Someplace Familiar by Teresa Tysinger

Laurel Cove, North Carolina is the place you want to go to.  It's a small community with good neighbors and people who care.  Livy has fond memories of spending time there with her grandmother.  She is trying to forget the abusive relationship she just escaped from.  Her grandmother's old home is up for sale.  Maybe this was God's plan for her.

Jack never left Laurel Cove.  He grew up there and continued running the family hardware store.  He married and was ready to have a happy life.  A year ago he divorced after his wife was caught cheating.  He couldn't forgive her.

What does it take for Livy and Jack to forgive their past?  How can they move forward and break free from the hurt, the negative comments, the abusing behaviors?

Forgiveness is the key to healing.  Letting go of your anger and fears through forgiveness gives you peace.  The other party doesn't control you.  They have no power.

Livy and Jack learn that with forgiveness it gives them a fresh start....a new beginning to really experience God's love.

I found it appropriate that Livy was an artist.
Every time she starts a new painting, she begins with a new blank canvas.  This clean canvas is what Livy needs to start her new life in Laurel Cove.

I loved the ending.  I won't say much but Livy shows much compassion and forgiveness that you might be shocked.

I received this free to review.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Teresa is giving away a grand prize of a gift basket that includes a signed copy of the book, an Original Painting by Author’s Sister (artist Cyndi Browning), and a $10 Amazon Gift Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/ca5b

About the Author

Teresa Tysinger is a wife and mother transplanted from North Carolina to North Texas. When not working as the Director of Communications for a large downtown church, she writes charming southern romances inspired by grace. Her debut novel, Someplace Familiar, released this summer. She also is a contributing writer for the Fort Worth Moms Blog (part of the national City Moms Blog Network). A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Religious Communicators’ Council, and the Association for Women in Communications, Teresa has spent over a decade committed to telling stories of faith through written word. She loves coffee, caramel, and stories with happy endings.

The Essence of Joy

GOD gave us 5 senses to enjoy what life has to offer.  This book explores the aromas of Jesus nativity.  Each chapter is based on one scent of Christmas.  Lynn Watson used Bible passages, short stories and interesting facts to describe each scent.

I learned something about Peppermint.  I wasn't aware the red on Peppermint represents the blood of Christ.  It was an interesting tidbit of information.

I enjoyed each chapter and the way she presented it with suggestions to use the scents at home.  

I received this free to review.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lynn is giving away a grand prize of a “Choose Joy” hand made necklace, a “Cups of Joy” (adult coloring book) + set of 24 prismacolor colored pencils, a “Choose Joy Today” stamped silver-plated teaspoon,
flower Seeds, raspberry tea (it’s in the Cinnamah-Brosia story in the “Mint/Giving” section), a “Choose Joy” tote bag, and a signed copy of “The Essence of Joy”!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/ca47

About the Author

Lynn Watson combines many years’ experience in women’s ministry, love of essential oils, and her passion for God’s word to bring her readers freshly inspired encouragement for their walk with Jesus. Her devotional, The Essence of Courage, was recognized as a ‘must read’ by regional publishing industry leaders. Married since 1973, Lynn and Steve have filled their Bartlett, Tennessee home with handmade treasures and lots of love for family, especially their five beautiful (of course) grandchildren. Aromas of freshly baked bread often fill Lynn’s kitchen. Jasmine, her tuxedo kitty, enjoys sleeping in Lynn’s lap while she writes.

Breaking Toxic Soul Ties by Tom Brown

Soul Ties are the relationships we have with people in our lives.  Soul Ties can be good or bad.  It is important to distinguish between the two.  With this knowledge, we can grow and break free from the "toxic brokeness" that can develop.

Tom Brown describes in the book the differences in good and bad soul ties.  He explains how we can heal and be the person God intends for us to be.  

I loved how Mr. Brown included Bible passages throughout the chapters.  These clarify and strengthen the points he is trying to make.

He adds that everyone at times feels rejection.  He shared his particular moments of rejection and how he got through this difficult period of time.

As I read this book, I could look back and recognize the bad soul ties I had in my life.  Fortunately, I did break free.  

I received this free to review.

Giveaway

In honor of the tour, Whitaker House is giving away

Grand Prize Package: Breaking Toxic Soul Ties by Tom Brown, KJVER Study Bible, and “A Friend Loves at All Times” scented candle from Abba Jerusalem

1st Place: Breaking Toxic Soul Ties by Tom Brown, God That Saves worship music CD from IronBellMusic.com, and Whitaker House/Anchor Coloring Book and Colored Pencils

2nd Place: Breaking Toxic Soul Ties by Tom Brown, and Whitaker House/Anchor Coloring Book and Colored Pencils!!!

Click the link to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c6cd

About the Author

Tom Brown is best known for his deliverance ministry. Millions have seen him on ABC’s 20/20, as well as on MSNBC and the History Channel. He is a noted conference speaker, prolific author, and committed pastor. His award-winning Internet site, www.tbm.org, reaches more than a million people a year. His books published by Whitaker House are Devil, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare; Breaking Curses, Experiencing Healing; Prayers That Get Results; and Spiritual Gifts for Spiritual Warfare. Tom is the founder and pastor of Word of Life Church in El Paso, Texas.

Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky

Isabella had a dream.  She wanted to write for her father's newspaper.  But in order to do this, she had to deny who she was and write under a pseudonym.  Society dictated that she was to concentrate on finding a husband and put these dreams to the wayside.

James Drake didn't know his true identity.  His mother died under mysterious circumstances.  Why didn't his father and/or grandfather claim him?  \

He dreamed of flying and winning the Grand Prize that the newspaper offered for the first to fly across the English Channel. His worth was based on whether or not his flying machine was successful.

Isabella's father bought the fancy estate with the previous families' heirlooms in it.  His motivation was to impress and to "bridge the gap between old money and new, and close the distance between himself and those who inherited rank, titles, and respected family names."

 Isabella and James both dreamed for things that were almost inaccessible to them because of their gender or class.

How can they bridge the gap and find their happiness?

Great read.  I loved it.

I received this free to review.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away a grand prize of an autographed copy of Shine Like the Dawn and $30 gift card to Christianbooks.com!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c987

About the Author

Carrie Turansky has loved reading since she first visited the library as a young child and checked out a tall stack of picture books. Her love for writing began when she penned her first novel at age twelve. She is now the award-winning author of nineteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. Carrie and her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, and speaker, have been married for more than thirty years and make their home in New Jersey. They often travel together on ministry trips and to visit their five adult children and five grandchildren. Carrie leads women’s ministry at her church, and when she is not writing she enjoys spending time working in her flower gardens and cooking healthy meals for friends and family. She loves to connect with reading friends through her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Love By The Numbers

Caleb couldn't get Lydia out of his mind after seeing her at a wedding.  She stood out-she glittered.  He had to forget about her.  She was dangerous.

He agreed to do the bookkeeping for a friend's shop.  He never expected to see Lydia there.  Lydia agreed to help her friend in Jamesport, Missouri.  This was the perfect opportunity to escape the falsehoods said about her in her hometown.  But even going to Jamesport doesn't save her from the embarrassent and doubt she feels.

This story is about how Caleb and Lydia learn how to conquer their fears and trust that the Lord is right there with them.

I was surprised how Caleb and Lydia kept putting themselves at risk sexually when they were so physically attracted to each other.   They knew that it would only lead to trouble and heartbreak.  They both experienced poor choices in the past and had to live with the consequences.

I enjoyed the book and was happy with the ending.

I received this free to review.

Giveaway

In honor of the tour, Whitaker House is giving away

Grand Prize Package: Love By the Numbers, Healing Love (Amish of Webster County #1), and The Snow Globe (The Amish of Jamesport #1) by Laura Hilton; “The Angels Cry Holy” scented candle in tin with lid from Abba Jerusalem

1st Place Package: Love By the Numbers, The Snow Globe (The Amish of Jamesport #1) by Laura Hilton, and Whitaker House/Anchor Coloring Book with Colored Pencils

2nd Place Package: Love By the Number by Laura Hilton and Whitaker House/Anchor Coloring Book with Colored Pencils!!!

Click the link to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c6ca

About the Author

Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.

Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.

When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.

Guest Post from Laura V. Hilton

Story Behind the Story – Love by the Numbers

Caleb was a minor character in couple of my Amish books – I think he first made a by name appearance in Amish Wanderer and Christmas Admirer. A minor character. Lydia was a very minor one-time appearance in those stories, too, a girl who happened to be in the room with Bethany and Susanna at a wedding. (This story is stand alone!) But I knew when Caleb first saw Lydia that they would end up together by the way he reacted to her presence. I wondered what their story was.

March and April is tornado season in Arkansas (and in many other states) and in 2011 we had a bad one. I was out and about that day, driving to the county seat with my five children, and there was something in the air. It was heavy, hard to breathe, and the sky was black off to the west. I’m sure I broke speed limits racing to Melbourne, and then home again so we wouldn’t be out in the storm.

Later that afternoon, tornado sirens went off. One went over our house – even from the basement we could hear the sound of a train roaring overhead. Scary. And still thanking God it didn’t touch down. Highland, Ash Flat, and Evening Shade, Arkansas were hit hard. Buildings completely gone. When we drove out that way later in the week there were pickup trucks in the tops of trees. Other things in odd and unusual places. I always wondered how they got the treetop pickups down. I would’ve stopped to watch if I’d been out there when it was done. I did hear that some of those trucks weren’t damaged at all. Unreal. My two sons and my husband both helped with clean up and my oldest son went with a crew to Joplin, Missouri, to help with clean up there.

There has been other occasions I’ve been out in tornados. Once I was in the Walmart parking lot when a tornado went through a town west of it. We could see the funnel touching down from where we stood. It did hail when we were on our way home, praying our house was still standing. It was.

On a different note, in 2016 my oldest son came home with a kitten. She was the sweetest thing ever, and he named her Rosie. Sadly, I was highly allergic to her. I couldn’t even be around the children after they played with her. They’d have to go change clothes and wash their hands, otherwise I couldn’t breathe. Rosie was full Siamese, blue eyes and all, and she was so adorable. I allowed my son to keep her in the shed. I was about four chapters into the story when Rosie found some poison (I think, not sure) and died. We all cried.

Also about the time I was writing this, a very dear friend of a lot of writers died. I told my street team I was going to name a character after her, and was told a lot of writers would be. I agreed. And a lot of their books were released already. But Aenti Judith in this story is named after Judy Burgi. I still miss her and pray for her family.

One of the verses my daughter had to memorize in Sunday School was 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. ‘We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.’ Perfect for the faith message in Love by the Numbers! I love how God always provides the perfect verse for my characters’ faith messages. I’m pretty sure this verse is one I never memorized, and I never would of thought of it on my own, but God put it in my daughter’s lessons for Sunday School, so she had to memorize it – and thus I did too since I help my daughters learn their verses every week.

I hope you’ll enjoy the story!

Because of Him,

Laura V. Hilton

Mayflower Bride - Kimberly Woodhouse

I was instantly intrigued when I saw this book and the books that are to follow in this new series.  I love historical fiction and this book was everything I hoped for.

It is amazing what these people risked to come to the New Land.  They struggled and suffered but they had dreams.

Mary Elizabeth was quite content to stay home. She had no desire to leave.  Her journey and the obstacles she had to overcome - changed her.  She became stronger.  She was more confident.

William felt that he needed to leave his home.  He had a past he was fleeing from.  What he didn't know was that God had a plan for him.

Their faith in God was necessary for survival.  I can't even imagine going across the ocean on the Mayflower.  Cramped quarters, seasickness, etc.s

God gave them strength.  God gave them courage.  God gave them comfort.

Wonderful book.  I am ready for the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

More to come in the Daughters of the Mayflower series:
The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1620 Atlantic Ocean (February 2018)
The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1725 New Orleans (April 2018)
The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep – set 1760 during the French and Indian War (June 2018)
The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1774 Philadelphia (August 2018)?
The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear – set 1794 on the Wilderness Road (October 2018)
The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall – set 1814 Baltimore (December 2018)

The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano

Title sounds inviting.  The cover looks delicious.  New author.  I'm in.  The book is a journey into the world of cooking and running a fine restaurant.  I never realized the sacrifices that are made by the chef and staff.  This is a perfect position that Rachel Bishop can hide in.  Until Alex Kanin wrote an article that ruined her career.  He never thought that something he wrote would cause so much damage.

Alex was determined to help Rachel reach her dreams.  But Rachel starts to question what she really wants.  Is it her own restaurant?  Meeting Alex has confused her  thinking.......

This also is a story of letting go of your past.  Both Rachel and Alex needed to do this before they can move forward.

This was a delightful story.  Alex and Rachel deserved happiness.  Will they find it together?

I received this for free to review.

About the Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carla is giving away a grand prize of a $200 Visa Card for the winner and a friend to attend a cooking class!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c9b4

About the Author

Carla Laureano is the RITA® Award-winning author of contemporary inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes during the day and cooks things at night.

Guest Post From Carla Laureano

I’ve got a confession to make: I have a cooking problem.

It started early and innocently enough, flipping through my mom’s cookbooks and marking things I wanted to try. Making cakes and muffins from a mix. Flipping frozen steak patties. Doctoring canned spaghetti sauce.

It wasn’t long before I got into the hard stuff: muffins from scratch, slow-cooked marinara, cast-iron seared and oven-finished rib eyes. Over the years, I tried to kick the habit numerous times, but every time things got tough, I found myself falling off the wagon and heading back into the kitchen. Even hosting dinner parties. Yes, dear reader, I pulled my hapless friends into my madness. To my shame, I even got some of them hooked with their own addiction.

Before I knew it, my obsessions started creeping into my day job. No longer was it enough to write contemporary romance about normal people who order take-out. No, I had to write chefs and passionate home cooks and describe the food in the books just as lovingly as I did a first kiss. And then the final straw—a book series centered entirely on food and the culinary profession, beginning with The Saturday Night Supper Club.

All joking aside, cooking really is an addiction that I haven’t been able to kick. As a writer, I spend hours locked in my own imagination, creating things out of words and ideas. And while it’s immensely fulfilling, it’s a long, painstaking process that takes months, even years, before I can release the final product into the world. While there’s a large amount of planning and analysis involved in creating a book, the work is still mostly in my head.

Which is why I find cooking to be such a relaxing creative pursuit. Dicing a pile of vegetables into perfectly uniform cubes may take the same concentration and precision, but it’s concrete and measurable. It becomes a personal challenge to do something better than last time, improving by tiny, nearly imperceptible increments. It’s the closest to meditation that my always-on brain ever experiences, clear of all thought except for my activity at the present moment.

And yet, simultaneously, food is ephemeral. Mistakes last only as long as it takes to eat them or toss them directly into the trash can, depending on the nature of the mistake. If a sauce breaks, I toss it and start over. If I burn something, I either cut off the burned part or I order takeout and try again the next day. There’s an element of experimentation and instinct and whimsy that isn’t hampered by the pursuit of perfection. Let’s face it, a mediocre chocolate chip cookie beats a perfect celery stick any day of the week.

It was natural, then, to write a chef heroine who had dedicated her entire life to the pursuit of culinary perfection and explore all the ways that food makes our lives and relationships richer. How it anchors our memories. How we nurture others by feeding them. How a simple meal becomes meaningful not because of the food, but because of the connections we form with others over the dinner table.

In the end, I guess my cooking problem isn’t that much of a problem after all. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen.

Misty Beller - A Sweetwater River Romance

Torie and Opal were fleeing from evil.  They didn't know that they were running towards a new life:  a life filled with GOD's love and protection. Torie never met a man like Ezra.  Could she trust him?  Could she open her heart?

Ezra didn't expect Torie and Opal to show up at his front door.  He especially didn't expect to fall in love.

I loved this book.  It had all the elements that I love: the location, the time period, mystery, romance, danger and the promise of GOD'S neverending care and love.


I received this free to review.

Misty Beller:

I love books. I always have, and my love affair only grows stronger.

There's something about immersing myself in a story - becoming an intimate part of new lives, feeling their struggles. The desperation, the elation, the emotions, the love.

I don't know about you, but my life can get crazy...busy...chaotic. Historical fiction gives me a haven, allowing me to immerse in a simpler time and place. And add in remote mountain settings - log cabins and horses and snow...what could be better?

As a Godly woman, Christian romantic fiction is even more of a draw because it provides a place where I don’t always have to be concerned about inappropriate language or too-graphic love scenes.  It’s a “safe zone” where my imagination and emotions can run wild and free, living out exciting times and experiencing God-orchestrated happily-ever-afters – without having to clean-up at the end of the day.  

I hope you'll spend some time with me, releasing yourself into the abandon of a great book.

Phoebe's Light - Suzanne Woods Fisher

What?  I have only a few chapters left.  I was not ready for this to end.  But it didn't stop me from turning page after page....getting closer and closer to the conclusion of Phoebe's journey.

What a journey she had!  Phoebe's Journey was one of self discovery.  She thought she knew what she wanted.  But She made a terrible mistake.  What can she do?  

Phoebe had the "Light" of GOD shining within her.  HE was THE ONE that she needed to turn To.  GOD will lighten her load.  HE will guide her steps.

I loved the writing style where there were two stories being told and how the one story had an impact on the other.  

This is book one of The Nantucket Series.  I will make sure I get this one, too.

I received this free to review.

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including Anna’s Crossing, The Newcomer, and The Return in the Amish Beginnings series, The Bishop’s Family series, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away a grand prize of a Kindle!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c9e0

2/22/2018 If He Only Knew by Michelynn Christy and Brandi Gabriel

I just received this for free to review.  I finished this story the very same night.  I couldn't put it down.  I was completely surprised how the book turned out.

It was so sad that Donna couldn't talk to her Dad about what happened.  If she did she would have been saved years of guilt, shame and sorrow.  Donna tried so hard to be the "good" girl as though that was the way to heaven.  Jesus died on the Cross for our sins.  GOD is a forgiving GOD.  She didn't have to deal with her pain all alone.

This book dealt with loss, relationships, faith, trust, guilt, fear and forgiveness.  I loved the story and how it all came together in the end.

Five Stars!

I received this free to review.

About the Author

Author Michelynn Christy resides in the Midwest and enjoys creating romantic stories that point to Jesus. Her faith in God shines through the pages of her writing. Michelynn’s debut novelette A Christmas to Remember launched in late 2015. While this pen name and genre are somewhat new to her, she has penned over twenty titles under another pseudonym, has won awards for her works, and has earned best-selling title status. With that said, all glory goes to God!

Brandi Gabriel is co-author of twelve Christian fiction books, including this one. Her first solo novel, The Orphan Bride, released in 2016 and she has since added a sequel in the same series. Her goal in writing is to touch readers’ hearts in some special way and to glorify Jesus Christ, her Lord and Saviour.

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Michelynn and Brandi are giving away the following:

Grand Prize: ONE themed book box, (this will contain small items that relate to the story
1st Place Prize: ONE $25 Amazon gift card,
2nd Place Prize: ONE signed paperback copy of If He Only Knew
3rd Place Prize: ONE signed paperback copy of If He Only Knew!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c601

Dinner Ready?

Okay......another day at the Fallons.  My stepdaughter, Ashley, made us a weekly meal plan.  She printed the recipes, bought the groceries.   She was making it very simple for Mike and I. 

We cut up the ingredients.  We prepared the sauce.  The next step was to place all the ingredients in the crockpot. We turned it on HIGH.  It was to cook for one hour and a half.  Mike stirred the pot half way through.  Ashley came home just in time for dinner. 

Dinnertime!    But there is a problem......the rice is not done....the squash is hard as a log.  What Happened?

WE FORGOT TO PLUG IN THE CROCKPOT!!!

P.S. Ashley quickly put a different  dinner together after she remembered to turn on the burner.

P.S.S.  Mike has a glass of wine already and is ready for bed!