Healing Gilvary by Andrea Boyd

Prince Reagan has a problem, his mother Queen Finell has killed his father the king. he also is surrounded by his father's court, people who may want to keep his father's plan alive to kill him. Not sure who he can trust he sends for his sister in law's best friend, the healer Gwen Alexander. Can one woman make a difference?

I loved the storyline for Healing Gilvary. The plot was fast moving and had a few twists. The characters are multidimensional and I love the way Ms. Boyd weaves the plan of salvation through the story. This book will go my keeper shelf to be read again in the future!

From Amazon:
The crown prince would love nothing more than to make the newly appointed castle healer his wife, but she has no intentions of becoming the future ruler of Gilvary. Will he ever convince her otherwise?

Prince Reagan Barnali never expected to end up as ruler of Gilvary, but after the death of his father and older brother, he has no choice but to take the reins. He is worried about his mother who has suffered a breakdown in health since her husband’s death, and he also has the sole responsibility of his two younger brothers. Despite all of these burdens, he still has time to think about the only woman he has ever wanted to settle down with—Gwendolyn Alexander. He has somehow persuaded her to leave her home and come to Gilvary as the castle healer, now if he could just convince her into becoming his wife, it would make everything better.

Gwen jumps at the opportunity for a fresh start. There has been nothing wrong with her life up until now other than the fact that she has lived in her best friend’s shadow, and her father still sees her as his little girl. Can she really take on the job of healer? The flirting begins as soon as she arrives in Gilvary, but she is familiar with Prince Reagan’s bad-boy ways. Just when she finally surrenders her trust, trouble from his past arrives.

A law enacted by his own father could force him to marry another. Could it be God’s will keeping Reagan and Gwen apart?

†Healing Gilvary is Christian Romance.

About the author;
Biography
Andrea Boyd has always been a dreamer. Once her most awesome job of raising her wonderful children was over, she decided to take up the challenge of putting these dreams into words and sharing them with the rest of the world.

Besides writing, she loves spending time with her family, quilting, going to car shows, and driving around in her 1968 Barracuda convertible.

Andrea lives with her husband, Tommy, and at least a couple of cats in York County, SC.

The Mark Of The King by Jocelyn Green

Midwife Julieanne Chevalier has been branded a murderer and imprisoned for the death of a patient. Her only chance at life is to emigrate to Louisiana as the wife of another convict. Jocelyn Green has done a wonderful job of creating a fictional account of a true story. Although the main characters are fictional, many characters are actual residents of the New Orleans colony. It is quite evident that Ms. Green is a student of history, and I love the fact that she weaves Faith throughout the story. She truly brings the New Orleans colony to life.

From Amazon:
Sweeping Historical Fiction Set at the Edge of the Continent

After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict.

When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne's brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on?

With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king's mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption.

About the author;

Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including Wedded to War, a Christy Award finalist in 2013, and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Jocelyn lives with her husband and two children in Iowa.

I was given this book by Netgalley.com for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Never Forget by Jody Hedlund

I have yet to read a Jody Hedlund book I do not love. I buy her books without even seeing the cover or reading the blurb. She has never disappointed me, her stories are strong with awesome settings. The women in her books are generally growing to know their G-d, their partner, and their self. I love watching Abbie become a woman. She is a fascinating lady. Although this is book five in the Beacons of Hope series, it can be read as a stand alone novel.

From Amazon:
Rose Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island
June 1880

Will she betray his trust to stay on the island she loves?

Abbie Watson is content to spend her days clamming, crabbing, and tending Rose Island Lighthouse. Her grandpa is the head light keeper, but his senility may lead to their eviction. Since leaving the island would kill her beloved Gramps, Abbie will do anything to keep him in the one place he knows and loves.

Wealthy Nathaniel Winthrop III’s wild living has gained him a reputation as the ‘bad boy’ among the elite social circles of Newport. After a blow to the head in a yachting accident washes him up on Rose Island, Nathaniel has no memories of his past.

Abbie tends the wounded stranger in her home only to realize he assumes they’re married. Although she knows she needs to correct Nathaniel’s mistake, his presence calms Gramps and provides a way to prevent eviction from the lighthouse.

The longer the charade continues, the harder it gets for Abbie to tell Nathaniel the truth, more so as she begins to fall in love. Everyone she’s ever loved has abandoned her. Will Nathaniel leave her too, once he discovers he’s not really her husband?

about the author:
Winner of 2016 Christian Book Award for fiction and Christy Award for historical romance, best-selling author Jody Hedlund writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults. Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!). When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

I was given this book by the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

Guest Post from Jody Hedlund

Which Do You Prefer: Series or Standalones?

