About the Book
From Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables to Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, the characters of classic literature have stood the test of time. There are countless reasons to pick up a good book—but is it possible to find eternal truths in secular works? In Out of the Best Books, Latter-day Saint scholar S. Michael Wilcox demonstrates that when it comes to learning gospel principles, truth can shine forth in all good works—and literary classics are a prime example.
With underlying lessons on life, faith, and eternal characteristics, secular works can inspire as surely as religious volumes. It is through the experiences of characters like Atticus Finch, Elinor Dashwood, and Ebenezer Scrooge that their authors' inspired words have the power to create life-changing lessons for readers. Learn to find inspiration, wisdom, and spiritual knowledge in the age-old classics. God is in every good thing—you just have to look. About the Author
S. Michael Wilcox is an instructor at the institute of religion adjacent to the University of Utah. A frequent speaker at Brigham Young University Education Week, Michael also conducts tours of the Holy Land, Church history sites, Europe, China, and Central America. He received a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Brigham Young University, a master’s in media from the University of Arizona, and his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in educational philosophy. He is the author of House of Glory and When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered.
Review
In his book Out of the Best Books J. Michael Wilcox discusses classic literature and principles from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that can be used in day to day living. The works of fiction discussed in Wilcox’s book as well as the principles readers can learn from them, teach eternal truths that touch on topics of lessons on life, faith, and eternal characteristics. In addition, this book teaches that readers can learn from the best of books. This is an excellent book that readers will thoroughly enjoy reading as they delve into the depth of the influence of classical literature and applied gospel principles.
Genre: non-fiction, LDS Publisher: Covenant Communications Publication date: October 1, 2018 Number of pages: 224 A review copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communications. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. GiveawayTour Schedule
Oct. 15th:
http://mybookaday.com https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/ Oct. 16th: http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/ Oct. 17th: https://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/ http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/ https://rachellechristensen.com/ Oct. 18th: https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/ http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/ https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/ Oct. 19th: http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/ http://thoroughlyhere.blogspot.com/
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Starstruck by Carla Lareano -- Cover Reveal
10/17/2018
 Available November 1, 2018! About the BookWhen your fictional hero comes to life on the big screen, it’s easy to get starstruck… Unless the leading man happens to be your ex. Novelist Christine Lind has achieved her lifelong dream—a string of best-selling books and a cable-TV adaptation about to go into production. But on her way to London FanFest for the cast reveal, disaster strikes: their leading man is injured in a motorcycle accident… and his replacement is the one person she hoped she’d never seen again. Nick Cleary has clawed his way to recognition as a Hollywood actor, but it’s long past time he get the chance to show he’s more than a pretty face and a chiseled set of abs. His big break comes in the form of a juicy lead role in a new steampunk fantasy series. There’s just one catch—casting has to be approved by the author… a woman he once devastated through his own youthful stupidity. Christine is the last person to be starstruck by the handsome heartthrob, but as the clock ticks down to the cast announcement and Nick races to show that he’s really changed, she begins to wonder if there’s more to her ex than his Hollywood persona. Except now the consequences of being wrong no longer apply only to her career… but also to her carefully guarded heart. About the Author Carla Laureano is the RITA® Award-winning author of contemporary inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes during the day and cooks things at night. Get the first Discovered by Love novella for free here. And now for the cover reveal...  What do you think? I'm ready to pick up this novel right now!!  Welcome to Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd Scavenger Blog Hunt with an awesome giveaway, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! On each stop, there will be:
About the Book Title: Lady of a Thousand Treasures Series: Victorian Ladies, Book 1 Author: Sandra Byrd Publisher: Tyndale House Release Date: October 9, 2018 Genre: Historical/Gothic Romance Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone. The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart. Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims. With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured. About the Author After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published fifty books. Sandra's delighted to kick off her new historical romance series with Tyndale House Publishers, Victorian Ladies, with Lady of a Thousand Treasures. The three-book Victorian Ladies series follows her historically sound Gothic romances, Daughters of Hampshire, launched with the bestselling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor's Choice award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, was published in 2017. Check out her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2011, and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012. Sandra has published dozens of books for kids, tweens, and teens, including the bestselling The One Year Be-Tween You and God Devotions for Girls. She continued her work as a devotionalist, with The One Year Home and Garden Devotions, and The One Year Experiencing God's Love Devotional. Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype. ExcerptRead an excerpt of the book HERE. SCAVENGER HUNT CROSSWORD PUZZLEInstructions: Head to every stop on the tour to collect a word to finish the crossword puzzle. Hint: You might want to print out the crossword puzzle (link below) and enter it everyday to make it easier. Crossword Board: https://crosswordlabs.com/view/lady-of-a-thousand-treasures-scavenger-hunt Not a crossword puzzle fan? Just compile the clue words from each stop and enter it on the Rafflecopter entry. This stop's CLUE is: yourTour Giveaway (1) winner will receive:
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here. Be sure to stop on every stop on the Tour Schedule for all the clues to enter! Tour ScheduleLaunch Page at JustRead For the full tour schedule, click on the launch page.(All stops expected to post by 12:00 NOON EST)  About the Book Ninety years ago, Millie Sullivan's great-grandmother was a guest at oil tycoon Howard Dawkins' palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Now, Millie plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of the same manor. But when her grandmother suggests that there is a lost diary containing the location of a hidden treasure on the estate, along with the true identity of Millie's great-grandfather, Millie sets out to find the truth of her heritage--and the fortune that might be hers. When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate's private library, he threatens to have her fired. But her story seems almost too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up . . . Get ready for a romantic escapade through dark halls and dusty corners that will have you holding your breath and sighing with delight as two charming characters get caught up in the adventure of uncovering the past and finding their way to an unexpected future. About the Author By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager. She makes time to write late at night—that’s when she thinks best anyway. Liz is the author of more than a dozen novels, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She’s a Christy Award finalist and a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. She makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she enjoys exploring local music, theater, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories of true love filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters. Author InterviewCheck out the interview with the author HERE. ReviewFrom page one author Liz Johnson captures the attention and heart of readers in her thrilling romantic-suspense novel A Sparkle of Silver. Filled with suspense, mystery, history, and romance, this novel has everything a reader needs to keep them interested and on the edge of their seats and guessing what will happen next. With an overarching theme of friendship and forgiveness, Johnson’s characters and novel come to life through her excellent storytelling. Although the story takes place in the present, there is also lots of rich historical details from an old journal that play a big part of the story. Johnson does not disappoint, as this is a book that readers will love as soon as they pick it up. Readers that enjoy contemporary romance with a bit of suspense and mystery and a touch of history will thoroughly enjoy this novel.
Series: Georgia Coast Romance Genre: contemporary, romance, suspense, mystery, Christian Publisher: Revell Publication date: October 16, 2018 Number of pages: 358 Other books in the series: 2-Glitter of gold (coming August 2019) An ARC review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via the author’s launch team. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.  Today I'm posting a line from The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden,  My First Line: Baltimore, Maryland, 1867 "Come on boy. Your dad needs you." Daniel looked up from his exam in disbelief, certain his father would never pull him out of this test. What are you reading? What is your first line? Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below... Then head on over to Hoarding Books and link up! And then hop around the linky to visit other blog stops.  About the Book Book Title: This Courageous Journey Author: Misty Beller Genre: Christian Historical Romance Release date: October 9, 2018 As the fifth daughter in a family of nine children, Noelle Grant has spent her life working to be unique. Her love of stories helps define her goal—to be known around the country as one of the top news correspondents of her time. And what better way to uncover sensational stories than to travel through the mountain wilderness to visit the brother she hasn’t seen in years? The trip comes together perfectly as she plans to journey with family friends who will be settling in the same area. Her first inkling that things may not be as perfect as planned comes in the form of the mountain man they hire as their guide for the final leg of the journey. When Daniel Abrams agrees to guide the small group of easterners along his usual journey northward to the Canadian mountains, his gut tells him he’s making the wrong decision. But if he doesn’t take them, who will? The man in charge refuses to consider turning back. As they start out, Daniel can’t help but notice the woman traveling under the care of her friends. Though she appears too genteel to last long in these mountains, she soon reveals a strength that draws him more than he should