Sunday, May 28, 2023

The Keys To Gramercy Park by Candice Sue Patterson

About the Book

Book: The Keys to Gramercy Park

Author: Candice Sue Patterson

Genre:Christian / Historical / Romance

Release date: April, 2023

Secrets Sealed Within a Wall Come to Light in Lower Manhattan

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Investigative historical journalist Andrea Andrews is tired of waiting tables to make ends meet. If she could find and write the next breakout story, she could secure a promotion with Smithsonian Magazine as their writer-at-large. But not much happens in lower Manhattan out of the ordinary until she discovers post-Civil War counterfeit bills hidden in the wall of her historic district apartment.

Politics have always been Beau Davidson-Quincy’s passion, despite his family’s real estate empire. His clean image and single status make him a target in the media as he prepares to build his campaign for New York governor. He has nothing to hide until a cute waitress unravels a mystery that could destroy his family’s reputation.

Two centuries earlier, wounded Civil War veteran Franklin Davidson lost everything—his house, his wife, his standing in society. In his darkest moment, he’s awarded a position with the newly formed Secret Service to combat the spread of counterfeit U.S. currency. His life and new home in Gramercy Park are the envy of his peers, but nothing is as it seems. Secrets are meant to be kept, and Franklin will take his to his grave.

Clink here to purchase       https://www.amazon.com/Keys-Gramercy-Park-Doors-Past/dp/163609533X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1681923499&sr=1-1

About the Author

Candice Sue Patterson studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature and is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, splitting wood, or decorating cakes, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes Modern Vintage Romance—where the past and present collide with faith. Her debut novel How to Charm a Beekeeper’s Heart was a 2012 ACFW First Impressions finalist and made INSPYs Longlist for 2016.

More from Candice

A locked secret garden in Manhattan with historical significance and the only ones privileged to step inside are the wealthy residents who purchase a key—count me in! The plot for The Keys to Gramercy Park was born at our dining room table when my husband looked up from the book he was reading and asked if I knew about Gramercy Park. I hadn’t, so we started Googling and discovered it was a real garden in Manhattan built in 1841 for the cream of society. The fact that it’s been off-limits to the public for one hundred and eight-two years instantly brought all kinds of story ideas to my mind.

Not long after, I discovered that Barbour Publishing Inc. was looking for dual-time stories to fill their Doors to the Past series. I love reading dual-time novels but I’d never written one. I love a good challenge, so I began plotting and before I knew it, I had another first—creating a villain.

I’ve only ever seen the New York City skyline from the New Jersey ferry that travels to and from the Statue of Liberty, so after the story was contracted, I spent several weeks researching Manhattan and Gramercy Park. New York is full of rich history and it was so fun to stumble across the historical details of The Player’s, Edwin Booth, and the stories behind each home along Gramercy Square.

One of my favorite things about writing this story was the juxtaposition of the timelines. We don’t have the present without the past, and what happens in the past affects the future, but the future can also determine how we view, feel, and learn about the past. That’s essentially what The Keys to Gramercy Park is about—the butterfly effect of past events reaching ahead two centuries with dire consequences. I love how in one scene the characters are sending telegraphs and in the next scene, they’re sending text messages.

What’s your favorite thing about dual-time novels? Make sure to check out the other books in the Doors to the Past series!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 26

lakesidelivingsite, May 26

Melissa’s Bookshelf, May 27

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 28

Blogging With Carol, May 28

Book Looks by Lisa, May 29

Connie’s History Classroom, May 29

Texas Book-aholic, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 30

Cover Lover Book Review, May 31

Where Faith and Books Meet, May 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 2

Blossoms and Blessings, June 2

Remembrancy, June 3

Holly’s Book Corner, June 3

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 4

Pause for Tales, June 4

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, June 5 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 6

Inklings and Notions, June 6

Simple Harvest Reads, June 7 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Labor Not in Vain, June 7

She Lives To Read, June 8

Books I’ve Read, June 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Candice is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a 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/2626e/the-keys-to-gramercy-park-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, May 27, 2023

The Title Wave by Chautona Havig

About the Book

Book: The Title Wave

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: April 25, 2023

All he wants to do is help people, but local women want to help themselves… to him!

When Henri Tupuola returned to Suamalie to open his holistic mental health clinic, he had no idea what he was getting into. After ten years in Australia getting his degree and practical experience under his mentor, the locals had all but forgotten the quiet “boy” who had always made them feel like he could see right through them.

Not anymore! The ladies of Lafoina are eager to meet the island’s therapist and spend hours staring deeply into his eyes on their weekly dates… ahem, sessions.

Desperate for relief, he hightails it down to The Title Wave and begs Ezra to order him a couple dozen copies of his own book. Yes, author copies would be cheaper, but he needs these things fast. Maybe if he hands out his book like an old-time quack handed out pills, the ladies will get the hint and leave him alone.

But when he tells his troubles to Ezra (who’s the therapist now?), and she jokes at how much her father would love to have people flocking to his “sessions” so to speak, Henri gets an idea that could save his sanity… if only Ezra will agree.

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

Click here to get your copy!

This story is about a second chance at love. It is the third story in this series. I recommend reading the series before this series to get the full experience of these island books. This is a story about both man and woman loving each other but afraid to let the other one know. It takes a near tragic for them to let each other know. The ending makes me want to read the next book now to see if the (book boat) can be saved. This is also a story about 1/2 of a couple pretending or are they? You can also found out why a girl

has the name Ezra Jeremiah, quite a cute story actually.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

It happens with every book—probably for every author. What “it” is… that’s always different. Sometimes it’s the moment you realize that your character has morphed into someone you didn’t intend for him to. Other times it might be that you discovered a huge plot hole in your mystery and there’s no way any of it would have happened (not that I’ve ever had to deal with that or anything). It could be that your characters don’t have chemistry (and that doesn’t have to be romance—friends should have it!). Let’s face it. Lots of things can derail a book.

And if you don’t lay some new track fast (think Gromit in A Grand Day Out laying tracks as fast as he can as the toy train hurtles him after the penguin), your story could end up as the biggest trainwreck this side of… wherever they have bad train wrecks.

Or in my case, sink the book boat.

So there was blithely typing my first chapter when I realized something was wrong with my premise for The Title Wave. See, I had a plan. This would be a fake-dating romance. A local therapist needs a fake girlfriend to get the women to quit hitting on him when he was supposed to be helping them with their problems. Reasonable right?

Yeah. There’s all kinds of problems with this… starting with the fact that I don’t actually enjoy FAST romances… and I wanted them together—like totally committed—by the end of the book. OOPS! Not only that, but come on. Fake boyfriend/girlfriend? Ezra is an MK. This girl isn’t going to want to live a deception like that. She’s got a sensitive conscience, thanks to close ties with the Holy Spirit Who indwells her. She’s not going to do that.

But I needed her to.

I have this group of ladies who read everything as I write it. Most have been with me for over ten years! So, when I realized my book was in serious trouble (as in drowning before it really got out to sea!), I went to them and told them what I wanted/needed to happen and why it wasn’t going to work.

Guess what? They came through for me (as they always do—love you, Escapeables!). After just a bit of tossing out ideas and lobbing them back and forth, things fell into place.

Yes, Henri will approach Ezra with the idea.

Yes, Ezra will have a fake boyfriend.

And yes, being the romance it is… they WILL be committed by the end and without irritating myself with a bunch of insta-love.

Somehow. Since I’m writing this before it all plays out, we’ll both have to see just how that all works out. Join me for a cruise through love-tossed waters?

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, May 24

Lots of Helpers, May 24

The Sacred Line, May 25

By the Book, May 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 27

Aryn The Libraryan, May 28

Texas Book-aholic, May 29

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 31

For Him and My Family, June 1

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 1

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 3

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, June 4 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 4

Simple Harvest Reads, June 5 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

She Lives to Read, June 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a 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/26266/the-title-wave-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, May 26, 2023

"Forever Yours" by Annee Jones

About the Book

Book: Forever Yours

Author: Annee Jones

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: January 13, 2023

He’s there on a whim. She’s there to help her aunt. They’re both missing something. Can it be each other?

“Find your Perfect Match this summer at the seaside…” The Forever Yours matchmaking agency is hosting a vacation package week in Seaview, Florida. Taking a break from her busy but unrewarding life in Chicago, Callie Winthrop has come to town to find respite at her beloved Aunt Fran’s bed and breakfast.

When the CEO of Forever Yours – who just happens to be staying at the inn for the event – offers Callie the opportunity to attend the activities and meet the most eligible bachelors in the country, how can she say no?

Jackson Thorne, a successful Tampa contractor, can’t believe the nerve of his brother, who actually thought it was a good idea to sign him up for a matchmaking vacation this summer. Jackson acknowledges, however, that he has been avoiding commitment ever since his last relationship ended in tragedy. Hence it may actually be good for him to start dating again – much as he would hate to admit it. Maybe there’s even a chance he could meet the woman of his dreams this summer?

Warm your heart by reading this sweet clean romance about starting over today! Bonus section with recipes included!

Clink here to purchase https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Yours-Clean-Annee-Jones-ebook/dp/B0BQ4WXVXD?crid=3QCTKWKDG8210&keywords=forever+yours+annee+jones&qid=1681871021&s=digital-text&sprefix=forever+yours+annee+jone,digital-text,152&sr=1-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=celelit-20&linkId=397b4eb477417730f2cc91801f6bb190&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This book is a short book about a match making summer weekend. It is a very clean read and has a few statements of Gospel truths as part of the story. There is a little bit of forgiveness in the tale as well.

There are questions and recipes at the end of the book and I think I am gonna try at least one of them.

I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

Annee Jones is an international bestselling author of romance, fantasy, and mystery. She is passionate about writing stories where dreams come true and love wins!

Professionally, Annee works as a disability counselor where she is honored to help her clients navigate through complex medical and legal systems while rediscovering their wholeness in Spirit.

Subscribe to Annee’s newsletter to stay up to date on new releases, sneak peeks, author parties, and exclusive giveaways: https://www.anneejones.com/newsletter

More from Annee

Bonus recipes are included!

This book features a rescue puppy named Peanut Butter!

You will find both recipes and pets in nearly all of my books!

Blog Stops

A Reader’s Brain, May 25 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 26

Texas Book-aholic, May 27

Beauty in the Binding, May 28 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 29

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 30

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, May 31 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 1

debs book review, June 2

Blossoms and Blessings, June 3 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, June 4 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, June 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 5

Vicky Sluiter, June 6 (Author Interview)

She Lives to Read, June 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Annee is giving away the grand prize package of an opportunity to name a character in a future book and a copy of the eBook!!

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/2626c/forever-yours-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, May 25, 2023

TheParent’s Battle Plan by Laine Lawson Craft

About the Book

Book:The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal

Author: Laine Lawson Craft

Genre: Non-fiction

Release date: March 14, 2023

You are not alone–there is hope and healing for every hurting heart.

Today’s technology has made sinful experiences and deadly choices accessible to our teenagers and young adults with just a click. And parents are left with the disappointments–and devastating fallout–of their children’s choices.

Through sharing her own story of praying three very wayward prodigals home, Laine Lawson Craft offers not only hope and insight, but also a practical, tried-and-true battle plan for parents walking this heartbreaking season of life. You’ll discover how to

handle the emotional roller coaster of trust
deal with your children’s self-destructive choices
pray emboldened by God’s promises
fight for your child’s destiny
and more

You can win the war of darkness over your children–even when you don’t get the miracle you asked for.

Click here to get your copy!

This book is filled with suggestions and prayers to help you while you wait for the return of your prodigal/prodigals children. There is even a chapter on grief.

I even think some of the suggestions on dealing with comments and gossip and etc can be useful for other things we deal with in life.

I wish I would have read this book before, which surprises me because I was for sure that this book had nothing for me because my daughter is happily married with two grown daughters( collage students) and my son died Nov 16 2021. But like I said above the book could be helpful in other areas of life. The activities at the end of each chapter might not be but I think you could exchange a few words and add your own for both the activities and the prayers. Because basically the book is about not accepting the blame for other people choices and about stepping away from worrying and trusting God.

I recommend this book for parents and others that would like a little help on what parents of prodigals go through. There is even comments on how parents snoop or spy and why that is wrong and could cause more damage. I could go on and say about the book but I think I will just say I think you need to read the book if you are a parent.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

Laine Lawson Craft(www.lainelawsoncraft.com) is a best-selling and award-winning author, popular media host, and in-demand speaker. The founder and publisher of WHOAwomen magazine (2010-2018), she regularly hosts online challenges and masterclasses as well as Facebook and Instagram Live events that reach thousands. Her Warfare Parenting podcast encourages parents of adult children. Laine and her husband, Steve, have three children and live in Florida.

More from Laine

I would love to introduce my friend, best-selling and award-winning author, whom you may not know yet with a little of the behind the scenes insight. She’s a mom, wife, and partners with God making impossible things become possible not only in her life but for thousands of others. She has a unique perspective because she had a seventeen-year-old marriage resurrect, a financial breakthrough after almost filing bankruptcy, a daughter healed from life-threatening illnesses, and three prodigal children delivered that are now free, whole, and healed. In 2006, she realized that what she was doing as a parent was not working. It seemed that her emotional pleas, rules, and religion weren’t helping her bring her prodigal back home. So she decided and made it my mission to partner with God at a whole new level and created a new way of parenting – one that would bring peace to her life, help millions of other parents, and bring their prodigals back home too. Her newest book, The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal is a must-read book to help parent’s with wayward teens and young adults.