Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Storm Breaks Forth by Terri Wangard

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Storm Breaks Forth by Terri Wangard, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Storm Breaks Forth
Author: Terri Wangard
Release Date: April 6, 2021
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

World War I rages in Europe, and now the United States joins in. 

Peter Bloch heads to France with the Wisconsin National Guard, but his wife Maren is the one under attack. She’s German-born, and anti-German hysteria is running high. Simple suggestions for coping with wartime measures lead Maren into an active role in the community, but her service doesn’t help deflect suspicion from her. Zealous patriots target her with a vengeance. Peter caught the eye of a major who seems intent on using him as a spy. He’s been fortunate to avoid injury so far, but these activities are likely to get him killed. 

Peter and Maren dream of the day they will be reunited, but more and more, that day appears to be a mirage.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

EXCERPT

 Mr. Ledbetter patted her leg again, his hand lingering. Maren jerked her legs over and bumped Rosaleen. Her friend glanced over, and Maren nodded to Mr. Ledbetter’s hand, still on her leg. Rosaleen’s eyes rounded. She shifted Katie to Maren and raised her chin. Maren got the message. Let Katie crowd him.

The toddler surveyed her new reach, and grabbed at Mr. Ledbetter’s hair. Maren watched in disbelief as Katie’s little fist came away with the man’s hair. Saints’ alive! He wore a wig?

Katie decided she didn’t like the stringy stuff she held and, with a loud “Ack,” she threw it. The toupee flew past the floor lamp and landed on Mrs. Cain’s bare forearm. Unaware of the little drama taking place, the plump neighbor started at the sudden plop. Then she flung out her arm with a squeal. The hairpiece flew across the room and landed between Timmy Britton and Dickey Cortright.

“A mouse!” one shrieked.

“A bat!” screamed the other.

The young boys pounded the toupee with their feet.

Maren stared with her mouth open, trying not to notice Mr. Ledbetter’s shiny bald pate. Beside her, Rosaleen snatched back her daughter and pressed her face to Katie’s shoulder, trying to muffle her laughter. Geoff looked around for the source of the commotion and, spotting their neighbor’s gleaming dome, burst into a fit of coughing.

 

ALSO AVAILABLE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she is writing historical fiction, and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions, as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.

CONNECT WITH TERRI: Website | Facebook | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive an ebook copy of The Storm Breaks Forth and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 13, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 20, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: A Marriage of Inconvenience by Amy Vastine

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Marriage of Inconvenience

(Stop the Wedding! #3)

By Amy Vastine

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 213 Pages

April 1, 2021 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She’s met the perfect man…
But he’s engaged!

Wedding planner Sophia Reed never imagined she’d meet her perfect man during a bank robbery. Evan Anderson is handsome and funny and makes Sophia believe in love at first sight. There’s only one small hitch—he’s engaged to someone else, and Sophia is planning his wedding! But Evan’s wedding is purely a business arrangement…and true love might just turn this almost-perfect wedding into a beautiful catastrophe!

USA TODAY Bestselling Author

Stop the Wedding!
Book 1: A Bridesmaid to Remember
Book 2: His Brother’s Bride
Book 3: A Marriage of Inconvenience

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Harlequin | Target | Walmart | IndieBound | BAM | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay

Excerpt

 

“Everyone down on the ground! Down on the ground right now!” someone shouted.

Four men had entered the lobby dressed head to toe in black and each wearing an animal mask. The one in the tiger mask had a gun pointed at the security guard.

“Hands where I can see them,” the man in the monkey mask said to the teller behind the counter. “Everyone else down on the ground like my friend the giraffe said!”

Sophia’s heart stopped before jumping back to life and beating at a pace that it hit only during her toughest spin classes. The shock had her frozen in place. The man in front of her took her by the hand.

“Let’s do as they say and they won’t hurt us,” he said, guiding her down to the ground.

There was kindness in his eyes. Kindness was something she’d never take for granted again.

