Music Review: He Is Risen by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra

Released: April 2014

My Review:
This CD has 6 songs--most of them are familiar, but I didn't know two of them. I really enjoyed listening to these songs because during this time of year (Spring, Easter, etc), it's natural to think about Jesus Christ and the suffering He went through and His resurrection. Some of these songs were very somber and reflective, while others were more upbeat and joyous. I thought it was the perfect combination for the season and really enjoyed them all. I love the way the choir sounds and how powerful the music is.

ABOUT THE CHOIR:
The 360 members of this remarkable choir represent men and women from many different backgrounds and professions and range in age from 25 to 60. They reflect a medley of unique lives and experiences and are brought together by their love for singing and their faith. Their incomparable voices are the common chord that unites to form the choral group known all over the world as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Book Blitz: Eva's Deadline by Linda Hope Lee

To post this Blitz and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter, 

email us at PrismBookTours(at)gmail.com with "Eva's Blitz" in the subject line.

We're kicking off the release of Linda's new Harlequin Heartwarming novel and sharing an excerpt with you below! Once you've checked out the book info and read the excerpt, enter the two fabulous giveaways!

Eva's Deadline

by Linda Hope Lee
Paperback or ebook, 368 pages
April 1, 2014 by Harlequin Heartwarming


Eva Sinclair finally had it all: the Seattle sea-view condo, the fancy blue car and the assistant editorship at the city's hottest magazine. Everything she fought for since the day she walked out on her father and the Willow Beach Herald, his beloved small-town newspaper.

With one call from Mark Townson, her father's protege, it was all gone. Her father. Her career. Her independence. And, quite possibly, her mind. Because fulfilling her father's final wishes meant meeting a one-year deadline as Mark's coeditor at the Herald. That's what they call an impossible deadline. Especially when the sparks begin to fly.

Read an Excerpt now HERE!

Harlequin * Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Praise for previous books by Linda Hope Lee:

For Tell Me No Lies: "Well-written . . . fast-paced . . . highly recommended." 

-Joyce Koehl, Romance Reviews Today 

For Dark Memories: "An emotional drama and puzzling suspense . . . churns with guilt, passion, and intrigue." 

-Romantic Times  

For Finding Sara: "A modern Western, packed with secrets, intrigue, and old-fashioned romance."

-WRDF 

For Loving Rose: "A heartwarming read that will tug at your heartstrings."

-sizzlinghotbooks.net

"What a beautiful story!" 

-sirenbookreviews.blogspot.com

Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mysteries. She enjoys traveling especially to small towns in search of story ideas. She's also an artist, specializing in watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencil. Photography provides inspiration for both her writing and her art. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where many of her stories are set.

Website * Facebook * @LindaHopeLee

Blitz-Wide Giveaways
April 1-15

Giveaway #1:
$50 Amazon Gift Card - International

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Giveaway #2:
ENTER TO WIN EVA'S DEADLINE BY LINDA LEE HOPE!
3 paperback copies - US and Canada
3 ecopies - International

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Teaser: Synchrony by Cindy Ray Hale

 

I'm definitely looking forward to the release of this one! It comes out next Tuesday--April 8th. Synchrony by Cindy Ray Hale is Book 2 in the Destiny series.

Waiting on Wednesday: On the Fence by Kasie West

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

On The Fence by Kasie West

Expected Publication: July 1, 2014, Harper Teen; 320 pages.

I've read a couple of Kasie West's books (Pivot Point and The Distance Between Us) and have loved them! I'm really looking forward to this one. I love romantic comedies and YA fiction and this one sounds like it'll be a perfect fit for me. I love the cover--I like to picture the characters and I love that the faces aren't shown.

Description:
She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…

Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.

What are you waiting for?

Review: A February Bride (A Year of Weddings #3) by Betsy St. Amant

 

January 2014, Zondervan. 120 pages


Description: Happily ever after guaranteed. Allie left the love of her life at the altar—to save him from a lifetime of heartbreak. When a Valentine’s Day wedding brings them back together, she struggles against her family’s destructive history. Can Allie ever realize that a marriage is so much more than a wedding dress? History repeats itself when Allie Andrews escapes the church on her wedding day—in the same dress passed down for generations and worn by all the women in her family—women with a long history of failed marriages. Allie loves Marcus, but fears she’s destined to repeat her family’s mistakes. She can’t bear to hurt Marcus worse. Marcus Hall never stopped loving Allie and can only think of one reason she left him at the altar—him. When the two are thrown together for his sister’s Valentine’s Day wedding, he discovers the truth and realizes their story might be far from over. Can Allie shuck expectation and discover who she is as a bride and in the Bride of Christ? And if she ever walks down the aisle, what dress will she wear?

My Review: This is a darling series. I love how each author takes a theme and puts her spin on it. Weddings=love. I love weddings!! I love the covers on the series. I love to imagine the characters and without faces, I'm able to do so. They're very elegant. Check out my reviews for A December Bride here and A January Bride here.

In A February Bride, Allie runs because of struggles she has with her family. I believe that deep down, she really does have Marcus's best interests at heart. She wants to save him the heartache and pain of a failed marriage or, more accurately, of dealing with her family and their failures in relationships. I get that and what I loved the most was the way that Hannah (his sister) and her mother were able to see past Allie's insecurities and get to the root of the problem. They had such faith in her and helped things along.

Marcus was a great sport! He was willing to take risks and put his heart on the line time and time again. Maybe he's a glutton for punishment, but I think he was willing to take the heat because he had hope of how it would all end.

Content: no language, no violence, kissing. Just sweet, clean romance. Clean!

Amazon * Goodreads * Barnes & Noble

About the Author: 
 
Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana and is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers group. Betsy is multi-published through Steeple Hill and has been published in Christian Communicator magazine and Praise Reports: Inspiring Real Life Stories of How God Answers Prayer. One of her short stories, ‘Kickboxing or Chocolate’, appears in a Tyndale compilation book, and she is also multi-published through The Wild Rose Press. She has a BA in Christian Communications and regularly freelances for her local newspaper. Betsy is a fireman’s wife, a mommy to a busy toddler, a chocolate-loving author and an avid reader who enjoys sharing the wonders of God’s grace through her stories.

Twitter * Website * Goodreads

Review: A January Bride (A Year of Weddings #2) by Deborah Raney

December 2013, Zondervan; 120 pages
Source: I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Description: Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. Maddie’s never met the innkeeper––but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie’s alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn’s owner––a man who's likely many years her senior––and who she’s never even met.

My Review: I love a good romance and the sweeter and cleaner, the better. For me, at least. These are perfect because they're short and sweet--a great dose of romance when one has just a little time to read. You can see my review of the first book in the series, A December Bride, here.

A January Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella) was really cute. The way Art and Maddie's relationship unfolded was predictable, yet gradual and sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I could see how the misunderstanding came to be--who takes the time to actually write letters nowadays? I loved the surprise each face when they realize who each other was.

Content: Very mild Christian elements; no language or violence; sweet, clean romance (mild kissing).

Amazon * Goodreads * Barnes & Noble

About the Author:
DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Her books have since won the RITA Award, ACFW Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. THE FACE OF THE EARTH released in May 2013 from Howard/Simon & Schuster, and SILVER BELLS released from Guideposts in October. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas. They are new empty nesters with four children and a growing quiver of grandchildren, all of whom live much too far away.

Website * Twitter 

Fool For Books Giveaway Hop

Welcome to another great giveaway hop! Thanks for stopping by. I'll be giving away a $12 Amazon gift card so that the lucky winner can buy a book or e-book(s) of his/her choice. This is an International giveaway and the winner will be contacted by email on April 8th. S/he will have 48 hours to respond to accept the prize. After 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Good luck! Be sure to hop on to the next blog. (4/6 FYI--the GFC widget is having some issues that I'm trying to resolve. There's a small purple box to the top right of the widget. If you click on that, it will allow you to follow that way. Sorry for any inconvenience.

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