Saturday, February 22, 2020

"Cold Case Connection" by Dana Mentink -- Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Cold Case Connection CoverBook:  Cold Case Connection
Author: Dana Mentink
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Release Date: February 1, 2020
Convinced his sister’s death wasn’t an accident, private investigator Sergio Ross is determined to catch her killer. But with all the clues hinting at a connection to another unsolved murder, he has to join forces with Helen Pike—a woman linked to both deaths—to find the truth. Can they follow the cold evidence trail to get justice…before they become the next victims?

My Thoughts

I was exited to be able to go back to Roughwater Ranch through reading "Cold Case Connection". Having met Helen in the other books, it was nice to get her story. I liked how Dana Mentink wove the biblical thread through the story and how the characters grew in their walk with God. The mystery kept throwing up false leads to keep me guessing to who was behind everything. I did realize the connection that Fiona had made quite a bit sooner than the characters, though that isn't uncommon for me. The story was well written and had a nice pace and flow. I can't wait for Chad's story.

About the Author

Dana MentinkDana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Harvest House. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the  nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

More from Dana

Cold Case Connection was really fun to write because it’s Helen’s story. She’s an intelligent, sensitive woman who is the sister to the men living on the Roughwater Ranch. Liam is her biological brother, but she’s just as close to Chad and Mitch who might as well be blood relatives. In this novel, Helen has to relive the worst moment of her teenage life, the night when a mysterious murder occurred during a teen prank. Helen is going to have to face the past in order to preserve her future. Cowboys, a case gone cold, a coastal ranch and a whole lot of danger…I hope you will enjoy the ride!

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, February 14
The Avid Reader, February 15
Texas Book-aholic, February 15
Inklings and notions, February 16
janicesbookreviews, February 16
Betti Mace, February 17
She Lives to Read, February 17
Genesis 5020, February 17
For Him and My Family, February 18
Remembrancy, February 20
Older & Smarter?, February 20
Blogging With Carol, February 20
deb’s Book Review, February 21
Bigreadersite, February 21
EmpowerMoms, February 21
Christian Bookaholic, February 23
KarenSueHadley, February 23
Emily Yager, February 24
Pause for Tales, February 24
Simple Harvest Reads, February 25 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Maureen’s Musings, February 26
Hallie Reads, February 26
Livin’ Lit, February 27
Daysong Reflections, February 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a Mentink giveaway bundle, including a bag, a copy of the book, and an Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.




"Cold Case Connection" is available in paperback:
  • Series: Roughwater Ranch Cowboys (Book 3)
  • Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense; Original edition (February 4, 2020)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1335402632
  • ISBN-13: 978-1335402639
  • Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 0.6 x 6.6 inches


and in Kindle edition:
  • File Size: 1752 KB
  • Print Length: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense; Original edition (February 1, 2020)
  • Publication Date: February 1, 2020
  • Sold by: Harlequin Digital Sales Corp.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07VF9D2ZJ


I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.
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Friday, February 21, 2020

"The Sky Above Us" by Sarah Sundin -- Book Review

About the Book  


 Numbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets, Lt. Adler Paxton ships to England with the US 357th Fighter Group in 1943. Determined to become an ace pilot, Adler battles the German Luftwaffe in treacherous dogfights in the skies over France as the Allies struggle for control of the air before the D-day invasion.

Violet Lindstrom wanted to be a missionary, but for now she serves in the American Red Cross, where she arranges entertainment for the men of the 357th in the Aeroclub on base and sets up programs for local children. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her work and urges him to reconnect with his family after a long estrangement.

Despite himself, Adler finds his defenses crumbling when it comes to Violet. But D-day draws near. And secrets can't stay buried forever.

Bestselling author Sarah Sundin returns readers to the shores of Normandy, this time in the air, as the second Paxton brother prepares to face the past--and the most fearsome battle of his life.

