Enter to win these kitty cat goodies in the Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop! (Ends 10/15/22)

**If you have issues clicking thru to the main giveaway hop page, please keep checking back. Thanks!**

Hi there everyone!

It’s October and you know that means it’s time for another giveaway hop! I’m joining with host MamatheFox and lots of other neat bloggers to celebrate October–and there are some amazing giveaways you’ll want to enter!

Here’s how to visit the Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop page

You’ll want to check out–and enter–the giveaways these amazing bloggers are offering in the Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop! To hop over to the main giveaway linkup page, just 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 see all the participating blogs. You’ll be able to visit each blog and its giveaway by click on their highlighted links.

Now, for the FINCHNWREN giveaway!

The FINCHNWREN blog is giving away:

• Cooking With Cats: A Coloring Book by Jess Erskine. This is a hilarious coloring book with 25 illustrations by the author of, as it says on the back cover, “Cats in sushi? Cats on Cupcakes? Cats taking a bath in your soup?”
• Crayola Glitter Crayon pack with 8 crayons
• Crayola Pearl Crayon pack with 8 crayons
• a bag of Reward Erasers, filled with 60 tiny dog and cat erasers (not for children under 3 years old)
• a pettable fleecy zippered cat coin purse

How to enter the FINCHNWREN giveaway

To enter, just click on the pink “Enter here!” link below. That will take you to a Giveaway Tools entry form, where you’ll be able to enter to win in a variety of ways. Giveaway closes on 10/15/22. One winner will be selected to win the 5 items described above. US only, open to entrants 18 and older. Best wishes!

Enter here!

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure:

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

“Angry With God” by Brad Hambrick ~ a book review

#sponsor #partner

I have to admit that I never imagined that I would read a book entitled Angry With God. However, when I heard about Brad Hambrick’s new book in the “Ask a Christian Counselor” series, I looked at the book blurb–and found out that, it WAS indeed something that I not only wanted to, but needed to read. New Growth Press sent me an ebook copy of Angry With God, and here’s more about the book plus what I thought about it.

What you’ll find in Angry With God

From the publisher:

“No one gets mad at God for something small. When we’re angry with God, it is because we’ve faced something immensely hard. Anger is an often-overlooked part of grieving, and as such, is an appropriate response to profoundly painful events. Counselor Brad Hambrick provides a guided process to being honest with God about your pain to restore and deepen your relationship with him. While we are often prone to interpret our anger about intense suffering as being at God, this book is an invitation to process these intense emotions with God as a source of comfort who is sturdy enough to support these turbulent emotions. 

If you are struggling with deep grief that is accompanied with anger and confusion, Angry with God will be profoundly helpful in your journey.  Hambrick will patiently walk you through the process of being honest with God (and others) about your pain. You will learn how to articulate your pain, alleviate the effects of this pain, contextualize your experience in light of the gospel, and begin to hope again. God is a good shepherd who is patient and willing to move at the pace of his sheep. God can be trusted in places that merit the name “the valley of the shadow of death.”  

Angry with God is part of the Ask the Christian Counselor series. This series walks readers through their deepest and most profound questions. Each question is unpacked by an experienced counselor that gives readers the tools to understand their struggle and how the gospel brings hope and healing to the problem they are facing.”

In 5 book segments, Brad Hambrick speaks to the reader about:

• Life practices and pacing that will help those in pain walk through the process of healing
• The different between hurt and heresy
• How the psalmists spoke of their own pain to God
• How myriad parts of our lives (emotions, thoughts, relationships, choices, and our views of God) are adversely affected by pain
• Practical steps to take in resolving our griefs and pains
• What the gospel has to say about pain and living in this good, but broken, created world

My thoughts about Angry With God

As I mentioned above, I’d never expected (or WANTED, naturally) to read a book entitled Angry With God. I was even more surprised when, a decade ago, I found myself incredibly angry with Him. Events had happened to me (and consequently, to my family) that just did not fit into my worldview of what I expected in this life. (I know! That sounds SO self-centered. But it was pain that I felt, and felt deeply.)

