Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: A Silver Willow by the Shore by Kelli Stuart

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Silver Willow by the Shore
By Kelli Stuart
Adult Historical, Contemporary, Time-Slip
Paperback & ebook, 380 Pages
October 15th 2019 by Fine Print Writing Press

How do you face the future if you don’t know your own past?

When an unexpected pregnancy changes her dreams, seventeen-year-old Annie tries to keep it from her mother and her grandmother. But secrets have a way of coming out. In a household of strong women, the arrival of a new life sets off a spiral of truth that reveals a past full of whispers and lies—a past that existed in another world under the heavy hand of Soviet oppression. This history has dictated the circumstances of the present, but hope, redemption, and forgiveness will grow in the rocky places of these generational differences.

A Silver Willow by the Shore is the story of the unshakeable love between mothers and daughters and of the impact that past decisions can have on present day circumstances. This novel weaves together the stories of generations of women, from the gulags of 1930’s Siberia, to the quiet oppression of 1980’s Soviet Moscow, to present day Tennessee. It is an unforgettable narrative of the treachery of secrets, and of the light that unites the heart of a family.

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Excerpt

Toska. It was an untranslatable word—a word that could hardly be conveyed in the English language. Toska communicated anguish. It was a soul-crushing heartache that couldn’t be quelled. That one word in her native tongue communicated the height of despair. At the time her mother had used it, Nina had neither understood, nor appreciated, the meaning of toska. But that, of course, was before she became a mother.

About the Author

Kelli is a wife, mother, novelist, and the driver of a smoking' hot minivan. When she isn't wrangling her five children, she can be found tapping away at the keyboard. Kelli is the award winning author of Like a River From Its Course, her debut novel which won the ACFW Carol Award for Best Historical and was nominated for two Christy Awards. Kelli is also the co-author of Life Creative: Inspiration for Today's Renaissance Mom with Wendy Speake. You can find more information on her life and writings at www.kellistuart.com.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a Kindle Fire Tablet with Alexa Hands Free + $50 Amazon Gift Card

US only

Ends November 13, 2019

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Review & Giveaway: A Different Kind of Strong - Second Edition: Addiction & Adversity Leads To A 30-Day Fast & A Christ-Centered Life by Daniel L. Trotter

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

On October 14, 2011, Daniel Trotter began a forty-day fast. He was consumed by the question and desperate to know, what do I do? After thirty days in the wilderness, God sent him home with an answer. It was, “Come back to Me.”

For decades, Daniel was held in thrall to alcohol, drugs, porn, and depression. He had friends, but life had lost all meaning.

During a radical thirty-day fast, Daniel encountered God – and great temptation. Afterward, he lost his wife, and his home, but he gained a new perspective – God’s. He went back to school and graduated with honors. God blessed him with a remarriage to someone who understands his heart and shares his faith. He has found peace and purpose.

Daniel found freedom in God’s love and in following God and living according to his precepts. Daniel’s memoir will show you how God can heal every physical, mental and emotional hurt and help you to become whole.

My Review

Occasionally I like to read nonfiction books, and the description of this one appealed to me. It's a memoir of the time the author lived in a campground and fasted from everything but water, but the majority of the telling is flashbacks and memories of the experiences and mistakes in his life up to that point. It's real and gritty (though tastefully non-explicit). The narration of the author is voiced like he is sharing recollections, so I didn't feel connected to the experiences or emotions as if I was in his shoes. The realizations and visions he experiences during his fast lead him to fully embrace God and religion as his saving grace, but other than a brief epilogue, I missed learning about the healing part of his life. This book felt like a prologue to the story I expected. I think it would be especially valuable to those who need hope that no matter how dark their path in life has been, there is always a way forward and a special strength can be found through Jesus and repentance, as told by one who knows.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Review & Giveaway: The Heart of the Rebellion by Sian Ann Bessey

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

September 1400

King Richard II of England is dead. And after three years in His Majesty’s service, Rhys ap Tudor and his brother Gwilym are finally free to return to their ancestral home in North Wales. Their long- anticipated homecoming is overshadowed, however, by the harsh changes they encounter in their once peaceful land. The new king, Henry IV, rules with an iron fist, and the country is ripe for rebellion. Instantly thrust into the forefront of the conflict, the proud Tudor brothers enter the fight for their freedom.

Lady Catrin Buckley is alert to the unrest swirling around her. As the daughter of an English father and a Welsh mother, she knows too well the trouble her lineage poses. Her own battle, however, is one of the heart: she is to be married to a man she neither knows nor loves. Then an unexpected encounter with the enigmatic Rhys ap Tudor changes everything. Soon, Catrin finds herself swept into a rebellion that could not only change history but also rewrite her own future.

My Review

Another epic medieval story that pulled me right in! I love this author's subtle writing style that shows rather than tells, and I felt immersed in the setting, the characters, and the emotion. Catrin has torn loyalties with an English father and Welsh mother, but by following her heart she finds the courage to take a stand. I can't imagine living in a time of such harsh circumstances and oppression, but I know there are places in the world today fighting similar battles. This story is full of action and adventure but also explores deeper themes for a truly satisfying read. The romance between Catrin and Rhys is slow-building which brought a lovely sense of anticipation as I read, keeping a hopeful feeling even when the situation was dire. Highly recommend!!! 

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Spotlight: A Time to Live by Megan Fatheree

Book Three in the For Such a Time series

Synopsis

The truth brought to light.

Their destinies uncertain.

When Dominic and Hadassah jump headfirst into their relationship, they think they can make it work. Neither is prepared for the maelstrom of consequences and misunderstandings. Love is far different than what anyone imagined, and Hadassah and Dominic aren't the only ones surprised by love's persistence.

In the darkness, a villain has been lurking. Waiting, waiting for his chance to strike. What started fifteen years ago, suddenly rears its head in the present. When Rage makes his final move on a chessboard of fatal proportions, will anyone be able to stop the storm?

*A Time to Live is the third and final installment in the For Such A Time trilogy. If you wish to read the story from the start, please begin with Dust to Dust.

Book One

Book Two

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: The Forever Sky by Janalyn Voigt

 

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for The Forever Sky, the fourth book of the Montana Gold series by Janalyn Voigt, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE FOREVER SKY

Series: Montana Gold, Book 4
Author: Janalyn Voigt
Release Date: December 1, 2019
Genre: Western/Historical Romance

Can a young widow with no faith in love, hope for a future with the man who broke her heart?

Maisey isn’t about to give Rob another chance to reject her love. Why should she believe that the man who left town without a backward glance three years ago cares about her? Life had taught her all about broken dreams, and she didn’t want to hope again. If only her young daughter would stop adopting Rob as a father, ignoring him—and her own emotions--would be a whole lot easier.

Thoughts of the woman he’d left behind haunted Rob for three long years. It wouldn’t have been fair to ask Maisey to wait while he mined a gold claim. After making his fortune, he’d returned to his family in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. Rob was ready to settle down, and he’d rather do so with Maisey. But after their first encounter, it was clear that he’d lost her forever.

Circumstances force Maisey and Rob into one another’s company. They learn, through hardship and loss, that the only way to one another is to surrender first to God’s love.

Based on actual historical events during a time of unrest in America, The Forever Sky explores faith, love, and courage in the wild west.  

Here's the Cover:

PREORDER LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics to her at night. After Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with bedtime stories "written" in her head. Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in multiple genres. The same elements--romance, mystery, adventure, history, and fantasy/whimsy--appear in all her novels. Janalyn Voigt is represented by Wordserve Literary. Learn more about Janalyn, read the first chapters of her books, subscribe to her e-letter, and join her reader clubs at her website.  

CONNECT WITH JANALYN: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | BookBub  

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive a $20 gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight November 1, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on November 8, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

 

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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Spotlight & Excerpt: The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

 
Title: The Bright Unknown  
Author: Elizabeth Byler Younts  
Publisher: Thomas Nelson  
Genre: Literary Fiction  
Release Date: October 22, 2019

This poignant and heartbreaking novel explores the power of resilience, the gift of friendship, and the divine beauty to be found in the big, bright world—if only we’re willing to look.

Pennsylvania, 1940s. The only life Brighton Friedrich has ever known is the one she has endured within the dreary walls of Riverside Home—the rural asylum where she was born. A nurse, Joann, has educated and raised Brighton, whose mother is a patient at the hospital. But Joann has also kept vital information from Brighton—secrets that if ever revealed would illuminate Brighton’s troubling past and the circumstances that confine her to Riverside. Brighton’s best friend is a boy she calls Angel, and as they grow up together and face the bleak future that awaits them, they determine to make a daring escape.

Nothing can prepare Brighton and Angel for life beyond Riverside’s walls. They have no legal identities, very little money, and only a few leads toward a safe place to land. As they struggle to survive in a world they’ve never seen before, they must rely on each other and the kindness of strangers—some of whom may prove more dangerous than the asylum they’ve fled.

Narrated in Elizabeth Byler Younts's gorgeous style, The Bright Unknown is a sparkling search for answers, family, and a place to call home.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Christianbook

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CLICK HERE TO READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Byler Younts gained a worldwide audience through her first book, Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel The Solace of Water and the Promise of Sunrise series. Elizabeth lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, her two daughters, and a small menagerie of well-loved pets.  

CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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Review: Marry Me at Dawn by Lucinda Whitney

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

He’s afraid of commitment. She yearns for a family of her own. How can they turn a marriage of convenience into happily-ever-after?

To Damian Vaughn, image is everything. As CEO of the family business and heir to a fortune, he lives his life above reproach, not wanting to repeat his father’s mistakes that almost brought the company to ruin.

Gabriela Romano has discovered she’ll never be able to bear children. Distraught and still recovering from surgery, she leaves for an extended vacation in the Azores Islands, far away from her family’s prying eyes and the constant reminders of what she’ll never have.

When social services drop off a baby they say legally belongs to Damian, he knows it’s not true, but the media will be quick to judge if the news leaks. Desperate to avoid a disaster, he takes his lawyer’s drastic suggestion and proposes to Gabriela, a woman he’s just met. She has her own reasons for accepting, and as long as she guards her heart, she’s confident she’ll be fine.

But as sparks start to fly, Gabriela begins to wonder—how can she turn this marriage of convenience into her happily-ever-after?

My Review

It can be difficult to pull off a modern marriage of convenience story since there are so many resources nowadays and marriage isn't really viewed as viable solution in today's society. Once I turned off my they-should-have-just-done-this thinking, I loved the story and the way Damian and Gabriela interacted and bonded over his daughter. I think if they had known each other just a little more prior, I wouldn't have had to suspend my disbelief. Anyway, the mystery of who Claire's father is as well as the blossoming romance with the right amount of tension kept me reading and it was lovely to escape into the settings of Portugal, New York City, and an estate in the country. The lives of Gabriela and Damian revolve around Claire and her schedule, which is totally realistic of a new baby. I liked getting to know Damian's mother and grandmother, and seeing the way Gabriela fit naturally into their lives. Some intrigue comes into play with Damian's public persona and company, and there is a surprising twist that I did not anticipate. A strong and enjoyable conclusion to the Romano family series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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The Romano Family series follows the stories of the Romano cousins of northern Portugal as they find love and their Happily-Ever-Afters. Each book may be read as a stand-alone. 

Review: The Trouble With Christmas by Robin Daniels

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Chrissy Jensen lives in a town full of Christmas fanatics. Too bad she hates everything about the holiday. Aside from her justifiable grievances, the endless barrage of displays and events is enough to make any girl gag. Nothing has ever been able to thaw her frozen yuletide heart. But when her brother brings a handsome friend home for the holiday, she starts to reconsider her contemptuous attitude. The deliciously yummy house guest LOVES Christmas. Pretending to share his sentiment couldn’t hurt. Right?

Wrong. The sudden personality transplant doesn’t sit well with her best friend Nate. He perpetuates the deception in order to get even, which causes an agonizing dilemma. Now, Chrissy must keep up the charade—with a cheerful disposition—or risk being caught in her lie.

My Review

This story was so fun to read! Full disclosure- I'm kind of over small towns that embrace Christmas pageantry at an unhealthy level, but I chose to read this one since I think this author's writing style is fresh. I really enjoyed the characterization and hidden love angle, and I loved Chrissy's quirky family and best friend Nate especially. It was interesting to see the reactions of Chrissy's friends and family when she joined in the madness and the realizations she comes to after letting go of her grinchiness. I appreciated that the author stayed true to Chrissy's sassy personality and didn't allow her to dissolve into a sugared cliché. Loved the themes of friendship, family, and community as well as the nice balance between humor and romance.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Art of Rivers by Janet W. Ferguson #AORPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Art of Rivers
(Coastal Hearts #3)
By Janet W. Ferguson
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 299 Pages
June 30th 2019 by Southern Sun Press LLC

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

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

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

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Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Book Depository
Also available through KindleUnlimited.

Excerpt

“Now you’ve stopped moving.” Cooper tipped her chin. “Is all this too much? I’m worried about you.”

Her gaze pulled to study him. His beautifully sculptured face lingered near, those dark eyes and that black hair framed by the night sky lighted only by the twinkling stars of the Milky Way. Then her gaze fell to his contoured lips and held there as if some giant magnet drew her.

“Rivers, throw me a bone or scrap or something. I need to know what’s going on in here.” His fingers grazed her forehead, only increasing the magnetic force pulling her toward him.

There was no way she could believe the yearning that was going on in her mind, much less tell him.

Because right now, all she wanted was to kiss this man. Cooper. She wanted to kiss away his years of isolation from his family, his years of being picked on as a child, his years of disappointment for always being considered less than Jordan, his years of emotional pain mixed with the chemical processes and the fallen world that had led him toward the excruciating path of addiction.

But not only did she want to kiss those hurts away, she wanted to kiss the man who’d rescued her, who’d fed her, who’d made her laugh. The compassionate man who spent his days trying to reach the lost and hurting. The man whose art moved her so.

But this inclination—no, this formidable craving—had to be wrong. Her emotions had to be muddied with everything going on.

Cooper was her fiancé’s cousin. It would be wrong to fall for him. Wouldn’t it?

Other Books in the Series

And coming January 2020...

About the Author

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

Website│Goodreads│BookBub│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

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

US only

Ends November 6, 2019

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