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Wednesday, November 28, 2018

A Study in Shifters by Majanka Verstraete

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Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Lost Christmas Memories by Dana Mentink

Lost Christmas Memories FB Banner copy.jpg

Lost Christmas Memories
About the Book

Book: Lost Christmas Memories
Author: Dana Mentink
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense/Christmas
Release Date: November 1, 2018
A witness with amnesia
Can she trust this Gold Country Cowboy with her life?
Tracy Wilson witnessed a murder—but after a head injury, she can’t remember what she saw. Now someone plans to silence her for good, and only cowboy Keegan Thorn believes her. With a killer after her at Christmas, Tracy is running out of time to remember…and falling dangerously hard for the cowboy who could break her heart.
My Thoughts:
I've read all the books in this series and I was excited to get to Keegan's story.  I loved the previous ones but there was something that just called to me about Keegan (it may be that I can relate to his hot-head tendencies but we won't go there). His story didn't disappoint.  Keegan sees a woman in danger and jumps in with both feet.
I liked Tracy.  She isn't a quiet shy woman, but one that can take care of herself.  The way she and Keegan meet made me giggle a bit. I absolutely loved Tracy's grandpa, he was the best! There was plenty of action and I loved catching up with the Thorn family. The story was great and I loved the changes in the characters that the author shows.  The ending seemed a bit fast but that also fits with Keegan's personality so it worked.
It was a 5/5 for me.  I truly have come to love this family!
Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book (via CelebrateLit).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Dana MentinkDana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over thirty five titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Harvest House. Dana was thrilled to be a semi-finalist in the Jeanne Robertson Comedy With Class Competition. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, a chubby box turtle and a feisty parakeet. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com.

Guest Post from Dana

Writing this book was bittersweet for me. It was lovely to finally be able to tell youngest Thorn brother Keegan’s story, but I sure am sorry to say goodbye to this series! It was such fun to write about these four kinsmen and the family bonds that held them together through all manner of murder and mayhem! Here at Mentink Manor, we have recently sent a bear cub away to college for the first time. It feels like I have lost a limb now that my Boo Boo is gone! Fortunately, we will enjoy having her home for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Though it won’t be a cozy country Christmas like it is for Keegan (we live in a city of 80,000 here in Northern, CA) we will be thrilled to have all our family home to celebrate together (Mama Bear, Papa Bear, two cubs, a naughty terrier, and a senior citizen box turtle!) I hope you enjoy this last installment in the Gold Country Cowboy series. I am sending along our best wishes for a blessed holiday season, from our Mentink household to yours!

Blog Stops

Christian Bookaholic, November 22
Among the Reads, November 22
Inklings and NotionsNovember 23
Blogging With Carol, November 23
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 24
Moments, November 25
Simple Harvest Reads, November 25
Genesis 5020, November 26
SusanLovesBooks, November 26
Remembrancy, November 26
Kat’s Corner Books, November 27
Pause for Tales, November 27
Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 27
Quiet quilter, November 28
Book by Book, November 29
A Rup Life, November 29
Older & Smarter?, November 30
Have A Wonderful Day, November 30
Cafinated Reads, November 30
KarenSueHadleyDecember 1
Lighthouse AcademyDecember 1
Daysong ReflectionsDecember 1
Bibliophile Reviews, December 2
Bigreadersite, December 3
Texas Book-aholic, December 4
Carpe Diem, December 4
Godly Book Reviews, December 5

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away a grand prize of a copy of Lost Christmas Memories, a $50 Amazon gift card and this cute reading charms necklace!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d626/lost-christmas-memories-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, November 26, 2018

Strategem by Robin Caroll

Stratagem FB Banner copy

About the Book

9781683227304
Book: Stratagem
Author: Robin Caroll
Genre: Christian Suspense
Release Date: November, 2018

A High-Stakes Simulation Adventure Leaves Grayson Thibodeaux the Prime Suspect. . .for Murder

Deep in the gritty underbelly of New Orleans, psychologist Grayson Thibodeaux loses everything when his wife leaves him to climb her company’s corporate ladder. He buries himself in his job of creating mind-bending adventure games for businesses as team-building explorations. When his ex-wife’s company hires Grayson’s to create an elaborate game, he doesn’t see how things can get worse. Until she dies during the course of the game he created…making him the prime suspect for murder.

My Thoughts:
I got into this book from the start. Grayson and his business partner create games to help 
companies select candidates for jobs. He and his ex aren't exactly on good terms (to put it
nicely).  Against his better judgment, his firm agrees to take a job for the company his ex works
for and everything falls apart.  His last interaction with her is an argument before she dies.
There are plenty of possible suspects and the author does a great job with building the 
suspense and formulating more questions without answers.  I loved thinking I knew who it was
and then changing my mind, only to change it again, and again, and again. I felt so bad for 
Grayson at times. Overall, I thought the author did a fantastic job with this book and weaving 
faith throughout.
It was a 4/5 for me.  I will be looking for more from this author.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via CelebrateLit).  I received
this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.


About the Author


RobinCaroll 
“I love boxing. I love Hallmark movies. I love fishing. I love scrapbooking. Nope, I’ve never fit into the boxes people have wanted to put me in.” Robin Caroll is definitely a contradiction, but one that beckons you to get to know her better. Robin’s passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others and come alongside them on their faith journey—aspects Robin weaves into each of her twenty-five-plus published novels. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends quality time with her husband of nearly three decades, her three beautiful daughters and two handsome grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home. Robin gives back to the writing community by serving as executive director/conference director for ACFW. Her books have been recognized in such contests as the Carol Award, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, Bookseller’s Best, and Book of the Year.
You can find out more about Robin by visiting www.robincaroll.com.

Guest post from Robin

Behind the Scenes: Robin Caroll Shares Her Inspiration for Writing Stratagem Dear Reader, Thank you for journeying to New Orleans in a web of deceit and confusion with me. Sharing a place that has such connection for me was a pure joy. South Louisiana offers such a laid-back attitude that I often miss “home.” I hope you’ll enjoy sampling a taste of the flavor of Louisiana. Years ago I watched the movie The Game with Michael Douglas and Sean Penn and was enthralled. There’s just something grabbing about messing with a person’s mind and life by using their own feelings and instincts against them. When this story of Stratagem first began forming, I wanted to use all that intrigue to mess up the game master’s life. The end result is quite the ride! As the characters came alive to me, I found the theme of forgiveness and acceptance coming out in the story. Some of the emotions within this story are very personal to me, and I’m honored I was able to share them with you. It is my wish that you may be touched by Grayson’s faith journey as well. Until next time. . . -Robin

Blog Stops

Midnight Bookaholic, November 17
Back Porch Reads, November 18
Rebekah’s Quill, November 18
By The Book, November 19
Genesis 5020, November 19
All-of-a-kind Mom, November 19
Lighthouse Academy, November 20
Inklings and notionsNovember 20
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 21
Splashes of JoyNovember 21
Moments, November 21
Just the Write Escape, November 22
Mary Hake, November 22
Simple Harvest Reads, November 22 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Bigreadersite, November 22
Aryn The Libraryan , November 23
Multifarious, November 23
Bibliophile Reviews, November 24
Remembrancy, November 24
amandainpaNovember 24
Margaret Kazmierczak, November 25
Pause for Tales, November 25
Book by Book, November 25
Livin Lit, November 26
Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 26
Baker kella, November 26
Daysong ReflectionsNovember 27
Texas Book-aholic, November 27
Painting with Words, November 28
Maureen’s Musings, November 28
Janices book reviews, November 29
Carpe Diem, November 29
Godly Book Reviews, November 30


Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of Stratagem!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d629/stratagem-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Secrets by Beckie Lindsey

Secrets FB banner copy

About the Book

SecretsBook: Secrets
Author: Beckie Lindsey
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: February, 2018
Every girl has a secret she hopes the light will never find–but the demons already have.
Four girls. Four sets of secrets. Four searching for answers.
Mackenzie is the shy, awkward new girl at school, depressed and desperate for a real friend. When she stumbles upon the deepest secret of a sarcastic, angry-at-the-world track star, Krystal, they become instant enemies-especially about the flirtatious baseball player, Bryce.
Tammi, a gloomy singer/musician who couldn’t care less about what others think of her, meets Sadie, a dancer and a people-pleaser with a cotton candy disposition. They have nothing in common until their lives begin to collide in more ways than one.
As the girls’ worlds begin to converge, their secrets rather than their similarities draw them together. Meanwhile, all that’s kept hidden has left them vulnerable to a battle in an invisible realm where demonic creatures fight to keep the girls chained to their pasts while angels of light work to free them.
Can good ever come from evil? Can beauty ever arise from ashes?

My Thoughts:
Honestly, this book took me a bit to get into.  The switching perspectives and number of characters but the author did a good job of bringing them all together. There are some seriously hard topics in this book that every parent should know about.  I loved the angels/demons and how realistic the situations were.  We may not see either of the entities, but they are there with us, good and bad.
It is a YA book, and I think if they are mature enough, most should read this.  I know a lot of kids go through the bullying, eating disorders, and just questions in general about everything but especially about faith.  The book makes you stop and think and that is good.
Overall it was a 4/5 for me.

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book (via CelebrateLit). I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Beckie LindsayBeckie Lindsey is an award-winning poet, author, blogger, and the editor of Southern California Christian Voice, a division of One Christian Voice, a national news syndicating agency. She is a major coffeeholic and enjoys a good book with a cat on her lap. She also loves to hike and hang out with family and friends. Beckie and her husband, Scott have three adult children, two adorable cats and live in California.

Guest Post from Beckie

Why I write YA and the BFA series
By Beckie Lindsey

I believe a teenager still exists inside each of us.

We hear a familiar tune from our “glory days” and are instantly tapping our toes. Mentally, we’re back in high school —poofy bangs, scrunchie, neon off-the-shoulder sweatshirt — and all. Oh, wait. That’s me back in the ‘80s!

Ah, yes. There is something wonderfully awful about those coming-of-age years.

From the first kiss to the first breakup, there are memories we cherish and some we don’t care to ever revisit. Being a teen can be exciting, confusing, painful, joyous, or even all of those things at once!

No matter how different your teenage experience was from mine, one thing is true for us all: these years have an enormous impact on who we become as adults. We can all sympathize with the plight of puberty and the longing for independence and acceptance. Yeah, there’s still a teenager in all of us!

These are the reasons I write YA.

My hope is to use the power of storytelling to move past barriers and open hearts to accept how much God loves and desires a personal relationship with us.

At every age, we all need the grace and love of Jesus.

In the Beauties from Ashes (BFA) series, I write about relatable characters with difficult issues and traumatic pasts to enlighten readers about the unseen spiritual battle referred to in Scripture. Each character has a secret that has left them vulnerable to the battle in an invisible realm where demonic creatures fight to keep them chained to their pasts and angels of light work to free them.

The characters and their issues are complex, just like real life. In fact, some of the topics are often considered too taboo to talk about openly. But what is left in the dark, festers and grows. It is only in the light that we can be free. In the BFA series, readers experience the character’s quest for truth, love, grace, and freedom while hopefully finding the same for themselves.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, November 13
Inklings and notionsNovember 14
Genesis 5020, November 15
Multifarious, November 16
Blogging With CarolNovember 16
Carpe Diem, November 17
Godly Book Reviews, November 19
Robin Is Bookish, November 20
RemembrancyNovember 20
The Becca Files, November 21
Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 22
amandainpaNovember 23
Bibliophile Reviews, November 24
Janices book reviews, November 25
Bigreadersite, November 26

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Beckie is giving away a grand prize of a $30 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d56f/secrets-celebration-tour-giveaway