Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Claiming Her Legacy by Linda Goodnight

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Claiming Her Legacy by Linda Goodnight, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: Claiming Her Legacy 

Author: Linda Goodnight 

Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Trade 

Release Date: April 26, 2022 

Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance 

With her family’s legacy on the line, a woman with everything to lose must rely on a man hiding from his past… 

Oklahoma, 1890 

Frontier women don’t ride off alone to track an outlaw—not even women as capable as tomboy spinster Willa Malone. But Willa desperately needs the bounty money offered for her father’s killer if she’s to keep their homestead and take care of her sisters. That means she needs an expert tracker's help. Gideon Hartley has the skill, but the handsome trail guide also has a troubling secret… 

Gideon has spent years trying to numb his pain with whiskey. Little by little, their quest—and Willa’s belief in him—is restoring the sense of purpose he thought he’d lost. Journeying into the heart of danger, they’ll have to face down the past together if they hope to protect their future… 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Walmart | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | BookBub

 

EXCERPT

The three sisters still argued come bedtime.

Willa divested herself of dusty boots and set them by the cabin door with a resolute thunk. “I’m going to hunt him down and collect that bounty and neither of you will convince me otherwise.”

“This is crazy talk.” Mercy, already in a long nightdress, loosened her hair and let it fall over one shoulder. “A woman can’t go bounty hunting.”

“Why not? I can ride and shoot better than most men.”

“It is simply not done. Women don’t ride off alone after outlaws. Lawmen do.”

“I staked this claim alone, didn’t I?”

Mercy had stayed behind at the rail depot with Savannah, who could no more run for land than she could leap over the moon. Papa had run with Willa, hoping for a double portion, but he’d come up short. Willa hadn’t.

“There were plenty who tried to take it away because I was a woman.”

She’d faced the claim-jumpers with a loaded rifle in hand, dead set on keeping what she’d staked until Papa and the sisters arrived to set up camp.

“Yes, and now we have to find a way to keep it.” Worry weighed Mercy’s soft words. “But bounty hunting is not the way, Willa. Riding after an outlaw alone, a known killer, is too dangerous. Even for a man.”

Mercy reached for a brush, and with more than the usual vigor, began the first of one hundred strokes of her glorious hair.

Willa had given up such feminine niceties long ago. A braid down the back was sufficient. Practical.

No one would notice if she primped anyway.

Willa’s chin jutted. “I’ll hire someone to go along. A tracker.”

Mercy’s brush paused. “Who?”

Willa’s heart rattled at the truth in Mercy’s statement, though she didn’t dare let either sister see her concern.

Finding a knowledgeable guide with the grit for bounty hunting would be difficult enough. Finding one who’d agree to a share of the bounty in return for his services might be next to impossible. And riding the trail with a woman? Even she saw the futility in that.

Yet, what other choices did she have?

“I’ll find one,” she said with false bravado. “With the many settlers coming and going in this territory, someone will know a guide.”

“Even if you find one, how will you know where to go?” Mercy resumed her brush strokes, the red hair gleaming in the lamplight. “This is a big country. A man on the run can hide many places.”

Willa shivered, her heart jittery in her chest as she slipped into her nightgown and turned back the quilt Mercy’s mother had pieced from scraps.

She didn’t remember her own mother but she fondly recalled Papa’s second wife, Maeve, a gentle soul who’d nurtured a needy, motherless six-year-old. Maeve, as Irish as Papa, had been the balm that soothed Papa’s wanderlust for a while. Those were the good days when Papa had worked the railroad and Maeve had turned a sod house into a loving home.

Emotion knotted in Willa’s chest. At times like this, when life was hard and decisions were harder, she missed having a mother to lean on. She missed Maeve.

She recalled Papa playing his fiddle by the firelight as Maeve’s work-roughened hands put together the tiniest pieces of scrap cloth until a pattern emerged, amazing Willa.

She also remembered Maeve’s swollen belly and the promise of a brother or sister. She’d gotten Mercy and lost Maeve in the same pain-filled day.

Months later, while Papa awaited wife number three, a mail-order bride from Georgia, he had given the quilt to Willa.

Now, with the enormity of what she planned tight in her chest, she pulled the precious cover closer, imagining the comfort of Maeve’s biscuit-and-rosewater scent.

“The bounty hunter had a good notion Papa’s killer was headed to Indian Territory to hide out for a spell,” she murmured. “I’ll start there.”

“Willa, stop! Put this out of your mind.” By the light of a coal oil lamp, Savannah’s slender fingers jabbed a needle in and out of a ripped chemise. “A woman traveling out there, even with a man’s protection, would be in terrible danger.”

ISBN-13: 978-1-335-41876-0
Claiming Her Legacy
Copyright © 2022 by Linda Goodnight
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at CustomerService@Harlequin.com.
Love Inspired22 Adelaide St. West, 41st FloorToronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canadawww.LoveInspired.com
Printed in U.S.A.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestseller Linda Goodnight fell in love with words as a young child when her mother took her to a tiny library and let her fill a cardboard box with books. The next week she was back again, forever hooked on the beauty and power of the written word. Her other passions are her faith and her blended family. A former nurse and teacher, she lives in Oklahoma with her husband where she enjoys baking and travel. Connect with Linda at www.lindagoodnight.com

CONNECT WITH LINDA: Website | Facebook

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 5, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 12, 2022. 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 HERE

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Book Tour, Author Interview & Giveaway: Light the Way by Lin Stepp

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Light the Way

(The Lighthouse Sisters #1)

By Lin Stepp

Christian Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 292 Pages

April 1, 2022 by Mountain Hill Press

In this new coastal series, Lin Stepp transports her readers into the rich, colorful lives of Burke and her sisters, Lila, Gwen, and Celeste, who grew up at the Deveaux Inn and Lighthouse on a windswept island, accessible only by boat. Get ready to be introduced to the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, challenges and adventures of a Lighthouse Keeper.

Life had grown hard for Burke Deveaux at the family inn and lighthouse since her father died. She missed his warmth and still expected to see him walking into a room, his big laugh booming. Burke and her mother were gradually adjusting to the change, and Lila had come home this winter to help, but the workload was heavy. With spring coming and tourism picking up in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Burke welcomed Hal Jenkins’ request for his son Waylon to work for them. Waylon, retiring early from the Navy, knew the island and the lighthouse, having grown up nearby. Burke also knew Waylon well since they’d grown up together. He’d always been older, and she wondered how he’d see her now.

Waylon had been away from Edisto Island for over twelve years now, traveling around the world in the military, but it felt good to be home. He’d hated learning Lloyd Deveaux was gone, the warm-hearted Lighthouse Keeper he’d followed around as a boy. But he liked the idea of coming to stay at the lodge at Watch Island to help the Deveaux family with the inn, lighthouse, and nearly five-hundred acres of land the Lighthouse Station occupied. He knew Burke had picked up many of her father’s old tasks and he looked forward to seeing her again. He’d kept feelings for her clamped down for years but one look at her brought them surging back. How would he handle that with them working together?

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

 

PRAISE FOR LIN STEPP AND HER RICH SOUTHERN NOVELS:

“This book feels just as tranquil as Edisto and has a wonderful, laid back flow, like beautiful ocean waves lapping up on the shore … you can’t help but fall in love with every facet of this novel.” – Christ F. JUST READS Review

“From the stunning backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry … this book was like going home.” – Kim Standridge Boykin, Bestselling Author of Palmetto Moon

“Each book showcases Lin Stepp’s natural gift as a novelist for originality and narrative driven storytelling.” – MIDWEST REVIEW 

 

Interview with Author Linn Stepp

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

A native Tennessean, I’ve lived most all my life in Knoxville, TN, not far from the Smoky Mountains I love. I believe there is always a place that feels like “home” to you, and this spot, on God’s lovely earth near the mountains, is that special place for me. I’m blessed to have known a happy childhood in rural suburbia where I could freely roam the hills, fields, and neighborhood. I’ve always loved to read, study, and learn new things so it’s little surprise I ended up as Dr. Stepp, with three degrees. I taught psychology and research courses at Tusculum College for twenty years and often worked in educational sales positions on the side. I met my husband while at college and we are still a happy team, with two children now grown and gone from home. It wasn’t until mid-life that I began to write books and, to my joy, readers loved them. To date I have over twenty published books, most of my novels stand-alones set in the Smoky Mountains plus my new beach books set at the South Carolina coast. My husband and I also write regional guidebooks together and have also written a 365-day devotional guide. I really love being an author and I’ve been blessed to hit the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Amazon and other bestseller lists with my titles.

What do you do besides writing?

My husband and I love to hike in the Smoky Mountains near our home and we love to explore new places. We’ve hiked trails all over the TN and NC mountains and described many in our hiking guide The Afternoon Hiker. Additionally, we’ve visited all the state parks in Tennessee and in South Carolina and have written two parks guidebooks, Discovering Tennessee State Parks and Exploring South Carolina State Parks. We’ve enjoyed filling all three of these guides with our color photography to enhance them, and we are already planning more future adventures visiting parks in two other nearby states. The publisher of our hiking guide used some of my illustrations in the book, also and as another side interest I love to draw and paint.

What was your favorite part of researching for this book?

I love lighthouses, and have always been fascinated by them, so I really enjoyed researching the history of lighthouses and learning how lighthouses operate for LIGHT THE WAY, the first title in my new Lighthouse Sisters series. This book is Burke’s story … one of four sisters who grew up at the Deveaux Lighthouse and Inn on the coast. Like my earlier Edisto Trilogy books, LIGHT THE WAY is set at Edisto Island, South Carolina, a small, quiet island halfway between Beaufort and Charleston. Edisto is our favorite vacation spot … and it was a joy visiting the island more than once to research for these books! Although we’d been going to Edisto since the 1980s, I discovered many new wonderful places and bits of local history that are finding their way into my stories.

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?

As an artist as well as an author, I am a very “visual” writer. I always want visuals for the books I write … especially pictures of the places and all the book characters that will be in each novel. After “imagining and seeing” in my mind all the characters, pets, houses, businesses, and more that will people my books, I find pictures for them as I begin to plot a new book. I stuff these into folders along with brochures, local maps, and pages of scribbled down notes and ideas. I also draw setting maps, which my publishers have always included in the front of my books, and I create a “collage bulletin board” of the main people and places who will be in my story right before I begin to write a new book. Below is the board I made for LIGHT THE WAY and the Lighthouse Sisters books.

 

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

I know authors who like to listen to music while they write, but I can’t work with music or noise in the background. Whenever I write, I head into my office and shut the door to work in the quiet. The “music” in my head of all the characters talking is enough noise and distraction for me as I work on a book. Occasionally I might go online to find the lyrics to a song that weaves its way into the lives of a character, but that is the only time music playsny part in my writing process. I am much more inspired by places, by travel, by people, and by ideas picked up in reading than from songs.

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

I read for joy and pleasure all the time, around writing my own books. Books are a beautiful way to escape, to enter into other lives I might not know, to travel to places I might not otherwise ever see. I love rich, warm-hearted books that make me feel like I know the characters in the story, that I get involved with and hate to say goodbye to at the end of the story. I like books that teach me something I didn’t know, inspire me in some way, lift my faith in the goodness of people despite all the problems in our world. I hope my readers might find this kind of pleasure in reading my stories … and smile and sigh at the end, wishing the book didn’t have to end so soon.

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

 

Now that I am retired from college teaching, I write two books every year. My readers love my new coastal books but they also love my books set in the mountains, so I try to write a book set in the mountains and a book set at the coast every year. My mountain title this year, that readers can also enjoy, is titled Eight at the Lake. It’s a delightful, fun story set in the charming historic town of Dandridge, TN, near the Cosby side of the Great Smoky Mountains. The books I’ll be finishing for next year are the second book in the Lighthouse Sisters series titled Lighten My Heart, Gwen’s story, and a new mountain title set in Cherokee, NC, called Seeking Ayita. After that, two more Lighthouse Sisters books will follow, along with more mountain titles and two new regional guidebooks to the state parks of North Carolina and Georgia. Between book publications, readers might also enjoy reading my monthly blog posts, always on one interesting topic or another and full of photos. These and my monthly newsletter can be found on my author’s website under the “Blog” or “Newsletter” tab. I hope you’ll check those writings out as well as reading about all my published books on my website at: www.linstepp.com

About the Author

Lin Stepp is a native Tennessean, businesswoman and educator. A New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon best-selling international author, Lin has twenty published novels out now, including her twelve beloved Smoky Mountain novels, all set in different Tennessee and North Carolina locations, three Mountain Home books, a novella in one of Kensington’s Christmas anthologies, and four South Carolina coastal novels, including her three Edisto Trilogy books and her first release in the new Lighthouse Sisters series. Lin and her husband J.L. also write regional guidebooks, including a published Smoky Mountain hiking guide and a TN and a SC state parks guidebook, all filled with hundreds of color photos. Stepp’s latest 2022 releases are Eight at the Lake, set in Dandridge near the Smoky Mountains, and Light the Way, set at the SC coast. Writing and adventuring are her joys and more novels set in the Smokies and at the beach are on the way, as well as more colorful regional guidebooks. Lin’s title Claire At Edisto was the 2019 Best Book Award Winner in Fiction: Romance, sponsored by American Book Fest and her novel Welcome Back a finalist in the 2017 Selah Awards. Lin enjoys speaking for events, festivals, libraries, and book clubs. And she loves reading, hiking, exploring out of doors, and keeping up with her readers. Look for her pages on Facebook and Twitter and follow her monthly blog and newsletter, too, that you will find on her website at: www.linstepp.com

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Bookbub

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive print copies of Light the Way, Claire at Edisto, Return to Edisto, and Edisto Song by Lin Stepp, and bookmarks (US only)

Ends April 6, 2022

ENTER HERE

 

Book Tour, Review & Giveaway: The 12 Days of Easter: Learning Easter Symbols by Sierra Wilson

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Celebrate the Easter holiday with a new, faith-focused twist on the classic Christmas carol, The 12 Days of Christmas.

The 12 Days of Easter features cheerful illustrations and highlights a different Easter symbol on every page. Additional backmatter teaches children and families about the meaning behind traditional Easter symbols with an emphasis on Christ and the resurrection.

A perfect holiday gift and read-aloud to enjoy every Easter season!

My Review

It was pretty fun to read this book with my daughter, and the repetition in the style of The Twelve Days of Christmas had her joining along. I loved hearing her repeat the most-used phrase, "Jesus Loves Me!" This is a colorful book with simple illustrations (a bit unrefined for my taste), and highlights 11 symbols that relate to Christ and/or Easter. The explanation of the symbolism isn't given until the end of the book in an afternote, and I would have preferred them being part of the text, so the meaning could be associated with the imagery. I think making the connection would be challenging for younger children, but older children could more easily comprehend it. Including a boy character would have made it more appealing to both genders as well. This book would be a meaningful addition to an Easter basket and can be read year after year.

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.

About the Author

Sierra Wison is the author of several books for children including 10 Little Disciples, I Can Be Like Jesus, and The Atonement of Jesus Christ is for Me. Easter is one of her very favorite holidays because she loves celebrating the resurrection of the Savior. She is excited to share more about this special holiday with readers. Sierra lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband, kids, two cats, two fish, and a bearded dragon. You can learn more about Sierra at www.sierrawilsonauthor.com

 

Giveaway

 

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Audiobook Blog Blitz & Giveaway: Laurel's Dream by Pepper Basham

 

Welcome to the audiobook Blog Blitz for Laurel's Dream by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Laurel's Dream 

Series: My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge #1 

Author: Pepper Basham 

Narrator: Catherine Gaffney 

Publisher: Woven Words 

Release Date: January 13, 2022 

Genre: Christian, Historical Romance 

Dreams are precious commodities in the Blue Ridge Mountains of 1918, and Laurel McAdams is attempting to make hers come true. But sometimes, life in the mountains has a way of squandering dreams. As she attempts to avoid matrimony, she is secretly saving for her future with the sole purpose of becoming a teacher and bringing consistent education back to her people. 

Having failed his British father again by being unable to fight in the Great War, Jonathan Taylor joins his uncle's missionary endeavors as a teacher in a two-room schoolhouse in Appalachia, but nothing prepares him for the rugged wilderness, narrow-minded natives, and...Laurel McAdams. Her joy and friendship prove a guiding light in the middle of his new responsibilities and tempt his timid heart toward a future he never expected. 

But when Jonathan's teaching methods lead to dangerous outcomes and Laurel's dream is threatened by an unexpected choice, will these two learn how to find hope and maybe even love beyond the heartache? Can Jonathan and Laurel create a new dream from the shattered pieces of the old ones or will bitterness and brokenness keep them apart? 

Laurel's Dream was originally published by Barbour Publishing as My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel's Dream in January 2019

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her newest novel is The Mistletoe Countess, a historical romantic romp with a dash of mystery and a bunch of humor too. You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at www.pepperdbasham.com.

CONNECT WITH PEPPER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a Laurel's Dream audiobook download code and print copy plus a Mountain Air candle!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 29, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 5, 2022. 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 HERE

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Review: The Blacksmith Brides by Amanda Barratt, Angela K. Couch, Pegg Thomas, Jennifer Uhlarik

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Hearts Are Forged by the Flames of Gentle Love in 4 Historical Stories
 
Worth Fighting For (1774—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) by Pegg Thomas
Talk of war has surrounded Meg McCracken, including her father and four brothers. Alexander Ogilvie doesn’t care about the coming war; his plans are to head west. When Meg comes to his smithy, sparks fly off more than the forge. But can they build anything during unstable times?
 
Forging Forever (1798—Cornwall, England) by Amanda Barratt
When the actions of Elowyn Brody’s father force her into a marriage of convenience with blacksmith Josiah Hendrick, she consigns love to a bygone dream. But as Elowyn comes to know her new husband, her flame of hope begins to burn again. Until heartache threatens to sever the future forged between them.
 
A Tempered Heart (1861—Charlottesville, Virginia) By Angela K. Couch
Buried under a debt that is not his own, Thomas Flynn’s only focus is gaining his freedom. He has learned to keep his head low and not pay attention to the troubles of others, until a peculiar boy and his widowed mother show him how empty his life has become. After years of protecting her son from slights and neglect of the people closest them, Esther Mathews is not sure how to trust the local blacksmith with her child…or her heart.
 
A Malleable Heart (California—1870) by Jennifer Uhlarik
A hard-hearted blacksmith finds acceptance with the town laundress. But when his past comes to call, will he resist love’s softening or allow God to hammer his ruined life into something of worth?

My Review

I've loved stories with blacksmith heroes ever since reading To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer. There's something about the strength and work ethic that is so appealing. I was disappointed that some of the stories in this collection portrayed blacksmithing as a lesser profession and something to get out of in order to improve their lives and social standing. I'm sure that was true in some eras and locations, but my favorite stories showed it as an honorable profession that is needed and appreciated. I think the story that did that the best was the last one, set in late 19th century California. Most of the stories were entertaining to read, yet I struggled to connect with the characters' emotions. I believe all the authors are new-to-me, and I always appreciate these collections that allow me to sample their writing style.

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.

Review: Western Christmas Wishes: His Christmas Family / A Merry Wyoming Christmas by Brenda Minton, Jill Kemerer

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Two tales of holiday homecoming.

Spend the holidays with family!

Home is where the heart is in His Christmas Family when Laurel Adams comes home and discovers a foster child and a charming horse trainer living on her grandmother’s ranch. And in A Merry Wyoming Christmas, single mom Leann Bowden is starting over when she and her daughter are rescued from a snowstorm. Might the dashing cowboy be the Christmas gift they’re dreaming of?

My Review

This is a sweet collection of two holiday stories. They were both pleasant to read but I didn't feel much of an emotional connection to the characters. I was glad to be able to sample the writing style of Jill Kemerer and I enjoyed the plot of her Leann being rescued from a snowstorm and falling in love with her cowboy rescuer. That's a trope that is one of my favorites. Add in the magic of the Christmas season, and it was a fun read.

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.

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: A Stolen Heart by Clarissa Kae

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Stolen Heart

(Victorian Retellings #3)

By Clarissa Kae

Historical Romance, Fairy Tale

Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 264 Pages

January 29, 2022 by Carpe Vitam Press

A Victorian twist on Robin Hood.

The Earl of Rochelle, Nikolas Whitworth, is handsome, charming. And a traitor.

He can outwit and outcon any Englishman—and any Englishwoman. When his debts are called in a savior appears, the criminal mastermind known only as the Tailor.

Nikolas is bought and sold, his future no longer his. But when a beguiling thief picks his pocket, Rosalyn Devereaux steals more than his coin. Orphaned as a child, Rosalyn trusts no one. She picks the pockets of lords and ladies alike, donating her spoils to the poor. The Tailor notices her skills and demands Rosalyn enlist in his cause.

With every moment beside Rosalyn, Nikolas changes from a life of lies to a man with a conviction. She occupies his every thought but can Nikolas outcon the Tailor and secure Rosalyn’s heart before the Tailor steals his love?

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon

 

Excerpt

Ada tucked her chin, a golden curl falling forward. A blush crept up her cheek. She hadn’t the foggiest idea of her beauty or her charm. She was a bright and lovable—she was everything Nikolas was not.

Nikolas sighed. “Father would have forced me to apologize.” His father had been the glue to their fractured family. They’d been anchorless since he passed.

“I don’t need an apology.” She lifted her gaze. There wasn’t a tear or welling of any moisture in her eyes. She was calm and collected. He’d watched her strength grow under the attentions of her fiancé. The Dark Duke might incite fear in everyone else but to Ada, he had given hope. And confidence. “I won’t pretend to understand you, Nikolas but whatever you decide.” She glanced over her shoulder at the townhome. “I will support you.”

Excerpted from A Stolen Heart by Clarissa Kae, Copyright © 2022 by Clarissa Kae. Published by Carpe Vitam Press.

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Clarissa Kae is a preeminent voice whose professional career began as a freelance editor in 2007. She's the former president of her local California Writers Club after spending several years as the Critique Director.

Since her first novel, she's explored different writing genres and created a loyal group of fans who eagerly await her upcoming release. With numerous awards to her name, Clarissa continues to honor the role of storyteller.

Aside from the writing community, she and her daughters founded Kind Girls Make Strong Women to help undervalued nonprofit organizations—from reuniting children with families to giving Junior Olympic athletes their shot at success.

She lives in the agricultural belly of California with her family and farm of horses, chickens, dogs and kittens aplenty.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

Three winners will receive a $25 Amazon gift card (US only)

Ends March 23, 2022

ENTER HERE

 

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Where Wild Roses Bloom by Angela K. Couch

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Where Wild Roses Bloom by Angela K. Couch, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Where Wild Roses Bloom  

Series: Heart of a Mountie #1  

Author: Angela K. Couch  

Publisher: Smitten Historical Romance  

Release Date: March 15, 2022  

Genre: Historical Romance, Christian  

When Lenora Perry’s dream of becoming an acclaimed singer dies a painful death, she attempts to escape her mistakes by fleeing north—directly into the path of an all-too-dashing Mountie. Though the man in scarlet appears eager to be rid of her, his home provides security, and his sister offers friendship—two things Lenora is desperate for after discovering her pregnancy. With the past dogging her footsteps and her future uncertain, dare she consider new dreams? 

Upholding the law makes up the fabric of Constable Edmond Bryce’s existence. As his five years of service draw to an end, he must decide whether or not to continue in his father’s footsteps—an increasingly difficult decision now that Miss Perry has infiltrated his life. Though she’s the daughter of a parson and a close friend to his sister, Edmond can’t push aside the feeling that Lenora hides more than she tells. But duty calls, leaving little time for matters of the heart. 

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

EXCERPT

Lenora lowered her eyes from the penetrating gaze of the uniformed man and his silent interrogation. “Who’s that?”

Lyman McRae kept the wagon moving, following the herd as they had for the past weeks. “That is the sheriff, you might say. The mounted police sent out to keep peace in the west.”

So very different from any lawman she’d ever seen. His scarlet coat fit to the breadth of his shoulders, adorned with brass buttons down the front. Even his dark pants wore a thin gold line on the sides. Where a US marshal or sheriff sported nothing more than a silver star to set him apart, this man’s whole apparel would be visible for at least a mile.

But from that distance, one wouldn’t be able to see the strong lines of his face or the depth of those brown eyes. And that would be a shame.

As they approached, she straightened and again attempted to maintain his gaze.

“Miss Wells.” Greer brought his horse alongside the wagon. “Constable Bryce will escort you to the nearest settlement.”Constable. So proper a word. Stalwart and unforgiving. She could very well picture the same to describe this man in his immaculate uniform and lack of expression.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

To keep from freezing in the Great White North, Angela K. Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and warm) by chasing after five munchkins.

CONNECT WITH ANGELA: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 14, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on March 21, 2022. 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

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Final day of the Relentless Rebels Book Blitz!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We're celebrating the release of the second book in the Divine Destiny Chronicles, Relentless Rebels! Today, we explore the ancient city of Petra as a setting in Relentless Rebels. If you missed author Sharon René's Top 10 list, you can read that HERE. She also shared major themes from Hesitant Heroes and Relentless Rebels HERE. Plus, there's an awesome two book giveaway to enter below. Enjoy!

Relentless Rebels

(Divine Destiny Chronicles #2)

By Sharon René

Young Adult, Christian, Dystopian

Paperback & ebook, 315 Pages

March 8, 2022 by Anaiah Press

After rescuing their kidnapped friends and stopping the government from assassinating Councilor Sierra Stone, Jordan and Team Seven thought the fight was over, but the real battle is just beginning. Sierra must now try to regain her role in the Global Collective Council while also convincing them that River Wallis, co-chair of the Council, tried to kill her. But her success could very well lead to a civil war.

The Council will do everything in their power to stop Sierra, including killing her allies. Barely surviving an attack on their mountain hideaway, Jordan and Team Seven’s lives are on the line. Again. But Team Seven won’t give up that easily, and they set out to rally support for their cause. Unfortunately for Team Seven, they’re caught in the middle as the world takes sides.

Amidst attacks, lies, betrayals, and devastating losses, Jordan’s faith is shaken, and she struggles with her hatred for River Wallis. She knows that judgment belongs to God, but when she finally comes face to face with River, Jordan must rely on her faltering faith to choose wisely—give in to her need for vengeance, or give it up for God to decide.

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon

 

Visit the Ancient City of Petra in Relentless Rebels

In Relentless Rebels Team Seven travels to the ancient city of Petra. I’d love to tell you a little about this fascinating city and why I chose to put it in Relentless Rebels.

Petra dates back to the 4th century B.C. It is a part of Jordan and about 150 miles south of Jerusalem. It’s surrounded by deserts and mountains. Petra is called the Rose City because of the color of its stone.

Petra was originally established as a trading post by an Arab Bedouin tribe, but many cultures lived in Petra through the centuries. Each culture left its mark on the city. Petra boasts large ornate tombs made by pagans and Christian churches built by the Byzantines. The Romans built the Petra Roman Road with ornate gates marking the entry to the city. By the 8th Century A.D. Petra had been largely abandoned.

In 1812, the city was discovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. He wrote about the ruins of the great city and the western world got interested. Archaeologists and scholars started excavating and surveying Petra. In the early 2000s the site was named one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World” which started waves of tourism.

What role does Petra play in Relentless Rebels?

Petra is the headquarters for Marah, the covert organization helping Councilor Stone fight the corrupt government.

I chose Petra because I wanted a spot in the middle east near Israel since many of the Marah members are Israelis. I also wanted a place that was mysterious and beautiful. Petra fit the bill. Buildings are actually carved into the rose colored mountainous stones. The contrast of ancient beauty combined with the high tech Marah headquarters brings a uniqueness to Relentless Rebels. It also provides beautiful, romantic places for Jordan and her boyfriend, Matthew, to explore.

I hope you will come visit Petra with me and Team Seven through the pages of Relentless Rebels!

Other Books in the Series

Hesitant Heroes

(Divine Destiny #1)

By Sharon René

Young Adult, Christian, Dystopian

Paperback & ebook, 336 Pages

September 7, 2021 by Anaiah Press

In a future where the planet is ruled by the powerful Global Collective Council, and religion is outlawed, Jordan Scott is chosen to attend Global Collective University because of her phenomenal computer skills. Shy and insecure, she has difficulty fitting in with the intelligent, worldly teens at GCU. She joins a secret Bible study and meets Matthew Thomas, a good-looking jock with a big heart. Jordan’s relationship with Matthew grows deeper, and she even manages to bond with her cranky roommate while growing closer to her fellow teammates. 

 

When Christian students mysteriously start disappearing from campus, Jordan stumbles upon the shocking truth—these students are pawns in a government plot, and she’s next on their list. Suddenly, she’s forced into a leadership position as she and her teammates journey from the European Alps to the jungles of Venezuela in a race to save the missing students and stop a political assassination. Fighting fears that have haunted her for years, Jordan battles with the strongest political force on the planet. She believes God placed her at GCU for “such a time as this.” Jordan will have to rely on her faith and friends to save the missing students and foil the evil government.

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

About the Author

Sharon René loves to write young adult and children’s fiction. Her young adult dystopian trilogy has been acquired by Anaiah Press and the first book, Hesitant Heroes, released September 7, 2021. Hesitant Heroes is an exciting blend of danger, drama and a little romance.

The next book, Relentless Rebels, released March 8, 2022. It continues Team Seven’s exciting adventures. Defying Destiny, the prequel, is the last book in the trilogy.

Her first book, A Mixed Bag of God’s Grace, was published in 2018 by TouchPoint Press. This is a book of short stories and devotions for elementary aged children.

Sharon René grew up in Louisiana and now lives in Tennessee with one very spoiled cat.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub

Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive signed copies of Hesitant Heroes and Relentless Rebels by Sharon René (US only)

Ends March 13, 2022

ENTER HERE