I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
7.31.2022
Embracing His Past by Christina Miller // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughter // Review and Giveaway
7.26.2022
Hope Beyond the Waves by Heidi Chiavaroli // Just Read Tour, Review, and Giveaway
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Hope Beyond the Waves by Heidi Chiavaroli, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Hope Beyond the Waves
Author: Heidi Chiavaroli
Publisher: Hope Creek Publishers, LLC
Release Date: June 28, 2022
Genre: Christian, Dual Timeline Fiction
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub
Review:
Secrets from the past touch future generations in this masterfully told story of hope and redemption.
Emily is spending the remainder of the school year with her grandmother on Cape Cod, adjusting to a new school and a loss of old friends. While there she uncovers a piece of her history deemed shameful by her politically climbing family.
Decades earlier, one diagnosis changes Atta Schaeffer's life forever. Whisked away from her future plans to marry and rescue her younger sister from their abusive father, she is taken to live in exile on Penikese Island. Will she find Hope Beyond the Waves?
An engrossing read that gripped me from the beginning and held on to the very last page, I'd never read a book about Penikese before and found the entire subject to be so fascinating. I think that the author did such a good job of bringing that world to life through the characters and their different reactions to their plight. Atta has always been the strong one in her family, caring for her sister, shielding her from their father, but suddenly she is helpless to protect her sister. I was inspired by Atta's perseverance, faith and courage throughout. Harry though was one of my favorites, seeing how he changed being there on the island and his determination to find a cure.
Overall, beautiful story of heartache and hope, faith, friendship, and perseverance, with great attention to detail and well crafted characters. I loved Sam's unflagging friendship towards Emily, as well as her Gram's support through it all. Highly recommend this story of hope and restoration!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
ALSO AVAILABLE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heidi Chiavaroli is a writer, runner, and grace-clinger who could spend hours exploring places that whisper of historical secrets. Her debut novel, Freedom's Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick, and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.
Connect with Heidi by visiting heidichiavaroli.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a Handmade French Market Seagrass Bag, hardcover copy of Hope Beyond the Waves, and Ocean-Lover Bookmark!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 25, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 1, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
7.23.2022
The Bookseller's Promise by Beth Wiseman // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
7.22.2022
An Unlikely Alliance by Toni Shiloh // Just Read Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway
Welcome to the Blog Tour for An Unlikely Alliance by Toni Shiloh, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: An Unlikely Alliance
Series: K-9 Companions
Author: Toni Shiloh
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired
Release Date: June 28, 2022
Genre: Christian contemporary romance
To save her animal shelter,
She’ll have to work with her biggest foe…PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub
Review:
Can two people at odds with each other, work together to save the local animal shelter, and possibly give each other a second chance?
Jalissa and Jeremy find themselves in An Unlikely Alliance, working together to save the place that they are both so passionate about. I liked how Jeremy is strong in his faith, and his passion for helping children. Jalissa loves her job and doesn't want to see the shelter close, so if it means working with her nemesis she will do what it takes. It as fun to see how working together on the project of saving the shelter helped them to see the other person in a new light, as they shared their pasts, and discussed their faith.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, with familiar faces from An Unlikely Alliance, as well as new ones in this stand alone companion novel. I loved how they both had good friends in their lives, as well as how they both work hard to make their community a better place. I liked learning more about emotional support animals and all the ways that Jalissa's dog helped her. A wonderful read for fans of enemies to lovers sweet romance!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
ALSO AVAILABLE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novels, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist, Risking Love a 2020 Selah Award finalist, The Truth About Fame a 2021 Holt Medallion finalist, and The Price of Dreams a 2021 Maggie Award finalist. Learn more at http://tonishiloh.com.
CONNECT WITH TONI: Website | Facebook | Twitter | InstagramTOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a print copy of An Unlikely Proposal & An Unlikely Alliance, a $25 Amazon gift card, and a Golden Retriever key chain!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 18, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 25, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
7.19.2022
Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
7.18.2022
The Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
7.16.2022
The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold // Review
7.14.2022
Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton by Susannah B. Lewis // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
7.13.2022
Critical Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
7.12.2022
Enriched by Jody Hedlund // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
7.11.2022
Hunted in the Wilderness by Kellie VanHorn // Celebrate Lit Tour, Review, and Giveaway
About the Book
Book: Hunted in the Wilderness
Author: Kellie VanHorn
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Release date: June 28, 2022
Protecting the evidence
means facing down assassins and an unforgiving wilderness…
Framed for murder and corporate espionage, future aerotech company CEO Haley Whitcombe flees in her plane with a camera full of evidence that could clear her name—until she’s shot out of the sky. Now trapped in North Cascades National Park, her survival in the wilderness depends on park ranger Ezra Dalton. Yet escaping the wild will mean nothing if they can’t outrun their merciless hunters…
Click here to get your copy!
