Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: Her Colorado Cowboy by Mindy Obenhaus

Welcome to the Blog Tour and Giveaway for Her Colorado Cowboy by Mindy Obenhaus, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Her Colorado Cowboy  
Series: Rocky Mountain Heroes, Book 3  
Author: Mindy Obenhaus  
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired  
Genre: Contemporary Romance  
Release Date: March 19, 2019  

Lassoing the single mom’s heart…
A Rocky Mountain Heroes story

Socialite Lily Davis agrees to take her children riding…despite her fear of horses.

But now widowed cowboy Noah Stephens is determined to help her get comfortable in the saddle. And, at her children’s insistence, Lily finds herself promoting his rodeo school.

As Noah and Lily work together, will Noah continue to shield his heart…or can they discover a love that conquers both their fears?  

LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Christian Book | iTunes


MY THOUGHTS

Book #3 in the Rocky Mountain Heroes series, Her Colorado Cowboy, had me at the cover! Now, of course, the cover alone doesn’t guarantee a great read, but that’s certainly what you’ll discover within these pages. Mindy Obenhaus has crafted a well-written story filled with characters cannot help but steal your heart.

Cowboys and a setting in Colorado’s ruggedly beautiful Uncompahgre Wilderness area … what could be more perfect? The series focuses on the five Stephens brothers and their dad, Clint, so we get to know this family in depth and grow to care about them. Her Colorado Cowboy focuses on Noah, a retired rodeo star who operates the Abundant Blessings Ranch in Ouray. This is the first story in the series that I’ve read, and while it easily stands alone, I’m eager to read the two previous books very soon.

Noah and Lily are appealing lead characters, completely opposite in background, but with a sweet chemistry between them that feels natural. Lily, a divorced wealthy socialite, is the opposite of what one would expect – a caring mother, well-grounded, and willing to seek riding lessons for her children, even though she is terrified of horses. Noah, with a history of death-defying rodeo activities, is now channeling his time and energy into the ranch and has a special interest in helping children deal with grief through working with horses. Their gradual journey from friendship to trust, and possibly something more, is a joy to behold. I also loved how Lily’s children are key to the story, especially watching the troubled Colin respond to Noah’s firm and caring touch.

I thoroughly enjoyed Her Colorado Cowboy, a shining star in the Love Inspired series.

Recommended.

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

It took Mindy Obenhaus forty years to figure out what she wanted to do when she grew up, but once God called her to write, she never looked back. A three-time Carol Award finalist, Mindy is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren at her Texas ranch.  

CONNECT: website | facebook | twitter | pinterest | goodreads | bookbub

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win:

• a signed copy of Her Colorado Cowboy
• $15 Amazon gift card

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 25, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 1, 2019. US only. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: When You Are Near by Tracie Peterson

About the Book

Book: When You Are Near  
Author: Tracie Peterson  
Genre: Christian Historical Romance  
Release Date: March 5, 2018

After her father’s death, Lizzy Brookstone, a trick rider in the all-female Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza, wants nothing more than to quit her role as the star of the show and live a quiet life on her family’s ranch. But returning home would bring Wesley DeShazer, the ranch’s foreman and the man who broke her heart, back into her life. In addition, the Brookstones’ new manager fears that Lizzy’s departure could doom the already cash-strapped show. 

Hope grows in Lizzy during a stopover at Fleming Farm. Ella Fleming not only has a natural talent for trick riding and could easily replace Lizzy, but she’s eager to join the show to flee a forced betrothal. However, while there, one of the show’s wranglers is killed in a manner Lizzy finds suspicious. And during her escape from the farm, Ella stumbles across a secret that could affect all of their lives, as well as the future of the Brookstone Extravaganza.

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Thoughts

When You Are Near, book #1 of the Brookstone Brides, begins what just might be one of my favorite series. Tracie Peterson is a talented, prolific, and very consistent author, in that the high level of historical detail, sheer entertainment, and spiritual elements in her writing has never wavered over the years. Filled with adventure, mystery and suspense, When You Are Near pulls readers into the life of a Wild West traveling show, and I enjoyed every minute spent with these characters.

