Fw: Welcome to the When Hope Sank Celebration Tour!

 

About the Book

Book: When Hope Sank

Author: Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian / Historical / Romance

Release date: May, 2024

Can Hope Resurface After Evil Tries to Drown It?

Introducing a series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic American disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.

The Civil War has taken everything from Lily Livingston—her parents, her twin brother, her home. Now she works at her uncle’s inn and keeps her head down. Speaking up for her beliefs proved too costly in a part of Arkansas split by conflicting loyalties and overrun by spies and bushwhackers.

Emaciated in body but resilient in spirit, Lieutenant Cade Palmer is crowded onto the Sultana with other paroled Andersonville and Cahaba POWs for the journey north. But a fiery explosion on April 27, 1865, rends the steamer and empties two thousand men into the frigid Mississippi River.

Recovering from wounds that might end his career as a surgeon but clinging to his faith, Cade threatens both Lily’s defenses and her heart. How can she tell him she might’ve prevented the tragedy if only she’d reported a suspected saboteur’s claims? And when the man returns to town and encoded messages pass through the hotel, will Lily follow her convictions to prevent another tragedy?

Marilyn's thoughts:    

When Hope Sank is a gripping America historical event on April 27, 1863 of the Sultana carrying POW’s. The tension between the states is still evident in the tale with the soldiers that were rescued on southern soil. Families were divided, officials setting the stage for sabotage, deception and greed is well researched and penned throughout this  read. Above all there was a gentle woven faith message and prayers with the hero and heroine to discover the truth of the sinking Sultana. This historical event is not well known and the author’s note gave highlights of her research included in the fiction story of a tragedy event in America..

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishers and Celebrate Lit Bloggers tour without any obligation to write a positive review. I have expressed my own thoughts.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Denise Weimer holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. A former magazine writer, Denise authored romantic novella Redeeming Grace, as well as The Georgia Gold Series (Sautee Shadows, The Gray Divide, The Crimson Bloom, and Bright as Gold, winner of the 2015 John Esten Cooke Award for outstanding Southern literature) and The Restoration Trilogy (White, Widow and Witch) with Canterbury House Publishing. A wife and swim mom of two daughters, Denise always pauses for old houses, coffee and chocolate, and to write any story the Lord lays on her heart.

 

 

More from Denise

The first novel I ever wrote was set during the Civil War, inspired by travels to historic sites of the Southeast with my parents and scribbled in my eleven-year-old hand in spiral-bound notebooks. Fresh out of college with my new degree in journalism with a minor in history on my shelf, I narrowly missed signing a contract for another Civil War series. Fast forward another decade or so. I was a young mom writing for magazines and directing a volunteer 1800s dance group when my Georgia Gold Series, literary-style historical fiction set between the Cherokee Removal and Reconstruction, found a home with Canterbury House Publishing. Since then, I’ve written everything from Hallmark-style contemporaries to Rev War romances (including my current Scouts of the Georgia Frontier Series with Wild Heart Books, where I also work as an editor). Everything but Civil War-era stories … until this one.

It feels a lot like coming home.

Some of that also has to do with the fact that I love writing stories that illustrate how God can bring healing and redemption out of the most difficult circumstances. I also endeavor to work as much real history as possible into the plots of my novels. And I love finding a little-known aspect of the past to center a story upon. When Hope Sank embodies all those things.

Reeling from the loss of over 600,000 men in the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln just the week prior, the nation hardly noticed when a steamer carrying a couple thousand U.S. prisoners of war exploded in the Mississippi River on April 27, 1865. Over eleven hundred perished in the icy waters that swelled several miles past the normal embankments at flood stage, making the sinking of the Sultana the most crippling maritime disaster in the nation’s history.

The former POWs on their way to muster out at Camp Chase, Ohio, were already emaciated and ill from imprisonment at infamous Andersonville and Cahaba prison camps. A number were badly burned when the boilers exploded, and many did not know how to swim. You can imagine the scene that ensued. While the steamboats docked at Memphis—which had been under Union occupation since the summer of 1862—got up steam, local citizens hurried to help, even those on the Arkansas shore who had fought for the Confederacy. The towns of Hopefield, Marion, and Mound City had suffered harsh reprisals for harboring Confederate guerillas. The area was well-known as a hotbed of spies and saboteurs intent on disrupting Union shipping on the Mississippi.

From this cauldron of chaos, discontent, and pain, an emotionally rich story was born. Focused on survival for herself and her little brother, Lily works at her uncle’s inn and keeps her Union sympathies to herself in her family of Southern sympathizers. The Yankee lieutenant she pulls from the river needs emotional healing even more than physical, though his wounds may compromise his ability to practice as a surgeon. The bond that forms between them from their shared faith and allegiances makes Lily question if she might have another option besides marrying her childhood sweetheart, a former partisan. And when coded message pass through River’s Rest, Lily struggles to find the courage to do what she didn’t the first time—speak out to save lives.

While the sinking of the Sultana may be the inciting event in When Hope Sank, it’s not the main focus. The reactions of the characters in the aftermath are. In our lives as followers of Christ, isn’t that where the real focus should lie? How we respond to tragedy? How we learn to reach for God instead of blaming Him? How, when we walk with Him, He brings beauty out of our ashes? It’s my prayer that the message of When Hope Sank settles deep in your heart.

 

 

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 28

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 28

Bizwings Book Blog, May 29

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 29

Alena Mentink, May 30

Lighthouse Academy Blog, May 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Betti Mace, May 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 31

Texas Book-aholic, June 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 2

Book Looks by Lisa, June 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 3

Life, Love, Writing, June 4

Blogging With Carol, June 4

The Lofty Pages, June 5

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 5

For Him and My Family, June 6

Blossoms and Blessings, June 6

Stories By Gina, June 7 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 7

Cover Lover Book Review, June 8

Connie’s History Classroom, June 8

Holly’s Book Corner, June 9

An Author’s Take, June 9

Pause for Tales, June 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2bbf4/when-hope-sank-celebration-tour-giveaway

With Each Tomorrow: (A Christian Historical Romance Series by Bestselling Authors set in Montana with Mystery and Intrigue) (The Jewels of Kalispell)

With Each Tomorrow:

 (A Christian Historical Romance Series by Bestselling Authors set in Montana with Mystery and Intrigue) 

(The Jewels of Kalispell) 

May 21, 2024

by Tracie Peterson (Author), Kimberley Woodhouse (Author)

Even in the midst of adversity, love and faith can flourish.

As the formation of Glacier National Park takes Eleanor Briggs and her conservationist father on a journey west to advocate for public lands, her heart carries the weight of a painful past. Since the death of her mother, she has spent her life traveling the country with her father and helping him with his work, but now he's considering settling down and writing a book--and she's not sure what that means for her future.

Carter Brunswick faces trials of his own when the Great Northern Railway's departure threatens his family's livelihood and the entire town of Kalispell. In the visiting conservationist's daughter, Ellie, he finds a spirited woman who challenges his convictions in ways he never anticipated, and his own dreams for the future begin to change.

When tensions over the railroad's departure boil over, Ellie and Carter are drawn together on a daring journey that tests the depths of their feelings and their faith in God.

Marilyn's thoughts:  The duo author team, Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse, has given readers another great historical read. With Each Tomorrow find Eleanor Briggs and her father in Kalispell, Montana to see about the formation of Glacier National Park. The research of conservationists and the Great Northern Railway changing location in Montana during1904 brought history to life. I felt like I was living in that era while reading. The characters are well developed with their own personalities, strengths, flaws and an array of faith. Ellie and Carter’s story had ups and downs from their first encounter.

Ranching was an eye opener for Ellie about land owners but her shattered heart and lack of faith caused more turmoil. I appreciate the Judge and his wife Marvella as they were steadfast and strong in their faith for the community and new arrivals. Who will help Ellie break the wall around her heart and come back to faith her mother taught her?

The story is filled with twists and turns, adventures, a thread of suspense, forgiveness, understanding, hope, faith and romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and an ARC from NetGalley without any obligation to write a positive review. I have shared my own opinion.

I'm Not a Puppy by Becky Van Vleet

I'm Not a Puppy

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV)

We had a fun family outing recently to an amusement park--two mamas, six grandchildren, and two grandparents. With a couple of strollers, diaper bags, picnic lunch food, and lots of water bottles, we were somewhat laden down. We mostly stayed together, but when we split up from time to time for the different kinds of rides, we invoked our divide and conquer plan.

And this Nana was ready, always mindful of safety, wondering children, and crowded places. I had placed my children’s “leash” at the bottom of one of the strollers. So, when my three-year-old granddaughter and I separated from the others for a restroom break, I placed the Velcro hand wrap around Amara’s little wrist and clutched the other end to begin our trek.

I said, “Let’s go.”

But Amara stopped dead in her tracks, and with her feisty spirit indignantly replied, “I’m not a puppy!”

Well, after stifling my chuckles, I explained to her the purpose of the safety leash, and we went on our way.

Amara’s self-assurance to advocate for herself and her confidence in her identity as a child, not a puppy, can speak volumes to us as Christians. Are we advocating for ourselves with confidence that we belong to Jesus so that others know our true identity? As Christ followers, our identity includes all the abundance of being treasured children of God—we are loved, chosen, and redeemed. We are a member of His body, the church. If we’re walking around defeated, demoralized, and depressed, perhaps we are experiencing a mistaken identity. Maybe our spiritual facial recognition is not working.

Let’s hope we don’t get waylaid in the ways of the world where a false identity is triggered. In what ways do you proclaim your identity in Christ on a daily basis?

 

Becky Van Vleet

 

 Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning multi-genre author. She has been published in Guideposts, The Country Register, and Christian Devotions Ministry. Her children’s picture books are the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Editing award as well as the Purple Dragonfly award in 2020 and 2021. She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren.

Becky is the author of Unintended Hero, a true story about her father’s battles, experiences, and adventures in WWII aboard the USS Denver. She is passionate about sharing the values from the Greatest Generation and enjoys speaking to high school classes about patriotism.

A member of ACFW and Allauthor, Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs. 

You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com. She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share!

 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbeckyvanvleet/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-van-vleet-ms-806055181/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becky_van_vleet_author/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/beckyvanvleet/ 

Amazon Central Author Page: https://amzn.to/3INHIPB 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/125841473-becky-van-vleet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beckyvanvleet9907

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/becky-van-vleet

 

Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning multi-genre author. She has been published in Guideposts, The Country Register, and Christian Devotions Ministry. Her children’s picture books are the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Editing award as well as the Purple Dragonfly award in 2020 and 2021. She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren.

Becky is the author of Unintended Hero, a true story about her father’s battles, experiences, and adventures in WWII aboard the USS Denver. She is passionate about sharing the values from the Greatest Generation and enjoys speaking to high school classes about patriotism.

A member of ACFW and Allauthor, Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs. 

You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com. She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share!

 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbeckyvanvleet/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-van-vleet-ms-806055181/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becky_van_vleet_author/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/beckyvanvleet/ 

Amazon Central Author Page: https://amzn.to/3INHIPB 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/125841473-becky-van-vleet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beckyvanvleet9907

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/becky-van-vleet

 

Shadow of Night: (Shadow Lake Survival - Book 2)

 

Shadow of Night: 

(Shadow Lake Survival - Book 2) 

September 27, 2023

by Susan Sleeman (Author)

To protect her loved ones…
Rookie officer Sydney Tucker can handle threats to her life. After all, she’s a law enforcement. oEven when a killer demands she turn over evidence from a drug bust or he will kill her, she refuses to comply. But things change when he threatens the life of her teenage sister, and Sydney might consider turning over the evidence. If she had what he was looking for.

Will she pay the ultimate price—her life?
But even when Sydney tells the killer that she doesn’t possess the evidence, he doesn’t believe her, and his threats continue. Emerson County Sheriff Russ Maddox steps in, putting Sydney and her sibling under his watchful eye. But will his protection be enough? The killer is closing in, picking off the people and places that mean the most to Sydney. A list that now not only includes her but Russ as well.

My thoughts:  Ms. Sleeman has done it again with a page turning romantic suspense that will keep you guessing until the very end.  I am usually really good at knowing who-dun-it but this book kept me guessing.   You will fall in love with the main characters.  Highly recommended.   I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.

An Interview with Brad Hambrick, Author of Transformative Friendships

 

An Interview with Brad Hambrick, Author of Transformative Friendships Building meaningful friendships can be difficult, especially in a culture that is lonelier and more disconnected than ever. In Transformative Friendships: 7 Questions to Deepen Any Relationship, counselor Brad Hambrick encourages readers to develop new rhythms, habits, and lifestyles that will shape and grow their relationships, both with casual acquaintances and closer friends.   Q: Transformative Friendships explores seven questions that you believe can deepen any relationship. What are those seven questions? Hopefully, it’s not intimidating to imagine yourself asking a friend these questions, or being asked them by a friend. In Transformative Friendships, we unpack how these simple questions can transform casual acquaintances into “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17) friendships that become dearer than family. 1.     What’s your story? 2.     What’s good? 3.     What’s hard? 4.     What’s bad? 5.     What’s fun? 6.     What’s stuck? 7.     What’s next? Q: Three of these questions seem to link together—What’s good? What’s hard? What’s bad? Why are each of these questions important and how do they each help in deepening our friendships? From a Christian perspective, this invites us to explore our identity in Christ (what’s good), suffering (what’s hard), and sin (what’s bad). If different Christian traditions, one of these questions may be emphasized more than the others. But if friendships are going to have a holistic and balanced influence on our life, then we need emphasize all three. Q: Is it better to have a few really close friends or many more casual friends? That’s a good question, but I think it’s better not to think in terms of either-or. There are benefits of having really close friendships, but if all our friendships were “deep” that would be exhausting and crowd out other life responsibilities. Casual friendships also enrich our life, but if all our friendships were “shallow” we would feel lonely in a socially crowded life. One of the things I want to do in Transformative Friendships is help people see the value of both and learn how to be intentional in taking a few of their casual friendships to a deeper level.

