlds filled with magical warhorses, sosswyrm tangles, and stone-eye tigers who can paralyze their prey with a glance. It’s not the intensity of the action or the world altering stakes, although there’s nothing quite so thrilling as throwing your characters into a do-or-die situation, and the pulse-pounding, breathtaking, heart-aching battle sequences that follow.

Instead, one of my favorite things about writing such wild and epic stories is the opportunity to ground them in very real, very human characters, with very real, very human emotions, and in the complexity of those characters’ relationships with others. Mentor relationships, deeply loyal friendships, and especially sibling relationships.

I am the second-born of five siblings, and I love and admire each of my siblings. Each one encourages and inspires and awes me in his or her own unique way. But growing up, if you had told me that my older sister had hung the moon, I would have believed you. She was two and a half years older than me—and yes, that half year mattered to both of us, though for opposite reasons; she because it meant she was that much older, me because it meant we were that much closer. Somehow, everything she touched seemed golden, and I wanted to be a part of it too.

She was a force of nature—a foaming ocean tide—and I was caught up in her wake.

She took up horseback riding, and so did I. She picked up books, and I had to read them too, even if it meant sitting beside her in the car with my own book open on my lap, surreptitiously reading hers over her shoulder. (Needless to say, that drove her crazy, and older siblings everywhere can probably commiserate.)

She dove into creative writing, and out of nowhere, I developed a passion for the written word. But always, within her, there was this spark of imagination and creativity that I felt I could only ever aspire to. Whatever I did, she had done first and better.

And I could only hope to one day achieve her level of greatness.

Rafi, one of the main characters in Of Sea and Smoke, also has an older sibling, a brother he has always looked up to. While Rafi and his relationship with his brother is not based on my relationship with my older sister—we’re all four of us wildly different people—there were some aspects of my experience as a second-born that I was able to draw upon. Rafi admires his brother’s strength and confidence. His assurance and rightness. His nobility and leadership. By the time we enter the story, his older brother is no longer around, but Rafi has spent his whole life setting his brother up on a pedestal and then trying to measure up to that ideal.

Is it any wonder, then, that he has always found himself wanting?

Now, Rafi finds himself having to step into the role that should have been his brother’s, and the only way he can contemplate facing that challenge is by stamping out the things he looks down upon in himself—many of them, the things that make him himself—and trying to be his brother instead.

Growing up, I can’t tell you how many times I looked at my older sister and wished that I could be more like her and less like myself. More confident. More brilliant. More vibrant. More her. But it wasn’t until my older sister’s interests began to drift into new additional avenues, while mine stayed mostly the same (horses, books, writing), that I finally began to grow into myself. To recognize my strengths, my unique skills, the things that only I bring to the table, and to acknowledge that even when they are different from hers, they are still good.

These days, my older sister and I are best friends. She was the first person I trusted to read Of Sea and Smoke before it went out into the world. I still look up to her in so many ways, and yes, I think I’ll always feel a bit like she hung the moon. But I have grown to appreciate the beauty of what I can learn from my sister’s strengths, while also recognizing the value of my own. And without revealing any spoilers, I think I can safely say that part of Rafi’s journey in Of Sea and Smoke wraps around learning that too, all while he’s raising a band of rebel fighters, trying to outwit an infamous assassin, and plotting to overthrow the empire’s oppressive rule.

Wild, epic stories, grounded in real, human experiences, and honestly, can reading get any more fun than that?

I hope you enjoy the ride!

Gillian Bronte Adams

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 2

Through the Fire Blogs, December 3 (Author Interview)

Labor Not in Vain, December 3

Texas Book-aholic, December 4

Artistic Nobody, December 5 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 6

Guild Master, December 7 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 8

Blossoms and Blessings, December 9 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, December 10

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 11 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, December 12 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 13 (Author Interview)

By The Book, December 14 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, December 14

Fiction Book Lover, December 15 (Author Interview)

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Gillian is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card and hardcover copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2909e/of-sea-and-smoke-celebration-tour-giveaway

12.01.2023

The Cowgirl's Last Rodeo by Tabitha Bouldin // Review

Lucie's Review: 

An uplifting story of second chances, faith, hard work, and love. 

After her horse goes blind, the one person who can get Callie back in the saddle again is the man whose heart she broke 10 years ago. 

A heartwarming story of second chances, love and hard work. I liked Brody's devotion to his family, and how close he is with them. His little nephew is just so adorable! I liked the interaction between Callie and Brody as they rediscover their friendship and work together with the horses. 

Overall, a heartwarming story filled with hope and horses. I loved getting to know both of their families, and see how they never gave up on the horses. A heartwarming second chance romance, with likable characters and plenty of heart. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3MQZwKQ   *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases

11.30.2023

Single Today by Ryan Wekenman // Review

My Review: 

Finally a book for singles, written by an actual single person! 

As a pretty much chronically single person, reading this was such a breath of fresh air. I laughed and cried along with Ryan, because he gets it, possibly even more because he's a pastor. It was so nice to read a book about being single, and just relating to the unique situations that others don't understand, as well as just openly saying maybe you'll be single forever and not beating around the bush on that one. 

Honestly, reading this book was so affirming. It was great to have someone acknowledge that things are different for singles, we don't have the same support systems or pushers in our lives, and things can feel stagnant at times. As a fellow introvert, I probably related to this book more than some. 

But while the author acknowledges all of these things, he points to God and how our martial status doesn't stop us from living a life devoted to honoring God whatever it holds. This book doesn't tell you how to get in a relationship, and that's why I loved it. Highly recommend!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 Buy it here: https://amzn.to/40Y0RVU *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases

11.29.2023

Anne Dares adapted by Kallie George, and illustrated by Abigail Halpin // Review

My Review: 

Book five in a series of Anne of Green Gables adapted for young readers with accompanying illustrations, Anne Dares finds Anne learning a valuable lesson about taking risks. 

Easy to read, but staying true to the original spirit, this is a charming read that was over far too quickly for me, but I could definitely see how the shorter length is less intimidating for early readers. Highly enjoyable, and with lovely illustrations this series is the perfect way to introduce Anne to the next generation! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 Buy it here: https://amzn.to/47W4A8M *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases

11.28.2023

The Shift // Movie Review & Giveaway


From Angel Studios (The Chosen, Sound of Freedom) comes The Shift! 

 In The Shift, a dystopian drama and sci-fi thriller, one man is faced with infinite worlds and impossible choices. When Kevin Garner meets a nefarious adversary known as The Benefactor and refuses his offer of wealth and power, he must escape an alternate totalitarian reality. With survival on the line, Kevin fights to make it back to the world he knows and the woman he loves.

 Featuring Sean Astin (The Goonies, Rudy, The Lord of the Rings), Neal McDonough (Band of Brothers), and Elizabeth Tabish (The Chosen), THE SHIFT is a movie you and your friends won’t want to miss! 




Get your tickets to see this movie in theaters starting 12/1! https://www.angel.com/movies/the-shift

You can help pay for other people's tickets to come to the film at angel.com/pay-it forward/the-shift.




 My Review: 

A dystopian thriller about a man who loses it all when he refuses the offer of the malevolent Benefactor, and finds himself living in an alternate reality fighting to get back to his old life, refusing to renounce his faith. 

A fast paced film, tension filled, with plenty of action. It took awhile for me to get oriented, but definitely pulls you in as it progresses. The story draws parallels from the Biblical account of Job, and I admired Kevin for his devotion to his family, as well as his drive to get back to them. 

An action packed thriller, with strong themes of faith family, and fighting for what is right. Probably not for young children due to the violence and more mature themes. But another strong film from Angel studios, that is thought provoking and quality entertainment. 

 #TheShiftMIN #TheShiftFilm #MomentumInfluencerNetwork 

Many thanks to Angel Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review.  Opinions are 100% my own.



Giveaway: 2 tickets to see the film in theaters 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only).


a Rafflecopter giveaway

11.27.2023

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt // Review

Lucie's Review: 

Emotional and evocative, the author does an amazing job of bringing the horrible realities of WWII to life through the eyes of two amazing sisters. 

Well researched and deeply historical, this book vividly shows the hardships faced by so many living in Poland during the German occupation. Antonina has always seen herself as more meek than her bolder sister, Helena. But the war forces her out of her comfort zone and has her finding her footing in her own act of resistance. While Helena goes to fight with Poland's secret army.

Engaging, and hard to read in a good way, because of how well the time period is brought to life. Poignant, well written tale of love and sacrifice, this is a book that will stick with you long after the last page is turned. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

 Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3R1qf8T

 *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases