“Then Judgment” Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on May 15, 2022May 4, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

“Then Judgment” is a thought provoking Biblical Fiction by author Caryl McAdoo. She uses her gift of writing and storytelling and offers her perspective on the days between the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection. It is a beautiful story.

The author illustrates her knowledge of scripture throughout this book. It is a well researched, planned and written book. Her husband, Ron, assisted her with writing this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Biblical Fiction is one of my favorite genre when done in agreement with scripture. Much thought has gone into this book as well as many hours of studying the Bible. I was captivated.

I highly recommend “Then Judgment: The Three Days Jesus Did Not Spend In The Tomb” to everyone. It will stay with you long after finishing it. Readers who enjoy Biblical fiction will not want to miss this one. It gets a 5 star rating from me.

I received a complementary copy of “Then Judgment”from Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Then Judgement

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Biblical fiction

Release date: April 8, 2022

A story of the three days Jesus did not spend in the tomb.
The Son of Man was made sin, cast away from the presence of the Great I AM’s presence, and condemned to Hades to face judgement. What exactly happened during those three days from the Lord’s lifeless body of flesh being placed in the tomb and His glorious resurrection? Hints throughout the Scriptures give clues to what transpired—how He got to Paradise to be with the thief on the cross that same day. One thing is certain! He rose on the third day and now lives forever more seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father! Hallelujah!

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—over sixty published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and twenty-one grandsugars (three are greats), Caryl and Ron, her high-school-sweetheart-husband of fifty-three years, live 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.

More from Caryl

As many of you know, my husband Ron and I write together. When Simon and Schuster released our tenth title, the editor requested one name for the cover and since it was a historical romance, preferred a female’s. The arrangement worked so well for us that we continued only my name being on the cover after we went Indie!

Anyway, we have been talking about writing this book for years, coming across little clues for the story in Scripture studies now and again over that time. At last, God released us to write THEN JUDGEMENT based on the twenty-seventh verse of Hebrews, nineth chapter: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

I love searching the scriptures and telling a story that strictly adheres to God’s Book, His Living Word, the Holy Bible. I love His stories and so understand that His Word is bread to our souls, feeding us wisdom and knowledge of our Creator and His everlasting, never-ending love for us!

Creating Biblical fiction tales carries a lot of responsibility that I truly enjoy taking on, being a guardian of the Truth. I love to bring characters from those days gone by so long ago to life on the pages of my books! I do feel a bit like John when he said this, writing of our Savior.

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” John 21:27

Biblical fiction could easily become my favorite genre—if it isn’t already. I do write more historical romance stories set in the 1800s (a favorite time period) in Texas (my favorite state)! And as much as I love that research . . . nothing compares to digging into the Word!

I pray you will enjoy living through the three days that Jesus did not spend in the tomb! May my story cause you to dig a little yourself, checking out our theory! I know this to be Truth: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

Hallelujah! Glory be to His Holy Name! The righteous run into it and are saved! There is no one like unto Him! He alone it the Great King over all the earth! Worthy to receive glory and praise!
As always, I’m ‘Praying my story gives God glory!’
Blessings, y’all!

Blog Stops

For Him and My Family, May 11

Connie’s History Classroom, May 12

deb’s Book Review, May 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 15

Inklings and notions, May 16

Texas Book-aholic, May 17

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 21

Splashes of Joy, May 22

Mary Hake, May 23

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 24 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1db49/then-judgement-celebration-tour-giveaway

Grief Exposed Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on April 23, 2022April 15, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Grief Exposed: Giving a Voice to the Unspeakable by author Mike Sollom was not an easy book for me to read. My husband died a year ago, so my emotions are still raw. Even though it was my husband and not my child that died like Mike’s, I could still relate to his story.

Mike Sollom displays transparency in his writing. He never suggests that he has answers. He simply wants to tell his story in the hope it might encourage someone else. He gives voice to the despair and grief that come with the passing of a loved one.

One of the things that really hit home with me was when he talked about people that thought their words were encouraging, but actually those words made him feel worse. He does share bits of healing, which were very encouraging. All throughout my reading, I found myself nodding in agreement and crying in empathy. It is a very emotional book.

I highly recommend it for someone grieving, knowing someone grieving, a church library, or those that help someone who has lost a loved one – a pastor or Sunday School teacher, perhaps. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided from Celebrate Lit, and these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Grief Exposed: Giving a Voice to the Unspeaking

Author: Mike Sollom

Genre: Non-fiction / Grief

Release date: March 15, 2022

In those dreadful early days and nights after Mike’s son died, the only thing he could think to do, when he collided with the morbid memories of his son’s suffering and the unbearable ache of Jim’s absence, was to find some way to describe how he was feeling. So, he found a spiral-bound notebook and wrote. And wrote and wrote and wrote.

Mike believed if he could assign words to the grief and pain, he might find a way to endure them. If he could bring those words into the light, it might make the whole thing bearable. Many of the words were dark and raw and angry and did little more than chronicle ten interminable years of wrestling and railing. But there were island of hope and yes, there were words of light.

Through the gentle and generous encouragement of friends, Mike came to wonder if those words of light, which he discovered in the darkest of nights, might also help someone else endure the unbearable realities of their grief and loss—that they might become someone’s guide. If they could, then how could he keep those words buried in a stack of spiral-bound notebooks?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Mike Sollom is a hard-working, Midwest-born, farm boy married to his high school sweetheart. He and LuAnn have raised four children.

Mike is the son of a father who died of cancer at a young age. He is the father of a son who also died of cancer at an even younger age.

In the consequences and aftermath of their son’s death, Mike and LuAnn lost nearly everything. They are “houseless” and living the challenging and adventurous life of modern-day nomads and pilgrims. You can follow their journey at http://www.mikesollom.com.

More from Mike

My “One Day” Has Come

“One day you will tell the story of how you overcame what you went through and it will become someone else’s survival guide.”

I don’t know who wrote that. I saw it on a poster with no credit given. But it’s a good description of how this book came to be and what I hope will be its outcome—its path and its purpose.

Here’s the truth of it: I didn’t set out to write anything. Much less a book. I still don’t see myself as a writer. Yet, here I am.

I went somewhere I didn’t want to go. I went through something I never dreamed I’d have to go through. I didn’t have a choice. I went there. I went through it. And now I’m telling my story.

My first-born son died of cancer.

In those dreadful early days and nights after Jim died, the only thing I could think to do—when I collided with the morbid memories of his suffering and the unbearable ache of his absence—was to find some way to describe how I was feeling. So, I found a spiral-bound notebook and wrote. And wrote and wrote and wrote.

I believed if I could assign words to the grief and pain, I might find a way to endure them. If I could bring those words into the light, it might make the whole thing bearable. Many of the words were dark and raw and angry and did little more than chronicle ten interminable years of wrestling and railing. But there were islands of hope and yes, there were words of light.

Through the gentle and generous encouragement of friends, I came to wonder if those words of light, which I discovered in the darkest of nights, might also help someone else endure the unspeakable realities of their grief and loss—that my voice might become someone’s “survival guide.” If so, then how could I keep those words buried in a stack of spiral-bound notebooks just because I didn’t see myself as a writer?

I’m taking a huge risk by plunging back into that bottomless pit of loss and dragging myself through that incessant slog of sorrow once again, unclear of the worth or usefulness of the outcome. I’m exposing my most intimate grief, with all its messiness and vulnerability, uncertain of its reception or the consequences it will bring. I’m giving a voice—my voice—to the unspeakable pain of death and suffering, unaware of who will hear me or how they will respond. Yet, in the face of all of that, I’ve decided it’s a risk I’m willing to take.

“One day you will tell the story of how you overcame what you went through and it will become someone else’s survival guide.”

I guess my “one day” has come.

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, April 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 16 (Spotlight)

Artistic Nobody, April 16 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 17

Guild Master, April 18 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, April 19

For Him and My Family, April 20

An Author’s Take, April 21

Stories By Gina, April 22 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 22

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 23

deb’s Book Review, April 24

Spoken from the Heart, April 25 (Author Interview)

Miriam Jacob, April 26

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 28

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Mike is giving away the grand prize of a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1cc7f/grief-exposed-celebration-tour-giveaway

Re-Created for Faith Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on April 22, 2022April 15, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

“Re-Created for Faith – Training in Spiritual Warfare Through a Mother’s Heavenly Assignment” by author Ashley K. Adams is a poignant true account of one mother’s faith and fight for her son’s life. This is the story of her son Carston Ford Adams. It is the powerful non-fiction inspirational Christian book of spiritual and physical worlds doing battle.

This was an emotional book for me to read. Many times there were tears blurring my vision as I read it. My daughter has a special needs son, and I thought of her and my sweet grandson often when reading. The author faced many difficulties and struggles. Her faith and trust in God is inspiring.

The book begins with acknowledgments, a dedication to Carston, his picture, and a note from the author. Next come eleven chapters. Each one begins with a relevant scripture. The author openly shares a portion of her story, provides scripture listed as ”Artillery Vault,” gives a Faith a Checkpoint for encouragement, and concludes with Weapons of Truth, a page for scripture study and notes.

The author is transparent in her writing. She freely tells her story in words that grab at heartstrings. At times I could feel her pain. Her style of writing is clear and focused. This is a well planned, organized, and written book. I loved all of the scripture references. It was easy to recognize that she is a woman of faith.

This book will help many people. It is a wonderful tool for spiritual warfare, mothers with sick or disabled children, and anyone wanting to read inspiring true stories. I highly recommend it and give it a 5 star rating. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Re-Created for Faith

Author: Ashley K. Adams

Genre: Christian Nonfiction: Inspirational

Release date: October 25, 2021

In the face of impossible odds, Ashley Adams considered no other option but to rank up in faith, pairing with God on the invisible battlefield over her baby boy’s life.

Re-Created for Faith is the story of Carston Ford Adams and how the spiritual and physical world collided for his existence. When all the voices were crying out “death,” his mother believed for more. There had to be a purpose for these obstacles in her son’s life, but what? How could Ashley triumph over what was sealed for his fate? She was about to find out.

Through intense devotion to God’s word and prayer every day, God gave Ashley a fresh faith and supernatural strength to relentlessly pursue saving Carston’s life. This fight was not merely material but spiritual, a battle between forces of life and death. The hospital room became her training ground of righteousness as God taught her how to use the weapons He has given every believer to fight an enemy only interested in our destruction. Refusing to give up, Ashley experienced many breakthroughs-signs, visions, and answers for some of the biggest decisions she would ever have to make. Miracle after miracle pointed directly to the only One who could truly heal, which may have baffled the experts but spurred her on to keep fighting.

Re-Created for Faith shows what is possible when one mother refuses to back down to the enemy and how to anchor these strategies in everyday life to advance in our battles. When we go beyond belief to action, believing God for a victory regardless of the visible, miracles really do occur, and God’s glory is revealed…big time.

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Ashley Adams is an inspirational writer, who actively journals God’s voice and direction He has for her every day. Re-Created for Faith is the birthplace of her ministry. She blindly trusts in God for the next big steps to expand the Kingdom, faithfully using her social media platforms to encourage people through real-life heartache and God’s plan for it. Ashley lives to see souls saved, serving as a board member and director at Scioto Youth Camp: Reaching Kids for Christ, along with hosting Bible studies in her home for women of the community.

Ashley and her husband, Justin, now have four children, including their newest baby boy. They recently made a big move out of town and into the country. They now reside on what used to be her great-grandfather’s farm of over one hundred acres and are building a new home, excited for what the future holds. Ashley is determined to obey the Lord as He guides, raising tiny disciples through her homeschooling and pressing in on aspirations to adopt more children. Ashley’s faith has been tried by fire, yet she experiences God’s blessings ten-fold.

To read original posts from Carston’s battle, search #prayersforcartson on Facebook. For current updates and encouragement through life, follow Ashley on Facebook and Instagram @ashleyadams4faith.

More from Ashley

This mission from God all stemmed from one simple prayer and the greatest thirst for Him that could not be quenched. “God, use me!” I prayed day after day, not knowing that God’s plan begun the moment I first uttered those words. Nine months later, He literally delivered what was the most precious and greatest challenge of my faith. In the midst of fighting for my son’s life, I didn’t have much of a choice but to record every detail of battle and victory. This story wasn’t an idea; it didn’t stem from a dream. God chose this assignment for me, a journey much bigger than I would have ever chosen for myself, and so in obedience to His command, I wrote. A simple prayer and a battlefield became my pencil and paper as I revealed the power of God and miracles He still performs today. When you crack open my book, I dare you to make a stronger commitment to Christ and rank up in faith as you relive the battle with me, learning my lessons along the way to receive the crown of victory.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 14

Texas Book-aholic, April 15

Inklings and notions, April 16

Artistic Nobody, April 17 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, April 17

deb’s Book Review, April 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 19

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 20

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 21

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 23

Guild Master, April 24 (Author Interview)

Spoken from the Heart, April 25

Miriam Jacob, April 26

Vicky Sluiter, April 27 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Ashley is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed hardcover copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1cc7e/re-created-for-faith-celebration-tour-giveaway

Every Star in the Sky Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on April 18, 2022April 9, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Every Star in the Sky by author Sara Davison is a powerful Contemporary Christian novel about a tragic and sad topic, human trafficking, and the flip side of the coin, healing afterwards. I was riveted by the story. It began with an attention grabbing scene and held my attention throughout most of the book.

This is the tale of Starr and Cole. They each have issues from the past. I was moved reading about their journey. This book discusses not just human trafficking and prostitution, but it also looks at redemption, forgiveness, and God.

Author Davison has a nice style of writing. With the intensity of this material, I did find some parts difficult to read or keep reading. It is very well written and eye-opening. I find it heartbreaking that this atrocity exists today in our country. At the back in her notes, the author lists organizations that help women in these situations. She encourages readers to support them.

This book is not for everyone. A reading group wanting a serious book would find this a perfect choice. If you ever wondered about human trafficking and what happens if someone can escape, this will answer some of your questions. It is thought provoking and stays with you long after you finish it. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Every Star in the Sky

Author: Sara Davison

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: March 2, 2022

She is willing to testify against her trafficker. If she can stay alive that long.

“You’re safe here, Starr.”

How many times has Detective Cole Blacksky said that to her since helping her escape the life she’d been forced into eight years earlier?

Starr desperately wants to believe him, but she knows Brady Erickson, her former captor, too well. Although Cole has promised her protective custody on his family’s remote ranch, no place on earth is safe enough. Brady will stop at nothing to permanently silence her before she ever reaches the witness stand.

And he is powerful enough to do it.

If Starr wants to help Brady’s other victims, she has no choice but to put herself in God’s hands. And Cole’s. But the longer she and Cole stay hidden, the more her life is at risk.

And her heart.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sara Davison is the author of four romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo Trilogy, and Two Sparrows for a Penny, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, she is a Word, Cascade, and Carol Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario with her husband Michael and their three mostly grown kids. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.organd @sarajdavison.

More from Sara

A few years ago, I attended a women’s conference in the Canadian capital city of Ottawa. The theme of the conference was human trafficking, which had always seemed to me something that happened in other countries of the world. The speaker informed us that, in fact, sex trafficking is very much an issue in Canada. In fact, she went on to say that if we were staying in a hotel that night, she could pretty much guarantee that somewhere in the building a young girl would be trafficked against her will while we slept peacefully in our beds.

That fact—and the way my subsequent research has borne up that truth—shocked, horrified, and deeply impacted me. And so, Every Star in the Sky was born. This romantic suspense novel puts a face and name and story to the scourge of human trafficking. While the fictional tale of one woman’s experiences, it represents the reality of countless women and shows the devastating toll this evil takes, not only on those in captivity, but on those who love them and desire to see them restored to freedom and eventually physical, mental, and emotional healing.

Every Star in the Sky is a love story. Not only between a woman rescued from trafficking and the man who risked everything to save her, but between God and every human being created in his image victimized by this unspeakable practice. The theme of this series, which I hope and pray comes across clearly to every reader, is that we are never alone. God sees what we are going through. He never leaves or forsakes us. He knows the name of every star in the sky, and he knows us deeply and intimately.

As the main character in the story reflects: “And if you know every star by name, you must know every one of us by name.” When no one around her, not even friends like Ruby, knew her real name, she had clung to the truth that God knew it, that it was engraved on the palm of his hand. Without that knowledge, she would have been afraid her name might be lost, since she was so determined not to let her true one slip out to Brady that even in her own mind she had become Starr. But God had kept her name in trust for her until Cole freed her, and now God had given it to her again. She hadn’t planned to tell it to Cole tonight, but something had nudged her to. Had assured her it was safe. That he was safe.

While the problem of human trafficking may seem overwhelming, prayer is our most powerful weapon against the forces of darkness. Pray for all those held in captivity, that they would experience God’s love and presence with them, that they would find freedom, and that all who participate in this evil would one day be brought to justice.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 10

Boondock Ramblings, April 10

Inklings and notions, April 11

Texas Book-aholic, April 12

For Him and My Family, April 13

deb’s Book Review, April 14

The Sacred Line, April 14

Betti Mace, April 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 16

Mary Hake, April 16

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 18

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, April 18

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 20

Livin’ Lit, April 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 21

Blogging With Carol, April 22

Rebecca Tews, April 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sara is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1c94e/every-star-in-the-sky-celebration-tour-giveaway

Strength in the Storm Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on April 7, 2022April 4, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Strength in the Storm by author Laurel Blount is a Christian Amish novel. It is a Johns Mill Amish Romance. Filled with mystery, romance, and intrigue this was a captivating page-turner. I enjoyed it very much.

This is the story of Emma Hochstedler and Samuel Christner. This Amish couple has a history of sorts. Emma was his childhood sweetheart. His heart was broken when she left their community, but now she is back.

The characters in this story are exquisite, main and secondary. I loved Sam’s aunt, Ruth. She was a cantankerous old lady, but after learning her story, I grew to love her. Most all of the characters felt like friends by the end of the book. The descriptions drew me in to the Amish community and made me feel like I was there.

Ms. Blount has a lovely style of writing. Her story kept me spellbound. Twists and turns, mysteries, life lessons, inspirational ,messages, romance, and more are all tucked inside for readers to enjoy. I wanted to read and do nothing else. It flowed smoothly with no lags. The story was multi-layered, yet easy to follow. There was a thought provoking spiritual message woven throughout the book. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

I highly recommend this wonderful book by a talented storyteller. It receives 5 out of 5 stars from me. a copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my own words.

About the Book

Book: Strength in the Storm

Author: Laurel Blount

Genre: Amish Romance

Release date: February 22, 2022

In this touching Amish romance, a brokenhearted woman and a steadfast man discover that the safest place to weather tragedy is in each other’s arms.

After the murder of both her parents, Emma Hochstedler returns to the small community of Johns Mill, hoping to resume her quiet existence. Reclaiming her place proves harder than expected—especially now that a movie is being made about her family’s loss. But then, an old friend offers her a lifeline that gives her new purpose.

Amish builder Samuel Christner is the biggest—and the strongest—man in town. In fact, the gentle giant has only one weakness—Emma. Even though she broke his heart, he won’t let his childhood sweetheart face her troubles alone. He hires Emma as a nurse for his elderly aunt…and finds himself falling for her all over again.

But while romance blooms, storm clouds gather. And when darkness falls, it will take all Sam’s strength—and all their love—to see them through.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Laurel Blount writes inspirational romances full of grit and grace—with characters who’ll walk right off the page and into your heart! She lives on a farm in Georgia with her husband, their four fabulous kids, and an assortment of ridiculously spoiled animals.

A enthusiastic multi-tasker, Laurel writes for both Berkley/Penguin Random House and Love Inspired/Harlequin. She’s the recipient of ACFW’s Carol Award, The New England Reader’s Choice Award and GRW’s Maggie Award. She’s represented by Jessica Alvarez of Bookends Literary Agency.

Strength in the Storm is Laurel’s seventh book—and four more stories are in the works! Stay tuned!

More from Laurel

A word from Laurel:

Oh, I can’t wait for you to meet Emma and Sam—they’re one of my all-time favorite story couples! And what an intriguing combination they are: a gentle man known far and wide for his physical strength…and a heartbroken woman—his boyhood sweetheart—who’s his one and only weakness.

Don’t you just love a good second chance romance? I know I do! There’s something so satisfying about seeing a broken love story beautifully mended. Of course, it won’t be easy. Emma and Sam’s story is mixture of joy and sorrow, laughter and tears—lots and lots of bumps on the road for these two. But they’re about to discover that love and faith shine their brightest in life’s darkest moments—and that trouble only makes a hard-won “happily ever after” even sweeter!

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, April 1

Bigreadersite, April 1

The Avid Reader, April 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 3

Texas Book-aholic, April 4

SusanLovesBooks, April 5

Lighthouse Academy Blog, April 5 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Inklings and notions, April 6

Writing From the Heart Land, April 6

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 7

Remembrancy, April 7

deb’s Book Review, April 8

Miriam Jacob, April 8

Bizwings Blog, April 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 9

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 10

Mary Hake, April 10

Books I’ve Read, April 11

I luv the books, April 11

For Him and My Family, April 12

Maureen’s Musings, April 12

Connie’s History Classroom, April 13

Pause for Tales, April 13

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Laurel is giving away the grand prize package of a $75 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1c570/strength-in-the-storm-celebration-tour-giveaway

Anything But Simple Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on April 5, 2022April 4, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

”Anything But Simple” by author Lucinda J. Miller is the account of her life as a Mennonite. It is her memoir and not a novel. The author provides readers with an open and honest view of life inside a Mennonite family.

This is the story of author Lucinda J. Miller (now Kinsinger) and her life as a Mennonite. It is a poignant look at her struggles and joys. Through her openness and words, I began to know this Conservative Mennonite lady. She actually did not seem that different from me in some ways. Both of us have questioned our lives at times, we enjoy writing, and we both love and serve Jesus Christ.

I did learn a lot from this book. It seems like most novels are written about Amish and not Mennonite communities. They are not the same and have many differences.

This is an interesting, well written book. I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. It was welcoming and relatable. At times it felt like chatting with a friend. A surprising thing for me was Lucinda’s friendship with an older, atheist woman. That account was captivating. For me, I found the last chapter, the author’s day, and the FAQ gave a more in-depth look into the everyday life of a Mennonite.

This is a lovely book. I highly recommend it. If you enjoy memoirs, Amish or Mennonite books, or would like to read about a different lifestyle, you will want to get this book. Reading Groups would be able to have much material to discuss in this thought provoking offering. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Anything But Simple

Author: Lucinda J. Miller (Last name now Kinsinger)

Genre: Memoir

Release date: July 25, 2017

Plain? Yes. Simple? Well…

If you live in a conservative Mennonite community, edges are sewn shut and questions have answers. So if you’ve got a saucy tongue and a roving curiosity about the world, you’ve got a story to tell.

As a schoolteacher in a small Mennonite school in rural Wisconsin, Lucinda J. Miller wears long dresses and a prayer covering. But she uses a cell phone and posts status updates on Facebook. So why would a young woman with access to all these technologies remain in a sheltered community like the Plain Mennonites? How can someone with an eye for beauty and a sometimes sardonic wit stay within a tradition that values discipline and submission and uniformity?

Anything But Simple is the stirring memoir of a young woman’s rich church tradition, lively family life, and longing for a meaningful future within her Mennonite faith.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lucinda J Miller Kinsinger has always viewed herself as a shy little Mennonite girl, but refuses to let that stop her from pursuing what she loves—whether that’s writing with honesty and vulnerability or traveling to a remote village in China. In 2019, she married Ivan, the love of her life, and moved from the flat, tree-lined fields of her childhood home in Wisconsin to the rolling hills of Garrett County, Maryland. The couple has a baby daughter, Annalise. Since the publication of Anything but Simple, Lucinda has published a second memoir, Turtle Heart: Unlikely Friends with a Life-Changing Bond. She is columnist for Anabaptist World and blogs at lucindajkinsinger.com.

More from Lucinda

Me, and The People Who Shaped Me

My dad used to say that every person in your life is placed there by God for a reason. Even the ones you don’t like are there to teach you something.

Learn.

If you don’t, God may send someone else to teach you the same lesson you couldn’t learn the first time around.

Anything But Simple is my story, the story of a shy little Mennonite girl growing up to be a writer and asking questions along the way. It is also the story of the many people who enriched my life.

My dad, with his black hair and handsome face and stories from his past.

My mom, with her smooth sweaters and her sure and solid love.

My bishop with his mouth that turned down like a turtle’s.

My creative writing professor who loved words in a way I had never seen in anyone but myself.

Charlene.

Mara.

Deqo.

Jake.

From these people and alongside these people I arose, breathing, questioning, earnest.

Our journey, like the journey of all the squiggly and intricate humans that wander the face of the earth, is anything but simple.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 2

A Reader’s Brain, April 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 3

Inklings and notions, April 4

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 5

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 5

She Lives To Read, April 6

deb’s Book Review, April 7

A Melodious Sonnet, April 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 9

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 10

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 10

The Avid Reader, April 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 11

Rebecca Tews, April 12

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 12

Sodbuster Living, April 13

Boondock Ramblings, April 13

Vicky Sluiter, April 14

For Him and My Family, April 14

Spoken from the Heart, April 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lucinda is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1c574/anything-but-simple-celebration-tour-giveaway

Love’s Fortress Celebrate Lit Book Tour

Posted on March 31, 2022March 30, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Love’s Fortress by author Jennifer Uhlarik is a Christian dual time romance novel. It is part of the Doors to the Past Series by Barbour Publishing. Each of these books are stand alone books, and I loved them!

This installment in the series was about historical characters Sally Jo Harris, Luke Worthington, and Broken Bow. Set in St. Augustine in 1875 it tells the heartbreaking story of some Native Americans who were captured and imprisoned. It also is about Dani Sango and Brad Osgood, the present day characters.

The author did a beautiful job weaving the two different time period stories into one heart-stirring novel. Her style of writing is inviting and easy to understand. I was invested in the characters and captivated by their moving stories. This was a page turner with some twists and surprises. I learned some things, too.

