About the BookA Beautiful Young Woman Banished from Home Abigail Stutzman thought it was bad enough being dropped at the nearest bus station and sent to live several states away with some relatives she’d never even heard of, much less met. But now, just a week after her arrival in Jamesport, Missouri, she finds herself at the scene of a barn fire. An intentional barn fire. And all fingers are pointed at her. She’s desperate to prove her innocence and protect her reputation, but nobody’s making that easy to do. And God certainly doesn’t seem willing to help. A Brave Firefighter with an Agenda of His Own Sam Miller is in the process of turning over a new leaf. Determined to atone for the follies of his past, he is a volunteer firefighter, an EMT, and a doctor-in-training. With suspicious barn fires escalating, and the Miller family being among the victims, no one is more determined to see the perpetrators brought to justice than Sam. A Kindled Flame Neither One Could Have Anticipated When their paths first cross at the site of a barn burning, the emotional intensity rivals the warmth of the flames. Soon, they must decide whether this fire is one they should feed or fight. And they’ll discover that the truth can prove more dangerous than a blazing inferno. About the AuthorAmish fiction lovers responded positively and immediately to Laura V. Hilton’s debut novel, Patchwork Dreams, when she burst on the scene in 2009 with her unique series, The Amish of Seymour, set in the tiny town of Seymour, in Webster County, Missouri. Fans of the genre immediately recognized Hilton’s insider knowledge, not only of the Webster County community, but Amish culture in general. Her natural speech and writing patterns, she says, are uniquely “Amish,” acquired from her Amish maternal grandparents. The Amish of Seymour, includes Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. Her second series, The Amish of Webster County, is comprised of Healing Love, Surrendered Love,and Awakened Love. A stand-alone title, A White Christmas in Webster County, was released in September 2014. The Birdhouse concluded Laura’s 2015 series, The Amish of Jamesport, includes The Snow Globe, The Postcard and The Birdhouse. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer. Laura and her husband, Steve, have five children, whom Laura homeschools. The family makes their home in Arkansas. For more about Laura, her latest book, the books she’s written and those she’s reviewed visit Laura Hilton's Website. Guest Post from Laura V. HiltonUnlike some authors, I am not a planner. I have a very vague idea of the story, of the series, and as soon as the characters step forward and introduce themselves I dive in and start writing. When I first began writing this series – New Beginnings in Jamesport – I knew Sammy Miller was going to be the hero. Readers started asking for Sammy’s story as soon as they read The Postcard where Sammy was the villain. Ouch. I’d never considered writing a story about a former villain. But just as David in The Postcardwas reader requested, Sammy would be. Sammy is a very strong character and I knew he had to have a strong female lead character, one that wasn’t afraid to stand up to him and keep him under control. He is a leader, an EMT studying to be a paramedic, and a volunteer firefighter. The female lead, Abigail, is thrown into Jamesport without warning. Her step-father takes her to the bus station and sends her away and she doesn’t even know why! When she is met at the bus station by an aunt and uncle she didn’t even know existed, she is thrown into the middle of several mysteries, including barn fires set by arsonists. And she is the main suspect. The whole New Beginnings in Jamesport series, while considered a continuation of The Amish of Jamesportseries due to Sammy being the hero, is set around Amish starting over in Jamesport. The second bookThe Amish Wanderer is about a former resident of Jamesport hitchhiking across the country to get to his Mennonite uncle’s house in Pennsylvania. Silas is desperate to escape from his dysfunctional family for several reasons. But he cannot stay in Jamesport because someone is out to kill him. When he stumbles upon another mystery within hours of his arrival, what choice does he have but to stick around for awhile? God gave me the verses for all three books in the Amish of Jamesport series The Amish Firefighter, The Amish Wanderer and the yet untitled third book (My books all stand alone) before I started writing them, which is unusual. He usually reveals these things slowly to me, as I need to know. The verse for The Amish Firefighter is Isaiah 43:2-4 and the verse for The Amish Wanderer is Romans 8:38-39. The third book’s verse is 2 Corinthians 4:8. It is tentatively titled The Amish Accountant, but most people think accountants are boring, and his real profession is a clockmaker. But The Amish Clockmaker has already been taken by another author. So we shall see what the wonderful Whitaker House team will come up with. It is about another young Amish woman, Lydia, who needs a “safe haven.” So her parents send her to live with her Mennonite aunt and uncle in Jamesport. It doesn’t exactly work out as planned, as the aunt and uncle leave for a foreign mission trip immediately, leaving Lydia acting manager of a gift shop and living in an all electric apartment. Before her aunt leaves, she tells Lydia’s secrets to her best friend. But did she tell all of them or some of them? And the best friend’s son, Caleb (the clockmaker) is acting as accountant for the gift shop. And what about Caleb’s carefully kept secret? When Lydia’s past catches up with her, will it destroy all she’d begun to imagine as she dreamed of starting over in Jamesport? Next after that is The Christmas Challenge which is also set in Jamesport. I don’t have official release dates for The Amish Wanderer or the other books yet. But as soon as I know, I’ll share. Coming next? Who knows? I have two ideas warring for attention—but which one gets told first, I don’t know! I lean toward one, then the other. They both want to be told. And now, I must get back to work. Thank you for visiting today and thank you so much for supporting my books. I do hope you’ll enjoy The Amish Firefighter! Happy Reading! Because of Him, ~ Laura ~ GiveawayTo celebrate her tour, Laura is giving away a basket that includes a Kindle Fire and a complete set of her books! Enter HERE. Tour ScheduleJune 9: Quiet Quilter
June 10: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations June 10: Jeanette’s Thoughts June 11: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses June 11: Blogging With Carol June 12: Cassandra M’s Place June 12: Splashes of Joy June 13: Babs Book Bistro June 13: bigreadersite June 14: Daysong Reflections June 14: Rockin’ My Mom Jeans June 15: Singing Librarian Books June 15: Blossoms and Blessings June 16: Reading Is My SuperPower June 16: The Power of Words June 17: Two Girls and a Book June 17: A Greater Yes June 18: Texas Book -aholic June 18: Through The Open Window June 19: For the Love of Books June 19: Petra’s Hope June 20: Running Through The Storms June 20: Simple Harvest Reads June 21: A Holland Reads June 21: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner June 22: Pause for Tales June 22: KarensKrayons June 23: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS About the BookIt was more than she dreamt. But as the romance began to bud, she felt the thorns of a heartless beauty rise to tear it apart. Young widow, Katie Jensen, endures patiently under her oppressive uncle in desolate Arizona Territory. She tries to keep her promise to her dead aunt to be a witness and take care of her uncle but when his tirades grow worse, she gathers her two precious little ones and runs. Making their way to an unknown land, they come to the town of White Rock, which is strangely like the place in the dreams Katie has been having. They are welcomed into the cottage of a kindly grandmother who takes in borders. When Danny, the older woman’s grandson, comes home, he finds surprises in store: a crisis, a beautiful young woman, and her adorable children who bring laughter and life into all their weary souls. Katie is filled with hope when an unexpected romance sparks but there is a vindictive raven-haired beauty and an old enemy conspiring to put it out—permanently. Will God give Katie rest as she and the family pray for their enemies? Can she stand strong in her faith when fear overwhelms her? About the AuthorSandy Faye Mauck writes Historical Romance in the light of the gospel and with the heart of her Savior. Slip into a comfy chair with a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and travel back to the first years after the turn of the century. Enjoy faithful Christian characters who have come through a spiritual wilderness into a place of hope. Stories of charming romance sprinkled with humor and topped with redemption. And be sure not to put the cup too close to the edge of the table because there are enemies lurking about. Sandy lives in her own happily-ever-after with her Bible doctrine writer husband in the west they love. They have five children and nine grandchildren. She enjoys crocheting (a different kind of yarn) and is also a professional artist. Guest Post from Sandy Faye MauckHi everyone! Sandy Faye Mauck here! Today I launch my book on Celebrate Lit! They say to write the book that is missing from your bookshelf. So I did. I wrote a story that brought the purity of a Christian romance with a touch of humor and endearing characters who live what they believe, with real enemies and redemptive grace. More Than She Dreamt is set at the time just after the turn of the century. Probably my favorite time travel place if I had to choose because of the interesting changes and the lovely clothing and yet there was indoor plumbing, and lights, LOL! My greatest writing inspiration (other than my Lord), was my favorite author, Grace Livingston Hill. She could tell a story, make you feel you were there in every sense. Grace could bring romance, excitement, and enemies and then touch your heart with a truth of God’s word that would penetrate your heart. I hope to do this as I write my heart and I add humor because that is who I am. I hope you enjoy this Celebrate Lit Blog Tour and the special personal giveaway at the end! GiveawayTo celebrate her tour, Sandy is giving away a charming keepsake box filled with some Rose Arbor themed prizes. Enter HERE. Tour ScheduleJune 14: cherylbbookblog
