Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Great Summer Countdown Day 8- The Match Up by Laura L. Walker
Having been raised in Arizona, Laura L. Walker and her husband whom she met at Northern Arizona University think it's a great place to raise their six children. Laura and her family enjoy camping on beautiful Mt. Graham, reading, and learning history together. At the end of the day, Laura loves to curl up with a good book or write one of her own. The Matchup is her second novel.Q&A With the Author:
1.
How do you spend your free time?
I like to sew, although I don’t do a whole
lot of that these days. I also cook and clean and run kids around to various
activities…oh, this is supposed to be about my free time. Oops. I read. I read A LOT to calm my jangled nerves at
the end of the day. Or else I daydream and write what I daydream. But I usually
don’t have time for both, so I have to decide which activity I’m most in the
mood for.
1. What is the thing you struggle
with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?
See answer for #2.
5. What
is your favorite part of writing?
Connect with the Author here:
The last thing Valerie wants is to work for Gage Logan. But Valerie's husband walked out on her and her children. Now she needs a job. Gage, on the other hand, has just taken custody of his four-year-old son and is swamped trying to balance his career, be a daddy, and fix past mistakes. Together they discover that when it comes to their faith and each other, it's all about second chances.
Snippet:
Valerie smiled wanly. “You can go
inside, if you’d like. We’re going to be here for a while.”
Leaning against a post and
crossing his arms like he had all the time in the world, Gage replied, “No, I’m
good.” The truth was, he was concerned about Valerie. A few seconds ago, she’d
given the impression that she was indifferent to her child’s needs. Upon closer
inspection, however, she appeared to be on the verge of tears.
“Please, Gage? I need a few
minutes alone with my son.”
Yep. Her voice was definitely
shaky. Pushing himself off against the post, he came closer and crouched down
in front of her. “Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked softly.
She shook her head, keeping her
gaze down. Something about the way she rubbed Justin’s back while
simultaneously cradling his head in her arms touched a place in Gage’s heart
that had long been dead.
“Valerie,” he said softly.
She lifted her eyes to him. Gage’s
heart constricted at the sorrow he found there. Who would have imagined when
they were young that they’d both be single parents? He’d always teased her so
that he could see a flare of indignation light her gaze. That fire had apparently
been extinguished a long time ago.
He’d have to see if he could
ignite it.
To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page
Monday, July 18, 2016
Great Summer Countdown Day 7- Proposals and Poison by Rachelle J Christensen
Rachelle is the award-winning author of ten books, including The Soldier’s Bride (A Kindle Scout Selection), Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things, Veils and Vengeance, and Christmas Kisses: An Echo Ridge Anthology. Her novella, “Silver Cascade Secrets,” was included in the Rone Award–winning Timeless Romance Anthology, Fall Collection. Rachelle loves laughing with her husband while raising five children and dozens of chickens on a little farm in rural Idaho. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in music.
Q&A With the Author:
3. What is the thing you struggle with the most
while writing? And how do you defeat it? My own self-doubt. I have to push past
my fears and insecurities and put the words on the paper. I reassure myself
that there will be plenty of time to edit later, so just get the story written.
Like the saying goes, You can’t edit a blank page!
4. What kind of music do you listen to while you
write? A lot of times I don’t listen to anything, but when I do listen it’s
music that matches the mood of what I’m writing. I really enjoy listening to
Christian music stations because I can stream from my computer and plug my headphones
in and not hear any of the fighting/laughing/screaming that is usually a
constant in a houseful of 5 kids.
Connect with the Author here:
Love can be a very dangerous thing.
At least it seems that way to Adri Pyper, the premier wedding planner in Sun Valley, Idaho. When one of her clients dies mysteriously, Adri takes the advice of the local detective and swears she will stay out of the investigation . . . this time. Luke Stetson's involvement in the case, along with the possibility of a kiss between the two, should be enough incentive to keep Adri out of trouble. But when a dog-themed wedding is almost ruined by a suspect, Adri and her assistant, Lorea, are thrust into private eye mode. When poison enters the picture, even a reluctant sleuth can’t steer clear of danger.
Snippet:
The
afternoon sun had the asphalt steaming when I closed the door of my wedding
shop on my way to run errands. Summer was notoriously busy for weddings, and
July promised no respite from the work ahead. I couldn’t complain about my
workload, though, because it made me happy to finally be in a place where my
life was falling into a somewhat predictable routine. It also kept me from
obsessing over my relationship status with Luke Stetson.
At the moment, Luke was in court, working a messy divorce case that was ballooning into so much drama he’d had to cancel on me three times in the past two weeks. The case involved the sister of Lily Rowan, one of my new clients. Lily was the happy part of the story, because she just got engaged to Tim Esplin—the vet I would take my cat to this afternoon. Lily wanted a November wedding, and since it was already July ninth, I was pushing to get the most important decisions made so we could progress with the rest of her plans.
My phone beeped, and I looked at the reminder on my calendar. In one hour I would be meeting with Lily to talk about the theme she and Tim wanted for their celebrations.
Sliding my finger across the screen, I dismissed the reminder, only to once again see the text from Luke. He’d canceled our lunch date by text this morning and still hadn’t called. I wondered when the case would be over, and if he’d have more free time or get bogged down in another case.
Well, my work almost kept me from obsessing about Luke for, like, two minutes, I thought, frowning. As I slid into my car, I considered the question that had entered my mind right after Luke canceled our lunch date. Would Luke Stetson, divorce attorney, ever be able to love again? And should I, Adri Pyper, wedding planner, be spending time (a.k.a. pursuing a relationship) with him?
The elusive answer shimmered like the heat from the pavement, just out of reach. I shook off thoughts of Luke and cranked the air conditioner up on my way to the consignment store located just a mile from my shop. Everybody’s Closet had a summer fling sale going on with new merchandise, and Necia kept me in the loop since I was always on the lookout for vintage and unique decor to use in my weddings and parties. It was the height of yard-sale season, and Necia usually got in all the leftovers from people’s garage sales. I loved going to yard sales and finding great bargains, but too many weekend weddings had me missing the early morning sales. Everybody’s Closet was the next best thing.
The parking lot only had one other vehicle, a single-cab white pickup that didn’t belong to Necia. She usually walked to work in the summer months. I pulled in next to the pickup, right in front of the store, and put my car in park. When I looked up, my eyes locked with those of a man standing in front of the doors, holding a rifle.
The silver metal of the stock gleamed in the hot afternoon sun, and I blinked, waiting for my brain to catch up to the strange sight before me. The man was short and stocky with dark brown hair, and as I studied him, he smiled and moved his rifle, pointing it toward the sky. I sucked in a breath when the man stepped forward. My windows were down, and the sound of robins trilling cheerfully carried across the parking lot. He said something in a different language. It wasn’t Spanish—I spoke a little, and his words had a Slavic sound to them. Regardless of the language, I was pretty sure he was swearing.
I fumbled for the window and door lock controls. My throat went dry as the man looked at me again and fired a shot into the air. I covered my ears and screamed, reaching for the gearshift to back out of the parking lot. My hand slipped and my car went into neutral. When I moved to put it in gear, the car died . . .
Read more here! Available in print, ebook (all platforms), and audiobook.
At the moment, Luke was in court, working a messy divorce case that was ballooning into so much drama he’d had to cancel on me three times in the past two weeks. The case involved the sister of Lily Rowan, one of my new clients. Lily was the happy part of the story, because she just got engaged to Tim Esplin—the vet I would take my cat to this afternoon. Lily wanted a November wedding, and since it was already July ninth, I was pushing to get the most important decisions made so we could progress with the rest of her plans.
My phone beeped, and I looked at the reminder on my calendar. In one hour I would be meeting with Lily to talk about the theme she and Tim wanted for their celebrations.
Sliding my finger across the screen, I dismissed the reminder, only to once again see the text from Luke. He’d canceled our lunch date by text this morning and still hadn’t called. I wondered when the case would be over, and if he’d have more free time or get bogged down in another case.
Well, my work almost kept me from obsessing about Luke for, like, two minutes, I thought, frowning. As I slid into my car, I considered the question that had entered my mind right after Luke canceled our lunch date. Would Luke Stetson, divorce attorney, ever be able to love again? And should I, Adri Pyper, wedding planner, be spending time (a.k.a. pursuing a relationship) with him?
The elusive answer shimmered like the heat from the pavement, just out of reach. I shook off thoughts of Luke and cranked the air conditioner up on my way to the consignment store located just a mile from my shop. Everybody’s Closet had a summer fling sale going on with new merchandise, and Necia kept me in the loop since I was always on the lookout for vintage and unique decor to use in my weddings and parties. It was the height of yard-sale season, and Necia usually got in all the leftovers from people’s garage sales. I loved going to yard sales and finding great bargains, but too many weekend weddings had me missing the early morning sales. Everybody’s Closet was the next best thing.
The parking lot only had one other vehicle, a single-cab white pickup that didn’t belong to Necia. She usually walked to work in the summer months. I pulled in next to the pickup, right in front of the store, and put my car in park. When I looked up, my eyes locked with those of a man standing in front of the doors, holding a rifle.
The silver metal of the stock gleamed in the hot afternoon sun, and I blinked, waiting for my brain to catch up to the strange sight before me. The man was short and stocky with dark brown hair, and as I studied him, he smiled and moved his rifle, pointing it toward the sky. I sucked in a breath when the man stepped forward. My windows were down, and the sound of robins trilling cheerfully carried across the parking lot. He said something in a different language. It wasn’t Spanish—I spoke a little, and his words had a Slavic sound to them. Regardless of the language, I was pretty sure he was swearing.
I fumbled for the window and door lock controls. My throat went dry as the man looked at me again and fired a shot into the air. I covered my ears and screamed, reaching for the gearshift to back out of the parking lot. My hand slipped and my car went into neutral. When I moved to put it in gear, the car died . . .
Read more here! Available in print, ebook (all platforms), and audiobook.
To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page
The Three Stones of Bethany by April Marcom Blog Tour
The kingdom of Bethany was once a beautiful place made up of five magical nations, each with their own special gifts. It all changed in a day, however, when the murderous dredgelings arrived. No one quite knows where they came from or how they keep multiplying, no matter how many are killed in the long, cruel war they’ve waged. All seems to be lost, until a human girl named Taylor is mistakenly transported to Bethany. Kane, the king over these nations, despises her whole-heartedly at first, and then she makes him laugh for the first time since the devastation began years ago. And the earthling manages to find new ways to surprise him with her valor and loyalty every single day. Unfortunately, Taylor’s only wish through their dangerous quest to reunite three magical stones and save the kingdom, aside from surviving this fearful place, is to return home.
But as fate goes, she soon discovers the only way to recapture the stones and save the lives of the royals she’s come to love as her first real family is to give up any hope of ever returning to her old life. In the end it all comes down to what sort of hero she truly is, one to her own self, or one to entire nations.
Find all of April Marcom's book here
April Marcom is a Pre-K teacher's assistant and mother of three. Her greatest passion, second only to her family and faith, is writing romance. Like the characters in her stories, there's nothing more important to her than the people she loves.
April has enjoyed writing fiction since grade school, but only began pursuing publication in recent years. She is the author of such books as Good vs. Evil High and Wisteria and the Pirate Assassin. Besides writing, she loves baking, hiking, watching old movies, and dreaming of faraway places.
Connect with the Author here:
I give 4 of 5 stars
I received this book as an ARC, I requested to review it because the information given captured my attention. I can be picky about my books, but as an author I'm allowed. But when I started reading The Three Stones of Bethany, I was captivated. The characters are very well developed and the world April created for them, makes the reading experience even better. I enjoy when a book leaves me wanting more, but not mad that there wasn't more. The plot was developed and explained flawlessly throughout the book, keeping the reader in the loop, and by the end I was satisfied with the story that was told. Yes, I would love to read another, but I not mad it ended because it finished in a good spot. I expect great things from April.
B.Gillilan
To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page
Sunday, July 17, 2016
A Gateway to Hope by E. C. Jackson Blog Tour
Twenty-one-year-old Neka is a bit of an introvert, she also happens to be stunningly beautiful.
When she discovers her friend James is about to be dumped, she sees the perfect opportunity to escape from her quiet life. Can she summon the courage to leave it all behind?
James Copley comes from a ruthless family. It’s rubbed off. Years ago, he disengaged from his brother’s smear campaign, but now his father has offered him an ultimatum, “Get married or lose your seat at the table.” Plotting to stamp his design on the family business, he proposes to a woman, even though he doesn’t love her. But his carefully laid plans start to unravel when she leaves him on the day she’s due to meet his family. Could years of planning his comeback vanish with her departure?
A possible solution comes in an unexpected form: Neka. She’s not only a friend, but the daughter of his benefactor. And she’s right there, offering to support him. But will her support stretch to marriage? He attempts to win her over to his plan but collides with her powerful father who wants to leverage the situation for his own gain.
In their fight for survival and love, they are forced to face some uncomfortable truths.
Can they overcome thwarted dreams and missed chances to find true love, or does forcing destiny’s hand only lead to misery?
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 led naturally to her current endeavor, writing inspirational romance novels. Her mission: spiritual maturity in the body of Christ through fiction.
Connect with the Author here:
Top Ten List
Top Ten Favorite List
Favorite book: Pride and Prejudice
Favorite soda: ginger ale
Favorite ice cream: French vanilla
Favorite cake: yellow cake with chocolate icing
Favorite candy: milk chocolate
Favorite flower: tiger lily
Favorite season: summer
Favorite musical: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Favorite television channel: HGTV
Favorite characters: Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple
To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page
For more content, fun and prizes check out these two events below for this Series!
To join the tour for the second book in the series click here
To join the Blitz for the book series click here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)