“Something Borrowed” by Weaver, Dawn, Boyd, Tysinger, Shiloh review and giveaway

Posted on December 13, 2020 by EmpowerMoms

About the Book

Book: Something Borrowed

Author: Weaver, Dawn, Boyd, Tysinger, Shiloh

Genre: Christian/Contemporary/ Romance / Holiday

Release Date: October 20

Something Borrowed Cover FINAL 6x9 Old friends, new loves, and a borrowed tiara.

Always Been Yours — Hanady’s planning her dream wedding, but her injured best friend Keenan isn’t the groom. If she can’t see she’s marrying the wrong guy soon, his leg won’t be the only thing broken.

All the Moore — Leilah Anderson has been living behind the screen to hide her disability, then she meets Reggie Moore face-to-face. Can their relationship survive the truth and distance between them?

A Holly, Bolly Christmas — A dream wedding venue at Christmas? Sign Chahna Kapoor up. Even if her fiancé doesn’t know it…

Somehow, This Christmas — When not-so-merry mishaps threaten wedding planner Cate Forsyth’s holiday wedding and reputation, will her own happily ever after with sweetheart Noah Bennett melt away?

A Promise So Sweet — Lydia Osborn hasn’t heard from her ex in ten years, so imagine her surprise when he shows up proposing marriage. Tis the season for love?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Great collection of Christian holiday novellas (short stories) that were funny and unique. “Something borrowed ” was the tiara that each woman wore at their weddings which connected all the friends and stories together.

Although they were short, each story had great characters and different story lines that were developed and fun to read. Mishaps, hiccups, holiday spirit…oh my!

Easy, quick reading about friendships and love. I really enjoyed this collection, especially since it was also a Christmas holiday collection.

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

About the Author

Jaycee Weaver Author
Lover of Jesus, family, books, coffee, music, and crafting (in that order), Jaycee Weaver is perpetually pursuing at least one of her passions. She writes contemporary Christian romance with realistic characters in everyday situations where they always find a happy ending. Visit her at www.jayceeweaver.com.

Toni Shiloh Author
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. Visit her at www.tonishiloh.com.

Mikal Dawn Author
Mikal Dawn is an inspirational romance author, wedding enthusiast, and military (retired) wife. When she isn’t writing about faith, fun, and forever, she is obsessively scouring Pinterest (with coffee in hand!) for wedding ideas for her characters.

Mikal lives in Oklahoma with her husband and two of their three children. Visit her at www.mikaldawn.com.

Teresa Tysinger Author
Teresa Tysinger is a wife, mother, and communications director for a national non-profit. She writes charming Christian romance, inspired by grace. Teresa now resides in Texas, though part of her heart remains in North Carolina. She loves Jesus, coffee, and happy endings. Visit Teresa at www.teresatysinger.com.

Andrea Boyd Author
Each of Andrea Boyd’s series represents a different genre but all fall into the category of romance. All offer an element of her own brand of humor. And all are a tribute to God. Besides writing, she loves spending time with her family, quilting, going to car shows, and driving around in her 1968 Barracuda convertible. Andrea lives with her husband, Tommy, and at least a couple of cats in York County, SC. Visit her at www.andreaboyd11.com.

More from the Something Borrowed Authors

Dear Readers,

Thank you for stopping by the Celebrate Lit blog tour of Something Borrowed. Before we share our excitement for the collection, we’d like to give a brief history of how it came to be.

Last year, the five of us crafted the Once Upon a Christmas collection, but Teresa needed to step down and we were blessed to have Angela Ruth Strong join us in her stead. Early this year, we rejoiced as Teresa was able to resume her place, and then our hearts broke as we learned of Angela’s breast cancer battle. Through all life has thrown our way, we’ve formed a beautiful friendship and have plans to write more collections together!

In January, we decided on a Christmas weddings theme, but we wanted it to be different and unique. Ideas sprang to life and six college roommates emerged, each from a different walk of life but bound by friendship. And then, we found ourselves missing our sixth. With prayers and a blessing over Angela’s health and a writing endeavor that’s been a dream for years (read her story on Facebook!), we found a way to include her in the form of a sixth roommate who no longer needed a love story.

Enter Ruth Ann. Married right out of college, she’s been busy cranking out babies like nobody’s business. And when the next bride, Jaycee’s character Hanady, brings them together for a girls’ reunion weekend, it’s Ruth Ann who produces the perfect something borrowed for this circle of friends.

Hanady’s planning a wedding to the wrong groom—just ask Keenan, the injured best friend who’s loved her for years. Wheelchair-bound Leilah doubts she’ll wear the tiara, but her online gaming friend might be too wonderful to resist. Chahna “Ana” Kapoor just knows she’s going to wear the tiara, so she books her dream venue—she just needs her boyfriend to propose and her parents to tone down the drama. After being engaged to Noah for years, Cate is more than ready for the tiara to be hers, but not-so-merry mishaps the week of the wedding threaten a happily ever after. And finally, having watched all of her friends marry and start their families, when Lydia’s ex shows up on her doorstep with an outrageous proposal, she finds it hard to believe her turn might finally have come.

We are so happy to present to you this collection of five interconnected stories where friendship and faith take center stage. For some, it’s new love. For others, it’s finally sealing an old one. Each tale is unique and yet together they weave one overarching message of love, joy, hope, and peace through the Christmas season.

As you read these stories, we pray they touch your heart. We pray they entertain you and maybe even make you laugh a time or two. And lastly, we pray the Christmas truths bless you this holiday season.

Blessings,

Jaycee, Toni, Mikal, Teresa, and Andrea

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, December 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 7

Sara Jane Jacobs, December 8

Labor Not in Vain, December 8

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 9

Get Cozy Book Nook, December 9

Remembrancy, December 10

Connect in Fiction, December 10

Texas Book-aholic, December 11

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 12

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, December 12

For Him and My Family, December 13

EmpowerMoms, December 13

She Lives To Read, December 14

Through the Fire Blogs, December 14

Melissa Wardwell’s Back Porch Reads, December 15

deb’s Book Review, December 15

Inklings and notions, December 16

Captive Dreams Window, December 16

Artistic Nobody, December 17 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Livin’ Lit, December 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 18

Simple Harvest Reads, December 18 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 19

CarpeDiem, December 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 20

Cultivating Us, December 20

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, the Something Borrowed Authors are giving away the grand prize package of an Amazon gift card, pens, and chocolate!!

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/10462/something-borrowed-celebration-tour-giveaway

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“A Home for Her Daughter” by Jill Weatherholt review and giveaway

Posted on December 13, 2020 by EmpowerMoms

About the Book

Book: A Home for Her Daughter

Author: Jill Weatherholt

Genre: Inspirational Romance

Release Date: September 1, 2020

Inheriting a house, money and a camp is the fresh start Janie Edmiston has been praying for. But the will stipulates Janie must work with her childhood friend—and crush—Drew Brenner, to get the camp running…or lose it all. The newly divorced mother and the widower aren’t looking for love, but sometimes it takes a child to show two broken hearts the way forward…together.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

By day, Jill Weatherholt works for the City of Charlotte. At night, and on the weekend, she writes contemporary stories about love, faith and forgiveness for Harlequin Love Inspired.

Raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., she now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, but her heart belongs to Virginia.

She holds a degree in Psychology from George Mason University and Paralegal Studies Certification from Duke University.

She shares her life with her real-life hero and number one supporter. Their relationship grew on the golf course, and now they have one in their backyard.

Jill believes in enjoying every moment of this journey because God has everything under control.

My Review

Janie and her daughter move back to her hometown after the death of an old family friend. She is hoping for a fresh start after a traumatic divorce. Throughout the book we get glimpses of the abuse Janie had to endure in her marriage but I liked how she took steps to work thru her grief and pain to help herself and her daughter. Her daughter was her number one priority and making sure she was safe and taken care of.

Drew is another great character who is also working thru grief and anger of a different kind. Working with Janie and her daughter on the camp project helped him work thru his problems and fears and start to heal.

Very sweet book that dealt with some heavier topics like abuse and survivor guilt; but I liked how the healing process was very real and demonstrated during this story. I liked seeing the friendship grow between Janie and Drew and to see the progress and vision of the camp take place.

I really enjoyed reading this sweet, clean, romantic love inspired fiction book.

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

More from Jill

I have a confession. I own a collection of journals. A huge collection. At last count, there were sixty-two beautifully bound books, some with plain covers, others with verses or artistic designs. You could say I’m a hoarder, but I find comfort in knowing I have an unlimited number of blank pages to record my hopes, dreams and prayers. That’s exactly what I did on June 22, 2008. On that day, I wrote the following:

I want to be a writer, not just a writer who keeps a journal or casually writes stories. I want to be a published writer. Lately, I’ve become obsessed with reading author’s websites, their bios, how they got started writing and how difficult or easy it was for them to get published. This is what I want to do with my life. This is what I will do. I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. God has put this dream in my heart and now I will pursue this dream.

Fast forward to March 31, 2015. I made a last-minute decision to enter Harlequin Love Inspired Blurb to Book Contest. I submitted a one sentence blurb, along with one page of the first and only book I’d ever written.

On April 13, 2015, I was stunned to learn I had advanced in the contest. I then submitted a synopsis and the first three chapters.

On May 15^th, I was notified I had moved on in the contest. I was required to submit the entire manuscript. At that time, the book was merely a rough draft, so a lot of rewriting was required before my deadline.

