Book Details:
The Birth Mother by Seymour Ubell
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  338 pages | Genre:  Literary Fiction
Publisher:  Archway | Release date:  Sep 17, 2019
Tour dates: Dec 30, 2019 to Jan 10, 2020
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M: There is a rape scene that does not go into graphic detail, but the after affects are talked about and it may be a trigger for some. Deals with birth and babies. Mild language.
Book Description:
      On a business trip, a high-powered fifty-six-year-old American entrepreneur visits his partners in China. After their meeting, his Asian mentor invites him to an orphanage, a trip that will change the course of his family's life forever. Without hesitation, he and his wife fall in love with Anglo/Asian twin girls and become their adoptive parents. The children grow up in a world of twists and turns with multiple coincidences and synchronicity. Their journey takes them from China to Europe to America and back to China where their unusual birth mother enters their lives. This powerful story is filled with drama at every turn as the daughters face internal and external challenges. The Birth Mother is a story filled with love, pathos, tragedy, and triumph. Read, laugh, cry, and learn. It's a tale you will never forget.
Buy the Book: Amazon.com ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Indie Bound   Add to Goodreads

​Meet the Author:
Seymour Ubell has spent most of his career in the print and advertising business. His clients are, and have been, the largest apparel, footwear, pharmaceutical, retail and consumer products companies in the world. He is a published author (A Life of Risks Taken, 2014 and The Birth Mother, 2019), lecturer, and raises funds for Parkinson’s research when he’s not at the theater with his wife, Marsha.

Connect with the Author:      website   ~   twitter   ~   facebook

The Duke and I (Bridgertons #1)by Julia Quinn 
Paperback, 464 pages | Published June 11th 2019 by Avon 
ISBN: 0062911414 (ISBN13: 9780062911414)
SYNOPSIS:
In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable…but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty:

Love ignores every rule…

ABOUT the AUTHOR:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and and if you watch reruns of the game show The Weakest Link you might just catch her winning the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code.

A graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, Ms. Quinn is one of only sixteen members of Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame. Her books have been translated into 32 languages, and she lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.

The Bridgertons, her popular series of historical romance, is currently in production by Shondaland as a Netflix original series starring Julie Andrews, Phoebe Dynevor, and Rége-Jean Page.  Website

WILL YOU BE THE ONE TO WIN THIS AMAZON GIFT CARD FOR $50.?  Here is your opportunity to WIN! Simply click on the Rafflecopter link below and complete the entries!

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEWAY!

     I felt like I was on the verge of a panic attack. Or passing out. Or both. My nerves were shot, so I paced the hallway outside the intimidating double doors for my nine a.m. pitch session.    
     “Alivia, seriously. Just breathe,” my roommate, Naomi, reminded me, which was easy for her to say. She wasn’t about to pitch her manuscript to an editor. She hadn’t been given an hour’s notice that a time slot had opened for a consultation. She didn’t have to convince an editor in ten minutes that her book was good enough for a publishing contract. I was so not ready. 
     You’d have thought I’d be ready, considering I was on the waiting list for this pitch session, just in case. But I wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t even supposed to be at HEARWO. 
     “I feel like good things are going to happen,” Naomi said. “I mean, the fact that we snagged this ticket means Fate is on your side.” Fate came in the form of someone from Naomi’s writing group who had a ticket to HEARWO but couldn’t go. So they were giving their ticket away. For free. And Naomi— being a fantastic friend and the proud owner of her own ticket— thought of me and seized the opportunity. What are friends for? 
     “Thanks for believing in me.” I didn’t share her confidence. While Naomi knew she would publish someday, publishing was on my bucket list. Writing a book was also on my bucket list, I just hadn’t managed to do it. Yet. But the chance to attend HEARWO rekindled my interest. An advance from a publisher and royalties from a book could go a long way in repaying my student loans and even supplement my income as an adjunct professor at the local community college and substitute teacher for the school district. And that stupid payday loan I shouldn’t have taken. 
     As for the pitch session itself, I was meeting with William D. Wright. I knew nothing about him, other than he was an acquisitions editor for some publishing house I didn’t recognize. What I did recognize was the name of the book he discovered: The Silent Invasion. It had been a bestseller three years before. 
      “You’re going to kill it. I know it.” I channeled Naomi’s words. I squared my shoulders, closed my eyes, and practiced my presentation in my mind. I made notes because I hadn’t memorized my blurb. In fact, I didn’t really have a blurb or even a manuscript, for that matter. What I had was a couple of chapter drafts and an idea— the perfect idea. I figured if an agent accepted my pitch, I’d just write the book really, really quickly. 

Sally Johnson. Dear Mr. Darcy. Pink Bloom Publishing. |  
Sally Johnson. Dear Mr. Darcy (Kindle Locations 101-113). Pink Bloom Publishing. 
Sally Johnson. Dear Mr. Darcy (Kindle Locations 95-101). Pink Bloom Publishing.

​Tour Schedule
(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)
December 11th: Launch
December 12th: Julie Coulter Bellon - Truth or Dare
December 13th: Delaney Cameron - The Gift of Love
December 14th: Raneé S. Clark - Her Country Christmas Date
December 15th: Stephanie Fowers - Robin and Marian
December 16th: Aspen Hadley - Blind Dates, Bridesmaids & Other Disasters
December 17th: Maria Hoagland - Santa Cam
December 18th: Rachel John - The Christmas Bachelor Auction
December 19th: Sally Johnson - Dear Mr. Darcy
December 20th: D.E. Malone - Love Like Forever
December 21st: Melissa McClone - Mountain Rescue Romance Series
December 22nd: Brooke St. James - The Suite Life
December 23rd: Grand Finale

About the Author
      Sally Johnson has wanted to write books since she was twelve years old. Now that she's *slightly* older, her dream has come true. She loves playing with her imaginary friends, shopping for vintage furniture, and has a collection of pretty notebooks she may or may not ever use. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband, four children and dog.

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Tour Giveaway!
1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prize)
Ends December 28, 2019

REVIEW by LAWonder10:
      After living with abuse and neglect, feeling like the parent instead of the child, Jeanne was the one her mother seemed to detest. Jeanne's few memories of her dad were tender, yet few. Where was he? Why did he leave?
       Thanks to God, they had grandparents who loved them. Now, if only they could make it that far.
       This is a poignant, captivating tale of a young girl who suffered abuse from a parent who was suppose to love and care for her. It is a tale of selfish neglect and of forgiveness. Additionally, it is a story of unconditional love and assentation from one's circumstances.
         Based on a true story.
         I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating.
        This book was gifted me with no request for a positive review. This is my honest review.

​MEET THE AUTHOR:
​Sylvia Hornback received her Doctorate of Education Administration from Texas A&M University. She is the current Chair of the Board of Directors for ENERGY Worldnet, Inc., and served as an educator, principal and school superintendent for over two decades. Among her many accolades, she was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School Principal by the U.S. Secretary of Education. For the past ten years, she has served as a Bible study teacher at First United Methodist Church near her home in Decatur, Texas. Her first novel, The Mallard Conspiracy, was published last year.
Connect with the authors:   Website  ~  Facebook

Review by LAWonder10:
       Do you still need a Christmas gift? This is a wonderful gift for Teens or Adults. 
    Does Santa Claus have any place in the spiritual side of Christmas? Artist/Author Gaye Frances Willard offers an emphatic "Yes" in her art collection of Santa Claus and the Nativity. 
     The author makes several valid points in defense of her work. Such as, "Historically, there did live a Christian Bishop named Nicholas, whose life of devotion to Christ and acts of  generosity led to the legacy of... Santa Claus".  "He reflects the good in us and he reflects the bad".
     This book contains illustrations of her Santa Claus collection with scriptural references from the Bible and her "vision" in each one. In each depiction, the author has camouflaged a cross, many are very hard to see, but with her reflection of a humble, worshipful "Santa", she desires the viewer to realize the birth and Resurrection of Christ are equally important. 
    Her artwork is symbolic, yet many have objected to it. How can Christians find offense to symbolism when Isaiah, the Book of Revelations and even Christ's Parables are full of symbolism? Although I agree with the author, my personal beliefs are not centered on "the cross". The main suffering and agony for our infirmities and sins was in Gethsemane, culminating with the flogging, mockery, betrayal and the ultimate crucifixion. Still, I have no objection in her uses of they symbolic "cross".
      To summarize her key points I quote her statement,  "Since man breathed the first breath of air on this planet, God has not ceased to communicate with him through every possible avenue". 
     There are many inspiration thoughts in her writing. She stated points in a way I had never thought of them, and I consider myself fairly well-versed in scripture with in-depth understanding.  
      What better gift can one give than this beautiful hardcover copy of artwork and inspirational writing?
      I offer a Five Stars rating.
      *This was gifted me by the publisher with no request for a positive review. This is my honest review.

Her Country Christmas Date (Love in Little River #2)
By Raneé S. Clark
Sweet Contemporary Romance, Novella
Paperback & ebook, 98 Pages | December 1st 2019 by Sweetly Us
SYNOPSIS:
     Is ten days, twelve dates, and a little Christmas magic enough for happily ever after?
      Dru North has far more substance than the party-boy reputation given to him by the media, which is why a quiet Christmas in Little is just what he needs. From the moment he meets Amber Miller, who’s staying across the hall, sparks fly, and a magical Christmas party leads to an impulsive kiss.
      While Dru is eager to get to know Amber during the quiet vacation, she’s wary of his reputation and his riches. She challenges him to take her on twelve dates before she’ll consider their relationship anything more than a holiday fling—a feat given the fact that she’s only in town for ten days.
     Amidst the big family holiday Dru has always dreamed of having, Amber finds herself trusting with every “date” that Dru isn’t the bad-boy she thought him to be. But his insistence that this can be more than a holiday fling has Amber worried about the future. Dru’s a famous country star with money to burn, and she’s just a teacher. Are their worlds too far apart for a happily ever after when the Christmas magic is over?
(Affiliate link included.) -  Goodreads | Amazon