This was a bank robbery. A real-life bank robbery. Sophia knew they happened, but she never thought she’d actually witness one.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to Amazon affiliate links.)

About the Author

Amy Vastine has been plotting stories in her head for as long as she can remember. An eternal optimist, she studied social work, hoping to teach others how to find their silver lining. Now, she enjoys creating happily ever afters for all to read. Amy lives outside Chicago with her high school sweetheart husband, three teenagers who keep her on her toes, and their two sweet but mischievous pups.

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive (US only):

- $25 Amazon gift card

- “I love you to the bookstore and back” book bag filled with several of my favorite Heartwarming books

- Blackwell Sisters cleaning cloth

- Bookmark

Three additional winners will receive an ebook of the first book in the Stop the Wedding Series, A Bridesmaid to Remember (open internationally)

Ends April 28, 2021

ENTER HERE

Book Tour & Giveaway: Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham

Welcome to the Takeover Tour for Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Hope Between the Pages
Series: Doors to the Past
Author: Pepper Basham
Publisher: Barbour Books
Release Date: April 1, 2021
Genre: Christian, Split Time romance

Uncover the Story Behind a One-Hundred-Year-Old Love Letter

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure. 

Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover the truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.

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

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

ALSO AVAILABLE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

CONNECT WITH PEPPER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Hope Between the Pages and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 12, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 19, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Review: Timeless Victorian Collection: A Gentlewoman Scholar by Sarah M. Eden, Michele Paige Holmes, Nancy Campbell Allen

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Three women scholars. Three lives changed. And a dash of romance.

Blessing in Disguise by Sarah M. Eden
Fred Fitzsimmons will soon graduate Trinity College. With only a few weeks, he must continue safeguarding the enormous secret he’s been keeping throughout his time in Dublin: that he is actually Winnifred, a woman in disguise. The medical degree she is a breath away from claiming would allow her to save her beloved village. But having her secret revealed would land her in jail. So when Liam Rafferty, a fellow student with a reputation for unravelling even the most complicated of mysteries, grows suspicious of “Fred,” more lives than merely hers hang in the balance.

An Unexpected Education by Michele Paige Holmes
Nineteen-year-old Esther Sessions has survived the slums of Liverpool, and her abusive home, by holding onto a promise she made to her dying mother long ago--to keep reading. When a factory explosion frees her from her oppressive life and provides an opportunity to attend Bedford Women's College in London, Esther determines to succeed at school, knowing her education will ensure a future in which she might provide for herself and never be dependent upon any man. From the first moments of her arrival, Professor John Lind begins challenging her beliefs about everything from classical literature to algebra to--men. His kindness is something she has never encountered in a man before, and the generosity of his heart might just reach through the barriers surrounding Esther's.

Good Heir Hunting by Nancy Campbell Allen
Ellie Perkins has achieved her dream of establishing her own Kindergarten school to serve the needs of Liverpool's orphans. As a woman who has graduated from college and pursued a career, she has faced opposition and contention from all sides. Her first year is a success, however, and as she begins the second, she is caught by surprise when her newest hire marries and moves away, leaving a class of orphans without a teacher. Solicitor Graham Lucas, meanwhile, appears on her school doorstep, having narrowed a search for his employer's heir to one of the students in the now teacher-less class. Ellie sees a temporary fix to her problem that will benefit both her and the handsome solicitor. Graham will substitute the kindergarten class, while Ellie searches for a replacement. Unbeknownst to them all, however, is the lurking presence of a jealous relative who covets the young heir's position, and who will stop at nothing to take his place. Also at risk is Ellie's heart and hard-won career. Can she truly take a chance on a handsome substitute teacher bent on winning her love?

My Review

I thoroughly enjoyed each of these stories! A "bluestocking" is one of my favorite types of characters, and the ones in this collection were delightfully quirky and strong. It fills me with gratitude to think of the women (and men) who were ground breakers and advocates for higher education for women and the sacrifices they made and the path they paved for future generations. I hope to never take them for granted! While study and education is a main theme, there is also a delightful dose of sweet romance with true gentlemen who are encouraging and supportive of their endeavors. My vote for best kiss goes to the last story, Good Heir Hunting by Nancy Campbell Allen- who utilized the romantic potential of a room full of books! ;)

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.

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Review: Flight of the Earls by Michael K. Reynolds

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

It’s 1846 in Ireland. When her family’s small farm is struck by famine, Clare Hanley and her younger brother, Seamus, set out across the ocean to the Promised Land of America.

Five years prior, Clare’s older sister Margaret and her Uncle Tomas emigrated in similar fashion and were not to be heard from again. But Clare must face her fears as she lands in the coming-of-age city of New York. There she discovers love, adventure, tragedy, and a terrible secret which threatens to destroy her family and all she believes.

Flight of the Earls is the first book in a historical novel trilogy based on Irish immigration in the 1840s.

My Review

I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around the journey I was just on as I finished this book. Such rich and nuanced storytelling with the amazingly unbelievable yet true details from a century ago. I was drawn into the plight of the Hanley family with the proud father and children struggling at the onset of the Potato Famine. Clare's adventure with her brother and neighbor is beset with misfortune and yet there are those along the way who assist them and show the goodness of humanity. Their time in New York reminded me a bit of the movie Far and Away, and it was easy to envision the infamous Five Points area rampant with corruption and destitution. Clare's dedication to her family stays strong even through the ups and downs, the revelations that leave her reeling, and the winding path that brings her in contact with a wide variety of characters that each leave their mark on the reader. The book is both epic and sweeping, without losing the feeling of intimacy and connection with the main characters of Clare and Seamus. I began the book with curiosity but grew enthralled and felt immediately transported each time I picked it up. It's light on romance until the last quarter of the book but I thought it fit in well, although I wouldn't have minded more scenes with the relationship development. It wraps up nicely with the conclusion while still leaving a thread open for the continuing series. Highly recommend to fans of historical fiction! 

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.

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Check out the next books in the Heirs of Ireland trilogy. . .

Review: Wrong Train to Paris by Jennifer Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

At nineteen years of age, Julia Weston fancies herself a capable woman, far too old to require a traveling companion. But at the insistence of her overprotective father, Julia finds herself aboard the Orient Express in the care of an approved escort. In an ill-advised demonstration of independence, Julia leaves the train on a quick errand and then re-boards and sleeps away her exhaustion. Upon awakening, however, she realizes her plan went terribly awry: she boarded the wrong train and is now stranded alone in the French countryside of Provence.

Now she must rely on the help of Luc Paquet, a young French farmer who offers her accommodations with his aunt while Julia awaits the next train to Paris in five days’ time. As she settles into the rhythms of the household alongside Luc and his aunt, Julia learns more than she ever dreamed she would about France, farm life, and her handsome rescuer. There is more to Luc than meets the eye, and their chemistry is undeniable. But Julia and Luc are from different worlds, and all too soon, the train will bear Julia back to a life that suddenly feels incomplete.

My Review

I loved the character development in this one! Julia feels experienced and grown up, but when she finds herself in unfamiliar circumstances, she learns some hard lessons. I admired that she could quickly turn things around and make the best of it. Luc is focused on his land and propagating olive trees, but Julia shakes up his life rather unceremoniously with one thing after another. He is unbelievably patient, although his feelings of frustration slip through occasionally. I loved his aunt and how she bonded with Julia and made her feel welcome and needed. I felt immersed in the setting of the French countryside and it made the reading experience so lovely. The romance kind of sneaks up on Luc and Julia, and it was fun to see them a little shy but definitely interested. I was curious to see how their two worlds would merge when they are so different, and I thought the author accomplished it perfectly.

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.

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Don't miss the other books in the Romance on the Orient Express series . . .