12 days of Christmas Blog Tour, and Giveaway

I participated in the 12 days of Christmas Tour, in exchange for Litfuse. I received galleys of the books from Netgalley. This post will focus on the blog tour and giveaway. I will write a second one shortly with my reviews.

The books include:

1. A christmas gift for rose by Tricia Goyer
2. Silent Night by Colleen Gobel
3. Holy Night by Colleen Gobel

About Holy Night: From Litfuse's Media kit. 

One sinister phone call has derailed their wedding. Will they let it tear them apart forever?

A Christmas wedding on the beach---what could be more perfect? Poinsettias and fragrant pikake blossoms, soft sand and mistletoe, the gentle sound of the surf and the wedding march played on a ukulele. This wedding has been a long time coming, with Bane's trust issues and Leia's worries about her childlike sister, Eva.

Now they can hardly wait for the day to arrive. Thrilled to be a bridesmaid, Eva keeps trying on her ruffled dress. The tent is reserved, the caterers paid. Everything is going as planned---until Leia's phone rings and her world skids out of control. A muffled voice informs Leia that Eva's been kidnapped and will be killed unless Leia calls off the wedding without explanation---and no police! If she disobeys instructions and tells Bane, she'll risk her beloved sister's life. But how can she ever handle this without his help? And how can he ever trust her if she lies to him now?

About Silent Night:

As Christmas day nears, Bree and her faithful search-and-rescue dog Samson follow the trail of a troubling mystery into the snowy forests ofRock Harbor.

Bree Matthews is preparing forChristmas guests, but her heart is reeling from the recent and tender loss of her unborn child. Her sister-in-law, Lauri, suddenly turns up on the doorstep of the lighthouse home Bree shares with her husband, Kade, in Rock Harbor. Secretive and withdrawn, Lauri seems curiously intent on discovering what happened to a parachuter who disappeared in the North Woods along Lake Superior's icy shore.

As Bree and Samson, her search-and-rescue dog, plunge into the search, Bree wonders if Lauri may know more than she's admitted about the parachuter. And then the clues lead them to the trail of a young woman whose family fears the worst about her disappearance.

Will the search on this snowy, silent night lead Bree and Samson to more than clues about the missing girl? And will Bree's prayer for a baby ever be answered?

Purchase a copy of Holy Night: http://ow.ly/qbrG0

Purchase a copy of Silent Night: http://ow.ly/qbrTE

About the Author: 

Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book ofthe Year, RWA's RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers ofAmerica. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Find out more about Colleen at http://www.colleencoble.com

A Christmas Gift for Rose: (from media kit)

Inspired by a true story, A Christmas Gift for Rose is a heartwarming novellaof sacrifice and deep love.

Born in the midst of the hardshipsof The Great Depression, Rose grew up in Berlin, Ohio, in the arms of a loving Amish family. But she is overwhelmed by self-doubt when she learns the truth of her birth. She was born Englisch and abandoned when her family moved West in search of work. Was she meant to be Amish or would she have been better off growing up with her own kind---Englischers? And was her intended's gift of discovering her birth family given out of love or fear?

Don't miss award-winning author Tricia Goyer's first Christmasnovella.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/qbs31

About the Author: Tricia Goyer

USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of over 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and "Lead Your Family Like Jesus," (co-written with Ken Blanchard). She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. She is the host ofLiving Inspired, a weekly radio show. Tricia and family live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have six children.

Find out more about Tricia at http://triciagoyer.com

Giveaway and Facebook Party:

Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction are hosting the 12 Days of Christmas! They've teamed up with three of their authors for a Merry Facebook Party on November 12th {5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern}. Colleen, Tricia, and Beth will host an evening of book chat, Christmas traditions, and of course plenty of presents!


But wait! There's more! Each day between now and November 12th a different book (10 copies of each book) will be given away on the Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Facebook Page. Ring in the holiday season and warm your heart with some great reads from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan!

 

Click here to ENTER each day's giveaway here.
RSVP for the Christmas Party here!

Good luck and hope to see you on the evening of the 12th!

The Offering by Angela Hunt

I read The Offering  by Angela Hunt, in exchange from Litfuse. The book is published by Howard Books.


My Review:
I chose this book because I liked the description. Mandy Lisandra is a wife to Gideon and a mother to Marilee. Mandy works part-time at a Cuban grocery store for Mama Isa (father-in-law's sister) and her father-in-law. The family has bills to pay, especially for private school for Marilee. She is also worried about her husband, getting deployed at anytime, not to mention getting hurt or killed. Mandy wanted to earn money as a surrogate for a childless couple. Mandy got the idea from a customer, who visited the grocery. The customer was a military wife, who learned military wives make good surrogates or gestational carriers. (I think surrogacy is a good idea to help out infertile couples. I am also thinking of selling my eggs to help out others.) At first, Her husband and family thinks she is nuts for wanting to carry another couple's baby, but her husband thinks it's a good idea later.

Her husband, who is in the military dies, while she is pregnant. She gives up the child, but wonders later, if she gave away her own biological child, versus the surrogate's child. A question arises: if the baby is hers, will she take the baby from the only family the baby knows?

The family Mandy chose was from France. Simone and Damien Amblour want to have a child, to inherit the family's winery. Damien's other kids do not want to take over. Simone and Damien have used gestational carriers before, but each resulted in early miscarriage (that was hard for me to read. I had two miscarriages). I almost really lost it when Mandy was spotting, shortly after getting pregnant.

The book was a good read. I liked the scenes. Very descriptive. Easy to get lost in. I love the family dynamics between Gideon, Mandy, and Marilee. I also love the dynamics between Mandy and her in-laws, and the customers at the store. Like the nudist, who frequents the store.  There is also a river reference, which is not explained until a few chapters later. I got confused at first because I had no idea what it meant. The river reference is another way for saying goodbye. I also like how the book is Christian-based. God is mentioned multiple times throughout the book. The book is very good. I read over 100 pages immediately.

About the book: copied from Litfuse
After growing up as an only child, Amanda Lisandra wants a big family. But since she and her soldier husband can't afford to have more children right away, Mandy decides to earn money as a gestational carrier for a childless couple. She loves being pregnant, and while carrying the child she dreams of having her own son and maybe another daughter. Just when the nearly perfect pregnancy is about to conclude, unexpected tragedy enters Mandy's world and leaves her reeling. Devastated by grief, she surrenders the child she was carrying and struggles to regain her emotional equilibrium.

Two years later she studies a photograph of the baby she bore and wonders if the unthinkable has happened---could she have inadvertently given away her own biological child? Over the next few months Mandy struggles to decide between the desires of her grief-stricken heart and what's best for the little boy she has never known.

About the author:copied from Litfuse

With over four million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than one hundred books, including "TheNativity Story". Hunt is one ofthe most sought-after collaborators in the publishing industry. Her nonfiction book "Don't Bet Against Me", written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Angela's novel "The Note" (with sales of over 141,000) was filmed as the Hallmark Channel's Christmas movie for 2007 and proved to bethe highest rated television movie in the channel's history. Angela's novels have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, including theRITA, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the Holt Medallion. She often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers' conferences, and she served as the keynote speaker at the 2008 American Christian Fiction Writers' national conference. She and her husband make their home in Florida with mastiffs. In 2001, one of her dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest dog in America.Facebook Fan Page:
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Angela Hunt is celebrating the release of The Offering with a Nook HD Giveaway and an Author Chat Party on Facebook {6/5}.

One winner will receive:

• A Nook HD
  
• The Offering by Angela Hunt 
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 4th. Winner will be announced at the "The Offering" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 5th. Connect with Angela for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Angela will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Offering and join Angela on the evening of June 5th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

A noble groom (book review and giveaway)

I read A Noble Groom, in exchange for review from Litfuse. The book was written by Judy Hedlund and published by Bethany house.

About the book: (COPIED FROM LITFUSE)
Annalisa Werner’s hope for a fairy tale love is over. Her husband failed her in every way and now his death has left her with few options to save the family farm. She needs a plentiful harvest. That, and a husband to help bring it in. Someone strong, dependable. That’ll be enough. A marriage for love…that’s something she’s given up on.

So her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom.

Then a man appears: Carl Richards, from their home country of Germany and a former schoolteacher–or so he says. He’s looking for work and will serve on the farm until her husband arrives.

With time running out, she accepts his help, but there’s more to this man than he’s admitting. He’s also gentle, kind, charming–unlike any man she’s ever known. But even as Carl is shining light into the darkness of her heart, she knows her true groom may arrive any day.

About the author: (Copied from Litfuse)

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling historical fiction author. She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan, with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog. Find out more about Jody athttp://jodyhedlund.com/.

My Review:

I chose this book, based on the description. Annalisa has given up on love, but willing to marry for convenience. I have had this thought as well. I am getting older and I have two young kids. Sometimes, I am willing to re-marry for other reasons besides love (like stability and help with the kids). I also have read Hedlund's book, Unending Devotion, in exchange for review from Bethany House. I loved the imagery and scenery in Unending Devotion.

A noble groom is also a historical piece, set in the  late 1800's. The first scene was powerful. Annalisa's husband had stolen her money. Her daughter was also helping her gather nuts for the pending winter. Annalisa had to save all she could, especially with out a stable husband, helping to bring in income. She was angry and frustrated. Her husband, Hans, had a gambling problem. He gambled off their farm profits.  I definitely understood where Annalisa was coming from. A few hundred years ago (sometime in the early 2000's), my ex-husband got laid off. He told me that he did not qualify for unemployment. My check was also being garnished for student loans, so I already had to work more to make up for the missing funds plus still pay bills. I was working 7 days a week to cover all the bills, in addition to borrowing money from family and friends. Found out months later, my ex was collecting an unemployment check, but was not contributing to the household. He left the cash and receipts in his car. I was hurt. I don't know where his money was going or who, but it definitely hurt me.

Annalisa needed a husband to help with the family and the farm. Annalisa went to confront her husband with child in tow, and found her husband dead. (amazing scene). Annalisa's father wanted her to have a new husband to help out.