An Amish Christmas Quilt - Blog tour and Review

 

AMAZON PURCHASE LINK

An Amish Christmas Quilt
by Charlotte Hubbard, Kelly Long, Jennifer Beckstrand

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BLURB:

A Willow Ridge Christmas Pageant

Seth Brenneman didn’t expect his holiday would include rescuing pregnant young Mary Kaffman and her two children…or having unexpected feelings for the still-grieving widow. But when they must play the leads in an impromptu live Nativity pageant to help his Amish community, will their roles reveal their hearts—and work a miracle for a lifetime?

A Perfect Amish Christmas

Anna and Felty Helmuth’s grandson, Gideon, plans to spend Christmas on a beach in sunny Mexico. But Anna is quite sure he’d rather be with them, snowshoeing, ice fishing—falling in love. And she knows the perfect girl. Not only is Dottie Schrock an excellent quilter and baker, she’s having a party. There’s just one complication—Gideon is not invited. Dottie has her reasons, but Anna trusts that the spirit of Christmas—and true love-will change her mind, and her future …

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EXCERPT
A Willow Ridge Christmas Pageant

“Are we ready? I think our Nativity’s going to be a huge success, with such a heavenly little angel and a regal king,” Rebecca said as she grinned at each of the kids. “And how’s our main attraction?”

Emmanuel, cradled in Mary’s arms, wiggled when Rebecca smiled down at him.

“He’s been fed and changed, so he’s ready,” Mary replied. She smiled at the little parade walking up the Hooleys’ lane. “And here come our shepherds and the other wise men and angels. Everybody looks really gut, Rebecca. We couldn’t have done this without your help.”

As Rebecca murmured something in reply, Mary lost track of it. A tall, broad-shouldered man in a flowing brick-red tunic was striding up the lane toward her, and while she couldn’t see his eyes, she sensed Seth was looking right at her . . . just as she was gazing at him. Thank you for this night, Lord, as we celebrate the birth of Your son and the beginning of our new life in Willow Ridge, Mary prayed quickly. Help me be your faithful handmaiden, as the Virgin Mary was so long ago.

“Let’s hope this works the way I envisioned it,” Rebecca said as other folks began to gather from around town.

Mary turned just in time to see a star-shaped balloon rise into the air, on a long ribbon tied to the light post—and when Rebecca turned on the second lantern, which was aimed skyward, the star glowed and sparkled. Miriam, Ben, Bishop Tom, and the Zook family all let out a delighted oh!

“Folks will be able to see that from quite a ways off!” Tom said. His face shone with boyish wonder as he gazed raptly at the shimmering star above them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Jennifer Beckstrand

Jennifer Beckstrand is the bestselling author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series and the
Forever After in Apple Lake series, set in two Amish communities in beautiful Wisconsin. She has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth, the two scheming Amish grandparents who try to help their grandchildren find suitable mates in Huckleberry Hill. Who would ever suspect two elderly Amish folks of mischief?

Jennifer has a degree in mathematics, which comes in handy when one of her six children needs help with algebra. After twenty-five years of being a chauffeur, cook, maid, and nurse, she embarked on a writing career. Jennifer is a member of Romance Writers of America and is represented by Mary Sue Seymour of The Seymour Agency.

She and her husband have been married for thirty years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and two adorable grandsons, whom she spoils rotten.

You can find out more about Jennifer and her books by going to her website: jenniferbeckstrand.com or visiting her Facebook page: Jennifer Beckstrand Fans.

http://www.jenniferbeckstrand.com
https://www.facebook.com/jenniferbeckstrandfans
Twitter: @JenniferBeckst1

Kelly Long

Kelly Long was born and raised in North Central Pennsylvania. There was an Amish hitching post at the small grocery store in her town. She loves to write Amish romance and is the author of novel, Sarah's Garden, the novella Amish Christmas Expanded Edition with some other great Amish authors, Amish Love with Beth Wiseman and Kathy Fuller, and Lilly's Wedding Quilt--the sequel to Sarah's Garden. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and children.


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FACEBOOK




Charlotte Hubbard

Many moons ago—like, in 1983 while I was still a school librarian—I sold my first story to True Story magazine. This launched me into writing about seventy of those “true confessions” stories over the years, and I’ve been a slave to my overactive imagination ever since. My stories invariably take on a life of their own, different from the way I’ve proposed them: I love it when unforeseen characters and plot twists come along, because they keep me guessing right along with my readers!

I love touring historic homes, trying new recipes, crocheting, and playing with my border collie Ramona—although it’s humbling, having a dog smarter than I am! I’m an ordained Presbyterian deacon, and I devote a lot of time to singing in my church choir and to practicing/performing with our percussion ensemble. I’m celebrating more than thirty-five years with my husband, who—bless him—has never once suggested I get a real job!

www.CharlotteHubbard.com
https://www.facebook.com/charlotte.hubbard1

Buy Links:

Kensington Books: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/30305
The Book Depository:  http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781617735547
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=161773554X/

Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781617735547
  B-A-M: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781617735547

Chapters: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/a/9781617735547

IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781617735547

Powell’s: http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9781617735547

Ebook:

Kensington Books: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/30377

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Amish-Christmas-Quilt-Charlotte-Hubbard-ebook/dp/B00JVW6H5U/

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-amish-christmas-quilt-charlotte-hubbard/1118482472?ean=9781617735554

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/an-amish-christmas-quilt/id868217805?mt=11

The authors will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn host.

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/09/blurb-blitz-amish-christmas-quilt-by.html

MY REVIEW 

I had a wonderful holiday in Pennsylvania and Ohio last year, and stayed in Amish country. I was fascinated by the glimpses of Amish life I saw, harking back to earlier, gentler times, with a voluntary lack of modern tools technology and convenience,  and their dedication to God. These three stories reflect these ideals and also subtly bring across the true message of Christmas.

I thought each of the three stories in turn was my 'favourite' but in truth, by the time I'd finished the book I realised the three were so different, although linked together by the common theme of a 'Christmas Quilt' that it was quite impossible for me to choose between them. They each bring something special and delightful to the theme,each quilt serving its own unique purpose in the plot, and each story is a lovely illustration of the true meaning of Christmas.

The first story, 'A Willow Ridge Pageant',by Charlotte Hubbard, is rich in symbolism and the story begins with the main character, Mary, a young, pregnant widow, nearing the final stages of labour and stranded in a buggy in the snow with her two stepchildren.The relationship between Mary and her stepchildren is really touching, as are the feelings Seth has for Mary and her new baby, whose arrival into the world he helps bring about,and a gentle romance between  Mary, and Seth the carpenter gradually develops throughout the tale. The climax, featuring a Christmas pageant of the Nativity story, brings about a reconciliation, and hope for a new future.

'A Christmas On Ice Mountain' by Kelly Long has a haunting 'Romeo and Juliet' quality. Two former best friends, John  and Luke, have turned into lifelong rivals, and not spoken for years, although none of their family or friends  really know what their quarrel was about. However, their children, Laurel and Matthew fall in love despite their fathers' enmity, and conduct their romance in secret, desperate to marry, but unsure how to gain permission to do so. The matter is resolved in a way neither of them could have anticipated, and there is a final twist when the reason for the two men's quarrel is discovered and they realise that twenty five years of bitterness could have been avoided. Christmas is a time for forgiveness and healing.

The third story ' A Perfect Christmas' by Jennifer Beckstrand, features  grandparents Anna and Felty Helmuths. Anna is determined to bring her grandson, Gideon and Dottie Schrock togther in what she sees to be the perfect match. However, all Dottie cares about is organising the perfect Christmas for her mother, who is recuperating from cancer. She carefully plans for the Christmas celebrations and organises a party, to which Gideon is not invited. When all her carefully laid plans go awry, Dottie comes to realise that a perfect Christmas is not about perfectly folded napkins, beautifully iced cream horns, or even the lovely Christmas quilt for her mother that she has been so painstakingly working on, but is about the Christchild, family - and love;

This anthology of three delightful and heartwarming stories is perfect for getting into the Christmas spirit and reminding us of the Holy First Christmas, and would make an ideal Christmas gift.

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The Sonar Series - Excerpts and a Review of Sonar Crashing

This is my stop during the blog tour for The Sonar series by B Truly, The Sonar series contains two books so far: Sonar the Crashing (The Sonar series #1) and Melanie’s Evanescent Journey (The Sonar series #1.5) by B Truly. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 6 till 24 October and you can view the complete tour schedule here.

Sonar the Crashing (The Sonar series #1)
by B Truly
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Sci-Fi/ Thriller
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: April 08, 2014

Blurb:
Is it more than déjà vu? With the Romeland family it may be destined to be true.

