Friday, June 17, 2022

Book Review and Giveaway- Love in Disguise Author: Penny Zeller On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Love in Disguise

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: February 22, 2022

Who knew concealing one’s true identity could be so disastrous?

Who knew asserting one’s independence would cause such embarrassment? If only Almira “Emilie” Crawford Wheeler hadn’t insisted upon carrying her own stack of parcels, she wouldn’t have landed in an unladylike heap on the boardwalk. And what about the half-truth she told the handsome stranger who came to her aid? The stranger she never expected to see again?

Thad Alexander Evanson should have been paying closer attention to the boardwalk, rather than the newfangled automobile motoring down the street. Had he been more astute, a collision with the beautiful parcel-laden stranger might never have happened. And if it never had happened, he wouldn’t have told a partial-truth he figured wouldn’t matter.

Before long, Emilie and Thad are arranging to meet for a noonday meal each weekend in Missoula under the guise of different names. But what happens when their true identities are revealed? When half-truths are exposed? Could God have a plan even in the midst of a tangled web of lies?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of several inspirational books. She is also a homeschool mom and a fitness instructor.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, cycling, gardening, and playing volleyball.

She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website www.pennyzeller.com and her blog, random thoughts from a day in the life of a wife, mom, and author, at www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com.

More from Penny

In Love in Disguise, the two main characters, Emilie and Thad, are both fond of pie a la mode. It plays a prominent part in the book, especially during Emilie and Thad’s courtship. My inspiration behind the dessert? My aunt’s famous, old-fashioned pie a la mode recipe, which is a family favorite.

My Thoughts

Love in Disguise is a Christian Historical Romance that is written by Penny Zeller. This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it will not be the last. Her writing flows nicely, and you can feel the story come alive off the pages.
This book is set in 1911 in Montana. Emilie wants to assert her independence and is insisting on carrying her own parcels. Thad was not paying attention to where he was going. He was watching the new automobile that was traveling by,. The two of them crash into each other. However, neither one of them are completely honest with each other about their identities, I found this comical because they did not expect to see each other again. Emilie is a widow, and meeting Thad has given her a new spark in life. However, Emilie has strayed from God. Thad invites her to church and Emilie is a little uncomfortable.
The book is well written. The characters are well developed. The author writes great descriptions to

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, June 8

Labor Not in Vain, June 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 9

Texas Book-aholic, June 10

Inklings and notions, June 11

Of Blades and Thorns, June 11

For Him and My Family, June 12

deb’s Book Review, June 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 14

Mary Hake, June 14

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 15

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 16

Connie’s History Classroom, June 17

Pause for Tales, June 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 18

Bizwings Blog, June 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 20

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 20

Splashes of Joy, June 21

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/1eb77/love-in-disguise-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Book Review and Giveaway -Lily of the Valley Author: Sarah M. Eden On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Lily of the Valley

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Genre: Georgian Romance

Release date: April 11, 2022

Amateur inventor Kester Barrington prefers the peace and quiet of his estate to the bustle of Society. But when his tightknit group of friends, the Gents, descends on Livingsley Hall for their annual gathering, he stoically joins in their activities. It all seems exhausting—until an unexpected addition to the party catches his eye: his new neighbor, the lovely Violet.

Violet Ridley longs to make friends in this new corner of the country, but her family’s fortune was made through investments rather than inheritance, and Society can be fickle. So when tragedy forces her family to shelter at neighboring Livingsley Hall, Violet is delighted to receive a warm welcome from the Gents. In particular, Violet finds herself inexplicably drawn to Kester. The pair is a study in contrasts: Violet, with her sunny disposition, and Kester, with his prickly facade. Their connection is impossible to deny, but both Kester and Violet harbor heavy constraints. As their association becomes increasingly tangled and confused, their only hope of pursuing a life together is to trust one another with the very truths that could tear them apart.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of witty and charming historical romances, including 2020’s Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, Forget Me Not, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, Healing Hearts. She is a two-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner. Combining her obsession with history and her affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting deep characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library.

More from Sarah

esearch is one of my favorite aspects of writing. Lily of the Valley offered ample opportunities for researching incredibly interesting topics. One main character is an amateur inventor, which tossed me deep into the realm of innovations of the 1780s and 1790s. The other main character has an interest in engineering and mechanics, allowing me to delve into what was known and understood in these fields at the end of the 18th Century. Amongst the supporting cast are a variety of interests, strengths, and passions, all of which saw me pouring over everything I could find from this era on those topics.

