Blog Tour and Giveaway: A Practical Guide to Healthy Aging: Strategies to Achieve Physical and Mental Health by Andrea Jo Rodgers

About the Book

Book: A Practical Guide to Healthy Aging: Strategies to Achieve Physical and Mental Health

Author: Andrea Jo Rodgers

Genre: Nonfiction

Release date: November 16, 2024

Embark on a journey to healthy aging!

Would you like to improve your vascular health by lowering your blood pressure, avoiding weight gain, and increasing your aerobic activity level? How about saying goodbye to urinary incontinence and overactive bladder while improving your bowel health? Have you thought about building a healthy framework of muscles, joints, and bones as you sail into middle-age and beyond? Could you benefit from a home exercise program to build bone density and manage osteopenia and osteoporosis? Would you like to keep your youthful appearance, understand your immune system, and learn strategies to improve balance and prevent falls? In A Practical Guide to Healthy Aging: Strategies to Achieve Physical and Mental Health, veteran Doctor of Physical Therapy Andrea Rodgers, who is CAPP-certified in pelvic health by the American Physical Therapy Association, a nationally certified lymphedema therapist, a PORi-certified oncology rehabilitation therapist, emergency medical technician, and a low pressure fitness instructor, expounds upon all these topics and more. Join Andrea as she shares valuable information in this one-of-a-kind book that will aid in your quest towards healthy aging.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Andrea Jo Rodgers holds a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and has worked as a physical therapist for 30 years. She is CAPP-certified in pelvic health by the American Physical Therapy Association, a nationally certified lymphedema therapist, a PORi-certified oncology rehabilitation therapist, and a low pressure fitness instructor. She also specializes in orthopedics, osteoporosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Writing is one of her passions, and she is the award-winning author of numerous inspirational books. She has served as a volunteer emergency medical technician on her town’s rescue squad for 38 years and has responded to 10,000 first aid and fire calls. She enjoys reading, day trips, and savoring a cup of green tea. She lives with her family on the east coast.

 

More from Andrea Jo

Aging can be defined as the process of growing old. The key to graceful aging is to stay in good health as the years slip by. One of the best ways to do this is to be proactive. What you do today can help ensure better health tomorrow.

People often start to think about aging when something goes amiss. Perhaps they develop an ache or pain that lingers: a stiff neck, an achy back, or painful hips and knees. They may receive a diagnosis that forces them to confront their health head-on, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, obesity, or perhaps even cancer.

I’ve worked as a clinical Doctor of Physical Therapy in both the hospital and outpatient setting for thirty years. During this time, I’ve helped people with wellness initiatives as well as various health problems. I’m CAPP-certified in pelvic health by the American Physical Therapy Association, a nationally certified lymphedema therapist, a PORi-certified oncology rehabilitation therapist, and a certified low pressure fitness instructor. During my 38 years as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) with my local rescue squad, I’ve assisted countless people in times of medical crisis. The goal of this book is to share pearls of wisdom that I’ve learned from my experiences as a physical therapist and EMT.

Some may be reading this book to stay healthy as you get older. Others may be looking for ideas to improve your current condition. Perhaps you are looking to build muscle and bone strength, improve flexibility, or choose a healthier lifestyle with respect to diet and exercise. Or maybe you wish to stop leaking urine or say goodbye to constipation and countless hours in the bathroom.

Do you think wellness simply means freedom from disease? Well, it includes much more than that. Wellness can be defined as the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal. Wellness serves as a cornerstone towards the vision of healthy aging. Wellness constitutes a dynamic process of change and growth in which individuals actively become aware of healthy choices and consciously make a decision to choose them. It’s a balanced lifestyle which encourages physical and mental health and well-being. Wellness emphasizes the mind, body, and spirit. Wellness means being proactive about staying healthy as you get older. It involves using available knowledge and tools to achieve optimal health. Many of the chapters in this book focus on different areas of wellness as a means to strive towards healthy aging. My goal is that each of you stay active, embark on a journey of wellness, and enjoy your middle age and golden years in good mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 7

It’s Mama Safe, May 8

Simple Harvest Reads, May 9 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 9

Texas Book-aholic, May 10

Book Looks by Lisa, May 11

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 12

Artistic Nobody, May 13 (Author Interview)

Girls in White Dresses, May 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 15

Guild Master, May 16 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 17

Fiction Book Lover, May 18 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 19

A Reader’s Brain, May 20 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54214 

My Review

I found A Practical Guide to Healthy Aging: Strategies to Achieve Physical and Mental Health by Andrea Jo Rodgers to be a helpful guide for me. All throughout the book were step by step exercises with photographs provided. They were easy to follow and not hard to do. It, also, gives advice and tips on improving immunity, preventing illnesses, and how to keep the brain active. It is no doubt a keeper for me that I follow over and over for years to come.

Five stars is what A Practical Guide to Healthy Aging: Strategies to Achieve Physical and Mental Health deserves. I highly recommend it for readers who are searching for great ways in their aging journey. 

I received a paperback copy of Andrea Jo Rodgers' A Practical Guide to Healthy Aging: Strategies to Achieve Physical and Mental Health from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Book Tour and Giveaway: The Perfect Mother by Desiree Moodie

 

Book Title:  THE PERFECT MOTHER by Desiree Moodie
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 
Genre: Thriller
Publisher:  Twisted Thoughts Publishing
Release date:  May 2025
Content Rating: PG-13 + M: My book has a few "f" words, one or two religious profanities and a few crude terms. There is no sex, but there is violence. Mature themes include pregnancy loss.

Book Description:

The perfect neighborhood. The perfect family. The perfect crime.

When Dawn Harrington moves to the quiet, picturesque town of Meadowbrook, she’s hoping for a fresh start. A place where no one knows her name. Where she can leave behind the whispers, the heartbreak, the gaping hole left by the son who vanished from a park nearly twenty years ago. But secrets have a way of following you.

A few blocks over, Evelyn Harper has spent years crafting the perfect life—an adoring husband, beautiful children, a home straight out of a magazine. But when she sees Dawn standing in her driveway, Evelyn feels the first stirrings of something she hasn’t felt in years.

Fear.

Because Dawn isn’t just any new neighbor. She’s a woman with a past. A past that collides violently with Evelyn’s own. 

At first, Dawn and Evelyn circle each other warily—neighborly smiles masking something far more sinister. But as Dawn starts asking questions and Evelyn begins watching her every move, the game between them becomes something far more treacherous.

As their carefully built lives begin to crumble, one of them will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

The other will stop at nothing to keep it buried.

Because some lies can be forgiven. Others demand blood.

The Perfect Mother is a spellbinding psychological thriller about deception, obsession, and how far a mother will go for the truth. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn, and Shari Lapena, this is one twisted suburban nightmare you won’t soon forget.​

Buy the Book:
Amazon
(release date May 16)

Meet the Author:

Desiree Moodie has been writing since before she could talk — seriously. As a kid, she spent weekends scribbling on notebook paper and stapling the pages together into makeshift books.

Now, she crafts dark, twisty stories featuring morally complex characters and impossible-to-put-down plots. Her writing is influenced by her travels, old-school noir films, and pro-wrestling (yes, still). She loves difficult women, villains who might just have a point, and snappy dialogue.

When she's not writing, Desiree is watching reruns of Perry Mason, working on her Lauren Bacall impression, or pulling Tarot cards. She’s got a soft spot for readers who love clever, gritty stories with a little bite — so don’t be shy. Drop her a line (just not in all caps).

Keep up with her at desireemoodie.com​

connect with the author:  
website  ~  X/twitter  ~  facebook ~ instagram ~ pinterest ~ goodreads ~ bookbub

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Enter the Giveaway:

THE PERFECT MOTHER by Desiree Moodie Book Tour Giveaway

My Review: 

The Perfect Mother is my first introduction from the talented author, Desiree Moodie. After reading this one, it will not be the last I read from her. I was quickly captivated with this book. At first, I was not sure what to think, but within the first few chapters, I was hooked. It was full of action, danger, and secrets. It was not one that could easily be predict as to what would happen from scene to scene. I was often on the edge of my seat. It was like riding a thrilling roller coaster with all of the ups, downs, twists and turns. My head was often spinning trying to catch up. The characters were intriguing, plot was sensational. There was nothing I did not like about this book. I did not want to put this tale down until the very last page. I think it is one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a long long time. I loved it.

I am going to give The Perfect Mother a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read action packed thrillers. I would love to read more from Desiree Moodie. They have earned themselves a new fan and will most definitely be grabbing their past releases. 

I received a paperback copy of Desiree Moodie's The Perfect Mother from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Fathoms (Oceans of Time Book Three) by Lisa T Bergren

About the Book

Book: Fathoms (Oceans of Time Book Three)

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Genre: Adult Historical Portal Fantasy

Release date: April 22, 2025

Can the She-Wolves of Siena survive the lion’s den?

Luciana Betarrini is living a nightmare. Blinded in battle, she is unsure what her future holds.

When Lady Tiliani Forelli volunteers to serve as the young Lady Romano’s governess—in order to protect the child—Luciana quickly follows suit, volunteering as a tutor. But as they navigate life in the

treacherous neighboring castello, they find Lord Ercole a chameleon of adversaries, intent on mastering the She-Wolves of Siena any way he can.

Together, Luciana and Tiliani must find a way to bring Ercole down and buy time for Domenico and Marcello to establish new allies. But Luciana continues to find herself at a crossroads: Is she willing to risk leaving Sir Giulio Greco forever in order to chase healing through the time tunnel?

Or is she called to accept her plight—in light of the myriad blessings of her new medieval life—and make her way through the best she can?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Lisa T. Bergren is the author of over sixty books spanning a variety of genres, from children’s picture books to women’s historical fiction to supernatural suspense and time travel. She lives with her husband and three gradually-flying-from-the-nest young adult children.

 

 

 

 

More from Lisa

I love to read and write books about “found families.” People that are brought together by a shared cause, purpose or passion. More and more, our world seems divisive, so I suppose it’s my small effort to plant a flag in the sand and state, “Look, I know we’re all different, but we can all decide to love first.”

The Forellis created that sort of found family in River of Time for the Betarrinis, especially as Gabi and Lia were mourning their dad. And in Oceans, they again make way for my twin hero and heroine, who are in many ways orphaned. I strive to make room in my life for those around me who are a bit adrift, missing a family “anchor.” Tim and I love to host dinners and make feel people welcome in our home with good meals and good conversations around a fire.

Of course, in medieval Italy, the family is striving to survive when many want to see them die. When it’s “us against them” to the death, that’ll cement a bond. But even in today’s society, I think we have enough against those of us who stand for Christ, family and traditional values, that perhaps we can link arms with one another and grow stronger for the bond. And my hope in doing so, is that we will not distance “the other side,” but rather draw them to us with a winsome, welcoming and loving spirit—seeking places we can bond and celebrate one another, even though we differ.

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, May 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 14

Texas Book-aholic, May 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 16

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 17

Blogging With Carol, May 18

Artistic Nobody, May 19 (Spotlight)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 20

Sylvan Reads, May 21

For Him and My Family, May 22

Guild Master, May 23 (Spotlight)

Romances of the Cross, May 23

Simple Harvest Reads, May 24 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Fiction Book Lover, May 25 (Spotlight)

To Everything There Is A Season, May 25

Lily’s Corner, May 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lisa is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54218/

My Review

I have previously had the pleasure of reading the first two books from Lisa Tawn Bergren's Oceans of Time series, Estuary and Rip TIde. I was excited to have the opportunity to continue the series with the third installment, Fathoms. Since this is a continuing series, it would be best to read the books in order. I was instantly thrown into Luciana and Tiliani's story and catching up with them. Once again, they are faced with adventure, action, and danger. I loved it. 

I am going to give Fathoms five stars. I believe readers and fans of clean historical fantasies will love it as much as me. As always, I would be excited to more books like this from Lisa Tawn Bergren in the future. 

I received a digital copy of Lisa Tawn Bergren's Fathoms from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Your Fincances God’s Way and the Your Finances God’s Way Workbook by Scott LaPierre

About the Book

Book: Your Fincances God’s Way and the Your Finances God’s Way Workbook

Author: Scott LaPierre

Genre: Christian Nonfiction

Release date: May 3, 2022

Since he married, author and pastor Scott LaPierre has supported his wife and ten children on a single income. He’s witnessed the stress that accompanies financial insecurity, yet he’s learned firsthand that even those with a limited income can eliminate monetary worries when they abide by biblical principles.

With Your Finances God’s Way, you’ll replace negative spending habits with positive patterns that will set you on the road to financial freedom. Drawing from the Bible’s wisdom on money management, this book provides essential steps backed by proven practices, helping you…

• get the most out of your money by paying off debt and building up savings
• make informed spending choices that help you avoid anxiety, regret, and conflict
• enjoy the fruits of managing your money in a way that honors God

Use what God has provided to thrive! Whether you’re young or old, married or single, working or staying at home, Your Finances God’s Way will give you everything you need to be a Christlike steward of the resources you have been given.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Workbook

How can I take control of my impulsive spending habits? How do I make up for not saving sooner? How should I prepare in case of an unplanned financial burden? Money can easily become a source of anxiety, but a sound understanding of your finances and a proactive plan for your future will put those fears to rest!

This companion workbook to Your Finances God’s Way guides you deeper into the Bible’s financial wisdom while leading you to create a plan for money management. Perfect for individual use or group study, you will find…

• thoughtful questions for self-reflection
• illuminating verses from Scripture
• helpful guidelines for creating a personalized strategy for spending, saving, giving, and paying off debt

As believers, part of living out the call in 1 Corinthians 6:12 to “not be dominated by anything” means ensuring we control our spending and not the other way around. This workbook will give you the tools to take charge of your money, find peace with your finances, and use every resource God has given you for His glory.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Scott LaPierre is a teaching pastor, author, and popular conference speaker. He holds an MA in Biblical Studies from Liberty University. God has blessed Scott and his wife, Katie, with ten children.

 

 

 

 

 

More from Scott

There are many finance books already available, so why another one? What makes mine different? Is there any reason you should trust what I have to say?

Most importantly, I’m not asking you to trust me but God. Your Finances God’s Way is not a collection of my opinions about money, but God’s words revealed in Scripture. I do my best to unpack the Bible’s critical money-related verses. God is the One “who gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18), and He “makes poor and makes rich” (1 Samuel 2:7). That means God knows what you should and shouldn’t do with your finances, and He has provided you with the needed instructions in His Word. I present these instructions in a clear, engaging, and biblical manner.

I’ve taught extensively on money to the church I serve. The most common type of counseling I give is for marriages, with many sessions revolving around finances. The time I’ve spent with people in counseling—couples and individuals—has made me familiar with the most common problems in marriage, many of which relate to finances. I have seen people struggle, and the time I’ve spent studying the Bible has equipped me to help them find solutions. I’ve been blessed to watch the truths of God’s Word resolve their problems, restore their relationships, and strengthen their financial situations. Your Finances God’s Way is the culmination of hundreds of hours of Bible study and counseling. I wrote this book because I am passionate about this area of Scripture and life.

As a pastor and counselor, I have witnessed the blessings of obeying God and the negative consequences of disobedience. I have experienced these blessings and consequences firsthand as a husband and father. As of 2024, our oldest child of ten, Rhea Grace, is 17. Perhaps God will bless us with more. We have always been a single-income family. I was a schoolteacher when Katie and I married; then, I became a full-time youth pastor. In 2010, I moved from that role to become the senior pastor at Woodland Christian Church in Woodland, Washington.

We have never lived off anything more than modest salaries, but God still enabled us to pay off all our debt, including our mortgage. In some months, we put a few hundred dollars toward debt; in others, we allocated a few thousand. When Katie inherited $10,000, we didn’t think twice before putting it toward the mortgage, and every tax return went toward the mortgage—the year I worked part-time as a youth pastor and full-time as an elementary schoolteacher provided the most money we ever made. More than half of each paycheck went toward the mortgage.

I share my story for three reasons. First, I want to give you confidence in the biblical principles presented in this book. Second, I don’t want you to wonder, Has Scott “walked the talk,” or is he a hypocrite? When discussing debt, I want you to know we have none. When I talk about paying off a mortgage, I want you to know that’s what we’ve done. Third, I don’t want you to think, That’s easy for you to say, Scott; you’ve probably made more than I make. Whether you make much money or a little, you’re in the prime of your career or just starting, or you already have a family or are looking to start one, these principles work because they’re rooted in God’s Word.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, May 9 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, May 10 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 10

Guild Master, May 11 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 12

Fiction Book Lover, May 13 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 14

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 15 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 16

Blossoms and Blessings, May 17 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 18

Stories By Gina, May 19 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 19

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 20

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 21 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, May 22

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Scott is giving away the grand prize of a $100 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book and workbook!!

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

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54215/

My Review:

I found Your Finances God's Way: A Biblical Guide to Making the Best Use of Your Money to be a great tool to have on hand for all. Mr LaPierre offers wonderful advice on financial freedom while using the Bible's principles in doing so. The book is full of scriptures that he uses to back up with how this could be achieved and what is expected from God. The workbook is, also, helpful to read along with this book that provides many questions to be answered with space provided.

Five stars is what I am giving Your Finances God's Way: A Biblical Guide to Making the Best Use of Your Money, I recommend it for those who are looking for ways to controlling their spending and finances. 

I received a paperback copy of Scott LaPierre's Your Finances God's Way: A Biblical Guide to Making the Best Use of Your Money from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Review Tour and Giveaway: Raven's Hill by Garth Pettersen

 RAVENS HILL

Garth Pettersen

 

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GENRE:  Historical Mystery

 

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BLURB:

When Harald, the second son of King Cnute, returns from fighting the king's enemies in Northern Wales, he expects his life to return to normal⸺farming in the Midlands, overseeing his few tenants, evening walks with his beloved Selia⸺an idyllic life, far from the power-mongering of King Cnute's court. But the king has other plans for Harald and his wife—he grants them a large landholding, a gift they cannot refuse.

 

On arriving at their new holding, Ravens Hill, Harald and Selia receive a tepid welcome⸺from belligerent housecarls, a conniving steward, an uncompromising abbess, bitter at not adding their estate to her abbey lands, a priest with roaming hands, and a grieving daughter of the previous landholder, who has entered the nunnery.

 

Harald and Selia wish to improve the lot of their tenant farmers but they face obstacles at every turn, and Harald’s generosity is seen as weakness. They also learn the lands come with an unexpected millstone—an unsolved murder.

 

And then the trouble begins.

 

Fans of Bernard Cornwell will love Ravens Hill—part of the award-winning Atheling Chronicles series.

 

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EXCERPT:

Making no sound, Udele closed the door to her father’s house and stepped out into the moonlight. She scanned the collection of buildings to see if anyone was stirring—she knew her father’s housecarls slept like bearns—even when on watch—and if they rose at all, it would be just to piss onto the scattered rushes that covered the hall’s floor. The two hounds Cyning and Cwēn padded over, seeking attention. She stroked their heads but said nothing. Udele made her way to the horsefold where she bridled her favorite gelding. Bats flittered above her, catching flying insects, and though the night was warm, her body gave a shiver. She wore a tunic and long-sleeved under-tunic, a cæppe to cover her head, and a mantle over the shoulders. Udele scanned the broad valley, saw the shadows of clouds crossing the moon travel over the fields of wheat and barley. She remembered her purpose and hurried. He would be waiting.

 

Udele led her horse down the track from Ravens Hill, and only mounted when she was well away from the large steading. When she thought it safe, Udele urged the horse into a controlled canter, the road visible in the moonlight. The small hamlet of Déorfald lay but a mile distant and their meeting place was not far from there. Déorfald was a small place with mill, bakehouse, and smithy near cottages with small holdings. The place she and Aloc met secretly lay downstream on a wooded clay bank above where cliff swallows burrowed. The thought of Aloc waiting made her heartrate quicken. He was the miller’s son, tall and handsome, and though not of the thegn class like herself, he would make a fine husband. Her father would come to the same conclusion in time. Poor Aloc fretted over Thegn Wulfrun’s disapproval and sometimes he would despair of ever marrying her. But Udele knew she would have him in time.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Garth Pettersen is a Canadian writer living in the Fraser Valley near Vancouver, BC. When he's not writing, he is riding horses or working on his acreage. Garth's short stories have appeared in a number of anthologies and in journals such as Blank Spaces, The Spadina Literary Review, and The Opening Line Literary 'Zine. His story, River's Rising, was awarded an Honourable Mention for the Short Story America 2017 Prize, his fantasy novella River Born, was one of two runners-up for the Windsor Editions (UK) Short Fiction Prize, and his novel The Sea's Edge won a first place Incipiere Award in 2024. Garth Pettersen's historical fiction series, The Atheling Chronicles is published by Tirgearr Publishing and is available on most online outlets (The Swan's Road, The Dane Law, The Cold Hearth, and The Sea's Edge). The fifth book, Ravens Hill, will be released in April, 2025. Print editions are available on Amazon.

 

Buy Links:

Tirgearr Publishing:    http://www.tirpub.com/gpettersen

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ravens-Hill-Atheling-Chronicles-5-ebook/dp/B0DZPGNVXZ

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/author/garth-pettersen/id1292516225

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ie/en/series/the-atheling-chronicles

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Garth%20Pettersen

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/gpettersen

 

Website:  https://www.garthpettersen.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/writeandride/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/garpet011

 

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GIVEAWAY:

Garth Pettersen will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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MY REVIEW:

I have loved reading Garth Pettersen's The Atheling Chronicles series and was honored to have the chance to read the fifth installment, Ravens Hill. Harald and Selia's story was one of action, adventure, and danger. The author's historical details made me feel as though I was transported back in time seeing this tale unfold in real time. I thought this was a fabulous read.

I am going to give Ravens Hill a very well deserved five plus stars. I would give it one hundred if I could. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read historical fiction, particularly set during the Anglo Saxon era. I am hoping that there are more to come from The Atheling Chronicles series in the future.

I received a digital copy of Garth Pettersen's Ravens Hill from the author, but was not required to write a review, nor a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Movie Review and Giveaway: Show Me Your Glory

 

Buy tickets today to see Show Me Your Glory in theaters starting May 13th!

Watch this powerful film in theaters starting May 13th!

Synopsis: 

How do you explain … the unexplainable? When does the impossible … become possible? Why are some prayers for healing answered and others … never are? Through true stories of the supernatural crashing into human suffering, a compelling new documentary arrives in theaters this spring—unlocking the possibility that the impossible still happens in our world. Meet experts who have studied miracles and suffering, discover true stories of the seemingly unbelievable, and be reminded that prayers can be answered in ways that we could never expect or imagine. If you or someone you love has ever pondered life’s deepest question— “If there is a loving God, why is there so much suffering and evil in the world?”—experience hope, encouragement, and awe with SHOW ME YOUR GLORY.

Buy tickets today to see Show Me Your Glory in theaters starting May 13!

Trailer

Website

Buy Tickets

Facebook Page

Instagram Page:

My Review:

I found that Show Me Your Glory was a beautiful movie to watch. I was reminded by God's love and he's there for me during the worst of days. I do want to warn others to keep their tissues handy. I could not help to cry at some of the stories and experiences told within the film. Even during the pain and anguish they went through, they found joy, peace, comfort, and gave their trust in God. It was truly an inspiration to watch. I loved it.

I am going to give Show Me Your Glory  very well deserved five plus stars. Viewers who love to view films about miracles, grace, and faith.

I received an early screener link to view the Show Me Your Glory film from Abba Heart Ministries, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.   

Disclosure:

Many thanks to Abba Heart Ministries for providing a sample of the product for this  review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Giveaway: 

$10 Amazon Gift Card

Leave a more than a three word completed sentence telling me who you will be watching Show Me Your Glory film with. Don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Winner’s name will be drawn on May 19, 2025.

Giveaway Rules:   

Giveaway is limited to US winners only.        

Three or less word comments will be deleted and will not be entered into the giveaway.

Chosen winner/s will be contacted by email to verify information needed to give to the appropriate channels to get the prize to you. 

Winner/s MUST reply to this email within 24 hours. 

If no response, a new winner’s name will be drawn and you forfeit the prize.

Locks, Hooks and Books is NOT responsible for lack of response from the chosen winner. 

Winners from previous Momentum campaigns within 90 days will be disqualified. 

Please note: Locks, Hooks and Books is NOT responsible in sending the prize.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Three Words and A Kiss (Love that Counts Book Three) by Sondra Kraak

 

About the Book

Book: Three Words and A Kiss (Love that Counts Book Three. It can be read as a standalone.)

Author: Sondra Kraak

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: March 1, 2018

When a big-hearted debutante collides with a small-town blacksmith set in his ways, it can mean only one thing—a war of hearts has come to Pine Creek.

Cameron Wallace thrives as both the blacksmith and the minister in his community of Pine Creek. Out of the fires of a chaotic childhood, he’s forged a peaceful life filled with safe relationships and predictable routines. But when the smithy he’s been renting is sold out from under him, the impulsive woman who buys it stokes the embers of emotions he’d rather keep unlit—and even has the audacity to lend a helping hand to his smithy work.

Samantha Klein has never been afraid to push boundaries when it comes to helping those whom society—and God—have overlooked, be they orphans, immigrants, or injured animals. When her latest attempt to aid a group of Chinese women lands her in a newspaper scandal, her high-society family sends her packing from Seattle. Setting out on her own, she purchases the Pine Creek smithy and hatches another plan for helping her immigrant friends. But only weeks after arriving in Pine Creek, her plan turns to ashes, and she’s overwhelmed by needs she can never hope to meet, including her own need to be seen and cared for. And the one who seems to understand her is the man who won’t let her anywhere near his heart, no matter the attraction that burns between them.

As Cameron struggles to find a new normal, and Samantha yearns for someone to share her burdens, old hurts and dangerous secrets make them both terrified to admit that what they need—and what God has planned for them—just might be each other.

Three Words and a Kiss is the third book in the Love That Counts Historical Christian romance series. You’ll find well-developed characters, witty banter, tender journeys of faith and love, and feel-good happily-ever-afters all set in the beautiful mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Discover Sondra Kraak’s small mountain town of Pine Creek, and fall in love with the characters who make these historical western romances books you won’t soon forget.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Sondra Kraak is a part-time hobby writer, full-time Jesus follower. A native of Washington State, she now lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where she serves as the Worship Coordinator at her church. Life at home with her Michigan-born husband and two teenagers is full of board games, sports watching (Go Blue!), cooking, cooking, and more cooking, and magically multiplying loads of laundry. Don’t ask her to drink eggnog, but she’ll happily consume most teas and coffee without fluffy flavorings.

The author of eight historical romances, she’s working on something a little different (a romcom series). But don’t worry, whether set in the past or present, her delight is to provide readers with stories that not only entertain but nourish the soul.

More from Sondra

My name is Lark. I’m thirteen, and these are my interviews with Samantha Klein and Cameron Wallace, the heroine and hero of Three Words and a Kiss. I know Samantha and Cameron because . . . well, you’ll have to read their story. For now, you need to know that it was Samantha’s tender heart that saved me and my two sisters. I asked Samantha and Cameron some questions so you can know them better. I’ll try not to interject my opinion too much, but I can’t help it. Samantha says I’m more bullheaded than a bull, but as a city girl, she has zero experience with bulls.

Lark: Samantha, you grew up in Seattle, right?

Samantha: Yes, with a family who values efficiency, good business management, social status, and formality. They provided an education and opportunities for me that not many people receive, and for that I’m grateful, but what I really wanted was to be understood and seen for who I was.

Lark: And who were you?

Samantha: The young woman who snuck into Chinatown to teach English and who befriended a prostitute.

Lark: If you used to sneak around, why do I get in trouble for doing the same?

Samantha: Because I wasn’t sneaking around with a boy.

Lark: Point made. Let’s move on. You bought a blacksmith shop. Spontaneously. Why would a woman want to do that?

Samantha: I’m a Klein, and Klein’s invest. After I embarrassed my family’s name again, I stumbled onto the opportunity to purchase the Pine Creek smithy and I wanted to redeem myself. As with most of my ideas, they come quickly, and they’re all I can think about until I act on them. Second thoughts? Those are distractions! With the profits from the shop, I wanted to help the underprivileged who are ignored by proper society. Who was going to notice and help these people if I don’t?

Lark: What was your first impression of Cameron Wallace, the blacksmith of the shop you purchased in Pine Creek?

Samantha: He’s got deep eyes that study you intensely. I’ve never thought of myself as interesting, so having those eyes on me often was intimidating. But I’m not one to let intimidation hold me back. Not that I’m brave.

Lark: You are brave, even if unintentionally. Tell me three things you love about Cameron. Only three.

Samantha: He possesses an inner strength that draws people, and it comes naturally. He doesn’t even realize how he brings the community together. He possesses an outer strength, too. Have you noticed his forearm muscles?

Lark: No. Gross. But you’re right. He is tall and strong.

Samantha: And those shoulders. It’s not like he’s a giant, though. I don’t feel overpowered by him.

Lark: You don’t seem to feel overpowered by anyone, that’s one of the things I like about you. But back to the question. You can list one more thing you love.

Samantha: He thinks things through before acting, which makes me feel secure. I tend to not think things through.

Lark: I know. I benefited from one of your spontaneous decisions, although I was taking care of my sisters just fine before you came along.

Samantha: (hugs Lark) I’m so glad I found you.

Lark: Let’s not get mushy.

Samantha: I won’t get mushy about you, but I have more to say about Cam.

Lark: (rolls eyes). You already told me three things.

Samantha: Just one more. I’ll be quick, I promise. I adore how he talks in sermons without realizing it.

Lark: Eww. Who wants to hear a sermon?

Samantha: I know, right? But I think it shows how metaphorically and deeply he thinks. He brings up profound things as if he’s talking about the weather or what he ate for breakfast. I mean, who really thinks like that? And then there’s the way he kisses—

Lark: Nope. We’re done. Thank you.

Samantha: You wouldn’t expect a man who values control and sticks to a plan to kiss in such an unencumbered way, but that’s what’s fascinating. It’s like all that submerged emotion must come out somehow.

Lark: Samantha, I really don’t need to know. I’m going to ask Cameron some questions now and hope he answers with more modesty. Cameron, let’s get the basics out of the way. Your mother left when you were ten, your father drank himself to death when you were fourteen, and the town collectively raised you. Is that right?

Cameron: Yes. I love the people of Pine Creek. They took me in when I was my angriest.

Lark: You’ve been at the smithy since you were fourteen. What do you love about the work?

Cameron: It’s creative. It’s physical. It requires precision. It’s not mindless work that anyone can do with brute strength. And yet, at its foundation, it’s simple. Heat. Metal. Force.

Lark: Will you teach me?

Cameron: (shakes head) Listen, smithy work is dangerous. I’m not comfortable with women learning the trade. Samantha tried, and I was nervous the entire time. The responsibility for safety weighs on me too much.

Lark: I understand, having been responsible for my two younger sisters, but still, I think a woman can do anything a man can do.

Cameron: If you’re that woman, I’m inclined to agree. (smiles) Don’t you want to know some fun things about me? My favorite color? My favorite food?

Lark: (frowns) Who cares about favorite colors? That tells me nothing about who you really are. I want to know your biggest failure. You give off this image of perfection.

Cameron: I do? I must admit I thought my life was perfect until Samantha brought her chaos into my smithy. But in the end, I saw my pride and my need to let go of control.

Lark: Is that why you took down that verse from above the smithy door?

Cameron: That verse about living a simple life and working with my hands—that was just an excuse to keep me from wanting too much. It was my permission to keep life contained and safe. Samantha’s big, emotional way of approaching life helped me see that lie.

Lark: She’s good at being emotional. You never told me your biggest failure.

Cameron: Some things are private. But I’ll say this, I lived years up here (points to head) and never let what’s in here (points to heart) matter. It ate me up. No more. I’m letting the thoughts and emotions mingle. You should try it sometime.

Lark: Are you saying I stuff my feelings? (shrugs) I can’t be good at everything.

Cameron: It’s nice to hear you admit that. You’re extremely self-sufficient for thirteen.

Lark: Almost fourteen, and thank you, but let’s not talk about me. Tell me what bothered you most about Samantha when you first met her.

Cameron: Everything. She waltzed into my routine with these crazy ideas. It put me on edge. But what made me the most nervous was her lack of special awareness. She drifted into my space many times a day, which is dangerous in a smithy. In fact, once . . . (rubs a hand over his beard) . . . never mind. I don’t want to give you any ideas.

Lark: Oh, please. Samantha told me she had trouble keeping her hands—and her mouth—to herself. I would never accidentally kiss a person. Last question. Why did you fall in love with her?

Cameron: (smiling) She sees the world differently from me, and it brought me freedom. Her love is extravagant. It knows no boundaries, and I don’t deserve it. And now that we’re married, that issue with her drifting into my space isn’t an issue. What man complains that his wife can’t keep her hands off him?

Lark: Probably no man. And this is a good place to stop asking questions before I get sick.

Cameron: Now who’s blushing?

Lark: I don’t blush. Our time’s up. I think I hear my sisters calling.

Blog Stops

Stories By Gina, May 2 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 3

Artistic Nobody, May 4 (Author Interview)

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, May 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 5

Simple Harvest Reads, May 6 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 7

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 8 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, May 8

Vicky Sluiter, May 9

Guild Master, May 10 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 11

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 12 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 13

Fiction Book Lover, May 14 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sondra is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54211

My Review

Three Words and a Kiss is the third installment to the Sondra Kraak's Love that Counts series. Since this is my first experience with this series, I believe it can easily be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters, Cameron and Samantha. I loved their chemistry together and the banter between the two was fun and entertaining. I thought their story was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.

I am going to give Three Words and a Kiss five stars. I recommend it for readers who love to read clean Historical Western Romance. I would love to read the other books from the Love that Counts series. 

I received a digital copy of Sondra Kraak's Three Words and a Kiss from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.