Saturday, March 20, 2021

Review: Stronger Every Day: 9 Tools for an Emotionally Healthy You by Janell Rardon


My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

As a trauma-informed professional life coach, Janell Rardon spends a good deal of her day-to-day work with brokenness--broken families, broken relationships, broken hearts and souls. In response to the pleas of her clients, she developed a set of emotional health tools that help them repair the broken parts of their lives. In Stronger Every Day, she shares those powerful tools with you.

In this heartlifting book, she helps you to
- transform pain into meaning
- experience secure attachment with God
- shape healthy thoughts
- shift from shame to self-compassion
- practice healthy assertiveness
- set mental and emotional boundaries
- understand triggers and defense mechanisms
- regulate emotional highs and lows
- cultivate healthy human connection

With inspiring Scriptures, quotes, prayers, personal stories, and case studies, Rardon sets you on the path of emotional health so that you can be stronger than ever--every day.


My Review

I enjoyed the tone and vibe of this book through the author's voice. She speaks as both a therapist and friend, with words that are full of hope, encouragement, and assurance. She believes in you and knows you can do it. Something unusual that I haven't encountered in other nonfiction books is the prayer guidance she provides. It feels like she is praying with and for the reader, offering specific phrases and thoughts to bring your prayers to a deeper level. The tools in the book are pertinent and will develop a strong foundation for healing and building. The metaphors for life that the author expounds upon are easy to relate to, for me especially the ones centered around home renovation and gardens. This book is a wonderful resource for anyone, but especially those looking to heal, grow, improve, or make changes.

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.



Thursday, March 18, 2021

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Second Chance Cowboy by Claire McEwen

 

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Second Chance Cowboy
(Heroes of Shelter Creek, #5)
By Claire McEwen
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 210 Pages
March 1, 2021 by Harlequin Heartwarming

He was her first love…
But some things she can’t forget

Busy small-town veterinarian Emily Fielding is finally ready to take on some help. The best man for the job, however, is Wes Marlow—who broke her heart in high school. Though Wes has a way with horses and a way of melting her resolve, Emily needs to keep things purely professional. Wes left her once—will he do it again? Because she can’t lose her heart a second time…

Heroes of Shelter Creek
Book 1: Reunited with the Cowboy
Book 2: After the Rodeo
Book 3: Her Surprise Cowboy
Book 4: Rescuing the Rancher
Book 5: Second Chance Cowboy

(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt

They’d reached the center of town. Many of the shops on Main Street were still open. Couples were strolling in and out of the restaurants. Friday night was usually busy but not like this. Emily slowed and stopped to let a couple, walking hand in hand, cross the street in front of them. A man Emily didn’t recognize crossed, too. He was carrying a bucket full of flowers.

“What is he doing?” she asked when he stopped in front of them and waved a bouquet of what looked like pink roses.

“Don’t you even know what day it is?” Wes grinned at her as he rolled down his window. He waved the man over. “I’ll take them,” he said.

Emily stared at Wes in confusion. Why was he buying flowers? She just wanted to get home. She was so tired, and this day, whatever day it was, had gone on forever. It seemed like weeks ago that she’d spotted Wes walking down the street, but it was only this morning.

Money changed hands through the truck window and the rose seller thanked Wes, then ran back across the street. Wes turned and offered the pink roses to Emily. “Here. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

She gasped. “It’s Valentine’s Day?”

He put his fingers to his forehead and shook his head slowly in mock disbelief. “Don’t tell me you didn’t even know.”

“I was up most of the night dealing with a calving. I can barely stay awake, let alone worry about some silly holiday.” Her cheeks were “pinker than those roses. Luckily, it was dark in the truck. “Seriously, I don’t need a valentine!”

“Everyone needs a valentine.” Wes set the roses on the console between them. Emily checked to make sure everyone was out of the crosswalk and continued driving on toward her clinic.

The flowers were really pretty and they made the truck smell sweet. Wes’s gesture was charming and annoying. Was he trying to remind her that they’d been sweethearts once upon a time? She didn’t need any reminders.

 


Other Books in the Series

(Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author


Claire McEwen is an award-winning author whose strong heroes and heroines take big, emotional journeys to find their happily-ever-afters. She loves writing stories set in quirky small towns and romantic western settings. Claire lives by the ocean in Northern California with her family and a scruffy, mischievous terrier. When not dreaming up new stories, she’s a busy mom who also enjoys gardening, hiking, discovering flea-market treasures and wandering on the beach. A life-long bookworm, she always has her kindle close by.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a copy of Second Chance Cowboy (ebook or paperback, winner's choice) and a $30 Amazon gift card

Two winners will each receive a copy of Second Chance Cowboy (ebook or paperback, winner's choice)

US only
Ends March 24, 2021

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Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Review: Braced for Love by Mary Connealy



My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

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Synopsis

Left with little back in Missouri, Kevin Hunt takes his younger siblings on a journey to Wyoming when he receives news that he's inheriting part of a ranch. The catch is that the ranch is also being given to a half brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin's supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life.

But danger seems to track Kevin along the way, and he wonders if his half brother, Wyatt, is behind the attacks. Finally arriving at the ranch, everyone is at each other's throats and the only one willing to stand in between is Winona Hawkins, a nearby schoolmarm.

Despite being a long-time friend to Wyatt, Winona can't help but be drawn to the earnest, kind Kevin--and that puts her in the cross hairs of somebody's dangerous plot. Will they all be able to put aside their differences long enough to keep anyone from getting truly hurt?


My Review

An exciting and tumultuous start to a new series! Three brothers who didn't know the others existed, with their father the only thing in common. This had more than the usual amount of family drama, brought about by the strong feelings each character has about the unexpected and unthinkable situation they find themselves in. The women in their lives are dragged into the mess, and Winona plays the part of peacemaker between the brothers as they realize that they have bigger things to worry about than each other. The quick-to-develop romance between Kevin and Winona seems a bit formulaic since some characters in the author's other books also fall in together rapidly- but this may also be indicative of the era, when marriage was often a form of survival. This was an easy book to get lost in with the swift pace and plenty of action. The foundation has been set for the other two brothers and their stories, and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!

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.

 
Keep an eye out for the next two books in the Brothers in arms series . . .
 




Review: A Captain for Caroline Gray by Julie Wright



My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

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Synopsis

Caroline Gray would rather be daring and intelligent than demure and insipid, which is why she is still unmatched after her third season in London. Her family’s threadbare finances leave Caroline with only one choice to secure her future: sail with the Fishing Fleet to India, where the son of a family friend is willing to consider an engagement to her.

Captain Thomas Scott loves the open sea as much as he despises the three-month, twice-yearly trip his ship makes as he ferries young English girls across the ocean. He can’t imagine what family would allow an innocent young woman to be matched up with the Englishmen of questionable reputation who work and live in India.

But when Miss Gray boards the HMS Persistence, all of Captain Scott’s plans are upended. Miss Gray’s fiery spirit can’t be contained, and he is shocked and secretly delighted at her boldness—and her beauty. But the rest of his passengers aren’t so kind.

Caroline finds herself an outcast among her peers, but Captain Scott becomes an unlikely ally. They share the same passions and interests, creating an undeniable attraction. But they both know any relationship between them is impossible. After all, Caroline has obligations to fulfill in India.

Caroline has until the end of the voyage to decide if she is going to marry a man she has never met or be brave enough to love a sea captain who just might break her heart.


My Review

What an adventure! I admired Caroline's curiosity and intelligence, and the way she stayed true to herself. The struggle to concede to society's expectations or let her voice be heard is one that she lived every day on the ship. She butts heads with Captain Scott several times, and over their journey they each learn to look past their initial assumptions to see the deeper person within. They are both such strong personalities, and have their own hidden issues influencing their actions and decisions. Miscommunication, pride, and self-doubt derail their tender and fragile love before it even has a chance to fully blossom, and I wish there were more pages of their happiness together. Rather, it was a thin layer between their animosity and emotional separation. I was glad that the story continued as they landed in India, and the plot thickened as other dangerous elements came into play. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to fans who like Regency stories with an unusual setting.

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: The Earl's Lady Geologist by Alissa Baxter

The Earl's Lady Geologist by Alissa Baxter

Publication Date: February 28, 2021
Vinspire Publishing

Series: Linfield Ladies Series, Book One
Genre: Regency Romance


Cassandra Linfield is a lady fossil collector who declares she will never marry as no man will ever take her studies seriously. When circumstances force her to travel to Town for the Season, Cassy infiltrates the hallowed portals of the Geological Society from which she has been banned. She is horrified when she comes face to face with her nemesis, the infuriating Earl of Rothbury.

Lord Rothbury is a gentleman-geologist with a turbulent romantic past. After a youthful disappointment he vows never to fall in love again, and makes the decision, instead, to seek out a convenient wife when he returns to England from his geological travels abroad.

Brought together by their close family ties, Cassy and Rothbury collaborate on a geological paper and discover a powerful attraction. Marriage, however, is the one subject they cannot agree upon. But when Cassy’s life is threatened, the two realise that love matters more than their objections.

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Excerpt

The beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth, England, December 1817

A cry rang out from the other end of the beach. Cassandra Linfield spun towards the sound. Mary must have found something of interest. Clutching her fossil finds in her hands, she hurried in her friend’s direction, stumbling over a jutting rock in her haste. Regaining her footing, she peered up at the blue-hued cliffs. The limestone-and-clay structure leaned ominously forward. She shivered a little and continued to where Mary crouched on the foreshore, below Black Ven.

After the violent storm last night, the cliff face was unstable. Should a chunk of mudstone dislodge and tumble onto Cassy’s head, it would render her insensible—or worse. Fortunately, in all the years she had lived in Lyme Regis, she had never sustained an injury while fossil hunting.

She took even greater care these days. Cousin Agnes made it clear when she came to live with Cassy after the death of her mother that she disapproved of her foraging activities. If she so much as sprained an ankle, her cousin would probably write to Aunt Ella, who would then insist that she come to live with her.

The wet brown sand crunched beneath her iron pattens as she threaded her way around the fallen rocks to Mary’s side. “What have you found?”

The other girl shoved her hat to the back of her head, leaving a streak of dirt on her forehead. She peered at a nodule sticking out of the mud and then chipped at it with her hammer. “It’s a fossil fish.”

Cassy bent over. “What a fine specimen. The scales are perfectly preserved.”

Mary squinted at her. “It’s a good cury and will fetch a good price.” She returned her attention to the fossil. “See how the skull is undamaged? Ma will be pleased. Have you found anything?”

“Only a couple of belemnites and a sea urchin.” She opened her palm to reveal the treasures, but her friend didn’t even glance at them. Instead, she fixed a wide gaze on something behind Cassy.

What had so captivated the other girl’s attention? Alarm gripped her stomach in a painful clench as she swung in a slow half-circle.

A large male figure strode along the foreshore in their direction. Within minutes, he was upon them, and his expression did not bode well. Tall and broad, he wore buff breeches, black boots, and a form-fitting double-breasted riding coat. A slate-grey gaze swung from Cassy to Mary and then back to Cassy again.

“Miss Linfield?” The clipped tone did nothing to relieve the ache in her stomach.

She nodded. How did he know her name? If she’d ever seen this man before, she did not recall the occasion. She doubted it not, as his was a face not easily forgotten. His hair was dark—nearly black—and a slightly piratical cast to his features brought to mind legends of wild men upon the seas. However, the rigidity of his square jaw and his flinty eyes gave the lie to her initial impression that this was a man ruled by his passions.

His gaze swept from her well-worn straw bonnet to the pattens over her visibly muddy boots. His gaze narrowed on her gloved hands. Stained and filthy, they must present a peculiar appearance to this gentleman who somehow knew her name. For he was a gentleman, that she did not doubt—a gentleman in none too pleasant a humour.

She raised her chin. “I am Miss Linfield.”

He removed his hat and bowed. “I…” He paused as his gaze shifted from Cassy to Mary and the spherical-shaped stone beside which she knelt. Frowning, he took a hasty step forward. “Cease your hammering, girl, before you damage that fossil.” He bent down and studied the nodule Mary had split open. “It appears to be a remarkable specimen.”

Cassy clicked her tongue. “Mary is an experienced fossilist and is in no danger of damaging anything.”

He straightened and glanced at Mary, who now stood defiantly before him. “You are Mary Anning?”

Mary bobbed her head.

“My friend Buckland has spoken of you. My apologies.” His gaze returned to the nodule. “Will you sell me this fossil?”

The dark storm clouds gathering on Mary’s face cleared at these magical words. “Yes, sir…for a crown.”

The man agreed to the price without demur, and the girl’s eyes lit up. “I will take it back to Lyme and clean it for you, sir. Where must I deliver it?”

“I am staying at the Three Cups inn.”

The man’s penetrating gaze returned to Cassy. “Mrs. Linfield requests that you return home directly. I shall escort you.”

She took a step back. “My cousin sent you?”

“Indeed. She is perturbed that you are out here on the beach alone.”

“But I am not alone. I am with Mary, and Miss Elizabeth Philpot is further along the shore.”

“Nevertheless, Mrs. Linfield is in high fidgets, and it would be well to return home directly.”

She took another step back. “With a stranger?”

He bowed. “I have been remiss in introducing myself. Rothbury at your service.”

“Lord Rothbury?”

He bowed again.

Cassy swallowed. So this was the legendary Lord Rothbury. Even though they were related by marriage, she had never met Aunt Ella’s eldest son, Edward, the Earl of Rothbury.

 

Praise for The Earl's Lady Geologist

“A gentle Regency romance, full of sweetness and intelligence. Alissa Baxter’s writing is period perfect.” -Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author of The Matrimonial Advertisement

“The Earl’s Lady Geologist by Alissa Baxter deftly weaves together the charm of a traditional Regency romance, fascinating information on scientific society of the time, with a quiet subtext about the challenges faced by women interested in pursuing science. This first book in a new series is wonderfully satisfying on many levels!” -Mary Jo Putney, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author

“While immersing the reader in the mores and life of the Regency era, Alissa Baxter manages to write strong, independent heroines whom modern-day women will cheer and root for. Plus the addition of little details that wrap around the plot and the characters make reading her books all the more special because you never know when you might land on a little Easter egg morsel in the beautiful and engaging prose. Historicals with heart and engaging characters that read real—that’s what you get in Ms. Baxter's books.” -Zee Monodee, USA Today bestselling author

“A truly traditional Regency romance, with lots of witty banter, very reminiscent of Georgette Heyer. Recommended for anyone who likes a completely clean traditional Regency, with strongly authentic writing, historical accuracy and a satisfying romance. Baxter’s writing is excellent, and her dialogue, manners and settings are true to the era. A spirited heroine, a brooding hero, lots of sparkling banter and an authentic Regency setting—with added fossils! Great fun. From Lyme Regis to the drawing rooms of London, Alissa Baxter takes the reader back to the time of Jane Austen.” -Mary Kingswood, author of traditional Regency romances

About the Author


Alissa Baxter was born in a small town in South Africa, and grew up with her nose in a book on a poultry and cattle farm. At the age of eleven she discovered her mother’s collection of Georgette Heyer novels. The first Heyer novel she ever read was Sylvester and she was hooked on Georgette Heyer after that. She read and reread her novels, and fell totally in love with the Regency period and Heyer’s grey-eyed heroes! After school and university, where she majored in Political Science and French, she published her first Regency novel, The Dashing Debutante.

Alissa travelled overseas and worked as a flight attendant in Dubai before she moved to England, where she did an odd assortment of jobs while researching her second novel, Lord Fenmore’s Wager, which she wrote when she moved back to South Africa. Alissa’s third Regency novel, A Marchioness Below Stairs, is the sequel to Lord Fenmore’s Wager.

Alissa has lived in Durban and Cape Town but she eventually settled in Johannesburg where she lives with her husband and two sons. Alissa is also the author of two chick-lit novels, Send and Receive and The Blog Affair, which have been re-released as The Truth About Series: The Truth about Clicking Send and Receive and The Truth About Cats and Bees.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, February 22
Feature at The Lit B****
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks
Review at WTF Are You Reading?

Tuesday, February 23
Review at Probably at the Library
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Wednesday, February 24
Review at Bookish Rantings

Thursday, February 25
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Friday, February 26
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Monday, March 1
Review & Excerpt at Bookworlder

Tuesday, March 2
Review at Robin Loves Reading

Wednesday, March 3
Review at Amy's Booket List

Thursday, March 4
Excerpt at The Tea Queen
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Friday, March 5
Review at View from the Birdhouse

Monday, March 8
Review at Book Bustle

Tuesday, March 9
Review at Tangents and Tissues

Wednesday, March 10
Review at YA, It’s Lit

Thursday, March 11
Review at Older & Smarter

Friday, March 12
Excerpt at Hopewell's Public Library of Life

Monday, March 15
Review at Jorie Loves A Story

Tuesday, March 16
Excerpt at Heidi Reads
Review at Madwoman in the Attic

Wednesday, March 17
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Thursday, March 18
Review at Read Review Rejoice

Friday, March 19
Guest Post at Coffee and Ink

Monday, March 22
Review at Books and Zebras

Tuesday, March 23
Review at Novels Alive

Wednesday, March 24
Feature at I'm Into Books

Thursday, March 25
Review at B**** Bookshelf

Friday, March 26
Review at Little But Fierce Book Diary

Giveaway

Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on February 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The Earl's Lady Geologist