Top 10 Tuesday — Reading Rambles

27 Feb

Happy Tuesday! I live in Georgia, a state with many natural delights. Beaches, mountains, swamps, even a little grand canyon! — lots of places to explore nature. Today’s TTT topic is nature found in book titles or on covers. I chose two rambles — the woods of north Georgia and the beaches of the Golden Isles. The titles of the books I chose feature things that can be seen on nature walks in both locations. Some of the covers do double duty for today’s topic too! I hope you find a book to excite your imagination!

For more nature musings, check out The Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books in Reading Rambles

A walk through the woods of north Georgia.

Mountain Laurel by Lori Benton

The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner

Roots of Wood And Stone by Amanda Wen

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

A walk in the Golden Isles.

Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon

Hope Beyond The Waves by Heidi Chiavaroli

The Inn at Ocean’s Edge by Colleen Coble

Pelican Point by Irene Hannon

A Vast And Gracious Tide by Lisa Carter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mini-Book Review — The Choices She Made

26 Feb

The Choices She Made by Felicia Ferguson is a novel of difficult choices. A young woman pregnant by her rapist makes several very hard decisions — to not press charges, to go through with the pregnancy, to keep her baby, and to let the young man she loves go. The novel alternates between the past and present, all through main character Madeline’s eyes. Are the sacrifices good or even necessary? Is the choice the best for the situation? It is interesting to see how every choice Madeline makes affects her and others futures’. I liked this book, although I wouldn’t call it an easy read. There are tough issues and tough outcomes. But the truths of God’s power, trustworthiness, and sovereignty shine through. The Choices She Made will certainly make you think — exactly what a book like this should do.

Recommended.

Audience: late teens to adults.

(I received a copy of the book through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

In 1997, seventeen-year-old Madeline Williams is torn between continuing her family ranching legacy and accepting her Army-bound boyfriend’s marriage proposal.

But when an assault by John David Billings, the son of a wealthy rancher, leaves her pregnant, Madeline sacrifices both options, choosing to leave town and raise the child alone.

It’s been several years, and when she returns to her hometown to meet with her father, rumors circulate about John David’s trial–for assaulting other women. Madeline struggles with the secret she’s kept from her daughter–and everyone but her father–all of these years.

If she testifies, John David could be put away for good. Doesn’t help that he’s hired a killer lawyer, and it would take a testimony like hers just to put him behind bars. But if she unveils her past, that could have some dangerous repercussions for her daughter.

She has trusted God throughout her entire life, but can she trust him to carry her through his trial?

As a child, Felicia Ferguson lived in Kansas, Texas, and Louisiana before her family settled on a horse and cattle farm in Kentucky. For the past ten years, though, she soaked up the Florida sun. But then God moved her once again. This time out of the South and into the mountains of Colorado.

Felicia achieved master’s degrees in Healthcare Administration and Speech-Language Pathology, but has written since childhood and dreamed of authoring books that teach and inspire others. An award-winning fiction and non-fiction freelance writer, she is the past president of the Destin chapter of Word Weavers International and a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association.

She has previously published devotions with Christian Devotions and Inkspirations, and her first contemporary women’s novel with End Game Press, The Choices She Made, released in 2022. Her 2023 releases include two devotions in Ordinary People, Extraordinary God and three short stories in Sweet Romance for Every Season, both from End Game Press. When Secrets Come Calling, a contemporary women’s fiction book, will release in 2024 also with End Game Press. Her radio devotional, Build Faith for the Journey, airs Saturdays on Christian Mix 106.

When she’s not glued to her laptop, Felicia enjoys hiking, meandering with her twelve-year-old Frenchie, and looking forward to the next story.

Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Learn more at http://www.feliciafergusonauthor.com.

Tags: ,

Spotlight On Historical Fiction –When The Flames Ravaged

26 Feb

Welcome to the Blog Tour for When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

When the Flames Ravaged

Title: When the Flames Ravaged
Series: A Day to Remember
Author: Rhonda Dragomir
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Release Date: March 1, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Will Faith Perish in the Big Top’s Flames?

Introducing a new series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.

Evelyn Benson’s husband perished in the Bataan Death March but not her faith. The World War II Gold Star widow is taken in by her brother and soothed by the love of his wife and children. Evelyn refuses to cower to grief. She may not understand God’s mysterious ways, but she has never questioned Him—until the circus fire.

