Interview with Jenna Brandt and #giveaway!!

Today we welcome Jenna Brandt to my blog. Jenna, I love your name. I have a daughter named Jenna.  Jenna is very graciously giving away one ebook copy of Lawfully Wanted to one person who comments. Please include contact information and answer the question in red. 

I'm glad to have you stop by. Tell us about Lawfully Wanted – a brief blurb:

Levi Emerson and his partner, Clyde Forester, have been undercover for over a year chasing the ring leader of the largest cattle rustling group. After months of pursuit, they are closing in on their target, and looking forward to bagging their bounty. A paid informant has told them the rustler's next target will be the Larsen Ranch in Rockwood Springs, Texas. When Levi arrives at the ranch, he poses as a cowboy in order to gain employment at the ranch and catch the cattle thief.

Abigail Larsen is the daughter of one of the largest cattle barons in all of Taylor, County Texas. She has just returned home from finishing school, with what is considered by society, dangerous ideas that she gained from secret women's suffrage meetings. Her father has plans for her to marry Andy Wilson, a local rancher and recent widower, in an attempt to expand the family's influence in the region. Though she wants to do her father's biding, the rumors of how Andy mistreated his first wife leaves Abigail worried about her future, especially knowing he isn't the type of man that would find her new mindset appealing. 

When Levi and Abigail accidently encounter each other, the connection is instant, but they both know a relationship between them can never be due to their circumstances. Yet, as the couple continue to spend time together through various circumstances, the connection only deepens. 

Will Levi catch his wanted thief and collect his bounty? Will he tell Abigail the truth about who he is? And will Abigail choose to go against her father in order to be with the man she wants? Find out if these two star-crossed lovers can find a way to be together in this epic 1880s historical romance.

Is there one particular message or “moral of the story” you hope readers walk away with?

I hope readers will learn that earthly possessions aren’t as important as a relationship with God.

What is your favorite type of Hero?

Tell us about the giveaway you’re offering. 

I am giving away an ebook copy of Lawfully Loved, the book set in the same town with characters that appear in Lawfully Wanted.

How did Lawfully Wanted get started?

It’s part of the multi-author series, The Lawkeepers. I came up with the idea for the series based off my husband who is a retired police officer. With the help of my fellow author, Lorana Hoopes, we fleshed out the idea, created the branding and launched it. We now have 8 authors writing in the series. We have a line of contemporary and historical standalone books with mini-themes such as K-9, bounty hunters, Texas Sheriffs, and many more planned.

Tell us about your research process.

My husband is the best help for my contemporary lawkeeper books. For historical, I search a lot of internet data bases for info.

What impact did your research have on you personally?

I learn a lot about history that I never knew. For example, it’s interesting to find out they had portable bathhouses that they took to the ocean so people could change.

How do you see yourself in your character’s story, if at all?

I’m very independent like my female heroine but I also like to please my parents.

While you were writing Lawfully Wanted, do you think it mattered where the book was set?

Yes, I wanted it to be in the same town as my first historical book in the series-Rockwood Sprigs (a fictional small-town).

Share your bio:

3 Jenna Brandt would love for you to follow her on Amazon. Just click the above follow button. She is a Christian historical fiction author and her books span from the Victorian to Western to WWI eras with elements of romance, suspense and faith.

She has been an avid reader since she could hold a book and started writing stories almost as early. Jenna has been published in several newspapers as well as edited for multiple papers and graduated with her BA in English from Bethany College where she was the Editor-in-Chief of her college newspaper. She's an on-going contributor for The Mighty Website and her first Blog was published on Yahoo Parenting and The Grief Toolbox as well as featured on the ABC News, CNN Health, and Good Morning America websites.

Writing is her passion but she also enjoys cooking, watching movies, reading, engaging in social media and spending time with her three young daughters and husband where they live in the Central Valley of California. She's active in her local church where she volunteers on their first impressions team, Crisis Care Ministry, as well as writes for the church’s creative team.

Social media and buying links

My website: www.jennabrandt.com

My books on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Jenna-Brandt/e/B0711MSFXW/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1497269877&sr=8-1

Like me on Facebook www.facebook.com/JennaBrandtAuthor

Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/JennaDBrandt

Stalk me on Instagram www.instagram.com/jennnathewriter/

Monitor me on Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jenna-brandt

Pin me on Pinterest www.pinterest.com/jennnathewriter/books-blogs-and-writers/

Look me up on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16847426.Jenna_Brandt

Get the first two chapters of my books on Wattpad for free https://www.wattpad.com/user/JennaBrandtAuthor

Signup for my newsletter http://www.jennabrandt.com/p/newsletter-sign-up.html

Watch my book trailers on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMOxZMDG9YPi6n8KrKBdqsQ

Interview with Mary Ball

Today we welcome Mary L. Ball to my blog. Glad you have you stop by. Tell us about Luna’s Treasure –

Luna’s Treasure

 Luna Kast, surveillance specialist at Celestial Investigation stays one-step away from danger. In her personal life, she treasures tranquility.

