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Yeast Rolls, The Bread of Life, and Auntie June

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

 

My family is blessed with bakers bakers and cooks.  Is yours?  Are you one of them?  We have so many on all the branches of my family tree that one year I decided it was time to corral all of the recipes into one large cookbook.  What a fun project!

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Going through the old recipes brought the treasured women and men that made or ate each delicacy to mind.  I journeyed back to childhood, to church dinners, and even some camping trips.  Holidays were relived along with weddings.  It’s funny how food and a certain time or person can be connected.

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Take yeast rolls and my sweet Aunt Eva June.  She has not one recipe in my cookbook for them but four!  Yes, she loves hot from the oven, light, fluffy yeast rolls.  Even the smell of them brings her to mind.  Bread is is absolute favorite treat, even above sweets.

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My Aunt is a strong woman of faith and has been blessed by Abba.   It would take pages to describe how exceptional she is.  She has overcome Breast Cancer in a miraculous way.  Only the touch of Jehovah Rapha, our God that heals could provide some of the news she has received.

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Yeast rolls aren’t the only bread she loves.  She loves Jesus, the Bread of Life and is not shy to enlighten anyone of His power.  When we chat she never fails to tell me that she prays daily for us, misses us, and loves us.  The goodness of God is always in our conversation, too.  Acknowledging His plan for her life she says “He must not be finished with me yet and I want to do what He wants.”

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What faith!  To fight cancer in her eighties and keep such a positive outlook.  She doesn’t need any encouragement from others but gladly gives it to everyone all for the glory of God.

 

                  Auntie June’s Best Rolls Ever
Ingredients: 2 pkg. active dry yeast
3/4 melted butter
2 eggs
3/4 sugar
2 1/2 c. warm water
8 to 9 c. flour
3 tsp. salt
Directions: Soften yeast in water. Add shortening, sugar, salt, eggs, and 4 cups flour. Stir and beat until smooth (about one minute). Stir in remaining flour. This will be a soft dough. Cover tightly and store in refrigerator overnight or until ready to use. When ready to use, work down and make into rolls, dipped into shortening or butter. Let rise until double in size and bake. Bake at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes.

The Baby-Catcher Gate Book Review

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Thoughts:

The Baby-Catcher Gate by Wendy Jo Cerna was an absolute beautifully written Christian novel.  The author has a lovely style of writing.  It is engaging and drew me in immediately not wanting to let me go.  Within the first few pages I was caught up in the story.
Author Cerna’s vivid descriptive writing took me to the time and place of her story.  I felt like I was back in 1980 again.  The conversations were authentic and flowed easily.  Using two points of view she switches between them seamlessly.  Her style is easy and pleasant to read.  There were even recipes at the back of the book as an added treat.
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All of the characters are well defined.  I felt like I knew each one well and had some new friends.  The main character, Pearl, was a typical twelve year old girl growing up in 1980s.  Yet she was anything but typical it seems.  It was easy to become invested in Pearl’s story.  I connected with her mother, Lizzie, also, and enjoyed Fritz.  The characters have unique characteristics and quirks.  There are so many that stood out as likable.
Pearl’s mother and grandmother were both “baby catchers,” but Pearl does not want to be one.  Her spirit is too gentle.  She will assist her mother at times but unlike her sister, Susan, Pearl isn’t cut out for this type of work.  I thought the book was going to be about midwifery but it was about so much more.  Baby catching was just a small portion of the book.
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This is the tale of Pearl, who ends up in the hospital and Heaven.  In Heaven Pearl receives a gift and a task.  Then she returns to earth to help people.  Pearl shares her unique experience with family and friends.  Reading this brought tears to my eyes and a warmth to my heart.
This story is filled with twists and turns to make it a page turning gem.  A few parts drag a bit but overall it moves along at a nice pace.  The surprises keep it interesting.  I enjoyed the author’s idea of Heaven, God, and what eternal life will be.  Gregory, the angel, was spot on for what an angel might be.
There are many life lessons and spiritual messages in this book.  The foremost is life after death in Heaven.  The author has stated in her notes that she prayed for and received God’s guidance when writing this unique book about the baby-catcher’s gate in Heaven.  It is definitely a God glorifying tale.
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Family, forgiveness, bullying, death, relationships, miscarriage, violence, and gossiping are all subjects approached in the captivating offering from author Cerna.  It is an exceptionally well planned and well written book.  I loved it.  There was a phase she used that I had never heard:  “we are in a thin place” meaning someone was between life and death there.  It suited the story well.
I would highly recommend this book to mature readers because of some of the adult situations.  It would have been nice if it had discussion questions.  A book club would still be able to enjoy and examine this thought provoking offering from author Cerna easily.  I rated it a 5 out of 5 stars.  I won a copy of this book from Good Reads but was under no obligation to write a review.  These are my honest words.
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About the Book:

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On a stormy summer night in 1982, twelve-year-old Pearl must accompany her midwife mother on a call to client in labor. Pressed into service as a birthing assistant, Pearl is called upon to swaddle the newborn boy and hold him in her arms. As she gazes into his face, she is drawn into what her mother likes to call a thin place – a place where the distance between heaven and earth becomes so small you can see into one from the other.

In this thin place, Pearl travels to The Baby-Catcher Gate. What she experiences there transforms her and she becomes a catalyst of change for her hometown in the north woods of Minnesota. Folks will never be the same.

The Baby-Catcher Gate is a story about the beautiful consequences of peeking into heaven. Follow Pearl’s adventure and catch a glimpse for yourself.

About the Author

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Born and raised in a family of educators in Minnesota, Wendy Jo traveled to the University of Washington in Seattle to complete her bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts. In 1986, she married her college sweetheart. They settled in Bellevue, WA to run their contracting business and raise their three children. In 2009, she received a master’s degree in Psychology which she has used to educate and counsel hurting people in a variety of settings. In writing her first novel, she has found a way to combine her love of the arts and education with her passion for healing the brokenhearted.

Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations Celebrate Lit Book Tour

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

You have found my stop for Celebrate Lit’s Book tour and giveaway for author V. Joy Palmer’s “Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations” novel.  I have information on the book, author, and tour for you.  Check out the generous giveaway at the end of this blog.  It looks like someone is going to be very happy!

My Thoughts

This is the first book by author Palmer that I have read.  I thought the cover was intriguing as was the title.  Her novel is a 334 Contemporary Christian romance.  I am thrilled to say that there is no doubt this is a Christian book.  While not preachy, there are many great inspirational messages packed within this book’s pages.

The writing style was nice.  It flowed well for the most part.  The switch in point of view threw me for a moment, but it was not that problematic.  The humor was heavy and entertaining.  The wedding planning business was wonderful and one of my favorite parts.  I could well imagine the magical venues and ecstatic brides.

Most of the characters were well rounded and nicely developed.  It was easy to like them and become invested in their stories.  However, unfortunately this wasn’t the case for me and Apryl, the main character.  She came off as a bratty, mean girl.  Her words were hurtful and sarcastic.  It is hard to like someone that hurts people with their words over and over.  I know she had a rough life but I could not engage with her.  The problem might be personal preferences or age.  (I do not enjoy reading about someone hurting others by their harsh tone or words.  It felt like this book was written for a younger generation than mine.)

The Christian messages of God having plans for our lives and not listening to the lies the devil whispers to us are wonderful.  The story was cute and for the most part so we’re the characters.  I would recommend this to lovers of contemporary fiction, especially young adults.  I rated it a 3 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but I was under no obligation to write a review.

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About the Book

Book: Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations

Author: V. Joy Palmer

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy

Release Date: February 14, 2019

Weddings, Willows, and Revised ExpectationsSeventeen years after being orphaned, Apryl Burns and her twin sister Courtney have their own expectations for life. While Courtney continues to shine at everything, Apryl holds fast to the mantra that as long as her potato chip stash remains intact, then she’ll be fine.

But when their beloved grandmother ends up injured and unable to manage her struggling antique store, Courtney makes it their mission to revamp the business and save what’s left of their family’s legacy. Despite rampant doubts in her abilities, Apryl finds herself trapped under the weight of family loyalty as they transition to a wedding venue decorating service. Soon shes forced to ask (translation: blackmail) their grandmother’s renter/handyman, Chance McFarland, for help, an arrangement that is made even worse by the fact that Chance is her former (ahem, and current) crush.

Chance knows a few dozen things about family loyalty, which is why he begrudgingly agrees to Apryl’s insane plan. While Apryl claims they’re archenemies, the girl Chance only glimpsed in their teens starts to emerge, stealing what remains of his heart.

But expectations are a powerful thing. Amidst the glamorous weddings and swaying willows, can those old expectations be revised into something new?

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

V. Joy PalmerJoy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterationsand a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

 

More from Joy

I’ll confess something to you guys.

For about a year, I hated these characters. Like I vehemently hated them. For their refusal to bow to my will, I counted the ways I could take revenge against them for my own sadistic pleasure, and I seriously considered printing the manuscript just so I could burn it in an oil drum while I laughed like a Disney villain. I’m told my “Ursula laugh” is uncanny.

Some of you may be laughing. Some of you may be rolling your eyes. Some of you may be gasping in horror at the thought of an author killing her beloved characters. Or some of you may smirk and say, “I’ve been there, only I did kill my characters.”

I dove into the story with a wide-eyed innocence that came from thinking I was in charge of the story. My characters slapped that doe-eyed look off my face, letting me know I had no idea what I was doing. Sure, I knew the basics… They start off arguing, then fall in love… I had a couple great kiss scenes planned… Worth in God would be explored… Jokes would be made… But I could not get these stubborn characters to cooperate, and I was pulling my hair out by the roots trying to force them to get on board with my excellent program! I didn’t understand them, and their actions didn’t make any sense. Then my computer crashed…and died…taking over twelve thousand words with it. (A part of me thinks Apryl was behind it.) Suddenly, I was at square one, but I was actually a little relieved. Now I could start over.

Cue muffled sobs here.

After the untimely demise of my computer, I went to the 2016 American Christian Fiction Writers conference. At that conference, Ted Dekker said something in one of his keynote sessions that changed everything for me.

“Write to discover yourself.”

I still get chills when I think about this, and it has nothing to do with the below zero temperatures in my neck of the woods.

My writing changed after that. I made myself vulnerable, pouring my heart into Apryl and Chance’s journey like it was my personal journey. And as my literary world started to blossom, my literal world felt like it was being scorched by an exploding sun of heartache. And when that nasally (or does it only sound that way in my head?) voice whispered that I was worthless, God’s declaration of love was a big, bold font across the pages.

Through Apryl and Chance, I rediscovered my own worth to my Father.

And I hope you can, too.

I hope you laugh (the seagull scene is a favorite of mine). I hope you swoon (Apryl and Chance Forever!!). I would be especially pleased if you had to look up one or two pop culture references because I’ll just feel cool. But more than anything I hope you can rediscover your worth in our Father’s eyes, whether it’s for the first time or the seven hundred and eleventh time.

Our worth isn’t defined by our jobs, our mistakes, our families, or the plans we have. Our worth is in a loving God who calls each of His children by name. Our worth is in our Father.

Set to the tune of a romantic comedy, there are a lot of little truths sprinkled throughout Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, but our worth in God is the glue that holds it all together – at least for me! This was the truth I wanted to convey in Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations all along. But until I started to understand this (I definitely haven’t mastered it!) in my own heart, how could I write about it?

I hope you guys enjoy Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations. I hope this truth touches your heart in some way.

And I hope you laugh. A lot.

Hugs,

Joy Palmer

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, April 27 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)

Pause for Tales, April 27

The Becca Files, April 28

Moments, April 28

Godly Book Reviews, April 29

Just Your Average reviews, April 29

Kat’s Corner Books, April 30

Creating Romance, April 30

Maureen’s Musings, May 1

Hallie Reads, May 1

For Him and My Family, May 2

Vicky Sluiter, May 2

Wishful Endings, May 3

Emily Yager, May 3

The Christian Fiction Girl, May 4

Inklings and notions, May 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 5

Through the Fire Blogs, May 6

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 7

A Baker’s Perspective, May 8

Cultivating us, May 8

Texas Book-aholic, May 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 9

A Reader’s Brain, May 10

janicesbookreviews, May 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Joy is giving away a grand prize package that includes a signed copy of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations,
a signed copy of Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, a Hand-Carved Reading Willow Tree Figurine,  a Character-Inspired Locket,
a Custom Roaring Twenties Book Sleeve from The Cozy Life Etsy Shop, an Anne of Green Gables Mug Rug from Bookish Star Designs Etsy Shop, and a Chai Latte Soy Candle in a Vintage Mug from Joplin House Cafe!!

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/dfea/weddings-willows-and-revised-expectations-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

 

Family, Food, and Aunt Kathleen’s Red Velvet Cake

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

img_2348Food and family have a way of going together.  When added together they equal fun for my clan.  Holidays, birthdays, new babies we have yet to see, or visits from our beloved out of town members are all valid reasons to have one.  Actually no reason other than we haven’t seen each other in a while is necessary.

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Everyone brings a favorite or specialty dish.  Sometimes even more than one thing is carried in while folks try to guess what it is.  Followed by yums and ooohs, the side or dessert is carried to the kitchen or designated area.  The hosts normally provide the meat, breads, and drinks (coffee, iced tea and lemonade) while the rest of us fill in the other places.  It is so much fun and food!  Our family is blessed.

We always begin by counting off in a circle holding hands.  After grace is said by Dad before he says “amen” we go around the circle again squeezing the person’s hand to our right.  When it gets back to Dad, he says “and all God’s children said…”  That’s when everyone joins in together with a big hearty Amen!  After that the little kids jump and clap like something spectacular has happened.  Actually it has.

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Our family has managed to still lovingly get together long after my grandparents went to Heaven.  They built a strong Christian foundation for their family.  My cousins are as close as siblings.  I know I can count on them for anything and vice versa.  Their children are like nieces and nephews to me and are dearly loved.  I pray for each one of them daily.

 

I am writing this nostalgic post today because I miss my Aunt Kathleen.  She was my Mother’s older sister.  At birthday gatherings and Christmas, Aunt Kathleen she would bring her famous Red Velvet cake to our family gatherings.  It was legendary.  The recipe is below, but as I wrote in my cookbook, “this is often made but never duplicated.”  No one could make it quite like she did.  Today I could use a piece of that cake and a cup of tea with her.  We talked often, and I could use her ear today.  I know she’s waiting in Heaven so we can catch up there later.

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I hope you treasure your family as much as I do mine.  Cherish the days you have with them.  Make memories that will be happy stories to tell your children.  Thank God for the family He has given you.  Each person was especially placed there for you.

Aunt Kathleen’s Red Velvet Cake

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Ingredients: ½ c. shortening
1 ½ c. sugar
2 eggs
2 oz. red food coloring
1 T. cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. salt
2 ¼ c. flour
1 T. vinegar
1 tsp. soda
Directions: For Cake: Cream shortening, sugar, and eggs. In a separate bowl, make a paste with food coloring and cocoa. Put into creamed mixture. Add salt, flour, buttermilk and vanilla alternately. Do not beat hard. Just blend. Lastly, add in soda with vinegar mixed in.
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes in two 8 inch pans. Let cool and then split each layer into 2, making 4 layers in all.
For Icing:
¼ c. flour , ¼ tsp. salt, 1 c. milk, 1 c. Crisco, 1 c. sugar, 1tsp. vanilla
In the top of a double boiler, combine flour and salt. Blend a little milk into it before adding remaining milk. Cook over double boiler until thick, stirring constantly. Cool well.
Cream Crisco and sugar until fluffy. Add cooled flour mixture. Mix well. Add vanilla. Spread evenly between layer, on sides, and top of cake. May add coconut if desired.

Gone too Soon by Melody Carlson Celebrate Lit Book Tour

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Welcome to my stop on “Gone Too Soon’s” Book tour.  Here you will learn about the book, the author, where to find the other stops, and the giveaways.  Let’s get started with my review.

