![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
0 Comments
About the BookA moving novel entwining the many faces of motherly love Jillian Cline has the perfect daughter: loving and smart, she's an Olympic hopeful with a bright future. But when Izzy becomes pregnant, Jillian fears that future is lost. Worse, she must confront her own secret past and hope the decisions she's made don't drown their whole family. Izzy can't believe God let this happen to her. She knew the risks, but who thinks about that when they're in love? Now she has to face the consequences--and the disappointed stares from everyone who thought she was the perfect Christian girl. At least she has the baby's father, Travis. Nothing can tear them apart, right? Margaret Owens had determined dreams for her son. She's furious that Izzy's pregnancy jeopardizes his college baseball scholarship and terrified that Travis will be trapped in a life of struggle and poverty--the life she's tried so hard to save him from. She'll do anything to protect him--even if it means forcing him to leave Izzy. Stacey Frey is aching for a child of her own. But the son she was meant to adopt was taken before she could hold him in her arms. It feels like she'll never stop mourning; even the move to this new town hasn't distracted her from the pain. How can she and her husband find peace? Is there any hope of a family in their future? And in the midst of all this . . . an unborn baby. Whose arms will hold him in the end? About the AuthorChristina Suzann Nelson writes stories featuring women who survive circumstances to live lives closer to God's calling. She focuses on changing legacies from dysfunction to hope. Her first novel, If We Make It Home, released from Kregel Publication September 2017, gleaned the honor of debut of the month from Library Journal. The book was recently named a BEST BOOK of 2017 by Library Journal. Christina's second novel with Kregel is scheduled to release in the fall of 2018. The Oregon Christian Writers named Nelson the 2017 Writer of Promise. In 2010, she was a finalist for the ACFW Genesis contest in both contemporary and women's fiction. Her manuscript, Torn Edges, was named the 2014 overall winner in the ACFW Phoenix Rattler competition, a finalist in the 2015 ACFW Genesis, and won third place in the annual Idahope contest for unpublished novelists. Another of her manuscripts, The Azalea Sisters, made the semi-finals in the contemporary category of the ACFW Genesis for 2015. For the past ten years, Christina has been a member of Oregon Christian Writers and American Christian Fiction Writers. She attends conferences and workshops throughout the year including the national ACFW conference. Within ACFW, Christina has served as the northwest zone director. Christina lives in Oregon's gorgeous Willamette Valley with her husband of twenty-five years and their four children. The family owns a small farm where the kids raise animals as 4H projects. She is honored to be a member of the steering committee for Every Child, Benton and Linn County, where she has the opportunity to influence the lives of families and children in the foster care system. ReviewSwimming in the Deep End by Christina Suzann Nelson is a powerful and inspiring story of four women whose stories intertwine. From page one, readers will be pulled into the book as the characters and stories of these four women spring from the pages and become real to the reader. Readers will follow the women through some of the hard times in their lives and watch as they learn, grow, blossom, and overcome these struggles through hope. There is also a strong theme of handling and dealing with teen pregnancy. Readers will not forget this strong and stirring story that will touch deep in the heart of all, especially women readers.
Genre: fiction, Christian, Women’s Publisher: Kregel Publications Publication date: September 25, 2018 Number of pages: 288 A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley and JustRead Tours. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. ![]() ![]() ![]() ETHAN “FILL THESE OUT, PLEASE.” The nurse at the ER admin desk shoved a clipboard holding a stack of insurance forms into my hands. “Once we get your partner stabilized, I’ll go find out about sending you in to see her.” She gave me a curt nod and disappeared behind the desk. What had I been thinking? I hadn’t been thinking. Not much beyond getting my neighbor here in time. I had been living next door to Ainsley for the last six months, ever since the construction on my house was completed. And I had noticed her from day one. Who wouldn’t, with her striking blue eyes, long blonde hair, and a body every man dreams of? But there was more. She had this frailty about her, if you looked close enough. And it drew me in, right from the start. But she never let me get further than a few pleasantries. Still, it didn’t stop me from trying. And I had tried to be her friend. When I found her earlier today… I shuddered as the memory washed over me. I clutched the letter in my hand, secretly happy I had an excuse to ring Ainsley’s doorbell. The mailman had messed up and I couldn’t let the opportunity slide, noting her car in the driveway. Walking up to the door, I rolled my shoulders and took a deep breath, aiming for cool and suave, not flustered and eager like she had me feeling each time I caught a glimpse of her. I rang the bell and turned to soak up the bright rays of sun, feeling my stomach knot as the anticipation rose. A few seconds passed, but no one came to open the door. I turned to ring the bell again, sure she was home, when I stopped dead in my tracks, my hand still suspended in the air. My heart started pounding in my chest as the ground beneath me felt like it was moving. “Ainsley! Ainsley!” I pounded on the door, her lifeless body sprawled on the floor in the hallway just visible through the sidelights. My palms felt moist as I fought against the rising panic. “Ainsley!!” My voice was hoarse as I belted out her name over and over. Instinct took over. I ran to the back door and found it unlocked. I hadn’t ever let myself in, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that. “Ainsley!” I fell on my knees next to her, taking in the full scene. Her chest was barely moving, her lips a faint shade of blue. An empty pill bottle lay on the floor beside her. I picked it up, already sure of what was going on but needing to confirm it. Time seemed to stand still as I pieced it all together, but the loud, ringing sound in my ears forced me to move and get help. “Ainsley, what have you done?” I cried as I slipped my phone out of my back pocket and called 911. I hoped I wasn’t too late, that we still had time. “What happened?” One of the paramedics loaded her on a gurney while the other got to work checking her vitals. I rehashed all I knew, which wasn’t very much. They loaded her in the ambulance, and after getting the right info about where they were taking her, I sped over to the hospital in record time. “What’s your relationship to the patient?” The ER clerk typed in Ainsley’s name without making eye contact. “I don’t see how that’s important now,” I growled. “Only the next of kin can see the patient.” She looked up for the first time and took in my panicked state. “I’m her…boyfriend.” Where did that come from? I didn’t even know her that well, but I couldn’t take it back now. “I see.” The woman stared up at me over her wide-rimmed glasses, pausing as she studied me. Did she pick up on my hesitation? Did she detect the lie? “Please take a seat. I’ll have her paperwork ready in just a sec.” I released the breath I held and dropped down in the vinyl seat, overcome by the events of the past hour. I’d been waiting for over two hours, and I was frantic. I didn’t do so well in a hospital setting. “Mr. Van Der Beek?” A doctor dressed in light blue scrubs walked into the waiting area. I stood up. “Yes?” My heart beat double time, waiting for him to give me news on Ainsley. “We were able to stabilize your girlfriend.” The word made me wince. The doctor luckily mistook it for the info he was delivering, and his expression softened, his eyes full of sympathy. “Ainsley experienced respiratory depression, and we needed to intubate her to ensure she was getting enough oxygen.” I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and nodded my understanding. “We’ll keep her in the ICU until she gains consciousness.” “But she’s going to be okay?” I pleaded. “We’ll know for sure tomorrow. I think you got to her in time.” He patted me on the shoulder and turned to leave but reconsidered. “Mr. Van Der Beek.” He stared into my eyes. “Yes?” I felt the weight of the day settle on my shoulders. “Your girlfriend is very sick. Even if she makes a full physical recovery, you have a long road ahead of you.” I nodded, my eyes stinging. “Thank you, Doctor.” I sank onto one of the chairs lining the side of the waiting area. If anyone knew how long that road was, it was me. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() About the BookTitle - Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations Author - V. Joy Palmer Genre - Inspirational Romantic Comedy Release Date - February 14th, 2019 Publisher - WhiteFire Publishing Series Info - Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations is based off of characters introduced in my first book (Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations), but it is a standalone novel. Seventeen years after being orphaned, Apryl Burns and her twin sister Courtney have their own expectations for life. While Courtney continues to shine at everything, Apryl holds fast to the mantra that as long as her potato chip stash remains intact, then she'll be fine. But when their beloved grandmother ends up injured and unable to manage her struggling antique store, Courtney makes it their mission to revamp the business and save what's left of their family's legacy. Despite rampant doubts in her abilities, Apryl finds herself trapped under the weight of family loyalty as they transition to a wedding venue decorating service. Soon she's forced to ask (translation: blackmail) their grandmother's renter/handyman, Chance McFarland, for help, an arrangement that is made even worse by the fact that Chance is her former (ahem, and current) crush. Chance knows a few dozen things about family loyalty, which is why he begrudgingly agrees to Apryl's insane plan. While Apryl claims they're archenemies, the girl Chance only glimpsed in their teens starts to emerge, stealing what remains of his heart. But expectations are a powerful thing. Amidst the glamorous weddings and swaying willows, can those old expectations be revised into something new? About the AuthorV. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets. GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | WEBSITE V. JOY PALMER BLOG | SNACK TIME DEVOTIONS BLOG And now for the cover reveal...
First Line Fridays -- A Tale of Two Hearts
12/13/2018
Today I'm posting a line from A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep. This is book 2 in the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas Series. My First Line:
London, 1853 Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life,
or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. David Copperfield In the tiny back of the Golden Egg Inn, Mina Scott lowered her copy of David Copperfield to her lap and lifted her face to the October sun. 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. Let's all get in the mood for Christmas with this blog tour and giveaway for Silent Days, Holy Night by Phyllis Clark Nichols, hosted by JustRead Tours. About the BookTitle: Silent Days, Holy Night Author: Phyllis Clark Nichols Publisher: Gilead Publishing Release Date: October 30, 2018 Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction/Christmas The sounds of Christmases past echo through a silent house... Everyone in town knows Emerald Crest, the green granite mansion atop the highest hill: the legendary, lavish Christmas festivities that used to light up the nights— and the silence that followed when the parties abruptly stopped many years ago. And everyone has heard whispers about the reclusive, mysterious master of the manor, Henry Lafferty the Second . . . When eleven-year-old Julia Russell steps into the great house for the first time and meets Mr. Lafferty, the entire course of her life is altered. She meets a man who is nothing at all like the rumors she’s heard from neighbors and classmates. He’s kind and extraordinarily talented—he also happens to be deaf and uses a wheelchair. And when she overhears a secret about him, Julia decides it’s time for the town to bring Christmas back to Emerald Crest—an act that will change them all forever. About the AuthorPhyllis Clark Nichols’s character-driven Southern fiction explores profound human questions using the imagined residents of small town communities you just know you’ve visited before. With a strong faith and a love for nature, art, music, and ordinary people, she tells redemptive tales of loss and recovery, estrangement and connection, longing and fulfillment . . . often through surprisingly serendipitous events. Phyllis grew up in the deep shade of magnolia trees in South Georgia. Born during a hurricane, she is no stranger to the winds of change: In addition to her life as a novelist, Phyllis is a seminary graduate, concert pianist, and cofounder of a national cable network with health- and disability-related programming. Regardless of the role she’s playing, Phyllis brings creativity and compelling storytelling. She frequently appears at conventions, conferences, civic groups, and churches, performing half-hour musical monologues that express her faith, joy, and thoughts about life—all with the homespun humor and gentility of a true Southern woman. Phyllis currently serves on several nonprofit boards. She lives in the Texas Hill Country with her portrait-artist husband. ReviewSilent Days, Holy Night by Phyllis Clark Nichols is a delightful and inspirational holiday story. Nichol’s story is about the importance of family, love, and friendship, especially during the holiday season. It’s also about making the best out of the situation given to oneself in life. This book details and shares about an unexpected, splendid, and delightful friendship between a young girl and an older gentleman who is both deaf and lame. It is a beautiful and inspiring story that readers will absolutely delight in. Genre: holiday, Christmas, American, Southern Publisher: Gilead Publishing Publication date: October 30, 2018 Number of pages: 240 A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via JustRead Publicity Tours. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. Giveaway(1) winner will receive (US only):
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here. Enter the giveaway HERE. Tour ScheduleFollow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
About the Book
Lady Margaret Grey of Hartfell wants for nothing. The daughter of a knight, she has a loving family, wealth, and even a secret romance with the blacksmith's son. But all that is torn from her one fateful night when her home is attacked and her family killed. She is left with nothing but bitterness, an unwavering mistrust of men, and a strange and mysterious curse that allows her to feel the thoughts of anyone who touches her.
Now, after six years away, Margaret is returning home for one reason: revenge. She hopes that by avenging her family's deaths, she will somehow be freed from her curse. But it won't be easy. The identities of the raiders are still unknown, she has little left to her name, and traveling alone in the Northumbrian hills during the border wars is dangerous. Matters are further complicated by handsome Angus Robson, a Scotsman whose charm threatens to distract her from her plans. But the raiders are closer than she knows, and Margaret soon realizes that what she believed to be a curse may be the key to finding those she seeks. One touch will reveal the truth. About the Author
Julie Daines was born in Concord, Massachusetts, and was raised in Utah. She spent eighteen months living in London, where she studied and fell in love with English literature, sticky toffee pudding, and the mysterious guy who ran the kebab store around the corner.
She loves reading, writing, and watching movies--anything that transports her to another world. She picks Captain Wentworth over Mr. Darcy, firmly believes in second breakfast, and never leaves home without her verveine. Review
From Ash and Stone by Julie Daines is an exciting and splendid read. From page one, Daines will catch the attention of readers with her characters and story. Filled with plenty of excitement and adventure, this story has twists and turns that will put readers on the edge of their seats and turning the pages for more. There is also a fun and enjoyable romance that develops throughout the story. Some themes also in the novel were seeking revenge and letting go of the past. Readers that enjoy historical medieval romance will be sure to delight in this thrilling tale!
Genre: historical, romance, medieval Publisher: Covenant Communications Publication date: December 1, 2018 Number of pages: 240 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
Dec. 10th:
http://mybookaday.com/ http://www.kindleandme.com/ http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/ https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/ http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/ Dec. 11th: https://brightlystreet.com/ http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/ http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/ Dec. 12th: https://rachellechristensen.com/ https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/ http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/ Dec. 13th: http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/ http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/ https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/ https://www.wishfulendings.com/ http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/ Dec. 14th: https://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/ http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/ http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/ http://www.iamareader.com/ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 12 Days of Clean Romance with Liz Isaacson
12/11/2018
![]() ![]() ![]() Bent over the tub, she heard the distinct sound of boots entering the house. “Hello?” a man called, and he sounded softer, kinder, than he had on the phone. Wren scraped her bangs off her forehead, cursing her hair for the tenth time that morning as it stuck to the back of her neck. It wasn’t quite long enough to pull into a ponytail, and she had the fleeting thought that she’d like to shave every last hair from her head. She hadn’t even made it to her feet when he said, “You call this cleaning?” Wren faced him and put her hands on her hips. She felt red-faced and sweaty and her guard went right up as she drank in the boxy shape of his shoulders. The deep brown hazel color of his eyes. The way his jaw already held a day’s worth of facial hair. It matched the rich brown color of his hair, and Wren suddenly needed a very cold glass of water. “Yes,” she managed to clip between her lips. “I call this cleaning.” “There’s dust on the shelves in the living room.” “Impossible,” she said. “If that’s true, it settled there in the past half-hour.” His eyebrows went up as if he wasn’t used to being questioned. And it was clear he wasn’t. “You want me to show you?” Frustration boiled in her, and though her momma had always taught her to clean until the customer was satisfied, she bent and extracted a duster from the box she’d brought. “I’d rather you just wiped it up.” She held the blue duster toward him, satisfied when he looked at her like she’d grown a second head and told him he would too if he touched her. Who was this man? Your new next door neighbor, her mind whispered, and Wren regretted her decision to quip at him to do the dusting himself. She started to withdraw her hand, but he reached out and snatched the duster from her, spinning with military-precision on his toe, and marching down the hall. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Grab these other Brush Creek Brides Romances for just 99 ¢! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bringing you your next favorite clean read...Need a good book to read? Check here... Anything from regency, romance, historical fiction, contemporary... How to comment on the blog due to weird theme issues:
-Name -Website -Comments -Notify me of new comments to this post by email Need to search the site? Use the search engine below...
Categories
All
Archives
August 2024
|