Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: Delayed Justice by Cara Putman

About the Book

Book Title: Delayed Justice  
Author: Cara Putman  
Genre: Legal Romantic Suspense  
Release date: October 15, 2018  

She had long given up the desire to be loved. Now she only needed to be heard. 

Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jamie, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart. 

Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child. 

This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.

CBD │ B&N │ Amazon

My Thoughts

“Sometimes the only way we are made whole is when

we take our pain and use it to help others.”

- Savannah

Riveting, suspenseful, compelling, relevant … Delayed Justice is all that and more. There’s a lot of layers and complexity to this emotionally gripping story that could easily be pulled from today’s headlines. Cara Putman’s legal background creates a fascinating realism to this legal drama that’s filled with romance, bonds of friendship, and faith in action. Characters from the previous two novels are involved, but this story stands alone.

A story focusing on the dark subject of child abuse isn’t an easy read, yet Putman handles it extremely well, pulling you into the victims’ feelings as you grow to care deeply about them. I applauded Jaime’s decision to bring her abuser to justice, while fearing for her because of the repercussions that decision could bring. Chandler, with a job of helping military men and women transition back home, is a blessing in her life – both emotionally and spiritually – and the chemistry between them is great.

Delayed Justice is not only about justice, but healing also. Chandler’s experience was that “needs were always bigger than his capability to meet them, so he needed God in big ways.” Learning about therapy dogs like Aslan, who bring comfort to the victim, was fascinating, and the connection to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe brought a depth of meaning to the story.

How was she supposed to match her reality

to the God they talked about?

- Jaime

Delayed Justice will speak to every reader, especially those whose past experience makes it difficult for them to see God as loving and caring. I loved the contrast between the support of Christian friends vs. trying to go it alone, and Jaime’s spiritual journey is touching.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

Since the time she could read Nancy Drew, Cara has wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 she attended a book signing at her local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, was history. There she met a fellow Indiana writer Colleen Coble. With prompting from her husband, Cara shared her dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, Cara’s been writing award-winning books. She is currently working on book 30 and 31. 

Cara Putman is an active member of ACFW, and currently serves on its Executive Board. She has also been the Indiana ACFW chapter president and served as the Area Coordinator for Indiana. 

Cara is also an attorney, lecturer at a Big Ten university, active in women’s ministry, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids that is. She graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!) and George Mason Law School, and Krannert School of Management. You can learn more about Cara at www.caraputman.com

Guest Post from Cara

Delayed Justice was a hard story to write. 

I’d known from Beyond Justice that Jaime had a hard story, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. She tried to hide from her past. She tried hard, but in the end it slowly spilled out. A young girl wounded deeply by someone who should protect her. And now as a professional young woman, Jaime is still fighting the shadows. 

She believes she’s okay, or as okay as she’ll ever be. 

Instead, she has to learn that there’s so much more waiting for her. Freedom from the chains of a past she didn’t choose. A love that will never end. And a God who has always loved her even when she questions His existence because of her past. 

I think we’ve all lived that. There’s a place in our hearts that seems beyond His reach. For some of us, it’s a barrier to knowing Him. To others of us, it makes us question what we thought we knew about God. And for others of us, it presses us deeply into Him. Jaime’s book, Delayed Justice, explores this space. The space where some days we scream at the heavens Where are you, God? And the days we just curl into ourselves because life is too hard. 

And in that space of shadow and light, God ultimately shines brightest. This is a truth that is slowly revealed through friends and The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cara is giving away a grand prize package that includes a Courage Dear Heart bracelet, a The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe print, a copy of Delayed Justice, and a box of Turkish Delight!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the image above or the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/d5c4/delayed-justice-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 29

Fiction Aficionado, September 29

The Avid Reader, September 29

The Power of Words, September 29

The Christian Fiction Girl, September 29

The Lit Addict, September 30

BBHfiction, September 30

Painting with Words, September 30

Real World Bible Study, September 30

Janices book reviews, September 30

cherylbbookblog, October 1

Where Faith and Books Meet, October 1

Back Porch Reads, October 1

Cafinated Reads, October 1

Faithfully Bookish, October 1

Because I said so – adventures in Parenting, October 2

Lighthouse Academy, October 2

Livin Lit, October 2

Inklings and notions, October 2

Bigreadersite, October 2

All-of-a-kind Mom, October 3

Reading Is My SuperPower, October 3

The Becca Files, October 3

Blogging With Carol, October 3

Lights in a Dark World, October 3

Genesis 5020, October 4

Cathe Swanson, October 4

Spoken from the Heart, October 4

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 4

100 Pages per Hour, October 5

Multifarious, October 5

Book by Book, October 5

Splashes of Joy, October 5

Rockin’ My Mom Jeans, October 6

Mary Hake, October 6

Godly Book Reviews, October 6

Two Points of Interest, October 6

C Jane Read, October 7

Daysong Reflections , October 7

Bibliophile Reviews, October 7

Buy, Borrow, Skip, October 7

The Mimosa Blossom, October 8

Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 8

Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses, October 8

Maureen’s Musings, October 8

Just the Write Escape, October 9

Simple Harvest Reads, October 9 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)

Remebrancy, October 9

Carpe Diem, October 9

Quiet Quilter, October 10

Margaret Kazmierczak, October 10

At the Fence, October 10

By The Book, October 10

God is Love, October 11

A Baker’s Perspective, October 11

proud to be an autism mom, October 11

Texas Book-aholic, October 11

Henry Happens, October 12

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, October 12

Have A Wonderful Day, October 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 12

Review: Homespun by Lorilee Craker

Homespun
Lorilee Craker, Editor
Herald Press, 2018


Summary

Straight from the pens of Amish and Mennonite women . . .

Ever wish you could visit with a group of Amish or Mennonite women over a cup of coffee? In the pages of Homespun, Amish and Plain Mennonite women swap stories and spin yarns while we listen in. Lorilee Craker, bestselling author of Money Secrets of the Amish, collects these personal writings about hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God. Hear from one woman who struggles with feeling inferior to her sister, from another about her longing for a baby, and from a third who accidentally bought stretchy material to sew her husband’s pants. Each woman’s story is a testament to the grace of God and the blessings of community.

Behind Amish romance novels and tourist spots and television shows stand real people, with longings and loves just like the rest of us. Every Amish and Mennonite woman has a story. In Homespun, you get to hear some of them.


My thoughts

Homespun ranks among those books that have left me feeling incredibly blessed. First of all, let me say that although Homespun is a collection of Mennonite/Amish writings, it is timeless and has a universal appeal. God’s provision, protection, guidance, occasional testing, and sometimes supernatural intervention are incredible blessings for which we are all thankful.  Lorilee Craker writes in her introduction … “All you need to do is open your heart and let the homespun words of these women enlarge your worldview, extend your heart, and increase your friendship with the Creator of all good and gut things.” I enjoyed it very much and plan on going back to savor each chapter slowly.

Lorilee Craker groups these writings into sections – welcome, abide, testimony, wonder, kindred, and beloved. These stories, on the whole, radiate a feeling of peace, contentment and acceptance. There’s no meditative questions or space to journal your thoughts at the end of each chapter, yet Homespun would work exceptionally well as a devotional. In fact, there’s a few chapters with which a week would scarcely be long enough to take it all in.

Each writer’s thoughts spoke to me personally and there’s so many quotes that I could share. Here are just a few of my impressions …

Gertrude Slabach made me regret how often I’ve been reluctant to invite someone into my home because of its appearance. “True hospitality is about blessing others with belonging, value, and importance,” she writes. The focus definitely needs to be on others rather than myself.

In Chapter 2, Sara Nolt shares how involvement with a university’s English as a second language program became a way to host international students, especially some from “hard to reach with the gospel” countries. This hit close to home because my daughter works with international students in a campus ministry and its focus is on unconditional hospitality, beginning with fellowship over meals. Nolt writes, “It is the presence of Christ and his love within you that draw the strangers and cause them to return.”

Chapter 16, Stephanie J. Leinbach writes of her young daughter’s epilepsy and ongoing seizures, how she thought this was a lesson-in-faith detour from which God would eventually return them to normal. When that didn’t happen, she writes: “No matter what road conditions lie ahead, the God who led me through the thorns, who fished me out of a few canyons, who seized me with his grace – that same God will be there.”

I loved Sheila Petre’s beautiful story of courtship and marriage in Chapter 25, because it reminded me somewhat of my own experience, making me to appreciate my husband even more.

In chapter 36, I was moved by Samantha Trenkamp’s way with words as she talks about “Rebuilding from the Shambles of Shame”: Shame can also be a blessing in disguise … The ugly becomes beautiful, the wound gives way to health, the shame gives birth to life lived in sweet abandon to a loving Father. Shame can become yet another tool to teach us to lean hard on God.

Homespun is inspirational, fulfilling, and sometimes challenging. Read it slowly and harvest the wealth to be found in its pages.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Read with Audra and Herald Press. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

_________________________

Editor Lorilee Craker is the author of thirteen books, including Money Secrets of the Amish; Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me; My Journey to Heaven with Marv Besteman; and the New York Times bestseller Through the Story with Lynne Spears. Connect with her at LorileeCraker.com.

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Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: Assault and Beadery by Mollie Cox Bryan

Assault and Beadery
By Mollie Cox Bryan
A Cora Crafts Mystery #4
Kensington, 2018


Summary

All of Cora Chevalier’s dreams are coming true. Since moving to Indigo Gap, North Carolina, the busy crafting maven has been blessed with a great boyfriend, a lovely home, and a booming craft retreat business. But on the eve of her first Crafty Mom’s Escape Weekend, tragedy strikes again in Indigo Gap. This time, it’s curtains for Stan Herald, the disagreeable director of the local theater group, who’s murdered on the opening night of their new production. Worse, Cora’s friend Zee is accused of the crime.

Cora is determined to prove her friend’s innocence, but Zee’s mysterious past is making that difficult. And with a list of suspects longer than a double spool of satin cording, getting a bead on the real culprit won’t be easy. With her friends Jane and Ruby at her side, Cora must string together the clues and solve Stan’s murder before the killer gives an encore performance.

Includes crafting tips!

Amazon   B&N   IndieBound   Kobo   BookBub


My thoughts

What an odd town Indigo Gap, North Carolina, is,

she thought. She’d been here a little over a year,

and this was the third murder.

Assault and Beadery is packed with all that makes an excellent cozy mystery – character depth, well-plotted mystery, and an appealing small-town setting that you’d love to visit. Mollie Cox Bryan gives enough background so that this fourth book in the Cora Crafts series stands alone.

The fictional Indigo Gap, located in western North Carolina, is a delightful small town that’s proud of its heritage. From street names to quaint shops, the word “blue” is incorporated. Cora and her two business partners, Jane and Ruby, combine their skills – both in the making of crafts and the solving of murders. And Cora’s lovely Victorian home, Kildare House, provides the perfect setting for their craft and retreat center.

With so many cozies involving the food industry, the craft-making theme is refreshing, and I didn’t realize so much was involved in the making of bead crafts. The murder hits close to home when a personal friend is accused of the crime, a friend who just happens to have a mysterious past with hidden musical talents. All three leading ladies are easy to connect with – Cora, skilled at repurposing, the moody but adorable Ruby, and Jane, who is my favorite. Having fled an abusive past, she and her daughter, London, reside on the grounds of Kildare House.

Bryan’s writing flows easily and the story is well paced. The only negative is the occasional use of mild profanity, but Assault and Beadery is an enjoyable and satisfying read overall.

Recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

_________________________

Mollie Cox Bryan is the author of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbooking mystery series and the Cora Crafts mystery series. She is also author of two cookbooks, the regional bestseller Mrs. Rowe’s Little Book of Southern Pies and Mrs. Rowe’s Restaurant Cookbook: A Lifetime of Recipes from the Shenandoah Valley.

An award-winning journalist and poet, she currently blogs, cooks, and scrapbooks in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband and two daughters. Scrapbook of Secrets was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Visit her on the web at molliecoxbryan.com.

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: Christmas with the Cowboy by Tina Radcliffe

Welcome to CHRISTMAS WITH THE COWBOY Blog Tour with JustRead Publicity Tours.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Christmas with the Cowboy
Series: Big Heart Ranch, Book 3
Author: Tina Radcliffe
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: September 18, 2018

Home for the holidays

A second chance at love on Big Heart Ranch

Former Navy SEAL Zach Norman has been avoiding his ranching roots—and the woman he couldn’t have. Back to visit his brother’s widow, Emma Maxwell Norman, and her adorable toddler twins, the bah-humbug cowboy is roped into helping prepare the ranch for the holidays. 

Working side by side, can Emma and Zach overcome their troubled past…and receive the greatest Christmas gift of all—love?


LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | Book Depository | BAM! | Book Bub

MY THOUGHTS

Christmas with the Cowboy is the total package – humor, romance, inspiration, and emotion. Tina Radcliffe brings a lot of depth to a story that would just be a light romance by any other author. The Maxwell family of Big Heart Ranch returns in this sequel that features the youngest sibling, Emma, widowed mom with the most precious twin girls.

First of all, Christmas with the Cowboy is truly a Christmas story. It doesn’t merely hint at the Christmas theme, but starts with the day after Thanksgiving and goes on from there. Emma and Zach are opposites in a way that is guaranteed to create tension – one filled with Christmas spirit and excitement, the other’s joy blocked by painful memories. Zach carries both physical and emotional scars, and the way he opens up under Emma’s influence is like watching a slow thaw.

The narrative is infused with delightful humor, snappy and witty conversation – and great chemistry between Zach and Emma. Then there’s the themes that hooked me emotionally, from parents grieving the loss of their son in combat, to children who need the love and security that Big Heart Ranch provides. I especially enjoyed Zach’s mentoring of two young boys.

Christmas with the Cowboy is a wonderful story for any time of year; but if you’re looking for an enjoyable and fulfilling Christmas read, look no further. If you haven’t tried any of Tina Radcliffe’s books yet, I highly recommend the Big Heart Ranch series.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the author and JustRead Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally from Western, N.Y., Tina Radcliffe left home for a tour of duty with the Army Security Agency (a branch of the NSA) stationed in Augsburg, Germany and ended up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While living in Tulsa she spent ten years as a Certified Oncology R.N. Her move to Colorado led to a career as a library cataloger. A freelance writer for over twenty years, Tinamanages Seekerville, 13 author blog which is starting its tenth year. Seekerville is a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers award winner.

Tina is a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, a 2012 ACFW Carol Award finalist, a 2014 ACFW Mentor of the Year finalist, a 2014 Golden Quill finalist and a 2014 ACFW Carol Award winner. In 2016 Safe in the Fireman's Arms was a Holt Medallion Merit Award finalist and a Detroit Bookseller's Best finalist and a NERFA finalist. She has won first place in over twenty RWA chapter affiliated contests in her career. Tina is also a short story writer and has sold over twenty short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. She currently resides in Arizona where she writes fun, heartwarming romance.

TO CONNECT WITH TINA: website,  facebook,  twitter,  pinterest,  instagram, Book Bub

Tina also have a great newsletter filled with fun facts and great giveaways for her newsletter subscribers. Sign up for her newsletter HERE.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

Tina has graciously offered (1) winner an awesome Christmas with the Cowboy prize pack that includes:

• An autographed copy of Christmas with the Cowboy
• LED Christmas Bulb Necklace
• $50 Amazon gift card.

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below.  Complete prize open to US mailing addresses only.  For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to stop at a stop each day for extra entries!

TOUR SCHEDULE

For the full tour schedule, click on either of the launch pages below.

(All stops expected to post by 12:00 NOON EST)

Launch Page @JustReadTours
Launch Page @JustCommonly

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: Unbound by Grace

About the book

Book Title: Unbound by Grace  
Author: Michelle Massaro  
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance  
Release date: July 21, 2018  

When the past holds the future captive, there is only ONE chain breaker…

Tori Bishop has carved out a safe circle of friends who know nothing of her privileged status. But when she’s roped into attending a glitzy fundraiser, she brings along strong and steadfast Derek for support. As long as her secret stays safe, she never has to question his motives. 

