Sunday, June 9, 2024

Review: Dry Climate Gardening by by Noelle Johnson

 

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it



Synopsis

In Dry Climate Gardening, author and desert horticulturist Noelle Johnson, also known as AZ Plant Lady, delivers all the know-how you need to grow a breathtaking, colorful, and vibrant garden in low-water conditions.

Gardening in an arid climate doesn’t have to mean a yard full of rocks with a few cacti plunked in. With careful plant selection and thoughtful design , you can create a low-water landscape that’s an oasis for humans and wildlife alike. There are hundreds of plants well-suited to xeric conditions , and with the proper care, they create a living desert landscape that will stop passersby in their tracks. Let Dry Climate Gardening be your guide to crafting a climate-appropriate outdoor living space that’s the envy of the neighborhood, whether you live in the American Southwest, the Mediterranean region, or any other arid climate.

Inside you’ll find:
- The best arid-adapted plants to feature in your landscape
- Information on which plants struggle in dry climates and how to avoid them
- The five “desert seasons” and which are best for planting
- How to handle desert soils
- Plant care techniques specific to dry climates, including pruning, fertilizing, and more
- How to design a planting for maximum impact and minimal water needs
- Plant profiles and charts for every category, from trees and shrubs to groundcovers, vines, succulents, and perennials
- Sample garden designs and plant lists you can adapt to your own space
 
With water restrictions and the number of gardeners dealing with drought conditions on the rise, we all need to get more creative in the way we grow. Water-wise landscaping is a must for millions of gardeners. In Dry Climate Gardening, you’ll learn how to do it with care and style.

My Review

Reading this book was a bit dry (pun intended), but full of so much useful information. It delved into the technical, which doesn't make for engaging reading but will set the reader/gardener up for success. Living in a semi-arid/Mediterranean climate, it was gratifying to learn about plants and landscape ideas that would apply to the unique challenges of our area. I definitely feel more prepared as I plan our yard and meet the purposes of each area. I would have liked a more comprehensive plant guide as well as which are native to my area, but this book gave me a strong foundation and start to the process.

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.


Saturday, June 8, 2024

Review: Science Art and Drawing Games for Kids: 35+ Fun Art Projects to Build Amazing Science Skills by Karyn Tripp



My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it



Synopsis

In Science Art and Drawing Games for Kids, you’ll find an amazing collection of more than 35 hands-on art activities that make learning about science fun. 

Written by Karyn Tripp, author of Math Art and Drawing Games for Kids and creator of the popular educational blog TeachBesideMe.com, the book guides children ages 8 and up through hands-on activities that explore an engaging variety of art and craft techniques and science concepts, including:

Energy & Motion. Create art, toys, and sculptures that spin, flap, and climb.

Electricity & Magnetism. Make special light-up greeting cards, and use magnets to create abstract paintings and solve mazes.

Living Science. Craft tiny terrariums, create plantable seed paper, and make your own paints using natural materials.

Chemical Reactions. Create exploding paintballs, grow a garden of crystal flowers, and learn to make plastic out of milk.

Color & Light. Combine shaving cream and food coloring to make marbled paper, use the sun to print on paper and fabric, and make an awesome kaleidoscope from scratch.
Take a creative path to studying science with Science Art and Drawing Games for Kids!


My Review

So much art and science fun! These projects are perfect mini-science lessons with hands-on creativity. I loved the wide variety of concepts, materials, and techniques. It would be easy to add on some science and art history to give a deeper understanding. Most of these projects seem like they would be best for small groups or individual families, especially the ones that require special or unique supplies. I plan on doing the Neuron Blow Paintings with my third grade class of 26 students and can't wait to see the colors and patterns they make!

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: Fresh Paint: Discover Your Unique Creative Style Through 100 Small Mixed-Media Paintings by Flora Bowley, Lynzee Lynx


My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it



Synopsis

Discover and deepen your creative style through the process of creating 100 small mixed-media paintings.

In Fresh Paint, creative influencer, workshop leader, and author of Brave Intuitive Painting and Creative Revolution, Flora Bowley, and her collaborator and fellow artist, Lynzee Lynx, offer transformational, accessible, and lasting ways to infuse more meaning and authenticity into your artwork.

For years, Flora and Lynzee have witnessed their students struggling to find their own voices. The desire is there, but coming up with innovative and unique ways to express yourself can feel daunting. In response to this persistent challenge and fueled by their passion for authenticity, they spent years cultivating and distilling a potent curriculum to support creative seekers looking for more integrity, depth, and originality in their work. Their online course Fresh Paint was the result, and now with this book, you too can explore how finding your creative voice translates into a more courageous, inspired, empowered, nourishing, and world-changing way of living and making art.

Fresh Paint uses mixed-media art projects along with prompts for movement, meditation, and writing to explore personal experience, individual preference, ancestry, intuition, and body wisdom. Through the process of creating 100 small mixed-media paintings based on these inquiries, your style will reveal itself to you, and your artmaking will be more satisfying and fun.

If you’re ready to infuse more meaning, personal story, and satisfaction into your work, while truly setting yourself apart from the rest and avoiding the common pitfall of making work that looks and feels derivative of other artists’, this book is for you.

Welcome to Fresh Paint, an inspiring adventure all about discovering and developing a unique creative style!

My Review

This book was a mixed bag for me- lots of vague mindfulness in the beginning, some brief tutorials with materials and techniques, and lots of examples of student work, showcasing a wide variety of styles. The most beneficial element of the book for me were the few "Writing Inquiries" scattered throughout the chapters. I appreciated how they asked more specific questions to provide the artist/reader with personal revelations. I also benefited from the chapter on incorporating inspiration from other artists. I had hoped that there would be 100 prompts for small paintings as the subtitle infers, but it turns out to be a challenge from the authors to create a collection of 100 based on the ideas generated from the practices in the book. I can see how this can work, especially if an artist creates several pieces from each section since they are more broad in their scope rather than specific prompts. A useful book that I plan to refer back to when I need to tap into a deeper well of creativity.

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: Wonder Art Workshop: Creative Child-Led Experiences for Nurturing Imagination, Curiosity, and a Love of Learning by Sally Haughey


My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it



Synopsis

In Wonder Art Workshop, educator and educational development expert Sally Haughey shares her approach to hands-on, play-based learning with parents, teachers, and other facilitators, offering 25 activities that let your child take the lead in developing their own sense of intrinsic motivation to imagine, experiment, and discover.

The author's wonder-based approach reflects and synthesizes several child-centered educational movements, including Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and Montessori.

Become a catalyst for cultivating your child’s curious mind through these steps and activities, which start with art and apply to other subjects, including science and literacy: 
- Take stock for your wonder journey with helpful guidance on collecting materials, preparing a space, and nurturing the process while allowing children to make independent choices.
- Harness curiosity through a collection of sensory-based activities that use a variety of loose parts and other creative materials for open-ended play.
- Encourage experimentation by unleashing your child’s inner alchemist with “potion trays” they can use to mix color, create fizzing concoctions, make play dough, and more.
- Unlock literacy play with activities that inspire children to imagine and create their own characters, structures, and landscapes. 
 
Give your children the precious gifts of wonder and curiosity and help them become the best they can be with Wonder Art Workshop.

My Review

I love the concept of children discovering and exploring without restraint or "rules." The role of the parent as a guide frees up both parent and child from expectations and frustration. The art process described in this book is more experimental and focuses on the journey rather than the product. The element of play is strong, and be prepared to get messy! I like the projects that utilize found objects and nature such as sticks, flowers, and crushed eggshells. This is a good resource for parents and educators whose goal is to foster true creativity in children.

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.


Friday, June 7, 2024

Blog Tour, Multi-Author Interview & Giveaway: A Summer to Remember by Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christenson, Rebecca Reed, Gina Conroy, Angela Ruth Strong, Carrie Padgett, Tabitha Bouldin, Bell Renshaw

A Summer to Remember JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for A Summer to Remember by Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christenson, Rebecca Reed, Gina Conroy, Angela Ruth Strong, Carrie Padgett, Tabitha Bouldin, and Bell Renshaw, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Books

Eight summer novels across 2 volumes.
From Christian fiction’s hottest contemporary romance authors.

Bright Lights A Summer to Remember

Title: Bright Lights
Series:
A Summer to Remember #1
Authors:
Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christenson, Rebecca Reed, Gina Conroy
Publisher:
Two Dogs Publishing, LLC
Release Date:
May 16, 2024
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Finally Home - Lisa Phillips 

Ashlynn Monroe knows she has a reputation as the Ice Queen, but being the police commissioner's assistant that rep serves her just fine thank you. When her Aunt Ruby comes to visit from Last Chance County on the anniversary of Ashlynn's mom's death, neither realizes it's a week that will alter both their lives in ways they never imagined. 

 Fire Chief Greyson Frayer followed in his father's footsteps. Saving lives is who he is, but the burn scars he earned along the way seem to have kept him from the life he wants...until he sees a familiar face as if for the first time. Is Ashlynn the future he's been looking for? 

With a romance brewing between Russ and Ruby in the background, Adelynn and Greyson discover the future they've always wanted. And the chance to finally come home.  

Summer at Trillium Lake - Andrea Christenson 

Privileged Athena Vassos is banished to the family’s lake property near Sunset Falls, WI, to “think about” her place in the family’s multimillion dollar business. She isn’t sure what she wants with her life now that she has finished her graduate degree. 

At the rustic Trillium Lake Bible Camp, Sean Campbell is overwhelmed. He was only supposed to be the deputy director, not much more than a glorified handyman, not running the whole show. 

When a devastating tornado rips through the camp, Sean and Athena need to work together despite their differences.  

Loving the Rodeo Queen - Rebecca Reed 

Quinn Mulroney, former rodeo queen, lost it all. Now, she’s dreaming of becoming a veterinarian while caring for her daughter. She’s never forgotten the one man she called hero. 

Tiago Vargas is seeking his passion, hoping to prove himself to his exacting father. When fate brings Quinn back into his life, he sees a second chance at his first love and offers her a job. 

But she’s not the same woman he rescued. She carries a secret, and if Tiago discovers it, will he still be her hero, or will her hidden life destroy her last shot at happiness?  

Anxious for Love - Gina Conroy 

Event planner Charlee Lovelle, with a talent for creating perfect moments, except her own, is fed up with online dating games. Australian dating coach Maxwell Adams just wants to help people find love and take his business to the next level, not play the dodgy Love Doctor. Both frustrated with the superficiality of modern relationships, Charlee and Maxwell engage in an emotional game of tug-of-war as they embark on separate paths of self-discovery. In a whirlwind of humor, heart, and unexpected connection, they navigate the complexities of romance and relationships, but will they recognize the pull towards each other or will their own inner struggles keep them apart?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Starry Nights A Summer to Remember Title: Starry Nights
Series: A Summer to Remember #2
Authors:
Angela Ruth Strong, Carrie Padgett, Tabitha Bouldin, Bell Renshaw
Publisher: Two Dogs Publishing, LLC
Release Date:
June 6, 2024
Genre:
Christian Contemporary Romance

Out of Play - Angela Ruth Strong 

When single mom Bex Lemaire is asked to step down as her eight-year-old daughter’s soccer coach for getting too competitive, she’s hoping the new coach will let her assist. Former child star Skylar Hayes agrees to take over the team as research for his comeback role. At first, he mistakes Bex for a raving fan but eventually realizes she's only crazy about soccer, which gives her the skills needed to train him. She's all work, while he likes to play, but together, they just might win.  

Lauren's Second Chance - Carrie Padgett 

Lauren’s Second Chance is a contemporary romance for readers who love sun, sand, and satisfying endings. Lauren and Mason were each other’s first loves, until life broke them apart. A decade later, when the opportunity arises to appear with Mason on a reality show, Lauren is conflicted. She needs this show for what it means to a project near to her heart. But can she keep that heart safe from the man who broke it once? Grab your shades and SPF 30 sunscreen to dive into a reality television dating show story where first love is also forever love.  

Her Cowboy Champion - Tabitha Bouldin 

It’s true that money can’t buy happiness. No one knows that better than Sage Rhett after her boyfriend steals her photography business and leaves her penniless. Heartbroken, faith shattered, she returns to Apple Creek–the last place she called home. 

Maverick Pierce is used to people seeing him for the money attached to his family name. As a Pierce, he’s afforded anything that money can buy, but the one thing he wants can never be bought. 

When Sage accepts a job working at the Pierce ranch, Maverick discovers he never stopped loving the fiery cowgirl who broke his heart when she left twelve years ago. If he wants to win her over, he’ll have to do more than flash a little money. This second chance, rags to riches, cowboy romance pits love against responsibility as Sage and Maverick struggle to overcome their history and trust God for a happily ever after. 

Love in the Lyrics - Bell Renshaw 

Liberty “Libby” Taylor has maxed out on space for her equine therapy business. The best way to gain the capital she needs in order to expand requires a bit of subterfuge, but that will also mean pulling one over on her new boss. 

Singer and songwriter Harland Grey left LA for Winter, Montana in the hopes of finding peace from the demons of his not-so-distant past, but purchasing Melody Ranch may not hold the answers he’s looking for. 

Thrown together, sparks fly between the two, but will the secrets kept between them finally be what tears them apart?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon


Author Interviews with Andrea Christenson, Carrie Padgett, and Rebecca Reed

 

Andrea Christenson

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Sure! I’m a wife, a mom of two daughters, and a serial procrastinator. I’ve never met a task I can’t put off until tomorrow. Ha! I’m also chronically optimistic, and I think that trait fuels the other. Thankfully, God is faithful and he is always on time with his love for me.

What do you enjoy doing besides writing?
I’m a super avid, omnivore reader. If it has words on it, I’m reading it. I also like hiking (but not too extreme, please!), exploring new places, and hunting for the best ice cream shops.

What is something surprising or intriguing you have come across while researching for a book?
My last book, How Sweet It Is, centered on a bakery. It was so delicious doing the research for that one! For my newest book, Summer at Trillium Lake, I spent way too long trying to find the most expensive pontoon boat on the market. The one briefly mentioned in the book, the Barletta Corsa, retails for $74,000 and up.

Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?
When I first started writing, I skipped this step, but the more books I’ve written, I’ve found it helps to have a photo to reference when describing characters. I usually search for them on free photo sites by searching “Young woman with blue eyes and black hair” or whatever I’m looking for. Then I find the one that closely aligns with the image I built in my mind.

What messages or themes do you find compelling in books that you read or write?
I love the concepts of God’s faithfulness, forgiveness, finding a place for yourself, and finding your worth in Christ. For broader themes, I also lean toward family stories and humor.

What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?
I’m working on another book with Sunrise Publishing! They’ve recently announced a new series titled Hometown Hearts and I’m thrilled to be one of the writers for the debut season of this line.

Carrie Padgett

What do you enjoy doing besides writing?
I love spending time with my family, especially my six grandkids. I love to read, so gifts to them are usually books. I enjoy sitting on my back patio, playing cribbage with my husband when the weather permits. We both like to travel. He enjoys cooking and I like eating, so that worked out well for us!

What is something surprising or intriguing you have come across while researching for a book?
I have a novel that’s been sitting in the cloud for several years. I’m itching to get back to it. The protagonist is a young mother of two. Her nine-year-old daughter is off-the-charts brilliant, and her three-year-old son has Down Syndrome. So, she has two special-needs children, but they’re incredibly different. I loved learning about the various parenting approaches used in each situation, as well as the parameters that indicate a child is “gifted.” My grandkids are all brilliant, of course! 😉

Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?
I have spent waaaaay too much time on Pinterest and looking at stock photos finding just the right face, hair style, or outfit for my characters. I now limit myself or I’ll be lost all day.

Do you listen to music while writing your books? What music genres do you gravitate toward?
I usually write with Pandora on low. The station depends on what I’m writing. I have a couple of soundtrack stations I like. One has Broadway and movie tunes, the other is mostly instrumental. I’ll do a Praise & Worship station. I also like what we call Spa music when I need to concentrate.

What messages or themes do you find compelling in books that you read or write?
I love a good reconciliation story! I love it when hurts are healed and families are reunited.

What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?
I’m working on a couple of short novels that I’ll share more about as soon as I can! Thanks for asking!

Rebecca Reed

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
This is my debut novel. In my day job, I’m a Spanish and English teacher at the high school I graduated from. I also co-direct the play and coach track and field. (It’s a tiny school!) I’m a wife, mother of 4, grandmother of 3, and have loved reading since I told my mom I could read then recited every word of my favorite book from memory.

What do you enjoy doing besides writing?
Reading, of course, and traveling. I love challenging myself to speak with native speakers and once conversed in Spanish all the way from Madrid to Barcelona on the AVE (high speed) train.

What is something surprising or intriguing you have come across while researching for a book?
Learning about the various types of roping events in rodeo was an interesting aspect of research for this novel. I watched tons of videos on how best to time a throw, how to swing the loop over your head and target the cow’s horns or hind legs. I’m glad I don’t have to actually be proficient to write about it because it looks really difficult! I have a new appreciation for the talent and hard work of rodeo athletes.

Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?
Often, I wait until I know the characters’ personalities a bit better before finding visuals, but not always. Sometimes I’ll find a photo online that makes me stop and think, “I need to write a story about that person.”

Do you listen to music while writing your books? What music genres do you gravitate toward?
I’m old-school when it comes to background noise and writing. I can’t have music playing, or it distracts me. I do enjoy writing outdoors with the sounds of birds and leaves, though.

What messages or themes do you find compelling in books that you read or write?
All of the novels I’ve written deal with identity and purpose. Moving characters toward discovering their passion and utilizing their gifts is fun and reveals truth in a fulfilling way. I’m also compelled by forgiveness and reconciliation of past mistakes.

What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?
I’m hoping to publish a novel (with characters from Loving the Rodeo Queen) and a novella in 2025, plus a novel that will be part of a collaboration in 2026. Also be on the lookout for a near-past series set in the 80s with a female jockey as the main character and maybe even some fantasy.


About the Authors

Lisa Phillips  Andrea Christenson

Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of books that span Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She's discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Connect with Lisa at authorlisaphillips.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Andrea Christenson lives in a Minneapolis, MN suburb with her husband and two daughters. When she is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on. She believes that a great loaf of artistic bread can turn a meal into a masterpiece. Andrea’s prayer is to write stories revealing God’s love.

Connect with Andrea at andreachristenson.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Rebecca Reed  Gina Conroy

Rebecca Reed loves adventure. From riding race horses to sampling the world's ice cream flavors to writing tales of identity and purpose, she sees obstacles as challenges. You might find her listening to audiobooks on her rural Indiana farm. A wife, mother, and grandmother with a huge, fruit-eating canine, her dream is to bring God glory through fiction that delights readers with compelling, flawed characters whose search for identity and purpose reveals God's truth.

Connect with Rebecca at rebeccareedwrites.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Born and bred in New York, Gina Conroy now lives in the Midwest where she splits her time, and sometimes her personality, as a writer, teacher, and life balance coach. Whether writing fiction or real life stories, Gina infuses faith with fun and hopes her readers take away a satisfying read that delves just beneath the surface.

Connect with Gina at ginaconroy.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

  Carrie Padgett

Angela Ruth Strong works as a flight attendant, survived breast cancer, and uses her own crazy life experiences as inspiration for the stories she writes. Her books have earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been nominated for a Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon bestsellers. She and her husband also got to play extras when her novel Finding Love in Big Sky was adapted for film. To help aspiring authors, Angela started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho.

Connect with Angela at angelaruthstrong.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Carrie Padgett has lived in every part of California, and currently writes from her office with a view of the Sierra Nevada. She thinks nuts take up room where chocolate ought to be and chips and dip should be its own food group. She and her husband have been married for far longer than most reality shows last. She has two daughters, two sons-in-law, and six grandkids who call her Grammie.

Connect with Carrie at carriepadgett.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tabitha Bouldin  Bell Renshaw

Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor's degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author and an avid reader. When she's not homeschooling her kids, you'll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha's genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.

Connect with Tabitha at tabithabouldin.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Bell Renshaw is a pen name for Emilie Haney. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has a love for the outdoors that matches her love for the written word. She turned her passion for stories toward writing at an early age, finding entertainment and adventure in made-up worlds fed by the books her parents read to her as a child. Now, she's still getting lost in those worlds but they are of her own making.

She believes that—no matter what—love fights for what's right. 

Connect with Bell/Emilie at emiliehaney.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.


Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each win paperback copies of both Bright Lights and Starry Nights.

(4) additional winners will each win ebook copies of both Bright Lights and Starry Nights.

A Summer to Remember JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 3, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 10, 2024. 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 for print copies. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Author Interview with Becky Wade & Giveaway Celebrating the JustRead Rendezvous 2024!

RDV '24 JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for JustRead Rendezvous 2024, hosted, sponsored, and organized by JustRead Publicity Tours!

You are Invited

JustRead Rendezvous
November 15, 2024

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center Chicago-Downers Grove

Join fellow readers and authors at the JustRead Rendezvous to celebrate Christian fiction and sweet reads. This event, modeled after the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat, aims to sweeten reading and storytelling experiences with fellowship and encouragement. Activities will include corporate worship, speaker sessions, author panels, small group discussions, games, giveaways, a pop-up book shop, and author signings. 

Baker Publishing Group fiction imprints (Bethany House and Revell), Enclave Publishing, and Kregel Publications have joined JustRead Publicity Tours as event sponsors.

Learn more about the 2024 JustRead Rendezvous



Interview with Author Becky Wade

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure! I was born and raised in southern California. I attended Baylor University in Texas and met Chris (who would eventually become my husband) there. We lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia during the first four years of our marriage, and it was during that time that I first tried—and fell in love with—writing.

Eventually, Chris and I settled in Dallas, and this is where we’ve raised our children (now 23, 20, and 15). Just three more years until we become empty nesters!

I write Christian contemporary romance. The first of those, My Stubborn Heart, released in 2012. I’m amazed by the fact that I’ve now published five novellas and thirteen novels.


What do you enjoy doing besides writing?

I enjoy traveling, reading, talking with friends on the Voxer app, yoga, walking, bubble baths, and watching movies and TV shows.


Why do you enjoy attending reader events like Rendezvous?

It’s a rare treat to surround myself with people who are passionate about the same thing that I’m passionate about—Christian fiction. That connection gives everyone present a feeling of camaraderie and shared understanding. We “get” each other.


What are you most looking forward to about Rendezvous specifically?

Face-to-face conversations with readers and writers. It means a lot to me to speak with people who’ve read my books and know my characters. Sometimes readers know my characters even better than I do because after I edit a book a book for the final time, I don’t re-read it again. My memory concerning the details of some of my earliest books is hazy!


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

I’m currently working on a series called Sons of Scandal. It focuses on the love stories of three brothers and is set in Maine. The first two books in that series (Memory Lane and Rocky Road) are currently available. I’ve finished the first draft of the third and final book and am now rewriting it. Lord willing, you can expect that from me next!


Participating Authors

JustRead Rendezvous 2024 first 27 participating authors

first row: Amanda Barratt, Amanda Cox, Amanda Dykes, Angela Ruth Strong, Becky Wade, Elizabeth Goddard, Elizabeth Musser, Emily Conrad, Gabrielle Meyer. second row: Janilise Lloyd, Kate Breslin, Katie Powner, Kimberley Woodhouse, Kristi Ann Hunter, Laura Frantz, Linda MacKillop, Lisa Phillips, Lynn Austin. third row: Mesu Andrews, Nancy Mehl, Nicole Deese, Robin W. Pearson, Ronie Kendig, Sara Brunsvold, Sara Davison, Sara Ella, Sara Watterson

Keynote speakers include Amanda Dykes, Becky Wade, and Ronie Kendig. Kimberley Woodhouse and Lisa Phillips will lead worship. More authors will be added to the event as reader registration increases!  

Check out recent releases by participating authors in the JustRead Amazon Storefront.


Register

The registration fee (including a book tote, lunch, afternoon snack, and more) is $124 for readers. We’re nearing the reader registration mark to add more best-selling, debut, and indie authors to the 2024 event. Tell your friends and register today to pave the way by August 1! 

