Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Girl with Fire in Her Veins by Dawn Ford, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:The Girl with Fire in Her Veins Series:Firebird #2 Author:Dawn Ford Publisher: Expanse Books Release Date: April 25, 2023 Genre: YA Fantasy
Former servant girl Tambrynn struggles with her new firebird abilities, especially the internal fire she cannot control. So, she, along with her Watcher Lucas, and her grandfather Bennett journey to a hidden mountain keep to find the answers she seeks before she sets the kingdom aflame.
But there’s a new dragon who’s targeting Tambrynn, a mergirl who wishes to manipulate her, and the froggen king, Siltworth, who hasn’t forgotten that Tambrynn destroyed his watery reign. When her father, the evil mage Thoron, attacks someone she loves, Tambrynn’s group is separated and she has to face another powerful foe alone.
Is she strong enough to withstand the deluge? Or will she drown in the fire and the flood?
Excerpt
Shellsea stops crying. “All I ask is for some help. Is that too much? Aren’t you here to fulfill the prophecy? Make us all equal?”
“You weren’t asking for anything. You were demanding and then you rushed us.” Lucas points a finger at her. “And what do you know of a prophecy?”
She sniffles wetly. The voices from the water die off. All of the birds chitter cease. It’s silent as if nature itself is listening. She recites: “Silvery moon and Maker’s mark. There’s one who will bring light from the dark. They’ll restore the balance to each and all. Bringing even the lowest back to equal.”
Birds call out and the water laps at the banks once more. I touch my head, willing the pressure to go away. “What if I’m not who you think I am? I can swim, yes. But even as a firebird, I can’t go to the depths of the ocean. I barely managed to survive when Siltworth dragged me to his castle. You’ll have to find help from somewhere else.” I step back, preparing to leave.
Dawn Ford writes fantastical YA stories with a fairy tale flair. The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes, formerly Kingdom Come, won the 2016 ACFW Genesis Award for the Speculative genre. Dawn also has a middle-grade twisted fairytale Woodencloak, which is the first of four books in her Band of Unlikely Heroes series. Dawn lives in Iowa with her husband.
Connect with Dawn by visiting dawnfordauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(5) winners will receive a signed paperback copy of The Girl with Fire in Her Veins plus a set of either star or flame themed Color Street nail strips chosen at random!
(2) winners will receive a signed copy of The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes along with The Girl with Fire in Her Veins nail strips
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 29, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 5, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Counterfeit Faith by Crystal Caudill, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title: Counterfeit Faith Series: Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age #3 Author: Crystal Caudill Publisher: Kregel Publications Release Date: May 16, 2023 Genre: Christian Historical Romance
She’s losing her faith in mankind. He’s lost his faith in God. Can working together restore them both?
As matron of Final Chance House of Refuge, Gwendolyn Ellison has dedicated her life to serving the children deemed delinquents by society. She’ll protect them with everything she has. So when she suspects someone is using Final Chance for criminal deeds, she’s determined to investigate and put a stop to it. But villains don’t like to be crossed–and they’re willing to kill to get their way.
Gwendolyn knows she can’t quit fighting. More than her own life is on the line if counterfeiters go free. She must find someone she can trust to help her expose the criminals and protect the children under her care.
Charming and chivalrous Secret Service operative Josiah Isaacs has never been able to turn his back on a woman in trouble–and capturing counterfeiters is his job, after all. The danger he’s truly worried about is his growing attraction to Gwendolyn when his heart wants to remain faithful to his deceased wife.
As both peril and interest grow, he begins to consider whether a second love may be possible–if they can live through this case. At the same time, he’s put off by her faith in a God he no longer trusts. How can a future together even be possible when their beliefs are at odds?
“Page-turning action combines with depth and richness to create a full-bodied, rewarding read.”
–Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of The Metropolitan Affair
“Readers who love romance, suspense, and a graceful amount of faith won’t want to miss this story.”
–Toni Shiloh, Christy Award-winning author
“With a host of sympathetic and likable characters (and a few not so likable), a riveting plot that clips along at the perfect pace, and a relatable faith thread, this book [is a] completely enjoyable read.”
–Kimberly Duffy, Carol Award finalist and author of A Tapestry of Light
Excerpt
His ragged breath caught as he focused on her for the first time. He remembered having been gripped by her pale face and fear-stricken eyes, but now the beauty of her visage struck him as worthy of belonging in a Grecian temple. It was as if Aphrodite had taken on breath and walked off the page Robert had shown him at the Philadelphia Library.