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus train chugs into Hartford, Connecticut, on a sweltering day one month after the Allies invaded Normandy. Among the roustabouts is a reluctant clown, Hank Webb. He may hide from his murky past behind grease paint as Fraidy Freddie, but God wants to offer Hank a chance to be found. Though first, what little Hank believes about God will endure a fiery trial.

On Thursday, July 6, 1944, a devasting blaze of unknown origins consumes the circus tent along with Evelyn’s hopes and Hank’s anonymity.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Excerpt

Under the bleachers lay an empty wooden bucket, tossed aside by a propman who’d hurried away for an alleged crisis involving the animal chute. Nearby, two more cigarette butts glowed in the sawdust. 

But most troubling of all, the sidewall of the tent near the men’s room sported a charred spot which slowly grew larger, spreading like a herd of black beasts consuming a wheat field. Excited patrons—mostly women and children—took their seats, oblivious to the danger lurking beneath them, which wafted into the stifling air on wisps of gray smoke. When it burst into open flame, it would dance like a bally girl clad in orange sequins. 

Spartacus the lion wasn’t the only monster attending the circus that day.



About The Author

Rhonda Dragomir

Rhonda Dragomir is a multimedia creative who treasures her fairy tale life in Central Kentucky, insisting her home is her castle, even if her prince refuses to dig a moat. She is an award-winning author with published works in several anthologies and periodicals, and she co-wrote numerous Bible studies used weekly by more than 20,000 women worldwide.

Barbour Books will release her debut novel, a historical romance, March 1, 2024. She is often invited to speak at writers’ conferences on topics related to technology and graphics.

Connect with Rhonda by visiting rhondadragomir.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each win a signed, print copy of When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir and a print copy of The Hartford Circus Fire: Tragedy Under the Big Top by Michael Skidgell!

When the Flames Ravaged JustRead Tours giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 26, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 4, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Tags: ,

First Line Friday — Never Fall Again

23 Feb

Happy Friday! I love romantic suspense, and Lynn H. Blackburn is one of my favorite authors in the genre. She has a brand new book in a brand new series releasing in March — Never Fall Again, book 1 in the Gossamer Falls series. I received an early copy, so I will be reviewing it soon.

But for now, here’s the first line:

Landry Hutton didn’t believe dreams came true anymore.

Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven’s guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction. 

Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family’s business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can’t bear to lose like that again.

Before construction on the house can begin, Landry’s pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger–but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!

Lynn’s titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award. Her newest series kicked off in March 2021 with Unknown Threat, Book 1 in the Defend and Protect series.

She is a frequent conference speaker and has taught writers all over the country. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children. You can follow her real life happily ever after by signing up for her newsletter at LynnHBlackburn.com and @LynnHBlackburn on Bookbub, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Tags: ,

Book Review — The Rhythm Of Fractured Grace

22 Feb

The Rhythm of Fractured Grace JustRead Takeover Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Rhythm of Fractured Grace by Amanda Wen hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

The Rhythm of Fractured Grace

Title: The Rhythm of Fractured Grace
Series: Sedgwick County Chronicles #3
Author: Amanda Wen
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: February 20, 2024
Genre: Christian Split Time Romantic Women’s Fiction

Is Siobhan too far gone to respond to the song of a God who’s calling her back to him?

When a new customer brings a badly damaged violin into Siobhan Walsh’s shop, it is exactly the sort of challenge she craves. The man who brought it in is not. He’s too close to the painful past that left her heart and her faith in shambles.

Matt Buchanan has had a rough start as the new worship pastor. A car accident on his way into town left him with a nearly totaled truck, and an heirloom violin in pieces. When he takes it to a repair shop, he’s fascinated with the restoration process–and with the edgy, closed-off woman doing the work.

As their friendship deepens and turns into more, they both discover secrets that force them to face past wounds. And the history of the violin reveals more about their current problems than they could have ever expected.

On the nineteenth-century frontier, a gruesome tomahawk attack wiped out most of Deborah Caldwell’s family. Her greatest solace after the tragedy is the music from her father’s prized violin. Given her horrendous scars, she’d resigned herself to a spinster’s life. But Levi Martinson’s gentle love starts to chip away at her hardened heart, until devastating details about the attack are revealed, putting their love–and Deborah’s shaky faith–to the ultimate test.

