Thursday, June 27, 2019

Takeover Thursday with Amanda Barratt ... and a GIVEAWAY


To celebrate the release of her latest book, Amanda has graciously offered to give away a print copy of this new release (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends July 4, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and pass on your information.)


Blurb...

A staggering love illuminating the dark corners of a Nazi prison...

Renowned German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is famous for his resistance to the Nazi regime  and for his allegiance to God over government. But what few realize is that the last years of his life also held a love story that rivals any romance novel.

Maria von Wedemeyer knows the realities of war. Her beloved father and brother have both been killed on the battlefield. The last thing this spirited young woman needs is to fall for a man under constant surveillance by the Gestapo. How can she give another piece of her heart to a man so likely to share the same fate? Yet when Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an old family friend, comes to comfort the von Wedemeyers after their losses, she discovers that love isn't always logical.

Dietrich  himself has determined to keep his distance from romantic attachments. There is too much work to be done for God, and his involvement in the conspiracy is far too important. But when he encounters a woman whose intelligence and conviction match his own, he's unprepared for how easy it is to give away his heart.

With their deep love comes risk--and neither Dietrich nor Maria is prepared for just how great that risk soon becomes.

Based on detailed historical research, this true love story is at once beautiful and heartrending. My Dearest Dietrich sheds new light on a world-famous theologian ... and the woman who changed his life.

Excerpt...

How well Dietrich remembered the day when Hans ad first revealed the existence of plans that would seem Hitler overthrown and a new government put in place.
     It wasn't that Hans had ever kept any secrets. Quite the contrary. He had always been frank with his wife, Cristel, and brothers-in-law about the dirty linen that the Reich Justice Ministry, where he worked in the legal department, preferred to keep off the public washline.
     But it wasn't until Hans showed him the dossier that Dietrich realized how painfully little he had known. That evening, those memories, would never leave him. The sky above had been a fathomless canvas of pitch. The Dohnanyi house, still and silent, children asleep, Christel down the hall. Hans had ushered him into his study, metal scraped against metal as he turned the key in the lock. He'd lit a lamp. Just one.
     Dietrich had sat in the cracked leather chair —the Dohnanyis always believed in frugality — and watched as Hans fumbled with the file drawer of his desk. A thatch of his usually slicked back light brown hair fell over his high forehead as he placed four black files atop his empty desk. He brushed a hand over one, features tight.
     "Take a look. It's all here."
     More danger could lurk within a single lethal paper than the deadliest Luger. As Dietrich turned to the files, reality embodied that statement. In explicit detail, the documents told stories, each more horrifying than last. The corruption and thievery practiced by Nazi officials … the orders given to burn synagogues with the Jewish population of a village locked inside … mass murders in Poland where thousands upon thousands were gunned down, their lifeless bodies danced upon by their so-called victors … concentration camps…
     Pictures accompanied the files. Naked men standing in front of a ditch, guns trained on their bodies. The same men lying in the ditch after being mercilessly shot, bodies woven together in a macabre braid of bullet-riddled humanity. Charred corpses … the emaciated body of a child …
     Perspiration broke out on Dietrich's forehead. He closed the folder and met his brother-in-law's gaze.
     "The information you have here …"
     "Could get me killed," Hans stated, features grim in the swath of lamplight.

The story behind the story…

I owe my discovery of Dietrich Bonhoeffer to two people I highly esteem—Eric Metaxas and my mom. I'm from a very literary family, and our dinner conversations often revolve around the books were reading. After my mom read Eric Metaxas's Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness, she shared the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer with us. Hearing about a pastor who worked as a double agent for the German resistance and whose brother-in-law was deeply involved in plots to assassinate Hitler intrigued me.

But I wasn't inspired to write about Bonheoffer until I came across a quote from Love Letters from Cell 92, which is a compilation of letters he exchanged with his fiancĂ©e during their engagement. When I read the quote, the dots connected in my mind. "Wait. Dietrich Bonheoffer had a fiancĂ©?" The minute I began reading about Maria von Wedemeyer, I knew theirs was a story begging to be told.