My Thoughts:

“Gone Too Soon” is a Contemporary Christian Young Adult offering by author Melody Carlson.  It was a difficult one for me.  I am not sure what age “Young Adult” means, but this book tackled very mature topics.  By the time I had finished reading it I was an emotional wreck.  First off, I am far from a young adult having twin thirteen year old granddaughters.  They were always in my mind while reading a book on teenagers.  I would not suggest they read this because of their age.

Author Carlson has written many books, but this one seemed more on the edgy, darker side.  The situations are real for today, and sometimes too brutal for me.  There is death, rape, drugs, smoking, exhibition, lewd dressing, animal cruelty, and things that kids just should not do.  Even the language is rough around the edges.  Unfortunately that is what is happening in our world today with some teens.

This story is about a dysfunctional family dealing with grief after a daughter (sister) is killed.  Using drugs, alcohol, and other things to cope divides the family rather than brings them closer together.  It is about misguided teenagers.

There is inspiration sprinkled throughout this story.  Some places it is heavier than others.  The author includes praying, Bible reading, Bible study, and going to church.  One place that bothered me was when a character cried out “Oh, God” as it is never clear if this is in vain or a prayer for help.  There is absolutely no doubt this is a Christian novel.

Gone Too Soon has a nice easy to read pace.  The author’s style is steady and grabs readers’ attention quickly. The characters are well thought and have many dimensions.  I could imagine their emotions and wanted to mentor the teens.  The tough subjects were handled in a way to allow learning.

I would recommend this book to certain people.  Older teens, people in ministry, women, and a book club.  This is definitely one to discuss.  I would not recommend it to anyone 15 or under, possibly 17.  I rated it a 4 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but I was under no obligation to write a review.  These are my own, honest words.

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About the Book

Book: Gone Too Soon

Author: Melody Carlson

Genre: Young Adult

Release Date: November 15, 2018

Gone Too SoonAn icy road. A car crash.
A family changed forever.

Hannah Josephson had always been the “perfect” daughter. Kiera couldn’t live up to her before, and she certainly can’t now that her older sister has died in a car accident. But the image she carried resentfully of Hannah is challenged when she finds her dead sister’s diary and begins to read. Apparently Hannah’s final year wasn’t as perfect as everyone thought.

Caught in a pattern of blaming each other, the Josephson family is falling apart. Their father has left, their mother is mixing opiates and alcohol, little sister Maddie has been shipped off to spend the whole summer with their grandmother, and Kiera feels utterly alone with her grief and anger. A summer job helping at a park in a poor section of town provides a friend and a purpose.

But it’s Hannah’s diary that fills her thoughts. For the first time in years, she feels close to the sister she’s lost. But can the knowledge she gleans about her possibly help her patch back together the family that seems determined to implode?

About the Author

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

More from Melody

I think I’ve written about a hundred or more teen novels, but Gone Too Soon, a rather serious story, is a bit different. There’s no denying I’ve covered a bunch of gritty issues—everything from self-harm to suicide to murder—but I’ve never written a novel quite like this one. For starters, I wrote it from two viewpoints. Both the teenage daughter and her mother express themselves in this story. And because the premise involves an untimely death, the family is torn apart. As a result, there’s a lot of guilt and blame and confusion going around. They’re all in pain.

I’ve been asked several times what “inspired” this story. And I’m sad to say that it’s simply a case of “art imitating life.” I live in a small community where too many young people have died “too soon.” These untimely deaths—for a variety of random and unexplainable reasons—are devastating. I know more than a dozen families (some very close friends) who have tragically lost a child. So I’ve seen up close how it can tear a family apart. It’s truly heartbreaking, often leaving friends and family without words of comfort or explanation.

But that’s not the only reason I wrote this story. My hope is that teens (who often feel invincible) will be reminded that they are mortal and that this earthly life is temporary. Hard as it sounds, death is inevitable. And it’s not that I want everyone to be obsessed about dying, but we do live in a culture that practices denial about the end of a life. No one really wants to talk about it. My hope is that readers will take a hard, honest look, peel back some layers, and face death for what it is—a part of earthly life. And I hope readers will close the book with a little more understanding . . . and hope.

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, April 25

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 25

Emily Yager, April 26

The Power of Words, April 26

Moments, April 26

Christian Bookaholic, April 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 27

Hallie Reads, April 27

Caffeinated Christian Raves – N – Reviews, April 28

Mary Hake, April 28

janicesbookreviews, April 28

Christian Bookshelf Reviews, April 29

SusanLovesBooks, April 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 29

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 30

Just the Write Escape, April 30

Carla Loves toRead, May 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 1

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 2

Blogging With Carol, May 2

Ashley’s Bookshelf, May 2

Through the Fire Blogs, May 3

Reading Themes, May 3

For The Love of Books, May 3

the Midnight Bookaholic, May 4

amandainpa, May 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 4

Bigreadersite, May 5

Texas Book-aholic, May 5

The Becca Files, May 6

Remembrancy, May 6

Inklings and notions, May 7

this chattanooga mommy saves, May 7

A Reader’s Brain, May 8

For Him and My Family, May 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Melody is giving away a grand prize of paperback copy of Gone Too Soon and a matching journal!!

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/dfa9/gone-too-soon-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

The Memory House Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Today is my stop on “The Memory House” Book Tour and Giveaway.  This delightful Christian novel was written by author Rachel Hauck.  Be sure to check out her giveaway at the bottom.

My Thoughts:

The Memory House is a thought provoking poignant tale that takes places in two separate times, 1953 and current day.  She uses four different points of views, and even though this sound confusing, Author Hauck pulls it off without a snag of any kind.

