“Husband Auditions” by Angela Ruth Strong ~ an I Read With Audra Tour/ Book Review & Giveaway

“Husband Auditions” by Angela Ruth Strong

Romcom

Review copy from the publishers

My rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest wedding–a 1950s magazine article of “ways to get a husband”–she decides there’s nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can’t get any more single, can she?

Her brother’s roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love–Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it’s an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she’s looking for . . .

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.

My Thoughts:

This was such an adorable and fun book! I was already giggling at the first chapter, and so pleasantly sucked into the story right away that it was hard to pull myself away.

I loved the characters, and the plot was just so light-hearted and fun, and yet there was such a great message woven throughout the pages too. I really am impressed, and can confidently say this will be one of my favorite books of 2021 for certain. 

Meri was the perfect quirky heroine. She was realistic, relatable, and loveable. And I loooved her friendship with Kai. Like…that was my favorite. Their banter was always fantastic, and I love how their relationship progressed. And of course I loved Kai himself. I was rooting for him from the beginning XD One of the things I loved about him (and Meri too) was how flawed he was – he was just realistic, and I felt like each of these characters could easily be real-life people. They weren’t romanticized or made out to be perfect in any way, and yet they were so lovable and endearing.

Truly, it was an utterly charming book. It managed to have both serious and light-hearted themes at the same time, and the ending wasn’t even the stereotpyical ending one might expect. It was still great though, and I really, really, really want a sequel because I’m not done with Meri and Kai XD

Thanks so much to the publishers for the copy of this book. I loved it!

Giveaway

https://www.audrajennings.com/2021/08/win-copy-of-husband-auditions-by-angela.html

Don’t forget to enter the GIVEAWAY HERE!

About the Author:

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about.

She is the author of the Resort to Love series and the CafFUNated mysteries. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. Finding Love in Big Sky was recently filmed on location in Montana and will air soon. Her latest release is Husband Auditions.

Strong also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and teaches as an expert online at Write That Book.

Learn more at www.angelaruthstrong.com, and follow her on Facebook (Angela Ruth Strong Fan Page), Twitter (@AngelaRStrong), and Instagram (@ang_strong). 

“The Indebted Earl” by Erica Vetsch ~ Book Review

“The Indebted Earl” but Erica Vetsch

Book Three in the Serendipity and Secrets Series

My rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

Can Captain Wyvern keep his new marriage of convenience all business–or will it turn into something more?

Captain Charles Wyvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life–especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero’s dying wish is for Wyvern to escort the man’s grieving fiance and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell.

When he and the ladies arrive at his new manor house in Devon, they discover an estate in need of a leader and a gaggle of girls, all wards of the former earl. War the new earl knows; young ladies and properties he does not. Still wishing to provide for the bereaved Lady Sophia Haverly, Charles proposes a marriage of convenience.

Sophie is surprised to find she isn’t opposed to the idea. It will help her care for her betrothed’s elderly mother, and she’s already fallen in love with the wayward girls on the Rothwell estate. This alliance is a chance to repay the captain who has done so much for her care, as well as divert her attention from her grief. When Wyvern returns to his sea commission, she’ll stay behind to oversee his property and wards.

It sounds so simple. Until the stalwart captain is arrested on suspicion of smuggling, and Sophie realizes how much he’s come to mean to her. Now she’ll have to learn to fight, not only for his freedom but also for his love.

Click here to read an excerpt.

My Thoughts:

Erica Vetsch has quickly become one of the authors that I want to keep at the top of my list!

This series has been utterly marvelous, and I loved having the chance to read this third book. It didn’t disappoint in the least <3 The characters were lovely, and I easily became attached to them. Yes, the beginning was a bit sad because Sophie’s fiance’ dies (not a spoiler XD), but how the whole novel progressed was beautifully done. 

The Captain was great. I definitely loved him, and Sophie was fantastic, and the three little girls who became the Captain’s wards were darling!! I especially loved Thea; she was hysterical and so full of character.The plot was engaging as well; I’m always in for a marriage of convenience story, seriously. This series has been wonderful for that aspect. Each story has been unique and exceptional.

