Category: Excerpt

Celebrate Epic Book Launch - Countin' On Jesse by Mary Pat Johns

8/25/2023

Peeps’ gym owner Jesse seeks accreditation. Accountant Brenna wants to help Jesse reach his goal. They’re a great team, but can she count on him when trouble strikes?

Accountant BRENNA MCKINLEY only wants what’s best for Peeps, the wildly popular gym in Valiant, Texas. But when money goes missing, and she’s the obvious suspect, will she be able to clear her name or face criminal charges? Keeping her dream job matters, but falling in love with her boss isn’t part of the plan. Neither is the creepy guy stalking her.

Young veteran JESSE JACOBS manages and co-owns Peeps, an exercise facility in Valiant, Texas. He needs help to gain accreditation for the gym, and his new accountant is all in. But is she who she seems? Too bad he’s falling for her like a man with no parachute. When the pressure builds, PTSD renders him moody and volatile, risking everything he loves.

Genre: (Inspirational) Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 12th, 2023

Excerpt from Countin' On Jesse

Hoots and whistles rang around the dining room, and one smart aleck yelled, “Kiss her!”

The smell of ranch dressing rose from the salad confetti littering his clothes. A hush descended over the restaurant.

“Are you all right? ”He peered into her face, black brows etched with concern.

“I’m fine. ”As she pulled away, he released her. She scrambled to her feet, touching her hot cheeks, confident her face blazed as red as the diced tomato on his shirt. She picked a piece of purple onion off his shoulder, then hastily backed away. “I’m sorry,” she choked out.

Velvety brown eyes locked on hers for what seemed an eternity. His lips moved, but the roar in Brenna’s ears deafened any other sound. Finally, their bizarre level of awareness broke with the herd of servers hurrying over, swiping white dishcloths everywhere.

Just when Brenna thought death from embarrassment could actually be a thing, a guy with auburn hair from the church-folk table yelled, “Good show,” clapping vigorously. Other applause broke out, and good-natured laughter echoed around the room. At least the customers decided the situation was funny. She flung a desperate curtsy in the general vicinity of the clapping and headed to the kitchen with her best I-got-this-stroll.

Mary Pat Johns

Mary Pat Johns’ writing career began once she retired from years of teaching speech and writing. She’s written devotions for an online publication and had short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul. She currently writes a biweekly faith column for the local newspaper.

Countin’ On Jesse is her debut novel, and she’s hard at work on the rest of the Valiant series. God put it in her heart to tell stories of brave veterans and their reintegration into civilian life after suffering the traumas of war. As she kept writing, her focus generalized to include ordinary people who learn how to move forward after devastating events. Her writing has a strong spiritual thread since she considers a return to faith in God the solution for what ails the civilized world.

She lives in South Texas with her husband and their two dapple dachshunds. Her grown children and five
grandchildren are useful sorts who keep her grounded with her reading/writing obsession.
You can find her at the gym, at her computer, or reading a good book.

Countin’ On Jesse placed second in inspirational contemporary romance in the TARA contest.
It was also a finalist in the Crown and the Maggie contests for unpublished authors.

Blog Stops

Excerpt One: https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/2023/08/15/countin-on-jesse-epic-book-launch/
Excerpt Two: https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2023/08/counting-on-jesse.html
Excerpt Three: http://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2023/08/countin-on-jesse-by-mary-pat-johns.html
Excerpt Four: https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/2023/08/24/countin-on-jesse-epic-book-launch/
Excerpt Five: http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews/celebrate-epic-book-launch-countin-on-jesse-by-mary-pat-johns
Excerpt Six: http://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/countin-on-jesse-book-excerpt/
Excerpt Seven: https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/countin-on-jesse-book-excerpt/

2 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - War Of Torment by Ronie Kendig (GIveaway)

5/11/2023

2 Comments

The time for peace is over—now he demands vengeance

They followed him back. Against his will, against his intention. Now enemies threaten from every direction. Amidst it all Marco Dusan struggles to lead his people, to help them survive, even mayhap win the war. He will take any advantage to even the odds. But only after tragedy strikes does he learn just how much he’s willing to sacrifice.

He’s not alone. Droserans fight as one, united against the offworlders— Symmachians who covet their planet. With the aid of unexpected allies, the Droserans battle on longer than anyone could have anticipated. Yet they cannot win. And the Faa’Cris, those supernatural warriors, fair of face and fierce of mien, do nothing.

But not all have turned their backs. After a bitter year of pain and loss, Kersei Dragoumis navigates a new heritage, ever intent on defending her people. Like her, light-years away from the Quadrants and even farther from the girl she thought she was, Eija Zacdari must come to terms with a new role. Or, rather, with an ancient one. And her success or failure may determine back in the Quadrants who lives and who dies.

In the end, Marco will have vengeance for the torment brought by this war. No matter the price. Not even if the price is his soul.

Genre: Space Opera, Science Fiction
Release date: April 11, 2023

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

The odds just became impossible to win...

Well, as soon as I found out that the Droseran Saga trilogy was going to have a fourth book I knew the ending was going to have to be a humdinger. I was not wrong. War Of Torment takes all of the myriad threads and draws them together in one final explosive (literally) showdown. Ronie Kendig's conclusion to her sci-fi series is intense and is best read at light-years – forget miles – per minute.

I've been anticipating this final Droseran Saga novel just as much as I have been dreading it. I've known all along that there would be some sad farewells to characters that I have come to like – turns out it was even more bittersweet than even I expected.

War Of Torment finally answered the questions that I have had all through this epic series – and trust me, clocking in at an impressive 1,700+ total pages according to one book site, epic is the correct word – and with it came some surprises along with even more betrayal and unexpected sacrifice. One thing I would like to note for readers of this series from Ronie Kendig, whether you read them together or at intervals, they MUST be read in order.

I've been reading the Droseran Saga since the first book released in 2019, I've invested many hours of reading into the characters and it hardly seems real that War Of Torment really is the end. How can my time in Ronie Kendig's vivid space world be over? Well, I guess the old saying holds true that all good things, and this series certainly has been, must come to an end...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives War Of Torment by Ronie Kendig a 4 Bark rating.

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

Read an Excerpt

Anticipation tremored in his veins—it had come. The Progenitor’s War had finally arrived.

“Admiral on the bridge!”

“What’s going on? What was that swarm of ships?” Amid grating claxons and pulsing orange lights running around the bulkheads of the Command deck, Fleet Admiral Domitas Deken strode past the offices and conference rooms to the central Command hub of the newly christened Cronus, the flagship of the Symmachian armada. He glared up at the array hovering in the air between him and his handpicked officers, who had been transferred from other ships in the fleet.

“A fleet, sir.” Grim-faced, Captain Lasson Pount stood with the executive officer.

“What fleet?” Domitas demanded. “We have the only fleet in the Quadrants!”

“Unknown, sir.” Commander Wellsey Dimar, onetime XO of the Macedon, recorded the images and waved them to Command. “None we have record of, and the ships are . . .” He frowned at what he saw. “They’re entirely foreign. Fast. Advanced—incredibly so.”

Domitas compared radar to the moments before the arrival of the new ships. “Where’d they come from?”

“As far as we can tell,” Pount said with a shake of his head, “the jumpgate at the Chryzanthe.”

“Can’t be. Baric reported it damaged by that spherical ship.” Never would Domitas forget watching that alien ship explode from the jumpgate and come around, firing. The relay vids of the incident had taken nearly a day to reach the Cronus on its route to Drosero.

“Maybe they slipped through in time?” The captain quirked a blond eyebrow.

“Baric said it was damaged beyond repair,” Dimar noted. “Perhaps the ship came through one of the other Sentinels.”

