Lost And Found Faith By Laurel Blount + GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Lost and Found Faith by Laurel Blount, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I received the ebook for review.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Lost and Found Faith
Author: Laurel Blount
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: August 24, 2021
Genre: Christian, Contemporary Romance 

A terrible tragedy nearly broke him. Can love put him back together again? 

Widowed history teacher Neil Hamilton has lost his way—at work, with people and even with his faith. But Neil's shut-down existence is disrupted when a small toddler and his would-be foster mother, vibrantly pretty Maggie Byrne, come crashing into Neil's yard and his life. Can this absentminded teacher find himself again…and take a chance on love, too? 

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope. 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

ALSO AVAILABLE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Laurel Blount writes inspirational romances full of grit and grace—with characters who’ll walk right off the page and into your heart! She lives on a farm in Georgia with her husband, their four fabulous kids, and an assortment of ridiculously spoiled animals.

A enthusiastic multi-tasker, Laurel writes for both Berkley/Penguin Random House and Love Inspired/Harlequin. She’s the recipient of ACFW’s Carol Award, The New England Reader’s Choice Award and GRW’s Maggie Award. She’s represented by Jessica Alvarez of Bookends Literary Agency. 

Lost and Found Faith is Laurel’s sixth book—and five more stories are in the works! Stay tuned!

CONNECT WITH LAUREL: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Review:

This was the first story I've read by this author and it was a nice introduction.

Ok, this is going to be a strange place to start off with a review, but the toddler who steals the show was actually believable. Sometimes authors don't give 2 year olds the right vocabulary or behaviors, but this author did a great job. It's a pet peeve of mine when authors don't get this. :)

So, speaking of the toddler, Oliver helps introduce us to Neil and Maggie after wandering off from her house. I loved, loved, loved her foster mom, Ruby. She's a fabulous example of loving without conditions and that clearly had an impact on Maggie's life as she was growing up. She and the rest of the foster siblings certainly benefited being under Ruby's care.

I really appreciate how the author handled teaching readers about foster children and issues they deal with. She did it well through Maggie and Oliver.

Also, the faith element that especially was woven through Neil's storyline. He's had incredible heartache, but throughout the story you can sense God knocking at his heart. He does this especially through Maggie and Oliver.

This is a very sweet story with a strong faith element!

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive an embroidered dishtowel with Maggie’s favorite saying “The kitchen is the heart of the home” and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 23, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 30, 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 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.

The Barrister And The Letter Of Marque By Todd M. Johnson

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque

by Todd M. Johnson

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN: 9780764212369

I love book reviews that give me the opportunity to be introduced to a new-to-me author. That's what happened with The Barrister and the Letter of Marque. Bethany House sent me the book for review.

Summary:

As a barrister in 1818 London, William Snopes has witnessed firsthand the danger of only the wealthy having their voices heard, and he's a strong advocate who defends the poorer classes against the powerful. That changes the day a struggling heiress, Lady Madeleine Jameson, arrives at his door.

In a last-ditch effort to save her faltering estate, Lady Jameson invested in a merchant brig, the Padget. The ship was granted a rare privilege by the king's regent: a Letter of Marque authorizing the captain to seize the cargo of French traders operating illegally in the Indian Sea. Yet when the Padgetreturns to London, her crew is met by soldiers ready to take possession of their goods and arrest the captain for piracy. And the Letter--the sole proof his actions were legal--has mysteriously vanished.

Moved by the lady's distress, intrigued by the Letter, and goaded by an opposing solicitor, Snopes takes the case. But as he delves deeper into the mystery, he learns that the forces arrayed against Lady Jameson, and now himself, are even more perilous than he'd imagined.

My Review:

The Regency era is one of my favorites. It's so easy to imagine the time and setting during these years in England. The Barrister and the Letter of Marque was a different read than the usual Regency I read. I don't know if that's because the author is male? Well, I can tell you, I'll be reading more of his books now that I've finished this one.

