Disclaimer

DISCLAIMER:

I do not read every book/author I spotlight or book tour I host!
Readers, Please research and use wisdom before buying

Thursday, January 31, 2019

#ThursdayThoughts with Allison Pittman!

Good Morning Friends!

Well, well, well, January is officially over today and, you know the old saying, "time flies when you're having fun."

Are we having fun yet?

I am!

Today I am pleased to introduce you to a brand-new-to-me author Allison Pittman as she shares some thoughts with us so please give her a huge, warm WELCOME!

Charles Dickens opens his novel A Tale of Two Cities with one of the most recognizable sentences in English literature: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… And he goes on with one comparison after another, declaring the time to be equally wise and foolish, full of Light and Darkness, a time of simultaneous hope and despair. He gives this living paradox a timeless quality. His novel takes place in the French Revolution, but he claims the time to be very much like the present period. The timelessness of Dickens means that, whenever you read that opening sentence, the truth behind it holds.

Today, fresh in our New Year, we can see that we are indeed living in the best and worst of times. Social media can connect old friends, and provide a place for a rift between old ones. Modern conveniences make life easy, but also rob us of some of the satisfaction of hard labor. We can fly across the country in a matter of hours, so there’s not as much need to stay close to family. God’s Word can be accessed on a phone ap, leaving well-worn pages neglected and empty of notes.

I know Dickens’ intent was to show balance in the world, but imagine if we all strove to create lives that were decidedly off balance? What if we chose to see only the best in people, to seek only wisdom, to live what we believe, to be Light, to embrace hope? After all, God offers no such paradox. Philippians 4:8—Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (ESV) Now that is a way to bring about the best of times.

Allison Pittman, author of more than a dozen critically acclaimed novels, is a three-time Christy finalist—twice for her Sister Wife series and once for All for a Story from her take on the Roaring Twenties. She lives in San Antonio, Texas, blissfully sharing an empty nest with her husband, Mike.

Her latest release, The Seamstress“. . . breathes life into the cameo character from Dicken’s classic novel, A Tale of Two Cities.”

And can be found at Tyndale and wherever Christian books are sold.

France, 1788
It is the best of times . . .   

On a tranquil farm nestled in the French countryside, two orphaned cousins—Renée and Laurette—have been raised under the caring guardianship of young Émile Gagnon, the last of a once-prosperous family. No longer starving girls, Laurette and Renée now spend days tending Gagnon's sheep, and nights in their cozy loft, whispering secrets and dreams in this time of waning innocence and peace.

It is the worst of times . . .

Paris groans with a restlessness that can no longer be contained within its city streets. Hunger and hatred fuel her people. Violence seeps into the ornate halls of Versailles. Even Gagnon’s table in the quiet village of Mouton Blanc bears witness to the rumbles of rebellion, where Marcel Moreau embodies its voice and heart.

It is the story that has never been told.

In one night, the best and worst of fate collide. A chance encounter with a fashionable woman will bring Renée’s sewing skills to light and secure a place in the court of Queen Marie Antoinette. An act of reckless passion will throw Laurette into the arms of the increasingly militant Marcel. And Gagnon, steadfast in his faith in God and country, can only watch as those he loves march straight into the heart of the revolution.

THANK YOU, Allison for sharing with us today!

Hope you enjoyed today's post, Friends, and that you'll check back regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

Saturday, January 26, 2019

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Erin Unger & Desolate Paths!

Good Morning!

Welcome to another edition of Saturday Spotlight. It is ALWAYS my pleasure to share sneak peeks into authors and their books so please welcome Erin Unger back to our blog. Erin shared treasures and thoughts with us before but today we get a look into her new release, Desolate Paths.....








When rehab is Brooke Hollen’s only chance at redemption, she runs straight to it. But can she survive the serial killer who hides amongst the damaged and healing? And can she trust Kyle Reston, another rehab resident, who wants to take her under his wing? Or is he responsible for the residents who keep disappearing?


Excerpt:

Crowds hid dark deeds. What better place to feed Sarge’s cravings? What better place to do so much? A quick caress. A stroke of the hair.

Hide.

Blend.

Act.

Repeat. 

Nightfall made it even better. 

Sarge thrust another box of canned vegetables onto his dolly and waited for a cute brunette to step into his path. She wouldn’t even notice how close he got to her with all the people lining up to get their tickets. 