Full of forgiveness and the message that no one is too damaged for God’s healing touch, the final book in the split-time Sedgwick County Chronicles will thrill fans of Rachel Hauck, Lisa Wingate, and Kristy Cambron.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Christianbook | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Excerpt

Tucking the violin under one arm, Siobhan held the door for Matt, the bells jingling against the glass, and ducked into the little shop after he hobbled through. The small space was cluttered with instruments of every size, shape, and description, from basses and cellos standing at attention along a far wall to violins and violas hanging from hooks near and far. The comforting scents of wood and varnish enveloped her in a gentle hug. 

Of all the jobs she’d pictured herself in, tucked away in a tiny shop learning how to rehair bows and repair stringed instruments hadn’t even made the list.

But after her last job? Tucked away seemed ideal.



More Books in Series

Roots of Wood and Stone The Songs That Could Have Been

My Impressions:

Wow! I didn’t think I could like a book more than I already liked the first two books in Amanda Wen’s Sedgwick County Chronicles, that is, until I read The Rhythm of Fractured Grace. Another dual timeline novel set in modern day Wichita and the late 1800s Kansas frontier, this novel has powerful themes of forgiveness, identity, and worthiness in God. Modern day Siobhan has been damaged by the church. Manipulated and abused by a person in authority, then shunned by fellow church members, she keeps a low profile with her dyed hair and baggy plaid shirts. That is until Matt hobbles into her life on crutches holding a violin certainly damaged beyond repair. The second story centers on Deborah, a woman wounded physically and emotionally by an attack in her childhood. Both women feel less than, unworthy of love from man or God. I loved how the author used the old, broken violin as a bridge to the women’s stories and as a symbol of restoration. God is everywhere in the two women’s lives, though they either don’t see it or don’t want to. The men in their lives aid in the healing of their hearts, but it is God who works His will in their lives. I loved, loved, loved that!

With novels with two or more timelines, I generally like one story over the other, but in The Rhythm of Fractured Grace, I was immersed in both. The characterization is strong, the themes were relevant to my life, and I just did not want either story to end! This one is a highly recommended read!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Kregel for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

About The Author

Amanda Wen

Amanda Wen is a Selah Award–winning, Parable best-selling author of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction, including Roots of Wood and Stone and The Songs That Could Have Been, and a professional musician. Wen currently lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband and three children.

Connect with Amanda by visiting amandawen.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of the book, a mug, chai mix, and a kitsugi heart necklace!

The Rhythm of Fractured Grace JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 21, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 2024. 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.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Tags: , , , ,

Mini-Book Review — By Her Own Design

21 Feb

My book club read By Her Own Design by Piper Hugely, a novel about Ann Lowe, an African American fashion designer who catered to the rich and famous, including Jacqueline Kennedy. The novel spans the years of the early twentieth century to the last days of Ann’s life. It centers on the struggles that women in her family in particular as well as all people of color faced in creating a life of independence amidst the prejudices cemented in place. The characters in the book, including Ann, are certainly a product of the social rules, racial prejudices, and laws of the time. It was an interesting look at one woman’s determination not to be defined by circumstances and expectations, Anne Lowe overcame so many abuses — she was indeed a remarkable woman.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

The incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America’s most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy.

1953, New York City

Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe’s dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.

1918, Tampa

Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann’s talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida’s society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.

Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.

Piper G. Huguley’s biographical historical fiction, By Her Own Design: a novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register (William Morrow Publishing) tells the inspiring story of the Black fashion designer of Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. By Her Own Design was a Booklist top 100 Editor’s Choice selection for 2022, was named one of the top 100 books of 2022 in Canada by the Globe and Mail newspaper and was selected as the historical fiction winner for 2022 by the American Library Association’s Reading Council.

She is also the author of Sweet Tea, a contemporary romance about food and history (of course) and the author of two historical romance series: “Migrations of the Heart”, about the Great Migration and “Home to Milford College”. Her next historical fiction book, American Daughters (2024), is the story of the decades-long interracial friendship between Alice Roosevelt and Portia Washington, the rebel teenage daughters of President Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington, respectively. She is a literature professor at Clark-Atlanta University and blogs about the history behind her novels at http://piperhuguley.com . She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and son.

Tags: ,

Top 10 Tuesday — Reading Superpower!

20 Feb

While I probably need a few reading superpowers — being able to stay awake later to get in just one more chapter or reading without becoming distracted — I drew a blank this week. So true to form I am going off topic. Reading itself is a tremendous superpower — it transports you to other eras and worlds, it can make you smarter, and it can make you more empathetic. So let’s celebrate that we read — we have an indispensable superpower!

The books in my list this week are those that made me think, made me feel, and took to me to other places and times. All fed my soul, taught me something, and engaged my emotions. Maybe the authors are really the ones with superpowers!

For more on-topic lists, visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books That Made Me Think, Feel, And Took Me To New Places

The Foxhole Victory Tour by Amy Lynn Green

Hope Beyond The Waves by Heidi Chiavaroli

Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse

The Long March Home by Tosca Lee And Marcus Brotherton

The Rhythm of Fractured Grace by Amanda Wen

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin

Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner

Up from The Dust by Heather Kaufman

The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy

Within These Walls of Sorrow by Amanda Barrett

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Spotlight On Historical Romance (With Suspense!) — Relying On The Enemy

19 Feb

Relying on the Enemy JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Relying on the Enemy by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Relying on the Enemy

Title: Relying on the Enemy
Series: Harbored in Crow’s Nest #4
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press
Release Date: February 20, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance, with suspense

She’s protecting her children. He’s redeeming his past.
But there’s nothing convenient about saving their patchwork family.

Wisconsin, 1931—All widowed mother Marian Ward wants is to provide for her girls. However, she faces the dead of winter with no income and dwindling resources. Then she overhears a nefarious conversation, putting her life and that of her children in immediate danger.

Aiming to make amends to the Wards, Gilbert steps in when the threat to Marian escalates. It costs him dearly. Either lose his career or marry her, and be tied to his past until death do them part.

He leaves the decision to Marian, who will do anything to protect her girls, even marry the son of the man who ruined her family. How will their fledgling trust prove strong enough to fulfill their vows as winter tightens its grip and desperation stalks at the door?

Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

Excerpt

Marian Ward battled the wind and her disgust as she pushed out of the door to the Lightning Bug, where the less reputable fishermen drank the winter away regardless of Prohibition. Never would she have considered asking for a job—and still not get one—at such a place, but she was desperate. If she couldn’t find a job, couldn’t heat their home, her little girls … she shuddered, and not because of the icy wind that ripped across a sluggish Lake Michigan only to slam into her threadbare coat.

Where else could she look for work? The Lightning Bug was the last place in Crow’s Nest for her to try, and without money to buy gas for the old truck, how could she drive to Hawk’s River to look for a job? Were there any open positions left? Just one, at a place willing to hire a woman instead of a man. A woman with children, even if she was a widow. As times became leaner, those types of jobs became even more scarce. And how she needed one.

Tears pricked her eyes as she turned her back to the deserted lake and ducked into the alley beside the Lightning Bug. Walking home along Main Street would provide a better buffer to the wind. It hadn’t snowed since the new year, making January bleak and gray. What little sunlight peeked through the overcast sky vanished in the narrow space between the buildings. However, she refused to give in to despair. Her girls, and her ill mother-in-law, depended on her. She would do anything for them.



More Books in This Series

Confessions to a Stranger

About The Author

Danielle Grandinetti

Danielle Grandinetti is an inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books, and the occasional nature walk. A 2023 Finalist in the FHLCW Reader’s Choice Award, she has also won the UNW Distinguished Faith in Writing Award and the CROW National Excellence in Story Telling Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons.

Connect with Danielle by visiting daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will win signed paperback copies of Refuge for the Archaeologist & Relying on the Enemy; a Crow’s Nest Canvas Tote & a Crow’s Nest paperback notebook!

Relying on the Enemy JustRead Tours giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 19, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 26, 2024. 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.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Tags: , ,

Spotlight On Historical Romance Audiobook — Labor Of Love

17 Feb

About The Book

Book: Labor of Love

Author: Marguerite Martin Gray

Narrated: Christa DelSorbo

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 21, 2023

Something sinister lurks in Pitti Palace.

Despite having spent eight years as companion to her cousins, Ana Geovani still questions her role and place in the Medici household. This uncertainty compounds and alarms as her cousin’s marriage approaches and a marriage is arranged for Ana.

With no say in her own future, fear and despair dulls even the splendor of the gardens she holds so dear.

As the newest under-gardener at the palace, Marco Rossi should have everything he’s dreamed of—beautiful gardens to tend and master architects and gardeners to learn from. Yet a secret mission threatens his peace of mind, his position, and even the love of Ana. Although God is always with him, reminding him of a bigger plan, Marco feels the weight of the consequences he will face if he challenges a Medici member.

