PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Where Hope Begins by Catherine West

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Book Look in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Where Hope Begins by Catherine West was one of the best books that I have read lately.  First, I want to let everyone know that this book deals with quite a few hard topics such as losing a child, affairs, suicide attempts and terminal illness so be aware that this book might be hard to get through from time to time.  Right from the first page of this book I was hooked, and I couldn’t put I down until I was finished with the book.  I loved this book because I liked all the characters right from the start of the book.  I felt bad for Savannah because I can’t even imagine how hard things had to be for her but everyone in this story had major things that they were all dealing with.  The author did a great job of making me feel like I was right there with the characters throughout the entire book which I am sure is the reason I read this book so quickly.  I spent a lot of this book going back and forth on what I wanted to happen in this book because I loved all the characters even the ones that were harder to love because of their choices.  This is one book I could go on and on about because it is my stand out book so far this year.  I would recommend this book to just about anyone who is looking for a story of growth but also knows that there are hard parts but pushing through those parts is totally worth it.

About The Book

In the aftermath of her husband’s act of adultery and abandonment, Savannah must finally face the ghosts that haunt her and discover for herself whether authentic faith, grace, and ultimate healing really do exist.

When her husband of twenty-one years leaves her, Savannah Barrington believes she’s lost almost everything she’s ever loved. With her daughter in college and her son in boarding school, Savannah retreats to her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, where hope and healing come in the form of an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, a touch of magic, and a handsome man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove she’s still worth loving.

But when her husband asks to reconcile, Savannah is faced with the hardest challenge of all: Forgiving the unforgivable. Somehow she must find freedom from the chains of their past and move forward, or face an unknown future without him.

About The Author

Catherine West writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband have two grown children and one beautiful granddaughter. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew). Her most recent novel, The Memory of You, released March 2017. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com

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Raven’s Eye by Adam Gowans

 

Adam Gowans is the youngest of five Air Force brats, out of which his siblings have voted him the weirdest. He loves anything that deals with stories, including movies, novels, television dramas, music, video games, manga/manhwa, and webtoons.
In his mid-twenties, he lived and taught English in South Korea for four years before returning to the States to live, like many LDS authors, in Utah.
His first novel is On Angelic Wings, which has a planned sequel, but the sequel will be released after two other novels that are calling for his attention.

 

Ever since magic caused his mother’s death, Ha-Neul, crown prince of Balhae, hates witches and the magic they wield. He has instituted harsh laws against all magic users.
 

 

Lisa is a young witch working undercover as a servant in his palace, hoping to gain freedom for her people. The last thing the two expect is to fall in love. But when Ha-Neul learns that Lisa is not only a witch, but the daughter of the Prince of Vires, land of witches, he banishes her. Distracted by heartbreak, he is caught off-guard by a military coup.
In hiding and on the run, Ha-Neul swallows his pride and travels with his siblings to Vires, planning to beg Lisa’s aid, only to learn that she has mysteriously vanished.
Now his only hope in reclaiming his kingdom and reuniting with Lisa lies in the remote Northern Mountains, a country no one has ever penetrated and rumored home of a powerful magic source. There, Ha-Neul learns that a being powerful beyond comprehension has been carefully guiding his destiny. But if Ha-Neul can’t let go of his hatred of all things magic, and accept the new path offered to him, it will mean the destruction of his entire world.

 

Author Interview:
1.     What is your favorite book that is not yours?
Pride and Prejudice. I read it once every year.
2.     Do you write in multiple genres? Which genre is your favorite to write?
I don’t. I’m not sure why, but I prefer to write stories with science fiction and fantasy elements, though I do have ideas for an alternate history novel and others that take place here on Earth.
3.     How young were you when you started writing?
I started writing in the 8th grade, so I was fourteen.
4.     If you could meet any author, past or present, who would it be and why?
I have three, two present and one past. J.K. Rowling, Rainbow Rowell, and Jane Austen
5.     How long does it take you to write a book, and what was your fastest book to write?
At least a year or more. Raven’s Eye took me less than a year to write though.
6.     What is your favorite thing to do in the summertime?

 

Stay indoors as much as possible. I’m a bit of a homebody, and introvert. I also don’t like the summer temperatures of Utah.
 
 

 

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event Page 

 

 

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

Discovering You by Kate McBrien

A shy art historian, a sexy rock star, a mysterious medieval cross that holds a secret and a love that never dies. Do you believe in soulmates? Find out in Kate McBrien’s steamy debut fans of Love on the Edge of Time and A Knight in Shining Armor will love!

Rafflecopter for Discover You Blog Tour Giveaway:

Kate is offering one lucky grand prize winner a $25 Amazon Gift Card & eCopy of Discovering You, plus nine (9) Runner-ups an eCopy of Discovering You. To enter for your chance to win, please fill out the Rafflecopter link below:
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About Discovering You:

Title: Discovering You

Author: Kate McBrien

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 7, 2018

Publisher: Kate McBrien

Series: Indigo

Format: Digital eBook / Print

Digital ISBN: 9781732223516

Print ISBN: 9781732223509

For fans of Love on the Edge of Time and A Knight in Shining Armor comes an epic romance that proves true love can never die.

Do you believe in soulmates?

A shy art historian. A sexy rock star. A mysterious medieval cross that holds a secret.

Lucy Bianchi has a plan: finish her PhD in art history and land a coveted job at a prestigious Los Angeles museum. Then—maybe—she’ll find time to start dating. Her controlled and predictable world begins to unravel when she chases a runaway dog on the beach and meets a gorgeous stranger.

Justin Hamilton is the charismatic lead singer of the British band Indigo. Years of touring and partying have won him notoriety, and he can have any woman he wants, but who he really wants doesn’t seem to exist.

Until now.

From their first look—their first touch—Justin and Lucy have a connection that defies logic and deepens their desire for each other. When they see the Varangian Cross at a museum exhibit, they’re flooded with inexplicable shared memories that draw them even closer together.

Justin has to return to London just as a salacious scandal explodes that could tear them apart. Lucy must choose between the safe life she’s cultivated, or go to Justin and discover a never-ending love.

Discovering You is the first book of a contemporary romance trilogy.

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available at:  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

Excerpt:

Copyright© 2018 Discovering You

Kate McBrien

Justin reached for her hand. “Come here.”

Lucy took one step forward, and Justin cradled her face, gazing into her eyes. He leaned in slowly and gave her a gentle kiss. His lips were soft and full as they touched hers. It was a tender kiss at first, but soon the kiss deepened. His kiss should have felt new, but instead it felt like coming home to something rooted deep within her. His fingers wound around her hair, pulling her even closer to him. He moaned as Lucy parted her lips, allowing his tongue access inside, exploring her depths. Something detonated inside Lucy as she ran her fingers through his hair. It seemed as if all the anxiety she usually had around men had evaporated.

Justin pulled away, his eyes exploring her face in silent wonder.

Lucy let her fingers trace down the side of his face and his stubble. He closed his eyes, leaning into her palm, and smiled with a soft sigh.

When Justin opened his eyes again, his arms slid down around her, pulling her closer, and he kissed her again. She could feel his growing erection, and it increased her arousal even more. She whimpered when he broke their kiss.

“I’ve dreamt of kissing you.” He kissed her again and then nibbled her bottom lip. “I’ve dreamt of you every night since I met you. I can’t get you out of my mind.”

His blue eyes were so like hers it was eerie. “I’ve had dreams of you, too,” she said with a smile.

With a sexy grin, he reached for her again and pulled her close. “I think I’m obsessed with you. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he whispered, pushing his hips against her.

Lucy gasped as he pulled off her jacket and tossed it on a nearby chair. His hands caressed her bare arms and she shuddered. His hands were strong, with long fingers tenderly moving across her skin. The pads of his fingertips were a little rough as they touched her. “So soft,” he murmured before he leaned in and gave her shoulder a gentle kiss.

Lucy tilted her head back as he trailed kisses down her neck. He glanced up at her for a moment, as if asking for permission. He ran his fingers across the swell of her breast, bending down to place a gentle kiss. “I want you. I want to know every part of you.”

“Justin,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss him again. “I want that, too.”

About Kate McBrien:

Kate has an MA in art history from San José State University and has taught art history at a local college. For many years, she has worked as a dental hygienist, courageously offering encouragement to her non-flossing patients.

She has always enjoyed writing but became more serious after being encouraged by a friend to participate in National Novel Writing Month. She began writing historical fiction but soon realized that the romance was taking over the history.

Kate is a Bay Area native who lives near the beach with her husband and Lola, their spoiled Labrador Retriever. When not writing, she enjoys cooking, music, movies, reading, and fangirling over Jamie Dornan.

Connect with Kate:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  BookBub

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

A Scoundrel’s Ruin by Christina McKnight

Embrace ruination and become engrossed as the scandal unfolds in each story by 6 USA TODAY Bestselling authors.

Out July 17th – Regency Romance Box Set, A Scoundrel’s Ruin featuring Christina McKnight.

Follow the tour and enter to #win a $10 Amazon Gift Card
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Title: A Scoundrel’s Ruin
Author: Samantha Holt, Erica Monroe, Christina McKnight, Dawn Brower, Tammy Andresen, Amanda Mariel
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency
Release Date: July 17, 2018

Embrace ruination and become engrossed as the scandal unfolds in each story by 6 USA TODAY Bestselling authors.

Dance With Me At Midnight by Samantha Holt

Charles always knew he’d be married within months of inheriting his title. He’s fully prepared to wed a woman he’s never met by summer. Until he meets her that is.  Eloise is nothing like the poised, elegant and controlled woman he thought she’d be. Beautiful, yes, even with a damned parrot sitting on her shoulder, but hardly marchioness material. Even if he does find himself a little intrigued by her.

Stealing the Rogue’s Heart by Erica Monroe

When underworld princess Mina Mason falls for her childhood best friend, Charlie Thatcher, their passion starts a rival gang war that threatens to inflame London. With darkness and danger at every turn, these two star-crossed lovers risk it all for love.

For The Love of a Widow by Christina McKnight

After years spent following her husband as he fought against Napoleon’s troops, Lady Lettie Hughes returns to London as a widow to take her place in Polite Society as the daughter of an earl. When nightmares of the battlefield plague her, she’ll find a second chance at love with the man she lost six years before.

Stolen by My Knave by Dawn Brower

Jackerson Carwyn, the Duke of Whitewood hasn’t led the charmed life some believe, and in fact, grew up in the worst parts of London. Lady Elizabeth Kendall grew up on whimsical tales told by her mother. They are an unlikely match, and yet, sometimes its hard to dismiss the ties of the heart.

Taming a Savage Gentleman by Tammy Andresen

Baroness Segrave needs a husband for society’s sake but she’d prefer he have no opinion at all. Which is why the Earl of Loudoun seems the ideal choice. With no fortune and a drinking habit, he should allow her to keep running her estate while living off the allowance she’d provide. But Loudoun proves to be both drunk and foolish. Suddenly a husband who is strong, capable, and appreciative of her gifts gains merit in her eyes. A man like Tom Maddox.

Scandalous Wallflower by Amanda Mariel

Jane and Caleb are brought together through an unwanted circumstance and discover something neither one believed they’d ever have, but can they let go of old hurts and beliefs long enough to embrace the gift fate bestowed upon them?

Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Author Bio:
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Christina McKnight writes emotional and intricate Regency Romance with rebellious women and maverick heroes.

Her books combine romance and mystery, exploring themes of redemption and forgiveness. When not writing she enjoys coffee, wine, traveling the world, and watching television.

You can visit her online at the following places: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

The Seeds of Dissolution by William C Tracy

 

William C. Tracy is a North Carolina native and a lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy. He has a master’s in mechanical engineering, and has both designed and operated heavy construction machinery. He has also trained in Wado-Ryu karate since 2003, and runs his own dojo. He is an avid video and board gamer, a reader, and of course, a writer.

 


In his spare time, he wrangles three cats. He and his wife enjoy putting their pets in cute little costumes and making them cosplay for the annual Christmas card.You can visit him at williamctracy.com.

On a bright August day, the sun disappears.
 
Sam van Oen barely escapes freezing to death in his house, as his watch stops and fire ceases to burn. He is pulled into the Nether—a nexus between ten diverse alien cultures—where he meets two maji who can control the musical foundation of the universe. While coping with anxiety attacks prompted by his new surroundings, Sam must learn to hear and change the Symphony, and thus reality, in order to discover what happened to his home.Sam is surrounded by aliens, both strange and familiar. Soon, he meets sister and brother twins, also new to the Nether, who support him during his anxiety attacks. Sam finds he is attracted to both of them, and does not want to choose.

But more freezing voids like the one that started his journey are appearing, and Sam’s chances of getting back are fading. The Assembly of Species is threatening to dissolve and the maji are being attacked by those they protect, while rumors grow of an ancient, shape-changing species of assassins, returning to wage war.

The Dissolution is coming.

 

Author Interview:
 
1.     What is your favorite book that is not yours?
a.     That’s a hard one. It changes because I keep coming across really great new books. If I have to pick one I come back to again and again, I’d go with Sir Terry Pratchett’s Small Gods, with Pyramids being a close second.
2.     Do you write in multiple genres? Which genre is your favorite to write?
a.     Yes and no. I generally write Science Fiction and Fantasy (which I consider to be the same genre) but within that umbrella, I’ve written a space opera, an epic fantasy, a coming-of-age adventure, a political thriller, a mystery, a superhero story, a time travel story, a collection of alternate reality short stories, and a mid-grade adventure. My favorite genre is probably the adventure-style stories. They flow a lot easier, and I enjoy the sense of wonder while I write.
3.     How young were you when you started writing?
a.     About 14. I noodled around with creative writing, then didn’t do much in college, then picked it back up after I started my day job.
4.     If you could meet any author, past or present, who would it be and why?
a.     Sir Terry Pratchett, because by all accounts he was a very kind, genuinely witty man, and Jules Verne, because I’d love to know how he came up with his ideas.
5.     How long does it take you to write a book, and what was your fastest book to write?
a.     This depends on size and topic. I wrote The Seeds of Dissolution in almost exactly one year, from start to publication date. However one of the other books I have out to agents has taken about 2 years, on and off, and I’m still not sure it’s right. They’re both similar in length.
6.     What is your favorite thing to do in the summertime?

 

a.     Tend my garden, and harvest and eat the different fruits I grow (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, and pears). I also enjoy the summer con schedule. I’ll be attending 5-6 cons this year between June and September.

 

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event Page 

 

 

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

Awaken, Shadows of a Forgotten Past by Marcia Maidana

Marcia was born and raised in Argentina during the military regime which ended with the loss of many young lives in the invasion of the Falkland Islands. Amidst the devastating effects of military government and war, reading and writing became a passion which expanded and transported her imagination with the possibility of a brighter future.
 
At the age of eighteen, she moved to the United States, where she studied English and started her own family. She soon discovered that the love she has for her husband and children would naturally unfold towards her European roots, leading her to become a genealogist and family historian. A decade of searching, compiling, and learning the stories of thousands of people has instilled in her a profound gratitude for the strong ties that can be achieved in families through personal sacrifice.
 
So it is that through fiction, Awaken explores and exposes the characteristics of true love and loyalty in times of fear, war, and finally, death. But perhaps the most captivating element in the story is the battle within the souls of the main characters as they search to know who they really are and how they are connected.

~ Facebook ~ 
Could there exist a love powerful enough to overcome the grave?
Hard times during the Great Depression force nineteen-year-old Florence to leave her service at the monastery and seek employment. Fate brings her to work for a wealthy recluse, General Alexander Sterling. Despite many daunting events and a meddling housekeeper with dark secrets of her own, Florence and the General find themselves falling deeply in love.What she doesn’t know is that General Sterling has left his native country escaping a painful past, one he yearns to forget. Destiny won’t allow it as he meets Florence, whose resemblance to his deceased wife is unbearable. Could Florence actually be the same woman who still owns his heart and haunts his dreams?

When their blossoming romance is shattered by an explosive truth, a mysterious stranger gives her an opportunity to go back in time to unlock the secret to her existence. Florence must strive to return to the present time to save their relationship from the imminent

 danger that awaits them.

 

Author Interview:
1.     What
is your favorite book that is not yours?
And
Then There Were None,
by Agatha Christie
2.     Do
you write in multiple genres? Which genre is your favorite to write?
I love writing a combination of genres. Awaken is a mixture of romance, mystery,
time travel, and action with a supernatural twist.
3.     How
young were you when you started writing?
I started writing short stories when I was
about eight years old.
4.     If
you could meet any author, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would meet Agatha Christie. She had an
incredible ability to capture the reader’s attention. She was a master of showing
through her writings the difficulties facing society. So believable were her
characters that when her famous detective, Hercule Poirot, passed away, The New
York Times honored him in their obituary page.
5.     How
long does it take you to write a book, and what was your fastest book to write?
Awaken took me a few years to write since I was
doing it for fun and didn’t have much time to work on it. Awaken’s sequel took me about nine months.
6.     What
is your favorite thing to do in the summertime?

 

In the summer I enjoy traveling, swimming and
being outdoors.
 

 

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event Page 

 

 

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret