"You will face rejection and you will fear that it's never going to happen but you have to keep trying. Tenacity is your best friend and she eats quitters for breakfast."
— Annie Lyons
Have a wonderful week!
Monday, January 27, 2020
Saturday, January 25, 2020
"A Plan for Everything" by Beverly Varnado ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustReads Tours)
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for A Plan for Everything by Beverly Varnado, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: A Plan for EverythingAuthor: Beverly Varnado
Publisher: Anaiah Press
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: January 21, 2020
Connie’s Coffee and Cones is thriving, and owner Connie Spencer is right on track to realize her dream of expanding into a catering business. She believes she owes her success to her remarkable ability to plan. In fact, she has a plan for everything. At least, she thought she did—until Michael Cole appears in Worthville.
Michael has an agenda of his own—and a competing business—that threatens to derail everything Connie hopes for professionally. And if that isn’t enough, Michael carries a secret that could cause a backlash for both of them. So, why does she find herself attracted to him? When an accident on a rain-slicked highway leaves Michael temporarily incapacitated, Connie is presented with a dilemma she never saw coming—helping the man she’s falling for, or moving ahead with her meticulous plans.
As life spirals out of her control and Connie faces losing everything, she questions whether her plans are enough. But if hers aren’t, whose are? As she searches for the answer, she learns she must come to terms with her deepest hurt in order to embrace a higher plan for her future.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon
EXCERPT
Connie
continued to stew on the Michael Cole situation through afternoon coffee breaks
and after school ice cream treats. A little after seven, as she attempted to
close the store, she fumbled with her keys, her arms loaded with tote bags of
laundry to be washed.
Before
she knew it, Michael raced across the street and stood by her side. “Here let
me carry those for you,” he said, extending his hands.
Oh,
no. Not him. She
held on for a moment, wondering whether she would trust him to hold her bags of
dirty aprons and dish towels. She shook her head, but in a moment said, “Oh,
all right, here.” She shoved the bags into his arms but held onto her planner,
and then she put a key in the front door lock and turned it.
“Most
businesses lock from the back into the alley,” Michael said.
“I
walk to work. It’s easier for me to come and go through the front door. What
about you?” Connie pointed to his front door.
“My
back door has to be replaced. It was in such bad shape, someone nailed it shut.
It’s a special order for these old buildings. Supposed to be here next week.
Found it at one of those reclaimed wood places.”
Connie
tried to take the aprons back from Michael, but he resisted.
“Why
don’t I carry these for you?” he asked.
“But
I’m walking all the way home,” she said.
“I
don’t have anything else to do,” he offered.
“Suit
yourself,” Connie said as they passed Gray’s Groceries.
“Hey,
about what I said this morning…”
Connie
shook her head. “Forget it.” And then she smiled. “Although, Sofia was
concerned I might put laxative in your latte.”
They
both laughed, and the mood lightened.
“What
are you doing this evening?” he asked, switching the bags of aprons from one
arm to the other.
“I
can hardly contain my excitement. I’m eating leftover spaghetti and fine tuning
my event calendar.” Private events helped give her a little extra cash flow but
sure took time.
Mr.
Gray exited his store, scratched words on the sandwich board outside his
entrance, and pivoted to go back in his store.
“Eat dinner with me,” Michael said as they
moved along the sidewalk. Mr. Jerome’s cat shot out beside Michael and
screeched to a halt, cutting Michael off. He sidestepped to avoid running into
it, and in the process, nudged Connie. He grabbed her arm as if he were afraid
she might fall. Their faces only inches apart, she steadied herself in more
than one way. She shook her head and waved. “I’m fine. No problem.”
“Good,”
he said as the cat backtracked down the sidewalk. “Back to what I was saying.
I’m new in town and don’t know anyone, and even though you’re my arch enemy…”
He laughed in a hearty way. “You know the old saying about keeping your enemies
close.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
She has written a nonfiction memoir as well as several novels and screenplays, one of which was a finalist for the prestigious Kairos Prize in Screenwriting. Her work is also included in several anthologies and periodicals. As an artist, her work was recently chosen for exhibit at a State University gallery.
She lives in Georgia with her husband, Jerry, and their chocolate Aussiedor who is outnumbered by several cats. Beverly is Mom to three children and Mimi to two grandchildren.
Read her weekly blog One Ringing Bell, peals of words on faith, living, writing, and art at oneringingbell.blogspot.com.
CONNECT WITH BEVERLY: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive an A Plan for Everything inspired giveaway including a Jeremiah 29:11 planner, coffee mug, Starbucks coffee, and a $15 Amazon 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 January 23, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on January 30, 2020. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Friday, January 24, 2020
First Line Friday
Happy Friday! It's time for First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books.
It's time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today on First Line Friday, I'm featuring the upcoming release from Virginia Vaughan, Killer Insight.
And the first line is ...
FBI agent Lucy Sanderson stopped running, rested her hands on her knees and tried to catch her breath.
About the book...
From profiling criminals to being hunted by a killer.
Asking FBI agent Lucy Sanderson to profile the Back Roads Killer is the only way Bryce Tippett can prove his brother is innocent--unless Lucy becomes the next victim. When someone begins stalking her just as she arrives in town, it falls to the single dad to protect her. But as clues lead in unexpected directions, can they uncover the truth...and survive to expose it?
Let me know the first line of the book closest to you and then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating.
If you're a blogger or just a social media-er, we'd love for you to join us, too!
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Thankful Thursday: His Encouragement #6
Welcome to Thankful Thursday: His Encouragement. I am blessed to be part of a group of bloggers who'll be sharing a bit of encouragement through Scripture verses. I hope this post blesses you as you finish the week and that you find peace, strength, and comfort in the Lord.
You can read my latest devotional post at the following link:
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Takeover Tuesday with Melony Teague ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Melony has agreed to give away an electronic copy of this book to one lucky blog reader (US/Canada ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends January 28, 2020. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
Here's Melony...
I am an avid
reader and a romantic at heart. There’s no one that loves a happy ending more
than me, I confess, I cry happy tears. My husband just shakes his head at me. I
like to read stories that transport me out of my day-to-day life into a world
where I can laugh and be entertained. I love reading because I can set my imagination
free to bring to life to what the words on the page are telling me. These are
the same reasons I write. Every day we read bad news, fake news, weird news,
sad news and if we focus on that, we’ll all be miserable. I wanted to put out a
story full of hope and good news. If I can get the reader to giggle at my
quirky character’s antics, all the better. My “day job” is a freelance writer,
and I get to work on many and interesting projects. These projects satisfy my
inquisitive nature, because as a journalist or interviewer, I get to ask a
bunch of questions. (Really, I’m nosey, so I want to know how people think, and
what motivates them.)
Savannah and
Michael’s story first started with the idea of a 20-year high school
reunion, and what would happen there. Savannah and Michael soon began to tell
me their stories, and I wrote out a synopsis which mostly stayed the same
except that Donavan Radcliffe pushed his way in and demanded attention. I drew
my inspiration from real-life events in the news. From goods news stories.
These
characters are 100% fictional—even though you may relate to them—they are not
real. Gasp! Sometimes they feel so real to me and I need to remind myself that
I don’t have to have a prayer meeting on Savannah’s behalf.
Rest
assured, A Promise to Keep has a
happy ending.
Blurb...
A
Promise. A High School Reunion. And a pact that proves harder to keep.
Research librarian Savannah
Sanderson wants nothing more than to escape into her happily-ever-after novels
with their larger-than-life fictional heroes. But a promise to her late husband
has her attending her dreaded twenty-year high school reunion, drinking ghastly
punch, and taking desperate measures just to keep her vow, even if she has to
hide behind the décor to do it.
Once a reckless troublemaker,
Michael McCann fled town after graduation. Now a professional technical
rescuer, he’s back for the reunion, but on his trip down memory lane, he soon
comes face to face with unresolved issues, namely Savannah.
