Tuesday, November 29, 2016

A Mighty Fortress Birthday Bash—Character Spotlight

birthday

Who doesn’t like a birthday party? Faith certainly does. November 19th was the third birthday of her debut novel, A Mighty Fortress. To celebrate, she has all sorts of fun going on. First, she’s released a newly revised version of A Mighty Fortress. Second, she has most of her published books on sale. Third, she’s releasing the box set of all five of her novels for a special discounted price. And fourth, but not least, she now has the audiobook of her AMF available! Read on for more party fun.

Character Spotlight: Caleb

Name: Caleb Stuart

Background: Older brother, farmer, protector, scout, doubting, idealist. These are all words that could be used to describe Caleb. During the War Between the States, he was a scout for both sides so he could protect his family and their farm. What he saw during that time scarred him in ways no one ever knew. When his little brother died and his sister started transforming before his eyes, he began to question some of his da’s ideals versus what his mum had believed. It wasn’t until he came face-to-face with his prospective mail order bride that he really saw the way he should go.

About the Book

fortress

“Stay back!” Joshua ordered. He kept his eyes on the scene below while waving his arm in Ruth's direction. “Get deeper into the woods and stay down low to the ground.”

Joshua hazarded a glance behind him. He could no longer see Ruth and breathed a sigh of relief. In one swift move, he grabbed his rifle and lay flat to the ground. Extending the rifle, he aimed at the shorter man whose gun was pointed at Bradshaw.

Joshua and Ruth Brookings are traveling by stagecoach to finally join their parents in Montana. Attacked by murderous outlaws, the teens barely escape with their lives and must survive in the barren Wyoming and Montana territories and escape the man who's hunting them.

Seven years ago, Jed Stuart ran away from home and joined Tom's gang. Jed is tired of the lawlessness and wants out. The only problem? He is the boss's right-hand man and will never be able to leave. And what's one more stagecoach robbery, anyway?

Can Joshua lean on God's strength to keep himself and his sister alive until they find a town? Will Jed be able to face his anger or will it consume him completely? All three are running--the hunter and hunted. What will happen when they meet?

Audiobook

audioFaith is excited to announce that she partnered with Michael Stanton to produce an audiobook version of her book. We’re not sure exactly when it will be available, but if you sign up for her New Releases newsletter, you will get an email with the announcement.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

FaithFaith Blum started writing at an early age. She started even before she could read! She even thought she could write better than Dr. Seuss. (The picture doesn’t show it well, but there are scribblings on the page of Green Eggs and Ham). Now that she has grown up a little more, she knows she will probably never reach the success of Dr. Seuss, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.

When she isn’t writing, Faith enjoys doing many right-brained activities such as reading, crafting, playing piano, and playing games with her family. One of her dreams is to visit Castle City, Montana, someday to see the ghost town she chose for her characters to live in. She currently lives on a hobby farm with her family in Wisconsin.

There are many ways to connect with Faith online. All of them can be found in one convenient place: http://FaithBlum.com. On her website you can find links to her various social media sites and both of her blogs.

Giveaway

Giveaway

Faith is offering three prizes!

Grand Prize:

  • Audiobook of A Mighty Fortress (MP3 download)—Could be a short delay
  • The Solid Rock Notebook

1st Prize:

  • Feather Quill Necklace

2nd Prize:

  • eBook set of Hymns of the West: The Complete Series

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hymns of the West, the Complete Series

set

Faith also just released her first box set, the complete Hymns of the West series. It’s available for a special discounted pre-order price until November 26th and will stay at that price until November 30th.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQJ5V2F

About the Book

Two Families…
The Brookings family move from Illinois to Montana to start a horse ranch. Their journey to Montana has hazards of its own, as does their life in Castle City, affecting each of them in various ways.

The Stuarts have been living a secluded life in Tennessee since the matriarch of the family died. When Jed runs away, they seclude themselves even more until a letter arrives that changes their lives—one at a time—forever.

Two Worldviews…
One family has believes in God with their whole hearts, living out their lives to the glory of God. The other family believes in God in a general sense, but they have no commitment toward Him or His ways.

One Providential God.
A stagecoach robbery instigates their meeting. Two years later, they meet again. Another year and their lives cross paths again. What happens when God's providence brings two families with two different worldviews together in ways only He could have planned?

Mega-Sale

Every eBook in the Hymns of the West series is on sale. A Mighty Fortress is permafree, and the other eBooks in the series are $0.99. In addition, the spin-off novella series has a book on sale as well.

Links:

A Mighty Fortress

Be Thou My Vision

Amazing Grace

Lily of the Valley

The Solid Rock

Hymns of the West: The Complete Series

Life and Salvation: Hymns of the West Novellas 1-3

Faith also has the paperbacks on sale if you buy them from Createspace with the discount codes.

