Loretta Marchize's Blog

Before we begin, let me say hello. For the first time, this is the real me. Raw, honest, with nothing to hide.

My name is Ellie Loretta. You can still call me Loretta, I don’t mind. And this is me.

I’ve been blogging since 2016. I’ve collected 323 posts and millions of words. My very first blog post was called The Story Behind My Name. I was twelve when I started blogging (a baking website!), thirteen when I started Just Writing. And chose a pen name that would change my world: Loretta Marchize.

I like to think I’ve grown a lot since then. I’ve been homeschooled, public schooled, joined and left cross country, discovered a love for singing, written six or so novels, and all-in-all grown up.

I’ve been writing fiction since I was a kid, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop. It’s as much a part of me as my skin is. I live and breathe being a writer. But sometimes, I wonder if I should stop. Put down blogging for a while- never writing. It’s become a part-time job. I’m on Instagram and Goodreads Pinterest and WordPress all the time now. Canva has become my best friend.

Sometimes, I wonder if I should let it go for a year or two. Say goodbye.

Because goodbyes are always hard, but sometimes they open up new friendships.

And maybe it’s time for me to say hello to something else.

Because I never meant for writing to turn into a job. It was always just a hobby. But somehow I find myself here being a blogger, graphic designer, editor, publisher, and author all rolled into one. That was never my intention, never my goal.

I don’t even know what my goal was, to be honest.

I suppose it was to share my writing with the world.

But there are other ways to do that. And I fear that my time here is drawing to a close; at the same time, I revel in the knowledge that perhaps for once in my life I can be a regular old high school student who focuses on her grades. Her future.

I only have one year left of high school, I might as well focus on it. Live in the moment. Follow God’s leading, see what my future holds.

So I guess I’m trying to say that this is my way of saying goodbye.

No more blog posts. Perhaps I’ll try my hand at non-fiction.

No more Instagram. I’ll connect with people in real life.

No more reviews. I’m going to read for fun again.

Maybe I’ll see you around somewhere. Maybe I won’t. Thank you for all the likes, comments, and follows. To everyone who’s ever entered in a giveaway or bought a book or left a review, I say-

thank you

and goodbye.

for now

-Ellie Loretta

Hello! Today I have a review for you, which is actually part of Kellyn Roth’s blog tour.

She’s willing to do anything to follow her plan.

Debutante Alice Knight is ready for her first social season in London. She’s determined to impress society and her mother with an affluent match, at last escaping her past and embracing a future of her own making.

Peter Strauss, an American reporter visiting England, isn’t exactly what Alice had in mind. However, his friendship proves invaluable as Alice faces the challenges of her debut. Almost immediately, she attracts the attention of a well-born gentleman—perfect save for the simple fact that he’s not a Christian.

The life she longs for is finally at her fingertips, but between her own heart and the convictions of her faith, she isn’t sure she ought to grasp it.

5 stars

Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5

Romance:

As always, Kellyn delivered an excellent romance. The dynamics between the love interest(s) and herself were flawless, and I found myself wondering what would happen between them even though I already knew the outcome.

Characters:

I’ve always enjoyed complex characters, and Kell certainly has a few! In particular I enjoyed the complexity of Gibson, even though I don’t particularily like the guy himself. With characters like thoe ones in this novel you get the feeling as if these were real events, and real people.

Plot:

Having read both the previous version of this novel and this rewritten version, I can say that this version seemed smoother. It was fast paced while still being realistic to the time frame of a London season and of, of course, falling in love!

Other:

I’m looking foreward to reading the next novels in this series! Alice and Ivy are very dear to my heart. This novel was a great continuation of the series.

Content:

Talk about getting married and falling in love. Some conversations about a women’s job to find a husband, about males being ‘rakes’ and not having the same consequences as women. A kiss (or two??), but nothing bad. Probably 15+

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

There’s also an awesome giveaway running right now! You can enter it here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cbb544c918/?

I hope you guys enjoyed this review! I have another post coming tomorrow that is also outside of the regularily scheduled Wednesday posts, so look for that!

As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!

This is the last review I have planned for almost another month! I have some fun posts planned for the upcoming weeks. This book was such a good read. It dealt with a lot of heavy topics very well.

4 stars

Prose: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 5/5

Prose:

This was a well-written book with just the right balance of sophistication and casual writing. The author’s style really drew me in.

Romance:

This is by far one of the strong points of the novel, simply because of the complexity of the characters! Both Emma and Luke have their problems, and they learn to deal with them together, which is very refreshing. The journey their relationship goes through is very engaging as well.

Characters:

There were a few moments that seemed unrealistic, but the main characters were fully developed and all fit together quite well. I enjoyed the complexity of everyone’s stories, but occasionally it was a bit much to keep track of. There was quite the cast.

