Romance | Daysong Reflections

Betsy St. Amant

by admin | Nov 4, 2021 | Books, Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

MY REVIEW:

Tacos for Two was a welcome break from my most recent reads that mostly included several suspense novels and a World War 2 novel. I actually enjoyed them all but sometimes a reader needs a little levity and romance to lighten things up a bit. Tacos for Two did that for me.

The primary characters are Rory and Jude who have connected through an online dating service. The only catch is that they must communicate only through messaging until it is time for them to meet and decide whether to continue the relationship. Their online conversations have been an encouragement and have convinced both parties that the other is exactly the person they need. Little do they know that they have been interacting in real life for awhile and their face-to-face encounters are, shall we say, less than encouraging.

A food truck competition takes center stage with Rory and Jude as strong competitors. Both have equally important reasons they want to win and readers will have a difficult time deciding which side to root for. Plenty of friendly rivalry, unexpected obstacles, and a few hijinks make for a fun read. Character development is excellent. I especially like Rory’s cousin Hannah, a young woman with Down’s Syndrome who is quite talented in her origami hobby and frequently speaks her mind with surprising wisdom.

I thoroughly enjoyed Tacos for Two and would recommend it to all lovers of its genre.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Two unlikely chefs. One life-changing contest. There can only be one winner . . . right?

Food truck owner Rory Perez may not be able to cook, but she’s determined to keep the family business out of the red. An upcoming contest during a food truck festival seems like the best way to do it. The prize money could finally give her solid financial footing, freeing up her time to meet the man she’s been talking to via an anonymous online dating site.

Jude Strong is tired of being a puppet at his manipulative father’s law firm, and the food truck festival seems like the perfect opportunity to dive into his passion for cooking and finally call his life his own. If he loses the contest, he’ll be back at the law firm for good, so failure is not an option.

But things are about to get . . . complicated. Rory’s chef gets mono, forcing her to cook after all. And Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he’s been falling for online. Will they sacrifice the futures they’ve envisioned for the sake of love? Or will there only ever be tacos for one?

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Betsy St. Amant is the author of more than fifteen inspirational romances, including The Key to Love, and a frequent contributor to iBelieve.com. She lives in north Louisiana with her husband, two daughters, a collection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash of pickle-flavored Pringles. When she’s not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a white chocolate mocha–no whip. Learn more at www.betsystamant.com.

A Picture of Hope by Liz Tolsma

by admin | Nov 3, 2021 | Books, Historical, Romance, WWII

MY REVIEW:

A Picture of Hope is such a well-written novel that a reader may well feel as if she is with heroine Nellie Wilkerson as she experiences first-hand the horrors of World War 2. From the city streets of London to Normandy Beach to a burned out church in a small town in France, Nellie Wilkerson, a photo journalist witnesses atrocities most people do not even care to imagine.

Although Nellie feels that her calling is to document the war so that the people back home in the U.S. will know the truth about the brutality of Hitler’s Nazi Party, she is always ready to help wherever she is needed at the time. When she and Jean-Paul Breslau of the French Underground work together to protect and find a place for an orphaned special needs child, she discovers that following God’s plans for one’s life can sometimes mean laying down their life so that another may live.

A Picture of Hope is brilliant yet at times it is difficult to read about men’s cruelty to others. I enjoyed Nellie’s interactions with the nuns as well as Jean-Paul. I loved the brutal honesty of one of the nuns whose wisdom encouraged Nellie along the way. Nellie herself was impulsive and often came close to endangering not only herself but the others in her group of travelers. Yet always, the author stressed the hope that we find in the Lord, even when life seems darkest.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book: A Picture of Hope

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: October, 2021

Click here to get your copy!

A Photojournalist Risks Her Life to Save Children

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

Journalist Nellie Wilkerson has spent the bulk of the war in London, photographing pilots taking off and landing—and she’s bored. She jumps at the chance to go to France, where the Allied forces recently landed. She enlists Jean-Paul Breslau of the French underground to take her to the frontlines. On the journey, they come upon an orphanage where nuns shelter children with disabilities. Can they help save them before the Nazis come to liquidate it?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. Please visit her website at www.liztolsma.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter (@LizTolsma), Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. She is also the host of the Christian Historical Fiction Talk podcast.

