"Nasty Gets Us Nowhere" by Dendra Keesee --Spotlight, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

* Spotlight tour, I have not read this book, so can not speak to its contents*

About the Book

Book:  Nasty Gets Us Nowhere

Author: Drenda Keesee

Genre:  Family & Relationships

Release Date: September 1, 2020

Two women who forever changed the world followed a plan to better their lives. One chose God’s design for her. The other listened to a different voice that questioned God and rebelled against Him.

Women and men today face the same decisions that confronted Mary and Eve. We can either seek the Tree of Life with God…or keep biting into the bitter fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Statistically, women today are less happy than at any time in measured history. This extolled knowledge of good and evil has had consequences. It’s not about equality in work, pay, or choices. It’s about women wanting to become “like men” instead of being women. It’s about women who aspire to be “nasty” and men who are confused about what it means to be a real man.

Nasty Gets Us Nowhere reveals the powerful truth behind learning to do relationships like Christ, particularly relationships between men and women. Our culture often incites rebellion, but God calls us to work together. As Galatians 5:15 says, “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (niv).

In an age saturated with feminism and gender wars, ex-feminist Drenda Keesee combines her wit, humor, and life experience to unpack a powerful, timely message that sets the record straight. She reveals why men and women have conflict, what God’s plan for unity is, and how men and women can unite to create an unstoppable force. Drenda believes the pendulum is swinging and there are many conservative women and men who want to make amends and discover how to have relationships that work. There’s also a younger generation searching for keys to live a different life than what they’ve seen modeled.

Drenda says we can see eye to eye when we first see heart to heart and spirit to spirit, coming from a place of cooperation instead of conflict. God’s Spirit coupled with His plan is the only answer to the separation and relationally destructive forces at work in the gender wars. It’s time for restoration and healing, to bring men and women side by side, hand in hand. There’s much at stake. We must understand our uniqueness, our vulnerabilities, and Christ’s unalterable principles for successful working and loving relationships to experience fulfillment and lasting peace.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Drenda Keesee is a speaker, pastor, daytime television show host, entrepreneur, and author of several books. She has ministered on television and radio and at churches, seminars, and conferences for more than twenty years. Drenda is passionate about bringing women into spiritual, emotional, and relational wholeness so they can live “The Happy Life,” and has founded several programs to that end.

She and Gary Keesee, her husband of thirty-five years, met while attending Oral Roberts University and pastor the 4,500-member Faith Life Church, with campuses in New Albany and Powell, Ohio.
The Keesees have created several successful businesses in the financial arena and are the founders of Faith Life Now, which produces two television programs: Drenda, seen daily on several networks and weekly on Daystar; and Fixing the Money Thing, airing daily on Daystar, GEB, BET, Victory, CTN, VTN, and NRB. Drenda serves as host on these programs, which reach 750 million households worldwide.

Drenda has appeared on numerous other television programs, including Joyce Meyer’s broadcast Enjoying Everyday Life, Table Talk with Joni with Joni Lamb, Marcus & Joni with the Lambs, VictoryThon, and more. She has been featured on CharismaNews.com, Hannah Keeley’s Crazy Blessed podcast, thelaundrymoms.com, and on the cover of Daystar News. Drenda also speaks at conferences worldwide and is known for her ability to inspire, empower, and encourage others to improve their marriages, raise strong children, get out of debt, and embrace God’s best for their life.
In addition to her graduate studies at Oral Roberts University, Drenda received a master’s degree in Christian counseling from Logos University and an honorary doctorate of divinity from CICA International University and Seminary.

The Keesees have five children and several grandchildren. They reside in New Albany, Ohio.

More from Drenda

Nasty Gets Us Nowhere reveals why men and women have conflict and God’s plan to unite them for His kingdom. Coming from a feminist background, I realized that wasn’t the way God intended for me to live.

Blog Stops

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 10

A Baker’s Perspective, September 11 (Spotlight)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 12 (Spotlight)

Godly Book Reviews, September 13

Blossoms and Blessings, September 14 (Spotlight)

deb’s Book Review, September 14

Sara Jane Jacobs, September 15

21st Century Keeper at Home, September 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 16

Texas Book-aholic, September 17

Artistic Nobody, September 18 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Inklings and notions, September 19

For Him and My Family, September 20

Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 21

Splashes of Joy , September 22 (Spotlight)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Drenda is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card and 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/10095/nasty-gets-us-nowhere-celebration-tour-giveaway

"Portrait of Loyalty" by Roseanna M. White -- Book Review

 About the Book

Zivon Marin was one of Russia's top cryptographers until the October Revolution tore

apart his world. Forced to flee to England after speaking out against Lenin, Zivon is driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits. But never far from his mind is his brother, whom Zivon fears died in the train crash that separated them.

Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and re-creating photographs. With her father's connections in propaganda, she's recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove if she ever found out.

After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily that soon takes over their hearts. But both have secrets they're unwilling to share, and neither is entirely sure they can trust the other. When Zivon's loyalties are called into question, proving him honest is about more than one couple's future dreams--it becomes a matter of ending the war.

My Thoughts

"Portrait of Loyalty" is the third book in the Codebreakers series. This series is best read in order. In a way, this book is the conclusion of more than this series as several characters overlap from the Shadows Over England series and a little bit from the Ladies of the Manor series. I was pulled back into the world of OB40 and the Admiralty. I devoured the book in very little time. I knew next to nothing of the Russian revolution and the Bolsheviks coming to power, so that intrigued me. The inclusion of the Spanish Flu that hit during the later parts of WWI also drove home how deadly it was. Biblical truths were prevalent throughout the book and you see that even in the pain and chaos He will hold you and guide you.  There were unexpected twists that I did not see coming. I am sad that we won't be going back to this story world, but look forward to reading what Roseanna M. White writes next.

About the Author 

 Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who

has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

"Portrait of Loyalty" is available paperback: 

• Item Weight : 12.3 ounces
• Paperback : 384 pages
• ISBN-10 : 0764231839
• ISBN-13 : 978-0764231834
• Publisher : Bethany House Publishers (September 8, 2020)
• Product Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.96 x 8.5 inches

and in Kindle edition:

• File Size : 9671 KB
• Publication Date : September 8, 2020
• Word Wise : Enabled
• Publisher : Bethany House Publishers (September 8, 2020)
• ASIN : B087RTCYWF
• Print Length : 377 pages

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.

"The Black Midnight" by Kathleen Y'Barbo--Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

 

About the Book

Book: The Black Midnight

Author: Kathleen Y’Barbo

Genre: Christian Historical Suspense

Release Date: August, 2020

Book 7 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History

Three years before Jack the Ripper began his murderous spree on the streets of London, women were dying in their beds as The Midnight Assassin terrorized the citizens of Austin, Texas. Now, with suspicion falling on Her Majesty’s family and Scotland Yard at a loss as to who the Ripper might be, Queen Victoria summons her great-granddaughter, Alice Anne von Wettin, a former Pinkerton agent who worked the unsolved Austin case, and orders her to discreetly form a team to look into the London matter.

The prospect of a second chance to work with Annie just might entice Isaiah Joplin out of his comfortable life as an Austin lawyer. If his theories are right, they’ll find the The Midnight Assassin and, by default, the Ripper. If they’re wrong, he and Annie are in a bigger mess than the one the feisty female left behind when she departed Austin under cover of darkness three years ago.

Can the unlikely pair find the truth of who is behind the murders before they are drawn into the killer’s deadly game? From Texas to London, the story navigates the fine line between truth and fiction as Annie and Isaiah ultimately find the hunters have become the hunted.

 

My Thoughts

The case of Jack the Ripper has intrigued me and was interested in reading this book. I kind of wish that it had just started in Austin instead of splitting the later timeframe into two parts. I found the book to be well written and I had a hard time putting the book down. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the True Colors series.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee of more than sixty novels with almost two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More from Kathleen Y’Barbo

I am a tenth generation Texan, but London has held a place in my heart for over ten years. You see, I have a son who has lived there for more than a decade. Thanks to him and his family of three—my granddaughter was born there on New Year’s Eve 2019—the city will always be special to me. There is absolutely nothing like walking those streets with a thousand years of history close enough to touch.

It was on a walk with my son through this great city that the stories of nineteenth century London came alive. With fog shrouding the rooftops of buildings that were hundreds of years old and our footsteps echoing on the cobblestones, I could imagine a time when lack of electricity and CCTV would make this place less than charming on a dark night. What reminded me of my favorite childhood movie, Mary Poppins, quickly became more reminiscent of Jack the Ripper. And then a story was born.

Only I just had half the story.

The other half came to me several years later when I stumbled across an article in Texas Monthly magazine about a serial killer who rampaged through Austin, Texas in 1884 and 1885 and was never caught. Some surmised this madman, called “The Midnight Assassin” by some, might have been Jack the Ripper honing his skills before he crossed the Atlantic to begin his famous crime spree in Great Britain.

But Austin? Ironically, my other two sons lived in Austin. So while part of my heart was in London, two more parts of that same heart resided in the Texas capital. I thought I knew Austin inside out. Between one of my sons getting not one but two degrees from the University of Texas (this Aggie grad is still proud of him in spite of what I jokingly call his burnt orange rebellion) and my other son living there and managing a restaurant at the time (and who just graduated from Texas A&M Galveston last month!), I had spent many years in the city. And yet I had never heard of the Midnight Assassin.

Research turned up a tale that sounds so close to fiction I had to write about it. Discovering the theory that the Austin killer might also be the Ripper just added to my interest—neither had been caught. And I like to write about Pinkerton detectives.

From there the story unfolded. If you’ve read any of my historical romances, you know that I love incorporating actual history into my stories. As you’ll see when you read The Black Midnight, this book is no exception. While I will continue writing the historical romances I love to bring to you, I will confess that writing this book has me itching to research another one like it.

What’s next in my foray into true crime novels? Maybe Houston. You see, I have a daughter who lives there…

In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy reading The Black Midnight as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 27

Genesis 5020, August 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 27

Inklings and notions, August 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 28

Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 28

Older & Smarter?, August 29

Texas Book-aholic, August 29

Artistic Nobody, August 29 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

For the Love of Literature, August 30

Connie’s History Classroom, August 30

For Him and My Family, August 31

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, August 31

Betti Mace, September 1

Robin’s Nest, September 1

Bigreadersite, September 1

deb’s Book Review, September 2

Splashes of Joy, September 2

Just Your Average reviews, September 2

Rebecca Tews, September 3

Just the Write Escape, September 3

Emily Yager, September 3

Christian Bookaholic, September 4

reviewingbooksplusmore, September 4

KarenSueHadley, September 4

Remembrancy, September 5

Through the Fire Blogs, September 5

21st Century Keeper at Home, September 6

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 6

Blogging With Carol, September 6

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, September 7

Life of Literature, September 7

Mary Hake, September 7

Godly Book Reviews, September 8

Back Porch Reads, September 8

Daysong Reflections, September 8

Pause for Tales, September 9

Blossoms and Blessings, September 9

Hallie Reads, September 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a 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/ffb7/the-black-midnight-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.

"The Price of Dreams" by Toni Shiloh -- Book Review and Quote Tour

 

About the Book

Ballet has always been my life, but one terrible moment may have destroyed everything I’ve worked so hard for—especially my title of Octavia Ricci, principal ballerina. I thought for sure my physical therapist, Dr. Noah Wright, could help me obtain my dream once more, but he wants more than I’m prepared to give.

