About:
Crystal Caudill is the author of "dangerously good historical romance," with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW.
About:
A woman who can't trust herself to make a good marriage
choice asks for an arranged marriage, but then falls in love with someone else.
Author: Angela Breidenbach
Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Romance
Release date: November 1, 2021
1892, Helena MT: Delphina O’Connor believed God-given dreams for women didn’t stop at marriage and children. Hers might not include a husband or family at all. So when Hugh Thomas rescues the new swimming instructor at the elegant Broadwater Natatorium from near drowning in the Victorian-styled resort pool, how can anyone believe the freedom to enjoy swimming, competition, and a healthy body is an appropriate activity for a proper lady? Hugh is about to find out status quo is the starting line for a courageous woman with a dream!
Elaborate true history of the Broadwater Hotel and Natatorium in romantic fiction. You’ll meet several iconic people from Montana’s true history in these pages. What do you do when you think differently than the world around you?
Lovely story sharing the early days of women in synchronized swimming nearing the turn-of-the-century when traditional sensibilities battle modern ideas. How does a traditional man learn to love a modern woman?
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts:
Welcome back to Helena, MT. This time we travel back to the Broadwater Natatorium and see the beginnings of women competing in swimming. The year is 1892 and Delphina, the new ladies swimming instructor is rescued by the boy's instructor after trying to rescue her student from drowning. The culprit, the women's swim costumes are too heavy and have too much material. Now I am all for modesty, but the description of these swimming outfits seemed way too much. The challenge for Delphina, a forward-thinking woman, is to design an appropriate swimsuit in a style that is not offensive, with little money.
Step in Hugh, the boys swimming instructor and a little bit old-fashioned, but he begins to see value in Delphina's ideas. It takes some time for them to see eye to eye and work as a team to help save the resort, but eventfully they get there. And I was happy to see their story unfold.
I have really been enjoying these quick little historical romances about the early days of Montana. I was so impressed by the Broadwater Natatorium that I went on to discover more information on it. I was saddened to learn it is no longer in existence but what a piece of history.
I was provided a copy of this novel by the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
I toured Helena, MT for the research that kicked off my passion for the Queen of the Rockies series. While there, I searched for more on the history of the Broadwater Hotel and Natatorium. Visiting the now empty fields, staring through the fence where the resort once stood, I missed the elegant beauty even though I’d never known her. The way the mountains swooped up from the valley with the hot springs at the base created a dramatic sense of place. I had to write a story set at the Broadwater!
While volunteering with a non-profit for children, the executive director asked why I’d gone to Helena recently. Bubbling over with enthusiasm, he started telling me everything he knew, saw, and experienced at the resort area while growing up near the Broadwater in Helena. His wife and he had even attended the final auction in the 1960s before the grand lady lost her battle with time and damages from the major earthquakes of 1935. She was demolished after the auction! The ornamental elements of the hotel and natatorium took record auction prices from doorknobs to copper bathtub rings. Even what was left of the stained-glass windows sold. What I hadn’t found in history books, online, or at the local history museum/society my friends shared with misty-eyed memories. The sweetness of hearing their stories and being able to use them in my book was pretty miraculous. I had a front seat to history.
The Broadwater Hotel had an interesting feature in their bath/shower rooms. If you’ve ever heard of a “needle” shower, it sounds painful. But it was a revolutionary new therapy treatment in the 1890s. I saw a few black and white faded photos. Those pictures in history books and online couldn’t do justice to the real invention. Want to see a little more before you read Heart of the Rockies? Here’s a link to visit on the Broadwater Hotel and Natatorium. I think you’ll want to immerse yourself (pun intended) in a story set in her extravagant, elegance. See what you think…
http://www.helenahistory.org/Broadwater_1.htm
One weekend, my husband and I took a trip to Butte to stay at the Copper King Mansion. The stay included a tour and use of their facilities. (Don’t pass that bed and breakfast overnight up. It’s really amazing and closely preserved through the families that lived there!) The original owner, William A. Clark, had a needle shower installed to help his sickly son. What do you know? It still worked! I tried it that night. Because the tiny sprays are in a circular design all the way around your body, the shower rings you. The experience, minus the issue of one ring being right at face level causing a lot of battles to breathe, was exhilarating. More so because of the unique nature. But when the water pressure is all the way on, the water can sting with the force on your skin. I fully understood the name! Adjusting the spickets brought the water pressure under control, but I had one further difficulty. The pipes that ringed my neck and head sprayed water into my face no matter what direction I moved. They’d been built to the height of a young man. Let’s just say it was a near-drowning! Super fun to try though.
