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

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

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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

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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

---

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.

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!

We Were Beautiful Tour, Review, and Giveaway!!!

Welcome to the Blog Tour and Giveaway for We Were Beautiful by Heather Hepler, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: We Were Beautiful  
Author: Heather Hepler
Publisher: Blink YA  
Genre: Young Adult  
Release Date: April 2, 2019  

It's been a year since fifteen-year-old Mia Hopkins was in the car crash that killed her older sister and left her terribly scarred. The doctors tell her she was lucky to survive. Her therapist says it will take time to heal. The police reports claim there were trace amounts of alcohol in her bloodstream. But no matter how much she tries to reconstruct the events of that fateful night, Mia's memory is spotty at best. She's left with accusations, rumors, and guilt so powerful it could consume her.

As the rest of Mia's family struggles with their own grief, Mia is sent to New York City to spend the summer with a grandmother she's never met. All Mia wants to do is hide from the world, but instead she's stuck with a summer job in the bustling kitchens of the cafe down the street. There she meets Fig--blue-haired, friendly, and vivacious--who takes Mia under her wing. As Mia gets to know Fig and her friends--including Cooper, the artistic boy who is always on Mia's mind--she realizes that she's not the only one with a painful past.

Over the summer, Mia begins to learn that redemption isn't as impossible as she once thought, but her scars inside run deep and aren't nearly so simple to heal ... especially when Mia finally pieces together her memories of the night Rachel died.  

PURCHASE LINKS: goodreads | amazon | b&n | christian book | book depository

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heather Hepler is the author of several books for teens and tweens including the new release "We Were Beautiful".

She loves tomato soup, fat cats, and hiking. (Not necessarily in that order.) She's lived in East Texas, Alaska, and Death Valley. Currently she, her son, their two spoiled cats, and their ridiculously smart dog live in Downeast Maine.

She loves it when readers write to her, and she promises to write them back.  

CONNECT WITH HEATHER: website | facebook | pinterest | instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

 (2) winners will win:

• a print copy of We Were Beautiful (US only)

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight April 2, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 9, 2019. US Mailing addresses only, due to shipping costs. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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REVIEW

My Thoughts ~

We Were Beautiful by Heather Hepler was...well, BEAUTIFUL!!! I seriously loved this fun, sweet, and emotionally tugging YA romance! I laughed and cried, and now I am angry that this beautiful (I did it again, LOL!) story is over!

We meet Mia almost a year after her family falls apart when her sister died in a car accident that everyone says is her fault. And I don't want to give away any spoilers, but when Mia remembers what happens, it's clear that it was an impossible situation with mistakes that resulted in a horrible accident with terrible ramifications. I enjoyed how the author laid this out, allowing the discovery to feel natural while also maintaining that I-need-to-keep-reading suspense.

Mia was such an endearing character. When the story started, she was so closed off and broken, believing that she deserved to feel that way. The author wrote Mia's heart opening up to the world around her in such a poignant way that it felt like my heart was opening up, too! But in case you think this is strictly a sad and heavy tale, let me assure you that the eccentric secondary characters and their antics had me laughing out loud and smiling throughout the entire story! And the romance between Mia and Cooper will make you grin like everyone's favorite dwarf. (Not Grumpy!)

This coming-of-age story tugs on the heartstrings of loss, grief, injustice, abuse, and regret and gently steers the narrative towards hope, life, forgiveness, and love. Rather than losing oneself in the alluring beauty of life before trauma, We Were Beautiful shows readers that there IS beauty in life after heartache steals your breath away.

Five Stars ~ We Were Beautiful by Heather Hepler is a must-read for anyone who loves a good YA romance with the perfect balance of lightheartedness and emotional depth! We Were Beautiful is a standalone, but I will definitely be checking out the author's previous books!

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!

Within These Lines Blogger & Reviewer Tour and Giveaway!