Review:
Haley Whitcombe flees for her life, with a camera full of information that could put someone behind bars, she is shot from the sky in the North Cascade National Park. Ranger Ezra Dalton sees her plane fall, now it up to both of them to stay one step ahead of the people who want to take her out for good.
An action packed suspense, with elements of survival, healing and faith. I liked how Haley and Ezra got to know each other, coming to depend on each other as they fought for their lives in the wilds of Washington State. There was a lot going on all throughout the story, as the action kept on coming.
A fast paced read that was hard to put down, though I felt so bad that it seemed like everything bad that could happen did. Haley is a likable, strong character, and I liked that both Ezra and Haley found their faith strengthened as a result of their ordeal. Perfect for fans of survivalist suspense!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About the Author
Kellie VanHorn is an award-winning author of inspirational romantic suspense. She has college degrees in biology and nautical archaeology, but she’s always found her sense of adventure most satisfied by a great story. When not writing, Kellie can be found teaching her four children, camping, baking, and gardening. She lives with her family in west Michigan.
More from Kellie
One of my favorite things about being a writer is living out wild adventures in my imagination. I get to enjoy all the action and feels without any of the unpleasant real-life problems I’d face if I were actually being chased by bad guys with guns. The more exciting and far-off the setting, the better! My family loves to travel and to camp, so we’ve spent a lot of time visiting national parks around the U.S. Our favorites include Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Devil’s Tower, and Badlands. We pile our four kids into the car, fill it to the brim with gear, and tent our way from park to park for weeks at a time in the summer.
For Hunted in the Wilderness, I wanted to explore a park we haven’t had the chance to visit yet—North Cascades National Park in Washington state. In fact, my first glimpse of the story came to me when I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw a picture of a lake in the Cascades. Inspiration struck, and I knew the heroine of my next book had just crash-landed her Cessna airplane in those mountains, and she needed a handsome, single park ranger to come help her escape the bad guys.
What makes this park such a perfect setting for a romantic suspense is not only the gorgeous scenery, but also the fact it’s very remote. The region is easy enough to access via road from Seattle, but most of the protected land can only be reached on foot, horseback, or float plane. Because I hadn’t been there myself, I relied on a topographic map and lots of research to help me craft the setting and make it an indispensable part of the plot.
Of course, now that I’ve studied the trail systems so extensively, I’d love to visit the Cascades in person one day. One of my teenaged sons who loves hiking has all sorts of plans for us to take a long backpacking trip out there, even though neither of us has ever backpacked before. I might have to work up my courage a bit before I’ll be ready to hit the trail without our minivan full of gear. 😉
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 29
Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, June 29
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 30
Genesis 5020, June 30
Texas Book-aholic, July 1
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 1
Inklings and notions, July 2
EmpowerMoms, July 2
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 3
Christina's Corner, July 3
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, July 4
Book Looks by Lisa, July 4
Paula's Persuasion, July 4
For Him and My Family, July 5
Blogging With Carol, July 5
deb's Book Review, July 6
Simple Harvest Reads, July 6 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, July 7 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 7
Mary Hake, July 7
Betti Mace, July 8
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 8
Bigreadersite, July 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 9
Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting, July 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 10
Labor Not in Vain, July 11
Through the Fire Blogs, July 11
Bizwings Blog, July 12
Pause for Tales, July 12
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Kellie is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed 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/1f7ef/hunted-in-the-wilderness-celebration-tour-giveaway
7.10.2022
Season of My Enemy by Naomi Musch // Celebrate Lit Tour, Review, and Giveaway
About the Book
Book: Season of My Enemy
Author: Naomi Musch
Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Fiction / Romance
Release date: June 1, 2022
“Get Your Farm in the Fight” – The Realities of WWII Come to a Wisconsin Farm
Only last year, Fannie O’Brien was considered a beauty with a brain, and her future shone bright, despite the war pounding Europe. With her father’s sudden death and her brothers overseas, Fannie must now do the work of three men on their 200-acre farm—until eight German prisoners arrive and, just as Fannie feared, trouble comes too. Someone seems intent on causing “accidents,” and Fannie is certain the culprit is one of the two handsome older Germans—or possibly both. Can she manage the farm, keep the prisoners in line, and hold her family together through these turbulent times?
