1-Year BIRTHDAY BASH for The Sound of Silver!!

Hello and welcome to The Sound of Silver birthday blog tour! I’m posting today about Rachelle Rea Cobb’s second installment in the Steadfast Love series, an inspirational historical romance set during the 16^th century!

Rachelle is also the author of The Sound of Diamonds, the first book in the series, and a newlywed! This summer, she married a man with the same first name as the hero of the series! I’m joining in this blog tour to tell you a little more about Silver and spread the news about the rocking giveaway Rachelle is hosting—make sure you enter using the Rafflecopter form to win the lovely necklace pictured and your choice of any of the Steadfast Love titles!



The stalwart saint and the redeemed rebel. One is fighting for faith, the other for honor...

After Dirk rescues Gwyneth from the Iconoclastic Fury, she discovers that faith is sometimes fragile—and hope is not as easy as it may seem. Gwyneth continues her quest to learn more about the love of God preached by Protestants she once distrusted.

Meanwhile, Dirk’s quest is to prevent his sullied name from staining hers. Will his choice to protect her prove the undoing of her first faltering steps toward a Father God? Once separated, will Dirk and Gwyneth's searching hearts ever sing the same song?

Find The Sound of Silver on…

Amazon Paperback: http://is.gd/1HwJoi

Kindle: http://is.gd/EZ7DJ1

Barnes & Noble: http://is.gd/qhoCTc

Books a Million: http://is.gd/M2y5P2

Goodreads: http://is.gd/iBE2lJ

Read my own book review on The Sound of Silver!

>> And if you want to learn more ABOUT BOOK ONE, The Sound of Diamonds

 
Her only chance of getting home is trusting the man she hates.

With the protestant Elizabeth on the throne of England and her family in shambles, Catholic maiden Gwyneth seeks refuge in the Low Countries of Holland, hoping to soothe her aching soul. But when the Iconoclastic Fury descends and bloodshed overtakes her haven, she has no choice but to trust the rogue who arrives, promising to see her safely home to her uncle's castle. She doesn't dare to trust him...and yet doesn't dare to refuse her one chance to preserve her own life and those of the nuns she rescues from the burning convent.

Dirk Godfrey is determined to restore his honor at whatever cost. Running from a tortured past, Dirk knows he has only one chance at redemption, and it lies with the lovely Gwyneth, who hates him for the crimes she thinks he committed. He must see her to safety, prove to the world that he is innocent, prove that her poor eyesight is not the only thing that has blinded her, but what is he to do when those goals clash?

The home Gwyneth knew is not what she once thought. When a dark secret and a twisted plot for power collide in a castle masquerading as a haven, the saint and the sinner must either dare to hold to hope...or be overcome.

Find The Sound of Diamonds on…

Amazon: http://is.gd/7z9vls

Kindle: http://is.gd/EZ7DJ1

Barnes & Noble: http://is.gd/qhoCTc

Books a Million: http://is.gd/M2y5P2

Goodreads: http://is.gd/F7HILk

Read my own book review on The Sound of Diamonds!

WANT TO WIN???

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below to win a beautiful necklace created by Baubles, Beads, and Stuff and your choice of any one of Rachelle’s three books (the series begins in Book One, of course, but in case you have one or two of her books already, Rachelle will gladly send you the next one to read!). 

International friends, the paperback & necklace giveaway is open to continental U.S. addresses only (sorry!). But do still enter, because one international winner will also be chosen to receive an e-book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT The Steadfast Love SERIES

In 16th-century Europe, the Reformation rages between Protestants and Catholics. Gwyneth, half-Dutch, flees from England to Holland to escape the man who murdered her parents. When he follows her there and insists he came to rescue her, will she trust this man called Dirk? When tragedy strikes, will their steadfast love erode?

Author Bio // Times gone by snatch Rachelle Rea Cobb close, so she reads and writes about years long ago--her passions include the Reformation, Revolutions, and romance. Rachelle wrote the Steadfast Love series during college. Five months after she graduated, she signed a three-book deal with her dream publisher, WhiteFire. She's a homeschool grad, Oreo addict, and plots her novels while driving around her dream car, a pick-up truck. In June 2016, she married a man with the same name as her fictional hero, and they live happily ever after in Small Town, South.

Find Rachelle Rea Cobb online!

RachelleReaCobb.com // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Goodreads // Amazon

Book Review, Excerpt & GIVEAWAY: Reversal Zone // BLOG TOUR

J. Grace Pennington has published four science fiction novels. They each have a unique bent to them, but this one is very different. Each book is a standalone, but as with any series, you get more of the story if you read them all in order. In Reversal Zone, the main character, Andi Lloyd, becomes the only one who can save the ship and crew. Can she do it in time?

About the Book

Nothing is as it should be.

After weeks of boredom, Andi is excited when the Surveyor is called upon to rescue a freighter that mysteriously vanished in uncharted space.  Excitement quickly turns to unease when the ship encounters an unknown phenomenon—a cloud that appears not to exist.  But with the freighter's crew in danger, the Surveyor has no choice but to venture into unknown territory.

As soon as they enter the cloud, its unstable effects wreak havoc on the ship.  They're flying blind.  Every piece of equipment is malfunctioning.  And every member of the crew is unable to think straight or act like themselves—except Andi.

Now she's expected to guide them through the predicament with no previous command experience and no one to turn to for support.  And with each passing hour, it becomes clear that if they don't escape the cloud soon—they won't escape it at all.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZV1ILB

About the Author

J. Grace Pennington has been telling stories since she could talk, and writing them down since age five.  Now she lives in the great state of Texas, where she writes as much as adult life permits.  When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading good books, playing movie soundtracks on the piano, and looking up at the stars.

You can find out more about her writing at www.jgracepennington.com.

Tarissa's Review

While reading Reversal Zone, I felt like I went on an amazing adventure through outer space. It's definitely an original story you won't hear anywhere else, and I have to say, it's rather compelling.

I love the interesting plot choice here, about a freighter that goes missing in a white cloud. Even while the clarity of the situation becomes foggier once the Surveyor enters the white cloud on a rescue mission, it becomes clearer that Andi is even more special than the rest of the crew suspected. She may just be the one to save them all, if she has the strength to persevere. Twenty-one-year-old Andi extends herself beyond what she thought she was capable of it. How will this affect her? How it it affect the radialloy in her body, or the underlying disease she has carried since birth? (The plot posed a lot of similar questions for me while I read the book!)

I also like how you really get to know the entire crew all the better in this volume. Or rather, to be cryptic, you get to know what they're not, and thusly, who they truly are. (Yeah, the whole story is a bit enigmatic like that too, and sooo worth reading!)

The action and unique events kept happening, keeping me intrigued about what could possibly happen next. There are definitely some surprise twists in there!

An awesome (and clean) sci-fi adventure. Christian families especially will enjoy it.

Excerpt

I stepped onto the bridge and into a complete change in atmosphere. Everyone worked efficiently, but the only sounds were beeps and blips of the computers and the soft tap of fingers on panels. The tension was so palpable I felt like I should be swimming in it instead of walking.

I opened my mouth to say, “Second medical officer on the bridge, sir,” out of habit, then stopped. Was that what I was supposed to say now? Or was it, “Commander Lloyd on the bridge, sir”? I winced. That didn't sound right at all. “Mission consultant on the bridge, sir,” didn't sound much better. So I settled for the simplest option available. “Andi Lloyd on the bridge, sir.”

The Captain swiveled his chair slowly to face me. He was leaning back again, and his arms lay limp at his sides instead of being propped up sturdily on the chair arms. “Thanks for coming, Andi.”

He had no need to thank an officer for obeying orders, but I said nothing. I moved forward to stand beside him.

He swiveled forward again and spoke. “We've picked up a message.”

“From where?”

“I don't know. Communications haven't been transmitting or receiving, but somehow we picked this up suddenly. It's not an audio message, it's text. It just... popped in, suddenly.”

“Did you look at it yet?”

“I wanted to wait for you.”

For half a second I thrilled at the feeling of importance this gave me, then I banished the thought and reddened slightly in shame. “Is that why we're not moving?”

“Yes. McMillan had us go for a bit so he could study things, but I had everything stop when we got the message.”

I just nodded, and the Captain turned his chair to face Yanendale. “Read it.”

His tone and words were lax, but I let it pass and listened as the com marshal read the message.

“The white darkness closes in, and we cannot see the sun. Oh for a thousand ships to find the way out of that which inhibits us. But the glory of what might be drives us ever inward, on to the unknown, even though we die in the attempt. Would that a passing vessel would heed our cry for help, even as we disappear into the realms not yet discovered.”

Guilders laughed.

“What does that mean?” I asked after a moment of confused silence.

“It doesn't mean anything that I can see,” said August irritably. “It's just nonsense.”

“Do you think it's a code, Captain?” Yanendale asked.

The Captain shook his head and crossed his arms. “Don't think so... but... it could be a clue...” He looked at me.

I shook my head. “It doesn't show us anything.”

He shrugged. “I guess not. I thought it might.”

I realized my mistake and quickly thought through the Captain's reversal. He was normally incredibly stubborn and decisive, so that would make him very pliable to others' opinion and suggestions at the moment. I needed to encourage him to take his own ideas more seriously.

“Oh, I don't know,” I backtracked. “What did you have in mind?”

He hesitated. “I think it's from the Pigeon.”

 

Giveaway

Grace is generously offering three prizes. A signed copy of each of her three previous novels in the series. They are each standalone stories, but they are also connected. If you would like to read more about them, you can read about them here: Radialloy, In His Image, Machiavellian.

To enter the giveaway, please fill out this form.

 

Tour Schedule 

Friday, October 7

Bookish Orchestrations-Tour Introduction

Fathers and Sons-Sports and Life-Guest Post

The Destiny of One-Guest Post

Perpetual Gardener, Writer, and Mormon-Excerpt

Rebekah Lyn Books-Author Interview

Saturday, October 8

Shout outs-Guest Post

Author Franky A Brown-Excerpt

Shire Reviews-Book Review

Sunday, October 9

Letters from Annie Douglass Lima-Excerpt

Zerina Blossom's Books-Excerpt

Monday, October 10

Rachel Rossano's Words-Excerpt and Guest Post

In the Bookcase-Excerpt and Book Review

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Book Review

Tuesday, October 11

The Abrahamic Adventures-Book Review

The Overactive Imagination-Excerpt

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke-Book Review

Lisa Swinton Queen of Random-Excerpt

Wednesday, October 12

Bookish Orchestrations-Giveaway Winner

 

P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon.

*Any Amazon.com purchase made through the links in this post support this humble blogger with a small commission. Thank you!

Book Review & GIVEAWAY! Befriending the Beast // BLOG TOUR

Befriending the Beast

written by Amanda Tero

73 pages // published in 2016 // Christian fiction

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Belle has returned unannounced to the castle to restore her relationship with the king, her father. Her hopes are dashed with the devastating message: "The king refuses to see you." Convinced that God has led her home, she is unwilling to return to Lord and Lady Kiralyn. Time is running out for the decision that will change her life. When tragedy strikes, will she and her father be pulled further apart or knit together? Could she stay at the castle even if she will never see her father again?

My Review...




What I like? It's a fairytale retelling, plus the truth of God, minus the magic. I think that's why I'm drawn to this story even more than had the story been a fantasy. It lets the reader focus on the message of the story, not the magical gimmicks.

Belle. Yes, I found another fellow bookworm and kindred spirit in Belle. I really like her character... She cares for her father. She wants to make the best decisions and goes to God to find the answers. And she loves books, like me. The author created Belle as such a sweet character, and I enjoyed reading Belle's story.

I also love that this isn't a romantic story, like you think that Beauty and the Beast is. But it's still about finding true love, even under the ugliness.

I also enjoyed reading the discussion questions at the end, as they really helped me to think about the spiritual message in the book.

Befriending the Beast is a story of sorrow, challenges, and forgiveness.

I would recommend it, ages 9 and up. Anyone could enjoy it though, as it bears a powerful message.




About the Author
Amanda Tero is a homeschool graduate who desires to provide God-honoring, family-friendly reading material. She has enjoyed writing since before ten years old, but it has only been since 2013 that she began seriously pursuing writing again – starting with some short stories that she wrote for her sisters as a gift. Her mom encouraged her to try selling the stories she published, and since then, she has begun actively writing short stories, novellas, and novels. If something she has written draws an individual into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, it is worth it!

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

Connect with Amanda!
Email: amandaterobooks@gmail.com
Website: http://amandatero.com/ 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandaterobooks 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandateroauthor/ 
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/truthpicsart/ 
Blog: www.withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AmandaTero 
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/amandatero

Purchase Link

Order on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L2IDEUQ
(order before October 8, 2016, to get it at the discounted price of $.99!)

U.S. Giveaway:
Enter to win one of two paperback copies of "Befriending the Beast"!

International Giveaway:
Enter to win one of two eBook copies of "Befriending the Beast"!




 


P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon.

*Any Amazon.com purchase made through the links in this post support this humble blogger with a small commission. Thank you!

Tapping into the dreams God has planted within us

Hi readers,

I have a question to share with you today. Something to make you think about your goals in life.

Tessa, over at the Christ Is Write blog, introduced this question.

Is It Sinful for Christians to Pursue Their Dreams? 

I encourage you to give this article a read, and ponder the points that Tessa has made.  

"We aren't on this earth to simply make money, survive, and eventually pass away. God has given us work to do. How can we know what that work consists of? Often, it is stemmed to the dream placed within; the one that has grasped our hearts and refuses to let go."

{READ MORE from Tessa's blog}