Monday, May 31, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Someone to Trust by Lesa Henderson

Book: Someone to Trust

Author: Lesa Henderson

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: January 26, 2021

Megan McCormick doesn’t leave Atlanta looking for love. Far from it. She runs to the mountain town of Laurel Crest to flee from her past and a broken heart. When she’s knocked over by Lee Grainger, handsome veterinarian and lover of small-town living, Megan’s life takes an unexpected turn.

Tired of fast-paced city life, Lee is considering a permanent move to the mountains. His run-in with Megan has him believing he’s in Laurel Crest for more than a partnership in an animal hospital.

After a case of mistaken identity is cleared up, Megan and Lee strike up a friendship. Lee is everything Megan ever wanted—smart, loyal and dedicated to his faith. But Megan has experienced deep betrayal twice, and she’s reluctant to give romance another try.

Can Megan come to terms with the secret that haunts her, get past her distrust of men, and accept the love Lee offers or will her heart be broken again?

Click here to get your copy!

I really enjoy Christian Fiction Romance books. I have never read any books by Lesa Henderson and I enjoy new to me authors. Someone to Trust seemed like a great book by the synopsis.

Megan McCormick is getting settled into her new town. She is starting over in a small Mountain town,after leaving Atlanta. Megan is heartbroken and has sworn off men. She is in town and is literally knocked when someone bumps into her. Lee Grainger is a Veterinarian and is the one who bumped into Megan. Megan and Lee start a conversation and it is discovered that Lee is considering a move to Laurel Crest, the same town Megan just moved to. Lee begins to feel his accidental encounter with Megan was meant to be. Megan and Lee begin a friendship,and Megan is slowly realizing how she has many more feelings for Lee. Megan though is cautious because she has been betrayed a couple times and isn't really ready for a relationship? Will Lee move to Laurel Crest? Can Megan leave her past in the past and pursue a relationship with Lee?

WOW, what a WONDERFUL book! I was hooked from the very first chapter. I really like how the author connected the 2 main characters, with the chance meeting. I also like how Lee and Megan slowly matured their friendship and relationship. Someone to Trust is a book about forgiveness, trust and allowing God to guide and direct your path. FANTASTIC BOOK!

Lesa Henderson has been an avid reader since she first learned how to read and loves getting lost in the world the author creates. She’s been writing since the age of 10 and has since been published in many national magazines and is also a screenwriter. She lives in Florida with her husband Ken, their three children and a Schnauzer named Jackson.

More from Lesa

In Someone To Trust Megan McCormick (the heroine of the story) though very disciplined, loves icing-filled, chocolate chip cookies. I love the combination myself. Especially butter-cream icing. I’ll do an extra mile of running to have one.

She’s also a bit of a klutz and I drew some of her mishaps from my own unfortunate past episodes. I’m a bit more graceful now but definitely share some embarrassing incidents with Megan. I’m also a screenwriter, so I did my best to relay Megan’s clumsiness, in a way hopefully that reader could easily see in their mind.

I wanted to tell a story of someone who was very broken by her father’s betrayal of her mother when she was a little girl. Many of us have suffered father wounds that greatly impact us, even down the road in our lives.

As the story began forming in my mind, I wondered what would happen if Megan became the very thing she despised her father for? How would that impact her life? Naturally, it would compound her distrust of men, as well as bring on self-loathing.

Of course this brought up the issue of forgiveness. Not only the ability to forgive those who have hurt us but also the grace to forgive ourselves.

This is something Megan needs to learn. Although, she is beautiful and caring, her heart is cloaked in bitterness and she’s running from her past. And we all know, sometimes our past comes back to haunt us when we least expect it.

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 20
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 21
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 22
For Him and My Family, May 23
deb’s Book Review, May 24
Texas Book-aholic, May 25
Splashes of Joy, May 26 (Author Interview)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 26
Inklings and notions, May 27
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 28
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 29
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 30
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 31
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, June 1 (Author Interview)
Kayem Reads, June 1
Cultivating Us, June 2

To celebrate her tour, Lesa is giving away the grand prize package of a digital copy of the book Someone To Trust, as well as a DVD of the Film Hope Has A Name!!

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/10c8f/someone-to-trust-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Sunday, May 30, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Autumn's Harmony by Donna Wyland

Book: Autumn’s Harmony

Author: Donna Wyland

Genre: Contemporary women’s fiction

Release date: October 20, 2020

For every woman who has ever desired

to make sense of her past, find joy in

the present, and discover God’s purpose

for her future.

Anna Bentley needs a new life. Struggling in a long-term marriage with two children and carrying a secret that stole her joy many years ago, she begins to search for the key to happiness in marriage and in life. When peach martinis, lacy lingerie and Nicholas Sparks novels fail to quell her discontent and spice up her failing marriage, she finds what she was looking for in the most unlikely place.

Autumn’s Harmony is a poignant and witty tale about the healing power of forgiveness, reconciliation and new beginnings.

Click here to get your copy!

Do you ever see a book cover and feel like that is a "must read" book? I do and that was the case with this book. Autumn's Harmony by Donna Wyland is the first book in a new Christian Fictional series . The book cover and synopsis really intrigued me, so I recently read it.

Anna Bentley is going through a time in her life where she is trying to "find her place in the world". She has been happily married for many years and has 2 children. The routine of everyday life has really been a struggle for her and joy seems to have escaped her life. She has some secrets from her past that keep dwelling in her mind. Anna isn't sure what is missing from her life, but she truly is searching for joy and happiness. Will Anna find Joy and Peace? Will she be able to leave the past in the past? If she does, what will bring her Joy and Peace?

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book because the First Chapter starts off slow and has some indifferent language spoken within the text. I continued reading though and I eventually did enjoy the book. I think many women go through a time where they are needing to find peace and joy again. The one thing I got from this book, is that Anna had never really had Peace and Joy until she found God. This book is one about forgiveness, moving forward and finding Faith. Good Book!

Donna Wyland is an award-winning author whose personal essays and poetry have appeared in numerous publications. Her published work includes picture books, Your Home in Heaven and If I Could Ask Jesus, and a gift book titled Surrender. Donna is a mother and grandmother, and she lives in the Midwest with her husband surrounded by quilts, crafts, and oodles of books. To learn more, visit www.freetobe.faith or connect with Donna on LinkedIn, Instagram and Pinterest.

More from Donna

Anna Bentley needs a new beginning. Most women have felt the same way at one time or another. When life is routine and marriage & family are a struggle, where can you find true happiness? Anna discovers her new beginning in an unlikely place – the same place I found mine when I was thirty-three. Join Anna on her journey to reignite the happiness in you.

lakesidelivingsite, May 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 19
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 20
Genesis 5020, May 20
Texas Book-aholic, May 21
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 22
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 23
Spoken from the Heart, May 23
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 24
deb’s Book Review, May 25
HappyWhenReading, May 25
Inklings and notions, May 26
Batya’s Bits, May 27
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 27
For Him and My Family, May 28
Older & Smarter?, May 29
Pause for Tales, May 29
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 30
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 31

To celebrate her tour, Donna is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of Autumn’s Harmony and a $25 Magnolia Market E-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/10bbe/autumn-s-harmony-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Friday, May 28, 2021

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: The Silver Shadow by Liz Tolsma

Book: The Silver Shadow

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian Historical/Suspense

Release date: May 2021

A Shadowy Figure Is Intent on Harming Denver’s Women

Book 11 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History

Denver of 1900 is still a dangerous place to be following the silver crash of 1893. And of out of the dark comes a shadow intent on harming women. Ambitious young Denver newspaper reporter Polly Blythe is searching for the big story that’s going to launch her career. On Friday evening, August 24, 1900, she gets her break when two women are cracked over the head within a two-minute walk of each other. But policeman Edwin Timmer thwarts Polly’s ideas of a serial criminal. . .until the shadowy figure strikes again. Will the reporter and the policeman team up to find the culprit before he strikes too close for comfort?

Click here to get your copy!

Historical Fiction is always a great genre to read. I feel I really learn something new about History. The True Colors series by Liz Tolsma is really interesting. It weaves Historical Fiction into a real True Crime story. The Silver Shadow is Book 11 in this series and I had the opportunity to read it recently.

The Setting is Denver, Colorado in 1900. Danger still lurks in Denver, 7 yrs after the Silver Crash. Polly Blythe is a local Newspaper Reporter who is looking to launch her career. Her "big break" comes on August 24, 1900, when 2 women are hit over the head within 2 minutes of each other. Edwin Timmer is on the local Police Force and he doesn't agree with Polly's idea that a Serial Criminal might be out there. He changes his mind when another woman is attacked in a similar manner. The investigation continues and Polly and Detective Timmer begin to form a friendship. Will Detective Timmer allow Polly to follow along on the investigation to "get her story?" Will he trust her intuition that it is the same person committing these crimes on women? Will Polly and Detective Timmer form more then a friendship the longer they spend on the case?

I truly enjoyed reading The Silver Shadow. I never knew Denver had a "Silver Crash" and how much of a struggle that time was for Denver. I really like how Liz Tolsma weaves the Fiction into the True Crime story. The relationship between Polly and Detective Timmer was uplifting. The relationship developed slowly and I think that is great. I also like how Faith and Trust in God are woven into the story. WONDERFUL BOOK! I highly recommend it!

Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. Please visit her website at www.liztolsma.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter (@LizTolsma), Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. She is also the host of the Christian Historical Fiction Talk podcast.

More from Liz

One of the most popular questions I’ve gotten from many readers of the True Colors Crime series is how do I come up with the ideas for the books? For the first two, Becky Germany, acquisitions editor at Barbour Publishing, had the ideas. That made my life easy. I just had to fictionalize it, and I had a book. But when I was putting together the proposals for The Gold Digger and The Silver Shadow, it was up to me to find the true crimes I wanted to use.

I went online and scoured historical crime blogs and books for ideas. I wanted crimes that I could work easily with, that made for compelling stories. As I was doing this, my husband and two daughters and I were driving home from Georgia. We were somewhere in Indiana. Don’t ask me why I remember this when I can’t remember what I had for dinner last night, but I do.

And then on Google Books, I discovered a book about crimes the world had forgotten. The first one in there sounded so good. Not too grisly, something that no one would be able to guess the culprit very easily. It was perfect. Imagine my excitement when Becky told me they would be publishing The Silver Shadow.

Then I sat down to research it more. And I could hardly find anything! What? Where was all the information on this? There had to be more. That chapter in the one book couldn’t be all there was. He had to get his information from somewhere.

Eventually I did come across some articles from various Colorado newspapers with a few details. Not many at all. None from any of the Denver papers, even though that’s where the crimes were committed.

In the end, that’s all the information I discovered. In a way, it was freeing. I could write whatever I wanted, and no one would be the wiser. Even if they did some research and some digging, there wasn’t much to find. I was able to take the facts that I did have, combine that with what I found out about Denver in 1900, and put it together in a story. I tried to use historical details wherever I could, but of my four True Colors Crimes books, this is the most fictional of them all.

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 25
lakesidelivingsite, May 25
Reviewingbooksplusmore, May 25
For the Love of Literature, May 26
Bigreadersite, May 26
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 26
Texas Book-aholic, May 27
Genesis 5020, May 27
Christian Bookaholic, May 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 28
Vicky Sluiter, May 28
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 28
The Write Escape, May 29
Betti Mace, May 29
Inklings and notions, May 29
Southern Gal Loves to Read, May 30
For Him and My Family, May 30
Rebecca Tews, May 30
Older & Smarter?, May 31
deb’s Book Review, May 31
Blogging With Carol, May 31
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 1
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 1
Remembrancy, June 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, June 2
Pick a Good Book, June 2
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, June 2
Connie’s History Classroom, June 3
Godly Book Reviews, June 3
Mary Hake, June 3
Through the Fire Blogs, June 4
Melissa Wardwells Back Porch Reads, June 4
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 4
KarenSueHadley, June 5
Amanda Tero, Blog, June 5
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 6
Grace-Filled Writer, June 6
Pause for Tales, June 6
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, June 7
Blossoms and Blessings, June 7
Daysong Reflections, June 7

To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and copy of The Silver Shadow!!

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/10c96/the-silver-shadow-celebration-tour-giveaway

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JustRead Tours Blog Tour: Crazy for You by Michelle Sass Aleckson presented by Susan May Warren

Crazy For You JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Crazy for You by Michelle Sass Aleckson presented by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Crazy for You
Series: Deep Haven Collection #3
Author: Michelle Sass Aleckson presented by Susan May Warren
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: May 25, 2021
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

The problem with being related to everyone in town is that there is no one left to date…until now…but will this outsider survive his family?

Former soldier Veronica “Ronnie” Morales isn’t going to let her kid brother, Tiago, get pulled into the gangs of Minneapolis, so, seeking safety and a fresh start, she heads to sleepy Deep Haven on the north shore of Minnesota. She’s hoping to put down roots as the paramedic for the new Crisis Response Team, but it’s not easy to be the town outsider.

Fire Chief Peter Dahlquist is a peacemaker—he has to be. After he’s related to both of the Deep Haven dynasties – the Zimmermans and the Dahlquists, Deep Haven’s version of the Hatfields and the McCoys. Worse, Peter is the holdout vote for a landmark project, which also makes him the loneliest guy in town when both sides demand that he pick sides. The only one who seems to understand his plight is the newcomer in town…his pretty, street-tough paramedic.