That summer, I began the research process, which was a huge undertaking, but one that never ceased to fascinate and inspire me. It took eighteen months from the time my agent sent a proposal to the time I signed the contract, and there were seasons when I wondered if this story would ever be read by anyone besides my sister, who read the chapters as I wrote the first draft. I feel so blessed to be able to share this novel with readers and give all glory to God for making it possible!

About Amanda...




ECPA best-selling author Amanda Barratt fell in love with writing in grade school when she wrote her first story, a spin-off of Jane Eyre. Now, Amanda writes romantic, historical fiction, penning stories of beauty and brokenness set against the backdrop of bygone eras not so very different from our own. Her novel My Dearest Dietrich: A Novel of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Lost Love released from Kregel Publications in June 2019.

She’s also the author of My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele’s Journey, as well as seven novellas with Barbour Publishing. Two of her novellas have been finalists in the FHL Reader’s Choice Awards.

Amanda lives in the woods of Michigan with her fabulous family, where she can be found reading way too many books, plotting her next novel, and jotting down imaginary travel itineraries for her dream vacation to Europe.

Connect with her on Facebook and visit her online at amandabarratt.net.



Amazon link for My Dearest Dietrich: https://amzn.to/2UINshB
                        Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandabarrattauthor 
                        Twitter: www.twitter.com/amandambarratt






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Wednesday, June 26, 2019

"A Cuppa Trouble" by Angela Ruth Strong ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead Tours)

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for A Cuppa Trouble by Angela Ruth Strong, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!


ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: A Cuppa Trouble 
Series: The CafFUNated Mysteries #2 
Author: Angela Ruth Strong  
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink 
Release Date: July 1, 2019  
Genre: Inspirational Cozy Mystery

Can a couple of baristas chase down a car thief without spilling a drop of their favorite drinks?

Plans for a Valentine's Day grand opening of a small town coffee shop go awry when the first customer is killed. Evidence points toward the victim being mixed up in a car theft ring, but shop owners Tandy and Marissa have reason to believe he was framed.

An assortment of suspects--from a pink-haired heir to Tandy's charming ex--all seem to know a little too much about grand theft auto.

Without approval from either their boyfriends or the gum-chewing FBI agent in charge, the shop owners go on stakeouts, plan stings, and pursue justice in a high-speed car chase. If they don't find the killer soon, it might be more than their love lives in trouble.

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


EXCERPT

“You kidnapped my business partner.”
Vic crossed his arms. “You do business with car thieves?”
“What? No. She sells tea. As bad as that may be, it’s hardly criminal.”
Metal smashed, glass cracked, and a taillight burst from the corner of Vic's vehicle. An ugly brown boot took its place.
“Tandy?” The muffled voice sounded like Marissa’s, but that couldn’t be her foot in the ugly brown boot.
“Oh fantastic.” Vic pointed the direction of the mess. “I caught her trying to steal a Jeep, and I made a citizen’s arrest to help the police. I didn’t realize she’d damage my car.”
What had Vic expected? He certainly couldn’t expect Tandy to believe his excuse. “She owns a Jeep. Maybe she got locked out and had to break in.” Tandy raised her voice so Marissa could hear. “Marissa, did you lock your keys in the Jeep again?”
The boot disappeared, and part of Marissa’s face filled the hole. “No!” Her response came with enough force that Tandy was a little scared of releasing her from the trunk.
Tandy shook her head at Vic. “There has to be a logical explanation for why she was breaking into a Jeep. You should have at least asked her what was going on rather than resort to kidnapping. That’s not how you make a citizen’s arrest.”

“Police lock criminals in the back of their cars. I was doing the same.” Vic lifted a shoulder, as if no responsibility rested there. “As soon as I let her out, you’ll see that she wasn’t using a coat hanger to get into her own vehicle. She has what’s known as a Relay Attack Unit designed to unlock cars without a key. Only a car thief would own such a thing.”

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. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.  

