Monday, September 30, 2019

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour and Giveaway: Darcy by Any Other Name by Laura Hile

Book: Darcy by Any Other Name
Author: Laura Hile
Genre: Historical Christian Romance, Regency
Release Date: May 13, 2016

Discover the Pride and Prejudice body-swap romance that has readers laughing in surprise and delight.

For most, this is a glorious evening of music and dancing. But out in the garden two men are arguing, while a ferocious rainstorm swirls round. And then the unthinkable happens: a lightning bolt from heaven strikes. In that instant everything changes.

Jane Austen’s heartthrob hero becomes the bumbling Reverend Collins. Shorn of his fortune, his social standing, and his good looks, Mr. Darcy is trapped in Mr. Collins’ body. And Mr. Collins wakes up to discover that he is master of Pemberley.

Could there be anything worse?

But the inner man is still Darcy. He is in love with Elizabeth Bennet. And now he is living in her house.

If you enjoy a smart, sparkling Regency romp in the classic “Heyeresque” style, then you will love Laura Hile’s Darcy By Any Other Name.

Click here to get your copy.

WOW, just WOW!! I am just in AWE of how good this book is! I was interested in it due to the Pride and Prejudice take on it. I LOVE Pride and Prejudice and Historical Fiction, so for that reason the book looked really interesting.

I started reading and could not put it down. I read through this wonderful book in about 4hrs(with a couple of brief interruptions). I really love how the author, Laura Hile, brings a great book like Pride and Prejudice and makes it into a different story and yet keeps the tradition of the classic novel. I really like how the main characters which include Mr. Darcy, Mr. Collins, Elizabeth Bennet, Lady Catherine, Anne de Bourgh, and Caroline Bingley, all come to life in this great book! The storyline of "body swapping" is very intriguing and riveting. My attention was captured by the changes but also that the book keeps the reader suspenseful!

Laura Hile is a "New to me Author" but I cannot wait to read more of her books! She really has a wonderful writing style and keeps the reader entertained! If you are a fan of Historical Fiction, Regency novels, and a little Suspense, Laura Hile and her book Darcy by Any Other Name is the BOOK to read!!

My journey as a writer began with the Internet. And with Jane Austen. How is that for an unlikely combination? I have always loved classic Regency romances. You know the kind – with a dashing, honorable hero and a lovely, intelligent heroine. Delicious banter, unexpected plot twists, humor, and a happy ending. If faith is woven into the story, so much the better. When I discovered an online forum for Jane Austen-related fiction, I was hooked. With Jane’s characters for inspiration, I began writing and posting serialized Regency stories. To keep readers coming back for more, I developed my signature style: intertwined plots, cliffhangers, and laugh-out-loud humor. The comedy I come by in my job as a middle school teacher—there’s never a dull moment with teens! I live in Beaverton, Oregon with my husband.

More from Laura

I see that double-take you just did. Darcy By Any Other Name is a what? A Pride and Prejudice body-swap romance? Seriously? Indeed yes. And it’s a really fun read. I blame my sense of humor. And the fact that I think too much. Here’s the thing: we women are captivated by Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy—we are! Handsome, aloof, and wealthy, he embodies the perfect male. By comparison, the ordinary guy has no chance. (And heaven help the fellow who is plain!) Yet we know that attraction involves more than good looks and a fat wallet. I began to play with this thought. Because Mr. Darcy is also honorable, intelligent, kind, and funny—qualities that transform an ugly man and capture a woman’s interest. The shared smile, the twinkle in the eyes, the finishing of her sentences. These are endearing! These are why we women fall in love! Once the body swap idea showed up, I knew I had struck story gold. Will Darcy-as-Collins capture Elizabeth Bennet’s heart? No, wait! She cannot fall for him because he’s the wrong man—no, the right man! But he’s in that podgy body! She cannot love Mr. Darcy when he’s—ugly! Can she? Ah, but of course she can. Now what? Think of Darcy By Any Other Name as a happy roller coaster ride. And you know what they say about those: “Get in, sit down, and hold on.” Do leave a comment and enter the giveaway. I think you will enjoy this fun, romantic book.

