Friday, August 12, 2022

"Grace in the Mountain Trail" by Misty M. Beller -- Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Grace in the Mountain Trail

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre:Christian Historical Romance

Release date: July 12, 2022

This epic journey is her last hope to find her lost brother—the only family she has left.

When Lola Carson’s father died, his last words spoke of a half-brother she’d never known about. And now, to claim her own inheritance and come to terms with her father’s secret life, she must find this mysterious man—whose last known whereabouts are somewhere west of the wild Rocky Mountains. After hiring family friends to accompany her on the trek, she sets out for a wilderness few white women have ever seen. She doesn’t expect the majestic peaks to captivate her so, nor the half-dead brave they find on one of the slopes.

White Owl left his village and his broken heart behind when he set out for a fresh start. His newfound faith is the one anchor in his life. He’s desperate to learn more about the God he’s committed to follow and become an interpreter for the missionaries who led him to faith. But he barely starts his journey when a hunting accident nearly kills him. The woman who discovers him in the midst of his fevered delirium seems to be a gift from above.

But the more White Owl learns about Lola’s companions and her dangerous quest, the more he realizes his own calling is clear—to take her safely to her brother. The question is, will he have to sacrifice more than his heart to accomplish that goal?

From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.

My Thoughts

Having met White Owl in the last book in the series, "Peace in the Mountain Haven", it was nice to read his story. I didn't want White Owl to succeed in winning Watkuese in that book, but I was glad for him to get his own happily ever after in this book. I found the book to be well written and easy to read. It was a quick read and flowed well. There was a nice biblical faith thread through the book. I look forward to reading more books by Misty M. Beller.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

Is this the book for you?

With so many books out there, it’s sometimes hard to know if a new book will be the right fit for you or not. I thought it might be fun to share some highlights that may help you know if you’d like to read Grace on the Mountain Trail. 

If you…

Love adventure and don’t mind being snowed in (at least in your imagination as you sit snuggled in your comfortable house).
Fall for Native American heroes who are, yes, strong and capable, but also searching for a fresh start and eager to grow in their fledgling faith.
Find unusual and remote settings fascinating, especially the Rocky Mountains!
Enjoy historical detail and are eager to live vicariously in the early 1800s Montana frontier.

What to expect from Grace on the Mountain Trail?

Emotion-rich sweet romance.
Native American heroes who know how to be both tough and gentle.
The grandeur of the Montana Rockies.
Tough heroines who do what needs to be done.
Adventure that will keep you turning pages.
A peek at one of our favorite characters from earlier in the series!

If Grace on the Mountain Trail sounds like the right fit for you, I pray you love Lola and White Owl’s story!

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, August 1

Mary Hake, August 1

Inklings and notions, August 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 2

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 3

Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 4

The Book Club Network, August 4

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 5

Cover Lover Book Review, August 5

Betti Mace, August 6

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 7

Writing From the Heart Land, August 8

deb’s Book Review, August 8

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 9

For Him and My Family, August 9

Connie’s History Classroom, August 10

Lilys’ Book Reviews, August 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 11

Holly’s Book Corner, August 11

Blossoms and Blessings, August 12

Life, Love, Writing, August 12

Pause for Tales, August 13

Splashes of Joy, August 14

Sylvan Musings, August 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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/21360/grace-on-the-mountain-trail-celebration-tour-giveaway

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.

"Matters of the Heart" by Heidi Gray McGill -- Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Matters of the Heart

Author: Heidi Gray McGill

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: July 15, 2022

When those experiencing the same fate she endured show up at her doorstep…

Katie determines to be their champion, no matter the fallout.

Will the man who fought for the other side also fight for her?

Unconventional Katie empathizes with the widows and orphans of the Civil War, searching for a place to call home in Shumard Oak Bend. But with no one to help her, she’ll need to do it secretly, a challenge she readily accepts. She’s taken charge before, and she’ll do it again, no matter who she has to outwit to get the job done.

He vowed to be his own man and stop doing everyone else’s bidding. But he follows orders when a pair of emerald green eyes, blazing red hair, and freckles that dance on the bridge of a pert nose conscript him to duty. Be his own man. Who is he kidding? Skunks don’t change their stripes. They leave disasters in their wake wherever they go, just like him.

Overcoming personal obstacles and finding your true self doesn’t mean going it alone. Yet the answer isn’t always in the one you seek.

My Thoughts

I found this book to be well written but it didn't flow as well for me as some books. It wasn't terrible and probably more to do with what was going on in my life at the time than the book itself. I loved that Aideen tatted crosses and that they were given to students who where graduating as that is what I do. There is an excellent biblical thread and a clear gospel message. I loved seeing the change in Hans.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Heidi is an optimist who chooses to find the silver lining in life’s clouds of doubt. This plays out in her writing. Her ability to weave scripture seamlessly into the lives of her characters will uplift and encourage you, while her masterful storytelling will keep you turning page after page and wishing for more.

Heidi lives with her husband of thirty years near Charlotte, NC. When she isn’t writing, you will find her outside playing with her two grandsons, walking, scrapbooking, reading, cooking, traveling, or finding an excuse to have an outing with a girlfriend.

Fusing Faith and Fiction™

True Christian Fiction. Relatable Characters. Life-changing stories.

More from Heidi

Where did the idea for Matters of the Heart originate?

Before I was an author, I was the founder and director of an English as a Second Language ministry. The program touched the lives of students from 35 different countries. Regardless of culture, religion, language, or age, I found a substantial similarity in these students—they all wanted to improve their lot in life and that of their children.

Stories abounded of walks across deserts, financial hardships, desperate attempts to explain emergencies to medical professionals or law enforcement, failed verbal connections with schoolteachers, and an inability to obtain work because of their lack of language skills. Prejudice and distrust blocked them, culture shock took them outside their comfort zones, and the urgent need to survive made them scramble to dig deep inside and find creative ways to secure shelter and put food on their tables.

It wasn’t that these immigrants weren’t capable of achieving success. In their home countries, vocations varied from chemist and biologist with PhDs, to teachers, lawyers, and medical professionals. Others came from poverty and had little education but were not afraid of hard work, long hours, and low pay. They were tenacious, and they worked with relentless determination and a bullheaded resolve to achieve their goals. They relied on each other and soaked in everything around them in their desire to assimilate into the American culture and find a new place to belong.

Immigrants in the late 1800s were not much different. Individuals came to improve their lot in life and be a part of the greatest country in the world. In Matters of the Heart, Hans Korhonen left Finland with his brothers to take advantage of the land grants. Together, they worked to establish a farm large enough to sustain four families and support troops during the Civil War. Yet, in their desire to belong and give back to our great nation, Hans’s idyllic life changed through his service as a Union soldier.

Kathleen Murphy, or Katie, came to the United States to escape a life of extreme poverty and abuse in Ireland. Working in her aunt and uncle’s boarding offered more than a job. It provided the love and support of a family. Katie rose from her previous station and started fresh with hope on the horizon. She found a source of ministry that gave her life a purpose she’d not had before.

My association with my former ESL students helped me develop the characters in this book into individuals with which readers can identify.

Join Katie and Hans as they establish themselves in their new home of Shumard Oak Bend.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 5

Texas Book-aholic, August 6

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, August 6

Inklings and notions, August 7

lakesidelivingsite, August 8

For Him and My Family, August 9

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 11

Blossoms and Blessings, August 12

deb’s Book Review, August 12

Connie’s History Classroom, August 13

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 14

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 15

Pause for Tales, August 16

Truth and Grace HomeschoolAcademy, August 17

To Everything There Is A Season, August 17

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Heidi is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and signed copy of the first three books in the series!!

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/2070c/matters-of-the-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

"Out of the Night" by Susan May Warren -- Book Review

About the Book

See, this was why York should put a GPS tracker on the woman he loved.
Not that he would, but if he did, then he wouldn’t show up in a town and see said woman trying to do a Spiderman along the face of a building.
And, if York hadn’t simply followed his instincts and taken off across the street she would have left an ugly splat on the sidewalk, probably taking out a planter of geraniums.
As it were—“Gotcha.”
He wasn’t trying to be cute—it was more of a statement of relief, even fury, the spill over of watching her dangle, then slip off the balcony. The fear he wouldn’t reach her in time.
For a second, she just stared at him, also breathing hard, those blue eyes blinking in disbelief. Then, “York?”
“It’s not Superman.”
Then she threw her arms around him, holding so tight she might cut off his breathing. “You’re here.”
“I’m here.” She could probably feel his heart pounding, trying to leave his body.
“How did you find me?”

A steal-your-breath, fast-paced adventure from a master! Be prepared to have your heart warmed and ripped out at the same time! Warren’s skilled craftsmanship pits an indefatigable RJ and rugged York against daunting enemies in this nonstop action and heart-pounding extension of the Montana Marshalls that we all love. Feed your kids, walk your dog, and grab a drink because once you dive in, there’s no escaping! ~Ronie Kendig, bestselling and award-winning author

“The best parts of an action movie mixed with the best kind of romance. My heart is still pounding. You don’t want to miss this series!” ~Lisa Phillips, USA Today bestselling author

He’s not looking for trouble…

All former spy and current national security agent York Newgate wants is to propose to the woman he loves, RJ Marshall. Then they can move to Shelly, Washington, and start the calm, safe life he’s been dreaming of for over a year.

Too bad trouble doesn’t agree…

Or maybe RJ simply attracts trouble because she’s just going out for coffee when she spots a wanted, known terrorist standing in the middle of a street in Paris. At least she thinks it’s international criminal Alan Martin, the mastermind behind a plot to kill the president.

But he’s in jail, right?

Wrong. Martin has escaped, and it’s up to RJ—and York—to keep him in their sights until he can be apprehended. But chasing down Martin means following him into the darkness of whatever plot he’s cooked up now.

Will he ever outrun trouble to find his happy ending?

So much for York’s epic proposal. Now, he just wants to escape Europe with their lives.

The romantic trilogy ignites in book one of the Epic Story of RJ and York!

Continue the adventure!
Book 1: Out of the Night
Book 2: I Will Find You
Book 3: No Matter the Cost

My Thoughts

WOW! This book is full of action! I am so excited to get to read more about York and RJ. I think it would be best to read the "Montana Marshalls" series before reading this series because you get to meet York and RJ through the earlier series. This book does give you a crash course on the other series, but I feel it is always better to read the leading up books first. Plus, Susan May Warren books are wonderful, so why wouldn't you want to read more of them! I loved the writing and descriptions and pace of the story. I never knew what to expect and I just wanted to skip everything to read. The book was well written and a quick read. With it ending on a cliff hanger, I'm glad that I don't have to wait long to read the next book.

About the Author

Growing up in Minneapolis and attending the U of MN, I learned to love city life, although I'm a woodsy girl at heart. Or maybe I'm an adventurer -- having lived and traveled all over the world, including Siberia Russia as a missionary for eight years. Probably that's why my characters can't sit still, and seem to get into one scrape after another -- they're too much like me! I love God, my family, my country, my church, and feel privileged every day to be able to write stories.

Here's my "Official" Bio.

With over 1 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA and Carol award-winning author of over seventy-five novels with Revell, Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com and Christmas novellas.

With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award.

Of her books, Publisher’s Weekly has written, “Warren lays bare her characters’ human frailties, including fear, grief, and resentment, as openly as she details their virtues of love, devotion, and resiliency. She has crafted an engaging tale of romance, rivalry, and the power of forgiveness.”

And Library Journal adds, “Warren's characters are well-developed and she knows how to create a first rate contemporary romance…”

Susan is also a nationally acclaimed writing coach, teaching at conferences around the nation and winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year award. She loves to help people launch their writing careers and is the founder of Novel.Academy and www.LearnHowtoWriteaNovel.com, a writing website that helps authors get published and stay published. She’s also the author of the popular writing method, The Story Equation.

"Out of the Night" is available in paperback:

Publisher ‏ : ‎ SDG Publishing (August 8, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 204 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1943935599
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1943935598
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.51 x 8.5 inches

and in Kindle edition:

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B4RBQVL9
Publisher ‏ : ‎ SDG Publishing (August 9, 2022)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 9, 2022
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 11291 KB

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.

Friday, August 5, 2022

"Reunion in Saltwater Beach" by Julie Carobini --Epic Book Launch

About the Book

Book: Reunion in Saltwater Beach

Author: Julie Carobini

Genre: Inspirational Romance/Women’s Fiction

Release date: June 22, 2022

From the author of Walking on Sea Glass ... He's a big city lawyer. She's the small town beach girl who broke his heart. Any hope for a second chance expired twelve years earlier ...

Jax Cooper returns to Saltwater Beach but has no plans to stay any longer than necessary. Once his mother's estate is wrapped up, he'll be on a plane back to Chicago—and hopefully to a future as the youngest law partner in his firm.

Addi Barrett never left the small beach town of Saltwater. She chose instead to dote on her ailing mother, help her father's business, and find new friendships in old places. That didn't mean she never had dreams of her own ...

When a Cooper family member goes missing, a foster dog needs some lovin', and a long-hidden secret bubbles to the surface, Jax and Addi find themselves thrown together over and over again.

Can they find their way to a second chance at love? Or will past hurts rise up to make happily-ever-after impossible?

BOOK EXCERPT

Reunion in Saltwater Beach Excerpt 3

“I just want you to find the happiness you deserve, Addi. You know I love my big brother, but sometimes I want to smack him in the face.” Lily sniffled, no doubt holding back built-up tears. “You need someone in your life who, finally, will be there for you. Sadly, Jax could never be that guy.”

Lily gave her a quick side hug and turned to finish setting up the long serving table.

Sudden tears pricked the backs of Addi’s eyes too. Yes, she had been hung up on Jax once, and looking back, Addi knew she had felt that way for most of her life. Not that he had ever noticed. She had tried to tell him that night … well, the night that everything had changed, and for a moment beneath those stars in that big old beach sky, she thought he knew.

By the next day, though, she found herself scrambling to erase the moment, at least, from her own heart. For the most part, she had managed to do just that.

Addi turned back to her work, laying out napkins as methodically as an accountant populating a spreadsheet, but still reliving the past in her own mind. She needed to face the past once and for all. It was the only way she could truly move on.

“There he is.”

She jerked her head up from her musings to see Lily making her way over to the entrance of this large and hollow room where the memorial would be held. Her heart thudded against her chest.

MISSED ANY EXCERPTS, GO HERE:

Excerpt One: https://travelerswife4life.com/reunion-in-saltwater-beach/

Excerpt Two: https://janemouttet.wordpress.com/2022/08/06/epic-book-launch-reunion-in-saltwater-resort-excerpt/

Excerpt Three: https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/2022/08/reunion-in-saltwater-beach-by-julia.html

Excerpt Four: https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2022/08/epic-book-launch-reunion-in-saltwater.html

Excerpt Five: https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/2022/08/07/reunion-in-saltwater-beach-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Six: https://www.amoderndayfairytale.net/2022/08/reunion-in-saltwater-beach-epic-book.html

Excerpt Seven: https://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/2022/08/06/reunion-in-saltwater-beach-epic-book-launch/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JULIE CAROBINI writes inspirational beach romances. She is the author of 22+ books across two names and is known for spunky heroines, charming heroes, quirky friends, and the secrets they keep. Her bestselling titles include Walking on Sea Glass, Runaway Tide, Finding Stardust, The Christmas Thief, and more. Julie has received awards for writing and editing from The National League of American Pen Women and ACFW, and she is a double finalist for the ACFW Carol Award. She lives on the California coast with her husband, Dan and their rescue pup, Dancer. Grab a free eBook here: www.juliecarobini.com/free-book

Thursday, August 4, 2022

"Heart of the Mountain" by Pepper Basham -- Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Heart of the Mountains

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance

Release date: July 1, 2022

Can their hearts overcome the darkness of the mountains?

To escape a forced marriage, Cora Taylor travels from England to the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of her brother, who is working as a teacher in a mission school. She hopes to find a place where her nursing skills and independent ideas will be accepted and appreciated, but nothing prepares her for the wild mixture of isolation, community, brokenness, and hope within these mountains…or in the person of Jeb McAdams.

Returning from the devastation of World War 1 emotionally damaged, Jeb McAdams struggles against the rampant mountain alcoholism to soothe his nightmares. It’s easy to hide within the mountains, or it was, before Cora Taylor arrived. Now, she seems to show up at every turn, bringing her modern ideas, curiosity, and beautiful eyes with her.

Bound by their shared war history, the pair develop an unlikely friendship, which unexpectedly hints to something more. But when Cora’s desire to help the women of the mountains crosses an unspoken line, will Jeb be able to protect this feisty flatlander from the wrath of the mountain men or will he end up losing much more than his heart?

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the setting in the Appalachian Mountains. I felt like I was there and experiencing it with them. There were times I felt like I was missing part of the story and realized that was because we got Cora's brother's story in "Laurel's Dream" (which I own, but haven't read yet). I think it would be best to read that book first. I could see this as a movie or television series. There was a nice biblical faith thread and characters grew and changed. I found the book to be well written and I didn't want to put it down. I look forward to reading more books by Pepper Basham.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

You can learn more about Pepper at her website http://www.pepperdbasham.com or connect with her on FB, IG, or Twitter.

More from Pepper

It’s so interesting how one idea can influence an entire series, or…how one person’s story can.

The idea for The Heart of the Mountains started in Laurel’s Dream with a hint of a family history story about a girl named Kizzie. (Someday, I hope to bring Kizzie’s story to the pages of a book). From there, the idea began to grow out of a love for my Appalachian culture into a series of books which highlighted (and fictionalized) stories from my family history.

The main story in The Heart of the Mountains is about Jeb and Cora, two different people with similar servant hearts, but the secondary story that touched me so much was the one based on my great grandfather’s life. I write about it in the Author’s Note at the end of the novel, so I won’t go into detail about it. However, what I loved getting to do is bring the truth of God’s redemption in my great grandfather’s life…to life again.

I never knew “Papa Rat”. I only knew the stories handed down to me by my granny and my mama, but in writing this story, I feel as though I had a tiny opportunity to “meet” him in these pages. He was a gruff mountain man with a broken past which led him to make a whole lot of broken choices, but his story is incredibly encouraging, because it points to the God of broken people. My great grandpa wasn’t left in his brokenness, but, after years of running away from God, he would later recount that God pursued him. The beauty of Sam McAdams’ journey in The Heart of the Mountains is only a little glimpse into what I imagine my great grandpa’s redemption story looked like.

Because my great grandpa was forever changed when Jesus saved him (as any of us should be).

I think that’s what my granny and her siblings (and even “Papa Rat” himself) would want most -that his story would point to Jesus. I hope that’s what you see when you read about Sam McAdams in The Heart of the Mountains.

Have you ever read a book based on family history? One of my favorites is Catherine Marshall’s Christy.