Except this Grecian goddess looked like she’d been kicked down from Mount Olympus by a vengeful Hera. Dirt and debris imprinted Shaveless’s shoe across her temple on the right side of her face. Based on her thin-pressed lips and deep furrows between her brows, she probably had one devil of a headache. Long soft curls knocked free from their confines spilled onto the ground like sheaves of wheat during harvest season.
Do your job and stop gawking. The woman could be bleeding.
He inspected the length of her, from the high neck of her worn, black wool coat, down her unfashionable but sturdy brown skirts, to the scuffed toes of her heeled buttoned boots. Thankfully, nothing indicated blood was seeping into the material, and her chest rose and fell in even—albeit shuddered—breaths. Once the ambulance arrived, he’d insist on traveling with her to the hospital to ensure she received proper treatment and an examination for a concussion.
“Miss, can you speak to me?”
Languid eyelids opened to reveal stunning copper orbs. Was there anything not breathtaking about this woman?
She blinked at him and then nearly collided heads with him as she shot up to a sitting position. “You’re bleeding!”
(pp 19-20)
Crystal Caudill is the author of “dangerously good historical romance,” with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Caudill can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio.
Connect with Crystal by visiting crystalcaudill.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive print copies of Counterfeit Love, Counterfeit Hope, and Counterfeit Faith, a set of bookmarks, 2 stickers with quotes, and a magnet with a QR code to a “test your Secret Service knowledge” quiz!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 31, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 7, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Tegan Llewellyn has always been different than her adopted family, except Grandmother Hannah, a prospector during the 1829 Georgia gold rush. Now, seventy years later there are reports of gold in Nome, and the opportunity is too good to pass up. But Tegan doesn’t count on the dangers that strike from the moment she steps off the steamer, including the threat of losing her heart.
Elijah Hunter has prospected for gold all over the US and Canada and likes being on the move. The last thing he expects to find on his latest search is a lady miner who proves to be nothing but trouble. Can he convince her that leaving is for her own good before it’s too late…for both of them?
Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historic places all her life. Linda is a volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of World War II and a former trustee for her local public library. She now resides in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities are exploring the state’s historical sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.
More from Linda
Dear Reader,
I am constantly amazed at the extraordinary things women did over the course of history (mostly done in dresses and skirts until about eighty years ago!). When I stumbled on the fact that women were involved during the gold and silver rushes that occurred in the US and its territories, I knew I had to tell their story.
A significant number of women followed husbands, brothers, or fathers, but an intrepid few set out on their own to find their fortune for as many reasons as there were women. Some went to escape difficult (or abusive) situations at home and others because they felt they had no choice. But there was a small percentage who made their way across thousands of miles for the sheer adventure.
The Nome Gold Rush started 175 years ago in 1898, and was different than previous rushes in that much of the gold was on the beach and could be plucked from the sand without any need for a claim. Later, claims were required to mine gold from the Snake River, and this is when things got dirty.
Initially, the courts upheld original claims, but after some of the “claim jumpers” offered to share proceeds from their invalid claims, a few crooked judges and politicians decided this was a great opportunity to line their pockets. Already guilty of stealing votes and voter intimidation, Alexander McKenzie, National Committeeman for North Dakota headed the pack and created an elaborate scheme with the help of Judge Arthur Noyes. It would take nearly two years for the men to be arrested and brought to trial. I included a fictionalized version of this situation in Gold Rush Bride Tegan.
I visited Alaska before writing Tegan and was overwhelmed by its majestic beauty. The photos I’d seen before the trip didn’t do justice to the reality of the state’s glaciers, mountains, rivers, and forests. Wildlife is so abundant that it literally walked or flew through town giving us “up close and personal” experiences with moose, wild sheep, eagles, and more.
Because of the inaccessibility of much of the state, one in fifty Alaskans hold a pilot’s license as compared to the national average which is one in seven hundred. However, in 1898, prospectors didn’t have that luxury, instead making their way to San Francisco by rail and then either going overland with wagons and mules or up the coast on schooners, either choice a difficult and arduous journey.
It is my hope that Gold Rush Bride Tegan honors the stalwart women who left all they knew for the chance of a lifetime.
Blessings,
Linda Shenton Matchett
Q & A with Linda Shenton Matchett
Was there a special someone, such as a teacher, parent, or other relative, who encouraged you to pursue writing?
