Saturday, March 31, 2018

"Living a Life You Love" by Joyce Meyer


My review...

Meyer’s latest is encouraging and full of applicable truths. Few people can truly say that they love their life, but they don’t always do anything to change it, which is what Meyer want to help people do with this book. Relevant quotes and Bible verses are woven throughout.

It’s divided into the following sections:
  1. Loving Life Begins with Loving God
  2. Love Yourself and You Will Love Your Life
  3. Love Other People and You Will Love Your Life

Some of the chapters that I found most relevant are:

  • Chapter 2: This Moment is the Most Important One You Have: Meyer points out that each day contains 86,400 seconds. Yesterday is over, and tomorrow is not promised, so make the most of today—this moment.
  • Chapter 3: Refuse to Let Fear Determine Your Destiny: Meyer reminds the reader to stay focused on God’s promises and decide to be a strong, confident, courageous person.
  • Chapter 5: Don’t Poison the Present with the Past: With God’s help, it’s possible to not be defined by the choices in the past.
  • Chapter 13: The Five-Minute Rule: In this chapter, Meyer implores the reader to not spend even five minutes obsessing about things that won’t matter in five years, five months, or five weeks from now.
  • Chapter 15: Be the You God Created You to Be: This chapter is designed to remind the reader that the best way to love life is to be comfortable with yourself, and then you will find a greater peace of mind.

There are so many practical tips that can be applied to daily living. I know this is a book I will look to again when I’m feeling anxious or worried.

Some of my favorite quotes:

  • “When you realize God is in control, it takes all the pressure off.”
  • “Fear is the opposite of faith.”
  • “Grace is the power of God that enables us to do with ease what we could never do on our own.”
  • “What we may see as a dead end, God sees as a new beginning!”
  • “Don’t wait until everything is perfect before you decide to enjoy your life.”
  • “We cannot continue allowing ourselves to be upset and disturbed and have peace at the same time.”


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of the FirstWords blogger program, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Friday, March 30, 2018

"Sarah's Legacy" by Daisy Beiler Townsend ... and a GIVEAWAY!





Daisy has graciously offered to give away an electronic copy of this new release. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends April 6, 2018. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and pass on your information.) Here's Daisy...


The story behind the story...

In 1998, we researched the history of our home in Sandy Lake, built around 1860. The husband of a ninety-year-old friend of mine had grown up in our house from the age of ten, and she added more information to the history we'd found. I was so intrigued that I decided to write a historical fiction novel based on the lives of some of the former residents. I wrote 21 1/2 chapters, and then put my manuscript away in a box when my counseling ministry became too busy. A few years later, God called us to Japan as missionaries. A few years after returning home in 2011, I published my first book, Homespun Faith, an autobiographical devotional. People began asking me what I would write next. I pulled out Sarah's Legacy to decide if I should finish it. After reading what I'd written sixteen years earlier, I told my husband, "I have to finish this book so I can find out what happens!" After three years of writing, critiques, and rewriting, Sarah's Legacy is finally finished.

My review...

Eighteen-year-old Polly Dye is struggling to find the balance between pleasing her mother and keeping her boyfriend Garrett happy. Things get even more challenging when her family moves into a new house that chills Polly from the moment she first steps inside. She discovers a diary which was apparently hidden by the previous owner. It belonged to someone named Sarah Davis and is over one hundred years old. Polly hopes the diary will shed some light on the many questions she has about the house. As life’s circumstances unfold, Polly finds it hard to keep her faith intact, even though Sarah seemed to stay strong in the storms she encountered. How will God use Sarah’s journal in Polly’s life?

This is the first book in the “Sarah’s Legacy” series. The author weaves the dual stories together in a way that has the events unfolding in a natural manner. The characters demonstrate that life’s storms can be survived with the help of God’s grace and lessons from the past. At the beginning, there are a number of characters introduced in a short period of time, making it a bit confusing to follow, but that balances out as the story goes on. There are minor editing issues, but they do not significantly distract from the overall enjoyment of the story. This is the first in the series, so it will be interesting to see what happens to Polly and her family.

One for my favorite quotes from the story: “Will we allow ourselves to be molded, shaped, and changed into the image of Christ by our pain, or will we become brittle, hard, and easily shattered by the tragedies we encounter?”

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.


About Daisy...


Daisy Beiler Townsend has been writing and publishing in magazines and periodicals for more than thirty-five years. Researching the history of their home in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania, in 1998 led to beginning a historical novel inspired by the lives of former residents of their home in the late 19th-early 20th century. In 2014, Daisy published her first book, Homespun Faith, an autobiographical devotional, and then completed Sarah's Legacy. She and her husband Donn live in Pennsylvania and have three children and six grandchildren.

Where you can find her online...

Website:       http://www.homespunfaith.com/


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, March 29, 2018

"Chasing the Wind" by Paula Scott (JustRead Blog Tour) ... and a GIVEAWAY!


Chasing the Wind book blitz

Welcome to the Chasing the Wind blog blitz and giveaway, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

chasing the windTitle: Chasing the Wind
Author: Paula Scott
Publisher:
West Butte Publishing
Release Date:
March 20, 2018
Genre: Inspirational Historical Fiction
A beautiful, half-Indian girl raised by the Californios finds her fate intertwined with an American frontiersman haunted by his past in 1850 California.
As California comes to statehood amidst the madness of the gold rush, Isabella Vasquez must wed a buckskin-clad American who wins her in a card game. Though their union is passionate, Isabella soon finds herself abandoned in a brothel, where she rises to fame as a singer known as the Bluebird. Yet because of her Indian blood, the Bluebird will always be bought and sold in the white man’s world. When more is demanded of the Bluebird than just singing, Isabella flees to Fort Ross in search of her Russian father and her own race of people.
Peter Brondi has battled Indians all his life. The last thing he wants is a half-Indian wife. While taming the West with Kit Carson and John C. Fremont, Peter has fought the Mexican War and lost his beloved fiancée, Maggie, to his half-Indian brother, Paul. To satisfy his father’s dying wish, Peter vows to find his brother and put an end to the hate that’s between them. But when history repeats itself and Paul steals Isabella away, Peter must come to terms with his past and the animosity he holds against all Indians, including his half-brother and the wife he has forsaken.

*Chasing the Wind is the final story in the sweeping saga of California Rising, a tale of love, betrayal, and the ties that bind brothers together and California to the nation.

PURCHASE A COPY: Goodreads | Amazon


Excerpt...

“I’m sorry for the man I’ve been. I feared and hated Indians all my life because of what I’ve seen them do. I treated you poorly on account of your Indian blood. I’d never have treated a white woman the way I treated you. I’m sorry.”

She was the first woman to see him shed a tear. It unleashed something in Peter he’d never felt before. Raw vulnerability. Never in his life had he been afraid of dying. But he was afraid of living honest and open this way before God and Belle.

“Dios will help us,” she said hopefully.

“Yes, God will help us,” he agreed.

A smile curved her lips even as she cried.

It was God who gave him the resolve to stand before Belle with tears on his face. His old self never would have stood for that. Never would he have let her or anyone else see that kind of softness in him. His heart swelled with gratitude. He knew something profound had just happened between God and them.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

paula scott

Paula began her writing career as a civilian contracted to write for the United States Air Force’s newspaper and magazines. Later, she wrote feature stories for a daily California newspaper. A fifth generation Californian, Paula’s great great grandmother came to California in a covered wagon and married a California farmer. Paula’s family has been farming ever since. Paula works on her family’s farm, writes historical fiction, and blogs about life, love, and farming at psbicknell.com
 
CONNECT WITH AUTHOR: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

chasing the wind blitz giveaway

GIVEAWAY

Paula Scott is giving away a signed print copy of Chasing the Wind! (US Only) Void where prohibited by law. Enter via the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

 
tour schedule

March 28, 2018  

March 29, 2018 

March 30, 2018 

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Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Writing Prompt Wednesday


If you're feeling stuck in your WIP (work in progress) or just want to shake things up a bit, here's something different to try today:

He heard a knock on the door as he was locking up for the night.

Happy writing!

Monday, March 26, 2018

Monday Motivation



"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes but don't quit."
— Conrad Hilton


Have a wonderful week!

Sunday, March 25, 2018

"Decluttering at the Speed of Life" by Dana K. White





My review...

If you live with clutter that you want to get rid of, then this is the book for you.

