Blog Hop for Lilacs for Juliana!!! Kindle Fire Giveaway!!!

Starting with Debbie Lynne Costello's Heroes, Heroines, and History blog, on Labor Day, we've begun the official blog hop!!! Leave a comment on THIS blog--Overcoming with God to count as one of your seven required comments to be needed to be entered for the Kindle Fire and cover giveaway! Also, there will be ONE paperback copy given away at EACH blog hop stop!!! 

Click on the links below to take you to Each BLOG HOP STOP after each date has arrived. The hyperlinks and permalinks will be added to this post after I have received them and most currently have the general address of the blog-so feel free to go check them out ahead of time if you haven't already!!!

September 7^th    Heroes, Heroines and History 

September 12^th  Overcoming with God 

September 14^th   BookBabble

September 16^th   Cheryl B Book Blog

September 18^th   D’s Quilts & Books

September 23^rd  Sunnie Reviews

September 24^th  Buzzing About Books

September 30^th  Captive Dreams Windows

October 1^st           SingingLibrarian Books

October 5^th           Perspectives by Nancee 

October 7^th           Stuff and Nonsense

October 14^th        Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

October 21st       LaneHill House

Question: If I were to add a secret gift to the Grand Prize giveaway, what do you wish it was? Do you wish it was a copy of Sonnets from the Portuguese? My dears, did you know both Moose and Juliana love this book and YOU can download it for FREE on Amazon! (Click here.) That would make a GREAT book to have on the Kindle Fire that you could win!!! Also, leave a comment here for a chance to WIN an autographed paperback copy of Lilacs for Juliana!

Lilacs for Juliana, by Carrie Fancett Pagels, Releases Today!

Lilacs for Juliana (Hearts Overcoming Press, August 15, 2015) by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Lilacs for Juliana is now available on Amazon in Kindle format! Releases in paperback within a month! This is a short novel-length Christian Historical Romance, the third book in The Christy Lumber Camp Series!

Thank you to my critique partner, Debbie Lynne Costello, for her hard work and for the following endorsement:

Charming, romantic, and vivid details. This author packs a whole lot into her novella and leaves you with a sigh.

Lilacs for Juliana takes you to the Lumbercamps of Michigan. Carrie Fancett Pagels did a beautiful job taking you back in time when lumbering in Michigan was a way of life for many. You feel you’re right there with her characters as she has flushed each one out and leaves you with a three dimensional person that you can easily fall in love with. Ms. Pagels puts so much into her novella that you walk away with the satisfaction of reading a full length book.

Follow the story of the librarian, Juliana Beauchamps who sets her sights on Richard Christy a local lumberjack and root for her as she battles to keep her job when a library board member resents having a female librarian and seeks to get her fired.

GIVEAWAY: We're giving away several copies of Carrie's new release, Book 3 in The Christy Lumber Camp Series, Lilacs for Juliana, this week on the Overcoming with God blog. To enter for this post's giveaway, please leave a comment or prayer for Carrie. Blessings to you!

Goodreads Giveaways of The Lumberjacks' Ball by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Don't miss out on the goodreads giveaway for Carrie Fancett Pagels' short novel, The Lumberjacks' Ball. Are you a goodreads member? If so, please enter to win one of the two paperback copies!  Running for one month, until August 7th. Endorsements for The Christy Lumber Camp Series have come from authors Julie Lessman, Jen Turano, Serena B. Miller, MaryLu Tyndall, Lisa Norato, Debbie Lynne Costello, and Kathleen Maher.

Goodreads link for The Lumberjacks' Ball.

 
 

    Goodreads Book Giveaway
 

   

       
   

   

     

          The Lumberjacks' Ball (The Christy Lumber Camp Series)
     
     

          by Carrie Fancett Pagels
     

     

         
            Giveaway ends August 07, 2015.
         
         
            See the giveaway details
            at Goodreads.
         
     
   
   

      Enter Giveaway




Comments closed on this post. Come back Tuesday for Noela's review of Connie Almony's new book and Thursday for Carrie's review of Lorna Seilstad's stunning new Gregory Girls' novel!

Five Star Reviews for The Lumberjacks' Ball - Angi Griffis, Ann Ellison,and Britney Adams

Love Those Christy's
Angi Griffis
Another sweet story from Carrie Fancett Pagels! Book Two in The Christy Lumber Camp Series, The Lumberjacks’ Ball follows the budding romance between Garrett Christy and Rebecca Daggenhart and takes us beyond the lumber camp and into the town of St Ignace, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Garrett and Rebecca have something in common…a terrible event from Rebecca’s past. Garrett wants to court her, but trust doesn’t come easy for Rebecca, especially when her past threatens to haunt her again. In each of their circumstances, Rebecca and Garrett must learn how to place their trust in God. If you enjoy sweet Christian romance stories, you won’t want to miss this!

Captivating!
Britney Adams

The Lumberjacks’ Ball is a wonderful short novel! Carrie Fancett Pagels is a terrific wordsmith, evoking imagery and emotion from the first words until the last. She skillfully brings her beautiful setting, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, to life, as well as her endearing characters. Brimming with drama, intrigue, and romance, Rebecca and Garrett’s story is captivating!

Loved It!
Ann Ellison

I loved the first book in this series (The Fruitcake Challenge) and I loved this one every bit as much. It is a wonderful combination of faith and romance combined with some suspense that makes for a very enjoyable read.. I was caught up in the lives of Rebecca and Garrett from the first pages as they tried to overcome the tragic events of the past to find their future together. I certainly recommend this to anyone who enjoys good Christian historical fiction. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series (Lilacs for the Lumber Camp).

CFP:  Thanks so much Ann, Angi, and Britney!!!

Guess what, The Fruitcake Challenge cover is getting a makeover! It will look more like The Lumberjacks’ Ball's cover. What do you think of the new cover? Right now, due to a glitch, The Fruitcake Challenge is on sale for only 99 cents and also made its way back onto the Bestselling list this past week, Praise the Lord! Although the books are stand alones, I think you'll enjoy The Lumberjacks’ Ball better if you first read book one, The Fruitcake Challenge.

Giveaway: An ebook copy of The Lumberjacks’ Ball, available now, or wait on the paperback copy. Or winner's choice of The Fruitcake Challenge in either format. International winners, ebook only.

New upcoming cover for The Fruitcake Challenge by Carrie Fancett Pagels, Book One in The Christy Lumber Camp Series

The Lumberjacks' Ball by Carrie Fancett Pagels

The Lumberjacks' Ball by Carrie Fancett Pagels

It's hard to believe, but the second story in The Christy Lumber Camp Series releases today! In case you're wondering where is the first book in the series, The Fruitcake Challenge released as part of The Christmas Traditions series and then I got inspired to do a series with the characters. So "Ox" or Garrett Christy got his own book. The second book, a short novel, is 43,000 words, which is longer than the first book, at 34,000 words a longer novella. "Moose" or Richard Christy will get his own story entitled Lilacs for the Lumber Camp, which should release in late 2015 or early 2016.

Only available in e-book format through Amazon right now, a paperback will also be releasing in about a month. The book will later be available through Barnes and Noble, after the first three months.

Blurb for The Lumberjacks' Ball

A decade after surviving a brutal attack, a mercantile owner’s daughter begins her life anew in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A gifted craftsman wishes to leave the lumber camp and seeks employment at her new store. When his presence dredges up memories she wishes to suppress, the proprietress must learn to face her past and open her heart. When complications arise, will they overcome adversity in time for The Lumberjacks’ Ball?

Giveaway: Question--what do you like to see in series? Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy.

COVER REVEAL!!! The Lumberjacks' Ball by Carrie Fancett Pagels

The Lumberjacks' Ball by Carrie Fancett Pagels, Cover by Cynthia Hickey

The Lumberjacks' Ball Cover Reveal!!!
This is my brand new cover designed by Cynthia Hickey!!! And that's Rebecca Jane Daggenhart, the daughter of Lower Michigan store proprietors. Called "Janie" as a child, she was a pretty little blonde whose parents dressed her to the "T" to show off children's goods to their customers. But after surviving a brutal attack, Janie determines to avoid having attention called to herself. You'll notice there's no fancy gown for Rebecca Jane in this picture. She calls herself Rebecca Hart and has just begun running her own mercantile in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

It's 1891 in St. Ignace, Michigan, which is becoming a popular tourist destination and also has plenty of business to keep residents occupied. But will it also draw the wrong sort of clientele?

The Lumberjacks’ Ball Blurb

A decade after surviving a brutal attack, a mercantile owner’s daughter seeks to begin her life anew in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A gifted craftsman wishes to leave his lumberjack life and seeks employment at her new store. When his presence dredges up memories she sought to suppress, she must learn to overcome her demons. Can affection grow between the cabinetmaker and the proprietress of St. Ignace’s newest business? And will they survive to attend The Lumberjacks’ Ball? 

Blog Hop & Giveaways!!!

Stop by the SEVEN blogs and leave a comment for a chance to win the grand prize of a basket of surprise goodies!!! Giveaways of Carrie’s books at every blog stop, so leave a comment on each one!!!

Nancee Marchinowski  - Perspectives by Nancee  

Anne Payne - Stuff & Nonsense  

Britney Adams - Buzzing About Books

Kathleen E. Belongia - Lane Hill House  

Debbie Lynne Costello - Sword and Spirit

Overcoming with God

Colonial Quills

GIVEAWAY: One copy, winner's choice, to a commenter here to be chosen at random one week from today's posting. CHOOSE from:

1) The Fruitcake Challenge, released September, 2014. This story is Book #1 in The Christy Lumber Camp Series and will soon be having a new cover. It is also part of the Christmas Traditions Series. Endorsements from Serena Miller, Lisa Norato, MaryLu Tyndall, Julie Lessman, and a new one from Jen Turano! On the long list for Book of the Year at Family Fiction! Hit the #1 Spot in Christian Historical Romance in December on Amazon.

2) The Lumberjacks' Ball, pictured above, releasing April, 2015. Book #2 in The Christy Lumber Camp Series.

Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance

3) Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance 

God's Provision in Tough Times

4)God’s Provision in Tough Times by Cynthia Howerter and LaTan Murphy, chapter contributed by Carrie. 

5) Watch for an upcoming Cover reveal for my upcoming release Saving the Marquise’s Granddaughter from White Rose/Pelican (2015)!

Ebook or paperback copy choice for books 1-5.

6) A Cup of Christmas Cheer from Guidepost Books, hardcover only. 

Or 

7) Family Fiction Anthology of The Story 2014 which includes my award-winning short story “The Quilt Contest”, paperback only.  

International Winners - ebook only of one of books 1-5.

Leave a comment on EACH blog to win a giveaway on that blog. ONE Grand Prize winner will receive a basket of goodies from Carrie. That person needs to leave a comment on EACH one of the Blog Hop stops!!!

Bio 

Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., is an award-winning Amazon bestselling author of Christian historical romance. She served as a psychologist for twenty-five years. Carrie lives in the Tidewater Virginia area with her family. When not writing, researching, blogging and enjoying tea, Carrie beads and reads—not necessarily in that order! And she's the administrator of Colonial Quills and Overcoming with God blogs.

The Fruitcake Challenge Reviewed by Tina Rice

The Fruitcake Challenge, book 3, A Christmas Traditions Novella, Book 3

by Carrie Fancett Pagels

When new lumberjack, Tom Jeffries, tells the camp cook, Jo Christy, that he’ll marry her if she can make a fruitcake, “as good as the one my mother makes,” she rises to the occasion. After all, he’s the handsomest, smartest, and strongest axman her camp-boss father has ever had in his camp—and the cockiest. And she intends to bring this lumberjack down a notch or three by refusing his proposal. The fruitcake wars are on!

Review by Tina Rice

Our hero/heroine live and work near Mackinaw City in Northern Michigan's logging camp in 1890. Josephine-Jo Christy, daughter of the camp's owner, is the camps cook and longs to leave and find another life for herself. She has vowed to leave once this camp site moves on to the next camp site where the white pines they harvest are plentiful. Jo longs to marry and have a family but does not want to marry a lumberjack. Tom Jeffries is a teacher but teaching jobs are scarce and pay little, so he finds a job with the Christy logging camp as a lumberjack to support himself and his widowed mother.

Both Jo and Tom have prayed for God's leading in their lives and question His direction at times. Tom challenges Jo to bake a fruitcake like his mothers', if she does he will marry her. Jo takes up the challenge, not to marry him but to take him down a notch or two—he is way too cocky, and besides he is a lumberjack. But over the months as they get to know each other and Jo bakes one fruitcake after another that doesn't meet Tom's specifications, Jo begins to rethink baking yet one more fruitcake. Tom now has second thoughts on his challenge to Jo, he wants to marry her but not because of her baking a fruitcake. Things don't go smoothly as the deadline gets closer. Even though Jo's fruitcakes are not like Tom's mothers', each fruitcake she bakes spark romance in other unlikely couples.

I loved the sparks between Jo and Tom, each trying not to admit to themselves that there is an attraction. I like the way the author includes Jo and Tom's thoughts showing their uncertainty and how vulnerable they really are. The description of how remote the logging camp really is from the nearest town and the difficulty traveling back and forth gives us a glimpse of their way of life. Those in the camp are more like family than co-workers and rely on each other daily. No story would be complete without surprises, and this one includes some surprises along the way keeping the reader engrossed in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would like to see more of the characters in a follow-up story.

Available for purchase through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Giveaway: A copy of Carrie's ebook. Question: Have you ever read a lumberjack Christmas story?

Diana Reviews A Promise To Love by Serena Miller

A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller

A Promise To Love by Serena B. Miller

Revell, 2012

Reviewed by Diana Flowers
~5 stars *****

Truly A Heartwarming Story!

In A Promise To Love, Serena Miller sweeps us away to the wilds of Michigan in the late 1800s; a savage land both bold and beautiful--filled with majestic, white pine forests, the scent of cherry blossoms permeating the air, vast lumber camps, and the threat of horrific forest fires.

The Swedish born, Ingrid Larsen, arrives in Michigan to search for her brother, Hans, who has disappeared into the dangerous lumber camps, with nothing save the clothes on her back. In her desperation she proposes to Joshua Hunter, a newly widowed cherry farmer with five rambunctious children.

Joshua is determined to establish a lucrative cherry orchard, and after losing his wife under strange circumstances, agrees to marry Ingrid to help out with the farm and his motherless children. Ingrid finds herself in for the biggest battle of her life as she struggles to be a good mother to five needy children, and must also fight the ghost of her husband's dead wife as well.

Soon terrible secrets are unearthed concerning the death of Joshua's wife, and Ingrid is faced with some challenging decisions. Can she continue to be Joshua's wife in name only?...and how can she endure the many hardships that face her without his love? Where is Hans and is he dead or alive? And it's only as she seeks the face of the Lord for guidance and help that the answers to her angst-filled questions are ultimately revealed to her.

Serena Miller has fast become one of my favorite authors! This compelling, heartwarming fiction based on fact story, grabbed me from the first chapter and did not let go until the last! I loved her realistic main characters (Ingrid never lost her Swedish accent throughout the whole book):), and her irresistable secondary characters just as much. Never boring with a fast-paced, exciting conclusion, this is an absolute must read! Nicely done, Serena Miller!

You can get Serena's books through Amazon, CBD, Barnes and Noble, Lifeway,  and other bookstores.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week's contest. Drawing will be late Saterday, your choice of author's books and choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format, not as a paperback.

Question:  Do you have a family member who served in the lumber industry?