Celebrate List Promo Blast for The Certain Hope (book) by E.C. Jackson

Good day, reader friends!

Today, I'm featuring a promo blast for a book by E.C. Jackson. Her book is called The Certain Hope. Here is her book's front cover art:

Isn't the book cover lovely?

Here is the blurb for The Certain Hope:

Love at first sight. It’s every girl’s dream. But Tara Simpkins is finding out it’s not as easy as it seems. Is this truly the man God sent to be her husband, or is she just desperate to escape her loneliness?

The recent loss of both parents has left her reeling, and close friends don’t think she’s in any position to make major life decisions. She and her new-found love are convinced they can live happily ever after in the home of their dreams.

His family thinks he’s moving way too fast and might disappoint the kind-hearted woman he’s fallen head over heels for. And then there’s Leah. Leah is supposed to be part of his past, but what if she decides she’s his future?

Tara’s match made in Heaven may be over before it truly begins.

~*~
My Review of The Certain Hope:

When I signed up to read and review this book, I thought that it held a lot of promise. 

The cover art was nice and the blurb for the book was intriguing. However, after the first chapter, I slowly but surely lost interest in the story for several reasons.

The pace was too rushed. The hero and heroine were taking "love at first sight" to a whole new level with references to marriage and moving in together within the first few chapters. 

Then within almost every few pages, the characters were considering marrying each other and dropping hints. I know that in real-life, love at first sight happens but in this fiction story everything seemed too rushed for a relationship that was not fully developed. 

On a positive note, the characters were interesting and likable. But the plot needed to be more fully developed and the pacing needed to be adjusted. 

I cannot give this book more than three stars. But don't be deterred by my review. Just because I didn't really enjoy this story does not mean that you will not. Every reader has their own taste in books.

*I (Alexis A. Goring) received an ARC of “The Certain Hope" from Celebrate Lit. My opinions in this honest review are my own.

~*~

Author Bio:

E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. 

For three and a half years she published the Confidence in Life newsletter for Alpha Production Ministries, in addition to writing tracts and devotionals.

Teaching a women’s Bible study at her church for eleven years naturally led to her current endeavor of writing inspirational romance novels and teen and young adult fiction. 

Her mission: spiritual maturity in the body of Christ through fiction.

~*~

Connect with E.C. Jackson:

Website - https://ecjacksonauthor.wordpress.com
Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/ecjacksonauthor
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/E.-C.-Jackson/e/B00Y1Z0YY2
Goodreads Author Page - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14009486.E_C_Jackson
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ec_jackson

~*~
Purchase The Certain Hope on Amazon

~*~

Tour Video for The Certain Hope:
https://twitter.com/bestebooks_ca/status/1090666123928977408/video/1 

Falling for Books: Courtney's book

Interview with Courtney Walsh about her book, Just Look Up:

Alexis: What is your book about and why did you title it “Just Look Up?"

Courtney: I actually thought of the title for this book before I even had an inkling of a story. On a trip to NYC after years of being away, I noticed walking down the street that everyone had their heads buried in their phones. I, being completely enamored with New York, could not believe all people were missing. I kept thinking, “Look up! You’re missing it all!” And then I realized we do that with our lives. We keep our heads down in our phones and we miss all the life happening around us. I took that idea and turned it into this story. 

Alexis: Describe the setting for your book. How did you choose it? Where is it located?

Courtney: I’m from the Midwest, and I’ve long loved Michigan and all the small cottage towns along the lake, so I created Harbor Pointe, which is a fictitious town that pulls in some of my favorite elements of a variety of real (and imagined!) places. 

Alexis: Lane Kelley is your story’s heroine. She’s an interior designer based in Chicago. How did you research her character and decide on the details that make Lane, “Lane?”

Courtney: Honestly, Lake is the most autobiographical character I’ve ever written, so I didn’t have to do a lot of research to figure her out. She works too much—to the point of making herself sick—and she’s incredibly hard on herself. She always feels like she has something to prove. She’s struggled with her weight in the past, and the teasing/bullying that went on when she was younger still have a slight hold on her today. I think there’s something in Lane most women will relate to as her issues are largely universal. 

Alexis: Early on in your story, Lane is at a crossroads: Pitch successfully to a big client that will advance her career, or travel home to address a family emergency. Has she always felt torn between her dreams and her family’s needs? Explain.

Courtney: I think so. I think when you’re a driven, ambitious person, it’s hard to put work aside, even when you know it’s better to do so, and even (sadly) at the loss of really important relationships. Work has such a hold on us these days—it makes it difficult to rest, to spend time on what really matters, to step away even for a few days. 

Alexis: Describe Lane’s hometown. What makes it special? Why did she want to leave?

Courtney: Harbor Pointe is a charming lakeside town that depends on tourism. There’s a “summer crowd” and then “locals”, who are as quirky and eclectic as the cotton candy-colored buildings that make up its downtown. But, as is the case for many of us, Lane’s hometown, while a respite for so many, has too many secrets and taunts from the past. This makes it difficult for her to stay. 

Alexis: Why do you say that Lane’s family is eclectic? Have they always seen life differently?

Courtney: I’ve always viewed the Kelley family as boisterous, the kind of people who only have outside voices. They aren’t the same kind of driven and ambitious that Lane is—they are perfectly content to run their cheese shop in this small town and live a simple life. That makes Lane feel like the odd man out. They are the type of people who would embarrass someone like Lane simply by being themselves, and she has to come to terms with the fact that it might be her—not them—who needs to change. 

Alexis: Ryan Brooks is the hero of this story. He’s very adventurous. What are his positive points, flaws, strengths, and weaknesses?

Courtney: Ryan Brooks is one of my favorite heroes I’ve ever written. He’s flirtatious and forward, and while his life has not been all rosy, he still has a positive outlook. He’s a veteran, an unassuming hero, the kind of man who doesn’t like the spotlight, but he wants to build a good life for himself, and he’s doing that. Mostly, he wants to be sure he doesn’t end up like his dad, and I’d say one of his flaws is the unforgiveness he’s carrying toward his own father. 

Alexis: How long has Ryan “secretly loved” Lane? Why didn’t he tell her how he felt?

Courtney: I think Brooks has loved Lane forever. Even when she was heavy. Even when she thought she was ugly. He saw something in her that no one else did. He just loved her for who she was. BUT, he was her brother’s friend, and their lives never really allowed for a romance to blossom—she moved to Chicago, he joined the military. Now that she’s back, though, it’s hard for him to set those feelings aside. 

Alexis: Did (romantic) sparks fly when Ryan and Lane were reunited early on in this story? Why or why not?

Courtney: I think yes. Sort of. The kind of sparks that fly, but you maybe don’t admit are flying right away. Brooks always teases her, and he knows how to push her buttons, so their playful banter was fun to write. Lane arrives home with a chip on her shoulder, so he has a big job to try and break down that wall.

Alexis: Why is Lane closed off to Ryan and why is Ryan keeping secrets from his past?

Courtney: Lane is closed off to everyone, but especially to Ryan. He sees through her façade, and she doesn’t like it. And as far as his secrets—I really think he’s embarrassed. He doesn’t like thinking about where he came from. He’s moved on and tried to make something of himself. He wants to be taken seriously, and his past makes that difficult for him. 

Alexis: How does your personal faith in God affect your storytelling?

Courtney: It’s just always there. It’s such a part of who I am at my core, there’s no way around it. It seeps in through the cracks, and I’m glad it does. I think faith provides a sort of hope and light in a very dark world. 

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember the most about Just Look Up? Why?

Courtney: I think the characters and the theme. I would love for more people to commit to looking up. Like with this holiday season…What if we thought less about ourselves and our goals and our plans and THINGS and focused instead on the people in our lives? Instead of piling gifts high, what if we created moments and memories? It’s so hard to unplug and just BE in the moment, but I think that would be my challenge to my readers (and myself)!

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Courtney! Would you like to share closing thoughts?

Courtney: Thank you so much for hosting me here! I really appreciate it!

~*~
Author Bio:

Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. 

Just Let Go will be her eighth inspirational romance novel. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category.

A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. 

She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children.

~*~
Book Blurb for Just Look Up:

After tirelessly climbing the ranks of her Chicago-based interior design firm, Lane Kelley is about to land her dream promotion when devastating news about her brother draws her back home—a quaint tourist town full of memories she’d just as soon forget.

With her cell phone and laptop always within reach, Lane aims to check on her brother while staying focused on work—something her eclectic family doesn’t understand

Ryan Brooks never expected to settle down in Harbor Pointe, Michigan, but after his final tour of duty, it was the only place that felt like home. Now knee-deep in a renovation project that could boost tourism for the struggling town, he is thrilled to see Lane, the girl he secretly once loved, even if the circumstances of her homecoming aren’t ideal.

Their reunion gets off to a rocky start, however, when Ryan can’t find a trace of the girl he once knew in the woman she is today. As he slowly chips away at the walls Lane has built, secrets from his past collide with a terrible truth even he is reluctant to believe. 

Facing a crossroads that could define his future with Lane and jeopardize his relationship with the surrogate family he’s found in the Kelleys, Ryan hopes Lane can see that maybe what really matters has been right in front of her all along—if only she’d just look up.

~*~
Buy Courtney’s book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ChristianBook, or Tyndale

~*~
Connect with Courtney:
Website: http://www.courtneywalshwrites.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneywalsh/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneywalshwrites
Twitter: https://twitter.com/courtney_walsh

~*~

Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall into Love: Laura V. Hilton's story

Freefall Romance
A Fall into Love story by Laura V. Hilton

When Alexis asked for blog posts about falling in love with your spouse, I thought that she meant for stories about a slow fall, like a leave gently tumbling to the ground, caught in a gentle breeze, and taking a leisurely journey. I almost didn’t ask for a featured spot because if that’s what she had in mind, I didn’t qualify.

A slow leisurely fall was not the case for me. It was more of a freefall, terrifyingly fast, but oh-so-right. It was a brisk wind that ripped me from the tree branch I was clinging to, and a whirlwind ride—one where you have no control over anything. All you can do is hold on.

It was August 11. I had just returned to my apartment in Springfield, Missouri, from a visit with my mom in Arkansas. I was tired. And I was not going out. Not. For. Anything. I planned to curl up with a book and just breathe. Then the phone rings. It was my friend Greg. He said he was having a backyard Bible Study and would I like to come?

Um, no. Not really. Thanks. I didn’t say that. I mumbled something about being tired and staying home.

“But we need you there,” he said.

Right. Because I have an opinion about stuff when everyone else just sits and stares at the Bible. But I didn’t want to lead Greg’s Bible study. Sigh.

“Who’s going to be there?” I asked because I could argue that if certain people were there they certainly didn’t need me.

He rattles off a list of names. Then says, Steve.

Steve? Sure, I knew Steves. I knew a lot of Steves. But for some reason, I asked, "Steve who?"

“Hilton. He just got out of the Navy.”

A new guy. Something inside me jumps. “I’ll be there.” I shower, change clothes, and drive to Greg’s house.

Steve and Greg are playing Bible Opoly in the living room when I arrive. They tell me to go on out to the backyard while they put the game up. I do. Greg’s house is dark, dim lights, dark colors. When they get outside, I get my first good look at Steve.

My first thought was, “That’s the guy I’m going to marry.”

My second was “Don’t be silly. You don’t even know him.”

But still. My heart recognized him. Steve was just as impressed with me. We talked after Bible study. We went to McDonald's afterward and talked more. And then every single night after work we spend time together. Not dating. Just talking. Getting to know each other. Hanging out. Becoming best friends, because we were already both positive this was right.

By October we were engaged and planning our wedding.

On December 19 we married—four months after we met.

I had friends since who were shocked by our whirlwind romance. That stuff doesn’t happen in real life. Yes, it does. And a fast romance is what I know. It was different from the guy I dated two years. Even when dating him, I knew he wasn’t the one I was going to marry. And he wasn’t. But sometimes, God brings someone in your life and you just know. Things take off. And like a very windy day that rips leaves off trees and take them on a wild ride, you end up falling in love that way.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.

Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.

When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.

~*~
Book Blurb for Gingerbread Wishes, a novella by Laura V. Hilton:

As Thanksgiving approaches, Becca Troyer finds herself overwhelmed with an abundance of winter squash and pumpkins that she isn’t a bit thankful for. 

Desperately trying to sell them at a farmer’s market so she won’t have mountains to can, she’s surprised when a mime drops to his knee in front of her and proposes marriage.

Yost Miller is helping the volunteer firefighter raise funds at the city park when he notices his long-time crush Becca selling vegetables. Drawn across the grass, he spontaneously proposes marriage. But afterward, Yost isn’t sure how to proceed to show her that his feelings are real.

Just as he begins to find solid footing, confidence is yanked away, leaving him floundering. Will he lose Becca to another man? Or will this Thanksgiving be a season of blessings and wishes come true?

~*~
Buy Love's Thankful Heart on Amazon 

~*~
Connect with Laura:
Blogs - http://lighthouseacademy.blogspot.com/ 

http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/ 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSavea Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall into Love: Kristen Terrette's story

Labor, Delivery, and A First Look at Love

A Fall into Love story by Kristen Terrette

It was a hot summer evening in Georgia when I got a call (on a landline) saying my friend was in labor. We’d only just graduated high school, so this baby was a big deal, a first for my young friends and I. I arrived at the hospital with six friends to wait as long as needed to see the new baby girl arrive. We found ourselves sitting in uncomfortable, dated hospital chairs, watching the muted nightly newscast from a boxy TV attached to the wall in the corner. As if eighteen-year-old girls hanging out in a labor and delivery ward weren’t unique enough, a super cute handful of nineteen-year-old boys were sitting opposite us.