“They’re not operational yet. With Baric’s flair for the dramatic, it’s possible the Chryzanthe isn’t as damaged as he reported.” Probably wanted a way to keep anyone from nosing into whatever he and that alien were doing. Domitas indicated to the array, then flicked the screen, rolling back the time. “Those ships are moving fast.”

“Like we were standing still,” Dimar noted.

“Any idea where they’re headed?”

“I’ll calculate,” Pount said, tapping on a console, then nodding at the results that splashed through the air between them. “Course and speed suggest a trajectory for Drosero.”

“In fact”—his fingers flew over the console—“the exact same course the first craft took.”

“We think,” Dimar added with a look to Domitas. “The engine signature of the first craft is so slight that, while we can confirm that fleet followed its course, we cannot say if they ended up at the same place.”

Not comforting. “Do we have a lock on the sphere’s final destination?”

“Speculation only, sir.”

Domitas waited for said speculation, and when neither officer expounded, he lifted his brows. “Is there a problem?”

“Pount and Dimar exchanged glances before the XO sighed. “Long-range scans suggest it entered Droseran orbit, but since we have yet to hear from the Damocles, we don’t know if those projections are accurate.”

Drosero. This war sure was waking up the ’verse, wasn’t it?

Ronie Kendig

Ronie Kendig is a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty books. She grew up an Army brat, and now she and her Army-veteran husband have returned to their beloved Texas after a ten-year stint in the Northeast. They survive on Sonic & Starbucks runs, barbecue, and peach cobbler that they share–sometimes–with Benning the Stealth Golden. Ronie’s degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Ronie is giving away the grand prize package of
a copy of War of Torment in Hardcover and $20 Barnes & Noble 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/25ae4/war-of-torment-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 30
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 1 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 1
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 2
Where Faith and Books Meet, May 3
Texas Book-aholic, May 4
Wishful Endings, May 5
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 6
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 7
Mary Hake, May 7
Simple Harvest Reads, May 8 (Guest Review from Mindy)
Inklings and Notions, May 9
Blogging With Carol, May 10
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 11
For Him and My Family, May 12
Rachael’s Inkwell, May 13

2 Comments

Epic Book Launch - Lone Star Sweetheart by Shannon Sue Dunlap

5/4/2023

0 Comments

Katherine Bruno is the shrew of Sweetheart, Texas. Her passionate, unfiltered temper clashes with the gentle pace of her tiny hometown. When she’s drafted to help the mayor’s wife who wants to run in the local election against her own husband, she meets big city political consultant Ryan Park, and cue the fireworks! The handsome campaign manager gets under her skin in a big way, but fraternizing with the enemy is off-limits.

Katherine must battle her lack of experience, campaign sabotage, and her growing feelings for Ryan as she strives to succeed. His unprejudiced acceptance of her strong-willed character beckons her heart, but his rejection of God is an insurmountable barrier. Will Ryan return to his faith and stay with her in Sweetheart or leave when the election ends?

Genre: Inspirational Rom-com
Release date: May 23, 2023

Excerpt from Lone Star Sweetheart

Its heat seeped through the thin paper cup and warmed her fingers as she tried to ignore them.

“The mayor's wife has gone loco!” another outraged male proclaimed.

Katherine sighed. She needed a sugar fix. There wasn't even a pink packet of artificial sweetener to take the edge off the dark, pungent brew in her hand.

The incensed male chorus behind her grew louder.

“What makes Lanette Johnson think she can run the town of Sweetheart?”

Ah, the surprise second candidate in the mayoral race. She should have guessed. Katherine glared over her shoulder, but they didn't notice. The men were too busy casting judgmental looks at the mayor's wife as she walked past wearing a matching leopard print ensemble.

“Lanette was always bossing poor Harry around anyway. Does she have to try and take his job away on top of it?”

Their tongues clicked in unison. Katherine gagged, and not because of the over-roasted coffee.

“Gracious words,” she muttered under her breath. “Remember. Gracious words, girl.”

Easier said than done. She'd been a straight shooter all her life. Ready to tell it like it was. Until an unexpected conviction hit her one morning when she was reading the book of Proverbs.
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Shannon Sue Dunlap

Shannon Sue Dunlap lives in the lone star state of Texas. She’s a die-hard fan of happy endings and believe there’s a Heavenly Father who’s designed one for each of us. Inspiration comes from everywhere—including worldwide travels, her adorable music students, and the fun and flirty Korean dramas she enjoys watching.
Even in the hard times, there’s humor to be found, and Shannon tries to infuse every story with moments that bring a good chuckle or an all-out belly laugh. One of her greatest hopes is that readers recognize themselves in her books.

We’re all such a fabulous mix of flaws and greatness, and everyone is the hero or heroine in their own life story.
She holds an M.A. in Journalism from Regent University and has published three romances under the pen
name Shannon Kent. You can connect with her at www.shannonsuedunlap.com, and if you sign up for her
newsletter, you’ll receive a free copy of her romcom novella Flower Boy Tour Guide.

Blog Stops

Excerpt One: https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/2023/05/07/lone-star-sweetheart-epic-book-launch-excerpt/

Excerpt Two: http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews/epic-book-launch-lone-star-sweetheart-by-shannon-sue-dunlap

Excerpt Three: https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/lone-star-sweetheart-book-excerpt/

Excerpt Four: https://wp.me/p7qp1R-pYg

Excerpt Five: https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2023/04/epic-book-launch-lone-star-sweetheart.html

Excerpt Six: https://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/2023/04/14/lone-star-sweetheart-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Seven: http://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/lone-star-sweetheart-book-excerpt/

0 Comments

Epic Book Launch - Amish Wilderness Survival by Mary Alford

3/9/2023

1 Comment

To stay alive,
she must escape a killer’s clutches

When her brother goes missing, Leora Mast will do anything to find him…even if it means putting her life in danger. Upon arriving in Montana, she finds an ally in Fletcher Shetler, but almost as soon as they meet, they’re running for their lives. With Fletcher’s help, Leora must unravel the truth about her brother’s disappearance…before the man who wants them dead tracks them down.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Genre: Amish Suspense
Release date: March 28, 2023

Excerpt from Amish Wilderness Survival

He stared out the kitchen window at the growing clouds hovering near the mountain range near his West Kootenai, Montana, home. The shots he’d heard earlier could have come from anywhere...or they could have come from the same direction as Ethan’s place. With the mountains so close, sound could be distorted by echoing off them.

Because of Fletcher and his bruder Mason’s affiliation with the search and rescue program, the bishop in their district had allowed them to carry cell phones. Fletcher had been trying to reach his friend unsuccessfully for a couple of days.

Coming from a close-knit family with four other bruders, Fletcher had gotten used to looking out for those he loved, and Ethan was like family. Still, as a former marine, Ethan Connors was more than capable of taking care of himself. He’d proved this time and again. So why was Fletcher so worried? Maybe it had been the look of concern in Ethan’s eyes when he’d told Fletcher about the trip, or the fact Ethan rarely went a day without touching base with either Fletcher or Mason.

Mary Alford

Mary Alford is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty novels. Her books have been finalists in the Selah Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and the HOLT Medallion Contest. As a writer, Mary is an avid reader. She loves to cook and can’t face the day with-out coffee. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two very spoiled cats and one adorable rescue dog. Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook and Twitter or any social platforms listed at www.maryalford.net.

Blog Stops

Excerpt One: http://amandanicolle.blogspot.com/2023/03/amish-wilderness-survival.html?m=1

Excerpt Two: http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews/epic-book-launch-amish-wilderness-survival-by-mary-alford

Excerpt Three: http://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/amish-wilderness-survival-book-excerpt/

Excerpt Four: https://catsinthecradle.blog/2023/02/18/amish-wilderness-survival-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Five: https://nannie3.blogspot.com/2023/02/amish-wilderness-survival.html?m=1

Excerpt Six: https://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/2023/02/17/amish-wilderness-survival-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Seven: https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/2023/03/08/amish-wilderness-survival-epic-book-launch-and-excerpt/

1 Comment

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham (Giveaway)

3/5/2023

1 Comment

Clue meets Indiana Jones with a fiction-loving
twist only Grace Percy can provide.

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley have already experienced their fair-share of suspense, but when a honeymoon trip takes a detour to the mystical land of Egypt, not even Grace with her fiction-loving mind is prepared for the dangers in store. From an assortment of untrustworthy adventure-seekers to a newly discovered tomb with a murderous secret, Frederick and Grace must lean on each other to navigate their dangerous surroundings. As the suspects mount in an antiquities’ heist of ancient proportions, will Frederick and Grace’s attempts to solve the mystery lead to another death among the sands?

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Fiction / Romance / Adventure / Mystery
Release date: February 1, 2023

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Nothing says 'honeymoon' like murder and mayhem...

I'm always up for a good adventure story set in the sands and tombs of Egypt. Very rarely do I run into one that I dislike and The Cairo Curse proved that rule to still be very true – don't worry, I liked it. Anyway, it has all of the mystery – and surprisingly the comedy – that a person might wish for in a historical romance.

I will admit that I have not read the first Freddie And Grace Mystery but as I had hoped I was still able to enjoy this second book in the series anyway. Pepper Basham did a great job writing a story that is definitely connected to its predecessor but can still be enjoyed as a complete story of its own.

While The Cairo Curse probably isn't my favorite book with an Egyptology theme, that would be Linda Chaikin's Egypt Trilogy, I can easily tell you that it is my favorite Pepper Basham book that I have read. The mix of humor and murder mystery was quite entertaining. The Egypt on the eve of WWI (1914) setting of this Freddie And Grace Mystery was an excellent one. It was an exciting time in Egyptology and in the world making it the perfect backdrop for a tale of murder, intrigue, and discovery.

I did enjoy reading The Cairo Curse and I think after this I will likely not be a stranger to Pepper Basham's Freddie And Grace Mysteries...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham a 4 Bark rating.

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

Read an Excerpt from The Cairo Curse!

February 1914, Havensbrook

Gunfire erupted from outside, sending Frederick Percy, Earl of Astley, leaping from his chair. The seat crashed against the floor behind him in time with another shot. What on earth! He grabbed the first weapon-like item he could find—his grandfather’s cane—and dashed toward the sound, nearly colliding with his butler moving in the same direction.

“Did you hear the gunfire, Brandon?”

The older gentleman’s brows rose as high as they could go without becoming part of his snowy hairline. “Indeed, my lord. From the south garden, if I guess correctly, sir.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Frederick tapped the cane against the floor and took a step in the direction of the garden door. Then stopped, a sudden sense of dread forming a lump in his stomach. His butler’s response was much too cavalier for an emergency. “Have you seen Lady Astley of late, Brandon?”

“Not since after breakfast, sir.”

“Well, then.” Frederick returned to his office for his own pistol and prayed whatever inspired a gunshot near his home would prove more benign than dangerous. After surviving several near-death experiences over the past Christmas season, Frederick was quite finished with drama for a while. Though drama seemed to follow his new bride in spades.

He met the butler back in the hallway.

“Might I offer an insight, sir?”

Frederick pivoted in his approach to the door and turned back to Brandon. “Insight?”

“Yes, sir.” The man released a deep sigh which pulled his pristine posture into a slight slump. He then sent Frederick a look which somehow inspired a grimace before Frederick even heard the man’s words. “Her ladyship was speaking with Mr. Blake after breakfast, sir.”

“Mr. Blake?” Frederick rolled his gaze heavenward, the tension in his jaw uncoiling into a slight annoyance that manifested in an ache over his right eyebrow. He loved his cousin. There was no man Frederick trusted more. But for some reason, the idea of Blake and Grace together followed by the sound of gunfire did not bode well.

For anyone.

“About pistols, my lord.”

And the answers emerged, along with an increased throbbing in Frederick’s head. “Thank you, Brandon.”

Setting a slower pace, he moved toward the south side of his manor house, another shot reverberating nearer. Within a month since Christmas, his American wife had learned how to drive the car and throw knives, two skills she appeared to excel in more than knowing the fashion of the season or how to address the complicated hierarchy of the aristocracy. His lips almost split into a grin as he recalled her stumbling over addressing the Duke of Westonbridge two weeks ago by calling him “Your Honorable Lord” and then in quick correction, “Your Grace, or at least I hope you are since I fumbled your title so atrociously.”

Of course the duke had fallen under Grace’s spell within five minutes, as everyone else who met her seemed to do since she’d moved to his crumbling Derbyshire estate two months earlier. Well, everyone except the villainess who’d tried to kill them just before Christmas. But that was hopefully a distant story, and their next chapter would be a lovely, peaceful belated honeymoon—he increased his steps at the idea—with a little surprise tagged on for his lovely Lady Astley.

Frederick nodded a good afternoon to the police officer inconspicuously posted near the house so that Frederick’s mother could work out her sentence of house arrest in connection with his father and brother’s deaths. He released a sigh. No, she was no murderess, unless glares and harsh words counted, but she’d harbored information that could have protected others. The law had been gracious with her due to her age and status, merely revoking her freedoms from leaving Havensbrook, so his mother’s life stayed very much as it had since Frederick’s father’s death; however, the added blemish of “criminal” to her reputation ensured she spent her days away from the public eye.

And if the police officer appeared in no great distress over the gunfire, Frederick knew all too well what must be happening.

Just around the edge of the house, a large garden opened to the south, its walls still well intact, though ivy-grown and tangled. Another shot reverberated through the damp air, followed quickly by laughter and his wife’s exuberant exclamation of “I hit it.”

Frederick’s lips pinched into a frown. Why he ever expected his cousin Blake to mind Frederick’s subtle requests was beyond him! The garden gate stood open, welcoming him forward into an even more tangled array of vines and twined greenery, the winter roses, a remnant of the garden’s healthier days, sleeping until spring.

He hadn’t had the means to make things right with Havensbrook before but, with Grace’s wealth and her generous heart, he could now. Another way to make amends for the past, he hoped, though God had already bestowed on him much more than he deserved.

His cousin stood to the right, hands on the hips of his gray suit jacket, but Frederick’s gaze followed Blake’s focus to the woman in the center of the garden. Her bright auburn hair was twisted up beneath a deep purple hat that matched her coat, both in contrast to her pale skin. Her laughter echoed toward him, so filled with joy and hope. Two things he’d thought lost forever before he’d met her.

Yes, God had given him much more than he deserved, and sometimes, he wondered if God had given him more than he could manage.

