Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Lost and Found Faith by Laurel Blount

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Lost and Found Faith by Laurel Blount, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: Lost and Found Faith
Author: Laurel Blount
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: August 24, 2021
Genre: Christian, Contemporary Romance 

A terrible tragedy nearly broke him. Can love put him back together again? 

Widowed history teacher Neil Hamilton has lost his way—at work, with people and even with his faith. But Neil's shut-down existence is disrupted when a small toddler and his would-be foster mother, vibrantly pretty Maggie Byrne, come crashing into Neil's yard and his life. Can this absentminded teacher find himself again…and take a chance on love, too? 

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope. 

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

 

 EXCERPT

 

People had hurt this woman, Neil realized, and she still bore the scars, no matter how well she
covered them up with cookies and smiles. “Did something like that happen to you?”
 

He sensed her reluctance to answer his question. “Almost. If it hadn’t been for Ruby—” Maggie
paused and swallowed. “It almost happened to me. And I knew other kids in the foster-care
system who weren’t as blessed as I was. Their stories didn’t end well. How could they? If you
shut your heart off, if you can’t love people because you’re terrified of getting hurt again, what
kind of life is that?”
 

He could have told her. He knew exactly what kind of life that was. But she didn’t seem to
expect an answer so he didn’t offer one.
 

“I won’t let that happen to Oliver,” she said fiercely, “but I’m going to need your help. And who
knows? Maybe it’ll help you, too....”
 

That was his cue. Time to refuse politely, to back away from this, and retreat into the closed-off
lifestyle that kept him reasonable functional.
 

He suddenly recalled that moment when Oliver had run to him instead of to her—and how he’d
wished he could help her.
 

Well, now he could. She needed him. Nobody had needed him for a very long time.
“All right,” he heard himself saying. “I’ll try. Just tell me what I’m supposed to do.”

ALSO AVAILABLE

---

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Award-winning author Laurel Blount writes inspirational romances full of grit and grace—with characters who’ll walk right off the page and into your heart! She lives on a farm in Georgia with her husband, their four fabulous kids, and an assortment of ridiculously spoiled animals.

A enthusiastic multi-tasker, Laurel writes for both Berkley/Penguin Random House and Love Inspired/Harlequin. She’s the recipient of ACFW’s Carol Award, The New England Reader’s Choice Award and GRW’s Maggie Award. She’s represented by Jessica Alvarez of Bookends Literary Agency. 

Lost and Found Faith is Laurel’s sixth book—and five more stories are in the works! Stay tuned!

CONNECT WITH LAUREL: Website | Facebook | Instagram

---

 

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive an embroidered dishtowel with Maggie’s favorite saying “The kitchen is the heart of the home” and a $25 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 August 23, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 30, 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

---

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Night Watch by Susan Sleeman

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Night Watch by Susan Sleeman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: Night Watch
Series: Night Hawk Security #5
Author: Susan Sleeman
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: August 2021
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense 

Everything points to suicide or accidental death… 

Underwater crime scene investigator, Kennedy Walker is shocked when her mother dies and the police rule her death a suicide or an accidental overdose. Her scientist-mother was on the verge of a scientific breakthrough, and Kennedy knows her mother would never end her life, but the detective won’t listen. Kennedy moves back to her hometown and commits to finding her mother’s killer and finishing her work. 

And she must prove them wrong. 

Kennedy digs deeper, garnering the killer’s focus, and he puts her in his cross-hairs. She can’t give up on such an important project, so she swallows down her unease over the tumultuous breakup with Erik Byrd in college and hires Nighthawk Security, not only to protect her, but to help find her mother’s killer. It takes only one look for both of them to know their feelings for each other haven’t gone away. With so many people counting on her to complete the project, giving in to old feelings is a distraction neither she or Erik can afford, and they both need to keep watch. Especially in the darkest hours of the night, when the killer comes out to play. 

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

 

 

EXCERPT 

Erik planted his feet in a stubborn stance Kennedy recognized. “I’ve had a chance to think it over, and I won’t let you stay here. It’s too dangerous. You can stay at my condo. Much safer.”

She flashed her gaze up to his. “Not going to happen. I’ve started carrying since I met you, and I’ll be fine here.”

“Carrying?” He eyed her. “What prompted that?”

“My job. I see the bad things that can happen.” She had to fight off a shudder to keep from raising his concerns even more and maybe from letting her worry ramp back up too.

He kept his focus pinned to her. “You didn’t have your gun tonight.”

“It was here in my purse.” She held up her hands. “I know. I know. Fat lot of good it did me down here. But when I went upstairs, I didn’t think… I didn’t plan to fall asleep. I know better now, and I’ll be extra sure I have my gun with me at all times.”