The desires of men and women, both royal and common, create costly dilemmas and potential disasters of hearts and souls. What will it take for Marco and Ana to prevail against everything driving them apart?

Click HERE to get your copy!

About The Author

Marguerite Martin Gray is the author of the Revolutionary Faith series, Gardens in Time series, and Room for Love in the Suamalie Islands series. She enjoys researching and studying history. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish. She currently lives in North Louisiana with her husband and rescue pets. Her two adult children and two grandsons keep her up to date and young.

More from Marguerite

My audio book experience.

Do you enjoy audio books? They have become special companions since I now work at home. My first experience with audio books involved cassettes on long road trips which morphed into CDs. I would purchase the ones I knew I could listen to again or pass on to someone else. The library became a source to fulfill my burgeoning habit.

It took me a while to consider audible books as a “reading” endeavor. But when I really thought about it, I changed my mind. As I listen, I am challenged with new and old vocabulary words where I must deduce the meaning from the context. My concentration is zeroed in on the story unless I miss some strategic details similar to straying on a page and not knowing what is going on. I have the same euphoric reaction as the plot unfolds.

Now, I’m never without an audio book. When I was offered the opportunity to have Labor of Love presented in audio format, my heart quivered knowing what joy it could bring to readers while doing housework, caring for loved ones, or relaxing in a comfy chair. I hope you enjoy this format as much as I do.

Happy reading!

Q & A with Marguerite Martin Gray

Was there a special someone, such as a teacher, parent, or other relative, who encouraged you to pursue writing?

Labor of Love is dedicated to three people who encouraged me to be creative in my writing. Mr. Barry Lawrence was my teacher in England for a very formative year at Devonshire Park Primary School. He taught me French and a love for culture and how to journal. Mrs. Donna Underwood was my journalism teacher in high school who taught me the love of research and facts. Mr. Donnie Barmore was my senior high school year history teacher who introduced historical fiction to me. These teachers as well as my parents encouraged me in my writing endeavors.

Why did you choose the historical romance genre?

I had the opportunity to travel all over Europe when I lived in England with my family as a preteen. My parents presented the history of the castles, churches, and houses in interesting ways. I am fascinated with the lives of the men and women in history. I love placing characters in a historical setting and seeing what happens.

What types of research do you pursue? Books, on-site visits, etc. 

I collect physical books for my research when I can. For this book I bought twelve books for my library. I also research online for details that I miss in the resources I have. For my historical books, I have visited the countries, towns, palaces, and gardens in person. Labor of Love takes place in Florence. I make it a point to visit as often as possible. In the summer of 2023, I visited the palace and the gardens again in Florence. 

How long does it usually take to craft your books? (from outlines/first drafts to final edits)

Because my books are historical, I spend about three months researching. I am a planner so I form my outline before I start writing. For a 90,000 word manuscript, I usually write 30,000 words a month. I have an editor that edits the document before I send it to the publisher. From my research to sending it to the publisher is about seven months. Then the publisher has it for about a year which has more edits before publication. 

Can you tell us a little about what inspired your latest novel?

Labor of Love is the first in the Gardens in Time series. I love gardens, palaces, and Europe. I chose Florence, Italy and the formation of the Boboli Gardens in 1560. As a child I ran with my sisters through these gardens, and as an adult I walked the paths, wondering about the past citizens of the property. My imagination attached to the beauty and mysterious characters who formed the history. 

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 7

Texas Book-aholic, February 8

By the Book, February 9

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, February 10 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, February 10

Exploring the Written Word, February 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 13

For the Love of Literature, February 14 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, February 15

Holly’s Book Corner, February 16

By The Book, February 17 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 18

Back Porch Reads, February 19

Artistic Nobody, February 20 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, February 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and an audiobook or eBook 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/29c50/labor-of-love-audiobook-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tags: ,

Spotlight On Non-Fiction + Author Interview — Refuge Of Grace

17 Feb

About The Book

Book: Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place

Author: Tracy L. Smoak

Genre: Non-Fiction

Release Date: September, 2023

“This book is a life-saving manual meant for any soul who has bottomed out and can only look up for help.”
— George Firehammer

Need a stronger connection with God? A safe place?

