Review & Giveaway: Aligned With Christ by Toni Sorenson

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Is there a sure way to know that what you’re doing is what the Savior would have you do? Best-selling author Toni Sorenson’s inspiring series, including Defined by Christ and Refined by Christ, has motivated audiences to assess and strengthen their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, the author invites you to be aligned with Christ and learn to turn mind, body, and will to the Savior and to claim the peace that comes from the assurance that you’re truly in tune with heaven. For those struggling to strengthen their relationship with Jesus and for all who are striving to withstand mortality’s feelings of unworthiness and hopelessness, this volume provides a simple, scripturally rich roadmap intended to lead you on a joyous journey of self-examination—to assess your own spiritual alignment, to reroute when necessary, and to come to know the love of the Savior—not just when you reach your desired destination, but along every step of the way.

My Review

This is a book I definitely needed at this time in my life, when it's so easy to get caught up in the busyness of daily life and neglect my personal spiritual growth journey. I loved the attitude of hope and encouragement the author shares, and her words are perfect for those with serious struggles as well as those who need minor course corrections- basically everyone! I appreciated that there are so many examples from the scriptures- both the Bible and The Book of Mormon- that the author uses to make personal connections to ourselves. She uses real life examples as well, and I felt like this was an easy book to read while providing depth and thought-provoking insights. Quotes from modern day prophets and literary giants such as Leo Tolstoy were also shared that brought inspiration and light. There were so many passages to highlight and this is a resource I plan to turn to again and share with my friends and family. I felt the Spirit as I read and it encouraged me to increase my efforts to grow closer to my Savior and seek God's will, and look forward to the blessings that are promised as I do so. Highly recommend!!! 

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

Follow the Blog Tour . . .

August 27^th: Lovebugs and Postcards

August 28^th: Heidi Reads... | Empower Moms

August 29^th: LDS Writer Mom | Rockin' Book Reviews

August 30^th: Bookworm Lisa | Wishful Endings | LDS and Lovin' It

August 31^st: Literary Time Out

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Book Blitz: The Patriot Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse

Welcome to THE PATRIOT BRIDE Blitz with JustRead Publicity Tours.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Patriot Bride
Collection: Daughters of the Mayflower, Book 4
Author: Kimberley Woodhouse
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Release Date: August 1, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance

Faith Jackson and Matthew Weber are both working covertly to aid the Patriot cause. But will they be willing to sacrifice all for their fledgling country?

A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.

Spies Work Together for the Patriot Cause

Faith Jackson is a wealthy widow, friend of George Washington, and staunch supporter of the Patriot cause. Matthew Weber is friends with both Ben Franklin and his son William, who increasingly differ in their political views; and Matthew finds himself privy to information on both sides of the conflict. When a message needs to get to a spy among the Loyalists, Faith bravely steps up and in turn meets Matthew Weber. Suddenly she believes she could love again. But someone else has his eye on the Faith she portrays in elite social circles. What will Matthew and Faith have to sacrifice for the sake of their fledgling country?

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse.

TO PURCHASE A COPY*

Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | Christian Book | Book Depository | Books-A-Million!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifteen fiction and nonfiction books. A popular speaker and teacher, she’s shared her theme of “Joy Through Trials” with more than half a million people across the country at more than 2,000 events. Kim and her incredible husband of twenty-five-plus years have two adult children. She’s passionate about music and Bible study and loves the gift of story.

CONNECT WITH KIM: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

TOUR GIVEAWAY

Kimberley have graciously offered (1) Winner a wonderful gift basket filled with goodies from Mount Vernon, a gift card and many more! Of course, it also includes a copy of the book!

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Giveaway will begin at midnight August 27, 2018 and last through 11:59 PM EST on September 3, 2018. Winner will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.  Open to US mailing addresses only.  For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

Be sure to visit a stop each day for extra entries!

TOUR SCHEDULE

For the full tour schedule, click on either of the launch pages below.

(All stops expected to post by 12:00 NOON EST)

Launch Post @JustReadTours

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Review: Timeless Regency Collection: Wedding Wagers by Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore, Michele Paige Holmes

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Three wagers. Three couples. Three chances at love. Let the bets begin.

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Regency Romance, comes WEDDING WAGERS. Featuring bestselling authors Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore, and Michele Paige Holmes.

A WAGER FOR LOVE by Donna Hatch:
For once, Phillip would like to be seen as more than the younger brother of a duke. When he unexpectedly meets the one girl in all London who doesn’t give two figs for his rank in society, she won’t give him the time of day. Determined to gain her attention, he accidentally tips over her boat and dumps her into a river. Not the best way to convince a lady of worth that he is a gentleman of promise. Frustrated, Phillip makes a rash wager with a friend: he vows he’ll not only gain her forgiveness, but her hand in marriage by the end of the Season. The stakes are high in this romantic Regency romp!

THE FINAL WAGER by Heather B. Moore:
When Victor Roland, Earl of Locken, enters into a game of twenty-one with Lord Southill, the stakes get quickly out of control. Before Victor knows it, Southill is betting the dowry of his sister. While completely illegal, Victor is mostly insulted, so he does what any gentleman of the ton should do. He punches Southill out. Problem is, Southill is in so much debt that he’d been kicked out of his townhouse earlier that day. So Victor is forced to deliver Southill at his estate outside of London . . . only to meet Southill’s sister, Lady Juliet, a woman who Victor now wishes he’d bet on.

AN IMPROBABLE WAGER by Michele Paige Holmes:
Sherborne Alexander Rowley III has come home to marry his neighbor—and solve his financial problems in one fell swoop. Love doesn’t figure into the equation, only the need to save his family’s estate. The reserved Miss Emily Montgomery seems willing enough, leaving the only possible obstacle to Sherborne’s success his childhood friend, Eli Linfield, and the wager they made long ago that Eli would be the one to marry Emily. When the timely birth of a colt, Emily’s mischievous sister Sophia, and Emily herself all conspire to ruin Sherborne’s plans, one night of mayhem unravels far more than their betrothal. Emily is not as demure as he believed, nor is Eli what he has pretended these many years. Yet the future for all may yet be bright. Sherborne might even wager on it.

My Review

There is plenty of humor and wit in these three Regency stories (by three of my favorite must-read authors!) that have some kind of wager about a wedding as the premise. They are longer than novella length, and each have fully developed characters and plots. I appreciated that I felt like I could connect to each of the couples and their dilemmas, and was invested in the outcome of their happily-ever-afters. I definitely enjoyed all three, but my favorite was An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes, because I'm a sucker for the unrequited love/childhood crush trope! Eli was such an admirable and unassuming hero, working his way up in the world with moderate success so that even though he never expected to have his romantic dreams fulfilled, he was prepared when the opportunity arose. Lots of romance and navigating of Regency society made this collection one I'll definitely re-read in the future!

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


Other books in the Timeless Regency Collections:

 AUTUMN MASQUERADE
A MIDWINTER BALL
SPRING IN HYDE PARK
SUMMER HOUSE PARTY
A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS
A SEASON IN LONDON
A HOLIDAY IN BATH
FALLING FOR A DUKE
A NIGHT IN GROSVENOR SQUARE
ROAD TO GRETNA GREEN

Review: A Rogue About Town by Rebecca Connolly

Book Two in the London League series

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

A disgruntled operative…
 
Gabriel Statler, Lord Wharton, has a problem. His duties as an operative for the Crown are being compromised for the sake of his cover, where he is known only as the Rogue. His days are now filled with trivial investigations, and none of the problems are ones he wants to solve. Then he meets a mysterious young woman who holds more secrets than he likes, and, against his better judgment, he takes her case.

A determined client...
 
Amelia Berger needs the Rogue, and she needs everything he can offer without revealing everything she knows. Her secrets are her own, and she has far too many to risk revealing even one. But when working with Rogue turns into something entirely unexpected, she finds that the secrets she began with are not the ones she most needs to protect.

My Review

I loved the clash of personalities between Amelia and Gabe. They each have a plethora of secrets, and it was fun seeing them grow closer together despite their lack of trust in certain areas. Although they aren't attracted to each other at first, they have great chemistry and are somewhat taken by surprise by their passionate feelings for each other. The mysteries they are working to solve keep the pace of the book hopping, and I loved how each layer unfolded with some surprises along the way. The dynamics of the various members of the London League are fascinating and I can't wait for more books in this series!

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

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Don't miss Book One in the London League series

Read my 4 star review here

Synopsis

A woman of great fortune…

 

Margaret Easton needs a husband, and she needs one now. Her parents are convinced that only a European will do, but Margaret wants nothing more than to stay in England. The trouble is that there is only one man Margaret can think of, or rather, one she cannot forget, and he wouldn’t do as a husband at all. Then she finds herself in his care unexpectedly, and her hunt becomes even more complicated than she could have ever imagined.

A man of great mystery…

 

Rafe Thornton has never said more than ten words to Margaret Easton, but she is rapidly becoming the sole occupant of his thoughts. She is distracting him from his operative work as the Gent, and keeps him from his usual focused nature, which he doesn’t mind at all. When she stumbles into his world, his work and his emotions collide, forcing him to choose between saving the Crown, and protecting his love.

Review: Some Like It Hot by Susan May Warren

Book Three in the Summer of the Burning Sky series

When western Alaska erupts in a devastating fire, the elite firefighting crew of the Jude County Smokejumpers is called in to save the day. They’ll do anything to stop the fire, including fighting alongside a crew of local prisoners.

The last thing they expect is a jailbreak and when the prisoners disappear into the forest with one of their own, they’ll have to fight not only the fire, but for the freedom of their friends…during the Summer of the Burning Sky.

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Riley McCord is trouble, from his blue eyes to his renegade smile—a cover for the grief of losing his father three years ago in Afghanistan, a loss that is still top secret. Riley masks it all by living large—working hard and playing hard, and that includes romancing Larke Kingston, local wilderness medic. When he’s sidelined while working the forest fire, he’s determined to rejoin his team, but to do so, he'll have to accompany Larke into the wilderness when she is dispatched to a medical emergency. What he doesn’t realize is that trouble is waiting for him in the woods…

Medic Larke Kingston lost the man she loved during her service in Afghanistan and she’s not interested in a troublemaker, so Riley’s no threat to her heart. Just a short-term distraction. Until, that is, a wilderness medical mission puts her face-to-face with an escaped prisoner. Suddenly she needs Riley more than she wants to admit.

Riley is shocked when the escapee claims to have answers about his father’s death. However, before he can uncover them, the fire turns and is bearing down on Larke’s ranch, and his team. Now, only Riley and Larke stand between the flames and destruction of everything they both love. But will the price of saving the ranch—and the team—be greater than they both can bear?

In book 3, the epic Summer of the Burning Sky series comes to a blazing, shocking finale.

My Review

More action, adventure, danger, and suspense make this an exciting finale to the trilogy! I love how the author skillfully weaves in a message of faith with the characters who are so strong and brave, yet struggling and vulnerable deep inside. Riley is definitely a heartbreaker, but it's Larke who makes him want to be the man he knows he can be, and the last thing he wants to do is see her hurt. I appreciated that even though he's a bit of a player, he was respectful and genuine with Larke, putting her needs first. The difficult experiences they share while fighting fires and treating the injured naturally draw them closer together, and they are able to support each other in their grief and help overcome insecurities. I love how the men in these stories view the women as completely capable and skilled in their professions and the level of respect that is there. Larke is conflicted over knowing that she doesn't need to be protected, that she shouldn't want it, yet relishing the feeling of safety when the men in her life stand up for her and over her when necessary. Riley helps her come to terms with her struggle and accept a healthy perspective that it's what people do for those they love. All the loose ends from the previous books are tied up nicely and there is a satisfying conclusion for each of the three couples.  

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

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Don't miss the other books in the Summer of the Burning Sky series . . .

Book One

Read my 5 star review here

Synopsis

Former bad-boy Tucker Newman has learned his lesson—as the temporary team leader of the Jude County Smokejumpers, he’s all about following the rules to keep his team safe. Especially when he has to partner with a group of local low-security prisoners to knock down the raging fire. But the prisoners are not who they seem, and when they stage a break, kidnapping one of his teammates, he’ll have to break every rule he knows to get her back.

US Marshal Stevie Mills knows that to get the job done, she must work alone. She simply can’t risk another person getting hurt because of her. When she discovers that a wanted fugitive accused of rape and murder has not only been set free to fight the fire—but is now on the lam with a hostage-- the last thing she needs is a zealous smokejumper getting in the way of her pursuit.

Whether they like it or not, Tucker and Stevie must join forces if they hope to save lives, and in the meantime, they just might discover a new definition for the word teamwork, in book 1 of the Summer of the Burning Sky.

Book Two

Read my 5 star review here

Synopsis

FBI Agent Rio Parker is tired of playing the bad guy, even if it is for a good reason. Undercover with a group of prisoners to babysit a federal informant, he can’t believe he’s been enlisted to fight a forest fire…or sucked into a prison break. Worse—a female smokejumper has been kidnapped. Now, he’ll have to protect her from a rapist, keep his informant from escaping, and stay out of the gunsights of the US Marshal hot on his trail.

Smokejumper Skye Doyle knew trouble was brewing when the group of prisoners joined the firefight. She never expected, however, to be kidnapped during their breakout. But can she trust a hardened felon to keep her safe? Except, Rio is not who he seems, and when his identity is uncovered, she must decide if she can trust a man who has been lying to her…

But staying alive on the run isn’t their only problem, they’ll have to learn to trust each other if they hope to survive in book 2 of the Summer of the Burning Sky.

Review & Giveaway: Anna the Prophetess by H.B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Anna the Prophetess is the dramatic chronicle of the only woman to be called a prophetess in the Gospels. When Anna’s great-niece Julia is exiled to Jerusalem as punishment for her refusal to marry a man old enough to be her father, Anna shares the story of her early days of courtship with her husband. Although Julia’s parents admonished her to observe firsthand how lonely Anna’s life is, Julia instead discovers that her great-aunt’s life is far from lonely. Instead, Anna’s story is one of love, peace, and incredible faith.

As Anna shares her unwavering testimony of the coming Messiah with her great-niece, these two faithful women are changed forever as they seek the Lord’s will in their lives and joyfully witness the long-awaited sign of Christ’s birth.

My Review

I loved the way I felt completely immersed in the Biblical setting of Anna's story! The historical details are subtly woven into the narrative and built a world very different from ours, but familiar from reading the Bible. I was glad that Julia was a main character and that the story was told from her point of view as well as Anna's. She is a stranger to Anna when they first meet, but the family bond and respect allow the women to quickly grow closer together. Julia appreciates Anna's wisdom and unconventional perspective, based on inspiration from the Lord instead of village customs. Anna's role as mentor to Julia allowed me to share that relationship as well and I felt like I was learning from a spiritual giant. I loved the story of Anna's youth and how she met her husband, it was so gentle and sweet how they grew to care for each other. Anna's devotion to her father and brother painted a picture of her contented daily life filled with loving family, observing customs, and serving neighbors. There is some action and conflict that brought variety to the plot, and I felt like it was well balanced. Julia and Anna rely on the Lord's guidance as Julia seeks answers to her decisions about her future with Phillip, the man who she would like to marry but is not in the good graces of the small village because of a past family scandal. I loved the way her experiences with Anna shifted her perspective and gave her compassion for her family, and her tender feelings for Phillip brought more sweet romance to the story. The signs of the Messiah's birth excite and astound those who recognize them and seem to soften the hearts of all, bringing gratitude that the ancient prophecies have been fulfilled. I loved the way Anna and Julia are able to interact with other Biblical persons, such as Simeon, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph. The beloved Bible story came to life in my mind and heart as I read this book, and my heart felt full of love and gratitude as I finished it. Highly recommend!!!

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

Other Biblical Novels by H.B. Moore:
 
Esther the Queen
The Moses Chronicles
Ruth
Eve: In the Beginning

Follow the Blog Tour . . .

August 13^th
LDS Writer Mom | Rockin' Book Reviews | My Book a Day

August 14^th
LDS and Lovin' It | Bookworm Lisa | I am a Reader
Why Not? Because I Said So | Katie's Clean Book Collection

August 15^th
Empower Moms | Life is What it's Called | Rachelle Christensen

August 16^th
Heidi Reads... | Singing Librarian Books

August 17^th

Min Reads and Reviews, | Books are Sanity

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Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop!

I'm soaking up the last days of summer reading! My two daughters are back in school so I've been enjoying the slower pace, catching up on projects, and of course, reading! One I loved this summer is The Road to Magnolia Glen by Pam Hillman (read my 5 star review here), and I have an ARC (advanced reading copy) to give away! Enter to win in the Giveaway Tools widget below, and be sure to check out some other blogs on the hop!

Synopsis

1792, Natchez Trace, MS

 
Bitter since his eldest brother abandoned their family in Ireland, Quinn O’Shea travels to Natchez, Mississippi, ready to shuck the weight of his duty and set off on an adventure of his own. It’s time Connor, as head of the family, took responsibility for their younger siblings. While aboard ship, a run-in with three Irish sisters lands Quinn in the role of reluctant savior. Though it may delay his plans, he cannot abandon the Young sisters, especially the tenacious yet kind Kiera.

Upon arriving in the colonies, Kiera Young prepares to meet her intended and begin her new life. But she soon discovers the marriage her brother-in-law arranged was never meant to be, and a far more sinister deal was negotiated for her and her sisters.

Quinn offers to escort his charges safely to Breeze Hill Plantation and his brother’s care, fully intending to seek his freedom elsewhere. But the longer he remains, the greater his feelings toward Kiera grow and the more he comes to realize true freedom might be found in sacrifice.

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