Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for When the Ocean Roars by Charlsie Estess, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: When the Ocean Roars
Author: Charlsie Estess
Publisher: Iron Stream Media
Release Date: June 11, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
He needs to surrender. She needs to fight. Are they ready for their next battle?
Weeks before the Ultimate Fighting World Championship, Keane “The Golden Lion” Temple lands in Japan for the battle of his professional life. The adored prizefighter is primed to take the win. And nothing has ever distracted him from victory in the ring.
But when his path collides with an intriguing woman, he gives in to impulse and asks her to spend his day off from training with him. Surely, he can keep his heart safe for one day.
Ami Ono cannot pass on the invitation but also hides her full identity. As their extraordinary day bleeds into night, both realize one day won’t be enough. Then the excursion ends in disaster when Keane discovers who Ami is. They part ways, but compelling circumstances and an undeniable attraction draw them back together, driving their attraction―and her high-society family drama―to something more intense than Keane has ever faced. As the forbidden romance threatens to take down his principles in the knockout of his life, he struggles to honor his beliefs. Will The Golden Lion surrender his heart? Will Ami defy the domineering men in her life and accept it? Do they stand a chance against nature?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop
Excerpt
With a glance, she admired him, head to toe. One second, her wild imagination was rushing in a treacherous direction. The next, she was flying through the air. Her toe had snagged a chunk of driftwood. As the rough beach raced toward her face, a strong arm darted under her to break the fall. Keane toppled beside her. But she wasn’t complaining.
About the Author
Charlsie Estess holds a master of business administration degree and worked in finance and strategic planning before becoming a writer. She is a member of ACFW and Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers and was an ACFW 2023 Genesis Finalist. She currently resides in Mississippi with her husband and two sons.
Connect with Charlsie at charlsieestess.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Author Interview
Q: What inspired you to write When the Ocean Roars?
When the Ocean Roars was inspired by the convergence of several ideas, particularly triumph over human struggle. While experiencing a hard season in my own life, I also saw very real battles in my friends’ lives. It’s easy to magnify life’s minor inconveniences, but those challenges often fall into insignificance when an unexpected disaster lands at our front door. Fighting cancer. The loss of a child. Family feuds. A wicked boss. An unfaithful spouse. Addictions. Wayward children. While we all face seasons of hardship, we don’t all do battle the same.
So, I decided to write a story about a fighter, a man of faith, who crosses paths with a feisty woman of science. And Japan made perfect sense. I studied there for the better part of a college year and knew it would be the perfect setting, one steeped in rich tradition, vivid sounds, and exotic scents. This story touches on a historic event that weighed heavy on my heart, but we should never underestimate the will to survive and the power of love.
I love this story and wouldn’t give up on writing it, but the process came in starts and stops. I estimate it took just under a year to research and write When the Ocean Roars, and then I actually let this manuscript sit for more than a year before finalizing and pitching it at a conference.
What surprised you while researching/writing this novel? The story’s heroine is a graduate student of geophysics. I did quite a bit of research about geophysics and seismology. It’s one thing to hear about earthquakes on the news, but tracking individual quakes over a time period was surprising, fascinating, and a bit unsettling. Large seismic events can create ripple effects or set off a chain reaction of earthquakes, underscoring just how interconnected our planet is. Like striking a bell, seismic waves travel extensive distances, ringing through the earth and registering on seismographs on the opposite side of the world. Wow. And yikes!
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from When the Ocean Roars?
“When the earth trembles and the ocean roars, he is our refuge and strength. Claim that—deep in your heart.”
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Writing has been an unexpected journey for me. Years ago, I felt led to write, but I also questioned the calling. In hindsight, I pulled a Jonah twice, but I started writing, more for personal enjoyment and anxiety-therapy than with the goal of selling a book. But I finished one book (and then another), and I prayed about the calling. For a long time, no one knew I wrote. I wasn’t sure my stories would appeal to anyone, but I started entering writing contests and became a finalist in many. When judges loved the story and shared they wanted to read more, I was beyond encouraged! Their kind words and feedback were the validation I needed to move forward and pursue publication. I love being an author!
Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?
When I studied in Japan, I tried to learn karate. I even went to a few tournaments and a sumo match.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
Goodness, that’s hard! But I love romance, both historical and contemporary, best.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
I love to run and take “plot walks” outdoors. My best thoughts come while walking the blacktop.
Q: What is your favorite season and why?
My favorite season is spring. I live in the sultry Deep South, and spring is still not too hot. The roadside flowers. The bright birds. And I get to chase my favorite baseball catcher!
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will win an Ocean Adventure Giveaway, including a woven beach bag, a print copy of When the Ocean Roars, & a ROAR T-Shirt!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 10, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 17, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
This looks really good. Thanks for sharing and hosting this tour.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the interview. The book sounds great.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very different story!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the interview, especially since I learned why the book is titled When the Ocean Roars.
ReplyDeleteNew-to-me author. Thank you for hosting.
ReplyDeletei enjoyed learning more about Charlsie from this interview! Thanks for being on the tour, Jolene! :)
ReplyDeleteI just love everything I've read about this book from the early reviews that have been posted.
ReplyDelete