Book Blitz of Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin (# Contest- Win an Amazon Gift Card)

 

Love in Overtime
Melissa Baldwin

(Love on Thin Ice)

Publication date: September 19th 2024
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Playing hockey in Maple Falls was meant to be just a charity gig, but then my new publicist showed up, melting the ice—and my heart.

Cooper

I never anticipated being roped into a charity hockey game during the off-season. But here I am, heading to Maple Falls, all because my publicist decided to retire. Change was inevitable, but I didn’t foresee it coming so soon.

Getting assigned a new publicist, Blair Radcliffe, didn’t sit well with me at first. However, there’s something about her – a fierce determination that’s both intriguing and challenging. I wonder if she’s ready for the whirlwind that is Cooper Montgomery. One thing’s certain– I can’t afford to fall for my publicist.

Blair

I still can’t believe I landed my dream job. The excitement is overwhelming, and I’m determined to carve out my path in the industry. But there’s one obstacle standing in my way– Cooper Montgomery, the seemingly uncooperative hockey star. Nevertheless, I’m ready to tackle the challenge head-on, and perhaps some time away in a quiet town like Maple Falls will work wonders.

What I didn’t anticipate was developing a crush on my own client. It’s the ultimate taboo in my profession, a mistake that could jeopardize everything I’ve worked for. I’m at a loss on how to navigate this newfound attraction, especially when it appears that Cooper might feel the same way. I’m not sure what to do next.

Love in Overtime is part of the Love on Thin Ice sweet small town hockey romcom series. It’s slow burn, grumpy-sunshine, workplace romance set in this small town with all the sizzle and chemistry, but none of the spice.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“Today should be relaxing,” I tell him. “At some point I want to have a meeting to go over a few things. Practices start in a few days, as you know.”

“Yes,” he says.

“It’s going to be a great event,” I continue. “And the town is so pretty and quaint. Their fall events are popular, they’ve made the place famous.”

Cooper makes a face. “I doubt Pine Falls is famous.”

“Maple Falls,” I say with a giggle. For some reason he can’t remember the name of the town.

He groans. “Crap, you’re right. I don’t know why I keep doing that. You’ll have to keep me on my toes over the next few weeks. The last thing I need is to meet the mayor and call his town by the wrong name.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, I’ll definitely keep you on your toes,” I exclaim.

“Yes, I can tell,” Cooper replies, the corner of his mouth turns up slightly which unexpectedly makes my stomach do a flip.

Ugh. What was that?

Thankfully we arrive at the baggage carousel at the perfect moment. I conveniently excuse myself to contact our driver while Cooper waits for his bag. As soon as I’m a safe distance away from him, I let out an exasperated sigh as I call for our car.

“Hello.”

“Hi, this is Blair Radcliffe. Just confirming our pickup at the airport.”

I glance back to where Cooper is standing and meet his gaze almost immediately. I give him a quick wave and point to the phone.

“Yes, ma’am. Your driver is on his way—ETA ten minutes.”

“Wonderful. Thank you,” I gush.

I exhale slowly after I end the call. I’m not sure why I feel so frazzled. I’m usually calm, focused, and professional.

Seriously, Blair, get your head in the game. Cooper Montgomery may be attractive, but he’s my client, which means we work together. These next few weeks could make or break my career. The last thing I need is to be swooning over a professional hockey player and his tall, muscular physique. In my defense, it’s kind of hard to ignore. Cooper stands out, and I’m only human.

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Melissa Baldwin always dreamed of sharing her stories with the world. She brought this vision to life, becoming an award-winning, bestselling author of over thirty romantic comedies and cozy mysteries. Melissa is also a wife, mother, new empty-nester, and travel advisor.

Her books feature charming, ambitious, and real women, whom she considers part of her tribe. Although she rarely takes a day off, when she's not writing, she enjoys quality time with her family, traveling, attempting yoga poses, and booking Disney vacations. Melissa still uses a paper planner, and her guilty pleasures include Beverly Hills 90210 reruns and General Hospital.

Visit authormelissabaldwin .com to sign up for her newsletter.

 

Fans of Melissa's books, join her Reader Tribe on Facebook.

Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter/ Linktr.ee

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BOOK BLITZ OF THE BOOK SOMEBODY TO LOVE BY M. ANKENMAN (#Contest- Win an Amazon gift Card.)

