Welcome to my Book Review Blog. My goal is to connect readers with the wonderful and amazing books I am blessed to reveiw. And to introduce you to the talented and wonderful authors responsible for writing these books. May my love for books show through my reviews on this site.
Montana Match (The Blackwell Sisters #4) By Carol Ross
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
November 1, 2020 by Harlequin Heartwarming
Thanksgiving in Montana
Is about family—and love!
Thanksgiving is the perfect time for Fiona Harrison to turn her life around. And she is sure finding a suitable husband will please her newfound family in Montana. When a dating app sends her every dud in town, handsome bartender Simon Clarke offers to be her matchmaker. If only Simon fit her criteria… Learning the truth about the twinkle-eyed charmer could change everything—but for better or worse?
USA TODAY Bestselling Author
The Blackwell Sisters
Book 1: Montana Welcome by Melinda Curtis
Book 2: Montana Wishes by Amy Vastine
Book 3: Montana Dreams by Anna J. Stewart
Book 4: Montana Match by Carol Ross
Book 5: Montana Wedding by Cari Lynn Webb
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Montana Match is book 4 in the Blackwell Sisters series, and one I dearly love. I have read several books by Carol Ross and she is the perfect author to continue with this series. This is a beautiful story from the beginning. I love the Montana setting and the characters are well created and I love how they developed throughout the book as they tell their story! Fiona and Simon are adorable characters that have their own issues, but it’s fun seeing them work through whatever comes their way. This is a fun, entertaining and enjoyable story that will stay with me for a while. Having not read all of the books before this one, it still read fine for me as a standalone! I do have the next book I am so looking forward to reading, A Montana Wedding! Montana Match is a Five Stars for me. And this will be an amazing read for anyone who loves good clean romance with a bit of humor!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today bestselling author Carol Ross grew up in small town America right between the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains, in a place where you can go deep sea fishing in the morning and then hit the ski slopes the same afternoon. The daughter of what is now known as free range parents, she developed a love of the outdoors at a very early age. As a writer, Carol loves to breathe the life she has lived into the characters she creates, grateful for the “research material” that every questionable decision, adrenaline-charged misstep, and near-death experience has provided.
Book Title: The Diamond Rose (A Sentinel 10 Novel) by Daniela Valenti Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 250 pages Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance Publisher: Enigma Publishing Release date: Nov 2020 Format available for review: print, and ebook (mobi file (for Kindle), Gifted Kindle, PDF Will send print books out: USA and Canada Tour dates: Nov 30 to Jan 29
Amanda’s med school graduation is unlike any other. A solar flare awakens her super psychic powers, enabling her to fight evil, supernatural and human alike. She is the Sentinel 10, the most powerful warrior in a secret society of similarly endowed people. Her life becomes a whirlwind of international travel and exciting paranormal challenges. But all is not as it seems. Soon Amanda discovers that the man she loves has an evil alter ego, and that her own powers have a dark side. This first year as a Sentinel will push the limits of her resilience, and put her own humanity to the test. The Diamond Rose is a thrilling and romantic adventure, the first in an exciting new series. Fans of paranormal romance will enjoy this tale of a female heroine who struggles to understand love and master her own powers. BUY THE BOOK: Amazon
Meet the Author:
Daniela Valenti is the pen name for a Canadian psychiatrist who writes Paranormal Fiction. That may seem incongruous, but it’s not really. The work in her chosen field and her writing dovetail nicely. She is able to draw upon her work as a psychiatrist to create multidimensional characters who are simultaneously powerful and vulnerable. Daniela lives in Montreal and holds a medical degree from McGill. She speaks French and regards herself a chatty introvert. Growing up, she was a voracious reader of sci-fi and fantasy. Her interests today include supernatural lore, skincare and fashion, gorgeous travel destinations, true crime, and learning about narcissism and psychopathy. She’s thought a lot about love and evil and maintains that narcissism is the true nature of all evil. Daniela has traveled extensively. Her love of the exotic dominates many of the settings where the characters in her stories romp and play their parts. Her prior attempts at writing began at age nine with a story about a doctor’s cat, and then a short sci-fi story at age twenty-three. Thirteen years later, her foray into serious-minded writing simply happened. She began writing in 2017, after she returned from a trip to Prague for an international forensic psychiatry conference. What she learned there, combined with her impressions of Prague, her prior ruminations on the nature of love and evil, and her clinical knowledge all combined to create the first book in her series. It was a moment when all sorts of aspects of herself, her life experiences and her interests came together, like a self-assembling puzzle. The story came to her like a movie, unfolding in her head as she sat on an airplane, staring at the screen-less back of the chair in front of her, for the eight-hour trip back to Canada. Once set in motion, the wheels of creation kept on turning, and resulted in the Sentinel 10 series.
Join us for this tour from Nov 30 to Dec 18, 2020!
Book Details: Book Title: Oliver the Ornament Boxed Gift Set by Todd M. Zimmermann Category: Children’s Fiction, 54 pages Genre: Children’s Picture Book Publisher: Oliver the Ornament Release date: ‘December 22, 2018 Tour dates: Nov 30 to Dec 18, 2020 Content Rating: Rated G.
Book Description: Oliver the Ornament is a heartwarming tale of one family’s cherished Christmas ornaments. The story centers on Oliver, who has been with this family since Mom and Dad’s very first date. Years later, Oliver, now injured and bullied, still has the magic of Christmas in his heart. “The story follows Oliver’s excitement for Christmas, his heartbreak, and his determination to overcome all odds to save the day. Oliver, along with his friends, will warm your heart with his kindness, humility, and love for his family and friends. We hope the story will bring families together to tell the stories of their own ornaments and the special meaning that so many of them possess. Because after all, “Every Ornament Tells a Story.”
Meet the Author: Todd Zimmermann, the creator and author of the “Oliver the Ornament” series, is on a mission to spread kindness and anti-bullying messages within his charming stories. The first story in the series focuses on a little ornament who faces challenges, but is able to overcome all odds to save the day. Charity is at the heart of Oliver the Ornament. A portion of proceeds from the sale of each book will be donated to various children’s charities. Starting with 5% from the first book, 10% from the second book, and increasing to 100% of the seventh book, Oliver the Ornament is committed to making a difference in children’s lives throughout the world.
She only needed a repairman to help fix up her beach house.
For marine sergeant, Tyler Banner, nothing could be further from the memories of his time in Iraq than the slow, easy pace on Merriweather Island. Taking up a job as a physical trainer serves to keep him in shape while he enjoys a little downtime. Making friends with the local vet—veterinarian, that is—on his morning jog is just a bonus.
When Kendall’s sister tricked her into recruiting Tyler’s help one day, she didn’t fortify herself against a breach to her heart. Making friends with the marine was easy, but helping him overcome the PTSD that holds him captive isn’t. As she picks her way across a minefield of memories and horrors Tyler endured, Kendall begins to hope he could be the man she’s prayed for.
Falling in love wasn’t in Tyler’s orders, but a new deployment to Iraq is. How can he convince Kendall not to go AWOL when she hears? What can he do to convince her that they’ll make it… together?
This “Merriweather book” is the fourth in a new series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
First of all, I think it is so sweet that Her Merriweather Hero is based on the authors own parents’ love story! In this story Kendall moves to the Island with her sister to start a business, and it it there she meets Tyler. Tyler does some work on the sister’s house and spends more time with Kendall and the attraction is strong between them. Could it turn to something more.
I love this Island with its wonderful characters. Each time I read a book from this series I long for a trip to an island such as this calming place. I love the characters as they were so much fun to read about and get to know. I was glad for Tyler to have someone to talk to about the dark parts of his past and his disability. There were a lot of sweet moments in this story as well. This is a sweet clean romance that will be enjoyed by anyone who loves contemporary romances. And especially with an island added it. I love it!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Rachel Skatvold is a Christian author and stay-at-home mom from the Midwest. She enjoys writing inspirational romance and encouraging blogs. Rachel completed her first series, the Riley Family Legacy Novellas in 2014 and is now working on the Hart Ranch Series, set in the Montana wilderness and the Ladies of Ardena Series, set in medieval times. She is also a contributing author in the Whispers in Wyoming, Brides of Pelican Rapids and Independence Island Series. Other than writing, some of her hobbies include singing, reading and camping in the great outdoors with her husband and two young sons. You can find more information about Rachel and her books on her website: www.rachelskatvold.com.
More from Rachel
Her Merriweather Hero has been one of the most challenging, yet rewarding stories I have written. Often when I am starting a new book, I immerse myself in the world-building process, which involves a lot of research and notetaking. This time around, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Celebrate Lit and the authors in the Independence Islands Series to map out these beautiful island stories. It has been an exciting journey so far.
This story was inspired by my parents who met through letters while my dad was in the Marine Corps. They both came from different backgrounds, with my mom being from Massachusetts and my dad from a small town in Iowa, but their differences didn’t stop them from falling in love. For Her Merriweather Hero, I used themes of opposites attracting, New England, and the Marine Corps from my parent’s love story.
Kendall is a young veterinarian who moves to the Independence Islands with her sister to start a new mobile clinic. There, she meets Sergeant Tyler Banner who is on medical leave after a tour overseas. She tries to avoid Tyler at first, determined to concentrate on making her business a success, but over time she can’t ignore the handsome military guy who keeps ‘accidently’ crossing her path. It doesn’t help he lives a few doors down from her fixer-upper beach house. Can she continue to try to ignore him or is it true that opposites attract?
This romantic island tale is also inspired by the verses from Hebrews 6:18-19 which describe God as our anchor. The characters feel tossed around by waves of difficulties at certain parts of the story, but He is always the anchor who keeps them secured.
After spending her childhood as a street thief, Gabriella Goodhue thought she’d put her past behind her until a fellow resident at her boardinghouse is unjustly accused of theft. Using her old skills to prove her friend’s innocence, Gabriella unexpectedly encounters Nicholas Quinn, the man she once considered her best friend–until he abandoned her.
After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agrees to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he’d be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.
As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.
Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado.
To Steal Her Heart is the first book in the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series by Jen Turano. With her usual mixture of laugh out loud humor and faith, Jen pens another classic masterpiece. In this story, childhood friends Gabriella and Nicholas never expected to find each other again, but what a surprise when they were thrown together again in a most unique fashion.
I love this book and had so much fun reading it. The characters are so awesome! I love Gabriella and Nicholas and their interactions as well as their attraction for each other. I had a lot of laugh out loud moments following these two on their adventures. And those ladies of Bleeker Street. They are such a hoot, and I laughed and laughed some more at all of the scenes involving these ladies. Author Jen Turano does he usual outstanding job of writing this truly interesting and intriguing read. I always love that she writes the Christian life into her characters as well. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Turano has in the next books in this series, so stay tuned. But first, I highly recommend that you pick this first book up for a reading journey that will have you coming out of your seats with laugher and fun! This one gets a solid Five Stars from me!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
More from Jen
“To Steal a Heart” is the first book in a new series. How did you come up with the idea for this series?
Oddly enough, this series was inspired by a lot of different things. I keep this idea box, and whenever I stumble on something interesting, I throw the idea into the box. When I was getting ready to assemble a proposal for a new series, I took out the box and began rifling through it. Unfortunately, nothing struck my fancy. What did strike my fancy though, was the movie “My Fair Lady.” I’d recently watched it for the millionth time, and I thought…hmmm…what could I do with that? Well, I didn’t want to do a recreation of “My Fair Lady” and that’s when it hit me – what if I used a gentleman instead of a lady and improved his circumstances in life with the help of a professor? That wasn’t really enough, though, for me to formulate an entire series, but then I went to New York City for a research trip. While there, I roamed around Bleecker Street for hours. It was the perfect place to set a series, and then I saw this older building that my tour guide thought might have once been a boardinghouse. That was what really started me thinking, and before I knew it, I’d created an inquiry agency run by women that came about when a resident of a boardinghouse was unjustly accused of theft. When the police would not investigate further, believing they had the true culprit behind bars, the ladies who lived in the boardinghouse felt compelled to step up and clear their fellow boardinghouse resident of the charges brought against her. The series took off from there, the first book centering around one of the lady inquiry agents, Miss Gabriella Goodhue, who used to live on the mean streets of the Lower East Side and, at one point in her life, was best friends with Nicholas Quinn, the man who has now found his circumstances vastly improved from the time he knew Gabriella. Throwing the two of them back together made for an interesting storyline, especially since Gabriella believes Nicholas abandoned her all those years ago, which makes it next to impossible for her to trust him.
Are there other interesting characters in this series?
Of course. All of the lady inquiry agents come with their own secrets. Miss Daphne Beekman is a reclusive author who lives in the attic of the boardinghouse. She has the propensity to faint at the drop of a hat, which makes for a few amusing scenes in the first book. She’ll get her own story in “To Write a Wrong,” coming out later in 2021. Then there’s Eunice Holbrooke. She’s the owner of the boardinghouse, and she only wears full mourning garb, covering her face with numerous veils and refusing to speak to anyone about her past. Clearly, there’s a mystery just waiting to be solved there, one that will be solved in book three, which I’m just now beginning to work on. The other residents of the boardinghouse provide a lot of color to the story, from the two sisters who work as paid companions by day to gossip collectors and carriage drivers by night, to the resident artist, Miss Judith, who has recently decided to dip her toe into the portrait market even though she’s really not proficient with painting people. There’s also a one-eyed, patch-wearing dog by the name of Winston, a parrot that likes to nick sparkly items named Pretty Girl, and a neurotic poodle that falls for Winston that goes by the name of Precious.
Did the pandemic affect the writing process at all for “To Steal a Heart?”
Luckily, I had already turned in the book before the pandemic hit. With that said, though, I then had to do some of the edits during the first few months of the pandemic. That was interesting. I have very specific conditions I need in order to write and edit and having Al (the husband person) working from home isn’t one of those conditions. It took me far longer than it normally does to complete the editing process, which threw off my schedule for the next book in the series, “To Write a Wrong.” Drastic measures were needed. That’s why I’m now the proud owner of a she-shed. Al thought I was joking when I first broached the subject of a she-shed, but after I had my millionth meltdown, he decided that might be a really good idea. Turns out sheds are in high demand at the moment, so getting a shed in a timely fashion wasn’t possible. It took 6 weeks for us to get a shed delivered and then we had to frame the inside and put up a ceiling and walls. I was not actually very involved with that process because I’m a danger to everyone surrounding me when nail guns are being used. 🙂 I did paint the outside of the shed, then painted the inside. Of course the air conditioning unit I had to order was delayed, so I painted in 100 degree heat. Lost about five pounds doing that, so…unexpected bonus there. I just recently finished decorating the inside, and I’m typing this interview from my new space. I’m thinking I’m going to call it “Jen’s Novel Nook” but that might change, so don’t quote me on that.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Just that I hope everyone is surviving these crazy days. I know there are many people out there who are suffering from many different problems this pandemic has caused. Know that you’re not alone, and that brighter days will show up again. Until that time, try to remember to smile and, perhaps, read a few books.
To celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away the grand prize package of copy of To Steal a Heart, plus all three books in the American Heiresses series and a 30 second mystery kit (Link: https://amzn.to/3nqrIpC)!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
We’re excited to be sharing books from fifteen fantasy and sci-fi authors with youthis holiday season! Each day a different author and book or series will be featured.There is also a fabulous giveaway below. If you’re a fantasy fan, join us on this tour!
Tour Schedule
(Posts go live on the day they’re scheduled.)
After months of waiting for its release, I’m so happy to finally share this book with you. It has all of my favorite things in it, including marriage to a special man, old houses, and the congregation of the Body of Christ. Enjoy reading the book reviews and author interviews, and be sure to enter the drawing for a giveaway. . .
“I enjoyed this sweet romance. It was such a delight to read Karen and Logan’s story. It is one of those books that will make me laugh at one moment and grab the tissues at another. . . . I recommend it for readers who enjoy clean romance. I thought it was a good and not one to be missed.”
“Very stylish. With your daughter’s blonde hair and fair skin, this lace would make a perfect complement to her wedding gown. Women with her coloring should wear white, not ivory or creamier shades.” Mother’s personal dress designer stepped closer and tapped her chin.
Karen preferred the white fabric to the cream one. The white was her choice for the dress she would wear to marry Logan, but mother’s choice of lace, beautiful as it was, didn’t fit with her desire for simplicity.
“The character growth throughout the series has been fun to see, the way readers get to follow along with a romance that is not sudden nor rushed but sweet and learning gave a warm and cozy feeling.
If you enjoy historical romances, stories about teachers, pastors, or small town settings this is the book for you!”
“Missing him, aren’t you?” Julia looked at her with concern.
“Terribly.” Karen lowered her voice to a whisper. “I never wanted this teaching job. I only took it because the salary will give us a good start to our marriage.”
“Very noble and worthwhile in the end. You’ll see.” Julia patted her knee below the table.
“This is a delightfully fun drama! Although there is not a lot of action, the story steadily moved along, maintaining the readers interest. . . . The writing was very good, the Cover image and title were well-chosen, and the plot held some humor as well as romance.”
“A beautiful story well written indeed! . . . I highly recommend this story for it will leave you feeling comforted in more ways than one and your heart feeling full and satisfied.”
“But you’re the talk of the town. Ever since your announcement of your upcoming wedding, downtown has been buzzing.” James Koelman, senior partner in his law firm, leaned forward and pointed at Logan.
“It’s been great for sales. The young men in Oswell City are taking their cues from you, Pastor De Witt. Rings are flying off the shelf.” Artie Goud, proprietor of the jewelry store, clicked his tongue in delight. “If I were you, I’d expect a busy fall season filled with weddings.”
“This was the second book I read from the author. The book is a cozy read . . . I did enjoy reading about Logan and Karen’s family. I liked that he took the path of being straightforward and forgiveness.”
“I have been following this series since the beginning, through all of Logan’s and Karen’s ups and downs and I was really excited for this next chapter. It did not disappoint and I am so glad the author gave us their long awaited marriage and to see them work as a married couple. . . . This was a great ending to an interesting courtship.”
“This is Pastor Logan De Witt from Iowa,” she introduced him over and over again, as the guests shook Logan’s hand and received his sunlit smile.
Whenever a gap occurred in the line, Karen took a step back. She really didn’t need to move out of her place in the receiving line at all, but it gave her a better view of Logan. The borrowed tuxedo made him look positively dapper. The long tails and crisp cut of the jacket accentuated his height. The white shirt beneath and the white bow tie gave him distinction and also spoke of his natural appreciation of the finer things.
“Author Michelle De Bruin successfully conveys Logan’s efforts to serve his congregation while adjusting to married life and she captures Karen’s desire to live up to their rural community’s expectations of a minister’s wife. . . . The characters are well-developed and I recommend Dreaming of Tomorrow to all who appreciate historical Christian romance.”
“How would you like to say goodbye?” He asked in a quiet voice.
Karen considered the question. “Take a walk with me.” There was still one place she wanted to visit with him. A peaceful evening and a spacious garden awaited them. She led him to the door she used when she slipped out to read his letters. A brick path curved around the house to the garden’s gate. Karen opened it and strolled at Logan’s side through hedges of hydrangea, groupings of lilies, butterfly bushes, and a wide variety of late summer flowers. They reached the scrolled iron table and chairs on the far side of the fountain.
“I could marry you tonight.” Logan draped his suit coat over the back of one of the chairs and took her in his arms. “You know that, don’t you?”
“I also appreciated that De Bruin didn’t sugar coat Logan’s and Karen’s lives. There was sorrow alongside joy, the hard truths of life alongside fulfilled dreams, and a look into the relationship before and after marriage.
Fans of Janette Oke or those who simply want a cozy and uplifting read will enjoy this book as well as the entire series.”
“. . . I must commend Ms. De Bruin on her writing style and voice in regards to how she paints pictures with her choices in words, phrases and the constructs of her narrative. She has a lovely way of giving subtle notations of place within her story and those are cherished because I love seeing the ease in which she has fused them together.”
“I think I’ll take a look at this now.” Karen held up her gift.
Logan smiled, so she unwrapped the box. No writing on the outside indicated the contents. Karen opened the box and pulled out a small glass container oval in shape with a liquid inside.
“Read it.” Logan turned the glass bottle around.
“Song of the Spring.” A whiff of flowers reached her nose. “You bought me perfume.”
“The author crafts this story in short chapters which definitely made it easy to read and keep up with the story without losing interest. There were some areas that lagged and others that sped up a bit. De Bruin’s writing is definitely descriptive and vivid which draws the reader so far into the story they almost feel like they’re there with the characters. . . . Overall, I really enjoyed this beautiful, poignant, endearing saga of love; that added a devastating, and heart-breaking reality of immeasurable loss.
Fans of the author, genre, and those who’ve read the two previous novels are sure to enjoy this story.”
The organ music faded away. Henry brought Karen to a stop at the front of the church.
Pete cleared his throat. “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
“Her mother and I.” Henry lifted Karen’s veil and pecked a kiss to her cheek.
Logan stepped forward. Karen held onto his arm and went with him to stand before Pete. The service unfolded like a pleasant dream. He said what he’d rehearsed at the proper times and with no stutters. Someone must have prayed for his speech to flow so smoothly in this crucial moment. His heart did the talking, not his intellect.
“And what a special time to witness this beautiful, long awaited wedding! De Bruin does a really great job of giving readers an ending to a beautiful ending to this courtship. I didn’t read book one in this series, but I sure have enjoyed books 2 and three. If you love a sweet clean historical Romance, I highly recommend this one to you!”
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post…
Dreaming of TomorrowBy Michelle De Bruin
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 317 Pages
November 10, 2020 by Scrivenings Press LLC
Love leads them to a lifetime of commitment where the dreams they have held onto for so long start to come true.
Popular and eligible, Logan De Witt must convince the women in town that he is engaged to be married. A quiet, simple ceremony is what he has in mind for his wedding day, but when the date and time of his bride’s arrival is published in the newspaper, the whole town joins in the celebration proving to Logan and his new wife their sincere friendship and support. Added to the excitement of Logan’s marriage is the question of what the congregation should do with the unexpected donation of an orchard.
Karen Millerson is counting the days until her long-distance engagement comes to an end and she may travel to Oswell City to marry Logan. More than anything, she wants to share in his life as a help and support, but keeping a house and finding her place in the community requires much more work than she ever expected.
Learn, laugh, and love with Karen and Logan as they start a new marriage and work together ministering to the citizens of their small town.
Michelle De Bruin lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in Religion with a Christian Ministry emphasis, and in Music. Michelle is the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with mental and physical disabilities. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2015. Michelle writes inspirational historical romance about people who live in rural communities. Characters that bring to life the delights of farm and small-town living, whispers of Dutch heritage, and Christian faith make Michelle’s stories distinct. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always on the lookout for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story.
Her first book, Hope for Tomorrow, released in 2018. The sequel, Promise for Tomorrow, released November 2019. The third book in the series, Dreaming of Tomorrow, releases November 2020.
One winner will receive a $20 (USD) Amazon Gift Card and a copy of Dreaming of Tomorrow (winner can choose print if in the US and ebook outside the US)
“This was a delightfully fast paced beginning to an exciting new series . . . The [writing] is exceptional, the [characters] feel real and “draws” the reader into the group. . . . Surely this series will become a favorite and it is “clean”!”
“Cupcakes & Crumbs by Melissa McClone is a new book and a series that is a wonderful read for fans of women’s friendship and a clean romance. These girls are all about being friends and helping each other out instead of dragging them down. Ms. McClone is a brilliant author, and I like her writing style as well. . . I am recommending it.”
“Melissa McClone’s Cupcakes & Crumbs is a deliciously sweet story of friendship. While I did have a hard time with all the characters at the beginning, I did settle into the story well and enjoyed their various perspectives and circumstances. I look forward to reading more of McClone’s Berry Lake Cupcake Posse series.”
As Top 40 hits from the seventies and eighties—Elise’s favorite music—drifted in from the front of the shop, Missy filled baking cups with vanilla batter. The scent tickled her nose. The grumbling of her stomach reminded her she’d skipped her break and lunch. And her tastebuds whispered mine at the same time she imagined Elise shouting, Why eat plain vanilla when there are more flavorful combinations?
Missy laughed. Even though plain vanilla cupcakes with vanilla icing were foundations for other flavors, Elise hadn’t sold them except for special orders. Missy, however, enjoyed vanilla cupcakes. Dare she say they were her favorite? The simplicity appealed to her in a way the more creative fillings and toppings didn’t.
“I’ve really enjoyed this book, I was entranced from the beginning and I was really invested in the lives of this diverse group of friends that try to support each other even if many years has passed from last time they have seen each other.
Melissa McClone did an excellent job of depicting these characters and [tying] their lives to one [another], her writing was easy to read and that ending made me so curious I can’t wait to get next book in this series.”
As Juliet’s upper teeth sunk into her lower lip, she stopped herself. That would ruin her lipstick, and if Ezra happened to arrive home, he would notice.
She glanced at the messages again. If she didn’t plan on going, she should let Nell know.
I want to go.
The thought resonated through Juliet. She didn’t ask for much these days—other than a kind word from her husband and time with her grandmother—but she wanted tonight with her former coworkers and friends.
Some claimed there were no stupid questions, but Bria disagreed. How did people think she was doing when her heart was in pieces, as if sliced and diced by a skilled teppanyaki chef?
Forget replying with anything other than an “I’m fine” or “I’m okay” or “I’m doing better.” No one wanted to hear the truth about how angry she was at cancer, at the doctors, and at her aunt. Especially Aunt Elise for stopping her treatments, throwing herself an over-the-top goodbye party, and leaving this world on her terms.
“Cupcakes and Crumbs is a book full of friendships with a little mystery throw-in. I loved Bria and how she wants to save her aunt’s bakery shop. . . . I recommend reading the book to see what happens to all the characters.”
“This is a new to me author and I loved that I was pulled into the world of these five women and their home town of Berry Lake. . . . The push and pull of all the relationships within this town were enough to make me keep turning the pages to see what would happen . . .”
“There’s just something about the combination of cupcakes and friendship that bring a warm, comforting feeling to a book. And such a feeling was stirred when I picked up my copy of Cupcakes and Crumbs by Melissa McClone. . . . I appreciated the fact that romance was not the central plot point, but friendship was. There aren’t enough books out there in the adult genre that focus solely on friendship and not on romance, so I loved that small touch. . . . Overall, Cupcakes and Crumbs is a beautiful balance between light and heavy, charming and serious, and friendship and romance.”
“These characters have so much depth. I appreciate how diverse the author made them. . . . Fair warning: Cupcakes & Crumbs isn’t a stand-alone story. It’s just the beginning, and it’ll leave you hanging on lots of things! However, you just have to read it. I had tears in my eyes more than once while I was reading. It’s not all sunshine and roses but neither is “real” life. . . . I can’t recommend Cupcakes & Crumbs enough! Anyone who loves women’s fiction with lots of real life issues, a little romance, and a lot of heartwarming moments will love this book.”
“I did love the friendship coming back to life as the ladies worked together to save this special bakery Bria’s aunt loved so well. The characters were well created, and interesting to say the least. As the story unfolds, the characters develop well, and I could feel a definite change in their attitude. . . . I am eager to find out what happens to this group of friends, as well as Bria and the difficult person her dad hires to get the Bakery back in order.”
“I found this a sweet, charming, and quick little read. It didn’t hurt this was written in short chapters which made reading it quite the breeze as I kept moving along. McClone really kept the pacing going and didn’t “bog” down the story at any one point. I was over 100+ pages in the first sitting. So, it was difficult to put it down. I wanted to devour and yet savor this sweet read and that was about the only conflict I had with it.”
“What pulls me into the writing style of Melissa McClone is her realistic approach to telling Bria’s story – this is why I love reading Women’s Fiction because at the heart of the genre itself is a threading of a woman’s life from all aspects of how she lives it. . . . These kinds of stories are a refreshing read . . .”
“Cupcakes & Crumbs by Melissa McClone is clean, women’s fiction that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories of female friendships. Though there are some budding romances, the story focuses on the power of friendship and how it can support, encourage, and enhance life. In several ways, this novel’s ending was left open and served as set up for the rest of the series.”
“I enjoyed watching these once upon a time work friends spend time together. True friendship is what they had, and Elise brought them together in her life and in her death. . . . I enjoyed getting to know each one of these women. I would not say this is a stand alone story as it ended on a bit of a shocker for one of these women, and I would like to see to see a resolution there.”
“Cupcakes & Crumbs was a pure delight to read and exactly what I would expect from Melissa McClone. I have loved reading her books in the past and this one does not disappoint. . . . I can not wait to get my hands on the second installment from the Berry Lake Cupcake Posse series, Tiaras & Teacups, to see what happens next. I recommend this one for readers who enjoys a good, clean and heartwarming read.”
“I was not ready for this book to end (so it’s a good thing this is the first in a series). Cupcakes & Crumbs follows five women who formed friendships as teenagers while working at a local cupcake shop. . . . While this is a quick women’s fiction read, there is a little something for all readers mixed in—a light touch of romance, some mystery, and lots of conflict.”
“Cupcakes & Crumbs is a well-written novel that fills you with all the feels. A dash of romance, mystery, and small town charm round out the conflict that leaves none of the friends untouched. Readers become emotionally invested in these main characters, and I’m very glad to see that this is the beginning of a series because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. . . . McClone’s writing voice is smooth and relatable, making this a quick and engaging read”
“I don’t read a lot of women’s literature. After reading this book, I think I have been missing out.
The story follows five friends who worked at a cupcake store together as teens and young adults. . . . I look forward to reading more about these women. The story left at a good spot for closure, but there is a lot left to tell.”
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post…
Cupcakes & Crumbs(Berry Lake Cupcake Posse #1)By Melissa McClone
Women’s Fiction
Paperback & ebook, 237 Pages
November 17, 2020 by Cardinal Press, LLC
After life takes five women on different paths, a death brings them home. But friendship might not be enough to keep them together.
When Bria Landon and her estranged father each inherit fifty percent of a small-town cupcake shop, her dad hires her worst enemy, and first love, to turn the place into a soulless franchise…or sell it.
To save her aunt’s legacy, Bria needs the help of people who love the bakery as much as she does—her old friends who worked there fifteen years ago. Except each woman is dealing with her own problem:
Juliet, who’s trying to prove she’s more than a trophy wife; Missy, a widow who fears losing the job she loves; Nell, who’s meddling mother won’t stop playing matchmaker; and Selena, a life coach who excels at fixing everyone else’s lives…but hasn’t a clue what’s missing in her own.
Each woman wants to believe their friendship can overcome anything. But as the Berry Lake Cupcake Posse reunite to save their beloved cupcake shop, they soon discover the undertaking will bring more trouble than they expected.
USA TODAY bestselling author Melissa McClone writes heartwarming women’s fiction and sweet contemporary romance novels for Cardinal Press, Tule Publishing Group, and Harlequin Books. When she’s not writing relatable characters and sigh-worthy happy endings, she spends rainy Pacific Northwest reading from her Kindle’s ever-growing TBR, napping, and decorating her Happy Planner. Melissa lives in Washington state with her husband, three children, a Norwegian Elkhound, and three cats who think they rule the house. They do!
A Cupcakes & Crumbs Prize Pack, which includes:
A $10 Amazon gift card, cupcake makeup bag set, cupcake charm, cupcake socks, set of magnetic clips, lip gloss, key chain, sticker, swag pack, and bookmark (US only)
Book 4 in the Tree of Life Series: A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Faith Journeys on Family Trees
When 15-year-old Tisha Crowder gets caught shoplifting, attorney Nolan Duffy tries to protect her from consequences that could rattle her already troubled life. His daughter, Jillian, feels like she’s the one being punished instead—by having Tisha assigned to work with her on a backlog of genealogy files. Tisha doesn’t seem interested in taking the job seriously, and Jillian’s patience wears thin. Besides, everyone in Canyon Mines knows the Crowder family has experienced generations of brokenness. Then a sliver of hope turns up in long-ago words in plain sight, challenging shrouded assumptions about Tisha’s family. Now Jillian is the one who can walk with Tisha back to 1893 and uncover where everything went wrong in the first place—and save her from the past.
What You Said to Me is the fourth book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You’ll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.
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What you said to me is Book 4 in the Tree of Life Series. I haven’t read all of the books in this series but I didn’t have any problems reading this one as a stand alone. Nolan is a lawyer who lives with his daughter Jillian, a genealogist. I love Jillian’s job and has so much fun following her on her research throughout this story. Things got somewhat tense when her dad, Nolan decides to help a teenager, Tisha Crowder after she gets in trouble for shoplifting.
I enjoyed this story so much, and I love that it is split-time, going back and forth from 1893 to the present. I always find it so interesting that two different stories can be so much alike, as it us here. I really felt bad for Tisha, even with her attitude. I hurt for her because of the troubled live life she was in. There is so much going on in this story. I wanted the story to keep going so I could experience more of Jullian’s interesting job.
Olivia Newport does an amazing job with her characters, and I enjoyed watching them as they grew throughout the story. I will sure go back and read the previous books just in case she writes another one in this series. As you can see I throughly enjoyed this book. If you enjoy historical stories, stories that are split-time, generations from current to back in time, have an interest in genealogy, I highly recommend this book to you. You won’t be able to put it down until the end! Ehat You Said to Me is a solid Five Stars for me
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of Pikes Peak.
More from Olivia
Careful Words
“You didn’t just say that.” Or, “I can’t believe you said that.”
Have you ever said that in retort to someone whose comment offended or wounded? I know I have. But what cuts me even more deeply is when I say to myself, “I can’t believe I just said that.”
The words of a parent at wit’s end, a spouse harboring hurt, a friend saddened by misunderstanding, an employee feeling undercut—they have all been my words. And they came out too fast to swallow back before they did their damage.
I hope I have also had the words of a parent who set aside busyness to listen, a spouse offering loving encouragement, a friend checking in with someone going through a tough patch, a coworker curious to see how I could help rather than compete. Those are the kinds of words I’ve never regretted, never had to repent of, never had to do rebuild from.
I certainly didn’t write What You Said to Me because I think I get it right all the time or even most of the time. Far from it! In our culture of rushing and achieving and—let’s face it, sometimes just getting through the demands of the day—sometimes our words are the last thing we are careful with. Yet they have the longest lasting consequence in our relationships and families—sometimes for generations. The dual-timeline story traces how words that injure became a pattern in one family line until one girl finally fought back to find healing for her future.
My challenge for myself, and all who read What You Said to Me, is to be the person who speaks healing words of hope so that “I can’t believe you said that” becomes “Thank you for saying that.”
If you have a particularly poignant experience of how another’s words impacted you, I’d love to hear from you.
Join us for this tour from Nov 9 to Dec 4, 2020! Book Details:
Book Title: Bones of the Redeemed (A Southwestern Mystery) by Kari Bovee Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 298 pages Genre: Historical Mystery (1952) Publisher: Bosque Publishing Release date: November 2020 Format available for review: print, mobi (for Kindle), pdf Will send print books out: USA and Canada Tour dates: Nov 9 to Dec 4, 2020
Book Description:
A pit of corpses. An ancient cult. A quest for redemption that could leave her dead… New Mexico, 1952. Archaeology grad student Ruby Delgado is plagued by guilt after losing her son. So when her latest excavation drops her down a sinkhole filled with suspiciously mutilated bodies, she’s driven to bring the murderer to justice. But when digging deeper brings her dangerously close to a sinister religious sect, she could be their next sacrifice… Discovering some of the victims were crucified, Ruby pushes hard to give the evidence to the authorities. But when her trail crosses the path of a beaten man left for dead in the desert, she realizes she may be the only person who can save the community. Can Ruby stop the sacrifices and slay her inner demons, or will hers be the next body laid to rest? Bones of the Redeemed is a hair-raising standalone Southwestern mystery. If you like complex heroines, cult conflict, and hard-won redemption, then you’ll love Kari Bovee’s grisly tale. Buy the Book: Amazon Add to Goodreads
I knew this was going to be a great read by the other books I have read by Kari Bovee, and I was sure not disappointed at Bones of the Redeemed. This story takes place in New Mexico in the 1950’s and centers around Archaeology grad student Ruby Delgado and her quest to find the person responsible for the murder of bodies she stumbles upon, literally. And this is where this book grabs my attention and keeps me on the edge of my seat! I really like Ruby and her feisty and determined personality. I was intrigued as I followed her journey and was able to really get to know her. Bovee does and outstanding job creating all of her characters, but I don’t feel I got to know the other characters as well. Maybe that will be taken care of in another book!
If you enjoy a good heart stopping mystery, I suggest you check this one out. This book has everything you want in a mystery, and it is sure to stay with me for a good long while. And I can’t say any more without giving away too much, so you just need to read Bones of the Redeemed for yourself. It will not disappoint. This one gets Five Stars from me!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Hilary Mantel (Wolf Hall) said that interpreting historical material through the prism of the imagination, “is not about misleading, it is seeing something differently” and tends toward “symbolic application.” Does that reflect how you feel about the relationship between written histories and historical fiction?
I love this question. The most important thing in writing fiction in general is the story. Yes, historical fiction needs to be accurate enough to be believable, but the story is what matters. In some of the research I’ve done for my novels, it’s become clear to me that different historians recording the same history have different biases, and interpret the events in their own way. And, it’s hard to believe that their own imaginations didn’t come into play. I think it’s part of being human. Any given person can interpret an event in history, or the character of a historical figure in a way that speaks to them. We can never really know exactly what happened, how it happened, or how people of a certain time period recorded those events felt about what was happening, unless it is an autobiographical account. And even then, two different people experiencing the same exact thing in history might see it differently from one another, depending on value systems, moral codes, and the magic of imagination.
Have any particular rejections inspired or motivated you?
I think when the rejections started to become more personal and thoughtful is when I knew I had something. It became clear it wasn’t the writing or the story, it was just that particular person—an agent or editor—didn’t have a place for what I was offering. Those rejections kept me going, and reminded me that I am writing exactly what I want to write. Just because they couldn’t sell it, or add it to their line, didn’t mean there wasn’t an audience for it.
Talk about being a healthy writer. How do you deal with long hours of sitting? Do you write standing up? Exercise?
I tried writing with a stand-up desk but found it distracting for some reason. When I am working I make sure to take lots of breaks. The longest I allow myself to sit is for about two hours. Then I get up, make some tea, or get a snack. Sometimes, I go out to visit my horses in the field, or just walk around outside. My breaks vary from 15-30 minutes, and then I get back to work. I will also move from my desk to the sofa just to give my body a break. I exercise regularly and my routines include riding my horses three to four times a week, walking four to five times a week, and doing Pilates two to three times a week. Exercise is crucial for me—I need to get out of my head and do something physical or I go a little nuts!
Share the best book marketing advice you ever received.
When I was newly published, and really for the first two years after being published, I felt I had to do anything and everything right away to get my name out there and to get my books discovered. As I was lamenting this to a friend of mine, who is also a writer, and telling her I was fast approaching burn-out, she reminded me that this career endeavor is a marathon not a sprint. It’s a long-game. There is plenty of time to market yourself and it doesn’t all have to be surrounding the launch. So, breathe and relax. There is plenty of time.
Tell readers how they can help support you as a writer.
Reviews, reviews, reviews! Also, reach out and drop me a line. I love hearing from readers and being able to connect with them. A great way to do this is through my website and subscribing to my newsletter. They will also have an opportunity to receive one of my books for free! https://www.Karibovee.com
Meet the Author:
When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her action-packed novels. Empowered women in history, horses, unconventional characters, and real-life historical events fill the pages of Kari Bovée’s articles and historical mystery musings and manuscripts. An award-winning author, Bovée was honored with the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards Hillerman Award for Southwestern Fiction for her novel Girl with a Gun. The novel also received First Place in the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards in the Mystery/Crime category, and is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards, as well as the Next Generation Indie Awards. Her novel Grace in the Wings is a Finalist for the 2019 International Chanticleer Chatelaine Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards. Her novel Peccadillo at the Palace is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the 2019 International Goethe Awards, as well as a Finalist in the 2019 Best Book Awards Historical Fiction category. Bovée has worked as a technical writer for a Fortune 500 Company, has written non-fiction for magazines and newsletters, and has worked in the education field as a teacher and educational consultant. She and her husband, Kevin, spend their time between their horse property in the beautiful Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, and their condo on the sunny shores of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Book Title: Prospector’s Run by Kevin W. Bates Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 277 pages Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Kevin W. Bates Release date: April 2019 Format available for review: print, mobi for kindle, epub, gifted kindle, PDF Will send print books out: USA and Canada Tour dates: Nov 23 to Dec 11, 2020 Content Rating: PG for mild profanity and some depictions of violence. Book Description:
Five thousand years ago in a savage assault, someone tried to annihilate humanity. They almost succeeded. Now, millennia after the First Stellar Civilization’s cataclysmic destruction, humans have clawed their way back from the brink of extinction and returned to the stars. Massive riches in the form of forgotten tech lie hidden in the ruins of the First Civ’s dead, shattered worlds. For a prospector with luck and the right coordinates, they are ripe for the taking. Holtz Mitsumi has neither. Down and out from a failed expedition, Mitsumi allows an enigmatic stranger to talk him into one more prospecting run. After scraping together a crew, Mitsumi embarks with high hopes. But nothing is as it seems and this run may be his last. BUY THE BOOK: AMAZON Add to Goodread
A Little Child Shall Lead Them
By: Kevin W. Bates
When my children were little (my youngest now is thirty-two, so that was some time ago) I enjoyed Sundays as I do now—relaxing in the living room, reading. Whey they were young, on most Sunday afternoons when I was spending quality time with a book, my four children played in the family room downstairs. It was not unusual, however, for one of them to run upstairs, knock the book from my hand and demand my attention. One day years ago Diana (then aged four) crashed onto my lap.
“Daddy, you have to come downstairs right now.” As she was saying this, she slid from my lap and tugged on my hand.
“Why? What’s happening downstairs?”
“It’s a surprise,” she said. “C’mon, hurry.”
Turns out, it was a play. That was high on my list of guesses. Like all children, imagination bubbled and frothed within my kids, erupting to create entire worlds in which to frolic. Sometimes they invited me along. That day it was a drama in three acts set in a faraway land on the stage of our family room. I went downstairs to watch.
I had seen these productions before. I reveled in seeing my children enjoy themselves, and I thrilled to see their creativity alive and growing, but (true confession time) the plays themselves were not to my taste. They lacked plot, dialogue, tension, resolution—all the things that make a play a play. Did I tell them that, critique their work? Of course not. They were children, learning, making sense of the world and having fun along the way. They needed support and encouragement, not criticism. We understand this about children.
That Sunday, as my kids created a universe, I was reminded of an essay I had read a day before in a local magazine. The author was a sports enthusiast, but the essay was about life, not sports, and focused on the life as sports cliché. The author discussed the virtues of an athlete’s “playing within himself,” an attribute she described as knowing one’s limitations and not attempting to exceed them: hitting singles, ten-foot jumpers and the back in the flats not home runs, three pointers or the deep receiver. As in sports, so in life, she maintained. Face reality—know your limits and don’t try to exceed them.
Her editor had recently confirmed to her the wisdom of this philosophy. You write a great essay, he’d said, an informative article. Why do you want to fool with a novel or, heaven forbid, poetry? She had wanted, and tried, to write novels and poetry, but finally decided to face reality—novels and poetry lay beyond the limits within she must play her life. This was her message—we should all play in-bounds because to do otherwise denies reality and invites failure. It is best to accept the inevitable. As I thought of my children’s play and the author’s conclusion, I experienced a profound sadness. Sadness that because of her editor’s words, the author would miss out on some of the joy of creation I witnessed in my children.
Groups of people have a center of gravity just as planets. And the effect is similar. If a member of a group strays too far from the center, the group’s force of gravity–intimidation, derision, coercion — pulls her back. We have all taken part in this effect, either succumbing to the force or wielding it. Group gravity is the great leveler—it allows no member of the group to be different. This force has its greatest effect on creativity because creativity is the essence of diversity.
This effect is easily imagined in my children. How difficult would it have been to put a stop to the plays they performed? Not very. A few words of scorn and criticism would have done the trick nicely. They would have stopped performing, and I could have enjoyed my Sunday in peace. How about my friends and acquaintances, how can I keep them at my level? By the same method; the effect is less certain, but if I keep it up, the percentages are with me. Look what the editor did to the author of the magazine article.
Whenever I recall those two juxtaposed experiences—watching my children’s play and reading the article on recognizing our limits—I remember that in many senses all of us are still children trying to work out our place in the world and that creativity is a delicate flower easily crushed. I am reminded that all of us, whether the memory is fresh, were once children in whom creativity seethed like an endless ocean. And that’s true of you, dear reader, whether you acknowledge it or not. Whoever you are reading this, you have a deep well of creativity. If you haven’t tapped that well you should because the world will benefit. “No man is an island,” the poet said, and it is true. Every song you sing, or compose, or play, every letter, or blog post or poem you write, every new idea, improvement, or advancement you create. No matter how insignificant it seems, is a butterfly with the potential to change the weather halfway around the world.
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Prospector’s Run by Kevin W. Bates is a scifi story, which is a very different genre for me. Through i found it very interesting, it was slow for me at first because I was trying to figure out the characters and where the plot was headed. I will admit I was kind of lost a lot in the book. But for the most part, I don’t credit this to the author, but instead to me because I don’t usually go for this type of story as much. But Bates seems to have built himself quite the universe here, and if you love a good scifi, I highly encourage you to try this one out. The characters show creativity and as the story unfolds the characters show promise and growth. And the story is well written. That much I can tell. This is the beginning of a series so keep in touch with Kevin W. Bates to see what he has for you in his future books. This one is a four for me.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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Now its time to read my interesting interview with the author!!
Hi, Kevin it’s good to meet with you today.
Thanks, it’s a pleasure to be here.
Don’t take this wrong, but I can’t help notice that you’re, a…mature author.
Heh, that’s a nice way of saying it. Thanks for trying to spare my feelings, but yes, I’m in my golden years.
Prospector’s Run is the second book you have published. You published your first book Crossing the Border in 2018, so you seem to have come to the writing game later in life. What prompted you to start writing?
I wish I could say that I started writing when I was young and had always had a passion for it, but that’s not quite true. I think my first venture into creative writing was writing verse. As a teenager, I would write humorous verse for my family’s amusement. Sometimes these poems would center around events in the family. Sometimes they would just be whatever popped into my head at the moment.
Can you give us an example of a poem about a family event?
Sure, the poem itself is lost to history now, but once I wrote a verse describing a huge fight between my two younger brothers, Douglas and Lyle. At that time we would sometimes leave the bath water in for the next bather. Lyle went first. When it was Doug’s turn he accused Lyle of not using soap. It escalated quickly to an epic battle since Lyle insisted he had used soap. One of the highlights was Doug’s declaration that “You can’t use soap and leave the water clear!”
So, verse then what?
Oh, over the years I would very occasionally write something. At one point I wrote some advertisements with the thought that maybe I’d like to explore that career. But that never amounted to anything. I wrote a screenplay for a movie, that sort of thing. But nothing sustained. In the late nineties I wrote the first three chapters of Crossing the Border. But that’s as far as I got.
What changed then?
I retired. I practiced law for thirty years and got sick of it. As soon as I could manage it, I planned on retiring. Well, I didn’t want to be bored, so I thought I would dust off my screenplay and work on it, but I soon changed my mind and went back to my novel.
You finished it obviously and went on to write more. Many aspiring authors have difficulty completing a project. Did you do anything in particular to be able to complete yours?
Yeah, I’ve read that about aspiring authors. Well, early on after I had retired and started work on my first novel, I decided that rather than think about completing the whole thing, I’d break it down. So, I set a target of writing a thousand words a day. I figured that was a manageable chunk. I had the plot generally outlined in my head, so I put together a sentence outline of the novel, that is a sentence for each chapter. From then on, I kept my head down at the thousand word a day level and figured if I stuck to that process at the other end a novel would appear. And Voila! It worked. I followed the same process with Prospector’s Run.
Prospector’s Run is science fiction. Why did you choose that genre?
That’s an easy one. Beginning from when I was in junior high school, I devoured science fiction novels and short stories. I read tons. I’m not sure what attracted me to the genre. Maybe it was the idea of exploring a completely different world, but I found the ideas and the settings in science fiction totally absorbing. I easily lost myself in the future among the stars. So, for me there was no question that when I decided to write, what genre that would be. They say to write what you know which is meant, I think, to direct writers at first at least to the familiar, but to me I “knew” a vividly imagined future of wonders better than anything else.
At this point I have to say something about the kind of future I’m attracted to. I’ve read but never been much of a fan of dystopian sci-fi. The future I want to inhabit and explore is one of technological progress in which many of mankind’s ills are solved.
Science fiction also plays into my fascination with science and technology. I would have been a scientist if I’d been smart enough.
Talk to me a bit about your writing process. Do you have a writing space?
I do, but it’s an unusual one. I write lying down on the couch in our living room.
Wait, how does that work?
Well, I prop my head with a pillow and wedge my laptop between my torso and my legs and write. Here let me show you a picture. Here I am—the author at work.
That’s…unusual. How did that evolve?
There is actually a history to it. From a young age, I did most of best imagining lying on my back staring at the sky or at the ceiling and letting my mind wander the universe. I discovered in college that on my back was the best way I knew to compose papers, so I developed that habit. When I married The Lovely Marianne, she had graduated, but I was still a junior in school. We married between semesters and the first semester after our wedding, I had a paper coming up. In the two weeks before the paper was due, I would work on it. But, of course, by working I mean I lay on my back on the floor and stared at the ceiling. Well, TLM was unaccustomed to that unorthodox way of “working” on a paper. As the time passed, she became more and more concerned until finally unable to contain herself she asked when I was going to start working on my paper. TLM was concerned that she had married a lazy lay-about, and I was just spending time lying around day dreaming.
Well, after I retired when I started writing I started out sitting at a table with my computer, but after a while, I discovered that I was more productive on the couch. So there I remain to this day.
Do you have a writing time?
Morning. I’m at my best in the morning, but I will write at other times as well.
How many novels have you written and what’s your favorite?
I have published three novels. Crossing the Border was my first. A year later I published Prospector’s Run and a year after that Dawn’s Reach which is the second book in the Artifact series. I have completed and nearly readied for publication Prospector’s Choice the third and last book in the Artifact series. I have completed, but not published another book: Quarantine. That is a Christian science fiction which I quite like, but it still needs some work. I have to say that my favorite has to be Crossing the Border.
Writing has been an interesting journey. I knew next to nothing about the craft when I started. Along the way I learned a lot and Crossing the Border was where I did a lot of experimenting. Consequently, I worked hard on that book, and maybe it’s my favorite because of all the effort I put into it. But having said that, Prospector’s Run is a close second.
Why did you write Prospector’s Run?
This book is very intentional. By that I mean the idea for this book didn’t come to me as I lay daydreaming. I constructed this book. After I finished my first book which had elements of science fiction and was an alternate history, I decided I wanted to write a pure sci-fi. So, I sat down one day and listed some of my favorite elements from sci-fi books I have really liked. I took those elements and constructed a story around them.
What were those elements?
I have always enjoyed books set in a universe where humans lived in the shadow of a prior civilization that fell or was destroyed. That’s one. I also like books where there are hints that ancient aliens have left behind incomprehensible, still functioning constructs. That’s a second. And, I like books where a group of strangers with their own problems comes together and is forced to operate as a unit. That’s another. And treasure hunts. I like treasure hunts.
Prospector’s Run is the first in a series?
Yes, I’ve titled the series Artifact. The second book Dawn’s Reach is available. Third and final book in the series Prospector’s Choice is in the editing stage. With luck it will be published in January, 2021.
What’s next for you?
Well, it’s it is time to move on from the Artifact universe to a different one. I’m afraid lethal aliens lie in earth’s near future. Someone has to stop them from destroying the planet and all humankind with it and like it or not, I’m the only one who can.
🍂
Meet the Author:
Kevin W. Bates was born in Berkeley, California and, with the exception of a couple year stint in Sydney Australia and a study abroad program in Japan, was raised there. In his Martin Luther King Jr. High and Berkeley High School years, Kevin developed a life-long fascination with science fiction (and, oddly, nuclear weapons) and a tendency to day dream. He discovered early that among the greatest joys in life is the thrill of losing yourself in a gripping space adventure soaring across the galaxy. Raised on classic science fiction authors such as Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury, Kevin took up writing science fiction to provide the same mind expanding thrills he enjoyed from those authors and more contemporary ones like Alastair Reynolds, Iain M. Banks, David Brin and Neal Stephenson.
What do you hope readers will take with them after they’ve read it?
I hope this story will make you think and yet still be an escape. Because, tbh, 2020 just sucks. And we all know it. We all need a bit of a break. A blip in the constant chaos. And I want to help my readers find that. And because my faith is the foundation of my character, it’s always between the lines and I hope it can be a comfort to the readers as well. Like it is to me.
Elizabeth Bennet remembered using those words to describe her relationship with Koby Knightly—if one could even call it that. But was that trust enough of a justification to dial her ex-boyfriend’s number? She looked back over her shoulder at the dark, snow- lined sidewalk. Seconds prior, she’d been certain she heard feet chasing her, but now, there was nothing. Only the sound of her high heels clicking on the uneven concrete as she hurried home from dinner. Why hadn’t she called a cab? Or even hopped on a bus?
It does both. And somehow it does it at the same time. There are times during a first draft, when everything is so new, that I’ll sit down and start typing and the next time I look up hours have passed. I feel like I could write forever and what’s more is that I want to. I want to push through until I can write ‘The End.’ But on the second through fifteenth drafts—not an exaggeration—it feels like I’m constantly running up hill. My body is tired. My brain is telling me to stop. I need a break. But I know that when I reach the top, I’ll be in love again and ready to do it all over.
She gasped and her whole body tensed. “Koby? What are you doing here?”
He stood in front of the glass doors to her apartment building. After pulling his hands out of the pockets of a pair of faded jeans, he started toward her, his eyes wide and his jaw hanging open. “What happened to you?”
“I really enjoyed reading Sprinkled with Sabotage by Allison Pearl. . . . If you are a fan of this genre, I really think that you will enjoy Sprinkled with Sabotage as much as I did. Not only will you be entertained, but you will also be uplifted. I definitely recommend this book to fans of Christian romantic suspense novels.”
“What are men to rocks and mountains?” Unless those men happen to be the likes of Misters Darcy and Knightley. I’m all for a good view, but I prefer a swoon and I think Jane Austen did too. If you’ve read any of the Love and Danger in St. Claire series, you’ll have seen more than one nod to the romance master herself. . . .
“Sprinkled with Sabotage keeps you on the edge of your reading chair – both from the suspense and from the romance. Layered characters and a well-plotted mystery combine with the cozy small town vibes (with a little of big city bustle thrown in) to deliver a read that hits the spot. Perfect to curl up on a chilly fall or winter day!”
When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
At first, I thought I wanted to be an actor. I was a child movie snob who loved the characters and adventures of film. Whatever magic was happening on the screen in front of me was something I wanted to create. I wanted to play every hero and villain. To walk out every storyline to its finish. But when I got old enough to realize that Luke Skywalker was in a desert on planet earth rather than a galaxy far way, I knew I didn’t want to be a part of the story. I wanted to be the author of it.
“This was a great escape novel for me. My interest and imagination were captured from the first page. . . . I loved the blend between the genres. There was just enough romance and suspense to keep me turning the pages. This is the third book in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. I look forward to reading the first two books at a later date.”
Was that static? The message sounded odd. After grabbing the red pouch from behind some dish detergent, Koby turned toward Lizzy and rested a hand on the counter. Another moment of the strange noise made it clearer. Not static. It was someone breathing. The exhales were loud and ominous. The message wasn’t a pocket dial filled with muffled background noise. Someone had left that message on purpose.
The breathing lasted another moment. “I know who you are. I know what you’ve done,” a distorted voice said.
Too many things, I promise you. I often joke that I need a night-desk instead of a nightstand. And that is just for the books. Like when I go to the grocery store hungry, my reading eyes are always way bigger than my stomach. There’s always a cornucopia of genres stacked by my alarm clock, lamp, and cup of pens and crochet needles. Right now, there’s a book about home-buying, Dostoevsky’s The Idiot and a Russian-English dictionary, my bible, the new Tana French, and my Kindle stocked with selections from Prime Reading.
Maybe I’m just too old, but I feel like the golden age of action-packed romance film has passed us by. It’s been decades since a movie’s come close to a spot on this list. But I’m hopeful that 2021 will bring with it some challenges to these Top Five Romantic Suspense Movies. #SPOILERALERT . . .
“But now what?” Her voice was soft, but he sensed an urgency in the tone. “Why did you stay?”
His heart pounded in his ears. If he could only kiss her one last time. “I think I stayed because a part of me always thought you’d come back, and if I was gone… i-if you changed your mind about us and came back… I didn’t want to miss my chance.”
“Sprinkled With Sabotage is a great mystery with sweet romance and awesome faith and friendships. The mystery keeps you guessing the who, when and where and what’s next. The characters are all well-developed . . . I highly recommend this story to everyone. There is something for every reader in this story.”
Top Five Things to Know if You’re New to Love and Danger in St. Claire
1. Because dessert.
Like all small Pennsylvania towns, St. Claire never runs out of sugar. Stop at Apple’s Fritters or Poppy’s Pies and Tarts for the treat of your choice. . . .
Because sometimes, you just need a doughnut. Why you should read romantic suspense?
Maybe the better question would be why not read Romantic Suspense? Sure, you can read heavy war novels, self-helps, memoirs, historical non-fiction, tear-jerkers, and tragedies. And you should… on occasion. But don’t you sometimes want your heart to race for something other than, COVID, bills, politics, work, drama, and your family stress? . . .
“I just figured the paranoia was all in my head and that there had to be a logical reason for the other stuff. I mean, I have been a little off since everything happened in the sheriff’s department down home. What if I overreacted?”
Koby shook his head as he grabbed the towel off the counter and flicked the faucet handle to let the water cascade over the cloth. “You are a lot of things, sweetheart. Easily spooked ain’t one of them.”
Sprinkled with Sabotage may be part of a series, but readers can start anywhere. But while you may not need to rush out and get books 1 and 2, I think it will be fun to give you a breakdown of just who you will be meeting in the small Pennsylvania town of St. Claire. . . .
“This was a fast paced suspense sprinkled with not only sabotage but romance. I liked that I wasn’t able to guess who was after Lizzy. . . . The suspense was fast and the romance was sweet.”
Her dad rose from his worn green leather armchair in front of the fireplace. “Lizzy Lu.”
How many evenings had she spent on the rug at the foot of that chair, playing with the dogs or reading a book so she could be just like him? She tossed Koby’s keys onto the thin table against the wall, and then, he pulled her into his arms.
“Hi, Daddy.” Pressing her head into his neck, she breathed in the familiar smell of sawdust and leather and then let him go. “You didn’t have to wait up.”
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post…
Sprinkled with Sabotage(Love and Danger in St. Claire #3)By Allison Pearl
Christian Romantic Suspense
Paperback & ebook, 164 Pages
October 27, 2020 by Anaiah Press
Lizzy Bennet loves life as a lawyer in the city. And not just because of the miles it puts between her and her ex. However, when she’s attacked on the street just hours after learning her identity was stolen, she tries to call home for help and ends up with the last person she expects: the very same high school boyfriend who broke her heart. He says he’s there to help, but she’s not so sure, and now, all the endless questions and regrets are clouding her judgment and preventing her from seeing the dangerous saboteur closing in.
Small-town auto mechanic, Koby Knightly, is looking forward to seeing a car show in the city. But when an unexpected call from his old girlfriend disconnects suddenly, he rushes to her aid. Throwing his plans out the window, Koby makes it his mission to protect her and discover the identity of the person trying to frame her. Will he also be able to figure out what went wrong between them back in high school or will a killer get to her first?
Allison Pearl is a small-town girl who’s lived just about everywhere. She loves books, tea, chocolate, and watching old movies with her husband, black lab, and orange tabby. To keep in touch and get updates on new releases follow her Facebook page ‘Books by Pearl’ at or”>www.facebook.com/allisonnicolepearl/ or follow her on Twitter at @AllisonPearl5 and Instagram at @allisonnicolepearl.
Cambron Press Contemporary Romance / Holidays (Sweet and Clean)
“McKensie’s Christmas Gift
When McKensie Scott returns to Wycliffe, Wyoming, she’s uncertain of her future . . . and the man she left behind two summers before. With the help of an unexpected ally, McKensie will discover that sometimes leaving the people you love is the only way to find your path home.
“A Snowy Falls Christmas”
After five years of searching for answers at her family’s home in Scotland, Maura Coburn returns to Snowy Falls, Colorado, the place she’s always called home. When Wyatt Dobbes sweeps into town to take over his family’s horse farm, Maura realizes five years might not have been long enough. When unexpected circumstances bring them together, Wyatt and Maura will soon discover the powerful magic of Christmas, love, and second chances.
“Christmas in Moose Creek”
Saige Travers said goodbye to Owen McGregor sixteen years ago. A spontaneous choice brings Saige home to Moose Creek, Montana, and she doesn’t expect her past to catch up with her present. When Owen walks back into her life, she struggles to remember why she left. Together they discover second chances are real and hope is a cherished gift.
Can six willing hearts find a second chance at love? Join us this holiday season and fall in love like it was the first time.
“This was one of the greatest books ever. Not only did it show the true meaning of Christmas but it also showed that true love is possible!” —Mary’s Opinion
“McKenna Grey, you never cease to amaze me. Your books are filled with such wonderful characters, families, and love. I know I have read this story before, but I enjoyed it just as much this time as I had the first time. Waiting patiently for your next new book.” —M.L. Sullivan
“I loved all three of the stories in this book. On a cold, rainy day, I enjoyed the lights of the Christmas tree, and forgetting the dismal view outside, I was carried away to three places in the Rockies for a beautiful Christmas setting, where i met strong characters and three charming stories of love renewed.” – Verna Cole Mitchell, poet and author of Somewhere Beyond the Blue
“I loved every one of these stories. They are sweet, clean and heartwarming. I give it five stars. I highly recommend it for any reader’s Christmas reading.” —Goodreads Review
From “McKensie’s Christmas
Gift” in Christmas in the Rockies
The
fog cleared from McKensie’s brain. “And knowing my aunt, she insisted you have
the wedding here.”
“Yeah.
I thought about moving the location, but Shirley insisted we still have it at
the hotel, and Olivia—”
“Wouldn’t
have wanted you to change a thing. I get it. Yes, you’ll have it here.”
McKensie prided herself on handling tense situations, a handy talent when
managing a kitchen. She avoided looking at Cameron throughout her conversation
with Julie and realized he hadn’t moved, patient as ever. “When is the
wedding?”
“The
week before Christmas.”
McKensie
raised a brow and studied her friend. “That’s fast.”
Julie
shrugged. “When it’s right, it’s right. That reminds me, I have one more thing
to ask Shirley about the food. Meet you in the foyer in ten, big brother.” She
stopped at the door and pointed to McKensie. “I will call you tomorrow. We have
so much to catch up on.”
Julie
exited the office with as much excitement as she entered. McKensie replayed
some of her last words over in her mind. When it’s right, it’s right.
From “A Snowy Falls Christmas”
in Christmas in the Rockies
Her breath faded into the crisp morning air. The
stoneware mug cupped in her hands warmed her skin while the lavender tea blend
stole away the frigid cold from within. She stood on the expansive deck
overlooking the glistening waters of Winter Lake and contemplated her quiet
return home.
The
Snowy Falls Lodge stood tall and grand behind her, a landmark on the lake and
in the quaint mountain village. Her grandmother would have said, “For better or
worse, it is now yours, Maura.”
Maura
spent the first twenty-five years of her life in the spacious rooms and
luxurious halls of the lodge that blended the design of a Scottish castle and
Victorian cattle ranch. The idea might have resulted in a haphazard structure
had it not been for a truly talented, though little-known, Scottish architect
named Charles Mackenzie.
Five
years ago, Maura did what no one ever expected—she left home—and not because
she didn’t love the lodge or the village. Her father called her a dreamer. Her
mother used the word “wanderer,” and her grandmother often said she was a
seeker. Maura appreciated her grandmother’s description best. What exactly
Maura sought when she left Snowy Falls remained a mystery to everyone.
From “Christmas in Moose Creek”
in Christmas in the Rockies
The 4×4 careened to a stop and
the driver waited in disbelief at the deplorable timing of Mother Nature. Moose
Creek, Montana, had its share of wildlife—bear, deer, elk, mountain lions—but
in her thirty-three years, Saige Travers had never seen a moose on this mountain.
Until today.
No
one waited for her in her swank two-bedroom condo in Seattle except the
goldfish her brother gave to her as a joke for her birthday. She’d needed a
break from the city and the cataclysmic string of end-of-the-road relationships
she’d been in the past five years. More like dates, if she was going to be
honest with herself.
Saige
Travers didn’t have time for relationships.
McKenna Grey is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Terms & Conditions:
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
This giveaway ends midnight December 16.
Winner will be contacted via email on December 17.
McKenna Grey is the contemporary alter-ego of an award-winning, historical romance author. She writes romantic suspense, including the Kyndall Family series, and heartwarming, small-town romance to break up the murder and mayhem. She lives and plays in the northern Rocky Mountains where she manages to stay out of the trouble her characters can’t seem to avoid.
Dreaming of TomorrowBy Michelle De Bruin
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 317 Pages
November 10, 2020 by Scrivenings Press LLC
Love leads them to a lifetime of commitment where the dreams they have held onto for so long start to come true.
Popular and eligible, Logan De Witt must convince the women in town that he is engaged to be married. A quiet, simple ceremony is what he has in mind for his wedding day, but when the date and time of his bride’s arrival is published in the newspaper, the whole town joins in the celebration proving to Logan and his new wife their sincere friendship and support. Added to the excitement of Logan’s marriage is the question of what the congregation should do with the unexpected donation of an orchard.
Karen Millerson is counting the days until her long-distance engagement comes to an end and she may travel to Oswell City to marry Logan. More than anything, she wants to share in his life as a help and support, but keeping a house and finding her place in the community requires much more work than she ever expected.
Learn, laugh, and love with Karen and Logan as they start a new marriage and work together ministering to the citizens of their small town.
Dreaming for Tomorrow is the third book in the series and we get to know Logan and Karen better. I enjoyed following the lives of this couple and their many ups and downs that they faced in their day to day lives. I love these characters that I already met in the previous books. There are special moments in this book that will have you reaching for the Kleenex, and other moments I had a good time laughing with the two.
And what a special time to witness this beautiful, long awaited wedding! De Bruin does a really great job of giving readers an ending to a beautiful ending to this courtship. I didn’t read book one in this series, but I sure have enjoyed books 2 and three. If you love a sweet clean historical Romance, i highly recommend this one to you!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
💗
About the Author
Michelle De Bruin lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in Religion with a Christian Ministry emphasis, and in Music. Michelle is the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with mental and physical disabilities. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2015. Michelle writes inspirational historical romance about people who live in rural communities. Characters that bring to life the delights of farm and small-town living, whispers of Dutch heritage, and Christian faith make Michelle’s stories distinct. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always on the lookout for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story.
Her first book, Hope for Tomorrow, released in 2018. The sequel, Promise for Tomorrow, released November 2019. The third book in the series, Dreaming of Tomorrow, releases November 2020.
One winner will receive a $20 (USD) Amazon Gift Card and a copy of Dreaming of Tomorrow (winner can choose print if in the US and ebook outside the US)
Welcome to the Blog Blitz & Giveaway for Snowbound in Winterberry Falls by Ann Brodeur, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Snowbound in Winterberry Falls
Author: Ann Brodeur
Publisher: Anaiah Press
Release Date: November 6, 2020
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
A buried story. A powerful senator. A Christmas they won’t forget.
Owning her own PR firm is all reporter Stephanie Clark wants for Christmas, but the idea of running a prestigious election campaign in the country’s capital throws her stomach into knots. A last minute vacation road trip to focus and seek God’s direction for her life ends up in disaster when she gets caught in the worst snowstorm to hit Vermont in over a decade, crashing her into a small town and the one person she’d rather forget.
Former photojournalist Jason Miller hadn’t planned on being solely responsible for saving his family business from financial ruin. He’s barely keeping the newspaper in print, his News Editor has gone AWOL during the town’s most celebrated holiday festival, and reports of missing Christmas decorations have everyone on edge.
When a desperate knock at the newsroom door brings a ghost from Christmas past back into his life, can Jason make up for his prior behavior without breaking his promise to Stephanie’s father? Will Stephanie’s quest to solve the town’s Christmas caper—and uncover the truth about Jason’s disappearance—cost her everything she’s ever wanted?
“At first, I thought it was a prank, but like you wrote in your article this morning, a
lot of that is happening and I wonder why.” Sally placed a hand on her hip as Stephanie
opened the folded paper.
“What do you make of the note?”
Sally shrugged. “Beats me. Says, ‘I.O.U. four reindeer’ so I’m waiting to either get
paid or find my little guys back in their spot sometime soon.” Sally waved to onlookers
outside in the cold who returned the gesture.
“Thing is, I’m happy to spread Christmas cheer, but it’s a puzzle as to why someone
would have a reason to do this. After all, this is the center of New England Christmas,
good will and peace toward men. No other town does Christmas better than Winterberry
Falls. I don’t know of many who would begrudge helping another find a little bit of
Christmas.” Sally’s eyes dimmed.
Stephanie frowned. The woman’s statement made a lot of sense, but it brought up
more questions than answers.
⛄
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ANN BRODEUR is an avid reader and inspirational romance novelist. She’s the proud Maman of four, and is happily married to her own French Canadian Hero. After years of writing non-fiction for a variety of non-profits, and receiving an Honorable Mention in the Magazine Feature Article category in Writer’s Digest Magazine’s 86th Annual Writing Competition, Ann is pursuing her dream of publishing stories that encourage and inspire hope.
CONNECT WITH ANN:Website | Facebook | Pinterest
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a Handcrafted Pewter Christmas Ornament, Handmade Ribbon Bookmark, and The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight November 20, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on November 27, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Join us for this tour from Nov 18 to Dec 22, 2018!
Book Details:
Book Title: MagesUnbound: Book 2 of the Fifth Mage War Seriesby Laura Engelhardt Series: Fifth Mage War Series Category: Adult fiction (18+), 480 pages Genre: Paranormal Women’s Fiction Publisher: Laura Engelhardt Release date: Nov 2020 Content Rating:
Book Description:
It’s ironic to find out your whole life has been a lie when you’re married to a truth-teller. If only Mary could find some humor in it. She’s drowning her sorrow in vodka and song when a surprise visit from her youngest sister jolts her into accepting the magical reality hidden from her for fifty years. Mary’s epiphany can’t come soon enough because her fresh start may be the only thing that can save her siblings and the world from an utter melt-down. As the two Bant sisters grapple with sirens, faeries and the FBI in America, their brother is trapped in a high-stakes game of mage politics in Australia. Meanwhile, middle-sister Amy’s malfunctioning mage-sight forces her to seek help from the very same mages who tricked her once before.
Can Mary pull herself together in time to rescue her family from the coming war? Mages Unbound is a paranormal women’s fiction novel, told from the perspective of the Bant family members. This is Book 2 in the Fifth Mage War Series, a magical epic about sirens, fae, and family ties.
Book Title:Sirens Unbound: Book 1 of the Fifth Mage War Seriesby Laura Engelhardt Series: Fifth Mage War Series Category: Adult fiction (18+), 548 pages Genre: Paranormal Women’s Fiction Publisher: Laura Engelhardt Release date: July 29, 2019 Content Rating:
“Loved it! Members of the Bant family become entwined in an upcoming mage war in this epic urban fantasy novel about sirens, fae, and family ties.” — Michelle Hogmire, Reedsy Discovery
“a unique take and meshing of different established ideas… Sirens that feed and aid? Fae trapped in England as a prisoner camp? Mage’s getting optical surgery for magick sight? I really loved the combination of ideas and I thought they all worked together surprisingly well … I found myself immersed in watching the fae emerge and interested in Amy’s work. I appreciated not being talked down to on either side, as a reader. Some writers over-explain or use too much jargon. This was just the right mix for me. And the descriptions placed me in each scene. I’d definitely buy this.” — Mel Candea, Ink & Insights
Book Description:
Amy’s day starts with three things: Coffee, breakfast, then brains. In that order. Relax, it’s not what you think. She’s just your everyday neurosurgeon who can fix everyone’s brain but her own. It doesn’t matter if she has fifty years of life experience and regularly works with mages—she’s still a mundane.
She’s turning fifty, and her last achievement was what, ten years ago? She’s not sure if anyone even remembers it.
Determined not to be a one-hit-wonder, Amy jumps head-first into a new opportunity. Literally. Some people have affairs to deal with a midlife crisis—Amy has brain surgery.
The results are even bigger than her career ambitions, and Dr. Amy Bant will need the help of her siblings to survive what comes next. Cordelia, an agoraphobic underwater photographer, Thomas, a playboy with a Brazilian tourism business, and Mary, a choir director with a truth-teller husband are all keys to unlocking secrets a whole lot closer to home than any of them could have realized.
Turning fifty doesn’t have to be mundane—not when you’re in the Bant family! Sirens Unbound is a paranormal women’s fiction novel told from each member of the Bant family. This is Book 1 in the Fifth Mage War
Series, a magical epic about sirens, fae, and family ties.
BEFORE WE READ ABOUT THE AUTHOR, LET’S READ THIS VERY INTERESTING INTERVIEW
Q: How do you balance your time between your writing and your family?
A: I have four school-age children. When I was working full-time, I barely had time to read, let alone write! But after I stopped working, I discovered that there were a few glorious hours during the school day when I could actually focus on what I wanted to accomplish. Of course with everyone at home now, it’s been harder to find my own time. But writing keeps me sane, so I try to find a half hour here and there to sneak off.
Q: How does your faith inform your writing?
A: I like to think my faith informs everything I do, most especially my writing. Christian fantasy writers have a long history – from C.S. Lewis and his Narnia books to L.E. Modesitt and his Imager series (which includes actual sermons). I’m not writing a classic fantasy series where the villains are utterly irredeemable forces of darkness. Instead, my villains start out as heroes. I think their transformation is just as interesting as the rise of heroes. All my main characters have a chance to be great — it comes down to their decisions. Some will make the right choices, but they often falter (just like us regular people ☺). When my characters fall down the slippery slope of justifying wrong-doing (for extremely worthwhile causes), they begin their fall from grace. The question is whether they can turn it around or not.
Q: You’ve traveled outside the country? Where would you like to go next?
A: I’ve never been to Australia. Since so much of Mages Unbound takes place there, I would really like to actually visit the country. Of course, Australian culture in my world is SO different from the real Australia, I don’t think my work on the book will actually help me acclimate 😉
Q: You say the Australia in your world is quite different from the real Australia — in what way?
A: I had fun making the Australians super-formal, with fussy and tight clothing styles. Since Aussies are known for being laid-back, I thought this would help readers distinguish the Australians of my world to actual Australians. In my world, a mage cabal rules Australia as an apartheid state, where mages have a lot more legal rights than their mundane citizens. All Australians are devoted to their cause of freeing the mages of Europe and America from their self-imposed “enclave bonds,” but have little sympathy or understanding for non-mages. I really love writing about my Australians, and can’t wait to explore their world view further as I continue writing this series.
Q: Why do you write fantasy fiction?
A: I write the kind of books I like to read. While I read a ton of romance novels, historical fiction and mysteries, most of my library is filled with sci-fi and fantasy. While fantastic worlds draw me in, it’s the characters that keep me reading. I love magic and science so advanced it’s like magic, but more than that, it’s the people fantasy authors write about that make me love the genre so much.
Q: How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
A: It was such a learning experience — from start to finish! I think I cut and re-wrote 70% of the first book. And like most authors, if I were going to write it again now, the story would be very different. There’s so much to learn from the process of doing. Our culture places such emphasis on training & book-learning. But honestly, I think we learn so much more by doing & by the feedback we receive from others who experience our work product.
AS WELL AS A GREAT GUEST POST FROM THIS AUTHOR
“Can’t there be just one thing, one pure source of truth, that doesn’t have to be questioned? I’ve changed so much — I don’t want to change religions!”
Poor Mira! Can you imagine how hard it must be to be caught between a world of magick and the mundane world? It’s especially difficult for her because she doesn’t discover she’s a siren until she’s thirty years old. She spends the next forty years clinging to her human life.
Her unwillingness to abandon her human children is a large part of what keeps her in the mundane world. Unlike most sirens who transition from human to siren, Mira isn’t willing to break with her family when she changes. But even after her children are grown, Mira still can’t bring herself to embrace a new life. She’s held back by her fear that if she acknowledges the truth — that she’s a siren — she will be accepting the fact that she may no longer be welcome in the church.
For some readers, this may not be such a big challenge. But for people with strong ties to a faith community, the prospect of being outcast can be even more of a horror than the thought of being divorced by your spouse.
In my books, sirens are a hybrid creation developed by a great mage years ago, artificially constructed by magick. Mira worries that because sirens were created by a mage, not God, that the Pope will declare that have no souls. So ever since Mira discovered that she was a siren, she’s been tortured by the fear that she’ll be excommunicated if the church becomes aware that sirens exist. I don’t delve into this sub-theme beyond one rather poignant scene in Mages Unbound, but am laying the groundwork for Mira to eventually address her crisis of faith in later books.
Most fiction stories only explore the heartache of a broken relationship in the context of a failed romance. But such devastating heartbreak can happen when you’re fired from your job, when a friend ghosts you, or when your church no longer accepts you. In Mages Unbound, Mira worries that she isn’t really God’s beloved daughter. But her journey of faith will continue in the next book!
Meet the Author:
An avid sf/fantasy reader, Laura Engelhardt writes the kind of book she likes to read: fantasy with intricate worlds and complex characters facing moral dilemmas. She started writing plays in college, then moved to Germany, where she continued to write while teaching ESL to executives. After moving back to the U.S., she supported her playwriting by teaching ballroom dance and working retail. Deciding that living in her parents’ attic wasn’t for her, Laura went to law school and then spent the next seventeen years as a lawyer and compliance officer in New York City. In 2017, she quit Wall Street and began helping people resolve disputes as a mediator and arbitrator. She now lives in New Jersey with her family.
Author: Vannetta Chapman, Kathleen Fuller, Kelly Irvin, and Amy Clipston
Genre: Amish Christmas
Release Date: October 6, 2020
From bestselling authors of Amish fiction come four delightful stories perfect for celebrating love, joy, and the everyday miracles Christmas brings.
Evergreen Love by Amy Clipston
Ryan Lapp had promised to marry Lorene Bontrager as soon as he was able to build them a house, but the day never came. Ryan moved away. Five years later, Lorene has settled in to her old maid role, and she’s shocked when her younger sister announces her quick engagement to Ryan’s younger brother. As they rush to plan the wedding, Lorene is constantly around the family she almost joined. Worse, she’s forced to face Ryan himself, who has returned to town. As both Ryan and Lorene examine their own feelings, they must decide if they can find grace with each other—and the young people they once were—this Christmas season. There just might still be love in their future.
Holiday of Hope by Kelly Irvin
Henry Lufkin is one of four bachelors who lived in the West Kootenai, Montana, cabins that were destroyed by wildfires. He’s the only one of them who hasn’t since married, but he likes his solitude. Then an old friend asks him to care for his son, and Henry has to share his small cabin and his life with bewildered and rebellious ten-year-old Tommy. When the child encounters trouble at school, Henry reaches out to Tommy’s teacher. Leesa Yoder never expected to find herself single and teaching sixteen young scholars, and she certainly didn’t anticipate an inexperienced bachelor telling her how to do her job. Amid the flying sparks, can Henry and Leesa see that there might be hope and love in this unexpected situation?
Wreathed in Joy by Kathleen Fuller
Mary Wengerd and Jakob Mullet have been best friends since childhood. Pressured by friends and family, they decided to date—with disastrous results. When they break up, their friendship is ruined. A year later, Mary is baking her Englisch friend’s wedding and groom cakes for a Christmas Eve wedding. Mary loves the Christmas season, and had always dreamed of marrying during that time. Now she wonders if she’ll ever marry. After she and Jakob form a tenuous new friendship, Mary breaks her arm. As he steps in to help her with the cakes, Mary is inexplicably and suddenly falling for him. But they’ve already dated, and that ended so horribly. Could it be better this time?
A Christmas Prayer by Vannetta Chapman
Widower Micah Miller runs the Amish Tour Company, offering Englischers a glimpse of a simpler life as well as tea at Rachel King’s. Rachel has never married and has recently lost her parents. When Micah comes across an abandoned and injured dog, he gives it to Rachel for company. As Rachel is charmed by the dog and shocked by news of the existence of family she never expected, her heart and mind bend toward the possibilities of change in her life—even toward the possibility of love.
This is a great collection of sweet Amish Christmas stories that I thoroughly enjoyed from four of my favorite Amish writers. And I could never even think of picking a favorite among these four stories!! I love them all!
Amy Clipston’s Evergreen Love shares Lorene and Ryan’s story five years after a fierce breakup. The two are attendants at their siblings wedding. My heart went out for these two as they endured their time together. Amy Clipston creates beautiful characters that develop so well throughout the story. I love the sweetness of the Amish families. A great calm Christmas story!
Holiday of Hope by Kelly Irvin was such a fun read. I really enjoyed the banter between Leesa and Henry, especially as he told her how to do her job. Both a little feisty, it was quiet the scene! Using her wonderfully created characters that I grew to love, Kelly Irvin does an amazing job as usual, telling another wonderful Amish story, and a Christmas one at that!
Wreathed in Joy by Kathleen Fuller gives another sweet second chance stories for readers. After the breakup Mary and Jakob find themselves a year later involved in preparation for a Christmas wedding. Ms. Fuller pins a wonderful story of love, forgiveness and second chances. I love how the story unfolds and we get a glimpse of this beautiful couple.
And last but certainly not least, we have the finally story:
A Christmas Prayer by Vannetta Chapman
Vannetta Chapman’s story involves an Amish Tour Company, which I loved because I don’t read a lot of stories about this subject. Michael is a widower, and I think this tour company is the perfect job for him. And communication with the single lady, Rachel King gets intriguing and interesting for me! And what I would give to visit Rachel’s Tea. I can just feel the cozy little restaurant now. And I also enjoyed romance between a little older couple than usual.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She is the author of sixteen novels, including the Pebble Creek Amish series, The Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, and Anna’s Healing, a 2016 Christy Award finalist. Vannetta is a Carol award winner and has also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She was a teacher for fifteen years and currently resides in the Texas hill country. Visit Vannetta online: VannettaChapman.com, Twitter: @VannettaChapman, Facebook: VannettaChapmanBooks.
KATHLEEN FULLER With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com; Instagram: kf_booksandhooks; Facebook: WriterKathleenFuller.
KELLY IRVIN Kelly Irvin is the bestselling author of the Every Amish Season and Amish of Bee County series. The Beekeeper’s Son received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, who called it a “beautifully woven masterpiece.” The two-time Carol Award finalist is a former newspaper reporter and retired public relations professional. Kelly lives in Texas with her husband, photographer Tim Irvin. They have two children, three grandchildren, and two cats. In her spare time, she likes to read books by her favorite authors. Visit her online at KellyIrvin.com; Instagram: kelly_irvin; Facebook: Kelly.Irvin.Author; Twitter: @Kelly_S_Irvin.
AMY CLIPSTON Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, and Amish Marketplace series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at AmyClipston.com; Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks; Twitter: @AmyClipston; Instagram: @amy_clipston.
Read an Excerpt from An Amish Christmas Wedding
Want to read an excerpt from An Amish Christmas Wedding featuring four of your favorite authors?
You can find more information about the book and the excerpt here!
Experience the heart-pounding drama of real-life emergencies. Veteran EMT and physical therapist Andrea Jo Rodgers shares this all-new collection of accounts from her 30-plus years as a volunteer with her town’s local first aid and emergency squad.
Arrive on the scene with Andrea and encounter…
Lou, a dedicated war veteran who is granted a new tour of duty from God.
A fearful flock of ducklings that slip down a storm drain during a false alarm.
Everett, a resilient older man who goes for an unexpected ride on the hood of an intoxicated driver’s car.
Jenna, a young woman whose dangerous heart condition is both physical and emotional.
Frank, a husband whose nasty fall down a flight of stairs earns him instant angel status from his devoted wife, Doris.
As you discover these and many more unforgettable stories, you’ll be reminded that miracles do happen, whether it be through the heroic efforts of first responders, the Lord’s divine intervention, or, often, both.
Help from Heaven by Andrea Jo Rogers is a collection of real life emergency stories Ms. Rogers has seen first hand from being an EMT herself. I am always fascinated hearing stories from first responders, and these stories are just as amazing. The author starts each chapter with a scripture and then goes into the story. As I read these stories, I was amazed at just what emergency workers of all kinds actually face on a daily basis. I am also amazed at the miracles that happen during some of the rescues. My heart was truly touched at the heartwarming experiences that showed that god was truly in control.
If this is something you enjoy reading, I highly recommend you pick up this truly amazing read. You will be amazed at the stories you will read. I give this book Five Stars. I hope you will enjoy as much as I did!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Andrea Jo Rodgers is the author of award-winning Christian middle grade fiction as well as inspirational adult nonfiction novels. She holds a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and specializes in women’s health, orthopedics, and lymphedema. She has served her community as a volunteer emergency medical technician for over thirty years, responding to more than 8,200 first aid and fire calls. She lives on the east coast with her husband, two children, and their two rescue dogs, a Shih Tzu and a Dachshund.
More from Andrea
I’ve been blessed to volunteer as an emergency medical technician for more than thirty years and to work as a physical therapist for more than twenty-five. Help from Heaven: True Stories of Miracles, Rescues, and Answered Prayers from a First Responder relates inspirational and memorable first aid and emergency calls from my years on the rescue squad. First responders have a unique opportunity to assist people in moments of crisis when they walk along a tightrope between heaven and earth. Over the years, I have witnessed miracles in which people have been saved from danger with what I believe to be divine intervention. By sharing my experiences, I hope to comfort or inspire others.
Have you ever been absolutely scared out of your wits? It happened to me several years ago, when my son and I survived a life-threatening elevator accident. When we escaped death, I decided we were saved with help from our guardian angels and the Lord. The accident marked the first time that rather than responding to an emergency call, I was the 911 call. After working through the pain and fear, I realized something good came out of the accident, for it inspired me to start writing. As a result, my first book, At Heaven’s Edge: True Stories of Faith and Rescue, was born.
I live in a small town. Without a doubt, I can say that some of the most precious moments in my life have occurred precisely when I was volunteering to help others. Participating in the rescue and resuscitation of fellow community member is an incredible blessing. Seeing people I’ve helped biking, shopping, or receiving a text from them makes all the nights of broken sleep and interrupted family gatherings worthwhile.
I’m currently the Lieutenant and training officer on my squad. Facing the COVID-19 crisis has catapulted us into unprecedented times. The outpouring of love and support from our community helped my fellow squad members and I to hang in there, face our fears, and do what we need to do to help those in need of assistance. As a first responder, all I can say is thank you! I hope you enjoy reading Help from Heaven. Maybe it will inspire you to find a way to volunteer in some capacity.
To celebrate her tour, Andrea is giving away the grand prize package of signed copies of At Heaven’s Edge: True Stories of Faith and Rescue and Help from Heaven: True Stories of Rescues, Miracles, and Answered Prayers from a First Responder as well as a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
After life takes five women on different paths, a death brings them home. But friendship might not be enough to keep them together.
When Bria Landon and her estranged father each inherit fifty percent of a small-town cupcake shop, her dad hires her worst enemy, and first love, to turn the place into a soulless franchise…or sell it.
To save her aunt’s legacy, Bria needs the help of people who love the bakery as much as she does—her old friends who worked there fifteen years ago. Except each woman is dealing with her own problem:
Juliet, who’s trying to prove she’s more than a trophy wife; Missy, a widow who fears losing the job she loves; Nell, who’s meddling mother won’t stop playing matchmaker; and Selena, a life coach who excels at fixing everyone else’s lives…but hasn’t a clue what’s missing in her own.
Each woman wants to believe their friendship can overcome anything. But as the Berry Lake Cupcake Posse reunite to save their beloved cupcake shop, they soon discover the undertaking will bring more trouble than they expected.
Melissa McClone’s Cupcakes & Crumbs doesn’t exactly start out sweet and crumbly as the cover looks. It’s death that starts the story here with Bria and her dad, who don’t get along I may add, inherits her aunts bakery. And her dad ends up hiring her worst enemy. But Bria knows she has to do something so she calls on a group of friends that have previously worked at the bakery to save it.
This is a complicated book because each of these friends have issues of their own that could sure cause conflict. But the sweetness of Berry Lake Cupcake Posse flows through. I did love the friendship coming back to life as the ladies worked together to save this special bakery Bria’s aunt loved so well. The characters were well created, and interesting to say the least. As the story unfolds, the characters develop well, and I could feel a definite change in their attitude. I give this story a Four Stars and I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I am eager to find out what happens to this group of friends, as well as Bria and the difficult person her dad hires to get the Bakery back in order.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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About the Author
USA TODAY bestselling author Melissa McClone writes heartwarming women’s fiction and sweet contemporary romance novels for Cardinal Press, Tule Publishing Group, and Harlequin Books. When she’s not writing relatable characters and sigh-worthy happy endings, she spends rainy Pacific Northwest reading from her Kindle’s ever-growing TBR, napping, and decorating her Happy Planner. Melissa lives in Washington state with her husband, three children, a Norwegian Elkhound, and three cats who think they rule the house. They do!
A $10 Amazon gift card, cupcake makeup bag set, cupcake charm, cupcake socks, set of magnetic clips, lip gloss, key chain, sticker, swag pack, and bookmark (US only)
Join us for this tour from Nov 16 to Dec 11, 2020!
Book Details:
Book Title: I Will Always Love You by Ashley Lee London Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 287 pages Genre: Romance Publisher: Ashley Lee London Release date: June 2020 Content Rating: PG. No F Words, I can think of several swear words and one very mild sex scene after its conclusion.
Book Description:
Grace Parrish made two mistakes when she fell in love. She forgot her mother’s stories of segregation. “Don’t love a white man, Grace. It’s too hard and he’ll break your heart.” Even worse, she fell in love with her best friend’s husband, Peter. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU is a poignant story about the foundation of marriage: love, honor, and fidelity—and the heartache of unrequited love. The must-read story shows how the power of love can overcome adversity, the pain of loss, and rejection because of racial heritage. Grace honors her best friend Lori’s marriage and refuses to pursue an affair, yet her heart will not allow her to love another. The bond of Peter’s love continues after Lori’s passing. During a chance meeting between Peter and Grace, much to their surprise,
a spark ignites that causes them each to wonder, “Could it be that we’ve been given a second chance to fall in love?”
There are people who argue Paris is nothing more than a mirror of other large metropolitan cities in the world. Nightlights that slip past the horizon and the shuffle of tens of thousands of shoes. Such a foolish declaration. Their hearts are cold and cloistered.
I have loved in Paris. My lover’s arms embraced me as I drank my morning coffee on the hotel terrace. The mist rising, revealing the Cathédrale Notre Dame,
Let me tell you a short story.
Deidre dismissed those who devalued love’s grasp on Paris. She knew better after listening to her parents describe their visit. Soon, photographs of Paris from every angle hung in her room. She longed to stand at the Eiffel Tower and drink wine at a sidewalk café on the Champs-Élysées. Watch the men of the world stroll past her table. Fall in love.
Her friends thought the impossible of Deidre’s dream. They dismissed the miniature iconic Eiffel Tower on her desk. She was one of dozens of secretaries in the Wall Street brokerage office. Travel to Paris was expensive. Very expensive.
Deidre refused to surrender to opinion. She quit her job and moved closer to home. Her savings grew with a premium position at another brokerage office. Sleep became difficult two years later when her lifetime dream was days away. Paris. The city of love was hers to conquer.
She cruised the Seine and roared her approval of the can-can dancers at the Moulin Rouge. Stood silent in awe at the five-hundred-year plus Mona Lisa. Studied French history in the Arc de Triomphe muséum.
Men were plentiful with their broad false smiles and lecherous eyes. They fixated on her full figure, blonde hair cascading freely onto her shoulders, and blue eyes that searched for honesty and integrity. Her heart sank. Had Paris been a mistake?
The last day. The Eiffel Tower. She considered canceling the visit and catching an early flight home. Why suffer another heartache? No. She had traveled 3,800 miles. She may never return. A taxi delivered her to the iconic site.
Why he approached her, she did not know. He was a passerby wearing a dark blue Italian-cut business suit and a designer leather briefcase. The tower was obviously not on his agenda. Perhaps he became distressed to see her sad face. Perhaps he believed no one should approach the tower without awe in their eyes. Her step was mechanical and lacked enthusiasm.
For whatever reason, he changed his course and approached her. Experience taught her how to read peoples intent. Unlike other men she had met, she sensed his concern for her was genuine. They were honorable.
She reached into her tote bag to pay for the elevator ride to the top when her bag slipped off her shoulder. A hand reached out and retrieved her bag.
“Je vous en prie, mademoiselle. May I join you in the elevator and allow me to show you my city?”
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This book was like a generation whirlwind. Which to be honest, was very confusing. But first, the back of the book Blurb is very misleading, it happens way after, like a generation after what we already gave read. Perhaps you can see Amazon for a more accurate book Blurb. This is a very difficult review for me to write. There are multiple characters throughout the generations, it is hard to keep up with who is who. There is so much that just don’t add up. Like, and I won’t use names to spoil it, but one of the characters asking a friend of her moms to be her Godfather, then loving he and his wife so much, she pushes her mom she loves so much to the wayside. And there are so many thing like this happening in the book. I think maybe the author is trying to cram too much plot into one story. And it just didn’t work for me.
I did enjoy parts of the story. The beginning is heartbreaking, and parents should have paid for the way they treated their daughter. And I love the way the daughter was determined to find a way to take care of herself, and it wasn’t easy for her. (None of this in the back page blurb). And then the jumping back and forth began. And one thing I missed, the language is far worse than Indicated. I’m giving this book a Three Stars, which I hate doing, because I think this story has potential, it just needs a lot of fixing and editing.
I still encourage you to read the book. I would love to see what others think. Readers need to see more than my opinion.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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What made you write a book about romance?
My life has centered on romance and falling in love since my first crush in the fifth grade. Love embraces me and comforts me. These experiences have given me a sensitivity on writing the dialogue and constructing the story. Love never travels in a straight line. It is a mountain road with curves of omissions and misunderstandings.
What advice would you give budding writers?
First, the new writer must learn the grammar rules. Failure to achieve this goal will doom any hope for success. Second and equally important is to meet and associate with other writers, including critique partners and local and state writer’s association meetings.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
My inspiration comes from personal experiences and observing couples in a variety of different circumstances. I have also developed stories lying in bed at night and unable to fall asleep.
If you could put yourself as a character in your novel, who would you be?
I would be Pamela who suffered the pain of loss and endured an impossible love. Despite the obstacles, love clasped her hand and led her on a lifetime of fulfillment.
Where do you write? Do you write every day? What is your writing schedule?
I write five days a week for approximately six hours each day. I am fortunate to have a private library to shut the door and step into my story. The world slips away, and I am blessed.
Welcome to the Blog Blitz & Giveaway for 
splashesofjoy 
