Tuesday, December 29, 2020

he Gold Digger Celebration Tour

About the Book

Book: The Gold Digger

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian/Historical/Suspense

Release Date: December, 2020

Men Are Disappearing in LaPorte, Indiana

Book 9 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History

Fiction Based on Strange, But True, History

In 1907, shy but loyal Ingrid Storset travels from Norway to support her grieving sister, Belle Gunness, who owns a farm in LaPorte, Indiana. Well-to-do widow Belle, who has lost two husbands and several children, provides Ingrid with enough money to start a small business. But Ingrid is confused by the string of men Belle claims to be interviewing for her next husband. When Nils Lindherud comes to town looking for his missing brother, who said he was going to marry Belle, Ingrid has a sinking feeling her sister is up to no good.

My Thoughts: Another thrilling novel in the "True Colors Series". It's amazing what people can and will do for money. This is a suspense novel that will certainly entertain, if not shock the reader. This is a novel that will keep the reader captivated until the end. I don't want to give to many details to give away the plot, but this is a very interesting case. If you like true mysteries, this is a book to read. The author has written a novel based on a true story, keeping to the true history as much as possible. The author does give the gospel message in the book which I appreciated. I truly enjoy this series and look forward to reading more.

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Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Liz Tolsma is a popular speaker and an editor and the owner of the Write Direction Editing. An almost-native Wisconsinite, she resides in a quiet corner of the state with her husband and is the mother of three. Her son proudly serves as a U.S. Marine. They adopted all of their children internationally, and one has special needs. When she gets a few spare minutes, she enjoys reading, relaxing on the front porch, walking, working in her large perennial garden, and camping with her family.

More from Liz

This story was so much fun to write, and the research was so interesting. It has to rank up there with one of my favorite books to write. That’s what makes my job the best around.

There are a great number of characters in The Gold Digger who are historical. Many of the places I mention are also historical. I had the pleasure of spending a day in LaPorte, Indiana, to research the book and take some pictures they had in the museum there. Research is one of my favorite aspects to writing. I could have spent much, much longer losing myself in the museum and in the archives. Good thing my cousin, who I was staying with, called me to let me know that it was getting dark and she had dinner ready, otherwise who knows how long I would have been there. Probably until they kicked me out!

One thing that the people of LaPorte would want you to know is that they really are nice people and that their town is a nice town. Lots of good people have been born there or have lived there over the years, including Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, William Mayo, who founded Mayo Clinic, and William Scholl, who found Dr. Scholl’s. They kept emphasizing to me while I was there what a great place LaPorte is. Judging by their friendliness and helpfulness, I would have to agree.

To help you better visualize the characters and setting, here are some photographs of the real people and places that appear in The Gold Digger.

Enjoy the book!

Liz

Blog Stops

Connie’s History Classroom, December 17

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 17

Genesis 5020, December 17

Pause for Tales, December 17

Artistic Nobody, December 18 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Sodbuster Living, December 18

21st Century Keeper at Home, December 18

Older & Smarter?, December 19

Sara Jane Jacobs, December 19

Blossoms and Blessings, December 19

The Write Escape, December 19

For the Love of Literature, December 20

deb’s Book Review, December 20

Blogging With Carol, December 20

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 21

lakesidelivingsite, December 21

Betti Mace, December 21

Inklings and notions, December 21

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 22

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, December 22

All-of-a-kind Mom, December 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 23

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, December 23

CarpeDiem, December 23

Hallie Reads, December 23

Remembrancy, December 24

Christian Bookaholic, December 24

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 24

Writing from the Heart Land, December 25

Splashes of Joy, December 25

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, December 25

Through the Fire Blogs, December 26

Rebecca Tews, December 26

For Him and My Family, December 26

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 27

Bigreadersite, December 27

Southern Gal Loves to Read, December 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 27

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 28

Mary Hake, December 28

Texas Book-aholic, December 29

Godly Book Reviews, December 29

Daysong Reflections, December 29

Melissa Wardwell’s Back Porch Reads, December 30

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, December 30

Daysong Reflections, December 30

Giveaway

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

and copy of The Gold Digger!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click Here to Enter!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Friday, December 25, 2020

Christmas Stalkings & New Year's Revolutions Celebration Tour!

About the Book

Book: Christmas Stalkings & New Year’s Revolutions

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Fiction / Christian / Romance / Holiday

Release Date: January 29, 2017 and December 31, 2016

Christmas Stalkings

If her life had to transform into a TV movie, couldn’t it have been a sweet romance instead of a creepy suspense?

Wendy Nabity has redefined “crazy cat lady,” and she’s just fine with that. She’s got a tree and a stocking for each of them, too.

All that festivity turns ominous when things begin turning up in odd places—places her fur babies couldn’t move them. The local police? They think she’s as crazy as the fleas jumping from cat to cat—or something like that.

