by admin | Sep 16, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for The Bird and the Bees by Neena Gaynor, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
MY REVIEW:
In many ways Larkin Maybie was a lost soul. She certainly had made more than her share of bad decisions in her short life. When her mother’s death leaves her finances pretty much depleted and one more poor choice causes regrets, Larkin jumps on road to claim the mysterious inheritance she has just learned about. When she arrives at Presque Isle, she is surprised to learn exactly what she has inherited and the conditions required to claim it. With very little money and no transportation, Larkin is forced to accept help from members of the community including a very determined baseball player, Ketch Devine.
I have to say that for awhile I was unsure if I was reading Christian fiction. Larkin’s lifestyle definitely did not meet the criteria. But with every page I turned, her story clearly illustrated the path the Lord was guiding her down through her brokenness and with the help of divine appointments along the way. I definitely don’t think Ketch’s last name was an accident. I loved how he helped Larkin to see herself through not only his eyes but the Lord’s also.
The story was beautifully rendered with vivid imagery and a tender touch. The ending was quite satisfying and worth every trial and temptation that Larkin experienced.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: The Bird and the Bees
Author: Neena Gaynor
Publisher: Mantle Rock Publishing
Release Date: April 21, 2020
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance |
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When Larkin Maybie buries her mother in the foothills of Appalachia, she is left all alone. Her only inheritance? A crazy aunt, a mountain of debt, and a run-down, secluded cabin left by a mysterious benefactor. While Larkin thinks an escape to a cabin miles from anything familiar might be exactly what she needs, the quick answer to her problems only leaves her with more questions… Questions concerning her true identity.
As Larkin searches for her link to the Lewandowski Estate, she begins to accept the kindness of strangers on Presque Isle and the affection of professional baseball player, Ketch Devine. Charged with caring for the cabin’s honey bees and haunted by past choices, Larkin struggles to move forward in a new direction and is running out of time. With summer and baseball season coming to an end, she must decide: what is the value of true love?
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
When not chasing after her two joyful little boys, Neena Gaynor enjoys beekeeping, a good cup of coffee, and writing.
She’s spent much of the last decade traveling with her husband, Wade, a former professional baseball player. Throughout the 29 changes of address and the stresses of moving a young family, Neena has learned to embrace the peace that only comes from the steady accompaniment of Christ.
CONNECT WITH NEENA: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
TOUR GIVEAWAY:
(1) winner will receive a $15 Chick-fil-A gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight September 15, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on September 22, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
by admin | Sep 15, 2020 | Appalachia, Books, Depression Era, Depression Era, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow takes readers back in time during the days of the depression to Boone’s Hollow, a mining town in the hills of Kentucky. Addie Cowherd’s family has experienced financial difficulties that have forced her to leave her college classes as well as her beloved part-time job in the library. She has no choice but to find a full-time job but the only one available requires her to move to Boone’s Hollow to work for the horseback library delivery there. As a city girl, Addie finds life in the hills to be more difficult than she expected and learns more than she ever wanted to know about rivalries and feuds among the hill people. Only her determination and the Lord could help her succeed.
Emmett Tharp is the first resident of Boone’s Hollow to graduate from college but a degree has not been enough to secure him a job during such hard times. He is forced to return home, certain someone will have a job for him but only a job working underground for the mining company is available. Naturally Emmett and Addie crossed paths at some point and worked together to make the library system a success despite subtle attempts to sabotage their friendship and even more blatant attacks when those did not succeed.
Strong and lifelike characters populate the pages of this story. Not only are Emmett and Addie well-developed but other characters also come to life. I appreciated the way one particular unlovable and sometimes vindictive character was portrayed in a way that offered understanding and sympathy for the reason she acted the way she did. This wonderful tale presents a strong story of forgiveness and illustrates how showing the love of Christ can bring a divided community together.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A traveling librarian ventures into the mining towns of Kentucky on horseback—and learns to trust the One who truly pens her story—in this powerful novel from the best-selling author of A Silken Thread.
During the Great Depression, city-dweller Addie Cowherd dreams of becoming a novelist and offering readers the escape that books had given her during her tragic childhood. When her father loses his job, she is forced to take the only employment she can find—delivering books on horseback to poor coal-mining families in the hills of Kentucky.
