Sometimes tragedies are blessings in disguise… Golden girl Holly Gunderson has always lived a charmed life. She has just finished college, has landed her dream job, and is looking forward to a bright future with her doctor fiancé. When a rape results in pregnancy, her dreams come crashing down around her. She returns home to Murphy, North Carolina, where her parents surprise her with an ultimatum she can’t live with.
Since his beloved boss committed suicide, construction worker Alex Shepherd has spent the past eight months living on his savings while finishing projects for his boss’s financially-strapped widow. He leaves Florida and arrives in Murphy almost broke, ready to move in with his aunt to remodel the fixer-upper she just bought. He’s hoping his stay in Murphy will bring him some peace after a harrowing few months and also help to replenish his bank account. What he doesn’t count on is his aunt’s involvement with the local crisis pregnancy center or her beautiful houseguest’s struggles. Both hit too close to home.
Though Alex and Holly are from opposite ends of the social spectrum, a friendship develops between them, and they find they have more in common than they realize, until deep-seated insecurities drive them apart. But maybe this unplanned stay in the mountains holds healing for both of them, with prospects of a bright future…a new beginning.
A New Beginning is a beautiful story about two people fighting different battles, but finding they are not so different.
Holly, a victim of a lifetime of bad circumstances seeks understanding and support when her fiance calls off their wedding due to a disagreement that can't be resolved. I loved the strength of Holly to stand by her decisions even though she suffered because of it.
It's a heartwarming and inspirational story of healing, forgiveness, and love. The story shows how God takes bad circumstances and turns them into something good. Loved the ending!
I received an ARC from the author and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.
When a massive earthquake levels the region, secrets, and unknown dangers are exposed…
The ground in still-icy Yosemite National Park isn’t stable, and K-9 handler Von Sharpe fears the worst. But his worries are pushed aside when he sees an SUV viciously forced off the road…with his ex-fiancée at the wheel. It’s only when Stella Rivers steps out of the vehicle that the very ground under their feet cracks and breaks with the onslaught of a terrifying earthquake.
When her meeting with a mysterious client is ambushed, Stella witnesses the man being gunned down by a sniper and becomes a target herself. With the threat of aftershocks triggering landslides and floods, the new mom has no choice but to run to save her baby girl—even if it means teaming up with the man who has no idea he fathered her child.
Trapped in a dangerously unstable wilderness with a killer closing in, Von and Stella are running out of time to get to safety. And every fissure reveals a new secret that will shake them to their foundation…
The storyline kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure out who was after Stella. The descriptions of Yosemite brought me into the story and the fast-paced action kept me there.
One secret leads to another and it will keep you guessing to the end. I especially enjoyed Von's transformation and his long journey back to God.
I highly recommend Trapped in Yosemite. I feel it is one of the author's best. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received an ARC from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.
Even children experience lonely moments. When they do, this book reminds them that you will always be there, and God is right there too. Max Lucado's comforting words reinforce the thought that no matter what happens--the good and bad, the firsts and lasts--children will never be alone . . . just in case they ever wonder.
To a child, a day can last forever, and hurt feelings sink in deep. Whether they're having trouble making friends, struggling to learn something new, or just having a sad day, children need daily reminders of how much they're cherished. Just in Case You Ever Feel Alone soothes away loneliness by promising children that their parents or caregivers will always make time for them--they will squeeze away the sad and welcome back the glad every single day.
A follow-up to the classic children's book Just in Case You Ever Wonder, which has sold more than 1.8 million copies, this jacketed picture book for boys and girls ages 3 to 7
addresses a child's feelings of loneliness and uncertainty;
assures children that their parents are there for them and that God is always with them;
includes tender rhymes and endearing artwork from Eve Tharlet of a loving parent and baby bear; and
is a perfect gift for Easter or for children who need reassurance that they will always have someone to turn to, someone to talk to, and someone who will love them no matter what.
Draw your little ones close as you affirm your unconditional love for them and God's never-ending presence and desire to be with His children.'
Just in Case You Ever Feel Alone is a children's book that will make you feel good. Reading the wonderful words in rhyme along with the beautiful illustrations portrays God's love well. It gives them confidence that God is always with them.
This would be a good book to add to your child's library. And I'm sure it is one you will find reading often. The message will make your child feel loved reminding them that God is always there.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.
In 1902, Mariah Kingsford flees her life as an Opera star in New Orleans to escape a dangerous pursuer. But as she returns to her family plantation in North Carolina, she wonders if life will improve or worsen. On the train ride home, Mariah meets a young mother and her two children in need, and she feels compelled by God to offer them a home with her.
However, upon arriving at her once-beautiful plantation home, Mariah is shocked by its disrepair and disturbing secrets. Mysterious and terrifying occurrences with ghostly horse riders plague and baffle her. With the help of newfound friends, Colonel Jeb Craven, the town judge, and his lawyer son Hart, Mariah begins to unravel the tangled web ofdeception built by her crooked and evil grandfather. As they delve deeper, they discover illegal contraband hidden in the plantation cellar and a secret tunnel filled with alarming content, sending chills down Mariah's spine.
Will she be able to uncover the truth and restore her family's honor, or will the secrets of the plantation destroy everything she holds dear?
Able to lean on Hart, a romance ignites and blossoms between them. What future can lay ahead of these two if they fail to STOP the criminals before disaster strikes? In her quest for the truth, Mariah receives divine guidance through angelic visitations that strengthen her faith, courage, and persistence in prayer.
I have read most of Crystal Mary Lindsey's books but she has outdone herself with this one. It had my attention from the beginning and only kept getting better. I feel this is her best work so far.
The main character, Mariah, was enchanting, gracious, and humble. I was captivated by her and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. The plot was intriguing and fast-paced with some unexpected twists.
The historical aspect of the book was very believable, and it was apparent that the author had done her research well. The ending wrapped everything up nicely. Highly recommended.
As the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940, Aleida van der Zee Martens escapes to London to wait out the Occupation. Separated from her three-year-old son, Theo, in the process, the young widow desperately searches for her little boy even as she works for an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside.
When German bombs set London ablaze, BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports on the Blitz, eager to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. But the Germans are not the only ones Londoners have to fear as a series of murders flame up amid the ashes.
The deaths hit close to home for Hugh, and Aleida needs his help to locate her missing son. As they work together, they grow closer and closer, both to each other and the answers they seek. But with bombs falling and continued killings, they may be running out of time.
Embers in the London Sky is the story of Aleida, who is searching London for her young son, and Hugh, a war correspondent during the German Invasion in 1940.
The author's descriptions of London and the well-developed characters made me feel like I was there. There are moments of suspense, and mystery, as well as times of intense tenderness. It's a story of hardships, truth, compassion, and a beautiful love story. Also, a story of a mother's love for her child. Highly recommended. A true wartime masterpiece.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.
What is it with this enchanting small town of Butterfly Bend? Is there something in the river that mends wounded hearts and blows the sweet wind of love through the town? So far, Calla Jansing has watched both of her sisters get shot with Cupid's arrows. She's happy for them, really, but she's steering clear of those pesky arrows. She had her one true love, and when her husband passed away from a massive heart attack after ignoring his doctor's warnings about the sustained stress of being a police chief, it just about killed her too.
She's nowhere near ready to open her heart to love again. But with her sisters' attention elsewhere, she appreciates a friend like Gary Callahan. He's funny and kind, a great dad and grandpa, a believer, and sometimes a shameless flirt. But he's also the town's police chief, so a friend is all he could ever be.
Police Chief Gary Callahan has a few more good years left in him to protect his beloved city from crime. Over the years on the force, he's caught his share of criminals, but he can't seem to figure out how to capture the romantic attention of the beautiful and vivacious Calla. She seems perfectly happy to keep him firmly tucked in the friend zone.
What's it going to take to get her to change her mind? For him to retire just as he's reached the pinnacle of his career? Or will the dire situation with his grandson's friend spur her to drop him as a friend altogether? Is Calla's faith strong enough to free her heart to fall in love with another police chief and trust that the Lord will protect Gary in his chosen profession? Will she continue to friend zone Gary or will she allow the Lord to rewrite her story? A Love Rewritten…
A Love Rewritten is book 3 in the Second Chane Love in Butterfly Bend. This is Calla's second chance story. Calla is one of the triplet sisters. The other two sisters have found their true love. Calla isn't sure about hers, especially when Police Chief, Gary, catches her eye.
The story is full of the issues when you let your past frame your future. It's an inspirational and sweet romance that will keep you smiling. Calla is witty, and her banter with Gary left me chuckling. I loved the ending.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.
Across forty days of vivid storytelling, It Is Finished offers you a unique and vital roadmap to trace the power and necessity of the cross throughout the Bible, from the book of Genesis all the way to your present-day reality.
