The League and the Lantern by Brian Wells- Preteen/Teen Summer Sensation GIVEAWAY!

My Thoughts:

The League and the Lantern is a must summer read for your preteen, teen or yourself (I loved the adventure and I'm 47!) Jake Herndon and his classmates (Lucy and TJ) reminded me a bit of Harry Potter, Hermione and Ron as they're thrown together into a dangerous quest at the beginning of this engagingly exciting (and cleverly humorous) book. History, trivia and moral values all play an important part in this non-stop thrilling ride where villains are lurking at every turn and you never know exactly who you can trust. When Jake, Lucy and TJ aren't on the run they keep their readers in stitches with hilarious Avengers, Princess Bride, and quest for food (no health food, thank you) banter. Explosions, hand sanitizer emergencies, round house kicks, and Secret Service agents will engage readers of all ages. My 13 year old daughter can't wait to read it and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

*Would you like to read The League and the Lantern? FlyBy Promotions is giving away a copy to one of my readers! Enter by leaving a comment on this post!*

Author: Brian Wells

•                A concerned dad who couldn’t find quality entertainment for his kids. He has worked and produced 15 TV movies for the major networks, and this is his book debut. 

Synopsis:

The League and the Lantern is the first book in a new adventure series for middle-school readers. It all starts when a dangerous organization invades Jake Herndon’s seventh-grade sleepover. He escapes along with two new classmates, Lucy and TJ, only to face a 48-hour fight for survival on the streets of Chicago. The kids unravel a mystery dating back to the Civil War, and an incredible secret about Jake’s family. Along the way they learn unexpected lessons about courage, family and friendship.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti

My Thoughts:

Cynthia Ruchti's writing is full of honesty, humor, faith and hope. Her characters are beautifully flawed and a joy to discover. They are just like you and me. Song of Silence deals with loss- of a job, a loved one, a passion and rediscovery- of faith, joy, new dreams. Lucy Tuttle's life revolves around music. It's her passion, who she is as well as what she does. She can't imagine life without it. At the beginning of the book she loses her job as a music teacher and Lucy tumbles into utter devastation. Her family tries in vain to uplift her and encourage but, as many of us know, the path to recovery can be a long one and God has His own timing. There is no way to predict the future and Lucy's in for quite a few surprises- good and bad. Her relationship with her long suffering husband is adorable. He's retired and wants to spend every second together. Lucy needs more "me" time. (Add to that that his newly discovered passion of harvesting worms. What??!) Cynthia Ruchti weaves humor (laugh out loud!) into her stories. Yes, there are tears but just as many giggles and this is one of the many reasons I treasure her books. I've loved every one I've read so far and plan on reading and re-reading them. Highest recommendations!!

About the book: 

Song of Silence (Abingdon, April 2016)

Music taught Lucy love and beauty. Could silence teach her hope?

Lucy and Charlie Tuttle agree on one thing: they're committed to each other for life. Trouble is, neither of them expected life to look like this. Charlie retired early, but Lucy is devoted to a long-term career . . . until the day she has no choice.

Forced to retire from her position as music educator in a small Midwestern K-8 school, Lucy can only watch helplessly as the program her father started years ago disintegrates before her eyes. As the music fades and a chasm separates her form the passion of her heart, Lucy wonders if her faith's song has gone silent, too. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes.

When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees---and hears---everything.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1RAajD2

 

About the author:

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hope. She's the award-winning author of 17 books and a frequent speaker for women's ministry events. She serves as the Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, where she helps retailers, libraries, and book clubs connect with the authors and books they love. She lives with her husband in Central Wisconsin.

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As the music fades and a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, will Lucy's faith song go silent, too? Find out in Cynthia Ruchti's new book, Song of Silence. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes. When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything.




Celebrate the release of Song of Silence with a blog tour and giveaway. Two winners will be chosen!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

A copy of Song of Silence

A $150 Visa cash card

One second place winner will receive:

A copy of Song of Silence

A music-themed prize pack filled with goodies hand-picked by Cynthia

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on May 9th. The winners will be announced May 10th on Cynthia's blog.

*I received this wonderful book in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Her One and Only Facebook Party!

 



A female bodyguard plus her star NFL client plus danger equals a great recipe for romance! Her One and Only, book four in Becky Wade's Porter Family novels, releases May 3. To celebrate, Becky is hosting an author chat party on her Facebook page on May 5 at 5 PM PDT/8 PM EDT. Join Becky for an evening of book chat with other bookworms and prizes.


Plus a portion of all pre-sales and sales the release week of Her One and Only will be donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. For more details on how to purchase a copy, click here.

About the Book
After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?




Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt–none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.




Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives — and their hearts — to one another.




Learn more and purchase a copy.

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan- Delightfully Clever!

My Thoughts:

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder, by Rachel McMillan, is all sorts of fun- if clever mysteries are your cup of tea! The main characters Merinda Herringford (intelligent, unconventional and daring) and Jemima Watts (beautiful, ladylike, with a passion for adventure) are absolutely fabulous in their "Sherlock and Watson" relationship. In the 1910's their independent nature and quest for justice is not socially embraced, yet you'll cheer for them every step of the way!

The mystery unfolds in Toronto with the murders of two Irish young ladies. Merinda and Jemima go undercover as men in the hopes of discovering clues. The city is quite different at night with unsavory characters and The Morality Squad (a group of men enforcing "safety" rules for ladies) policing the streets. In the midst of sleuthing, Ray DeLuca, local reporter, meets Jemima and a friendship is formed. Ray DeLuca is my favorite character, by the way. Quite dashing with his good looks and Italian accent, he's also bighearted and courageous. Yes, I developed a bit of a crush on him!  As the cast of characters grows so do the questions and the danger. It was a true pleasure to read this book! If you enjoy a good mystery, delightful characters, a bit of humor and intrigue this book is for you! 

*I was given this book by Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*

Mermaid Moon, by Colleen Coble

My Thoughts:

Mermaid Moon is the second book in the Sunset Cove series written by Colleen Coble. It can be easily read independently from the first book but the author does allow us to visit characters from The Inn at Ocean's Edge. Mystery, romance, and adventure are all a part of this story and I have to admit I was guessing until the very end. The story is quite exciting with lots of surprises and secrets. One of the major focuses of the story is on forgiveness. The past haunts the main characters, Mallory Davis and Kevin O'Connor, and they struggle with forgiving themselves as well moving on with their lives. I was touched by their stories yet I had a difficult time believing their relationship. Their dialogue was a bit forced and cliched and I failed to care very much about them. While I did enjoy the mystery, the location of the story (Maine!), and the supporting characters I was not as enamored of this book as I am with other Colleen Coble's books. It would be a fun beach read, though, as it's easy to get into and I loved reading the continuing story of characters from The Inn at Ocean's Edge.

Book Description

Mallory’s mother died fifteen years ago. But her father’s last words on the phone were unmistakable: “Find . . . mother.”

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point.

Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart and left—without a word—years ago.

When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye.

As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

*I was given this book by Book Look Bloggers in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*

Change of Heart by Courtney Walsh

My Thoughts:

A cozy guest house, two best friends dealing with broken hearts, secrets uncovered by the FBI, and a busy body (with a big heart) group of women who call themselves the Valentine Volunteers- all in a charming town called Loves Park. Change of Heart, written by Courtney Walsh, is a delightfully romantic escape. I particularly enjoyed the well developed main characters. Trevor Whitney- The handsome, long suffering, and dutiful son who put aside his dreams to continue the family business. There is one dream of his that refuses to be put aside, though. Evelyn Brandt- A breathtakingly beautiful artist who has forgotten her dreams. Personal secrets about her husband have come to light and she's desperate to escape the scrutiny of the public eye. Trevor and Evelyn began as best friends  in high school and the flashbacks to their youth were wonderful. Their story would work well in a movie as there are many memories, conversations, etc. that would convey all on screen. A great cast of supporting characters, as well. Christopher Brandt's "indiscretions" keep the story going at a great clip- Is he the villain or just misunderstood? (You'll have to read to find out!) Maggie Lawson, an attractive reporter with an eye for Trevor Whitney. Is she the love of his life? Aunt Lilian- She knows Trevor so well and exactly when to dole out tough love when necessary. 

The story line for Change of Heart was quite enjoyable, although it tended to drag on a bit at the end. If you're looking for a Spring Break or summer beach escape you may just want to tuck it into your tote bag!

A Colorado senator’s wife, Evelyn Brandt seems to have it all. But her carefully constructed life comes toppling down when the FBI crashes her society brunch with news that her husband has been arrested for embezzlement, and he’s far from repentant. It turns out this was only the start of his indiscretions—for which he has little regret.

As the weeks following the scandal turn into months, Evelyn withdraws, even shirking her duties with the philanthropic Valentine Volunteers. The inquisitive women of the group are determined not to let Evelyn’s divorce destroy her. They have big plans for her to use her long-forgotten artistic talent to reimagine the city’s iconic lamppost hearts. But doing so will force Evelyn to work closely with Trevor Whitney, her ex-husband’s former best friend. Though she and Trevor used to be close—and he’s been letting her hide in his guesthouse—his gruffness conveys his unease with the situation.

Amid the beauty of Trevor’s farm and the comfort of a paintbrush, Evelyn starts to reclaim the dreams she sacrificed to become the perfect politician’s wife. And as creativity inspires them both, Whit begins to see the girl he fell in love with before his friend—and his own mistakes—stole his chance. Possibilities for a new beginning emerge, but long-kept secrets threaten to ruin everything. After so much time, is a change of heart too much to hope for?

Read the 1st Chapter of Change of Heart here! 

*I was given a copy of this book by Tyndale in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*

Finding God in the Ruins by Matt Bays- Hope for the Hurting

My Thoughts:

Finding God in the Ruins, written by Matt Bays, is an incredibly honest and powerful account of how God can be found in the midst of pain, loss, desperation and hopelessness. I truly believe this book could save your life. So many of us struggle in silence, barely making it through the day. Please don't give up! This book will ease your pain and show you that God is with us- in the good times and bad. (PM me if you need to talk. I'll be happy to send you my copy of this book.) Through Matt's personal struggles and suffering (he has had more than his share) he shares the journey he walked to find peace- and God was waiting there. "Healing has no map; every person's experience is different." 

Scattered throughout this book are personal stories of pain and anguish. Abuse, tragedy, illness, depression, betrayal, alcoholism, cancer, self injury, cancer, sexual slavery, a nameless woe and more. This book is hardcore- and very much needed by so many. Matt Bays doesn't candy coat a word. Thank you, Matt. Looking the other way, covering things up, and/or pretending everything is just fine doesn't help a bit. Knowing God is on your side and that others have experienced your pain is conducive to healing and redemption. Hope exists and is there for the taking, friends. It's during the hard times that God shines His brightest!   

I form the light and create darkness,  I bring prosperity and create disaster,  I, the Lord, do all these things.  Isaiah 45:7

God has promised that along with prosperity, "we will have trouble in this life". Through our troubles we can deliver hope to others. We can be survivors and help others to do the same. In the midst of pain, frustration or unmet expectations you may want to ask the Lord, "What is it that you want me to learn so that I can accomplish your will for my life?" I plan to do exactly the same thing.

-Read an excerpt from Finding God in the Ruins on New York Times bestselling author Ann Voskamp's website: http://bit.ly/1Pa4R7C

About the book: 

Finding God in the Ruins (David C. Cook, March 2016)

If God is love, why do we hurt so much?

When the reality of your pain doesn't line up with what you've been taught in church, then what? While many abandon their faith or embrace hopelessness, it is possible to discover the God who heals your heart in the midst of the pain.

Matt Bays has been where you are. His unforgettable stories of loss and healing will usher you into a life where gratitude overpowers anger, hope overcomes despair, and hunger for God replaces indifference to God. With a fresh and original writing style, Bays demonstrates that true redemption is far more powerful than the temporary fixes of sanitized Christianity.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1Mkv8QQ

 

About the author:

Matt Bays is a writer, speaker, and musician with a passion to call people out of their hiding places. In ministry for twenty years, he and his wife, Heather, live in Indianapolis with their fun-loving and insightful teenage daughters.

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*I was given a copy of this incredible book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*