Plot:

Unlike some romance novels, this had an elegant balance of romance and plot unrelated to the romance. There was a great plot-line with Harley, as well as Emma’s personal life.

Overall:

I really enjoyed reading this novel! I would definitely recommend it, but take a look at my content guide first. It dealt with some pretty heavy topics, and well it was well-handled and still pretty clean, it’s not for a young audience.

Content:

I would recommend 15+, the novel dives deep into some child abuse and drug abuse. It also deals with some sensitive topics like murder, and could be a little triggering.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book:  Every Window Filled with Light Author: Shelia Stovall Genre: Contemporary Women’s Christian Fiction Release date: April 2, 2021

Welcome to Weldon, Kentucky, where the only things the locals love more than fried pies are gossip and match-making.

Librarian Emma Baker, a young and childless widow, believes her dream to build a family is over. It’s been two years since a student accidentally stabbed Emma’s husband to death, and her grief has stifled any interest in romance—until she meets Pastor Luke Davis. But when Emma learns Luke is counseling her husband’s killer fresh out of jail, her temper gets in the way.

Meanwhile, Emma discovers twelve-year-old Harley, abandoned by her drug-addict mother, hiding in the library, and takes the girl in as her foster mom. Then a young mother is made homeless by an apartment fire, and Emma opens her home again. One person and one prayer at a time, Emma begins to discover hope.

If Emma can yield and offer forgiveness to her husband’s killer, perhaps she’ll be able to piece together the broken parts of her heart…and the broken people who enter her life…to form a new family and maybe even have a second chance at love.

Shelia Stovall is the director of a small-town library in southern Kentucky, where only strangers mention her last name, and the children call her Miss Shelia.

Shelia and her husband Michael live on a farm, and she enjoys taking daily rambles with their three dogs to the creek. Spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, is her all-time favorite thing. The only hobby Shelia loves more than reading uplifting stories of hope is writing them.

When I was younger, I daydreamed about becoming an author, but it wasn’t something I pursued. I wrote a few short stories for fun, but I poured my time and energy into my children and career.

In the summer of 2011, I participated in a Bible study called Jonah by Priscilla Shirer. One evening, our facilitator asked us to meditate on the question, What does God want you to do that you don’t want to do.  I sat feeling smug as the others prayed. I’d already signed up for a short-term mission trip to Africa, which I hadn’t wanted to do. But as I sat in the quiet, God spoke to me. Write a book for me. My heartbeat quickened as God gave me the opening and the ending of the story. I envisioned a large two-story yellow Victorian home with every Window filled with light.

God’s request filled me with panic, and the workbook page remained blank. The thought of someone reading God’s request made my face hot. Who was I to think I could be an author? Finally, I made a feeble attempt, but it was too hard.

My Ninevah was Africa. I turned my thoughts and efforts to preparing to go to Niger in December 2011. After the trip, all I could think about was returning to Africa. Our translators were visiting the US. It thrilled me when they accepted my invitation to stay overnight in my home. While preparing for their visit, I discovered my laptop under the bed covered in dust. I gulped as I remembered God asking me to write a book. With trepidation, I opened the computer and read the first few pages of the story I’d started. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great. I whined to God. I don’t have the skills or the talent. I don’t know how to write a book.

Then, I received an email in my work email account promoting a Christian writers’ conference. To this day, it is still the only email I’ve received at work advertising a writers’ conference. I could hardly breathe as I read the email promoting the writers’ workshop to be held at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, TX—a long way from Kentucky. I shared everything with my husband, and he encouraged me to go even though we didn’t have the money. He reminded me we had a travel credit in our airline account because of connection problems during our first trip to Africa, and so, I packed my bags.

When I attended the conference, two instructors, New York Times best-selling author Lisa Wingate and Judy Christie, changed my life when they encouraged me to finish the story. Judy asked me to commit to writing one hour a day, and she predicted I’d finish the first draft by Thanksgiving if I’d stick with it. The conference was held in October, and I thought her expectations impossible. I didn’t meet her goal, but I finished the first draft on 12/12/12. I’ll never forget that morning. It’s a good thing I had no idea of the work ahead of me.

Judy was kind enough to give me the email address of her award-winning editor Jamie Clarke Chavez. I sent the first three chapters to Jamie, and my mouth dropped open when she agreed to work with me. Today, she is someone I consider a dear friend. Writers have asked me, How did you get Jamie Chavez to work with you. She must have taken pity on me. I cringe as I remember those first chapters. I consider Jame a gift from God.

Through the years of hard work, God has been faithful to provide me with encouragement and help along the road to publication. If there is anything good in Every Window Filled with Light, it is from Him and the people he sent to aid me. The best blessings of the writing journey are the friendships I’ve made along the way.

I hope you’ll read Every Window Filled with Light or give it to someone who needs an uplifting story of hope. If there’s a person you know who doesn’t know Christ and doesn’t want to listen to a witness, this is a book you can share. I hope the reader will be so drawn into the story they won’t realize they are being exposed to God’s salvation plan until it’s too late.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about why I wrote Every Window Filled with Light. Has God ever asked you to do something you didn’t want to do?  I’d love to hear your story.

Warm regards,

Shelia

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 10

The Avid Reader, June 10

Through the Fire blogs, June 11

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 11

Texas Book-aholic, June 12

Cats in the Cradle Blog, June 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 13

For Him and My Family, June 14

CarpeDiem, June 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 15

Inklings and notions, June 16

Just Writing, June 16

Older & Smarter?, June 17

Rebecca Tews, June 18

deb’s Book Review, June 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 19

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 21

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 22

Mary Hake, June 22

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, June 23

And last but not least, Shelia is hosting a giveaway for a themed gift basket! You can enter it or find more information here: https://promosimple.com/ps/10d52/every-window-filled-with-light-celebration-tour-giveaway

I hope you guys enjoyed this review! Next week I’m hoping to share some of my favorite bookstagramers.

As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!

Ruth was one of those books you read that just warms your heart. It’s perfect for a cozy evening read!

/image

4 stars

Prose: 54/5
Romance: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5

Prose:

This was beautifully done by the author. The novel kept a very calm to-the-point type style, which was fitting for the prairie lifestyle of the characters.

Romance:

I thought it seemed a bit forced on occasion, but it was well-written and the characters complimented each other well. They faced and overcame realistic obstacles as well, which I appreciated.

Characters:

This was definitely my favorite part of the novel! I think the author did a pretty good job with the children, a few of them seemed almost too childish, but it was realistic to the characters and their experiences, so I didn’t have a problem with it.

Plot:

I enjoyed the plot, but I thought there were times when it moved forward too quickly and skipped over areas that could have been important and relevant to the story.

Overall:

It was perfect for a cozy day and a light, easy read. I very much enjoyed the characters and the author’s writing style as well!

Content:

There is a mention of childbirth, some of the characters take part in immoral actions, there’s also talk of marriages and things after marriage. Definitely 15+

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book: Ruth
Author: Caryl McAdoo
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: May 3, 2021


The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Fleeing heartache, shame, and betrayal, Ruth finds all her plans are thwarted until the untimely death of a goat that gives her hope! Hired as a wet-nurse for Logan’s orphaned son, she rejects his marriage-of-convenience proposal, hoping to find true love at the trail’s end. Going West (in what was later called the Great Migration of 1842) satisfies the widower’s wanderlust, and even though she turns him down, he determines to prove his love is true. Come along on this infamous journey of love and adventure.

Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—fifty-nine published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and twenty-one grandsugars (three greats), Caryl and Ron (her high-school-sweetheart-husband of over fifty years) live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.


More from Caryl…
I’ve loved the premise of RUTH for seven years now, that’s when the beginning of this story was first written, way before its time! Its title was Evelyn’s Redemption back then, but I’ve since had a favorite character named Evelyn in COVERING LOVE and MIGHTY TO SAVE (books eight and nine in the Texas Romance Family Saga series), so my heroine needed a new name.

Ruth was my maternal grandmother’s name and Mama’s middle name (Naomi Ruth), and though Ron doesn’t like me to name characters after family members, he let me have my way . . . as my heroes usually let my heroines. So, she became Ruth.

I pulled up the ten thousand words already written back in 2014, caught up-to-date to refresh the story in my mind, then took off writing! In a month and a day, I finished this story that I just love! Never knowing where it’s going—or exactly how it will end when I start—I so enjoy the tale as I write it just as you do when you read it! God gives me the most awesome stories I’m so thankful for!

My hero’s thirteen-year-old daughter Hannah is one of my favorites in this story. Her great character created such an example of taking up an offense that is hard to put down. I think we’ve all been there, and to me, it’s especially hard to forgive and get over it when the offense is taken up on behalf of someone we love. The loved one like gets extra grace to forgive, but not so for the offended-on-their-behalf!

I love that God helps me weave scriptural lessons into my stories, lessons that I’ve learned in walking with Him for more than sixty years—and I’ve learned a lot! Besides praying my stories give Him glory, I also pray they help those who read them draw closer to Him—or learn ways to live more purely for Him.

We serve a mighty God indeed, and it’s my honor to help advance His Kingdom here on earth through writing these stories! Also, I enjoy singing the new songs He gives me! Check out ‘Caryl McAdoo’ on YouTube! I have a few songs up there and need to video more.

So, have a blessed day, y’all, and may God’s joy and peace encompass you everywhere you go!

Blessings!

–Caryl

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 9

Just Writing, June 9

KarenSueHadley, June 10

lakesidelivingsite, June 10

Texas Book-aholic, June 11

Inklings and notions, June 12

For Him and My Family, June 13

Vicky Sluiter, June 13

deb’s Book Review, June 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 15

Blossoms and Blessings, June 16

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 16

Connie’s History Classroom, June 17

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 18

Splashes of Joy, June 18

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, June 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 20

Simple Harvest Reads, June 20 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Girls in White Dresses, June 21

Pause for Tales, June 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 22

Cats in the Cradle Blog, June 22

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! You can enter the giveaway here:
https://promosimple.com/ps/10d50/ruth-celebration-tour-giveaway

I hope you guys enjoyed this review!

As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!

Hello! I’m back after a brief absence which I can only explain by one thing: finals. Now that school is wrapping up, I’m excited to be back! I have some big plans for this summer and I can’t wait to get into them.

4 stars

Prose: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5

Prose:

Very engaging and well-written, but nothing special. The child featured in the story was also well written which is always refreshing to see!

Romance:

This was by far the author’s strength in this particular book! Both Pricilla and Tobias are complex and mutli-faceted characters. I love their growth together and the relationship that comes out of it.

Characters:

Similar to the romance, this was a very good point of the novel! Although there were only a few characters that the novel chose to focus on, the ones that it did had some amazing development.

Plot:

I’m going to be entirely honest, I don’t really remember that much of the plot! The characters stood out to me much more than the plot. I did enjoy the little bit more faced-paced type of plot in this novel, and it definitely had more action than some other romances.

Overall:

This book was worth reading for the characters alone, and I highly recommend it! It has some strong Christian elements that I loved and is a great example of two people coming together.

Content:

Probably for a bit more mature audience, I think one character is pregnant (a married non-POV character), and there’s a few scenes that deal with death, blood, and injuries. The most disturbing is a previously dead body (the death happened off-screen before the characters found the woman). It’s still very lightly described, just more than a normal romance. Probably 14+

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book:  The Captain’s Quest Author: Lorri Dudley Genre: Christian Historical Romance Release date: June 22, 2021

Innocent mistakes can have dire consequences. 

Pricilla Middleton only attended the Lemoore house party to keep her friend out of trouble. Now, her only chance to keep from becoming a gossip column headline is to sneak aboard her brother’s ship and pretend she’d been visiting him instead of taking part in the debacle. Before she can speak to her brother, the ship sets sail, and the man in charge is not at all who she expects.

Captain Tobias Prescott, son of an infamous war hero, has been assigned on a critical mission to deploy warships in St. Kitts for battle in New Orleans. Unfortunately, his orders require him to assume command of a friend’s ship, and he must weigh anchor the instant the former captain is escorted down the gangplank. When they reach open waters, the last thing he expects is to find a woman hiding in the captain’s cabin, yet his mission is too urgent to return her to England.

The Middleton name has always brought Tobias trouble, and Pricilla is no exception. As the waters clear and the temperature warms, the danger escalates too. Yet Tobias discovers the intuitive and strong woman who struggles to hide her anxiety is nothing like her disloyal brother. He may lose the opportunity to help his country, but perhaps he can still save the woman who’s rescued his heart.

You can purchase a copy of the novel here!

Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household. Find her online at www.lorridudley.com.

More from Lorri…

Priscilla Middleton’s character begged for her story to be told. The Captain’s Quest is the fourth book in the Leeward Island series. While it can read as a stand-alone, the heroine, Priscilla, had a brief guest appearance at the beginning of book two, The Merchant’s Yield, as Lottie’s closest friend. With Lottie now living on the isle of St. Kitts, that left Priscilla to navigate the London season all on her own. I imagined what mischief a young woman would find whose parents allowed her too much freedom, especially with her friend, the voice of reason, across the Atlantic.

When my close friend moved to Michigan, the loss of her physical presence left me feeling disoriented, lost, and out of place, even in familiar surroundings. There was loneliness, a desperate need to replace what was missing, and fears about being forgotten. In Lottie’s absence, Priscilla clings to an unhealthy friendship, landing herself in a precarious situation, with no other option but to hide aboard her brother’s ship to save her reputation and that of her family.

The biggest issue with running from problems is that we can’t run from ourselves. Priscilla avoids one catastrophe only to walk right into another as Captain Tobias Prescott takes command of the ship. She blames the brooding captain for her predicament only to realize she’s battling the wrong enemy. The more Priscilla tries to hide from the problems she must face within herself, the further she drifts from everyone she knows and the chance to be fully loved.

Although Priscilla’s story was drafted pre-pandemic, her struggles are similar to those that surfaced during the lockdowns. Anxiety, loneliness, isolation, fear, and feelings of being disregarded mounted as the pandemic spread. Vacations, Thanksgivings, and Christmases were canceled. Families couldn’t visit or see each other—the feeling of being forgotten sliced open raw wounds.

