#FallingInLove Author Spotlight: Mylissa Demeyere

     

The Songs of You and Me by Mylissa Demeyere

A SECOND CHANCE AT FIRST LOVE.

Jane Hartford fell head over heels for Jackson at the tender age of fifteen. She spent most of high school pining for him, until she realized he wasn't going to see her as anything more than his baby sister's best friend. Now she finds herself single with a daughter, a broken heart, and songs that remind her of a long lost love.

Jackson Wright is a man living with regret. His biggest one, never acting on his feelings for Jane. When he returns to Bellebrook, the town they grew up in, he literally runs into her and his world gets tossed upside down and sideways.

This time, Jackson isn't willing to give up. With a meddling sister eager to push both of them together, he believes things might actually work out. That is, if they can overcome the heavy baggage they both carry. Follow Jackson and Jane as they revisit their past, figuring out what went wrong so long ago.

Will they learn they have the power to make things right in the present?

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BOOK TRAILER:

(18 year-old Jackson) “So, Evan, huh?” I blurted out, when I found her in the kitchen, snacking on chips. 

“Don’t even start. I don’t know what your sister was thinking.” 
“You both looked awful cozy in there.” I winced, noting the jealous tone. Jane wasn’t mine, and I hadn’t done anything to change that. 
“Real cozy.” Jane’s sarcasm lifted my spirits. “I love Sarah, but sometimes she makes it hard for me to remember that.” 
“Yeah, she can be a handful.” I wasn’t happy with this setup, either, but if it gave me time with Jane now, I wasn’t going to complain. 
"If Evan puts his arm around me once more, I might punch him.” That mental image plastered a smile on my face. 
“So why did you agree to this ‘date’ if you don’t like the punk?” Must be a loaded question, because Jane turned a cute shade of pink as she fidgeted with her sleeve. 
“I don’t really know. Sarah thought it would be a good idea, and then she made me read a magazine article on how to make him like me. I don’t even want him to like me.” 
That sounded like Sarah, all right. “So, what are you supposed to be doing to get him to like you?” I couldn’t help myself. Her fidgeting and blushing were too tempting to leave it alone. 
“I’m supposed to flirt. But I think he’s doing enough of that for the both of us.” She huffed and averted her gaze. 
“Does it make you uncomfortable when a guy flirts with you?” I closed the distance between us and leaned into her personal space. The nearness forced her gaze up. 
She looked confused, like she was trying to figure me out. “No, just incensed.” Her voice came out breathless. 
“Incensed?” I raised my brows. Her choice of word had me smiling, but not backing off. 
“You know what it means.” She caught on to what I was doing. 
“Am I annoying you now?” I raised my hand and rested it on the cabinet, right next to her head. She gulped but didn’t move to push me back. Her eyes dipped down to my lips. “Are you irritated, Jane?” I whispered, so close I felt her breath fanning my face. Her hand came up to rest on my chest, my muscles tightening under her touch. 

Giveaway Details Ends 10/5/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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What My Next Few Months of Reading Looks Like...

Normally, when I go to the library, I visit their used book store and post a photo of my purchases.

Today, I'm mixing it up and posting a photo of the library books I borrowed:

In retrospect, I know I was a bit ambitious. My current reading rate is one book per week, at the most.  (In my defense, it was substantially higher before having children)  This is at least six weeks of reading... Most likely I'll be renewing a few of these.

The Mayflower Bride and The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse - These have been on my want to read list since I read Michelle Griep's The Captured Bride. All three of those are part of the Daughters of the Mayflower series.  Most likely, I'll be reading one of these this weekend.

All the Emily Dickinson Books - Back in my college days, I thoroughly enjoyed Dickinson's poetry. I'm wanting to get back to reading some non-fiction, so this seemed like a good place to start! I read Harold Bloom's BioCritique of Emily Dickinson years ago and remember it being informative.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - A bestseller that I haven't read, but am eager to dig into.  Realistically, this will probably not happen for a few weeks.

