Win an Amazon Gift Card for July's Monthly #Giveaway!


This month, for my giveaway, one winner will receive a $10 Amazon eGift Card. If you need some ideas on what to spend that on, see my growing list on Amazon here.


Open to those who are eligible to use a branch of Amazon. Must be at least 13 years old to enter and have parental permission if under 18. Please ensure that you correctly enter your email (and check your junk mail folder if I'm not on your contact list) so that I have a way to contact you. You can read my giveaway policy on my policies page. Void where prohibited by law. Enter via the Rafflecopter below.


Weekly Update #324, I can't believe July is almost here...


Welcome to my Weekly Update where I post my blog's schedule for the week!

I'm linking up to The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and to Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality.

I don't know how the summer is already going so fast! My oldest starts back up in school in July and I am just not ready for it. I need a lot more downtime and playtime first. This last week we still had family in town and did some fun things with them, but now they've all gone back home and we're taking it easy the next week seeing a friend and family on the other side for Independence Day. Hopefully I'll get back on a regular schedule this week at the gym and with sleep, plus get some good reading in.
🙂 It's a bit of a lighter week coming up, which I haven't had in ages, so I'm going to enjoy it and hopefully have time to actually respond to comments and participate in Top Ten Tuesday (one of my favorite memes that I haven't joined in ages). Happy Fourth to all you Americans!

This Week


Other Things of Note

Have you been grabbing audiobooks from AudioFileSync this summer? Grab your copies and sign up for alerts here.

New Books

I posted about these on Instagram earlier this week... it's my book stack from Covenant Communications that I'm slowly making my way through for tours.

Giveaways

Go enter my monthly giveaway:

Last Week

New Releases/#Free & Bargain Books for June 24th - June 30th #freebook #booksale #booklinkup #booklinky


Here are the New Releases / Free & Bargain Books, hosted by
Sharon over at Beck Valley Books, for this week! Check it all out below...

Authors please feel free to add your own books.
Readers please free to add your own finds.
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author
For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author
For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 
For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!


By adding your link, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy and transmitted to Inlinkz in accordance with their Privacy Policy.

Would you like to share our linkup on your site? click here
Would you like to become a weekly host? sign up here

Come back and check out the new selection every week!

It seems he can't just retire in peace... Danger on the Ranch by Dana Mentink (Review & #Giveaway)


I'm such a fan of this author and always jump at the chance to read her books.
Find out what I thought about her newest and enter the tour giveaway below...

Danger on the Ranch
(Roughwater Ranch Cowboys #1)
By Dana Mentink
Christian Romantic Suspense
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 224 Pages
June 1st 2019 by Love Inspired Suspense

Summary

Her child’s life is on the line

A Roughwater Ranch Cowboys story

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.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

DANGER ON THE RANCH is an intense read as a mother tries to escape the clutches of her serial killer ex-husband with the help of his retired US Marshall brother. It's a story full of suspense, complex characters, and moments of faith.

Mitch and Jane find themselves in a dire situation and under some pretty tense circumstances as they fight for their lives and safety. I liked both of these main characters, and I liked the overall story. I thought there were quite a few red herrings and I actually would have liked a few of those to develop more, but with this line of books there isn't always time to do that. The inspirational element of the story is pretty strong, but it worked.

I had a tough time with the romance. It started early on in the story and I just didn't feel it. I think I would have actually liked the story a lot more without the romantic aspect or with it just blooming at the end. It just didn't work for me.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This is definitely one of those cat and mouse stories. I had some issues with it, but I think there is promise for this new series.

Content: Some violence.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through CelebrateLit, which did not require a positive review nor affect my review in any way.

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 forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Barbour, and Harvest House. 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, and a chubby box turtle. 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!


Tour Schedule

Among the Reads, June 26
Quiet Quilter, June 26
Vicky Sluiter, June 27
Wishful Endings, June 28
Hallie Reads, June 30
Pause for Tales, June 30
Remembrancy, July 2
Moments, July 3
Genesis 5020, July 4
Emily Yager, July 5
Carpe Diem, July 5
Bigreadersite, July 6
EmpowerMoms, July 8

Tour-Wide 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!


Are you Love Inspired Suspense or Dana Mentink fan?

Check out the author's playlist for Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis (Playlist & #Giveaway)



Welcome! Follow the tour here, and check out a playlist and the tour giveaway below...

Queen of the Sea
By Dylan Meconis
Children's Historical, Royalty
Hardcover, 400 Pages
June 25th 2019 by Walker Books US

Summary

Cult graphic novelist Dylan Meconis offers a rich reimagining of history in this hybrid novel loosely based on the exile of Queen Elizabeth I by her sister, Queen Mary.

When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelation of the island’s sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor’s life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself.

Praise for QUEEN OF THE SEA

The art, reminiscent of Raina Telgemeier’s style, creates levity during perilous situations. The book is dense with dialogue, often feeling more like a work of prose than a graphic novel. As a result, this complex work will be more accessible to those familiar with graphic novels…Certain to charm sophisticated graphic novel devotees. —School Library Journal (starred review)

Meconis offers an atmospheric alternate history inspired by the childhood and succession of Queen Elizabeth I in this quietly ambitious graphic novel…Art in soft, earthy colors brings this singular story to life in styles ranging from simple line drawings to elaborately styled text illuminations. The island world is richly developed, both in its physical particulars and its close-knit community (fascinating digressions into topics such as convent time, hand gestures used at table, and chess and embroidery flesh out daily life), and Margaret proves herself an endearing heroine with a strong voice full of humor and wonder. Her perspective transforms a storm-wracked rock into a vibrant world of hidden treasures. —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Meconis’ humor and storytelling gifts here wed seamlessly with her evocative pen-and-ink and gouache illustrations, which are rendered in warm earth and sea tones and brim with movement, expressively capturing even Margaret’s interior monologues. With its compelling, complex characters and intrigue-laden plot, this will have readers hoping it’s only the first of many adventures for Meconis’ savvy heroine. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Weaving faith, love, statecraft, and self-discovery into a tale of palace intrigue relocated to the halls of a convent on a remote island at sea, Dylan Meconis uses the trappings of the history we know to create a high-stakes adventure in an alternate past that feels so detailed and so familiar, you’ll find yourself wondering why you never read about it in school. This beautiful book swept me away from the first page.” —Kate Milford, author of the Greenglass House series

“Dylan Meconis is at the absolute top of her game. A gorgeously rendered, lovingly realized alternate history, full of personal revelations in the midst of political intrigue. A tale of growing up, and of understanding that the world is larger and stranger than it once seemed. (Plus it has a Terrible Recipe for Terrible Gruel.)” —Ben Hatke, author-illustrator of the Zita the Spacegirl series

“This is the book I was always trying to get my hands on in high school that never seemed to materialize. An adventure to lose yourself in, with an attention to historical detail to please the nerdiest among us. I fell easily and completely into this world and its characters, knowing I was safe in Dylan Meconis’s hands, and I’m really excited for more people to find out what I’ve known for a long time—that she is one of a kind.” —Kate Beaton, author-illustrator of Hark! A Vagrant

(Affiliate links included.)

Music Playlist

The Infanta – The Decemberists

As A Child – Suzanne Vega

Dear God – XTC

Retrograde – James Blake

Optimist – Zoe Keating

They Told Me – Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside

Veni, Veni Bella – Medieval Bæbes

The Mary Ellen Carter – Stan Rogers

Biebl: Ave Maria – Dale Warland Singers

About the Author

I’ve been writing and illustrating my own stories since the first grade, and I’ve been making comic books since middle school (no, really! Seventh grade was a tough year for me socially, so I had a lot of time to draw). I started my first book-length comic (graphic novel) in high school.

Unlike a lot of people who become professional artists and authors, I didn’t go to art school or a creative writing program in college. Instead, I mostly studied history, literature, philosophy, and French in the College of Letters at Wesleyan University. This means I have a brain full of weird facts, old books, strange art, and the extremely useful ability to read The Tales of Canterbury in the original Middle English. Except for the Middle English bit, it’s all come in very handy for writing and drawing historical fiction and fantasy.

I first started to get paid for making comics when I was still in college, when my first graphic novel was published online. After college, I worked as a graphic designer and visual communications consultant (which means “person who helps teach adults complicated stuff in cool new ways using pictures”). I’ve worked with Fortune 500 companies, global charities, technology companies, libraries, and a lot of other interesting organizations. I’ve made illustrations, animations, information graphics and cool presentations, explaining everything from how microchips work to the ways that clean drinking water can help communities in the third world.

For the last ten years, though, I mostly work as a writer, comic book creator and illustrator! Sometimes I make books totally by myself, and sometimes I get to team up with other writers or artists. It can be lots of fun, but it can also be very hard work. Luckily, I never get tired of making new stories.  

PHOTO CONTENT FROM DYLAN MECONIS


Tour-Wide Giveaway


10 Winners will receive a Copy of QUEEN OF THE SEA by Dylan Meconis.
- Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter | Ends July 18, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I Can't Wait for... The Athena Protocol by Shamim Sarif (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday) #CWW #WOW


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

I'm a huge Jason Bourne, Ally Carter, and all around spy thriller fan so when I read about this upcoming release, it immediately grabbed my attention. Hopefully it won't disappoint. It's my pick this week...

