Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: The Secret of the 14th Room by Rebecca Hemlock

Book: The Secret of the 14th Room

Author: Rebecca Hemlock

Publisher: Bluecap Publishing

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: March 16th

Memories can be a killer.

When Levi Corbin returns to Granton, Tennessee after the death of his beloved grandmother, it sets off a chain of events he’d rather have avoided. Claiming his inheritance should have been a piece of cake, but a cousin appears, threatening to steal it all.

Even worse (and better, too), he’s falling for the girl he just met and now must team up with her to try to stop his cousin. Their quest for his inheritance uncovers secrets frozen in time—and one might just be the answer to save his grandmother’s home.

Things go from worse to completely out of hand when a freak fire threatens it all. Add to that a nosy old woman and a battered runaway, and Levi can’t help but wonder what is going on!

As circumstances rekindle his faith and new love spurs him onward, Levi races against time and odds to save Grandma’s house from certain destruction, but the result might just mean saving himself as well.

Click here to get your copy!

I must admit that the cover of this book really intrigued me and is the reason I wanted to read this book. The Secret of the 14th Room by Rebecca Hemlock is a Mystery and Romance book. Rebecca Hemlock is a new to me author and I really enjoy reading books by authors whose books I have never read before.

Levi Corbin is back in Granton, TN to attend the funeral for his Grandmother. He also attends the Reading of the Will and finds out his Grandmother left him an inheritance. He realizes that getting his inheritance is going to be a battle, when a cousin appears to try to take it all away. Levi and his cousin, Silas, have never gotten along and the Will states they must get along to be able to keep the inheritance. Levi is also falling for a girl that he just met, and now they are going to ban together to help him keep his Grandmother's house. The pair begin exploring the home and come upon some treasures and secrets. Could those secrets help Levi save his inheritance? Will Levi claim the house and send Silas packing? Will he find a new relationship and romance along the way?

WOW, what an amazing book. I am such an avid reader that many times books are "predictable". I can honestly say this book was far from predictable. There was mystery and suspense throughout, which kept me focused. I did not put this book down until I was finished. The characters were amazing, especially Levi.The book has a theme of forgiveness and reconilation. I HIGHLY recommend this book for those who enjoy a good Mystery and Romance! FANTASTIC BOOK!

Rebecca lives in Eastern Kentucky with her husband and children. She absolutely loves mysteries. Rebecca has been writing stories for many years and enjoys reading, painting and spending time with her family. Her favorite times to write are early in the morning when the sun is coming up and at sunset. She has worked as a freelance journalist for 4 years and is a member of Sisters in Crime and American Christian Fiction Writers. Rebecca has earned a degree in English and an Appalachian Studies certificate in Creative Writing.

More from Rebecca

Looking for new ideas is my favorite part of writing because it comes with talking to interesting people and exploring antique shops all over the country.

This book not only captures my love for American history and riveting romantic suspense, but it also captures how old wounds of the heart can be healed.

Levi Corbin in The Secret of the 14th Room learns this the hard way after carrying his broken heart for most of his adult life. He has to discover the real meaning of family and family pride. Levi must face the past so that he can move on to a brighter future.

Granton, Tennessee, is a town I hope you fall in love with, just as I did when I created it. There are so many delightful characters, some with a dark secret or two. This story has been brewing for a while, and I am glad that I finally have the opportunity to share it with you.

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 21
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 21
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 22
Genesis 5020, April 22
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 23
A Novel Pursuit, April 23
Texas Book-aholic, April 24
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 24 (Author Interview)
Inklings and notions, April 25
Blogging With Carol, April 25
Betti Mace, April 26
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 26
For Him and My Family, April 27
Godly Book Reviews, April 27
deb’s Book Review, April 28
CarpeDiem, April 28
Older & Smarter?, April 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 29
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 30
Simple Harvest Reads, April 30 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 1
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 1
KarenSueHadley, May 2
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 3
Mary Hake, May 3
Through the Fire Blogs, May 4
Adventures Of A Travelers Wife, May 4

To celebrate her tour, Rebecca is giving away the 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.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10b6a/the-secret-of-the-14th-room-celebration-tour-giveaway

Pin It

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Blessed and Transformed: Living the Life God Intended by Dr. Jeannie Bennett

Book: Blessed and Transformed

Author: Dr. Jeannine Bennett

Genre: Christian Nonfiction (Women’s Bible Study)

Release date: October 2020

What do you do when God answers your prayers, renews your mind, and transforms you?

Life does not always turn out the way we hope. It is often filled with tragedy, heartbreak, and loss, but make no mistake, God doesn’t abandon us during those times. Instead, God uses every experience we encounter to transform us so we can live the life He intended when He created us.

As Christians, we understand that we live in a fallen world. A world where dwelling on past failures or falling prey to the same sins seems normal. But what happens when God opens our spiritual eyes and shows us a different way to live? Do you run to Him and embrace the change? Do you find your calling and live out your purpose?

In Blessed and Transformed, Jeannine Bennett shares how much sweeter life is when you recognize God’s blessings and fully embrace His transformation of your life. She shows you there is no limit to what you can endure or accomplish by keeping God front and center.

Click here to get your copy!

I had the opportunity to read Dr. Jeannie Bennett's first book,

Broken to Beautiful: Brokenness is Not the End of Your Story

a few months ago. I was very excited to be able to read the

follow up Devotional/Book, Blessed and Transformed: Living

the Life God Intended.

As one dedicates themselves to living a Christian Life, it

becomes apparent that the Christian Life is so different

then a secular life. We still live in a Fallen World, so we

need all the encouragement one can get to stay on track and

live our life for Christ. It isn't always easy to leave our past life

behind and "Run to God" and follow him. Jeannine Bennett

has written a wonderful Devotional Book that shows us

how to accept the Blessings God has given us in our Christian

Life and allow him to Transform us fully. Blessed and Transformed

is a Short book with 15 Chapters. Jeannie begins each chapter with a

personal experience or testimony. After reading the Personal

Experience, there are Scriptures references and a few questions

to ponder. The book is also in 2 sections. The first part of the book

is about Being Blessed and the second part is about Being

Transformed.

I truly enjoyed this Devotional Book. The layout and writing style

make it very easy to read and understand. My personal Christian

Life has certainly had many ups and downs, but the more I make

Christ the center of my life, the more I stay on track. The one thing

that really stuck with me is when Jeannie talks about being a People

Pleaser. I have been a "People Pleaser" for many years and just in

the last year have I been able to set boundaries and been encouraged

that I can be a kind person without always saying YES. I think this would

make a GREAT Bible Study book to study with a group of Women.

HIGHLY Recommended!

Jeannine Bennett is a wife to Hayden, mom to four children, and grandmother to seven grandchildren. Her children are named Sandra, Brittany, Camryn, and Zachary. Her grandchildren are Colin, Lilyana, Willow, Savannah, Winter, and Hope. She is the founder and CEO of Vision to Purpose, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business for Liberty University Online, and an executive coach for The Honor Foundation.

To those who know Jeannine, she is simply a woman who loves Jesus, is devoted to her family, and struggles with life’s challenges like the rest of us. She is not immune to bad hair days, shrinking clothes (weight gain), or sleepless nights. She loves learning and sharing the knowledge acquired to help others learn too. Her favorite ice cream is a toss-up between butter pecan and mint chocolate chip. And, although she has lived in Virginia for more than 30 years, she still calls a water fountain a bubbler. A term she grew up saying in her hometown of Racine, Wisconsin.

More from Jeannine

In my previous book, Broken to Beautiful, I shared my testimony. The first half of my story was filled with hopelessness, disappointment, heartache, and loss. The second half described accounts of undeniable blessings. I have chosen to continue my story in Blessed and Transformed because I want to further the conversation about what happens when we

receive all of those blessings.

Friends, we cannot have blessings without being transformed. Just as each trial, each struggle, each challenge changes us, each blessing is a gift that God uses to change us too.

I believe blessings are God’s way of showing that He loves us. I also think He uses those blessings to nudge us forward in pursuit of what He has called us to do.

I pray this book is a blessing to you!

In Christ,

Jeannine

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 8

Splashes of Joy, April 8

Library Lady’s Kit Lit, April 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 10

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 11

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 12

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 13

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 14

Lights in a Dark World, April 14

Texas Book-aholic, April 15

Inklings and notions, April 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 17

For Him and My Family, April 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 20

deb’s Book Review, April 21

Mary Hake, April 21

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/10a4d/blessed-and-transformed-celebration-tour-giveaway

Pin It

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Texas Trails by Caryl McAdoo

Book: Texas Trails

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: March 6, 2021

The steps of a righteous man are guided by the Lord.

Rife with adventure, this rights-of-passage story comes to life as Enoch Lowell and his best friend Gus strike out to Kansas with their herd of beeves, hoping to earn a profit and cut the apron strings. What they find on the prairie changes their lives forever. Promises made, promises kept, but nowhere is it written there can’t be a happy ending for all. A true Texas trail tale to warm your heart!

Click here to get your copy!

Caryl McAdoo is such a wonderful author, I am always excited to

read one of her books. Texas Trails is Book 6 in the Cross Timbers

Romance Family Saga. I have not read all the books in the series,

but I have read 2 other books from this series.

Texas Trails takes up back to 1869 in Texas. Enoch Lowell and his

best friend Gus are ready to embark into the world and make a

living for themselves as Cattle Herders. Their parents are not ready

to "let them fly", saying they are too young. Enoch and Gus are

determined young men though. Their journey is one that has ups and

downs. Along their journey, they meet Calli, Vi and sweet little Bella.

The women and the little girl had been attacked and Enoch and Gus

know they need to help them. The more time Enoch, Gus and the ladies

spend time together, they begin to fall in love. Enoch has promised his

parents he would eventually go to school, but he wants to marry. Will

Enoch keep his promise to his parents or will he marry? Will his parents

be able to accept Enoch's decision for his life?

Caryl McAdoo really has a GREAT book here. I really appreciate the

Faith driven Historical Fiction theme here. I really see a lot of the

"leaving and cleaving" as the Bible tells us to do in our life. Enoch

wants to be an adult, yet his parents are not wanting to let "Him Fly

the Nest". Enoch is a man of respect as noted when he and Gus help

care for Calli, Vi and little Bella. I was so engrossed in the book, that I

finished it in one sitting. FANTASTIC BOOK! Highly recommended!

Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—over fifty-five published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and nineteen grandsugars (three greats), Caryl and Ron (her high-school-sweetheart-husband of over fifty years) live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

Get along little doggie!

TEXAS TRAILS is the sixth novel in the Cross Timbers Family Saga series. I’d never written much about being on a cattle drive and thought it would be great fun. Back in the Texas Romance Family Saga series, Charley Nightingale made several trips to Kansas with a herd and took his son Nathaniel, but I skipped over the actual drive part.

Readers first met co-hero Enoch Lowell in QUINCY & PRISCILLA then got to know him better in DUPLICITY At The Lowell House when his best friend Gus Hale (TEXAS TRAIL’s other co-hero) is introduced. Both those stories are set in 1866. For TEXAS TRAILS, it’s three years later, and Enoch is ready to declare himself a man and start earning his own way. Driving a bunch of cows up to Kansas sounds like the ticket to cut his mother’s apron strings and earn some dollars in the process.

The son of Morgan and Charity O’Neal Lowell (LEAVING TEXAS, book four) and grandson of Liberty O’Neal Harrell (GONE TO TEXAS, book one) talks Gus into going with him, and as partners, they start building a herd. All the while, Charity is pitching a fit as her plan for her firstborn includes Harvard University.

One thing I loved about this story is that Morgan sets it up—behind the scenes of course—for trusted men to take in his son and Gus on their trail drive. Enters the infamous Texas Ranger Levi Baylor (Texas Romance Family Saga book two HEARTS STOLEN) and the boy he reared as his own (grown now), Charley Nightingale!

I already love those two men from my earlier Texas Romance Family Saga series—just as my readers do—and totally relished their appearance in this story! Revisiting old beloved friends brings great joy to this author, in real life and my fictitious world!! I adore crossing these characters over the two series!

So many things are apt to happen out on the prairie that cowboys never expect. There are rivers to cross and the natives to deal with, some who pose real danger to life and limbs! Cows birth calves, storms descend, and herds stampede, but that’s not all that can make a cowboy’s days rough. Enoch’s and Gus’s lives are definitely changed forever on the out there on the trail.

I’m thinking if I were a younger woman, I would totally enjoy going along on their cattle drive! How about you?

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 7
Simple Harvest Reads, April 7 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Lakesidelivingsite, April 8
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 9
Connie’s History Classroom, April 10
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 11
deb’s Book Review, April 12
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 13
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 13
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 14
For Him and My Family, April 15
Texas Book-aholic, April 16
Inklings and notions, April 17
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 18
Splashes of Joy, April 19
Pause for Tales, April 19
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 20

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/10a4b/texas-trails-celebration-tour-giveaway

Pin It

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Courage in the Mountain Wildnerness by Misty M. Beller

Book: Courage in the Mountain Wilderness

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: April 6, 2021

Keeping her son safe on this epic journey may be harder than she imagined.

