Here you will find Christian Books. Mostly Bibles, Devotions, Childrens Books, Gift Books and a few Fiction will be added here as well. Hope you enjoy our reviews of the awesome books. We are just beginning, so tell all of your friends about us.
Join us for this tour from July 26 to August 20, 2021!
Book Details:
Book Title: THE RED FENCE by Ed Damiano
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot Books
Release date: July, 2021
Content Rating: G for everyone.
Book Description:
In the uniform town of Vanderloo,
Everyone, everywhere has the same view.
What happens when Astred, tiny Todd, and Ned
Decide to paint their white fence red?
Children's author and Mom's Choice Award winner Ed Damiano delivers a poignant message about community and creativity in The Red Fence.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I fell in love with this book as soon as I saw the cover! As I read The Red Fence I loved it even more. This is a wonderful book for your little ones. They will love the sweet story as well as the lovely creations crafted by Illustrator Jenn Polk. The vivid colors and the adorable characters bring this story to life before your very eyes. This book is beautiful and adorable inside and out. And I love the Dr Seuss feel when reading this book, I think I read it four times.
The main thing I love about this story is the valuable lessons it teaches children. Children seem to listen more when reading books and in The Red Fence by Ed Damiano will show kids of all ages how to fit into this world. How to be accepted but everyone, and that everyone is different, and it is ok to be different. I would love seeing this book in public libraries, school libraries as well as daycare. It would be awesome in Doctor and Dentist offices or anywhere else kids may be. I highly encourage you to check this book out. This cute book is a Five Stars for me.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
AND NOW JOIN ME IN READING THIS INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR ED DAMIANO
How do you come up with your story topics?
I have a vivid imagination and I use my personal experiences or those of family and friends to come up with my stories.
There are many books out there about diversity, What makes yours different?
I don’t know about the other books about diversity because I don’t research them or compare. My book comes from experiences and using those experiences to share a lesson that can be applied to use in daily life.
What advice would you give budding writers?
My advice to new writers: to paraphrase Field of Dreams, "If it's in you, it will happen"
Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?
Yes. I get writer's block. That’s why although they are short stories, they take a long time to write. I worked on The Red Fence for a year. The initial thought, story, and outline is there, then you read and correct, read and change, until you feel comfortable. And you never really do. What helps me overcome it? Relaxing and watching old black and white movies!
Last great book I read.
Norman Vincent Peals - The Power of Positive Thinking
Meet the Author:
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Damiano has a passion for creativity, and his stories always contain a positive message. He also wrote The Christmas Blanket, which earned him a Mom’s Choice Award. In The Christmas Blanket, his character EJ realizes the true meaning of Christmas, which is not about getting presents, but about giving back to others.
Join us for this tour from July 12 to August 6!Book Details:Book Title: The Academy Saga by C.J. Daly
Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 500 pages
Genre: Suspense Romance
Publisher: BrandyLight Ink
Release date: September 2019
Content Rating: PG-13.
"Unique, intense, and suspenseful. A story with compelling characters that pull you into the author's world and keep you reading from beginning to end. Intriguing start to a new series." --New York Times Best Selling Author Jami Brumfield
"CJ has created an unforgettable story about a young woman caught up in a world of lies and deception. The Academy Saga is a page-turning read with a twist you may not see coming.”—Tony Jones, Executive Producer of My All American
"Wow wow wow! This book has it all. It’s extremely well written, the characters are amazing and the story is so intriguing that it pulls you in from the very first page. There’s tension, mystery chemistry and of course romance. I loved it! I would highly recommend this page turner!” --
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @abbi_reads_xx
BookDescription:Readers’ Favorite Suspense Romance Kate Connelly should be careful what she wishes for.
Just seventeen, she already feels like she’s suffocating. Since her mother’s death, her father’s basically checked out, so she’s stuck raising her brothers by herself out in the New Mexico scrub. All Kate wants is a little distraction from the same-ole, same-ole that is her life.
When two mysterious guys show up at the diner where she works, she thinks her wish has come true, until they start giving her a hard time. Like her life isn’t hard enough. Something about them niggles her, but she brushes it off. She’s never going to see them again anyway . . . right?
Then they appear in an alley one night to either rescue or kidnap her (she’s still not sure which) before disappearing like figments of her imagination.
Kate decides to put the bizarre encounters out of her mind. She has bigger problems to worry about: like that elite military academy that’s been pursuing her gifted little brother. When one of their cadets shows up at her high school, he creates instant pandemonium. And just happens to be one of those mysterious guys. Coincidence? Mama said there’s no such thing. And to always trust her instinct. But that might be kind of hard, because every time she’s around Cadet Peter Davenport, her gut starts flip-flopping on her. And her heart.
Can Kate keep it together long enough to stop Cadet Davenport’s mission? She’s about to find out. And—once again—how neatly life can be split into before and after.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Kate is too young to be a mom, but when her mother passes away, her father doesn't leave her much choice except to take care of her brothers. When a couple strangers come to town, it is fast gossip because it's a small town. Kate got a surprise, however when she finds they are wanting her brother Drew for a boarding school. And one of the guys, Pete seems to have his eyes set on Kate.
This is a really good story, with some Suspense and a bit of mystery. There's a lot going on, and a lot of detail especially in the first part of the book that makes it kinda slow for a while. But gets better as the story goes on. Author C.J. Daly creates interesting and intriguing characters who develop well as the story unfolds. I really like Kate and her brothers, especially the little one, he is adorable. We learn a lot about the three over the course of the book and I really enjoyed getting to know more about them and their life. I felt bad for Kate because she has to grow up fast. But it was enjoyable as well as intriguing to know them and their purpose. A lot of research has gone into this story as well, and Daly does a fantastic job writing this story in a way that it keeps you on the edge of your seats because you want to find out what is going to happen next. It's a pretty long book so hang with it, you don't want to miss a thing that's happening. If you enjoy a good suspense, you will enjoy this one. This is Four Stars for me.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
NOW JOIN ME IN AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR C. J. DALY
In your writing career, what tasks do you not like to do?
Like most authors I know, I’m a natural introvert, so coming out from behind the computer has been a bit of a challenge. But to my surprise, I actually love creating the social media posts, and especially enjoy interacting with my fans. I’d say the nuts and bolts of running the business is my weakest link, and therefore, my least favorite part of my career. Thankfully, I have a small-but-mighty marketing team to help me.
What inspires your creativity?
This is such a tough question to answer, because it can be everything and nothing. I’ve always had a runaway imagination, which can be a good thing for a creative career like an author, or a bad thing, because I live in my head so much. And, of course, other great writers and books have inspired me. I’ve always been a voracious reader—everything from the classics to Harlequin romance novels have inspired me. Plus, my boys. I can’t forget my two favorite sparks of inspiration!
What do you create & why?
I create sweeping stories or sagas with a healthy dose of suspense, intrigue, and romance. And I create because it’s a compulsion; I simply can’t NOT write. It’s like living in a parallel universe, where it’s sometimes hard to know which reality I’m living in. I’ll try to put the story away to live a “normal” life for a while, but the characters come poking at me at night, robbing me of my sleep. It can be so frustrating, but it’s never boring!
What challenges have you faced when creating a story?
I guess the most challenging thing would be when I have an idea or outline in mind, and then the characters come along and do something else. I always go the way of the characters though. Their way is always better. Sometimes I feel like I’m just the portal through which they come. It’s their story; I’m just telling it.
How would you overcome obstacles?
I overcome obstacles by using good old-fashioned grit to will myself forward, then get back to work. And I couldn’t live without the support of my family and mom squad. I think every woman needs other women to lift them up when they’re down. To say, “Keep going, even when it gets tough.” Because the road to success is long and tough, I sometimes take a break to watch motivational videos. I like Bishop T.D. Jakes and serial-cusser Gary Vee. I also pray. A lot.
When did your creative spark being?
I think my creative spark began on the family ranch back in New Mexico. My seven siblings and I were outside working a lot, doing monotonous chores. It was sometimes lonely, and we didn’t have a lot of resources to draw from but our imaginations. You can’t imagine some of the crazy games we came up with, the scary stories we’d tell. It would definitely keep me up at night, so I would read, read, read! Which was such a bad thing, because we had to rise with the sun the next day, for another round of chores!
What is something you’d like to share with your past-self?
So many things: not to try cutting your own bangs, for one thing! But seriously, I’d like to go back and tell myself not to overthink things (except for aforementioned action, LOL!). I always obsess with the minutia of all I have to do, and the time and resources it will take to do it, and it paralyzes me. I’d advise my former self to just take the next step, for it is that series of next steps—no matter how small—that leads to success.
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
If I could change one thing it would be going for my dream career sooner. I’d always heard how hard it is to make a living as a writer. Apparently, you have better luck being struck by lightning. So I thought I had to make a living first, then go for it. But now I wished I would have tried sooner. I was just so afraid of being poor that I was too afraid to take the risk until my family was financially stable. Anytime you have a calling, like I did, I think you owe it to yourself to see it through. I still wonder where I would be now if I would have begun right out of college. But I can’t regret those humorous years teaching middle school, or stopping to have my amazing children—really priceless experiences that have helped shape me into who I am today. So now I amend my former regret: I wouldn’t change anything, because the path I’m on now . . . it’s the right one, at the right time. I’m sure of it!
What do you hope people can take away from your books?
I hope people take away an amazing story and characters that stick with them, like old friends. Sure, I want readers to be entertained, but I also want them to get swept up in another world, one that changes their worldview, maybe even the direction of their lives. I hope that doesn’t sound too dramatic, because that’s exactly what books did for me—changed the very course of my life. I was able to see other ways of life, outside the protective bubble I was born into. I could easily have stayed where I was and bore the next generation of farmer/ranchers, but I wanted something different for myself. Not that there is anything wrong with that life! I still yearn for the slower pace, the rural peacefulness, and friendly hometown folks. I’m still a small-town girl at heart.
Where are you headed?
I’ve been fortunate to hit Amazon Bestseller, but I hope I’m headed for the New York Times Best-Seller list next! Then Hollywood. Everyone says they see The Academy being made into a series, even going so far as to cast the three main characters: Pete, Kate, and Ranger. And I’ve been fortunate enough to already get a writing gig from a movie producer. But whatever the future holds, I just want to put the best product out there I can; something I’m proud of. I refuse to take shortcuts, and I won’t back down from the hard work. I’m definitely in it to win it . . . whatever “it” is. We’ll see what the future has in store for The Academy Saga, the little (big) book series that could.
Continue the Saga:
Book Details:
Book Title: The Academy Saga: Cadet-in-Training by C.J. Daly
Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 441 pages
Genre: Suspense Romance
Publisher: BrandyLight Ink
Content Rating: PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes.
“Absolutely ADDICTING! CJ Daly does it again and delivers a story YOU CAN’T PUT DOWN! Edge of your seat GREATNESS! I was completely hooked into this story. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The Cadet in Training was such a phenomenal escape. With characters that fly off the pages, you become immersed! CJ Daly has stunning story telling skills! I’m still sitting here, like what did I just read and why is it over! Agh! I can’t wait for book 3!!! #theacademysaga is going down as one my absolute favorites! #TeamPete! All the stars! I’m ready to read this one again!” RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @elizabeth.ness.56
Book Description:Another Readers' Favorite 5-STAR Suspense Romance. Begin the journey today.Kate’s destiny has been determined for her.
Hidden out in the country for most her life, Kate Connelly suddenly wakes up, handcuffed to a hospital bed, in the psyche ward of The Academy. Her crime? Being “gifted.” And it’s Officer “Ranger” Nealson’s job to make her adhere to The Academy’s agenda for her. Even though he’s the one who drugged and dragged her in. Kate’s hate for Ranger, and his academy, is at an all-time high. Ranger has his work cut out for him . . . and Kate does too. She has to fight through the rigors of the Cadet-in-Training program, and quickly. If not, she’ll lose the one privilege she’s been given at The Academy—access to her precious little brother.
And until she graduates from the CIT program, Officer Nealson is banned from Missions. When General Weston finally offers a juicy recon to Ranger, he wants to jump at the chance to prove himself again. After all,
catching bad guys is his thing. Almost all pros for doing it. One con—Cadet Connelly has to ride along.
The hardened officer finds he’s slowly been growing a soft spot for his mentee. But he’s determined not to end up like his father, and former Elite Cadet Pete Davenport—throwing away their career for a girl (not even a woman). And Kate has lingering feelings for Pete, who risked his life to warn her, and conflicting feelings for Ranger. She has to set both aside to focus on completing her first mission.
When the dust settles, old alliances are broken and new ones are formed. But one thing remains the same: Kate’s destiny has been determined for her by The Academy. Ready or not . . . she’s set for Missions. Will one of the former elite cadets step in to help change her fate, or will she be left to fight the
Academy’s agenda alone?
CJ Daly grew up on the scrabbly plains of Eastern New Mexico. When she was supposed to be helping her six siblings with chores on the family ranch, she was really sneaking behind dusty haystacks to read. And dreaming about becoming a writer.
After graduating high school, CJ moved to Big D, where she quickly put herself through college while trying to rid herself of her country accent. She had better luck with college, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in English literature. After teaching a few years and pausing to have back-to-back boys, she began writing in earnest.
A few years later, "The Academy Saga" was born. It instantly earned a Readers' Favorite 5-STAR seal of approval and became an Amazon best seller.
connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ goodread
Book Title: The Academy Saga: Cadet-in-Training by C.J. Daly Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 441 pages Genre: Suspense Romance Publisher: BrandyLight Ink Release date: July 2020 Format available for review: ebook (mobi file (for Kindle), ePub, PDF) Tour dates: July 12 to August 6 Content Rating: PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes.
“Absolutely ADDICTING! CJ Daly does it again and delivers a story YOU CAN’T PUT DOWN! Edge of your seat GREATNESS! I was completely hooked into this story. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The Cadet in Training was such a phenomenal escape. With characters that fly off the pages, you become immersed! CJ Daly has stunning story telling skills! I’m still sitting here, like what did I just read and why is it over! Agh! I can’t wait for book 3!!! #theacademysaga is going down as one my absolute favorites! #TeamPete! All the stars! I’m ready to read this one again!” RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @elizabeth.ness.56
Book Description:
Another Readers' Favorite 5-STAR Suspense Romance. Begin the journey today.