MORE FROM LIZ:

Why Another WWII Novel Set in France

You may well read the back cover of my latest release, A Picture of Hope, and wonder why on earth we need another WWII novel set in France. After all, Kristy Cambron just had one. Melanie Dobson and Sarah Sundin will be coming out with theirs in 2022. So why did I feel the need to write my novel with the same setting?

First of all, I’m a Francophile. I love all things French. It started when I took French in high school. Everyone else was learning Spanish, but I wasn’t into being part of the crowd. There were only a few of us in the class, and it was great fun. We had a wonderful teacher. Being able to pull out some of that French, refine it a bit, and use it in the book was a blast. But I also love French food (who doesn’t?) and everything else.

Secondly, I hadn’t written about France before. When I wrote this proposal at least five or six years ago, I didn’t know France would be so hot. God did, and the book came about in His perfect timing. I’d explored the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Philippines. Such a shame that I was leaving out France, so I set about to write a novel located in that country.

Thirdly, there was so much good material to pull from. The French resistance, while small, did good work and sacrificed a great deal to get Jews out of the country and into Switzerland or Spain. The books that Kristy, Melanie, Sarah, and I write are all so different. Only the setting is the same. And when I found out that the famous mime Marcel Marceau was part of the resistance, I couldn’t help but giving him a cameo. Be on the lookout!

Along the way, I discovered some truly heartrending incidents that took place in France. They also compelled me to write this book. I long for the world to remember what happened so that we will never forget. And so that the atrocities committed there will never be repeated.

Fourthly, this was originally the third book in a series. Don’t worry – it’s a stand-alone. Maybe someday I’ll get to publish the other two. The women in the series are all American journalists in Europe. One is a reporter, the other is a broadcaster, and so I decided to make Nellie, the heroine in A Picture of Hope, a photojournalist. And where better to take pictures than on Omaha Beach soon after D-day. How she gets there is based on a very interesting true story, so be sure to read to the end for that one.

There are so many stories about WWII to be told and so many countries that participated in the conflict in one way or the other. The ground is so rich that we aren’t plowing the same parcel. You’ll find all of these books to be very different from each other, each with its own message, its own voice, and its own plot.

The focus in my book is on children with Down syndrome. I have a background in special education, and my husband and I adopted a child from the Philippines with an intellectual disability, so I’ve always had a heart for people with special needs. My daughter brings us so much joy that I wanted to share a glimpse into what these remarkable people are truly capable of.

So that is why I wrote a WWII novel set in France. Make yourself a cup of café au lait, butter up a croissant, and enjoy A Picture of Hope!

BLOG STOPS:

A Baker’s Perspective, October 28

Life of Literature, October 28

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 28

Genesis 5020, October 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29

The Book Chic Blog, October 29

Blogging With Carol, October 29

Texas Book-aholic, October 30

Sodbuster Living, October 30

Spoken from the Heart, October 30

Elly Gilbert, October 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 31

Inklings and notions, October 31

Labor Not in Vain, October 31

CarpeDiem, October 31

Splashes of Joy, November 1

Reviewingbooksplusmore, November 1

Life, love, writing, November 1

For Him and My Family, November 1

deb’s Book Review, November 2

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, November 2

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 3

Betti Mace, November 3

Worthy2Read, November 3

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 3

Daysong Reflections, November 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 4

Vicky Sluiter, November 4

Southern Gal Loves to Read, November 4

Older & Smarter?, November 5

By the Book, November 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 5

Connie’s History Classroom, November 6

For the Love of Literature, November 6

Bigreadersite, November 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 6

Rebecca Tews, November 7

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 7

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, November 7

She Lives To Read, November 8

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 8

Where Faith and Books Meet, November 8

Pause for Tales, November 9

Christian Bookaholic, November 9

Through the Fire Blogs, November 9

To Everything There Is A Season , November 9

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, November 10

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, November 10

Mary Hake, November 10

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and copy of A Picture of Hope!!

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/12b83/a-picture-of-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway

Rising Danger by Jerusha Agen

by admin | Oct 22, 2021 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Dogs, Romance, Suspense

MY REVIEW:

I was first attracted to Rising Danger by its cover because we have a black lab that closely resembles the dog in the image. It didn’t take me very long once I began to read to become 100% invested in Bristol and her explosives detection dog Toby’s story. I am thoroughly convinced that if our Maggie had had the proper training, she too could have excelled in a similar job. Labs are the best!

Aside from the dog love, Rising Danger was a true nail biter suspense that raced from one potential disaster to another as time seemed to be running out for Bristol, Toby, Remington, and all the members of the Phoenix K-9 security team. I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting narrative of domestic terrorism and the people who risked their own lives to save others as well as a second chance romance and a message of faith deftly woven throughout.

Rising Danger is the first book I’ve read by Jerusha Agen but I can guarantee it will not be the last. Readers who enjoy contemporary suspense novels should love this one.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book: Rising Danger

Author: Jerusha Agen

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: May 25, 2021

Click here to get your copy!

It’s up to a K-9 handler and her canine partner to stop a bomber before it’s too late.

Someone’s planting explosives on dams in the Twin Cities, and Bristol Bachmann and her bomb sniffing dog must move quickly to find them before everything ends up underwater. That means relying on the dams’ supervisor—an ex-boyfriend Bristol never thought she’d see again. Hopefully Remington Jones has grown up from the rakish charmer she knew in her academy days. Because lives now depend entirely on them…

It’s an environmental terrorist who wants the dams gone, and his bid to set the waters free has lethal consequences. When he sees Bristol and her K-9 working to stop him, he sets his sights on them. Can they evade him in a lethal game of cat and mouse and protect their cities from devastating destruction before the clock runs out?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner, but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ.

With a B.A. in English and a background in screenwriting, Jerusha is a speaker, writing instructor, and Fear Warrior who sounds the call to battle against fear in our everyday lives.

Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats. You’ll often find her sharing irresistibly adorable photos of them in her newsletter and on social media.

Get a free suspense story from Jerusha and find more of her thrilling, fear-fighting novels at www.JerushaAgen.com.

MORE FROM JERUSHA:

Hi, readers! For those of you who are familiar with my suspense novels, you know I love to interweave fast-paced suspense with powerful character journeys of redemption. I got to do just that in my romantic suspense novel, Rising Danger.

But what I especially loved about writing Rising Danger was the chance to feature a canine hero. Bristol Bachmann, the heroine of Rising Danger, partners with Toby, an explosives detection K-9, to stop a bomber from unleashing terror on the Twin Cities.

As a lifelong lover of dogs, I’ve always been fascinated by working K-9s like Toby. Getting to portray this black Labrador’s heroism in Rising Danger was so much fun.

I also feel that writing about Toby and the other K-9s in this tale who are part of the Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency was a way to honor the heroic dogs I’ve had in my own life. No, I haven’t known any working K-9s, but I’ve shared my life with dogs who were heroic in different ways.

Take Lancelot, my first Leonberger. Lancelot was one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever known. With his huge size, he was a true gentle giant. At an early age, he became terribly afraid of strangers and new places. I worked with skilled trainers to help him battle his fear, and he did have some improvement. But he would always struggle with meeting new people or visiting locations away from home.

Even so, he never stopped fighting against his fears. He continued to get better the more he fought. And while he battled his fears, he taught me how to battle mine.

Then, the worst battle of all commenced when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Doctors gave him only three to four months to live—a frightening and devastating death sentence for the dog of my heart.

But God had more to teach me through Lancelot. This courageous dog fought cancer as hard as he had fought his fears. He taught me how to find joy in every moment of life, even when there’s pain or sadness. He taught me how precious and powerful love can be. And God used him to give me unforgettable evidence of God’s loving providence and sovereignty at work.

Because God had a different plan for Lancelot. God gave me the gift of over 1,000 more days with my heroic dog.

Right up to the end of his days, Lancelot remained my hero. I’m so pleased to begin a series of books with prequel Rising Danger that feature K-9 heroes who, in different ways, remind me of the heroic dogs I’ve been privileged to love.

BLOG STOPS:

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 20

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 20

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 21

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, October 21 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 22

CarpeDiem, October 22

Betti Mace, October 23

Daysong Reflections, October 23

lakesidereadingsite, October 24

Texas Book-aholic, October 24

Inside the Wong Mind, October 25

deb’s Book Review, October 25

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 26

Blogging With Carol, October 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 27

Simple Harvest Reads, October 27 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Inklings and notions, October 28

An Author’s Take, October 28

Through the fire blogs, October 29

For Him and My Family, October 29

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, October 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 30

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, October 31

Just Your Average reviews, October 31

Mary Hake, October 31

Pause for Tales, November 1

Spoken from the Heart, November 1

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, November 2

For the Love of Literature, November 2

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Jerusha is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card, one signed copy of Rising Danger, and book swag!!

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/126b0/rising-danger-celebration-tour-giveaway

Deadly Connection by Kathy Harris

by admin | Oct 21, 2021 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Nashville, Romance, Suspense

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Deadly Connection by Kathy Harris, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

MY REVIEW:

Deadly Connection is a fast paced, suspense filled novel that should keep most readers on the edge of their seats. It is the story of a young woman in the wrong place at the wrong time who barely escapes abduction, but witnesses the abduction and murder of another young woman and finds her life in danger from that moment on. FBI agent Jake Matheson arrives on the scene just moments later and quickly becomes involved in the case as well as the life of Hannah Cassidy.

Not only did I enjoy the action, suspense, and romance that were all blended together with just the right amount of faith, but I also loved visiting Nashville through the eyes of the author. It was also interesting to learn a bit of behind-the-scenes of the music business there from the perspective of a song writer. Nashville is only about three hours away but I have not visited there very often. After reading Deadly Connection I would love to visit a few of the places mentioned – as long as I can avoid the dangerous aspects that were experienced by Jake and Hannah.

The book was well written and easy to follow with several twists and surprises that kept me engaged the entire time I read. I did suspect the right person early on but not everything that was behind it. Deadly Connection is yet another Christian book that focuses on human trafficking and hopefully will being more attention to this dangerous practice.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by JustReads Publicity. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: Deadly Connection
Series: The Deadly Secrets #2
Author: Kathy Harris
Publisher: Iron Stream Fiction
Release Date: October 12, 2021
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Christian

Will they uncover the secrets between them before it becomes deadly?

After fending off a would-be abductor, 27-year-old singer-songwriter Hannah Cassidy hides behind a car in the half-empty parking lot behind Pancake Pantry in Nashville. From there, she watches in horror as her attacker grabs another woman and pushes her into a nearby car. Within seconds, the vehicle speeds away.

TBI Special Agent Jake Matheson may have planned a quiet day off and a date with Shannon?the only name her online profile revealed?for an introductory lunch, but after pulling into a parking space on 21st Avenue South, he hears a scream. He races to the back of the building and finds a frightened young woman bent forward and gasping for breath.

Thrown together by uncanny circumstances and driven by the whys and what-ifs of secrets yet to be revealed, Hannah and Jake set out to find the connection between them before it becomes deadly.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

?Kathy Harris has worked as a marketing director in the Nashville music industry for more than 30 years. Her first professional writing job was freelancing entertainer biographies. Later she wrote and co-wrote news stories and columns for various music publications, eventually contributing to anthologies for Thomas Nelson, Tyndale House, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Kathy’s debut novel, The Road to Mercy, was released in 2012 by Abingdon Press. Deadly Connection, her second book in The Deadly Secrets series, will release from Iron Stream Fiction on October 12, 2021. Kathy has regularly hosted music and literary guests on her Divine Detour blog since 2010.

CONNECT WITH KATHY: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

GIVEAWAY:

(1) winner will receive a $35 Amazon gift card and an autographed copy of Deadly Connection!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 19, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 26, 2021. 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.

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

by admin | Oct 18, 2021 | Books, Historical, Humor, Mystery, Regency, Romance

MY REVIEW:

The Mistletoe Countess may just be one of the most perfect romance novels I have ever read. A delightful combination of humor, romance, and mystery, I couldn’t read fast enough yet was so disappointed to reach its end.

What reader would not love heroine Gracelynn, the innocent yet outspoken booklover who agrees to take her sister’s place in an arranged marriage to prevent the scandal her parents fear. I didn’t expect to like Lord Frederick Percy very much but he too quickly earned his place in my heart.

It was such fun getting to observe the pair as they negotiated their new life as a married couple as they also got to know each other better. Their witty exchanges and romantic tension were perfectly timed and the scattered incidents that hinted at attempts on Percy’s life added just the right touch of mystery and suspense.

I will restrain myself from giving away more of the story because this is one you will want to read for yourself. I am hoping to find time to read it again very soon. Yes, it was that good!

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Will the magic of Christmas bring these two newlyweds closer together, or will the ghosts of the past lead them into a destructive discovery from which not even a Dickens’s Christmas can save them?

Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister’s place as a Christmas bride, but when she’s thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick’s heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick’s past ruin her fairytale future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with a southern Appalachian flair. Her books have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inpsys, and the ACFW Carol Awards, with The Thorn Healer selected as a 2018 finalist in the RT awards. Both her contemporary and historical romance novels consistently receive high ratings from Romantic Times, with Just the Way You Are as a Top Pick. Most recently she’s introduced readers to Bath, UK through her novellas, Second Impressions and Jane by the Book, and taken readers into the exciting world of WW2 espionage in her novella, Façade. The second novel in The Pleasant Gap series, When You Look at Me, arrives in October and her contribution to Barbour’s wonderful My Heart Belongs series hits the shelves in January 2019 with My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge. Her books are seasoned with her Appalachian heritage and love for family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

You can get to know Pepper on her website, www.pepperdbasham.com, on Facebook, Instagram, or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley.

More Than a Heartthrob by Kari Trumbo

by admin | Oct 14, 2021 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

MY REVIEW:

More Than a Heartthrob is the latest offering in The Independence Islands series but can easily stand alone. It is fun though to encounter characters from previous books in the series. I love that the slogan for the series is “beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.” You would definitely call books in this series beach reads but the stories take place at all seasons of the year.

More Than a Heartthrob is also more than your ordinary everyday romance novel. For widely different reasons both Jazzy and Chris have an identity crisis. It is easy to understand why Jazzy might not be certain about who she is because she has spent her life hiding her scars and lack of hair because of the way others have reacted to her. In some ways she has been acting a part. Chris is actually a fairly successful actor who doesn’t really know who the real Chris is outside his Hollywood persona. Circumstances bring the pair together and as their friendship grows, the path to self-discovery begins.

I thoroughly enjoyed More Than a Heartthrob. The plot moved along at such a steady pace and the story held my interest so well that I soon found myself at the very end. The book was a sweet romance that held strong revelation about finding ourselves by finding God’s plan for our lives.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book: More Thank A Heartthrob

Author: Kari Trumbo

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: September 28, 2021

Click here to get your copy!

Whoever said beauty is only skin deep lied. Beauty begins from within.

Jazzy is comfortable in her own skin, but the world cringes at it. Her personal armor since her teen years, makeup hides the scars that make anyone who sees them wince. The true test of any friend is: will they accept her without it?

Chris races to Hooper Island to escape a life-altering situation. The only person he knows and can trust there is a woman he met once. It wasn’t a good meeting. Lost and lonely after being the center of attention in Hollywood, he won’t risk losing the one friend he has.

Befriending Chris poses a risk Jazzy is loath to take. If anyone will reject her for her scars, it’ll be a guy whose life is focused on beauty. But as she helps him work through his own problems and his struggles with faith, will she gather the courage to pluck the plank from her own eye?

Once alone and vulnerable, will Jazzy and Chris rely on one another? Or will the force of their polar opposite lives push them apart—for good.

More Than a Heartthrob continues the Hooper Island stories of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kari writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.
Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn’t) South Dakota.

Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.

MORE FROM KARI:

Hello Readers!

Welcome to the blog tour for More than a Heartthrob. I hope you’ve had a chance to read about the book a little. Thank you to today’s blog host and to Celebrate Lit for the tour and for publishing this great set.

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like everyone was staring at you for whatever reason? For me, it’s my weight. I’ve been overweight since my second year of marriage when I made a personal (and poor) decision to take a medication that made me gain a lot of weight quickly. And because of back pain, I’ve never been successful in shedding it.

For Jasmine (Jazzy), it’s her scars and lack of hair that she hides under makeup and wigs. She’s carefully kept them a secret her entire life. Only her friends and family know. She even has a beauty vlog (video blog) where she talks about faith and gives beauty tips.

But she isn’t happy. She’s lonely because it’s all fake. The skin she shows the world isn’t hers. I know I feel like that sometimes when I hide behind baggy clothes or sit behind a table so no one can really see me.

But, do people really think in their heads what we think they are? All that worry is spent, but it is fruitful? The answer to that, is no. Do some people judge us on our looks, behavior, or faith? Absolutely, but this book challenges the view that people “always” do.

Jazzy is challenged to forgo what she thinks makes her beautiful, it’s a twist on the old beauty and the beast story and I think you’re going to enjoy it. Especially because the guy who believes in her most, is the one society says should be the most critical, a Hollywood actor.

I hope, if you’re one of those people who wishes for a tall plant to hide behind when you’re in a crowded room, that you’ll find a kindred spirit in Jazzy.

Kari