And in “The Indebted Earl” we got to see Marcus from “The Gentleman Spy” a few times, which I looooved. Marcus was a favorite hero of mine so I wasn’t complaining to have him back. ;)If you like Regency Romance, don’t miss the Serendipity and Secrets series!

About the Author:

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate. 
 
Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.
 
A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.
 
Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

Giveaway

https://promosimple.com/ps/10ba3/the-indebted-earl

There’s a fun giveaway apart of this tour, so make sure to visit this LINK to enter!!

Review copy from the publishers as apart of I Read With Audra Tours. I was not required to write a positive review.

“Roots of Wood and Stone” by Amanda Woods ~ Book Review

Sometimes You Find Your Roots Where You Least Expect Them

Debut novel from Amanda Wen shows the beauty in God’s plan for our lives

Grand Rapids, MI — For readers who can’t decide if they would like to pick up something historical or contemporary for their next read, debut author Amanda Wen offers them the best of both worlds in her new release. Roots of Wood and Stone (Kregel Publications/February 2, 2021/ ISBN: 9780825446689/$15.99) is a warm, delightfully written split-time novel that will resonate with readers looking for stories that reveal the beauty of God’s plan for our lives, and how our actions ripple for generations.

Sloane Kelley was abandoned at birth, and while she wants more than anything to learn where she came from, her family roots remain a mystery. As curator of the Sedgwick County Museum of History, Sloane has dedicated her life to making sure others can connect with their history. When a donor drops off a dusty old satchel, she doesn’t expect much from the common artifact; after all, the museum has a few on display and more in storage. However, she finds real treasure inside: a nineteenth-century diary. Now, she’s on the hunt to see if there’s more where it came from. 

Garrett Anderson just wanted to clean out his grandmother’s historic but tumbledown farmhouse before selling it to fund her medical care. He’s always been the responsible one, and with her advancing Alzheimer’s, he can’t afford to be sentimental about the family home. But his carefully ordered plan runs up against two formidable obstacles after he takes a few things to the local museum: Sloane, who’s fallen in love with both the diaries and the old house, and his own heart, which is drawn to Sloane. Selling the house that holds so much history will disappoint both Sloane and his sister, Lauren, who is doing her best to care for their grandmother, but Garrett finds himself in an impossible situation.

A century and a half earlier, motherless Annabelle Collins embarks with her aunt and uncle on the adventure of a lifetime: settling the prairies of Sedgwick County, Kansas. The diaries she left behind paint a portrait of life, loss, and love—and a God who faithfully carried her through it all. Paging through the diaries together takes Sloane and Garrett on a journey they never could have planned, which will change them in ways they never imagined.

And Sloane may just find her roots in a place she never would have expected.

Roots of Wood and Stone is set in the area of Kansas Wen has lived in most of her life. In fact, the story is inspired by aspects of her own family history. “One of my favorite things about split time is watching the contemporary characters dig into the past,” Wen explains. “My mother is a genealogist who’s been tracing our family history since before I was born, and her passion for uncovering our family’s stories has been an important backdrop my entire life. Her research has given me an appreciation for those who came before and a desire to pass along this appreciation to my own kids.” As an homage to her mother and all the rest of her ancestors, Wen named many of the people and places in the book after family. Parts of their stories are even woven into the historical portion of the book.

Wen not only offers readers two plotlines filled with plenty of history and romance wrapped into one story, she mixes in a healthy dose of humor and strong faith elements as well. “All my characters have deep needs that they try to fill through other means (achievement, research, hard work, planning, etc.), but throughout the story they learn that only God can fill those needs,” Wen shares. “He has a beautiful plan, one that goes far beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine, and he takes all our broken pieces and loose ends and weaves those trials into a tapestry more beautiful than we could possibly imagine. He is always there, faithfully guiding our steps, even—or perhaps especially—when we’re not aware of it. I hope my readers will trust him, his individual love and care for each of us, and his perfect plan just a little bit more after they close this book.”

My review:

This was a lovely debut novel! I really enjoyed getting to know both Sloane and Garrett of the present day story, and Annabelle and Jack’s story from the late 1800’s. I especially loved how the two timeline stories wove together to create a truly beautiful story.

The characters were realistic, and the setting came alive in both parts. “Roots of Wood and Stone” is a rich story full of history and meaning. It was easy to cheer on Sloane as she searches for her own unknown family history. 

I really appreciated how each of the characters had to come to the end of themselves and then ran into the arms of God. Life is often like that, and our strength can only truly be found in Him.

Looking forward to seeing what this author writes next!

*I received a copy of this book from the publishers as apart of I Read With Audra Tours. I was not required to write a positive review.

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple writing contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions contests. She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist.

Wen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She also frequently interviews authors for her blog and is a contributor to the God Is Love blog. Her debut novel, Roots of Wood and Stone, releases from Kregel Publications on February 2, 2021.

In addition to her writing, Wen is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team. She serves as a choral accompanist as well. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Wen lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.

To find Amanda Wen’s blog and short stories, visit www.amandawen.com. Readers can also follower her on Facebook (@AuthorAmandaWen), Twitter (@AuthorAmandaWen), and Instagram (@authoramandawen). 

“The Plans We Made” by Kathryn Cushman and Lauren Beccue – Blog Tour and Review

“The Plans We Made” by Kathryn Cushman and Lauren Beccue

Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Review copy from the publishers as apart of I Read With Audra Tour

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

When past secrets hold the only key to hope for the future…

Caroline Chapman is reeling from a broken engagement. Determined to start again, she moves cross-country for her dream job of planning events in the historical mansions of Newport, Rhode Island. Just as her life is getting back on track, she gets an email that shakes her very foundations.

Linda Riley’s life looks picture perfect – a wonderful husband, two great kids, involved in church and the community. Then comes the diagnosis that shatters the facade. In order to save her son’s life, she must reveal secrets that can rip everything apart.

Connected by more than painful circumstances, these two women discover a sacred bond. In this beautiful story of love, loss, and the fight for life, Caroline and Linda experience the reality that life doesn’t always go according to The Plans We Made.

My Thoughts:

This is the story of two women whose lives remarkably intersected, connecting them in a powerful way.”The Plans We Made” is a gentle novel with good characters and a good plot. I enjoyed seeing how the stories connected, and also how their stories resulted. It covered a span of time but the timeline moved smoothly, and it was nice seeing how the characters changed, adjusted, and grew.There is a slight love-triangle towards the end for Caroline – while I understand her struggle, I had a bit of a hard time connecting to her and didn’t really like that she was kind of back and forth between the two guys. Especially when the one guy was pretty unhealthy in his view of life and relationships, but that wasn’t strongly pointed out.While I didn’t deeply connect to the characters myself, I still enjoyed seeing how it all worked out, and am glad I had the opportunity to read it. 

*I received a copy of this book from the publishers. All thoughts given are my own.

Enter the Giveaway by clicking on the image above or following THIS LINK.

“The Secret Place of Thunder” by Alicia G. Ruggieri ~ Blog Tour/Review And Giveaway

About the Series:

The Secret Place of Thunder is part of the Librarians of Willow Hollow multi-author novella collection. Each novella stands on its own but is connected to the others in this historical Christian fiction series set in 1930s Appalachia.

Other books in the Librarians of Willow Hollow series:

A Strand of Hope by Amanda Tero

I Love to Tell the Story by Faith Blum

Hearts on Lonely Mountain by A.M. Heath

Come along as four packhorse librarians find adventures outside the books they carry!

The Secret Place of Thunder by Alicia G. Ruggieri

Librarians of Willow Hollow #4

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

The mountains have imprisoned her long enough…

Edna Sue O’Connell came back to the Kentucky hills out of duty and can’t wait for the chance to escape again. Her work as a horseback librarian in rural Appalachia provides enough income for her invalid father to survive in the midst of the Great Depression, but it affords her with little else.

When an opportunity arises for Edna to take on an additional book delivery area, she spies a glimmer of hope that she might find a way out of Willow Hollow after all… and that she might actually make something of her life apart from the tragedy that has filled it thus far.

But the new routes give Edna more than she ever bargained for. Slowly, she finds that the mountains contain many valuable secrets – if she has the grit to meet them.

My Thoughts:

It’s been too long since I picked up a story by this author (entirely my fault!), and so returning to her writing was a true delight.

The Secret Place of Thunder is the fourth novella in the HorsebackLibrarians of Willow Hollow series, but I confess I read it first, and am now planning on catching up on the others. ;)

Edna Sue’s story is one of rawness and struggle, but also full of poignant truth. Dear Edna Sue is a bit rough – and in this story we get to understand why. I felt for her. And enjoyed seeing her journey unfold, and her inner battle find completion.

Cecil was an excellent character as well, and I really liked how he complimented Edna Sue and didn’t give up on her.I loved Mr. Ravenhill too! He was such a great character.I really enjoyed this story as a whole, and think this collection is a wonderful idea. :)

Purchase the Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BFBF93T — Available in e-book and softcover

Author’s Website: http://www.aliciagruggieri.com

Author’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/AliciaGRuggieri

Author’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciagruggieriFind The Secret Place of Thunder on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54151965-the-secret-place-of-thunder

About the Author:

Alicia G. Ruggieri grew up breathing in the salty air of coastal New England. She now writes grace-filled, Christ-centered fiction from her home in Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and sweet second-hand mutt. She loves old graveyards, dusty libraries, and excellent cannolis ~ not necessarily in that order.

!!GIVEAWAY!!

To celebrate this release, Alicia is giving away an Appalachian music CD, a mini Appalachian Breakfast soy candle, and a set of whimsical bronze bookmarks! (Due to shipping costs, the giveaway is limited to the continental U.S.) You can enter by clicking on the giveaway image or ENTER HERE!

Blog Tour:

9/15 Welcome to the Tour at A Brighter Destiny – http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/abrighterdestiny

Amanda @ https://amandatero.com/blog

Raechel @ https://godspeculiartreasurerae.wordpress.com

9/16 Kaitlyn @ www.maidensformodesty.com

J.E. Grace @ http://bizwingsblog.blogspot.com

9/17 Rebekah @ www.readytobeoffered.com

9/18 Jane @ www.janemouttet.wordpress.com

9/19 Connie @ https://connie-oldersmarter.blogspot.com

9/20 Abigail @ http://readreviewrejoice.com

9/21 Tara @ www.towerintheplains.wordpress.com

Ryana @ www.lifeofheritage.com

9/22 Wrap-up & giveaway winner announced @ http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/abrighterdestiny

“The Gentleman Spy” by Erica Vetsch -a Read with Audra Tour with Giveaway

“The Gentleman Spy” by Erica Vetsch

Book Two in the Serendipity and Secrets Series

Review copy from the publishers through Read with Audra Tours

My rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

He only wanted a duchess for a day–but she’s determined to make it a marriage for life

When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she’s meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life–as a secret agent for the Crown.

But his bride has other ideas. She’s determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society–the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she’d remain in the background as he ordered.

Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?

 

My Thoughts:

 

 

I have been eagerly anticipating this book ever since finishing the last pages of the first book in this series, The Lost Lieutenant. And oh my did it not disappoint! I vastly enjoyed this novel, and found myself absorbed into its pages immediately.Marcus and Charlotte are so marvelous, on their own and together. They just really came to life, and I enjoyed seeing their stories play out and intertwine.I really do love the trope of marriage-of-convenience, and discovering how the characters fall in love afterwards. They’re so sweet.The mystery thread in The Gentleman Spy was well done, and the pace of it all moved along splendidly. I loved Charlotte’s heart for the downtrodden, and Marcus’ full-support. Really, this was a great story, and I once again eagerly await the next book in the series. :)

 

 

Giveaway!

To enter this lovely giveaway, either click the image above, or go HERE!

 

 

 

About the Author:

 

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

“Window Fellow” by Faith Potts

Faith Potts has released a new short story, and I’m pleased to be joining in the celebration, and sharing my review of this sweet story! :)

 

 

 

 

Short Story

My rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

What can you hide through a window? 

 Annalyse never expected to make a friend through a window, but her talks with the guy who lives next to the bus stop have become a favorite part of her day. But when a sudden schedule change reveals a secret he hadn’t meant to share, is there anything she can do to make things right? Or is their window friendship broken beyond repair?

My Thoughts:

 

This was a very sweet story! It was only about 13 pages long, so very easy to read in one sitting, yet it is not so short that there isn’t a story you can be fond of. The two main characters were both very endearing, and I loved their little exchanges. I would’ve loved to see how their story continued ;) Very well written, and well-developed especially for its length!

 

 

You can add it on Goodreads Here.

“Desert Willow” by Patricia Beal ~ CelebrateLit Blog Tour/Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book:  Desert Willow

Author: Patricia Beal

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 12, 2020

After a failed engagement, Captain Andrew Lee James has focused on building a career in the Army he loves. That commitment includes helping a feisty, out-of-work ballerina whose devotion to her grandmother’s dying wish immediately grabs his heart. She’s the one, but will he be able to win the heart of a woman who has vowed to never be involved with a soldier?

College graduate Clara Malone swore to never love anyone in the military again but when her dying grandmother asks her to deliver a love letter to the general who broke her heart decades ago, she agrees and finds herself escorted by a handsome Army captain whose kindness challenges her beliefs. Surrounded by desert willows that shower her path with pretty pink flowers and sing with the buzzing of hummingbirds, Clara enjoys the wild beauty of El Paso—and her time with Andrew—more than expected.

Can she deliver her grandmother’s last love letter without losing her heart to a man who represents everything she fears?

Click HERE to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Patricia Beal is a 2015 Genesis semi-finalist and First Impressions finalist. A Season to Dance is her debut novel (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, May 2017). Her second novel comes out in February of 2020. Patricia graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati in 1998 with a B.A. in English Literature and has worked for the U.S. Army as a writer and editor for many years. Patricia writes from Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and two children. You can find more info about Patricia on her website here.

 

More from Patricia

Desert Willow: A Love Song to the City of El Paso, to Family, and to Prince Harry

I enjoy this story so much! It’s great to finally get to share it with you.

Desert Willow started as a NaNoWriMo project in 2015 and has a lot of my grandma’s history in it—life in the German colonies of the south of Brazil, the beginning of the shoe industry there, and the story of the most influential man her town has ever known, my great-grandfather.

And what does that have to do with El Paso and Prince Harry?

Well, my Prince Harry lookalike, a young Army captain named Andrew Lee James who lives in El Paso, is helping the protagonist deliver her grandmother’s last love letter, a letter she was urged to write all those years ago after what happened in Brazil.

The contemporary story of Clara (protagonist) and Andrew was fun to write too because I’ve been around the Army since the nineties. We moved to Fort Bliss/El Paso in 2012 and lived there for six years. I thought I was going to hate it, but I loved it, so I just had to write an El Paso story.

Now I think that what I enjoyed the most about writing this novel was making all the connections and showing how the actions of a distant past affect and inform the modern story so deeply.

Some of you have journeyed with me for a while and know that my debut, A Season to Dance, was my salvation process. What comes after salvation can be hard. What’s that? Well, looking at past mistakes through God’s eyes and realizing just how wrong we were, for starters.

We know how quickly God forgives us, but can we forgive ourselves and each other as quickly?

Desert Willow deals with all that. And with Prince Harry… 😊

 

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

This was a well written story about Clara Malone, a ballerina, and Andrew James, a Captain in the Army. Despite their initial background hesitations to start a relationship, they are undeniably drawn to each other upon first meeting, and this story follows their relationship as they each deal with their own struggles, and forgivenes.

There’s, of course, more to their story than that, but I figure you can read the description to get a better understanding ;)

I enjoy the author’s writing style, and it’s easy to stay interested. I didn’t really connect with either character, but I still enjoyed seeing their story play out. There were a couple instances where their actions bugged me (not their past decisions…), but I was glad to see them resolved. The message of faith was accomplished in a delicate but meaningful way and I appreciated that being the end goal of the story.

I also enjoyed the ballet aspect – I’ve never been in or around ballet, but it’s interesting to read about.

 I received an electronic copy from the publishers through Celebrate Lit. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate her tour, Patricia is giving away the grand prize of a Kindle Fire 7 (https://amzn.to/37TEN21)!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f8de/desert-willow-celebration-tour-giveaway

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BLOG STOPS

Among the Reads, April 13

The Power of Words, April 13

For the Love of Literature, April 14

Robin’s Nest, April 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 15

Batya’s Bits, April 15

She Lives to Read, April 16

Older & Smarter?, April 16

Texas Book-aholic, April 17

deb’s Book Review, April 17

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 18

Writer Without a Space, April 18

The Christian Fiction Girl, April 19

Rebecca Tews, April 19

Emily Yager, April 20

Simple Harvest Reads, April 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Hallie Reads, April 20

Inklings and notions, April 21

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 21

Reflections From My Bookshelves, April 22

Godly Book Reviews, April 22

For Him and My Family, April 23

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, April 23

As He Leads is Joy, April 24

God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae, April 24

A Reader’s Brain, April 25

janicesbookreviews, April 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 26

Pause for Tales, April 26

April Hayman, Author, April 26

“No Chance Meeting” by Jaye Elliott ~ Book Tour and Review

Looking for a clean romantic read? Check Jaye Elliot’s newly released book, No Chance Meeting. You can read all about it below, and don’t forget to enter the giveaways!

About the Book

Alex Jennings is done with life. After losing her brother in Afghanistan, everything has collapsed around her. Getting laid off from her day job and failing in her art career, she has nowhere left to turn. She once had faith to believe that all things would work together for good, but that faith died with her brother. Now she just wants the pain to end.

Riley Conrad served thirteen years in the military until three bullets sent him home. After a year and a half of physical therapy and scraping together a living, all he wants is to live a simple life and perhaps even open the coffee shop he dreams about. However, the weight of failing his parents’ expectations doesn’t make it easy, and working as a bartender isn’t getting him anywhere fast.

Could a “chance” meeting between Alex and Riley set them both on the path God always intended?

Available now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and more!

20% of all February sales will go to the Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance story by Jaye Elliott! I’ve read some of her fantasy novels under her other name (Jaye L Knight) and loved those, so was excited to try a new story from her as well. And it didn’t disappoint.No Chance Meeting is a story of struggles and pain, but also a story of relationships and support and hope. It starts out with main character Alex struggling deeply and about to end her life. Thankfully, an occurrence happens to prevent this and sets her on a whole new journey in her life.There was a section between the beginning and middle where it almost felt like the whole topic of suicide was almost unmentioned, though, which I feel a little unlikely. Yes, she had a reason to live now, but I feel like with her being miserable enough to end her life, it wouldn’t be something that wasn’t on her mind 24/7 or nearly. However, the story did work its way back to that and she dealt more with it. And with me mentioning this, I’m not saying that it wasn’t handled well, because this serious topic was handled quite well in this novel, and the seriousness of it was portrayed aptly. For most of the book it was that way. There was just a small section where it was almost forgotten about, which is okay, just something I noticed.I loved the characters relationship – Alex and Riley were a lovely pair, and stronger together. I also love the small town atmosphere, and that ending was super sweet. It was a great amount of romance – nothing over the top, they held accountability for each other, and it was realistic and sweet. The supporting characters were also enjoyable, and I enjoyed each interaction with them. Well, except a bad character or two. ;) But we’re not supposed to like them, so that was an appropriate reaction, haha. ;)All in all, a very sweet read!

Author Guest Post:

This is a scene I ended up cutting that takes place after Alex and Riley visit Riley’s grandpa. As much as I liked it, I just didn’t feel it was necessary for moving the story forward and made the decision to scrap it.

With the heat turned up in her apartment and a steaming cup of coffee, Alex didn’t mind the dreary weather. She stayed in her pajamas while she sat in the living room with her Bible for an hour before she finally dressed in a comfortable pair of jeans and a fleece-lined hoodie. It was one of the first mornings in a long time that she felt good about her day.

In fact, after seeing Joe’s sketches, she had an urge to get out her own sketchbook. She ignored it at first. After all, she was supposed to be taking a break, and not even a week had passed since she’d put her art supplies away. However, after contemplating it for a while, she decided to give it a try. She wouldn’t put too much thought into it and wouldn’t be critical. She would only do it for fun. Beyond that, she would see what happened.

Gathering her sketchpad and container of charcoal pencils, she sat down at the kitchen table with a full mug of coffee to begin. She forced herself not to think but to just draw. Before long, she became engrossed in the lines, the shading, and the smudging. The motions and the creative outlet were like therapy. 

Around noon, a knock at the door startled her from her drawing. She glanced at her hands, which were smeared with charcoal, but got up to answer the door anyway. She was an artist, after all. Getting covered in charcoal or paint was part of the job. Outside, she found not a stranger but Riley standing on her balcony. Had she somehow mixed up her days and was supposed to be heading to work? She did a quick mental calculation. But no, it was Tuesday, one of her days off. 

She gave him a questioning look. His smile said he was up to something, and then he pulled his hand out from behind his back to reveal a bouquet of yellow and orange roses. Her mouth dropped open.

“What are these for?” She took them from him and backed up so he could step inside, out of the rain.

He shrugged. “Our first date was a month ago.”

Alex gaped at him again. “You remembered our one-month anniversary?”

“Well,” he looked a little bashful, “no, but I was looking at the calendar this morning and realized it, so . . .”

Tears pooled in Alex’s eyes at how sweet he was. Though she had always believed there were guys like him out there, she had seriously begun to question whether or not she would ever meet one of them.

“You spoil me too much.” But she gave him a wide smile. “Thank you. I love them.” They were the perfect colors for fall, and she had a lovely aqua vase to put them in.

Riley nodded and then must have noticed her art supplies on the table.

“I know was going to take a break,” Alex said, glancing over at it as well, “but your grandpa inspired me to do a little sketching this morning.” She set the roses down carefully on the counter and retrieved her close-to-finished sketch. “I just have to work on a few more details.”

She handed it to Riley, holding her breath. Even after all this time, showing people her artwork still sent fear of criticism cascading like cold rain into her stomach. However, his smile calmed her. She’d sketched a picture of his grandpa based on a photo a CNA had taken of the three of them yesterday. She had feared she wouldn’t be able to accurately capture Joe’s twinkling eyes but, in the end, she found herself more or less satisfied. At least she hadn’t failed miserably.

“This is great. My granddad would love to see it. Maybe you can bring it next time we visit him.”

“I will.”

Riley handed the sketch back, and Alex laid it on the table where she could add the finishing touches.

“I guess I better head back to the bar,” Riley said.

Alex opened the door for him. Before he walked out, he paused and gave her a soft kiss. It left Alex warm, and happy, and wishing he didn’t have to leave. 

Still leaning close to her, he said, “I’m glad you agreed to that first date.”

“So am I,” she murmured. More than she could ever put into words.

He walked out then, and she hated to close the door on him, but she would have to content herself with waiting to see him again for work tomorrow.

About the Author

Jaye Elliot is an award-winning author, country girl, and hopeless romantic at heart. She loves a good hero and will always sigh happily during the lights scene in Tangled. She writes from her home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, which she shares with three cats she considers her kids. When not writing romance novels, she pens fantasy and adventure stories as Jaye L. Knight.

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Giveaway #1

To celebrate the release of No Chance Meeting, Jaye is giving away a reader bundle that includes a signed copy of NCM, a hand-painted watercolor bookmark, a coffee mug, and a bag of Dove chocolates! Enter using the form below. U.S. entries only. Not open internationally.

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Giveaway #2

For her second giveaway, Jaye is offering 3 ebook copies of No Chance Meeting. Open internationally!

 

 

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Tour Stops

 

Friday, February 14

·
Tour Intro at Jaye Elliot

·
Spotlight at Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections

·
Review &
Author Post at Reading
Anyone

·
Review at Losing the Busyness

Saturday, February 15

·
Author Interview at Angela R. Watts

·
Review & Author Interview at Resting Life

·
Author Post & Excerpt at Lady Grace: A Quiet and Gentle
Spirit

Sunday, February 16

·
Review at Perfectly Quirky in
Every Way

·
Spotlight at The Music of a Story

Monday, February 17

·
Author Post at Morgan Elizabeth Huneke

·
Review at Write Hard and Pray Harder

·
Author Post & Excerpt
at A Day In The Life

Tuesday, February 18

·
Review at Tricia Mingerink

·
Excerpt at Waggin’ Tales Inspirational Pet
Stories

·
Review and Excerpt at Read Review Rejoice

Wednesday, February
19

·
Review at Green Tea With Books

·
Review & Author Post at Leah’s Bookshelf

·
Book Spotlight at The Page Dreamer

Thursday, February 20

·
Review at Stories by Firefly

·
Review &
Author Post at God’s
Peculiar Treasure Rae

·
Author Interview & Post
at Read Review Rejoice

Friday, February 21

·
Review at Books, Life, and Christ

·
Author Post at Backing Books

·
Review at Poetree

Saturday, February 22

·
Tour Wrap Up at Jaye Elliot

Welcome to Isaiah’s Legacy Blog Hop – Stop #13

 

1 Week ~ 24 Blogs ~ 3 Incredible Prizes!

Welcome to the Blog Tour and Scavenger Hunt for Isaiah’s Legacy by Mesu Andrews! It’s going to be lots of fun – just read through the post and have a good time!

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Learn a little about Isaiah’s Legacy and enter multiple giveaways while picking up CLUES at each stop. Compile all the clues, submit the final PHRASE at the last stop, and you’ll be entered to win one of 3 Grand Prizes! 

 

What are the prizes? They’re completely unique to the winners! 

 

Mesu will contact each winner personally to chat about what they would most like to see in Israel, and then she’ll SHOP for just the right gift while touring Israel, March 6-19! She’ll then purchase a personal and memorable gift specifically chosen for each of those three winners and ship them to each one when she returns. How fun is that?!

 

How does the Scavenger Hunt & Blog Tour Work?

• Begin at Stop #1. At the end, you’ll find a CLUE and a link to the next stop. Progress to each stop IN ORDER.
• Collect all the clues—in order—and submit the full phrase at the last blog stop in the Rafflecopter form. Every stop has a clue, so be sure not to skip any along the way!
• You may enter the final giveaway only once and win only one grand prize. 
• The Hunt begins 2/19/20 at noon EDT. Deadline for entries is Tuesday, 02/25 at midnight Eastern.
• For best results, hunt through our list using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not Explorer).

 

There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have a whole week! As you visit each blog, it’s our hope that you get to know Mesu’s BFF team and discover the heart behind Isaiah’s Legacy.

 

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Welcome to Stop #13

 

My name is Raechel. I’m excited to celebrate “Isaiah’s Legacy” by Mesu Andrews with you! I love her books and the deep messages they offer.

You can sign up for Mesu’s newsletter and get Adnah’s Legacy, the prequel novella to Isaiah’s Legacy: https://mesuandrews.com/

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to write down your CLUE before clicking to the next stop.

 

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Here’s the Stop #13 Stuff!

 

Clue to write down: A Teacher

Link to STOP #14: A Baker’s Perspective

 

Bookmark STOP #1 so you can check the tour schedule and get back on track if at any point you get lost or find a broken link. 

 

Enjoy the hunt!

 

 

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