Crossroads by Cathy Bryant - Review and Giveaway

 

My Review

As the "owner" of a book review blog, I often get contacted by authors asking to review their books. I love getting these requests, but sometimes I have to turn them down for various reasons. Boy, am I glad I didn't turn this book down! Cathy Bryant is a wonderful writer. The story came alive on the pages and I couldn't put it down. The small town setting and the friendly, supporting community made me feel right at home. 

I will admit I had a hard time liking Carter and Mara sometimes. Their attitudes and "pig-headedness" left a bad taste in my mouth. Overall, though, I really got to connect with them and their feelings. I could understand the emotions they were going through because they were so well written. I really enjoyed sweet Ashton's presence and Chloe's typical teenage attitude. 

While the author focuses a lot on the budding romance between Carter and Mara, the romance kind of takes a back seat to the message. This book battles some very, very tough topics for Christians and non-Christians alike. Bulimia, childhood Leukemia, Depression, and PTSD play a prominent roll in the book. Despite the heavy topics, there is a lightness and sense of hope weaved expertly throughout the story. Even though "we live in enemy-occupied territory" with the devil trying to stir up all the trouble he can, God is with us and will never leave us.

Overall, I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a ray of hope in the midst of a battle. 

*Thank you, Cathy, for providing me with a copy of your book in exchange for my honest review.*

GIVEAWAY TIME

Cathy has graciously provided me with a DIGITAL copy of "Crossroads" to give away. 

Please answer the following question in a comment on THIS post for a chance to win: Mara struggles with accepting that God is real throughout the book. 

At what point in your life did you know God was real? 

Giveaway ends April 30. Please leave your email in non-spam format. 

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About the Book

CROSSROADS

a Miller's Creek novel and Christian contemporary romance

A former soldier battles for the soul of a prodigal...

After a devastating divorce, a bitter single mom and atheist starts her own real estate company in the nostalgic and picturesque town of Miller’s Creek, Texas. Then her young daughter’s disturbing symptoms lead doctors to discover that her leukemia has relapsed. With her new life now turned upside down, Mara Hedwig struggles to keep her business afloat. And her daughter’s worsening condition forces her to rethink her beliefs about Carter Callahan and his God. Will Mara make the return to Christian faith in the face of life’s greatest challenge?

An ex-military operative struggles with the return to civilian life while coping with his rebellious teen-aged daughter. During a house-search, Carter meets Mara, a headstrong Realtor who wants nothing to do with his God. But when Mara’s little girl is diagnosed with leukemia, the clock begins ticking for him to convince Mara to return to a life of faith. Just as he seems to be making headway, circumstances beyond his control throw his efforts into a tailspin. Can Carter learn to rest in the sovereignty of God?

Buy a copy: Amazon

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About Cathy Bryant

Amazon best-selling author Cathy Bryant writes Christian fiction set in the heart of Texas. Her popular romance and romantic suspense novels take place in the fictional town of Miller's Creek, where folks are friendly, the iced tea is sweet, and Mama Beth's front porch beckons. All the Miller's Creek novels have been on the Amazon Best-Seller list and are rated at 4.5 stars or higher on Amazon. Her debut novel, TEXAS ROADS, was a 2009 ACFW Genesis finalist. Since then five other stand-alone novels have been added to the series, one of which was a reader-nominated 2013 Grace Award nominee (PILGRIMAGE OF PROMISE). Readers have compared her work to that of Karen Kingsbury and Nicholas Sparks. 

A native Texan, Cathy currently resides in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico with her minister husband of over thirty years. She's written devotions for The Upper Room devotional magazine, two devotional books in collaboration with other Christian authors, and for online sites. She also has released a Bible study book, THE FRAGRANCE OF CRUSHED VIOLETS. In addition to her writing, she enjoys thrift store shopping, romping in the great outdoors, and mini-farming. To learn more about Cathy and her books, visit her website at www.CatBryant.com or make contact with her in these places:

|Facebook| Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads |  Amazon | YouTube | Google+|

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CROSSROADS Facebook Launch Party & Kindle Fire HD6 Giveaway!

YOU'RE INVITED!

What: CROSSROADS Book Launch Party

Where: Facebook (from the comfort & convenience of your own home)

When: April 30, 2015 ~ 7:00-8:30 p.m. (Central time)

Why: To celebrate the book launch of CROSSROADS (a Miller's Creek novel and Christian Romance by Cathy Bryant)

LOTS of Fun, Games and Prizes!

Prizes Include: Miller's Creek pens, tote bags, t-shirts, mugs, digital books, autographed print books, Amazon gift cards, and 

an Amazon Kindle Fire HD6!

Click here to RSVP and enter the Kindle Fire drawing. 

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Stranded by Dani Pettrey: Blog Tour + $25 Giveaway!

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Stranded by Dani Pettrey! I am excited to be a part of the blog tour, hosted by I am a Reader, because I absolutely LOVE Dani Pettrey's books. I've read and reviewed the first two books in this series, Submerged and Shattered, in my early blogging days. (It's definitely cool to look back at the beginning of my short blogging career and see how far my posts have come!) I've been waiting for this book to come out since then!

Tour Schedule

Stranded (Alaskan Courage #3): Overview

When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn't satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Something isn't lining up, and Darcy believes the only way to find the truth is to put herself in Abby's position. Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn't the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances.
Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock for a few days of sightseeing. He's surprised to find Darcy working aboard one of the ships, investigating a troubling report. Something sinister is going on and the deeper they dig the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

Amazon * Barnes and Noble

My Review:

 This book was absolutely fantastic! I read it in a day! I was very excited to learn more about Darcy and Gage. I also loved hearing about how the rest of the characters' lives were progressing. Darcy St. James is a strong Christian lead character. She lives her faith as best as she can, and she trusts God to show her what she is supposed to do with her life. When she stumbles, you stumble with her. The author has a way of writing the characters that endears them to you. Gage is a mystery to me. One moment, he's pushing Darcy away. The next moment, he's tugging her to him (which he does A LOT in this book). I understand his struggle with trust and love. I also understand his anger at God.

The mystery and romance is as intriguing and captivating as ever. Dani Pettrey is a master story teller. There were parts of the story where I said to myself, "wow! I didn't see that coming!" The development of the romance between Darcy and Gage was sweet and natural. As Gage and Darcy struggle with their pasts, as well as their budding romance, the message of the book becomes clear: Jesus can mend even the most broken of hearts, if we're willing to let him. We need to be patient and wait on Him. Also, Darcy comes to the realization that she can't force someone to believe in Jesus. All she can do is tell them about Him and pray. That's all any of us can do.

Overall, this story was intriguing, captivating, and just all around fantastic. It's exactly what I've come to expect from Dani Pettrey and more. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, Silenced, which is slated to come out next year (oh the agony of waiting!).

Author Dani Pettrey

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one’s faith and plenty of romance. She’s a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/10/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley as part of the blog tour in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.**

Stranded by Dani Pettrey: Book Blast + $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

Stranded (Alaskan Courage #3)

When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn't satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Something isn't lining up, and Darcy believes the only way to find the truth is to put herself in Abby's position. Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn't the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances.

Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock for a few days of sightseeing. He's surprised to find Darcy working aboard one of the ships, investigating a troubling report. Something sinister is going on and the deeper they dig the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

Amazon * Barnes and Noble

 

Author Dani Pettrey

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one’s faith and plenty of romance. She’s a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Tour Schedule

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/6/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tattler's Branch by Jan Watson Blog Tour: Interview & Review

Hello everyone! It's time for another enjoyable book review! Tattler's Branch by Jan Watson was provided to me in exchange for my honest review from Tyndale Fiction Publisher through their blogging program. Onto the review!

Overview: Lilly Corbett Still has grown to love her life as the small-town doctor of Skip Rock, a tiny coal community in the Kentucky mountains. Though her husband, Tern, is away for a few months at a mining job, Lilly has her hands full with her patients and her younger sister visiting for the summer.

Lilly turns to her good friend and neighbor, Armina, to help keep things in order—until a mysterious chain of events leaves Armina bedridden and an abandoned baby on her doorstep. Lilly works to uncover the truth, unaware of what a mess she’s found herself in until a break-in at her clinic puts her on high alert. As she struggles between what is right and what is safe, Lilly must discover the strength of her resilient country neighbors, her God, and herself. 

Author Q & A:

1. What was your inspiration for this book, Tattler’s Branch?
I wrote this book because the people from Skip Rock Shallows had more stories to tell. I was reading my local paper one morning and came upon a story concerning something dramatic that had happened on a creek called Tattler’s. I could see Armina there.
2. Tell me about your main character Lilly Corbett Still. Was this character based on anyone in particular?
No, Lilly Gray Corbett Still is totally a figment of my imagination. Lilly is one smart and courageous young woman. I do love anything medical, so Lilly allowed me to indulge a bit in the medical practice of the time. If I were to live any of my characters’ lives, I would choose Lilly’s. She is so strong and determined. And kind—Lilly is very kind.
3. What lessons or truths will your reader find in the pages of this story?
A central truth in each of my books is that everyone is important and unique. Every person has a story to tell and that story is worth hearing.
4. How do you expect Lilly’s story to resonate with your readers?
I believe my readers will appreciate Lilly’s strength in the face of adversity.
5. As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?
I especially enjoyed the relationship between Lilly and Armina. Armina is naturally funny and Lilly handles her prickly humor with aplomb. I also liked exploring the character of Shade Harmon. I learned a lot from Shade (including some things I didn’t need to know). The relationship he had with his first wife is especially telling.
The way he loved his baby girl touched my heart. Not to give anything away, but there’s a line in the book where Lilly says, “The ground at the foot of the cross is even.” I just love that she said that.
6. What is your hope for this novel? How would you like it to impact readers?
I want my readers to be entertained with wholesome, faith-affirming, thought provoking fiction.
7. What big questions will this novel get your readers thinking about?
I hope this humble story will inspire readers to look beyond a person’s earthly circumstance and ask themselves who that being really is and what lesson God sent them here to teach.

My Review: This is a new author for me. I don't think I've read any other books by Jan Watson. It will not be the last. The characters in the book are primarily female and they are all strong-willed and independent women! Lilly Corbett Still is a doctor, which is unusual for that time period. She is kind, empathetic, and independent. The other characters are equally loveable and intriguing. 

I have never read a book that does not have a strong male lead character. I've also never read one that was not a romance. This was a fresh surprise for me. It did not make the book any less enjoyable. The book was well written and intriguing. I wanted to read more about these characters lives and the faith that Lilly has is what I wish I could be like. 

Overall, this book was enjoyable. This is the seventh novel written by Jan Watson and it continues on the storyline of her first six books. This did not take away from the enjoyment of the book, nor do I recommend reading the other books first (although I really want to read the other books now!). They do not have to be read in the order they were written for them to be understood. I can't wait to read more by this author.

More link fun!

• Read the first chapter
• Visit Jan Watson's Website
• Buy it here: Barnes and Noble * Amazon * Christianbook.com

**I received this book from Tyndale Fiction in exchange for my honest review**