Friday, October 30, 2020

It's Never Too Late To Find Love in Seasoned by Jayme H. Mansfield!!!

Seasoned is a timeless love for the ages.

Two years after the death of her husband, Essie White continues to battle loneliness. Her romance-writing daughter suggests that her mother try online dating. Essie pushes back. True, soul-level love, only comes along once. Still, some male companionship would help pass the days.

Widower Lou Rizzo isn’t seeking love, either. He's seen the horrors of war and the heartbreak of loss that follows when death rips apart a relationship. Once in a lifetime is enough. Still, a little companionship would help pass the days. Using an alias to safeguard his identity, he reluctantly accepts his friend’s dare and posts his profile on the dating site.

Essie and Lou meet, and their initial attraction soon develops into a friendship neither wants to lose. Lou, however, must confess his part in a decades-old incident that he feels Essie will not understand or be able to forgive. She, too, harbors secrets that may jeopardize their future together.

As the relationship grows, each must decide whether to reveal the truth about their past mistakes. Will fears and regrets ruin their chance to love again? 

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Finally, a story with an older couple!!! The premise sounds intriguing and I'm definitely going to get a copy to read. There are several ways to do that right now. Amazon has the e-book for only .99!!! And if you have KU (Kindle Unlimited) it's FREE to read. This purchase link doesn't help me out in any way. I'm just sharing it to make it easy for YOU to go and grab a copy!!!
Just click here >>> AMAZON
Always double check the price though ;) 


I joined the Just Reads Publicity Quote Tour on Facebook and I just had to share it here. 

I mean...Really??? How sweet is this scene?! I could totally picture it in my head. Let me know if you decide to read Seasoned by Jayme H Mansfield. I'd love to hear your thoughts. 



Thursday, October 29, 2020

Review + Giveaway ~ Something Borrowed: Christmas Weddings Collection by Toni Shiloh, Jaycee Weaver, Mikal Dawn, Andrea Boyd, and Teresa Tysinger


Old friends, new loves, and a borrowed tiara.

Always Been Yours by Jaycee Weaver — Hanady's planning her dream wedding, but herinjured best friend Keenan isn't the groom. If she can't see she's marrying the wrong guy soon, his leg won't be the only thing broken. 



All the Moore by Toni Shiloh — Leilah Anderson has been living behind the screen to hide her disability, then she meets Reggie Moore face-to-face. Can their relationship survive the truth and distance between them?




A Holly, Bolly Christmas by Mikal Dawn — A dream wedding venue at Christmas? Sign Chahna Kapoor up. Even if her fiancé doesn’t know it…



Somehow, This Christmas by Teresa Tysinger — When not-so-merry mishaps threaten wedding planner Cate Forsyth's holiday wedding and reputation, will her own happily ever after with sweetheart Noah Bennett melt away?



A Promise So Sweet by Andrea Boyd — Lydia Osborn hasn't heard from her ex in ten years, so imagine her surprise when he shows up proposing marriage. Tis the season for love?



PURCHASE: Amazon (only .99 right now)


My Review

4 STARS!!!

I’m a huge fan of collections. They’re a great way to be introduced to authors. These five novellas follow six friends as they pass along a beautiful wedding tiara one-to-the-other, and of course they each get married at Christmastime.

I enjoyed the friendship dynamic between the girls. You could tell they had genuine relationships by their affection for each other, clothed in honesty and encouragement. A couple of the novellas stood out a little more to me because of a deeper faith element and each author brings skill to the table which caused my heart to sigh. I recommend this collection to contemporary romance fans who like mild to moderate faith themes sprinkled throughout.

I received an electronic copy of the book from one of the authors. No review was required. No compensation has been received.


GIVEAWAY

I'm giving away ONE Kindle edition of the collection because I'm sure you're going to enjoy a few hours with these lovely friends.

ONE RULE:

Leave a comment that includes your email in a non-spammy format (jane at doe dot com)so I have a way of contacting you if you win. 

Extra Entry:

You'll get an extra entry if you follow thru GFC (in the right sidebar). Let me know in the comments if you do this. 

Ends Monday Nov 2. If you can receive a Kindle book, you can enter the giveaway internationally. I don't know if this one is available worldwide though.

~Happy Reading, Y'all~

Friday, October 23, 2020

Social Blitz ~ Rush by Jayme H. Mansfield w/ Giveaway



Be caught up in your own rush across the vast prairielands in this frontier tale.


*Purchase:


About RUSH by Jayme H. Mansfield

MARY LOUISA ROBERTS won the race of a lifetime—or so she thought.
Based on a true family story, Rush provides a tension-filled and moving tale of a pioneer woman’s determination to survive. In competition with desperate homesteaders, ruthless land seekers, and a sheriff determined to see her fail, Mary rides out on a horse to strike her claim in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1893. When she finally thrusts her flag in to the dirt, 160 acres becomes her own. But with that claim, she risks more than she ever imagines. A naïve school teacher and young mother, Mary is faced with letting go of the past and trusting God with her future, or submitting to a life of bitterness and defeat.

Daniel McKenzie, an illustrative journalist sent on assignment to document the race, has his own past to forget. Together, he and Mary must choose to persevere and find hope in the far-reaching and wild plains of the Midwest.

Novelist Jayme H. Mansfield weaves historical fact, high-impact fiction, and vivid imagery in a story that pays tribute to those whose pioneer spirit helped shape America.

GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive Rush Original Art Notecards (set of 8 blank cards), Rush bookmark, and one Jayme H. Mansfield original floral art mask. (US only)


Enter giveaway below



*Affiliate links belong to JustReadTours


Have a blessed day, Y'all!!!

~John 1:12~ 
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, 
he gave the right to become children of God.”

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Guest Post ~ Teresa Tysinger, multi-published author + Bookmark Giveaway

Behind-The-Scenes of Collection Writing

By Teresa Tysinger

I often hear from readers that they most enjoy hearing about the behind-the-scenes life of authors. What goes into creating the stories printed on pages (or screens for you eBook readers), methods of researching, what gets left on the cutting room floor, or even what snacks a writer keeps on hand while drafting.

Today, I thought I’d share some behind-the-scenes stuff of collection writing. It’s particularly fitting since today I’m celebrating the release of Something Borrowed: Christmas Weddings Collection along with authors Jaycee Weaver, Toni Shiloh, Mikal Dawn, and Andrea Boyd! More on this sweet collection later on.

Collections are quite popular these days. Usually consisting of between three and six novellas, these sets give authors the opportunity to write stories connected by one location, theme, or holiday. The novellas in the Something Borrowed collection are connected by five friends who pass along a special “something borrowed” over the course of a few years as they each plan their Christmas weddings.

But how do these collections come to be? What are the challenges? And will I ever do one again? Maybe you’ll be surprised by the answers…

The Birth of a Collection

For us, the idea for the collection came about much like our individual books. We brainstormed ideas that interested us—themes and topics we personally enjoy in life and while reading. So, we landed on Christmas and weddings! After settling on the main theme, we brainstormed in our Facebook group how the stories might further be connected. After throwing around a lot of ideas, someone suggested that sharing a “something borrowed” could easily connect friends who lived in different states and were getting married in different years. It allowed us to keep our own preferred settings, which was nice! We then submitted a synopsis for each of our stories before beginning to write.

From there, we write our stories and go through our individual editing processes. As indie authors, we also worked together on deciding on the cover design (which I was excited to get to execute), schedule of pre-orders and release, marketing (Toni has done a lot of the organizing for this area!), and final push to promote to our communities of readers. It’s a big job made easier with a team!

Ups and Downs of Collection Writing

I think it’s safe to speak for my team of writers when I say that the challenges for us were very minimal. Jaycee, Toni, Mikal, and Andrea really have become dear friends. Thankfully, after countless conversations, back-and-forth text messages, lots of (constructive) critiquing of one another’s stories, and keeping up with lots of little deadlines, we’ve come out of it better friends than when we started. I think it’s also safe to say, however, that the biggest challenge we ran into had to do with little details. Deciding to connect our stories with even a loose tie of the “something borrowed,” made it difficult to keep our timelines straight and make sure references to each other’s characters was accurate. Thank goodness for the editing process!

Recently, a reader asked me if collection writing falls into the category of “too many cooks in the kitchen.” Without a doubt, it can be more challenging to settle on even little details when there are five opinions to consider. The five of us had to come to a consensus on things like fonts for the cover design, how to format chapter headings, and even the name of the bridal shop the friends visit in the opening of the collection. Thankfully, for us, there wasn’t anything we wholeheartedly disagreed on.

Will I Ever Write in a Collection Again?

I mentioned in an interview recently that I am naturally not a team player. I was one of those kids in school who hated group projects. I still am most comfortable working alone. But—and this is a big but—I cannot tell you how much this process has blessed me.

Thanks to this particular group of authors, I now have true friends who I cherish more for their hearts than for their professional connections. God willing, I don’t think this will be the last time I write with these brilliant, funny, kind women. The experience has been so positive that I look forward to possible opportunities to write within other collection groups, too. For this, I am most grateful to Jaycee, Toni, Mikal, and Andrea for creating such a positive experience.

It’s been a joy to chat with you! I hope this gives you a little insight into how a collection comes together. Do you have other questions about the process? Post a comment and I’d be happy to answer the best I can!

About Something Borrowed: Christmas Weddings Collection 


AVAILABLE NOW in Paperback and eBook [buy link: https://amzn.to/3dDQBK7]

Old friends, new loves, and a borrowed tiara.

Always Been Yours by Jaycee Weaver — Hanady’s planning her dream wedding, but her injured best friend Keenan isn’t the groom. If she can’t see she’s marrying the wrong guy soon, his leg won’t be the only thing broken.

All the Moore by Toni Shiloh — Leilah Anderson has been living behind the screen to hide her disability, then she meets Reggie Moore face-to-face. Can their relationship survive the truth and distance between them?

A Holly, Bolly Christmas by Mikal Dawn — A dream wedding venue at Christmas? Sign Chahna Kapoor up. Even if her fiancé doesn’t know it…

Somehow, This Christmas by Teresa Tysinger — When not-so-merry mishaps threaten wedding planner Cate Forsyth’s holiday wedding and reputation, will her own happily ever after with sweetheart Noah Bennett melt away?

A Promise So Sweet by Andrea Boyd — Lydia Osborn hasn’t heard from her ex in ten years, so imagine her surprise when he shows up proposing marriage. Tis the season for love?

Follow the Authors:

Jaycee Weaver: Website  Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads  Instagram  Bookbub

Toni Shiloh: Website  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Goodreads  Bookbub

Mikal Dawn: Website  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Goodreads  Bookbub

Teresa Tysinger: Website  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Goodreads  Bookbub

Andrea Boyd: Website  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Goodreads  Bookbub

GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment for Teresa and the other authors in this collection! Also, leave your email in a non-spammy format (jane at doe dot com), and I will send ONE handmade bookmark to a winner next week.  US ONLY (lower 48) Giveaway ends 10/24/20

***Bookmark may be different in style/color than the one pictured.***



Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Rebecca Reviews ~ The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant

 

Paperback336 pages
Published October 13th 2020 by Fleming H. Revell Company

(Goodreads)

The only thing Bri Duval loves more than baking petit fours is romance. So much so, she's created her own version of the famous Parisian lovelock wall at her bakery in Story, Kansas. She never expects it to go viral--or for Trek Magazine to send travel writer Gerard Fortier to feature the bakery. He's definitely handsome, but Bri has been holding out for a love story like the one her parents had, and that certainly will not include the love-scorned-and-therefore-love-scorning Gerard.

Just when it seems Bri's bakery is poised for unprecedented success, a series of events threaten not just her business but the pedestal she's kept her parents on all these years. Maybe Gerard is right about romance. Or maybe Bri's recipe just needs to be tweaked.

Novelist Betsy St. Amant invites you to experience this sweet story of how love doesn't always look the way we expect--and maybe that's a good thing.

Purchase:
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Rebecca's Review

3.5 stars

"The only thing Bri Duval loved more than romance was a perfectly executed French macaron."

Working with sweets all day in a small town bakery keeps Bri Duval thinking about . . . . . well naturally, she thinks about sweets, leaving it up to her iconic aunts to share in Story, Kansas' actual matchmaking duties. . . . . until, they hit the big leagues with a nearly love-at-first-sight story that goes viral. Now the whole world (actually, maybe just part of the whole world) knows about Bri's little version of a Parisian love-lock wall tucked conveniently behind the Pastry Puff.

The social media buzz about the Kansas love-lock wall draws the attention of a Chicago based travel magazine, whose editor decides to send one of his best journalists (who just happens to be a confirmed bachelor) on location to write a feature article about Bri and the infamous wall. All preconceived notions about the keys to love go flying out the door the moment Gerard Fortier comes sauntering up to Bri's counter, complaining about the coffee. He's handsome, he's blunt, he dares to call her "cupcake", but can she deem him friend or foe? Will the power of Gerard's words sway public opinion, for unfortunately the future of the Pastry Puff hangs in the balance.

This sweet little story has its hiccups, but that's simply what they were . . . leaving plenty of room for deeper, more significant themes to shine through the ups and downs of everyday life in a delightful fictional town. It's the sort of book that improves with every page and ultimately satisfies one's longing for a happily-ever-after that doesn't have to be perfect.

" . . . there was an unfinished story lingering in the back of his mind . . . . Theirs."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

Senior Reviewer, Rebecca Maney

Rebecca is a graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Christian Education, and is currently serving at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina as the Director of Children's Ministry. With over 30 years of experience in her field, she has had many opportunities to use her love of reading and writing in creative ways across the generations. A wife, mother of four "nearly" grown children, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, Rebecca has been able to return to her love of reading and more recently reviewing, with a renewed passion for the "beauty of story".