As time went by, I found that my relationship with God had somehow dislocated. I was still connected with Him, but I didn’t feel connected. I read His Word, attended church, and prayed–but I held him at a distance. I felt as though I didn’t trust Him any more even though I did, and could still say, that He was good. (I just didn’t trust Him to be good to me. [Parenthetical aside: of course over the years He was incredibly good to me, over and over! I was just stuck in a deep place of broken trust.]) I didn’t really understand how to deal with the pain and emotions I had, and was still, experiencing. Still, since then, I have seen Him bring me healing, even though I missed the intimacy I’d once experienced with Him. WHAT a help Angry With God was though!

I needed for someone to tell me that my feelings were actually normal, and even appropriate, given my pain and suffering. And I needed someone to tell me HOW to get through–or at least truly begin–the path of restoration. Hambrick does so in Angry With God (interestingly subtitled “An honest journey through suffering and betrayal” — that certainly got my attention!); a book that is incredibly practical. Which is what I needed. I needed someone to help me move past the theoretical or philosophical tenets of the Christian faith (that God is good, that He loves us, that Jesus died for all our sin and pain). I didn’t disbelieve those at heart. But I couldn’t figure out how to reconcile those truths with the deep pain I was feeling. FINALLY–a book that practically could guide me through the process of healing–specifically, practically, and kindly.

Step by step and practice by practice, Hambrick leads us through how to pace ourselves, how to embrace activities and relationships that grief may have temporarily caused us to lose, and how to think about our losses (from a big-picture perspective to the close and intimate one). This is one of the most practical and usable books on healing I’ve ever discovered.

…and its most meaningful words to me

Angry With God had so many healing and wonderful words, and so many effective tools and helps for walking through the valleys of pain, betrayal, and suffering. Here are some that impacted me the most:

• “We can affirm what is real within an emotional experience…without embracing the untrue content that gets embedded in those emotions…” (e.g., that “God is felt to be forgetful or uninterested in our suffering [Psalm 13:1, 44:24]” or “God is felt to have forsaken those who cry out to him [Psalm 22:1-2]”) …we can make peace with the tension…”
• Pacing the journey through grief and anger, taking the time to lament what has been suffered or lost, and understanding that eventually we can have a different perspective on the journey all are facets of a useful process (my summary, not the author’s).
• Brainstorm, play, and practice: start small, and understand that a little progress is still very good (my summary).
• “Progress in grief means your current season of life is no longer defined by the pain from the previous season of life.” (My summary here: Whew!)
• “But because God made this world to be good and we are made in his image, we get emotionally disrupted when things go painfully awry. This means as we take this journey of grieving our pain, we’re not crazy…We are looking at the shattered pieces of a beautiful work of art, saddened that it’s broken, and wondering how to put it back together again.”

Where you can purchase Angry With God

You can purchase Angry With God from a variety of booksellers, and I’ve linked two of them below:

New Growth Press

Amazon

About the author

Brad Hambrick, ThM, EdD, serves as the Pastor of Counseling at The Summit Church in Durham, NC. He also serves as Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, and has authored several books including God’s Attributes: Rest for Life Struggles, Making Sense of Forgiveness, and Angry with God, and served as general editor for the Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused curriculum. 

And finally:

Angry With God: An honest journey through suffering and betrayal is the book I never, ever imagined that I would need. But it’s the book I am so immensely grateful for. It offered me a way to begin to process my grief in pain; in practical ways, but ways that would move me ahead, without shame over my emotions. We can know that God, our Shepherd, longs to and offers to walk us through the valleys, and Angry With God outlines specific and helpful ways we can go. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who’s experiencing those pains in their own relationship with God.

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from New Growth Press. All opinions shared in this blog post are my own honest ones.

Jerusha Agen’s fab new thriller: “Covert Danger” ~ a JustRead Blog & Review Tour (& giveaway, ends 10/3/22)

#sponsor #partner

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Covert Danger by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Covert Danger Series: Guardians Unleashed #2 Author: Jerusha Agen Publisher: SDG Words, LLC Release Date: September 22, 2022 Genre: Christian, Romantic Suspense

A K-9 protection team. An assassin. Only one can survive.

An assassin is on the loose in the Twin Cities, aiming to kill FBI witnesses the Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency is hired to protect. Rogue CIA agent Amalia Pérez and her protection K-9 must get the edge on this deadly opponent before he kills her childhood best friend—the only man who knows her true identity. Investigative journalist Michael Barrett can’t believe his eyes when the woman he’s spent years searching for walks back into his life. But he soon fears the woman he loved is lost forever beneath the secrets Amalia wears like armor. As the assassin closes in, Amalia will risk anything to keep Michael safe—anything except believing in the God he trusts. When the layers of deception become as dangerous as bullets, can Amalia and Michael uncover the truth in time to stop the assassin from completing his lethal mission?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner, but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes romantic suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies.

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

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card, a signed Covert Danger paperback, plus a Covert Danger mug and swag.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 26, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 3, 2022. 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 HERE https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js

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

My thoughts

First things first. Author Jerusha Agen. I NEVER miss an opportunity to read her books!

I have LOVED her Guardians Unleashed series. It’s filled with strong women, each one with a different skill set that is integral to the success of the Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency. They’re all very different people, many of them women of faith. One is a demolitions expert. Another, a woman who runs the cybersecurity setup for the agency. Each woman has a K-9 (or trained service dog) with a different talent and training. And the protagonist of Covert Danger? She’s a CIA agent in hiding, who’s changed her name and identity to keep herself from being framed for a murder.

Amalia Pérez is a fascinating character. One who has loved, yet been burned and betrayed by that love. Who cared for the weak and small–until she learned at a horrible cost that she just can’t. And one who served her country with pride and honor, until someone else made that service impossible. So Amalia has coped. She’s built walls. Shut down her tender heart. And become even more of an exceptional and effective warrior than even the CIA trained her to be. Until her walls are threatened by the reappearance–and assignment to protect–her best and most beloved friend from her childhood.

Michael is an effective and idealistic journalist, one who’s written exposés which brought down traffickers, criminals, and those living nefarious double lives. When he’s reunited with Amalia, he can’t believe how she has changed. And his efforts to investigate what happened to her in the years that they’ve been separated might just put them in unimaginable danger. (Not to mention the feelings they’re developing for each other, at a seriously inconvenient moment!)

I absolutely loved Amalia’s character arc. I was also inspired, again, by the female friendships of the agency. They support one another, have each other’s backs, and work alongside their teammates (including their K-9s) with trust, humor, and extraordinary strength and faithfulness. I really liked Michael (even though there were moments when I wanted to shake him) and his faith and idealism. And Rocky, too!

Don’t miss Covert Danger. You will LOVE Amalia and Michael–and of course, the dogs! Incredible suspense that is uplifting and fascinating.

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Pure Flix Original Film starring Lucas Black: “Legacy Peak” plus giveaway! (ends 10/4/22)

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Pure Flix has produced another fantastic Original Film: Legacy Peak! You will love this if you want a family adventure film that is beautifully honest about the struggles we face in life and family–and in what we bring to the table in relationships. Keep reading for more about this wonderful film, plus enter to win a 3-month subscription to Pure Flix streaming service!

About Legacy Peak

Jason wants nothing more than to have Noelle’s kids like him. But when a perfectly planned trip to a mountain cabin falls apart, the ensuing adventure could tear them apart or bring them closer than they ever imagined. Together they’ll discover how to trust again and what it means to be a family.

Legacy Peak is a thrilling adventure that the whole family can enjoy.

My impressions of Legacy Peak

I KNEW that I knew Lucas Black from somewhere when I saw the exciting trailer for Legacy Peak and I heard his accent. He had co-starred in a police procedural show that I’d seen a few episodes of. I never forgot his fantastic character OR his authentic Southern accent! He brought a refreshing quality to a show that contained difficult material (crime). And he interacted beautifully with his costars.

Not surprisingly, Lucas is just fantastic in this film. His character is ready to pop the question to his darling girlfriend, single mom of two kids Noelle. He doesn’t really understand much about kids, but he is totally a planner, and he thinks he’s got the perfect plan to win them over before he proposes to their mom. He will fly them (and all the snacks he can carry) to Noelle’s dad’s cabin in the mountains, where they’re all planning to spend Christmas. The only thing is–he can’t plan everything. When the unexpected happens, his plan suddenly doesn’t apply. So THEN what will Jason do?

The actors who play the kids are also wonderful. Sam, the older sister, is NOT INTERESTED in going on this trip–or getting to know Jason. Her character arc is fascinating. She’s very solicitous of her younger brother Ben, who really likes his mom’s boyfriend but is a bit tired of being seen as the kid who can’t do anything. The grandfather is also wonderful. All the actors are more than competent and a pleasure to watch. (Noelle is also great; she just doesn’t get a lot of screen time.) And the mountain landscape; well, it’s almost a character in itself. It’s breathtaking visually–and also, perhaps, figuratively.