The author has written a book that breaks down the overwhelming task of decluttering into a few simple steps: toss it, donate it, or find a “home” for it. Using personal stories, she goes on to explain the process in a way that is easy to understand and apply. The strategies worked for her, and she believes they can work for others, too. (I haven’t tried applying them yet, but I will in the near future.) Along with the practical tips (which aren’t anything new or earth-shattering, just common-sense advice), humor is thrown in, making the tasks seems less painful or anxiety-inducing. The author helps the reader look at the clutter in a new way and break some of the emotional ties holding them back from moving forward in the “deslobification” process. Just to note, this is not an organizational book.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of the BookLook Blogger program, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Takeover Thursday with Krysten Lindsay Hager




Can Dreams Come True? (Book One of the Cecily Taylor Series) by Krysten Lindsay Hager
Contemporary YA fiction

Blurb:
Cecily has always had a huge crush on singer Andrew Holiday and she wants to be an actress, so she tags along when her friend auditions for his new video. However, the director isn’t looking for an actress, but rather the girl next door—and so is Andrew. Cecily gets a part in the video and all of Andrew’s attention on the set. Her friend begins to see red and Cecily’s boyfriend is seeing green—as in major jealousy. A misunderstanding leaves Cecily and her boyfriend on the outs and Andrew hopes to pick up the pieces as he’s looking for someone more stable in his life than the models he’s dated. Soon Cecily begins to realize Andrew understands her more than her small-town boyfriend—but can her perfect love match really be her favorite rock star?

Excerpt 1...

I started to feel anxious after lunch. After all, I had been an Andrew fan for a long time, and even though I had seen him in person, this was a huge deal to get to meet him. What if he wasn’t what I had imagined? I didn’t expect him to fawn over me or anything, but what if he was rude or ignored me? It would kill my fantasy of him as being this sweet, quiet, sensitive songwriter who wore his heart on his sleeve while also being kind of a loner/rebel with just a touch of bad boy in him. Oh man, I would be crushed if he didn’t notice me or worse—if he ended up flirting with Harlow. 
In all his magazine interviews Andrew always said looks weren’t important to him, and what he noticed in a girl was if she was true to herself. He said he went for “bright girls who were sweet and easy to be with.” Now that I thought about it, that was the kind of fake crap magazines put out about all the teen celebrities. It was like when I saw Lawrence Claibourne, my favorite actor who claimed to be Mr. I’m-just-looking-for-a-sweet-girl-to-read-poetry-to on a red carpet with a model whose boobs were falling out of her dress and had overdone the lip fillers—I mean, you just knew he wasn’t into her for her personality. But Andrew wasn’t like Lawrence. Andrew seemed so sincere and deep. Lawrence had a smirk and you could tell he was a player, but Andrew seemed like he had been hurt and needed to find the right girl who he could open up to and learn to trust again. . .or at least that’s what he said in his last interview.
The final bell rang and my heart shot up to my throat. This was it. I was on my way to meet my crush. From now on, any dreams of him would be marred by the reality I was about to face.
Was it better to keep wondering what if and keep the fantasy alive or to go and actually meet him?

Excerpt 2...

          Okay, if I wanted to do a good job in this music video then I had to become this character and show how she and Andrew were soulmates who would recognize each other just by walking by.
          Andrew got into position and the director yelled, “Action.”
          Andrew and I began to walk toward one another. He glanced away from me and then right as we got closer, he gave me an intense, longing stare which almost took my breath away. I lost all focus and forgot what I was supposed to do. It was like time was standing still and we were the only two people in the world.
          “Cut!” Dimitri said. “Perfection. You absolutely nailed the look, Cecily. Let’s try it again, but this time the focus will be on Andrew’s angle.”
          My face felt warm as I walked back on my mark to go again. How did I get my look so perfect when I hadn’t done anything intentional? Andrew’s gaze had been so overwhelming I had forgotten everything I was meant to do. Then it hit me—my look hadn’t been an act. Whatever I did in the scene was how I actually felt in the moment and if Dimitri said it was the perfect look then it meant I must have been showing my true feelings for Andrew. How embarrassing! Did people think I was acting or was my stupid kiddie crush apparent to everyone now? Andrew would probably take the security guys aside and tell them there was a stalker present and to quietly escort me off the premises without making a scene. The whole crew would laugh over how the dumb star struck kid got caught up in her obsession with the pop star. I never should have done this. At least before I had the fantasy, now Andrew was aware of my existence and instead of remembering the connection we had earlier, he’d see me as just another fan.


Buy links...





