Saturday, April 25, 2020

Desert Willow by Patricia Beal


About the Book


Book:  Desert Willow
Author: Patricia Beal
Genre:  Romance
Release Date: February 12, 2020

After a failed engagement, Captain Andrew Lee James has focused on building a career in the Army he loves. That commitment includes helping a feisty, out-of-work ballerina whose devotion to her grandmother’s dying wish immediately grabs his heart. She’s the one, but will he be able to win the heart of a woman who has vowed to never be involved with a soldier?

College graduate Clara Malone swore to never love anyone in the military again but when her dying grandmother asks her to deliver a love letter to the general who broke her heart decades ago, she agrees and finds herself escorted by a handsome Army captain whose kindness challenges her beliefs. Surrounded by desert willows that shower her path with pretty pink flowers and sing with the buzzing of hummingbirds, Clara enjoys the wild beauty of El Paso—and her time with Andrew—more than expected.

Can she deliver her grandmother’s last love letter without losing her heart to a man who represents everything she fears?



Click HERE to get your copy!



My Review

Patricia is the best as combining a delicate yet developing heroine and combining a delicate language about the book with a realistic backdrop. I really loved Clara- she was relatable, fragile, yet ever developing and learning to hope and give herself a second chance. Andrew is formidable, but also shows his own insecurities and the two develop together into a beautiful dance of a sweet romance. I though the backdrop of delivering a grandmother's last love letter as an intriguing backdrop and immediately hooked me into the story. The emotion conveyed was real and lasting throughout the book. The faith thread was hopeful and inspiring and reminds us that God never gives up on us. I recommend this one for the romance readers, but also for those looking for an inspirational fiction that even has a realistic take on a Hallmark movie vibe. Check it out!


I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.



About the Author


Patricia Beal is a 2015 Genesis semi-finalist and First Impressions finalist. A Season to Dance is her debut novel (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, May 2017). Her second novel comes out in February of 2020. Patricia graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati in 1998 with a B.A. in English Literature and has worked for the U.S. Army as a writer and editor for many years. Patricia writes from Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and two children. You can find more info about Patricia on her website here.



More from Patricia

Desert Willow: A Love Song to the City of El Paso, to Family, and to Prince Harry
I enjoy this story so much! It’s great to finally get to share it with you.
Desert Willow started as a NaNoWriMo project in 2015 and has a lot of my grandma’s history in it—life in the German colonies of the south of Brazil, the beginning of the shoe industry there, and the story of the most influential man her town has ever known, my great-grandfather.
And what does that have to do with El Paso and Prince Harry?

Well, my Prince Harry lookalike, a young Army captain named Andrew Lee James who lives in El Paso, is helping the protagonist deliver her grandmother’s last love letter, a letter she was urged to write all those years ago after what happened in Brazil.

The contemporary story of Clara (protagonist) and Andrew was fun to write too because I’ve been around the Army since the nineties. We moved to Fort Bliss/El Paso in 2012 and lived there for six years. I thought I was going to hate it, but I loved it, so I just had to write an El Paso story.
Now I think that what I enjoyed the most about writing this novel was making all the connections and showing how the actions of a distant past affect and inform the modern story so deeply.
Some of you have journeyed with me for a while and know that my debut, A Season to Dance, was my salvation process. What comes after salvation can be hard. What’s that? Well, looking at past mistakes through God’s eyes and realizing just how wrong we were, for starters.
We know how quickly God forgives us, but can we forgive ourselves and each other as quickly?

