Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Sunday, August 19, 2018

"Ties That Blind" by Chautona Havig: Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Title: Ties that Blind
Author: Chautona HavigTiesThatBlind-sm
Release date: August, 2018
Genre: Suspense
He may not be the only person in the Rockland area to wake up without a memory, but he might be the only killer…
Simon Prescott, the latest victim of spontaneous amnesia in Rockland, is under suspicion of murder. The evidence, though weak and circumstantial, points only to him. He’s confident he didn’t do it, but there’s no way to prove it. Grieving for a wife he doesn’t remember, Simon refuses to allow his family in, refuses to cooperate with police, and is heading straight for the pokey if he doesn’t figure out something and fast.
Enter: Ella Weeks and Vikki Jeffries. The previous two victims are determined to help him, and with jail time looming, Simon capitulates. But what Vikki and Ella find as they work through Simon’s life reveals astounding and rather chilling evidence of a bigger scheme than any of them could have imagined.
They’re on the verge of total discovery, but the closer they get, the less confident they are that they want to know.

My Thoughts
I was glad to read the final book in this series. I enjoyed seeing Ella and Vikki again and seeing how the "episode" effected Simon. There were more twists and turns to get to the truth of what happened to them. I didn't really know what to expect. I was thrilled for the three of them to have closure on what happened and be able to move forward with their lives.

About the Author

ChautonaThe author of dozens of books in a variety of genres, Chautona Havig lives and writes in California’s Mojave Desert where she uses story to nudge her readers to the feet of the Master Storyteller.

Guest Post from Chautona

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN, ANYWAY?

“So why is this series called ‘Sight Unseen’ if it’s about people who lose their memories? Why the vision references?”
I can’t pretend I wanted to answer her question. She isn’t the first to ask, and I doubt she’ll be the last. I tried to explain.
Look, it’s a valid question. Originally, the first book was called From the Cinders, and if it had remained a stand-alone book, it still would be. But when I finished with another person waking up to no memories and a hint that something sinister might be behind it all, I had to change it to fit two books—no, three!
Recall. Rewind. Refresh. I liked those titles. But that still didn’t give me the name of a series. I kept studying. Tried again.
I read what would become None So Blind three times in a row, if I recall correctly. And as I read it, a theme emerged. Ella Weeks hadn’t been blind to her faults even before her memory loss. Even her husband hadn’t been, despite his obvious love for her. But those around her had been blind to her awareness of those faults—to her silent cries for help in overcoming them.

WILL NOT SEE EMERGED WITH A SIMILAR THEME.

Vikki had a past that she hid from and refused to acknowledge. And even as those around her drew closer to provide support, she still managed to block out all that she found frightening—even physically shutting down and shutting out life.
So, when it came time to plan the final book in the series, the one that would now tie together everything that had happened, I knew I wanted something that also fit with the other titles. And one night it came to me. Ties That Blind. So often our ties to people blind us to their faults—to the destructive influences they have in our lives. And Simon Prescott will learn that lesson in a rather lonely, horrible way.

THE SIGHT UNSEEN SERIES REMINDS US OF WHAT PAUL SAID IN CORINTHIANS.

Now we see through dark glasses… we can’t really make it all out. But with the Lord, when we’re truly with Him in eternity, we’ll see things as clearly as we do when we are face to face.
And that’s what faith is all about, right? It’s the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” When we “buy in” to the Lord Jesus, we’re taking it all in faith. We’re trusting in Him, “Sight Unseen,” just as the characters in this series do with every element of their lives.
I hope their journeys bless you as they have me as I wrote them.

Blog Stops

Live. Love. Read. , August 18
Fiction Aficionado, August 20
Among the Reads, August 20
Lots of Helpers, August 22
Cordially Barbara, August 23
All-of-a-kind Mom, August 23
Multifarious, August 24
Texas Book-aholic, August 26
A Reader’s Brain, August 27
Carpe Diem, August 28
Bigreadersite, August 30
Mary Hake, August 30
Pause for Tales, August 31

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a grand prize of the entire Sight Unseen series in paperback!!
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/d295/ties-that-blind-celebration-tour-giveaway


"Ties that Blind" is available in Kindle edition:
  • File Size: 4405 KB
  • Print Length: 277 pages
  • Publication Date: August 7, 2018
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07FXRLK3P


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.

