Friday, April 30, 2021

JustRead Tours Blog Tour: The Watcher by Sara Davison

The Watcher JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Watcher by Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: The Watcher

Author: Sara Davison

Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink

Release Date: April 15, 2021

Genre: Christian speculative romantic suspense

Someone or something is watching Kathryn Ellison.

Kathryn thought she had buried memories of That Night for good—until Nick Lawson returns, reigniting her long-suppressed feelings for him. Seeing Nick has always reminded her too much of the horrible night that changed her life. As much as she wants to be with him, she wants even more to forget. When Nick unexpectedly shows up at her family ranch, Kathryn knows it is finally time to let go of the traumatic past that has held her captive for so long.

David Henley is a captive too—of the dark secret involving Kathryn, a secret he’s kept even from his wife. Now the truth is about to be revealed. And when it is, he could be stripped of everything in his life that matters to him.

A storm is brewing in the spiritual realm, and its effects reverberate through the natural world, summoning otherworldly Beings to the ranch. While Kathryn confronts the memories of That Night and struggles to let them go, she is not as alone in her home as she thinks.

As spiritual and temporal forces collide, Kathryn—and everyone she loves—is about to be caught in the crossfire.

The Watcher by Sara Davison is a different genre of books from what I normally read. It is a Christian speculative romantic suspense, and it is narrated by an unknown person, called The Watcher. I was interested in going outside my comfort zone for Genre and wanted to read this book.

Kathryn Ellison has tried to go one with life, even though 20yrs ago she had a life altering traumatic event happen to her. A case of mistaken identity lead to a brutal attack on her. Kathryn has been raising her daughter, Lexi, on her own. Lexi is now a young adult and wants to search for her father that she has never know, unaware of his past being a rapist. Life really takes a turn for Kathryn, when a former love interest, Nick Lawson, shows up in her life. Kathryn has suppressed her feelings for Nick for a long time, but when he shows up on the Family ranch, she is determined not to fight the feelings any longer. Will Lexi find her father and learn the truth of him? Will Kathryn be able to take a chance at love with Nick? Will the discoveries that are coming be the beginning of healing for Kathryn, Lexi and others??

WOW, I am glad I took a leap out of my comfort zone for Book Genres. The Watcher is a unique book and I truly enjoyed it. I was gripped into the book from the first chapter and didn't want to put it down until I was finished. The writing style and the narrating style were just phenomenal. Kathryn, Nick and Lexi each had their own "story" and the stories all meshed together well. The book does tell the story of sexual violence, but the author does so with a sensitive writing style. GREAT BOOK!

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound

ALSO AVAILABLE

Sara Davison

Sara Davison is the author of three romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, and The Rose Tattoo Trilogy. She has been a finalist for ten national writing awards, including Best New Canadian Christian author, a Carol, a Selah, and two Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a Word and Cascade Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband Michael and their three children. The words on the mug she uses every morning pretty much sum up her life—I just want to sleep, drink coffee, and make stuff up. Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.org and @sarajdavison.

CONNECT WITH SARA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Watcher and a $25 Amazon gift card!

The Watcher JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 26, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 3, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: The Good German Girl by Erica Marie Hogan

Book: The Good German Girl

Author: Erica Marie Hogan

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: April 15, 2021

Omaha Beach
June 6, 1944

When battle-hardened Private Bernie Russell witnesses a fellow soldier shoot a young German boy with his hands up, he’s shaken to his very core. Then, as that same boy is dying, he presses a packet of photographs and letters into Bernie’s hand and utters three words in English.

It must end.

After having the letters translated, he discovers they were written by the soldier’s twin sister and the photographs within the packet reveal evidence of Hitler’s plan to wipe out the Jews.

Berlin, Germany

Margot Raskopf is a young art teacher, forced to conform to the education Hitler has designed. Then, when one of her sources with the underground resistance receives a letter for her from an American soldier, she’s shocked and filled with renewed hope. But Margot has been harboring a secret. In her house she hides a young Jewish woman she’s known since childhood, risking being discovered by the gestapo with each passing day.

As they begin a dangerous correspondence, both Margot and Bernie embark on treacherous journeys. One taking Bernie across Europe and right into Germany. Another taking Margot through the gates of Auschwitz … and under the scrutiny of Josef Mengele.

Click here to get your copy!

I really enjoy reading new Authors and Series. The Good German Girl By Erica Marie Hogan is a Historical Romance and is Book 1 in the Extraordinary Women Series.