Author Uhlarik did a nice job presenting that both sides had good and bad things. She did not lift up on side over the other. For me, it was hard to read about the injustices that Broken Bow and others like him endured simply because of the color of their skin.

This is a story of unconditional love, truth, hope, trust, prejudice, and serving others. The spiritual message is inspiring and well done. This book contains so many different things that anyone should enjoy it. It is historical and contemporary, mystery, adventure, Native American, Artwork, and Christian fiction. The author has interesting notes at the end. Reading groups would enjoy this as a selection and find much to discuss.

I highly recommend this fabulous book. It receives 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Love’s Fortress

Author: Jennifer Uhlarik

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical fiction / Romance

Release date: March, 2022

A Love Story from the Past Brings Closure to Dani’s Fractured Family

Walk through Doors to the Past via a series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

When Dani Sango’s art forger father passes away, Dani inherits his home. Among his effects is a book of Native American drawings, which leads her to seek the help of museum curator Brad Osgood to decipher the ledger art. Why would her father have this book? Is it just another forgery?

Brad Osgood’s four-year-old niece, Brynn, needs a safe home, and Brad longs to provide it. The last thing he needs is more drama, especially from a forger’s daughter. But when the two meet “accidentally” at St. Augustine’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, Castillo de San Marcos, he can’t refuse the intriguing woman.

Broken Bow is among seventy-three Plains Indians transported to Florida in 1875 for incarceration at ancient Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris and Luke Worthing dream of serving God on a foreign mission field, but when the Indians arrive in St. Augustine, God changes their plans. Then when friendship develops between Sally Jo and Broken Bow and false accusations fly, it could cost them their lives.

Can Dani discover how Broken Bow and Sally Jo’s story ends and how it impacted her father’s life?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a preteen, when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a BA in writing, she has won five writing competitions and was a finalist in two others. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers and is a lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, teenage son, and four fur children.

More from Jennifer

Florida has been my home since I was ten, and I’ve visited the city of St. Augustine several times in my many years here. There, I stumbled across the fact that the Castillo de San Marcos, the town’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, was home to several groups of Native Americans in the 1800s. Ever since learning this fact, I’ve considered writing a story about the three-year period from 1875-1878 when seventy-three Plains Indians from various tribes called the fort (known then as Fort Marion) their home. However, since I’m mainly a western and western romance author, all of my story settings to date have been west of the Mississippi—not in Florida. So this interesting historical factoid remained dormant in my imagination for years, waiting for the right opportunity.

That opportunity came last year when I was asked to submit an idea for Barbour’s dual-timeline Doors to the Past series. These stories must be set in or around a major landmark, the plot must focus on a newsworthy event, and there must be a bit of a mystery that connects the historical timeline to the contemporary plot. Obviously, as the oldest masonry fort in the United States, Castillo de San Marcos is an important and interesting landmark. Originally built by the Spanish, it later became a British possession, reverted again to the Spanish, and eventually became part of the United States’ holdings. With such a long and varied history, I’m sure you can see why this unique structure would make an interesting landmark around which to base a story.

The newsworthy event the plot focuses on is the incarceration of those seventy-three Plains Indians, deemed some of the “worst of the worst” offenders in the Indians Wars of the West. Can you imagine the buzz such an event would create? Once the Indians fell into their routine inside the fort, they were given quite a bit of freedom to interact with the locals and tourists. People came from far and wide to see these men and their historic surroundings along the banks of the Matanzas River. With a simple day pass from the fort’s commander, outsiders could enter, walk among and talk with the prisoners, see the historic fort, and even watch cultural events like dances, powwows, mock buffalo hunts, and archery displays. The Native men could also leave the fort and venture into town to shop or sell handmade goods, from bows and arrows to hand-crafted items made from locally-sourced seashells and plants, to their original “ledger art.”

It’s the ledger art that comprises the mysterious puzzle piece connecting the historical timeline of Love’s Fortress to the present day. When Dani Sango learns her long-estranged father has died, she inherits his rundown St. Augustine house. Inside, she discovers a book of Native American art depicting events from one Indian’s daily life. But because her father was a convicted art forger, Dani questions why he would have the strange and rudimentary artwork. She suspects it was his latest scam, so she enlists the help of Brad Osgood, curator of a western art museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, to help her discover where the art originated and how her father came to possess it. In the process, the pair digs deep into the history of the St. Augustine fort and its former residents.

I found it fascinating to research this brief period in the Castillo’s long history, and I hope you’ll enjoy the story that came from my efforts.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 26

Remembrancy, March 26

The Christian Fiction Girl, March 27

Texas Book-aholic, March 27

Inklings and notions, March 28

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 28

Bigreadersite, March 29

For Him and My Family, March 29

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 30

Betti Mace, March 30

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 31

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 31

deb’s Book Review, April 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 1

Older & Smarter?, April 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 3

Life of Literature, April 3

Genesis 5020, April 4

For the Love of Literature, April 4

Connie’s History Classroom, April 5

Blossoms and Blessings, April 5

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 6 (Spotlight)

Splashes of Joy, April 6

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 7

Through the Fire Blogs, April 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 8

Pause for Tales, April 9

Labor Not in Vain, April 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1c10d/love-s-fortress-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Sugarcreek Surprise Book Review

Posted on March 25, 2022March 25, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

The Sugarcreek Surprise by award winning author Wanda Brunstetter is a Christian Amish romance novel. It is Book 2 in the Creektown Discoveries Series. It can easily be read as a standalone book.

This is the story of Lisa Miller, a young Amish schoolteacher. She has lived with her grandparents since both of her parents died tragically in an accident. They have taken wonderful care of her. However, she was traumatized by her parents’ death and cannot see a future outside of the safety of their home.

It is also the story of Paul Herschberger. He has moved from Indiana to Sugarcreek, Ohio after his fiancé cheats on him. He is a relatable character and a really nice guy.
Mrs. Brunstetter has written a heartwarming, realistic story that is beautiful. It was easy to become invested in the story and lives of Lisa and Paul. There are life and spiritual lessons woven throughout this tale. Twists and turns kept it interesting. I loved it so much that I read it in one sitting. It is definitely a page turner.

Readers that enjoyed Book 1 will be happy to “see” some familiar faces pop up as they read this book.

This is one of my favorite books by the author. It has a lovely story with a heartfelt message. True to her style, the author included recipes at the end along with discussion questions. I love it when authors include those.

I highly recommend this. Any Amish fan will swoon over The Sugarcreek Surprise. Reader groups would enjoy this as a selection. It gets 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by the publisher, but these are my honest words.

Counterfeit Love Book Review

Posted on March 22, 2022March 21, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Counterfeit Love is author Crystal Caudill’s debut novel. It is Book 1 in the Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series. This is a Christian historical romance with mystery and intrigue. It is the first time I have read anything by this author, and I will be watching for future works.

This is the story of Theresa Plane and Broderick Cosgrove. She has been trying to pay her grandfather’s debt and clear her family’s name. The emotions from the trials and struggles she experienced jumped from the pages of the book into my heart. I was so engrossed in the story and the character. She went through so much that she felt God had deserted her.

A few years ago, Broderick had been in Theresa’s life and then just vanished. He had so many secrets that Theresa deemed him untrustworthy. Now they encounter one another again and Theresa appears to have secrets, also.

This is a captivating story with twists and turns, humor, mystery, romance, and a beautiful Christian message. The author has an inviting style of writing. She whisked me off to the late 1880’s and taught me about life there. I enjoyed learning about the Secret Service and counterfeiting from that era. The characters’ spiritual journey was my favorite of the book. It was written realistically and beautifully.

I highly recommend this for history, romance, or Christian fiction readers. Reading groups and book clubs would enjoy this selection. There are discussion questions at the back to aid in their chats. It gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy of this book was provided but these are my own, honest words.

About the book:

Can this undercover agent save the woman he loves–or is her heart as counterfeit as the money he’s been sent to track down?

After all that Grandfather has sacrificed to raise her, Theresa Plane owes it to him to save the family name–and that means clearing their debt with creditors before she marries Edward Greystone. But when one of the creditors’ threats leads her to stumble across a midnight meeting, she discovers that the money he owes isn’t all Grandfather was hiding. And the secrets he kept have now trapped Theresa in a life-threatening fight for her home–and the truth.

After months of undercover work, Secret Service operative Broderick Cosgrove is finally about to uncover the identity of the leader of a notorious counterfeiting ring. That moment of triumph turns to horror, however, when he finds undeniable proof that his former fiance is connected. Can he really believe the woman he loved is a willing participant? Protecting Theresa and proving her innocence may destroy his career–but that’s better than failing her twice in one lifetime.

They must form a partnership, tentative though it is. But there’s no question they’re both still keeping secrets–and that lack of trust, along with the dangerous criminals out for their blood, threatens their hearts, their faith, and their very survival.

To read an excerpt of Counterfeit Love click here.

About the author:

Crystal Caudill is the author of “dangerously good historical romance,” with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. Counterfeit Love is her debut published novel.

Caudill says that reading and writing are part of her soul and have been since she first held a crayon. While she considered writing to be an escape from challenges and struggles and a way to keep her sanity, Caudill would come to recognize that God used it as a teaching tool. “The stories came through my fingertips, but they were marked with His fingerprints,” she shares.

As she delved into history and crafted her own stories of hope through danger, Caudill would answer the call to pursue writing as a career after her first writer’s conference. “My stories are still filled with danger, struggle, and history, but they are also permeated with the hope and love of Christ. I hope they are dangerously good. Good for the heart and for the soul.”

She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Caudill can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio.

Find out more at crystalcaudill.com or find her on Facebook (@crystalcaudillauthor) and Instagram (@crystalcaudillauthor). You can also join fellow readers in Crystal Caudill’s Reading Friends group on Facebook.

Giveaway:

Click the link to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Roxie Applesauce Book Tour

Posted on March 18, 2022March 13, 2022 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

“Roxie Applesauce” by author Tonya L. Matthews is a contemporary Christian novel. This is the second novel in a series preceded by Treasure Atop a Mountain. It would help to follow the story better to read Book One first.

This is a story abundant in faith and inspiration. Characters are believable, lovable, yet flawed. Marcella is a homeless woman and has been physically and emotionally abused in the past. She meets Hayleya, mother of two teenagers. Hayleya’s husband, Thomas, is between jobs and struggling. She is overworked, overwhelmed, and exhausted.

I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. Her characters had many layers. They continued to grow throughout the book until I felt like they were my friends. I became invested in their lives and stories. The deep spiritual element is something I search for in Christian fiction. This book was overflowing with it.

