Top Ten Tuesday - Books With My Favorite Color

If you haven't noticed...I use the color purple...a lot...I kinda like it...lol! So today's theme was easy peasy! Any and all covers that have purple in them! Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Which one is your favorite?

A Refuge Assured - Jocelyn Green

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

Fleeing One Revolution to the Aftermath of Another, She Seeks and Dreams of Peace

Lacemaker Vivienne Rivard never imagined her craft could threaten her life. Yet in revolutionary France, it is a death sentence when the nobility, and those associated with them, are forced to the guillotine. Vivienne flees to Philadelphia, but danger lurks in the French Quarter, as revolutionary sympathizers begin to suspect a young boy left in her care might be the Dauphin. Can the French settlement Asylum offer permanent refuge?

Militiaman Liam Delaney proudly served in the American Revolution, but now that the new government has imposed an oppressive tax that impacts his family, he barely recognizes the democracy he fought for. He wants only to cultivate his hard-won farm near Asylum, but he soon finds himself drawn into the escalating tension of the Whiskey Rebellion. When he meets a beautiful young Frenchwoman recently arrived from Paris, they are drawn together in surprising ways to fight for the peace and safety for which they long.

My Thoughts

First...WHY has it taken me so long to read one of Jocelyn's books? Incredible...Simply incredible.

The choice of setting for this story is one that I am not very familiar with at all. It was refreshing and captivating to learn about the time in America during the French Revolution. SO.MUCH.HISTORY. is packed into this book. It totally satisfied my nerd girl heart. But packed snugly in between all the history, you will find a story of identity, love, acceptance...

Vivienne has fled everything she had ever known for her safety. Her life is in shambles, but she is determined to move forward and succeed in life. Liam is torn in multiple directions. But his heart for truth, justice, and Vivienne and Henri will make your heart melt instantaneously. 

I encourage everyone to get their hands on this book! You will be swept into the story and learn so much. You will also get to see a very practical application of our Father's love for us and finding our identity in Him. 

I received a complimentary copy of A Refuge Assured from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King; Wedded to War; and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Her books have garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, and have been honored with the Christy Award, the gold medal from the Military Writers Society of America, and the Golden Scroll Award from the Advanced Writers & Speakers Association. She graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, Toblerone chocolate bars, the color red, and reading on her patio. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two children in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Facebook // Twitter // Website

Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher/tour logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva unless stated otherwise. 

The Leader's Wife Blog Blitz & Giveaway!

Welcome to The Leader's Wife blog blitz and giveaway, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Leader's Wife
Author: Debby Thompson
Publisher: Ambassador International
Release Date: May 11, 2018
Genre: Christian NonFiction, Marriage

As a woman leading a life of influence, you may find yourself without sufficient clarity or equipping for the challenges you face. For many, the role of wife of a leader is one thrust upon, rather than chosen. For others, it is a responsibility embraced but no less complicated to navigate. In either case, as one sharing a journey with a world-changer, this book is for you.

Debby Thompson has spent decades listening to the voices of tried and tested women, and her experiences have instilled a sense of urgency in her to pass on the insights she has gleaned. Within The Leader’s Wife, she addresses some of the most difficult questions facing wives of leaders. With vulnerability and candor, Debby speaks from her own mistakes and discoveries.

The Leader’s Wife offers not a job description but a GPS. It is a blueprint—without how-to’s and ought-to’s—for igniting within you what the Creator has already designed. The Biblical teaching, personal stories, and hard-won lessons Debby communicates will guide and empower you to live with eternal intentionality.

PURCHASE A COPY: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debby Thompson and her husband Larry have served in global missions with Campus Crusade for Christ International since 1974, and are counted among the pioneers of Western missionaries who lived covertly behind the Iron Curtain in communist Poland. In total, the Thompsons spent 33 years in Eastern Europe, witnesses to a period of dramatic social, political and spiritual change. Now living in Cincinnati, Debby is a speaker, writer, and mentor for women around the world.