Subscribe to email updates and learn more about each author on the JustRead Rendezvous website. Connect with other attendees and hopefuls in the Rendezvous Roomies & Logistics ’24 private Facebook group to arrange shared experiences or cost-sharing opportunities

Register Now

P.S. Join us on Thursday at the same location for the Art of Writing conference and The Christy Award Winners Gala. The Christy Award honors and promotes excellence in Christian fiction and is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Visit christyawards.com for more information and registration.
Giveaway

(1) winner will receive one paid registration to JustRead Rendezvous 2024 courtesy of '23 Rendezvous author Tamara Leigh
(1) winner will receive a canvas tote bag, an A6 journal notebook with a ballpoint pen, a 12 oz enamel mug, a scented candle, and a reading blanket
(5) winners will receive a $10 egift card (Baker Book House, Christianbook, or Amazon)

JustRead Rendezvous 2024 Blog Tour Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 4, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 11, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for physical prizes. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours


Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Review: Get Messy Art: The No-Rules, No-Judgment, No-Pressure Approach to Making Art by Caylee Grey


My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing



Synopsis

Getting messy is the best part of creating! Get Messy Art gives you the freedom, inspiration, and ideas to experiment and play with art techniques and projects to create perfectly imperfect art.

We’re always told that play and experimentation is the foundation of growing as an artist. But where do you start? Where to find new techniques to try? How do you bring them all together? Get Messy Art has all the guidance, instruction, and inspiration you need. Based on the popular online class and community website Get Messy Art, this book brings together tons of creative art techniques and projects, including painting with watercolor and acrylic, mark-making, drawing with markers and pen and ink, sketching faces, and much more.

The fun doesn’t stop there. You’ll also learn how to make your own art journals and trendy junk journals—easy handmade books to work in that are personalized and one of a kind.

In Get Messy Art you’ll discover: 
- A welcoming environment that encourages play and experimentation, to help you become the artist you always wanted to be.
- How to use no-rules, no-stress art techniques as a creative outlet to express feelings.
- Actionable inspiration that will keep you going, even when motivation is scarce.
- Fresh techniques that will show you innovative ways to use low-cost supplies such as paint and mediums, stencils, pens, and paper.
- Easy background techniques that will get you started and banish fear of the blank page.
- The satisfaction of making your own unique journals using simple methods.

Ultimately, art is all about creating for the sake of creating. It’s powerful, it’s cathartic, it’s messy—and it’s all yours. It’s time to get messy!

My Review

This is a wonderful book exploring creativity within art journals. Perfect for beginners and more advanced artists alike, it encourages growth, habit, repurposing, and getting messy! I especially appreciated the author's words on the importance of establishing a consistent practice, and how the hard work of creating is what brings the magic. My favorite art class in college was bookbinding, so the sections on creating and repurposing books and journals were right up my alley. There are several projects for artists to experiment with various techniques, and the work of guest artists is featured, providing a wider variety of styles and inspiration. I'm excited to start creating some messy art!

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.


Friday, May 31, 2024

Takeover Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway: To Catch a Coronet by Grace Hitchcock

To Catch a Coronet JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for To Catch a Coronet by Grace Hitchcock hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

To Catch a Coronet Title: To Catch a Coronet 
Series: Best Laid Plans #1 
Author: Grace Hitchcock 
Publisher: Kregel Publications 
Release Date: May 21, 2024 
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Sometimes the only way to outsmart a scandal is to find a crown big enough to silence it

Muriel Beau, country baker turned heiress, can't stop instigating outrage. She discards two arranged engagements, then further antagonizes Kent society by publicly proposing to a baron at a ball. His rejection leaves her with no choice but to flee to the city and to secure a coronet so splendid that her peers will forget her debacles. The glitter of the London courts convinces Muriel that it's possible to find the future she dreams of, until she finds herself entangled in yet another escapade--one that may cost her more than her crumbling reputation. 

After years of serving as a privateer under an assumed name, Captain Erik Draycott, heir to Draycott Castle and soon to assume his uncle's title of Earl, returns to his London home to find it in disrepair thanks to his longtime nemesis. A staunch bachelor intent on returning to his ship, the captain is shocked when his mentor encourages him to take a wife. But while his alleged pauper status causes the potential London brides to turn their noses up at him, the ladies of Kent have no such qualms and are eager to fill his coffers with their fathers' wealth. 

