25 Book Reviews

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Awesome Book!! Awesome Giveaway!!



                    "The Valentine Verse
                         By JoAnn Durgin

About the Book:


Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 5, 2017
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for February 14th anymore! Love should be celebrated every day of the year. That’s Thornton Fielding’s philosophy. In spite of a few false starts in the arena of love, he holds out hope he’ll eventually find the woman of his dreams. The problem? He loves his job, and there’s no end in sight to his travels. But when Thornton returns to his tiny hometown of Cherish, Minnesota, he meets a beautiful and intriguing woman he believes might be God’s answer to ending his bachelor status—permanently.
Vara Alexandris is soured on love and scoffs at the notion of soul mates. But soon after meeting the handsome and unconventional Thornton, the speech and language pathologist suspects he might be the perfect ally to help jump-start her stroke patient’s recovery—if only Vara can keep Thornton grounded in Cherish long enough. This man who spouts romanticized and idealistic ideas about love seems all too eager to resume his world travels. Could it be Thornton actually prefers globetrotting in order to avoid a romantic relationship?
Is it time for Vara to call the dreamer’s bluff? And can Thornton convince Vara to put past heartache behind her and trust in God’s plan for her heart?
Join Thornton and Vara in USA Today bestselling author JoAnn Durgin’s latest release full of her trademark humor, romance, and lively, small-town characters in a story of God’s fierce passion and loving guidance for His children—if only they pay attention! The Valentine Verse is sure to warm your soul during any season of the year.
My Thoughts: 


"The Valentine Verse" is a  heartwarming story of some beloved characters (from one of JoAnn's  popular series) who all must deal with previous hurts and rejections . Their future relationships are dependent on the healing that only faith and trust in God can provide. Although some characters from previous novels appear in this story line, it can be thoroughly enjoyed as a stand alone. The two main characters were realistically described making them easy with whom to identify. 

The plot moves somewhat slowly but steadily towards an expected happy ending. The story was one that I would highly recommend for those who love a sweet Christian romance.  I enjoyed the humour that JoAnn uses throughout the book, lightening the mood and making this tale one that holds one's interest from beginning to end. The message  and importance  of faith in God shines throughout. It definitely carries a strong Christian message that can be an example to us all. 
This book was a gift. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.
 Click here to purchase your copy!
About the Author:
JoAnn Author Photo (Princess Cruise)JoAnn Durgin is the USA Today bestselling author of the beloved Lewis Legacy Series as well as Prelude, the prequel to the series. Her other works include the Amazon bestselling Catching SerenityHeart’s Design and its sequel, Gentle Like the Rain, The Wondrous Love Series, Echoes of EdinburghPerchance to DreamWhisper to My HeartThee Will I CherishThe Christmas Challenge, and the popular Starlight Christmas Series.
A former estate administration paralegal, JoAnn now writes contemporary Christian romance full-time and lives with her family in her native southern Indiana. Writing Christian fiction is her passion, and she loves nothing more than sharing the hope to be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Guest Post from JoAnn Durgin

A Little More about The Valentine Verse from Author JoAnn Durgin
I adore writing and reading contemporary Christian romance, but I’ve noticed very few novels in the genre have an actual Valentine’s Day theme and/or title. Perhaps authors believe it would limit the “shelf life” of their book. The way I see it, if Christmas novels (and Hallmark Christmas movies) can be popular year-round, why not Valentine’s Day books?
I’ve always been somewhat of a rebel in my writing career. Don’t tell me I can’t do something or I might just try it (within reason)! After a Christmas release last year followed closely by the eighth installment (500 pages!) of my longest-running series, I knew I couldn’t possibly release a Valentine’s Day book. That’s when one of the primary themes of The Valentine Verse “hit” me—Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be reserved only for February 14th. Expressing our love to one another should be celebrated throughout the year! This concept became the philosophy of the hero, Thornton Fielding, and the book released in early May. Let me tell you a little more about the idea for Thornton…
I dedicated The Valentine Verse to my uncle, Mr. Thornton, and named my hero after him. My uncle was instrumental in my being able to quit my full-time paralegal job in mid-August 2014. Without going into specific details, there were three things that took place (“signs,” if you will) beginning earlier that same year, which seemed to clearly indicate I should try to make writing my full-time career. My debut novel released in late 2010, and the story of my road to publication can be found on my website at www.joanndurgin.com. By early 2014, my books were beginning to find faithful readers, and I was blessed with decent sales. The third and final “sign” and blessing came from Mr. Thornton. Truly, it was as if God were saying, “JoAnn, what more will it take for you to step out in faith?” I promised the Lord and myself that I’d take a year and see how it went…and I haven’t looked back since! I took the leap of faith, but I’m also doing what I feel the Lord has called me to do. Almost three years to the day of quitting my day job, I released my 24th novel. God is so good, and it is my great honor and privilege to write for His glory.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit for the gracious opportunity for this blog tour. The Valentine Verse features fun characters (how can you miss with a small Minnesota town named Cherish?), heartwarming lessons, *sightings* of two of my most popular heroes from another series, and even a surprising twist at the end! I hope you’ll enjoy The Valentine Verse.
Blessings, friends.
JoAnn
Matthew 5:16

Blog Stops

Mommynificent, January 10
Power of Words, January 10 (Spotlight)
Karen Sue HadleyJanuary 11
Reading is my Super Power, January 11 (Interview)
Quiet Quilter, January 12
RemembrancyJanuary 13
Bibliophile Reviews, January 15
Texas Book-aholic, January 16
Janices book reviewsJanuary 18
Jeanette’s Thoughts, January 19
Carpe Diem, January 20
Simple Harvest Reads, January 21 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
God is Love, January 22
A Greater YesJanuary 23
margaret kazmierczak, January 23 (Interview)
Pursuing StacieJanuary 24
BigreadersiteJanuary 24

Giveaway:

To celebrate her tour, JoAnn is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c5dd

17 comments:

  1. This sounds like an awesome book and an awesome giveaway too. Looking forward to reading this one

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    1. Hi Anne, and thanks so much for the comment. I hope you'll have the opportunity to read The Valentine Verse soon. Blessings!

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  2. Thank you so much for the lovely review of The Valentine Verse! I appreciate your lovely words and for featuring my book today. If I may make one clarification, however. The Valentine Verse is a stand alone novel and not part of a series. Two heroes from my Lewis Legacy Series make appearances near the end of the novel, but Vara, Thornton, and the characters in the town of Cherish are all completely new to readers. Not a major point, but one I felt was important to note. Thank you again, and blessings!

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    1. Sorry, I did not correct my wording in time before I posted. I knew it was not a series. However, was I mistaken that a couple characters reappeared from other of your books?

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    2. Yes, that's correct (and no problem at all!). Please see my comment above where I mention my "two heroes." The core character from the Lewis Legacy Series makes an appearance as well as his brother, a NASA shuttle commander in the last Lewis Legacy novel. My readers seem to love these *crossover sightings* as I call them, and I enjoy writing them when they seem to "fit" so naturally into the story line, not coincidences but "God" things. Blessings.

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  3. I love sweet Christian romances, especially if they learn to trust each other and God
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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    1. Hi Lori! Sounds like you'd be a very good *fit* as a reader for my books. I hope you can read one of them soon--The Valentine Verse or any one of my books. I feel there is enough angst in the world. Although my characters face issues and difficulties, they indeed learn to trust one another and in God's plan for their lives as they work together and face those situations (more external conflict than internal). In a JoAnn Durgin book, that's how they get to know one another well and then fall in love. :) Thank you for your encouragement of Christian fiction and its authors. Blessings!

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  4. Sounds like a wonderful book!

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    1. Thank you, Natasha! I hope you'll have the opportunity to read Vara and Thornton's story in The Valentine Verse. Blessings, and thanks for the comment!

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  5. Congrats on the tour and thanks so much for your review and giveaway. I also agree, even though it is a Valentine's book, it can and should be read any time.

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    1. Thank you, James! Yes, love--especially God's love for us--should be observed and celebrated every day. I hope you'll have the opportunity to read The Valentine Verse. Blessings, and thanks for your comment.

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  6. I loved what you said about your uncle - so sweet. I didn't have any family who were involved in my life like that.

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    1. Hi Dianna! I don't get to see him often, but it's always time well spent when I do. He's indeed very special. I appreciate your comment, and I hope you might be able to read The Valentine Verse. Blessings!

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    1. Hi Emma, and thanks for the comment. I like to believe The Valentine Verse is a fun story. I enjoy writing the banter between my hero and his heroine. I hope you can read the book soon! Blessings.

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  8. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Shamekka, and thanks for the comment. I hope you'll be able to read The Valentine Verse or another of my books soon! Blessings.

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