About Krysten...



Krysten Lindsay Hager writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She is the author of True Colors, Best Friends...Forever?, Next Door to a Star,  Landry in Like, Competing with the Star (The Star Series: Book 2) and Dating the It GuyTrue Colors, won the Readers Favorite award for best preteen book and the Dayton Book Expo Bestseller Award for childen/teens. Competing with the Star is a Readers' Favorite Book Award Finalist.

​Krysten's work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Beavercreek Current, the Bellbrook Times, Springfield News-Sun, Grand Blanc View, Dayton Daily News and on the talk show Living Dayton.

Where you can find her online...



Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Tuesday Tip: Vein/Vain/Vane


In addition to blood vessels, vein is used to describe things such as wood, metal ore, and ribs in a leaf.

Vain is used to describe people who seem to be full of themselves and are viewed as "empty." It can also be used for an act that didn't quite go as planned, so it was "done in vain."

Vane is usually used in reference to a weather vane, but it can also refer to a blade.

Monday, March 19, 2018

Jan Drexler's "The Amish Nanny's Sweetheart" tour (JustRead Tours) ... and a GIVEAWAY!




Jan Drexler blog tour

Welcome to The Amish Nanny's Sweetheart blog tour and giveaway, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

the amish nanny's sweetheartTitle: The Amish Nanny's Sweetheart  
Author: Jan Drexler
Publisher: Love Inspired Historical
Release Date: March 1, 2018  
Genre: Inspirational Historical Amish Fiction
Love in Plain Sight

As nanny for her nephew, Judith Lapp’s finally part of a vibrant, joyful Amish community instead of living on the outskirts looking in. But teaching her neighbors’ Englischer farmworker to read Pennsylvania Dutch wasn’t part of her plan. And the more time she spends with Guy Hoover, the more he sparks longings for a home and family of Judith’s own.

Guy figured he would never be truly accepted by his Amish employers’ community—even though the Mast family treats him like a son. But Judith’s steadfast caring shows him that true belonging could be within his reach…if he and Judith can reconcile their very different hopes—and hearts.


PURCHASE A COPY: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository


The story behind the story...

     When I started writing for publication, I knew where my stories would come from.
Growing up, I knew our ancestors had been Amish, but I didn’t really know what that meant. I also knew that we were no longer Amish, and I wondered why. The more I searched for answers, the more questions kept piling up. Before long, I realized that family trees and history books could give me facts, but they couldn’t open a window to let me get to know the people behind those facts.
With that realization, I knew the only place to find the answers I was looking for was my imagination…and the stories were born.
     My books, including “The Amish Nanny’s Sweetheart,” all start with a kernel of truth.
In this story, the hero is Guy Hoover, a young man who had grown up in an orphanage in the 1920’s. He been abandoned by his father as a young boy after his mother had passed away. I based his character loosely on my grandfather, who also grew up in an orphanage. The one thing Guy wanted out of life was a home. The kind of home he knew before he lost his mother.
     The heroine, Judith, is a mixture of several people I know. She grew up in a dysfunctional family and is trying to find her way into “normal” Amish society – something she has only observed from the outskirts. She longs to blend in, to be part of the church, and to marry an Amish man who has the respect of the community. She wants a home and family of her own.
     From there, my imagination had to fill in the details. Of course, we all know Guy and Judith will fall in love, but first they must realize they have the same ultimate goal…even if they have very different ways of arriving at that goal.
     If you enjoy family trees and family stories, have you ever thought about writing books based on those stories? They can be a window into past generations.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
jan drexler

Jan grew up surrounded by books and storytellers. With Pastors and Teachers populating both sides of her extended family, we aren’t surprised that she wanted to be a first-class storyteller herself.

Born and raised in Michigan, Jan is the descendant of Amish, Mennonite and Brethren immigrants who settled in Berks, Somerset and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania in the mid-1700’s. The descendants of these immigrants pioneered in Maryland, Ohio, and finally Elkhart and LaGrange Counties in Northern Indiana in the 1850’s.

During the years when Jan was raising and homeschooling their children, she and her husband moved nine times in thirty years, finally landing in South Dakota where they enjoy incredibly Michigan-like weather. A northerner is always a northerner!

The ideas for Jan’s books come from the stories told by her parents and grandparents, seasoned with a lot of research and imagination.

CONNECT WITH AUTHOR: Website | Facebook | Twitter



Jan Drexler giveaway 400x400

GIVEAWAY

Jan Drexler is giving away a print copy of The Amish Nanny's Sweetheart and a $10 Amazon Gift Card to one winner! Open internationally, as long as winner can receive books from Book Depository and accept egift card from US Amazon. Void where prohibited by law. Enter via the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.



tour schedule

March 20th

March 21st

March 22nd

March 23rd
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Sunday, March 18, 2018

"Fierce Faith" by Alli Worthington


My review...

This is the first book I’ve read by Worthington, but if this book is any indication, it won’t be my last! I’ve struggled with fear, worry, and anxiety for as long as I can remember. Logically, I know I can take it all to God in prayer and then let it go. However, the application is not always easy for me. And this is exactly what Worthington tackles in Fierce Faith.

Each chapter addresses a different fear, so there is likely something relatable for everyone:

  • Fear of Rejection
  • Fear for Our Children
  • Fear of Failure
  • Fear of Betrayal
  • Fear of Missing Out
  • Fear of the Future
  • Fear of Not Being Enough
  • Fear that We Are on Our Own

Worthington uses lists all over the place, which made list maker very happy! The lists are designed to help the reader create their own battle plan for when they’re under attack and headed toward the “Bad Bs”: busy, blame, bury, binge, and brood.

While this book is geared toward women, there are lessons and wisdom in this book which are relevant to anyone. The tips are practical, and the author encourages the reader all through the book with personal stories and tips for when the enemy attacks. She strives to empower the reader to replace the enemy’s lies with God’s truths. I have highlights and notes all over the place, and I know I’ll go back and reference them on more than one occasion.

Some of my favorite quotes (reminders) are:

  • “Fear is a liar.”
  • “Our thoughts give life or steal joy.”
  • “Don’t let the fear of tomorrow steal your life today.”
  • “If God, maker of all heaven and earth, has complete confidence in us, who are we to doubt ourselves?”
  • “Your worries won’t change your what-ifs, but prayer will.”
  • “God’s presence doesn’t mean you are fearless; it means you can fear less.”
  • “Failure is the rich soil in which our faith grows.”


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the HC BookLook Bloggers program, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.



About the author...



Alli Worthington is the author of Fierce Faith and Breaking Busy, she's a speaker, and a business coach. Her goal is to help women live the life they were created to live.

Alli is a sought after coach and consultant who has helped individuals, small business owners, and Fortune 500 companies be more successful.

Alli's no-nonsense, guilt-free take on motherhood, parenting, and balance has lead to appearances on The Today Show and Good Morning America.

She lives outside Nashville with her husband, Mark, their five sons, and the only golden retriever who refuses to retrieve.

All spends way too much time on Instagram at @AlliWorthington, and you can find out all about her at AlliWorthington.com


Friday, March 16, 2018

"The Heart Between Us" by Lindsay Harrel ... and a GIVEAWAY!



Lindsay has graciously offered to give away a paperback copy (US ONLY) of this new release. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends March 23, 2018. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and pass on your information.) Here's Lindsay...

The story behind the story...

The very first thing that sparked this story idea was a feature story I heard on the radio about a woman who went skydiving because her heart donor had always wanted to. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool if someone fulfilled all the bucket list items on someone else’s list?” From there, Megan’s story began to form in my mind. I actually dreamed up her twin sister Crystal’s story much later, after my agent challenged me to make her more than an antagonist. Since I grew up with a mother who was chronically ill for much of my childhood, I was easily able to imagine what it was like to grow up with a sick sister—and how it might have affected Crystal in the long term. 

Q & A with Lindsay...

Q:  Let's start with a few serious questions. What message do you hope readers take away from your story?
A:   I truly hope everyone who reads Megan and Crystal’s story knows without a doubt that reconciliation is possible, that fear is a liar, and that we were made to experience freedom. In addition, I want readers to come away with a new desire to live their own lives to the fullest.

Q:  Definitely some important takeaways! What can you tell us about your next project? 
A:  I turned it in February 1, and it won’t release until next February (everything in publishing takes a long time!). It’s called The Secrets of Paper and Ink (don’t you just love that title?!) and it’s about a broken woman who travels to Cornwall, England—the setting of her favorite author’s novels—to find the courage to write her own story.

Q:  I love the title, and I can't wait to read it! Finally, what's your favorite writing-related book? 
A:  Anything by Susan May Warren is a goldmine. I learned how to write a novel primarily from attending My Book Therapy workshops and reading Susie’s craft books. The Story Equation is one of her best!

Q:  Now, a few fun questions. What's one thing about you that would surprise your readers? 
A:  It might surprise them to know that I was in a Christian rock band in college. J Now I’m more of a musical theater nerd, but I had some fun back in the day rocking out on the microphone!

Q:  Ooh, I wonder if anything can be found on YouTube 😃 Do you have any writing rituals (such as a particular pen, outfit, or music) you must have or do when writing? 
A:  Not really—I just really crave silence. I usually write when my kids are napping and I’m down on the couch curled under a blanket (if it’s cold, which it currently is!) plunking away on my laptop. I do always make sure I have a tumbler full of ice water and/or iced tea right next to me, as well as a notebook and pen on the side table in case any thoughts come to me. I process things better when writing them down by hand (though I’m not one of those people who writes an entire first draft by hand or anything like that!).

Q:  Who are three fictional people you'd like to meet? 
A:  Anne Shirley (for her spunk), Elizabeth Bennet (for her wit), and Melanie Hamilton Wilkes (for her ability to see the best in people)

Q:  Great choices! Thanks so much for stopping by, Lindsay. I'm sure my readers will enjoy getting to know a bit more about you and your latest release.


Link to my review on the RTBookreviews website
(I rated it 4.5 stars - TOP PICK!)



About Lindsay...


Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd who lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. She’s held a variety of writing and editing jobs over the years and now juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with writing novels. When she’s not writing or chasing after her children, Lindsay enjoys making a fool of herself at Zumba, curling up with anything by Jane Austen, and savoring sour candy one piece at a time. Connect with her at www.LindsayHarrel.com.

Where you can find her online...

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Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Writing Prompt Wednesday



If you're feeling stuck in your WIP (work in progress) or just want to shake things up a bit, here's something different to try today:

The last time we spoke...

Happy writing!

Monday, March 12, 2018

Monday Motivation


"Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me."
— Carol Burnett


Have a wonderful week!

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Takeover Thursday with Andrea Boyd (and a GIVEAWAY!)



Andrea Boyd has graciously offered to give away an electronic copy (from Instafreebie) of this new release. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends March 15, 2018. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)


One conversation with a friend plus a series of dreams and Bo Manning was born. I imagine the whole “I’ll never get married again” speech happens quite often. I said it after my first marriage ended, and I still believe that if anything happened to my husband now, I’d remain single. This was the idea that breathed life into Irresistibly Yours. Vivian Emerson felt the same way and with good reason. Her late husband most certainly had not been devoted to her for the last half of their twenty-year marriage.

Then Bo shows up and wrecks her plans for the single life. 


He comes to Vivian’s rescue on several occasions without expecting more than friendship in return. And, oh man, is he good looking! And sweet. And he’s faithful. He’s a great dancer, and, wow, is he a great kisser. Who could resist, right?
Irresistibly Yours is a Southern contemporary romance with a beach setting. It’s about friendship and love’s second chance, and it reflects God’s irresistible call.

Blurb...

Marriage is no picnic. At least the one Vivian Emerson shared with her late husband hadn’t been. Unfortunately, the devastation Craig had brought into her life didn’t ended with his death. Not only did he leave Vivian without closure, he had to go and die in a way that made her the talk of the whole state of South Carolina and beyond. Now her daughter wants nothing to do with her because of him. She would just stick with the single life from now on, thank you very much.

For the last fourteen years since the death of his wife, Bo Manning never even considered wanting another woman in his life. That is until he comes to the rescue of a certain woman with haunting, jade-green eyes. Despite Vivian’s resolve not to give her heart to another man, Bo sets out to patiently woo her into the loving relationship he is offering.


Irresistibly Yours reveals God’s fervent effectual call in the form of a classic romance.


About Andrea...



Each of Andrea Boyd’s series represents a different genre, but all fall into the category of romance. All offer an element of her own brand of humor. And all are a tribute to God. Besides writing, she loves spending time with her family, quilting, going to car shows, and driving around in her 1968 Barracuda convertible. Andrea lives with her husband, Tommy, and at least a couple of cats in York County, SC.

Where you can find Andrea online...



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