Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Sing a New Song by Candee Fick

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Sing a New Song
(The Wardrobe Series #3)
By Candee Fick
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 275 Pages
May 1st 2019 by Bling! Romance

The pampered diva is about to meet her match

Songbird Gloria Houghton has always needed to be the center of attention, but the spotlight has shifted. Seeking fame and a fresh start, she finds a new stage in Branson, Missouri…only to risk being replaced by a manipulative rival. If Gloria can’t be the star, who is she?

Jack-of-all-trades Nick Sherwood is just one leaf on a vast family tree that includes a restaurant chef, hotel owners, and even the headline act at a family-owned theater. He’s seen how fame can blind a person with jealousy and is more than content to stay in the background thank you very much. If only he wasn’t so fascinated--and irritated--by the newest addition to the staff.

After a disaster of a first impression and financial difficulties land Gloria in the humblest of jobs—with Nick as her boss—it might be time for her to learn to sing a new song.

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Excerpt

Tyler paced the front of the room. “Now for the fun stuff.”

Gavin chimed in, “It’s about time.” He moved around the piano and pulled out some sheet music. 

“I’m in charge of the music, and Tyler’s over the choreography.”

“Mostly. We are lining up a live band to handle the actual shows, but for today you’re stuck with my brother plinking the keys.” He dodged a fake punch from his twin. “And we’ll try to keep our artistic differences outside.”

Good-natured chuckles rippled through the group again, except for a Betty Boop giggle from the front row. Seriously? Who thought that was cute?

Blondie giggled again. “Does anyone have name tags? I can’t wait to get to know y’all better, but I don’t know anyone’s name, except for Tyler’s and Gavin’s, of course.”

Gloria barely suppressed a sarcastic eye roll. Way to pander to the bosses and make it seem like she was a team player.

Gavin exchanged a glance with his brother, who then apologized. “We had everyone’s headshots and audition tapes, so it feels like we already know y’all. I don’t have any name tags, but why don’t we do a quick round-robin to introduce yourselves and your main specialty when it comes to show business?”

Over the next few minutes, Gloria learned that Betty Boop’s real name was Brittany and she’d spent a year singing backup in Nashville. Two of the guys—Brogan and Caleb—were already singing with a few different shows around town on other nights. However, the mini-golf girls—named Amber and Tiffany—were rookies. And based on their earlier financial talk, they might be good options for sharing an apartment with later as well as allies against brownnosing Brittany.

“Now that we’ve finished the introductions, leave your stuff where it is and rearrange yourselves up front. Sopranos here.” Gavin gestured to his right. “Then altos, tenors, and basses. The plan today is to run through the music from the top with a focus on blending and checking for memorization.”

She stood, leaving her damp purse on the chair with her wet shirt draped over its back.

“As we get started, just ignore Tyler as he wanders in and around. He’ll be listening to create the duets and trios we need for specific numbers. We’ll move to the stage tomorrow to start on the choreography and later add in the live music, once the band has a chance to rehearse on its own.”

At the front of the room, Gloria took a place next to Brittany, who wrinkled her nose at Nick’s monogrammed shirt.

Brittany leaned closer. “Just so you know, there’s only room for one Carrie Underwood look-alike here.”

“I’m not really a fan of country music.”

“And you’re hoping to make it in Branson? Good luck with that.”

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Candee Fick is a multipublished, award-winning author. She is also the wife of a high school football coach and the mother of three children, including a daughter with a rare genetic syndrome. When not busy writing, editing, or coaching other authors, she can be found cheering on the home team at sporting events, exploring the great Colorado outdoors, indulging in dark chocolate, and savoring happily-ever-after endings through a good book.

In addition to writing clean faith-based romance novels and inspirational non-fiction, Candee coaches other authors with their marketing plans and offers content editing to aspiring novelists. She is a member of both American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network. Her fiction has semi-finaled, finaled, and won the ACFW Genesis Contest and Selah Awards.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway


- One 1st prize winner will receive: the complete set of The Wardrobe Series (ebook only if international winner, otherwise print copies) plus a $25 Amazon gift card
- One 2nd prize winner will receive: Copy of Sing a New Song (ebook only if international winner, US winner can choose ebook or print) plus a $10 Amazon gift card
- Ends May 15, 2019

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Review: Suffering the Scot by Nichole Van

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Lady Jane Everard cannot abide the new Earl of Hadley. The unmannered Scot is a menace to genteel ladies everywhere, what with his booming laugh and swishing kilt and endless supply of ‘ochs’ and ‘ayes.’ Jane wishes Lord Hadley would behave as an earl should and adhere to English rules of polite conduct.

Andrew Langston, the new Earl of Hadley, knows that the English aristocracy think poorly of his lowly Scottish upbringing. This is hardly new. History is littered with the English assuming the worst about Scotland. By living up to their lowest expectations, he is simply fulfilling his civic duty as a Scotsman.

Jane sees Andrew as an unmannered eejit. Andrew considers Jane to be a haughty English lady. But, as the saying goes, . . . opposites attract.

And what if beneath his boisterous behavior and her chilly reserve, Andrew and Jane are not nearly as different as they suppose? Can Scotland and England reach a harmonious union at last?

My Review

If a book can make me both laugh out loud and later shed a tear or two- it's automatically a 5 star read for me! This was such an enjoyable book to read. I loved how the characters and dynamics between them are complex. Jane especially had many layers that she had to break through as she is faced with the choice to be herself or live up to others' expectations. Andrew shows her that her true nature is not something to be squashed, but embraced. Their friendship develops naturally as they give each other a chance and discover their common ground. He and his friends took a great deal of pleasure in exposing his distant relatives to the full Scottish experience, and it was highly entertaining! The humor and romance is balanced by the darker thread that runs through the story- the tragic events of Andrew's past that ties him to his friends in a brotherhood, and the mystery of who was behind the disaster and why. So many great scenes and a romance that grows with a slow burn and then suddenly ignites with chemistry- highly recommend!

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

Review: A Timeless Romance Anthology: Kissing A Billionaire by Taylor Hart, Heather B. Moore, Sophia Summers, Annette Lyon, Danyelle Ferguson, Sarah M. Eden

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Money doesn't equal happiness. But sometimes it paves the way . . .

THE UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRE by Taylor Hart
When billionaire, Mia Jagger, goes to Casper, Wyoming to covertly evaluate a ranch in foreclosure for her father’s company, she never anticipates falling and hitting her head. When she wakes up and doesn’t remember who she is, admittedly, she’s afraid, and all she wants is that blue-eyed man who held her hand in the hospital. Ross Charm doesn’t want to take a woman who can’t remember anything back to his ranch, but she keeps insisting on going with him and what is he supposed to do—leave her with no one to help her? When her family shows up and they both learn the truth, they must make a choice: let the past keep them apart or let true love have its’ happily ever after.

BE MY PLUS ONE by Heather B. Moore
Amanda Wurst has been preparing for months to meet with a group of venture capitalists and get funding for her app, but twenty minutes into the meeting, she’s both humiliated and embarrassed. Quickly packing up her things, she takes off for the elevator, only to be joined by Jeremy Lode, the president. He apologizes and offers her a partnership for her new app product. At first, Amanda wants to turn him down out of pride, but his offer is too good to refuse. Besides, Jeremy Lode is an intriguing man in more ways than one.

TO HIDE AND TO HOLD by Sophia Summers
Lake Tahoe never looked as good as it did the day Chad meets Grace. Her mysterious effort to keep her life a secret only intrigues him more. When his own life spirals into crazy with his parents trying to set him up with a woman to further their business goals, he’s happy to keep things on a first name basis with Grace. Brilee Grace Townsend loves her eggshell camper, her simple campground, and her Huskie named Bear. Hiding out while she writes the story of her experiences working with a Senator and then walking out on her parents and fortune, seemed like the best part of her Spring until she met Chad. When Chad discovers Grace is the very girl both their parents hoped he would date, he couldn’t be happier. When Grace finds out, she never wants to speak to him again.

BOW TIE OR THE BILLIONAIRE by Annette Lyon
Lauren has built a cosmetics empire and now lives a great life in Europe with a thriving company, more money than she could spend in a lifetime, and a cottage of her own off the coast of Helsinki. But business life has taken a toll; she yearns to return to the laboratory, where she can invent and experiment. She’s decided to partner with another company that can pick up some of her workload. Carmichael Enterprises has a great track record, and she’s eager to negotiate a partnership. But when she meets the head of the company, Carmichael himself, it’s clear that he has no intention of continuing her annual charitable donations. Worse, he wants to move the headquarters, which would mean laying off her entire staff. Too bad she can’t partner with Carmichael’s assistant, Eric. He’s smart, funny, and kind. He even visits sick children in hospitals as Bow Tie the Clown. Lauren finds herself falling for Eric, but chances are slim of that anything can come of it, not when she’s about to cut off negotiations with his billionaire boss.

HOW TO WOO A BILLIONAIRE IN TEN DAYS by Danyelle Ferguson
Love is the last thing on billionaire Penny's mind, but when her grandparents dangle a seat on the Wessex Resorts board of directors in exchange for her entering the dating scene, Penny takes the challenge. Mac is at the resort for a hockey player's bachelor party. When one of the rich players flirts with Penny and gets rejected, he bets run-of-the-mill Mac can't get a date with her. With every date, Mac's bet fund for his business grows, but so do his feelings for Penny. As time runs out, he'll have to choose between wooing the billionaire for money or for love.

THE BILLIONAIRE ABROAD by Sarah M. Eden
When bachelor billionaire Sterling Westcott hires Keighley Ainsworth to plan an important event in Dublin, she jumps at the opportunity. Time alone with her budding crush in a city she’s always wanted to visit? Yes, please! But local event planner Brogan Malone soon weaves a spell of his own, making her begin to question everything she thinks her heart wants.

My Review

A billionaire main character isn't my favorite trope, but I'm glad I read this collection anyway. The authors did a great job bringing the characters to life and creating entertaining plots with just the right amount of romance. I prefer the billionaires that are not high maintenance, but more down-to-earth. There's something intriguing about the lifestyle and power that comes with that kind of money, and by the time I finished the collection I definitely had to reorient myself back to my more humble, non-materialistic circumstances ;) It's a fun read and one I'll probably pick up again in between longer books.

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

Review: The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.

Cornwall, England, 1811

Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate. She can’t abandon the children now that they’ve lost both parents, but their new guardian lives at the timeworn Penwythe Hall . . . back on the Cornish coast she tries desperately to forget.

Jac Trethewey is determined to revive Penwythe Hall’s once-flourishing apple orchards, and he’ll stop at nothing to see his struggling estate profitable again. He hasn’t heard from his brother in years, so when his nieces, nephews, and their governess arrive unannounced at Penwythe Hall, he battles both grief of this brother’s death and bewilderment over this sudden responsibility. Jac’s priorities shift as the children take up residence in the ancient halls, but their secretive governess—and the mystery shrouding her past—proves to be a disruption to his carefully laid plans.

Rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love, this first book in the Cornwall Novels series introduces us to the Twethewey family and their search for peace, justice, and love on the Cornish coast.

My Review

As usual the author did a lovely job with the setting and characters. I especially enjoyed Delia's role as governess and her love and compassion for the children she cared for. Her grief had some complicated dynamics, and her journey throughout the story took her from never wanting to marry or have children again in order to avoid the pain of loss, to hesitantly allowing hope and love to bring light into her life. She has a turbulent history with her in-laws, and I enjoyed the suspense that slowly grows until the climax. Jac and Delia share a congenial friendship for most of the book, and their common focus is the children, which brings them closer together. Strong themes of family, loyalty, and forgiveness.

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

Review & Giveaway: Upon My Heart Forever by Amber Lynn Perry

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

When Clara Moore learns of her brother's unthinkable scheme—to take her to England and force her into a hasty marriage—she knows she must escape New York. But when she finds out who has accepted the job of taking her to Boston, she almost rethinks her own hurried plan. For the handsome man who comes to her aid is none other than her former love, Ethan Barrik. He left her heart in shambles six years before. Can she trust him a second time?

Ethan Barrik is no stranger to struggle. But tracking the enemy, and war-time spying are nothing compared to the pain of regret. Ready at last to leave his past behind, he accepts one final job for a friend, only to discover the person he's really helping is the woman he still loves. Despite her ire, he knows he must make every attempt to make it right—and hope she will find a way to forgive him and give their love another chance.

My Review

This author has a distinct voice that makes me feel like I'm in Colonial America. The language reflects the era without losing the nice flow of the narrative and it enhances the sense of the setting. I felt like I got to know Clara and Ethan pretty quickly so even though the story dives right into the action, I was already invested in their future. Clara is dealing with quite a bit of angst and doesn't quite know what she wants at first- her anger over being left with no word prevents her from celebrating at their reunion. Ethan still harbors his old insecurities of not being good enough for Clara, but takes on the role of her escort and rescuer in a natural way, despite his misgivings. A wonderful second chance at love story with plenty of romantic tension and sweet moments of anticipation!

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

Connect with Author Amber Lynn Perry:

Goodreads | Facebook | Website | Twitter | Amazon

GIVEAWAY 

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Tour Schedule

May 6th - Heidi Reads... / The Bibliophile Files

May 7th - Katie’s Clean Book Collection / Wishful Endings

May 8th - My Book a Day / Singing Librarian Books

May 9th - Literary Time Out / Getting Your Read On

May 10th - Peggy Urry

Review: My Not So Wicked Ex-Fiancé by Jennifer Peel

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

He rocked her world. She wrecked his. Now their worlds are colliding again. 

Expensive schools and etiquette classes never prepared Shelby Duchane for Ryder Prescott. He taught her more about life in his hay field classroom beneath a blanket of stars than anyone. Under that Georgia sky, she pledged forever to the farm boy with soul-melting chocolate brown eyes, even though it meant forfeiting her large inheritance. She couldn't wait to clip coupons and buy clothes off the sales rack until death do they part. But then she receives some photos of her intended with someone she had not intended. Brokenhearted, Shelby flees her hometown for Colorado without bothering to say goodbye to her cheating ex-fiancé.

A year later and wiser, Shelby's doing her best to move on while running her boutique in Carrington Cove, when Ryder shows up and challenges all she thought she knew. Perhaps he wasn't the wicked ex-fiancé she believed him to be after all. But will Ryder be able to swallow his pride enough to see why she was so persuaded? Will he realize before it's too late that the only way to heal his own broken heart is to mend Shelby's?

My Review

There's something about a Jennifer Peel book that sucks me right into the world of the main character immediately! I enjoyed Shelby in the first book as she befriended the reluctant Emma; she's one you can't help but like. So it was great to get into her head and hear her voice with the first person narrative. She's been on a bit of a journey as she distanced herself from her controlling parents, and she's not the same person she was when she was engaged. I liked seeing she and Ryder get to know each other in their new circumstances and sort out the hurt feelings and truth about their past. A perfect blend of humor, angst, and chemistry-filled romance in this second chance at love story!

(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 My Not So Wicked series . . .

Read my 5 star review here

Synopsis

I, Emma Loveless, have a destiny. It's not the greatest of destinies, but when you have a name like Loveless, what can you do? I'm cursed to always be the friend, never the girlfriend. Unless you count my love affair with Duncan Hines, Dr. Pepper, and the ever-lovable Pillsbury Doughboy. They've seen me through it all, but a girl needs more than refined sugar to curl up to every night. It doesn't help that I have a meddling, albeit wonderful, mother who can't help playing matchmaker. Thanks to her, I can say I've been on a date with a felon. Now she swears she's found the one for me, her new optometrist, Dr. Sawyer King. Meanwhile, I'm preparing for the inevitable restraining order. That is, until I meet the sexy doctor and have to admit my mother is right--love at first sight does exist.

Unfortunately, my last name means business. Not only do I find myself in the friend zone, but also the twilight zone. Only in my world would Mr. Right turn into my stepbrother. To top it off, he brings with him a wicked stepmother who will do anything to keep us apart. Despite all this my heart--or is that my mom?--keeps telling me Sawyer is the one. But what if true love isn't strong enough to interfere with my destiny? It'll be me and the Doughboy... for eternity.

Book Tour & Giveaway: The Brave Art of Motherhood: Fight Fear, Gain Confidence, & Find Yourself Again by Rachel Marie Martin

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and we're joining up with JustRead Publicity Tours to tell you about a great gift for Mom this year! Keep reading for more info on a special ebook price to make your gift giving even easier AND a book club kit giveaway!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Brave Art of Motherhood: Fight Fear, Gain Confidence, & Find Yourself Again
Author: Rachel Marie Martin  
Publisher: WaterBrook  
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Genre: Christian Living/Women's Interest  

Full-time FindingJoy.net blogger, speaker, marketer, podcaster, and single mom of seven, Rachel Marie Martin presents a wake-up call to those of us who have found ourselves stuck in the 'I'm just a mom' phase of life.

Yes, this book is about motherhood . . . but really, this book is about finding yourself again and following your passion WHILE being a mom. Inspired by her incredible story, Rachel's words always come straight from the gut; they are visceral, real and soul searching. She challenges you to find the courage to break cycles, to take off masks and not let fear take control. This book is a balance of tough, "no excuses" ways of approaching life, while allowing breathing room and grace for yourself, for as we all know, life and mothering are not perfect.

After inspiring and conversing with thousands of women, Rachel has surmised there is always a reason to hope, to move forward and a reason to dare doing what you thought was impossible. (Yes, including what you are skeptical of accomplishing right now). She encourages you to say yes to your dreams and stop waiting for "someday" or "one day" or "when something happens".

Prepare to change the way you think about yourself and your life. This will be a book you read over and over armed with a highlighter in one hand and a journal for introspection in another.

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RACHEL MARIE MARTIN, having pulled herself up from poverty to being named one of Inc. magazine's top 40 entrepreneurs, has been writing Finding Joy full time for several years and writing online for over a decade. Rachel is a single mom of 7, whose experiences range from homeschooling her two oldest daughters from kindergarten through graduation, now being a public school mom of 5. She's the daughter of church planters, a long time housewife and now a professional business woman.

She has always had a passion for a daring, adventure-filled life and is often requested to speak and motivate others with her vivacious energy and deep belief that life is a gift. Rachel is also a partner in Blogging Concentrated, the world's largest training and development company for bloggers, vloggers, and podcasters. She travels worldwide teaching marketing, voice, messaging, social media strategy and more.

CONNECT WITH RACHEL: blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win a Book Club Kit (valued at $99)

• 9 autographed copies of The Brave Art of Motherhood
• audiobook of The Brave Art of Motherhood for those who would rather listen in the car
• The Brave Art of Motherhood Book Club Conversation Guide
• ebook of Rachel's first book, Dear Mom Letters

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight April 29, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm May 6, 2019. US only. 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.

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