My parents are voracious readers, and I don’t know if they intentionally pushed me into writing, but when I was about seven or eight, they gave me a package of pens and a 100-page notepad (complete with bouquet of pencils illustrated on the cover) and told me to fill it. They might have just been trying to keep me out of trouble, but the result was that I fell in love with crafting stories. Whenever I filled a notebook, I could count on my folks to give me another one. After my first book was published in 2016, they were huge cheerleaders and told everyone they knew. As each subsequent book came out, they were just as excited as if it was my first. When my mom passed away last year, I found multiple copies of all of my books on her shelves.
What types of research do you pursue?
Books, on-site visits, etc. Research is my favorite part of the writing process. I try to use primary sources as much as possible. I outline all my books which means I know what topics need to be researched, and I do that before starting the manuscript. I happily chase rabbit trails which are sometimes useless, but many time give me ideas for other stories. I am blessed to have a WWII museum in my town and am able to access their archives for my WWII stories. I also watch oral history interviews of people who lived during that time. For books set earlier, I try to find journals, diaries, or autobiographies, and for my books in the Gold Rush series, I unearthed two fabulous books that included diary excerpts from women who were prospectors. I also found several articles and pamphlets written by gold rushers. I try to visit the places I write about, but that’s not always possible. Fortunately, for Tegan I had already been to Alaska. My husband and I had visited there about five years prior to writing the story. I didn’t know I’d write a book set there, but I always troll for history and information of anyplace I visit, so I had plenty of notes!
What does a typical writing day look like? Are you structured or informal in your writing schedule?
I have a full-time job and by nature am an organized person, so I create a schedule for all of my author activities to ensure everything gets done. I’m an “early-bird” and typically am at my desk ready to write by about 5:30 AM on weekdays. I use weekends to create blog posts, write my YouTube scripts, and plan social media engagement.
Can you tell us a little about what inspired your latest novel?
The Gold Rush Brides series is a multi-author series that I started after stumbling on two little known facts: there was a major gold rush in northern Georgia almost twenty years before the California rush and there were female prospectors. Some women followed husbands or fathers to the gold fields, but others went to escape a bad situation at home, to make a fresh start, or for the sheer adventure of trying it. I knew I had to tell their story. Book 1 (Hannah)is set during the Georgia gold rush in 1829, and Book 2 is about Hannah’s daughter (set in 1859) at the Pike’s Peak gold rush. To write Tegan (Hannah’s granddaughter), I needed to find a gold rush that occurred at least fifty years later. The Nome gold rush began in 1898. Perfect!
Readers always want to know what is next for an author. Do you have any works in progress you can share about?
I always have a book in process, whether I’m outlining, writing, or editing. I just started Beryl’s Bounty Hunter, a mail-order bride story set in Wyoming during 1875. Beryl comes to America in response to an ad, but soon discovers that the agency is fraudulent and a front for kidnapping women. The book will release in August of this year. Then I have a WWII Thanksgiving story on the docket called Francine’s Foibles.
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Visa Gift Card and signed 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.
Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for Where Promises Remain by Heidi Chiavaroli, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title: Where Promises Remain Series: The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast Series #7 Author: Heidi Chiavaroli Publisher: Hope Creek Publishers Release Date: May 16, 2023 Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction
Hannah Martin thought she was about to have an empty nest . . . until the illegitimate daughter of her late husband shows up on her doorstep.
Five years after her husband’s death, Hannah Martin runs a successful inn and serves the needy in her community. Despite a house full of guests, she’s worried about the loneliness that will come with an empty nest. Now that no one needs her for anything other than serving her famous five-course breakfasts and retrieving fresh towels, she throws herself into winning Camden’s Hospitality Grant. With the help of the grant, the bed and breakfast will bring in even more customers and Hannah won’t have time to think about what she’s missing.
But when a handsome lumberjack named Kevin moves in next door, Hannah’s attraction to the widowed bachelor knocks her off-kilter. Just as she begins to think about dating again, a young woman arrives at the bed and breakfast claiming to be the illegitimate daughter of Hannah’s late husband.
When the Orchard House’s chances at the Hospitality grant is threatened, Hannah’s children oppose her “new” daughter moving in, and Kevin’s problems start to bleed over into her own, she must decide what matters most—before she loses the grant, the bed and breakfast’s reputation, and perhaps, her second chance at love.
This is Book 7 in The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast Series, a contemporary twist on the well-loved classic, Little Women. Readers will fall in love with the Martin family—Maggie, Josie, Lizzie, Bronson, Amie, and their mother Hannah—each trying to find their own way in the world and each discovering that love, home, and hope are closer than they appear.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard Josie and Maggie talking. Josie, upset. Of course, Josie was upset. My dear girl, despite her tough exterior, wore her heart on her sleeve.
Amos Martin is—was—my father.
I moved my tongue around in my mouth, searching for words. Searching for sense amid the horrifying knowing that built in my gut. In my muddled state, I grasped onto the solidity of numbers, doing the math in my head. Counting years, calculating possible ages against that of Amie.
When the numbers slid into place, a cold sweat broke out over my skin.
I’d never thought my children would have to find out about Amos’s transgression, but then again, I never thought that one night had produced a child.
A daughter.
“Excuse me.” Somehow, I found strength in my legs—enough to push myself out of the chair and propel my body into the house. I heard voices behind me, someone at my heels, but I ducked into Orchard House, its warm folds welcoming me like a mother hen does its chicks. Here, I was safe. Here, I’d built a life after my husband’s death. Here, my faith had deepened.
Hadn’t it?
More Books in This Series
About The Author
Heidi Chiavaroli is a hope-inspired storyteller writing from the deep curiosity of her own heart. Her debut novel, Freedom’s Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick, and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Her second Carol Award-winning novel, The Orchard House, is inspired by the lesser-known events in Louisa May Alcott’s life and led her to write The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast series, a contemporary twist on Little Women. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.
Connect with Heidi by visiting heidichiavaroli.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive the complete Orchard House Bed and Breakfast Series (7 books) plus $25 gift card to winner’s choice bookstore!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 17, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 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. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
“A THRILL RIDE . . . AS CURRENT AS TODAY’S
FRONT-PAGE NEWS!” –Colleen Coble, USA
Today best-selling author
A curse.
A killer.
A chill in the air.
Temps are dropping and time is running out.
In her new role as Emergency Operations Center director for Fairbanks, Alaska, Darcie Phillips
prevents disasters. But none of her training can prepare her for the terror that’s coming.
As a cybersecurity specialist, Jason Myers is determined to ferret out any threats to the town he
now calls home–and that includes his reckless brother and his ecoterrorist friends.
When an old woman’s wild prediction–widespread destruction as soon as the Fairbanks
temperature falls to 26 below–hits national headlines, neither Darcie nor Jason sees a real risk
to anything but tourism. Then the bodies start dropping.
Darcie is relying on her experience and intelligence to stop a killer; Jason is relying on God to
guide the way. But they’ll have to work together to find the truth and prevent their Alaskan town
from becoming a city of nightmares.
“An action-packed page-turner that . . . blew me away. If you like stories of intrigue, action,
romance, and biblical hope, this is the story for you.” –Tracie Peterson, ECPA and USA
Today best-selling author
Alaska was huge. Full of resources for the country and the world. It was about time people understood what it took to protect it. The largest state in the United States wasn’t just about tourists venturing to it to fulfill a bucket list as they chased down the highest mountain in North America, took pictures of moose and caribou, and visited Santa’s workshop.
No. Alaska was the most amazing place in the world. Which was why she loved having the opportunity to be in charge of the Emergency Operations Center for her region. Her Interior Economic Region encompassed the Denali Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, and the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. A large and vitally important region. It covered tens of millions of acres. Larger than most states in the lower forty-eight.
Threat assessment was where she excelled. Not only had she served proudly in the United States Air Force as a weather specialist, but she had spent years studying and training in the fields of health care administration and emergency management. This should be her dream job.
So why did that incident with the group the other day get to her? Why did Mr. Oliver’s words of the past get to her? Why did a woman touting that the end was near get to her?
As she sat behind her desk, she stared out the window. Giving herself a mental pep talk wasn’t doing any good.
Action was needed.
A lot of action, actually. Because the biggest threat around the world nowadays was a cyberattack.
About The Author
Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling author of
more than thirty books and novellas, including A Deep Divide, Bridge of
Gold, and The Mayflower Bride, as well as the coauthor of the Heart of
Alaska series with Tracie Peterson. Kimberley’s writing has earned a Carol Award, the Christian
Market Novel of the Year, the Holt Medallion, and many others. A proud former resident of
Alaska, she now makes her home in the Pennsylvania Poconos.
Connect with Kimberley by visiting kimberleywoodhouse.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to
email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift
card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight
May 15, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 22, 2023. Winner will be notified
within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.
US Amazon accounts only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Love Most Precious by Anita Higman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title: A Love Most Precious: 90 Devotions on the Book of Ruth Author: Anita Higman Publisher: DaySpring Release Date: October 9, 2022 Genre: Devotional Book
What does true love look like?
The book of Ruth has all the makings of a great love story: a grief stricken past, a homecoming, the challenge to survive, a poor Cinderella who chooses to serve, and an upstanding man of status who notices her. He fights to save her future. This Old Testament Bible story is about a love story far more immense than that of Ruth and Boaz.
During this 90-day devotional by Anita Higman, you will be inspired by the heartwarming, true story of Ruth containing priceless gems: the power of an eternal love to redeem a bereaved mother, a foreign widow, a reformed prostitute’s son, all God’s people, and yes, even you. God has the power redeem our broken spirits, broken hearts, and broken pasts. Come discover a precious, life-changing love hidden within four illuminating chapters of Scripture that will delight your heart and refresh your soul! It’s also the perfect gift for a friend on any occasion.
In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
RUTH 1:1 ESV
When we begin a brand-new chapter in our lives, we have no idea how it will read later. It might go very well for us, with a new career, or a new church, or a move far across the country. We all want to avoid any Shakespearean tragedies, and instead, we run merrily toward the happily-ever-afters. Right?
Naomi—Ruth’s future mother-in-law—was clueless as to how her life would turn out after she and her family moved to Moab. Even though they were fleeing a famine in their homeland, they surely had reservations. They knew Moab was not only a foreign land with a pagan people, but it was a forbidden place for Israelites like Naomi and her family. It appears that fear influenced them. Fear is such a universal and familiar emotion, and without God in the mix, it has the potential to drive us into ominous circumstances.
And so, yes—Naomi’s story is about to become a real page turner! For all of us, the Lord has the power to straighten our paths, calm our fears, and give us courage for the trials of the day—if we ask Him. May we include God in all our decisions, so that in the end, our life story will be worth the read!
Lord Jesus, guide me every day in all that I do throughout my life! Amen.
Also Available
About The Author
Anita Higman, an award-winning and best-selling author from Texas, has authored or coauthored fifty-plus books, and she has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art. A few of Anita’s favorite things are fairytale castles, traveling, antiquing, exotic teas, gardening, and laughing with her family and friends.
Connect with Anita by visiting anitahigman.com to follow her on social media.
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will each receive a DaySpring prize bundle which includes a market tote, Bible cover, canvas pouch, and the Spring issue of Everyday Faith magazine!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 1, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 8, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Expired Hope by Megan Besing & Lisa Phillips, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title: Expired Hope Series: Last Chance Fire and Rescue #2 Authors: Megan Besing & Lisa Phillips Publisher: Sunrise Publishing Release Date: April 25, 2023 Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
She battled every fire she ever faced.
He’s risking everything for the chance to belong.
Veteran and therapist Natalie Atkinson watched her Army career explode in her face. All she ever wanted was to help people carry their burdens. Seeking a new future in Last Chance County doesn’t start so well when she’s the one being rescued from a client’s burning house. To make matters worse, now she’s stuck evaluating the truck and rescue squads for the fire department. When the chief overhears why she left her last job, she’s determined to prove to him and her boss that she’s still the right therapist to assess his crew.
No matter if success takes everything she’s got.
Fire Chief Macon James is the right man for the job. He doesn’t need a therapist interfering with the running of his crew or putting his position in jeopardy when a counselor is what tore his family apart. He’s got to get his firefighters to be a team, and he can do it without Natalie’s help. After an explosion destroys her car, it quickly becomes clear she might need him as much as everyone thinks he needs her. If these two stubborn hearts will surrender, they could have everything they want.
“Peter, you are not at war. Look for Joey in your backseat. Do you see him?” Natalie Atkinson gripped the steering wheel of her Volkswagen Beetle and put on her hazards. If only counselors had emergency lights.
“Stand down.” She spoke loud and clear over the phone connection. “There’s no enemy.”
Not one they could see.
Trash bags whipped past her window and her mouth fell open. Clearly, the highway department had left sacks on the side of the road all over town. To a veteran who’d served where IEDs were concealed in anything from garbage to ditches to animal carcasses, those discarded bags could have sparked a memory of an explosion—the one that had flipped Peter’s Humvee and killed everyone inside except him.
A trigger Natalie should have anticipated. For him, and for herself.
“Peter, I want you to pull over. I’m—”
“I-I’m not at war,” Peter rasped. “I’m no longer a soldier.”
“That’s right.” He needed to be grounded by the truth. Being a soldier was only a thing of both their pasts. Not their futures. “Do you see Joey?” His six-year-old had noticed something wasn’t right and called her on speaker. “Joey, are you still with us?”
“I’m here, Ms. Natalie.” Unlike his father, his voice was as steady as a sharpshooter. “We’re pulled over.”
“Good.” The stoplight turned red before her, and Natalie slammed on her brakes. She brushed her bangs back in place, covering her scarred forehead. “Do you know what exit you last passed or what store you’re by? I’m heading toward you, but I need your location.”
More Books in This Series
About The Authors
Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 50 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). As a worship leader for Calvary Chapel churches in her local area, Lisa has discovered a love for mentoring new ministry members and youth worship musicians.
Connect with Lisa by visiting authorlisaphillips.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Despite adoring happily-ever-afters, Megan Besing didn’t unlock a love for reading until her mid-twenties, which quickly expanded into writing. Her stories have won many awards, but her most cherished achievements are being a wife and mother. She lives in a pocket-size Indiana town, centered around extended family. She’s always planning a road trip with a view, yet her favorite place may just be on her front porch drinking tea.
Connect with Megan by visiting meganbesing.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
(1) winner will receive a paperback of Expired Hope and a $10 Gift Card to the Sunrise Shop!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 26, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 3, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
An exposed family secret changed her life forever and blindsided his Marine heart.
From the day Hannah was abandoned as a newborn, her adoptive parents have kept the truth of her origin from her and her siblings. But when that secret is exposed, a threat arises which forces her to leave the only family she’s ever known and the adoptive brother she adores. She must start her life anew in Charleston.
U.S. Marine Lieutenant Adam White, harbors a secret—more confidential than patrolling the Caribbean for French corsairs, more threatening than the fight against Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean. Adam carries a personal, burning secret in his heart. He’s fallen in love with Hannah since discovering she is not his blood sister. And the thought that she might only ever see him as her loving big brother may be the greatest threat to him yet.
As the Charleston men seek to win Hannah’s heart, she never loses touch with the man who had been her older brother. The man her heart can’t help seeing him in a whole new light. But when Adam’s squadron sets out for the Mediterranean on the most dangerous mission of his life, only God can keep him—and their love—alive.
Elva Cobb Martin is a wife, mother, and grandmother who lives in South Carolina with her husband and a mini-dachshund. A life-long student of history, her favorite city, Charleston, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. Her love of writing grew out of a desire to share exciting stories of courageous characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and encouragement. Connect with her on her web site at http://www.elvamartin.com.
****************
More from Elva
Researching our true American history for this novel inspired me so much in a day when many are trying to ignore or wipe out our Christian foundations and heroic acts. I want to share two particular true stories which I use in my novel that should bless and inspire you, too.
First, I set my story the year after President George Washington died. He died December 14, 1799, after a bout of laryngitis following a horseback ride in the snow to check his plantation. But truly, his death was brought on by the horrid bleeding (phlebotomy) common in that day that three prominent physicians put him through. History records they bled eight quarts from his body in about thirteen hours. The physicians soon observed… “that he expired without a struggle.” –Of course he couldn’t struggle, with all that blood loss. I’ve told you this to tell you Washington’s last words.
Washington, at about eleven o’clock in the evening, uttered his last words: “Father of mercies, take me unto thyself,” and “tis well.”
On Washington’s tomb at Mount Vernon is engraved: “I am the Resurrection and the Life; saith the Lord. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.”
The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., which is 555 feet tall, has engraved on its metal cap the Latin phrase “Laus Deo,” which means “Praise be to God.”
The other true story of our history that inspired me proves the bravery and derring-do of the fledging Navy and Marines during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency. Many don’t know that Washington actually disbanded the original Navy right after the Revolution as he had no intention of putting this almost penniless new nation into any more wars or try to find the money to support a Navy.
But Barbary Muslim pirates in the Mediterranean started plundering our merchant ships no longer under British protection and taking entire crews into slavery. We ended up paying huge sums of tribute for questionable protection and hefty ransoms to redeem any of our crews taken into slavery. President Thomas Jefferson saw the great need for a strong Navy and went about securing it during his two terms (1801-.1809). A famous byword of those days became: “Millions for defense, not a cent for tribute.”
Naval heroes like William Eaton, Edward Preble, Stephen Decatur, and Marine lieutenant Presley O’Bannon blazoned across our history during the turbulent wars against the Muslim Barbary pirates and sultans. One incident stands out that I decided to include in my novel with my fictional hero, Marine Lieutenant Adam White, added to the story and my heroine Hannah, awaiting letters from him.
Jefferson and Congress commissioned the building of a Navy frigate, the USS Philadelphia, the largest, most modern for the period, to do battle in this Barbary war. America was proud of this ship and it’s potential. But to everyone’s dismay, the Philadelphia got stuck on a sand bar near Tripoli’s harbor, and soon ended up captured by the Tripoli pirates, and its crew taken into slavery. Even though the American captain damaged the ship as best he could before being forced to surrender it, the horror was compounded when the Muslims bragged they would soon repair the ship and use it against us. President Jefferson, Congress, the Navy, and all America suffered some dark days indeed.
But naval hero Stephen Decatur came up with a daring, dangerous plan to slip into the well-guarded Tripoli Harbor where the ship was anchored while being repaired. He chose a few handpicked Marines (my novel hero included!) who would attempt to burn the Philadelphia and keep it from ever being used against us. They would have no Navy backup and would all end up in slavery if the Muslims discovered them.
You’ll have to read my novel (or do research) to find out how this ended!
Q & A with Elva Cobb Martin
Many authors say that they have always been a writer — making up stories as a child. When did you first become a writer?
I wrote my first original story in seventh grade.
Was there a special someone, such as a teacher, parent, or other relative, who encouraged you to pursue writing?
Dr. Bill West, Anderson University professor.
Why did you choose the historical romance genre?
Because of my love of history and God’s often intervention in our American continuing story.
Were there any obstacles you faced in your journey to publication?
Yes. Life being too busy to study and pursue novel-writing. Although I did have a number of articles published in magazines, this is the basic excuse I give for my first novel being published at age 75. God has been so good to keep giving me stories! I’m now working on novel eight.
What types of research do you pursue? Books, on-site visits, etc.
I do read lots of books; usually have several going at one time. I also watch and save movies that depict a particular historical period. And I love visiting historical sites and taking photos for my file.
What does a typical writing day look like? Are you structured or informal in your writing schedule?
Surprisingly, I do not write on novels every day. I have certain days I take care of other family business, write bills, or wash clothes, etc. But on the days I designate for writing, I write from early morning to about 6 pm, with two hours off to prepare and eat lunch with my husband.
How long does it usually take to craft your books? (from outlines/first drafts to final edits)
It usually takes about eight months, then two or three more for the book tobe released by my publisher, Wild Heart Books.
Can you tell us a little about what inspired your latest novel?
Interesting research I ran across about our early American Navy and Marines helped inspire my latest novel, The Lieutenant’s Secret Love, which will be released April 5, 2023. I love honoring our military which I do in this story. They deserve it!
What do you want your readers to take away with them after finishing one of your novels?
I hope readers find my novels, exciting, inspiring, and depicting romance between a man and woman as I believe God meant it to be.
Readers always want to know what is next for an author. Do you have any works in progress you can share about?
I am in the Plotstorming stage for Book 6, The Gamekeeper’s Reluctant Bride, in our Charleston Brides series, hopefully to be released in 2024.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Tactical Force by Lynn Shannon, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title: Tactical Force Series: Triumph Over Adversity #6 Author:Lynn Shannon Publisher: Creative Thoughts, LLC Release Date: February 28, 2023 Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Some wounds never heal.
As a former Navy SEAL, Walker Montgomery faces danger without flinching. But not even a combat zone halfway around the world was far enough to escape the trauma of his teen years. His younger sister was murdered and the killer never caught. Since returning home, he’s been quietly working the case, unable to move on with his life until justice is served.
She’s a survivor.
Hayley Barlow has her own tragic childhood. Abducted and held captive, she barely escaped the clutches of the same killer that murdered Walker’s sister. The invisible scars on her heart and the brand on her shoulder are souvenirs she can’t get rid of. When Hayley receives a taunting phone call from her attacker, she turns to Walker for help.
A race to stop a killer.
Walker is committed to safeguarding Hayley, but their closeness fractures the walls surrounding his heart. As the killer draws them into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, nothing is as it seems. Walker is used to taking the fight to the enemy, but this time, with Hayley’s life on the line, it may cost him more than he’s willing to lose.
Hayley’s breath hitched and she pressed the cell phone harder against her ear. “Who is this?”
“You know exactly who I am.”
Casanova? No, it couldn’t be the criminal who’d kidnapped and held her for days. Hayley’s mind rejected it, even as memories assaulted her senses.
“It’s been a long time.” He hummed, the sound coming over the line. “I’ve missed you.”
The voice was the same. Smooth and haunting, with just the barest hint of a Texas accent. The brand on her shoulder burned, the pain as vibrant as it’d been on the day he’d pressed a hot iron to her skin. You belong to me. The wound was heart shaped, a constant reminder of the man who’d nearly taken her life. He’d worn an ancient Venetian mask made out of hard plastic with a pointed nose and chin. No mouth. His eyes had been malevolent, cavernous holes. He’d called himself Casanova. She’d never known his true identity.
