by admin | Jul 14, 2019 | Author Spotlight, Books
Welcome to the Blog Blitz for The Mosaic Collection, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE COLLECTION
For His glory…
The Mosaic Collection is an international community of women authors who use faith-based fiction to touch hearts with the good news that Christ’s finished work on the cross has made us one family, and to nurture affection for the people God has placed within our circles of influence, so that the grace and glory of God may become visible and personal to everyone we meet.
…and our good
We are sisters, a beautiful mosaic united by the love of God through the blood of Christ. We have experienced the redemptive, restorative power of God’s grace in our marriages and families, and we believe our God is able to heal, restore and redeem our brokenness. His love fills us with the courage to persevere, and to offer others a Christ-like compassion that is full of His wisdom and grace.
Visit the Mosaic Collection Website to stay posted on each new release & follow the collection blog for meaningful posts from the authors!
ABOUT LORNA SEILSTAD:
Fan favorite Lorna Seilstad writes multi-layered stories which contain a generous dash of humor. She is the author of the Lake Manawa Summers series and Gregory Sisters series (Revell) and has stories included several novella collections. She was a Carol Award finalist in historical romance, but today writes both historical and contemporary stories. When she’s not eating chocolate, she enjoys doing flowers for weddings, teaching Bible classes, researching history, baking cookies, and working with her 4-H club. She and her husband live in Iowa with their three adult children living nearby.
CONNECT WITH LORNA: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Cornerstone message from the collection:
God loves you more in this moment than anyone could in a lifetime.
A FEW OF LORNA’S FAVORITE THINGS:
Favorite place to read: In bed
Favorite book character from childhood: Babar
Favorite movie: Chocolat
Favorite quote or Bible verse: Romans 8:38-39
Favorite splurge/treat: Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Ice Cream
Favorite character you’ve created: Tessa Gregory
Last 3 great books you read: The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Ella MacNeal, The American Agent: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear, and A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz
Dream vacation: Bible lands tour
Hidden talent/little-known fact: I almost always know the time without looking at a watch or clock–even in the middle of the night.
Plotter or pantser: I’m sort of a hybrid. I make a plot skeleton and then fill in the flesh as I go.
In no particular order, ten of your favorite things (i.e. hot cocoa, a warm breeze, the sound of my kids’ laughter, etc.) : Oreos, listening to recorded books, the smell of the air after it rains, singing in church, Ghirardelli’s double hot chocolate, tuberous begonias, working with kids and watching them grow, the crunch of leaves in the autumn, baking, dimples
TOUR GIVEAWAY:
(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card & an ebook prize pack*!
Winner will receive an ebook of:
- Where She Belongs
- Pieces of Granite
- Lifelines
- Christmas on a Mission
- Vigilant
- Other Side of the River
- The Third Grace
- Carolina Grace
- The Benefit Package (a devotional)
- Dance of Grace
- When Love Calls
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight July 10, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on July 24, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally, but international winner will receive a gift card only *(may be substituted for a Book Depository gift card if winner cannot accept from US Amazon)
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
See tour landing page for a complete list of authors & book release dates.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
by admin | Jul 12, 2019 | Books, Cover Reveal
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Emma Mitchell may enjoy sprinkling romance into the lives of others, but her own plans involve a single first-class ticket to culinary school in Europe.
When her best friend, Jon Noble, suddenly moves back to Ransom, Emma’s fairly certain her life can’t get any better…until her matchmaking schemes nosedive, her culinary future falls flat, and a life-long friendship begins to teeter on the brink of something unexpected.
With a little inspiration from Jane Austen’s classic and a touch of Blue Ridge charm, will Jon and Emma discover that what they need the most may be the last thing they’re trying to find?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance novels with grace, humor, and culture clashes. She’s a Blue Ridge Mountain native and an anglophile who enjoys combining her two loves to create memorable stories of hope. You can connect with Pepper over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley, her website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter.
by admin | Jul 8, 2019 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Lori Benton’s books have been on my must read list since I read the opening pages of Burning Sky. It was such a beautifully written book that I couldn’t imagine one better. Of course I have come to realize that each and every one of this author’s books have been so very well researched and thought out that they couldn’t help but become another masterpiece in her repertoire. The King’s Mercy joins those novels as a standout among Christian historical romance.
Alex MacKinnon’s life is one of tragedy and loss. Although allowed to live by the king’s mercy, his exile to a North Carolina plantation as an indentured servant only served to increase his anger about the unfairness of his circumstances. Friendship with Joanna Carey, daughter of the plantation owner only increases his hopelessness since she is expected to marry Reeves, the overseer.
The King’s Mercy is an engaging tale filled with vivid descriptions of life during that era and well defined characters readers will either love or hate. The author skillfully illustrates how choices we make affects our lives and beautifully contrasts the earthly king’s mercy with the mercy of our true King in heaven. There is a wonderful depth to this story that should leave readers pondering their own faith. I was held captive by this book and held my breath at times as I wondered what would happen next and if the truly evil person would ever be exposed. Reverend Pauling added an extra layer to the story with his wisdom and willingness to lay his own life down for others.
I highly recommend The King’s Mercy and encourage every reader who loves historical fiction to grab a copy as soon as possible.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Waterbrook Multnomah. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When captured rebel Scotsman Alex MacKinnon is granted the king’s mercy–transport across the Atlantic Ocean and exile to the colony of North Carolina–he’s indentured as a blacksmith to Edmund Carey, prosperous owner of Severn Plantation. The arrangement devastates the Scot who mourns the life he lost and finds life on a slave plantation intolerable. Unwittlingly, Alex is drawn into the plight of Carey’s slaves, particularly those connected to Carey’s stepdaughter, Joanna.
A mistress longing for a different life, Joanna Carey is expected to wed the plantation’s overseer, Phineas Reeves, who has no patience for her kinder vision for Severn’s future. For guidance, Joanna relies on itinerant minister Reverend Pauling, who travels to the plantation seasonally, bringing the gospel to all with ears to listen.
Despite his growing bond with Joanna, Alex longs to break the chains of servitude and forge his freedom, until he’s faced with the choice that hounds him: continue down his destructive, rebellious path or embrace the faith of a man like Pauling, whose freedom in Christ no earthly power can steal. But the price of such mercy is total surrender and perhaps Alex’s very life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lori Benton was born and raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American and family history going back to the 1600s. Her novels transport readers to the 18th century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history, creating a melting pot of characters drawn from both sides of a turbulent and shifting frontier, brought together in the bonds of God’s transforming grace.
Lori’s debut novel, Burning Sky, earned the 2014 Christy Award for First Novel, Historical, and Book of the Year.
by admin | Jul 8, 2019 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Married to a Stranger was just the kind of good read that I expect from Laura V. Hilton. She always manages to take a somewhat unique idea and turn it into an engaging story with a few unexpected twists along the way. Her characters are well-rounded and believable and most important, perfectly normal human beings with emotions and faults like the rest of us.
In her latest novel, Hilton gives her readers a tale featuring a young Amish woman falsely accused of misbehavior that resulted in an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Her outraged father immediately coerced a young widower, a stranger to Bethel into marrying her quickly. Devastated that her father didn’t believe her, Bethel agreed to the marriage because she was afraid she might be forced to marry another man she feared.
Married to a Stranger is a charming story of an arranged marriage that eventually turns out well (let’s be honest – that’s not really a spoiler). A bit of mystery and romance combine to make an enjoyable tale that should satisfy the most discriminating reader of Amish novels. It is a story of faith in the midst of hardship and tragedy and ultimately forgiveness and restoration. Laura V. Hilton has become my favorite Amish author and I would recommend her books to anyone who enjoys that genre.
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: Married to a Stranger
Author: Laura V. Hilton
Genre: Christian Amish Romance FictionRelease date: July 2, 2019 |
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He marries her out of need. She marries him to escape. What does love have to do with it?
When her father falsely accuses a stranger of dishonoring her, Bethel Eicher finds herself promised in marriage to a man she’s never met. Not exactly a dream come true, but since she has spent several years caring for her handicapped mother, she’s already considered an old maid at twenty-five—and she longs to escape her lonely life as permanent caregiver.
When newly-called Amish preacher Gideon Kaiser learns he’s been accused of a dishonorable act, he’s horrified. But his wife died in childbirth and his baby needs a mother, so he figures marrying a woman he’s never met could be beneficial.
How can Bethel and Gideon possibly make their marriage work—especially when the truth behind the accusations is revealed?
Click here to purchase your copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Laura V. Hilton is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with more than a thousand reviews published on the Internet.
Laura’s first series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Seymour, includes Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. In 2012, A Harvest of Hearts received a Laurel Award, placing first in the Amish Genre Clash. Her second series, The Amish of Webster County, consists of Healing Love, Surrendered Love, and Awakened Love, followed by a stand-alone title, A White Christmas in Webster County. Laura’s last series, The Amish of Jamesport, includes The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Birdhouse. Prior to Married to a Stranger, Laura published Firestorm, Love by the Numbers, The Amish Firefighter, and The Amish Wanderer.
Previously, Laura published two novels with Treble Heart Books, Hot Chocolate and Shadows of the Past, as well as several devotionals.
A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Laura earned a business degree from Ozarka Technical College. She and her husband, Steve, have five children and make their home in Arkansas. To learn more about Laura, read her reviews, and find out about her upcoming releases, readers may visit her blog at http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/.
READ AN EXCERPT:
He marries her out of need. She marries him to escape. What does love have to do with it?
He’s falsely accused of dishonoring her. She longs to escape her father’s household. Can they make their forced, arranged marriage work?
“Gideon, choose love. Not loss.” Lizzie gave a quiet sigh and then her eyes rolled back in her head.
“It’s a lie.” Bethel straightened. “Whoever he described has never touched me. Nobody has.”
Either he marry the woman who’d accused him of sexually assaulting her—a woman he had nein recollection of ever meeting, not to mention the fact that he had never touched any woman besides his beloved frau—or his name would be dragged through the mud for a sin he hadn’t committed, a sin for which he’d be forced to kneel and confess.
It wouldn’t do any gut to ask der Herr for this stranger—what was his name, anyway?—to be nice to her, because it seemed apparent Gott hadn’t heard one word of her endless prayers over the last few days. Either that, or He callously chose to disregard her requests.
It was probably the only wedding nacht in history during which the groom had hidden in the basement and raged, huddled upon and beneath a pile of blankets for warmth—warmth that never seemed to reach his core—before he cried himself into a fitful sleep.
At least, with this situation being handled directly between Gideon and both their fathers, with nein preacher or bishop involvement, none of the potentially damaging dirty laundry was hung out to dry.
The condemning stares from Gideon’s family members seemed to bore into Bethel’s back the entire time she prepared their breakfast and then washed the dishes.
She should’ve packed her bags and run away instead of going through with the wedding. Which was probably what her sister had done, kum to think of it.
He could see the hurt and bewilderment lingering in her eyes, as if she still didn’t fully realize how she’d gotten here, or why her father had chosen to believe an old widower over his own dochter.
Bethel’s first time changing Elam’s diaper didn’t go as badly as she’d feared. Lying on the changing table in his bedroom, the boppli waved his feet in the air and blew bubbles at her, completely winning her heart.
BLOG STOPS:
| The Avid Reader, July 2Through the Lens of Scripture, July 2
Maureen’s Musings, July 3
Among the Reads, July 3
Emily Yager, July 3
Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, July 4
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, July 4
For The Love of Books, July 4
EmpowerMoms, July 5
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, July 5
Bigreadersite, July 6
Through the Fire Blogs, July 6
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 6
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 7
Life of a travelers Wife, July 7
Texas Book-aholic, July 7
Daysong Reflections, July 8
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, July 8
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Mary Hake, July 8
Blossoms and Blessings, July 9
Britt Reads Fiction, July 9
janicesbookreviews, July 9
Carla Loves To Read, July 10
Reading Is My SuperPower, July 10
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, July 10
For Him and my Family, July 11
Moments, July 11
A Reader’s Brain, July 11
She Lives to Read, July 12
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 12Older & Smarter?, July 13
Inspiration Clothesline, July 13
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 14
Pause for Tales, July 14
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, July 15
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, July 15
Inklings and notions , July 15
|
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Laura is giving away a grand prize of a $20 Starbucks Card and a surprise 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/e594/married-to-a-stranger-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jul 6, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Love Inspired, Romantic Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I have found Dana Mentink to be a multifaceted author. It is quite amazing to me how one woman can write such hilarious romances on one hand and turn around and pen absolutely riveting suspense on the other. In my opinion, Danger on the Ranch may be her most suspenseful novel yet.
Former US Marshal Mitch Whitehorse was responsible for putting his brother in prison but unfortunately that brother has managed to escape and is determined to extract his revenge on Mitch. Jane Reyes, Mitch’s brother’s ex-wife and the child she has kept a secret need protection from the brother who is a psychopathic serial killer. Mitch has always believed that Jane was involved in the murders but in order to protect his nephew, he must trust her.
Wow! Danger on the Ranch was so suspense filled that I could not put it down and read it pretty much in one sitting. Character development was excellent, especially Mitch who struggled with judging his brother’s ex-wife while battling guilt for not recognizing (or ignoring) how dangerous his brother was. The relationship between Mitch and Jane developed at a believable pace even for a short mass market length book.
I loved this book and recommend that this is a must read for those who love suspense. Pick up a copy while you can!
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: Danger on the Ranch
Author: Dana Mentink
Genre: Inspirational romantic suspense
Release date: June 1, 2019 |
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After putting his serial killer brother in prison, former US marshal Mitch Whitehorse chooses a solitary country life—until his brother escapes. Now Mitch’s former sister-in-law, Jane Reyes, needs protection…for herself and the toddler she’s kept a secret. Mitch still isn’t sure of Jane’s innocence in his brother’s crimes, but to keep his nephew out of a killer’s grasp, trusting her is his only option.
Click here to purchase your copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over thirty five titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming, Harvest House and Woman’s World Magazine. Dana was thrilled to be a semi-finalist in the Jeanne Robertson Comedy With Class Competition. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, a chubby box turtle and a feisty parakeet. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)
MORE FROM DANA:
We’re kicking off a new cowboy series, but this one is going to take you for a wild ride! Set on a ranch that’s sandwiched between the sea and the hills required me to do some on site research of course! I spent quite a while in this gorgeous area of California, looking for cattle. (You can see the zany results in my video.) I found the cattle, and also the perfect setting for this first book. It’s a creepy one, I’ll warn you, as hero Mitch Whitehorse comes face to face with the serial killer brother he sent to prison….and his desperate ex sister in law. Saddle up and enjoy the story! God bless!
BLOG STOPS:
| Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 25
Chas Ray’ Book Nerd Corner, June 25
Maureen’s Musings, June 26
Among the Reads, June 26
Quiet Quilter, June 26
Blossoms and Blessings, June 27
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, June 27
Vicky Sluiter, June 27
Wishful Endings, June 28
Blogging With Carol, June 28
For Him and My Family, June 28
For the Love of Books, June 29
Retrospective Spines, June 29
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 29
Hallie Reads, June 30
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 30
Pause for Tales, June 30
The Becca Files, July 1
Real World Bible Study, July 1 |
Through the Fire Blogs, July 1
Remembrancy, July 2
Reading Is My SuperPower, July 2
janicesbookreviews, July 2
Just Your Average reviews, July 3
Moments, July 3
Genesis 5020, July 4
Lighthouse Academy, July 4
Emily Yager, July 5
Carpe Diem, July 5
Ashley’s Bookshelf, July 5
Bigreadersite, July 6
To Everything a Season, July 6
Daysong Reflections, July 6
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 7
Texas Book-aholic, July 7
Inklings and notions, July 7
Simple Harvest Reads, July 8
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 8
EmpowerMoms, July 8 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away a grand prize package that includes a gorgeous insulated lunch bag, a copy of Danger on the Ranch (winner’s choice of format), and a $15 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
by admin | Jul 2, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
The Cabin is a fairly short and quick to read novel with a unique premise. The story opens with Leah Kettridge discovering that best-selling author Keenan Brinner’s latest novel is essentially the same novel she has just submitted for publication. Obviously, everyone assumes that Leah must be the plagiarizer. When she arrives at the isolated cabin she has rented for a week of writing, her worst nightmare meets her. Keenan occupies the cabin and refuses to leave and that is not the end of her troubles!
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot that moved along at a steady pace with several interesting twists that were inserted at just the right moments. It was actually fun to observe how Leah and Kennan’s relationship progressed over several days from antagonists to friends despite a few bumps along the road. The Cabin is not an overtly Christian novel but it does contain a subtle message of faith. The shorter length of this book makes it a perfect take-along for a trip to the beach or a lazy summer weekend.
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 Cabin
Author: Erin Unger
Genre: Romantic suspense
Release date: June 14, 2019 |
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Leah Kettridge’s writing career is over before the first book lands on the shelf, when a famous author has claimed she’s stolen his work. If it wasn’t for a story brainstorming luncheon with her sister, he’d have never overheard her conversation about the novel she was writing. Who will she ever trust again if not her most favorite writer? And what about the one fabulous date they had before she knew what a traitor he was?
Keenan Brinner has it all. He’s a best-selling author who’s only headed toward more greatness. And he must be the most gorgeous guy Leah’s ever seen. But he’s also a liar and a cheat.
When they end up at the same cabin to write, emotions explode. But an unexpected snowstorm traps them deep in the mountains. Is he bent on destroying her in more ways than one? How will love find them amidst all their anger and distrust?
Click here to purchase your copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Erin Unger was raised in the hills of Virginia, exploring abandoned houses and reading the scariest books she could find. After marrying so young it would make a great romance novel, she has enjoyed an exciting life with her hubby. But her fast-paced life sometimes rivals the suspense in her books thanks to all her mostly grown children and a couple grandkids. Her next novel, Fateful Fall, releases August 9, 2019.
MORE FROM ERIN:
Glittery snow. The perfect cabin in the mountains. And sworn enemies trapped together. How could anything go wrong?
Welcome to the cabin where writers like to go to get away from the noise and bother of life to write. I hope you don’t mind the two guests already here. They’re stuck together after one stole the other’s novel. But the famous one has firsts rights to the work. Who’d dare believe he’d be the perpetrator of the crime? Or is it the newbie writer who longed to be known for more than her graphic designs who plagiarized?
Stay and enjoy a mug of instant coffee and some potted meat. And make sure to bring in your warmest blanket, since this eclectic home has lost power in the storm.
You’ll also find a complementary cordless phone with no connection for your accommodations.
Enjoy your stay! And take a moment to check out our amenities folder laden with an expert below.
READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE CABIN:
Betrayal is such a benign looking word on paper. In real life it could kill a person. Like me. I was dying on the inside as I flipped from one page to the next of the bestselling novel in my hands. And all because of Keenan Brennan—the hottest bestselling author I knew and dated some time ago. Yet some part of me kept praying it wasn’t true as I pressed into the sofa cushion and continued to read.
It just couldn’t be.
But the book with the startlingly dark cover said it all.
“No, no, no.”
Hot tears stung my cheeks as I ripped the well-designed cover off the book and then launched it across the living room. It smashed against the refurbished brick wall and landed with its pages bent. Good. It deserved a worse fate than just bent pages.
How? When had he stolen my book idea?
I face-planted my palm against my forehead. “At the restaurant.”
Why didn’t I keep my big fat mouth shut and tell my sister Aeris the storyline in the privacy of my home? Tears stung my eyes. Who’d have guessed my lowdown almost boyfriend would stoop so low. He didn’t need my work.
I stared across the room, not focusing on the heap of a good—terrible—book. Well it was on the NYT bestselling list. Not bad for a nobody writer like myself. And since it was my story—not his—then I allowed myself a moment of self-satisfaction.
My gaze dropped to the torn book. I had to take another look. Couldn’t it be a coincidence? Maybe the rest of it was different. In a scramble, I grabbed it up and found the page I last read.
By chapter forty there was no doubt.
BLOG STOPS:
| Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 27
Blogging With Carol, June 28
For Him and My Family, June 28
Ashley’s Bookshelf , June 29
Carpe Diem, June 29
Texas Book-aholic, June 30
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 30
Inspired by fiction, July 1
Godly Book Reviews, July 1
All-of-a-kind Mom, July 2
Daysong Reflections, July 2
janicesbookreviews, July 3 |
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, July 3
Inklings and notions, July 4
A Reader’s Brain, July 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 6
Real World Bible Study, July 7
Remembrancy, July 7
Through the Fire Blogs, July 8
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 8
Maureen’s Musings, July 9
Pause for Tales, July 9
Moments, July 10
Melissa Henderson, July 10 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Erin is giving away a themed basket that includes a copy of The Cabin!!
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/e50d/the-cabin-celebration-tour-giveaway