Through forty slices of the story of Calvary, master storyteller and vivid Bible teacher Charles Martin, will walk you back to the cross to look up at it from a different angle each day and ask the Father to reveal to you:
What exactly did he mean when the dying Jesus said, "It is finished"—what was finished at the cross?
When did what Jesus finish at the cross even begin?
What does this man's death 2,000 years ago have to do with me today?
What is God offering at the cross that I so easily forget and take for granted?
What do I not realize about myself that the Father God has never forgotten?
Whether it is your first, tenth, or ten thousandth time looking up at the cross of Christ, you can trust New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin, to wrap an arm around your shoulder, come alongside and walk with you as a fellow pilgrim headed in the same direction and answering the same question: "What will I do with this man, Jesus?"
Because before we can celebrate the resurrection, we need to backtrack to where Jesus has been, how He got there, and what His presence there accomplished. And while Satan can't change what happened on that Friday, he has been working ever since to hide what happened there. To obscure the work of the Cross. To avert our eyes. But on this 40-day pilgrimage your eyes will open wide and your heart will race as you discover the answer to the question that can change your life, Lord, why me? Why would you endure the cross and despise the shame, for me?
It is finished is a wonderful book centered on Jesus. It reminds the reader of the power of Christ and covers from Genesis to the present day. You take 40 days to explore the biblical accounts and discover that even though Christ's work was finished on the cross, that he continues his work in every one of us.
The author answers some important questions we all ask ourselves. It's a resource to keep on hand and to refer to often. It would make a good study for small groups.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.
Tragedy ignites a group of teens on a quest to find a legendary landmark hidden in the wilderness. Together, they navigate the adventure while confronting the darkness within themselves in an attempt to find hope.
The WORLD'S favorite coming-of-age, faith-adjacent, adventure/drama is NOW available on all major digital platforms to rent and own! Watch 'What Rhymes With Reason' with the whole family today!
It’s hard to get our youth to talk about anything sometimes…
What Rhymes With Reason is carefully crafted to not only be a FUN cinematic experience but also encourage much-needed conversations surrounding faith and mental health!
·FUN and SAFE... This film has been carefully crafted to not only be a cinematic adventure but also break down walls so we can have much-needed mental health conversations with our kids.
·The cinematic and entertainment value found in modern teen dramas without the glorification of wrongdoing like 13 Reasons Why, or the often cheesy or preachy moments of some faith-based films.
·A movie from a team that produced a film that Hollywood and even other Faith filmmakers will not. YA family and "Young Group Kids" have a HUGE audience, but are undervalued and underserved by studios because overwhelmingly they believe that they won't sell. Our approach from day 1 as a calling in our team's life is to fill this need for this audience searching for something better!! A movie that provides HOPE in a dark and broken world.
·$12.99 Price point. Bargain to own for their family.
PRESS
"Love overcomes the darkness." - Cooper Dowd, Movieguide
"A coming-of-age film every teen should see." - Randy Tatno, Epoch Times
"A powerful resource addressing teen depression." - Jessica Lee, Churchleaders.com
WRWR has won awards all over the world. We are just so thrilled that the film is already resonating with youth and families from so many different cultures!
Just a handful of the honors...
Best Family Film - CANNES World Film Festival, Cannes France
Best Family Film - West Bengal India
Social Impact Award - Ukraine Symbiotic Film Festival
Best Feature Film - Dubai International Cine Carnival
What Rhymes with Reason is a very well-directed and produced film. The cast of characters is very real to their part and the situations they face can be typical of teenage issues. Jesse and his sister, Savannah are dealing with the loss of their father. And each character in the movie is dealing with their own issues.
The music in the movie was well-planned out and fit well. There were some tense moments, but also some tender ones. The movie got the message across well.
I feel the movie watched by a teenage audience, will be able to relate well to it. The main thing that stood out to me was friendship and love for each other. They were better together. Depression and panic attacks can be disabling but there is help out there and you're not alone.
\
Coming-of-Age Film
Empowers Kids Struggling with Mental Health
What Rhymes With Reason
January 2024 – From Virgil
Films comes Reckless Abandonment Pictures new feature film What Rhymes With
Reason. The coming-of-age adventure, partnered with 988 Mental
Health Lifeline which empowers kids struggling with mental health, is told
through a Goonies-like adventure lens. The acclaimed feature will be coming to digital HD everywhere February 6th and DVD.
The family-friendly film follows six teens, led by the charismatic Jesse
Brandt, who enlists his friends to help
find a legendary landmark hidden in the wilderness. Together, they navigate the
adventure while confronting the darkness within themselves. At the film’s
center is the subject of depression, and the filmmakers know that it’s hard to
get our youth to talk about it. Which is why What Rhymes With Reason is
carefully crafted to break stigmas and encourage much needed conversations
surrounding faith and mental health.
The all-star young cast of
What Rhymes With Reasonincludes Gattlin Griffith (The Boys),
Ricardo Hurtado (School of Rock), Giselle Torres (The Villains of
Valley View), LaRonn Marzett, Katie Burgess, Juan Graterol and Bart Johnson
(High School Musical).
The film partnered with
988 Mental Health Lifeline to help improve mental health outcomes. The
nationwide operation provides a three-digit number to replace the 11-digit
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Mental Health Lifeline operates
24/7/365 and offers services for mental health crisis calls. Operators in
Oklahoma are licensed and certified health crisis specialists who answer calls
and dispatch local services and mobile crisis teams.
What Rhymes With Reason channels coming-of-age classics like The Breakfast
Club, Stand By Me, and The Goonies to tell a timeless story of hope for the
youth of today.\
About
Virgil Films – Virgil Films &
Entertainment was founded in 2003 by Joe Amodei to acquire, and distribute
feature films, documentaries and original episodic television series. Over the
years Virgil has enjoyed partnerships with Sundance Channel Home Entertainment,
National Geographic Cinema Ventures, Pure Flix Entertainment, Vancouver based
Network Entertainment, Major League Baseball Productions, Morgan
Spurlock’s Warrior Poets, OWN and other high-profile entertainment brands.
Their feature films have been available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV,
AppleTV +, Hulu, Vudu, Google Play, HBO, Starz, Showtime and many other digital
and TV networks. Virgil Films releases include the Oscar-nominated documentary Glen
Campbell…I’ll Be Me; the critically acclaimed best-selling Forks Over
Knives; and the Oscar-nominated documentary Restrepo and its sequel Korengal.
They have also released the entertaining I Am Chris Farley, I am Heath
Ledger, Trafficked, Code Blue, Ruth and the holiday classic The
Real Bedford Falls. Clarence Clemons, Who Do I Think I Am was their first
in house production which followed their successful five-episode documentary
series Happy Jail which was a co-production with Netflix. Follow
them on twitter: @virgilfilmswww.VirgilFilms.com
About Reckless
Abandonment Pictures
Our mission is to produce
quality moving pictures one frame at a time. From concept to final product, we
are a full-service video production company. We specialize in creating
radically family friendly content, telling visual stories across a multitude of
mediums. Our clients include DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Warner Media, Hasbro, Mattel, LEGO,
and NatGeo Wild. For more information,
visitra-pictures.com.
About Oklahoma 988 Mental Health Lifeline
The 988 Mental Health Lifeline is designated as a three-digit
number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Mental Health
Lifeline operates 24/7 and offers services for mental health crisis calls.
Operators are licensed and certified health crisis specialists who answer
calls, connect to and dispatch local services and mobile crisis teams. For more
information, please visit988lifeline.org
Title: Renewed Hope
Series: Seven Tine Ranch Romance #3
Author: Carmen Peone
Publisher: Iron Stream Fiction
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance
Can they find her son in time?
Sophie Cayes is on the road to success as an artist. Until her ex-husband threatens to sue for full custody of their son. Upon learning of a guest ranch in Eastern Washington that keeps a room open for women in need, she grabs her son and bolts. Although Chad Davis loves starting colts on the Seven Tine Guest Ranch, his goal is to have his own spread. Everything’s on course until a woman and her preschool son show up. He’s not thrilled about helping out. Until the boy comes up missing. On his watch. Along with a tribal cop, they head back to Montana in search of the boy, knowing his dad was the one who kidnapped him. Sophie prays they find him before her ex-husband and his new wife go on the run. Taking her son with them.
Sophie Cayes has a complicated past. She learns that divorce doesn't always cut the ties of an abusive relationship-especially when you have a child. But, things get complicated when Chad Davis comes to her rescue.
Renewed Hope at times, was a difficult read. I relate to abusive behavior firsthand and like Sophie realized it takes a lot of courage, determination, support, and faith to see you through.
Carmen Peone pens a story of Native American victims who come to be victors. She takes a story of tragedy and shows how God turns it into a story of hope, faith, and a new future. This is another of her well-written books in the Seven Tine Ranch series that leaves me wanting more. Fantastic read. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and willingly chose to review it. A positive review is not required and all opinions are my own.
More Books In This Series
About the Author
Carmen Peone is an award-winning author of Young Adult and Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense and lives with her husband in Northeast Washington and on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation. She weaves threads of healing, hope, and horses into her stories that lead to happily ever after.
Connect with Carmen by visiting carmenpeone.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will win a signed copy of Renewed Hope, a $25 Amazon gift card, and a story-related postcard!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 5, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 12, 2024. Winners 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.
Madelyn Blake has worked hard to get where she is professionally and to be present to her twin daughters. An abusive relationship has taught her to be wary. It has also shaken her trust in God. When she becomes the target of a killer who enjoys using fire and explosives, her entire life is put on hold.
Trevor Stone appears to be a shy, mild-mannered man, but he has seen the worst of people. Still, he retains his unwavering faith that God is in control of everything. As a technician in a bomb squad unit, he has honed his ability to keep calm and clear thinking in life and death situations. When his former best friend is in danger, Trevor puts all his skills to work to keep her and her adorable little girls safe and stop the killer.
As the danger escalates, Maddie and Trevor struggle with their growing feelings for each other while trying to outwit a killer who is always one step ahead of them. Will they survive and get a second chance at love?
Sargeant Madelyn Blake has twin daughters by her ex-husband, who recently died. Even though they divorced and his death made everything final, the abuse still plagues her. Sargeant Trevor Stone and Madelyn have a history. Now, they are working on a case together.
The storyline is action-packed and filled with mystery and intrigue. It kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who the killer was. The characters were well-developed and pushed the story along nicely. Lots of twists that will keep you guessing. Well written, and everything is wrapped up nicely in the end.
I received an ARC from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. A positive review is not required, and all opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dana R. Lynn is a bestselling, award-winning author of romantic suspense and Amish romance who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. She met her husband at a wedding in Pennsylvania and told her parents she had met her future husband. Nineteen months later, they were married. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania and are entering the world of empty nesters.
She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night. She is also a blogger on Seekerville and a member of the Suspense Squad. Dana is an avid reader, loves cats, and thinks chocolate should be a food group.
Readers can contact her or sign up to receive her monthly newsletter a www.danarlynn.com.
As a child, artist and potter Dani Bennett witnessed the brutal murder of her parents. With no memory of the incident or her true identity, she was forced to take on a new name and a new life, hidden away in Montana for the past 25 years.
Mae Richmond has spent the same stretch of time searching for her granddaughter, who went missing the night her daughter and son-in-law were murdered. Convinced the woman she saw in a pottery magazine feature is the woman she's been searching for, she enlists the help of K-9 officer Mark Lassiter of Pearl Springs, Tennessee, who tracks Dani down.
Skeptical but curious, Dani sets out on a journey to uncover the secrets of her past and reclaim her true identity. But someone close to her is determined to keep the truth of what happened all those years ago hidden.
USA Today best-selling author, Patricia Bradley is the recipient of numerous awards, including an Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award in suspense, a Selah winner, was a Carol, and a Daphne du Maurier finalist. Her romantic suspense novels include the Logan Point series, the Memphis Cold Case Novels, and the Natchez Trace Park Rangers.
She is now hard at work on the second book in her new Pearl River series set in the Cumberland Plateau area above Chattanooga. The first book in the series, Counter Attack will release in mid-2023.
She has conducted writing workshops for American Christian Fiction Writers, the Mid-South Christian Writer’s Conference, the KenTen and Scrivener retreats (where she was the keynote), the Memphis American Christian Fiction Writer group, and the Bartlett Christian Writers group.
She and her two cats call Northeast Mississippi home--the South is also where she sets most of her books, and when she has time, she likes to throw mud on a wheel and see what happens.
My Review
This is my first read by this author. I found Fatal Witness a runaway thrill ride. Lots of well-developed characters, and a great storyline that kept me on the edge of my seat holding my breath.
The story had lots of suspense, mystery, and a who-done-it that entered into the story a few times. It kept me guessing until almost the end. Also, included in the story was a K-9 dog and another smart dog owned by Dani.
The ending of the story wrapped up nicely. Fatal Witness is one of those stories that once you're engaged, keeps you there until the end. I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read her next book.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.
