Friday, November 29, 2024

My Thoughts on Unforgotten by Shelley Shepard Gray

About:

Even though Bethanne Hostetler has found some peace seven years after an attempted assault and the accidental death of Peter Miller, she is still haunted by the memory. When her Englisher cousin, Candace--who has just been crowned Miss Crittenden County--reveals that she has a stalker, all of Bethanne's old fears come rushing back.

Jay Byler had once been Peter's best friend, and the fact that he did not protect Bethanne that fateful night has haunted him ever since. To make matters worse, she continues to avoid him--even as he continues to love her. Jay can only hope and pray that one day Bethanne will see the person he is today and not the boy he used to be.

As Candace's stalker becomes bolder, Officer Ryan Mulany becomes her escort to various events. He knows he should only think of Candace as a job, but the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to maintain professional distance. And when everyone's worst fears are realized, all four must work together to prevent another tragedy before time runs out and another innocent person is hurt.

My Thoughts:

Bethanne and her cousin Candace have plenty in common even though one is Amish, and the other is an Englisher. They are close, and I was glad to see the strong familial bonds. One very unfortunate thing they have in common is the evil that man can inflict on innocents. Bethanne especially knows that firsthand as she is just now coming out of her shell years after an attack by a boy that she thought loved her. What resulted was his death and a prison sentence for another Amish boy. Putting that dark period behind her has been difficult. Especially since the attacker's one-time best friend is pursuing her for more than friendship.

Jay knows what Peter did to Bethanne was wrong. He only wants to protect her from now on out, since he has been carrying a torch for her for so long. But will she let go of her fears and forgive him for whatever she is blaming him for?

Candace has a stalker. He is very creepy. Due to him getting bolder, she has been assigned a police officer bodyguard since she is now Miss Crittendown County. Trouble is, she is having a hard time getting people to listen to her. Ryan, her bodyguard, knows he should just be doing his job, but the more he is around Candace and gets to know her, the more he falls, and hard.

This story was an Amish story, but a pretty intense suspense thriller as well. Throw in a romantic thread with two couples and this reader kept turning those pages.

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:

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books, including Unforgiven and Unforgotten. Two-time winner of the HOLT Medallion and a Carol Award finalist, Gray lives in Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail. Learn more at ShelleyShepardGray.com.

Thursday, November 28, 2024

My Thoughts on Deadly Revenge by Patricia Bradley

About:

Old grudges, new attractions, and a killer bent on revenge

Deputy Jenna Hart has only been working in her sleepy hometown of Pearl Springs for seven months when city officials begin to be targeted by a killer. With the former mayor of Pearl Springs now running for the US Senate, Jenna will have to call in backup to ensure his protection.

Agent Maxwell Anderson used to work with Jenna in the Chattanooga Police Department, and there was even a smoldering fire of attraction. Now they team up to track down the killer before a big political rally that promises to bring not only the former mayor into the crosshairs but hundreds of civilians as well.

As the sparks of romance reignite and the threads of the investigation get tangled, Jenna and Max will have to draw on all of their skills to stay alive and prevent the wave of disaster poised to hit the community of Pearl Springs. The question is, can either of them fully trust that the other has their back?

My Thoughts:

Things are heating up in the town of Pearl Springs. Too many people are receiving threats, and a few are having deadly accidents. What is this all about? Well, some say revenge due to a twenty-year-old decision that did not pan out well and had some losing homes and farms. Jenna and her one-time coworker Max must work together to bring the killer to justice before he strikes again, this time at a candidate for the US Senate.

Max likes Jenna, a lot. However, he did ghost her after giving her a rather less than friendly kiss and never looked back. He didn't even know about the drama that sent her packing back home. Unfortunately, that trouble has followed Jenna and is seeking out a different revenge against her and anyone who steps in their way.

This was an intense and crazy suspense as there are two cases and the bad guys seem to always be hiding in the shadows and have access to Jenna and Max. If they survive one, will they survive the other? Great conclusion to this series.

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:

Patricia Bradley is the author of Counter Attack and Fatal Witness, as well as the Natchez Trace Park Rangers, Memphis Cold Case, and Logan Point series. Bradley is the winner of an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, a Selah Award, and a Daphne du Maurier Award; she was a Carol Award finalist; and three of her books were included in anthologies that debuted on the USA Today bestseller list. She makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at PTBradley.com.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

My Thoughts on An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M. White

About:

In the trying art of balancing investigations and love, a detective must determine his priorities when faced with dangerous circumstances that could threaten everything he holds dear.

As the leader of the Imposters, an elite private investigative firm, Lord Yates Fairfax has made an art of concealing his identity. But when his newest client, the beautiful Lady Alethia Barremore, is shot while leaving their meeting, he throws caution to the wind and rushes to her aid. Though Lady Alethia thought she was only looking for her missing former nanny, she has clearly stumbled upon something much more dangerous.

Lady Lavinia Hemming suspects her longtime friends hold more secrets than they're willing to admit, and when she stumbles upon the truth that they're the esteemed Imposters, she recruits herself into the firm. While she is happy for the distraction of an investigation, Lavinia's own family secrets continue to haunt her. And the one thing bringing laughter back into her life--her friendship with Yates--lands her squarely on the disagreeable side of her best friend: his sister.

Tormented by a past she doesn't dare voice aloud, Lady Alethia does what she can to help her handsome host, her new friends, and the investigators. But as clues lead them deeper into the dark side of society, Alethia, Yates, and Lavinia learn anew that the gentry isn't always noble . . . even as they fight to hold fast to their own honor.

My Thoughts:

This has really been a fun series about private investigators with some unexpected twists on who they are and why they are. This third in the series features Lady Lavinia Hemming's story and her relationship with Lord Yates Fairfax, their complicated and enduring love for one another. Buckle up because theirs was a bit of a roller coaster.

Lavinia has had a very hard time lately. She may have every one of her heart's desires, but what she wants the most is to be seen and loved. She is very good at putting on an act and a false persona, so much so that she would make a great Imposter. But what she really is hiding is herself. She has come from quite a traumatic experience, and she is wondering how much of her life was real and how much was a lie. She only hopes her truest friends will not turn against her.

Yates has loved Lavinia for a long time. However, he feels he is certainly not worthy of her. He also sees her and that she is hiding herself away. Not just due to her poor health either. Enter Lady Alethia and things get really complicated. The test of all of their wills and loves will be put on the line in this stunning conclusion to The Imposters.

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:

Roseanna M. White (RoseannaMWhite.com) is a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books . . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.

My Thoughts and More on Rediscovering Christmas by Mindy Obenhaus

Rediscovering Christmas JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Rediscovering Christmas by Mindy Obenhaus hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Rediscovering Christmas
Series: Hope Crossing #6
Author: Mindy Obenhaus
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: November 26, 2024
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

She feels she’s lost everything…

Will love give her hope?

When a wildfire destroys her home, widowed schoolteacher Tori Stallings finds herself unexpectedly living with her mother- and brother-in-law—and struggling with her faith. With everything Tori owns consumed by the blaze, Micah vows to help his late brother’s wife and son rebuild their lives. The two of them have always been friends, but living under the same roof has their friendship turning into something more. Can love bloom amid tragic loss and shaken beliefs, and give them a fresh start for Christmas?

More Books in Series:

About the Author

Mindy Obenhaus

Best-selling author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching heartwarming romance movies.

Connect with Mindy visiting mindyobenhaus.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

My Thoughts and More on Pretending to be the Mountain Man's Wife by Misty M. Beller

About the Book

Book: Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch Book 6)

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre:Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 19, 2024

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

Determined to find his missing brother and catch the elusive mastermind behind the theft of his family’s precious sapphires, Gil Coulter embarks on a solo mission to the remote town where the criminal is rumored to reside. As Gil scours the surrounding wilderness for the thief’s hidden lair, he crosses paths with a captivating young woman who harbors secrets of her own.

Jess McPharland has spent her life hidden in the mountains, doing her best to stay separate from her family’s business. Yet the secret she’s just discovered will change her life forever. She offers a silent prayer, pleading for a man to help her conceal the truth she’s only just discovered. As if in answer, Gil Coulter rides through the trees, seeking the very criminal Jess calls Father. Now she must find a way to ask this stranger for the ultimate favor—to pose as her husband and shield her from the consequences of a change she won’t be able to hide much longer.

As Gil and Jess navigate the treacherous landscape and the greater danger from her father and his cronies, they find themselves caught in a web of danger, deception, and unexpected attraction. With each passing moment, the stakes grow higher, and the line between pretense and truth blurs. Will the love growing between them be enough to protect Jess’s secret and lead them to the justice Gil seeks, or will the truth shatter everything they’ve risked their lives to build?

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain saga filled with high-stakes adventure, a pretend marriage, a secret baby, and love that heals wounded hearts.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

In this continuing saga of the Coulter brothers, Gil has set out to find younger brother Sampson and their mined sapphires that has been stolen. Little did he realize what type of criminal organization he would be stepping into and that his heart would also be in danger when he agrees to the scheme the criminal boss's daughter has cooked up.

Jess is a woman who is truly trapped in her father's criminal world. She wants freedom and she is scared above all. She has tried to escape only to be hunted down and brought back under the thumb of her father's rule and the watchful eye of his henchman. Her father has plans for her to marry someone of his choosing. However, Jes has a secret that she can no longer keep hidden and needs an out fast. That is when Gil Coulter steps into her life and agrees to save her, get his brother, and the jewels.

I could feel the trepidation coming off of Jess as she tried so hard to please her father and stay in the shadows. That was not living. The caves and caverns with which the men worked, lived, and secrets were hidden gave a very different atmosphere to the story. Almost dark and brooding at times, as if danger lurked around every bend and corner.

I look forward to continuing this series.

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

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

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

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

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

More from Misty

In Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife, the heroine and her father live in a cave which is part of an intricate catacomb hidden inside Montana mountain.

I LOVED researching cave systems, especially those in Montana, and I was amazed at how many extensive tunnels and caverns have been discovered!

One of the most well-known is Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, located between Butte and Bozeman. This spectacular limestone cave system features a series of caverns adorned with incredible rock formations. These days, visitors can take guided tours to marvel at the intricate stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helictites that have formed over thousands of years. The cave is also home to several species of bats.

Another notable cave system is the Bighorn Caverns, situated in the Pryor Mountains south of Billings. This complex network of caves extends for over 14 miles, making it one of the most significant cave systems in the state. Experienced cavers can explore winding passages, underground streams, and vast chambers with unique mineral formations.

The Bighorn Caverns are very similar to how I imagine the cave system was that Jess lived in. As amazing as the tunnels are to explore, I’m not sure I’d want to live in such darkness. What about you?

I pray you enjoy Gil and Jess’s story in Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife! J

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 22

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 22

Pause for Tales, November 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 23

Texas Book-aholic, November 24

Blossoms and Blessings, November 24

Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 25 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

lakesdielivingsite, November 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 27

For Him and My Family, November 27

Devoted To Hope, November 28

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 29

Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 30

Book Looks by Lisa, December 1

Holly’s Book Corner, December 1

Betti Mace, December 2

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 3

Cover Lover Book Review, December 3

Books You Can Feel Good About, December 4

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 5

Mary Hake, December 5

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54105

Monday, November 18, 2024

My Thoughts and More on Into the Sunset by Mary Connealy

About the Book

Book: Into the Sunset (A Western Light Book Three)

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: October 15, 2024

Will the sun set on their chance at happiness before they can seize it?

To finally escape the clutches of her controlling husband and the threat of being recommitted to an asylum, Ginny Rutledge enlists the help of her friends, Maeve O’Toole and Dakota Harlan. Fleeing their own tumultuous pasts, the group embarks on a journey to prove Ginny’s sanity. However, as they confront the shadows they wish they could forget, danger looms from unexpected places.

Maeve grapples with her mother’s impending remarriage and seizes a rare chance to escape her homestead–but that means reuniting with Dakota, the man she holds responsible for her father’s death, who is caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful family. As the two of them navigate their shared history and a dangerous mission, Dakota is forced to confront his deepest fears and fight for the woman who has unwittingly captured his heart.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This is the third in a series about a group of women escaping from an asylum and heading west to escape the tyrannical men who care nothing for their well-being. This also continues the story of the makeshift family they meet and the men who love them and will fight for them.

Maeve and her family met up with these women on their journey west. Maeve lost her father on the way and blames a certain man, Dakota, for that. Dakota knows that even though he did all he could for her father. Yet even with that rocky past, he finds he is still very much drawn to Maeve, even though she blames him.

Dakota is not without problems of his own as he has a family after him who are out for blood. His blood and he knows he may be running and looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life. But when his friends come to him for help, he is there for them.

Ginny is the woman whose ruthless husband is bound and determined to catch again. He is a horrible villain and only cares about money. He almost acts as if he is untouchable in his quest to recapture Ginny and destroy those who help her. It becomes quite a showdown as evil and good face off.

I was also delighted to see that a couple of characters from the previous series popped in too. This series tackled the unjust ways women were treated in regard to their mental health when the men who should have cared for them, did not.

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

Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series Wyoming Sunrise and The Lumber Baron’s Daughters and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

More from Mary

Into the Sunset is the third book in A Western Light series, and I always love the wrap up of a series. In this book I’ve got a deliciously evil villain, and I’ve worked that villain in and out of the characters lives at the end of each of the first two books, but he keeps coming back. This time, he really gets what’s coming to him. Anyway, it’s not a shocking thing to say: the bad guy loses. I’ll bet most readers of my work knew that was coming. It’s the HOW that makes it fun.

