“The Amish Marriage Bargain” by Marie E. Bast

My Review:

I really enjoyed this easy to read Amish fiction story! and I loved May! She was very spunky and spoke her mind, which is unusual for Amish women. I liked how the story alternated between May and Thad as worked together to raise baby Leah. May has had alot of loss in her life-her mom, her sister.. but yet she stays true to her faith and helping to keep her family farm no matter the sacrifice or work involved. I really liked reading May’s contributions to the farm and her different ideas on earning an income for her family and for the town. She was very creative and hardworking!

As the story progresses, we find out what happened to May’s sister and why May and Thad parted ways years prior. I liked the story line and characters and I liked that it was a more “modern” Amish story.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book

Book: The Amish Marriage Bargain

Author: Marie E. Bast

Genre: Amish

Release Date: December 17, 2019

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Will a baby girl bring them together at last?

She’ll do anything for her niece…Even marry the man who broke her heart.

Nothing can keep May Bender in her Amish hometown—except caring for her baby niece. But the bishop insists that May also marry her widowed brother-in-law, Thad Hochstedler—the beau who jilted her to wed her sister. Can May risk her heart long enough to learn the real reason for Thad’s first marriage…and possibly rediscover their love?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

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Marie E. Bast is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. Her stories whisper words of hope and healing through complex characters and twisting plots. She enjoys writing Amish, contemporary and historical stories. Married for twenty-eight years, Marie and her husband have two grown sons and one daughter. When she’s not writing, she’s walking, golfing, gardening or spending time with her family. Visit her website at MarieBastAuthor.com or follower her on social media.

 

More from Marie

Did you know that until as late as the twentieth century, marriage was never based on love?

In fact, the institution of marriage predates recorded history. But in ancient biblical times, the reasons for marriage are numerous. The kings, nobility, wealthy, and aristocratic families used arranged marriages to ensure loyalty between kingdoms, which forced a united bound and ensured the integrity of their inheritance and the family wealth.

Arranged marriages, marriages of convenience, and marriage bargains were practical to keep property and kingdoms intact and in the family line. But these marriage contracts also spilled over into the commoners’ lives. In times of poverty, a daughter was only another mouth to feed and therefore a burden on the family. That fueled the arranged marriages where the groom gave the family money, animals, or some other commodity in exchange for the marriage.

Also, arranged marriages were instrumental for women over the age of 30 who were unwed. Even in the nineteenth century, many women would find that a marriage of convenience was the way to go. Often, a widower needed a mother and housekeeper for his family, and sometimes a woman without means to support herself would readily accept a marriage of convenience. Even today, some cultures still use arranged marriages.

But one of the most unique marriage of convenience is the marriage bargain, and that is the central theme to my newest book, The Amish Marriage Bargain, which releases in book form December 17, 2019, and eBook January 1, 2020. The marriage bargain is the specific negotiation of the terms of the agreement regarding a particular situation and often included land.

After her sister dies, May Bender will do anything for her niece…Even marry the man who broke her heart. But like the days of old, the bargain goes deeper than that.

Blog Stops

The Power of Words, January 2

For Him and My Family, January 2

The Avid Reader, January 3

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, January 3

Texas Book-aholic, January 4

Vicky Sluiter, January 4

Mary Hake, January 4

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, January 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 5

Among the Reads, January 6

Betti Mace, January 6

Older & Smarter?, January 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 7

Batya’s Bits, January 7

janicesbookreviews, January 8

Hallie Reads, January 8

For The Love Of Literature, January 9

Britt Reads Fiction, January 9

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 10

Bigreadersite, January 10

mypreciousbitsandmusings, January 10

She Lives to Read, January 11

Through the Fire Blogs, January 11

Quiet Quilter, January 12

Pause for Tales, January 12

Inklings and notions, January 13

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 13

Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 13

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 14

EmpowerMoms, January 14

Blossoms and Blessings, January 15

Splashes of Joy , January 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marie is giving away to four winners each a $25 Amazon card will also receive a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f426/the-amish-marriage-bargain-celebration-tour-giveaway

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“Touched by Fate” by Preslaysa Williams


“Touched by Fate” by Preslaysa Williams

This story was considerably short (about 50 pages) even for a novella. We were introduced to Analyn, her culture, and her family-especially her grandmothers. I did not like the language in the book and it was a definite turn off to future books by this author. (swear words and sexual innuendos/references)

Analyn struggles with doubts, wedding jitters and trying to control every detail as she prepares for her second wedding.

This short story made me think about my own struggles with controlling things, and learning to let things go and to trust in God instead.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About The Book:
Analyn Richards likes life the way she likes her wedding planning business—orderly and predictable. All doubts aside, getting engaged to the successful man she’s been dating is the natural next step, right?

But on her wedding day uncertainty makes an unscheduled appearance. She finds herself deciding whether to go along with her wedding as planned or whether to make another choice.

Will this perfectionist find the courage to take a chance on the unpredictable?

About the Author
Preslaysa Williams is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction with an Afro-Filipina twist. She loves sharing her culture with her readers. Her writing awards include the Indiana Romance Writers of America’s (RWA) Golden Opportunity Award and the ACFW Genesis Award. In addition, her stories have been a finalist in the Northwest Houston RWA Lone Star Writing Contest, the Windy City RWA Four Seasons Contest, and the Valley of the Sun RWA Hot Prospects Contest. She has an undergraduate degree from Columbia University and a MPA from the University of South Carolina. She is also a Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar, a Jackie Robinson Foundation Extra Innings Fellow, and a Sol Spiegelman Scholar. Preslaysa is currently earning a MFA in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University. In addition, she’s a professional actress. She started acting at age eight, joining the Screen Actors Guild as a teenager when she co-starred on the Nickelodeon TV show, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. She’s an avid bookworm and planner nerd who hoards pens, pencils, and notebooks in her spare time. In her daily life, you’ll find her wearing mismatched socks while being a homeschool mom. Preslaysa presently makes her home in Virginia with her husband and two children. You can visit her online at www.preslaysa.com where you can sign up for her newsletter community.

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“End Game” (Capital Intrigue Book #1) by Rachel Dylan


“End Game” (Capital Intrigue Book #1) by Rachel Dylan

I absolutely loved this brand new christian fiction suspense book! I love reading series and I can’t wait to read more in the “Capital Intrigue” series by this author.

DOD, NCIS, CIA, FBI and Navy Seals… they are all represented in this fast paced suspense story. Lots of twists and turns in this story and wasn’t too complicated to follow and had a believable plot. Great characters and clean romance.

FBI special agent Bailey and Agent Marco worked really well together and I liked getting to know them individually and as a team. They worked along side Layla, Izzy, Jay and Lexi as they encountered conspiracies, murder, coverups, and possibly agency moles.

This was SUCH a great book! Lots of energy, suspense and drama-highly recommend! Once you start reading, you won’t want to stop!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

Introducing the Capital Intrigue series!

This new series features three friends who all went to Georgetown Law School, but ended up taking different career paths—an FBI agent, a CIA analyst, and a State Department lawyer.

About End Game:

Each New Clue . . .
Every Crime Scene . . .
Brings Them Closer to Discovering the End Game

When elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington, DC, FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, all evidence points to a Navy SEAL sniper whom Bailey refuses to believe is guilty.

When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, including a link to a powerful defense contractor, they wonder if there’s a deeper cover-up at play. Then Bailey is targeted, and it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep their dark secrets.

With the stakes getting higher by the moment in a twisted conspiracy, there’s a rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust. As allies turn to enemies, the biggest secret yet to be uncovered could be the end of all of them.

All of the links to purchase the paperback or e-book from your favorite online retailers are available at https://www.racheldylan.com/end-game/.

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“Way of the Brave” (Global Search and Rescue) by Susan May Warren

WOW!! Nonstop adrenaline filled adventure from beginning to end!

Jenny, Sasha and Aria have a yearly girls mountain climb every year so they can remember how strong they are together and what they have overcome in their individual lives. When their climb goes bad, they are forced to fight for their lives against the severe elements and mountains.

Orion, Ham and Jake are the rescue team who go after the women and the other lost hiking group. I liked how they worked together and their strong drive to help and rescue others.

This story mostly focuses on Jenny and Orion‘s relationship especially from three years ago when they previously met in Afghanistan. Over the years, life events changed both of them and they both struggled with regret, anger, faith and loss. As they fight for their lives against the elements, they are able to communicate more and work thru their struggles and faith in God.

I really hope book 2 (comes out this summer) will pick up with Aria and Jake-they seemed to really hit it off in this book. I also hope we will find out more about Ham’s family and more about their rescues as a team.

I loved all the different dynamics of the three men and women. Can’t wait to read more from this global search and rescue series. I could barely catch my breath with all of the action in this book and didn’t want to stop reading.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Former pararescue jumper Orion Starr is haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong. He may be living alone in Alaska now, but the pain of his failure–and his injuries–has followed him there from Afghanistan. He has no desire to join Hamilton Jones’s elite rescue team, but he also can’t shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali.

Former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun’s yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from the guilt that has sunk its claws into her. As a consultant during a top-secret mission to root out the Taliban, she green-lighted an operation that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she’ll be forced to trust her life and the lives of her friends to the most dangerous of heroes–the man she nearly killed.

Her skills and his experience are exactly what’s needed to prevent another tragedy–but in order to truly set Orion free from his painful past, Jenny will have to reveal hers. They’ll have to put their wounds behind them to survive, but at what cost?

Leap into action with this high-octane, breakneck new series from bestselling author Susan May Warren.

Purchase your copy here:

About the Author
Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of over 65 novels with more than 1 million books sold, including the Montana Rescue series. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT Medallion and numerous Readers’ Choice Awards, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic suspense, thrillers, romantic comedy, and novellas. She makes her home in Minnesota. Find her online at www.susanmaywarren.com, on Facebook at Susan May Warren Fiction, and on Twitter @susanmaywarren.

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“Seconds to Live” (Homeland Heroes Book #1) by Susan Sleeman


“Seconds to Live” (Homeland Heroes Book #1) by Susan Sleeman
I have read lots of books by this author and I love her writing and clean suspense stories! I was thrilled to start reading the first book in this new series!

For whatever reason, I had a hard time connecting with the two main characters, Taylor and Sean. I guess I found them both kind of bossy, rude and not very likeable. I did keep reading the story and by the end I did like them both more. I’m looking forward to getting to know other characters and seeing where this series goes.

There were alot of tense scenes, lots of action, twists, and clean romance… I really enjoyed it! Not one of my favorites, but definitely worth recommending and reading! I liked the story line and learning more about witness protection and marshals.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book
When cybercriminals hack into the US Marshals’ Witness Protection database and auction off witnesses’ personal details to the highest bidders, the RED Team led by FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. But before he can even get started, the first witness is targeted and barely escapes with her life. Sean believes Phantom, an obsessed hacker who previously outwitted the top minds in the field, is behind the attack, and Sean needs this witness’s help, as she’s the person who has come closest to discovering Phantom’s identity.

Trouble is, she’s a witness under the care of US Marshal Taylor Mills, and Sean is reluctant to work with the captivating marshal who knows his deepest secrets. But Phantom claims he knows where the witness is hiding and will kill her, so to stop the hacker, Sean and Taylor must work through their personal pain and learn to trust each other. . . . The seconds are ticking down before someone dies.

Purchase your copy here

About the Author
Susan Sleeman is the bestselling author of more than thirty-five romantic suspense novels with more than 1 million books sold. She has won several awards, including the ACFW Carol Award for Suspense for Fatal Mistake. In addition to writing, Susan also hosts www.thesuspensezone.com. She has lived in nine states but now calls Portland, Oregon, home. To learn more about Susan, visit her website at www.susansleeman.com.

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