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Milla Holt: Inspirational Christian Romance

Sweet contemporary Christian love stories with an international twist

An Honest, Unflinching Story of Redemption

Book Recommendations, Giveaways

Where Healing Starts by Angela D. Meyer Blog Tour banner

My Review

I’ve been looking forward to the second story in Angela D. Meyer’s Applewood Hill series, and this book did not disappoint.

Where Healing Starts doesn’t give easy answers in its portrayal of the fallen world in which we live. This includes the fact that many sins have far-reaching consequences. Although the father of the now adult Hannigan siblings repented of his abusive behaviour while his children were young, his conversion didn’t erase the evil he’d done. His children bear the twisted legacy of that abuse, carrying devastating wounds that push the vicious cycle on.

Joanna shows this through her self-destructive behavior. My heart ached for her as she lurched from one bad choice to another. But Where Healing Starts also shows the power of God’s grace. His love and healing are real, and we see that through the way he patiently draws Joanna towards himself.

There’s a twist I didn’t expect at the end, but it fits in with the themes of this book. I look forward to reading the next story and finding out what happens to the characters.

If you like realistic fiction dealing with flawed characters finding redemption, this is a story for you.

About When Healing Starts

Where Healing Starts by Angela D. Meyer

Title: Where Healing Starts – Applewood Hill Book 2

Author: Angela D. Meyer

Genre: Christian Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Family Drama

Release Date: May 11, 2022

Blurb:

Joanna and Blake Hannigan grew up in an angry home and made an all-for-one pact—them against the world—in order to survive. Now that pact may keep them from what they each long for.

While doing community service for shoplifting, Joanna’s walls begin to come down. She wonders if she does have something of value inside of her. But, still full of bitterness, she can’t get off the path to self-destruction.

Will a near death experience put her on the road to redemption?

Blake refuses to accept the consequences for putting his brother-in-law in the hospital. He runs from the law and does the unthinkable.

In the face of impending disaster, will Blake’s choices lead to healing?

Unless the siblings realize their pact can’t save them, they may not find the One who can.

About Angela D. Meyer

Author Angela D. Meyer
Author Angela D. Meyer

Angela D. Meyer writes fiction that showcases God’s ability to redeem and restore the brokenness in our lives. Now that her two children are grown, she spends her life writing instead of homeschooling, stays active at church, and is plotting what to do with the rest of her life. She enjoys sunrises and sunsets, hanging out with friends, a good laugh, and reading. Someday, she would love to vacation by the ocean.

Learn more about Angela’s books on her website. Sign up for her newsletter to be among the first to hear about her new book releases.

Interview with Angela D. Meyer (Part 2)

As part of Mosaic Collection’s Novel Way blog tour for Where Healing Starts, I’m delighted to share part two of an interview with Angela D. Meyer. Part 1 is available on Daysong Reflections.

What was the hardest thing about writing the book?

Researching. In order to create the character of Joanna, I interviewed someone who had been through some similar background issues. Although their lives looked nothing alike in the walking out of grace and redemption, the feelings and emotions I did my best to borrow from her and her family

What motivated you to write on this topic?

When I was a young adult, the early years of being out of the house and on my own, I had numerous conversations with my sisters about why we did life the way we did. We each had similar upbringing, yet each of us turned out so different. What from our childhood influenced certain behaviors and choices?

This morphed into the idea of the Hannigan family. How their upbringing influenced who they became as adults and how they worked past those dysfunctional influences to find God and His grace for redemption.

Note: This is not in any way a retelling of my family.

Did you plan out the entirety of this story, or did it evolve as you were writing it?

The idea for the Applewood Hill Series came as a whole, the general direction for each of the Hannigan siblings’ lives, their struggles and their overcoming. The details have worked themselves out as I write. The characters often surprised me with the direction they took the story.

Do you plan on writing a sequel to this story?

Yes! The third book in the series, Where Joy Starts, will be released in December of this year. Where Joy Starts will continue the story of the Hannigan siblings and God’s redemption in the middle of their family’s pain.

What do you want readers to take away from your book?

That God can and does redeem anything that we are willing to give to Him.

