Tuesday, May 31, 2022

"Sabal Palms and the Southern Squall" by Terry Overton Book Tour and GiveAway

 

Sabal Palms

About the Book

Book: Sabal Palms and the Southern Squall

Author: Terry Overton

Genre: Christian Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Release date: April 5, 2022

8976DCE1-8605-4C90-9F39-4FD7DFDA3644_4_5005_cElaine Smith lived in the small coastal town of Sabal Palms long enough to know when to worry about a squall and when to simply close the windows and wait for it to pass. This one would be significant. It would be significant in terms of damage, but that was to be expected. What no one expected was the profound effect it would have on the lives of people from the Texas coast to New York City. Positive qualities of humanity are often displayed during times of natural disaster.
But a supernatural power had attached to this storm and subsequently worked within the hearts of the most needy, the most lonely, and the most sinister. The lives of four delightful women, a homeless teen, a rebellious son, a grieving lover who is at the bottom, a son who lost his faith, and a hired murderer, are all intertwined in the aftereffects of a Category 3 hurricane thanks to a few passages written by one determined woman.

 

Click here to get your copy!

I really have to admit that at first I didn't like "Sabal Palms and the Southern Squall" by Terry Overton. I thought it was really hard to get into the story line and really was bored and thinking " Why do I have to read this book but let me tell you now that I finish the book I am glad that I read it. The message of the book is God will use anything to get his message to those who needs to hear, or in the instances in this book "read". I don't know if the author meant to show that even when we feel like what we do or "write as in the book" is any good God can use it if we do our best. 

Yes, there was a few times I even wanted to quit reading because the book has death and murder in it and to be quit honestly I wanted to throw my hands up in the air and say "I quit reading" because all authors want to write about anymore is death and car wrecks, both of which I had enough of in "real Life" but again I say I am glad I didn't.  A few pages later the book talks about Tamar, " a Biblical character that was the sermon topic on Sunday, of course the two had different things pointed out but I was thinking "Wow" I really like it when the books I read talk about what we heard church, ISN'T GOD GOOD!!!!!! 

What does four delightful women, a homeless teen, a rebellious son, a grieving lover who is at the bottom, a son who lost his faith, and a hired murderer have in common? To find out the answer read "Sabal Palms and the Southern Squall" by Terry Overton. I am anxiously waiting for the next book in this series. 

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

About the Author

2E44F74F-6D9D-4AFE-82B5-4A12AD6D9C2ETerry Overton obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology and her Ed.D. in special education. She taught in public schools and was a school psychologist and a professor before retiring in 2016. Her university experiences included teaching at Longwood University in Virginia, the University of Texas-Brownsville, The University of Texas-Pan American, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and Stephen F. Austin State University. She held positions as Dean and Department Chair during her tenure in higher education. Her areas of research included behavior disorders, learning disorders, autism, and research in higher education. She currently resides in Laguna Vista, Texas. She enjoys Biblical history and general Bible studies, writing, blogging, and visiting with friends and family. Her books have been recognized and received awards from Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Awards, and have earned five stars from Readers Views and Readers Favorites. Her books have been recognized Finalist for the International and National Book Awards.

 

More from Terry

This book will take the reader to the southern coast of Texas. In fact, this book happens at the very bottom tip of Texas. The reader will feel the warm sea breezes, view the coastal sunsets and sunrises, and experience the friendships of four close women friends. Here is a sample:

 

The women gathered at the swimming pool and shed their cover-ups. Next, each lady

took out her favorite sunscreen lotions and creams and sprayed and squirted so much on, they all

looked almost as pasty as a bottle of glue. No one talked at all during this process of slathering

on thick coats of varying SPFs. It was a polite, unspoken agreement that no forbidden words

were ever mentioned when the ladies were in swimwear. Words like cellulite, wrinkles, fat, fatty

tissue, weight, weight loss, weight gain, age spots, and—the worst words ever—skin cancer were

completely and totally off limits.

 

In times of crises, these four women always bind together and help each other. They have been friends for over twenty years. Here is an excerpt of one of their conversations during a pool party:

 

What strangers might not understand is the banter back and forth was exactly the only way they could get along. They enjoyed it. They thrived on it.

 

“Oh, fiddle-faddle, Bonnie, last week you told me you thought the salon was opening up

this week,” Mary jabbed. “It didn’t.”

 

“I didn’t say that. I said I heard it might be opening next month.”

 

“You said next week as sure as I am floating on this raft.”

 

“Had your hearing checked lately?”

 

“Right after you get yours checked.”

 

And they both laughed. It was always entertaining.

 

“Well, horsefeathers! I need to get this hair trimmed again. It is all cattywampus on the

sides.”

 

“What? You’ve got a cat in there?” Bonnie laughed.

 

“Feels like it,” Mary retorted.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 30

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, May 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 31

Texas Book-aholic, June 1

Inklings and notions, June 2

deb’s Book Review, June 3

For Him and My Family, June 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 5

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 6

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 8

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 9

Mary Hake, June 9

Blogging With Carol, June 10

Pause for Tales, June 11

Spoken from the Heart, June 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card & 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/1e381/sabal-palms-and-southern-squall-celebration-tour-giveaway

10 comments:

Deana said...

Loved, loved, loved your review.

Bea LaRocca said...

Thank you for sharing your honest review of Sabal Palms and the Southern Squall, this sounds like a must read for me and I am looking forward to it

Stormy Vixen said...

Congratulations on your release of Sabal Palms and the Southern Squall, Terry, your book sounds like a great one for me to read and I like the cover! Good luck with your book and the tour! Thanks for sharing it with me! Thanks, Debbie, for sharing your review! Have a terrific day!

Anonymous said...

Thank you ❤️

Anonymous said...

❤️ if you read it, let me know what you think. overtont@mac.com

kim hansen said...

Sounds good.

Roxanne C. said...

I like the good-natured joking and teasing between the four friends in the excerpt the author gives.

Anonymous said...

If you read it, let me know what you think. Overtont@mac.com

Thanks! (Terry Overton)

slehan said...

Looks like an interesting book.
Thanks for the contest. 

traciem said...

Love the title and sounds like an intriguing read!