Friday, January 31, 2020

"MISSING MERCY" By Stephenia H. McGee

Made a safe-haven after the Civil War, Ironwood Plantation is a refuge of equality for former slaves. But twenty years and a new generation later, they have become an isolated community with little contact with the rest of the world.

Mercy Carpenter is everything the world thinks she shouldn’t be. Educated and adventurous, she longs to make a life for herself beyond the beautiful prison of Ironwood. When she secretly submits an article to the Boston Globe under a man’s name and receives an enthusiastic response and an offer for employment, she’s determined to take advantage of the opportunity. But she isn’t prepared for a startling world that won’t accept her color or her gender, and her ambitions soon land her in grave danger.

The privileged daughter of a plantation owner and an aspiring suffragette, Faith Harper is determined not to marry. Especially not her father’s opportunistic new business partner. She doesn’t want any man telling her what to do, least of all the annoyingly chivalrous Nolan Watson. But when Mercy goes missing, Faith will do anything to find her best friend, even if it means trusting a man she doesn’t understand. In a time where prejudices try to define them, Mercy and Faith must push the boundaries of their beliefs and trust in the God who holds the keys to freedom.

*Includes discussion questions

Don't miss these other titles from Bestselling Christian Historical author Stephenia H. McGee

Ironwood Plantation Family Saga
The Whistle Walk
Heir of Hope

Missing Mercy

The Liberator Series
Leveraging Lincoln
Losing Lincoln
Labeling Lincoln

Stand Alone Titles
In His Eyes
Eternity Between Us

Time Travel

Her Place in Time

Novellas
The Heart of Home

The Hope of Christmas Past

Award winning author of seven historical novels, Stephenia H. McGee writes stories of faith, hope, and

healing set in the Deep South. When she's not twirling around in hoop skirts, reading, or sipping sweet

tea on the front porch, she's a homeschool mom of two boys, writer, dreamer, and husband spoiler.

Stephenia lives in Mississippi with her sons, handsome hubby, three dogs, and one anti-social cat. Visit

her at www.StepheniaMcGee.com for books and updates.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StepheniaHMcGee/

Facebook readers group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/McGeesFaithfulReaders/

Twitter: @StepheniaHMcGee

Instagram: stepheniahmcgee

Link to purchase book:

https://amzn.to/2PgI9Ge

I have enjoyed all three books in the "Ironwood Plantation Family Saga" I love how the author brings the present and the past together in all three stories.

These stories are so well written that I could pretend that I was watching the scenes taking place instead of reading them.

"MISSING MERCY" By Stephenia H. McGee is a story that shows what courage and faith really is. And following your dream. It is also about discrimination and prejudiced against women and people that aren't Caucasian.

I think women of all ages and whether Caucasian or not would like this saga. These story are ones that have remained with me since I read the first one in 2014, so I was glad when I got the chance to review this third book. "MISSING MERCY" By Stephenia H. McGee. I recommend reading the entire series. I believe if you take my advice and read this series, you will thank me. In fact I have read all of Stephenia H. McGee's books and have enjoyed all them.

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

"WITH YOU HERE" BY Sarah Monzon

WITH YOU HERE BY Sarah Monzon

Holy Roman Empire, 1527
In the wake of Martin Luther’s religious reforms, Princess Christyne von Heidelbraum is compelled by her sense of duty to help ease the burden of her people. When she stumbles upon a dying man in the woods, she vows to aid him—even when she discovers the arrow shot in his leg was put there by a heretic hunter. With both her physical and spiritual well-being in danger, she must choose between conscience or adhering to the laws of the Empire.

Present Day
Doubting her calling to become a hospital chaplain, Amber Carrington takes time off from her theology studies to volunteer with refugees in Germany. Working with children, making a difference, reconnecting with the conviction that once drove her—these were her expectations. An instant attraction to a professional soccer player wasn’t a part of the plan…and she can’t let him distract her from her purpose.
As a new Christian, Seth Marshall is determined to put his popularity as a world-renowned footballer to good use. Unfortunately, old habits and public opinions are hard to overcome. When he falls hard and fast for Amber Carrington, his former life—and her no-dating policy—may block his perfect shot for the woman he loves.

"WITH YOU HERE" BY Sarah Monzon is book four of the series and I haven't read the other three, but I was able to follow the story. I believe each story is about one of the Carrington siblings. This story was written in two different times in history between Amber Carrington in the present day and Princess Christyne von Heidelbraum in the Holy Roman Empire. Both women have to face and make dangerous and hard choices and might find love.

I really enjoyed the contrast between Seth who is a new Christian and Amber who struggles with not having an exciting testimony to share.

The history about The Holy Roman Empire was quite interesting.