Her neighbors aren’t much help. The nice one won’t come near her, despite his obvious interest, and the other hates her enough to torment her every chance he can. Seriously, if Neal Kirkpatrick makes one more rude demand of her, she might just start dumping the litter box on his front porch!

However, when a threatening note appears in one of the stockings, even Fairbury’s police officers have to admit no cat could have written it, and one officer takes it upon himself to do something.

Who knew Christmastime could feel so sinister?

____________________________________

New Year’s Revolutions

His life is spinning out of control, and his heart isn’t far behind!

Neal Kirkpatrick: project manager, staunch atheist, and town grump. Aside from an apparent soft spot for a neighborhood boy, the man has nothing to recommend him.

So when he overhears criticism from a neighbor he secretly respects, Neal decides maybe it’s time for professional help. With the same straightforward tenacity he uses in his job, Neal goes on a hunt for a therapist to help him unravel the mystery of himself.

His therapist says he’s in love, but Neal Kirkpatrick does not do relationships.

Does he?

Is any woman worth changing his entire life for?

Is He worth it?

You met him in Christmas Stalkings. Now it’s time to get to know him.

Discover what happens when the town curmudgeon steps out of his comfort zone and into a psychologist’s office to learn what’s up with his heart.

Click here to get your copy of Christmas Stalkings!

Click here to get your copy of New Year’s Revolutions!

My Thoughts: These books were a joy to read. Two lovely stories that revolve around the holidays. In Christmas Stalkings the reader is introduced to Wendy Nabity, your local cat lady. This is a humorous mystery that will keep the reader interested until the very end. It's a warm fuzzy Christmas story that teaches us not to judge others before we really get to know them.

New Year's Revolutions: This book gives us a better insight into Neal and why he acts the way he does. The important piece of this novel is that as Christians, people are watching us. Neal actually tells Wendy that it was her actions and attitude that he noticed. This is a good reminder to us all that our actions and words to count.

About the Author

Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

Sometimes, You Just Can’t Let a Character Go

I met him in my book, A Bird Died. Neal Kirkpatrick. Grumpy, snappish, the man just seemed to look for something to grouse about. Except when it comes to a little boy in the town, and then a soft side came out that no one expected.

A few years later, I got the idea for a Christmas comedic suspense “noella” (Christmas novella), and the minute I knew what I wanted to write, I knew I’d be writing about him, too. He’d be the main character’s neighbor and always on her case about something. Instant conflict and subplot. Oh, yeah!

Something unexpected happened as I wrote the story, though. I fell in love with the cranky guy and didn’t want to let him go. Did I have time to write a book for New Year’s, too? I mean, how cool would that be? After much deliberation, I decided to go for it.

I’m kind of glad I didn’t know what kind of Christmas our family would have that year or I would never have decided to do it, and I doubt Neal’s story would still be languishing in the slush-pile of my mind (for the story of our family’s Christmas that year, you might want to check out Sand & Mistletoe).

That story turned into something unexpected.

First, there was more to his story than I’d ever imagined. A dysfunctional family, a past that he didn’t even choose himself, and a rather immoral life I wouldn’t usually care to consider. But reality made me admit that a man with no concern for what the Lord says about things wouldn’t necessarily live the kind of life I think people should! Don’t worry, I didn’t do deep into those kinds of details! My prudish streak got pushed, but not pushed aside.

More than just “his side of the story,” New Year’s Revolutions tells the story of a man who sees himself through the lens of someone he respects and goes on a journey to see why he is as he is and if there is something inherently wrong with it or if the trouble lies with others (as he suspects).

Both a personal and a spiritual journey ensued that made me dig deep into Scripture to discover what it had to say about Jesus, relationships, and honesty. Neal’s discovery of what the Word says about things drove me to study and restudy things that I believed. We didn’t always come to the same conclusions, but it was interesting and I learned more than I would have expected to.

I hope you love Neal as much as I do. I know one thing for sure… this isn’t the last we’ll see of him.

Blog Stops

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 14

For Him and My Family, December 15

Get Cozy Book Nook, December 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 16

Captive Dreams Window, December 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 18

Holly Jo Morris, December 18

Inklings and notions, December 19

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 20

Mary Hake, December 20

Sara Jane Jacobs, December 21

deb’s Book Review, December 22

Blogging With Carol, December 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23

CarpeDiem, December 24

Godly Book Reviews, December 25

Artistic Nobody, December 26 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Simple Harvest Reads, December 26 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Texas Book-aholic, December 27

Batya’s Bits, December 27

Giveaway

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

and a paperback copy of each book, Christmas Stalkings & New Year’s Revolutions!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click Here to Enter!

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Stories and Songs of Faith Celebration Tour

About the Book

Book: Stories and Songs of Faith

Author: Alexis Goring

Genre: Christian Devotional

Release Date: April 25, 2020

Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God is a 52-week devotional that will bless your heart, soothe your soul, encourage your mind, and strengthen your God-given spirit.

Join author Alexis A. Goring on an inspirational journey. Each devotional builds from real-life experiences that impart many faith lessons learned along the way.

Each day is built on the foundation of a Bible verse or edifying quote, followed by Goring’s personal story and reflection questions for a personalized experience.

All of the devotionals are tied to a song in order to go a little deeper into the heart of the message. A song directory at the end of the book connects the reader with music online to further enhance the study experience and glorify God.

Spend a year on a journey growing closer to the Lord through Stories and Songs of Faith, and discover personal transformation as time with Jesus Christ changes your heart to look a little more like His.

My Thoughts: This is a wonderful devotinal. It's designed for 52 weeks of readings. It's not just an ordinary devotinal, the author Alexis A. Goring takes the reader into a deep study of God's word. Then she takes a song of faith to help illustrate the teachings. There is a song directory at the end of the book that will help the reader. The author also adds personal experiences to the devotionals which will help the reader connect to both the study and to the author. This devotional is well written and will be a part of my daily devotions throughout this year. With a lovely cover, this would make a wonderful gift, and a part of a good Bible study.

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Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.

More from Alexis

Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God was published in April 2020.

However, the idea for this devotional wasn’t a thought in my head until around the beginning of last year. It’s interesting because though I have been writing devotions since recovering from a health crisis at age 16, and have had my devotionals published in books, on blogs and on websites since then, I never thought of putting together a book filled with my original devotions until January 2019.

It’s amazing how God works! Because at the time that God inspired this project, I was actually still trying to recover from writer’s block and work on another fiction book which I planned to have published before the end of that year. But God had other plans.

And His plans were (and always are) perfect!

God put this devotional on my heart and I went to it! First, I gathered all of the devotions that I’d written over the years that were published on other blogs. Since they didn’t pay me to publish my work, I still had the rights to each one. So that meant I now had about 25 percent of the content for my book! Next, I reached out to the women’s devotional book editorial team who had published several of my devotions over the span of about 14 years. I planned to ask permission to re-publish those devotions that I wrote, this time in my own devotional. But later, I decided that it would be a better idea to simply write new material for my book. And so I did! But it wasn’t easy.

At first, I was barely writing more than one devotion every two or three weeks. It was then that I realized that as a trained journalist, I thrive on deadlines (never missed one). So I decided that it would help motivate me to write consistently if I gave myself a deadline for each new devotion. Around that time, I had been writing a few times a month for a friend’s blog called Whispers in Purple. I decided to sign up to write a new devotion for her blog every week until I was done putting my devotional together. So I booked myself for one of my new devotions to be published every Friday from around February 2019 through Summer 2019.

By Summer 2019, I had a total of 44 devotions and thought I was done. However, God knew I was not and He let me know that through two professionals in the publishing industry. The first was a popular book editor who told me, “You know, Alexis, if you wrote 52 devotions then it could be a weekly devotional because there are 52 weeks in a year.” I gave her a nod but wasn’t convinced that was the best idea for me as the author. Not soon after, a literary agent gave me the final push by simply saying, “You need to keep going.” And so I, reluctantly then but gratefully now, did keep writing more devotions. I booked myself to be a guest on Whispers in Purple blog every Friday through the rest of that year and then finally by the end of February 2020 (the next year), I wrote devotional number 52. I was so relieved to be done writing my book!

Not only does God have perfect timing; He positions you perfectly for success! Long story short: My publisher had hired a new editor who has decades of professional experience in editing devotionals and she (Patty) was the editor who my publisher assigned to me! Patty had a wonderful idea that really shaped my book by giving it the perfect title and bonus idea. The title of my devotional, as you can see, is about my real-life stories and faith-based songs that guided me on my journey with God. And the fun bonus idea was to have links to the songs that I mentioned in each devotion. These links were made available for the reader in a song directory at the end of my devotional in both the print and e-book versions. Even better, the link is live if you are using a Kindle to read my book meaning that the reader can just click on the hyperlink and hear the song via YouTube while using their Kindle app or Kindle device, without having to look it up first online. Patty said that there’s really not another book on the market yet with this kind of idea and format. She told me that it may help a lot of people, especially music lovers. As a music lover myself, I loved this idea!

But God wasn’t done directing my steps (praise the Lord!): He allowed 20 professionals from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences to agree to read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of my book and write an endorsement. We’re talking actresses, journalists, pastors, doctors, teachers, authors, bloggers, singers and a Christian radio show host … a wonderful variety of people who were all behind my book!

The final part of this amazing experience that brings joy to my heart is the fact that this is the first book I wrote where all of the first few reviews were each 5-stars on Amazon.com! That has never happened to me before (I have three other books published though they are all fiction stories but this devotional is my first nonfiction work).

Several of the people who have endorsed and/or reviewed my book have said that it was timely and needed for such a time as this (the Coronavirus pandemic, intense politics, increased racial tensions, and everything else that’s been hitting us hard this year on and off the news). Only God can do that so I give all the glory to Him!

In closing, I’d like to share words from my friend Morgan’s endorsement.

She said: “God has profoundly touched my life through Alexis A. Goring’s uplifting and personable weekly devotional book sharing God’s love through her own experiences and insights. It is so well-written and in a voice that feels as if a close friend is having coffee with you and talking of God. Every entry is backed by Scripture, as well as highlights meaningful songs that God has used to touch the author’s heart. As a fellow journalist, I love how the author uses her talent of observation to see God at work all around her as well as the use of thought-provoking questions at each devotional’s end to further connect our lives to that entry’s theme and the Scripture truth it has been based on. If you are looking for a devotional that is short but powerful, this is it. It would be a perfect gift for a special person in your life.”

Morgan’s words about how reading my devotional made her feel like she was having coffee with a close friend and talking about God is how I want every person who reads my book to feel. And if you don’t like coffee then we can have tea or ice water! At the end of the day, I hope and pray that God uses my devotional to touch your heart and bring you closer to Him.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 11

Spoken from the Heart, December 11

Texas Book-aholic, December 12

Inklings and notions, December 13

Mary Hake, December 13

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 14

Splashes of Joy, December 15

Kathleen Neely, December 15

For Him and My Family, December 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 17

Captive Dreams Window, December 17

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 18

Get Cozy Book Nook, December 18

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys , December 20

deb’s Book Review, December 20

Artistic Nobody, December 21 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Sara Jane Jacobs, December 22

Simple Harvest Reads, December 22 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23

Godly Book Reviews, December 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Alexis is giving away the grand prize package of a $10 Starbucks gift card,

an eBook copy of “Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories”,

and a signed copy of Alexis’ devotional book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click Here to Enter!

Monday, December 14, 2020

Insights on the Book of Daniel Celebration Tour

About the Book

Book: Insights on the Book of Daniel

Author: Dr. Alan B. Stringfellow

Genre: RELIGION / Biblical Studies/Old Testament/Prophet

Release Date: December 1, 2020

For more than four decades, Alan Stringfellow’s Bible studies have brought greater insight into God’s Word to thousands of believers. Now, the author of Through the Bible in One Year and Great Characters of the Bible leads readers on a 12-lesson, verse-by-verse study of the book of Daniel. Stringfellow’s in-depth teaching will bring clarity and understanding to one of the most misunderstood books in Scripture. With this study, readers will learn…

How to identify the major themes
How to memorize key verses
How to recognize God’s central message
An overview of various interpretations of the book’s imagery
The role Daniel’s prophesies play in the entire biblical story

By embarking on this journey, believers will discover the influence that Daniel had on the life and literature of the Jewish people throughout the biblical period and all the way to the writers of the New Testament, including Jesus Christ Himself, who often quoted from it. But nowhere is that influence seen as thoroughly as in the writings of the apostle John and parallels that exist with the book of Revelation. As in John’s prophetic work, the book of Daniel describes in beautiful and marvelous language the glorious coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Like John, Daniel was sure and certain about the final triumph of the kingdom of God.

My Thoughts: This is a great study on the book of Daniel. It is well-written and easy to follow. In this day and time, it is a good idea to start looking into and studying prophecy. I know readers will find this an interesting study as I did.

This is a study that is broken down into lessons that are easy to do and easy to follow along in. It's not a long study and will not take much of your time each day, but it is an important study that all Christians should be looking into.

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Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Dr. Alan B. Stringfellow (1922-1993), a Bible teacher and minister of the gospel for more than four decades, specialized in Christian education. Long concerned with the struggle most people have in understanding the Bible, he set out to write a study course that would bring believers more knowledge and a greater appreciation of God’s Word. He wrote Through the Bible in One Year, Great Truths of the Bible, and Great Characters in the Bible for laymen, to be taught by laymen. His latest studies include Insights on the Book of Revelation and Insights on the Book of Isaiah. Dr. Stringfellow trained at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, after which he served at Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth; First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, Florida; First Baptist Church of Fresno, California; and First Baptist Church of Van Nuys, California.

More about Dr. Alan

Through the Bible in One Year has sold more than 30,000 copies
Stringfellow’s solid Bible-based theology crosses all denominational and theological lines
Book of Daniel and its prophetic tone of the coming of the Messiah and the ultimate triumph of the kingdom of God sparks great interest in believers
Completes a trio of studies along with Insights on the Book of Revelation and Insights on the Book of Isaiah
Can be utilized for individual or group study