Friday, August 23, 2019

Review and Guest Post: State of Lies by Siri Mitchell

About the Book

Book: State of Lies
Author: Siri Mitchell
Genre: Suspense
Release Date: August 13, 2019

Months after her husband, Sean, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, physicist Georgie Brennan discovers he lied to her about where he had been going that day. A cryptic notebook, a missing computer, and strange noises under her house soon have her questioning everything she thought she knew.

With her job hanging by a thread, her son struggling to cope with his father’s death, and her four-star general father up for confirmation as the next Secretary of Defense, Georgie quickly finds herself tangled in a political intrigue that has no clear agenda and dozens of likely villains. Only one thing is clear: someone wants her dead too. The more she digs for the truth, the fewer people she can trust.

Not her friends.

Not her parents.

Maybe not even herself.

Click here to grab your copy.

My Thoughts:

Ok, this book WOWED me. I did not know which way it was going to go, how me as a reader was going to feel about it: I certainly had strong emotions concerning the story and I kept turning those pages as fast as I could.

Author Mitchell is a bit of a wild card author to me. I have read a few of her books and sometimes I like them and sometimes nope, all the while thinking how could she end that story like that. However, the books, the ones I liked and disliked, have all made an impression on me and they are some of the stories that have stuck with me and I have not forgotten.

State of Lies can now claim the title of my favorite book by her. It was so out of the box. There is creepiness, mystery, conspiracies, and science giving this story almost the feel of watching a Fringe episode. Like the heroine Georgie, I also was questioning everything and wondered how this intriguing novel was going to play out. This one kept me up late and getting out of bed early to finish it. I am looking forward to more fiction stories like this one.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Siri Mitchell is the author of 14 novels. She has also written 2 novels under the pseudonym of Iris Anthony. She graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and has worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she lived all over the world, including Paris and Tokyo. Siri is a big fan of the semi-colon but thinks the Oxford comma is irritatingly redundant. Visit her online at sirimitchell.com; Facebook: SiriMitchell; Twitter: @SiriMitchell.

More from Siri

A Sense of Place I’m so excited about the release of State of Lies! Among the many reasons for my excitement is the fact that I set the story in my own home town: Arlington, VA. Here are some things you might not know about Arlington:

Arlington was originally included within the borders of Washington, DC.

Arlington isn’t actually a city – it’s a county. We’re the smallest self-governing county in the nation.

Arlington regularly takes the top spot as the most educated place in the country.

Arlington LOVES books. I count at least a dozen different little libraries in my neighborhood alone.

Our region often has a hurricane warning or two every hurricane season. Can you guess where I’ve seen the longest lines when people start to make last-minute preparations? It’s not the grocery store; it’s not the hardware store. It’s the library! (Why wouldn’t you stock up on books too?)

We host Arlington National Cemetery, the Iwo Jima Marine Corps War Memorial, and the Pentagon.

We are home to the very first Five Guys hamburger joint location.

We are also home to the headquarters of over a dozen national agencies as well as organizations like Rosetta Stone and Nestlé.

People who attended our high schools include Sandra Bullock, Warren Beatty, Shirley MacLaine, Katie Couric, and Patch Adams.

The thing I love most about Arlington? Its people. Countless government contractors members of the federal workforce live here. I number them among my friends and neighbors. I’ve never met a group more dedicated, more informed, or more determined to put their expertise to good use. And guess what? My heroine, Georgie Brennan, is one of them!

The Pentagon and Washington, DC

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 20

Among the Reads, August 20

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 20

Blogging With Carol, August 21

CarpeDiem, August 21

Josephine Anne Writes, August 21

Fiction Aficionado, August 22

All-of-a-kind Mom, August 22

Genesis 5020, August 22

Andrea Christenson, August 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 23

Pause for Tales, August 23

Through the Fire Blogs, August 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 24

Inspired by fiction, August 25

Because I said so and other adventures in parenting. , August 25

Adventures of a Traveler’s Wife, August 25

For Him and My Family, August 26

Rebekah Jones, August 26

Betti Mace, August 26

As He Leads is Joy, August 27

Wishful Endings, August 27

Reflections From My Bookshelves, August 27

Moments, August 28

Mary Hake, August 28

Remembrancy, August 28

Just the Write Escape, August 29

Simple Harvest Reads, August 29

Hallie Reads, August 30

Bigreadersite , August 30

Living Life Free in Christ, August 30

Connect in Fiction, August 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 31

Texas Book-aholic, August 31

janicesbookreviews, September 1

A Reader’s Brain, September 1

Inklings and notions , September 1

Life of Literature, September 2

Real World Bible Study, September 2

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Review and Giveaway: A Family for Jason by Virginia McCullough

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Family for Jason

(Back to Bluestone River #1)
By Virginia McCullough
Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
August 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She’s not home for keeps

Unless he proves first love is forever

Bluestone River is a minefield of memories for Mike Abbot—all involving Ruby Driscoll. Twenty years after scandal divided them, they’re both back in their hometown. Ruby’s visit is strictly temporary. But as she uses her trauma expertise to help his vulnerable son, Mike faces what his heart has always known. Ruby’s still his one and only. This time, can he convince her to stay?

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes and Noble│Harlequin│iBooks│Kobo│GooglePlay

My Thoughts:

This story is about two high school sweethearts who were destined to be together but let something terrible disrupt and end all of their plans. Without giving too much information, the situation that dissolved their romance was pretty bad and understandably maybe they should have taken a break for a little while. Unfortunately, that little while was 20 years.

Both Mike and Ruby have come to their hometown again and coincidentally, around the same time. Mike has come back to help his little boy who has not spoken anything since he witnessed a tragic circumstance. Mike is hoping the small town and nature will help bring his little boy out of his shell.

Ruby has come back to help her best friend and also to regroup after losing her job. Both are shocked to see each other again. While Ruby wants to continue to run away from the big questions and their hurtful past, Mike does not want to lose her again and so he pursues her.

This was a sweet and yet heartbreaking romance that shows how sometimes the awful circumstances and others people's decisions can definitely take a toll on young love. But true love can and will survive.

I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Born and raised in Chicago, Virginia McCullough has been lucky enough to develop her writing career in many locations, including the coast of Maine, the mountains of North Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and currently, Northeast Wisconsin. She started her career in nonfiction, first writing articles and then books as a ghostwriter and coauthor. She’s written more than 100 books for physicians, business owners, professional speakers and many others with information to share or a story to tell.

Virginia’s books feature characters who could be your neighbors and friends. They come in all ages and struggle with everyday life issues in small-town environments that almost always include water—oceans, lakes, or rivers. The mother of two grown children, you’ll find Virginia with her nose a book, walking on trails or her neighborhood street, or she may be packing her bag to take off for her next adventure. And she’s always working on another story about hope, healing, and second chances.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

- 1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card and a $25 Etsy eGift Card
- Open internationally for those who are eligible

- Ends August 28, 2019

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Meghan's Choice by Donna L.H. Smith

About the Book

Book: Meghan’s Choice
Author: Donna L. H. Smith
Genre: Christian Historical Western Romance
Release Date: November, 2017

Meghan Gallagher complies with her father’s demand that she work on her own for a year by choosing to tutor eight children in a wild Kansas railroad town. But she had no idea just how wild it was until she was rescued by a local dance hall the day she arrived, and soon after hit by a stray bullet. In short order, she meets a dark, handsome cowboy and a wholesome, attractive doctor who both vie for her heart. As things heat up around town, Meghan’s love life catches fire as well. Is she scandalous to allow both men to court her at the same time? And—how close a relationship with God does Meghan want? Will she draw near?

Meghan’s Choice (pre-published) was named a semi-finalist in the 2014 Operation First Novel by Jerry B. Jenkins and an honorable mention for the Golden leaf Award in 2015. Since publication, Meghan’s Choice was a Selah Award finalist and also in the Will Rogers Medallion Award. Published in connection with Hartline Literary Agency, serving the Christian book community. Visit us at www.hartlineliterary.com.

Click here to grab your copy.

My Review:

Meghan is rich and spoiled- not to the determent of her character- more to the basics of life. Her father loves her very much but knows she cannot continue oblivious through life, spending money constantly and always having fun. Her father loves her very much and gives her an ultimatum. She must work for a year.

Meghan has just had her heart broken and her father's ultimatum has thrown her. Out of sheer rebellion she latches on to the first opportunity that appears. This opportunity changes her life. Meghan is thrust into the beginnings of a city, both good and bad, and must navigate her way through without her father. She meets friends along the way, some very unexpected. Two men have caught her eye and she theirs, so life gets a bit interesting as there is a bit of a love triangle. One is a cowboy and the other a doctor. (I quickly knew which one I was rooting for.)

This was a western coming of age story for a young woman who needed to grow up a bit. She finds friendship and love. There is a sequel that picks up where this one left off with a couple of characters that I am most interested in. The only downside was there was a little bit too much description for my tastes. Other than that this was sweet western.

I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Donna L.H. Smith is a Kansas prairie girl transplanted to Lancaster County, PA. She is a graduate of Christian Writer’s Guild Craftsman program and holds two college degrees, both B.S. and M.A. in Mass Communication. She’s been married to a wonderful man named Kirby for thirty years. Her debut novel, Meghan’s Choice, made the finals of both the Selah and Will Rogers Medallion Awards. Rose’s Redemption, the sequel, was just released. She blogs, speaks at workshops and retreats and although she is at an age where many begin slowing down, she wouldn’t think of it. Recently, she took on the role of Managing Editor of Almost an Author.com, and serves as ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Mid-Atlantic Zone Director. She is also a member of AWSA’s Protégé program (Advanced Writers & Speaker’s Association).

More from Donna

Back in 2012, I wrote “Zorro” stories for Fan Fiction. I had an awful lot of fun with them, and people seemed to really like them. So, the thought came, what could I write for ‘real?’ I contemplated, prayed, and after a couple weeks or so, an idea came floating across my brain.

“Gunfight at Hyde Park.” Huh? I thought about it, and realized it was an obscure history lesson from my hometown in Kansas. I had Google it to get the details. I thought, well, I’m not gonna write a Christian romance novel just about a series of gunfights that killed and wounded more people than the OK Corral.

But I did think that the beginning of the gunfights could be the climax of the story.

Now, who should my heroine be? And the hero?

I started with that and took Christian Writer’s Guild’s Craftsman and the novel was completed in 2013—but only published in late 2017.

I’m proud of Meghan’s Choice. Pre-published it made the semi-finals of the last Operation 1^st Novel that CWG held and placed in a couple of smaller contests. Last year, it made the finals of the prestigious Selah Awards for published books through the BRMCWC, and the finals of the Will Rogers Medallion Award.

My hope is that you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it.