Lone Star Sweetheart By Shannon Sue Dunlap

Lone Star Sweetheart

by Shannon Sue Dunlap

Publisher: Scrivenings Press

Series: Sweetheart Series

ISBN: 978-1649172860

It was so fun to hear from the author asking if I would join her launch team for her debut novel. Reading what the story was about and seeing the cover, I couldn't resist. I was thrilled when she went me her book for this review.

Summary:

Katherine Bruno’s passionate, unfiltered temper makes her the shrew of small-town Sweetheart, Texas. When she’s drafted to help the mayor’s wife run against her own husband, Katherine meets opposing big city political consultant Ryan Park. The good-looking, flirtatious campaign manager gets under her skin, but fraternizing with the enemy is off-limits.

Katherine must battle her lack of experience, campaign sabotage, and her growing feelings for Ryan as she strives to succeed. His unprejudiced acceptance of her strong-willed character beckons her heart, but his jaded rejection of God is an insurmountable barrier. Will Ryan return to his faith and stay with her in Sweetheart or leave when the election ends?

My Review:

What a super cute story! It was so fun being introduced to this author's writing.

First of all, the cover is adorable! There's no denying that. We're introduced to lifelong Sweetheart resident, Katherine Bruno. She's just been let go from her job and has no idea what's just around the corner for her. I liked her immediately. I think, because I relate to her unfiltered temper, I could understand her struggles with her unruly mouth!

The storyline was pretty amusing, with a little mystery thrown in to keep it moving along. The mayor and his wife are running against each other for the next election and it has the town divided. The mayor's wife convinces Katherine to be her campaign manager, which is a great fit because of her tenacity. Along comes hotshot, NYC Ryan Park who has been hired by the mayor to manage his campaign.

This is definitely a forced-proximity type of romance. The way that part of the story plays out is hilarious. This story would be perfect for a GAC movie. Ryan and Katherine get underneath each other's skin, but it also draws them to each other. It was so fun watching them work (and fight) together.

I really liked the faith part of the story. It wasn't heavy handed, but it was an important thread in the story. That comes along towards the middle/closer to the end, but I appreciated how it all played out with the main characters.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

About the Author:

Shannon Sue Dunlap lives in hot and humid Houston, Texas where she writes stories with a dose of laughter and a spoonful of love. Shannon loves traveling, chocolate, Jane Austen, and Jesus. She's a big fan of happy endings and believes the heavenly Father has tailor-made one for each of us. You can find out more at www.shannonsuedunlap.com.

The Girl with Fire in Her Veins By Dawn Ford + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Girl with Fire in Her Veins by Dawn Ford, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Girl with Fire in Her Veins
Series: Firebird #2
Author: Dawn Ford
Publisher: Expanse Books
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Genre: YA Fantasy

Former servant girl Tambrynn struggles with her new firebird abilities, especially the internal fire she cannot control. So, she, along with her Watcher Lucas, and her grandfather Bennett journey to a hidden mountain keep to find the answers she seeks before she sets the kingdom aflame. 

But there’s a new dragon who’s targeting Tambrynn, a mergirl who wishes to manipulate her, and the froggen king, Siltworth, who hasn’t forgotten that Tambrynn destroyed his watery reign. When her father, the evil mage Thoron, attacks someone she loves, Tambrynn’s group is separated and she has to face another powerful foe alone. 

Is she strong enough to withstand the deluge? Or will she drown in the fire and the flood?

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

My Interview With Dawn Ford

1) What genre of books did you grow up reading?
I read mostly fantasy, though my mother and aunts shared Harlequin romances and so
when I became a teenager I read those as well. My favorites were always fantasy, though.

2) Is it hard to come up with names of characters or places in your fictional world?
I love finding names for characters. Take my froggen character, Siltworth. I wanted a
snobby slickish character you couldn’t trust any further than you could throw a car. I think it fit
him perfectly.

3) What are the challenges of integrating a faith thread into a fantasy novel?
My whole intent is to put out something that I would’ve read as a teenager—long before I
became a Christian. If it’s too in your face, I wouldn’t have read it. I want to imbue a sense of
hope and light while subtly pointing to God. The good thing about that is my books are also
something that Christians can read without fear of the content.

4) Where do you enjoy writing and where do you find inspiration?
Nature is a huge inspiration for me as there are still so many mysteries that have yet to be
revealed to us, and what is revealed is so incredible to think about. Everywhere I go, I picture the
stories that went with the setting, or an object, or a life. It’s really endless when it comes to
inspiration.

5) If you could cosplay any of your characters, which one would you be?
I would love to become my troll princess, Horra Fyd, from my Woodencloak series. She’s
such a tomboy, has an amazing head of curly, red hair, and her warts are magnificent. I think it
would be amazing and appealingly fierce to dress up as her.

More Books in this Series

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About the Author

Dawn Ford writes fantastical YA stories with a fairy tale flair. The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes, formerly Kingdom Come, won the 2016 ACFW Genesis Award for the Speculative genre. Dawn also has a middle-grade twisted fairytale Woodencloak, which is the first of four books in her Band of Unlikely Heroes series. Dawn lives in Iowa with her husband.

Connect with Dawn by visiting dawnfordauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(5) winners will receive a signed paperback copy of The Girl with Fire in Her Veins plus a set of either star or flame themed Color Street nail strips chosen at random!

(2) winners will receive a signed copy of The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes along with The Girl with Fire in Her Veins nail strips

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 29, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 5, 2023. Winner 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

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

Israel: Beauty, Light, And Luxury By Tara-Leigh Cobble

Israel: Beauty, Light, and Luxury

by Tara-Leigh Cobble

Photography by Richard Van De Water

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN: 9780764240348

As a person who thoroughly enjoys The Bible Recap, my interest was piqued when I saw this new book Israel: Beauty, Light, and Luxury. I received this book for review thanks for Bethany House.

Summary:

Come discover the land of Jesus. It will transform the way you read your Bible.

Israel abounds with beauty. It is vibrant and thriving, stacked with delicacies and flooded with light. The desert is blooming and people are flourishing--just as Scripture promised. To the surprise of many, Israel is far more than deserts and ruins.

Pairing 31 rich devotionals with 350 gorgeous photos of Israel today, Tara-Leigh Cobble, creator of The Bible Recap, takes you on an unforgettable journey through the Holy Land. Since 2014, she has led boutique teaching tours of the country, learning its landscapes and stories. Glimpse Israel's features, flora, and people, all while making deeper connections with its biblical stories and truth.

My Review:

If I asked you what you think Israel looks like, what immediately comes to mind? For me, I think of a lot of brown desert, tan colored homes, and lots of old sites from Biblical times. While I think a lot of that is true, Tara-Leigh gives us a vibrant, stunning tour around the country!

When the book arrived, I was so surprised at how large it is! I didn't realize it's a coffee table book! Here's to actually wishing I had a coffee table. For now it'll be a side table book.

The photographer did an incredible job of bringing the country to life through his shots. I can imagine that they poured over thousands of photos he'd taken to get all of the "right" ones for this book. I have looked through the book several times since it arrived and find something new and beautiful each time. The details the photographer captured are gorgeous.

I think some of my favorite photos throughout the book include water or flowers, BUT for some reason, there's a photo of a man who is rolling a cigarette and I just want to squish his face because he's absolutely adorable. Get the book, you'll see what I mean!

The books starts in Joppa and uses Acts 10: 1-23 as a reference. Tara-Leigh gives an explanation of what life was like there and then explains the photo(s). As you move through the book (and the Bible) she also has various Scripture. For example, about a fourth of the way through the book there's a spread of some incredible looking food and she shares Deuteronomy 8:9. The book ends with the Garden Tomb. She and Richard really bring to life the various locations of Biblical reference.

At the end of the book there's a Photo Index, which I was so appreciative of. They didn't clutter all of the pages with text. We get to soak in the beauty of each photo. I don't think I'll ever get enough of this book and it makes me want to go to Israel even more now that I've seen what I'm missing!

About the Author:

Tara-Leigh Cobble's (www.taraleighcobble.com) is the creator and host of the daily The Bible Recap podcast, which has garnered more than 230 million downloads. She is also the founder of D-Group, an international network of more than 300 discipleship and Bible study groups that meet each week, and the host of a daily radio feature called The God Shot. Tara-Leigh lives in Dallas, Texas.

A Path To Acceptance By Lisa M. James + GIVE AWAY

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Path To Acceptance by Lisa M. James, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I received the book as part of the tour!

About the Book

Title: A Path to Acceptance
Series: The Prodigal Woman Series
Author: Lisa M. James
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: May 19, 2023
Genre: Christian Romance / Fantasy

Wanton. Tainted. Immoral. These were all words that could describe Penelope. After being forced into a world of harlotry to cover her parents' debts, Penny learned how to survive without feeling. When a mysterious man approaches Penny with an offer to free her from her situation, Penny soon discovers that leaving her tavern could not rid her of the reputation she gained as a harlot. Would anyone be able to see beyond her tainted past?

Abandoned by his father as a child, Ryland refuses to depend on anyone but himself. Surviving as a mercenary for wealthy landowners, he accepts an assignment to free a harlot from a life of slavery. Frustrated when he is forced to take her under his care, Ryland discovers there is more to this harlot than her beauty. Can her unshakeable faith bring him back to a Redeemer he has long since rejected?  

Discover the story of a tainted woman in A Path to Acceptance.

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

More Books in this Series

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Book Excerpt:

“But you do call upon the Redeemer!” I countered. “I thought I was respecting your

beliefs, but I don’t think you even know what you believe! You feel the Redeemer can redeem

everyone but you!” The words came out of my mouth suddenly, surprising her and myself. “How

is someone like me, who has wandered so far, supposed to believe in the Redeemer, when you,

who loves him so thoroughly, refuses to believe that she can be fully redeemed and fully

accepted? He has extracted you from that life of harlotry and your heart refuses to accept it,

Penny! You refuse to be healed! Even now you think you have nothing to offer but your body!”

Her face contorted in grief and I regretted the harshness in my tone. “Let this go,

Ryland,” she said firmly. “I beg you. I am not your concern.”

She turned and left, heading in the opposite direction than the tents we came through. I

cursed myself for aggravating her. I cursed myself more for wanting to chase after her, hold her

against me, and beg her forgiveness.

About the Author

Lisa M. James is a Romantic Fantasy and Christian Fantasy author. Her  novels have made the Amazon Best Sellers list for numerous categories, including: Fairy Tale Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery Fantasy, Christian Fantasy, and Religious Romance. She is committed to creating fantastical worlds with clean romances and diverse female leads. When not writing, Lisa can most often be found watching Disney movies or enjoying homemade chai. 

Connect with Lisa by visiting lisamjames.com to follow her on social media and sign up for newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of A Path to Acceptance & a Vera Bradley Crossbody bag (plum pansies print)!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 22, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 29, 2023. Winner 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

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

JustRead Buzz Blitz + Giveaway

Welcome to the Buzz Blitz celebrating 5 years of buzzing about books with JustRead Publicity Tours!

In the fall of 2019 I somehow ran across JustRead Publicity Tours. I know it was on Instagram, and I had to find out more about what they were doing! I'm sure they were touring a book I was already interested in and that's what piqued my interest.

Now, I'll be honest. When I signed up to be a host I had no idea what I was doing. In fact, I asked Beth SO many questions I thought they were going to stop choosing me to be on any tours. HA! Beth was incredibly kind and answered every, single question I had.

I started signing up for all of the tours that I was interested in and I was HOOKED! I did the bookstagram tours, social tours, blog tours, and review tours. I loved doing them all! There were lots of books that I wasn't interested in, but there were lots of other hosts who were interested in them. Just like anything, not every book or type of tour is for everyone.

Well, let me tell you how being a host turned into a JOB!!! In 2021 I had reached out to Carrie to inquire about any available positions. Sadly, they didn't have any. I stayed with my other job and then in 2022 we both decided it was time to split ways. Want to see God in action? The VERY last day of my other job, I received an email from Beth asking me to apply to an open position that had become available since Rachel was leaving. Seriously, I was shocked!! I went through the whole interview process and started with JustRead in January of this year.

I'll admit, it was very daunting at first. There was WAY more to learn that I could've imagined. I made numerous mistakes and figure I'll make more along the way. Beth and Carrie have been amazingly gracious as well as all of the hosts who have joined the tours since I started.

I am blessed indeed! Here's why you should join us!!

5 book bee perks

Blog tours, bookstagram tours, reviewer tours, etc. are different varieties of book campaigns. Readers who participate in JustRead campaigns are called hosts or book bees.

Various hosting options 

Readers buzz about books in a variety of ways through blog posts (spotlights, reviews, interviews, guest posts), social media posts (bookstagram, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), and posted reviews (Goodreads, Bookbub, and retail sites). 

Reader community 

Although reading is usually a solitary pursuit, enjoy a richer experience with community! Get to know fellow readers through comments, posts, and book recommendations. 

Author interaction 

Want to personally thank authors for writing books that you love to read? Authors often visit campaign posts to say hello, express gratitude, and answer questions. 

Exclusive giveaways 

Book bees are eligible for exclusive giveaways through the host newsletter and the monthly host giveaway in addition to tour-wide and occasional host exclusive campaign giveaways. 

Access to sweet titles 

Last but not least, the honey of the book bee life is sweet reads! JustRead promotes titles within Christian, wholesome, or clean reads genres with content notes tailored to conservative values when sensitive issues are present.

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About JustRead 

JustRead Publicity Tours, LLC provides readers with a steady stream of promotional and reading selections from Christian, wholesome, and clean reads genres plus exclusive participant giveaway opportunities! By equipping readers with tools and support to create positive, impactful bookish content, JustRead advocates spreading the word (aka buzzing) about books that inspire and are written from a Christian perspective.

Connect with JustRead by following on social media @justreadtours, visiting justreadtours.com, or subscribing to host or blog post email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 gift card (winner's choice of Amazon, Baker Book House, Christianbook, or Walmart)!
(5) additional winners will receive one print book from the JustRead stash and a JustRead bookmark!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 8, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 15, 2023. Winner 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 the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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