Tuesday, July 6, 2021

JustRead Tours Blog Tour: The Father He Deserves by Lisa Jordan

The Father He Deserves JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Father He Deserves by Lisa Jordan, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: The Father He Deserves
Series: Holland Brothers
Author: Lisa Jordan
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: June 29, 2021
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

A determined dad. A wary mother. Making amends is never easy…

Injured in a kayaking accident, champion Evan Holland returns home to train rescue dogs. But his unexpected partner is the woman he left behind, Natalie Bishop. And she has a secret: a son Evan never knew he had. Now Evan must prove he can be a real father. But earning Natalie’s trust back will take hope, forgiveness—and risking everything on forever…

Love Inspired Books are a favorite of mine. They are Clean, Inspirational Romance books. The Father He Deserves by Lisa Jordan is the latest Love Inspired book I have read.

Evan Holland is a Champion Kayaker, but he has to take a break from Kayaking after an injury. He comes home where he will begin Training Rescue Dogs. He learns he will be working with Natalie Bishop, whom he dated just before he left town for his Kayaking career. Natalie soon reveals that she is mother to a 5yr old son and that Evan is the father of her son. He is shocked but also excited to become a father to a son he never knew about. Will Evan and Natalie be able to work together in light of Natalie being hurt by Evan leaving years ago? Will Evan be able to prove to Natalie that she can trust him? Will the pair be able to parent their son together and nurture him?

Awww, such a heartwarming book! Evan was my favorite character in the book. He is a Strong person who doesn't let things detour him from LIFE. He is a caring and loving man and Dad. Natalie is a good character, but she doesn't deal with Life issues as well as Evan. I do like how "opposites attract" in this story, and they balance each other to make a great team. I HIGHLY recommend this book, as it really is a great story of Forgiveness and Strength!

Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements come naturally. She is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing novels that promise hope & happily ever after. Happily married for nearly thirty years, she and her husband have two grown sons. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys family time, good books, crafting with friends and kayaking. Visit her at www.lisajordanbooks.com.

CONNECT WITH LISA: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Father He Deserves by Lisa Jordan and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight July 5, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 12, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Print copy US only. Ebook and gift card available for international where available. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

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Monday, July 5, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Valley of Shadows by Candace West

Book: Valley of Shadows

Author: Candace West

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: March 2020

A shattered heart. A wounded spirit. A community in crisis.

Lorena Steen gave up on love years ago. She forgave her long-time estranged husband, but when circumstances bring her to the Ozark town of Valley Creek, she discovers forgiving is far from forgetting.

Haunted by his past acts of betrayal, Earl Steen struggles to grow his reclaimed faith and reinstate himself as an upstanding member of Valley Creek. He soon learns that while God’s grace is amazing, that of the small-town gossips is not.

When disaster strikes, the only logical solution is for Earl and Lorena to combine their musical talents in an effort to save the community. But even if they’re willing to work together, are they able to? Or will the shadows that descend upon Valley Creek reduce it to a ghost town.

Click here to get your copy!

I must say I was very intrigued by the Beautiful cover of this book and the fact that Candace West is a new to me author. I also really enjoy Christian Historical Romance. Valley of Shadows by Candace West was a must read book for me.

Lorena Steen has returned to Valley Creek, her beloved community that she left long ago. She has forgiven her estranged husband, but upon returning to Valley Creek and she runs into him, her heart shows her she hasn't forgotten. Earl Steen has worked really hard to grow in his faith and show the town of Valley Creek that he is an upstanding part of the community. Valley Creek needs some help rejuvenating the Community. The Townspeople think that having a Fundraising concert would be a good idea. The caveat is that they need Lorena and Earl to work together with their musical talents to pull this off. Can Lorena and Earl work together for the Community? Will feelings get hurt or will there be healing?

WOW, Valley of Shadows is a definite page turner! I was hooked from the very first page. Forgiveness is the theme for this book and the author does a great job and really showing how God can work in someones heart to bring forgiveness. Lorena and Earl both made some significant strides in forgiveness. Valley of Shadows is actually Book 2 in the Valley Creek Redemption series, but it reads well as a Stand Alone. I have not read the first book in this series, but I am really interested now. I look forward to reading more from Candace West. GREAT BOOK!

Candace West was born in the Mississippi delta to a young minister and his wife. She grew up in small-town Arkansas and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. At twelve years old, she wrote her first story, “Following Prairie River.” In 2018, she published her debut novel Lane Steen. By weaving entertaining, hope-filled stories, Candace shares the Gospel and encourages her readers. She currently lives in Arkansas with her husband and their son along with two dogs and three bossy cats.

More from Candace

Why I Wrote Valley of Shadows

Can a villain become a hero? When I ended my debut novel Lane Steen, I knew someday I had to discover if a kidnapper and alcoholic was worth saving. Could that same person save a town after tragedy strikes while wrestling with his own demons?

Earl Steen had a dark valley to cross.

With a destroyed reputation, Earl must prove in Valley of Shadows that God has not wasted His efforts on him. Also, Lorena, his estranged wife, has her own score to settle. How can she when the villain no longer exists?

Nothing tugs at my heart more than lost, unrequited love. My second book focuses on their lost relationship. Earl and Lorena had haunted one another long enough. Could God mend what Earl had shattered?

Sitting down to write, I returned to Valley Creek and uncovered places within Earl’s heart that I never knew existed. Lorena’s struggles became mine as she grappled with understanding and forgiving. The dark places of their past somehow had to merge with the light of a hopeful future.

Getting Earl and Lorena to rediscover their love was a journey fraught with tension, grief, frustration, and hope. Was it worth every rewrite, every long hour staring at my computer screen waiting for my characters’ next move?

You bet!

Texas Book-aholic, June 22
Inklings and notions, June 23
Mary Hake, June 23
deb’s Book Review, June 24
Connie’s History Classroom, June 25
Locks, Hooks and Books, June 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 27
For Him and My Family, June 28
Artistic Nobody, June 29 (Author Interview)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 29
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 30
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 1
Writing from the Heart Land, July 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 3
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 4
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 5

To celebrate her tour, Candace is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card, a paperback copy of Lane Steen and Valley of Shadows!!

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/10dba/valley-of-shadows-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Sunday, July 4, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham

Book: A Lady in Attendance

Author: Rachel Fordham

Genre: Christian Historical

Release date: June 1, 2021

Will the Past Destroy Her Future?

Ada, Mi.—Rachel Fordham’s historical novels have received high praise for their warm and engaging story lines filled with romance, adventure, and happy endings. In A Lady in Attendance, Fordham beautifully blends these same great features in a novel about overcoming obstacles in the past to make room for a better future.

After spending the last five years in a New York state reformatory, Hazel is desperate to begin life anew, but she knows that a tarnished name could ruin her chances. She accepts a job as Doctor Gilbert Watts’ lady in attendance but does so under an alias so she can hide her shameful past.

Dr. Watts has come to enjoy the pleasant chatter of his new dental assistant, but he senses her sadness and wonders if there is more to her story than she’s shared with him. As their friendship deepens, Hazel must grapple with her desire to trust him.

Can Dr. Watts and Hazel’s friends help expunge her record? And can Hazel possibly find hope and love along the way?

Click here to get your copy!

I really enjoy Christian Historical Fiction and I also like new to me authors. A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham fits both of those so I was really excited to read this new novel.

Hazel is happy to be out reformatory where she spent the last 5 yrs for a crime she did not commit. She wants to become an active part of society again, but also knows that she may need to change her name to do so. She uses a different name and applies for job. She accepts as job with Doctor Gilbert Watts as a Lady in Attendance. Dr. Watts is liking the work that Hazel does for his Dental Practice, but he also wonders if there is something about her that she might be hiding. The 2 form a friendship and Hazel feels that she might be able to trust him and tell him her background. She also finds herself having feelings for him beyond friendship. Will Hazel be able to trust Dr. Watts and reveal her past to him? Will Dr. Watts and other friends in town be able to help Hazel clear her name?

WOW, I really learned a few things reading this book. I love how the term A Lady in Attendance was used for a Dental Assistant back in the 1890's. The book really is a book about Second Chances, moving forward in life and trusting others. Hazel and Dr. Watts make a really great work team, but then seeing them slowly grow their relationship was beautiful! I truly enjoyed this book from the first page to the end!! FANTASTIC BOOK!

Rachel Fordham is the author of The Hope of Azure Springs, Yours Truly, Thomas, and A Life Once Dreamed. Fans expect stories with heart, and she delivers, diving deep into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters. She is a busy mom, raising both biological and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about). She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.

More from Rachel

Ten behind the scenes extras from A Lady in Attendance:

This book takes place in Amherst and Buffalo New York, places I lived for four years. Buffalo has had some rough years but if you ever visit the area you will see gorgeous old buildings, beautiful parks and cemeteries and understand why it was once a booming and prosperous city (and why I love it still). Gilbert and Hazel both grew up in the area (though, they did not know each other until the story begins). Two of my children were born in Buffalo and though they aren’t being raised there, I tell them stories.
Hazel spent five years in a New York State reformatory. Reformatories were basically the first juvenile delinquent facilities (the ages of who could be sentenced there was different from today). Reformatories were a new idea. There were still a lot of people who believed in “bad blood” and that a criminal could never be anything but a criminal. There were some heroes who fought hard to convince the public, that people could change. Because of this book’s storyline, I could not go too deeply into this subject, but it is fascinating!
Gilbert Watts is this book’s leading man. I gave up on being able to use the name Gilbert on one of my own kids and instead gave it to a character. I adore the name Gilbert and everything about this character, hope you do too!
There is a joke at the end of the book about a graveyard (don’t worry, it’s not scary) and it’s a nod to my mom who used to use this joke on us every time we passed a cemetery. I really love sneaking in things into my stories that will make my kids, family and friends smile when they read it. I often think of my books as love letters from me to others and the best kind of love letters are personal.
My husband is a dentist and as a result, we tend to notice dentist in media. They are often portrayed as villains or comic relief. I decided it would be my goal to write a romantic dentist that would change the image in readers minds.
Gilbert tells Hazel that being a dentist is really being an artist. When my husband was first trying to decide on a career path, he shadowed a dentist. He didn’t really think it would be for him, but he was open to exploring options. He came home and told me that the cool thing about dentistry was that you were essentially making art that was functional, every day. Little sculptures that helped people eat and smile better. Gilbert from the book is very different from my husband, but it was fun sneaking in little pieces of him in there.
One of my favorite scenes from this book take place at a corn husking. There is a tradition that says, if a red ear of corn is found, the finder gets a kiss. Sigh, I love that scene!
Without always meaning to, my books end up having messages woven into them. I believe one of the messages in A Lady in Attendance is forgiveness. In this case, it’s forgiving of one’s self. I believe this message is one that we all need at some point in our lives (or many points!).
My books are coming out in a different order than they were written in. I actually wrote this book before Yours Truly, Thomas and after A Life Once Dreamed. This story has been waiting a long time to be in print! During that time, it has been reshaped in little ways. It gained a prologue and lost an epilogue, it was tamed down in places and intensified in others, but the heart of it has always been the same!
One last piece of A Lady in Attendance trivia—several of my books have had their titles changed. It’s part of the writing process. The books get a working title and later a title that the rest of the world knows it by. The Hope of Azure Springs was originally just Azure Springs. Yours Truly, Thomas was originally Dear, Azure Springs. A Life Once Dreamed was originally The Belle of Penance. A Lady in Attendance began as A Lady in Attendance and stayed A Lady in Attendance. Not only is this title fitting because dental assistants were knowns by this or as an attending lady, but also because Hazel wrestles with her worth. In a society that believes a mistake made once can leave a mark forever, it takes the right eyes and open heart to realize that there truly is a lady in attendance.

Girls in White Dresses, June 30
The Sacred Line, June 30
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 30
lakesidelivingsite, July 1
Inklings and notions, July 1
For Him and My Family, July 2
Reflections From My Bookshelves, July 2
Mary Hake, July 2
deb’s Book Review, July 3
Remembrancy, July 3
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 4
Reviewingbooksplusmore, July 4
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 5
Breny and Books, July 5
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, July 6
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 6
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, July 6
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 7
The Christian Fiction Girl, July 7
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 8
Simple Harvest Reads, July 8 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 8
Older & Smarter?, July 9
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 9
Connie’s History Classroom, July 10
For the Love of Literature, July 10
Pause for Tales, July 10
Splashes of Joy, July 11
Life of Literature, July 11
Daysong Reflections, July 12
Bliss, Books & Jewels, July 12
Labor Not in Vain, July 12
Through the fire blogs, July 13
Texas Book-aholic, July 13
Blossoms and Blessings, July 13

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of A Lady in Attendance as well as A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham, a signed bookplate, book swag, and a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble!!

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/10e71/a-lady-in-attendance-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Faces of Courage by Susan K. Beatty

Book: Faces of Courage

Author: Susan K. Beatty

Genre: Christian Woman’s Fiction

Release date: May 11, 2021

Fear strangles even the faithful sometimes.

Despite every attempt to be brave, fear has defined Olivia Stanford’s life: with each new foster home, when her adopted parents died leaving her all alone again, trusting and marrying her husband, Frank, and coping with his football injuries and career loss.

Without faith, fear only grows in the face of adversity.

When Frank becomes abusive, Olivia enters a terror-filled life in her upscale Southern California home. Common sense demands she dig deep for the courage to confront him–to demand change. Fear and confusion push back.

And just as courage finally blooms within her comes the terrifying diagnosis: breast cancer.

Some say courage is found at the intersection of faith and grit. How will Olivia manage to summon either in the midst of this new battle?

Click here to get your copy!

Women's Christian Fiction is a favorite genre of mine. Faces of Courage by Susan K. Beatty is a book that falls into that genre. Susan K. Beatty is a new to me author, so I was excited to read this book. The synopsis also is very strong and it drew me in also.

Olivia Stanford has had a difficult life. She was part of the foster system before being adopted. Her adopted parents passed away, leaving her alone and scared. She found a man, Frank, and fell in love and married. Frank has lost his job and his old football injuries are giving him issues. Frank becomes abusive to Olivia. Olivia, who has had a life filled with fear, now the fear is ravaging and she would like to have a life with no fear. She begins to muster up the courage to stand up to Frank, then comes the news that she has Breast Cancer. Will Olivia be able to overcome her fear of Frank and stand up to him? Will Olivia be a Breast Cancer Survivor?

"I'm not crying your crying" says me! WOW, this book really tugs at the readers heart. The author does a GREAT job with the 2 sensitive topics of Breast Cancer and Spouse Abuse. The writing style is very good. Olivia thought she had no support, especially in the wake of being abused, but she finds support. Her greatest support is her faith in God during her trials. I cried and also had smiles throughout this book. GREAT BOOK!

”Courage: The intersection of faith and Grit”

Susan K. Beatty is passionate about finding courage through faith and grit, particularly through the trials of breast cancer. Her daughter is a metastatic breast cancer “thriver” and has been an inspiration for her writing. Susan retired from a full-time job in 2017 and is now pursuing a novel-writing career. Her first novel, “Faces of Courage,” is in revision. Susan is the author of “An Introduction to Home Education” (AKA “California Homeschool Manual”), was the assistant director of the SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference and is the president of her local ACFW-OC Chapter. She is a professional writer/journalist. Susan is proof you can begin a fiction writing career after age seventy.

More from Susan

The words “You have breast cancer” can drop you to your knees. What’s worse is when those words are spoken to your thirty-one-year-old daughter. And worse yet when they are spoken to her more than once. My daughter Melanie has had three bouts with breast cancer, the second time classified her with stage IV metastatic breast cancer of which there is no cure. Over an eleven-year period, Melanie has undergone twelve surgeries, one removing two-thirds of her sternum to be replaced by a donor bone with titanium clamps.

Melanie’s courage during these battles inspired me to write about courage at the intersection of faith and grit. True-to-life stories follow characters through cancer and other issues confronting women today.

In Faces of Courage, I wanted to tell a story like Melanie’s but not exactly Melanie’s, a story nevertheless filled with growing courage. Melanie’s journey doesn’t include an abusive husband (Praise God!), but our terrorized heroine Olivia suffers from her husband’s mistreatment, confused by her misunderstanding of how God views her, and challenged by her lack of strong faith. Just as her courage matures and strengthen through these problems, she’s thrown by those knee-buckling words, “You have breast cancer.”

It is necessarily a gritty look at domestic abuse and the realities of dealing with cancer and its various treatments. I wanted to show Olivia’s growth as a wife, how she experienced the cancer, and how, with the help of faith and grit, her courage flourished.

In many ways, this novel is a tribute to women who fight these battles with bravery, even if that valor takes time to develop. I pray the reader, by witnessing another’s journey, is strengthened in her own battles.