Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Review: Just Like Home by Courtney Walsh



My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Prima ballerina Charlotte Page has a life any dancer would envy, but the tragic loss of her best friend, Julianna, leaves her wanting more. Or maybe—less. In an effort to make her life about something other than accolades and applause, Charlotte leaves professional ballet to save Julianna’s small-town dance studio. This lands her directly in the path of cranky high school football coach and Julianna’s older brother, Cole Turner.

Fresh off a state win and a bitter divorce, the last thing Cole expects is for a prima ballerina to chip away at the wall he’s grown quite comfortable hiding behind.

Will their fledgling relationship be strong enough to weather the storm of old secrets and a haunting past? Or will Charlotte lose the new, simple life she’s given up everything to gain?


My Review

I loved this story full of flawed characters with good hearts that are trying to find their place in circumstances that they never foresaw. Charlotte and Cole have a rocky beginning and a somewhat difficult friendship, full of angst but also light that shines through their dark moments. They are both working through some major baggage, and it was lovely to see them come to terms and have personal revelations that impact their future, both as individuals and together. I loved their chemistry and the struggles in their relationship made their romantic moments together even more special. There is an amazing cast of family and community members that provide wisdom and support, making Harbor Pointe a wonderful small town setting perfect for healing hearts. I had tears welling at a few points in the story, something I can count on this author for- a strong connection to the characters and the emotion s running through the scenes. Highly recommend!

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 previous books in the Harbor Pointe series . . .





Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Book tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Genesis of Seven by Sara M. Schaller

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Genesis of Seven
(The Empyrean Trilogy, #1)
By Sara M. Schaller
YA Fantasy, Paranormal
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 348 Pages
July 7, 2020 by Designs by Seraphim

Eighteen-year-old Jordan Conway has always wanted to help people, but helping seven archangels to achieve their divine duty was never quite what he had in mind… 

When Jordan is entrusted by the head nun of his orphanage to deliver a mysterious backpack to a New York City address, he comes unexpectedly face-to-face with Archangel Gabriel. Their acquaintance fast uncovers a labyrinth of secrets that connect Jordan’s once-normal life to an ancient heavenly prophecy. Now, he must help Gabriel to reunite the archangels before evil forces grow too strong.

Soon, Jordan and Gabriel find themselves on a divine quest across the globe, while deep in the pits of Hell, Satan plots his return to earth. To gain control, however, Satan needs the powerful prophetic objects locked safe inside Jordan’s backpack—and the devil will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

With that notion threatening his only family and the safety of his newfound friends, Jordan must do whatever it takes to protect the ones he loves and help the archangels succeed. If that means sacrificing all he thought he knew to go to war with the devil himself? Bring it on.

(Affiliate links included.)
 
 
Excerpt
 
Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.

Those were the words Dante faced when he entered Hell. Perhaps if they were posted above the subway this afternoon, I would have proceeded with the same caution.

The New York subway system was a strange and peculiar place. An underground metropolis full of noise and activity, where anything and everything occurred. I liked to compare it to the Underworld as I imagined it worked in much the same way, with spirits being ferried across the River Styx like people being transported through the city. Yet the main difference between Hell and the subway was all those who entered typically resurfaced every day, sometimes multiple times a day, without being scathed. 

Unlike me, whose life would be forever changed by the simple act of bumping shoulders.

It wasn’t unusual to accidentally graze the arm of a stranger in the subway, but there was something different about this guy at the bottom of the station steps, almost like he was waiting for me to run into him.

“Sorry,” I offered, pulling my MetroCard out of my pocket and looking up.

He was dressed in all-black, wearing a leather jacket with the hood pulled up so I could barely see his face. Instead of answering, he stared at me like I’d committed the worst crime known to man.

“I’m really sorry,” I said once more. Clearly, this guy wasn’t a local, or he’d be used to the bustle of Brooklyn Heights by now.

His response was to pull out a cigarette and lighter. He inserted the stick of tobacco between his lips and lit it. As he did, I noticed several rings on his fingers, but most memorable was the large skull tattooed across the back of his hand. It started at his wrist and ended near his knuckles.

 

About the Author


SARA M SCHALLER is a paralibrarian, publishing professional, and young adult author. She lives in Colorado with her mom, dad, brother, and four furry canine siblings. Sara loves the world of pop culture and the performing arts, so when she is not reading or writing, she is either watching movies and shows, attending conventions, or going out to see live performances. She likes to write stories for all ages in the fantasy genre, and her writing usually contains elements of speculative fiction and features a large cast of characters. Sara has a Bachelor’s degree in English, Art History, and Religious Studies from the University of Denver, and a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University. For five years, Sara worked as a graphic designer, and her creativity in design carries over into other areas of her life like writing. You can visit her online at www.saramschaller.com.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive the following: a backpack to match the main character's, a necklace to match the main character's, a signed hardcover, a bookmark, a set of pins with a pen, and a passport with a sticker sheet featuring locations in the book.

Open internationally
Ends September 29, 2020

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Monday, September 14, 2020

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Just Jones by Andy Andrews

Just Jones JustRead Blog Tour 
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Just Jones by Andy Andrews, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Just Jones by Andy Andrews

Title: Just Jones
Series: Noticer #3
Author: Andy Andrews
Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
Release Date: September 8, 2020
Genre: Inspirational Fiction/Magical Realism

From New York Times bestselling author Andy Andrews comes the return of one of our favorite fictional characters: Jones, the noticer. A mysterious elderly man with white hair and endless wisdom who always appears to show up exactly when he’s needed most.

At 3:29 a.m. on May 22, a telephone rings in Orange Beach, Alabama. Breaking the sleepy silence inside the bedroom of New York Times bestselling author Andy Andrews, a hastily whispered message heralds the news that Andy has been waiting on for seven years: Jones is back in town. Apparently, however, he is also in jail.

The old man is tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding his brief incarceration. After arriving to bail him out, Andy is shocked to discover that his trusted friend has already opened an unusual business in one of the resort town’s most high-profile shopping districts. Jones’s Five & Dime seems to always have exactly what visitors are looking for, even as their fate steadily becomes entwined with Jones’s.

As the town moves from spring to summer, a practical joker is becoming bolder and more inventive with every prank that is pulled. Could Jones be behind some of it? Why? And what will happen if he is? What’s the truth about that four-hundred-pound table in his Five & Dime? What compels certain people to gather around it every morning? And why does it look as if every person Jones meets has a secret they will reveal only to him?

With rare insight, Andy and Jones take us on a journey that proves the importance of perspective, the power of connection, and the ability we all have to make the impossible come true.

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


EXCERPT

FROM THE PAGES OF THE BOOK . . .

He wore blue jeans and a white T-shirt with leather flip-flops. His longish, snow-white hair framed a deeply tanned face and the most startling eyes Keely had ever seen. In fact, they were the first thing she’d noticed after being placed in the cell. The old man’s eyes were blue, but it was a lighter—no, a brighter—shade of blue than she had ever seen.

 

It was as if his eyes had been encased in crystal. There was a clarity to them Keely was unable to define. She had heard of eyes that sparkled, but always considered that specific description a way of referring to excitement reflected in a person’s face. But this old man? His eyes really did sparkle.

 

He had already been in the cell when Keely was locked in during the early morning hours. When the door had shut behind her, the officer quickly departed. Keely simply stood by the door with tears streaming down her face. She had been angry, afraid, and drunk.

 

Now, her head pounded ferociously, but she was beginning to recall those first moments in the cell. The old man had stood when she walked in, Keely remembered. And he had said something. What was it? Oh yes . . .he had bowed slightly and said, “Welcome. Come in and rest. I’ve been waiting and am glad you’re here.”

 

Keely stared at the old man for a moment through half-open eyes. “Who are you?” she said.

 

“Jones,” he smiled. Then, nudging her playfully with his shoulder, added, “Not Mr. Jones. Just Jones.”

 

Required text: Taken from Just Jones by Andy Andrews. Copyright 2020 by Andy Andrews. Used with permission from www.thomasnelson.com

 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo by Christy Haynes, BeachChicPhotography.com

Andy Andrews is a bestselling novelist, speaker, and consultant for some of the world’s most successful teams, largest corporations, and fastest-growing organizations. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The NoticerHow Do You Kill 11 Million People?, and the modern classic The Traveler’s Gift. For more information, please visit AndyAndrews.com.

CONNECT WITH ANDY: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Noticer Returns (Noticer #2) by Andy Andrews!

Just Jones JustRead Blog Tour Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight September 14, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on September 21, 2020. 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.

 

 
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.