I was a little uncomfortable when I started reading this book because it was talking about a woman admiring men's muscles on the soccer players. And, then shortly after, I read this sentence "And I have to say, this particular friend has all the right parts in all the right places." and then the next sentence is "Briggs's brows jumped up and down suggestively as his hands outlined an hourglass silhouette." Again this is just me, I would still recommend the book.

I have downloaded the other three books from kindle unlimited and I will be reading them as soon as I can.

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

A Carol award finalist and Selah award winner, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain's wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.

Social Media:

www.facebook.com/sarahmonzonwrites

www.instagram.com/sarahmonzonwrites

www.twitter.com/monzonwrites

Link to purchase:

https://amzn.to/2PpFf28

"Hannah’s Courage" by Molly Jebber Book Tour and Give Away

About the Book

Book: Hannah’s Courage

Author: Molly Jebber

Genre: Amish Historical Romance

Release Date: January 28, 2020

5-30-3019 Hannah's Courage FROM Kensington

A loaf of fragrant cinnamon bread for breakfast . . . a sweet and creamy custard pie for dessert. In 1912 Ohio, the Amish Charm Bakery has something to delight locals and visiting Englischer alike. And within this warm, welcoming community, there’s always room for love to grow . . .

Hannah Lapp’s life, like a long-cherished recipe, is satisfying just the way it is. She enjoys whipping up desserts at the bakery, tutoring local children, and socializing with dear friends. One of those friends, Timothy Barkman, has made his interest in Hannah clear, but she’s been in no hurry to change her circumstances.

No sooner does she feel ready to grow closer to hard-working, handsome Timothy than Hannah finds she may have waited too long. Charlene Shetler intends to become Timothy’s fraa. It’s little wonder he’s attracted to such a pretty, forthright young woman, but is the newcomer all that she seems? Only when Hannah is willing to confront some difficult truths can she move bravely toward a life of abiding faith and love . . .

Click here to get your copy!

"Hannah’s Courage" by Molly Jebber is the third book in "The Amish Charm Bakery" series and just like the others in the series, I found myself wanting to finish the book in one read and then wanting to read about these characters. I think the book can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, but why wouldn't you want to read all of these wonderful books.

While I was reading this book, I could actually imagine myself smelling the things baked at the bakery.

The scenes were written so well that I could feel the character's feelings. This is a story of second chances and courage and love and forgiveness and faith.

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

About the Author

Molly Jebber’s Amish Historical Romance books have been featured on Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Ten Recommended Reads, in USA Today’s HEA, Romantic Times and many other media sites. She’s tours and speaks for Stonecroft Ministries – Women’s Christian Connection, and about Amish history/traditions, writing, marketing, publishing, and her books. She loves God, her family, and friends. She enjoys swimming, golf, reading, and says yes to butterscotch pie and parasailing, but no to coconut and skydiving! Visit http://www.mollyjebber.com for a complete list of her books and speaking events.

More from Molly

I related to Hannah in this book where I had to find the courage to make some hard decisions. Maybe you’ve had some hard choices to make and finding the courage to follow through has been difficult for you.

Have you had a bad day where nothing goes right? We’ve all had those. Hannah’s has many days like this, and she is torn about what to do from one problem to the next in her life. She makes some snap decisions, and faces life-altering challenges. You’ll laugh and want to stomp your feet at the twists and turns in this story. She’s good at giving her friends advice, but has trouble following it. I can relate to this in my life at times. Maybe you can too.

The Sheriff and Dr. Harrison are still regular customers at the bakery where she whips up mouth-watering desserts. She and her friends cry, laugh, and offer each other advice. I love time with girlfriends, and Hannah’s no different. You’ll relate to her, root for her, want to reach in the book and shake her at times (I’m sure my friends have wanted to do this with me a time or two!), and wonder how what the future holds for her.

I hope you’ll follow my blog tour and enter for a chance to win the Grand Prize at the end of the tour. The more you enter, the more chances you have of winning!

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. Your Facebook comments help me to get to know you better, and I appreciate it so much!

Here’s a recipe Hannah’s whipped up for you. And there are more in the back of Hannah’s story.

Cake

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1 ¾ teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoonnutmeg
½ teaspoonsalt
1 ¼ cups vegetable oil
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
½ cupbrown sugar
3eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
3large apples, peeled and cut into large pieced

Glaze

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons heavy cream
¼ teaspoonvanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 9 x 13 pan with butter and coat with 2 tablespoons of flour
In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Sift two additional times and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine oil and both sugars, and mix until well blended.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add vanilla and mix again.
Add the sifted dry ingredients to the batter and mix thoroughly. By hand, fold in apples and walnuts and mix until evenly combined.
Spoon the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Remove cake from the oven and allow to cool in the bundt pan for 20 minutes.
While the cake is cooling, prepare the glaze. In a saucepan, over medium heat, combine all of the glaze ingredients. Bring to a boil and allow the mixture to boil for 1 minute.
Remove the cake from the pan, onto a serving plate. Spoon the glaze over the warm cake.
Cool for a little longer before serving.

