Sunday, January 31, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Of Ink and Sea by Clarissa Kae

Book: Of Ink and Sea

Author: Clarissa Kae

Genre: Romance with historical and paranormal elements

The Bristol Sea divides Cornwall and Wales—and sings an enticing tale to Sienna Rothesay, an English born, American raised photographer. Since childhood, she’s fought the temptation to listen to its siren song.

When Ioan Waif, an enigmatic neighbor from her Welsh days calls her home to care for her ailing grandfather, Sienna is faced with an old myth that hints at a nefarious secret, linking her ancestors with Ioan’s.

To uncover the truth, she must walk the blurry path between legend and reality but with more questions than answers, she fears giving into her heart will cost Sienna her head.

Click here to get your copy!

I was drawn in by the Synopsis and the Cover of this book. The

book Cover is absolutely stunning. Of Ink and Sea by Clarissa Kae

is a new to me author, and I am always interested in reading books

from new to me authors.

Sienna Rothesay is an American Photographer, with British roots.

The only connection to her family is her Grandfather, who she

absolutely adores and loves. The rest of her family disowned her

many years ago. Her grandfather's health is failing and she receives

a phone call from her grandfather's neighbor, Ioan Morgannwg, that

she needs to come home to be with her grandfather. Upon arriving home

Sienna is now faced with her beloved Grandfather on his death bed.

She is also finding herself trying to unravel a family secret, that just

might link the ancestors of Ioan and Sienna to one another. She

really needs her grandfather to reveal the secrets before he dies.

Will Sienna get the information before her beloved Grandfather dies?

Will Sienna and Ioan from a relationship or friendship or will the

secret destroy anything that could have been?

I really liked this book, for the most part. There were some parts

that left me confused and I had to reread those sections a few

times before I understood the storyline. I think it was just my

comprehension, not the writing style of the author. The book is

good and has a good message and storyline. I do recommend

it for those who enjoy mystery and history. Good Book!

Clarissa Kae is a preeminent voice whose professional career began as a freelance editor in 2007. She’s the former president of her local California Writers Club after spending several years as the Critique Director.

Since her first novel, she’s explored different writing genres and created a loyal group of fans who eagerly await her upcoming release. With numerous awards to her name, Clarissa continues to honor the role of storyteller.

Aside from the writing community, she and her daughters founded Kind Girls Make Strong Women to help undervalued nonprofit organizations—from reuniting children with families to giving Junior Olympic athletes their shot at success.

She lives in the agricultural belly of California with her family and farm of horses, chickens, dogs and kittens aplenty.

More from Clarissa

I was supposed to go to Wales for my 40th birthday which is this month January 2021. But COVID happened. Instead, I delved into Wales for a setting and never looked back.

Rebecca Tews, January 18
Sara Jane Jacobs, January 18
Texas Book-aholic, January 19
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20
Inklings and notions, January 21
Wishful Endings, January 21
For Him and My Family, January 22
deb’s Book Review, January 23
Blogging With Carol, January 23
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 24
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 25
Heidi and Books, January 25
Artistic Nobody, January 26 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Connie’s History Classroom, January 27
Holly Jo Morris, January 27
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 28
The Write Escape, January 29
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, January 29
Godly Book Reviews, January 30
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 31
Mia Reads, January 31

To celebrate her tour, Clarissa is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon, $50 Barnes And Noble and $50 Target gift cards!!

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/105a9/of-ink-and-sea-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Faith's Mountain Home by Misty M. Beller

Book: Faith’s Mountain Home

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian historical romance

Nate Long has always watched over his identical twin brother, Aaron, even when it put him on the wrong side of the law. When Aaron is wounded in a shootout, the brothers are taken to Settler’s Fort to recover. As Nate works to make reparations for their past, he marvels at the nursing Aaron receives under the care of a woman with all the reason in the world to resent him.

Laura Hannon knows what it is to start over, and she knows Nate’s newfound faith is real. What she can’t look past is how far he allowed himself to be led astray by his brother’s weaknesses.

As a fledgling trust grows between Nate and Laura, they stumble upon a mysterious cave in the mountains that may not be as uninhabited as it seems.

As they work together for a common cause, will the new lives they seek for themselves include love, or is there too much that stands between them?

Click here to get your copy!

Misty M. Beller has been a favorite author of mine for a couple of

years. Each book and series she writes, I am always anticipating

the release of because I truly enjoy her books.

Faith's Mountain Home is her newest novel. It brings back

Laura, Nate and Aaron from Book 2 in this series. Aaron is

still recovering from the gunshot wound in his leg and Laura

is still caring from him. Aaron is staying at the Drs. house

to be close to medical care. Aaron's identical twin brother,

Nate, has been working to help pay a debt they owe, while

Aaron recovers. Laura takes a day and decides to be

adventurous and heads to caves nearby to explore.

Nate decides to join her after they retrieve some lanterns.

The 2 of them are enjoying their hiking adventures and

begin to form a friendship, though they had previously

not really been getting along. Will their adventures bring

them closer then ever before? Will there be a deeper

relationship and love for one another?

Faith's Mountain Home by Misty M. Beller is Book 3 in the

Hearts of Montana series. I felt is can be read as a Stand

Alone book, although I have been blessed to read the other

2 in the series. The characters are wonderful, the storyline

flows well and the writing style keeps the reader focused.

FANTASTIC BOOK!

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

Who doesn’t love a good cave?

Well, maybe not everyone, but I have to confess, I love exploring!

While there aren’t many caves near my South Carolina home, I’ve always loved the idea of finding an opening hidden in the rocks. Then venturing in and finding a huge cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites and a host of other beauties I can’t pronounce!

And dark tunnels? As long as I have a light and a string to unravel as I go so I can get back out, I’m game!

Unfortunately, I’ve never found a large cave in real life that had never been explored, but in Faith’s Mountain Home, Nate and Laura found exactly that! Although…turns out, it had been discovered by someone already. I won’t give you (too many) spoilers, but let me just tell you there’s a precocious Native American girl involved, and a few other things not so delightful.

The good news is, you can enjoy the story without actually entering the pitch black cavern!

Last summer, I had the opportunity to tour a cave with many features like Nate and Laura discovered in their hidden cave. The Caverns of Sonora in Sonora, Texas was a fantastic experience! As you can imagine, it’s hard to get good pictures in solid darkness, but here are a few of the amazing formations still growing in those two miles of underground tunnels.

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 26
Artistic Nobody, January 26 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Connie’s History Classroom, January 27
Bigreadersite, January 27
Jeanette’s Thoughts, January 27
Betti Mace, January 28
Connect in Fiction, January 28
Texas Book-aholic, January 28
Lighthouse Academy Blog, January 29 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
lakesidelivingsite, January 29
Bizwings Blog, January 29
Through the Fire Blogs, January 30
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 30
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 31
Fiction Book Lover, January 31 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Inspiration Clothesline, January 31
Wishful Endings, February 1
Life of Literature, February 1
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, February 1
deb’s Book Review, February 2
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, February 2
Blossoms and Blessings, February 2
For Him and My Family, February 3
Splashes of Joy , February 3
Simple Harvest Reads, February 3 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Blessed & Bookish, February 4
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 4
To Everything There Is A Season, February 4
Older & Smarter?, February 5
Sara Jane Jacobs, February 5
Pause for Tales, February 5
For the Love of Literature, February 6
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 6
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 6
Remembrancy, February 7
Inklings and notions, February 7
Hallie Reads, February 7
She Lives To Read, February 8
HookMeInABook, February 8
Genesis 5020, February 8

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize package of the entire Hearts of Montana series, plus a “Faith Moves Mountain” sign!! (See Here: https://etsy.me/2JjZAVV)

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/1062c/faith-s-mountain-home-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Set a Seal Upon My Heart by Sarah Neisen

Book: Set a Seal Upon My Heart

Author: Sarah Neisen

Genre: Christian NonFiction/Bible Study

God has a plan for all believers to solidify our faith and draw us deeper into a relationship with Him, and it’s all found within The Song of Solomon.

Here you’ll discover a treasure of intimacy with our bridegroom Jesus. Have you ever asked yourself ‘Is there more?’ Maybe you’ve wondered how the Bible really applies to your life. This Devotional Study will answer those questions and more.

In this book you will:

Discover the truth of God’s great love and promises for your life.

Connect with Jesus daily and experience peace and joy.

Identify yourself as a disciple of Jesus and learn how to share your testimony with others.

Learn how to follow God’s will and purpose for your life.

Fully embrace your role in the kingdom to bring glory to God.

Click here to get your copy!

The Song of Solomon is the book of the Bible that really

takes a lot of concentration and quiet time to study. I

have always felt that the Song of Solomon has a deep

message.

Set a Seal Upon My Heart by Sarah Neisen takes

The Song of Solomon and breaks in down Chapter

by Chapter. The Devotional Book format of this book

really allows for an in depth study at a great pace.

I really like the format of this devotional, very reader

friendly. The book is in four parts and each part has a

few chapters each. Each day has scripture to read and

study, Prayer for the day and a plan of how you will act

on the reading for the day. It also has a section for

journaling and writing down notes.

I really enjoy devotionals and Set a Seal Upon

My Heart really is a wonderful devotional. It really grabs at

one faith and helps you grow and allow God to show you

his will for your life. I HIGHLY recommend this for individual

study or group study for anyone looking to grow closer to God.

Sarah Neisen is a graduate of the New Day School of Ministry and Co-Founder of Discipleship Training Ministries, SSM. Along with her husband Lee, they seek to teach and encourage believers in their identity in Christ so that the Good News may be preached throughout the world with signs, wonders, and miracles.

She is a regular speaker at churches in the river valley region of Minnesota and a guest speaker at local women’s groups and retreats. Sarah and her husband have one son whom she homeschools. They live on a farm in south-central Minnesota with a plethora of chickens, ducks, cows, and other animals.

More from Sarah

In the spring of 2007, 3-year-old in tow, I entered a small independent Christian bookstore which would impact the direction of my life more than I thought possible. The owner introduced herself, and in the following 2 years, introduced me to an extravagance of books written by individuals who spoke directly to my heart.

I had felt for some time I was at a crossroads in my life. I was content in my Christianity, content in my church, content in my marriage, but reading the word I knew there was more to life than contentment. The waves of circumstance continued to rock me and I felt as though I had been living on ever-shifting sand.

After a time of slowly reading the books the owner Ms. Mary handed to me, I began to understand just what was missing. My Redeemer had more for me, and I needed to follow His lead. One Sunday morning, my husband approached me and informed me we were going to attend ministry school together. I was not amused. We lived on a farm with many animals, and I home schooled our son. There was no time to attend classes every week. I couldn’t find time to read more books, do more bible study, or seek God more than I already had time for.

Grudgingly, I attended the first week, but I heard the Father say I was to continue and understand the plan He had for me. In the end, it wasn’t the Father I was learning about, it was the Father I learned from. I now approached Him with a greater excitement and joy. He was no longer distant, he was closer than anyone, and He knew me and still liked me.

Looking back is always easier than looking forward because we see God’s moves in hindsight rather than by faith. Now in ministry, I witness so many people floundering where I once was on shifting sand. In my heart, I know the answer is discipleship.

Jesus tells all believers to become fishers of men, but it’s His intention we make disciples. Believers who are not only saved but who are equipped with the knowledge and understanding of God’s Word to follow the plan and purpose for their lives.

This is why my husband and I formed Discipleship Training Ministries. We pray all who follow this study would come to a deeper understanding of God’s love and grace through Jesus Christ and all would be further equipped to do those works appointed them.

2 Timothy 1:9 [For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness; not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” AMP

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 21
deb’s Book Review, January 22
Spoken from the Heart, January 23 (Author Interview)
Sara Jane Jacobs, January 23
For Him and My Family, January 24
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 25
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, January 26
Texas Book-aholic, January 27
Inklings and notions, January 28
Artistic Nobody, January 29 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 30
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 31
Godly Book Reviews, February 1
Through the Fire Blogs, February 2 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, February 2

To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away the grand prize package of a basket of items including, a copy of the book signed by the author, a Bible Journal notebook, a Colored Pen Set, a Mug, Coffee, and a bookmark!!

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/10622/set-a-seal-upon-my-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Beauty Among Ruins by J'Nell Ciesielski

Book: Beauty Among Ruins

Author: J’Nell Ciesielski

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: January 12, 2021

American socialite Lily Durham is known for enjoying one moment to the next, with little regard for the consequences of her actions. But just as she is banished overseas to England as a “cure” for her frivolous ways, the Great War breaks out and wreaks havoc. She joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming.

Alec MacGregor has given his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castle, but mounting debts force him to sell off his family history bit by bit. Labeled a coward for not joining his countrymen in the trenches due to an old injury, he opens his home to the Tommies to make recompense while he keeps to the shadows. But his preference for the shadows is shattered when a new American nurse comes streaming into the castle on a burst of light.

Lily and Alec are thrown together when a series of mysterious events threatens to ruin the future of Kinclavoch. Can they put aside their differences to find the culprit before it’s too late, or will their greatest distraction be falling in love?

Click here to get your copy!

I was introduced to Author J'nell Ciesielski a few months ago when

I read her book, The Socialite. I was excited to read Beauty Among

Ruins, her latest novel.

American Socialite, Lily Durham, is very carefree and frivolous.

She is "banished" to England to try to help change her ways.

She is in England and World War I breaks out. She decides to

join her cousin, who is a nurse, helping take care of the wounded.

Alec MacGregor is being taunted by others by not going into the

battlefields. He is actually trying to save his family home,

Kinclavoch Castle. Lily and Alec meant under crazy circumstances

and are now both helping each other figure out who or what is

trying to ruin Alec's efforts to save Kinclavoch Castle. The more

time they spend together, the more they realize they are liking

each other. Will they save Kinclavoch Castle? Will there be a

LOVE connection??

WOW, J'nell Ciesiekski has a writing style that really grabs the

reader from the beginning of the book. I really enjoyed this book,

the twists and turns really made it an interesting read. Lily and Alec

are great characters and make the book so good. The time period

and setting of the book also intrigued me. FANTASTIC BOOK!

Readers will not put it down until finished, so make sure you have

a few hours to sit and read!

With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the INSPY and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com.

More from J’Nell

Inspiration for Beauty Among Ruins

Once again, blame it on Downton Abbey. This time on Lady Rose. She was impulsive, spoiled, a free spirit, yet with a good heart. I knew I wanted to take on the challenge of writing a heroine like her. A character who starts off one way and by the end of the book has completely charmed you over. So I started writing and everything was going great until … it wasn’t. The plot just stopped on me. No matter how hard I tried the story refused to reveal itself to me which is incredibly frustrating for someone who doesn’t like to give up once they’ve started something. But I had to. In the end, I had to put the story, affectionately titled Love on the Limp, away for several months while I wrote The Socialite. Then one day the story clicked. It was meant to be a WWI telling on the classic Beauty and the Beast story. Everything fell into place and the story and characters burst onto the page in glorious technicolor.

Lily and Alec took me by surprised with how much I fell in love with them. Bubbly Lily and brooding Alec. Never had two more opposites been so perfect for one another (at least in my writing experience). They had so many obstacles to overcome, many of them self-imposed, that I often found myself in tears over their heartaches, but golly gumdrops when they came together, boy o boy were there fireworks!

You may have also noticed that the story is set in Scotland because I happen to believe that every good story is set there. I had the privilege of staring at pictures of this breathtaking landscape for months so I could imagine the characters strolling among the heather and watching the river twist through the green moors. To me, nothing rivals the awe inspiring beauty of a certain place, and hopefully readers will feel that through these pages.