CONNECT WITH ANGELA: Website | Facebook | Twitter

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a "Coffee is like Sherlock Holmes" mug, "Drink Coffee & Do Good" sign (painted with coffee by author's cover designer), $25 Starbucks Gift Card & "Drink Coffee, and Read Books & Be Happy" tote.


Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 24, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on July 1, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.


 
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Tuesday Tip: Advise or Advice?



This is the final post on some common words that can be confusing.


Advise is a verb meaning to give counsel to or to offer an opinion or suggestion. 

The doctor will advise you on the best treatment.

Advice is a noun meaning an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action. 

It's often wise to get advice from someone with more experience. 

Sunday, June 23, 2019

"Cross My Heart" by Robin Lee Hatcher ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead Tours)

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Cross My Heart  
Series: Legacy of Faith #2 
Author: Robin Lee Hatcher  
Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
Release Date: June 25, 2019  
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Split Timeline

Can two broken paths lead toward God’s redemption?

When Ashley Showalter and Ben Henning meet on Ashley’s horse rescue farm, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Both were raised by single moms. Both want to help where they see a need. And both work with horses in the Boise valley. Ben needs Ashley’s help and expertise after starting an equine therapy barn on his great-great-grandfather’s farm—and the more time they spend together, both Ashley and Ben have the feeling that there could be something more between them.

They also carry the burden of past experiences that may drive them apart if the truth is ever revealed. Ben is a recovering alcoholic with five years of sobriety behind him, while Ashley’s brother is an opioid addict residing in court-ordered rehab. Holding fast to the belief that addicts can never be cured, Ashley has promised herself she will never walk knowingly into the chaos created by addiction. Ben knows that with God, all things are possible—but will Ashley find it within herself to give love a chance? Or will her brother’s mistakes and the pain of her past jeopardize her future with Ben?

Cross My Heart threads together a contemporary love story with the heartwarming tale of Ben’s great-great-grandfather, Andrew Henning—reminding us that God’s Word is timeless and that His promises are new every morning.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robin Lee Hatcher 

Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of 80 novels and novellas with over five million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love.

Her numerous awards include the RITA® Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®.

When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.

CONNECT WITH ROBIN: Website | Facebook | Twitter

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive Book 1 & 2 of Robin Lee Hatcher's LEGACY OF FAITH series (US only) - Who I Am With You & Cross My Heart

Copy the following phrase to claim your bonus entries for this stop:

Heb. 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Giveaway_CrossMyHeart_JR

Each host on the tour (excluding the launch pages) has a "timeless" verse or phrase for you to enter on the Rafflecopter form for bonus entries!

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 21, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on June 28, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

 

 
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Friday, June 21, 2019

"Romanov" by Nadine Brandes ... and a GIVEAWAY!


Nadine's publisher has agreed to give away one print copy of this book (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends June 28, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.) 

Summary...


The history books say I died.

They don't know the half of it.

Anastasia "Nastya" Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family's only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them ... and he's hunted Romanov before.

Nastya's only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn't act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya's never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn't frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her...

That is, until she's on the one side of a firing squad ... and he's on the other.


My review...

Romanov was one of my most-anticipated reads for 2019, and it didn't disappoint!

This is a reimagining of the final Czar of Russia and his family, with a focus on the youngest daughter Nastya (Anastasia). I didn't know a lot about the Romanov's (short of the movie Anastasia), so I wasn't totally sure what to expect. I loved the fantasy mixed with history mixed with a few facts. The book is well-researched, and Brandes points out in her notes just what is real and what information is stretched. This story shows the hardships the Romanov family endured. There was far more of a family focus to the story that I'd expected going into the book. Mystery and tragedy, and a bit of romance, combine to make this a truly engaging tale. I kept telling myself, "One more chapter," and I was sad to see it end.

A couple of my favorite quotes:

"Once you learn that it's all one life and each day is a new page, it gets a bit easier to let your story take an unexpected path." (Babushka)

"Because I have a story I was meant to live. And not even you can rewrite it." (Nastya)

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




About Nadine...


