Vanessa Hall's Blog, page 18
September 19, 2022
Preorder News + Interview: Grace A. Johnson, Author of Bound and Determined
Today beings the preorders for Bound and Determined! If you haven’t heard about this historical epic by Grace Johnson, let me just share the blurb with you. 
Port Royal, Jamaica
1686
A wicked twist of fate—or perhaps the hand of God—has landed Captain Rina Bennet in the most precarious situation yet. When her husband and the father of her twin boys leaves at the behest of a family friend, she is left to take charge of the ship she has not sailed on in two years, alongside her two toddlers. She finds herself between a rock and a hard place when her first voyage drastically turns into a rescue mission, leaving her to the ghosts of her old life.
Daisy Sharow has risked it all by escaping from her owner’s tavern in search of her sister. Following God’s direction, she seeks out the only person she trusts to help her: Keaton Clarke. When Daisy stows away aboard the Rina, quartermaster Keaton is faced with a ghost from his past and a decision neither he nor Rina are prepared to make.
Rina has to make a judgment call when the ghosts come knocking, a call that could mean either life or death—for both an innocent girl and herself. Can Daisy, Keaton, and Rina band together to save Daisy’s sister…or is the risk too great?
Doesn’t that just sound riveting? So much intrigue! And if you preorder the book, you get all kinds of goodies. Check out the info below!
Preorder Perks!Start date: September 19th, 2022
End date: November 17th, 2022
Preorder price: $2.99
Availability: Kindle ebook on Amazon
Preorder goodies:
Character art of Daisy, the heroineA flash fiction piece sure to make you tear upSeveral bonus scenes for the extended endingA printable recipe cardAn excerpt of the first few chaptersPrintable bookmarksCharacter aesthetics + access to the Pinterest boardsAn exclusive instrumental soundtrack + access to the chaotic Spotify playlistDownloadable desktop/phone wallpapersAND a free entry into my EPIC giveaway, coming soon! (Giveaway will be available only in the US.)Eligibility: Readers who have preordered a Kindle copy of Bound and Determined through Amazon, and who have submitted their proof of purchase through the preorder receipt form. No age limit. Available for US and international readers.
Form link: https://forms.gle/sU4vPsFhDX8RtGNHA
All readers who submit their proof of purchase of a BAD preorder will receive the goodies above in a digital prize package in their inbox! Naturally, they must share their email address to receive their prize, and other than that, their purchase receipt, and their name, no other information is required!
And now, I have the great honor of interviewing the author herself. This is actually part one of the interview, so stay tuned for the release of Bound and Determined for the second half.
VH: Hi, Grace, and welcome back to the blog! I am so excited to have you on today, because that means Bound and Determined is now available for preorder!!
GJ: I am SO excited to be here, Vanessa! I know you’ve got some great (*coughs* and spoilery) questions for me, and I can’t wait to get into them!
And YES! After three years since the release of Prisoner at Heart (book two) in October of 2019, I am FINALLY releasing Bound and Determined, and I am just beyond amazed at how long—I mean, how far this story has come!
I’m actually running the funnest (it’s totally a word) preorder campaign (for the first time) for BAD, which means anyone who preorders HERE will receive an epic (at least I think so) prize pack that includes character art, a printable recipe card featuring Rina’s favorite drink (and don’t worry, it’s nonalcoholic *winks*), an extended ending, and more!
VH:Starting off, did you know what direction Bound and Determined would take when you first started writing it? What initially inspired the main premise?
GJ: Well, this is a long story, so I’ll try and summarize it as much as I can, but we have to go back to the original Seven Seas series to get the full experience. When I outlined my first pirate series (which didn’t have a name, of course), I had given Xavier a sister. Naturally, that sister needed a story, so I invented a character named Keaton Clarke to be her love interest!
Fast forward to my revised version of this series, beginning with Held Captive as we all know it now, and Keaton had solidified his place in my storyworld, although Xavier’s sister had been discarded. When HC released and it came time to brainstorm the next two books in the series, I asked my dentist at the time (who is also a writer) if he had any ideas or suggestions.
A couple of them I was already planning on using (*coughs* for the spin-off series), but one in particular caught my eye: have something cause Rina to reconsider piracy.
And Bound and Determined was born! At the time, it looked nothing like it does now.
My heroine was Keaton’s childhood friend in search of her sister, yes…but she was also a pirate and an enemy of Rina.
It must have been when I was in the early stages of Prisoner at Heart that I scrapped this idea and went through a long, arduous, chaotic process of redeveloping Bound and Determined and replacing my pirate heroine with one entirely different: Daisy Sharow.
When I finally started writing BAD, I thought I had a pretty good idea of where the story would go. After all, I had all my plot points down pat and knew I had a strong premise.
But after Keaton, Daisy, and Xavier all gave me HUGE fits, I had to do some reevaluating, and most of that was done as I wrote. In the end, the themes and messages and the romance especially ended up entirely different (aka, a chaotic mess).
So even though, yes, I knew a lot of things about the story and I knew the direction the plot was going in, as I wrote, I discovered so much more about the characters and the story itself than I’d ever even come close to during the outlining stage!
VH: In Bound and Determined , we see Rina as a far different person in a far different role than she was in the first book in the series, Held Captive . How has Rina changed, and how has she stayed the same? Which Rina is easier for you to write?
GJ: Gosh, I love this question. Mainly because I love Rina to pieces and will talk about her all day…but also because this is just such an insightful question. Rina’s arc not only over this series, but over every single book she is in (yes, the spin-off series), is really the main element. Rina is like the Tony Stark or Jack Sparrow of the series, so naturally every book is about her. Not even the romance—you could honestly say it’s a subplot.
But I digress.
In BAD, Rina is probably the most fun she has ever been. She’s this strange combination of young mother, fierce pirate, and meddling old lady—and working with each aspect of her character, weaving them all together, has been pure fun. I think Rina is more herself in BAD than she has ever been, because I am finally getting a real hold on her character. I think I’m finally able to do her justice. And because of that, I’m highlighting some aspects of her that really allude to the old Rina. Her tendency to get whatever she wants whenever she wants. Her fear of failure. Her meddling and sometimes manipulative nature.
But I’m also showcasing how much she’s changed. She has become so dependent—in a good way—on God, her husband, her friends and family. And that has served to really break down her defenses and make her more vulnerable. (That also makes getting reacclimated to being a captain a lot more difficult, but that’s the fun part.) And she’s always had a maternal instinct and a motherly way about her, but that’s really magnified in BAD (and will be further in Book 4), as she’s caring for her boys…both the little ones (her sons) and the big ones (*coughs* Keaton and Julius).
To answer your other question, Rina has always been easy to write. I’ve never struggled with her or her voice at all, because she is (1) so ingrained in me and (2) the first character I’ve ever gotten to know so well. But I didn’t do her justice in HC, so I feel like she’s being written better now…which is making me SO excited to rewrite HC in the future and really explore the old Rina.
VH: In BAD , we get to see Xavier back as an MC. (Yay!) Was it difficult to write his POV again after not writing him for a bit?
GJ: OH MY GOSH YES. Like Rina, I didn’t do Xavier justice in Held Captive. He practically had two personalities—caring Christian and flirtatious rogue—and I, for the life of me, have no idea why I didn’t get a handle on his character and write him consistently.
So returning to his POV in BAD was like writing him for the first time…except I couldn’t revamp his personality or redo his voice because I’d already established him in HC. So it was such a struggle between wanting to improve and wanting to remain consistent.
I also genuinely dislike his character, so there’s that. I plan on changing him a lot in my rewrite of HC—not by robbing him of the qualities that have made readers love him so, but by expounding upon them, exploring them, and fully developing them!
VH: Daisy and Keaton have a pretty tumultuous relationship. What was the hardest part about writing them, and what is your favorite thing about them as a couple?
GJ: HA! Tumultuous is a ginormous understatement—even I know that. Now, if you had asked me this about three or four months ago, I probably could’ve given you a decent answer. But I’m in that stage now, about five months after finishing BAD, where I absolutely hate them, their relationship, how I wrote them…all of it. And I’m second-guessing everything, but I know I have to push through. (Plus I can always change what I need to when I release my revised version this series.)
Is it wrong that I’m going to publish something I have no confidence in and don’t want anyone to read?
Yes.
Am I gonna do anything about it?
…no.
(Why do I remind myself of Rina right now?)
It does help that my AMAZING betas—like the lovely Vanessa—have been so encouraging and have shown me time and time again that BAD doesn’t stink…but I am such a perfectionist, you guys. Everything stinks to me.
ANYWAY. Back to the topic at hand.
I breezed through writing K&D’s relationship (shoot, they need a ship name…) very easily and quickly. #wingedit Mainly because they only have a handful of scenes together, and because they really aren’t the focus of the story. I mean, they are…but they also aren’t. It’s a weird thing I’ve got going on.
So there was no difficulty in the process of writing them. However, I hate it all now.
As for my favorite part…in this stage, it’s probably the hard topics I address in their relationship. Purity, lust, love, faith, all of it. Like, Elliot and Crimson and Rina and Xavier’s relationships were just these sweet, simple romances.
Keaton and Daisy’s isn’t. If anything, it’s an example of how not to do things…but it’s also an example of how God can and will bring good out of our mistakes, our pasts, and our doubts. His plan for us, after all, is not to harm us, but to give us a hope and a future.
So getting to write a relationship that literally breaks ALL the rules (well, except one) of a storybook-style inspirational romance was not only an interesting experience, it was something I needed to do and something others need to read, I think. *shrugs* Y’all judge for yourselves.
VH: How did you approach the very hard but real topics in this book? Why do you think these things should be addressed in Christian fiction?
GJ: I didn’t think about them. That’s how. I knew if I did, I’d doubt myself, doubt God…I’d overthink them and stress about it…I’d get caught up in what he says and what she did and how I should’ve written things.
I just let my characters and God lead the way—and they led me to write about purity and lust, sin and forgiveness, grace and redemption, deliverance and salvation. Sure, I may not have done everything right or by the book, but this isn’t a story about perfection or a how-to book on living life. It’s my characters’ story—and in that respect, it’s reality. At least a fragment of it.
And even though it may seem amateurish to handle topics like sexuality without any research, I feel like it’s purer this way. The only thing that influenced my portrayals is first and foremost God and His Word, and in a small way, my personal experience. (No, I haven’t been through anything like Daisy…but I know what it’s like to feel guilty and hopeless.)
So I studied His Word and just prayed and asked Him over and over to help me, to spreak through me, and that was it. There was still a lot of doubt involved, but there was also a lot of discernment, I guess, because I always went back to what does God say? What does the Bible say? How would Jesus see this? instead of what does the world say? What did other writers do? How would people see this?
And my purpose in writing these things is not to answer questions or solve problems. In fact, quite the opposite. My intention was to create questions. To invoke curiosity and a desire to search out the Word and to seek God’s voice on all these topics.
Hopefully that made sense…maybe. I don’t feel like I ever do. (Y’all should try living in my head if y’all think my writing is rambly.)
And, yes, they definitely should! If Christians—especially writers—won’t stand up for God’s truth (which is Truth) and won’t be actively addressing these topics…worse, if Christians won’t work to reform the society we live in by living in a way that honors God…then who’s doing the influencing? Who’s shaping minds? Who’s putting out their opinions and “truths”? Who’s speaking out?
Satan.
Fortunately, I know of many authors—like Julie Lessman, Tammy L. Gray, and Francine Rivers (controversy aside)—who have heeded the call to be truthful and bold about purity and sexuality, alcoholism, idolatry, etc., and faithfully write about tough real-life struggles from a biblical perspective!
That said, there are still readers who would prefer to have their worldview formed by secular fiction, and readers who think Christian authors who do address these topics are being preachy or too real (which is an oxymoron).
Which is why I look forward to the day where faith-based, God-honoring, moralitisic literature influences the culture, instead of the other way around.
September 16, 2022
Review + Blog Tour: Unfortunate Events by Kaitlyn, Marisa, and Jaiden Phillips
Lies are worn as masks, darkness threatens, and fear spreads like fire.
But when secrets about his teammates are revealed, secrets that could shake Mazleah to its core, Kahtan must decide whether to stand with his team or with his country. Although nothing in Mazleah is ever that simple.
Mazleah has lost its Crowned Prince and the kingdom stands on the edge of ruin. When Kahtan Faber is forced into the King’s army life as he knew it collapses. Thrust onto a team with a brogue-speaking street boy, a secretive lordling, and his hometown bully, Kahtan quickly learns what it means to be alone. As a Blacksmith’s son who has never wielded a blade, he’s nothing more than a failure to those around him.
AmazonGoodreadsMy ReviewUnfortunate Events by Kaytlin Phillips
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
Wow, what a riveting opening to this series! I knew I would enjoy this book, but as I began reading, I just wanted to keep on reading. Definitely a page-turner!
Characters: The cast of this book was probably my favorite part about it. First of all, we have Kahtan, who really just has a rough time of it throughout the book. (Well, and most of the other characters, too.) But Kahtan was a great narrator for this story, and I felt for him so much as he was dragged from his family into this not great situation. However, he really made do with the position he was in. And then there were the rest of the gang: Wixley, Sage, and Gaven. Wixley was probably my least favorite – he and Kahtan had some prior history to sort out – but he really added an interesting twist. Then there was Sage, who was just so much fun. I loved his sense of humor, but he also had deep struggles and such a sad story. And his accent was nicely done! Then there was Gaven … wow. I wasn’t expecting things to turn out the way they did, and I can see the next book being set up in this one. Several other side characters made the book even better: one of my favorites might’ve been Master Finnick, since he had such wise counsel even after he seemed rather rough on the boys. And Maisley was intriguing – she definitely has an interesting side to her!
Writing Style/Setting/Plot: The writing style was very fitting for this type of book. I loved how straightforward it was when necessary, but then there were moments were it was poetic and very descriptive. It was a great balance. And the setting was super interesting! It was medieval, but there were also fantasy elements in there. I loved all the bow and arrows and the special outfits everyone wore. (You can tell I’m an expert, right?) And the plot was full of intrigue – I really liked how things started connecting and coming together. It was so easy to just keep turning the digital pages!
Theme: There were several themes of friendship and dependence on others woven throughout the book. I loved the teamwork and dedication each of the guys had to their group. They started out pretty rough, but the end of the book saw them changed. I also loved how they mentioned God as the Creator, and I can see a big arc coming in Kahtan’s life. I was a little weirded out by the part with the dragons (majorly creepy), but that was not a huge part of the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I’m excited to see what will happen in the next book. If you’re a fan of fantasy, check this one out!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Kaytlin, Marisa, & Jaiden Phillips are a homeschool writing trio of sisters more often known as Sisters Three. They reside in the mountains of Western North Carolina where they spend their time hiking, reading, writing, and spending time with their family.
Kaytlin Phillips is Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction and Fantasy author. She’s a homeschool grad who spends her days praising her Savior, reading, writing, blogging, and annoying her sisters with random thoughts. She is the fifth child out of seven and resides in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
Her favorite hobbies include writing, reading, hiking, theology, history, blogging, ASL, crocheting, doodling, and anything she does with her sisters or family.
Marisa Philips is a teen author, saved by the grace of God! She was born and raised in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. She is the sixth child out of seven, and has been homeschooled her whole life. She likes to write fast paced stories that catch the attention of all and that will hopefully inspire them in a wonderful way.
She enjoys hiking, writing, reading a good fast-paced book, baking, daydreaming, teasing her sisters, and playing with her dog, Ruger.
Connect with her on Pinterest and Goodreads!
Jaiden Phillips is a teen author residing in the mountains of western North Carolina. She has six older siblings and one set of amazing parents!
More often than not you can find her sketching one of her wild ideas, writing out a scene for a book, or giving her sisters a healthy dose of sarcasm.
She enjoys praising her Lord, reading, drawing, writing, hanging out with her sisters and bestie, hiking if there is a destination, and wearing vibrant rainbow-colored things.
Connect with her on Pinterest and Goodreads!
Tour ScheduleMonday, Sept. 12thSisters Three – Blog Tour Launch Announcement
Joy Woodbury – Review and Spotlight
Abbigail Befus – Review and Spotlight
Tuesday, Sept. 13thMadisyn Carlin – Author Interview and Spotlight
Rose Q Addams – Review and Author Interview
Wednesday, Sept. 14thThe Introspective Introvert -Author Interview, Sneak Peek, and Spotlight
Saraina Whitney – Review and Sneak Peek
Vanessa Hall – Spotlight and Sneak Peek
Thursday, Sept. 15thOld Fashioned Book Love – Review and Spotlight
Lorelei Angelino – Review and Spotlight
Jasmine – Review, Spotlight, Author Interview, and Character Interview
Victoria Marinette – Sneak Peek
Issabelle Perry – Goodreads Review
Friday, Sept 16thKristina Hall – Review and Sneak Peek
Vanessa Hall – Review
Saraina Whitney – Character Interview
Grace A. Johnson – Author Interview and Spotlight
Natalie Nordby – Review and Author Interview
Hailey Marshall – Author Interview
Sisters Three – End of Tour Post
September 14, 2022
Spotlight + Sneak Peek: Unfortunate Events by Kaitlyn, Marisa, and Jaiden Phillips
Lies are worn as masks, darkness threatens, and fear spreads like fire.
But when secrets about his teammates are revealed, secrets that could shake Mazleah to its core, Kahtan must decide whether to stand with his team or with his country. Although nothing in Mazleah is ever that simple.
Mazleah has lost its Crowned Prince and the kingdom stands on the edge of ruin. When Kahtan Faber is forced into the King’s army life as he knew it collapses. Thrust onto a team with a brogue-speaking street boy, a secretive lordling, and his hometown bully, Kahtan quickly learns what it means to be alone. As a Blacksmith’s son who has never wielded a blade, he’s nothing more than a failure to those around him.
AmazonGoodreadsSneak Peek!
About the AuthorsKaytlin, Marisa, & Jaiden Phillips are a homeschool writing trio of sisters more often known as Sisters Three. They reside in the mountains of Western North Carolina where they spend their time hiking, reading, writing, and spending time with their family.
Kaytlin Phillips is Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction and Fantasy author. She’s a homeschool grad who spends her days praising her Savior, reading, writing, blogging, and annoying her sisters with random thoughts. She is the fifth child out of seven and resides in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
Her favorite hobbies include writing, reading, hiking, theology, history, blogging, ASL, crocheting, doodling, and anything she does with her sisters or family.
Marisa Philips is a teen author, saved by the grace of God! She was born and raised in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. She is the sixth child out of seven, and has been homeschooled her whole life. She likes to write fast paced stories that catch the attention of all and that will hopefully inspire them in a wonderful way.
She enjoys hiking, writing, reading a good fast-paced book, baking, daydreaming, teasing her sisters, and playing with her dog, Ruger.
Connect with her on Pinterest and Goodreads!
Jaiden Phillips is a teen author residing in the mountains of western North Carolina. She has six older siblings and one set of amazing parents!
More often than not you can find her sketching one of her wild ideas, writing out a scene for a book, or giving her sisters a healthy dose of sarcasm.
She enjoys praising her Lord, reading, drawing, writing, hanging out with her sisters and bestie, hiking if there is a destination, and wearing vibrant rainbow-colored things.
Connect with her on Pinterest and Goodreads!
Tour ScheduleMonday, Sept. 12th
Sisters Three – Blog Tour Launch Announcement
Joy Woodbury – Review and Spotlight
Abbigail Befus – Review and Spotlight
Tuesday, Sept. 13thMadisyn Carlin – Author Interview and Spotlight
Rose Q Addams – Review and Author Interview
Wednesday, Sept. 14thThe Introspective Introvert -Author Interview, Sneak Peek, and Spotlight
Saraina Whitney – Review and Sneak Peek
Vanessa Hall – Spotlight and Sneak Peek
Thursday, Sept. 15thOld Fashioned Book Love – Review and Spotlight
Lorelei Angelino – Review and Spotlight
Jasmine – Review, Spotlight, Author Interview, and Character Interview
Victoria Marinette – Sneak Peek
Issabelle Perry – Goodreads Review
Friday, Sept 16thKristina Hall – Review and Sneak Peek
Vanessa Hall – Review
Saraina Whitney – Character Interview
Grace A. Johnson – Author Interview and Spotlight
Natalie Nordby – Review and Author Interview
Hailey Marshall – Author Interview
Sisters Three – End of Tour Post
September 9, 2022
New Release: Darkness Draws Near by Kristina Hall
All right, guys, today is an exciting day, because I get to tell you all about my sister’s newest release, Darkness Draws Near! This is the second book in her series, Kentucky Midnight, and let me tell you – it’s so good. Dystopian, yet not your typical dystopian, a romance, yet not an average romance, and suspense – it’s full of action! And the characters … don’t even get me started on Friedrich and Mellie. Those people are so much fun. And did I mention there’s a pro-life theme? Yeah, that just blew my socks off, because that makes the book even better than it already was. Have I convinced you yet?
Life’s worth fighting for …
When Mellie Rivers takes in a young mom, she knows there’s risk involved—both from the government and from her own inadequacies.
Working as a missionary and a mechanic is already a challenge, but now Friedrich Wolf faces an unknown threat—a threat he must stop before he loses all too much.
Friedrich and Mellie will have to fight for life … even as darkness draws near.
September 7, 2022
Tour + Review: Forgotten Memories by Penny Zeller
Some memories are best forgotten…
The Wyoming Territory is rife with lawlessness and disorder, something Annie Ledbetter and her parents discover when their wagon train is robbed. Seven years later, Annie settles into her lifelong dream as a teacher in the small town of Willow Falls. When she meets handsome rancher Caleb Eliason through a humorous misunderstanding, she is quickly drawn to his kind heart and charming smile.
Former outlaw Caleb Eliason embraces his chance at a fresh start. Gone are the days of robbing stagecoaches and wagon trains. When he falls in love with the new Willow Falls teacher, he doesn’t realize they’ve met before—under much different circumstances. When his past comes to light, will it put the growing love between them at risk?
Can forgiveness and redemption heal two broken hearts or will the past keep them from sharing a future?
If you’re looking for a gentle Western romance, look no further! Penny Zeller has written a sweet, godly romance historical fiction lovers won’t want to miss.
Characters: Annie was a lovely MC – I really enjoyed that she was a teacher, though I felt quite badly for her on her first day. That was rough! But while she wasn’t perfect, she had a really sweet spirit. And Caleb, in spite of his difficult past, was a godly man. I appreciated his resolve to move on from his former life and follow the Lord even when things were difficult. The side characters were fun, especially Caleb’s siblings. They added some really nice comedy in there!
Setting/Writing Style/Plot: The setting felt more like a prairie, small town rather than the more traditional Western town in the middle of the desert, but that fit the book really well. The writing wasn’t my favorite style, but for historical fiction, it definitely worked. And the plot, while not full of a lot of action, had plenty of relationship building and character development to move things along well. I wasn’t really expecting that one part in the ending, but it was definitely a pleasant surprise!
Theme: Forgiveness was a huge part of this book, and it was done so well! Consequences came along even though forgiveness was given, and the characters still had to work through struggles even though all was washed clean. I also really enjoyed how much the characters prayed and depended on the Lord. It was beautiful to just watch them live a daily Christian life so faithfully!
Overall, this was a sweet, clean romance with a beautiful moral. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed historical Christian fiction!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.
Today Penny is a multi-published author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.
When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.
Penny is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers.
You can connect with her here: https://linktr.ee/pennyzeller
Tour ScheduleForgotten Memories Blog Tour Lineup
TUESDAY, 9/6
Penny Zeller | Is Forgotten Memories the Book for You?
Penny McGinnis | Book Spotlight
Charity’s Book Escapes | Book Review (Instagram)
Lee-Ann Brodeur | Book Spotlight
WEDNESDAY, 9/7
Christian Books and Coffee | Book Spotlight (Instagram)
Quilling in the Pines |Book Review
THURSDAY, 9/8
Penny Zeller | Quotes + Meet the Characters
Cover Lover | Book Spotlight
Christian Books and Coffee | Author Interview (Instagram)
Reading and Flowers | Book Spotlight (Instagram)
Chat with Vera | Book Review, Giveaway
Lena Nelson Dooley | Author Interview, Giveaway
FRIDAY, 9/9
Cover Lover | Book Review
Christian Books and Coffee | Book Review (Instagram)
2friendstalkbooks | Book Spotlight (Instagram)
Abbigail | Book Review (Facebook)
Cindy’s Book Corner | Book Review*
SATURDAY, 9/10
Penny Zeller | Tour Wrap-up (Which Character are You, etc.)
Madi’s Musings | Book Spotlight
September 5, 2022
Review: The Crush by Allyson Kennedy
The Crush by Allyson Kennedy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
Oh my. When I first started this book, I wasn’t ready for the rollercoaster of emotions I’d be put through. And by the middle, I’d accepted the drama. But by the end … wow. Just wow. I don’t cry about book almost ever, and I was about to tear up there.
Characters: I loved Emery as the MC and narrator of this story. She didn’t seem too young or too old for her age, and I really enjoyed how the book covered several years. (I think two-ish?) I loved watching her grow and work through the various struggles she faced. And she was a musician, too! She was far from perfect, but her goal to have a romance and life like her grandparents’ was noble. And Sawyer … that dude had issues, but he I was always rooting for him. His struggle with depressions/suicide was super dark, but it wasn’t overdone and very realistic. I especially appreciated how he wasn’t immediately healed of his mental struggles – more realism right there! As for the side characters, Brynn and Auden were great little sisters, and the silly teenagers like Jake and Bridgette were appropriately villainous. (Ugh, they were jerks.) All around, the characters were super true to life and felt like they could be real people.
Setting/Writing Style/Plot: So much beautiful stuff to talk about here! I loved the setting of North Carolina – the small town feel was so sweet, but there were also some not great sides of living in a small town. And the writing style … wow. It fit this book perfectly with a wonderful balance of comedic comments and heartbreaking lines. Not to mention how well edited this book was! And the plot was just heart-wrenching. I will say the middle seemed a little bit long, and the ending a tiny bit rushed, but this is the first in series, so we shall continue the story soon, Lord willing!
Romance: (We get this section because it is a romance.) The arc of Sawyer’s and Emery’s romance was so well-done. It felt so real yet so young and hopeful and sweet. The author completely nailed it. And did I mention they were both musicians? So precious! Though Emery and Sawyer definitely had their problems, I couldn’t help but hope for everything to turn out well for them. I will say I felt as if they kissed a lot for how old they were (especially Emery), but none of this was detailed. The written romance was super clean.
Language: This is the only reason I took off half a star. There was one word that could be construed as a curse, though it seemed kind of like some sort of saying and was used sort of in its original meaning. However, it seemed unnecessary. There were also a lot of slang words, which didn’t bother me, but some readers might want to be aware.
Theme: There were several beautiful themes that ran through this book: waiting for the person God has created for you in marriage, a true servant’s heart, and the value and worth of every person. These were all touched on throughout the arc of the story. I loved the verses that were included, and when Sawyer and Emery read the Bible together … it was wonderful!
Overall, this was a beautiful, heartbreaking YA romance that I truly enjoyed. This story just sucked me in, and I didn’t wish to stop reading! I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
View all my reviews
August 31, 2022
Cover Reveal: After Our Castle by Kellyn Roth
And they lived … well, happily ever after.
A year into a blissfully happy marriage, Violet Angel admits to a dose of skepticism. She’s not married, granted—but as the closest friend of the bride and groom, she feels she has a perspective no one but the people directly involved could have. There’s no such thing as a happy ending, and it’s only a matter of time before the castle in the sky plummets to earth.
If only Violet were always wrong instead of just mostly wrong. Ivy McAllen doesn’t believe she and her new husband are out of the honeymoon period—if they are, she isn’t going to admit it to herself—but there are certainly areas of adjustment that she hadn’t expected.
Changes at the village of Keefmore and in Ivy’s life lead to complications, and Violet spirals further and further from reality. When a castle in the sky turns out to be more cloud than stronghold, finding a foothold proves more than a little difficult.
GoodreadsAmazonAbout the Author
Kellyn Roth is a historical romance & women’s fiction author who writes about the empty places where hope has the most room to grow. Her novels include the inspirational Victorian family saga, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the Kees & Colliers series, which follows a broken family in the tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century.
Kellyn is a student of the Author Conservatory and a writing coach. When not building her author career, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, watching period dramas and facetious comedies, or spending time with her husband.
August 30, 2022
New Release: Secrets in the Shadows by Kaitlyn King
Warring Brothers, Manipulating Advisors, and Secrets in the Shadows
Whispers of a silent civil war swirl through the halls of Endor. In the wake of King Hadrian’s attack, Tridan and his friends are now being exalted as heroes. But can these thirteen-year-olds save the kingdom from itself? As Prince Altholos’ coronation approaches, Prince Oliver starts his campaign to take his brother’s place on the throne. Noble families are forced to choose sides and covert battles rage throughout the land. However, the next generation of conquerors longs to do more. Can they bring peace to a castle where there are secrets in the shadows of every corridor?
AmazonGoodreadsAbout the Author
Kaitlyn King is a devoted writer of Christian YA and Children’s Literature, Devotionals, and Bible Curriculum. She holds a BA in Elementary Education, and an MA in Writing Children’s Literature. Currently, she lives in California with her family creating resources for fellow believers.
You can connect with her @authorkaitlynking and @peninhandpublishing.
August 26, 2022
Reflections on a Year: Is It Worth It?
On August 13th, 2021, I pressed that very scary button and published my first novel, Unknown. (I’m a few days late on its birthday, but I can’t believe my baby is so old!) Being a published author is different than I’d imagined—when I was young, I envisioned myself being published by some huge publishing house like Revell or Bethany House. (And I never imagined publishing a romantic suspense novel! Those were the days of historical fiction.) I dreamed of a far-off day when my book would be in the catalogs, when my book would be on displayed on a popular Christian fiction website.
Well, now I am published—though not by a publishing house. I’m not a bestseller. I think there have been months when I haven’t made a single sale.
Yeah, I’m not a wildly successful author. 
So, is all the emotional turmoil and long hours and hard work worth it?
Yes. And let me tell you why.
I’m not a bestseller—but I pray my books have touched a few people. I pray the truths of Scripture that I’ve striven to include in these books has changed the hearts of my readers by God’s grace alone. (Because, after all, “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:7)
And while I’m not even close to being able to support myself with this writing income, this isn’t about earthly treasure. Now, is it wrong to have that dream of being able to support yourself with my writing career? No, and it’d be amazing if I could! But right now—and always, I pray—I have to remember that my true treasure is in heaven, not on earth.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6: 19-21 KJV
And these are the things we all have to remember when our feelings shout otherwise or we see other authors doing far better than us. Not always easy, is it? But when we keep our eyes on Jesus, He does lead us in the paths of righteousness and upholds us with His Hand … even when we falter.
So maybe I’m not the author I once dreamed of, but somehow, the Lord created a far better answer to my dreams than I ever could have. Because what is better than following His calling? Following Him comes with a cost, but that cost is nothing in comparison to all He’s given. And in light of the fact that He gives me the opportunity to do this thing I love so deeply … it just blows me away! When we follow His calling, that doesn’t mean we’re going to be miserable. Yeah, it’s hard, but He will also give us joy and strength.
So, indie author, take heart. Maybe we aren’t bestsellers (yet), but in the end, that doesn’t matter so much. We are called to glorify Him, whether that’s with one sale or ten thousand.
Following Him is always worth it.
August 24, 2022
The Remarkable Blogger Tag!
A few weeks ago, both E.G. Bella and Grace A. Johnson nominated me for this tag! Thanks to these lovely ladies for asking these very interesting questions, and thank you to Simply Selina for creating this tag! So, without further adieu, here are the rules!
RulesAdd the featured imageTag your post with #the remarkable blogger tagPingback to original postMention the creatorShare something unique about youAnswer the nine questions the person who nominated you has askedAsk 9 nine questions for your nomineesNominate 10 – 15 peopleHave fun!Something Unique about MeHmm, let’s see what I can come up with here … I’m a violinist and an armwrestler? (That sounds unique, but my sister is the same – only she’s a much better armwrestler!)
E. G. Bella’s QuestionsIf you could live in any type of home, anywhere in the world, where would you go and what house would you choose? (Like a treehouse in New York or something!)
I would love to live in a big, old farmhouse someday. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an exotic area of the world—I’m awfully fond of my homestate—but just somewhere with lots of acres and grass and woods and even a creek. I love the countryside!
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Ooh … this is hard. Do bad drivers count as an answer? And I guess when I’m not patient, I can get irritated if people keep calling me to come do something or see something when I’m trying to work. That can be frustrating.
What would you tell the you that started your blog if you could go back to that day?
Don’t be afraid. You’re not the first person to ever start a blog, and no one expects you to be the best blogger in the world on day one. (And you’re never going to be the best blogger in the world, anyway, so stop freaking out and just start the thing.)
Is there one song out there that you think everybody should listen to?
This is an unanswerable question! (And no, not The Unanswered Question. If you guys are into modern classical music, check out Charles Ives. Very interesting.)
But a song … I guess a hymn? I love “And Can It Be” and “It Is Well.” I mean, there are so many hymns out there that are just so powerful.
If there were no limits in life for a day, what would you do first and last?
Write a book. Publish said book.
Could you imagine? All in one day?
But way better, broadcast the Gospel over the entire world. There, that’s way better.
Have you set yourself any challenges for the year?
I guess publishing two books was a challenge? I think I said I wanted to do three, but that’s probably not going to happen. I had some “author goals” at the beginning of this year, but not all of them have happened. Not many, really.
How many blog posts have you written so far?
Let me check … 227 as of the day I wrote this. (So a few more than 227.)
Does your blog have a niche or no?
Yeah, I think so. Most of it is about writing and books, but there’s the occasional rambling, too. And tags.
Do you have any advice for helping a blogger get out of a writers rut?
Yikes, this is a hard one. I am very often in a rut with my blog-writing. One thing that does help, though, is brainstorming ideas. Just write out titles that you might use that trigger some creative thoughts. And sometimes a break is what you need, too. Blogging can be hard!
Grace A. Johnson’s QuestionsPineapple on pizza? Yea or nay? (Sorry, I had to.)
I’m not really sure. I’ve never had it. So … maybe?
What was your very first blog post about?
A review. I was such a scared little blogger.
Who is your favorite follower? (Hint: there is only one right answer: Grace.) KIDDING KIDDING. (But also not.) My REAL question is…who has been one of your biggest supporters in starting and maintaining a blog?
Aw, Grace, you know I love you! 
But my biggest supporters … probably my sister, Kristina Hall! And my family, too.
What first prompted you to start a blog?
The necessity of having some sort of presence on the internet. Because if people don’t even know you exist, it’s hard for them to find your books.
If you could write any post about anything, what would it be?
Hmm. (See, Grace is being helpful and making me think of future blog posts!) I really enjoy blabbering on about my books—probably more than anyone wants to hear—and I also enjoy addressing some current events. (Key word—some.)
What’s your favorite part about being a blogger? (Probably getting to hang out with me, but you don’t have to say that. I already know how you feel. *winks*)
Well, that’s part of the answer, haha! I really just enjoy connecting with readers. It’s been amazing to get to know you all!
What’s your most favorite blog post EVER (that you’ve written, of course)?
Ooh, that’s hard! I’m quite partial to a few. This one if you’d like a more controversial read. But I also really enjoyed this one, because I got to rant about Valentine’s Day.
What are your goals for this year? (*coughs* Kinda stealing one of Lucy’s questions here.)
Publishing three books (though that one’s probably not happening.) I think there was something about doing Instagram in those goals, but I don’t think I’m going to do that for now. Planning my blogging more (which happened for awhile, until I got more time on my hands and proceeded to not plan things.)
What’s the wackiest nickname anyone’s ever given you?
Well, there was that one time someone spelled my name “Banessa” in an orchestra program. Yeah, that was fun.
Thank you both for tagging me, ladies! This tag has been going around for a bit, so I’m not going to tag anyone. And due to lack of time, strength, and brain cells on my part, I’ll let you pick nine of any of these questions for the tag!
