Hometown Healing Blog Tour w/ Expert (Just Read Tours & Giveaway)
February 23, 2020
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for Hometown Healing by Jennifer Slattery, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Hometown HealingAuthor: Jennifer Slattery
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: August 1, 2019
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
She’s home again, but not for long… Unless this cowboy recaptures her heart.
Returning home with a baby in tow, Paige Cordell’s determined her stay is only temporary. But to earn enough money to leave, she needs a job—and her only option is working at her first love’s dinner theater. With attraction once again unfurling between her and Jed Gilbertson, can the man who once broke her heart convince her to stay for good?
EXCERPT:
Paige Cordell felt as if she had regressed back to that awkward, frizzy-haired bookworm who’d left Sage Creek, Texas, fourteen years ago. With no intention of ever returning.
And yet here she was. As a divorced, unemployed, single mother no less.
Nothing screamed failure like sitting in Mom’s driveway, with all of her belongings crammed into a U-Haul hitched to her car.
She glanced back at little Ava, sleeping soundly in her car seat. She looked so peaceful, with her rosy cheeks, the halo of red curls and the slight part of her lips. As if she hadn’t just spent nearly an hour fussing, not that Paige could blame her. They’d had quite the drive. Traffic, work zones, an accident just outside of Houston.
Her phone rang. Paige glanced at the screen. It was Mira, her old high school friend.
“Hey.”
“Just checking you made it into town okay. And to see if maybe you’d like to stop by my place for a nice, cold milkshake.”
“Just got in.” She explained the reason for her three-hour delay. “And though I appreciate the offer, I’m wiped.”
“I imagine.”
“And discouraged. I know I’ll find another job eventually…”
“Have you prayed about it?” Mira’s statement sliced through Paige like an accusation. “Might help.”
“Please don’t talk religion to me. Not today.” She believed in God. But unlike her friend, she didn’t find comfort in tossing every decision up to Him.
Besides, she and God hadn’t exactly been on the best terms as of late.
“Well, like I said, this is only a hiccup.” Mira’s overly perky pep talk wasn’t helping. “Consider this an extended vacation.”
“I can’t believe Ardell let me go. I mean, I get budget cuts, but why me? I was a high performer. I never missed a deadline, pitched great article ideas…”
“You’ll find something even better, with more job security.”
Paige inhaled a fortifying breath. “You’re right.” She’d never allowed setbacks to discourage her before, and she had no intention of starting now. “Maybe even for a better magazine, with a larger readership.”
Only, Chic Fashions was about as big as they came. Not only was it Chicago’s premier fashion publication, but it was considered the top in the nation. She’d worked long and hard to land a position with them, only to end up jobless and living with her mother.
The antithesis of adulthood.
She glanced at Mom’s single-story brick house, heavily shadowed by a towering oak. Thick roots snaked through the grass, and a handful of dandelions dotted the lawn. The windows were dingy, like they hadn’t been washed in…ever, and the canary-yellow trim was beginning to peel.
Other than that, the place seemed well-kept, and the yard had been mowed, which was surprising if her sister were right about how much Mom struggled. Hopefully Paige’s arrival would help pull Mom out of this phase she was in.
A blur of red seeped into her peripheral vision, and she shifted to watch a shiny red pickup truck pull into the adjacent driveway.
Her pulse spiked as a tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat stepped out and then turned her way. “Seriously? Could this day get any worse?” she muttered.
“Why? What happened?”
With the phone still pressed to her ear, she sank farther into her seat, with no intention of leaving her vehicle. At least, not until Jed Gilbertson was no longer standing less than fifty feet away. Staring at her.
She turned to the box of office junk on the seat beside her to avoid making eye contact. “Jed just pulled up at his grandmother’s.” It’d been too long, and her heart had been too shattered, for him to still have such a pull on her.
“I thought you were over him.”
So did she.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and writers across the nation. She’s the author of the soon to release Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com. As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she’s passionate about helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a signed four print book bundle including Restoring Her Faith (Love Inspired), Hometown Healing (Love Inspired), Breaking Free (New Hope), and Restoring Love (New Hope)!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight February 22, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on February 29, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Continental US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Top Ten Tuesday: Valentine Colors
February 11, 2020
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Read Girl.
Each week features a book related topic to spotlight your Top Ten.
Topic:
Valentine Colors
This week is actually a freebie week. It's theme was love, but I decided to go a more Valentine route and feature books that have Valentine colors featured on their covers.
When I think Valentines, I think of Reds, Whites, Pinks, and soft pastel type colors. That then leads you to some really pretty books!
I ran out of time last night looking through my stacks, or I would have had more lovelies to feature.
Pinks
The Rose of Winslow Street
by Elizabeth Camden
The Tomb
by Stephanie Landsem
Veiled In Smoke
by Jocelyn Green
A Beauty So Rare
by Tamera Alexander
Reds
Lizzy & Jane
by Katherine Reay
Heiress
by Susan May Warren
The Heiress of Winterwood
by Sarah E. Ladd
White & Pastels
Wings of the Wind
by Connilyn Cossette
Behind the Scenes
by Jen Turano
Hearts Made Whole
by Jody Hedlund
Books covers and spines are just a lot of fun to feature. There is always a cover that will fit for any topic.
What books are on your Top Ten this week?
What feature did you decide on? Let me know in the comments below!
What books are on your Top Ten this week?
What feature did you decide on? Let me know in the comments below!
Personal Update
February 10, 2020
I don't usually share personal things on my blog. I like the anonymity. I'm a shadow lurker by nature, always with a book in hand.
Even though I live for being a person of discretion, when something of the personal nature comes up that affects my blogging, I have to share about it.
My blogging as of late has been sketchy with the timing I know. Life has just up-heaved me in all directions. We finally moved into the house we were building at the end of October, beginning of November. I know that is the time when my blogging tanked.
Well, a couple of weeks before that, I found out I was expecting!
You are reading this now as I'm sitting in the middle of my 2nd trimester.
Baby W is due in June 2020.
Baby W is the reason my blogging has tanked in the recent weeks/months.
With my first child, I was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Garvidirum and I have it again with baby #2.
People call it extreme morning sickness....that is actually very far from the truth. Crackers and ginger do nothing to touch this illness. My body fights the pregnancy. My HCG levels are more than double what a normal singleton pregnancy is and because of that my body reacts in a very negative way.
I'm currently on several anti-nausea meds to help combat this illness. They are the same ones that they give to cancer patients. But, they don't always work. The meds help in keeping me from being as sick as what I can be, but I'm still nauseous all day, everyday. Eating is the last thing on my mind. I suffer from severe aversions. It's a battle to drink. As a lot of things don't stay down long. Weight loss is hitting hard (usually not a bad thing, except for now) my doctor is closely monitoring it and with that exhaustion has set in. It takes a lot of energy to go to work every day. I've become anemic with an iron deficiency. My protein levels are low. So we have to watch organ functions. This condition can affect kidneys, liver, and the heart. I'm thankful I have so much support. I was far away from my family when I had my daughter, so this is a whole new experience. A bit harder medically speaking, but so much easier being close to loved ones and having everyone I need right by me.
I'm very thankful that I'm not as bad as some women who battle this. As I write this, I have yet to need to go to the hospital for fluids, it's been close, which is something that is regular with HG. I had to a couple of times with my daughter.
Hyperemesis was brought to the spotlight in the last few years in part of the Kate Middleton in England suffering with it and also comedian Amy Shumer.
This is the condition that killed Charlotte Bronte. She wasted away due to being pregnant. Thankfully, medical science has come a long way, but sadly, HG is one that is still not widely known about. Only about 2% of pregnant women will suffer with this and it is something that can be passed down genetically.
If you would like to read up more on Hyperemesis, you can follow the link provided.
The HER Foundation is the leading site in sharing the knowledge of HG and the research behind it.
I thankfully I have a very knowledgeable doctor assisting me with all of this. It is a trial and error trying to figure out a medication combo that will help tame the illness and nausea that will allow me to freely eat and drink again.
However, if you could spare some prayers for relief and rest, I would be forever grateful.
Baby W is healthy. I'm very grateful about that.
Baby W is healthy. I'm very grateful about that.
I will blog about books still, but it may not be as prolific as I once was as we get closer to summer, but I'm still here.
I will also give some updates on Baby W as I go.
If you have made it this far in reading, bless you!
I wish I had a cookie to give you.
Now, for some fun news!
I wish I had a cookie to give you.
Now, for some fun news!
We found out the gender of Baby W!
Drum-roll please.........
Baby W is a boy!
Despite all of the sickness, we are beyond thrilled.
Thank you for visiting.
I know it isn't the normal books news, but I'll be back to that soon. :-)
Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette (Audio Book Review)
February 3, 2020
Title: Until the Mountains Fall
Author: Connlyn Cossette
Series: Cities of Refuge, Bk 3
Publisher: Bethany House
Narrator: Rachel Botchen
Narration Time: 11hrs & 32mins
Publication Date: July 2nd, 2019
About the Book:
I have loved this series. I love how these books have built off of each other and have introduced us to characters that were only in the background at first and have brought them forward and have given them such depth.
Rivkah and Malakhi's story was one that was intense, but not in a bad way mind you! They each had their own growing to do in their own way. The choices that they made, or had made for them, shaped who they become through this story. It is an interesting progression to watch. The story unfolds in a way I didn't see coming in some, and ways I was hoping for in others.
Rivkah is a girl, thinking her life is set before her, but that isn't the case when her young husband dies. The choices that were made for her, in accordance to the law, were not what she wanted. Her decisions led her down a path that was hard. Her story is heartbreaking and hope-filled in many other ways. There were times that I wanted to shake her and ask, what the heck were you thinking?!
Malakhi, goodness, he is one we really see go through changes. He is one you can't help but root for, but also mourn with. He has a passion that is deep. He has his own personal demons to fight, and trying to prove his worth, or so he thinks.
These two characters are ones that I was amazed at the transformation of who they were through out.This was a story I had a hard time stopping.
I read this book through Audible, hello mutitasking! I honestly would have been useless if I had sat down with the book, till I was done reading it. Rachel Botchen has become a favorite narrator, her voice is one that is lyrical to listen to and it helps you get caught up in the story more.
I'm so very happy that there is still one more book in this series, it releases soon! Book 4, Like Flames in the Night will releases in March 2020. I honestly can't wait to see how this series wraps up.
The detail and history of these Cities of Refuge was so new to me when I first dove in this series, but the information gleaned from this and the research it has lead me to do, I'm forever grateful for. This is some fantastic Old Testament history.
5 out of 5
Author: Connlyn Cossette
Series: Cities of Refuge, Bk 3
Publisher: Bethany House
Narrator: Rachel Botchen
Narration Time: 11hrs & 32mins
Publication Date: July 2nd, 2019
About the Book:
Recently widowed, Rivkah refuses to submit to the Torah law compelling her to marry her husband's brother and instead flees Kedesh, hoping to use her talents as a scribe to support herself. Without the protection of her father, Kedesh's head priest, and the safety of the city of refuge, Rivkah soon discovers that the cost of recklessness is her own freedom.My Thoughts:
Malakhi has secretly loved Rivkah for years, but he never imagined his older brother's death would mean wedding her. After her disappearance, he throws himself into the ongoing fight against the Canaanites instead of dwelling on all he has lost. But with war looming over Israel, Rivkah's father comes to Malakhi with an impossible request.
As the enemies that Rivkah and Malakhi face from within and without Israel grow more threatening each day, is it too late for the restoration their wounded souls seek?
I have loved this series. I love how these books have built off of each other and have introduced us to characters that were only in the background at first and have brought them forward and have given them such depth.
Rivkah and Malakhi's story was one that was intense, but not in a bad way mind you! They each had their own growing to do in their own way. The choices that they made, or had made for them, shaped who they become through this story. It is an interesting progression to watch. The story unfolds in a way I didn't see coming in some, and ways I was hoping for in others.
Rivkah is a girl, thinking her life is set before her, but that isn't the case when her young husband dies. The choices that were made for her, in accordance to the law, were not what she wanted. Her decisions led her down a path that was hard. Her story is heartbreaking and hope-filled in many other ways. There were times that I wanted to shake her and ask, what the heck were you thinking?!
Malakhi, goodness, he is one we really see go through changes. He is one you can't help but root for, but also mourn with. He has a passion that is deep. He has his own personal demons to fight, and trying to prove his worth, or so he thinks.
These two characters are ones that I was amazed at the transformation of who they were through out.This was a story I had a hard time stopping.
I read this book through Audible, hello mutitasking! I honestly would have been useless if I had sat down with the book, till I was done reading it. Rachel Botchen has become a favorite narrator, her voice is one that is lyrical to listen to and it helps you get caught up in the story more.
I'm so very happy that there is still one more book in this series, it releases soon! Book 4, Like Flames in the Night will releases in March 2020. I honestly can't wait to see how this series wraps up.
The detail and history of these Cities of Refuge was so new to me when I first dove in this series, but the information gleaned from this and the research it has lead me to do, I'm forever grateful for. This is some fantastic Old Testament history.
5 out of 5
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