Welcome to the Blog & Review Tour -and Giveaway -for Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Within These Lines 

Author: Stephanie Morrill 

Publisher: Blink YA 

Genre: Historical Young Adult Fiction 

Release Date: March 5, 2019

When Evalina Cassano and Taichi Hamasaki are torn apart by the events following the attack on Pearl Harbor, they must fight if they want any hope of returning to one another before World War II steals their future together. Within These Lines is one unflinching, haunting, historical novel you don’t want to miss; perfect for fans of Monica Hesse, Ruta Sepetys, and Elizabeth Wein.

Evalina Cassano’s life in an Italian-American family living in San Francisco in 1941 is quiet and ordinary until she falls in love with Taichi Hamasaki, the son of Japanese immigrants. Despite the scandal it would cause and that inter-racial marriage is illegal in California, Evalina and Taichi vow they will find away to be together. But anti-Japanese feelings erupt across the country after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Taichi and his family are forced to give up their farm and move to a Japanese-American internment camp.

Degrading treatment makes life at Manzanar Relocation Center difficult. Taichi’s only connection to the outside world is treasured letters from Evalina. Feeling that the only action she can take to help Taichi is to speak out against injustice, Evalina becomes increasingly vocal at school and at home. Meanwhile, inside Manzanar, fighting between different Japanese-American factions arises. Taichi begins to doubt he will ever leave the camp alive.

With tensions running high and their freedom on the line, Evalina and Taichimust hold true to their ideals and believe in their love to make a way back to each other against unbelievable odds. 

Within These Lines:

• Is a young adult historical novel set in the World War II era
• Contains themes of love, separation, social justice, war, and diversity
• Perfect for junior high and high school students
• A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Christian Book | iTunes

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie Morrill writes books about girls who are on an adventure to discover their unique place in the world. She is the author of several contemporary young adult series, as well as the 1920s mystery, The Lost Girl of Astor Street, and the WWII era romance, Within These Lines. Since 2010, Stephanie has been encouraging the next generation of writers at her website, GoTeenWriters.com. She lives in the Kansas City area, where she loves plotting big and small adventures to enjoy with her husband and three children. You can connect with Stephanie and learn more about her books at StephanieMorrill.com, Instagram, Facebook,and Twitter. 

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR: website | facebook | twitter | instagram

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GIVEAWAY

(1) Grand Prize winner will win a release copy of Within These Lines & a special designed poster of Within These Lines from the publisher, Blink YA. Featured quote on poster: "Be Brave Enough to Care and Bold Enough to Act"

(5) First Prize winners will each with a special designed poster of Within These Lines from the publisher, Blink YA. Featured quote on poster: "Be Brave Enough to Care and Bold Enough to Act"

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REVIEW

My Thoughts ~

I have been a fan of Stephanie Morrill's books since her debut, so when the chance came to review Within These Lines, I jumped (virtually speaking, of course)!

And Within These Lines did not disappoint! Seriously, I can't recommend this enough!

The story starts well after Taichi and Evalina have met and fallen in love. This surprised me at first, but I quickly realized how perfect this was. Within These Lines is not a story of HOW Taichi and Evalina fell in love; it is about how they FOUGHT for their love while uncertainty and hatred surrounded them. They were so beautifully and realistically written! Their uncertainties, fears, anger, and passion was life on the pages! Their sacrifices show what it means to love in verb form!

Within These Lines is set in a sad period of American history that is -- frankly -- largely forgotten and mostly ignored today. The author's attention to detail and sensitivity regarding the horrors of the Japanese American incarceration is the kind of amazing that humbles readers as it speaks to the heart with its fiery truth!

At the core of the story is a call to action. To be brave. To care. To be bold. To act. Evalina's passion and Taichi's pain will inspire you to fight against prejudice in your everyday world! To speak. To love.

Five Stars ~ Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill is amazingly powerful and beautifully moving! This standalone, World War Two era, YA romance should be on your shelf. Period. It's one I will read again and again!

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 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!

With This Pledge Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review!

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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EXCERPT

Head HERE for an exclusive excerpt!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

CONNECT WITH THEAUTHOR: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

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

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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REVIEW

My Thoughts ~ 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

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

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

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

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

Review of 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!

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!