So, what's on your TBR stack?

$100 Giveaway Hosted by Clean Wholesome Romance!

There's an awesome giveaway going on right now, hosted by Clean Wholesome Romance!

An amazing group of authors has joined together to bring you one great prize! Just think how many books you could buy with $100! Or maybe you need a new Kindle! Or maybe you want to try Kindle Unlimited! So many possibilities! Please show these amazing authors some love! Visit their sites. Sign up for their newsletters. Download their books. Review their books. Follow them on Social Media. There are so many ways you can support them!

Giveaway Sponsors:

Bree Livingston 

Crissy Sharp 

Debra Erfert 

Elana Johnson 

Evangeline Kelly 

Heather Gray 

Heidi Kimball 

Jenna Brandt 

Jennifer Griffith 

Jewel Allen 

Jo Noelle 

Joanna Barker 

Joyce DiPastena 

Kaylee Baldwin 

Kennedy Larsen 

Kristen Ethridge 

Laura D. Bastian 

Lorin Grace 

Marie Higgins 

Tiana Smith

Now it's time for the giveaway! One winner will be awarded $100 in Paypal Cash or a $100 Amazon Gift Code! Winning entry will be verified! Make sure you actually subscribe and confirm your entries so you don't get disqualified. If you already subscribe to an author's newsletter you can, of course, claim the entry!

Giveaway Details: $100 Amazon Gift Code or $100 in Paypal Cash Ends 10/28/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter, Amazon, Paypal or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. The giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader/Clean Wholesome Romance and sponsored by the participating authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Thoughtfull by Dorena Williamson

Thoughtfull, written by Dorena Williamson and illustrated by Robert Dunn, tells the story of two second-grade boys: Ahanu, a boy with Down Syndrome, and Joshua, Ahanu's friend.

When Ahanu wins an award for being thoughtful, Joshua rejoices him. However, Joshua's joy is tampered by unkind remarks about Ahanu from other boys. After processing the situation with his dad, Joshua confronts the boys and stands up for Ahanu. Joshua encourages Ahanu and finds joy in their friendship.

My girls are both homeschooled and I continually look for resources that can teach them how to respond to social situations they may encounter. I liked that Thoughtfull offers positive values and responses while confronting the common occurrence of bullying:

• Thoughtfull affirms that all people are valuable and uniquely gifted by God. 
• Joshua speaks to the bullies about Ahanu's gifts, demonstrating a healthy way to confront bullying. 
• Perhaps most importantly, Joshua's relationship with Ahanu teaches that we ought to embrace each other rather than shying away from others who are differently-abled than us.

Thoughtfull is a hard-cover book that seems well-made and durable. The illustrations featured a racially diverse group of children and complemented the story nicely. My daughters (ages 3 and 6) enjoyed looking at them while reading the story.

I recommend Thoughtfull to parents of children between ages three to seven. There is a “Parent Connection” with Scripture and questions to discuss together.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

#FallinginLove Spotlight Author: Danielle Thorne & $25 Giveaway!

Turtle Soup by Danielle Thorne:

Sea turtles may be endangered but after an encounter with marine biologist, Jack Brandon, nothing will stop Sara Hart from naming her deli, Turtle Soup. When Jack takes a job at the Georgia Aquarium, Sara finds the environmental poster boy at her door, hungry and carrying a chip on his shoulder. Neither thinks the other has what it takes, until a scuba class reveals what lies beneath the surface.

Get your copy on AMAZON.

Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited.

"You really think you're too good for anyone, don't you?" Sara's voice shook. "That you're some kind of celebrity because National Geographic made you their cover boy? Well let me tell you something, Jack. I don't need a world seal of approval to help me sleep at night. I don't need looks or money to buy me a circle of friends, and I don't need some beach bum telling me what I am."

Looking embarrassed, Jack dropped her hands. In a low voice, he said, "If that's who you think I am than you can leave."

"Thank you," Sara shouted, "I will!" She flung the door open on the way. The planner was still in the middle of the hallway, a few pages hanging out of it. She gave it a vicious kick, and it smacked into the wall. "That's what I think about you and your stupid foundation," she shouted over her shoulder. She kicked it again and again until pages scattered everywhere.

He was still watching from his office door, looking like he wanted to shove a sock in her mouth. All around the office, people sidled into range to see more. Satisfied she'd humiliated him, she took the stairs to the ground floor. She wanted to be exhausted when she walked out of the place. She wanted to feel so tired, she would never have the energy to come back.

  Author Danielle Thorne Danielle Thorne is the author of classic romance and adventure in several genres. She loves Jane Austen, pirates, beaches, cookies, antiques, cats, dogs, and long naps. She does not like phone calls or sushi. A graduate of Ricks College and BYU-Idaho, Danielle saw early work published by Every Day Fiction, Arts and Prose Magazine, Mississippi Crow, The Nantahala Review, StorySouth, and... you get the idea. Besides writing, she's edited for both Solstice and Desert Breeze Publishing. Her growing blog, The Balanced Writer, focuses on writing, life, and the pursuit of peace and happiness. Currently, Danielle freelances as a non-fiction author, copywriter, and editor, while waiting to hear from readers like you through her website. During free time, which means when Netflix is down, she combs through feedback and offers virtual hugs for reviews. Her next historical romance is coming soon. 
       

 Giveaway Details Ends 10/8/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Mighty Reader Workbook: Grade 1 by Heidi Cooley

In the Mighty Reader Workbook for Grade 1 by Heidi Cooley, students can practice their reading skills while learning about popular Bible stories. There are thirteen stories and six work pages for each story. The work pages focus on different skills such as: comprehension, context clues, problem/solution, visualization, writing, and more. The repetition of just one story per week allows the child practice and explore the story from different angles.

I am homeschooling my daughter for first grade and using the Mighty Reader Workbook to supplement our curriculum as my daughter loves to read and we're a bit ahead of the curriculum. My daughter enjoys reading the stories, but I expected the stories to be longer than three-fourths of one page. The words are suited to a first grade level. Some harder words are included in the text and these are addressed in a helpful vocabulary section that proceeds the main reading page for each story.

I liked that each day's workpage calls for a different reading strategy (echo read, choral read, partner read, independent read, etc.) and my daughter enjoys it. Most of the workpages involve the child writing out some sort of answer. I wish all of the pages had lines to help with neater writing. Many pages have big boxes to write in. Even though I am there to guide, her sentences tend to get a bit messy.

The Mighty Reader Workbook is designed for parent and child to do together. My mommy heart loves that we are smiling over reading and Bible stories. I recommend this book to parents of first graders who are looking for extra reading and comprehension practice. This book is not limited to homeschool use. I think it would be good practice for any child in first grade.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the Mighty Reader Workbook by Heidi Cooley from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

#FallingInLove Spotlight Author: Kimberley Montpetit & $25 Giveaway

The Owner's Secret: A Secret Billionaire Romance by Kimberley Montpetit.

A brutal storm. A cryptic message. A life changed . . . forever. 

Melody de Leon's cozy New Orleans bookstore is her pride and joy – until a violent hurricane sweeps it all away. Forced to flee the storm by boat with her ailing grandmother, she wonders how she will ever pick up the pieces of this disaster. Then, in a fevered state, her grandmother utters a cryptic message that sets Melody on the quest of a lifetime: “Go to White Castle.” With nothing left to lose, Melody seeks out the old mansion – a beautiful Southern relic haunted by secrets. Once there, she finds Britt Mandeville, the handsome and charming White Castle caretaker. Sparks fly, but any hopes of a relationship between them are dashed when she discovers that Britt is already spoken for. When Melody stumbles across a strange 60-year-old photograph in the house, she is determined to find answers – and the shocking revelations and strange twists of fate lead her right back to Britt. Can she put all the pieces of the puzzle together, or will family secrets and true love be lost to her forever?

Get it Now on AMAZON

Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimted

Add to your Goodreads Shelf

 

Giveaway Details Ends 10/8/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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The Christy Awards are Coming!

If there were a Christian fiction version of the Oscars, The Christy Awards would be it. And we are teaming up with The Christy Awards to help you read good fiction!

Some of the best of the best, in fact. Last year's 2017 Christy Award winners included The Lady & the Lionheart (Joanne Bischof), A Note Yet Unsung (Tamera Alexander), Her One and Only (Becky Wade), The Mark of the King (Jocelyn Green), The Silent Songbird (Melanie Dickerson), The Long Journey to Jake Palmer (James Rubart), and more!

Image Source: The Christy Awards

The 2018 Christy Award Celebration Gala is coming up on November 7, 2018 but first the finalists will be announced on September 19th!! And you don't want to miss it! Make sure you're following along with their social media accounts so you don't miss the big announcement!

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

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The Christy Award team invites you to two events that celebrate fiction, both held on November 7, 2018 at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN!

First, from 1-5:30pm, is the Art of Writing Conference - a focused conference for writers, storytellers, and publishing curators. This is a half day of intensive seminars that celebrate the creative life, provide practical tips for overcoming challenges in a rapidly-changing industry, and answer questions authors are asking. Head here for a full list of speakers, including Carla Laureano, Joanne Bischof, Donald Miller, and Charles Martin.

Then, starting at 7:00pm, The Christy Award Dinner Gala will celebrate the art of Christian fiction, announce the 2018 winners of The Christy Award, and honor the power of Story, the legacy of Madeleine L’Engle, and the year's best in Christian fiction.

Wanna know which authors will be at The Christy Awards gala? How about Charles Martin, Carla Laureano, Francine Rivers, Sarah Arthur, and Cynthia Ruchti, for starters? Many of the finalists will be there too so make sure you follow The Christy Award on social media for the big announcement on the 19th!

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On behalf of the ECPA, JustRead is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card (US only) to help you read good fiction!

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight September 15, 2018 and last through 11:59pm September 21, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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Who Was David? by Matt Koceich

Who Was David? continues the Kingdom Files series by Matt Koceich. Written by an elementary school teacher, the entire series is targeted for kids ages 8 to 12. Grayscale pictures are present throughout the chapters (David looks really young when he fights Goliath).

The first portion of Who Was David? is the “Fact File” – two pages that provide basic information about the character such as name, occupation, approximate time of life, etc.

The “Action File” is the longest section and retells the story of David, a brave youth who became king of Israel. The text aligns with the Biblical narrative, but does not include everything. The majority of this section was concentrated on David's ascent to the throne. His battle with Goliath is mentioned as are the situations by which he married his first two wives. Absalom's troublemaking occupies a few pages, but David's affair with Bathsheba is not mentioned, only that she was Solomon's mother.

The last chapter of the “Action File” focuses on brief explanation and instruction of a handful of David's Psalms. The chapter is best experienced with a Bible open to the Psalms to read each chapter and then the corresponding paragraph in Who Was David?

The “Power File” offers ten short devotions based off the story and accompanied by a Bible verse. These are appropriate for both genders and suited to the targeted age range. On the surface, these seem like simple thoughts, but they are based on deep truths that can uphold one's faith in God.

In conclusion, Who Was David? by Matt Koceich teaches the story of David as it entertains and instructs.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

My First Giveaway / Sweepstakes!

Welcome, friend, to my first book giveaway. (Or at least, my first giveaway in many years....) 

Up for grabs is A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano, a recent release, and Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, a classic of Christian fiction. Both of these books are from my personal library and have been previously read. But, if you would like them, they are free to you, if you win the giveaway.

Books will be sent media mail in effort to minimize shipping cost. Therefore, only residents of the United States who are eighteen years of age or older and legally able to enter, may enter. (That was wordy...)

See the Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway! Good luck!


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Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson

In the introduction of Book Girl, Sarah Clarkson states that this book “celebrates not just the gifts of the reading life, but also the rich life of the reading woman (pg. xv).” It's a broad statement that covers the next 200+ pages and it delivers on the promise. Repeatedly, Sarah shows through her personal story as well as research and careful observations, what a gift that reading is. There's a strong emphasis on reading to children and passing on the joy of reading.

Book Girl has ten chapters, most of which have two or three sections. Each section pertains to a general idea or topic and often begins with an introduction including personal examples or research. The reading lists cover many topics including: books about reading, biographies, girlhood classics, spiritual classics, poetry, books about the arts, and much more. There are over twenty reading lists. Each book title listed includes at least a brief description of the book, and often, considerably more, but no spoilers.

As soon as I saw Book Girl, I was immediately interested. The cover is as classy as the content inside. This book was pure joy for me to read because I love books and I love being introduced to new books. Sarah's writing style was lovely, likely influenced by the amazing writers she has been reading all her life! Sarah shared much of her personal life and it felt like she was a friend by the time I was a few chapters in. I have read only a handful of the books on her lists, but I felt that I could trust her judgment to point me in the right direction of a good book.

In the first chapter of Book Girl, Sarah states that she lists what she loves (pg 3). She unabashedly proclaims her love of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Wendell Berry, and the Anne of Green Gables series. While her lists are written from a mindset of “this is what I love” instead of “this is what might interest my audience”, I found her book descriptions helpful and it was easy to determine if a book she recommended might be a good fit for me. To that end, I've already purchased two books that she recommended when I happened upon them at my local used book store:

I loved Book Girl and I recommend it to all women, especially Christians. There is a definite Christian worldview. I am not sure if the book would be enjoyable to non-Christians as Sarah discusses her faith frequently. However, the topics cover a wide range of books, many of which are classic books that are not expressly Christian, but from which a Christian may derive a spiritual truth.

Read an excerpt from Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson on the publisher's website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Joy!

Take a look at what I found today at the little used bookstore tucked inside my local library branch:

Four books! Sometimes I come home with nothing, and sometimes I come home with plenty. I paid a whopping $2.14 for these books and I am thrilled with my purchases!

I've been reading Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson and chose Peace Like a River and The Song of the Lark strictly because her recommendations.

Can't wait to dig into one of these -- tomorrow afternoon, if I'm lucky!

Falling in Love Giveaway: A Clean Romance Event

Starting today, there is an awesome giveaway going on. It's officially hosted by I Am A Reader and Clean Wholesome Romance, but I'm happy to help promote it.

Through the month, I'll be featuring content from some of these authors on my own blog, but check out I Am A Reader and Clean Wholesome Romance to get the entire giveaway experience! Details below:

Falling In Love: A Clean Romance Event

Hosted by I Am A Reader and Clean Wholesome Romance

September is going to be an AWESOME month for clean romance lovers! I'm excited to kick-off this month-long celebration with this $100 Giveaway. Before we get to the giveaway...

Just look at this amazing list of authors who are participating!

Elizabeth Johns, Julie Wright, Jo Noelle, Laurie Lewis, Bria Quinlan, Beth Labonte, Sariah Wilson, D.E. Malone, Delaney Cameron, Donna Hatch, Kimberley Montpetit, Rachael Anderson, Mylissa Demeyere, Daniel Banner, Danielle Thorne, Aubrey Wynne, Kimberly Krey, Jennifer Griffith, Jen Geigle Johnson, Cindy Roland Anderson.

Are you excited? I hope so because it's going to be a great month!

Each Monday through Friday for the rest of the month one of these authors will be spotlighted. There will be a $25 giveaway along with each spotlight which means there will be $500 given away in addition to this $100 giveaway! That's a total of $600 being given away plus you will have the chance to learn more about 20 AMAZING authors!

So let's start this off with the $100 Kick-Off Giveaway! Click here to visit I Am A Reader and enter the giveaway!