In the Bookcase
Showing posts with label Christian life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian life. Show all posts

10/26/2020

A Very Bookish Thanksgiving + GIVEAWAY!!! #newrelease #blogtour

 
 

Releases on October 26!

Available for pre-order now at this link

(The price will go up from $2.99 to $4.99 on October 27, so get it now!)

 





A Very Bookish Thanksgiving

by Sarah Holman, Kelsey Bryant, Rebekah Jones, J. Grace Pennington, & Amanda Tero

 428 pages // published in 2020 // Christian fiction anthalogy




BOOK DESCRIPTION

Five stories. Five book-lovers. Five Thanksgiving novellas inspired by five classics. This is a limited-edition novella collection with contributions by five different authors.

The Promise of Acorns ~ Kelsey Bryant
Erin Moore is a nanny whose strained relationship with Thanksgiving becomes even more complicated when her new employer asks her to teach his grandchildren about the holiday. The results surprise them both. Inspired by Jane Eyre,

As Long as I Belong ~ Sarah Holman
Young Annalise Marshell has always felt like she straddles two worlds, like Jane Austen’s Fanny Price. Yet, near Thanksgiving, she faces the fact she might soon not belong anywhere at all. Inspired by Mansfield Park.

The Windles and the Lost Boy ~ Rebekah Jones
All Lost Boys could find refuge with Patrick Quill. Jeremy might do the same - if he could find him and if Patrick is real. Inspired by Peter Pan

Grand Intentions ~ J. Grace Pennington
Pippa has always dreamed of being a great novelist, but between her job and helping her mom raise her three younger brothers, she never seems to be able to write. So when her grandmother offers her a few months away with all the time she could wish for, she’s sure to write the story she’s always dreamed of -- or does her problem run deeper than she thinks? Inspired by Great Expectations.

A Fine Day Tomorrow ~ Amanda Tero
Essie March never planned to do much with her life, being the sickly one of the family. And just as she starts to pursue her dream of nursing, it seems that everything stands in her way to prevent it. Inspired by Little Women.





My Review


5 Star Rating



Review of:

A FINE DAY TOMORROW
by Amanda Tero

Five stars for this amazing Little Women retelling.

Imagine the war-wracked world of 1918. If you're not killed from battle wounds, then the Spanish Flu will likely get you instead. In the middle of all this horridness stands the March family on the home front. (No, not the same Marches from Little Women, but cleverly disguised versions of those beloved characters in an all new era and setting.)

The roles of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are turned over to a new set of sisters, Marge, Charlie, Essie, and Florrie. These girls may have to fight similar battles to the girls in Little Women, but with new causes and new triumphs.

Our unsuspecting leading heroine is actually Essie, a "shy and quiet" girl with the heart of Beth March. This story is hers, had she lived to adulthood and charged forth on a mission in life, in her own way, one that springs forth from the goodness of her heart. Due to time spent as an invalid during childhood, Essie wishes to help others through nursing them back to health. That is her goal in life, along with marrying James, whom she waits for while he is away at war.

“Come, let’s take a turn in the garden. No one else dares venture outside anymore. The whole world is turning into a madhouse.”

It just so happens that this book was written in 2020 at the perfect time, when a pandemic hit our modern world, just like it did in 1918. If you read this story now, you'll be quite impressed with the similarities in life that we in 2020 share with the people of 1918. For example, they made their own masks to wear in public and staying at home was advised (history repeats itself 102 years later).

Essie is also undergoing a deep spiritual journey too, as she struggles to understand God's will for her. She is trying to find joy in her daily life, in both the small things and the large, but she is still wrestling with the idea. I dearly loved seeing God's bright light shining on Essie, waiting for her to give in to His grace.

Perfect for fans of Little Women, literature nerds, and history buffs.

Suitable for: 10 and up - Adults


Read this story + 4 more literature-inspired Thanksgiving stories in A Very Bookish Thanksgiving!

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 About the Authors:

Kelsey Bryant is an author, editor, and martial arts instructor from Central Texas. She loves God, her family, classic literature, and anything that transports her to the past.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

 

Sarah Holman lives in Central Texas with her amazing family. When not working on her next novel, she can usually be found hanging out with her siblings, reading, or taking long walks. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it’s because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

 

Rebekah Jones is first and foremost a follower of the Living God. She started writing as a little girl, seeking to glorify her King with her books and stories. Rebekah is an old soul in a young body (she’s not 12—honest!). While her exact age is classified, her interests are not. Among them are reading a variety of books, singing, playing and composing music, studying all manner of subjects, nannying an adventurous group of youngsters, and, of course, writing her books, poems, articles, and short stories. She writes a wide range of books from gentle children’s adventures to family sagas to murder mysteries.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

 

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, having adventures with her husband, and looking up at the stars.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

 

Amanda Tero grew up attending a one room school with her eleven siblings—and loved it! She also fell in love with reading to the point her mom withheld her books to get her to do her chores. That love of reading turned into a love of writing YA fiction. Amanda is a music teacher by day and a literary guide by night, creating stories that whisk readers off to new eras and introduce them to heroic but flawed characters that live out their faith in astonishing ways.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

 

Giveaway!

 Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a fun fall package!



 
 
 
Giveaway package includes Hello Autumn sign, Thankful jar, Fall cozy, and Autumn-themed charm necklace a Rafflecopter giveaway

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paperback // e-book






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9/20/2020

Book Review: The Secret Place of Thunder #giveaway #newrelease #blogtour




The SECRET PLACE OF THUNDER 

Librarians of Willow Hollow #4

by Alicia G. Ruggieri

 124 pages // published in 2020 // Christian historical fiction




BOOK DESCRIPTION

The mountains have imprisoned her long enough...

Edna Sue O’Connell came back to the Kentucky hills out of duty and can’t wait for the chance to escape again. Her work as a horseback librarian in rural Appalachia provides enough income for her invalid father to survive in the midst of the Great Depression, but it affords her with little else.

When an opportunity arises for Edna to take on an additional book delivery area, she spies a glimmer of hope that she might find a way out of Willow Hollow after all… and that she might actually make something of her life apart from the tragedy that has filled it thus far.

But the new routes give Edna more than she ever bargained for. Slowly, she finds that the mountains contain many valuable secrets – if she has the grit to meet them.

The Secret Place of Thunder is part of the Librarians of Willow Hollow multi-author novella collection. Each novella stands on its own but is connected to the others in this historical Christian fiction series set in 1930s Appalachia.

Other books in the Librarians of Willow Hollow series:
A Strand of Hope by Amanda Tero
I Love to Tell the Story by Faith Blum
Hearts on Lonely Mountain by A.M. Heath

Come along as four packhorse librarians find adventures outside the books they carry!




My Review


5 Star Rating


Within my first minute of starting this new book, I was already loving Edna Sue's character! I could tell that she is an always-on-time, spectacle-wearing, book-loving, logical-thinking, hair-in-tight-bun, no-nonsense kind of gal. The perfect picture of a librarian. Except this librarian has to ride out on Molly the mule's back, up into the Appalachian Mountains to give books to the mountain people.

Most people in town conclude that Edna Sue O'Connell is a spinster, with her age of over thirty years. Edna may be bold and may carry a sharp tongue, but she means well in the tasks she sets out to do. She has a sense of adventure, and longs to go back to the big cities like New York. Duty keeps her chained at home with a bedridden father and an exasperating stepmother. So she sets her fiery mind upon her work as a packhorse librarian, and goes at it with all her might, earning for her future.

One of the homesteads she visits on her library route is inhabited by a reclusive man -- which, of course, Edna Sue is determined to poke her nose into such a mystery, even after a gun is pointed straight back at her. Edna also has to deal with Mr. Gaunt, Willow Hollow's schoolteacher, who may have the slightest of romantic intentions, which she certainly intends to keep at bay.

Through her experiences and interactions with all of these Willow Hollow characters, I enjoyed watching Edna's spiritual journey too.

I had been looking forward to Edna's story so much. I'd seen and heard tiny glimpses of her from the preceding three books in the series (each book is a standalone novella, so you can read them in any order). Meeting her "in person" now has been lovely. This story did NOT disappoint. I even wish it could be turned into a movie!

An excellent work of Christian fiction.

Suitable for: 13 and up - Adults


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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alicia G. Ruggieri grew up breathing in the salty air of coastal New England. She now writes grace-filled, Christ-centered fiction from her home in Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and sweet second-hand mutt. She loves old graveyards, dusty libraries, and excellent cannolis ~ not necessarily in that order. 

Visit Alicia online! // Website // Facebook Page // Instagram

Release Week Giveaway! To celebrate this release, Alicia is giving away an Appalachian music CD, a mini Appalachian Breakfast soy candle, and a set of whimsical bronze bookmarks! (Due to shipping costs, the giveaway is limited to the continental U.S.)

 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Blog Tour Stops:

9/15 Welcome to the Tour at A Brighter Destiny – http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/abrighterdestiny

Amanda @ https://amandatero.com/blog

Raechel @ https://godspeculiartreasurerae.wordpress.com

9/16 Kaitlyn @ www.maidensformodesty.com

J.E. Grace @ http://bizwingsblog.blogspot.com

9/17 Rebekah @ www.readytobeoffered.com

9/18 Jane @ www.janemouttet.wordpress.com

9/19 Connie @ https://connie-oldersmarter.blogspot.com

9/20 Abigail @ http://readreviewrejoice.com

Tarissa @ http://inthebookcase.blogspot.com

9/21 Tara @ www.towerintheplains.wordpress.com

Ryana @ www.lifeofheritage.com

9/22 Wrap-up & giveaway winner announced @ http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/abrighterdestiny


 

 



8/18/2020

Book Review: I Love to Tell the Story #giveaway #newrelease #blogtour

I Love to Tell the Story  by Janette Oke & Laurel Oke Logan (5 star review)

I Love to Tell the Story
Librarians of Willow Hollow #2

by Faith Blum

101 pages // published in 2020 // Christian historical fiction




BOOK DESCRIPTION

Her heart is in the right place...
Bored with her life in Castle Town, Montana, Lillian Sullivan follows her friend’s suggestion and joins the horseback librarian program in rural Kentucky. Not only does she anticipate sharing her love of books, but she also wants to spread the gospel among the mountain people.

However, Willow Hollow presents her with one trouble after another and she struggles to step outside her shyness to share the gospel.

What will it take for Lillian to share her love of the Best Story? Can the power of the gospel overcome the shyness of her own heart?

This novella is part of a series with different authors, but can easily be read as a standalone.




My Review


5 Star Rating


Lillian Sullivan is from Castle City, Montana -- a silver boom town, now dry. She's just come of age in the year 1936, and she feels trapped in the almost empty town, with nowhere to grow. But then an opportunity arrives -- one with adventure in Kentucky. A job to get paid to share books with people! Horseback librarians are needed to ride into the Appalachian mountains to deliver reading material to those who don't have it otherwise.

Not only does Lillian take the job for the thrill of something new, she also feels something pressing her heart to use this opportunity to spread the gospel of the Good Book itself. This could be her special way to accomplish that goal.

Crow Williams is a crotchety old "gentleman" whose life Lillian is able to touch, as she tries to befriend him after the harmful accident that took place when they first met. I really like Crow's character. Lillian truly cares about people and wants to positively impact their lives. I feel like Lillian will become a part of so many other people's stories, even after we run out of pages to read in this book.

Faith Blum's writing is so clear and easy to read. She has an excellent spiritual message to impart to the reader.

I'm simply thrilled that I even got to catch glimpses of the other librarians of Willow Hollow: Lena, Edna, and Ivory. It made me excited to watch all of their different personalities contrasting against each other. I can't wait to read ALL 4 of these novels!

Good, clean, inspirational.

Suitable for: 11 and up - Adults
(Has a few mentions of childbirth in Lillian's mother's journal excerpts.)

I like that this book isn't written to be a romance, or at least it's not in the foreground of the plot, like most of the young adult and/or women's fiction available on the market.

Reading this book filled me with an inspirational message of hope for the future.

I am so excited to read the other books in this series.



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e-book






P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon (soon!).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Faith Blum is a small-town Wisconsin girl. She has independently published over 25 books in over five years. Most of her books are Christian Historical Fiction with an emphasis on Westerns. During an eBook sale, she was #2 overall in Kindle eBooks on Amazon. Faith resides in Central Wisconsin with her husband, son, and their cat, Smokey. When not writing, you can find her cooking, doing dishes, sewing, reading, or spending time with her husband and son. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her on her website: https://faithblum.com.

The prequel novel of I Love to Tell the Story is on sale this week for just $0.99. It is all about Lillian’s grandfather. Check out All the Way My Savior Leads.

 

Make sure you enter the best giveaway on the internet!


Included:

2 bags Peppermint Tea

1 limited edition mug

Paperback of I Love to Tell the Story

Paperback of All the Way My Savior Leads (about Lillian’s grandfather)

5 Postcards


Enter here: https://kingsumo.com/g/nmyffj/i-love-to-tell-the-story


I’m also doing a giveaway for my International friends!


International giveaway is a full eBook set of the entire series!


Enter here: https://kingsumo.com/g/pbjlda/i-love-to-tell-the-story-international

 

 

 



Follow the blog tour!!! >>

August 18

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Blog Tour intro

A Brighter Destiny – Book Spotlight

In the Bookcase – Book Review

Amanda Tero – Author Interview

Old-Fashioned Book Love – Book Review

 

August 19

Nook of Grace – Book Review and Author Interview

Jane Mouttet – Book Review

 

August 20

Clothed with Scarlet – Book Review

Writings, Ramblings, and ReflectionsSimilarities

 

August 21

Reviews from the Stacks – Book Review

Christian Author: A.M. Heath – Book Spotlight

 

August 22

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Blog Tour wrap-up and giveaway winner

 



7/30/2020

A Strand of Hope... the fun continues!


If you've been reading my blog this week, you'll know that a new book has just released, one that I really enjoyed! Today I wanted to share about some fun things happening online, surrounding the launch of A STRAND OF HOPE. (Go check out my book review and other stuff I talked about on Monday.)






BOOK DESCRIPTION

Lena Davis is the daughter her mom never wanted.

But she survived. Through stories. Because books didn’t judge. Books weren’t angry she was alive. Books never expected her to be anything but who she was.

As she grows up, her beloved library becomes her true home.

So when the library is designated part of President Roosevelt’s Packhorse Library Project, Lena is determined to get the job of bringing books to highlanders, believing she’ll finally be free of her mom forever.

But earning the trust of highlanders is harder than she imagined, and her passion for books might not be enough to free her from her chains.



Now, there's still a bunch of ground to cover! Just for starters, I have THREE GIVEAWAYS to tell you about!


Giveaway #1:

100 Kindle e-book copies of A Strand of Hope are up for grabs on GOODREADS! It just takes a click of a button to enter yourself in the contest.



Giveaway #2:

The author herself, Amanda Tero, is generously offering 2 prize packages! A U.S. prize and an International prize. These bundles are AMAZING!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/483ac2ab35/?

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/483ac2ab36/?


Giveaway #3:

Over on the blog Read Review Rejoice, you'll find the links to enter 4 different giveaways to enter... one for EACH of the 4 books of the Librarians of Willow Hollow series. Enter now!





And now, for a contest of a different kind -- for the artsy types!

Image of Art Contest for A Strand of Hope, Young Adult Christian Historical Fiction

Do you like to draw? Design on your tablet? Or do you know someone who does? This contest is for you -- all ages! Deadline: August 14.

Three prizes: 1) Author’s Pick,  2) Digital Art,  3) Traditional Art.

>> Find our more and submit your artwork here



For some bonus fun, visit the author's website to find some other fun activities related to the book, like a QUIZ (find out if you could have made it as a packhorse librarian!)... and also an ONLINE PUZZLE! So if you head over there, Amanda Tero will tell you all about that stuff and MORE.



Okay, just a couple more things I want to tell you now. Almost done! I've got a couple of my FAVORITE QUOTES to share with you + another free offer below. Feel free to grab these images to share on social media or your blog!

#astrandofhope

https://amzn.to/2CVAcT7


Add to Goodreads

BUY YOUR COPY!
paperback // hardcover // e-book

https://amzn.to/2CVAcT7





And lastly, if you've made it this far with all the fun and cool things happening in this launch, and you're as on fire for this series as I am...

Join me in the release of Book #2, I Love to Tell the Story from author Faith Blum. Sign up >>HERE<<.   I can't wait for this release next!!


https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXKqd6PyvOipiaJcU4_KL7znrIIaN2r_RfGX4s6iu4F-D7sQ/viewform



7/28/2020

Book Review: A Strand of Hope #blogtour #newrelease




A Strand of Hope by Amanda Tero (5 star review)


A Strand of Hope
Librarians of Willow Hollow #1

by Amanda Tero

173 pages // published in 2020 // Christian historical fiction




BOOK DESCRIPTION

Lena Davis is the daughter her mom never wanted.

But she survived. Through stories. Because books didn’t judge. Books weren’t angry she was alive. Books never expected her to be anything but who she was.

As she grows up, her beloved library becomes her true home.

So when the library is designated part of President Roosevelt’s Packhorse Library Project, Lena is determined to get the job of bringing books to highlanders, believing she’ll finally be free of her mom forever.

But earning the trust of highlanders is harder than she imagined, and her passion for books might not be enough to free her from her chains.


Order a paperback on July 28, 2020!
 



My Review


5 Star Rating


15-year-old Lena Davis is a true book lover. She loves lots of good, old-fashioned books like Little Women and Pride and Prejudice. She spends all of her extra time at Willow Hollow's library, or somewhere that she can fit in a few good chapters, like a few moments in the evenings before it gets too dark.

In Willow Hollow, Kentucky, sits the Davis's small shack of a house, in 1936. Lena's mom stays drunk on the neighbor's moonshine, and acts abusively towards her daughter, even though they are all each other has in the whole world.

When a new type of job opens at the library, Lena can't believe her ears. A job where she could be paid to deliver books to the Appalachian mountainfolk? It's all a part of President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration. Horseback librarians will trek across the mountain to present their precious cargo to the sparse population. Not all who live on the mountain are of a welcoming variety to strangers though.

Lena's home life with her embittered mom is so poignant, so heartbreaking to watch the arguments unfold. Many times in this story, I had tears in my eyes for what Lena has to put herself through to turn the other cheek. She keeps her mom's cruel words and hurtful habits a secret from the townspeople. Maybe the closest neighbors know about it some, if they ever hear the angry shouting.

While it's a fairly clean read, it does mention multiple times about Lena being born out of wedlock, and mentions alcoholism and sharp verbal (and sometimes physical) abuse.

Suitable for: 13 and up - Adults

I like that this book isn't written to be a romance, like most of the young adult and/or women's fiction that is available on the market.

Reading this book filled me with an inspirational message of hope for the future.

I am so excited to read the other books in this series.


Favorite lines:
"Goodness, she had been wandering in the wilderness forty years already, and her sixteenth birthday wasn't even here."

"Once, Pastor Stuart had likened following God like a horse following its master. A good horse wouldn't question its rider’s commands but heed immediately."



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DFX1RWQ?ref_=dbs_dp_rwt_sb&binding=kindle_edition

~~~ Books #2, 3, & 4 will be released during August & September! ~~~



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paperback // hardcover // e-book








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7/26/2020

Book Review: Ivy Introspective #blogtour





Ivy Introspective by Kellyn Roth (5 star review)


Ivy Introspective
The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy #2

by Kellyn Roth

222 pages // published in 2020 // Christian historical fiction




BOOK DESCRIPTION

In a world that doesn’t understand her, how can she grow?

Ivy Knight lives her life in a blur of confusion as the world passes her by in a tumultuous melody. She isn’t the perfect daughter or student, but as long as she can be with her family, she doesn’t mind watching rather than living.

Mrs. Chattoway treasures both of her granddaughters now that they’re reunited. When Ivy’s parents enroll her in a Scottish school for unique children, she’s happy to chaperone.

In a new place with a new guardian, Ivy discovers a special talent that helps her see the blurred world in a new way. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and Ivy becomes determined to find it—and help others do the same.







My Review


5 Star Rating


Wow! Really impressed! While this sometimes is a sorrowful tale, it's also quite a cozy read. I think this sequel is even better than the first book in the series. Perhaps it's just because I could connect better with the characters through Ivy's perspective. (And still, what a beautiful cover these books have!)

Ivy's family knows she was born simple, that she "struggles to cope with the world". Her senses are very, well, sensitive -- to things like loud noise, bright lights, or being overwhelmed by too many people in the room. When an opportunity arises, a special place for the developmentally challenged, Ivy is given a fresh start in life.

At her new school in Scotland, McCale House, Ivy finds Violet, a horrid, bitter girl with a sour outlook and who has screaming fits at night. Maybe this girl could use Ivy's help. And maybe Ivy will find her purpose. (I really enjoyed watching Ivy grow up!)

At the same time, God is working out His plan in another's life, Grandmother Nora. She has a newfound sense of healing and courage, moving on from her life with an abusive husband. I found her story to be greatly inspirational too!

Overall, this book tackles a lot of mental and emotional issues. I was really impressed by the research that the author put into the story. She is very talented in her writing style.

Recommended for: Adults

Suitable for: 13 and up

Suicide is briefly mentioned, as well as Ivy's parents' complicated history and relationship. Yet it's always written tactfully and kept clean.


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paperback // e-book


Book Links

Website: https://kellynrothauthor.com/books/alice-and-ivy/



About the Author



Kellyn Roth is a Christian historical women’s fiction & romance author from North-Eastern Oregon who loves border collies. A ranch girl with a love for storytelling, she’s been writing since she was seven and published since she was fourteen.

Kell lives in the country outside a small town in North-Eastern Oregon with her family, cat, and three puppy-dogs. When not writing, she teaches writing and talks about writing, but she also enjoys other things. She just can’t think of any right now.

Author Links







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