Caleb Jackson is on a journey. And not just the mission he and his friends have embarked on to fetch the Nez Perce chief’s runaway daughter. Maybe someday, he could also find God’s plan for his life. He’d once thought being a small town minister was the Lord’s will for him, but he’d proved a failure at living under the scrutiny of his congregation. Yet the chief’s niece and her feisty toddler accompanying them on this expedition make him feel like he might be able to make a difference yet.

Otskai is eager to take on a challenge. She’s lived under the shelter of other’s choices her entire life, especially when she was betrothed to one of the village braves at the tender age of eight. Now with her husband dead, she’s finally found the freedom she always craved—even with a two-year-old to raise. She’s built her camas root harvest into a thriving trade to provide all she and her son need and more, yet she can’t seem to keep her active child safe. When she agrees to accompany her new friends on a trip to bring back her wayward cousin, she knows she’ll have her hands full managing her boy.

The journey turns out nothing like Otskai expects, and for the first time in her life, she’s thankful to have others around to help. Especially Caleb, whose gentle attentions captivate her son and occupy him for hours at a time. But as the danger escalates and her worst fears come to light, she must find the courage to choose between freedom and a love more liberating than she imagined possible.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.

Click here to get your copy!

I really enjoy Author Misty M. Beller, I discovered her books about 5yrs

ago. Courage in the Mountain Wilderness is Book 4 in the Call of the

Rockies series. I have not read the first 3 in this series, but I can

say, I want to now.

The setting is 1831 in the Idaho Territory. Book 4 is the Caleb's story.

Caleb Jackson used to be a Minister in a small town, but he and the

congregation were not a good fit. He is now on a new mission with

his friends. They are out to find runaway daughter of the Chief of

Nez Perce tribe. Otskai is a widow raising a 2 yr old son. She has

been "sheltered" since she was 8 and never really had a life where

she can decide her goals in life. She is wanting new challenges

and decides to take the journey with her new friends, Caleb and his

crew, to find her runaway cousin. The journey is a struggle at times,

as her 2yr old son is very active. She is grateful that the crew is

adoring of her son and helps her with him. Caleb especially adores

her son and Otskai. Otskai is now at a pointwhere she must make a

choice due to danger. Will she choose Freedom or will she choose

LOVE? Will Caleb choose LOVE even though Otskai doesn't believe

in Jesus?

I can honestly say this book reads great as a Stand Alone. I

had no problem jumping into this book and understanding the

storyline and the theme as soon as I began reading. Caleb and

his friends really make a great team. Though the journey was

dangerous and difficult at times, they endured. I really LOVE

how Caleb connects to Otskai's 2yr old son. The relationship

between Caleb and Otskai is heartwarming. Misty M. Beller

has another GREAT book! I highly recommend this to anyone

who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction.

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

More from Misty

Mom Guilt—it’s real, no matter what your race or tribe.

One of the things I love about writing the Call of the Rockies series is the cast of characters that covers almost more races than I can count on all my fingers! From Spaniards, to Frenchman, to Southern Americans, to Blackfoot, to Nez Perce, to Salish, to Shoshone. And let’s not talk about the various sectors within some of the tribes (Peigan Blackfoot, Blood Blackfoot, Pikunin of the Nez Perce…oops, we weren’t going to talk about those!).

But what I love the most about so many people groups represented is learning how much we really are alike, down deep in our cores! Sure, some are introverts, some are extroverts. Some like to swim, some hate to swim. Some like to cook, some like to play with the kids (okay, maybe most like to play with the kids!).

Yet there are common threads that connect us all. As I was writing Courage in the Mountain Wilderness, I discovered a new thread that I have in common with Otskai, the Nez Perce hero of the story.

Mom guilt.

Yep. Our situations are a little different—I’m married with four kiddos, and she’s widowed with one very energetic two-year-old son. But we both struggle with that same push and pull. That same set of conflicting longings. When I’m with my kiddos, sometimes I just desperately want time alone. Time to actually get things done. But then at night when they snuggle close at bedtime, wrapping their sweet arms around my neck and not just saying, but showing, how much they love me, I can’t imagine how I could ever want to do anything but spend time with these sweet little ones God has trusted me with.

Thus, the guilt.

Maybe Otskai and I are the only ones who’ve ever experienced that particular strain of Mom Guilt. But I’ll bet there are other ways you can relate—both to these very real fictional characters who may or may not be the same race as you. And also to the very real real-life characters you meet every day.

The great news is that God loves each and every one of us, Mom Guilt and all.