On August 17, 2015, I received a call that forever changed my life. While working my day job, my cell phone rang—it was New York calling. An editor from Harlequin had called to offer me a contract on the first book I’d ever written. My first book Second Chance Romance was released on March 1, 2017.

Five published books later, I still fill my journals with my dreams and prayers.

Blog Stops

Through the Lens of Scripture, November 30

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 1

Britt Reads Fiction, December 1

Texas Book-aholic, December 2

Batya’s Bits, December 2

Vicky Sluiter, December 2

She Lives To Read, December 3

Inklings and notions, December 3

For Him and My Family, December 4

Labor Not in Vain, December 4

deb’s Book Review, December 5

lakesidelivingsite, December 5

Pause for Tales, December 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 6

Reviewingbooksplusmore, December 6

Older & Smarter?, December 7

Remembrancy, December 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 8

Artistic Nobody, December 8 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Hallie Reads, December 8

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 9

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, December 9

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 10

Captive Dreams Window, December 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 11

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 11

Lighthouse Academy Blog, December 11 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Splashes of Joy, December 12

Godly Book Reviews, December 12

Through the Fire Blogs, December 13

EmpowerMoms, December 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jill is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

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/103f4/a-home-for-her-daughter-celebration-tour-giveaway

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“The Escape” by Lisa Harris

Posted on December 4, 2020 by EmpowerMoms

The Escape (US Marshals Book #1) by Lisa Harris

WOW!! What a great start to a new series! US Marshal Madison was a great, strong female character who works with co-worker Jonas while on a manhunt for an escaped killer. I enjoyed the thrilling ride from beginning to end as they worked together night and day to figure out what the fugitive was thinking and where he was going. I felt like I was watching an action movie!

There is also a side story of the death of Madison’s police officer husband and whether it was a random or intentional shooting. This brought an additional element of suspense to the story line.

Both characters were very likeable and I found this to be one of my favorite suspense books so far this month. I can not wait for book 2 to be released next year so I can find out more about Madison and what she’s going to do next with her life, job, possible romantic interest in Jonas…

This will definitely be a book I keep on my bookshelf to read again and again. I highly recommend this clean suspense book-you won’t want to stop reading it once you start!

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

About the Book:
US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are thrust into a high-profile case when they are called on to transport two prisoners across the country on a private plane. But when the plane experiences engine trouble en route from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado, the pilots crash-land the aircraft deep in the heart of the sprawling Salmon-Challis National Forest.

When Madison and Jonas regain consciousness, they find both pilots and one prisoner dead–and one fugitive on the run. They’ll have to negotiate the rugged and remote backcountry through Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado while tracking a murderer who is desperate to disappear–and will do anything to stop them.

This high-octane game of cat-and-mouse from bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris will have your heart pumping as you try to catch a fugitive with nothing to lose.

Biography
USA Today and CBA bestselling author LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom and Vendetta, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times. She has sold over half a million books. She and her family have spent over sixteen year working as missionaries in Africa where she runs a small non-profit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. The ECHO Project promotes Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” (Proverbs 31:8)

When she’s not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com

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“Bound in Shallows” by Stephanie Black review and giveaway

Posted on December 2, 2020 by EmpowerMoms

“Bound in Shallows” by Stephanie Black

I don’t even know where to begin except to say this book was AMAZING and I will be keeping it on my bookshelf to read again and again (even though I know the ending of course).

This can be read as a stand alone novel because Natalie and her finance Gideon do a brief recap of the other books, so in my opinion you won’t be confused about characters if you read them out of order.

This was probably my favorite so far of the four Natalie Marsh books. Non stop drama and suspense from beginning to end. I was totally surprised by the ending even though I had suspicions about other characters. Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down! I enjoyed all the different characters in this clean suspense book, especially Natalie! She was firm but kind in her beliefs and was passionate about her job at the clinic. I truly can’t say enough good things about the plot and characters except to say I was on the edge of my seat riveted by the story from beginning to end. I loved it!

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

About the Book:
It’s the week before her wedding, and Natalie Marsh doesn’t have a moment to spare. But when a potential donor requests a meeting regarding Natalie’s mental health clinic, the soon-to-be-bride makes time for the conversation especially since that donor is tied to a tragic loss in the life of Natalie’s fiancé, Gideon. Eight years ago, Gideon’s roommate Travis died of a drug overdose, and now Travis’s mother wants to honor his memory by helping others avoid the same fate. It is a noble request that soon turns into a nightmare.
As wedding celebrations ensue, old friends renew acquaintances. But what begins as a party of wedding guests becomes a cast of suspects when the discovery of a bloodstained knife puts them all under the spotlight. Things are taking a deadly turn, leading Natalie and Gideon to a horrifying realization: all those years ago, Travis didn’t overdose he was murdered. And his killer is willing to take deadly action to silence anyone who suspects the truth.

Purchase your copy here:

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