EmpowerMoms

“Secrets Never Die” by Laurie Lewis
This was a thrilling, on the edge of your seat, somewhat complicated, clean fiction story. I have read several other books by this author so I was really excited to read her new book!

I liked the main characters Tallie and Jackson, even with their quirks and different ways of dealing with situations and people. There were several people in play and who were a piece of the mystery puzzle that Tallie and Jackson were trying to solve throughout the book. Mysterious pictures, notes, unfriendly townspeople, disappearing people…lots of mystery, intrigue twist and turns!

I really enjoyed it and highly recommend! I couldn’t put it down! I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Tallie Brown’s life has never made sense. Raised in isolation by her mother, Julia, Tallie was dragged suddenly and without explanation from one third-world outpost to another until life normalized seven years ago when Julia took a position on a mountaintop in the Pacific northwest. But when Julia unexpectedly dies, Tallie uncovers clues suggesting that Julia had a secret life.
Journalistic phenom Jackson James is still recovering from the devastating mistake that flatlined his promising career. Now he’s paying the price, working as the editor of a syrupy community rag in a posh D.C. suburb. But when the very man who destroyed him drops a tantalizing lead about a potential D.C. scandal, the reporter sees his chance for redemption and sets off to chase the story.

Jackson’s investigation leads him to Cutler’s Ridge, a dying Virginia coal town, and directly into the path of the mysterious and beautiful Tallie. As these two mistrustful loners follow their leads, their stories begin to intertwine until they reach an alarming conclusion something terrible happened in Cutler’s Ridge. As they doggedly pursue the story, the town’s cold reception spirals into threats and danger, proving that there are those who will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden forever because secrets never die.

Purchase your copy here:

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Welcome to the Blog Blitz for The Mosaic Collection, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE COLLECTION

For His glory…
The Mosaic Collection is an international community of women authors who use faith-based fiction to touch hearts with the good news that Christ’s finished work on the cross has made us one family, and to nurture affection for the people God has placed within our circles of influence, so that the grace and glory of God may become visible and personal to everyone we meet.

…and our good
We are sisters, a beautiful mosaic united by the love of God through the blood of Christ. We have experienced the redemptive, restorative power of God’s grace in our marriages and families, and we believe our God is able to heal, restore and redeem our brokenness. His love fills us with the courage to persevere, and to offer others a Christ-like compassion that is full of His wisdom and grace.

Visit the Mosaic Collection Website to stay posted on each new release & follow the collection blog for meaningful posts from the authors!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hannah R. Conway is a military wife, mother of two, middle school teacher, best-selling author, and popular speaker. Her novels are a deployment experience of their own, threaded with faith, and filled with twists and turns. Hannah is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and My Book Therapy. She and her family live in Tennessee.

CONNECT WITH HANNAH: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pnterest

Cornerstone message from the collection:

My cornerstone message is about freedom. Freedom from the past, from the messes, the mistakes, regrets, fears, and failures. As a military wife, freedom means so much to me, but as a Christian, I want to be as free on the inside as I am on the outside. This cornerstone message resonates with many believers. We say we’re free, but often we’re in that freedom.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Favorite place to read:

Curled up on my couch with a cup of coffee. A front porch is a pretty good place too.

Favorite book character from childhood:

Robin Hood. I love that story!

Favorite movie:

Ever After, or the Harry Potter Series. I seriously could watch all of these movie on repeat.

Favorite quote or Bible verse:

John 15:17–”This is my command: Love one another.”

Favorite splurge/treat:

Movie theater popcorn! Melting chocolate chips with peanut butter and rice krispies! DELISH!

Favorite character you’ve created:

Audria Rylatt from my novella, “Christmas on a Mission”. She has this heart for helping others, and mexican food–we could totally be best friends.

Last 3 great books you read:

The Line Between by Tosca Lee

Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren

The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bishchof

Dream vacation: 

            A month long tour of Europe. I’m imagining it now…train rides, a sea breeze, castles, cobblestone roads…a little piece of heaven!

Hidden talent/little-known fact:

It’s a little strange, but I can pick up almost anything with my toes. It comes in handy when cleaning the house. Socks on the floor? No problem! My toes can pinch them up.

Plotter or pantser:

Definitely a plotter, but I do have moments of pantsing when my characters just take over and do what they want. Crazy characters!

In no particular order, ten of your favorite things (i.e. hot cocoa, a warm breeze, the sound of my kids’ laughter, etc.) :

1: The way my kids come and find me in the morning…warm hugs and sleepy smiles

2: The smell of coffee and toast in the morning…it reminds me of waking up to the smell of my mom making breakfast

3: Dogs: I love animals in general…I adore our dog, Albus

4: Cuddling: I can’t sit close enough to my husband; I’m a cuddle bug and thankfully he’s okay with that

5: History: all things history; old buildings, old graveyards, any old historical site, antiques…I just adore anything that screams “history”

6: The woods: the beach is wonderful, but there’s something about being amongst the trees, dirt path beneath my feet that resonates with me

7: Bookstores: I have a serious book buying problem…but it’s a good problem

8: Fall: hands down my favorite season; pumpkin-spiced everything, festivals, corn mazes, cool nights, campfires, big scarves–YES!

9: Chocolate: Is there anything better than sweet chocolatey treats? I didn’t think so. Chocolate takes a good day and makes it great!

10: Traveling: love, love, love to visit new places and meet new people. Walking the streets, taking in the sites and sounds…sampling the local cuisine–wonderful!

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card & an ebook prize pack*!

Winner will receive an ebook of:

• Where She Belongs
• Pieces of Granite
• Lifelines
• Christmas on a Mission
• Vigilant
• Other Side of the River
• The Third Grace
• Carolina Grace
• The Benefit Package (a devotional)
• Dance of Grace
• When Love Calls

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight July 10, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on July 24, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally, but international winner will receive a gift card only *(may be substituted for a Book Depository gift card if winner cannot accept from US Amazon)

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See tour landing page for a complete list of authors & book release dates.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for The Mosaic Collection, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE COLLECTION

For His glory…
The Mosaic Collection is an international community of women authors who use faith-based fiction to touch hearts with the good news that Christ’s finished work on the cross has made us one family, and to nurture affection for the people God has placed within our circles of influence, so that the grace and glory of God may become visible and personal to everyone we meet.

…and our good
We are sisters, a beautiful mosaic united by the love of God through the blood of Christ. We have experienced the redemptive, restorative power of God’s grace in our marriages and families, and we believe our God is able to heal, restore and redeem our brokenness. His love fills us with the courage to persevere, and to offer others a Christ-like compassion that is full of His wisdom and grace.

Visit the Mosaic Collection Website to stay posted on each new release & follow the collection blog for meaningful posts from the authors!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Regina Rudd Merrick is a writer, church musician, wife, mother, former librarian, and grateful follower of Jesus Christ. Having lived most of her life in Western Kentucky, she dreams of the sound of crashing waves and sandy beaches. Married to her husband of 35+ years, she is the mother of two grown daughters, and the keeper of a 100-year-old house where she lives in the small town of Marion, KY. She is the author of three books: Carolina Dream (Apr. 2017), Carolina Mercy (July 2018), and Carolina Grace (February 2019) in the Southern Breeze Series.

CONNECT WITH REGINA: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

Cornerstone message from the collection:

Trust God and do the next right thing.

I want my readers to know that they are not alone, and that what they’re going through is not unique to them. Life isn’t a series of obstacles to overcome, but a series of events that point us to Jesus, who loves us more than we can imagine.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Favorite place to read: In my bed – okay to be honest, on a balcony overlooking the beach, but reality . . .

Favorite book character from childhood: Laura Ingalls Wilder – I know, she was a real person, but she made me want to be a pioneer so badly!!

Favorite movie: Tough one. I have several: You’ve Got Mail, Sahara, How the West was Won, Notorious, Star Wars. How’s that for variety?

Favorite quote or Bible verse: Psalm 37:4. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Favorite splurge/treat: Anything with hot fudge on it. 🙂

Favorite character you’ve created: Lucy Dixon. She was so much fun to write!