Desert Willow deals with all that. And with Prince Harry… 😊



Blog Stops

Among the Reads, April 13
Robin’s Nest, April 14
Batya’s Bits, April 15
Older & Smarter?, April 16
Rebecca Tews, April 19
Emily Yager, April 20
Simple Harvest Reads, April 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Hallie Reads, April 20
Pause for Tales, April 26




Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Patricia is giving away the grand prize of a Kindle Fire 7 (https://amzn.to/37TEN21)!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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The Multicultural Church by Dan Willis


About the Book


Book:  The Multicultural Church
Author: Dan Willis
Genre:  RELIGION / Christian Church/Growth
Release Date: February 21, 2020

Despite the progress our country has made in Civil Rights over the past century, Sunday morning is still one of the most segregated times in America. It seems like the only people striving to lead in the area of racial reconciliation are politicians, activists, and celebrities. Pastor Dan Willis wants to know… Where is the church? What can the people of God do to become leaders again and not just be Johnny-come-lately followers? The art of bringing harmony to the masses lies in the love all should see in the church of God. If the church is to make a difference and return to relevance in this world, the only option is multicultural ministry. If leaders are not prepared to minister to this growing culture, then American Christianity is in danger of becoming nonessential to the body of believers. For years, Dan Willis has led a growing, multicultural Christian community in the suburbs of Chicago. In The Multicultural Church, Dan shares what he has learned, the mistakes he has made, and what can be done to successfully minister to a diverse culture.



Click HERE to get your copy!



My Review

I felt like the author hit the nail on the head with the churches need in general to become more unified and truly accepting and understanding of all cultures and backgrounds. I particularly liked how he showed tolerance is not really enough because in the end that's just tolerating someone because you have to- not because you truly love them as a Christian brother or sister. While you do have to be careful about muddling theology based on the Scriptures, the church is multicultural and should look that way. I liked how the author brought out that although we may not be able to understand the pain or struggles someone of a different culture has experienced, doesn't mean we can't legitimately empathize with them and validate that pain. I feel like this book is great for pastors and lay leaders looking to reach a diverse world that we live in to look out how to accomplish this, the time it takes, and the changes it takes to be willing to do this. At the heart of it, it's about truly loving one another, understanding one another, and celebrating one another's differences while fellowshipping and learning about the one true God from the never-changing Scriptures.


I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own. 



About the Author


As a boy, Dan Willis’s dreamed of becoming neurosurgeon until the fateful day when, at age sixteen, he was called to “temporarily” take over as pastor of a local church. Dan took that small ministry of sixteen people and nurtured it into the largest multicultural church on the south side of Chicago, consisting of over five thousand members. Today, Dan still serves as senior pastor of The Lighthouse Church of All Nations, in Alsip, Illinois. The driving force of Dan’s ministry has always been one of uniting the races. To look out over the congregation during a typical worship celebration, you will see men, women, and children from over seventy-two different nations. Dan is also a gifted singer, musician, and producer. He founded a community choir called The Pentecostals of Chicago, bringing together black, white, Hispanic, and Asian singers from over twenty Chicago area churches. This group, now known as The All Nations Choir, has six albums to its credit and has performed with artists from Celine Dion to Kirk Franklin, and has served on missionary trips to the orphanages of Kingston, Jamaica.
A celebrated television host, he created and hosted the Emmy-nominated shows Inspiration Sensation and I’m Just Sayin’. Dan has traveled the country ministering and teaching men and women through the Starting Line Prison Fellowship organization and has also been a national and international speaker on the topics of music, ministry, racial reconciliation, leadership, and community development. Dan is the author of Freedom to Forget and most recently, Praise Is My Weapon. Dan continues to live in Alsip with his wife, Linda, and is father to four grown children and eight grandchildren.



More from Dan

I have led a successful and growing multicultural congregation in the Chicago suburbs for over twenty years. I wanted to write a short book packed with practical information sharing my personal stories of successes and failures in cross-cultural ministry.



Blog Stops



Giveaway


To celebrate his tour, Dan is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Starbucks gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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Sunday, April 12, 2020

Eden by Brennan S. McPherson


About the Book


Book:  Eden
Author: Brennan S. McPherson
Genre:  Biblical Fiction
Release Date: April 1, 2020

“You want me to tell of how I broke the world.”

 It’s the year 641 since the beginning of the world, and when Eve passes away, she leaves Adam the only man on earth who remembers everything from the beginning of the world.

When Enoch, God’s newly appointed prophet, decides to collect the stories of the faithful from previous generations, he finds Adam in desperate need to confess the dark secrets he’s held onto for too long.

Beside a slowly burning bonfire in the dead of night, Adam tells his story in searing detail. From the beginning of everything, to how he broke the world, shattered Eve’s heart, and watched his family crumble.

Will Enoch uncover what led so many of Adam’s children away from God? And will Adam find the redemption and forgiveness he longs for?



Click HERE for your copy.




My Review

What a masterpiece of the weaving of a true Biblical account we all know well and artistic license to fill in all the gaps! The book opens on Adam, feeling very ashamed, sharing the whole story with Enoch. The Biblical account we all know was conveyed with accuracy. The way the author depicts the story truly transports you to feel you were part of the story and breathed your first along with Adam and Eve. The way the fall and the change in character was portrayed truly conveyed the emotion felt by the characters dealing with the consequences of their sin. The way the author filled in the gaps felt relatable and realistic based on the fact that Adam and Eve were newly created, and then dealing with parenthood and providing for their family in the face of the sin curse. The book was joyful, painful, and redemptive, and really should be read by any Christian that enjoys fiction. The book was just the right length, and just really transported you to the time and place for an unforgettable experience. Check it out!


I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.


About the Author


BRENNAN S. MCPHERSON writes epic, imaginative biblical fiction with heart-pounding plots and lyrical prose, for readers who like to think biblically and feel deeply. He lives with his wife and young daughter in the Midwest, and spends as much of his spare time with them as possible.



Read an Exclusive Excerpt

In my beginning was not darkness, but Light.

As I opened my eyes for the first time, I saw dust motes swirling around five bright points. I reached for them and realized the dust was not blowing past me but instead settling across the complex shapes in my arms.

Distracted, I twisted my wrist, seeing muscle, tendon, bone, and a partial layer of skin. Clenching my fingers one by one, I saw the movement in my joints.

Fascinated, I watched as a swathe of dust poured over me like a sheet of silk and morphed into smooth, brown flesh. I ran my fingers across my new skin, and when the sound of shifting sand settled, noticed what sounded like gentle Music riding on the breath that flowed into me.

I inhaled.

Exhaled.

Inhaled again.

“Adam,” I said, for I had heard that name—my name—in the Music.

I realized that my Father was singing over me, and in his singing, he had given me life and form, and had named me Adam.

He smiled at me, with those dark brown eyes, and let soft melodies fall from his tongue as I lay on my back.

He lifted me from the mud and burned the remaining dust from my skin with the heat of his presence. But he did not hurt me as a natural flame might. Instead, he filled and cleansed me. And the joy of him filled me with an insatiable desire to experience everything around me, to understand the world he had sung into existence.

I’ve never since felt so whole as I did with him in Eden. Because inside me was nothing that did not belong. Only him, and the breath he gave, and the Music he sang, and the smells of Eden, and the touch of his Light, and the taste of his name on my lips as I spoke for the second time. “Father.” I smiled and laughed.

He stood magnificent, warm, compassionate. The image of the invisible condensed in a life foreknown before the foundations of the world were formed.

I felt his pride over me and laughed again, only now with tears.

My first moments were not like those of a newborn child come from a womb. Instead, they were of a child gone into the womb. Swaddled in the Light of God. Cocooned in his satisfaction.
I was Adam. Man fully formed. Reflection of perfection.

In joy, I fell to my hands and knees and bowed my forehead to the ground. Tears flowed to the soil I’d been formed from. How great! How wonderful this being was who had made me for himself, and who so unendingly satisfied me. Nothing I’ve experienced in my long years could ever make me forget it. That sense of purpose. Of everything being right.

Ah, yes. I see wonder on your face, Enoch, at how tears could be present in a world yet unbroken by sin.

Have you never wondered why the kiss of a lover can bring tears to our eyes? It is because some goods are so great that they must be given vent. For not all tears spring from sorrow. And not all aches are unwanted.

Yet still, my Father lifted me and wiped my cheeks. Then he led me across hills and valleys, puddles and rivers. He pointed at plants and skittering animals and insects, and it seemed as though I could hear the echo of his melodies in their movements.



