Archive | September, 2016

Newton and Polly Pre-Order Offer + Sweepstakes

13 Sep

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Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found…

Now remembered as the author of the world’s most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father—until the night he hears Polly Catlett’s enchanting voice, caroling. He’s immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.

An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John’s reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?

Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe.

 

PRE-ORDER OFFER!

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Pre-order a copy of Newton & Polly before September 20, 2016 and receive a printable “Amazing Grace” pdf!  

 

SWEEPSTAKES!

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Enter to win a copy of Newton & Polly!  

#BookReview: A Rancher of Convenience | Facebook Release Party

12 Sep

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A Rancher of Convenience by Regina Scott

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2c5xa1u

Sweet mail-order bride Nancy Bennett can’t believe it when her husband is exposed as a cattle rustler—and killed. And when the banker holding the ranch’s mortgage questions whether she can run the ranch on her own, the pregnant widow has nowhere to turn. Until steady foreman Hank Snowden proposes marriage…

Racked with grief about his role in Lucas Bennett’s death, Hank resolves to do right by the man’s wife and child. So it’s natural for him to step in as Nancy’s newly minted husband. But the marriage of convenience may become more than a mere obligation…if only Hank and his bride can brave the first steps toward elusive true love.

 

My thoughts:

Regina Scott is a splendid storyteller, and I loved her fresh twist on this marriage of convenience story! A Rancher of Convenience takes readers to Texas in the late 1800s, and I enjoyed the bits of history of my home state. I also delighted in the wonderful characterization and the development of Nancy and Hank’s sweet story. Humorous and heartwarming, A Rancher of Convenience charmed me from beginning to end!

Although this is the third book in the Lone Star Cowboy League continuity series, A Rancher of Convenience is a story that can easily stand alone.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

YOU’RE INVITED!

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Join Danica Favorite, Gabrielle Meyer, Regina Scott, and Winnie Griggs TOMORROW, September 13, as they celebrate their September releases! Chat with the authors, learn more about their books, and win some fabulous prizes!

RSVP here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1087442108013856/

Friday Freebies

9 Sep

Freebie Graphic- BuzzingAboutBooks.com

 

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From This Moment On by Debra Clopton

Kindle | Nook

Hurt by her failed marriage and dashed dreams, Cali Sinclair returns home to Windswept Bay with her heart wary and closed to the dreams of true love she so desperately wanted. Determined to never again risk her heart, she throws herself into running the family’s small boutique resort on the Florida coast, a place so full of romance that it’s a reminder every day of what she’ll never have. But when renowned artist Grant Ellington shows up to paint a mural on the wall of the resort, she’s swept away by her response to the artist. Suddenly, every time he looks at her, Cali finds it harder than she ever thought possible to keep her heart protected.

Grant Ellington loves his ranch, his horses, and his life as a sought-after artist. But after walking away from a plane crash that killed his best friend and the young pilot, he’s still struggling with survivor’s guilt as he heads to Windswept Bay. Painting a sea life mural at the resort started out as a favor to his neighbor, but one meeting with the beautiful Cali and he feels alive again—and determined to spend time on the moonlit beaches with her in his arms…

But, like him, Cali has her own emotional scars—can they learn to trust the love that sparks between them and move forward from this moment on?

 

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Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson

Kindle | Nook

Bella Rossi may be nearing thirty, but her life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding planning business, Bella is determined not to let them down. She quickly books a “Boot Scoot’n” wedding that would make any Texan proud. There’s only one catch – she’s a country music numbskull because her family only listens to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Where will she find a DJ on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his Keith Urban?

When a misunderstanding leads her to the DJ (and man) of her dreams, things start falling into place. But with a family like hers, nothing is guaranteed. Can the perfect Texan wedding survive a pizza-making uncle with mob ties, an aunt who is a lawsuit waiting to happen, and a massive delivery of 80 cowboy boots? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding?