A Mighty Fortress

$2.00 off (8.99) with code: MBJB3XSY

Be Thou My Vision

$2.00 off (6.99) with code: GQ3KTJYY

Amazing Grace

$1.50 off (9.49) with code:93LQLRJ8

Lily of the Valley

$2.00 off (11.99) with code: TJXAYXD2

The Solid Rock

$1.50 off (10.49) with code: 7626YZAK

Life and Salvation

$2.00 (6.99) with code: V4Y5K46D

Tour Schedule

November 19

Bookish Orchestrations-Tour Introduction

Author Franky A Brown-Book Spotlight

Rachel Rossano Rambles-Guest Post

November 21

Writing Dreams-Author Interview

God's Peculiar Treasure Rae-Character Spotlight-Joshua

Zerina Blossom's Books-Author Interview

November 22

Precious Moments-Giveaway

The Overactive Imagination-Review of Be Thou My Vision

Perpetual Indie Perspective-Book Spotlight

November 23

Frances Hoelsema- Book Spotlight

Thought of Anna S. Brie-Author Interview

November 25

With a Joyful Noise-Guest Post

Bookish Orchestrations-Candid Author Interview

Firethorn Blog-Author Spotlight

November 26

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Character Interview with Ruth

Ladies in Defiance-Guest Post

November 28

Once Upon an Ordinary- Author Interview

Written Rest-Character Spotlight -Anna

November 29

The Overactive Imagination-Review of A Mighty Fortress

Jaye L. Knight- Character Spotlight-Caleb

November 30

Bookish Orchestrations-Tour Wrap-up and winner

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Let the Sales Begin!


It’s that time of year again, the rush of holiday sales. Looking to fill in your Ilyon Chronicles set or try out one of my previously published books? Good! Because once again, I’ve put nearly all of my books on sale, plus I have a discount on my entire Etsy shop! The image below is just a sneak preview of all the sales, most of which begin tomorrow! So make sure to check out all the offers on my website. And enjoy Thanksgiving!

sales
the-button-1692271

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Crannig Castle Blog Tour–Character Spotlight

In celebration of the release of the third and final book of Morgan Elizabeth Huneke’s Time Captives trilogy, I’m here to share a character spotlight! But first, about the book. (And don’t forget to check out all the other blogs taking part in the tour!)

civer

God, please look after Adriel. Keep him safe and keep him from acting foolish. And please help him to be able to find me.

Rae knew she could trust God to look after both of them. It was all she had now.

The Time Captives have been reunited. The rightful king has been freed. Now all that remains is to defeat the strytes who still hold a tyrannical rule over the people of Calhortz. But with their lack of soldiers, it’s a task that is easier said than done. They need allies, but are they worth it when it requires facing ghosts from their pasts?

Returning to his home country only brings the loss of Adriel’s family to the forefront of his mind. His determination to find Rae has never ceased, but now that determination could potentially destroy all that he and the Time Captives have been working towards. And his new-found faith may not be able to withstand the challenge.

Will they be able to set aside their personal struggles for the sake of the freedom of all or will they allow their pasts to consume them? Will they manage to win back Crannig Castle from the rule of the strytes? The fate of Calhortz hangs in the balance.

Crannig Castle is the final book of the Time Captives trilogy, a tale of faith, family, fantasy, and a fight for truth and freedom.

Buy Now

Kindle ~ Paperback ~ Signed Copy

goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47

Character Spotlight: Allan Hubbard

Physical Appearance: Dark hair, gray eyes, tall and strong

Age: 12

History: Allan was a fairly normal twelve-year-old boy, pretty good at school, interested in the military, wanted to protect and take care of his sisters. He wasn’t much into fantasy—Lord of the Rings was the extent of his fantasy interest—but he enjoyed G.A. Henty and Henry Rider Haggard. He’s one of the steadier siblings. His life changed drastically, however, when he and his family moved to Creighton Hill. He and his younger siblings began investigating the mysterious disappearances of their ancestors, which led to their excursion into the fantasy world of Calhortea. He led his siblings on a mission to find their ancestors, ending in their brief imprisonment in the dungeon. They then escaped and went on an expedition to free the rightful king of Calhortz. Allan’s leadership skills, as the eldest son, will come in handy as they prepare for the war to free Calhortz from tyranny.

Author’s Notes: I love writing good brother characters: Charles Watson, Edmund Rubin, Allan Hubbard… I haven’t got any brothers myself; that’s probably why I like writing them. I especially loved seeing his relationship with Jill. There was actually more of that in the original version of Creighton Hill, as it was from Jill’s point of view. It took me a little while to develop his character; Emily and Adriel were pretty much the only ones that leapt onto the page fully formed. Looking back at my old notes, it’s interesting to see what changed. For instance, he was supposed to be easily irritated. However, he’s one of the best characters at keeping his cool under stress. Other things stayed the same, though, like how he’s brave and chivalrous, and a true gentleman. I like for men to be gentlemen. The vast majority of my guy characters are, and Allan is no exception.

 

About the Author

MorganMorgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Books have always been a big part of her life, never more so than when working at the local library. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano and violin, and politics.

You can connect with Morgan on her website, blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Pinterest.

 

 

Giveaway

Join in the excitement of Crannig Castle and enter to win a special prize! The first prize winner will receive signed copies of the entire Time Captives trilogy. The second prize winner will receive a signed copy of Crannig Castle. The third prize winner will receive an eCopy of Crannig Castle in the eBook format of his/her choice. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

I Must Be Crazy (or How I Decided to Do NaNoWriMo)

blogpicture_nanowrimo_vrs1

That’s right, I’m doing NaNoWriMo this year! It’s my first time ever. I’ve done Camp NaNo for a couple of years, but never this. Whenever I would think of NaNoWriMo, I would always think “There is no way I’m subjecting myself to that. It doesn’t even sound fun.” 50K words is a lot. I love being able to choose your word count for Camp NaNo. It’s flexible. It’s not super daunting. It’s fun. So yeah, two weeks ago, NaNo wasn’t even on my radar. I was planning to get ready for the holidays and work hard on editing Exiles during the cozy indoor fall weather. Oh, silly me. In true author fashion, my plans all jumped out the window laughing hysterically at me. In their place arrived this new story idea, all shiny and exciting and demanding my attention. And not just a story idea, but one way on the opposite end of my comfort zone. You see, this story idea is contemporary romance. Now, the romance part is nothing new for me, obviously. I’m a hopeless romantic, after all. But the contemporary part?!

what

Uh-huh, yeah, contemporary. So I’m like, okay, cool, I’ll just write down these ideas in my future stories notebook so I don’t forget anything. Again, silly me. There go my plans laughing at me once more. Because guess what? There’s this thing called NaNoWriMo, and it would be SO PERFECT to write this story during it! I was a goner by this point. Resistance was futile. I gave in and somehow, despite all the extra life craziness happening this month, I actually committed to writing a whole novel in November. I’m insane! But then, for a writer, insanity can be the absolute best thing. If I manage to do this (is that laughter I hear?), then I’ll have a whole story that didn’t even exist a couple of weeks ago in only a month. Sounds good to me. It’s not like it’s going to significantly delay anything with Ilyon Chronicles, and maybe the change will help with that too.

So basically, all that semi-insane rambling was to introduce my NaNo project (i.e. my current “precious”). And I even have a temporary cover! It’s blue, people! BLUE. And below that, my brief synopsis!

NCM Temp Cover

Alexis “Alex” Jennings has had it with life. After losing her brother in Iraq, everything has collapsed around her. She can’t seem to keep a steady job and is failing to make it in her career as an artist—a career her parents never really understood or supported. Once she had faith to believe that all things would work together for good, but that faith died with her brother. Now she just wants the pain to end.

Riley Conrad served four military tours overseas until three bullets sent him home. After a year and a half of physical therapy, all he wants is to live a normal, simple life, and perhaps even open the coffee shop he has always dreamed about. However, the weight of failing his parents’ expectations doesn’t make it easy, and working as a bartender isn’t getting him anywhere fast.

Could a “chance” meeting between Alex and Riley set them both on the path God always intended?

So there you have it. I've set up a Pinterest board for it that you can check out here if you want to get a feel for the story. As a first time NaNoWriMo-er, I’m pretty excited. It’s going to be a completely new experience on so many levels. So here’s to hoping the excitement carries me through the next 30 days, and good luck to all my fellow adventurers! Oh, and feel free to buddy me if you feel so inclined! ;)

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Marrok MacIntyre Blog Launch Q&A

Today I’m bringing you a Q&A with fellow homeschooler and writer, Marrok MacIntyre, who is launching a brand new blog!

What made you want to start a blog?

I wanted my future readers to get to know a little bit about me and thought a blog was the best way to go about it.

Why did you start to read comics?

Well comics helped me learn to read. Books didn’t really interest me at the time but comics did so I became a better reader by reading comics about my favorite superheroes.

So you’re an artist, what made you want to pick up the pencil?

Honestly I don’t remember why I started drawing, first it was just something to pass the time, I think. But then I grew to really enjoy it. And to this day I still enjoy drawing all kinds of different things. From superheroes to dragon riders. From orcs to animals. Here I’ll show you some Dragons I draw from Donita K. Paul’s The DragonKeeper Chronicles.

gymn&metta(2)

ardeo&dible (3)

pat&filia (3)

What is your favorite genre to write in?

Well I really enjoy writing fantasy and whatever genera you call superhero.

Do you have a favorite Superhero?

Ohhhh that’s a heard one. I can’t say I have a favorite superhero. But I have more of a top 10 for both Marvel and Dc Comics.

