Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Out Of the Ordinary, blog tour and giveaway!





Description:
Working as a paid companion may be quite commonplace, but Miss Gertrude Cadwalader’s eccentric employer makes her job unpredictable, to say the least. She finds herself carrying out an array of highly unusual tasks, including wearing peculiar outfits and returning items the woman pilfered. But when the wealthy Mrs. Sinclair catches Gertrude sneaking around the Sinclair yacht with some of the missing items in her possession, she immediately jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair is caught in the middle of a misunderstanding between his mother and Gertrude, but he can’t help coming to his friend’s defense. Even as he hopes their friendship might become something more, Harrison is unprepared for the outlandish escapades that seem to follow the lovely, anything-but-ordinary Gertrude at every turn.

You can purchase a copy here.


About the Author:
Jen Turano, author of nine books and two novellas, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.










My Thoughts:

Jen Turano is without a doubt one of my very favorite authors and I was so excited to start this book!  Her books are the ones I pick up on bad days when I need a smile and something to lift my spirits.  She just makes me laugh!  And I love it!  Whenever I start one of her stories, I know I’m in for an adventure and this one is certainly no exception!  She had me from the first couple pages to the turn of the final one, laughing and smiling, and falling in love with these dear quirky people.

As always, Ms. Turano had me in stitches from the very beginning!  I love her writing style, how she can take something that sounds very mundane, and make it so very humorous!  The descriptions, the wording, the historical details, the way she chooses to color in the scenes with such unique characters - I simply adore it!  And I was so glad that several of the characters from the previous book were back in this one!  I so liked Harrison from “Behind the Scenes” and have been looking forward to reading his story.  I was also quite curious to learn Gertrude and Mrs. Davenport’s stories and what they had to share surprised me!  Before I make this story sound like complete fluff, it’s not.  It does touch on some heavier topics, such as depression and struggling marriages, but holds on to much of its lighter notes even within those moments.

Harrison Sinclair is a man with no sense of style, who sees the world differently than almost everyone else.  I so enjoyed his sense of chivalry, his kindness, his desire to do what is best for Gertrude, even when he’s completely off the mark.  This story didn’t seem so much to be his, as Gertrude’s.  Though he is most definitely the “hero” in more ways than one, she is the one with the most story to tell.  I so enjoyed getting to know her, as well.  She’s also very kindhearted, though she doesn’t always see herself that way.  She’s brave and quirky, and very forthright, something that makes for some humorous conversations.  I loved seeing her come into herself more and go from seeing herself as simply “ordinary” to maybe becoming someone quite “extraordinary.”  And the ending!  I normally don’t care for endings, because it means the story is ending quite rapidly, but in this case, I’ll have to make an exception.  It was perfect!
    
Overall, if you’re looking for a light-hearted tale filled with laughter inducing moments and a bit of a mystery, then I would highly recommend this book!


Now, for the reason you've made it this far down the page:  Giveaway info!  To celebrate the blog tour and the release of Out Of the Ordinary, Bethany House is graciously giving away a grand prize of two of Jen's novels and a $20 Starbucks gift card!



Click the form below to enter and be sure to leave me a comment (do you have a bad day go to book/author?) to gain 9 extra entries and check out the other sites listed below for even more chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a lovely day and a Happy Thanksgiving!


Blog Stops

Vicky sluiter, November 11

Bookworm Mama, November 11

cherylbbookblog, November 11

Book by Book, November 11

Lane Hill House, November 12


C Jane Read, November 12

The Power of Words, November 12

Smiling Book Reviews, November 13

Moments Dipped in Ink, November 13



Faithfully Bookish, November 14

Bigreadersite, November 14

Mommynificent, November 14

All 4 and About Books, November 14

Just the Write Escape, November 15

allofakindmom, November 15


Pause for Tales, November 16

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 16



Neverending Stories, November 17

Have A Wonderful Day, November 17

Christian Bookaholic, November 17

A Reader’s Brain, November 18

Karen Sue Hadley, November 18

The April Journal, November 18

Cafinated Reads, November 18

Bibliophile Reviews, November 19

Blogging With Carol, November 19

Mary Hake, November 19


Baker Kella, November 20

Rachel’s Back Talk, November 20

Texas Book-aholic, November 20

Joy of Reading, November 21


Remembrancy, November 21


Splashes of Joy, November 22

amandainpa, November 22



A Greater Yes, November 23


Radiant Light, November 24






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Friday, November 17, 2017

My Review: Blind Spot


"Love defied logic, defied hatred, defied division." - Kate Maxwell

Description:
FBI agent Declan Grey is in the chase of his life--but isn't sure exactly what he's chasing after. Threatened by a terrorist that "the wrath is coming," Grey fears something horrible is about to be unleashed on American soil. When his investigation leads him to a closed immigrant community, he turns to Tanner Shaw to help him. She's sought justice for refugees and the hurting around the world, and if there's anyone who can help him, it's Tanner.