      She laughed. The way her laughter sometimes escaped her, like it was a surprise, tickled his insides with more warmth. It could be zero degrees out here, and he could stand next to her and not feel it. He glanced back at the window, catching a few people watching them, and shifted into the darkness on the other side of the fire. He glanced around them.
      “What is it?” she asked in a whisper.
    He looked down at her, turning so that he faced her, blocking them both from anyone determined to find them. “Looking for mistletoe,” he teased.
     She put her warm hands on the sides of his neck, then slid her fingers up into the short hairs there. “Ummm, not really necessary.”
      He tilted his head down toward her, stilling as he neared her lips. He’d just met this woman an hour before, but the pull to her was magnetic. He couldn’t avoid it if he tried. She didn’t even give him time to think about it before she leaned into him, finishing off the distance between them and pressing her lips to his.
      The fire behind them seemed to jump from the pit and explode around him. He wrapped his arms around her back, shifting her backward to lean against the side of the house. Her fingers slid up farther, pulling his head down to her. He let the magic of the night take over for several seconds, or maybe minutes, while he kissed her.
     She pulled away and stared at him, her fingers slowly trailing back down the back of his neck, gripping his shoulders. “That was ... um ... wow.”
      He drew in a long breath, loosening his arms around her, but not enough to let her go. Not yet. “Yeah.”
      “I don’t think I should have done that.” Her voice trembled with a light laugh. A fake one.
      “Because you hardly know me?”
      “You’re Dru North.” She blew out a breath.
      Usually the insinuation didn’t bother him. The women he’d dated in the past had figured out quickly enough what was hype and what was him. And there was a lot of hype. But he tensed anyway. He liked Amber. Really liked her, and it hurt to be judged so quickly.
      Then he shook it off, deciding that was unfair. She’d known him all of an hour or so. Enough time for him to be charming. Not enough time for her to separate an image from the real guy.
      “You’re Amber... ,” he started to tease and then broke off when he realized he didn’t know her last name. Classy, North. If there was ever a reason to believe that he was the womanizing bad boy, he’d just given it to her.
      “Miller,” she supplied. She gave him a see what I mean look.
      He would not have tried to convince her to go upstairs with him, no matter how long they’d spent together tonight, but that’s not what his image said. He’d just have to show her. “I want to get to know you,” he said, taking her hands in his and kissing her knuckles. She relaxed a little.
      “This is crazy,” she whispered.
      He spread her fingers out in his and then began kissing the tips. “Please.”
      “I’m only here for ten days.”
      “Plenty of time.” Let me prove to you who I am.
      She tapped her fingers against his chest, watching him as she considered. “Okay. But you can’t do that again.” He raised his eyebrows in question. “Kissing me. It messes with my head.”
      “That’s an unacceptable deal. It doesn’t have to be on the first date, but I am going to need to kiss you again.” He loosened his arms some more, making sure she understood she could walk away at any moment. She was irresistible, but he was standing out here in the cold, in the dark, purposefully out of view of the other guests at the party. He didn’t want to scare her.
       “Twelve dates,” she said.
       Dru scowled. “What?”
      “You can kiss me again after twelve dates.” She punctuated this by sliding her hands inside his jacket, her hands cold against his chest.
      “You’re only here ten days.”
      She pulled up one shoulder, mock grimacing at him. “Well, either you’ll rise to the challenge or . ..  you won’t.”

​Roxy's Song (Love in Little River #1) by Raneé S. Clark
Sweet Contemporary Romance, Novella
Paperback & ebook, 133 Pages | September 8th 2019 by Sweetly Us
SYNOPSIS:  
    The night Tag Turner claimed he loved Roxy Adams and begged her to follow him to Nashville to live his dream, she sent him packing since she knew it couldn't be real. Even if he did insist he’d been singing his love to her for years.
    Eight years later, Tag, now a famous country star, rolls back into small town Little River hoping for one more shot at winning his high school crush. But Roxy loves her quiet, country life on her family’s ranch—a life that doesn’t have room for someone who can’t buy coffee without national media attention.
    Not ready to give up, Tag stays in Little River to work on his next album and convince the woman he loves to give him a chance. Will Roxy ever trust his feelings are real and not just lyrics in a song?
(Affiliate link included.) - Goodreads | Amazon

ABOUT the AUTHOR:
During her early years of reading, Raneé S. Clark devoured fantasy books, which continued into her adulthood—since she often believes that a well-written romance novel is a delightful fantasy. Though raising three boys can sometimes hamper both romance with her own Prince Charming and her writing, she tries to get a little of both in every day. And most of the time she succeeds.

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Tour Schedule (Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)
December 11th: Launch
December 12th: Julie Coulter Bellon - Truth or Dare
December 13th: Delaney Cameron - The Gift of Love
December 14th: Raneé S. Clark - Her Country Christmas Date
December 15th: Stephanie Fowers - Robin and Marian
December 16th: Aspen Hadley - Blind Dates, Bridesmaids & Other Disasters
December 17th: Maria Hoagland - Santa Cam
December 18th: Rachel John - The Christmas Bachelor Auction
December 19th: Sally Johnson - Dear Mr. Darcy
December 20th: D.E. Malone - Love Like Forever
December 21st: Melissa McClone - Mountain Rescue Romance Series
December 22nd: Brooke St. James - The Suite Life
December 23rd: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway!

