Christmas in Snow Valley (Blog Tour + Review)

Tour Schedule

     

Christmas in Snow Valley

 Christmas in Snow Valley is packed with six wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring romance into your holiday season.

Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there’s something for every wonder-filled child—and every couple who’s in love—or about to be.  

An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson Lucy Phillips doesn’t want to spend her Christmas vacation dodging her ex-boyfriend, so when he turns up at the airport to give her a ride home, Lucy panics and asks a complete stranger to kiss her. Although the kiss is incredible, Lucy never expects to see the guy again. Is it bad luck or destiny when Lucy comes down with a sore throat and the new doctor in Snow Valley is none other than the guy she kissed at the airport?

 Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis Christmas in Snow Valley is the perfect way for April Winston to introduce her city slicker fiancé, Scott Mecham, to life on a farm. If only Wade Hadley, hometown boy and high school sweetheart, will cooperate! But Wade has no intention of letting April go without a fight. This Christmas, Wade is determined to overcome their painful past and show April that she already has what she’s been seeking all along.  

Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn't pursue him or even seem interested. Ty's career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.  

The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart When Molly O’Hare gets a prediction that she will kiss her true love on Christmas Eve, she thinks it’s utterly ridiculous. But when she gets teamed up with Kevin Snow, aka her ex-boyfriend, to decorate a Christmas tree, things start to change. Too bad getting over the past is hard and seeing him kiss another girl is even harder. Now Molly is left with a choice—run away from home and heartbreak or let Christmas work out a miracle all of its own.  

Risking it all for Love by Kimberley Montpetit Succumbing to family pressure, Jessica Mason reluctantly comes home for Christmas. Ever since her high school boyfriend's death from a car accident three years earlier, Jessica and religion have not been compatible. So, when she visits Michael’s grave, she's surprised to meet the handsome James Douglas, Pastor John’s nephew, who’s studying for the ministry. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely-tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world upside down. Is she ready to take another risk on love?  

Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell As head of Snow Valley hospital's fundraising effort, Paisley Hackett barely has time to organize the craft show, cookie decorating party, and the annual Christmas Ball. What she doesn't have time for is falling in love with Clay Jett, the incredibly handsome bass player who sweeps into town. She's been burned by a tourist romance before and, with everything going on, Paisley will have to work overtime to protect her heart from Clay and his swoon-worthy
ballads.

 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Smashwords * iTunes

    

My Thoughts
What a cute collection of Christmas stories! With temperatures still allowing me to wear short sleeves right now, I was glad to read a book (or six!) set in snowy Montana. Snow Valley sounds like my kind of place ... with Christmas cheer bursting forth at every turn! I liked how the authors all incorporated some of the same aspects of the town, while also giving us a little something extra.

Fans of Christmas-time romance stories will surely enjoy this collection!

I received a free copy of this book from the authors in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Blog Tour Giveaway 
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/20/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway   

The Match Maker by Karey White (Blog Tour + Review)

The Match Maker

by Karey White

The Husband Maker series, Book 2

Available November 2014

222 pages

About the Book

(Summary contains spoilers if you have not yet read book #1 The Husband Maker)

It’s been six months since Charlotte and Kyle broke up, and the Husband Maker strikes again. Kyle is officially engaged, while Charlotte is still nursing a broken heart.

In an effort to get Charlotte out of her rut, she and her best friend decide it’s time for some good old-fashioned matchmaking. While Aleena arranges for Charlotte to meet up with a handsome Scottish tourist, Charlotte gets her two best friends together. But when sparks start to fly between Aleena and Angus, Charlotte is left feeling more alone that ever–at least until the charming Scotsman becomes more than just a safe, rebound guy and teaches her that maybe, just maybe, she can dare to open her heart again.

Buy a copy  |  Find out what others think

My Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed The Match Maker, which is the second in a trilogy. The book picked up right where we left off in the last one, and I was excited to see what would happen to Charlotte next. 

Perhaps because I'm in the throes of planning a vacation, I loved getting to "go" to Scotland through this novel. The author really brought the scenery to life, and Scotland is now firmly on my travel wish list.

This was another story where I was a bit torn about how I wanted things to go for Charlotte and some of the other characters, but I thought the author handled this tension well. She did a great job of building up two options but let me down easy when it was time to make a choice. 

***** POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT ******) And again, Charlotte is left in a difficult spot with no real closure to her story. As a result, I'm terribly anxious to read the final book in this series and make sure Charlotte gets some sort of happy ending. ***** END SPOILER ALERT *****

I thought this was a great novel. It's fairly light but still has a few gut-wrenching moments. I'm a huge fan of this author, and I highly recommend this series! [4.5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.

She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Karey White Online

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Giveaway

As part of the blog tour, there's a giveaway! The prize? A $75 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash! Ends November 23. Enter through the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*** Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Inspired Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  ***

The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky (Blog Tour + Review)

The Daughter of Highland Hall
by Carrie Turansky
Edwardian Brides series, Book 2
Christian Fiction / Historical / Romance
Available October 2014
WaterBrook Multnomah
336 pages

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About the Book

What if the title, the estate, the life of security and splendor… what if it isn’t enough?

Strong-willed and beautiful, debutante Katherine Ramsey feels ready to take the London social season by storm, and she must. Her family estate, Highland Hall, has been passed to older male cousin Sir William Ramsey, and her only means of securing her future is to make a strong debut and find a proper husband. With her all-knowing and meddling aunt as a guide, Katherine is certain to attract suitors at the lavish gatherings, sparkling with Great Britain’s elite.

When a shocking family scandal sidelines Katherine, forcing her out of the social spotlight, she keeps a low profile, volunteering with the poor in London’s East End. Here Katherine feels free from her predictable future, and even more so as a friendship with medical student Jonathan Foster deepens and her faith in God grows. But when Katherine is courted anew by a man of wealth and position, dreams of the life she always thought she wanted surface again. Torn between tradition and the stirrings in her heart for a different path, she must decide whom she can trust and love—and if she will choose a life serving others over one where she is served.

My Thoughts

I'm a huge fan of historical stories set in the late-1800s or early 1900s. I'm never truly sure if that's Gilded Age, Edwardian period, Regency, or what, but I love reading about those periods because it's so different from today. I enjoyed reading Carrie Turansky's first novel in the Edwardian Brides series earlier this year and was excited to pick up the story with The Daughter of Highland Hall. 

I loved reading about Katherine's debut season. The idea of being presented into society just fascinates me, and I felt like I learned a lot from this novel. She's a very likeable character, and it was interesting to see how she handled this time in her life. 

There's a lot going on in this book, with multiple story lines and points of view. At times, I wanted to stick with one thing to see how it would go, but this really did help round out the book. The faith message was strong in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed how these truths came through so clearly through the telling of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Daughter of Highland Hall. It's a wonderful period romance that I definitely recommend!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of nearly a dozen novels and novellas, including Snowflake Sweethearts and Along Came Love. She has won the ACFW Carol Award, the Crystal Globe Award and the International Digital Award. She lives in central New Jersey with her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, counselor and the author of several parenting books.

Carrie Turansky Online

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Book Blast & Giveaway | The Match Maker by Karey White

The Match Maker

by Karey White

The Husband Maker series, Book 2

Available November 2014

222 pages

About the Book

(Summary contains spoilers if you have not yet read book #1 The Husband Maker)

It’s been six months since Charlotte and Kyle broke up, and the Husband Maker strikes again. Kyle is officially engaged, while Charlotte is still nursing a broken heart.

In an effort to get Charlotte out of her rut, she and her best friend decide it’s time for some good old-fashioned matchmaking. While Aleena arranges for Charlotte to meet up with a handsome Scottish tourist, Charlotte gets her two best friends together. But when sparks start to fly between Aleena and Angus, Charlotte is left feeling more alone that ever–at least until the charming Scotsman becomes more than just a safe, rebound guy and teaches her that maybe, just maybe, she can dare to open her heart again.

Buy a copy  |  Find out what others think

About the Author

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.

She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Karey White Online

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Giveaway

As part of the blog tour, there's a giveaway! The prize? A $75 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash! Ends November 23. Enter through the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

*** Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Inspired Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  ***

Thunder by Bonnie S. Calhoun (Blog Tour)

Thunder

by Bonne S. Calhoun

Stone Braide Chronicles series, Book 1

About the Book

In post-apocalyptic America, Selah Chavez is crouched in long grass on a shore littered with the rusted metal remnants of a once-great city. It is the day before her eighteenth Born Remembrance, and she is hunting, though many people refuse to eat animal flesh, tainted by radiation during the Time of Sorrows. What Selah's really after are Landers, mysterious people from a land across the big water who survive the delirium-inducing passage in small boats that occasionally crash against the shoreline. She knows she should leave the capture to the men, but Landers bring a good price from the Company and are especially prized if they keep the markings they arrive with.

Everything falls to pieces when the Lander Selah catches is stolen by her brothers--and Selah wakes up the next morning to find the Lander's distinctive mark has suddenly appeared on her own flesh. Once the hunter, Selah is now one of the hunted, and she knows only one person who can help her--Bohdi Locke, the Lander her brothers hope to sell.

With evocative descriptions of a strange new world that combines elements of scientific advances, political intrigue, and wilderness survival, Bonnie S. Calhoun weaves a captivating tale of a world more like our own than we may want to admit.

Buy a copy  |  Read an excerpt  |  Find out what others think
About the Author

Bonnie S. Calhoun is Owner/Director of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, owner/publisher of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Northeast Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and the ACFW ‘2011 Mentor of the Year.”

She loves to write, but it doesn't make her happy unless there are the three B's...body count, blood, and blowing things up. She also has mad skills at coding HTML, and website design. And she lives in a log cabin in the woods with fifteen acres and a pond full of bass, though she'd rather buy fish at the grocery store. Bonnie shares her domain with a husband, a dog, and two cats, all of whom think she’s waitstaff!

Bonnie S. Calhoun Online

Website  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest

The Prequel

My copy of Thunder just arrived on Monday, so I haven't had a chance to read it yet. However, I did read the prequel short story, Tremors, last month and thought it was fantastic! You can download it for free (here) if you want to get a little background info on the series before you dive in. As for my thoughts on Tremors, here's a short review ...

Tremors is a short prequel to the forthcoming Stone Braide Chronicles. I enjoyed getting a sneak peek into this series and meeting some of the characters who I'm sure I'll be reading more about in the rest of the series. Selah is going to be a great main character. She's bold and a little angsty, which is always a fun combination. Selah's parents and brothers were interesting as well. I was also surprised (pleasantly!) at how much action was incorporated in these 28 pages——an arranged marriage, a murder, and some serious subterfuge.

I think it's important to note that this is a prequel and pretty much leaves readers hanging. I assume that Thunders (the first book in the series) will pick up where Tremors leaves off. I'm extremely curious to see how this series will play out. Great beginning! [4 stars]

The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford (Blog Tour + Review)

The Sea House

by Elisabeth Gifford

Available April 2014
St. Martin's Press
320 pages

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About the Book

Scotland, 1860.

Reverend Alexander Ferguson, naive and newly-ordained, takes up his new parish, a poor, isolated patch on the Hebridean island of Harris. His time on the island will irrevocably change the course of his life, but the white house on the edge of the dunes keeps its silence long after Alexander departs. It will be more than a century before the Sea House reluctantly gives up its secrets. Ruth and Michael buy the grand but dilapidated building and begin to turn it into a home for the family they hope to have. Their dreams are marred by a shocking discovery. The tiny bones of a baby are buried beneath the house; the child’s fragile legs are fused together – a mermaid child. Who buried the bones? And why? Ruth needs to solve the mystery of her new home – but the answers to her questions may lie in her own past.

Based on a real nineteenth-century letter to The Times in which a Scottish clergyman claimed to have seen a mermaid, The Sea House is an epic, sweeping tale of loss and love, hope and redemption, and how we heal ourselves with the stories we tell.

My Thoughts
The Sea House is a unique book ... making it a bit difficult for me to wrap my brain around and giving words to my thoughts. (It's not often I say that!)

The story is intriguing. The setting is beautiful! (Anyone want to visit Scotland with me now?!) The writing is lovely. The author has mastered a lyrical style that adds another layer to the story.

