Review: Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot

 

About:

He's bound and determined to find peace . . . but she's about to stir things up

Dorothy Clark dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers--until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is.

Brandon Holloway has seen firsthand the disastrous effects of challenging others. He has no intention of repeating that mistake. Instead of following his dreams, he's committed to making a new--and completely uncontroversial--start in the Hill Country.

As Dorothy's involvement in the fledgling newspaper grows from convenient to essential, the same change seems to be happening in Brandon's heart. But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who's determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon's livelihood.

My Thoughts:

Dorothy Clark has dreams, dreams that seem so far out of reach she fears they may be impossible. However, in one day two men move to the town of Mesquite Springs and there are going to be some changes.

Brandon has come to town to open a newspaper. He is thankful for this fresh new start especially since he is trying to escape the memories of his last hometown. And when he meats Dorothy, the town is all the more intriguing. Little does he know that her dream is to be a writer. Her inspiration is Harriet Beecher Stowe. Unfortunately, that churns up a lot of bad memories for Brandon.

On the day that Brandon comes into town another man by the name of Phil, a gifted illustrator, also comes. His purposes are much more nefarious. Phil has also taken an instant dislike to Brandon, and he intends on finding out his secrets. All the while, I am asking what is Phil's secrets too.

Dorothy also had some secret fears and the author tackled a very important topic within this story. I call it depression and I really liked the heartfelt answers Dorothy gets when she seeks answers.

This was an enjoyable read of dreams being rekindled, as the title suggests, danger, mystery, true love, and a few unanswered questions left for the next book. I really liked how the author weaved her tale and brought everything together in a very exciting conclusion.

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.

About the Author:

Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of Out of the Embers, as well as the Cimarron Creek Trilogy and the Texas Crossroads, Texas Dreams, and Westward Winds series. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers' Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at www.amandacabot.com.

Review: Catching Mr. Right by Carol Ross

 

They can’t both win…
Can they?

Louisiana angler Victoria Thibodeaux needs the spokesperson contract with Romeo Reels to keep her business going and give her daughter a better life. But her hard-won confidence sinks to the bottom of the bayou when her rival, Alaskan fisherman Seth James, arrives. With his smooth-talking charm, handsome Seth could steal both her job and her heart, unless secrets from her past catch up with her first…

My Thoughts:

What a lovely romance about two people who fall in love. What makes this one so special is that they are both competing for the same prize, to be the face of Romeo Reels by showing who would be the better fit. Not only did I enjoy the competitiveness, but it was also about pro-fishing which I know next to nothing about. 

So with the background unique, the story quickly captured my attention. Seth is such a cutie pie and his pursuit for Victoria was heartwarming and at times swoony. There were a few misunderstandings and it took awhile for Victoria not to be an ice queen and to open up about her secrets to Seth. Seth was also great with her daughter, mother, and grandmother, if you couldn't tell he was my favorite.

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.

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Seasons of Alaska
Book 1: Mountains Apart
Book 2: A Case for Forgiveness
Book 3: If Not for a Bee
Book 4: A Family Like Hannah’s
Book 5: Bachelor Remedy
Book 6: In the Doctor’s Arms
Book 7: Catching Mr. Right

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Dead Man's Watch by Kay DiBianca

 

About the Book

Book:  Dead Man’s Watch

Author: Kay DiBianca

Genre: Cozy mystery

Release date: September 2020

Half-sisters Kathryn Frasier and Cece Goldman stumble into another mystery in this second book in the Watch series. When a former acquaintance of Kathryn’s is accused of murder, she and Cece go on a mission to prove his innocence by finding the real killer. But things are never what they seem in this tangled web, and Kathryn’s spunky determination to solve the mystery pushes her closer and closer to a deadly climax.

Join the adventure as these two young women commit themselves to live up to the quote from the Jerusalem Talmud: “Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Dead Man's Watch is another cozy mystery that finds half sisters Kathryn and CeCe mixed up in the investigation again. Through no fault of their own, CeCe literally stumbles over a dead man's body and both act as amateur sleuths yet again.

This story moved at a good pace. The chapters were not long, actually they were smaller chunks which I liked as it kept the story going better. There were several characters involved, so the shorter chapters focusing on giving several points of view of the investigation really help keep everything straight.

A man has been found dead, but who murdered him? Several reasons why pop up and several suspects could be found. However, with a twist in the morgue, everything changes. The suspects are still there but even a bigger question arises. I won't say anymore so as not to spoil the story. This was an enjoyable cozy mystery with a trace of romance and light humor that involves two sisters who act as amateur wanna be Sherlocks.

I received 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

Kay DiBianca is a bestselling author who loves to create literary puzzles for her readers to solve. Her characters come to life as they struggle to solve mysteries and create relationships amidst the ongoing themes of faith and family. Her first novel, The Watch on the Fencepost, won an Illumination Award for General Fiction and an Eric Hoffer Award for Mystery. The second book in the Watch series, Dead Man’s Watch, was released in September 2020.

Kay is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime. An avid runner, she can often be found at a nearby track, on the treadmill, or at a large park near her home. Her background in software development fuels her fascination with puzzles and mysteries, and her dedication to running helps supply the endurance and energy she needs to write about them!

Kay and her husband, Frank, live, run, and write in Memphis, Tennessee.

You can connect with Kay through her website at https://kaydibianca.com.

 

More from Kay

RUNNING AND WRITING

I’m a runner. Over the years I’ve discovered so many benefits from running, including improved health, good outlook, sense of well-being, and even a spark to creativity. That’s a lot to get from an investment in a pair of running shoes!

Of course, running is also a great metaphor for life. This one sport exemplifies so much that we experience in our lives: success, failure, injury, joy, and pain. So, it’s not surprising that although my books are not specifically about running, they contain running scenes.

I got the idea for my first mystery novel, The Watch on the Fencepost, while I was out running. The first chapter of that book introduces the main character, Kathryn Frasier, as she runs a five-miler while training for a marathon. Kathryn deals with the sorrow of her parents’ recent deaths by putting in hard miles on the trails around the fictional town of Bellevue. As I wrote that narrative, I could almost feel Kathryn’s effort, her struggle to maintain pace, the pain in the final sprint, and the satisfaction of finishing well.

The second book in the series, Dead Man’s Watch, takes place just a month or so after the first one. Kathryn continues her training by running a half-marathon race. Once more I run with her as she experiences the elation of being in the lead pack (I’ve never been there!), the exhaustion as the miles build up (I do know about this), and a dramatic event as she nears the finish.

I hope readers will see the analogy between the Kathryn’s experiences on the trails and her efforts to try to solve the mysteries in each story. I’m working on the third book in the series now. I haven’t written any running scenes yet, but I’m sure Kathryn’s going to insist on putting one in.

 

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 18

Blogging With Carol, March 18

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 19

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 21

Reviewingbooksplusmore, March 21

deb’s Book Review, March 22

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 23

Texas Book-aholic, March 24

Mary Hake, March 24

Inklings and notions, March 25

Older & Smarter?, March 26

The Write Escape, March 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 27

For Him and My Family, March 28

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 29

Pause for Tales, March 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 30

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 31

Bizwings Blog, March 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kay is giving away  the grand prize of 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.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10987/dead-man-s-watch-celebration-tour-giveaway

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: The Purple Nightgown by A.D. Lawrence

 

About the Book

Book:  The Purple Nightgown

Author: A.D. Lawrence

Genre: Christian Historical Suspense

Release date: March, 2021

Marvel at true but forgotten history when patients check into Linda Hazzard’s Washington state spa in 1912 and soon become victim of her twisted greed.

Book 10 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History

Heiress Stella Burke is plagued by insincere suitors and nonstop headaches. Exhausting all other medical aides for her migraines, Stella reads Fasting for the Cure of Disease by Linda Hazzard and determines to go to the spa the author runs. Stella’s chauffer and long-time friend, Henry Clayton, is reluctant to leave her at the spa. Something doesn’t feel right to him, still Stella submits herself into Linda Hazzard’s care. Stella soon learns the spa has a dark side and Linda a mean streak. But when Stella has had enough, all ways to leave are suddenly blocked. Will Stella become a walking skeleton like many of the other patients or succumb to a worse fate?

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

The True Colors series has done it again: bringing another dark tale of true crime into an eerie and riveting read. I really enjoy the author's notes on these stories as some of them are so bizarre how can they be true history? But they are and make for some chilling reads.

This one is about a woman by the name of Linda Buzzard who touts herself as a doctor and helps people get rid of the toxins in their bodies that are making them unwell. She is really a quack and her methods are harming the patients more. 

Stella Burke is a young rich woman who suffers from debilitating migraines. I frequently get bad headaches and a migraine or two, and just reading about Stella's was giving me phantom pains. I certainly understood her reasoning of checking out Buzzard's health clinic and wanting to get rid of the pain. Unfortunately Stella did not listen to wise advice which was coming from the man who loved her. 

Henry, who is below Stella's station in life, loves her and he cannot stand to see her in pain. They grew up together and he has stuck by her side as a true friend. But he is understandably concerned when she checks into this unorthodox clinic. And the stories and rumors he is hearing is making him pretty sure he needs to rescue Stella.

Don't read this one late at night or right before bed, it is pretty creepy. And the treatments...my goodness and the evil behind this woman is one for bad dreams.

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.

 

About the Author

A.D. Lawrence makes her home in Northeastern Nebraska. She has been passionate about writing and true crime for years, and her two obsessions melded into the goal of authorship. She is an active member of the ACFW, writes a true crime blog, won the 2019 Crown Award and was a 2019 First Impressions finalist.

 

More from A.D. Lawrence

Times have changed. And like so many things, health retreats have experienced their own metamorphosis. Sure, they’ve always catered to people with both spare money and time, but aside from similar clientele, the face of the health spa is nothing like its early 20th century sister.

If you could afford a getaway to a modern-day health spa like The Golden Door, you’d be treated to the luxury of rest. Yoga on the beach. Deep tissue massages. A much-needed break from technology and life’s constant pressures. Mental well-being is valued almost as highly as physical health, and the two are thought to be connected. After days or weeks of pampering, you would return home relaxed, recharged, and ready to dip back into the hustle of the real world.

In 1911, during the time of The Purple Nightgown, the medical community took a diametrically different approach to health. Weight equaled health.The prevailing assumption was that any ailments were directly connected to weight. Thus, ‘fat camps’ grew in popularity. Men and women checked into sanatoriums where the aides put them through grueling exercise regimes and provided them with just enough food to sustain life. No coddling. Not many of us would subject ourselves to the treatments early health spas required.

In this era of already extreme health measures, Linda Hazzard made her mark in Washington State. Obsessed with fasting, she ran her patients through an unfathomable course of ‘diet and exercise’ that proved the undoing of many. She did give massages though, which you’ll learn more about when you read The Purple Nightgown. 

Although it’s fun to long for a simpler time while reading historical books and watching shows like Little House on the Prairie, there are some modern ways of thinking and advances in human comfort I’d rather not give up. One of those is the vastly superior spa experience we have today. Somehow, a facial with soothing background music sounds much more appealing than running mile after mile every day with nothing to look forward to but a glass of orange juice or a bowl of canned tomato broth.

Hot stone massage anyone?

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 23

lakesidelivingsite, March 23

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, March 23

For Him and My Family, March 24

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, March 24

Godly Book Reviews, March 24

Through the Fire Blogs, March 25

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 25

For the Love of Literature, March 26

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 26

Mary Hake, March 26

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 27

deb’s Book Review, March 27

Pause for Tales, March 28

Remembrancy, March 28

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 28

Connie’s History Classroom, March 29

Genesis 5020, March 29

Melissa Wardwell’s Back Porch Reads, March 29

Babbling Becky L’sBook Impressions, March 30

Texas Book-aholic, March 30

Inklings and notions, March 31

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 31 (Author Interview)

Cathe Swanson, March 31

Older & Smarter?, April 1

Betti Mace, April 1

Rebecca Tews, April 1

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 2

Vicky Sluiter, April 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 3

Amanda Tero, blog, April 3

Blossoms and Blessings, April 3

Christian Bookaholic, April 4

Blogging With Carol, April 4

Spoken from the Heart, April 4

Splashes of Joy, April 5

Artistic Nobody, April 5 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Southern Gal Loves to Read, April 5

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, A.D. is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/1098d/the-purple-nightgown-celebration-tour-giveaway

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Framed in Death Valley by Dana Mentink

 

About the Book

Book:  Framed in Death Valley

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Suspense

Release date: March 1, 2021

Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, firefighter Beckett Duke gave up on everything—including his marriage to spirited Laney Holland. That is, until Laney’s life is threatened. Knowing the real killer is still at large, Beckett now has one purpose: protecting the woman he loves…and their unborn child. But sometimes an innocent man’s second chance comes with a deadly price.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This is, I think, is one of my favorite suspense stories. There is just something about reading about a married couple who are in danger of a killer. There were many feelings running around in this book: fear, anger, abandonment, love. I really wanted to see this couple patch up their differences and mend their relationship.

Beckett has got some heavy stuff he is carrying on his shoulders. His wife Laney loved him for who he was and saw his worth. After one fateful day, Beckett is accused of murder and sent away. Beckett of course, thinking he is protecting Laney, refuses to see her or speak to her, even sending her divorce papers.

Laney is in utter shock. They were only married for a short while and she believed in his innocents. How could he now want to divorce her? She certainly could not see this as his protection. But she has a blessing as well, she is pregnant.

Beckett comes back to Laney and the hotel they run as threats against her has been made. These two really loved each other but they let the hurt and the past stay between them. As the danger escalates both will need to discover what it was they promised to one another and is their marriage worth another try? Who is the real killer and why was Beckett framed were questions that kept this tight little story going.

Again I really liked that the couple was already married angle in this story. I haven't read too many like that and I wish there was more.

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

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Poisoned Pen Press. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the  nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle.

 

More from Dana

What’s up in Death Valley?

As the desert vistas opened up in front of Papa Bear and me, I felt an amazing sense of peace. Mind you, we were visiting Death Valley in the fall. No braving the 130 plus summer temperatures for this couple! I simply cannot describe to you the wonder I felt, as a  suburbanite from a bustling, noisy Northern California city. There is never a moment at home when I see only open horizon, when I hear nothing but quiet breezes. I was, quite simply, stunned.

I had done some research about places to visit as potential series settings, and Death Valley was at the top of the list. The websites did not disappoint. Artist’s Palette, the gorgeous peak painted in a rainbow of rock colors? Check! Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, glistening with salt and not so lifeless as one might think…check! How about my favorite moment…jouncing along the precarious trail through Titus Canyon? Check! Would all of these incomparable locations be suitable for a six book suspense series? Roger that!

It’s ironic that I felt so welcomed by such an inhospitable locale. Visiting is one thing, but it takes a certain rugged breed of individuals to live in such a hostile climate. What fodder for fiction! I simply could not wait to get home and start creating the Duke family. And you know what? When this pandemic is over, Death Valley is the first place I want to return…in the fall, of course! Do you have a place near and dear to your heart? What’s first on your travel list after the world opens up again?

Blog Stops

Hebrews 12 Endurance, March 16

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 16

Among the Reads, March 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 17

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 17 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, March 18

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 18

Genesis 5020, March 18

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 19

Betti Mace, March 19

Lighthouse Academy, March 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 20

Bizwings Blog, March 20

Texas Book-aholic, March 21

Reviewingbooksplusmore, March 21

Inklings and notions, March 22

Remembrancy, March 22

Simple Harvest Reads, March 22 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

For Him and My Family, March 23

Blogging With Carol, March 23

Older & Smarter?, March 24

Fiction Book Lover, March 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

KarenSueHadley, March 24

She Lives To Read, March 25

deb’s Book Review, March 25

Through the Fire Blogs, March 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 26

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 27

Labor Not in Vain, March 27

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 28

Pause for Tales, March 28

Blossoms and Blessings, March 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 29

Daysong Reflections, March 29

Hallie Reads, March 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away  the grand prize of a $30 Amazon gift card, a set of six mini cactus candles, and a signed copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/1093d/framed-in-death-valley-celebration-tour-giveaway

Review: Shadows of the White City by Jocelyn Green

 

About:

She promised a dying father she would keep his daughter safe.

She can't fail now.

The one thing Sylvie Townsend wants most is what she feared she would never have--a family of her own. But taking in Polish immigrant Rose Dabrowski to raise and love quells those fears--until seventeen-year-old Rose goes missing at the World's Fair, and Sylvie's life unravels.

With nowhere else to turn, Sylvie seeks help from her boarder and Rose's violin instructor, Kristof Bartok. Fluent in several languages, his skills are vital to helping Sylvie navigate the immigrant and international communities where their investigation leads.

From the glittering architecture of the Fair to the dark houses of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods, they're taken on a search that points to Rose's long-lost family. Is Sylvie willing to let the girl go? And as Kristof and Sylvie grow closer, can she reconcile her craving for control with her yearning to belong?

My Thoughts:

Life somehow finds a way to move forward, even a big city like Chicago. In the first of the series of The Windy City Saga, sisters Meg and Sylvia along with their father and neighbors had just survived the Great Chicago fire, now some years later the city is putting on the World's Fair. I have read some other novels on the World's Fair which I found exciting and really what a fun thing to do. I had just never realized the timeline with the Great Fire.

Sylvia is still living in the city and still has her little bookshop. The only thing missing for her is a family. Yes she has her sister Meg and her brood, but Sylvia also longs to be a mother. Times are very tough for immigrants and one father gives Sylvia his little girl as he knows he cannot care for her. Sylvia's dreams of motherhood have come true as she takes little Rose to be her own.

But as most mothers know, as their children grow they get notions and ideas. Rose wants to locate her remaining family. Nothing wrong with that, I just felt that Rose was a bit unthankful toward Sylvia and how she perceived Sylvia suffocating her. Sylvia just cared for Rose, like any mother, and did not want to lose her seventeen year old daughter, especially in a city that pretends to offer everything.

Then the unthinkable happens and Rose disappears. My mama's heart hurt with Sylvia and I felt the desperation and her fear. However, in steps Kristof, her tenant who is secretly smitten with her and wants to do all in his power to protect and spare Sylvia. Kristof was a hero carrying a lot of familial hurt around inside, but he was a good man.

What they find is a nest of seedy underbelly dealings in the White City, but more than that both Sylvia and Kristof need to learn to let go of those they love the most. This was a beautiful story of learning to let go and watching how long ago dreams can still come true.

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.

About the Author:

Jocelyn Green (www.jocelyngreen.com) inspires faith and courage as the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King, Wedded to War, and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Her books have garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, and have been honored with the Christy Award, the gold medal from the Military Writers Society of America, and the Golden Scroll Award from the Advanced Writers & Speakers Association. She graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a BA in English, concentration in writing. Jocelyn lives with her husband, Rob, and two children in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.

Review: Miriam's Song by Jill Eileen Smith

 

About:

She has prayed for deliverance from Egypt.

But perhaps the greatest liberation happens within the heart.

From the very beginning, Miriam has lived in her younger brother's shadow. Thrust into the role of protective older sister before Moses was even born, she will grow up into a woman who not only keeps her family's secret but bears the burden of leading a new nation.

In her mind, she knows that she is serving both her God and her people. But in her heart, Miriam yearns for more. She longs to experience the privileges Moses has--to talk with God face-to-face. But when God finally does speak directly to her, the outcome is not at all what she expects.

With her impeccable research and keen eye for detail, bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith offers this epic novel to fill in the gaps in Miriam's story, following her from childhood to motherhood, obscurity to notoriety, and yearning to fulfillment as she learns that what God promises He provides--in His own perfect timing.

My Thoughts:

Miriam plays an important place in Bible history, but we do not really know much about her life except where Moses is concerned. Author Smith gives us a fictional account of what may have transpired for Miriam and her family.

Here we start Miriam's story before Moses is even born. We watch her as a little girl as she witnesses the cruelty of the Egyptians in the slaughter of innocent Hebrew baby boys. We watch as her family keeps her baby brother's birth a secret and tries to hide him from their slave masters. We go with her as she acts as guardian for him until he is found by the princess and until he must live at the palace permanently and all the way to when the spies are about to enter the Promise Land.

I was brought into the story of Miriam's life, her young one, as a wife, as a mother, and eventually as a continual helper to her brothers. I watched her grieve, rejoice, pray, and most of all to wait. That stood out to me the most, how even when she felt like giving up, she continued to pray for deliverance. Even though God remained silent through the 400 years of their slavery and her faith sometimes waivered she continued to trust in the God of her ancestors.

I have read author Mesu Andrews work on Miriam and the Pharaoh's daughter that had me going back and researching history. Author Smith takes a different direction on who Pharaoh's daughter was and I found that intriguing as well. There is also some poetic license taken on who was Miriam's children. We do get to see the events as they unfold through the other women's eyes, and I found that a great help to see from different perspectives.

I did enjoy this book and found the weaving of Author Smith's research into the Biblical account interesting. I did receive 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.

About the Author:

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King and Star of Persia: Esther's Story. She is also the author of the nonfiction books When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams and She Walked Before Us. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan. Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com.

Review and Giveaway: War at the Ice Cream Store Mustachio Pistachio vs Bully Vanilli by Dave Gibson and Cheryl DaVeiga

 

 

Join us for this tour from Mar 8 to Mar 26, 2021!

Book Details:

Book Title:  WAR AT THE ICE CREAM STORE: Mustachio Pistachio vs Bully Vanilli (Frank Tl Frogg and Friends) by Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7),  32 pages
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson
Release date:   January, 2021
Format available: hardback, paperback, ebook (PDF), interactive multimedia book
Content Rating:  G. This children's book is for everyone.

Book Description:

The first of the Frank TL Frogg and Friends series, War at the Ice Cream Store tells the story of one night at the Frozen Frogg, when Mustachio Pistachio and his “flavorite” flavor friends teach Bulli Vanilli a lesson in kindness and acceptance.

Buy the Book
Amazon

My Thoughts:

What a funny and cute way to approach the topic of bullying and especially how it affects everyone. Some major back talk was going on between Vanilli and Mustachio Pistachio. Bully Vanilli just wouldn't back off and some of the other flavors had had enough. Not only them but the toppings too!

All the frozen treats had something to add and chaos assumed until Vanilli learned his lesson. I read this with my 10 year old son and the story, rhyming, puns, and fun illustrations gave us both a chuckle. This was a very inventive way to teach a child that bullying is wrong.

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

 

Meet the Authors:

Cheryl is an award-winning songwriter, children's song recording artist (as the cartoon character CADi Grace), and the co-creator of the puppet musical and comedy show, The Waterhole Bunch. After the success of The Waterhole Bunch, Cheryl along with co-creator Dave Gibson, spun off the main character, Frank TL (The Lucky) Frogg, into a children’s entertainment concept, Frank TL Frogg and Friends, featuring the puppets in a magical town called Lucky Fork, Tennessee. Frank TL Frogg and Friends includes books, songs, videos, games, and more for younger audiences. War at the Ice Cream Store is the first of the Frank TL Frogg and Friends children’s book series.

Dave is an award-winning Nashville-based songwriter, having written hundreds of hit songs for artists including Alabama, Montgomery Gentry and Marie Osmond. Dave’s own group, The Gibson/Miller Band, won the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award for best new group in the early nineties. He is the co-creator of the puppet musical and comedy show, The Waterhole Bunch. After the success of The Waterhole Bunch, Dave, along with co-creator Cheryl DaVeiga, spun off the main character, Frank TL (The Lucky) Frogg, into a children’s entertainment concept, Frank TL Frogg and Friends, featuring the puppets in a magical town called Lucky Fork, Tennessee. Frank TL Frogg and Friends includes books, songs, videos, games, and more for younger audiences. War at the Ice Cream Store is the first of the Frank TL Frogg and Friends children’s book series.

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connect with the authors:  website ~ facebook ~ instagram

 

Tour Schedule:

Mar 8 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / author interview / giveaway
Mar 8 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 9 – Working Mommy Journal – book review / giveaway
Mar 9 - Lisa's Reading – book review / giveaway
Mar 10 – A Mama's Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
Mar 10 - Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Mar 11 – Books, Tea, Healthy Me – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Mar 11 - Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway
Mar 11 - Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / giveaway
Mar 12 – Laura's Interests – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 15 – I'd Rather Be At The Beach – book review / giveaway
Mar 15 - Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 16 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Mar 17 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway
Mar 18 – Icefairy's Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Mar 19 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 22 – Books for Books – book spotlight
Mar 23 – Older & Smarter? – book review / giveaway
Mar 24 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 24 - Cheryl's Book Nook – book review / giveaway
Mar 24 - Reading is My Passion - book review
Mar 25 – Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Mar 25 - I'm Into Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 26 – The Adventures Of A Travelers Wife – book review / author interview / giveaway
 

Enter the Giveaway:

 

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Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Texas Target Standoff by Virginia Vaughan

 

About the Book

Book:  Texas Target Standoff

Author: Virginia Vaughan

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release date: March 1, 2021

A sniper lurks closer…

and only a navy SEAL can save her.

When psychologist Shelby Warren suddenly becomes a sniper’s target, navy SEAL Paul Avery springs into action to protect her. He needs her evaluation to get back to his team…and rescuing her might finally give him the redemption he’s been searching for. But when danger follows them to his family’s Texas ranch, keeping Shelby safe could be his most difficult assignment yet.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Whew! This book started out with the right person at the right time but a wrong circumstance. Shelby Warren is a psychologist and she takes her job very seriously due to a family tragedy. Sometimes she is not the most popular as the people she helps want to get back to normal life but she prides herself on seeing the whole person. 

Paul Avery is one of her patients, a Navy Seal, and one who just wants to get back to work. He does not think she is going to make it easy for him. Unfortunately someone else is not going to make life easy for either one of them as Shelby's life is in constant danger from a someone intent on ending her. Paul, caught up in the gunfire, feels it is his job to protect her.

Paul takes Shelby back to his family home and it was nice to see some older characters I had read about. Shelby is obviously still trying to evaluate Paul, but she is still being targeted. Who could it be and how did they find out where she went? This story gives an eerie feeling of always being watched or followed and being on guard for your life. As much as Shelby and Paul tried to stay ahead of the sniper, the sniper is never far behind. Who was doing this was a bit of a surprise for me.

This was another intense suspense that started off with a bang and kept right on going.

I received 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

Bestselling author Virginia Vaughan writes inspirational romantic suspense. Blessed to come from a large, southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself. A former investigator for the State of Mississippi, Virginia utilizes her criminal justice background with her love or writing to transform words into powerful stories of romance and danger.

 

More from Virginia

As writers, we discover many new and interesting things while researching a story. For TEXAS TARGET STANDOFF, I decided I wanted the hero to have a dog so I started looking at different photographs of dogs online until I found the one image I wanted to use—a sweet little border collie I named Bullet. He helps my navy SEAL hero find comfort and friendship while he’s recovering from injuries at his family’s ranch. But looking at dog photos on the internet did more than help my character grow, it also inspired me to adopt a dog of my own.

My home had been pet-free for many years since my beloved dog Miss Duchess died from cancer five years ago and, although the ten-year-old nephew I’m raising had been asking for a dog for about a year, I hadn’t reached the point of pulling the trigger and bringing another one home. Only the research I did for this book reopened that desire inside of me for canine companionship. In September of 2020, my son and I searched the shelters in search of a family dog and, when I spotted this adorable border collie mix, I knew we had to bring her home. We named her Ivy and, since joining our family, this sweet girl has brought us lots of love and laughter, plus a new adventure—dog training. I’ve never trained a dog in my life and little Ivy is a stubborn one. I’ve scoured YouTube for videos, taken classes, and worked daily on the simplest of commands like sit, wait, lie down. Slowly, we are making progress although barking, jumping, and walking on a leash are still some areas where we’re struggling.

I’d love to hear about your pets or your best training tips! To learn more about my family, including my training journey with Ivy, follow me on Facebook or subscribe to my newsletter at the links below. And look out for the next book—little sister Kellyanne’s story—in my Cowboy Lawmen series coming June 29, 2021.

Blessings!

Virginia

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 12

For the Love of Literature, March 12

Through the Fire Blogs, March 12

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 13

Bizwings Blog, March 13

Texas Book-aholic, March 14

Bigreadersite, March 14

Fiction Book Lover, March 14 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 15

Genesis 5020, March 15

Hebrews 12 Endurance, March 16

For Him and My Family, March 16

Artistic Nobody, March 16 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Inklings and notions, March 17

Reviewingbooksplusmore, March 17

Older & Smarter?, March 18

deb’s Book Review, March 18

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, March 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 19

Blogging With Carol, March 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 20

Betti Mace, March 20

Mary Hake, March 20

Lighthouse Academy, March 21

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 22

Blossoms and Blessings, March 22

Labor Not in Vain, March 22

KarenSueHadley, March 23

She Lives To Read, March 23

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 24

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 24

Pause for Tales, March 24

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 25 (Author Interview)

HookMeInABook, March 25

Simple Harvest Reads, March 25 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Virginia is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of Texas Target Standoff!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/1095e/texas-target-standoff-celebration-tour-giveaway

Review and Giveaway: Marvellous Macey by Caitlin Bangsund Illustrations by Csongor Veres

 

Join us for this tour from Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2021!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Marvellous Macey, The Delightful Days by Caitlin Bangsund
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-8),  40 pages
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Caitlin E. Bangsund
Release date:   March 2021
Formats available:  hardback, paperback, ebook
Content Rating:  G. This children's book is for everyone.

Book Description:

Can you va va voom? Do you light up the room? Marvellous Macey does! She may not quite fit the mould, but she is living delightful days. Embrace Macey's world of imagination and ability to love and accept everyone. Life may not be perfect and some things might be hard, but Macey shows us how to live in the moment and find the delight! Be inspired by Macey to make everyday the BEST day.

BUY THE BOOK:
Author's Website
Amazon
add to Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Macey is a little girl that certainly knows how to make the best out of life. She lights up every room she comes into and is kind and generous with herself to others. This book also shows that Macey has had and is still having some struggles in life, but that she doesn't let that slow her down. She does take care of herself and takes the time to rest and shows the importance of that care.

Filled with beautiful illustrations and also a look and find imaginary friend, this is a book that is sure to delight young readers. Macey, even with her struggles, represents a tenacious little girl that lives life to the fullest and is an inspiration to others.

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

Meet the Author:

Caitlin Bangsund is the author of Marvellous Macey, The Delightful Days. It is the first in a series based on true life. Caitlin knows the trial and trauma of childhood cancer, childhood disability, and the fear of almost losing her daughter — the star of the series — Macey. She encourages readers to look for the treasures that hide in the rubble and gloom. Life is beautiful chaos and her message is to press on and conquer. Read her stories and help create a world that is full of kindness and acceptance.

connect with the author:  website  ~  facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

 

Tour Schedule:

Mar 1 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 1 – Working Mommy Journal – book review / giveaway
Mar 1 - Cover Lover Book Review – book review / author interview / giveaway
Mar 2 – Lisa's Reading – book review / giveaway
Mar 2 - A Mama's Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
Mar 3 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 4 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Mar 5 – Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway
Mar 8 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 9 – Pick a Good Book – book review / author interview / giveaway
Mar 10 – High Society Book Club & Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 11 – Icefairy's Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Mar 12 – Character Madness and Musings – book spotlight
Mar 15 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / giveaway
Mar 15 - Jayme_reads – book review
Mar 16 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Mar 17 – Older & Smarter? – book review / author interview / giveaway
Mar 18 – Books, Tea, Healthy Me – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Mar 18 - Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Mar 18 - Reading is My Passion - book review
Mar 19 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway
Mar 22 – The Adventures Of A Travelers Wife – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 23 – Leels Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 24 – I'm All About Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 25 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 26 – Books for Books – book spotlight
 

Enter the Giveaway:

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