GRATITUDE: THE ART OF BEING THANKFUL by Vickie Phelps – Book Blog Tour Bonus Review and Giveaway

 

gratitude bbt cover

GRATITUDE:
THE ART OF BEING THANKFUL

by

Vickie Phelps

Genre: Non-Fiction / Inspirational / Devotional
Publisher: Inspire Books
Date of Publication: July 11, 2017
Number of Pages: 92, 4.5″ x 6″

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Synopsis

gratitude cover

 

This ninety-two-page gift book is a compilation of devotions, poems, prayers, and lists of things to be grateful for. The difference between having what you want and having what you need is a principle some people never grasp. In the reading of this book, you may realize you have much more to be grateful for than you were aware of. Use this little book as a daily devotional or pick it up at random times to remind yourself that you are a blessed individual.

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Review_preview
gratitude xtra

I read Gratitude: The Art of Being Thankful at a time when there were too many distressing news – mass shooting, wildfires, friends of mine undergoing health crises. It was the absolutely perfect time to read it. How do you say thanks when people are dying, when you lose everything you’ve worked hard for? The booklet says you count your blessings. You focus on what you have rather than what you don’t have. You celebrate life.

Enhanced by Ms. Phelps personal anecdotes, Gratitude is an uplifting devotional that should be in everyone’s pockets and read daily. It’s a handy guide on how to say praises and thanks, on how to pray and offer thanksgiving. It’s the perfect gift and I am grateful that I received it.

 

PRAISE FOR GRATITUDE: THE ART OF BEING THANKFUL:

attitude of gratitude

 

“This little gem of a book arrived before we left on vacation, so I took it along. It became our shared devotional and ‘thought for the day’ outlook … and colored our time away with gratitude. This unique discovery is one to treasure.”
5 Star Review, Amazon verified purchase

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AboutTheAuthor

Vivkie PhelpsVickie Phelps writes to encourage, inspire, and influence. She has published 200 articles, devotionals, and essays in more than fifty magazines and contributed to several anthologies. Vickie is the author of the novels, Postmark From the Past, Moved, Left No Address, Waiting for Joy, and a devotional book, Psalms for the Common Man. Vickie is co-author with Jo Huddleston of the gift book, Simply Christmas,  and Writing 101: A Handbook of Tips; Encouragement for Writers.

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Amazon Author Page

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1st Prize: Signed Copy of The Art of Being Thankful + $5 Amazon Gift Card + Simply
Christmas & Psalms for the Common Man (non-fiction themed pack)
2nd Prize: Signed Copy of The Art of Being Thankful + $5 Amazon Gift Card +
Postmark from the Past & Waiting for Joy (holiday theme pack)
3rd Prize:Signed Copy of The Art of Being Thankful

(US ONLY)
NOVEMBER 7-16, 2018

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11/7/18		Author Interview	That's What She's Reading
11/8/18		Review			Hall Ways Blog
11/9/18		Review			Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
11/10/18	Excerpt			Kelly Well Read
11/11/18	BONUS Review		The Clueless Gent
11/12/18	Review			Chapter Break Book Blog
11/13/18	Guest Post		Max Knight
11/13/18	BONUS Review		Rainy Days with Amanda
11/14/18	Notable Quotable	Sybrina's Book Blog
11/15/18	Review			Forgotten Winds
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A SPARKLE OF SILVER by Liz Johnson – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

ASOS blog tour

A SPARKLE OF SILVER

Georgia Coast Romance #1

by

LIZ JOHNSON

Genre: Contemporary / Romance
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: October 16, 2018
Number of Pages: 368

Scroll down for the giveaway!

Synopsis

ASOS cover

Millie Sullivan plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of a palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where her great-grandmother was a real guest ninety years ago. When Millie learns of a lost diary that may contain the location of a hidden treasure on the estate and reveal the identity of her great-grandfather, she sets out to find the truth of her heritage — and the fortune she desperately needs. But it won’t be easy.

When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate’s private library, he threatens to have her fired. Still, her story seems too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up.

Get ready for a romantic escapade through dark halls and dusty corners that will have you holding your breath and sighing with delight.

Review_preview

ASOS foilA Sparkle of Silver is a delightful mix of whodunit mystery, search for family heritage, treasure hunt, and both historical and contemporary romance. Told with humor, wit, and reflective of the author’s obvious love of books, of romance novels in particular, A Sparkle is the type of book I enjoy reading. I’m thankful to Lone Star Lit for introducing me to authors I wouldn’t have found on my own. This is the first book by Liz Johnson that I’ve read and as I always say, it wouldn’t be the last.

I took to Millie and Ben right away. Their separate introductions were highly affecting. Millie’s desperate need to provide for her Grandma Joy and Ben’s altruistic desire to make things right with her mother’s victims made me root for them immediately. The slow burn build-up of their attraction to each other was laid out at a proper pace. Their eventual fall into love at the end was hard-earned and well-deserved. More than jewels or properties, love was the greatest treasure they found.

I also enjoyed great-grandmother Ruth’s adventures in the ’20s told through journal entries. They’re integral to the story and brought another dimension to what is already a fascinating novel. The historical tidbits truly enriched the story and gave the reader a proper sense of time and place.

There are actually quite a number of named characters in this book, both from the past and the present, but each is distinct, all contributed to the plot, and nobody overshadowed the main characters. Grandma Joy is, of course, adorable and so was Carl, Ben’s boss.

One other thing I appreciate is that for all that A Sparkle of Silver is categorized as a Christian romance, the discussion of faith is subtle, not preachy at all.

ASOS last pageHere are some of my favorite quotes:

“You’re not the bad choices you may have made. You’re who you are right now, and you’re the next decision you make.”

“Maybe a person’s story wasn’t like a book that became useless after the pages were too worn to read. It wasn’t about how much that person could remember. It was about how many lives they had touched. It was about making a difference in the little ways.”

“Real love isn’t love because it’s easy or always feels good. It’s love because you choose not to be self-serving.”

PRAISE FOR A SPARKLE OF SILVER:

“A mystery, a treasure hunt, and a split-time romance—all set within a beautiful chateau. What more could we want?”

~ Katherine Reay, author of Dear Mr. Knightley and A Portrait of Emily Price

“A charming romance about real people triumphing over real problems. Add in a dash of mystery, a treasure hunt, and old family secrets, and you have a story that will warm every corner of your heart.”

~ Victoria Bylin, award-winning author of Together with You

“Lovers of history will enjoy this treasure-seeking adventure through a historic estate, and readers will appreciate a story that turns up riches of the lasting kind.”

~ Denise Hunter, bestselling author of Honeysuckle Dreams

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AboutTheAuthor

Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson is the author of more than a dozen novels, including The Red Door InnWhere Two Hearts Meet, and On Love’s Gentle Shore, as well as a New York Times bestselling novella and a handful of short stories. A marketing manager for a Christian film company, she makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona.

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GRAND PRIZE: Print Copy of A Sparkle of Silver, a Tin of Georgia Peach Cookies, a Handmade Wooden Treasure Box;

SECOND PRIZE: Print Copy + $25 B&N Gift Card;

THIRD PRIZE: Print Copy + $10 Starbucks Gift Card

OCTOBER 10-19, 2018
(U.S. Only)

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10/16/18     Author Interview          Book Fidelity
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10/18/18     Review                    That's What She's Reading
10/19/18     Character Interview       Chapter Break Book Blog
10/20/18     Review                    StoreyBook Reviews
10/21/18     Playlist                  All the Ups and Downs
10/22/18     Review                    Reading by Moonlight
10/23/18     Excerpt                   Books and Broomsticks
10/24/18     Review                    Missus Gonzo
10/25/18     Review                    Carpe Diem Chronicles
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COWBOY CHARM SCHOOL by Margaret Brownley – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

CCS BBT Cover

COWBOY CHARM SCHOOL

HAYWIRE BRIDES, #1

by

MARGARET BROWNLEY

Sub-genre: Western Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of Publication: September 4, 2018
Number of Pages: 384

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Synopsis

CCS cover

When Texas Ranger Brett Tucker accidentally derails a wedding, he’s determined to bring the estranged couple back together…but he never dreamed he’d start falling for the bride!

Texas Ranger Brett Tucker hates to break up a wedding, but the groom—notorious criminal Frank Foster—is a danger to any woman. So he busts into the

church, guns blazing…only to find he has the wrong man.

STOP THAT WEDDING!

Bride-to-be Kate Denver is appalled by her fiancé’s over-the-top reaction to the innocent mistake and calls off the wedding—for good. Guilt-ridden, Brett’s desperate to get them back on track. But the more time he spends with Kate, the harder he falls…and the more he yearns to prove that he’s her true match in every way.

“Light and airy as cotton candy, this tale charms.”

~ Publishers Weekly

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Review_preview

CCS extra photoHilarious! This is my first historical western romantic comedy and I had so much fun reading Cowboy Charm School. It’s also my first book by Margaret Brownley, but will definitely not be the last.

From the first scene at the chapel to the Happily-Ever-After Epilogue, this book thoroughly entertains. With engaging characters from the small town of Haywire coming to life in the pages of the book, Cowboy Charm School is just the thing we need to take our minds off the harsh realities of life even for just a few hours. Frank is a bumbling hoot, Aunt Letty is a lovable meddler, Dusty just makes you want to hug him, and Ringo is a star.

The slow build-up of attraction between the hero Texas Ranger Brett Tucker and the heroine Kate Denver is as sweet as the candies she makes in her store. Kate is creative, kind, caring, and has a backbone of steel. Brett, with his earnest desire to seeing to Kate’s safety and happiness even if it means letting her go, is the perfect hero during these times when women are hurting and needing the assurance that there are still a lot of good guys out there. He’s why we read romance.

Original story with loads of humor, delectable candy concoctions, a little bit of mystery, and a whole lotta love – Cowboy Charm School is a five-star read for me. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

AboutTheAuthor

Margaret Brownley

New York Times bestselling author MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned more than forty-five novels and novellas. She’s a two-time Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is also a recipient of the Romantic Times Pioneer Award.

Her story, A Pony Express Christmas, will appear this fall in the Old West Christmas Brides collection, and book two of her Haywire Brides series will be published May 2019.

Not bad for someone who flunked eighth-grade English. Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.

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Signed Copy + $10 Amazon Gift Card
September 24-October 3, 2018
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9/24/18     Excerpt              The Clueless Gent
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9/26/18     Author Interview     Book Fidelity
9/26/18     Top Ten List         Books in the Garden
9/27/18     Review               Momma on the Rocks
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MISTLETOE MIRACLES by Jodi Thomas – Book Blog Tour Author Interview and Giveaway

mistletoe miracles bbt cover

MISTLETOE MIRACLES

Ransom Canyon

by

JODI THOMAS

Sub-genre: Holiday Romance / Western
Publisher: HQN
Date of Publication: September 25, 2018
Number of Pages: 354

Scroll down for an exclusive giveaway from Jodi Thomas!

Synopsis

MM cover

A small-town Texas Christmas story, where hearts are lost, love is found, and family always brings you back home.

Griffin Holloway is desperate: the Maverick Ranch has been in his family for generations, but lately, it’s a money pit. He’d sooner marry one of his horses than sell the ranch. Marriage, though, could be a solution. If he can woo a wealthy bride, he might save the ranch—just in time for Christmas. Jaxon O’Grady likes his solitude just fine, thank you very much. But when a car accident brings the unexpected to his door, he realizes just how much one person can need another. Crossroads is the perfect place for Jamie Johnson: avoiding nosy questions about why she’s single, she’s happy to keep to her lakeside home. So she’s baffled when she gets the strangest Christmas present of all, in the form of a Mr. Johnson, asleep on her sofa. Who is he, and why does everyone think he’s her husband?

In this uplifting novel, three unlikely couples discover just what Crossroads, Texas, can offer: romance, belonging, and plenty of Christmas spirit. 

”Deeply poignant moments and artfully rendered characters create a rich story that transports readers to an idyllic place.”~ Publishers Weekly

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AMAZON          BARNES & NOBLE

AuthorInterview_preview

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JODI THOMAS

What are some of the jobs that you’ve held and how have they impacted your writing?

I’ve had many jobs over the years and I think all of them have helped me become a better writer. I’ve checked groceries, and I’ve worked in the library. I’ve also been a counselor and I think they all impacted me and my writing because they helped me better understand people.

What do your plans for future projects include?

I plan to write more books. Of course there are ideas in my mind that I’ll never have enough time to write, but the stories will still come. There are stories that I tell myself that I don’t think I’ll ever get on paper. But one book that someday I’m going to write is a book about living the life of a writer. I think it’s interesting that writers develop in rare air, not pure air but rare air. And I’d like to write a book on that. I have a little room in my house all set up and stacked with ideas and notes, so someday I’ll get around to writing that.

What does your nightstand look like on any given day?

My nightstand has a bottle of water on it. It has a clock on it because I need to know the time even in the middle of the night. And it always has books. They’re usually stacked in the back of the nightstand and dribbling off on the floor. I have 100 books stacked up in different places in my house that I plan to read just as soon as I have time.

Do you have any strange writing habits or writing rituals?

Yes. Years ago whenever I mailed my manuscripts in, I had to kiss them goodbye. And the postman always thought that was crazy. But, I kissed all my stories goodbye. Now today the ritual I have is when I finish a book, I usually take an extra day and curl up and read it like I’m a reader, And if it doesn’t measure up, then I’m back to rewrites.

What is something interesting, funny that most people don’t know about you?

Most people don’t know that I do not have a sense of a right and left. That makes it almost impossible for me to back up. We share a wide driveway with the house next door and as soon as my neighbor saw me trying to back up, he now parks his car in the garage every time. I don’t think I’ll ever learn. People have tried to teach me. It never works, but I have a great husband who every night goes out, drives my car out of the driveway, turns it around. That way when I get up, ready to go, I can go forward. Thanks, honey.

AboutTheAuthor

Author Pic ThomasA fifth-generation Texan, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state, where her grandmother was born in a covered wagon. A former teacher, Thomas traces the beginning of her storytelling career to the days when her twin sisters were young and impressionable.

With a degree in family studies, Thomas is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Thomas enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A&M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer in Residence.

Commenting on her contribution to the arts, Thomas said, “When I was teaching classes full-time, I thought I was making the world a better place. Now I think of a teacher or nurse or mother settling back and relaxing with one of my books. I want to take her away on an adventure that will entertain her. Maybe, in a small way, I’m still making the world a better place.”

When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Thomas enjoys traveling with her husband, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo and checking up on their two grown sons.

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(No purchase necessary. Transportation is not included. Winner will have one year to select available dates. Limit of four people at the condo for selected dates. No exchanges.)

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WHISPERS ON THE WIND by Dana Wayne – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

 

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WHISPERS ON THE WIND

by

DANA WAYNE

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Book Lift Off
Date of Publication: March 7, 2018
Number of Pages: 277

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Synopsis

yNictRNgYou didn’t stop him. He killed her.

Dire warnings from a voice only he can hear makes Sheriff Cooper Delaney doubt his sanity. When a body is found matching one from a recent nightmare, he believes he’s gone off the deep end. The dead do not talk to the living. Or do they? One body becomes two. Are there more?

Heart broken by betrayal, Dr. Samantha Fowler finds herself starting over at thirty-three. When she meets the local sheriff, the attraction is instant and fierce, threatening to crumble the defensive walls around her heart. Once burned, twice shy, she vows to stay far away from him for the duration of her stay at the quaint B & B they share. But when she finds one body, then another, avoiding the handsome Texan is impossible.

He’s not done.

Quarry in site, he watches and waits. “I am the master. I cannot be stopped. ”The clock is ticking…

Review_preview

 

Dana Wayne is a new-to-me author, but based on Whispers on the Wind, I’ll be reading more of her work from now on. She managed to infuse this book with the right blend of suspense, paranormal, romance, and humor.

I quite enjoyed this book. It’s engaging with likable and relatable characters, plausible plotline, and swoon-worthy love story. I also like that although there are many secondary characters, they didn’t detract from the leads and they demonstrate the reality of small town living. There’s a balance among “good” and “bad” characters and that always receives high marks in my opinion.

I really like that Delaney and Sam are mature characters who act their age. There’s honesty in their instant attraction with one another. Even though it’s fast, their relationship developed naturally from friends to lovers.

I also appreciate the different facets of love in this book – love of pets (I adore Jack), of friends, and of family. The subplots regarding Jason and Eva enhanced the story even more.

All these things ensure that Whispers on the Wind get a stellar rating from me, but what makes this a keeper is the recipes. I’m really glad I have a paperback copy because those bonus pages are dog-eared. Dana, thank you so much for sharing Chocolate Candy Cake and Pecan Pie Muffins with your readers. Can’t wait for your next book to find more of those gifts.

 

PRAISE FOR WHISPERS ON THE WIND:

“Smooth pace and lovable characters drew me in almost instantly.”

“If you love romantic suspense, you are in for a treat!”

“Masterpiece! Dana’s ability to paint a picture with words is incredible.”

“Hard to stop reading once I started.”

“It has been a long time since I enjoyed a book as much as I did this one.”

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AboutTheAuthor

MLBbGe2wAwarding winning author Dana Wayne is a sixth generation Texan and resides in the Piney Woods with her husband, (and biggest fan), a Calico cat named Katie, three children and four grandchildren. She routinely speaks at book clubs, writer organizations and other groups about writing and self-publishing.

Her debut novel, Secrets of The Heart, was awarded First Place – Contemporary Romance, 2017 by Texas Association of Authors, was a finalist for the 2017 Scéal Award for Contemporary Romance, Reviewers Top Pick and included on the Top 10 Books to Read This Winter from Books & Benches online magazine.

Her next two novels, Mail Order Groom, released in April, 2017, and Whispers On The Wind, released in April 2018, both received 5 Star Reviews from Readers Favorite among others. She was recently included in the Top 50 Indie Authors You Should Read by calebandlindapirtle.com, an international book blog site.

Affiliations include Romance Writers of America, Texas Association of Authors, Writers League of Texas, East Texas Writers Guild, Northeast Texas Writers Organization, and East Texas Writers Association.

 WEBSITE   FACEBOOK  TWITTER   INSTAGRAM   PINTEREST   GOODREADS

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FIRST PRIZE: Signed Copy of Whispers on the Wind + Floral Fan + $10 Amazon Gift Card
TWO RUNNERS-UP: eBook Copies of Whispers on the Wind
(Open Internationally)

September 4-13, 2018

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9/4/18	Guest Post			That's What She's Reading
9/5/18	Review				Forgotten Winds
9/6/18	Excerpt				Chapter Break Book Blog
9/6/18	BONUS Review			Hall Ways Blog
9/7/18	Guest Post			All the Ups and Downs
9/8/18	Review				Carpe Diem Chronicles
9/9/18	Scrapbook Page & BONUS Review 	StoreyBook Reviews
9/10/18	Guest Post & BONUS Review 	The Clueless Gent
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