Thursday, October 31, 2019

When Only Faith Remains by Amy C. O'Reilly Review & Giveaway!


About the Book



Book: When Only Faith Remains

Author: Amy C. O'Reilly

Genre: Christian Living/Personal Growth

Release Date: May 6, 2019


Hidden just beneath the surface of Mary’s unique calling to serve as the mother of Christ lies an equally captivating story of her journey of faith.



Sometimes when our plans are derailed or we encounter struggles, our faith is the only thing we have to draw upon. Trusting God through those hard times is the bedrock of what will keep us grounded. But what happens when fear creeps in? Perhaps that’s what it was like for the virgin Mary when Gabriel came to her with news that she was highly favored and chosen to bear the Christ child.



Drawing parallels from her own journey-of-faith life experiences and the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, Amy C. O’Reilly offers encouragement and inspiration to readers who seek to strengthen and move forward from fear to faith just as Mary did.



With Luke 2 and 1 Corinthians 13 as reference points, readers will connect their faith in ways that bind them to love and hope in the person of Jesus Christ. While your circumstance may differ from Mary’s, the similar deepening of faith through heartache and suffering and hope and triumph will inspire you in your identity, calling, and destiny in Christ.





Click here to purchase your copy.




About the Author



Amy C. O’Reilly has a master’s in physical therapy and co-owns Sandhills Orthotics and Prosthetics with her husband. Amy serves as a leader and teacher at her local church and Community Bible Study, and she desires to expand God’s kingdom through writing and speaking at churches and women’s groups. She enjoys running, teaching, and spending time with family at the beach. Amy and her family live in the Sandhills of North Carolina. When Only Faith Remains is her first book. 

More from Amy

When Only Faith Remains is the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she appears in Scripture and her unique journey of faith. The writing of this book was a journey in and of itself as God revealed many spiritual parallels in my own life events and faith journey. As I followed Mary to the cross and beyond, she became more real and relevant to me than ever before and I began to find connection and hope in my own life during the times when only faith remains.

Mary’s story is truly every believers story as Jesus calls us all to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. As I pondered Mary’s life and treasured the words she treasured, I knew it was time to take Mary and Joseph out of the boundaries of the nativity box, and help their story come alive in a way modern readers can identify and relate.

Mary’s story is heartrending, yet beautiful, and crushing, yet full of hope, and it’s replete with anticipation, insecurity, fears, doubts, grief, hope and love. Her story is one of mystery and intrigue. It is also sobering with a heavy dose of the realities involved in following Christ. And hidden just beneath the surface of Mary’s unique calling to serve as the mother of Christ lies an equally captivating story of her journey of faith. From the first time she says yes to Jesus in the presence of an angel to the day she is filled once again with the Spirit of her risen Savior at Pentecost, we witness a frightened Jewish girl transformed into a woman who overcomes the worst grief imaginable—all by faith.

As I dug past the details and circumstances of Mary’s life to unearth her core needs, fears, and desires, I found myself identifying with Mary more and more. I discovered God at work in each detail of her life and in every relationship, teaching her His ways and deepening her faith, just as He has done in my life. In Philippians 2:12, Mary is the perfect example of a believer who “works out her salvation with fear and trembling,” as God teaches her to trust His plan through the life and death of her very own Son. Thus Mary’s journey of faith becomes one in which all roads lead her back to Jesus, the Christ, the Lord and Savior of all.

Readers can expect to relate to Mary in surprising ways as they navigate through their own seasons of hardship, heartache, grief, and loss. I have also shared some of my own struggles and heartache with a transparency that is both genuine and encouraging to believers searching for an authentic faith.

I invite you to join me on this journey as I share my own life experiences in light of Mary’s journey as found in Scripture. My hope is that Mary becomes real and relevant to you in a very personal way throughout the pages of this book. My prayer is that, as you find yourself and your own journey of faith in the story of Mary, your faith in Jesus Christ will be renewed and strengthened.


Blog Stops

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Amy is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
I must admit that I don't very often read non-fiction, but this one really intrigued me so I jumped at the chance to request a review copy. This book is very good. I had never before thought about my own faith journey in relation to Mary's, so I found it very interesting and enlightening to discover a few small similarities between Mary's journey and my own. I liked this book, though I couldn't necessarily relate to everything the author spoke of as I am not married nor do I have children, but I really appreciated her openness and willingness to connect with the reader by sharing some of the biggest events of her life, I thought it was a great approach and made the book feel a little like a dialogue with a friend rather than a book in those moments. When Only Faith Remains is a great book that I will most likely read again. I recommend it.
(4 Stars!)

I received a copy of this book through the CelebrateLit Team. Which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own! 


Sunday, October 27, 2019

Fatal Memories by Tanya Stowe Review & Giveaway!


About the Book



Book: Fatal Memories

Author: Tanya Stowe

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: September 1, 2019



She was framed! Or was she?

If only she could remember…

Border patrol agent Jocelyn Walker has no memory of how she turned up unconscious with a cache of drugs—or why a gang is dead set on killing her. With evidence stacking up against her, Joss takes refuge with driven DEA agent Dylan Murphy, who guards—and suspects— her. But will finally trusting each other lead them into a trap they’ll never escape?




Click here to grab your copy!



About the Author




Tanya Stowe is a Christian Fiction author with an unexpected edge. She is married to the love of her life, her high school sweetheart. They have four children and twenty-one grandchildren, a true adventure. She fills her books with the unusual…mysteries and exotic travel, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you…on a trip to foreign lands or a suspenseful journey packed with danger…be prepared for the extraordinary.



More from Tanya

It has long been my husband’s desire to travel the country in a motorhome. So when he retired three years ago, we sold our home and hit the road. We lived in the high desert region of Southern California for almost 37 years. I thought it was going to be a rough transition, but it wasn’t…especially since I came to love one of our new locations.
We spend the winter months in southern Arizona where Fatal Memories is set. I love everything about this unique place. We are surrounded by incredible ecosystems…the Sonoran and Chihuahua deserts collide there, so a different environment is around every corner. The beauty of the mountains, streams and lakes (yes, there’s water in southern Arizona—monsoons come up from Baja every summer) and the wildlife is amazing. I’ve been told black panthers have been known to cross the border from Mexico and roam the countryside. My husband and I bought a Jeep so we could go off-roading to see these sites up close and personal.
In addition to all these amazing natural wonders, history jumps out and grabs me. I’m just twenty minutes from Tombstone. Fort Huachuca and Fort Bowie are forty miles away in different directions. Every time I turn around, there’s a history making site or event to grab my interest. I hope you can see why I fell in love with my new home. I hope you will too when you read Fatal Memories.
By the way…if you interested, I write about our travels in my monthly newsletter. Be sure to check it out!

Blog Stops

Bigreadersite , October 16
Genesis 5020, October 17
The Avid Reader, October 17
Emily Yager, October 18
Batya’s Bits, October 19
Andy Carmichael, October 20
EmpowerMoms, October 22
Betti Mace, October 23
Daysong Reflections, October 24
Mary Hake,October 24
Older & Smarter?, October 25
Blogging With Carol, October 25
Texas Book-aholic, October 27
janicesbookreviews, October 28
Gail Hollingsworth, October 29

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Tanya 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/ed13/fatal-memories-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Thoughts:

This was a new to me author, but I definitely plan to read more of her work! I love amnesia stories so as soon as I read the description of this one I knew I had to read it! The action starts on page one, which was great but I must admit that because the characters already knew each other prior to the start of the story and the book starts with an investigation that is already in progress I did feel a little bit like I was missing something, but it wasn't a big problem and I was soon totally drawn into the story. 
I really enjoyed this story. I love to armchair travel and the descriptions of Arizona were so beautifully written I felt as though I was there. The characters were great, and I was very impressed by the amount of character growth they both experienced in a novel this short! 
Overall, Fatal Memories is a great romantic suspense novel that I really enjoyed. I recommend it!
(4 Stars!)


I received an ebook copy of this book from the publisher which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Review: Fourth Day by Lisa Phillips



5 Stars! 
I've loved all the previous books in this series and Fourth Day is no exception! I have been anxiously awaiting Sal's story, I just knew he had quite a backstory and I was so excited to finally learn it. Allyson was a great heroine, she and Sal were perfect for each other and it was a joy to watch them figure that out. As I have come to expect from this author the suspense in Fourth Day was phenomenal! This series has more twists and turns than a mountain road, which always keep me on the edge of my seat! I cannot wait to see what happens next! 
Fourth Day is an awesome story, I loved it and highly recommend it! I can't wait to read Final Stand and finally get inside the head of the mysterious and enigmatic Victoria Bramlyn! 


I received an ebook copy of this book from the publisher which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Edge of Truth by Kimberly Rose Johnson Spotlight + Excerpt!

Edge of Truth JustRead Blog Blitz

Welcome to the Blog Blitz and Giveaway for Edge of Truth by Kimberly Rose Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Edge of Truth by Kimberly Rose Johnson 

Title: Edge of Truth

Series: Law Enforcement Heroes


Author: Kimberly Rose Johnson


Publisher: Sweet Rose Press


Genre: Romantic Suspense


Release Date: August 6, 2019





Two DEA agents. One undercover mission. Lives changed forever.



The DEA sends two of its best agents, Kara Nelson and Jeff Clark, to Central Oregon, to shut down a major drug ring. Kara and Jeff usually work alone, but Operation Trail Ride throws them undercover together in a way neither of them expected.



A notorious Miami drug lord wants Kara dead. Can these agents pull off the greatest acting job of their lives—and manage the sparks flying between them?
Or will they die trying?



Edge of Truth is the first book in the Law Enforcement Heroes series. A romantic suspense series with nail biting suspense and a splash of romance. If you like engaging characters, small-town antics, and page turning suspense, then you’ll love Kimberly Rose Johnson’s Law Enforcement Heroes series.



 PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository






ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kimberly Rose Johnson


Award-winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child, Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

You can sign up for Kimberly's newsletter via her website at: https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/





CONNECT WITH KIMBERLY: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub






TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card

Edge of Truth JustRead Giveaway



Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 7, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm October 14, 2019. Open internationally as long as winner can accept gift card from US Amazon. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.








Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.


EXCERPT


The hair on Kara Nelson’s neck prickled as she sat behind the wheel of her car parked near the Miami Beach Marina. Something wasn’t right. If she’d been made...She flung the door open and ran. 
A boom sounded, and heat stung her back. Running full speed, Kara tripped and flew through the air, hitting the pavement hard. Her hands smacked the ground first, and she flipped, her legs whipping over her head. She lay face up in the parking lot. Searing pain tore through her wrists, arms, shoulders, and neck. 

A second explosion sent a ball of fire into the mid-morning air. Kara covered her head as debris smacked the ground around her. She lifted her head with effort, first looking at her dismantled undercover car then back at the marina. Drug lord, Luis Alvarado’s yacht had moved out to sea and with it, her chances of wrapping up a year-long investigation. Where had the second blast come from? She struggled to sit up. Then the world went black. 

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Review and Blog Tour: Synapse by Steven James


About the Book



Book: Synapse

Author: Steven James

Genre: Thriller, Sci-Fi

Release Date: October 8, 2019



Thirty years in the future, when AI is so advanced that humans live side by side with cognizant robots called Artificials, Kestrel Hathaway must come to terms not just with what machines know, but what they believe. Is hope real for them, or merely an illusion?



Soon after experiencing a personal tragedy, Kestrel witnesses a terrorist attack and is drawn into a world of conspiracies and lies that she and Jordan, her Artificial, have to untangle. With a second, more brutal attack looming on the horizon, their best chance of stopping it is teaming up with federal counterterrorism agent Nick Vernon.



But the clock is ticking—and all the while, Jordan is asking questions that Artificials were never meant to ask.



Deftly weaving suspense and intrigue into a rich, resonant tale that explores faith and what it really means to be human, Steven James offers us a glimpse into the future and into our own hearts.



Synapse is an unforgettable, gripping story of dreams shattered, truth revealed, and hope reborn.







Click here to get your copy!



About the Author



Steven James is the critically acclaimed, national bestselling author of sixteen novels. His work has been optioned by ABC Studios and praised by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, the New York Journal of Books, and many others. His pulse-pounding, award-winning thrillers are known for their intricate storylines and insightful explorations of good and evil.  When he’s not working on his next book, he’s either teaching master classes on writing throughout the country, trail running, or sneaking off to catch a matinee.




More from Steven

“James is a pro at creating suspense.”
Criminal Element

“stimulating tale…thrilling story of greed and corruption”
Publishers Weekly STARRED review


Read my op-ed on robots and faith in the New York Times



I grew up reading and loving science fiction stories. I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of artificial intelligence, but as I’ve thought about it over the years, I’ve realized that our lives are not based just on what we know, but also what we believe. So, I started asking myself, “What would the world look like if machines developed artificial belief?” Within a few decades, advanced AIs might very well have consciousness and self-awareness. At that point, what will they choose to believe about the meaning of live, God, and the afterlife?

All of these questions were in my mind as I wrote Synapse, a story that takes place 30 years from now in a world very much like our own. This is a cautionary tale with implications that are both chilling and revealing and I think that if you like suspense, you’ll love this near-future thriller.

Steven

Learn more at stevenjames.net

Facebook and Twitter: @readstevenjames

Buy the book: https://www.tnzfiction.com/synapse-a-novel/


Blog Stops

Emily Yager, October 9
amandainpa , October 10
Wishful Endings, October 10
Pause for Tales, October 12
Mary Hake, October 12
Hallie Reads, October 15
Blogging With Carol, October 15
Remembrancy, October 16
Texas Book-aholic, October 18
janicesbookreviews, October 19
Bigreadersite, October 19
A Reader’s Brain, October 20
By The Book, October 21
My Thoughts:
Synapse is a fabulous read that is chock full of all the things I love about Steven James' storytelling!
I've read all but one of this author's books and really enjoyed them all! As soon as I saw the cover of this book I knew I wanted to read it, before I even knew what it was about, because I knew it would be awesome and it totally and completely was! I don't often read futuristic stories, but this book absolutely fascinated me and I was enthralled with its story world! I really liked main character, Kestrel, she was both relatable and inspiring, and her journey was a powerful and suspenseful ride that was heartbreaking at the same time it was incredibly hope filled! Jordan was also a great character and the parts of the story that were told from his perspective were fascinating! Nick was also awesome, and I loved the tiny bit of romance between him and Kestrel! 
While this book is a bit outside my comfort zone I absolutely loved every minute of it and did not want to stop reading! The faith story in this book is wonderful, engrossing, and thought provoking, and will leave you with feelings of awe and renewed hope! 
I highly recommend Synapse, and I am eagerly anticipating Steven James' next book! 
(5 Stars!)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Wyatt by Susan May Warren Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway!

Wyatt JustRead Blog + Review Tour 


Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for Wyatt, the fourth book of The Montana Marshalls series by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!


ABOUT THE BOOK

Wyatt by Susan May Warren 
Title: Wyatt 
Series: The Montana Marshalls, Book 4
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: SDG Publishing 
Release Date: October 2019
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

He’s lost her twice…he’s not going to lose her again...



NHL Hockey Goalie Wyatt Marshall has everything--fame, money and a thriving career. But he’s hiding the two things that matter most...a career-ending injury, and his broken heart. He’s been in love with Coco Stanley since she walked into his life at age fourteen, a foster child for the Marshall family. She stole his heart years later, when, after a secret tryst, she returned to her home country of Russia. But she won’t let him back into her life—and he can’t figure out why.





She’s harboring a secret that could cost lives...





Coco Stanley is tired of living her life undercover. Or at least, with an assumed name, always pretending to be someone she’s not. And that’s not the only secret she’s harboring. If Wyatt discovers the real reason she left him, it might just destroy him. She’s resigned herself to loving him from afar...





But when he discovers she’s in danger...

 




Wyatt is horrified when he learns Coco has been shot and left in Russia, her fate unknown. There is nothing—nothing—that will stop him from finding her. So what if he’s not one of his super-heroic brothers, not a Ranger, not a SEAL...Wyatt is a hockey goalie, a special kind of crazy brave. Except, is he brave enough to face the secret Coco is keeping, or will it destroy everything he’s hoped for?





What will it cost them to save her?





What Wyatt and Coco don’t know is that revenge is stalking her and bringing her home just might cost them their long-awaited happy ending.





Continue the breath-taking Montana Marshall series!




PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

ABOUT THE AUTHOR





Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award-winning novelist of over sixty-five novels. An eight-time Christy award finalist, a three-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.



A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: The Story Equation.



She is also the founder of MyBookTherapy.com, and Novel.Academy, a school for aspiring novelists.



 CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram




TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Wyatt and a Montana Marshalls Magic Mug!

Wyatt JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 2, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on October 9, 2019. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.






Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate link.


My Thoughts:

5 Stars! 
I am loving the Montana Marshalls and Wyatt was yet another great addition to the series! I love reunion romances and it was great to finally get Wyatt and Coco's story, they are both very sweet characters and I loved watching them overcome the baggage of their past and start to rebuild their relationship. This series has more twists and turns than a bakery full of pretzels, all of which never fail to bring me to the edge of my seat. The plot has thickened with each book, and I cannot wait to see what happens next in the fifth and final book, Ruby Jane! I have to say that Ford is still my favorite book in the series so far, but I truly did love reading Wyatt! This series is one of Susie May's best and I highly recommend it! If you haven't started the series yet I recommend you begin with book one, Knox. This is definitely a series that is best read in order, and trust me you won't want to miss a single moment of the awesomeness that is this series! 


I received an ebook copy of this book from the publisher which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Friday, October 4, 2019

Blog Tour, Review, & Giveaway Once Upon a Christmas by Andrea Boyd, Mikal Dawn, Toni Shiloh, Angela Ruth Strong, and Jaycee Weaver


About the Book



Book: Once Upon A Christmas

Author: Andrea Boyd, Mikal Dawn, Toni Shiloh, Angela Ruth Strong, Jaycee Weaver

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 1, 2019


Embrace the magic of the Christmas season with these contemporary twists on timeless tales.


Upon a Dream — A rare sleeping disorder keeps Talia from performing, but when Philip recognizes her gift, he’ll do whatever it takes to see her onstage.


Claim My Heart — Li Na and Colin Wen face off in a Mulan-esque courtroom battle where the real win might be losing their hearts.


A Snow White Christmas — Sheltered heiress Amala White flees her conniving stepmother’s plans and finds refuge with a handsome orchard owner and his seven quirky uncles.


Christmas Ella — Reality TV meets Cinderella story when a location director is swept off her feet by a rising star.


A Splash of Love — Las Vegas glitz meets Land of Enchantment culture in A Splash of Love, a modern twist on the Little Mermaid.





Click here to get your copy!


About the Authors

Andrea Boyd Author–



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


Mikal Dawn Author



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

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


Toni Shiloh Author



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


Angela Ruth Strong Author



 Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon bestsellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK. Visit her at www.angelaruthstrong.com


Jaycee Weaver Author



Jaycee Weaver is a wife, mother, and substitute teacher living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jaycee writes contemporary Christian romance with lifelike characters in everyday situations who always get their happy ending. Visit her at www.jayceeweaver.com 

More from the Authors

Dear Readers,

Thank you for stopping by the Celebrate Lit blog tour of Once Upon a Christmas. We are so excited to bring you this Christmas collection. All of us had a lot of fun writing it as we delved into the fairy tales of Sleeping Beauty, Mulan, Snow White, Cinderella, and The Little Mermaid.

What we discovered when writing is that in the heart of every girl is the desire to be a princess. Now, I’m not talking about dressing up in a beautiful gown and wearing a crown while twirling around (although I, Toni, admit I would do that in a heartbeat). No, we discovered that in the heart of every girl (sister, mom, daughter, etc) is the desire to be loved and accepted.

Can Talia find someone who can accept all of her, including her health issues? Can Amala find someone who will love her for her and not her money? Can Li find acceptance for who she truly is and not the façade she presents? Will Ella find a familial kind of love? And Gabrielle, can she find a love so powerful that all her dreams will come true?

As the heroines of our stories journey down their path to love and acceptance, they all come to realize a deep-seated truth. They are loved. They are princesses. They have a love of a King who laid down His life for theirs. A King who is preparing a home for them. A King who sees who they truly are and loves them without hesitation.

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

Blessings,

Andrea, Mikal, Toni, Angela, and Jaycee


Blog Stops

Back Porch Reads , October 2
Activating Faith, October 2
Genesis 5020, October 3
Among the Reads, October 4
Quiet Quilter, October 6
Stories By Gina , October 7
Batya’s Bits, October 7
Cordially Barbara, October 7
Melissa Henderson, October 8
Connect In Fiction, October 8
A Diva’s Heart , October 9
A Reader’s Brain, October 10
Maureen’s Musings, October 10
Remembrancy, October 11
She Lives to Read, October 12
Texas Book-aholic, October 15
janicesbookreviews, October 15

Giveaway


To celebrate their tour, the Once Upon a Christmas authors are giving away the grand prize of a Kindle Fire!!
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/ed0e/once-upon-a-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Thoughts:

5 Stars!


What a fabulous collection of contemporary fairytale retellings all set during Christmas! 

Upon a Dream by Andrea Boyd

This was my first time reading one of Andrea's books and it definitely will not be my last! This story was so fun and absolutely delightful. Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite fairytales and this was a super intriguing and wonderfully unique take on the classic story! I loved every minute! I was absolutely fascinated by the theater aspect of the story! I loved Phillip and Talia, and her aunts were a total hoot! Highly recommended. 
(5 Stars!)

Claim My Heart by Mikal Dawn

What an incredibly fun and enchanting story! I must confess that I have never seen Mulan, so this is the only novella in the collection that I was not familiar with its original fairytale, but that did not in any way hinder my enjoyment of the story! Li Na and Colin were such awesome characters! I couldn't stop smiling while I read this novella, and I loved everything about it! Highly recommended. I cannot wait to go back and read Mikal's novel, Count Me In! (And I totally plan to watch Mulan soon!)
(5 Stars!)

A Snow White Christmas by Toni Shiloh

Ahh, this story! *blissful sigh* It's absolutely phenomenal! There isn't a single thing about Amala and Marcus's story that I didn't absolutely love! I felt like I completely melted into this storyworld, and I did not want to leave when it was over, in fact I'm already itching to reread it! This novella made me so happy, and I had the biggest grin on my face when I turned the final page! Love, love, LOVED IT! A Snow White Christmas is not to be missed! Highly recommended.
(5 Stars!)

Christmas Ella by Angela Ruth Strong 

Such a super fun and original take on Cinderella! I loved Ella and Paxton, they made such a great couple, and Paxton is totally swoon-worthy! This story was so much fun to read, that I didn't want it to end! This is only the second book by this author that I've read, but I absolutely love her writing style and author voice, and cannot wait to read more of her books! Christmas Ella is an awesome read that I so enjoyed! Highly recommended! 
(5 Stars!)

A Splash of Love by Jaycee Weaver

Absolutely fantastic! I truly loved all the novellas in this collection, but A Splash of Love is tied with A Snow White Christmas for my favorite of the collection! 
I'm pretty sure this is the first Little Mermaid retelling I've ever read, I was so excited to read it, and it had me totally spellbound from page one! I loved this story SO MUCH! Brie and Derek were such fabulous characters, and it was an absolute joy to watch their romance develop! This story completely swept me away, and I totally felt like I armchair traveled to Las Vegas, and Albuquerque right alongside the characters! I also totally loved that this story is splendidly written in alternating first person POV, as first person POV is one of my favorite things! I couldn't stop reading this story and absolutely loved every minute of it! Highly recommended! 
(5 Stars!)


I received an ebook copy of this book from the publisher which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.