I’ve seen firsthand the trials of interracial relationships. I’m a product of one myself and promised I’d never put my hopefully-someday kids through that drama. Everyone keeps telling me to let go of other people’s expectations, but I’m just not sure I can. Besides, if my dreams of returning to ballet are futile, what hope is there in seeking unconditional love?

The Price of Dreams is the third and final book in the Christian Chick Lit series: Faith & Fortune.

My Thoughts

I have been looking forward to reading Octavia's story. It was nice to see Holiday, Tori, Fox, and Emmett again, too. I found the book to be well written and it flowed well. I empathized with Tavia about her injury and how it affected her dancing. There were nice biblical truths woven through the story. I look forward to reading more of Toni Shiloh's books in the future.

About the Author

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the president of the ACFW Virginia Chapter.

You can find her at http://tonishiloh.wordpress.com.

"The Price of Dreams" is available in paperback:

• Item Weight : 8.6 ounces
• Paperback : 224 pages
• ISBN-13 : 979-8671993783
• Product Dimensions : 5 x 0.56 x 8 inches
• Publisher : Independently published (August 10, 2020)
• Language: : English
• ASIN : B08FKN9G6V
• 
  

and in Kindle edition:

• File Size : 1242 KB
• Publication Date : August 18, 2020
• Word Wise : Enabled
• Print Length : 221 pages
• Language: : English
• ASIN : B088FYXV2D
• 
  

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.

Back to School 2020

 

With the whole COVID 19 thing causing chaos with things, our school decided to do online learning for the first 2 weeks of the school year. The kids are not going to have lockers AT ALL all year. They have to carry everything with them from class to class. To help cut down on the amount of stuff they have to carry, they switched to a block schedule with 3 classes a day. We were not allowed in the school beforehand for orientation or anything, so I just did the usual pictures by the front signs and none inside the schools.

We have two high schoolers now!

We also have two middle schoolers!

First day of school -- online edition (8/19/2020)

First day of school -- in person edition (9/2/2020)

Walking down to the bus

Getting on the bus

Getting off the bus (I didn't get pictures of the girls getting off)

Andy started cross country today so he didn't ride the bus

Month in Review -- August

• Wrote everyday at least a minimum of 100 words? yes
• Number of days that I wrote 500 words a day: 15
• Wrote 9921 words this month 
• Be creative
• Tat 
• Crochet 1 Jellyfish
• Knit
• Sculpt
• Exercise 5 days a week? yes 
• Read my Bible everyday? yes
• Blog posts that weren't book reviews: 0
• Read 9 books

"Hearts on Lonely Mountain" by A.M. Heath -- Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

 

This time, I have exclusive bonus content for you at each and every stop. Tucked away, inside each post is a key word/phrase. If you complete the phrase,  you’ll earn bonus entries in the giveaway. Have fun!

About the Book

Can two lonely people find more than a fleeting friendship or will a prejudiced town keep them apart?

When Ivory Bledsoe left the city to minister to the people of the rural mountain town of Willow Hollow, she never expected to be shunned rather than welcomed. Seeing the town as a lost cause, she’s eager to return home, but when the bridge leading out of town is washed away during a flood, she finds herself stranded in the last place she wants to be.

Ben Thrasher was content with his quiet life until he met the new librarian. He can’t help but be drawn to the friendly and lively Ivory Bledsoe, despite her being at the center of the town’s latest superstition. It’s only a matter of time until she captures his heart, turning his world upside down in the process.

Has Ivory gotten God’s plan for her all wrong or is there still a way she can serve these people? And can Ben ask her to stay in a place where so few are willing to embrace her?

My Thoughts

I found the book to be well written and I really enjoyed reading this story. I felt Ivory's pain and frustration with being an outcast. I liked Ben and how he tried to do the right thing. Gerrit added a bonus level of enjoyment. It was fun seeing the other characters that I had gotten to know from the other books. Being a reader of romance novels, I enjoyed the addition of a romance to this installment of the Librarians of Willow Hollow. I look forward to reading the last book in the series and more books by A.M. Heath.

Tour Stops:

Aug. 31:
Becky @ Blossoms and Blessings: Review and Ivory’s Romantic Fiction Recommendations
Anne @ The Naptime Author: Review and Overview of the WPA

Sept. 1:
Amanda @ Amanda Tero Blog: Review and Character Interview: Curt Armstrong

Sept 2:
Nyla @ Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess: Review and More Horseback Librarian Reads
Julie @ Bizwings Blog: Review and Historical Note on the Horseback Librarians

Sept 3:
Tarissa @ In the Bookcase: Review and Common Great Depression Sandwiches

Sept 4:
Hannah: Nook of Grace: Review and Hearts on Lonely Mountain Inspiration Picture
Deana: Texas Book-aholic: Review and Ben’s Love Song to Ivory

Sept 5:
Kaitlyn: Maidens for Modesty: Review and My Inspiration for Ivory

Sept 6:
Debbie: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations: Review and Ivory’s Children’s Book Recommendations

Sept 7:
Tara @ Tower in the Plains: Review and More Great Depression and Appalachian Reads
Jana @ Reviews from the Stacks: Review and Authentic Horseback Librarian Audio Clip

Sept 8:
Vicky @ Vicky Sluiter: Review and Character Interview: Gerrit Callon

Sept 9:
Connie @ Older and Smarter: Review and Interview with a REAL Mobile Librarian from Kentucky
Loretta @ Just Writing: Review and 1930’s Music

Sept 10:
A.M. Heath @ A.M. Heath Blog: 1930’s Slang
Abigail @ Read Review Rejoice: Review and Character Interview: Ivory Bledsoe

Sept 11:
Virginia: Bigreadersite: Review and Character Interview: Ben Thrasher
Karen: Karen Sue Hadley: Review and Common Great Depression Desserts

I’m so excited to offer this tote from ParLaGrace. Be sure to visit her Esty page and enter the giveaway.

I have 2 ebook sales for you. Hearts on Lonely Mountain is still .99, but it won’t be for much longer!
My Ancient Words Series is also marked down for a limited time.

About the Author

Besides being an Indie Author, I’m a wife, mother of four, children’s Sunday School

teacher, sweet tea drinker, history fanatic, romantic, bubbly, lover of broccoli, and a retired cake decorator who has a soft spot for Christmas trees, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
What I’m not is a laundress (or at least not one who keeps up very well), a duster, tall, or patient in a doctor’s office.

Author Links: 

I’d love to hear from you. You can visit me online on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Bookbub, Pinterest, and my blog. *Note: I’m most active on Facebook and my blog.

Whether you’re on social media or not, you can ensure that you never miss one of my sales, giveaways, or new releases by signing up for my newsletter. I’ll send you a direct link to your email anytime something big happens. http://eepurl.com/dDbVNz

Blog:https://amheathblog.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMHeathfanpage/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8302606.A_M_Heath

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aheath2257/?eq=a.m.&etslf=5672

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAMHeath

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-m-heath-41b54829-fb8c-469e-a96f-52efe9efacb1

Ivory’s Romance Recommendations 

Hotdog! There’s nothing I like better than recommending a good romantic novel. I’m going to start my list with some of my favorite Jane Austen picks.

Persuasion. Sigh. Just trust me. You’ll never find a love letter quite like this one.

Austen’s Emma is equally charming but in a more comical way. Emma makes a bit of a mess along the way, but she’s loved by an amazing hero who proves to be patient and steady.

While I could go on listing all other Austen novels, I stop here with the expected recommendation: Pride and Prejudice. There’s a reason why it’s #1 on most lists.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell has strong Pride and Prejudice tones to it. Not only is a stunning story, but it also addresses some real hardships surrounding cotton mills in the 1800s.

Little Women is more than a romance, it’s a love story between four unforgettable sisters. You’ll watch them blossom in this moving tale.

Secret Code #1: There

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.