April Erwin's Blog, page 5

Christmas Book Signing!

Hey KC Metro area Peeps, I'm doing another book signing this Saturday, Dec 5th from 9-4 at Living Hope Restoration Branch on S Crysler. There will be a lot of amazing vendors there with me, like Angel's Divine Designs, Paper Moon art and Bread of Life Bakery just to name a few, so be sure to stop in. Don't forget to share this with your friends so they can come too. 

Holiday Bazaar Book Signing!

Want to have fun this weekend? Hang out with the friends, or the family? Want a place that includes kids? I have just the place for you if you live in the Kansas City Metro area.

C.P.R.S. Yuletide Treasures Christmas Bazaar 819 W. Waldo Ave, Indep. MO 64050Saturday, November 21,201510 a.m. - 5 pm
Join me for my first book signing this year. Get autographed copies of Justice Burning or Dysfunction Junction at more than 30% off retail. Talk about a great Christmas gift, right? I'll have lots of bonus things on hand as well, so be sure to come by and visit.


I'm proud to say may sister Angel will also be there with her hand crafted and personally designed jewelry. She has TALENT people! I love wearing her bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Her booth will be right next to mine, prepare to be blown away. :)



The Bazaar will have a gift wrapping station, a Craft Cabin for the kiddos, a cafe with delicious treats and of course lots of great shopping. You can see more at the Facebook Event page.



Come have fun and help support my high school Alma mater. I look forward to visiting with you all. :)

CFBA: Hand-Me-Down Princess by Carol Moncado

Song Stuck on the Brain: Shake it Off by Taylor Swift
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
Hand Me Down Princess CANDID Publications (August 31, 2015)
by
Carol Moncado


MY TAKE:

I've found a new favorite author! If you haven't followed my blog long enough to see me host National Princess Week and National Prince Week, or blather on about my favorite princess and fairy tale books, then let me just catch you up. I love a good Fairy Tale romance come to life - be there magic or not. The Princess by Lori Wick has always been one of my favorites, but Carol Moncado has just taken the tiara with her new book Hand-Me-Down Princess, the first book in The Brides of Belles Montagnes series. 

What started out as a sweet re-imagining of the commoner and the prince arranged marriage (which is enough to get me hooked), quickly ramped up to include a pretty massive royal secret. The surprises were well crafted and believable, I love a good surprise ending. :)  Prince Mal and Jessabelle have an amazingly intricate story to tell with a strong faith filled message underlying it all. 

So now that I'm totally smitten with Prince Mal and hooked on the royal family, I'm anxious to know what happens next. You will be too, so get Winning the Queen's Heart , book 2, available now on Amazon.com to keep the princess party going. It's on my TBR list now.  

Carol's series The Montevaro Monarchy is the trilogy that came first and introduces many of the characters in this new Brides of Belles Montagnes series. You can download the first book, Good Enough for a Princess for free, or download the full three book series as an eBook package here . (These too have been added to my TBR digital stack)

If you love my fellow Missourian author's writing as much as I do, you should also check out her  CANDID Romance series.  Finding Mr. Write , book 1, is also free.


 ABOUT THE BOOK

Prince Malachi Van Renssalaer of Mevendia is getting married. The problem? He’s never even met his bride. His father arranged everything, right down to the marriage contract. Malachi swears to himself that he will be nothing like his father in the ways that count - including his fidelity to his wife.

Jessabelle Keller would happily spend her entire life in obscurity, but her father once saved the life of a future king. Before he dies, her father is committed to seeing that king make good on his promise to have one of his sons marry her so she would be taken care of for life.

No sooner than Prince Malachi and Jessabelle return from their honeymoon, they find themselves dealing with both private trauma and the very public drama of groundless accusations from the press. Just as they begin to weave their fragile trust back together, a ghost from the king’s past arrives and threatens everything they’ve ever held dear.

Secrets have a funny way of coming out and this one could rip the faith of the country in their leaders to shreds. Malachi is determined to protect Jessabelle no matter what it takes, but will it ever be enough for her to not feel like a Hand-Me-Down Princess?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hand Me Down Princess, go HERE.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

When she’s not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband, four kids, and a dog who weighs less than most hard cover books. She prefers watching NCIS to just about anything, except maybe watching Castle, or Girl Meets World with her kids. She believes peanut butter M&Ms are the perfect food and Dr. Pepper should come in an IV. When not watching her kids – and the dog – race around her big backyard in Southwest Missouri, she’s teaching American Government at a local community college. She’s a founding member and President of MozArks ACFW, category coordinator for First Impressions, blogger at InspyRomance, and represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency.

The Winter Holiday Celebrations Begin!

A Winter Holiday Celebration
Solstice Publishing proudly presents these offerings from our extremely talented authors. Each has created an upbeat story celebrating holidays all around the world. And those authors themselves are an international group. Settle in and discover these fabulous tales about many holidays coming to all countries, all nationalities.
https://youtu.be/9Hzyad5sG24
A Winter Holiday Anthology
Ten stories about holiday celebrations from a multinational group of authors. From a Hanukkah celebration to a young woman taking her duties as St. Lucia in Scandinavia seriously—two military members make St. Nicholas day memorable while a lonely woman takes a cruise. Volunteering to help out the local fire department ignites feelings between a couple and a mischievous granddaughter gets her grandmother into hot water when the child sends out a love potion through the mail. A pagan child learns to enjoy the holidays with her Christian neighbors while an enlightened fly observes a Hindu festival of lights. Finally, a woman’s family rejoices in her life as she passes to another plane while a young daughter of vineyard owners yearns for a dog.
Check out A Volunteer Christmas, a Heroes in Justice story in this anthology!  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B017T7C694
Holiday NovellaRiona’s life of self-doubt stranded her in an abusive marriage with four small children to raise. Her children and a successful career in the Air Force made her life bearable. She needed out—and Fate handed her a way.
Once, when she was younger, there was a man she thought good until he stood her up. She had no way of knowing that he had endured a bad marriage and a bitter divorce, leaving a teenaged daughter in the middle. He had never forgotten Riona.
Both their hearts were hurting. Fate would help them heal.


http://bookgoodies.com/a/B017T7C694
Sweet Christmas Romances
Four of our romance authors, Susanne Matthews, P.A. Estelle, E.B. Sullivan, and K.C. Sprayberry present to you sweet tales of this holiday season. From a grandmother protecting tradition, to a woman rediscovering the magic of Christmas; from a woman in financial straits discovering that Santa Claus does exist for adults to a couple overcoming adversity to present a beautiful rendition of Silent night—we will give you stories that will overcome those long days spent shopping or preparing meals.
https://youtu.be/-a0j5GCmhUk

Her Christmas Hero
http://bookgoodies.com/a/B017TGEVAC
The Ornament
http://bookgoodies.com/a/B017TGEV8E
Christmas Escapehttp://bookgoodies.com/a/B017TGEV9I
An Angel Sang Tonighthttp://bookgoodies.com/a/B017T8X2TG
What can you do while standing in line to pay for your holiday purchases? Two of our very talented authors present you with shorts that will allow you to enjoy the wait rather than become frustrated. And you don’t need your Kindle along, Amazon provides a free app for most smart phones!

Say Hi For Mehttp://bookgoodies.com/a/B017TBSDYC

The Decorator
http://bookgoodies.com/a/B017TA5HUQ

Finally, what would Christmas be without dessert—the candy, confections, cakes, puddings, and pies? A lucky thirteen of our authors are sharing their favorites with you, and the cost of this cookbook that could become one of your most treasured treats is absolutely nothing. It’s free on the Solstice Publishing website!

This book is a gift from Solstice Publishing to our fans. Grab your free copy now!

http://solsticepublishing.com/winter-holiday-desserts/

Click on the links, discover an escape from the holiday shopping madness, discover a new author to help you relax after a long day, present your family with a beautiful dessert that may soon become a tradition.


We at Solstice Publishing wish you Happy Holidays!

CFBA: A Father's Second Chance by Mindy Oberhaus

Song Stuck on the Brain: Cheerleader - the Pentatonix cover

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
A Father's Second Chance Love Inspired (July 21, 2015) by Mindy Oberhaus


MY TAKE: 

I enjoyed Mindy Oberhaus' newest release so much, I submitted a write in vote for A Father's Second Chance in the Romance Category for Goodreads Choice Awards 2015. If that doesn't say it loudly enough, let me try again. I really, really enjoyed this book! lol

Gage is the kind of man women dream of, the fact he is a single dad that is devoted to his girls only adds to the appeal. The relationship that develops between Celeste and Gage is sweet and expected in all the right ways, but that doesn't lessen the appeal or mean there aren't some great little surprises along the way. It's everything a good romance is meant to be, leaving you warm, fuzzy and feeling full of hope at the end. Exactly the way it should. Don't pass this one up.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Businesswoman Celeste Thompson has one goal: to make her restaurant and hotel a success. She doesn't need any distractions, even from handsome contractor Gage Purcell and his two adorable little girls. Besides, single dad Gage is just biding his time before a big job at the mines comes through. But as Celeste's project springs to life, their arguments transform into attraction. Gage isn't looking for romance, especially not with another career-driven woman like his ex-wife. But openhearted Celeste is more than just another work-consumed client. She might just be his happily-ever-after.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Father's Second Chance, go HERE.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from the Author: To steal a line from Donny and Marie, I’m a little bit country, a little bit rock-n-roll. I’m trapped in the city, but prefer the country or the mountains.

I love Jesus, my family, and just about anything sweet.

I believe Jesus died for my sins, rose three days later, and will one day return. He has carried me through some of my darkest hours. Without faith in Him, I would be nowhere.

I have a penchant for chocolate, clothes, and shoes. When I’m not penning romance novels, I enjoy cooking, decorating and shopping.

Dysfunction Junction is Back and the Makeover is complete

 Song Stuck on the Brain: Baa Baa Black Sheep Have You Any Wool?  This would be thanks to the ice cream truck that drove by playing the catchy little tune. :)

Have you heard the good news? Dysfunction Junction's re-release is now available! Order it in ebook or paperback to suit your tastes. Check it out here:  getBook.at/DysfunctionJunctionSF


Thanks to a great response, Dysfunction Junction debuted at #266 on Kindle's Christian Women's Fiction list. (Trust me, that's a GREAT start.) You all made that happen and you can help it climb by sharing this with friends.


I love the new cover I was able to choose with Solstice, it's a great peek at the humor and drama waiting inside. If you're new to my writing, be sure to check out the sidebar to the right for book trailers for all my books. 
For all my local readers, I have two upcoming book signings. Stop in and chat, get an autographed paperback, and loads of other fun goodies. See you all there!
* Saturday, November 21, 2015 at CPRS in Independence, MO at the Christmas Bazaar.from 10am-5pm. 
* Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Living Hope Restoration Branch in Independence, MO at the Centerplace Crafter's Guild's Christmas Fair from 9am-4pm. 

CFBA: Firefly Summer by Kathleen Y'Barbo

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
Firefly Summer Redbud Press (June 23, 2015)by Kathleen Y'Barbo

MY TAKE:

Another romantic hit from Kathleen Y'Barbo. When I see her name, I can guarantee it's going to be worth my time. Firefly Summer didn't disappoint. There are so many layers to this story, each well developed character connecting and interacting; leading each other to find love and forgiveness in so many different ways. It's such a beautiful glimpse of life, with all it's various tragedies, and how God can turn all things for good - often through the touch of another life also seeking healing.  Y'Barbo has done an admirable job weaving a story that focuses on hope. Despite it's heavier undertones, love wins out over tragedy. A truly satisfying endeavor.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A new cowboy romance from award-winning author Kathleen Y'Barbo.

Trey’s biggest challenge isn’t performing surgery…it’s restoring Sessa’s heart!

Artist Sessa Chambers may never recover from losing her prodigal son. Even as she grieves the tragic decisions that led to his death, and left her with a toddler to raise, she’s asked to work on her dream project—restoring carousel horses for the Smithsonian. But she can’t do it on her own…

Dr. Trey Brown can’t pick up a scalpel again. Yes, he acted in self-defense, but the events of that awful night haunt him. He was trained to save lives, not take them. When he goes to the young man’s widowed mother to apologize, she’s not at all what he expected. For one thing, she’s not as alone as he thought—not with the fearsome ladies of the Pies, Books, and Jesus Book Club in her corner. For another, she’s beautiful, and being in her presence is more jolting than any eight-second bronco ride from his former rodeo days. Before he knows it, she’s captured his heart as easily as they capture the fireflies gracing Sessa’s Texas ranch.

How can they overcome their past to embrace a future together?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Firefly Summer, go HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

RITA and Carol award nominee Kathleen Y’Barbo is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than forty novels, novellas, and young adult books. In all, more than one million copies of her books are currently in print in the US and abroad, and her books have been translated into Dutch, German, and Spanish, to name a few.

Kathleen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She holds a BBA from Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School and a certification in Paralegal Studies, and is a former member of the Texas Bar Association’s Paralegal Division.

A tenth-generation Texan, Kathleen Y’Barbo has four children of her own as well as seven bonus kids she gladly inherited when she married her own hero in combat boots (read about their real-life romance here!). Kathleen is proud to be a military wife, even if it did mean giving up her Texas drivers license.

CFBA: The Bones Will Speak by Carrie Stuart Parks

Song Stuck on the Brain: Age of Aquarius by The 5th Dimension. I have NO idea why. :)


This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
The Bones Will SpeakThomas Nelson (August 11, 2015) byCarrie Stuart Parks
MY TAKE:

Wow, does Carrie Stuart Parks know how to hook a reader and keep them short of breath!

As a huge fan of shows like Bones, NCIS, CSI:NY, and other numerous crime shows, this book caught my interest right away. As a fan of Brandilyn Collins' Hidden Faces Series and Dee Henderson's O'Malley series, I knew it had big shoes to fill. Parks held her own admirably and I would say the shoe fit.

What more can I say that won't give away too much? I hate to ruin a good suspense! This is book 2 in a series. A Cry from the Dust (A Gwen Marcey Novel Book 1) released in August 2014. I haven't read this one yet, but it has me intrigued, I'll be checking it out for sure. 

There are a lot of crime shows/books these days, but I love those that focus in on the science and forensics. When a book can present the science accurately, in an engaging manner and keep the story at a good pace, you have a winner. Parks did all that and added an extra splash of intensity that sets the bar a little higher for the books to follow. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

A killer with a penchant for torture has taken notice of forensic expert Gwen Marcey . . . and her daughter.
When Gwen Marcey’s dog comes home with a human skull and then leads her to a cabin in the woods near her Montana home, she realizes there’s a serial killer in her community. And when she finds a tortured young girl clinging to life on the cabin floor, she knows this killer is a lunatic.

Yet what unsettles Gwen most is that the victim looks uncannily like her daughter. The search for the torturer leads back in time to a neo-Nazi bombing in Washington state—a bombing with only one connection to Montana: Gwen. The group has a race-not-grace model of salvation . . . and they’ve marked Gwen as a race traitor. When it becomes clear that the killer has a score to settle, Gwen finds herself in a battle against time. She will have to use all of her forensic skills to find the killer before he can carry out his threat to destroy her—and the only family she has left.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Bones Will Speak, go HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carrie Stuart Parks is an award-winning fine artist and internationally known forensic artist. Along with her husband, Rick, she travels across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement as well as civilian participants. She has won numerous awards for career excellence. Carrie is a popular platform speaker, presenting a variety of topics from crime to creativity.

Animals have always been a large part of her life. Her parents, Ned and Evelyn Stuart, started Skeel Kennel Great Pyrenees in 1960. Carrie inherited the kennel and continues with her beloved dogs as both an AKC judge and former president of the Great Pyrenees Club of America. She lives on the same ranch she grew up on in Northern Idaho.

Octoberfest Scavenger Hunt - win Free books!

October is just moments away and what does that mean? Autumn, crisp air, pumpkin spice lattes and FREE BOOKS! Solstice Publishing is celebrating with OctoberFest. Kicking it off is a ONE DAY ONLY event on October 1st - A Scavenger Hunt! Visit Solstice to find the links to different Solstice author's sites each website offers a joke. Collect the answers to all the jokes and email them to Kate.Solstice@hotmail.com to be entered to win. The first 3 with all the correct answers win the great prizes shown below - including my novel, Justice Burning, in the First Prize pack.




There will  also be free books available for download everyday from 10/1-10/5 at amazon.com. Check out the list below. 

These fun deals are really to great to keep to yourself, so be sure to share them with everyone you know. It's a Free for All, Funfest Fall!

CSFF: The First Principle by Marissa Shrock

Song Stuck on the Brain: O Worship the King, traditional hymn. It's been running through my head for days. :)

The First Principle  
by
Marissa Shrock


MY TAKE:

Marissa Shrock has written a gripping new YA novel that puts a unique spin on the dystopian genre. It's a bold look at a very possible near future. Some might say at first look that the premise is ridiculous, but I think the author has visualized a very realistic possible future, if our country doesn't remember the principles we were founded on. Is it a political statement? Absolutely, and that is part of what gives the story it's suspenseful, edgy feel. It's more than just politics though, it's also a story of love and discovery. Regardless of where you stand on political issues such as the Right to Life and Government Control, this is a story worth pursuing. Let it stir your emotions. Get angry, get sad, fall in love with it or not; whatever your final decision, it's guaranteed to make you think bigger and deeper about life. For me? I loved it. Great job, Marissa. I look forward to more.

Be sure to check out the author's website , at the time of posting, she's offering her free short story, "The Abduction", when signing up for her mailing list.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

In the not-too-distant future, the United Regions of North America has formed. Governors hold territories instead of states, and while Washington, DC, is gone, the government has more control than ever before. For sixteen-year-old Vivica Wilkins, the daughter of a governor, this is life as usual. High school seems pretty much the same–until one day, that controlling power steps right through the door during study hall.

When Vivica speaks out to defend her pregnant friend against the harsh treatment of Population Management Officer Martina Ward, she has no idea she’s sowing the seeds of a revolution in her own life. But it isn’t long before she discovers her own illegal pregnancy. Now she has to decide whether to get the mandatory termination–or follow her heart, try to keep the baby, and possibly ruin her mother’s chances at becoming president.

A rebel group called the Emancipation Warriors, who are fighting to restore freedoms once held unalienable, offer her asylum. Can Vivica trust these rebels to help her or will they bring everything crashing down around her? Accepting their help may come with consequences she isn’t ready to face.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Marissa Shrock is a writer and language arts teacher who enjoys working with her fun seventh grade students. She is a graduate of Taylor University and has completed the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Apprentice, Journeyman, and Craftsman courses. She is a member of ACFW.

 Marissa has written articles for teens and adults in Evangel and Encounter. The First Principle is her debut novel.

 In her spare time Marissa loves spending time with family and friends, shopping for cute clothes, traveling, baking, and playing golf.


VISIT THE OTHER TOUR MEMBERS:

Julie Bihn
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
Victor Gentile
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Megan @ Hardcover Feedback
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Jalynn Patterson
Chawna Schroeder
Jessica Thomas

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.