About the Book
Author: Linda Shenton Matchett
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: December 8, 2020
Will their love come at a cost?
Escaping Boston to avoid a marriage of convenience aimed at garnering society’s respect for her family name in the shadow of her father’s war profiteering, Meg Underwood settles in Spruce Hill, Oregon. Despite leaving behind the comforts of wealth, she’s happy. Then the handsome Pinkerton agent, Reuben Jessop, arrives with news that she’s inherited her aunt’s significant estate, and she must return home to claim the bequest. Meg refuses to make the trip. Unwilling to fail at his mission, Reuben gives her until Christmas to prove why she should remain in Spruce Hill and give up the opportunity to become a woman of means. When he seems to want more than friendship, she wonders if her new-found wealth is the basis of his attraction.
Click here to get your copy! Also available through Kindle Unlimited.
My Thoughts
About the Author
Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is a former trustee for her local public library. She is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry. Linda has lived in historic places all her life, and is now located in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.
More from Linda
Dear Reader:
Have you ever dreamed of winning the lottery?
Last year, that happened to someone at work. Not millions, but a significant amount of money. As a result, she immediately cut her hours to part-time and began to do things she hadn’t been able to. Her good fortune prompted a lot of conversations among my colleagues about what they would do if they came into a large sum of money.
Those discussions inspired the plotline for Legacy of Love, but instead of winning the lottery my main character comes into a large inheritance. As a result, everyone treats her differently and weighs in on what she should do. Her friendships are affected, and her life is turned upside down. She was happy before the inheritance, however the money would allow her to perform acts of kindness. But at what cost?
I hope you enjoy Hannah’s story.
Blessings,
Linda Shenton Matchett
Blog Stops
Inklings and notions, December 14
Texas Book-aholic, December 15
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 16
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 16
For Him and My Family, December 17
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 18
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 19
Artistic Nobody, December 20 (Spotlight)
Betti Mace, December 20
deb’s Book Review, December 21
Connie’s History Classroom, December 22
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23
Bizwings Blog, December 24
Mary Hake, December 25
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 26 (Spotlight)
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 27
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Visa Gift Card and signed 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/14836/legacy-of-love-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
Nothing could have prepared Nyssa Ardelone for the treachery that lurks inside Fortune’s Fall. What began as a joyful reunion with her family soon plunges into chaos, with Nyssa at the center of misplaced accusations that could be catastrophic for everyone. Confused and still grief-stricken over the friends she’s lost, Nyssa begins to question whether her journey to Fortune’s Fall was worth the cost.
When she learns that President Omri has arrested the exiles and plans to send them to the most notorious prison in America, Nyssa's convinced Omri's punishing them for her sins, and she sinks into even deeper despair. But there might be a way to save them, and Nyssa jumps at the chance to remedy what she feels is her fault.
The task is dangerous, though, and if she fails, she’ll lose everything. If she succeeds, the people of Fortune’s Fall will embrace her at last, and the path will open for their ultimate return to Maren—the home Omri stole from them fifteen years ago. With the help of family and a few unlikely allies, Nyssa sets out to make things right. But the stakes are higher than before, and her newfound faith has grown shaky. When the mission doesn’t go as planned, Nyssa faces a choice unlike any she’s ever had: press on despite her doubts, or give up and leave the exiles—and everyone she loves—to their fate.
My Thoughts
About the Author
About the Book
Author: Rick Barry
Genre: YA Christian Science Fiction
Release Date: September 14, 2021
Was this a new life — or a death sentence?
When Rankin Johnson boards a flight to Israel, he expects an adventure in archeology. But the airplane comes under attack and explodes in midair. Rankin shouts, “God, I’m yours!” Instantly, he’s in some other place. An angel informs Rankin the Lord is pleased to accept his offer. He dubs Rankin “the next Fithian” — a messenger from God, not to Earth, but to planet Zemna in the alternate dimension. What happened to the previous Fithian? “He was killed,” the angel says before vanishing.
On Zemna, Rankin finds a perplexing, violent world. Futuristic technology mingles with primitive ways. Also, a bizarre symbol—the Intersection of All Things—has appeared on his left palm. It’s a tool to aid his mission, but how? Rankin is supposed to share God’s message with this planet. Instead, he becomes a slave. What he really wants is a trip back to Earth.
With the aid of Prahv and Theena, a brother and sister who become his best friends, Rankin escapes. He hopes to fulfill his mission and return home as fast as possible. But now there’s a price on Rankin’s head. More than one Zemnan would rather kill him for the reward than hear what he has to say.
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
Rick Barry has climbed mountains, jumped from perfectly good airplanes, toured World War 2 battlefields, and visited Eastern Europe over 50 times in Christian ministry. He has a degree in teaching foreign languages and speaks Russian. His fiction and non-fiction have been published by Kregel Books, Focus on the Family, JourneyForth Books, Answers in Genesis, and others. His previous novels are Kiriath’s Quest, Gunner’s Run, The Methuselah Project, and Methuselah Project S.O.S.
More from Rick
Years ago, I received an unexpected phone call. Michael Ross, then-editor of Focus on the Family’s Breakaway magazine, asked me to brainstorm a big, bold adventure for teens: “Maybe fantasy. Maybe science fiction. Maybe both mixed together. I don’t know. Just make it big!”
Such an intriguing challenge! I accepted the assignment and developed a 3-part Christian sci-fi story, The Next Fithian. Those three installments reaped enthusiastic reactions from readers. However, after Part 3, that assignment was done. I moved on.
As years passed, my Fithian characters refused to let me forget them. They kept coming to mind, urging me to create an exhilarating, novel-length adventure for them. At first, I refused. I was giving priority to my novels about World War II airmen.
However, whenever I attended homeschool conferences to sign books for shoppers, teens visited my table to talk. What were those teen guys and girls wearing? T-shirts portraying the Avengers, Spider-Man, Captain America, the Hulk … It was obvious what kinds of adventures captivated these young adults. I wondered—what kind of uplifting novel could I pen for Christian fans of the Marvel universe?
In reply, my thoughts jumped back to The Next Fithian, a story brimming with action, adventure, danger, faith—plus a positive role model. This time, I yielded and began brainstorming ways to extend the original 5,400 words into an 80,000-word sci-fi novel with a Christian worldview. I didn’t want simply to create a gripping adventure. I wanted to give readers something unique. I wanted to touch their emotions, to make them laugh, to make them cry, to inspire them, and make them ponder things they had never considered before. I also wanted to transport them to another world where they might see better how to live in our own real world.
Responses from volunteer readers give me hope that The Next Fithian: An Ordinary Teen on a Strange, New World will appeal to diverse readers, both teens and adults. One teen, Kaden E. wrote, “WOW! I just finished the book, and boy was it fantastic!” Another teen, Victoria S. declared, “Rankin is exactly the kind of protagonist we need—he’s mentally, emotionally, and spiritually mature; intelligent; and compassionate.” Adult test reader Marali S. emailed, “I enjoyed this! You must write more!” Another, Jude U., wrote, “I pronounce excellence! The ‘romance’ was sweet and just enough.”
A mix of other test readers gave similar encouragement. So, even though my target audience is young adults, I hope adults will also enjoy it, just as adults enjoyed 17-year-old Katniss Everdeen of Hunger Games fame.
Christian sci-fi might not be your style, but pause and think—maybe you know a young adult who might benefit from such a story?
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 13
Texas Book-aholic, December 14
Inklings and notions, December 15
For Him and My Family, December 16
deb’s Book Review, December 17
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 18
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 19
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 20
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 21
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, December 21 (Author Interview)
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 22
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 23
Simple Harvest Reads, December 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 25
Beauty in the Binding, December 26 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, December 26
Giveaway
To celebrate his tour, Rick is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and signed 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/14834/the-next-fithian-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
Author: E.B. Dawson
Genre: Crossworlds Fantasy
Release Date: September, 2017
WHAT IF YOU COULD TRAVEL TO ANOTHER WORLD IN YOUR DREAMS?