 My Thoughts

 "The Sky Above Us" is the second book in the Sunrise at Normandy series. It is important to read them in order. This book does fill you in on some of the things that happened in the first book, but it would make the picture so much richer from reading them in order. Most of "The Sky Above Us" happens concurrently with events in "The Sea Beneath Us". I was fascinated with the historical details of the missions, base life, and Normandy as seen from the sky. It really brought home the devastation that those that fought faced as well as the fear and worry those at home experienced. I felt connected to Adler and Violet and they felt like my friends. There was a good biblical faith element through the story and the characters grew and changed. I can't wait to dive into Clay's story.

   About the Author  

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling author of The Land Beneath Us (February 2020), The Sky Above Us (2019) and The Sea Before Us (2018), as well as the Waves of Freedom, Wings of the Nightingale, and Wings of Glory series.

A mother of three, Sundin lives in northern California and enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers' groups. Her novel The Sea Before Us won the 2019 Reader's Choice Award from Faith, Hope, and Love, and When Tides Turn and Through Waters Deep were both named to Booklist's 101 Best Romance Novels of the Past 10 Years. Through Waters Deep was a 2016 Carol Award Finalist and won the INSPY Award, and her novella in Where Treetops Glisten was a finalist in the 2015 Carol Awards. In 2011 she received the Writer of the Year Award from the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Sarah serves as Program Director for West Coast Christian Writers Conference. Please visit Sarah at www.sarahsundin.com, on Facebook at SarahSundinAuthor, on Twitter at @sarahsundin, and on Instagram at @sarahsundinauthor.

 "The Sky Above Us" is available in paperback:
  • Series: Sunrise at Normandy (Book 2)
  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Revell (February 5, 2019)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0800727983
  • ISBN-13: 978-0800727987
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
and in Kindle edition
  • File Size: 12215 KB
  • Print Length: 383 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800735617
  • Publisher: Revell (February 5, 2019)
  • Publication Date: February 5, 2019
  • Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07F39CJ33

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

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Monday, February 17, 2020

"Grandparenting With a Purpose" by Lillian Penner -- Author Interview, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Book:  Grandparenting with a Purpose
Author: Lillian Penner
Genre: Non-fiction / Christian family and relationships
Release Date: June 6, 2015
Front cover Grandparenting With a PurposeCulture tends to shape our grandchildren by what it presents as normal, which is very different from the normal in which we grew up. But through prayer and godly counsel, grandparents who love the Lord can stand in the gap and help their grandchildren and their parents navigate their world and cultural influences.
Being a grandparent is a blessing—the grandchildren are so sweet, and we love the hugs and pictures. But these days, many grandparents have the added responsibility of raising their grandchildren, while others are restrained from seeing their grandkids. Grandparenting: Effective Ways to Pray for Your Grandchildren will share some insight into these difficult issues. And no matter your situation, God gives grandparents a sacred trust—an opportunity to imprint another generation with the message of His faithfulness.
From cell phones to photo prayer journals, you’ll find tools and Scriptures to pray intentionally for your grandchildren and their parents. Regardless of how far they live from you, your prayers can bridge the distance between you and leave your grandchildren with an inheritance more precious than gold.
Click here for your copy!

About the Author

Lillian Penner PicLillian Ann Penner is an author, speaker, and grandmother residing with her husband, John, in Portland, Oregon. They have been married for more than fifty years and have three married sons and nine grandchildren.
Penner is the national prayer coordinator for Christian Grandparenting Network (CGN), and she writes about her passion of intentional praying grandparents for CGN’s website. She is involved in leadership in the women’s Bible study, the fifty-five plus group in her church, and leads a Grandparents@Prayer group.
She has been active in church ministry for over fifty years, led an outreach ministry for young mothers, a mentoring ministry for women, and various other church ministries. She has participated in short term missions in Ukraine and volunteered with several Christian ministries.
She and her husband enjoy traveling, but most of all, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.


Author Interview
  1. Who would you say inspired you the most in your life? Helen Haidle, an author
  1. If you could spend the day with anyone (living or dead) who would it be? Why?  My mother because I didn’t get to spend much time with her in my adult life.
  1. Do you have a special writing area?  In my recliner with my laptop in my lap.
  1. How do you balance writing time with the demands of life/family? Since I am retired, I don’t have too many responsibilities other than writing at this time. I can spend most of my time on the prayer ministry.
  2. What kind of research do you do? Reading God’s Word, reading about today’s culture.
  1. Do you read much?  Not as much as I should.

More from Lillian

Finding Joy in Praying for my Grandchildren
What a joy it is to have that precious little grandchild come running into your arm with hugs and kisses. The six-year-old calling to tell you she lost her first tooth or your seven-year-old grandson excited about making his first goal in his soccer game.
In addition to senior discounts, grandchildren are one of the rewards of growing older. Mary H. Waldrip says it well, “Grandchildren are God’s way of compensating us for growing old.”
I now have nine grandchildren, ages ranging from sixteen years to thirty-eight years, four are married, and we have five great-granddaughters. As a long-distance grandmother for many years, I was not fully aware of my grandchildren’s immediate needs. I prayed that God would bless them, give them good health and protection. Ultimately, I became frustrated and felt something was lacking with my vague and general prayers. I asked God to show me how to become more deliberate in praying for them.
After reading books about grandparenting and prayer full of practical advice, I was encouraged to use specific Scriptures in praying for my grandchildren. The books motivated me to pray regularly for their emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
Best of all, praying God’s Word has enabled me to pray with His power, direction, and wisdom. As their grandparent, I can have a significant role in influencing their lives by praying for them during these turbulent years has given me fulfillment and satisfaction in praying for them.
The faith of our children is weakened in the classrooms; young adults raised in our hostile environment are walking away from God in record numbers. Hopelessness is prevalent, and our society is reeling from the opioid crisis, mass shootings, fatherlessness, divorce, and so much more.
Recognizing the urgent need for my grandchildren’s spiritual needs God gave me a passion of praying Scripture for my grandchildren. I felt God wanted me to share my passion with other grandparents so I wrote the book Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren about ten years ago. It has blessed and encouraged many grandparents. This past year I felt God wanted me to revise and expand the book, so I added the following chapters with a study guide for each chapter.
  • I have found there are many hurting estranged grandparents today with heavy hearts, so I am addressing that issue in a chapter. Is your grandparenting Painful or a blessing?
  • I include a section looking at a view of the culture our grandchildren and their parents are navigating today.
  • God’s Design for grandparenting plus several additional chapters and Scriptures to Pray for Teens and Scriptures for Grandparents to pray for themselves.
The book retails for $14.99. However, it is available for a discounted price of $15.00, including shipping and handling costs in the U. S. for a limited time.  A bonus of a Scriptural Prayer resource will be included with your purchase. The book is available in EBook format for $3.99 for those who would prefer the EBook format or live outside the U. S. to save on shipping costs.
This book will challenge you and give you resources for the spiritual battle with the enemy. It will show you how to be an intentional disciple-maker and prayer warrior to impact the next generation.

Blog Stops

Wishful Endings, February 10 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, February 12 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, February 14
Older & Smarter?, February 15
Blossoms and Blessings, February 17 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, February 18
deb’s Book Review, February 19
SusanK. Beatty, Author, February 20 (Author Interview)
Inklings and notions, February 21
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 22 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, February 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lillian is giving away the grand prize of a signed copy of her book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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Saturday, February 15, 2020

