Monday, April 22, 2024

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Lost and Found by Jennifer Carr



About the Book



Book: The Lost and Found

Author: Jennifer Carr

Genre: Christian Suspense

Release Date: June 1, 2023

In the small quiet town of Owenston, Kentucky, former FBI agent Mark Collins has found a new purpose as the county Sheriff. Married and enjoying the prospect of becoming a father for a second time, Mark’s life seems picture-perfect. But when a series of petty thefts turns into a murder investigation, Mark’s peaceful life takes an unexpected turn.

With his steadfast resolve and unwavering faith, Mark embarks on a race against time to catch a killer, but as he digs deeper, he realizes that the case is more complex than he ever imagined, and danger hits closer to home than he could have anticipated.

The Lost and Found is a Christian suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, blending thrilling intrigue with heartwarming moments. Mark’s unwavering commitment to justice, his ever-expanding family, and his unwavering faith in God make for a gripping tale of redemption, hope, and love. Can Mark untangle the web of secrets and find a way to heal the wounds of the past? Discover the truth in this captivating story of courage, compassion, and the power of love.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

A wife, mom, author, marriage and family counselor, a former AP Psychology teacher, and a podcaster, Jennifer draws from her life experiences and imagination to connect with her readers and listeners through the written and spoken word.

Married to her childhood best friend and the mom of a creative daughter, Jennifer enjoys a quiet life on their farm in Alabama.
When she’s not wearing one of her many hats, you’ll find her tucked away with a book and what’s likely her third coffee of the day.

 

 


 

More from Jennifer

The Lost and Found is the second book of the No Matter What series but can be read as a standalone. I needed to make sure my characters were happy and healthy after their adventures in the book one so the day I sent No Matter What to my editor, I started writing The Lost and Found.

I love to bake and when I was pregnant with our daughter, I craved all things sweet. One of the characters in the book has a similar craving so I created a recipe for her to enjoy. I’d love to share it with you.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZUJhegaRSkQtwlG1Rk0UU-iYxTSJIPHg/view?usp=sharing

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 17

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 18 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 18

Texas Book-aholic, April 19

Lakesidelivingsite, April 20

Artistic Nobody, April 21 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 23

Cover Lover Book Review, April 24

Beauty in the Binding, April 25 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 26

Blogging With Carol, April 27

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 28 (Author Interview)

Exploring the Written Word, April 28

For Him and My Family, April 29

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a Six Month Subscription to Kindle Unlimited ($60 value) and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2afa4/the-lost-and-found-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Review

The Lost and Found is the second installment from the No Matter What series by Jennifer Carr. I enjoyed the first book and enjoyed this one so much more. It was full of intrique, action, adventure, mystery, and suspense. I could not put it down. I loved the inclusion of faith within the pages that showed lessons to be learned, as well. I thought it was a great way to spend a rainy day.

I am giving The Lost and Found five stars. I highly reecommend it readers who love to read clean and Christian Suspense. I am hoping for a third addition from the No Matter What series to be released soon. I believe this one should not be missed. 

I received a paperback copy of Jennifer Carr's The Lost and Found from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Sunday, April 21, 2024

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Treasured Keepsakes by Rachel Skatvold



About the Book


Book: 
Treasured Keepsakes

Author: Rachel Skatvold

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: March 26, 2024

It doesn’t always end with a happily ever after.

Feeling unappreciated by her husband and burnt out at her job, Leah Kamuela needs to clear her head. Traveling to Laumua Island, she stays with her cousin, Sabrina, for a fresh start and to finally heal old wounds she’s covered up for years.

Jayson Kamuela has spent his life climbing the corporate ladder and his upcoming promotion will give him the life of his dreams, but at what cost? His wife has left him. He’s hit rock bottom. Maybe it’s time for him to change.

When Jayson is forced to go on sabbatical, he goes to search for his wife. Leah, however, after seeing Sabrina’s business success, believes she could also have a successful business on the Suamalie Islands.

With Leah needing to start on a new path and Jayson finally seeing the errors in his ways, how will the two of them work it out to finally have a happily ever after?

