Tell Tale Book Reviews

Book Review - Diamond In The Rough by Jen Turano

12/5/2019

Genre:
Historical Romance

Diamond In The Rough
American Heiresses book 2
by Jen Turano

-From Goodreads-

When Miss Poppy Garrison accepts her grandmother's offer of financial help for her family in exchange for Poppy joining the New York social season, she quickly realizes she is far less equipped to mingle with the New York Four Hundred than even she knew. As she becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, becoming the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs her to be looks more impossible by the day.

Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, is in New York to help his cousin find an American heiress who can help save his family's estate. But when his very proper British manners lead Poppy's grandmother to request he teach etiquette to Poppy, he quickly finds himself in for much more than he bargained for.

And while they couldn't be more opposite, Reginald and Poppy just might find they have more to teach each other than they ever could have expected.

ISBN-13: 9780764231681

She's taking New York, and him, by storm!

There are many adjectives that apply to a Jen Turano book. Delightful. Charming. Enchanting. Captivating. Fascinating. Engaging. Lovely. Scrumptious. All of these definitely apply to this Diamond In The Rough who, with the help of a certain English gentleman, is either going to turn into a diamond of the first water or a colossal disgrace during her first society season.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Jen Turano

Author Website

But, oh, Poppy's madcap adventures are so much fun! As is Reginald's amusing attempts to reign her in and save her from herself. I'd swear I say this with every new release, but it's true. Diamond In The Rough is probably my favorite Jen Turano book...so far...or at least until the next American Heiresses book comes out.

You really can't go wrong choosing to read a Jen Turano book. Whether you love historical romance or romantic comedy she's got you covered. The addition of a suspense thread to each book is icing on a very wonderful 'cake'! Diamond In The Rough is a definite must read in my book. What are you waiting for...?

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Diamond In The Rough by Jen Turano a 4.5 Bark rating.

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Prism Book Tours - The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson + Excerpt

12/4/2019

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On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Just when you think you’ve met
your match . . . the charade begins.

Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband—and children—altogether.

But fate has other plans, and Cassie’s online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett’s memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game.

No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?

Melissa Ferguson’s hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.

Contemporary Romance, Christian
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 336 Pages
December 3rd 2019 by Thomas Nelson

(Affiliate links included.)
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | TNZFiction

Excerpt from
The Dating Charade

He rested his hand on the top of her car door and paused, the door separating their bodies but their faces suddenly not so far apart. “Till Wednesday, then.”

The exposed skin of his neck was red from the chill, and beneath his form-fitting jacket sat a pair of dark jeans that complemented his green, button-down oxford. Any drift of cologne—if he wore any—was overpowered by the thousands of pines surrounding them, infusing their world with shouts of Christmas.

Nat King Cole’s melody, “Almost Like Being in Love,” came over the outdoor speakers, drawing them toward one another like the red-velvet ribbon draped around the large Christmas trees in shop windows.

“Till Wednesday,” Cassie repeated softly.

He inched toward her, and then, bumping into the driver’s side mirror, looked down to the door between them, which was currently working as hard as an elderly chaperone separating them at a middle-school dance.

“I probably could’ve thought that through better.” Cassie gave the chaperone door a friendly pat. He laughed, the mood breaking like a sunny March day on a frozen lake as he moved to the driver’s side of his truck. Taking a half step in, his body lifted above the frame. “See you on the court, Everson. Bring your A game.”

“It’ll be my pleasure, Your Royal King of the Mountain.”

They both climbed in and shut their doors. Started their cars.

From The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson. Used with the permission of the publisher, Thomas Nelson.
Copyright © 2019 by Melissa Ferguson.

Melissa Ferguson

Melissa Ferguson is an adjunct professor for Bible and religion at King University. She lives in the charming town of Bristol, Tennessee, with her husband, twin toddlers, and baby girl. She used to have hobbies like running and backpacking the Appalachian Trail outside her door. Now her hobbies include admiring the Appalachian Trail out her minivan window while singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" en route to the library.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

#DatCharPrism

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Thanksgiving 2019

11/28/2019

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Prism Book Tour - The End Of The Magi by Patrick W. Carr + Excerpt & Giveaway

11/27/2019

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On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Centuries before the magi arrived in Bethlehem,
a prophecy sets a young magus on his path . . .

Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel calls forth a select group of men who will count down the calendar until the arrival of Israel's promised king. Centuries later, as the day draws near, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are slain by a ruthless Parthian queen.

Equipped with very little, in haste Myrad escapes the city and, searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is keeping secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable asset, an epic journey filled with peril, near captures, and dangerous battles begins.

With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can't forget, and the promise that the world will never be the same.

"Carr retells the story of the Magi in this bustling biblical adventure . . . . Myrad's divine vision of the star and his arduous trek battling his own physical problems to pay homage to the Messiah capture the majesty of biblical narratives and will appeal to Christians well versed in scripture."--Publishers Weekly

Christian Historical Fiction
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 384 Pages
November 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

Excerpt from
The End Of The Magi

Chapter 31

Myrad felt panic shooting through his chest. The king had found the weakest link among them, and he leaned forward wearing a victor’s smile.
“I have a report from the Roman centurion who searched your caravan in Antioch,” the king went on. “Among the silk you carried, he also found a large quantity of gold and spices, strange gifts for a simple visit to the land of your fathers.”
Hakam didn’t reply, but his face reddened, and beneath the onslaught of Herod’s gaze he began to tremble.
“What brought you to Judea, magus?” Herod pressed.
Hakam’s head came up, losing its deferential cast, until he stared at the king eye to eye. “We received a dream from the Most High God.”
Herod leaned forward, all signs of pain from his affliction absent. “What was this dream that brought magi all the way to Judea with such extravagant gifts?”
The courtyard stilled until nothing but the soft crackle of the burning braziers could be heard. Myrad closed his eyes and prayed Hakam would find some answer that would satisfy the king and let them live. The tone of his first words dashed his hopes.
“A dream of the voice of God.” Hakam paused, but the lot was cast. There was no way to keep Herod from the whole truth now. Hakam’s voice sharpened until it cut the air like a Roman gladius. “We have come searching for the one who has been born king of the Hebrews. We have seen His star in the east and have followed it here that we may worship Him.”
Myrad couldn’t breathe, and sudden spots swam in his vision. The fool had just sentenced them all to death.
Herod’s laughter, caustic and tinged with physical distress, filled the courtyard. “And this is the truth you thought to keep from me? By the time the child is grown, I will be dead.” His laughter scaled upward until it echoed among the buildings. “I wish your god luck in finding one who can wrest Judea from the grip of Rome.” Then his mirth softened and he became dismissive, waving away the magi and Walagash’s company. “Come, my guests, let us eat and celebrate the peace, however temporary, between our kingdoms.”
Myrad and the others were escorted to an area to one side, where servants brought them dishes of food and wineskins. After a few moments, the tension in Herod’s courtyard eased and Myrad was able to breathe freely again. The meal stretched for hours into the evening, the Romans showing no signs of retiring.
At one point during the meal, Myrad glanced toward the dais only to find it empty. “He’s gone,” he said to Masista.
The magus nodded. “The king left an hour ago.”
Despite his dislike of the man, Myrad found himself seeking Masista’s reassurance. “Are we in danger?”
The magus’s smile held none of its usual superiority. “We were always in danger, but your friend Hakam has made sure that Herod sees us as an enemy.”

Patrick W. Carr

Patrick W. Carr is the author of the acclaimed fantasy series The Staff and the Sword. A Cast of Stones won the 2014 Carol Award for Speculative Fiction and the 2014 Clive Staples Award. A Cast of Stones and The Hero's Lot were both finalists for 2014 Christy Awards. He teaches high school math and makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his incredible wife, Mary, and their four sons.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

It's Time For A Giveaway!

- One winner will receive a print copy of The End of the Magi and a $20 B&N gift card
- Four winners will each receive a print copy of The End of the Magi

USA only
Ends November 29, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#EndMagiPrism

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Book Review - Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters

11/26/2019

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Deadly Deceit
Harbored Secrets book 2
by Natalie Walters

-From Goodreads-

Independent and tenacious journalist Vivian DeMarco is back in Walton, Georgia, for one reason -- to do her job and get out. When her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Vivian's only hope for finding the truth -- and the next big story -- is small-town law enforcement's lanky poster boy, Deputy Ryan Frost. But the deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes. False leads, incriminating emails, and someone called the Watcher force Vivian to fight for answers -- and her life.

ISBN-13: 9780800735333

Will this story make or break her...?

I've been looking forward to reading Deadly Deceit since I read the first book in the Harbored Secrets series awhile back. Natalie Walters had started out strong and I wondered if that would continue in this book. My expecations were definitely met.

I have to admit that I took a real dislike to Vivian when I read the first book in the series so when I saw that she was the heroine in this book I was a bit dubious. But, you know what? As the story progressed she grew on me until I rather liked her by the end. And Ryan, oh Ryan, let's just say he ain't that skinny geek from book one.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Natalie Walters

Author Website

Deadly Deceit is only Natalie Walters's second published book but her writing really comes across as that of an old pro. The suspense was developed much better in this book than the first but there were less emotional/psychological overtones that I did miss from book one. That being said, I really did enjoy both books, each for a different reason, and I am definitely looking forward to the final book in the series when it releases.

All in all, a good book in a great series, and one that I would recommend to lovers of the romantic suspense genre.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters a 4 Bark rating.

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Book Review - Protecting Tanner Hollow by Lynette Eason

11/26/2019

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Protecting Tanner Hollow
by Lynette Eason

-From Goodreads-

Four nail-biting novellas in one!

Lethal Homecoming
Nolan Tanner never got over Kallie Ainsworth's sudden, unexplained departure. Now when he comes to her rescue after an attempt on her life, all the old feelings come rushing back.

Lethal Conspiracy
When professional fundraiser Lillian Maloney sees her father's campaign manager commit murder, she goes on the run from the men he hires to kill her. A close call brings firefighter Jason Tanner to the rescue, but the killer is closing in . . .

Lethal Secrets
Someone wants Honor McBride dead. When Eli Murphy helps her change a flat tire and discovers the danger Honor is in, he longs to help--but Eli has secrets of his own that could get them all killed.

Lethal Agenda
When Detective Derek St. John rescues a woman he's met only once before--and has never been able to forget--he finds himself falling for her. But he'll have to keep Claire Montgomery alive if they're to have a future together.

ISBN-13: 9780800736460

4 women discover danger & love in a small town...

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Lynette Eason

Author Website

I hadn't read Lynette Eason for quite awhile but a few months ago I found one of her titles from last year and picked it up to read. To be honest, I enjoyed that book much more than the previous one I had read. Anyway, when I saw that her new book, Protecting Tanner Hollow, was actually a collection of novellas I thought it sounded like fun. Yes, murder and mayhem is fun...to read about...

I really did enjoy this novella collection. Each story had a connection, shared characters, etc. with the other ones in the book but they were each complete in their own right. I think one of my favorite things was that as the only author, Lynette Eason was able to keep her characters' personalities consistent, which, can be difficult across a multi-author collection/series.

Sometimes it's nice to sit down and read a story that is complete but is short enough to avoid most interruptions and finish in a single sitting. Protecting Tanner Hollow allows you to do just that, immerse yourself in a shorter story of danger, intrigue, and romance, in small town America, four times to be exact. So, if romantic suspense and novellas are your thing this just might be the book for you...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Protecting Tanner Hollow by Lynette Eason a 4 Bark rating.

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock + Review & Excerpt

11/20/2019

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*No Giveaway for this Celebration Tour

One father was murdered, and another convicted of his death.
All because their children fell in love.

Nate Beckett has spent his life fighting wildfires instead of the lies and rumors that drove him from his Colorado home town. His mother begs him to come to Carlisle now that his father has been released from prison, but it isn’t until he’s sidelined by an injury that he’s forced to return and face his past. But that means facing Brenna too.

Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher’s daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna had defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate’s drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down, people assumed it was Nate getting even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left Carlisle without looking back.

Now, Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and she’s dealing with a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. She’s barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her.
As they deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—their past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first.

Genre: Christian Suspense
Release Date: November 5, 2019

Click here to get your copy.

My Review

Their past has come full circle...

While I can't say that I even remotely begin to understand Brenna's choices, specifically turning to liquid 'help' when life got tough. But, what I can say is that it's about time someone peels back our plastic Sunday faces and dare to shine a little light of reality into fiction. Author Terri Blackstock has bared the unmentionable before in her Intervention series, where a mother deals with a child addicted to drugs, and, she has done it again in Smoke Screen. Life is not guaranteed to be perfect...even for Christians...

Despite the rather heavy topics I found myself unable to put the book down, finishing it in a single evening. I enjoyed it immensely! It was the perfect blend of psychological drama and suspense, with a decent helping of romance. I've been a fan of Terri Blackstock since I started reading her books as a teenager. I'm pleased to say that I seem to like each one more than the last. This held true with Smoke Screen, which is going to wind up being one of my favorite books read this year.

I loved Smoke Screen and it's one I would definitely recommend, whether you are a longtime reader of Terri Blackstock or if this is your first. Don't miss out on this emotionally moving and suspense filled story!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock a 5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Excerpt from
Smoke Screen

I woke up in a blinding bright room, my clothes off and something clamped to my face. I tried to reach it, but I couldn’t bend my right arm, and my hand stung. An IV was taped to my other hand, but I moved carefully and touched the thing over my face.

An oxygen mask. I tried to sit up. “What happened?”

T-bird came to my bedside, a sheen of smoky sweat still soiling his face. “Nate, lie back, man.”

“The fire,” I said. “Need to get back. My men.”

“They’re still there. Making progress. But you’re not going anywhere near a fire for a month or so.”

I took the mask off and coughed a little, but managed to catch my breath. “A month?”

“Yep. Second degree burns on 20 percent of your body. Some of the burns are deep.”

It came back to me, the event that had gotten me here.

“The family. Were they injured?”

“Not a scratch or burn. Turns out it was a U.S. Senator from Kansas. He says you’re a hero.”

“You know I had no choice. They were in the path—”

“Take the praise where you can get it, man. We don’t get that much.”

I looked at my right side. My right arm was bandaged, and so was my side and down my right leg to the point where my boots had stopped the flames. Second degree wasn’t so bad, I told myself. Third degree would have been brutal. I’d be able to leave the hospital soon. I’d heal.

“I won’t need a month,” I said.

“Yes, you will. They can’t let you go back. Doctor’s orders. You’re grounded until he releases you.”

I managed to sit up, but it was a bad idea. The burns pulling on my skin reminded me why I shouldn’t. “I can’t be grounded during fire season. Are you crazy? I need to be there. You don’t have enough men as it is.”

“Sorry, Nate. It is what it is. Why don’t you go home to Carlisle for a while? Take it easy.”

Go home? Pop had just been pardoned, and he and my mom were trying to navigate the reunion. Though she would love to have me home, I didn’t know if I was up to it. My father could be challenging, and fourteen years of prison hadn’t done him any favors.

Terri Blackstock

Terri Blackstock has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Downfall, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series. Visit her website at www.terriblackstock.com; Facebook: tblackstock; Twitter: @terriblackstock

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Essential Oils by Teri Secrest + Review & Guest Post & Giveaway

11/17/2019

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Have you ever wondered why the wise men brought frankincense and myrrh for the baby Jesus? As a curious and highly enthusiastic child, health and wellness coach Teri Secrest asked everyone she knew and met, but no one could tell her. She grew up thinking it was just a nice little story…but never stopped wondering.
This thirst for knowledge sparked Teri’s twenty-three-year quest to learn about essential oils. It has taken her to the far corners of the world—from Croatia and France to Oman, Israel, and beyond.
Teri has written this book to share the mystery, the romance, and the ageless intrigue of essential oils. She hopes you experience the Father’s love as He continually lavishes His children with these exquisite oils and you feel this rich, biblical history come alive in your spirit. Teri wants you to see how miraculous your body is and how it’s designed to heal itself when given proper nourishment and support.
Essential Oils: God’s Extravagant Provision for Your Health offers practical how-to’s that you can use immediately, including the use of oils for romance, balancing hormones, cooking, cleaning, pets, children, and fragrance, as well

as health concerns such as stress, negative emotions, trouble sleeping, weight gain, and anxiety. You will find practical guidance to regain and maintain health naturally.
As you gain this understanding, Teri believes you will change the next generation as you discover the hidden secrets of these biblical plants and how to incorporate them into your everyday life.

Genre: Christian Non-fiction, Alternative Therapies
Release Date: October 8, 2019

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Essential oils & the Bible, yes, they go together...

Essential oils have been an interest in my family for several years now. However, much of the information out there is either; secular, New Age, or just a promotional of a specific brand. Essential Oils: God's Extravagant Provision For Your Health caught my attention because of the author's Christian worldview and her belief that oils were made by God for our benefit. What I hoped for was good information from a Biblical perspective and not just some New Age stuff that can give a person the creepy-crawlies. And that is exactly what Terri Secrest delivered.

As with nearly all essential oil information that I've read I am skeptical of a few of the claims BUT I am also firmly convinced that essential oils are of great benefit and people should utilize them whenever possible and practical.
One thing that I will very respectfully disagree with the author is the assertion that as essential oils are plant based, and if properly used, can't have negative side effects. If you are allergic to the plant you can be allergic to the oil, this is something I know from personal experience. I'm allergic to the mainstay of all essential oil collections, lavender, from synthetics to high quality oils to the plants my mom has in the garden. My word of advice with anything is to try small amounts, find out what you can have and what you can't, and do as the author suggests and buy the highest quality oils you can. Oh, and on the opposite end of the scale, my mom has had great success with lavender. Also, while dogs can have some oils, DO NOT put any oils on your cat.

One of the things I really appreciated is that while the author does talk about the influence of a well known figure in the world of essential oils on her health journey, she does not promote any specific brand. Instead she gives readers a list of things to watch for when finding the right brand for themselves.

My favorite parts of this book were the sections on the use of oils in the Bible, the importance of anointing and praying, and the studies that have been done on how much our sense of smell really does affect us. These were things I already knew but she dug a little deeper into the topics.

I just want to say a couple of things about the layout of the book. If you are reading on a Kindle without a color screen you will miss out on a lot, there are quite a few really lovely and inspiring photos throughout the text. I really liked how Teri Secrest clearly delineated each topic, from her own story to which oils are good for which things to cooking with oils, in clearly defined chapters which went into detail and then followed it all up with a handy glossary that makes for a good quick-guide.

To sum it up, Essential Oils: God's Extravagant Provision For Your Health is a really interesting book and it's one that would be a good fit for anyone interested in essential oils, whether you are a beginner or have been using them for awhile.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Essential Oils: God's Extravagant Provision For Your Health by Teri Secrest
a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from Teri

My purpose in writing this book is to inspire you with the mystery, the romance, and the ageless intrigue of essential oils. My hope is that you experience the Father’s love as He continually lavishes His children with these exquisite essential oils and that this rich biblical history comes alive in your spirit. I also hope you will see how miraculous your body is and how it’s designed to heal itself when given proper nourishment and support.

As you gain this understanding, I believe you will change the next generation, as you will know the hidden secrets of these biblical plants and how to incorporate them into your everyday life.

Teri Secrest

Teri Secrest is a health and wellness expert whose passion is to teach simple and proven methods for vibrant health to people around the world. That passion is rooted in her early experiences of learning about whole foods and herbs in her family’s organic garden and her mother’s passion for good food as the owner of a French cooking school. These early lessons guided Teri to a healthy path for herself and her own family, yet it was her first astonishing experience with essential oils as a young mother that ignited her lifelong passion for learning, practicing, and teaching people to take hold of God’s extravagant provision for their health.

Teri has traveled around the world to learn from leading experts about the beneficial uses of essential oils, research the promises and properties of each essential oil, and develop a deep working knowledge of their applications for daily health and wellness.
Teri loves to share the simple, practical principles that will help you live in vibrant health through her international keynote speeches, training programs, and best-selling books. She is a sought-after speaker who delivers her message of vibrant health with such enthusiasm, humor, and joy that she has gained the nickname “Ambassador of Joy” around the world. Connect with Teri at http://terisecrest.com

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Teri is giving away the grand prize
package of a copy of her book and $20 Starbucks gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/f024/essential-oils-celebration-tour-giveaway

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2 Comments

Book Review - Seeking The Truth by Terri Reed

11/14/2019

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Seeking The Truth
True Blue K-9 Unit book 5
Love Inspired Suspense
by Terri Reed

-From Goodreads-

Her investigation could prove fatal…
In this exciting True Blue K-9 Unit installment

By secretly investigating the New York City K-9 Command Unit chief’s murder, reporter Rachelle Clark puts a bull’s-eye on her back. Single dad and K-9 unit officer Carter Jameson thought Rachelle was reporting on police-field-dog trials—not his brother’s death. Though he’s not happy about her true purpose, the danger is real…and he and his trusty German shepherd must save her.

ISBN-13: 9781335232250

Their lives are in his paws...

What a great story! I think this might be my favorite Terri Reed book...so far, anyway. Plenty of tense moments as the characters, and readers, are tossed into murder and mayhem right from the start.

I have to say that Frosty was probably my favorite character, though Ellie ran a close second. My dad had a German Shepherd that our family loved to pieces so maybe I'm just a little biased in their favor.

If you enjoy romantic suspense as much as I do, and love dogs, you really should check out Seeking The Truth, as well as the rest of the True Blue K-9 Unit series. Each book can be read standalone, like I'm doing, but the overarching mystery probably makes more sense if you read them in all in order.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Terri Reed

Author Website

Seeking The Truth from the, in my opinion, talented author Terri Reed, was a great read that I very much enjoyed, and I'm most definitely looking forward to her next release.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Seeking The Truth by Terri Reed a 4.5 Bark rating.

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Soul Mend by Luann Dunnuck + Interview & Guest Post & Giveaway

11/14/2019

4 Comments

Restore your emotional health!

Have you felt trapped in an endless cycle of fear, anger, guilt, and other negative emotions? Has depression, anxiety, fear of rejection, or the inability to let go of past hurts robbed you of peace?

No matter how hopeless or discouraged you feel, freedom is possible. It’s time to get to the root of your pain so you can heal. In Soul Mend: Discovering Spiritual and Emotional Health, author Luann Dunnuck shows you how to uncover the source of your emotional struggles and experience wholeness with the help of God’s Holy Spirit.

See the connection between your mental and physical health. Find scriptural truths to help you work through emotional struggles. God has answers for you and declares in Jeremiah, “Is there anything too hard for Me?” Let Him do the impossible in you as you apply the concepts in this book, rely more heavily on God, and regain the joy of living!

Genre: Christian Non-fiction, Christian Personal Growth, Counseling
Release Date: April 12, 2019

Click here to get your copy.

Interview with Luann

1. What was the inspiration for this book?
The inspiration for this book was that I don’t want to see others stay stuck in emotional and physical bondages. I know first hand what both afflictions are like and the despair that is associated with a toxic mind and a toxic body. If I can give someone a lifeline to pull them out of their bondages then all the time, resources, and research has been worth pouring into this book. 😊

2. Where did your research take you while writing this book?
First, I learned the scientific research confirmed the Bible. I love when science proves what God already gave us in the scriptures. I go into details in the book on these findings. The research also confirmed what I have lived through…that our bodies are listening to our minds. The CDC, center for disease control reports that 80% of all sickness has a “stressor” behind it. If we can heal the mind then there is an 80% chance that we can heal the body!

3. What authors influenced you the most while writing about this topic?
The Author that impacted me the most while writing this book was, Dr. Caroline Leaf.

4. What demographic do you think this book will appeal to the most?
This book was written to those suffering from; depression, anxiety, guilt, anger, stress, a broken heart. This project appeals to both men and women, young and old.

5. What drew you to write non-fiction verses fiction?
Both Fiction and Non-Fiction can be inspirational. In this case I felt non-fiction would be the best tool to communicate how to recover from toxic emotions and restore physical and mental health.

Bonus; I would like to share two of my favorite quotes;

"Self-worth is not created, it’s discovered."

"Let food be your medicine so medicine doesn’t have to be your food."

More from Luann

SOUL MEND was written to break people out of their emotional chains! I know first hand what such things as anxiety, strife, guilt, and unforgiveness feel like. I know first hand how devastating these emotions can be on the physical body. After walking through some of these issues and recovering from a debilitating diagnosis I decided it was time to go back to school, get my counseling degree, and help other people!

In SOUL MEND I cover the three sources of negative thinking and how they impact our emotional and physical health. There are chapters on; a broken heart, stress, guilt, self-reproach, anxiety, and anger/bitterness. Each chapter contains study questions to help the reader identity and heal from toxic emotions. The book ends on a uplifting and encouraging note on how God created you to walk in His destiny and His goodness. There is always a purpose in your pain and the Bible is clear that what the enemy meant for evil God promises to turn around for God when we seek Him (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28). I am excited to go on this journey with you and help you discover the healing and destiny that awaits you

Luann Dunnuck

Luann Dunnuck is a conference speaker, author, and counselor. She has a heart for those who are seeking emotional wholeness and spiritual health. Luann earned her master’s degree in Christian counseling and a doctorate in theology, and is a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God.
Her message of hope and restoration has been heard on radio and television—including Words to Live By, produced by RBC Ministries, and Crossroads Magazine. She and her husband, Robert, have three grown children.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Luann is giving away a hard copy of her
book SOUL MEND, and a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/ee22/soul-mend-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 7
Mary Hake, November 8
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 9
Artistic Nobody, November 10 (Author Interview)
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 11
Texas Book-aholic, November 12
janicesbookreviews, November 13
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 14 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, November 15
BookofRuthAnn, November 16
A Reader’s Brain, November 17
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 18
Stephanie’s LIfe of Determination, November 18
My Devotional Thoughts, November 19 (Author Interview)
Inklings and notions, November 20

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Finding My Son by Eric Odell-Hein + Interview & Guest Post & Giveaway

11/13/2019

7 Comments

Eric was perfectly happy being one half of a dual income, no kids family. Having the freedom to travel the world with his wife Christine, while indulging his hobbies and furthering his education and career, was a pretty sweet life.

Christine wanted to be a mom.

Though he was scared he didn’t have what it took to be a good dad, Eric wanted to fulfill his wife’s dream. After years of trying to conceive, however, the couple received a devastating diagnosis: infertility.

For Christine, adoption was the obvious answer. Eric wasn’t so sure.

In Finding My Son: A Father’s Adoption Journey, author Eric Odell-Hein offers an unfiltered view into the heart and mind of a man who has experienced the sometimes messy and often awkward process of becoming a father through adoption. Encouraging men to acknowledge the fears they don’t want to admit

while advocating a thoughtful, deliberate transparency as the best approach to even the most unnatural, uncomfortable aspects of the adoption process. Eric shares his misgivings and mistakes with an honesty that does not deny his insecurities.

A valuable resource for any man considering growing his family through adoption—or anyone seeking to understand the process—this engaging memoir is a testament to the beautiful gift of adoption and a touching account of a father’s love.

Genre: Christian Memoir, Adoption
Release Date: February 21, 2018

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Eric

#1. What did you find the most difficult while writing this book? The most difficult part of writing this book was trying to find a balance between being transparent and authentic about such a personal experience without sharing to a point of distraction. In order to communicate effectively about my feelings and approach to adoption—both the good and the bad I brought with me—I had to share some amount of personal background, experiences, and feelings. While it was very important to me that this book be as genuine as possible, and identifying and dealing with my own flaws was an intrinsic, valuable part of the adoption experience, it was tough for me to identify necessary information versus extraneous data. In the end, I decided to start by oversharing, and my editor, Sanda Byrd, was incredible in helping me dial in the successive drafts and strike the right balance. Editors are not your enemy—they are your best friend!