"Waltz in the Wilderness" by Kathleen Denly -- Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Book:  Waltz in the Wilderness
Author: Kathleen Denly
Genre:  Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: February 4, 2020
Waltz in the Wilderness CoverShe’s desperate to find her missing father. His conscience demands he risk all to help.
Eliza Brooks is haunted by her role in her mother’s death, so she’ll do anything to find her missing pa—even if it means sneaking aboard a southbound ship. When those meant to protect her abandon and betray her instead, a family friend’s unexpected assistance is a blessing she can’t refuse.
Daniel Clarke came to California to make his fortune, and a stable job as a San Francisco carpenter has earned him more than most have scraped from the local goldfields. But it’s been four years since he left Massachusetts and his fiancé is impatient for his return. Bound for home at last, Daniel Clarke finds his heart and plans challenged by a tenacious young woman with haunted eyes. Though every word he utters seems to offend her, he is determined to see her safely returned to her father. Even if that means risking his fragile engagement.
When disaster befalls them in the remote wilderness of the Southern California mountains, true feelings are revealed, and both must face heart-rending decisions. But how to decide when every choice before them leads to someone getting hurt?
My Thoughts

"Waltz in the Wilderness" was well written and introduced some new to me concepts. I loved the fact that the women had their own line to pick up mail and if a man was there to pick up mail for a woman, he had to let ever woman who came to the line go in front of him! Eliza bugged me a little with her stubborn ways, but it is what made her able to endure the hardships she'd faced. I liked Daniel and his concern for Eliza. I was a little confused with the timeline jumping back and forth keeping track of what was going on. I really liked the biblical faith thread that was woven through the book. There were story twists that I didn't expect and kept me guessing what was going to happen. I look forward to reading more books by Kathleen Denly in the future.


Click here for your copy!

About the Author

Kathleen Denly Headshot 3Kathleen Denly lives in sunny Southern California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

More from Kathleen

As Valentine’s Day nears, stories of how couples met seem to be everywhere. Many of those stories share a common element: “The second I saw him/her, I just knew I would marry him/her.”
Every time I read or hear these stories, I chuckle. Not because I don’t believe them but because it reminds me of my own meet-cute.
“Not my type.”
These were the first words to enter my mind when I met the man who would later become my husband. In hindsight, they are hilarious because I know that God worked things out for our good. After more than eighteen years of marriage, I can honestly say that I am more in love with my husband than ever.
However, just a few months prior to meeting my husband, I’d suffered a terrible breakup with another man whom I thought had been considering proposing to me. I had no idea the breakup was coming and that left me devastated and confused. The truths we learn in hindsight don’t help much when we’re in the midst of such circumstances. When we think we know the future before us and something happens to upend those plans it can feel as though our world has turned upside down.
This is what happens to Eliza Brooks in the first chapter of my novel, Waltz in the Wilderness. Though not romantic in nature, a major shift occurs in her world that leaves her feeling betrayed and disoriented. She’s still struggling to right her world when Daniel Clarke enters her life in the worst way possible. Misunderstanding leads to a humiliating confrontation that sets these two at odds with one another before they have a chance to truly get to know each other. Fortunately for Eliza and Daniel, God works their foolishness for good just as He did in my own true love story.
This Valentine’s Day, whatever your romantic relationship status, remember that you are not alone. You are loved. And the God of all the universe loves you and has a plan for you—plans to prosper you and bring you hope.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Blog Stops

Pause for Tales, February 5
Texas Book-aholic, February 6
Older & Smarter?, February 7
deb’s Book Review, February 7
Betti Mace, February 10
Inklings and notions, February 11
Robin’s Nest, February 11
Remembrancy, February 12
For Him and My Family, February 12
Maureen’s Musings, February 13
Jeanette’s Thoughts, February 14
Bigreadersite, February 15
Emily Yager, February 16
Blogging With Carol, February 16
Mia Reads, February 16
Janicesbookreviews, February 17
SPLASHES of Joy, February 18
Hallie Reads, February 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a NEW Kindle Fire HD8, Proverbs 3:5 Paperback Lined Journal, Romans 8:28 Leather Bookmark, Proverbs 3:5 mug, and an Antique Silverplated Spoon made by 1847 Rogers Bros!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.
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