Sunday, December 3, 2023

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Countin' on Jesse by Mary Pat Johns

Book: Countin’ On Jesse

Author: Mary Pat Johns

Genre: (Inspirational) Contemporary Romance

Release Date: September 12, 2023

Peeps’ gym owner Jesse seeks accreditation. Accountant Brenna wants to help Jesse reach his goal. They’re a great team, but can she count on him when trouble strikes?

Accountant BRENNA MCKINLEY only wants what’s best for Peeps, the wildly popular gym in Valiant, Texas. But when money goes missing, and she’s the obvious suspect, will she be able to clear her name or face criminal charges? Keeping her dream job matters, but falling in love with her boss isn’t part of the plan. Neither is the creepy guy stalking her.

Young veteran JESSE JACOBS manages and co-owns Peeps, an exercise facility in Valiant, Texas. He needs help to gain accreditation for the gym, and his new accountant is all in. But is she who she seems? Too bad he’s falling for her like a man with no parachute. When the pressure builds, PTSD renders him moody and volatile, risking everything he loves.

Click here to get your copy!

Inspirational Contemporary Romance is a favorite genre of mine to read. Countin’ On Jesse by Mary Pat Johns is the latest in this genre that I have had the opportunity to read. It is Book 1 in the Romance in Valiant series.

Jesse Jacobs is a Veteran who Co-Owns Peeps Gym in Valiant, TX. He suffers from PTSD and when things get off track he gets angry and loses his temper. Brenna McKinley is an Accountant and has been newly hired as the Account for Peeps Gym. Brenna is excited about her new job, which is her Dream job as she has always wanted to help Peeps. Things get tense when money goes missing and someone is stalking Brenna. Brenna is the suspect in the missing money as she is the account and she is worried about losing her dream job. Brenna and Jesse team up to find her stalker and to help solve the mystery of the Missing Money. They also find they are falling in love with each other. Will they discover what happened to the money? Will there be a Romance between the pair?

The Storyline and the Characters had my attention from the very first page of this book. I finished the book in about 4hrs because it was so intriguing. Brenna and Jesse make a great team for both work and romance. They handled the situations that arose, money missing and the stalker, very well and stood together. The twists and turns in the plot were very interesting. I also like that there were humorous times considering the tension within the story. Mary Pat Johns really did a GREAT job in her Debut Novel. I am very much looking forward to future books in this series! FANTASTIC BOOK!

Mary Pat Johns’ writing career began once she retired from years of teaching speech and writing. She’s written devotions for an online publication and had short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul. She currently writes a biweekly faith column for the local newspaper.

Countin’ On Jesse is her debut novel, and she’s hard at work on the rest of the Valiant series. God put it in her heart to tell stories of brave veterans and their reintegration into civilian life after suffering the traumas of war. As she kept writing, her focus generalized to include ordinary people who learn how to move forward after devastating events. Her writing has a strong spiritual thread since she considers a return to faith in God the solution for what ails the civilized world.

She lives in South Texas with her husband and their two dapple dachshunds. Her grown children and five grandchildren are useful sorts who keep her grounded with her reading/writing obsession. You can find her at the gym, at her computer, or reading a good book.

Countin’ On Jesse placed second in inspirational contemporary romance in the TARA contest. It was also a finalist in the Crown and the Maggie contests for unpublished authors.

More from Mary

I wrote Countin’ On Jesse because I couldn’t NOT write it, though learning to write fiction was an act of faith. My son is an army vet and deployed to Afghanistan during the war. When he returned, the adjustment back to civilian life was difficult. The PTSD he suffered was real. His dad and I prayed often for his restoration. I also experienced an urgency to share how people recover from traumatic experiences, but it’s not my MO to tell a sad story. I used humor, but never downplayed the seriousness of the hero’s issues with PTSD and anger. My goal was to impart hope.

One added sweet note. My son helped me craft a short story as a prequel for the series. I believe it was healing for him to revisit the Afghanistan setting through the perspective of time and distance. Readers have shared they felt like they were in the story. In truth, there was an eyewitness. I’m forever grateful that he came home to tell me of such events.

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 27
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, November 28 (Author Interview)
The Lit Lady, November 28
Texas Book-aholic, November 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 30
Back Porch Reads, December 1 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 2
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 3
A Reader’s Brain, December 4 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, December 5
Beauty in the Binding, December 6 (Author Interview)
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 6
Cover Lover Book Review, December 7
Holly’s Book Corner, December 8
For the Love of Literature, December 9 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, December 10

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/29099/countin-on-jesse-celebration-tour-giveaway

Pin It

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Momentum Influencers Blog Tour: The Shift Movie Review

From Angel Studios (The Chosen, Sound of Freedom) comes The Shift! Get your tickets to see this movie in theaters starting 12/1!

After a tense encounter with a mysterious stranger with otherworldly powers, a man is banished to a tyrannical, parallel Earth where he fights to get back to the woman he loves.

