Wednesday, July 31, 2019

"Riptide Rumors" by Melody Carlson

If the Tide Doesn’t Change, Who Will Pay the Price?

As autumn of 1916 descends upon the once-peaceful town of Sunset Cove, Anna McDowell has great hopes that the excitement of the summer will be over, now that a few of the key players in the rum-running ring have been arrested. But with a daring jailbreak getting the town in a dither again, she knows that the danger hasn’t passed for anyone in her coastal hometown.

With a mayoral election keeping tensions high and the authorities busy searching for those behind the jailbreak, Anna has plenty to keep the newspaper busy. But when her sixteen-year-old daughter begins making noises about leaving high school and abandoning dreams of college, Anna realizes that prohibition isn’t the only thing she needs to be worrying about.

How deep does the root of corruption run in their town? As she digs deeper, Anna is forced to put the concerns of her own heart on hold in an effort to save some of the people dearest to her.



Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women, and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, True Colors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including RT’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita, and the Gold medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog.

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"Riptide Rumors" by Melody Carlson is the second book in the "The Legacy of Sunset Cove" series. I think a reader would enjoy this novel without reading the first book but I recommend reading it first to get the full impact of the story.

These books are about family and are love stories. They are about newspapers editors and reporters. I don't know if there is going to be another novel in this series, but I personally hope there is because there is some questions left unanswered but since the book is about murder and prohibition, I suppose the ending is just like life and some mysteries are never solved.

In this novel, Anne is still struggling to make the newspapers the best it can be and still trying to make it in a man's world.  In the meantime, her daughter is growing up and struggling with school and trying to decide if she wants to continue or start her dream of owning a dress shop.

I was kept turning the pages because I was drawn into the scenes whether it was  about the newspaper  or Annie and Katy or the romances. 

I really liked the ending, and I have to say I am happy to report that I was right on who ended up with who except for one couple, now that one was a complete surprise.

This book had all the things that I like in books, mystery and faith, love, and forgiveness, family.

This book's characters were characters that were easy to believe in and I think the two books would make a really good Hallmark mystery movie.

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

"Knight in Shining Apron" by Carole Brown


 Starli Cameron gave up her career plans to be a concert pianist to marry the man of her dreams. He turned out to be a nightmare. When he dies in a car accident, Starli takes the insurance money and builds a successful and upscale restaurant: Apple Blossoms in rural West Virginia. Threats from someone determined to ruin her life and the suspicious romantic advances from her new chef force Starli to search her heart and finally turn to God for real healing.

Sir Joel Peterman-Blair, top notch chef from England, is roped by his uncle, into filling in as head Chef at Apple Blossoms. Joel, with his sanguine-personality, has always laughed and flirted his way through life. But now, confronted with and attracted to the most beautiful woman he’s ever met, Joel has to prove his sincerity and depth of character to his icy-cold employer. Can his love for God and for this woman reach out far enough to rescue her from her own mistrust and bitterness? Will he learn that life is not all play? 

And can they both work together to find the source of threats that seem to be coming from Starli’s past?

Bio: 
Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, she enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband have ministered and counseled across the country. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 



















"Knight in Shining Apron" by Carole Brown is the second novel in the (An Appleton, WV Romantic Mystery) series.  I think even if you didn't read the first one book , this would still be an enjoyable read. It is a love story but it is also a mystery.  The title is really a great fit for this story.

Starli wants to have the best restaurant in town but she is afraid because her dead husband brother is threatening, but is all the threats coming from him or is someone else trying to ruin her business.

The sparks fly between Starli and the new chief, but Starli is determined not to fall in love with him or any man because of her past abuse. 

In the end, Starli has to learn to put her trust in God and forgive. I really loved the ending to this story. I do have to say it was quite a surprise, in fact, there were a few surprises.

I received a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinion are my own. 

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

"Hugo" by Pamela Poole



On September 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo came in the dead of night, slamming Category 4 power into Charleston, South Carolina at the worst possible time—high tide. Painter Place is scoured by the writing Atlantic storm surge, forcing Caroline Painter Gregory to say goodbye to a life she loves and face a future that may hold the worst that might happen. On the devastated South Carolina coastline of 1989 and then in Arles, France during the centennial of Van Gogh's life there, Hugo continues the saga of Painter Place.

If Caroline Painter survives a hurricane, she may face the worst that can happen.
September 21, 1989: Some monsters in the dark are real. Can Painter Place survive?
A novel based on historic Hurricane Hugo, a Category 4 storm that mauled the Carolinas in 1989.
Disaster often brings out the best--and worst--in humanity.
Do you believe Christ can be found in life's storms? 


Author bio:
Pamela Poole's love for the South inspires all her books and paintings. She has written three novels and two short stories that take place on the fictional island in the Painter Place Saga, and she will launch the fourth book. Landmark, in 2019. Pamela lives life loving Jesus and her family as a wife, mother, and Gigi, and she is blessed with true friends. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and various author and artist organizations. She and her husband Mark live in Raleigh, North Carolina.
"Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20,21


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"Hugo" by Pamela Poole is the second novel in the (Painter Place Saga) series. I really recommend reading these novels in order to get the full impact.  This story is based on a real hurricane called Hugo. I really loved this story even though it was fictional. The characters are a family that were rich but this story clearly shows that they have struggles, in some instances more than the average person has.    This story is much more than a love story, through it is a love story. It is a story that shows sometimes you just have to trust your loved ones even when things look like they have betrayal you and kept secrets. This book is full of love and trust in loved ones as well as Jesus and letting faith lead you when it seems you have nothing left. 

I really enjoyed reading about Van Gogh and the dance scenes,  which really surprises me because I am not into art or dancing. This book really had nothing that I didn't like. A definitely five star novel for me.

I am going to share a few quotes from the book that really grabbed me that I shared on Facebook.  I really like the section where Chad answers a question about God treating people who love Him and do so much for other people by talking everything away from them. Chad answers by telling Dr Tony Rush that he, Chad, is where Jesus is and that is in the middle of the storm in the boat., and that takes faith. I don't know maybe this passage means more to me because my pastor sermon at church yesterday was about Jesus being in the boat with you in life's storms. I really like it when the books enforce what sermons teach! Another truth this book points out is that "Sin is never private even when you think you're alone, like Noah getting drunk and throwin' his clothes off. It always takes you   places you never wanted to go, and you pay for that ticket over and over the rest of your life." 
"It is God Himself from whom we should measure what is true, not the babbling of well-meaning people" I was just thinking He shows us off, doesn't He? God, I mean. If we're His, He doesn't let Satan go any further than we can endure. He always gives us victory, but it comes with a price. Otherwise, how would struggles ever mean anything?" "Yes. The bad times, the hard stories, those are the only ones that leave an impression on people. Job would be unknown to the world without His pain."
Something to think about! I really am amazed sometimes at what truths are pointed out in fiction, but I believe that God uses anything and everything to get your attention!


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




Social Media links:

Pamela Poole, Artist and Author, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamelaPooleArt

Pamela Poole, Artist and Author, Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PamelaPooleArt

Pamela P. Poole, Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/pamelapooleart

Author blog on Southern Sky Publishing:
https://www.southernskypublishing.com/blog

Twitter page for Southern Sky Publishing:
https://twitter.com/southernskypubs


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Pamela Poole

Monday, July 29, 2019

"Identity Theft " by Alana Terry Book Tour And GiveAway




Identity theft FB banner


About the Book

Book: Identity Theft
Author: Alana Terry
Genre: Christian fiction, mystery/suspense
Release date: March 15, 2019
Identity TheftShe imagined Alaska would be the perfect place to hide. She found out it’s the most dangerous place to be found …
Lacy has a secret. A secret nobody knows — not even her fiancé.
A secret that would cost her life … and so much more.
So it’s a good thing she’s tucked away in the very heart of rural Alaska, where for once in her life she is finally safe.
But can she stay that way for long?
Suspenseful, thrilling, and impossible to put downIdentity Theft is an unforgettable novel by bestselling Christian author Alana Terry.

Buy your copy today … but be prepared to stay up late!


"Identity Theft " by Alana Terry is a quick, easy to read novel. It is just right if a reader just wants a book that can be read in a short amount of time. It is also the first in a series of three standalone novels. 

Lacy is hiding from her past, but it is about to become unhidden. There is a little bit of suspension but I didn't really find it to be on the edge of my seat and holding my breath type of book. Which was okay because sometimes a reader just wants to follow a story and not have their hearts beating fast but just be able to relax and read.  Yes, the book has an event that could be a heart racing experience for some readers but maybe I have read so many accounts of events like this that I kind of knew what would happen. Ok, I have to say I was really hoping that the characters that was involved in this event didn't suffer too much, and I wish I could tell if that was the case or not, but I won't, because I know you don't want me to spoil the fun you can have reading this book for yourself.

I think the best part of this book is the ending which I believe most readers will agreed with me. I think this is because it is something most of us would not think of happening.

"Identity Theft" is a good read but I would have to say it isn't my favorite Alana Terry story.

I received a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own. 


About the Author
alana terryAlana is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second.

More from Alana

What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you think about Alaska? Are you a city soul or do you prefer the country? I’m pretty happy in small-town Alaska, but I’m afraid that wasn’t always the case.
Have you ever lived in a town with 400 residents? Even with all the wide-open spaces, it’s enough to make some personalities feel claustrophobic. 
I thought of our move to rural living as our big adventure. (Because what’s more adventurous than feeding chickens and milking goats at negative 40 degrees?) Then I read my first draft of Identity Theft and realized the adjustment wasn’t going as smoothly as I hoped. It was more autobiographical than I had realized!
However, I learned to love rural Alaska, and that’s the main reason I wanted to write my Alaskan Refuge Christian Suspense Novel series – so I could share some of my favorite parts with you.
Identity Theft is the first of three stand-alone novels, all filled with adventure, suspense and thrills, and all set against the backdrop of Alaska. I hope as you settle in to readyou will begin to experience a little of what I’ve grown to love living in this spectacular state.

Blog Stops

Genesis 5020, July 25
EmpowerMoms, July 25
Splashes of Joy, July 28
The Becca Files, July 30
Quiet Quilter, July 31
Mary Hake, August 2
CarpeDiem, August 3
Moments, August 5
Henry Happens, August 6
Livin’ Lit, August 6
A Readers Brian, August 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Alana is giving away 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/e546/identity-theft-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, July 27, 2019

"All In Author: " by L.K. Simonds Book Tour and GiveAway

Al In FB Banner

About the Book

Book: All In
Author: L.K. Simonds
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Release date: May 7, 2019
all inCami Taylor: a blackjack dealer, a bestselling author, and a fraud. Cami’s boyfriend, Joel, loves her in spite of her flaws. He wants to marry her, buy a house on Long Island, and raise a family–a life that’s a million miles from Cami’s idea of happiness. Her therapist suggests compromise and trust, but Cami bolts like a deer. She breaks off the relationship and launches on a new quest for happiness, not knowing that a nasty surprise waits around the corner. What follows is a fight to the death. Who will be the one left standing?

Click here to purchase your copy



When I first started this book I was not sure if I would finish reading it because it is about an author who is living life to the fullest in today’s standards, one night stands, just living life the way she wanted with  no thought s of anyone but herself.  Within the first 65 pages there are two sex scenes that is not explicit with describing the act itself and no body parts are mentioned but more descriptive then I like. The language wasn't that great either. God's name was mentioned several times that I took as a swear word and I don't think that should be overlooked even if the character saying it wasn't a Christian. There were other words that I know some don't consider swear words, and if you have read other reviews by me than you know I may be a prude but I want no sex scenes or even mild swear words in the books I read, especially if they are categorized as a Christian.

I know my opinion on this book is not the same as most of the reviewers on this tour, but I feel I must be honest and let other readers know what is in the book. Yes, the story line is great and the plot makes it a worthwhile story but it was too graphic in the worldly. I think the book would have been better if it had been focused on what happened after the redeeming event in Cami's life. Yes, I know I'm not an author, but I'm am a reader and don't author write for readers to enjoy their stories and shouldn't Christian writers write to glorify Christ and not to please the carnal nature of sinners. Yes, this book does show that sin is ugly and has it's consequences but the book mostly is about the sinful and  not the reedeming.

Well, I finished reading the whole book and I did fine a few things that I liked, the main character was an author and someone named Debbie read her book, readers like to see their names in books, right.  I truly did enjoy reading pages 251-253, as it told Cami and readers that we are what Jesus came for, that we are the reason He was born on Christmas Day and endured Calvary and rose on Easter.

This is a redeeming story that readers need to hear but I really believe it could have been told in a somewhat different way, other authors have.

I realized this is the first book by this author and if she writes another book, I would read it and hopely see more what I like to read.

I received a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.

About the Author
L.K. SimmondsL. K. Simonds is a Fort Worth local. She has worked as a waitress, KFC hostess, telephone marketer, assembly-line worker, nanny, hospital lab technician, and air traffic controller. She’s an instrument-rated pilot and an alumna of Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas. All In is her first novel.

More from L.K. Simonds

How I came to write ALL IN.
Back in the 1990s, I was vacationing in NYC with my buddies. We got out the phonebook—as we always did while traveling—to see how many people with our last names were listed. In that thick Manhattan phonebook was one listing for a person with the same name as my friend’s. Two initials and a surname, as a single woman might’ve listed her number back in those days. The address was only a few blocks from our Midtown hotel, and we joked about calling to see if she was a long-lost cousin, who might take us to her favorite shops and restaurants.
We didn’t call, but the “what if?” stuck with me. What if you did call? What if the person you called was in crisis? Or about to face a crisis? What if that serendipitous phone call resulted in a friendship that became a lifeline? That notion was the inception of ALL IN.
ALL IN is my first offering as a novelist—my best writing to date. I hope you enjoy it!

Blog Stops

Carpe Diem, July 20
Moments, July 23
amandainpa, July 26
Pause for Tales, July 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, L.K. Simonds is giving away a $25 Visa gift card and a hardback copy of All In!!
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/e545/all-in-celebration-tour-giveaway