Before the night is over, a pact
between these two old friends will lead them on an adventure into uncharted
emotional territory where Michael must confront his past regrets and find the
courage to reveal the truth. But can Savannah fly from her sheltered nest and
risk her heart on a real-life hero?
Excerpt from Chapter 1...
It
took about three seconds for him to realize she was running away—from him. How
ironic. He should let her go. He should get on a plane and never look back, but
then, history would repeat itself. He didn’t want that. The time had come to
pursue her, even if it was just down the corridor through his old stomping
grounds.
Michael
followed the squeak of her sneakers as they echoed down the hallway.
“Oof!” There were
sounds of a struggle.
What
in the world?
He
rounded the corner to find the janitor on the ground with his mop and pail,
trying to untangle himself from Savannah. Frothy soapsuds slid down her face,
proof the mop had won this round. The janitor in his blue coveralls, showing a
row of white teeth, enjoyed the attention a bit too much. Michael couldn’t stop
the guffaw that escaped his lips or the chuckle that followed—until she
straightened, her fiery eyes narrowed and her arms folded over her chest. “It’s
not funny, Michael McCann.”
Uh-oh. He swallowed.
Before he could think of what to say, she lunged for the fire-safety exit and
set off the emergency alarm. That was Savannah for you. She still had a knack
for the dramatic, and he loved her for it. Michael shook his head. A flight out
of town was looking more and more appealing. His feet begged to flee to his
rented four-by-four.
BUY LINKS:
About Melony...
Melony Teague is a freelance writer
who believes everyone has a story to tell. As co-author of As the Ink Flows,
she loves to inspire and motivate others through her written words. With foamy
lattes in-hand, she writes Contemporary Romance with a dash of humor. Though
she has no hobbies outside of reading, writing, and eating chocolate, she is a
member of ACFW and teaches seniors in her community to write their memoirs. She
confesses with no shame that she has a strong belief that pumpkin pie is an
acceptable breakfast food since it’s mostly vegetables. Melony was born in
South Africa and now lives in Toronto with her husband, their two teenagers,
and two cats who think they’re humans.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Friday, January 17, 2020
"A Long Time Comin'" by Robin W. Pearson ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Robin's publisher has agreed to give away a print copy of this book. (US ONLY) You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends January 24, 2020. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
Author Q&A...
Q: What compelled you to write this book?
A: While it's a fictional work, A Long Time Comin' began with an "SOS"--my need to Save Our Stories. I wanted to preserve my cultural and regional heritage so it wouldn't end up in a mental junkyard, where memories get compressed and broken down until they eventually disintegrate. As I wrote them down, however, this SOS transformed into Share Our Stories. I felt called not only to preserve my family's traditions but to pass on the faith that inspired them, to give them life and breath in my fiction, for I consider writing my opportunity to minister to and build community with others.
Q: What role does faith play in this story?
A: Faith is the main character, playing an even bigger role than my Southern heritage. Beatrice Agnew's limited understanding of real faith depleted her life of joy; her determination to pass it on affected her relationship with her children and granddaughter Evelyn; and my characters' choice to cling to it in the face of hardship directed the story's outcome and its message of hope. My novel shows readers that living by faith doesn't mean we'll avoid pain. It illustrates how we address it.
Q: Healing the past is deeply personal and often difficult. Why did you want to want into these waters?
A: People say what's done is done, but the past tense only applies to verbs. We all tote around our history, either as a memory of healing and forgiveness or as an open wound that continually causes us and others pain. Granny B shows that healing the past may take you to unknown depths, but bitterness drowns you.
Q: What was special about crafting a relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter?
A: The two mirrored each other, down to their shared name. Granny B saw the impact of her past choices borne out in her granddaughter's life; Evelyn got a clear vision of how her own decisions could impact her down the road. Their common background and similar personalities often made words unnecessary between this grandmother and granddaughter, yet their reticence spelled poor communication with the family members "outside their bubble." I crafted their unique chemistry--not unique in that it was unattainable or unrealistic--to show readers what truths our own family dynamics can reveal and to motivate them to seek out deeper, loving relationships within their families and across generations.
Q: Many readers are looking for diversity in their reading selections. Can you give us insight into the perspective you brought to this novel?
A: Diversity comes in so many forms--our ideas, family size, and education, as well as our shoe size, favorite ice cream flavors, and of course, our cultural background and race. I wanted to write a novel that shows how, despite our differences, we share the same need for acceptance, love, and nourishment; we seek success in our personal and professional relationships; we laugh, cry, argue, and dance over many of the same jokes, setbacks, peculiarities, and triumphs. What draws us together and what diversifies us isn't solely the color of our characters or even the writer or the reader but our faith--What do we believe? Who do we trust to meet our needs? How do we uniquely address our common problems?--and how we work out this faith day by day.
Q: What do you hope the daughters,mothers, and grandmothers who read this book will walk away with?
A: Often we see our family in terms of who there are to us--as our mother, sister, daughter, grandmother, aunt, etc.--but we need to see them as people with their own dreams, regrets, faults, and needs. In order for Evelyn to strengthen her relationship with her Granny B, she had to respect her grandmother as Beatrice Agnew, a person who existed before, after, and apart from her children and grandchildren. To improve our own family dynamics, we also need to accept each other as imperfect people who love imperfectly, yet who have the capacity to love deeply.
Q: What is one thing you learned about yourself writing this book?
A: Faith should bring joy. It's not a survival tool I should use to push through; I shouldn't wield it like a weapon to ship others into shape. My faith should help me shrink the size of my own mistakes and others' shortcomings and help me accept and extend the gift of grace.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Robin. I'm sure my readers will enjoy getting to know more about you and your book.
My review...
It’s hard to believe that this is Pearson’s debut novel! The
author crafted a family story that quickly pulls the reader in. Faith, hope,
love, self-discovery, and family drama are key themes.
Beatrice Agnew, “Granny B,” is a complex character … and she’s
someone we need more of in the world! Her relationship with Evelyn is one that
will resonate with many readers. Both characters demonstrate what can happen when
secrets are kept, since they are always revealed at some point in time.
Difficult topics are handled in a tactful manner, and they
may cause the reader to look at things in a different way, wondering what they’d
do if they were in the characters’ shoes. Characters are well-developed, and
scenes are descriptive and easy to visualize. Granny B and Evelyn are easy to connect
with and root for. Characters are flawed and may remind the reader of someone they
know personally, which engages the reader even more.
Scripture and Southern flavor make this a book that will
likely stick with the reader. It’s a strong start for Pearson, and I look forward
to reading her upcoming books.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the
publisher, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
Robin W. Pearson's writing sprouts from her Southern roots and her love of her husband and seven children. Both lend authenticity to her debut novel, A Long Time Comin'. After graduating from Wake Forest University, she has corrected grammar up and down the East Coast in her career as an editor and writer that started with Houghton Mifflin Company twenty-five years ago. Since then she has freelanced with magazines, parenting journals, textbooks, and homeschooling resources. Follow her on her blog, Mommy, Concentrated, where she shares her adventures in faith, family, and freelancing.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
"Murder at the Courthouse" by Meghan Carver ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead Tours)
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Murder at the Courthouse by Meghan Carver, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Murder at the CourthouseSeries: Grace Pointe Cozy Mystery #1
Author: Meghan Carver
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: October 28, 2019
The first book in the Grace Pointe Cozy Mystery Series!
“Fiction is a waste of time.”
The heated comment made by a church library ministry team member shocks MacKenzie Baker, but it quickly becomes the least of her worries.
MacKenzie Baker is an impetuous, eavesdropping small-town librarian who lives in the apartment above the parsonage garage and refuses to be defined as the pastor’s single sister. She thought she was happy for years re-shelving books and helping patrons find their next great read, but as she turns forty, she suddenly struggles to figure out what more to do with her life. Solving murders in her small town of Grace Pointe wasn’t a part of her plan...until she and her brother find a local judge who had come to Pastor Baker for counseling murdered in his chambers, hit over the head with a massive volume of the Indiana Code.