June 15: Singing Librarian Books June 16: June 17: June 18: Bigreadersite June 18: Cassandra M’s Place June 19: A Greater Yes June 19: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations June 20: Pause for Tales June 21: Daysong Reflections June 22: A Holland Reads June 23: Splashes of Joy June 23: Christian Bookaholic June 24: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses June 25: Red Headed Book Lady June 25: June 26: Bukwurmzzz June 27: For the Love of books E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. For three and a half years, she published the Confidence in Life newsletter for Alpha Production Ministries, in addition to writing tracts and devotionals. Teaching a women’s Bible study at her church for eleven years led naturally to her current endeavor, writing inspirational romance novels. Her mission: spiritual maturity in the body of Christ through fiction. It was a match made in heaven. Or so everyone thought. Sadie Mae Cummings is all set to marry her childhood sweetheart, Kyle, when she is assigned to tutor Lincoln, the new college football running back. This sophomore phenomenon has all the girls on campus knocking on his door. But Sadie isn't interested in his advances. Lincoln’s overblown ego doesn't take well to being shunned, and he resolves to make Sadie his own. He pursues her relentlessly, until finally Kyle finds himself shut out of Sadie's life, with their shared future crumbling around him. After two years, Sadie’s relationship with Lincoln ends, and she is left having to put the pieces of her life back together. She desires nothing more than to recapture her relationship with Kyle. He has stayed true to the dreams they had planned together, living the vision even without Sadie by his side. When she moves back to her hometown, she labors to rekindle their love. But things have changed, and Kyle has moved on. Sadie quickly discovers how hard it is to rebuild burned bridges. Follow Sadie’s story as she fights for a chance to restore broken dreams. Will love endure? This inspirational romance by E. C. Jackson is book two of the Hope series and is a standalone book. Here is the moment you have been waiting for! The Cover ************ ******* **** ** * * * Enter the Giveaway HERE.
An Informal Introduction (Informal Romance #3) by Heather Gray -- Book Tour Spotlight + Giveaway
6/15/2016
From a stranger in a parking garage to Secret Service agents, surprise chases Lily around every corner. In the midst of the chaos, she has two constants - her longtime faith in God and her growing attraction for a silver-eyed trooper.
The Books in the Series
An Informal Christmas--GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT
An Informal Arrangement--GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT An Informal Introduction--GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT
Heather Gray loves coffee, God, and her family – not necessarily in that order! She enjoys people who embrace God even when life is hard and who aren't afraid to laugh out loud. Like her, the characters she writes are flawed…but loved anyway.
Check out the author interview HERE.
Favorite quote: “You cannot amputate your history from your destiny, because that is redemption.” (Beth Moore)
Favorite candy: Chocolate Favorite flower: Tulip (red, of course) Favorite season: Fall Favorite movie: My Fair Lady Favorite comic book character: Batman Favorite place to visit: A friend’s home. Any friend, really. I’m easy to please like that. Favorite Restaurant: Any of them. (Hey, if I don’t have to do the cooking or the cleaning up afterward, I love, whatever it serves and wherever it is.) Favorite author: This changes all the time, but then I change, too, as do my tastes. Right now it’s Steven James. Ask me again in six months, and we’ll see if I have anything different to say. ^_^ Favorite holiday: Christmas
June 13--Colorimetry
June 14--Faithfully Bookish June 15--Singing Librarian Books June 16--Getting Your Read On June 17--Simple Harvest Reads June 20--Toni Shiloh Prayerfully-Lifted Romance | Bukwurmzzz June 21--Wishful Endings June 22--Zerina Blossom's Books | Katie's Clean Book Collection June 23--Red Headed Book Lady June 24--Smiling Book Reviews Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday! Today's topic is "Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of the Year." But I got a little carried away and put more than ten... Especially by the time I took a look at these various publishers. Take a look at my list below! Abingdon PressJune Barbour PublishingJune September Bethany HouseJune July August September December Cedar FortJune July August Covenant CommunicationsJune David C. CookJune Franciscan MediaAugust September Harlequin HeartwarmingJune Harvest House PublishersJune July August September December Howard BooksOctober Mason Jar BooksAugust Northern Lights PressJune RevellJune July September October Shadow Mountain PublishingAugust September November Thomas NelsonJune September October November Vinespire PublishingNovember The Thorn Tender (Penned in Time #3) by Pepper D. Basham Cover not yet available. Whitaker HouseOctober Zonderkidz-BooksAugust ZondervanAugust October Most if not all of these book shave purchase links that can be found HERE Have you read any of the books by these authors? Are any of these books on your TBR list? What others are on your list that I have not previously mentioned?