Caught in a whirlwind of high society and high seas, Muriel and Erik navigate a risky undertaking that threatens their futures and creating stakes that soar above the masts of Erik's ship. Will Muriel's bold charm and Erik's daring bravery be enough to outsmart the scandal and secure a future as glittering as the crown Muriel seeks? 

"To Catch a Coronet by Grace Hitchcock is perfect Regency! This hilarious novel has it all: sparkling dialogue, a spunky heroine with a penchant for baking, and a dreamy hero who loves her in spite of her antics. I loved it and highly recommend!" --Colleen Coble, USA Today best-selling author of Fragile Designs

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

 

Excerpt


She swept into the assembly ballroom that smelled heavily of tallow candles that alighted the wall sconces and wooden chandelier overhead. Baron Deverell was not difficult to find among the milling crowd, all dressed in their finest evening wear, with his broad shoulders clothed in the latest of London’s fashions and his shock of golden curls that never could be trained into a pompadour. She rested her hand over her chest at the sight of him, this gentleman who was about to be her dear Baron Deverell. She wove through the crowded room, laughing as she was jostled by the merrymaking. She could hardly wait to claim her promised Scottish reel with him and sweep him away from that horridly lovely raven-haired Miss Fox, who seemed to be ever near these days. If Muriel weren’t so certain of his partiality for caramel locks and chocolate eyes, she would have been tempted to give in to her jealousy. But soon she would never have need to fear any other woman attempting to abscond with his hand. She waited for his easy smile to spread at the sight of her and was rewarded with a flash of the darling set of dimples that proclaimed his echoed delight.
 

About the Author

Grace Hitchcock

Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives on the Northshore of New Orleans with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter.

Connect with Grace by visiting gracehitchcockbooks.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of To Catch a Coronet, a bookmark, and book-themed goodies!

To Catch a Coronet 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 May 29, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 5, 2024. 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


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

JustRead Publicity Tours


Saturday, May 25, 2024

Review: My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh



My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing



Synopsis

A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger.
What could possibly go wrong?


It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . .

So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I'm all in.

I have to be. After my last job went up in flames, I have something to prove.

It turns out that the player, Grayson Hawke, is the rudest, most off-putting, reclusive guy I’ve ever met.

It also turns out that he is the beautiful stranger I kissed on New Year’s Eve.

I can do this job. I can do this job. I can do this job.

And I can. Really well.

I can make Gray’s life easier, show him all the reasons to fall in love with this city, and in the process, hopefully completely forget that the amazing kiss ever happened.

How hard can it be? We’re total opposites anyway.

I love people . . . and all their stories. Gray loves hockey . . . and nothing else.

I love to talk. Gray only stares.

I’m happy-go-lucky. Gray’s all work and no play.

There’s just one problem. The more time I spend with Grayson Hawke, the more I start to see that underneath his bristly, standoffish exterior, he’s nothing like the man everyone thinks he is.

And suddenly, all the reasons for keeping my distance, staying professional, and not falling for someone again. . . are impossible to remember. My Lucky Charm is a grumpy/sunshine, sweet hockey romance with all of the sizzle but none of the steam. It's the second in the Holidays with Hart series, but My Lucky Charm can be read as a stand alone.


My Review

Oh my heart! I loved this hockey romance with all-the-feels, great banter, characters with depth, and romance with chemistry! I know that hockey has become a popular theme lately in the sweet romance genre, and Courtney Walsh caught that wave early on, setting the bar for those to follow. Her characters are vibrant and the story plays like a movie in my head- but better than any I've seen lately! Grayson is one tough nut, but we get to see the why as his layers are peeled back. Eloise is up for the challenge, and I loved her optimistic cheerfulness that was a little naive but never annoying. The little random ways Grayson and Eloise connect with each other are fun and endearing. The sense of family- both related and found- brought a foundation of belonging and loyalty, even for those who find themselves floundering. For sports fans and non-sports fans alike, the hockey element brought intensity, drive, and a dynamic setting without taking over the romance and relationship focus. The author balanced it perfectly and hit that sweet spot. This is a series I plan to re-read, and I can't wait for more!!!

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.

Don't miss the first book in the Holidays With Hart series . . .