Wednesday, December 9, 2020

A Home for Her Daughter by Jill Weatherholt

About the Book

Book: A Home for Her Daughter

Author: Jill Weatherholt

Genre: Inspirational Romance

Release Date: September 1, 2020

Inheriting a house, money and a camp is the fresh start Janie Edmiston has been praying for.
But the will stipulates Janie must work with her childhood friend—and crush—Drew Brenner, to get the camp running…or lose it all. The newly divorced mother and the widower aren’t looking for love, but sometimes it takes a child to show two broken hearts the way forward…together.

My Thoughts:

I love stories like this. Janie and her daughter need a fresh start and a series of events happens and she gets the fresh start, with a minor snag. She isn't the only one who gets a new lease in life. Her daughter is the one who stole my heart from the start. I absolutely fell in love with all the characters.

Drew is the snag. Janie and Drew were old friends and have to work together. I like that the author made their stories realistic and that they have to work through their histories. It wasn't a simple thing to work through their issues. Overall it was a great story and I truly enjoyed it.

It was a 5/5 for me.

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

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

By day, Jill Weatherholt works for the City of Charlotte. At night, and on the weekend, she

writes contemporary stories about love, faith and forgiveness for Harlequin Love Inspired.

Raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., she now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, but her heart belongs to Virginia.

She holds a degree in Psychology from George Mason University and Paralegal Studies Certification from Duke University.

She shares her life with her real-life hero and number one supporter. Their relationship grew on the golf course, and now they have one in their backyard.

Jill believes in enjoying every moment of this journey because God has everything under control.

More from Jill

I have a confession. I own a collection of journals. A huge collection. At last count, there were sixty-two beautifully bound books, some with plain covers, others with verses or artistic designs. You could say I’m a hoarder, but I find comfort in knowing I have an unlimited number of blank pages to record my hopes, dreams and prayers. That’s exactly what I did on June 22, 2008. On that day, I wrote the following:

I want to be a writer, not just a writer who keeps a journal or casually writes stories. I want to be a published writer. Lately, I’ve become obsessed with reading author’s websites, their bios, how they got started writing and how difficult or easy it was for them to get published. This is what I want to do with my life. This is what I will do. I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. God has put this dream in my heart and now I will pursue this dream.

Fast forward to March 31, 2015. I made a last-minute decision to enter Harlequin Love Inspired Blurb to Book Contest. I submitted a one sentence blurb, along with one page of the first and only book I’d ever written.

On April 13, 2015, I was stunned to learn I had advanced in the contest. I then submitted a synopsis and the first three chapters.

On May 15th, I was notified I had moved on in the contest. I was required to submit the entire manuscript. At that time, the book was merely a rough draft, so a lot of rewriting was required before my deadline.

On August 17, 2015, I received a call that forever changed my life. While working my day job, my cell phone rang—it was New York calling. An editor from Harlequin had called to offer me a contract on the first book I’d ever written. My first book Second Chance Romance was released on March 1, 2017.

Five published books later, I still fill my journals with my dreams and prayers.

Blog Stops

Through the Lens of Scripture, November 30

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 1

Britt Reads Fiction, December 1

Texas Book-aholic, December 2

Batya’s Bits, December 2

Vicky Sluiter, December 2

She Lives To Read, December 3

Inklings and notions, December 3

For Him and My Family, December 4

Labor Not in Vain, December 4

deb’s Book Review, December 5

lakesidelivingsite, December 5

Pause for Tales, December 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 6

Reviewingbooksplusmore, December 6

Older & Smarter?, December 7

Remembrancy, December 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 8

Artistic Nobody, December 8 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Hallie Reads, December 8

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 9

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, December 9

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 10

Captive Dreams Window, December 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 11

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 11

Lighthouse Academy Blog, December 11 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Splashes of Joy, December 12

Godly Book Reviews, December 12

Through the Fire Blogs, December 13

EmpowerMoms, December 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jill is giving away the grand prize of a $25 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/103f4/a-home-for-her-daughter-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

The Past Ever Present by Debra Coleman Jeter

About the Book

Book: The Past Ever Present

Author: Debra Coleman Jeter

Genre: Memoir

Release Date: August, 2020

A fly-on-the-wall account of making a television show, and a great examination of country
living in the first half of the twentieth century, The Past Ever Present revolves around the relationship between a boy and his grandfather. When Clay is cast as a regular in the TV series Christy, his grandfather Clifton serves as his on-set guardian. The series is set in a poor farm community, which is eerily similar to the one where Clifton grew up. Being on the set of the show provides a dramatic transformation for both, as Clay comes of age and Clifton comes to terms with his past.

My Thoughts:

This book got me. It made me think of the stories my gramps used to tell me before he passed and make me want to remind those who do still have grandparents to cherish and listen to them. The older generations really do have some of the best stories.

I love the stories and how the past and present are both shown. The author does a good job with the characters and their stories. It's a really good book that makes me nostalgic. I think most people would really enjoy it and could even learn from it.

It was a 4/5 for me.

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

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Debra Coleman Jeter has published in popular magazines, including Working Woman, New

Woman, Self, Home Life, Savvy, Christian Woman, and American Baby. Her first novel, The Ticket, was a finalist for a Selah Award, and her most recent, Song of Sugar Sands, a finalist for a 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Award. Her short story, “Recovery,” won first prize in a competition sponsored by Christian Woman; and her book The Past Ever Present (originally published as Pshaw, It’s Me Grandson) was a finalist in the USA Book News Awards. She is a co-writer of the screenplay for Jess + Moss, a feature film which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, screened at nearly forty film festivals around the world, and captured several international awards.

As the mother of Clay Jeter and the daughter of Clifton Coleman, Debra Coleman Jeter is uniquely qualified to tell their story.

More from Debra

For those of you familiar with Catherine Marshall’s novel Christy or with the two-season CBS television series based on that novel, The Past Ever Present should feel like an old friend. For those of you not familiar with Christy, consider The Past Ever Present an introduction to something you are bound to love.

I remember the day my son Clay was invited to audition for a television show called Christy. I did not make the connection, though I had read Christy years earlier. Then he was invited for a call-back in Townsend, Tennessee. It was there we first realized Kellie Martin (star of Life Goes On) had been cast as Christy; she was there that day, and Clay recognized her. Then I had a chance to read a section of the script, and I recognized the story, to my delight.

If you haven’t read Christy, you should. It is simply wonderful. If you love it, or if you are interested in true tales about child actors (my son Clay), or about growing up during the Great Depression (my dad Cliff Coleman), I hope you’ll love The Past Ever Present. The book was a finalist in the USA Book News Awards.

Clay is cast as a regular in the series Christy, filmed in the hills of eastern Tennessee, at the age of nine. Much of the usual struggle for recognition and approval associated with the Hollywood industry finds its way to this isolated mountain community. Because both Clay’s parents are working full time, his grandfather Clifton serves as Clay’s guardian. The television series being filmed is set in a poor farm community, much like the one where Clifton grew up. The show brings back memories for Clifton and, while Clay is working, he watches and remembers. The book highlights parallels between Clay’s antics and Clifton’s memories of his own, in addition to the parallels between the characters and their adventures in Christy and those in Clifton’s past.

Blog Stops

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 8

Inklings and notions, December 9

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 10

Blossoms and Blessings, December 11 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, December 11

For Him and My Family, December 12

deb’s Book Review, December 13

Sara Jane Jacobs, December 14

Stories By Gina, December 15 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 15

Artistic Nobody, December 16 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 17

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 18

Spoken from the Heart, December 19 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Debra is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

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/10465/the-past-ever-present-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, December 6, 2020

The Confident Hope by E.C. Jackson

About the Book

Book: The Confident Hope

Author: E.C. Jackson

Genre: Inspirational Romance

Release Date: September 15, 2020

Is there hope for this love between friends?

Pamela Hayes is a smart, successful business owner with a supportive family and a thriving bakery. She should be the happiest girl in the world. But she can’t shake the melancholy that accompanies every conversation she has with her best friend, Mark. Pamela doesn’t know how much longer she can hide her true feelings.

Why can’t Mark see how perfect they would be together? She would make a much better girlfriend than the one he currently has. Pamela prays he’ll come to his senses soon and realize he’s with the wrong girl. But when her dream comes true, it isn’t the fantasy she had envisioned.

There is trouble in paradise from the start, and all the red flags she’s been ignoring are starting to threaten her confidence…and her relationship with Mark. She’ll have to rely on family and her faith in God to help her secure the hope she so desperately needs.

My Thoughts:

This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. I had not problem understanding the story or events in the least. Mark and Pamela have wonderful chemistry. The two of them built on a friendship but have some rocky times too.

I thought the author did a great job making it all realistic and the characters face 'real' life. It wasn't a smooth story but more of a twisting and changing real life. There were parts that I thought got a little bogged down and slow, but for the most part, it was just a really good story.

It was a 4/5 for me.

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

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

E.C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. For three and a

half years she published the Confidence in Life newsletter for Alpha Production Ministries, in addition to writing tracts and devotionals. Teaching a women’s Bible study at her church for eleven years naturally led to her current endeavor of writing inspirational romance novels and teen and young adult fiction. Her mission: spiritual maturity in the body of Christ through fiction.

“The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on my website and Facebook author page. If every person reading my book feels connected to the characters, my job is done.

More from E.C. Jackson

When I started writing The Confident Hope, I had an idea of the general story and little else. The only thing concrete was the book’s title and the main characters’ names. Which isn’t surprising. I develop my storylines by letting the characters take me where they will.

As I stared at the computer monitor, I suddenly knew how to begin. Once I had that idea, the first chapter came into focus; then, once again, the words trickled onto the page.

I then had to answer the questions that would direct the story. “Who are Pam and Mark?” and “Why is their story important to tell?” Unfortunately, Pam’s and Mark’s lives mimic what happens to us all. Our hopes and dreams either live or die. Each decision the characters made highlighted who they are and how they chose to handle their seeming successes and defeats.

They could rejoice over obvious successes. Become prideful. Or fail to recognize those blessings. The couple could thank God that some of their aspirations failed. Or pray that the ones they self-fulfilled wouldn’t bankrupt their lives.

Writing about Pam and Mark matured me in numerous avenues. That is what I most treasured about these beloved characters. Viewing their lives added substance to my own during the two years I worked on their story.

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed.”

That scripture fed my heart through each trial I faced when penning my fourth book of the standalone hope series. Writing about these cherished characters increased my faith in God’s victorious hand.

Blog Stops

Sara Jane Jacobs, December 4

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 5

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 7

For Him and My Family, December 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 9

Texas Book-aholic, December 10

Inklings and notions, December 11

Captive Dreams Window, December 11

deb’s Book Review, December 12

Artistic Nobody, December 13 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 15

Simple Harvest Reads, December 16 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

By The Book, December 17 (Author Interview)

Holly Jo Morris, December 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, E.C. is giving away the grand prize of a $50 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/10457/the-confident-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Train to Laramie by Andrew Roth

About the Book

Book: Train to Laramie

Author: Andrew Roth

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: August 30

Runaway! Tess flees her lecherous stepfather but takes the wrong train, arriving in Laramie.
This end of tracks town bursts with workers building the Transcontinental Railroad, striving to lay the rails that will connect a nation. Threatened by outlaws, Tess is helped by Brett Calloway, a tie cutter for the Union Pacific. But when her stepfather locates her and joins the outlaws terrorizing the region, will her newfound faith in Christ be enough to guide Tess through the danger?

My Thoughts:

I really got into this story. Tess is running away because of her stepfather (and horrible people around, but mainly her stepfather). I think the author handled that part well without being too blatant in the descriptions of what her stepfather wanted. She gets on the wrong train, or does she? I love that the author showed our plans are not always God's plans for us.

Brett was awesome. He's a decent man when there seem to be few of those around. There is adventure and suspense. I honestly didn't want to put the book down and it's been a while since I had a historical book that I felt that way about. The author has a great writing style and I truly enjoyed the entire book.

It was a 4/5 for me.

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

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Author of Wildfire For Rose, Andrew Roth joined the U.S. Army before attending California
State University, Bakersfield. He taught American History for twenty-two years at the middle school level before beginning his literary career. Married for over thirty years to his wife, Laurie, Andrew has two married adult children and is a proud grandfather. A native of Kansas, Andrew was raised with a deep love and appreciation for history, particularly the Old West. Andrew’s hope is to glorify God and encourage readers through his writing.

More from Andrew

The American West has always fascinated me with ruggedly beautiful landscapes and the indomitable spirit of the pioneers. When building the Transcontinental Railroad, nothing could stop the people from their goal. This innovation and tenacity has shaped our soul, our character as a nation. This deep sense of perseverance encourages me through the tough times we face today.

Dedication

To our God and Creator, able to transform lives and redirect paths. Thank you, Savior.

“. . . And I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt.” –Jeremiah 31:4