Now, to clear the name of a family friend, she begins to work with the handsome criminal justice professor Ian Canter. Even though the detective with the chocolate brown eyes tells her to stick with making casseroles for the church pitch-in, she soon discovers the Judge’s scheming wife, his rebellious teen daughter, a network of lawyers in Grace Point who were disgruntled with the Judge, and even secrets that lurk among the library ministry team. But with the help of her new kitten Mr. Darcy, her best friend Callie, and her always-pastoring brother, MacKenzie debates the pros and cons of attending law school mid-life while she searches out a killer.
Welcome to Grace Pointe… where most of the people are friendly, the church is to die for, and the sleuthing is as strong as the coffee.
EXCERPT
She was expected to live life today, not hide from it, although she would definitely be more careful not to spill coffee down her front like she had last week when she had had to finish a few hours of work with a large brown stain down the front of her light blue shirt. She took a deep breath and summoned up some blessings, running through a list she tried to keep prepared in her mind.
Life could be worse. A lot worse.
But things could also be better. A lot better.
How, she wasn’t sure yet.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CONNECT WITH MEGHAN: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a Cozy Mystery Prize Pack including a “I’d rather be reading a cozy mystery” tee-shirt – size and color to be determined by winner, a signed paperback of Murder at the Courthouse, and $10 Amazon gift card!
(Tee Sizes: small – xxx-large, colors: white, red, gray, pink, or green)
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 January 14, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on January 21, 2020. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Monday Motivation
"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"
— L. M. Montgomery
Have a wonderful week!
Sunday, January 12, 2020
"The Trouble in Willow Falls" by Pat Nichols ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead Tours)
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Trouble in Willow Falls by Pat Nichols, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: The Trouble in Willow FallsSeries: Willow Falls #2
Author: Pat Nichols
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: November 8, 2019
After a scathing blogger review and a negative Atlanta television newscast tarnish Willow Falls’ reputation as a secluded North Georgia tourist destination, the town council votes to use the remainder of its annual budget to hire a PR firm to restore the town's image. At a town-hall meeting, angry residents brainstorm ideas to boost Willow Falls’ appeal. When a second Atlanta television station announces plans to film a segment for its Around Georgia series, residents invest their time and limited resources to spruce up Main Street’s appearance. Willow Post editor Emily Hayes can't help but shake her head at her town's desperate efforts.
For months, Emily has submitted her novel to numerous publishers but received only rejections. When famous artist Naomi Jasper offers Emily much-needed cash to finish writing, then cast and direct a play about Willow Falls’ colorful history, Emily faces a difficult decision—postpone the rewrite of her novel or accept the project. After convincing her sister, Rachel Streetman, to partner with her, Emily puts her dreams on hold and agrees to take on the play. Failure to deliver is not an option.
All her life Rachel has dreamed of becoming a stage actress, so when she receives an invitation to audition for a respected Broadway director, Rachel abandons her sister and the Willow Falls play. But an incident with the director sends her reeling back into the arms of Charlie Bricker, her one true love. Out of options, Rachel reluctantly accepts her part in the town play with the slim hope that her performance might kick-start her career.
If anyone understands broken hearts, it's Willow Inn’s beloved innkeeper, Sadie Liles. Sadie has learned to live with the fact that love is the last thing she'll ever find. Then he walks through the front door.
As the town prepares for Redding Arms’ grand opening, five newcomers and one British tourist test the town’s quirky, lovable, argumentative residents’ souls. Digging deep to deal with the strife, bickering, and personal backstabbing will test Willow Falls in ways the small town never imagined. Could it be that the trouble in Willow Falls is the very thing that reminds its residents that honesty, love, and loyalty to one another is what binds them together?
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
EXCERPT
Emily parked three doors from the Willow
Post headquarters, shouldered her computer bag, and rushed past two empty
storefronts. Inside, she pushed through the angry crowd and found Mary Dixon
sitting at the worktable with her laptop open. She set her bag on the table.
“What’s going on and why are you giving my reporter a hard time?”