I don’t want to give you a lot of spoilers. I will simply say that the movie’s core message is an exceptional one, and its story is beautifully told. Legacy Peak has something to say to everyone; and what it said to me touched my heart, embraced me, and reminded me of something I’ll never forget–something that each and every one of us needs to hear. Don’t miss Legacy Peak, premiering September 22, 2022 on Pure Flix!

My recommendations:

If you:

• love films that your entire family can enjoy together
• want to see a family beat the odds against a wild and unfamiliar setting
• desire to be a parent who reaches out to God for help in your own challenges
• enjoy watching adventure or survival-type tv shows
• want to be encouraged at the ways God can use everything to work together for good for His beloved children

…then you will LOVE Legacy Peak, just as I did! (And if you watched the Pure Flix series Vindication, you might see another familiar face in this movie!)

Watch the trailer here:

More about Pure Flix–and you can even enjoy a free 7-day trial!

Pure Flix is a one-stop shop for faith and family-friendly movies and shows that you can confidently stream in your home with the entire family. With new premium and exclusive original entertainment choices every week, Pure Flix streaming service has the largest variety of high-quality, curated, positive, encouraging, wholesome movies, series and kids’ content in one service. Pure Flix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, alongside AFFIRM Films.

On Pure Flix, you’ll be able to watch incredible shows that I’ve told you about earlier this year, like Going Home, Live+Local, Vindication, the God’s Not Dead movies, Miracles of Heaven (with Jennifer Garner), and so much more.

You can enjoy a free 7-day trial of Pure Flix as well! Just click on Pure Flix for more information and to start your free trial. Paid plans start at $7.99 per month, or as little as $5.84 per month if you choose the yearly plan ($69.99 per year).

And…you can enter to win a Pure Flix subscription!

You can enter to win a 3-month subscription to Pure Flix today!

To enter, simply click on the pink link below that says, “Enter here!” That will take you to a Giveaway Tools entry form, where you’ll be able to enter to win in a variety of ways. Giveaway closes on October 4, 2022. One winner will be selected to win. US entrants only, and winner selection is limited to those who have NOT won a Pure Flix subscription in the last 6 months. Best wishes!

Enter here!

Find these inspirational articles on Pure Flix as well!

I love not only all the wonderful faith & family films/shows on Pure Flix. But did you know that they also have some wonderful articles to uplift your faith? Check these out!

Battle Fear and Worry with these 10 Bible Verses for Anxiety

10 Bible Verses to Build Perseverance of Faith

How to Embrace Our Identity as a Child of God

More about Legacy Peak

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure:

Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Add Creativity to Your Prayers! Giveaway (ends 10/7/22)

Hello dearies!

I have a lovely giveaway that’s just for you if:

• You feel as though your prayer life needs a jump-start
• You want to be creative in praying–but don’t know how
• You’d like to try something different with your prayers

Keep reading for more on the prize plus how you can enter to win!

More about the Add Creativity to Your Prayers! Giveaway

I have definitely felt, at different times, that I needed to learn how to pray in a different way. And what I *didn’t* feel that I needed was a list or regulation for how to do it. (After all, Jesus already covered that when He shared the Lord’s Prayer with His disciples! Check out Matthew 6:9-13 or Luke 11:1-4 for that.)

What I was looking for was, perhaps, ways that I could add prayer to moments throughout my days. Or ways I could remember times when I’d really noticed God answering prayer or reminding me of friends and loved ones I could pray for. Mostly, I just wanted to be able to draw nearer to God.

I love author Kelly O’Dell Stanley’s books on prayer and her fun and creative tools (that are gorgeous!). They are so wonderful for helping me to just slow down my life to look at God and to think about connecting with Him throughout the day. So, I’ve put together some of my favorites of her creations (plus a delicious-smelling candle) for one of you to win!

The prize package includes:

• Weekly Recap Notepad: a wonderful way to write down your prayer list, your goals/memory verses for the week, things you learned, and more. Plus a pen and two washi tape rolls!
• A 6-card Creativity Card set, with beautifully-illustrated quotes on creativity. Each card is just over 5″ x 5″.
• Keychain Prayers: 18 cards held together by a ring. Beautiful illustrations and ideas for prayers and printed on both sides, so you have 36 ideas to add to your prayers! The cards and ring are small and compact (business-card size) so you can pop them into your backpack or purse and take them anywhere.
• And last but not least, a Bath & Body Works mini candle (with a lid even!) in Pumpkin Pecan Waffles scent–to remind you that your prayers can rise as a sweet aroma to God!