In The Shift, a dystopian drama and sci-fi thriller, one man is faced with infinite worlds and impossible choices. When Kevin Garner meets a nefarious adversary known as The Benefactor and refuses his offer of wealth and power, he must escape an alternate totalitarian reality. With survival on the line, Kevin fights to make it back to the world he knows and the woman he loves.

Featuring Sean Astin (The Goonies, Rudy, The Lord of the Rings), Neal McDonough (Band of Brothers), and Elizabeth Tabish (The Chosen), THE SHIFT is a movie you and your friends won’t want to miss!

I will admit the Genre and theme of this movie is not something I would normally watch. I read the Synopsis and knew I needed to give it watch. I enjoyed the movie from beginning to end, although there were a couple of scenes that had me confused and I had to do some research to be able to understand the scene. The movie is filled with suspense, action, romance and a strong message of Faith. The Actors were all AMAZING and they really work well together. I would HIGHLY recommend this movie to those who are interested in End Times and like Action and Suspense in movies! GREAT MOVIE!

Buy Tickets to see The Shift now in Theatres:

https://www.angel.com/tickets/the-shift?utm_campaign=the-shift&utm_source=hub-hero&utm_medium=web

You can help pay for other people's tickets to see the film at:

angel.com/pay-it-forward/the-shift.

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

X (formerly Twitter)

INSTAGRAM

Many thanks to Angel Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Pin It

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Capturing Hope by Angela K Couch

Book: Capturing Hope

Author: Angela K Couch

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release Date: November, 2023

One step ahead of the Nazi’s. . .leaves Nadia little room for hope.

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

After her father is murdered by Nazis and her mother flees to her native Germany, hope is something of which Nadia Roenne feels little—even if it is the meaning of her name. It isn’t until an American photographer sacrifices his escape from Poland to save a Jewish family, that she finds a purpose. David Reid is very familiar with failure, but when he is charged with getting Nadia safely out of Poland, he is determined to succeed—even if she works against him at every turn, putting other’s lives ahead of her own. While they race against the daily shower of bombs over Warsaw and the ever-nearing German army, Nadia grows used to risking her life. . .but dare she risk her heart?

Click here to get your copy!

Capturing Hope by Angela K Couch is Book 12 in the Heroines of WWII stories. The series is written by various authors and each book flows with the others as great Standalone books.

Nadia Roenne home was invaded by the Nazi's and her father was murdered. Her mother fled to Germany and now Nadia is alone in Poland and feeling alone. David Reid, an American Photographer, is on a mission to rescue Nadia and help her and himself get out of Poland also. David has experienced many failures in his life, but he is determined to complete this mission and get them out safely. Nadia is resisting his help, even though she now has hope when she didn't have hope when alone. They realize that time is of the essence as they manuver their way through the daily bombs and war to get out of Poland. Nadia is also feeling some feelings for David. Will they get out of Poland safely? Will Nadia fall in love with David?

WOW, the storyline of this book captivated me from the first chapter. Nadia is grieving during war time and feels so hopeless. I love how David Reid came to her rescue and risked his own life to get her to safetly. Nadia was concerned about others while trying to flee and it was frustrating David. I LOVE that the pair began to see each other as helpers rather then enemies. The book is filled with Historical Facts from that time period and I really enjoyed those facts. Suspense, Romance, and History are all included in this Fiction Book I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy Christian Historical Romance. FANTASTIC BOOK!

To keep from freezing in the great white north, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the 2016 International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and toasty warm) by chasing after five munchkins.

More from Angela

When I first decided to set a story during the invasion of Poland, I was woefully unprepared for the pain and horror I found there. I wasn’t new to World War II and had just finished writing A Rose for the Resistance, which is set in France during the war and deals with the resistance and the Normandy invasion. The atrocities and genocide in Poland cut so much deeper.

In the early hours of September 1, 1939, the small town of Wielun, Poland, woke to a shower of bombs on their community. They did not house an army or warehouses, only homes and civilian businesses. Wielun was not the only town or village targeted—demonstrating the Nazi goal to spread fear and death. Six months earlier, Hitler had promised that if Poland did not bow to his wishes, he would wipe them off the map. Over the next month, and more so in the following six years, he came very close to succeeding.

For the full month of September 1939, while German armies rolled across the country, the city of Warsaw endured daily bombardment. Homes, workplaces, churches on Sunday morning, the Warsaw maternity hospital— nowhere was safe. On the tenth of September, someone recorded seventeen separate air raids over the city. I was moved to tears while viewing photographs of women and children who had been shot in the streets and fields by the bombers after they had dropped their payloads over the city.

No one came to their rescue.

Poland was abandoned by its allies to the Nazis.

So how do you write about all that and more while still trying to keep hope alive in the story and in the characters who have to live through such a frightening and demoralizing history?

I invite you to read Capturing Hope to find out.

An Author’s Take, November 30
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 30
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 1
Lily’s Corner, December 1
Texas Book-aholic, December 2
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 2
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 3
For him and My Family, December 3
Betti Mace, December 4
Books You Can Feel Good About, December 4
Life on Chickadee Lane, December 5
Cover Lover Book Review, December 5
Alena Mentink, December 6
lakesidelivingsite, December 6
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 7
Blossoms and Blessings, December 7
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, December 8 (Author Interview)
Devoted to Hope, December 8
Bizwings Book Blog, December 9
Exploring the Written Word, December 9
Holly’s Book Corner, December 10
Pause for Tales, December 10
Connie’s History Classroom, December 11
Labor Not in Vain, December 11
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, December 12
Lights in a Dark World, December 12
Joy Suzanne Hunt, December 13
Books I’ve Read, December 13

To celebrate her tour, Angela is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon eGift 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/2909b/capturing-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway

Pin It

Momentum Influencers Blog Tour: The Old Testament Handbook Christian Standard Bible

Features:

• High-quality, foil-stamped cloth cover materials and Smyth-sewn binding meant to last a lifetime

• Elegant full-color interior design, including maps, charts, illustrations, and other visual helps for every book of the Old Testament

• More than 75 in-depth word studies of key words found in each Old Testament book

• Ribbon marker for easy referencing between pages during study, teaching, or sharing

• This Handbook makes for the perfect Christmas gift! Order your copy today!

• Immerse yourself in the Old Testament Handbook, an elegant, full-color Bible handbook that includes robust summary content, charts, maps, word studies, illustrations, and more for every Old Testament book of the Bible. Constructed with highquality cloth cover materials and a sewn binding, the Old Testament Handbook is designed to last a lifetime as a valuable companion resource for Bible study, teaching, and ongoing discipleship.

• Discover your companion for deeper study and display. With a handbook rich in both study and physical materials, navigate the mysteries of Old Testament narratives as you ask questions and grow in your knowledge of God’s faithfulness.

• The Old Testament Handbook features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible. The CSB captures the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others.

Take a Look Inside the Book

I will admit that reading the Old Testament has always been a struggle for me to understand. I feel that I use Concordences and other Reference books to understand what I am reading. They do help me understand, but I am also one who likes many reference books. I was excited about the Old Testament Handbook.

I was sure what to expect from this BEAUTIFUL Handbook, but I was BLOWN AWAY! The Handbook contains so much more then other "Reference Books". The Colorful Charts, Maps, and all the easy explainations are AMAZING! My favorite part is the WORD STUDY of each section. The Word Study is an in depth look at 3 words from the Chapter of the Bible being looked at! The look and layout of the Old Testament Handbook is OUTSTANDING. The feel of the pages is smooth and beautiful.

The Old Testament Handbook is Great for Individuals, Groups, Bible Studies and so much more. I HIGHLY recommend this book and it would make a GREAT Gift for the Holidays!

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK

Pin It

Thursday, November 30, 2023

FrontGate Media Blog Tour: Once Upon The Very First Christmas by Rory Feek and Illustrated by Christine Cuddihy

Bestselling author and songwriter Rory Feek takes children and families on a beloved journey to Christmas past in Once Upon the Very First Christmas. On a picturesque farm, schoolchildren gather their homemade costumes and props and put on a heartwarming Christmas play for the community. As they don halos for the angel choir or round up sheep for the final nativity scene, readers will be immersed in the greatest blessings of Christmas—the gift of Jesus—and be reminded that we can rejoice together in the wonder of the season.

Rory's soothing and lyrical retelling of the Christmas story
is paired with magical illustrations by Christine Cuddihy of a homemade Christmas play,
is perfect for ages 0 to 4
is a great gift for Christmas, baby showers, and baptisms.

Take a moment to slow down this Advent and Christmas to treasure that first Christmas, God's gift of Jesus, and every precious moment He's given you to celebrate with family and friends.

Farmer and filmmaker, author and artist, Rory Feek is a world-class storyteller that crosses all creative mediums from music and film to books and digital media.

Rory is one-half of the Grammy-award-winning duo, Joey+Rory. He and has written multiple number-one songs, including “Some Beach” by Blake Shelton and “A Little More Country Than That” by Easton Corbin. His memoir, This Life I Live, debuted at the top of the New York Times Bestseller List and his blog, where he shares his heart and story of unwavering faith and hope in the face of tragedy and triumph inspires millions of readers who follow along.

Rory and his youngest daughter, Indiana, live an hour south of Nashville on a historic farm where she attends a one-room schoolhouse right on the property with more than a dozen other children from the community. Learn more at Rory, the farm, the school, and read his blog at HardisonMill.com.

I truly believe reading to Children is a wonderful time and a privilege. The Birth of Jesus and the Christmas story is also an important story to be told to Children. The Very First Christmas by Rory Feek is a brand new book that does both of these.

I truly enjoyed this book and read it to a group of Kids at our Church. I really like that the story is written in a way for kids to understand and to keep their attention. The reading of the book reminds me of the days I participated in the Christmas Pageant at Church growing up. The Illustrations are BEAUTIFUL and Colorful. The Little ones at Church really enjoyed the book and I LOVED reading it to them!

I HIGHLY recommend this book for Families and for Church Kids Ministries! GREAT BOOK!