Kate’s destiny has been determined for her.
Hidden out in the country for most her life, Kate Connelly suddenly wakes up, handcuffed to a hospital bed, in the psyche ward of The Academy. Her crime? Being “gifted.” And it’s Officer “Ranger” Nealson’s job to make her adhere to The Academy’s agenda for her. Even though he’s the one who drugged and dragged her in. Kate’s hate for Ranger, and his academy, is at an all-time high. Ranger has his work cut out for him . . . and Kate does too. She has to fight through the rigors of the Cadet-in-Training program, and quickly. If not, she’ll lose the one privilege she’s been given at The Academy—access to her precious little brother.
And until she graduates from the CIT program, Officer Nealson is banned from Missions. When General Weston finally offers a juicy recon to Ranger, he wants to jump at the chance to prove himself again. After all, catching bad guys is his thing. Almost all pros for doing it. One con—Cadet Connelly has to ride along.
The hardened officer finds he’s slowly been growing a soft spot for his mentee. But he’s determined not to end up like his father, and former Elite Cadet Pete Davenport—throwing away their career for a girl (not even a woman). And Kate has lingering feelings for Pete, who risked his life to warn her, and conflicting feelings for Ranger. She has to set both aside to focus on completing her first mission.
When the dust settles, old alliances are broken and new ones are formed. But one thing remains the same: Kate’s destiny has been determined for her by The Academy. Ready or not . . . she’s set for Missions. Will one of the former elite cadets step in to help change her fate, or will she be left to fight the Academy’s agenda alone?
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
After reading the first book in this series, I was anxious to read book two, and it did not disappoint. Again Author C. J. Daly writes an appealing story that will have you on the edge of your seat! I was glad to see even more development of the characters we met in book one, as well as the new characters we meet. There's a lot of tension, especially after Kate finds herself in the psyche ward of The Academy. Her one mission is to gwt through the Cadet-in-Training program so she will be able to see her brother. I feel bad for Kate but at the same time I don't. I would like seeing her develop a little more. And as far as team Ranger a d Team Pete, I think I'll sat back and watch for a while. I did enjoy seeing things through Rangers eyes in this book. There is a lot if drama in this book, more so than book one I think, but all in all it is a great read. I can't wait to see what book three has to offer. I highly recommend this book, and this series. And especially if you enjoy military reads. This book is Four Stars for me.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
NOW JOIN ME IN AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR C. J. DALY
In your writing career, what tasks do you not like to do?
Like most authors I know, I’m a natural introvert, so coming out from behind the computer has been a bit of a challenge. But to my surprise, I actually love creating the social media posts, and especially enjoy interacting with my fans. I’d say the nuts and bolts of running the business is my weakest link, and therefore, my least favorite part of my career. Thankfully, I have a small-but-mighty marketing team to help me.
What inspires your creativity?
This is such a tough question to answer, because it can be everything and nothing. I’ve always had a runaway imagination, which can be a good thing for a creative career like an author, or a bad thing, because I live in my head so much. And, of course, other great writers and books have inspired me. I’ve always been a voracious reader—everything from the classics to Harlequin romance novels have inspired me. Plus, my boys. I can’t forget my two favorite sparks of inspiration!
What do you create & why?
I create sweeping stories or sagas with a healthy dose of suspense, intrigue, and romance. And I create because it’s a compulsion; I simply can’t NOT write. It’s like living in a parallel universe, where it’s sometimes hard to know which reality I’m living in. I’ll try to put the story away to live a “normal” life for a while, but the characters come poking at me at night, robbing me of my sleep. It can be so frustrating, but it’s never boring!
What challenges have you faced when creating a story?
I guess the most challenging thing would be when I have an idea or outline in mind, and then the characters come along and do something else. I always go the way of the characters though. Their way is always better. Sometimes I feel like I’m just the portal through which they come. It’s their story; I’m just telling it.
How would you overcome obstacles?
I overcome obstacles by using good old-fashioned grit to will myself forward, then get back to work. And I couldn’t live without the support of my family and mom squad. I think every woman needs other women to lift them up when they’re down. To say, “Keep going, even when it gets tough.” Because the road to success is long and tough, I sometimes take a break to watch motivational videos. I like Bishop T.D. Jakes and serial-cusser Gary Vee. I also pray. A lot.
When did your creative spark being?
I think my creative spark began on the family ranch back in New Mexico. My seven siblings and I were outside working a lot, doing monotonous chores. It was sometimes lonely, and we didn’t have a lot of resources to draw from but our imaginations. You can’t imagine some of the crazy games we came up with, the scary stories we’d tell. It would definitely keep me up at night, so I would read, read, read! Which was such a bad thing, because we had to rise with the sun the next day, for another round of chores!