Saturday, August 18, 2018

"The Hope Jar" by Wanda Brunstetter: Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Hope Jar
Book Title: The Hope Jar (The Prayer Jars, Book 1)
Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter
Genre: Amish Fiction
Release date: August 7, 2018
A Brand-New Series from New York Times Best Selling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter.
What happens when making an elderly Amish couple very happy means going along with a lie that gets bigger by the day?
Michelle Taylor is not who her new family in Lancaster County believes her to be. The Lapps were looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they met Michelle and she assumed the identity of Sara Murray. Once homeless and hopeless, Michelle has come to love her new Amish friends and even considers the idea of romance among them.
Finding an old blue jar in the barn that is filled with slips of paper containing thoughts, quotes, and prayers by an unknown author becomes a boost to Michelle’s budding faith— but also convicting. How can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has truly come to love?

My Thoughts
I enjoyed reading "The Hope Jar" and look forward to reading other books in the series. I wish it would have gone into more details about the jars that Michelle finds, but maybe the other books will give more details. I liked Mary Ruth and Willis and Ezekiel, but I didn't really connect with Michelle that well. I'm not really sure why, though. I think she did grow through the book and I'm glad for that. I was a little disappointed at the end of the book as I felt like it was a little unresolved. I hope to see more of Michelle and Ezekiel in the following books. 

About the Author

Wanda BrunstetterNew York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.
Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.
When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Make your own Prayer Jar!

Want to make your own prayer jar to pass along to future generations? CLICK HERE to download a printable template you can use to write your sentiments on. Simply cut out each strip of paper when you’re finished and put them in the jar of your choice.

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, August 14
The Avid Reader, August 14
Just Commonly, August 15
Genesis 5020, August 16
Mary Hake, August 16
Bigreadersite, August 16
Lighthouse Academy, August 17
Splashes of Joy, August 20
SusanLovesBooks, August 20
Cafinated Reads, August 23
Quiet quilter, August 23
Carpe Diem, August 24
Texas Book-aholic, August 26

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Wanda is giving away a grand prize that includes a $25 Amazon Gift Card, jar-shaped notepad, and a copy of The Hope Jar (with an autographed book plate inside).
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d40a/the-hope-jar-celebration-tour-giveaway



"The Hope Jar" is available in paperback:
  • Series: The Prayer Jars (Book 1)
  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Shiloh Run Press (August 7, 2018)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1624167470
  • ISBN-13: 978-1624167478
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.4 inches


and in Kindle edition:
  • File Size: 954 KB
  • Print Length: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Shiloh Run Press (August 1, 2018)
  • Publication Date: August 7, 2018
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07C66C6X1


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.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway: "Points Worth" by D.C. Marino

About the BookPoints Worth cover

Title: Points Worth
Author: D.C. Marino
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: March 30
For centuries the small port town of Points Worth has been able to communicate with the ocean in its own language. But the water has just gone silent and its last word has shaken those able to translate it. A knowledge of sea-script won’t be enough to mend the broken relationship between man and the deep. Gil, a young nautical linguist, will have to break rules and search the past to discover why the ocean ceased its tides—or had them stolen.
Points Worth is a novelette set in the world of Kingdom of Ruins, and is a prequel to the first book in the series.
My Thoughts "Points Worth" is a prequel novelette to "Kingdom of Ruins". It drew me in right from the beginning and made me want to know more about what was going on. I got frustrated for Gil that no one would listen to him. The idea that the sea not only communicated with people, but also was a sentient being intrigued me. The story was a very quick read, being only 31 pages long, but I felt it was well written and a lot happens in those pages. It definitely whetted my appetite for the first official book in the series. I can't wait to read it!

About the Author

Dcmarino autho picD.C. Marino is a dedicated reader of history books and fantasy novels, both of which occupy an equal amount of space on her bookshelves. But it wasn’t until she realized how one breathed life into the other that she became addicted to finding the intersections of the real world and the fairy story. Still more: what those intersections about us as a creative, curious people. Kingdom of Ruins is her debut novel.

Guest post from D.C. Marino

Hi Everyone!
I’m so excited to celebrate the release of Points Worth with you! To start, I’ll share a funny secret: this little novelette was never in the plan. The idea came at the last moment, at the suggestion of my publisher. I had never intended to write a prequel to the Kingdom of Ruins series, but when I began fleshing out this small story, it took on a personality I couldn’t ignore. Not only did I fall in love with the sea-salt setting and gutsy characters, but Points Worth is now planned to continue as a mini-series of novellas, each one to be released between the full-length novels!
Gil, the main character and hero, is who I blame for the speed of my commitment to this storyline. He inspires me. Calamity has befallen his small port town and fear is driving even the wisest of the townsfolk to make dangerous decisions. Instead of swallowing the easiest explanation for the disaster, Gil goes in search of the truth against one of the most powerful men in the town. He’s scrappy, inventive and knows his history. Though born in the hills, he’s a natural seafarer. I wanted to keep following him right off the page. And so, his story has only just begun to sail the unknown ocean.
On the flip side, the Kingdom of Ruins series takes place on land. But this isn’t a default setting. The land is a character in itself and interacts with those that live upon its soil. It even takes sides in war. This same concept was extended to the sea in Points Worth. Which is appropriate, as they are part of the same world. In fact, the town of Points Worth is only a few days’ ride away from where the main novel takes place. Which leads me to the last thing I wanted to share with you. Gil will show up as a supporting character in one of the main novels. I love this because, though the reader will know Gil very well, the main characters in Kingdom of Ruins will not. You’ll suddenly see Gil from another’s perspective, which should be interesting and sometimes comical.
I will say no more. Land and sea must tell the rest of the story.
Thank you for coming! I hope you enjoy the ocean-air and the adventure it inspires!
D.C. Marino

Blog Stops

Multifarious, June 15
Remebrancy, June 17
RebekahsQuill, June 19
Mommynificent, June 20
Bigreadersite, June 21
Carpe Diem, June 27

Giveaway

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To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cece/points-worth-celebration-tour-giveaway

"Points Worth" is available in Kindle edition:
  • File Size: 3545 KB
  • Print Length: 31 pages
  • Publication Date: March 30, 2018
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07BKPXL99

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway: "Wizard's Workshop" by Jennifer K. Clark

About the Book

The Wizard's Workshop
Ever wondered what happens when you mix dragon saliva with a powdered unicorn horn? Find out when you create your very own wizarding potions! Mixing science with fantasy, this book is full of fun concoctions your kids will want to make again and again. Each elixir uses common household ingredients to create cool chemical reactions for magical results!

About the Author

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Jennifer K. Clark is a full-time author, a hobby artist, and a Halloween enthusiast. She lives in central Utah where she spends her time writing books and having conversations with the characters in her head. (Yes, she’s one of those people.) She is a multi-genre author and has written Renaissance romance, contemporary suspense, YA, and children’s activity books. In her spare time, she loves to be creative and has done everything from building a secret passage in her home to making handmade books. She makes every day an adventure.

Sketches

from illustrator, Katie Payne
2018-04-02 (1)
2018-04-02 (3)
2018-04-02 (2)

Snippet

The Wizard’s Workshop is dotted with handwritten notes and jokes from a previous owner along with silly annotations for each experiment such as: TROLL SNOT OR GOBLIN GOO Many people still prefer troll snot over Goblin Goo, however it is no longer legal to collect snot from trolls, and therefore Goblin Goo should be used instead. Please note that anyone found picking a troll’s nose or collecting troll snot will face a board of inquiries lead by the head troll, Mr. Iva P. Brain. (GOBLIN GOO experiment pg. 40)
ZOMBIE FIRE This potion was invented by Professor Willy Rott in 1879. Willy Rott was a well-known scientist, but after making this potion several times, he is now a well-known zombie. (He was not a very fast runner). (ZOMBIE FIRE experiment pg. 36)
EXPLODING FOG FLUID This potion was made famous by Mr. Darren Deeds who made a sport of putting Exploding Fog Fluid into the drinks of giants and then drawing mustaches on their faces once they were asleep. Although this can be a fun past time, please note that it is dangerous. As Mr. Darren Deeds can attest to, it is not very fun when a giant refuses to drink the potion and decides to sit on you instead. (EXPLODING FOG FLUID experiment pg. 52)
NOTE: If you want to give the stones additional power then you must perform the spell under the light of a full moon, standing next to a large tree (preferably a sycamore tree), facing east, while wearing mismatched socks. (MAGICAL STONES pg. 87)

Review

My kids love sci-fi/fantasy, so I thought that this would be a cute book to get. When the book came, they eagerly read through the activities and little stories that went with them. I liked how the ingredients had "exotic" names like 'ground dragon egg' for 'sugar' (there's a list of all the ingredients in the back of the book). The names of the "inventors" were fun, also--Darren Deeds, Iva P. Brain, Constance Noring... The little "handwritten" notes from the "previous owner" were good for giggles, too. Each activity has a little intro story, a section that tells what you will see during the experiment and what it is used for (in imaginary fantasy play), then gives the ingredients and instructions. If there is a special ingredient or if there is adult supervision/help needed, it will give those notes before the instructions. Overall, I thought it was a cute book and we had fun trying out some of the science experiments. Some of them include a "spell" to say and those bugged me a little, but we just skipped those and had fun with the science experiments.

Giveaway

Wizard's Workshop Tour Giveaway
Enter the giveaway HERE.
Tour Schedule
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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.