A woman wearing a pink
Guts, Grits, and Lipstick T-shirt pointed to the computer screen. “You need to
write a response to that good for nothing Travel Titan.”
Emily stared at a picture
of a female strolling along Main Street, her back to the camera. “Who?”
“She’s an undercover
podcaster who never shows her face.” Pink shirt crossed her arms and tapped her
biceps. “She secretly visits towns all over the country and writes reviews.
Kind of like a food critic showing up unannounced at a restaurant.”
“Okay, so she showed on
our streets. What did she say about Willow Falls?”
“She called our town a
real snore.”
“And Scott’s store a
failure because the doors were closed four days a week,” said another woman,
unleashing a barrage of comments.
“Can you believe she
called our fifty-foot waterfall mediocre?”
“What did she expect,
Niagara Falls?”
“Why didn’t she mention
the winery Charlie and his dad are gonna build or that a famous artist who used
to live here?”
“What I want to know is
who gave her all that information?”
“Not me.”
“Me neither.”
“Well she darn tootin’
talked to someone.” Pink shirt thumped Emily’s arm. “You’re gonna love this.
She said some unknown wannabe writer intended to publish a book about a town
that made watching paint dry exciting.”
Emily shook her head. And I worried about publishers.
“You want to know how she
ended her tirade?”
“Enlighten me.”
“She said unless tourists
are looking for mind-numbing boredom, they should pick someplace else to spend
their precious time and hard-earned money.”
“That’s way beyond
harsh.” Emily puffed her cheeks and blew air. “Maybe her rants won’t do too
much damage.”
“You don’t understand.”
Pink shirt tapped the computer screen. “This woman has thousands, make that
tens of thousands of followers.”
Gertie, one of the town’s
beloved senior citizens faced her neighbors. “This—what’d you call her—Titan
lady? Anyway, she’s right about our town.”
“What does she know,
she’s an old lady,” said a young man wearing a red ball cap.
Gertie waggled her finger
at him. “I don’t know squat about this podcast thingy, sonny, but I for sure
know boring when I see it.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CONNECT WITH PAT: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a $50 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 January 10, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on January 17, 2020. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Friday, January 10, 2020
"On Wings of Devotion" by Roseanna M. White ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead blog tour)
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: On Wings of DevotionAuthor: Roseanna M. White
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: January 7, 2020
Against Every Warning, She's Drawn Ever Closer to the Man Known as "Black Heart"
All of England thinks Major Phillip Camden a monster--a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But he would have preferred to die that day with his men rather than be recruited to the Admiralty's codebreaking division. The threats he receives daily are no great surprise and, in his opinion, well deserved.
As nurse Arabelle Denler observes the so-dubbed "Black Heart," she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. And when their families and paths twist together unexpectedly, she realizes she has a role to play in his healing--and some of her own to do as well.
With Camden's court-martial looming, an old acquaintance shows up, intent on using him in a plot that sends the codebreakers of Room 40 into a frenzy. With their fragile hopes for the future in the cross hairs, Arabelle and Camden must hold on to hope--and to each other--if they want to survive.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Christianbook
EXCERPT
Making sure his usual smirk
was in place, Camden moved to his host with a hand outstretched.
“Thank you for
having me, Your Grace. It wasn’t an entirely wretched evening.”
Stafford laughed and
clasped his hand. “The highest of compliments from the likes of you. But why
are you off so early?”
“Things to do.” He had to
find someone with an auto to lend him tomorrow. And petrol enough to drive it
out of London, where he could intercept Arabelle Denler on her way to visiting
her friend. And determine a way to get said borrowed vehicle back to whomever
he ended up borrowing it from.
He could just show up at
the Denler residence and lay his case before her. But if he was going to
disrupt someone’s entire life, he might as well give her a story to tell about
it. And who else could claim to have been kidnapped by the infamous Black
Heart? With her father’s permission, but no one needed to know that part.
“Stay out of trouble,
Camden.” Perhaps with some, it would have been a teasing farewell. But the duke
was serious.