About the Book
Roxie Castro comes to Florence, Italy to help her friend Georgia heal after the death of her husband. While there she decides to chase her dream of being an author, collaborating with the gorgeous Professor Stefano Nae in researching the murder of Princess Isabela di Medici. However, when they begin to delve into her history, strange things start happening to Roxie: panic attacks, the resurfacing of buried memories, and a fear that something from her past has come forward to haunt her future.
The professor's help triggers her powerful attraction to him, and this in turn worsens the attacks.The closer they get to solving the mystery surrounding her past, the more tangled her emotions become. Will discovering Roxie’s secret finally free them to explore their newfound feelings or will it snatch away the one chance they have for a lasting love? About the Author
G.G. Vandagriff is the author of twenty-four books and is an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. The Last Waltz, the first novel in her 20th Century Historical Romance Series won the Whitney Award for Best Historical Novel in 2009. There are now two more books in that series—Exile and Defiance.
Nine of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Other genres she writes in include Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction, and Suspense. GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America). She and her husband David are the parents of three children and six grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds. GiveawayAbout the BookIsabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty. For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would enable her to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death. The unexpected arrival of a stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel’s small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives. At her new family’s invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. Perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart. At Emberwilde Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest. About the AuthorSarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for “The Heiress of Winterwood.” She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing family and spunky Golden Retriever. Watch for my review coming soon...About the BookMaybe she was his good luck charm. An angel beneath his wheels. Beneath his playboy façade, young NASCAR driver Luke Brandt yearns for a family. Rachel Tate, an inventive, purity-ring-wearing mechanical engineer, is determined to prove herself in a male dominated industry. When Luke outbids Rachel on the only two muscle cars she could use to test her new vapor-fueled engine, she wants nothing to do with him. But Luke’s gentle ways and down home country charm just might win her over—if his painful past doesn’t push her away. When she begins to touch his heart, he’s haunted by bitter memories of the only woman he’s ever loved—the mother who abandoned him as a little boy. With an intense trust that God will lead her on life’s journey, Rachel perseveres, her innocence and grace breach his defenses and his walls begin to crumble. As they join forces to bring her remarkable invention to market, their love, their very lives, are threatened by the iron-tight grip that “Big Oil” holds over the whole auto industry and Luke realizes his final happiness must come through faith, in the One who has always loved him… and always will. About the AuthorI feel I should preface this with an apology because while I love creating pretend characters and the trademark for my novels is likely to be a gripping introductory first-person prologue from my lead, I find describing myself quite tedious. I’m just not all that interesting. So, (big breath) here goes… An avid lifelong lover of the written word, I read at least a book or two a week, and on a really great vacation, five to seven. When I’m not working, reading or writing, I spend my free time enjoying the outdoors with my family, mostly at our home on a small lake in Southwest Michigan, occasionally visiting a tiny rustic hunting cabin in Colorado and every once in a while, when we’re blessed with means, a Spring break vacation in the Caribbean. I must admit, I’m very much a newbie at writing. But… as a goal oriented positive thinker and self-learner, I've devoured twenty-some non-fiction books on the craft since deciding to become an author in early 2012. And, as a business operations manager, a big part of my job is written communications: business process documentation, internal and external professional correspondence and of course, the inevitable and incessant email. I have a couple of published magazine articles to my credit and a B.S. from Purdue University where I studied IT, engineering and chemistry. That’s right, science. Nothing even remotely related to writing or language arts. But oh, this is good. When I was in college, I had a freshman English class where just about every paper I turned in came back with an A- and a comment like, “Did you write this?” or something to that effect. After several of these—and because there was very little red ink elsewhere—I asked what the minus was for. The professor’s only response, after I assured him I wrote it, was to change it to an A. Maybe I should have listened to what he didn’t say. From my earliest memories I never really knew what I wanted to do. I changed majors five times in college. But after sitting down and writing my first story over the course of the summer of 2012—between a full-time-and-then-some job and two young children—now I know. I want to be an author. That first story will never be published. It has way too many speaker attributions and