How to enter the giveaway

Enter to win this giveaway by clicking on the pink “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 10/7/22. One winner will be selected to win all the items listed above in the prize package. Best wishes!

Enter here!

Enjoy! –Wren

Jennifer Moore’s wonderful “Healing Hazel” ~ & you can enter to win in the JustRead Blog & Review Tour! (Giveaway closes 9/27/22)

#sponsor #partner

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Healing Hazel by Jennifer Moore, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Healing Hazel Series: The Blue Orchid Society #3 Author: Jennifer Moore Publisher: Covenant Communications Release Date: September 8, 2022 Genre: Clean & Wholesome Romance / Historical / Victorian

Hazel Thornton has one great ambition: to help the sick and wounded as a nurse. But that dream can never become a reality. After a devastating childhood trauma, she has spent her life battling fits of panic that make it impossible to finish her studies. Everything changes, however, when a trip to Spain takes a perilous turn that derails her plans to visit her father for Christmas and immediately plunges her into the dangers of a brutal war.

With single-minded focus, she springs into action to help her fellow travelers. To ensure their continued care, she begins work at a Spanish hospital alongside Dr. Jim Jackson, a man whose only emotion seems to be wariness of his new assistant. Armed with gifts of support from each of her dearest friends, a group that dubs themselves the Blue Orchid Society, Hazel embarks on a journey of hope and healing to battle the demons of her past with the help of the doctor who has captured her heart.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Moore lives with one husband and four sons who produce heaps of laundry and laughter. She earned a BA from the University of Utah in Linguistics, which she uses mostly for Jeopardy. A reader of history and romance, she loves traveling, tall ships, scented candles, and watching cake decorating videos. When she’s not driving carpool, writing, or helping with homework, she’ll usually be found playing tennis.

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

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Healing Hazel, bookmark, blue orchid pin, themed stickers, and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 20, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 27, 2022. 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. Gift card open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js

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

About Healing Hazel

Ah, the Victorian era.

The royal love story of Victoria and Albert. The fashion beginning of the white wedding dress, worn as legend has it first by Queen Victoria. But also–an era where restrictive corsets were the order of the day for women. When those with mental disorders were housed in the hospital nicknamed “Bedlam.” When the London Season was the way for well-brought-up young women to meet and marry, as they were displayed not as individuals to know but as prizes to be won.

But author Jennifer Moore’s members of The Blue Orchid Society (Dahlia, Vivian, Elizabeth, Sophronia, and, or course, Hazel) meet each other at a ball (in the library) and discover not only kindred spirits in each other, but gifts and skills that aren’t readily recognized as “appropriate” in their society. With devoted friendship and support, they encourage each other to pursue their unusual dreams.

Hazel’s dream was to become a nurse. Unfortunately, a condition related to a terrifying experience she endured as a tiny child interfered with her abilities to attend lectures, and what we’d describe now as panic attacks ended her schooling. Hazel’s friends say goodbye to her as she and a companion head instead to the Canary Islands, where she’ll meet her father, Major General Thornton, for a holiday over Christmas. But his unexpected military engagement interferes with their meeting; and it’s on the return to England that Hazel’s adventure truly begins.

My thoughts

Jennifer Moore’s wonderful heroine and her quite unusual adventure engaged me thoroughly! Hazel is plagued by panic attacks (which I can’t imagine would have gone over well in the Victorian era, with treatment at Bedlam something many feared, and rightfully so). All our current understanding of PTSD, which I readily admit is growing all the time, is so vastly different than the Victorians’ was. Yet here is Hazel, a faithful, loving, and strong young woman, who is barred from pursuing her dream simply because of her inability to be in crowded, small rooms or lecture halls.

But Hazel is thrown into nursing adjacent to the battlegrounds of the Carlist (or Spanish Civil) Wars in Spain, literally. When she and those she’s traveling with (along with others) are injured, she readily jumps in to help with what knowledge she possesses. And later, she is able to assist (at the grumblings of Dr. Jim) at the hospital where injured soldiers are brought. She has a good foundation of nursing care, and, as you can imagine, learns immensely more as she serves at the hospital.

