Review: Inventions of the Heart by Mary Connealy

August 29, 2022

Title: Inventions of the Heart
Author: Mary Connealy
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780764239595 
Publication Date: July 5th, 2022

About the Book:
Her heart seeks safety. But will trouble find her even here?

After her sister's marriage, Michelle Stiles is left hiding at Two Harts Ranch with the handsome but stubborn Zane Hart. She's managed to stay one step ahead of her stepfather and his devious plans, but if he finds her, she will no longer be safe.

Zane has problems of his own. Having discovered a gold mine on his property, he must figure out how to harvest it without kicking off a gold rush. Michelle, educated and trained to run her father's business, wants to manage all aspects of the mine, but Zane thinks for a person so smart she can have some misguided ideas. Running the mining operation will be a dangerous job, and he can't risk putting her in harm's way.

But danger finds Michelle anyway when she's suddenly attacked. If they go to the sheriff, they'll reveal her location, but if they do nothing . . . their troubles have only just begun.

 My Thoughts:

Mary Connealy is an author who has a talent for presenting a wonderful historical/ western based novel and intertwine it with a fair amount of adventure, comedy, romance, and very touching passages.

Inventions of the Heart is another fabulous book that keeps you turning pages to find out what is going to happen.

Michelle and Zane are thrown together by different problems, but they find their strengths can help each other, after a few rough patches that is. But these two character work well together and I enjoyed how their stories played out.

This was a great continuation of the Lumber Baron’s series. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

About the Author:
Mary Connealy (www.maryconnealy.com) writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than one and a half million books. She is the author of the popular series Brothers in Arms, Brides of Hope Mountain, High Sierra Sweethearts, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie's Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.








Thank you to JustRead Publicity Tours, I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

The original review can be found @ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg0XRM4Lunw/.


Blog Tour & Excerpt: Dead Sea Conspiracy by Jerry B. Jenkins (JustRead Tours w/ Giveaway)

August 17, 2022

Dead Sea Conspiracy JustRead Blog Tour 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Dead Sea Conspiracy by Jerry B. Jenkins, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Dead Sea Conspiracy

Title: Dead Sea Conspiracy
Series: Dead Sea Chronicles #2
Author: Jerry B. Jenkins
Publisher: Worthy Books
Release Date: August 23, 2022
Genre: Christian Suspense, Dual Timeline (Biblical & Contemporary) 

In Book 2 of the Dead Sea Chronicles, archaeologist Nicole Berman is about to discover the key to unifying three major religions, if a dangerous and evil enemy doesn’t stop her first. 

She is the first woman to be awarded a permit to lead a dig in Saudi Arabia and believes what she hopes to discover has the power to rewrite history. She assembles a team that will ultimately surprise – and in some cases – betray her. In a parallel storyline, readers are launched back to ancient Ur where young Abram is sent to learn from his forebears, who tell him firsthand stories of being on the ark during the Great Flood.


EXCERPT:

It wasn’t as if Terah had not seen violence, especially in the presence of King Nimrod. In fact, Terah himself had initiated enough that he should have been hardened to it. But something rocked him about the capriciousness of this callous murder. The farther they climbed the great tower, the more disgusted he became—with both the king and with himself.

When hoofbeats approached from below, he assumed it was the sculptor of the king’s image and prayed the man had thought to bring a fresh rendering of Nimrod looking the way he wished to appear. If he arrived with only more excuses, he might easily face the same fate as the hapless chair bearer. But the donkey that clopped into view bore not the sculptor, but the wife of the slain man. She dismounted and stood before the king, forcing his carriers to halt.

“I demand to know what happened! How does my husband, who served you faithfully—and with pride—for so many years, wind up dead at the base of the tower?”

“So my message reached you, dear woman?” the king said.

“Your message? No! Someone recognized my husband’s body! What was your message?”

“I dispatched a courier to get word to you of your loyal husband’s unfortunate demise. We were forced to the edge by a load of fresh brick and he lost his footing, poor soul.”

“Liar!” the woman screamed. “I saw his body! His shoulder and back had been ripped open!”

“He must have hit rocks on the way d—”

“The sides of the tower are smooth! He was clearly attacked by a swordsman and driven to—”

“Terah!” Nimrod said. “Did this woman call her king a liar?”

“She did.”

“Then why do you just stand there? Mete out justice! She must also die!”

Terah found himself willing to perish before he would execute this innocent woman. But before he could call out Nimrod for his blatant lie, the woman keened, “I’ll save you the trouble!” and leapt off the tower.


PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indie Bound | Christianbook | BookBub

 

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

Dead Sea Rising


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jerry Jenkins 
Jerry B. Jenkins' books have sold more than 73 million copies. Twenty-one of his titles have reached the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal best-seller lists. The phenomenally best-selling Left Behind series inspired several movies, one starring Nicolas Cage and another starring Kevin Sorbo. Jenkins has been featured on the cover of Newsweek and his writing has appeared in Time, Reader's Digest, Guideposts, and dozens of other periodicals. Jenkins owns the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, through which he trains thousands of aspiring writers. He is a member of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame and chairs the Creative Writing major at Colorado Christian University. He and his wife, Dianna, have three grown sons, including Dallas, creator and director of The Chosen TV series.

Connect with Jerry by visiting jerryjenkins.com to follow him on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive signed & personalized copies of Dead Sea Rising (paperback), Dead Sea Conspiracy (hardcover), and a $50 Visa gift card. 

(9) additional winners will receive signed & personalized copies of Dead Sea Rising (paperback) and Dead Sea Conspiracy (hardcover).

Dead Sea Conspiracy JustRead Giveaway 

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 16, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 23, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


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

JustRead Publicity Tours 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.



Blog Tour: Shoal Waters by Normandie Fischer w/ Excerpt (JustRead Tour & Giveaway)

August 10, 2022

Shoal Waters JustRead Blog + Review Blitz 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Blitz for Shoal Waters by Normandie Fischer, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Shoal Waters Title: Shoal Waters 
Series: Carolina Coast Stories #6 
Author: Normandie Fischer 
Publisher: Sleepy Creek Press 
Release Date: June 14, 2022 
Genre: Inspirational/Clean Women's Fiction 

Dementia, mad gunmen, and a yearning for something more make life difficult for the Beaufort folk in this series finale. 

Georgie's mind threatens to go walkabout, and she'd better get help soon if she's to stop her daughter from taking over. Enter granddaughter, Jeminy, a songwriter from L.A., and Eric, her lawyer. 

Jeminy hates herself and is pretty sure God does, too. There’s that huge unforgiveable sin, plus the boyfriend/manager who dumped her and lost her a music deal. Her mistakes. Her fault. 

When Mother plots to tuck Nana Georgie neatly into a nursing home to gain access to Nana’s money, Jeminy hightails it out of L.A. and back to Beaufort. God may still hate her in North Carolina, but at least she’ll be on hand to protect her beloved grandmother. 

Enter Eric, the lawyer hired to help Georgie protect herself--and possibly Jeminy, too. But Eric just rescued his orphaned stepson from Social Services, and while he’s adept at legal briefs and courtroom dramas, classrooms and angry second graders are brand new territory. 

Guitar in hand, Jeminy tries to write songs to jumpstart her flagging career, but when someone threatens her life, she has to ask why. Could it have to do with the money missing from her bank accounts (and maybe her unstable ex)? If she prays for help, will God even listen to someone with her baggage? 

With the help of the Beaufort crew, a new father and a terrified musician struggle to safeguard everyone they love, but it’s going to take more than good neighbors to show each of them the true meaning of grace. 


EXCERPT:

Georgina Chapter 20


And, in the process of bringing it [the phone] to her ear, she lost her last thought. It had been there, hadn’t it, because she was holding the phone in her hand. But why? Who had she intended to call?
Closing her eyes, she shuddered.
Her mind kept tripping off like this, willy-nilly, as if it had decided to go walkabout, leaving the rest of her behind. Feeling this, knowing it, made a spasm roil up from low in her belly. She swiped at a tear because this could not be happening. It couldn’t. Yet look at her, staring at the phone, no clue as to why she held it. Was she about to call someone? Had she already made a call?
She couldn’t remember. She could not remember.
And, oh, my, when had those veins started protruding right below her knuckles? Look at the brown spots.
What on earth was she supposed to do with the phone?
She put it down on the kitchen counter. Maybe enlightenment would come as she fixed herself a cup of tea. The heat of it would be good for her bones, and maybe it would unjumble her thoughts.


PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBoundBookBub  

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

Becalmed Heavy Weather Twilight Christmas Sailing out of Darkness The Sea Prayers


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Normandie Fischer 
Normandie Fischer had the best of several worlds: a Southern heritage, access to schooling in the DC area (which meant lots of cultural adventures), and several years of sculpture studies in Italy. It might have been better for her if she'd used all these opportunities more wisely, but it's possible that the imperfect and the unwise also add fodder for the artist and the writer.

Her life changed radically when she married the love of her life at an age when some would have said she was over the hill and way past her prime. (Clichés often speak the truth, don't they?) A lifelong sailor, she was delighted to find that Michael also longed to cruise lovely waters, which is what they did from Northern CA to Mexico, spending too-few years in the incomparable Sea of Cortez. Sea Venture, their 50' ketch, is back home in North Carolina now because Normandie's mama needed care. Still, it's gorgeous there, too, and she can write from home as easily as she could on the boat. 

Her two grown children and two step-sons are handsome (or gorgeous, as the case may be), talented, and a delight. And now there's a granddaughter and grandson in the mix--woohoo! She just wishes they lived a lot closer to home.

Connect with Normandie by visiting normandiefischer.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and one signed book written by Normandie Fischer (winner's choice)!

Shoal Waters JustRead Giveaway 

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 10, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 17, 2022. 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


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

JustRead Publicity Tours 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.



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