Sunday, February 26, 2023

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: The Secret Society by Terry Overton

Book: The Underground Book Readers: The Secret Society

Author: Terry Overton

Genre: Upper Middle Grade, Pre-Teen, Teen, YA Christian Fiction Dystopian

Release date: December 15, 2022

In a world without books, schools, churches, and parents, how can teens and pre-teens find each other and work to bring back a world like the world before? Ever watchful, this group of friends meet in an underground cavern in the mountains of Virginia. Rumors of spies, enemy soldiers, and the possibility of finding their parents, keep these friends searching to make a better life for everyone.

In Book 1, The Secret Society, the original four members of the group discover others who, like them, have lost their parents and older siblings. These friends bond together and form a strong new family. Together, they discover new documents, clues, and tools to assist in their adventures. In the hope of someday finding others who can help establish a new settlement, they study, plan, and make discoveries that will propel them forward in their journey. Are others hiding from the World Force Soldiers? They are determined to find the answer.

Click here to get your copy!

I have read many books by Terry Overton, and I have come to really enjoy all the books I have read. Terry Overton has a new series that is Young Adult Christian Fiction Dystopian. The Underground Book Readers: The Secret Society is Book 1 in the new series. I was honored to have recently read it.

The year is 2031, yes in the future. The book has 4 main characters: Kahn, Jairus, Asher, and Casey. They have formed a secret Society and have been meeting for many years Underground. They have lost their Parents and Older Siblings but are searching for them. They 4 Original Members of the Secret Society have formed a strong bond and are now a "family". They begin to find Clues, Tools and Documents that would help them to possibly find their family members. The also know that World Force Organization has taken over the world and wonder how many are hiding from the Soldiers. They do not like that the World Force organization has banned books and churches and decide to have their own while in their Secret Society. The 4 of them begin to make plans and dreams of creating a new Settlement and they work tirelessly planning, making discoveries and more in anticipation of one day this coming to be. Will the Secret Society crew grow their Society once the World Force completely takes over? Will their plans and dreams come to be?

I am not one who normally likes this type of genre of a book, but I am HOOKED. The storyline kept me intrigued from beginning to end. I finished the book within 4hrs. I really LOVE how Kahn, Jairus, Asher and Casey formed a solid bond that they become "family" to one another. the Secret Society group really set their mind on doing something for others and were dedicated to achieving that goal! I LOVE how this book is very focused on God's Word and very Biblically sound. I HIGHLY recommend this book for Middle School kids and for anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction! I am very much looking forward to reading more books in this series! FANTASTIC BOOK!

Terry Overton obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology and her Ed. D. in special education. She taught in public schools and was a school psychologist and a professor before retiring in 2016. She began her second “career” after retirement writing Christian fiction books and devotionals. She hopes to share the Christian worldview through her writing and touch the lives of her readers. Her novels, middle grade readers, and picture books seek to entertain readers through the travel experiences and characters included in her books. Her books have earned Bookfest Awards, Firebird Award Winner, American Writing Award Gold, International Finalist Book Award, Reader Views Awards, and Reader’s Favorite Awards. She currently resides in Laguna Vista, Texas, near the Texas-Mexico border. She enjoys Biblical history and general Bible studies, writing, and enjoying family and friends. She has seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

More from Terry

This book came from my concern about children and teens not being able to read many of the classic books we cherish. My concern that many children and teens do not value reading, our faith, and our freedoms, is the reason for the book being a dystopian story. In this new world, there are no books, school, or churches.

Here is the intro:

The world was not ready for what happened. And in the mountains and valleys of Virginia, a group of young friends wondered what to do in this different world. Their parents and older siblings were taken away, or “disappeared,” and have not been seen since that fateful day. Schools were destroyed, churches burned, and books banned. There was no fuel or electricity available for the anyone. Cars and other vehicles no longer worked and were found abandoned beside the roads rusting and in disrepair. Only the World Force military had fuel and vehicles.

The discovery of books, documents, tools, clues, and other teens hiding in the countryside, brought hope to group of friends who met daily deep in the cavern. Follow their journey of hope and adventure through the series: The Underground Book Readers.

And what do teens do when their world has changed and there are no parents or other friendly adults? They find each other, find forbidden books such as Huckleberry Finn and the Bible, hide in a cavern, read, study, and plan for a better world.

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 14

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, February 14

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 17

Texas Book-aholic, February 18

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

deb’s Book Review, February 20

Simple Harvest Reads, February 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 21

Aryn The Libraryan , February 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 23

For Him and My Family, February 23

Cover Lover Book Review, February 24

Lily’s Book Reviews, February 25

Mary Hake, February 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 26

Blogging With Carol, February 27

Lights in a Dark World, February 27

To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize package 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.

https://promosimple.com/ps/24515/the-secret-society-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Saturday, February 25, 2023

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: A Trail So Lonesome by Lacy Williams

Book: A Trail So Lonesome

Author: Lacy Williams

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: January 12, 2023

Spending five months eating trail dust wasn’t Leo Spencer’s first choice. Or his second. He’s not one to run away, but some situations can’t be fixed and his family—two brothers and a sister—needs to start over. Which is how he finds himself on a westbound wagon train.

Evangeline has a secret, one that has sent her on a journey across the plains on the Oregon Trail. When her father is badly hurt and she needs help, Leo is there. A deal is struck and the two unlikely friends form an alliance… that leads to more.

But Evangeline’s secret looms over her… and Leo’s family troubles are far from over.

Click here to get your copy!

Christian Historical Romance is a favorite genre of mine. A Trail So Lonesome by Lacy Williams is Book 1 in the Wagon Train Matches series. I enjoy reading a series from the start and was excited and honored to read this book.

Leo Spencer has been raising his siblings for a few years since his stepfather and mother passed away. They are now heading West to start life anew after a situation arose. Leo doesn't like running from his problems, so he feels this isn't running away it is a fresh start. Evangeline is traveling on the Wagon Train with her father. She wants to head West as there a Rumors around town about her and she also has a secret that she wants to hide from others. Evangeline's father injures himself and Leo is right there to help her father. Leo and Evangeline begin to get to know each other, especially when Leo's siblings help Evangeline learn new skills. Will a Romance blossom between Leo and Evangeline? Will both families find a "new start" once they come to the end of the Wagon Train?

I have always been a fan of the Wagon Train "Heading West" stories. I think this is probably the best one with that theme that I have read. I was intrigued by the story and the characters from the very first chapter. Leo is an AMAZING man who has a heart for others. I saw that in the way he cared for his siblings and family. He was also very caring to Evangeline's father. Evangeline is a strong and independent woman. She makes life choices for her and her Dad to allow them to have a better life. The Author does a GREAT job of researching the Historical factors for this book. I finished the book in about 5hrs, I just couldn't put it down once I started reading! I am looking forward to reading more books in this series! FANTASTIC BOOK!

Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see in Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published sixty books in a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog. Find tons of bonus scenes and reader extras by becoming a VIP reader at www.lacywilliams.net/vip

More from Lacy

Leaving Home

Do you remember what it was like when you left home? Was it a specific event that sticks out in your mind? Or was it gradual?

I moved into the dorms at my university when I was eighteen. After that, I felt sort of… in transition. I went home for winter break and during the summer, but I didn’t feel like my parents’ house was home anymore. I married my sweet hubby when we were both twenty and that’s when I felt like I had a true home again. (Even though it was a tiny one-bedroom apartment!)

My new series, Wagon Train Matches, is all about travelers on a journey across the country in their Conestoga wagons. In the 1850s, people would leave home, leave everything and everyone behind and travel across the plains and mountains mostly on foot. It was difficult and dangerous. And when they arrived, they didn’t have houses ready and waiting for them!

It’s been a lot of fun researching for this series. Understanding why people would risk everything for a new start. I think it would be both exciting and terrifying!

In A TRAIL SO LONESOME, heroine Evangeline wants to leave home for a new start. She’s carrying a secret with her (a bigger secret than the library of books she’s packed in the wagon!) and believes that starting over in Oregon will change everything.

Only it doesn’t take long on the trail for someone to discover her secret. Hero Leo has secrets of his own. He can’t afford Evangeline to look too closely at his family. But he also can’t seem to stay away from her.

Eek! I’m really excited to kick off this new series with A TRAIL SO LONESOME. I hope you love these characters as much as I have while writing them.

-Lacy

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 16
Pause for Tales, February 16
Vicky Sluiter, February 17
Texas Book-aholic, February 18
deb’s Book Review, February 19
Labor Not in Vain, February 19
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 20
Lighthouse Academy, February 21 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 22
Connie’s History Classroom, February 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 24
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, February 24
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 25
Britt Reads Fiction, February 26
Simple Harvest Reads, February 27 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Karen Baney, February 27
Cover Lover Book Review, February 28
For Him and My Family, March 1
Holly’s Book Corner, March 1

To celebrate her tour, Lacy is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and 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/24517/a-trail-so-lonesome-celebration-tour-giveaway

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JustRead Tours Blog Tour: Fraser by Susan May Warren

Fraser JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Fraser by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Fraser

Series: The Minnesota Marshalls #1

Author: Susan May Warren

Publisher: SDG Publishing

Release Date: February 14, 2023

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Fraser Marshall is pretty sure his career as a Spec Ops fighter is over. Yes, he’s gone into private security, working for Jones, Inc, but his last gig ended with him wounded and taken captive. And those wounds just won’t heal. The last thing he wants to do is stick around his family’s winery pressing grapes. But what choices does he have?

The answer comes via a panicked phone call from his kid brother, Creed.

Help, Fraser. I’m in over my head…

Yeah he is, because he’s run away with a princess, with her bodyguard hot on the trail. And said bodyguard, Pippa Butler is going to hunt them down, no matter the cost.

Even if she has to join forces with a bossy, arrogant former American SEAL. But Pippa has her own set of lethal skills, and if Fraser gets in the way, she’ll leave him on the side of the road. Still, maybe he’s not a terrible side-kick. He is handsome, and he makes her laugh…

No, no, bad Pippa! She has no room for a man—an American—in her life. And Fraser hasn’t ever considered slowing down. Even if Pippa has him wondering if there is a different future ahead.

But there’s more to the story than a Romeo-and-Juliet runaway romance. Princess Imani has seen a murder, and the perpetrator isn’t going to let her get away. Will Fraser and Pippa find the couple first?

And if they do, can they work together to keep them safe?

It’ll be tough if their hearts get in the way…

The GPS wouldn’t tell her what level the room was on, but she’d start here, work her

way up. She followed it down the hall…

Stopped in front of a door, her heart thumping hard.

It was open. Partially, at least. She hadn’t brought her handy little Glock 26, thinking

that she probably wouldn’t shoot Creed, despite what she found.

But she did have a taser, and this she pulled out, flicked off the safety.

Eased open the door.

The man stood with his back to her, wearing a jean jacket, a pair of cargo pants, boots.

Short hair, although not quite military short, and just from the wide set of his shoulders, his

lean torso, the stance of his legs, he looked like he could handle himself.

Clearly not the boy from the bar.

He must have heard the door opening, because he turned, hard. Stared at her.

Blue eyes. Painfully, impossibly blue—so blue they stopped her cold.

And then she spotted what dangled from his hand.

Imani’s necklace. The tracker.

“Who are you?” She raised the taser.

She had the sense of a tiger, his eyes darkening, crouching, ready to pounce.

“Who are you?” he said, his voice quiet.

She pointed to the necklace. “That doesn’t belong to you.”

“Who does it belong to?” He lifted it, and it dangled from his fingers.

Only then did the disarray of the room sink in—a lamp shattered on the floor, the bed

mussed, pillows on the floor, and was that a bloody hand on the doorframe to the balcony?

“Where is she?”

Also Available

Susan May Warren

With nearly 2 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA, and Carol award-winning author of over ninety novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill, and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com, and Christmas novellas. With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. She’s a three-time RITA finalist and an eight-time Christy finalist.

Connect with Susan by visiting susanmaywarren.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Fraser and $10 Susan May Warren Store gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 21, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

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Thursday, February 23, 2023

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: A Not So Persistent Suitor by Sandra Merville Hart

Book: A Not So Persistent Suitor

Author: Sandra Merville Hart

Genre: Christian historical romance

Release date: Febraury 14, 2023

He’s fighting for his career…She’s bent on achieving her own goals…Will their love survive a second chance at happily ever after?

Cora Welch dreams of a future teaching kindergarten, which is in its infancy, and marriage to Ben Findlay, her beau and her twin brother’s best friend. But she returns to college from summer break to learn of Ben’s unwise choices in pursuit of his career—choices that destroy her trust in the man she thought she knew and loved.

