Mid-Year Freak Out Tag

Hello, my lovelies! I know I've seen this going around the blogosphere for many a year. (Who knows but that I may have actually used this idea myself before! Alas, since I cannot remember and don't want to take the time to research my own posts...) This fine day in July I happened upon it over here and thought it'd be fun to join in today. So here I am!

BEST BOOK YOU'VE READ

I've read several good ones so far this year, but nobody has topped my love for Katherine Reay yet. She just knows how to write a story that I will love!

BEST SEQUEL YOU'VE READ

Because HAMISH IS AWESOME. And I love Rachel McMillan. What more do you need?

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN'T READ YET, BUT WANT TO

This one has been out for several months now and I cannot believe that I haven't read it yet. Must remedy that!

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2019

I am super excited for this one! The synopsis intrigues me and the author...well, I know I love her writing, so... Perfect combo! :)

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

This isn't really a bad book, I don't usually finish reading a book that I don't like at all. But I will say that while this one is fun, it simply wasn't as gripping a read as I was hoping for...

BIGGEST SURPRISE

This one was quite different than I'd been expecting, but I mean that in a very good way. Because I loved it! I pretty much bought it without knowing all that much about it other than the synopsis intrigued me and, as I was overseas at the time, I was desperate for an actual book to hold in my hand and to be written in English. Ms. Honeyman proved to me that I made an excellent choice! :)

FAVORITE NEW TO YOU OR DEBUT AUTHOR

This one was easy peasy! Amanda Dykes' book is AMAZING, people. SO, so good.

NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

Drake is pretty much adorable, so yeah....

NEWEST FAVORITE CHARACTER

The Nina's for the win! Both of these main characters are named Nina and I happen to think they're both amazing. Plus they LOVE to read and both work with books every single day. One owns her own traveling bookshop and the other works in a bookstore. Also they both happen to be quite bookish and endearing... 

BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

Hands down. This one is just....yeah. Good stuff, people!

BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

I loved this one so much that when it was time to take the library's copy back, I had to go to B&N and purchase my very own because I refused to not have this lovely story in my house and always around me!

FAVORITE BOOK TO FILM ADAPTATION

So I have not watched any of new film adaptations this year, but I did rewatch the '95 version of Persuasion and decided it was definitely my favorite of all the Persuasion adaptations out there right now. :)

FAVORITE POST YOU'VE DONE THIS YEAR

As I haven't done too many other than book reviews, I would have to go with this one:

Old & Familiar Friends

Rereading that post just reminded me of the happiness that books and especially familiar, well-loved stories bring to me. Ah, my heart!

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU'VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR

To be honest, I haven't bought very many actual physical books. Most have been on my kindle and let me just say that a kindle book cover is not nearly as glorious as a real book cover. So! That's why I chose this book again. Because it really is lovely and I really don't have any other prettier books that I've bought this year to choose from!

BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR

All the things! No, but seriously. I have so many yet to be published that I'm excited over, I have so many yet to be read that I'm excited over, and I just have lots of books I want to get to! As I've been voraciously reading since I've been home again, I'm just looking forward to whatever bookish delights awaits me next. :)

Review: Just One Kiss by Courtney Walsh

I'm not sure how Ms. Walsh does it, but wow. She simply knows how to write emotions and characters that I get. Every single time! The situations her characters are in may be different than mine, but their emotions? The choices they face and the uncertainties that surround their hearts? That I get for sure. So of course you know that means I fell in love with this story, right?

Let me set the record straight by saying that yes, Ms. Walsh writes a fabulous romance in this book. And as we all know, I am a big fan of romance! (And goodness, what great chemistry those two have going on!) But what really stood out to me with this story were the struggles and the growth that needed to happen for our characters to truly reach their happy ever after. Carly and Josh felt like real people who have made real mistakes, have dealt with real hurt, and have real emotions that need processed. I was with them every step, rooting for them both to realize just how much they bring out the best in each other. How they challenge and motivate the other to live life with all they've got. Josh's utter devotion to Carly is to be noted as well. Because whoa that man knows how to make a woman swoon. ;)

Can I also add that I loved Jaden? He was such an awesome addition to Carly and Josh's journey! Not to mention all the other characters that make their way throughout the chapters. Especially a few familiar ones! Each one just adds depth to the story and swept me into this wonderful community that I wish were real.

Long story short? Ms. Walsh writes so beautifully and the characters are so worth spending time with. Soooo....I say you'd better just stop everything and check this story out now! It's a keeper, folks. I think you should discover this wonderfulness for yourself.

**I received a complimentary copy via the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Blog Tour Review :: Curse and Consequence by Savannah Jezowski

I am so pleased to participate in the blog tour for this book! I am definitely a fan of tales that take place during regency times and the synopsis of this story intrigued me. So it was a happy day when I was able to get this book for review! :)

My Thoughts

The first words that came to mind once I'd finished this story were cute and entertaining. Plus a bit of silliness, which came from the brothers of the story. Sedgwick and Hugh could both use a bit of growth seeing as how they are constantly frustrating each other and acting like children. And then Sedgwick decides a curse is a good idea. Never a good idea! The consequences bring lots of shenanigans.

But the cuteness? That comes courtesy of watching Rea and Sedgwick figure out their hearts. These two are pretty perfect for each other and made me giggle several times. I enjoyed watching them banter back and forth a bit, as well as just swoon over each other. I didn't need to do any swooning, the two of them did plenty enough by themselves! ;)

The only downside to the story that I found was the fact that it ends on a cliffhanger of sorts! And now I have to wait a whole year or so before I find out what happens next! In the meantime, I'd better go back and reread this one over again.

** I received a complimentary copy via the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book

When Love visits Ravenhead Hall, sparks fly…quite literally.

Miss Rea Abernathy only wants to honor the family who has taken her under their wing, rescuing her from a life of poverty. But thanks to two determined suitors, she finds herself in a state far worse than the one from which her benefactress saved her.

When Mr. Sedgwick Whitby sets his sights on his mother’s sweet-tempered pig keeper, his orderly life is thrown into chaos: Rea’s station is less–than-desirable, and another gentleman may be pursuing her. Hoping to get his annoyingly charming twin brother out of the way, Sedgwick purchases a simple curse from a disreputable faery which consequently plunges them all into a misfortune far more serious than troubles of the heart.

With time running out to break the curse and tempers flying high, can Sedgwick and Rea set things right and find love after all? Jane Austen meets dragons in this frolicking fantasy romance about a comely pig keeper, two wealthy gentlemen, and the curse binding them all together. Perfect for fans of Diana Wynne Jones and Gail Carson Levine.

Amazon (Available on Kindle Limited!)

About the Author

Savannah Jezowski lives in Amish country with her Knight in Shining Armor and a wee warrior princess. She is the founder of Dragonpen Designs and Dragonpen Press, which offers author services such as cover design, developmental edits, and interior formatting. Her debut novella “Wither” is featured in Five Enchanted Roses, an anthology of Beauty and the Beast, and is a prequel to The Neverway Chronicles, a Christian fantasy series filled with tragic heroes and the living dead. She is also the author of When Ravens Fall, a Norse Beauty and the Beast retelling. She is featured in several Fellowship of Fantasy anthologies, including Mythical Doorways, Tales of Ever After, and Paws, Claws, and Magic Tales. When she isn’t writing, Savannah likes to read books, watch BBC miniseries, and play with cover design. She also enjoys having tea with her imaginary friends.

Website — Newsletter — Facebook — Facebook Group — Twitter — Amazon Author Page

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, June 1^st

• Katherine Brown Books: Book Review
• C O Bonham: Book Review
• Beka Gremikova: Book Review & Book Excerpt

Tuesday, July 2^nd

• Jessica Belmont: Book Review
• Lands Uncharted: Guest Post on Magic
• The L. Palmer Chronicles: Guest Post on Themes of Curse and Consequence

Wednesday, July 3^rd

• Paper, Ink, Lizard: Book Review
• Baroness’ Book Trove: Book Review

Thursday, July 4^th

• She Hearts Fiction: Guest Post on Themes of Curse and Consequence & Book Review
• Flowers of Quiet Happiness: Book Review

Friday, July 5^th

• Annie Louise Twitchell: Book Review
• Selina J. Eckert: Book Spotlight
• Kyle Robert Shultz: Book Review & Author Interview
• Pooled Ink: Book Review

Saturday, July 6^th

• The Rustic Reading Gal: Book Spotlight
• Bold Reads: Book Review & Book Excerpt

Sunday, July 7^th

• Unicorn Quester: Blog Tour Wrap-Up

The INSPY Awards :: 2019 Winners

 The INSPY Awards have official winners for 2019! I am quite privileged to participate as an Advisory Board member and have the honor of sharing the joy with all of you today.

The judges for each category did a wonderful job of parsing down the shortlist. And without further ado....let's get to the winners! :)

2019 INSPY Award Winners

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE / ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Falling for You by Becky Wade is what good Inspirational Fiction is made of. Readers will relate to Corbin and Willow and their personal struggles as the two work through the mystery and come face to face not only with each other, but with their faith. The story pace is balanced; the romance between Corbin and Willow, peppered with light-hearted and sweet moments, is one of great depth. Falling for You is a layered romance of mystery, struggle, and vulnerability that reflects our relationships with each other and God.

Meet Becky! A Conversation with Becky Wade


DEBUT FICTION

Though it’s a debut novel, Among the Poppies exhibits all the right elements a memorable story needs; charming and emotional in equal parts. The spunky heroine refuses to give up on anyone, which is just one of the qualities we love best about her;the swoony hero who never backs down from his duty as a soldier will win your heart over from the moment you meet him. Set during the tumult of WWI, J’Nell manages to weave good into a novel that doesn’t shy away from the conflicts and horrors of its setting. Those who enjoy Downton Abbey or historical fiction will find an inspired and romantic story inside the pages of Among the Poppies. It’s a solid debut that tugs on the heartstrings and stays with its reader.

Meet J’nell! A Conversation with  J’nell Ciesielski


GENERAL FICTION

Katie Ganshert stepped into risky territory to bring us all a gripping novel with a much needed message for today. The multi-perspective view opened the doors to a more powerful story with deeper connections to the characters within. The characters faced a whole spectrum of emotions as they were forced to examine their views toward the people around them once they infringed upon their way of life. It develops a deeper sense of empathy for the readers as they step inside the shoes of others and examine their own biases they may or may not know they’ve held. A relevant story for current times, this is a novel not easily forgotten.

Meet Katie! A Conversation with Katie Ganshert


HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischof is a novel that offers a unique and touching story of loss, redemption, love, and family. Rustic cabins, apple orchards, freshwater ponds, and wooded hillsides allow the story to grow richly from the landscape of its Appalachian setting even amidst the hurt and uncertainty of life in the South in the years following the Civil War. The well-developed characters are simply captivating and abound with authenticity and vulnerability. Their insecurities, their fears, their needs, and their desires are wholly believable, heart-wrenching, and inspiring. The opportunities, the choices, and the trials that the characters endure are intricately developed, and from them there unfolds a story that is thoroughly enriching and endearing.

Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a novel that artfully balances hope and despair, perseverance and struggle, and faithfulness and uncertainty. With unflinching skill, the author explores raw emotions, painful experiences, and deep hurt. Yet, this journey through and beyond despair and heartache is significantly strengthened and uplifted by meaningful moments of grace and gentle reminders that hope, restoration, healing, and reconciliation are made possible through God’s mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love.

Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a thoroughly breathtaking novel. Bischof’s writing style is achingly beautiful and utterly immersive strengthened by a lyrical quality that is quietly profound. Within every word and phrase there is deep meaning, real truth, and thoughtful purpose. Carefully detailed, descriptive, insightful, and moving, this remarkable story is certainly one to be savored. We, the judges, wholeheartedly agree that Sons of Blackbird Mountain is truly worthy of the 2019 Historical Romance INSPY Award.

Meet Joanne! A Conversation with Joanne Bischof


LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Shawn Smucker’s The Edge of Over There combines atmospheric prose, compelling characterization, and imaginative storytelling to invite YA readers to ponder the spiritual and physical implications of death—a theme that gets to the very heart of the Christian faith. There is a pervading sense of mystery and suspense as the story unfolds, and Abra and Leo must sort truth from lies and friend from foe as they search for the Tree of Life and consider whether immortality on this side of “Over There” is a gift or a curse. The high literary quality of this thought-provoking read made it a stand-out among this year’s YA selections.

Meet Shawn! A Conversation with Shawn Smucker


MYSTERY / THRILLER

All three of us were quickly hooked within the opening pages that doesn’t let up until the end.  Each timeline contains its own mystery, which keeps the story simmering with suspense regardless of which time period is being read about. We thoroughly enjoyed how the two time periods connect, and how the main characters in each time period are from the same family line. The spiritual thread of the power of offering grace and receiving forgiveness is significant through both time periods which adds to the strength of this story.  The Reckoning kept us on our toes, kept us guessing, and had us turning the pages at amazing speeds, all while offering the most important lesson of all – knowing Jesus. It’s our privilege and honor to award the winner of the 2019 INSPY Mystery/Thriller Category to The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond.

Meet Jaime! A Conversation with Jaime Jo Wright


SPECULATIVE FICTION

It is our honour to recognize Mark of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse as the INSPY Award winner in the Speculative category. While we enjoyed every novel on the shortlist, Mark of the Raven captured us with its powerful storytelling. Busse subverts the Chosen One trope by giving readers a conflicted and complex protagonist in Lady Selene. She feels fated to follow her family’s legacy, yet she has just learned how awful it really is and debates how or if she can rebel against it. The themes of sacrifice, unity in diversity, discovering one’s identity, and learning to use one’s gifts intertwine to weave a magnificent story full of twists and surprises. Busse’s world-building is extraordinary. She explains all the fantastical elements through the story in magnificent fashion, showing rather than telling, enabling readers to become fully and naturally immersed in the world she has created. We eagerly await the continuation of the series!

Meet Morgan! A Conversation with Morgan L. Busse

We’d like to thank our judges for their hard work and careful consideration of each title. Another successful year for the INSPY program has come and gone –  thank you to everyone who helped make this possible.

Congratulations to the winners and all of the nominated authors!  You can meet our shortlist authors by searching the ‘2019 Author Interview‘ tag.