While the book is just over 400 pages, it doesn't feel that way. It's one of those reads that pulls you into the story and you get immersed in it. I even shared on Instagram that the prologue totally hooked me when I started reading it.

I know this might be crazy to say, but I really liked that romance wasn't the thread of this story. There's the slightest hint and it doesn't come until way later in the book, and more so towards the end. I liked that it focused on the mystery surrounding the ship, its crew, and those wanting to cause problems. That, and Williams ragtag crew of two young men who were living in a home for boys and took under his wing, you've got a fine recipe for a terrific story.

William really came to life in this story. Who doesn't love a guy who leaves his titled family to hobnob with the commoners? If I was ever going to have a barrister, he'd be my go-to guy. He's like a pitbull that doesn't give up. I also liked that the two young men who assist him aren't "yes men". They, especially Edmund, give him a good run for his money, but also help William out exactly how he needs it!

Then there's Lady Madeleine. Goodness, could your heart go out to a woman any more than her? Her family is already suffering and their last ditch effort to save their good name sails into port and is immediately apprehended as a pirate ship. She makes you absolutely root for the underdog.

I, surprisingly, was able to deduce something early on in the story, which is not my norm. I don't think it has to do with the author giving anything away. My brain was just working extra special that day. hahaha But, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how he was going to allow the main character to flesh everything out so that it all worked to solving the case. Once you read the story you'll understand why I'm saying this.

In a way, I wish this was a series because I would've enjoyed reading more about Edmund. I feel like there's an extra story there. I'd love to see him come into his own as a barrister and win a case he leads. I mean, I can throw this out to the author, right?

As the author is a trial lawyer himself, it explains a lot of the intricate details to the case and how he was able to unroll this for the reader in such a believable way. I think his experience in this field showed through the writing in a very distinct way.

There wasn't really a faith element in the story in regards to the main character, but he did have Father Thomas whom he relied on. I always enjoy stories a bit more when the main characters have a crisis of faith and come up from under it or are transformed by faith.

I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

About the Author:

Todd M. Johnson(www.authortoddmjohnson.com) has practiced as an attorney for over 30 years, specializing as a trial lawyer. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as adjunct professor of International Law and served as a US diplomat in Hong Kong. He lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife and daughter.

The Luthier's Secret By B.M. Baker

The Luthier's Secret

by B.M. Baker

Publisher: Independent

Series: A Melody of Love

ISBN: 979-8694110945

I was so blessed to be offered B.M. Baker's book for review! It has been so fun getting to know her on Instagram. Then to be a teeny tiny part in her book (I won naming the tea shop and the author knows I love alpacas) I was overjoyed with the opportunity to review for her!

Summary:

Having accepted a dare from her girl friends, Vivian Kaminski must uncover the luthier’s secret...Violin luthier, Seth Layne, has a past he’d rather forget. Full of sorrow and pain, Seth lives a lonely life...thinking that is the only way to avoid further heartache.Vivian meets Seth through a less than ideal chance encounter and her compassionate side roars to life at the sadness in his stormy gray eyes. Dare or no dare, Vivian is determined to discover the reason behind Seth’s sad eyes and far from civil attitude.Seth just wants to make violins and be left alone. His job as a luthier, which is also his hobby, is the only thing that provides him relief from the chains of his past. When Vivian asks a request of Alex Martin, Seth’s co-owner of The Music City Shoppe, even that enjoyment is robbed from him.Will Seth be able to overcome his past and trust God with the future? Does Vivian have the courage to overcome a great loss and fulfill a strange request? Can a melody of love be strong enough to overcome all?

My Review:

If you love a sweet romance, look no further than The Luthier's Secret!

Vivian is a precious, innocent young woman who grabs your heart and you want to protect her just like Seth did the day he met her. Well, except for the fact that he wants nothing to do with her and I wanted to yell at him for not being nice to her. lol Actually their first meeting had me laughing out loud!

I honestly wish more books were written like this, especially for younger women. This is the kind of book I would've given to my teen daughters, and I was incredibly careful with what they read back in the day. If you're the kind of mom I was/am, you're looking for books that keep a young lady's heart and mind focused on the Lord while being able to see what a fictional love can look like. I think the story is lovely for any age.

The faith element was such a huge part of this story and as you well know, this is so important to me. There's good history lessons about hymn writers which made me go searching YouTube for one of the songs I wasn't familiar with. This faith spilled over to Vivian's family, who I ended up really loving! And, hello, who wouldn't love a family who raises alpacas?! When I finished this book I was left wishing I'd grown up in a family like theirs.

Then there was Seth. Poor fella. It was clear that this guy had deep pain, and that's where the mystery comes in. Vivian is determined to find out what's caused him to be the angry way that he is. The dare sets things in motion for her to find out. The salvation message in this story is a powerful one and it gives readers a good dose of hope!

About the Author:

B.M. Baker currently resides with her family in Central Illinois. When not writing or working her medical transcription job, she can be found making memories with her family, or playing with her Yorkshire Terrier, Snoopy. She enjoys crocheting, and is a lover of music, playing the piano, violin, and flute. She has been writing stories from the time she was old enough to hold a pencil, and has forever been a bookworm. She began writing her first novel as a teenager, and has since written twenty-plus books. A few have been self-published, with more to come, Lord willing! Her love of Jesus, music, and medicine is evident in her writing. Her greatest desire for her books is that her readers will be blessed, and be pointed to the Author of the greatest love story of all time.

Husband Auditions By Angela Strong + GIVEAWAY

HUSBAND AUDITIONS

by Angela Ruth Strong

Publisher: Kregel

ISBN: 978-0825447105

Because I thought the premise of this book was a fun one and original, I signed up immediately to participate in the I Read With Audra book tour. She sent me this book for review. Being that this was my first read of Angela's I was looking forward to trying her out!

Summary:

How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she's handed a strange present at the latest wedding--a 1950s magazine article of "ways to get a husband"--she decides there's nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can't get any more single, can she?

Her brother's roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love--Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it's an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she's looking for . . .

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.

My Review:

Oh my gosh! Husband Auditions was AH-MAZING! I've never read any books by Angela before and it was incredibly fun!! I'm pretty sure I laughed on just about every page until I got to almost the end of the books when things got a tad more serious.

This book was such a fun concept! I mean, there's a lot to work with having a list of ways to nab a husband back back in the 50s. The world had such a different way of living back then. Having the main character show that this list WON'T get her a man is a recipe for laughter. The author delivered it on a silver platter!

I didn't think it would be possible to laugh and cringe as much as I did with this book. None of this story comes off as forced or contrived. If this idea could be made into a believable book in the day and age we live in, this is exactly how I'd expect it to look.

Meri (short for Meredith - ahem, my given name) is so relatable, I mean, other than the fact that I got married young. She's so kooky and just lives her life as it comes to her. I could understand her desire to be married, especially at 30. I think many young women who reach that age are wondering where their future husband is and why it's taking him so long to find her.

Kai, yea, I can't relate to him. lol His butt dent in the couch might've been my goal as a teen, but definitely not as an adult. He also seems allergic to the idea of marriage. And goals. And being productive. I'm pretty sure the list could go on. When he brings the YouTube show, Meri Me, to life, this sure seems right up his alley!

Reading as they work their way through The List as they try to find Meri her future husband, you learn how cringe worthy life was for women trying to snag a husband back in the day. Sure, back then it wasn't nearly as facepalm-y, but as we follow Meri through some of them, I can't even imagine trying any of them. Well, aside from buying a convertible. That I would try. HA!

As for the romance in this story, the build up to the first kiss was exceptional! It will make your heart race and remind you of your first kiss! 💋 It'll put a smile on your face and warm your heart. It was just so well done!

The ending was a surprise, and I actually liked it. I don't know if there will be a second book, but I'd get it today if it were available! Now I want to devour all of this author's books. Yes, this book was that good for an introduction to her writing! You do NOT want to miss out.

