Sunday, June 20, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway -The Songstress Author: Lori Bates Wright on Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: The Songstress

Author: Lori Bates Wright

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: April 16, 2021

Rising opera star, Juliana Chamberlain, still has nightmares of the night she witnessed the assassination of the President of the United States from her spot on stage at Ford Theater. Recruited by The Pinkerton Detective Agency, Juliana was instrumental in bringing those responsible to justice.

Now, two years later, the Pinkertons ask her once again to join forces in exposing a corrupt political organization terrorizing her home in Texas.

Texas Ranger, Cade Matlock, has a job to do. He needs no help from a meddlesome diva with big ideas. However, he is a man of his word. He’s committed to partner with the lovely songstress to smoke out the mastermind of a dangerous clan who has proven he will stop at nothing to satisfy his thirst for vengeance.

Cade and Juliana soon discover their greatest strength is in working together until shadows of the past threaten to destroy their future.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lori Bates Wright is an award winning author with a love for history.

Raised in New Mexico, Lori now lives in Texas with her husband of 38 years. She has two grown kids and four adorable grand boys (who leap tall buildings in a single bound!) When she’s not writing, she’s heading up small group ministries with her husband. She enjoys speaking and interacting with women of all ages.

More from Lori

Growing up, my family loved to laugh.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are centered around my grandmother’s dining room table listening in while my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles told amazing stories. Sometimes I laughed until I’d lose my breath. Sometimes I sat quietly, taking in the bravery and perseverance shown by those who’d gone before me.

History has been a passion ever since. Couple that with an insatiable love for story and there you have the heart of what inspires me to write.

So, when it came time to brain-storm for this brand new series, I decided to take a known historical event and think about it from every angle. Beyond the recognized players, to the “what if” characters that might have played a role. And, ultimately, how such an event would have changed the course of their lives.

Thus, a star was born.

In THE SONGSTRESS, Juliana Chamberlain witnessed the assassination from her place on the stage. Because I love a little mystery and intrigue, I decided that the leading detective agency of the day would have enlisted her help in identifying the accomplices. Allen Pinkerton had been known to hire a lady detective or two, so she would be trained by the best. Her investigative skills proved helpful in bringing a quick resolution to the case.

Fast forward four years and she’s still haunted by what she saw that night. When Pinkerton again approaches her about a case involving her family in Texas, she accepts.

Being from Texas, I was so happy she did. I’ve wanted to write a story based in the Lone Star State for quite awhile. I loved visiting Georgia and the shores of England in my last series, but I have to say it was good to bring this one home. With all the rugged charm of the post-Civil War era, this book has a little more local flavor than my last three. Al-in-all, I believe my readers are in for a treat. A new cast of fun, quirky characters as we revisit a significant time in our nation.

So, here’s to new beginnings! Or as we say in Texas, “Hang on, y’all are in for a wild ride!”

Happy reading!
Lori

My Thoughts

The Songstress is written by Lori Bates Wright. When I got to the end of the book - I was sad. I was sad that it was over. I enjoyed it so much that I did not want the story to end. This is the first book that I have read by this author. When I finished this one, I went and looked up her other books and ordered True Nobility from Amazon. Her writing style flows so well off the pages. I lost all track of time while I was reading.

The Civil War is one of my most favorite time periods. My master thesis involved the use of African Americans and Women as spies during the Revolutionary and Civil War. This book focused on some of my favorite things. We meet Juliana Chamberlain. She is a rising opera star. Her voice is like an angel. She had witnessed the assassination of President Lincoln. It still haunts her. However she is recruited by the Pinkerton Detective Agency. She was able to help bring those to justice.

A few years have passed and Pinkerton wants her help again. They need help in exposing a corrupt political organization terrorizing Texas. I loved Juliana. She was still haunted by what she saw, but knew what she had to do for the good of her country. The Texas Ranger, Cade Matlock that she is paired with, feels like she is a diva and does not know what she is doing. I loved both of these characters. While they were not thrilled with working together, they know that they don't want states divided again. The action and suspense in the book will keep you guessing.