Last 3 great books you read:  “A Bound Heart” by Laura Frantz, “Justice Delivered” by Patricia Bradley, “Where Treasure Hides” by Johnnie Alexander

Dream vacation: A month on an island off the coast of SC, GA, or FL, doing nothing but soaking up the sun, eating, walking, and reading.

Hidden talent/little-known fact:

Plotter or pantser: Plantser

In no particular order, ten of your favorite things (i.e. hot cocoa, a warm breeze, the sound of my kids’ laughter, etc.) : The ocean, chocolate chip cookies, a new computer, shopping for shoes, planning a vacation, decorating a house, my instant pot, hugs from my girls, my new wedding band, walking on the beach

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card & an ebook prize pack*!

Winner will receive an ebook of:

• Where She Belongs
• Pieces of Granite
• Lifelines
• Christmas on a Mission
• Vigilant
• Other Side of the River
• The Third Grace
• Carolina Grace
• The Benefit Package (a devotional)
• Dance of Grace
• When Love Calls

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight July 10, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on July 24, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally, but international winner will receive a gift card only *(may be substituted for a Book Depository gift card if winner cannot accept from US Amazon)

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See tour landing page for a complete list of authors & book release dates.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for The Mosaic Collection, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE COLLECTION

For His glory…
The Mosaic Collection is an international community of women authors who use faith-based fiction to touch hearts with the good news that Christ’s finished work on the cross has made us one family, and to nurture affection for the people God has placed within our circles of influence, so that the grace and glory of God may become visible and personal to everyone we meet.

…and our good
We are sisters, a beautiful mosaic united by the love of God through the blood of Christ. We have experienced the redemptive, restorative power of God’s grace in our marriages and families, and we believe our God is able to heal, restore and redeem our brokenness. His love fills us with the courage to persevere, and to offer others a Christ-like compassion that is full of His wisdom and grace.

Visit the Mosaic Collection Website to stay posted on each new release & follow the collection blog for meaningful posts from the authors!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Johnnie Alexander creates characters you want to meet and imagines stories you won’t forget. Her award-winning debut novel, Where Treasure Hides (Tyndale), is a CBA bestseller. She writes contemporaries, historicals, and cozy mysteries, serves on the executive boards of Serious Writer, Inc. and the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference, co-hosts an online show called Writers Chat, and interviews inspirational authors for Novelists Unwind. She also teaches at writers conferences and for Serious Writer Academy. Johnnie lives in Oklahoma with Griff, her happy-go-lucky collie, and Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon.

CONNECT WITH JOHNNIE: Website | https://linktr.ee/johnniealexndr

Cornerstone message from the collection:

One of the first verses I ever claimed as my own was Proverbs 31:25. The translation I love most reads: Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.

The first part of the verse is almost a mantra, a phrase I repeat to myself when I need courage. Maybe I’m faced with something as simple as a phone call I don’t want to make. Or maybe the situation is much more serious. An ectopic pregnancy. Family tensions. Divorce. A dying parent.

Life takes courage. And at the heart of courage–true courage–is trust. We can smile at the future, no matter what difficult, frightening, horrible situations we face because of God’s steadfast love and His promise of eternal life with Him.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Favorite place to read: I love to read in my comfy spot on the sofa. My little papillon Rugby curls up on the leg rest, and I usually put down the middle console which has a cup-holder for my drink. It’s all very relaxing and cozy.

Favorite book character from childhood: I have so many, but if I must choose one I’ll go with Encyclopedia Brown. I read all those books I could find when I was a kid.

Favorite movie: I’m not sure I ever answer this question the same–I have so many favorites, it’s always hard to choose just one. Today’s choice . . . Captain America: Civil War. And just about anything starring Cary Grant.

Favorite quote or Bible verse: “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.” Ecclesiastes 11:7

Favorite splurge/treat: Going to the movies!

Favorite character you’ve created: This is a toss-up between two of my heroes: Ian Devlin from Where Treasure Hides (WWII historical) and AJ Sullivan from Where She Belongs (contemporary). Ian is known for his heart-flipping grin, and both guys have a mischievous streak. Both are strong, capable, and upright. AJ needs to overcome a childhood of loss, deceit, and painful grief. Ian has his own burden and confronts horrific circumstances as a WWII soldier.

