Review of Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham

About the Book ~

For three years, Penny Ercanbeck has been opening other people's mail.

Dead ends are a reality for clerks at the dead letter office, and she dreams of something more -- a bit of intrigue, perhaps a taste of romance. When she comes across a letter from a brokenhearted man to his one true love, it becomes her mission to place this lost letter into the hands of its intended recipient.

But when Penny's undertaking leads her to the intriguing man who touched her soul with his words, everything grows more complicated. She wants to find the rightful owner of the letter, and yet...she finds herself caring -- perhaps too much -- for the one who wrote it.

For more information about Rachel Fordham and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

If I had to use one word to describe Rachel Fordham's writing style, characters, and stories, I would say that all those elements are absolutely charming!

I guess that's two words, LOL!

But it's true! Yours Truly, Thomas is a charming read! It's the kind of story that makes your heart smile as you watch the characters fall in love, be spontaneous, end up in some mishaps, and fight for life. In addition to all those endearing facets of the story, I thought the storyline was unique for the era! I loved learning about the dead letter office! And Penny's spontaneous decision to travel to Azure Springs, meet Thomas, and figure out her own life was surrounded by some fun complications -- but I don't want to give away any spoilers!

Grief, regret, and guilt play a big roll in the story as both Penny and Thomas learn how to move forward after tragic loss, fighting to live for the hope of the future. Despite these heavy themes, I felt like the author did a good job balancing them with a sweet romance, heartfelt faith, and an intriguing storyline! Thomas and Penny's respective relationships with God are genuine, coming from a place of where the characters have been and where they want to go with Him.

Four Stars ~ Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham is -- at the risk of sounding repetitive -- absolutely charming! Yours Truly, Thomas is a standalone, but it is the second book set in the author's charming town of Azure Springs, introduced to us in the author's debut, The Hope of Azure Springs!

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

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 Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is 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!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette

About the Book ~

Recently widowed, Rivkah refuses to submit to the Torah law compelling her to marry her husband's brother and instead flees Kedesh, hoping to use her talents as a scribe to support herself. Without the protections of her father, Kedesh's head priest, and the safety of the city of refuge, Rivkah soon discovers that the cost of recklessness is her own freedom.

Malakhi has secretly loved Rivkah for years, but he never imagined his older brother's death would mean wedding her himself. After her disappearance, he throws himself into the ongoing fight against the Canaanites instead of dwelling on all he has lost. But with impending war looming over Israel, Rivkah's father comes to Malakhi with an impossible request.

As the enemies that Rivkah and Malakhi face from without and within Israel grow more threatening each day, is it too late for the restoration their wounded souls seek?

For more information about Connilyn Cossette and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Connilyn Cossette truly outdid herself with Until the Mountains Fall! This riveting story is one of the author's most intricate and layered stories to date!

Connilyn Cossette has become known for her unique Old Testament stories that open up aspects of the Bible that are often overlooked. But in Until the Mountains Fall, the author also manages to layer New Testament truth into the story with some gender-swap, Prodigal Son inspiration in Rivkah's story! Additionally, some of the events that transpire left me stunned and desperately awaiting the next book! The result is a story you won't soon forget!

Malakhi and Rivkah were amazing characters! They were multi-faceted, unique, and genuine! I loved getting to see Malakhi and Rivkah before and then after Rivkah's desertion. The changes and spiritual prisons that they had each built around themselves were so realistic. Their anger, betrayal, feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and shame were masterfully portrayed on the pages, and I think I can safely say that I am not the only reader that will be able to relate to these heart-wrenching themes on a personal level! And the ways that Malakhi and Rivkah continued to grow and confront their misconceptions will make you want to break out in cheers of joy!

Spiritually speaking, there are just so many amazing gems of truth in Until the Mountains Fall, but my personal favorite was the Prodigal Son aspect. It left me with red and puffy eyes from ugly crying at the beautiful parallels between Rivkah's father and our Heavenly Father Who never stops waiting for us to run to Him so that He can crush us in His arms of love!

Five Stars ~ Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette should be another addition to your "Keep Forever and Ever and Ever" shelf! Until the Mountains Fall is the third book in the Cities of Refuge Series. While it could be read as a standalone, there would probably be some confusion with the subplot, and since the previous stories are also AMAZING, I strongly encourage readers to read the series in order.

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

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 Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is 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!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Storm Rising by Ronie Kendig

About the Book ~

Does an ancient book of prophecy hold the answers to saving the world...or predict its destruction?

Mentioned in the pages of the Old Testament but lost to history, the Book of the Wars has resurfaced, and its pages hold secrets -- and dangers -- never before seen on earth.

Tasked with capturing the ancient text, former Navy SEAL Leif Metcalfe is once more given command of his own team. But their best efforts are ruined when a notorious Bulgarian operative known as Viorica snatches the volume right out from under them.

Iskra "Viorica" Todorova is determined to use the book to secure the thing that matters most -- freedom. But a series of strange storms erupts around the globe, and the coming dangers foretold in the text threaten crops, lives, and entire nations. Though both are haunted by secrets of the past and neither trusts the other, Leif and Iskra must form an uneasy alliance to thwart impending disaster. However, the truth hidden in centuries-old words could unleash a storm of their own destruction.

For more information about Ronie Kendig and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Goodness, Storm Rising by Ronie Kendig was...AMAZING!!! Do yourself a favor and GET THIS BOOK!!!

It was so awesome to reconnect with some of the amazing characters that I met in The Tox Files, but even the new characters -- looking at you, Iskra! -- more than held their own! Each character was incredibly crafted with past demons, strengths, motivation, quirks, and shortcomings. The author also has an amazing ability at writing not only a realistic male character but also the kind of hero who doesn't let fears or evil stop him from doing what's right! I loved Leif. He might be my new favorite hero from this author -- and that's saying something! His past (specifically, a forgotten six months) is shrouded in mystery, and he's...special. But you'll have to read the story to find out why! I loved the sarcastic humor that Leif and Mercy (can't forget my favorite hacker, or she'll delete my internet presence!) interject throughout the story! And Iskra, well, I love a tough female character as much as the next gal, but Iskra is in a class all her own! Her dark past could contain triggers for anyone who's dealt with sexual abuse. That said, her story is a fight for hope. Hope that she finds.

I don't want to give a lot away about the storyline, but it is a thrilling and epic tale that will leave you feeling like you just pounded fifteen shots of espresso after running a marathon! I love the way the author takes these nuggets from the Bible and creates a National Treasure meets Revelation storyline! The spiritual thread consisted of a fight for freedom and hope as both Leif and Iskra wrestle with the ghosts of their past. I appreciated that the author didn't shy away from dark realities. However, that darkness does not stop the beautiful cry of hope from piercing the reader's heart!

Five Stars ~ Storm Rising by Ronie Kendig is a thrilling adrenaline rush from start to finish! Storm Rising is the first book in Ronie Kendig's new The Book of the Wars Series from Bethany House Publishers. I would definitely recommending reading this series in order. There are previous stories some of the characters appear in, but you don't need to read those to understand the storyline of Storm Rising -- but it's so much fun if you do!!!

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

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 Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is 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!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of A Reluctant Belle by Beth White

About the Book ~

Joelle Daughtry has a secret.

By day, the impoverished Southern belle has been helping her sisters in their quest to turn the run-down family plantation into a resort hotel after the close of the Civil War. But by night and under a male pseudonym, she has been penning articles for the local paper in support of constructing a school for former slaves. With the Mississippi arm of the Ku Klux Klan gaining power and prestige, Joelle knows she is playing a dangerous game.

Loyalties shift when Schuyler Beaumont, childhood enemy and current investor in the Daughtry House renovation, takes over his assassinated father's candidacy for state office. Joelle finds that in order to protect her family and her home, she and Schuyler will have to put aside their longstanding personal conflict and develop a united public front. The trouble is, what do you do when animosity becomes respect -- and even love -- if you're already engaged to someone else?