The book is set in 1944 during World War II. Private Bernie Russell is a Solider in the war. He witnesses a fellow solider shoot a young boy and the young boy dies. Bernie is very traumatized by this event, but also has a mission. The boy had given Bernie a pack of letters and photos before dying. Bernie discovers the letters and photos are all evidence of Hitler's plan to destroy the Jewish People and their Community. Margot Raskopf is a young art teacher in Berlin, Germany. She is not happy that she is being forced to the standards Hitler has set for teaching. She also has a secret and if found out, she could be in serious danger. She is hiding a Jewish Childhood friend in her house. Margot receives a letter from an American Solider, Bernie, and they begin writing each other back and forth. The correspondence leads both on dangerous journeys. Will Bernie and Margot be found out? Will the escape the dangers of WWII? Will they become more then just "Pen Pals"?

I do enjoy a good Historical Romance book. I must admit though, this book took me a few chapters to really get into it. The time period and WWII happenings are very emotional reading. I had to quit reading at times and come back to where I left off to really understand and put the emotions aside. Once I got through the first few chapters, I truly enjoyed the book. The Time period was well researched and the writing style just amazing! GREAT BOOK! I highly recommend it to readers who truly enjoy the WWII Period.

From as far back as she can remember, Erica Marie Hogan loved to write. When she was a little girl she adored make believe, but gradually her imagination became too big to restrict it to playtime and so, she wrote.
Erica was born and raised for nine years on Orient Point, Long Island, New York. After that she moved with her family to Virginia and, finally, to Texas where she now lives. She was homeschooled, is an avid reader, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives to plot new stories, enjoys a good tear-jerker, and chocolate is her cure for any ailment.
Erica’s wish is to continue to write stories that not only drop her readers into the middle of historical time periods, but also to show the ability to rise up out of adversity and tragedy in hope, faith, love, and strength. When it comes to genre, she has no limits.

Along with The Winter Queen Series Erica’s World War I standalone novel, The Lost Generation, is also available now from Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.

More from Erica

There are two things I love in a good story. History and Romance. And when the two come together? Well, I’m sold.

Hi, I’m Erica Marie Hogan, the author of The Good German Girl, book one in a Historical Fiction series called A League of Extraordinary Women. When I set out to write a novel based during World War II, I never imagined The Good German Girl would be the end result. I started with an idea about a young German woman living in Berlin who wants to fight back against Hitler’s rule. This mustard seed of an idea took me on a journey through the battles at Omaha Beach, Aachen, Germany & the Battle of the Bulge. It took me through the gates of Auschwitz and right into Josef Mengele’s lab.

This little idea took me on a quest for love in the most horrible of circumstances. Where war and death divided two people who should be enemies but, through a miraculous correspondence, found each other and knew in their hearts they were meant to save each other. The Good German Girl is a Historical Fiction novel about the tragedy of World War II with the gentle beginnings of an epic love woven through the pages. I hope you enjoy the story of Margot Raskopf and Bernie Russell as much as I enjoyed writing about them!

Rebecca Tews, April 17
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 18
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 19
Genesis 5020, April 19
Connie’s History Classroom, April 20
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 21
Where Faith and Books Meet, April 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 22
Texas Book-aholic, April 23
Christian Bookaholic , April 23
Betti Mace, April 24
For Him and My Family, April 25
Maidens for Modesty, April 25
deb’s Book Review, April 26
Inklings and notions, April 27
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 28
Mary Hake, April 28
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 29
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 30
Maureen Timerman, April 30

To celebrate her tour, Erica is giving away the grand prize package of $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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/10ad0/the-good-german-girl-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Matchmaker's Best Friend by Kari Trumbo

Book: Matchmaker’s Best Friend

Author: Kari Trumbo

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: March 30, 2021

“You’re just like a brother to me. I don’t like you in that way.”

When they dated ten years ago as teens, it almost destroyed their friendship. So Pen Reese did the only logical thing. She lied about how she felt—and still feels—about him.

She’s still paying for that lie.

A brilliant plan to set Mike and a friend up and get over him has one problem.

It’s breaking her heart.

When Pen pushed him away, Mike Gaines assumed she just didn’t understand his faith. People like her persnickety aunt even claim he’s part of a cult—ridiculous, but it’s true. Still, if she wants him to play the part of a big brother, fine. At least he can stay close this way.

At first, Pen’s attempt to set him up with one of her close friends hurts. But what if it’s the perfect opportunity to show her what she’s missing if she sees him with someone else?

In this friends-to-more-meets-second-chance romance, The Matchmaker’s Best Friend continues the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

Matchmaker’s Best Friend is the third book in the Elnora Island series It is also book nine in the Independence Island Series. This is a series written by six different authors that covers five different islands.

This book focuses on Pen Reece and Mike Gaines. Pen is a Successful Event Planner, who has known Mike since High School. She doesn't want to admit to Mike that she has strong feelings for him and always has. They once dated but felt they were better as friends then in a relationship. Pen has never lost her love for Mike. Mike is a Musician and he has always thought that Pen didn't want to be in a relationship with him because of his Faith. He is a Messianic Jew and he feels many don't understand his faith. Pen decides to have Mike and a friend, Jazzy, be the participants in a "Fake Wedding" for advertising for her Event Planning Business. Will the "Fake Wedding" lead to real feelings being revealed? Will Pen be truthful with Mike and is there a future for Pen and Mike?

I REALLY enjoyed this book! Pen and Mike are both really strong characters. Pen can be a little bold at times. Mike is a "Gentle" person. The Chemistry between them, especially at the beginning of the story, is just amazing! Matchmaker's Best Friend reads GREAT as a Standalone, even though it is part of a series. A GREAT read, especially for those who like a good Romance.

Where western meets happily ever after.

Kari writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.
Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn’t) South Dakota.

Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.

More from Kari

Pen is Mightier than the Sword

Especially in sparkly, stacked espadrilles and pink power suit. Don’t let Pen Reese’s pink façade fool you, she’s a businesswoman to the core, with a heart of gold. She has built a party planning business from the ground up, and she’s about to create another.

Pen is one of those characters that I could just see CLEARLY as I was writing. She is about ninety percent Elle Woods from Legally Blonde and ten percent a close personal friend. I heard her voice in my head. I could hear her talking as I wrote the book. Her personality was perfect for the energetic party planner.

I’m sure if I put a character description up without context or clarity many people wouldn’t want to read the book, they would write Pen off as shallow. But she’s not. She’s heartbroken.

Do you still remember your first love? Maybe you still care for them? Pen fell hard for her first love and no matter how professional she is or how many lavish weddings she plans, she can’t forget the one wedding she’ll never get to create. Her own.

Pen things that if Mike falls for someone else, goes off and gets married, she’ll finally be able to move on. So, she sets a plan in motion. That’s when her world completely falls apart and you see the tender parts of Pen that she doesn’t show to just anybody.

She is a very complex character and I hope she touches you like she touched me.

I hope you enjoy Pen’s tale of matchmaking gone wrong.

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 14

Books and Everyday Life, April 14

Labor Not in Vain, April 14

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 15

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 15

lakesidelivingsite, April 16

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 16

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 17

Rebekah Reads, April 17

Artistic Nobody, April 17 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 18

A Novel Pursuit, April 18

She Lives To Read, April 19

deb’s Book Review, April 19

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 20

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, April 20

Splashes of Joy, April 20

Aryn the Libraryan, April 21

For Him and My Family, April 21

Texas Book-aholic, April 22

Blogging With Carol, April 22

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 23

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, April 23

CarpeDiem, April 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 24

Connect in Fiction, April 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 25

Simple Harvest Reads, April 25 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Inklings and notions, April 26

Godly Book Reviews, April 26

Batya’s Bits , April 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 27

Blossoms and Blessings, April 27

To celebrate her tour, Kari is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a 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/10acd/matchmaker-s-best-friend-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Monday, April 26, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: The Sword and the Secrets by Jan Davis Warren

Book: The Sword and the Secrets

Author: Jan Davis Warren

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: April 20, 2021

When Julianna’s final mission proves more deadly than she imagined, help comes from the most unlikely of places.

Raised in a castle on the remote border of England and Scotland, Lord John Stanton is the last male heir of his royal lineage. He has the responsibility to marry and carry on the family name, but a secret vow to God, after a near-fatal battle wound, could change his future from royal heir to humble servant of the church. His journey to the monastery to become a monk is interrupted when he meets a dangerous, but beautiful, woman who has plans and secrets of her own.

Abandoned by her father and raised in an institution as property of the Crown, Julianna Westerfield longs to be free to pursue love and have a family of her own. Trained to be a spy and assassin, she has a chance to earn her freedom by completing this last and most dangerous assignment. Her mission to uncover a murderous plot and the identities of the Black Guard has already cost several agents their lives, and now the assassins are after her. To survive she must depend on a handsome monk and his cantankerous donkey.

