Tuesday, May 27, 2025

About the Book

Book: Unexpected Hope (Sully Parkway Comfort Dogs Book One)

Author: Pam Green

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release date: October 15, 2024

When Jack Shelton hightails it out of Lexington, Virginia, for the suburbs of Washington, DC, he just wants out. Now. First on the agenda: put mountains and miles between him and his hometown memories. Second: find a job as a reporter. Fast.

Those two things—no other expectations. If he gets that far, maybe he’ll make room for God in his life again.

Then Jack wanders into the Church on the Parkway, and a case of mistaken identity entangles him in ministry with a team of broken people and a golden retriever puppy.

Can Jack get back on track with his new career plans, or will he find something unexpected as he travels Sully Parkway with Team Hope?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Pam Green made her writing début in fifth grade when drafted to write the class play, Ghosts! Ghosts! Ghosts! At twelve, she fell in love with the French language. After a satisfying teaching career, she still peeks in the windows of empty schools while traveling and lingers in school supply aisles in August. Her stories show that God is always working in the lives of His children and seeking new members of His family.

More from Pam

“Sully Parkway? Where’s that? I’ve never heard of the Church on the Parkway either. This area is changing so fast nobody can keep up!”

Life in the Virginia suburbs outside Washington, DC reflects the fast pace of our nation’s capital, and I know I’ve fooled some residents by sticking Sully Parkway and its non-denominational megachurch somewhere—and everywhere—in the area.

Welcome to my world! Sully Parkway is anywhere I want it to be!

You’ll have no difficulty recognizing the Church on the Parkway, or COP. Maybe it’s your church, with all its shortcomings, victories, quirky characters, inspiring leaders—and comfort dogs?!

Yes, COP takes its outreach responsibilities seriously, and they started a comfort dog ministry!

What Christian hasn’t struggled in situations where words fail to soothe a hurting soul? Real life comfort dogs, such as the 100-plus golden retrievers deployed by the Lutheran Church Charities, are ambassadors of Christ’s love in a range of challenging situations, from the minor anxiety of learning to read aloud to the unthinkable tragedy of a school shooting, and everything in between.

I fell in love with these sweet creatures of God who know intuitively how to reach out to hurting humans. Find out how Hope, COP’s golden retriever puppy, grows into her mission.

You’ll discover that some of the hope she brings is completely unexpected!

MY REVIEW

This book drew me in with just the cover. I love animals and especially dogs. The author does a great job of sharing with readers about comfort dogs. We have heard of support dogs where they are trained for medical alerts and then there are animals that are trained as emotional support animals. The dogs go through rigorous training but are so important to their owners. I was at the airport yesterday picking up my younger child. I like to people watch and was amazed at how many dogs I saw there. I appreciate how the author gives us insight into how these animals can help when someone is in need.

Jack stumbles upon a photography job but it was not by accident. God drew him there at that moment and I could feel Jack begin to open his heart just a bit to healing. The emotional scar he carries is evident to some and I love that a very special dog named Hope didn’t hesitate when the need to comfort Jack opened up. It was nice to watch Jack in his journey to healing and building trust in God.

The book introduces us to a ministry at a church that I would love to see in more churches. I can’t resist a dog who is loving and the trainers are faith filled which allows God to help those who need comfort. What a wonderful way to reach hurting people by allowing a trained dog to comfort them as they allow God to heal their emotional pain.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 15

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 16

Vicky Sluiter, May 17

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 18

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 19

Stories By Gina, May 20 (Author Interview)

Roads to Everywhere, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 22

Simple Harvest Reads, May 23 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, May 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 25

Holly’s Book Corner, May 26

Texas Book-aholic, May 27

Artistic Nobody, May 28 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, May 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Pam is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of the book, and a surprise!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54223

Monday, May 26, 2025

About the Book

Book: The Herbalist

Author: Carole Brown

Genre: Romantic Mystery

Release date: Spring, 2025

It’s a long, lonely walk down this West Virginia road, especially when you’ve just been accused of murder.

Can Lana Taylor prove she isn’t guilty? Can she realize that she does have a few friends who’ll stick by her regardless of the accusations? Can she forget the past and learn to trust again?

And will Athan Meadows be able to not only find the answers Lana needs, but also win her trust and love?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of twenty-one fiction books and two short stories in an anthology, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. An award-winning, best seller author, she has a degree in Religious Education and an Associate in Computer, along with other course degrees. She has a special love for animals—especially dogs, cats, elephants and horses (which is sometimes found in her books)—a love for flowers and plants, traveling and her husband who is her best go-to person for grounding her in her writing.

She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons and great granddaughter, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandchildren?

More from Carole

When I started this series (The Appleton, WV Romantic Mysteries) I didn’t realize that I would, someday in the future, be writing Book Eight. Truly, this series is one of my readers’ favorites with many of them asking when the next book is coming out.

When I plotted The Herbalist, I knew the basic outline of how the story would go, but I didn’t realize all the technical details I would need to research, even though most of it, in the book, isn’t indepth.

