Saturday, June 30, 2018

Christmas in July - Author Blog Party!!!


I am super excited and thrilled! Not only am I hoping to release a new Christmas book the end of July, but I'm joining with several other Christian authors to have a month-long celebration with giveaways, discounts, and freebies. You'll want to be sure to mark your calendars (or bookmark this post) and come back each day for something new.

Giveaway
We have an exciting giveaway for you guys!!! Two giveaways, actually... one for those of you on our soil (USA), and another for international readers.


ENTER HERE: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/483ac2ab25/?

Blogger List and Schedule
July 1, 2018
Author Sarah Holman
www.thedestinyofone.com
Free: “Distorted Glass”

July 2, 2018
Author A.M. Heath
https://amheathblog.wordpress.com/
Giveaway: Where Can I Flee?

July 3, 2018
Author Faith Blum
www.fathblum.wordpress.com,
Giveaway: Audiobook redemption code

July 4, 2018
Author  E. Kaiser Writes
http://ekaiserwritesablog.blogspot.com/   
Spotlight: new cover

July 5, 2018
Author- Amanda Tero
http://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/
Free: Noelle’s Gift

July 6, 2018
Author Ryanna Lynn
https://www.lifeofheritage.com/blog
Discount: Free shipping for Coffee Shop Christmas

July 7, 2018
Author  Alicia G. Ruggieri
http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/category/abrighterdestiny/
Discount: The House of Mercy e-book

July 8, 2018
Author Sarah Holman
www.thedestinyofone.com
Discount: Emmeline

July 9, 2018
Author A.M. Heath
https://amheathblog.wordpress.com/
Giveaway: In the Shadow of Thy Wings

Author Kelsey Bryant
https://kelseysnotebookblog.blogspot.com/
Discount: Suit and Suitability ebook

July 10, 2018
Author Kelsey Bryant
https://kelseysnotebookblog.blogspot.com/
Discount: Second Impressions ebook

July 11, 2018
Author Rachel Rossano
https://www.rachelrossano.com/blog
Discount: The King of Anavrea ebook

July 12, 2018
Author Amanda Tero
http://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/
Free eBook: Hartly Manor

July 13, 2018
Author Kate Willis
https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com/
Free eBook: Enjoy the Poodle Skirt

July 14, 2018
Author Kendra E. Ardnek
knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com
Vlog and Giveaway: The most romantic fairy tales

July 16, 2018
Author A.M. Heath
https://amheathblog.wordpress.com/
Giveaway: Out of the Ashes

July 17, 2018
Author Rebekah Morris
www.readanotherpage.com
Discount: The Unexpected Request
Free: Choices for Max

July 18, 2018
Author Emily Ann Benedict
https://www.facebook.com/Emily-Ann-Benedict-164350249985/
Discount: Perception, a Vintage Jane Austen Novel

July 19, 2018
Author Erika Mathews
www.restinglife.com
Discount: Promise’s Prayer ebook, Overrun By His Love
Free: Gather ‘Round The Fables

July 20, 2018
Author Ryana Lynn
www.lifeofheritage.com
Blog post: character interview.

July 21, 2018
Author Rebekah Morris
www.readanotherpage.com
Sale: to be announced

July 23, 2018
Author Amanda Tero
http://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/
Discount: Journey to Love, Befriending the Beast, The Secret Slipper

July 24, 2018
Author Rebekah Morris
www.readanotherpage.com
Blog: Special upcoming release announcement

July 25, 2018
Author Emily Ann Benedict
https://www.facebook.com/Emily-Ann-Benedict-164350249985/
Giveaway: The Father Christmas Confessions.

July 26, 2018
Author  Faith Blum
www.faithblum.wordpress.com
Blog: Special upcoming release announcement and book sale

July 27, 2018
Author Alicia G. Ruggieri
http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/category/abrighterdestiny/
Discount: A Time of Grace: The Complete Series
Blog: Spotlight on new book

July 28, 2018
Author Abigayle Claire
https://theleft-handedtypist.blogspot.com
Giveaway and discount: Andora’s Folly

July 30, 2018
Author Alicia G. Ruggieri
http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/category/abrighterdestiny/
Discount: The Mystery of the Missing Cufflinks

July 31, 2018
Author Amanda Tero
http://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/
Giveaway and new release: “Finding Christmas Joy”


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Friday, June 29, 2018

A Holy Passion | Book Review



David Brainerd is a name that was familiar with me, but I hadn’t actually read his journals or researched much on his life, so I was very interested in this story. Though it was primarily a story on David Brainerd, it was told from Jerusha Edwards’ perspective.

I can say nothing against the spiritual content and theology of this book. Wow. It was jam-packed full and Alicia didn’t hold anything back with the Christian message. I loved the glimpse into David’s life and the many lessons that he learned—most of which I have also journeyed through in my own life and needed the reminders of. There is a lot to think about in these pages.

The aftermath of the first Great Awakening was fascinating for me. In highschool I had done a good bit of research on the Great Awakening, but had never considered how the believers of that time may tried to “manipulate” the same movement of the Spirit but without actually tapping into the Spirit (much as we see today).

The romance was pure in that there were no kisses or even sensual desires mentioned. To me, Jerusha’s infatuation with David was a little annoying. It did get better after the 20% mark, and I will fully claim that the reason I found it annoying is because I’m not a romantic at heart. She did try to curb her thoughts and affections.

For me, the actual story/plot was slow-moving, so it’s the type of book I’d read when I just have leisure and not when I want that quick-to-get-through-and-enjoy story. It is a very different book from your typical historical fiction—it can almost be put into the devotional category because of the spiritual discussions and content portrayed.

*I received this book from the author and happily provided my honest review*  

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Monday, June 25, 2018

Giveaway Winner!! ("Quest for Leviathan" blog tour wrap-up)

Wow, what an amazing two weeks it has been! A huge, ginormous thank-you to my amazing bloggers and reviewers! Thank you, thank you, thank you for making this release so wonderful for me. I really appreciate each and every one of you!

Now, for the moment we've all been waiting for... the lovely person who will receive TWO copies of "Quest for Leviathan" (one for them, one for a friend)...

The winner...

Is...

DEANNE P!!!!!

I'm sending you an email as soon as I finish this post!

Now for ALL of those lovely bloggers! Here's another chance for you to go and support their blogs! (Please note, these links are going directly to their blogs, not to their "Quest for Leviathan" posts... I just want you to support them now! Also, I haven't visited all of these blogs in general, so don't know if I can fully endorse their posts as a whole.)

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Scripture Graphics #97


This verse speaks of eternal life, yet it made me wonder: do we live as though God is God only of life once our time on earth has ceased? Is He only “profitable” for securing our home in heaven? Or do we see Him as Lord of our life? Yes, we can comfort ourselves with the eternal hope and security of our everlasting God, but He is just as real here on earth as He is in heaven. Do we live unto Him or barely give Him a fleeting thought in our busy times?


In a time when events hadn’t gone as they thought it should, they were confused, fearful, and mourning, Jesus’ Words comforted and assured them. When we refuse to listen to God’s Word, we refuse to find a balm for our needs—our confusion, fear, mourning, and even guilt, questions, and unbelief.


My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22
Job 23:10-12 compares God’s Word to food—our need for daily nourishment. Here, it ties God’s Word in with life and health. A healthy lifestyle is one with proper nourishment and activity. We can eat that which is good for our bodies, but unless we couple it with activity and exercise, our bodies will not be properly nourished. So it is with God’s Word. We can feast on it with sermons and devotional books and reading Scriptures, but unless we do some spiritual exercise (i.e. apply and obey), that which we have “eaten” will not be properly digested (and thus benefit our spiritual bodies to its fullest extent). Have we grown lazy in our exercise? Have we failed to keep God’s Word ever before us, to follow it?


But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:21
The workers of evil avoid the truth of God’s Word (vs. 20), but on the contrary, those who do truth seek out God and His Word. This applies to our life in various forms: our means of salvation, the physical and spiritual work we do, what motivates us. Even in our “non-spiritual” work, we can seek the Light or reject the Light by our attitude, actions, and thoughts.

What verse has recently taught you something?
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Friday, June 22, 2018

The Captured Bride | Book Review



My Review
The characters in this book were so diverse: two trail-worn scouts, a traitor, and bratty general’s son? What a great combination for a wilderness mission smuggling gold!

I loved the complexity of this book all the way around—like I already mentioned, the characters were individually unique yet each with hidden secrets (some very dark) of their own. Half of the time, I wasn’t sure what would unravel next with their character. The guessing game kept my interest piqued.

