Changes, Updates, and Fun Info

Hello, friends!

There are some big changes happening in the online world...

Google announced that they are shutting down Google Plus, their version of Facebook. In fact, this shutdown has already started - talk about speedy! This will probably affect traffic to my blog for a little while, so I've started making some changes to my blog and platform.

My Blog ~

If you enjoy my blog, please follow it! There are three ways:

1. The "Follow by E-mail" option is still available, and my blog posts go straight to the e-mail you've signed up with!

2. The "Subscribe To" option is still available, and this allows you to subscribe to my blog and/or the comments of a specific post.

3. On February 4th, 2019, I added the "Blog Followers" option, allowing you to follow my blog directly on Google! And since I've only recently added this option, I really need followers, LOL!

Also, I share ALL of my blog posts on Facebook and Twitter, and I share all of my blog reviews on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads. I'll be posting at lot more in Facebook groups, too!

My Newsletter ~ 

Yes, that's right! I'm finally taking the plunge. *takes deep breath* Barring some sort of virtual disaster, my newsletter will be ready for sign-ups within the week! ;-)

You'll be able to sign up on my blog or at my website!

Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations Reviewer and Influencer Sign-Up Form ~

Also, Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations is just days away from releasing, and I'm assembling an elite team! If you're interested in applying to be a reviewer/influencer, sign up here! Sign-ups will close at 11:59 PM EST on February 14th, 2019.

Also, if you're looking for me on a certain platform, check out my Social Media Page for the links to all my public platforms!

And that's it! LOL! Thank you guys so much for sticking with me! I look forward to connecting with you! <3

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Review of The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson

About the Book ~ 

From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson comes an inspired retelling of the beloved folk tale Aladdin.

Orphaned and alone, Aladdin travels from the streets of his Arab homeland to a strange, faraway place. Growing up in an orphanage, he meets young Lady Kirstyn, whose father is the powerful Duke of Hagenheim. Despite the difference in their stations, Aladdin quickly becomes Kirstyn's favorite companion, and their childhood friendship grows into a bond that time and opposition cannot break.

Even as a child, Aladdin works hard, learning all he can from his teachers. Though his integrity, intelligence, and sheer tenacity, he earns a position serving as the duke's steward. But that isn't enough to erase the shame of being forced to steal as a small child - or the fact that he's an orphan with no status. If he ever wants to feel equal to his beautiful and generous friend Kirstyn, he must leave Hagenheim and seek his fortune.

Yet once Aladdin departs, Lady Kirstyn becomes a pawn in a terrible plot. Now, Aladdin and Kirstyn must rely on their bond to save her from unexpected danger. But will saving Kirstyn cost Aladdin his newfound status and everything he's worked so hard to obtain?

An enchanting new version of the well-known tale, The Orphan's Wish tells a story of courage and loyalty, friendship and love, and reminds us what "family" really means.

For more information about Melanie Dickerson and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~ 

I adore stories with childhood friends who fall in love! Those stories are full of sweet yearning and tender romance. The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson is no exception!

I thought the author did a wonderful job re-imagining the beloved tale of Aladdin! The core elements of the original fairy tale are all there, while still holding the unique feeling of the Medieval Era. It was really cool to see all the little details that hinted at the previous stories. The fangirl in me wished that the story was three times longer (I like big books) so that there wasn't so many large jumps in time. However, I do think the author did a good job at showing the history between Aladdin and Kirstyn while also unfolding the current story in a more reasonable word count.

The message of family is really strong, and Aladdin and Kirstyn each had to learn what this meant to them. The sorrow and shame that shaped Aladdin was so well done. I could understand his heart and hurts, why he strove for success and wealth. This made it all the sweeter when he realized that those things meant nothing if they were done at the expense of God-given love. Kirstyn's pain and trauma made my heart ache. She had always felt like the forgotten one, and her desire to love all the forgotten orphans brought tears to my eyes. The harrowing events in the story did help her to see all the ways her family loved her, while also nudging some of her family not to take her for granted. Most importantly, I felt like Kirstyn learned that she truly was special just as she was.

Four Stars ~ A beautiful retelling of one of my favorite tales! The Orphan's Wish is the eighth book in the Hagenheim Fairy Tale Romance Series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the previous books because the story itself and those special details from the previous stories will be a lot more fun!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Happy Hearts Valentine's Day Book Bundle Giveaway!

Hello, my bookish friends!!!

Are you ready for a giveaway!?!!

Some author friends and I have teamed up to bring you the Happy Hearts Book Bundle Giveaway!

You could win two ebooks, four paperbacks, and chocolate!! Dream come true, right? ;-)

The giveaway will run until Valentine's Day. All you have to do to enter is check the box that you're consenting to signing up for our individual newsletters. And you don't have to run to each website to sign up! Woohoo! :-) After that there are two bonus entries. You can leave a comment on one of the blog posts that talks about this giveaway (like this one, or Brandy's, or any of the other author's), or you can tweet about the giveaway!

This is also the first giveaway for my upcoming novel, Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations!!! *breaks out into an awkward, happy dance*

Excited? Good!!! Enter using the handy Rafflecopter here ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you guys so much!! And may the odds be ever in your favor... ;-)

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations

Seventeen years after being orphaned, Apryl Burns and her twin sister Courtney have their own expectations for life. While Courtney continues to shine at everything, Apryl holds fast to he mantra that as long as her potato chip stash remains intact, then she'll be fine.

But when their beloved grandmother ends up injured and unable to manage her struggling antique store, Courtney makes it their mission to revamp the business and save what's left of their family's legacy. Despite rampant doubts in her abilities, Apryl finds herself trapped under the weight of family loyalty as they transition to a wedding venue decorating service. Soon she's forced to ask (translation: blackmail) their grandmother's renter/handyman, Chance McFarland, for hep, an arrangement that is made even worse by the fact that Chance is her former (ahem, and current) crush.

Chance knows a few dozen things about family loyalty, which is why he begrudgingly agrees to Apryl's insane plan. While Apryl claims they're archenemies, the girl Chance only glimpsed in their teens starts to emerge, stealing what remains of his heart.

But expectations are a powerful thing. Amidst the glamorous weddings and swaying willows, can those old expectations be revised into something new?

Available February 14th, 2019!

Pre-order Now from Amazon!

Guys, I am just so excited for this story of my heart to release! SOOO EXCITED!!! So yeah, I had to share it again. :-D 

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

With This Pledge Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review!

Welcome to the BlogTour & Giveaway for With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander, the first full novel of the Carnton series, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: With This Pledge
Series: Carnton, Book 1  
Author: Tamera Alexander  
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: January 8, 2019  
Genre: Historical Romance  

History takes on vivid life in the stunning first full-length installment of USA TODAY bestselling Tamera Alexander’s new series, The Carnton Novels.  

What can a woman—a mere governess—do against the scourge of slavery?

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Clouston’s quietly held principles oppose those of the Southern Cause—but when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home where she is governess is converted into a Confederate field hospital, and Lizzie is called upon to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death. Faced with the unimaginable, she must summon fortitude, even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiancé and lifelong friend.

As a young soldier lies dying in Lizzie’s arms, she vows to relay his final words to his mother, but knows little more than the boy’s first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate his leg.

Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers’ respect as she tends to the wounded within Carnton’s walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn’t realize she is pledged to another. But as Lizzie’s heart softens towardthe Confederate captain, she discovers that his moral ground is at odds with her own. Now torn between love, principles, and promises made, she struggles to be true to her heart while standing for what she knows is right—no matter the cost.

From the pages of history and the personal accounts of those who endured the Battle of Franklin, Tamera Alexander weaves the real-life love letters between Captain Roland Ward Jones and Miss Elizabeth Clouston into a story of unlikely romance first kindled amid the shadows of war.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository

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EXCERPT

Head HERE for an exclusive excerpt!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous industry-leading honors, including the Christy Award (two-time winner, seven-time finalist), the RITA Award (two-time winner, four-time finalist), the Carol Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best Award, and Library Journal's top distinction, among others. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband now reside in Nashville, Tennessee, where they live a short distance from Belmont Mansion and Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of Tamera’s two USA Today bestselling Southern series.  

CONNECT WITH THEAUTHOR: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win a release copy of With This Pledge + $10 Amazon Gift Card

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight January 14, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm January 28, 2019. US only for a print copy of the book. International winners will receive an ebook. Gift card prize will be issued as an e-gift card. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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REVIEW

My Thoughts ~ 

Guys, I don't even know where to start! With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander is truly in a class of its own!

One of the reasons I love historical fiction is because I love learning about history in a fictional setting! With This Pledge was no exception! To be honest, the detail and the research that went into this novel was inspiring and a little humbling. Like the author noted at the start of the story, I also want to note that there are graphic descriptions of combat, wounds, death, and amputations for more sensitive readers. However, I personally feel the author needed to go as in-depth as she did in order to tell the story the way it needed to be told. This is not a light tale, but it is an inspiring message of hope.

The author captured the angst, heartache, and desperate hope for the future that filled the hearts of all whole lived through the Civil War. While Lizzie had come to the conclusion that slavery was heinous, she kept what she knew was the truth hidden from her southern friends, family, and employers. Watching Lizzie step out in bravery and repentance for her own fears truly moved my heart. I am still crying from the beauty of it! Roland's perspective was certainly harder for me, but I think it was supposed to be. Here's this God-fearing (though his relationship with God was a little strained after the deaths of his family), kind man who was so deceived about the sin of slavery. His perspective really shows that someone on the "other side" may not be as evil as we believe, that maybe they are deceived. I found that to be powerful, and as Roland came to terms with his own sin, I cried (again) from the pure grace of God that flowed from Himself to Roland. 

While the tender, swoon-worthy romance between Roland and Lizzie was one of my favorite parts, my favorite moment may be when Lizzie told Roland that no matter what side they had been on, everyone needed to get on the same side, or none of them would make it through this. This powerful truth is still so applicable today!

Four Stars ~ With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander is a powerful story of hope with the potential to move mountains of hate with love and grace. With This Pledge is (to my knowledge) a standalone, but the author has many books for readers to enjoy! 

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Review of The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright

About the Book ~ 

Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.

A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother - who is battling dementia - compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns - and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.

As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined?

For more information about Jaime Jo Wright and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~ 

Guys, no review that I write can bring justice to how masterful and engaging The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright really is! Seriously, read this one!

Perhaps the thing I love the most about Jaime Jo Wright's romantic suspense stories is that they really break the mold of romantic suspense in Christian Fiction. They are truly unique! The romance is subtle, but it is believable, ending in a way that you know that Happily Ever After will happen after that last page. The suspense is filled with intrigue, murder, and yes, some creepiness. But that creepiness never, EVER overcomes the light! The mystery is so skillfully crafted, that all I can do is read, read, read until that conclusion where it all clicks into place. The Curse of Misty Wayfair more than lives up to the author's excellent abilities! Just...WOW!!!

Anxiety disorders, mental illness, and special needs are one of the main focuses of the story. These subjects are very near and personal to me, so I greatly appreciated the author's sensitivity and overflowing love in regards to these subjects. While my heart ached to read about some of the horrific pain and difficulties that I know all too well, God's tender love proved to be the spotlight, pushing aside the heartache.

The Curse of Misty Wayfair is one of those books where I think I read it at the exact time I needed to read it, and I have a feeling a lot of other readers will feel the same way. Thea and Heidi's search for their identities and heritage is shrouded in mayhem. However, their discovery that other people, consequences of the past, or the things that life defines as normal doesn't define their identities, but that their identities are defined by the discovery of our Creator. This message will speak to your soul!

Five Stars ~ The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright is a thrilling story that will have you gasping for breath until the last page! The Curse of Misty Wayfair is the author's third book, but it is a standalone, not a series.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Review of A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz

About the Book ~ 

Though Magnus Macleish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is just the keeper of his bees - and the woman who could provide an elixir too help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Can they make a new beginning in this New World? Or will their hopes be dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony?

Laura Frantz's prose sparkles with authenticity as she digs into her own family history to share this breathless tale of love, exile, and courage in colonial America.

For more information about Laura Frantz and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Ready for a romantic tale that will whisk you away to foreign lands and times gone by?

Well, Laura Frantz has done it again with A Bound Heart! It is absolutely enchanting!

The vivid detail - one of the author's greatest strengths! - will engulf you the second you crack the spine. You will feel the spray of the ocean. You will smell the herbs of the stillroom. You will feel the heat of the Virginia sun. The attention to even the smallest details combined with the rich history of each setting will leave you breathless!

Magnus and Lark's story is told in three distinct parts, and a minor subplot with a secondary character served to provide even more rich history for the era. The author makes your heart ache for Magnus and Lark, for their unrequited love to finally bloom despite all the horrors and obstacles in their way. While the last third of the book made me shake my fist at the sky, I suspect that was the author's plan all along because I was desperate for these beautiful souls to find their way back to each other!

The author didn't ignore the painful realities and injustices of the world at that time. Instead, Magnus and Lark did their best to live their lives according to God's loving justice despite all the evil around them. When it would have seemed like providence for them to take the safe path, they chose to go where they were truly needed. Magnus and Lark may not have changed The World, but they changed their everyday worlds by choosing to walk in God's love, a truth that will resonate and challenge the heart.

Four Stars ~ A Bound Heart is a romantic tale that will sweep readers into it's poetic tide! A Bound Heart is a standalone, but fan's of Laura Frantz's previous novels, like The Lacemaker, will be captured by this latest treasure!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!