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, January 30

Genesis 5020, January 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 31

Texas Book-aholic, January 31

Batya’s Bits, February 1

Quiet Quilter, February 1

She Lives to Read, February 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 2

Bigreadersite , February 3

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 3

For Him and My Family, February 4

deb’s Book Review, February 4

Inklings and notions, February 5

Jeanette’s Thoughts, February 5

Pause for Tales, February 5

Older & Smarter?, February 6

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 6

Blossoms and Blessings, February 7

Lighthouse Academy Blog, February 7 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 8

Christian Bookaholic, February 8

For the Love of Literature, February 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 9

SusanLovesBooks, February 10

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, February 10

Connie’s History Classroom, February 11

SPLASHES of Joy , February 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 12

Vicky Sluiter, February 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Molly is giving away a Molly Jebber grand prize collection that includes a handmade quilt and Amazon 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/f564/hannah-s-courage-celebration-tour-giveaway

"The Portrait of A Christian" by Raymond Sopp Book Tour and Give Away

About the Book

Book: The Portrait of A Christian

Author: Raymond Sopp

Genre: Non-fiction, Theology

Release Date: November, 2019

The apostle Paul, with great knowledge of Scripture, said in Philippians 3:7–8: “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.” (NASB)

It takes a courageous person to take a second look—to lay down their life—just as the apostle Paul. Are you willing to take a second look, to lay down your life? The Portrait of a Christian was written to help you do so.

For more than thirty-eight years, Minister Raymond D. Sopp studied the Scriptures, not to parrot God’s Word through memorization but just to know God’s heart as He communicated through His Word. To know anyone’s heart, you must listen to their words.

Raymond wrote The Portrait of a Christian to challenge and provoke thought to those who desire a closer relationship with Christ. He wanted to paint a portrait of God’s heart through thirty-one separate commentaries—starting with the importance God placed on His Gospel and ending with a Lost Love. All of us must earnestly contend for the faith!

Click here to get your copy.

Raymond Sopp says his book ""The Portrait of A Christian" is for you if you believe we’re approaching the Last Days and if you are willing to take a second look at your Christianity.

I think this is a book that all Christians should read. This clearly shows that the author has studied the Bible and knows it. This books has 31 thought provoking chapters which include miracles and victory and retreat and repentance and fear, prayer, and how God wants us to strip away anything that prevents us from being in His presence which includes bitterness and unforgiveness and other issues.. The author also talks about looking for miracles instead of God's holiness and righteousness.

I think my favorite chapter of the book is chapter 31. I hear you asking why?. The reason is because it is on God's love and the author reminds us that . "When we fall short(sin), as we all will, God still loves us with the "agape" kind of love that sent His son to the cross.

This is a book to reread more than once.

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

About the Author

Minister Raymond D. Sopp has been a born-again Christian for more than thirty-eight years and ordained for more than eighteen years. He is not affiliated with any organization, nor a denomination. This has given him a unique opportunity to view the entire realm of Christianity from an objective point of view. His heart broke when he saw so many inconsistencies within the Church at-large. He inherently knew in his heart that the best way to point out error is to expose the truth in a way to provoke thought and challenge the Christian reader, while at the same time reach out to the nonbelieiver.

Concerned by the teachings that he heard, or better yet, what he did not hear, he started a ministry on May 1, 1996 solely focused on reaching the world. (Sopp Ministries became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization on January 1, 1999.) The only purpose this ministry has is salvation both within and outside the Church at-large. Being somewhat overwhelmed, he knew he needed to stay focused on delivering a narrow message—a message that will cause all to examine themselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) to see if they’re literally born-again—to a true and biblical salvation—a simple message that has both temporal and eternal implications.

More from Raymond

Do you believe we’re approaching the Last Days? Are you seeing the season change—beginning to see leaves fall to the ground? Yes! Then, The Portrait of a Christian, is a must read for you.

There are several warnings given to the professing Christian in God’s Word; to me, the most terrifying warning to the professing Christian for this time we’re living in is what Jesus said in Matthew 7:15–23: “‘Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.’ Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (NASB)

The book I wrote, The Portrait of a Christian, is to help the professing Christian not to be one of those who just say “Lord, Lord.” Are you willing to take a second look at your Christianity? If so, then The Portrait of a Christian was written for you.