A particularly fun area of research I tossed myself into was parlor games played in late 18th Century England. Among my favorites I learned about:

The Three Kingdoms, a game very much like modern-day “Twenty Questions.” The guesser has up to six questions to gain clues about what the others in the group have decided among themselves is the thing the guesser is trying to discover. One twist: the first question is always “To which Kingdom does the item thought of belong? (meaning animal, vegetable, or mineral)
Short Answers, a game of wits and creativity. The group sits in a circle and one at a time, ask the person to their right a question which that person has to answer in only one word. However, the word cannot be repeated during that round. Once someone has answered a question “Yes” no one else can answer with that word until the round is over. A round ends when someone cannot think of a one-word answer to the question they have been asked and is, subsequently, eliminated.
A centuries-old version of musical chairs
A game that involved determining which fabricated crime the various players would pretend to have committed.
Plenty of games involving forfeits of kisses or handkerchiefs or other shows of affection that the very staid rules of Society would have otherwise looked down on.

Discovering more about the historical context of this book was intriguing and delightful. I hope readers will enjoy learning more of this bit of the past, lose themselves in romance, enjoy the delightful friendship between the characters, and perhaps even find a few new games to try.

-Sarah Eden

Lily of the Valley is a Georgian Romance that is written by Sarah M. Eden. This is book two in the Gents series. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I will definately be keeping my eyes out for more of her work. The characters were well written, and her story flowed nicely.

The book opens in England in 1772. We see inventor Kester in our opening pages. He is a teen and already does not want to be out peopling. He wants to be with his books by himself. The book then moves forward 14 years. Kester is still a bit of a recluse, but does have a few friends/acquaintances. He goes to the annual get together with his school mates every year and attempts to people.

Violet is also at this annual get together, her family is "new money" which means she has not been very well accepted into society. She wants to make friends. I really loved seeing their interactions with each other. Violet brings happiness and can discern what their needs are. Kester is the opposite of that.

I enjoyed watching the story evolve. The author did a great job with her story, I felt like I was standing there letting it all unfold. This is not a time period I am well versed in, but it felt like the author did her research to help bring the story to life.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this story - all thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Inside the Wong Mind, June 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 6

Inklings and notions, June 7

Reading with Emily, June 7

For Him and My Family, June 8

Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 8

Texas Book-aholic, June 9

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, June 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 10

deb’s Book Review, June 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 12

The Book Club Network, June 12

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 13

Pause for Tales, June 13

Connie’s History Classroom, June 14

Sylvan Musings, June 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 15

Rachael’s Inkwell, June 16

Wishful Endings, June 16

Through the Fire Blogs, June 17

Britt Reads Fiction, June 18

Labor Not in Vain, June 18

To Everything There Is A Season, June 19

Miriam Jacob, June 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon Gift Card, print copy of book, and Exclusive Sarah Eden vinyl stickers!!

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/1e7ee/lily-of-the-valley-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, June 13, 2022

Book Review and Giveaway - Hearts Under Fire Author: Cori Lynn On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Hearts Under Fire

Author: Cori Lynn

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release date: April 3, 2022

When Laura, a heartbroken antique expert, stumbles across an old steamer trunk, she decides it is the perfect restoration project to distract her from her recent loss. She quickly discovers the trunk has a few mysteries of its own, including a journal dating back to 1941.

Laura finds herself caught up in a heroic love story between Ava and her high school sweetheart Dean. Their story of first love is suddenly interrupted when World War II begins, and Dean is sent to the front lines; leaving Ava to bravely fight her own battles supporting the war effort from home.

Laura soon identifies with Ava’s perseverance and in the process, is challenged to overcome her own hardships. However, the journal unexpectedly ends, leaving Laura with unanswered questions about Ava’s life. Laura is determined to uncover the missing pieces from the journal, but will she find the answers she seeks? And can she find the courage to love again?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Cori Lynn is a novelist and screenwriter based in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to her latest novel, Hearts Under Fire, she has written multiple screenplays including two feature-length films. As her recognition as a screenwriter evolved, she eventually walked away with an “Audience Choice” and “Best Story” award from the Phoenix Film Festival.

Cori graduated with a global business degree from Arizona State University and works full time as a Marketing Director. She spends her free time playing with her puppy, redecorating her home and crafting her next story.

More from Cori

Hearts Under Fire is a historical romance with a contemporary twist. The historical plotline was inspired by the first-hand accounts provided by my grandparents on both sides of the family. Hearts Under Fire differs in that it brings in a contemporary twist and it explores the idea of the parallels between the love story in 1941 and the contemporary love story from present day.

My Thoughts

Hearts Under Fire is a historical fiction debut by Cori Lynn. This is a dual timeline story. I love reading the dual timeline themes. I feel that there have been so many of them released lately. We visit present day California and 1941.

In this story we meet, Laura. She is a antique expert. She has been dealing with some things that she needs some distraction from. She had big dreams for her future, and all that was taken away. She finds an old trunk that contains a journal that dates back to 1941. I quickly found myself drawn into these two women's stories. Laura, who has had some recent loss, and Ava who says goodbye to Dean who goes off to war. I loved that the author brought Ava's story to life.