By Jody Hedlund

Readers usually have strong opinions about whether they like series or standalones.

Some readers refuse to read books that are inter-related. Others can’t get enough books about their favorite characters.

I see the pros and cons of both.

For series, I don’t like feeling lost as I try to wade through previous characters along with their backstory. I recently started a series by a well-known author and was disappointed to realize the first book was connected to a previous series she’d already published. From the get-go, I felt left out as though I didn’t quite know who all the characters were or their significance.

On the other hand, for standalones, I sometimes feel as though I would like the story to continue. I’ve invested in the setting and characters and so enjoy when I can return to that place and continue to glimpse the characters I’ve fallen in love with—even if from a distance.

My favorites are books that fall in the middle between standalone and series. I like to think of them as standalones within a series. Becky Wade’s Porter brother series is like that. Each of the books centers around one of the brothers (and a tomboy sister). While characters from other books make an appearance in the stories, each plot is separate and complete without any reliance upon another book.

My Beacons of Hope lighthouse series falls in the middle too. The books are related in that they all take place at lighthouses and share a symbolic “cross of hope” that is passed on from one book to the next. A minor character in a previous book becomes the hero or heroine in the next book. But each book can be read by itself without having read any of the others.

In other words, readers can pick up my newest release, Never Forget, which is the fifth and final book in the series, and they wouldn’t be confused about who the characters are or what their history is. The plot starts with a bang and ends with a satisfying sigh. It is complete story unto itself.

And yet, for those who’ve read other books in the series, they’ll get to see the happily-ever-after of a character from a previous book. And they’ll also get to find out where the cross of hope finally ends.

If you’re not a fan of series, I encourage you to give the Beacons of Hope series a try. It might satisfy the need for standalones and series all in one neat little package.

To that end, I’m giving away all FIVE books in the series as part of the Celebrate Lit blog tour to one lucky winner!

https://promosimple.com/ps/ad6d

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Forget-Beacons-Hope-Book-ebook/dp/B01MTK39PB/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485143840&sr=8-2&keywords=never+forget

Blog Stops

January 10: Reading Is My SuperPower

January 10: Karen Sue Hadley

January 10: Bookworm Mama

January 11: Faithfully Bookish

January 11: Inklings and Notions

January 11: Blossoms and Blessings

January 12: Smiling Book Reviews

January 12: Genesis 5020

January 12: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

January 13: God’s Little Bookworm

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January 14: Daysong Reflections

January 14: Blogging With Carol

January 14: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner

January 15: Moments Dipped in Ink

January 15: Books. Books. And More Books.

January 16: A Greater Yes

January 16: Bigreadersite

January 17: Connie’s History Classroom

January 17: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

January 18: Book by Book

January 18: Jeanette’s Thoughts

January 19: Carpe Diem

January 19: A Bakers Perspective

January 19: Splashes of Joy

January 20: Christian Bookaholic

January 20: Stuff and Nonsense

January 20: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

January 21: Radiant Light

January 21: cherylbbookblog

January 21: His Grace is Sufficient

January 22: Neverending Stories

January 22: A Path of Joy

January 23: History, Hope, Laughter & Happily-ever-after

January 23: Henry Happens

January 23: Onceuponatime

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Jody is giving away the entire Beacons of Hope series. Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/ad6d

The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen

The Painter's Daughter had a good, strong storyline. The characters were quite human as evidenced by the mistakes they made. I loved the setting, Ms. Klassen paints beautiful pictures with her words! I think most of all I enjoyed the way Sophie and the Captain grew in their faith.

From Amazon:
Julie Klassen Is the Gold Standard for Inspirational Regency Fiction

Sophie Dupont, daughter of a portrait painter, assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. She often walks the cliffside path along the north Devon coast, popular with artists and poets. It's where she met the handsome Wesley Overtree, the first man to tell her she's beautiful.

Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother's neglected duties. Home on leave, he's sent to find Wesley. Knowing his brother rented a cottage from a fellow painter, he travels to Devonshire and meets Miss Dupont, the painter's daughter. He's startled to recognize her from a miniature portrait he carries with him--one of Wesley's discarded works. But his happiness plummets when he realizes Wesley has left her with child and sailed away to Italy in search of a new muse.

Wanting to do something worthwhile with his life, Stephen proposes to Sophie. He does not offer love, or even a future together, but he can save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he believes he will, she'll be a respectable widow with the protection of his family.

Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie agrees to marry a stranger and travel to his family's estate. But at Overtree Hall, her problems are just beginning. Will she regret marrying Captain Overtree when a repentant Wesley returns? Or will she find herself torn between the father of her child and her growing affection for the husband she barely knows?

About the author:

Bestselling, award-winning author Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full-time. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Time Search by Danele Rotharmel

Only Zeke, Crystal, and Marc remain at Temco Labs, everyone has gone to safe houses. Evil stalk the city trying to find who it can destroy. Who will survive?
Danele Rotharmel's Time Search is an exquisite read that will keep you on the edge of your seat and cause you to lose sleep trying to find out what comes next. The plot grabs your attention and won't let go.  I have come to love the characters and cannot wait to see what they do next. The settings are among the most unique places in the world. I found myself using Google images so that I could actually get a visual of the places. And the way Danele weaves the Gospel through the story! Wow! Anyone that loves adventure, time travel, thrillers all with a dose of romance thrown in will certainly enjoy The Time Counselor Chronicles! I do advise reading them in order. Happy reading!

From Danele Rotharmel:
Time Search
January 13
Time Search--Book 3: The Time Counselor Chronicles
Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and iBooks
A nameless evil lurks in the shadows…
In the wake of a recent wave of violence, TEMCO employees are left reeling. While some of the staff are put into hiding, others are left behind to discover the true identity of the mysterious nemesis who is determined to destroy them all. While Crystal, Marc, and Zeke search for clues to unravel the mystery of his real name, their enemy is lurking in the shadows searching for TEMCO’s missing leaders. It’s a race against the clock! And as the hours and seconds tick away, it’s anyone’s guess whose search will be completed first. It’s a classic battle of good versus evil, and the stakes couldn’t be higher!

About The author from Amazon:

Danele Rotharmel grew up with a love of the literary word, and by age five, she knew she wanted to be a writer. However, her life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious illness brought her close to death. Eventually, she learned that a low-level carbon monoxide leak from a faulty furnace in her home was slowly poisoning her. This poisoning triggered severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and partial amnesia.

During this time, the hardest thing she faced was a crisis of faith. She had to quit her job and stop going to church. She couldn’t write, couldn’t drive, and could barely remember who she was. To say she was upset with the Lord was an understatement. She began reexamining her faith in light of her illness, and eventually, she came to the firm conclusion that God is real, God is good, God is interested and involved, and God is trustworthy regardless of tragedy.

When her illness became even more severe, she was put into quarantine and could only talk to friends and extended family through the glass of a window. This quarantine lasted for seven years. During this time, she wrote the first six books in "The Time Counselor Chronicles." The first book in the series, "Time Tsunami," was published by Prism Book Group in January 2016. The second book, "Time Trap," was published by Prism in June 2016. The third book, "Time Search," was published by Prism in January 2017. Danele's books may be purchased through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and the iBook store.

Danele currently lives in Colorado where she continues to write. Although her journey back to health was long and difficult, it provided her with the opportunity to grow closer to God and to write her books. For that, she is forever thankful.

You can learn more about Danele by visiting her blog at https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/

More information about "Time Tsunami," "Time Trap," and "Time Search" may be found by following this link:
https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com...

Life After Today by Katie Ganshert

Pre-order Katie Ganshert’s most complex and unforgettable novel yet! Get all the official details here.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It could have been me.
Snow whirls around an elevated train platform in Chicago. A distracted woman boards the train, takes her seat, and moments later a fiery explosion rips through the frigid air, tearing the car apart in a horrific attack on the city’s transit system. One life is spared. Twenty-two are lost.

A year later, Autumn Manning can’t remember the day of the bombing and she is tormented by grief—by guilt. Twelve months of the question constantly echoing. Why? Why? Why? Searching for answers, she haunts the lives of the victims, unable to rest.

Paul Elliott lost his wife in the train bombing and wants to let the dead rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to cause more pain for his loved ones. He wants normalcy for his twelve year-old daughter and young son, to see them move beyond the heartbreak. But when the Elliotts and Autumn are unexpectedly forced together, he fears she’ll bring more wreckage in her wake.
In Life After, Katie Ganshert’s most complex and unforgettable novel yet, the stirring prose and authentic characters pose questions of truth, goodness, and ultimate purpose in this emotionally resonant tale.

Time Search giveaway

Danele Rotharmel PRIZE ALERT!!! A $25 Amazon gift card is being offered as the GRAND PRIZE of “Time Search’s” 20-Stop Blog Tour! The blog tour is taking place from January 13-March 14, 2017. To enter the drawing, find all 20 of “Danele’s Mystery Words!” Click on the following link (not the picture) for more information! https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/.../time-search.../