When Tiago finds himself caught up in small town shenanigans and the town blames Ronnie for tragedy, Peter is forced to pick sides. But will his choice cost him the home—and the woman—he loves?

Five hundred miles might not be far enough away, but Ronnie Morales had done more with a lot less.

Not that she had a choice. She’d learned early on that no one was going to hand her anything on a silver platter. She rolled her shoulders back and took a deep breath, wiggling her fingers on the steering wheel. She would make this work. She had to. For Tiago.

The SUV headlights barely pierced the darkness in front of them. The scent of stale french fries clashed with the floral air freshener attached to the vent. Muted rap music spilled out of her little brother’s headphones. It grated on her ears. The vibrations of the road put her backside to sleep.

She should stop, find a bathroom and a decent meal, because those Cheetos she ate hours ago were not cutting it.

She checked her rearview mirror. Nah. Better to push through and get to Deep Haven. Besides, where would she stop?

Nothing but a hill covered with forest on one side of Highway 61 and Lake Superior on the other, a black abyss with reflections of moonlight lurking on the water. No other vehicles on the road. No lights.

She was heading to the backside of nowhere.

Still, if she had to go to the end of the state map to find a safe place and keep Tiago out of trouble, so be it. He was only ten. Probably didn’t realize how big a deal this was. Uprooting from their North Minneapolis neighborhood, moving to the opposite end of the state, and starting over…

Hopefully in a place where gangs weren’t recruiting at the local elementary school. Of course, if Mom had spent an ounce of attention on the poor kid instead of her latest loser boyfriend, or better yet, if she had a smidge of backbone, maybe they wouldn’t be in this mess.

But coming home off her tour with the Army to find her mother in jail and her brother in foster care facing arson charges meant something had to change. Ronnie would not sit by and let Tiago throw his life away like Mom had.

So goodbye, military career. Goodbye, Minneapolis. Hello, Deep Haven. If they ever found the place.

Man, it was dark out here.

But no turning back now. Like Papa always said, Press on and move forward, Veronica. Find something good to focus on.

The job Cole offered her was certainly a good fit. Paramedic for the small town. Using her skills for this Crisis Response Team she could totally get behind.

She just needed to help Tiago find some new friends, some good friends, and something for him to do in his spare time besides setting fire to public property. And it wouldn’t be so bad to find a cute little house to fix up and call their own eventually. Something without bars on the windows would be nice.

Ronnie glanced at the clock. It was already after eleven. They had to be getting close. Maybe she should’ve called Cole. Hopefully, he wouldn’t mind her coming in a few days early. Once she was done with her discharge paperwork, put in her notice at her temp job, and packed, it didn’t pay to stick around the Twin Cities any longer. A faint glow in the sky ahead beckoned.

Ronnie nudged Tiago in the passenger seat. “T, wake up. We’re here.”

He mumbled and retreated further into his hoodie. His soft snores resumed. The light grew stronger as she crested the hill. A sign for a cabin resort on one side of the road. A mini golf place and a Welcome to Deep Haven sign on the other. Yes. This was it.

From the top of the hill she spied the town below, one stoplight up ahead. The hill above the harbor was dotted with porch lights, and a small cluster of businesses along the lakeshore gleamed a rainbow of colors onto the surface of the lake.

It looked so peaceful. So…small.

Wow, it was small.

ALSO AVAILABLE

Susan May Warren Michelle Sass Aleckson

Susan May Warren is the USA Today best-selling novelist of 80 books. With more than 1.5 million books in print, she is beloved by reviewers and readers around the world. Visit Susan at www.susanmaywarren.com.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

After growing upon both the east and west coasts, Michelle Sass Aleckson now lives the country life in central Minnesota with her own hero and their four kids. She loves rocking out to 80’s music on a Saturday night, playing Balderdash with the fam, and getting lost in good stories. Especially stories that shine grace. And if you’re wondering, yes, Sass is her maiden name. Visit her at www.michellealeckson.com.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Merging the creative energies of best-selling authors Susan May Warren and Lindsay Harrel, Sunrise Publishing is the matchmaker for established authors who want to build on their current success for future growth and aspiring authors looking to break out, build an audience, and hone their writing skills.

CONNECT WITH SUNRISE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | admin@sunrisepublishing.com

(1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card + 3 Crazy for You ebooks (one ebook for the winner and two to give to friends)!

Crazy for You 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 May 25, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 1, 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 only. 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!