But turning a new page will be nearly impossible in Boone’s Hollow, where residents are steeped in superstitions and deeply suspicious of outsiders. Even local Emmett Tharp feels the sting of rejection after returning to the tiny mountain hamlet as the first in his family to graduate college. And as the crippled economy leaves many men jobless, he fears his degree won’t be worth much in a place where most men either work the coal mine or run moonshine.
As Addie also struggles to find her place, she’ll unearth the truth about a decades-old rivalry. But when someone sets out to sabotage the town’s library program, will the culprit chase Addie away or straight into the arms of the only person who can help her put a broken community back together?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, bestselling author with more than one million books in print in several different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades, including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.
Kim lives with her retired military husband, Don, in central Kansas, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and her grandchildren.
by admin | Sep 12, 2020 | Books, Historical, Medieval, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I’ll admit it – I almost didn’t read this book. I was not familiar with the author and medieval fiction is not my favorite genre. The publisher sent me a digital copy but I was not required to read or review it. I could have just let it go. But since I had a copy, I decided to give it a try. After all, if I didn’t like it I could just go on to another book.
Surprise, surprise! I really liked it! It didn’t take very long before I found myself totally involved in this unique tale of a young woman who took on several identities for her protection and in order to help protect her father’s threatened kingdom and to help take care of its starving families. The Secret Life of Lady Evangeline is chock full of action, secrets, danger, betrayal, and reconciliation. Faith is a strong but natural component of the story which is beautifully written.
The plot is well developed with words that flow. I loved the characters complete with their flaws but also their determination to do the right thing and to rid the kingdom of the evil that had overtaken it. One particular character underwent a stunning transformation during the course of the story that was remarkable.
I would recommend this book even if like me, you are not a huge fan of medieval fiction. Take a chance on it. I think you may like it also.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Wild Heart Books. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Everyone believes Lady Evangeline is dead, so why not let them? Her survival depends on it.
After escaping from assassins and healing from her injuries, Evangeline Stanton finds refuge in a crumbling abbey. Her physical scars are nothing to the wounds left by the death of her daughter and abandonment of her husband. She spends most days disguised as Sister Margaret Mary, but when necessary, she dons the disguise of the recently deceased bandit, the Fox, to steal from the rich and help the starving children and widows who come for aid.
Lord Henry Stanton still grieves the death of his beloved wife, Evangeline. Raising their young daughter is now the most important role in his life, even though the child serves as a daily reminder of the love he and his wife once shared. He may never shed the weight of his guilt for not protecting Evangeline from the band of outlaws who killed her, as well as the lies sown by his sister-in-law, which he allowed to separate him from his wife just before her death.
When Henry’s ailing father-in-law sends an urgent request for help to manage his lands, he has no choice but to take his daughter with him to Castle Brighton. But the nun who comes to care for the sick man catches Henry’s notice from the first moment he catches sight of her. When the life of their precious daughter is threatened, can they overcome the lies and secrets of the past and join forces to save their daughter before it is too late?
Escape to another century in this action-packed inspirational medieval romance!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
During her youth,
Jan Davis Warren raised, broke, and trained horses and seriously considered becoming a veterinarian. Instead, and with no regret, she fell in love and married David, a fun testimony in itself. They searched until they found land with plenty of room to build their future family. Besides their awesome children, several horses, a couple of dogs and barn cats, over the years, they raised all kinds of poultry and livestock, including donkeys. Their children are grown now with happy homes of their own and her sweet husband, the hero of her happily-ever-after story, has since passed away. Change is hard and widowhood is not for sissies. Blessed with a good marriage and a deep abiding relationship with Jesus, Jan is able to write firsthand about sacrifice, love, romance, bravery, and perseverance. One of her favorite scriptures is Jeremiah 29:11,
For I know the plans I have you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
by admin | Sep 8, 2020 | Books, England, Historical, Romance, World War 1
MY REVIEW:
I have found that reading a book by Roseanna M. White is akin to climbing into a time machine and taking a trip across the years to the setting of the story. In A Portrait of Loyalty I stepped into the plot and walked beside Zivon and Lily as they experienced life in London during World War 1, complete with danger, intrigue, tragedy, and romance.
The author paints a vivid picture with her words and it is obvious that she has researched her subject well. My history classes always seemed to run out of time before we ever reached this era and we barely touched on WW2 if we studied it at all. I hate to admit that I have learned far more about the Great War from fiction authors such as Roseanna White than I ever learned in school. I found everything about the work of the codebreakers and Lily’s skill at retouching or recreating photographs to be fascinating. So much went on behind the scenes to help win the war.
It was so encouraging for me to see God at work in the pages of this book and the difference love and forgiveness can make in the lives of even the most misguided people. I found it so gratifying the way one particular situation was handled at the end when it could have easily been handled in a less redemptive fashion.
I have loved the Codebreakers series and am a bit sad to see it end. I will miss some of the characters from the three books but who knows, some of them may make an appearance in another series one day. It has been fun to witness that happening a time or two in A Portrait of Loyalty. If you enjoy historical fiction, this book is a must; however I do suggest reading the entire series for the full experience.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
He sees patterns in what she deems chaos.
She sees beauty in a world he thought destroyed.
Zivon Marin was one of Russia’s top cryptographers until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee to England after speaking out against Lenin, Zivon is driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits. But never far from his mind is his brother, whom Zivon fears died in the train crash that separated them.
Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and re-creating photographs. With her father’s connections in propaganda, she’s recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove if she ever found out.
After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily that soon takes over their hearts. But both have secrets they’re unwilling to share, and neither is entirely sure they can trust the other. When Zivon’s loyalties are called into question, proving him honest is about more than one couple’s future dreams–it becomes a matter of ending the war.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Roseanna M. White (www.roseannamwhite.com) is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, designing book covers, editing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
GIVEAWAY:
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A Portrait of Loyalty PRIZE PACK Includes:
One (1) Gift Certificate to Shutterfly of $25
One (1) Eiffel Tower Framed Print (photo taken by my daughter)
One (1) “Capture Life” Bracelet
One (1) A Portrait of Loyalty T-Shirt
Complete Print set of The Codebreakers, signed. Includes one (1) copy of The Number of Love, one (1) copy of On Wings of Devotion, and one (1) copy of A Portrait of Loyalty.
Enter via the Rafflecopter link below. Prizes subject to change due to availability. Open to US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited. Giveaway open 9/8/2020 – 9/15/2020. One (1) winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and will be notified via the email provided. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize before a new winner is selected. See roseannamwhite.com for more information. |
by admin | Sep 7, 2020 | American Crime, Books, England, Historical, Historical Mystery/Suspense, Pinkertons, Romance, Texas, True Crime
MY REVIEW:
Kathleen Y’Barbo’s contribution to the True Colors Historical Stories of American Crime, The Black Midnight is brilliant! It is such a clever blend of true, unsolved crimes with fictional characters and imaginary scenarios that I was captivated by it. It is evident by the way both Austin and London came to life on its pages that this author has done her research and done it well. And how inspired was it to feature a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria as a Pinkerton detective!
Once again this author has contributed to an evening of my reading pleasure with a well-balanced combination of mystery, danger, suspense, and romance. It was fun to imagine the possibilities behind both the Jack the Ripper and the Midnight Assassin unsolved cases and how they might be connected.
I highly recommend The Black Midnight to all lovers of true crime fiction. I have enjoyed all the previous books in this series but this one is a must. Do pick up a copy for yourself soon.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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Book: The Black Midnight
Author: Kathleen Y’Barbo
Genre: Christian Historical Suspense
Release Date: August, 2020
Click here to get your copy!
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Death Seems to Follow Harriet’s New Friend
Book 7 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History
Three years before Jack the Ripper began his murderous spree on the streets of London, women were dying in their beds as The Midnight Assassin terrorized the citizens of Austin, Texas. Now, with suspicion falling on Her Majesty’s family and Scotland Yard at a loss as to who the Ripper might be, Queen Victoria summons her great-granddaughter, Alice Anne von Wettin, a former Pinkerton agent who worked the unsolved Austin case, and orders her to discreetly form a team to look into the London matter.
The prospect of a second chance to work with Annie just might entice Isaiah Joplin out of his comfortable life as an Austin lawyer. If his theories are right, they’ll find the The Midnight Assassin and, by default, the Ripper. If they’re wrong, he and Annie are in a bigger mess than the one the feisty female left behind when she departed Austin under cover of darkness three years ago.
Can the unlikely pair find the truth of who is behind the murders before they are drawn into the killer’s deadly game? From Texas to London, the story navigates the fine line between truth and fiction as Annie and Isaiah ultimately find the hunters have become the hunted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee of more than sixty novels with almost two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad.
MORE FROM KATHLEEN Y’BARBO:
I am a tenth generation Texan, but London has held a place in my heart for over ten years. You see, I have a son who has lived there for more than a decade. Thanks to him and his family of three—my granddaughter was born there on New Year’s Eve 2019—the city will always be special to me. There is absolutely nothing like walking those streets with a thousand years of history close enough to touch.
It was on a walk with my son through this great city that the stories of nineteenth century London came alive. With fog shrouding the rooftops of buildings that were hundreds of years old and our footsteps echoing on the cobblestones, I could imagine a time when lack of electricity and CCTV would make this place less than charming on a dark night. What reminded me of my favorite childhood movie, Mary Poppins, quickly became more reminiscent of Jack the Ripper. And then a story was born.
Only I just had half the story.
The other half came to me several years later when I stumbled across an article in Texas Monthly magazine about a serial killer who rampaged through Austin, Texas in 1884 and 1885 and was never caught. Some surmised this madman, called “The Midnight Assassin” by some, might have been Jack the Ripper honing his skills before he crossed the Atlantic to begin his famous crime spree in Great Britain.
But Austin? Ironically, my other two sons lived in Austin. So while part of my heart was in London, two more parts of that same heart resided in the Texas capital. I thought I knew Austin inside out. Between one of my sons getting not one but two degrees from the University of Texas (this Aggie grad is still proud of him in spite of what I jokingly call his burnt orange rebellion) and my other son living there and managing a restaurant at the time (and who just graduated from Texas A&M Galveston last month!), I had spent many years in the city. And yet I had never heard of the Midnight Assassin.
Research turned up a tale that sounds so close to fiction I had to write about it. Discovering the theory that the Austin killer might also be the Ripper just added to my interest—neither had been caught. And I like to write about Pinkerton detectives.
From there the story unfolded. If you’ve read any of my historical romances, you know that I love incorporating actual history into my stories. As you’ll see when you read The Black Midnight, this book is no exception. While I will continue writing the historical romances I love to bring to you, I will confess that writing this book has me itching to research another one like it.
What’s next in my foray into true crime novels? Maybe Houston. You see, I have a daughter who lives there…
In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy reading The Black Midnight as much as I enjoyed writing it!
BLOG STOPS:
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Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 27
Genesis 5020, August 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 27
Inklings and notions, August 28
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 28
Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 28
Older & Smarter?, August 29
Texas Book-aholic, August 29
Artistic Nobody, August 29 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
For the Love of Literature, August 30
Connie’s History Classroom, August 30
For Him and My Family, August 31
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, August 31
Betti Mace, September 1
Robin’s Nest, September 1
Bigreadersite, September 1
deb’s Book Review, September 2
Splashes of Joy, September 2
Just Your Average reviews, September 2
Rebecca Tews, September 3
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Just the Write Escape, September 3
Emily Yager, September 3
Christian Bookaholic, September 4
reviewingbooksplusmore, September 4
KarenSueHadley, September 4
Remembrancy, September 5
Through the Fire Blogs, September 5
21st Century Keeper at Home, September 6
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 6
Blogging With Carol, September 6
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, September 7
Life of Literature, September 7
Mary Hake, September 7
Godly Book Reviews, September 8
Back Porch Reads, September 8
Daysong Reflections, September 8
Pause for Tales, September 9
Blossoms and Blessings, September 9
Hallie Reads, September 9
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GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/ffb7/the-black-midnight-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Sep 2, 2020 | Books, Depression Era, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Unfamiliar with this author I was not sure what to expect when I requested The Sinner in Mississippi to review. It looked interesting so I did expect an enjoyable story. Then I began to see warnings that there were scenes that might be triggers for some people and I began to doubt my choice. Thankfully, I did decide to read this book. Although there were definitely some difficult scenes that could truly be triggers to those who have suffered similar situations, each was presented with restraint.
