Thursday, October 31, 2019

Spotlight & Excerpt: The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts


The Bright Unknown JustRead Blog Tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

The Bright Unknown 
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



CLICK HERE TO READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Byler Younts

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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Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Review: Marry Me at Dawn by Lucinda Whitney


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My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

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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)



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. 

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Review: The Trouble With Christmas by Robin Daniels


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My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

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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

https://amzn.to/32NVwSnThe 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.

(Affiliate links included.)
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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.


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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Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Telegraph Proposal by Becca Whitham, Gina Welborn


The Telegraph Proposal JustRead Tour 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for The Telegraph Proposal by Becca Whitham and Gina Welborn, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Telegraph Proposal
Title: The Telegraph Proposal
Series: Montana Brides #3
Authors: Becca Whitham & Gina Welborn  
Publisher: Zebra
Genre: Western Romance  
Release Date: October 29, 2019  

In the rough and rugged Montana Territory, the journey to true love is filled with unexpected twists--and sweet rewards--for daring frontier women who faithfully believe every heart has a home . . .

With the help of the Archer Matrimonial Company, Yancey Palmer has finally put Hale Adams, the man she's loved for ten years--sometimes not wisely or well--behind her. Yancey is so sure of her love for the man the agency matched her with, she readily promises a friend that she'll help Hale with his mayoral campaign without chasing him.

Hale has also engaged the services of the matrimonial agency. He's so pleased with one lady, he requests that she join him in Helena to commence a sixty-day courtship. But instead, the Archer ladies arrive in town to reveal the true identities of both Hale's and Yancey's matches: each other. Can they look past their misunderstandings and hurt to see that they are still a perfect match?  

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



EXCERPT

Carline lifted the bottom edge of the quilt while Yancey pulled on the leather handle of the rectangular oak box hidden under her bed. The pine floorboards were scratched from the hundreds of times she’d pulled or pushed the box across them.


Knowing she was doing the right thing didn’t stop Yancey’s chest from aching. She’d loved Hale for so long. So very long. And—in truth—he was a good man. He just didn’t care two beans or a pickle for her.

She opened the lid. On top were a deep pink dried rose and a blue satin ribbon. The rose was important because Hale had brought a dozen of them to her mother the first time he’d come to the house for lunch. Ever since then, pink roses had been Yancey’s favorite flower. She lifted the rose from the box, held it over the waste bin, and crushed the crisp petals inside her fist.

“Goodbye, Hale,” she whispered as she sprinkled the crumbled rose over lint, hair cleaned from her brush, and other bits of refuse.

She nudged the ribbon aside to take out a yellowed newsprint advertisement for Hale’s law firm. She ripped it in quarters and let the pieces flutter into the waste bin. Next came an article about a case he’d won. She ripped and released it. As the pieces fell, the heaviness in her chest lifted.

Not much, but enough to keep going until nothing was left but the blue ribbon.

She held it up, her hand shaking.

“Are you sure?” Carline knelt beside Yancey.

She laid the satin across her thigh, smoothing it with her hand. Every other treasure was adjacent to Hale—something he’d done that had nothing to do with her. “This is my one true memory with him.”

“I know.” Carline wrapped her arm around Yancey’s waist.

“How many times have we planned ways for me to wear this in my hair or sew it into my dress or wrap around my bridal bouquet?”

Carline answered by hugging Yancey closer.

“He didn’t give it to me.” Yancey wrapped the ribbon around her index and middle fingers, savoring the silky feel against her skin. “Would it be so bad to keep it?”

“I can take it for you.” Carline’s offer was made out of deep friendship. She knew what letting go would cost.

Would that be cheating? The ribbon would be gone. Mostly. Yancey sighed and shook her head.

“The entire purpose is to leave Hale Adams behind. It has to go.”

She wriggled the ribbon off her fingers, held it over the waste bin, and let it fall.



ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham
Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham
Becca Whitham (WIT-um) Award-winning author, paper crafter, and Army wife, Becca and her twelve-foot long craft cabinet follow her husband of thirty-five years wherever the army needs a good chaplain. She thinks the cabinet should count as a dependent. So far, neither the army nor the IRS is convinced. In between moves from one part of the country to the other, she writes stories combining faith and fiction that touch the heart. She's a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America.  

CONNECT WITH BECCA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest    

Gina Welborn is the bestselling author of twenty inspirational romances, including the Montana Brides Romances from Kensington Publishing. She’s a member of Romance Writers of American and American Christian Fiction Writers. Sharing her husband’s passion for the premier American sports car, she is a lifetime member of the National Corvette Museum and a founding member of the Southwest Oklahoma Corvette Club. Gina lives with her husband, four of their five children, a rabbit named Hobbit, and two cats that don't realize rabbits are edible.  

CONNECT WITH GINA: Website | Facebook | Pinterest
 

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and a Montana huckleberry syrup and jam gift box!

The Telegraph Proposal JustRead Giveaway

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 October 28, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on November 4, 2019. US only. 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.

 

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Saturday, October 26, 2019

Book Tour Grand Finale: Sojourner by Janalyn Voigt

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for
Sojourner
By Janalyn Voigt

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Note from the Author

...Mara is one of my favorite characters in Tales of Faeraven. Her keen mind and strength of will serve her in good stead. She doesn’t always make the best choices but eventually learns from her mistakes. In that respect, I’d like to take a leaf from her book.

—Janalyn


"The third book in the Tales of Faeraven is just as surprising as the first two. Just when you think things are okay the story pulls you left and right. Janalyn Voigt has such a way of crafting a fantasy world while weaving scripture into the story and making it relatable as always. . . . This book is centered around Mara and the secret of her life. . . . Overall, great addition to the series! Excited for DawnKing which is book four."

Heidi Reads... - Excerpt

“Don’t grillons prefer the bog? I’ve never seen one in the cove before this.”

Da and Hael always returned from cutting turf for the fire in the bog lands with tales of the strange creatures they found. Last summer, Da had brought home a grillon trapped in a jar. Mam had been none too pleased about that. He’d explained that he meant to take Mara along next time and wanted to warn her about the grillons. Mam made him promise to put an end to the grillon, but had it somehow escaped?

“Sometimes they stray. Don’t be afraid. I’ll search him out for you.”

He’d never gazed at her with such a soft look on his face before. What did it mean?


"...I quickly found I wanted to know more and couldn’t wait find out what happens! I was pleased with how this one turned out, and enjoyed seeing some of the secrets and things that weren’t covered but were hinted at, or missing in the first two books."


“What does a farmer know of romance?”

“I want nothing to do with it myself.” There. She had let him know how she felt.

“It seems we are agreed.”

Relief washed over her. He had come around so quickly. “I believe so.”

“That’s well then.” He nodded. “I will ask for you.”


"SoJourner starts with a new character, Mara, whom I think might just be one of my favorites so far. Her spunk and courage are endearing, as well as her deep, forgiving nature. Also new to the scene is Rand, the son of an enemy. His character really adds depth and a new dimension to the story. . . . Voigt once again delivers a novel of beautiful descriptions and a unique world all her own. While I felt the novel could have been fleshed out just a little more, the overall pace and plot were done excellently."


“Am I such a burden?”

Mam’s face softened. “Nay, child, never that. But can you not see that to wed our neighbor would keep you near?”

“Not marrying at all would leave me closer.”

“Foolishness.” Mam shook her head, her brow puckered. “You’ll want to marry.”

“Why?” Mara said in desperation. “Why can’t I stay here with you and Da?”

“Hush, child. T’is the way of things, and naught to be done about it. Fledglings fly the nest.”

Jorie Loves A Story - Spotlight

Splashes of Joy - Excerpt

Seated at a scarred table in the inn’s common room, Rand did his best to ignore the hostile stares from more than one pair of rounded eyes. He’d chosen a dark corner away from the lanthorn light in the hope of escaping notice. As a Kindren among the Elder, he’d expected to encounter suspicion. From the look of this crowd, he’d better keep watch to avoid being knifed in his bed. He couldn’t let anything happen to him, not with his father’s errand to carry out, although the thought of it made his stomach churn.

Uplifting Reads - Excerpt

Mam pushed into the chamber. “What’s this? Lingering abed?”

“My head aches.”

“Hmm…” Mam’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll brew an infusion. You’ll recover before Rohan arrives.”

“But Mam—”
“Stir yourself. He means to ask you to marry him.” She took herself off to make the remedy.

Mara swallowed against a lump in her throat. She’d never thought Mam would be happy to see her gone. There seemed nothing to do but drag herself from bed and endure today’s ordeal. Rohan wanted a wife, did he? Maybe she could persuade him to look elsewhere.

J. L. Mbewe - Excerpt

Mara felt the Kindren looking at her out of long eyes a strange hue between green and amber, deepened by the dim light in the far corner. He had a look she’d seen before, that of a care-worn sojourner. How far had he come, and what errand thrust him upon the mercies of the road?

The front door opened and the lanthorns suspended from overhead beams swung in the draft that fanned her face. Light flared across the stranger, turning his hair red-gold. She’d taken him for older than he now appeared, but guessing a Kindren’s age wasn’t easy. His kind hardly ever stopped at the inn these days, and she’d forgotten how intriguing she found them.

jypsylynn - Review

"...this remains a well written, inventive, entertaining and complex read with dynamic unforgettable characters and an underlying current of faith. I'm interested to see where things are going next. Janalyn Voigt has written a great addition to the series and I recommend for anyone who has enjoyed the books!"


"Sojourner is the third novel in the speculative/fantasy series The Tales of Faeraven. I think that the world-building in this series is second to none, with the culture and customs of this fictional land being solid and credible. I do like it that some of the characters and evens (at least in the early books) are based on actual Medieval European History. . . . So what did I enjoy about this book? Most of it really. I liked how alongside the political intrigue with a growing threat from an enemy army threatening the heroes, there was a hint of romance between Mara and the mysterious Rand."


A creature loomed black against the pewter sky. He knew the flapping sound its wings made from his early days at Pilaer. He’d loathed the giant raptor birds but had pretended to admire their savagery to please his father and avoid Draeg’s mockery. This one was a long way from its roost in the east of Elderland. The rider on its back provided an explanation for that but roused other questions. On what errand would his father send a welke rider? And did it have anything to do with his own?

Bookworm Lisa - Review

"This was my favorite book of the series so far. . . . I loved the interaction of the characters and the weaving in of the past, present, and future that is to come. This is story of finding love, hope, friendship, and honor in a time of war."

That Georgia Gypsy - Spotlight

Jessica Belmont - Review

"Sojourner is the third book in the Faeraven series, and is my third read from Janalyn Voigt. These novels seem like they could be read as standalones, but the books are so good, I recommend checking them all out. . . . Overall, Sojourner is a fantastic read with beautiful descriptions and compelling characters. Recommended for sure!"

Remembrancy - Review

"Sojourner ends with a little more of a cliffhanger than the first two books, but my guess is Voigt is gearing readers up for something epic in the next installment. As this series continues, I become more invested in these characters and Voigt’s story world. And I really want Kai and Shae to get their HEA!"

Wishful Endings - Excerpt

“I’m certain you wouldn’t run away without cause.”

“I didn’t want to marry.” She hadn’t meant to blurt that out.

“And now you are on your way to Torindan? Something’s missing from your story.”

She shrugged. “There’s not much else.”

He touched her arm, and a tingle ran down her spine. “I’ve an idea you’ve left out the important part.”

Pause for Tales - Review

"I was happy to be back in this world. I enjoyed the continuation of this story and I think this one just might be my favorite as many loose ends of the previous story are tied up. The story arc is one that is keeping me glued to the pages and looking forward to the next in the series."


Rand had promised his mother he would never abase a maiden. He wanted Mara beyond reason but would not take her by force or persuasion and should not have stolen so much as a kiss from her.

Restraining the impulse to offer his hand to help her rise, he picked up his saddle bag. Touching her presented too much of a temptation. “It’s time to leave.”


"I eagerly anticipated reading SoJourner having recently enjoyed DawnSinger and WayFarer. Janalyn Voigt did not disappoint. . . . I look forward to reading book 4 in the Tales of Faeraven series. I highly recommend reading these books in order in order to fully understand the plot."


"I have to say that I've been quite enjoying Janalyn Voigt's Tales Of Faeraven series and SoJourner was no exception. Readers are once again transported right into the story by author Janalyn Voigt's vivid word-painting of her magical fantasy realm. So, if you are into epic journeys, sword fights, hidden identities, and flying horses, you really should check into this book and series..."

Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post...

Sojourner
(Tales of Faeraven #3)
By Janalyn Voigt
Fantasy, Christian Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 322 Pages
November 1st 2019 by Pelican Book Group

Mara didn't know her parents were living a lie.

After learning a secret that causes Mara to question her heritage, she runs to Torindan, the High Hold of Faeraven, to seek the truth. What the innkeeper’s daughter doesn't know is that Rand, the mysterious tracker she’s hired to guide her through the wilderness, has been sent on an errand that puts her life at risk.

Helping Mara furthers Rand's purposes, but he doesn't count on his emotions interfering.

With Faeraven on the brink of war, Rand is faced with a life-altering choice, Mara is torn between escape and learning the truth, and the future hangs in the balance.

Will Mara be heir to the Faeraven throne? Can Rand escape the terrors of the dungeon?

As Torindan and Pilaer prepare for battle, anything can happen.

(Affiliate link included.)

Other Books in the Series


About the Author


Janalyn Voigt is a writer and professional speaker with a photography habit and a passion for travel. Her unique blend of adventure, romance, suspense, and fantasy creates worlds of beauty and danger for readers. Tales of Faeraven, her epic fantasy series beginning with DawnSinger, carries readers into a land only imagined in dreams. She is represented by Sarah Joy Freese of Wordserve Literary.


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive  a Tales of Faeraven bookmark and choice of ONE of the following items (US only):
Ends October 30th, 2019

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