Life on Earth is not the only place where devastation occurs and hard choices must be made. The Royal 4 of Kadan live in the Sonar galaxy three million light years from Earth. They travel to Earth to obtain the resources they need to give their world a fighting chance.
Their mission is compromised and they’re faced with life changing events. They have amnesia and no memory of their past. Strange dreams start to occur. They wonder if it’s more than a dream, or is it déjà vu?

The mind is a complex mystery. Amnesia is a secret unknown. The role it manifests in these characters’ lives is a catastrophic cyclone.
Shiray is frantic when she is the first to find out about their true destiny and that the love of her life no longer remembers who she is. She must find a way to restore her family before all is lost. They must prevail because the fate of their planet lies in their hand.

What would you do if you had amnesia and fell in love, only to learn upon regaining your memory, that you are already married?

Find out in this New Adult, Sci-Fi/Romance thriller!

You can find Sonar the Crashing on Goodreads.

You can buy Sonar the Crashing here:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- Smashwords

You can watch the trailer for Sonar the Crashing here:

MY REVIEW

There were elements in this SF young adult story that reminded me of 'Roswell High', and that's not a criticism, I loved that series. There's a lot to like about 'Sonar crashing.' The characters are easy to relate to and although for me it was a slow start, once the story gets going it is an interesting and engaging read.

I found the switch between the viewpoints of the two female lead characters a bit confusing, especially as the two characters' names are so similar (Shiray and Syira. The author does indicate the switch with a  row of asterisks, but perhaps I'm a bit slow on the uptake, because it took me a while to realise it wasn't the same person narrating the story when the switch first happened. It's written in the first person, and I happen to love first person narrative, but switching characters like this did tend to throw me out of the story for a while.  I felt it would have helped if the name of the current viewpoint had been at the top of the particular chapter or scene as was the only male viewpoint, in the epilogue. Also, the book would have benrfitted from some serious editing and polishing. There is a lot of repetition and several typographical and punctuation errors including the odd 'greengrocer's apostrophe'. :)

Having said that, I think this story would have quite a wide appeal  and possibly not just to fans of the science fiction genre, since a lot of the book takes place on Earth and concentrates on the amnesia of the characters and their feelings and emotions when they eventually get their memories back. This is the first book in a trilogy. More details are on the author's Website

 
Excerpt from SONAR CRASHING

That night I had the scariest dream of them all. I opened my eyes, and I was in a spacecraft going through the atmosphere of a dark planet. I walked into the cock pit and there was my guy. I could feel my cheeks flush. There were also four other women and six other men, all around my age. My guy smiled at me.

     “Are you ready? We have to hurry. A storm is on the way,” he said. The huge door to the ship opened. It looked like the opening to the back of a cargo ship. I gasped in disbelief. The sky outside the ship was black, and all we could see was water. The men shined the light in the water and threw down a net.

     “Don’t be scared, Sweetheart,” my guy said. “We’re very low on food, and there is no telling how long this storm will last.” I smiled at him. Suddenly the wind started howling, like a wind I had never heard before. It sounded like a freight train. The water started forming huge waves and the ship started rocking.

     “We have to hurry! The storm is coming in fast, and it will take us down if we don’t get out of here!” one of the men yelled. A huge wave rose up and washed over the ship. “Everyone grab a hold whole of something!” somebody screamed. “I’m taking off!”

     Then another huge wave washed over the ship. I tried to grab a hold of something, but the pressure was too strong. I was too close to the door, and fell out. We were high up, and it took me a while before I hit the water. I went deep under. The water was so cold; it felt like knives were stabbing me all over my body. I tried to swim to the surface, remembering I knew how, but it was like the pressure was keeping me down. I had never felt so scared before. Then I saw him and he grabbed me. He had a rope around his waist. He tugged on it, and it started pulling us up. Before we reached the surface I could no longer hold my breath. Water came gushing into my mouth, and I couldn’t breathe. Oh my God, I can’t breathe! My mind screamed. My body started jerking. I was frantic, and we still had not reached the surface. The next thing I saw was darkness.

     I heard voices. “She’s coming to! She’s coming to!” I opened my eyes slowly. I felt pressure on my chest; I turned quickly on my side and started coughing up water and gasping for air. Everyone started laughing and sighing in relief. I looked up, and my guy was leaning over me. He must have revived me. He was crying and laughing. He grabbed me into his arms. “You scared me. I thought I’d lost you,” he said.

     “Thank you,” I said, hugging him. I felt relieved to be in his arms.

     “We’ve made it out of Hydrocesis atmosphere safely. Let’s head home.” I heard a man say.

     Then I jolted awake, and quickly sat up in my bed. I was sweating profusely. This was no regular dream; this was a waking dream. I could still feel the pressure in my lungs and the taste of salt water in my mouth. My skin felt wet, and I was cold. I started sobbing. Who was I? Where did I come from? I needed answers and stayed awake for the rest of the night, my mind astir. Everything was a blur.


Melanie's Evanescent Journey (The Sonar series # 1.5)
by B Truly
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: May 31, 2014

Blurb:
True Love may cost a price, if the greater good preordains that you are the sacrifice.

There are always two sides to a story. Melanie Wilhelm's begins after she moves from Australia and starts her senior year at Cashmere High. On her first day, she bumps into a mysterious guy, and they form an instant connection. They become friends and he shares his deepest secret with her. As they grow closer, their relationship amplifies and becomes binding. Strange things occur, but instead of worrying, Melanie's feelings intensify.
The excitement of New Year's Eve approaches, and so does Jason's most devastating revelation of all. She learns his ultimate truth and is now spun into his chaotic web. The danger rises and hard choices must be made. By being with Jason, Melanie may have to sacrifice more than her heart. It may cost her life.

Melanie's Evanescent Journey ties into books one and two of The Sonar Trilogy. From spiraling twists to devastating plots, her journey will make you question fate and true love.
Is fate something you can control? Some believe it's in the hands of what you behold.

You can find Melanie’s Evanescent Journey on Goodreads.

You can buy Melanie’s Evanescent Journey here:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- Smashwords


About the Author:
I have wanted to be an author since I was fifteen years old and I'm grateful to have accomplished this dream. I have three wonderful children and a husband who defines the person I am today. I work full-time as an Ultrasound technologist in Sugarland, Texas.
I have very vivid dreams and a wild imagination. I like to read, watch tons of TV shows, and movies. I’m addicted to romance and get a thrill out of action and suspense. I write New Adult Fantasy, Sci-fi, and Paranormal-Romance. In the Sonar series it was fun to explore different elements of Sci-fi romance and create various realms of powers for my characters. I want to show my readers that Sci-fi can be fun, but also traumatic. I hope you guys enjoy the Sonar Series.

You can find and contact B Truly here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of The Sonar series. These are the prizes you can win:

- 5 e-copies of Sonar the Crashing
- 5 e-copies of Melanie’s Evanescent Journey

Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

For Whom My Heart Beats Eternal by Val Muller - CBLS Virtual book tour and Review AND *Give*Away*

For Whom My Heart Beats Eternal

Sci-Fi/Futuristic Time-Travel Romance

Publisher: Val Muller

Heat Level: Steamy

Length: 118 pages

Available at:

http://www.amazon.com/For-Whom-Heart-Beats-Eternal/dp/1479128775/

OmniLit:

https://www.omnilit.com/product-forwhommyheartbeatseternal-1225960-153.html

Description:

In this time-travel novella incorporating sweet romance and science fiction, Anna, a young graduate student, has found her intellectual soul mate. She and Dr. Thomas Wellesley, forty years her senior, have been working on sensitive research on applied time travel. She respects the man: he is married to his work and just as passionate about science as she is. He is her favorite part of the day and she'll stop at nothing to help their research. When a rival professor follows the pair into the lab and threatens their research and their safety, Dr. Wellesley does everything in his power to protect Anna from harm. But in his effort to protect her, he inadvertently sends her back in time. Forty years back in time, to be exact—to a time when a young student named Tommy Wellesley is just embarking on his first degree in physics. And it’ll be up to young Tommy to see her safely back to her own time. If he can bear to lose her. This edition also includes two short time travel stories. "Suicide Watch" explores the more dangerous ramifications of time travel. After an unfortunate fight with the love of his life, Matthew Mitchell discovers a time machine. Tempted to win back his girlfriend, Matt takes the machine for a spin, only to find out that time travel is much more complicated than he expected, and the results are catastrophic. "Toward Every Future’s Past" is flavored with sci-fi and fantasy and examines the cyclical nature of time and man’s difficulty in comprehending it.

This edition also includes two short time travel stories. "Suicide Watch" explores the more dangerous ramifications of time travel. After an unfortunate fight with the love of his life, Matthew

Mitchell discovers a time machine. Tempted to win back his girlfriend, Matt takes the machine for a spin, only to find out that time travel is much more complicated than he expected, and the results are catastrophic.

 "Toward Every Future’s Past" is flavored with SF and fantasy and examines the cyclical nature of time and man’s difficulty in comprehending it. Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

REVIEW

Most time travel romances have the heroine falling through a wormhole of some description and being transported to a past time where she has to learn to adapt without modern conveniences, because there is usually no way back.  'For Whom My Heart Beats Eternal' is different in that is is more like the time travel novels of H G Wells and other classic Science Fiction authors who enthralled me when I was growing up, in that it involves a real time machine - and also serves as a warning that it can be dangerous to meddle with time and the consequences can't always be anticipated.

Anna and Thomas (or Tommy) are both likeable characters and from the start I was willing them to get together, despite the large age gap.  I don't want to give too much away. The story is a quick and easy read and I was sorry to reach the end.  The climax has a clever twist. The conclusion seemed obvious and I thought I knew where it was leadng,but this is a story about time travel and nothing can be taken for granted.Although not really a sad ending  I can't say that the ending was a typical 'H.E.A.' either, but it seems logical considering the turn the story takes toward the end, and probably the only way it could have ended.  
I loved the aura of authentic scientific research in this story. It is real Science Fiction, rather than just a romance with the trappings of time travel thrown in, although it is easy to read even for readers who are not normally SF fans, and the romance itself is certainly sweet, the love scenes implied rather than explicit.

The two short stories are indeed a bonus, although darker than 'For Whom My Heart Beats Eternal.'  They both serve as dire warnngs, and emphasise how easy it is to take a step too far and repeat the same mistakes. I enjoyed reading  all three, which were at once refreshingly different, and yet reminiscent in style of some of my favourite SF writers of the past.

Excerpt 

Shakily, Tommy crouched down near the girl. “Excuse me,” he mumbled. He touched her shoulder and shook her gently. “Wake up.”

That roused her somewhat, for her nose started twitching—ever so slightly. Tommy watched, entranced, and for no reason at all felt like it was the cutest thing he’d ever seen. 

“Dr...Welles…ley…” she mumbled without opening her eyes. 

“So this is her, then, yes?” the security officer asked. “Dr. Wellesley? Is that what she calls you?” He chuckled. “Some fetish you got there, doctor, eh?”

Tommy turned to the man, his face a deep, embarrassed red. He wanted to tell him the truth. He’d never seen this girl in his life and wanted nothing more to do with her. 
But something stayed his tongue. 

It seemed the girl was trying to communicate. “Dr. Wellesley,” she said again. Her eyes opened just a slit. “I…saved it…from him…” She held something in her hand, held it out to him. With the flick of a finger, the thing glowed. 

Tommy jumped back, for after a few moments the glowing screen displayed a series of formulas he’d only seen before in his most ecstatic dreams. 

“This is her, alright,” Tommy said. “She looks in bad shape. I’d better get her back to my apartment.”

He took the glowing screen, and the security officer helped him lift the girl to her feet. Semi-conscious, she leaned against Tommy and hobbled down the sidewalk. “Dr. Wellesley,” she kept muttering. Tommy couldn’t help but shudder under the white hot electric charge that seemed to move invisibly between their bodies where they touched. 

The security officer stood with arms crossed and watched the hobbling couple inch down the sidewalk. “Kids!” he chuckled to himself as they disappeared beyond the bend. 

About the Author:

Val Muller is the author of the Corgi Capers mystery series for kids, and Faulkner’s Apprentice, a horror novel for grown-ups. A teacher by day, Val is also an editor for Freedom Forge Press. A full list of works can be found at www.ValMuller.com with Corgi Fun at www.CorgiCapers.com.

Connect with Val Muller

Website: http://www.ValMuller.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.val.muller

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mercuryval

G I V E A W A Y

2 eBook copies (1 each to 2 winners) of “For Whom My Heart Beats Eternal” AND “Faulkner’s Apprentice”

Don't forget to enter the contest below and to increase your chances of winning, also check out the rest of Val Muyller's Tour HERE, the more you enter the greater your chances!

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