Most of us had yet to meet the buddies of the dad-to-be. They were from a different high school and had never been on our radar, but they sure were after that night. My friends and I chatted softly, excited about the baby and the hotties breathing the same air as us, though neither group made an effort to meet one another. We were all content to simply stare.

One of my friends, the only one to have met a few of the boys previously, told us the cutest of them was named…let’s call him Joel. I scoped out the herd, and located Joel in his faded red Georgia Bulldog hat and a white t-shirt. He was gloriously tanned which only amplified his light blue eyes. He was fit and lean like only an athlete could pull off well. One look had me agreeing with my friends. Joel was the cutest.

After a few hours, we’d lost count. My friends and I were standing by the big double doors leading to the elevators, preparing to leave. Joel, who I’d watched relentlessly, got up to from his chair and walked to the doors…towards us…towards me. I can still remember him glancing over his shoulder to tell his buds goodbye. When he swung his head back around, he was only a foot away, and his eyes caught mine, sealing the deal. It was love at first sight¾at least on my part. (Not really…but kind of.)

I’ll never forget the flush on my cheeks and how my mind replayed our brief eye contact over and over in slow motion. After he was long gone, my girlfriends kept talking about Joel. I was very confused and finally spoke up, telling them Joel had already left the hospital. My friends gave me raised eyebrows and creased foreheads cueing me in that I’d missed something. They told me Joel was still there and nodded to a guy who was cute, but definitely not my Joel, the guy who’d already left the hospital. When my friend realized the mistake I’d made, she told me the guy who’d left was named Ashley, not Joel.

It was an interesting name. One I would never forget. And God had a plan for our future.

A few weeks later, my girlfriend wanted to set me up with a guy who’d started working for her dad. I was very against any “set up” at first, but then she remembered a very important fact. She told me it was Ashley, the guy whose identity I’d mistaken at the lobby.

After I’d recovered and picked up my stomach from the floor, I agreed to meet him. Our brief meeting ended with him later getting my home phone number from my friend. He called that evening and asked me out on our first date the next day, a Friday. We ended up talking for a couple hours. Not only was he cute, but he was sweet and hilarious too. Our first date was followed by our second the very next day. After it, I came home and told my mom I was going to marry Ashley. And that I did.

This past summer we had a special anniversary. We had our first date when I was eighteen, and just had the eighteenth anniversary of that first date. The love of my life has now been with me for half of my life. And it’s only getting better. 

~*~

Author Bio: Kristen has a Master's degree in Theological Studies and was on staff as a Children's Ministry Director for over five years. She cherishes her Southern roots and currently lives forty-five minutes outside of Atlanta, GA. 

With the support of her husband and two children, she stays at home writing Christian fiction, making up fantasy places and characters, allowing God to take the story where He needs it to go. She is also involved in the women's leadership team at her church, and writes for Wholly Loved ministry at WhollyLoved.com. To see her blog and current novels, check out her website at www.kristenterrette.com.

~*~
Book Blurb for Safe Harbor: Eva Elliott is left with a jaded heart after the death of her boyfriend while she was pregnant. She pushed away the idea of God and love, focusing solely on her daughter, Willow. 

She accepts an offer from her mom to move to Moanna Island, off the coast of Georgia. She hopes the move will help her tuck away the guilt for the role she thinks she played in her boyfriend’s death.

Thad Smith’s Pro-Football career came to a crashing and embarrassing halt, sending him running to Moanna Island. He enjoys living under the radar and finds a new purpose as he dedicates his life back to Jesus, but he feels guilty for the sting of loneliness that’s crept into his seemingly full life.

When he saves Willow from drowning in the ocean the first day Eva arrives on the island, he can’t deny the electricity between them. Eva stubbornly fights the stirring in her heart the moment Thad smiles, but since Thad coaches the football team where Eva teaches and lives down the street, God continues to intertwine their lives. When he tells Eva he’s not only falling for her, but Willow as well, she thinks maybe…just maybe, it would work between them.

She doesn’t expect Thad’s ex to throw a kink in the fragile plan, nor for Thad’s relationship with God to convict her own shame and brokenness. Just when she opens the door to God, finally ready to make things right, an accident occurs that could leave Willow an orphan and Thad all alone again.

~*~
Buy Kristen's book:
Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Nook 

~*~
Connect with Kristen:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authorkristenterrette/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/KTerrette
Instagram - @kterrette

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/kterrette2/

~*~

Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

SaveSavea Rafflecopter giveaway