Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Sword of Trust Blog Tour & Giveaway by Debbie Lynne Costello

 

 


About the Book

 

Book:  Sword of Trust

Author: Debbie Lynne Costello

Genre: Christian Fiction Romance Medieval

Release date: March 15, 2021

 

Deirdre Mackenzie has spent her life hiding from her father and hating the English. However, when she is caught stealing from an English laird, his unexpected kindness begins to melt away her hatred and strums lonely heartstrings longing for love.  Bryce Warwick can’t believe the boy his men caught is actually a young woman. After several attempts to lure the truth from her, he determines she is as deceitful as his late fiancĂ©e who nearly cost him his life. But the woman is the least of his worries with the turbulence brought on by threats of another border war and by King Richard’s distrust of the nobles. With the boundary in unrest, Bryce entertains a Scottish chieftain unaware it is Deirdre’s father, seeking peace for his people. Fearful that her father will discover she is alive, Deirdre steals Bryce’s signet ring, hoping a missive from the laird will keep her father away. But when the ring is used instead for treason, she realizes too late she’s been betrayed and Bryce will hang for the crime. With old wounds that need to heal and adversaries who could end their chances at true love, both must learn to trust in a way they never knew possible.

 

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW
This is my first Medieval period read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was drawn into the story right away. The characters are engaging and the storyline brings forth a wonderful combination of English and Scottish tradition. Some of the characters were uplifting and had a strong Christian faith, while others are lead by darkness.

I loved the charm of the time period and the vivid details of their surroundings. An unusual union between two people who had to learn a valuable lesson of trust and forgiveness before love could blossom.

Highly recommended. A charming and well-written story that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily choose to review it. All opinions are my own.

 

About the Author

 

Debbie Lynne Costello is the author of Sword of Forgiveness, Amazon’s #1 seller for Historical Christian Romance. She has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina with their 4 horses, 3 dogs, a miniature donkey, and 6 peking ducks.

 




More from Debbie Lynne

It is my desire as an author to draw my readers into my story so they feel invested in the hero and heroine and part of their journey, whether it is set in 19th Century Charleston, South Carolina or 14th Century Northumberland, England. One of the ways I love to do this is with professions, hobbies, and cooking. In Sword of Trust my heroine, Deirdre has become quite proficient with a bow and arrow. She’s had plenty of practice and is driven to be the best, perhaps to prove to herself because she is a lass in lad’s clothing. The longbow was a popular weapon in the Middle Ages and was used in battle in The Hundred Years’ War. But the bow was not just a weapon of war, the bow was also a weapon for food. And Deirdre loves to hunt with a flat bow. In her excitement she runs into a wee bit of trouble with the king. Some trivia for you: Because of its elasticity, the yew tree was used in making the longbow. Even after firearms were introduced the longbow continued to be used for battles. And due to its popularity, by the end of the sixteenth century, mature yew trees were nearly extinct in Northern Europe.

 

Unfortunately, I can’t really give you instructions on bow making or lessons on how to shoot accurately. Instead, I’m going to share a recipe for the medieval treat, gyngerbrede. In Sword of Trust, Bryce gets his cook to make gyngerbrede. He fills a bag with them and takes them north to the Scottish borderland to hand out to the children. Sweets have been loved for thousands of years. Today we know that sugar is bad for us. Regardless of that, we still crave the empty calories. Some things never change. Here is a wee bit of fun trivia for you. During the first century in some countries, sugar was only used for medicinal purposes and thought to heal many ailments.

 

Gyngerbrede

Ingredients

1 loaf of wheat bread, grounded into breadcrumbs

1 cup of honey

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp black pepper

 

Preparation

In a medium to large pan, bring your honey to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the foam that collects on the top and sides. Add your cinnamon, ginger, and pepper. Stir well. When your spices are mixed in the honey begin adding your bread crumbs one cup at a time. Mix well and then knead it thoroughly. You can divide your dough up into quarters to make it easier to work with and roll out. Cut them into 1” squares. Dust the squares with a mixture of one part cinnamon and two parts sandalwood.



                              Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, April 23

Britt Reads Fiction, April 23

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 24

Connect in Fiction, April 25

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 26

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 27

Connie’s History Classroom, April 28

Bizwings Blog, April 28

deb’s Book Review, April 29

Simple Harvest Reads , April 29(Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, April 30

Betti Mace, May 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 1

Texas Book-aholic, May 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 3

The Book Chic Blog, May 3

Pause for Tales, May 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 5

Mary Hake, May 5

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, May 6



                                 Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Debbie is giving away the grand prize of a smartwatch!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Enter Giveaway

Monday, April 19, 2021

New Release- Transcending Time (The Watchmaker's Series Book 1) by J.E.Grace

 

Transcending Time (The  Watchmaker's Series Book 1)

Christian Fiction/Historical/Inspirational

Published: April 14, 2021

Available FREE on KU or 99c special pricing!

Watchmaker, Bastian Andros, carries on the family tradition in Gem City, Illinois in the year 1955. His shop, Transcending Time, located in the historic district of a town steeped in history, is known by locals and tourists alike.

Bastian, a man rich in his faith and chosen by God to fulfill the purpose of using a special oil on timepieces when prompted by the Holy Spirit, now comes to the end of his days.

Bastian’s life has not always been easy and there are secrets hidden in his past that will change lives forever. As they come to light, will hearts finally be healed or become bitter?

Will Bastian’s son, Louis, follow the calling and continue his father’s legacy?


Purchase on Amazon

  

J.E. Grace resides in the Midwest and retired from a career in real estate in 2012 to pursue her writing. Her interests include poetry, painting in traditional oils/pastels, digital art, and photography. Her work can be viewed on Society 6, and Zazzle. She runs Bizwings Blog where she showcases other Christian and/or clean and wholesome writers.

Her writing has spiritual overtones due to deep roots in her faith. She writes in the Christian inspirational and mystery/suspense genres.


Amazon Author Page

Goodreads

Bookbub

Twitter

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Sunday, April 18, 2021

Review of Death And A Crocodile by Lisa E. Betz

 


Award-Winning Author Lisa Betz Pens Debut Novel

Publisher- Crosslink Publishing

“Everything I love in historical fiction―a feisty heroine, a fascinating setting, and mysterious goings-on. Betz’s story is an intriguing journey into ancient Rome, with a character facing challenges similar to our own.” --Tracy Higley, historical fiction author of The Incense Road

Reading, PA– Award-winning author and professional writer Lisa Betz spins a fast-paced, humorous mystery set in ancient Rome in her debut historical novel, Death and a Crocodile, the first in a new series, now available from CrossLink Publishing.

Betz, a former engineer turned writer who runs the popular blog, Live Intentionally, and manages a community of writers at Almost an Author, weaves together eccentric characters, historical details, and an unrepentant, sausage-snatching cat to keep readers guessing.

“When I first began to dabble with writing, I thought I wanted to write middle-grade fiction,” says Betz. “It was only recently that I decided to attempt writing a historical mystery. I would have never guessed five or ten years ago that I would enjoy writing a mystery series with a snarky female lead.”

In Death and a Crocodile, Betz takes readers inside Rome, 47 AD, shortly after the time of Christ. At this time in history, sensible women don’t investigate murders, but Livia might not have a choice. When Livia’s father dies under suspicious circumstances, she sets out to find the killer before her innocent brother is convicted of murder. She may be an amateur when it comes to hunting dangerous criminals, but she’s determined, intelligent, and not afraid to break a convention or two in pursuit of the truth. Livia and her spunky maidservant, Roxana, pound the ancient Roman pavements in search of the killer, with the help of a reluctant lawyer, a lovelorn merchant, and a handful of loyal servants.

Livia’s also adopted a radical new faith that encourages her to believe a woman and a handful of servants can solve a murder. Can she uncover the culprit before powerful men realize what she’s up to and force her to stop? Or will her snooping land her in deadly peril?

While writing, Betz drew inspiration from her 35 years of leading Bible studies and hopes to both entertain and encourage her readers through her books. She started her writing journey more than 25 years ago, when she was looking for something new and creative to try while raising small children. A class in creative writing sparked her interest, but she never dreamed that class would be the first step to a career as a novelist.

“Books can bring light by showing us things we didn’t know before or clarifying what used to be confusing,” says Betz. “Books can expand our universe in many ways, taking us into the lives of people in different cultures, different lands, different times, different societies. Books are powerful because they can change lives.”

PURCHASE ON AMAZON


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create fast-paced mysteries set in the first-century world of the early church.

Lisa brings her analytic mind, quirky humor, and creative soul/unconventional mindset to all she writes. She is passionate about inspiring others (real and fictional) to become their best selves, living with intention, authenticity, and purpose.

In addition to historical novels, she has written humor articles, over seventy drama sketches, one full-length play, and a short non-fiction book. Her first mystery novel was a finalist in the ACFW Genesis contest and Death and a Crocodile received the gold medal in the mystery/suspense category from the Illumination Book Awards.

She serves as Managing Editor of Almost an Author, a website by and for writers, where she also writes a monthly column called “The Intentional Writer.” She enjoys speaking to groups large and small on topics related to Roman history, writing, intentional living, and faith. When not writing, or speaking, she can be found volunteering at The Village Library of Morgantown or experimenting with ancient Roman cooking.

She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband of thirty-plus years and a rambunctious cat named Scallywag who may be the inspiration for the unrepentant, sausage-snatching Nemesis.

For more information on Lisa, visit www.lisabetz.com


MY REVIEW

Death and a Crocodile is a breath of fresh air compared to most historical fiction I have read. The author was able to take the Roman culture, a feisty heroine with a newfound love for Christ, and the courage to investigate the death of her father and combine it into a riveting who-done-it. I couldn't put it down and was hooked from the beginning.

The story is filled with mystery and intrigue that kept me continuously guessing. Livias' maid, Roxanna, was quirky with a sense of humor which Livia found amusing. The addition of Roxanna's cat, Nemesis, and his thievery kept me entertained.

I enjoyed following Livia's Christian beliefs and how she practiced kindness in spite of having to hide her faith most of the time. The ending wrapped up everything nicely and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed reading about Biblical times mixed with outstanding characters who possess courage and conviction.

I received a copy of the book from the author and willingly choose to review it. All opinions are my own.


Monday, April 5, 2021

Shielding the Amish Witness Blog Tour & Giveaway by Mary Alford

 

Shielding the Amish Witness JustRead Blog Tour 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Shielding the Amish Witness by Mary Alford, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Shielding the Amish Witness

Title: Shielding the Amish Witness
Author: USA TODAY Bestselling Author Mary Alford
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: April 1, 2021
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Seeking refuge in Amish country puts everyone she loves in danger. 

On the run after discovering her brother-in-law was behind her husband’s murder, Faith Cooper can think of only one safe place—her Amish grandmother’s home. But when danger follows Faith to the quiet Amish community, her childhood friend Eli Shetler is her only protection. And their survival depends on outlasting a relentless killer…one who has nothing left to lose. 


From Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

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


ALSO AVAILABLE




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Alford

USA Today Bestselling Author, Mary Alford, loves giving her readers the unexpected, whether it be in a rugged mountain setting or a peaceful Amish community.

Her titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestselling List, Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling List, and have been finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier award of excellence, The Beverly, The Maggie, and The Selah Awards. 

Mary lives in Texas with her husband, two very spoiled cats, and a sweet rescue dog named Cody. Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook and Twitter or any social platforms listed at www.maryalford.net

CONNECT WITH MARY: Website | Facebook | Twitter






MY REVIEW

Eli and Faith are both struggling with guilt from past mistakes. Both have returned home to the Amish community, reuniting an old friendship. Faith is trying to find safety from her brother-in-law, a dirty cop, that wants her dead because of evidence she has.

The story is fast-paced, page-turner of suspense that never lets up. As Faith runs for her life, Eli is determined to protect her.

The ending wrapped everything up nicely. The characters are interesting and even though frightened, showed tremendous courage. Leaning on God's promises and prayers for protection, Eli & Faith try to fight the attraction they still have for each other. They soon learn that maybe God has other plans for their lives. Great read and highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of the book and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.























TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $40 Amazon gift card and winner's choice of print or ebook copy of Shielding the Amish Witness!



Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 5, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 12, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN 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!

JustRead Publicity Tours

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.