For more information about Beth White and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

A Reluctant Belle by Beth White took me to all the places I expected to go and to all the places I did NOT expect to go!

First things first, Joelle and Schuyler! I knew from the first book in the series (A Rebel Heart) that I would adore these two! Their bickering had me living for the moments they were together, and I could not stop smiling! Joelle couldn't conform to the "ideal" standards of a woman if she wanted to, and Schuyler was a reformed man in his walk with God! The chemistry snapped between them as they each realized they had been in love with the other for a very long time. I really enjoyed how in the end it was the love for the other person that helped them choose to work through any remaining doubts, fears, and uncertainties!

From the back cover, you can see that this story is going to venture into some pretty shady places...and man, it did! The characters needed to lean on God's guidance as they navigated high tensions, mystery, mayhem, and murder. The injustices and heinousness will make your skin crawl! And for that, I applaud the author! Those parts could not have been easy (and from the Author's Note you can see that they weren't!), but this truthful narrative is more powerful and eyeopening because of it. There are so many insight and lessons to learn from this story which shines a light into some of the dark alcoves of humanity!

Four Stars ~ A Reluctant Belle by Beth White was filled with loads of laughs and insights! A Reluctant Belle is the second book in Beth White's Daughtry House Series. I think readers would get the most enjoyment by reading the series in order because the books do build on each other.

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.

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 Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is 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!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett

About the Book ~

It's 1933 and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal shines like a light against the dark despair of the Great Depression. The government gives unemployed young men an opportunity of a lifetime, but it will man leaving the cities to brave the untamed West.

Nate Webber takes a chance to help his family by signing up for the new Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Although he hides a shameful secret, Nate exchanges the harsh Brooklyn streets for the wilds of Yellowstone National Park, curious to see if the Eden-like wonderland can transform him as well.

Elsie Brookes was proud to have grown up as a ranger's daughter but longs for a future of her own. After four years serving as a maid in the park's hotels, she still hasn't saved enough for her college tuition. A second job, teaching a crowd of rowdy men in the CCC camp, might be the answer. Elsie is drawn to the beautiful spark within Nate, but she knows the scars she carries are far too ugly for any man to love.

When tragedy strikes the park, threatening to undo all she's done to leave her past behind, can Nate and Elsie uncover the truth before all their dreams go up in smoke?

For more information about Karen Barnett and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett was fun, sweet, intriguing, a little mysterious, and altogether romantic! It was "ever faithful" in delivering a fantastic story!

One of the things I loved most about Ever Faithful was the setting! It was so much fun to visit Yellowstone National Park through the eyes of the 1930s, and I always love learning more about the Civilian Conservation Corps! The author did a wonderful job of bringing that time in history to life. And the lingo for not only that fascinating era but also the special language of the park employees was a hoot!

There's a lot of layers to Ever Faithful! Not in a complicated way, but in a real-life way. I was delighted to discover each new facet of this story, including learning disabilities, mental illness, and a little mystery! The story is so much more than the fun, sweet read that it appears!

Nate and Elsie's romance was adorable! While there were definitely some sparks when they met, it wasn't insta-love. Their personal wounds and scares brought out the subtle spiritual storyline because both Nate and Elsie had to overcome the lies they believed about themselves in addition to trusting that God had a plan for their future. I also loved how the author showed that the secret to a lasting love is found in Matthew 7:12!

Four Stars ~ Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett was such a fun and intriguing read! This is the third book in the Vintage National Parks Series by Karen Barnett, but you can definitely read it as a standalone!

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.

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 Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is 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!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White Blog Tour, Character Spotlight, and Giveaway!

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White with JustRead Publicity Tours! Follow along with the tour for a special inside peek at how The Number of Love is connected to the author's previous book from another series, A Song Unheard.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Number of Love  
Series: Codebreakers #1  
Author: Roseanna M. White  
Publisher: Bethany House  
Release Date: June 4, 2019  
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue

Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough.

Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy that just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the too-intelligent Margot, but how to convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life’s answers lie in the heart?

Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them, but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.

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

Title: A Song Unheard
Series: Shadows Over England #2 
Author: Roseanna M. White  
Publisher: Bethany House  
Release Date: January 2, 2018  
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which make her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is in meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books...to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.

CONNECT WITH ROSEANNA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

Grand Prize: Shadows Over England series, The Number of Love, and the Decrypto board game, plus "Mi Alma" necklace (Necklace is 24" chain with a 1" pendant that says "Mi Alma" Spanish for "My Soul". A term of endearment used throughout the book. Handmade by Bookworm Mama)

(3) additional winners of The Number of Love.

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 3, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm June 17, 2019. US only. 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

---

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

---

CHARACTER SPOTLIGHT
from
The Number of Love

Margot De Wilde ~

When I think of Margot De Wilde, I automatically think of Lily Collins. Okay, I actually thought "the actress that plays J. R. R. Tolkien's wife in the movie Tolkien!" I'm bad with celebrity names, LOL! But seriously, Lily Collins IS Margot De Wilde with her brown hair, impossibly dark eyes, and that all-assessing, too-still look on her face. You can almost see the numbers dancing through her mind's eye!

When I first met Margot in A Song Unheard, the snarky fourteen-year-old and her mother are trapped in occupied Belgium, trying to conceal their identities from the German's who are hunting their family for her late father's breakthrough work -- her. She hates knitting with a passion that is only exceeded by her passion for books, academia, and numbers. Her intuitive intellect leaves little to surprise her in life, and her genius logic revealed God to her at an early age. And God (like the loving Father that He is) speaks to Margot in her love language of numbers. For instance, when He was steering her away from something, an impossible, ugly proof filled her mind. And when He was guiding her towards something, beautifully ordered numbers filled her mind (such as the the square root of two was irrational, the Pythagorean Theorem, the proof of infinite prime numbers). Faulty reasoning makes her so itchy that it hurts. And she is fed up with being treated like she is incapable simply because she is too young and/or a girl. This great frustration will shape her more than she can realize.

When I reconnected with Margot in The Number of Love, almost four years after the end of A Song Unheard, she and her mother have settled into their life in London. The work Margot does in Room 40 -- such as deciphering intercepted messages -- gives her a sense of purpose. When she's working, her age and gender are not strikes against her because that all fades away as everyone works towards the greater good. Men don't turn her head, and she has a long list of scary threats for any man that tries. That is, until one man does turn her head. Until God places one man in particular on her heart.

But when tragedy strikes, it leaves Margot broken, confused, and angry. And her precious numbers -- God's voice -- goes silent. She's angry with God and looking for a reason that will bring justice to her tragedy. Margot didn't realize that she also felt with her language of numbers, and so in her grief, she shuts God out...

As Margot navigates loss and love, she opens her heart back up to God and to a future that she never imagined. I loved seeing Margot fall in love! She had to realize that God didn't give love to destroy her academic dreams, but to bless her with even more dreams! That her love for Drake was there for a purpose that didn't negate the other gifts God had given her! And that even after heartbreak, God could be trusted with all of these pieces! Margot is the kind of strong heroine that I absolutely adore!

The journey Margot takes is truly incredible, especially when you have the added bonus of knowing who Margot was before her world was turned upside down! The stretching, crushing, and pressing her heart endured transforms her into her optimal version of herself -- and she was pretty awesome to begin with!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of ONLY The Number of Love from the author/publisher. I personally purchased A Song Unheard for myself. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

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 Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is 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!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White Blog Tour, Character Spotlight, and Giveaway!

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White with JustRead Publicity Tours! Follow along with the tour for a special inside peek at how The Number of Love is connected to the author's previous book from another series, A Song Unheard.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Number of Love  
Series: Codebreakers #1  
Author: Roseanna M. White  
Publisher: Bethany House  
Release Date: June 4, 2019  
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue

Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough.

Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy that just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the too-intelligent Margot, but how to convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life’s answers lie in the heart?

Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them, but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.

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

Title: A Song Unheard
Series: Shadows Over England #2 
Author: Roseanna M. White  
Publisher: Bethany House  
Release Date: January 2, 2018  
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which make her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is in meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

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

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books...to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.

CONNECT WITH ROSEANNA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

---

TOUR GIVEAWAY

Grand Prize: Shadows Over England series, The Number of Love, and the Decrypto board game, plus "Mi Alma" necklace (Necklace is 24" chain with a 1" pendant that says "Mi Alma" Spanish for "My Soul". A term of endearment used throughout the book. Handmade by Bookworm Mama)

(3) additional winners of The Number of Love.

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 3, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm June 17, 2019. US only. 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

---

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

---

CHARACTER SPOTLIGHTS
from
A Song Unheard

Willa Forsythe ~

I loved Willa! The determined, stubborn, and snarky twenty-three-year-old violin prodigy and thief tugged on my heart while making me laugh out loud! I picture her kind of like Lucy Hale with bluish-green eyes. And the way the secret melody of her soul was the background music to life made my heart smile. Music is like an extension of Willa's soul.

One of the first things I noticed about Willa is that she doesn't want a handout, and life is about only what she can accomplish by herself. Unconditional love -- love that stays by your side no matter what -- is something Willa has closed her heart to, a result of being abandoned by first her father and then her mother as a small child. She's definitely more than a little hesitant to risk letting anyone into that secret place! This locked door makes letting God into her heart a big obstacle, one that's made even more frustrating when everyone starts chattering about Him.

I loved the banter between Willa and Lukas because Willa "never claimed to be particularly kind." She doesn't want to like Lukas because she's determined to never be like her mother. She's there to do a job, and that's all. But if she can spend a little time pursing her musical passions, then she's not going to say no! (Even though she wishes she had a few times as she fights those poser-type feelings of inadequacy.) However, when the charming Lukas starts to change for the better, she is slowly forced to look at her own actions as good and evil collide in her life, threatening everyone she loves with far-reaching consequences. When Willa exposes her secret to Lukas, and...well, let's just say events transpire! LOL! Willa finds herself in a place where she knows she doesn't want to do life by herself. She wants a family, God's family. And in that low place, she finally lets God into her heart, experiencing for the first time what He has known all along -- that she is never alone! And that is when the music of her soul comes to life with its Creator! *happy dance*

Lukas De Wilde ~

I picture the twenty-eight-year-old violinist as a tall, dark, and handsome Joe Jonas.

Lukas is one of those men who knows he's drop-dead gorgeous, and he knows what he can get with that. Add in his hard-earned fame from his life as talented violinist, and you kind of want to flick the unabashed playboy right in the middle of his forehead. But when you get a glimpse into his heart, you see that he is unwaveringly loyal to those in his small circle of trust and love. That's when I started to fall for him. His quick wit only helped. ;-)

Lukas always looked at God and faith with a hefty dose of disdain, and he has some grand discussions with Margot, his genius sister, who proved how thick-headed he was being, LOL! While he couldn't win those arguments against Margot's incredible logic, he's still determined to focus on chasing the things that give him pleasure before he becomes boring. However, with his mother and sister missing in the aftermath of the German invasion of Belgium, Lukas painfully realizes that he needs to rely on a strength greater than his own, and God's gentle conviction draws Lukas into place where he is washed whiter than snow with God's love and forgiveness. This soul-level change not only increases Willa's unintended attraction to him but also draws her to the God she's been running from. Lukas' renewed faith is what helps him when Willa's secret is finally reveal and...well, no spoilers! You'll just have to read the book for that part! Suffice it to say that this redeemed playboy thoroughly won my heart!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of ONLY The Number of Love from the author/publisher. I personally purchased A Song Unheard for myself. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

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 Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is 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.

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