Tanner Shaw has joined the FBI as a crisis counselor . . . meaning she now has more opportunity to butt heads with Declan. But that tension also includes a spark she can't deny, and she's pretty sure Declan feels the same. But before anything can develop between them, they discover evidence of a terror cell--and soon are in a race against the clock to stop the coming "wrath" that could cost thousands their lives.




About the Author:
Dani Pettrey is the bestselling author of the Chesapeake Valor series and the Alaskan Courage series and winner of the 2014 Daphne du Maurier award for Inspirational Novel, the 2014 Christian Retailing's Best Award for Suspense, and the 2013 Holt Medallion for First Novel. She and her husband reside in the D.C. Metro area. She can be found online at www.danipettrey.com.



My Review: 5 stars!
This is the third book in Dani Pettrey’s Chesapeake Valor series and I have been impatiently awaiting Declan and Tanner’s book!  I have so enjoyed the other two books in the series, so of course, I had high expectations and I can happily say Blind Spot surpassed them all!  

One of my very favorite things about Ms. Pettrey’s books is how she weaves them together.  Though this book technically could be read alone, it makes so much more sense if the others are read first, and I definitely have to read the last one, now!  I love how the characters’ lives intertwine, continuing from the last book as though little time has passed.   I love the camaraderie and relationship not only between the hero and heroine, but the others in the group as well.  These four friends are always there for one another, regardless of the hour of day or what might be going on in their own lives.  This also plays out in the dual mystery, something else I greatly enjoyed.  I appreciated reading the story from several different perspectives and trying to piece together the answers with them.  It also definitely increased the suspense, having it jump from one person and mystery to another.  I do confess that there were a couple times I had a bit of trouble keeping up with everything that was going on and all of the new names!  But the author did an excellent job of connecting the dots for me and reminding me who was who, without seeming repetitive.

I definitely enjoyed getting to know Declan and Tanner better!  Their story actually starts in the first book in the series, “Cold Shot,” and has continued through this one.  I so enjoyed seeing these two stubborn people finally find their footing and decide that yes, a relationship was in the works.  There are some sweet moments between them, a couple rather steamy ones, and for sure some crazy ones as they chased a terrorist plot across the country.  Another thing I appreciate about Ms. Pettrey’s writing style is how she is able to weave a romance through a mystery plot, without having either feel neglected or overwhelmed by the other.  She strikes a fine balance between the two that has me both smiling and cheering them on as they chase the bad guys.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this story and am anxiously awaiting the fourth (and by my understanding, last) book in the series!  Especially after that cliff-hanger!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my review!  I hope you enjoyed it!  I'm thinking about occasionally adding a question for discussion that pertains to the stories I'm reviewing . . . any thoughts?  Is that something you'd enjoy?  Would you take the time to answer it here, or even just mentally?  I would love some feedback!  Please and thank you!

Have a lovely day!

P.S. Purchase links are below, along with one for GoodReads, in case you'd care to add it to a shelf or something.  :)









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Saturday, November 4, 2017

My Review: All This Time


"Make peace with your own imperfect love.  Understand that you can't fix everything.  Give yourself some grace and your fears to God.  Put your faith in His perfect love."  - Raegan Walker

Description:
Bear McKinley's past refuses to let go...

Ten years ago, Bear gave up everything--his freedom and his reputation--for his mess of a family. But after years of distance and too many attempts at starting over, he finally has a new life doing noble work in Brazil . . . until his past catches up to him once again. Suddenly he finds himself back in Maple Valley, charged with the care of his missing brother's children, convinced he's out of second chances to make his life count. And yet, with every day that passes, these kids, this quirky town and the woman he never stopped missing help patch the holes in his heart. Maybe this is the fresh start he's been longing for all along. But as his newfound hope grows, so does the mystery surrounding his brother's activities--and when the threat reaches into the lives of those he loves, it's clear he can't run away this time.

Fear holds Raegan's future captive...

Raegan Walker is fine. She's happy working a slew of part-time jobs, still living in her childhood bedroom and rarely venturing from her hometown. At least, that's what she tells everyone . . . and herself. But she can't help wondering what might've happened if she hadn't abandoned her art so many years ago--and if Bear McKinley had never left. When Bear returns and she's commissioned for a painting that just might revive her artistic ambition all in one week, it's time to finally reach for more than fine. But doing so means facing the fears that have held her back all this time, including admitting the secret she's kept from Bear and her family. With her dream and her heart on the line, how much will Raegan have to risk to finally chase her happy ending?