Ben is working hard toward his dream to become the best reporter in the city. He’s no stranger to fighting for a goal against all odds, ever since he was orphaned at age thirteen. Even though Cora has captured his heart, he makes the mistake of escorting the boss’s daughter to a fancy banquet to further his career—with far-reaching repercussions. Now he’s hurt Cora and botched his career goals.

Winning Cora’s trust again proves harder than Ben expects, especially as they both face struggles of their own. When events spiral out of their control, catapulting them into hardship and even danger, only God can restore their dreams—though the outcome may look far different than either of them planned.

Click here to get your copy!

I am a fan of Historical Fiction and I really enjoy reading books that are part of a series. . A Not So Persistent Suitor by Sandra Merville Hart is the latest book in this genre that I have read. It is Book 2 in the new series, Second Chances. I had the honor of reading Book 1 in this series and was excited to read this book also.

We are taken back to Cincinnati, Ohio in the 1880s. Cora Welch has some dreams for her future and is devasted when those dreams might not become a reality. Cora is set on becoming a Kindergarten Teacher and marrying her boyfriend Ben Findlay. She learns that Ben is making some life choices that she doesn't agree with. Ben become an orphan at age 13 and since then his determination to achieve goals in life has been in high priority. He LOVES his job as a Reporter but would LOVE to be promoted to the BEST. He decides to take his Boss's daughter to a Banquet and now he has probably destroyed any chances of his Boss promoting him and also lost the trust of Cora. Will Cora see her life dreams come true? Will Ben be able to regain the trust of Cora? Is there still a chance of marriage between Ben and Cora? Will Ben see his Career reach new heights or did he destroy that chance in life?

I LOVE when a book gets me intrigued from the very beginning and this book did just that. Cora knows what she wants in life and sets her heart on achieving those dreams. She is very independent, yet also knows marriage is something she wants. Ben is very career focused and will do what he can to secure that dream job. I was shocked when Ben did things that were hurtful to so many. The book has many twists and turns, but the Historical part is so wonderful. The book is about Dreams, forgiveness, and love. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Romance. WONDERFUL BOOK!

Sandra Merville Hart, award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of inspirational historical romances, loves to discover little-known yet fascinating facts from American history to include in her stories. Her desire is to transport her readers back in time. She is also a blogger, speaker, and conference teacher. Connect with Sandra on her blog, https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.com/.

More from Sandra

I have wanted to write a story set in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the 1880s for several years. It seems to me that it was on my heart to write while I was still working as a Programmer Analyst and writing was but a dream.

Twins Cora and John had been living on their family’s farm before moving to Cincinnati to attend college. John went rogue on me (he does that in Book 3 too 😊) and got a job at a newspaper working with Ben, and decided not to go to college. Meanwhile, Ben begins to court Cora.

When our story begins, Cora is in her second and final year at the Cincinnati Kindergarten Training School. Kindergarten is still in its infancy in 1883, when our story begins. In fact, the demand for kindergartens grew in the 1870s. There were about four hundred kindergartens by 1880, and the need to train teachers for them was a natural part of that growth.

A training school in Cincinnati was organized in March of 1880. At first, kindergarten students (aged four – six) learned the 3 R’s –reading, writing, and arithmetic. Before long, principals in higher grades complained that kindergartners also needed a basic knowledge of music, drawing, and manual training.

This led to greater training for kindergartener teachers, who learned teaching tools that included games, songs, and handwork.

I imagine that incorporating games, songs, and activities engaged the children’s interest in a new and fun way for them.

Part of my research included The Songs and Music of Friedrich Froebel’s Mother Play by Fro. Bel. Friedrich. Early training schools used Friedrich Froebel’s writing extensively in their training so I mentioned his Mother Play book within the story.

Though demand for kindergartens was growing, most schools didn’t address the needs of these four to six-year-old children by providing a kindergarten class. Cora has to fight for a local school to start a new class to open the fall after she graduates.

Another fun thing about this novel is the places I’ve included that the modern reader familiar with Cincinnati will recognize:

Fountain Square, the Suspension Bridge, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and the Zoological Gardens to name a few.

Follow characters you’ve grown to love in A Not So Convenient Marriage, Book 1 in the “Second Chances” series into A Not So Persistent Suitor, Book 2!