Book Tour

The Hearts We Mend by Kathryn Springer

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FTC: I received a free copy of this  book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.  I received no other compensation.  All the opinons in this review are 100% my honest thoughts and feelings.

The Hearts We Mend by Kathryn Springer was an excellent book.  I have to admit that I didn’t realize that this was part of a series until I was a few chapters in and the for some reason it clicked in my head.  I then went back and read my review of the first book because I wondered how I felt about it and I had to laugh because in the book I didn’t like Evie at all.  But in this book I loved her right from the start.  It is funny how you can like someone that you hated in the first book, but once the story is told through their eyes, you love them.  I can’t say enough good things about this book and the author.  I loved just about everything about this book and it was one that I read super quick because I had to know it all worked out.  This book is one that I will be adding to my personal collection of books.  If you love romance novels than I know, you will love this one just as much as I did.

The Hearts We Mend by Kathryn Springer

About The Book

For young widow Evie Bennett, moving forward will mean deciding what to leave behind . . . and what to keep.

Widowed at the age of twenty-five when her firefighter husband was killed in the line of duty, Evie Bennett has spent the last thirteen years raising their son, Cody, in the close-knit community of Banister Falls. As the women’s ministry director of her church, Evie encourages women to boldly pursue God’s plan for their future . . . while she is content with her memories of the past. But Evie’s well-ordered life begins to change when she meets Jack Vale.

As Evie gets drawn into Jack’s world—a world that isn’t as safe and predictable as the one she’s worked so hard to create—he challenges her to open her eyes to the problems in the community . . . but will Evie open her heart to love again?

Because even though Jack isn’t anything like her late husband, he just might be everything she needs.

Kathryn Springer

About The Author

Kathryn Springer, winner of the 2007 Write Touch Reader’s Award (long contemporary), grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin, where her parents published a weekly newspaper. As a child, she spent many hours sitting at her mother’s typewriter, plunking out stories, and credits her parents for instilling in her a love of books – which eventually turned into a desire to tell stories of her own.

After a number of busy years, when she married her college sweetheart and became a stay-at-home mom, Kathryn rediscovered her love for writing. An unexpected snow day from school became the inspiration for a short story, which she submitted to Brio magazine. She went on to publish over a dozen more short stories for Brio, but it wasn’t until her youngest child started school that she decided to pursue her dream to write a novel. In August 2004, her Love Inspired® debut novel, Tested by Fire, was published.

Encouraging women in their faith journey is the reason Kathryn loves to write inspirational fiction. She hosts a women’s Bible study in her home and volunteers in a local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) ministry. When she isn’t at the computer, you’ll find her curled up with a good book, spending time with family and friends or walking on the trails near her country home.

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Mukhabarat, Baby! My Life as a Wartime Spy for the CIA by Eric Burkhart

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead in exchange for my honest review.  I received no other compensation.

Mukhabarat, Baby! My Life as a Wartime Spy for the CIA by Eric Burkhart was an amazing book, and I was sad when it came to an end.  I loved that the author included bits of humor and his personality came through while I was reading the book.  I really can’t say enough great things about this book and this author.  I loved all the stories that he told, and I loved getting a little bit of a behind the scenes view of what working for the CIA is like.  I am finding that I love books like this because the stories are true and I love to read true stories.  I spend a good portion of the time that I was reading this book smiling because I love his sense of humor and his style of writing.  I would recommend this book to everyone because it is an amazing story and one that  I think most people would love.

Mukhabarat Baby!

About The Book

This is the story of a young American who would eventually fulfill his dream of becoming a CIA Case Officer, only to have a promising career cut short after having been purposely poisoned by a contact.

Eric Burkhart was raised in Europe in a bilingual household, and accepted a job in Africa right out of college. Upon his return to the United States, he was hired as an Immigration Agent in Laredo, Texas, working Inspections on one of the busiest port-of-entries connecting the United States and Mexico. This experience is detailed in this humorous, occasionally heartbreaking memoir about choosing to be a survivor.

In 2000, Burkhart accepted a position as a Case Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. The book includes details of both the notoriously arduous hiring process and the rigorous training program, including Burkhart’s eventual successful completion of the Espionage Course taught at the famous “Farm”. Burkhart’s first overseas working experience was in war-torn Kosovo, where he was unwittingly poisoned by an unstable intelligence contact. Burkhart would struggle with the repercussions of this episode for the remainder of his career, and eventually be obliged to accept full medical retirement from the CIA.

However, before retiring, Burkhart completed tours in Iraq and Africa. His time spent in the Green Zone almost immediately following the occupation of Baghdad, constitutes the majority of this enlightening book. Burkhart exposes the reader to the human element within the CIA, and we are introduced to a variety of characters, some who will seem familiar, and some who reveal the eccentricities we expect with this kind of occupation.

Follow Burkhart through the battlefields of Iraq, past the Iraqi Insurgency, and to his next assignment in Africa. Burkhart leaves no emotion unexpressed as he details his medical struggles with the horrific damage caused to his body from Toxic Exposure. Wracked by pain, Burkhart reaches the point where he must consider quality of life issues, and has to accept retirement as a necessary decision. Burkhart has a story to tell, and leaves no stone unturned during this turbulent time both in his life, and in our history.

Eric Burkhart

About The Author

Eric Burkhart was born in North Carolina in 1965, and raised in France by his mother while his father was serving in Vietnam. Eric’s parents retired to San Antonio, Texas in 1978, and Eric has considered himself a Texan since that time.

After completing college, Burkhart relocated to South Africa for a job in community planning and design. After returning to the United States in 1994, Eric started a career in federal service by becoming a Federal Agent. In 1999 he moved over to the CIA, which became his passion and focus in life. After being poisoned by while working in Kosovo in 2001, Burkhart was eventually obliged to medically retire, but not before extending his career to include tours in Iraq and Africa. Mukhabarat, Baby! is Burkhart’s first book.

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Back In The Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.  I received no other compensation.

Back In The Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne was a good book to read.  This is the first book I have read by this author and I am so glad that I read this book because I now have another great author that I can add to my list of great authors that I want to read in the future.  I really like all the characters in this book right from the start.  I did spend most of the book hoping that Colt wouldn’t leave after the market recovered and what not.  I am going to come back and update this review on March 30th because I signed up to review this book twice.  So I will finish this review then and let you know how I felt about it over all at the end of March.

Back In The Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne

About The Book

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About The Author

Ruth Logan Herne has more than half a million books in print, including fifteen Love Inspired contemporary novels. Back in the Saddle is the first book in her new western romance series. Ruth is a founding member ofSeekerville, a popular writing collective blog. A country girl who loves the big city, Ruth and her husband live on a farm in upstate New York.

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Cancelled Vows by Lauren Carr

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Cancelled Vows by Lauren Carr was an interesting book, to say the least.  This is one of those books that nothing goes right from the start and at times I had to laugh because I couldn’t see some of the things happening but other parts I could totally see happening.  Like when Gnarly ate the wedding rings I could totally see that happening but then you find out the David is already married when he goes to get his marriage license, but he claims that he had no idea that he got married years before.  I enjoyed this story but at times, I wish I had others books in this series before so that I would know more of the backstory but you can just pick this book up and understand what is happening and who the characters all are.  I really enjoyed this book even though at times all I could think about is how there is no way that anything like this could happen.  This is the first book I have read by this author and I am for sure going to be adding more books by this author to my pile of books I want to read.  I think pretty much everyone would love this book and have a good time reading it.

Cancelled Vows

About The Book

Police Chief David O’Callaghan and Chelsea Adams’ wedding day is fast approaching. Unfortunately, at the last minute, David discovers that there is one small problem to be taken care of before he can tie the knot—divorce his first wife!

Lauren Carr takes fans of the Mac Faraday mysteries to the Big Apple in this nail-biting adventure. In Cancelled Vows, David, Mac, and Gnarly, too, rush to New York City to dissolve David’s marriage to an old girlfriend—and he’s got five days to get it done. When murder throws up a road block, it is up to David’s best man, Mac Faraday, and Gnarly, K9-in-waiting, to sort through the clues to get David to the church in time!

Lauren Carr

About The Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday and Lovers in Crime Mysteries and the Thorny Rose Mysteries. Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real live Gnarly!) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

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Still Counting by Phil Fragasso

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Still Counting

Still Counting by Phil Fragasso was an interesting book.  I say that because I think this is the first chick lit book that I have ever read that is written by a man.  It was a fun change from the other chick lit books that I have read.  I love getting the males view on everything that was going on and I felt like this book is probably more accurate than some chick lit books that are written by females.  I spent the entire book interested in what was going on because I loved getting to read what males may be thinking when they are dating and are in relationships.  One part that made me sad was in the first chapter when he has to put down Casey, his dog because I too just had to put down my cat so I can understand how that would make him feel.  I felt like Adam was someone I would get along with in the real world so that always makes for a good book as well.  If you love chick lit and are looking for something a little bit different than I would for sure, tell you to check this book out because I know you will love it.

 

Still Counting by Phil Fragasso

About The Book

Adam Donatello and Nina Morales share an immediate and powerful attraction, and their future together seems assured. But love is difficult enough without adding complications—real or imagined—to the mix. Nina sees life as a thousand shades of gray while Adam tends toward black-and-white. He wants to move fast; she needs time. Nina sees her past liaisons with women as immaterial to their relationship, while her disclosure drives Adam to a state of irrational jealousy. He doesn’t know how he could compete with a woman, and his suspicions—which Nina views as hypocritical—lead them both to make decisions they may live to regret.

phil fragasso

About The Author

I sold my first article at the age of 16. Since then I’ve written and published a wide variety of books, articles, and essays. After many years as a corporate marketer,  I left to pursue endeavors that were more fulfilling personally and more contributory on a societal level. Today I focus my time on writing and teaching. I’ve often said “I live the American dream” and that is indeed how I feel. With a wonderful wife, two grown children, great friends and a couple of rambunctious Labrador retrievers, I can’t complain about a damn thing.

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Kissed By A Cowboy by Debra Clopton

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Kissed By A Cowboy by Debra Clopton was an excellent book.  This is the third book in the series, and you can just read this one if it is the only one that interests you.  I do want to say that if you wish to read the entire series start at the beginning because this book will give things away if you start with it.  I think Jarrod is my favorite character from this series because he seemed like he was the most relatable to me and someone I could see myself getting along with in the real world.  I felt sorry for Cassidy and everything that she had gone through while growing up and even the things she went through as an adult.  I think this book is the most relatable and one that most people will love.  I can’t say enough great things about this series and this author writing.  I think that most people would enjoy this book and series.

Kissed By A Cowboy by Debra Clopton

About The Book

Cassidy was looking for a home and a place to belong . . . not for a cowboy to steal her heart.

Having lived through her parents’ endless string of “matrimonial bliss gone wrong,” Cassidy Starr knows when the odds are not in her favor. Divorced and humiliated, her faith on rocky ground, Cassidy is through with love. She’s been bucked off that horse far too many times. Instead, she returns to Wishing Springs, Texas, and the rundown farm she’s inherited from her great aunt Roxie. She’ll reopen the strawberry farm and a bed & breakfast and follow in her aunt’s footsteps, remaining forever-independent, happy . . . and single.

Rancher Jarrod Monahan’s hands are full running the ranch, looking after his ailing grandfather, and chasing down a group of rustlers on the loose. He’s pushed his longing for a family to the bottom of his list of priorities. Besides, he was in love once but ran scared and lost his shot at happiness. But suddenly, the biggest regret of his life has moved in next door with a wounded heart, determined to become a spinster . . . and that’s a challenge that Jarrod can’t pass up.

Jarrod sets his mind to breaking down the walls around Cassidy’s stubborn heart. How can he show her that a cowboy’s kiss lasts forever?  For the good folks of Wishing Springs, falling in love has never been so much fun to witness.

Debra Clopton

About The Author

Debra Clopton is a multi-award winning novelist and has written more than 22 novels. Along with writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra’s goal is to shine a light toward God while she entertains readers with her words.

Find Debra online:website, Facebook, Twitter

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