Derek Miller wants his life to count for something, to make a difference—especially in the life of Tori Bishop, the spunky smart-mouth who loves razzing him. But if his prison record comes to light, she’s sure to take off running. 

When Tori and Derek get involved in building a local women’s shelter, the extra time together stirs more than an ember of attraction. Haunted by the fear of exposure, each must wrestle with the chains of their pasts to experience freedom, love, and the full depths of God’s grace.

Amazon

My Thoughts

“They were all just broken people, cracked in hidden 

laces only God could restore.”

- Derek

Unbound by Grace is a well-crafted, compelling story with a powerful message for our Christian walk, and I enjoyed it very much. There’s a realness about the characters and the life situations they deal with, and it was easy to instantly connect with Derek and Tori. A few characters from the previous book make appearances, but this story stands alone.

Derek and Tori couldn’t be more opposite socially, but their shared faith and desire to help people provide a sure foundation upon which to build. Both have past experiences that weigh heavily on them. Tori wanted nothing to do with her upper-class life, and she held people at arm’s length out of fear because she didn’t trust their motives. Derek had come to Christ through a prison ministry, and was able to find strength and courage in God’s mercy when his past threatened to beat him down, but still lived with a sense of inferiority. The connection between this unlikely pair is real and I loved watching it grow as they worked with the team building a much-needed women’s shelter for the community.

The book’s title – Unbound by Grace – encompasses the theme of freedom so well. Tori and Derek were both Christians, so their story was one of learning to fully “walk the walk.” As many of us can undoubtedly testify to, it’s easy to intellectually accept the concept of freedom in Christ, yet sometimes difficult to believe it in our heart. Derek and Tori find the going difficult when their backgrounds come into the open, but their story is one of inspiration and relevancy.

I enjoyed Unbound by Grace and look forward to more from Michelle Massaro.

Recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

MICHELLE MASSARO writes contemporary fiction soaked in grace. 

She makes her home in Southern California with her husband of over two decades and their four children. She’s dabbled in homeschooling, teaching Creation Science, and leading worship. 

When she isn’t tinkering with words, Michelle enjoys old Rogers and Hammerstein movies, making kefir, and Sudoku. A new lipstick and a good French roast always make her happy.

Guest Post from Michelle

When I sit down to write a new story, I tend to gravitate toward some pretty deep emotions. The raw kind we all have known at one point or another. It’s what connects us all as human beings, no matter how different we are on the outside. If we can learn to see ourselves in others I believe that’s where compassion is born, as well as some self-revelation. Like King David hearing the story of the rich man stealing the poor man’s lamb and realizing he was that man! 

In Unbound by Grace, I was approaching the story of two super fun characters I had introduced in my first novel, Grace in the Flames. In that book, they were side characters. But I always adored writing their scenes. They were both so entertaining! And the chance to put these two together and give them their own book was just too delicious an idea to pass up. 

I got to put them into some interesting surroundings (anyone been to watch a horse race lately?) and take them to some very exposed, vulnerable places as well. Through them I was challenged to get inside someone else’s skin, and understand. Plus, they kept me smiling as well! This story was a blast to write, and I hope you enjoy these fictional friends of mine as much as I do. 

It’s such a pleasure to meet new readers. I hope to hear from you soon!

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away a grand prize package that includes a notebook, a mug, a bookmark, a pen, a signed copy of Grace in the Flames, and an Amazon Gift Card ($40)!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries! Click the image above or the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/d3a6/unbound-by-grace-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Real World Bible Study, September 20

Godly Book Reviews, September 20

Among the Reads, September 21

The Power of Words, September 21

Bibliophile Reviews, September 22

A Baker’s Perspective, September 23

Fiction Aficionado, September 24

Faithfully Bookish, September 25

Reading Is My SuperPower, September 26

Carpe Diem, September 27

Lis Loves Reading, September 28

proud to be an autism mom, September 28

Simple Harvest Reads, September 29 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

Janices book reviews, September 30

The Mimosa Blossom, October 1

Books, Books, and More Books., October 1

Texas Book-aholic, October 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 3

Bigreadersite, October 3