“I still don’t like you being on your own here. I checked things out when I went to help Sierra. No security cameras. Zero. So even more of a reason not to stay here. And if you’re worried you’ll have to put up with me at my condo, don’t be. I’ll bunk with one of my brothers, and you can have my place all to yourself.”

She shook her head more vehemently than needed, and she didn’t like that either. She was over him, right? She shouldn’t let seeing him again impact her so much. She swallowed to level her emotions. “I can’t put you out of your place. Not on top of the protection and investigative services you’re providing.”

He took in a long breath, and she waited for it to whoosh out, but he let the air out in slow frustration. “What do you think protection services are?”

“I don’t…well… I didn’t really think about it.”

“Then let me tell you. One of us will be with you twenty-four/seven until this guy is caught. Except at the condo. Security for our building is top-notch, so you should be fine on your own there.”

“But I—we can’t.” She gestured between them and lowered her voice so Sierra couldn’t hear. “Can’t be together that much.”

“Why not?”

“Our history. It’s bound to be uncomfortable.”

Another breath, this one held before blowing out in hurricane force. “A little discomfort is worth it to make sure you’re safe.” 

 

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

---

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Susan Sleeman is the bestselling author of over fifty novels with more than one million books sold. She writes romantic suspense novels that are clean with inspiring messages of faith . Readers love her series for the well-drawn characters and edge-of-your-seat action. She graduated from the FBI and local police citizen academies, so her research is spot-on and her characters are real.

In addition to writing, Susan also hosts TheSuspenseZone.com. She has lived in nine states but now calls Oregon home. Her husband is a retired church music director, and they have two beautiful daughters, two terrific sons-in-law, and two adorable grandsons. To learn more about Susan’s books sign up for her monthly email that includes exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and other goodies.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

---

 

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive the first four ebooks in the Nighthawk Security series!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 24, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 31, 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

---

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Decorating Club by Susan M. Meyers

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Decorating Club by Susan M. Meyers, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: The Decorating Club
Author: Susan M. Meyers
Publisher: Just Food For Thought, LLC
Release Date: February 1, 2021
Genre: Women's Fiction

The Decorating Club shares the story of what happens when a group of women come together to help each other redesign their homes. In the process, they support each other through some of the challenges encountered by women today. While the primary focus is on identifying the best purpose and theme for each room they soon find themselves faced with the need to help one another determine life's next chapter. The Decorating Club was inspired by true-life experiences with real neighbors and the friendship they shared.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound

 

 

EXCERPT

* * *

HELP!

I’m being held captive by a kidnapper named Fear.

What he looks and sounds like is a mystery that’s unclear

All I know is, he’s captured my mind, heart and soul

And I have fallen deeply under his control.

* * *

“So what’s your vision for this room, besides just

adding those two pieces of furniture? Would you like

some custom curtains, have you given any thought to

accessories and lighting?” Sarah questioned. “No, I don’t

care. I have no sense of style; I’m good with whatever you

decide,” said Tricia.

“Whoa, Tricia, wait a minute,” Sarah began. “While

that may or may not be true, that was not part of the deal.

I explained to all of you in the beginning that I believe a

home should tell a story of the people who live there. I

agreed to help, but not by reflecting my story in your

home. It has to be your story!” Sarah re-emphasized.

“Well, my story is sad. In fact, I’m sorry I wasted all of

your time. Let’s forget it. I have to run now anyway—off

to my stupid job, where I’ll be for like the next hundred

hours or so!” Tricia whined.

“What a hypocrite!” Brittany snipped. “You stand on a

soapbox saying the rest of the world is paralyzed by fear,

causing us not to live the lives we were intended to live.

Yet there you are, running off to a job you clearly hate just

because you’re obviously too afraid to do something

about it. I’m sick and tired of hearing you make belittling

comments about others, when it’s you, Tricia, who

should be taking a long hard look in the mirror!”

“Oh boy, here we go again,” thought Sarah as she

watched closely to see who was going to throw the first

punch.

 

---

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Susan Meyers is an optimist who believes the world would be better served if everyone were more aligned with their greater purpose. The challenge as she sees it is not only to serve one’s purpose but also to adapt as it changes from time to time.

While Susan has worn many hats throughout her life, serving as CEO of her children’s business, 3 Sisters and a Brother, LLC is the role of which she is most proud. It began in the family’s basement when they were just 12, 12, 10, and 7 and soon expanded into two storefronts; within less than eight years, it became a well-known brand in the local community. 

As time passed and each of the children began to take flight, Susan and her family made the decision to close the business. With each of her four children off pursuing their own individualized dreams and careers, Susan had to deal with a new title; unemployed CEO; as well as the closed doors that it represented for her more personally. 

Finding herself questioning her own purpose and determined to regain it, Susan invested her time looking for answers. It soon became clear that none of the information she found talked to her concerns or even spoke the same language. 

