To Die Once by Miranda A. Uyeh - Blog Tour and Giveaway!

As a blogger and book reviewer, I often get contacted to help promote books. I wish I could read every book that comes my way because I truly love to read and help out new and upcoming authors. I especially love when the books have an inspiring Christian message! I have been following Miranda's blog, To Be A Person, for a while and found her writing to be inspirational and excellent. When Miranda approached me about reviewing her book, I didn't hesitate to say yes! Check out the book description, my review, and enter her giveaway below!

About the book:

Two men, one woman, a rosebush …

… a terrible past, an uncertain future

Jennifer, a woman unexpectedly trapped in a path of love and passion against everything she believes.
Rodrigo, a man set to get what he wants at the cost of what matters most.
Stefano, a man with a past, a story to tell and passion to offer.
Chidi, a friend in need, a friend indeed. Or not?
From a culture where good girls follow the norm and live as they’ve been told, Jennifer is no different from any other girl until by happenstance, she meets and falls in love with Rodrigo, a man who’s handsome, rich and foreign. Different. She has no idea who he is or what he does, and is swept into a world of romance and passion. It is not long before she discovers a shocking truth that shakes both her world and his.
Then he is gone.
Stefano shows up at a time when Jennifer has made up her mind about the rules of life. He thinks she’s beautiful and is in love with her. In a bid to convince her to give him a chance in her life, old memories once buried are brought to life. And the events that follow don’t leave anyone unaffected by the truth of the past that was left unsettled.
Meanwhile, Jennifer with her friend Chidi, find themselves on a self-discovery journey that has one of them raising questions.
Some just have to ask, where is God in all this?

… an inspirational romance, from Lagos to Italy.

Praise for To Die Once

“A little mystery, a bit of intrigue, a lot of romance. To Die Once is a Christian romance with real characters facing deep issues. The emotional writing is truly heart-felt. This is Ms. Uyeh’s debut novel and thankfully, this won’t be the last.” — K. Victoria Chase, Bestselling author of From Across The Divide, Virginia Justice, Raphael: volume 1, Santiago Brothers book series.

“Miranda Uyeh has penned a novel full of heart. To Die Once is a story alternately thorny and tender that tackles the various forms of love – romance, friendship, and faith – in unique settings and situations. Often surprising, consistently intriguing, Uyeh’s debut is a bold start to her blossoming writing career.” — Amber Stokes, Author of “The Heart’s Spring” Series

“A fun inspirational romance read” — Rektok Ross, Best selling YA Romance author of Prodigal

My Review: What a powerful story! The plot was fast moving, but it took a while to get into. Jennifer and Rodrigo's relationship brings up a good point. Should a Christian be with a non-Christian? I wish the thought was expounded on more in the story. It lingered in the back of my mind as I read. Did the events that take place in Jennifer and Rodrigo's life occur because they were outside of God's will? Could that heartache and pain they suffered been avoided? I love stories that provoke questions and then have them answered in the end!

I feel like the characters were very well developed. The author did a great job of portraying their feelings and thoughts. I was emotionally attached to the characters by the end of the book because of it. Jennifer's fall, rise, fall and rise were very well hashed out. I felt what she was feeling and sympathized with her. I would have loved to hear more about Rodrigo's transformation, though. What I did read made me want to know more!

Overall, though it took some time to really get into, the story had a powerful message. God can take any situation, good or bad, and turn it around for His glory. All we have to do is let Him. Each character experiences God's grace, mercy, and redemption in a very poignant way. I really enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more!

*Thank you, Miranda, for providing me with an uncorrected copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

Author’s Note

This is a story centered on God’s healing power of grace and mercy. People like Jennifer, Rodrigo (and Stefano), and Chidi exist in our world today, hurting from the choices and the
mistakes they’d made in the past, and seeking redemption/solace in any way possible, even from vices like alcohol. If you find yourself in such a position, or you know someone drowning in pain, please, let them know that God’s arms are wide-open to receive and heal anyone who will earnestly come to Him. He says in His Word in Heb. 4:16 that we can come boldly before the throne of grace to seek grace and mercy for when we need it. Do not lose hope that you can be healed and fully restored. There is no sin that God can’t forgive, and there’s no one He’ll turn away. Come to Him today and receive your healing!

About the Author: Miranda A. Uyeh is an assistant lecturer at a local college in Makurdi City, Nigeria, where she teaches two geology courses. Her love for books goes as far back as when her father placed Disney’s Rapunzel in her hands—her very first storybook! By the time she was thirteen she knew she was going to be a writer. You can find Miranda on her blog where she shares her love for books, entertainment and Christian spirituality with her readers. Miranda holds a B.Tech (Hons) in Applied Geology from ATBU, Nigeria. To Die Once is her debut novel, #1 of the Child of Grace book series.

Miranda can be found on her Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, Google+, Pinterest, and  Twitter. Keep up with Miranda and the Child of Grace series here.

Giveaway:
10 winners will win an ebook each every week in the duration of the tour, April 5th – May, 2014. You can enter to win a copy by visiting my facebook page. You may also follow the twitter hashtag #ToDieOnce, to stay updated with reviews/reader discussions. A pinterest board is available for readers to view here.
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