Q: What are some of the factors that make having good friendships harder than it should be? This can vary from context to context. I currently live in a big city where people move in and out all the time. The frequency with which people move make friendships feel temporary. But I grew up in a small town where being vulnerable felt riskier because everyone there would know you for the rest of your life. There is also the factor of social media. Social media allows us to polish our image as we post the best pictures and narrate them in our preferred way. Because of this, lots of people know a lot about us, but we don’t really feel known. We put our curated information about ourselves, but that can impedes cultivating an actual relationship because of the limited engagement. I’m not against social media. I just think we need to be more aware of how it impacts what we call a “friend.” Q: As you’ve served as a counselor and worked to create church-based counseling models, what have you learned about people’s reliance on counseling over friendship? For many people, they begin to rely on counseling as a friend-substitute. Counseling is where they are “real” and talk about what’s “hard.” They think if they’re engaging in counseling (which I’m all for) that friendships can just focus on what is “fun” and “good.” The result is that their friendships become more superficial. Ideally, in my opinion, when counseling is needed it would be a place to learn to talk about and tame the hard parts of life in a way that makes those subjects more approachable in their closer friendships. An indication that someone is ready to graduate from counseling is when he or she feels like they can talk about their hardships in their friendships. Q: How does Transformative Friendships fit into the Church-Based Counseling series that you have written? The Church-Based Counseling series is primarily about helping churches create counseling ministries that are relationally sustainable, liability wise, and church compatible. But I didn’t want churches to think, “Now that we have a counseling ministry, that is where we send all the hurting people.” That would make the church less of what God intends it to be. Transformative Friendships is meant to be a resource that strengthens friendships in a church. That should serve a counseling ministry, if a church chooses to create one, in two ways. First, it helps those who are reaching out for counseling not to over rely on counseling. A counseling ministry cannot and should not privatize discipleship. Second, it creates a relational context for those receiving counseling that makes counseling more effective.  Q: In the book, you offer exercises for each of the seven questions that can fit in the rhythms of church life. Could you share some examples of those? Playing Good Gotcha: What if on the anniversary of someone joining a small group or ministry team, we took time to affirm the good things we’ve seen in their life over the last year? It would be a simple practice that wouldn’t take that long, but it communicates: we’re glad you’re here, we remember when you came, and we’ve noticed how you’ve grown. That’s powerful. Making the “Not that Bad” Phone Call: Every counselor, car mechanic, and pain management specialist has the same complaint about their clientele; namely, they wait until things are “that bad” to call. Who do we call before things are that bad? A friend. Transformative Friendships calls on people to develop the kind of friendships where they would do this. Imagine the heartache we could avoid if we did this. Q: Why is it important for our deepest friendships to be developed within the church? It is important, in part, because it is a matter of Christian obedience. The New Testament, depending on your preferred translation, has thirty to forty “one another” commands. Friendship with other believers is where we obey these commands. A friendless Christian is someone who has failed to put themselves in the position to obey these commands. Another reason is that the church is a logical place to develop friendships. It is a place of shared values and frequent rhythms of interaction. We have small groups and ministry teams. We have families with children the same age and who go to the same schools. We have people who have lived in that city who can orient those who just moved to the area. It is not just a matter of obedience; it should be natural if we give people enough structure to be intentional.

Q: One of the hardest questions to answer, even among good friends is: What’s next? Why is it important to talk about our dreams not just with our close friends, but with all of our friends? God made us for a purpose. So much of life begins to feel like we’re just executing day-to-day tasks. When this happens, like feels mundane and purposeless. Talking about our goals and dreams, even just exploring possibilities if we don’t know what our next dream is, is a great way to prevent life from feeling meaningless. Our friends, of a variety of depths, are going to be the people cheering us on as we pursue those dreams. Q: For each question, you provide five depths a friendship can move toward. Using the question, “What’s next?”, can you walk us through what these five depths would look like? We want our friendships to grow deeper. Early depths are achievable for casual friendships. Enjoy these early depths. Don’t rush them. But do begin moving some of your friendships to greater depths that can have a more meaningful impact on your life. ·       Depth One: The dreams that got you here. We can usually tell our life story through a series of goals. ·       Depth Two: The dream you’re working on. If I’m going to come alongside you in a meaningful way, I need to know what you’re working on. ·       Depth Three: The dream that is fading. A lot of maturity is letting go of some dreams. We know people who never got over high school or college. We know marriages that failed because they didn’t know what it meant to let young love mature. ·       Depth Four: The dream for the next season of life. Because the next season of life is unknown, it is always a mixture of scary and exciting. We should acknowledge that and invite people on that journey. ·       Depth Five: The dream you’re afraid to say. Big dreams won’t happen unless they’re spoken. Be more afraid not to try that you are afraid to fail. Q: You write, “This book is not a recipe for meaningful relationships. Instead, it’s a melody for friendships that can transform your life.” What do you mean by that? Having seven questions with five levels of depth each can sound mechanical. You don’t build friendships like you stack Legos following the instructions to create what’s on the cover of the box. The seven questions are intended for you to always have something to talk about. The five levels are meant to help you identify what area of a friendship is least developed and allow you to be intentional. If you have that level of awareness, go with where the conversation takes you. As musically inept as I am, I know a bit about jazz. With jazz, there is no sheet music, no lined chart with notes for each musician to follow. Instead, each musician riffs off the melody and adapts to the other musicians in the band. That’s what makes jazz feel more alive than other styles of music. Even the same song, played by the same musicians, is different each time. Your friendships will flourish the most if you treat these seven questions like the melody for a jazz band rather than the Lego instructions. Q: In the closing section, you talk about a couple of indicators that show when a friendship is growing imbalanced. What are those indicators and how does your book help us to avoid them? Does every relationship have to be a friendship? There are two ways friendships should be balanced: knowledge and investment. In a balanced friendship, our awareness of each other’s life is proportional and our investment in the relationship is also proportional. It may not be 50-50, but if it’s 80-20, it’s not a friendship, it is a helping relationship by the wrong name. There is nothing wrong with helping relationships. I’m a counselor and enjoy being in that role. But I don’t rely on my counselees to be my friends. I know their stories better than they know mine, and I’m supporting them. I respect and admire my counselees. But because the relationship isn’t balanced (and it shouldn’t be), it is not friendship. In church circles, there are often many sweet Christians who get burned out because they are calling imbalanced relationships “friendships.” It is important for people to understand, if a relationship is not reciprocating, it is not a friendship. It may still be worth cultivating, but it needs to be surrounded by reciprocating relationships in order for it to be sustainable for the “responsible friend.” Q: You also talk about friendships with non-Christians. How does Transformative Friendships help us think through these relationships in a way that creates opportunities to invite our non-Christian friends to consider Christianity? In many ways, it’s not that different from the rest of the book. But as we engage all of life (the seven questions) at a deeper level, we shouldn’t be able to talk about life at deeper levels without discussing our faith and the implications of the gospel. As we develop a more meaningful relationship with a non-Christian friend, we will gain more of a hearing from them. They will value our words and perspective more. We will be able to speak more specifically into their lives. Learning to be better friends should make us better disciplers with our Christian friends and evangelists with our non-Christian friends.

Transformative Friendships: 7 Questions to Deepen Any Relationship  Church Based Counseling Series By Brad Hambrick  Print ISBN: 978-1-64507-333-8 March 18, 2024 / Retail Price: $16.99 RELIGION/Christian Living/Personal Growth

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About the Author

Brad Hambrick, ThM, EdD, serves as the Pastor of Counseling at The Summit Church in Durham, NC. He also serves as Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition He has authored several books, including God's Attributes: Rest for Life Struggles, Making Sense of Forgiveness, Angry with God, and the Church Based-Counseling series. Hambrick also served as general editor for the Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused curriculum. Hambrick, his wife, Sallie, and their two sons live in Raleigh, NC.  Learn more about Brad Hambrick and follow his blog and podcasts at bradhambrick.com. He can also be found on Facebook (brad.hambrick.5), <a style="color:#f26631; font-style:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:underline; font-family:Poppins, "Helvetica N