 

Somebody To Love
Mariah Ankenman

 (Jackson Family Distillery, #2)
Publication date: September 19th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Penny Williams is a lot of things; intelligent, shy, socially awkward, but the one thing she wants to be most is a mother. Unfortunately, she’s never been very lucky in the dating world. Men rarely go for quiet nerds, but that won’t stop her. Being an independent woman of the 21^st century, she decides to forgo traditional methods of baby making and try for a medical option. Only, she doesn’t want a random donation. She knows the perfect candidate. The only problem? It’s her best friend.

Bravo “BJ” Jackson would do anything for his best friend, but her latest request has him stumped. He knows Penny would make a great mom. Problem is, he never imagined himself as a dad. She says she wants nothing from him except his little swimmers. The real question is can he step away from a child who would technically be a part of him?

She promises nothing between them will change. But life gets complicated when they discover hidden feelings for each other that go beyond friendship. This deal could destroy what they have. Or it could reveal that what they really want has been in front of them the whole time.

 

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

 

                                       CLICK HERE FOR AN EXCERPT

 About the Author:

Bestselling author Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious children and loving spouse who is her own personal spell checker when her dyslexia gets the best of her.

Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books. To learn more about Mariah and her books visit her website www.mariahankenman.com.

 

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BOOK BLITZ OF THE BUTTON COLLECTOR BY M.M COCHRAN (#CONTEST WIN AN AMAZON GIFT CARD)

 

The Button Collector
M.M. Cochran
Publication date: September 17th 2024
Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller

When Chicago journalist Jessica Knight is linked to a string of odd murders happening across the country, her life takes a turn for the worse.

She is left wondering why her relatives are the ones dropping like flies under the signature mark of a serial killer . . . why she can’t stop thinking about Michael Bradley, the appealing detective assigned to protect her . . . and most of all, why, despite being the Button Collector’s prime target, she’s still alive at all. One thing she knows for certain: the killer is always watching. As the line between truth and deception begins to blur, Jessica crumbles under the dense web of lies she’s trying to keep straight–especially once the police start questioning more than just her sanity. With pressure mounting, Jessica must navigate being under the watchful eye of the police–and the killer–while risking it all in a dangerous game to make up for the mistakes of her past.

Her days are numbered…one way or the other.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

Chapter 1

The first thing I feel when I step outside my apartment building is his eyes on me.

They burn. They haunt. They’re always there, somehow finding me almost every day since the first murder.

Long shadows stretch over the brown patch of grass before my building. They’re soft on my boots and heavy on the winter flowers that need sun. Rain pelts down the petals, but I’m too cold to get my fingers wet and shake the water off the weak flowers.

The thick weather clouds the feeling of his surveillance, but I still close my eyes to escape it.

Count backwards from ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Okay, it’s gone.

Now open your eyes, I instruct myself.

It’s time to catch a cab. “Time to catch a cab,” I say.

Leave me alone. “Leave me alone,” I say.

The office buzzes with fluorescent lights over rickety desks made for half-hearted journalists. I slide between their narrow spaces and make my way to the associate editor’s desk. The editor in chief smokes in his office, and Della can tell me everything he knows, so I avoid him and his stench. It’s not something I can handle this morning, though on a good morning, I’d crave the smell of his cigarettes.

“Della, John wanted to see me? Why?” The tip of my umbrella taps the ground, sprinkling cold drops of leftover rain onto my pant leg.

She doesn’t even look at me, doesn’t even jump at the opportunity to comment on my red lipstick that’s too dark or my unshapely long coat. “He’s in his office.”

“But—”

“Jessica.”

The smoke in John’s office rolls onto me in waves of foggy white. My automatic response is to cough, clear my throat, but it would be nothing more than for show. He knows I’m used to it.

“Knight. Come here, I’ve got somethin ’for you.” He fingers me in and motions for me to take a seat. The dark leather on the chair does everything but absorb the moisture from my wet thighs.

He nudges a stack of papers in my direction. “Here’re some stories for the week that I came across over the weekend. Fire and Crime section looks like it’ll be good and full next issue, but I’d like you to start on this Button story. A profile about him to follow-up his murder we reported on last week. It’ll take some research, so I want your time and attention on this one. All week.” He taps the folder with his index and middle finger, keeping his cigarette in place between them. “Make it good. If you need me to get some intern on the other stuff, you just let me know, Knight. Let’s focus on this Button profile, and make sure to really center it around the freakshow killer more than the victims.”

John takes a long, focused drag off the cigarette. Blows it in a thin streak over his shoulder. Eyes me with a glare that’s crimped with sixty-year-old crow’s feet.

“You alright, Knight?”

“Fine. But why do you want me for this? I’m not investigative, just—”

“A hard crime reporter. I know. But you really proved yourself with investigative journalism skills after you covered that murder trial last month. I want to spread your wings a little more. Cover this Button story, Knight. It’s going to sell a lot of papers. Keep it up, and we’ll change your title to Investigative instead of just Crime Journalist.”

“Thanks, John, but I’m comfortable with my position.”

“I’ll give you a little raise, dear.” He wraps his lips around his cigarette and blows the smoke over his shoulder again. “And I’ll hire one of those interns to take over hard crime. Okay?”

“Alright. Thank you.”

“Well, we’ll see how this Button story goes.”

I nod.

“You sure you’re okay, Knight?”

“Yeah, fine.”

“Then shake that look off your face and get to work. I’d like to have that story by Thursday; I want the designers to arrange A1 layout around it. This’ll generate a lot of attention, you know. People are all over this Button Collector thing.”

“The word count?” I ask. I usually don’t have to talk word counts with him, but with big stories like this—like that trial—he always has some requirements to meet.

“Give me nine-hundred, no less.”

A knock on the door diverts his attention to behind me. “John,” the receptionist says, “a young lady would like to speak with you about advertisement.”

John pushes back his chair and stands, surrendering his cigarette to the dusty ash tray. “Stay here, Knight. I’ll be right back.”

My next breath is stifled by the smoke that folds into my face when he walks by. He leaves the door cracked behind him.

Author Bio:

As both a self-published and traditionally published author of YA fiction and a thriller, I know how vulnerable and scary handing your manuscript to an editor can be. . . But it is my job to take care of my clients and their stories, cherishing them as my own.
My novel, Between the Ocean the Stars, was ranked #2 at the worldwide distributors center upon publication and later named a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. My next novel, The Button Collector, releases in 2024.

Website / Instagram

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New Cover Reveal for Silent Screams by M.H.B (#Contest- Win an Copy of the Book 10 Winners)(Adult Romance Book)

 

Silent Screams
M.H.B.
Publication date: September 19th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

One accident.
Two men.
Almost three years of despair.
Four beating hearts growing in pain.
Five lives forever changed.

Everything fell apart in the blink of an eye.

These days my own misery keeps me company.

I never thought this would be me—a twenty-four-year-old—stuck in a dead-end relationship.

Gone are the thrilling adventures with Harvey Stark.
Gone is his smile.
Gone is the sight of his dimples and the sparkle in his bright blue eyes.

He’s changed into a hollow version of himself and I’m just a shadow following him around our home.

Then I meet my new boss. Damon Dreygon challenges me in ways I never knew existed and makes me believe in myself again. Our souls match instantly, and meeting Damon feels like a step towards peace.

Except it’s not. Because everyone grieves differently.

While one man refuses to touch me, the other won’t love me.

And I’m crawling through the crippling chaos, barely holding on . . .

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

M . H . B . graduated law from a Canadian University. She loves spending time with her partner and her dog. She has a passion for animals and loves the simple things in life: chocolate, music, books, sunny days, and overall wellness. When she is not writing, her mind is in another world with a book in hand.

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BOOK BLITZ OF THE CELESTIAL CONTRACT BY W.B. DINEEN AND ELIZABETH BOYER(#Contest- win an Amazon Gift Card)

 

The Celestial Contract
By Elizabeth Boyer, W.B. Dineen

 
Publication date: August 14th 2024
Genres: Metaphysical and Visionary Fiction

Thousands of years ago, Earth was hijacked by a self-appointed group of puppet masters. Their objective? To keep humanity from remembering why we have incarnated onto our planet—to keep us ignorant of the contract we signed with God before we came.

The powers-that-be have created and perpetrated falsehoods, distractions, and illusions, so we no longer have any idea what life on Earth is supposed to be—what reality truly is. We struggle with the most basic principles of living, unaware the game has changed.

An evolution is coming that will alter the landscape of civilization forever. If we want to evolve, we need to wake up now, and honor our covenant with the Divine. The alternative is being cast into eternal darkness.

The Celestial Contract is a harrowing story of what is happening in our world today. It explains who we are, why we’re here, and why we have lost all control over our lives.

“The information in this book blew my mind! I’ve searched for answers to philosophical questions about why we (humans) are on Earth, and what our purpose is … I’m both surprised and delighted by the answers. I want another book stat!”
– USA Today Bestselling author, Diana Orgain

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EXCERPT:

My life’s journey has encompassed many challenges. Challenges that have underscored the knowledge that there is a bigger landscape of existence than what is seen on the surface—we’re born into families, we go to school to learn, then we get jobs, get married, have kids, and the cycle keeps repeating ad nauseam.

While I had accomplished the seemingly expected tasks, my life still seemed devoid of purpose. I was left with the following questions: Why am I doing this? What is it all about? Who is in charge and where can I register my complaint that I am not fulfilled? I want more.

Growing up in the Catholic Church, going exclusively to Catholic schools, I didn’t learn any of the information I was seeking. I was essentially told, “This is the way it is. Don’t ask questions. Just accept your instructions and live within the confines of them.” While some of what I was taught rang true, I instinctively knew it wasn’t the full story.

In my search for enlightenment, I read copious books, took many courses, and listened to every expert I could find who spoke on the idea of a deeper meaning to life. I learned about things my upbringing would have eschewed as heresy, but as I didn’t fully trust religious indoctrination, I needed to find out what else was out there.

In a bid to understand why I’m on this planet and what my bigger purpose is, I pried open my mind and entertained a multitude of possibilities. I participated in past life regression; I visited psychics and other clairvoyants; I spoke to shamans and other holy people outside of Christianity; and still, I couldn’t assimilate a vision I could totally get behind.

During this time, when I had no money to spare, I was drawn to spend ten thousand dollars to attend hypnotherapy school. It was an absurd amount for someone who sold her platelets at the blood bank just to gather enough vouchers to take her child to Disneyland.

Ten thousand dollars was a king’s ransom to me and could have alleviated many of my day-to-day struggles. The fact that I was willing to take out a student loan to pay for it confirmed the rightness of my attraction to hypnotherapy. No amount of money seemed too much if it meant continuing my path to enlightenment.

Long after graduating, I began working with a woman who was facing her life’s greatest challenge. She was distressed because her body was unable to carry a pregnancy to term and she desired nothing more than to understand why she couldn’t attain her heart’s desire.

While “in state” during hypnosis, it became clear that my client, Emma, was attracting other presences. Worrying they might not all be benevolent, we began a process of weeding through the curious entities who wanted to take part in our sessions.

That’s when Emma’s spirit guide introduced herself to my client and created the rule for protection. The rule being, if Therie (as she called herself) wasn’t present during the attempted communication, then Emma was to walk away and not participate in it.

You might wonder why Emma would trust a random spirit who just showed up during hypnosis. How did Emma know she was safe? My client had been interested in spiritual endeavors since she was a child, and during a particularly rough patch, a beautiful woman showed up in her dreams to offer comfort and encouragement. This woman was Therie.

When she awoke, Emma didn’t remember anything but the feeling of pure love and joy she had experienced during that encounter, and she was desperate to feel it again. For years she tried to return to the location where Therie came to her, but she was never able to recreate the experience. At least she wasn’t able to consciously remember it.

In any event, that’s why Emma recognized Therie twenty years later in hypnosis. She had no doubt her spirit guide was who she claimed to be, and that she could be trusted.

During our sessions, one entity became more persistent than the others. The only problem was that this being could not decrease its vibration to the point where meaningful contact could be made. Therie assured Emma the contact was vital and the only solution was to increase Emma’s vibration to meet them halfway.

As such, my client’s guide worked with us until Emma could link up with the being from the other side. This process took months, and while we grew impatient to understand what it was all about, Therie continued to assure us we would eventually have all our questions answered.

When Emma’s vibration level finally increased enough that she was able to talk to the being, she refused to tell me what it was saying. All I heard on my end was Emma’s persistent response, “I’m not telling Gen that. Nope, not going to do it.” This went on for several sessions, and I started to wonder if I was ever going to know what was being said.

Eventually, Emma’s contact offered her a deal of sorts. If she would step aside and let them speak, they would help her body heal so she could finally bear the life she longed for. She would finally be able to conceive and carry a baby to term. This was an offer akin to waving a fistful of candy bars in front of a young child. Emma, who still hadn’t achieved her greatest dream—and because Therie encouraged her to do it—signed up to simply step aside and let the contact give voice through her. She was as surprised as I was by the scope of information that came through.

The focus of this book is what we learned during that time. The being—which turned out to be multiple beings united in one light—not only answered every question I’ve ever had about existence, but they also relayed their purpose for making contact. That purpose was to warn the inhabitants of Earth of an upcoming evolution that would change human life as we have come to know it. Forever.

They explained something called a Celestial Contract, which is the ultimate contract every human makes with God—or the Universe, if you prefer—before incarnating into this world. If this vow is honored, all other contracts become null and void. This one pact is our purpose, it is our destiny, and yet it is something we largely remain unaware of.

AHL, our friends from beyond, explained that their message needs to reach people, to wake them up to their real purpose before the time of astronomical metamorphosis. In addition to explaining this contract, they shared Universal Truths so far beyond limited human understanding that it left me overwhelmed—and I had pursued answers to these questions my entire adult life.

The bottom line is that we are not alone, and we must allow the seed of the Divine to bloom within us before it’s too late.

We have no choice but to adhere to the terms of our Celestial Contract or reap the consequences.

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Book Blitz of Whiskey and Warfare Book One by E.M. Hamill (#Contest- Win an Amazon Gift Card)

 

Whiskey and Warfare
E.M. Hamill

 
(The Team Huntress Flights, #1)
Publication date: September 15th 2024
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction

Running on caffeine and spite with nothing left to prove.

Maryn Alessi retired from mercenary service after her last assignment went horribly sideways and settled down on a quiet planet with the love of her life. Unexpectedly widowed, Maryn must fulfill a promise to return her mate’s ashes to zer home planet for funeral rites, but a brutal civil war has destabilized space travel.

Former Artemis Corps sisters-in-arms and their sassy ship, the Golden Girl, are up to the task, counting on luck and their rather sketchy cargo business to get Maryn passage through the contested star lanes. But when the crew of the Girl rescues survivors of a ruthless war crime, Maryn and her ride-or-die friends must take up their old profession to save the lives of innocents from a genocidal dictator.

WHISKEY AND WARFARE is the first of The Team Huntress Flights.

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—

EXCERPT:

“We’re in position.” Scylla’s voice came over the headset. She squinted at the display as the external floodlights played over twisted metal. The ramp began to descend, letting the void in. A cold sweat broke out over Maryn’s skin at the sight of interminable space.

I’m inside, not out there, she reminded herself. She tried to train her attention on the heads-up instead, but her eyes refused to focus. “Girl, adjust the holo projector for plus three distance and magnification.”

“Setting display for granny glasses,” the ship responded.

“What did you say?” Maryn blurted.

“That’s what I call it. Girl does too, now,” Scylla said over the comm.

Her eyes finally cooperated. The blasted hull of the ship spun beneath them and she caught sight of the cylindrical life pod, projecting part way out of the tube from which it had been launched.

“I see it. Match trajectory and rotation.” She extended her arms. The hydraulic limbs reflected her movement. “There’s a piece of debris jamming the life pod into the tube. I can only see one of the retrieval cuffs on the pod. It’s twisted the wrong direction. Bring us more to port.”

“Roger. Correcting speed and rotation.” Scylla said. The stars outside spun in a dizzy arc, drawing Maryn’s gaze to them, and she blinked sweat out of her eyes. “How’s that?”

The other cuff was in view. “Good for now.” She reached for the near cuff and clamped hydraulic fingers around the handle. The other limb extended but she met unexpected resistance before she could use the claw to grab the metal rod jamming the tube. “The right arm is stuck.”

“You have to punch a little to unstick it,” Jac told her over the headset. “It’s got shoulder issues. Girl’s getting old, like us.”

“I beg your pardon,” Girl said, offended. “I’m younger than all of you. It’s not the age. It’s the shit you’ve put me through.”

Maryn carefully retracted her arm, swiveling, and extended her fist with more momentum. The joint popped and the robotic manipulator extended the rest of the way, the metal hand slamming against the lifeboat. “I probably just scared the hell out of whoever’s in there.” She wrapped the claw around the junk pinning the capsule into the tube and pulled back. The rod moved but refused to let go. “It’s not going to budge without a little force. It might just pull the wreck with us before it releases. How big of a problem is that?”

“Big,” Scylla admitted. “A huge section of the transport is drifting toward us faster than I hoped. We won’t be able to move out of the way fast enough lugging that behind us and I don’t want the Girl smashed between ‘em.”

“If we leave the life pod here, they’re going to be smashed instead of us,” Maryn snapped. “How long do we have?”

