Review: Coldwater by Samuel Parker

To Purchase

About:

When an ex-con moves back to his hometown, his enemies come calling—but the justice planned by a vigilante group is nothing compared to the enemy that never leaves his side.

My Thoughts:

I’m not normally a reader of this genre but I was deeply interested in this book. It is a very invigorating read. The chapters are skillfully written to keep the reader from putting it down. It’s slightly haunting narrative gave the story a particularly hair-raising supernatural effect. The mystery and the plot points I will leave for the next reader to enjoy. As I said reading this genre is not normally my forte but I extremely enjoyed this book and it engaged my interest.

This book does not have a hopeful theme. The first page starts off dark and continues that thread throughout. Michael, the main character is not a good guy or town hero. He has a dark past and there is an evil always present with him. I did find the learning about his past intriguing. The town, which seemed to consider him the boogey man, was very complex themselves. None of them stood out as heroes and they had their own sins to contend with.

There is some descriptive violence and the story overall was chilling. Not for those who scare easily. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Reviewed by JackBo

Review: The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma

About the book:

Anna has one chance for survival-and it lies in the hands of her mortal enemy.

It's 1943 and Anna Zadok, a Jewish Christian living in Prague, has lost nearly everything. Most of her family has been deported, and the Nazi occupation ended her career as a concert violinist. Now Anna is left to care for her grandmother, and she'll do anything to keep her safe-a job that gets much harder when Nazi officer Horst Engel is quartered in the flat below them.

Though musical instruments have been declared illegal, Anna defiantly continues to play the violin. But Horst, dissatisfied with German ideology, enjoys her soothing music. When Anna and her grandmother face deportation, Horst risks everything to protect them.

Anna finds herself falling in love with the handsome officer and his brave heart. But what he reveals might stop the music forever.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

My Thoughts:

This cover is absolutely lovely. It shows a serene picture of Prague in the evening as if nothing is amiss. The title seems almost magical. However, opening up this book and entering into these character’s lives is anything but. In the midst of World War 2, Prague has been taken over by the Germans and the world has been turned upside down. The Jews are being rounded up and eliminated and Anna Zadok has watched her family be deported and maybe never to be seen again. And she herself is given a brief reprieve.

This story got under my skin in a way one hasn’t in a while. Anna is the only one left to take care of her grandmother. They had hoped they would be spared as they were Christian Jews, however this was the Nazi’s and they had one goal in mind. Anna and her grandmother’s life take an uncertain turn when Nazi officer, Horst Engel, moves in below them. Taking a liking to Anna’s violin playing they become acquaintances of sort.  

The feeling of danger is thick in this story and the characters we meet are faced with decisions that they must make concerning life and death, right and wrong. How do we live when the world seems to have gone mad? Anna and Horst have a very unlikely friendship that does grow into a romance and I cared about both these characters.  I understood Anna’s disgust and distrust of Horst at first, and I understood Horst’s revulsion at his fellow comrades and his own father. We are given both of their viewpoints and a few other important ones to get a more rounded picture. The author did a good job in really immersing the reader into a time and place when danger abounded and trusting your enemy was akin to jumping off a cliff.

I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Best-selling novelist Liz Tolsma is the author of several World War II novels and prairie romance novellas. She also works as a freelance editor. She lives in a semirural area of Wisconsin with her husband and two daughters. Her son serves with the US Marines. All of their chidlren came to them through international adoption. Her other passions include walking, gardening, camping, and reading.

Find out more about Liz at http://www.liztolsma.com

What others are saying: http://litfusegroup.com/author/LTolsma

Review and Giveaway: Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani

About:

From Adriana Trigiani, the beloved New York Times-bestselling author of The Shoemaker’s Wife, comes an exhilarating epic novel of love, loyalty, and creativity—the story of an Italian-American family on the cusp of change.

 It’s 1949 and South Philadelphia bursts with opportunity during the post-war boom. The Palazzini Cab Company & Western Union Telegraph Office, owned and operated by Dominic Palazzini and his three sons, is flourishing: business is good, they’re surrounded by sympathetic wives and daughters-in-law, with grandchildren on the way. But a decades-long feud that split Dominic and his brother Mike and their once-close families sets the stage for a re-match.

 Amidst the hoopla, the arrival of an urgent telegram from Italy upends the life of Nicky Castone (Dominic and his wife’s orphaned nephew) who lives and works with his Uncle Dom and his family. Nicky decides, at 30, that he wants more—more than just a job driving Car #4 and more than his longtime fiancée Peachy DePino, a bookkeeper, can offer. When he admits to his fiancée that he’s been secretly moonlighting at the local Shakespeare theater company, Nicky finds himself drawn to the stage, its colorful players and to the determined Calla Borelli, who inherited the enterprise from her father, Nicky must choose between the conventional life his family expects of him or chart a new course and risk losing everything he cherishes.

 From the dreamy mountaintop village of Roseto Valfortore in Italy, to the vibrant streets of South Philly, to the close-knit enclave of Roseto, Pennsylvania, to New York City during the birth of the golden age of television, Kiss Carlo is a powerful, inter-generational story that celebrates the ties that bind, while staying true to oneself when all hope seems lost.

 Told against the backdrop of some of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, this novel brims with romance as long buried secrets are revealed, mistaken identities are unmasked, scores are settled, broken hearts are mended and true love reigns. Trigiani’s consummate storytelling skill and her trademark wit, along with a dazzling cast of characters will enthrall readers. Once again, the author has returned to her own family garden to create an unforgettable feast. Kiss Carlo is a jubilee, resplendent with hope, love, and the abiding power of la famiglia.

Buy the book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble, HarperCollins
Books-a-Million, Indiebound, iBooks
Add to Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Kiss Carlo was an interesting look at an Italian family and their community in America after the events of World War 2. I enjoyed the family interactions and at times chuckled with them and at other times pitied them too, as sometimes they let petty things and grievances stand in the way of meaningful family relationships. Especially relationships between brothers who should have been supportive of each other.

This book was not at all what I had expected, delightfully so. It is a big book. Weighing in at over 500 pages, I must admit I was a bit intimidated by it. There are a lot of characters in this book and lots of details that I did find myself skimming over just due to time constraints. The author knows her way around words and I did enjoy her writing, however I was really craving Italian food while reading this.

The love story was cute and fun to watch grow. I knew who I was shipping for and I had to be patient as it unfolded.  The setting of the Shakespearean theater and the play that was so important to our heroine makes me want to pick up Twelfth Night and give that a read as well. I also liked that this book for the general market was a clean read.

I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Meet the Author: 

​Adriana Trigiani is the bestselling author of 17 books, which have been published in 36 countries around the world. She is a playwright, television writer/producer and filmmaker. She wrote and directed the film version of her novel Big Stone Gap, which was shot entirely on location in her Virginia hometown. She is co-founder of the Origin Project, an in-school writing program that serves more than a thousand students in Appalachia. She lives in Greenwich Village with her family.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

Jan 15 - Library of Clean Reads - book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 15 - A Holland Reads - review / giveaway
Jan 16 - Blooming with Books - review / giveaway
Jan 17 - Bound 4 Escape - review / giveaway
Jan 18 - Adventures Thur Wonderland - review / giveaway
Jan 22 - Cheryl's Book Nook - review / giveaway
​Jan 22 - Essentially Italian - book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 23 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review
Jan 24 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway
Jan 24 - My Reading Journeys - review / giveaway
Jan 25 - Truly Trendy - review / giveaway
Jan 25 - Rainy Day Reviews - review / giveaway
Jan 26 - Pause for Tales - review / giveaway
Jan 26 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review / giveaway
Jan 29 - Jorie Loves A Story - review
Jan 29 - The Book Enigma - review / giveaway
Jan 29 - 30-something Travel - review / giveaway
Jan 30 - Singing Librarian Books -review / giveaway
Jan 30 - Il Mio Tesoro - review 
Jan 31 - Reading is My Passion - review / giveaway
TBD      - Zerina Blossom’s Books - review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends Feb 7

Review: My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele's Journey by Amanda Barratt

To Purchase

About:

Outwardly, Adele Linley’s trip to visit her American cousins is nothing more than a summer vacation. In reality, she’s the daughter of an English aristocrat with barely a penny to her name seeking a rich American husband. 

Having grown up in an overcrowded orphanage, Drew Dawson is determined to make a name for himself. He’ll take any honest job to provide for his sister—even crossing Niagara Falls by tightrope.

On a sightseeing trip to the Falls, Adele meets several eligible suitors. Incredibly wealthy and pompous, Franklin Conway takes an immediate fancy to her. But Adele would truly like to marry for love.  When she encounters the mysterious Drew in the garden, Adele is confused by her feelings for someone who is everything she is NOT looking for. Will they both stay the course they have chosen for themselves?

