Tuesday, July 12, 2016

"Dance And Be Glad" by Melissa Wardwell Book Tour and Give Away



Purchase your copy here

About the Book



Jillian Matthews is a widowed mom and owner of a dance studio in a small farming community. When her husband died nine years ago in the desert of the Middle East, a piece of her died as well and she lost all joy in the day to day blessings. Tiny dancers and her daughter, Katie, are her main focus until an old flame, Michael Emerson, waltzes back into her life, awakening things she thought dead and gone. Dr. Michael Emerson told himself he was happy with his bachelorhood after a messy divorce. He thought his life as an ER doctor and yearly missions work left no room for a wife and family. When tragedy strikes and he is left with an unforeseen situation, he must evaluate his life and make some major changes.

My Review:
"Dance and Be Glad" by Melissa Wardwell is the second book in the (Promises from Above Series) and though I am sure it can be read as a standalone I recommend reading "What God Brings Together" first just because I feel you need the background story.

 Even though "Dance And Be Glad" is really a different character's story than "What God Brings Together" it is mentioned a lot in "Dance and Be Glad"

 "Dance and Be Glad" is a story that grabs you from the first chapter and it is a heart wrenching novel about the love that God has for these characters and love between a man and a woman that despite years and distance and different lifestyles have never really died.

 "Dance and Be Glad" is a novel that is filled with heartache but there is joy as well. Melissa Wardwell knows how to write so that readers are caught up in the feelings and emotions of the characters you are reading about.

I am waiting for the next two books in this series. I think the novella "A Christmas Wedding" is my favorite of the series so far.

 I am giving "Dance and Be Glad" five stars. I was given a copy by the author and Celebrate Lit for an honest review for the book tour.


About the Author



 I am an independently published author of Christian romance. I wear many hats from one day to the next. I am a devoted wife, basketball and dance mother, teacher, taxi service, friend, caregiver, daughter, sister, and now, published author. Seeing all that is enough to make my head spin. But more importantly, I am the Daughter of the Most High King. I was raised in and still reside in a little farm town in Mid- Michigan called Corunna. It’s quiet and simple, just the way I like it. If I can’t live out in the country among the corn fields and trees then living in this small town works for me. My husband and I have been together since high school and have 3 children, all of whom we homeschool. It has been quite the journey, but I couldn’t ask for a better life. I decided to give writing a try because I needed something to occupy my down time, but after reading my first draft of my first book, What God Brings Together, I then understood that God had a much bigger plan. God does not give His children a desire just so that it can go to waste. I never anticipated the journey God would put me on through writing, but I am excited to see what He has in mind for the future. I have always felt a call to reach out to women and mothers, to encourage them in their lives. So naturally, all my stories revolve around women who are mothers: single mothers, widowed mothers, young mothers, married mothers, and even women who have a mother’s heart but no children of her own. My greatest hope is that each story touches your heart, gives you hope, or just gives you a moment away from the chaos of life. Lord, knows we have earned it.

Guest Post from Melissa Wardwell

When I wrote the first book in this series, “What God Brings Together”, it wasn’t supposed to become a series. It has seemed to have a mind of its own and is spiraling into other books. You met Dr. Michael Emerson in the first book as the third wheel to Emma and Ryan’s crazy triangle. As soon as I finished it and read through it one last time, Mike’s character begged to have his own story. I felt bad giving such a nice guy a sad ending. So an idea formed for a story focused on him but it took me a while to decide on who his other half would be. I was sitting in front of the dance studio two of my kids attend, and it hit me. A Dance teacher and studio owner. From there the story went out of control- in a good way. The dance studio is the actual studio my kids dance at, and much of the descriptions of the location are the same as the space. The town is even the real town this studio is in. It is such a quiet place and I love it. I live in the area this series takes place. The county has a funny name as it is a Native American name – Shiawassee. It is nothing but small towns and farm land. New Lothrop, the main location for this story, has a population of approx. 600. I spend many hours there because of dance and I have grown to love the quiet little farm town. I like to bring light to actual business in some of my work, so when I chose to write in Infinity Dance Company I had to include the location. There is also a neat little coffee shop that I talk about in this book that is also an actual coffee shop. I am all about promoting local business, so if I can plug a cool business in my books, I will. You will see a bit more of another character from the first book, Tiffany, and you’ll get some insight into her story as well but you won’t get the full picture until the release of “I Know the Plans” which is set to come out no later than next spring – hopefully. I also introduce a new character in “Dance and Be Glad” whose story is heartbreaking but you won’t know much more until book four “Redeemed Through Grace” comes out in 2018. “Dance and Be Glad” is about finding joy in the middle of uncertainty and the scary moments in life. We can let the sudden changes bring us down or we can look at them as an opportunity to learn something new. I have witnessed a lot of tragedy and sudden losses in my personal life to learn that God still has me in His hands even when I feel like my world is crumbling. My prayer is that each reader can have a similar revelation.