Marrok is also having a special giveaway to celebrate, so make sure you check out his new blog!

Friday, October 21, 2016

Lena’s Triple Trick-or-Treat Cover Reveal

Trick-or-Treat Cover Reveal Banner - with candy

In celebration of Lena Goldfinch’s upcoming release, HAUNTING JOY: BOOK 2, she’s revealing three brand-new book covers! The two HAUNTING JOY books are light paranormal stories, and SONGSTONE is a fantasy romance. All three books are sweet—and slightly spine-tingling—young adult reads, perfect for cozy autumn nights!

HAUNTING JOY: BOOK 1

“A sweet and charming ghost story that completely won me over.”

—Lena Coakley, Witchlanders

Joy’s new dress has a secret—one with a little supernatural history, one that’s a little more than she expected.
It all starts one ordinary afternoon, when seventeen-year-old Joy tries on some thrift-store clothes. The little white dress fits perfectly. Trouble is, now it won’t leave her alone. Soon Joy is swept up in an extraordinary journey to help a ghost complete some unfinished business.
If only that didn’t involve Joy driving through dangerous intersections...
Or calling up her high-school crush, Nick...
Or getting stuck in a cemetery after dark.
Just how much is Joy willing to risk to uncover the truth?

HAUNTING JOY: BOOK 2

Joy’s story continues with another ghost, this time a boy who seems intent on disrupting her senior year…

SONGSTONE

“An original fantasy world inhabited by superstitious tribal nations and intriguingly developed characters.”

—Serena Chase, USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog
A dark, twisty tale of sorcery, tummy-tingling romance, and adventure, inspired by the folklore of New Zealand's Māori people.

Kita can meld song into stone—a skill called “storytelling,” which is greatly honored in a world with no written word. But Kita is slave to a sorcerer who practices black magic using drops of her blood. She fears he’ll use her beautiful gift for a killing spell, so she conceals it. Yet each day, his magic tightens around her neck like a rope.
Then Pono, a young journeyman, arrives from the other side of the island. He’s come to fulfill a pact between their villages: to escort a storyteller back to his village. Finally, in Pono, Kita sees her one slim chance at freedom—and she’ll risk her life to take it.

Covers Revealed - All 3

BOOK LINKS

HAUNTING JOY: BOOK 1

Kindle | Nook | Kobo | Audible | Paperback

HAUNTING JOY: BOOK 2

Coming soon!

SONGSTONE

Kindle | Nook | Kobo | Paperback

AUTHOR BIO

LENA GOLDFINCH writes sweet historical western romance / inspirational romance and books for teens. She’s always been a sucker for a good old-fashioned romance, whether it’s a novel or short story, young adult or adult, fantasy or realistic, contemporary or historical. Lena has been a finalist in several national writing contests, including the RWA Golden Heart and ACFW Genesis contests. She enjoys life in a quiet, small town with her husband, two kids, and two very spoiled Black Labs.

Amazon | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Twitter | Website

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

No tricks with this giveaway—just a treat for three lucky winners! Each winner will get a copy of one of Lena’s featured books (winner’s choice): Haunting Joy: Book 1; Haunting Joy: Book 2; OR Songstone.

Note: Paperback copies are only available to winners who are US residents. Ebook versions are available to all winners.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PERSONALITY QUIZ

Discover which hero from Lena’s YA books is your dream hero! Possible results include Nick from Haunting Joy, Pono from Songstone, Rundan from The Language of Souls, Jovanni from Aire, and Troy from Take a Picture.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Hide It In Your Heart Activity Book


More than just a coloring book, this inspirational activity book will help you relax, unwind, and enjoy some creative fun while hiding God’s Word in your heart.
The 35 separate verses and passages are printed in colorable word art with decorative borders, blank on the back to make them easier to remove and frame or display, if desired. Each one is accompanied by two different activities or puzzles featuring the verse or key words from it.

Hide it in Your Heart is an ideal Scripture memorization aid for Christian schools, homeschool programs, Sunday schools, or your own personal use. Children and adults will enjoy learning, practicing, and meditating on these artistically presented verses from the New International Version Bible.

Proceeds from the sale of Hide it In Your Heart will be donated to www.Christar.org to help provide a translation of God’s Word for a particular people group in East Asia who do not yet have the Bible in their own language.

Here are a few sample coloring and activity pages from Hide it In Your Heart. If you'd like to color them or complete the word puzzles, click here to access a PDF that you can download and print.
 
  
 
 
Hide it In Your Heart is available in paperback on Amazon. Click here to order your copy for $8.99.
HOWEVER, you can get it for 15% off if you order it here on CreateSpace with coupon code JZBVVBH8! The code can be used an unlimited number of times and will not expire, so feel free to order as many copies as you like for family and friends. Hide it In Your Heart makes a great gift for anyone who enjoys word puzzles, coloring, or God's word!
You're welcome to share the code with others, too.
Happy coloring!


 
About the Author:
 

Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published thirteen books (two YA action and adventure novels, four fantasies, a puppet script, five anthologies of her students’ poetry, and a Scripture coloring and activity book). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.



Connect with Annie Douglass Lima online:










Sign up for author updates and receive a free ebook of "interviews" with characters from her fantasy series: http://bit.ly/LimaUpdates

Monday, September 26, 2016

Crannig Castle Cover Reveal

Today I have the pleasure of helping Morgan Elizabeth Huneke reveal the cover of the final book in her Time Captives trilogy!

CrannigCastle

About the Book

God, please look after Adriel. Keep him safe and keep him from acting foolish. And please help him to be able to find me.

Rae knew she could trust God to look after both of them. It was all she had now.

The Time Captives have been reunited. The rightful king has been freed. Now all that remains is to defeat the strytes who still hold a tyrannical rule over the people of Calhortz. But with their lack of soldiers, it’s a task that is easier said than done. They need allies, but are they worth it when it requires facing ghosts from their pasts?

Returning to his home country only brings the loss of Adriel’s family to the forefront of his mind. His determination to find Rae has never ceased, but now that determination could potentially destroy all that he and the Time Captives have been working towards. And his new-found faith may not be able to withstand the challenge.

Will they be able to set aside their personal struggles for the sake of the freedom of all or will they allow their pasts to consume them? Will they manage to win back Crannig Castle from the rule of the strytes? The fate of Calhortz hangs in the balance.

Crannig Castle is the final book of the Time Captives trilogy, a tale of faith, family, fantasy, and a fight for truth and freedom.

image

Release Date

Crannig Castle, will be released on November 7th, 2016. Stay tuned on Morgan’s blog and Facebook page for more information and sneak peeks.

Preorder on Kindle now!

About the Author

imageMorgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano and violin, and politics. She is the author of Across the Stars and The Experiment as well as the Time Captives fantasy trilogy.

You can connect with Morgan on her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram, and Pinterest.

 

 

Make sure to stop by Morgan’s blog to see the other bloggers participating in the cover reveal!

image

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Blessed Assurance Blog Tour–Excerpt + Giveaway!

 



Who doesn't like a good mystery? I'm sure there are a few, but most people do like mysteries. What about a mystery within a mystery. Faith Blum's new novella is just that. First there's the mystery of who tried to dupe five mail order brides. Then Adelaide finds out someone is claiming she's a runaway bride. What happens to her? Find out in Blessed Assurance.

About the Book

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
 
Adelaide lost her parents a year before and now a rich man in town is making unwanted advances toward her. Desperate, she writes to two men and quickly accepts the one from Cheyenne, Wyoming. On the final leg of her journey, in a stagecoach with four other mail order brides, her suspicions are confirmed. Will she ever find a man she can truly trust?
 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IIU5XPK

About the Author  

Faith Blum started writing at an early age. She started even before she could read! She even thought she
could write better than Dr. Seuss. Now that she has grown up a little more, she knows she will probably never reach the success of Dr. Seuss, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.

When she isn’t writing, Faith enjoys doing many right-brained activities such as reading, crafting, playing piano, and playing games with her family. One of her dreams is to visit Castle City, Montana, someday to see the ghost town she chose for her characters to live in. She currently lives on a hobby farm with her family in Wisconsin.
There are many ways to connect with Faith online. All of them can be found in one convenient place: http://FaithBlum.com. On her website you can find links to her various social media sites and both of her blogs as well as learn about any events she has coming up. 
 

Excerpt

Adelaide adjusted to the new house quickly. It helped that Mr. Reese put her immediately at ease with his gentle, hospitable manner. After a few days, Adelaide went to his den.

“Come in,” he called. When he saw who it was, he set down his pen and smiled. “Miss Adelaide. What can I do for you?”

“You are the one who will be approving or not approving of any young man who wants to court us, correct?”

Mr. Reese nodded. “If that is acceptable to you.”

“It is.” She sat down across the desk from him. “Do you mind if I give you my list of expectations in a husband?”

Mr. Reese blinked in surprise. “You have one?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Did the man you wrote to fulfill them?”

Adelaide bit her lip. “No. I didn’t have the list then. This is something I started putting together after I arrived in Cheyenne. When I left my hometown, I just needed to get away and wasn’t as worried about it. Now that I can have more of a choice—” Her voice trailed off.

“I understand. Can I see the list?”

Adelaide stood up and handed him a piece of paper with five things written on it. Mr. Reese read it carefully while Adelaide sat back down. “This doesn’t look too hard to fulfill.”

Adelaide shrugged. “I didn’t want to make it too hard and these are the most important things to me.”

Mr. Reese nodded. “I’ll make sure no one slips past me without first meeting these.”

“Thank you.” She stood up. “Don’t go out of your way looking for them, though. I’m not in a hurry.”

“You’re sure?”

Adelaide nodded. “I’m sure.”

“All right. I’ll try not to do any matchmaking yet.”

“Thank you for everything, Mr. Reese. It takes a special man to allow five young women to live in the same house as him.”

“I always wanted children. This is one way to get them.”

Adelaide smiled. “And grandchildren, I’m sure.”

Mr. Reese chuckled. “Probably.”

 

Giveaway



Faith’s sister, Naomi, graciously hand painted two beautiful bookmarks for this giveaway. There will be one lucky winner. The bookmarks are made with Adelaide in mind. Aren’t they gorgeous?


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule 

 
August 26
BookishOrchestrations-Tour Introduction
 
August 27
Blue-Brown Books-Author Interview
 
August 29
 
August 30
 
August 31
 
September 1
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Character Interview (Adelaide)
 
September 2
Bookish Orchestrations-Tour Conclusion and Winner

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Book Spotlight–Rainland

Today I’m happy to spotlight Sarah Allerding’s debut book, Rainland!

Rainland_KINDLE

About the Book

When Thomas gets caught in a summer storm, he is sucked into the world of raindrops through a tornado. He learns he will not be allowed to return until he can defeat the lightning, which has been hurling raindrops from the clouds. Many adventures await him in this strange land. Is everything just as the raindrops say it will be? Is it the lightning they need to defend themselves against, or is there a much greater foe behind the disturbing disappearances?

Buy Now

goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47

About the Author

MeSarah is a homeschool graduate who enjoys using her imagination to write fiction. She is working on a degree in theology and hopes to eventually work in the church. She also enjoys umpiring baseball, writing devotions and Bible studies, reading fiction, and playing the guitar.

Visit Sarah and her website and on Goodreads!

Saturday, August 13, 2016

What do you want to see in an author newsletter?

newsletter-1247632_1280

Some of you may have noticed that I’ve completely neglected my emailing list for a long time now. Adult life has kind of hit me out of nowhere and left me scrambling to keep up with everything. As I attempt to better organize, one of the things I’m trying to get going is a bi-monthly newsletter. That has led me to ask, what do readers want from an author newsletter? I’ve done a little research and have a few ideas, but since you all are the ones who will be reading it, I wanted to ask you. I’ve created the little survey below. In the first box you can give suggestions of what you would love to see in my newsletter. Below that, you can pick the ideas that are most interesting to you. I plan to have the first of my new newsletters out next month, so your help and suggestions are greatly appreciated! And if you haven't signed up for my emailing list, but would like to, you can do so here. :)

Friday, August 12, 2016

Book Review—The Beautiful Pretender

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About the Book

After inheriting his title from his brother, the margrave has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble born ladies who meet the king’s approval to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina has only two instructions: keep her true identity a secret and make sure the margrave doesn’t select her as his bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

My Review: 5

The fact that I’m reviewing The Beautiful Pretender is surprising. You see, I never finished the first book in the series, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. For some reason, it just didn’t grab me at all and I had to put it aside. I didn’t expect to read any further in the series, however, after seeing the glowing reviews of The Beautiful Pretender that my friends were sharing, I was intrigued. I still didn’t think I would take the time to check it out, but, on a whim, I picked it up. I was very pleasantly surprised. This one drew me in very quickly held my interest all the way through. I really liked the characters and enjoyed the storyline. I’m so glad I took a chance with this one.

I received a copy of this book free from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Book Review—No Other Will Do

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About the Book

Men are optional. That's the credo Emma Chandler's suffragette aunts preached and why she started a successful women's colony in Harper's Station, Texas. But when an unknown assailant tries repeatedly to drive them out, Emma admits they might need a man after all. A man who can fight--and she knows just the one.

Malachi Shaw finally earned the respect he craved by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad. Yet when Emma's plea arrives, he bolts to Harper's Station to repay the girl who once saved his life. Only she's not a girl any longer. She's a woman with a mind of her own and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn't deserve.

As the danger intensifies, old feelings grow and deepen, but Emma and Mal will need more than love to survive.

My Review: 5

I am so behind in reviewing this book, but you know, life. Anyway, as I always say, Karen Witemeyer is one of my top favorite historical writers. I look forward to every one of her books. I really enjoyed No Other Will Do. I probably liked it even better than the last two books that came out. I loved Malachi, and Emma was one of the more likeable heroines I’ve read about. (I always seem to have issues with the heroines. I’m just weird that way.) This book was particularly interesting because it took place in a women’s colony. That is something I’ve never read about before.

I think the only disappointment I actually had with this book was the cover. I miss how the old covers looked. I thought it made Karen’s books more unique. This one looks too much like so many other historical romances. But that’s just me, and it did nothing to detract from the story. Seriously, if you enjoy historical romance and haven’t checked out Karen Witemeyer’s book yet, you absolutely must.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Song of the Sword Blog Tour–Sneak Peek and Spotlight + Giveaway!