She is wonderful–as is the clean romance that develops! I love Moore’s characters and their development, and the story that they find themselves in. I have read few books about the Spanish Civil War, and appreciated what I learned here. Most of all, I was moved and encouraged by Hazel and her friends of The Blue Orchid Society. Like Moore, the female friends of my life have been so dear and my source of support, love, and encouragement through the years (and NOT that I don’t adore my husband and son!). I loved seeing that happen with Hazel and her friends. Because of that, more of Jennifer Moore’s books are now most definitely on my reading list. Don’t miss Healing Hazel, for a loving look at a bright young woman who learns she CAN fulfill her dreams, despite society’s and her own health’s strictures. Just marvelous.

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Enter to win a gorgeous journal, note cards & more in the Falling into Leaves Giveaway Hop! (ends 9/30/22)

Hi everyone! I’m so excited to connect you with another fantastic giveaway hop, hosted by the amazing MamatheFox and 17+ awesome bloggers. Keep reading for how you can visit the giveaway hop page and enter all the giveaways!

Here’s how to visit the Falling into Leaves main giveaway hop page

Click below on the blue InLinkz button (the one with the smiling frog on it). That will take you to the Falling into Leaves Giveaway Hop’s main page. You’ll be able to see all the participating blogs and visit them, through the links on that page. By clicking on each blog’s link, you’ll head to their own giveaway page where you can enter that giveaway. I know that their prizes are wonderful!

And, here’s the FINCHNWREN blog’s giveaway!

Even though “leaves” is the category for this fun hop, I have flowery things to give away! The FINCHNWREN prize package for this giveaway contains:

• a Pep Rally Stationery Kit, which includes a floral spiral-bound journal with 4 gel pens, which are enclosed in a clear pouch on the cover with 2 smiling padded flowers and a pink flower zipper pull
• a Teacher Created Resources Fun Flowers accent pack (contains 30 flower accents in 5 colorful designs)
• an Expressions from Hallmark 6-note card set in (you guessed it) a floral design

Enter the FINCHNWREN giveaway here:

To enter to win the FINCHNWREN prize package of the flowery stationery goodies, just click on the pink “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 September 30, 2022. One winner will be selected to win the prize package of the 3 items listed above. US only, and entrants must be 18 or older.

Enter here!

Best wishes! –Wren

Disclosure:

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

“Forged” ~ a JustRead Blog & Review Tour & giveaway, too! (Ends 9/19/22)

#sponsor #partner

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Forged by Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Forged Series: The Night Guardians Series #4 Author: Sara Davison Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink Release Date: September 5, 2022 Genre: Christian, Romantic Suspense

The one missing person he can’t find

is the one who matters the most. Private Investigator Jax Rodriguez has been searching for his brother, Diego, for twenty years. When he stumbles upon another lead, he makes an agonizing decision—he will follow this last trail until it grows cold, and then he will marry the woman he loves and abandon his quest once and for all. Artist Mikayla Grant is terrified of losing another person close to her, but she has to let Jax go after his brother. Given the secrecy surrounding Diego’s disappearance, clearly Jax is heading into danger. When all contact with him is abruptly cut off, can Mikayla trust that God’s promise to never leave or forsake Jax will be enough to bring him safely home, or does she need to take matters into her own hands? As Jax attempts to survive the dangerous streets of Caracus, Venezuela and then face the myriad of unknown threats in the El Yunque Rainforest in Puerto Rico, he is not the only one following his brother’s trail. A ruthless drug lord bent on revenge is using all his resources to discover the truth about what happened to Diego. If Jax can’t stay one step ahead of his pursuer, then he, like his brother, could disappear and never be heard from again.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Davison is the author of four romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo Trilogy, and two sparrows for a penny, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, she is a Word, Cascade, and Carol Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario with her husband, Michael, and their three mostly grown kids. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.

Connect with Sara by visiting saradavison.org to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(2) winners will receive a paperback copy of Forged and $25 Amazon gift card.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 12, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 19, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js

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

A suspenseful excerpt for you to read

I DO love a great thriller of a read. And this one has so many elements that will grab you immediately: sweet romantic love; the search for lost family; the terrors of the cartel world; and one man, Jax, a PI and brother experiencing all of these. Jax is a fantastic hero, too. You will root for him (AND there will be moments that you’ll be a bit afraid to turn the next page!). If those descriptions aren’t enough, here is an excerpt from Sara Davison’s Forged to whet your own appetite!

Excerpt

The man with the gun brushed past Jax to yank open the back door. He directed Jax inside
with a wave of the weapon.

Jax slid onto the seat, barely getting out of the way before the door slammed behind him.
He shifted to face the man on the other end of the bench seat. Half-hidden in the shadows of the
dimly lit interior, the man gazed at him without speaking. Then he nodded, curtly. “You remind
me of your brother,” he said, in Spanish.

“Do I?”

“Sí.” The man chuckled, but the sound lacked any real mirth. “He was far more handsome
than he had a right to be too.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Bitterness gave Jax’s voice a slight edge he hadn’t intended. “I haven’t
seen him in twenty years.”

“That must have been difficult.”

Past tense again. Was the man about to confirm Jax’s worst fear? “It is.”

In closing

Now. Enter that giveaway for a chance to win Forged AND an Amazon gift card. If you love suspense and thrillers as much as I do, you will want to dive right into this book. You can also purchase it through the links above the author bio.

Be sure to click only on the pink highlighted link that says ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE to enter the giveaway (not that pink “https” portion of the line.)

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Clinique “Just Because” Giveaway! (ends 9/30/22)

Hi there everyone!

I am doing a “just because” giveaway today. It’s September heading quickly for October. Lots of fall fun coming up–but today is a “just because” day. Just because: even though I’m not teaching anymore, I still LOVE September (start of a new year, school supplies, a slight weather alteration). Just because: I love giveaways. Still and always. And just because: A good lipstick makes me really happy!

So–in light of all that, welcome to the FINCHNWREN Clinique “Just Because” Giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A bright white & floral Clinique zippered makeup bag
• A deluxe mini of Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly
• A Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense mini in Intense Black
• A Clinique Pop Lip Color + Primer in Plum Pop
• And, just for fun, a washi tape in “Balloon Party Animal” design

How to enter:

Simply click on the pink “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. Ends 9/30/22. One entrant will be selected to win. Best wishes!

Enter here!

Enjoy! –Wren

Lynette Eason’s “Crossfire” ~ a Revell Reads Review

#sponsor #partner

Revell Reads sent me a copy of the newest Lynette Eason book in the “Extreme Measures” series: Crossfire. If you’re a fan of strong female characters and suspense reads, you will want to check out this book!

About Crossfire

The FBI. SWAT teams. Hostage situations. And the approaching 15th anniversary of a terrible event from Julianna’s past; one that still gives her nightmares.

She’s able to sort of bury the memories all the rest of the time. But in the days approaching the anniversary of the school shooting when she was a student, the memories refuse to be buried.

Julianna is a top-notch FBI special agent and negotiator. In fact, she hasn’t lost a hostage yet. But she’s about to be involved in negotiating for hostages in a cascade series of crimes. First, in a courtroom where not only the judge but the jury and some marshals are taken captive. While she’s working that assignment, she meets Clay Fox, whose sister is one of the hostages. Clay is a former army sniper, and while he’s exceptionally competent at his job as a school resource officer, he’s got pain and secrets of his own.

But when Clay sees Julianna in action, he is a bit…smitten. Slowly they become friends. And coincidentally, Julianna’s sister Dottie is a student at Clay’s high school.

But the cascade of hostage situations is beginning. There are some terrible ones. And the perpetrator is asking for Julianna as a negotiator by name. He, or she, is escalating. And those that Julianna loves the most might become the next targets.

My thoughts

Whew!

Once again, Lynette Eason has crafted a highly readable thriller with appealing and even vulnerable (at times) characters. She unfolds Julianna’s story in a fascinating way, even as a sweet romance might be developing between the special agent and Clay. They do have a lot in common, after all, beginning with their careers. They also have unhealed pain from the past that suddenly impacts their present.

I enjoyed seeing Julianna’s work as a hostage negotiator. (Not that I’d ever want to see that in person!) She is measured and effective, and readers will totally root for her. Eason also illustrates that dealing with past pain (or not dealing with it) really does impact the current day.

Crossfire is a great read. You will love it if you’re a fan of suspense thrillers with a bit of clean romance and a lot of mystery; intersecting with faith. I recommend it!

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads. All opinions expressed here are my own.