About the Book
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Fiction / Historical / Romance
Release Date: January 20, 2015
The Carrillos have a history in the valley that stretches as deep as grapevine roots in the soil.
During WWII, Avelino Carrillo spent four harrowing years in the South Pacific with one thought driving his survival: to return to his beloved home in Napa Valley.
For a century, they worked the vineyard at their family home, la Casa de los Sueños, until they lost the property to a wealthy land baron. Now, Avelino is determined to reclaim the land and home he loves so much.
When he meets Amelia, a young woman who lives at the vineyard with her grandfather, he finds that regaining his birthright isn’t his only struggle—he battles the longing of his heart as well.
Follow Avelino in this split-time novel as he struggles to overcome local bigotry and personal demons to create the life he desires.
Click here to get your copy!(Also available through Kindle Unlimited)
My Thoughts
About the Author
Author of the bestselling Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.
More from Chautona
I Fell in Love with California & History in the Same Year
When the second pastor of small churches with private Christian schools was hauled off to jail, the pastor of our little school closed the doors—just in case. Several of us went underground as homeschoolers in a time when homeschooling was something people did when they were missionaries or lived in… Alaska or something.
There I sat at our kitchen table in Ventura, doing my schoolwork at our little kitchen table. On Wednesday and Sunday nights, I’d take tests in the school office, get my new PACEs (“Packet of Accelerated Christian Education”) and go home to work again. Sometimes, I’d sit up in my room to read the bigger chunks of information—like from my California State History PACEs.
Look, I don’t know if all states have such great history, but California’s fascinated me. I remember coloring the state map, the missions, and the flag—despite it not being required. I looked for more books about it, and in the process, I fell in love with history.
A couple of years later, my aunt brought heaping bags of books for us to read when we lived out in the middle of nowhere with no electricity or running water. We were bored. But she brought books. In those sacks? A tiny little paperback. The Legend of Susan Dane.
Although that book had its utterly ridiculous moments, it also sparked something in me. Between eyerolls of disgust at everyone fawning over Susan Dane’s reputed beauty and over a strapless dress in the last quarter of the 19th century, it showed a beautiful picture of the lives of the Californios.
That book fanned the flames of my love of history until I burned with curiosity over what was reasonable. What wasn’t. And how to find out what really happened.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and a character emerged—a Californio who refused to learn ingles for the sake of the immigrants to his country. Don Ruiz Carrillo said, “If I go to their country, I learn their language, but if they come to my country, they should learn mine.” In short, I took the words I’d heard my own father say all my life and turned it on its head. I put an American in California before statehood and without means to learn the language.
When señor Carrillo meets the young Americano with red hair and freckles, she tells a heartbreaking story that she manages to convey through pantomime and her attempts to imitate his language. Here, I deviated from my father. While Dad would be kind and helpful in teaching someone his language in his country, señor Carrillo decides that this young woman is more important than his preferences.
That story is still being written—Crushed Dreams. However, when I realized how I wanted to end the story, I knew I had a problem. The final book in this series will have a bittersweet ending—one with hope and promise, but not technically “happy.” So, I decided to write a prequel/sequel to the series—a split-time novel where the reader lives the past with the characters of the present. This way, going into the entire series, you know there’s a happy ending, so you can appreciate the heartache and sacrifice that will come in that last book.
Crushed Dreams is slated to release soon, so I’m eager to share the prequel to the Legacy of the Vines series with you.
Blog Stops
lakesidelivingsite, April 13
A Novel Pursuit, April 13
She Lives To Read, April 14
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 15
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 16
Artistic Nobody, April 16 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Rebecca Tews, April 17
Connie’s History Classroom, April 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 19
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, April 19
Texas Book-aholic, April 20
Inklings and notions, April 21
For Him and My Family, April 22
Mary Hake, April 22
deb’s Book Review, April 23
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 24
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 25
CarpeDiem, April 25
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 26
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift card & paperback!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/10a52/deepest-roots-of-the-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
Series: Independence Island Series, Elnora Island, Book 3
Author: Kari Trumbo
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 30, 2021
“You’re just like a brother to me. I don’t like you in that way.”
When they dated ten years ago as teens, it almost destroyed their friendship. So Pen Reese did the only logical thing. She lied about how she felt—and still feels—about him.
She’s still paying for that lie.
A brilliant plan to set Mike and a friend up and get over him has one problem.
It’s breaking her heart.
When Pen pushed him away, Mike Gaines assumed she just didn’t understand his faith. People like her persnickety aunt even claim he’s part of a cult—ridiculous, but it’s true. Still, if she wants him to play the part of a big brother, fine. At least he can stay close this way.
At first, Pen’s attempt to set him up with one of her close friends hurts. But what if it’s the perfect opportunity to show her what she’s missing if she sees him with someone else?
In this friends-to-more-meets-second-chance romance, The Matchmaker’s Best Friend continues the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.
Click here to get your copy!(Also Available through Kindle Unlimited)
My Thoughts
About the Author
Where western meets happily ever after.
Kari writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.
Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn’t) South Dakota.
Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.
More from Kari
Pen is Mightier than the Sword
Especially in sparkly, stacked espadrilles and pink power suit. Don’t let Pen Reese’s pink façade fool you, she’s a businesswoman to the core, with a heart of gold. She has built a party planning business from the ground up, and she’s about to create another.
Pen is one of those characters that I could just see CLEARLY as I was writing. She is about ninety percent Elle Woods from Legally Blonde and ten percent a close personal friend. I heard her voice in my head. I could hear her talking as I wrote the book. Her personality was perfect for the energetic party planner.
I’m sure if I put a character description up without context or clarity many people wouldn’t want to read the book, they would write Pen off as shallow. But she’s not. She’s heartbroken.
Do you still remember your first love? Maybe you still care for them? Pen fell hard for her first love and no matter how professional she is or how many lavish weddings she plans, she can’t forget the one wedding she’ll never get to create. Her own.
Pen things that if Mike falls for someone else, goes off and gets married, she’ll finally be able to move on. So, she sets a plan in motion. That’s when her world completely falls apart and you see the tender parts of Pen that she doesn’t show to just anybody.
She is a very complex character and I hope she touches you like she touched me.
I hope you enjoy Pen’s tale of matchmaking gone wrong.
Blog Stops
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 14
Books and Everyday Life, April 14
Labor Not in Vain, April 14
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 15
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 15
lakesidelivingsite, April 16
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 16
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 17
Rebekah Reads, April 17
Artistic Nobody, April 17 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 18
A Novel Pursuit, April 18
She Lives To Read, April 19
deb’s Book Review, April 19
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 20
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, April 20
Splashes of Joy, April 20
Aryn the Libraryan, April 21
For Him and My Family, April 21
Texas Book-aholic, April 22
Blogging With Carol, April 22
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 23
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, April 23
CarpeDiem, April 23
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 24
Connect in Fiction, April 24
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 25
Simple Harvest Reads, April 25 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Inklings and notions, April 26
Godly Book Reviews, April 26
Batya’s Bits , April 26
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 27
Blossoms and Blessings, April 27
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Kari is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/10acd/matchmaker-s-best-friend-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
Author: Dr. Jeannine Bennett
Genre: Christian Nonfiction (Women’s Bible Study)
Release Date: October 2020
What do you do when God answers your prayers, renews your mind, and transforms you?
Life does not always turn out the way we hope. It is often filled with tragedy, heartbreak, and loss, but make no mistake, God doesn’t abandon us during those times. Instead, God uses every experience we encounter to transform us so we can live the life He intended when He created us.
As Christians, we understand that we live in a fallen world. A world where dwelling on past failures or falling prey to the same sins seems normal. But what happens when God opens our spiritual eyes and shows us a different way to live? Do you run to Him and embrace the change? Do you find your calling and live out your purpose?
In Blessed and Transformed, Jeannine Bennett shares how much sweeter life is when you recognize God’s blessings and fully embrace His transformation of your life. She shows you there is no limit to what you can endure or accomplish by keeping God front and center.
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
Jeannine Bennett is a wife to Hayden, mom to four children, and grandmother to seven grandchildren. Her children are named Sandra, Brittany, Camryn, and Zachary. Her grandchildren are Colin, Lilyana, Willow, Savannah, Winter, and Hope. She is the founder and CEO of Vision to Purpose, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business for Liberty University Online, and an executive coach for The Honor Foundation.
To those who know Jeannine, she is simply a woman who loves Jesus, is devoted to her family, and struggles with life’s challenges like the rest of us. She is not immune to bad hair days, shrinking clothes (weight gain), or sleepless nights. She loves learning and sharing the knowledge acquired to help others learn too. Her favorite ice cream is a toss-up between butter pecan and mint chocolate chip. And, although she has lived in Virginia for more than 30 years, she still calls a water fountain a bubbler. A term she grew up saying in her hometown of Racine, Wisconsin.
More from Jeannine
In my previous book, Broken to Beautiful, I shared my testimony. The first half of my story was filled with hopelessness, disappointment, heartache, and loss. The second half described accounts of undeniable blessings. I have chosen to continue my story in Blessed and Transformed because I want to further the conversation about what happens when we
receive all of those blessings.
Friends, we cannot have blessings without being transformed. Just as each trial, each struggle, each challenge changes us, each blessing is a gift that God uses to change us too.
I believe blessings are God’s way of showing that He loves us. I also think He uses those blessings to nudge us forward in pursuit of what He has called us to do.
I pray this book is a blessing to you!
In Christ,
Jeannine
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 8
Splashes of Joy, April 8
Library Lady’s Kit Lit, April 9
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 10
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 11
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 12
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 13
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 14
Lights in a Dark World, April 14
Texas Book-aholic, April 15
Inklings and notions, April 16
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 17
For Him and My Family, April 18
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 19
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 20
deb’s Book Review, April 21
Mary Hake, April 21
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jeannine is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/10a4d/blessed-and-transformed-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
Series: Love's Road Home, Book 2
Author: Lena Nelson Dooley
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: April 6, 2021
Accepting an ad for a mail-order bride was supposed to solve her problems.
It’s 1890, and Golden, New Mexico, is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when Jeremiah Dennison’s good friend and mentor finds himself in need of a nurse, Philip places an ad for a mail-order bride—despite Jeremiah’s protests.
Hoping to escape a perilous situation back East, Madeleine Mercer answers the ad and arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. What she finds in Golden is nothing like what she expected, especially not Philip, her expected husband-to-be.
But just as she begins to win over Philip—and Jeremiah himself—the secrets she left behind threaten to follow her to Golden…and tarnish her character beyond redemption.
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
Lena Nelson Dooley has been an author for 36 years. Her 51st book released in June 2020. Raised in Arkansas, she married a Texan 56 years ago. They have lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for decades. She is an active member of ACFW and one of the founding members the DFW local chapter. She’s often been a speaker for other writers’ groups and conferences, both as a keynote speaker and a workshop teacher. Her fans love reading her books filled with characters who grip your heart.
More from Lena
The Story Behind A Heart’s Forgiveness
I’ve been a lover of history for decades. In college and graduate school, all my elective courses were history. Of course, I chose the countries and eras I wanted to learn about. When I began writing novels, my first one was a contemporary story. After that, at least 75% or more of my novels have been historical, all the way from 1805 through the early 20th century.
One of the hallmarks of my historical novels is the authenticity I write into the stories. Because of the amount of research I’ve done over the years, I’m kind of an expert in 19th century history. My characters and their stories are completely fictional, but the other things in the book are mostly true. I search until I find what I need to know or until I reach a complete dead end.
A Heart’s Forgiveness is set in two places—Boston, Massachusetts, and Golden, New Mexico. It’s a Mail-Order Bride story. This is another type of story I like to read and I like to write. Finding a different reason for both the man trying to get a wife that way and a woman who needs an answer to her serious problems is a fun way to start the story. In this book, the bride and groom don’t meet until several chapters, even though he knows about her. And then I added another twist I think you’ll like.
There is also a very bad villain. One who doesn’t deserve to be forgiven. I didn’t plan that from the start of the book, but I realized much later in the book that God wanted her to forgive him. That one act of obedience, undeserved forgiveness, affected the lives of others in the novel. And isn’t that just like God. None of us really deserve forgiveness, but He freely gives it to each of us who will accept the gift.
I’m what’s called in the industry a seat-of-the-pants author, more or less. I do have the complete outline of the story in my head. When I sit down to write, I know where I’m going, but I don’t have every single scene plotted out as some authors do. And I pray a lot. During the time I’m writing a book, God drops ideas into my mind. Not just while I’m writing, but other times, too. That’s the exciting thing about writing. This keeps it fresh for me.
When you’ve finished reading this story, I hope you’ll let me know what you think of it. I really like getting reader feedback.
Blog Stops
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 10
A Novel Pursuit, April 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 11
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations April 12
Reviewingbooksplusmore, April 12
lakesidelivingsite, April 13
Texas Book-aholic, April 14
Inspiration Clothesline, April 14
Inklings and notions, April 15
Betti Mace, April 16
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 16
For Him and My Family, April 17
deb’s Book Review, April 18
Simple Harvest Reads, April 18 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, April 19
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 20
Jeanette’s Thoughts, April 20
Connie’s History Classroom, April 21
Vicky Sluiter, April 22
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 22
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 23
Maureen’s Musings, April 23
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Lena is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/10a50/a-heart-s-forgiveness-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
Series: Cross Timber Family Saga, Book 6
Author: Caryl McAdoo
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: March 6, 2021
The steps of a righteous man are guided by the Lord.
Rife with adventure, this rights-of-passage story comes to life as Enoch Lowell and his best friend Gus strike out to Kansas with their herd of beeves, hoping to earn a profit and cut the apron strings. What they find on the prairie changes their lives forever. Promises made, promises kept, but nowhere is it written there can’t be a happy ending for all. A true Texas trail tale to warm your heart!
Click here to get your copy! (Also Available through Kindle Unlimited)
My Thoughts
About the Author
Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—over fifty-five published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and nineteen grandsugars (three greats), Caryl and Ron (her high-school-sweetheart-husband of over fifty years) live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.
More from Caryl
Get along little doggie!
TEXAS TRAILS is the sixth novel in the Cross Timbers Family Saga series. I’d never written much about being on a cattle drive and thought it would be great fun. Back in the Texas Romance Family Saga series, Charley Nightingale made several trips to Kansas with a herd and took his son Nathaniel, but I skipped over the actual drive part.
Readers first met co-hero Enoch Lowell in QUINCY & PRISCILLA then got to know him better in DUPLICITY At The Lowell House when his best friend Gus Hale (TEXAS TRAIL’s other co-hero) is introduced. Both those stories are set in 1866. For TEXAS TRAILS, it’s three years later, and Enoch is ready to declare himself a man and start earning his own way. Driving a bunch of cows up to Kansas sounds like the ticket to cut his mother’s apron strings and earn some dollars in the process.
The son of Morgan and Charity O’Neal Lowell (LEAVING TEXAS, book four) and grandson of Liberty O’Neal Harrell (GONE TO TEXAS, book one) talks Gus into going with him, and as partners, they start building a herd. All the while, Charity is pitching a fit as her plan for her firstborn includes Harvard University.
One thing I loved about this story is that Morgan sets it up—behind the scenes of course—for trusted men to take in his son and Gus on their trail drive. Enters the infamous Texas Ranger Levi Baylor (Texas Romance Family Saga book two HEARTS STOLEN) and the boy he reared as his own (grown now), Charley Nightingale!
I already love those two men from my earlier Texas Romance Family Saga series—just as my readers do—and totally relished their appearance in this story! Revisiting old beloved friends brings great joy to this author, in real life and my fictitious world!! I adore crossing these characters over the two series!
So many things are apt to happen out on the prairie that cowboys never expect. There are rivers to cross and the natives to deal with, some who pose real danger to life and limbs! Cows birth calves, storms descend, and herds stampede, but that’s not all that can make a cowboy’s days rough. Enoch’s and Gus’s lives are definitely changed forever on the out there on the trail.
I’m thinking if I were a younger woman, I would totally enjoy going along on their cattle drive! How about you?
Blog Stops
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 7
Simple Harvest Reads, April 7 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Lakesidelivingsite, April 8
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 9
Connie’s History Classroom, April 10
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 11
deb’s Book Review, April 12
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 13
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 13
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 14
For Him and My Family, April 15
Texas Book-aholic, April 16
Inklings and notions, April 17
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 18
Splashes of Joy, April 19
Pause for Tales, April 19
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 20
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/10a4b/texas-trails-celebration-tour-giveaway
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