Song of the Sword Blog Tour

Welcome to the launch of Song of the Sword, the second novella in the Legends of Light series! Although the history of Aslaria and the conflict between the Prince and the rebel, Tauscher, flows chronologically though the series, each novella is a stand-alone retelling of a favorite fairy tale. Each story in this nine novella series focuses on one of the nine aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit while also retelling popular fairy tales in a clean, exciting, and inspiring manner.

Song of the Sword August 5-7

A glittering sword.

An ancient oath.

A blackened rose.

And a melody which ties it all together.

Evrard and Roinette, twins separated at birth, are caught in a battle beyond their own limited powers. With their ability to walk in the melody realm, catching glimpses of the light and darkness underlying Aslaria, comes even more danger.

Deadly mistbenders. Writhing walls of blankness. Hateful drumbeats. As a warrior in the Melody, Evrard has seen it all. But his own ability in the melody realm pales in comparison to the Prince’s melody, the legendary prowess of past Wingmasters, and even the depth of his sister’s song.

To rescue Roinette and evade the trap almost certainly set for him by those who want his power, Evrard knows he’ll have to be careful. Even if he can find the Wingmaster’s sword, there’s no assurance he’ll be able to defeat a mistbender on his own. In the end, will his and Roinette’s efforts matter if the Prince brings an ancient oath to fulfillment, shaking the very foundation of Aslaria?

Available on Kindle, iTunes, and Smashwords

Add on Goodreads

Sneak Peek

Weary, with the claim that he has a sister still running through his mind, Evrard collapses into sleep as dusk closes over the recent battlefield.

Darkness swept about him as soon as he closed his eyes. Fragmented memories sifted through his mind. Rough gray buildings. Curtains of falling rain. Cold and mud and the predawn chill. Icy fingers and rough blows. The chafe of coarse rope. Over it all rose the distant sound of weeping.

The dream shifted to the present. To the Melody.

He was alone, standing once more on the knoll where he’d watched the battle. Death cloaked the field in shifting black shades, but pale stars glittered through ragged clouds and the waxing moon set the shadows in stark relief with silver slopes.

And Evrard was running, springing through the cool air, catching wisps of melody, drawing them in as he leapt from hilltop to hilltop.

East, always east. Toward the source of the song. Toward her. A wide valley opened up, but the mist he’d remembered from scouting expeditions was absent. Still he continued with a rush, up the hills along the borders of the Shadowfen.

Flickering pictures mixed with the low hissing hum of the mist which still lingered, thick and smothering. Evrard’s steps barely slowed as he skirted it, now springing through the fen itself, brushing aside reeds and serpent vines.

A light gleamed. The remnant of a song.

Evrard slowed, his steps faltering. Ruins. A sunken castle. Relics of an ancient settlement from the first age.

A string of notes swept across his ears and Evrard caught his breath, twisting around. On the edge of the billowing mist an old watchtower rose with windows facing the four winds.

A figure stood there, lit from within by a golden haze. Tall, firm, serene. Fair hair swept out of sight below the window’s ledge, and crystal blue eyes fastened on his.

For a moment Evrard stared, the lingering notes of song fading away into the dark drumbeat which had encroached upon his consciousness so slowly he’d been barely aware of its presence.

A tendril of mist swept across Evrard’s boot and he jerked back, shivering. The misty wall writhed and billowed like a living creature, then swept between him and the tower, deafening him with a thunderous roar. A figure rose up. Dark, grim with eyes glinting a steely gray.

His lips curled upwards as Evrard stared.

“Looking for your sister?” His voice was gravelly.

Evrard opened his mouth, but the figure vanished and mist swept over him with the force of a gale wind, leaving nothing but the echo of a laugh and the malicious choking grayness which itched through his mind, streaming along the songs connecting him with the falcons, silencing the notes, shattering the lines of song.

Spotlight

Evrard:

930b8859304ba90bf7439e53be470de0At nineteen, Evrard is one of the youngest officers in the Prince’s army. That he holds any position at all is due entirely to his ability as a Wingmaster, and he knows it. He also knows that he’s failing.

Wingmasters are the stuff of legend. With only one per generation, and the position passing on to the eldest child of the Wingmaster family, Evrard knows it’s through no skill of his own that he holds the abilities surging though his blood. Evrard can speak with the messenger falcons, organizing the reports they carry, as well as any other. But when it comes to his main duty in the underlying dimension of the Melody, that of battling the mist which seeps through portions of Aslaira, his strength can’t compare to the feats of his ancestors.

Still, with the falcon Andrinian on his shoulder, Evrard does the best he can to forget his past and draw strength from deep inside himself. With the climaxing battle of the war against the rebels breaking upon them, he can only hope his strength will be enough.

About the Author

Hope-Ann

Hope Ann is a Christian authoress who lives on a small farm in northern Indiana. She was homeschooled and now helps teach several of her eight younger siblings.

She has been writing for over five years, and has so many story ideas that she doubts she will ever stop. Her favorite genre to write is high fantasy with a touch of the allegorical. A close second is futuristic suspense. Her goal is to not only entertain with her stories, but to provide inspirational fiction for young adults.

Predictably, she loves reading fantasy, fairy tales, mythology, and futuristic suspense. Her favorite authors include J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Dickens, Frank Peretti, Mark Twain, and Serena Chase.

Her hobbies include photography, movie making, knitting, tree climbing, writing e-mails to friends, listening to Celtic music, and collecting shiny trinkets for story inspiration.

You can visit Hope’s blog at authorhopeann.com, or follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter.

Giveaway!!!

giveaway

I’m giving away a beautiful, one-of-a-kind mug with the Legends of Light logo emblazoned on its side, along with a Song of the Sword bookmark. Due to shipping costs, at this time the mug giveaway is limited to the USA. However, I do have a second giveaway of a $10 Amazon gift card, along with another Song of the Sword bookmark, for international readers! Please only enter one of the giveaways.

USA Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

International Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Blog Tour Schedule

August 2

Jennifer Kibble – Review and interview

Faith Blum – Spotlight on Andrinian

August 3

Keturah – Review and interview

Heidi Burke – Interview and sneak peek

August 4

Rebecca Morgan – Interview and spotlight on Punzel

Claire Banschbach – Sneak peek

August 5

Jaye L. Knight – Spotlight and sneak peek on Evrard

August 6

Ivy Rose – Review and interview

Kendra E. Ardnek – Review and interview

August 7

Bethany Smith – Review and spotlight on Roinette

August 8

Anna S. Brie – Review and interview

Olivia – Sneak peek

Amanda Tero – Review

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Cover Reveal—Lady Dragon, Tela Du

Lady Dragon, Tela Du Final-001

Today I’m taking part in the cover reveal for Kendra E. Ardnek’s upcoming book, Lady Dragon, Tela Du! I’m also sharing an image and snippet from the story. Here’s a bit about the book, and then, the cover!

Two girls with one face
Two girls with twisted fate
One in purple, one in red
One shall speak the other’s death
Who shall win their final war?
Lady Dragon or Tela Du?

Amber, the Lady Dragon, has been promised a fifty-year reign over Rizkaland and nothing can stop her from claiming it. But when you've lived six thousand years, fifty is such a pitiful number. Only one person can keep her from making this reign permanent - the Tela Du, a girl who shall share Amber's face.

The last thing Petra wants is a magical world interrupting her plans for a normal life, let alone an ultimate battle against the Lady Dragon with only one prophesied survivor. She has her childhood best friend, Reuben, at her side, but she's not sure if he's more of a help or a hindrance right now. Though she'd much prefer to just return home and forget about this whole crazy affair, things change when she discovers that the world has surprising connections to her own family - including her sister who disappeared without a trace two years before. Still, Rizkaland can't possibly expect her to risk her very life, can it?

Lady Dragon, Tela Du Final

Author Bio:
47-IMG_5944Kendra E. Ardnek is a homeschool graduate who picked up a pen at an early age and never put it down. The eldest of four, she makes her home in the Piney Woods of East Texas with her parents, younger siblings, giant herd of giraffes, and honor guard of nutcrackers. 

 

 

Blog: knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com

Official Website: kendraeardnek.weebly.com

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25873539-lady-dragon-tela-du

Preorder Book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JFUF3XE

Get the first book of the series, Water Princess, Fire Prince free today!

https://www.amazon.com/Water-Princess-Prince-Rizkaland-Legends-ebook/dp/B00YTQBTDI/

And CinderEddy:

https://www.amazon.com/CinderEddy-Kendra-E-Ardnek-ebook/dp/B00KZNW2TO/

Cover Design Credit: Benjamin Ingalls - https://www.behance.net/BenjaminIngalls

Story Image

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Note from Kendra: Even though Amber’s the villain and Granite still follows Alphego wholeheartedly, there’s still a lot of love between them. Mostly on his end, but she still very much relies on him. I love the expressions on their faces in this gif, her almost-expressionlessness, and his almost-smile.

Snippet

“Reuben, we are not going to follow a random stranger to his house!” Petra protested, realizing that Reuben was about to do just that.

“Petra, it’ll be fine,” said Reuben, confirming Petra’s fear. “We need answers about what we’re supposed to do here in this world, and we may as well get them at a house than standing here in nature. Besides, in books…”

“You do realize how often in books, the first person the hero meets is an agent for the enemy? Seriously, Reuben, show some discretion. We don’t even know this guy’s name, and you’re already agreeing to visit his house.”

“My name is Noraeto, if that makes you feel any better, ma’am,” the guy spoke up.