Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Where the Road Bends by David Rawlings #WRBPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Where the Road Bends
By David Rawlings
Christian Fiction
Hardcover, Audiobook & ebook, 304 Pages
June 2, 2020 by Thomas Nelson

Fifteen years after college graduation, four friends reconnect to keep a long-ago promise and go on a trip of a lifetime in the Australian Outback.

Eliza needs to disconnect from her high-powered fashion job to consider the CEO position she’s just been offered. Lincoln hopes to rekindle a past relationship and escape from another one. Bree looks forward to a fun getaway from home and her deeply buried disappointments. Andy wants to disappear from the mess he’s made of his life—possibly forever.

Dropped at a campsite in the middle of nowhere, the friends quickly discover they aren’t the same people they once were, and they begin to confront hard truths about one another—and themselves. Then a bizarre storm sweeps across their camp, scattering them across the desert. Wondering if they are part of some strange escape game, each of the friends meets a guide to help them find exactly what they need: purpose, healing, courage, and redemption.

But they’ve already traveled far down the road of life and course-correcting to become the people they were meant to be won’t be easy.

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Excerpt

Andy circled the floor of the crater, checking for critters. Nothing but dirt and spinifex. He slogged his way through soft sand as he climbed to the crater’s lip, his thighs screaming with the unfamiliar exertion. He pulled himself over the lip and doubled over to regain his breath in the blustery wind. Their vehicle was the only sign of civilization anywhere in this landscape. In the distance graying clouds lit distant hills in burgundy and purple, and a roiling storm brewed on the horizon.

Eddie brushed past him. “Are you hungry, mate? Let’s grab some tucker, hey?”

Andy furrowed his brow. “Tucker?”

Eddie’s voice echoed from deep within the trailer. “Tucker. Food. We might have some spiders or bugs you can eat.”

Andy froze. He was starving, but there was no way he would be forced into that. He reached for the softened shape of the remaining Mars bar in his pocket. He hoped he wouldn’t have to make it last.

Eddie emerged from the trailer, his pearly white grin beamed through the fading afternoon light. “I thought so. I’m only winding you up because your mate said you’d be up for anything.”

Lincoln. Andy grunted in frustration. “Are we going to do anything dangerous?”

Eddie’s mouth twisted into a smirk. “We’ve got some surprises up our sleeves but don’t worry, we’ll look after ya.”

Another flash of lightning, this time closer. “Are we about to get some rain? I didn’t think it rained in the outback.”

Eddie shrugged. “We still get rain, just not as often and not as much, but if it does we’ll sure know about it.”

“Is there any phone coverage out here?”

Eddie shook his head. “Nah, mate. Only our satellite phone. That’s what I said to Eliza over there. If you wanted to disappear for a while, this is where you’d go.” He shouldered a hefty bag of supplies and disappeared over the crater’s edge.

Andy cast a nervous eye toward the bright flashes peppering the hills. He breathed deep as he checked over both shoulders. Alone. He reached into his pocket and held his cell phone aloft, his eyes jammed shut against the messages he was sure he would get. He switched it on, but his phone stayed silent. His eyes drifted to the top corner of the screen. His heart leaped at the two words he desperately wanted to see: No Service.

Fourteen messages had flooded his phone when he switched it on at the airport. He thumbed them open and deleted them all, a growing sense of power flushing back through him, a sense of control over his destiny. It had been far too long.

He stared at the landscape and the flashes that were edging closer. They could come as close as they wanted. Those who were after him couldn’t.

From Where the Road Bends by David Rawlings. Used with the permission of the publisher, Thomas Nelson. Copyright © 2020 by David Rawlings. Learn more at TNZ Fiction.

 

About the Author


David Rawlings is an Australian author, and a sports-mad father of three who loves humor and a clever turn of phrase. Over a 25-year career he has put words on the page to put food on the table, developing from sports journalism and copywriting to corporate communication. Now in fiction, he entices readers to look deeper into life with stories that combine the everyday with a sense of the speculative, addressing the fundamental questions we all face.

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Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a print copy of The Camera Never Lies by David Rawlings (US only)

Ends June 24, 2020

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Review: The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Jake Silver may not be able to put the memories of his time as a sniper and Navy SEAL behind him, but at least he can put his skills to use as a part of the Jones Inc. rescue team. Saving the life of pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali helped too. Now he can't get her out of his head, and when he hears she is in the path of a hurricane down in Key West he can't help but jump on a plane to rescue her.

Aria has dedicated her life to helping children born with defective hearts. After all, she was one of those children. Now driven to succeed, she lives a lonely, stressful life. One she would have lost on Denali if it hadn't been for Jake. Jake is exciting and handsome, but he's also dangerous, and she's already lost one person she loves. She can't bear it again.

It's not until she finds herself trapped in the middle of a category 4 hurricane that she can admit she needs Jake desperately. With their very survival in the balance, can they hope for a second chance at life . . . and love?

My Review

This second book in the Global Search and Rescue series picks up where the first one leaves off, with a continuation of Jake and Aria's new and undefined relationship, the appearance of Ham's secret daughter, and the search for answers to his wife's mysterious disappearance. It would definitely help to read The Way of the Brave first, to get to know Jake and Aria since their story begins there as a subplot. While the first book left me feeling frigid from the snowy mountain setting, The Heart of a Hero took us to tropical Florida, but no less dangerous with a hurricane devastating the area. Aria is dealing with her regrets from the mountain climbing trip and her continued attraction to Jake, who seems all wrong for her (but of course he's just what she needs). Jake is drawn to Aria and her compassionate way of drawing out his deeper feelings that he's struggling with. They each have issues with their past that involve siblings, and I loved that even though they are both uncertain and vulnerable with their feelings for each other, they still provide support and encouragement for each other as they work through their emotions. Others that they have rescued also provide inspiration with the themes of forgiveness and being enough, and Mimi was a favorite. The chapters from Ham's perspective were more difficult for me because they dealt with past missions and flashbacks from his early relationship with Signe, but I always felt like I didn't quite understand what was going on. He was a source of spiritual strength for his friends in the first book, but in this one he seemed more lost. I'm looking forward to his story being featured in the next book. Overall, this book provides the author's trademark adventure, romance, and inspiration with complex characters that you can't help but root for.

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

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Don't miss the other books in the Global Search and Rescue series . . .

Book One

Book Three

Coming October 2020

Review & Giveaway: Flying in Love by Chalon Linton

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Will Paige decide to share her heart or fly solo?

Paige Hall’s happy ending may just be in sight. She has been dating her boyfriend for months and feels confident their relationship is going in the right direction—until she catches him kissing another woman. Humiliated and hurt, Paige retreats from the dating scene and pledges to never fall hard again as she throws herself into her work as a speech therapist. Her vow is upended in a grocery store parking lot when she is nearly run over by a handsome and very apologetic air force pilot.

Captain Jake Summers is everything a girl could dream of: charming, considerate, and hardworking. Despite Paige’s determination to avoid falling into another relationship, her resolve is no match for the whirlwind romance that ensues. When Jake is not flying, he and Paige are inseparable, and Paige begins to believe in happily ever afters again. But when the couple faces a heartrending loss, they must find strength in each other and in their faith or risk losing a once-in-a-lifetime love.

My Review

I was thrilled to learn that one of my favorite Regency authors was writing a contemporary romance since I love both genres. I knew that with the author's background as a military wife, we would get an authentic story with details that really bring depth. I was not disappointed! Paige and Jake are great together, even with their flaws and mistakes, and I loved seeing how they not only fell in love, but overcame obstacles and supported each other. The tone of the book is definitely emotional and I was able to easily connect to the characters. The California setting was so fun since I live in San Diego, and it was easy to picture them in their environment. There are strong themes of insecurity, trust, family dynamics, and having a relationship with God. I loved that there was a faith element to the story that was tastefully done- no heavy preaching, but genuine and sincere. I'm excited for more sweet contemporary romance from this author... as well as her historicals!

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

About the Author

Chalon Linton was first introduced to Jane Austen by a dear friend and now she can’t get enough of handsome men in tailcoats. Her intrigue in the genre stems from a nostalgic longing for manners, wit, and true love. Fortunately, Chalon found her dashing gentleman, married him, and now lives happily ever after in Southern California.

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Review: Tomorrow's Shining Dream by Naomi Rawlings

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

She needs to learn how to flirt. He needs to forget she exists. Then she asks him for help finding a husband… What could possibly go wrong?

Charlotte Westin has always been more comfortable in a saddle than a ballroom. That wouldn’t be a problem, except her father owns the largest ranch in Texas—and he insists she marry a wealthy city-slicker worthy of a cattle baron’s daughter. There might be someone out there who’d love her for who she is instead of her money, but she’s been fooled by a sweet talker before, and her family is still suffering because of it.

With an old friend-turned-enemy returning to town and cattle rustlers running roughshod over the county, Sheriff Daniel Harding knows the last thing he should be thinking about is a woman… especially the one woman he’ll never be able to marry. Then Charlotte Westin asks for his help, and Daniel can’t refuse. Until he finds out exactly what she wants…

When Charlotte comes to Daniel with a plan to find herself a husband, Daniel is forced to face his feelings for her—as well as some past mistakes of his own. But as the rustlers grow more dangerous, Charlotte’s father takes drastic steps to engage her to a man she doesn’t love. And Charlotte and Daniel soon find themselves caught between the burdens from their pasts and others’ expectations. Will they let their past choices ruin their dreams? Or will Charlotte and Daniel embrace God’s forgiveness and forge a happy future for themselves?

From jagged mountains and green river valleys, to cattle ranches and vivid sunsets, Tomorrow’s Shining Dream offers a meaningful story about simpler times, sincere faith, and unfailing love.

My Review

Charlotte and Daniel have a good friendship, but his hidden feelings for her and her embarrassment over her recent indiscretion make their interactions awkward. Charlotte is full of self-doubt after misjudging her last beau and being betrayed by him, resulting in her father's cattle being stolen. I appreciated that Daniel respected her even when she didn't respect herself, and encouraged her to share her pain with her family. Sometimes when we do something wrong we think pretending it never happened will make the guilt go away, but it just compounds over time. Charlotte thinks that doing what her father wants and marrying the man of his choosing will solve her problems, but finds herself more lost than ever. Daniel is in over his head with cattle being rustled from all the ranches in the area, and the pressure mounts when the Rangers finally show up to get the job done. I was surprised there was bad blood between Daniel and his friend from childhood, and they have difficulty working together and trusting each other to catch the thieves. Sam and Ellie from the previous book brought some much needed light into an angst-ridden story, but I would have liked more of a balance. The themes of forgiveness are strong as Daniel learns that there is more to the past than he knew, and Charlotte realizes that forgiving herself and allowing her family to forgive her brought peace and the answers they were looking for.

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

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Don't miss the first book in the Texas Promise series . . .

Review: Rocky Mountain Redemption by Lisa J. Flickinger

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

A Rocky Mountain logging camp may be just the place to find herself.

To escape the devastation caused by the breaking of her wedding engagement, Isabelle Franklin joins her aunt in the Rocky Mountains to feed a camp of lumberjacks cutting on the slopes of Cougar Ridge. If only she could out run the lingering nightmares.

Charles Bailey, camp foreman and Stony Creek's itinerant pastor, develops a reputation to match his new nickname — Preach. However, an inner battle ensues when the details of his rough history threaten to overcome the beliefs of his young faith.

Amid the hazards of camp life, the unlikely friendship growing between the two surprises Isabelle. She's drawn to Preach's brute strength and gentle nature as he leads the ragtag crew toiling for Pollitt's Lumber. But when the ghosts from her past return to haunt her, the choices she will make change the course of her life forever—and that of the man she's come to love.

My Review

I usually love the setting of a lumber camp for a good romance, but sadly this one fell flat for me. It has a promising start with the characters, and Isabelle's hidden presence at the camp began the story with a sense of intrigue. The friendship between Preach and Isabelle doesn't have much time to develop before the angst and drama sets in and hijacks the plot. So much of the story involves the aftermath of Isabelle's rape and how she was unprepared to handle it, leading to poor decisions and bad blood between her and her family. Preach was also unprepared to handle the news of the "tainted" past of the girl he puts on a pedestal in his mind. He has a past himself full of carousing, so his quick judgement felt hypocritical, especially when he jumped to conclusions and didn't even consider there might be more to the story. I don't expect the characters to be without flaws, but it prevented me from trusting his sincerity for the rest of the book. The conflict of the story was propelled forward by assumptions, and by the middle of the book I didn't find it enjoyable to read.

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

Review: The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Jake Silver may not be able to put the memories of his time as a sniper and Navy SEAL behind him, but at least he can put his skills to use as a part of the Jones Inc. rescue team. Saving the life of pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali helped too. Now he can't get her out of his head, and when he hears she is in the path of a hurricane down in Key West he can't help but jump on a plane to rescue her.

Aria has dedicated her life to helping children born with defective hearts. After all, she was one of those children. Now driven to succeed, she lives a lonely, stressful life. One she would have lost on Denali if it hadn't been for Jake. Jake is exciting and handsome, but he's also dangerous, and she's already lost one person she loves. She can't bear it again.

It's not until she finds herself trapped in the middle of a category 4 hurricane that she can admit she needs Jake desperately. With their very survival in the balance, can they hope for a second chance at life . . . and love?

My Review

This second book in the Global Search and Rescue series picks up where the first one leaves off, with a continuation of Jake and Aria's new and undefined relationship, the appearance of Ham's secret daughter, and the search for answers to his wife's mysterious disappearance. It would definitely help to read The Way of the Brave first, to get to know Jake and Aria since their story begins there as a subplot. While the first book left me feeling frigid from the snowy mountain setting, The Heart of a Hero took us to tropical Florida, but no less dangerous with a hurricane devastating the area. Aria is dealing with her regrets from the mountain climbing trip and her continued attraction to Jake, who seems all wrong for her (but of course he's just what she needs). Jake is drawn to Aria and her compassionate way of drawing out his deeper feelings that he's struggling with. They each have issues with their past that involve siblings, and I loved that even though they are both uncertain and vulnerable with their feelings for each other, they still provide support and encouragement for each other as they work through their emotions. Others that they have rescued also provide inspiration with the themes of forgiveness and being enough, and Mimi was a favorite. The chapters from Ham's perspective were more difficult for me because they dealt with past missions and flashbacks from his early relationship with Signe, but I always felt like I didn't quite understand what was going on. He was a source of spiritual strength for his friends in the first book, but in this one he seemed more lost. I'm looking forward to his story being featured in the next book. Overall, this book provides the author's trademark adventure, romance, and inspiration with complex characters that you can't help but root for.

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

Review: Near the Ruins of Penharrow by Deborah M. Hathaway

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

She never should have fallen in love with the mine owner's son.

Bal maiden Gwynna Merrick is more than prepared to resume her work at the copper mine, if only to keep her family safe from destitution. But when her upper-class friend convinces Gwynna to have one final night of enjoyment, a borrowed gown and a false identity give her a small taste of the freedom she has always craved. That is, until the mine owner's handsome son arrives and threatens to reveal her identity.

Heir to his father's mine, Jack Trevethan has returned to Cornwall to help with a new venture at Wheal Favour, though he prefers spending his time gaming, drinking, and chasing women—anything to forget the memories of his past. However, when he finds the bal maiden he'd met days before now attending the ball, he cannot resist learning more about this intriguing woman.

After a disastrous first meeting, Gwynna wants nothing more than to avoid Jack, but as her work at Wheal Favour begins, she's continually thrown into his company. As Jack's flirtatious façade falls, revealing the wounds of his childhood, Gwynna begins to see the real gentleman behind the rake. But rumors surrounding their relationship and Jack's past will not yield, forcing the two of them to either trust and lean on each other—or fall victim to ghosts of the past.

My Review

A lower class working girl and an uppercrust gentleman form an unlikely friendship and help each other heal from deep hurts. I loved learning about the rough lifestyle of the miners and specifically the bal maidens that work there. The grit and determination of Gwynna draws the attention of Jack, but it is her thoughtfulness and compassion that endears her to him. I struggled with him since he's selfish and thoughtless in the beginning, but Gwynna's friendship makes him wake up and realize that he doesn't want to be that person. It takes almost the entire book for him to make a genuine transition, including facing his demons and repairing his relationship with his father. All the while, Gwynna is caught up in helping those around her, even when dressing as a society lady brings her more trouble than it's worth. Her grief over her brother's recent death in the mine is a point of connection with Jack as he still struggles with the loss of his mother as a boy. The attraction that builds even as their friendship grows makes things more complicated since they are from two very different worlds, but I was happy with how it all worked out in the end. The setting is very atmospheric and I'm excited to add Cornwall to my list of future travels!

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

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Don't miss the previous books in the Cornish Romance series . . .

Review & Giveaway: Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl, Melissa de la Cruz

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Bestselling authors Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz bring us a romantic retelling of Little Women starring Jo March and her best friend, the boy next door, Theodore "Laurie" Laurence.

1869, Concord, Massachusetts: After the publication of her first novel, Jo March is shocked to discover her book of scribbles has become a bestseller, and her publisher and fans demand a sequel. While pressured into coming up with a story, she goes to New York with her dear friend Laurie for a week of inspiration—museums, operas, and even a once-in-a-lifetime reading by Charles Dickens himself!

But Laurie has romance on his mind, and despite her growing feelings, Jo's desire to remain independent leads her to turn down his heartfelt marriage proposal and sends the poor boy off to college heartbroken. When Laurie returns to Concord with a sophisticated new girlfriend, will Jo finally communicate her true heart's desire or lose the love of her life forever?

My Review

I love retellings of my favorite fairy tales and Austen stories, but this is the first one I've read about Little Women. I had no idea what to expect, and it was an interesting read. Jo is much younger than I expected her to be at this point in the story- they have her at seventeen, and the timeline seems a bit off from the original story. Beth has died, and Jo is a successfully published author of Little Women, but is struggling with the sequel she is contracted to write. The authors did a good job of capturing her unrest during this time of her life. It's difficult for Jo to discern what the future holds for her and her sisters, wanting things to stay as they have been, but recognizing that marriage, travel, and career will change everything. She seems scared of her growing feelings for Laurie, and that fear prevents her from embracing the progression of their relationship into something more than friendship. I found her voice to be slightly immature, especially when whining and fighting with her editor. Some chapters were told from other characters' perspectives, such as Meg (which I found myself skimming), but I appreciated being able to get inside Laurie's head. Overall it was an entertaining take on the classic, especially for readers who wished for the childhood friendship to turn to romance.

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

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Win a tea tin when you pre-order JO & LAURIE (US ONLY)

Link to the promotion and submission page: https://woobox.com/8jrorg

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About the Authors

MARGARET STOHL

Margaret Stohl is a #1 New York Times bestselling nerd, world-builder, video game creator, comic book writer and festival founder.

As an award-winning young adult author, she has been published in fifty countries and thirty-two languages and has sold more than ten million books worldwide. Beautiful Creatures debuted as the Amazon #1 Teen book of the year; seven of Margaret’s books have reached bestseller lists around the world.

She has published fifteen novels and graphic novels, as well as contributed to several games and countless comics since her debut. Her last book, Cats Vs Robots: This is War, was a family affair, illustrated by her child, the artist Kay Peterson, and co-written with her husband, Lewis Peterson. It also starred three of her family’s five cats.

After Beautiful Creatures was released as a feature film from Warner Brothers and Alcon Entertainment, Margaret began working with Marvel on her bestselling Black Widow: Forever Red duology; in 2017 she began writing the ongoing Mighty Captain Marvel comic, followed by the acclaimed Life of Captain Marvel miniseries, where she established a new origin story for Carol Danvers in preparation for the theatrical debut of Brie Larson as “Captain Marvel” for the MCU. 

When not roaming the halls of Seattle game developer Bungie - where she oversees the creation of new global IPs - Margaret can often be seen at a Comicon or at one of the teen and youth book festivals she co-founded, YALLFEST (Charleston, SC) and YALLWEST (Santa Monica, CA), the largest in the country. Wherever she goes, you can find out more about her (and invariably her cats) at @mstohl on twitter or margaret_stohl on instagram or margaret_stohl on snapchat or at mstohl.com.

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MELISSA DE LA CRUZ

She is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.

 

Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.

 

She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.

 

Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).

 

She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.

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Giveaway

Prize: Win a copy of JO & LAURIE by Margaret Stohl & Melissa de la Cruz (US Only)

Starts: 27^th May 2020

Ends: 10^th June 2020

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