Besides visiting Helena, make sure to stop in for your weekend in Butte, MT at the Copper King Bed and Breakfast. Take the tour. Then when you’re free of the museum visitors, and the house is all yours for the night, step into the needle shower (maybe really bring a waterproof step) and be swished back in time to the Gilded Age. Hmm, maybe I should be writing a time travel novel??
Come plunge into the pages of Heart of the Rockies with me.
Babbling Becky L’s
Book Impressions, March 18
Texas Book-aholic,
March 19
Christina’s
Corner, March 19
Tell Tale Book Reviews,
March 20
Betti Mace,
March 21
Debbie’s
Dusty Deliberations, March 21
Inklings
and notions, March 22
Happily
Managing a Household of Boys, March 23
For Him and My
Family, March 23
Locks, Hooks
and Books, March 24
Blogging With
Carol, March 25
deb’s Book
Review, March 25
Connie’s
History Classroom, March 26
Ashley’s
Clean Book Reviews, March 27
Miriam Jacob,
March 27
Musings
of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 28
A Modern Day
Fairy Tale, March 29 (Spotlight)
Pause for
Tales, March 29
Spoken
from the Heart, March 30
Truth and Grace
Homeschool Academy, March 31
Blossoms
and Blessings, March 31
To celebrate her tour, Angela is giving away the grand prize of a a set of gemstone earrings handmade by Thai Hill Tribe (made of sterling silver with amethyst Swarovski crystals)!!
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/1bc98/heart-of-the-rockies-celebration-tour-giveaway
About:
Hannah Kent and Oliver Jennings pledged their hearts to each
other as children. Now, years later, Hannah is thrilled to receive an
invitation to spend the summer at Oliver’s family’s country estate. The path to
wedded bliss is clear―so long as Oliver’s highbrow older brother, Damon, has
ceased his juvenile antics, Hannah’s future looks bright indeed.
But from the moment Hannah arrives at Summerhaven, nothing
is as she expected. Oliver seems disinterested in renewing their acquaintance,
and Damon is not the brutish boy she remembers but a man intent on avoiding
marriage. Although she has loathed Damon her whole life, when he contrives a
ruse designed to win them both what they desire, Hannah warily agrees. All she
has to do to reclaim Oliver’s attention is pretend to be madly in love with
Damon. But when Damon is surprisingly convincing in his role as a suitor, it
proves difficult to discern the line between pretense and true love.
My Thoughts:
Oh, I knew this was going to be my kind of read from the synopsis and I must say I impatiently waited for this story to be delivered. And it did not disappoint at all.
Hannah has been in love with Oliver Jennings since her childhood. She has played out their lives together and knows without a doubt they will have a happily ever after. However, when she comes back to Summerhaven at the request of his mother, it seems Oliver has not been pining away for her. In a twist of fate, or some rather devilish planning on the part of his older brother, Damon, Hannah agrees with her so called number one enemy to a plan that goes monstrously wrong. Or maybe it doesn't... Now Hannah is downright confused as Damon remembers their childhood a bit differently than her.
Full of romance, wooing, sacrifice, and the gift of true love, Hannah is not so sure her once held dreams are what she longs for after all. Again, this story was truly delightful and a top favorite for this year.
I purchased my own copy, and all views and opinions are my own.
About:
Author: Tonya L. Matthews
Genre: Faith-based Christian Fiction
Release date: August, 2021
God takes broken pieces
and brings them together
for something amazing
Marcella Ciscal enjoyed few good days. The reason she knew she could live another day, the way she stayed sane, the friend who never left her side was Roxie Applesauce.
Homeless and beaten, Marcella awakens to the care of Haleya Kage who’s going through a difficult season—a demanding career, two teens, and her husband Thomas’s business a casualty of the 2009 economic downturn. Yet, with life unstable and the future unknown, it’s the unpredictable that propels His greater plan.
In a story of reconciliation, love, and legacy, we are reminded that life’s not always perfect or predictable, but God can make all things beautiful – in His time.
Life is full of scenes: some short, long, seemingly insignificant—others life-changing. Woven together, these scenes reveal a person’s heart. His or her life-story shared by a heart blessed, unforgettable. – the author.
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts:
Continuing on in the familial generation story of Gracie and Ben (Kade) from Treasure Atop the Mountain, we now get a peak into their children's lives. Now grown their three boys have definitely branched out on their own. All doing it without the love and support of their mother Gracie, who passed but her memory and life lessons are very much alive.
As we all know life deals blows that are not always easy to get through and sometimes near impossible. Roxie Applesauce takes a look at especially oldest son's Thomas and his life. He seems to be doing very well. Successful, happily married to Haleya, and two beautiful, healthy children. However, life is not really going to leave them unscathed either. This story takes place around and in 2009 and financial burdens hit them hard and test this family, along with friendships, and the usual teen rebellion. As this family navigates this stormy period of their life they can let it make them stronger or let it tear them apart.
And then there is Roxie Applesauce. She is an interesting character. I won't say too much about her, and let the reader experience her for themselves. However there is a homeless woman, Marcella, that we get to know through a period of flashbacks and her current life. Hers is a sad but meaningful story of mercy and grace no matter the life lived.
It was good to visit the Kage family again, though many years later, but their story continues.
I was provided a copy of this novel by the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Tonya has found writing to be a healthy escape and effective therapy in tough seasons throughout her life. Tonya began writing Treasure atop the Mountain 15 years ago when she and her husband were trying to start their family and encountered multiple disappointments. Ultimately, they signed up to be foster parents and adopted.
Tonya’s been married to Todd Matthews for 25 years. They have two grown daughters. In August 2019, she published Treasure atop the Mountain—a fiction novel based on real-life emotions that can be related to by many. Tonya’s second novel in the TREASURE series, Roxie Applesauce, released in August 2021. She’s currently writing the series’ third book, Get Will. Additionally, in 2022, she will debut the first two books in her children’s book series.
THE STORY behind the story—Tonya L. Matthews
As many of you know, Todd and I adopted our two girls from foster care. I remember hugging Haley one night after a tough day (she was a handful…well, still is) with tears in my eyes. Tears of sadness in my heart for what had brought us both together and tears of hope that we could help each other move forward. Todd and I had experienced multiple failures at trying to have a baby, and she’d experienced failure after failure of what is best for a little girl who needs a stable home-life. Roxie Applesauce, published and release this month, is dedicated to her. Though little has gone as we’d planned, God was and is still in control. I often say, ‘God had her before we did; he’s still got her!’
Life’s road isn’t always fair, but along the way there are those undeniable, unexplainable occurrences where without question the only answer is that it had to be God. That’s the message of hope I needed when I wrote Roxie Applesauce (and still need today.)
I began writing as an outlet for my emotions years ago as nothing seemed to work. I sat down and started writing, not knowing that I could write a novel and not set on it as the end goal. My goal was to find something that would take my thoughts away from the never-ending cycle of worry, anger and confusion over why there was no baby when for so many it just happened so simply.
I enjoyed reading fiction with an inspiring message. I remember when I finished a good book, I’d hold it for a minute after I closed it and even sometimes say out loud, “Wow, that was good!” I’d think about it the next day and the characters in the book were more like people that I knew or wished I knew.
After I read several that didn’t deliver, and inspired by those that did, I thought…I’ll just write what I like to read. So, I sat down and started typing and then I just never quit on the book. In the background of a busy, busy life, it was always there. Then when I walked away from the Chamber to be a better mom to my teen girls, I yet again, needed an outlet for all the ‘I am not equipped to raise these two!’ emotions that followed. Slowly, keeping my family as priority for really the first time ever, I worked toward the publication of Treasure atop the Mountain. Since its release, I can say the greatest joy has been the people that I’ve met! We all struggle. The emotions are the same, though the circumstances may be different. We need to know that we are not alone. We need to know that God’s plan is at work, even through the difficult times. If you haven’t had a chance to read Treasure atop the Mountain yet—first in the series, I hope someone passes it along to you as part of God’s plan as the existence of these books is beyond me!
If you didn’t know, my daughters are named Haley and Aleya. Not biological sisters. Born to two birth mothers who don’t know each other. One named her daughter HALEY and the other named her daughter ALEYA. If you put their names together you have HALEYA. Put you hand over the A on the end and it’s Haley. Put your hand over the H and you have Aleya. I have to remind myself on the toughest of days as a mother of two now adult-age girls in this world full of lies and heartache that God does know what he’s doing, and I know that God’s hand is at work! So, I write the third novel in the series, Get Will, yet again, as a healthy escape for my mind that is often unrelenting when so much is out of our control.
Book Reviews
From an Avid Reader, March 9
Gina Holder,
Author and Blogger, March 10 (Author Interview)
Miriam Jacob,
March 10
Texas Book-aholic,
March 11
Debbie’s
Dusty Deliberations, March 12
For Him and My
Family, March 13
Inklings
and notions, March 14
deb’s Book
Review, March 15
Locks, Hooks
and Books, March 16
Older
& Smarter?, March 17
Abba’s
Prayer Warrior Princess, March 18
Pause for
Tales, March 18
Ashley’s
Clean Book Reviews, March 19
Because I
said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 20
Truth and Grace
Homeschool Academy, March 21
Happily
Managing a Household of Boys, March 22
To celebrate her tour, Tonya is giving away the grand prize of a $50 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/1b8b4/roxie-applesauce-celebration-tour-giveaway
Buy the Book:
Amazon
add to goodreads
My Thoughts:
The Mirabel Sisters is a very easy to read history picture book and one that if I was a child again, would have fascinated me, but also would have made me sad. Their story is about a close-knit family of sisters, their gifts, talents, and love for family and country. Unfortunately, they lived in a time of a dictator who did not care so much about his people, only himself and his power and keeping it.
As the sisters grow up in their county of the Dominican Republic, they all marry and have children. They are mothers and wives living lives like the rest of us. Until Minerva decides to stand up and speaks against the dictator ruler. This leads to a series of events where she and her husband and two of her sisters and their husbands are imprisoned for a time. This leaves sister Dede holding down the fort with their mother in caring for all of the children.
Then one night the unthinkable happens and this family's life are changed forever. This was a sad change but shows how one family's sacrifice can lead to change for a whole country.
The illustrations were lovely and complimented the story being told. I liked the focus on family, the sisters were beautifully close. I enjoyed learning a history lesson I was not aware of before and this has opened my curiosity to look more into this family. This would be a great educational book for kids to learn about heroes from other countries.
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.
Enter the Giveaway:
The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies Book Tour Giveaway
About:
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of Out of the Embers and Dreams Rekindled, 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.
About:
Author: Mary Davis
Genre: Christian / Historical Fiction / Romance
Release date: February 1, 2022
A WASP Goes Above the Call of Duty to Free Captive American Soldiers
Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.
Peggy Witherspoon, a widow, mother, and pilot flying for the Women’s Airforce Service in 1944 clashes with her new reporting officer. Army Air Corp Major Howie Berg was injured in combat and is now stationed at Bolling Field in Washington D.C. Most of Peggy’s jobs are safe, predictable, and she can be home each night with her three daughters—until a cargo run to Cuba alerts her to American soldiers being held captive there, despite Cuba being an “ally.” Will Peggy go against orders to help the men—even risk her own life?
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts:
This story gave me a much clearer view on the women in WASPS, their duties, even their comradery as they needed to stand with each other. To stand with each other in unison to prove that they could be of help to the men at war and to stand up to the outright prejudice they faced as they were women. Some of the men just didn't think women should be flying planes and they weren't very nice about it.
Major Howie Berg did not see eye to eye with the WASPS nor at first with Peggy Witherspoon. Howie, an injured pilot, had it ground into him that he was to protect women. His noble character got him in trouble sometimes as he tended to see them as women and not really as fellow soldiers. But he admired Peggy greatly, and he certainly didn't want her hurt or have her two daughters orphaned since they already lost their father.
Peggy knows mechanics, knew about them before she became a WASP. Her struggle was to be treated equally, to be taken seriously, and for the men and military to see that the women, though women, were a help to the soldiers.
I found the contrast and the back and forth very interesting. I think Howie and Peggy finally made peace with their roles. I think many women want to be looked at as the help we were created to be, yet I do think we also like to be treated like women too. At least that is what I want.
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.
An empty-nester, Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-seven years and a black Norwegian Forest cat. She has three adult children and three incredibly adorable grandchildren. She enjoys playing board and card games, rain, and cats. She would enjoy gardening if she didn’t have a black thumb. Her hobbies include quilting, porcelain doll making, sewing, crafts, crocheting, knitting, and papercrafts.
AIRBORNE
I knew women had done some military flying but didn’t know the details, so I jump into some quick research. I couldn’t take too much time away from my current novel and its rapidly approaching deadline. When an idea started forming with a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), I wrote a brief one-page outline of my rough idea. I knew I couldn’t take too much time away from my other project to write a whole proposal if I was going to be told the publisher already had a story in the series about a WASP, which I assumed they had. Because who wouldn’t want to write about lady pilots?
Since the publishing industry typically moves very slow, I figured I had a good chunk of time before I would find out if I needed to write a full proposal. So back to work on my contracted novel. Surprisingly, the publisher came back immediately with strong interest in the idea and wanted a full proposal in a week. Fortunately, this editor knew my writing, so I didn’t have to include three sample chapters, but my synopsis needed to be strong in details.
So now, I had a full, detailed proposal to write with historical notes ASAP, a novel I needed to finish writing, and audio chapters to listen to and give feedback on. Bouncing between two different eras isn’t easy and to keeping things straight. With God grace, I got the proposal written and submitted, the audio chapters checked, as well as completing my contracted novel, which I managed to turn in on time. Barely.
As November progressed and my word count grew, I fell more and more in love with my characters in Mrs. Witherspoon Goes To War. I obviously received and signed a contract. I continued to enjoy my characters as I finished writing and editing this novel.
I would have to say that Mrs. Witherspoon Goes To War is in my top five of the books I have written. My prayer is that this story ministers to others as it did to me as I wrote it.
Book Reviews
From an Avid Reader, February 24
An
Author’s Take, February 24
Debbie’s
Dusty Deliberations, February 25
Labor Not in
Vain, February 25
Happily
Managing a Household of Boys, February 25
Texas Book-aholic,
February 26
Jeanette’s Thoughts,
February 26
Inklings
and notions, February 27
Bizwings Blog,
February 27
Abba’s
Prayer Warrior Princess, February 28
Southern
Gal Loves to Read, February 28
For Him and My
Family, February 28
Sodbuster Living,
March 1
deb’s Book
Review, March 1
She
Lives to Read, March 2
Remembrancy, March 2
Betti Mace,
March 3
Locks, Hooks
and Books, March 3
Older
& Smarter?, March 3
Ashley’s
Clean Book Reviews, March 4
Blossoms
and Blessings, March 4
Rebecca Tews,
March 5
Connie’s
History Classroom, March 5
A Modern Day
Fairy Tale, March 6 (Spotlight)
Through
the Fire Blogs, March 6
Pause for
Tales, March 6
Musings
of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 7
Genesis 5020,
March 7
Library Lady’s
Kid Lit, March 8
Truth and Grace
Homeschool Academy, March 8
Reflections
From My Bookshelves, March 9
A Good
Book and Cup of Tea, March 9
To celebrate her tour, Mary 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/1b059/mrs-witherspoon-goes-to-war-celebration-tour-giveaway
BEYOND HER CALLING (Chronicles of Alice and Ivy) Book Tour Giveaway
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours ! About the Book Titl...