She meets Kevin Hollings. He seems shy and levelheaded, but she’s been duped before and has no intention of making another mistake.   

Luna and Kevin become cyber friends, but while their relationship grows, so do her problems.

When her latest case turns deadly, and she finds Kevin in the arms of another woman, Luna’s hopes for a peaceful life are once again dashed.

Can she stay planted in her belief that God leads those who are faithful?

“Luna’s Treasure,” Celestial Investigation, book two. A Christian romantic suspense based on three sisters. Their P.I. skills come in handy in the quaint town of Mercy, North Carolina, a place where romance and mystery unite.    

Is there one particular message or “moral of the story” you hope readers walk away with?

Laura, I can’t say there is, this series has just been fun to write. However, each book has a Christian theme that I hope speaks to the readers.   

 How did Luna’s Treasure get started?

One day, I was driving home from an errand and glanced toward the sky. The idea of three sisters whose names’ matched the heavens nudged at me. The next thing I knew I was mapping out different scenarios for a series, Luna’s Treasure is book 2 in Celestial Investigation series.

Tell us about your research process.

The small towns I write about are based on real places. Most of my other research is done online. In the Celestial Investigation series, I had to find out the age requirements and different types of education needed to become an investor in North Carolina. I researched guns, self defense, and looked into different situations where someone might hire a private investigator.

What impact did your research have on you personally?

As usual, research adds to my knowledge about different subjects. Often, I’m fascinated with the things I found out.  

How do you see yourself in your character’s story, if at all?

So far, the faith is the only element I share with my characters. That may change one day. I’m contemplation writing a book that deals with a character that has a family member going through Alzheimer’s. This is something I currently face with my mother.   

While you were writing Luna’s Treasure, do you think it mattered where the book was set?

No. I only knew I wanted the series to reflect a small town in NC.

Share your bio: Social links

Mary L. Ball is a multi-published Christian author. She resides in the heart of North Carolina.

When she isn't working on her latest story, she enjoys fishing, reading, and ministering in song with her husband.

Readers can connect with her on her web page, Face Book or Twitter.

http://www.marylball.com

https://www.facebook.com/gracefulbooks/

https://twitter.com/inspires4mary

Visit Mary’s singing ministry site: http://heirsofsalvation2.webs.com

Buy links

https://www.amazon.com/Lunas-Treasure-Celestial-Investigation-Book-ebook/dp/B07D5HSXJ1/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526936222&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Luna%27sTreasure+Mary+L.+Ball

Just Let Go

For Quinn Collins, buying the flower shop in downtown Harbor Pointe fulfills a childhood dream, but also gives her the chance to stick it to her mom, who owned the store before skipping town twenty years ago and never looking back. Completing much-needed renovations, however, while also competing for a prestigious flower competition with her mother as the head judge, soon has Quinn in over her head. Not that she’d ever ask for help.

Luckily, she may not need to. Quinn’s father and his meddling friends find the perfect solution in notorious Olympic skier Grady Benson, who had only planned on passing through the old-fashioned lakeside town. But when a heated confrontation leads to property damage, helping Quinn as a community-service sentence seems like the quickest way out—and the best way to avoid more negative press.

Quinn finds Grady reckless and entitled; he thinks she’s uptight and too regimented. Yet as the two begin to hammer and saw, Quinn sees glimpses of the vulnerability behind the bravado, and Grady learns from her passion and determination, qualities he seems to have lost along the way. But when a well-intentioned omission has devastating consequences, Grady finds himself cast out of town—and Quinn’s life—possibly forever. Forced to face the hurt holding her back, Quinn must finally let go or risk missing out on the adventure of a lifetime.

My thoughts:  JUST LET GO is, I think, the first book I read by Courtney Walsh and I'm intrigued enough by it that I am going to look up her previous books--or at least the ones in this series: Just Look Up (I think that is all in this series, I may be wrong.)

I absolutely LOVED the host of secondary characters. Betsy with her sweet, shy personality and her wild hair, the Sheriff and Judge, best friends, firm, yet quirky, and numerous others. 

At first I wasn't sure about Quinn and Grady -- Grady is rather explosive, and he's a playboy, Quinn is uptight.  But I sat up and took notice of the book (it snagged my interest) when the Judge handed down his verdict and I saw the direction the book was going. (You GO, Judge!!!)  

I initially was surprised by the length of this book--almost two times the size of a normal paperback, but it was gripping, engaging, and a sweet story with realistic characters. I couldn't read it fast enough. 

Warning for the more conservative readers, there is some drinking, some soft swear words, and a few fist fights. 

If you like contemporary romance, grab a copy of JUST LET GO for a great summer read.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own. 

About the Book

Title: Just Let Go

Author: Courtney Walsh

Release Date: June 5, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. She has written two more books in the Sweethaven series, as well as two craft books and several full-length musicals. Courtney lives in Illinois with her husband and three children. Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.

Blog Stops

By The Book, June 26

Faithfully Bookish, June 26

Luv’N Lambert Life, June 26

Reading Is My SuperPower, June 27

Among the Reads, June 27

Splashes of Joy, June 27

God is Love, June 28

Fiction Aficionado, June 28

Genesis 5020, June 28

All-of-a-kind Mom, June 28

Carpe Diem, June 29

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, June 29

100 Pages per Hour, June 29

The Power of Words, June 30

Lighthouse Academy, June 30

Radiant Light, June 30

Just the Write Escape, June 30

Quiet Quilter, July 1

C Jane Read, July 1

A Baker’s Perspective, July 1

Cordially Barbara, July 2

Baker kella, July 2

The Christian Fiction Girl, July 3

Remembrancy, July 3

amandainpa, July 3

Two Points of Interest, July 4

Daysong Reflections, July 4

SusanLovesBooks, July 4

Vicky Sluiter, July 5

proud to be an autism mom, July 5

Moments Dipped in Ink, July 6

Pause for Tales, July 6

Bibliophile Reviews, July 7

Texas Book-aholic, July 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 7

Janices book reviews, July 8

Bigreadersite, July 8

Blossoms and Blessings, July 8

Godly Book Reviews, July 9

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 9

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, July 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Courtney Walsh is giving away a grand prize of a library of Courtney Walsh’s books and a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/d0a4/just-let-go-celebration-tour-giveaway

Do you love beautiful things and #sweetromance? Enter to win the exclusive June #FarmgirlFavorites box featuring my latest novel, JUST LET GO! http://courtneywalshwrites.com/urban-farmgirl-just-let-go-farmgirl-favorites-giveaway/ … and SO many beautiful things from @UrbanFarmgirlCo! #giveaway #amreading

Storm Front 

(Montana Rescue #5) 

Paperback, ebook, hardcover, audio

May 1, 2018

by Susan May Warren

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Revell 
• ISBN-13: 978-0800727475

Life and love hang in the balance during a deadly summer of storms.

A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community, and among the missing are not only a group of students but also PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved--and lost--walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.

A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn't expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked--no, ran--from over a year ago. She had her reasons--good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn't the kind of man to give up--not on the missing students or on her.

My thoughts: STORM FRONT is the fifth book in this ongoing adventure series Montana Rescue, which isn't limited to just Montana. This particular story is mostly set in Minnesota where the PEAK team is trying to find missing junior high and high school athletes who went missing in the tornado. Add to the fact that a PEAK team member has gone missing with the athletes. Of course they're going to get involved. 

I started reading the story and discovered the Brette had had breast cancer - and I'm like Oh no. Not another breast cancer story.  I just couldn't handle it.  My daughter said, It's not that bad, Mom, and so I read and I related. Haven't I looked at my own scarred, ravaged body in the mirror, looking for something that says I am still me and not just a poor destroyed version of me.  

Ty. Oh, I loved him from book one. He was quiet, caring, THERE, for everyone and everyone just seemed to look over him, through him and treated him as if he wasn't a valuable team member. I can relate to that too. I'm nobody. Who are you? You know?  But Ty has hutches and maybe his hutches might be what saves the day--for someone. For Brette... for the missing students... for the hurting parents and spouses of the coaches... for the team who are still all fighting individual battles... He has to be the hero for someone.

Ms. Warren has been a long time favorite author of mine, I introduced my daughters to her books, I devour everything she has written. One of those authors, you know.  

I paid money for this book. I am not obligated to leave a review. I am because I loved the book. So yes, I am a verified buyer at one online retailer.  All opinions are my own. 

Book Spotlight: Launch by Jason C. Joyner

Blurb: 

Sixteen-year-olds Demarcus Bartlett and Lily Beausoliel are among a select group of youth invited to an exclusive, all-expenses-paid conference at social media giant Alturas’ California headquarters. Led by charismatic founder Simon Mazor, the world’s youngest billionaire, this isn’t the typical honors society. It seems that everyone here has some secret, untapped potential, some power that may not be entirely of this world. An ancient prophecy suggests that if these teens combine their abilities, they could change the course of history. The only question is: Will it be for better or for worse?
Bio: 

Jason C. Joyner is a physician assistant, a writer, a Jesus-lover, and a Star Wars geek. He’s traveled from the jungles of Thailand to the cities of Australia and the Bavarian Alps of Germany. He lives in Idaho with his lovely wife, three boys, and daughter managing the chaos of sports and superheroes in his own home. Launch, a YA superhero novel, is the first book in the Rise of the Anointed series that releases in July. Get updates at www.jasoncjoyner.com, or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  

Links for purchase: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Launch-Rise-Anointed-Jason-Joyner/dp/0998624381/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=83XMXW8YRKBH0DTKNW9V

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/launch-jason-c-joyner/1128415598?ean=9780998624389

Blind Betrayal

Blind Betrayal

 (Defenders of Justice Book #3) 

ebook, paperback, hardcover, audio, audio CD

by Nancy Mehl 

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 
• (April 17, 2018)
• ISBN-13: 978-0764217791

Deputy U.S. Marshal Casey Sloane has worked at the St. Louis Marshals office for two years and is given a routine assignment to help transport a reporter to D.C. to testify before a grand jury. Valerie, the reporter, was writing a story about an up-and-coming environmentalist who suddenly disappeared and, she later discovered, whose backers purportedly have ties to a terrorist.

When the seemingly ordinary assignment suddenly takes a shocking turn, Casey is forced to put aside her own feelings about the unexpected reappearance of a man from her past as she and two other Marshals take Valerie on the run. And as it becomes dangerously clear Valerie's testimony has even bigger implications than they knew, they'll do whatever it takes to make it out alive.

My thoughts: BLIND BETRAYAL is the third book in Ms. Mehl's Defender of Justice series, but it stands alone. Fans will probably want to read Fatal Frost and Dark Deception just to keep up with characters who may carry over to other books. I did remember some of the names. 

I read the entire book in a day, it was kind of spellbinding with high suspense, even though you knew who the bad  guy was and why but you didn't know what, when or how.... 

This writing is not up to Ms. Mehl's usual standards. It is more telling than showing and I couldn't relate to the characters at all. I didn't care for any of them. However, the suspense, as I said above, was high. The Marshalls were running blind, not sure where to go, where to turn, who to trust, and even those they thought they could trust betrayed them, and those who appeared to be one thing was quite another. 

If you like high suspense, you will likely enjoy BLIND BETRAYAL. 

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own. 

Justice Betrayed

Justice Betrayed 

 (Memphis Cold Case #3)

ebook, paperback, hardcover, audio, audio CD

by Patricia Bradley

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Revell 
• (June 5, 2018)
• ISBN-13: 978-0800727161

Two unsolved murders seventeen years apart are about to get personal . . .

It's Elvis Week in Memphis, and homicide detective Rachel Sloan isn't sure her day could get any stranger when aging Elvis impersonator Vic Vegas asks to see her. But when he produces a photo of her murdered mother with four Elvis impersonators--one of whom had also been murdered soon after the photo was taken--she's forced to reevaluate. Is there some connection between the two unsolved cases? And could the recent break-in at Vic's home be tied to his obsession with finding his friend's killer?

When yet another person in the photo is murdered, Rachel suddenly has her hands full investigating three cases. Lieutenant Boone Callahan offers his help, but their checkered romantic past threatens to get in the way. Can they solve the cases before the murderer makes Rachel victim number four?

My thoughts: JUSTICE BETRAYED is the third book in Ms. Bradley's A Memphis Cold Case series but it stands alone. The other books in the series are Justice Buried and Justice Delayed if you want to read them in order. 

I enjoyed getting to know Rachel and Boone. I absolutely loved Boone, he was a Christian, strong, faithful, caring, and there. Rachel was hurting, very realistic and I loved her family relations (grandparents, dad) even though I think she misread her dad.  There are a host of secondary characters that round the story out and keep it interesting and even entertaining. 

I read a lot of suspense and I know how it works so I figured out who the killer was probably in the first fifty pages. What I didn't know was how they would solve the current murders and the cold cases that were tied together. 

I was a bit surprised by the generalizations made -- Rachel was surprised by the amount of fifty plus year old women present at the Elvis Presley impersonations and at Elvis week in general - but my mother-in-law (seventy something) goes to Elvis week and is (was) a huge fan of Elvis Presley. I think there are a lot of women older than me who are (were) huge fans so it would be a draw for that generation. She also made comments about grandmothers and texting and in this day and age, I think most do. This had nothing to do with my enjoyment of the book, but I noticed it each time. 

There is a good faith message, plenty of action, not to mention romantic tension between Boone and Rachel.  I greatly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it if you like Romantic Suspense.  

I was given a copy of JUSTICE BETRAYED free. All opinions are my own. 

Light My Fire

Light My Fire: Christian romantic suspense (Summer of the Burning Sky Book 1) 

Kindle Edition

by Susan May Warren

• Print Length: 152 pages
• Publisher: SDG Publishing
• Publication Date: June 16, 2018
• ASIN: B07DT49FMJ

When western Alaska erupts in a devastating fire, the elite firefighting crew of the Jude County Smokejumpers is called in to save the day. They’ll do anything to stop the fire, including fighting alongside a crew of local prisoners.

The last thing they expect is a jailbreak and when the prisoners disappear into the forest with one of their own, they’ll have to fight not only the fire, but for the freedom of their friends…during the Summer of the Burning Sky.

Book 1: Light My Fire

Former bad-boy Tucker Newman has learned his lesson—as the temporary team leader of the Jude County Smokejumpers, he’s all about following the rules to keep his team safe. Especially when he has to partner with a group of local low-security prisoners to knock down the raging fire. But the prisoners are not who they seem, and when they stage a break, kidnapping one of his teammates, he’ll have to break every rule he knows to get her back. 

US Marshal Stevie Mills knows that to get the job done, she must work alone. She simply can’t risk another person getting hurt because of her. When she discovers that a wanted fugitive accused of rape and murder has not only been set free to fight the fire—but is now on the lam with a hostage-- the last thing she needs is a zealous smokejumper getting in the way of her pursuit. 

Whether they like it or not, Tucker and Stevie must join forces if they hope to save lives, and in the meantime, they just might discover a new definition for the word teamwork, in book 1 of the Summer of the Burning Sky. 

My thoughts:  Oh, oh, oh! There is a reason why Susan May Warren is a favorite and this is action-packed adventure and romantic suspense that you can't put down. 

What do you get when you have smoke jumpers fighting a raging wildfire, a prison break, and a US Marshall all wrapped up in the adventure. Somethings gotta give. But its not the writing. Ms. Warren had me surrounded by the drama with absolutely no hope for escape. Put the book down? Forget it. 

I can't say too much about the book because it is only 152 pages long, and it only took mere hours to read, but I am still reeling from the adrenaline rush, short of breath, shaking, and oh my word. And I have to wait a month for book two to find out what happens next in this continuing drama!!!

I paid money for this kindle copy, it was in no way, shape, or form free or discounted and I am a verified buyer. This review is simply because I loved the story.

Grab a copy of Ms. Warren's LIGHT MY FIRE today. 

Coming soon:
The Heat is On (Summer of the Burning Sky Book 2)
Some Like it Hot (Summer of the Burning Sky Book 3)


Read all the novels by USA TODAY bestselling author Susan May Warren.

Montana Fire series:
1. Where There’s Smoke
2. Playing With Fire
3. Burnin’ For You

Montana Rescue series:
1. Wild Montana Skies
2. Rescue Me
3. A Matter of Trust
4. Troubled Waters
5. Storm Front

Christiansen Family series:
1. Take a Chance on Me
2. It Had to Be You
3. When I Fall in Love
4. Always on My Mind
5. The Wonder of You
6. You’re the One that I Want

Deep Haven series:
1. Happily Ever After
2. Tying the Knot
3. The Perfect Match
4. My Foolish Heart
5. The Shadow of Your Smile
6. You Don’t Know Me

Noble Legacy series:
1. Reclaiming Nick
2. Taming Rafe
3. Finding Stefanie

PJ Sugar series:
1. Nothing But Trouble
2. Double Trouble
3. Licensed for Trouble

Team Hope series:
1. Flee the Night
2. Escape to Morning
3. Expect the Sunrise

Missions of Mercy series:
1. Point of No Return
2. Mission: Out of Control
3. Undercover Pursuit