#2. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
When making a major life decision, I think many people subconsciously start their decision-making process by launching off from of an idea of their ideal self: who they think they ought to be or aspire to be as opposed to how they actually are at that moment in time. This is something I became cognizant of as we went through the adoption process. There are so many deliberations and decisions that people are forced to make when adopting that aren’t choices they have to make through natural conception and childbirth. What medical backgrounds in the adoptive child’s family was I willing to accept?

What past history of drugs or alcohol in the father or mother? What about ethnicity—is there prejudice in my immediate or extended family? What age of child was I willing to adopt? The list of issues prospective adoptive families are forced to think about is quite long. I decided to carefully examine the reality of where I was actually at as opposed to where I ideally would be. I didn’t think making decisions based on social expectations or self-imposed pressure was best for any child we would adopt. This led to many difficult conversations and lots of self-analysis. Some people may disapprove of the choices we made, but I’m okay with that. You can’t improve your life or effectively help others improve theirs without first being grounded in the reality of how you actually are. I hope readers realize the importance of an intentional, authentic effort to identify how you actually are and what you bring to the table—both positive and negative—when starting to make significant life choices.

#3. How has writing about this particular topic changed your own life? The process of writing this book forced me to look back at the series of events and choices that shaped my life—both my own decisions and the impact of decisions that other people made—and find a coherent string of connectedness. In turn, this has helped me structure my own thoughts and shape my story, which I in turn get to share with other people who are considering adoption. A few months ago I was on a business trip where I delivered privacy training to key members of a video game studio on down in Newport Beach. During one of the private meetings, an employee mentioned that adoption was something he or she was considering. Because I had gone through the process of organizing my thoughts and writing this book, I was able to share valuable insights in a concise and effective fashion, as opposed to what would have otherwise been loosely connected personal rambling.

#4. What demographic do you think this book will appeal to the most?
I think there is value for anyone who has adopted or is considering adoption as well as for people who were themselves adopted. Really anyone with an interest in families or parenthood will find the material appealing. My own son has read the book and loves it, and my extended family has been surprised by the amount they were able take away from reading it even though they were there for the actual events described in the book. From outside my family, I’ve received a lot notes describing how accurately this book represented their own adoptive parent experience and helped them process their own feelings.

#5. What drew you to write non-fiction versus fiction? As a child, I wanted to be a storyteller and world-builder in the vein of J.R.R. Tolkien. But in my late twenties and early thirties, I discovered a love of non-fiction and instructive writing while working through my various degree programs. As a result, I discovered some level of aptitude in writing non-fiction with an emphasis on academic analysis. I started out by authoring two books based on my master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation (Recovering Lost Treasure, Systems of Evil). The first was an attempt to bring academic analysis of ancient religious patterns down to a semi-popular level. The second was strictly academic and targeted for serious researchers and academics. Finding My Son is my first book that is truly meant for a general audience. I still harbor a desire to write a work of fiction, but my true love is to write things from which people can derive practical value. If anyone in any location is able to find something in one of my books that impacts their life, then my journey as an author has been worthwhile.

Bonus. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart. John 1:51 has become my favorite verse: “And He [Jesus] said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’" To get an idea of the significance of this passage, read the story of Jacob’s dream back in Genesis 28:10-22. Jesus explicitly points to himself as the ultimate hierophany and axis mundi: the point of connection between heaven and humankind. I just love this.

More from Eric

Adoption was a scary prospect for me. My mother and all her siblings are adopted, and the family dynamic for them was challenging. So when my wife decided we should adopt, I initially responded with a flat-out “no.” But my heart changed, and I am strongly convinced that our son, who joined us via adoption back in 2008 when he was just two days old, is the greatest child in the entire world. If you knew where I was emotionally prior to adoption compared with where I am now, you would marvel at the change. My adoption book is for people like me, particularly men, who struggle with the enormity of the choice to adopt and the constant challenges of the process.

On a lighter and more personal side, when people learn about all the various aspects of my life, they often have to stop and process the seemingly incongruous pieces. Some people know me as a guy who has spent more than two decades in software and entertainment, primarily in various aspects of behind-the-scenes video game technology and management. My entire family plays games, and more often than not, when I get back home in the evening, I find my wife and son online with other members of the extended family playing Minecraft. Sometimes we’ll all get in an online session together, each one of us at our own TV on our own Xbox, and take on bad guys together in one game or another.

Other people know my intellectual side, where I have earned several degrees in areas of theology and religion, including a Ph.D., as well as serving as president of Columbia Evangelical Seminary. I previously published two books on academic topics (evil among world religions, religious symbology) and have more in various stages of development, the next one being a focus on the ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cosmogonic/chaos-order symbolism in baptism. As a teaching pastor, I have a reputation for sermons with an intense ANE contextual emphasis that are part sermon and part seminary course. Check out my most recent four-part series on the Odell-Hein Books Facebook page here.

I was born in Germany to an American family, and while my German-language skills have deteriorated, I love German music. I’m very excited that my favorite group, Juli, has a new album coming out later this year. It’s mild stuff compared to most of the rock or industrial music I listen to, but they’re good. Check out the first single from their upcoming album here. I’ll be one of the small handful of Americans who purchase the album on the day it first releases in the US.

When not working or playing games with the family, I read primarily academic ANE books. When we’re in the car, I love to subject the family to my go-to podcast, the Naked Bible Podcast. No, it’s not what it sounds like. If you want to hear a serious scholar tackle the ANE context for the Bible, start with Dr. Michael Heiser’s Exodus series (it begins with episode 255).

Eric Odell-Hein

Eric Odell-Hein (PhD, MDiv, MRS, ThB) is the president of Columbia Evangelical Seminary. The teaching pastor at Summit Evangelical Free Church, he is also the author of Recovering Lost Treasure: Finding Christ in Ancient Myth, Symbol, and Ritual and Systems of Evil: A Study in Comparative Theodicy. Eric lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his wife Christine and their son Ephraim. All three are passionate travelers.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Eric is giving away the grand prize package of a
$50 Amazon certificate and a signed copy of each of his three books!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/f00a/finding-my-son-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 6
Vicky Sluiter, November 7 (Author Interview)
Just the Write Escape, November 8
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 9
Simple Harvest Reads, November 10 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, November 11
janicesbookreviews, November 12
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 13 (Author Interview)
A Reader’s Brain, November 14
Inklings and notions, November 15
By The Book, November 16 (Author Interview)
Book Love (Featuring Gail Hollingsworth), November 17
Through the Fire Blogs, November 18 (Author Interview)

7 Comments

Question for Readers

11/6/2019

0 Comments

Hello,

I have a question for you, the readers of Tell Tale Book Reviews. With our 7th blogoversary fast approaching I'm thinking it might be time to make a change or two to improve our content. In the past we've done things like: Monday Movie (my thoughts on a movie I've recently watched, usually pre-1980), WORD Wednesday (a random Bible verse for the week), and Free Friday (info and link to a free a Christian fiction book available on Amazon). I continue to do 2 Goodreads reading challenge updates per year as well as my special Top Favorites lists of the books I've read in the previous year. Which brings us to my question for you...

What kind of content would you like to see on
Tell Tale Book Reviews?

Would you like to see some of the old posts like Monday Movie or WORD Wednesday come back? Want to know more about the books I'm currently reading? Interested in seeing my new-to-me book hauls? Most Looked Forward To Reading lists? Favorite covers? Conversation starter questions for you to comment on? Maybe a scenic photo each week/month taken by yours truly? Of course, I can't promise to follow all suggestions but I really would love to know what things you are interested in seeing from Tell Tale Book Reviews.

So, let me know what you think in the comments below or by using the
form in the Contact Us section located in the Home button dropdown.

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Book Review - Always Look Twice by Elizabeth Goddard

11/5/2019

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Always Look Twice
Uncommon Justice book 2
by Elizabeth Goddard

-From Goodreads-

While photographing the Grand Tetons, Harper Reynolds unwittingly captures a murder on film. But when she loses the camera fleeing the scene, can she and rancher Heath McKade find the camera and solve the murder before the killer makes her his next victim?

ISBN-13: 9780800729851

Will her past eliminate their future...permanently?

Another exciting book in the Uncommon Justice series from the talented pen of Elizabeth Goddard! Always Look Twice is the second book in the series taking place a few months after the first the book and following in the same tradition of lots of danger and romance.

Always Look Twice starts off with a bang, the kind that means murder, and takes readers on a wild ride of betrayal, murder, and secrets from the distant past. It was an interesting read, Elizabeth Goddard kept me guessing, and I especially loved the wilderness setting of the Grand Tetons.

The Uncommon Justice series follows the three McKade brothers. In this one Heath McKade and Harper Reynolds are both tormented by violence in the past, perceived failure, and regret. Both of them have to decide if the will let it paralyze them or whether they will let love and faith help them heal. And, they have to survive and catch a maniacal killer while doing so.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Elizabeth Goddard

Author Website

If you enjoy romantic suspense where the threads of past secrets affect the present this might be the series for you. Always Look Twice continued to build on the mystery surrounding the McKade's father, and, I for one, cannot wait to find out if they solve it in Elizabeth Goddard's next book...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Always Look Twice by Elizabeth Goddard a 4 Bark rating.

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Aiming For Love by Mary Connealy + Review & Guest Post & Giveaway

11/4/2019

4 Comments

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world–a world she’s been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls’ secret home, her older sister is especially frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. But his father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?

Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: October 2, 2019

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

One mountain, two families...

Oh, what a fun book to read! This is Mary Connealy at her best! It's been awhile since I've read one of her books but this one had such a cool cover and sounded interesting. Aiming For Love was exactly the type of story I was in the mood for! Humor, romance, and adventure are delightfully blended in this charming story set in the dramatic mountainous landscape of Colorado.

I truly enjoyed Aiming For Love. It was nice to escape from the hum-drum of our modern world and drop right into a rip-roaring adventure complete with handsome cowboys. Mary Connealy's brand of cowboy fiction with quirky characters and a faith message is fun and a definite must read for fans of historical romance.

I liked Aiming For Love but now find myself in the predicament of having to waaaait for Mary Connealy's next release in the Brides Of Hope Mountain series. I look forward to seeing the characters again and I especially look forward to finding out more about the Nordegren sisters' somewhat mysterious past and whether the Wardens will be able to get their ranch back from that mean ol' land hungry thief and and his hired goons. And so, I wait.....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Aiming For Love by Mary Connealy a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from Mary

What it would do to someone to run wild from nearly their earliest memory?

What if three young girls had the basic skills to survive a rugged life but no adults to guide them?

Would they grow up to be a completely odd and untamed version of themselves, or the truest, in some ways most honest version?

I wanted to explore that idea: wild children, tough young women, afraid of the invading world, but lonely, too. So I created the plot for my Brides of Hope Mountain series by mixing the three little girls who’d grown up wild on the top of a mountain with some fairy tale ideas.

Book one, Aiming for Love, is Josephine Nordegren’s story. I had this vision of Ariel the mermaid seeing a man for the first time when strangers invade the high valley she lives in with only her two sisters. Curiosity is her besetting sin, or so she’s always been told. She has wilderness skills, mainly in the form of owning a bow and arrow and understanding wild animals, but for the first time, she is drawn to a man.

Jo needs to be tamed, or Dave, the man she can’t stop watching from in the woods, needs to learn the ways of the wild, because they’re out of place in each other’s worlds.

Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

Learn more at www.maryconnealy.com.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away a grand prize package of a $20 Amazon
gift card, a copy of Aiming for Love, and a copy of Fairy Tales from Around the World!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/ed95/aiming-for-love-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, October 25
Moments With Mercy, October 25
Bigreadersite , October 25
Emily Yager, October 25
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 26
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 26
Books, Life, and Christ, October 26
Quiet Workings, October 26
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 27
For Him and My Family, October 27
Stories By Gina, October 27
Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 27
Older & Smarter?, October 28
Betti Mace, October 28
Wishful Endings, October 28
The Becca Files, October 29
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, October 29
Mary Hake, October 29
Mamma Loves Books, October 29
A Baker’s Perspective, October 30
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, October 30
Britt Reads Fiction, October 30
For The Love of Books, October 30
Hallie Reads, October 31
Connect in Fiction, October 31
Christian Bookshelf Reviews, October 31
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , November 1
To Everything There Is A Season, November 1
Daysong Reflections, November 1
Splashes of Joy, November 1
Moments, November 2
Simple Harvest Reads, November 2
Batya’s Bits, November 2
She Lives To Read, November 2
EmpowerMoms, November 3
Seasons of Opportunities, November 3
Remembrancy, November 3
Blessed & Bookish, November 4
For the Love of Literature, November 4
Through the Fire Blogs, November 4
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 4
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 5
Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 5
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 5
Pause for Tales , November 5
Texas Book-aholic, November 6
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 6
janicesbookreviews, November 6
A Reader’s Brain, November 7
Inklings and notions , November 7
Leona J. Atkinson, November 7
Lukewarm Tea, November 7

4 Comments

Prism Book Tour - The Art Of Rivers by Janet W. Ferguson + Excerpt & Giveaway

11/1/2019

1 Comment

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Rivers Sullivan bears both visible and invisible scars—those on her shoulder from a bullet wound and those on her heart from the loss of her fiancé during the same brutal attack. Not even her background as an art therapist can help her regain her faith in humanity. Still, she scrapes together the courage to travel to St. Simons Island to see the beach cottage and art gallery she’s inherited from her fiancé. When she stumbles upon recovering addicts running her gallery, she’s forced to reckon with her own healing.

After the tragic drowning of his cousin, James Cooper Knight spends his days trying to make up for his past mistakes. He not only dedicates his life to addiction counseling, but guilt drives him to the water, searching for others who’ve been caught unaware of the quickly rising tides of St. Simons. When he rescues a peculiar blond woman and her sketch pad from a sandbar, then delivers this same woman to his deceased grandmother’s properties, he knows things are about to get even more complicated.

Tragic circumstances draw Cooper and Rivers closer, but they fight their growing feelings. Though Cooper’s been sober for years, Rivers can’t imagine trusting her heart to someone in recovery, and he knows a relationship with her will only rip his family further apart. Distrust and guilt are only the first roadblocks they must overcome if they take a chance on love.

Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 299 Pages
June 30th 2019 by Southern Sun Press LLC

(Affiliate links included.)
Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Book Depository
Also available through KindleUnlimited.

Other Books in the Series

Coming in January 2020

Excerpt

Once she’d rested and then cleaned out a closet, Rivers eyed the old brown envelope on the table. She’d been avoiding the emotional landmines that possibly waited in their yellowed pages, but something told her she should wade on in. As if the past held a key to a locked door.

With hesitant fingers, she opened the letters addressed to Brooklyn and Pearl’s mother.

Dear Stella,
You and your wealthy daddy don’t understand the way I came up. It was hard times, most nights nothing but cornbread for supper and a beating with a belt. Sleeping with the cold wind blowing through the cracks in our shotgun house.
I work hard every day and in the evenings, too, keeping you and the girls well fed and dressed nice. So, I have some drinks at the club. You knew that when we met. Why do you keep hounding me? Drinking helps me relax before a performance.
It’s not like you’ve never had a sip of wine. Stop being a baby.
Come back to Savannah and act like a wife.
Frank

~~~

Stella,
You wanted to get married. You decided we’d have kids even though you knew I played the clubs at night. Now, you have the twins—women have children every day. It’s not like you’re in a shack in the country. Don’t play the martyr.
Frank

~~~

Dear Stella,
I heard our sweet Pearl was in the hospital. I didn’t realize how sick she was. Can you please forgive me? I promise I’ll help. I’ll stop drinking. I can stop for you and the girls. This time will be different, I promise.
Love always,
Frank

~~~

Stella,
You keep telling me I have a problem, but I’m nothing like my daddy. It’s not my fault that blond came onto me. I didn’t go after her, and things weren’t what they looked like. Yes, she kissed me, but that was all.
You always blame me. You’re always looking for something to be angry about. It’s no wonder I have to drink. You push me too hard.
Frank

Janet W. Ferguson

Janet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.

Website│Goodreads│BookBub
Facebook│Twitter│Instagram

It's Time For A Giveaway!

One winner will receive a $10 Chick-fil-A gift card and signed copies of
the first two books in the series, Magnolia Storms and Falling for Grace

USA only
Ends November 6, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway