Driven by Sara Davison: Spotlight + Excerpt, & Giveaway!

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Driven by Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Driven 
Series: Night Guardians #3
Author: Sara Davison
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Release Date: February 1, 2021
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Children aren’t the only ones who can disappear. 

Driven by ongoing grief and relentless dreams, Holden Kelly is determined to track down the child his brother Gage abducted eight years earlier. The kidnapping that saved Matthew Gibson’s life had cost Gage his. Proving his brother hadn’t sacrificed his life for nothing might be the only way Holden can start fully living his again. And it could be the last chance he has to find his way back to the wife he loves but who is also mired in grief and a crisis of faith. 

Mikayla Grant has nightmares of her own. A road trip with private investigator Jax Rodriguez—a man she is drawn to even though his primary goal seems to be to drive her crazy—can’t be the way to heal from a terrible loss. Can it? 

 As Holden, Mikayla, and Jax follow the missing child’s trail from Toronto to Chicago, their mission is not as secret as they thought. Someone knows they are coming and will stop at nothing to prevent them from finding Matthew. 

And to make sure that no one ever hears from the three of them again.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | BookBub

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

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EXCERPT

Christina traipsed down the stairs, following the aroma of coffee drifting in the hall. The long day stretched out before her. What should she do? She could clean, of course, although in fits of rage against God and the world in general she had scrubbed every surface in the house free of any trace of dirt, dust, or varnish over the last few weeks.

Cooking was a waste of time, as neither she nor Holden had much of an appetite these days and were content to grab whatever canned, packaged, or frozen food they could prepare and eat without a lot of effort. They’d gone through more boxes of cereal in the last six months than they had the first seven years of their marriage. 

Reading, then. Christina sighed. Since she’d come home from the hospital, reading, one of her favorite activities in the world, had become next to impossible. Words tended to dance across the page when she looked at them. If they did stay still long enough for her to make them out, their meaning was pretty much lost to her. She snatched the carafe off the warming pad and sloshed coffee into the chipped mug she always used. The one Holden had given her on their first anniversary. The black lettering, bold against the yellow ceramic, spelled out World’s Greatest Wife. Although the words mocked her, sent pin-pricks of heat, like fire ants, crawling across her skin, she forced herself to drink out of it every morning. A kind of penance. Maybe, if she drank enough cups of coffee to read the words a thousand times, or a million, it would start to sink in that she needed to start doing whatever it was she should be doing to earn the right to that moniker again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Davison is the author of three romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, and The Rose Tattoo Trilogy. She has been a finalist for ten national writing awards, including Best New Canadian Christian author, a Carol, a Selah, and two Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a Word and Cascade Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband Michael and their three children. The words on the mug she uses every morning pretty much sum up her life—I just want to sleep, drink coffee, and make stuff up. Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.org and @sarajdavison.

CONNECT WITH SARA: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of Driven and a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 1, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 8, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Lethal Intent by Cara Putman Review & Giveaway!

About the Book

 

Book:  Lethal Intent

Author: Cara Putman

Genre: Romantic Suspense

 

If they expected silence, they hired the wrong woman.

Caroline Bragg’s life has never been better. She and Brandon Lancaster are taking their relationship to the next level, and she has a new dream job as legal counsel for Praecursoria—a research lab that is making waves with its cutting-edge genetic therapies. The company’s leukemia treatments even promise to save desperately sick kids—kids like eleven-year-old Bethany, a critically ill foster child at Brandon’s foster home. 

When Caroline’s enthusiastic boss wants to enroll Bethany in experimental trials prematurely, Caroline objects, putting her at odds with her colleagues. They claim the only goal at Praecursoria is to save lives. But does someone have another agenda? 

Brandon faces his own crisis. As laws governing foster homes shift, he’s on the brink of losing the group home he’s worked so hard to build. When Caroline learns he’s a Praecursoria investor, it becomes legally impossible to confide in him. Will the secrets she keeps become a wedge that separates them forever? And can she save Bethany from the very treatments designed to heal her? 

This latest romantic legal thriller by bestseller Cara Putman shines a light on the shadowy world of scientific secrets and corporate vendettas—and the ethical dilemmas that plague the place where science and commerce meet.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Lethal Intent is a great legal suspense! This is the second of Cara Putman's legal suspense novels that I've read and I really enjoyed it! Caroline was a great main character, I admired her heart for others, and her dedication and loyalty to the law and to doing what's right no matter what! I loved Brandon, he was such a fabulous hero! I loved that he was a former football player who had started a group home for sibling groups of foster kids. Caroline describes Brandon as being a big teddy bear and I couldn't agree more, it was such a joy to watch him play and interact with the kids in his care. I kept thinking "he'll make such a great dad someday." I also loved Bethany, what a sweet, sweet girl, she is one of the few fictional characters that I've found myself wanting to pray for! I found the science aspects of the story fascinating. I was a little afraid at first that some of the scientific details and terminology might be a bit over my head, but the author did an excellent job of presenting the scientific aspects of the story in a way that anyone can understand, I guarantee you'll learn something new from reading this book, I sure did! The suspense was really good, and I must admit the identity of the villian took me totally by surprise! Lethal Intent is a great read and I highly recommend it!

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

 

About the Author

As a preteen Cara Putman watched lawyers change legislative opinions at an important legislative hearing in Nebraska. At that time, she wondered if she became an attorney if people would give her words the same weight. An honors graduate of the University of Nebraska Lincoln, George Mason University School of Law and Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, Cara has turned her passion for words into award-winning stories that capture readers. Her legal experience makes its way into her stories where strong women confront real challenges.

An award-winning author of more than 30 books, Cara writes legal thrillers, WWII romances, and romantic suspense because she believes that no matter what happens hope is there, waiting for us to reach for it.

When she’s not writing, Cara is an over-educated attorney who lectures in law and communications at the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University and homeschools her children. She and her family live in Indiana, the land of seasons. You can read chapters for most of her books and connect with Cara at her website: http://caraputman.com.

 

More from Cara

Each novel has a unique genesis story. The spark that launches it into a journey of 90,000 words. For Lethal Intent, that journey began with a friend’s journey of childhood leukemia with her oldest. From watching their family wind through years of treatment including cutting edge therapy trials. Then it developed with the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lack and the thought what would someone be willing to do if they believed they’d found the next strain of immortal cells. The lead characters made appearances in other books, but now would have their opportunity to step to center stage. The story morphed and changed, dictated by the vagaries of the law and changes.

 

Each story has a spark. For Caroline it was a brainstorming session with my writing buddies Rachel Hauck, Colleen Coble, and Denise Hunter. That was when her backstory developed, all the things that happened to her to form her into the adult she is on the pages. One who cares deeply about others but who is fundamentally scared, longing for a place she can relax and take a deep breath.

 

Each story has a spark. For Brandon, it was brainstorming with another writing friend Tricia Goyer that lead to a creative job for a hero that wasn’t the typical law enforcement. His role with the group foster home was set and the backstory filled in quickly. What would it be like to be separated from and lose a brother in the foster care system? Would that generate this need to keep sibling groups together? And then the law changes and the fabric of your professional identity and something so much deeper is threatened.

 

Each story has a spark. The pharmaceutical start-up where ethics collides with the desire to save children. The push to do whatever it takes overshadowing the guardrails of the law. If they expected silence, they hired the wrong woman. But does Caroline really have the strength to battle and does she need to?

 

Lethal Intent grew from each of these sparks and many more to develop into a story I can’t wait for you to read. In the process I learned immense amounts about CAR-T cell therapies and foster care law. Most of all, I hope you’ll fall into the pages and be engrossed in a story you can’t bring yourself to put down until the final page.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 21

lakesidelivingsite, January 21

Texas Book-aholic, January 21

Through the Fire Blogs, January 22

Sara Jane Jacobs, January 22

A Novel Pursuit, January 22

CarpeDiem, January 23

Betti Mace, January 23

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 23

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, January 24

Blogging With Carol, January 24

HookMeInABook, January 24

For the Love of Literature, January 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 25

Fiction Book Lover, January 25 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

For Him and My Family, January 26

EmpowerMoms, January 26

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 26

Artistic Nobody, January 27 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, January 27

Where Faith and Books Meet, January 27

By The Book, January 28

Older & Smarter?, January 28

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 28

Inklings and notions, January 29

Simple Harvest Reads, January 29

Blossoms and Blessings, January 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 30

Splashes of Joy, January 30

Pause for Tales, January 30

Spoken from the Heart, January 31

Just Your Average reviews, January 31

deb’s Book Review, January 31

Hallie Reads, February 1

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, February 1

Genesis 5020, February 1

To Everything There Is A Season, February 2

Hebrews 12 Endurance, February 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 3

Southern Gal Loves to Read, February 3

Daysong Reflections, February 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cara is giving away  the grand prize package of a “Just one more chapter” pillow cover, a copy of the book, an Erin Condren journal, and a hand-stamped bracelet!!

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/10627/lethal-intent-celebration-tour-giveaway

Review: Choosing His Family by Jill Lynn

What a lovely story! Finn and Ivy were excellent characters, I liked them both instantly and was cheering for them! I loved Ivy's triplet daughters, they were so much fun and never failed to make me smile! I loved the ranch and small-town setting! And I loved the banter between Finn and his sister Charlie! This is book 6 in the Colorado Grooms series, I have not read any of the previous books in the series, but I had no trouble following this one, it stands alone beautifully, however after meeting several of the characters from prior books I'm now super excited to go back and read their stories! Choosing His Family is a delightful read that I enjoyed every minute of and highly recommend! 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. Click HERE to purchase your copy!

 

Review: An Unlikely Proposal by Toni Shiloh

 

HAPPY RELEASE DAY to An Unlikely Proposal by my amazing friend Toni Shiloh!

Huge congratulations on the release of your first Love Inspired novel, Toni! 

This book is absolutely fantastic! Check out my full review below!

5 Stars!

Wowza, what a fabulous book! I'm one of Toni Shiloh's biggest fans, I've read all of her books to date and I automatically want to read everything she writes, even before I know anything about the story! This book was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021 and it exceeeded all of my expectations! I don't think I've read a contemporary marriage of convenience story before, and I loved the way Toni wrote it, Trinity and Omar's reasons for marrying were totally reasonable and felt very realistic and plausible to me! I also loved that in addition to the blissful moments Toni didn't shy away from showing us the realities, struggles, and challenges that can arise when the hero and heroine go from being best friends to being a married couple living together with two small children literally overnight, it felt so real, was brilliantly written, and I loved it! Trinity and Omar were excellent characters who became like friends to me, my heart went out to each of them for the pain and heartbreak they had each experienced, and I was cheering for them to fall in love! And I loved Faith and Joy, they were so much fun! Another one of my favorite things about this book was the tire swing, loved that so much! This book swept me away from the first page and I would have finished it in less than a day had it not been for such a pesky thing as sleep calling my name! I truly cannot express just how much I loved absolutely everything about this book! An Unlikely Proposal was my first read of 2021, and I already know it's going to be one of my favorite reads of 2021!

I completely adored this book and most highly recommend it, it's a must read that is not to be missed! You need this book in your life! What are you waiting for? Grab yourself a copy ASAP!

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

Click HERE to purchase your copy!

Review: Still the One by Rachel D. Russell

 

5 Stars!

Wowza, this book needs to be on your list of anticipated reads for 2021! 

I am definitely a card carrying member of the Deep Haven fan club, and when I first heard about this new collection of books I was over the moon excited and knew they would be fabulous! 

I love nothing more than falling in love with an author's writing voice from the beginning of their debut novel, and such was the case with Still the One! From the first page I was enthralled with the story. I couldn't stop reading and finished it in a little over twenty four hours! 

I adored the characters, Cole and Megan are awesome! Cole had me swooning a time or two (hundred!) and I could so relate to Megan's longing to feel treasured, and how she's always wanted to feel like she is enough, those are both things that I strugggle with often too so I could totally get how she felt.

One of my favorite things about this book was that reading it felt like a return vacation to a favorite destination and getting to hang out with some of my favorite people. Every time an old friend from Deep Haven made an appearance in this book it brought a huge smile to my face and giddy joy to my heart! 

I absolutely and completely loved this book from start to finish and most highly recommend it! I can't wait for the next book in the Deep Haven Collection. 

With Still the One Rachel D. Russell has penned an engaging, soul-stirring, and heart-melting debut that will delight and enchant Deep Haven fans and new readers alike. I cannot wait to read her next book!

I received an ebook ARC 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.

An Ivy Hill Christmas by Julie Klassen: Review, Guest Post, & Giveaway!

About the Book

 

Book: An Ivy Hill Christmas

Author: Julie Klassen

Genre: Christmas Historical Romance

Release Date: September, 2020

Richard Brockwell, the younger son of Ivy Hill’s most prominent family, hasn’t been home for Christmas in years. He prefers to live in the London townhouse, far away from Brockwell Court, the old family secret that haunts him, and the shadows of his past mistakes. But then his mother threatens to stop funding his carefree life–unless he comes home for Christmas. Out of options, he sets out for Ivy Hill, planning to be back on a coach bound for London and his unencumbered bachelor life as soon as the festivities are over.

But Christmas in the country presents many surprises, including encounters with an orphaned apprentice, the first love he disappointed years ago, and Arabella Awdry, a young lady who is far more appealing than he recalled–and determined to have nothing to do with him.

Will Christmastime in Ivy Hill, with its village charm, kissing boughs, and joyous songs, change his heart . . . and hers as well?

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

What a lovely story! I have read and loved two of Julie Klassen's books in the past, and I adore Christmas novellas so I jumped at the chance to request a review copy of this one! I have not read any of the other books in the Tales from Ivy Hill series, but I had no trouble following this story, so I would say it can totally stand alone. At first I wasn't crazy about Richard, but I could tell he definitely had some growing to do as a character and I was excited to witness it, and oh how beautifully the change in him occurred, it was a joy to read, and I grew to love him dearly! Arabella was a fantastic heroine, I loved her spunkiness, and her kind and thoughtful heart! I also adored Richard's loveably delightful dog, Wally! 

The setting was gorgeous, there's nothing better than Christmas in a Regency era english village! This story swept me away to another time and place and I absolutely loved every moment I spent reading it! I never cry at books but this one is so beautiful that there were moments it literally brought tears of joy to my eyes. 

An Ivy Hill Christmas is an absolutely beautiful story that I adored from beginning to end and most highly recommend! Believe me, you want this book, get your copy ASAP!

(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.

 

About the Author

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane–Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for 16 years and now writes full-time. Her novels have sold over 1 million copies, and three of her books, The Silent Governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and a Christian Retailing’s Best Award, and has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards and ACFW’s Carol Awards. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

More from Julie

My fascination with England began as a girl when I read The Secret Garden and Jane Eyre, and watched A Christmas Carol. I have now been to Great Britain several times, and my affection for the place has only grown. I love the country villages with their stone buildings and thatched roofs, the narrow, winding roads (though not driving on them), the ancient churches, friendly people, plummy accents, and history. Writing fifteen novels set there has been a real pleasure.

An Ivy Hill Christmas includes all the elements of an idyllic Olde English yuletide: A charming village setting, snowfall, mistletoe, caroling, gifts for less fortunate neighbors, and festive gatherings of friends and family. I thoroughly enjoyed researching 19^th century Christmas traditions and weaving them into this novella.

In the story, a confirmed bachelor is determined to remain aloof from the celebrations going on around him—and from his mother’s matchmaking schemes. But divine hope, friendship, and unexpected romance change his heart…and his mind.  I love a transformation story; don’t you?

If you’ve read the TALES FROM IVY HILL series, you will enjoy returning to the village and spending time with favorite characters. But rest assured, the novella is a standalone, meaning you can enjoy it whether or not you’ve read the other books, as these reviews attest:

“[A] standalone novella that not only beautifully captures the kindness, hope, love, and faith of Christmas but also skillfully evokes the period holiday atmosphere of Regency England.”  —Booklist

“This feel-good tale of love and redemption will delight Klassen’s fans and new readers alike.” —Publishers Weekly

And if you like the novella, I think you will like the other books as well. An Ivy Hill Christmas would also make a lovely gift for a reading friend.

Finally, if you want to add a British flair to your own modern-day celebrations, buy (or make) mince tarts or Christmas pudding, place Christmas “crackers” (pull-apart gift tubes) on your table and wear the included paper crowns. Refer to Father Christmas instead of Santa; and instead of “Merry,” wish everyone a hearty, “Happy Christmas.”

Happy Christmas!

 

Blog Stops

Through the Lens of Scripture, November 30

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, November 30

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 30

Christian Bookaholic, November 30

Andrea Christenson, November 30

Texas Book-aholic, December 1

KarenSueHadley, December 1

Robin’s Nest, December 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 1

Blessed & Bookish, December 2

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 2

Mia Reads, December 2

Wishful Endings, December 3

lakesidelivingsite, December 3

Through the Fire Blogs, December 3

For Him and My Family, December 3

Just Your Average reviews, December 3

She Lives To Read, December 4

Remembrancy, December 4

deb’s Book Review, December 4

Writing from the Heart Land, December 4

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 5

Quiet Workings, December 5

Blogging With Carol, December 5

Spoken from the Heart, December 5

The Christian Fiction Girl, December 6

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, December 6

Connect in Fiction, December 6

Artistic Nobody, December 6 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Worthy2Read, December 7

Genesis 5020, December 7

Sara Jane Jacobs, December 7

Inklings and notions, December 7

Life of Literature, December 7

For the Love of Literature, December 8

Connie’s History Classroom, December 8

Batya’s Bits, December 8

Labor Not in Vain, December 8

Hallie Reads, December 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 9

Older & Smarter?, December 9

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, December 9

Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 9

Betti Mace, December 9

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, December 10

Faery Tales Are Real, December 10

Melissa Wardwell’s Back Porch Reads, December 10

Mary Hake, December 10

Daysong Reflections, December 11

Bigreadersite, December 11

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 11

Splashes of Joy, December 11

Vicky Sluiter, December 12

To Everything There Is A Season, December 12

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 12

Blossoms and Blessings, December 12

The Write Escape, December 12

A Baker’s Perspective, December 13

Bizwings Blog, December 13

Simple Harvest Reads, December 13 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Pause for Tales, December 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Julie is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of An Ivy Hill Christmas and the other three books in the Ivy Hill series, plus the winner’s choice of Bingley’s Tea!!

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/103f5/an-ivy-hill-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway