Friday, March 29, 2019

Sunshine Blogger Award!

Savanna from The Engrafted Word made my day and nominated me for The Sunshine Blogger Award! I think it's fun to get to know bloggers this way! I love the positive encouragement in this community of readers and authors :)

The Sunshine Blogger Award is a peer recognition for bloggers across all genres who inspire “positivity and joy.” While there is no formal evaluation or vetting process, and no tangible prize, it is a sweet gift to receive from fellow bloggers who view my blog as “inspiring positivity and joy.”

Sunshine Blogger Award rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you in the blog post and link back to their blog.
Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

My answers to the 11 questions from Savanna:

What (or who) inspired you to start blogging?

I followed several book blogs to enter giveaways and learn about new releases, and when I learned about requesting books for review through Netgalley, I started my own blog that day!

How has blogging changed your life overall?

Knowing that I'm going to be writing a review for a book makes me read a little deeper, looking for themes and how I feel reading it. I also have a much larger collection of books! It's made me aware of more authors and publishers I didn't know about before. I don't think I'll ever reach the end of my TBR...

What has been your favorite read of 2019 so far?

Let's Begin Again by Heather B. Moore; Heart of Red, Blood of Blue by Rebecca Belliston; My Not So Wicked Stepbrother by Jennifer Peel; and a re-read of Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischof

What is one of your favorite songs?

Modern Nature by Sondre Lerche, from the Dan in Real Life soundtrack

If you could take a vacation anywhere, what destination would you choose?

Europe! My dream is coming true this summer with my first trip there!

When you aren’t reading or blogging, what are you most likely to be doing?

Besides the never-ending tasks of laundry and dishes... I like going to the beach and taking classes at my gym.

What would you say is the easiest part about being a writer and what is the hardest part?

For me, the easiest part is saying how I really feel about a book. The hardest part is making it sound good! I have a tendency to use the same words and phrases between reviews to describe elements of a book, so I have to make an effort to come up with fresh ways of expressing my thoughts.

Who inspired your love of reading?

My mom and dad read to my sisters and me as young kids, and growing up they always made sure we had books to read through trips to the library.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

To be active. I always feel better afterwards when I'm up and moving, even if I'd rather curl up and introvert ;)

What was your favorite book as a child?

The Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, and the Baby-Sitters Club books by Ann M. Martin

Of all the blog posts you’ve written, which is your favorite? Please post the link.

I don't have a blog post that comes to mind since I stick to mainly reviews and tours... and I have a horrible memory! I do admire the creative posts that other bloggers come up with. It's always fun to pick my favorites of the year and post about those, but I pick so many it turns into a series of posts!

I nominate these 11 bloggers/authors:

Mindy from Min Reads and Reviews

Author Julie Coulter Bellon from LDS Writer Mom

Katie from Katie's Clean Book Collection

Aimee from Getting Your Read On

Author Loraine Nunley

Suzie from Remembrancy

Lisa from Bookworm Lisa

Andrea, Tarah and Rorie from Literary Time Out

Kathy at Bookworm Nation

Kelly from Where Faith and Books Meet

Melissa from Genesis 5020

The 11 questions for my nominees:

(I have to admit I searched previous Sunshine posts for question ideas!)

Where is your favorite place you’ve ever been?

What /where is the setting of any of your current reads?

Do you have a favorite celebrity or author?

What do you think makes a great friend?

What do you do to feel better when you’re feeling down?

What is your favorite kind of bookish merch?

Name a book that you wish had a sequel.

Which of the 7 dwarfs are you most similar to?

What state haven’t you lived in but would like to?

Who would play you, in a film/series about your life?

If you were to write a book, what would it be about?

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Certain Hope by E.C. Jackson

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Certain Hope
(Hope Series #3)
By E. C. Jackson
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 318 Pages
December 5th 2018

Love at first sight. It’s every girl’s dream. But Tara Simpkins is finding out it’s not as easy as it seems. Is this truly the man God sent to be her husband, or is she just desperate to escape her loneliness? The recent loss of both parents has left her reeling, and close friends don’t think she’s in any position to make major life decisions. She and her new-found love are convinced they can live happily ever after in the home of their dreams. His family thinks he’s moving way too fast and might disappoint the kind-hearted woman he’s fallen head over heels for. And then there’s Leah. Leah is supposed to be part of his past, but what if she decides she’s his future? Tara’s match made in Heaven may be over before it truly begins.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble
Book Depository│Kobo

Excerpt

While drying dishes, Tara jumped as soap suds hit her face. She spun around when Luke laughed, right before lobbing another soap ball at her. She ducked. Only trickles of water dusted her hair.

Her reflexes immediately kicked in. The water pitcher was in her hand before thinking better of her next move. The shock on Luke’s face stilled her hand. He was soaked. Water slid from his hair, and over his body, until it streamed across the floor.

“Oops! Blame yourself and not me,” she yelled, charging past him.

Lunging for her, Luke slipped on the wet floor, bringing them both down with a thud.

With a tight grip, he held her on his lap as Tara swiped at his hands.

“Why are you trying to get away?” he asked with a chuckle. “I’m sitting in water.”

Tara peeped up at him. “Do you promise we won’t trade places?”

“Hmm. Now that’s a thought. Relax,” he said when her struggles resumed. “That was a spirited trouncing, Ms. Simpkins. You won.”

“Yeah, I did. No payback?”

“Do you think I’m a spoilsport? Don’t answer. You’re safe for the moment.”

Tara leapt to her feet when Luke released his hold. Smiling sweetly, she held out a hand to help him up.

“Ah! You got soaked. Sorry. It was all my fault.”

Luke joined in her laughter. “Of course, that cockiness deserves retribution.”

Too late, she saw mischief in his eyes. Luke yanked her back onto his lap, layering her sputtering lips with kisses.

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. For three and a half years she published the Confidence in Life newsletter for Alpha Production Ministries, in addition to writing tracts and devotionals. Teaching a women’s Bible study at her church for eleven years naturally led to her current endeavor of writing inspirational romance novels and teen and young adult fiction. Her mission: spiritual maturity in the body of Christ through fiction.

A note from E. C. Jackson: “The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on my website and Facebook author page. If every person reading my book feels connected to the characters, my job is done.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Amazon

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally

Ends April 3, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Book Tour, Author Interview & Giveaway: Her Colorado Cowboy by Mindy Obenhaus

Welcome to the Blog Tour and Giveaway for Her Colorado Cowboy by Mindy Obenhaus, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Her Colorado Cowboy
Series: Rocky Mountain Heroes, Book 3
Author: Mindy Obenhaus
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 19, 2019

Lassoing the single mom’s heart…
A Rocky Mountain Heroes story

Socialite Lily Davis agrees to take her children riding…despite her fear of horses.

But now widowed cowboy Noah Stephens is determined to help her get comfortable in the saddle. And, at her children’s insistence, Lily finds herself promoting his rodeo school.

As Noah and Lily work together, will Noah continue to shield his heart…or can they discover a love that conquers both their fears?

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Christian Book | iTunes

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MINDY OBENHAUS

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born and raised in Michigan, but now live on a ranch in Texas with my husband, the youngest of my five children, two dogs, numerous cattle and deer, along with the occasional coyote, wild hog, mountain lion and snake. Yet despite those latter characters, rural life is a pleasant change from the suburbs of Dallas-Ft. Worth. If only there was a Hobby Lobby nearby. 😉

What do you do besides writing?

I love to cook, watch countless hours of The Food Network and Hallmark Channel, shop and play with my grandbabies.

Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?

Yes, I’m a very visual person, so I need that visual inspiration as I’m writing. Most times I have a “prototype” in mind, but sometimes it’s not until I’m writing and get a better feel for the character that I have a particular person in mind.

What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book?

While I love music, I prefer to write in silence. Probably because I’m too easily distracted. I do find inspiration in songs, though. Some books actually have a theme song, unfortunately that wasn’t the case for Her Colorado Cowboy.

What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?

I want them to know that we serve a God of second chances. Even when we say NEVER, God has a plan. It may not be what we envisioned, but it‘s always better than anything we could have come up with on our own.

What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?

Book four in my Rocky Mountain Heroes series, Reunited in the Rockies, is scheduled to release in September, with the fifth, and final, book on shelves early next year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

It took Mindy Obenhaus forty years to figure out what she wanted to do when she grew up, but once God called her to write, she never looked back. A three-time Carol Award finalist, Mindy is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren at her Texas ranch.

CONNECT: website | facebook | twitter | pinterest | goodreads | bookbub

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win:

a signed copy of Her Colorado Cowboy
$15 Amazon gift card

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 25, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 1, 2019. US only. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.