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

---

EXCERPT

Head HERE for an exclusive excerpt!

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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!

Review of Mind Games by Nancy Mehl

About the Book ~ 

FBI Behavioral Analyst Kaely Quinn's methods may be highly unorthodox, but her talent is undeniable. She's done her best to establish a new life for herself after being demoted and transferred to St. Louis when a reporter revealed she's the daughter of an infamous serial killer. But when that same reporter claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely's, it seems her old life has followed her.


When a body is found that fits the poem's morbid predictions, Kaely and her new partner, Special Agent Noah Hunter, are forced to move past his skepticism of her approach and work together to unravel the deadly riddle.

With a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely must race to catch the murderer before anyone else, including Kaely, is killed.

For more information about Nancy Mehl and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~ 

If you enjoy a good romantic suspense that plays games with your mind, then Mind Games (like what I did there?) by Nancy Mehl should be moved to the top of your TBR stack!

You will want to clear your afternoon when you start this one because you won't be able to put it down! The story is told from multiple points of view, which really helped keep the story moving in the moments where some romantic suspense novels can drag. The author kept the focus on the main plot while working in the subplots in a natural way. I also love how the series is being set up because the romance is developing in such an organic way!

I wasn't surprised by the bad guy because this person was one of my suspects. However, I had several suspects, and the author expertly set up each of them to look like the bad guy! I truly didn't figure it out until the moment Kaely figured it out!

Kaely's unusual methods reminded me of the TV show Bones. While confronting the demons of her past made her feel like a monster at times, it was cool to see how she turned to God's redemptive truth! Noah, a widower, struggles with understanding how God can be good in a world so full of darkness. The author tackles some painful and chilling questions through Kaely and Noah. Mind Games reminded me of the TV show Criminal Minds, but God's love and hope shines a light in the darkness!

Four Stars ~ Mind Games is a chilling tale that isn't afraid to ask the hard questions! Mind Games is the first book in the Kaely Quinn Profiler series! I recommend starting with the first book because of the character relationships that are being built. The second book, Fire Storm, releases from Bethany House Publishers on August 6th, 2019!

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 Enclave by Thomas Locke

About the Book ~

To save his enclave's future, he must risk his own.

Nearly one hundred years have passed since the Great Crash. What was once America is now a collection of enclaves, governed at the local level and only loosely tied together by the farce of a federal government.

Catawba, one of the largest and most affluent enclaves in the southern region, is relatively stable. It maintains successful business relations with nearby enclaves. But when a new vein of gold is discovered beneath the feet of its citizens, it's only a matter of time before trouble finds them.

Now Catawba's fate depends on an untried young trader named Caleb. Could his plan help secure the enclave's future? Yet Caleb is keenly aware that if his secret were exposed, he would not live to see another dawn.

For more information about Thomas Locke and his books, check out his website here!

My Thoughts ~ 

Enclave was...

It was like The Last Ship meets X-Men while being tinged with the Wild West!

That sounds awesome, right? Well, it was awesome! Dystopian and post-apocalyptic story lovers, Enclave needs to be added to your TBR immediately!

The story is told from the point of view of Caleb and Kevin, two very different men thrown together by hate and power-grabs from the mongrels welding their unlawful position against everyone, especially those with special secrets.

Sorry, no spoilers. Hehe!

I would have loved a little more backstory, specifically details about the Great Crash because I like to have ALL the details. However, it wasn't hard for me to imagine the country turning into the lawless wasteland described in Enclave. I especially loved the message the story spoke to me, about fighting for each other, standing by one other, and about welcoming all. Enclave showed a true democracy founded on equality rising out of muck of the evil. Truly inspiring, like a futuristic revolutionary war!

Four Stars ~ Enclave by Thomas Locke was exactly the type of thrilling story that I'd like to read a lot more! I am unaware if this is a series or not. The ending wrapped up the important details like a standalone story, but it also left some room for a sequel. So...we will see! LOL!

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 Pretty in Punxsutawney by Laurie Boyle Crompton

About the Book ~

A Groundhog Day meets Pretty in Pink mashup from author Laurie Boyle Crompton, Pretty in Punxsutawney tells the tale of a girl willing to look beneath the surface to see people for who they really are.

Andie is the type of girl who always comes up with the perfect thing to say...after it's too late to say it. She's addicted to romance movies - okay, all movies - but has yet to experience her first kiss. After a move to Punxsutawney, PA, for her senior year, she gets caught in an endless loop of her first day at her new school, reliving those 24 hours again and again.

Convinced the curse will be broken when she meets her true love, Andie embarks on a mission: infiltrating the various cliques to find the one boy who can break the spell. What she discovers along the way is that people who seem completely different can often share the very same hopes, dreams, and hang-ups. And that even a day that has been lived over and over can be filled with unexpected connections and plenty of happy endings.

For more information about Laurie Boyle Crompton and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

SOOO MUCH FUN!!!

I loved Pretty in Punxsutawney! From the first page, I knew this was my kind of book. The humor and Andie's voice immediately drew me into the story. Despite the same day recurring over and over, the author kept the story light and fresh, moving at an excellent pace. If you took all the things you loved about 80's teen movies and threw them into a literary blender (this device sounds horrifying, but just go with it!), this is the book you would get! And it is adorable and hilarious and romantic!

It's possible that not all readers will understand all the movie references... I even stumbled over a couple *hangs head in shame* However, I think the story would still be enjoyable for those readers who don't know who John Hughes is. (And there's no shame in this...but you should binge watch a lot of movies ASAP!)

I loved the hilarious escapades Andie brought on herself as she infiltrated each high school clique, discovering how to look past labels and see the person for who they really were in the process. Despite all her (in my opinion) brilliant ideas, it was actually the truth that would set her free from her blessing/curse, putting her right where she belonged. Andie's tale shows the importance of speaking the truth and loving the people around you instead of blindly sticking to dividing misconceptions. These powerful messages can be enjoyed at any age, but the fun delivery makes it all the sweeter!

Five Stars ~ Pretty in Punxsutawney will LIVE on my keeper shelf! This is a standalone YA romance. Pretty in Punxsutawney is a sweet, clean read; however, please note that Blink YA Books are not overtly Christian, making their books excellent for both the general market and CBA. I would definitely read more books like this from the author!

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 Making of Mrs. Hale by Carolyn Miller

About the Book ~

Marry in haste, repent in leisure - Mrs. Hale is about to find out how painful that repentance can truly be.

Julia Hale ran off to be married in Gretna Green, following romance instead of common sense. But her tale isn't turning into a happily ever after. Her new husband is gone and she doesn't know where - or if he's ever coming back. Julia has no option but to head home to the family she betrayed by eloping and to hope they'll forgive her. Especially now that she might be carrying a baby from her brief marriage.

For more information about Carolyn Miller and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

This story is beautiful on so many levels!

First of all, I loved seeing an elopement set in the Regency Era! I haven't seen that in a lot of books set in this era, so that uniqueness pulled me into the story immediately. The narrative also really swept me into the era, and the witty dialogue was just my cup of tea! The political intrigue and unfolding mystery resulted in a binge read to ensure the safety of these dear characters!

I also thought this was a good "married" story! I thought the author did a good job at portraying some of the problems a young married couple would have faced after eloping. Those complicated (in a good way!) family dynamics were painfully raw and infamously real, making the proverbial happy ending all the sweeter!

The author tackles some painful subjects in Thomas and Julia's story, such as betrayal, trust, and forgiveness. The life-changing power - and freedom! - of forgiveness will both challenge and encourage readers in their own relationships and walk with God. My heart connected to Thomas and Julia. Forgiveness and grace should be freely received and freely given, but their story shows how we are in a prison of our own making when we attempt to navigate life without these things.

Four Stars ~ The Making of Mrs. Hale should be added to the TBR pile of every Jane Austen fan! The Making of Mrs. Hale is the third book in Carolyn Miller's Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope Series, but I had no issues reading it as a standalone. However, now I am officially a fan and must get every book ASAP!

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!