The Athena Protocol
By Shamim Sarif
YA Spy Thriller
Hardcover & ebook, 304 Pages
October 8th 2019 by HarperTeen

Summary

Bourne Identity meets Karen McManus in this action-packed series opener about a spy gone rogue, perfect for fans of Ally Carter and Killing Eve.

Jessie Archer is a member of the Athena Protocol, an elite organization of female spies who enact vigilante justice around the world.

Athena operatives are never supposed to shoot to kill—so when Jessie can’t stop herself from pulling the trigger, she gets kicked out of the organization, right before a huge mission to take down a human trafficker in Belgrade.

Jessie needs to right her wrong and prove herself, so she starts her own investigation into the trafficking. But going rogue means she has no one to watch her back as she delves into the horrors she uncovers. Meanwhile, her former teammates have been ordered to bring her down. Jessie must face danger from all sides if she’s to complete her mission—and survive.

Don’t miss this gripping page-turner that New York Times bestselling author Patrick Ness called “a ferocious, take-no-prisoners thriller that actually thrills!”

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

An emotional story of three estranged sisters... Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter (Review)


Welcome! I've been a fan of this author for some time and have been
anticipating this newest release from her. Read my full review below...

Summer by the Tides
By Denise Hunter
Christian Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction
Paperback & ebook, 302 Pages
May 21st 2019 by Thomas Nelson

Summary

From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes a heartfelt story of family secrets, forgiveness, and unexpected romance.

Following a painful betrayal, Maddy Monroe's love life is a wreck, and her restaurant career is in shambles. When her grandmother goes missing, she and her estranged sisters converge at the family beach house in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma at the place where their family broke apart is a struggle, and undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the sisters under. In the midst of the storm, sparks begin to fly between Maddy and Gram's maddening neighbor, Connor Murphy.

As the sisters pack up the family belongings, memories of idyllic, slow-paced summers are resurrected. But long-buried secrets also come to light as Maddy discovers that all was not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven--nor today in the seemingly perfect lives of her sisters.

As family tensions rise and Connor causes tumult in Maddy's heart, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they've become before the bitterness of the past destroys their hope for a future.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

SUMMER BY THE TIDES is a highly anticipated release for Christian romance fans. Hunter does an excellent job with her fully-fleshed, complex characters and a story that will pull on readers' hearts from beginning to end.

I knew after the first chapter that this story was going to be quite an emotional ride. The story mostly focuses on Maddy and Connor and the romance that develops between them (with plenty of chemistry and swoon-worthy moments), but it's about so much more than that. It's about fear, mistakes, forgiveness, and family. Maddy is stuck in the middle of her two older and estranged sisters. With all three of them staying at their grandmother's beach house where all the trouble started, they end up rehashing old grudges. The hope is that somehow they can find reconciliation, but it's a long ways off.

I really liked these characters, particularly Connor. He easily won me over and was the bright spot in all the mess. The other sisters had so many issues and fears and it was hard sometimes to always feel empathy for them when they were acting so childish and giving in to anger and fear so easily. A lot of it was hypocritical too - they were so judgmental of each other but not willing to change themselves. I particularly had issues with Emma (did she ever think that maybe her sister saved her from a cheater and terrible husband - and she's remarried, but can't seem to focus on that instead of her past?), and with Maddy who was so afraid and in denial that she was always sabotaging herself. I think the story felt heavy and more dramatic with these sisters than what I was expecting, which made it feel a tad overdone. Thank goodness for Connor and for the girls' grandma. I really enjoyed the romance and the inspirational aspects that lightened the story and brought some good introspective moments.

In the end, was it what I wished for? I enjoyed this book, particularly the romantic storyline, and am looking forward to more from this author.

Content: Some innuendo and references to affairs, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through JustReadTours, which did not require a positive review nor affect my review in any way.

About the Author


Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 25 books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.

When Denise isn't orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest.


Tour Schedule

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!


A marriage-of-convenience with the hope for more... More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer (Review & #Giveaway)


Welcome! I've been a fan of this author since she wrote A Tailor-Made Bride years ago and have been reading and buying her books ever since (although I need to catch back up with her more recent releases). Read my thoughts on her newest release and enter the tour giveaway below...

More Than Words Can Say
(Patchwork Family #2)
By Karen Witemeyer
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 384 Pages
June 4th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

Summary

After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free to live life on his own terms. No opportunities to disappoint those he cares about, just the quiet bachelor existence he’s always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away once again when the baker of his favorite breakfast treat is railroaded by the city council. As hard as he tries to avoid getting involved, he can’t turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.

Abigail Kemp needs a man’s name on her bakery’s deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. Not the stoic lumberman who oozes confidence without saying a word whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can’t even control her pulse when she’s around him. Once vows are spoken, Abigail’s troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. As trust grows between Zach and Abby, she finds she wants more than his rescue. She wants his heart.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY is another delightful read from this author and series! Readers will easily fall in love with these characters and cheer them on as they try to find their happily-ever-after.

I just plain adored these characters! Abby is one of those characters that is so easy to relate to. She's hard-working, loyal, sweet, with a heart of gold. Zach is rough around the edges and somewhat gruff, but he also has a soft heart and is fierce in protecting his own. I loved their interactions and I especially loved how Zach didn't let Abby storm off or turn away from him. He stopped and sorted things out right then. I also loved seeing their relationship develop and love grow, leading to plenty of swoon-worthy scenes. The story also has plenty of moments when I wasn't sure how things would turn out, keeping things interesting to the very end.

In the end, was it what I wished for? I thoroughly enjoyed reading this from beginning to end. It did have some more mature content as the characters tried to figure out their roles as husband and wife, so I'd recommend it to older readers, but I definitely recommend it!

Content: Some innuendo, content related to marital relations, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the the publisher through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review nor affect my review in any way.

Other Books in the Series


About the Author

Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance to give the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Texas, with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram

More from Karen

Settings – Real or Imagined?

One of the key decisions an author has to make before she begins to write is selecting the setting for her story. And the first choice she faces is the question of whether to use a real or imagined location. Roughly half the stories I have written are set in fictional towns. The use of a fictional setting allows an author greater freedom to manipulate the environment of her characters to fit her plot. This provides a great deal of flexibility. However, there is something special about setting a story in a real place. First, readers who are familiar with that place never fail to get excited about seeing a town they recognize in print. Second, if an author can find historical photos and documents, she can add a wonderful layer of authenticity to her setting that might otherwise be missing. Third, an author may turn up fascinating tidbits when studying the history of her setting that find their way into the story and bring a flavor the author never could have supplied on her own. This was the case as I wrote More Than Words Can Say. All of the stories in my Patchwork Family series have been set in real places. Pecan Gap, Texas for More Than Meets the Eye, Honey Grove, Texas for More Than Words Can Say, and coming this fall we’ll travel to Gainesville, Texas for the concluding novella, More Than a Pretty Face. Researching each location brought its own unique discoveries, but I have to admit that researching the small town of Honey Grove brought this history-loving girl a special level of joy. For example, there is a legend about how the town got its name that I knew needed to be incorporated into my story. Legend has it that when Davy Crockett was on his way to join the fight at the Alamo, he stopped in a grove of trees and set up camp. There were so many bees in that in letters to family and friends, he called the place a “Honey Grove.” He carved his initials into one of the trees and intended to return and settle there after the war. Unfortunately, as we know, Crockett did not survive the Alamo and therefore did not return. One of his friends, Samuel A. Erwin, later found the grove and became the first settler in 1839. Many people recall seeing the initials carved into Crockett’s bee tree even into the early 1900s, which led me to believe that this legend was based in truth. It doesn’t play a pivotal role in my story, but if you watch for it, you’ll find it mentioned. Discovering the Honey Grove Preservation League’s website proved a tremendous boon. Their online historical resources are some of the best I have ever come across. Historical photos, newspaper articles, government records—it was like stepping through a time portal every time I visited. And I visited often. Thanks to the Preservation League, I was able to mention real people and places in my novel. Places like the Commercial Hotel, the home of James Gilmer that was built during my time period, Wilkins, Wood & Patteson Dry Goods, and Dora Galbraith Patteson’s millinery shop on the east side of the town square. While Zacharias Hamilton and Reuben Sinclair are completely fictitious characters, there really was a lumberyard located on the corner of Sixth Street and Rail Road. As fiction authors are wont to do, I did take a few liberties with Honey Grove’s history. To my knowledge, there was never any city ordinance banning women from owning businesses in town, which was a key plot point in More Than Words Can Say. In addition, Mayor Chester Longfellow was a complete invention of my imagination. The true mayor of Honey Grove during this time period was J.H. Smith, a man who served in that capacity from 1888-1897. He must have been a well-loved city official to hold office for nearly a decade. I paid brief homage to him by having him step back into office when my fictitious mayor resigned. I hope you enjoy stepping back in time with me into historic Honey Grove, Texas. Zach and Abigail might not have lived there in truth, but I like to believe their tale is a representation of the many amazing love stories have taken place in that sweet little town through the years.

Tour Schedule

Baker kella, June 16
EmpowerMoms, June 16
Genesis 5020, June 17
Bigreadersite , June 17
Among the Reads, June 18
C Jane Read, June 19
Mary Hake, June 19
Hallie Reads, June 19
Splashes of Joy, June 21
Pause for Tales, June 21
Worthy2Read, June 22
Vicky Sluiter, June 23
Wishful Endings, June 24
Simple Harvest Reads, June 24 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
amandainpa , June 25
Quiet Quilter, June 26
Emily Yager, June 28
Lukewarm Tea, June 28
By The Book, June 28
The Becca Files, June 28

Tour-Wide Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away a grand prize that includes More Than Words Can Say, More Than Meets the Eye, and a $20 Panera Bread gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!


Are you a Karen Witemeyer fan? Have or will you be reading this one?

Refuge at Pine Lake by Rose Chandler Johnson (Tour Launch & #Giveaway)

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Launch for
Refuge at Pine Lake
By Rose Chandler Johnson

Note from the Author

I’m happy to welcome you to the blog tour for Refuge at Pine Lake. I appreciate your stopping by. I am grateful to the organizers, bloggers, and readers—especially the readers—who are making this tour possible.

I really like this sweet contemporary romance set on a Georgia Lake. Robin, Matt, and Caleb and their circle of family and friends are just like people you know and love. My characters come to life for me, and I hope they will come alive and be believable and worth caring about for you. In my character-driven novels, I like to bring people face-to-face with real life situations, and in the midst of their muddle, give them a vision of hope and clarity.

Refuge at Pine Lake also celebrates family, faith, friendship, and community. Another important focus is the milieu, so I create my Southern setting in minute loving detail. I don’t think you’ll feel like you’ve already read this story a hundred times, and you just might want your own refuge at Pine Lake. There’s a sweet satisfying ending, too. Enjoy!

Thanks again. I appreciate you so much.

—Rose

Refuge at Pine Lake
By Rose Chandler Johnson
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
March 6th 2019 by Chanson Books

Robin Lancaster, a twenty-six-year-old former kindergarten teacher, has her summer and her life all figured out. She’s ready to be on her own, writing and illustrating her children’s stories at her family’s beloved lake house. Once there, she intends to rekindle a romance with Caleb Jackson, the area’s top hunting and fishing guide, and bag him for herself.

Complications arise from the start when Robin finds out her mother has rented the lake house to a man they know nothing about.

Matthew McLaughlin, forty-year-old widowed university professor and author from California, shows up at Pine Lake in crisis. A sabbatical might be his only hope to save much more than his career. He needs a place of refuge. Sharing the lake house with a lighthearted young woman and her dog is the last thing on his mind.

Caleb Jackson has his own plans. He’s used to things going his way, but a man staying in Robin’s house presents unforeseen challenges. When paths unavoidably tangle for these three, hearts are on the line.


Tour Schedule

June 24th:
Launch
Janice's Book Reviews
June 25th:
Handcrafted Reviews
Christian Fiction and More
June 26th:
Hearts & Scribbles
June 27th:
Two Points of Interest
A Modern Day Fairy Tale
June 28th:
Meagan Davenport
June 29th:
Peaceful Pastime
Savings in Seconds
July 1st:
Paulette's Papers
Locks, Hooks and Books
July 2nd:
The Barefoot Reader
July 3rd:
Splashesofjoy
Moments
July 5th:
Teatime and Books
July 6th:
Grand Finale

About the Author

Rose Chandler Johnson is known for her heartwarming, inspirational writing. In addition to works of sweet contemporary fiction, her devotional journal, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea: Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments won the Georgia Author of the Year Finalist Award in 2014.

In her novels, Rose brings to life fascinating characters with compelling relationships embracing family, community, and faith. In distinctive southern settings, Rose creates memorable stories that will stir your heart. Readers often say her writing warms the soul as it reaffirms belief in love and wholesome goodness. Don’t be surprised if you sigh with pleasure as you savor the final pages of her stories.

Rose has lived in a suburb of Augusta, GA for thirty plus years. Before retiring from Georgia’s school system, she taught English, French, and ESOL. Currently, she is an English instructor at a community college. In addition to reading and writing, Rose enjoys cooking, sewing, gardening, and spending time with her six children and her beautiful grandchildren.


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a signed print copy of Refuge at Pine Lake plus a $20 Amazon gift card
One winner will receive a signed print copy of Refuge at Pine Lake
- US only
- Ends July 10, 2019

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