Tuesday, March 12, 2024

If The Boot Fits By Karen Witemeyer

If the Boot Fits
by Karen Witemeyer
Publisher: Bethany House
Series: Texas Ever After
ISBN: 978-0764240423

To say I'm an avid Karen Witemeyer fan would be putting it mildly. I just love all of her stories! I am on her launch team for If the Boot Fits. She sent me her book for review.

Summary:

Determined to prove that cattle king Eli Dearing has no justification for evicting his stepmother and half brothers, Asher Ellis uses the cover of a fancy ball to break into the Three Cedars ranch house to search for proof of wrongdoing. On the verge of discovery, he flees, but a boy's cry compels him to make a daring rescue.

Spunky and independent, Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting in her honor is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from her unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother's life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind--his boot--and resolves to find him herself.

But when Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. And although Asher tries to keep his distance from Samantha for reasons of his own, a series of suspicious accidents befall her, and his protective instincts flare, no matter the cost to their future.

This Western reimagining of the classic Cinderella fairy tale is an enchanting story of courage, family, and the power of true love.

My Review:

It's been fun to see the author take a fairytale and turn it into a western retelling! This time we have Cinderella, but with a cowboy boot that gets left behind at a ball, that the cowboy happened to be breaking into! I'm talking about If the Boot Fits.

Samantha is recently returned home and her father has brought the eligible gentlemen for her daughter to choose from at a ball he's hosting. Eli is also recently returned home and he's determined to learn how Eli Dearing has wrongfully evicted his family from their home.

All of that gets the ball rolling for Samantha to learn a lot of truths about her family that she wasn't exactly prepared for. She's a determined woman who has no problem going toe-to-toe with the men on the ranch. On the flip side, she's kind and generous. She's the friend everyone wants to have!

Asher is devoted to his stepmom and his half-brothers. He's doing everything he can to keep a roof over his family's head, and if he can get them back into their home, even going against Eli. Eli, who happens to be Samantha's father. 

While the story started out a bit slow for me, it definitely ramped up in the second half. I loved the sweetness of the story, but we also see how things go when people rely only on themselves and not the Lord. Both Sam and Asher grow to trust the Lord more through the story, which is always a wonderful example. They also learn that they can't pigeonhole someone based on assumptions.

There are some cheesy/silly moments in the story and of course nods to Cinderella. Samantha always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The mystery of who is trying to harm her will keep you guessing! If you're looking for a wholesome story that shares about reliance on the Lord, you don't want to miss this one.


About the Author:

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers' Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline.

Karen also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Monday, March 11, 2024

The Mercy Seat By Henry O. Arnold + Give Away

The Mercy Seat JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Mercy Seat by Henry O. Arnold, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Mercy Seat
Series:
The Urban Chronicles #1
Author:
Henry O. Arnold
Publisher:
Mountain Brook Ink
Release Date:
March 5, 2024
Genre:
Christian Contemporary Fiction

Hells Canyon is a neighborhood in Richland, Tennessee where tourists never venture, and locals fear to tread. Maxwell Crane, former Marine chaplain and pastor of The Mercy Seat church, struggles to provide a beacon of hope. 

But others have their eyes set on Hells Canyon: power elites, robber barons, and street gangs seek their own gain at the cost of the beleaguered urban neighborhood. For the people who live there, it’s been a fight to exist their whole lives, and that fight is getting harder. 

Maxwell doesn’t have to stay in Hells Canyon. He and his family could leave to live a comfortable middle-class existence. Instead, Maxwell chooses to risk his life—and the lives of those around him—to stand against the oppressors. 

But what happens when this pastor crosses a line, taking justice into his own hands? Will his family, his community, and his God ever forgive him? Will he ever forgive himself?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop


Book Excerpt

Wherever you're going tonight, you come back. You come back safe, Maxwell shouted from the front porch. If those words were the last his son heard from his father, at least he would know they were spoken out of the fierce love his father had for his son.

Carlo rewarded Maxwell with a raised arm and clinched fist before he passed out of the illumination of the streetlight and into the dark maze of the Garden’s housing projects.

“Holy God. Holy Father, protect my son from the perils of this night.” Maxwell uttered
the prayer only for this night, not future nights. Future nights would have their own prayers.
Dear Lord, get my son through one more day. For Maxwell this prayer was much like those he’d
uttered for his Marines before a mission. Protect them from the enemy, dear Lord, and bring
them back safely, but not every prayer for every mission was answered with its hoped-for
outcome.

About the Author

Henry O. Arnold

Mr. Arnold's career as an actor/author spans over five decades with multiple stage and film credits. His most recent film is The Hiding Place. He has recorded over one hundred audiobooks and is the author of the multi-volume biblical/historical fiction series entitled The Song of Prophets and Kings. When not writing he can be found hiking on a trail somewhere on the planet. He and his lovely wife Kay have two beautiful daughters, married to two handsome men, with three above-average grandchildren.

Connect with Henry by visiting henryoarnold.com to follow him on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a print copy of The Mercy Seat & $20 Amazon Gift Card!

The Mercy Seat JustRead Tours giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 11, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 18, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Cold Threat By Nancy Mehl

Cold Threat
by Nancy Mehl
Publisher: Bethany House
Series: Ryland + St. Clair
ISBN: 9781493445240

Who doesn't love a good suspense novel? I really enjoy this author's writing and her series! She's even going to be our book club author for March! She sent me her book for review.

Summary:

Twenty years ago, several people were murdered in Des Moines, and the only evidence left behind was a snowman ornament hanging on a tree on their front lawns. With a suspect behind bars, the killings have come to an end--or so everyone thought. But now crimes with a similar MO are happening in a small Iowa town, and a local detective believes the killer is back and ready to strike again.

With little time on the clock before they have another murder on their hands, private investigators River Ryland and Tony St. Clair must work alongside Tony's father to find evidence that will uncover an evil that has survived for far too long. As the danger mounts and the suspect closes in, it will take all they have to catch a killer--before he catches one of them.

My Review:

Wow, Cold Threat was such a nail biter! Book one in this series reminded me a lot of the author's The Quantico Files series. This one really stood out on its own!

River and Tony head to Iowa to help his dad solve a cold case while still trying to figure out who the Strangler's partner is. The same one that seems intent on taking out River. Needless to say, that partner is never far from River's mind.

As they begin to untangle the mystery of whether or not the same person is responsible for the new crimes being done where his father lives, they still have to deal with the Strangler's partner threatening River. Being with Tony's family while trying to figure the new crimes out adds a whole layer of stress neither of them was prepared for.

River is dealing with a lot: her past, her mom's health & their fractured relationship, her absent father wanting back into their lives, her "relationship" with Tony, and her fragile faith. I can tell you, you can feel her struggle in each situation. It's so wonderful when Tony comes alongside her to encourage her and speak Truth to her.

I'll admit there was a bit of a creep factor with the crimes. Reading as it all unfolded and as they started to connect the dots, came with a lot of twists and turns. I had no clue who cold be behind those crimes until almost the end!

The faith in this story... let me tell you! It's strong and beautiful! I'm so grateful when author's make faith, a struggle with faith, and/or a growing faith as a major part of a character's growth. It was so well done in this story and I loved it!

I'm really looking forward to book three!



About the Author:

Nancy Mehl (NancyMehl.com) is the author of more than fifty books, a Parable and ECPA bestseller, and the winner of an ACFW Book of the Year Award, a Carol Award, and the Daphne du Maurier Award. She has also been a finalist for the Christy Award. Nancy writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband, Norman, and their puggle, Watson.

Monday, February 26, 2024

Love In The Storm By Mandi Blake

Love in the Storm
by Mandi Blake
Publisher: Independent
Series: Love in Blackwater
ISBN: 978-1953372499

Who knew how easily I'd start really enjoying romance stories? When you have a great author, I guess anything is possible. I mean, I "do" enjoy a good romance now and again, but Mandi Blake makes me want to read them more often. She sent me her book for review!

Summary:

When she's snowed in with the handsome man who doesn't remember arresting her, she might get a second chance at a first impression. 

Lyric Woods has been sober for years now, but nothing about picking herself up from rock bottom has been easy. She’s behind on bills and on the verge of getting evicted, still paying for the mistakes of her past. When she is stranded with the police officer who doesn't remember her, she's afraid to reveal her secret.

Asa Scott isn’t complaining about being stranded with the beautiful Lyric. The kind woman tending his wounds after a wreck in the storm is the first to make him think he could move on after his wife’s death. But when he finds out about her record, he can't reconcile the woman from the past with the woman who cared for him at the cabin.

When Lyric needs his help after they’re rescued, Asa hopes they'll both get a chance to mend the wounds of the past.

Despite his fears, Asa can’t fight the way he feels about the resilient woman who helped him. But when it looks like Lyric has fallen back into her old ways, will Asa trust the evidence or believe the woman he’s falling for and fight to clear her name?

If you loved the Blackwater Ranch series and the Wolf Creek Ranch series, get ready to fall in love all over again in Blackwater, Wyoming.


My Review:

If you love a good romance, you don't want to miss Love in the Storm!

The build up to Asa and Lyric being stuck in a cabin for a few days sets the stage for everything else to come. The snow storm forces the two of them to spend several days together and that time is well spent as they got to know each other.

Unfortunately, Lyric's past keeps her guarded, but a glimmer of hope shines through with Asa's kindness. Asa is one of the good guys. He's everything you want in a story's main male character because he's also not perfect.

Lyric's past, and her actual connection to Asa is brought to the forefront of the story. There was so much to appreciate about this story of redemption from each character's perspective as well as the supporting characters. We know that when someone is in recovery that it can truly take a village (or in this case, a small town). 

It was really realistic in that Asa is a widower with a young son. Any relationship he has with Lyric will impact his son and he has to take that into consideration. It's also a reminder that once an addict, not always an active addict. So many lessons for readers to learn in the story.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the amount of faith that is woven through the story! Reminders of God's forgiveness, prayer, forgiveness, and trust are the tip of the iceberg. The author did a wonderful job of seamlessly including it as part of the story.

About the Author:

Mandi Blake was born and raised in Alabama where she lives with her husband and daughter, but her southern heart loves to travel. Reading has been her favorite hobby for as long as she can remember, but writing is her passion. She loves a good happily ever after in her sweet Christian romance books and loves to see her characters' relationships grow closer to God and each other.

You can sign up for her newsletter and get the free novella, South of Skye, and the free full-length book, A Thousand Words.

Friday, February 23, 2024

Embers In The London Sky By Sarah Sundin

Embers in the London Sky
by Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 9780800741853

If you've never read a Sarah Sundin story, you're missing out. If you're a fan of WWII stories, you don't want to miss this one! She sent me her book for review.

Summary:

London, 1940

As the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940, Aleida van der Zee Martens escapes to London to wait out the occupation. Separated from her three-year-old son, Theo, in the process, the young widow desperately searches for her little boy even as she works for an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside.

When German bombs set London ablaze, BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports on the Blitz, eager to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. But the Germans are not the only ones Londoners have to fear as a series of murders flame up amid the ashes. 

The deaths hit close to home for Hugh, and Aleida needs his help to locate her missing son. As they work together, they grow closer and closer, both to each other and the answers they seek. But time is running short--and the worst is yet to come.

My Review:

Sarah Sundin has such a gift for bringing WWII to life in her stories. They always compel me to want to do better if I'm ever in situations like her characters! 

In Embers in the London Sky, Aleida is thrown into a nightmare no one would ever want to live. She's separated from her 3yr old son as they try to escape the Netherlands. Her only hope is that he's made it to England and she'll be able to find him once she gets there. Your heart just breaks for all she goes through.

Once she finally makes it to London, Hugh, a BBC radio correspondent comes along at just the right time and Aleida tries to convince him to tell her story! You can sense his compassion immediately, but he's up against various obstacles. Some botched reports and being seen as man who takes his job as a lark doesn't lend to him getting to do the work her truly wants. I was also fascinated by the work Aleida volunteered for! 

Then the murders start happening. People are dropping like flies and none of it makes sense. They have a list of suspects, but none of them seem to have a reason for truly harming someone. Hugh is trying to figure it out while also helping Aleida find Theo. Around every turn they seem to hit a brick wall. I'll admit, the end had me more than a little surprised!

I think the author did a really great job of capturing Aleida's OCD and Hugh's gentleness in trying to help her cope through various situations. Also, the abuse from her husband is palpable at the start of the story and you can see the lasting effect is has on her. While the abuse is never shown, her fear, his treatment of her & their son, and his words convey just how awful he is. Thank goodness for the faith thread throughout the story!

About the Author:

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of When Twilight BreaksUntil Leaves Fall in ParisThe Sound of Light, and the popular WWII series Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award winner and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from BooklistLibrary Journal, and Publishers Weekly, and have appeared on Booklist's "101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years." Sarah lives in California. Visit SarahSundin.com for more information.

 
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Woven by Words by Mimi B is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.