Cam grinned. “What fun would
that be?” He backed up a step, two, and raised a hand in farewell to the
collection at large. “Good evening, gentlemen. Give the ladies my regards.”
A few minutes later, he
had coat and hat and was back out in the frigid night, whistling his way to the
nearest tube station.
It was going to work. It
was. He had some details to sort out yet, true, but they’d fall into place. Or
be wrestled there. His mind flipped through the puzzle of it during the ride
home. There were a few chaps at the office with automobiles. He hated to owe
any of them a favor, but . . . well, desperate times and all that.
He hurried to his flat,
let himself inside—it was much tidier after Mother’s visit—and stopped dead in
his tracks. Someone was here. The lights were on, the scent of tea drifted over
him, and a hum came from the sofa that he’d recognize anywhere. He let a curse
slip out, largely because he knew it would put an end to the humming. “What the
devil are you doing here?”
The intruder rose from
the couch with a smile. “Trying to chase the devil out of you, Phillip.”
He snorted and moved to
give his kid brother a crushing hug. “Good luck with that one.” He grinned as
he pulled away. “Actually . . . your timing couldn’t be better.
You’re going to help me kidnap a girl tomorrow, Jer.”
His brother didn’t wince.
Didn’t flinch. Didn’t moan. He just sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.
“Heaven help me. What have you got us into this time?”
MY REVIEW
This is the second installment in the "Codebreakers" series, and it's one fans of historical fiction may want to check out. The author has a way with words that brings the characters and settings to life. However, things did seem to drag, at times, before picking up mid-way through the novel. I've read other books by White, and I've enjoyed them a bit more than this series. The pacing just feels a bit different with this series. It could be beneficial to read the books in order, and if you like the first one, you'll likely enjoy this one. Be sure to read the author's note, as well. This book was just okay for me.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
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. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
CONNECT WITH ROSEANNA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a On Wings of Devotion inspired prize pack including a Recreation RFC Pilot Wings pin, a mini globe, Cadbury Chocolate, Caddie the Cocker Spaniel (handmade by Roseanna), and One Seat and Tea Package for an Online Tea Party Book Club with Roseanna (Winner's choice of scheduled dates. Includes treats, loose-leaf tea, and book club goodies. A $25 value! For more information, visit http://www.roseannamwhite.com/tea-party-book-club/.)!
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 January 7, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on January 14, 2020. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Thankful Thursday: His Encouragement #5
Welcome to Thankful Thursday: His Encouragement. I am blessed to be part of a group of bloggers who'll be sharing a bit of encouragement through Scripture verses. I hope this post blesses you as you finish the week and that you find peace, strength, and comfort in the Lord.
Happy New Year! I don't know about you, but at the end of each December, I still write out a few resolutions I hope to achieve in the upcoming year. I also look over the ones I wrote the prior year to see what progress, if any, I made on them. Many years, I'm pleasantly surprised to see that I made some headway on what I'd hoped to achieve. Of course, there are always things I didn't "complete." Some resolutions come along into the new year, and some don't. I used to get down on myself for not being able to check off all I'd resolved to do in the past year. About eight years ago, I revamped how I did things after reading about "one word." While I still write a few resolutions, I've changed the focus of them, and I've added in the concept of "one word" to focus on for the new year. This has helped me keep a more positive outlook on things.
Many people view a new year as the perfect time to revive big dreams and make new plans. It's a clean slate. A fresh start. Everything seems bright.
For Christ-followers, there's no need to wait for a new year to be excited about the future. God has a plan for each of us. It's grander than we could ever envision. And, it's not dependent on whether or not we meet yearly resolutions. You can rest in the fact that today's verse is as true as it ever has been:
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Have a blessed New Year!
What Scripture is encouraging you today? Share it in the comments.
You can check out more of His Encouragement from my fellow bloggers:
Nicole @ Christian Fiction Girl
Trisha @ Joy of Reading
Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home
Jessica @ A Baker's Perspective
Gina @ Stories By Gina
Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes
Andi @ Radiant Light
Becca @ The Becca Files
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