CONNECT WITH AUTHOR: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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GIVEAWAY

Ambassador International is giving away:

Grand Prize: (1) print copy of The Leader's Wife (US Only)
PLUS 5 more winners will receive an ebook copy of The Leader's Wife (open internationally, except where prohibited by law)

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight May 5, 2018 and last through 11:59pm May 12, 2018. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

LAUNCH @ JustRead

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First Line Friday - The Heart Between Us

Happy Friday!

Do you ever have books that sit on your shelf and taunt you? Ya, well I have SEVERAL of those! Near the top of those that I am drooling over is today's featured book! I can't wait to dig into this one!

Happy Reading!

Today’s first line is from...

The Heart Between Us
Lindsay Harrel

June 1

For the first time in her life, Megan Jacobs felt almost brave.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

What book is taunting you right now?

Head over to Hoarding Books to link up with your own FLF post! (Please keep it family 

friendly...Or note otherwise in the link up)

Influencer Tips: How to Continuously Support the Authors You LOVE!

You FINALLY received that long-awaited email...YOU MADE IT! You are going to be attending Hogwarts....wait...sorry...You are going to be a part of the influencer team for your favorite author! In the following weeks (and months) you are super excited to share about their upcoming book and read said book. And then...that most glorious moment that is...RELEASE DAY!!! Filled with social media blasts and confetti and prizes and chocolate...(There is ALWAYS chocolate at these things). The next morning dawns and you begin to binge said chocolate, wondering..."WHAT in the world am I to do with my life in the MONTHS before the next book is released???"

My friends...I have been there...I understand the agony of waiting months (sometimes YEARS) until one of my favorite authors releases another book (**ahem** Kate Breslin...yes...I STILL love you). 

So what CAN you do to support the authors you love in the "off-season"? (Which obviously isn't the off-season for the author...as they are madly typing away on edits for that book you are longing for.)

Today I want to share just FIVE tips how you can do that. 

1. Follow and interact with your authors on ALL Social Media! Sure you follow them on Facebook...but have you checked Instagram? Or Google+? Chances are, you can find all the links to their social sites on their website. Check out Roseanna M. White' site for an example. Don't forget to check out their Amazon and Goodreads pages and follow them there as well.

2. Follow (and READ) their blog. A lot of authors have blogs. Did you know that? Chances are you have subscribed to their newsletter already, but this is different. They have words they need to share. And TRUST me...They are POWERFUL words. The gift of writing that God has placed on these people isn't chained to just BOOKS. For some great blog posts and deep truths and encouragement, check out Kristy Cambron's blog.

3. Share, Share, Share...Social media algorithms have gotten so wonky that it can be hard for author's posts to actually be seen...even by those who LIKE and FOLLOW them. So share those posts! Share on your personal page and on your blog FB page. Make sure you are checking their sites so you aren't missing posts. You can adjust your settings in the Influencer Group and on their FB page so you get notified when they post. (see images below)

4. Goodreads! I am surprised at how many people still aren't using Goodreads. I ADORE this site. Helps me keep track of books I have read, books I like...and introduces me to new authors daily. You can vote for books on Lists, add books that aren't there...and create your own lists! Don't forget to SHARE these lists!

5. Spotlight your authors' books on your blog. Especially those that you haven't had a chance to read yet. Some of my favorite authors I only discovered in the last 4 years...And they had several books already published by that point (Jody Hedlund, Jen Turano....) and I just don't have the time to catch up on all of them yet. Although I DO own them all lol! Even if you don't own their books though...You can easily find the information you need on the author's website or on Goodreads. 

Bonus:

Send the author a note of encouragement. A hand written note, an email, a message on social media. You will never know the impact an encouraging word can make. And no matter how many books they write, they always need encouragement! 

Thank you to all inluencers, reviewers, readers....and book lovers...for all the support you give our authors!