My Thoughts and More on Saving the Mountain Man's Legacy by Misty M. Beller

 

About the Book

Book: Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: April 18, 2025

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

Sampson Coulter is determined to undo his disastrous mistake that is jeopardizing his family’s future. Now he’s deeply embedded in the corrupt mining empire of the ruthless Mick McPharland, and has earned the trust of Jedidiah, the brutal right-hand man. The threat reaches much farther than his own family, and he knows he must dismantle the operation from within…or die trying.

Grieving the loss of her mother, Jewel Hampton is shocked to discover a newborn baby on her doorstep. When she seeks help from her father, Jedidiah, she never imagines he’ll force her to marry Sampson Coulter, the kind man who only gave her a ride to town. Though her father has always been willing to pass her off, at least she has Sampson’s promise to protect her and the baby. It doesn’t hurt that he’s the most handsome man she’s ever seen.

Marrying Jedidiah’s daughter adds an impossible complication to Sampson’s mission. It seems he can’t have it all—redemption for himself, justice for the victims of the corruption, protection for the innocent…and a life with the woman and babe he’s coming to love.From a USA Today bestselling author comes the gripping series finale filled with high-stakes danger, a marriage of convenience, an instant family, and love that heals wounded hearts.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Following this family's journey through love and danger has been a fun trip. This is Sampson's story and his trying to make up for what the evil McPharland clan did to his family some time ago. However, he could not foresee how his being undercover could end painfully or gain himself a family.

Grace and her adopted baby, Ruby need help. She is going to the only man that she believes can help her. Her father, if he will. But her father is none other Jedediah, the right-hand man of McPharland. And he is planning something quite sinister for the Coulter family, and no one, not even Grace will stand in his way.

This was a great story about relying on family through thick and thin. Throw in a marriage of convenience and this story had me hooked with the tension, romance, and a good dose of family drama. If you are looking for a family series with close relationships and loyalty, with a bit of danger and action, check out the Coulter family stories.

I was provided a copy of this novel by the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all view and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author with over 1 million books sold. She writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

Hello Friends!

I’m BEYOND excited to share the finale of the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series with you! This is Sampson’s story, the black sheep of the family. I thought it might be fun to give you a taste of one of my favorite scenes in the book:

***

Sampson eyed the woman he’d been told to marry. “I’d feel better if you and Ruby weren’t at the mercy of your father. I’d rather give you my name and make sure you have a nice place to live—a safe place. I’ll make sure you want for nothing.” She studied him with furrowed brow. He let his eyes plead with her as he said this last part. “Please consider it. For Ruby’s sake, if nothing else.”

Her expression didn’t change, she simply…stared at him. What thoughts churned in that mind of hers? Did she believe him?

Or did she think he was on her father’s side, trying to manipulate her into giving him control?

Show her the truth, Lord.

At last, her mouth parted as she prepared to speak. Her voice came out hesitant. “Would you expect to…live with us? Like a real husband?”

He shook his head, fighting off the burn in his cheeks at what she really asked. “You can live wherever you like. My family has a ranch a day’s ride from here. You’re welcome to move in there. Or if you want to be on your own, near a town, we’ll find a place you like.” He forced himself to meet her gaze again. They had to be honest with each, and he couldn’t let embarrassment get in the way of anything she needed to ask. “I won’t expect anything from you. Nothing like in a usual marriage.”

Her shoulders sagged a little, as if in relief. But a small furrow remained between her brows. “Why are you doing this? Why would you willingly burden yourself with us?”

He let himself consider her question. Why did he want her to say yes so much? He didn’t owe her anything. She was the daughter of his enemy—kin to the man who stole a year’s worth of sapphires from his family.

But this woman was different. Nothing like Jedidiah. And for some reason, he craved to keep her safe. To protect her from the evil who’d sired her. She didn’t deserve to be at that man’s mercy. Nor did the sweet child.

Sampson could help her so easily. Not only did he have money from his share of the sapphires, which he’d saved for years, he also had his pay from McPharland.

He swallowed as he tried to put all this into words. “I can help you.” His voice graveled with how much he wanted to do that. And then he let himself say the real truth. “And maybe in helping you, I can make up for my own mistakes.”

***

I pray you love Sampson and Grace’s story in Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy!

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 31

lakesidelivingsite, May 31

Book Looks by Lisa, June 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 2

Simple Harvest Reads, June 3 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 3

Texas Book-aholic, June 4

Betti Mace, June 5

The Important Things in Life: God, books, & chocolate , June 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 7

Holly’s Book Corner , June 7

Cover Lover Book Review, June 8

Devoted To Hope, June 9

Blossoms and Blessings, June 9

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, June 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 11

Pause for Tales, June 11

Books You Can Feel Good About, June 12

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 13

Mary Hake, June 13

Giveaway

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

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54233

My Thoughts on Sometimes You Stay by Liz Johnson

 

About:

He was never going to leave the island, and she wasn't going to stay. But if she walked away, she would always wonder . . .

For digital content creator Cretia Martin, home is wherever her carry-on suitcase lands. And it's constantly landing in new places as she travels the world. She's never been interested in settling in one spot--after all, houses are just places that collect junk and tie you down. But when she literally bumps into local dog breeder Finn Chaffey on Prince Edward Island and all the tools of her trade end up in the harbor, she can't exactly leave until she gets things sorted out.

Finn is horrified by the part he played in the accident and offers to help, arranging for Cretia to stay with a friend at the beautiful Red Door Inn. The longer Cretia is forced to remain in one place, the more she discovers what she's been missing with life on the road--and the more she wants to see Finn and his business succeed. But helping him means staying put, the one thing she always swore she wouldn't do, and risking the only thing she's never put on the line--her heart.

My Thoughts:

This was a sweet and heartwarming visit back to Prince Edward Island, where the true meaning of home comes shining through. Here we have two characters who are complete opposites when it comes to their view of home. Cretia Marin lives out of her suitcase and Finn Chaffey’s business is out of his home. However, these two could not be more perfect together, they just need to see that.

Their meeting was one of the most spectacular ones I have ever read. Cretia, thinking she would just breeze right through town getting the digital content she needed and just keep going did not realize the dunking she would get. And it was pretty much Finn’s fault. But could that have been the best thing that happened to her? Well, you will need to read it to find out.

This was an enjoyable read with a hero that just had those hero vibes and muscles that certainly brought those swoony moments to his lady. Especially when she did not think of herself as special and had to try really hard to block out the voices of the trolls on her social media accounts. This also took a look at a mental illness that, brought on by loss, had Cretia running for the hills in the first place. I’ll be thinking about this story and its lessons for a while.

I was provided a copy of this novel from Revell Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Liz Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 novels, including Beyond the Tides, The Last Way Home, and Summer in the Spotlight, as well as the Georgia Coast Romance and Prince Edward Island Dreams series. She works in marketing, makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, and daydreams of summer days on PEI's shores. Learn more at LizJohnsonBooks.com.

My Thoughts and More on Arranged with the Earl by Jackie Killelea

 

About the Book

Book: Arranged with the Earl

Author: Jackie Killelea

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 13, 2025

A spinster with a tarnished reputation. An earl scarred from war. Can their convenient marriage withstand those aiming to steal everything they have?

Catherine Blynn resigned herself to a life without romantic love after a disastrous broken engagement. Although she’s always hoped to marry for affection, her father arranges for her to wed Loftus Cromwell, the broken Earl of Hardwicke. If she defies her parents, she risks her family’s ruin.

Loftus Cromwell had no intention to marry for love, only for the sake of his estate. But If he fails to win the love of his spirited and unconventional betrothed, he risks his conniving brother claiming everything he holds dear.

As treachery unfolds within the manor’s walls and a foe from Catherine’s past resurfaces, can Loftus and Catherine trust one another enough to unravel the truth before tragedy steals any chance of happiness?

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was a captivating marriage of convenience story of two characters who have scarred histories, these scars being both physical and emotional. Catherine Blynn is an embarrassment to her family. I never really understood why, but her parents simply did not care for her and wanted to sell her off to the highest bidder. Her previous engagement was broken by her fiancé who was an unscrupulous man, who still had the power to haunt her. 

Loftus Cromwell also had no real love from his family. After his late father sent him to war to try and break him and mold him into what he wanted, Loftus only comes back scarred and more determined to find peace. He has no peace as his mother and brother still disdain him. However, he looks to find a wife who he hopes will come to love him, even beyond his scars.

Catherine and Loftus were a match made in heaven. She needed him as much as he needed her. They both saw that within their marriage they might find healing. In this story, it is not so much the couple trying to stay apart, but the forces around them that are trying to keep them apart. With a gothic like flare this was a heartwarming and mysterious read at the same time. 

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Jackie Killelea is a born and raised small-town girl from Connecticut with a degree in English and Creative Writing. She started off her writing journey with poetry, soon shifting into novels and becoming hooked. On days when she’s not busy with her nose in a book, she can be found typing away with a cup of tea at her side.

 

More from Jackie

In Arranged with the Earl, Loftus’ study of plants and flora is his foremost pastime, aside from his duties managing his estate and those that come along with being an earl. In his conservatory, there are a variety of different species of plants that he cares for but, would he actually have had these plants in his conservatory and would they have been able to feasibly grow there if he did?

Well, according to my research and a bit of wishful thinking…yes.

The thing is, Loftus has a few native plants in his conservatory and those certainly would have been able to grow there, given that they’ve pretty much just been brought inside from other counties in England. Loftus knows his home country and the landscape as well as how to care for those plants, already. The trickier plants to think upon are the exotics.

For instance, when showing Catherine the conservatory for the first time, he mentions Black Hellebore(Helleborus niger). How would he have come to own this? This plant is native to the mountains and woodlands of southern and central Europe, so we must assume that Loftus would’ve had it imported, or grown from seed. Still, would a woodland plant grow well enough to produce flowers in a conservatory setting?

Well, fortunately for Loftus, Black Hellebore actually grows fairly well in containers and does well in partial shade, so where he placed it in the conservatory was a prime location and it isn’t a stretch of the imagination to think that it produces blooms there.

With each plant I chose to be in the conservatory, I had to research if Loftus would reasonably have access to it and if it would grow under conservatory conditions–as well as during the season in which the book takes place. Of course you, as readers, will still need to use your imagination at some points. I’m sure Loftus would agree that ideas, like plants, need lots of water and space to grow.

I do so hope you enjoy Catherine and Loftus’ story in Arranged with the Earl!

Sincerely,

Jackie

Blog Stops

For Him and My Family, May 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 28

She Lives To Read, May 29

Holly’s Book Corner, May 29

Betti Mace, May 30

Devoted Steps, May 30

Texas Book-aholic, May 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 1

Romances of the Cross, June 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 2

Pens Pages & Pulses, June 3

The Important Things in Life: God, books, & chocolate, June 3

Devoted To Hope, June 4

Stories By Gina, June 5 (Author Interview)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 6

Cover Lover Book Review, June 7

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, June 7

Book Looks by Lisa, June 8

Pause for Tales, June 8

Blossoms and Blessings, June 9

Blogging With Carol, June 9

Simple Harvest Reads, June 10 (Guest Review from Donna Clin

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jackie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54230

My Thoughts and More on The Angel of Second Street by Barbara Tift Blakey

 

 

About the Book

Book: The Angel of Second Street

Author: Barbara Tifft Blakey

Genre: Christian Fiction/Romance/Historical Fiction

Release date: May 1, 2025

How Can Compassion be Considered Wrong?

When life is weighed down by challenges, pillars of enduring hope and love are always waiting to be discovered.

Ida Dempsey has grown up in a privileged life of luxury thanks to her aunt and uncle. Although Second Street—where women of ill repute ply their wares—is off limits to respectable citizens, her heart of compassion compels her to frequent the area, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Ida has also befriended Qui Shau, a Chinese woman who keeps house for her family, but friendships between the whites and Chinese are taboo in Eureka. Ida tries to keep secret her forbidden compassion, but someone is watching and will use it against her.

When Blaine Prescott meets Ida at a church picnic, his parents warn him away from any relationship with the young lady who has been seen on Second Street in the company of a Chinese woman. But how could such a kindhearted, lovely young woman be anything but good? But when riots break out in Chinatown and Ida disappears, Blaine will do anything to find out where and why she has gone.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts: 

This story takes us back to a time of prejudice and persecution for the Chinese men, women, and children who lived in Eureka, California during 1884. The author's notes are very helpful and educational as I read about this sad time in Eureka's history. History is always enlightening and I appreciate it when authors do their research.

This story focuses on a couple who really fall in love at first sight. Yet there are many obstacles between them that they must rise above. Ida Dempsey has a heart for the Chinese workers that spills over onto the prostitutes as well. Some of her ideas of helping them takes her into dangerous situations. However, she will not be deterred, and she finds out some family secrets as well.

Blaine Prescott loves and respects his parents, yet he will not be dictated by them for his choice of wife. When he first sees Ida, she mesmerizes him. He goes to great lengths to pursue her, even at the cost of his livelihood and parental relationships. Can he love her and stand by her even when the truth of her past comes out? Very interesting historical read based on historical events, that sadly is a tragedy in history.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Barbara Tifft Blakey lives in the Pacific Northwest on five wooded acres with Terry, her husband of forty-plus years. She is best known for her award-winning, literature-inspired, language arts program, Total Language Plus, which she created over twenty years ago, and is used by thousands of homeschoolers. Barbara teaches Sunday school and enjoys speaking on various topics to Christian women’s groups. She and her husband have four grown children and five grandchildren. She enjoys camping at the ocean and is an avid soccer fan. During the day-light challenged winter months, she reads, crochets, bakes, and plots her next novel.

 

 

More from Barbara

As the birthplace of my mother, Eureka, California holds a special charm for me intensified by my grandmother’s stories of the area. Every visit I’ve made has encouraged me to dig deeper, to learn more, to experience this small, coastal town’s magnetism.

Its history includes the Wiyot’s massacre on Indian Island which can be viewed from the harbor and the expulsion of the Chinese population from Humboldt County. Carson’s Mansion is the most photographed Victorian dwelling in California, and possibly the United States, built to keep the lumber baron’s loggers employed during a downturn in the timber industry. Because of the numerous brothels, an entire section of Second Street located in the heart of the community was deemed out of bounds for children.

Both hero and heroine in Angel of Second Street are fictional, but my cast of characters includes real-life people such as Reverend Huntington, David Kendall, and Wei Lum and real historical businesses such as Wells Drug Store and Kitty Farris’s Joy Emporium.

I first wrote a version of this story more than a decade ago, but who can argue with God’s timing? Events that happened over 150 years ago feel current in today’s political climate where fear tactics dominate debates and spur regrettable actions. I didn’t set out to make a political statement, only to tell an engaging, thought-provoking love story, but in the midst of relating historical events, a deeper truth emerged as relevant today as it was in the mid 1800s.

I pray you’ll journey with Ida and Blaine through the turmoil of their times and be enriched to face the trials of today with renewed hope.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 29

Pens Pages & Pulses, May 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 31

Texas Book-aholic, June 1

Stories By Gina, June 2 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 4

Simple Harvest Reads, June 5 (Guest Review from Donna)

For Him and My Family, June 6

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, June 6

Holly’s Book Corner, June 7

Pause for Tales, June 8

Cover Lover Book Review, June 9

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, June 9

Devoted To Hope, June 10

Bizwings Book Blog, June 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Barabara is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54231

My Thoughts on The Rules of Matrimony by Anneka R. Walker

 

About:

London, England, 1823

Ian has vowed never to marry, steadfast in his resolve to shield himself from the heartache his father’s infidelity brought upon his mother. Instead, he dedicates his heart and soul to reforming criminal law with his Rebel group. A chance encounter in a country graveyard with the infuriatingly bold Miss Amie Tyler only solidifies his resolve to remain single. That is, until his life descends into chaos when rumors of his engagement—an engagement he had no part in or prior knowledge of—force him and the vexing Miss Tyler into a calculated marriage, a mutual scheme to protect Miss Tyler from her lecherous cousin and to save Ian from a political marriage he dreads.

Amie never imagined her unsophisticated life would lead to an entanglement with Lord Ian Reynolds. Living on her relatives’ charity, she is resigned to remaining a wallflower. But when her mother concocts a wild lie of her engagement to Lord Reynolds, she chooses to trust a gentleman she hardly knows with her future. Amie is thrust into a whirlwind marriage and is overwhelmed to find herself falling for Ian despite their agreement to maintain independence.

As they navigate their charade, Ian’s political ambitions clash with his growing affection for Amie, and Amie’s courageous attempt to help Ian’s family heal threatens to unravel their bond. However, a forbidden kiss and unexpected acts of kindness kindle the spark between them that neither can ignore. In a desperate race against societal expectations, the two must decide whether a future together is worth breaking their earlier vows of independence.

My Thoughts:

This was a fun read, as it was a well-done marriage of convenience trope between two characters not looking for love. Amie and her mother have lived off of their relatives' charity for so long and now her cousin wants to marry her, she just longs for escape. Ian, due to his fractured relationship with his father, has decided to never marry. Unfortunately, rumors have a way of spreading and changing one's decisions.

Ian and Amie decide to a marriage of convenience in which Ian has established a set of rules for them. All seems well enough, each has a measure of peace until love gets in the way.

Watching these two navigate their newfound feelings without breaking the rules made for an enchanting read. Already Amie has fallen for her husband. Ian was just so stubborn and dug into his rules all the more. However, marriage is much more than rules. It is the joining of two lives together, and Ian and Amie are going to learn that lesson whether they want to or not.

Their romance won't be easy. Besides battling their own feelings, they also need to make peace with the past, and their own families. I found this story had a great lesson on believing in rumors and even in our own fallacies without seeking the truth from those who can give it.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

My Thoughts and More on The Surprise Next Door by Tara Randel

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Surprise Next Door by Tara Randel, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Surprise Next Door

Series: A Golden, Georgia Romance #1

Author: Tara Randel

Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming

Release Date: May 27, 2025

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Should they take a chance…  

On unexpected love? 

Chasing her escape-artist rescue dog, Gus, into the neighbor’s yard wasn’t on Nicole Connelly’s agenda for her first day back in her hometown. Especially when Gus’s antics bring her under the suspicious gaze of the gorgeous single dad next door. Staying on the move has kept her heart safe for twelve years. But veterinarian Ethan Price and his adorable daughter make Nicole wonder if staying in Golden might be worth the risk. Is she ready to overcome the past and find her forever home with a loving instant family?  

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR  

From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

     

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About the Author

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets and beautiful weather inspire the creation of heartwarming stories. Tara has received the Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.

Connect with Tara by visiting tararandel.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

My Thoughts:

For Nicole, coming back to her hometown is not something she ever wanted to do. Not even for a brief stint for her job of showcasing her hometown, Golden, in the travel magazine she works for to draw more tourists. Much to her dismay and her mother's happiness she has come back, for just a month. A month that is going to prove more beneficial and healing than she ever thought.

Starting with the neighbors next door, single dad Ethan and his little girl Holly. They have a bit of an impromptu meeting brought on by Nicole's dog Gus and the rest is history as they say. Ethan and Nicole reluctantly become friends both realizing to themselves that there is a bit of spark between them. Neither wanting to ignite that spark, until they do. Both Ethan and Nicole have some major hurts in their past and this really explains their reluctance to have a relationship with one another. Love has other plans, though and there are some really great lessons in forgiveness in this little novel.

This was a story of healing, forgiving, and accepting. A truly heartwarming story of letting the past go, the bitter feelings with it, and embracing a future with much more hope and love than what was thought possible.

I was provided a copy this novel by the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, a bookish tote bag, 2 autographed books by Tara Randel, and a bookmark!

(1) additional winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 3, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 10, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

My Thoughts and More on The Herbalist by Carole Brown

 

About the Book

Book: The Herbalist

Author: Carole Brown

Genre: Romantic Mystery

Release date: Spring, 2025

It’s a long, lonely walk down this West Virginia road, especially when you’ve just been accused of murder.

Can Lana Taylor prove she isn’t guilty? Can she realize that she does have a few friends who’ll stick by her regardless of the accusations? Can she forget the past and learn to trust again?

And will Athan Meadows be able to not only find the answers Lana needs, but also win her trust and love?

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Lana Taylor is a woman who is surviving. She has moved to the quiet town of Appleton, W.V. to escape bad memories and to begin anew with her twins and mother. She has her hands full as she works on making a living to support her family, being the best mother, she can be and taking care of her beloved mother who is in the beginnings of her dementia. She is a very busy woman in her jobs as a cleaning lady and as an herbalist. However, due to her herbs and the sudden death of one of her clients, she is now accused of murder. A murder that she did not commit but it is turning her world upside down.

Lana feels very alone, however there is one man who has noticed her, and he sees her for who she is, and he will not rest till she is found innocent, and the truth comes out. That man Athan, a widower and father does not know why he has been so drawn to Lana, but he steps in time and time again to help her. Never giving up even when Lana has her trust issues with him and her doubts.

Their romance was sweet to read about. Athan pursued Lana in a very gentlemanly and sweet way. He was willing to be her friend no matter what, even when others turned against her. He even got his friends involved to help him. He also did a couple of things that he did not get permission from Lana to do first, that really helped her. He knew that she would voice her opposition, so he didn't ask first. For whatever reason, that part of his character stood out to me and it was a win. Even though someone did die in this story, this was more of a cozy suspense and romance.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own. 

About the Author

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of twenty-one fiction books and two short stories in an anthology, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. An award-winning, best seller author, she has a degree in Religious Education and an Associate in Computer, along with other course degrees. She has a special love for animals—especially dogs, cats, elephants and horses (which is sometimes found in her books)—a love for flowers and plants, traveling and her husband who is her best go-to person for grounding her in her writing.

She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons and great granddaughter, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandchildren?

More from Carole

When I started this series (The Appleton, WV Romantic Mysteries) I didn’t realize that I would, someday in the future, be writing Book Eight. Truly, this series is one of my readers’ favorites with many of them asking when the next book is coming out.

When I plotted The Herbalist, I knew the basic outline of how the story would go, but I didn’t realize all the technical details I would need to research, even though most of it, in the book, isn’t indepth.

Car items:  fuel pumps, oil leakages, failing brakes.

Dementia:  mental stability, actions, progression, and more.

Police procedures: The various actions from a police crew when there’s a murder, the people who examine bodies, the leniency that can or can not be used in a murder case.

and other items I studied. It was both fascinating and tedious, but necessary.

But I love research, so most times I enjoy it, especially when it comes to my books.

I wanted to create an interesting and catching story that was as real as I could make it. Though the major plot scene was planned, at times, I would be stuck, wondering what should happen next. And lying in bed at night is sometimes my best time to think of the a scene and how to write it. I love it when this happens, because it’s the perfect idea for my book. So I jump from my bed to scribble down the thought at my desk.

In The Herbalist, a young mother with five-year-old twins, is accused of murder, but it’s a long, lonely walk down this West Virginia road, especially when you trust few people. Can Lana Taylor prove she isn’t guilty? Can she realize that she does have a few friends who’ll stick by her regardless of the accusations? And can she forget the past and learn to trust again?

And will Athan Meadows be able to not only find the answers Lana needs, but also win her trust and love?

Find the answers in: THE HERBALIST.

Blog Stops

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 24

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 25

Roads to Everywhere, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 26

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 27

The Sacred Line, May 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 31

Stories By Gina, June 1 (Author Interview)

Older & Smarter?, June 1

Vicky Sluiter, June 2

Book Butterfly in Dreamland , June 3

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, June 4

Mary Hake, June 4

Holly’s Book Corner, June 5

Pause for Tales, June 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carole is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and copy of the book in winner’s choice of paperback or eBook!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54227