And then there was the plot. Just the setting of posing as a family to safely escape the scrutiny of enemies they might pass hyped up the tension. And then there was the more intimate tension as trail-tested Matthew had to pair up with the bratty Rufus and Mercy (another scout) had to pretend her marriage to the traitor Elias. There was definitely enough action and excitement to keep the story going forward—and yet, at all times, it was very believable.

Because Mercy and Elias were pretending marriage, it did make for some crude comments by others. And then there were their whole feelings for each other. For those who like romance, I suppose the romance thread was well-done and their affections for each other took a steady climb instead of unrealistic plunge. For a conservative reader, though, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this for conservative readers under 18, due to the comments that were made.

Two of the characters were very easily seen as Christians from chapter one. It didn’t dig into their personal spiritual lives quite as much as I had hoped, but the author definitely wasn’t afraid to mention God and seeking Him throughout the characters’ lives. At the same time, I found that there were several light uses of the Lord’s Name (like, “____ but she was obstinate” type).

Reading this book makes me very interested in the other books in the series by other authors.

*I received this book from Celebrate Lit and happily provided my honest review*



About the Book
Title: The Captured Bride
Author: Michelle Griep
Release Date: June 1, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance
A war-torn countryside is no place for a lady—but Mercy Lytton is a lady like none other. Raised amongst the Mohawks, she straddles two cultures, yet each are united in one cause . . . to defeat the French. Born with a rare gift of unusually keen eyesight, she is chosen as a scout to accompany a team of men on a dangerous mission. Yet it is not her life that is threatened. It is her heart.
Condemned as a traitor, Elias Dubois faces the gallows. At the last minute, he’s offered his freedom if he consents to accompany a stolen shipment of French gold to a nearby fort—but he’s the one they stole it from in the first place. It turns out that the real thief is the beguiling woman, Mercy Lytton, for she steals his every waking thought.
Can love survive divided loyalties in a backcountry wilderness?
Click here to purchase your copy!
About the Author
Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the author of historical romances: The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, Undercurrent and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, June 9
Genesis 5020, June 11
Bakerkella, June 11
Among the Reads, June 13
Book by Book, June 13
Splashes of Joy, June 14
Artistic Nobody, June 14 (Spotlight)
Pause for Tales, June 15
Mary Hake, June 15
Bigreadersite, June 15
Simple Harvest Reads, June 16 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Novels corner, June 17
Kathleen Denly, June 18
Remembrancy, June 18
Mommynificent, June 20
Carpe Diem, June 22

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away a grand prize of
a signed copy of The Captured Bride and a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card!!
Click below to enter.
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Monday, June 18, 2018

Scripture Graphics #96


Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:8-10
Do we put as much time and effort in seeking lost souls as we do in temporal things? What we give our time and effort to reflects what is important to us. Are we joining the crowd, rejoicing over lost souls found? Or are we indifferent, our eyes clouded by focusing on temporal things?


Our eyes sometimes focus on whether we have “much” or “little” compared to others—in gifts, talents, possessions, or responsibilities. What if we spent as much time focusing our thoughts and energy on being faithful?


Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Luke 17:3-4
We like to make excuses for our behavior with, “Well, if they weren’t like that, I wouldn’t be like this.” Take heed to yourselves. “If they only did this, my life would be easier.” Take heed to yourselves. “This is the tenth time they say they’re sorry for the same thing. I’ll believe it when I see changes.” Take heed to yourselves.
We are responsible only for the actions and attitudes of one person: ourselves. As long as we’re looking at the shortcomings and failures of another, we are not taking heed to ourselves.


When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall...The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:16, 25
No matter what goes on around us, we have certainty in God and His plans. Are we allowing temporal things to shake our trust?

Share a verse that recently really stood out to you.
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Saturday, June 16, 2018

10 Minutes in the Word, Proverbs | Book Review



I was pleasantly surprised with this little book. Some daily devotional books give just a tiny thought to dwell on. Not this book. It digs deep and unashamedly confronts worldly ideas and shallow Christianity for what they are.

It is formatted to where you read a portion of Scripture from your own Bible (which I like, because then I can use the translation I prefer) and then the devotional expounds on what you read, completed with a prayer and several thoughts/questions to dwell on.

It is a sturdy hardcover, with a convenient bookmark, and glossy pages. Just the feel of the book is a delight.

For a "quick daily devotional" this packs a powerful punch. I highly recommend it.

*I received this book from Book Look Bloggers and happily provided my honest review*

 Purchase here.
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