The heroine of this narrative is Mississippi, a young woman living in poverty with a father and two brothers who neglected and abused her. Rescued from that life by an honorable businessman who took her into his home and provided everything she needed and offered her a fresh start in life. Mississippi experienced what might be called the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of life which tended to make her doubt that God cared for her. Through the care and love of Thayer, Mississippi eventually realizes that she has been in God’s hands all along.
Vivid imagery and character descriptions (even the bad ones) worked together to make this book difficult to close. Its strong story of forgiveness gave just the right tone to a book that will be long remembered by most readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
| Book: The Sinner in Mississippi
Author: D.L. Lane
Genre: Historical Fiction, Inspirational Romance
Release Date: May 1, 2020
Click here to get your copy!
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Not expecting me to live, the midwife cleaned me up, wrapped me in an old tea towel, and placed me in a knitting basket beside the wood-burning stove. According to Mama, the storm raged until morning, but I never made one sound. So, hours later, when they peeked in at me, they were surprised to see me sucking my thumb, staring up at them with eyes the color of bluebells.
Mama told me, that’s when she cried.
See, she hadn’t shed a single tear during the harsh pain of giving birth or out of fear of the horrible storm taking the house and her with it, but she sobbed when she saw me. To her, it would have been better for all of us if I’d passed on in the night, carried off on the wings of angels, never to suffer the evils of this world. And sometimes, I wondered if she hadn’t been right.
–Mississippi Singleton
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
D.L. Lane is a wife, musician, a graduate of Liberty University, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. In 2010 she walked away from the day job and started a writing career using a pen name. As far as the world was concerned, she was very successful writing romances, however, success aside, she knew she wasn’t on the right path but stubbornly kept on going for nine years. Although a Christian and raised in a religious home, D.L went her own way, leaving God out of her choices until He said, “Enough.”
Weary and seeking guidance, she finally listened and left the course she was on as an established novelist to take a new path—putting God first in her life where He always should have been.
MORE FROM D.L.:
I love writing, and I love to challenge myself as an author, and so I thought, why not write a fictional historical piece. This was a test for me since there are many things to research when writing during a different era, especially when I wasn’t around at that time. But I prayed about it, grabbed my laptop, and started writing about a poor, uneducated girl who grew up in Louisiana during the Great Depression in a motherless home with a group of reprobate males.
Not unlike the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis, a boy despised by his brothers who plotted against him, later rose from the depths to become one of the most powerful men in Egypt, facing the very men who had been responsible for the atrocities he’d suffered. Joseph had a choice. Let them die or help the ones who never helped him? This story weaves some of that same treachery with truth, teaching not only the heroine but the hero the ultimate meaning of love.
I wanted to give readers a book demonstrating the fact God will never leave us, even if we have left him for a time. That a personal relationship with Christ is our ultimate source of strength, and with His help, we can be pulled out of the depths of great sorrow, rising to heights we never imagined possible.
BLOG STOPS:
| Texas Book-aholic, August 22
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 23
Inklings and notions, August 24
Genesis 5020, August 24
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 25
For the Love of Literature, August 26
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 27
Maureen’s Musings, August 27
For Him and My Family, August 28
Godly Book Reviews, August 29
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Locks, Hooks and Books, August 30Labor Not in Vain, August 30
deb’s Book Review, August 31
Pause for Tales, September 1
Betti Mace, September 2
Rebecca Tews, September 2
Daysong Reflections, September 3
Connie’s History Classroom, September 4
Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 4 |
To celebrate her tour, D.L. is giving away the grand prize package of a $10 Amazon eGift Card and a free Audiobook of The Sinner in Mississippi!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/ffa5/the-sinner-in-mississippi-celebration-tour-giveaway