allow. As the dangers of this wilderness become more than the group bargained for, Noelle is faced with the choice to delay her journey northward or proceed alone with the man she’s come to trust against all reason. She never imagines her decision will place her—and the man she loves—in a situation more hazardous than any story her imagination could conjure. About the Author Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy. God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. Guest PostEver Been Struck by Lightning? One of the fun things about being a writer is the crazy topics I get to research. Without giving away too much of the story, part of my research for This Courageous Journey included uncovering what happens when lightning strikes a person. It turns out anything can happen! Surprisingly, about nine out of ten people struck by lightning live to tell their story. Each person’s experience seems to be different—some are knocked unconscious, while others are horribly aware of everything happening. One person who was struck said it seemed as if time slowed to a crawl and a white haze surrounded him like a bubble, as excruciating pain shot through him. People usually try to determine the path the lightning traveled through them, based on where burn marks appear on both skin and clothing, but sometimes that can be difficult if jewelry or coins were touching the body. Survivors might suffer a variety of short- and long-term effects, including—but not limited to—cardiac arrest, confusion, seizures, dizziness, muscle aches, deafness, headaches, memory deficits, distractibility, personality changes, and chronic pain, among others. That may sound like an awful list, but it does beat the alternative! As I considered the possible effects of a lightning strike when I was writing This Courageous Journey, I was reminded once again how magnificent God’s creation is. Both the incredible power contained in one streak of lightning, and the beautiful inner workings of the bodies He created for us. As the Psalmist said, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made!” ReviewA wilderness adventure comes to life in Misty M. Beller’s This Courageous Journey, book four in the Heart of the Mountains Series. Beller’s characters come to life as the story captures the attention of readers from page one. A sweet, fun, and exciting novel, Beller has written a story that captures the reality of the harshness of the wilderness and the life of the mountain men and Indians during a Canadian winter. This charming tale, with its thrilling adventure, focus on family and friends, and sweet romance, is one that will capture the attention and heart of its readers. Series: Heart of the Mountains Genre: historical, Christian Publisher: Indie Publication date: October 9, 2018 Number of pages: 283 Other books in the series: 1-This Treacherous Journey 2-This Wilderness Journey 3-This Freedom Journey A review copy of this book was provided by CelebrateLit. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. Giveaway To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click HERE to enter. Tour ScheduleReading Is My SuperPower, October 11
Among the Reads, October 11 Singing Librarian Books, October 11 The Power of Words, October 12 Multifarious, October 12 Maureen’s Musings, October 12 D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 13 Real World Bible Study, October 13 Splashes of Joy, October 14 Artistic Nobody, October 14 (Interview) Joy of Reading, October 15 Mary Hake, October 15 Janices book reviews, October 15 Kat’s Corner Books, October 16 Livin Lit, October 16 KarenSueHadley, October 17 Truth and Grace Homeschool aacademy, October 17 Remembrancy, October 18 Carpe Diem, October 18 Pause for Tales, October 19 Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 19 Bigreadersite, October 19 A Baker’s Perspective, October 20 Blossoms and Blessings, October 20 Bibliophile Reviews, October 20 Christian Author, J.E. Grace, October 21 Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 21 Wishful Endings, October 22 Simple Harvest Reads, October 22 (Guest post Mindy Houng) Inspiration Clothesline, October 23 proud to be an autism mom, October 23 Texas Book-aholic, October 24 Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 24 
About the Book
Bess leads a quiet life, intent on easing the burdens of her widowed father. She acts as maid, cook, and assistant in his medical practice—but she is wearied by the thankless work and her father’s lack of kindness. And then a miracle happens. Lady Agatha Buxton of Astoria Abbey is seeking a physician for her ailing son, Hugh, and, sensing that Bess is trapped in her situation, offers the young woman a position as nurse. Despite Bess’s father’s objections, she accepts—and her life is forever changed. Bess and Hugh enjoy an immediate bond of friendship, which quickly blossoms into love. Despite his dire prognosis, the couple makes the bittersweet decision to wed, embracing what little time they have. Their tender union ushers in a season of both joy and heartbreak, and Bess discovers greater meaning in life than she’d ever imagined. As she’s confronted with the sorrow of living without Hugh, Bess finds herself at a crossroads—will she have the courage to trust her heart and allow herself to love again?
About the Author
Anita Stansfield has been the reigning queen of LDS romantic fiction for nearly two decades, although her general market releases have been among her readers favorites. Her work has shattered the stereotypes of romance novels with her trademark ability to combine great storytelling with intense psychological depth as she focuses on the emotional struggles of the human experience. Her novels cover a huge spectrum, from the eighteenth century to the present, from heart warming to heart stopping. Hundreds of thousands of readers agree: Anita Stansfield's characters and the lives they lead are not easy to forget.
Anita is now also writing under the pseudonym Elizabeth D. Michaels. GiveawayTour Schedule
Oct. 8th:
http://mybookaday.com/ https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/ Oct. 9th: http://empowermoms.net/ Oct. 10th: http://www.kindleandme.com/ Oct. 11th: https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/ https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/ Oct. 12th: https://brightlystreet.com/ http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/  About the Book An unnatural thunder rumbled through the air, carrying withit not thoughts of rain but of smoke and trepidation... After being forced to use a pistol against invaders, Evelyn Mapleton is no longer the timid girl her extended family expects. The more her aunt and cousin resent her new independence, the more Evelyn is determined she'll make her missing father proud by taking up his cause and aiding Confederate soldiers--even if she has to outmaneuver the Yankees guarding her home to do it. Samuel Flynn's life is consumed with two priorities: learning to become a proper guardian for the young orphans he's adopted and obtaining his physicians license. When his final testing sends him to a Federal Army field hospital, the last thing he expects is to be entranced by a mysterious woman. But when Evelyn's misguided exploits put her life in danger, will he risk everything he's worked for to save a woman he thinks is his enemy? Based on first-hand accounts from the Civil War and with a strong romantic thread, this is a tale of faith, espionage, hope, and courage historical fiction fans won't want to miss. About the Author Stephenia McGee is a wife, mother of two very active little boys, author, and lover of all things historical. Stephenia currently lives in Mississippi with her husband and sons where she writes stories of faith, redemption and life steeped in southern culture. Author InterviewCheck out the interview with the author HERE. ReviewA book based on both fact and fiction, author Stephenia H. McGee brings to life a story that takes place during the American Civil War. Throughout this well detailed historic novel, readers can see McGee’s passion for the history and the tale of it through her characters. Readers of action packed historical fiction will enjoy this story of troubled times, torn loyalties, spies, and espionage. This story will touch the heart of readers as they delve into this beautifully written historical novel.
Genre: historical, Christian, American Civil War Publisher: By the Vine Press Publication date: October 9, 2018 Number of pages: 355 A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via the author’s review team. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. 
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash GiveawayJust think how many books you could buy with $100! Or maybe you need a new Kindle! Or maybe you want to try Kindle Unlimited! Or maybe you want to buy a gift for someone! Or maybe you just need an extra $100! Just look at this list of Sponsoring Authors. There is a great combination of longtime favorites mixed with new found friends. Clean Wholesome Romance is giving away another $100 thanks to these incredibly generous authors! Each of these authors writes clean wholesome romance.Giveaway Sponsors Alicia Eve Anne Stone Bokerah Brumley Brittany Larsen Carol Malone Caroline Clemmons Cindy Roland Anderson Denitta Ward Jean Jacobsen Johanna Evelyn Judy Corry Juli D. Revezzo Kim Koby Melissa McClone Natalie Middleton R. Castro Rose Pearson Susan Lower Tina Dee Traci Wooden-Carlisle Please show these amazing authors some love! Visit their sites. Sign up for their newsletters. Download their books. Review their books. Follow them on Social Media. There are so many ways you can support them!Giveaway DetailsOne winner will be awarded $100 in Paypal Cash or a $100 Amazon Gift Code! Winning entry will be verified! Make sure you actually subscribe and confirm your entries so you don’t get disqualified. If you already subscribe to an author’s newsletter you can, of course, claim the entry! Ends 11/9/18Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter, Amazon, Paypal or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. The giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader/Clean Wholesome Romance and sponsored by the participating authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.Enter the $100 Giveaway via the rafflecopter a Rafflecopter giveaway Like, Comment & Share our Facebook & Instagram posts to enter our BONUS $10 Giveaways!First Line Fridays -- Tabitha's Folly
10/4/2018
 Today I'm posting a line from Tabitha's Folly by Jen Geigle Johnson, book 5 in the Regency House Party: Somerstone Series. Add the series to GOODREADS. Purchase the series on AMAZON.  My First Line: No one saw Tabitha standing in the doorway of her brother, Tauney’s, room. James, the valet, lifted clothes out of Tauney’s trunks in large stacks instead of loading them in. Neat, color-coordinated piles of breeches and jackets decorated the bedding, and Tabitha’s worry increased. What are you reading? What is your first line?
Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below... Then head on over to Hoarding Books and link up! And then hop around the linky to visit other blog stops. |