Good morning, y’all!  I have a guest post by Kassie Angle for you AND my review of Stop the Rain. I wanted to combine my love of food and books so of course, I asked her for a food related guest post and here it is!

“Food and Stop the Rain… lest the seriousness of most of my stories deceive you, I absolutely love more light-hearted topics that tie in with said stories. Especially with StR. ’Cause I don’t know what happened to that story, but it’s been invaded by pizza. Something about Harley’s personality just screams, in spite of everything else going on I’m a very normal teenager and I
would just like an entire pizza to myself, please and thank you. It wasn’t even intentional, it’s just who he is. And the amount of times pizza shows up in the story isn’t even funny.

Also, Oreos. Oreos are my weakness (fun fact ), and now I’ve ruined them for myself by deciding to throw in a conversation about poisoned Oreos at the beginning of one of the roughest chapters of the book. I’m not really sure how that happened either, but I kind of love it. And I promise, there’s not actually poisoned Oreos in the story.

And last but not least, it wouldn’t be an authentic Texan story without at least one mention of barbecue, right? Again, it wasn’t really a thought-out thing; I just needed a comfort food for a homey scene and barbecue sandwiches were the obvious choice.

Because yeah, Stop the Rain can feel really serious; I of anyone should know that. But you can’t drive home a serious point if your story doesn’t ring true. And in a story about an eighteen-year-old American boy, one surefire way to do that is to mention pizza a little too often.”

Well, barbecue is one of my absolute favorites and I’ve never been to Texas. Though, I was born in the other Barbecue capital, North Carolina!

Now, for my review:

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.  You need to read it. 

Oh. That’s not enough of a review? Seriously? I am much better at making Lemon Pound Cake than sitting still to put my thoughts out there for all to see. 

Ok. Let’s try again. I read this book three times the first week I had it.  I loved the brotherly relationship between Nigel and Harley.  I appreciated their mother’s love and ability to comfort even through her own pain. 

This book dealt with difficult subjects but it is real life.  (Even while writing this review, I got side tracked with rereading it again.) So, yes, real life.  Maybe not the best book for younger audiences but despite the difficult subject matter it was written tastefully. No foul language. It was a good edifying read.

Now, go make yourself a cup of coffee and Joy Filled Eats’ Lemon Pound Cake (Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Low Carb Deliciousness.) then read Stop the Rain for the hour it bakes. Oh, and don’t forget your tissues!

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the author but the review is all from me!)

Stop the Rain Release Tour: The War’s Not Over

Tour Info!

Synopsis:

He left his entire world in Iraq. So why did the war follow him home?

Harley Keane and his best friend Nigel were just kids when 9/11 rocked their world and changed their lives forever. When they’re finally old enough to join the Army, all their childhood dreams seem about to come true. But war wasn’t supposed to be like this. A kid’s dream isn’t supposed to become a living nightmare. Fellow soldiers aren’t supposed to bleed out in front of your eyes.

Back home, safe and unwounded, Harley feels anything but. Why would God spare him when so many others were taken? Why won’t the nightmares stop, even when he’s awake? And how long can he hide the truth that threatens everything he has left? When Harley’s invisible scars refuse to stay hidden, will he let anyone close enough to help? And how do you go on with life when “okay” isn’t okay at all?

Author Bio: 

Kassie Angle is a teenaged Christian author, cowgirl, therapy dog trainer, stereotypical INFJ, and Army girl to the core. Her first love, i.e. debut novel, O to be Like Thee, swept her unexpectedly into the world of indie authors. She tries to use her stories to fill the silences in literature, helping more people understand the world of the Army and showing how God heals the broken-hearted. You can find her and more of her writing at SoldierGirlStories.com.

Links:

Kindle

Paperback

Goodreads

Soldier Girl Stories

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3863a92e1/?

Tour Schedule: 

9th – 

An Ordinary Pen, review and author interview 

10th – 

Abby Elissa, author interview 

Kaitlyn Krispense, Author, author interview 

EJ’s Journal, review, spotlight, and guest post 

11th – 

Beautiful Things by Laura, review 

Life of Heritage, review and spotlight 

Read Review Rejoice, review

Set Apart for Him, spotlight 

Lionhearted Art, art

12th – 

Little Blossoms for Jesus, review and guest post 

Jenna Terese, guest post 

Whimsical Writings for His Glory, review, spotlight, and author interview 

13th –

Kenmore Pines, review, author interview, and character interview

14th –

Stories by Firefly, review and spotlight

Well Go Read, spotlight 

 

Synopsis

They say time heals all wounds. But he was finding it a poor painkiller.

Tyler Collens has seen grief and loss in his years of experience as a paramedic—but he never expected it to touch his life in such a personal way. The death of his wife eighteen months ago shook his steady world and changed him in more ways than he can count. Time and routine have steadied his feet, and he looks toward the future as he raises his infant daughter—but the past has a tighter grip on him than he knows.

Alyvia Emmerson has never been certain of who she is or where she belongs. Her dad’s abandonment as a teen broke a fragile piece of her heart, but ten years later, she has moved on. Living on her own, she at last has a project to devote herself to: revitalizing a shabby bookstore. But she didn’t count on her dream job revealing the shattered pieces of herself she thought mended long ago.

In this sophomore novel featuring beloved characters from Live Without You, Sarah Grace Grzy explores themes of grief, hope, and second chances in a story that touches both the heart and spirit.

Author Bio

Sarah Grace Grzy is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called ‘Life,’ she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a wood stove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. Sarah Grace is a freelance web and graphic designer, and when not working, spending time with her ever-growing family, or reading, she can be found painting, playing the piano, or fangirling with her sisters and friends. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else—unless it meant she could have a baby penguin, in which case, she’d gladly move to the South Pole.

Insta: www.instagram.com/SarahGraceGrzy

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/SarahGraceGrzy

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SarahGraceGrzy

Book Trailer

Giveaway

Main Giveaway: https://victorialynnblog.com/never-say-goodbye-release/

Never Say Goodbye and Live Without You are included in The Great Review Race, a Multi Author Monthly Giveaway. Submit your reviews to the form below to be entered into the giveaway! April/May Winner will receive a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card! Please also invite your readers to this giveaway by posting this link in your posts under the giveaway heading. http://victorialynnblog.com/the-great-review-race/

PAPERBACK PURCHASE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqQHtOi4XHHqpMMuPwB8RMvx7PFUln4FeHgAHeKN4WATIVwA/viewform

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48537922-never-say-goodbye

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1087873053/ref=x_gr_w_bb_sin?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_sin-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1087873053&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-say-goodbye-sarah-grace-grzy/1136811321?ean=9781087873053&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Never-Say-Goodbye-Sarah-Grace-Grzy/9781087873053

Indie Bound: https://bookshop.org/books/never-say-goodbye-9781087873053/9781087873053