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this literary visit to the Niagara Falls. I haven’t been to the Falls since I was a teenager and it was a nice change of pace to read about it, even if it was during a different time. We have two characters, Adele Linley, an aristocrat from England, and Drew Dawson an orphan who both are in need of money for different reasons. They both have set determined courses of getting said money, and in my opinion neither one seems safe or secure. Adele has come to find a rich American husband, not for love but for money. And Drew is planning on walking on a tightrope across the falls.

While reading this book I kept thinking about those, funambulist (a new word for me) and what could possibly inspire them to walk across the dangerous falls on a tightrope where one mistake and only one could mean death. This book had a palpable tension as the day was coming closer for Drew to take that fateful walk. I felt as Adele did that there had to be another way. The feelings of entrapment in their circumstances was felt and this book took some surprising turns in regards to that walk and Adele contemplating marriage to a questionable man she did not love. This was an interesting story of two strangers who become friends and without planning for it fall in love with each other.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Review: Troubled Waters by Susan May Warren

To Purchase

About:

A three day excursion turns into a nightmare when a rogue wave washes the passengers overboard, leaving Ian and Sierra scrambling for survival. Sparks ignite as they wait for a rescue, but will a secret keep them apart?

My Thoughts:

There are very few books that make me want to hurl them across the room. Only a handful and Troubled Waters by author Susan May Warren can now be added to that list. No, I did not throw it, I never have but the frustration with a certain character (Ian) made me seriously consider it. If you have read this series from the beginning like me, you may have had an interest in the rocky relationship issues between billionaire Ian and his fired assistant Sierra, sweet Sierra. We finally have their stories. Past, present, and I hope a picture of the future.

Ian is a character that I will remember for a while just by how complex he is. Noble, yet stubborn, protective, yet controlling, strong in mind and body, yet weak in forgiveness, I could go on. Sierra is a very sweet person who may just want to fix things too much. They really are a great couple, if only they both could open up.

I was pleased that another couple’s relationship was continued in this story, that of Pete and the very secretive Jess. Theirs is a story that has been just as rocky as Ian and Sierra’s, but Pete is just a different kind of hero than Ian. The overarching theme of the story is continued as well, and even though each book has its own story, we get more of that theme coming into focus like puzzle pieces making a picture.

This was pretty action packed. The beginning started with a bang and then we had a lull before the real storm hit. I was glad that we had a different setting other than Montana, something a little more tropical but no less dangerous. I was glued to this book and stayed up well past a decent hour. I am glad the series is getting a fifth book. There are more loose ends to be tied up and I look forward to Ty’s story as he comes to the forefront in the next book.

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

Review: Devotions for the Hungry Heart by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

To Purchase

About:

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, the Belle of All Things Southern, is back with a devotional guide for the Jesus-hungry heart. Grounded in scripture and offered in the author’s signature storytelling style, this devotional invites you to God's table for a continual feast. With six prominent themes including Sharing, Needing, Celebrating, Praying, Surrendering, and Being Intentional, you'll be challenged and encouraged to develop God-honoring traits in your spiritual life.

A delightful companion book to Tomlinson’s Hungry Is a Mighty Fine Sauce, Devotions for the Hungry Heart features a bonus full-color insert featuring more than a dozen mouthwatering recipes plus photos. You're guaranteed to find nourishment for your body as well as your spirit!

My Thoughts:

Devotions for the Hungry Heart is a bit of a different devotional and I was intrigued by its content. This is a 20 week devotional that goes from a Monday to a Saturday and its emphasis is on those who seek after God. The weekly headings for the week are the same throughout the book and are about a Hungry Heart: Monday- Surrendered, Tuesday-Intentional, Wednesday-Praying, Thursday-Celebrating, Friday-Needy, and Saturday-Sharing. The devotional includes a snippet or story from the author and ending with a Bible verse.

With just one or a couple of verses added at the end, I think I would consider this more of an inspirational read to be paired with your daily Bible reading. Plus there are about a dozen recipes with pictures included in the middle of the book that the author has provided. They look quite tasty and not really complicated to make. I plan to try some soon.

Overall, I thought this book was unique and set apart from other books of its kind, though I am not really sure I would call it a devotional. The only other thing that I did not care for was the feel of the cover itself. It is a lovely book but as a personal preference I did not care for the roughness. I did like the author sharing her stories and wisdom in a manner like a dear friend would.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Agent Interview by Jes Drew

Weekend Briefing

Jes Drew

This week's mission: Agent Interview

Welcome back to headquarters, agents. Today, one of our senior agents, Codename Villain Hunter, hero of the Ninja and Hunter trilogy, will be briefing us on what to expect with the upcoming Castaways- due to be released on February 14, 2018.

Me: Thank you so much for coming by, Agent Villain Hunter.

Agent Villain Hunter: Oh, it was nothing. I mean, sure, I could be beating up bad guys, rescuing damsels in distress, and saving the world right now, but I always like to make time for you little people.

Me: That's very... generous. Anyway, Agent Villain Hunter, I'm sure you know what we called you in to talk about.

Agent Villain Hunter: Yes. Strangely enough, it wasn't to ask me about my amazing, superhuman abilities, my roguishly handsome good looks, or the tools of the trade I may or may not have learned while on the other side of the law. 

Me: No-

Agent Villain Hunter: Unfortunately for you.No, I'm hear to discuss secret connections between my wicked awesome series and the new thing coming out. Castaways, was it?

Me: Something like that, Agent Villain Hunter. Anyway-

Agent Villain Hunter: Please, call me Hunter. As for Castaways, obviously it won't have quite as awesome hero as me, but Emily's a sweet girl. Not like my Chrissie, of course, but sweet.

Me: I'm sorry, Agent Hunter, but did you just betray the secret identity of your partner and fellow superhuman agents, Ninja?

Agent Hunter: Of course not. That would be sloppy. And don't be spreading any rumors around about me saying anything either- Chrissie has a temper on her. Not that she'd be able to my amazing self, but, well, one has to keep her ego in consideration. She has such a large one.

Me: Ahem. Anyway, Agent Hunter-

Agent Hunter: Just Hunter. It's Agent Jesse' thing to have that title in front of his name all the time, but I'm too humble to need such respects.

Me: ...

Hunter: Go one and crack a grin. You know you want to. You also want to know about possible connections between our series. Well, to be perfectly honest, Chri-Ninja already met Emily Rogers a few times during our adventures in The Time I Saved the Day. The poor girl didn't have a chance to meet me, but I'm sure that will be ammended by the end of Emily's trilogy. No matter how hard I try, they just can't keep me out of the spotlight. 

Me: I'm sure Emily, Christopher, and the others will be very glad to see you, even if just for a few moments. But are the rumors true?

Hunter: What rumors? If it's about me being faster than a speeding bullet, of course I am. If you'd like to inform Chief of this fact so he'll stop trying to test that theory, by all means do.

Me: I was referring to the rumor that you and Ninja and Emily and Christopher might costar in a series after the Castaways trilogy.

Hunter: Oh, that rumor. Is most definitely true. They can't keep the spotlight off of me, you know. But please, this isn't about me. This is about Emily and... what's his face. And Castaways will be quite the adventure even if I'm not there. You agents will definitely want to check it out.

Me: Thank you for your time.

Hunter: Oh, it was nothing. Now if you'll excuse me, there's a siren that's been going off since this interview began and I should probably go check it out. Until next time- enjoy the anticipation!

Castaways:

Emily Rogers thought nothing could be worse than her family moving across the ocean. When the unthinkable happens and the ship goes down, she learns just how wrong she is. Now she's stranded on a deserted island with her two young cousins and Christopher Williams, the boy who refused to leave until all the women and children were safe.

But the island hides many secrets and holds many dangers. And as they fight to survive and hold onto hope, one unsettling question rises above the others. Is the island really deserted?

Coming February 14, 2018 to all major online booksellers

Join us next week, agents, for a commentated sneak peak of Castaways. Until then, don't do anything that might get you brain-wiped. Or inflate Villain Hunter's ego. Cio! 

Review and Giveaway: The Uncloaked Trilogy by J. Rodes

About the Books

From Sellout to hero, by way of the den. Braxton Luther finds himself in the crossfire of a new order, and discovers apathy is a dangerous option.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

My Thoughts on all three

The Uncloaked by J. Rodes gave me serious flashbacks to my tenth grade when I learned about the twentieth century. Reading about Kasen taking over, was like reading a page out of Hitler’s book. Coming to power over a country beaten down by the reminders of old conflicts and overly strict rules. Check. Targeting the youth and turning them into fanatics. Double check.

I have to admit that I didn’t feel very patriotic with this America because it was barely recognizable. It was a land of rules and regulations and very little freedom. So while reading of the Progressive Party’s takeover, and everyone bemoaning how this couldn’t happen to their America… well, it was an unrecognizable America to begin with.

I enjoyed Braxton, he reminded me a little of Percy Jackson, a Percy Jackson with severe anger issues. His perspective wasn’t always the most clear and he did many things that I never would have, but on a whole I liked him. That ending though… man I wasn’t sure what to think of that.

In Tearing the Veil by J. Rodes we continue Braxton’s journey. He’s a Jackal now and is racked by guilt over what happened in the last book. This is a far darker Braxton, but I felt bad for him as he tried to shoulder so many responsibilities.

In this book we get Hannah’s point of view and a bit of a different perspective of the Progressive Party. I liked Hannah, and related with her greatly in many areas, though there were several areas in this book where she was completely unreasonable. And while I liked Quinn a lot, her relationship with him felt a little insta-lovey. I know that they knew each other for several weeks, but I would have liked to have seen it. Also I was often confused by Quinn’s enigmatic personality and I was left wondering what made him tick.

Then there’s that ending which certainly made me hurry to read 

the third book. Whew.

In this final installment to the Uncloaked Trilogy we get Quinn and Eliza’s point of views as well as Braxton’s. I was a little confused with Quinn and Eliza’s sections because there was so much inner conflict going on, I don’t want to say much more for fear of giving away the plot, but I was just as confused as the main characters as to what they should do.

There was a particular storyline in this book that reminded me of the Hunger Games and I was chanting Hunger Games, Hunger Games, Hunger Games under my breath… but there is a plot twist that I certainly did not see coming that made me recoil and go that’s not Hunger Games…

There was some language in this book, that I certainly wasn’t expecting, and while there was quite a bit of violence in the other books, I felt this one was the most violent.

Overall, this was an intriguing series asking the question of what could have been? Or even what could be? The characters were well developed and relatable, and I was kept guessing the entire story as to what would happen next.

I received all three books for free. I was not required to post a positive review for any and all views and opinions are my own.

Reviewed by Nicki

About the Author:

J. Rodes lives on the wide plains somewhere near the middle of Nowhere. A coffee addict, pickleball enthusiast, and storyteller, she also wears the hats of mom, teacher, and friend. Mostly, she loves Jesus and wants to see the kids she’s honored to teach fall in love with Him too.

GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

Giveaway:

1. Print copies of the books (US only)
2. E-copies of the books (International)
3. Audio copies of the books (International)  

Enter the giveaway HERE.

Tour Schedule

January 8-Soulfully Romantic
January 9-Smiling Book Reviews
January 10-Book by Book | Flowers of Quiet Happiness
January 11-Just Commonly ​
January 12-Remembrancy
January 13-The Green Mockingbird
January 15-amandainpa
January 16-Fiction Aficionado | A Baker’s Perspective
Janaury 17-Singing Librarain Books
January 18-Henry Happens
January 19-Reader’s Cozy Corner
January 20-Pause for Tales

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White

About the Book

Title: A Song Unheard

Author: Roseanna M. White

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: January 2, 2018

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he’s won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father’s work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn’t—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Thoughts:

I have excitedly been waiting for A Song Unheard since enjoying the first one in this series so much. And I have to say, I enjoyed this one even more. We get to know Willa, one of the three of the older “brother and sister” street urchin family, that continues to expand by taking in more to care for. They earn their keep by questionable means, and just because Rosie (A Name Unknown) has settled down, does not mean that Willa will. 

So begins the story with the very mysterious Mr. V. giving Willa her assignment. And a very interesting and almost seemingly impossible one it is as no one is for sure what they are actually looking for in the so called “key”. The “key” we know is held by playboy and very famous violinist Lukas De Wilde. This particular job is just right for Willa as she is an actual prodigy with the violin. So begins the fun. However, Lukas has been knocked down from his famous pedestal, not from the outside, but within himself. And what a wonderful transformation he makes when he first sees the light and then pursues Willa with his heart as she pursues his secrets. Who will come out the victor in this match?

The Shadows Over England series takes us to the beginning of the First World War when spies were plentiful and it was very dangerous to be a genius. There are several characters that play a pivotal role in this cat and mouse game and I especially liked the sister of Lukas. I have found that reading one of author White’s books is just pure enjoyment. I am never quite sure where her stories will take me though I do like going on the ride and the banter between the two lead characters, Lukas and Willa, was especially fun to watch. Looking forward now to hopefully Barclay’s story.

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

About the Author

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Guest post from Roseanna White

I started playing the piano when I was 7. I didn’t discover any long-dormant genius or anything, but I liked it. When my sister quit, I kept playing. In middle school, I switched teachers, and moving from the lady at my church that I knew so well to someone who was just my piano teacher made a difference in how I applied myself. It deepened my love of music.

We all know how some random moments stand out forever in our memory. One such for me happened on the school bus. I was sitting with my best friend, talking about the new piano piece I was learning. “Via Delorosa” means Road of Sorrow, and it’s a song that tells musically about Jesus’ journey to Golgotha—ending with the faint chime of the nails being driven into his palms. As my beloved Mrs. Peto went through this song with me the night before, I remember her circling a D♯ that I’d missed and saying how important that note was. That it made the whole line weep.

That it would make the hearers weep. An epiphany so huge I had to share it with my friend. A well placed sharp could make music weep! Who knew?

That was but one lesson Mrs. Peto taught me in how music could evoke things words never could. A woman of strong faith, she also taught me how a song could preach the Gospel. Music can be medicine. It can be hope. It can be tears. It can be truth. Music can be Jesus to a hurting heart that turns its back on words.

This is a lesson I never forgot, and I had it always in mind as I was writing A Song Unheard. In this story, both my hero and heroine are musicians—violinists. But Willa (who is SO STUBBORN) wouldn’t listen to words of faith from any of the people in her life “suddenly spouting such nonsense.”

But then, in her darkest hour, she hears a slip of melody. And she realizes it’s the Lord.

I pray as readers move through the story of Willa Forsythe—violin prodigy and top-notch thief—that their spirits’ ears hear more than words, more than just a story. I pray they hear the Lord whispering that ultimate song. The one that says, “I love you.”

Want to hear the song Willa eventually wrote in the book? You can! The violin music in this trailer is officially dubbed “Willa’s Song” and written specifically for this book. I hope you enjoy it! http://bit.ly/ASongUnheardTrailer

Blog Stops

Fiction Aficionado, January 11

History, Mystery & Faith, January 11

Genesis 5020, January 11

Bookworm Mama, January 11

A Simply Enchanted Life, January 11

Avid Reader Book Reviews, January 12

Reflections From My Bookshelves, January 12

Blogging With Carol, January 12

Multifarious, January 12

proud to be an autism mom, January 12

Faithfully Bookish, January 13

Christian Bookaholic, January 13

Karen Sue Hadley, January 13

Mary Hake, January 13

A Greater Yes, January 13

Remembrancy, January 14

Blossoms and Blessings, January 14

Just the Write Escape, January 14

Connie’s History Classroom, January 14

Texas Book-aholic, January 14

A Reader’s Brain, January 15

Rachel’s Back Talk, January 15

Smiling Book Reviews, January 15

Cordially Barbara, January 15

Pursuing Stacie, January 15

The Fizzy Pop Collection, January 16

Kat’s Corner Books, January 16

The Artist Librarian, January 16

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, January 16

Bigreadersite, January 16

Mommynificent, January 17

Seasons of Opportunities, January 17

Moments Dipped in Ink, January 17

Baker Kella, January 17

Black ‘n’ Gold Girl’s Book Spot, January 17

God’s Little Bookworm, January 18

allofakindmom, January 18

The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate, January 18

Inklings and notions, January 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 18

Pause for Tales, January 19

Have A Wonderful Day, January 19

Just Commonly, January 19

Bibliophile Reviews , January 19

Janices book reviews, January 19

Radiant Light, January 20

The Power of Words , January 20

Book by Book, January 20

CAC Devourer, January 20

Jeanette’s Thoughts, January 20

Splashes of Joy, January 21

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, January 21

Neverending Stories, January 21

Faery Tales Are Real, January 21

A Baker’s Perspective, January 21

margaret kazmierczak, January 22

The PhD Mamma, January 22

Cafinated Reads, January 22

Daysong Reflections, January 22

Romances of the Cross, January 23

Purposeful Learning, January 23

Rachel Scott McDaniel, January 23

Carpe Diem, January 23

Simple Harvest Reads, January 23

Kaylee’s Kind Of Writes, January 24

Henry Happens, January 24

Joy of Reading, January 24

Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 24

Raining Butterfly Kisses, January 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Roseanna is giving away a Grand Prize Package of a signed copy of the book as well as a lovely album of soothing songs based on the Scriptures called Hidden in My Heart (winner’s choice of CD or digital download)!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c72a