Heidi Reads...

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Amish Christmas Matchmaker by Vannetta Chapman

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Amish Christmas Matchmaker by Vannetta Chapman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Amish Christmas Matchmaker

Series: Indiana Amish Brides #4

Author: Vannetta Chapman

Publisher: Love Inspired

Release Date: September 1, 2019

Genre: Inspirational Amish Fiction

She’ll find him a wife for Christmas…

Which of these Indiana Amish Brides is next?

With her wedding business thriving, Annie Kauffmann could never leave her beloved Amish community.

So when handsome Amish cowboy Levi Lapp tries to convince her father to move the family to Texas, she must put a stop to it.

If Annie finds Levi a wife, he might forget his dream of moving…but can she keep from falling for him herself?

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Christianbook

EXCERPT

Annie stepped into the coolness of the house. Though it was September, the temperatures had remained warm, and the cool living room was a relief after her bike ride from town. Her father and Levi Lapp were in the kitchen, which would work perfectly. She straightened her apron, made sure her kapp wasn’t askew and walked into the kitchen as if she had no idea she was interrupting.

She aimed for a casual stride but stumbled when she spied the man in a cowboy hat. A cowboy hat? She shook her head as if that would clear up what she was seeing.

“Annie. I’m glad you’re home. I want you to meet Levi…Levi Lapp.”

“Hello.”

Levi tipped the cowboy hat, revealing blond hair that curled at his collar. “Howdy, ma’am.”

Howdy, ma’am?

Had she fallen asleep and landed in a Western? “I’m Annie.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“And you, as well. I was just fetching two glasses of lemonade. Don’t let me interrupt…”

“Levi’s from Pennsylvania—the Lancaster Plain community.”

“Ya? I imagine it’s cooler there.” She didn’t care about the weather in Pennsylvania, but she couldn’t exactly ask about the hat.

“It was cooler when I left. Now Texas, where I plan to go, it’s still much warmer. They have days in the 80s right through November.”

“Texas?” Annie had pulled two glasses from the cabinet. At the mention of Texas she turned toward Levi, holding the glasses and trying to remember what she was going to do with them.

He wasn’t ugly exactly, only odd looking because of the hat. He seemed to be tall and on the thin side, had a healthy tan and broad shoulders. His blue eyes twinkled as if he understood her confusion and was enjoying it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She is the author of over twenty novels, including the Pebble Creek Amish series, Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series, and Plain and Simple Miracle series. Vannetta is a Carol award winner, a Christy finalist, and she also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She currently writes Christian suspense, Amish romance, and Amish mystery. She was a teacher for 15 years and resides in the Texas hill country.

CONNECT WITH VANNETTA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a copy of The Amish Christmas Matchmaker (print or digital), a quilted Amish mug mat, a woven Amish mug mat, and $10 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on these tours for more chances to win. Full tour schedule on this tour shown below. Giveaway begins at midnight September 9, 2019 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 16, 2019. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Due to shipping cost, only US mailing addresses valid.

For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Monday, September 9, 2019

Review: Evermore by Jody Hedlund

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

An ancient key. A secret treasure. And a princess destined to use them both to fight evil and restore peace.

Raised by a noble family, Lady Adelaide has always known she’s an orphan. Little does she realize she’s one of the lost princesses and the true heir to Mercia’s throne…until a visitor arrives at her family estate, reveals her birthright as queen, and thrusts her into a quest for the throne whether she’s ready or not.

Unable to tolerate King Ethelwulf’s cruelty and lawlessness, Christopher Langley left Mercia years earlier, training a group of rebels in neighboring Norland. When he returns home after his mother’s death, he discovers that not only is Adelaide all grown up, but she’s also the rightful queen of Mercia.

When King Ethelwulf discovers Adelaide’s location, he’ll stop at nothing to capture her and the key she holds to the ancient treasure. Christopher is just as determined to protect Adelaide so she can lead the growing rebellion. When feelings ignite between the two old friends, forces threaten to destroy their love and rip them apart forever.

My Review

After reading the compelling prequel novella to this series, I couldn't wait to discover the fates of the three lost princesses. Adelaide is the oldest of the three, and discovers her true identity at the beginning of the book. The author did a great job of giving the reader a sense of her character and personality before the action and adventure swept the story into a faster pace. Reunited with Adelaide after several years of being disowned by his father, Christopher faces his own dilemmas but the themes of loyalty, family, and forgiveness help him and Adelaide overcome the obstacles in their paths. I easily connected with the characters and felt the danger and excitement as I read. I'm looking forward to the next two books and am *very* appreciative that there won't be a long wait for them!

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

Don't miss the prequel novella for The Lost Princesses series . . .

Book Two

Releases September 2019

Book Three

Releases October 2019

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Chronic Love: Trusting God While Suffering with A Chronic Illness by Brooke Bartz

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Chronic Love by Brooke Bartz, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Chronic Love: Trusting God While Suffering with A Chronic Illness

Author: Brooke Bartz

Publisher: Ambassador International

Release Date: September 1, 2019

Genre: Christian Living, Health and Wellbeing

Suffering is inescapable in this world.

Jesus told us we would face perilous trials and that even our bodies would feel the effects of the Fall. For women dealing with chronic illness, most books offer quick-fix counseling or devotional verses taken out of context, helpful only for momentary encouragement.

For true and lasting comfort we must dig deeper into God's Word and the context in which those much-used passages were written.

In Chronic Love, Brooke Bartz reveals a deeply raw and descriptive account of life with a chronic and debilitating illness, and she shares with readers how comfort and strength can be found through the Truth in God's Word.

Specifically designed for women who daily battle chronic illness, Chronic Love's goal is to provide solid Scriptural encouragement for the fight.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook

EXCERPT

He will carry you. He will wrap his invisible wings around you and rock you, put peace over your war, sing over your fragmented heart, and hold you up as you try to slink down and retreat. He will supernaturally do this through the peace that passes all understanding in Christ. He gives answers to questions in such a way we just don’t understand as humans; yet this kind of help He gives protects our heart and mind.“ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” Ephesians 1:18

The pain might still be there, but you will find His peace, courage, and strength as you disclose your many prayers and petitions without any fear or trepidation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brooke Bartz is a stay-at-home wife and mom who lives daily with a chronic disease, knowing firsthand the daunting, gnawing physical and spiritual pain it causes. Yet disease was not always her close companion; in the years before her diagnosis, she grew up playing sports and earned a full scholarship to play volleyball at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. Not yet a Christian, she transferred colleges and attended an event for an on-campus ministry; as the Lord had planned, she heard the Gospel and He saved her. Soon after and while still in college, she married her childhood crush and began a volleyball coaching career.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis and gastroparesis, Brooke desires for women to know the truth about the God who loves them and is with them each day as they face disease and disability; she shares the Truth of the Bible as their ultimate healing. Brooke’s passion is spurring on the women God leads to her sphere of influence, inspiring their hearts to keep their strength and hope at the foot of the cross, to trust in the Great Shepherd to one day heal them completely in glory, even though for now they are suffering on earth.

CONNECT WITH BROOKE: Instagram

GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Chronic Love, a Chronic Love T-shirt, a Chronic Love coffee mug, a copy of Trusting God Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges and the workbook for Trusting God Even When Life Hurts!

Be sure to check out each stop on these tours for more chances to win. Full tour schedule on this tour shown below. Giveaway begins at midnight September 3, 2019 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 10, 2019. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Due to shipping cost, only US mailing addresses valid.

For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Review: My Not So Wicked Boss by Jennifer Peel

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Love knows no contract.

Aspen Parker's life can be summed up in one word. Unexpected. For instance, she never expected to become a mother at twenty. Her divorce at twenty-one really threw her off. She certainly didn't see losing her promotion at the bank to that weasel Stephen. And she most definitely didn't see Miles Wickham, better known as Taron Taylor--international bestselling author, the man whose words have captivated her--offering her a job to be his nephew's nanny.

But there's a caveat to accepting the position; she must sign a contract agreeing to no romantic entanglements between her and the debonair Brit. Aspen doesn't expect this to be an issue seeing as she's not particularly fond of men. Once again, though, life is not turning out how she expected.

While Aspen and Miles traverse single parenthood together, there's no denying the chemistry between them. She can't figure out how her charming boss knows how to pierce the protective layers of her heart, and it's driving her mad. Mad with desire that is. Miles, too, is finding it hard to resist the reserved beauty who brilliantly takes care of his nephew and him. But with both their tentative hearts on the line, can they risk taking a chance on each other? Which will win? Love or the contract?

My Review

Plenty of emotion, angst, humor, and chemistry in this third book of a series I have thoroughly enjoyed! They don't have to be read in order but I recommend you read them all so you might as well ;) Aspen's life doesn't follow the more traditional paths of her friends, but as much as she regrets her choices, she never regrets her daughter. She loves and sacrifices for her, and I liked the relationship the author showed between the two. The teenager and the toddler play a vital role in the story and in the transformation Miles goes through as he learns new parenting and relationship skills with the support of Aspen. Aspen's friends Emma, Shelby, and Jenna from the previous books make more than cameos and I love how naturally they fit into this story. It's a bumpy road to the happy ending, but I grew to love the characters and the way they bring out the best in each other.

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

Don't miss the first two books in the My Not So Wicked series . . .

Monday, September 2, 2019

Book Tour & Giveaway: Fatal Memories by Tanya Stowe

About the Book

Series: Love Inspires Suspense
Genre: Christian, Inspirational, Romance, Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication date: September 1, 2019

She was framed! Or was she? If only she could remember... Border patrol agent Jocelyn Walker has no memory of how she turned up unconscious with a cache of drugs—or why a gang is dead set on killing her. With evidence stacking up against her, Joss takes refuge with driven DEA agent Dylan Murphy, who guards—and suspects— her. But will finally trusting each other lead them into a trap they’ll never escape?

GOODREADS | B&N | AMAZON

About the Author

Tanya Stowe is an author of Christian Fiction with an unexpected edge. She fills her stories with the unusual…mysteries and exotic adventures, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you…on a trip to foreign lands or a suspenseful journey filled with danger…be prepared for the extraordinary.

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

Giveaway