New York Times Bestselling Author Julie Cantrell is offering a very special giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a personalized poem and signed copies of all three of Julie’s novels! Click here to learn more and enter the giveaway.
Archive | March, 2016
#BookReview: A Daring Sacrifice by Jody Hedlund
14 Mar
A Daring Sacrifice by Jody Hedlund
Purchase links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | DeeperShopping
In a reverse twist on the Robin Hood story, a young medieval maiden stands up for the rights of the mistreated, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. All the while, she fights against her cruel uncle who has taken over the land that is rightfully hers. Forced to live in the woods and hide with the poor people she’s grown to love, she works to save and protect them, but she never anticipates falling in love with the wealthy knight who represents all she’s come to despise.
My thoughts:
A Daring Sacrifice is an enchanting tale of adventure and romance! Jody Hedlund is a gifted storyteller and her reimagining of Robin Hood is sure to please fans of medieval romance!
I loved this fresh twist on an age old story! Robin Hood is one of my favorite folk legends and I delighted in seeing a young maiden take on the role of the cloaked bandit. Juliana Wessex is brave and strong and committed to providing food and shelter for the poor. When an act of robbing leads to recognition by Lord Collin Goodrich, Juliana’s journey takes a surprising turn. What ensues is an exciting adventure teeming with drama, danger, and romance.
A Daring Sacrifice is a charming story with an unexpected ending that left me breathless! I can hardly wait to find out what happens next!
Jody Hedlund is a best-selling and award-winning author who loves history and happily-ever-afters. She makes her home in Midland, MI with her husband and five children. When she’s not writing another of her page-turning stories, you can usually find her sipping coffee, eating chocolate, and reading.
Connect with Jody:
Website | Facebook | Twitter |Pinterest | Instagram
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Friday Freebies
11 Mar
A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman
The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O’Connor is the epitome of the new woman–smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband–good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luke McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face-to-face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
A beloved classic, Austen’s first published novel explores the question of what drives your life: your heart or your head? The Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, are as different as sisters can be. Serious Elinor lives by reason and thoughtfulness while her younger sister, Marianne, only follows her passions. But in questions of love, they learn neither the heart nor head alone will lead them to happiness. Filled with romance, Austen’s brilliant wit, and rich characterization, this is a celebration of sisterly love and the need for family–no matter how different they might be from us.
#BookReview: A Home of Her Own by Keli Gwyn
10 Mar
A Home of Her Own by Keli Gwyn
Purchase links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | DeeperShopping
Becky Martin knows that she can’t stay at James O’Brien’s apple farm forever, but she wishes she could. After her brother framed her for arson, she flees Chicago, traveling cross-country to California and finding work caring for James’s ailing mother. Beneath the apple blossoms, it’s almost as if she has a real family…but her secret won’t stay buried forever.
James, scarred from an explosion, didn’t expect to connect to the pretty young traveler. Could she really love someone damaged like him? He knows she’s hiding something. If only she’d trust him. Can she let go of her past and believe in the possibility of a future amid the apple trees?
My thoughts:
There are so many things to love about this book! Keli Gwyn weaves together historical details, picturesque descriptions, and heartfelt emotion to create a beautiful and romantic tale. I loved James and Becky and reveled in the tenderness of their story. I highly recommend A Home of Her Own and can’t wait to read more from this wonderful author!
While browsing Pinterest, I pinned a few images that brought to mind A Home of Her Own.
Award-winning author Keli Gwyn writes stories that transport readers to the 1800s, where she brings historic towns to life, peoples them with colorful characters and adds a hint of humor. A California native, she lives in the Gold Rush-era town of Placerville at the foot of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains.
When Keli’s fingers aren’t hovering over the keyboard of her newfangled laptop, she enjoys strolling past stately Victorian houses in her historic town, burying her nose in reference books as she unearths interesting facts to include in her stories, and interacting with other romance readers. Her favorite places to visit are her fictional worlds, other Gold Rush-era towns and historical museums. She loves hearing from readers and invites you to visit her Victorian-style cyber home at http://www.keligwyn.com, where you’ll find her contact information.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
The winner is…
9 Mar
Thank you, Mary, for sharing a wonderful guest post and giveaway. Thank you, dear readers, for visiting my blog. Another great giveaway is coming soon!
#BookReview: And It Was Beautiful by Kara Tippetts
8 Mar
And It Was Beautiful by Kara Tippetts
Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1QVAvgz
How do you live out extravagant love in the everyday moments? How do you celebrate grace when your life turns out differently than the one you dreamed?
Kara Tippetts discovered how to find joy in the small moments of life. She learned how to hold tight to hope even while battling intense physical and emotional pain. And she lived out the truth that God can redeem any story.
In her final book, Kara offers gentle reflections on living and dying well. She invites us to cultivate soft hearts even when we face great disappointment. Her ideas for living are hard-won, wrestled with in the crucible of family, illness, and faith. And her constant reminder is that whether we are in the midst of dark days or mundane moments Jesus is always there, life is surprisingly beautiful, and God is forever good.
My thoughts:
It’s hard to find words to describe the love and grace Kara Tippetts shared. After reading her first book, The Hardest Peace, I followed Kara’s journey of living and dying with cancer. Her words made me laugh, they made me cry, and they left a deep and lasting impression.
And It Was Beautiful is Kara Tippetts’ final book and a compilation of her writings and blog posts. “The entries are arranged according to “acts” like the acts in a play. The acts do not represent a strict chronology, but they do follow the arc of her story. This approach may seem very basic, but Kara would have approved heartily. She liked the simple and the mundane, believing that it was in the ordinary that she saw the beautiful.”
The title, And It Was Beautiful, is a perfect summation of this reflective memoir. Kara Tippetts’ story is filled with heartbreaking and breathtaking beauty!
Kara Tippetts was the author of The Hardest Peace and the co-author of Just Show Up. She blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, has been parenting their four children and leading the church the couple founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Click here to read what other Litfuse reviewers are saying about And It Was Beautiful. My thanks to Litfuse Publicity for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
#BookReview: The Tabasco Cookbook
7 Mar
The Tabasco Cookbook by Paul McIlhenny and Barbara Hunter
Click here to purchase a copy or learn more about The Tabasco Cookbook.
Whether you ask for it by name at restaurants or are one of the legions of people who travel with your own bottle, you know there’s no substitute for giving eggs, oysters, and Bloody Marys a kick.
But Tabasco Pepper Sauce is a versatile ingredient for other foods, too. This revised and updated edition of The Tabasco Cookbook includes 20 new recipes for enjoying southern-style classics and American down-home favorites. From perfect fried chicken to a pan of peppery gingerbread, here are 80 recipes and color photography to test your fiery food limits—and keep you coming back for more.
My thoughts:
This revised and updated edition of The Tabasco Cookbook is filled with 80 recipes that include “America’s favorite pepper sauce”. Whether adding flavor or heat, from breakfast to dessert, this collection features a variety of ways to tantalize your taste buds!
In addition to the delicious recipes, I enjoyed the beautiful photographs, cooking tips, and Tabasco tidbits that are found throughout the book. When choosing new dishes to try, I really appreciated the recipe rating system. Each recipe includes a tiny Tabasco Sauce bottle numbering from one to four, which indicates the spiciness of the dish. Another delightful aspect of this cookbook is the Tabasco history that is shared in the first few pages. It made me appreciate this distinctive pepper sauce even more!
Fans of Tabasco Sauce are sure to enjoy this great collection of recipes, as will those looking to spice up their dishes!
I received a complimentary copy of this cookbook through Blogging for Books in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Friday Freebies
4 Mar
Against All Odds by Irene Hannon
Her life is in danger–and so is his heart.
For FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Evan Cooper and his partner, dignitary protection duty should have been a piece of cake. Unfortunately, beautiful but determined Monica Callahan isn’t making it easy. Estranged from her diplomat father–who is involved in a sensitive hostage situation in the Middle East–she refuses to be intimidated by a related terrorist threat back in the States. That is, until a chilling warning convinces her that the danger is very real–and escalating.
As Coop and his partner do their best to keep her safe, the threat against Monica is rising. And with every second that ticks by, Coop knows that the odds of saving the only woman who has ever breached the walls around his heart are dropping. After all, terrorists aren’t known for their patience–or their mercy.
Westward the Dream by Judith Pella & Tracie Peterson
As the U.S. descends into the Civil War, photographer Brenton Baldwin travels west with his sister Jordana, taking pictures of the developing lands and in search of their sister. Along for the trip is young Caitlan O’Connor, who has just arrived from Ireland. Will they make it to California to find their family despite the danger that looms ahead? And can early romance grow into love in the face of trials and tragedy?
Redeemed Hearts by Cathy Marie Hake
When famine ravages Ireland, Brigit Murphy and her family are forced to move to America. There, Brigit becomes a maid in the Newcomb home, where the mistress of the house, Emily Newcomb, is determined to marry off her brother, Duncan. When Duncan, a ship’s captain, discovers he’s fallen in love with the maid, he plans to tell her his feelings and make her his wife. But when some things come up missing from the Newcomb house, Brigit becomes the chief suspect. Will Duncan obey his sister’s orders to rid the household of Brigit’s presence? Or will the captain’s heart determine his next course?
Guest Post + #Giveaway: Mary Alford
3 MarI’m happy to welcome Mary Alford to Buzzing About Books!
Thanks so much for visiting with us today, Mary, and for graciously offering a copy of Rocky Mountain Pursuit to one of my readers!
The Dance
A few years ago, my oldest granddaughter was certain she wanted to be a dancer after she watched Angelina Ballerina. Unfortunately, for the dancing world that has since changed many times over.