The author kept my attention. I cannot wait until the next book comes out. The book is well written, has memorable characters and is well researched.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program, all thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, June 11

Reflections From My Bookshelves, June 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 12

Connect in Fiction, June 12

Inklings and notions, June 13

Rebecca Tews, June 13

Texas Book-aholic, June 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 14

lakesidelivingsite, June 15

To Everything There Is A Season, June 15

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 15

For Him and My Family, June 16

Labor Not in Vain, June 16

deb’s Book Review, June 17

Genesis 5020, June 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 18

HookMeInABook, June 18

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 19

Inside the Wong Mind, June 19

The Christian Fiction Girl, June 20

Connie’s History Classroom, June 20

A Baker’s Perspective, June 21

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 21

Blossoms and Blessings, June 22

Lis Loves Reading, June 22

Pause for Tales, June 23

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, June 23

Mary Hake, June 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 24

KarenSueHadley, June 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lori is giving away the grand prize package of a Texas Gift basket including a signed copy of THE SONGSTRESS and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/10d53/the-songstress-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway - The Rabbi’s Touch Author: Annetta Lammers

About the Book

Book: The Rabbi’s Touch

Author: Annetta Lammers

Genre: Biblical Historical Fiction

Release date: Sept, 2020

Ten Gospel Encounters

What if you could live in the story? What if you could meet Jesus and have His eyes meet yours and know His great love for you? What if you could feel his healing touch and know your body was well? Author Annetta Lammers explores ten encounters with Jesus found in the gospels and tells their stories. Through reflection, study of the Greek and living each story she retells the encounters of Jesus touch, voice and power.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Annetta Lammers is a wife, mother, homemaker, and educator. She savours quiet walks in the woods, the texture and colour of pottery and reading Biblical fiction with a cup of coffee. Her fascination and love of God’s word has motivated her to study over the years. You will find more of Annetta’s reflections at annettalammers.com.

More from Annetta

I counted my journals, wondering. A drawer filled with thirty-three journals. The years of words held in those pages cover countless seasons of living and following Jesus. Even the gaps of silence speak volumes in the journey.

This passion for writing, evident in that drawer of journals, has had the dream of a book tucked within it. And, quite by surprise, a book has formed and grown these past years. The Rabbi’s Touch began innocently with the study of Blind Bartimaeus. His miracle took shape in my imagination, taking on sounds, images and emotions. Notes and reflections about his healing found their way in the current journal. Hidden Greek meanings fed my imagination until I was Bartimaeus meeting Jesus. That encounter took on words that needed to be put down on paper as his story. Bartimaeus’ story led to another short story, which led to another. Each story was driven by the desire to enter the lives of those who met Jesus and were healed. Each story was written with the longing to encounter Jesus for myself, as if I had never met Him before. Perhaps I would grow in knowing Him. And I did.

As the stories grew, so did a quiet desire for others to meet Him as I had. Perhaps others could meet Jesus on their dusty road, make eye contact with Him, hear His voice and feel His healing touch? Perhaps a conviction of what He can do will grow, and they, too, could be determined to press in to receive what is His to give? Perhaps they also will cast aside the veil they have been hiding behind and walk free? Perhaps you can meet Him, too? So, here it is, a collection of first-hand stories, ready for you to encounter Jesus.

Annetta Lammers – Author

My Thoughts

The Rabbi’s Touch: Ten Encounters with Jesus that Changed Everything is a Biblical Historical Fiction by Annetta Lammers. This is a quick read, but is packed full of information. This book focuses on 10 encounters of those who reached out to Jesus for healing. This specifically looks at how Jesus was able to heal with a touch or a word. The author did a great job sticking to the Biblical truth while unpacking her thoughts on the ten encounters.

You forget sometimes how people would cry out to Jesus, would rush to him when they were hurting and in desperate need of healing. We in present day can do it also. Jesus wants us to call out to him when we are hurting .

While this is a short read, it would be great for a small group study to unpack a little at a time. I enjoyed reading through this book.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Batya’s Bits, June 9

Texas Book-aholic, June 10

For Him and My Family, June 11

deb’s Book Review, June 12

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 14

Inklings and notions, June 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 16

Artistic Nobody, June 17 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 17

Connie’s History Classroom, June 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 19

Simple Harvest Reads, June 20 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 20

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, June 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Annetta is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and copy of the book (fulfilled through Amazon)!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/10d51/the-rabbi-s-touch-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway - Ruth Author: Caryl McAdoo On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Ruth

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 3, 2021

The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Fleeing heartache, shame, and betrayal, Ruth finds all her plans are thwarted until the untimely death of a goat that gives her hope! Hired as a wet-nurse for Logan’s orphaned son, she rejects his marriage-of-convenience proposal, hoping to find true love at the trail’s end. Going West (in what was later called the Great Migration of 1842) satisfies the widower’s wanderlust, and even though she turns him down, he determines to prove his love is true. Come along on this infamous journey of love and adventure.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—fifty-nine published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and twenty-one grandsugars (three greats), Caryl and Ron (her high-school-sweetheart-husband of over fifty years) live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

I’ve loved the premise of RUTH for seven years now, that’s when the beginning of this story was first written, way before its time! Its title was Evelyn’s Redemption back then, but I’ve since had a favorite character named Evelyn in COVERING LOVE and MIGHTY TO SAVE (books eight and nine in the Texas Romance Family Saga series), so my heroine needed a new name.

Ruth was my maternal grandmother’s name and Mama’s middle name (Naomi Ruth), and though Ron doesn’t like me to name characters after family members, he let me have my way . . . as my heroes usually let my heroines. 😊 So, she became Ruth.

I pulled up the ten thousand words already written back in 2014, caught up-to-date to refresh the story in my mind, then took off writing! In a month and a day, I finished this story that I just love! Never knowing where it’s going—or exactly how it will end when I start—I so enjoy the tale as I write it just as you do when you read it! God gives me the most awesome stories I’m so thankful for!

My hero’s thirteen-year-old daughter Hannah is one of my favorites in this story. Her great character created such an example of taking up an offense that is hard to put down. I think we’ve all been there, and to me, it’s especially hard to forgive and get over it when the offense is taken up on behalf of someone we love. The loved one like gets extra grace to forgive, but not so for the offended-on-their-behalf!

I love that God helps me weave scriptural lessons into my stories, lessons that I’ve learned in walking with Him for more than sixty years—and I’ve learned a lot! Besides praying my stories give Him glory, I also pray they help those who read them draw closer to Him—or learn ways to live more purely for Him.

We serve a mighty God indeed, and it’s my honor to help advance His Kingdom here on earth through writing these stories! Also, I enjoy singing the new songs He gives me! Check out ‘Caryl McAdoo’ on YouTube! I have a few songs up there and need to video more.

So, have a blessed day, y’all, and may God’s joy and peace encompass you everywhere you go!

Blessings!

My Thoughts

Ruth is a Christian Historical Romance written by Caryl McAdoo. This is book 8 in the Prairie Rose Collection. The Prairie Rose Collection is written by a variety of authors. I have read a few other books in the series, and have enjoyed them very much.

Caryl McAdoo is one of my favorite Christian Authors. I discovered her through a Facebook party. She is very reader friendly, and writes such amazing stories. Caryl also intertwines her series with familiar characters, and I love that about her. In Ruth, we are transported to a time where wagon trains were a way of life. We see an unwed mother, a widowed father and two people who can benefit from helping each other. However, can they love and grow a relationship? Ruth knows that Logan needs her help to feed his infant. I love that she was willing to help. She knows she wants to go West, and this would help her attain that goal. Logan is a man of faith - and I love how he spoke to Ruth about his faith.

I love how much research that the author has put into this book - I learned a lot through her story. The author always tries to make it as real feeling as possible.

This book contains well written characters, a fun story line, and a heartwarming romance.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program, all thoughts are my own .

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 9

Just Writing, June 9

KarenSueHadley, June 10

lakesidelivingsite, June 10

Texas Book-aholic, June 11

Inklings and notions, June 12

For Him and My Family, June 13

Vicky Sluiter, June 13

deb’s Book Review, June 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 15

Blossoms and Blessings, June 16

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 16

Connie’s History Classroom, June 17

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 18

Splashes of Joy, June 18

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, June 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 20

Simple Harvest Reads, June 20 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Girls in White Dresses, June 21

Pause for Tales, June 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 22

Cats in the Cradle Blog, June 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/10d50/ruth-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, June 14, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway - Faith in the Mountain Valley Author: Misty M. Beller On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Faith in the Mountain Valley

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 15, 2021

This epic journey is the only way to leave her secrets behind.

After eleven years spent looking for the girl who stole his heart, Jean-Jacques Baptiste—better known as French to his friends—is tempted to give up. Until the day he spotted the flaxen-haired stranger traveling the wooded path with Blackfoot Indians. He never imagined he’d find his childhood friend masquerading as a man in this Rocky Mountain wilderness, hundreds of miles from the Canadian town where he last saw her. No matter her reasons, he can’t let her go this time.

Colette Mignon’s life has become a cacophony of lies, including the fact that her Blackfoot Indian companions believe she’s a man. She’s willing to live the taxing life of a trapper in these desolate mountains as long as it keeps her secrets hidden. When her childhood friend and first love discovers her, his determination to help might put everything at risk.

As the worst of her past threatens to catch up with her, the hope for Colette’s new life shatters. But no matter what, she must protect the one good thing that came from all her mistakes. Though French is determined to stay at her side, she can’t let him become entangled in the perilous consequences of her actions. If only it wasn’t so painful to push him away. The danger pressing in may leave her only one choice—leave everything behind…again.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Click here to get your copy!

More from Misty

Ever Played Dress-up?

I’ll bet most of us played “Let’s Pretend” when we were kids. Maybe you dressed up as a princess, or a knight, or a soldier. When we were little, my grandmother had a secondhand wedding dress she let us play with. It had the long train and veil that dragged several feet behind a grown woman. We spent so many fun hours dressing up and pretending. And of course, there were all the times my older brother and I played cowboys as we rode our horses.

With so much experience playing dress-up and “let’s pretend,” I thoroughly enjoyed writing the story of a heroine who pretended to be a man! And not just a fellow around town. She joined up with a group of five Blackfoot braves and attempted to pass herself off as a man for weeks while she lived in their camp, trapping alongside them!

She had a good reason for attempting the ruse, and you can find out if she pulls it off in Faith in the Mountain Valley. This might be my favorite of all the books in the Call of the Rockies series. I pray you enjoy it too!

My Thoughts

Faith in the Mountain Valley is a Christian Historical Fiction book that is written by Misty M. Beller. This book is Call of the Rockies series. I have read a few of the books in the series, but not all of them. One of the things that I love about this author is her dedication to research. Every book about Native Americans that she writes teaches you so much. I love the details she puts in her books so that it is as real feeling as possible. This is French's story. We have met French in the other books, and I am glad that he was able to get his own story.

French has been searching for the girl that he remembers from many years ago. When he finally finds her, he notices she is not the same girl that he remembers. Something is off. He has such a deep affection for her that he wants to stand by her side no matter what.

Colette has been disguising herself as a man. The Blackfoot Indian companions that she has been traveling with believe she is a man. She has so many secrets that she keeps buried that she just keeps going one foot in front of the other. She has a strong desire to keep French safe from her web of lies - but he is so determined to help her.

I loved seeing the characters grow throughout this story. I loved the chemistry between French and Colette. This story will come to life as you read with the authors descriptions.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging program, all thoughts are my own.