In the Bookcase

4/25/2017

Celebrating EMERALDS -- Turning 1! #favoritebooks

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

Rachelle is also the author of The Sound of Diamonds and The Sound of Silver, the first two books in the series. She has also written Write Well, a guide for writers! Last summer, she married a man with the same first name as the hero of the Steadfast Love series! I’m joining in this blog tour to tell you a little more about Emeralds and spread the news about the rocking giveaway Rachelle is hosting—make sure you enter using the Rafflecopter form to win signed copies of all three books!


Birthday bash for The Sound of  Emeralds

What once was blazing hatred has turned to lasting love, but could the union of a wild heart with that of a lady ever result in more than heartache?

With the help of an old friend with uncertain loyalties, Dirk inches ever closer to clearing his name. Gwyneth throws her faith into good tidings and the promise of a future as a family. But an old evil comes to call, just as tragedy rips apart a fledgling truce. Enemies from the past and grief for the future threaten to tear asunder what God had brought together…

As the date of Dirk’s trial approaches, his fate and his family hang in the balance. Will he be proven innocent of Gwyneth’s parents’ murders—or separated from her forever? How much pain does it take to erode a love steadfast?



Find The Sound of Emeralds on…
Amazon Paperback: http://is.gd/F53u5R
Barnes & Noble: http://is.gd/qhoCTc
Books a Million: http://is.gd/NdMWGr

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

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…
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!



>> And if you want to learn more ABOUT BOOK TWO, The Sound of Silver

Birthday bash for The Sound of Emeralds

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
Barnes & Noble: http://is.gd/qhoCTc
Books a Million: http://is.gd/M2y5P2

Read my own book review on The Sound of Silver!



WANT TO WIN???

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below to signed copies of ALL THREE of Rachelle’s novels. The whole series, signed!

International friends, this giveaway is open to continental U.S. addresses only (sorry!). But do still enter, because one international winner will also be chosen to receive all three e-books.



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?



QUICK AUTHOR Q&A

When and where did you first get the idea for the Steadfast Love Series?

A song I was listening to on the radio inspired the title of the first book. So I wrote Diamonds, but when I finished it, I realized to my great frustration that the characters weren’t done with their story, even though I had been quite adamant that I would write a stand-alone novel. But the story wasn’t finished, so I kept writing.

- - - - - -

I saw on your website that you also write reviews, articles and offer editing services. What's one of your favorite things beyond writing novels that you enjoy?

Editing is such fun! I daresay I enjoy editing a page full of my own (or others’!) words just as much as I enjoy splashing words onto a blank page. I recently released my first nonfiction book, Write Well, which is a short ebook designed as a guide writers!




Rachelle Rea, debut author 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. She is also the author of Write Well, a guide for writers, which released on March 4th!






4/24/2017

Book Review & GIVEAWAY! Christ Arose // BLOG TOUR





Faith Blum has a new book! She wrote, edited, and published a short story in just three short days and you can now get it for free! Read on to learn more about it.

About the Book




BOOK DESCRIPTION

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

No longer could I say I was lonely. But oh, how I wish I could! Who could have done such a thing to the Creator of the world? Who had so much hatred for Him?


Available for free on all eBook vendor: http://books2read.com/christ-arose


About the Author

Faith Blum is a 20-something author of multiple books in various genres. She loves to write, read, play piano, knit, crochet, sew, watch movies, and play games with her family. She lives in Wisconsin with her family on a small family farm where they raise goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and have 2 dogs and a varying number of cats.

Faith’s goal in her writing is to encourage Christians in their walk with Christ. If you enjoyed this book, go to her website to sign up for her Monthly Newsletter so you can get an email with fun facts, giveaways, and so much more every month. You will also find links to her other Social Media sites on her website.
She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her.


Giveaway



Faith is offering a really neat giveaway for this tour. The ParLaGrace etsy seller has an April special right now for a really beautifully
made block that says He Lives. Isn’t it pretty? You can enter the giveaway here:


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Excerpt

As the day slowly drags on, more men approach. Are they here to lend aid or to harm the body of my Creator? Oh, Creator! Give me a way to defend Your Son's body if need be!

The Jewish guards come near and take some wax and put a Roman seal on the stone. Doubly safe. No one could take my Creator’s body without facing whatever penalty the Roman’s gave. I should never have doubted You, Creator and Provider!

Two of the guards stay behind and stand on either side of the rock. As the day creeps by again, every few hours, new guards replace the ones already there.

Tour Schedule 


April 22
Written Rest-Book Spotlight and Review

April 24
Leila Tualla-Book Spotlight
God's Peculiar Treasure Rae-Book Spotlight
In the Bookcase-Book Spotlight and Review

April 25
With a Joyful Noise-Book Spotlight and Review

April 26
Frances  Hoelsma-Book Spotlight
Perpetual Indie Perspective-Book Spotlight and Review

April 27
Bookish Orchestrations-Giveaway Winner




Christ Arose: A Tomb's Tale by Faith Blum (5 star review)


Christ Arose: A Tomb's Tale

written by Faith Blum

a few pages // published in 2017 // Biblical fiction




My Review


5 Star Rating


A unique, one-of-a-kind RESURRECTION story!

This little story holds powerful truths in it. The structure of the plot is unique, as the tomb of Jesus Christ comes alive to convey cognitive thoughts and emotions regarding the days of Jesus' death and resurrection. No where else will you find such a viewpoint. While reading it myself, I felt that this tale is certainly an inspired one -- something that a creative artist would think up, except this is a painting created with words.

I think this is one of those stories that makes you stop and rethink the Easter story -- the same one you hear every year, all year. It's different and allows the reader to perhaps glimpse something they hadn't seen before about this Biblical and blessed event.

Recommended for any age.

Thanks to the author for a free copy of this book; I was not required to post a review.



Available on Amazon in e-book format.

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


4/22/2017

Book Review: The Lion and the Lamb

The Lion and the Lamb by Charles Causey (5 star review)


The Lion and the Lamb:
The True Holocaust Story of a Powerful Nazi Leader and a Dutch Resistance Worker

written by Charles Causey

288 pages // published in 2016 // World War II non-fiction



BOOK DESCRIPTION

A true Holocaust story, The Lion and the Lamb begins with a mysterious plane crash which catapults architect Albert Speer into Adolf Hitler's inner circle. When the two Nazi leaders become close confidantes, Speer is forced into constant competition with Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels and the unstable Hermann GOring. After a botched assassination attempt reveals Albert Speer's name in an SS investigation, Speer is ostracized by the staff and falls under Hitler's suspicion for disloyalty. As the Russian army advances on Berlin, Speer is poisoned, lied about, and forced to fight for his standing with the most evil and calculating men in Europe. Will Speer survive his last-minute trip to the FUhrer's bunker just hours before the end?

The Lion and the Lamb also tells the story of a Dutch Resistance worker named Corrie ten Boom who leads her entire family into a desperate struggle against the Nazi's anti-Jewish policies in Holland. Like Speer, Corrie is thrust into a psychological torture chamber suffering daily anguish from abusive guards. She is forced to travel from prison to prison in Nazi death trains after her underground operation is raided by the secret police. A novel of innocence, betrayal and tragedy, The Lion and the Lamb is an absorbing tale of how war-torn people cling to the power of hope and faith.




My Review


5 Star Rating


This book does differ from your regular textbook-style, non-fiction title. It's written slightly more in the style of how you would read a fictional book, but completely based on true fact. The characters do talk and interact with one another as you would find in a story, and there are also explanatory paragraphs that fill you in on the historical backdrop and context. I certainly wouldn't mind reading a few more factual titles that are penned in this unique way.

The other singular element that makes this book stand out is that it pairs two unlikely stories as one, piecing together two completely different angles of the World War II saga. The reader is shown the wide contrasts, the spiritual, political, and emotional differences between a powerful Third Reich leader and a hospitable Dutch watchmaker's daughter, each just trying to be their best when wartime calls and beckons.

A large portion of the narrative that talks about Corrie ten Boom, I recognized much of the material from The Hiding Place, even though it's been a few years back since I have read it, so I rather enjoyed the "refresher". I so relished in the fact that the author incorporated and highlighted so much of Corrie's faith and spiritual strength. This definitely stood out to me, and made me enjoy The Lion and the Lamb even more so because of its spiritual content.

I soaked in so, so much information from this book, it's unbelievable. I highlighted many passages and made so many notes during my reading time, that's it actually ridiculous. I sure gleaned more than what I expected to...

I feel that where I learned the most is where it concerns the German leaders, particularly with Hitler and the men ranking directly beneath him, most notably, Albert Speer, Reich Minister of Armaments and War Production. Not that I exactly desired to know all about these men, even though I do enjoy my historical research... but I took away a lot of facts that I never knew before about the time period, the historical significance of certain events, and about the personal lives of these men who guided worldwide distress into action. There's a ton of info about the Nazi viewpoint in this book, and while not all of it is fascinating to read, and some of it may rile you with disgust... still, it's good to know about, to be informed about what our world went through.

NOTE to the discerning reader & parents: There are mentions of how the prisoners at the concentration camps had to undress completely. Although NOT described in too much detail, this event does happen several times. There are some gory death scenes, a couple of which that were particularly graphic (related to blatant deaths committed by Nazis, sickening brutal mass murders).

Best recommended for high-school-age students or adults.

If you are a reader who enjoys non-fiction, researching World War II, or is inspired by the Ten Boom family's legacy, buy this book for you and your friends.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for a free copy of this book; I was not required to post a positive review.




Available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, e-book format.

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


4/17/2017

New release from Willowy Whisper!

A newly released title in the Christian fiction genre, by author Willowy Whisper. Want to learn a little bit about the book today?

Only Children Chase Sawdust by Willowy Whisper

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Their whole life turned to sawdust and blew away . . .

Please don't leave me, Jacob. I need you. I know you're grieving. Maybe we all are. But you're chasing something you'll never catch . . . and we both know you won't come back alive.





Willowy Whisper, author Author Bio // Willowy Whisper is a young Christian fiction author. She lives somewhere in the middle of nowhere, smack-dab in the country hills of West Virginia. She is the author of seven novels, six of which are published, and numerous short stories. She is also a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, an incurable romantic, and a passionate dreamer. To follow her, visit her blog at www.willowywhisper.com





There's danger in the mountains...



Find Willowy Whisper online!





Only Children Chase Sawdust is available now.

Order your copy today!