Saturday, February 29, 2020

"Journey to Twilight" by Charmayne Hafen Book Tour and GiveAway

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About the Book

Book:  Journey to Twilight
Author: Charmayne Hafen
Genre: Action Adventure Christian Fantasy for intermediate grade students
Release Date: November 1, 2019
Journey to Twlight pp (mid rez)Sam and Lorna’s bike challenge becomes far more than a neighborhood race in this action-adventure fantasy for middle-schoolersRiding over a cairn at sunset, Lorna surfaces in Twilight, where she is given three impossible tasks to complete before her heart’s desire is granted.

Story Line: Avid fifth-grade mountain biker, Lorna Thompson, moves to Arizona  after her parents’ divorce. Unpacking boxes, Lorna begins seeking a way to fit into the neighborhood crowd when a girl named Ally knocks on her front door.

Splashing in the pool at Ally’s house, Lorna learns about the Crestwood Challenge, a bike race created by a scar-faced neighborhood legend, Samuel Black. She hears herself boasting that she can take on Sam Black in his own race and win. Lorna’s words quickly come back to bite her.

Although none of the kids will root for the new girl, an ancient cairn opens to the Land of Twilight giving Lorna an opportunity to win anything her heart desires.

Illustrations are by award-winning artist, Brianna Osaseri.

Thematic: Fantasy ages 9-12; Female protagonist dealing with parents’ divorce finds confidence and friendship in conflict and opportunity; Celtic; Jamaican; Multi-racial; Action-Adventure; coming of age fantasy for pre-teens with some paranormal, mystical places and events.

Click here to get your copy!

"Journey to Twilight"  by  Charmayne Hafen is a really fun book to read. Now, this was a Fantasy novel that I could really tune into.

I thought it was interesting that things were the opposite in Twilight. The grass was blue, the sky green and etc.  This book deals with divorce and a sudden disability.  At first, I was concerned that the wish that was granted to  Lorna Thompson was going to give kids the wrong idea about divorced parents getting back together, Hope this isn't a spoiler alert, but I am happy  to say I was totally wrong on this thought.  This book did make me think about my own feelings of wanting my parents to be reunited after their divorce.

This book is in the Christian Fantasy genre and though the book is totally acceptable I didn't find any faith or Christian beliefs in the story, but this is the first book in the series, so maybe that is coming in future books.

I totally recommend this book with a warning that if children are struggling with their parent's divorce and feeling rejected and abandoned by a parent this might be a trigger for them. But, at there same time, the book does offer hope in this area.

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




About the Author

headshot Charmayne Hafen (1)Charmayne Hafen is a graduate of John Brown University and has her masters in counseling from the Denver Seminary. She’s not only gifted in creative writing, but  uses skills in organization, facilitation, and administration in the company she and her husband started 18 years ago.

Her love of Celtic mythology inspired her to write her debut chapter book, Journey to Twilight, for ages 9-12. In 2011, she lost her younger brother, and she dedicates this first book to Tim. When she’s not writing, Charmayne is running counseling groups for adults and a therapeutic photography group for children. She has run a grief support group for several years.  She is a member of a novel book club, and she is an avid fan of the author, Stephen Lawhead.

She has written several short stories for children, teens, and adults, as well as the current fantasy series, The Land Of Twilight, being published in 2020 by Capture Books.

The first book, Journey To Twilight, is about the heartfelt needs and choices of a child of divorce. It also wrestles with what it is like to be a newcomer in a town and school. Charmayne relates personally to these themes as a child of divorce who moved consistently throughout her elementary and middle school years. She believes stories can provide not only a way of escape for kids, but also teach them how to handle difficult issues. As the characters in The Land Of Twilight struggle through different challenges, they come to understand that life requires more than what we do with what can be seen. To truly live, there must be faith in what has not yet come, in what is unseen.
Charmayne has a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and psychology as well as a Master of Arts degree in counseling. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband John and her two chihuahuas, Pepe and Frida.


More from Charmayne

Welcome to Journey To Twilight, the first book in the Land Of Twilight Trilogy, where Lorna and her friend, Sam, begin a journey that will lead them to discover the true meaning of friendship and faith.