 

petticoat-detective

Petticoat Detective by Margaret Brownley

Kindle | Nook

Pinkerton detective Jennifer Layne is no stranger to undercover work. But posing as a lady companion named Amy at Miss Lillian’s Parlor House and Boots is a first for her. She’s finally landed a high-profile case and is on the trail of the notorious Gunnysack Bandit, when one of Miss Lillian’s girls essential to her investigation meets an untimely demise. Only a handful of people are in the house at the time of her death, including handsome Tom Colton, a former Texas Ranger determined to clear his brother’s name. Amy has many reasons to suspect Tom of murder—and one very personal reason to hope that she’s wrong about him.

Join the My Sister’s Prayer Facebook party!

6 Sep
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From the Christy Award-winning team of Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould, My Sister’s Prayer tells an epic tale of two women compelled to protect their sisters, confront their fears, and navigate the muddy waters of betrayal to find true love.

Join Leslie, Mindy, and other readers on Facebook on September 27th for an author chat party at 8:00 PM EDT (that’s 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, & 5:00 Pacific)! Leslie and Mindy will be chatting about My Sister’s Prayer, answering your questions about the book, and of course, giving away prizes too!

Get your copy of My Sister’s Prayer so you’re ready for a fun book discussion. You can order your copy and find out more about the book here.

We hope you can join the fun. Bring your friends who love to read!

We’ll see you on September 27 for Leslie and Mindy’s Facebook party. RSVP here.

#BookReview: Fraying at the Edge by Cindy Woodsmall

3 Sep

Fraying at the Edge

Fraying at the Edge by Cindy Woodsmall

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2bYrh0D

The Old Order Amish life Ariana Brenneman loved vanished virtually overnight with the discovery that she was switched at birth twenty years ago. Now she’s immersed in the Englischer world, getting to know her mother and under the authority of her biological father, an atheist intellectual with resolute plans to expand Ariana’s worldview. Only Quill Schlabach, a childhood friend living Englisch, can steady the tilting ground between Ariana’s two worlds, but can she trust him after so many betrayals?

At the same time, Skylar Nash is forced to choose rehab or spend several months with her true relatives, the large Brenneman family and their seemingly backward life—no electricity, no technology, no fun. What the young woman can’t leave behind is her addiction to illegal prescription drugs and a deep emptiness from the belief that she doesn’t belong in either family.

 

My thoughts:

Fraying at the Edge is a compelling story! Cindy Woodsmall skillfully intertwines the Amish life with the Englisch as Ariana’s and Skylar’s world unravels. “New ties are binding Ariana and Skylar to the lives they were meant to have. Can they pray for the wisdom and strength they’ll need to follow God’s threads into unexpected futures?”

This second book in the Amish of Summer Grove series continues the story that began in Book 1, Ties That Bind. While these books can stand alone, I recommend reading them in order for a greater understanding of the characters and their stories. I have really enjoyed the emotional and spiritual journeys that are shared in this unique series and look forward to its next installment!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Friday Freebies

2 Sep

Freebie Graphic- BuzzingAboutBooks.com

 

A Perfect Ambition

A Perfect Ambition by Dr. Kevin Leman & Jeff Nesbit

Kindle | Nook 

As the firstborn son of an old and powerful family, William Jennings Worthington VI knows what it’s like to be under pressure. Groomed from birth with the relentless message that he was destined for greatness, Will has always pushed himself to succeed–nearly as much as his never-satisfied financial tycoon father pushes him. Becoming CEO of the world’s largest and most adventuresome oil company seems the next logical step on the success ladder. But when circumstances turn, Will finds himself staring down a road that leads to Capitol Hill. Can he trade the board room for the Senate floor? Or will family secrets keep him from his destiny?

 

A Glimmer of Hope

A Glimmer of Hope by Julie Lessman

Kindle | Nook

From the moment Jack O’Bryen kissed the sixteen-year-old tomboy next door, he knew he would love her forever. Lacey Carmichael was everything he’d ever wanted—intelligent, warm, and brimming with life, the perfect complement to his serious and sensible self. A girlfriend who not only shared his faith, but he hoped his future as well, the perfect mate for a would-be pastor.

Eighteen-year-old Lacey Carmichael has dreamed of marrying Jack O’Bryen since she was twelve years old, the boy next door who always picked up the pieces after her father shattered her heart. But when her cousin leads her astray while Jack’s away at school and her father’s rejection soars to new heights, Lacey finds herself at odds with the boy that she loves, not only jeopardizing their relationship, but Jack’s faith and heart as well.

 

Daughters of the Heart

Daughters of the Heart by Caryl McAdoo

Kindle

God’s perfect plan is sometimes so hard to determine.

Gwendolyn, Cecelia, and the youngest, Bonnie, make a pact never to break their father’s heart like their big sister did. Then their determination is sorely tried when suitors show up, and he gets so pigheaded with his rules.

Will Henry survive his daughters coming of age? Will they endure and keep their promises to each other?

From one man asking to court her—who Daddy sends packing—Gwen goes to three! How can she ever decide? Cecelia knows exactly who she wants, but she’s still a year away from Daddy’s acceptable courting age. What if her beau doesn’t know or won’t wait? And Bonnie hates being the baby and wants to be grown-up more than just about anything…except her man. She is for sure and for certain in love.

In his life, Henry Buckmeyer has never been so beside himself. His little girls are so young, just babies, too young. He hates the whole idea of men coming to take them away and is inclined to shoot every one of them, but praise God for a level-headed, loving wife and step-mother! She helps keep him sane amidst the female chaos.

 

Dangerous Passage

Dangerous Passage by Lisa Harris

Kindle | Nook

When two Jane Does are killed on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, detective and behavioral specialist Avery North discovers they share something in common–a tattoo of a magnolia on their shoulders. Suspecting a serial killer, Avery joins forces with medical examiner Jackson Bryant to solve the crimes and prevent another murder. But it doesn’t take long for them to realize that there is much more to the case than meets the eye. As they venture deep into a sinister world of human trafficking, Avery and Jackson are taken to the very edge of their abilities–and their hearts.

#BookReview: Starving Hearts | Delightful Heart #Giveaway

1 Sep

Starving Hearts

Starving Hearts by Janine Mendenhall

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/28OtflH

Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage.

She yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God’s existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way.

Mr. Peter Adsley is joining the clergy, and he desires a godly wife by his side. After a failed attempt to obtain one, he engages in a clandestine meeting with the bewitching young woman who keeps crossing his path. But she is so unsettling.

Destined for disappointments, Peter and Annette both endure disgraceful situations. Will Peter’s faith sustain him through overwhelming setbacks? Can Annette overcome her doubts? Or will their starving hearts yield to the machinations of a mad man?

 

My thoughts:

Starving Hearts is an intricately woven tale of sordid secrets and dastardly deceptions. In her debut novel, Mendenhall introduces readers to a diverse cast of characters and skillfully sets the stage for the series to follow. While the characterization is strong and the imagery vivid, there were times when I struggled a bit with the story. I found it very engaging in parts, yet other times my interest waned. Steeped in historical themes and elements, Starving Hearts blends intrigue and romance and leaves readers wondering what will happen next as the Triangular Trade Trilogy continues.

 

Join in the search for love and acceptance with Janine and Starving Hearts by entering to win the Delightful Heart Gift Pack Giveaway.

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One grand prize winner will receive:

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Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on September 12. The winner will be announced September 13 on Janine’s blog.

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Janine Mendenhall

Janine Mendenhall teaches teens English, of all things! Sometimes she sleeps, but most nights she reads, writes, or watches movies like Pride and Prejudice and claims she’s researching her next book. Splickety Love and Splickety Prime have published her flash fiction. She and her husband, Tom, live in North Carolina where they and their two golden retrievers help gratify the needs of their five children and two cats.

 

Starving Hearts
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.  All thoughts expressed are my own.  Click here to read what other bloggers are saying about Starving Hearts