Cory Ashbury’s song Reckless Love was popular as I plotted The Captain’s Quest, and the lyrics from the book of Matthew of how God will leave the ninety-nine to chase after the one lost sheep developed Priscilla’s story. Through its comical mishaps, dramatic twists, and struggles to prevail, The Captain’s Quest is a reminder of the heights, depths, and lengths that our great God will go to show His passionate love for us.

To learn more, checkout my website at LorriDudley.com, or watch The Captain’s Quest book trailer by clicking here: The Captain’s Quest trailer.

-Lorri

There’s also a giveaway going on for a $50 Amazon gift card! You can enter that here: https://promosimple.com/ps/10cce/the-captain-s-quest-celebration-tour-giveaway

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 1

Blossoms and Blessings, June 1

Texas Book-aholic, June 2

Just Writing, June 2

For Him and My Family, June 3

Connect in Fiction, June 3

Inklings and notions, June 4

Life of Literature, June 4

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 5

Batya’s Bits, June 5

deb’s Book Review, June 6

Kayem Reads, June 6

She Lives To Read, June 7

Betti Mace, June 7

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 7

The Adventures of a Travelers Wife, June 8

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, June 8

Rebecca Tews, June 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 9

Blessed & Bookish, June 9

Remembrancy, June 10

Genesis 5020, June 10

Connie’s History Classroom, June 11

KarenSueHadley, June 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 12

Daysong Reflections, June 12

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 12

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, June 13

Simple Harvest Reads, June 13 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 14

HookMeInABook, June 14

I hope you guys enjoyed this review! Next week I’m hoping to share another review, and later in June I have a special poetry post to share.

As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!

Hey everyone! Again this week I’m here with two reviews, one of the book At Lighthouse Point, which was published earlier this morning, and now this review. This book gave me major vibes from a previous book I’d read called Once Upon A Prince, which is still one of my all-time favorite novels, and it was only today that I realized they’re by the same author. I definitely would recommend Rachel Hauck’s novels!

5 stars

Prose: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5

Prose:

My goodness, I don’t even know what to say. Sometimes it’s hard to stand out prose-wise in this genre, but Rachel does that and so much more! Her novels, especially this one, are so good at showing the evolution of a romance in such a subtle way that blends really well with the ongoing plot.

Romance:

Like I mentioned before, Rachel’s romances are amazing, and this one doesn’t fail to deliver. To Save a King has one of my favorite tropes, girl-meets-king(or crown prince)… and then proceeds to think herself unworthy. I absolutely love this trope and Rachel portrayed it flawlessly and realistically.

Characters:

Ahhhhh. I loved everyone in this novel, and the depth all of the characters had. Especially Gemma, and everything surrounding her past.

Plot:

One of my favorite parts of Rachel Hauck’s novels is that there’s always a steady plot line surrounding the characters. There’s a big focus on events happening outside of the romance, events I can’t talk about because *spoilers* but nonetheless Rachel’s plot line surrounding these characters is engaging and definitly worth the read.

Overall:

I really liked this novel! If you’ve read some of Rachel’s other novels and enjoyed them I would definitely recommend this one. It’s a classic story, and the grief in the novel is portrayed very well.

Content:

Talks about grief, being married, being pregnant. Also talks about some past events that were a little inappropriate, probably 16+ because of the heavy topics dealt with. It’s all handled really well, and the romance itself doesn’t have anything except a light kiss or two.

Book:  To Save A King Author: Rachel Hauck Genre: Christian Royal Romance Release date: May 8, 2021

A modern-day fairytale of rescue and hope from NYT bestselling author Rachel Hauck

Growing up in small town Hearts Bend, Tennessee, Gemma Stone had big dreams. So she headed to Hollywood to make her mark in the world.

But dreams have a way of becoming nightmares. When she returns home twelve years later, she’s limping through life and harboring a dark secret.

Running a rescue ranch and raising her friends’ orphaned daughter is her sole mission now. All the while she’s well aware these defenseless ones are also rescuing her.

HRH Crown Prince John has learned a royal title cannot shield him from heartbreak. He had the perfect life as heir to the revered House of Blue, the royal dynasty of Lauchtenland, and married the love of his life. Then tragedy changed everything. Is there any way to be saved from a life of grief?

When he finds himself in Hearts Bend on a mission for his mother, Queen Catherine, he catches up with a good friend–country music great Buck Mathews. He has no intention of joining the 4th of July fun until he’s cajoled into a three-legged race with the beautiful Gemma Stone.

The disastrous race leads to a quick friendship. They are easy and comfortable around one another because love is absolutely not an option.

John desperately wants to hold onto the memories of his wife while Gemma refuses to trust her heart to any man. Even a prince.

When trouble in Lauchtenland calls the prince home, he realizes how much Gemma has rescued him. Saved him and restored his hope for his role as future king.

For Gemma, falling in love with the prince must be quenched. If it weren’t for her past, she’d give him her heart in a second. How could she risk bringing her shame to the House of Blue and the world stage?

However, she’s not the only one who can rescue and heal the wound. If she saved Prince John, why can’t he save her? And when he tries, will she have the courage to say yes to the best role of her life?

“Another compelling royal story by the master of princely tales!”  Susan May Warren, USA Today bestselling, RITA award-winning novelist

Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

She is a double RITA finalist, and a Christy and Carol Award Winner. Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie. Three more of her titles are under film contract.

Rachel was awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.

A retired member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Executive Board, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.

In the real world, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.

A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.

She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.

More from Rachel…

One of the biggest challenges in a series is keeping the reader interested. Even more of a challenge is writing in a trope like royals.

I never set out to write a second royal series. With five stories in the Royal Wedding Series, I thought I’d explored the topic to my satisfactions.

Yet when readers asked for more, and when I found myself in a season to produce my own stories, another royal series seemed like the perfect fit.

But can I be honest? Really honest? Come close. I’ll tell you a secret. Closer…

Royals can be a bit boring. At least to write. You laugh but I’m serious.

What do we really know of their day to day lives? They attend national functions, patron charities, represent the nation on walkabouts around the world. They are ambassadors with no real political agenda. They champion causes.

But what exactly do they do with their days? What are the inner workings of palace life? What are the real expectations? Do they call the queen “her majesty” when talking among themselves? When talking to her? Are they as formal as it seems on television?

Yet royals are the most documented people in history. So there is a lot to glean from when I make up my worlds.

But at the end of it all, they key for me in writing royal characters is to make them real, everyday people. The prince is the kind of chap you want to chat with over tea. The heroine is the sort of girl you’d love to see become a princess. Maybe even see a bit of yourself in her.

In To Save A King, Crown Prince John is trying to emerge for a year of grief. Gemma Stone is desperate to escape her past.

Gemma’s story has some what of an edge to it. In her attempt to achieve her goals, she walked a path she never thought she’d walk when she was a girl growing up in Hearts Bend, Tennessee. And it proved her undoing.

While we may have never faced a past like Gemma’s, we can all relate to personal betrayal of our values from gossip to immorality. I hope Gemma’s story reminds us the nearness of love and forgiveness.

On a lighter side, I recently learned British society has moved away from chap and bloke, replacing it with the American term “guy.” Isn’t that funny. Louise Lee, my narrator, said it was funny to read those words in To Love A Prince since there were more her parents’ generation. Ah, the signs of a more global society.

Well, I didn’t care if they have gone out of style for young people. I used them anyway. I like them. Maybe we should adopt “chap” and “bloke” over here. What do you say, guys?

I hope you enjoy To Save A King, book two in the True Blue Royal series and find your heart cheering on broken, wounded characters to a happily ever after worthy of a prince and princess.

-Rachel

There’s a giveaway for a kindle fire going on too, which you can find here: https://promosimple.com/ps/10bb0/to-save-a-king-celebration-tour-giveaway

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 8

Godly Book Reviews, May 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 8

Britt Reads Fiction, May 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 9

Blogging With Carol, May 9

Worthy2Read, May 9

For Him and My Family, May 10

Genesis 5020, May 10

The Book Chic Blog, May 10

CarpeDiem, May 10

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 11

Hebrews 12 Endurance, May 11

Splashes of Joy, May 11

Cultivating Us, May 11

Texas Book-aholic, May 12

Just Writing, May 12

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 12

Kayem Reads, May 12

Blossoms and Blessings, May 13

Betti Mace, May 13

Inklings and notions, May 13

deb’s Book Review, May 14

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, May 14

Inside the Wong Mind, May 14

Moments, May 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 15

Rachael’s Inkwell, May 15

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 15

Connect in Fiction, May 15

The Christian Fiction Girl, May 16

Kathleen’s Blog, May 16

Remembrancy, May 16

Mary Hake, May 16

Where Faith and Books Meet, May 17

She Lives To Read, May 17

Wishful Endings, May 17

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 18

Back Porch Reads, May 18

All-of-a-kind Mom, May 18

Livin’ Lit, May 18

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 19

Simple Harvest Reads, May 19 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Bizwings Blog, May 19

Mamma Loves Books, May 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 20

By The Book, May 20

The Sacred Line, May 20

Daysong Reflections, May 20

Through the fire blogs, May 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 21

Artistic Nobody, May 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review! Next week I don’t have a blot post planned… so we’ll see what I come up with!

As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!

Hi guys! Today I’m bringing you another review. This book was honestly REALLY good, guys. It took me a few chapters to get into, but I LOVED it. There’s actually a blog tour and giveway going on for this book right now, so check back on Celebratelit to find it!

5 stars

Prose: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5

Prose:

This was a VERY well-written book! I was pleasantly surprised by the author and her style.

Romance:

This was perfect. Too often a book will lean too far into romance or too far out of romance. But this had just the right mix of romance and plot. It was sweet and believable, as was the other side romances in the story. It was definitely a side plot and not the focus of the plot, but that’s honestly my favorite type of romance.

Characters:

Honestly this book was so good in my eyes and I think one of the elements that made everything else so good was the strength of the characters. Blaine’s history was so rich and realistic, and her entire family was so well-developed and had such a unique relationship.

Plot:

This was also pretty good! While the book wasn’t action or anything meant to have a fast-paced action-filled plot, I think the plot was very engaging. There was a little bit of suspense at times, and there weren’t any parts that dragged or were slower.

Overall:

This was a very well-written and obviously heavily-developed novel. It was definitely worth a read!

Content:

Very little. Mentions of blood and injuries that are very low-key (ex: banging your head on a refrigerator). Mentions of being pregnant (two of the characters are). Mentions of falling in love, kissing and wanting to be kissed. It was all pretty light. Probably 15+

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review!

As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!

I don’t even know what to say about this book. It was so sweet, so heart-wrenching.

4 stars

Prose: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5

Prose:

This was good! Nothing special, but very well-written. It was clear and easy to understand as well.

Romance:

I LOVED this. There was a lot of emotional trauma that was dealt with over the course of their relationship, and I think the author handled it all really well.

Characters:

The boys! Far too often authors don’t know how to write children, but this is one aspect that Jill Weatherholt absolutely nailed. They were so realistic and well-written!

Plot:

Not too much plot outside of the romance in this book. There were some sub-plots, but most of it was focused on the romance, which I was okay with!

Overall:

I would recommend this book to those who want a more three-dimensional romance with realistic problems. It was a little heavier than your traditional ‘hallmark’ style romance, which I absolutely loved.

Content:

Mentions of being assaulted and worse as a teen. Mentions of pregnancy, illness, death. Definitely for a bit of an older audience.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book:  A Mother for His TwinsAuthor: Jill Weatherholt Genre: Inspirational Romance Release date: Sept, 2019

First-grade teacher Joy Kelliher has two new students—twin boys who belong to her high school sweetheart. If teaching Nick Capello’s sons wasn’t difficult enough, the widower’s also her neighbor…and competing for the principal job she wants. Now with little matchmakers drawing Joy and Nick together, can they overcome a painful past to build the family Joy’s always wanted?

She holds a degree in Psychology from George Mason University and Paralegal Studies Certification from Duke University.

She shares her life with her real-life hero and number one supporter. Their relationship grew on the golf course, and now they have one in their backyard.

Jill believes in enjoying every moment of this journey because God has everything under control.

More from Jill

Back in 2019, when my editor sent me a cover mock-up for my third Love Inspired book A Mother for His Twins, I was thrilled to see the art department had used a picture of my hero’s twin boys, Jordan and Tyler Capello.

I had so much fun developing the characters of these two little rascals. Although they were twins, I wanted to make sure they each had their own unique personality.

Once I had Tyler’s character sketch completed, I went to work developing Jordan. Unlike his brother who is the outgoing one of the two, I wanted Jordan to be more quiet and shy than his twin. That’s when I decided to draw on my own experience as a child.

Like Jordan, I had a speech impediment when I was a child. I was unable to pronounce the letter R. Because of this, I was teased by my classmates. To make matters worse, once a week, my speech teacher would come and pull me from my classroom for my private session. I can still hear the giggles and murmuring that filled the room. Thankfully, with a lot of instruction and practice, I was able to overcome the impediment.

Life is full of obstacles. Looking back at what we’ve overcome gives us the confidence to keep pressing forward when we know God will never leave us.

-Jill

There’s also a giveaway going on for this book, with the grand prize being a $50 amazon gift card! You can enter that here: https://promosimple.com/ps/10baa/a-mother-for-his-twins-celebration-tour-giveaway

lakesidelivingsite, May 5

Just Writing, May 5

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 7

Lighthouse Academy Blog, May 7 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Labor Not in Vain, May 8

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 8

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 9

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, May 9

Texas Book-aholic, May 10

Inklings and notions, May 11

Genesis 5020, May 11

For Him and My Family, May 12

Remembrancy, May 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 13

deb’s Book Review, May 14

Britt Reads Fiction, May 14

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 15

Simple Harvest Reads, May 15 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 16

Kayem Reads, May 16

Splashes of Joy, May 17

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 18

Blossoms and Blessings, May 18

I hope you guys enjoyed this review! Also today is a review of the novel Lassoed by the Lawman, so look for that!

As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!

Hello! I’m back with two reviews scheduled for today!

4.5 stars

Prose: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5

Prose:

Pretty good! Nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed the smooth flow and easy style.

Romance:

This was by far my favorite part! Especially the last few chapters. It was so sweet and perfect!

Characters:

*chef’s kiss* this was SO well done. This probably contributed to the romance portion being so well done. Everyone was super well developed and very realistic, even the side characters and ‘bad’ characters.

Plot:

Honestly this was a lot more high-stakes than I usually read! I enjoyed the fast pace and the focus on Cody doing his job rather than the romance.

Overall:

This book was definitely worth the read! I enjoyed the fast-paced plot and the slow, sweet romance complimented it perfectly. Juliana was exactly the kind of character you look for in a western story, and as somebody who sews, I loved the whole thing with the dresses.

Content:

Includes some gunfighting/people getting shot. Includes a kiss (or two?) Nothing that was over-described or made me uncomfortable. Probably 14+

Author: Renae Brumbaugh Green
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: May 4, 2021

Juliana Duke has always dreamed of owning a dress shop.

But as the only child of Oscar and Maria Duke and heiress of the vast Duke Ranch, her job is to marry a rancher and produce a male heir. When Lt. Cody Steves rides onto the scene, her resolve to place duty over daydreams is shaken. Now that her heart’s been lassoed by the handsome lawman, will she be able to love another?

Cody Steves wants marriage and family, but he loves being a Texas Ranger. At any time, he could ride into a job and not come out alive. How could any decent man marry, knowing he could leave a widow and orphans behind? But the beautiful Juliana Duke captures him in a way no other has. When this job is over, can he ride away with his heart intact?

When he learns of a secret plot to take over the Duke Ranch, Cody must risk everything to save Juliana. Little does he know, the outcome will be nothing like he’s planned or imagined.

Renae Brumbaugh Green is an ECPA Bestselling Author, award-winning humor columnist, and wannabe superhero. She lives in Texas with her handsome, country-boy husband, four nearly-perfect children and one nearly-perfect son-in-law, and far too many animals. When she’s not writing, Renae teaches online classes and tries to be rugged without chipping her nail polish.


More from Renae
Lassoed by the Lawman is the third and final book in the Texas Rangers Series, and I honestly think it’s my favorite book of the series. The main characters, Juliana and Cody, are loosely based on me and my husband, Rick. We’re both creatives, we both love music, and we both try to balance our love for creativity with our need to actually make a living! Our shared love of music initially drew us to each other.

Like Cody, Rick is rugged and masculine, and he melted my heart the first time I heard him sing. As a matter of fact, during our courtship, we often wrote songs together. One of the songs Cody sings to Juliana in the book is actually a song Rick wrote for me. (Sigh.)

The attraction Cody and Juliana feel for each other is both white-hot and pure… the kind of passion God wants husbands and wives to experience. It’s the kind of passion Christ has for us, his bride. As I worked on these pages, I giggled at times, blushed at times, and grinned with mischief always.

Through hardship and heartache, Juliana and Cody find joy. And through hardship and heartache, God wants us to find joy, too…the joy of an abundant life in Christ. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. As a bonus, here’s a link to a song Rick and I wrote and recorded for each other. It’s not the song from the book, but it’s pretty special to us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDjVxp2m5

God bless, and happy reading!

—Renae Brumbaugh Green

There’s also a very cool giveaway of a $50 amazon card going on right now for this book’s release, so I would recommend checking that out! https://promosimple.com/ps/10b63/lassoed-by-the-lawman-celebration-tour-giveaway

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 4

lakesidelivingsite, May 5

Just Writing, May 5

Texas Book-aholic, May 6

Inklings and notions, May 7

Simple Harvest Reads, May 7 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, May 8

deb’s Book Review, May 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 10

Kayem Reads, May 10

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 11

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 12

Connie’s History Classroom, May 13

Vicky Sluiter, May 13

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 16

Daysong Reflections, May 17

Genesis 5020, May 17

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review! Also today is another review, of the novel A Mother For His Twins.

As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!

Hello! It’s been a little while since I’ve shared some writing memes, so I found some more for you.

I should probably write more rather than spend time looking at these writing memes, but you know. If I share it on my blog I can count it as work time! XD

Memes are a really great distraction that keeps you from writing, but they can also be inspiration. It’s a 50/50 chance, really.

The best part about having a best friend who’s also a writer is sending writing memes to each other and understanding our shared pain.

As someone who struggles regularly with writer’s block, for a variety of reasons (the main one being that I’m a perfectionist) this one hits hard.

Have you ever been somewhere with absolutely no paper and just had the best idea??? Hiking trips with my parents man.

Anyway, I hope this brought a spot of joy to your week! Next week I’m diving into a series of reviews for books I’ve been reading. I have about nine planned from now until mid July.

As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!