Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Please Vote for Redemption at Shadow Lake in the All Author Cover Contest

AllAuthor

Cover of the Month

Redemption at Shadow Lake (Houses of Mystery Book 1)

Hey Everyone,
I’m excited to tell you that my book has been nominated for the "Cover of the Month" contest on AllAuthor.com. This will help me a lot if I could see some votes coming in, so please remember to vote my book.
Vote Now »
Thanks,
J.E. Grace

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Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Clown William & The Wind of Vengence Blog Tour and Giveaway

Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance by Robin Elno

Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance by Robin Elno

 Publisher: Ingram Elliott Publishing (December 1, 2019)

Category: Historical Fiction, Western

Tour dates: February 2020

ISBN: 978-1732843639 Available in Print and ebook, 218 pages


Description Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance by Robin Elno

A reluctant 1870s gunslinger with Tourette’s and a quick draw . . .

 While the battle for Lincoln, New Mexico, rages on, William is consumed by his own war against Jesse Evans, the man he blames for the loss of his friends and the start of his life as a gunfighter. But when William finds Jesse at his most vulnerable—jailed with a gunshot wound—he can’t justify pulling the trigger.

A gunfight must be fair. William braves hostile military territory to orchestrate his archenemy’s release—only to discover he has become the prime target for an army of bounty-motivated gunslingers. The hunter is now the hunted—and William must weigh whether revenge will give him the peace of mind he has been seeking.

 Can William defeat his internal tornado before he becomes one of its victims?

Praise Clown William Series by Robin Elno

“I couldn't put this book down. The premise is brilliant: What happens when a peaceful man is given the gift of violence? Clown William is an unwilling hero whose life is full of ironies he can't escape. He doesn't have control over his tics, yet he was born with astonishing control over a gun. He wants a peaceful life, but in every town William comes to, rogues force him to defend himself with violence. The plot moves briskly, the characters are complex and well-drawn, and the writing style is lively and pops with poeticism. Clown William comes highly recommended.”-Greendancer, Amazon Review

 “Robin Elno gives a fresh twist to the classic Old West gunslinger. His reluctant antihero with Tourette Syndrome just happens to be the fastest gun around despite his tics – which makes him a constant target of bullies and miscreants. This fast-paced story keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The book is sure to satisfy everyone from the casual fiction reader to the most ardent Western aficionado. The first book in a series, I am eager to read the next installments.”-Tom M., Amazon
 Review

 “A quick read, packed full of action, challenges, twists and turns and surprises. The characters are well developed and engaging. Mr. Elno manages to present William as a strong man and his challenges in a realistic, sensitive way, his handicap does not hold him back. The reader will be drawn into this story and held in awe as you follow William's journey. An enjoyable and satisfying read. I look forward to reading more of Clown William's adventures.”-April, My Book Addiction and More

Awards and Recognition Clown William Series

About Robin Elno

Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance by Robin Elno

Robin Elno is a retired army colonel, semiretired psychiatrist, and full-time author. He lives in San Antonio, Texas, where he is an active member of the San Antonio Writers' Guild.

Elno’s Clown William series was inspired by the work of neurologist Oliver Sacks, who wrote about the unusual speed and accuracy often displayed by people with Tourette’s syndrome.

Intrigued by the idea that strengths can rise from differences, Elno created the unique and compelling character of Clown William. Elno’s novels are often set against true historical backdrops like the Wild West.


 Website: http://www.ingramelliott.com/clown-william.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ingramelliott/

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/ingram_elliott

Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance by Robin Elno

Amazon BarnesAndNoble IndieBound

Giveaway Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance by Robin Elno

This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to Canada, the U.K, and the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends February 29, 2020, midnight pacific time.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance by Robin Elno

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus

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Feb 4 Review & Excerpt Dawn Bound4Escape

 Feb 10 Guest Review Bookgirl Goodreads

Feb 14 Review Toots Book Reviews

 Feb 17 Guest Review & Guest Post Jas International Book Reviews

Feb 19 Review & Interview Gud Reader Goodreads 

Feb 21 Review Steve Silver Screen Videos

Feb 26 Review Julie https://bizwingsblog.blogspot.com/

Feb 26 Review Réal Laplaine Amazon



Debbie M Amazon Feb 28 Review


Feb 28Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance by Robin Elno

MY REVIEW

 The story is set in the 1870s and the main character William is a gunslinger, but an unusual one.  He has Tourette's.  The author has come up with an out of the ordinary character which amuses his readers at every turn.  He is hunting Jessee Evans seeking vengeance for the death of his friends. William is cunning, relentless, and determined.

 The main character, William, is unique and has a constant inner battle about having to kill.  Having a price on his head complicates things. 

 Descriptions of his characters and the surrounding setting of the book made me feel like I was along for the ride.  Enjoyed his unusual banter.
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Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Release Day for A Walk with Heavenly Spirits



Release day for "A Walk with Heavenly Spirits."

A Walk with Heavenly Spirits took a year of writing and re-writing and I have to say, it is my favorite of all my books so far.  It's a combination of scriptural and inspirational fiction with a sweet romance thrown in.  Some of the story takes place around Christmastime so technically a Christmas romance also.

Description:
Allison Stevens became a Christian at a young age, but she makes a wrong decision that takes her on a collision course of disappointment and heartache. God loves her and wants her back, but Satan wants to keep her in a life of despair and lies.

Heavenly Spirits are sent by God to instruct and remind Allison of God’s promises. Can she learn to trust God's word and become the woman God
meant for her to be?

A family she didn’t know she had, a man grieving a personal loss, and a felon who wants her dead makes her relationships more complicated than ever. Can she learn to trust God again and walk by faith?

On the road back to God, she discovers that the path doesn’t come without trials but now she realizes she isn’t alone. God is with her. Can she stay strong and follow God's path?  


Have a blessed and productive week.
Julie
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Tuesday, November 14, 2017


About the Book

  

Name of book: The Christmas Admirer  
Author: Laura V Hilton  
Genre: Amish Romance  
Release Date: September 5, 2017  

 Amish romance fans will love this heartwarming holiday story, perfect for gift-giving. Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for as long as he can remember, but when his parents died in an accident a year ago, he broke up with her—for her own good. After all, he was now the sole caregiver for his three younger sisters. What woman would want to put up with that? Still, against his better judgment, he can’t help leaving her a gift now and then, anonymously addressing her name in big block print, just to catch a smile. Roses one month, maple syrup candy another; and maybe this time, something special for Christmas. Susanna has never gotten over losing Benaiah, but now the clock is ticking. Her father is selling his glass-blowing business, remarrying in January, and moving to Iowa with his bossy wife-to-be. Angry and frustrated, Susanna realizes she’s left with three options: one, go with Daed to his new home with a new mom; two, stay in Jamesport, Missouri, as an old maid; or, three, the best yet, flush out her mysterious secret admirer. But how could she be with anyone else when her heart is still with Benaiah?


Click here to purchase your copy.




My Review



The Christmas Admirer is a delightful Amish story immersed in Amish tradition and interlaced with love. The story is woven with uncertainty and mistrust. Can Beniah find his way to trust the Lord for his future?









An uplifting ending brings a wonderful conclusion to a beautiful love story. The characters were well developed, humorous and I couldn't help but laugh along with them. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of her work.










I requested and received this book free through the Celebrate Lit Blog Tour for the purpose of posting an honest review.

 About the Author
Amish fiction lovers responded positively and immediately to Laura V. Hilton’s debut novel, Patchwork Dreams, when she burst on the scene in 2009 with her unique series, The Amish of Seymour, set in the tiny town of Seymour, in Webster County, Missouri. Fans of the genre immediately recognized Hilton’s insider knowledge, not only of the Webster County community, but Amish culture in general. Her natural speech and writing patterns, she says, are uniquely “Amish,” acquired from her Amish maternal grandparents. The Amish of Seymour, includes Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. Her second series, The Amish of Webster County, is comprised of Healing Love, Surrendered Love, and Awakened Love. A stand-alone title, A White Christmas in Webster County, was released in September 2014. The Amish of Jamesport includes The Snow Globe, The Postcard and The Birdhouse. In spring 2016 she released The Amish Firefighter with the setting in Jamesport, MO, the same as for The Amish Wanderer. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer. Laura and her husband, Steve, have five children, whom Laura homeschools. The family makes their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas.

