Baroness by Susan May Warren blog tour and giveaway

About the book: Baroness – Book Two in the Daughters of Fortune series

 

Lily and Rose, daughters of an empire coming of age in the roaring twenties, can have anything they want ... except freedom.

Expected to marry well and to take the reins of the empire, they have their lives planned out for them. But, Lily, Esme's daughter longs to return home to Montana, to adventure outside the confines of New York City. And Jinx's daughter Rosie dreams of the bright lights of the newly emerging silver screen. But following their dreams - from avant garde France, to Broadway, to the skies in the world of barnstormers and wing-walkers will take all their courage.

And if they find love, will they choose freedom or happily ever after?

Find out more from Behind the Pages: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/books/baroness 

My Review:  
 5 STARS

Wow!! What an emotional rollercoaster Baroness takes you on!! It picks up right on where Heiress left off and jumps right in to the lives of Rosie and Lilly. This book is jammed packed full with raw emotions and events that pull at your heart and send you soaring in to the sky!

Both Rosie and Lilly have very different stories that they go through but basically they are in search of the same thing. They are searching for happiness, love and identity within themselves. With their goals being the same the events that they go through are vastly different.

Mostly we are looking at Lilly’s life with a little bit of the drama going on with Rosie in the background. Lilly’s story just pulled at my heart, especially with the extreme losses she faces and her struggles with trying to figure out who God wants her to be. Her emotions go up and down and you never quite sure how her story is going to conclude.

This historical novel is so fast paced and intense and such an emotional ride that you feel like you can never put the book down. It’s a perfect example of how God can take anything broken and hurt and turn it in to a beautiful thing. I have said this before and I will say it again, God makes beautiful things out of us!!
Baroness is the second book in the Daughters of Fortune Series and I’m excited to read the third book about Rosie. While I don’t think it’s necessary for you to read book one, Heiress, before you read this book, I highly recommend that you do so that you fully understand some of the characters and the background story.

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through Litfuse for my copy to review. All opinions are my own. 

About Susan:  

Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning novelist of over thirty novels. A five-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.

A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. 

She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. You can find her online at www.susanmaywarren.com. 

 

Link to buy the book:  http://ow.ly/ajLQF 

 

About the giveaway and party: 
Baroness Roaring 20s Kindle Fire Giveaway from @SusanMayWarren! Find out what the reviewers are saying here!

Expected to marry well and to take the reins of the family empire, they have their lives planned out for them. But following their dreams -- from avant garde France, to Broadway, to the skies in the world of barnstormers and wing-walkers -- will take all their courage.  And if they find love, will they choose freedom or happily ever after?

Celebrate with Susan by entering her Roaring 20's Giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Signed copies of Baroness and Heiress by Susan May Warren

But hurry, the giveaway ends on 5/7/12. The winner will be announced on 5/9/12 on Susan’s blog, Scribbles!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Susan's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

First Wild Card Tour: NIV Boys Bible

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!




You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card is:

NIV Boys Bible

Zonderkidz; Special edition (March 6, 2012)

***Special thanks to Rick Roberson of The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Getting into a routine of reading the Bible can be challenging for anyone, but trying to keep the attention of pre-teen boys is especially difficult. So now there is a Bible especially developed for them. The NIV Boys Bible is designed with boys ages 9 to 12 in mind. Fun in-text features help boys dig deep into the Word and learn about amazing people, facts and stories of the Bible. The NIV Boys Bible will help boys grow into the young men God wants them to be. It will appeal to boys and cause them to desire to spend time in the Word with its unique features such as:



* Introductions to each book of the Bible



* Hundreds of highlighted verses worth memorizing



* What's the Big Deal?-Need-to-know biblical stories and people



* Check It Out-Interesting and fun facts about Bible times and characters



* Grossology-Gross and gory stuff they never knew was in the Bible



* Makin' It Real-Help for applying Bible stories to their everyday lives







This Bible includes the full text of the New International Version, the most popular Bible translation in the world, and 12 color tip-in pages introducing content that shows boys how they can grow to be like Jesus. Each book of the Bible has activities that make God's Word more relevant than ever. It is jam-packed with customized content and artwork that really makes the Bible stand out.

Product Details:

List Price: $27.99

Reading level: Ages 9 and up

Hardcover: 1504 pages

Publisher: Zonderkidz; Special edition (March 6, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0310723086

ISBN-13: 978-0310723080:

My Review:
5 STARS

I love this bible!! I received this bible at the same time I received the girl version; Faithgirlz NIV.  My son is not quite as old as my daughter and I probably would have a waited a few years before I got him this one but I am still loving it.  My son is 5 and is just beginning to read so he likes a bit more but I know he will love this more in a year or two.  He does use it all the time when looking up verses for Awana because it is the same version (NIV) that they use in the Awana clubs.  Not only is the version great but I love all the added tidbits. There are explanations of each book in the beginning that explain what that book is about.  There is also sections where they can relate themselves to the characters in the stories.  I really liked the sections that answer commonly asked questions too.  Another thing I really love is the look.  The cover is cool and stylish for a young man and the colors throughout the bible are super fun, which make it that much more fun to read!! Perfect for young guys, probably 6-11 yrs old.

AND NOW...A SAMPLE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO VIEW THEM LARGER:

FIRST Wild Card Tour: NIV Faithgirlz! Bible

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!




You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card contributor is:

Nancy Rue

and the book:

NIV Faithgirlz! Bible (Revised Edition)

Zonderkidz; Rev Spl edition (March 6, 2012)

***Special thanks to Rick Roberson of The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR:

Nancy Rue has worked as a public school teacher, church youth director, theater workshop developer and camp director. She has written more than eighty books for young people, including the beloved Faithgirlz! Sophie series, The Skin You're In and Everybody Tells Me to Be Myself but I Don't Know Who I Am. Nancy lives with her husband and two dogs in Lebanon, TN.





About Faithgirlz!: Faithgirlz! is a collection of books, Bibles and resources designed to provide transformational Christian experiences for tween girls. Faithgirlz! encourages honest tween-girl empowerment by providing engaging, relevant, high-quality offerings, helping tween girls understand their world, learn biblical teachings, become closer to God and grow into godly teenagers. Faithgirlz! offers excellent content and contributions from leading Christian tween writers and spokespeople including Nancy Rue, Melody Carlson, Kristi Holl, Naomi Kinsman and more. Faithgirlz! is also supported with a website (www.Faithgirlz.com), Facebook page and mother and daughter live events across the country.



SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:



Every girl wants to know she’s totally unique and special, and contributor Nancy Rue helps them do just that in the revised edition of the NIV Faithgirlz! Bible. As a leading tween expert, Rue teaches girls that the Bible is real and relevant and, best of all, that the story of God and His people is also their story. Girls can now grow closer to God as they discover the journey of a lifetime, in their language, for their world.

The new Faithgirlz! Bible was developed especially for girls ages 9 to 12. Everything in it is written with a tween girl’s experience in mind, and it features the most popular Bible translation in the world, the New International Version. The features explain hard-to-understand things in the Bible and guide girls to put the Scripture to work in their own lives. The Faithgirlz! Bible focuses on sharing faith with friends and gives real ways for girls to do that.



Each book of the Bible has activities that make God’s Word more relevant than ever. And, of course, because it was developed for Faithgirlz! readers, they can expect to find it jam-packed with customized content and artwork that really makes the Bible stand out. Girls will love the cool design, the interactive features and the feeling of knowing that God’s Word is there for them whenever they need it. Some of the features included are:



· Book Introductions—Girls will read the who, when, where and what of each book of the Bible.



· Dream Girl—Girls will use their imaginations to put themselves in the story.



· Is There a Little (Eve, Ruth, Isaiah) in You?—Girls will see for themselves what they have in common with women of the Bible.



· Words to Live By—Girls will discover great Bible verses for memorizing.



· Oh, I Get It!—Girls will find answers to Bible questions they’ve wondered about.





Nancy Rue says, “I hope the Faithgirlz! Bible will help girls grow a friendship with the Bible, their own relationship. It asks questions, asks them to think and challenges them to apply what they’re learning. That’s how they’ll find a deep, personal relationship with God, rather than just by following rules or saying what they’ve been told without really thinking about it. Rules are important, of course, but they only make sense when they really believe the message of the Scriptures. That’s what this Bible is about.” The Faithgirlz! Bible is the perfect Bible to support girls in their journey into the “beauty of believing.”



The main edition of the Faithgirlz! Bible is hardcover, but it is also available in two Italian Duo-Tone designs. For better portability, there is also an NIV Faithgirlz! Backpack Bible. This compact edition does not include the in-text features that the full-size edition has, but it does have twelve full-color pages of Faithgirlz! fun, the words of Christ in red and a ribbon marker. An ebook version is also planned for electronic use.

Product Details:

List Price: $27.99



Reading level: Ages 9 and up

Hardcover: 1504 pages

Publisher: Zonderkidz; Rev Spl edition (March 6, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0310722365

ISBN-13: 978-0310722366

My Review:
5 STARS

I love this bible!! When my  toddler wanted her own bible we bought her a small Children Standard Version that worked just perfectly for her age at the time but now she is 9 and she wanted a more "normal" bible. When this showed up at the door she instantly grabbed it and began reading!! She just loves it!! It is in NIV version which is great because it works well with her Awana verse memorization.  Not only is the version great but I love all the added tidbits. There are explanations of each book in the beginning that explains what that book is about.  There is also sections where the girls can relate themselves to the characters in the stories.  There is also sections that answer commonly asked questions.  Another thing I really love (and my daughter also) is the colors.  The cover is beautiful and the colors throughout the bible are super fun, which make it that much more fun to read!!

AND NOW...A SAMPLE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO VIEW THEM LARGER:

By the Light of the Silvery Moon blog tour and giveaway

About the book:

Amelia Gladstone's hopes are tied up in the Titanic--hopes for a reunion with her sister and an introduction to an admirer. But when she offers a spare ticket to a down-and-out young man, her fate is about to change.

Quentin Walpole is stunned when a sweet lady secures his passage to America--and even more surprised to find his wealthy father and older brother on board the ship. Suddenly Amelia finds herself caught between the attentions of two men, but who should she entrust her heart to? As the fateful night arrives, will Amelia lose everything to the icy waters?

Watch the video trailer:

About Tricia Goyer:

Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of thirty-two books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

More info: Living Inspired (http://toginet.com/shows/livinginspired) and www.triciagoyer.com.

Link to buy the book: http://www.triciagoyer.com/historicalfiction.html#ByTheLight

  

Win an Flip HD Camcorder during @TriciaGoyer's Unsinkable Titanic Giveaway and RSVP for 4/10 Titanic Party!

Celebrate the release of By the Light of the Silvery Moon with Tricia by entering her giveaway and RSVPing to her Titanic party.



One "unsinkable" winner will receive:

• Flip HD video Camera (Make your own dramatic saga!)
• Titanic movies from the ages {Titanic (1953) Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), Titanic (1997)}
• Secrets of the Titanic (Get the facts from National Geographic.)
• And the Band Played On (Music Played on the Titanic.)
• By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer (Be swept away in this tale of love and courage.)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 9th. Winner will be announced at "Silvery Moon" Titanic Facebook Party on 4/10. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club). During the live chat Tricia will have a *special guest* join her. More details coming soon!

So grab your copy of By the Light of the Silvery Moon and join Tricia on the evening of the April 10th for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the Titanic?) and lots of giveaways. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 10th!

Prowl by Amber Garza

About Prowl:

Seventeen-year-old Mackenzie Smith is sent away to spend a boring summer at her grandma's. But then she meets Wesley. He tells her exactly what she wants to hear and has information about her past that no one else knows. It's almost like he can read her mind.

Only Wesley isn't who he seems.

By the time Mackenzie discovers his true identity it may be too late. She's in too deep and he won't let her go. Now Mackenzie must call on the strongest power of all in order to save her life. 

My Review:
4 STARS

At first Mackenzie is angry that she has to spend her summer at her grandma's house until she breaks up with her boyfriend and decides this will be the perfect way to escape her problems with boys.  Little does know that grandma lives right next door to a hottie!  She is instantly drawn to the boy next door but hesitates getting to know him because of his religion.  She also meets grandma's other neighbor and this girl introduces her to far more dangers than she had at home with boys!  She meets Wesley and Wesley is not what you'll expect!

I really enjoyed this book! I wasn't really expecting the dangerous things that Mackenzie dabbles in!  I really identified with her though and the way she is desperately searching for love because of her lack of a father.  She is naive and determined to figure out who her father is with the help of Wesley no matter what the cost!

The spiritual aspects of this book were pretty good, though I would have liked a little more depth in to the battle between good and evil but overall I was happy with how it progressed.   I think us Christians a lot of time forget the battle of evil we face and how deceptive Satan really is and this book gives you a fun way of addressing that issue!

Most young adult readers will probably enjoy this easy read and I think it would especially benefit young Christian girls and youth leaders like myself to remind us of what teens go through spiritually

I received this book free from the author in exchange for my personal and honest opinion.  All opinions are my own.

About Amber Garza:

Amber Garza lives in California with her amazing husband and two hilarious children who provide her with enough material to keep her writing for years. 

Link to buy Prowl on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Prowl-Amber-Garza/dp/1467982172/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1332521915&sr=8-6

Song of My Heart review and Nook Tablet giveaway

About the book:

 

Sadie Wagner has always been devoted to her family. So when her stepfather is injured and can't work, she decides to leave home and accept a position as a clerk at the mercantile in Goldtree, Kansas. Goldtree also offers the opportunity to use her God-given singing talent--though the promised opera house is far different from what she imagined. With her family needing every cent she can provide, Sadie will do anything to keep her job.

McKane comes to Goldtree at the request of the town council. The town has been plagued by bootlegging operations, and Thad believes he can find the culprit. 

After he earns enough money doing sheriff work, he wants to use it to pay for his training to become a minister.

