Author: Carol James
Genre: 20th Century Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: July 19, 2020
Hope Stockton’s life is dead, frozen in a winter of guilt, deceit, and fear. When a handsome young pastor, Josh Lewis, comes to serve in her church, she wonders if she can trust him with her past. Will he be able to help her find the answers to the questions that have been buried in her heart for years? Or will his own secrets drive them apart and prevent him from helping Hope find her spring of forgiveness?
Set in small town Texas in the years during and following the Vietnam war, Seasons of Hope is a story of forgiveness and restoration.
Carol James is an author of inspirational fiction. She lives in a small town outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell “Terrorist,” Zoe.
Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she’d been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.
Her debut novel, Rescuing Faith, has been a number one best seller on Amazon.
Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, and serving in the production department at her church. And most days, in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.
Hope Stockton’s life is dead, frozen in a winter of guilt, deceit, and fear. When a handsome young pastor, Josh Lewis, comes to serve in her church, she wonders if she can trust him with her past. Will he be able to help her find the answers to the questions that have been buried in her heart for years? Or will his own secrets drive them apart and prevent him from helping Hope find her spring of forgiveness?
Set in small town Texas in the years during and following the Vietnam war, Seasons of Hope is a story of forgiveness and restoration.
Click here to get your copy!
This was my first book by author Carol James and I must say she will definitely be added to my list of go-to authors. This book was so good. This story was emotional. Tissues nearby came in handy in some sections for me. The themes of faith, redemption and forgiveness are evident in this story which made it all the better for me. From the prologue the story captivates you and makes you want to know more about it. The characters were heartfelt and relatable.
We immediately meet Hope who is a single mother with a little boy named Mattie. She is scared to get close to anyone. She has a past she doesn't want people to find out about especially Josh. She is also a broken woman. She feels like God's grace cannot possibly extend to her after her the sins she has committed. She believes that God is possibly punishing her and that's the reason why her first love and her parents were taken from her.
Josh is the new pastor in town. He comes from a well off family but is not without his faults, or regrets.
Josh and Hope meet for the first time but she doesn't realize that he is the new pastor. She is skittish around him and takes her a long time to get comfortable being around him. Her preconceived ideas about him and his life are revealed and she allows herself to open up to him and open her heart once again to the possibility of something more. Circumstances, (that I will definitely not reveal as I don't want to spoil it for you) brings them together in a beautiful way.
God really had to bring Hope to a place where she could do nothing else but realize that He is the one in complete control. There are other characters as well that we see in the story that you enjoy seeing like Aunt Dee and Ms. Cora. Josh's parents also play an integral part in the story and it was beautiful to read how that relationship was restored.
Overall this book was a great read and I can't wait to read another from this author.
My Rating: 4 Stars/ Really Liked it.
Favorite Quotes:
"He didn't know exactly what his future held, but he knew the One who held it."
"We live in a fallen world, and bad things happen to good people."
"Forgiveness is not a reward that's earned, but a gift that's given."
(I received a copy of this book as part of the Celebrate Lit Book Tour. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
About the Author
Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she’d been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.
Her debut novel, Rescuing Faith, has been a number one best seller on Amazon.
Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, and serving in the production department at her church. And most days, in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.
More from Carol
Overcoming the Darkness
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5
I’ve read or heard this verse hundreds, maybe thousands, of times. But I remember exactly the moment I truly understood the picture it paints.
I sat in church one Sunday morning. For weeks, I’d been elbow-deep in crafting a manuscript set in the years following the Vietnam war. The title was Season of Hope.
In the squeaky voice our congregation loved, Pastor Buddy read this scripture and then asked a simple question. “Have you ever thought that light always overcomes darkness?”
Of course I’d thought that. I knew The Light was Jesus. I knew through His perfect sacrifice, He overcame the darkness of sin and death to give us life and light.
But then, in his folksy manner that would sneak up on you and drop the truth right in your lap, Buddy’s sermon began to paint a poignant illustration.
You can walk into a dark room with any amount of light, no matter how small—a candle flame, a flashlight beam, or even the illumination from the face of your phone—and the light will always…always…invade the darkness.
But the opposite is never true. No matter how great the darkness and how small the light, darkness never prevails. Never overcomes the light.
And what little you manage to see in the darkness is distorted, not an accurate representation of reality. Because darkness hides reality. It shows us only colorless, indistinct imitations. Light, however, shows us beauty and truth.
Simple, right? Maybe. But like so many truths in the Bible, the idea is rich and full of meaning when you meditate on it.
When I left church that day, I knew my heroine’s battle was to be a clash between light and darkness, truth and lies.
In Season of Hope, Hope Stockton’s heart is frozen in the dark winter of her past. She’s spent so many years hiding her failures and fears from the light of truth, she questions whether her heart will ever feel the warmth of spring again.
Then she meets Josh Lewis, and she wonders, can she entrust him with the dark secrets that have been buried in her heart all these years?
Blog Stops
Texas Book-aholic, August 6
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 7
Artistic Nobody, August 8 (Author Interview)
Inklings and notions, August 9
For Him and My Family, August 10
deb’s Book Review, August 11
Simple Harvest Reads, August 12 (Author Interview)
CarpeDiem, August 13
SusanK. Beatty, Author, August 14 (Author Interview)
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, August 15
Musings of Sassy Bookish Mama, August 16
Sodbuster Living, August 17
Batya’s Bits, August 18
Blossoms and Blessings, August 19 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away the grand prize package of a digital copy of Season of Hope and a $40 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
About the Book
Series: Independence Islands, Book 1
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 28, 2020
When Richard Danforth inherits the family estate on Merriweather Island, he doesn’t have time to deal with it—especially not from halfway across the globe. He’s too busy working to become the world’s newest billionaire and avoiding the women who would detract him from his goals.
Enter Lyla Santana. Fresh out of Oxford University with a degree in antiques and a relationship that nearly killed her to leave, she’s eager for the isolation and treasure trove that is Danforth Hall. Lyla also is determined to avoid men at all costs. Forever.
It was supposed to be a match made on paper. With him halfway across the globe, they’d never have to see each other again.
So, what’s Richard doing on Merriweather just weeks after the wedding? And how will his arrival test Lyla’s faith, not to mention stretch their so-called relationship?
In a twist on billionaire romance and marriage of convenience, this “Merriweather book” kicks off a new series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Island Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.
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 on the web and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.
I mean, beach reads. Romance. Duh.
There’s just one problem? I rarely write a straight-up romance. And if I do, it’s usually a short novella in a collection—often at Christmas.
Why?
Isn’t it obvious?
Despite nine kids and being married for almost thirty-two years, I am THE most unromantic woman on the planet. No habla amor. Or something like that.
So there I was, toodling down the 395 (a treacherous bit of road between my house and the publisher’s) when all of what I’d agreed to exploded in my brain. I’m still scraping brain matter off the windshield and trying to stuff it back in. I need every last one of those “little gray cells,” thank-you-very-much!
Romance. My heart sank. Boy meets girl. They like each other. They fight. They get back together. They live happily ever after.
It’s a thing, folks. A formula. And if you deviate, true romance readers get annoyed. What was I going to do? I didn’t want to write romance. Not really. I had ideas. The prequel book had been all about trying to bring a young woman back to the Lord. That’s more my speed, okay?
I considered making each one loosely related to a fairy tale retelling. I’d have a Cinderella story, a Beauty and the Beast, a… nope. That made it that far and I just couldn’t. The minute we got to Sleeping Beauty, I’d have my readers in comas. No. Thanks.
Next came Rom-com. We’d make it funny. All the stuff that happens in beach romances gone wrong. Why not? We live once!
I was yawning before the thought finished forming.
Right about then, I think, is when I wondered what kind of tropes I needed to consider.
See, romance tropes are a thing. I even talk about them on my podcast. The tingling sensation that comes when a good idea is brewing happened. A grin formed.
Tropes. I’d play with tropes. I’d take all those familiar things and twist them somehow. Why not? It would be fun.
Book 1. Marriage of convenience. I mean, those are always fun, right? So why on earth would someone need to get married?
Every idea I came up with has been done… and done again.
That’s when I upped the stakes. Authors do that, you know. We come up with a way to torment our characters, and then we say, “Okay, now how can I make this worse? Nope, I need it even worse. Oh, and…” Bam! The story goes from interesting to can’t-put-it-down. All because we’re not afraid to be cruel to non-existent people. Score!
How’d I do it with this one? I added in another trope. One I personally just can’t “get.” People love the things, and I’ve got no idea why. But it answered my first question of why someone might need a marriage of convenience or… as my gal puts it… “a paper marriage.”
My guy became the world’s newest billionaire.
Yep, you read that right. I wrote a “billionaire romance.” Sort of. Now, if I could figure out how on earth I’d take two people on opposite sides of the world and get them together.
*insert hands rubbing together in fiendish delight*
Oh, yeah. I did it. And even more than that, I love it. I made my characters do some stupid things. I really did (you know, like how two Christians didn’t even pray about their marriage decision? Like how they didn’t even ask if the other person was saved? Why should they? They’ll never see each other again… they said. Ha! The Lord had other ideas. Sorta. This is fiction, right? Oops! I suddenly feel like that crazy Kathy Morningside in Miss Congeniality).
It was almost too easy.
Then I started playing with the next ones, and the series became a reality to me.
– Dual Power of Convenience—when a woman too afraid of men goes to work for a man who is too busy making money to want anything to do with that whole marriage and family thing.
– Bookers on the Rocks— This couple’s marriage is on the rocks (that’s the trope, of course), and neither of them has a clue. They’ve been married for twenty-five years, neither is having an affair, no one wants a divorce, life is good, so why is it on the rocks? You’ll see…
– Directing Hearts— The Crawforths got tricked into allowing a reality matchmaking show film on their islands. Brooks Crawforth tangles with the director until their verbal battles turn into a different kind—a battle for their hearts (enemies to “lovers”)
– Just a Memory— In this one, Mallory Barrows (who makes appearances in all of the books) comes across an old journal that tells a story she’d never heard. It’s the old Patti Paige song “Go On with the Wedding” but over forty years later! Mallory knows something that might just create a (here comes the trope) second chance at romance.
-Printed on Her Heart— After being instrumental in so many couples’ relationships, it’s Mallory’s turn in this dual-trope story. In this one, we get a mashup of friends to more and love at first sight. Can’t wait to share it. Squee!
I might deny it to my dying day, but it is also a whole lot of fun… so far.
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 28, 2020
When Richard Danforth inherits the family estate on Merriweather Island, he doesn’t have time to deal with it—especially not from halfway across the globe. He’s too busy working to become the world’s newest billionaire and avoiding the women who would detract him from his goals.
Enter Lyla Santana. Fresh out of Oxford University with a degree in antiques and a relationship that nearly killed her to leave, she’s eager for the isolation and treasure trove that is Danforth Hall. Lyla also is determined to avoid men at all costs. Forever.
It was supposed to be a match made on paper. With him halfway across the globe, they’d never have to see each other again.
So, what’s Richard doing on Merriweather just weeks after the wedding? And how will his arrival test Lyla’s faith, not to mention stretch their so-called relationship?
In a twist on billionaire romance and marriage of convenience, this “Merriweather book” kicks off a new series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Island Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.
Click here to get your copy!
This is my first book by Chautona Havig and I enjoyed it. This book is part of a series written by multiple authors but I don't think they will follow each other. The setting made this book a perfect beach read as it is on the coast of Georgia.
I will admit that I was a bit confused at the beginning of the story as it started with a character named Mallory who owns a mobile bookstore. At first I thought the story was going to be about her as most stories begin with one of the main characters but this one did not. After a little bit of research I found out that Mallory is part of Chautona Havig's prequel to this story Christmas on Breaker's Point, which if you want to know more about her I recommend reading that first.
Our main characters are actually Lyla and Richard. This story is definitely one of my favorite tropes which is marriage of convenience. Lyla comes to the island to manage and catalog the belongings of Richard Danforth's estate which he just inherited. Lyla has sad past when it comes to relationships and doesn't trust men easily. She makes sure she keeps her relationships with males strictly professional and although she is not super successful she tries to keep Richard at arms length. Richard is in Azadi and wants to focus on becoming a successful businessman. Through their conversations he proposes a business agreement to get married and be married on paper only, which worked great until things go sour in Azadi and he has to return home. Home being Merriweather Island. This is when things start getting super tricky as both him and Lyla realize without letting each other know that they are falling for each other.
There are some things I really loved about this book. I love the friendship that Mallory and Lyla have. Mallory is almost like the mama bear of the friendship guiding and advising Lyla on what she should do regarding Richard. The banter between Lyla and Richard is sweet and comical. Mallory not only helps Lyla see what she is missing out on, but also helps Richard out when he needs a voice of reason. Mallory is definitely a key character and I hope we see her in the future and she gets her own happy ending story!
The spiritual elements are there but not in an overpowering way. It is a story of redemption and letting go of fears especially for Lyla. It's the perfect read for any day especially if you are heading to the beach!
My Rating: 3 stars /Liked it
Favorite Quotes:
"All Christians should live in such a way that anyone can trust that the Lord is working through them. He lives in their hearts, does His work in them. So when our lives are fixed on Him, how can we live in such a way as not to be trusted? He can be trusted."
(I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit Tour. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
About the Author
More from Chautona
Did I Really Agree to Write a Romance Series?
When my fledgling little idea for a single book transformed into a series that then transformed into a SERIES, I kind of missed the part where I agreed (and likely suggested, if truth be told), that the books should be contemporary romance.I mean, beach reads. Romance. Duh.
There’s just one problem? I rarely write a straight-up romance. And if I do, it’s usually a short novella in a collection—often at Christmas.
Why?
Isn’t it obvious?
Despite nine kids and being married for almost thirty-two years, I am THE most unromantic woman on the planet. No habla amor. Or something like that.
So there I was, toodling down the 395 (a treacherous bit of road between my house and the publisher’s) when all of what I’d agreed to exploded in my brain. I’m still scraping brain matter off the windshield and trying to stuff it back in. I need every last one of those “little gray cells,” thank-you-very-much!
Romance. My heart sank. Boy meets girl. They like each other. They fight. They get back together. They live happily ever after.
It’s a thing, folks. A formula. And if you deviate, true romance readers get annoyed. What was I going to do? I didn’t want to write romance. Not really. I had ideas. The prequel book had been all about trying to bring a young woman back to the Lord. That’s more my speed, okay?
The wheels began churning.
The ones in my head, I mean. The tires still rolled along the ground. Fortunately, my cranial explosion hadn’t caused an accident or anything. Just in case you were curious.I considered making each one loosely related to a fairy tale retelling. I’d have a Cinderella story, a Beauty and the Beast, a… nope. That made it that far and I just couldn’t. The minute we got to Sleeping Beauty, I’d have my readers in comas. No. Thanks.
Next came Rom-com. We’d make it funny. All the stuff that happens in beach romances gone wrong. Why not? We live once!
I was yawning before the thought finished forming.
Right about then, I think, is when I wondered what kind of tropes I needed to consider.
See, romance tropes are a thing. I even talk about them on my podcast. The tingling sensation that comes when a good idea is brewing happened. A grin formed.
Tropes. I’d play with tropes. I’d take all those familiar things and twist them somehow. Why not? It would be fun.
And it was.
Right about then is probably when I began recording my ideas. Creosote and sage whizzed past at breakneck speeds (let me dream. I’m not a speed demon, but c’mon… for the sake of poetic license and all?). And the ideas whizzed faster (no license needed. They really did).Book 1. Marriage of convenience. I mean, those are always fun, right? So why on earth would someone need to get married?
Every idea I came up with has been done… and done again.
That’s when I upped the stakes. Authors do that, you know. We come up with a way to torment our characters, and then we say, “Okay, now how can I make this worse? Nope, I need it even worse. Oh, and…” Bam! The story goes from interesting to can’t-put-it-down. All because we’re not afraid to be cruel to non-existent people. Score!
How’d I do it with this one? I added in another trope. One I personally just can’t “get.” People love the things, and I’ve got no idea why. But it answered my first question of why someone might need a marriage of convenience or… as my gal puts it… “a paper marriage.”
My guy became the world’s newest billionaire.
Yep, you read that right. I wrote a “billionaire romance.” Sort of. Now, if I could figure out how on earth I’d take two people on opposite sides of the world and get them together.
*insert hands rubbing together in fiendish delight*
Oh, yeah. I did it. And even more than that, I love it. I made my characters do some stupid things. I really did (you know, like how two Christians didn’t even pray about their marriage decision? Like how they didn’t even ask if the other person was saved? Why should they? They’ll never see each other again… they said. Ha! The Lord had other ideas. Sorta. This is fiction, right? Oops! I suddenly feel like that crazy Kathy Morningside in Miss Congeniality).
From Adelanto to Kramer Jct., I planned out that first book—Dual Power of Convenience.
(the title gives away that reason for marrying, no? Also, links may be affiliate links that provide a small commission at no extra expense to you.)It was almost too easy.
Then I started playing with the next ones, and the series became a reality to me.
– Dual Power of Convenience—when a woman too afraid of men goes to work for a man who is too busy making money to want anything to do with that whole marriage and family thing.
– Bookers on the Rocks— This couple’s marriage is on the rocks (that’s the trope, of course), and neither of them has a clue. They’ve been married for twenty-five years, neither is having an affair, no one wants a divorce, life is good, so why is it on the rocks? You’ll see…
– Directing Hearts— The Crawforths got tricked into allowing a reality matchmaking show film on their islands. Brooks Crawforth tangles with the director until their verbal battles turn into a different kind—a battle for their hearts (enemies to “lovers”)
– Just a Memory— In this one, Mallory Barrows (who makes appearances in all of the books) comes across an old journal that tells a story she’d never heard. It’s the old Patti Paige song “Go On with the Wedding” but over forty years later! Mallory knows something that might just create a (here comes the trope) second chance at romance.
-Printed on Her Heart— After being instrumental in so many couples’ relationships, it’s Mallory’s turn in this dual-trope story. In this one, we get a mashup of friends to more and love at first sight. Can’t wait to share it. Squee!
Okay, that’s the deal. Yes, I really did agree to write a romance series.
And yes, it probably was my idea.I might deny it to my dying day, but it is also a whole lot of fun… so far.
Blog Stops
Texas Book-aholic, August 5
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 5
Inklings and notions, August 6
lakesidelivingsite, August 6
deb’s Book Review, August 6
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 7
Rebekah Jones, Author, August 7
For Him and My Family, August 7
Artistic Nobody, August 8 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 8
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 9
Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 9
21st Century Keeper at Home, August 9
She Lives To Read, August 10
Simple Harvest Reads, August 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 11
Adventures of a Traverlers wife, August 11
Emily Yager, August 12
Stories By Gina, August 12
CarpeDiem, August 12
cultivating us, August 13
Connect in Fiction, August 13
Livin’ Lit, August 13
Read Review Rejoice, August 14
Quiet Workings, August 14
Blossoms and Blessings, August 14
Just Your Average reviews, August 15
Rebekah Reads, August 15
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 15
Lis Loves Reading, August 16
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, August 16
Splashes of Joy, August 16
Pause for Tales, August 17
Captive Dreams Window, August 17
Spoken from the Heart, August 17
Lots of Helpers, August 18
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, August 18
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book (winner’s choice of eBook or paperback format)!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Happy Friday!!
I hope everyone had a great week! I finally finished the school room!! Yay!! I hope to post about that hopefully this weekend. After doing all that work I hope we get to do something fun this weekend. As fun as it can get since we are still not allowed in parks or playgrounds. So trying to find stuff to do with the kids is super tricky! What is everyone up to this weekend?
Today is another First Line Friday hosted by Hoarding Books and hopefully this week I will see the comments when you lovely readers post. Last week I was not notified at all so I just saw comments today and I feel bad for not responding! 😔 Not sure what is going on with Blogger... sigh... Anyways today my first line is coming from Rocky Mountain Revenge by Rhonda Starnes.
My First Line:
"Grace Porter regretted she hadn't stopped for fuel before leaving Denver two hours ago, when it was still daylight."
Your turn! Grab the book closest to you and
drop the first line in the comments!
Author: Shirley Crowder & Harriet Michael
Genre: Devotional
Release Date: April 29, 2020
Creator God made the world in which we live. He placed the moon and stars in the sky, the rivers and ocean on the earth. He also created seasons throughout the year. Each season is defined by specific features/attributes that are common although the degree varies depending on where a person lives. In winter we think of cold weather; in spring, blooming flowers; in summer, warm weather; and in the fall, beautifully colored leaves.
As Christ-followers we also experience spiritual seasons. These seasons do not come in order like seasons in nature, which come regularly without fail. Each spiritual season we experience is defined by certain features also. In spiritual winter we think of the coldness of our relationship with God; in spring, new
This devotional is focused on summer—both calendar and spiritual. Our spiritual summer is a time of growth, hard work, and relaxation as we nurture and care for the new things that were planted in our spiritual spring and allow them to ripen or mature.
Click here to get your copy!
I don't think I have ever read a devotion specific to a season but I must say that it was a nice, refreshing, summer devotional. It was written so personal that you felt like these women were right in your living room having a cup of coffee with you as you conversed about God. Although there are two different authors, honestly you would have not have been able to tell as their style of writing definitely are similar and compliment each other.
Things I tend to look for in a devotional book is not only key Bible verse, because I like to use those for those in my journal as reinforcement of what I am learning about but I also like when they give and actual passage to study from. This book did that and more. I really enjoyed that after they give you where the Bible passage, the authors gave you a personal story that relates to that particular passage, so its easy to read and it would be great for a new Christian to follow as well and relate to it. They also guide you in prayer which I think its great to start you off in the right direction for your prayer time and best of all for me about this devotion book is the Thought of the Day. Just when you think you are done with the devotion they give you a little bit more to chew on and think about throughout the day.
I would definitely recommend this to all the women in my life, especially those newer to the faith.
My Rating: 4 Stars/ Really Liked it.
(I received a copy of this book as part of the Celebrate Lit Tour. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
About the Authors
She is a biblical counselor and is commissioned by and serves on the national Advisory Team for The Addiction Connection. She is an award-winning writer who has had several of her articles appear in “Paper Pulpit” in the Faith section of The Gadsden Times, and in a David C. Cook publication. She also writes articles for Life Bible Study, Woman’s Missionary Union, The Addiction Connection and Inspired Prompt. She has authored, co-authored, or contributed to eight books.
Shirley has spiritual children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren serving the Lord in various ministry and secular positions throughout the world.
Harriet is a multi-published, award-winning writer and speaker. She has authored or co-authored seven books (six nonfiction and one novel) with several more under contract for future release. She is also a prolific freelance writer, having penned over 200 articles, devotions, and stories. Her work has appeared in publications by Focus on the Family, David C. Cook, Lifeway, Standard Publishing, Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Upper Room, Judson Press, Bethany House, and more. When not writing, she loves speaking to women’s groups and teaching workshops on freelance writing.
She and her husband of more than 40 years have four children and two grandchildren. When not writing, she enjoys substituting at a Christian school near her home, gardening, cooking, and traveling.
More from Shirley
In the same way that nature’s seasons serve a purpose on earth, so do the seasons in our spiritual lives. God provides, cares for, and sustains the earth, and in His faithfulness, He does the same for us. Our responsibility is to be obedient to God’s commands in the Bible and to cling to the truth that God is in control.Our “Glimpses of God” series consist of:
- Glimpses of God: a winter devotional for women
- Glimpses of God: a summer devotional for women
- Glimpses of God: a spring devotional for women (due out in early 2021)
- Glimpses of God: an autumn devotional for women (due out in late summer 2021)
How has He provided for you? How is He protecting you? How is He teaching you?