I was about my granddaughter’s age when I read my first Nancy Drew mystery and knew that I wanted to create stories when I grew up. That was it. Career settled. Life put into place. If only it were that easy. At the time, I had no idea I was about to embark on the dance of a lifetime.
Just like dancing, writing requires a lot of discipline and training.
First, you must learn the proper steps: There is nothing scarier than sitting in front of a blank computer screen for the first time and trying to write…something. It’s a huge leap to go from reading inspirational romantic suspense to actually writing it. When I wrote my first story, I had no idea all the intricate steps involved in creating a suspense story, but I wrote, I read about my craft, and I found a great network of seasoned authors who willingly shared their knowledge.
Practice, Practice, Practice: It you don’t use it you lose it. In other words, to improve as a dancer or a writer, you have to work through all the self-doubt and times when life gets in the way.
In the beginning, writing was a trial and error experience for me. I confess I tried other genres in the process before I came back to my first love, inspirational romantic suspense. Some wise author once told me, write what you enjoy reading and then perfect it. In other words, if you don’t read contemporary romance, then don’t try to write it.
Submitting a manuscript the first time can be a frightening experience. After you’ve polished and perfected your baby, it’s time to send it out into the world and let it stand on its own. And that’s just the beginning. You wait and wait until one day you receive news about your baby. Only it’s not what you were hoping. The dreaded rejection letter arrives and it feels as if someone slugged you in the stomach hard. This wasn’t what I expected. To quote my granddaughter, “Now what”? Well, some rejection letters are form letters. Those you file away. Others have comments from the editor who reviewed it. Those you can gain little pearls of wisdom to help you along your way…but you have to put aside your hurt feelings and listen. You can’t take it personal. Publishing is a business. A very hard one at that.
It’s finally Showtime! What do you mean I’ll be dancing by myself?
For me, ten years of writing came down to five minutes in the spotlight. In 2012, I entered the Speed Dating Contest that editor Emily Rodmell hosted and I was one of the lucky ones who got an appointment to chat with Emily. On the day of the pitch, I was on vacation in Colorado. At our cabin, internet service is nonexistent. I could have given up and said, well, that’s it, better luck next time, but I didn’t. My husband and I drove into the small town of Pagosa Springs where I did the entire chat on my laptop in the parking lot of the Ace Hardware Store.
Emily was kind enough to request a synopsis although I was so nervous she probably didn’t understand anything I told her. I promptly sent the synopsis out to her. Then she requested the first three chapters followed by the full manuscript. With each request, I tried not to get my hopes up.
In December 2012, Emily called. To this day, I can’t tell you what she said to me other than that she wanted to buy FORGOTTEN PAST for Love Inspired Suspense. It was a surreal moment. One that still hasn’t fully sunken in yet. It’s a great feeling to have your dream become a reality and even greater to hold your book in your hands.
But Would There Be A Second Dance? For most authors who have been published, selling the second book can be even more daunting. For me, the answer to that question was yes, there would be a second dance.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN PURSUIT is available now!
Everyone believes agent Jase Bradford is dead—everyone but Reyna Peterson. Only he can protect her now that someone wants the information her CIA husband died to secure. As the one member of their spy team not killed, Jase must remain in the shadows. Yet when Reyna leads the enemy right to his mountain refuge and blows his cover, Jase risks his life for hers. As his best friend’s beautiful widow scales the walls around his heart, whether out of loyalty or love, he makes it his duty to secure her safety. But when their pursuers trap them in the snowy Colorado mountains, will it become his final mission?
Available at:
Harlequin, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other fine booksellers
So to quote Garth Brooks’ famous song, The Dance, “I could have missed the pain, but I’d have had to miss the dance”.
And what a dance it is.
What about you? What dreams are dancing around in your head? Whether it is becoming a published author or something else, I’d love to hear how you’ve overcome the obstacles along the way to your Showtime?
I’ll be giving away a signed print copy of ROCKY MOUNTAIN PURSUIT, my second Love Inspired Suspense, to one random person who comments. Thanks for stopping by! ~ Mary
GIVEAWAY DETAILS – (US only)
Thanks to Mary’s generosity, one lucky reader will win a signed copy of Rocky Mountain Pursuit!
To enter the giveaway:
Leave a comment below, and be sure to include your email address. The giveaway ends Tuesday, March 8 at midnight CST, and a winner will be chosen and announced on March 9th.
To earn additional entries:
Follow this blog, Buzzing About Books, and/or share the giveaway. Be sure to let me know what you’ve done to earn additional entries! This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
Contest Rules:
◦No purchase is necessary.
◦Odds of winning are based on number of entries.
◦US residents, 18 and older, are eligible to enter.
Mary Alford is a Texan whose debut novel, FORGOTTEN PAST is now available at Love Inspired Suspense. When Mary’s not dreaming up people in dangerous situations and writing them down, she’s also a mom, wife, grandmother, avid reader, a proud geek-girl. For occasional updates and news about upcoming publications, please go to the contact form on her website and subscribe to her newsletter!
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