The Midnight Groom

 

The Midnight Groom by Taylor Hart

How much would you bet on true love this Christmas season?

After the worst year of his life, Cameron Cruz, owner of the Denver Storm, agrees to a family Christmas cruise with his twin sister and her family. Sure, maybe part of the reason he agreed to go was because it got him out of court mandated therapy for a week. Still, he was trying to focus on relaxing. He was trying to focus on having fun. He was trying not to look at the reports that came everyday from the private investigator's he'd been hiring and firing for the past year to bring justice to the man who killed his wife.
Isabel Kind was only on this Christmas cruise for one reason--to heal. After tragically losing her husband and son five years ago, she'd been stuck. And she and her therapist thought doing the list of excursions they'd planned to do as a family--might help her move on. When she sprains her ankle and Cameron Cruz offers to help her, she finds herself accepting.
After reluctantly getting piggy backed around by the amazingly strong and handsome man, swimming with the sting rays, and zip lining through the Honduran jungles, she is more and more mystified by this troubled man. Even more mystified that he's not only helping her physically but he's also trying to help her emotionally--even if, as he says, he can't heal himself.
When bad news comes to light and Cameron has to face the past, they are left with a choice--walk away or let the power of grace make them whole.

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Praise for The Midnight Groom

Grief is real and hard. Taylor Heart does a beautiful job of honoring that pain while showing us Cameron's way through it. Their story is beautiful with just the right amount of laughter and hope and, as always, grace. A perfect read when you want to cuddle up with a story that will fill you with peace.

The Midnight Groom is a wonderfully entertaining love story that will inspire you to be a better person!

I thought the struggle and the healing felt real. This book was a roller coaster ride for my emotions.

 

When The Heart Sings

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for When the Heart Sings by Liz Tolsma, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: When the Heart Sings
 

Series: Music of Hope #2
 

Author: Liz Tolsma
 

Publisher: Gilead Publishing
 

Release Date: October 9, 2018

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

 



Natia has a secret, and she’s hiding him right beneath her captor’s nose...



The Nazis have forced Natia and Teodor from their Polish farm to a labor camp. When the couple is separated, Natia is chosen to be the housekeeper for the camp’s overseer, and Teodor is sent to work in the factory. Despite the strict camp rules—and the consequences for disobeying them—Natia finds a way to communicate with Teodor by sending messages through song as she passes Teodor’s dormitory.



The stakes get higher when Natia finds a Jewish orphan on the overseer’s doorstep. She is determined to protect the boy and raise him as the child she and her husband were unable to bear— but if her German captors discover how much she’s hiding, both she and Teodor may pay the ultimate price.

 


My thoughts: This is a well written story that puts a different spin on the history of WWII. I love that music is the focus of the series and that this one was about Polish Natia, who may not of been Jewish, but was still looked upon as lesser. This story is creative and a beautiful testament to strength and kindness that can bloom amidst the ugliness of human nature. I look forward to the next book in this series!
I received this book from Just Read tours. This is my honest review and is in no way influenced by receiving a complimentary copy.



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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Passionate might best describe Liz Tolsma. She loves writing, research, and editing. Her passion shone through in her first novel which was a double award finalist. On any given day, you might find her pulling weeds in her perennial garden, walking her hyperactive dog, or curled up with a good book. Nothing means more to her than her family. She's married her high-school sweetheart twenty-eight years ago. Get her talking about international adoption, and you might never get her to stop. She and her husband adopted three children, including a son who is a U.S. Marine, and two daughters.

CONNECT WITH LIZ: website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

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TOUR GIVEAWAY



(1) winner will receive (US only)

• a print copy of When the Heart Sings
  
• 'Just One More Chapter' throw pillow seen HERE

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight November 26, 2018 and last through 11:59pm December 3, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week 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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Take ten: platonic relationships

Here are some of my favorite platonic relationships in literature. I find that I lean towards characters who are siblings, since I come from a big family and am especially close to my sister.
As usual, if you are interested in learning more about the book, click the image to go to Amazon. This post contains affiliate links, so thank you for supporting my book habit.;)

1. Jane of Austin

Sisters Jane and Celia overcome obstacles together as they relocate to Austin.

2. To Best the Boys

Cousins Rhen and Seleni take on a decades old competition for the chance to find a cure for a debilitating illness.

3. The Bronte Plot

Lucy is presented with the rare opportunity to visit England when grandmotherly Helen hires her to help her search out antiques.

4. Shadows over England series

A band of street rats and thieves become an unlikely family in this excellent series. I've enjoyed all the characters: Rosemary, Willa, Barclay...

5. The Secrets of Paper and Ink

Sophia and Ginny, friends who ban together to save a bookshop.

6. The Curse of Misty Wayfair



7. Evaporation of Sofia Snow

Sofia and her brother Shilo, and the lengths she goes to figure out what happened to him.

8. Pride and Prejudice

Sisters.:)

9. Lizzy and Jane

Sisters Elizabeth and Jane.

10. Listen to Your Heart

Alana and Kate, best friends who stretch each other to go outside their comfort zones (in a good way).

The Autumn Fairy

atrin knows little about her origins, but whatever she is, it's certainly not human. On an island where humans have banned magic and hunt all who possess it, the dark power within her has become too strong to hide. With each passing day, the threat grows. For if she cannot master her terrifying abilities soon, everyone around her will suffer. And that's something she cannot accept.

While Katrin is willing to sacrifice herself to save others, Peter, her childhood friend and protector, is not. But when he promises to save her at all costs, jeopardizing his own kingdom in return, he finds that his failure will mean either Katrin’s death or the isle’s doom.

And if unraveling the source of Katrin’s power isn’t difficult enough, a mysterious and powerful stranger from the forest reveals that he has plans of his own for Katrin…and the rest of the isle.

To protect their home, Katrin and Peter must face not only their worst fears about who and what they are but their true feelings for one another as well. For if they don't, everything they love will perish...

The Autumn Fairy is the first book in The Autumn Fairy Trilogy, where fairies, humans, and legends collide. Buy The Autumn Fairy today to join Peter and Katy on their journey as they search for truth among ancient lies, hope in the darkness, and their own happy ending.

My thoughts: I didn't know what to expect when my secret sister sent me this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book! The story quickly sucked me in, with the mystery of who Katy is and what that secret means for the country and her future. The book has many unexpected twists and turns! I thought that the world and magical creatures were well written and was glad for a snow day so it didn't take me too long to finish this book. It was a huge plus for me that this story doesn't have any junk in it. I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy the fantasy genre.

Unexpected Blessings

Unexpected Blessings helps special-needs families move past the pain and confusion of their circumstances and slowly, firmly face the future with hope. Speaking honestly about struggles that accompany a variety of disabilities, Sandra Peoples shows readers how to
· let go of false beliefs that hold them back
· work through the cycles of grief
· focus on self-care and healthy routines
· understand disability based on what the Bible says
· rebuild a strong faith foundation
· create support systems for themselves and others

Filled with real-life stories and hard-earned wisdom, this book shines a light on the possibilities and blessings that come when parents see their new purpose in life--which was God's purpose for them all along.

My thoughts: I thought that this book was packed with information on how to better serve special needs families. I love all the practical help that this book includes, since Sandra has a son with autism and a sister with Downs syndrome. I thought that this book filled a much needed gap. It's a wonderful resource for both those who have a child with special needs and those who would like to understand more of what it is like to parent a special needs child. I really liked how she ended the book with a reminder to be open and honest.
I received this book from Bethany House. This is my honest review.

Enclave

It's been 50 years since the Great Crash and what was once America is now a collection of enclaves, governed on the local level and only loosely tied together by the farce of a federal government. Catawba, one of the largest and most affluent enclaves in the southern states, is relatively stable and maintains a successful business of trade with nearby enclaves, including the one at Charlotte Township. But when a new vein of gold is found beneath the feet of those in Catawba, it's only a matter of time before trouble finds them.

Now the future of Catawba may be in the hands of an untried 21-year-old trader named Caleb. And Caleb knows that if his secret were ever to come out, he would never see another dawn.

My thoughts: This is an interesting new spin on dystopian fiction. I enjoyed that it wasn't just futuristic, but also partly a coming of age story. The characters are well written, though I felt it a bit jarring to have the story told from several different POV. I also was a bit confused by the ending. That said, it is a thrilling book that will suck the reader in! I only hope that there will be a sequel to clear a few things up.
I received this book from Revell. This is my honest review.

This post contains affiliate links.

Prepare Him Room

Make Room for a New Christmas Tradition
Christmas traditions become a treasured part of a family’s heritage, passed down from generation to generation. This brand new, four-week devotional guides your family on an unforgettable advent journey, exploring some of the most wonderful prophecies in the Bible and how God fulfills them in Christ. From Bible devotions which tell the Christmas story through the eyes of the prophets to an original Christmas short story called “Bartimaeus,” Prepare Him Room helps you build family Christmas traditions around Christ. The memorable and meaningful activities, songs, and stories of Prepare Him Room will become the fabric of your family’s Christmas memories. So gather them to watch the amazing gospel story unfold every December for generations to come!

My thoughts: This is a fun book to pull out and use to illustrate the real reason behind Christmas! I love the visuals that the book provides, since they are simple to set up, and yet help to drive home the message. I also like that there is a story woven into the devotions. This is a fun book to pull out and use as a family to help make memories and put the true meaning of Christmas at the forefront of your mind.
I received this book from the publisher. This is my honest review and is in no way influenced by receiving a complimentary copy.

This post contains affiliate links.