Click here to get your copy!
Review:
A tale of family, faith, and friendship on the home front of Wisconsin.
Fannie and her family are working hard to keep their family farm afloat while 2 of her brothers are away, and the recent death of her father. To help fill the gaps their absences have left they take on a group of German POW workers. This book does a good job of showing the sacrifices that the families at home made during the war. Fannie is hard working and does her best to give others the benefit of the doubt, I liked how she helped her younger siblings, as well as how they grew up with the responsibilities of the farm.
Overall this was an enjoyable read, I loved how the O'Brien family worked together and was especially impressed with how Jerry grew up over the course of the story. A little slower to start for me, but picked up as I became more invested in the characters. A wonderful historical read full of faith, family and friendship.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About the Author
Naomi Musch is an award-winning author who writes from a deer farm in the pristine north woods of Wisconsin, where she and husband Jeff live as epically as God allows near the families of their five adult children. When not in the physical act of writing or spending time loving on her passel of grandchildren, she can be found plotting stories as she roams around the farm, snacks out of the garden, and relaxes in her vintage camper. Naomi is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Wisconsin Writers’ Association, and the Lake Superior Writers. She loves engaging with others and can be found all around social media or at her site naomimusch.com
More from Naomi
Welcome to my wilderness – that’s what it says when you pop onto my website, because so many of my books take place in rural and wilderness settings. That’s where my heart lives too. Therefore, when I decided to write a World War II story, I gravitated to the home front, to rural America, where living out the war years meant a different kind of survival.
Before this story idea came to me, I knew that prisoners of war had been held in America during part of the war years. There are a number of other wonderful WWII novels out there set in North America involving POWs, and I adore the 2005 movie Sweet Land. Yet, until looking further, I hadn’t realized that so many German soldiers were held right here in my home state of Wisconsin! In fact, thousands of prisoners were sent to work in our country’s canning factories and on our farms. How could I have grown up and never been told that there had once been a POW camp right in my home town?
In fact, there were 38 such “branch camps” just in Wisconsin alone—camps that housed workers specifically for contracting work on farms and in canneries. Workers were contracted by farmers with the army and sent to labor in the cranberry bogs, cherry orchards, apple orchards; to farms picking beans, peas, corn, and to tend the other crops. By international treaty, prisoners had to be paid for their work, so they were allowed to earn scrip in the equivalent of 80 cents per day which they could spend in camp canteens on personal items.
Bingo! There was the seed that burst through the soil of my imagination for my novel Season of My Enemy.
My heroine Fanny O’Brien is a Wisconsin farm girl who left state teacher’s college to manage her family’s farm during the war. She never imagined herself coordinating the work of eight German prisoners in the process—or what the outcome of that task would be.
I believe a great story has to reveal strong yet subtle themes in order for the characters and their plight to feel real. In Season of My Enemy, Fannie uncovers a lot of prejudice both in her own heart and as her eyes are opened to the broader sphere around her. There are all kinds of prejudice in the world, and some of it revealed in this story may surprise you. In fact, my editor and several other authors of WWII fiction who read the book all said, “I didn’t know that!” (I won’t tell you what they were referring to, because you know…spoilers.)
Season of My Enemy isn’t all about history of course. It’s a heartfelt story of a man and woman who slowly yield their hearts to love amidst unpredictable times and unusual circumstances. They begin as enemies who finally look beyond their prejudices to find they have more in common than they first thought. To overcome terrific odds, they must depend upon their faith and rest in a powerful hope that touches their own lives as well as the lives of others surrounding them.
I hope you’ll read Season of My Enemy, and be sure and pop me a note to tell me what you think!
Blog Stops
Texas Book-aholic, June 28
Blossoms and Blessings, June 28
Inklings and notions, June 29
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 30
Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, June 30
For Him and My Family, July 1
Remembrancy, July 2
Pause for Tales, July 2
deb's Book Review, July 3
Book Looks by Lisa, July 4
Mary Hake, July 4
Betti Mace, July 5
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 6
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 6
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 7
Connie's History Classroom, July 8
Books, Books, and More Books, July 8
Bizwings Blog, July 9
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 10
Labor Not in Vain, July 10
lakesidelivingsite, July 11
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Naomi is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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/1f45e/season-of-my-enemy-celebration-tour-giveaway
7.07.2022
An Amish Quilting Bee by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Shelley Shepherd Gray // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
7.06.2022
The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
7.04.2022
Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd // Review
My Review: