Review of New Release: Courting the Country Preacher by Angela K. Couch, Carolyn Miller, Naomi Dawn Musch, and Kari Trumbo

Every Preacher Needs a Wife, Right?
 
Being a preacher in the countryside is not for the faint of heart nor faith. Four inexperienced preachers face a myriad of challenges including those who figure a man of the cloth needs a wife. Can they meet the expectations of “helpful” congregants and be true to their hearts?
 

To Order on Amazon

My Review

This collection of four stories was a blessing to read and is filled with hope and love. All four stories warmed my heart. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

# 1-The Mounties Rival by Angela Couch
A lovely uplifting story of a country preacher who isn't as settled in his faith as he thought. Taking over the congregation in Rowley, he finds more trouble than he imagined. Can he settle his lack of faith and find happiness? An enjoyable and inspiring read filled with encouragement.

#2-Convincing the Circuit Preacher by Carolyn Miller
A minister with a wounded heart and set on never marrying again, finds that God has something else in mind when he meets Thea. An exciting read with suspense, mystery, and a second chance at love.

#3-The Angel & The Sky Pilot by Naomi Musch
The traveling preacher, Everett, stays at a logging camp in order to preach God's word to the loggers. One thing he didn't count on was Angeline, the store owner's daughter. Even with the transformation when he was saved, he will go through another miraculous change.

#4- Mail-Order Minister by Kari Trumbo
Reverand Presley accepts an invitation to be the minister at Bakers Nook, S.D. Trying to concentrate on his ministry, he puts a bad relationship behind him. That was until he meets Olive and his faith is shaken.

I received a complimentary copy through Net Galley from the publisher; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Review of Virginia (Daughters of the Lost Colony Book Four) by Shannon McNear

 

About the Book

Book: Virginia (Daughters of the Lost Colony Book Four)

Author: Shannon McNear

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Romance

Release date: September, 2024

The White Doe of the Outer Banks Grows into Womanhood

Return to the “what if” questions surrounding the Lost Colony and explore the possible fate of Virginia Dare–the first English child born in the New World. What happened to her after her grandfather John White returned to England and the colony he established disappeared into the mists of time? Legends abound, but she was indeed a real girl who, if she survived to adulthood, must have also become part of the legacy that is the people of the Outer Banks. In the spring of 1602 by English reckoning, “Ginny,” as she is called by family and friends, is fourteen and firmly considered a grown woman by the standards of the People. For her entire life she has watched the beautiful give-and-take of the Kurawoten and other native peoples with the English who came from across the ocean. She’s enjoyed being the darling of both English and Kurawoten alike—but a stirring deep inside her will not be put to rest.

One careless decision lands her and fellow “first baby” Henry Harvie, along with their Croatoan friend Redbud, in enemy hands. Carried away into Mangoac territory, out of the reach of Manteo and the others, she must learn who she truly is—not only the daughter of Elinor and Ananias Dare but also a child of the One True God, who gives her courage to go wherever the path of her life might lead.

 

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

Virginia continues the story based on the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Virginia is the first English child born in the New World. The story is set in 1602, and Virginia and two of her male friends are captured by members of the Skaru tribe attacking the island.

The story is well-researched and filled with the tribal culture, customs, and traditions of all peoples at that time. The descriptions of different events seemed real and made me feel like I was there.

The characters are well-developed, with some unfolding layers. Virginia and Felipe showed great faith, courage, and love. I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the others in the series. I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

 

About the Author

Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in the Deep South, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s the author of four novellas, the first a 2014 RITA® nominee and the most recent a 2021 SELAH winner, and six full-length novels. Her greatest joy, however, is in being a military wife, mom, mother-in-law, and grammie. She’s been a contributor to Colonial Quills and The Borrowed Book, and is a current member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers. When not cooking, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies.

 

More from Shannon

So—here we are! I am just so, SO, sooo blessed to get to be on Celebrate Lit yet again. And book FOUR of my Lost Colony series! Initially I thought two, maybe three books. I pretty much disregarded the possibility of writing Virginia Dare’s story because, well, there’s a good bit of mythology surrounding her, and I felt absolutely no inclination to tackle any of that.

Until early last year. The idea dropped into my head and seemed too obvious to turn away. I didn’t have much idea of what would actually happen in the story, although I knew I wanted to explore the identity of the Mangoac, who held the interior of what is now North Carolina and Virginia when the Spanish and the English first arrived in the New World. They spoke an Iroquoian language and were referred to with dread and distaste among all their neighbors, including the Powhatan. Those people are what we know now as the Tuscarora.

Little was known of the Tuscarora before John Lawson wrote of his journey through the Carolinas in 1700-01. A few years later, Lawson himself met with a fairly horrible death at the hands of the Tuscarora (one wonders what he might have done to tick them off), and tensions soon escalated between settlers and indigenous peoples into all-out war. After their defeat by the English, the Tuscarora people moved northward and became the sixth nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.

They call themselves Skaru:re—pronounced sgah-ROOO-rah (with that long “ooh” held out a little extra)—translated variously as “Long-Shirt People” or “Hemp People,” for the garments they would weave from “Indian hemp,” also known as milkweed. The Tuscarora word for milkweed does indeed contain the same root as Skaru:re, but no one knows when as a people they might have made the transition from merely using milkweed fiber for cording or twine to spinning and weaving it into fabric, as the English did flax for linen.

I decided to have a bit of fun in my story, then, with Ginny being questioned about the making of a linen garment, and then a later mention of a “rough, twiny fabric.” I’d meant to expand upon that a bit, or at least address it in the historical notes at the end—and then completely forgot until working through the galleys.

So I get to talk about it—now. 😊

You might guess that both details, which may feel random to the casual reader, are a nod to the translation of the name Skaru:re, and to the influence that either the Spanish or the English might have had on various Native people groups. A good author endeavors, of course, to not have any random details littering a story. In Virginia, many small things point back to previous stories—there are hints of connection to Rebecca as well even though either story could be read before the other. By the same token, all four books are what we could term alternate history—a reach beyond what is known into what might have been. I think it most likely that as Native peoples acquired European fashions, they used what they already had (in the case of the Skaru:re, a familiarity with milkweed and other materials to provide fiber) to produce garments and other items modeled after what the Spanish and English used. They were nothing if not eager to take advantage of new technologies—and what if their contact with members of the Lost Colony was what sparked the idea behind their famed “long shirts”?

A stretch, for sure. But there’s a reason why I’ve always enjoyed writing speculative fiction as well as historical. 😊

                 Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 6

To Everything There Is A Season, October 6

Devoted To Hope, October 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 8

lakesidelivingsite, October 9

Texas Book-aholic, October 9

Betti Mace, October 10

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 11

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 11

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 13

Bizwings Book Blog, October 14

Cover Lover Book Review, October 15

Lights in a Dark World, October 15

Holly’s Book Corner, October 16

Sylvan Musings, October 17

Pause for Tales, October 17

                 Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5458

Review of When the Mountain Crumbled by Angela K. Couch

About the Book

Book: When the Mountain Crumbled (A Day to Remember Book 4)

Author: Angela K Couch

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release date: September, 2024

Though Mountains Crumble, Hope Is Not Buried

Enjoy a series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.

Discipline and rules are the foundation on which Samantha Ingles has built her life—the life of a spinster schoolteacher in a small mining town in the Canadian Rockies. All that crumbles from her grasp when part of a mountain crashes down on their community.

Constable David Harty has little patience for the strict schoolmarm but has no choice but to leave his three young nieces in her care while he tries to discover the fate of his brother. Already, the girls have lost their mother and brothers to the landslide and require comfort and love while they await the fate of their father, possibly buried in the coal mine.

With the mountain looming over their heads threatening more lives, and the town scrambling to save who they can from the rubble, can hearts find healing—both for their own sakes and the children in their care?

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

When the Mountain Crumbled is a novel with lots of heart-breaking moments and suspense. The town of Frank is hit by a natural disaster. Samantha, the schoolteacher, agrees to help care for three children until their Uncle Nathan can get his family to provide a home for them.

The characters are real, with flaws as they maneuver through the circumstances brought upon them. The story is well written with history entwined into it, enhancing the storyline. The story is about loss, the emotions of the people, and the effect it has on all of them.

Everything wrapped up nicely in the end. A very uplifting and inspirational read, giving testimony of how disasters can still bring about miracles despite heartbreak. Through God there is healing.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

 

About the Author

To keep from freezing in the great white north, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the 2016 International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and toasty warm) by chasing after five munchkins.

 

More from Angela

Around 4:10 am on April 29^th, 1903, approximately 110 million metric tonnes of limestone broke from the side of Turtle Mountain and crashed down into the Crowsnest Valley, burying ranches, camps, an active coal mine, and a part of the town of Frank. What has come to be known as “Frank Slide” was the deadliest landslide in North American recorded history, claiming the lives of more than seventy people.

I first visited Frank Slide as a child, as it is located only an hour’s drive from my home. All I remember from that experience was the heaps of rocks and boulders, and the story of the mine-horse named Charlie. When driving through the Crowsnest Pass as an adult, I began to appreciate the terror of that night and the horrible loss of life. Not until expanding my research while writing this story, did the miracles of Frank shine through everything horrible that happened. That became the focus of my story, When the Mountain Crumbled.

