After three years on a whaling voyage, Henry Macy returns to Nantucket to news that his grandmother has passed, bequeathing her vast fortune to him and his sister, Hitty. And it was truly vast. But Lillian Coffin was no fool. The inheritance comes with a steep cost, including when they should marry and whom--a Quaker in good standing, of course. But if they relinquish the inheritance, it all goes to Tristram Macy, their father's thieving business partner.
As Hitty and Henry seek a way to satisfy the will's conditions, they'll be faced with obstacles on every side--and it may be that Lillian Coffin will have the last word after all.
Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher surprises and delights with this story of hope and renewal, love and redemption, arriving just when most needed.
My Thoughts:
The Light Before Day
is the third book in the Nantucket Legacy,
and what an enthralling read. In this third story we have the twins, Hetty and
Henry all grown up and left with their grandmother’s inheritance. As they were
not treated well by her in life, neither one wanted the inheritance especially
with the stringent strings attached. Their grandmother seemed to want to have
the last say even in death.
This just might be my favorite of the three stories. Taking
place over a period of six years and divided into two parts, Hetty and Henry
have finally grown up and are starting to find their place in life, especially
on the island. Now if only both of their love lives would work out. I was on
pins and needles to see just how this story was going to end. Author Fisher
kept me guessing till the very end about what was really going on behind some
of the scenes and she kept readers in the dark about whom Hetty was eventually
going to end up. It was so hard not to sneak a peek at the end, but I was a
good girl and did not and I enjoyed the story all the more for it.
I really enjoyed this series and reading about the Quakers
on Nantucket Island and their unusual ways. I enjoyed the true and false
section the author included in the back of this story about what was true in
her story and what wasn’t. I never realized Nantucket could be so interesting.
I received 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.
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Enchanting Nicholette by Dawn Crandall, hosted
by JustRead Publicity Tours.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Enchanting Nicholette
Series: The Everstone Chronicles #5
Author: Dawn Crandall
Publisher: Whitaker House
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance
In this captivating novella by Dawn Crandall, Nicholette Everstone i
s already a widow at the age of
twenty-two: her husband was murdered on their wedding day. She has just returned t
o Boston after
two years of mourning in Europe. Although her husband was loving, th
e marriage was an arranged one,
and Nicholette would like to wed again
–
this time for love
...
and to someone safe.
As she acclimates to life in Back Bay again, Nicholette meets someone she can
͛
t help but fall for. But
when she learns of the danger and sacrifices Cal Hawthorne takes on for the safety of oth
ers, will her
heart be strong enough to keep her fears of
͞
what if
͟
at bay?
Enchanting Nicholette
is a sweet little romantic novel about a widow whose life did not turn out the
way she had planned. Nicholette became a widow on her wedding day when her
husband was murdered in front of her. For two years she has escaped the people,
the place, and tried to escape the memories as she toured Europe with her
parents. Now that she is back in the States and her mourning is over, she is
expected once again to take a husband.
This is the first novel I have read by author Crandall and I
enjoyed it very much and going back to the time of the Gilded Age. Nicholette
meets her match in Cal Hawthorne who knows somewhat of what she is going
through and he is brave enough and tenacious enough to be the match she needs. There
was some laugh out loud moments along with some very romantic ones. This does
mention several characters from the previous books, I will need to go back and
start with book one of the series.
I appreciated the author’s telling of Nicholette’s fears and
sorrow and understandably it was difficult for her to begin to move on. Change
is not fun and hers was tragic, but she does have a chance at life and love
again.
I received a copy of this novel. I was not required to post
a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dawn Crandall
͚
s debut Gilded Age Victorian romance,
͞
The Hesitant Heiress,
͟
was a 2015 ACFW
Carol award finalist in the debut category and received the 2015 Gayle Wilson
Award of Excellence, the
2015 Write Touch Reader
͛
s Choice Award and the 2015 Romancing the Novel Reader
͛
s Choice Award.
Her follow-up novel,
͞
The Bound Heart,
͟
received the 2016 Laurel Award from Clash of the Titles. Dawn
earned a BA in Christian Education from Taylor University. She
͛
s been balancing books and babies lately
as her two sons were both born as the four books of her Everstone Chronicles series
were being
released from Whitaker House from 2014 to 2016. Dawn lives with her husband
and two young sons on
a hobby farm in her hometown in northeast Indiana.
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midn
ight October 29, 2018
and lasts through 11:59pm November 12, 2018. Void where prohibited b
y law. US addresses only.
Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and gi
ven 48 hours to respond or a
new winner will be chosen.
The third book in the Good News for Little Hearts series is Zoe's Hiding Place: When You Are Anxious, edited by David Powlison. This beautifully illustrated book invites children to remember that the Lord is near when they are anxious. Zoe, a fearful mouse, is worried about a class trip. As she talks with her parents, Zoe realizes that she can turn to God for help. Papa Mouse gives her a verse from the "Great Book" that she can read when she is afraid. She learns that she can tell God all about her fears, and he will comfort her. Also included is a tear-out page of "Back Pocket Bible Verses" that will give children a practical way to remember God's words when they are afraid.
My Thoughts:
Zoe’s Hiding Place
was a very cute and well told children’s story about a little mouse by the name
of Zoe who has an issue with being anxious. She is a little mouse with a big
imagination, love’s fairy tales, and sometimes just has a hard time keeping
focused as she gets lost in said imagination. As a mother I completely
understand as I have children who can relate. However, due this lack of focus and
attention sometimes Zoe becomes anxious as she has not listened or understood
the directions.
I thought this had great lessons at learning to control
anxious thoughts and how to handle them when they come. Bringing key verses
from the Bible dealing with worry, we have a mouse that is finally beginning to
understand that we do not have to be anxious for anything.
This is another book I shared with my eight year old son who
again really enjoyed the story and the lessons. Our favorite part was seeing
how the book art showed how everyday household objects were being used for the
mouse’s home. We both got a chuckle out of those.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not
required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
An emotional novel of family, friendship and forgiveness from Courtney Walsh, the New York Times bestselling author of Hometown Girl.
Lyndie St. James is thrilled that her best friend, Elle, is getting married but unprepared for the emotional storm of the wedding week and returning to her childhood summer home of Sweethaven. The idyllic cottage community harbors some of her best—and worst—memories. It’s not only the tragic death of her childhood friend Cassie that has haunted her for ten years, it’s the other secrets she’s buried that have kept her from moving on.
But Lyndie isn’t the only one with secrets.
Cassie’s mother, father and brother, still struggling with the loss, have been drifting further and further apart. And Elle herself, the last to see Cassie alive, carries an impossible burden of guilt. Now reunited, each of them has a choice: to reveal the truths of that night or continue to live in its shadow. That means embarking on a personal journey of the heart—to escape the darkness and all its regrets and to finally come to terms with the past and, especially, with each other.
Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theater director, and playwright. Change of Heart is her fifth novel and is set in the same town as Paper Hearts. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. She has written two additional books in the Sweethaven series, as well as two craft books and several full-length musicals. Courtney lives in Illinois where she and her husband own a performing and visual arts studio. They have three children.
Everyone gets frustrated when something important to them goes wrong. In Jax’s Tail Twitches: When You Are Angry, the whole Squirrel family ends up out of sorts when acorn gathering doesn’t go according to plan. Although Papa, Mama, Jax, and Caspian Squirrel all get angry, they also learn about the power of saying sorry, seeking forgiveness, remembering God’s words, and praying together. Edited by David Powlison, Jax’s Tail Twitches ends with a special section that guides parents in teaching children how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes how we respond when life goes wrong. Also included is a tear-out page of Back Pocket Bible Verses that will help children and adults remember to turn to God for help when they are angry.
My Thoughts:
Everybody has been angry at some time or other and I really
liked how this book showed that both adults and children can struggle. This is
a story about a squirrel family and their neighbors. The pictures are nice and
colorful and they went well with the story. My favorite part of the story was its
“meat”. At the end there are some helpful notes in discussing anger with
children. Some of the things that really stood out and made an impression on me
were:
-Anger shows that something in our world that matters is not
right
-We are made in God’s image and like God we experience
anger- except when He is angry He doesn’t sin
These and other points are clear and introduce great topics
to discuss with your children. I read this book with my eight year old son and
he really liked it. He liked how the topic was addressed, how God’s anger is
different from ours, the different ways people were angry, the storyline was
enjoyable, and the pictures were interesting. He also said it was a good book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not
required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
I am so excited to be finally revealing the new cover to Winter Cursed. I loved my old cover, but I wanted to get one that will match the idea I have for its sequel A Winter Dark and Deadly. If you want to get a copy of the first cover before I change that you should probably do that now because I will be changing the cover very soon.
But enough rambling, we're here for a cover reveal so now without any further ado, it's time to start scrolling!
Elisabeth is cursed. Her kingdom is locked in an eternal winter. And her stepmother Ismena has stolen her throne. When Ismena tries to kill her, Elisabeth is forced to flee to the only place her stepmother cannot reach her.
All Must Fall...
Deep in the heart of a dangerous forest, teeming with unbridled magic and fearsome beasts, Elisabeth is faced with a choice. She knows what she must do to end this winter. Kill her stepmother and reclaim the kingdom that should have been hers. But to do so, Elisabeth must either learn to control her powers over ice and snow- powers that she shares with her stepmother. Powers that are responsible for this eternal winter. Or she must put her life in the hands of the enemy.
Till I'm the Fairest...
But can she truly trust the band of mercenary dwarfs who are offering to help her? And even if they don't actually plan on killing her- can she trust their leader, the exiled Prince Cedric? A dark lord who also happens to be the son of the man she blames for her mother's death.
Of Them All.
With Ismena bent on killing her, and the dark prince bargaining for his freedom- the fate of a kingdom rests on Elisabeth's choice. In this battle for love, power, beauty, and the right to rule- who will come out the victor?
Isn't it lovely??? And it incorporates all of the elements I was looking for in my dark little Snow White retelling. Victoria Cooper did such a great job. I can't wait until I get my cover for A Winter Dark and Deadly.
Speaking of A Winter Dark and Deadly...
If fifty people add it to their To-Read shelves by December first, I am going to release the first five chapters and prologue that month as a free sneak peek. So don't forget to add the book to your shelves here
Marrying a stranger to save a ranch is one thing; losing the land on their wedding day is another.
Desperate to keep the ranch where three of her children and a husband lie buried, Annie Gephart must marry or sell. Which of the few bachelors in town would consider a surprise proposal to wed a plain widow with a rebellious daughter, a spirited boy, and unpaid taxes--without laughing in her face?
Jacob Hendrix has never fully let go of his ranching dreams despite ending up as a small Wyoming town's marshal. The job wouldn't be so bad, except he's more errand boy than lawman. When Annie proposes marriage without a single coquettish bat of an eyelash, can he commit himself to a woman he hardly knows for a choice piece of property he'd be an idiot to pass up?
But taxes aren't all that threaten Annie and Jacob's plans. Cattle rustlers, crumbling friendships, and wayward children make this marriage of convenience anything but. When they lose what they've sacrificed everything to save, will the love of a stranger be enough?
Romancing the Bride is the first book in the Frontier Vows Series by award-winning Christian romance author Melissa Jagears. If you like heartwarming marriage-of-convenience stories, you'll love this sweet romance filled with endearing characters.
My Thoughts:
This is another top ten favorite book this year. Annie and
Jacob’s story will stay with me for a long, long time. Marriage of convenience
stories are my absolute favorite genres to read. And when they are done well…be
still my heart. This one was done exceptionally well.
I am not sure what set this story apart from others I have
read so much that it touched my heart. There was romance to be sure, but more
than that this story showed that love is more than a feeling, that it is a
choice. Jacob made his choice to love Annie and her two children no matter what,
and he did so in a sacrificial way.
I liked how the author showed the real struggle that Annie
dealt with when it came to learning to love Jacob. After all, she had been a
widow for less than a year and she had loved her husband of 16 years very much.
She thinks of her first husband a great deal, which I imagine would be normal,
and wonders if she will ever love Jacob like that. Yes, she and her first
husband had problems and the loss of children put quite a strain on their
marriage. However, it was in the manner of how he died that cast such a shadow
over Annie and her daughter and son that threatened to rip the very fabric of
their family apart.
This is a story of new beginnings and of blending of a
family that so desperately needed each other and God. Their marriage is not
made any easier in the fact that the ranch Annie was so desperate to keep as a
heritage for her children is lost to her and Jacob anyway. And this happens on their
very wedding day. Not a good start to a marriage of almost virtual strangers.
Author Jagears has packed quite an emotional punch with the
side characters as well. Annie’s wayward 15 year old daughter is another strain
to both Annie and Jacob, and I applaud Jacob for trying so hard to be a good father
to her. This story also does not shy away from the consequences of evil and sin
and that sometimes the innocents are the ones to pay.
The lesson that stands out to me the most and I want to
practice in my daily life, is that no matter what we do, no matter our circumstances,
we, I should do all things to God’s glory.
I cannot wait for more in this series. I received a
complimentary e-copy of this book from the author. I loved it so much I
purchased a physical copy for my keeper shelf, and as always- I was not
required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Frustrated with their busy schedules, Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday attempt to find togetherness by scheduling a weekly date night. The last thing Jessica Faraday expected for her date night was to take a couple’s gourmet cooking course at the Stepford Kitchen Studio, owned by Chef Natalie Stepford―the model of perfection in looks, home, and business.
When Natalie ends up dead and Murphy goes missing, the Thorny Rose detectives must peel back the layers of Natalie Stepford’s life to discover that the pursuit of perfection can be deadly.
Murder by Perfection
brings us back to Jessica’s and Murphy’s lives and how they are dealing with their
first year of marriage while both pursuing their career goals. Their ups and
downs were just like other couples, always striving to put their marriage
first, unfortunately demands from outside on their time make making time for
each other difficult. Spats and fights
ensue, and angry words are left between them. Then the unthinkable happens and
all are left with an urgency to make things right.
This was another tense read, but I think more so as the
family is really pulling together to see that a tragedy does not end up falling
into their laps as they all race against time to set things to right. I really
liked seeing the familial love of father and son, brother and brother, and
husband and wife. Again there is a lot going on in this story, many moving
parts that author Carr expertly handles to make a tight story of thrilling
suspense and mystery. The main story plot gave me the creeps as always anything
like that does. As per usual we have the irresistible dogs and a fast becoming
favorite AI character- Nigel the butler.
There is some mature content and a little bit of language,
again if you like shows like Castle,
you will enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not required
to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Meet the Author:
Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Now, Lauren has added one more hit series to her list with the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries. Set in the quaint West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry, Ice introduces Chris Matheson, a retired FBI agent, who joins forces with other law enforcement retirees to heat up those cold cases that keep them up at night.
Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.
Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
1)Lieutenant
Murphy Thornton USN of Lauren Carr’s Thorny Rose Mystery series is the son of
Joshua Thornton of the Lovers in Crime Mystery series. Fans of Lauren Carr’s
mysteries may have first been introduced to Murphy in her first two books A Small Case of Murder and A Reunion to Die For. In those two
books, Murphy was only seventeen years old. He has since grown up.
2)The
female half of the Thorny Rose couple is Jessica Faraday, the only daughter of
Mac Faraday of Lauren Carr’s Mac Faraday Mystery series. Lauren Carr fans may
remember briefly meeting Jessica in Old
Loves Die Hard in which her and Tristan’s mother was murdered.
3)Murphy
met Jessica when he foiled an attempt to kidnap her in Three Days to Forever.
4)Murphy
has an identical twin, Joshua Thornton Jr (J.J.), who is seven minutes older. J.J.
was featured in Killer in the Band
(Lovers in Crime Mystery) and appears in Murder
by Perfection. Murphy and J.J. are mirror twins, meaning they are truly
mirror images of each other. For this reason, J.J.’s heart, liver, and spleen
are on the opposite side of his body from Murphy’s.
5)Health
conscious Murphy is a pescetarian, a vegetarian who eats fish. He also avoids alcohol,
caffeine, processed sugar, and dairy products. Jessica drinks coffee loaded
with gourmet creamer, sugar, and eats chocolate pop-tarts for breakfast.
6)Jessica
named her pure bred blue merle Shetland sheepdog Spencer after her grandmother,
the late mystery writer Robin Spencer. Murphy calls the sheltie Candi after his
first girlfriend who kissed and loved everybody—especially the basketball team.
7)Newman,
Murphy’s Basset Hound is a forty-five-pound couch potato who came with Murphy’s
first apartment in Washington DC. Newman came with the worn recliner, left by a
fellow navy officer sent overseas, that the mixed breed calls his home.
8)A
television addict, Newman taught himself how to work the television remote.
Newman likes to watch the news and business report. He hates walks.
9)Jessica’s
younger brother, Tristan, is dating Murphy’s younger sister Sarah, a midshipman
at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Tristan is a professional
student at George Washington University. Originally, he wanted to be a paleontologist.
Now he’s into computers. Tristan and Sarah met at Jessica and Murphy’s wedding
in Three Days to Forever.
10)Jessica
and Murphy have a virtual butler named Nigel, the central computer that manages
their smart house. A prototype, Nigel was designed by a team of computer
experts, which included Tristan. In addition to controlling the house’s
lighting, temperature, and pantry management, Nigel also manages the estate’s
security, as illustrated in Candidate for
Murder when the virtual butler and Gnarly the German shepherd take on a
team of black ops assassins.
Malcolm MacGregor is a descendant of Scotland’s Clan MacGregor and a successful young businessman in Fort Worth, Texas. Alanza Cantalamessa works at a gourmet pizzeria owned by her Brazilian artist mother and her Italian Poppa. Both of them are smitten with each other but Malcolm is too reserved to do much more than make small talk—until a promotion at work that will send him away to Australia for six months. It’s December and he has to do something—fast.
Praying about the situation, Malcolm decides to give her twelve gifts leading up to Christmas. Their families and friends think they are moving too fast. And a gold-digger who tossed Malcolm aside in the past has now decided he’s the man of her dreams.
Can Malcolm and Alanza overcome their obstacles before he has to go abroad? Or is it really not meant to be?
This was a cute story that takes place in modern day about a
man who has found the woman he wants to marry and pursues her. Malcolm has set
up a time schedule for himself and is intent on making Alanza, whom he has only
ever meant at her parent’s restaurant, his wife. He wants to be married before
he leaves for Australia for a 6-month stint for his job.
Although this story is a bit out of the box, I really
enjoyed watching Malcolm’s pursuit of Alanza. At first, he did come off a bit
strong, but as I got to know him along with Alanza- he became more romantic and
a true Scottish hero. I was pleasantly surprised as there were a couple of
surprising twists and turns to the story of a man giving twelve gifts to a
woman he barely knows but wants to marry.
This was a cute and fun recommended holiday read. I received
a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not required to post a positive review
and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author
Multi-published, award-winning author Lena Nelson Dooley is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, her local chapter in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, the Christian Authors’ Network, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. Her forty-plus books have sold more than 875,000 copies. Lena’s books have appeared on the CBA, ECPA, and Publisher Weekly bestseller lists, as well as some Amazon bestseller lists. She also writes a popular blog, A Christian Writer’s World, that features other authors’ books. The blog received the Readers’ Choice Blog of the Year Award from the Book Club Network.
Lena is a three-time finalist in the Carol Awards ACFW contest. Her 2010 release, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, won the 2011 Will Rogers Medallion Award for excellence in publishing Western Fiction. Her next series, McKenna’s Daughters: Maggie’s Journey appeared on a reviewers’ Top Ten Books of 2011 list. It also won the 2012 Selah award for Historical Novel. The second, Mary’s Blessing, was a Selah Award finalist for Romance novel. Catherine’s Pursuit, released in 2013, was the winner of the NTRWA Carolyn Reader’s Choice contest, took second place in the CAN Golden Scroll Novel of the Year award, and won the Will Rogers Medallion bronze medallion. Her book, A Heart’s Gift, won RWA’s Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice Award in July 2017.
Lena is also the host of The Lena Nelson Dooley Show on the Along Came a Writer blogtalk radio network. She has experience in screenwriting, acting, directing, and voice-overs, and currently serves on the board of directors of Higher Ground Films. She has been featured in Christian Fiction Online Magazine, ACFW Journal, Book Fun Magazine, Charisma Magazine, and Christian Retailing.
Guest Post from Lena
She took the pan off the burner, dropped tiny marshmal-lows into the waiting over-sized mugs, and filled them with the fragrant hot chocolate. “Do you want to drink it here, or would you rather go in the living room? The sofa is more comfortable.”
“Whatever you want to do.” His honeyed tone wrapped around her like a warm blanket.
She handed a mug to him, picked up her own, along with coasters and two napkins, and headed into the living room. He followed.
Alanza’s Best Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
4 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup good quality cocoa powder
3 tbls. honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 dark chocolate bar
1 can real whipped cream
Maraschino cherries
Instructions:
Heat milk over medium to low heat, stirring constantly until milk starts to bubble slightly (about 10 minutes). Meanwhile, mix sugar and cocoa together until well blended. When milk is ready, gradually add in sugar, cocoa, and honey, stirring constantly. Put heat on low and add shavings of chocolate bar and vanilla. Continue stirring until chocolate has melted. Remove from heat and pour into mugs. Add whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and cherries on top, as desired.