In a world that can only be accessed by what is known in Celtic mythology as a cairn, Lorna is shocked to find herself in the Land of Twilight where the real adventure begins. She must learn some important lessons in her quest to have one wish granted and Sam is part of her greatest challenge.

The adventure continues in Return To Twilight, where Lorna meets a new girl that proves to be a bad influence. She and Sam are at odds and things aren’t the way they were back in sixth grade. Middle school is an entirely different scene. Faith becomes a central theme in this book along with the ongoing exploration of friendship. Can Sam help Lorna remember her faith with the help of Twilight?

Trouble In Twilight, the third book in the Land Of Twilight trilogy, will be published early next year. This has been my most challenging book to write as the characters travel through time to discover the basis of faith and the philosophy at work against faith in the Savior. The Land of Twilight is in jeopardy and it’s up to Sam and Lorna to help restore what is slowly fading away.

It is my hope that my readers will come away from this trilogy with a deeper appreciation for the power of faith and friendship. I pray it will lead many to faith in the Savior and be an enjoyable ride in the process. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these important topics and the stories that shed new light.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 28
Blossoms and Blessings, March 1 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, March 5 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, March 8 (Author Interview)
Wishful Endings, March 11 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Charmayne is giving away the grand prize of silver bicycle necklace like you suggested along with a signed hard cover copy of both books!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Friday, February 28, 2020

"Vestige of Hope" Sara Blackard BookTour and Giveaway

Vestige of Hope FB Banner

About the Book

Book:  Vestige of Hope
Author: Sara Blackard
Genre:  Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: December, 2019
Vestige of HopeDoes his future lie in the past?
Thrown out of his element into a time not his own, he must overcome his doubts to save the life he never knew he wanted.
Soldier, Hunter Bennet, is always in control…
…control of his missions.
…control of his life.
…control of his emotions.
Until he hesitates on an important mission, leaving a child orphaned. Chased by the demons of failure, he finds himself thrown back in time. Why has God called him here?
Viola Thomas’s idyllic life in the new state of Colorado is shattered when her father fails to return from his winter trapping trip in the Rocky Mountains and a man tumbles into her life from the future. Threats from an unwanted suitor who has pestered her for years jeopardize all she holds dear. Now she must trust a man from a world far from her own.

Hunter must reach through the shadows of doubt to save his future but in doing so will he fail in the most important mission of all?

Click here for your copy!
I really loved this time traveling story. "Vestige of Hope" Sara Blackard is a short read about life in the wilderness and a love story.

This book clearly shows what grace is and I really like how faith and Scriptures are a big part of this story.

This is a clean story but it does hint of marriage relationship, but not graphic, I really like the teasing between the couple.

This is a story about good verses evil. I really recommend this book.  I am eagerly waiting  book two in this series.

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




About the Author
Sara BlackardI’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember being able to hold a pencil. In elementary school, I had journals full of short stories and poetry. While it’s always been a passion of mine, I didn’t think I could write for a living until I told my kids their only limit is the limit they put upon themselves. With that little piece of encouragement, I had to obviously show them I was right. Now I’m enjoying the adventure of writing and diving into the publishing world. I love to write romantic stories full of adventure and weaved with God’s message of love.

Between school and my launch into authorship, I’ve been busy having and homeschooling five children, moving to the wilderness of Tok, Alaska, serving in different ministries, building a house ourselves, and purchasing multiple businesses.

More from Sara

I’ve always had a fascination with speculating on how I would react if I suddenly ended up in another time. Growing up, I’d daydream about finding myself in a field of heather in medieval Scotland, waking in the back of a wagon traveling across the prairie, or walking through the wilderness with the colonials. I loved reading and wanted desperately to jump into the scenes I experienced while turning the page of a cherished novel. Of course, there’s no real way a person can time travel, so my dreaming was just that, dreaming … or was it?
A few years ago, I was doing a Kid’s Club Bible lesson at the local school about Philip and the Ethiopian and had my mind blown. In that event, God transported Philip to a town about twenty miles away. It was like Scotty beaming Kirk up and placing him where he was needed. I’d read that story before, but for some reason skipped right over that little nugget of information. Now here’s the part that got my mind spinning, if God could move someone in the blink of an eye across miles, why couldn’t He move someone through time? Time travel was now not only feasible, but God revealed a greater depth of Himself to me.
My mind started exploding with a story of a family in the middle of Colorado at the cusp of its statehood. What would cause God to throw a person in the middle of the wilderness? What would it reveal about the journey each person had to take to find their identities in who God created them to be? Hours, months, and years passed as the characters and story grew until they spilled upon the computer screen in a river of words.
One small sentence tucked within the middle of Acts opened my heart to a new dimension of God’s magnitude and released the dream of writing I had buried within me. I love how God does that, opens the well deep in us, nurturing the desires hidden there to reveal bit by bit who we are in Him. With Him nudging me along, my childhood fantasy of becoming a writer and transporting people to another time and place has become a reality with my debut novel Vestige of Hope, the first book in the three-book series Vestige in Time. My prayer is that my writing shows the traces of hope God leaves in my reader’s own hearts and lives. I pray God will ignite passions as He reveals himself one small sentence at a time through His word.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 26
Betti Mace, February 29
Artistic Nobody, March 1 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, March 5 (Author Interview)
My Devotional Thoughts, March 9 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour. Sara is giving away the grand prize package of a $30 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback copy of Vestige of Hope & Vestige of Legacy!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

"Jesus Promised Victory" by Ken Gould Book Tour and GiveAway

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About the Book

Book:  Jesus Promised Victory
Author: Ken Gould
Genre:  Non-Fiction, Christian living
Release Date: October 15, 2018
Jesus Promised Victory Front CoverAre you frustrated with trying to live the Christian life?
Do your struggles with sin discourage you?
Have you been taught you can’t ever win the battle . . . that as long as you are living, you will fall short?
Jesus told people to sin no more. Rather than tell them the struggle with sin and Satan would be difficult, He said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus doesn’t ask us to do the impossible.
Ken Gould rejected distorted teachings about God and was an atheist for twenty years, until God revealed His existence to him. Afterward, he recognized Christianity wasn’t something to be taken lightly. His highest priority became to know God and understand His counsel.
Gould says, “It is possible to live a godly life in victory. What we believe about God affects our ability to live a victorious life.”
In this guidebook on living in God’s victory, learn:
  • How to cooperate with God to attain the victory He has for you.
  • How our definition of sin can remove frustration and allow us to live a godly life.
  • How believing lies about God keeps us from escaping our rebellious, sinful attitudes.
  • The interaction between natural laws and sin.
“God’s truth sets us free from Satan’s slavery and it’s lies about God that keep us trapped.”

Click here to get your copy.
This book is written in a very scholar way. The examples ( not the actual Scriptures) the author uses didn't really speak to me. I wish he would have written a more enjoyable script to read. I know that this book is nonfiction and not to be confused with entertainment but I felt like I was reading a text book.

"Jesus Promised Victory" by Ken Gould is filled with Scriptures and that is a good thing. I haven't finished reading the book because it does give the reader lots to ponder and pray about and study. He often quotes a Scripture and then repeats it. He also gives references that aren't written down so you can look then up in your Bible for more study.

This author clearly criticizes many evangelicals on their view and says that the Cross reveals a bloodthirsty god. I say it shows a loving God. This is just one of the things that I do not agreed with the author on.
I think this book could clearly help us live a more victorious life, but I believed a reader has to be aware that some of it does go against Christian beliefs.
I did study the chart on pages259 -265 that lists God's traits and Satan's traits and the Scripture verse that tells us these traits.
Yes, I  plan to read the rest of the book.
If you want to know more about Seventh Day Adventists and their beliefs, there are plenty of quotes, from Ellen G.White and the magazine "Signs Of the Time"s and other believers of this church, in this book to help you understand what they believe.
I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.


About the Author
Ken Gould Author PhotoKen Gould has a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the University of Washington, and a master’s in business administration from the University of Houston, as well as a professional engineering license. His career has included shift supervision, management, technical support,
process development, and projects. He and his wife Kaneeta live near the confluence of the great rivers in the heartland of America where he enjoys being out in nature and sailing.

More from Ken

What’s Taught in Church Doesn’t Work.

Nearly everyone when asked readily admits, that what churches teach doesn’t work. People know this from personal experience and observation. Many are aware behavioral scientists find church members are just as likely to abuse their spouses as the unchurched. Spouse abuse isn’t the only bad behavior that is just as prevalent among church members as the unchurched, other bad behaviors include pornography and child abuse.
In John 8:31 and 32 the Apostle John records Jesus telling the Jews that believed in Him if they hold to His word or His teaching depending on the translation. They are truly His disciples, they will know the truth and it will set them free. Verses 34 to 36 make it clear, Jesus is talking about sin’s slavery. Is it fair to say Church members engaging in these bad behaviors are slaves to sin? Of course. Then these church members aren’t holding to Jesus teachings, aren’t His disciples and haven’t been set free. Put another way the teachings of the church aren’t any more likely to make disciples than the teachings of the world.
This isn’t the only scripture expressing the idea that Jesus came to set us free from slavery or captivity. Luke 4:18 and 19 also expresses the same idea. I like to refer to it as Jesus mission statement. Luke records Jesus selecting it to read when handed the book of Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18, 19 NIV)
After reading it Jesus told them “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Let’s focus on proclaiming freedom for the prisoners and setting the oppressed free. What prisoners did Jesus set free and who did He set free from oppression? Did Jesus set John the Baptist free from Herod’s prison? No. Did Jesus set the Jews free from Roman oppression? No. So what prisons and oppression did Jesus set people free from? Satan’s prisons where people are enslaved and oppressed by sin.
Where are Satan’s prisons or strongholds and what are they made of? The Apostle Paul tells us about Satan’s strongholds or prisons in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” Here the Apostle Paul tells us Satan’s strongholds or prisons keep the enslaved from knowing God. Can we say Satan’s strongholds and prisons are lies about God?
Since Satan’s prisons and strongholds are lies about God, where do lies get their power? Lies get their power from people who believe them. So we empower Satan’s prisons and strongholds by believing his lies about God. Where are Satan’s prisons and strongholds they located? In our minds.
The character assassin, Satan, imprisons and enslaves us on the road to destruction with lies about God. Truth about God destroys Satan’s lies, freeing us from enslavement in his prisons and strongholds, putting us on the road to life.
How important was the truth about God to Jesus? Jesus tells us in His prayer just before they crucified Him, recorded in John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Jesus tells us the knowledge of God or the truth about God and Himself is the key to eternal life. How often is this important truth taught in church?
What do the churches teach is the key to eternal life? Don’t churches teach the key to eternal life is forgiveness? Jesus told us He separates people, into two groups, like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats when He returns. Most of us are familiar with it, it’s found in Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus also tells the difference between the two groups, the saved and the lost. What does Jesus tell us is the difference between the two groups? Are the two groups the forgiven and the unforgiven? No. The difference between the groups is how they treated the less fortunate, or their actions.
Is Jesus telling us it’s our actions or works that determine our destination? Didn’t Martin Luther discover we are saved by faith not by works? Yes he did. The Apostle John tells us we are judged by our works in Revelation 20:12 and 13. How can we be judged by our works and not saved by them? Our works reveal our character. The Christlike are kind to the less fortunate. The Satanic are mean, hateful, and cruel to God’s children. Our works reveal the condition of our heart.
In church there is much talk about a conversion experience, and often the focal point is the sinner’s prayer. Many times those promoting the sinner’s prayer stress asking for and accepting forgiveness. People often remember when they said the sinner’s prayer and point to it as when they were saved. However, if after praying the sinner’s prayer, we don’t seek God and His ways, our motives, attitudes, or desires won’t change. It is when we come to admire and desire Christ’s motives, attitudes, and desires, that we experience conversion and the process of character transformation begins.
Jesus Promised Victory: Why Does It Seem so Elusive? explains what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 26
Artistic Nobody, February 27 (Author Interview)
Inklings and notions, February 28
Betti Mace, March 2
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 3 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, March 5
Through the Fire Blogs, March 7 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Ken 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.

"Child of Prophecy" by T.E. Bradford Book Tour and GiveAway

About the Book

Book:  Child of Prophecy
Author: T.E. Bradford
Genre:  YA Fantasy
Release Date: August 31, 2018
How far would you go to fit in? Another world?
Fifteen-year-old Nova Hawthorne has a unique trait that sets her apart, yet she wants nothing more than to be normal and fit in.
She soon finds out that there’s a very real reason why she feels so out of place in this world—she’s from another one. And prophecy says she is destined to destroy them both.
Armed only with a magic she does not yet understand and the synesthesia no one else does, she must race to figure out how to stop prophecy from unfolding, find a father she’s never met and discover who she really is. Is it truly our differences that make us who we are? How can you be strong when you’re broken? And what happens when your actions bring about the very destruction you’ve been fighting to prevent?

Click here to get your copy.
"Child of Prophecy" by T.E. Bradford is the first book in the "Divide Series". I was not sure I was going to like this book at first because I am a not a fan of stories with magic and spells. But the more I read, the more I liked the book. This book is somewhat like the "Chronicles of Narnia" series.

I think I would enjoy this story more as a movie, wow, did I just say that, but it is the honest truth.

 I like that the three main characters has traits and issues that set them apart from others, such as one sees colors, one is a bully and one is in a wheelchair. I think this is why the story works so well because readers want these characters to win the war against evil.

I will be reading the second book as soon as I can.
I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fantasy with a subtle message of the Gospel.
I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.


About the Author
Tracy is a writer, singer-songwriter, cancer survivor and proud wife and mother. Her speculative fiction stories have featured in publications such as Deep Magic, including the Best of Deep Magic collection. Her Divide Series books, a Teen Fantasy series debuted in 2018 with Child of Prophecy – Book One. Child of Destiny – Book Two is set to release in November 2019. Her short-story Written in the Stars, a Kindled Legends story, was a number one new release and International Best Seller.
Born and raised in Central New York, Tracy will tell you her parents gave her the two best tools in her arsenal by reading to her as a child and raising her in a Christian household. In spite of the long CNY winters she continues to live there with the husband God created especially for her, and the son who is her forever best story.
“I believe true magic can be found in the things we see and do every day. Life is hard enough. Stories should transport us to another time and place. A magical place, where we can stretch out a hand and touch the wonder of God’s universe.” –T.E. Bradford

 More from Tracy

You’ll find music woven into nearly all my stories. This is especially true in the Divide Series books, as our heroine Nova has something called Synesthesia – a condition where your senses may overlap or cross. In Nova’s case, she can see sounds. Cool, right? On her journeys, she’ll encounter plenty of musical elements, but perhaps none as special as…

THE SONG OF THE HIGH KING
There is a King on a great golden throne
His beauty and magic so great none can know
He waits and He watches His children below
Waiting to see them all come safely home.

Travel high! Travel low! Travel through that great light
In the vastness between, where His city shines bright
Travel with Him and you’ll travel no more
Rest on the sands of His celestial shore.

Drink from the fountain that never runs dry
Eat from His table’s bountiful supply
Look in His face, trace the lines of His scars
They never were His wounds… they always were ours.

Travel high! Travel low! Travel through that great light
In the vastness between, where His city shines bright
Travel with Him and you’ll travel no more
Rest on the sands of His celestial shore.
Rest on the sands of His celestial shore.

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, February 21
Artistic Nobody, February 26 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, February 26
Texas Book-aholic, February 27
Inklings and notions, February 28
For Him and My Family, February 29
Wishful Endings, March 1 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, March 4
Blossoms and Blessings, March 5 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tracy is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card, as well as the prequel and a couple of other surprise goodies (think musical)!!
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/f5cd/child-of-prophecy-celebration-tour-giveaway