Blog Stops

July 13: Carpe Diem
July 14: Sue Stinnett
July 15: KarensKrayons
July 17: Petra’s Hope
July 17: Splashes of Joy
 July 24: Quiet Quilter

Giveaway



 To celebrate her tour, Melissa is giving away a wonderful package that includes a hand-crafted necklace. Click here to enter:https://promosimple.com/ps/9ec0
Posted by at 4 comments:

Thursday, July 7, 2016

"Going Up South" by Janet Ferguson Book Tour and GiveAway



To purchase your own copy of Going Up South, click here

About the Book



No one told him he had a son. Actor Dylan Conner is furious. Not only has he been left out of his child’s life, the baby boy has been given another man’s last name. Determined to be a better father than the sorry guy who’d left him and his mother, Dylan fights to ensure a significant place in his son’s life. Unfortunately, his bad-boy reputation overshadows his good intentions. Only one woman in this small town sees beyond his Hollywood image. And he’s falling for her. Too bad she’s the custody mediator. After her scandalous divorce in the small town of Oxford, Mississippi, attorney Cassie Brooks has no intentions of practicing law again. The humiliating experience left a bitter taste for love, marriage, and her profession. Now friends need Cassie’s help in a custody negotiation, and her role demands she remain objective. She never expected to be drawn to Dylan Conner—the actor who everyone warns is bad news. Not only is the mediation at stake, but so is her heart.

My Review" I really enjoyed "Going Up South" by Janet Ferguson. I think a reader would enjoy this novel without reading the first book in this series( Southern Hearts Series), "Leavening Oxford," but I recommend reading it first to get the background info.

I was pulled into the story from the first chapter. The story line is easy to follow and this reader found herself experiencing the character's emotions. Emotions like regret and happiness and love and jealousy and rejection and sadness. Yes, this book has the reader experiencing them all.

"Going Up South" by Janet Ferguson shows that God can use a person even when their lives are filled with mistakes and bad choices. I especially like the fact that Janet Ferguson's characters are characters with faults and God still uses them.

This story has events happening that I wasn't excepting but that is what keeps a reader turning the pages right?

I won't lie and say that everything in these stories is happy but both books in the series are feel good stories and you finish reading them with a good feeling in your soul because you know God is alive and loves you. 

Both books are clean love stories, there is a one night stand in "Leaving Oxford" and cheating is mentioned in "Going Up South" but there is no inappropriate scenes or words.

I would recommend these books to any reader that likes clean loves stories whether Christian or not. Yes, these books are Christian and yes God is "alive" in them but the story isn't "preachy" which even some Christians don't want to read! 

I was a little disappointed in the ending, but there is going to a third book maybe the question will be answered. The ending felt like a cliff hanger to me.

I was given a copy of "Going Up South" by Janet Ferguson by the author and Celebrate Lit for my honest review in this book tour.

I have given "Going Up South" five stars.



About the Author



Janet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served her church as a children’s minister and a youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a few cats that allow them to share the space.

