Featured Release: Lady of a Thousand Treasures, Giveaway, and More!

Welcome to  Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd Scavenger Blog Hunt with an awesome giveaway, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!  On each stop, there will be:

• special content by the blogger, plus
• a clue
• then head back to the launch post on JustRead or straight to the main crossword puzzle to fill in the words and get the special phrase to enter the  giveaway!

Before we begin, there's a bit about Lady of a Thousand Treasures. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Lady of a Thousand Treasures
Series: Victorian Ladies, Book 1
Author: Sandra Byrd
Publisher: Tyndale House
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Genre: Historical/Gothic Romance
Links: Goodreads

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her elderly uncle’s decline, the family business is at risk, and unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a wealthy client offers an unexpected opportunity when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She alone must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke her heart.

Harry claims to love Eleanor still, and though she yearns to believe him, there are circumstances that make her question if this is true. Yet she also distrusts the late baron’s motives, especially after her uncle and her home are attacked. With her family’s finances dwindling and the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win favor among potential clients, saving the family and its firm. But the more time Eleanor spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Can she risk bestowing upon him the treasures, and her heart, after all?

Ultimately, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

Lady of a Thousand Treasures is the first book in Sandra Byrd’s Victorian Ladies series, and is actually only the second book I have ever read by her. However, it has made me want to read many, many more of her novels, because I REALLY enjoyed this book. In fact, I’ve already borrowed another of her novels from the library, because I am certain that if it is anywhere near as good as this one, I will enjoy it. To be perfectly honest with you, I had never read anything quite like this story before, but I liked getting to know more about antiquities and what evaluators were like back in those days. It was such an interesting storyline, with a riveting plot and fascinating characters, and I quite honestly couldn’t get enough of it.

When I first started the book, there was a lot of suspicion going around about Harry—and others—and it made it hard for me to know who to trust and who I should like, but I really enjoyed that! It gave a nice, mysterious edge to the story, and I really enjoyed trying to figure out who was good and who was bad along with Eleanor. Then, the deeper I got into it, the more twists and turns and unexpected events I found, and I couldn’t help but be captivated by every page. There wasn’t a moment when I felt like a scene was boring or could have been done without, every piece had a part to play in the story, and each one was just as interesting and well written as the next.

Obviously, I cannot help but give this story all five bookshelves. Sandra did an amazing job of weaving together a touching, captivating, unforgettable tale, and I already want to read it again as I’m writing this. I couldn’t have imagined a better story. Clearly, I also am giving Lady of a Thousand Treasures a place on my all-time favorites list, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves a good historical novel. Sandra has now become one of my favorite authors, and I want everyone to enjoy her books just as much as I did.

If you'd like to purchase a copy, just click on one of these links:

Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | Christian Book | Book Depository | Books-A-Million

About the Author

After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published fifty books.

Sandra's delighted to kick off her new historical romance series with Tyndale House Publishers, Victorian Ladies, with Lady of a Thousand Treasures. The three-book Victorian Ladies series follows her historically sound Gothic romances, Daughters of Hampshire, launched with the bestselling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor's Choice award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, was published in 2017. Check out her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2011, and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.

Sandra has published dozens of books for kids, tweens, and teens, including the bestselling The One Year Be-Tween You and God Devotions for Girls. She continued her work as a devotionalist, with The One Year Home and Garden Devotions, and The One Year Experiencing God's Love Devotional.

Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype.

CONTACT: website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

SCAVENGER HUNT CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Instructions: Head to every stop on the tour to collect a word to finish the crossword puzzle. Hint: You might want to print out the crossword puzzle (link below) and enter it everyday to make it easier.

Crossword Board: https://crosswordlabs.com/view/lady-of-a-thousand-treasures-scavenger-hunt

Not a crossword puzzle fan? Just compile the clue words from each stop and enter it on the Rafflecopter entry.

This stop's CLUE is:  His

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive:

• a copy of Lady of a Thousand Treasures (print to US addresses OR ebook to international)
• Cork coaster set of the British Isles (US Only)
• "To The Lighthouse" diffuser made by Seawitch Candles in Cornwall, England. (US Only)
• $10 Amazon gift card (open international)

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 15, 2018 and lasts through 11:59pm October 22, 2018. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to stop on every stop on the Tour Schedule for all the clues to enter!

TOUR SCHEDULE

For the full tour schedule, click on either of the launch pages below.
(All stops expected to post by 12:00 NOON EST)

Launch Page at JustRead

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Sandra Byrd and Tyndale House Publishers.

My Bookshelf: The Chase by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky—Plus a Giveaway

        Only God could have written a love story as beautiful as Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky’s. from their teenage days thousands of miles apart when they separately wrote letters to their future spouses, to a chance meeting backstage at a concert, their story brings inspiration and hope to every girl.

        It’s easy to get impatient for the future to play out, especially when it comes to love. Before long you find yourself chasing the perfect guy and trying to write out your own happily ever after. But the truth is, your best future won’t be found chasing boys—it’ll only come by first chasing God.

        In The Chase, Kyle and Kelsey take turns telling their story—with Kelsey sharing secrets to a Godly relationship and Kyle revealing the truth about what guys really think. Together they’ll show you how to put God first, protect your heart, deal with the loneliness and peer pressure that come along with purity, and see yourself as God does.

        Are you ready to trust God with your very own happily ever after? Let the chase begin!

        The Chase is a wonderful book all about trusting God with your happily ever after. As someone who has yet to find mine, this book was a big deal for me. Reading great advice about chasing God, staying away from unhealthy relationships, and always building your guy up were inspiring, and I loved the insight into how guys think. With chapters like “God First”, “The List”, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”, and “Just Haven’t Met You Yet”, this book really did cover all of the bases, and it was full of examples of how things were done differently and how painful that was for the couples involved. I felt like that gave girls another reason to try their hardest to do things the right way, and I am sure it was super encouraging.

        Along with all of the great advice and ways to apply it to your life, I really enjoyed getting to learn all about Kyle and Kelsey’s story. They really do have a fairy-tale relationship, and it was super sweet to read about how much they love each other. I know you are not supposed to compare your relationship to anyone else’s, but I hope I have a fairy-tale too someday. They both really chased the Lord leading up to the day they met, and I don’t think their relationship would have worked out so well as it did, if they even started dating at all, if it weren’t for their dedication to Christ. It was inspiring to hear and actual success story, as it made it so much easier to believe that what they were advising was actually doable. And I also just love that they took on the project of writing a book like this.

        I cannot help but give The Chase all five bookshelves, because it is such a good book for girls, and women, who are waiting for their princes. It is sure to strengthen their relationships with the Lord, inspire them to wait until the right man chases them, and show them how to go about having a Christ-filled relationship with the man of their dreams. I applaud Kyle and Kelsey for a job well done, and cannot wait to see what the future holds for the both of them, especially when it comes to their ministry!

        And now for the giveaway! Today I am hosting my first ever giveaway in honor of The Chase! In fact, that’s what I’m giving away! So scroll on down and enter by doing the things in the Rafflecopter form below! Good luck and happy reading!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a copy of this book from the authors in exchange for my honest review.

Linking up at Let it Shine, Bloggers Who Have Inspired Me, and Totally Terrific Tuesdays.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky and Revell Publishing.

High Five for Friday

        Another week has come and gone, and let me say, I am soooooo glad it’s finally the weekend! But, I have to admit, this week hasn’t been all bad…

        1. I have officially moved! It was a big transition, even though it wasn’t much of a distance, but I have to say, I am very glad everything worked out and that I am able to be here. While it was a bit of a whirlwind, I know this is where the Lord wants me to be, so I’m super pumped to see what He has in store. I’ll keep you posted.

        2. Currently I am reading The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate, and I am LOVING it. Up until this point, I hadn’t read anything by her, but I am so glad I picked up this one. Lisa’s writing is phenomenal; every scene flows effortlessly into the perfect story that draws you in and keeps you wanting more. I cannot wait to finish this story, and I’m already anticipating reading the rest more by her. As soon as I finish this one, I’ll let you know what I think of it as a whole. Because of the move, I’m a little behind schedule, otherwise I would’ve already finished and reviewed this one, but either way, it’ll get posted eventually (wink, wink).

        3. Everything is on track for my very first giveaway!! I’m planning on (as long as nothing comes up and throws me off track) having it start September 7^th, so look out for that! I’m already so excited to get to read The Chase, so the fact that I get to give a copy away as well makes me super happy. For those of you who don’t know, The Chase is a new book for girls all about trusting God with your happily ever after, and it’s by Kyle Kupecky—a Christian Recording Artist—and his wife Kelsey—who is also the daughter of New York Times Bestselling Author Karen Kingsbury. Anyway, I cannot wait to share this book with you, so come back September 7^th for my giveaway!

        4. Another thing I am reading at the moment is Your Best Happily Ever After by Ginger Kolbaba. I’ve been reading it as my devotions the last couple of weeks, and I absolutely LOVE it. As I’ve read page after page, I’ve learned so much about what it means to really live out the ‘happily ever after’ God has for you. I’ve been enjoying it immensely, and I cannot wait to share my full review with you!

        5. Oh, I almost forgot! The lock-in I mentioned I was planning on last weeks’ post went really well! It was so much fun, and I know all the teens enjoyed themselves. It was also just such a great time of bonding for everyone, especially since we are currently in transition and without a youth pastor. Anyway, it was an absolute blast, full of great games like Sardines and Hunger Games Dodgeball, and lots and lots of pizza. I cannot wait to help out with another one!

        There’s my highlights for my week. I cannot wait to see what next week holds!

        Happy Friday!

Linking up at High Five for Friday, Five on Friday, FridayFavorites @ Meet at the Barre, and Friday Favorites @ The Diary of a RealHousewife.

All credit for the photo of Your Best Happily Ever After goes to my sister, Allie. Check out her blog here.

High Five for Friday

        It’s Friday! You know how some weeks it seems to take forever to get to the weekend? Well, this was one of those weeks. But it’s finally here now, and I’m gonna celebrate! Though I have to say, this week hasn’t been all bad…

        1. I’m setting up for my first ever giveaway!!! I’m so excited I can barely stand it! I’m not a hundred percent sure what day it will start, but it will most likely be September 7^th through the 14^th (both are Mondays, by the way). Unfortunately that seems like an eternity away, but that’s because the book I’m giving away doesn’t even come out in stores until the 1^st, and the copy I’ve already ordered to give away won’t get to me until the 3^rd. Plus, that will give me some time to actually read my copy so I can tell you how wonderful it is so that you’ll want to win the giveaway even more. What book is it, you ask? Just the one book I have been looking forward to the most ever since I first heard of it. It’s called The Chase: Trusting God with Your Happily Ever After and it is by Christian Recording Artist Kyle Kupecky and his wife Kelsey, who is also the daughter of New York Times Bestselling Author Karen Kingsbury. Here’s the description:

        Only God could have written a love story as beautiful as Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky’s. from their teenage days thousands of miles apart when they separately wrote letters to their future spouses, to a chance meeting backstage at a concert, their story brings hope and inspiration to every girl.

        It’s easy to get impatient for the future to play out, especially when it comes to love. Before long you find yourself chasing the perfect guy and trying to write your own happily ever after. But the truth is, your best future won’t be found chasing boys—it’ll only come by first chasing God.

        In The Chase, Kyle and Kelsey take turns telling their story, with Kelsey sharing secrets to a godly relationship and Kyle revealing the truth about what guys really think. Together they’ll show you how to put God first, protect your heart, deal with the loneliness and peer pressure that come along with purity, and see yourself as God does.

        Are you ready to trust God with your very own happily ever after? Let the chase begin!

        Doesn’t that sound amazing! I’m absolutely dying to read it. Anyway, keep an eye out for my giveaway; I’ll be posting more details soon!

        2. This week I have to give God a huge, huge thank you for the blessings he has given me. The main reason I say this as one of my highlights is because of the people God has placed in my life, and how much they mean to me. You see, I’m going to be moving (not far, just residences) next week, and an absolutely amazing couple who goes to my church—and are also more like family to me than anything else—have been going above and beyond trying to help make this move as easy as possible. Last Sunday, they had mentioned something about helping me out, but I had been quick to assure them that, while that meant the world to me, I didn’t want them to have to go out of their way and that they didn’t have to do that.

        Well, they knew they didn’t have to, but they wanted to, so on Wednesday they brought it up again, and they—along with my best friend—had me sit down and write out everything else I needed before move-in day so they could help me pick it up. I cannot tell you how blessed I felt as I sat there among some of the people I love the most as they tried to help me by reminding me of things I might need that I hadn’t thought of, and then offering to purchase it for me. I have never been so thankful for the way God gives you exactly the blessing you desired, right when you needed it most. And I’m not talking about the act of helping as much as how loved I felt by their offer. Even if they never actually did a single thing to help, just the way they offered and the way they showed how much they loved me meant more than they will ever know.

        3. More nail designs! The middle nail on that hand is a little messed up, but that’s okay (I’m not very patient when waiting for them to dry). Unfortunately I have to say this isn’t my favorite design, but I do like it nonetheless. And I am positive that I will be doing stripes again—I really want to try chevron by I’m not sure if I’m brave enough yet. Speaking of nail designs…

        4. I’m working on my very first nail tutorials! Isn’t that exciting? While they aren’t going to be videos (I know I’m not brave enough for that just yet), they will be step by step instructions with quite a few pictures to lead you through! I’m thinking I will have at least one design every 1^st and 3^rd Monday, although I’m not entirely sure just yet. We’ll see, but either way, I will have some tutorials soon! Since I’m moving, it might not be until next month, but rest assured, they are coming!

        5. Last but not least, I just read The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson. I know I always talk about books, but I really couldn’t help it this time. The Captive Maiden was absolutely amazing! I read it all yesterday, and I loved every bit of it. I have never, ever melted into a little puddle as many times as I did reading this novel. It was by far one of the sweetest books I have ever read, and the suspense just about killed me! I cannot wait to review this book, but I’m waiting until Tuesday since I own this one and want to post it as a part of my regular “My Bookshelf” posts I always do on Tuesdays. So, look out for that review, because I will have a lot more gushing—and swooning—over this book to do!

        Happy Friday!

Linking up at High Five for Friday.

All credit for the photo of The Captive Maiden goes to my sister Allie. Check out her blog here.


All credit for the italicized synopsis of The Chase goes to Kyle & Kelsey Kupecky and Revell Publishing.