What is something you’d like to share with your past-self?
So many things: not to try cutting your own bangs, for one thing! But seriously, I’d like to go back and tell myself not to overthink things (except for aforementioned action, LOL!). I always obsess with the minutia of all I have to do, and the time and resources it will take to do it, and it paralyzes me. I’d advise my former self to just take the next step, for it is that series of next steps—no matter how small—that leads to success.
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
If I could change one thing it would be going for my dream career sooner. I’d always heard how hard it is to make a living as a writer. Apparently, you have better luck being struck by lightning. So I thought I had to make a living first, then go for it. But now I wished I would have tried sooner. I was just so afraid of being poor that I was too afraid to take the risk until my family was financially stable. Anytime you have a calling, like I did, I think you owe it to yourself to see it through. I still wonder where I would be now if I would have begun right out of college. But I can’t regret those humorous years teaching middle school, or stopping to have my amazing children—really priceless experiences that have helped shape me into who I am today. So now I amend my former regret: I wouldn’t change anything, because the path I’m on now . . . it’s the right one, at the right time. I’m sure of it!
What do you hope people can take away from your books?
I hope people take away an amazing story and characters that stick with them, like old friends. Sure, I want readers to be entertained, but I also want them to get swept up in another world, one that changes their worldview, maybe even the direction of their lives. I hope that doesn’t sound too dramatic, because that’s exactly what books did for me—changed the very course of my life. I was able to see other ways of life, outside the protective bubble I was born into. I could easily have stayed where I was and bore the next generation of farmer/ranchers, but I wanted something different for myself. Not that there is anything wrong with that life! I still yearn for the slower pace, the rural peacefulness, and friendly hometown folks. I’m still a small-town girl at heart.
Where are you headed?
I’ve been fortunate to hit Amazon Bestseller, but I hope I’m headed for the New York Times Best-Seller list next! Then Hollywood. Everyone says they see The Academy being made into a series, even going so far as to cast the three main characters: Pete, Kate, and Ranger. And I’ve been fortunate enough to already get a writing gig from a movie producer. But whatever the future holds, I just want to put the best product out there I can; something I’m proud of. I refuse to take shortcuts, and I won’t back down from the hard work. I’m definitely in it to win it . . . whatever “it” is. We’ll see what the future has in store for The Academy Saga, the little (big) book series that could.
ALSO AVAILABLE CHECK OUT BOOK ONE IN THIS SERIES
The Academy Saga by C.J. Daly
Book Details:
Book Title: The Academy Saga by C.J. Daly Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 500 pages Genre: Suspense Romance Publisher: BrandyLight Ink Release date: September 2019 Format available for review: print, and ebook (mobi file (for Kindle), ePub, PDF) Will send print books out: USA and Canada Tour dates: July 12 to Aug 6 Content Rating: PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes. "Unique, intense, and suspenseful. A story with compelling characters that pull you into the author's world and keep you reading from beginning to end. Intriguing start to a new series."--New York Times Best Selling Author Jami Brumfield
“CJ has created an unforgettable story about a young woman caught up in a world of lies and deception. The Academy Saga is a page-turning read with a twist you may not see coming.”—Tony Jones, Executive Producer of My All American
“Wow wow wow! This book has it all. It’s extremely well written, the characters are amazing and the story is so intriguing that it pulls you in from the very first page. There’s tension, mystery chemistry and of course romance. I loved it! I would highly recommend this page turner!”-- RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @abbi_reads_xx Book Description:
Readers’ Favorite Suspense Romance
Kate Connelly should be careful what she wishes for.
Just seventeen, she already feels like she’s suffocating. Since her mother’s death, her father’s basically checked out, so she’s stuck raising her brothers by herself out in the New Mexico scrub. All Kate wants is a little distraction from the same-ole, same-ole that is her life.
When two mysterious guys show up at the diner where she works, she thinks her wish has come true, until they start giving her a hard time. Like her life isn’t hard enough. Something about them niggles her, but she brushes it off. She’s never going to see them again anyway . . . right?
Then they appear in an alley one night to either rescue or kidnap her (she’s still not sure which) before disappearing like figments of her imagination.
Kate decides to put the bizarre encounters out of her mind. She has bigger problems to worry about: like that elite military academy that’s been pursuing her gifted little brother. When one of their cadets shows up at her high school, he creates instant pandemonium. And just happens to be one of those mysterious guys. Coincidence? Mama said there’s no such thing. And to always trust her instinct. But that might be kind of hard, because every time she’s around Cadet Peter Davenport, her gut starts flip-flopping on her. And her heart.
Can Kate keep it together long enough to stop Cadet Davenport’s mission? She’s about to find out. And—once again—how neatly life can be split into before and after.
CJ Daly grew up on the scrabbly plains of Eastern New Mexico. When she was supposed to be helping her six siblings with chores on the family ranch, she was really sneaking behind dusty haystacks to read. And dreaming about becoming a writer.
After graduating high school, CJ moved to Big D, where she quickly put herself through college while trying to rid herself of her country accent. She had better luck with college, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in English literature. After teaching a few years and pausing to have back-to-back boys, she began writing in earnest.
A few years later, "The Academy Saga" was born. It instantly earned a Readers' Favorite 5-STAR seal of approval and became an Amazon best seller.
Book Title: Enigma (Road to the Breaking Book 2) by Chris Bennett
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +) , 514 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: CPB Publishing, LLC
Release date: February 2021
Format available for review: print - softback, e-book ( mobi file (for Kindle), ePub, PDF)
Will send print books out: USA
Book Description:
“How can I call myself a man of good conscience, when I myself am no better than a slaver?”
It’s summer 1860, and former army Captain Nathan Chambers has returned home to Virginia to claim his inheritance: a large plantation with more than one hundred slaves. Nathan wants no part of slavery and intends to sell the farm and all its slaves. But even as he arrives home, enduring fearful and downcast stares from despondent black faces, he knows what he must do … and the price he must pay for doing it.
As Nathan works to carry out his ambitious plans, he is troubled by rumors of succession and war, even as a villainous neighbor plots a violent end to their decades-long family feud.
And then Evelyn arrives … strikingly beautiful, spirited, and intriguing, she is the daughter of an old family friend. But the more Nathan is drawn in by her charms, the harder she pushes him away …
The Road to the Breaking Series is an epic tale of a young nation seething with debauchery, brutality, corruption, and political intrigue, unwittingly on the brink of a deadly precipice: the American Civil War. In Book 2 of the series, Nathan Chambers has returned from the violent army life out West, only to face a heart wrenching Enigma at home.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Enigma continues the story of book one in the series, Road to the Breaking, and it's good to read these books in order because one picks up where the other one leaves off. I enjoyed following the story of Captain Nathan Chambers as he heads to Virginia to claim the inheritance left to him. This could prove a problem because Nathan wants nothing to do with slavery or owning the slaves on the farm. Again Chris Bennett writes an amazing story that will keep you reading till the very last page. The characters from book one as well as new characters introduced are so well creates and tell their story well as the plot unfolds. And I love all of the historical details throughout the book. You historical fiction buffs will have a great time with this series. Every part of it is so interesting and intriguing. And again, the ending kind of leaves readers hanging and waiting for the next book before we really see what's going on. I look forward to reading book three and I highly recommend book one, Road to the Breaking and book two Enigma for you to read now. I think you will find this a very worthy series. Enigma is a worthy Five stars for me.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Join me in reading this interesting interview from the author.
What made you write a book about the Civil War? Are you a big history buff?
My grandmother was a high school history teacher (and so was her daughter, my Aunt Gay who has helped me do research for my series), and also very into reading historical non-fiction books. She had a room in her house that had bookshelves floor to ceiling on three walls, and a large portion of these were on the American Civil War. I remember sitting in that room, looking through those books, and asking her questions about them. So the names Grant, Sherman, and Lee (along with Lincoln and Jefferson Davis) were well known to me from an early age. My Dad was also a big history buff, though more into WWII as that had been the big event of his childhood. As you can imagine, I took a lot of history courses in college, along with political science. So, when it came time to write a book, historical fiction seemed a natural fit, and it was a toss-up between the American Civil War and WWII. I had several plots in mind for both time periods, but settled on the Civil War story because it seemed the most compelling and timely with all that was currently happening in the world.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?
I have not experienced it yet, I’m happy to say. But I have recently concluded that writing historical fiction gives you a big advantage in overcoming that potential scenario. Each time I have wondered what the plot should be in the next book of the series, I just dive into the historical research (i.e. “What happened in this specific time period in the area where my main characters are located?”) and end up discovering some obscure but fascinating details of things that were actually happening. As they say, “truth is stranger than fiction”, and “you just can’t make this stuff up!” I love including actual people and events in my books, then just weaving my fictional characters in. I think most of my readers would be surprised (if they did the research) to discover how many of the things in my books are factual.
What is your next project?
I’m currently working on Book 6 of Road to the Breaking, and it’s looking like, according to the timeline, it’s going to be a ten-book series to get it to the end of the Civil War. After that I have a few things in mind:
Continuing with Nathan’s descendants through time, with a tradition of attending West Point and being involved in the nation’s major conflicts
Writing one of the WWII plots I had originally considered
A Road to the Breaking prequal (Nathan’s childhood?)
Or a standalone, spinoff novel focusing one or more of the interesting side characters of the original series.
I’m thinking I may ask my readers for input on what they’d like to see next (maybe do a poll?)
Do you snack while writing? Favorite snack?
I like sipping Scotch with a bite of dark chocolate. One of my favorite quotes is from Hemingway, “Write drunk, edit sober,” which has some truth to it, though I think the Scotch works best in moderation!
Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?
Mostly just the Scotch (see above.) Other than that, I tend to write pretty much any chance I get, so I keep a laptop laying around the house that I can use whenever I have a few spare moments, or an idea hits me. Otherwise, the hardcore writing is done at my desk on a regular workstation, with two large monitors (the one on the left is used for doing the research, and the one on the write for actual writing.)
Ifyouwere stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?
Lord of the Rings, King James Bible, and Road to the Breaking (can I have the whole series?)
Book Details:
Book Title: Road to the Breaking
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 345 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: CPB Publishing, LLC
Release date:January 2021
Content Rating: PG-13. Cursing, violence and war scenes, etc.
Book Description:
Nothing survived “The Breaking” unchanged; lives and fortunes, love and hate, freedom and slavery …
It’s early 1860, and war hero Captain Nathaniel Chambers, commander U.S. Army Fort Davis in the west Texas wilderness, has received shocking news – his father is dead. He must return home to Virginia and claim his inheritance before a maniacal neighbor can murder his widowed mother and seize the family plantation.
But he’s torn by a terrible dilemma – to stay in the army and turn his back on his fortune, his mother and his beloved childhood home, or become the thing he despises; a slave master! Is there no other choice?
An epic journey across a young nation seething with debauchery, brutality, corruption, and political intrigue, unwittingly on the brink of an unimaginable disaster; the American Civil War. Nathan Chambers has left the violent army life behind in Texas, never imaging he’s on the very Road to The Breaking.
Book Title: Enigma (Road to the Breaking Book 2) by Chris Bennett
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 514 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: CPB Publishing, LLC
Release date:February 2021
Format available for review: print - softback, e-book ( mobi file (for Kindle), ePub, PDF)
Will send print books out: USA
Content Rating: PG-13. Cursing, violence and war scenes, etc.
Book Description:
“How can I call myself a man of good conscience, when I myself am no better than a slaver?”
It’s summer 1860, and former army Captain Nathan Chambers has returned home to Virginia to claim his inheritance: a large plantation with more than one hundred slaves. Nathan wants no part of slavery and intends to sell the farm and all its slaves. But even as he arrives home, enduring fearful and downcast stares from despondent black faces, he knows what he must do … and the price he must pay for doing it.
As Nathan works to carry out his ambitious plans, he is troubled by
rumors of succession and war, even as a villainous neighbor plots a
violent end to their decades-long family feud.
And then Evelyn arrives … strikingly beautiful, spirited, and
intriguing, she is the daughter of an old family friend. But the more
Nathan is drawn in by her charms, the harder she pushes him away …
The Road to the Breaking Series is an epic tale of a young nation seething with debauchery, brutality, corruption, and political intrigue, unwittingly on the brink of a deadly precipice: the American Civil War. In Book 2 of the series, Nathan Chambers has returned from the
violent army life out West, only to face a heart wrenching Enigma at home.
Chris A. Bennett grew up on the shores of Klamath Lake in southeastern Oregon. For a young boy it was a dream world of water, hills, forests, and abundant wildlife. His love for action and adventure morphed into a lifelong love for books when his Mom read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to the family on a long road trip.
Chris's thirst for adventure never faded and he began to live out his love of history onto the pages of his first book, Road to the Breaking. Once he started writing he just couldn't stop and the result is The Road to the Breaking series; an epic journey across a young nation seething with debauchery, brutality, corruption, and political intrigue, unwittingly on the brink of an unimaginable disaster: the American Civil
War.
Chris currently lives near Seattle with his wife Patricia. His three adult children Nick, Rachel, and Josh also live in the Puget Sound area.
Join us for this tour fromJuly 6 to July 26, 2021!
Book Details:
Book Title: Amal the Thirsty Gamal: A Christmas Tale by Robert Schorr
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot
Release date: July, 2021
Content Rating: G.
Book Description:
The charming tale told in Amal the Thirsty Gamal is for every young person who might be anxious about how they are viewed by those around them (and yes, camels care about that too!). For so long, our little hero has been hearing taunts and jeers and thinking negative things about himself, his looks, and especially his little hump. But—oh, brace yourselves! — because Wise Men are traveling with Amal’s special caravan, and when one of them speaks up around the campfire one night, everything changes for little Amal!
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Amal is so anxious. They are at it again. The talk about him being different, and especially his hump and this makes him sad. But things are about to change for our friend Amal, and author Robert Schorr tells all about it in his sweet book Amal the Thirsty Gamal: A Christmas Tale. This adorable book is awesome for children because it teaches the valuable lesson of acceptance, because it is ok to be different, despite what others say about you. Just because we may be different, it doesn't mean we can't be valuable and useful. Just like Amal found an important way to be useful, so can you, and anyone else.
I love this story about a sweet little camel with a hump that is different. Robert Schorr does a fantastic job writing this story so it can be read to little ones, and really older kids and adults alike will love and benefit from reading about Amal. And I love how illustrator Kristina Koontz does an absolutely fabulous job of bringing the story to life with her adorable illustrations on the cover and throughout the book. I love how the pictures she creates for each page fits so perfectly with the words to the story. I think this book would be perfect for very young readers, after hearing the story, to look at the pictures and tell the story themselves. I love it when small children do this, and it's the fabulous illustrations that make it happen. Schorr and Koontz work together so well to make this story happen. Amal the Thirsty Gamal: A Christmas Tale by Robert Schorr will be awesome for daycare and school classrooms as well as libraries where children's books may be. I highly encourage you to check out this adorable book for your little ones. This one is a sound Five Stars in my book.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
AND NOW JOIN ME READING THIS SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR Robert Schorr
🐪🐪🐪
Q: It looks like you had a lot of fun writing Amal the Thirsty Gamal, but were there any challenges along the way? Did you encounter any difficulties?
Robert: Oh, I did have a lot of fun with it, but yes, as a matter of fact, the entire premise of a “lovable camel” is challenging, if you think about it. I mean, we don’t often think of camels as “adorable” or “cuddly.” They’re overwhelmingly large and gangly and they have a rather stern expression on their faces. But my goal was to somehow make my little readers feel sorry for this one — want to hug him and comfort him and take away his sorrows. And that was rather challenging. I remember when I first started in, looking at pictures of camels, thinking “Man! They’re ugly! How am I going to do this?” But they’re not ugly! They’re beautiful creatures! I’ve totally changed on that now. And I owe that to Amal.
Q: Your illustrator certainly helped with that, didn’t she? She really did make him look cute.
Robert: Oh, goodness! Yes! Tina is just marvelous. She is a fabulous artist, as you can easily see.
Q: That’s Kristina Koontz.
Robert: Yes. I’ve known Tina as a friend for years, and I knew she was a good artist, but I had no idea she was capable of doing what she did for me. The story was already written when I asked if she could do a few sketches, and I was just blown away by her very first one. You know, we worked on this during the COVID months, and we had the best time doing it, and—man! I threw some challenges at her! “Can you make Amal look more anxious?” “Can you make him look worried and thirsty at the same time?” “I’d like to have him kicking up his heels on the way into Bethlehem. Do you think you could do that?” She was unfazed! No problem at all.
Q: She made the camel pray!
Robert: That’s my favorite. That and the “Tall/Small” signs on page 7. And the Wise Man’s “Camel Anatomy Chart” on page 21. Honestly, Tina did more to write the book than I did — or to make it come alive, anyway.
Q: It’s beautiful. I don’t suppose you had to do much research for your book.
Robert: Oh, tons of research! Deep, deep stuff, like: “what’s in a hump?” and “is myrrh really a liquid?” Things like that! (it can be either a liquid or a gum, but the liquid form was popular in ancient times). No, seriously, it was all just fun, from beginning to end. I didn’t research it much.
Q: There have been other books about downtrodden animals. What makes yours any different?
Robert: Hmm…yeah. What I find most pleasing about my story are the depths of it. My little readers probably won’t pick up on them—and they don’t have to—but I secretly hope that one day they will, perhaps when they go back and re-read it.
Q: Like what kind of depths?
Robert: Well, the “strange gifts,” for example, that are destined for the Christ-child. “Oh, the gold of course is perfectly fine but incense and myrrh?” One belongs in a temple; the other is used for tombs. And that’s deep! For a nativity gift? That’s deep! The stranger who comes in from the west and proclaims: “A king has been born in a manger of hay, it’s a strange way to come if you ask my opinion, with no palace or splendor or signs of dominion...” Oh, yes, it is strange. And deep! Everything about Christmas is deep, actually. The youngest ones don’t need to “get” any of this, but I’m hoping the story “lasts” a little longer than the childhood years to some degree.
Q: Do you have a favorite children’s book writer these days?
Robert: Oh, Sandra Boynton surely. “The Going to Bed Book” is my favorite, but they’re all priceless. I love her artwork. And her humor—it keeps popping up all over her website: sandraboynton.com. Look for her “motto,” for example. She’s really special.
Q: With your book in mind, what would you like to tell every young reader?
Robert: Oh, that’s easy! “You are perfectly made! And very special! And greatly loved by the One who made you.”
Meet the Author:
Robert Schorr resides in San Clemente, California, with his wife Sharilyn and their family nearby. For 26 years, he served as Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel Old Towne in Orange, California. Prior to that, they lived in Asia for 17 years. He is devoted to his Savior, to Sharilyn, his children, flying, hiking, fly-fishing, Chinese, and writing. He loves any story that makes someone special, and he knew, a long time ago, that little Amal had one to tell.