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 11
Spoken from the Heart, August 11
Inklings and notions, August 12
Get Cozy Book Nook, August 12
Artistic Nobody, August 13 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Older & Smarter?, August 14
Musings of Sassy Bookish Mama, August 14
Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 15
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 16
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 17
deb’s Book Review, August 17
Texas Book-aholic, August 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 19
Mary Hake, August 19
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 20
Lighthouse Academy, August 21
CarpeDiem, August 21
For Him and My Family, August 22
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 23
Splashes of Joy, August 24
Fiction Full of Faith, August 24
Giveaway
To celebrate their tour, Shirley and Harriet are giving away the grand prize package of a print copy of Glimpses of God: A Summer Devotional for Women and 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.
Author: Angela K. Couch
Genre: Historical Christian Romance
Publisher: Prism Lux
Release Date: August 13, 2020
The Man She Fears Is Her Only Chance For Survival . . .
All Christina Astle wants is to reach Oregon before her baby is born, but the wagon train is attacked, and her husband killed, stranding her in a mountain labyrinth. Raised in the East, within civilization’s embrace, survival is not a skill she’s learned. Neither is evading the lone warrior dogging her trail.
Disgusted by the greed and cruelty of men like his white father, Towan has turned to the simpler existence of his mother’s tribal people. He is not prepared for the fiery woman who threatens to upturn his entire life … and his heart.
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This was my first book by Angela Couch and it was spectacular! One of those stories I could not put down and finished it in a day and a half. I must admit that I am one of those people that get suckered into a book by the cover, despite telling myself "never judge a book by its cover" and sadly I did with this one and I'm so embarrassed about that because after all that's what this book is all about. For me judgement and biased opinions is the theme of this book. Don't get me wrong there is plenty of romance but it comes slowly.
The story is set on the Oregon Trail and right away we meet our main characters Christina and Towan. They are definitely two very different people from different walks of life but they thrown together in a journey like none other. One in which they must set aside prejudices and trust each other.
I must admit that there were times where Christina drove me a little crazy and I found her immature in some of the things she was doing especially towards Towan. I mean here is helping this stranger and making sure she and her child are out of harms way and she complains and seems ungrateful at times. But I know that's exactly how the author wants you to feel which always makes me feel great because to me that is the mark of great writing! When the author gets you that involved in the story you know its going to be great!
You do change your mind about her later on in the story and come to appreciate her a lot more, even though for me I felt more for Towan that anything. He has a heart of gold and is not only completely in love with this woman and her child but he is a hurting soul. He doesn't want to repeat the mistakes of his father and strives to make sure he is not like him throughout the story.
I don't want to give too much away because you definitely should read this story and I don't want to spoil it for you!! It was so good!! It truly has everything, action, suspense, love... all my emotions were touched even some tears were shed. I definitely recommend you pick this one up if you enjoy historical christian romance!
My Rating: 5 stars / Absolutely loved it! (could not put it down!)
Favorite Quotes:
"There is only one God. Only understanding Him differs. Knowledge about Him. Where knowledge lacks, men form opinions, some true, some false. I believe the Bible contains a near personal account of God's works, yes" ~ Towan speaking to Christina about the Bible.
(I received this book from the author through the Pelican Book Group. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
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Happy Tuesday!
It has been a busy week already! Today my little girl got her first haircut (she's 5) and I got so emotional. Her hair was so long that 4 inches looks like not much has been cut but it was a good amount of curly hair... she now has a taste of the salon and wants to go back! LOL!
Anyways, today is Top Ten Tuesday hosted by the Artsy Reader. The prompt is Books I Loved but Never Reviewed. Being that I only started this blog this year there are a lot of books I have read that I have not reviewed on the blog yet! Something I am trying to remedy! 😉
- Practically Married by Karin Beery
- Package Deal by Charissa Stastny
- The Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo
- The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear
- She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell
- The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund
- Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade
- Then There Was You by Kara Isaac
- Someplace Familiar by Teresa Tsynger
- Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof
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