Her writing is hard hitting yet eloquent.  My favorite line was “Family is whoever fits in your heart.”  Beautiful!  I enjoy her style of writing and find her books linger with me long after the last page.  The emotions of the characters are felt.  The places are seen.  I have lived part of their lives with them.  Hauck is an exceptional author to do that.

This is the tale of  Beck Holiday and Bruno Endicott from present day.  It is also about Everleigh Applegate and Don Callahan from the 1950’s.  Using characters that are realistic with both flaws and merits the author made me become invested quickly in the story.  There is even a little dog, Beetle Boo, which will steal your heart.

Author Hauck has given readers a complicated yet easy to read story.  It deals with grief.  Grief unfortunately hits us all.  The trials and heartaches that befall the characters broke my heart.  Then something happens to mend it again.   A Christian message of hope and God’s plans for our lives shines through from beginning to end.  Praying for others is a good lesson in this book, and it has many.  “He suspected Mom’s prayers had a hand in this.” is a favorite quote that I find myself using only turning to “do you suspect your Mom’s prayers….”.

After I closed this beautiful book, it stuck with me wanting to be remembered and examined.  It still remains and pops up at odd times.   There are discussion questions in the back that are wonderful, not only for a group but for individuals, also.

I highly recommend this book for lovers of Christian fiction.  It is an amazing tale of family, friends, and faith.  From me it receives a 5 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but I was under no obligation to write a review.  These are my own, honest thoughts.

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The Memory House by Rachel Hauck

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Genre: Christian Romance

Published by: Thomas Nelson on April 2, 2019

Embracing the future means remembering the past . . . When Beck Holiday lost her father in the North Tower on 9/11, she also lost her memories of him. Eighteen years later, she’s a tough New York City cop burdened with a damaging secret, suspended for misconduct, and struggling to get her life in order. Meanwhile a mysterious letter arrives informing her she’s inherited a house along Florida’s northern coast, and what she discovers there will change her life forever. Matters of the heart only become more complicated when she runs into handsome Bruno Endicott, a driven sports agent who fondly recalls the connection they shared as teenagers. But Beck doesn’t remember that, either. Decades earlier, widow Everleigh Applegate lives a steady, uneventful life with her widowed mother after a tornado ripped through Waco, Texas, and destroyed her new, young married life. When she runs into old high school friend Don Callahan, she begins to yearn for change. Yet no matter how much she longs to love again, she is hindered by a secret she can never share. Fifty years separate the women but through the power of love and miracle of faith, they each find healing in a beautiful Victorian known affectionately as The Memory House.

About the Author: 

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Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com; Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauc.

Blog Stops

Back Porch Reads , April 22
The Avid Reader, April 22
Wishful Endings, April 22
All-of-a-kind Mom, April 23
The Power of Words, April 23
Andrea Christenson, April 23
Worthy2Read, April 23
Carla Loves to Read, April 24
Blogging With Carol, April 24
Spoken from the Heart, April 24
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, April 24
C Jane Read, April 25
Reader’s Cozy Corner, April 25
Lis Loves Reading, April 25
For Him and My Family, April 25
CAFFEINATED CHRISTIAN RAVES-N-REVIEWS, April 26
Literary Reflections Book Blog, April 26
Jeanette’s thoughts, April 26
Carpe Diem, April 26
Mary Hake, April 27
EmpowerMoms, April 27
My Devotional Thoughts, April 27
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, April 27
Bigreadersite, April 28
Inklings and notions, April 28
Pause for Tales, April 28
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, April 28
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 29
Rachel’s Back Talk, April 29
For The Love of Books, April 29
Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, April 30
Quiet Quilter, April 30
Just the Write Escape, April 30
Reflections From My Bookshelves, May 1
Godly Book Reviews, May 1
Lights in a Dark World, May 1
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 1
Stories By Gina, May 2
Texas Book-aholic, May 2
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 2
Older & Smarter?, May 3
janicesbookreviews, May 3
Living Life Free in christ, May 3
The Becca Files, May 4
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 4
A Reader’s Brain, May 4
Inspired by fiction, May 5
Moments, May 5
To Everything A Season, May 5
Simple Harvest Reads, May 5 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a grand prize of a copy of The Memory House!!

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/e2aa/the-memory-house-celebration-tour-giveaway

“Uniquely Common” by Author Caryl McAdoo Celebrate Lit Book Tour

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Welcome to my stop on Celebrate Lit’s tour for “Uniquely Common” by Author Caryl McAdoo.  We will talk about the Book, learn about the author, and hear her thoughts on the book.  She has a generous giveaway so be sure to enter it at the end.  Let’s get started.

My Thoughts

The first thing I noticed was the beautiful cover on Uniquely Common by Caryl McAdoo.  The next thing was that it was part of the Lockets and Lace Collection.  The title of the book “Uniquely Uncommon” struck me as intriguing, also.  All that being said, I was ready to dive in.

From page one this book had my interest.  I became invested in the characters lives quickly.  Poor Asher, a widower with two daughters and a younger sister tagging along on his journey out West.  Christine (Chrissy), his sister, had just been jilted by her scoundrel of a boyfriend.  The girls, her adorable nieces, decide to become matchmakers for their beloved auntie.

Wow, what a delightful book.  I giggled my way through it.  Author McAdoo has a knack for combining inspiration, faith, humor, history, and romance into one entertaining book that keeps readers on their toes.  Plenty of twists and turns are added to maintain interest throughout the story.  For me, the faith element was not as strong as in some of her books, but it is still woven from beginning to end.  There is no question that this is a Christian Fiction novel. This books lives up to its Christian Fiction categorization.

Set in 1851, this book takes readers on a train ride and then boat journey to California.  It has many fun historical facts about the time period and pioneers.  I love books that leave me with information.  It is a fun way to learn.

Author McAdoo scoops readers right up and plops them down in the middle of her setting and storyline.  Her characters become friends as I “live” each book.  This brilliant offering was well thought, researched, and exquisitely written.

Whether you are a seasoned fan of Caryl McAdoo or this will be your first time to experience one of her books, you will no doubt love it.  I certainly did.  She brings characters, settings, and situations to live with her lovely engaging writing style.

I highly recommend this book.  It is a fast paced one so be prepared to call out for dinner or eat left overs.  You won’t want to stop reading to cook dinner!  I didn’t.  There are no discussion questions at the end, but there are sneak previews for upcoming books.  “Uniquely Common” gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me.   It was a page-turning delight for me.  I think a book club would love reading and discussing this book.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my own thoughts and opinions.

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About the Book

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Book: Uniquely Common

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: April 4, 2019

Steel sharpens steel, but will its sparks ignite unfailing love?

Instead of living a pampered life on the civilized east coast with a new husband, rejection compels Christina Adams westward with her widowed brother and his two daughters. Harboring ulterior motives, Ethan Cord, the man her brother hires to accompany the family, is more a match for her, and he appears almost perfect, but how could she possibly trust her instincts about him when she’d been so wrong about her previous fiancé? Will her past ruin her future?

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

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Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling novels—over forty published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her—listen to a few at YouTube. Sharing four children and eighteen grandsugars with Ron, her high-school-sweetheart-husband of fifty years, she lives in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.

One thing I love about this book is that as it draws to its end in Saint Joseph, Missouri, a new young woman is introduced, Remi, and her book—my May ‘Prairie Roses Collection’ story REMI—continues with the Adams family and segues into a new romance!

I hope readers will love that as well, praying my story gives God glory!

More from Caryl

I’m so excited about this year’s Lockets and Lace story! I’ve fallen in love with its characters. Asher and his sister Christina, his girls Samantha and Patricia, and his friend, Ethan Cord is certainly a man’s man though he has a checkered past to overcome.

His wife dies in childbirth, leaving him with two little girls, then when his parents pass, too, what’s to tie Asher Adams to New York?

His younger sister Christina is about to be settled into her new life, married and well cared for, so there’s nothing holding the wine merchant back from his dreams of owning a vineyard in the Napa Valley. He decides a new life in the west is the best thing for him and his daughters.

Then at the last minute, the family is turned upside down when the rogue engaged to Christina dumps her and calls the wedding off. Asher’s already sold the brownstone. She suddenly has nowhere to go and no one to watch over her if he leaves.

She never wanted to, but he insists her only choice is to go with them, accompany him and her nieces and make her new life in California . . . and he knows the perfect man for her, too!

Blog Stops

Through the Fire Blogs, April 23

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, April 24

Splashes of Joy, April 25

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, April 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 27

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 28

Bigreadersite, April 28

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 29

For Him and My Family, April 30

Texas Book-aholic, May 1

janicesbookreviews, May 2

A Reader’s Brain, May 3

KarenSueHadley, May 4

Inklings and notions, May 5

The Becca Files, May 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away

Grand Prize $50 Amazon Gift Card

1st Place – Print copy of UNIQUELY COMMON

2nd place – eBook copy of UNIQUELY COMMON

3rd place – Choice eBook of Caryl’s FORTY+ titles!!

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/de84/uniquely-common-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thirty Days Hath Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

“Thirty Days Hath” is a very creative, original contemporary Christian romance offering from author Chautona Havig.  She injects her unique writing style which lends humor, emotion, and twists into this unique novel just like she has her other ones.  It’s a delightful tale unlike any I have ever read.

This is the story of bachelor Adric Garrison.  His sister and her minister husband have come up with a plan to help Adric find Mrs. Right.  Their scheme is a cross between the television show The Bachelor and an online dating service.  Two ministers take applications for potential girlfriends for Adric.  Each approved applicant along with her chaperone will come and live with Adric for a month.  How’s that for discovering compatibility?

The Christian element could be stronger, but it is definitely there.  I’m not sure how likely it is that a minister would be involved in an idea of this type, but this is not real life.  It is a fun book.  For me it was a page turner.  I was invested in Adric’s life and had a hard time putting the book down.

There was a wide variety of characters in this book and I do mean characters.  The women were all so different in very many ways.  Secondary characters, Adric’s sister’s children, his friends, the chaperones, and his workers were all well done.  Dialogue throughout this novel is plentiful and realistic.

The premise of someone actually doing this, going into a stranger’s home and living there with him for a month, sounds ridiculous.  However, I’m sure if pitched as a television series it would get serious consideration.  The idea of “calendar” girls competing for a man did not seem realistic to me, but then neither do a lot of the dating shows on tv.

It was a fun read and had me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.  I loved the Christian element, the sweet romance, the lighthearted humor, and even the emotional side of it.   Author Havig has written a quirky, delightfully transparent look into the world of mature dating.  This is well written, well planned, researched, and organized great.

Definitely I would recommend.  Anyone that likes Contemporary romance will love this.  I rated this a 4 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided but I was under no obligation to leave a favorable review.  These are my own, honest thoughts.

About the Book

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Book: Thirty Days Hath

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian fiction, contemporary romance

Release Date: Revised edition, Feb 26, 2019

Blind Dates Are for Wimps!

At least, that’s what Adric Garrison thinks.
Can you blame him? Thanks to his sister and brother-in-law, Adric is about to embark on a year of month-long, chaperoned, blind dates. Awkward.

He didn’t ask for it. But Adric still finds himself living what seems more like a bad TV reality show than a new life in Fairbury.

Once an ordinary (if prematurely gray and vertically challenged) guy, Adric is now Fairbury’s newest “most eligible bachelor,” and dreams of permanent bachelorhood loom on the horizon. Will he call it quits before the year is out, or will one of his “girls of the month” change his mind?

One man, twelve women, one happily ever after.

About the Author

ChautonaChautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her on the web and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

A SILENT TRUTH NO ONE ADMITS: BLIND DATES ARE FOR WIMPS

Maybe I’m not the one to talk. After all, I never dated. Not really. My best friend in high school was a guy. We went to the movies. We did things. Still, we were just great friends.

I had what might be considered one date in Lubbock, Texas in 1987. Maybe. I didn’t consider it one, but I suppose the guy might have. Maybe.

Then I went from best friends with the guy I’ve been married to for 30 years to engaged in the span of a few seconds after what might have been a rhetorical question. He’s under orders not to tell me if it was. After all, he’s the fool who went on to say, “I do.” Just sayin’.

Still, in the first decade of the 21st century, I discovered a new “thing” in reality TV. The Bachelor. Though I tried watching it, I couldn’t after a while. It started out reasonably clean, but then it devolved into cat fights, spit-swapping sessions, and drama. Oh, the drama.

But one aspect intrigued me. The focused attention to finding the girl. What if Christians did that? What if we stopped playing the silly game of “pretend we’re not in this to see if you’re someone I could put up with for the next fifty or sixty years…”? Oh, man. What if the church rallied around its members and helped without pushing.

Trust me, you don’t want to push too much. You may discover that the people you’re pushing just get together and talk about it. Laugh at your antics. Mock the ridiculousness of it. Not that Kevin and I ever did that back in the day or anything. (Check out that story HERE.)

That “what if?” spurred an idea.

Sister churches. Chaperones. Not a couple of weeks in a giant house somewhere, but a whole month of real living with someone, day in. Day out. And again, with that chaperone to avoid that “appearance of evil” thing. If you could spend that much time with someone, seeing warts, virtues, best and worst sides… well, maybe you might just be right for each other.

At the least, you’d have a good idea if you even wanted to find out. That’s a healthier and quicker start than two or three months of a date here or there and hoping you’re seeing the real person. Right?

I created a character and ran with it. From giving him less than Hollywood good looks, to an anger problem and a blue-collar job, Adric had lots going for him… and not so much!

Then I tested it out. Acid test. I signed him up for eHarmony.

No, really. I did.

For the record, apparently short, prematurely graying mechanics with anger issues are a hot commodity. It took hours to get it set up, but man there were many women out there for him… supposedly.

And to this day, my Gmail email (that I never use) still says adricgarrison@gmail.com. No joke.

For what it’s worth, Adric learned one very difficult lesson that year.

As I’ve already confessed. I’ve never been on a blind date. I doubt anyone would even consider that I’ve been on a date. Still, after writing this book, I know for one thing.Blind Dates Are for Wimps.

Blog Stops

Quiet Quilter, April 15

Through the Fire Blogs, April 15

For Him and My Family, April 16

cultivating us, April 16

Godly Book Reviews, April 17

mpbooks, April 17

Among the Reads, April 18

Multifarious, April 19

Inspired by Fiction, April 19

EmpowerMoms, April 20

SusanLovesBooks, April 20

Remembrancy, April 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 21

Rebekah’s Quill, April 22

Texas Book-aholic, April 22

Aryn The Libraryan, April 23

janicesbookreviews, April 23

Lots of Helpers, April 24

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 24

A Reader’s Brain, April 25

Bigreadersite, April 26

Inklings and notions, April 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 27

The Becca Files, April 27

Real World Bible Study, April 28

God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae, April 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a grand prize of a paperback copy of Thirty Days Hath, book cozy, and a $25 Starbucks gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into to the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/dee7/thirty-days-hath-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

But, Who is Praying for Me?

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Prayer Warriors are constantly praying for someone.  There is so much to lift up to God and it seems so little time.  We intercede for the sick, lost, hurting, and needy.  For the mother whose baby is desperately trying to stay in her womb to grow strong.  For the father trying to work overtime or a second job just to make ends meet.  For the teenager caught in the middle of making some life changing decisions.  For our President and government leaders.  Let’s not forget our family and friends.

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See what I mean?  We have so many people depending and deserving of our prayers.  Years ago my niece, Phoebe, and I were talking about praying.  She was little and not even in school.  A friend had called me and asked if I could pray for her granddaughter.    One thing led to another and I told Phoebe if she listened with her heart instead of her ears she could hear who needed her prayers.  Many times God will tell us.

A couple of weeks later she was excited to tell me she felt her first prayer request.  After dinner the night before she heard her Daddy say that a lady he worked with was going to be out because of surgery.  “I don’t even know her name, Aunt Sissy, but my heart heard for me to pray for her.”  Wonderful!  She did understand what we were discussing.  Right then we stopped everything and prayed for the woman.  Now in her mid-twenties, Phoebe is still a Prayer Warrior.

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On the flip side, I have someone that has been mad at me for over two decades.  I can’t say exactly why, buy I have apologized and shouldered the blame in hopes of reconciling with this friend.  A few times I have tried to have a “peace talk” with her, but it always goes no where.  This last time, I asked how things had been going in her life and told her that I had been praying daily for her and our relationship.  Then I asked if she prayed for me and our relationship, too.  She looked at me as if my hair had just turned turquoise and laughingly said “no, why would I?”

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Out of all the vicious remarks this friend has made, none hurt even a fraction as much as this one did.  I thought everyone prayed for the people they loved.  Maybe that was it, she had stopped loving me.  All I know is that in that moment I felt so lost and alone.  No one was praying for me?  Prayer is the biggest blessing to give someone.

E4F86CFD-BFC0-42DC-9D3B-A222EC73FEB7.pngEver feel like you are lost and alone with no one to lift you up in prayer?  I have great news.  You may pray for yourself.  Yep, it is allowed.  Also, the Holy Spirit will lift you up, too.  You might be surprised to find some little Phoebes that have been listening with their hears and are praying for you.

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There are no special words needed.  No super formula.  Just have a heart to heart with your maker.  The Bible tells us in Romans 8:26“…but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

We always have someone praying for us.  No need to fret.  Easy your mind and rest in the Lord.  Oh, and keep praying!

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The Governess of Penwythe Hall Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Welcome to Celebrate Lit’s Book Tour for “The Governess of Penwythe Hall” by author Sarah E. Ladd.  I hope you enjoy reading about this Regency romance.  Be sure to enter the giveaway which is detailed at the bottom.

My Thoughts

The first thing that drew me in to this novel was the beautiful, serene cover.  Next was the writing that captivated me from the very beginning.  Author Ladd has done a brilliant job with this poignant tale.

This is the story of Cordelia (Delia) Greythorne.  The book opens with her being newly widowed and threatened by her mother-in-law.  Immediately my heart went out to her and I felt her emotions.  I was invested in her story and could not put the book down.

The characters are very well thought in this English early 1800 fiction piece.  Delia is a strong woman with an admirable character.  She is employed as a governess and dearly loves the children under her care. Jac Twethewey of Penwythe Hall is the guardian for the children.  He is also their estranged uncle.  His character is also a strong willed one.  The children are delightful, especially little Miss Sophy.

Many relevant timely issues are touched upon in this stirring book.  Right at the beginning there is a major family issue and death.  Faith, depending on God, caring for others, facing fears, smugglers, making choices, and forgiveness are all touched on in this book.

In this book I found intrigue, mystery, light romance, history, inspiration, as well as twists and turns.  The writing was well done and took me to a place and time that I had never been.  It was easy to imagine the crashing salty waves and crusty characters.  I loved the attention to detail.  It was evident the author did her research.

I would recommend this for Regency lovers.  It is a very nice story that is engaging until the end.  I rated it a 4 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but I was not required to write a review.  These are my honest thoughts.

 

About the Book

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Book: The Governess of Penwythe Hall

Author: Sarah Ladd

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: April 16, 2019

In the first of a new series from beloved Regency romance author, Sarah Ladd, Delia, a governess to five recently orphaned children, would risk anything to protect them . . . even her heart.  Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.
Cornwall, England, 1811
Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate. She can’t abandon the children now that they’ve lost both parents, but their new guardian lives at the timeworn Penwythe Hall . . . back on the Cornish coast she tries desperately to forget.
Jac Trethewey is determined to revive Penwythe Hall’s once-flourishing apple orchards, and he’ll stop at nothing to see his struggling estate profitable again. He hasn’t heard from his brother in years, so when his nieces, nephews, and their governess arrive unannounced at Penwythe Hall, he battles both grief of this brother’s death and bewilderment over this sudden responsibility. Jac’s priorities shift as the children take up residence in the ancient halls, but their secretive governess—and the mystery shrouding her past—proves to be a disruption to his carefully laid plans.
Rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love, this first book in the Cornwall Novels series introduces us to the Twethewey family and their search for peace, justice, and love on the Cornish coast.

About the Author

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing family and spunky golden retriever. Visit her online, Facebook, and Twitter.
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More About the Governess of Penwythe Hall

5 things to know about Cornwall, England:

1. Throughout its early history, Cornwall’s inhabitants called the country Kernow.
2.  Early inhabitants largely spoke their own language known as “Cornish,” which became nearly extinct in the 1800s
3.  The country has a long and rugged coastline and there were frequent shipwrecks.
4.  Fishing was a major industry, with herring, mackerel, and sardines being common catches.
5.  In 1870, novelist and poet Thomas Hardy called Cornwall “the region of dream and mystery.”

Imagine yourself in The Governess of Penwythe Hall with these pictures of 19th Century life in Cornwall

Blog Stops

Back Porch Reads, April 11
Moments, April 11
Genesis 5020, April 11
Mary Hake, April 12
KarenSueHadley, April 13
EmpowerMoms, April 13
The Avid Reader, April 14
Wishful Endings, April 15
Simple Harvest Reads, April 15 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
The Becca Files, April 16
Remembrancy, April 17
Worthy2Read, April 18
By The Book, April 18
Pause for Tales, April 21
Bigreadersite, April 22
Hallie Reads, April 23
Henry Happens, April 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away a grand prize of a finished paperback copy of The Governess of Penwythe  Hall.  Be sure to comment on the blog stops (schedule below) for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter and Good Luck! Sarah Ladd has created audio clips from The Governess of Penwythe Hall that will allow readers to hear how the Cornish names are pronounced.  The audio clips are available on Sound Cloud.