About the Author:
Melissa Tagg is the author of the popular Walker Family series, the Where Love Begins series and the Enchanted Christmas Collection. She’s a former reporter, current nonprofit grant writer and total Iowa girl. Her spring 2016 release, Like Never Before, was named to one of Publishers Weekly’s Top Ten lists and her fall 2017 release, All This Time, was a Romantic Times 4.5-Star TOP PICK. Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as workshops and women’s retreats. When she’s not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever—not that she’s biased—watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next book. Melissa loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Instagram.



My Review: 5 stars!
Goodness!  There are so many things I want to say about this book and I’m just not sure where to start!  First off, this review will undoubtedly be incredibly biased, since Melissa Tagg is one of my very favorite authors and I just adore her books.  Since that’s out of the way, I definitely loved this book!  I’ve been eagerly awaiting Bear and Raegan’s book since my first glimpse of this couple and it’s finally here!  And with such a lovely cover that I can’t help staring at!  That old adage to not judge a book by it’s cover?  I give you permission - this book is as wonderful as the cover implies!

This story is just so stinkin’ sweet, and sigh-worthy, and laugh-out-loud funny, filled with small town charm, with just a bit of tear-jerker thrown in.  And I loved every single page of it!  As always, Ms. Tagg completely out did herself!  Her books draw me in from page one and grab on to my heart, refusing to let go until long after the final page has been sighed over.  I stayed up late finishing it, and then wanted to pick it up the very next day and start all over again.  She has such a beautiful way of describing things that just brings Maple Valley and the Walker family to vivid color.  I so enjoy the creative things she comes up with for this quirky little town that make me so wish it was a real place and the characters real people!  Why, yes, I’d love an extended stay in Maple Valley at Mr. Case Walker’s house.  Fortunately, there’s no rule that says I can’t binge read her books over and over again until I can quote entire pages from memory.  

I’ve been impatiently waiting to get to know the youngest Walker better and my goodness, does Raegan have a story to tell!  I just fell in love with her, with her quirky artist ways and determination.  I love her stubborn streak and tendency to simply tell Bear what to do.  Being the youngest, she feels she has something to prove and a high standard to live up to - I so enjoyed getting to see behind her “I’m fine” facade and watch her slowly step out in faith, rather than fear.  

And Bear McKinley.  *sigh*  I can easily see why Raegan loves him!  He’s just so good!  And equally determined to take care of everyone.  My heart just melted, watching him with Erin and Jamie.  He is a protector through and through, though he doesn’t see it in himself.  He’s spent half of his life running from his past, and the other half trying to make up for it.  I was incredibly curious to find out his story and it definitely falls into the “tear jerker” category.  And their relationship!  It had me smiling, while also wanting to Gibbs’ slap them a time or two as they slowly figured out what I could see so obviously.  I loved the cringe-worthy awkward moments, the laugh-out-loud-can’t-believe-she-thought-of-that scenes, and the can’t-help-sighing- so-incredibly-sweet pages.  This is definitely a book I’m going to be reading and rereading many times over!


As always, thank you so much for taking the time to read my review!  I hope you enjoyed it!  If you'd like to learn more about this book, the links are below, per usual. 

Side note: Melissa was one of the authors I was so stoked to meet at CFRR this past August!  I can't tell you how excited I was when she stopped beside me saying, "you're Sarah, right?" and hugged me - totally a fangirl moment!  And I was so happy to find myself on her team for the games (Book Boyfriends, of course) I love the memories and it makes me love her books just a tiny bit more - if that's even possible.

Anyway, just wanted to share that - have a lovely day!








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Friday, November 3, 2017

My Review: Daring to Hope


I truly wish I had the means to share a copy of this book with everyone I know.  It has been that powerful in my life, and a little over a week after finishing it, I'm still contemplating many of the things I read.

Description:

How do you hold on to hope
when you don’t get the ending
you asked for?

When Katie Davis Majors moved to Uganda, accidentally founded a booming organization, and later became the mother of thirteen girls through the miracle of adoption, she determined to weave her life together with the people she desired to serve. But joy often gave way to sorrow as she invested her heart fully in walking alongside people in the grip of poverty, addiction, desperation, and disease.
 
After unexpected tragedy shook her family, for the first time Katie began to wonder, Is God really good? Does He really love us? When she turned to Him with her questions, God spoke truth to her heart and drew her even deeper into relationship with Him.
 
Daring to Hope is an invitation to cling to the God of the impossible—the God who whispers His love to us in the quiet, in the mundane, when our prayers are not answered the way we want or the miracle doesn’t come. It’s about a mother discovering the extraordinary strength it takes to be ordinary. It’s about choosing faith no matter the circumstance and about encountering God’s goodness in the least expected places.


About the Author:
Katie Davis Majors moved to Uganda over a decade ago with no idea that this would be the place that God chose to build her home and her family. Today, she is a wife to Benji and mom to her fourteen favorite people. Katie and her family invest their lives in empowering the people of Uganda with education, medical care, and spiritual discipleship. She is also the founder of Amazima Ministries, an organization that cares for vulnerable children and families in Uganda and the author of the New York Times bestseller Kisses from Katie.


My Review:  (there aren't enough stars to give this powerful book)
This book!  Oh, my goodness!  This book is one that if I could, I would share a copy with everyone I know, and perhaps a few people I don’t.  It is so beautiful.  And heart-wrenching.  And grace-filled.  It is beautifully, and sometimes painfully, honest.  Mrs. Major’s heart shines through on every single page and I found myself so absorbed in her words.  She writes her story, her daughters’ story, and God’s story.  In every chapter, I was taken through a time in their lives that greatly impacted the author’s faith and showed her another facet of this King she so faithfully serves.  She shows us her struggles, the moments where she didn’t think she could take one more step, and the moments where joy was abundant.  This wasn’t an easy book to read.  It challenged me, inspired me.  Brought me to tears more than once and and to my knees in prayer, as I was reminded of another important truth.  It offers hope in the only place it can truly be found - God. 

"His love wrapped around me like a warm embrace.
He didn't take away my pain; He held me while I hurt."

And I love the title - it is so fitting!  This book is written as though I’m sitting across from Mrs. Majors, listening to her tell me her story.  I loved that!  She engaged my heart and mind, introducing me to a culture I’ve never known, and teaching me deeper truths about a God I thought I knew (but she showed me anew many things about Him!).  Her love for Him is written in every line, across every margin.  Even in the moments she speaks about arguing with God, even in the hard times, and the ugly, love is a constant.  I so admire the faith that brought her to this point, the faith that carried her through every trial and raised her up in the joyful times.  I also loved the wisdom I found with every turn of a page.  I kept a notebook beside me while reading this one, because I was constantly pausing to jot a quote or a thought to recall later.


"God is who He says He is.  He is here with us in the hard places and the happy ones,
when things go as planned and also when they don't.
Our hope in Him is not determined by our circumstances,
but by His character, always faithful to us."


I would highly recommend this book to anyone going through a difficult time, or even anyone who knows someone struggling.  Which is pretty much everyone!  I personally found it to be so encouraging and it is a beautiful reminder that we are never alone in our battles.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed my review - this book encouraged me so much!  I sincerely hope you'll look into reading it yourself. 
Have a fabulous day!

Amazon

 Christian Book

 GoodReads





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Friday, October 20, 2017

My Review: Christmas Captive


Description:
On his cousin's Christmas cruise wedding, navy SEAL Jordan Somerton anticipated having the typical best man duties--not facing down criminals boarding the ship. But when the luxury liner is infiltrated by men determined to kidnap the flower girl, he's plunged into an unexpected mission. Maid of honor and DEA agent Amy Delgado hasn't forgiven Jordan for a misunderstanding in their pasts. But with her young niece targeted, she must draw on Jordan's skills as a protector. Signs point to an inside job. With a traitor in their midst, can they ensure that every passenger returns home safely for the holidays...even as they find love amid deepening danger?


About the Author:
Liz Johnson fell in love with Prince Edward Island the first time she set foot on it. When she's not plotting her next trip to the island, she works as director of marketing for a Christian radio network. She is the author of several novels including The Red Door Inn and Where Two Hearts Meet, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She makes her home in Tucson, Arizona.





My review: 5 stars
I always enjoy Liz Johnson’s books and this one is no exception!  I’ve been anxiously awaiting Jordan and Amy’s book and couldn’t wait to get started!  I first met Amy in “Navy SEAL Noel” and knew she was going to be perfect with Jordan, who held a special place in my heart after seeing him with Kristi and Zach’s son in “Hazardous Holiday.”  I love how all of the Men of Valor books connect, but can also be read alone (although why anyone wouldn’t want to read the rest of the series is beyond me).  

As always, Ms. Johnson drew me in right from the start and I didn’t want to put it down!  I was quickly absorbed in the story and hated having to pause for even a few moments.  I enjoyed the mystery and suspense, how she kept the story hopping, even when they actually had a calm moment.  My favorite part is always the characters, and that’s definitely accurate with this book!  I so enjoyed getting to know Amy and Jordan and finally getting the back story behind the animosity between them.  I loved that Jordan’s random jokes made me laugh, during an otherwise suspenseful story and seeing these two finally get their “happily ever after.”  The romance surprisingly didn’t feel rushed, despite the story taking place over only a couple days, but it definitely helped that Amy and Jordan had a past to connect them.  And those kisses!  *sigh*  

I also very much appreciated how much spiritual depth Ms. Johnson was able to include in this comparatively short novel.  I enjoyed watching the characters as they grew and changed, learning to forgive and to truly live, without fear.  
Overall, I loved this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspense and romance!

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my review! 
As always, links are below if you'd like to check it out further!
Have a lovely day!








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