Nadine once spent four days as a sea cook in the name of book research. She's the author of Fawkes and of the award-winning The Out of Time series. Her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of soul-talk, Quidditch, bookstagram, and Oreos. When she's not writing novels about bold living, she's adventuring through Middle Earth or taste-testing a new chai. Nadine and her Auror husband are building a Tiny House on wheels. Current mission: paint the world in shalom.

Where you can find her online...


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Wednesday, June 19, 2019

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:


Someone must have seen him, because the police were at his door.


Happy writing!

Monday, June 17, 2019

COVER REVEAL! "By Hook or by Rook" from Rebecca Connolly ... and a GIVEAWAY! (SLB Tours)

By Hook or by Rook Cover Reveal Banner

About the Book

Series: The London League
Genre: Adult, Historical, Regency, Romance
Publisher: Phase Publishing
Publication date: July 1, 2019

 The most dangerous journeys... Jeremy Pratt is a spy for the Crown, and one of the best. He has been in more dangerous situations than he can admit, and has always come out unscathed. But escorting his colleague’s cousin home to her family, even in disguise, just might be beyond his skills, and the temptation beyond his ability to withstand. ...May be ones of the heart... Helen Dalton is convinced there is more to this man escorting her than meets the eye, and something familiar about him, as well. There is only one man in the world who looks at her so intensely, banters with her so easily, and makes her blush so furiously. And when he manages a daring and heroic rescue, she wonders if she ever knew him at all.



About the Author

rebecca-connolly-headshot

Rebecca Connolly writes romances, both period and contemporary, because she absolutely loves a good love story. She has been creating stories since childhood, and there are home videos to prove it! She started writing them down in elementary school and has never looked back. She currently lives in the Midwest, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa addict.



Cover Reveal

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By Hook or by Rook
What do you think?

Giveaway

BHobR Giveaway

(1) winner will recieve a print copy of By Hook or by Rook (US mailing addresses only).
Enter the giveaway HERE. Giveaway ends June 24 at 11:59pm MT. Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.

Blog Stops

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

Monday Motivation



"Enjoy your sweat because hard work doesn't guarantee you success, but without it you don't have a chance."
— Alex Rodriguez


Have a wonderful week!

Friday, June 14, 2019

"Vigilant" by Sara Davison ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead Publicity Tours)



Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Vigilant, the first book of The Night Guardians series by Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!


ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Vigilant 
Series: The Night Guardians, Book 1  
Author: Sara Davison 
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink 
Release Date: June 1, 2019  
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

She must choose between the man who represents the law and the one who may have taken it into his own hands.

Neglected by her parents for most of her life, Nicole Hunter keeps everyone, especially men, at arms’ length. So when Attorney Gage Kelly walks into the diner where she is waiting tables one evening, she fights her attraction to him with everything she has.

Gage and his brother Holden grew up in an abusive home, and Gage has baggage of his own. But the connection between him and Nicole is too strong to ignore, and Gage manages to convince them both that their relationship is worth the risk.

Then children begin disappearing in the night.

When Detective Daniel Grey starts to close in on the child snatcher, and enlists Nicole’s help, she faces her deepest fear. Everything and everyone she has clung to so tightly could be ripped from her, leaving her completely alone.

Except for one.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository


EXCERPT

He waited until the little thief had almost reached him, then he jumped out and planted a hand on the kid’s chest, driving him up against the wall and holding him there with his forearm. “Give it back.”
The guy’s eyes were hard as flint. “I don’t think so.” He shoved against Daniel’s arm, but Daniel held him firmly in place.
With his free hand, he pushed back his jacket, far enough so the kid could see both his badge and the gun strapped across his chest, but no one else could. “Want to re-think that?”
If possible, the kid’s eyes grew harder. “Whatever.” He shoved the bag against Daniel’s stomach.
Daniel contemplated him as he took the bag. If the little criminal had seemed even the tiniest bit remorseful, he’d let him go without a qualm. Since he didn’t appear to be, Daniel would like nothing better than to arrest him and let him spend a night behind bars to cool off. Unfortunately, if he slapped cuffs on the guy in front of Nicole, the game would be up. It went against everything in him, but if he had to let a petty thief go in order to capture a much bigger prey, so be it.


 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Davison - headshot 1 

Sara Davison is the author of the romantic suspense novel, The Watcher, the romantic suspense series, The Seven Trilogy, and the suspense novel, Vigilant, book one of The Night Guardians Series. She has been a finalist for eight national writing awards, including the Word Award for Best New Canadian Christian author, a Carol, and two Daphne du Maurier Awards, and is a Word and Cascade Award winner. Sara has a degree in English Literature and currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband Michael and their three children, all of whom she (literally) looks up to.  

CONNECT WITH SARA: Website | Facebook | Twitter  

 

TOUR GIVEAWAY

 

(1) winner will receive a copy of Vigilant and $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 4, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on June 17, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open to US/Canada residents.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Thursday, June 13, 2019

"The Tinderbox" by Beverly Lewis ... and a GIVEAWAY!


To celebrate the release of Beverly's latest book, her publisher has agreed to give away a print copy of the book (US only). To enter, see the Rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post. (Contest ends June 20, 2019). If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and and pass your information along. Good luck!


Q: More than two decades have passed since your first Amish novel, The Shunning, was published, establishing what became an extraordinarily popular new genre of fiction. What have the years since taught you?

A:  Creating stories set in Amish country has been such a source of delight! This journey has taught me the importance of meticulous research and shown me just how universal some subjects truly are—love and loss, the need for hope, friendship, faith, and family. My constant prayer as a writer is to lift the spirit and stir the heart. I think this approach allows readers from all walks of life to relate to my Plain characters, however cloistered and unalike they may initially seem.

Q: The Tinderbox is your newest novel. Tell us a bit about it.
A:  With her parents’ twentieth anniversary approaching, eighteen-year-old Sylvia Miller finds her father’s cherished brass tinderbox left unlocked. Against her better judgment, she opens the heirloom, not realizing that what she is about to discover will alter everything for her close-knit Old Order Amish family. As a long-kept secret emerges into the light of day, can the Millers find a way forward through the turmoil to a place of forgiveness?

Q: Over the years, many readers have written to say how your books resonate with them at the heart level, in part because of the relatable themes. What are some themes found in The Tinderbox?
A:  At its core, The Tinderbox is a story about a secret that should never have been kept, and the damage done when the truth finally comes out. The importance of honesty and trustworthiness cannot be overstated—they’re foundational to every relationship, and ignoring that can bring a world of hurt to others. Fortunately, God’s grace and forgiveness provide a means of restoration, but it may take time and patience before we see the healing we hope for, and even then, it might not look like what we envisioned. God always has a better plan!

Q. With your fondness for writing, you must have another new project in the works right now. Can you reveal anything about that?
A:  The Miller family’s story will continue in The Timepiece, which releases in September 2019. As the only daughter, Sylvia has always held a special place in her Old Order family, one Adeline Pelham jeopardizes when she shows up at the Millers’ Hickory Hollow farm. It isn’t that Adeline means to be a threat, but her very existence is a reminder of the painful secret that has so recently upended the Miller household. And with Sylvia and her mother still struggling to come to terms with that news, this is a challenging time to welcome an outsider—especially this outsider—into their midst. Can God allow something good to come out of the mistakes of the past? Or does Adeline’s arrival mark one too many surprises for the Millers and their Amish community?

Q: Over the many years of your successful writing career, your books have been fixtures on bestseller lists like the New York Times, and to date you have been published in twelve languages. How do you explain the widespread appeal of your fiction?
A:  Honestly, only God could have orchestrated all I’ve experienced as a writer. I’m a storyteller at heart, and there are no words to express how touched I am by the opportunity to hear from so many lovely people from around the world. It’s a blessing to have such dedicated reader-friends!

Q: Is there an easy way to keep up-to-date on your current news?
A:  There are many great ways for me to stay in touch with my delightful reader-friends! Readers can visit my Facebook fan page, www.facebook.com/officialbeverlylewis, or my website, beverlylewis.com, to sign up for my free newsletter. The website also includes book excerpts and trailers, photo galleries, my monthly blog, authentic Amish recipes, and news about upcoming appearances, in particular my Spring 2019 Book Tour, which will take me to library and bookstore events throughout northern Illinois and Wisconsin, April 4 through 11. Touring is always a highlight for me because it gives me an opportunity to meet so many wonderful readers!

My review...

I’ve been a fan of Lewis’s books for years, so I’m always excited to see she has an upcoming release.
Sylvia Miller decides to peek at her father’s tinderbox’s, the contents of which her father has kept locked up for years. She had no idea that doing so would unlock her father’s past and secrets two decades old that would change her family and her relationship with her father forever.

This book takes the reader through a variety of emotions as the family and community come to terms with the fact that all they knew to be true isn’t as it seemed. Yet, through it all, the family’s faith in God and His promises doesn’t waver. The characters and struggles are realistically drawn. And the ending provides a cliffhanger that will leave the reader eagerly awaiting the sequel, The Timepiece, which, thankfully, comes out in September 2019.

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

Amazon purchase link

About Beverly...

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 17 million books in print. Her stories have been published in 11 languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today. Beverly and her husband, David, live in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, making music, and spending time with their family You can learn more at http://www.beverlylewis.com/

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Wednesday, June 12, 2019

"The Number of Love" by Roseanna White ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead Publicity Tours)

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White with JustRead Publicity Tours! Follow along with the tour for a special inside peek at how The Number of Love is connected to the author's previous book from another series, A Song Unheard.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Number of Love  
Series: Codebreakers #1  
Author: Roseanna M. White  
Publisher: Bethany House  
Release Date: June 4, 2019  
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue

Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough.

Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy that just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the too-intelligent Margot, but how to convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life’s answers lie in the heart?

Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them, but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | ChristianBook

MY REVIEW

I’ve never read a book about codebreakers, so I was excited to have the opportunity to read this book and be on the launch team.

White’s latest takes the reader into the secret world of World War I codebreakers. Characters, including the secondary ones, are well developed and integrated. Those who enjoy math may connect with the story in ways that the average reader might not. However, the non-mathematical readers will likely enjoy the espionage angle and the challenge to crack the code.

The author blends fiction with historical facts, as this book was obviously well researched. The cover is lovely, and it’s a good fit for the story.  I had hoped for a bit more mystery vs. romance, but this was still an enjoyable story overall. This is the first book in the Codebreaker series, and I look forward to reading the next installment.


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Title: A Song Unheard
Series: Shadows Over England #2 
Author: Roseanna M. White  
Publisher: Bethany House  
Release Date: January 2, 2018  
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which make her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is in meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

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Q&A WITH ROSEANNA

  1. What was your inspiration for The Number of Love?

    Learning about England’s intelligence division during WW1 was pretty much all the inspiration I needed. I was so fascinated by Room 40 (the predecessor to Bletchley Park) and all that went on there! So I knew I wanted to have a female codebreaker (in fact there were many women who worked in Room 40, but they were all secretaries—Margot is purely fiction), and I also knew that if I was going to write a love story for her, it needed to be with someone who was her opposite—and who better than a field agent?

  2. Good point! Which character in the book do you most identify with and why?

    These characters really stretched me! I’m not particularly like any of them, LOL. But Drake has this “super power” of asking questions that dig down to the heart of things, and that I took directly from my husband, who is never content to let anything just scratch the surface, even when I really wish he would, LOL. He’s made me look so much deeper at things over the years, and that’s what I wanted Drake to do for the people in his life too.

  3. What makes this book different from your others?

    A mathematician as a heroine. Need I say more? I never thought I’d have to borrow my daughter’s algebra book to write a novel!

  4. Definitely not your typical research book! Speaking of research, how much research went into this story?

    A lot. For the first time in my life, this research had me making charts in Excel with dates, what happened, what page of what book I could find it on, and how I might use it. Excel sheets. Me. This was weird, man.

  5. Ha! I understand. I don't use Excel unless I have to. What part would you have played in the Great War?

    I’m a homebody, so I probably would have been one of the women busy knitting, growing food, and educating the kids. Assuming I was my age and had kids. If not, maybe I would have volunteered in one of the canteens in Europe…or maybe, like another of my characters, I would have been recruited to write some pro-war themes into my stories! LOL

  6. Sounds perfect! What do you hope readers takeaway from the story?

    That our God will speak to us in whatever way we need—and if He goes silent, if our ears are deaf to Him for a while, He’s still right there, waiting. Sometimes we don’t understand the things that happen in life. But instead of asking, “Why did it happen?” we need to ask the better question: “How will He use it?”

  7. That's definitely a great way to look at things. What's your favorite time in history to read and/or write?

    I honestly just love history in general. I’ve been really enjoying learning about Edwardian and Great War England, but other eras are equally interesting to me!

  8. What can you tell me about your current work in progress?

    I’m just getting started on writing the third book in the Codebreakers series, tentatively titled A Picture of Loyalty, though that could change. This one has a photographer whose work is used to fool the enemy, and a Russian codebreaker who has to flee his country for his life during the Bolshevik Revolution and who ends up coming to England for sanctuary and to offer his services to Room 40. The hero’s journey is inspired by a true person from history, though I’ll be fictionalizing a lot too.

  9. Oh, that sounds interesting! What advice do you have for beginning writers?

    Respect your dream. If you want to do this, work hard at it. Don’t look for short cuts or easy answers or quick solutions. Just as an engineer or a minister study for years, we as writers have to do the same. Because our stories—and our eventual readers—deserve the best.

  10. Great advice! What's your go-to writing-related book?

    Er…I hate to admit this, but I honestly don’t read craft books, LOL. I’m aware of what most of them share, and my best friend/crit partner is kind enough to forward things she thinks I’ll find useful or interesting as she reads them, but... Reading about the craft actually makes me freeze up in my writing. I’m constantly going, “Do I do that? I have no idea. What if I don’t? How can I? Man, am I doing everything wrong??” and that wasn’t productive for me. So. I just write, and I learn the rules, and I’ve learned to obey the voice of instinct that usually knows when something’s wrong.

  11. Your system is definitely working for you. Now for a few fun questions. What's something about you that would surprise your readers?

    Though my grandparents own a produce farm, I hate vegetables, LOL. I’ve learned to like a few over the years, but most of them…nope.

  12. I understand. I'm not a huge fan of vegetables either. What are some of the books in your TBR pile?

    As of writing this, I’m about to start A Secret to Die For by Lisa Harris. But then I mean to pick up something by Kristi Ann Hunter. And I have Walking on Water by Madeleine L’Engle sitting here too—about art and faith.

  13. Who are three authors who've inspired you?

    L. M. Montgomery. C. S. Lewis. Francine Rivers.

  14. Great choices! If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

    Oh, that’s a hard one! Let’s go with Jane Austen. Her books are so full of wit, I have to think her dinner conversation would be too!

  15. I bet it would be an interesting conversation! Finally, what's one book you wish you'd written and why?

    Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. I listened to it on audio recently and was left with the thought of “Flawless.” I’m just amazed at how great it is! Definitely deserving of all the attention it’s received.
It was the first audio book I listened to, and I agree with you. It's a fabulous book, and it definitely deserves all the attention. Thanks for taking time to answer a few questions. I'm sure my readers will enjoy getting to know more about your and your books.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books...to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.

CONNECT WITH ROSEANNA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


TOUR GIVEAWAY

Grand Prize: Shadows Over England series, The Number of Love, and the Decrypto board game, plus "Mi Alma" necklace (Necklace is 24" chain with a 1" pendant that says "Mi Alma" Spanish for "My Soul". A term of endearment used throughout the book. Handmade by Bookworm Mama)

(3) additional winners of The Number of Love.

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 3, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm June 17, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.


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