Something Needs to Change Book Review

My Review:

Something Needs to Change, A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need by best-selling author David Platt is 224 page phenomenal book.  This is a thought provoking, soul searching, stick with you read.  I am still pondering it days later.

Author Platt is transparent as he takes excerpts from his diary from a mission trip in the Himalayan mountains.  There he brings the Word of God to people in the area and provides encouragement to Christians.  Isn’t that what we are all called to do?

Reading the book I was aware that I was privileged to be raised in a Christian home and always know about Jesus.  It hurts to think there are still so many people that do not know Him.  Platt is right…something needs to change.

This is a gritty, tear-jerking account of the author’s mission trip.  He bares his heart and poses questions that will step on most Christians’ toes.  It is scripturally based and brutally honest.  I could not put it down even though I read most of it through tear-filled eyes.

 Favorite Quote:

“Because you and I need to remember that our homes and our health and our bank accounts and our vehicles guarantee us nothing… one day (and it could be today), they’re all going to be gone, so we need to remind ourselves to live today for what lasts forever.”

Yes, I highly recommend this powerful book.  It just might change your life or cause you to change someone else’s life.  It would make a great group study.  I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided by the Publisher but these are my honest words.

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About Book:

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The New York Times best-selling author of Radical takes readers on a soul-searching journey through impoverished villages in the Himalayan mountains, daring them to make a difference in a world of urgent need, starting right where they live.

“Grippingly vulnerable and unforgettable. I could not put this book down.”—Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts

While leading a team on a week-long trek of the Himalayas, bestselling author and pastor David Platt was stunned by the human needs he encountered, an experience so dramatic that it “changed the trajectory of my life.” Meeting a man who’d lost his eye from a simple infection and seeing the faces of girls stolen from their families and trafficked in the cities, along with other unforgettable encounters, opened his eyes to the people behind the statistics and compelled him to wrestle with his assumptions about faith. In Something Needs to Change, Platt invites readers to come along on both the adventure of the trek, as well as the adventure of seeking answers to tough questions like, “Where is God in the middle of suffering?” “What makes my religion any better than someone else’s religion?” and “What do I believe about eternal suffering?” Platt has crafted an irresistible message about what it means to give your life for the gospel–to finally stop talking about faith and truly start living it.

Advance praise for Something Needs to Change

“Rugged. Authentic. Gritty. Real. Worshipful. There are no other books like this one. I always pick up David’s books with a sense of excitement and, quite honestly, apprehension—because I know that areas of compromise and complacency in my life are going to be exposed. But this book exceeded even my high expectations, for which I am grateful. And so will you be. As David writes, it’s time to run, not walk. Let’s go.”—J. D. Greear, president of the Southern Baptist Convention

“Extraordinary and challenging. I’ve just never read a book like this before. I am so moved. Bring your full heart to this story and watch how God opens your eyes, changes your mind, and broadens the dreams you have for your life.”—Annie F. Downs, best-selling author of 100 Days to Brave and Remember God

“If you dare to read this book, you might just have an unexpected encounter with Jesus that leaves you weeping on the floor, as David’s experience did. Something changes within us when the seemingly overwhelming needs of the world present themselves simply in the life of a single person. Ultimately, I pray your compassion will be transformed to action.”—Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, president and CEO of Compassion International

About the Author:

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David Platt is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, including Radical. He is Lead Pastor at McLean Bible Church in metro Washington, D.C., the former President of the IMB (International Mission Board), and founder of Radical Inc., a global center for the unreached that serves churches in accomplishing the mission of Christ. Platt received his Master of Divinity (M.Div), Master of Theology (Th.M), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He lives in Virginia with his wife and their children.

Chase the Lion Weekly Planner by Mark Batterson

My Review:

Chase the Lion Weekly Planner, Organize Your Life, Achieve Your Goals by author Mark Batterson is a wonderful planner all around.  It doesn’t matter if you have read his book Chase the Lions yet or not, this is a planner that will benefit anyone.

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I absolutely love it.  It contains everything I need for a yearly appointment book and more.  Mr. Batterson has thought of everything.  He even starts us off with instructions on how best to use it.

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The cover is compelling.  Actually it is gorgeous.  Men and women will find it attractive.  Being a medium size, 6.2 x 8.2 inches, it easily fits in my purse or tote.  The pages and cover are good quality. There is even a ribbon bookmark.

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Pages are laced with quotes and inspiration from Chase the Lion.  There is space for notes in the margins.  Listing prayer requests, goals, progress, even things to do is encouraged. Besides months at a glance and weeks at a glance, there is a multi-year calendar for quick reference when needing a date.

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The book is a mixture of planner, diary, appointment book, and devotional.  It will definitely help with time management, keeping better organized, and becoming closer to God.

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I highly recommend it.  It would make a thoughtful gift to a pastor or church worker.  Any businessperson or college student would enjoy the benefits it gives.  I rated it a 5 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided by the publisher but this is my honest opinion.

 

About the Book:

The perfect companion product to New York Times bestselling author Mark Batterson’s compelling manifesto, Chase the Lion

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  • Diary: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Multnomah (August 20, 2019)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0525653422
  • ISBN-13: 978-0525653424
  • Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.5 x 8.2 inches

This undated week-at-a-glance 12-month planner features excerpts from Chase the Lion sprinkled throughout to encourage the user to face their fears, defy the odds, and hold tight to God. Each week has space in the margin for trackable items such as the week’s goals, goals met, prayer requests, to-do lists, etc. At the end of each month is a page of self-evaluation questions and space to write a step toward a personal manifesto. Finally, the planner will wrap up with a multi-year calendar for user reference.

About the Author:

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Mark Batterson is the author of sixteen titles including the New York Times bestseller, The Circle Maker, and his newest title, Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God, which hits shelves on October 24, 2017. A few of his titles include include In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Wild Goose Chase, All In, The Grave Robber, If, and Chase the Lion. Mark is the lead pastor of National Community Church, one church with eight campuses in Washington, DC. Mark has a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University and lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children. Learn more at http://www.markbatterson.com.

 

“Dear Grandchild…This is Me” Book Review

Dear Grandchild…This is Me by Waterbrook Press is a wonderful way for grandparents to share information about themselves.  This eighty page hard cover book provides the template for all different things a grandmother might want to let her grandchildren know.  There are even spaces for pictures.
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This is a beautiful book.  The cover is eye catching and the title simple but to the point.  It is a hard cover book so it should last.  There is plenty of room for customizing.  When opened it is flat so writing is easy.
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This delightful book is divided into sections.  Each section (beginning years, middle years, grandparent years, and advice section) starts with a quote and Bible verse and covers a section of the grandparent’s life. They are color coded with several pages of questions.  My favorite part is they each include an envelope to hold letters to grandchildren when they are facing different stages of their life.
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This is an absolute treasure.  I wish I had one from each of my four grandparents.  It is their story in the words and handwriting along with personal letters.  Genius!  Every grandparent should do one for each grandchild.  This would make a lovely gift for any grandparent or grandparent-to-be.
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I highly recommend this book as a loving gift to your grandchildren.  It would make a lovely project for some grandparents.  A book club would be very hands on with this!  It receives a 5 star rating from me.  A copy was provided by Waterbrook but these are my own true thoughts.

Adventures in Poverty Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Welcome to my stop of Celebrate Lit’s Book Tour for Adventures in Poverty.  I hope you enjoy learning about this book  and author.  At the end is a giveaway for you to enter.  The author will choose someone to win a copy of her book plus a $50 Amazon gift card.  Be sure to enter.

My Thoughts:

Author Nancy Bolton has written a poignant memoir in her book “Adventures in Poverty.”  She is frank and totally transparent about her life after her husband lost his job causing the family to move their trailer to an undeveloped piece of land.  Her book is written like a diary or conversation with the reader.

The cover drew me to the book.  It is whimsical and looked serene.  The stories inside the covers were not.  There are stories about animals, neighbors, family issues, money or lack of it problems, gardening, struggles, and more.  I was disappointed in the light mention of God and faith.

It took me a bit to get invested in the story and even then my attention wandered.  The book was a daily “what we did” and became mundane.  I lost interest and actually skimmed over some of it.  There are flashback from their life before.

The author lived an impressive life.  I could not have managed it.  She was the anchor for her family that lived with no electricity or running water.  Nancy was a genius is stretching her groceries and meal planning.

I would recommend this for people that enjoy memoirs about living off of the grid.  This book is not a page turner but has some nice stories.  It shows how a family must work together peacefully.  Celebrate Lit provided a copy but this is my honest opinion.

About the Book:

Book: Adventures in Poverty

Author: Nancy Bolton

Genre: Memoir

Release Date: July 30, 2019

Adventures-in-Poverty-hi-resFaced with eviction, living on union strike pay, our time for making a decision was running out. Where could we go to live with our five small sons? We had few options. The scariest possibility was also the one that fit best with our tiny income. But could we really make such a difficult move? To transport our family, and our mobile home onto a five-acre parcel of rural, undeveloped land? No electricity, no running water, with winter fast approaching. It sounded a little crazy…….

 


 

 

About the Author:

Nancy BoltonNancy Shew Bolton is a wife, mother, grandmother, jewelry maker, crochet crafter, and of course: a writer! She lives in upstate New York in a lovely scenic region known as The Fingerlakes. Widowed last year, she is comforted by her five sons, two grandchildren and a marvelous array of family and other loved ones. She loves the creative process, and puts her whole focus into the stories she writes. May you be entertained and uplifted by them!

 

More from Nancy:

Sometimes life hands out an unexpected challenge, and the direction you mapped out for your family comes up against a big roadblock. And there you are, trying to navigate back to a path that makes sense. One that would be as close to the previous path as you can get. But our only options led us in directions far away from what we were used to.

Faced with eviction, living on union strike pay, our time for making a decision was running out. Where could we go to live with our five small sons? We had few options. The scariest possibility was also the one that fit best with our tiny income. But could we really make such a difficult move? To transport our family, and our mobile home onto a five-acre parcel of rural, undeveloped land? No electricity, no running water, with winter fast approaching. It sounded a little crazy…….

Blog Stops:

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 24

Quiet Quilter, August 25

The Avid Reader, August 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 30

Texas Book-aholic, August 31

janicesbookreviews, September 1

A Reader’s Brain, September 2

Power of Words, September 3 (Spotlight)

Inklings and notions , September 4

Lots of Helpers, September 5

Just the Write Escape, September 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Nancy is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and eBook copy of her 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/e7c7/adventures-in-poverty-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Faith of Mike Pence Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Thank you for taking time to read my stop on Celebrate Lit’s Book Tour and Giveaway for “The Faith of Mike Pence.”  I hope you will enjoy learning about the book, the author, and Vice President Pence.  Make sure you enter the giveaway for a $20 gift card, hardback copy of the book, and adult Faith and Freedom Coloring Book.

My Thoughts:

Vice President Mike Pence is quoted in author Leslie Montgomery’s book saying “I’m a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order.” My heart warmed when I read that.  Author Montgomery did an outstanding job with this biography focusing on faith which Mr. Pence has unquestionably.

There are eighteen chapters in this open, frank book on the Vice President.  I was not expecting so much scripture.  It was a pleasant surprise.  It is obvious that Mike Pence is a man of great faith.  In my humble opinion he should be praised for that and not ridiculed or scoffed.

I liked the author’s easy style of writing.  She had notes to back up her facts.  The book was excellently planned and organized.  I learned a lot of things about Mr. Pence.  He was named after his maternal grandfather for one.  He tells the complete story of his faith from being a young child in a faithful Christian home to being a straying teen and finally coming back to the Lord.

This is an uplifting, encouraging true story filled to the brim with faith.  It will give readers a clearer view into the heart of Mike Pence.  I loved it and would highly recommend it.  Everyone should read it to get to know our Vice President better.  It definitely gets a 5 star rating.  Celebrate Lit provided a copy but these are my honest thoughts.

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About the Book

Book: The Faith of Mike Pence

Author: Leslie Montgomery

Genre: Biography, religious, political

Release Date: August 6, 2019

FaithOfMikePenceSeveral books have been published about Vice President Mike Pence, but none have touched upon what may be the most fascinating aspect of our nation’s second in command: his deep faith.
The Faith of Mike Pence offers an intimate look at the man who calls himself “a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order.”
Author Leslie Montgomery details Pence’s spiritual journey and examines how the vice president’s commitment to Christ has been a key component in his life as a husband, father, and public servant. Montgomery examines Pence’s encounters with politicos and evangelistic leaders such as James Dobson and Charles Lake. She shows the role of Pence’s faith in running for various offices, implementing faith-based initiatives, and responding to 9/11, the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the infamous Anthrax scare in Congress that directly affected him.
The Faith of Mike Pence is a powerful account of one of the most conservative vice presidents in American history, with exclusive interviews and insightful commentary from friends, family, and colleagues. It is a serious and moving reflection about one of America’s most admired and respected politicians.

 

Click here to grab your copy.

 

About the Author

Leslie MontgomeryLeslie Montgomery is the author and ghostwriter of over a dozen books. She is best known for writing the spiritual biography, The Faith of Condoleezza Rice, when Rice was serving our nation as secretary of state in the George W. Bush administration.

Leslie has been a writer for Focus on the Family for more than twenty years and is the former director of publications for the American Association of Christian Counselors.

She is also the founder of Yeshu’a Ministries, with the goal of helping people gain a better and closer relationship with the Lord through her writing, speaking, and teaching ministry. She has traveled to churches and conferences around the world through her evangelical ministry, sharing the Word of God.
Leslie has four children and six grandchildren. She resides in Boise, Idaho

 

More from Leslie

In 2006, I wrote and released The Faith of Condoleezza Rice, know-ing it might be years before I published another book. My husband and I were undergoing fertility treatments and vowed that if I got pregnant, I’d take a few years off of working outside the home to raise my children until they were in school full-time. Well, I did get pregnant and we had two children in the span of two-and-a-half years.

In early summer 2017, with two kids getting ready to start school again, I prayed and asked God to send me a new book contract; it was time to get back into the thick of things. Two weeks later, I dreamt that I was to write The Faith of Mike Pence. The truth is, neither he nor his faith were even on my radar. I got out of bed and began doing a little research. I wrote a book proposal for different publishers and began to accumulate a list of people I hoped to interview.

My overall goal with this book is not to set the vice president up as a spiritual hero, but to show the heart of the real man—as a Christian, husband, father, and politician. In doing so, I tried to allow his own words and those of his family, friends, and colleagues tell his story while I served as a conduit to weave it together. My prayer is that it inspires, encourages, and challenges you.    —Leslie Montgomery

Blog Stops

Through the Lens of Scripture, August 17

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 18

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 18

CarpeDiem, August 19

My Devotional Thoughts, August 19

Seasons of Opportunities, August 20

Mary Hake, August 20

Genesis 5020, August 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 21

Vicky Sluiter, August 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 23

Moments, August 23

A Reader’s Brain, August 24

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 26

Stephanies Life of Determination, August 26

Inklings and notions, August 27

Captive Dreams Window, August 28

Texas Book-aholic, August 28

janicesbookreviews, August 29

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 29

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, August 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Leslie is giving away a grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card, hardcover copy of The Faith of Mike Pence, and Faith and Freedom Adult Coloring Book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/e805/the-faith-of-mike-pence-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

 

The Yellow Lantern Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Thank you for stopping by today to see the Celebrate Lit Tour information on The Yellow Lantern.  The author has a generous giveaway of three books and a $25 Amazon gift card.  Be sure to enter and maybe you will win!

My Thoughts:

The Yellow Lantern by Author Angie Dickens is Book 3 in the True Colors, Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime Series.  Each book in this series is based on a true historical crime.  This one is extremely haunting and I find myself still thinking about it.  There was much to consider in this Christian fiction.

My interest was immediately piqued and held throughout the book.  There were many twists, turns, and surprises that made this book a page turner.  It was well planned and well written.

This was the story of Josephine (Josie) Clayton set in 1824 Massachusetts.  It is a gritty tale of grave robbers but much more.  Josie loves healing and using medicinal herbs and plants.  She works at a cotton mill and helps out the girls there. I learned a lot about the early cotton mill as well as thoughts, actions, and customs of early 1800’s. The author has done her research well and readers are rewarded.

Descriptions are vivid and on point.  The characters are believable but not all relatable.  A few were detestable.  Morals had vanished in some but not all.  Inspiration is delicately woven throughout this scary story.   There is romance, intrigue, crime, mystery, grief, drama, suspense and many life lessons.

This book was made even better knowing it was based on a true story.  It was hard to comprehend the lengths some people went to when they wanted something.  I felt sorry for those being blackmailed.

I would recommend this to readers that enjoy true historical crimes and gothic novels.  It is not what I normally read, but the author did a very good job.  I rated it 4 out of 5 stars. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit but these are my honest thoughts.

About the Book:

Book: The Yellow Lantern

Author: Angie Dicken

Genre: Christian Historical/Suspense

Release Date: August, 2019

The Yellow Lattern CoverJosephine Is Forced to Spy for Grave Robbers
Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

In Massachusetts in 1824, Josephine Clayton awakes on the table of the doctor she’s assisted all these months. She was presumed dead by all and has become the doctor’s next corpse for his medical research. Frightened, the doctor tries to kill her, but Josephine begs to be spared. A deal is struck—Josie will leave her village and work at a distant cotton mill. All the while, she’ll await her true mission—posing as a mourner to help his body snatcher procure her replacement. At the mill though, Josie is praised for her medical remedies among the mill girls, gaining attention from the handsome factory manager Braham Taylor. Yet, when Braham’s own loved one becomes the prey for the next grave robbing, Josie must make a choice that could put her dark past behind her or steal away the promise of any future at all.

What price will Josie pay for love when her secrets begin to unravel?

 

Click here to grab your copy.

 

About the Author

AngieDickenAngie Dicken credits her love of story to reading British literature during life as a military kid in England. Now living in the U.S. heartland, she’s a member of ACFW, sharing about author life with her fellow Alley Cats on The Writer’s Alley blog and Facebook page. Besides writing, she is a busy mom of four and works in Adult Ministry. Angie enjoys eclectic new restaurants, authentic conversation with friends, and date nights with her Texas Aggie husband. Connect with her online at www.angiedicken.com.

 

More from Angie

Barbour’s True Colors Crime concept intrigued me from the very beginning. Being the daughter of a doctor and discovering the ties of grave robbing to the early medical profession, I was excited to dive deep into 19th century Massachusetts. Grave robbing around Boston and New York was often employed by doctors desperate for medical advancement. Men and women were both involved in the procuring of bodies for doctors. Finding these accounts led me to take took a look at the current medical remedies of the time—tinctures, elixirs, and herbal concoctions. My heroine was created in the tension of a desire to heal and the desperation of medical pursuits.

Amidst these medical ties to the historical moment of 1824, something was also shifting among women in rural areas of New England. Many women were employed by newly built cotton mills (Lowell Mill was my inspiration for the fictional Gloughton Mill in The Yellow Lantern). These working opportunities for women offered an escape from their home-bound lives and the rare chance for independence. Of course, with such industrial environments, injuries, and sometimes death, would occur. Noting the accounts of these kind of fatalities in historical articles, my research came full circle.

I found three strong threads to weave into my grave-robbing story—desperate doctors in need of research, a doctor’s assistant needing an escape from her village, and a mill, not only offering that escape, but the chance at bodies for the desperate medical community.

My heroine, Josie Clay, found life in the tangle of these threads of mills, medicine, and grave robbing—all playing out within the pages of The Yellow Lantern.

Blog Stops

Genesis 5020, August 15

Seasons of Opportunities, August 15

All-of-a-kind Mom, August 15

Bigreadersite, August 16

Emily Yager, August 16

Inspired by fiction, August 16

The Christian Fiction Girl, August 17

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, August 17

Daysong Reflections, August 17

Retrospective Spines, August 18

Spoken from the Heart, August 18

Kathleen Denly, August 19

Through the Fire Blogs, August 19

Christian Bookaholic, August 19

Maureen’s Musings, August 20

For the Love of Literature, August 20

Simple Harvest Reads, August 21 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Godly Book Reviews, August 21

A Reader’s Brain, August 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 22

Betti Mace, August 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 22

Hallie Reads, August 23

Mary Hake, August 23

Inklings and notions, August 23

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 24

For Him and My Family, August 24

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, August 24

Connie’s History Classroom, August 25

Pause for Tales, August 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 25

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 26

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 26

amandainpa, August 26

Blossoms and Blessings, August 27

Texas Book-aholic, August 27

janicesbookreviews, August 27

Back Porch Reads, August 28

Just the Write Escape, August 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Angie is giving away a grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of each of the books in the series!!

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/e71c/the-yellow-lantern-celebration-tour-giveaway1

Meghan’s Choice Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

I Welcome to my stop on the Celebrate Lit Tour for Meghan’s Choice.  There is information on the book, author, and a giveaway.  Be sure to sign up to win!

My Thoughts:

Meghan’s Choice by author Donna L. H. Smith is a Christian Historical Western Romance.    It is the tale of Meghan Gallagher, a spoiled belle from St. Louis who ends up in the rowdy railroad town of New Boston, Kansas.  It is filled with light, clean romance, some brawling violence, tender teaching about experiencing God, scripture, and drama.

The story is nice but I had a hard time engaging with the characters.  For me they were not well rounded or developed.  The conversations did not sound authentic or easy.  It all sounded forced and out of the time period.  There were a lot of characters that at times it was difficult to keep everyone straight.

The spiritual element was light until close to the end of the book.  Then it was heavily laced and genuine.  The author has injected humor and wit among the fighting and drama to make her story entertaining, but it needs more.  The writing is uneven and at times sluggish.

Life lessons on hearing from God, equality, prejudice, trusting God, and helping others were the shining parts of the story.  The sweet romance was a great lesson, too.  Forgiveness, others and oneself, is discussed.  I enjoyed the last third of the book much more that the beginning.

I was disappointed there were no Discussion Questions or Recipes.  There was a lot of mention of cooking and dining so recipes would be a lovely addition.  Group Questions would be helpful for a reading club.

I would recommend this for fans of Christian Western Historical fiction.  It has the potential to be an excellent book with a few changes.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my own opinions.

About the Book:

Book: Meghan’s Choice

Author: Donna L. H. Smith

Genre: Christian Historical Western Romance

Release Date: November, 2017

Meghan's Choice COVER FinalistMeghan Gallagher complies with her father’s demand that she work on her own for a year by choosing to tutor eight children in a wild Kansas railroad town. But she had no idea just how wild it was until she was rescued by a local dance hall the day she arrived, and soon after hit by a stray bullet. In short order, she meets a dark, handsome cowboy and a wholesome, attractive doctor who both vie for her heart. As things heat up around town, Meghan’s love life catches fire as well. Is she scandalous to allow both men to court her at the same time? And—how close a relationship with God does Meghan want? Will she draw near?

Meghan’s Choice (pre-published) was named a semi-finalist in the 2014 Operation First Novel by Jerry B. Jenkins and an honorable mention for the Golden leaf Award in 2015. Since publication, Meghan’s Choice was a Selah Award finalist and also in the Will Rogers Medallion Award.

Published in connection with Hartline Literary Agency, serving the Christian book community. Visit us at www.hartlineliterary.com.

Click here to grab your copy.

About the Author

Donna SmithDonna L.H. Smith is a Kansas prairie girl transplanted to Lancaster County, PA. She is a graduate of Christian Writer’s Guild Craftsman program and holds two college degrees, both B.S. and M.A. in Mass Communication. She’s been married to a wonderful man named Kirby for thirty years. Her debut novel, Meghan’s Choice, made the finals of both the Selah and Will Rogers Medallion Awards. Rose’s Redemption, the sequel, was just released. She blogs, speaks at workshops and retreats and although she is at an age where many begin slowing down, she wouldn’t think of it. Recently, she took on the role of Managing Editor of Almost an Author.com, and serves as ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Mid-Atlantic Zone Director. She is also a member of AWSA’s Protégé program (Advanced Writers & Speaker’s Association).

More from Donna

Back in 2012, I wrote “Zorro” stories for Fan Fiction. I had an awful lot of fun with them, and people seemed to really like them. So, the thought came, what could I write for ‘real?’ I contemplated, prayed, and after a couple weeks or so, an idea came floating across my brain.

“Gunfight at Hyde Park.” Huh? I thought about it, and realized it was an obscure history lesson from my hometown in Kansas. I had Google it to get the details. I thought, well, I’m not gonna write a Christian romance novel just about a series of gunfights that killed and wounded more people than the OK Corral.

But I did think that the beginning of the gunfights could be the climax of the story.

Now, who should my heroine be? And the hero?

I started with that and took Christian Writer’s Guild’s Craftsman and the novel was completed in 2013—but only published in late 2017.

I’m proud of Meghan’s Choice. Pre-published it made the semi-finals of the last Operation 1st Novel that CWG held and placed in a couple of smaller contests. Last year, it made the finals of the prestigious Selah Awards for published books through the BRMCWC, and the finals of the Will Rogers Medallion Award.

My hope is that you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it.

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, August 12

Creating Relationship, August 13

Connie’s History Classroom, August 13

Moments, August 14

For Him and My Family, August 14

Godly Book Reviews, August 15

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 15

Emily Yager, August 16

Through the Fire Blogs, August 16

My Devotional Thoughts, August 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 17

Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 18

Vicky Sluiter, August 18

Inspired by fiction, August 19

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 19

mpbooks, August 20

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, August 20

Pause for Tales, August 21

For the Love of Books , August 21

Older & Smarter?, August 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 22

Texas Book-aholic, August 23

A Reader’s Brain, August 24

Real World Bible Study, August 25

janicesbookreviews, August 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Donna is giving away the grand prize of a copy of her 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/e5a3/meghan-s-choice-celebration-tour-giveaway

Warriors with Holy Hands Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

My Review:

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Warriors with Holy Hands.  It was a poignant, haunting, different book.  At times it was hard to follow, but it is well worth the read.  This Christian novel spans different decades with different family members.  It deals with divine healing and evil curses, as well as family, love, praying, following God, and faith.

This is the story of Ruth.  She is alone in the world with only a distant relative.  Her health is failing and Ruth is looking for answers.  Could her problems be from a family placed done years ago?

I loved the rural southern setting where it began.  The author painted a picture that drew me in.  I enjoyed the Jewish traditions and symbolism the book covered.  It was something that I was able to glean more information from that I had not known.

The author has written a complex, thought provoking story.  At times I still think about it.    The mystery and intrigue are so compelling that I could not put the book down.  It has some adult sections in it and for that reason I would not recommend it for teens.

The many characters are believable.  Each have redeemable characteristics as well as flaws.  There are so many twists and turns in this book.  Just when I thought I had something figured out, the author surprised me and took a different direction.

I would definitely recommend reading this book.  It takes a bit to get invested but the story develops and you will be caught up in it. Do this as a book group.  There is plenty to discuss.  I rate it a 4 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my own thoughts.

About the Book

Book: Warriors with Holy Hands

Author: Peter Toeg

Genre: Christian Suspense

Release Date: February 3, 2017

Warriors with Holy Hands CoverWarriors With Holy Hands  is the story of a young woman who finds herself lost in time and whose life over a period of three years is spiraling downward. Ruth Falk is stricken with an inexplicable illness and then orphaned. With only a distant relative in her life now, Ruth faces a life of debilitating pain and infirmity. She determines to look to the past for answers she believes her bloodline may reveal.

Searching through diaries and records, Ruth discovers blood relatives and others who lived far away over the course of a century.  We follow their lives across three generations culminating in the revelation of indisputable connections that are created—words and actions with lasting results.

Ruth learns that a curse spoken by one ancestor may have had a devastating domino effect, one whose beginning also engaged her prayer-warrior grandmother in a pitched spiritual battle to break. A challenged believer herself, Ruth grows in the faith of her predecessors who faced ominous situations.

The rich symbolism of Judaism provides a backdrop for the saga with traditions and meaning sprinkled throughout the story.

When she faces increasing paralysis, Ruth and a birth friend in the faith journey to the Southern Highlands of Tennessee where it all began. Here in the span of seven days—over ten months—all that has unraveled in recent years comes together. Life as she knows it will never be the same.

God reveals himself to Ruth and others in remarkable ways along a tortuous path that comes full circle.

Warriors is a mystery that is finally, stunningly, revealed as serendipitous fruit from the branches of a family tree. It is a story of encouragement and life that empowers those who seek God and believe.

Grab your copy here.

About the Author

Peter ToegPeter Toeg was a technical writer for over twenty years and a trained journalist who taught communication and media writing for fifteen years at a small Midwestern university. A believer for thirty years, he has roots that extend both to Iraq and Judaism, two themes in Warriors.

He writes full-time now: mostly memoir and short stories with several published. Writing is his avocation.

 

More from Peter

I’ve always been fascinated with connections, whether family or circumstances. As a memoirist, I have been granted a wonderful perspective on my life filled with connections. Warriors With Holy Hands is a family saga in that vein. Exploring our roots and bloodline. In Warriors, a young woman receives a wonderful gift from the grandmother she never knew and learns the power of prayer.

Ruth Falk, the main character faces two problems: an illness that is robbing her of her mobility and, as an orphan, little knowledge of her past. She wonders whether the two are connected: her background and her illness. So begins her amazing search. In her debilitating condition, time is not on her side.

As often happens in a family, we discover more than we expect. I did forty years after being orphaned myself. I learned that my father rescued his own sister and mother, spiriting them to safety with him when he emigrated from a hostile land to the United States. The grand deception was revealed in documents I’d tucked away. I’d never been told the story.

Ruth Falk also crosses paths with a man on a spiritual journey and another mysterious soldier-warrior, who is mentally gifted—and also her rescuer.

Spanning one hundred years and populated by a dozen remarkable people and a few miscreants, Warriors With Holy Hands is a mystery and adventure with wonders and rich spiritual truths. And maybe a miracle or two. It was quite a trip for me in the writing as I trust it will be for my readers.

Peter Toeg

Excerpt from Warriors:

“Tell me why you’re here, Jacob,” I said through the chorus. We sat at angles to each other in wicker chairs, the vantage of direct face-to-face lost. A candle on a small table before us illuminated considerably more than our plastic glasses and now-soggy paper plates.

“Everybody has to be somewhere, sis.” A quick response.

I pressed. “What are you looking for here? I have reasons—that you’ve hammered me with. What about your family? Are you taking the genealogy route?”

Jacob finished his wine. A loud swallow. I caught him looking at his stump, the prosthetic he’d removed before we came out. He’d rarely been this quiet in my presence this long, the flight excepted. Then he placed the drained glass down, stood, and, with his hand, moved the table to his left, pulled his chair more directly opposing me, and sat down. Military posture, his arms on the chair arms. He looked kindly at me with wine-softened eyes.

“I’m here to help you, Ruthie.” He looked into the night and back at me. “I confess I do have some unfinished business. You’re smart enough to know that—and what it is.” A sad smile formed, genuine emotion breaking out.

I saw hurt in his eyes brewing deep down. “Your father. You have a bridge to cross.” I touched his hand with mine and withdrew it after a moment. “Over a river.”

Jacob looked away longer now, and then back, but he said nothing.

“I can carry you, Jacob,” I said confidently. “You’re not alone.”

Jacob looked at me, a little surprised and pleased at the same time, his eyes damp. “We are kin, are we not? Covenant. A covenant of three.”

I nodded, looked at his stump and then down at my legs. I lifted up my plastic glass and looked at Jacob through its prism with a squint.

“Your father’s spirit is not at the river, but God is… Look for Him and you’ll find your father.”

He nodded. “As much as we think what happens is about us, it’s not, is it?”

I shook my head.

I had momentarily seen Jacob’s face distorted through the glass by the candlelight. Now, the glass removed, his face was almost radiant. “It is said the mystic knows God by contact of spirit with spirit; cor ad cor loquitur. He has the immediate vision…he hears the still, small voice speaking clearly to him in the silence of his soul.”

“And what is the translation?” Jacob perked.

I felt at rest in the moment after a day on the road had awakened nerve pain in my limbs. Gone now. “It means ‘heart speaks to heart.’ Some Catholic theologian. Some say that the origins of the heart speaking are in music—a crystal voice, the sounds of the night, the call of a bird—rushing water.” I waved my hand in a sweeping motion at the darkness before us that was filled with sound.

Jacob nodded then returned to his usual playful self. “So, you’re going to carry me, eh kid?”

“We all need to be carried.” (p. 123)

Blog Stops

Inspired by fiction, August 8

Godly Book Reviews, August 9

Betti Mace, August 10

Blogging With Carol , August 11

CarpeDiem, August 12

Mary Hake, August 13

Artistic Nobody, August 13 (Spotlight)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 17

Texas Book-aholic, August 18

janicesbookreviews, August 19

A Reader’s Brain, August 20

Inklings and notions , August 21

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Peter is Giving away a grand prize package 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/e7c1/warriors-with-holy-hands-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

Jewel’s Gold Celebrate Lit Tour and Amazon $50 Card Giveaway

My Thoughts:

Author Caryl McAdoo has written a lovely Alaskan Gold Rush tale in Jewel’s Gold.  She is a master storyteller extraordinaire, and I always look forward to her books.  The author has a way with words that will take readers to times and places never before travelled.

I found this tale so fascinating.  The scenery was well defined that I felt like I took the trip with them.  This is much more than a romance tale. I learned about The Alaskan Gold Rush.  It has adventure, mystery, deceit, romance, and lessons on forgiveness, self discovery, and faith.

The characters are feisty and realistic.  Jewel is sassy and pretty.  Boaz was hard to like at first but then I warmed up to him.  Both of their mothers were a hoot!  This book provides some comic relief, too.

I highly recommend this sweet story.  As with all books, the author writes she brings glory to God.  I read this in one sitting and wanted more!  It definitely earned a 5 star rating from me.

A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

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About the Book

Book: Jewel’s Gold

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 20, 2019

Jewels GoldCan a tangled web snare two hearts and point them true north?

A Papa’s girl from the start, Jewel Jones remembers all the things he told her. Wealthy, but far from being a snob, she finds Boaz Branson both irritating and intriguing. How can she know if the handsome confidence man truly turns from his wicked ways, or if his interest only in her gold? Papa said let God’s peace lead her.

Only by God’s grace can Boaz escape the deceptions he plans to perpetrate on the beautiful heiress. While his head wants to flee the entanglement, his heart bids him stay.

Are Jewel and Boaz building on sinking sand, or have they found the golden nugget they seek?

Click here to grab your copy.

About the Author

Caryl Cabo BeachAward-winning, hybrid author Caryl McAdoo prays her story gives God glory! That is why she writes, why she breathes. Her forty-fourth novel has just launched, joining her best-selling title list! Besides writing, she loves singing the new songs the Lord gives her. (Listen to a few at YouTube.) Ron, her husband of 50+ years shares four children and eighteen grandsugars—life’s best blessings, Caryl says. The McAdoos live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

Jewel’s Gold, my July release and book four in the Gold Diggers Collection, begins in San Francisco in 1895 and moves quickly north to Alaska on Troublesome Creek where Jewel’s papa has a gold mine. My husband Ron was on Troublesome Creek in 1993 seeking the Lord. While there, he also did a little prospecting.

To mention gold is to speak of wealth as gold is the most sought-after metal in the world. It’s found on every continent, and I’ve discovered it can be located our bodies as well! Mostly in our blood! Small traces have also been extracted from eucalyptus leaves, a favorite snack of Koala bears!

Jewel Jones is the daughter of Joshua Jones, son of Moses and Lanell introduced in SINS OF THE MOTHERS, book three in the Texas Romance Family Saga. Truth be known, little Joshua was in fact a Wheeler, not as Jones, though Moses reared him as his own son.

His real father was Caleb who married Mary Rachael Buckmeyer and talked her into running off to California. So, this book may also be classified as a ‘Companion Book’ to that highly acclaimed historical romance series.

Ron has always wanted to go back and show me Alaska, and one day we most likely will go north . . . but only in the summer! Who doesn’t love leaving Texas for northern, cooler temperatures in the summer?
This story has a little mystery along with the romance and history. When we drove the Oregon/California Trail last December, we visited the site of Sutter’s Mill where the gold rush of 1849 was born. That last place we went before turning south and east back to Texas was an unexpected stop.

On the American River, the park and museum offered an amazing place to visit, and knowing this book was on the schedule made it all the more interesting! I also believe that place will add to the genuine feel of Jewel’s Gold.

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 13

Power of Words, August 14 (Spotlight)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 15

Emily Yager, August 16

For Him and My Family, August 17

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, August 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 19

Simple Harvest Reads, August 20 (Spotlight)

Blossoms and Blessings, August 21

Texas Book-aholic, August 22

janicesbookreviews, August 23

Artistic Nobody, August 24 (Spotlight)

A Reader’s Brain, August 25

Inklings and notions , August 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/e71d/jewel-s-gold-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

 

The Awakening of Miss Adelaide Celebrate Lit Tour and Giveaway

Thanks for joining my stop on Celebrate Lit’s tour of The Awakening of Miss Adelaide.  I have information on the author and book as well as my review.  Be sure to sign up for the giveaway at the end, too.

My Thoughts:

This is an historical Christian book centered around the Great War, WWI.  The author reached inside for my emotions with this book and tore at them until they were raw.  I cried often while reading this and actually had to put it down at times.  It is an astounding story of love, family, the cruelty of man and the healing power of music.  Expect suffragettes, music, mystery, discrimination, romance, and so much more.

The opening chapter captured my attention and I was immediately invested.  I felt for Birdie instantly and loved the hymn she sang.  What I didn’t like was the way she was being treated in the Texas Asylum.  It was horrible.

Then the story switched to Italy and we met Adelaide Fitzgerald.  Adelaide was a strong, determined, caring, wonderfully complex woman.  The friendship with her housekeeper grew into a beautiful sisterhood in Italy.  The Italian was an added treat to the book.  The food was so well described that I could almost smell the tantalizing aromas.  Miss Adelaide had a strong faith and love for God.  It was woven all throughout the story. Through hymns, scripture, prayers, and acknowledgments, God was ever present in this poignant tale.

Author Linda Brooks Davis has a style of writing that is pleasant and very much to my liking.  The subject matter was at times gritty and harsh, but at others loving and beautiful.  It was very realistic.  This is no sweet bit of fluff, but rather built upon the cruel things life hands to people and how they choose to respond. At times the reality was too much for me.  There were twists and turns galore in this lovely book.

I loved the poetic way the author writes.  Her book had a nice lyrically flow.  Conversations sounded accurate and believable.  Places and details were spot on.  She had obviously done thorough research on this.  The book was well organized and written  extremely well.  My only complaint is I don’t like reading about the rougher things in history.  It hurts my soul just knowing they existed.

This isn’t a book for everyone.  If you enjoy historical books, especially those set during the War, this one will thrill you. The romance is sweet and breathtaking.  The mystery made me want to skip to the back and get the answer.  I didn’t and encourage you to keep reading, too. For me there was an abundance of heartache, trials, and hurt – just like life.

I rated it a 5 out of 5 stars only because there were no more stars!  Celebrate Lit provided a copy but I was under no obligation to write a review.  These are my own thoughts.

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About the Book

Book: The Awakening of Miss Adelaide

Author: Linda Brooks Davis

Genre: Historical 

Release Date: July, 2019

The Awakening of Miss AdelaideOrphaned as an infant, Oklahoma heiress Adelaide Fitzgerald has enjoyed every advantage. She possesses a unique gift for music and has excelled on the opera stage in Italy. As a philanthropist, she’s adored from America to Europe.

But Miss Adelaide is about to awaken in a 1918 nightmare. The Great War—and the Great Influenza—knock, and Adelaide finds her uninvited guests more than unwelcome. They threaten her life and alter her identity and purpose.

Snatched from a quiet life in an Italian villa, Miss Adelaide is thrust into conflicts others have created. What battle scars will she sustain? And where will love lead her?

In The Awakening of Miss Adelaide, war and peace, laughter and heartache, love and loss come together to ignite a fresh fire that reveals one woman’s hidden needs and potentials. 

What will gaining a fresh understanding of herself require of the Angel of the Opera?

About the Author

Linda Brooks DavisLinda Brooks Davis was born and reared, educated, and married in Texas. Her children and six grandchildren were born in Texas. She devoted the bulk of her 40 years as a special educator in Texas schools. But her mother and grandmother hailed from Oklahoma, the setting for Linda’s 2015 debut novel, The Calling of Ella McFarland, which won the 2014 Jerry Jenkins Operation First Novel Award and the 2016 American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. Linda continues to write from her home in San Antonio, Texas. She and her beloved husband Al worship and minister at Oak Hills Church. Linda enjoys chatting with readers through her website www.lindabrooksdavis.com.

 

More from Linda

Awakening Miss Adelaide begins with my mother’s cedar chest, which bore an unwritten warning: Hands off! Priceless treasures resided in its depths. My parents’ wedding suits. An old tattered quilt. Mother’s felt hat with a jaunty feather at the rolled-up grim. Bible notes. A stained tablecloth. Equally stained ladies’ handkerchiefs. And old, crocheted, scorched pot holders.

My paternal great-grandmother wrote letters and created intricate, painstaking handwork while she was committed to an asylum in Terrell, Texas. They represent the dearest items in the cedar chest.

Incalculable are the times over the years when a family member would comment Great-granny didn’t appear insane at all. I often wondered how it was she resided at a state mental hospital from 1900 until her death in 1948. How could an insane person write coherent letters and create such handwork?

Mystery shrouds those answers as surely as Great-grandmother herself.

Family legend developed around her. Stories varied from “She wasn’t crazy. Her husband wanted to get rid of her” to “She was an Indian who chose the name McFarland to avoid White bias against the indigenous people.” The truth hides somewhere amid the deadfall of her tragic life.

Sometimes research for a novel can feel like digging up bones. In a way, it is.

One such “bone” I got my teeth around and refused to let go was an article in a 1913 edition of Fort Worth Star-Telegram. It described a murder committed in the lobby of the Metropolitan Hotel. This violent act occurred in connection with an adulterous affair.

Consequently, heightened emotions, lowered common sense, and the control males exerted over females resulted in one man’s murder and the murderer’s acquittal. The “offending” woman’s husband dragged her home kicking and screaming and committed her to a mental asylum for “emotional insanity.”

wondered if the “offending” man had been treated in like manner. Hardly.

How could I NOT include this morass in a novel?

Someone ought to write a book about that was often said around our family reunions. My interest in doing just that developed little by little over the years. The Women of Rock Creek series deals with some of the ways in which women were denied equal rights when they were denied the vote. Such realities presented an ideal platform for illustrating some women’s plight in the hands of unscrupulous men–inequality in education, the courtroom, and even in mental health care.

With an abundance of love and respect for my great-grandmother; her daughter, my grandmother; and her grandson, my father, I offer this imaginary story. It contrasts two different women: one with a voice heard around the world and the other with no voice at all.

offer The Awakening of Miss Adelaide to the Lord to do with it as He sees fit. May this story inspired by the agony experienced by my great-grandmother serve to lighten someone else’s load.

Blog Stops

Bettimace, August 10

Godly Book Reviews, August 10

Reflections From my Bookshelves, August 10

Connect in Fiction, August 11

Mary Hake, August 11

Genesis 5020, August 12

Through the Fire Blogs, August 12

For Him and My Family, August 13

Just Your Average reviews, August 13

Life of a traveling wife, August 14

Connie’s History Classroom, August 14

Bigreadersite , August 15

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 15

Blessed & Bookish, August 16

Emily Yager, August 16

CarpeDiem, August 17

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 17

Daysong Reflections, August 18

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, August 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 19

Pause for Tales, August 20

For The Love of Books , August 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 21

Texas Book-aholic, August 21

janicesbookreviews, August 22

A Reader’s Brain, August 22

Inklings and notions, August 23

Simple Harvest Reads, August 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of her book and a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/e682/the-awakening-of-miss-adelaide-celebration-tour-giveaway