“About two minutes until we have to disengage.”

“Just like old times,” Maryn muttered. “All right. Give me a minute. Be prepared to move away as soon as it comes loose.”

She wrapped one hydraulic claw around the tow handle, the other on the obstructing debris and pulled. Both shifted in the tube and stuck again. “Come on, you bastard,” she grunted, throwing her weight against the hydraulics. The cylinder slid out another foot, not even halfway out of the launch tube.

Her thigh muscles burned with the effort as she leaned backward in the arm controls. She staggered when the cylinder suddenly slid free, and the hydraulic claw jerked the life pod forward too quickly, banging it on the ramp of the cargo bay.

“Damn it, I’m really rattling whoever is inside. I hope they’re strapped in.”

“Make it fast, Mar,” Scylla said. “That wreck’s getting too close.”

Maryn gritted her teeth and clamped the other claw on the opposite tow handle. She carefully drew the vessel into the bay and deposited it hatch side up on the deck, not as gently as she would have liked. “Got it. Go!”

Impulse engines fired, treating her to a fresh, terrifying sight of wheeling stars and drifting wreckage as the bulk of the shattered transport plowed into the remains of the smaller ship and drove it toward the Girl’s stern. “I said go, go, go!”

Author Bio:

E.M. (Elisabeth) Hamill writes adult science fiction and fantasy somewhere in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas. A nurse by day, wordsmith by night, she is happy to give her geeky imagination free rein and has sworn never to grow up and get boring.

Frequently under the influence of caffeinated beverages, she also writes as Elisabeth Hamill for young adult readers in fantasy with the award-winning Songmaker series.

She lives with her family, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.

Visit her website at www.elisabethhamill.com and her blog at www.emhamill.wordpress.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok

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MOTHER OF PEARL BLOG SERIES- WATER SPOT BY CYNTHIA RUCHTI (GIVEAWAY)

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother’s Day blog series—a nine-day celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today’s best writers (Tricia Goyer, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Beth Vogt, Lesli Westfall, and more). I hope you’ll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother’s Day.

AND . . . do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful handcrafted pearl necklace and a JOYN India bag. Enter at the bottom of this post. The contest runs 5/4-5/13, and the winner will be announced on 5/14. Contest is only open to U.S. residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info, subscribe to our blog, and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith to help support Pearl Girls™.

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother’s Day!

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Water Spot Mothering by Cynthia Ruchti

For years, a friend and I met weekly for prayer and Bible study. More than twenty years older, Jackie often prayed for her high school children while I prayed for my toddler children who were supposed to be napping.

As any mother will attest, when we get serious about praying for our children, we can find plenty to pray about.

Jackie and I often laid our Bibles in front of us, open on the table. The day I learned the meaning of water spot mothering, Jackie and I had prayed intensely for our children and their wide variety of crises—large and small. We prayed about their uncertain futures and the certainty that God loved them even more than we did. Tears formed, unbidden, as we poured our hearts out to God.

A series of whispers from the stairway told me my children had found dozens of ways to bypass their naps. But they’d grown to respect the time I prayed with my friend. Even at their young ages, they waited patiently for the “Amen” before interrupting.

When Jackie left and life pulled me into other things, my Bible remained open on the dining room table. I walked through the room a short time later to find my four-year-old daughter Amy kneeling on a chair, tenderly flipping through the pages of my Bible. I knew she was unable to read more than the simplest words on the page, so I asked, “Amy, what are you doing, honey?”

Her answer resonates now, decades later. She said, “I’m looking for the tears.”

She knew I’d prayed for her. Finding the water spots, the tear stains, meant something to her young heart. She wanted to see evidence that my prayers for her had moved me to tears.

How triple true that would be through her teen years! We were just getting started on the water spot mothering concept.

I’ve relived that scene many times since that afternoon. My daughter bent over my Bible, her tiny hands turning the pages reverently, her eyes searching for a wrinkle in the page, looking for the assurance that I cared so deeply, prayed so fervently, and wasn’t afraid to let the tears fall on the sustaining resource for parenting and all of life—God’s Word.

Water spot mothering. Praying with the Bible open. Letting the tears fall on the pages.

I wear the picture of my daughter kneeling on the chair, bent over my Bible, close to my heart, like a silver locket I click open to remind me of my primary responsibility as her mom…even now.

###

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories of Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark through her fiction, nonfiction, and speaking events for women or for writers. Her recent release—the novel, When the Morning Glory Blooms, observes the heart-and-faith journeys of three eras of unwed moms. Her July release—the nonfiction book Ragged Hope: Surviving the Fallout of Other People’s Choices—touches on life circumstances that send us to tear-hemmed prayer for those we love. Connect with her at www.cynthiaruchti.com, Facebook, Twitter, or other network spots.

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MOTHER OF PEARL MOTHER'S DAY BLOG SERIES- MIZPAH BY MARGARET MCSWEENEY (GIVEAWAY)

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother’s Day blog series—a nine-day celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today’s best writers (Tricia Goyer, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Beth Vogt, Lesli Westfall, and more). I hope you’ll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother’s Day.


AND . . . do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful handcrafted pearl necklace and a JOYN India bag. Enter at the bottom of this post. The contest runs 5/4-5/13, and the winner will be announced on 5/14. Contest is only open to U.S. residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info, subscribe to our blog, and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith to help support Pearl Girls™.

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother’s Day!

~

Mizpah by Margaret McSweeney

On April 14, our family’s precious Pongo passed away. This beloved Chihuahua was with our family for nearly fourteen years. He played with my daughters during their childhood and comforted them during the challenges of adolescence. He rested by my side during breast cancer treatment and worked alongside Dave in his home office.

Yes, Pongo was always a source of surprises. Before he was one, he somehow swallowed a brownie patch attached to a string of beads and a safety pin. That was his first stomach surgery. Then, the following year he bit off the sharp edge of Mr. Potato Head’s ear. That was the second stomach surgery. Throughout the fourteen years, we were in and out of the ER for dogs. He ate a bag of cough drops in the pantry. He jumped on the table and ate the kids’ chewable vitamins. And the list goes on. . . .

House guests would always have to place their purses on a table without chairs. Otherwise, Pongo would rummage through the bags in search of his addiction: chewing gum! But above all, Pongo’s greatest gift and lesson to us was unconditional love. Yes, Pongo brought such joy to the family for so many years. No one could believe that he actually smiled! He knew how loved he was. I think that is why he outlived his life expectancy by three years after being diagnosed with a heart condition. It was his kidneys and stomach cancer that ultimately claimed his precious life. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at home.

The day after Pongo died, I read a beautiful Bible verse: Genesis 31:49

And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

Isn’t that beautiful! Mizpah signifies an emotional bond between people who are separated by death or circumstance.

Perhaps, instead we can say:“Mizpaw” to express this same emotional bond between people and their precious pets.

Pongo, I love you and miss you so very much. Thank you for being a blessing in our home. You have left a “fur-ever” heartprint in our lives. Mizpaw!

###

Margaret lives with her husband and two daughters in a Chicago suburb. She is the author of Aftermath: Growing in Grace Through Grief, Mother of Pearl, Pearl Girls, A Mother's Heart Knows  and the co-author of Go Back and Be Happy. She is the founder and collaborator of Pearl Girls. All the proceeds of books sales from Mother of Pearl (2012) and Pearl Girls (2009) to go support the work of two charities, WINGS AND HANDS OF HOPE. Margaret would love to meet you too. Follow her on twitter (@McSweeney) or friend her on facebook. You can also keep up with Margaret at Kitchen Chat, her weekly radio show.Visit her website.

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ENTER THE JAMES & SYVOK ADVENTURE PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY (USA/CAN- 18+)

 ENTER TO WIN THE JAMES AND SYVOK ADVENTURE PRIZE GIVEAWAY PACK WORTH $ 50.00.

prize pack includes:

1 signed Print Helga Returns (A James and Syvok Adventure)

1 signed James Saves the Moon
3 book marks

4 silicone bracelets

1 troll

1 $25 dollar amazon gift card

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
 

Wendy Nystrom is a published author with Anchor Group Publishing, a wife, and a mother of three wonderful children. Wendy grew up in St. Paul, MN, and has lived at different points in her life in Minnesota, Texas, Idaho, Colorado, West Virginia, and Iceland. She currently resides in Michigan (USA). Wendy is an avid reader of many different genres; she love adventures; and devotes some of her time to being active in schools, the local library, and other community projects. She earned a BA in Geography concentration Urban Planning at Texas State University. Wendy began writing children stories in 2005 while living in the wonderful country of Iceland. Her writing style is, imagine yourself sitting around a campfire deep in the mountains with a huge moon above. The mountains all around you while the story teller weaves a tale of adventure with a splash of fun as a pebble skips across the water.

PURCHASE THE BOOK- JAMES SAVES THE MOON:
Amazon Authors Page.
Amazon-Ebook-

SUMMARY OF Helga Returns (A James and Syvok Adventure)

James’ second adventure begins with a footprint. He once again calls out to his Icelandic magical friends, Syvok and Matthias, to discover what it means. He will find Helga, the troll who left the footprint. James follows Helga to Yamas, the troll village. Separated from Matthias and Syvok, James and Helga are to be left on a glacier. The earth tremors as Syvok and Matthias enter the village to save James. James saves the Guardian Troll from danger. Matthias and his dragonets save James from being squashed from a boulder dislodged by the earth tremors. All become friends and fly home on dragons back.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:

Wendy's Blog.  
FB Pages:
https://www.facebook.com/Wendysbookcase
https://www.facebook.com/Kidtales
https://www.facebook.com/LilAnchors
Twitter: http://twitter.com/wbnystrom
Stumbleupon: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/wendysbookcase
Tumblr.com: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/wendysbookcase




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A GWR Publicity promotional event paid for my Anchor Group Publishing. Giveaway is sponsored by Wendy Nystrom.

REVIEW OF SHATTERED BY DANI PETTREY WITH A FACEBOOK PARTY AND NOOK HD GIVEAWAY.

Title:Shattered (Alaskan Courage) 
Author: Dani Pettrey
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Date Published: Feb 1, 2013
Purchase Book: Amazon.


 About Shattered: 

With All the Evidence Against Him, Only a Sister's Trust Can Save Him Now
When her prodigal brother Reef's return to Yancey, Alaska, is shattered by his arrest for murder, Piper McKenna is determined to protect him.
Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he's also sworn to find the truth. And he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With his sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, some unexpected leads complicate the investigation, and pursuing the truth puts Landon's career in jeopardy.
When Piper launches her own investigation, Landon realizes he must protect her from herself-and whatever complications await as the two follow clues deep into Canada's rugged backcountry. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but this dangerous case is becoming deadlier with each step. 
 
Find out what other reviewers think of Shattered here.
 

About the Book:

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom, and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves--the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters' faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

Visit her website at www.danipettrey.com.

My Thoughts:

The novel was full of suspense, a bit of romance and full of twists and turns that kept me reading on. All of the characters were real and believable and I felt that I was part of the action.Even though I did not read the first book in the series, I did not have any difficulty figuring out who the characters were and what makes them tick. The book also touched on some issues such as drinking, and premarital sex in a way that was subtle and not overwhelming. I really liked Piper because she was so determined to prove that her brother Reef was innocent and found herself in situations that were dangerous. There is a romantic relationship that is developing between Piper and Landon. I wonder if it will blossom in the next book in the series Stranded.


Dani Pettrey is celebrating the release of Shattered with a Nook HD giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party {3/14}. 

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Nook HD

• Submerged and Shattered by Dani Pettrey {Be caught up in this riveting series.}

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 13th. Winner will be announced at the "Shattered" Author Chat Party on 3/14. Connect with Dani for an evening of book chat, trivia, and a chance to win gift certificates, books, and other fun prizes!

So grab your copy of Shattered and join Dani on the evening of the March 14th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 14th!

+ Discover Together Bible Study series | Revelation by Sue Edwards

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book by Litfuse Publicity and Bethany House for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF SOFT SCRUB TOTAL ALL PURPOSE BATH AND KITCHEN CLEANER (USA/CAN)

I have always used soft scrub in my house because it was gentle and did not scratch my tub. The older version was a little gritty but the new Soft Scrub Total All Purpose Bath & Kitchen Cleanser has an improved formula that makes cleaning easier. I used the lemon bathroom cleaner on a really grungy tub. It rinsed off easier and my bathroom smelled fresh and clean. The lemon smell was not over whelming like some other products.

What a mess!

 I did not have scrub the tub like other products and as you can see below it looks great now. The All purpose cleanser did a fantastic job on the soap scum.

All Clean Now!

 Follow Soft Scrub on Facebook.

 Would you like to win a coupon for a Soft Scrub Product? Enter below!

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Disclosure:  Soft Scrub provided a free sample of their Soft Scrub Total All Purpose Bath and Kitchen cleanser so I could review it.  However, all the opinions expressed here are my own.