It is exquisitely written. The storyline is well thought, planned, and written. It reveals how God takes our broken lives and turns them into something whole again. There are many timeless life and faith lessons in this book. It tackles a wide variety of topics including dysfunctional families, sibling rivalries, parenting techniques, marital issues, financial stress, humanitarianism, abuse, and having a fictional friend.

Emotions of the characters seeped into my heart, and I found myself crying in a few places. This is a book that you not only read but feel, too. Conversations sounded real and at times were a bit raw. This book has a lot of characters which made it difficult at times for me to follow. I just needed to slow down my reading even though I wanted to hurry and find out what would happen next.

I recommend this book. It has remained with me even though I finished it days ago. It would make a great book club or reading group choice. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Roxie Applesauce

Author: Tonya L. Matthews

Genre: Faith-based Christian Fiction

Release date: August, 2021

God takes broken pieces

and brings them together

for something amazing

Marcella Ciscal enjoyed few good days. The reason she knew she could live another day, the way she stayed sane, the friend who never left her side was Roxie Applesauce.

Homeless and beaten, Marcella awakens to the care of Haleya Kage who’s going through a difficult season—a demanding career, two teens, and her husband Thomas’s business a casualty of the 2009 economic downturn. Yet, with life unstable and the future unknown, it’s the unpredictable that propels His greater plan.

In a story of reconciliation, love, and legacy, we are reminded that life’s not always perfect or predictable, but God can make all things beautiful – in His time.

Life is full of scenes: some short, long, seemingly insignificant—others life-changing. Woven together, these scenes reveal a person’s heart. His or her life-story shared by a heart blessed, unforgettable. – the author.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Tonya grew up on a family farm in Riverside, Kentucky. Her father recognized early on that hoeing tobacco and running hogs weren’t in her skill set. He opted to send her to college. Graduating from Western Kentucky University with honors, Tonya went on to support the business community for two decades as an executive for the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce where she served a primary role in the organization’s multiple national honors.

Tonya has found writing to be a healthy escape and effective therapy in tough seasons throughout her life. Tonya began writing Treasure atop the Mountain 15 years ago when she and her husband were trying to start their family and encountered multiple disappointments. Ultimately, they signed up to be foster parents and adopted.

Tonya’s been married to Todd Matthews for 25 years. They have two grown daughters. In August 2019, she published Treasure atop the Mountain—a fiction novel based on real-life emotions that can be related to by many. Tonya’s second novel in the TREASURE series, Roxie Applesauce, released in August 2021. She’s currently writing the series’ third book, Get Will. Additionally, in 2022, she will debut the first two books in her children’s book series.

More from Tonya

THE STORY behind the story—Tonya L. Matthews

As many of you know, Todd and I adopted our two girls from foster care. I remember hugging Haley one night after a tough day (she was a handful…well, still is) with tears in my eyes. Tears of sadness in my heart for what had brought us both together and tears of hope that we could help each other move forward. Todd and I had experienced multiple failures at trying to have a baby, and she’d experienced failure after failure of what is best for a little girl who needs a stable home-life. Roxie Applesauce, published and release this month, is dedicated to her. Though little has gone as we’d planned, God was and is still in control. I often say, ‘God had her before we did; he’s still got her!’

Life’s road isn’t always fair, but along the way there are those undeniable, unexplainable occurrences where without question the only answer is that it had to be God. That’s the message of hope I needed when I wrote Roxie Applesauce (and still need today.)

I began writing as an outlet for my emotions years ago as nothing seemed to work. I sat down and started writing, not knowing that I could write a novel and not set on it as the end goal. My goal was to find something that would take my thoughts away from the never-ending cycle of worry, anger and confusion over why there was no baby when for so many it just happened so simply.

I enjoyed reading fiction with an inspiring message. I remember when I finished a good book, I’d hold it for a minute after I closed it and even sometimes say out loud, “Wow, that was good!” I’d think about it the next day and the characters in the book were more like people that I knew or wished I knew.

After I read several that didn’t deliver, and inspired by those that did, I thought…I’ll just write what I like to read. So, I sat down and started typing and then I just never quit on the book. In the background of a busy, busy life, it was always there. Then when I walked away from the Chamber to be a better mom to my teen girls, I yet again, needed an outlet for all the ‘I am not equipped to raise these two!’ emotions that followed. Slowly, keeping my family as priority for really the first time ever, I worked toward the publication of Treasure atop the Mountain. Since its release, I can say the greatest joy has been the people that I’ve met! We all struggle. The emotions are the same, though the circumstances may be different. We need to know that we are not alone. We need to know that God’s plan is at work, even through the difficult times. If you haven’t had a chance to read Treasure atop the Mountain yet—first in the series, I hope someone passes it along to you as part of God’s plan as the existence of these books is beyond me!

If you didn’t know, my daughters are named Haley and Aleya. Not biological sisters. Born to two birth mothers who don’t know each other. One named her daughter HALEY and the other named her daughter ALEYA. If you put their names together you have HALEYA. Put you hand over the A on the end and it’s Haley. Put your hand over the H and you have Aleya. I have to remind myself on the toughest of days as a mother of two now adult-age girls in this world full of lies and heartache that God does know what he’s doing, and I know that God’s hand is at work! So, I write the third novel in the series, Get Will, yet again, as a healthy escape for my mind that is often unrelenting when so much is out of our control.