Monday, October 28, 2019

"Mission Hollywood" blog tour


Mission HOllywood banner

About the Book

Mission Hollywood
Book: Mission Hollywood
Author: Michelle Keener
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 16, 2019

What could possibly go wrong?

Movie star Ben Prescott arrives back in Hollywood after causing a scandal with his ex-girlfriend in Rome. Chased through the airport by paparazzi, he jumps into a limo hoping for a quick getaway. Instead he finds Lily Shaw, a pastor’s daughter and preschool teacher. When the paparazzi capture a photo of the two of them together, Ben’s agent demands that he do whatever it takes to keep the story from hitting the gossip pages . . . even volunteer to work at Lily’s church.
Sparks fly as the movie star and the pastor’s daughter work side by side. When Lily accompanies Ben to the premiere of his latest movie, Hollywood takes notice. Under intense media scrutiny and pressure from the movie industry, Ben must risk his career to follow his heart, but Lily wants the one thing he doesn’t have, faith.
Mission Hollywood is an inspirational story about love, faith, and second chances.  

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book!  This highlights living in the spotlight and your life being under scrutiny and being true to yourself and still able to live, but having to do things in order to present a certain image.  When Ben gets tied in with having to improve his image, improve himself after the latest scandal, he finds himself spending a lot of time with Lily, for appearances and then maybe not so much, as he finds his heart becoming involved.  I really loved the messages that are shared in this book, focusing on second chances and turning one's life around and the importance of faith and love and not fighting against these.  I was excited to see that this is a start of a new series as I cannot wait to read book 2.  This book was so easy to get completely lost in as the characters are enjoyable and engaging.  
 
Click here to get your copy!
 

About the Author

Michelle Keener
Michelle Keener is a wife, mom, and the author of three books. She lives in Southern California with her retired Marine husband, their two children, and one spoiled dog. When she isn’t writing, she is busy homeschooling, teaching creative writing workshops, or baking something involving chocolate.
Michelle loves to hear from readers and you can usually find her on Twitter @MKeenerWrites or at her website www.MichelleKeener.com  

More from Michelle

Why Hollywood? That’s a great question! Of all the places I could have set a Christian romance novel, why pick Hollywood? It isn’t exactly the first place that pops into your mind when you think Christian romance, right? The truth is I spent four years of my life trying to become an actress. I was a theatre major in the Los Angeles area and I spent a lot of time in Hollywood. I’ve been down Hollywood Boulevard, visited casting offices, and gone to open-call auditions. In those years, I saw the good and the bad of the movie industry. I saw dreams shattered and hearts broken under the glamourous lights of the Sunset Strip. Years later, when I started thinking about writing a Christian romance, I knew Hollywood was the perfect setting to tell the story of God’s unchanging, never-ending love for us. Mission Hollywood isn’t just one love story, it’s two. The romance between Ben and Lily is definitely swoon-worthy, but there is also the story of how much God loves us. I hope you enjoy Mission Hollywood…it’s only the beginning of the story for the Shaw Family. Book two is coming in February!

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, October 24
Sara Jane Jacobs, October 24
Maureen’s Musings, October 25
Moments, October 27
Pause for Tales, October 29
She Lives To Read, October 29
Older & Smarter?, October 30
Blessed & Bookish, October 30
Godly Book Reviews, November 1
Back Porch Reads, November 2
Texas Book-aholic, November 3
Quiet Quilter, November 4
janicesbookreviews, November 5
A Reader’s Brain, November 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away a Red Carpet Collection, which includes a signed paperback copy of Mission Hollywood, a custom Pura Vida bracelet in red carpet colors, a signed and numbered print of the original painting “Redemption” by artist Charlotte Lauder, a vintage-Hollywood style postcard, a bookmark, and a magnet!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Friday, October 25, 2019

"The Painted Castle" blog tour!


The Painted Castle FB Banner

About the Book

cover Painted Castle
Book: The Painted Castle
Author: Kristy Cambron
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: October 15, 2019

Bestselling author Kristy Cambron concludes the Lost Castle novels with this sweeping tale of art and secrets long buried in England.

It was supposed to be a one-week job: survey an art find, collect a hefty fee, and use that to settle historian Kiera Foley’s life back into balance. But from the moment she sets foot in the East Suffolk countryside, the mysteries surrounding the old English manor and the enigmatic art thief who’s employed her stir more questions than answers. Then, Kiera finds the existence of a portrait captivating enough to upend all of her expectations. This one could be a twin-a painting so close in composition to a known masterpiece, it may be rendered priceless if it truly captured the likeness of a young Queen named Victoria.

Set in three time periods-the rapid change of Victorian England, the tumultuous skies over England’s eastern shores in WWII, and modern day-The Painted Castle unfolds a legacy of faith, family, and stories that are generations in the making.

My Review:
This is the third book and conclusion to the series and this book was my favorite of the series.  I loved how this book is three stories interwoven together and I really enjoyed all three of the main characters from each time period.  The mystery that surrounds the paintings and really just the mysterious aura to the castle is so mesmerizing that I found myself lost in the story.   The world of art is like no other and the measures people will go to get a piece that they want and the high price that is paid is fascinating and I loved how immediately Kiera is swept up into that world.   I highly recommend this entire series!  


Click here to grab your copy.  

About the Author

Cambron headshot
KRISTY CAMBRON is an award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling debut The Butterfly and the Violin, and an author of Bible studies, including the Verse Mapping series. She’s a Women’s Ministry Leader at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, and a passionate storyteller who travels to speak at events across the country, encouraging women to experience a deeper life in the Word through verse mapping. Her work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10Library Journal Reviews’ Best BooksRT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, and received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations. Kristy holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing, and has 15 years of experience in education and leadership development for a Fortune-100 Corporation, working with such companies as the Disney Institute, IBM/Kenexa, and Gallup. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, and can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good read.  

More from Kristy

About The Painted Castle A war-torn estate holding its secrets close. A lost library bricked off from the world. And a portrait-maker’s unknown masterpiece of a Queen named Victoria… What stories do they long to tell? It was supposed to be a one-week snatch-and-grab: survey an art find, collect a hefty fee, and use that to settle historian Kiera Foley’s life back into balance. But from the moment she sets foot in the East Suffolk countryside, the mystery of an old English manor, a crumbling beekeeper’s cottage, and a library that had long ago been sealed off brick by brick, all stir more questions than answers. What begins as a novice assignment instead peels back layers, lulling Keira into the depths of the estate’s long-forgotten history. Despite questions swirling around the enigmatic, rumored art thief who’s employed her, Keira finds the existence of a portrait captivating enough to upend all of her expectations. This one could be a twin—a painting so close in composition to a known masterpiece, it may be rendered priceless if it truly captured the likeness of a young Queen named Victoria… 1842— In order to salvage what’s left of her family’s shaky circumstances, artist Elizabeth Meade knows her duty must be to marry well. But she hopes looks can be deceiving enough to hide her true motives behind a congenial smile and gain entry into the ballrooms of England’s noble elite. Instead of husband-hunting, Elizabeth searches for the one thing that’s seared to her memory—the eyes of her father’s killer, whom she unwittingly sketched one snowy night in Piccadilly ten years before. She never expects to find answers tucked away in the countryside at Parham Hill, in the form of a portrait-maker who could help her artist dreams come true, if only she could forget the highwayman she’s hunted for the last decade—the estate-owner who unwittingly selects her as his betrothed… 1942—When the 390th Bomb Group arrives at Amelia Woods’ Parham Hill Estate, the American flyboys bring playing cards, B-17 “flying fortresses”, and enough bravado to believe they can triumph over Hitler just by staring him down. Amelia isn’t certain, and she’s unwilling to compromise the safety and security in a carefully-crafted world she’s built for the dozens of London-evacuated children left in her charge. But with Anderson shelters buried in the gardens and an Allied airfield a stone’s throw away, Amelia may have no choice but to wait out the war under blackouts and bombs, and accept help from the captain who offers it—even if it means risking all she has left of her late husband’s memory… From the streets of Piccadilly and the lavish halls of Buckingham Palace to the countryside surrounding Framlingham Castle, a warn-torn estate, a hidden library, and the lost portrait of a queen come together to write the final chapter in the Lost Castle series. Set in three time periods—the rapid change of Victorian England, the tumultuous skies over England’s eastern shores in WWII, and modern day—The Painted Castle unfolds a legacy of faith and the family we fight for, of risk and reward, and the artful crafting of a story that can be generations in the making… yet still change everything about a single life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIlQXEYlQks#action=share


Blog Stops

All-of-a-kind Mom, October 15
The Power of Words, October 15
The Avid Reader, October 16
Betti Mace, October 16
Fiction Aficionado, October 17
AndreaChristenson, October 18
She Lives to Read, October 18
Bloging With Carol, October 18
Back Porch Reads , October 19
KarenSueHadley, October 20
Livin’ Lit, October 20
A Reader’s Brain, October 20
Genesis 5020, October 21
Worthy2Read, October 21
Life of Literature, October 21
janicesbookreviews, October 22
Older & Smarter?, October 23
Mia Reads Blog, October 23
The Becca Files, October 23
Daysong Reflections, October 24
Connect in Fiction, October 24
Texas Book-aholic, October 24
Moments, October 25
Pause for Tales, October 26
Lis Loves Reading, October 26
Hallie Reads, October 26
Remembrancy, October 28
Batya’s Bits, October 28
Leona J. Atkinson, October 28

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

"Unscripted"


Cover Art

Book Blurb from the publisher:
Line producer Danny Byrd is well known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner--and former best friend--makes off with their investors' money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.

LA lawyer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to impossible bosses, only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it--even though she's not entirely clear what "it" is.

Danny and Megan are each other's best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other's best hope for love.

My Review:
This book gives the reader an intense glimpse into the tv and movie industry and it is fascinating; however what really drew me into the story was the characters.  I was intrigued with the story line as it is so easy to get caught up with reading the tabloids and imaging life with the rich and famous.  Megan and Danny are in the midst of all this day in and day out and find themselves needing to prove who they really are and their worth.  I love how their lives intertwine and they are just want the other person needed in order for redemption, in order to be who they want to be.  This book is one that will last with you long after you finish reading and will have you thinking on it and the messages woven throughout it. 

*Thanks to the Revell Reads Program for the complimentary copy of this book.*

"A Distance Too Grand"


Cover Art

I absolutely loved this new book from Regina Scott and am so excited that it is a start of a brand-new series!  "A Distance Too Grand" focuses on Meg, who has grown up helping her photographer father and is determined to  carry on for him and fulfill the contact  with the army.  However, leading this expedition is Ben, a former suitor of Meg's and the one whom she refused to marry.  However, both are determined to accomplish their goals as both have things to accomplish professionally, but also each has their own personal reasons for this expedition as well. 
I thought that the author did a fantastic job with bringing this story to life, as it is rich with historical details and the descriptions are so vivid that I was able to picture the scenes and become immersed in the story.  I love historical fiction and I also love "seeing" new places and it  was fascinating for me to learn about the Grand Canyon and this time period when the west was being discovered and paths through the land are being created as it is early on in our country's history.  I really enjoyed these characters and their determination and grit, and also their hearts.  I highly recommend this book! 

*Thanks to the Revell Reads Blogger Program for the complimentary copy of this book.*

Sunday, October 20, 2019

"Hope's Highest Mountain" blog tour!


Hope's Highest Mountain FB Banner

About the Book

Hope's Highest Mountain
Book: Hope’s Highest Mountain
Author: Misty M. Beller
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: October, 2019

When Ingrid Chastain agreed to accompany her father to deliver vaccines to a mining town in the Montana Territory, she never could have anticipated a terrible accident would leave her alone and badly injured in the wilderness. Rescue comes in the form of a mysterious mountain man who tends her injuries, but she’s hesitant to put her trust in this man who seems to have wounds of his own.

After tragedy struck his family, Micah Bradley left his work as a doctor and escaped to the wilds of Montana. But his self-imposed solitude is broken when he finds Ingrid in desperate need of medical attention, and he’s forced to call on his doctoring skills once again.

 Micah can’t help but admire Ingrid’s tenacity despite the severity of her injuries, until he learns the crate she brought contains smallpox vaccines to help quell a nearby outbreak. With Ingrid dead set on delivering the medicine–with or without his help–he has no choice but to accompany her. As they set off through the treacherous, snow-covered Rocky Mountains against all odds, the journey ahead will change their lives more than they could have known.

My Review:
"Hope's Highest Mountain" is the first book in a new series by Misty M. Beller and I loved the setting and the historical details that brought the story to life.  Ingrid and Micah are both such strong characters and I admired their determination in the midst of the tragedies that they face and the hurt they have suffered.  The harshness of the winter in the Montana mountains in the late 1800's is so vividly described I felt like I transported there along with the characters as they try to deliver vaccines and stay alive.  There are so many lines that I underlined throughout this novel that really stood out to me and were inspiring to me.  I love that even though this is a historical romance, I was still able to relate to the characters and feel a connection.   I am looking forward to the next novel in this series and a visit back to the Montana mountains.   


Click here to get your copy! 

About the Author

Beller_Misty
After working for 13 years in the corporate world, Misty M. Beller (mistymbeller.com) is now the author of fourteen independently published Christian historical romance novels. Raised on a farm in South Carolina, she combines her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life by writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. She lives outside Charlotte, North Carolina, is an active member of ACFW, and teaches regularly at conferences and writing groups on effective book marketing.
 

More from Misty

Remember Lassie? Old Yeller? Chance and Shadow from the movie Homeward Bound? There was something about these dogs that gripped my heartstrings and made me love them as though I’d known them for years. (And, yes, I cried during every one of these movies and books.) Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had real dogs I’ve loved too. As far back as I can remember, we’ve had at least one or two dogs, and each one has been my very best friend. They’ve suffered my undying love, even allowing me to dress them up like dolls during my younger years. But the dogs in my stories have a special place in my heart. Handsome, the sweet little black fluffball in Hope’s Highest Mountain is no exception! He was the runt of the litter, and such a dark black that the story’s hero nicknamed him Shadow. You can see the picture that inspired Handsome at the book’s Pinterest page. Those eyes! Hard not to fall in love, right? The more I wrote in the story, the more I enjoyed getting to know this little guy, and I could almost feel his soft puppy fur as he snuggled in close. I completely see why Ingrid (the heroine) is smitten him! As you read Hope’s Highest Mountain, I hope you love Handsome as much as I do. Please give him some extra petting for me! ?

Blog Stops

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 12
Betti Mace, October 13
Blessed & Bookish, October 14
Texas Book-aholic, October 14
Genesis 5020, October 14
janicesbookreviews, October 16
Mary Hake, October 16
Batya’s Bits, October 17
Connect in Fiction, October 17
Older & Smarter?, October 18
Life of Literature, October 18
A Reader’s Brain, October 18
The Becca Files, October 19
Splashes of Joy , October 19
Moments, October 20
Daysong Reflections, October 21
Wishful Endings, October 21
Joy of Reading , October 21
Pause for Tales, October 22
Britt Reads Fiction, October 22
Lis Loves Reading, October 23
Bigreadersite , October 23
Live. Love. Read. , October 24
Hallie Reads, October 24
Remembrancy, October 25
Mia Reads Blog, October 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of Hope’s Highest Mountain, a $20 B&N gift card, and cute mountain cards!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

"Dark Ambitions"

Cover Art"Dark Ambitions" is such a great conclusion to Irene Hannon's Code of Honor series, and while I wanted to keep on reading to find out what would happen next, I was not ready for the book to be done. 
Rick is the last of the Treehouse Gang to be featured in this series and he is the main character of this book along with the PI, Heather, who becomes involved in his life both professionally and personally.  Rick lives a quiet life during the winter at his home which is also a camp for foster kids during the summer months.  However, when he spots blood and a few items left there, he knows that he has had a visitor and that the man whom he knew while serving the country is in trouble.  What kind of trouble, he is not sure and this is only the beginning of the many questions that soon arise.  While Rick and Heather try to find Rick's buddy, there are a few people who do not like them poking around and asking questions and will stop at nothing to be sure that things go according to plan.

This story is so fast-paced and is a nice mix of romance and suspense.  The attraction between Heather and Rick is so strong, but yet Rick is a client and is therefore off-limits, and is very fitting given the previous books involving the other employees at Phoenix Inc.  Irene does a fantastic job with the characters and their interactions as they become so real.  Heather's father is a minor character in this book, but I really liked him as well, and the sweet relationship he has with his daughter; I love their traditions and the time that they make to spend together.  I highly recommend this book, but really this entire series!  If you are a fan of romantic suspense novels, do not miss out on this one!

*Thanks to the Revell Reads Program for the complimentary copy of this book.*

Thursday, October 17, 2019

"Better Than Fiction" blog tour!


Better than fiction FB cover

About the Book

Better than Fiction cover
Book: Better than Fiction
Author: April W. Gardner &  Michelle Massaro
Genre: Historical Fiction/Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: April 4, 2016

Imagining him was harmless…until it wasn’t.

Romance novelist Meghan Townsend’s marriage is slipping, and no amount of prayer seems to help. She aims to recapture her husband’s waning attention by getting in shape and finds escape by crafting her own fictional love story. Taking inspiration for the hero from a new friend—the attractive, spiritual, and attentive Curtis Jameson—she pours her yearnings onto the page, and craves the kind of pulse-pounding romance found in her book, Racing Hearts…

In 1916 Corona, California, motorcars are all the rage, and racing them is what Meghan’s hero, Russell Keegan, does best. But when his competition vandalizes his car, the only mechanic available is a greasy woman in a man’s overalls.

After a racing accident claimed her father’s life, Winifred became the sole breadwinner for her family. She is disdained as a female mechanic, but her daddy’s trade is all she has left. Can she swallow her hatred of the races and take up Russell’s offer of big bucks to fix his car, or will she lose everything to mounting debt?

Under Meghan’s skillful pen, these two embark on a thrilling, adventurous romance. But she finds that writing those love scenes with Curtis’s face in mind takes her heart places it shouldn’t go. Will she realize in time that real life can be better than fiction?  

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book and the dual story line that is shared.  Meghan is feeling dissatisfied in her own life as she is trying to balance the various roles she fills, and also feels unappreciated and not important.  Meghan finds herself becoming more immersed in her writing and in the characters she has created as she is living vicariously through them, that is until her relationship with her trainer begin to grow as well.  As the lines between her real life and fiction blur, Meghan needs clarity as to what she is really seeking in her own life, what she needs.  The story moves right along and I found myself wanting to read more just to find out what was going to happen in both of the main characters' lives - both Megan and Winifred.  This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it. 




Click here to get your copy!
 

About the Author

April headshot
April W Gardner writes Christian historical romance with a focus on our southeastern Native tribes. She is a copyeditor, military wife, and mother of two who lives in South Texas. In no particular order, April dreams of owning a horse, learning a third language, and visiting all the national parks.                  Michelle Massaro

Michelle Massaro writes contemporary fiction, soaked in grace. She makes her home in Southern California with her husband of over two decades and their four children. She’s dabbled in homeschooling, teaching Creation Science, and leading worship. When she isn’t tinkering with words, Michelle enjoys old Rogers and Hammerstein movies, making kefir, and Sudoku. A new lipstick and a good French roast always make her happy.    

More from April and Michelle

April and Michelle get a lot of questions about how exactly co-authors write a book. Who writes which part? Did you have any trouble, any conflict? Valid questions! But in the case of Better than Fiction, it was no trouble at all, and neither author can remember a single heated disagreement. In part, because they’d been critique partners for eons and were already working together seamlessly. It also helped that the story is made up of two intertwining novellas. Each author had her own blank canvas to color on with the other looking on and offering feedback. The most enjoyable part of the process was the challenge of making sure the events in the life of Michelle’s contemporary character (an author) influenced the characters’ decisions in April’s historical plot. Why intertwining stories? The idea behind it was to show what it’s like to live in the mind of a writer, how her real life makes its way into her stories. The theme of emotional affairs was a good fit, as it is often all too easy for women—even Christian woman—to be drawn to another man and justify it as harmless friendship rather than admit she is looking to this person to fill a need that only God and her husband are meant to fill. They decided to set the story against the backdrop of Michelle’s hometown of Corona, California in 1916 and the real-life Corona Road Race that took place in April of that year. It was the third race and, due to tragedy, the last. From concept to “The End,” it took a span of about four years for Michelle and April to publish Better than Fiction, and as far as teamwork goes, it went off without a hitch. April was able to fly from her home in Georgia to stay with Michelle’s family and do research, and later, Michelle flew to Georgia for a concentrated writing weekend. The two had an amazingly fun time writing and working together. Another question the authors get…will there be a sequel? Only time will tell.

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, October 9
Genesis 5020, October 10
Betti Mace, October 11
Artistic Nobody, October 12
Remembrancy, October 15
Maureen’s Musings, October 16
Godly Book Reviews, October 17
Moments, October 17
Bigreadersite, October 18
Texas Book-aholic, October 19
janicesbookreviews, October 20
A Reader’s Brain, October 21

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, April and Michelle are giving away the grand prize bundle of a $20 Amazon gift card, themed mug and bookmarks, and handmade throw pillow that says, “Books, my happy place”!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.