Law enforcement believed he was dead. There hadn’t been any sign of him for ten years.
Until now.
More Books in This Series
About The Author
It took an international move from Texas to Greece before Lynn Shannon turned her love of reading into a passion for writing. Now she spends her days penning fast-paced inspirational romantic suspense. Her novels combine intriguing mysteries with heartfelt romance.
Lynn lives with her husband, two children, an extremely spoiled dog, and a turtle who hibernates half of the year. The experience of a different country has provided amazing new foods—like Yemista and Kourabiedes—to accompany pecans and Blue Bell ice cream on her favorites list. She also never passes up coffee, chocolate, or the chance to watch cute animal videos.
Connect with Lynn by visiting lynnshannon.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon.com gift card + paperback copy of Tactical Force.
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 18, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 25, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Holding on to Hope by Janet W. Ferguson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title: Holding on to Hope Series: Coastal Hearts Author: Janet W. Ferguson Publisher: Southern Sun Press LLC Release Date: April 1, 2023 Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
A fun road trip romance to the Grand Tetons!
Always the wedding planner, never the bride.
Hope Rodriguez loves planning weddings. There’s nothing more special than helping a bride become a princess for a day, but she’s not sure that’s her calling in life anymore. If only she had her own special someone. Her only current prospect leaves her with more questions than answers about where she falls in his list of priorities. Yet, when a lifelong friend asks her to plan a destination wedding across the country in only two weeks, she’ll have to figure out how to pull off the impossible…alone.
After being burned as a child and deserted by his family, Caleb Donnelly has an intimate relationship with pain. Despite all he’s endured, one ache refuses to leave him—the throbbing in his heart where Hope is concerned. So when Hope needs help with their friend’s wedding, he can’t stop himself from volunteering to travel two thousand miles to Jackson, Wyoming. As long as he keeps his feelings in check, he might not ruin their friendship. Because a beautiful woman like Hope could never love a scarred man like him.
When Hope and Caleb’s plans go up in flames, it’s their hearts that might never recover.
Grab your copy of Holding on to Hope…a Southern Contemporary Christian Romance novel from the Coastal Hearts Series.
Could loving someone physically hurt? It must be possible. Because anguish seared Caleb Donnelly’s chest, scorching his heart like a white-hot flame. And Caleb knew pain—had an intimate relationship with it after years of surgeries, skin grafts, and laser treatments.
Sitting at the oak table in the rented Florida beach house, he struggled to rip his gaze away from this woman. Hope Rodriguez. He should quit staring before she noticed. Except, he couldn’t seem to stop. Ever since that summer before ninth grade, when she’d directed her sweet smile his way, he’d been smitten.
The feelings had been reckless, really. A disfigured guy falling for a homecoming queen echoed the story of Beauty and the Beast. But in the real world, happy endings rarely materialized. His early years in and out of hospitals and foster homes had taught him that few fairytales came true.
If anyone deserved a happily-ever-after, though, it was Hope.
More Books in This Series
About The Author
Janet W. Ferguson is a Christy Award finalist and the FHL Readers Choice Award winning author of realistic inspirational fiction. An avid reader, she loved books so much she found a job as a librarian so she could be around them all day. Then she turned that love of story into writing faith-filled novels with characters who feel like best friends. You’ll laugh and cry as the quirky heroes and heroines chase their happily ever after.
Janet and her husband live in Mississippi where they say y’all a lot, and she forces him to visit the beach as often as possible. They have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.
Connect with Janet by visiting janetfergusonauthor.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a print copy of Holding on to Hope, a throw, a Hope rock & a Hope cross knickknack.
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 17, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 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. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Many of the books I review are provided to me free of charge from publishers, authors, or other groups in return for a review. The opinions expressed in the reviews are mine and mine alone. No monetary consideration is given. This disclaimer is in accordance with FTC rules.
I am an Amazon.com affiliate, which means that I earn a small percentage of the sales from products purchased through links on my site. I NEVER recommend a book in order to receive a profit. Proceeds from affiliate sales help to defray operating costs of the blog.
Giveaways are open to persons 18 years or older. All winners are picked randomly. No purchases are necessary to enter a giveaway. All giveaways are for US entries only and are void where prohibited.
GDPR compliance -- the email address you leave when you subscribe to the blog or leave a comment, is used only to notify winners of giveaways or to send an email whenever a post goes live. That's it.
For a more detailed privacy policy for Wordpress sites, go to https://wordpress.org/about/privacy/.
Recent Comments