I’m joining in the April Showers Giveaway Hop, hosted by The Kids Did It and Mommy Island! Lots of neat bloggers are joining in with fun prizes of their own. Keep reading for more info on how to enter!
To enter, simply click on the blue InLinkz button below (the one with the frog on it). That will take you to the giveaway hop page, where you’ll be able to see all the blogs hosting giveaways. Just click on the blog names to visit each giveaway.
And now, for the FINCHNWREN blog giveaway!
The FINCHNWREN blog is giving away these Cheerful Goodies for Rainy Days! One winner will receive:
Let. It. Go. by Karen Ehman. Karen’s book is just right for women who struggle with control issues. Written with humor and using lots of examples from the Bible, this book is designed to help with thought patterns, relationships, family, and friends. (It is NOT about Elsa, by the way!)
Old Navy Cozy Socks in citrus slice pattern. It will cheer you up simply to have these on your feet!
Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel in Sunshine and Lemons scent
How to enter:
Simply click on the Enter here! link below. That will take you to a Giveaway Tools entry form, where you’ll be able to enter in a variety of ways. Giveaway closes April 20, 2021. One winner will receive all three items. Best wishes!
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Downsizing by Lin Stepp, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Downsizing
Series: Mountain Home Books #2
Author: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 1, 2021
Genre: Clean/Sweet Contemporary Romance
Forced to suddenly downsize her life, and not by choice, pushes Mary Pat Latham to give up all that is familiar, to reexamine her life in every area, and to eventually open her heart to new beauty and purpose, instead of only looking back in regret.
At midlife, Mary Pat Latham has an almost perfect life—a successful husband, a beautiful home, four fine grown children, and a wealth of meaningful activities and social clubs to fill her days—so it’s a total shock when her husband walks in one day and says he wants a divorce. As if hearing a stranger talking in her own kitchen, Mary Pat listens to Russell’s reasons for wanting to abandon their long marriage and to his plans, already in place, to sell their home and move on. What will she do? Where will she go? She hasn’t worked since the children were born, her life wrapped up in home and family. Stunned, Mary Pat heads to the small mountain home she and Russell bought from her parents years ago, too shocked and humiliated to face her friends or anyone she knows right now.
Owen McCarter knew he’d need to stop by the old Jennings place, on some pretense or other, after Wheeler told him he’d seen a woman up there acting sick. After all, the house was next door to his at the end of Highland Drive. When he knocked on the front door later, it took him a minute to recognize Mary Pat, weeping and so different from the girl he’d known in childhood and fallen in love with. Owen reached out in friendship, of course, seeing Mary Pat so upset, but he felt surprised at the old memories that touched him, too. Hearing her problems and learning why she’d come to the mountains, Owen knew it unlikely she’d stay for long after the more lavish life she’d known. But he couldn’t help wishing she would.
Another Lin Stepp novel set in the Smoky Mountains … with a special “Downsizing Diet” available free to readers as a book supplement.
Lin Stepp is a New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon best-selling international author, A native Tennessean, businesswoman, and former faculty member at Tusculum College, Lin has twenty-one published books, including her beloved Smoky Mountain and Mountain Home novels, all set in different Tennessee and North Carolina locations, plus a novella A Smoky Mountain Gift in one of Kensington’s Christmas anthologies.
Stepp’s latest novels, set around the Smoky Mountains, are Downsizing (2021) and Happy Valley (2019). Lin also has three novels set on the South Carolina coast in her Edisto Trilogy: Claire at Edisto (2019), Return to Edisto (2020) and Edisto Song (2021). Lin and her husband J.L. also write regional guidebooks, including a Smoky Mountain hiking guide and two state parks guidebooks for Tennessee and South Carolina.
Lin’s title Claire At Edisto was the 2019 Best Books Award Winner in Fiction: Romance, sponsored by American Book Fest, her novel Welcome Back a finalist in the 2017 Selah Awards, and Lin and her husband’s guidebook Discovering Tennessee State Parks a 2019 Best Books Award Finalist in Nonfiction: Travel Guides with American Book Fest.
Lin enjoys hiking and exploring out of doors and she loves speaking for events, festivals, libraries, and book clubs and sharing about her work and interests through her monthly blog and newsletter, both on her website at: http://www.linstepp.com
(1) winner will receive a Tennesee gift pack including a print copy of Downsizing by Lin Stepp, The Afternoon Hiker and Discovering Tennessee State Parks by J.L. & Lin Stepp, and a Great Smoky Mountains National Park pocket guide!
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 only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
My review of Downsizing
Mary Pat has had a lovely, decades-long marriage. Her husband is a surgeon. They’ve raised four wonderful children and live in a nice home in a well-to-do neighborhood. Her days are filled with clubs and volunteering. She’s frosting a cake for a meeting when her husband Russell comes home, sits across from her in the kitchen, and tells her he wants a divorce and that he’s already got an offer for their home. (And also, by the way, that she’s put on too much weight.) To say she’s shocked would be an understatement.
Heartsick, Mary Pat takes her dog and flees to her parents’ home in the Tennessee mountains, where she grew up. Her first few weeks aren’t that awesome. Grieving her upcoming divorce, she is also reminded (quite rudely) by several people that she is not the fit, slender twirler she was in college. In fact, she’s quite overweight.
She also has a run-in with…a bear.
City life did not prepare her for all this trauma! But Mary Pat does find kindness in a nearby neighbor, an also-divorced high school former boyfriend, Owen, who has returned to the mountains to work and live near his sister and father. Mary Pat is most definitely not interested in a relationship, especially after discovering that Russell plans to remarry right after their divorce is final.
But, life is full of changes. And there are indeed changes ahead for Mary Pat. Faith, hope, and perhaps even love are ahead of her as she sets out to rebuild her broken life and discard the weights that have held her down and back.
Downsizing captures the down-home beauty and comfort of life in the Tennessee mountains. It reminds readers that new dreams can be built after old ones are swept away. Also, that our faithful God is still there even when people fail us; and that while not all people are trustworthy, sometimes we find faithful friends where we’d least expect them. In fact, my favorite quote in the book mentions the encouragement we can find in community: “…but when you’re around people of strong faith, it builds your own faith up. I read a quote once that said you can only be lifted up to higher ground by people who walk there.”
Words for Mary Pat to live by…and for us as well!
Enjoy! –Wren
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for No Unturned Stone by David James Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
The continuing adventures of Rembrandt Stone from the creative minds of James L. Rubart, Susan May Warren, and newcomer David Curtis Warren, writing collectively as David James Warren.
Title: No Unturned Stone
Series: The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone #2
Author: David James Warren
Publisher: TriStone Media
Release Date: April 6, 2021
Genre: Time Travel Detective Series
The One Rule Is, Don’t Mess With The Past
But he did, and now ex-detective Rembrandt Stone is reaping the devastation of ignoring those words when he traveled back in time to solve the one case that had haunted his dreams.
Yes, he solved the crime. Yes, he saved lives. But Rembrandt returns to find the unthinkable has happened and his life has shattered.
There’s only one answer: break the rule again. Go back in time once more, fix what went wrong, save what went right, and yeah, in his spare time solve another brutal crime.
But it’s not so easy to change time, especially when time turns you into a target. And of course there’s the strong possibility if he goes again, he’ll never get back.
Get ready for your mind to be blown in Book 2 of the time-travel suspense series, The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone.
James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man’s body. He’s the best-selling, Christy Hall of Fame author of ten novels and loves to send readers on mind-bending journeys they’ll remember months after they finish one of his stories. He’s dad to the two most outstanding sons on the planet and lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in eastern Washington. More at http://jameslrubart.com/
Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award–winning author of more than eighty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. The mother of four grown children, and married to her real-life hero for over 30 years, she loves traveling and telling stories about life, adventure, and faith.
For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com.
CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Instagram | TwitterDavid Curtis Warren is making his literary debut in these novels, and he’s never been more excited. He looks forward to creating more riveting stories with Susie and Jim, as well as on his own. He’s grateful for his co-writers, family, and faith, buoying him during the pandemic of 2020, and this writing and publishing process.
(1) winner will receive a print copy of Cast the First Stone & No Unturned Stone!
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 6, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 13, 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 only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
About No Unturned Stone
What if you were able to visit the past, to right a wrong or solve a crime?
And…what if you did that but when you returned to your own timeline, you’d lost all that you valued in your life?
That is Rembrandt Stone’s story. In Cast the First Stone, the first book in THE TRUE LIES OF REMBRANDT STONE series, Rembrandt is given a special watch that enables him to return to the past, where he solves a cold case. When No Unturned Stone begins, he has returned to his own time. And he’s lost everything. His wife. His daughter. In addition, apparently he’s begun a love affair with alcohol.
There are new tragedies everywhere. But, Rem thinks, he can fix this! He’s got the watch, he’ll just go back in time and undo the things that he messed up before.
Before he can head back, Rembrandt and his boss (and sparring partner) Burke have a series of cases to solve. In fact, Rembrandt is the head of the police task force to find a serial killer. But Rem is a wreck. He has bounced back into a present that bears little resemblance to the one he’d been in before the watch took him back and he’s having a lot of trouble recognizing what is apparently his life. He is a mess. He can see the evidence, but has no idea what events transpired to get him here.
But, there is a crime victim who survived the serial killer’s attack. There’s a press conference to announce the latest on the crimes to the media. There is also a watchmaker, Art, that Rem believes can help him to get his life back in order; but when he visits the old man, he finds another life that has been dramatically altered.
Art has some time travel wisdom to impart. Could it be possible to create a rewrite? The alternative is an empty life Rembrandt can’t imagine. So returning to the past is clearly the only hope for the detective. Still, it’s hope where he had no hope before.
If he can only rewrite a past that brings his marriage and his child back.
My thoughts
No UnturnedStone is a fantastic, nail-biter of a story. I could not put it down. If I hadn’t known that it was written by three authors working together, I’d never have imagined that it wasn’t written by only one person! The style is spare yet vivid; it’s definitely a detective story/police procedural (one of my favorite genres). Yet the fantasy elements of time travel are woven in quite naturally. The two styles combine beautifully to provide a suspenseful and eventful novel with appealing characters.
Rembrandt is a fascinating narrator. And he really does desire to do what is right. The trouble is, while he knows how to be a detective and a friend, he is woefully ignorant about how to be a successful time-traveler. He really believes he can make the wrongs right. But he’s missing the owner’s manual on the watch that tells him everything to do…and not do.
Most of us have probably thought that, if we only had a time machine, we could fix this or that problem or event from our pasts. But anyone who has watched a time travel or science fiction film knows that the space-time continuum is delicate and fragile; one tiny difference can alter history or civilization, as well as individual lives. Rembrandt has all the right hopes and dreams, but what will his actions accomplish…or destroy? Read No UnturnedStone and find out!
Enjoy! –Wren
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Recently I received a digital link to view the film “Colors of Character” from Collide Media and Momentum Influencers. It’s an incredibly inspirational movie about the artist Steve Skipper. I’d love to tell you more about it, plus I have a digital media link to give away to one reader!
About “Colors of Character”
Artist Steve Skipper has had the most remarkable life; one with the darkest of places and circumstances in some moments. He was once, as a young man, a drug dealer and user, a gang member, and a violent, angry person. And yet, miraculously, he was saved out of that dangerous life and given both an incredible talent and a future.
In “Colors of Character,” based on a book cowritten by Steve and Don Keith (Dream On: A Journey to Deliverance). Steve was born in a small town close to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1958, and grew up in a nearby town called Rosewood. He attended segregated schools at first, where one of his teachers noticed his artistic talent. She provided art materials herself to Steve, as the school lacked funding for them, and encouraged him to pursue art. His parents were against this and wanted him to get “a real job.”
Later, Steve was among students who were bused to a different school district as attempts at integration were pursued. Steve was angry at issues in his home life and struggles at school, and was one of many students who got into fights. Not too long after this, he was “jumped into” the Crips gang, which had made it all the way from Los Angeles to Birmingham. He was tough, collected money and debts owed for drugs, and lived the gang life, using as well as selling.
However, God had a dramatically unusual plan for him. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but a remarkable set of circumstances brought Steve face to face with God and almost immediately out of the gang lifestyle. “Colors of Character” tells this story as well as how God brought Steve back to creating art. Although he had much talent, Steve had little formal art training, yet doors opened again and again and he grew as an artist and was able to make a living for himself and his family. He was connected with major sports figures and spent years painting sports paintings and portraits.
And, it could have ended there, with Steve continuing to create amazing artwork in the sports world. But God led him eventually on a remarkably different path: painting the Civil Rights Movement. He was connected with individuals in Birmingham, in Selma, and in Bimini as he painted the history of the marches, the churches, and key individuals in the fight for civil rights.
Steve shares many of his own life experiences in the film, and there are many interview clips with sports personalities, political figures, and even an ambassador! This movie is recommended by Dove.org for those aged 12 and up (some mention of sexual content, drug use, and personal injury).
My thoughts about “Colors of Character”
Steve’s story is pretty incredible. And, I was surprised numerous times as I watched this film. He lived in a remarkable time in America’s 20th century, during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. He was saved out of a life that was dangerous and could have been fatal, the gang life. And he was gifted an immense talent in art, and painted portraits and artwork for famous sports figures from the University of Alabama, the NFL, the PGA, NASCAR, and more. That would have been pretty amazing all on its own.
But after years of creating sports art and making connections with famous sports talents, players, and coaches, God called him in a completely different direction; into painting about the Civil Rights Movement in America. It’s almost as if Steve’s life has had three different movements, so far: gang life; sports painting; and civil rights painting.
I was so inspired and encouraged by “Colors of Character.” I loved seeing God’s purposes in and hand on Steve’s life, and how God really does desire to lead and guide us in our lives and callings. God made connections over and over for Steve in ways he could never have anticipated, and his art not only transcended color and overcame racial discrimination, but invited viewers into the fight for civil rights and the lives of many individuals who made a difference there.
It’s a remarkable movie and an important one, especially for our day and age. And, you can enter to win a digital code for “Colors of Character!”
How to enter to win
You can enter to win a digital code for “Colors of Character” as well! To enter, simply click on the link below that says “Enter here!” That will take you to a Giveaway Tools entry form where you’ll be able to enter in a variety of ways. Giveaway closes 4/15/21. Best wishes!
You can rent or buy “Colors of Character” on DVD, or on demand from your own home!
Just click on the “Buy Link” below. That will take you to the “Colors of Character” website. You’ll be able to purchase the DVD from Amazon or Best Buy. You can rent and view it on Apple TV or Fandango.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
I’m joining with MamatheFox and tons of other fun bloggers for a neat spring giveaway hop! Keep reading for more info on how to visit the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop page and enter the giveaways, as well as the FINCHNWREN giveaway!
25 bloggers are giving away fun prizes in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop. To enter, click on the blue InLinkz button below. That will take you to the giveaway page, where you’ll be able to see all the giveaways and click to visit them.
And now, for the FINCHNWREN giveaway!
The FINCHNWREN blog is giving away a beautiful softcover spiral-bound lined journal from Fringe Studios. It has a blurred image of succulents on the cover along with the golden-embossed words, COLLECT BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES. In addition, we’re giving away two Sharpies; a bright pink Sharpie Fine Point Permanent Marker plus a Sharpie Calligraphic Pen with water-based purple ink. Because a journal should always come with fun pens!
How to enter the FINCHNWREN giveaway
To enter the giveaway for the journal and pens, simply click on the “Enter here!” link below. That will take you to a Giveaway Tools entry form where you’ll be able to enter in a variety of ways. Giveaway closes on 4/15/21. One winner will be selected to win all three items. Best wishes!
If you love inspirational suspense thrillers, you’ll love the new Lynn H. Blackburn book I just finished! Revell Reads sent me a print copy of Unknown Threat. It had engaging characters, fascinating suspense, and an appealing story. I couldn’t put it down!
Luke and Zane are out for their Monday morning run. They used to run as a trio; with their friend and fellow Secret Service agent Thad. But Thad was gone and now it was just the two of them. They lost Thad when his car exploded as he turned the ignition one night. There are no clues, and there is no explanation for the crime. But the guys are trying to move forward even as they mourn the loss of their friend.
As they finish their run around the lake and head back toward the parking lot, a shot rings out; and Zane falls to the ground. Luke dives to the asphalt beside him. Zane is hit, but still alive. Shots continue to echo and both are injued. Then, something all too familiar happens again; Zane’s car explodes. Luke and Zane survive but other agents aren’t so lucky. Who could possibly be targeting the Secret Service in its Raleigh, North Carolina office?
FBI agent Faith Malone is put in charge of the investigation. Faith, and her boss, believe that Luke’s and Zane’s attack is connected to Thad’s murder earlier. But they have no idea who is seeking to decimate the agents. There have been no trips to North Carolina by the president or the vice president. And other agents are now under attack. Then, they discover that there was a woman in the car with Thad in the explosion. A woman that was not his wife.
Faith and Luke, who’s recovering from his own injury, are desperate to protect the other agents and discover who’s behind the shootings and explosions. Could it be the head of the local mafia? They reach out to confidential informants, other agents, and the medical examiner’s office. There just don’t seem to be any clues they can follow.
Before the investigation is over, an incredible story of loss, lies, love, and crime will be revealed. And Faith and Luke may discover, despite their allied yet often-competing agencies, that they might be just right for each other romantically. But to pursue a romance, they’ve both got to survive an ever-deepening and extremely dangerous case. Will they be able to come out on the other side?
Lynn H. Blackburn is a master weaver of the suspense story. I loved all the characters and I was fascinated with the storyline. (I’m a definite fan of the police procedural, and this was such an exciting one!) I couldn’t have predicted the way things would have turned out; Blackburn kept me guessing til the very end. I was thrilled to find out that she has another novel coming out in this “Defend and Protect” series. I can’t wait, and I definitely recommend this book to you!
Enjoy! –Wren
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads. All opinions are my own.
I have a wonderful book to share with you today! Read with Audra sent me a gorgeous print copy of Erica Vetsch’s newest Regency inspirational story of love & intrigue, The Indebted Earl. It’s the third in Erica’s “Serendipity & Secrets” series (although it can definitely be read as a stand-alone). Let me tell you about this lovely book, and there is also a giveaway you can enter to win!
My review
“…But if He is sovereign and He is good, then what He brings about must be for our good and His glory, should it not?”
Lady Sophia Haverly (sister to Marcus Haverly of Vetsch’s The Gentleman Spy) lives not at her ancestral home, but with her fiance’s mother Mamie, as they wait for the major to return home from the sea. He has been serving on a Royal Navy vessel, but was wounded and is in the hospital in Operto, Portugal. Sophia and Mamie write frequent letters to Rich. But what they don’t know; what Rich and his captain, Charles Wyvern, have been keeping to themselves, is that Rich is not recovering. He is fading quickly. Before he dies, Rich begs Charles to care for Sophia’s needs, and to tell her he loved her til the very end.
Captain Wyvern, having been wounded himself (but recovering), returns to England. He visits Sophia and Mamie at Primrose Cottage, Rich’s home, desiring to bring whatever comfort he can. But while he’s there, a strident and rude family descends upon the property, demanding that Mamie (and her company) move out at once. It seems that this man is the next Baron Richardson in line, since Rich’s death, inheriting his title and property. So Charles, Sophia, and Mamie, accompanied by Mrs. Chapman, housekeeper extraordinaire, and Donnie, the old gardener, depart the cottage and head to Haverly Manor.
But it’s not too long before Captain Wyvern receives some startling news of his own. Not a ship to captain; but the unwelcome news that he is the newest Earl of Rothwell, following his uncle’s recent death. This is the last thing he’d ever imagined, or desired. Yet, the position provides a path for Mamie and Sophie to visit the sea, a place Mamie had longed for. The three head to Wyvern’s estate in Devonshire. Yet their arrival takes the meager staff by surprise. A dusty mansion isn’t the only surprise to be had. It seems that, in addition to the earldom, Wyvern’s uncle has left him three wards; three young women who’d been at boarding school. And raising young women was the last thing the new earl had experience for; he was used to being on a naval vessel, in command of men!
Wyvern decides that a marriage of convenience to Sophia will solve all his problems. She can supervise the estate, care for Mamie, and raise the girls while he returns to the ocean. But the pair discovers that the “convenient” marriage may not be all that God has in store for them. While both Charles and Sophia wonder when and how God is going to answer their prayers, their hearts are growing soft towards each other. And odd clues keep popping up revealing a mystery that they can’t quite comprehend.
What if God’s plans are more amazing, exciting, and unexpected than any of them can imagine? Read Erica Vetsch’s exceptional new Regency romance and find out! You will love the settings, the characters, and the final novel in the “Serendipity and Secrets” trilogy. (I have to admit I’m very excited to hear that Erica is writing a new Regency series!)
About the author, Erica Vetsch
Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.
Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.
A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.
Enter to win a Kindle Fire in The Indebted Earl giveaway!
You can enter to win a fabulous Kindle Fire! Giveaway ends April 20, 2021.
If you’d like to enter this giveaway, please click on one of the 3 links below. They will take you to Audra Jennings’ blog, Erica Vetsch’s blog, and Promo Simple, where you can enter to win. Best wishes!
Who doesn’t love the amazing books that National Geographic Kids provides?
They have a stellar line of books that will make perfect basket fillers this Easter.
Enter here for the chance to win a beautiful set of Easter themed books from National Geographic Kids.
NG Kids Baby Animal Sticker Activity Book (ages 4-8) With 1,000 stickers and fantastic graphics and text, these high quality, superfun sticker books are a great way for kids to learn about animals and the natural world. The Baby Animals sticker book is chock-full of the cutest creatures on the planet: pandas, piglets, wolf cubs, ponies, polar bears, elephants, bunnies, kittens, puppies, and many more. With a fun, brightly colored design and loaded with animal facts and games–such as mazes, counting, matching and more–this book is sure to provide endless entertainment.
National Geographic Pre-Reader: Ducks (ages 2-5) – From fuzzy ducklings to graceful birds, waddle your way into this adorable early reader, all about ducks!
Perfect for beginning and young readers, National Geographic Pre-readers include simple, expert-vetted text and large, engaging photos on every page. A vocabulary tree at the beginning of the book introduces kids to key words in concept groups, helping kids make connections between words. Plus, a wrap-up activity gives kids a chance to use what they’ve learned, while expanding their understanding of the world.
Cutest Animals on the Planet(ages 8-12) – NEW SERIES ALERT! Meet the world’s most adorable animals and learn fun stuff about them in this aww-some first book in a brand-new series from National Geographic Kids.Whether you like mammals, aquatic creatures, insects, birds, amphibians, or reptiles, this browsable book contains kids’ favorite animals that would ALL be contenders for the grand prize in a cute competition. Big photos pair with upbeat descriptions that highlight each critter’s crazy cool skills and unique behaviors. This adorable book showcases popular animals such as hedgehogs and pandas as well as unusual species such as tapirs, kakapos, and pangolins. Special features include a head-to-head cute-off, sure to keep readers amused and informed. Perfect for curious tweens, animal lovers, and future veterinarians alike.
A worthy cultural treasury with appeal to both the faithful and irreligious.” — Kirkus
Noah’s Ark, Moses, David and Goliath, the ten plagues, Daniel and the lions’ den, Jonah and the giant fish, and many more of the Bible’s most powerful stories — 27 in all — are compellingly retold in this beautifully illustrated treasury. Readers will be fascinated by the ancient people and events they encounter, surprised by some of the lesser known accounts revealed, and inspired by the lessons these tales impart. Stories cover important ground beyond religion, such as culture, history, and geography, and they touch on issues that remain relevant today–faith, loyalty, kindness, violence, generosity, greed, jealousy, and more. These accessible, readible stories give kids a rich picture of biblical times, which encourages them to think about our role in the world and to learn more.
Napoli’s magical storytelling is sure to ignite children’s imaginations. Along with Balit’s stunning art, this is a book kids will want to explore again and again–a classic that families can read aloud together.
5,000 Awesome Facts About Everything(ages 8-12) This book is literally busting its covers with fascinating, fun-tastic facts on super, sensational topics that kids love. Who knew that there were so many sweet things to learn about chocolate or that a dozen delicious details about peanut butter would show up on a page with a few splotches of jelly to whet our appetites? Keep turning and a terrifyingly toothy shark tells you all about himself, while other spreads lay out tons of tips on toys and games, mysteries of history, robots and reptiles, sports and spies and wacky words. A visual feast of colorful photographs surrounded by swirling, tipping, expanding, and climbing bits of information in a high-energy design, this book will satisfy both the casual browser and the truly fact obsessed.
Celebrate Easter(ages 6-9) – The joyous celebration of Easter is seen through a global perspective in this National Geographic volume featuring over 25 vibrant photographs. Witness the holiest day on the Christian calendar as it is celebrated throughout the world: from the famous Easter Egg Roll at the White House to the traditional bonfires throughout Europe, to colorful customs, to the universally popular dying of eggshells worldwide.
The first-person narrative leads young readers through the origins and traditions of this springtime festival of rebirth and hope. Reverend George Handzo gives parents and teachers a historical and cultural background in his informative note.
Napoli’s magical storytelling is sure to ignite children’s imaginations. Along with Balit’s stunning art, this is a book kids will want to explore again and again–a classic that families can read aloud together.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: A Tapestry of Light
Author: Kimberly Duffy
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release date: March 16, 2021
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Calcutta, 1886.
Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.
When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie’s English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home.
But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn’t forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.
Kimberly Duffy is a Long Island native currently living in Southwest Ohio, via six months in India. When she’s not homeschooling her four kids, she writes historical fiction that takes her readers back in time and across oceans. She loves trips that require a passport, recipe books, and practicing kissing scenes with her husband of twenty years. He doesn’t mind.
(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Tapestry of Light, A Mosaic of Wings, and Recipes from an Indian Kitchen!
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 22, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 29, 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 only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
My review of A Tapestry of Light
We’re very aware of the issues of race and discrimination in our culture today. Imagine these same questions being addressed (or not addressed) in 1860s India and England. These are two of the huge obstacles faced by Ottilie Russell. Having been born and raised by her loving family in India, Ottilie is a child of several races. Her father is a British scientist. Her mother is what is labeled in this era as Eurasian; she is the daughter of a British army officer and an Indian woman. The Russells’ marriage wasn’t accepted well by either people group in India. Yet the family, who lives with Ottilie’s grandmother, faithful family servant Dilip, and Ottilie’s numerous siblings, has a rich and delightful life together.
Until, that is, tragedy strikes. Suddenly only Ottilie, her small brother Thaddeus, Dilip, and their grandmother are the only ones left of the once-large family. They’re on the verge of poverty as well, being sustained only by Ottilie’s expert and unusual embroidery on women’s attire. She embroiders fantastical designs using colorful thread and beetle wings. And the family squeaks by. Although her grandmother is certain that God loves them and will faithfully provide, Ottilie mistrusts Him. To her mind, He has taken from her her father, her mother, and all her siblings; not to mention an income that isn’t so meager. She is just not sure that He is truly trustworthy.
One day, they are surprised by estate manager Everett Scott. He has traveled from England to find the new baron, Lord Sutherland. Ottilie tells him plainly that he’s looking in the wrong place…only to discover that her beloved Thaddeus is indeed the new baron, through her British father’s family line. She refuses to let Everett take Thaddeus away from her and India. But then, to the girl who has already lost so much, tragedy strikes again. And so, the siblings head for England.
Thaddeus looks ethnically Caucasian. He is welcomed warmly by his grandmother and aunt. But Ottilie looks very definitely to be from India, except for her father’s eyes. The Sutherlands, wary of losing their status in society with a granddaughter/niece who most definitely doesn’t look as society thinks an English person should, relegate Ottilie to the position of “governess.” But not for long; all English boys of the upper class go off to boarding school.
Separation, poverty, and discrimination are looking Ottilie squarely in the face yet again. Facing the loss of her brother and the one man that she hoped could love her in this cold land so unlike her home, Ottilie devises a plan that she hopes will save her life and make a way for her to, if only briefly, see Thaddeus again. Will she learn that God is indeed worthy of her trust and love? Can she believe Him to make a way forward?
A Tapestry of Light is the first book I’ve read by Kimberly Duffy. But I can guarantee you that it won’t be my last! Would you believe that I read it in one day? I was captivated by Ottilie’s journey. Duffy captures the world of 19th-century India, with its heat, spices, religious observances, and all the races and languages that existed there, so richly and tangibly. Ottilie’s story of a life of challenge, juxtaposed against a rich family love and gift for embroidery, was enthralling. And her encounters with the God who really does love her will be recognized by women today. I recommend this book so highly to you. It’s truly one of the best fiction books I’ve read in recent years. You’ll love this remarkable woman (and the rest of the cast of characters) and you’ll cheer her on.
Enjoy! –Wren
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Can’t Buy Me Love by Andrea Christenson presented by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Can’t Buy Me Love
Series: Deep Haven Collection #2
Author: Andrea Christenson presented by Susan May Warren
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: March 16, 2021
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
He can’t buy his way out of trouble this time…
Housekeeper-slash-entrepreneur Ella Bradley prides herself on being ready for anything. After all, with a father who died—and lied to her—and a stepmom and stepsister who despise her, she has no one else to depend on. But on the biggest night of her life, she’s unprepared to be trapped in an elevator with the man of her dreams.
Wealthy prince-to-a-fortune Adrian Vassos wants nothing more than to shed his reputation as a party boy and prove that he is a savvy businessman. Even, a gentleman. But when he’s trapped with a woman who knows his reputation but not his face, he gives into the temptation to be someone else—and lies.
When serendipity brings them together again—this time to work off community service—can their combined sentences spark a new ending? Maybe…if Adrian’s lies don’t find him out. Again.
The magic of Deep Haven enchants in this modern-day Cinderella story.
Susan May Warren is the USA Today best-selling novelist of 80 books. With more than 1.5 million books in print, she is beloved by reviewers and readers around the world. Visit Susan at www.susanmaywarren.com.
Andrea Christenson lives in a Minneapolis, MN suburb with her husband and two daughters. When she is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on. She believes that a great loaf of artistic bread can turn a meal into a masterpiece. Andrea’s prayer is to write stories revealing God’s love.
CONNECT WITH ANDREA: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Merging the creative energies of best-selling authors Susan May Warren and Lindsay Harrel, Sunrise Publishing is the matchmaker for established authors who want to build on their current success for future growth and aspiring authors looking to break out, build an audience, and hone their writing skills.
CONNECT WITH SUNRISE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | admin@sunrisepublishing.com
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card + 3 Can’t Buy Me Love ebooks (one ebook for the winner and two to give to friends)!
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 16, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 23, 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 only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
My review
I have loved Susan May Warren’s books about Deep Haven for years! I loved the small-town, close-knit Minnesota feel and I so enjoyed watching all her characters connect, develop relationships, and grow close to God and each other. I’m equally enjoying the new Deep Haven series, written by other authors, under Susie’s direction! And Andrea Christianson’s Can’t Buy Me Love was a delightful read and addition.
Ella has, she believes, one chance to present her business plan to a hotel mogul. She has developed a unique line of organic, healthful cleaning products. She comes by this line of work honestly; her deceased dad was the King of Clean. But, while her products are amazing and she’s making a little money by cleaning homes and businesses on the side, she is on the verge of poverty. If her presentation doesn’t go well and the hotel company rejects her product line and ideas, she doesn’t know what she will do.
Unfortunately for Ella, making her presentation involves attending a shareholders’ meeting in evening attire which she doesn’t own. She borrows a fabulous gown and a pair of Manolos from her good friend (that she can barely walk in) and sets out. As the elevator doors in the high-rise meeting center begin to close, someone calls out to hold the door. And a gorgeous man walks in.
He and Ella begin to talk easily, but the unthinkable happens: the elevator shudders, then drops rapidly. The pair grab each other in terror, but the elevator jolts to a stop between floors. They are safe! Now they just have to wait for rescue. And the conversation continues.
Ella tells him about her upcoming presentation to the hotel mogul. He asks her if the son, Adrian, couldn’t help; and Ella badmouths the son, describing him as an irresponsible playboy. What Ella doesn’t know is that she is actually TALKING to Adrian. He just hadn’t shared his name.
When they’re rescued, she discovers who he is. And the rest of the night goes about as badly as the beginning of it had. Both Ella and Adrian are disappointed for multiple reasons. They’d actually had a great connection before everything went sideways. But it looks like that chance is missed and over.
Adrian is planning a family water park/hotel in Deep Haven, the same town where Ella is trying to make a living. They meet again, unexpectedly, and have another chance to connect. What stands between them? Their very different ideas for what makes a successful business. Adrian’s desire to please his dad and Ella’s, to redeem her family reputation. And relatives, on both sides, aren’t making things any easier. Can they overcome their differences and see that they are actually a wonderful match…and their futures might just be able to combine in a beautiful way?
Come back to Deep Haven! You’ll love visiting this charming Minnesota town and seeing your favorite characters as they interact with Ella and Adrian. Can’t Buy Me Love is a perfect addition to this series!
Enjoy! And don’t forget to enter the giveaway so you can win your own Deep Haven goodies!! –Wren
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 
Title: Downsizing
Series: Mountain Home Books #2
Author: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 1, 2021
Genre: Clean/Sweet Contemporary Romance
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 
Title: No Unturned Stone
Series: The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone #2
Author: David James Warren
Publisher: TriStone Media
Release Date: April 6, 2021
Genre: Time Travel Detective Series
Welcome to the Blog Tour for 
Title: A Tapestry of Light
Author: Kimberly Duffy
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release date: March 16, 2021
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 
Title: Can’t Buy Me Love
Series: Deep Haven Collection #2
Author: Andrea Christenson presented by Susan May Warren
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: March 16, 2021
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
