Blog Tour: The Sound of Silver

Rachelle Rea is publishing her second book, The Sound of Silver, next week on October 15. I have the honor of helping her promote this lovely story. I hope you will enjoy my review of it.

Description

The Sound of Silver

Rachelle Rea

Synopsis:

The stalwart saint and the redeemed rebel. One is fighting for faith, the other for honor…

After Dirk rescues Gwyneth from the Iconoclastic Fury, she discovers that faith is sometimes fragile—and hope is not as easy as it may seem. Gwyneth continues her quest to learn more about the love of God preached by Protestants she once distrusted.

Meanwhile, Dirk’s quest is to prevent his sullied name from staining hers. Will his choice to protect her prove the undoing of her first faltering steps toward a Father God? Once separated, will Dirk and Gwyneth’s searching hearts ever sing the same song?

Purchase Links:

Barnes & Noble: coming Oct. 15

Amazon Paperback: http://is.gd/oGcgO2

Kindle: http://is.gd/iX9wR2

Books a Million: coming Oct. 15

Goodreads: http://is.gd/DsRsHC

About the Author

Rachelle Rea plots her novels while driving around the little town she’s lived in all her life in her dream car, a pick-up truck. As a freelance editor, she enjoys mentoring fellow authors in the craft. A homeschool graduate and retired gymnast, she wrote the Sound of Silver the summer after her junior year of college.

Website: http://rachellerea.com/

Blog: http://rachellerea.com/blog/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/inspiringdaring

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelleRea

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/rachellerea/

Instagram: @RachelleDianeRea

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachelle-Rea/e/B00RZHIL1Q

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8144149.Rachelle_Rea?from_search=true&search_version=service

Review

Although Gwyn and Dirk love each other, they still have a lot of problems to overcome if they are ever to marry.  First of all, Dirk is still being blamed for the murder of Gwyn’s parents and it will take a bit more than Gwyn’s testimony to clear him of the charge.  Then, Dirk decides it would be safer for Gwyn if he left the country, drawing away the danger.  Will their love and newfound faith survive the challenges ahead?

The second book in the Steadfast Love Series by Rachelle Rea, The Sound of Silver continues Gwyn and Dirk’s story.  Love, danger, and even suffering mold the lives of the characters as they reach out to each other and do their best to follow God’s will for their lives.  And finally, their hardships pay off with a joyous ending.

Gwyn and Dirk spend a good portion of the book apart, trying to complete their goals and just survive.  It is pretty sad for their romance, as they miss each other dreadfully most of the time, but it gives the author a chance to introduce another handsome gentleman who has known Gwyn all her life and been in love with her for just as long.  This of, course, adds a new level of interest to the novel as you wonder whether Gwyn will eventually fall in love with him instead.

A good thing that I noticed was that Gwyn grew so much during this novel.  Much of her trauma and grief healed throughout the story.  She had other problems to deal with, but she became more stable and confident as a person as well as growing in her faith under the mentorship of an older Christian woman.

On a different note, the setting was obviously well-researched.  The historical details of the country’s laws and government, the religious turmoil, the medicine technology, and many other small details makes the story come alive within the culture—as least, as much as it can since no one alive today has actually experienced it.

Overall, The Sound of Silver was a lovely historical romance.  I look forward to reading the third book in this series and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a historical romance—starting with book one, of course!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Giveaways

There is a Goodreads giveaway of a paperback copy of The Sound of Diamonds going on until October 15. You can enter it here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/157129-the-sound-of-diamonds

There is also a giveaway of The Sound of Diamonds, The Sound of Silver, and a cute quote from The Sound of Silver written in calligraphy. You can access it here: http://rachellerea.com/silver-celebration-and-giveaway/

Book Tour: When the Right One Comes Along

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

Description

When the Right One Comes Along

(K-9 Trilogy #1)
by Kate James
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 293 Pages

October 1st 2015 by Harlequin

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Brought together by disaster. Kept together by love.

In the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, it's chaos for trauma surgeon Jessica Hansen. Among the many victims, one patient stands out—San Diego Police K-9 search and rescue officer Cal Palmer.

Cal vows to help Kayla, a child orphaned by the disaster. But he needs Jessica's help. Will their shared concern for Kayla and for Cal's canine partner, Scout, allow them to put aside their personal torments and discover the difference love can make?

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin - iTunes - Kobo

About the Author

Kate James spent eight years of her childhood living in foreign countries as her professional parents travelled on business. She lived in four countries and spoke five languages before settling down in Canada again to attend university. After graduating with a degree in civil engineering, she held a variety of positions in the field of real estate development and operations, and ran three substantial organizations. While her writing during this period was mostly business related, including presentations and speeches she delivered both nationally and internationally, her passion is and always has been fiction.

Kate's business and personal experiences enable her to write fiction with a deep, often first-hand knowledge of what she is writing about. This approach makes Kate's stories richer and more vivid.

Kate’s goal is to entertain you with well-written, engaging stories, set in intriguing places and with strong, likeable characters. “I hope my stories bring you pleasure and entertain you. Nothing pleases me more than receiving feedback from people who have chosen to spend their valuable leisure time with one of my books,” notes Kate.

Kate married her husband, Ken, in an elegant, ocean-front wedding on a tropical island. When they are not traveling, they split their time between their properties in southern and central Ontario in Canada.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter

Excerpt

THE DOC WAS late. It was nearing six and Jessica still hadn’t shown up. Cal fed Scout and let him out in the back, watching him from the deck. Hardly the exercise he needed, but at least he was able to perform his basic bodily functions. Cal was confident she would show—reasonably confident, anyway. He trusted the doc, even if she hadn’t called. But he was the one who’d told her not to bother.

What was it about her that seemed to reduce his IQ to that of a Neanderthal?

Scout might’ve had dinner already, but Cal hadn’t and the grumbling of his stomach reminded him. He thought about calling Jessica at the hospital, just to make sure she hadn’t changed her mind or forgotten, but lack of trust wasn’t a good way to begin whatever kind of relationship they were going to have over the next couple of weeks. He might as well eat, he decided, since he had no idea when she’d show up.

Cal had just marinated a steak and was about to start his barbecue when he heard a car pull into his driveway. Looking out the window, he saw Jessica’s yellow Miata. He glanced at his watch. Almost seven.

He opened the door before she could knock.

“Smells wonderful,” she said as she bent down to greet Scout. “I’m sorry I’m late. We had an emergency surgery. Occupational hazard, never being on time.”

“Not a problem. I lost track of time, too. So much to occupy me,” he joked, making her smile. He motioned for her to follow him into the kitchen. “I was just starting dinner. If you don’t have plans, why don’t you stay and we can discuss Scout while we eat. Hopefully it’ll taste as good as it smells.”

Jessica’s cheeks turned pink. “I really shouldn’t. I’m sure you have things to do and I should get home. Get Scout settled. I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”

“It’s no trouble.” Cal couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a grown woman blush. Anna certainly never had. He found it unreasonably touching. There was something vulnerable and shy about her right then that appealed to him. “I’d like you to stay,” he added to his own amazement. He wondered if he’d hoped for it all along, since the steak he was marinating was large enough for two healthy appetites. “All I have on my agenda is cooking dinner. We do need to discuss Scout. And in the meantime, you might as well experience one of my world-famous Jack Daniels–marinated steaks.”

Jessica’s color remained high and she gave him a timid smile. “If you’re sure…”

“Absolutely. I’m barbecuing, anyway. This steak is too large for me to finish in one meal. Since you’re here, you can help with some of the preparation, which will make it easier for me with my bad leg.”

“Ah, the sympathy ploy!” she teased. Scout sat down next to her. She dropped her hand on his head in what appeared to be a reflexive action. “All right,” she said as she walked toward the kitchen counter. “What can I do to help?”

“You can pour us some wine.” He gestured toward the bottle of red he’d left breathing on the counter. “The glasses are in the cupboard beside the fridge.”

He was startled by how much he liked seeing her move around his kitchen…his space. After she handed him a glass filled with the rich red cabernet, she tasted the wine in her own glass. “Very nice. What next?”

“Tell me how you like your steak, then take a seat and enjoy the wine.”

“Medium rare,” she said as she settled on one of the stools by his kitchen counter.

“I’ll be right back.”

She put her glass down and rushed over when she saw him trying to juggle the plate with the steak on it. “Here, let me take that out for you.”

He handed her the plate gratefully. “I said you’d be a help.” He grinned as they went out on the back deck and he placed the steak next to the foil-wrapped potatoes already on the grill.

“As I said when I got here, the aroma’s delicious. But world-famous?”

“Well, at least in my own mind. Seriously, I’ve had lots of favorable comments about my marinade.” He smiled again. “And it’s one of the few meals I know how to make.”

By the time he brought the steak back in—medium rare—she’d made a salad and set his kitchen table.

Cal instructed Scout to lie on his bed as they sat down to eat.

“Tell me about Scout and how this is going to work,” Jessica said as she took her first bite of the steak. “Mmm…this is delicious!”

“Didn’t I tell you? As for Scout, whatever works best for you. I’ll need to spend some time with him on his training. We can do that anywhere. At the division, here on the beach or at your place. Training in different environments helps the dogs. When you go to work, if it’s not inconvenient, you can drop him off here. Leave him for the occasional night, if you have plans. My biggest challenge is giving him the exercise he needs. Running with him, playing with him or just taking him to a park would be very much appreciated.”

Cal went over all the basic commands with her. She took another bite of her steak, closed her eyes and made a satisfied face. That gave Cal a moment to observe her, and he took full advantage. He liked what he saw. Yes, he thought she was beautiful, but her beauty wasn’t traditional. And it wasn’t skin-deep. She was smart and generous, and she liked dogs and sports cars. Neither of which had found favor with his ex-wife.

Jessica was tall and Anna had been short. Jessica was sinewy and Anna curvy. Jessica… What was he doing making comparisons to his ex-wife? But that got him thinking of Anna and why he’d had no interest in women since his marriage ended. It was a good reminder, because he could see himself falling for the beautiful doctor. But that was definitely not in the cards. He needed a lot more time to get over what had happened.

Giveaway

Grand Prize: Spa Gift Basket and a print copy of When the Right One Comes Along (US/CAN only)

2^nd Prize: $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of When the Right One Comes Along (print if US/CAN, ebook if international)

3 – 3^rd Prizes: copy of When the Right One Comes Along(print if US/CAN, ebook if international)

Ends October 16th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

9/28: Launch

9/29: undercover book reviews & The Written Adventure

9/30: Anndawson's Blog & Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima

10/1: Writing Pearls & Amanda Writes

10/2: Slice of Life & Mythical Books

10/4: Christy's Cozy Corners, Beck Valley Books, & underneath the covers

10/5: teatime and Books & Thoughts of a Blonde

10/6: Dixie n Dottie & Wishful Endings

10/7: I Am A Reader, Zerina Blossom's Books, & Getting Your Read On

10/8: Mel's Shelves & Singing Librarian Books

10/9: Kindle and Me

10/11: Grand Finale

TBR Read-a-Thon Wrap Up

The read-a-thon has come to a close. I did not have much time to read, but I completed the two books I planned to read plus another one. All three were fantastic, some of the best I have read recently, and I could hardly put them down or get anything else done the entire time I was reading them.

Book 1: Orphan's Song by Gillian Adams
Date finished: September 18
Format: ebook
Pages: 304
Rating: 5 stars

Book 2: Oath of the Brotherhood by C. E. Laureano
Date finished: September 20
Format: ebook
Pages: 435
Rating: 5 stars

Book 3: The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen
Date finished: September 23
Format: paperback
Pages: 440
Rating: 5 stars

Final Stats: 
Total books finished: 3
Total pages read: 1179

Read-Through: A Time to Die

The sequel to A Time to Die, called A Time to Speak, will be released on October 16, 2015. In honor of the second book's release, the author asked me and two other ladies to plan and host a read-through of the first book, A Time to Die. Think of it like an online book-club, in which a bunch of people get together to read and chat about a particular book. The read-through will take place on Goodreads as a part of the new fan page for the series. Weekly discussions will be held every Saturday for 8 weeks.

Schedule

October 3: Chapters 1-5
October 10: Chapters 6-11
October 17: Chapters 12-17
October 24: Chapters 18-23
October 31: Chapters 24-28
November 7: Chapters 29-33
November 14: Chapters 34-38
November 21: Chapters 39-43

About the Book

I cannot say enough about A Time to Die. Aside from being my favorite book of the year, A Time to Die won the Carol Award and was a finalist for both the Clive Staples Award and the Christy Award. A Time to Die touches on deep topics while capturing the reader in adventure and a little bit of romance. The book is amazing and I would love to read it with you! If you are interestd, you can join the read-through here.

Description

A Time to Die

Nadine Brandes

Out of Time Series #1

Synopsis from Goodreads:

How would you live if you knew the day you'd die?

Parvin Blackwater has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside. 

In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the crooked justice system. But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall -- her people's death sentence. 

What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her Clock is running out. 

Amazon | Goodreads

Are you interested? Have you read A Time to Die? What do you think of it? Have you ever done anything like a read-through before?

Fall Reads

This fall, there are a number of exciting new books coming out! Here are the Top Ten on my list!

October 1, 2015

The Keepsake by Suzy Vittelo

I recently came across this book and it looks simply fantastic, don't you think? I'm just going on the cover and the description, though. 

October 6, 2015

Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund

This book is by an author I have read and enjoyed. I am curious to see how she will portray the romance between Martin Luther and his wife Katharina, a former nun.

October 6, 2015

Cinderella's Shoes by Shonna Slayton

The dress has been kept safe for centuries, as told in book one. But what happened to Cinderella's shoes?

October 15, 2015

The Sound of Silver by Rachelle Rea

The continuation of Gwyn and Dirk's tale: Will their romance and Gwyn's newfound faith survive the difficulties ahead?

October 16, 2015

A Time to Speak by Nadine Brandes

Book one, A Time to Die, became my favorite book of the year when I read it in March. Needless to say, I am excited for the release of book two, especially after that cliffhanger. In fact, I and a couple other ladies are forming a read-through of book one at the request of the author in order to prepare readers for book two. Super exciting! The read-through begins October 3rd.

October 20, 2015

A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

The inspiration for this stand-alone series came from the TV series Downton Abbey, or so I am told. So, if you enjoyed the show, this might just been the series for you.

November 10, 2015

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Of course, one must not forget to include the highly anticipated conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles. A cyborg Cinderella and her band of sci-fi, fairy-tale revolutionaries won the attention of more people than one might have originally expected.

November 17, 2015

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

Another of Melanie Dickerson's historical fairy-tale rewrites--Rapunzel, I presume? Although, you never know what other fairy-tale might be written into the story.

November 17. 2015

Blades of Accession by Breeana Puttroff

This is, what, the seventh book in the series? Every time the author says she is done with the series, she changes her mind and writes more. There is just so much more to Quinn, William, and their friends' stories. I am enjoying every single book.

December 1, 2015

The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen

Last but definitely not least is The Painter's Daughter. If this book is any bit as fantastic, romantic, and mysterious as The Silent Governess or The Secret of Pembrooke Park, it is well worth the time spent reading it. 

What books are you looking forward to reading this fall? Do any on this list interest you?

Cover Reveal: The Keepsake

The Keepsake (The Empress Chronicles #2)

by Suzy Vitello

Release Date: December 1st 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

In this second Empress Chronicles book, Liz and Sisi continue their intertwined journey through time. On the heels of discovering a magical locket in the empress diary, Liz comes to understand its very special power: the wearer must speak the truth. Not only that, but it turns out that there are three lockets, each with their own magic and power.

Meanwhile, Sisi realizes that she’s communicating with a girl who lives 150 years in the future. A girl who knows what awaits her if she marries the emperor: lack of personal freedom and a legacy that will refer to her as the "reluctant empress."

With the world's future hanging in the balance, the two heroines must work together to thwart Lola, whose ambition to rule the Habsburg Empire will rewrite history, and lead to a terrifying new version of reality.

Book One:

(click on image for Goodreads link)

About the Author

Suzy Vitello is a proud founding member of a critique group recently dubbed The Hottest Writing Group in Portland, and her short stories have won fellowships and prizes (including the Atlantic Monthly Student Writing Award, and an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship).

Suzy's young adult novels, THE MOMENT BEFORE and THE EMPRESS CHRONICLES are available wherever books and ebooks are sold.

An e-chapbook of some of her stories, UNKISS ME, can be found here

Author Links:

   

Book Blitz: Illuminate

Description

Illuminate (The Light Key Trilogy #3)

by Tracy Clark 

Release Date: 09/21/15

Entangled Teen

320 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Can one girl be the light in a world spiraling toward darkness?

Haunted by the loss of her loved ones, Cora Sandoval, one of the remaining few of an extraordinary race known as Scintilla, holds the key to disentangling the biggest conspiracy in human history...and its link to the fate of the human race. As Cora follows a trail of centuries-old clues and secrets, she collides with a truth not only shocking, but dangerous.

With enemies both known and unknown hot on her trail, Cora must locate each of the ancient clues hidden in the art, religions, and mythologies of humankind. And through it all, she must keep her heart from being torn apart by the two boys she loves most. One is Scintilla, one is Arazzi.

Save herself. Save the Scintilla. Save the world.

Or die trying…

Buy Links:

Books in this series:

(covers linked to Goodreads)

 

Buy Links for Scintillate:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│iBooks

Buy Links for Deviate:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Tracy Clark is a young-adult writer because she believes teens deserve to know how much they matter and that regardless of what they’re going through, they aren’t alone. In other words, she writes books for her teen self.

She grew up a “Valley Girl” in Southern California but now lives in her home state of Nevada, in a small town at the base of the Sierra Foothills. Her two children teach her the art of distraction and are a continuous source of great dialogue. She’s an unapologetic dog person who is currently owned by a cat.

Tracy was the recipient of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Work in Progress Grant. A two-time participant in the prestigious Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program where she was lucky enough to be mentored by bestselling author, Ellen Hopkins, who taught her so much about the art of writing and cured her of her ellipsis addiction.
Her debut novel was inspired by her enchantment with metaphysics as a teen, seeing it as the real magic in life. Tracy is a part-time college student, a private pilot, and an irredeemable dreamer.

Author Links:

   

Giveaway

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