Last 3 great books you read: We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels; The Divide by Jolina Petersheim; Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

Dream vacation: I’ve been blessed to take a dream vacation already. My sister and I flew to Barcelona, traveled by train through France, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain, then spent a week in Lisbon. It was the best trip ever! My new dream vacation is to visit the Pacific Northwest. Or New Zealand (Middle Earth!).

Hidden talent/little-known fact: I’ve been known to choke on, among other things, a giant Sweet-Tart, water, and . . . air!

Plotter or pantser: Depends on the story–I truly do both. I recently wrote a novella based on nothing more than the back cover type blurb I submitted in the proposal. But I also write novels for a particular publisher based on the chapter summaries I’ve created. I’ve discovered that the more planning I do upfront, the easier it is to write the story.

In no particular order, ten of your favorite things (i.e. hot cocoa, a warm breeze, the sound of my kids’ laughter, etc.) :

1. Sunshine through a window.
2. Dandelions.
3. Sprawling trees.
4. Freshly-squeezed lemon juice in a glass of ice-cold Pepsi.
5. Hugs from the grands.
6. My collie’s deep “sighs” (You have to hear it to “know” it!)
7. Typing “The End”
8. Blank books.
9. My adult kids laughing about childhood memories.
10. Surprise blessings.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card & an ebook prize pack*!

Winner will receive an ebook of:

• Where She Belongs
• Pieces of Granite
• Lifelines
• Christmas on a Mission
• Vigilant
• Other Side of the River
• The Third Grace
• Carolina Grace
• The Benefit Package (a devotional)
• Dance of Grace
• When Love Calls

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight July 10, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on July 24, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally, but international winner will receive a gift card only *(may be substituted for a Book Depository gift card if winner cannot accept from US Amazon)

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See tour landing page for a complete list of authors & book release dates.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

“The Emerald Heart of Courtenay” by Anita Stansfield
I have read several of the author’s books (and loved them!) but this one wasn’t one of my favorites unfortunately. It was pretty slow moving throughout most of book so I had a hard time staying interested.

I liked the main characters especially Sarah and the story line was fairly interesting. There was definitely some intrigue and suspense during the book as we as readers are left wondering who poisoned Lord Courtenay, why is the sword so important, and who is trying to harm Sarah??

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

About the Book:
The moment her father takes his final breath, Sarah Courtenay becomes the sole heir of her family’s sprawling castle—and something far more unexpected. For on his deathbed, Lord Courtenay left his daughter a cryptic message: a dark curse will fall upon the house should Sarah fail to obtain and protect a priceless treasure. Sarah’s astonishment upon discovering the carefully hidden sword sparkling with jewels is nothing compared to the shock she feels when she learns the nature of her father’s death: he was poisoned. And now, Sarah herself might possess something worth killing for. Desperate to avoid her father’s fate, Sarah flees the only home she’s ever known, taking with her a loyal maid and a hired bodyguard, who will stop at nothing to protect the beautiful woman in his care. From the safety of a remote farm, Sarah finds a renewed measure of peace and hope for the future. But the sinister weapon that glitters amid her belongings in that small farmhouse beckons a shadowy enemy, one who will not be deterred from taking everything from Sarah—including her life.

Purchase your copy here:

Biography
Anita Stansfield has been a queen of romantic fiction for more than a decade. Her work has shattered the stereotypes of romance novels with her trademark ability to combine great storytelling with intense psychological depth as she focuses on the emotional struggles of the human experience. Her novels cover a huge spectrum, from the eighteenth century to the present, from heart warming to heart stopping. Hundreds of thousands of readers agree: Anita Stansfield’s characters and the lives they lead are not easy to forget. Anita also writes mainstream historical fiction (Horstberg Saga) under the name Elizabeth D. Michaels. The first book in that series is called Behind the Mask. You can see her Elizabeth D. Michaels books on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00J23ZXF8.

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