I find our own lives follow a similar pattern. Tragedy, hardship, sickness and disappointment… but do we see the miracles?

              Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 2

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 2

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 3

Betti Mace, October 4

Lighthouse Academy Blog, October 5 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Devoted To Hope, October 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6

Texas Book-aholic, October 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 9

Bizwings Book Blog, October 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 10

Holly’s Book Corner, October 11

Blossoms and Blessings, October 11

An Author’s Take, October 12

Cover Lover Book Review, October 13

Mary Hake, October 13

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 14

Pause for Tales, October 15

Connie’s History Classroom, October 15

                 Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Angela is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon card and a print copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5456

Review of The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Madison McDowell returns from several years teaching overseas, she has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family's Christmas tree farm in Oregon. But between damage from a recent wildfire and the neglect due to her sister Addie's unwillingness to invest, the farm is in sad shape. In fact, Addie is intent on selling the property. And to top it off, her former high school flame, the now-widowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to break Madison's heart again by turning his neighboring property into a dusty, noisy dirt bike track for his daughter.

With the odds stacked against her, Madison decides there's only one thing to double down on her dreams. It will take a ton of hard work--and some help from an unlikely ally--to save the farm she so dearly loves. But it may take a miracle to restore her relationship with her sister. Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson charms and delights with this uplifting Christmas story full of old memories and new beginnings.

Order on Amazon

My Review

After being away for years in Mongolia, Madison returns home to her family's Christmas Tree Farm. Her sister, Addie, has been taking care of things, along with caring for her grandmother before she passed away. Now, with different ideas on managing the farm, can they find a solution they can agree on?

I loved how the family united and Madison tried to hold onto holiday traditions. All the characters were well-developed with lots of layers. They were relatable and made it the story come alive. There are beautiful moments of tenderness, empathy, and a second chance at love.

There are many unexpected situations, joy, and the true meaning of happiness. I loved the ending.

I received a complimentary ARC from Revell and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Takeover Review Blitz= Inferno by Lisa Phillips

 

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Inferno by Lisa Phillips hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Inferno 

Series: Benson First Responders #9 

Author: Lisa Phillips 

Publisher: Two Dogs Publishing, LLC 

Release Date: September 4, 2024 

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

BIG CITY CRIME. SMALL TOWN HEROES

An epic finale. 

Detective Samantha Jesse is determined to hold on to what she has. Whenever she gets too happy, life corrects that mistake and takes the joy from her. Her new partner, Detective Romeo Alvarez, was there the day of the biggest correction, but despite his assertions, that doesn’t mean they’re forever connected. Unless her worst fears come true and he changes his ways because he fell in love at first sight with her sister, Bristol. As if Samantha needs that complication in her quiet life. 

A love rekindled. 

Fire Department Captain Julio Espinoza-Vasquez has never let go of the love of his life. Raised by deaf parents, he sees the world in ways no one else around him ever will. And he’ll put it all on the line to protect his colleagues—the family that the department has given him. When a spate of suspicious fires and one death make it clear something is happening in Benson, Julio lands on an inter-department task force. Working with Samantha is his one shot at getting her back. 

As the hunt for the arsonist turns to targeted attacks, Julio puts it all on the line to save Samantha while she investigates these deadly crimes. Only together can they uncover the culprit. But not before Benson becomes an inferno. 

Each Benson First Responders book is a stand-alone Christian Romantic Suspense.

My Review

This is the first book in the Benson First Responder series that I've read and didn't have any problem getting to know the characters. They were professionals with a strong will, committed to their jobs, and hoping for a second chance at a relationship. Julio and Samantha's jobs take them on a search for an arsonist.

The story is full of twists, non-stop action, and a sweet romance. Samantha finds her faith stretched and her ties to family strengthened. A very intense on the edge of your seat read that wrapped up everything nicely at the end. You won't be able to put it down until you've turned the last page so make plenty of time.

I received a complimentary ARC from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.
 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Lisa Phillips | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

More Books from this Series:

---

About the Author

Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 80 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after. Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Lisa is a worship leader, tea aficionado, and dog lover of two crazy Airedales.

Connect with Lisa by visiting authorlisaphillips.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

---

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Inferno and a merch pack!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 30, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 7, 2024. Winner 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.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review of "Home is Right Where You Are" by Ruth Chou Simons

 

Bestselling author and artist Ruth Chou Simons shares a message of comfort and peace inspired by Psalm 23: when you are with God, home is always right where you are.

Ruth shares from her heart the words she's spoken over her own six children, from their very young days into adulthood. Ruth's lyrical text and whimsical art take children and families on a journey that reminds all of us that no matter where we go, no matter what comes our way in life, the Lord keeps us close to Him.

This book is perfect for parents and families who want to reassure their children with the comforting truth that God is always with them, that He will guide them, and that He will provide for all their needs;teach their children that God is the source of joy, overflowing blessings, and wonderful adventure;be delighted with captivating illustrations and beautiful art; andsoothe anxious minds with the comfort of God's provision and presence.Home Is Right Where You Are makes a perfect gift for baby showers, new mothers, births, or adoptions;graduations, milestones, and other big life events; andChristmas, birthdays, Easter, and other gift-giving occasions.

Home Is Right Where You Are is bestselling author and artist Ruth Chou Simons's first children's book—a beautiful treasure of God's promises combined with her moving art.

To Order

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ruth Chou Simons is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author of several books and Bible studies, including GraceLaced, Beholding and Becoming, When Strivings Cease, and Now and Not Yet. She is an artist, entrepreneur, podcaster, and speaker, using each of these platforms to sow the Word of God into people's hearts. Through her online shoppe at GraceLaced.com and her social media community, Simons shares her journey of God's grace intersecting daily life with word and art. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys—their greatest adventure.

Connect with Ruth on social media at @ruthchousimons.
(

My REVIEW

This wonderful children's book is inspired by Psalm 23. The author's introductory words is a message of hope and a reminder of the promises of God.

The author's story, Home is Right Where You Are, you will find within the pages a message of encouragement and hope. It's a joy to read for adult's as well as children. The words will touch your heart and fill your soul with comfort and peace.

The illustrations accompany the story beautifully; a vision of the world that God created for each of us and a reminder of his love and truth. They are done in gorgeous watercolor style and flow well throughout the pages.

The story touched my heart filling it with warmth. It is a beautiful book you will want to read many times and is a wonderful addition to your home or church library.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Review of New Release: What's the Story, Morning Glory by Julie Lessman

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for What's the Story, Morning Glory? by Julie Lessman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: What's the Story, Morning Glory?
Author: Julie Lessman
Publisher: Julie Lessman LLC
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Genre: Memoir Devotional (half fiction/half nonfiction)

“DEAR LORD, JULIE ... OUR WHOLE LIFE IS IN THIS BOOK!" 

My heart went out to my sweet husband as he walked into our kitchen one day with a noticeable gulp, ashen-faced after reading my latest novel.“Yes, I know, babe,” I said with a repentant smile and a conciliatory hug, “but nobody really knows that.” 
Ahem. Until now ... 

Trust me, "What’s the Story, Morning Glory? A Memoir Devotional with a 'Novel' Approach to Practical Christianity" is not a book I wanted to write. As a novelist, I have never been partial to nonfiction, either reading it or writing it, but I had little choice when God convinced me otherwise through a number of point-blank arm-twistings I couldn’t deny and not-so-gentle proddings from family and friends. 

Despite all the encouragement, I wasn’t really sure where to begin. “It will be fiction and nonfiction combined,” the Holy Spirit whispered within, and just like that, the idea for this book took flight. First, I would tell my “real” and very personal story behind the life-lesson stories in my novels, then I would follow it up with the excerpt from my books where I teach that same life lesson to my characters, finally culminating in corresponding Scriptures, a bulleted “Takeaway” list, and a related prayer. 

Thus, What’s the Story, Morning Glory: A Memoir Devotional with a “Novel” Approach to Practical Christianity was born. A memoir devotional that when combined with scenes from my novels, becomes a “novotional” where I relate the life lessons God personally taught me through His Word. I am simply a child of God who applied these lessons and Biblical precepts to every situation in my life and consequently, saw nonstop answers to prayer and blessings galore. It is my profound hope and prayer that through my own very simple and personal stories and examples, I can do the same for others. Therefore, the format for each chapter of this book will be as

1. The Real Story (How I learned and applied the spiritual lesson in my own life)
2. The Novel Story (The scene where I teach the spiritual lesson to my characters)
3. The Scripture Story (Scriptures applicable to the spiritual lesson)
4. The Takeaway Story (Bulletized points for spiritual lesson in easy-to-read/apply format)
5. The Prayer Story (Specific prayer related to the spiritual lesson)

I pray this bottom-line, albeit somewhat quirky, 1-2-3 devotional blesses you as much as God's spiritual life lessons have blessed me! 

Hugs,
Julie Lessman  

EXCERPT

“But to you who are listening I say: ‘Love your enemies,

do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.’”

~ Luke 6:27-28 NIV

Chapter Six

From Hurt to Healed: The Footpath to Forgiveness

1.) The Real Story:

“Are you out of your ever-loving mind??!!”

Yep, that’s pretty close to what I said to my spiritual mentor, Joy—give or take a few more

colorful words—when she said I needed to forgive my father and restore the relationship.

Forgive my father? The man who beat me with his belt, his shoe, and a cat-of-nine-tails until

I peed on the floor? Called me an “angle-shooter” and reinforced my womanhood by telling me,

“don’t think you’re anything special—any whore can get them excited.”

The same father I hadn’t seen for two years, since the night my little sister Katie and I ran

away after he’d screamed and forced me to make his bed at 10:30 p.m.? I’d made the mistake of

giving him a dirty look while I did so, and you didn’t do that with Daddy. He raised a fist to hit

me and I reared back to fend him off with a kick to his stomach, calling him a very foul name

before Katie and I finally fled into the night.

Forgive that father?

Yeah, I don’t think so. Unfortunately for me at the time, God did think so, mandating that

very thing as the first mission I was to accomplish as a brand-new, twenty-three-year-old

Christian.

A grunt popped from my lips. Yeah, sure—Mission Impossible!

Only it wasn’t. My spiritual mentor, Joy, implied it was as easy as 1-2-3, and I already told

you how I am a black-and-white, bottom-line, 1-2-3 type of person.  So, I begrudgingly agreed to

try, implementing the following steps:

1.) Forgive my father (or if I couldn’t do that, pray that God would bring me to the point

where I could forgive him and give me the grace to do it).

2.) Pray for my father, that God would bless him and give me favor with him.

3.) Put feet to my faith (yeah, yeah, I know, but you better get used to hearing this phrase

because it’s a crucial part of success in becoming who God wants us to be).

The first two points weren’t too difficult because honestly? I was at a place in my life that if

God said, “Jump,” I would ask, “How high?” I was so tired of being miserable, I just wanted to

be set free from all the hate and bitterness inside.

But, yikes, that #3? It was a real killer because the last thing I wanted to do was to face my

estranged father after avoiding him for two years.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

Also Available

     

---

About the Author

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, Silver Lining Ranch, and The Cousins O’Connor series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2014, Best of 2015, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-20, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. 

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets.

Connect with Julie by visiting julielessman.com to follow her on social media, read both romantic and spiritual excerpts from her books, or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

---

My Review

At first, I had a hard time getting used to the layout of partial devotional book and part memoir. It was a little different than expected, but after reading a chapter or two, I became used to the style and enjoyed it.

The scripture verses are comforting as they address different topics and gave me examples of God's word under a specific topic. It answered the questions about what God said about it. Each section of the chapter is broken down into different sections, (1) The Real Story (2) The Novel Story (3) The Scripture Story (4) The Takeaway Story (5) The Prayer Story.

The book comes with many insightful messages, prayers, and applicable scriptures. It would be a wonderful reference book to refer to again and would be a great addition to your library.

I received a complimentary copy from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, a character named after you in Julie's next book & a signed paperback copy of that book, plus a signed paperback copy of What's the Story, Morning Glory!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 24, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 1, 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 for print copies. Gift card open to all locales. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review of K-9 Ranch Protection: Crisis Rescue Team #6 by Darlene L. Turner

 

A killer on the loose. A K-9 keeping watch. Police constable Izzy Tremblay knows her father’s death was no accident, so when she finally discovers a lead and is immediately attacked, her suspicions are confirmed. The ambush leaves her in the hospital with three hours of crucial memory missing, which she knows hold the key to finding her father’s murderer. For protection, she takes refuge with her ex-partner, Austin Murray, on his K-9 ranch while she races to uncover the truth. But with danger still lurking, can they stay alive long enough to take down a killer?

To Order

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning, best-selling author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. 

You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders. 

Be sure to follow her on BookBub https://bit.ly/33TYIS2

MY REVIEW

K-9 Ranch Protection starts with an exciting suspense that had me rapidly turning pages. But what truly surprised me was the author's ability to create such an emotional, action-packed, yet inspirational read. This surprise factor kept me hooked all throughout the story.

The characters are well-developed, and before the end of the book, I felt like I knew them personally. I admired Izzy's courage and persistence in solving cases. The K-9, Ne'v'e, an Alaskan Malamute, is amazing at what she can do. The countryside and ranch setting came alive as I read. I was mesmerized by the non-stop action, suspense, mystery, and "whodunnit." It kept me guessing to the end. You don't want to miss this one!

I received an ARC from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.