On the Fringe

I'm so excited to be taking part in Courtney King Walker's ON THE FRINGE 4th birthday celebration blitz! Check out the book below, and be sure to enter the amazing giveaway!

A YA ghost story, where your first embrace could be your last… Claire is struggling to overcome the murder of her childhood friend and secret crush, Daniel. Everyone else seems to be moving on with their lives, but she’s still trying to cope. The fact that she finds herself alone and drowning on her 16th birthday isn’t helping. Neither is thinking she sees Daniel’s face in the murky water as she mysteriously resurfaces. But something happened during those four and a half minutes that will make her realize it was not just her imagination. As Claire and Daniel try to grasp a possible reconnection, other grudge-holding beings have plans of their own. Now, the two of them must decide if their fleeting relationship is worth the possibility of Claire being trapped on the fringe forever. Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Trailer for ON THE FRINGE

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Exciting Announcement!

Courtney King Walker's third novel, CHASING MIDNIGHT, will be published January 12, 2016 by Cedar Fort Publishing... and it's a Cinderella retelling!!

Sixteen-year-old Mackenzie knows life is always better for the lucky ones—the problem is, she’s never been one. But when Mackenzie finally gets her wish, she quickly realizes the royal life isn’t exactly what she had in mind. And her dream prince is nothing close to charming! With running shoes as glass slippers, this modern retelling of Cinderella is an enchanting and entertaining read.

 

About the Author

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Courtney King Walker grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area building rocket ships and rafts out of cardboard, hoping to make it the moon or at least Niagara Falls. But a trip across the border to Tijuana was as exciting as it ever got, so she decided writing about adventure was the next best thing. She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and four children, and still dreams of flying to the moon. She is the author of the young adult novel, ON THE FRINGE, and middle grade novel MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN. Her next YA novel, CHASING MIDNIGHT, will be published January 12, 2016 by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media.

Giveaway

Winner will receive a signed physical copy of ON THE FRINGE and $20 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

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Forgiven

I received a copy of FORGIVEN: THE AMISH SCHOOL SHOOTING, A MOTHER’S LOVE, AND A STORY OF REMARKABLE GRACE by Terri Roberts with Jeanette Windle from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. 

This is such a gripping tale.  Do not expect to start reading this, put it down, and pick it back up later down.  It will haunt you until you finish it as soon as possible. 

I was partly familiar with the story of the Amish school shooting.  My family and I visit Pennsylvania frequently.  We heard about it there, from many with tears in their eyes, and later on we watched a dramatized movie.  I thought the movie was done tastefully, but somehow reading about it is much more heart-wrenching.  Be prepared to cry through most parts of this book.  You will feel chilled.  The hairs will stand up along your arms. 

The forward is by Beverly Lewis.  I am familiar with her Amish novels.  My mom and I are avid readers of hers.  This, although sad and traumatic, is a perfect companion to those.  It shows a different side to the happy stories, one that is very true. 

FORGIVEN will leave you frozen.  I highly recommend it, but please be prepared for the rawness of this book.

99 Prayers for Children

I received a copy of 99 PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN by Juliet David and illustrated by Elina Ellis from Candle Books via Kregel in exchange for an honest review. 

Now, I’m not saying that a book like this didn’t exist when I was younger, but if it had, I wish I had gotten my hands on it.  This is excellent!  My family has always been religious – there are many pastors in my family tree – and we (my mom, grandmother, and I) have always enjoyed learning more about the Bible. 

This book contains prayers appropriate for children and each page includes a bright picture that is sure to capture anyone’s attention.  The prayers cover a range of topics.  I liked how specific they are, and the topics are ones that many children will be faced with.  The prayers also come with verses so that the child will seek to explore the Bible. 

I can see this being read every night to a child.  I can also see children memorizing the prayers.

I will be sharing this book with my cousin.  I hope that she enjoys exploring it with her daughter. 

This is a perfect gift or permanent addition to a personal library.  

The Hardest Thing to Do

I received a copy of THE HARDEST THING TO DO by Penelope Wilcock from Kregel in exchange for an honest review.  It is the fourth book in the Hawk and the Dove series.  I really enjoy this series.  The other books were all captivating and left me with a warm feeling.  This one is no exception to that rule. 

Welcome to the world of St. Alcuin’s Abbey.  The people are amazing and heartfelt.  Everyone is truly realistic.   I loved immersing myself in the 1300s.  It isn’t something you get to do every day, but it is something Penelope Wilcox will help you to do with each of her books. 

My favorite part of all is getting inside of the characters’ heads to experience their emotions, reasoning, and thoughts of The One.  There is bound to be one character, if not more, in this story who will enchant you to no end.  If you’re like me, you will end up liking everyone as you read about their strengths and weaknesses.  It will also inspire deep religious conversations.  Five stars!

I highly recommend this series and in particular this installment.  The Hawk and the Dove series is one to treasure on your bookshelves. 

On This Foundation

I received a copy of ON THIS FOUNDATION by Lynn Austin from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.  This is the third book in the Restoration Chronicles. 

I have no read too many books by Lynn Austin, but of those I have, I have always greatly enjoyed them.  I was thrilled to receive this copy, especially as I had already read book 2 – and am looking forward to finding a copy of book 1 so that I can read that one as well.  Although this is part of a series, I don’t feel that you need to read the other books in order to fully enjoy this one.

This is religious fiction at its finest, although I do prefer the author’s historical fiction.  This book really makes you think and it also makes you want to reread the Bible, in particular the Old Testament.  It brings to life Nehemiah and Jerusalem in a new, fresh way. 

This comes with five stars and is highly recommended!  I am passing this on to my family, who I know will greatly enjoy this novel.  I have been studying the Bible more frequently with my mother and we both enjoy novels that help to bring to life what we are reading about.  

Tallas

TALLAS was way too good to put down!  I ended up reading it in one night, but didn’t get a chance to review it until now. 

TALLAS is a fantasy dystopian by Cathrina Constantine.  The action scenes are superb.  So often a good premise and engaging characters fall short because of a struggling action sequence.  Cathrina is able to keep you on the edge of your seat. 

I highly recommend this to my dystopian fans.  It is one of the best dystopian novels I have ever read.  So often they feel cliché.  This is fresh and new.

I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Touching Fate

I'm so excited to take part in Brenda Drake's Release Day Launch for TOUCHING FATE! Check out the book and excerpt below, and be sure to enter the amazing giveaway!

Aster Layne believes in physics, not psychics. A tarot card reading on the Ocean City Boardwalk should have been a ridiculous, just-for-fun thing. It wasn’t. Aster discovers she has a very unscientific gift—with a simple touch of the cards, she can change a person’s fate. Reese Van Buren is cursed. Like the kind of old-school, centuries-old curse that runs in royal families. Every firstborn son is doomed to die on his eighteenth birthday—and Reese’s is coming up fast. Bummer. He tries to distract himself from his inevitable death…only to find the one person who can save him. Aster doesn’t know that the hot Dutch guy she’s just met needs her help–or that he’s about to die. But worst of all…she doesn’t know that her new gift comes with dark, dark consequences that can harm everyone she loves. Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt from TOUCHING FATE

The spell was broken when some partiers ran up the beach screaming and laughing. Aster turned in the direction of the noise and spotted Reese standing there. He waved. A moronic move, he reprimanded himself. Strolling up the beach James Bond-style would have been better, but instead, struggling in the sand, he headed for her. He decided if she moved toward him as well, it would be proof that she was attracted to him. Aster spun around and faced the ocean again. Reese stopped. She was still angry with him. Just when he made up his mind to leave her alone, she started down the beach toward him. “Hi,” she said, staring up at him. The golden specks in her eyes were like stardust glinting in the low-lying sun. “What are you doing here?” “Leah invited Jan, and he brought me along.” “I see.” “Well, I didn’t put up a struggle. I have to admit, I was hoping to see you.” He held out the aster. “This is for you. A peace offering. One simple flower can mean so much more than a bunch, don’t you agree?” A shocked expression crossed her face, and Reese thought he had blown it. But then she gave him a sweet smile and took the flower from him. “Stolen ones are even better.” “Well, in all honesty, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. A gentleman doesn’t court a lady without bringing a gift.” “So you’re courting me?” She tried unsuccessfully not to smile. It was rather fetching, her pink glossed lips twitching at the effort. “You don’t even know anything about me.” “Well, that is the point of dating, isn’t it? To get to know each other?” “I’m not sure.” When the silence between them got uncomfortable, she lowered her head and picked at the stem of the flower. “Not sure, huh?” This girl was a hard nut to crack. Reese got an idea. “How about we play a game?” She looked back up at him. “What kind of game?” “One where I tell you something about me, then you tell me something about yourself.” “Sure, why not?” She twirled around and padded across the beach, lifting up sand with her toes and flicking it into the air in front of her. “You go first.” “All right, then,” he said, keeping pace with her. “My family lives in a castle just outside of Amsterdam, complete with towers and turrets. It’s been in the family for generations. We only live in a few rooms. The rest of the place is open for tours. It helps pay for the upkeep and taxes.” “Really?” She knotted her fingers behind her back. “Does that mean you’re royal?” “No. But my father is a count.” He hated talking about his lineage. “It’s just a title,” he said, as if it wasn’t a big deal, which it wasn’t, at least to him. “That’s pretty awesome,” she said. “Now you.”

About the Author

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Brenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up are of her eccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical. When she’s not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

Giveaway

Giveaway is 3 winners of …

Grand Prize of the Kindle + Swag Pack (US/Canada) $50 Amazon Gift Card (INT) $50 Amazon Gift Card (US/Canada)

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