Saturday, May 27, 2023

My Thoughts and More on A Cry in the Dark by Jessica R. Patch

About the Book

Book: A Cry in the Dark

Author: Jessica R. Patch

Genre: Inspirational Psychological Thriller

Release date: February 28, 2023

Deep in the Kentucky hills, three women have been found brutalized and murdered.

But the folks in Night Holler have their own ways and their own laws.

And they’re not talking…

Led to an isolated Appalachian Mountain town by a trail of disturbing murders, FBI special agent Violet Rainwater’s determined to catch a serial killer with a twisted agenda. With locals refusing to reveal their secrets, Violet’s only ally is Detective John Orlando. But even John has an ulterior motive—he’s convinced this case is connected to his wife’s murder.

As they dig deeper, Violet uncovers a link to her own unresolved past. For years she’s worked the cold case of her mother’s abduction, which had led to her birth. The need to look into the eyes of the sinful man who fathered her consumes Violet. Until she can, she’ll never have peace. Because she’s terrified she might be exactly like him.

In this chilling novel, when the present collides with Violet’s mysterious past and John’s tragic loss, they must unravel the warped, sinuous connections before the killer strikes again. But solving the case might not be nearly as terrifying as the possibility that Violet’s finally found her roots…

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Well, this was a creepy one and a somewhat terrifying story. I would recommend not reading it late at night, or just reading it in the broad daylight might be best. This story has a lot packed into it.

Our two main characters both have tragic histories that have shaped their lives and careers. FBI agent Violet Rainwater is a result of the harrowing experience her mother went through, and Detective John Orlando is still dealing with the aftermath of his late wife's murder and that unsolved case. Now they are deep in the Kentucky hills as three bodies of women are discovered that seems to bring everything together.

What I really liked was that Violet was part of a great team. In the book they mention Scooby Doo, and I kind of felt the vibe of that with the way they worked together. Not a clumsy humorous way, but I will always have your back way.

I enjoyed this story with the teamwork. There was something about Violet that really got to me, and I wanted her to have a happy ending. The suspense at times, the eeriness, and the darkness was almost palpable and not only brought the story to life but gave me chills too. I look forward to more.

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

Jessica R. Patch is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her dry wit, signatures twists, and complex characters. She loves reading true crime books, discussing cold cases over chips and salsa with her girlfriends, and hunting down serial killers in her romantic suspense novels and psychological thrillers.

Jessica loves to encourage and inspire people to forward living through her Forward Friday Blog posts and through her monthly email newsletter. You can join the Patched In community at her website: www.jessicarpatch.com.

She resides in the Memphis area with her husband, two young adult children, and her spoiled tri-color Shetland Sheepdog. Jessica is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management.

More from Jessica

A Cry in the Dark can’t be compared to Scooby Doo, but I can thank Scooby Doo for being my first introduction into the world of mystery and all matter of things that go bump in the night. But, in the end, the masks of darkness are always revealed in the light and are exposed. Justice served. This is why I write gritty crime fiction/psychological thrillers outside of my Love Inspired Suspense books.

In Luke 22:53 NLT, they come to arrest Jesus and crucify Him. “Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”

Darkness gets one moment. Just one. When they crucify and kill Him. But we know what happens next! Light bursts out of that dark tomb and victory is ours. We’re rescued in darkness from darkness into marvelous light.

In a thriller, darkness gets its moment. I don’t shy away from those tough things. The Bible didn’t shy away from it! We read about a Levite who gave cruel men his concubine which they abused all night until she died, and then he cut her up into parts and sent her to the tribes! God never approves of darkness, nor does He edit it out or sanitize the people. We see the depravity of humans when walking apart from God all through the Bible. And honestly, I’m glad He doesn’t edit out things I’d rather not see or read about. God works in broken people’s lives and through brokenness to accomplish His redemptive purposes. I’m broken. You’re broken. He can use the righteous as well as the wicked. I need to be reminded that without Him, I could fall into those same traps (not cutting up women but… you know) and I need to know that despite my weakness and brokenness, God can and will still use me!

A Cry in the Dark has some violence and darker subject matter (though it is not graphic in real time) because darkness gets a moment…and then hope reaches in, hears the cries in the dark of broken people, and rescues them. And in the end, that’s what this book is about. A great and powerful rescue mission out of darkness and into light!

Blog Stops

The Sacred Line, May 23

Genesis 5020, May 23

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 24

Walking Fruitfully, May 24

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 25

Betti Mace, May 26

Cover Lover Book Review, May 26

Pause for Tales, May 27

Texas Book-aholic, May 28

For Him and My Family, May 28

Simple Harvest Reads, May 29 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Blogging With Carol, May 30

Blossoms and Blessings, May 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 31

Splashes of Joy, May 31

Godly Book Reviews, June 1

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, June 1

Holly’s Book Corner, June 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 3

amandainpa, June 3

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 4

JESUS in the EVERYDAY, June 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jessica is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed paperback of Her Darkest Secret!!

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/26265/a-cry-in-the-dark-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, May 26, 2023

My Thoughts on The Secret to Happiness by Suzanne Woods Fisher

About:

Escape to Cape Cod--where you just might find the secret to happiness

Callie Dixon had the world by the tail . . . until it all slipped away. Fired from her dream job after making a colossal mistake, she's escaped to her aunt's home on Cape Cod for time to bounce back. Except it isn't a home, it's an ice cream shop. And time isn't going to help, because Callie's bounce has up and left. There's a reason she made that mistake at work, and she's struggling to come to terms with it.

Things go from bad to worse when Callie's cousin Dawn drags her to a community class about the secret to happiness. Happiness is the last thing Callie wants to think about right now, but instructor Bruno Bianco--a curiously gloomy fellow--is relentless. He has a way of turning Callie's thoughts upside down. Her feelings, too.

Bruno insists that hitting rock bottom is the very best place to be. But if that's true, how is it supposed to help her figure out what--or who--has been missing from her life all along?

My Thoughts:

Visiting Cape Cod in the winter, I am not sure too many people would. But as a reader it was nice to come back to the Cape Cod Creamery and meet up again with the beloved characters of Dawn and her mom Marnie and the guys, Kevin and Lincoln and even six year old Leo. However, this story adds another voice, that is Dawn's cousin Callie.

Ever exuberant Callie has been hit with too many crippling life circumstances at once. Happening to run into her Aunt Marnie at an ice cream school, she asks if she can stay with her and Dawn. After exhausting all other possibilities, Marnie agrees. Marnie is a sweet and caring woman, but the past competitiveness of Dawn and Callie and their fathers was a bit too much to handle at times.

Well, time marches on and times have changed and Callie needs healing. She is dealing with much more than what has made the news. I found this novel eye opening in the way that we don't really know what someone is going through. The best that we can do is be there for them, pray, and hope with them.

And the secret to happiness? That was a very simple recipe, per say, for all of us to take to heart and enact in our lives. What is it? Well, read this book, no spoiler here.

I was provided with 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:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 books, including The Moonlight School, Anything but Plain, The Sweet Life, and The Secret to Happiness, as well as the Three Sisters Island, Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop's Family, The Deacon's Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and Twitter @suzannewfisher.

My Thoughts and More on Clarissa by Jean Jacobsen

Book Details:

Book Title:  Clarissa: A Clean & Wholesome American Historical Romance by Jean Jacobsen
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+) , 324 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Jean Jacobsen
Release date:   Feb 2020
Content Rating: G: Wholesome

Book Description:

Tragedy brings them together. Will love tear them apart?

New York City, 1832. Clarissa Tanner is carefree and lighthearted until the sudden death of her parents. Forced to pay off family debts or lose her horse farm, she's given one choice: auction off her beloved horses or reluctantly enter 1830s New York Society social season to face the dreaded marriage market.

Nicholas is a man on a mission, searching for his missing brother. Fearing Liam may be the victim of foul play, Nicholas needs to keep a low-profile while conducting his search. He takes a position as a dance instructor, providing refresher lessons to the beautiful but distracted Clarissa.

Clarissa and Nicholas find a connection through grief and movement as they fight their attraction to one another. Will they give in to their desires and find true love or will family obligations keep them apart?

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Bookbub

My Thoughts:

Clarissa was a story that sucked me in from the very beginning. Clarissa finds herself in unbelievable grief at the start and she and her grandmother must decide quickly how they will handle the debts that are threatening their home and livelihood after her parents passing.

Each have their own ideas. Clarissa wants to auction her prize horses to see them through. Her grandmother, Abigail, wants for her to have her debut and get on the marriage market. Clarissa wants no such thing. She believes marriage will stifle her independence and be a oh so boring life.

Well, it becomes apparent that someone is out to get Clarissa and Abigail and their home. So, without any other fallback, Clarissa follows her grandmother's leading. Abigail hires a certain dance tutor, Nicholas Granger, for some refreshing dance courses for Clarissa. But what happens when Clarissa has finally met her match in Nicholas?

Well, Nicholas has his own agenda and his growing feelings for Clarissa keep getting in the way. But before either of them can even settle down, they must first deal with the danger that is closing in all around them.

I enjoyed this story very much from this new to me author. I look forward to more of her stories.

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.

Meet the Author:

Jean Jacobsen is an award-winning storyteller of Sweet, Historical Romance. Featuring strong female characters, roguish heroes, and 19th Century adventure tales. She pens stories that transcend the heart and always have a happy ending. Because of Jean’s deep passion for history, she includes real events from the time period, making her stories come to life as they transport you to a by-gone era. Join her on the next adventure.

connect with the authors: website ~ facebook ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

Enter the Giveaway:

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

My Thoughts and More on Guess How Much God Loves You by Karen Ferguson

About the Book

Book: Guess How Much God Loves You

Author: Karen Ferguson

Genre: Children’s book (picture book)

Release date: July 19, 2022

Take a journey through the Bible with Lucy Lu, a colorful, creatively curious first grader who is starting to have serious questions about God.

Questions like: How old is He? Does He sleep? What does He do all day? And the biggest one of all – does God really love me?

After one very hard day, feeling like she doesn’t matter, Lucy sits with her Papa Joe who has promised to answer these questions and more, launching them onto an exciting journey to discover God’s never changing, never failing, never ending love.

What follows in this book series is a wild adventure through the Bible, where Lucy and her Papa find themselves in the middle of it all, on each page of the powerful story of God’s love and faithfulness for all people, throughout all history.

This first book is all about God’s Creation 🌎

Guess How Much God Loves You is a vibrant, fun, and biblically based book that is sure to captivate young readers as it teaches them important Bible truths that will help them build a firm foundation in God and His Good Character – all through the lens of His unconditional love.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Lucy is a seven-year-old little girl who is asking some big questions in her life. She has some concerns about life in general and she is being picked on in school. So, she takes her questions to her Papa Joe, and he tells her that God loves her. He also reads to her from the Bible, and she discovers just how majestic God is what He created and that He is the creator of everything.

Lucy is enthralled and realizes that this is just the beginning of the wonderful truths and lessons in this book. Even though she has to go to bed before the book is finished, she has her whole life to read about God's love for her and what Jesus did for her.

This is a beautifully illustrated storybook to awaken a child's interest in the Word of God.

I was provided 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.

About the Author

Karen Ferguson is a freelance writer and small business owner with a background in K-8 education. A grateful wife, mom, and grandmom she loves words and the Word of God and is passionate about writing stories that grab and hold young readers’ attention, teaching them all about God’s unchangeable truths, and His unchanging love for them.

Her first children’s book, Guess How Much God Loves You, was released in July 2022 through Ambassador International and is available wherever books are sold.

More from Karen

Are you looking for God honoring books that will captivate your child’s imagination, teach them faith-building biblical concepts, and help them grow in their reading skills?

Then I have the perfect book for your young reader…Guess How Much God Loves You

This beautifully illustrated book introduces young readers to the Creation Account, through the eyes of seven year old Lucy Lu, a creatively curious first grader who is starting to have serious questions about God.

Questions like…

How old is He? Does He sleep? What does He do all day? And the biggest one of all – does God really love me?

After one very hard day, feeling like she doesn’t matter, Lucy sits with her Papa Joe who has promised to answer these questions and more, launching them onto an exciting journey through the Bible to discover God’s never changing, never failing, never ending love.

I wrote this book because I want every child to know their life matters. To know that the God of all things created them in His image, on purpose and for a good purpose.

Guess How Much God Loves You will have seven books in the series with each one covering an important Bible account critical to building an understanding of God’s character and His love for all people, including your reader!

This first book is about the Creation Account as recorded in the Bible. Future books will cover the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark, the Exodus and more.

I want children to understand these are not just stories about fictional characters, but historical accounts about real people they can relate to. People who experienced God’s power, love, and faithfulness.

My greatest desire is to see this next generation trust the Bible and enjoy reading it. More than ever, young readers need to hear the message that they are valuable, loved unconditionally by the One who created them and gave them the best gift of all, His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 18

Lots of Helpers, May 18

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 19 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 19

Cover Lover Book Review, May 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 21

Texas Book-aholic, May 22

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, May 22

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 25

Bliss, Books & Jewels, May 25

Vicky Sluiter, May 26

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 28

JESUS in the EVERYDAY, May 29

Mary Hake, May 29

Labor Not in Vain, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize package of a $30 Amazon gift card, one signed hardcover, one eBook, and one digital activity workbook that will help to reinforce the learning concepts in a fun way!!

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/26071/guess-how-much-god-loves-you-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Murmur in the Mudcaves by Kathleen Denly

About the Book

Book: Murmur in the Mudcaves

Author: Kathleen Denly

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 16, 2023

He came to cook for ranch hands, not three single women.

Gideon Swift, a visually impaired Civil War Veteran, responds to an ad for a ranch cook in the Southern California desert mountains. He wants nothing more than to forget his past and stay in the kitchen where he can do no harm. But when he arrives to find his employer murdered, the ranch turned to ashes, and three young women struggling to survive in the unforgiving Borrego Desert, he must decide whether his presence protects them or places them in greater danger.

Bridget “Biddie” Davidson finally receives word from her older sister who disappeared with their brother and pa eighteen years prior, but the news is not good. Determined to help her family, Biddie sets out for a remote desert ranch with her adopted father and best friend. Nothing she finds there is as she expected, including the man who came to cook for the shambles of a ranch.

When tragedy strikes, the danger threatens not only her plans to help her sister, but her own dreams for the future—with the man who’s stolen her heart.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

The year is 1873, and Gideon Swift, a Civil War veteran is headed out to California as a ranch cook. He feels he is not qualified for much else as he has debilitating headaches and eyesight problems that can leave him bedridden for days. Cooking for a ranch should be less stressful and non-eventful. But when he gets to the ranch and sees its blackened ashes, he doesn't know quite what to do. However, one thing is sure, he will not leave the lone woman and daughter of the man he was hired by alone out there in hostile territory. Even if she keeps threatening his life.

Biddie has had a lovely upbringing by her adoptive parents after her mother passed. There were promises made if Biddie's older sister and older brother were ever found after their father took them. Then one day Biddie receives a letter after 18 years of no word from her sister Ginnie. Now Ginnie needs money along with the news their birth father has died. So, Biddie along with her adoptive father and best friend set out to find her sister. After a grueling trip with an unforeseen accident, Biddie is not prepared to encounter a bitter sister and the burnt grounds she still calls home. She was also not expecting help from a soldier named Gideon.

This ranch and her sister need help. Can they all pull through this with danger lurking in the unsettled land while never really trusting one another? A good story of a family's restoration.

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

Kathleen Denly lives in sunny Southern California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

More from Kathleen

The Making of a Hero

Picture in your mind the typical male rancher or cowboy. Can you see him? If we’re going for the full stereotype, you’re looking at a tall, handsome man who is, above all, strong. Particularly in the nineteenth century, it takes strength to build a house, install fencing, chop wood, haul water, heft hay bales, and most of all manage cattle. Not to mention the 101 other things it takes to start and keep a ranch running.

Now consider the aftermath of the American Civil War. Many men never returned from the battlefields, and those who did often returned with injuries that would remain with them the rest of their lives. Some would suffer chronic pain until the day they died.

In considering whose story I wanted to tell next, I wondered about that last group of men in the context of running a ranch. How could a seriously injured man, suffering chronic pain, keep his ranch going in an era where able-bodied men were more difficult to find? And what about those whose ranches were too new and small to support the cost of hiring help?

This was the beginning of my inspiration for Gideon Swift–a Civil War Veteran still struggling daily with the consequences of having gone to war, ten years after his injuries sent him home.

Raised to believe true men were strong and weak men were next-to useless, Gideon’s identity is shattered when an explosion leaves him with brain damage that causes recurring migraines with aura and the loss of periphery vision in one eye. For those unfamiliar, a migraine with aura is a severe headache preceded or accompanied by sensory disturbances called aura. Examples of such disturbances include flashes of light, blind spots, general blurry vision, and blurry or shimmery lines in vision. There can also be speech or language difficulty, muscle weakness, and/or numbness or tingling in one side of a person’s face, one hand, or one limb. Gideon experiences most of these at different times, but his most common sensory disturbance is a curled shimmery line that appears in his vision.

He is further humbled by a series of tragic losses partially triggered by his medical condition. These are the events that send him to California, determined never to work with cattle again, and never to marry.

I am often asked how much of myself I put into my characters. In Gideon’s case, I modeled his pain partially after my own. While I have no peripheral vision loss, nor brain damage, I do have recurring migraines. In my case, these are brought about by my menstrual cycle and only occasionally involve aura symptoms. Still, these severe headaches have lasted from a mere hour, up to nearly a week, and are frequently beyond anything my medications can alleviate. Too often, this pain leaves me unable to function. If I’m lucky I can sleep through it. If not, I lay awake in a darkened room for hours with pain preventing me from drifting into blissful unconsciousness. Nauseousness, foggy thinking, dizziness, and exhaustion are frequently parts of my experience. I have also experienced one-sided tingling numbness and the same curly, shimmering line that Gideon experiences. Yet, I know others who have far worse migraines. So, in describing Gideon’s episodes, I combined my own experiences with those of family and friends whom I have witnessed suffering.

Through Murmur in the Mud Caves, we see how God works in Gideon’s life and heart to remind him of where his true value and strength come from. It is my hope that his journey will touch the hearts of readers and encourage them in whatever trials they may be facing. We are never alone. Whatever God brings us to, He will bring us through. He loves us and has a good purpose for everything we endure in this life, even when we cannot understand His reasons.

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, May 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 18

Books You Can Feel Good About, May 18

Texas Book-aholic, May 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 20

Melissa’s Bookshelf, May 21

Connie’s History Classroom, May 21

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 22

Betti Mace, May 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 23

Madi’s Musings, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 24

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 25

Kristina Hall, May 25

Vicky Sluiter, May 26

Blossoms and Blessings, May 26

Blogging With Carol, May 27

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 28 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 28

Cover Lover Book Review, May 29

Holly’s Book Corner, May 30

Karen Baney Reviews, May 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of 1 set of beautifully engraved, metal measuring spoons, 1 pouch of “Baking Day” potpourri, 1 Cat and Mouse kitchen timer, 1 vintage wooden sign with Christian encouragement message, 1 Cowboy Hat cookie cutter with recipe for Cowboy Sugar Cookies, 1 Kitchen towel that reads, “This Home is our Happily Ever After”, and 1 Kathleen Denly engraved pen!!

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/2606f/murmur-in-the-mudcaves-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Heart of Gold by Lacy Williams

About the Book

Book: Heart of Gold

Author: Lacy Williams

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 11, 2023

They survived a harrowing near-death experience. Can a poignant family Christmas bring them together?

Ida needs a quiet Christmas at home to rest and find her footing again. But her boisterous family is anything but quiet and things only get worse when her U.S. Marshal brother brings home a prisoner for the holiday—the same outlaw that saved her life.

Tom Seymour discombobulates her. He’s arrogant and unrepentant. But when she’s forced to nurse his injuries, she realizes that his persona is all a facade. The man underneath is wounded and kind and in need of redemption.

But Tom must make a choice between his old life and the chance to make a new one with Ida. Can she trust the man he is becoming or will he betray her?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was a sweet story of two characters who have been through a harrowing time together. That story was detailed in another novel, so this was more about the aftermath and the growing feelings of Ida and Tom.

Well, Tom has been running from the law and robbing innocents with his ruthless older brothers for most of his life. But he himself had never hurt anyone intentionally, even though he is guilty by association. When they kidnapped Ida, he protected her. Now he has been captured by her older brother and will be going to prison. But before he can travel, he needs to heal up and it is at Christmas time too. Tom gets to experience the love and joy he never did as he watches and hears stories of how this unique and very large family was brought together. All the while he is falling in love with Ida.

Ida is frightened. She was never fearful before she was kidnapped, and now she wonders if her life will ever have some normalcy in it. But she is home now, surrounded by her family, loved and protected, and it is Christmastime. And she is confused as she has developing feelings for Tom. Yes, even though he was one of her captors, he did protect her, and he saved her life.

Danger is not quite done with these two, and Tom still needs to pay for what he did. But could there be a miracle? Read it and find out, I certainly enjoyed this one.

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

Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see in Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published sixty books in a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog. Find tons of bonus scenes and reader extras by becoming a VIP reader at www.lacywilliams.net/vip .

More from Lacy

Do you like “stranded together” stories as much as I do? Being stuck in an airport, a snowstorm, a wedding weekend… Yes, please, to all of the above.

But has it ever happened to you in real life?

Twenty-plus years ago, when I was a freshman in college and before I started dating my handsome hubby, I dated this other guy.

We met at a mixer during the first few days of the semester and hit it off pretty quickly. Classes started, we saw each other a few times socially.

He was pledging a fraternity and invited me to go with him to a co-ed overnight trip.

And then when we got there, he sort of just… disappeared. For hours. I finally found him and then followed him around… until I finally got the hint. Sometime in the days between when he’d invited me to the float trip, and when we arrived, his feelings changed.

It was SOOO awkward for the rest of the night and then the next day. Not the place and time I wanted to be ghosted. And it was worse because I’d ridden down with a mutual friend and had no way to get the two-plus hours home until the next day.

It wasn’t a romantic or fun time. More like a disaster.

A disaster is exactly what my heroine Ida thinks about being stuck with ex-bad guy Tom for Christmas. They get snowed in with her family (and her deputy older brother) and at first it is awkward.

And then… it’s not awkward anymore.

By the time the snow melts, Ida has caught feelings for Tom.

You can read this story free in KU or win a copy through this giveaway! Ida and Tom’s love story is called Heart of Gold.

-Lacy

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 16

Alena Mentink, May 16

Texas Book-aholic, May 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 19

Connie’s History Classroom, May 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 21

Christina’s Corner, May 21

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 22

For Him and My Family, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 24

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

Kristina Hall, May 25

Cover Lover Book Review, May 26

Vicky Sluiter, May 27

Splashes of Joy, May 28

Sheila’s Reading Corner, May 29

Mary Hake, May 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lacy is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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/2606e/heart-of-gold-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, May 14, 2023

My Thoughts on The Swindler's Daughter by Stephenia H. McGee

About:

A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.

Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that he has left a business and all his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.

When she arrives at her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by a woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.

To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--and Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.

My Thoughts:

Lillian has just found out the father she thought was dead, has just died. Not only that but her parents were not even married, and she is her father's sole heir. This comes as quite a shock to Lillian, and she is not getting any help or information from her mother who refuses to speak about their past. She does send Lillian to collect said inheritance so that they may continue to live in the lifestyle that they are accustomed.

Unfortunately, the surprises do not cease, and Lillian not only finds family she was unaware of, but the very house she inherited has a family already living there and they have made themselves quite at home. I was instantly rooting for Lillian as she navigates a part of her life she never knew existed while her own dreams are wanting to take hold.

Then there is Jonah who only wanted to provide a bakery and home for his mother. I really did wonder at their audacity of assuming that Lillian's father, Jonah's employer would leave the home to him. But the story is not called Swindler's daughter for no reason. Very fun and romantic story with a collective cast of secondary characters and a thread of mystery.

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:

Stephenia H. McGee is the award-winning author of many stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South, including The Secrets of Emberwild. When she's not reading or sipping sweet tea on the front porch, she's a writer, dreamer, husband spoiler, and busy mom of two rambunctious boys. Learn more at www.stepheniamcgee.com.

My Thoughts and More on Rocky Mountain Rendezvous by Misty M. Beller

About the Book

Book: Rocky Mountain Rendezvous

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 6, 2023

In 1837, Juniper Collins and her sisters are shocked by their father’s final request in his will for a special set of beads to be returned to a Piegan Blackfoot woman he credits with saving his life during his travels west. Together, the sisters set out for the trapper rendezvous to find the woman, but their mission turns more daunting when they come upon the mass of men and lodges spread out in the Green River Valley.

Riley Turner came west to find peace and quiet and live off the land, but when four unprotected women arrive at the rendezvous, he feels compelled to help them and is more fascinated by Juniper than any other woman he’s known.

As their search brings only empty leads and dead ends, the sisters must decide whether to return east or stay in the mountains to continue looking–and that’s if the mystery woman is even still alive. Is the risk to honor their father’s last request worth the danger they find at every turn?

Discover the majesty–and treachery–of the Rocky Mountains in this unique combination of exhilarating adventure, inspiring faith, and sweet romance from USA Today bestselling author Misty M. Beller.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Going west into Wyoming territory in 1837 finds four sisters trying to keep a deathbed promise to their father. To find a woman who saved their father's life and return her beads to her. These are of special significance, and the sisters want to honor their father in this. So, they set out, not really knowing what they are walking into, but they have established some rules for themselves.

What they come upon in the Rocky Mountains is a trapper rendezvous that brought men of all kinds to trade for an entire year. I had never heard of this historical nugget, and it was interesting to learn about.

One of these men is Riley Turner who just wants to have peace and quiet. But these four unprotected women stir something inside of him, a very protective instinct. And one of them he becomes very interested in.

Chock full of adventure, family love, sisterhood, and a sweet romance, this was a fun book to go back in time and get lost in.

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

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

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

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

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

More from Misty

What IS a trapper rendezvous?

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous is the story of four sisters who head west to accomplish their father’s deathbed request—return a special set of beads to a Blackfoot woman who saved his life during his travels west two decades earlier. The sisters head west with the supply wagons bound for the 1837 trapper rendezvous to find the native woman. But the sight that greeted them in the Green River Valley (in modern-day Wyoming) was nothing like they expected!

Men EVERYWHERE!

Supply wagons would come from the east every summer, and mountain men and natives would come from all throughout the Rockies to trade furs for the supplies they’d need in the coming year. This was usually the only opportunity for trading each year, so EVERYONE came and the camp stretched for miles. This was a great time for friends to catch up, and the festivities always included a great deal of drinking and horse racing. The rendezvous was a sight to behold!

In Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, Riley Turner is one of the trappers at the meet-up, and he realizes immediately what kind of danger the ladies are in from unscrupulous men in the crowd. He helps them with their search, and they find so much more than they expected along the way!

Each book in this series will take place during a different year, featuring a different rendezvous. Definitely fodder for fun stories. I pray you love this first book as the Collins sisters embark on the search of a lifetime. 

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

A Baker’s Perspective, May 3

Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 3

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 4

Texas Book-aholic, May 5

By the Book, May 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 6

Connie’s History Classroom, May 7

The Book Club Network, May 7

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 8 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 8

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 10

Karen Baney Reviews, May 10

Daysong Reflections, May 11

Books You Can Feel Good About, May 11

Betti Mace, May 12

For the Love of Literature, May 12

Blossoms and Blessings, May 13

Life, Love, Writing, May 13

Tell Tale Book Reviews , May 14

Mary Hake, May 14

For Him and My Family, May 15

Holly’s Book Corner, May 15

Pause for Tales, May 16

To Everything There Is A Season , May 16

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/25ca2/rocky-mountain-rendezvous-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, May 13, 2023

My Thoughts and More on Super Doople by K.A. Cummins

About the Book

Book: Super Doople

Author:K.A. Cummins

Genre:Picture Book

Release date: May 4, 2023

You’ve heard the legend of Humpty Dumpty, but do you know the legend of Super Doople? He’s faster than a chicken. He flies higher than an ostrich. No fall can break his shell! And he was once Little Doople, a small and fragile egg like all the other dooples, until his bad habit of not listening caught up to him.

Engaging text with expressive illustrations, Super Doople is a lighthearted tale about resilience and learning to listen. This funny picture book for ages 3-8 is perfect for reading aloud in the classroom or at home.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was a cute story about an egg, we will call them dooples, who imagines he can fly. But dooples can't fly and everyone thought that lesson was learned due to the accident that happened to Humpty Dumpty. Every doople knew that story well.

Well, the thing about dreams is sometimes we don't listen, and we go ahead and jump into situations that we should have listened to other people about. In this story we read how Little Doople did just that, but he did learn his lesson for the next time with the help of a smart scientist doople and a doctor doople.

All in all, this is a cute story with a sort of a part two to go with Humpty Dumpty. It teaches kids to keep going after their dreams, but it is always wise to listen to and let those who love you guide you. This storybook is full of cute little details throughout including Little Doople's little bird friend.

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

About the Author

K.A. Cummins is an author and an artist. She explores storytelling in a variety of mediums, blending the wonders of science with the possibilities of what if. When not crafting stories, Cummins loves spending time with her family, collecting fun socks, and venturing outside her comfort zone to try new things—at least once!

Connect with her through her website at https://authorkacummins.com, where you can sign up for emails about upcoming releases.

More from K.A. Cummins

“Super Doople” started with a comic sketch and the idea of what if a scientist put Humpty Dumpty back together again? At first, it was more for fun and to explore creating comics. In fact, in the first version, he bounced like a ball when he hit the ground.

But the idea stuck! I continued to gravitate back to it, enjoying the exploration of telling a story with words and drawings. Many sketches and several versions later, the character became Little Doople, a hopeful and determined boy with a dream of flying who, through a series of events, transforms into Super Doople.

It’s been so much fun working with Little Doople, especially having our youngest son engaged with the story. Our youngest is sixteen now and has a talented eye for design. He’s one of the first people I ask for art critiques (the other being my husband). He even helped me come up with the name doople, for both the character and the egg-people in the story. We brainstormed in the car on a two-hour drive home.

The joy of creating this story, and from the story itself, has become its own source of inspiration. I haven’t stopped brainstorming more story ideas for Little Doople. I’ve even started plotting some of them, but those are under wraps for now.

However, being a homeschool mom and former educator in other forms, I wanted to share a free educational resource to go along with “Super Doople.” So I’ve put together a few science egg-periments, activities, and coloring pages suitable for younger children that’s available for FREE on my TpT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Doople-Science-Hands-on-Learning-Activities-9145443.

Hope you and your children enjoy reading “Super Doople.”