Blog Stops



Giveaway


To celebrate his tour, Brennan is giving away the grand prize package of a “McPherson Publishing bundle”, which includes the following books: a copy of Flood, Babel, the three Psalm Series novellas, and The Simple Gospel book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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Wednesday, April 8, 2020

How Do You Kill 11 Million People? Why The Truth Matters More Than You Think by Andy Andrews

11 Million People Blog Tour 
Welcome to the Blog Tour for How Do You Kill 11 Million People? by Andy Andrews, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!


ABOUT THE BOOK

How Do You Kill 11 Million People? by Andy Andrews Title: How Do You Kill 11 Million People?: Why the Truth Matters More Than You Think
Author: Andy Andrews
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: March 17, 2020
Genre: Motivational/Inspirational Political Science

Become an informed, passionate citizen who demands honesty and integrity from our leaders or suffer the consequences of our own ignorance and apathy.

In this updated and expanded New York Times bestselling nonpartisan book, Andy Andrews urges you to believe that seeking and discerning the truth really, really matters and that believing lies is the most dangerous thing you can do. You’ll be challenged to become a more “careful student” of the past, seeking accurate, factual accounts of events and decisions that illuminate choices you face now.

By considering how the Nazi German regime was able to carry out over eleven million institutional killings between 1933 and 1945, Andrews advocates for an informed population that demands honesty and integrity from its leaders and from each other. He includes several key documents written by our Founding Fathers as examples of America’s core principles that present and future leadership should live up to and embrace.

We can no longer measure a leader’s worth by the yardsticks provided by the left or the right. Instead, we must use an unchanging standard: the pure, unvarnished truth.

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

MY REVIEW

I have to say, political climate being what it is, I never know quite what to expect from a book that has anything to do with politics. However, this book really broke and exceeded my expectations of what I would find inside. The author takes us back to America's roots in a mostly non-partisan way to remind us that truth should be required of any of our leaders. I agree with the author that we have mostly become clones, seemingly blindly following someone that says what we like to hear. It's an easy, but dangerous trap to fall into for sure. The author includes excerpts from founding fathers letters, important founding documents, and includes a huge bibliography to fact check him by- which he actually encourages. He draws the heart of the book from the Holocaust and how spreading lies started it all and in time enabled the ruthless murder of 11 million. This book is certainly not pleasant to read, and at times felt somewhat overzealous, but considering the state of our country as a whole, I feel every American should read the message within. It's time to stop being a political party advocate only, and truly bring our country back to its' roots while requiring absolute honesty of every leader on every level of government. I recommend this book for any reader- it's really not a long read, so even for the non- reader!

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


_____________________________________________________________________

AUTHOR Q & A


1. What/Who initially inspired the message behind this book?

The 11, 283,000 people institutionally killed by their own elected leaders in Nazi Germany
during WWII.

2. How has writing this book changed you personally?

I am much more aware of the dangers we face by leaders who lie.

2. How did you process all the research for this book?

Hopefully, in a way that might shock the reader into thinking about how easily this kind of
thing can get out of hand. Even today…

3. What did your writing process look like?

I literally wrote the body of this book in three days. The research took much longer!

4. Which part of your book was hardest to write about?

The part about the church singing loudly so they would not hear the passing trains filled with
people bound for the camps.

6. How do you hope readers will be impacted personally by the message behind your book?

Be attuned to discerning the truth and remember, 5 of the 11 million put to death were not even Jewish!



_____________________________________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 
Photo by Christy Haynes, BeachChicPhotography.com

Andy Andrews is a bestselling novelist, speaker, and consultant for some of the world’s most successful teams, largest corporations, and fastest-growing organizations. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Noticer, How Do You Kill 11 Million People?, and the modern classic The Traveler’s Gift. For more information, please visit AndyAndrews.com.

CONNECT WITH ANDY: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(3) winners will receive a print copy of How Do You Kill 11 Million People? by Andy Andrews!

How Do You Kill 11 Million People Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight April 6, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on April 20, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
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Thursday, April 2, 2020

The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear


About the Book


Book:  The Blue  Cloak
Author: Shannon McNear
Genre:  Christian Historical/Suspense
Release Date: March, 2020

Evil Incarnate Leaves a Trail of Destruction across the Frontier

 Book 5 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History

Rachel Taylor lives a rather mundane existence in 1797 at the way station her family runs along the Wilderness Road in Tennessee. She attends her friend Sally Rice’s wedding only to watch the marriage dissolve into horror has the groom, Wiley Harpe, and his cousin Micajah become murderers on the run, who drag their families along. Declaring a “war on all humanity,” the Harpes won’t be stopped, and Ben Langford is on their trail to see if his own cousin was one of their latest victims.

How many will die before peace can return to the frontier?



Click HERE for your copy.




My Review

Can I just say- this book is beyond amazing in every aspect! I personally did not know anything of the Harpes and their sinister ways from history. The way these villains are portrayed truly sent chills down my spine. The frontier backdrop really transported me so that I could smell and see the rugged terrain and feel the fear along with the characters. Rachel and Ben make for dynamic hero and heroine and Sally becomes quite the formidable, redemptive character in this story as well. This plot is not for the faint of heart, it was horrific at times- but the author managed to convey the reality of the terror without using strong language or being overly graphic. The suspense within truly grabs you from page 1 and absolutely does not let go until you finish the last page. The author manages to weave a special and sweet romance in the midst of it all, and a redemption message that reminds us that the light of the Lord shines through any terror and pain. This book is a must read, and if you haven't read the rest of the books in this multi-author series, you need to read them all! Perfect for the historical fiction reader, suspense reader, or those looking for a realistic, redemptive tale.



I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own, 



About the Author


Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in Charleston, South Carolina, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s a military wife, mom of eight, mother-in-law of three, grammie of two, and a member of ACFW and RWA. Her first novella, Defending Truth in A Pioneer Christmas Collection, was a 2014 RITA® finalist. When she’s not sewing, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies. Connect with her at www.shannonmcnear.com, or on Facebook and Goodreads.


More from Shannon

How dark is too dark for a Christian to write?
That was the question I wrestled with when deciding whether or not to take on the story of the Harpes. The histories in Scripture itself aren’t rated G, but writing fiction requires a level of detail and depth of emotion I wasn’t sure would be wise, or helpful, to explore in this case. But as I prayed and sought the counsel of those whose discernment I trust, the answer came back, overwhelmingly …
Is God stronger than the darkness, or not?
Well, of course He is. And nothing in human history has ever escaped His notice, or taken Him by surprise.
So, was there something redeeming to be found in the tale of the Harpes?
For the first few weeks of research, I walked around in a state of shock at the horror of the historical accounts, but details surfaced that helped me shape my fictional characters Rachel and Ben. With Rachel working in her family’s trading post near the wild frontier town of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Ben a lawyer who recently passed the bar, the real-life Hugh Lawson White provided a handy connection point between them. Many other details fell together in ways I had not foreseen when I began developing the story. Sally Rice Harpe, however, rose to the forefront. This was more her story than anyone’s, but realizing I couldn’t properly write the book without using her point of view? That was scary. I knew the moments I’d have to visit, some of them in real-time.
Despite the tragedy, however, I could see an overarching story of spiritual warfare. Felt a growing conviction that prayer must have played a vital role in bringing the Harpes’ reign of terror to an end. So it is my hope that against the backdrop of one of the most chilling episodes of our country’s early history, the hand of God shows clearly, and that yes, the reader finds it redemptive.



Blog Stops

Emily Yager, March 25
Genesis 5020, March 26
Remembrancy, March 26
Among the Reads, March 27
Betti Mace, March 30
Older & Smarter?, March 30
Robin’s Nest, March 31
Stories By Gina, April 1
By The Book, April 2
Artistic Nobody, April 3 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Pause for Tales, April 5
Hallie Reads, April 6



Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Shannon is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of The Blue Cloak and a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Posted by at 2 comments:
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