Ava kept a journal during this time. It shows how life was like during war time. As time goes on, Ava becomes more and more uneasy when Dean has not returned home and war rages on. The author did a great job capturing what life was like stateside.

The author did a great job with her research, it made the story feel real. The two women seem very realistic. The story is well written and flows nicely. I enjoyed this book. This was a great debut novel for the author - I hope to read more in the future.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book -all thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 4

Inklings and notions, June 5

lakesidelivingsite, June 6

Blogging With Carol, June 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 7

Texas Book-aholic, June 8

For Him and My Family, June 9

deb’s Book Review, June 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 11

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 12

Connie’s History Classroom, June 13

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 14

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, June 15 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 15

Pause for Tales, June 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cori is giving away the grand prize packge that includes a signed copy of the book, a lip balm, T-shirt and a Journal!!

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/1e7e5/hearts-under-fire-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, June 10, 2022

Book Review and Giveaway - Souls Astray Author: Kellyn Roth On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Souls Astray

Author: Kellyn Roth

Genre: Historical Women’s Fiction

Release date: April 5, 2022

Adele Collier has sought a carefree lifestyle ever since her tragic childhood. Determined to never allow anyone or anything to control her life or emotions again, she consistently seeks distraction in gaiety. But shaking her ghosts isn’t as easy as she’d like.

Troy Kee has been alone in the world since the Great War took his parents and left him in charge of his younger sister. When she marries, he’s left to seek after his goal of a healthy, complete family. But how can he focus on his dream when trouble plagues his family vineyard?

When Adele and Troy meet, a whirlwind romance begins—but can two lost souls have a healthy relationship?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kellyn Roth is a historical romance & women’s fiction author who writes about the empty places where hope has the most room to grow. Her novels include the inspirational Victorian family saga, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the Kees & Colliers series, which follows a broken family in the tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century.

Kellyn is a student of the Author Conservatory and a writing coach. When not building her author career, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, watching period dramas and facetious comedies, or spending time with her husband.

More from Kellyn

Hello everyone!

First, I wanted to thank you all for checking out this blog tour! In this fast-paced world, the fact that you took a moment out of your day to read this is actually a pretty big honor. I appreciate you checking out my little book and taking the time to read my introduction.

Souls Astray was the book I wrote when my granddad died. We were very close, and at the time he died, I was a lonely teenager, recently graduated from high school and unsure of my next step. I was heartbroken by his death – it felt like the nail in the coffin of my family, and it felt a little like he was the last person who believed in me.

This wasn’t true, but my, did it feel my dramatic self with lots of thoughts! I poured those into the book, writing it all in about three weeks, and then I spent the next few years revising it.

This book (and the other novels in its series) are of a different tone than my usual books. Even though I delve into difficult topics in all my stories – such as grief and loss, miscarriage, assault, serious mental health issues – this story somehow ended up with a tone I don’t think I could replicate if I tried.

This was the story I wrote out of my own grief and desperation, my own feeling that my world was falling apart. It’s like sharing a piece of my own heart to share it. Though Adele and Troy had very different journeys than mine, which is pretty peachy compared to their lives, I still relate to them.

This was also the first book I didn’t dedicate to a real person – the dedication ended up being inspired by a song, actually, which was comforting to me during this time: God Only Knows by For King & Country. “For the lonely, for the ashamed, the misunderstood, and the ones to blame. What if we could start over?”

Thank you again for your time!

Kellyn Roth

My Thoughts

Souls Astray is written by Kellyn Roth. This is book one in the Kees and Collier series. I have read other books by this author and have always enjoyed them. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster that I was not prepared to take. Adele reminded me of some of the things in my past. My mother was a lot like her mother. It brought back to places of my life I thought I had closed off. However, I always say that I am given books to review when God knows I need them. There is always a lesson that God wants me to know.

Adele has had a rough childhood. Her father and two of her brothers were killed in the First World War. Her brother, Kenneth was her favorite in the family. They were very close despite the age difference. Adele's mother was very cold, calculating, and honesty neglectful after the deaths of her husband and sons. Adele loved going to her friend, Millie's house to be part of a normal family. Millie and Adele move to London when they are old enough. Millie starts working as a secretary, Adele in a department store.

Troy came from a very different background. He had loving parents and adored his little sister. However, everything changed when his father was killed in war and his mother died from the flu. They go to his uncle's vineyard in France and Troy inherits all the land. He is super protective of his sister.

The two of them meet by chance and it's instant attraction. I enjoyed seeing their romance build. However, Adele is still struggling with the pain of her past. The book ends in a cliffhanger which makes me want to read book two asap.

The story moves quickly, through multiple years, but the author has woven it all together seamlessly. You do not feel like it is rushed at all. The characters are well written, the storyline is original and intriguing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to be a part of this tour, all thoughts are my own.