Through the Fire Blogs, September 30

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 30

A Baker’s Perspective, October 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 1

Reflections From My Bookshelves, October 2

For Him and My Family, October 2

Back Porch Reads, October 3

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 4

Mary Hake, October 4

Remembrancy, October 5

Emily Yager, October 5

Bigreadersite, October 6

Rebecca Tews, October 6

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 7

Rev. Rebecca Writes: Read, Write, Pray, October 8

Creating Romance, October 8

Blossoms and Blessings, October 9

janicesbookreviews, October 9

By The Book, October 10

Moments, October 11

Pause for Tales, October 11

Texas Book-aholic, October 12

A Reader’s Brain, October 12

Inklings and notions , October 13

To celebrate her tour, Laura 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/ef43/darcy-by-any-other-name-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Monday, September 23, 2019

Celebrate Lit Review Promo Blast: Sword of Forgiveness by Debbie Lynne Costello

After the death of her cruel father, Brithwin is determined never again to live under the harsh rule of any man. Independent and resourceful, she longs to be left alone to manage her father’s estate. But she soon discovers a woman has few choices when the king decrees she is to marry Royce, the Lord of Rosencraig. As if the unwelcome marriage isn’t enough, her new husband accuses her of murdering his family, and she is faced with a challenge of either proving her innocence or facing possible execution.

Royce of Hawkwood returns home after setting down a rebellion to find his family brutally murdered. When all fingers point to his betrothed and attempts are made on his life, Royce must wade through murky waters to uncover the truth. Yet Brithwin’s wise and kind nature begin to break down the walls of his heart, and he soon finds himself in a race to discover who is behind the evil plot before Brithwin is the next victim.

VERY well done story!! I wasn't sure what to expect when I read this book, but the storyline immediately captivated me. I started reading and couldn't stop reading the book.

Sword of Forgiveness is set in the Medieval Time period and it really brings that time period to life. The book features Brithwin and Royce who both have a past. Brithwin marries Royce although she had promised herself never to live with a "harsh" man. Royce is a man that accuses Brithwin of some heavy things. Can the relationship survive? Can they forgive one another and get through this together! YES!!

I really loved the twists and turns in this book and the setting. The characters really are perfect for the storyline and I LOVE how their relationship survives!

Debbie Lynne Costello is the author of Sword of Forgiveness, Amazon's #1 seller for Historical Christian Romance. She has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina with their 5 horses, 3 dogs, cat and miniature donkey.

Purchase link:

https://amzn.to/2X2uGSD

Social Media:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/debbielynnecostello

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DebiLynCostello

WEBSITE: https://www.debbielynnecostello.com/

NEWSLETTER:

https://mailchi.mp/276616916748/debbielynnecostello

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Saturday, September 21, 2019

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour and Giveaway: Texas Tears by Caryl McAdoo

Book: Texas Tears
Author: Caryl McAdoo
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: September 2, 2019

Just like Mexico and the U.S. wanted the Republic of Texas; best friends Charity and Arlene want the same man. Who will Texas choose? Who will the man? Will Eberhart de Priest, the object of the young ladies’ desires, follow his heart or his mother’s advice? And what of the interloper from New Orleans who knows exactly whom he loves? Can a Christian find happiness with a non-believer? Only the Lord knows the future, but He does give the desires of the heart to those who delight in Him.

Click here to grab your copy.

Caryl McAdoo has become one of my favorite authors EVER! I have read several of her books and each one has it's own set of surprises and twists and Texas Tears did not disappoint.

I have to say right away, that I had to reread the First Chapter a couple of times before I really got it. I then dove right into the book and it was full speed ahead with reading it. I really enjoyed the characters of this book. Charity and Arlene are 2 friends who are vying to win the heart of the same man, Eberhart, "Hart" for short. Continue reading as the story gets really interesting when Landry enters the picture and now there are 2 girls and 2 guys. Some of the characters are a little immature and may not be ready for relationships. With Wisdom from parents, the characters grow! Who will get who? Will there be friendships or Romance? Grab a copy of this book to find out what happens!

I LOVE how Caryl McAdoo incorporates Biblical faith in her stories. She is a GREAT writer and all her books show just how great she is! I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end! Texas Tears is Book 3 in the Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga and Collection 2 in the Thanksgiving Books and Blessings. FANTASTIC BOOK!! A must read!

Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory—what she lives to do. Her award-winning, best-selling novels enjoy a lion’s share of 5-Star ratings from Christian readers around the world. With forty-five titles, it’s obvious she loves writing almost as much as singing the new songs the Lord gives her—listen to a few at YouTube. ‘Golden husband Ron shares four children and eighteen grandsugars. 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

TEXAS TEARS includes the vote to enter the Union or remain a Republic in 1845. Though it ended in an overwhelming approval to become a state, believe you me, tears fell all over Texas and have been falling since for some. As a semi-closet secessionist, it wouldn’t bother me if the Texas Legislature voted tomorrow to become the Second Republic of Texas! There are plenty of true radicals living today in the Lone Star State who work diligently daily toward that end! Anyway, tears also fell in the new Texas community where the four families first met in GONE TO TEXAS—the O’Neals, Van Zandts, Worleys, and Harrells—have been settling in five years. One of their own, Thomas Baldwin (introduced in book two, TEXAS MY TEXAS) represented them in the Texas Congress, going to Washington on the Brazos to vote! Not all the tears that fell in that growing community were over the vote, but rather a man who came riding in on a magnificent black stallion. Eberhart de Vecchi was tall, handsome, and a perfect Prince Charming who swept the two young coming-of-age women there right off their high-topped shoes! Friends their whole lives, the older, Charity O’Neal, claimed him right off, but Arlene Van Zandt the younger—only by six months and three days—who’s always given in before isn’t ready to acquiesce so quickly in this instance, smitten as she is. And so, thar’s trouble in them thar hills! To thicken the sludge, enters the hard-working Landry Humble, Monroe’s (also introduced in book two TEXAS MY TEXAS) nephew. This young man, able to pick more than twice his weight in cotton in a day, knows immediately which lovely he wants. My, my, my . . . the tears do fall in Texas, and not everyone can have a happy ending. Or can they?

For Him and My Family, September 16

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, September 17

Moments With Mercy, September 18

Sara Jane Jacobs – Blog, September 19

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 21

KarenSueHadley, September 22

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 24

Texas Book-aholic, September 25

janicesbookreviews, September 26

Emily Yager, September 27

A Reader’s Brain, September 28

Inklings and notions, September 29

To celebrate her tour, Caryl 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/e959/texas-tears-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour and Giveaway: Hagar by SHADIA HRICHI

Book: Hagar
Author: Shadia Hrichi
Genre: Religion / Bible Study
Release Date: October 10, 2017

You are ”The God Who Sees Me.”

Discover a close relationship with God–no matter the pain or suffering in your life. Witness the depths of God’s compassion through the eyes of Hagar, a runaway slave who meets the living God in a desert of despair, where she gives Him the name El Roi, ”The God Who Sees Me.”

Through this seven week study, you will find that when you surrender your life into God’s hands, your trials and triumphs serve a magnificent purpose: to draw you into the arms of the faithful God Who Sees Me.

”Deep and packed with surprising insights!” Francine Rivers Click here to grab your copy.

I was intrigued when I was invited to participate in a Book Review of a Bible Study of Hagar. Hagar was a servant in the Bible. Hagar is a 7 week study that is VERY in depth.

I really like the layout of the Bible Study. Each week has daily lessons. The daily lessons have a scripture to study and questions to answer for the day. I also really appreciate that writing in the book is encouraged, although I tend not to write in Bible Study books. I also was really encouraged that the author encourages those doing the 7 week study, to use the version of the Bible that they normally use and feel most comfortable using. I feel this helps the reader.

Shadia really takes an in depth look into Hagar. Those doing the 7 week Study will really be challenged as they go through the daily lessons and the Study. Hagar has always been an interesting person of the Bible and I feel I really learned a lot by reading through the Study.

The Bible Study of Hagar can be done individually or with a group. A Group study would really make for some GREAT discussions! I highly recommend this Bible Study book.

SHADIA HRICHI holds an MA in Biblical and Theological Studies, as well as an MA in Criminal Justice and a BA in Psychology. In addition to numerous articles, Shadia is the author of Worthy of Love and Nameless No More. Shadia is often invited onto radio programs and regularly speaks at churches and women’s events. Currently residing in northern California, Shadia serves at Venture Christian Church and loves to visit the ocean each week for ”a date with Jesus.” Visit shadiahrichi.com.

More from Shadia

Am I known? Am I loved? Am I home? Every human heart is searching for the answers to these questions. Yet when pain and heartache enter our lives, we feel betrayed and cry out one question: God, do You see me? The answer is yes. He is Behind the Seen. Because we live in a fallen world, each of us will inevitably face hard times, even painful ones. Who among us has never seen or felt the fallout of broken homes, broken lives, or broken dreams? Hagar is a great example of someone who discovered God during a difficult time. Maybe you have never heard of her. Or perhaps you came across her name in a study of the book of Genesis. But how much do you really know about this young slave girl? We often relegate her to the backstage as a minor character in God’s redemptive story. But was she? As I explored Hagar’s story for another book I wanted to write, God continually amazed me as we journeyed together from the affluence of Egypt, into a life of slavery, to a desert of despair. It seemed the more I studied her life, the more I discovered about God. What began as a chapter evolved into a study all its own. Two years and several thousand hours of study and prayer later, HAGAR: Rediscovering the God Who Sees Me came to be. Consider this book as your backstage pass to the life of Hagar. I have never actually gone backstage during a live event, but I know that much more goes on behind the scenes than meets the eye. I invite you to come backstage with me and explore how God was involved in every detail of Hagar’s life. Her story has all the ingredients of a Hollywood tragedy: betrayal, loss, abuse, crisis pregnancy, abandonment . . . any of that sound painfully familiar? Thankfully, Hagar’s story does not end in despair. God was working Behind the Seen—just as He has in your life and mine—all along. As a matter of fact, Hagar emerges victorious! Hagar: an unsung hero if there ever was one. Beloved, is the enemy using anything in your past to try to derail you from God’s plan, or hold you back from experiencing God’s joy to the fullest? Be assured, that is not how your story will end. Just as God did for Hagar, when He enters your story, victory is already assured. So strap on your sandals and a grab a bottle of water. We’re heading into the desert. A place where we will rediscover the God Who Sees Me. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” —Isaiah 9:2

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 7

Books, Books, and Books., September 7

Inklings and notions , September 8

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, September 8

amandainpa , September 9

Emily Yager, September 9

A Reader’s Brain, September 10

Lights in a Dark World, September 10

Inspired by fiction, September 11

Genesis 5020, September 11

Robin’s Nest, September 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 12

Quiet Workings, September 12

Through the Lens of Scripture, September 13

Mary Hake, September 13

Godly Book Reviews, September 14

Rev. Rebecca Writes: Read, Write, Pray, September 14

Moments, September 15

Retrospective Spines, September 16

Batya’s Bits, September 16

Pause for Tales, September 17

CarpeDiem, September 17

Aryn the Libraryan ?, September 18

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 18

For The Love of Books, September 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 19

Texas Book-aholic, September 20

janicesbookreviews, September 20

To celebrate her tour, Shadia is giving away to TWO winners 1 book of Hagar, 1 book of Legion and a $50 gift certificate for leafwoodpublishers.com!!

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/eb32/hagar-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour and Giveaway: Beautiful in His Sight by APRIL W GARDNER

Book: Beautiful In His Sight
Author: April W. Gardner
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: May 11, 2019

It’s 1917, and Halifax is at war. Silas Quinn, street sweeper and army reject, remains on the home front, shunning God and society as religiously as they shun him. But the night he stumbles across a half-frozen prostitute, his eyes blink open, and his greater purpose is born: preserve and protect.

There’d been a day when shop girl Helen Fraser was desperate enough to believe a few nights in a brothel would cure her troubles. By some miracle, Major Jack Gordon deemed her worth saving, but Helen knows her meticulously recreated identity cannot last. What she doesn’t expect is for its destruction to come about, not by an old john or one of the madam’s goons, but by a force great enough to flatten a city and bury her alive.

Set against the backdrop of the Halifax Explosion, Beautiful in His Sight is a Christian historical romance that explores unequivocal grace and identity in Christ.

Click here to purchase your copy.

I really enjoy reading Historical Fiction, as I feel I am learning something each time I read through a book. Beautiful in His Sight certainly taught me about a time in History that I didn't know about. I am very familiar with WWI, but I was not aware of the explosion at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The author did a GREAT job at taking a real life event and creating a Fictional Romance story based in those times. Silas and Helen, the 2 main characters, both have deep, wounded pasts. Silas has been given the task of being caregiver to Helen as she experiences temporary blindness. Helen has a past of being a prostitute. Silas has become discouraged in life. The 2 become connected through the caregiver situation, but that develops into something more. They both find encouragement through one another and they both work at bringing their lives back to God. Silas and Helen has both become so lost in the world, that their relationship with God had not been what it should be. The bond between Silas and Helen leads them to redemption and forgiveness and a wonderful relationship with God and each other.

April W. Gardner is a "new to me" author, but I can guarantee, this won't be the only book of hers I read. April W. Gardner has a really great writing style that brings the reader in and captures their attention. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading many more by April W. Gardner! FANTASTIC BOOK!

APRIL W GARDNER writes history with a Christian perspective and a little imagination. She is a copy editor, military wife, and homeschooling mother of two who lives in Texas. She writes Christian historical romance with a focus on our Southeastern Native Tribes. In no particular order, April dreams of owning a horse, learning a third language, and visiting all the national parks. April loves to hear from her readers at: aprilgardnerwrites@gmail.com

More from April

The Story Behind the Story My novels are never purely fiction. They are stories constructed around truth, around some segment of the past that’s both stunning and stunningly forgotten. My latest novel, Beautiful in His Sight, is set during the Halifax Explosion, a WW1 event little known in most of the world. For those in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in December of 1917, it literally shattered their world. That’s the setting we find my characters Silas and Helen struggling to survive, but—as in every good romance—love (and God’s grace!) brings them through. The Story Behind the Setting By December 1917, Halifax had passed tens of thousands of soldiers and sailors through its railyard and onto the naval vessels in its harbor. With the military came the prostitutes who migrated in droves to the slums. It’s reported that some days, the only passengers disembarking from the trains were women in short skirts. Slumdom’s seams overflowed with carnality, public drunkenness, and solicitations. Prostitution wasn’t the only job to be had for women. With so many men wearing army green, ladies of the proper class and training stepped behind registers and bookkeeping desks and kept Halifax running. This is the world in which we find our female lead, Helen Fraser, a reformed prostitute desperately trying to start over as a salesclerk. The Story Behind the Explosion As Silas, the story’s male lead, puts it, the explosion was “a tragic accident, a miscommunication between passing ships.” In short, it was a dozen small decisions that accumulated to one very horrific event. The collision and blast released the equivalent energy of 2.9 kilotons of TNT and instantly obliterated everything within a half-mile radius. The munitions vessel that exploded, the Mont Blanc, rained iron shrapnel all over Halifax. Its 1,160-ton anchor landed 2.5 miles away where it can still be found today. The numbers: Over 2,000 deaths. Over 1,000 injuries. Almost 300 blinded. The Story Behind the Name The name Helen Fraser (female lead) is an honoring nod to Helen Clark, a courageous young woman who survived the explosion. This is her story. Helen Clark, age eight, was beginning her school day at St. Joseph’s when she felt something disturbing. “Like thunder was taking place alongside of you,” she later said, “instead of up in the sky.” She looked to the window and gaped at the glass bowing inward. She flung her arms over her face and ducked an instant before it blew in. Then, in her words, “The ceiling above gave way at one corner and down two sides of the room, hanging like the flap of a great envelope and spilling out children from the room above.” A nun grabbed her arm and said, “My heavenly God, the Germans have arrived! Get down on your knees girls.” In lieu of prayer, Helen wrenched away and jumped out the second-story window, narrowly missing the debris that, in the next moment, struck and killed the nun. A snow mound broke Helen’s fall. Suddenly very tired, she laid down right there, feeling no cold or pain, and went to sleep. Eventually, two men approached to see if she was dead. Though she couldn’t speak, she managed to get to her feet. They straightened the bow on the top of her head and told her to go home if she had one to go to. The blood crusted over her eyes limited her vision, but she shambled along best she could, recognizing nothing. She knew her street only by the change to cobblestones under her feet, and her grandmother recognized her only by the bow in her hair. Quick-thinking and bold, little Helen avoided both death and blindness, and I’m honored to name my heroine after her.