adverbs. And story structure? What’s that? Now I know better. But it touched my heart and that’s something. My stories are contemporary character driven tales of normal every-day people and the challenges we all face in real life: love, friendship, parenthood, morality, mortality, compassion and faith. My favorite novels are those that reach down deep, wrap up my whole heart and soul, make me laugh, and cry. And those are the types of stories I want to write. I want to touch people’s lives. I want my reader to feel better, be better, love better, because they read my words and took them to heart. I want to inspire, to comfort and to breathe faith and hope into anyone who may despair that they’re alone in this world. I really expected it to take more than a couple of tries to get it right, but my beta readers encouraged me to submit my second book, Angel Beneath My Wheels, assuring me it’s a great story and well written. Six months and forty-nine query letters later, I landed an agent who then helped me find a publisher. My first book was released on February 29th, 2016! If early reviews are any indication, I've accomplished at least some of what I set out to do with Angel Beneath My Wheels. I hope you enjoy it too. If you'd like to receive monthly short stories about real people who touch the lives of others, and announcements of future releases, please join my email list here. Author InterviewReviewRachel Tate and Luke Brandt each have complicated back histories, so their relationship and romance gets a bit of a rocky start. From the beginning, Rachel does not like Luke. He’s not only a NASCAR racecar driver and playboy, but seems to have a big head and think he is all that. And every time Luke sees Rachel he tends to say and do the wrong thing, leaving her frustrated and angry. But they both agree to a “do-over.” So, will these two be able to overcome their differences and events of the past and fall in love? K.S. Moore’s An Angel Beneath My Wheels is a novel that will take readers on an emotional rollercoaster. Readers will become attached and involved in the stories of Rachel and Luke. The romance in this story is a bit slow, due to the different situations of the main characters Rachel and Luke, but the story still progresses soundly. The story is focused a bit on emotions and events of the past that are now affecting the current events. Pain and joy are both themes in this stimulating novel. K.S. Moore has written a beautiful contemporary romance that readers will enjoy. Genre: contemporary, romance Publisher: Lighthouse Publishers of the Carolinas Publication date: February 29, 2016 Number of pages: 250 Content Rating: PG, drinking, reference to sleeping together, etc. Book Rating: 4 stars A review copy of this book was provided by the author.
First Line Fridays -- 06.10.2016
6/10/2016
It is Friday and I am joining Carrie from Reading is My SuperPower and Rachel from Bookworm Mama in First Line Fridays. If you would like to join us, send Carrie a meassage and let her know! Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line! My first line today is from Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd. This is book two in the A Treasures of Surrey Series. "Mrs. Brathay's shrill voice shattered the late-morning silence like a warbler's call unsettling dawn's still mist." What are you reading? What is your first line?
Opent the book nearest you and post the first line... Who doesn't like a scavenger hunt? I suppose it depends on the kind of scavenger hunt, but Faith Blum is with us today to reveal the covers for her three upcoming novellas. Each novella will be published this summer. One on June 26th, one on July 26th, and the last one on August 26th. To reveal the covers, Ihave a scavenger hunt set up. I have a few clues for you and then once you find the covers, you can fill out the form below to enter a giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Each cover you find will get you four extra entries. Entries will be closed on June 10th and the winner announced on June 11th. First, here are the descriptions of each book: Just a Closer WalkKatie and Joanna meet on a train headed to Cheyenne, Wyoming. They start talking and find out they are both headed there to become mail order brides. They quickly become good friends. When they get on a stagecoach with three other young women, Katie becomes suspicious. What is going to happen to them? Or is it really possible that nothing untoward is happening?Just As I AmEve and Evangeline Collins are adventurous twins who decide to take a risk and head west as mail order brides. Their parents are less than pleased, but do nothing to stop them. Eve and Eva don’t realize their danger until they stop just outside Cheyenne. Will they ever see their family again?Blessed AssuranceAdelaide lost her parents a year before and now a rich man in town is making unwanted advances toward her. Desperate, she writes to two men and quickly accepts the one from Cheyenne, Wyoming. On the final leg of her journey, in a stagecoach with four other mail order brides, her suspicions are confirmed. Will she ever find a man she can truly trust?CluesEach cover is hidden in a blog post on Faith's blog. Here are some clues to help you find the posts:Clue #1: Agencies, mysteries, and westerns. Where might this cover be? Clue #2: The ides of March. A holiday, a bird, or perhaps a plane. Can the cover be there? Clue #3: A light or six and you may find the third and final cover. In case the form below doesn't show up for some reason, please use this link to enter the giveaway. Tour Schedule
June 6
June 7
June 8
June 9
June 10
June 11
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Giveaway announcement
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