Eventually, Susan was reminded of what she already knew and in the hope of helping others facing similar challenges, was moved to write The Decorating Club. Today, Susan makes her home with her husband and youngest daughter in Fairfield, CT. For more information, visit www.susanmmeyersauthor.com.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Instagram

 

---

 

TOUR GIVEAWAY

 

(1) winner will receive a $50 HomeGoods gift card, $10 Dunkin' Donuts gift card, The Decorating Club travel mug & retractable measuring tape!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 17, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 24, 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

---

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Wise One by K.T. Anglehart

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Wise One

(The Scottish Scrolls #1)

By K.T. Anglehart

Young Adult Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy

Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 254 Pages

October 25, 2020 by Kat Biggie Press

Worlds collide for both young and mature readers, who will love the fast-paced thrills, chemistry between characters, and interplay of witchy fantasy, mythology, Celtic folklore, and reality in The Wise One—book one of The Scottish Scrolls series.

Mckenna's never thought much of her nightmares, but on her seventeenth birthday, a vivid dream of burning at the stake awakens her dormant abilities, thrusting her into a world where faeries are real, spirits hold a grudge, and a High Priestess obsessed with a 16th-century prophecy is tracking her every move.

Now, her overprotective dads, Seán and Andre, are forced to tell her the truth—they know who her birth mother is, and her life is not the surrogate story she's always been told. Abigail, Mckenna's mom, is some sort of mystic, and Mckenna a Wise One.

Whatever the hell that means.

With the help of a persistent little wren and company of a newfound friend, Mckenna journeys to Ireland in search of her mother and real answers. Along the way, she learns to harness her innate magic and trust her intuition, as best she can anyway—Cillian, a kind and passionate delegate who crosses her path, is proving much harder to read.

Only her mother could truly help her halt her ill fate and prepare her for what's to come . . . before she gives in to the darkness she knows is buried deep within.

Author K.T. Anglehart expertly weaves a story set in Ireland that is both timeless and unique, a perfect cross-market read for those searching for the next endearing urban fantasy classic.

Praise for the Book

"A heartwarming coming-of-age story with characters that resonate, rich European folklore, and enchanting details that tickle the senses long after the last page is read." —V. G. Anderson, author of The Light in the Sound

(Affiliate links included.)

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

 

Excerpt from Chapter 16—The Power of Samhain

Andre slammed the phone down on Seán and kicked the kitchen chair. Seán had been with Abby all this time—the woman who deserted her family through a vague explanation on a piece of paper.

Seán said he and Abby had a strong feeling Mckenna was in Ballycastle and that they would find her together “when the time was right.” What did that even mean? Immediately, that was when the time was right. And this woman had no business feeling anything about their daughter.

“Abby says it’s the safest place she could be,” Seán had said, trying to reassure Andre.

“Right, if that’s what Abby says,” Andre scoffed. “Why are you letting her influence you?”

“Come off it, Andre, I’m not letting her do anything. She knows what she’s talking about. You can’t understand.”

“Whose fault is that?” And that was when he had hung up.

Something wasn’t right. She just happened to show up when Seán happened to be visiting the very spot they’d met seventeen years ago?

Andre was tired of waiting around. Seán was either being tricked or being drawn back into Abby’s world; Andre had seen the way Seán spoke about her before he left. He’d never gotten over his grief, his heartbreak. He was still in love with her.

It was time Andre fought for him.

About the Author

Katrina Tortorici Anglehart is a born and bred Italian-Canadian from Montreal. A devoted academic, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; a graduate certificate in Scriptwriting; and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. After dabbling in TV writing and working as a digital marketing content manager, she left the nine to five to launch her freelance editing and coaching career. Today, she relishes in helping aspiring authors to develop and refine their stories.

Besides English, Katrina speaks French, Italian, and Spanglish. When she's not writing, diving into magical reads, or Netflixing, she's travelling with her favourite human--her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband, Andy--and obsessing over her pet bunny, Magic, and newly rescued pup, Nessie. Katrina currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a print copy of The Wise One (open to US, CAN and UK)

Ends August 25, 2021

ENTER HERE

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Coming Home to Mercy by Michelle De Bruin

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Coming Home to Mercy

(Coming Home Series #1)

By Michelle De Bruin

Christian Historical Romance

Paperback & ebook, 251 Pages

August 17, 2021 by Scrivenings Press LLC

A society woman leaves her comfortable lifestyle so that she can help her daughter adjust to the arrival of twin sons in a small town where the courageous doctor teaches her about taking risks.
 

Wealthy and sociable Margaret Millerson has always thought of her brother’s Chicago mansion as her home. But when she receives the telephone call that her daughter has given birth to twins three weeks ahead of the expected due date, Margaret must leave her comfortable home, her family, and her friends to travel out of state. While she is helping her daughter care for the infants, Margaret becomes reacquainted with the town’s doctor, Matthew Kaldenberg.
 

Dr. Matthew Kaldenberg stays busy caring for the health of the citizens of his small town. His profession offers him daily practice in defeating death, his greatest enemy. During the twenty years since losing his own wife and baby in childbirth, Matthew has saved his money for the purchase of a flying machine. But when Matthew takes Margaret for flights on his biplane, he learns that his dreams of rising above the griefs and losses of his past come with a cost. He doesn’t want to lose the trust of the people he cares about most, or the chance at a relationship with Margaret.
 

Both Matthew and Margaret must make difficult decisions to hold on to the love they have discovered. Will Matthew’s heart recover from sorrow? Will Margaret find her true home?

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Target | Book Depository

 

Excerpt

“Matthew!” She took off on a run as light as a child.

“You know this person?” Henry’s incredulous words followed her out the door.

She rushed across the lawn and straight into his arms.

He wrapped her in a tight embrace and whispered into her hair. “Hello, Margaret. I’ve missed you, my dear.”

And then that kiss she missed out on her last day in Oswell City came forth full and sweet and promising.

“How’d you do it? How’d you get here?’ Margaret asked when she pulled away. Happiness radiated in her heart. Her face glowed.

“Easier than landing on a flooded hill, if you can believe that.” Matthew smiled. “I circled around over the lake and came in from the south. Had to watch out for telephone poles and tree branches, but a little maneuvering helped me avoid both.”

Margaret laughed and shook her head in wonder.

“I won’t be able to stay long, though. I see the police are rather annoyed with me.” Matthew pointed at a police car with light flashing and siren blaring while racing in their direction.

He turned his full attention on her. “I’ve come to ask you to ride with me. Will you, Margaret? I have something very important to say to you.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Ahem. Before you go, we’d like an explanation.” Henry’s voice came from behind.

Margaret had forgotten all about him. She turned to find him and Fran standing in the yard. “This is Dr. Matthew Kaldenburg from Oswell City. He’s come to take me for a ride.” Margaret gestured to Matthew. 

 

About the Author

Michelle De Bruin grew up in Southern Iowa and graduated from Eddyville High School. These beautiful memories of childhood spent on her family’s farm are the inspiration to the setting in the books of the Tomorrow series.

After high school, Michelle received an Associate’s Degree in Office Management from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. She returned to the family farm and later married Tom De Bruin.

Tom and Michelle and their two teenage sons, Mark and John, live in Pella where Michelle works as the Spiritual Services Facilitator for Christian Opportunity Center. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and in Religion with a Christian Ministries emphasis from Central College in Pella, Iowa.

In 2015, Michelle began writing and joined the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) where she discovered that the stories she wrote for fun might actually amount to something. She finished her manuscript for Hope for Tomorrow and eventually found a home for it with a small publisher of Christian fiction.

Characters that bring to life the delights of farm and small town living, whispers of Dutch heritage, and Christian faith make Michelle’s stories distinct.

Website | Goodreads | Bookbub | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a copy of Coming Home to Mercy (print if US, ebook if outside the US) and a $25 Amazon Gift Card (open internationally)

Ends August 25, 2021

ENTER HERE

 

Review: First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

The endearingly mischievous matchmaking grandparents Anna and Felty Helmuth have helped generations of their Wisconsin community - including many of their own grandchildren - find love over the course of USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Beckstrand's beloved Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series. Now, in this heartwarming prequel set in 1952, Anna and Felty's own love story takes center stage as the young couple spends their first uncertain Christmas together.

She can't cook, sew, sing, or clean. And no matter how hard young Anna Yoder tries, she'd much rather help people in trouble than be a well-behaved pretty face and properly perfect Amish maidel. So she instantly reaches out to her old schoolmate, Felty Helmuth, when their Amish town ostracizes him for his Korean War army service. He's still the only one who's ever understood Anna--and liked everything from her green Jello carrot salads to her love of books. And this holiday season, she can't help hoping that somehow she and Felty can find a way to be the perfect match...

Felty sensed he was called by Gotte to serve his country, though it went against his community's peaceful ways. Troubled by his wartime experiences, he is resigned to being an outsider avoided by most eligible Amish girls. But lively, intelligent Anna has grown into a warm-hearted generous woman who accepts Felty for who he is. And in the face of family and community opposition, he and Anna will take a leap of faith to prove they are made for each other--and a lifetime of happiness.

My Review

Oh how I love Anna and Felty from the many books in the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series! I was thrilled to read the story of their falling in love! It's not an easy beginning as they are both somewhat social outcasts in their community. They are both so genuine, and it was so satisfying to see their friendship rekindle and develop into romance as they support each other with the difficulties they are dealing with. I love how this author is so skilled at writing characters with vibrant personalities and memorable mannerisms. 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 any of the books in The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series . . .