My heroine is one I really enjoyed: Maeve O’Toole—a red-headed, sassy Irish lass with a mild brogue. And my hero, Dakota Harlan, has interested her from the first moment she laid eyes on him. Except that moment was several years ago, and she blamed him for her father’s death on the wagon train Dakota was leading. Then life separated them as he went on to Oregon and her family turned aside to homestead in Idaho. Now Dakota is back in Maeve’s life again. She’s had a chance to see that her anger with Dakota was unfair and has discovered that Dakota has always admired her. He’d probably scoop her up and marry her, if it wasn’t for the men trying to kill him. He doesn’t have much room for a wife in the life he’s living now.

In this story, I bring back all the characters from the earlier two books. The villain who’s been harassing them all along reappears, and the men hunting Dakota show up, too. Ginny must go to court to break the hold her evil husband has over her, declaring her insane and locking her away. She’s been hiding ever since. But now she’s ready to face him in court, but a conniving, wealthy man like her husband never plays fair.

Into the Sunset is packed with love and action, adventure and danger. All play out against the hectic railroad town of Cheyenne, Wyoming a few years after Wyoming becomes the first state to give women the right to vote. And there are some tough, smart women ready to stand between Ginny and a cruel husband. And plenty of tough smart cowboys, too. I hope you love this story!

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 9

Book Looks by Lisa, November 10

Devoted To Hope, November 10

lakesidelivingsite, November 11

Texas Book-aholic, November 12

For Him and My Family, November 12

Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 14

Jeanette’s Thought , November 14

Betti Mace, November 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 16

Holly’s Book Corner, November 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 17

Stories By Gina, November 18 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, November 18

She Lives To Read, November 19

Cover Lover Book Review, November 20

Labor Not in Vain, November 20

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 21

Connie’s History Classroom, November 22

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card and a full paperback set of the A Western Light series by Mary Connealy: Chasing the Horizon, Toward the Dawn, and Into the Sunset!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5491

Sunday, November 17, 2024

My Thoughts and More on Unassailable by K.J. Rowe

About the Book

Book: Unassailable

Author:K.J. Rowe

Genre: Teen/Young Adult

Release date: June 18, 2024

To be picture perfect on the outside can cause people to think you have it all together on the inside. Which is exactly the case for Hope Meyer.

Stuck in a dead-end job with no vision for her future, parents arguing at home and newly-single under terms she bitterly objects to, Hope puts on a brave front in the face of friends. Only, she’s not as subtle as she thinks. Called out on her pretense by a close friend and, drawn into a mission project that causes her to question everything she’s been led to believe, Hope finds herself floundering.

Until recently, the perfect hair, manicured nails, a wardrobe straight out of a fashion magazine and a handsome suitor by her side had defined her. Now seeing those things as insignificant, and understanding why her boyfriend left, Hope turns to her youth minister for help; with one burning question in mind:

Who was she?

Set on a path of self-discovery, Hope finds her day to day both unraveling and piecing together like a jigsaw as her perception begins to alter.

Will she embrace how God defines her and ultimately learn what true happiness is?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Hope is confused as she tries to navigate her life. She has a lot going on that she wishes she could change. She is not happy with her job, her family life, and her car keeps breaking down. On top of that her boyfriend has asked for a break as he is not too sure that she is that into him. It is almost as if Hope is coasting through life.

Hope does seek help in prayer and her closest friends, and as she grows, she begins to see how other people view her. From the outside she does not always seem sure of anything, and maybe a little wishy washy in her faith. She sets out to change that and to change for the better.

I found the title of the story interesting with reference to Hope. She certainly is not unassailable in the start of the story. However, this is her faith journey, and it grows till she becomes ever stronger.

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

Since I could hold a pencil, I’ve be writing.

In primary school, I wrote stories about my pets, my own version of princess stories, a classroom crush…

In high school, I wrote stories about horses, adventures, my sister…

However, as strong as the writing hobby was, I still pursued a career in Veterinary Nursing.

It wasn’t until God intervened and moved me out of the city and into a small country town to be a farmer’s wife, that he resurfaced the writing desire – and gave me the stories. So was born my debut series, each book holding a part of my own testimony, Casts of Silver.

It is my prayer that you enjoy the journey these stories take you on, and that they challenge, encourage and inspire you.

More from K.J.

Hey! Thanks for stopping by!

Casts of Silver is my debut five book series. The series is centered around five youth group leaders, with the stories looking at very real circumstances that young people face in today’s world without sugar coating consequences of individual actions.

However, God is always at work.

But where is He when problems arise?

Well, He is always closer than you think and He’s always working for your good!

Enjoy.

God Bless

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, November 5

Artistic Nobody, November 6 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 7

Fiction Book Lover, November 8 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 9

Guild Master, November 10 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 11

Back Porch Reads, November 12 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 13

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 14 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, November 15 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, November 16 (Author Interview)

Karen Baney Reviews, November 16

Pause for Tales, November 17

Vicky Sluiter, November 18 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 18

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5487

Saturday, November 16, 2024

My Thoughts and More on A Calculated Betrothal by Denise Weimer

About the Book

Book: A Calculated Betrothal

Author: Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 12, 2024

A Patriot scout, a Loyalist widow, and a desperate fight to save what matters most.

The death of her titled husband means that not only is Tabitha Gage no longer a lady—but she’s also abandoned on an isolated Southern Georgia plantation on the eve of revolution. With the fine house and fields sold to a neighbor, she’s left with a log cabin on unsettled timber land. Rather than marry the neighbor’s son, Tabitha determines to make her own way—and never again be shackled to a man she doesn’t love.

Sergeant Edmond Lassiter is one assignment away from promotion when he comes to the aid of a red-haired beauty fending off cattle rustlers. Thrown together during an attack at a nearby fort, the Patriot scout and Loyalist widow are surprised by the values they share—including honesty, loyalty, and equality. When Edmond learns the same man who ruined his family is after what little Tabitha has left, he convinces her they should work together to make her land profitable—all while fighting off the British from East Florida and her greedy neighbor, who sabotages their every effort to succeed. Their work together will be a business arrangement…nothing more. But as a British invasion threatens, the truth soon becomes clear—continuing the connection between them will risk far more than their hearts.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Tabitha's verbally abusive husband has just died. She is a free woman, and surely after all these years with him he has left her their home. What she finds out is that he really did not love her. This lady must now make her way to the only thing he did leave her, a frontier cabin with cattle. But her cattle are getting stolen, and she really does not want to go back to her father who arranged for the loveless marriage to begin with. Alone except for a few servant friends, Tabitha is determined to fight her enemy who seeks to take everything away from her.

Sergeant Edmond Lassiter runs into Tabitha on her search for her cattle. They seem to have nothing in common, except for their enemy. Can they bridge an uneasy alliance with one another to stop him? What happens is that both Edmond and Tabitha realize they may have more to offer one another than at first thought. How about love and marriage? As they begin to build their new lives from past hurts, one danger is persistent on stopping them. Love and revenge collide in this story on the Georgia frontier during the Revolutionary War.

This whole series has been enlightening on the history of Georgia. Edmond and Tabitha's romantic tale was one that kept me turning pages. And just when you think all is settled... well just you read it. This was a riveting tale.

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

North Georgia native Denise Weimer has authored around twenty traditionally published novels and novellas–historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. The mother of two wonderful young adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

More from Denise

There were only going to be four books in my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier Series. But have you ever had a character take over a story? That’s what happened for books four and five.

Temperance Scott, the shy but principled heroine of A Conflicted Betrothal who started her own Daughter of Liberty group during Savannah’s 1765 Stamp Act Protests, had a feisty twin sister named Tabitha. Tabitha kept marching all over the page in her bright silk gowns, making Temperance feel pale by comparison, jockeying to maintain her position as Daddy’s favorite, and plotting to steal Temperance’s beau. When that failed, she stole the end of the novel instead, saving her sister from authorities tracking down the spy who wrote the Townsman Letters that accused prominent Loyalists of supporting the Stamp Act. Then she wed her father’s choice for her, the much older Henry Gage, Lord Riley, and sailed away on his sloop to avoid punishment. As the book closed, Temperance got to marry her Royal Ranger-turned-Patriot, Ansel Adams, while Tabitha was left to an unknown fate in swampy South Georgia. I kept wondering whatever became of the Savannah belle down there with the snakes and gators.

When I learned that Fort Barrington on the Altamaha River changed hands several times during the American Revolution, becoming Fort Howe while under Patriot control, I had to write book five, A Calculated Betrothal. Fast forward ten years, and Tabitha is newly a widow. The intervening years have not been kind, as her husband marginalized her when it became clear she would not provide him with the heir he desired. Their finances have dwindled as he continually sent money to his wastrel brother-in-law in England. Upon his death, she discovers the fine rice plantation has been sold to their greedy neighbors, Loyalist father and son Hugh and Julian Jackson. Julian has an alternate plan in mind, but Tabitha has no intention of yoking herself to another man she doesn’t love—particularly a cruel slave owner and womanizer. She takes her maid-slash-best-friend Dulcie and flees to the cabin Dulcie’s husband occupies on the south side of the river. This land, at least, is still hers…even though it offers only undeveloped timberland and swampland, free range for the Spanish cattle Dulcie’s husband herds.

But there’s an enemy more dangerous than the snakes and gators, and maybe even than the Jacksons…the British-allied East Florida Rangers that raid into South Georgia—burning, stealing, and rustling cattle. A confrontation with their vengeful colonel puts Tabitha at the top of their list. With enemies all around, how will Tabitha establish her independence? Enter Fort Howe’s Sergeant Edmond Lassiter, a man determined to settle his own score with the Jacksons. He offers the help Tabitha needs, but with their hidden wounds and differing backgrounds, can they learn to trust each other enough to defeat their common enemies?

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 16

Pause for Tales, November 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 17

lakesidelivingsite, November 18

Allyson Jamison, November 18

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 19

Texas Book-aholic, November 20

Connie’s History Classroom, November 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 22

Simple Harvest Reads, November 23 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, November 24

Book Looks by Lisa, November 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 26

For Him and My Family, November 27

Holly’s Book Corner, November 28

Blossoms and Blessings, November 28

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5498

My Thoughts and More on Julia's Joy by Susan G. Mathis

About the Book

Book: Julia’s Joy

Author: Susan G Mathis

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: October 29, 2024

She came to claim her inheritance, but the mysterious lighthouse keeper makes her question all her plans.

When Julia Collins reluctantly sets foot on Sister Island, compelled by her grandmother’s will, she is intent on claiming her inheritance and moving on. But when she experiences the peaceful, faith-filled island life and connects with the handsome lightkeeper, William, Julia finds herself confronting her open wounds from her parents’ deaths.

William Dodge, lightkeeper of Sister Island, harbors a heart hardened by a past betrayal. Between that and his chronic pleurisy, he wants nothing to do with love. But when Julia arrives on the island bursting with vitality and unconventional notions, William’s world is turned upside down. As she chips away at the walls William has built for himself, he finds his reluctance waning.

But just as love begins to blossom between them, Julia is faced with a tempting proposal from a prominent Brockville family. Will she succumb to societal expectations or choose the richness of her island life and the love of the steadfast lightkeeper?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

To gain her inheritance, Julia must spend time with her late grandmother's dear friend on Sister Island. Julia is left lonely and confused by this matter and does not really want to be away from the city and all of its bustle. However, as Julia submits to the requirements and meets Aunt Dee and her son William, the island itself and its ever-changing beauty, Julia realizes this summer may not be so bad after all.

Edmund, who is a little bit older than Julia, has had a broken heart and intends to remain single. Yet, Julia's beauty and artistic way of looking at life catches his heart. Edmund loves his job as a lightkeeper, but he does have bouts of pleurisy that plague him from time to time. His ex-fiancé could not deal with either his ill health or the isolation of the island. So, Edmund is a bit hesitant to give his heart away. In fact, he and Julia do not even share the same faith, so he tries extra hard to protect his heart.

Even though Julia and Edmund see things differently, Julia sees how at peace Edmund is. Could her late father be wrong about the beliefs he instilled in her? If that is so, then Julia has been looking at nature all wrong. This was a tale of budding romance, but also Julia's faith quest to find the One who loves her unconditionally.

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

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has thirteen in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Peyton’s Promise, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment, A Summer at Thousand Island House, and Libby’s Lighthouse. Julia’s Joy is the second in a three-book lighthouse series coming out in 2024. Her book awards include three Illumination Book Awards, four American Fiction Awards, three Indie Excellence Book Awards, five Literary Titan Book Awards, a Golden Scroll Award, and a Selah Award.

Before Susan jumped into the fiction world, she served as the Founding Editor of Thriving Family magazine and the former Editor/Editorial Director of twelve Focus on the Family publications. Her first two published books were nonfiction. Countdown for Couples: Preparing for the Adventure of Marriage with an Indonesian and Spanish version, and The ReMarriage Adventure: Preparing for a Life of Love and Happiness, have helped thousands of couples prepare for marriage. Susan is also the author of two picture books, Lexie’s Adventure in Kenya and Princess Madison’s Rainbow Adventure. Moreover, she is published in various book compilations including five Chicken Soup for the Soul books, Ready to Wed, Supporting Families Through Meaningful Ministry, The Christian Leadership Experience, and Spiritual Mentoring of Teens. Susan has also written several hundred published magazine and newsletter articles.

Susan is president of American Christian Fiction Writers-CS (ACFW), former vice president of Christian Authors Network (CAN), a member of Christian Independent Publishing Association (CIPA), and a regular writer’s contest judge. For over twenty years, Susan has been a speaker at writers’ conferences, teachers’ conventions, writing groups, and other organizational gatherings. Susan makes her home in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to the islands she loves.

More from Susan

Why Sister Island in the Thousand Islands in the Gilded Age?

What inspired you to write Julia’s Joy?

I have cruised past Sister Island Lighthouse a dozen times or more, and it’s a beautiful lighthouse. But it’s smack dab in the middle of nowhere in an isolated section the St. Lawrence River. Though it’s along the main shipping channel, I’ve always wondered how someone could live on such an island. So, I started imagining what it would be like for a young woman to be stuck there in the prime of her youth, and Julia’s story was born!

Why do you write about the Thousand Islands?

I grew up just twenty minutes from the Thousand Islands—the setting for all my stories—in upstate New York. Actually, half of the 1,864 islands are in NY and the other half in Ontario, Canada. So, I spent every summer and more exploring the beautiful region. I’ve stayed on several of the islands and camped and rented cottages there. So, after I wrote my debut novel about the largest island, Wolfe Island, I was hooked. There are so many fascinating stories to tell.

Now, I take an annual Thousand Islands Book Tour to the islands where I meet with fans, friends, and family. I’ve stayed in Singer Castle, Casa Blanca, and other places that are the settings of my book. I’ve talked with the owners of the islands, local historians, and researched in the Thousand Islands archives.

All my novels are based on a specific place in the Thousand Islands and are the true stories of the owners of that island. So, my plot is generally true. Then I overlay the storyline of the fictional servants to create the story. This makes my stories a bit more challenging, but I love a good challenge.

Why do you write about the Gilded Age?

The American Gilded Age was a time of rapid technical advances, industrialization, and thousands of new inventions from about 1870-1910. Mark Twain coined the term in his 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today that satirized the era of social problems that were masked by a layer of thin, gold gilding. It’s a fascinating time in history, especially in the Thousand Islands.

All of my books are set during the Thousand Islands Gilded Age, when the wealthy came and scooped up the islands and built lavish summer homes, mansions, and castles. It was an era of economic growth. Since wages were higher than Europe, massive immigration drew about twenty million to the U.S. shores.

Unfortunately, it was also a time of unequal distribution of wealth where the rich got richer and the poor working class suffered. Many young women worked as servants until they married, and that’s what my stories are about—those nameless, faithful women who cooked and cleaned and served tables for the rich and famous. These “downstairs” women had fascinating stories to tell, and I plan to tell many of them.

During the Gilded Age, America led the world in innovation. A half-million patents were issued for new inventions including hundreds by Thomas Edison, Westinghouse, and others. Thanks to inventions such as delivery of electric power, the world became lighter, safer, more convenient and comfortable, and all around better.

So, this is why I write Thousand Islands Gilded Age stories. To share the rich heritage this era gave us and better understand what it was like.

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 5

Texas Book-aholic, November 6

lakesidelivingsite, November 7

Pens Pages & Pulses, November 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 10

Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 11 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Allyson Jamison, November 11

Devoted To Hope, November 12

For Him and My Family, November 13

Holly’s Book Corner, November 14

Mary Hake, November 14

Bizwings Book Blog, November 15

Pause for Tales, November 16

Lights in a Dark World, November 17

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5486/

Monday, November 11, 2024

My Thoughts on Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn

About:

"If you want to travel fast, go alone. If you want to travel far, go together."

African proverb

Ever since Fern Espinoza and Lily Graden met as teenagers volunteering at a conference center in Costa Rica twenty years ago, they have shared a close friendship, even though they live in different states. They can hardly believe it when their teen dream of traveling to Africa together becomes a reality. It's the trip of a lifetime--but life sure isn't what they thought it would be back when they were young.

Along with their suitcases, both women bring emotional baggage that weighs heavily on them. The two best friends slowly open up to each other about the challenges waiting for them back home. Soon they discover that the people they meet and the places they experience have the power to change their hearts--but only if they listen to the gentle lessons God is teaching them in this land of emerald tea fields, graceful giraffes, and rambunctious elephants.

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure on a safari of the heart in this vulnerable exploration of how to move forward in faith even when the future is uncertain.

My Thoughts:

This story took a long awaited and postponed dream and put it into action. Why don't two friends who met as teens do what they dreamed one summer of doing? What is stopping them from dropping everything and going to Africa? Well, life actually and I found this novel a bit daring in the way these two, especially Fern who worked through her fears and went. Even when her life upended right before the trip.

I think young people are so very hopeful and very idealistic especially when the future is wide open. Or so it seems. Then life happens and before you know it, twenty years have passed. That is what happened to Fern when she gets the call from Lilly that the time for their adventure to Africa is now.

This was an adventure of two friends against the backdrop of Africa, getting away from it all for a bit and reconnecting, sharing life stories, and ultimately putting their lives back into focus.

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:

Robin Jones Gunn is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 books, including Tea with Elephants, the Sisterchicks series, and the Christy Miller series for teen girls. Her books have sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. Robin and her husband have two grown children and four grandchildren and live in southern California, where she co-hosts the Women Worth Knowing podcast. Learn more at RobinGunn.com.

My Thoughts and More on Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham

About the Book

Book: Hope Like Wildflowers

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Release date: October, 2024

An Appalachian Girl Seeks a Place to Belong

Return to the mountains of 1910s Appalachia with beloved author Pepper Basham to discover Kizzie McAdams’s story.

Kizzie McAdams spent her childhood longing to see beyond the mountains of home, but when her job as a servant in a landowner’s house results in an unplanned pregnancy, her world tips into uncertainty and heartbreak. Disowned by her father, she seeks comfort in the arms of the man who promises to take care of her, but his support is conditional and inconsistent. She finds acceptance in the home of a nearby family who not only offer Kizzie friendship but point her to a deeper understanding of God’s love.

Despite her change of heart, her status as a social outcast brings with it continued threats and alienation so she flees her past in hopes of starting over in a nearby town. But her new world carries many of the same prejudices as the old. It also brings the unexpected friendship of businessman Noah Lewis, a man who lives with the same desire as Kizzie for helping the marginalized.

Unfortunately, Kizzie and Noah’s attempts to help those in need pit them against Noah’s elder brother, a powerful mill owner who holds control of the family finances. Is Kizzie and Noah’s growing romance strong enough to battle family power, social expectations, and Kizzie’s past to capture their happy ending? And when Kizzie’s first love returns to claim her, which future will she choose?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was a heartfelt story of one woman's journey to finding herself and the One who loves her more than anything. Kizzie has been abandoned by her father after finding out she is pregnant. Kizzie has also been abandoned by the father of her child, even though he keeps coming around. What she discovers is true friendship with her neighbors who help set her on the road to forgiveness and accepting of herself. When Kizzy realizes, nothing is going to change for her and her son, she decides to set off to a new town and life.

This book seems to be in two parts. The first part, Kizzy growing up in wisdom and grace and the second in her life choices. She meets a man by the name of Noah Lewis who proves time and time again that he is not like the other men in her life, that expect her to be good or just good for them. Their journey to love is also wrought with challenges, however through Kizzy's change of heart towards God, she learns she will never be alone.

The author's notes are very enlightening on this story. Especially since this is loosely based on a true story.

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

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

More from Pepper

It’s pretty easy to overlook wildflowers.

I mean, until they show off all their pretty colors, especially in the middle of a barren place, then they’re noticed and usually appreciated but did you know there’s a lot more to wildflowers that…meets the eye?

Apart from providing food and shelter for smaller animals and/or insects or assisting bees in pollination, wildflowers can be used as an ingredient for healing remedies and contribute to soil health and reduce erosion.

Especially in places where other plants aren’t likely to grow. They’re known as “hardy” because they can survive all sorts of weather conditions, extreme temperature, animal damage, even drought.

So why am I talking about wildflowers??

Because, in lots of ways, wildflowers are a great example of what hope looks like.

Hope nourishes. Romans 15: 14 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” When we recall and reflect on what the Bible says about who we are in Christ, our hearts are encouraged and given the spiritual energy they need to remind ourselves of truth in the middle of hard times and wilderness-living.
Hope spreads – Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” A heart filled with the knowledge of the love of God is a heart filled and “overflowing” with hope…and that hope is contagious. When we know whose we are and what our future looks like because of the One who loves us, we live in joy…even when the storms come.
Hope restores and heals: “Isaiah 40:31 reads, “For those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
Hope protects – Psalm 62:5-6 “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Life is hard. Sometimes, bone-achingly, soul-shakingly hard. If we’re reliant on our own ability to protect our faith or mind or soul, we will fail. We’re not strong enough and neither is any of our human defenses, but God is amply able to protect us from the storms, trials, and droughts that mean to wither our hope. HE is the hero of our heart’s story and he is armed to overcome so we can trust Him with our hope and our futures.
And hope grows in the hard places. Hope does not consist of weak or wishful thinking, it grows out of nutrients squeezed from the soil it has. Hard-won, many times. Romans 5:3-4 “ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” A life with Christ doesn’t mean that pain is taken away, but there is a promise and purpose in the pain. The promise that God is with us and a purpose that He is making us more like Him.

Hope Like Wildflowers tells the story of hope, but the main character, Kizzie, isn’t relying on her own abilities to keep her hope strong. Oh no! She learned to trust in the only One who is strong enough to BE her hope. He nourishes her heart when her life has turned upside down and she’s been forsaken. He restores and heals her when she’s been broken and cast out. He protects her from dangerous men who try to hurt her, but also he protects her heart from choosing the wrong path. And through the hard places of life, Kizzie’s hope overflows in joy to touch the lives of those around her.

And it’s beautiful and unexpected.

Like wildflowers.

How has God helped bring hope to your life? What trials has His hope helped you through?