1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prize)
Ends December 28, 2019

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!

The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson
Contemporary Romance, Christian
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 336 Pages
December 3rd 2019 by Thomas Nelson
BOOK BLURB:
    Just when you think you’ve met your match . . . the charade begins.
    Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband—and children—altogether.
    But fate has other plans, and Cassie’s online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett’s memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game.
    No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?
    ​Melissa Ferguson’s hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.

                                 We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
                                 you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:
Launch - Author Interview
       Q: What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?
      A: I hope readers come away from the story having laughed and smiled over the crazy antics (some that were plucked directly from my mothering life) but also learned more about the ups and downs of the foster system, some perhaps even finding themselves called to get involved in some way. That’s what happened to our family. After writing this book, we were led to start fostering ourselves and our house recently became officially approved. 

     "I LOVE THIS STORY! . . . The Dating Charade is fresh and fun. I was entertained and amused, and also moved by its incredible and unexpected intensity. Melissa Ferguson is a clever storyteller, infusing her writing with equal servings of wit and depth. . . . this heartwarming book has earned its spot on my Favorites of 2019 list." - Cover Lover Book Review (Review)

       He swung the locker closed. He needed to get it together.
     In the stillness of his room he lay on his back, picked up his phone. It glowed in the otherwise dark space. Even as he typed the words in the app store and hit the download button, he felt the heat on his neck, the shame in even considering the terribly desperate option. He twisted his neck to double-check the lock on his room door. The mere act of looking into one of these sites depleted the level of his manhood. This was just testing the waters, he reminded himself as he swiftly created a username and logged in, scrolling down the page as dozens of faces popped up. He would just take a look around, see if this was a real possibility for expanding his connections . . .- Paulette's Papers (Excerpt)

    "...a family drama story with both Cassie and Jett finding their way with the kids they’ve inherited. And, neither one knowing about the other’s situation with miscommunication occurring. . . . this was a delightful read. It was heart-warming and often heart-tugging." - Reading Excursions (Review)


     How does this book stand out in this genre?
    The Dating Charade is a bit different from the typical rom/com, particularly because while there are several laugh-out-loud moments, there’s also the story revolving around the children and the issues they have to face (abandonment, addictions, foster care). So, I guess I’d say, The Dating Charade is happiness and total happily-ever-after with a bow, but also carries a message about the power of family, however they came to be. - Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters -(Interview)

      "Such a funny and heartwarming story!
      I don’t always enjoy stories that combine humor and serious elements. A balance is needed to make this work. To not make the humor seem out of place in the midst of the tragedy or to make the more serious elements seem like a shock because they are so extreme. Melissa Ferguson crafted a story that had me laughing and pulling out the Kleenex! . . . If you enjoy laughing and romance, I highly recommend The Dating Charade!" - Among the Reads (Review)

​      He rested his hand on the top of her car door and paused, the door separating their bodies but their faces suddenly not so far apart. “Till Wednesday, then.”
       The exposed skin of his neck was red from the chill, and beneath his form-fitting jacket sat a pair of dark jeans that complemented his green, button-down oxford. Any drift of cologne—if he wore any—was overpowered by the thousands of pines surrounding them, infusing their world with shouts of Christmas.
     Nat King Cole’s melody, “Almost Like Being in Love,” came over the outdoor speakers, drawing them toward one another like the red-velvet ribbon draped around the large Christmas trees in shop windows.
         “Till Wednesday,” Cassie repeated softly. - Tell Tale Book Reviews ( Excerpt)

     "Ferguson has been added to my must-read, auto-buy list of authors. I loved her writing style, the characters, and this story! So much emotion and heartbreak, but so much hope and love as well, making the story not too heavy, which is the perfect combination. Definitely recommended to both Christian and non-Christian contemporary romance readers." -Wishful Endings (Review)

     Cassie’s face hurt from smiling. For ten minutes she drove with that smile—a slaphappy grin. When a car cut her off turning into Food City, she had nothing but a Merry-Christmas-to-all grin to give him. As she slowly passed the lights of an ambulance and two feuding citizens beside busted cars, her wide and vibrant smile met them, and with understandable misunderstanding both citizens threw a few choice words toward her before turning back on each other. But there was nothing to be done about it. The smile wasn’t going anywhere.
      What if he was the one? - underneath the covers (Excerpt)

    "From laugh out loud moments to more emotional and serious layers, The Dating Charade has appeal far beyond its cute cover and promising synopsis. . . . With just one novel to her name (she has a novella I’m wanting to read!), Melissa Ferguson has found her way onto my must-read author list. I eagerly look forward to whatever she pens next!" - The Green Mockingbird (Review)

      "Okay, so first; WOW!!! I’ve loved books and I’ve laughed reading books but never so much as this one. This book? I have no words! It was messy, sappy, happy, and wonderfully one of the best books I have ever read!" - Read Write Breathe (Review)

       Jett whispered tersely, pointing to the thrown items. “Drew. Pick. Up. Your. Macaroni.”
     Drew looked up at him while shoveling another handful—literally, as in hand without the spoon—of macaroni into his mouth. “Can’t. I’m a dinosaur. Dinosaurs don’t have hands.”
Jett’s uncle stifled a smile.
      Jett himself stifled a look that would’ve slid that smile right off his uncle’s face. He set the fork down and stood. “Young man . . .” - I'm All About Books (Excerpt)

      "This is a fun read but it does go deeper than you expect. Ms. Ferguson does an excellent job of balancing out the light with the dark. I just wish, in a way, that there was more romance. But hey, I love romance books. Do yourself a favor and pick up this gem of a book. You will thank me later." - Harlie's Books (Review)

       " loved this! Getting to see these characters interact, both adults and children, made this a great read. Cassie and Jett are two amazing people who really step up to the plate when it comes to taking care of the three children they have each suddenly found in their care. Taking care of children is never easy, and these two were thrust into that with three kids!" - Backing Books (Review)

      So, this was how it was going to be. He’d thought that exact thought a thousand times since entering that long stretch of highway between his aunt’s house and his own. Every time, however, the blow lessened. At first it was like he had stood against a wall, and a truck had slammed into his body at seventy-five miles an hour. Then it felt like being strapped to a tree, an archer shooting an arrow into his chest. This morning it was a brass-knuckled punch to the face. Now, however, the hand giving the blow had softened, no more of a sting than if Sarah had slapped him on the cheek. He was getting used to the pain.
      Could perhaps even acknowledge a part of him liked watching the two small heads huddled close together beside him, Dakota’s little hand in his. Could acknowledge he was getting used to seeing a stack of diapers next to a stack of movies.
        It wasn’t as lonely. - Angela Walker's Reviews (Excerpt)

      What is your next release and/or what are you working on now?
      M: The Dating Charade released December third (woo!!!) and I’m working The Cul-de-sac War coming out fall of 2020. 🙂
     
     "All the hearts on the cover of The Dating Charade are entirely fitting because this story has heart in a big way (and a healthy dose of hilarity, too… often at the expense of the main characters)! I laughed, I cried, I hugged my kids, I told one of my kids to read this book! . . . Melissa Ferg[u]son’s debut is a “nothing but net” three-point shot for the win! I highly recommend this story!" - Faithfully Bookish (Interview & Review}

      "There are many hilarious situations, and I loved how the children keep Cassie and Jett on their toes. A heartwarming debut, with lighthearted humor, with a heartfelt core. Highly enjoyable read." - Labor Not in Vain (Review)

     "The novel was a fun and cute read. I like that even though Cassie was jaded, she still tried to open up her heart to love. . . . a novel about two separate people adopting children and learning to care about others than themselves. Overall, I like the idea of family being people who you choose and not only the ones you are born into." - Two Points of Interest (Review)

         Jett was a bona fide hero.
         And she couldn’t let him go.
        Pulling herself back to the present, Cassie shook out the pink tablecloth and threw it across the Ping-Pong table, shaking out her thoughts as she did so.
     Meanwhile, Bree, with crossed arms, stared at her as though she’d watched every bit of Cassie’s playback reel. “Listen, if you don’t call him, I’m going to. I’ll marry him myself, Cassandra Everson.” - SPLASHES of Joy (Excerpt)

      "I totally fell madly in love with this book and all of its characters. . . . And there are plenty of moments that will tug at your heartstrings. I admit that I cried both sad and happy tears while reading this book, as well as almost laughing to the point of tears. There's just so much love and greatness in this story. I'm so glad that I picked it up." - Uplifting Reads - Review

       Q: When you are not writing, what other hats do you wear? What do you do for fun?
      A: When not writing, I’m a mother of twin 4-year-olds and a 2-year-old daughter, and they stay all day with me. I also teach Bible and Religion online primarily for my alma mater, King University. - Library Lady's Kid Lit (Interview)

      "The Dating Charade is a super cute, fast paced and fun read. I knew that this was a debut novel when I started reading it but it certainly doesn't seem like a debut novel at all, it reads as a novel penned by a more experienced author, so kudos to Ms. Ferguson for that." - Peaceful Pastime (Review)

     "This author did such a great job with the struggles and horrors of foster care, trying to be a single parent, and trying to just get thru the day-loving and hating every minute of it-being exhausted but grateful at the end of the day. As a parent, I could relate to so many of the struggles, laughs and tears. I loved reading this book!" - EmpowerMoms (Review)

       Star, as she was always so keenly aware, was nowhere to be seen.
      For the past seven years she’d watched for the magic minute when the girls left their schools and made their way to the Haven. At the window, at 2:15 p.m. every day, she’d waited for them to come. Like the rumblings of thunder before a heavy storm, she and her staff would feel the anticipation, the shake, before the magic minute struck. The sudden rush at the computer to finish that report, to send that e-mail, to put the finishing touches on that flyer. The dash to the coffee station for a refill, because it very well could be the last calm moment for the rest of the day.
      Often Cassie couldn’t stand it any longer and would step out the front door with her fresh mug, beckoned by the distant sound of the final school bell. - Heidi Reads... (Excerpt)

      "Oh my goodness! Add this book to your TBR pile right now! If you love clean romance written from a Christian perspective, The Dating Charade is a book for you. I had to keep checking to make sure this was “for real” Melissa Ferguson’s first book, because it sure doesn’t read like a debut novel! Sure enough, it is! I’m already looking forward to her next book." - Christy's Cozy Corners (Review)

All excerpts from The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson. Used with the permission of the publisher, Thomas Nelson. Copyright © 2019 by Melissa Ferguson.

(Affiliate links included.)
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About the Author
      Melissa Ferguson is an adjunct professor for Bible and religion at King University. She lives in the charming town of Bristol, Tennessee, with her husband, twin toddlers, and baby girl. She used to have hobbies like running and backpacking the Appalachian Trail outside her door. Now her hobbies include admiring the Appalachian Trail out her minivan window while singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" en route to the library.

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​The Gift of Love (Finding Love #9) by Delaney Cameron
Sweet Contemporary Romance | ebook, 203 Pages | April 6th 2018
SYNOPSIS:
     First or even second impressions aren't always right.
    Leah didn’t plan to still be searching for love so late in her twenties. Her looks almost guarantee her success with the opposite sex, but quantity doesn’t mean quality. Good thing she’s got a great career to fall back on. The only dark cloud on that particular horizon is the enigmatic Dr. Levy, the man she’s come to think of as a permanent thorn in her side. Brilliant and handsome he most certainly is, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that he’s also stern, impatient, and bad-tempered. Oddly enough, it isn’t their mostly negative encounters that linger in her mind. Instead it’s the sadness she glimpses from time to time in his face. There’s no explanation for why she’s so bothered by this, nor can she imagine a situation where she’ll be in a position to discover the cause of his silent misery. All of which means she’s wasting her time. If anyone can take care of himself, it’s Dr. Levy.
     Stratton had only been at Hutchison Clinic a short time before he heard about the beautiful nurse on the second floor. In his usual skeptical fashion he discounted the gossip until he saw Leah for himself. He had no problem admitting that the reports of her beauty hadn’t been exaggerated, but appreciation was as far as he was prepared to go. Love, romance and the so-called happily-ever-after only exist in the movies. Putting your happiness in someone else’s hands is just begging to be hurt. He has a monthly alimony payment to prove it. Getting his family and friends to understand his preference for bachelorhood isn’t so easy. While he appreciates their concern, he doesn’t need the complication of something with such overwhelming odds of failure. One ex-wife is enough for any man.
(Affiliate link included.)
Goodreads | Amazon

      The salad course had just been served when Leah became aware of movement behind her. She turned her head to see what was going on and nearly dropped the dinner roll she’d been in the act of buttering. Under her astonished gaze, Dr. Levy sat down in the empty seat beside her. 
      After thanking the waitress for a menu and asking for coffee, he turned to Leah and smiled. “Hello, again. If I wasn’t so sure you don’t like me, I’d begin to think you’re following me.” 
      This provocative greeting broke the spell she’d fallen under. “I was here first, so the person doing the following is you.” 
    “Don’t confuse the issue with facts.” He opened the menu and ran his eyes down the offerings. “This place has a little of everything, doesn’t it? What did you get?” 
       “Grilled shrimp with a baked sweet potato and Caesar salad.” 
      “Sounds good. I think I’ll get that, too.” 
      As if on cue, the waitress arrived with his coffee and took his order. Leah used the time to finish buttering her roll and quiet her jangled nerves. In the three weeks since Dr. Levy had given her a ride home, she’d avoided going anywhere near his area of the clinic. This kind of behavior was unusual for her, but no one likes being caught in an embarrassing situation by someone who already thinks badly of them. And now, here they were again, thrown together by forces outside her control and which no one could have foreseen. Escape was impossible. Her only choice was to make the best of it. 
      “How do you know Evangeline and Cecil, Dr. Levy?” 
      He smiled as he stirred cream into his coffee. “The name is Stratton. Save Dr. Levy for work. I don’t know Evangeline at all. I’m one of Cecil’s numerous cousins. What about you?” 
      She didn’t hear much of what he said after the word Stratton. It was an unusual name, but it suited him somehow. As for calling him by it, that was something else entirely. “Evangeline and I met in middle school. Her family moved to South Carolina during our senior year. She was thrilled when I took the job in Myrtle Beach.” 
    “If we’d known ahead of time that we were both coming this way, we could have ridden together.” 
      Leah was saved having to come up with a response to this startling remark by the arrival of the main course. In truth, she was having trouble reconciling this sociable man with the somewhat reserved and often-times stern physician she knew from the clinic. Which one was the real Stratton?   
      She almost jumped out of her skin when she heard his voice close to her ear. 
      “What are you doing after the rehearsal dinner is over?” 
      “I’m going back to Evangeline’s house. All the bridesmaids are staying there.” 
      “It’s still early. Would you be interested in taking a drive?” 
      Taking a drive? With him? Now things were just starting to get weird. 
     When she didn’t say anything, a gleam appeared in his eyes. “It’s okay to refuse, Leah. You won’t hurt my feelings.” 
      “It’s not that I don’t want to go; I’m just…” She stopped, trying to think of a nicer word than flabbergasted or amazed. “I’m surprised. Our acquaintance has had some…rocky moments.” 
      He speared one of his shrimp and doused it in melted butter. “Then it’s about time we did something to change that.” 
      “Is it?” 
      “Of course. First or even second impressions aren’t always the right ones. Don’t you think we owe it to ourselves and each other to find out how wrong or right we were?”

Other Books in the Series

ABOUT the AUTHOR:
      I'm a Georgia girl at heart if not by birth. I love to read, watch college football, and spend time with my husband. I'm a hopeless romantic so there will always be a happily ever after in my stories. I also like to write about second chances because love doesn't always work out the first time.
  My books are sweet romances set in both contemporary and regency settings featuring stories about the journey to love, from that first meeting to the point where two people know their hearts are no longer their own. My characters aren't perfect. They make mistakes and have faults like the rest of us. They learn the sometimes painful truth that the path to love isn't always smooth, but it's a road worth traveling.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY:

1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prize)  Ends December 28, 2019
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!

​Book Details:
Secret Admirer’s Christmas Wish #2 by Dariel Raye
Publication date: November 10th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
      When a former ugly duckling and the former class heart-throb come together as adults, they find out they have more in common than they realized.
       Glenda Shaw knows firsthand what it’s like to be an ugly duckling, and now, she is roped into helping to organize her tenth-year class reunion. The speaker this year is none other than Hunter Teegs, the object of her dreams since their sophomore year in high school. She’s a dedicated social worker with a heart the size of Texas, but her hectic schedule doesn’t allow much time for dating or entertainment.
       Hunter Teegs is a self-made financial powerhouse with a boatload of charisma and a winning sense of humor. He’s also a notorious womanizer and heartbreaker. He has no interest in settling down any time soon, if ever. To make matters worse, he has recently noticed details from his childhood that cause him to question everyone and everything he’s come to believe.
      When Glenda and Hunter are brought together again, fireworks nearly knock both of them off their feet, and not necessarily in a good way. Glenda knows more than one secret about Hunter, and sharing the most crucial one could mean the end of their relationship before it even gets started.
Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon

AUTHOR BIO:
    Dariel Raye is an animal lover, animal rights activist, a musician, therapist, and an award-winning, USA Today, and International bestselling author of powerful paranormal romance and dark urban fantasy with IR/MC (Interracial/Multi-cultural) alpha male heroes to die for, and strong heroines with hearts worth winning.
     She is a classically trained mezzo-soprano and pianist who started singing with perfect pitch before she could walk, then fell in love with books and started reciting stories at the age of 3. Dariel plays over 11 musical instruments, including piano, organ, brass, and percussion.
      Her stories tell of shifters, vamps, angels, demons, and fey (the Vodouin variety). Dariel is currently writing two series: "Dark Sentinels" (wolf shifters), and "Orlosian Warriors" (Vampire-like Nephilim).
       For more about Dariel, follow her 'Musings' blog or visit her website. She also publishes a VIP Readers' Club newsletter. If you enjoyed one or more of her books, please post a review on review sites, and of course, click the follow button on Amazon to receive notifications about new releases. Join her VIP book club for updates, insider information, and access to early review copies of her books: https://darielraye.com/VIPbookclub/
Author links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads |

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)

• $25 Amazon gift card

This grand prize giveaway - ends Dec 19th:
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!

Darwin’S Secret Sex Problem: Exposing Evolution’S Fatal Flaw—The Origin of Sex​ by F. LaGard Smith​

​Darwin's Secret Sex Problem: Exposing Evolution’s Fatal Flaw—The Origin of Sex​ by F. LaGard Smith by F. LaGard Smith
Published March 1st 2018 by WestBow Press | 364 pages
Book Description:
       Dr. F. LaGard Smith, author of the new book, “Darwin’s Secret Sex Problem: Exposing Evolution’s Fatal Flaw—The Origin of Sex,” says one insoluble problem in particular is reason alone for serious scientific dissent.
“     "The most crucial problem with evolution that Darwin never acknowledged was natural selection's inability to bridge the gap between non-gendered asexual replication (mitosis) and fully-gendered sexual reproduction (requiring meiosis),” says Dr. Smith. "Natural selection could not have provided simultaneous, on-time delivery of the first compatible male/female pair of millions of sexually-unique species—in the absence of which evolution’s bedrock assumption of common origin from lower to higher life forms could not possibly have happened.  This is quietly acknowledged in the scientific community as the 'Queen of evolutionary problems’—the origin of sex—which, after countless studies, stubbornly defies evolutionary explanation.”
       Smith’s research for “Darwin’s Secret Sex Problem” led him to conclude that evolution’s bedrock thesis of microbe-to-man common descent is not science, but science fiction.
      "Given the unique nature of gendered, sexual meiosis compared with non-gendered, asexual mitosis," Dr. Smith explains, "the first-ever generation of sexual reproduction would have required 1) a never-before-seen male organism and a novel female organism, 2) magically having compatible chromosomes, and 3) a death-defying process of precisely halving their chromosomes, mixing them together in a revolutionary way, and then recombining to produce, not a clone (as in asexual replication), but a unique offspring unlike any on the planet.  Not to mention the minor details of geographic proximity and an evolved instinct to mate—all absolutely required in Round One of sex to start the sexual ball rolling."

​​      Darwin's Secret Sex Problem is a witty, engaging, scientifically sound exploration of perhaps the greatest secret of sexuality the utter inability of Darwinian evolution to explain its origin (John E. Silvius, PhD, Senior Professor Emeritus of Biology, Cedarville University).

      Darwins Secret Sex Problem is a witty, engaging, scientifically sound exploration of perhaps the greatest secret of sexuality the utter inability of Darwinian evolution to explain its origin (John E. Silvius, PhD, Senior Professor Emeritus of Biology, Cedarville University).

​This Book & Giveaway is Presented by The Adams Group

Book Details:
Charleston Buzz Kill ( Nick Janzek Charleston
Mysteries, #2) by Tom Turner 
Publication date: December 1st 2019 | Genres: Adult, Mystery
Synopsis:    When one of the stars of the boozy, risqué reality show, Charleston Buzz, takes a bullet to the head in mid-tryst, homicide cops Nick Janzek and Delvin Rhett swing into action. Within twenty-four hours they have five suspects…problem is all of them have solid alibis.
      Meanwhile, across town, is that a clandestine brothel being run by the fat cats of Charleston?
And what’s with all those college girls hanging out there?
    As new partners Janzek and Rhett stumble along looking for a break, it becomes clear that some of Charleston’s most prominent citizens are up to their eyeballs in it all.
Add to Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon

GIVEAWAY Derails:
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)

• 3x Kindle copies of Killing Time in Charleston (Nick Janzek Charleston Mysteries Book 1)

This grand prize giveaway - ends Dec 12th:
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!

Book Details:
In the Heart of Windy Pines by Holly Tierney-Bedord 
Publication date: November 24th 2019 | Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery
Synopsis:      From the author of Kindle Unlimited All-Star winner Sweet Hollow Women comes a new novella featuring characters from Murder at Mistletoe Manor, Carnage at the Christmas Party, and The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club!
   Klarinda Snow is the innkeeper of Mistletoe Manor in beautiful, remote, Windy Pines, Idaho, where she brings her unique brand of hospitality to the tiny mountain town. 
        When she finds her inn unexpectedly fully booked on a snowy Tuesday night in November, it brings back memories of a tragedy years before. Before she knows what hit her, she and her trusty team of employees (Myrtle, Pierre, and her new night manager, Josephine), have found themselves back at the task of solving another mystery at Mistletoe Manor!
    While this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novella, if you plan to read the books in the Windy Pines Mystery series or The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club, it’s highly recommended you read those first, as this book contains spoilers that could affect your ability to enjoy them.
Add to Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon

GoodreadsAUTHOR BIO:
    Holly Tierney-Bedord is the author of over twenty novels and novellas including Kindle Unlimited All-Star winner Sweet Hollow Women. Her books feature quirky, flawed characters and the kind of crazy scenarios that could only happen to someone you probably know. Count on her stories to have unexpected twists and turns, dark secrets, and lots of laughs.
      Holly is also an artist and miniaturist, creator of the mid-century dollhouse restoration blog flipthisminihouse.com, and the author of several non-fiction books about creating miniatures. 
      She lives in Madison, Wisconsin. When she's not writing or decorating her real house or mini houses, she's traveling. Visit her website at www.hollytierneybedord.com where you can connect to her blogs and subscribe to her newsletter.

Author links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

​GIVEAWAY
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)

• A collection of Holly's audiobooks + $10 Amazon gift card

This grand prize giveaway - ends Dec 12th:
Enter with this link.  RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!

Book Title:  Jeanne: A Journey from abandonment and abuse to forgiveness and truth by Sylvia Hornback
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+) | Genre:  Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Briggs and Schuster | Release date:   November 1, 2019
Tour dates: December 2 to December 20, 2019
Content Rating: PG - There are less than five cuss words plus adult themes of parental neglect.
BOOK DESCRIPTION: 
     Jeanne: At dawn on a sweltering summer day scrabbling sounds alerted Jeanne of the intruder downstairs. The pull chain rattled against the light bulb in the kitchen. Instantly a sliver of yellow light raced up the stairs and into her bedroom. Someone was moving about inside the house, and had even been bold enough to turn on a light. It wasn’t the first time she’d awakened to the sounds of this intruder.

Buy the Book: Amazon.com | ~ Add to Goodreads