Guests Post from Janet W. Ferguson

Hi, I’m Janet W. Ferguson, and I’m so excited to meet the readers of Celebrate Lit! I’ve always been an avid reader, but I’ve had an odd career path prior to writing. With a Banking and Finance degree, I took my first job working at a brokerage firm handling their mutual fund trades. After the market crashed in the late 80s, I took a job managing a large, upscale apartment community. During this time, I married and became a stay-at-home mom and church volunteer. My volunteering eventually led to a staff position as children’s minister. After five years, I felt my calling had changed, and I left the job, not really sure what God had in store. Haphazardly, my husband suggested I apply at our local schools. Not long afterward, I certified in teaching and became the library media specialist at the large public high school near our home. I met so many wonderful young people as children’s minister and high school librarian. During my times as a librarian, I had a story idea for about seven years, but never made time to try my hand at writing. Finally, after my elderly parents passed away, and I felt it was time. I wrote every evening for three months, and finished my first story which was Leaving Oxford. I spent the next three years learning about the craft of writing and editing that story. Yes, there was much to learn! In the meantime, one secondary character from Leaving Oxford demanded his own story… From that, came Going Up South. I tend to write what I know, and I’m from the peculiar and wonderful state of Mississippi. My first story was set mostly in Oxford, Mississippi. The charming town made the perfect backdrop for book 1. So book 2 is also mostly set in Oxford, although the characters go on a mission trip to Honduras. The hero of Going Up South, Dylan Conner, is a funny and charming actor that made a number of appearances in Leaving Oxford. From outrageous costumes to intense flirting, he just had a personality as large as the characters he portrayed on the screen. In Going Up South, he realizes that he fathered a child, but he had been left out of the baby boy’s life. Though he’d never planned to have a family, due to his disappointment in his own father, seeing the child, his child, changes his mind. Dylan’s not sure how he’ll raise a child or what to do, but he finds help in his new friend and custody mediator, Cassie Brooks. The scripture theme for this series comes from Isaiah 61. This particular book draws on “He binds up the brokenhearted.” The heroine, Cassie Brooks, is still hurting from her scandalous divorce in a small town. Unlike my last heroine in Leaving Oxford, Cassie had done things the way she’d been taught, avoiding alcohol, drugs, and sex outside of marriage. And her heart was still broken by an unfaithful husband. I wanted to show that life just hands out some tough blows, no matter how hard we try to do the right thing, but God is there in the midst of it all. He does bind up our broken hearts. I pray that you are uplifted by this story, and whatever hurts life has dealt you, that you find comfort in the arms of our faithful Father. Blessings!

Blog Stops



To celebrate her tour, Janet is giving away some fantastic prizes including a $50 Amazon gift card! Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/9e33
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Sunday, July 3, 2016

" Dawn Of Liberty" by Amber Schamel Book Tour and Give Away



Liberty comes with a price. Can a fledgling nation bear the cost?

British forces advance upon a struggling colonial army. The time of decision has come. Declare independence, or give up the fight. The weight of a nation rests on Samuel Adams’ shoulders as he joins the delegates of the Second Continental Congress. Can he raise the cause of Liberty above the fear of the King’s wrath in the hearts of his countrymen? Three riveting short stories follow Samuel Adams as he struggles through the events surrounding the Declaration of Independence and evokes the Dawn of Liberty.

Dawn of Liberty

Liberty hangs in the balance. With Pennsylvania’s vote divided, the declaration may not pass. Samuel Adams has two hours to convince the delegates to pass the document, or the lives sacrificed for freedom will be worthless.  

A Shot at Freedom

“The Regulars are coming!” Samuel Adams is awakened by Revere’s cry of alarm. A large force of British soldiers are marching on Lexington to seize him and his compatriot John Hancock. Adams and Hancock encourage the militia to make a stand against the Regulars, but should they stay and join the fight, or escape to safety?

Travail of a Nation

Samuel Adams felt the weight of the nation resting on his shoulders as he and his cousin entered the Pennsylvania State House. If the declaration did not pass today, their chances at ever truly gaining independence were all but lost. The British forces bound to arrive in New York any day would crush their revolution if it was not bolstered by a formal declaration. The “Travail Of A Nation” has begun…


My Review: 
"Dawn Of Liberty" by Amber Schamel is an excellent title for this book. It is three "short" stories about our country's Declaration of Independence from Britain. It is the story of Samuel Adams and his cousin John Hancock's struggles and hardships to gain freedom for our nation. 

I thought the stories were too short, it seemed like I just started really getting into the stories and then they were over.  I really don't like history but Amber's writing made me see Samuel Adams in a new light, ( not just a name on the Declaration of Independence).  Amber Schamel made me feel some of the danger and sorrow and anxiety that Samuel Adams and John Hancock felt. 

 I am giving "The Dawn Of Liberty " by Amber Schamel four stars. 

 I was given a copy of "The Dawn Of Liberty " by Amber Schamel by Celebrate Lit and the author for an honest review as part of this book tour. 

About the Author


Author of over half a dozen books, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call “historical fiction at its finest”. She lives in Colorado and spends half her time volunteering in the Ozarks. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/

Guest Post From Amber Schamel

On July 4th, 2016, Americans across the nation will celebrate the 240th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Besides the basic overview you got in history class, how much do you really know about the document and the men that signed it? As an American and a history nerd, I was upset when I realized how much I didn’t know the struggle these men went through, who they really were, what they felt, and what they were putting on the line when they signed their name to that document. There are SO many inspiring stories in the signers and founding fathers, so when I began looking at which signer to feature in Dawn of Liberty, it was a tough decision to pick only one. One of the signers was terminally ill and rode unthinkable miles through the rain to be there in time to sway the vote. Most were away from their homes and families for incredible amounts of time. Some sacrificed fame and fortune. But after looking through all of the names, I ended up with Samuel Adams. Sam is such a passionate and inspiring character, and I really related to him. He voiced his passion for freedom and independence before the idea was popular, spent countless nights writing articles and pamphlets promoting the cause, always held faith and optimism that someday the Colonies would be free from the tyranny of England. His character is so intriguing and inspiring…Yet, Sam is only known as a beer brand. Talk about infuriating a history nerd! Sam Adams is a patriot and a hero. The more I learned and read about him, the more I liked him. Americans should know Sam for who he really is, rather than as the icon to sell liquor. That’s why I am so excited for people to meet Sam in DAWN OF LIBERTY. These stories give folks a chance to experience the tension in Philadelphia at the time of the signing, meet some of the signers, and feel the weight of the decision placed in their hands. It is my hope that this collection of short stories will make the signers more than just portraits in a history book. By the time you finish reading it, my prayer is that you feel you know Sam and his compatriots as friends.

Blog Stops

June 23: Petra’s Hope
June 24: A Greater Yes
June 25: A Holland Reads
June 26: bigreadersite
June 30: A Northern Belle
                                               July 4: Cassandra M’s Place



Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amber is giving away a signed copy of The Healer’s Touch and a $15 Amazon Gift Card! Enter to win here: https://promosimple.com/ps/9ccf
Posted by at 4 comments:

Friday, July 1, 2016

"Ante Up" by Chautona Havig Book Tour and Giveaway


About the book



Out with Murphy and in with O’Reilly! O’Reilly’s Law: Murphy was an optimist! Marriage has been good to Aggie. After a few years and a baby under her belt, she’s confident that she can take on anything–including adding child number ten to the home! Blessings aren’t always easy, and Aggie is about to discover that in a whole new way! When their near-idyllic life was turned upside down by senseless vandalism, Aggie and gang spent a week on “Aunt” Willow’s farm. Luke worked day and night to get them back home for Thanksgiving. But when things, once more, seem to pile up, Aggie flounders. Her pregnancy grows precarious, and her husband doesn’t recognize her anymore. Only the Lord can soothe her rumpled spirit, but will she allow Him to comfort her as only He can? Aggie’s sure that she just needs to “knuckle down” and “ante up” to keep from losing ALL her marbles. Ante Up! is the fourth book in the Aggie Series

About the Author



Chautona lives in a small, remote town in California’s Mojave Desert with her husband and six of her nine children. When not writing, she enjoys paper crafting, sewing, and looking forward to retirement from home education. Chautona writes stories of fictional people who have real problems, weaknesses, and triumphs. Through their stories, she tries to share the Hope that is within her.

