Beauty From Ashes by Pamela Hart

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Beauty from Ashes by Pamela Hart, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Beauty from Ashes 

Series: Beauty from Ashes Trilogy #1 

Author: Pamela Hart 

Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing 

Release Date: July 25, 2022 

Genre: Young Adult Clean Fantasy Romance (Allegorical) 

How far are you willing to go for love? 

When Prince Arnion volunteers to infiltrate the prison colony of Gehenna, romance is the last thing on his mind. Rescuing its inhabitants is his only priority. But the corruption in Gehenna runs deep, fueled by the obsessions of its fanatical leader—a king rumored to devour human hearts. 

To succeed, Arnion must conceal his identity from the people he’s been sent to save, including a young woman he’s inexplicably drawn to. And when her life is threatened by two merciless guards, the prince risks everything to save her. 

Afterward, she wants nothing to do with him or his promises of rescue. But she soon realizes there’s more to Arnion than meets the eye, and what he’s about to unleash on Gehenna will change everything. 

My Review: 

An allegory of Christ's love told in a Sci-Fi setting. 

An intriguing allegory, set in sci-fi dystopian world. Prince Arnion comes to the prison colony of Gehenna, with a tender heart for those hurting there.

Well written, I caught on quickly to what was going on and where it would eventually end. I liked the setting and in some ways thought that it also drew parallels to the parable of the landowner's son. Over the course of the story there were things that could feel very odd if taking this book as a direct allegory, though I think that the correlations were not meant to be exact. 

Overall, an engaging read, that does a great of telling the story in a futuristic space setting. A moving story, great for fans of speculative fiction! 

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

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub

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About the Author

Pamela Hart is the author of Beauty from Ashes and City of a Thousand Tears. Raised on a steady diet of fantasy, science fiction and anime, she spent most of her childhood failing to acquire a Boston accent. Since then, she has slurped ramen in Ikebukuro, stampeded through flamenco lessons in Granada, and splashed her way across a fishpond for the Milkman Triathlon in Dexter. During her travels, she tends to overpack horrendously, but never regrets cramming her backpack full of books to devour along the way. She wanders the planet with Joe, the love of her life, and her adorably maniacal Boston terriers, Willy and Marvin.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Beauty from Ashes, 2 themed bookmarks, a $15 Amazon gift card, a book themed tote bag, and a book themed pencil case!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 17, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 24, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

The Pursuit of a King (A Tale of Wisdom) by Candace Christine Little ~ Delightful Read for All Ages!

My Review: A brilliant allegory of the gift of wisdom, and how it must be sought after.

Barto and Artemerio are two brothers on a quest to solve a riddle, and that quest takes them on a journey that will challenge them to grow in ways they never knew.

There are so many things to love about The Pursuit of a King, it is brilliant and challenging, full of adventure and virtues are learned along the way. Not only that, but this book is one of the special few that I believe is perfect and equally enjoyable for all ages, because everyone will get something out of it! This book would be a perfect book to read aloud to small children, or enjoy by yourself, though after reading this delightful novel I can't help but want to share it :)

I loved the humor, and originality of this tale, and even though I felt like I had figured out the allegory, pretty much from the beginning there were still surprises that kept me turning the pages quite rapidly.

Overall, a wonderfully enjoyable read, that I would happily recommend to nearly all audiences. A truly charming tale, with a timeless quality that will capture your heart!

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
 

A Light in the Darkness by Heather Sutherlin ~ Review

My Review: An action packed medieval tale of what a light can do in the darkness.

Merrilyn's life changes forever when she mysteriously heals the royal escort after an unexpected ambush.
Merrilyn struggles to follow the voice called Loian that guides her, her devotion to Loian puts a strain on her relationship her best friend Justan, the crown prince.
Can Merrilyn help lead her country into a new age?

Ms. Sutherlin wonderfully balances her allegory so that it is not too much, yet not in the least lacking, a tricky feat to accomplish. A Light in the Darkness well written in a style that is easy to follow and I found myself slowly drawn into it as I read. This book really had a spell-casting quality to it, with great descriptions and feel to it.

The characters were likable and I liked watching Merrilyn's and Justan's relationship change throughout the course of the book. I guess the only thing was that I wasn't quite as connected to the characters as I would have liked to have been.

There was plenty of action, with many hold-your-breath scenes, and others that riveted me to the page.

I just want to note that, that this book has wizards that are evil and that Merrilyn is given some supernatural powers from Loian. I personally didn't have a problem with any of it, but I know that there are some of you who would appreciate a heads up.

Overall a promising debut from Ms. Sutherlin, and the cool thing about this book is that this is only the beginning! A very enjoyable Christian Medieval Allegory :)

I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

For Such a Time as This by Ginny Aiken ~ Review

Lucie's Review: Slow to start, but a great ending.

Olivia Moore's family is suffering from the drought, barely able to put food on the table, when Olivia gets the opportunity to work as a nanny for banker Eli Whitman and his two rowdy boys. But when the town begins to speak against her, she finds herself facing marriage to Eli in order to save her reputation. Can a marriage of convenience become a marriage of love?

This book started off in a fun interesting way, but then slowed. I guess I found the situation rather unrealistic, because Olivia's reputation should have been fine because Eli had a cook who was always there. But besides that I liked the book, Olivia was able to form strong bonds with the two kids. For most of the book, I guess I was wondering when Olivia and Eli's relationship would pick up because for most of the book they really weren't together.

The Esther allegory didn't come in till about over halfway, and it was kind of funny because it was like "Aha! That's why its called, For a Time Such as This!" Because for the longest time I didn't really see it.

Overall I guess I would say that this book was slow to start, but had a very climatic ending, full of action. I felt like it took awhile for this book to really get where it was going, but after I got past that I came to enjoy the story. There's a little mystery and I liked how the Esther theme played out. I really liked the way that Olivia handled the kids and how she won their hearts, in my opinion Olivia bonding with teh kids was probably the winning relationship in the story. So in the end a great book, after I got past the slow beginnings and tidbits I found hard to believe.

I received this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

The Choice by Robert Whitlow ~ Litfuse Blog Tour & Review

My Review: One choice can change lives.

This is the first book I have ever read by Mr. Whitlow and I really enjoyed how he did a great job of not forgetting those little details in life, yet not making them too obvious with overlong descriptions, which for me made this book feel more realistic.

I liked how this book dealt with the choices we make and how sometimes what some people would call an everyday choice can change lives and make a difference.

Being adopted myself, I liked how this book dealt with the topic. And it really is an amazing thing, and the women who choose life are heroes who selflessly put their children first.

I liked the character of Jeremy because I felt that I could relate to him in that he was content in his life and he didn't stress about finding his birth family the way some people do. I really admired Sandy for her strength and courage not only in the choices she made when she was a teenager, but for how she championed a young woman in a tough situation.

Overall, this was a tale well written and I liked the steady pace that it had that made it engaging, but not the kind of story that gives you whiplash. I enjoyed reading this tale about life and love and how God can turn a bad situation for good if we just let Him. I loved the way so many things came together throughout the book. This is a book I would recommend to people who like books that deal with issues and run emotionally deep.

I received this book through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

About the Book:
One young woman. Two very different roads. The choice will change everything.

Even as a pregnant, unwed teen in 1974, Sandy Lincoln wanted to do the right thing. But when an ageless woman approached her in a convenience store with a mysterious prophecy and a warning, doing the right thing became even more unclear. She made the best choice she could . . . and has lived with the consequences.

More than thirty years later, a pregnant teen has come into her life, and Sandy’s long-ago decision has come back to haunt her. The stakes rise quickly, leaving Sandy with split seconds to choose once more. But will her choice decision bring life . . . or death?

Link to Buy the Book:  http://ow.ly/cJsiD

About the Author:
Robert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the prestigious Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four children. They make their home in North Carolina.
For more about Robert and his other books, visit www.robertwhitlow.com.

Check out all the other great stops on this tour here: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13527503/robertwhitlow

Celebrate with Robert by entering to win a Nook Color with GlowLight!

See what folks are saying about The Choice!

One "choice" winner will receive:

• A Nook Color with GlowLight
• A four book Robert Whitlow library (winner's choice)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 27th. Winner will be announced at the "The Choice" Author Chat Facebook Party on 8/28. Meet Robert, get a sneak peek of his next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and more. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group.)!


So grab your copy of The Choice and join Robert on the evening of the August 27th for a chance to connect with Robert and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)





Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

Warlords of Nin by Stephen R. Lawhead ~ Review

My Review: One of my favorites from Mr. Lawhead.

Picking up right where In the Hall of the Dragon King  left off, this seconded installment follows the young king, Quentin, and his faithful companion and friend, Tolli as they get ready to face their biggest challenge so far. The Wolf star is rising, prophesying the end of the age, and with it comes The Warlords of Nin, the sinister Hun-like invaders with no mercy for innocents and their pagan religion. Quentin must do all he can to fight against the coming invasion, with truth as justice as his weapons, and his faith in The Most High God. The land of Mensandor will never be the same.


This is one of my favorite series, it has everything a good Christian Fantasy should have, admirable heroes who fight for truth and put their trust in the Lord, action, knights, and a touch of allegory. Even  my teenage brother is a fan of this series, and he is a bit of a picky reader, I'm constantly trying to find good books that my brother would enjoy and this on was a winner. Mr. Lawhead writes with a classic touch, and sense of detail that weaves the story together, and makes the world of Mensandor come alive in all it's lush glory. 
My brother is a huge fantasy fan, but it's hard to find books that are Biblically correct, and don't have some strange tidbits that I can't help but question,  The Warlords of Nin is not  one of those books. 


I know that this book isn't for everyone as there are scenes of violence, that some might find disturbing, though they are in the middle of a war and gruesome things are common when on a battlefield or in cases of torture. I especially appreciated the strong faith element and watching Quentin's faith grow as he strove toward making following God the most important thing in his life. This is a book that I would highly recommend for fantasy lovers and the teen guys, like my brother who love action, knights, and a very minimum of romance (seriously, there isn't much :) Thanks.


I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs ~ Please Rank My Review

My Review: Set in the Lowlands of Scotland, Mine is the Night will sweep you away to a different time and place.

I have heard so many good things about Liz Curtis Higgs' books for a long time, and so I jumped at the chance to read one of her books. To make a long story short, I was blown away! Mine is the Night is the re-telling of the story of Ruth, set in the time of the Scottish Rebellion to put Bonnie Prince Charlie on the throne. What more do I have to say?

The plot was intricate, and very detail oriented. I loved how I could feel myself there, in that time period, right along-side the characters. Well-written and engaging till the end.

Each character was crafted with care, and they were all done so well that I had a hard time deciding which one I liked best. There were 3 main characters, and many sides characters that were no less deeply drawn than the main characters. I especially loved Peter, the 7 year old son of a tailor. He was just so adorable!

Even though I didn't read the 1st book, Here Burns My Candle, I had no trouble being drawn into the story and each of the character's plights. I believe that this book could stand firmly on it's own, though I do hope to read the prequel soon!

Overall this book exceeded my expectations on every level, the depth of the characters was amazing, and the pages turned steadily. The plot riveted me to the page, and the attention to detail was stunning.
I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait to read more from Ms. Higgs :) Thanks!



Final Rating: 5.3 out of 5!

Thanks to the Blogging for Books program, through which I received this book for review, free of charge in return for my honest opinion :)

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers ~ review

Okay, I've been gone on vacation for awhile and will be back to my normal self ( at home) very soon. Too soon in fact. But I've been reading some awesome books while away and thought that I should post a review. But first my brother has begged me to tell ya'll about the excitement we had this morning. You see, Leo, my brother went out to the barn to get the bridles for the horses (we're visiting my cousins who live on a ranch), and to his shock he found a rattlesnake hissing and rattling at him. To make a long story short he ran back to the camper and called my brave uncle, who came and shot it. Now my brother is begging for a gun...Enough said.

As for what I've been up to the last few days, I've been helping to move out straggler steers out of multiple pastures and put them in the right one. The next few days I'll be working with my mentioned-above-uncle gathering up steers and heifers so the buyers can pick them up. Fun!

I promise I'll be back on Labor Day :) And here's my review.

My Review: Francine Rivers re-tells the Biblical story of Hosea, relocating it to California, 1850, in the middle of a gold rush.

Angel lives her life in a diamond prison, selling her body and soul, buying into a lie. But that all changes when Michael Hosea walks through the door. Angel expects him to treat her like the dozens of men before him, but he proves her wrong at every turn. Slowly her walls start coming down, leaving her with an inescapable sense of shame and feelings of unworthiness. Even Michael, with his tender love cannot save her, it isn't enough. Will Angel turn to the One who has been seeking her all along?

Redeeming Love is a story of love and forgiveness, an allegory of God's love for us and our sorry, sinful state. Amazingly this is the first book I've read by Francine Rivers, and boy, have I been missing out!

The Storytelling was rich and the emotions raw (in a good way). I finished this book in two days, and was utterly captivated. I even stayed up really late on a night I had to get up at 5 a.m.! I just had to keep reading! This book is a masterpiece, there is no other way to put it. Simply, a masterpiece.

I do have to warn you though, that Angel had a very hard life, and some of the elements of her life are mentioned, in a way that gets to the point, but not too graphically. Ms. Rivers only went into as much detail as was necessary to tell the story.

I would highly recommend this book, but to nobody younger than me (I'm a junior in high school). I say that this book is well on it's way to becoming a classic. Gripping, heart-rending, yet filled with hope, Redeeming Love is not a book to be missed.

I own this book and reviewed it because I liked it :)