Anyone hoping for straight talk to bring Jesus close will find refreshment in Refuge of Grace. Learn from a fresh look at 22 little-told Bible passages via Tracy L. Smoak’s engaging storytelling and vivid imagery.

These scriptures offer true comfort in your everyday struggles. From hearing Gomer’s perspective about shame to imagining Jesus arriving in a Rolls Royce for the family reunion, you will know God’s working on your behalf-right now.

Click HERE to get your copy.

About The Author

A native Floridian, Tracy L. Smoak grew up riding horses and climbing citrus trees. Her passion is to encourage others in their faith journey. Smoak writes for Guideposts. Ambassador International released her debut novel, Who Brought the Dog to Church?. Bold Vision published her Bible study about encouragement titled Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place.

She loves photography and authored two hardcover devotionals with her original nature art (Living Water to Refresh Your Soul – tranquil lake scenes; and Arranged with Love– floral landscapes).

Smoak holds a master’s in Education and a bachelor’s in Communication. At her church home, she leads small-group Bible studies. She is an active member of Word Weavers International.

More from Tracy

When life knocks you down, where do you go for hope?

We all want to be brave, but sometimes circumstances overwhelm us. Health declines, bank accounts empty, and friends disappear. No matter the disappointments, one absolute certainty we can count on is God. He will stand with us through every adversity.

Ideas for Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place began at 3 a.m. on a January workday in 2021. I tossed and turned in bed, wondering how I could continue teaching in a public school under all the pandemic constraints. We wore masks, developed lesson plans for both in-class instruction and online modules, and juggled a revolving door of student quarantines with absences.

Fear surrounded us on all sides.

Others also struggled. My older son managed an emergency department in a large city and had to find ways to supply unprecedented needs. My younger son worked in the financial industry and watched markets reel. Neighbors lost jobs and income.

How could we model resilience and move forward?

I turned to the Bible for inspiration and studied stories about how believers overcame hardship. Six months and 22 chapters later—all the while teaching full time—this collection renewed hope and kept me going.

My prayer is that reading these Bible promises of God’s faithfulness also will empower you.

Q & A with Tracy L. Smoak

Many authors say that they have always been a writer. When did you come to realize this?

In school, I got nice feedback from teachers that I wrote well. Later, as a teacher myself, colleagues gave feedback that I had talent. But it wasn’t until I got a scholarship grant through my school district to attend the Northern Writing Project at George Mason University that I actively pursued publication. 

Were there any obstacles you faced in your journey to publication?

    For 12 years, I tried to get a book contract. There was some interest, but starts fizzled. Told God I was tired of pursuing the dream and quit writing for nine years. The advent of this nonfiction caught me by surprise. Random ideas surfaced, but I didn’t realize there could be an actual book until 20,000 words in rough drafts grew in a three-month period. I am grateful for Bold Vision believing in a new voice and giving the opportunity to share. 

    What does a typical writing day look like? Are you structured or informal in your writing schedule?

    Early morning is my most productive time for creating. Later in the day, after the ideas have had time to marinate, I go back with an eye to edit and see where there is confusion or wordiness to revise. 

    How long does it usually take to write your books — from first outlines/ drafts to final edits?

    This book took close to three years for the full process of brainstorming to final layout.

    Please include any personal information you would like to share (family, hobbies, etc.)

    My two-year-old granddaughter calls me “Mimi.” Her parents are doing a great job introducing her to the love of reading, and she has shelves of books in her bedroom. I hope one day while she holds one of my books, long after I am gone, that she feels God closeness and understands the eternal legacy of His love.

    Blog Stops

    Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 9

    Artistic Nobody, February 10 (Author Interview)

    Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 11

    Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 12

    Fiction Book Lover, February 13 (Author Interview)

    Girls in White Dresses, February 14

    Its Mama Safe, February 15

    Beauty in the Binding, February 16 (Author Interview)

    By The Book, February 17 (Author Interview)

    Mary Hake, February 17

    Cover Lover Book Review, February 18

    A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 19 (Author Interview)

    Texas Book-aholic, February 20

    Simple Harvest Reads, February 21 (Author Interview)

    Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 21

    Locks, Hooks and Books, February 22

    Giveaway

    To celebrate her tour, Tracy is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy each of Who Brought the Dog to Church? and Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place!!

    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/29c57/refuge-of-grace-celebration-tour-giveaway

    Tags: ,

    ← Older Entries
    Newer Entries →