About the Author:

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there's nothing else she'd rather write about.

She is the author of the Resort to Love series and the CafFUNated mysteries. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. Finding Love in Big Sky was recently filmed on location in Montana and will air soon. Her latest release is Husband Auditions.

Strong also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and teaches as an expert online at Write That Book.

Learn more at www.angelaruthstrong.com, and follow her on Facebook (Angela Ruth Strong Fan Page), Twitter (@AngelaRStrong), and Instagram (@ang_strong). 

Enter the GIVEAWAY with either of the links below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway or https://www.audrajennings.com/2021/08/win-copy-of-husband-auditions-by-angela.html (will be live 8/17 at 12:01 AM CST)

Set In Stone By David James Warren

Set In Stone

by David James Warren

Publisher: Tristone Media

Series: The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone

ISBN: 978-1954023079

Listen to me now. You HAVE to read this book. This entire series. Read them as they're published or get them once they're all out in November, but you do NOT want to miss any of these books! I'm on the launch team and was sent the ebook for review.

Summary:

Trapped in time, he'll have to use the past to fix the present.

Thirty-eight women. Dead. All the in the past. All because Detective Rembrandt Stone played with fate, and somewhere in time unleashed a serial killer. He can't undo their deaths, not anymore, but the serial killer is still at large, twenty-four years later, and now it's personal. Especially when the evidence points to the last person on anyone's radar: Rembrandt himself.

Now he'll have to use the clues from his pasts to track down the killer in the present.

But the killer is onto him and puts the one person Rembrandt loves in his cross hairs. Now, Rembrandt must outwit time to save the people he loves.
Because time is playing for keeps.

My Review:

Can I just start off by saying, 3/4 of the way through Set in Stone I was already wishing for the next book?

Listen, I'm not a fast reader, but when it comes to a Rembrandt Stone book, you can guarantee that I'll read it in one day. This story is just so captivating that there's really nothing that can be done other than read it the moment it hits my Kindle.

This time, in this story, things are a bit different - as if the past few days/20 years of his life haven't been different enough. No wrist watch so all Rem can do is live his life in the moment. Once again, I love that he talks to us, the readers, as though we're there with me, because we basically are, right?

I appreciate that Rem reminds us of the bits and pieces that have happened in previous books/times so that we're all on the same page in the current one. It kind of keeps us on track as to what's happened in other pasts. Kudos to the authors and editors for keeping all of this insanity together!

On scene again are Burke, who was much more chill in this book than any of the others, Shelby, Zeke, and our dearest Eve! It's so bizarre when they're living lives that are different than all of the previous books and I sit on pins and needles waiting to find out how things will change through the story and by the end of the book because we all know that with all of the changes happening during the time travel, things WILL change!

There were definitely some jaw dropping moments in this story! Ones I wasn't prepared for. Things start to piece together for one part of the puzzle, but then begin to fall apart for another. I'm sure Rem is thinking, "Welcome to my world!" As with the last three books, the ending is not at all what I expected and I LOVE it!

I don't think you can read these books and not wonder how things are going to turn out in every facet of the story. I'm becoming invested in more than just Rem & Eve's stories! I want them to go back to how things were at the beginning of book one, but then that means Danny is no more. Ugh! But then if they do go back, Rem has Eve and Ashley. C'mon book 5! I need you sooner than later!

About the Authors:

James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man's body. He's the best-selling, Christy Hall of Fame author of ten novels and loves to send readers on mind-bending journeys they'll remember months after they finish one of his stories. He's dad to the two most outstanding sons on the planet and lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in eastern Washington. More at www.jameslrubart.com

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award-winning author of more than eighty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. The mother of four grown children, and married to her real-life hero for over 30 years, she loves travelling and telling stories about life, adventure and faith. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com.

David Curtis Warren is making his literary debut in these novels, and he's never been more excited. He looks forward to creating more riveting stories with Susie and Jim, as well as on his own. He's grateful for his co-writers, family, and faith, buoying him during the pandemic of 2020, and this writing and publishing process.