In the modern nation-state of Riyen, few people dream anymore, and those who do are prescribed medication. But when Anissa Robson begins to dream of a strange jungle after the death of her mother, she neglects to report it. Feeling lost and alone in the waking world, she embraces her new dream world, until reality begins to cross over.
When Anissa stumbles upon evidence that her own government has known about Angapo for years, she uncovers a conspiracy that will change her life forever.
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
E.B. Dawson was born out of time. Raised in the remote regions of a developing nation, traveling to America was as good as traveling thirty years into the future. Now she writes science fiction and fantasy to make sense of her unusual perspectives on life. Her stories acknowledge darkness, but empower and encourage people to keep on fighting, no matter how difficult their circumstances may be. She currently lives in Idaho with her family and her cat Maximus.
More from E.B. Dawson
G.K. Chesterton once wrote that “The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” I rather suspect that Aslan would have agreed. In fact, he says something very similar when he explains to the Pevensies why he brought them to Narnia in the first place. It is also why I wrote The Traveler. The vivid, broken, beautiful, dangerous world of this book is completely of my own creation, and yet you will pick up the clear echoes of the world you know, and my hope is that it will allow you to see it with new eyes.
Born in a developing nation to expatriate parents, I traveled a lot as a kid. There really is no way to describe what it is like to grow up between two vastly different countries and multiple cultures. By the time I was seven I was more familiar with the concepts and consequences of political coups, religious persecution, colonization, regional famine, and ethnic discrimination than I was with Sesame Street or Winnie the Pooh.
I grew up surrounded by dozens of Non-Governmental Organizations like humanitarian groups and mission organizations, and military troops from multiple nations. This is probably why almost all my books have a political element that examines the relationships between parties with opposing interests. But my chief interest is and always will be exploring the impact an individual can have when surrounded by (and sometimes at the mercy of) forces beyond their control.
In The Traveler (and its two sequels) I invite you on a journey to examine the relationships between nations, individuals, and cultures. This series is truly about adventure and the spirit and wonder of traveling to new lands and how it can impact your perspectives and priorities. Sprinkle in some fantasy and advanced technology and you have the recipe for a transportive, emotionally rich, thought provoking story unlike any you’ve read before. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. And I hope it makes you look at the world around you with fresh perspective.
Blog Stops
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 10
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 11
Blogging With Carol, December 11
Rebecca Tews, December 12
Inklings and notions, December 13
For Him and My Family, December 14
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 15
Texas Book-aholic, December 16
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 17
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 18
deb’s Book Review, December 19
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 20
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 21 (Spotlight)
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 22
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, December 23
Mary Hake, December 23
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, E.B. is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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/14830/the-traveler-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
My Thoughts
Giveaway
About the Book
Author: Gillian Bronte Adams
Series: The Fireborn Epic, Book 1
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy
Release Date: December 7, 2021
She rides a fireborn, a steed of fire and ash, trained for destruction. Ceridwen tal Desmond dreams of ruling like her father over the nation of Soldonia, where warriors ride to battle on magical steeds—soaring on storm winds, vanishing in shadow, quaking the earth, and summoning the sea. After a tragic accident claims her twin brother, she is exiled and sworn to atonement by spending her life—or death—for her people. But when invaders spill onto Soldonia’s shores and traitors seize upon the chaos to murder her father, Ceridwen claims the crown to keep the nation from splintering. Combatting overwhelming odds and looming civil war, she begins to wonder if the greatest threat to the kingdom may, in fact, be her. With fire before her and ash in her wake, how can she hope to unite instead of destroy?
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
Gillian Bronte Adams is a sword-wielding, horse-riding, wander- loving fantasy author, rarely found without a coffee in hand and rumored to pack books before clothes when she hits the road. Working in youth ministry left her with a passion for journeying alongside children and teens. (It also enhanced her love of coffee.) Now, she writes novels that follow outcast characters down broken roads, through epic battles, and onward to adventure. And at the end of a long day of typing, she can be found saddling her wild thing and riding off into the sunset, seeking adventures of her own. She loves to connect with readers online at www.gillianbronteadams.com.
More from Gillian
I still vividly remember the moment, years ago, that the idea for this book came to me. It was the end of July, sometime between ten and eleven at night, and the insects outside were buzzing so loudly you could hear them through the window of the back room of the camp office where I sat. Slumped exhaustedly in a chair, shivering in the air conditioning in my sweat-soaked jeans and a t-shirt, I was waiting for the other summer staff to arrive so we could start and finish our planning meeting and stumble off to our cabins to sleep.
Even then, writing felt like breathing to me, so to pass the time and keep myself awake, I drew a ragged notebook out of my backpack and started scribbling sparks and specks of story ideas, barely noticing how my arm left smears of dirt on the page. It was my third or fourth summer as Head Wrangler, which meant I spent my days either on horseback or jogging alongside kids who were learning to ride. Dirt was just a part of life.
So many details of that night remain fresh in my mind, it’s odd that I can’t remember exactly what sparked the idea itself—the wide-eyed grin of a boy on his very first ride, the budding confidence in a girl as she raced around the barrels, or the cumulation of all the hours I’d spent atop my own wild thing, clearing wooded trails with a machete, leaping across creeks because he refused to simply wade, and performing amateur stunts for the occasional skit.
Whatever lit the fuse, as soon as I scribbled the first set of words on that crumpled notebook page, I knew I had struck gold. I felt it in my bated breath and leaping heartbeat. “Super-powered horses.” Or better yet, “Magical steeds.” Some that could breathe fire, some with hides like stone that could quake the earth with their hooves, some that rode upon the waves of the sea, and still others that could step into shadow and disappear without a trace.
Seven in all, they quickly cluttered the page, and I couldn’t wait for the chance to write the epic tale that could contain creatures like these. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a story yet. Just a page full of fanciful beasts and a head full of wild dreams. No characters. No plot. No premise. Or so I thought.
The meeting started then and I had to tuck my notebook away, but I couldn’t banish the magical horses now roaming in my head. Over the weeks and months that followed, I took them out and let them dance across the page every now and then, gradually fleshing out details, uncovering their secrets, and imagining their world. Yet the story itself remained elusive, until I finally, reluctantly, set them aside and turned my attention to other things. Months before that summer night, I had, in a fit of wild inspiration, outlined a new three book series starring a female warrior who longed to rule like her father before her. It was a bit daring and a lot daunting, but while I liked the characters and the concept, the world itself was lacking that flare of uniqueness, that touch of magic, that allows a fantasy realm to sprawl beyond the confines of the page and take root in the imagination of a reader.
Reading the outline afresh, I lamented that it was the sort of lusterless story doomed to die on a novelist’s hard drive, and perhaps my incredible magical horses with it, for though they were lustrous enough, without a story, they could never truly live. Without a story …
What if my aspiring queen lived in their world? What if she rode a fire-breathing steed? How might those beautiful magical creatures enhance and ultimately, shape her and her story?
Combining any two concepts can be dangerous, as you never know how they will interact until you try it. The resulting explosion shattered my outline and blasted apart my carefully formed plans, but when the dust settled and the heart of the new story emerged, I knew that this finally was an epic tale worthy of my magical steeds, and a world deep and dangerous enough to have forged my aspiring queen. It was, at last, Of Fire and Ash, the first book of The Fireborn Epic.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 11
Rebecca Tews, December 11
Worthy2Read, December 12
Texas Book-aholic, December 13
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 14
For Him and My Family, December 15
Inklings and notions, December 16
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 17
deb’s Book Review, December 18
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 19
Where Faith and Books Meet, December 20
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 20
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 21
April Hayman, Author, December 22
Blogging With Carol, December 22
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 23 (Spotlight)
Through the fire blogs, December 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 24
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Gillian is giving away the grand prize of 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.
https://promosimple.com/ps/14831/of-fire-and-ash-celebration-tour-giveaway
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