Connect with Angela

  • Website: https://www.angeladmeyer.com/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angeladmeyer/ (@angeladmeyer)
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAngelaDMeyer
  • Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7200148.Angela_D_Meyer
  • BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angela-d-meyer
  • Newsletter Subscription Link: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f496ba074a46d0026e73898

Your Chance to Win!

As part of this book’s launch, Angela is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card via Rafflecopter. You can enter here.

Additional Blog Stops

The launch and giveaway fun doesn’t end here! Check out the other stops in Angela’s blog tour.

May 11 – Daysong Reflections  Author Interview, Part 1
May 11 – Milla Holt – Author Interview, Part 2 (This post)

May 12 – Stories of Hope – Book Trailer

May 12 – Johnnie Alexander – Excerpt, Part 1

May 13 – Cardinal Bluff Reviews – Excerpt, Part 2

May 13 – Library Lady’s Kid Lit – Character Interview with Joanna Hannigan

May 14 – Brenda S. Anderson –  Character Interview with Blake Hannigan

May 15 – Texas Book-aholic –  Setting Inspiration

May 16 – Ravenz Reviewz – Deleted Scene, Part 1

May 17 – Batya’s Bits – Deleted Scene, Part 2

11th May 2022 ·

Previous Post: « Happy Book Birthday to Me!
Next Post: All Things New is out Today! »

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millaholt

I write Christian romance with an international twist. Heroes with honor and integrity and strong, can-do heroines are my thing. #christianromance

Milla Holt
"Milla Holt is an excellent storyteller! This stor "Milla Holt is an excellent storyteller! This story kept my attention from the beginning. I also love a strong, Christ-centered message. Very well done!!!"

Thank you so much to Kelly for her kind review. 😊 

If you get your books on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, or GooglePlay, Into the Flood is available today! Other retailers will come on Friday. Check out the link in my bio!

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I love Christian romances about marriages in jeopa I love Christian romances about marriages in jeopardy because, as we all know, saying “I do” does not guarantee a happily ever after. Angela Reed Meyer‘s Where Hope Starts is a deeply moving story about a couple in crisis. I love how @angeladmeyer writes skilfully about characters navigating their way through real-life struggles and coming through by God’s grace. Where Hope Starts is on sale for the next few days. I highly recommend it!

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Happy release day to @dalynweller for this wonderf Happy release day to @dalynweller for this wonderful book. Highly, highly recommended. Cowboys, single dad, second chance romance, adorable children, a feisty heroine, solid writing. Congratulations, my friend!

#cleanindiereads
#cleanandwholesomeromance
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#cleancowboyromance
I’ve been wanting to write a series based in Nor I’ve been wanting to write a series based in Norway, my adopted country, for quite a while. And here it is! 😊 

Into the Flood is Book 1 in my Seasons of Faith series of contemporary Christian romance, and is my first novel with the Mosaic Collection. It’s set in Berghaven, a fictional composite of the small towns my family and I called home in Finnmark and Trøndelag.

Click the link in my bio to read more about Into the Flood.

#Christianromance
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Reposting this poignant post from @brenda.s.anders Reposting this poignant post from @brenda.s.anderson

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Today, on The Longest Day ☀️ of the year, I'm joining with thousands of others who are fighting the darkness of Alzheimer’s by raising funds and awareness for care, support, and research.

One thing I've learned since we started on this Alzheimer's journey, is that no two journeys follow the same path. We've been fortunate and are very grateful in that Marvin's path has travelled a slight slope. We give much of that credit to a) early diagnosis, and b) medication that works to slow his progress. That medication would not have been possible without funding from the Alzheimer's Association. We're also considering a new Alzheimer's medication that's recently been approved by the FDA.

So this June we're raising funds one of two ways:

1) You can donate directly to Starvin's Army (The Alzheimer's Association): http://act.alz.org/goto/StarvinsArmyTLD (Live link in profile)

2) Or you can donate through the sales and page reads of my novella, Hands of Grace. While Hands of Grace is not about Alzheimer's or Dementia, it shows the tough path a caregiver and her mother walk. It also offers inspiration and encouragement for those who are on this journey. Purchase Hands of Grace: http://bit.ly/HandsOfGrace

All profits from the sales and page reads of Hands of Grace for the month of June will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association in honor of Marvin (Starvin's Army). If you are a caregiver or know a caregiver or you just enjoy a good story, a book purchase is a wonderful way to help provide care and support and to fund research for a cure.

Together, we can do it! THANK YOU for your support!

#ENDALZ #TheLongestDay #EndAlzheimers
Happy release day to @mosaiccollectionbooks! All T Happy release day to @mosaiccollectionbooks! All Things New, our spring/summer anthology is out now as an ebook and paperback! I’m so excited about these stories, and I pray they’re a blessing to everyone who reads them. 

Lost and Found, my contribution to the anthology, is a story about a young woman who finds an abandoned dog, sparking a change in her life she never saw coming.

Follow the link in my bio to read more about the inspiration behind my story and to find out where you can grab your copy. 😊 

#christianbooksofinstagram
#cleanreads
#christfic
#newlifeinchrist
#becauseofjesus
#faithfilled
#gospeltruth
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#goodnewsfeed
#creativecommunity
#createdtocreate
Reposted from @brenda.s.anderson "We’re all brok Reposted from @brenda.s.anderson "We’re all broken and messy, we’re all works-in-progress, and we all love the Lord." ~ Richard (Coming Home) - a short story in ALL THINGS NEW: Stories to Refresh the Soul.

You can pre-order All Things New for only 99¢!

#summerreading #ChristianFiction #christianbooksofinstagram #Christianauthors #anthology #MosaicCollectionBooks #themosaiccollection #99cents
#preorder
#christfic
#chrianwritersofinstagram
#kindlebooks
#readmorebooks
#authorquotes
Congratulations to all the finalists in the 2022 F Congratulations to all the finalists in the 2022 Faith Hope & Love Readers' Choice Awards! I'm so humbled that my little book is in such incredible company. 😍 My cup is full. Thank you to the judges and contest organisers.

#christianromance
#christianromancefiction
#christfic
#christianromancenovels
#cleanandwholesomeromance
#cleanromance
#cleanindiereads
Lucky me--I'm enjoying a slice of cake while sneak Lucky me--I'm enjoying a slice of cake while sneaking an early peek at the other stories in the Mosaic Collection's summer anthology All Things New. 😁 This wonderfully diverse collection comes out in just a couple of weeks. Check out the link in my bio for more information and to find out where to grab your pre-order.

#christianfiction
#christianfictionreads
#christfic
#cleanreads
I love this cover! My author friend Emily Dana Bo I love this cover!  My author friend Emily Dana Botrous is about to release her latest contemporary Christian romance novel, and I can't wait to get my hands on it.🤩
==============

Reposted from @emilydanabotrous_author The real cover of The Promise of Picnics is HERE, and I love it so much! It encapsulates the vibes of both summer and hope, and this story abounds with both. So excited! Edits are this close to being finished, and this book baby will launch onto your devices (pretty please!) on June 14. #newrelease #coverreveal #summerlove #storyofhope #promises #christianfiction #comingsoon #booknews #newbook
Readers wanted! Things are taking shape behind the Readers wanted! Things are taking shape behind the scenes as @mosaiccollectionbooks The Mosaic Collection prepares for the release of our summer anthology next month. Would you like to be part of our launch team? Click the link in my bio to find out what's involved and how to join. We'd love to have you! 😊 

#christianfictionreaders
#christfic
#cleanindiereads
#christianfiction
Another book birthday today! 🤩 Congratulations, Another book birthday today! 🤩 Congratulations, @rosefresquez on the release of your latest Caregivers Series book!

#cleanandwholesomeromance
#christianromanceseries
#cleanindiereads
#christfic
#christianfiction
#teamcleanromancebookclub
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Happy release day to @angeladmeyer Angela D. Meyer Happy release day to @angeladmeyer Angela D. Meyer and @mosaiccollectionbooks the Mosaic Collection! I've just finished reading Where Healing Starts. It's a gripping, moving story about finding healing, hope, and redemption. I love how Angela never reaches for easy answers, but portrays hope and healing in the midst of brokenness. I highly recommend it if you like realistic Christian fiction. Click the link in my bio to read an interview with the author, check out my review, and enter a $25 gift card giveaway.

#christianfictionreaders
#christfic
#christfollower
#newbookrelease
Any idea what these flowers are? Botany is not my Any idea what these flowers are? Botany is not my forte, and I can only name the most common plants. But we spotted these beauties on a walk in the park today, and I'd love to know what they're called. 

#ishouldbewriting 
#springishere
#authorlife
#christianwriter
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I read a draft of this book and it is wonderful! S I read a draft of this book and it is wonderful! Such a fantastic story, and written so well. Available for preorder now. 

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Reposted from @dalynweller Guess what?
Cowboy Romance! Book #1 of the Apple Valley Ranchers is available to pre-order!
The Rancher’s Surprise Second Chance 

Eight years ago, Cody McClure came home from the summer rodeo circuit with a pregnant wife even though he’d promised to marry his high school sweetheart. Now he’s the single father of a special needs so  in desperate need of a nanny while he runs his family’s ranch.

Molly Halverson left Apple Valley with a broken heart and a secret. Now she’s back, a single mom in need of a job. But the only job available in her small town is for the man who trampled her heart and has no idea he fathered her child.

Molly needs a job. Cody needs a nanny. Their children just became best friends. Will Codynsnd Molly forgive each other and figure out a way to make a patched-up family despite their mistakes and betrayal?

Visit Apple Valley, Washington, a town that has existed on handshakes and good morals for generations.

#cowboyromance #cleancowboyromance #contemporarywesternromance #pnw #westernromanceseries #cowboyromanceseries #preorder
We’ve begun doing something we’ve wanted to do We’ve begun doing something we’ve wanted to do for a while: teaching our children Norwegian. My husband is from Norway, and I’m a naturalised citizen and speak the language fluently. Three of our children were born there. But since moving to the UK, it’s just been easier to use English at home. As a result, our two eldest have lost what Norwegian they knew, and the two youngest don’t know it at all. It means they can’t communicate well with their grandmother and are missing out on some of the culture and literature my husband would love to share with them.

So, we decided it’s time to make a deliberate and consistent effort to help them learn Norwegian, and so far it’s going well. We can’t wait to surprise Bestemor (Grandma) on a video call one of these days, with the children chatting to her in Norwegian. 😊🇳🇴 

Are you bilingual? Or is there another language you’d like to learn?

#homeschoolingmom
#homeschoolingrocks
#christianhomeschool
Easter at Leeds Castle, one of my favourite places Easter at Leeds Castle, one of my favourite places to visit. The children had a great time working out the clues on the birds' nest trail. I had the couple in one of my books fall in love at Leeds Castle. Would it be too much to squeeze it into another book? 🤔 😁

#amwritingromance
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#cleanromance 
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#cleanreads 
#cleanindiereads 
#christfic
This account of Jesus’ resurrection always moves This account of Jesus’ resurrection always moves me to tears. Most of the disciples are in hiding, in fear for their own lives. But these women, in the midst of their own unimaginable grief and emotional trauma, show up to do what they think is their last act of service to the teacher they love. Early on Sunday morning, they come to tend to Jesus’ body. But instead of a broken and dead body, they find an angel. With the best news ever. 😊 

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, ‘Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.’ And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.” Matthew 28:5-8

Jesus is risen indeed!

#faithfilled
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My friend @emilydanabotrous_author has made this b My friend @emilydanabotrous_author has made this book free for a limited time. 🤩 The Loophole in Lilies was one of my favourite reads last year: a brave and beautiful story penned with Emily's signature ability to draw realistic characters with deeply moving themes.

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Reposted from @joannywhite COVER REVEAL DAY!!! I' Reposted from @joannywhite COVER REVEAL DAY!!!

I'm looking forward to reading this book! It's available for preorder now. The blurb made me laugh, and I know @joannywhite will deliver a great story.

#theonewholovesmenovel #joanembola #nigerianchristianfiction #nigerianchristianromance #cameroonianauthor #cameroonianwriter #christianfictionromance #christianromancebooks #christianromancenovels #christianfictionreaders #christianromanceseries #christianromance #africanamericanchristianfiction #africanamericanchristianromance #contemporarychristianromance #africanchristianfiction
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

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