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Rachel Skatvold is a Christian author and stay-at-home mom from the Midwest. She enjoys writing Christian romance and devotionals. She has published over a dozen novels, including books in the Hart Ranch and Whispers in Wyoming Series. Other than writing, some of her hobbies include singing, reading and camping in the great outdoors with her husband and two young sons.

 

 



 

More from Rachel

Have you ever lost something you treasured?

A few years ago, I had an unexpected surgery and had to take off my wedding rings before the procedure. Everything went fine, but after I came home, my fingers were swollen, so I could not put my rings back on right away. I put them away for safe keeping, but several weeks later, when I started feeling better, I went looking for my rings and couldn’t find them. I panicked at first. Could I have forgotten them in the hospital and just thought I brought them home? All kinds of scenarios ran though my head.

Have you ever done this? Put something treasured away for “safe keeping” and then forgotten where the safe place was? I have to admit, I do this a lot.

To make a long story short, after some searching, I finally found my rings in a jewelry box in the bottom of my sock drawer. I was so relieved. While my rings are a material possession, the meaning behind them is what was most troubling when I thought they were lost. They symbolize the special relationship my husband and our promise to each other. My engagement ring is also a family heirloom from my husband’s side of the family, so it really was a treasured keepsake for me.

In my new book, Treasured Keepsakes, Jayson Kamuela doesn’t realize what he’s lost until it’s almost too late. He has been too busy climbing the corporate ladder to reach his dream job to realize his marriage has slipped through the cracks.

Leah still loves her husband, but through the years, they have become more like strangers. When she comes to her breaking point and realizes Jayson has no intention of changing, she feels trapped. Leah escapes to the only refuge she can think of— her cousin’s home on Suamalie. Will this couple be able to recover the treasure of their marriage before it is lost forever?

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 20

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 22

Back Porch Reads, April 23 (Author Interview)

Sylvan Musings, April 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 25

Simple Harvest Reads, April 26 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, April 27

Holly’s Book Corner, April 28

An Author’s Take, April 29

The Lofty Pages, April 30

Karen Baney Reviews, April 30

She Lives to Read, May 1

Stories By Gina, May 2 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 3

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2afaa/treasured-keepsakes-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Review

Rachel Skatvold's Treasured Keepsakes is the eleventh installment from the multi author series, Suamalie Islands. It was a pleasure spending my day among the palm trees and sea with Leah and Jayson. Their story is one of faith, love, power of forgiveness, healing, and letting go of the past. I enjoyed it and wanted to see what direction the duo would take in their lives. It was easy to finish this tale in one sitting. One of my favorite books from this series. 

I am giving Treasured Keepsakes five stars. I believe fans of clean romantic fiction will enjoy it as much as me. I am looking forward to continuing the Suamalie Islands series with Chautona Havig's Trust Fall.

I received a digital copy of Rachel Skatvold's Treasured Keepsakes from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Friday, April 19, 2024

Book Tour and Giveaway: Peace Tigers by Dave Martelon


 

Book Details:

​Book Title:  Peace Tigers by Dave Martelon
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  436 pages
Genre: Coming-of-Age Fantasy
PublisherPeace Tigers, LLC
Release date:  October 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13 for one f-word, mild romance, and battle scenes.
Book Description:

IS REALITY REALLY WHAT WE THINK? A BLEND OF SCIENCE AND THE SUPERNATURAL MAY HOLD THE KEY.

Reality, as we understand it, is about to be redefined. Malcolm Tilden, a former DC native and reluctant initiate in a Tibetan monastery, embarks on a journey to meet his fate. In the wake of a global catastrophe, Malcolm and his best friend, Aimi Ueshiba, must face of against the sinister Music Man and his reptilian army to fulfill a prophecy as old as civilization. It isn't as glamorous as it sounds, and the conflict isn't over.

Fortunately, they have some quirky but powerful mentors. To succeed and live to train the next generation of initiates, they have to embrace a blend of ancient and modern mysteries, joining their heads and their hearts in a shared destiny to bring peace back to their neighborhood--and the world beyond.

Peace Tigers is an engaging blend of science fiction and spiritual exploration, challenging us to the true nature of our purpose. Come discover these enigmatic secrets one lesson at a time.
BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ B&N
​add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Dave Martelon is the author of Peace Tigers. A technology executive by trade, Dave never aspired to write a novel. Nevertheless, in witnessing the trend of separation in society, he was compelled to the pen. Inspired by three lifelong interests--the Japanese martial art form Aikido, quantum physics, and world peace--Peace Tigers is a call to action to solve what ails us, a call for more Peace Tigers.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook Instagram ~ Goodreads 

Enter the Giveaway:

PEACE TIGERS Book Tour Giveaway



My Review: 

Peace Tigers is a great debut for Dave Martelon. It took me a few chapters to get used to the writing style. Once I got used to the unique and different style than what I am used to, I quickly was able to immerse myself in the story. There are a variety of cultures and characters to be discovered all throughout. I was intrigued from scene to scene to see what has unfolded. I loved learning about some important life lessons along the way. There were a few times that I felt my heart warm and made me put a smile on my face. It was an honor to go on this journey with the characters and getting to know them. I found this book to be a perfect example why I should go outside my comfort zone and read something from a genre I would not normally go to. I thought it was an overall great novel. 

I am giving Peace Tigers four and a half stars. I believe readers who enjoy reading a mix of fantasy fiction, as well as, science fiction, will not want to miss out on picking this one up. I would be curious to see what other releases and stories Dave Martelon has in store for his fans in the future.

I received a paperback copy of Dave Martelon's Peace Tigers from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Streams of Courage by Sandra Merville Hart


About the Book



Book: Streams of Courage

Author: Sandra Merville Hart

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 26, 2024

In a world turned upside down by war and betrayal…will his role as a spy bring them closer…or tear their future apart?

The war that Julia Dodd prayed to avoid is now reality, and with it, her world has been turned on its head. Her fellow citizens, who stood with her in their support of the union, have crossed firmly to the side of the south. And her mother, lost in her grief over the loss of her husband and children, can think of nothing but protecting Julia’s brother’s inheritance. She insists that her daughter seek a wealthier husband than Ashburn Mitchell.

Ash knows what his fellow citizens think of him when he refuses to fight for the Confederacy. Shouldering the accusation of being a coward and refusing to hide behind his limp, Ash remains in Vicksburg to support his family as a saddler while his two best friends join the fight. Struggling to increase his business so he can marry the woman he loves, Ash becomes a spy in support of the Union. He can’t fight for the South but won’t raise a musket against them.

As tragedy instigates Ash to risk greater danger to speed the end of the war, Julia can only pray it won’t cost them everything. She’s already lost her father and two siblings. Must she lose the man she loves too?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Sandra Merville Hart, award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of inspirational historical romances, loves to discover little-known yet fascinating facts from American history to include in her stories. Her desire is to transport her readers back in time. She is also a blogger, speaker, and conference teacher.

 

 

 




 

More from Sandra

In Streams of Courage, Book 4 in my Spies of the Civil War Series, Julia, our heroine, has suffered several significant losses in her life, including her father and two siblings. Her mother’s insistence that Julia stop courting Ash, a saddler, and find instead a rich suitor makes no sense. Surely her father had provided for her.

Then she discovers that her parents have only provided for her younger brother, whom her mother had always adored. Julia will be penniless when her mother dies. The knowledge crushes her.

Ash is already supporting his mother and siblings. As Mama points out, adding a wife and children will stretch his income to the limits. Mama will not give her blessing should Ash propose. Julia, who had been raised in comfort, must find some means of support.

As I considered how Julia could make money in a war-time economy, it was clear her mother, as the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, would never condone her working in a shop. What can she do?

Tatting lace.

Her lace patterns have received compliments in the past. With fewer ships bringing goods into the city, lace is in short supply. Granted, the demand for lace has diminished because even dress fabric isn’t as available as before the war.

I enjoyed researching this skill that was once so prevalent among young ladies in society. I watched videos on making lace with a special needle called a tatting needle.

The most basic stitch is the double-stitch. There is a special way to hold the needle and thread so that the first stitch grabs thread from under the thumb and the second stitch grabs it from over the thumb. There is a rhythm to the stitching in the hands of a skilled lacemaker.

I watched videos that demonstrated making rings with picot trim. There is a variety of stitching. The variations create beautiful patterns. The lace is then rolled for storage.

Fascinating. It’s mesmerizing to watch the different patterns emerge.

Tatting is a small yet interesting aspect in the adventurous story. Ash has become a Union spy. For her and her family’s safety, he keeps his dangerous activities a secret from Julia.

Part of my research for this novel and the next two novels included a trip to Vicksburg, Mississippi. I toured the museums and walked the streets of the historic city. Though I wasn’t certain of my story at the time of my visit, I was inspired by the history.

Avenue of Betrayal, Book 1, is set in the Union capital of Washington City (Washington DC) in 1861, where a surprising number of Confederate sympathizers and spies lived. Boulevard of Confusion and Byway to Danger are set in Richmond, the Confederate capital in 1862. Actual historical spies touch the lives of our fictional family.

Through both real and fictional characters, this series highlights activities spies were involved in and some of the motives behind their decisions.

I invite you to read the whole “Spies of the Civil War” series!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 17

Alena Mentink, April 18

Connie’s History Classroom, April 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 19

Bizwings Book Blog, April 20

Holly’s Book Corner, April 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 21

Texas Book-aholic, April 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 23

Betti Mace, April 24

Pause for Tales, April 24

Cover Lover Book Review, April 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 26

Books You Can Feel Good About, April 27

Lights in a Dark World, April 27

For Him and My Family, April 28

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 29 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, April 29

Blossoms and Blessings, April 30

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Sandra is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2afa6/streams-of-courage-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Review

I have adored the Spies of the Civil War series from Sandra Merville Hart. I was excited to have the opportunity to read the fourth installment, Streams of Courage. It was far from being a disappointment. I loved getting to know the main characters, Ash and Julia. I thought their story was wonderful. I thought the author perfectly portrayed what so many went through during the American Civil War. I thought it was a great novel to read set this era in history. 

Streams of Courage gets five plus stars from me. I highly recommend for fans of clean historical romance. I look forward to reading the fifth addition of Spies of the Civil War series, River of Peril. 

I received a copy of Sandra Merville Hart's Streams of Courage from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem by Kurt Brouwer



About the Book


Book:
The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem

Author: Kurt Brouwer

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: November, 2022

He was the Beloved Disciple…

…and he would be the last.

The mantle to tell the whole story has fallen on him.

From the cross, Jesus entrusted John, the youngest disciple, with the welfare of Mary, Jesus’s mother. Over thirty years later, as Jerusalem becomes a cauldron of explosive tempers, he receives a calling he doesn’t want.

Will he listen and follow?

And if he does, will it be too late?

In 62 AD, the Jewish high priest executes James, the brother of Jesus, triggering a bitter fight for power in Jerusalem that shatters the quiet life of John. The Jewish people he loves are making dangerous choices that will change the land of Israel forever.

Should he stay in Jerusalem and help hold off the Roman onslaught? Or is it time to reach out to those beyond Israel’s borders?

If he chooses to leave, what will be his message to these foreign believers? What new words of comfort could he possibly share?

Set against a backdrop of actual events, The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem is the first novel in a new series based on the Bible and Christian history.

Follow along while John faces multiple crises and comes to understand what it is to stand alone and lean on only the Lord.

Your heart will embrace The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem because John’s story is the story of our hope and promise.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author


It all started the morning I learned that the Gospel of John was published fifty years after Jesus died. Fifty years! What did John do all that time? Where did he live? Why did he wait? Frankly I got a little obsessive about this man who became the last disciple.

Living in Hawaii

For the past 20 years, I’ve been a member of a Bible-based Christian church in Hawaii. About eight years ago, our pastor, Kahu Billy Mitchell, challenged our Elders group to pray and read the Bible for one hour every morning.

It wasn’t as though we were not reading the Bible or praying every day, but he challenged us to take our devotions up a few notches. So, I did just that.

During one of those early morning sessions, I was studying the books of the New Testament in a broad sense. Who wrote them and when? What were the broad themes covered in each?

I found out that a huge gap of 50 years elapsed after the ministry of Jesus and the publication of the Gospel of John. That morning something else hit me–John outlived all the others to become the last disciple. I couldn’t stop thinking about how lonely it must have been to be the last one standing.

A few years later, I began writing The Last Disciple Series of Christian historical novels about the life of John.

The Last Disciple Series

The Last Disciple is a series of Christian novels based on the Bible and Christian history. The first in the series: The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem, begins in the year 62 AD. In it, you walk with John through the streets of Jerusalem. With him, you face multiple crises and come to understand what it is to stand alone and lean only on the Lord.

This book, The Last Disciple: Exile in Ephesus is the third in the series, following The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch (book two) and The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem (book one).

Blog Stops

Blogging With Carol, April 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 14

Texas Book-aholic, April 15

Artistic Nobody, April 16 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, April 16

She Lives To Read, April 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 18

Guild Master, April 19 (Author Interview)

An Author’s Take, April 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 21

Fiction Book Lover, April 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 22

The Lofty Pages, April 23

Cover Lover Book Review, April 24

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 25

Giveaway



To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2b465/the-last-disciple-crisis-in-jerusalem-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Review

The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem is a great read by Kurt Brouwer. I thought it was a great debut for him. I enjoyed his vivid details throughout the book that made me feel as though I was right there within the story myself. I love all of the lessons of hope, peace and love that I read within the pages. I was captivated from start to finish. A beautiful book to read. 

I am giving The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading well written Religious Historical and Biblical Fiction. I would love to read more by Kurt Brower in the future. 

I received a copy of The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Double Review: Valley of Treasure / Ocean of No Escape by Susan K. Marlow



My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blurb: 

The hunt for the lost gold is on!Jem Coulter and his friends celebrate the end of the Civil War in their town with firecrackers, parades, and anticipation for a bear-and-bull fight. But chaos ensues when a bull breaks loose, causing wood splinters and fence posts to rain down and break his cousin Nathan's legs. With the Coulter family unable to afford a San Francisco surgeon, the family and their friend Strike-It-Rich Sam devise a plan to raise money. Jem, his sister Ellie, and Strike embark on a quest to recover lost gold. Will they find their treasure in the valley, or will they have to strike more gold in order to help



My Review: 

Valley of Treasure is the fifth installment from Susan K Marlow's Goldtown Adventures series. Even though I am not the targeted audience for this book, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved going back in time and taking this journey with Jem and his friends. I thought it was a delightful read with some valuable life lessons that everyone of all ages could learn from.

I am giving Valley of Treasure a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who are between the ages of eight and twelve years. I am eager to read the next installment from the Goldtown Adventures with book six, Ocean of No Escape.

I received a paperback copy of Susan K Marlow's Valley of Treasure from the publisher, but was not required to write a review, nor a positive one. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.





My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blurb: 

Is escape even possible when you've been shanghaied?Jem Coulter, his family, and Strike-It-Rich Sam journey to San Francisco with the newfound gold to see if surgery can fix Nathan's broken legs. The uncertainty of Nathan's recovery leaves Jem bored and worried, so he heads to the waterfront to explore. The merchant ships look exciting--where could they be sailing?A sailor's invitation turns into an unexpected kidnapping that forces Jem into the life of a cabin boy. Forced to eat awful food and filled with a fear he'll never see his family again, Jem wonders if he can escape by jumping ship. Join Jem on the deck as he navigates the rough seas.



My Review: 

I have always loved Susan K Marlow's books and was excited to read her sixth installment from her Goldtown Adventures series, Ocean of No Escape. I was not disappointed. Jem gets himself in quite the predicament and I had to continue to read to find out how he would find his way home. It was a great story to read and loved it.

I would love to give Ocean of No Escape more than five stars if I could. I have no doubt that young historical fiction fans will love it as much as me. I hope there will be more to come for Jem and his friends in the Goldtown Adventures series.

I received a paperback copy of Susan K Marlow's Ocean of No Escape from the publisher, but was not required to write a review, nor a positive one. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

View all my reviews