But instead, a lady with two inches worth of hair roots showing at her scalp stepped on his foot as she backed up to snap the millionth photo he’d seen her take. He grumbled under his breath. Those tourists knew how to rile a sheep into retaliation.

“Oh, sorry.”

I bet you are. He slathered a gushy smile on his lips. “No problem, ma’am.”

She backed off when he didn’t manage to disguise his squinted gaze in time.

Wow, Erin, what a great excerpt!

Erin Unger was raised in the hills of Virginia, exploring abandoned houses and reading the scariest books she could find. After marrying so young it would make a great romance novel, she has enjoyed an exciting life with her hubby. But her fast-paced life sometimes rivals the suspense in her books thanks to all her mostly grown children and a couple grandkids. Her novel, Desolate Paths, released January 11, 2019.

Find out more about Erin and follow her at her websiteFacebookTwitter and Instagram.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll check back weekly for another great author and his/her book!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

Thursday, January 24, 2019

#ThursdayThoughts with Tom Donnan

Hello!

Well I'm sure you've noticed a slack in regular posts. I planned on doing this last year and was busier than usual, LOL so this year I'm not pushing to fill Every. Single. Spot. on this blog. Therefore, you'll see more and more Tuesdays/Thursdays open but Saturday Spotlights will continue!

I'm considering a new focus for Tues/Thurs...perhaps changing to a Wed post or...well I'm just not sure yet but I want to concentrate more on my writing and other life goals. Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, please welcome new-to-me author, Tom Donnan, brought to us by Prime Star Publicity to share some thoughts with us! Take it away Tom....

This is a “Penny for my thoughts....."

I am very concerned about our Nation. When I watched the Kavanaugh hearings, I was in distress. Why? The divide I see between Americans is alarming. It was then I began to pray for a tsunami wave of the Holy Spirit to wash across America from Coast to Coast. I have been ministering with Pastor Phillip Corbett for the last ten years. We would minister in small Assembly of God church, or other Pentecostal denominational churches and see the power of God displayed. It is the healed, changed lives I enjoy seeing. People who wondered if they would ever get back to normal life are restored by God. Those delivered from strongholds get set free. You can see their eyes sparkle again, the weight of spiritual burdens lift off and love and hope return to their hearts and lives. It is one of the reasons I write. It is my hope of influencing people towards Father God. Our Nation needs healing. I pray for His love to flow through our hearts, one heart at a time.



Tom Donnan. Author of:

Healing the Nation
Spiritual House Cleaning
Pastors and the presence of God
7:14 Angels on Assignment
One Door Between Us     
I am on face book: Healing the Nation Ministries
Email me: Healingthenation1776@gmail.com

Find all of my books at Amazon.

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly to see what's happening on our blog!

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

Saturday, January 19, 2019

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Carol James & The Waiting!

Good Morning!

Carol James has shared thoughts and treasures with us but today, we're getting a sneak peek into her brand new release, The Waiting!


When Katherine Herrington was a teenager, she made “The List” and believed God would bring her the husband she desired. That faith helped her to keep life under control just the way she likes it. But then Katherine loses her mother, her job, and her boyfriend, and after years of praying, she accepts the probability that God’s answer is, “No.”

A professional soccer player, Sam Tucker has lived the life of a celebrity in the UK only to discover that, despite all the wealth and fame he has acquired, his life is empty. He returns to the one place where life last had meaning, and goes in search of the one woman he’s loved since he was a teenager—Katherine. He wonders if she’ll remember him after all these years… And fears she just might.

As God weaves together a rejected proposal, a mission trip, and a devastating storm to turn their hearts toward Him and toward each other, Katherine and Sam will have to let go of their fears, find forgiveness and trust, and realize that their future together was worth the wait.

Excerpt:

As a gust of wind blew rain into the small cave, Katherine shivered again, and Sam turned his back to the doorway in the rock to shelter her from the cold. He held her close, and while habit told her to pull away, she refused to obey as the old Katherine would have done. Instead, she placed her head back on his shoulder, and he began slowly swaying back and forth as if they were dancing. Stepping out of the boat meant taking risks she’d never taken before. And yet something about him felt safe.

“Hey.” Barely audible above the splatting of the rain against the river rocks, his whisper warmed her hair.

In response, she turned her face up toward his. They were eyelashes apart.

“Whatcha thinking?”

How close you are. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” His eyes probed hers until he had to be able to read her thoughts. “I’m pretty sure that’s impossible.

How close you are. And how much I like it. “Nothing…really."

“Sorry, but I’m not buying.” He gently rested his forehead against hers. “Let me see if I can pick up some telepathic communications here. Look into my eyes.”

She was floating in the ocean, the sunlight sparkling on the gentle, cerulean waves. Kiss me. “Sam, I—”

“Quiet, please. I need total silence to ensure accurate results.” As she continued to stare into the
blue pools, tiny lines crinkled at the outer edges, and he drew his head away. “I got it.”

“You have, have you?‛ For some ridiculous reason her voice quivered.

“Yes. You have a question you want to ask me.”

“Oh, I do? And what would that be?”

“You’re wondering why I haven’t tried to kiss you.”

Her face was on fire as she moved away. There’s no way he could have possibly known her thoughts.

“And you think it might be because I’m not attracted to you.” He entwined his fingers with hers
and then raised their clasped hands to draw her back to him. “But you’re wrong.”

The rain had slowed to a gentle sprinkle as the storm marched on downstream. In minutes, the two of them would exit the cave, and these moments of forced intimacy would be gone as quickly as they had come. She needed to take advantage of the little time they had left. “Why haven’t you then? Every other man I’ve ever dated would have at least tried by now.”

“I’m not every other man.”

He was right about that.

The Waiting can be purchased at Amazon, B&N, Kobo & Pelican Book Group.

Carol James is an author of inspirational fiction. She lives in a small town outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell "Terrorist," Zoe.

Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she'd been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.

Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, and serving in the production department at her church. And, most days in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.

Connect with Carol via her Website, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll check back regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

#TuesdayTreasures with Laura-Dawn Moule

Good Morning and Welcome to the 1st Tuesday Treasure post of 2019!

I remember when the year 2020 seemed SO FAR OFF and impossible to live that long LOL! Can you believe we're only 1 year away from it?

Amazing isn't it when we look back - only for a moment - and remember how innocent and naive we were as children.

Alas, we're all grown up now but my guest today, new-to-me author, Laura-Dawn Moule shares some of her treasures since childhood.

Welcome Laura-Dawn!

Since I was small, I loved drawing and painting. I’d draw stick people and enjoy finger painting in kindergarten. As a young teenager, my interest became centered on painting scenes that gave me a good feeling, such as people carrying gifts on their way to church on Christmas morning. As I got a little older, I became interested in depicting works of fantasy as a means of escape from the mundaneness of life. From a little angel with an entourage of dwarfs walking through a meadow to a child standing in the snow wondering how a star could have possibly struck him on the head to little mermaids playing in a river, I lost myself in a dream world. My focus then shifted to painting real objects that I found beautiful, such as statues and fountains I saw on my travels. I have housed most of them in an art room of sorts. These pieces are my treasures because they capture my unique perspective, and they bring a sense of nostalgia when I look at them as I recall what was going on in my life at the time. Their inimitable quality is something that can’t be purchased. I think treasures are deemed such because they are irreplaceable. No substitutes will do.

When thinking about the irreplaceable from a spiritual standpoint, I think about the message of the greatest of all artists -- Jesus. He is the Word who spoke everything into existence (John 1: 1-5) and as with any great work, His creation mirrors the essence of its artist. I believe that everything He made has provided us a glimpse into eternal matters to help guide us. For example, winter speaks to the inevitability of death while spring reminds us of the concept of resurrection because what was dead comes back to life. Watching footage of the sun’s surface helps us conceptualize what the lake of fire discussed in Scripture (Revelation 20:14) must be like. When we think about the fact that cosmologists are unable to find the end of the universe, we can appreciate the notion of eternity. Jesus’s teachings regarding the eternal life provide beautiful insight into how we are to live here on earth and how important it is to choose Him before we die. If you don’t believe Him, just look around.  

Having a creative streak from an early age, Laura-Dawn first began writing poetry and recording her prophetic dreams as a young teenager. Her literary skills were honed during the time she spent acquiring her bachelor of arts degree in English literature at McGill University in Montreal. As her interest in theology grew, she went on to write exegeses of scripture while she studied for her master of arts degree in biblical studies at the University of Sheffield. Her fascination with eschatology has continued to flourish over the years and is readily apparent in her first book, Reflections of India – The Spiritual Journey of a Beauty Queen.

Find out more by visiting her Website. Purchase her book from Amazon in print or for Kindle!

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

Saturday, January 5, 2019

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Gail Pallotta & Hair Calamities & Hot Cash!

Good Morning!

I pray your New Year has started off blessed.

Today's guest has shared treasures and thoughts with us, now Gail gives us a sneak peek into her newest release, Hair Calamities and Hot Cash!

Welcome Gail...take it away....


“A comedic romp from small town to big city in search of missing money, hair catastrophes, and love. A truly fun read”—Cynthia Hickey, author of the Shady Acres Mystery series.

What happens when a New York stockbroker crashes his car into Eve Castleberry’s North Carolina beauty shop...on the same day the young widow’s defective hair products are causing wild hairdos? Soon Eve finds herself helping the handsome stranger hunt the thieves who stole his client’s cash...and hot on the trail of two of the F.B.I.’s most-wanted criminals! Romance blossoms amid danger, suspense and Eve’s hair-brained plan to get back the money.



Excerpt
The bright May sun beaming through the window of my beauty shop created a stripe across the black shampoo bowl. Every day the ache in my heart reminded me that Eve’s Clips was my life now. I leaned Joyce Westmoreland’s head back and scrubbed her blonde locks. Then I reached for the conditioner on the metal shelf behind the shampoo bowl. The bottle was empty, and it was the last one I had. That ne’er-do-well Durbin Brown hadn’t delivered my products.

A breeze hit me in the face as the door swung open, the pink flowered curtain flapping. “Hello, where have you been? You were supposed to come on Monday.” I held out the container. “I’m out.” My insides boiled at such bad service, not to mention that my creepy new salesman reminded me of Ichabod Crane.

He plopped down several cardboard boxes, ripped the top off one and handed me Strawberry Fields Conditioner.

“Thank you.”

Durbin pulled a small pad out of his pants pocket, flipped it open, and tapped his foot. “I’m writing a bill for you.”

The building shook. Metal crunched. Bricks fell amid loud scraping.

My nerves vibrated. Durbin’s mouth twitched. Joyce bounded out of her chair, her blue eyes wide.
“Quick, under the vanity,” I yelled out.

Joyce shot to it like a bullet, but Durbin froze. I grabbed his spindly arm and pulled him behind me, the heels on his black boots scraping across the gray laminate floor. “Get under here.” I couldn’t help but use a harsh tone. He hunkered down, and I scooted beside Joyce. He nuzzled into my shoulder and shivered like a wet puppy. My head spun as the walls shook, shards of glass fell, and sheetrock dust trickled into the air.

Hair Calamities and Hot Cash can be purchased at Amazon (Kindle), B&N (nook), Kobo and Pelican/Prism Book Group


Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. A former Grace Awards Finalist and a Reader’s Favorite 2017 Book Award winner, she’s published five books, poems, short stories and two-hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in museums. She loves to connect with readers.

Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.gailpallotta.com/mainphp.html 

Visit her online at the following places:




twitter at https://twitter.com/Hopefulwords?lang=en (Gail Pallotta @Hopefulwords)


Amazon page. https://www.amazon.com/Gail-Pallotta/e/B00IN9A640

Wow, Gail, sounds like a great book! Certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight friends and that you'll check back regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and of course more Saturday Spotlights.

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Happy New Year!

Well we made it to LOL!

2018 is history and 2019 filled with promise. This is a time when most people reflect on the past twelve months, reevaluate their lives and plan for the future.

If you're doing that today, I'd like to offer you a bit of encouragement.



Dream Big - because all of heaven is dreaming with you!

Believe in Yourself and Your Dreams.

Imagine the life you'd love to live, seek God's wisdom and direction then take the actions inspired during your time with Him.

Most of all, remember to infuse every thought, word, action, deed and dream with LOVE because of all of the emotions we feel, LOVE is the greatest. Even God said so in 1 Corinthians 13:13 ....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Here's wishing you and yours a most Blessed and Prosperous 2019.
PamT

PS: Don't forget, all of my independently published titles are on sale through Jan 15th and can be purchased at Amazon for Kindle, B&N for Nook, and Smashwords for other E-readers. They are also available at Kobo and I have published another FREE read for newsletter subscribers (a Christmas romance) so, if you haven't already, please sign up HERE.