Heidi Reads...

Friday, December 3, 2021

#FantasyforChristmas21 • The Broken Prince by Kara Linaburg

On tour with Prism Book Tours

The Broken Prince

(The Broken Series, #1)

By Kara Linaburg

Young Adult Fantasy

Paperback & ebook, 191 Pages

June 3, 2019

In all the fairy tales the maiden falls in love with the prince...but she has to remember that this isn’t a fairy tale...

Born into a kingdom where those of magical Gifts are rejected, feared, and even killed, Serena has spent her life striving to hide her ability and keep her younger brother safe.

The bastard son of the hated king and father he hardly knows, Prince Milosh is considered an outcast. He never expects to feel anything but contempt for the peasant girl who unexpectedly shows up in his life, forcing him to answer questions he never wished to ask.

When two very different worlds are thrown together under less than desirable circumstances, both hold deep judgement towards the other. But will they learn to see beyond their stations and birth so that they may defeat the coming darkness, or will labels given to them at birth continue to define them?

A heart-stopping tale about the power of human love, and how each of us are never truly alone.

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop | Book Depository

Author Interview

Three words to describe your writing process of “The Broken Prince”?

Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. I wrote this book in a crazy place mentally back in high school, and the whole manuscript was just a mess starting out.

What did you edit out of “The Broken Prince”?

So much! Haha. There’s a big plot twist at the end of the book, but thankfully my editor saved the main character from a horrible fate and helped switch that around so it would be more accepting for the reader.

How many unpublished or half-finished books do you have?

*Hides* A lot.

What was the first book that made you cry?

After my mom finished reading me “The Last Battle” when I was a kid, I remember just crying. That series really made me want to write and create my own fantasy storyworld that made people see their own world differently.

How did you pick the names for your characters?

Google. For my fictional country of Sindaleer in “The Broken Prince”, I based the culture off of Native American Indians and the Norse Viking culture, and I tried to find names that reflected the culture I was attempting to create.

What are your future plans?

Continue pursuing a certificate in Editing and Publishing through UCLA, build my editing business, and continue trying my hand at books with real characters going through things that don’t hide the darkness but also remind us how to find the light. Monarch is publishing my YA contemporary (with thriller vibes!) June 7th, 2022. My probably-never-going-happen dream is to start public speaking, advocating for mental illness. Oh! And I also want to go to Hawaii. ;) Basically, I never stop!

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to an Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author

Queen of awkward and writer before she could spell properly, Kara Linaburg is passionate about creating stories with beauty in brokenness. A wearer of many hats, when she's not found editing for her clients, writing stories that make her cry, or planning her next adventure, she's probably watching the sunset.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

Tour Schedule
(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

November 28th: Launch

November 29th: Elayne Audrey Becker - Forestborn

November 30th: Michelle Diener - The Turncoat King

December 1st: Jes Drew - Agents Adam and Eve

December 2nd: Sharon Hinck - Windward Shore

December 3rd: Kara Linaburg - The Broken Prince

December 4th: Cathy McCrumb - Recorder

December 5th: Sandra Fernandez Rhoads - Realms of Light

December 6th: Chawna Schroeder - The Vault Between Spaces

December 7th: Melissa Wright - Beneath Stone and Sacrifice

December 8th: Kristen Young - Elite

December 9th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a $50 (USD) Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally
Ends December 13, 2021

ENTER HERE

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveway: A Lighthouse Christmas Café by Jennifer Faye

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Lighthouse Christmas Café

(Bluestar Island #3)

By Jennifer Faye

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 182 Pages

November 16, 2021 by Lazy Dazy Press

As Bluestar Island prepares for a very special Christmas wedding, Santa’s sleigh crashes into The Lighthouse Café, reuniting Bluestar’s beloved waitress with her former fiancé.

In this holiday novella, Darla Evans has carved out a quiet life for herself as a waitress at The Lighthouse Café. Up until this point, she’s conveniently avoided the one man who shattered her heart and her dreams. But when a wedding draws him back to the island, she knows their meetup is unavoidable.

Tech entrepreneur William “Will” Campbell has returned to his childhood home to be the best man in his father’s wedding. But first his father has a very special task for him—to restore a sleigh in time for the wedding. However, there’s not much time until Christmas. He just might need some help.

As snowflakes cover the small town of Bluestar, Will and Darla work together to make it a very special holiday wedding. With the past looming between them, will the magic of the season open their hearts and allow them to find love again?

Includes a holiday recipe for Darla’s frosted sugar cookies!

The Bell Family of Bluestar Island:
Book 1 – Love Blooms (Hannah & Ethan)
Book 2 – Harvest Dance (Aster & Sam)
Book 3 – A Lighthouse Café Christmas (Darla & Will)
Book 4 – Rising Star (coming soon)

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo

Excerpt

He was back early. Much too early.

Darla hadn’t been prepared to see Will again—not tonight—not with him looking so utterly handsome. She inwardly groaned as Pete stood in the snow, overseeing the placement of the plywood over the broken window. His hands were pressed to his sides as his clean-shaven face frowned.

Santa’s sleigh crashing into the café was going to be the talk of the town this holiday season and perhaps many future ones. On the upside, maybe the town’s gossips would be too busy to talk about Will and her. Could she be that lucky?

But then again, what was there to talk about? Their breakup was old news. And it wasn’t like they were going to see much of each other while he was home. Because she intended to keep her distance.

Her gaze moved toward the sleigh as a growing group of men worked to remove it without causing more damage to the café and the sleigh. The antique sleigh had been around her whole life. After her grandfather had passed on, she’d begged her parents to keep it. She remembered being young and excited when Santa would arrive with a red sack full of toys. She’d been too young to know it was her grandfather all dressed up, but she could remember the feeling of wonder and the little bit of magic. She wanted the children of Bluestar to feel that again but her spare time was consumed by her writing. She just hadn’t had time to work on the sleigh. And she wondered if it was too late for that dream.

She got busy cleaning up as much of the broken glass as she could until the sleigh was moved. With that task concluded, she moved behind the counter to make some hot chocolate for the group of people standing in the snow. She knew they were trying to decide how best to move the sleigh.

By the time she placed the last cap on the to-go cups and headed for the door, the sleigh was moved out of the window. She rushed outside, pleased to find the snow had lightened. She handed out the hot chocolate to a group of eight men.

Excerpted from A Lighthouse Café Christmas by Jennifer Faye, Copyright © 2021 by Jennifer Faye. Published by Lazy Dazy Press.

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published with books translated into nine languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Bookbub

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a digital copy of LOVE BLOOMS and HARVEST DANCE by Jennifer Faye and a $25 Amazon gift card

Ends December 8, 2021

ENTER HERE

Thursday, December 2, 2021

#FantasyforChristmas21 • Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck

On tour with Prism Book Tours

Windward Shore

(The Dancing Realms, #1)

By Sharon Hinck

Epic Fantasy, Christian Fantasy

Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 270 Pages

May 11, 2021 by Enclave Publishing

The island world of Meriel faces an old adversary and a new danger. Will the reformed Order die before it has a chance to blossom?

Storm clouds loom on the horizon as Carya and Brantley struggle to overcome wounds of the past and build a future together. The fragile new Order is on shaky ground, with too few dancers and sparse resources. Then trouble erupts—and now an insidious rebellion and a new foe threaten their entire world.

When she uncovers an old enemy behind all the destruction, Carya realizes the past is not done with her. With conflict tearing apart the dancers and villages, rimmers are soon overrun, and Carya must unite her people by leading the battle to protect the very heart of her world … or lose it all.

(Affiliate link included.)

Excerpt

Chapter One

Where could he be? I squinted toward the horizon, where stormy sky met turbulent sea. Brantley had planned to be back by midday, but the primary sun was already lowering beyond the churning waves. Not a good sign. Wind howled from the ocean, and the ground bobbed. A gust slapped into me, rippling my tunic and forcing me to lean forward to keep my footing. My toes dug into the tangleroot.

Shielding my eyes against the subsun, I hoped to spy the silhouette of a herder balanced on the sleek back of his stenella, his determined form rising behind the graceful curve of the creature’s neck. Surely he’d seen the storm moving toward our island. Why hadn’t he raced home? Had he gone out too far? His new mount, Makah, was young and early in her training; she wasn’t as skilled and reliable as Navar had been.

The island’s rim lurched, forcing me to retreat. I could dance a pattern to change the wind’s course and coax the storm away, but I had no idea where Brantley and Makah were. My interference could send the storm straight into them. A sigh ripped out of me. All I could do was wait.

My arms cradled the gentle swell of my belly. I’d hoped news of a babe on the way would cause my husband to take fewer risks. I shook my head, letting the wind tug my hair free from my braid. I didn’t truly want him to change. But I did wish he had a more experienced stenella. Brantley still grieved Navar’s loss. So did I.

The clouds broke open and rain sheeted down, driving me to seek shelter. Our home welcomed me with warmth and light. High windows under the eaves let in the glow of the setting subsun that penetrated even the storm, and torches brightened the wall by the hearth, competing with the flickering fire. A smoky scent curled through the air.

I added a log, grateful for the refuge. A home like this was a luxury I’d never dreamed to experience. Shelves lined one wall, filled with food staples, tools, parchment, and neatly folded fabric. Through a low doorway, I could glimpse the cheerful quilt covering our bed. Spare tunics and cloaks hung from pegs.

I brushed moisture from my shoulders and rested on a bench near the table in this main room. Our bonding cup held a place of honor in the center of the table. Delicate carvings embellished the polished sides with images of land and sea, stenella and forest hound, and a man and woman. A rolled parchment rested against it as if in opposition. I pressed my lips together. As much as I longed for Brantley’s safe return, I dreaded the confrontation that simple missive would bring.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to an Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author

Award-winning author Sharon Hinck writes “stories for the hero in all of us,” about ordinary people on extraordinary faith journeys. Hidden Current, the first book in her Dancing Realms Series, has been honored with a 2020 Christy Award in the Visionary category. Passionate about the intersection of faith and art, she spent ten years as the artistic director of a Christian performing arts group. That ministry included three short-term mission trips to Hong Kong. She has been a church youth worker, a choreographer and ballet teacher, a home-school mom, a church organist, and a bookstore clerk. One day she’ll figure out what to be when she grows up, but in the meantime she’s pouring her imagination into writing. When she isn’t wrestling with words, Sharon enjoys serving as an adjunct professor for the Creative Writing MFA program at Concordia University, and also shares with conferences, retreats, and church groups. She and her family make their home in Minnesota.

Tour Schedule
(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

November 28th: Launch

November 29th: Elayne Audrey Becker - Forestborn

November 30th: Michelle Diener - The Turncoat King

December 1st: Jes Drew - Agents Adam and Eve

December 2nd: Sharon Hinck - Windward Shore

December 3rd: Kara Linaburg - The Broken Prince

December 4th: Cathy McCrumb - Recorder

December 5th: Sandra Fernandez Rhoads - Realms of Light

December 6th: Chawna Schroeder - The Vault Between Spaces

December 7th: Melissa Wright - Beneath Stone and Sacrifice

December 8th: Kristen Young - Elite

December 9th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a $50 (USD) Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally
Ends December 13, 2021

ENTER HERE

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Amish Christmas Escape by Dana R. Lynn

Amish Christmas Escape JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Amish Christmas Escape by Dana R. Lynn, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Amish Christmas Escape
Series: Amish Country Justice #12
Author: Dana R. Lynn
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: November 23, 2021
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Hiding in Amish country may not be enough to save her…

In a killer’s sights after she witnesses her sister’s murder, Christy O’Malley’s only option is to flee to Amish country—and the estranged husband she left behind. But there’s something Sam Burkholder doesn’t know—they have a daughter. With enemies closing in, Sam will do anything to protect Christy and their little girl…but can he forgive the past for a chance to be a family for Christmas?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

EXCERPT

“This is my daughter. Eleanor Samantha. I call her Ellie.”

Samantha. Could be a coincidence. He didn’t believe in coincidences. Forcing his stare away from the child, he read the truth in Christy’s face. Not only was the girl he’d loved back, but she’d also had his child and never told him.

“I can explain,” she said, her words rushed in the awkward silence. “But I need your help. Someone murdered my sister last night, and they’re after us. If they find me, they’ll murder Ellie and me, too.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dana R. Lynn

Dana R. Lynn is a USA Today Bestselling author who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. She met her husband at a wedding and married him nineteen months later. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania with their three teenaged children and enough pets to open a petting zoo. She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night.

Dana is an avid reader, loves cats and thinks chocolate should be a food group. She is a Selah Award winner, a Holt Medallion Finalist, and a New England Reader’s Choice Award winner. In addition, her books have been on the Publisher’s Weekly Best Selling list multiple times. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. She enjoys engaging with readers and can be found on social media or contacted via her website www.danarlynn.com.

CONNECT WITH DANA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a copy of Amish Christmas Escape and a $10 Amazon gift card (US print, outside of US e-book)!

Amish Christmas Escape JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight November 30, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on December 7, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US print, outside of US e-book. 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!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Tuesday, November 30, 2021