Car items: fuel pumps, oil leakages, failing brakes.

Dementia: mental stability, actions, progression, and more.

Police procedures: The various actions from a police crew when there’s a murder, the people who examine bodies, the leniency that can or can not be used in a murder case.

and other items I studied. It was both fascinating and tedious, but necessary.

But I love research, so most times I enjoy it, especially when it comes to my books.

I wanted to create an interesting and catching story that was as real as I could make it. Though the major plot scene was planned, at times, I would be stuck, wondering what should happen next. And lying in bed at night is sometimes my best time to think of the a scene and how to write it. I love it when this happens, because it’s the perfect idea for my book. So I jump from my bed to scribble down the thought at my desk.

In The Herbalist, a young mother with five-year-old twins, is accused of murder, but it’s a long, lonely walk down this West Virginia road, especially when you trust few people. Can Lana Taylor prove she isn’t guilty? Can she realize that she does have a few friends who’ll stick by her regardless of the accusations? And can she forget the past and learn to trust again?

And will Athan Meadows be able to not only find the answers Lana needs, but also win her trust and love?

Find the answers in: THE HERBALIST.

MY REVIEW

I love reading books from this author because it always contains faith, relatable characters and illustrations of life lessons. In this book we get to know Lana who works so hard to provide for her children. She is very humble and does not like to ask for help. I saw in her a quality of peace in a situation where others would not be. I was interested in her herbs and how she knew which ones to use. The author could have given readers more info on herbs which would have given the title more emphasis.

Athan is someone you would want on your side in a crisis. He comes to the rescue of Lana when she is suspected of murder. I like how he wanted to prove her innocent and also win her trust. I can’t imagine the pressure he must have felt when he comes against those who won’t listen to the truth. A great lesson is here for us to see how people believe lies without giving someone a chance.

I love cozy mysteries because we get to play amateur detective along side the characters. There are some funny moments in the story along with emotional ones that I enjoyed. Who will be the guilty person in this clean romantic mystery?

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 24

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 25

Roads to Everywhere, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 26

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 27

The Sacred Line, May 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 31

Stories By Gina, June 1 (Author Interview)

Older & Smarter?, June 1

Vicky Sluiter, June 2

Book Butterfly in Dreamland , June 3

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, June 4

Mary Hake, June 4

Holly’s Book Corner, June 5

Pause for Tales, June 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carole is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and copy of the book in winner’s choice of paperback or eBook!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54227

Sunday, May 25, 2025

About the Book

Book: Capture the Moment

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: May 6, 2025

Kate Cunningham is facing the opportunity of a lifetime. As a zoo photographer, she’s spent years photographing animals in carefully controlled environments, but now National Geographic has dangled an irresistible prize: If Kate can snag a unique photo of a legendary bear in Grand Teton National Park, they just might publish it. It’s the kind of challenge Kate has been waiting for, and she’s eager to prove herself in the wild.

With more enthusiasm than experience, Kate soon realizes that capturing an image of this bear isn’t as simple as she hoped. Fortunately, she crosses paths with Grant Cooper, a seasonal park ranger who knows the terrain–and the bears–better than anyone. His tracking skills could be exactly what Kate needs to succeed, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes. But they’re not the only ones with an interest in the park’s most famous bear. And his motives are far from innocent.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol and Selah winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of more than forty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California. Most friends act a little nervous around Suzanne because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young.

More from Suzanne

A Spark that Lit a Story

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Capture the Moment (Revell—May 6, 2025)

Inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places—like a gift shop in Grand Teton National Park. While browsing, I struck up a conversation with a college student who had never set foot outside Alabama until her mom dropped her off for a summer job in the park. One minute, she was home in the Deep South; the next, she was surrounded by towering peaks and moose crossings. Talk about a culture shock.

That conversation lit a spark that eventually became my National Parks Summers series. I couldn’t stop thinking about the fascinating mix of people who work seasonally in national parks. You’ve got fresh-faced college kids on their first big adventure, retirees finally living their bucket-list dreams, and everyone in between. These parks aren’t just natural wonders—they’re crossroads for people from all walks of life, all chasing something unique.

In Capture the Moment, I wanted to explore what happens when people and landscapes collide. Kate Cunningham, a determined zoo photographer, swaps enclosures for the wilds of Grand Teton, chasing an elusive bear and her own sense of purpose. Along the way, Kate meets Grant Cooper, a rugged park ranger with a knack for tracking and a talent for keeping her on her toes.

National parks are more than just beautiful backdrops—they’re places where people find themselves, lose themselves, and sometimes stumble into something extraordinary.

Maybe even love.

MY REVIEW

This book is a wonderful look at what it is like to work at a National Park. I have driven through one but never really stayed at any. I’m not a big fan of camping but my husband loves it. It was so interesting to learn about the animals there and especially the elusive bear everyone wants to take a picture of. With all the tourists it is hard to keep everything running smoothly. The book made me appreciate Park Rangers so much more.

Kate is at the park to capture the perfect picture to hopefully start a promising career. I didn’t like how other photographers were treating her. They were making fun of her working in a zoo, but Kate sure knows about the animals much better than they do. I am hoping she succeeds and gets her chance to be in a famous photographer. Kate is trying so hard to fit in but just like all her life it isn’t working out.

Coop has his hands full as a Park Ranger. He tries to keep the tourists safe along with the wild animals. I wonder if the tourists remember they are in the animals habitat? I’m pretty sure the animals would like them all to leave. I appreciate how Coop befriends Kate but they do run into a mystery. Is someone out there wanting to hurt the elusive bear?

I didn’t like Tim’s stepdaughter Thea at all. She is thoughtless when it comes to her daughter and dumps her on Tim. He is understanding but he wants the best for his stepdaughter and her daughter Maisie. A stable environment would be nice. I love when Tim tells Thea that, “only God can give a person a new beginning.”

I loved the excitement surrounding a poacher. Someone is out to do harm and Coop and Kate may be in the middle of danger. The author delivers a book filled with adventure, faith, mystery and wonderful characters. I enjoyed watching Coop and Kate both grow emotionally and let go of their past hurts.

Anger is mentioned in the story that illustrates how not letting go of bitterness can cause someone to have a hard time forgiving. A beautiful story that shares the beauty of nature as well as the unconditional love of God.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 22

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 22

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 22

By the Book, May 23

Carla’s Book Crush, May 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 24

Devoted To Hope, May 24

Book Looks by Lisa, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 26

lakesidelivingsite, May 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 27

The Avid Reader, May 28

Blossoms and Blessings, May 28

Southern Gal Loves to Read, May 28

Stories By Gina, May 29 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 29

Blogging With Carol, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 30

Cover Lover Book Review, May 31

Karen Baney Reviews, May 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 1

Holly’s Book Corner, June 1

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 2

Books Less Travelled, June 2

She Lives To Read, June 3

Pause for Tales, June 3

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 3

Lily’s Corner, June 4

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, June 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54226

Saturday, May 24, 2025

About the Book

Book: The Dada Base

Author: Allen Brokken

Genre: Comedy

This book is a compliation of the most popular one-liners, head scratchers and total groaners shared on social media by Author Allen Brokken.

Awarded the prestigious Cool Dad Everyone Talks About by his own kids these wholesome jokes are sure to be a hit with your family.

Plus this book contains his complete Telling Jokes and Puns for kids class with free digital access to course videos.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband, and a father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age-appropriate way. He’s dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off to college, he’s sharing his life experiences at home school conferences and through his blog and newsletter at his website. You can get sneak peeks of the ongoing adventures of Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan (plus their pets!) and the #dadjokeoftheday on all the major social media platforms.

More from Allen

When you are an author the industry encourages you to “have a social media presence”. As a new author that’s pretty intimidating because the focus is generally on long form writing which is very different than a 140 character tweet. For the first couple of years I tried different things in the hopes of engaging an audience and nothing seemed to gel.

Then my son introduced me to TikTok. He said, Dad sometimes your jokes are actually funny so why don’t you do them on Tik Tok? I was skeptical at first, but I have been known to be pretty PUN-ny at dinner parties so I tried it.

Given that my office has a lot of Star Wars memorabilia from when I was a kid I landed on telling Star Wars jokes at first. I had very little success only getting between 200 and 1000 view. Then one day I told this joke and my Tik Tok took off.

“So my son was on his way to take his drivers test and I handed him my collectable life size Storm Trooper helmet.”

He looked at me and said, “What’s this for?”

I replied,”So you don’t hit anything.”

If you’re not familiar with Star Wars that joke is funny because Storm Troopers notoriously don’t hit their target. Now I’ve broken the cardinal rule of joke telling, jokes that require the audience to do homework are not good jokes. Which is just one of the many rules of joking around that I learned over the past couple of years.

As my joke list increased I found a group of them that did particularly well online and realized the might make a good joke book. However, I also realized there are a lot of joke books for kids and I wanted to do something different with mine. So I decided I should include my class on telling jokes for kids as a part of the book. So in addition to a collection of funny jokes the book provides a workbook for learning how to tell your own jokes and access to my virtual class for kids on telling jokes and puns.

MY REVIEW

Oh my! This book would be a great gift for Father’s Day. I laughed so hard at the jokes. The author tackles different subjects with great pun lines. I liked how the jokes are clean and filled with lots of fun times for all. There are many jokes to entertain others and I appreciate how the author shares laughter with us.

We all need a good laugh and this book will provide this. I would never be able to choose my favorite but let me share a few to give you an idea of what is in the book. “ My wife sent me out to HomeGoods to buy a colander. There were so many choices, it just strained my brain!” “What do you call a Bible character that just pulled into the church? A parking Lot!”

Enjoy the different jokes that are sure to be a hit for all the dads who love to tell jokes. Some of them may make you shake your head but will definitely make you smile. Grab a copy and get ready spread joy.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.