Tag Archives: Litfuse Publicity

#BookReview + #Giveaway: The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green

26 Jan

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As I opened the striking cover if this book, I was pulled into the story and lost in its depths. With beautiful, sweeping strokes, Jocelyn Green paints a vivid picture of a lesser known period of history. Julianne Chevalier is a strong character with a resolve to overcome, and her journey held me captive and continues to linger in my mind. Rife with tumult and treachery, The Mark of the King is a riveting tale of redemption, one historical fiction fans won’t want to miss!

 

Click the graphic below to enter to win a copy of The Mark of the King.  Five winners will be announced February 7th on Jocelyn’s blog!

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About the book:

After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict.

When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne’s brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on?

With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king’s mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2iKM4uj

Visit the author: http://www.jocelyngreen.com/

 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own. Click here to read what other bloggers are saying about The Mark of the King.

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#BookReview: Pray A to Z | Prayer Prize Pack #Giveaway

8 Dec

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Pray A to Z by Amelia Rhodes

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

Change the world one prayer at a time.

How would our community change if instead of absently saying, “I’ll pray for you,” we actually did pray—deeply, intensely, and purposefully?

Pray A to Z: A Practical Guide to Praying for Your Community will help you topically organize your prayer requests and lay the burdens of your community at the feet of our Heavenly Father.

With compassion and encouragement, Amelia Rhodes offers Bible verses and prayer prompts, organized topically for every letter of the alphabet. There are five topics per letter—three prayers of petition asking God to work in a certain area of need, and two more prayers of praise to reflect gratitude for God’s presence in the daily issues and relationships of life. Through petition and praise, your specific, focused communion with God will lighten your heart as you place the heaviness of those prayer requests where they belong—on His strong shoulders.

Whether you are praying for a friend’s adoption journey, a neighbor’s bankruptcy, or a family member’s cancer, this book will give you Bible verses, prayer prompts, and prayer starts to guide you through praying for even the most difficult issues that affect the people you know and love. Perfect for either individual or group prayer, Pray A to Z will help you experience the peace that comes from communicating with God.

 

My thoughts:

Pray A to Z is a wonderful prayer guide! Organized alphabetically by topic, this little book is sure to make a big impact on its readers. Rhodes brings attention to a myriad of issues and struggles that many in our community are facing and calls us to be more mindful and intentional in our petitions and praise. I really appreciated the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of the suggested prayers, as well the pertinent scriptures that begin each section. Simple, yet effective, Pray A to Z is a great tool to use in your individual prayer life, as well as in a group setting.

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Learn more about Pray A to Z and how to pray for your community, and enter to win Amelia’s Guide to Prayer Prize Pack to get you started.

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One grand prize winner will receive:

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on December 20. The winner will be announced December 21 on Amelia’s blog.

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amelia-rhodes
Amelia Rhodes is a speaker and author of Isn’t It Time for a Coffee Break: Doing Life Together in an All-About-Me Kind of World. Amelia’s writing has also been featured in four Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, devotionals for the OneHope blog Undeterred and the international devotional Upper Room. Amelia has a growing speaking ministry and speaks regularly to women’s groups on topics of spiritual growth, friendship, and community, offering practical tools for living our faith in the everyday. She lives in Lowell, Michigan.

 

 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.  Click here to read what other bloggers are saying about Pray A to Z.

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#BookReviews: A Sister’s Wish + An Amish Family Christmas | Book Pack #Giveaway

20 Oct

Don’t miss books three (A Sister’s Wish) and four (An Amish Family Christmas) in Shelley Shepard Gray’s Charmed Amish Life series. In A Sister’s Wish, when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love… but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past. In An Amish Family Christmas, Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together . . . in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.

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Enter to win a book pack (a copy of A Sister’s Wish and a copy of An Amish Family Christmas) from Shelley. Five winners will be chosen! The winners will be announced November 7th on Shelley’s blog!

 

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A Sister’s Wish

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2e2XBTQ

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s third book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a respectable young woman finds herself falling for an Amish man from the wrong side of the tracks.

Amelia Kinsinger is the perfect Amish woman—at least according to her neighbors. And while Amelia takes pride in her role as homemaker, she’s also harboring a secret: She’s been in love with bad boy Simon Hochstetler for as long as she can remember. Too bad he’s about as far from “perfect” as an Amish man could get . . . but that’s exactly why she’s so drawn to him.

Life hasn’t been kind to Simon. He ran away from an abusive home at fifteen and things went downhill from there. Eventually, Simon landed in prison. But the experience changed him. Now back in Charm as a grown man, he’s determined to make a new life for himself and not think too much about his wild past . . . unless it pertains to Amelia.

He’s loved Amelia for years. To him, she represents everything good and kind in the world. When he realizes that she returns his affections, he starts calling on her in secret, even though her older brother Lukas—who just happens to be Simon’s best friend—has made it perfectly clear that Amelia deserves better. Simon disagrees and believes he’s the only one who can truly make her happy.

But when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love . . . but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past.

My thoughts:

I have really enjoyed The Charmed Amish Life stories, and A Sister’s Wish is my favorite of the series! Shelley Shepard Gray is a wonderful storyteller who brings Charm, Ohio, and its residents to life with vivid details and descriptions and excellent characterization.

From the moment I began reading A Sister’s Wish, I was completely captivated by Amelia and Simon’s story! I loved the complexities of the Kinsinger and Hochstetler families and their dramatic and emotional journeys. Beautifully told, this poignant story is sure to tug at your heartstrings!

For those who have not read Books 1 and 2, A Sister’s Wish can be enjoyed independently. However, I encourage you to read the series in order for a greater understanding and appreciation of the characters and their stories.

 

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An Amish Family Christmas

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

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s fourth book in her Charmed Amish Life series, an unlikely Amish romance reveals that Christmas is a time for family, miracles—and love.

Ever since his father died in a tragic fire, Levi Kinsinger has felt adrift. Newly returned to Charm, Ohio, Levi is trying to fit into his old life, only to discover he seems to have outgrown it.

But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of purpose for the first time in months. She and her daughter are new to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into attraction, but Levi can’t help having doubts. There’s something about Julia that doesn’t ring quite true . . .

Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of hardships—but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being an unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable. Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do: she moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But meeting Levi, she’s hopeful for the first time. Little by little, she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and eventually . . . perhaps even sharing her life with him.

Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together . . . in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.

My thoughts:

An Amish Family Christmas is a wonderful culmination of a wonderful series! I have loved visiting the special community of Charm, Ohio and eagerly anticipated Levi Kinsinger’s story. When Levi returns to Charm, he meets a young woman, Julia, who needs his help. But with secrets to keep, will Julia let herself trust her neighbor and the help he offers?

I really enjoyed Levi and Julia’s dramatic story and their coming to terms with the pain and hardships of their pasts. I also delighted in revisiting the other members of the Kinsinger family as they gathered together in love and support of each other.

An Amish Family Christmas is the fourth and final book in The Charmed Amish Life series. If you enjoy Amish fiction and have not read this series, I encourage you to do so from beginning to end!

 

Shelley Gray

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

 

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I received a complimentary copy of A Sister’s Wish and An Amish Family Christmas. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.  Click here to read what other bloggers are saying about these books.

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#BookReview: 40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood by Sarah Humphrey

18 Oct

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40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood by Sarah Humphrey

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

Wouldn’t it be marvelous if mothering came with a concrete set of instructions—an easy recipe we could follow? Instead, motherhood challenges women to find their faith, their true selves, and their family through daily doses of trial and error. It is a brilliant and healing time of life that is full of joy, pain, and beauty with a small side of crisis (and humor). What mothers do not know, they learn. And through this lifelong process of learning, they nurture and care for the most precious gifts on earth: children. In a modern society where moms often have a full and busy plate, these 10 minute daily devotions focus on six key topics of motherhood:

-Self-acceptance
-Self-care
-Reconciling with grief, hope and expectations
-Generosity
-Presence
-Forgiveness

In addition to the devotions, these beautiful pages are adorned with handmade illustrations to help you refresh from long days or even occasional sleepless nights. So, grab your colors and a little quiet time for yourself while doodling at the kitchen table. You will be grateful you did!

 

My thoughts:

In 40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood, Sarah Humphrey has created a great source of refreshment and encouragement for mothers. These daily devotions focus on six topics of motherhood, and each day begins with a scripture and is followed by a short devotion and simple prayer. In addition to the devotions, handmade illustrations are included for journaling, doodling, and coloring.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is found in Day 12’s devotion. “Motherhood is hard work. Although there are books about it, there is not a manual for each of your particular children. You have been chosen to be their mother, and in the mistakes and in the joys, you are the best woman for the job.” I thoroughly enjoyed the insight and inspiration this book provided, as well as the joy it cultivated. 40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood is a lovely book and a wonderful gift to give yourself and others!

 

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Often considered a dreamer and silly heart, Sarah Humphrey uses inspiration from her most beloved career, motherhood, to fuel her passion for writing, creative movement and teaching. She has and is authoring several books and children’s books. Sarah currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and three beautiful, bouncy kids.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.  Click here to read what other bloggers are saying about 40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood.

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The Devoted iPad Mini Giveaway

13 Oct
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You’re invited back to Stoney Ridge for a story of dreams deferred and hopes fulfilled in The Devoted!

Bright, curious, and restless, Ruthie Stoltzfus loves her family but is stuck in a sea of indecision about her future: Should she stay Amish? Or should she leave? She’s done all she can to prepare to go–passed the GED, saved her money–but she can’t quite set her journey into motion.

Patrick Kelly is a young man on a journey of his own. He’s come to Stoney Ridge to convert to the Amish and has given himself thirty days to learn the language, drive a buggy, and adapt to “everything Plain.” Time, to Patrick, is of the essence. Every moment is to be cherished, especially the hours he spends with Ruthie, his Penn Dutch tutor.

Ruthie’s next-door neighbor and cunning ex-boyfriend, Luke Schrock, is drawn to trouble like a moth to a flame. Rebellious, headstrong, defiant, Luke will do anything to win Ruthie back–anything–and Patrick Kelly is getting in his way.

Suzanne is celebrating the release of The Devoted with a special giveaway!

One winner will receive:

  • A copy of The Devoted
  • An iPad Mini 2 16GB

Enter today, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 2. The winner will be announced November 3 on Suzanne’s blog.  Enter to win by filling out the form when you click here, or click the graphic above to enter to win.

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#BookReview: Total Family Makeover | Family Fun Night #Giveaway

3 Oct

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Total Family Makeover by Melissa Spoelstra

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2d5hLtG

God calls us as parents to be key disciple-makers in our children’s lives, but if we’re honest, some days it’s a battle just to get them dressed and ready for school on time. How can you mold their hearts when sometimes you can’t even find their shoes?

In Total Family Makeover, author Melissa Spoelstra gives parents a way—a sort of spiritual track to run on—when it comes to building family discipleship. She focuses on eight key habits of growth:

-Spending Time in Prayer
-Reading God’s Word
-Growing Through a Mentoring Relationship
-Finding Community in the Church
-Serving Others
-Taking Time to Rest
-Giving Back to God
-Sharing Your Faith

Disciples are made, not born. Whether your children are babes in arms or teenagers getting ready to leave the nest, making disciples at home starts with you! Give your family a makeover with this practical approach to helping your children learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

 

My thoughts:

Total Family Makeover is a helpful and insightful guide to training your children to be better disciples! Melissa Spoelstra shares her own personal experiences and couples them with recommendations based on Biblical principles, giving parents “a sort of spiritual track to run on–when it comes to building family discipleship.” I enjoyed delving into the eight key habits Spoelstra highlights and found encouragement and inspiration within each one. Whether you are just starting a family or are in the later stages of child rearing, Total Family Makeover offers a practical approach for spiritual growth.

 

Plan an evening of fun, pizza, devotionals, and games with your family! Melissa is giving away a Family Fun Night Prize Pack.

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One grand prize winner will receive:

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melissa-spoelstra
Melissa Spoelstra is a popular women’s conference speaker, Bible teacher, and writer who is madly in love with Jesus and passionate about helping women of all ages to seek Christ and know Him more intimately through serious Bible study. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible Theology and enjoys teaching God’s Word to diverse groups and churches within the body of Christ. She is the author of the First Corinthians: Living Love When We Disagree, Joseph: The Journey to Forgiveness, and Jeremiah: Daring to Hope in an Unstable World Bible studies and Total Family Makeover: 8 Steps to Making Disciples at Home book. She lives in Dublin, Ohio, with her pastor husband and four kids.

 

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on October 7. The winner will be announced October 10 on Melissa’s blog.

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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 Total Family Makeover.

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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.

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#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. 

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#BookReview: Service Tails | Take Your Dog to the Park #Giveaway

22 Aug

Service Tails

Service Tails by Ace Collins

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2bb7SeE

Not all heroic dogs wildly toss themselves into lifesaving situations. Some save lives simply by their incredible commitment to duty and service. Some lead the way to independence for people whose disabilities were supposed to limit their lives.

In Service Tails: More Stories of Man’s Best Hero, prolific author Ace Collins introduces us to leaders whose entire lives are wrapped in the banner of service. Their stories are remarkable snapshots of the value of vision and teamwork, as well as devotion to duty and unconditional love and acceptance—stretching the way we see both canine and human potential. Their training was intense, their loyalty unquestioned and each step of the way they constantly adapt to better serve those they lead. These unforgettable dogs are more than heroes; they are models from which we can learn how to love and serve unconditionally.

 

My thoughts:

Service Tails is a wonderful collection of “heart-tugging true stories”! Beautifully told, each tale of love and loyalty is brimming with insight and inspiration. From their extensive training to their incredible service and sacrifice, these canine companions are consummate heroes who work diligently to perform their duties. They have proved “there are no simple acts of service. Each one makes a mighty effect in helping those who are down to again rise up.” I delighted in each of these stories and highly recommend this heartwarming collection!

 

Celebrate the release of Service Tails with Ace by entering to win the Take-Your-Dog-to-the-Park Pack!

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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 August 30. The winner will be announced August 31 on the Litfuse blog.

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Ace Collins
Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. He has authored more than sixty books that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children’s works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play. Ace lives in Arkansas.

 

 

Service Tails
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 Service Tails.

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#BookReview: When Death Draws Near | Prize Package #Giveaway

17 Aug

When Death Draws Near

When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2auSB8Y

Death has always been part of Gwen Marcey’s job. But when faced with her own mortality, everything takes on a different hue.

Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is between jobs and homes when she accepts temporary work in Pikeville, Kentucky. The Eastern Kentucky town, located deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, has been plagued by a serial rapist and a series of unexplained deaths. Before Gwen can develop a composite drawing, the latest witness vanishes, just like all the previous victims.

Turning her attention to sketching the face of an unidentified body, she discovers a link between his death and a Pentecostal serpent-handling church. Serpent-handling is illegal in Kentucky, and the churches have gone underground to avoid the authorities and continue to worship as they believe. Gwen is offered a handsome reward to infiltrate the renegade members, a reward she desperately needs as it seems her breast cancer has returned.

Joined by her digitally-obsessed, Generation Z daughter, Gwen goes undercover to a nineteenth century revival, planning to draw the faces of the snake handlers so they can be identified and arrested. Instead she uncovers a murderous plot and a festering evil.

 

My thoughts:

With its unique story line and great characterization, When Death Draws Near is an intriguing read! Although this is the third Gwen Marcey novel, it is my first time to enjoy Carrie Stuart Parks’ storytelling. Drawing from her own expertise, Parks adds exceptional detail to the narrative, and I found the elements of forensic art to be fascinating. Gwen Marcey is a strong character, and I enjoyed her snarky sense of humor and the way she uses it to help lighten the mood of the darker situations she finds herself in. The suspense of this story kept me guessing, and I look forward to reading more Gwen Marcey novels!

 

Join Carrie in celebrating the release of When Death Draws Near by entering to win an Undercover Artist Starter Set.

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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 August 22. The winner will be announced August 23 on the Litfuse blog.

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Carrie Stuart Parks

Carrie Stuart Parks is a Christy finalist as well as a Carol award-winning author. She has won numerous awards for her fine art as well. An internationally known forensic artist, she travels with her husband, Rick, across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement professionals. The author/illustrator of numerous books on drawing and painting, Carrie continues to create dramatic watercolors from her studio in the mountains of Idaho.

 

When Death Draws Near
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 When Death Draws Near. 

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