Pepper Basham

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.
You can learn more about Pepper at her website http://www.pepperdbasham.com or connect with her on FB, IG, or Twitter.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/24703/the-cairo-curse-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 23
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 23
Bigreadersite, February 23
By The Book, February 24
Just Your Average reviews, February 24
Remembrancy, February 24
Sylvan Musings, February 24
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, February 25 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 25
Mary Hake, February 25
Worthy2Read, February 26
Christina’s Corner, February 26
Texas Book-aholic, February 26
Betti Mace, February 27
The Sacred Line, February 27
deb’s Book Review, February 27
Lily’s Book Reviews, February 28
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 28
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 28
Labor Not in Vain, February 28
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 1
Cover Lover Book Review, March 1
Daysong Reflections, March 1
Hebrews 12 Endurance, March 2
Wishful Endings, March 2
Melissa’s Bookshelf, March 2
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 3
Simple Harvest Reads, March 3 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Rebecca Tews, March 3
Connie’s History Classroom, March 4
Blogging With Carol, March 4
To Everything There Is A Season, March 4
Cathe Swanson, March 4
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 5
Artistic Nobody, March 5 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Where Faith and Books Meet, March 6
For Him and My Family, March 6
Holly’s Book Corner, March 6
She Lives To Read, March 7
Splashes of Joy, March 7
Pause for Tales, March 7
Back Porch Reads, March 8
Blossoms and Blessings, March 8
Through the Fire Blogs, March 8

1 Comment

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Bear Knight by James R. Hannibal (Giveaway)

3/1/2023

4 Comments

Darkness Looms in the Dragon Lands

War is brewing. New threats have emerged in Keledev. The watchmen of Thousand Falls and the Windhold find goblin tunnels in the slopes of the mountain barrier that may hold many dangerous creatures. At the same time, scouting missions into the Dragon Lands confirm that the dragons are building an army of tortured Aladoth villagers to destroy the Liberated Land.

To protect Kara Orso, the young woman Connor and Lee rescued, the headmaster sends them to the Second Hall to face the intrigues of the Assembly in her place. Far to the south, the two cadets learn of an old weapon designed to end the war between the dragons and the Liberated Land forever. To restore the honor of his family and renew the hope of his people, Connor believes he must find the weapon and use it to destroy the dragon leader.

While Connor, Lee, and an assemblyman’s daughter scour the Dragon Lands for the weapon, Kara and Tiran are drawn north into the Forest of Horrors on a mission of their own—to find and save one tortured man. To succeed, both parties must face their fears and lean on the peace and strength of the Rescuer.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Release date: Febraury 14, 2023

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

New dangers arise for the Lightraider cadets...

I've been on a real fantasy kick lately so the release of this second Lightraider Academy novel couldn't have been more perfect timing. After being on tenterhooks for the last year or so I finally got to dive into Bear Knight to find some answers to that cliffhanger James R. Hannibal left me on at the end of book one.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked Bear Knight even more than its predecessor. It was like James R. Hannibal had slipped into just the right groove and had taken the Lightraider Academy tale to new heights – not to mention in a few unexpected directions.

One of the things that I really appreciate about the Lightraider Academy series – and Bear Knight in particular – is that, while it is obviously an allegory, James R. Hannibal has not sacrificed the 'fantasy' aspect of the story. It is a fantasy adventure story through and through with a noticeable nod to spiritual warfare and the Christian life.

If you enjoy fantasy yourself or you have teens – boys or girls alike – Lightraider Academy is a great series to try out. Do make sure that you read the first book before you read Bear Knight. The only problem you'll have with it is the same one that I do...having to wait for James R. Hannibal to bring some more answers in the next book in the series...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Bear Knight by James R. Hannibal a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

Read an Excerpt from Bear Knight

Sireth held up a palm to stop Aaron’s next swings and inspected their work, then waved. “Swap sides. We must keep the cuts even, and yours are not quite as deep.”

Not quite as deep was a generous evaluation, and Aaron knew it, but this did not deter his next question. Chopping trees was one thing. Fighting was quite another. “Are you not concerned about keeping up with the younger watchmen in training and combat?”

“Older. Younger. My age and yours are not so different when you consider eternity. And as to combat”—the axe spun in each of Sireth’s hands before he landed his next blow—“I have some training. You forget, most in my generation had not yet come of age when the Assembly disbanded the Order. Many of us had planned to join—had played and practiced at it from the day we could hold a wooden sword. We spent our strongest years still practicing, in hopes it would reopen.”

“But it didn’t. Not until you had households and children of your own—grown children, at that.”

“I’m well aware.”

Right. His children. “When did your sehna and behlna take on the initiate’s quest?”
“The very first class.”

The power went out of Aaron’s swing. Sireth Yar. Teegan and Tiran. How had he failed to put those names together? “They helped close the dragon’s portal. They stopped the invasion.”

“For now.”

“I take it you share the Order’s concern. If the dragons can open one portal, they can open others.”

Sireth shot a look at Aaron’s idle axe, and did not answer until Aaron had taken the cue and started chopping again. “That is why we are here, is it not? Last year, one dragon moved ore creatures and goblins to our side of the barrier. A host of dragons might send an army. The Lightraider Order believes that is their plan. My own sehna and behlna saw the preparations.”

An army. The preparations. Aaron let the words settle into his thoughts. He’d come to the barrier for adventure and because the old men of his village had spoken of honor and need. But had he truly considered the cost of his calling? Looking north, he pictured orcs, trolls, and all manner of dragon corruptions rushing down the slopes.

“You all right?”

“Hm? Oh yes.” Aaron resumed his swings. “Do you worry? About your sehna and behlna, I mean.” He looked northeast toward the Order’s fortress at Ras Telesar. “Up there, at the academy.”

“They’re in the Maker’s hands.” Sireth raised two fingers to signal Aaron to still his axe. “Ras Telesar may be higher up the barrier, but it’s still here, in Keledev, under the Rescuer’s protection.”

With a sharp crack, the trunk gave. Aaron found himself yanked over to Sireth’s side. The heaviest part of the pine smashed down right where he’d been standing. Sireth released him and patted his chest. “I’d say my children are as safe as you are.”

James R. Hannibal

As a former fighter pilot, stealth pilot, and tactical deception officer, James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. He is the award-winning author of thrillers, mysteries, and fantasies for adults and children, and he is the developer of Lightraider Academy games. As a pastor’s kid in Colorado Springs, he guinea-pigged every youth discipleship program of the 1980s, but the one that engaged him and shaped him most as a Christ-follower and Kingdom warrior was DragonRaid, by Dick Wulf—the genesis of the Lightraider world.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, James is giving away the grand prize package of
a signed Bear Knight Hardcover, Starlots Gem Dice 7-Color Set, Hand-Inked,
First Watch Bible Memory Card Game, and a $100 Amazon 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/24706/bear-knight-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 26
Texas Book-aholic, February 27
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 28
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 1
deb’s Book Review, March 1
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 2
Simple Harvest Reads, March 2 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 3
Lily’s Book Reviews, March 4
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 6
Blogging With Carol, March 7
Rebecca Tews, March 8
Where Faith and Books Meet, March 8
Guild Master, March 9
Artistic Nobody, March 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
For Him and My Family, March 11

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Epic Book Launch - A Trail So Lonesome by Lacy Williams

12/22/2022

0 Comments

Spending five months eating trail dust wasn’t Leo Spencer’s first choice. Or his second. He’s not one to run away, but some situations can’t be fixed and his family—two brothers and a sister—needs to start over. Which is how he finds himself on a westbound wagon train.

Evangeline has a secret, one that has sent her on a journey across the plains on the Oregon Trail. When her father is badly hurt and she needs help, Leo is there. A deal is struck and the two unlikely friends form an alliance… that leads to more.

But Evangeline’s secret looms over her… and Leo’s family troubles are far from over.

Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: January 12, 2023

Excerpt from A Trail So Lonesome

“That's why you’re the perfect man for the job. The two of us would never suit. There are too many things you don't like about me. And—”
He waited for her to list off all the reasons he wasn't suitable for her, but she remained silent. He stood in the darkness, his face burning.
"I don't know whether or not to be offended," he admitted.
"I didn't mean to offend you," she said quickly. "I only meant—”
He waited. And then waited some more for her to say something. Maybe apologize.
But what she said was, "I'll pay you two thousand dollars to get my family to Oregon.”
That made him clamp his mouth shut. The weight of coins in his hand felt heavier.
“There are more gold coins in a compartment in our wagon. I can pay you five hundred dollars now and the rest when we reach the Willamette valley. I didn't count that, it was dark."
“Two thousand dollars?” he croaked. He’d known she and James were well-off. It couldn’t be more obvious from their fine clothes and brand-new wagon. But a secret compartment? Gold coins?
"Who else knows about the money?” Gossip tended to spread through the wagon train like wildfire.

