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!

Review of Mark of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse

About the Book ~

Dreamwalker. Nightwatcher. Lady of Ravenwood.

Lady Selene Has Come into Her Family's Power.

But Has She Inherited a Gift or a Curse?

Lady Selene is heir to the House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. Soon after the gifting, however, Selene discovers that the Ravenwood women have been secretly using their gift to gather information or to assassinate those responsible for the fall of House Ravenwood to the Dominia Empire hundreds of years ago.

As she becomes more entrenched in Ravenwood's dark past, Selene longs to find out the true reason behind her family's gift, believing that its original intent could not have been for such evil purposes, but she is torn about upholding her family's legacy - a legacy that supports her people. Selene's dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations - but who is also prophesied to bring about the downfall of her own house.

One path holds glory and power and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and likely death. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?

For more information about Morgan L. Busse and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Since finishing Mark of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse, all I want to do is scream and fangirl at its awesomeness!!!

CAUSE IT IS AWESOME!!!

I'll say that again before this review is done. Just warning you guys. Hehe.

Mark of the Raven has it all! Assassins. Secret powers. A fascinating world. Political intrigue. A slow-burn romance that is sure to be among my favorites. And a Light so pure and holy that it makes your heart dance!

When Selene's power arrives in all its fury and glory, her preordained life begins. But as haunting secrets and powerful hatred are uncovered, Selene starts to question whether she can really take up her family's mantle. The push and pull of her heart felt so REAL! She wanted to save her sisters and help her people, but she questioned whether she could do it at the expense of her own soul. She hungered for something more, for Light. When her own brokenness and darkness seemed to proclaim that she was too much of a monster to save, I felt chills. Who hasn't struggled with this very question? Selene's narrative was powerful, but I also loved Damien! His love for the Light sprung from the pages, and just like Selene, readers will feel it pulling them in for more!

The world building felt organic, making me ask questions and giving me answers in all the right places. I want to know everything about the Great Houses and the gifts, and I have a feeling even more game-changing secrets will come to light in the next book. But more than anything, Mark of the Raven asks the question, Am I worth saving? I believe readers will discover God's heart for them on Selene's journey to discover the Light.

Five Stars ~ Mark of the Raven is a spellbinding start to The Ravenwood Saga! I will be marking off the days on the calendar until Flight of the Raven releases on April 30th, 2019. I would definitely recommend reading the series in order due to spoilers and the fact that it is AWESOME!!!

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 Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

About the Book ~

In a most improbable friendship, she found love. In a world where women were silenced, she found her voice.

From New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan comes an exquisite novel of Joy Davidman the woman C. S. Lews called "my whole world." When poet and writer Joy Davidman began writing letters to C. S. Lewis - known as Jack - she was looking for spiritual answers, not love. Love, after all, wasn't holding together her crumbling marriage. Everything about New Yorker Joy seemed ill-matched for an Oxford don and beloved writer of Narnia, yet their minds bonded over their letters. Embarking on the adventure of her life, Joy traveled from America to England and back again, facing heartbreak and poverty, discovering friendship and faith, and against all odds, finding a love that even the threat of death couldn't destroy.

In this masterful exploration of one of the greatest love stories of modern times, we meet a brilliant writer, a fiercely independent mother, and a passionate woman who changed the life of this respected author and inspired books that still enchant us and change us. Joy lived at a time when women weren't meant to have a voice - and yet her love for jack gave them both voice they didn't know they had.

At once a fascinating historical novel and a glimpse into a writer's life, Becoming Mrs. Lewis is above all a love story - a love of literature and ideas and a love between a husband and wife that, in the end, was not impossible at all.

For more information about Patti Callahan and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

While The Chronicles of Narnia is a beloved series to me, I didn't know a lot about the personal life of C. S. Lewis (Jack), and I knew virtually nothing about Joy Davidman, so I was really excited to read this fictional account of their love story!

Yeah, I'm a nerd.

Patti Callahan's writing style transports you into this fictional account of history! The sensory details were so vivid that I could almost feel the damp dirt by the lake, taste the fresh (or dirty, depending on the location!) air, and smell the tobacco and books in Jack's office. Becoming Mrs. Lewis has a wealth of information, literature, and history tucked between its pages, making it a grand place for history geeks!

While I didn't know the tragic turn the story would take, I appreciated the "warts and all" approach to the picture painted of C. S. Lewis and Joy Davidman. So often beloved figures like this are imagined as perfect, so I liked that the author choose to show us struggles, temptations, and failures in a very realistic way. Joy Davidman's spiritual journey was empowering as she fully embraces God as her True Love in every way.

Three Stars ~ Becoming Mrs. Lewis is romantic blend of true love, literature, and England. However, if abuse, physical affairs, emotional affairs, or breast cancer are painful subjects for you, then I would advise caution, dear reader. Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a standalone, but Patti Callahan has quite the backlist of titles for readers to peruse!

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 Swing by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess

About the Book ~

When America is not so beautiful, or right, or just, it can be hard to know what to do. Best friends Walt and Noah decide to use their voices to grow more good in the world, but first they’ve got to find cool.

Walt is convinced junior year is their year, and he has a plan to help them woo the girls of their dreams and become amazing athletes. Never mind that he and Noah failed to make the high school baseball team yet again, and Noah’s love interest since third grade, Sam, has him firmly in the friend zone. Noah soon finds himself navigating the worlds of jazz, batting cages, the strange advice of Walt’s Dairy Queen-employed cousin, as well as Walt’s own perceptions of what is actually cool. Status quo seems inevitable until Noah stumbles on a stash of old love letters. Each page contains the words he’s always wanted to say to Sam, and he begins secretly creating artwork using the lines that speak his heart. But when his private artwork becomes public, Noah has a decision to make: continue his life in the dugout and possibly lose the girl forever, or take a swing and make his voice heard?

At the same time, numerous American flags are being left around town. While some think it’s a harmless prank and others see it as a form of peaceful protest, Noah can’t shake the feeling something bigger is happening to his community. Especially after he witnesses events that hint divides and prejudices run deeper than he realized.

As the personal and social tensions increase around them, Noah and Walt must decide what is really true when it comes to love, friendship, sacrifice, and fate.

New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo) tell a lyrical story about hope, courage, and love that will speak to anyone who’s struggled to find their voice.

For more information about Kwame Alexander and his books, check out his website here!

For more information about Mary Rand Hess and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

I fell in love with the lyrical, poetic writing style of this dynamic duo, Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess, in Solo...

And Swing did NOT disappoint! In fact, I think the authors raised their awesome bar to a whole new awesome level!

Swing follows the journey of best friends Walt and Noah from Noah's viewpoint. Their mission? Find their cool! Who among us hasn't tried to find their cool? I know I have! One of my favorite features was getting to see and study the artwork that Noah creates! Those details really pulled me into the story in a way that so few stories have. I also loved the jazz references. Whether you're a jazz novice or the Chairman of the Board to seventeen different jazz clubs, readers will find these references to be fun, inspiring, and profound! Walt and Noah's hilarious, awkward, and vulnerable moments will result in a ripple effect, encouraging all who read their journey to embrace a "hug life" philosophy!

The underlying message of Swing tackles some of the most painful social issues of the day. Race, prejudice, and division build until...until the reader closes the back cover with tears in their eyes. Swing took a painful subject and gave it a face and a name, hopes and dreams. And how can anyone not break when that is shattered? If only we could look at everyone like that...

Four Stars ~ Swing's powerfully poetic narrative will tug on heartstrings and hopefully inspire conversations. Swing is general-market fiction, but there are powerful faith/God messages mixed into the story. Swing is (to my knowledge) a standalone novel, but if Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess write another book, I'll read it. Period.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I was offered a eBook copy of this book from the author/publisher. I also purchased my own hardback copy from Amazon. 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!

Things Left Unsaid by Courtney Walsh Release Day Feature!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Things Left Unsaid

Author: Courtney Walsh

Publisher: Waterfall Press

Release Date: October 30, 2018 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Links*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | BAM! | Christian Book | Barnes & Noble

An emotional novel of family, friendship and forgiveness from Courtney Walsh, the New York Times bestselling author of Hometown Girl.

Lyndie St. James is thrilled that her best friend, Elle, is getting married but unprepared for the emotional storm of the wedding week and returning to her childhood summer home of Sweethaven. The idyllic cottage community harbors some of her best—and worst—memories. It’s not only the tragic death of her childhood friend Cassie that has haunted her for ten years, it’s the other secrets she’s buried that have kept her from moving on.

But Lyndie isn’t the only one with secrets.

Cassie’s mother, father and brother, still struggling with the loss, have been drifting further and further apart. And Elle herself, the last to see Cassie alive, carries an impossible burden of guilt. Now reunited, each of them has a choice: to reveal the truths of that night or continue to live in its shadow. That means embarking on a personal journey of the heart—to escape the darkness and all its regrets and to finally come to terms with the past and, especially, with each other.

TO PURCHASE A COPY*

Amazon | Book Depository | Books-a-Million! | Christian Book | Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Courtney Walsh is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist as well as an artist, theater director and playwright. She is the author of the Sweethaven series—including A Sweethaven Summer, which was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category—as well as the small-town romances Paper Hearts, Change of Heart, Just Look Up and the forthcoming Just Let Go. Things Left Unsaid is her ninth novel. She lives in Illinois, where she and her husband own a performing-arts studio and youth theater. They have three children.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:

  Website | Facebook | Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Goodreads

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

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!

Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review of Enchanting Nicholette by Dawn Crandall!

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Enchanting Nicholette by Dawn Crandall, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Enchanting Nicholette  
Series: The Everstone Chronicles #5  
Author: Dawn Crandall  
Publisher: Whitaker House  
Release Date: October 9, 2018  
Genre: Historical Romance

In this captivating novella by Dawn Crandall, Nicholette Everstone is already a widow at the age of twenty-two: her husband was murdered on their wedding day. She has just returned to Boston after two years of mourning in Europe. Although her husband was loving, the marriage was an arranged one, and Nicholette would like to wed again–this time for love...and to someone safe.

As she acclimates to life in Back Bay again, Nicholette meets someone she can͛t help but fall for. But when she learns of the danger and sacrifices Cal Hawthorne takes on for the safety of others, will her heart be strong enough to keep her fears of  "what if" at bay?

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | BAM! | Christian Book

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dawn Crandall's debut Gilded Age Victorian romance, ͞The Hesitant Heiress, was a 2015 ACFW Carol award finalist in the debut category and received the 2015 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2015 Write Touch Reader͛s Choice Award and the 2015 Romancing the Novel Reader͛s Choice Award. Her follow-up novel, ͞The Bound Heart, received the 2016 Laurel Award from Clash of the Titles. Dawn earned a BA in Christian Education from Taylor University. She͛s been balancing books and babies lately as her two sons were both born as the four books of her Everstone Chronicles series were being released from Whitaker House from 2014 to 2016. Dawn lives with her husband and two young sons on a hobby farm in her hometown in northeast Indiana.

 CONNECT WITH DAWN CRANDALL: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) Winner will win:

• A print copy of Enchanting Nicholette
• A library card zipper bag
• Two pairs of Jane Austen socks
• Two hand poured candles
• A historically accurate soap from Austen͛s time
• A Jane Austen set of playing cards
• A set of Jane Austen notecards
• 6 magnets with Jane Austen quotes

(US Mailing Addresses Only)  

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 29, 2018 and lasts through 11:59pm November 12, 2018. Void where prohibited by law. US addresses only. Winners will be notified within a week 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 for a full list of stops!

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REVIEW

My Thoughts ~ 

I have been wanting to get my hands on one of Dawn Crandall's books for a long time, so I jumped (virtually speaking...and maybe literally...) at the chance to review Enchanting Nicholette!

