A Wish For Home By Jo Ann Brown & GIVEAWAY

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Wish for Home by Jo Ann Brown, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Mountain Survival
Series: Secrets of Bliss Valley #1
Author: Jo Ann Brown 
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: March 30, 2021
Genre: Christian contemporary romance/Amish

Caught between who she is…and who she was. 

Lauren Nolt hasn’t forgiven the Amish community of Lancaster County for shunning her parents. But returning as a successful Englischer working for large developers is just what she needs to get a promotion and give her parents the life they deserve. Coming face-to-face with her childhood bully, Amish widower Adam Hershberger, is the last thing she wants. Yet when her world’s shaken by a shocking discovery, Adam’s the only one she can confide in… 

Adam’s never forgiven himself for the part he played in Lauren’s past, nor what drove him to do it. But as developers threaten his great-grossdawdi’s farm, she’s the only one who can help. And with his little girl determined to bring him and Lauren together at every turn, keeping his distance is impossible. Now they must learn to trust each other—even as their secret feelings grow stronger. But is love enough to bridge the gap between their very different worlds?

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Walmart | BookBub

The trade paperback version of A Wish for Home is available exclusively at your local Walmart or Walmart.com

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My Review:

I actually didn't think I'd have time to read this book, but I'm sure glad I did! Amish novels always seem to refresh my reading palette. There's just something about them that draw me in!

Having never read any books by Jo Ann Brown and not really having read a lot of Amish, I was really impressed by this author. I felt like I was transported to Bliss Valley... in Ringo! I'll tell you what, this should definitely be a Hallmark movie! It had everything you would expect and more. Actually, it would be on the Movies & Mysteries channel.

I was actually surprised at some of the twists and turns in the story. There's definitely a couple of mysteries that need to be solved and it sure doesn't seem like Lauren is up to it once she ends up in the town her family fled from years ago. It was easy to imagine how uncomfortable it would be to immediately run into the person who made your life miserable as a teen. You could've cut the tension with a butter knife. Lauren has a job that she's protecting from another woman who would like to grab the promotion she's hoping for on top of important meeting she has to oversee. Wouldn't you know, those meetings are ones Adam is utterly against!

While I really loved the main characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary characters of Lauren's great-aenti Sylvia and Grossdawdi Ephraim. They were seriously adorable, especially when they were together. We can't forget Adam's daughter Mary Beth. Now that was a little girl with a lot of spunk!

The main aspect of this story, the fact that people can and do change, and are we willing to offer forgiveness really resonated with me. Like the scripture says, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." Of course, a couple of the characters made choices as adults that made it hard to see how forgiveness would come soon or easily.

Now, you might not expect a "fan yourself" moment in an Amish novel, but lemme tell you, there's one in here that will knock your socks off. I was like, "Now this is a kissing scene!" It was just sweet and powerful, but unexpected. hahahaha

Thoroughly enjoyed the story and am looking forward to more. I do have some questions lingering from this book, so I may have to reach out to the author to see if there might be a follow up story! :)

Here is an excerpt from the book:

She pulled off his gloves and tossed them next to his hat on the counter. She sneezed, and her hood flew back to reveal her face. All color washed from it as his gaze crashed into hers as he was about to say, Gesundheit.

The word shriveled on his tongue, and he couldn’t look away from her oval face. She was pretty with delicate features. Her light brown hair streaked with blond fell forward over eyes that were an amazing light purple.

Purple eyes, blond hair, headstrong, correct in everything she did and said.

His own eyes widened. Was it possible? Could the Englischer standing in front of him be a former classmate at Bliss Valley School?

Knowing he’d feel like a dummkopf if she said no, he asked, “Are you Laurene Nolt?”

She flinched, but replied, “Yes, but I go by Lauren now.”

She didn’t add more. She didn’t need to. He could hear her accusing thoughts as if she screamed them. This beautiful woman standing in his friend’s shop was the adult version of the young girl who’d been given the task of trying to tutor him when they were in their final year of school. She’d been cute as a fourteen-year-old, but time had enhanced the golden sheen of her hair and deepened her eyes’ rich shade.

Scene after scene exploded out of his memory as he recalled the hours he’d spent with her. Each one buffeted him like a fist, more painful and humiliating than the previous one. Back then, the humiliation had been heaped on her. He’d made sure of that, but now regret threatened to drown even the simplest thought as he recalled what he’d put her through when she’d been trying to help him. She’d done her best, and he’d ridiculed her for it.

He’d thought that part of his past was dead and buried, but now it stood in front of him. Not it. Her. With her chin raised and cold disdain in her eyes, she was a living tribute to the foolish things he’d done in his life.

He guessed she wouldn’t be leaving soon. Not when it would have been dangerous for her to try to drive her car with compromised struts. The storm would have the roads closed soon, if they weren’t already. She was stuck in Bliss Valley at least for tonight, and he couldn’t leave her stranded in the shop.

He owed her at least that much.

The urge to laugh clawed at his throat. He owed her so much more, but the best thing he could do for them—and for his family—was to get her somewhere safe tonight. Somewhere he could avoid her and the past she’d brought to life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Publishers Weekly bestselling author Jo Ann Brown has created characters and stories for as long as she can remember. After college, serving as a US Army quartermaster officer, getting married and increasing her blessings with three children, she sold her first book in 1987. Since then, she has sold over one hundred titles.  RT Book Reviews called her “a truly talented author.” She loves teaching and established the romance writing course at Brown University. She divides her time between Florida and Massachusetts with her husband of over forty years. Find out more about Jo Ann and her books at www.joannbrownbooks.com.

CONNECT WITH JO ANN: Website 

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Wish for Home!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 30, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 6, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Still With Us by Regina Walker

Still With Us

by Regina Walker

Publisher: Independent

Series: Then Comes Hope Collection

ISBN: 979-8595405010

Last year I was introduced to Regina Walker. In June I read book one in her series, We Go On. Not an easy book as it dealt with suicide and how a family survives and goes on in the aftermath. Well, she reached out to me and asked me to review Still With Us. What a powerful story!

Summary:

Worthless. That’s how Ella feels every time she wakes up. But when meth jolts through her veins, the ugly voice that tells her she isn’t enough goes quiet. She thinks she has the energy she wants and she struggles to break free from the draw the drugs have on her.

Torn between blaming herself and her ex-husband, Tammy desperately wants to find a way to get her daughter away from drugs and the abusive men preying on her. But nothing Tammy says seems to make a difference with Ella. Will she be able to reach her daughter before it’s too late?

My Review:

Ok friends, I'm not going to beat around the bush with this review. While this is a powerful read, it's also extremely edgy for Christian Fiction. We Christians tend to like the fluff of our genre's selections. Still With Us doesn't have fluff.

I will warn you, there's one chapter that will make you uncomfortable if you're not used to the rawness of the world and in your reading. What I appreciate about Regina's writing is that she's blunt and honestly writes like she has experience with the content. I was able to tell my husband that from my past experience she either has dealt with this in the past or has close people in her life who have. That, of course, makes this story even stronger. I could be way off base and she's just read book, too. hahahaha

Anyhow, Ella. The central character of this story is dealing with a LOT! We meet her as she's coming out of the hospital from being on a suicide watch after taking too much drugs. This 16 year old girl is a hot mess. It was SO difficult to read her story because I know it's just all too common. Her anger, her lack of self worth, her world is so off kilter that the drugs she's been taking numb it all.

All too often drugs come with a high price that most people wouldn't normally be willing to pay, but an addict does what they "need" to do for that next high. Unfortunately, it's to her detriment. The abuse she suffers, in more ways than one, crushed my heart. As a reader, you will want to skip those pages because it's so painful to read for many reasons, but please don't. There are too many of us who live in houses with white picket fences and stick our heads in the ground so we can avoid the reality of world around us.

My two cents is this. If you have never been personally affected by someone addicted to drugs or know much about what people go through when loving someone who is addicted, this book is just what you need. It's raw. It's base, but it's SO necessary because in our Christian world, we need to know what's going on. How those who don't know Jesus and are suffering need us to be compassionate and loving, especially when we don't understand what they're going through.

And yes, the Lord is a huge part of this story. Liz from We Go On, her husband, and son play an integral part of Tammy and Ella's lives. Tammy's ex and his wife make me want to go on a tirade. They're sorry excuses for humans in my estimation. Trust me, when you read this you're going to want to pop both of them in the mouth like I did. hahaha I was more like Liz's husband when it came to Tyler getting involved with Ella. I was very guarded to say the least. I mean, we have to remember, she's still 16 and an active addict.

I loved how once again the horses in the story play an integral part of all their lives. I know that during some of my darkest days my horse, Winston, was a comfort to me.

Now, there is one thing that did irk me about the story. There's one situation where honestly, Ella should've been tested for drugs and arrested. The fact that she only ever had close calls with police really bothered me, especially with the last incident. I think with everything that surrounded the incident, a drug test definitely would've been done and she'd have had a huge price to pay. As it was, there was no legal reckoning and I was disappointed in that.

Take a chance on this book. I believe that in the end you'll have a better understanding of addicts, especially young ones. Book three of this series will be coming out next month and it's going to be another tough topic. Going to have to hunker down to read that one, too. Oh, and by the way, I read Still With Us in about 4 hours. It sucked me in and wouldn't realize me until the last page.

About the Author:

Regina Walker was born in the beautiful state of Colorado. She moved to Oklahoma in her late teen years, where she has resided ever since. She likes to curl up on the couch and binge-watch crime shows with her hard-working husband. When she's not wrestling with a writing project, she can be found wrangling their children, riding their horses, or tending the garden. Along with finding horses on their small farm, chickens, dogs, and cats can be found at nearly every turn.

Regina crafts compelling characters facing some of life's hardest challenges. Her heart's desire is to always point toward Jesus through the way her characters face challenges, relationships, and adversity.

The Indebted Early By Erica Vetsch & Giveaway

The Indebted Earl

by Erica Vetsch

Publisher: Kregel Publications

Series: Serendipity & Secrets

ISBN: 978-0825446191

I'm so excited for the third installment of the Serendipity & Secrets series! Thankful to have been on the tour for all three books with Audra Jennings PR. She sent me the book for review.

Summary:

Can Captain Wyvern keep his new marriage of convenience all business--or will it turn into something more?

Captain Charles Wyvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life--especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero's dying wish is for Wyvern to escort the man's grieving fiance and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell.

When he and the ladies arrive at his new manor house in Devon, they discover an estate in need of a leader and a gaggle of girls, all wards of the former earl. War the new earl knows; young ladies and properties he does not. Still wishing to provide for the bereaved Lady Sophia Haverly, Charles proposes a marriage of convenience.

Sophie is surprised to find she isn't opposed to the idea. It will help her care for her betrothed's elderly mother, and she's already fallen in love with the wayward girls on the Rothwell estate. This alliance is a chance to repay the captain who has done so much for her care, as well as divert her attention from her grief. When Wyvern returns to his sea commission, she'll stay behind to oversee his property and wards.

It sounds so simple. Until the stalwart captain is arrested on suspicion of smuggling, and Sophie realizes how much he's come to mean to her. Now she'll have to learn to fight, not only for his freedom but also for his love.

Click here to read an excerpt

My Review:

Show of hands for who isn't prepared for The Indebted Earl because we know the series is ending! I know I'm not the only one who's sad. I thoroughly enjoyed this series as well as this final book! And go figure... I have ALL three books. hahahaha This is a rare occurrence around these parts.

There's so much to write about this story, of course without giving anything away, but there's a lot I want to talk about. I should probably start groups for people who have read books so we can discuss them. Anyhow, I digress...

As Julie Andrews would say, "let's start at the very beginning..." We meet Captain Charles Wyvern who is recovering from a run in with a French ship. He's made a promise to his right hand man to make sure his fiancé is ok. That springboards us into returning to the people we've come to know through the series.

Marcus' sister, Sophie, was engaged to Rich, but with him gone now she and his mother, Mamie, have their world turned upside down. The upheaval in their lives made me want to throw my book across the room. Just wait until you read it.

Captain Wyvern, who's lived his life on a ship since he was 12, knows how to run a tight ship, but it also means the crew sticks together and not only does his commitment to Rich make Sophie and Mamie part of his crew, but something unexpected happens once they reach his new home that expands their crew. Sometimes I didn't know if I should laugh or cry for these poor souls. In the midst of the craziness is the ever steady Mrs. Chapman. I seriously loved her. We all need someone like her in our lives! Her  and Partridge!

And yes, we get to spend a bit of time with Marcus and Charlotte. Oh, and their mother is just as obnoxious as ever. That woman would drive anyone crazy! hahaha Once Rich is out of the picture she's ready to go back to controlling Sophie's life. I just loved Sophie. You can tell what she's been through has dulled her spirit, but underneath the sadness her sass is still there. She needs it to protect Mamie as well as not to let her mother run her life.

I can understand the Captain's deep desire to head back to the sea and his ship. It's all he's ever known. Sophie's kindness and sweetness lure him to stay, but the sea is calling. The pull (which neither sees happening) of their hearts is so subtle because of everything they're going through. Not even they can see it. Sigh... seriously, so sweet!!!

I've already expressed to Erica Vetsch about my hope for a book series and here's to fingers crossed that it will happen!

Enter the Giveaway:

https://promosimple.com/ps/10ba3/the-indebted-earl

About the Author:

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota.

Learn more about Erica at www.ericavetsch.com or find her on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

Present Danger By Elizabeth Goddard

Present Danger

by Elizabeth Goddard

Publisher: Revell

Series: Rocky Mountain Courage

ISBN: 9780800737986

I'm ALL for adventure, especially when it involves being in National Parks! There's always something exciting happening. I was happy to be on the launch team for Elizabeth Goddard. I received an ARC for my review.

Summary:

Hidden crimes. Open threats. Long-buried secrets.
They'll be fighting for the truth--and their lives.

Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He's committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors.

When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn--one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he's failed her before. 

If he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts.

My Review:

If you're looking for mystery and some suspense, Present Danger is a good bet! Elizabeth Goddard always pulls some punches and the amount of surprises at the end had my head spinning!

Now, I would recommend pre-ordering her book because you'll get a notebook and it'll come in handy while you're reading this book. There are twists and turns that you'll want to keep track of and try connecting the dots. I certainly wasn't able to and thought about the notebook AFTER I had finished the story (of course).

I really liked Jack Tanner. He was fighting an inner battle throughout the entire story... oh, as well as solving murders and taking care of his aunt who has dementia. This guy is a man's man, no doubt about it. And then there's Terra (hello, love her name) who is also battling her mom's legacy and living in her shadow. Not only that, they have to deal with their shared past.

This storyline was so fascinating to me because I don't know anything about the laws surrounding taking things from National Parks. You learn a lot from the author about what's illegal. Things most of us wouldn't even consider, but wow, this was eye opening.

One of the aspects I like of this story was that Liam and Rae from Uncommon Justice series made an appearance. That was unexpected. You don't need to have read that series to understand their short stint in Present Danger. 

There was a lot going on in this story and towards the end it was a bit hard to keep track of things. My mind was definitely swirling to keep up. I'll be interested in book two because I'm not sure if it'll have all new characters or if there's someone from this story who could appear in it. Honestly, I'd love for Terra's brother, Owen to get a story!

About the Author:

Elizabeth Goddard has sold over one million books and is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty romance novels and counting, including the romantic mystery The Camera Never Lies--a 2011 Carol Award winner. She is a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense finalist for her Mountain Cove series--Buried, Backfire, and Deception--and a Carol Award finalist for Submerged. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry. For more information about her books, visit her website at www.ElizabethGoddard.com.

My Dear Miss Dupré By Grace Hitchcock

My Dear Miss Dupré

by Grace Hitchcock

Publisher: Revell

Series: American Royalty

ISBN: 9780764237973

Anyone else ever won over simply by the cover of a book? That's how it was for me. I didn't even read the summary (once again) because the cover grabbed my attention. Thank you to Bethany House for sending me my copy.

Summary:

Thirty suitors, six months of courting . . .
would it be enough time for her to fall in love?

Willow Dupré never thought she would have to marry, but with her father's unexpected retirement from running the prosperous Dupré sugar refinery, she is forced into a different future. The shareholders are unwilling to allow a female to take over the company without a man at her side, so her parents devise a plan--find Willow a spokesman king in order for her to become queen of the business empire.

Willow is presented with thirty potential suitors from the families of New York society's elite group called the Four Hundred. She has six months to court the group and is told to to eliminate men each month to narrow her beaus until she chooses one to marry, ending the competition with a wedding. Willow reluctantly agrees, knowing she must do what is best for the business. She doesn't expect to find anything other than a proxy . . . until she meets a gentleman who captures her attention, and she must discover for herself if his motives are pure.

My Review:

This was such a fun read! A clever Regency era take on The Bachelorette! I've never read any of this author's books before so the cover totally sold me.

Just like in the TV show, Willow is presented with men who her parents think will make good matches. Unlike in other stories where children are forced to do their parents will, Willow joins in their quest. As the future sugar queen of Ducré Sucré, she knew that she had to make hard decisions in regards to her future.

I loved the variety of men, except for the shysters, of course. I thought the activities Mrs. Dupré thought up were cute. It gave them all the opportunity to learn more about the character of each man.

I think readers will have their favorites to root for. I know one of mine, but can't tell you his name or if he makes it to the end (although I want to)! I felt for Willow as she tried to be honest and up front with her feelings toward each man. I also liked that for the most part we could read her thoughts for each of the men and her decisions. The emotional hills and valleys Willow has to go through exhausted me on her behalf. I couldn't imagine being in her shoes.

One of the men's faith becomes real to him and you can see his spiritual growth through the story. The same goes for Willow in her reliance on His and not herself.

I'm not sure if book two will introduce us to some other "American royalty" or if maybe Flora, Willow's best friend will get her own story. I'm hoping so because of her part in My Dear Miss Dupré.

About the Author:

Grace Hitchcock (www.gracehitchcock.com) is the author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a master's degree in creative writing and a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in history. Grace lives in Baton Rouge with her husband, Dakota, and their son and daughter.