Was it divine intervention that caused John and Julianna’s paths to cross? Can they put aside their differences and join forces to deliver stolen papers containing vital information to the king in time to save countless lives?

Click here to get your copy!

I have said it before, the Medieval time Period is not normally a Genre I normally like to read. I was interested in reading The Sword and the Secrets by Jan Davis Warren, as I had read the first book in the series. The Sword and the Secrets is book 2 in this wonderful series.

Julianna Westerfield is on a mission to free herself and be able to love and have a family of her own. She was raised in an Institution and is now a spy and assassin. She can earn FREEDOM by completing a VERY Dangerous Mission of uncovering a Murderous Plot. Lord John Stanton is the last heir to his family line and expected to marry and carry on the family name. John Stanton has a different plan and wants to become a Monk. Plans and journey to become a Monk are interrupted when he crosses path with Julianna Westerfield. He gets to know Julianna and her Dangerous Mission and he is determined to help her uncover the plot and succeed at her mission. Will Julianna and John succeed at uncovering the Murder Plot? Will they deter danger and stay safe? Will there be a romance for the 2, something they both are wanting from someone?

Jan Davis Warren has another "Page Turner" book! The twists and turns in the story and happenings, it is really hard to put it down once the reader opens the book. Julianna and John both had a path and plan for their separate lives, but it was almost like Destiny bought them together. They are a really great team and I LOVE how the chance meeting led to something more for them. The Historical theme in the book is so intriguing. The Sword and The Secrets is a book of how God's plan is always greater then our plan for life. FANTASTIC BOOK!

Jan Davis Warren is a mother, grandmother, and a young-at-heart great-grandmother. Her wonderful husband passed away the same year she won the ACFW Genesis Award for Romantic Suspense. That win and many others are encouraging reminders that God wants her to continue writing even in the tough times. Learn more at www.janwarrenbooks.com.

More from Jan

The Sword and the Secrets is a Historical Romantic Suspense. It is written as a Medieval Christian fiction story set in England around 1209. I chose to keep the historical details to a minimum because of the inconsistency I found in researching this particular time and place. I humbly apologize to you lovers of more in-depth historical facts. I would’ve loved to have traveled to England for more hands-on research but the pandemic made that impossible.

I live in a once-rural area in Oklahoma. Urban development is fast encroaching transforming peaceful pastures into busy neighborhoods. I know it’s called “progress”, but I miss knowing all of my neighbors by name. In the good-old-days, my husband and I loved raising our children here on the farm. As a family, we had all kinds of poultry and livestock, so I can’t resist including a variety of animals in my stories from time to time.

Rosita and her daughter, Daisy, were two of our favorite donkeys on the farm. I’ll never forget when Daisy was born. I think her ears were almost long as her legs. Speaking of donkeys, did you ever hear the story about how the donkey got its cross? I included it in the book.

Precious is the name of the donkey in The Sword and the Secrets. Her mother was killed when she was but a few days old, and she was raised by an old woman who took her into her home and treated with the care and affection of the child she never had. Needless to say, Precious is smart and creative when it comes to getting her way. When her elderly master is about to die, the woman is directed by God to entrust Precious into Lord John Stanton’s care.

For the war-weary hero of this story, Lord John Stanton’s secret battlefield vow to serve God and the Church became more complicated when he was charged with the responsibility of caring for the contrary donkey. His intent to walk to London to join a monastery was supposed to be peaceful and most of all, solitary. It wasn’t until after John accepted the animal that he found out that the donkey’s elderly master had taught Precious not to budge unless first called by name. It was to keep her from being stolen, which served her well. But the name sticks in the hero’s throat every time he must submit to calling her Precious to make her move.

John’s plans also never included protecting a beautiful spy with secrets of her own.

The heroine, Julianna Westerfield was a fun surprise to me. As the story took shape in my mind, I thought the hero would meet the heroine by coming to her aid against brigands. Perhaps she was a princess fleeing her wicked guardian, etc. That however was not the way the story unfolded. As I came to Julianna’s part, I realized she had a colorful past of her own.

I love it when the story develops into something I never expected. 

The beautiful heroine of The Sword and the Secrets, Julianna Westerfield is not the princess I first envisioned but an indentured servant. She was abandoned as a child at the Grandfork Institute for Higher Learning. It is an institution run jointly by the Crown and the Church for the sole purpose of training spies and assassins to do their bidding.

I hope you’ll join John and Julianna (and Precious) on their quests and perchance uncover their deepest secrets.

May God bless and keep you and draw you ever closer to Him.

Blessings!

Jan Davis Warren