I was not disappointed!!!

Despite the fact that this is a novella, it read like a full-length novel. The characters and the plot were so wonderfully done, and the pacing didn't feel rushed. I loved how it was told through Nicholette's first-person narrative. Honestly, I actually kept wishing there were more pages simply because I wanted more of this beautiful story!

The story starts with one of my favorite meet-cutes EVER! Guys, it's set in a bookstore. A BOOKSTORE!!! So I don't know if you can insta-love a book based on a meet-cute, but well, I think it happened for me with this one!

The attraction between Nicholette and Cal was ELECTRIC, but their relationship was based on a lot more than that! In addition to their mutual love for God, they could relate to and understand each other on a deeper level that many around them could not comprehend. Cal's heart for helping and protecting others really opened Nicholette's eyes, helping her become someone who cared more about the person than any potential "scandal." And while a mystery unfolds around her, Nicholette battles the fear that has held her captive since her world fell apart. I loved the spiritual journey that she took as she opens up her heart again to those around her - including God.

Four Stars ~ Enchanting Nicholette is a enchantingly romantic tale! Enchanting Nicholette is the fifth book in The Everstone Chronicles by Dawn Crandall. I had no confusion reading it as a standalone, but I am eager to read the rest of the series - I need more of these characters!!

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 Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson

About the Book ~ 

Uncovering the past can lead to an unexpected future . . .

Millie Sullivan plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of a palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where her great-grandmother was a real guest ninety years ago. When Millie learns of a lost diary that may contain the location of a hidden treasure on the estate and reveal the identity of her great-grandfather, she sets out to find the truth of her heritage -- and the fortune she desperately needs. But it won't be easy.

When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate's private library, he threatens to have her fired. Still, her story seems too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up.

Get ready for a romantic escapade through dark halls and dusty corners that will have you holding your breath and sighing with delight.

For more information about Liz Johnson and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~ 

I'm going to confess something...

I decided to read A Sparkle of Silver because of the first line of the summary... "Millie Sullivan plays a 1920s-era guest - " And that's all it took for me to want to read the book! I'm a sucker for anything relating to the 1920's!

But what I found when I started reading A Sparkle of Silver surprised and delighted me! This story is actually more of a big, beautiful diamond than a simple sparkle of silver!

Multiple facets make up Millie and Ben's story. Humor. Romance. History. Suspense. Mystery. The author expertly wrote each of these different threads so that they shined not only by themselves but also as they worked together. One moment we (and by "we," I obviously mean the characters) would be running for our (the characters) lives, and the next moment we (ummm...still the characters?) would be laughing (okay...that was definitely me...) before we (me...and Millie!) swooned!!! I was thoroughly swept into this tale that hinted at times gone by in the middle of a contemporary treasure hunt!

Ben and Millie's romantic journey will require a hand-fan, and I don't mean one of those paper ones. Invest in a beautifully embroidered cloth hand-fan. You will be putting it to good use. While their relationship starts with them both feeling kind of "eh..." about each other, lots of emotional vulnerability and dusty alcoves while they hunt for forgotten treasure make for a prime setting for some swooning!

But the spiritual journey is the greatest treasure found in this novel! In their own ways, Ben and Millie had to see that money could not be their true Provider and that God would not betray them. Ben and Millie show us that true love is someone who walks with you through all the junk life throws at you, who forgives you when you screw up, and who sees you as more than past mistakes - their relationship so beautifully illustrates how God sees each one of us!

Five Stars - A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson delighted me in so many ways! A Sparkle of Silver is the first book in Liz Johnson's new Georgia Coast Romance Series with Revell! I'm really looking forward to the next book!

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!

Lady of a Thousand Treasures Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review!

Welcome to  Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd Scavenger Blog Hunt with an awesome giveaway, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!  On each stop, there will be:

• special content by the blogger, plus
• a clue
• then head back to the launch post on JustRead or straight to the main crossword puzzle to fill in the words and get the special phrase to enter the  giveaway!

Before we begin, there's a bit about Lady of a Thousand Treasures. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Lady of a Thousand Treasures
Series: Victorian Ladies, Book 1
Author: Sandra Byrd
Publisher: Tyndale House
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Genre: Historical/Gothic Romance
Links: Goodreads

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

TO PURCHASE A COPY*

Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | Christian Book | Book Depository | Books-A-Million

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published fifty books.

Sandra's delighted to kick off her new historical romance series with Tyndale House Publishers, Victorian Ladies, with Lady of a Thousand Treasures. The three-book Victorian Ladies series follows her historically sound Gothic romances, Daughters of Hampshire, launched with the bestselling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor's Choice award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, was published in 2017. Check out her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2011, and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.

Sandra has published dozens of books for kids, tweens, and teens, including the bestselling The One Year Be-Tween You and God Devotions for Girls. She continued her work as a devotionalist, with The One Year Home and Garden Devotions, and The One Year Experiencing God's Love Devotional.

Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype.

CONTACT: website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

SCAVENGER HUNT CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Instructions: Head to every stop on the tour to collect a word to finish the crossword puzzle. Hint: You might want to print out the crossword puzzle (link below) and enter it everyday to make it easier.

Crossword Board: https://crosswordlabs.com/view/lady-of-a-thousand-treasures-scavenger-hunt

Not a crossword puzzle fan? Just compile the clue words from each stop and enter it on the Rafflecopter entry.

This stop's CLUE is:   yourself.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive:

• a copy of Lady of a Thousand Treasures (print to US addresses OR ebook to international)
• Cork coaster set of the British Isles (US Only)
• "To The Lighthouse" diffuser made by Seawitch Candles in Cornwall, England. (US Only)
• $10 Amazon gift card (open international)

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Entry form will be live on the 19th once all clues are revealed. Clues for giveaway will begin at midnight October 15, 2018. Entries are opened at midnight on October 19, 2018 and lasts through 11:59pm October 22, 2018. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within a week 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

Be sure to stop on every stop on the Tour Schedule for all the clues to enter!

TOUR SCHEDULE

For the full tour schedule, click on either of the launch pages below.
(All stops expected to post by 12:00 NOON EST)

Launch Page at JustRead

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

REVIEW

My Thoughts ~

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd is truly a treasure!

And I'm sorry if that sounds like a cliche, but it's true! This tale is pure gold! ;-)

Each time I cracked the spine (Well, I didn't actually crack the spine. I'm not a monster.), I was immediately swept into this beautiful tale! The details painted such vivid imagery that just had me lost in the story! Not lost as in the details were threatening to devour me with their pointy detail-ness. No, I mean lost as in I fell into some sort of bookish time-space continuum that delivered me into the midst of this gorgeous story in the best possible way!

The story is told through Eleanor's first person narrative - which I loved! I loved experiencing everything with her, seeing the story unfold through her eyes, and asking the same questions as her - Harry: chivalrous dreamboat or sleazy Victorian playboy? In case you're worried, it's the first one. Chivalry isn't dead! Except this novel is set in the Victorian Era...but you know what I mean! ;-) The romance between Harry and Eleanor stole my heart, leaving me breathless and in need of smelling salts! I also loved learning about antiques - I love antiques! - in a vintage setting, and the Gothic Victorian setting only enhanced the unfolding mystery, angst, and danger.

There was so much that I loved about this novel, but my favorite thing was the underlying theme regarding trials and testing seasons in life, that one doesn't need to fear those tests because it's through those events that we learn who a person - or our own person - really is at the core. Gold or brass. True or false. Loyal or untrustworthy. Lady of a Thousand Treasures skillfully shines a light on weaknesses and strengths through the tests of moral character that Eleanor, Harry, and the others endured.

Four Stars ~ A beautiful and enchanting tale! Lady of a Thousand Treasures is the first book in Sandra Byrd's new Victorian Ladies Series with Tyndale. I can't wait to read the next book, releasing Spring 2020!

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!