Thad is immediately attracted to the beautiful singer who performs in Asa Baxter's unusual opera house, but when he hears her practicing bawdy tunes, he begins to wonder if she's far less innocent than she seems. And when Sadie appears to be part of the very crimes he's come to investigate, is there any hope the love blossoming between them will survive?

 

 

About Kim:

 

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of nineteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and six grandchildren.

She invites you to visit her Web site at www.kimvogelsawyer.com for more information. 

 

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/9uLOD 

 

My Review:

4 STARS

 

“Song of My Heart” is an entertaining and quirky story that is filled with awkward moments, tension, mystery, and a sweet romance!

Sadie is the oldest in her family and when her father has a devastating injury that leaves him unable to work and her mother at home to take of him she feels it is her responsibility to provide for the family. So when her cousin Sid tells her of a clerk job in Goldtree she decides it is the best way to care for her family. Little did she know that Goldtree would have one surprise after another.

The best part of this story is the characters. Thad is by far a remarkable hero; he is so genuinely caring and sweet. He isn’t perfect though and he is wrestling with his own broken past and plans for the future! I love how he grows throughout this novel as he seeks what God wants for his life. He is very protective over Sadie and will do just about anything to keep her safe!

The secondary characters are also worth mentioning. Sadie’s cousin is bit overwhelming and at times I just wanted to smack him. Melba, Shelba and Asa are beyond weird and they add quite a bit of humor to this sweet story. I thought most of the secondary characters were a bit quirky and awkward but boy were the funny.

Sadie is a delightful character as well. She has a voice of an angel and a heart of pure gold. All she wants is to provide for her family and finds that her desperation to provide might lead to some trouble. She wrestles with choices to trust God will help provide or to go against her beliefs to ensure money will come in. Wow, what a struggle. I can’t imagine having a burden that you are the only one bringing in money for your family of six.

The ending is spot on! I wouldn’t want it to end any of other way!! This is such a charming story and I very much enjoyed it!! I’ll be on the lookout for more by Sawyer.

I received a free copy of the book from the publishers via Litfuse for my review. I was not required to write a positive review, all opinions are my own.

 

Win a Nook Tablet from Kim Vogel Sawyer and RSVP for her "Song of My Heart" Facebook Party {3/29}!

Celebrate with Kim by entering to win a Nook Tablet and connecting with her at the Book Chat Party on 3/29!



One "songbird" winner will receive:

• A Nook Tablet
• Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/28/12. Winner will be announced at Kim's Book Chat Facebook Party on 3/29. Kim will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more!

So grab your copy of Song of My Heart and join Kim and friends on the evening of March 29th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

Sixty Acrse and a Bride review and Kindle Fire Giveaway

About the book:

She's Finally Found a Place to Call Home... How Far Will She Go to Save It?

With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have just three months to pay.

Though facing eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. They welcome her vivacious spirit and try to help her navigate puzzling American customs. She can't help but stand out, though, and her beauty captures attention. 

Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, Rosa must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future. Read an excerpt: http://ow.ly/9sK2C.    

About Regina:

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children. Meet Regina here.

Learn more about Regina by visiting her website, www.reginajennings.com.

Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0764209906/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=sprightly-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0764209906&adid=0QCM8KYQ2MZMAD1E5XZ6

My Review:

4 STARS

I’m so excited that I got a chance to discover and read “Sixty Acres and a Bride” by Regina Jennings! She has created such a wonderful historical romance that is full of lively characters and real life struggles. I loved getting to know Rosa and felt at times connected to her fears and struggles. She was completely charming and I just got a kick out of tom-boy ways and sassy Mexican attitude! You can’t help but to fall in love with her!

Rosa and her mother-in law are trying to make a new name for themselves back where her mother-in law used to live and this adventure is filled with many bumps along the way. They’re about to lose the only property they have to their names, they have about 120 days to come up with the taxes owed on their property. Not only that but they are both in mourning after losing their husbands and Rosa is not exactly fitting in being the only Mexican in the town.

Weston is the perfect hero. He is a quiet cowboy that keeps to himself after the loss of his wife. He takes care of his family and feels strongly about protecting Rosa. He isn’t without faults but he sure is swoon worthy!

This story is written in such a way that you find yourself wanting to reach through the books and slap Rosa and Weston at times. Their romance has many bumps along the road and a lot of times it had to do with their own stupidity. I loved that the heroine was a Mexican girl. It very rare that the main characters are of a different ethnicity and I enjoyed reading more about her culture, beauty and character! There is also a touch of suspense to add to this great historical! I loved this book and I look forward to reading more by this new author!!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

Celebrate with Regina by entering to win a Kindle Fire and coming to her Author Chat Party on 3/27!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/26/12. Winner will be announced at Regina's Author Chat Facebook Party on 3/27. Regina will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and some beautiful silver jewerly!

So grab your copy of Sixty Acres and a Bride and join Regina and friends on the evening of March 27th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!