Sunday, October 31, 2021

Blog Tour and Giveaway: A Season on the Wind by Suzanne Woods Fisher

About the Book

Book: A Season on the Wind

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Amish Fiction

Release date: October 5, 2021

Ben Zook had only two loves in his life: books and birds. In a stroke of good fortune, he’d stumbled onto a way to cobble together those two loves into a career, writing books about rare birds. He was as free as a bird–until a chase for a rare White-winged Tern takes him to the one place on earth he planned to never return: his Amish home in Stoney Ridge.

Desperate for photographs of the elusive tern, Ben hires a local field guide, Micah Weaver, and boards at Micah’s farm, planning to “bag the bird” and leave Stoney Ridge before anyone recognizes him. But he neglected to plan for Micah’s sister, Penny. One long-ago summer, Penny had introduced Ben to birding, even sharing with him a hidden eagle aerie. That eagle became his spark bird–the one that inspired his lifelong love.

Ben. He was Penny’s spark bird. That was when she knew true love. She’d always hoped Ben would come back to Stoney Ridge. Back to his Amish roots. Back to her. The only problem? Ben has absolutely no memory of Penny.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author


With over one million copies sold, Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling, award winning author of over 30 books, ranging from novels to children’s books to non-fiction. She is a Christy Award finalist, a Carol and Selah award winner, and a two-time finalist for ECPA Book of the Year. She writes stories that take you to places you’ve never visited—one with characters that seem like old friends. But most of all, her books give you something to think about long after you’ve finished reading it. Suzanne lives with her very big family in northern California.

More from Suzanne

Did You Know? 8 Facts about the Christmas Bird Count

1) The year 2021 marks the 122nd National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) which, ironically, wasn’t always about counting live birds.

2) In 1900, the first CBC was launched as an alternative to the traditional Christmas “side hunt.” This holiday tradition encouraged people to go out into the woods on Christmas Day, choose “sides” to team up with and then, in the words of Frank Chapman, “kill everything in fur or feathers that crossed their path – if they could.” The winner was the “side” with the largest pile of dead birds. (Ugh!)

3) Frank Chapman was a prominent ornithologist, conservationist, and writer/editor who published Bird Lore magazine. He led the charge to end to this senseless slaughter and invited his readers to begin a new holiday tradition of counting, rather than shooting, birds.

4) Twenty-seven people participated in 25 counts that first year (in 1900). They counted 90 species of birds.

5) The idea caught on. Big time.

6) During December and January of each year, thousands of Christmas Bird Counts take place across the U.S., Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. The purpose of the CBC is a scientific census—to assess the health of bird populations and help guide conservation action.

7) Each CBC has an established 15-mile diameter circular count area. On a pre-arranged date, registered teams go out (with an assigned volunteer observer) and count the number of birds of each species they can identify within their assigned area. Each count has a volunteer compiler who sums up all of the lists and inputs the total numbers for each species into Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count database.

8) The CBC is the longest-running citizen science project and wildlife survey in the world. In fact, the CBC is considered the gold standard in citizen science.

And you don’t have to be an experienced birdwatcher to participate in the CBC! Bird lovers of all skills are welcomed. Even me! I’m a very enthusiastic amateur.

To learn more about the Christmas Bird Count, or to find a survey near you, go to https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count

To learn more about Suzanne and the story about the Christmas Bird Count featured in A Season on the Wind, go to www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.


Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, October 23

Lighthouse-Academy, October 23

She Lives To Read, October 24

lakesidelivingsite, October 24

Southern Gal Loves to Read, October 24

Artistic Nobody, October 25 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

For Him and My Family, October 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 26

CarpeDiem, October 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 26

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 27

Inklings and notions, October 27

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 28

Blogging With Carol, October 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 29

Texas Book-aholic, October 29

deb’s Book Review, October 30

Simple Harvest Reads, October 30 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 31

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, October 31

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 1

SusanLovesBooks, November 1

Mary Hake, November 1

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 2

Blossoms and Blessings, November 2

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 3

Splashes of Joy, November 3

Pause for Tales, November 3

By The Book, November 4

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, November 4

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, November 5

Spoken from the Heart, November 5

Vicky Sluiter, November 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne 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/126b3/a-season-on-the-wind-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Review

A Season on the Wind is now my new Amish Fiction favorite I have read by Suzanne Woods Fisher to date. I really enjoyed visiting and spending time in Stoney Ridge with Penny and Ben. I liked that just when I knew what was going to happen next, there would be a little twist I would see coming. I enjoyed learning about the birds, also. I thought it was an entertaining, fun and a delightful story to read. I had a hard time putting it down. 

I am giving A Season on the Wind a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean Amish Romantic Fiction. This one should not be missed. 

I received a paperback copy of A Season on the Wind from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Saturday, October 30, 2021

Blitz and Giveaway: A Texan's Christmas Baby by Linda Warren

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We're celebrating Linda Warren's 50th release!

A Texan's Christmas Baby
(Texas Rebels #11)
By Linda Warren
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
October 26, 2021 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Christmas is a time of forgiveness…
And unforgettable surprises

Former professional football player Chase Rebel has finally come home for good. But ranching life in his small Texan hometown is far from simple—especially when it comes to Chase's beautiful estranged wife, Jody. There's no escaping the mistakes and hurts of their past…or the feelings that still linger between them. But can Jody and an unexpected Christmas surprise show this Texan where he truly belongs?

(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt

Before Chase could put his phone in his pocket, the doorbell rang. He sighed. He opened the door without looking through the peephole. He froze, words sticking in his throat.

Jody stood there.

He hadn’t seen her in over a year and his heart stopped just from looking into her gorgeous eyes. In a green dress and heels she looked more beautiful than ever, grown-up, sophisticated, except there were tiny worry lines around her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

She had a box in her hands and shoved it toward him. “These are some of the things you gave me and I don’t want them in my house anymore.”

He refused to take it so she set the box on the floor by his feet. Her eyes were cold and hesitant as she waited for him to pick it up.

“How did you know I was home?” he asked, ignoring the box.

“I have to go. Just wanted you to have those things back because I know they mean something to you.”

“That’s why I gave them to you. They’re yours.”

She turned to leave as if she didn’t want to get into an argument. He couldn’t let her go. Breathing the same air as Jody was intoxicating and he wanted to keep her here as long as possible, even if they were arguing. It had always been that way with him. He could be in the dumps about a game or something but the moment he heard her voice, it lifted his spirits.

“What are you doing home anyway? Don’t you have spring training or something or another?”

“I just wanted to come home.”

Excerpted from A Texan's Christmas Baby by Linda Warren, Copyright © 2021 by
Linda Warren. Published by Harlequin Heartwarming.

About the Author


Two time Rita® nominated author Linda Warren has written forty-five books for Harlequin. A native Texan, she’s a member of Romance Writers of America and the West Houston Chapter. Drawing upon her years of growing up on a ranch, she writes about some of her favorite things: Western-style romance, cowboys and country life. She married her high school sweetheart and they live on a lake in central Texas. He fishes and she writes. Works perfect. You can find out more about Linda at http://www.LindaWarren.net.


Tour Giveaway


$20 Amazon gift card & ebook of A Texan’s Christmas Baby (US only)

Ends October 30, 2021


Grab Our Button!

Friday, October 29, 2021

Blurb Blitz and Giveaway: Iridescent by S H Everly

 

Iridescent

by S. H. Everly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

GENRE: YA Fantasy, Christian themes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

For 17-year-old Katrina Peterson, life is never the same after she finds out she’s moving back to California. Upon arrival, Katrina learns that the town has secrets, and at the heart of them is the mysterious and popular Jared, who’s been dreaming about her long before she came to Santa Cruz. Only one thing seems to have all the answers: a map given to her by her mother. But Katrina wonders how long she can keep her own secret from Jared. Will he ever accept her for who she truly is? But, more importantly, can she? A story filled with friendship, family, love, and even faith, Iridescent will take you away to the beaches and ocean waters of Central California, and on a magical journey in this coming of age book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

On the day of the camping trip, we piled into a school bus and rode to the edge of the forest. Kristen was wearing a black windbreaker, and she wore her long hair down. I was wearing a light blue jacket and a pair of jeans with some hiking boots.

Our English teacher, Mr. Thompson, was the trip super visor. He lectured us about the history of the forest, told us about the different animals we might encounter, and cautioned us about the potential dangers of camping. After promising to be careful, we got off the bus.

I chatted with Kristen as the tour guides arrived. They introduced themselves, and to my surprise, the guides were Jared and his brother, Steve. I recognized Jared’s auburn bronze hair, and up close, I could see his sharp jaw and blue eyes. Steve was a little taller than Jared with brown hair, a chiseled jaw, and brown eyes.

Jared was wearing Timberland boots with a pair of hiking pants and a light jacket over a dark gray henley. He began 50 reading off a list of yet another set of rules for the hike. As he was talking, our eyes met.

Had he caught me staring again?

My cheeks flushed red, and I could feel them burning, but he gave me a quick smile and turned back to his paper. He said the campsite was about seven miles away—that was a little further than I had expected.

We got in a single-file line and followed Jared into the forest. I held onto my backpack a little nervously as we walked along the tree-lined trails, and I looked up at the large trees. They were massive, and they only seemed to grow in size as we went deeper into the forest.

The woods were teeming with life. I watched as a few birds flew overhead. The birds flew through a few sunrays that were filtering through the leaves, and I could see a quick flash of blue feathers as they went through the light. Soft, velvet-looking moss climbed up the sides of trees, weaving their way upward, and green leaves fanned out, glowing slightly from the sun that wanted to peak through.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sarah is the author of Iridescent. She is a lover of the ocean and the beach which have inspired her writing, and she is also inspired by her Christian faith. In her free time, she loves baking gluten-free recipes and painting. Something on Sarah's bucket list is to write a full first draft on a typewriter. She is excited to continue writing the sequel to Iridescent, Book 1 of the Iridescent Series.

Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57230154-iridescent

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Iridescent-S-H-Everly/dp/B08X81LLG9/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/iridescent-s-h-everly/1140035428

Website: https://www.sheverlybooks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheverlybooks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheverlybooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SHEverly7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY:

S. H. Everly will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE TOUR AND COMMENT
ON EACH STOP TO EARN MORE ENTRIES TO WIN!


October 11: Jazzy Book Reviews
October 12: Andi's Young Adult Books
October 13: Books in the Hall
October 14: Fabulous and Brunette
October 15: Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
October 18: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
October 19: Westveil Publishing
October 20: Straight from the Library
October 21:Literary Gold
October 22: Long and Short Reviews
October 25: Kit 'N Kabookle
October 26: Welcome to My World of Dreams
October 27: All the Ups and Downs
October 28: Hope. Dreams. Life... Love
October 29: Locks, Hooks and Books
November 1: Gina Rae Mitchell review
November 2: Novels Alive
November 3:The Faerie Review
November 4: The Avid Reader
November 5: Rogue's Angels





Follow me on BloglovinFacebookPinterestTwitter, GFC or Email

Blog Tour and Giveaway: I Spy a Tiger by Clyde San Juan

About the Book


Book:  I Spy a Tiger

Author: Clyde San Juan

Genre: Christian Children’s Books

Release date: August 2020

Worship daily in rhyme, reading I Spy a Tiger with the young ones in your life. On this colorful journey, introduce them to Adam’s beloved naming of the animal kingdom, God’s awesome design, along with a bit of His humor too! I Spy a Tiger invites young and old alike, “There is so much for us to see and explore! Go on … have a look … it’s right out your door!”

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

An Illustrator and Author, Clyde San Juan enjoys encouraging creativity through his art, writings and art instruction classes, young and old. I Spy a Tiger is a young creatives’ introduction to the word read aloud in fellowship with their parents and other family members. Recently becoming a Grampy, Clyde can’t wait till he can read I Spy to his grands!





More from Clyde

Cardamon Swirl Clafoutis with Marinated Prunes

A rustic, custardy moist cake (or maybe, envision a thick German Pancake dotted with fruit),
this French dessert is infused with the exotic presence of Cardamon. Clafoutis, usually a sweet, can incorporate all kinds of combinations of fruit, fresh, stone, or semi-dried like these prunes or figs. But to the creative, there can also be a bevy of whimsical savory takes to the additions and to the batter, thereby opening up a wide range of tasteful delights!

Prepare an 8×8 inch square baking pan by lining it with parchment paper

Marinated Prunes

Apprx. 1 cup pitted prunes, each cut into halves or quarters

3 tbsp unsalted butter

4 tsps granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp ground cardamon

optional: red food color

For the Marinated Prunes, add the fruit pieces, the butter and the rest of the ingredients and
sauté, stirring frequently to meld the cardamon with the fruit and to create a wonderful syrup. Gently. We do not want to reduce and dry up the syrup. Off heat, set aside, blending in the
red food color.

Batter

2 healthy tbsp dollops, vanilla yogurt

6 tsp granulated sugar

4 medium eggs or 3 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup cake or all purpose flour

3/4 cup evaporated or whole milk

Finish

sprinkle of lemon zest

powdered sugar for dusting

Prep the loose base of the batter by creaming the sugar with the yogurt, eggs, vanilla extract
and baking powder with a whisk. It’s okay if the yogurt ends up as little lumps. Whisk in the flour, then the milk to bulk it out. It should look and stream like crepe batter.

*Preheat oven 320º

Reserving most of the syrup, spoon marinated fruit pieces into the pan, evenly over the parchment paper. Slowly pour or spoon the batter into the pan. You may need to redistribute some of the fruit back into the center of the pan. Drizzle the remainder syrup into the batter, swirling to your fancy, or create a beautiful herringbone pattern. This looks quite striking, if
you choose to use the red food color with the fruit.

Bake for 15 minutes or until all toothpick checks are clean, especially in the center. Choosing

to bake a little under gives the cake a more custardy mouth feel. *Note: depending on the heat of your oven, time and temp, this caveat stresses, not to overcook the batter, setting the eggs to a rubbery state. Baking gently with lower temps and/or shorter bake times can help you gage these variables. Try a Bain-Marie tactic, such as for flan!

Serve at room temperature, or slightly warmed, finishing with a dusting of powder sugar
and lemon zest.

excerpt recipe from What if Elijah knew how to cook and other stories

Blog Stops

deb’s Book Review, October 26

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 29

Mark Hake, October 29

Inklings and notions, October 30

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 31

Texas Book-aholic, November 1

For Him and My Family, November 2

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 3

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 4

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 5

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, November 6

Cats in the Cradle Blog, November 7

Artistic Nobody, November 8 (Spotlight)

Raining Butterfly Kisses, November 8

Giveaway


To celebrate his tour, Clyde is giving away the grand prize package 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/126b9/i-spy-a-tiger-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Review

I Spy a Tiger is a good book for younger readers by Clyde San Juan. It is so cute that would make any young ones stay captivated from start to finish. I admired how the author was able to use this story bring out the beauty of faith and how Adam named the animals.

I enjoyed I Spy a Tiger’s illustrations. The illustrator is, also, the author, Clyde San Juan. His creative talents shine throughout the book.  The pages were so beautiful and vibrant that would catch any young reader’s eye. I adored the colorful pictures on every single page.

I Spy a Tiger is getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for young readers who are between the ages of three and seven. I will be proudly donating my copy of this book to my son’s elementary school library. I know the librarian and teachers will be thankful and excited to share this story with their younger students. I know they will enjoy this story as much as my family did. We will be looking for more books by Clyde San Juan in the future.

I received I Spy a Tiger from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion

Book Blast and Giveaway: Lady and the Tribe by Brenda Billings Ridgley



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.Brenda Billings Ridgley will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Wives, mothers, and career women—we have all fallen victim to the silent epidemic that is, literally . . . letting ourselves go. Not the makeup free, yoga pants, weight gain routine. Little by little, we have allowed our preferences, interests, and individuality to slip away until we no longer recognize ourselves outside of our role as wives, mothers, or professionals. Who we are has become what we do.

In the process, our friendships have become the casualty of a “busy life” and lack consistency and depth. We have a gaping hole inside us that longs to be filled. How do we reclaim who we really are and fill this empty space that seemed to appear from nowhere? The answer lies in our Tribe. Our best friends see us more clearly than we see ourselves and are representations and extensions of our individuality. They are our companions, cheerleaders, and counselors—always in our corner. They are the branches of our tree of life that lift and support us, so we can flourish. Our Tribe is the family with whom we choose to live our life . . . with no strings attached.

Lady and the Tribe is a blueprint for building deep connections. As you read, you’ll be swept away on a journey of friendship as the author shares her own personal stories and those of other women. In the process, you’ll discover how to find, nurture, and deepen friendships and create a Tribe culture that is unique to you.

We can become whole again through the power of connection.

When three or more gather, we are Tribe.

Read an Excerpt

Awakening

Today, a dichotomy exists between our concurrent hyper connectedness—the immediate and ongoing ability to check up on faraway friends via social media—and our elevated sense of emotional alienation. Add to that, we as a culture are so focused on career success, financial accomplishments, and family milestones that we often lack the time and energy to connect with others beyond those arenas. Despite being surrounded by people, places and things, somehow we are left feeling alone. We are not alone because we lack relationships. We are alone because these relationships lack depth, knowledge, and certainty. In his column, “Loneliness is Killing Us,” George Monbiot suggests that, much as we labeled the Stone Age, Iron Age, Space Age, and Information Age, this era will be called “The Age of Loneliness.”

Almost without noticing, we have distanced ourselves from the people who choose to love us without obligation. These closest personal friendships are ever present—yet do not demand our time. They are an advocate in our corner, mirroring back to us who we really are. This neglect is not without a price. We must actively seek, grow, and maintain these relationships. If we fail, we won’t just lose a friend—we’ll lose a piece of ourselves.

The wonderful thing is that no matter where you are right now with your relationships, you can exponentially improve your connections by deciding to give them a little more attention and intention.

About the Author:
BRENDA RIDGLEY is an author, speaker, and girlfriend guru who loves helping women connect, find success, and discover joy through friendship. Her mission is to start a movement: women coming together to build thousands of new Lady Tribes around the globe. Through her workshops, vlogs, blogs, and book clubs, Brenda helps women connect and communicate with respect, love, and trust. She holds an MA in human resources and has spent decades cultivating her own Tribe. A Colorado girl at heart, Brenda lives in the Carbon Valley area with her husband, Parker, two kids, Parker Jr. and Gillian, and pooch, Perry. She enjoys hiking and has conquered Longs Peak and several other 14’ers.

To connect with Brenda, visit her website at http://www.BrendaRidgley.com
Invite Brenda to speak at your next event: mailto:brenda@brendaridgley.com
Order: Lady and the Tribe - https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Tribe-Empowering-Friendship-Circles/dp/1737289709

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Harvest Dance by Jennifer Faye


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Harvest Dance
(Bluestar Island #2)
By Jennifer Faye
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 350 Pages
September 12, 2021 by Lazy Dazy Press

“Beneath the harvest moon…
true love can bloom.”


A single dad, who’s in over his head, and an event planner running from her past, are drawn together on charming Bluestar Island by a determined seven-year-old and her escape-artist goat.

Event planner, Charlotte “Aster” Smith, has fled the only life she has ever known. The situation has left her questioning her own judgment as she cautiously tries to create a new life for herself on Bluestar Island. Taking the job of event coordinator for the small town is a step in the right direction. The only problem is it’s currently a part-time position, but the mayor suggests with additional funding the position could transform into a full-time job. In the meantime, she needs a second job in order to stay financially afloat.

Farmer and single father, Sam Bell, is struggling to keep his aging farm from going bankrupt while raising his young daughter. And now that his daughter’s babysitter is heading off to college, he needs help. So when he finds Aster is in need of work, he thinks his problems are solved. But things aren’t always what they seem. And he can’t help wondering what Aster is keeping from him.

In the lingering rays of a Bluestar Island sunset, Sam and Aster find themselves dancing upon the sand. As they help each other heal, the possibility of a future together becomes tangible. But will the ghosts from their pasts extinguish this budding romance?

Includes a delicious recipe for Aster’s Amazing Apple Cobbler!

Bluestar Island series:
Book 1 – Love Blooms
(Hannah & Ethan)
Book 2 – Harvest Dance (Aster & Sam)
Book 3 – A Lighthouse Café Christmas (Darla & Will) 
Book 4 – Rising Star (coming soon)

(Affiliate links included.)

Other Books in the Series


About the Author


Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published with books translated into nine languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a digital copy of LOVE BLOOMS plus a $25 Amazon gift card

Ends November 3, 2021


Grab Our Button!


My Review

I have adored books from Jennifer Faye in the past and was excited to read her newest release, Harvest Dance. This is the second installment from her Bluestar Island series. I have read the first book yet and feel that this one can be read as a stand alone. I thought it was a great story with Sam and Aster. I loved the beautiful island of Bluestar. I just could not put it down. What a wonderful tale. 

I am giving Harvest Dance a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy sweet romance. I can not wait to read the other books to be released from the Bluestar Island series. 

I received a paperback copy of Harvest Dance from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.