Lacy Williams

Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see in Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published sixty books in a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog. Find tons of bonus scenes and reader extras by becoming a VIP reader at www.lacywilliams.net/vip

0 Comments

10th Blogoversary Scavenger Hunt Stop #9 - Dana R. Lynn

12/7/2022

0 Comments

Stop #9

Dana R. Lynn

To protect an Amish community…
She’ll make herself a target.

After a pregnant Amish woman and her toddler are abducted, police sergeant Nicole Dawson charges in to save them. But when the kidnapper escapes with the child—and thinks Nicole can identify him—she becomes his new obsession. Determined to protect his ex-fiancée, FBI special agent Jack Quinn joins the case. But the clock is ticking in their race to uncover the baby-trafficking ring before another innocent is taken…

Excerpt from Amish Cradle Conspiracy

Nicole took her gaze off the road for a moment to peer at him, struck by the sorrow she heard in his voice. She remembered him saying his sister had died and wondered if there was a connection there. About to open her mouth to ask, she froze, arrested as Jack’s expression twisted in horror.

“Look out!” He reached over and jerked the wheel to the right. She whipped her head around in time to see a crop-dusting plane headed in their direction, nearly on top of them.

“Why is he flying over the road!” Nicole spun the wheel, sending the cruiser off the road and skidding into the grass while the plane passed them. She knew the pilots sometimes flew as low as eight feet above the crops. She’d never seen one up this close before. She hit the gas and her tires spun in the grass and mud before finding traction again on the paved road.

Her questions were answered when the plane did a staggering loop in the air and roared back toward them. She floored it, trying to outrun this new threat. Bullets rained down on the road from the craft.

They’d become the killer’s new target.

Dana R. Lynn

Dana R. Lynn is an award winning, USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-selling author of more than twenty romantic suspense and Amish romance books who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. Although she grew up in Illinois, she met her husband at a wedding in Pennsylvania and told her parents she had met her future husband. Nineteen months later, they were married. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania and are entering the world of empty nesters after raising their three children. She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray with the Steve Laube Agency. Dana is an avid reader, loves cats and thinks chocolate should be a food group. Readers can contact her or sign up to receive her monthly newsletter at www.danarlynn.com.

How many children does Dana have?

0 Comments

10th Blogoversary Scavenger Hunt Stop #8 - Regina Scott

12/7/2022

0 Comments

Stop #8

Regina Scott

Happy 10th blogoversary to Tell Tale Reviews! Here’s to another 10 years sharing good books with readers!

Never Love a Lord is the finale to my Fortune’s Brides: The Wedding Vow series. When spunky Petunia Bateman is awarded a title, the man she once loved comes calling, to her chagrin. Lord Ashforde’s family history has convinced him that cool heads must prevail when choosing a bride. Surrounded by intrigue, can he convince her, and himself, to give their love another try?

Here’s a little taste:

“Shall we discuss the Batavarian question?” she asked as the shade from the Hyde Park trees on either side covered them like a parasol.

Time to make a clean breast of it. “Actually, I was hoping to address another matter first. As you know, I’ve been wanting to speak to you for some time.”

She lifted her chin in a show of her usual bravado. “Sorry to have inconvenienced you, I’m sure.”

He sighed inwardly. “That came out wrong. What I meant was, I have been regretting how we parted three years ago, and I’ve wanted to apologize ever since.”

She stopped and stared at him. “Truly?”

“Truly,” he assured her, stopping as well and encouraged by the hope ringing in her voice. “I was unconscionably curt with you when you deserved nothing less than my respect and admiration. At the time, I had concluded that we would not suit, but there were far better ways to explain that.”

She started walking again, this time faster, as if she could distance herself from the memory. “Apology accepted. We needn’t dwell on the matter.”

“Unfortunately, I find myself dwelling entirely too much,” he told her, pacing her as they came abreast of the stone Keeper’s Lodge with its tall pillars. “Against my better judgment, I cannot seem to stop thinking of you as a potential bride.”

Once more she jerked to a stop, this time face flaming. “Oh! Against your better judgment? How very kind you are, my lord. I’m sure every girl longs to hear just such a statement from her potential groom!”

There were a number of statements he regretted over the years, but he had a feeling the one he’d just made would haunt him the rest of his life.

^^^

The minister at St. Paul’s Covent Garden had spoken this morning about forgiving wrongs, but Petunia was certain that if the fellow had had the misfortune of meeting Lord Ashforde, he might have made an exception. Against his better judgment? As if she was something tantalizing he knew was terribly, terribly bad, like eating all the Christmas pudding before the family came down for dinner.

“Please, Miss Bateman, Lady Moselle,” he said, hands behind his back as if they had been tied there. “I find it difficult to speak well in front of you.”

“Balderdash,” Tuny said. “You’re a member of Parliament. You must have made speeches any number of times, in front of dozens of powerful lords.”

“You are hardly a powerful lord.”

And didn’t she know it. “No. I suspect that’s part of the problem.”

He rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. His valet would likely have fainted in despair if he’d seen the mess his lordship was making of that perfectly tied cravat. “It is entirely the problem,” he protested. “I have no vested interest in a speech before Parliament other than seeing the best outcome for the nation. Now, I’m attempting to speak to the one woman who ever captured my heart. That alone ties my tongue.”

Captured his heart? Oh, could he be any more cruel?

“I doubt I ever captured your heart,” Tuny retorted. “At times, I’ve wondered whether you have one.”

He winced. “Justified. Please, may we start over?”

She could not seem to stop the words from pouring out of her. “How far back would you like to go? The first time we met, when you asked Larissa and Callie to dance before you considered me? The second time we met, when you spoke to Larissa during dinner while completely ignoring me farther down the table? What about when you decided I might be tolerable enough for a dance or two, a walk or two, only to tell me to my face that you were sorry if you raised expectations? Or just now, when you admitted your judgment must be addled for even thinking of me at all?”

“For all those occasions,” he said, “and any other moment when I might have hurt you, I am deeply sorry.”

She looked him straight in the eye. Pain was etched in the lovely blue. It dragged down the corners of his mouth. Even his voice held a throbbing note of sorrow. His shoulders, always carried so high and proud, were slumping, his breath coming slow and heavy.

Nothing about him suggested he was a good actor. In fact, she had never known him to show himself as less than perfect. Could he truly regret his actions?

Regina Scott

Regina Scott started writing novels in the third grade. Thankfully for literature as we know it, she didn’t actually sell her first novel until she had learned a bit more about writing. Since her first novel was published, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages including Dutch, German, Italian, and Portuguese. She now has now published more than 60 works of warm, witty romance and more than 1 million copies of her books are in reader hands. She and her husband of 30 years reside in Washington State on the way to Mt. Rainier. Regina Scott has learned to fence, dressed as a Regency dandy, driven four in hand, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research, of course. Sign up for her newsletter at https://subscribe.reginascott.com for exclusive stories and sneak peeks.

How many years ago did Tuny and Ash part?

0 Comments

10th Blogoversary Scavenger Hunt Stop #4 Cindy Thomson

12/7/2022

0 Comments

Stop #4

Cindy Thomson

Excerpt from Celtic Wanderings

I have long believed that the way to progress along the Christian path is to look back at those who have traveled it before us. I think most Christians would agree with that idea because it’s what we do by studying the Holy Scriptures. In addition, I value learning from the stories of the ancient saints, specifically those referred to as Celtic saints. With this in mind, I’ve created this book that I hope will guide and encourage you on your way.

Celtic wanderings did not consist of random stumbling along dark paths. The pilgrimages the Celtic Christians took might at first glance appear to be nothing more than random jaunts without clear purpose. Peregrinatio is the Latin term for a wanderer for Christ and is often used to describe these ancient Celtic Christians who set sail on rudderless boats or searched for hermitages in the wild. They weren’t physically headed for a destination such those who took pilgrimages to the Christians sites of the day such as Rome, Italy, or Tours, France. Spiritually-speaking they were in fact looking for something in particular. The Promised Land, the place of our resurrection as Christians. I invite you to join me on this spiritual quest within the pages of this book.

Many people make devotionals a part of their morning quiet time routine. While you may use these devotions anytime, consider changing things up by reading them in the evening or reading them in the evening or at bedtime instead. The Celtic people saw nighttime as a beginning rather than an ending as we tend to.

The Celts celebrated their festivals after sunset when for them, a new day was beginning. An example of this is Halloween, or All Saints Eve, generally believed to have originated in Ireland and was observed during the dark half of the day. I have found evening devotionals to be calming and renewing after a busy a day. You might as well.”

(Sample devotional)

TRAVEL
Evening Three

Keeping the fire burning in the hearth was extremely important in ancient times, not only for heat, but also for light.

Imagine for a moment just how dark night would be without electricity or any power source. If you lived in the Middle Ages in the Celtic regions of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, or parts of Britain, you likely lived in a sparsely populated area. If your fire went out, chances were there was not another to draw from nearby. Outside your door lay a wild place where wolves roamed. A traveler without a torch faced the danger of falling into a bog even if he or she were successful in escaping predators. Now imagine the Celtic Christian trying to navigate his or her faith in the same vein, except swap the need of a torch for a lack of scripture. While it’s true God can be seen in and his ways taught through nature and beside other believers (a centrally held belief of Celtic Christians), scripture was essential. Without it one would be in danger of falling prey to sin or straying far from God. The psalmist is referring to following God’s laws and used this illustration because back then being without a lamp in the dark could be quite treacherous.

The ancient Celtic Christians lived by the Psalms. In the earliest days of St. Patrick and for a hundred or so years after, there were not many copies of the rest of the Bible. The Psalms were memorized and chanted in a song-like rhythm similar to what scholars believe was the psalmist’s original intention.

Psalm 119 contains multiple reminders of spiritually traveling by way of God’s laws. I can picture the ancient monk or nun on a journey or imagine them simply moving from chore to chore while reciting this verse over and over, allowing the words to light the path.

CHALLENGE:

Repeat this evening’s verse several times.

Then read Psalm 119 in its entirety. How has this influenced the way you think of scripture?

Dear Father, allow your words and your laws to light the depths of my heart. Help me to remember to meditate
on these words as the day comes to a close. Amen.

Excerpt From CELTIC WANDERINGS, a 40-Day Devotional by Cindy Thomson
This material is protected by copyright.

Cindy Thomson

Known for the inspirational Celtic theme employed in most of her books, Cindy Thomson is the author of both novels and non-fiction books. She is co-founder of the Faith & Fellowship Book Festival vice president of the Mordecai Brown Legacy Foundation, and frequent Thurber House teacher. She owns the team site Novel PASTimes, a blog for readers of historical fiction. A genealogy enthusiast and traveler to Ireland, she writes from her home in Central Ohio. Visit her online at www.CindysWriting.com

Why does Cindy Thomson recommend reading the devotionals
in her book, Celtic Wanderings, in the evenings?

0 Comments

10th Blogoversary Scavenger Hunt Stop #1 - Mary Alford

12/7/2022

1 Comment

Stop #1

Mary Alford

Excerpt from Among The Innocent

Heat rose in waves off the blacktop where Leah Miller had parked her police cruiser. Recent statistics showed that the crime rate in St. Ignatius, Montana, was at an all-time low. Today, Leah shot radar at the occasional passing vehicle to occupy her shift until something more challenging came along.

Leah looped her raven hair into a bun at the nape of her neck, seeking relief from the record-breaking hot spell the county was suffering through this July.

Her police uniform clung uncomfortably to her skin while her thoughts wandered to the things she planned to do when her shift ended. She’d need to check in on Kitty before heading over to have dinner with Marge.

A few years back, Leah had bought her tiny house on Pope Lane. It had taken all her savings, but it was worth it because it represented a huge milestone: putting down roots for the first time since that horrific night. She’d even brought home the stray tabby cat who hung out behind the police station. They were still adjusting to each other, since Kitty had been on her own for a while. In the six months Kitty had lived at Leah’s house, Kitty mostly stayed in the laundry room except at night when she preferred the foot of Leah’s bed.

Since Chief Ellis Petri’s death, Leah had been spending as much time as she could with her adoptive mother, Marge. Losing Ellis had been hard on the both of them, but Marge had been struggling with health issues as well.

Marge and Ellis Petri had been Leah’s rock since that night ten years ago when her world changed forever. Several years earlier, Marge and Leah’s mother had struck up an unlikely friendship, and Marge had become a frequent visitor at Leah’s home. Sometimes Ellis came along. After what happened, Leah had left the Amish community, despite her neighbors offering to take her in. To survive, she’d had to let that part of her life go. Ellis and Marge had taken her in. They’d become her world.

And now Ellis was gone.

Let it go. The past is written and done, but you’re not.

In the distance, dark clouds gathered over the Mission Mountains. A storm was on its way. Despite the sweltering heat, a cold shiver sped down Leah’s spine. Something bad was approaching. She could feel it moving in.

It’s just the time of year, she told herself. The anniversary of what happened always churned up stuff.

She’d seen plenty of terrible things in her four years on the force. Yet, at sixteen, Leah had become personally acquainted with the devastating effects tragedy had on the living. Her grief had wrapped its spindly limbs around her and took up residence in her soul. That night in the barn—the things she’d witnessed—had imprinted itself in her DNA.

The woman staring back in the rearview mirror was an older version of that frightened Amish girl whose life had changed forever with a flick of a knife. The scar on her neck was a constant reminder of how close to death she’d come and of those who hadn’t been so lucky.

Leah dragged in a deep breath and dropped her eyes from the mirror. Better to keep that door closed. Too many bad things hid behind it. For Marge’s sake, she needed to stay strong.

“Leah? Are you there?” Dispatcher Sugar Wallace’s voice came through the police radio. Henry needs your help on a call out in the Amish community.”

Officer Leah Miller’s stomach knotted.

“Josiah Zook called from the Mission General Store. He said his daughter Beth is missing.”

At the mention of her former neighbor, Josiah Zook, Leah was immediately transported back to that barn again. Watching as a psychopath slaughtered her entire family.

Their deaths came at the hands of a masked stranger who had entered their house, tied everyone up, and forced Mamm and Daed, her sister Ruth, and brother Elijah into the barn. Then, he’d systematically slit each of their throats in front of Leah, saving her for last. She remembered him standing over her. His hot breath whispering against her ear, “You’ll always belong to me.” Even now, the words had the power to reduce her to that terrified young girl, so certain she’d die along with her family.

“Leah? Did you hear me?” Sugar repeated.

With her heart racing, Leah struggled for calm and failed. “Sorry, yes. I know the family.” She’d been friends with Josiah’s older daughter, Colette. “I’ll head over and assist.”

“Thanks, Leah. Let’s hope the girl shows up soon. I don’t want to think about something bad happening to one of those innocent people.”

Sugar’s words fell like knives in her heart. The Amish were peaceful, God-fearing folks. Violence in the community was a rare thing, yet not unheard of. Leah was living proof. Former police chief Ellis Petri had worked hard to help her achieve closure, yet the suspected killer’s end had been just as messed up as his heinous massacre of her family. Even to this day, Leah wondered if the wrong man had died in that fire.

Mary Alford

USA Today Bestselling Author, Mary Alford, loves giving her readers the un-expected, whether it be in a rugged mountain setting or a simple Amish community. Her titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestselling List, Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling List, and have finaled in the Daphne Du Maurier award of excellence in mystery, The Beverly, The Maggie, and The Selah Awards.
Mary is published through Annie’s Publishing, Love Inspired Suspense, Forget Me Not Romances, and she is an Indie Published Author. As a writer, Mary is an avid reader. She loves to cook, can’t face the day with-out coffee, and her three granddaughters are the apple of her eye. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog.

Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Face-book and Twitter or any social platforms listed
at www.maryalford.net.

What is the name of Leah’s cat?

1 Comment

Epic Book Launch - The Newton Chronicles: Soldiers, Crystals, and Temples by Terry Overton

11/3/2022

0 Comments

Luke Alexander’s father is “missing, presumed dead.” But Luke is confident that his father has set off on an adventure and needs his help. Searching through his father’s office, Luke – along with his friends Nathan, a pastor’s kid, and Lydia, a world traveler who knows several languages – discovers some confusing notes about Isaac Newton and finds a strange watch that once belonged to his grandfather. Knowing his archeologist father was on the hunt for Solomon’s temple, Luke and his friends decide to start a search of their own. Little do they know that their search will take them on the wildest adventures of their lives and make the stories of Solomon’s temple and other biblical events seem more real than they ever thought possible. But will their adventures lead them to Luke’s father, or will they only wind up with more questions than answers? Soldiers, Crystals, and Temples is an excellent book for anyone who loves a good adventure and who wants to find the truth that is found only in God’s Word. This first book in The Newton Chronicles will make history and the Bible come alive for readers both young and old.

Genre: Middle Grade Christian Fiction
Release date: November 22, 2022

Excerpt from The Newton Chronicles: Soldiers, Crystals, and Temples

A Very Orgel Lunch

I enjoy Mrs. Orgel’s cooking. Her meals are always better than whatever Mom puts together. I’m not sure why. Maybe it is because Mrs. Orgel has traveled a great deal and always fixes something exotic. Maybe it’s because my mom is always busy with work, so we eat a lot of take out. I like Mrs. Orgel’s food, but sometimes I can’t really determine what I am eating. It usually tastes pretty good, so I figure today it will be the same.
“Hello, Marjorie and Luke,” Mr. Orgel says opening the door.
“Hello,” replies my mother.
“Hi.” I enter the room full of souvenirs representing a well-traveled life.
“Lydia is in the den. Go on in.”
“Hey, Lydia,” I quietly say as I walk into the den. I have grown accustomed to these Sunday lunches when Lydia and I hardly speak. But we are both comfortable with this lack of conversation. Being in the same grade doesn’t mean you have to be friends. Lydia glances up from her book, smooths her already perfectly smoothed down brown hair, and says, “Hello.” She returns to her book without batting her long lashes my way. I have come to believe she has the longest eyelashes of anyone I have ever known.

Terry Overton

Terry Overton obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology and her Ed. D. in special education. She taught in public schools and was a school psychologist and a professor before retiring in 2016. She began her second “career” after retirement and now writes Christian fiction books and devotionals and hopes to share the Christian worldview through her writing. Her novels, middle grade readers, and picture books seek to entertain readers through the travel experiences and characters included in her books. She currently resides in Laguna Vista, Texas, near the Texas-Mexico border. She enjoys Biblical history and general Bible studies, writing, and enjoying family and friends. She has seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Blog Stops

Excerpt One: https://janemouttet.wordpress.com/2022/11/03/the-newton-chronicles-soldiers-crystals-and-temples-epic-book-launch-excerpt/

Excerpt Two: https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-newton-chronicles-soldiers-crystals.html

Excerpt Three: https://www.amoderndayfairytale.net/2022/10/the-newton-chronicles-soldiers-crystals.html

Excerpt Four: https://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/2022/11/03/the-newton-chronicles-soldiers-crystals-and-temples-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Five: http://amandanicolle.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-newton-chronicles-soldiers-crystals.html?m=1

Excerpt Six: http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews/epic-book-launch-the-newton-chronicles-soldiers-crystals-and-temples-by-terry-overton

Excerpt Seven: https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/2022/11/03/the-newton-chronicles-soldiers-crystals-and-temples-excerpt/

0 Comments

Epic Book Launch - Into The Fog by Karen Randau

8/18/2022

2 Comments

Love and danger spar in this thrilling romantic suspense.

Hands push Marie Jessica (“MJ”) Goodrich from a rural roadway into an icy creek. The clock is ticking for her pleading friend on the other side of the ravine.

Running from flashbacks of a life-altering attack in Afghanistan, MJ takes refuge with her mother, managing Peach Blossom Orchard. But peace is illusive in a rural Oklahoma town full of secrets.

After losing his wife and children in a fatal car crash, Josh Rivers doubts he deserves a second chance at love. He can’t believe his bad luck when MJ, the woman who plagues the nightmares of his military service in Afghanistan, shows up in his hometown. She claims a driver ran down and abducted her friend Kelsey. Frustrated with the county sheriff’s investigation, MJ and Josh partner to follow clues that lead to a kidnapper who demands a bizarre ransom.

With danger increasing for everyone MJ loves, will the clock run out before they solve the mystery? Find out how MJ and Josh—swirling in a whirlwind of mystery and suspense—lean on their mutual faith to find answers, courage, forgiveness, healing … and wholesome romance.

If you like to read Christy Barritt and Colleen Coble, you’ll love Into the Fog, a keep-you-up-at-night clean romantic suspense novel that launches the Peach Blossom Orchard series.

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release date: September 6, 2022

Excerpt from Into The Fog

Almost. She needed to break that habit now that she was making a new life for herself.
With a deep breath, she stood tall on her right leg—all five-feet-six-inches of her—and
stiffened her core, placed her hands on her hips, raised her left leg at a ninety-degree angle.
“Rotate out,” her physical therapist had instructed while she recovered at Walter Reed Hospital.
“Draw a circle in the air with your knee.”
Having repeated the exercise on both legs, still without Kelsey, she moved onto lunging
stretches with a side bend, her dark ponytail slapping her face, wisps sticking to her lip balm.
Engrossed in how good it felt to stretch her hips, glutes, and hamstrings, she startled when
Kelsey stopped smack-dab in front of her and said, “Sorry I’m late.”
The woman’s red puffy eyes didn’t match her chipper tone.
MJ recognized Kelsey’s clothes from her last trip to Walmart: purple sports cap, a purple
long sleeve top, and black capri running pants with a purple stripe down the side. Kelsey always matched. Unlike MJ, who straightened her orange running top over the phone wedged into the waistband of her blue running capris.

Karen Randau

A native of the southwestern U.S., Karen Randau has been writing and telling stories since elementary school. She holds a degree in journalism/public relations from The University of Texas at Austin and has enjoyed a long career in marketing communications.
After a short stint working in a psychiatric hospital, when she wrote three self-help books, Karen joined an international relief and development organization to use her skills to help people struggling with extreme poverty. She has traveled to numerous developing countries, witnessing famines, violence, and hopeful people working to overcome a generational cycle of poverty.

She loves to read and write fast-paced mysteries and thrillers, especially those with intricate plots, lots of action, and
rollercoaster-like twists and turns.

Blog Stops

Excerpt One: http://amandanicolle.blogspot.com/2022/08/into-fog-excerpt.html?m=1

Excerpt Two: http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews/epic-book-launch-into-the-fog-by-karen-randau

Excerpt Three: http://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/into-the-fog-book-excerpt/

Excerpt Four: https://catsinthecradle.blog/2022/07/29/into-the-fog-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Five: https://nannie3.blogspot.com/2022/07/into-fog.html

Excerpt Six: https://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/2022/07/29/into-the-fog-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Seven: https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/2022/08/10/into-the-fog-epic-book-launch/

2 Comments

2022 Birthday Celebration - Excerpt from Buried Cold Case Secrets by Sami A. Abrams (Giveaway)

2/7/2022

7 Comments

Recovering her missing memories could be the key to solving a murder.

Searching for her best friend’s remains could help forensic anthropologist Melanie Hutton regain her memories of when they were both kidnapped—unless the killer gets to Melanie first. For her safety, Melanie must rely on Detective Jason Cooper, who still blames her for his sister’s death. Can Jason set the past aside to solve the cold-case murder…and shield Melanie from the same fate?

ASIN: B094R941NW

Harlequin ■ Barnes & Noble ■ Amazon ■ Walmart ■ Target

Excerpt from Buried Cold Case Secrets

   Allison, I’ll find your body. I promise.
   Melanie swiped the wetness from her cheeks and lowered herself into the grave. She picked up her trowel and searched for more bones.
   An hour later, Melanie’s headache had become unbearable, causing her stomach to roil. Her eyelids grew heavy. Something was off. She sat on the edge of the hole.
   “Jason, help.” Her words were slurred. She struggled to stay upright.
   Jason knelt and came face-to-face with her. “What’s wrong?”
   “I don’t know.”
   “Help me out here. What’s the last thing you did?”
   “I—I... Took a break a while ago. Only digging since.”
   His gaze flew to a spot behind her.
   She wilted into him. Her vision tunneled, and darkness closed in.
   “Keith! Grab the cooler and her bag!”
   Jason’s frantic voice registered, but her body had shut down.
   His warm arms lifted her. Her head bobbed and landed on his shoulder.
   His rhythmic breathing was the last thing she heard before the world went dark.

Sami A. Abrams

Sami Abrams grew up hating to read. It wasn't until her 30's that she found authors that captured her attention. Now, most evenings you can find her engrossed in a Romantic Suspense. In her opinion, a crime and a little romance is the recipe for a great story.

Sami has finaled 15 times in writing contests, including receiving first place in American Christian Fiction Writer's Genesis Contest in 2019 and 2020, and Faith Hope and Love's Touched By Love Awards in 2018.

She lives in Northern California, but she will always be a Kansas girl at heart. She has a love of sports, family, and travel. However, a cabin at Lake Tahoe writing her next story is definitely at the top of her list.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Sami is generously giving away
1 signed copy of Buried Cold Case Secrets (US only) OR 1 e-Book

And if you sign up for my newsletter at www.samiaabrams.com
you’ll receive a free short story. Silencing the Witness.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

7 Comments

Celebrate Lit Epic Book Launch - A Promise For Faith by Stacy T. Simmons (Excerpt)

12/30/2021

1 Comment

Secrets have the power to ruin lives. Faith and love have the power to disarm those secrets.

Failure isn’t an option for Faith Fuller, She wants to prove to herself and her very successful parents she can stand on her own, even if it means accepting a job offer from someone she wanted to forget. To add to the problem, that job means facing her biggest fear.

Caleb Gaines is looking for a manager for his coffee shop. He’s in over his head running his successful river outfitters business, and being a single dad to a preschooler. But the perfect candidate wants nothing to do with him. Risk-taker Caleb is up for a challenge and wants to convince Faith to help him.

If neither one relies on faith and learns to trust, any chance at love will be washed downstream.

An out-of-work chef and successful river outfitter are both hiding secret tragedies. How much faith will it take to learn to trust in each other, overcome obstacles, and find love?

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Release date: January 18, 2022

Excerpt from A Promise For Faith

His voice carried in the still air. “Belle’s, um, my friend’s car is beside the road, near the town marker sign, on Highway 194. You’re nearby? See you soon.”

Belle. He used to call me that when we were dating. She remembered their frequent visits to bookstores around New York City. They’d show each other the oddest books they could find. Faith always won, and that was how she earned the nickname “Belle,” after one of her favorite movie characters.

Caleb came closer. “He’s ten minutes away.” He pointed to her car. “This might take a while to fix. How long are you here?”

“A week.”

“Tay, Jarod and I are going kayaking tomorrow, you should come and see what I’ve been up to.”

Her veins iced. Boats. She and boats didn’t mix. “By rafting?”

“I’ll show you.”

He thumbed through photos on his phone and held it closer to Faith. She saw a wooden building with a bubbling river beyond. The visual did nothing to warm her chilled body.

“I own Hawk’s Creek Outfitters. We take clients rafting and kayaking.”

“Nice.”

“What’s going on with you? Still a test-kitchen chef in New York City?”

Stacy T. Simmons

Stacy T. Simmons writes uplifting fiction that delights the reader’s romantic sensibilities. Thirty-four years of marital bliss is a great contributor. She is a mom of two grown children, and she and her family have a menagerie of pets she likes to call “Noah’s Ark.” You can find her working on her next manuscript with a piece of dark chocolate and a cup of coffee nearby. She loves to connect with her readers via her website at www.stacytsimmonsauthor.com

Blog Stops

Excerpt One: https://janemouttet.wordpress.com/2021/12/30/epic-book-launch-a-promise-for-faith/

Excerpt Two: https://carolkeen.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-promise-for-faith-epic-book-launch.html

Excerpt Three: https://happywhenreading.wordpress.com/2021/12/29/a-promise-for-faith/

Excerpt Four: http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews/celebrate-lit-epic-book-launch-a-promise-for-faith-by-stacy-t-simmons-excerpt

Excerpt Five: http://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/a-promise-for-faith-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Six: https://englishmysteriesblog.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-promise-for-faith-spotlight-book-tour.html?m=1

Excerpt Seven: https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-promise-for-faith-epic-book-launch.html

1 Comment

<<Previous

Excerpt from Countin' On Jesse

​​​Blog Stops

Read an Excerpt

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Blog Stops

Excerpt from Lone Star Sweetheart

Blog Stops

Excerpt from Amish Wilderness Survival

Blog Stops

Read an Excerpt from The Cairo Curse!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Blog Stops

Read an Excerpt from Bear Knight

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Blog Stops

Excerpt from A Trail So Lonesome

Stop #9

Excerpt from Amish Cradle Conspiracy

How many children does Dana have?

Stop #8

How many years ago did Tuny and Ash part?

Stop #4

Excerpt from Celtic Wanderings

Dear Father, allow your words and your laws to light the depths of my heart. Help me to remember to meditate​on these words as the day comes to a close. Amen.

Why does Cindy Thomson recommend reading the devotionals ​in her book, Celtic Wanderings, in the evenings?

Stop #1

Excerpt from Among The Innocent

What is the name of Leah’s cat?

Excerpt from ​The Newton Chronicles: Soldiers, Crystals, and Temples

Blog Stops

Excerpt from Into The Fog

Blog Stops

Excerpt from Buried Cold Case Secrets

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Excerpt from A Promise For Faith

Blog Stops

Author

Follow Us

Get new posts by email:

Archives

Categories

Blog Stops

Dear Father, allow your words and your laws to light the depths of my heart. Help me to remember to meditate
on these words as the day comes to a close. Amen.

Why does Cindy Thomson recommend reading the devotionals
in her book, Celtic Wanderings, in the evenings?

Excerpt from The Newton Chronicles: Soldiers, Crystals, and Temples