My Review: 
"Ante Up" by Chautona Havig is book four of the (Aggie's Inheritance) series and in my opinion, it is also the best of the four. I know not everyone is going to agreed with me because it doesn't show Aggie in the best light, in fact, she is shown in a negative light. I didn't think it was my favorite of the series till I read the "Note From The Author" at the end of the book. Angie is like so many of us, we are "Spiritual" until the hard times comes and then we are all to ready to blame God and be angry at Him. Yes, "Ante Up" is a book full of sorrow and joy for Aggie, just like the other books but I feel like this book has more truths written in the pages.
While reading "Ante Up" (and the other novels in this series) I experienced moments of sadness and moments that I literally laughed out loud. This family seems like it could be your next door neighbors, except there were 9 kids. "Ante Up" could be enjoyed as a standalone but I really recommend reading the other novels first as the characters are the same in all the books and build upon each other. I don't feel the reader would get the full story without reading the whole story. I am hoping that there will be a fifth book, becauseI would like to see where some of the romances that are mentioned in the books goes. Another reason that I like this book the best is because it ends at Christmas time and a baby is born, no I am not talking about Jesus.

"Ante Up" is a novel about a family that has the same trouble any family has. I really appreciate that Chautona Havig portrays her characters true to life.  
I have added her series "Past Forward" to my to be read list. This is a part after book 3 and before "Ante Up". I only added this fact to this review as Volume Six has more of Luke's and Aggie's family story line.

I was given a copy of "Ante Up" by the author and Celebrate Lit for my honest opinion in this book tour. The opinions expressed are my own. 

"Ante Up" by Chautona Havig is a five star novel.

Guest Post from Chautona Havig

“You have eight kids? How do you do it? I can barely manage with the one (or two or three) that I have! I could never do eight.” How many times had I heard those words? Ten? Fifty? A thousand? I suspect it was between fifty and a thousand. I guarantee it felt like a million. And the reason wasn’t that people were rude or unkind about it. It was simply because they assumed things that weren’t reasonable. They acted as if I’d woken up one day with eight kids and never had a problem with adapting to it. The cold, hard truth? I never planned to have children—ever—much less the eight I had then or the nine I have now. I didn’t like children, and even now, I really just prefer mine and others’ in very small doses. I’m naturally a very selfish person. So the comments that made me sound excessively patient and maternal were, in a word, ridiculous. I had one answer I always gave—just one. “I didn’t get them all at once. I got them one at a time, the old fashioned way. And with a minimum of about eighteen to twenty-two months of getting used to having two, three, six, seven before I got the next.” But that thought haunted me for weeks. What would happen if someone did get eight at once? How would she handle that? Not like the women with multiples—five, seven, eight at a time. No, I was thinking of what it would be like for someone to have my kids just dumped on someone all at once with all those different ages to deal with. I think I should have known at that moment that my childhood dream of being a writer would come true, because my next thought was, “And what if she was single?” From there, I added more. A grandmother-in-law to rival any horror stories of mothers-in-law, home renovations with kids (every mother’s nightmare), grieving, and accident prone kids who can’t stop calling 9-1-1 and you had all the worst things I could think of without becoming ridiculous. I had originally decided that Aggie would remain single. Yeah, that didn’t happen. So, I gave her personal convictions to follow. I added to that her sister’s convictions, just to keep things interesting. I wanted to show that people have convictions for a myriad of reasons, and just because they hold one, doesn’t mean they look down on those who don’t. That original story grew from a sixty-thousand word single book into a trilogy—each book being over one hundred twenty thousand words! I was sure people would hate the length, hate the story, and ride me out of the country on the proverbial rail. I just hoped I landed in the southern Atlantic—nice and warm. Instead, Ready or Not has been my best selling book—an Amazon bestseller. The first promotion we did resulted in the book being downloaded every 3.6 seconds in a twenty-four hour period. I was flabbergasted. I did the math a dozen times to make sure. When the last book came out, fans bemoaned the loss of their favorite character. I added more of her to another series, Past Forward. That helped—a little. Eventually, I agreed to write a fourth book. I waited, and I’m so glad I did. Nearly five years have passed since Aggie inherited her eight nieces and nephews, and nearly four have passed since she married and began a new journey with him. She’s a mother now, not “just” an aunt. She’s a wife. Her life is rich and full of the craziness readers have come to love. So in this book, I decided to explore what happens when life throws just one too many curve balls. I decided to show the children growing up and facing new trials and temptations. And, I wanted to give just a little bit of joy in the extended family front after three books of trials there. I thought it was about time. My goal for these books has always been to point my readers to the Lord. I did that through one character’s wisdom, another’s steadfastness, and of course, through Aggie’s songs and bite-sized prayers (p-mails). In this book, I wanted to point readers to the Lord through Aggie again, but in a different way. I hope it is as encouraging to them as it was to me. I learned so much in the writing of this book. It laid open my heart before the Lord and I saw things in myself I didn’t want to see but needed to. The Lord is so good to us. Don’t forget—for those who purchase before July 7, 2016, we’re giving away a FREE bonus devotional, Tune My Heart: 25 Hymn-Filled Moments with the Lord. Each chapter corresponds to the book and examines some of the themes of the book, so you don’t want to read it before you’ve read the book! To get your free copy, just forward your Amazon receipt to ashley@ambientpromotions.com

Blog Stops

June 30: Quiet Quilter
July 2: Mary Hake
July 3: Petra’s Hope
July 7: Cassandra M’s Place (spotlight)
July 10: Karens Krayons
                                                        July 11: cherylbbookblog (spotlight)
Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a Kindle Fire! Click to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/9d3a
Posted by at 7 comments:

Sunday, June 26, 2016

"Hold Me Close" by Marguerite Martin Gray" Book Tour and Give Away


Purchase your copy here:  http://amzn.to/1W0jPFG


About the Book

Louis Lestarjette, a Frenchman, arrives in Charles Town, South Carolina, in 1772 without purpose or plans. He encounters a society on the brink of revolution and is forced to make decisions that include finding meaning and direction in his carefree life. Who can he trust in his endeavors to prosper? Will he be able to stay neutral in a battle for independence? When decisive events confront him, will he stay or leave? Running from God and commitment is a constant option. Elizabeth Elliott, daughter of a prominent British citizen, believes God will hold her close in uncertain and changing times. Faced with making difficult decisions about her loyalties, she finds comfort in close friends, a devout sister, and her music. When the mysterious Frenchman with no commitment to God or Charles Town enters her life, her role in the political battle is challenged. Can she trust her heart in volatile situations? Set in pre-revolution Charles Town, Hold Me Close takes the reader into the lives of immigrants, ordinary citizens, and prominent historical figures at a time in which decisions are made that will change the world.

My Review: "Hold Me Close" by Marguerite Martin Gray is a book that is based mostly on history, pre-American Revolution and The Sons Of Liberty. Since the story is also fictional the author has taken liberties and added facts that aren't part of this time era. But, unless you are a history buff you don't notice these, another reader pointed them out to me but that fact didn't make any difference in my enjoyment of the story.

"Hold Me Close" is the first book in the (Revolutionary Faith series) and I really enjoyed it for the most part. I really liked that Louis Lestarjette changed into a character that wasn't greedy, which is how he appeared at the beginning of the story.

The story was interwoven with Biblical truth all through the novel and reminds the reader that God does "Hold Us Close" at all times.

The ending is a little disappointing because it leaves you hanging as to the outcome of Louis and Elizabeth but that could be because this is book one, I am anxiously awaiting book two, I want to know how the love story ends!

I was given a copy Of "Hold Me Close" by Celebrate Lit and the author for a honest review as part of the book tour and the opinions I have expressed are my own.


About the Author

Marguerite Martin Gray enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and has degrees in French, Spanish, and Journalism from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Recently, she received a MA in English from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. She has two grown children and currently lives with her husband and Cleo, her cat, in Abilene, Texas.


Guest Post from Marguerite Gray

I’m very happy to be a part of Celebrate Lit! Thank you for the opportunity to present my book Hold Me Close and to share a little about my journey. It has been a journey of faith, a very exciting one for me. Hold Me Close is Book One in the Revolutionary Faith series. The book’s journey is my journey. Six years ago I finally put on paper some of the stories forming and rambling in my imagination. My grown children left me some time to let God lead me into a writing career, well part-time. My husband and I decided I could work part-time and write part-time. During this period I wrote six novels. The next part of the trek took me to American Christion Fiction Writers (ACFW). I joined and have been an active student for six years. I attended three conferences and loved every minute, even the harsh criticism and “helpful” words of encouragement. Also, I became a contributing member of several critique groups within the organization. Needless to say, Hold Me Close went through many changes before it was published. My growth in faith expanded as much as my book. I thank all who had a role in the needed transformation. I went back to work full-time after a three year sabbatical and pondered over the future of my novels. Where did God want the books to find a home? Or did they remain my little hobby? The journey was not over for Hold Me Close. The book was published by Westbow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan in December 2015. Quickly, I landed far outside my comfort zone in a world of social media and personal appearances. Even though I am a teacher and stand in front of 120 students every day, there is something intimidating about audiences of professionals and my peers. Rotary Clubs, Book Clubs, Writers’ Guilds, Church Groups! What a journey….and it hasn’t stopped. My tagline is “Entertain. Educate. Encourage.” I entertain through fiction. I educate through the historical genre. I encourage through faith journeys of my characters. It’s exciting and I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I have.

Facebook Party

Blog Stops

June 20: Proverbial Reads
June 21: Lane Hill House
June 23: A Northern Belle
June 27: Big Reader Site
June 28: Splashes of Joy
June 28: Mary Hake
June 29: Pause for Tales

To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away a fun themed prize basket! Click to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/9cc8
Posted by at 4 comments:

Thursday, June 23, 2016

"To Follow Her Heart" by Rebecca Demarino

Satisfying, Emotionally Rich Conclusion to The Southold ChroniclesSeries
It is 1664 and Patience Terry is devastated to learn that Captain Jeremy Horton's ship has been shipwrecked off the coast of Barbados, with no survivors. She had hoped that Jeremy would someday give up the sea and settle down with her in Southold, Long Island. 

Unaware his memorial service is being planned, Jeremy is rescued and aboard a British Naval Gunship with secret orders to attack New Amsterdam and claim it for the British Crown. When he makes his surprise return to Southold--and to an overjoyed Patience--it's not the happily-ever-after his beloved had hoped for. 

With a finely tuned sense for authentic historical characters and settings, Rebecca DeMarino plunges readers into the 17th century--a world of high seas and tall ships, daring journeys and yearning hearts.

Interview with Rebecca DeMarino

What do you love to write and what inspired you to start?  Historical romance! And I fell in love with it the year I traveled with my mom to Long Island to see the lighthouse named after our ancestor, Barnabas Horton. A Puritan and a widower with two little boys, he married Mary Langton, a young Anglican woman before they sailed on a ship called The Swallow to New England in the 17th century. We discovered so much information about my ninth great-grandfather at the historical society and library in Southold, but very little about my ninth great-grandmother, Mary. I wanted to give her, and all of the courageous women who came across the pond in those early days, a voice and tell her story in A Place in His Heart.  One of the few fictitious characters in that book, Patience Terry, became my heroine in To Follow Her Heart, book three of The Southold Chronicles series from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
When did you know you wanted to write? Did any or multiple books influence this desire? I took a creative writing class in high school and always knew I wanted to write a novel. I enjoy reading many genres, but I was reading quite a bit of suspense and thought that might be what I would write. But life took a turn when I went with my mother to Long Island to see the lighthouse named after our ancestor, Barnabas Horton. So much information about Barnabas, so little about his wife, Mary. I wanted to give her a voice! And about that time I discovered Jane Kirkpatrick’s A Gathering of Finches. I loved that book! So while I believe my writing has been influenced by my passion for reading most all of my life, Jane Kirkpatrick’s stories of real people, and in particular strong women, set in fiction have been the greatest inspiration to me.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.  I love the classics, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Anna Karenina, Wuthering Heights to name a few. I love a good suspense and historicals, especially with romance. I’ve read almost all of John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks, and Jane Kirkpatrick books. Other keepers on my bookshelf right now are: Julie Lessman, Lori Benton, Carrie Turansky, Margaret Brownley, Karen Barnett, and Camille Eide— and I could go on because there are much more on my shelves, but they wouldn’t all fit in this answer! But I love the novels being published today for the CBA, and I think Christian fiction is filling a need in a way it never has before. 

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?  Helping my dad finish his own novel, The Stagecoach Murders, after he suffered a stroke. I typed, he dictated the last four chapters. It was a slow process because his speech was affected. He knew exactly what he wanted to say, but it didn’t always come out that way. That gave us a few laughs along the way! His novel is a Louis L’Amour meets Zane Grey western romance—and it is a terrific book! Dad began that novel when he was 86, and finished it at age 87. He’s 93 and still living on his ranch in Oregon with his horse Cotton ~ he continues to amaze and inspire me!

Tell us 3 things your readers might not know about you.  I was born in my parent’s Nash before Dad could even pull away from the curb. My sisters remember standing at the picture window in the house with the babysitter as my dad held me up. When we got to the hospital I roomed in with my mom because I couldn’t be in the nursery with all of those germ-free babies. Second tidbit: When I was twelve, I wrote to NASA and told them I would like to be an astronaut when I grew up. They sent back a huge envelope filled with pamphlets about the program, and pictures of Alan Shepard and John Glenn, and a very nice letter telling me thank you very much for your interest, but NASA has no plans for women astronauts. Guess no one told Sally Ride that! And thirdly: My three daughters were born in three different states: Alaska, Nebraska, and Florida. Life in the military, lol! 

And please tell us about your new release from Revell Publishing. In 1664 Patience Terry is devastated to learn that Captain Jeremy Horton’s ship has been shipwrecked off the coast of Barbados. There were no survivors. She had hoped that Jeremy would someday give up the sea and settle down with her in Southold, Long Island. 
Unaware his memorial service is being planned, Jeremy sails aboard a British warship with secret orders to attack New Amsterdam and claim it for the British Crown. When he makes his surprise return to Southold—and to an overjoyed Patience—it’s not quite the happily-ever-after his beloved had hoped for.
Patience is a fictitious character that first appeared in the A Place in His Heart book one in The Southold Chronicles. She was young and immature, and a thorn in Mary Horton’s side. But it was fun watching her grow and become a one of Mary’s best friends. And she had an eye for Jeremy by the end of that first book! Jeremy’s character is based on the real brother of Barnabas Horton, and was the captain of The Swallow, the little ship that brought the Hortons from England to the New World. To Follow Her Heart is Patience and Jeremy’s story.   

Thank you for chatting with me! It’s been fun! 

My Review: "To Follow Her Heart" by Rebecca Demarino is the third and final book in the (The Southold Chronicles). It is also my favorite of the three. I really wish there were more.

If you haven't read the other two novels in this series, you can still read "To Follow Her Heart" and enjoy the story. Yes, it has characters from the other two books, but this story is really Patience's and Jeremy's story.

This story is one that made me want to put the book down because I didn't want what was apparently happening to happen, this was a few times in the story. Yes, there were twists that I didn't see coming. Yes, I finished the book because I had to see if what I thought was gonna happen, happened or if a another twist came about.

This book is a love story that shows love is worth waiting for. It makes the tears fall also.

I was given a copy of "To Follow Her Heart" by Rebecca Demarino by the author for an honest review and have given it five stars!


Author Info: 
When Rebecca DeMarino traveled in 1999 to Horton Point, Long Island, with her mother, Helen Jean Horton Worley to discover their heritage, passions collided: her love of faith, family, travel, history, and writing. Rebecca's debut novel, A PLACE IN HIS HEART (Revell, 2014), is a historical romance based on Mary and Barnabas Horton, Rebecca's ninth great-grandparents. Book two of THE SOUTHOLD CHRONICLES series, TO CAPTURE HER HEART, is available now. Book three in the series, TO FOLLOW HER HEART, releases in July and is available for pre-order. From PUBLISHER WEEKLY ~ "DeMarino's ... strong suit is recreating history and relating it to readers."
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