Friday, January 27, 2023

Review: Amazing Cat Facts and Trivia by Tammy Gagne


My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it



Book Description

Whether you want to understand more about your fluffy friend, or are simply fascinated by the mysterious world of cats, Amazing Cat Facts and Trivia is for you.

As everyone who has ever owned a cat knows, no other animal on the planet is quite like this amazing creature. Packed with fun facts and colorful illustrations and photos, this book delves into the history and evolution of cats and feline species and breeds. Learn about the physiology of cats, from their senses to their bodies. And, of course, kittens! Explore the psychology of cats and some of their most curious behavior such as their litterbox activity, sleeping habits, and kneading of their little paws.

Amazing Cat Facts and Trivia also offers valuable advice, including how to:

  • Buy or foster a cat
  • Take care of cats with disabilities
  • Choose a breed
  • Decide on an indoor versus outdoor cat
Details about caring for cats, including playtime, carriers, and food and nutrition are covered at length, and health and safety tips help you keep yourself and your cat in tiptop shape.

My Review

I learned some useful information about cats from this book, as well as plenty of fun trivia facts. The graphics were engaging and kept my eyes busy as well as my mind as I read. While much of the advice covers basics that I already knew, there is definitely something for everyone as it covered a wide array of topics, advice, and history. It doesn't need to be read in order- just flip to a page and discover what there is to be found! It is an entertaining book as well as helpful, and long enough to keep the reader occupied for several reading sessions.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.


Blog Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway: A Family for the Rancher by M. K. Stelmack

A Family For The Rancher JustRead Blog + Review Blitz 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Blitz for A Family for the Rancher by M. K. Stelmack, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

A Family for the Rancher Title: A Family for the Rancher 
Series: A Ranch to Call Home #1 
Author: M. K. Stelmack 
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming 
Release Date: January 24, 2023 
Genre: Clean Contemporary Romance 

Can the prodigal cowboy… 

Teach her to hope again? 

 Horse trainer Mateo Pavlic wants to buy back his family’s ranch. But Haley Jansson isn’t interested in selling…or forgiving his twelve-year absence. Mateo has loved Haley since they were kids, and he feels a deep connection with her sweet son, Jonah. Soon, Mateo wants to be all in with Haley and her adorable baby. But can he convince her to risk her land, her child and her heart? 

From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub


Excerpt

 
She giggled. “Are you giving your mom ’tude already?”

“I wonder where he’d get that from?” Mateo said. He thought he’d

spoken softly, but the baby gave a startle reflex, his tiny hands splaying out. Mateo didn’t think. He held his finger out, and the baby grabbed on. A feeling of power and peace and absolute terror spread through him.

He could only imagine what Haley was experiencing. Her eyes were

on him, and she smiled quietly. “Pretty cool, eh?” He cleared his throat. “Yeah.”

He wiggled his finger as if in a handshake. “Hello there. My name is Mateo. What’s yours?”

There was a slight hesitation from Haley, and then she said, “Mateo, I’d like you to meet my son, Jonah Knut Jansson.”

Mateo looked at her in surprise. “But that’s—”

“Your middle name. I know. I’ve always liked that name—and it’s not as if you’re the only one who has it, you know. I’m not naming him

after you, just so we’re clear on that.”

They hadn’t seen each other in twelve years before today, so he believed her. Still. He thumbed baby Jonah’s brand-new soft hand. Still.


About the Author

M. K. Stelmack

M. K. Stelmack writes historical and contemporary romance. She is the author of Heartwarming's A True North Hero series, the third of which, Coming Home to You was made into a movie called Love by Accident. She has also written 'The Montgomerys of Spirit Lake' series. A Family for the Rancher marks the first in her new series, A Ranch to Call Home. She lives in Alberta, Canada, close to a town that the fictional Spirit Lake of her stories is patterned after.

Connect with M. K. by visiting mkstelmack.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Family for the Rancher and $20 Amazon gift card!

A Family for the Rancher JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 25, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 1, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway Here


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

JustRead Publicity Tours


 


Thursday, January 26, 2023

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Max by Izzy James

Max JustRead Blog Tour 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Max by Izzy James, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Max: A Yorktown Christmas Title: Max 
Series: The Yorktown Christmas Time Travel Series 
Author: Izzy James 
Publisher: Bent Knee Press 
Release Date: December 2019 
Genre: Christian Romance, Time Travel

Trapped in his conservatory for 250 years by the curse of an enraged woman, Max appears to Olivia just before Christmas. Olivia is a young woman waiting for the right man to recognize her strengths and talents. Can Olivia help Max break the curse without breaking her heart?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
 

Excerpt


Olivia removed her coat and laid it on a nearby chair. The room was a bit chilly, but she wouldn’t be here long. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard a bump in the next room. She moved slowly toward the sound while she glanced around for a weapon. She had no desire to encounter a rat or any other critter that might have sought shelter from the cold. Holding her cane in two hands she stepped into the room.

The wardrobe burst open and Max fell out.
 

About the Author

Izzy James

Izzy James is the pen name of Elizabeth Chevalier Hull. Elizabeth grew up in coastal Virginia surrounded by the history of the founding of our nation. She lives there still with her fabulous husband in a house brimming with books.

Connect with Izzy by visiting izzyjamesauthor.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of the book and a $25 Amazon gift card!

(1) additional winner will receive a print copy of the book!

Max JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 24, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 31, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours


 


Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Book Tour & Giveaway: Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden


Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden

Publication Date: January 17, 2023
Bethany House Publishers

Genre: Historical Romance/Christian
Series: The Blackstone Legacy, Book #3


His steel empire has catapulted him to the top of the world, but loving her could cost him everything.

Maggie Molinaro survived a hardscrabble childhood in the downtrodden streets of Manhattan to become a successful businesswoman. After a decade of sacrifice, she now owns a celebrated ice cream company. But when she offends a corrupt banker, she unwittingly sets off a series of calamities that threaten to destroy her life's work.

Liam Blackstone is a charismatic steel magnate committed to overhauling factory conditions for the steelworkers of America. Standing in his way is the same villain determined to ruin Maggie. What begins as a practical alliance to defeat a common enemy soon evolves into a romance between two wounded people determined to beat the odds.

A spiraling circle of treachery grows increasingly dangerous as Liam and Maggie risk their lives and fortunes for the good of the city. It will require all their wit and ingenuity to protect everything--and everyone--they hold dear.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million


About the Author


Elizabeth Camden is best known for her historical novels set in Gilded Age America, featuring clever heroines and richly layered story lines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won Christy, Carol, and RITA Awards and have appeared on the CBA bestsellers list. She lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband, who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, January 17
Review at Ms. Darcy Reads

Wednesday, January 18
Excerpt at Aubrey Wynne
Review at Michelle the PA Loves to Read

Thursday, January 19
Review at Novels Alive
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Friday, January 20
Review at Classicly Kait
Review at Tammy Reads

Saturday, January 21
Review at Reading is My SuperPower

Sunday, January 22
Review at Debjani's Thoughts

Monday, January 23
Review at The Green Mockingbird

Tuesday, January 24
Guest Post at Heidi Reads

Wednesday, January 25
Review at Bookworlder

Thursday, January 26
Review & Excerpt at Older & Smarter

Friday, January 27
Review at The Lit Bitch

Monday, January 30
Review at Jorie Loves A Story
Feature at CelticLady's Reviews

Tuesday, January 31
Feature at I'm Into Books

Wednesday, February 1
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Friday, February 3
Feature at Coffee and Ink

Giveaway

We have two copies of Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden up for grabs!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on February 3rd. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Hearts of Steel






Saturday, January 21, 2023

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Beauty from Ashes by Pamela Hart

Beauty From Ashes JustRead Blog Tour Welcome to the Blog Tour for Beauty from Ashes by Pamela Hart, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

 
Beauty From Ashes Title: Beauty from Ashes 
Series: Beauty from Ashes Trilogy #1 
Author: Pamela Hart 
Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing 
Release Date: July 25, 2022 
Genre: Young Adult Clean Fantasy Romance (Allegorical) 

How far are you willing to go for love? 

When Prince Arnion volunteers to infiltrate the prison colony of Gehenna, romance is the last thing on his mind. Rescuing its inhabitants is his only priority. But the corruption in Gehenna runs deep, fueled by the obsessions of its fanatical leader—a king rumored to devour human hearts. 

To succeed, Arnion must conceal his identity from the people he’s been sent to save, including a young woman he’s inexplicably drawn to. And when her life is threatened by two merciless guards, the prince risks everything to save her. 

Afterward, she wants nothing to do with him or his promises of rescue. But she soon realizes there’s more to Arnion than meets the eye, and what he’s about to unleash on Gehenna will change everything. 

 
 

Excerpt



She could feel grime sticking to her face and the back of her neck. Her throat burned from breathing in quarry dust all day, and her skin itched from the heat rash blossoming from her knuckles up to her wrists. Acadia scratched at it furiously as she walked away from the cart, drawing blood.

She was so consumed with trying to alleviate at least some of the itching that she walked into someone standing in front of her. Acadia might as well have walked into a boulder. The other person didn’t give way at all. As Acadia recoiled back a step, she stumbled.

“Careful,” a gentle grip steadied her.

Her eyes flashed up, and she jerked her arm away.

Oh no.

It was that lunatic again.

“I thought I told you to stay away from me.”

“Hey, you bumped into me this time.”

Acadia scowled. His non swollen eye was crinkled up in a crescent. He was actually smiling. She couldn’t remember the last time she had seen someone smile, certainly never in Gehenna unless you counted the serpentine smirks of the guards when they did something particularly cruel. Not that his smile is particularly pleasant to look at, she thought as she appraised his disfigured and peeling face.

“I didn’t get your name earlier.”

“And you won’t.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “No one uses names here. It’s meaningless.”

“Not to me.”

She shifted her feet warily.

What was with him?


About the Author

Pamela Hart

Pamela Hart is the author of Beauty from Ashes and City of a Thousand Tears. Raised on a steady diet of fantasy, science fiction and anime, she spent most of her childhood failing to acquire a Boston accent. Since then, she has slurped ramen in Ikebukuro, stampeded through flamenco lessons in Granada, and splashed her way across a fishpond for the Milkman Triathlon in Dexter. During her travels, she tends to overpack horrendously, but never regrets cramming her backpack full of books to devour along the way. She wanders the planet with Joe, the love of her life, and her adorably maniacal Boston terriers, Willy and Marvin.

Connect with Pamela by visiting pamelahartwrites.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Beauty from Ashes, 2 themed bookmarks, a $15 Amazon gift card, a book themed tote bag, and a book themed pencil case!

Beauty From Ashes JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 17, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 24, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

 


Thursday, January 19, 2023

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Midnight Blue by Suzie Waltner

Midnight Blue JustRead Blog + Review Tour 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Midnight Blue by Suzie Waltner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

 
Midnight Bllue Title: Midnight Blue 
Series: Love in Color #1 
Author: Suzie Waltner 
Publisher: Anaiah Press Publishing 
Release Date: September 6, 2022 
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance 

A series of heartbreaking setbacks behind her, Scarlett Sykes is now focused on creating the best life possible for her daughter. One where innocence and joy is not colored by rejection or loss. While finances are tight and Scarlett’s job isn’t ideal for a single mother, her child will always know she’s loved. Especially since Harmony’s father wanted nothing to do with them. 

As lead singer and the face of a successful country band, Jake Turnquist’s closest friends depend on him, but life in the spotlight is quickly losing its appeal. At a party celebrating another accomplishment, he’s stunned to discover Scarlett assisting the caterer. Almost ten years have passed, but he’s never forgotten his first love. 

In the hours after a surprise revelation, Jake scrambles to orchestrate a way to spend time with Scarlett and Harmony—the family he’s always wanted but never knew he had. He once gave her up to pursue his music. What will he have to surrender to win her back?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

 

Guest Post from Author Suzie Waltner

 
Weaving Faith with Romance

With faith being an every-day part of many of my characters’ lives, weaving it into the storyline came naturally in Midnight Blue. And for those who have strayed away from faith or don’t intentionally practice it (like Jake), they were raised in it, so the progression back to it is natural.

I feel like faith and romance connect well because they have a few things in common, starting with the heart. Both faith and romance don’t always look worth it on paper or in our heads. With romance, a person gives up some of their independence and has to learn to compromise in some situations. And faith? Faith can be downright scary because you commit to handing control over to God. Often, both require unlocking those places in our hearts we don’t want to examine, but to grow in relationship (with that other person or with the Lord), it’s pain we have to experience.

There’s also a bit of an unknown factor in both. With romance, you’re questioning whether the other person feels the same about you as you do them, plus there’s this underlying thrum of excitement and hope that everything will work out. When someone takes their first step of faith, they’re not sure of what’s next for them, but oh, what joy we find in continuing that journey, even when we’re in a valley and have to hold on to hope.

And finally, there’s the Happily Ever After. In romance, I read for the “I love you” moment and what comes after—the engagement, the wedding, a glimpse into the couple’s married life. The story ends there and even though I know real life will still have plenty of bumps, bruises, and hardships, I remember these fictional couples in their happiest moments because that’s where I left them at the end of the story. With faith… Oh, what joy heaven will bring to. The new heaven and new earth are the only happily ever after that promises no tears, no pain, and no suffering that will never end.


About the Author

Suzie Waltner

Suzie Waltner is a lover of fiction and is first and foremost a reader. When she’s not at work or reading or writing, you can find her cheering on the Nashville Predators (hockey) or dancing an hour away in Zumba class. Until her second year of college, her life plan was to become a veterinarian. A fainting spell while watching a surgery performed on a sheep changed that plan. Now she works in the corporate world during the day while creating stories in her free time. Suzie resides in a suburb of Nashville, TN and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers as well as Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers. She currently serves as the president of the Middle Tennessee ACFW chapter.

Connect with Suzie by visiting suziewaltner.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a Everything But the Book Cozy Reading Basket: sherpa throw, I'd Rather Be Reading mug, I Read Past My Bedtime socks, 12 oz orange spice candle, portable power bank, book cozy, and some reading snacks plus a $20 Amazon gift card!

Midnight Blue JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 16, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 23, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours


 


Saturday, January 14, 2023

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: The Reunion by Natasha D. Frazier

The Reunion JustRead Blog Tour 
Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Reunion by Natasha D. Frazier, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book


The Reunion Title: The Reunion 
Series: Langston Sisters #1 
Author: Natasha D. Frazier 
Publisher: Encouraging Works 
Release Date: October 25, 2022 
Genre: Christian romantic suspense 

Divorced. 

 Dragged through the mud by entertainment media outlets. 

Determined to rise above her past. 

Crystal Langston's plan was perfect: go to her 20th college class reunion to prove her divorce from her abusive ex-husband, NFL player, Dante Green, didn't break her. Her life was thriving outside of his shadow. Though it's been over a year since their divorce, Dante makes a huge announcement during their reunion mixer. His latest stunt results in his death. 

And Crystal is the number one suspect! 

Marcel Singleton recently launched his political campaign for Houston's District Attorney. Now that his childhood friend is no longer tied to Dante, he attends their class reunion with one goal in mind: to finally tell Crystal how he feels about her. What he didn't expect was that he'd be representing her in a murder case against her ex-husband. 

Crystal's life is going up in flames -- fast! 

Will Marcel's feelings for Crystal cloud his judgment? How will his involvement with a murder suspect affect his campaign? 

And if Crystal is innocent, will the real murderer come for her next?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound

Also Available

With Every Step With Every Moment


Guest Post from Author Natasha D. Frazier


I love writing romance stories, especially second-chance romances! I’d been toying with the idea of writing romantic suspense for a couple of years before I got started. It’s one of those things where I was already working on a series, so it had to wait. I wanted to try romantic suspense because it is a step outside of my comfort zone and I wanted to stretch myself as a writer.

One of the most challenging things about writing romantic suspense is balancing romantic tension along with the suspense in such a way that one is not overshadowing the other. It is a delicate line because we want the reader to feel and believe the characters falling in love despite what’s happening, but also experience the danger the characters are in.

In The Reunion, I think writing the romantic tension was easier because Crystal and Marcel had a past—they’ve known each other since grade school and have had unexplored feelings for each other for at least twenty years. There was no way they could hide their emotions when Marcel assigns himself the duty of protecting Crystal and clearing her name. This detail keeps the characters on the pages together and gives room for their relationship to bloom—allowing them to recognize what’s been between them all this time. And I love it!

Writing the suspense plot was different for me, but I had quite a bit of fun doing so. My twentieth high school reunion festivities were held in October 2022. The idea for The Reunion stemmed from random thoughts I had about my own high school class reunion.

What if something crazy happened?

As I explored that thought, The Reunion was born, except in our story, it is a college reunion. I think most of us are familiar with what happens at reunions. There is lots of catching up, reminiscing, etc. But what if things don’t go according to plan? And for Crystal, she only showed up because she wanted to prove to everyone that she was doing well outside of her ex-husband’s shadow. However, it didn’t work out in her favor, and as a result, several terrible things happened we could continue to explore while she and Marcel grew closer.

And (un)fortunately, while Crystal’s situation has been solved, it isn’t the end of the Langston sisters’ troubles. Ava’s story, The Wrong Seat, is coming April 6, 2023, and she finds herself in need of protection.


About the Author

Natasha D. Frazier

Natasha D. Frazier fell in love with love around the age of twelve because of artists like Babyface, Boys II Men, Whitney Houston, and New Edition. Around sixteen when her mother purchased a romance novel and left it lying around the house untouched, Natasha read it and a spark for the written word had been ignited.

Natasha believes that writing is one of her purposes and contributions to the world. She feels accomplished when she can get a few words written and like blah when life gets in the way. Her hope is that at the end of every novel, readers will feel like they’ve been wrapped in a cozy blanket with a mug of their favorite coffee/tea/warm drink. When she isn’t reading or writing, she is likely watching movies with her family. Natasha resides in Richmond, TX with her husband, Eddie Frazier, Jr. and their three children, Eden, Ethan, and Emilyn. Her greatest joy and commitment is to her family who she hopes to inspire above all else. One of her many mottos in life is: Faith removes limitations. Natasha and her family attend Parkway Fellowship in Richmond, TX, where she volunteers as a small group leader for elementary students. Natasha is also a member of the Houston Area Alumni Chapter of Jackson State University and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Connect with Natasha by visiting natashafrazier.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of McCall Family Series and a $10 Amazon gift card!

The Reunion JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 10, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 17, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours


 


Thursday, January 12, 2023

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Captive Set Free by Valerie Limmer

Captive Set Free JustRead Blog Tour 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Captive Set Free by Valerie Limmer, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

 
Captive Set Free Title: Captive Set Free 
Author: Valerie Limmer 
Publisher: Green Sap Publications 
Release Date: October 18, 2022 
Genre: Non-Fiction, Christian Living

Have you been hurt? Are you hounded by turbulent feelings and looping thoughts? Do you know you need to forgive but aren't sure where to begin?

Captive Set Free is a lamppost along the path of healing, offering engaging stories and examples, explaining how forgiveness fits into our spiritual DNA, and examining mindsets that make forgiving easier or harder. In this book, you'll learn how to

 - take concrete steps to forgive; 

- be sure forgiveness has taken hold in your heart; and 

 - guard your spirit from bitterness, both now and in the future. 

If you're tired of being imprisoned by pain and toxicity and want to step into the free and abundant life Jesus has planned for His children, this book is for you.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub

 

EXCERPT


This passage always touches me with its tenderness:

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 
So great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him. 
As far as the east is from the west, 
So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 
(Psalm 103:11–12)

These verses remind me of a parent and child. The parent says, “How much do you love me?”

Stretching out his arms as wide as they can go, the child exclaims, “This much!”

In this case, it’s God who’s widening His arms—and they are very big indeed! He isn’t afraid of being undignified.

“How much do You love me?”

“This much.” His arms get really tall. “How much have You forgiven me?”

“This much!” He stretches as far as the east is from the west. God is extravagant that way.

The apostle Peter once asked Jesus an important question: “How many times should I forgive? Seven times?”

Jesus replied, “Seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21–22)

Four hundred and ninety times. That doesn’t seem so outrageous. I would have been more comfortable if Jesus had said, “One million times”; I’m sure I’ll sin against my husband and family more than four hundred and ninety times during my life.

But Jesus combined His godly extravagance with gentleness toward human frailty. We tend to get overwhelmed. We turn off and tune out the impossible. Jesus took Peter’s number—the highest he was willing to go—and multiplied it by another, ten times bigger. Though large, it wasn’t so inconceivable that Peter would give up.

I have a feeling that if Peter’s original number had been one million, then Jesus would have said, “10,000,000 ⨉ 1,000,000 times.”

Jesus is like that. He’s patient with our limitedness. He knows our smallness and comes to meet and teach us right where we are.
 

About the Author

Valerie Limmer

Valerie Limmer is a missionary in Japan. She is neither a therapist nor a theologian, but she has experienced severe abuse from a handful of people. In Captive Set Free, she shares the principles and techniques she's learned in her own life on her journeys towards forgiveness.

Connect with Valerie by visiting valerielimmer.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of Captive Set Free and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Captive Set Free JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 9, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 16, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours


 


Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Book Tour, Review & Giveaway: Secret of the Sonnets by Samantha Hastings





My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it



Synopsis

Miranda Hatch is a scholar, and at the advanced age of twenty-six, she is undoubtedly a spinster. Her single-minded ambition leads her not to seek a husband but to find the lost manuscripts of William Shakespeare. So when she discovers a connection between the Bard and the local dashing marquess, she pens a letter requesting access to papers that might secure her academic triumph.

Lord Robert Hamilton is drowning in debt and must turn things around or risk losing his ancestral home. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, he has little time to bother with a letter from an M. Hatch requesting access to ancestral papers―until he realizes there may be some financial merit in granting the request. To his great surprise, M. Hatch turns out to be none other than the lovely Miss Miranda. The pair soon embarks on the trail of a centuries-old mystery, drawn together not only by their shared goal but by their growing attraction. However, someone else is seeking the priceless papers, and they will not hesitate to remove anyone in the way of glory.


My Review

I loved the unique plot in this book! Miranda and her father have a great love (bordering on obsession) for literature and especially all things Shakespeare. Her self-confidence is admirable, and she is comfortable with herself and finds joy and laughter in life, reminding me a bit of Elizabeth Bennett. She has a lovely family dynamic with her mother and father. They are impressed with Robert as a gentleman and although he doesn’t share their literary interests, there is a connection of congeniality and sense of humor that makes him fit right in. I enjoyed how naturally their relationship progressed. There is a sense of tension as Robert has limited time to pay the debts left by his father, and the presence of a saboteur lingers in the background, leaving the reader in suspense as to when he will meddle with our characters. I was intrigued by the details I learned about Shakespeare and couldn’t wait to see if they would actually make a discovery.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway