Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: A Nanny for the Rancher's Twins by Heidi Main

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Blitz for A Nanny for the Rancher's Twins by Heidi Main, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: A Nanny for the Rancher's Twins 

Author: Heidi Main 

Publisher: Love Inspired 

Release Date: October 25, 2022 

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Returning to small-town Texas was her fresh start.

She never expected a ready-made family. 

What could be better than running a rustic wedding venue? Event planner Laney Taylor has it all laid out…except for the serious renovations her inherited property needs. Rancher Ethan McCaw will help—but only if she’ll nanny his toddler twins. Laney’s all about planning weddings for others and shielding her own heart, but Ethan, Zoe and Tori might be just the ones to change her mind…

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

 

 

 

EXCERPT

“I built my house, you know. I could help you. I mean, if you’d reconsider and watch Tori and Zoe for me.”

No way was Laney going to watch a pair of three-year-olds, even if they were adorable. “You’ve got to have other childcare options than me.”

Ethan shook his head. “You’re kind of my last hope.”

“But we barely know each other.”

“Yesterday you engaged with them like a pro. I think you’d do a fine job watching my girls. I was thinking you could nanny them until eleven. My mother will watch them later in the afternoons, so I can help you most days with the renovations, say from three to six? I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.” He moved to the porch and held open the door for her.

He needed help, she needed help. It was a simple exchange of services. Taking care of his sweet girls would not put her independence in peril.

Maybe she should consider his idea. “Okay, let’s give this a try.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heidi Main writes sweet inspirational romance novels set in small towns. Though she lives in central North Carolina’s suburbs, she dreams of acreage and horseback riding, which is why her novels include wide-open ranches and horses. Before starting her writing career, Heidi worked with computers and taught Jazzercise. A perfect Saturday is lounging on the deck with her husband and watching the many birds in their backyard.

Connect with Heidi by visiting heidimain.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and a print copy of A Nanny for the Rancher's Twins.

(1) additional winner will receive a $10 gift card and a print copy of the book.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 9, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 16, 2022. 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!

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Where Is God in This? by Landra Young Hughes and Holly Crawshaw

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Where Is God in This? by Landra Young Hughes and Holly Crawshaw, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Where Is God in This? 

Authors: Landra Young Hughes and Holly Crawshaw 

Publisher: Baker Books 

Release Date: October 18, 2022 

Genre: Christian Living

Life is unfair. Bad things happen to good people. Not all dreams come true. We lose people. We fail people. And when we encounter the inevitable struggles of life, we may be tempted to ask God Why me? as we try to reconcile our pain with God's promises. But a far more helpful and life-enriching question for us to ask God is What are you trying to teach me in this?

Tackling ten common struggles, such as isolation, fear, rejection, failure, insecurity, temptation, and more, Landra Young Hughes shows you how to have peace even when life doesn't make sense. Speaking with great empathy born from her own losses and years in ministry, Hughes doesn't suggest you "get over" your hard times. Instead, she helps you recognize that, while you will always live in a broken world this side of heaven, your pain has much to teach you about God and yourself. With her empathetic help, you'll discover how to grow through grief and thrive despite adversity.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Baker Bookhouse | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

 

GUEST POST

On January 18, 2021, my precious sister, LeeBeth Young, died.

LeeBeth was sick. She had been sick for a long time, but not the kind of sick that means Get Well Soon balloons and all-you-can-eat ice cream. LeeBeth was an alcoholic—a binge-drinker. Now, if you’re not familiar with the disease of addiction, I’m sure it’s impossible to wrap your head around the idea that someone can’t stop doing the thing that makes them sicker. But that’s the nature of the mental insanity that seizes those of us with this particular thorn.

I say “us”, because as an anorexic/bulimic in recovery, I have a level of empathy for LeeBeth. By God’s miraculous grace, I walk in healing from my addition. And by the same miraculous grace, LeeBeth is in heaven with our Father, walking out her healing with a restored mind and body.

Yes, there’s glorious and life-giving hope of heaven. But here on earth, it still hurts. And it’s that hurt—among others—I want to start a meaningful conversation around. Not just so readers can find healing . . . but so they can also find clarity, reconciling a good God with the bad things that happen to us.

One of the most common arguments against Christianity is, “If God is good, why do bad things happen?” Where Is God in This? unpacks that question through Scripture, research, and my personal experience of losing my sister LeeBeth tragically.

In order to thoroughly respond to the question, “If God is good, why do bad things happen?”, Where Is God in This? studies these common struggles:

Grief

Loneliness

Loss of control (spoiler alert – we never had control in the first place!)

Self-isolation

Not getting what we want

Burn out

Sin and failure

Fear

Disappointment

Temptation

By looking at what God says around these and other seasons of challenge and sorrow, I hope for readers to be able to point out God’s goodness and His purpose during our times of greatest need.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Landra Young Hughes is the daughter of prominent pastor Ed Young Jr. and Lisa Young of Fellowship Church. Because of her upbringing, Landra has developed a passion for seeing people maximize their God-given potential and embrace their God-defined self-worth. She and her husband, Brad, live in Dallas, Texas, where they serve on staff at Fellowship Church and raise their three children. Landra is coauthor with Holly Crawshaw of A Different Kind of Love Story.

Connect with Landra by visiting landrahughes.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Holly Crawshaw is a writer and editor who believes everyone has a meaningful story to tell. Holly is passionate about partnering with authors to leverage their experiences to further God's kingdom and help God's people. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her three daughters.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(10) winners will receive a paperback copy of the book and a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 7, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 14, 2022. 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!

Review: Trusting the Cowboy by Carolyne Aarsen

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Falling for the Rancher 

When Lauren McCauley returns to the Circle M Ranch after her father's death, she's focused on selling the spread and getting a fresh start somewhere else. But she's unprepared for the jolt her heart feels when she meets Vic Moore. The handsome, broad-shouldered cowboy may have a legitimate claim to the Circle M, and he makes it clear he'd like to lasso Lauren, as well. Terrified of another heartbreak, Lauren vows to cash in and ship out. But the strong and steady rancher is not about to give up on his dreams of a home…and a family to go with it.

My Review

Lauren rolls into town with big plans to sell her estranged father's ranch, and the few things that should make her hesitate don't slow her down. I enjoyed her journey to reconcile with the home and community she grew up in when visiting her father, and how it shaped her. She has a lot of baggage to unpack, and Vic helped her see the ranch from a new perspective. The slower pace of life was healing for Lauren, and she and Vic ultimately learn what is truly important as they grow closer together and make sacrifices for each other.

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.

Check out the other books in the Big Sky Cowboys series . . .

Guest Post: Quest of Fire: Desperation

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Quest of Fire: Desperation by Brett Armstrong, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Quest of Fire: Desperation 

Series: Quest of Fire #4 

Author: Brett Armstrong 

Publisher: Expanse Books 

Release Date: September 13, 2022 

Genre: Christian, Epic Fantasy

Guarding his nation’s last hope, a teen must escape enemy lands.

While Anargen, Caeserus, and Bertinand are held captive in Stormridge, the war to restore Ecthelowall’s Commonwealth has been waged for months. Their friend Terrillian is on its frontline and hopes are high.

For Barons Fenwrest and Sornfold the fight is too close to their children, whose union represents the only viable challenge to the Monarchists claim to Ecthelowall’s ancient throne. Enter Thomas Fenwrest, an orphan and page to Sir Hurstwell, who is captain of Baron Fenwrest’s guard. The pair must escort the teens to Castle Yerst expecting boredom to be their only danger. Everything quickly spirals out of control when the Monarchists somehow deliver a devastating blow to the Restoration army and Thomas and Sir Hurstwell face the increasingly difficult task of keeping their charges alive. Ancient sorcery and bitter grudges combine to ensnare them. As desperation sets in for the Restoration and Thomas, to where will they turn for hope?

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

GUEST POST FROM AUTHOR BRETT ARMSTRONG

As a writer I try not to shy away from things that seem hard. A story sometimes needs to be written a certain way to fully convey the emotion, themes, action, and overall message of the book. Quest of Fire definitely has some elements to it that are a bit risky to try as an author. I'm going to share about the riskiestand most rewarding thing about Quest of Fire.

A huge source for potential confusion in Quest of Fire is its dual timeline. One era, the Middle Era is roughly analogous to our early 17th century. The other, the Modern Era, matches up with our turn of the 20th Century.  There is a primary protagonist for each Era--Anargen and Jason respectively--and distinct events in each. You might be wondering, why not write them as twodifferent books then? Well, the short of it is it makes Quest of Fire unique.

The long of it is that it creates a meta story. A story about stories and how they shape us. Anargen's stories are actively changing Jason's story as he works to complete the same Quest Anargen was on centuries earlier.

Transformation of characters who have been impacted by the testimony of other's trust in and perseverance for the glory of the High King. That's the common thread throughout the whole series. In each book the protagonist faces the choice of whether to follow the High King of All Realms or not. The material benefits of doing so are often in opposition to pledging fealty to him and each protagonist has their own unique set of baggage that hinders and helps in differing measures with that choice. 

For Desperation’s protagonist, Thomas, there are things he has lost and things he never had which make it hard for him to trust anyone. Nevermind the pervasive disdain his culture has for the stories about the High King and his Knights of Light. But two Knights enter his life and change that perspective. At its core, Desperation is a somewhat ironic title. The book is about discovering hope as the stories we tell and the lived-outtestimony of believers—especially when things are hard—shows how tremendous an impact can be made in someone's life. As the story progresses Thomas gets to play a similar role for other characters which furthers the cycle.

We don’t necessarily see immediate results or get to know who in future eras may learn of our oaths of loyalty to Christ and how we live them out. But whether we are the ones sowing, watering, or reaping the harvest; we’re all a part of the work of drawing others who need the healing we’ve found in Christ. We just need to remember God gives the increase and trust that every sincere act for His glory will be used as He intended, even if it’s only later that the tapestry our lives is woven into can be seen and understood.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brett Armstrong, author of the prize-winning novel, Destitutio Quod Remissio, started writing stories at age nine, penning a tale of revenge and ambition set in the last days of the Aztec Empire. Twenty years later, he still tells stories enriched by his Christian faith and a master’s degree in creative writing. His goal with every work is to be like a brush in the Master artist’s hand and his hope is the finished composition always reflects the design God had in mind. He writes to engage, immerse, and entertain with deep, thoughtful stories. Continually busy at work with one or more new novels to come, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and playing with his beautiful wife and son. Brett’s book The Gathering Dark is a 2020 Selah Awards Finalist in the Speculative Fiction category.

Connect with Brett by visiting brettarmstrong.net to follow him on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(2) winners will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, a copy of Quest of Fire: Desperation, a digital map of the western Lowlands, a digital copy of a limited-release short story about a character in Desperation, and Quest of Fire's theme music.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 8, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 15, 2022. 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!

Review: The Rancher's Secret Child by Brenda Minton

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Can he cowboy up for fatherhood? 

He had no room for love...until now. 

 

After meeting the son he never knew he had, Marcus Palermo's simple life turns upside down. Complicating things further is Lissa Hart, the boy's lovely guardian. She'll help him become a parent--but falling for a gruff cowboy is not in her plans. Will she realize her future lies in Bluebonnet Springs with the rugged rancher?

My Review

The secret baby trope isn't my favorite because I get really sad at the thought of the baby stages and childhood years missed by the father. I think there is real grief for him to go through at missing that special growing up time. Marcus comes from a dysfunctional family with an abusive and tyrannical father, so I can see how scared he would be to give fatherhood a try. Lissa wants to make sure he really is ready and able to be present in the life of Oliver, and even though Marcus can take Oliver away from her, they realize how important it is for them both to be in his life. I was happy with the healing that took place and look forward to more from the Palermo family.

 
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.

Check out the other books in the Bluebonnet Springs series . . .

Review: The Rancher's Christmas Bride by Brenda Minton

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

A Cowboy for Christmas

After being jilted at the altar, all Marissa Walker wants for Christmas is to escape her life. Fleeing to Bluebonnet Springs and the ailing grandfather she’s never known seems like the perfect solution. But when her limo breaks down, neighboring rancher Alex Palermo comes to her rescue. With his ranch in jeopardy, Alex can’t afford any distractions right now—until he sees a bedraggled runaway bride on the side of the road. Alex can’t turn his back on the spunky city girl, and soon his priority becomes convincing her to stay. Because Christmas—and his future—would be much merrier with Marissa as his bride.

My Review

Marissa is truly escaping her previous life when she relocates to Bluebonnet Springs in her wedding dress (although not in a limo). She goes from city girl to cowgirl, learning to take care of her estranged grandfather's ranch, with some help from her rescuer Alex. Alex is fighting demons from his past, especially the volatile and abusive father that left quite a mark on him and his siblings. Marissa is a light in his world, showing him with her actions how to love, overcome and develop faith. Her grandfather Dan is quite a character, rough around the edges but providing wisdom when Alex and Marissa need it most. I enjoyed the members of the community and Alex's family who support each other, especially when Dan's ranch is in danger.

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.

Check out the other books in the Bluebonnet Springs series . . .

Review: The Christmas Family by Linda Goodnight

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Contractor Brady Buchanon can't wait to surprise single mom Abby Webster with his company's Christmas home makeover prize. But once he does, the struggling waitress turns him down flat! Raised in foster care, Abby won't accept charity. Yet when her dilapidated porch almost injures her daughter, Abby finally agrees to Brady's offer. As the hardworking bachelor pushes to finish the house in time for Christmas, he starts falling for Abby and her little girl. With the holidays in sight, Brady wonders if Abby will not only accept her beautiful new home, but also his wish to make her his wife…

My Review

Brady seems too good to be true! I loved his heart for Christmas and providing improved homes to those in need. He's determined to help Abby when he learns of the accessible needs her daughter has for their home. Moving Abby in with his parents during construction gives her a look into his family with all their flaws and blessings. Their falling in love felt natural and sweet, and despite a few rocky patches, I loved their happily ever after. The subplot of vandalism on Buchanan properties continues as it has through the other books in the series and I can't wait to read the final book to learn the outcome of that mystery.

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 other books in The Buchanons series . . .

Review: Lone Star Dad by Linda Goodnight

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

The Secret Next Door

Nurse Gena Satterfield knew raising her rebellious nephew, Derrick, would be tough, but moving to Gabriel's Crossing was supposed to help ease the transition into their new reality. That was before she realized her new neighbor was Quinn Buchanon—her teenage crush, the town's onetime star quarterback…and Derrick's father. Her sister's dying wish was that Gena keep this secret. Yet watching Quinn connect with the boy and penetrate his angry walls, Gena begins to see him in a whole new light. Now, torn between the truth and the promise she made, Gena has to follow her heart. And hope they can all heal together…as a family.

My Review
 

The themes of redemption and forgiveness is strong in this story as Quinn learns he is a father and struggles through his feelings of betrayal and loss of the missed years. Gena is caught between her sister's request and realizing that the changes in Quinn make him more than ready to be a good father to Derrick. This type of story line always makes me sad for the childhood years and memories that were missed out on. It was inspiring to see Quinn, Gena, and Derrick's journey as they drew closer together and began to trust in their new relationships.

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 other books in The Buchanons series . . .