This story introduces us to the Brookstone family and the world of trick riding – women trick riders, that is. I may have seen some trick riding at a circus as a child, but know next to nothing about this fascinating act. I loved how Peterson made this skill come alive through vivid descriptions, and let me tell you that it requires great skill, strength, concentration, and courage. It’s mentioned at one point that some spectators even fainted during the performances. 

A strong series foundation is laid in this first book, introducing a wide variety of characters – the Brookstone family, employees, horse wranglers, business investors, and horse breeders. Lizzy Brookstone, star trick rider, is a great heroine – independent, confident, not afraid to speak the truth. Two other women have strong supporting roles and will eventually have their own stories, I believe – Mary, a sharpshooter, and Ella, a Roman rider. These two, along with Lizzy, are convinced that the death of Mary’s brother was no accident. Ella is fleeing from an arranged marriage forced upon her by a father I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

A key theme is how family and business associates are dealing with the death of Lizzy’s father in their own ways, not all healthy ones. The faith of Lizzy’s mother as she navigates her loss is inspirational and speaks to all of us. Shining throughout this story is the reminder that God is present with us always, especially through our difficult times.

The story comes to a satisfying conclusion, but there’s a lot more to come and I’m eager to continue with the Brookstone family. 

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

Tracie Peterson (www.traciepeterson.com) is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. 

Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. 

She and her family live in Montana.

Guest Post from Tracie

Introducing…When You Are Near! 

I’m excited about the new Brookstone Brides series and had so much fun researching for the various characters and locations. This is a story about a fictional Wild West show with all female performers. Prior to the rodeos we see today, the Wild West shows traveled throughout America and Europe to entertain people and give city dwellers a taste of what the American frontier was like. At least their version. 

Buffalo Bill Cody was famous for his shows, which brought Native Americans and their culture into the world of people who might otherwise never have even seen an “Indian.” Pawnee Bill was another entertainer who sought to keep these shows alive.  

For the fictional show in my novels, I wanted to focus on three female characters who became a part of the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza for varying reasons. Lizzy Brookstone is the heroine in book one, When You Are Near, and as the daughter of one of the show’s owners, she has enjoyed a starring role as a trick rider. 

For research I went to Pueblo, Colorado to the ranch of Karen Vold, a famous trick rider and rodeo star. Linda Scholtz, a famed trick rider, was teaching a clinic there along with Karen at the Red Top Ranch Trickriding School. 

These are two remarkable Christian trick riders who have long worked to keep the sport alive. I spent three days getting to know them and what they do and learned so much. And just to prove that we weren’t all work and no play, I thought I’d share my attempt at trick riding. What I won’t do for research! 

The series will have three books, as usual, and each book will focus on a different lady and her skills. Mary is a trick shooter like Annie Oakley, and Ella is a Roman rider who stands on the backs of two horses for her part in the act. It was so interesting learning about each of these types of performers, and I hope you’ll get a chance to read all three and enjoy the stories of the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tracie is giving away a grand prize of When You Are Near, Tracie’s A $25 Barnes and Noble Gift card, and the three books in The Heart of Alaska series and three other winners will receive a copy of When You Are Near!!

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/dcdd/when-you-are-near-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, March 26

The Power of Words, March 26

Christian Author, J.E. Grace, March 26

Inklings and notions, March 26

The Meanderings of a bookworm, March 27

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, March 27

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 27

Vicky Sluiter, March 27

Carpe Diem, March 28

The Avid Reader, March 28

Genesis 5020, March 28

The Lit Addict, March 29

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 29

Back Porch Reads, March 29

Just the Write Escape, March 30

Splashes of Joy, March 30

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 30

Emily Yager, March 31

Daysong Reflections, March 31

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 31

Life of Literature, April 1

EmpowerMoms, April 1

For the Love of Literature, April 1

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 2

Through the Fire Blogs, April 2

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, April 2

For Him and My Family, April 3

Remembrancy, April 3

Inspiration Clothesline, April 3

Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 4

Pause for Tales, April 4

Older & Smarter?, April 5

Stories By Gina, April 5

Book by Book, April 5

Bigreadersite, April 6

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, April 6

Connect in Fiction, April 6

Godly Book Reviews, April 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 7

Texas Book-aholic, April 7

Blossoms and Blessings, April 8

janicesbookreviews, April 8

A Reader’s Brain, April 8

The Becca Files, April 8

Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton with JustRead Publicity Tours! We continue the Glory Road celebration on social media starting March 26.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Glory Road  

Author: Lauren K. Denton  

Publisher: Thomas Nelson  

Genre: Women's Fiction/Southern Fiction  

Release Date: March 19, 2019

Written in Lauren Denton's signature Southern style, Glory Road tells the story of three generations of women navigating the uncertain pathways of their hearts during a summer that promises to bring change--whether they're ready for it or not.

At thirty-eight, garden shop owner Jessie McBride thinks her chances for romance are years behind her and, after her failed marriage, she's fine with that. She lives contentedly with her fiery mother and her quiet, headstrong daughter. But the unexpected arrival of two men on Glory Road make her question if she's really happy with the status quo. Handsome, wealthy Sumner Tate asks her to arrange flowers for his daughter's wedding, and Jessie finds herself drawn to his continued attention. And Ben Bradley, her lingering what-could-have-been from high school days who's known her better than anyone and whom she hasn't seen in years, moves back to the red dirt road. Jessie finds her heart being pulled in directions she never expected.  

Meanwhile, Jessie's fourteen-year-old daughter, Evan, is approaching the start of high school and trying to navigate a new world of identity and emotions--particularly as they relate to the cute new guy who's moved in just down the road. At the same time, Jessie's mother, Gus, increasingly finds herself forgetful and faces a potentially frightening future. As all three women navigate the uncertain paths of their hearts and futures, one summer promises to bring change--whether they're ready for it or not.
 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Christian Book |B&N



MY THOUGHTS

I’m not one to “gush” over a story, but an exception simply must be made for Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton. Long on my radar of authors to try, I’m berating myself for waiting until now to discover this incredible author. Women’s fiction, especially books with southern settings, is my favorite genre. This is Denton’s area of expertise, and she can hold her own with any author I’ve read in the general market. Actually better, considering that her writing is clean. Glory Road is a captivating and poignant story, a “best of the best” read for me.

Glory Road is rich in all the essentials – vivid imagery, lyrical prose, complex characters, and a storyline that captured my emotions from the first page and never let go. The fact that I live in the southeast and have relatives who live in areas similar to the setting of Perry, Alabama (15 miles northwest of Mobile) makes the story so very relatable. This description of Jessie’s view from her home is so peaceful … “Long sweeps of wildflowers in the summer, fields dotted with cows and horses, straight rows of corn and cotton and soybeans lining the roads.”

How does an author convey an ambience replete with aromas that you can literally smell? I don’t know, but Denton certainly does this – from freshly-shelled peas and juicy cobblers, to sun-warmed dirt and that just-before-the-rain scent in the air. Small-town southern living is slower paced, and that’s the tone of this novel, yet it is never boring; every sentence begs to be savored.

The story itself revolves around three generations of McBride family women, and dealing with change in their lives. I easily connected with each one – Jessie, who returned home to Perry with her young daughter after going through a divorce; Evan, now a well-grounded young lady about to start high school; and Jessie’s mother, Gus, beginning to experience bouts of forgetfulness. These characters have depth and the relationships between them are complex. Delightful romantic elements relating to all three are secondary, yet key to the overall story.

Spiritual themes are subtle, but very much present. Gardening quotes from various sources are creatively placed at the beginning of each chapter, beautifully setting the mood and conveying the strong link between the care and nurturing of plants to our spiritual lives. I loved the outspoken wisdom in these words from Gus …

“Sometimes God puts things in our paths for a reason.

Best to sit up and pay attention.”

- Gus

Glory Road comes to a heartwarming, fulfilling conclusion; these characters will forever linger in my thoughts.

Very highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours and Thomas Nelson. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Lauren now lives with her husband and two young daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. In addition to her fiction, she writes a monthly newspaper column about life, faith, and how funny (and hard) it is to be a parent. On any given day, she’d rather be at the beach with her family and a stack of books. Her debut novel, The Hideaway, is USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Charts bestseller. Her second novel, Hurricane Season, released in April, 2018, and was listed on BookPage's 2018 list of Most Anticipated Fiction.  

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR: website | facebook | twitter | instagram | pinterest

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(2) winners will each win a print copy of Glory Road. 

Be sure to check out each stop on the Blog and Takeover tours for more chances to win. Full tour schedule on this tour shown below. Giveaway begins at midnight March 23, 2019 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 30, 2019. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Due to shipping cost, only US mailing addresses valid. For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of blog stops!

AND

Be sure to stop at the takeover tour, starting on March 26, for more chances to win!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: War-Torn Heart by Allison Wells

Welcome to the Blog & Review Tour – and Giveaway – for War-Torn Heart by Allison Wells, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: War-Torn Heart  
Author: Allison Wells  
Publisher: Ambassador International  
Genre: Historical Fiction  
Release Date: March 20, 2019

Abigail Walker, a young woman from rural South Carolina, is on the cusp of womanhood, aching to be able to run wild as the younger children do, yet yearning for things she has yet to understand.

Awkward and unsure of herself, Abby is flustered when she meets Harvey Nicholas, a cadet from Clemson College. As summer begins, Abby finds herself constantly in the company of Harvey and falling quickly in love with him.

As rumors of war begin to reach the States, Abby begins to fear what may come for her older brother and Harvey.

Once Pearl Harbor is bombed, the boys are eager to protect their home and the women they love. But will Abby and Harvey's love be able to withstand distance, rumors, loss, and hurt? Or will the war be what tears apart Abby's heart?  

War-Torn Heart is a kleenex-box book with a story of hope, of love, and of perseverance through World War II, which will make the reader cry, scream, and long for more.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository |CBD


MY THOUGHTS

War-Torn Heart by Allison Wells is a heartfelt coming-of-age story set against the 1940s backdrop of a world at war. The story focuses mainly on one family and the effects of World War II on their lives in rural South Carolina. It was this southern setting that first drew me to the story, and the story conveys a vivid feel for the area.

I enjoyed Abby, a sweet young lady who embodies the charm and strength that I love about many southern women. Life changed for Abby when she met Harvey, a Clemson military cadet, during the summer of her sixteenth year. My favorite part was learning about Clemson – an all-male, all-white military school at the time – through Harvey’s eyes. No family remains untouched through the long years of war, and I appreciated that its effects are not glossed over in this story.

War-Torn Heart is a bittersweet, yet heartwarming story, with faith applied to daily living. Like the other books I’ve read by this publisher, Ambassador International, this story has a genuine faith thread that I appreciated. The writing seemed a little wordy at times, with more telling than showing, and I longed for greater character depth. An interesting read overall, though.

Although Abby is 16 when she meets Harvey, this story is not targeted to a teen audience, but rather for adults.  Romance is a major theme, and while it doesn’t go beyond kissing, there’s a lot of focus on romantic longing and many of these scenes are a little more descriptive than I like. Older teens would possibly enjoy War-Torn Heart.

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allison Wells is a new author, but for the most part she’s a Southern wife and mother. With four active children, she spends most of her time in the car, but when she can she loves to sit down and read or write. Allison is a graduate of Clemson University in the beautiful foothills of South Carolina and she still lives close enough to hear football games on Saturdays.  

CONNECT WITH ALLISON: website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win a print copy of War-Torn Heart (US only)
(1) winner will win an ebook copy of War-Torn Heart (open internationally)  

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 18, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm March 25, 2019. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: The White City by Grace Hitchcock

About the Book

Book: The White City
Author: Grace Hitchcock  
Genre: Christian Historical/Suspense  
Release Date: March, 2019  

Mysterious Disappearances Taint the Chicago World’s Fair

Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime 

While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard. 

Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?

Click here to order your copy.  

My Thoughts

The White City, book #1 in a new “true crime” series by Barbour Publishing, is a great debut by Grace Hitchcock. The writing is fresh, with a gentle humor throughout, and characters are well drawn. There’s plenty of suspense in this story inspired by a man known as America’s first serial killer, and romance is a major theme as well.

I loved the vivid historic detail and was quickly drawn into the setting of Chicago’s World Fair during the summer months of 1893. Winnifred, daughter of Inspector Wylde of the Chicago police, is simply delightful. She’s brave, enthusiastic, and an avid reader of romantic adventures! Jude, the officer assigned to protect her while she poses as the suspect’s secretary, is a great match for her, both on and off the job. He’s intelligent, kind, caring, and self-sacrificing. There’s a little romance triangle with the addition of a secondary character who I enjoyed, but it’s really all about Jude and Winnifred. I loved how both strive to put their faith into action in every situation.

Lighthearted moments give a good balance to a story about a serial killer, and the author captured the complexity of his nature - charisma, cunning, and propensity for violence. The story is more about detecting methods than crime details. In today’s high-tech world of crime solving, it’s fun to be swept back to a time where skills like observation and questioning played such a huge part, and many crimes did get solved that way.

The White City is both interesting and entertaining, a great beginning to what promises to be a fascinating series. I look forward to more of Grace Hitchcock’s writing.

Recommended.

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

About the Author

Grace Hitchcock is the author of three novellas in The Second Chance Brides, The Southern Belle Brides, and the Thimbles and Threads collections with Barbour Publishing. The White City is her debut novel and releases March 2019 with Barbour Publishing. 

She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in southern Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, and son. 

Visit Grace online at GraceHitchcock.com. 

Guest Post from Grace

True Colors—Fiction Based on Strange, But True, American Crime Stories 

True, riveting stories of American criminal activity are explored through 6 unique stories of historical romantic suspense in the exciting new True Colors series. 

In book one, The White City, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped while attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a detective, for bodyguard. 

Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?

The Real Criminal Behind the Story 

While Winnifred Wylde is a fictional character, Doctor H. H. Holmes was very real and became infamously known as America’s first serial killer. Learn more about him HERE.  

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of The White City!!

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/dd7d/the-white-city-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, March 14

A Baker’s Perspective, March 14

The Lit Addict, March 14

janicesbookreviews, March 14

The Power of Words, March 15

Multifarious, March 15

Back Porch Reads, March 15

Livin’ Lit, March 16

Lis Loves Reading, March 16

Just Your Average reviews, March 16

Rev. Rebecca Writes, March 17

For the Love of Literature, March 17

Bibliophile Reviews, March 17

Reflections From My Bookshelves, March 18

Through the Fire Blogs, March 18

By The Book, March 18

A Reader’s Brain, March 18

Girls in White Dresses, March 19

Stories By Gina , March 19

EmpowerMoms, March 19

Inklings and notions, March 19

All-of-a-kind Mom, March 20

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 20

Bigreadersite, March 21

Genesis 5020, March 21

Blossoms and Blessings, March 21

The Becca Files, March 21

Emily Yager, March 22

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, March 22

Pause for Tales, March 22

Inspired by fiction, March 23

Mary Hake, March 23

Book by Book, March 23

Real World Bible Study, March 23

Blogging With Carol, March 24

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, March 24

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, March 24

Maureen’s Musings, March 25

amandainpa, March 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 25

Older & Smarter?, March 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 26

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner , March 26

Godly Book Reviews, March 27

For Him and my Family, March 27

Texas Book-aholic, March 27

Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan with JustRead Publicity Tours! We continue the Becoming Mrs. Lewis celebration on social media starting March 14.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Becoming Mrs. Lewis 

Author: Patti Callahan  

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Genre: Historical Fiction  

Release Date: October 2, 2018

From New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan comes an exquisite novel of Joy Davidman, the woman C. S. Lewis called “my whole world.”

When poet and writer Joy Davidman began writing letters to C. S. Lewis—known as Jack—she was looking for spiritual answers, not love. Love, after all, wasn’t holding together her crumbling marriage. Everything about New Yorker Joy seemed ill-matched for an Oxford don and the beloved writer of Narnia, yet their minds bonded over their letters. Embarking on the adventure of her life, Joy traveled from America to England and back again, facing heartbreak and poverty, discovering friendship and faith, and against all odds, finding a love that even the threat of death couldn’t destroy.

In this masterful exploration of one of the greatest love stories of modern times, we meet a brilliant writer, a fiercely independent mother, and a passionate woman who changed the life of this respected author and inspired books that still enchant us and change us. Joy lived at a time when women weren’t meant to have a voice—and yet her love for Jack gave them both voices they didn’t know they had.

At once a fascinating historical novel and a glimpse into a writer’s life, Becoming Mrs. Lewis is above all a love story—a love of literature and ideas and a love between a husband and wife that, in the end, was not impossible at all.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Christian Book | iTunes



MY THOUGHTS

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan is a compelling book, one that I learned a lot from and greatly enjoyed in the process. I have long admired C. S. Lewis – his conversion, creative writing, and the intellect with which he defends the faith – but knew next to nothing about him personally, other than that he and Joy Davidman shared a deep love and that A Grief Observed was written after her death. Becoming Mrs. Lewis fleshes out these two people in a realistic and honest way that I found refreshing.

A large part of this story rests on the foundation of vast correspondence between Lewis and Davidman, of which none is actually available today. But in drawing from many other sources, the author has done an incredible job in piecing together what their lives might have been like. This story is historical fiction, yet often has the feel of a memoir. Callahan has beautifully captured the feel of the times in which they lived, and I loved that the characters’ flaws and failings were not glossed over. In getting to know Joy Davidman, I also came to know C. S. Lewis, the man (Jack). Callahan mentions some historical events along the way, giving a great sense of place and time. One of my favorite parts was a glimpse into the inspiration and background behind the writing of some of Lewis’s books, such as Screwtape Letters and the Wormwood character, which came out of World War II.

In a crack of my soul, during the untethered fear while calling
for help, the sneaky Lion saw his chance, and God came in;
he entered the fissures of my heart as if he’d been
waiting a long time to find an opening.

-Joy Davidman

Joy, while trying to make a go of a difficult marriage, considered herself an atheist when God entered her life. Her story is one of trust, surrender, and transformation – but often taking a step or two backward in failure – and that reflects the human nature that I experience personally.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis might not appeal to every reader of Christian fiction, for in its openness and honesty of this couple’s lives, you will find the mention of abusive behavior, affairs, and alcohol, both social and abusive. Personally, I enjoyed Callahan’s writing style and creativity in bringing these two people to life. Jack and Joy brought out the best in each other and had a positive influence on each other’s writing, allowing me to read Lewis’s works with fresh eyes.

Recommended.

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patti Callahan (who also writes as Patti Callahan Henry) is a New York Times bestselling author. Patti was a finalist in the Townsend Prize for Fiction, has been an Indie Next Pick, twice an OKRA pick, and a multiple nominee for the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Novel of the Year. Her work has also been included in short story collections, anthologies, magazines, and blogs. Patti attended Auburn University for her undergraduate work and Georgia State University for her graduate degree. Once a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, she now writes full time. The mother of three children, she lives in both Mountain Brook, Alabama, and Bluffton, South Carolina, with her husband.  

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR: website | facebook | twitter | instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(2) winners will each win a hardcover release copy of Becoming Mrs. Lewis. 

Be sure to check out each stop on the Blog and Takeover tours for more chances to win. Full tour schedule on this tour shown below. Giveaway began at midnight March 12, 2019 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 19, 2019. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Due to shipping cost, only US mailing addresses valid. For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Publicity Tours for a full list of stops!

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Be sure to stop at the following tours for more chances to win!

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