Guest Post from Laura V. Hilton

Glass Blowing and The Christmas Admirer


 Right before my youngest son joined the Coast Guard we went on a short mini-vacation to Springfield, Missouri, actually going farther north almost to Kansas City to see another Amish community near there in Osceola. There is a cheese factory there and my son wanted to try some of their cheeses – such as a ghost pepper cheese. Too spicy for me. But upon the return to Springfield, Steve read about a glass blowers shop in the downtown area. We found the address and went to visit it. It is owned by an older gentleman and his son. They had a display area set up where people could see their wares and buy them and then a work area where the son mostly worked, and talked about how the fire needed to be so hot, and showed us how he worked and made things. As we watched, he made a lovely flower, a lily, in different colors of glass, green, white, pinks. It was fascinating. And I got to thinking what if…


So I did some more research. Asked questions. Probably drove them nuts. But when Whitaker House indicated they’d be interested in a Christmas novel, I proposed one about a glass blower. The story is set in Jamesport, Missouri, and while completely stand alone, it does have some continuing characters from other books I’ve written set in Jamesport.

  If you are interested, the books set there are:
Amish Books set in Jamesport, Missouri:

 The Snow Globe

 The Postcard

 The Birdhouse

 The Amish Firefighter

 The Amish Wanderer

 The Kissing Bridge (part of Springs of Love collection)

 The Christmas Admirer Gingerbread Wishes

 (part of A Plain Thanksgiving collection–November 2018)

  Love by the Numbers (February 2018)  



 I haven’t read any books about an Amish glass blower, but that’s not to say they aren’t out there. I haven’t read all the Amish books available. Jamesport is an area that is more tourist-oriented than the books set in Seymour / Webster County Missouri. They give buggy tours, have bed and breakfasts, open their homes for visitors to eat supper with them, and have businesses. All Amish districts are different and the rules vary depending on the bishop and preachers. Some are more liberal and some more conservative. Some keep themselves distant and don’t welcome attention from non-Amish and some embrace it. While Jamesport is not as touristy as some districts in Lancaster Pennsylvania or in Ohio, it is much more so than others.

Susanna’s Cranberry Salad

Ingredients
  • 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (thawed), chopped
  • 1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 1 medium apple, chopped
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
  1. In a large bowl, mix the first six ingredients until blended. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.
  2. In a large bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Just before serving, fold cream and walnuts into cranberry mixture.Makes 16 servings.

Susanna’s Cranberry Sauce

For on top of turkey sandwiches as Becca requested
Ingredients
  • 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (thawed), chopped
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water or orange juice
Directions
In colander, rinse cranberries. In sauce pan, add water or orange juice and sugar, boil until sugar is dissolved. Add cranberries and return to a boil. Lower to simmer and cook about 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries had burst. Let cool.

Susanna’s “Love Portion” Gingerbread

Ingredients
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 T baking powder
  • 1 T ground ginger
  • 1 t ground nutmeg
  • 1 t ground cloves
  • 1 t ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup shortening, melted slightly
  • 1 cup molasses
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ c water
  • 1 egg
  • 1 t vanilla
Directions
Shift together flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Set aside. In mixing bowl, mix shortening, molasses, brown sugar, water, egg and vanilla until smooth. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until they are absorbed. Divide dough into three pieces, pat down until about 1 ½ inch thickness, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for three hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. On lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut in desired shapes. Place cookies about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes in preheated oven. Cool on wire racks. When cool, decorate as desired.

Blog Stops

ASC Book Reviews, November 9
Books n Baubles, November 9
Janices book review, November 9
Have A Wonderful Day, November 10
A Greater Yes, November 10
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 11
A Holland Reads, November 12
Simple Harvest Reads, November 12
Beck To Basics, November 13
Carpe Diem, November 13
Christian Bookaholic, November 14
Blossoms and Blessings, November 14
Baker Kella, November 16
Quiet Quilter, November 16
Karen Sue Hadley, November 16
Pause for Tales, November 17
Pursuing Stacie, November 17
For The Love of Books, November 18
Blogging With Carol, November 18
Bigreadersite, November 19
Vicky Sluiter, November 19
SusanLovesBooks, November 19
Moments Dipped in Ink, November 20
New Horizon Reviews, November 20
Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 22
Daysong Reflections, November 22
Splashes of Joy, November 22

Giveaway


In honor of her tour, Laura is giving away
Grand Prize Package: The Christmas Admirer, “Unto Us a Child is Born” painting on decorative serving plate by Donna White, The Hearthside Collection, Inc., and commemorative Whitaker House/Anchor Distributors coloring book (not in photo).
1st Place Package: The Christmas Admirer and The Very First Christmas by Juliet David with interactive illustrations by Pauline Siewert (children’s book). 2nd Place Package: The Christmas Admirer and “The Woman Who Honors The Lord Shall Be Praised” myrrh-scented candle from abba Jerusalem!
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Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Review of My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah by Angie Dicken


About the Book


Name of book: My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah  
Author: Angie Dicken
Genre: Historical Romance  
Release Date: November 1, 2017
Schoolteacher Leanna McKee plans on leaving the coal mining town of Castle Gate, Utah, and never looking back. Good riddance to coal dust, rugged men, and the fatal mine that took her husband’s life. Until the widow meets a widower who awakens her heart…and she finds herself inexplicably falling for miner Alex Pappas which stirs up a whole heap of trouble. Alex’s Greek parents have arranged a more traditional match for him. When the schoolteacher’s association with the Greek family begins to anger the American miners, they threaten Alex and his family. Leanna has received an offer to teach elsewhere and feels she has no choice but to leave Castle Gate. . .though she will be leaving her heart behind.

 
Click here to purchase Angie’s amazing book

About the Author



Angie Dicken is a third generation Greek American, the granddaughter of strong men and women who endured hardship to grow American roots. My Heart Belongs In Castle Gate, Utah is set near the birthplace of her grandfather, a Greek coal miner’s son, and published 100 years after his birth. Angie is a contributor to The Writer’s Alley blog and an ACFW member since 2010. She lives with her husband and four children in the Midwest where she enjoys exploring eclectic new restaurants and chatting with friends over coffee. You can connect with Angie at www.angiedicken.com.

Guest Post from Angie Dicken

My Publishing Story: A Journey of Perfect Timing

“Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14


I wrote a story five years ago. My footing was finally solid on how to write, after a couple ACFW conferences and connecting with my bestie writing sister, Ashley. So in 2012, I poured my heart out within the parameters of what I’d learned. The story I wrote stemmed from my heritage. From a very young age, I’ve been inspired by my grandfather. He was the son of a Greek coal miner who came over from Greece in the 1910’s. My grandfather always had wonderful stories to tell–he stirred up my intrigue for WWII era as he was a Purple Heart recipient (twice), and spoke of freeing concentration camps and invading Hitler’s homes; my grandfather lived a rags to riches legacy, having been born in a tent in a coal town, and then becoming a successful home and commercial builder–I declared I’d be an architect at age eleven…even majoring in Landscape Architecture in college.


Papou was one of my greatest heroes. And my novel was a tribute to him, to my Greek roots, to an American legacy.
So, at ACFW 2012, I took my novel to conference with more confidence than I had before. This story caught the attention of an agent– and I signed a contract with the Steve Laube Agency in November of that year. That was amazing…I chuckle now because the name of the room that I interviewed with Tamela was the “McKee” room–the last name of my heroine. A sign? Maybe. When she sent my story out for all publishers to see that next month, I thought my time for that book was just around the corner. And… Now it’s 2017, and that story is under contract with a publisher as of Fall 2016. What timing, right? Why the heck did it take so long? Not for lack of trying. My agent and I took every possible measure. Why did I get rejection after rejection, and write two other books in the wait? What happened between then? Only in looking back, do I see why I had to wait for this book. And when I look back, I realize just how much Timing is His and there’s nothing I can do to speed it up or make it mine. All I can do is take courage, and wait. I’ll give you a quick recap of what happened between 2013–when the book was put in the proverbial drawer of unwanted manuscripts–and now, 2017, the year it will get published (um, after a few rewrites and edits–always learning…). In looking back, this is what I see:


My Community was Built. I fell in love with my writer friendships. A bit dramatic? Maybe, but it’s the truth. I connected with ladies who knew my heart as a writer, and allowed me into their lives in an authentic, Christ-loving way. I found hope in the writing journey because my friends held my hands and rubbed my back when all seemed lost. And in this, I grew not as a writer, but as a heart. My heart became soft for the needs of others and the value of authenticity in this short, precious life.

   

 There was a Pride Monster, and He needed to kill it. Oh, Lord, if ever there was a pride monster, it was me. My gut reaction in every rejection, every criticism, every other person’s success was a measurement against them according to me. Yuck. Do you know what the best way to kill a Pride Monster? Starve it. Even though I had my sweet friends and my agent encouraging me along the way, my heart was set on publication and I was not getting that. I wanted it so badly that I turned ugly when it seemed to slip through my fingers with every rejection. And I spiraled and I came up for air to those authentic friendships speaking Truth in love. God knew what He was doing when He built my community, and He knew He would use it to lift me up and tear down my ugly.


The Darkest Valley Was Ahead. Everything stood still in 2014. My personal crisis gave me little room for any true focus on my writing success. If anything, it made the effort seem petty. When you go through your days wondering if you’ll make it to the next morning without a complete mental breakdown, you can’t really dream. My dream in those moments was to crawl out of my skin and run away. This was not about my writing, this was about God’s faithfulness to someone who was losing faith–in the person she loved, in the life she constructed, in the heart that was broken. Looking back (I did climb up and out of this valley), I needed this valley walk (or crawl) to happen when it did–without a book on the shelf, without confidence in something that I had accomplished. I needed brokenness to become stronger and know that my strength has nothing to do with me. There are several other moments and signs that I see as I look back, but I’m not going for the longest blog post of 2017, but I do want to share two sweet confirmations that the timing really is His.



First, I got a book contract! You know this, but, the contract came at a time when I had grown peaceful in the journey–the pride monster lay slain, and I picked up a pen and took an opportunity. My Oklahoma Land Run book with Love Inspired Historical won the Manuscript Matchmakers contest…and WAS coming out in Spring 2018. I had secretly told those closest to me, that it would’ve been nice for it to come out in September instead…just because that’s when the book opens–September, 1893–the historical date of the Land Run. So, what happens after I turn in my complete book a few days before its deadline? My editor tells me they bumped up my date to September of 2017. And I am sure, for them, it had nothing to do with the history, but for me, it was everything to do with the history–and His timing. Look for my debut novel, The Outlaw’s Second Chance this September! There’s more… My second contract came in! And this was a wonderful surprise. My agent and I had found out last spring that a new series was being launched based on geographical places around the U.S. I immediately thought of my Coal country story. So, I put together a proposal for a book I’d written long ago…and got a contract with Barbour this Fall for my novel, My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah. But, the timing? November 2017 is my release. God’s Timing in its finest…The book comes out during the centennial year of my grandfather’s birth. He was born in Dec. 1917 in Carbon County, Utah. My hero and my inspiration for this very book. I just can’t stop smiling at the chance to honor my late grandfather with a story written by his third generation Greek American granddaughter who was inspired by his roots grown a century ago. If only he could be here now. But I know he’s smiling, too. A century. It took a CENTURY. Only by God’s grace, and His perfect timing.
MY REVIEW


My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah is a book of heartache, love, faith, and times when tensions ran high. It depicts the 1900's well, during a time of great prejudice against anyone not born in the U.S.
The characters were well developed and the ongoing tension kept me on the edge of my seat. The story was laced wit struggles and great compromises. The ending took me by surprise, but I was pleased with how it turned out.



BLOG STOPS
Faithfully Bookish, October 31
Caffeinated Reads, October 31
A Greater Yes, November 2
Daysong Reflections, November 2
Carpe Diem, November 4
Radiant Light, November 5
Texas Book-aholic, November 6
Babs Book Bistro, November 7
Neverending Stories, November 9
Have A Wonderful Day, November 10
Pause for Tales, November 10
Mary Hake, November 11
Splashes of Joy, November 11
Bigreadersite, November 12
Vicky Sluiter, November 13
Bibliophile Reviews, November 13

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Angie is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of her book The Outlaw’s Second Chance!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c1ff

My Review

My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah is a book of heartache, 



love, faith and times when tensions ran high. It depicts the 

1900's well, during a time of great prejudice against anyone

not born in the U.S.







The characters were well developed and the ongoing tension



kept me on the edge of my seat. The story was laced

with struggles and great comprimises.





The ending took me by surprise but I was pleased with how





it turned out. 







An inspirational story of romance against all odds







where traditions are hard to overcome.







I received this book free through the Celebrate Lit Blog Tour 
and NetGalley.  I was under no obligation to post a review.


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