Books that go back and forth across two time periods are often to perfect. Personally, I felt that the historical storyline was better written, but I enjoyed the contemporary story as well.

Overall, I thought this was an intriguing book, and I'm interested to see what the author will deliver next.  [3.5 stars]

Please note: While this book has a redemptive storyline, it was written for the general market.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Elisabeth Gifford grew up in a vicarage in the industrial Midlands. She studied French literature and world religions at Leeds University. She is the author of “The House of Hope: A Story of God’s Love and Provision for the Abandoned Orphans of China” and has written articles for The Times and the Independent and has a Diploma in Creative Writing from Oxford OUDCE and an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway College. She is married with three children. They live in Kingston on Thames but spend as much time as possible in the Hebrides.

Character Meet & Greet w/ Clayton Fincannon from The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt

I'm pleased to welcome Clayton Fincannon to i blog 4 books. Clayton is the protagonist in a new book, The Mason Jar, by James Russell Lingerfelt.

i blog 4 books: What is the most interesting thing about you?

Clayton Fincannon: My parents and brother died when I was young, so my grandpa raised me on a Tennessee horse farm. For graduate school I studied at a private university on the west coast and served in humanitarian work abroad.

ib4b: What is your occupation?

CF: Full time writer, but an amateur. I’m also an amateur rancher. People ask me to come and speak to large groups about the future of humanitarian work. All that keeps me going fulltime, and I make a living at it all along the way.

ib4b: What three words would you use to describe yourself?

CF: Passionate, lover of nature, lover of books

ib4b: What do you do for fun?

CF: Read, write, and drink lots of coffee. I pretend I’m a great horse rancher when I’m home so that the old men in town don’t give me a hard time.

ib4b: Share a favorite childhood memory.

CF: Playing with my parents and brother when they were still alive. Dad coached our basketball team, my mom loved to cuddle with me, and my brother and I use to play in the waterfall, creek, and woods behind my grandpa’s house. My parents and brother were killed in an automobile accident when I was 12.

ib4b: What is your life motto or goal?

CF: Surround myself with my loved ones and pursue what I’m passionate about. That keeps me going in a world where so many of us want to quit.

ib4b: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

CF: I wish I could be more like my friends, sometimes. A few of them are fantastic lawyers, doctors, and engineers. I know I could do that with an education in that field, but if I’m not free to create literature and be outside with the farm, I’d go crazy.

ib4b: What is your favorite food?

CF: Grilled salmon or seared tuna. Being a horse rancher from Tennessee, you’d think I’d like steak, and I do, but I try to take it easy on red meat. I’ve eaten way too much of it in my past.

ib4b: What is the most important thing to you?

CF: My loved ones and the freedom to read and write and try to make a living at it. That’s why I left everything to become a full time writer and farmer. It’s all I wanted to do.

ib4b: What's your biggest pet peeve?

CF: When people I depend on are indecisive and unpredictable.

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About the Book
What if your old college roommate called, raving about a book someone sent her, calling it the most beautiful book she’s ever read? “But,” she said, “it’s about you.” The author is your college ex.

In The Mason Jar, Clayton Fincannon is a Tennessee farm boy raised at the feet of his grandfather. He and his grandfather leave letters for each other in a Mason jar on his grandfather’s desk—letters of counsel and affirmation. When Clayton attends college in Southern California, he meets and falls in love with a dark debutante from Colorado. However, when an unmentioned past resurrects in her life and she leaves, Clayton is left with unanswered questions.

Clayton goes on to serve as a missionary in Africa, while he and his grandfather continue their tradition of writing letters. When Clayton returns home five years later to bury his grandfather, he searches for answers pertaining to the loss of the young woman he once loved. Little does Clayton know, the answers await him in the broken Mason jar.

A story about a girl who vanished, a former love who wrote a book about her, and a reunion they never imagined.

Giveaway
James Russell Lingerfelt's debut novel, The Mason Jar, is hot-off-the-press and causing quite the buzz. It's even been optioned for a feature film and is in pre-production.

Catch the spark by entering James' Kindle Fire giveaway!

 
One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 19th. Winner will be announced October 20th at James Russell's blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective.