Wednesday, July 5, 2023

My Thoughts and More on Beneath a Peaceful Moon by Debby Lee

About the Book

Book: Beneath a Peaceful Moon

Author: Debby Lee

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: June, 2023

Mary’s Language Skills Could Help End the War in the Pacific

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

Mary Wishram is desperate to hang on to her few loved ones, a brother fighting in the South Pacific and Japanese friends in a relocation camp. Determined to end the war by any means necessary, she is willing to use her language skills as Yakama tribe member to become a spy and face any danger to bring them all home safe.

John Painted Horse struggles with the loss of his father who died in WWI for a country that didn’t consider him a United States citizen, much less give him the right to vote. He is desperate to bring long overdue recognition and honor to his people, no matter the cost.

Can they heal from their past traumas and find a peace, love, and a deeper relationship with God, before it’s too late?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was an interesting story of a couple characters I have not normally read about in World War 2 novels. Mary Wishram and John Painted Horse are two Native Americans, from different tribes, whose loyalty shines through as they offer their talents and lives to the United States.

This story follows them as they both struggle with prejudices, from the past and the present, from a country who tried to change them so much, to now needing their special skills especially in their language. This story also highlights their struggles as they are still not considered equals and their worries over the rest of their family.

As they meet and fall in love, both Mary and John are picked for dangerous missions. Will they survive for one another and for their families? Only time will tell as they both forge through their adventures.

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

Debby Lee was raised in the cozy little town of Toledo, Washington. She has been writing since she was a small child, and has written several novels, but never forgets home. The Northwest Christian Writers Association and Romance Writers of America are two organizations that Debby enjoys being a part of. As a self professed nature lover, and an avid listener of 1960’s folk music, Debby can’t help but feel like a hippie child who wasn’t born soon enough to attend Woodstock. She wishes she could run barefoot all year long, but often does anyway in the grass and on the beaches in her hamlet that is the cold and rainy southwest Washington. During football season, Debby cheers on the Seattle Seahawks along with legions of other devoted fans. She’s also filled with wanderlust and dreams of visiting Denmark, Italy, and Morocco someday. Debby loves connecting with her readers through her website at www.booksbydebbylee.com

More from Debby

MY ATTEMPT AT MEATHOD WRITING

It was a warm, sunny September morning on my uncle’s farm, where I used an entrenching tool to dig my foxhole. A gentle breeze blew as I dug, and cooled my sweat-streaked forehead. The little shovel, with a handle roughly three feet long, did a fair job of breaking the dirt beneath my feet. Scoopful by scoopful, I managed to dig a hole about two feet deep, six feet long, and three feet wide.

I stood over this gaping pit that looked more like a grave. This was where I intended to sleep when darkness fell. I wondered, asked myself, “Will I make it through the night?”

My husband and I walked the perimeter of my uncle’s property. We noticed evidence of coyotes not more than one-hundred yards from my foxhole. Though my husband agreed to sleep in his truck not far from me, with a loaded pistol at the ready, we were still nervous about my sleeping arrangements. A few relatives laughed at my idea. I’m sure they thought I wouldn’t last more than a few hours out there that night.

I found a bucket old tin cans and a roll of string. I used my entrenching tool as a hammer and pounded holes in the cans and then strung a trip wire. Surely this would scare away any curious predators. I hoped.

My husband did tell me, “If you hear wolves or coyotes howling, get in the truck!”

By this time it was late in the evening and I was starving. In an attempt to stay in character, I reached for an MRE. That’s Meals Ready to Eat, today’s equivalent to K rations and C rations. I never thought I’d be hungry enough to suck cold mashed potatoes from a plastic pouch.

I went to bed that night clutching my entrenching tool, ready to fight off any critters who ventured too close. Sleep didn’t come easy that night. The ground was hard, uneven, and cold, bone-chilling cold. I shivered and shivered in a futile effort to keep warm.

The things that ran through my mind. I gazed at the inky, black sky and located the North Star. I thought of runaway slaves. How cold and terribly frightened they had to have been. And how brave and courageous, too.

Later, I realized my trip wire was enough to alert me to coyotes, but not snakes or rats. Was I strong enough, mentally, physically, to beat off a hoard of rats? A pack of hungry coyotes, if they broke through my tripwire?

Honestly, I was terrified. Not necessarily of falling to sleep, but falling to sleep and being jolted awake having to fight for my safety. I meditated on scriptures and continuously whispered, “If I can just make it until daylight.”

I don’t think I slept more than three hours that night, an hour here, another there. The sun lightened the gray sky. I climbed from my foxhole, my back and muscles were stiff and sore, but I was thankful to see the sun.

I was thankful for so much more. My night in a foxhole was ludicrously luxurious compared to those brave soldiers who fought during WWII and the wars since then. At least I didn’t have to contend with bombs or grenades raining down on me.

I can’t imagine going to bed night after night, wondering if bombs, grenades, or gunfire would pierce the air, wondering if my buddies and I would be shot or blown to bits, wondering if I’d live to see sunrise. My respect for soldiers grew a thousand-fold that night.

I’ve visited my uncle’s farm several times since then. I always gaze across the partially wooded forty acres and I remember that night. And remember the sacrifices our soldiers made for me, for democracy, and for freedom.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 28

Books You Can Feel Good About, June 28

lakesidelivingsite, June 29

Cover Lover Book Review, June 29

Texas Book-aholic, June 30

For Him and My Family, June 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 1

Connie’s History Classroom, July 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 3

Mary Hake, July 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 4

Pause for Tales, July 5

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, July 6 (Author Interview)

annette_reads_daily, July 6

Betti Mace, July 7

Labor Not in Vain, July 8

Blossoms and Blessings, July 8

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, July 9

Lights in a Dark World, July 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Debby is giving away the grand prize package of a print copy of the book and a $25 Amazon eGift 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/2678d/beneath-a-peaceful-moon-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Rescue in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd

About the Book

Book: Rescue in the Wilderness

Author: Andrea Byrd

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 27, 2023

William Cole cannot forget the cruel burden he carries, not with the pock marks that serve as an outward reminder. Riddled with guilt, he assumed the solitary life of a long hunter, traveling into the wilds of Kentucky each year. But his quiet existence is changed in an instant when, sitting in a tavern, he overhears a man offering his daughter—and her virtue—to the winner of the next round of cards. William’s integrity and desire for redemption will not allow him to sit idly by while such an injustice occurs.

Lucinda Gillespie has suffered from an inexplicable illness her entire life. Her father, embarrassed by her condition, has subjected her to a lonely existence of abuse and confinement. But faced with the ultimate betrayal on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Lucinda quickly realizes her trust is better placed in his hands of the mysterious man who appears at her door. Especially when he offers her the one thing she never thought would be within her grasp—freedom.

In the blink of an eye, both lives change as they begin the difficult, danger-fraught journey westward on the Wilderness Trail. But can they overcome their own perceptions of themselves to find love and the life God created them for?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Life really could not get any bleaker for Lucinda, or so she thought, I mean she already suffered ailments in her joints, and she had a very pronounced limp. She has also been held prisoner in her abusive father's home for about ten years, and she has learned to keep her head down as much as possible. But she never thought that her father hated her so much that he would gamble her away.

William Cole overhears a conversation that boils his blood. A man is willing to offer his daughter to any man who wins her in a game of poker. Well, William knows of whom he is speaking of, and he will not let her, or any other women endure that disgrace. So, he goes and gets Lucinda and rescues her from her father. Now they are on a very dangerous trail, one that is going westward with hostile peoples and unrelenting bad weather along with challenges on the trail. Both William and Lucinda will need to rely on all the courage they have to get safely through to the other side.

Not only that but they must marry to save Lucinda's reputation, will a genuine love grow, or will Lucinda always be a burden? This was a very rewarding romance between two people who never thought they deserved each other or dreamed of a chance at love.

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

Andrea Byrd is a Christian wife and mom located in rural Kentucky, who loves to spend time with her family in the great outdoors, one with nature. Often described as having been born outside her time, she has a deep affinity for an old-fashioned, natural lifestyle.

With a degree in Equine Health & Rehabilitation gathering dust and a full-time job tethering her to a desk eight hours a day, Andrea decided it was time to show both herself and her children that it is truly possible to make your dreams come true. Now with over 1,000 contemporary Christian romance novellas sold, Andrea is pursuing her passion of writing faith-filled romance woven with a thread of true history.

More form Andrea

There is so much inspiration that fed into the creation of Rescue in the Wilderness.

Not only was the Good Lord’s guiding hand ever-present, but so was the influence of those that came before me. This story was inspired by my own ancestors, as well as the countless others, that made the arduous journey through Cumberland Gap to settle in Kentucky. Those brave souls opened up a whole new world, and for some of us, established the area in which their families would preside for centuries to come.

As a lover of books that integrate history into fiction myself, I also wished to shed light on the “Hard Winter” of 1779-1780. This was a winter that came early, and with great intensity. While it caused hardships for many across the country, it made the journey through the Cumberland Gap all the more perilous.

Beyond these historical facts, I also wished to pay tribute to those who suffer from chronic pain conditions. I will never forget the day a friend of mine, whom the Lord called home all too soon, told me of her childhood rheumatoid arthritis and how there were days she was in too much pain to leave her bed. In this book, I wished to explore what pioneer life might have been for someone who suffered from such a condition.

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 28

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, June 29 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 29

Connie’s History Classroom, June 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 1

Books You Can Feel Good About, July 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 2

Texas Book-aholic, July 3

Lighthouse Academy Blog, July 3 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

lakesidelivingsite, July 4

Betti Mace, July 5

Pause for Tales, July 5

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, July 6

For Him and My Family, July 7

JESUS in the EVERYDAY, July 7

Karen Baney Reviews, July 8

Cover Lover Book Review, July 8

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 9

Splashes of Joy, July 10

To Everything There Is A Season , July 10

Holly’s Book Corner, July 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Andrea 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/2678e/rescue-in-the-wilderness-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, June 30, 2023

My Thoughts and More on Call Her Janie by S.R. Fabrico

Book Details:
Book Title:  Call Her Janie: A scintillating romantic suspense with a shocking twist by S.R. Fabrico
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+), 350 pages
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher:  S.R. Fabrico
Release date: June 27, 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13+M. A few curse words. There are some intimate scenes, mostly left up to the reader's imagination.

Book Description:

Are you ready for a heart-pumping, page-turning journey of love, loss, and suspense? Look no further than S.R. Fabrico’s latest masterpiece, filled with gripping twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Meet Lizzie Levine, the unstoppable female executive at a top NYC marketing firm. Driven by the tragic loss of her parents, Lizzie refuses to let anything stand in her way – until a handsome, enigmatic billionaire named Gray Stone enters the picture. But when Lizzie discovers she’s pregnant with Gray’s child, she learns there’s more to him than meets the eye.

Desperate for a fresh start, Lizzie escapes to the serene coastal town of Southport, NC. There, she meets Josh, a charming local determined to help her heal and move on from her troubled past. But as Lizzie begins to rebuild her life, she soon realizes that her past is not so easily left behind. Someone with a sinister agenda lurks in the shadows, and Lizzie’s life is in grave danger.

With a writing style, that’s both eloquent and engaging, S.R. Fabrico takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions as you journey with Lizzie through the twists and turns of her life. Whether you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers or heartwarming love stories, this book is a must-read. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of passion, intrigue, and danger.

Buy the Book:
Signed Copy
Amazon
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

S.R. Fabrico is a 16-time award-winning author. Her debut novel The Secrets We Conceal was published in March 2022. She has also written a series of sports journals for athletes, including the Amazon best-selling My Dance Journal.

A 25-plus-year professional in the business, marketing, and sports world has taken her to numerous places throughout the course of her life and provided countless life experiences. She is a World Champion Dance Coach, coach of the year recipient, and speaker and various conferences across the United States.

S.R. Fabrico works and writes from her home in Knoxville, TN, where she lives with her husband and two children. She appreciates the beauty of the mountains, but her favorite place to visit is the beach. She is a lifelong math nerd and enjoys good puns. When she isn’t writing, she likes to read books, wife hard, and mom hard.

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

Enter the Giveaway:

My Thoughts:

Call Her Janie is a suspense about a young career woman who fell into a trap with a man she had no business being with. She, unfortunately, believed his lies because she believed he really loved her. What happens in the aftermath of that relationship causes Lizzie to run to the small town where her brother and sister-in-law lives and to take up a part time job at a unique bookstore. Here is where she begins to tell her story of what happened to her.

This is a compelling read. The author does pull the reader into Lizzie's life and her mistakes and her trauma and loss. Lizzie is a very lost person, so much so that her family does not even know half of what happened to her. Lizzie very much needs guidance and direction in her life to especially not make those same mistakes. There are some shocking revelations that take place as well, as all is not as it seems, and I did not see that twist coming.

Please be aware that there are intimate scenes, and some language was used that I am not comfortable with. So, this title does need a mature label on it. There is the trauma and loss that poor Lizzie goes through that may be too much for a sensitive reader.

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.

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Cover Reveal for Crack the Stone by Emily Golus

Cover Reveal Time

Ok readears, are you ready for the second cover reveal in A Classic Retold series coming later this year? Well here it is:

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About:

I am Valshara, the black stone born of fire. Break me, and my edges turn into knives.

Condemned to a slave camp for her crimes, goblin convict Valshara Sh’a makes a death-defying escape to freedom. But navigating Vindor’s treacherous cavern system is only the beginning of her troubles. An encounter with a rogue king turns her world upside down, and a bargain with fairy tricksters leaves her with a human child she doesn’t know how to care for.

As she tries to smuggle the boy through the walls of a barricaded city, Valshara can’t let down her guard. Because somewhere in the darkness behind her, a bounty hunter rises—relentless as nightfall and merciless as death itself.

Emily Golus re-imagines Victor Hugo’s beloved Les Misérables as an epic fantasy adventure about suffering, redemption, and the extraordinary power of love.

Pre-order:

https://www.aclassicretold.com/books/crack-the-stone

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9JK781Y

My Thoughts on Soso and the Kako Leaf by Bella Disu and Illustrated by Awele Emili

Book Details:

Book Title:  Soso and The Kako Leaf by Bella Disu
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 6-12), 78 pages
Genre: Children's Book
Publisher:  The Good Work Company
Release date:   June 19, 2022
Content Rating: G. Children's Book.

Book Description:

Follow the life of young Soso as she encounters mysteries and unearths traditions that have existed long before she was born.Be part of her adventures as she gains confidence, self-esteem, and an understanding of her deep cultural heritage.

Buy the Book
Amazon
add to goodreads
This book is available for special purchases in bulk by organizations and institutions, not for resale, at special discounts. Please email all inquiries to The Good Work Company.

My Thoughts:

My love for stories started with fairy tales, so whenever I hear about one, I have not read before, I am instantly interested. Soso and the Kako Leaf is a story about a nine-year-old girl on her birthday, which is already pretty magical as birthdays go as the date of her birthday is the ninth. So, she is turning nine on the ninth and her family is planning a very special birthday party for her. Everything is turning out wonderfully, except for the fact that the birthmark on her leg is getting bigger not smaller as she had hoped. And she also has to go to her brother's soccer practice.

Well, Soso makes the best of the day anyway and heads out exploring when she falls into an enchanted world where she is the princess Asabi and she must rid her kingdom of the evil ruler that wants to keep being queen. Well, through this adventure Soso gains confidence and courage in who she is no matter the birthmark others may make fun of. She learns to be kind to herself.

This was a fun enchanting tale with beautiful, and I mean beautiful artwork throughout. This is a bigger book than usual which was a bonus and a tale worth telling of being yourself. There is a glossary in the back for pronunciation to help the readers as well.

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

Meet the Author:

Bella Disu is a mother of two wonderful children. She is an enthusiastic lover of art as well as an avid reader. From a young age, she has been enamoured with rich cultural folktales. Now, she channels her love for art and her passion for reading into writing stories. Her stories use new forms to pass on the tales she heard growing up to the next generation.

Bella is also a renowned business leader who is committed to corporate governance and business innovation. In December 2019, she became the youngest ever recipient of the French National Honor - Chevalier dans L'ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of her efforts at promoting French culture in Nigeria.

She is married and lives in Lagos, Nigeria, with her family.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ instagram

My Thoughts and More on The Pursuit of Miss Parish by Grace Hitchcock

About the Book

Book: The Pursuit of Miss Parish

Author: Grace Hitchcock

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: May 31, 2023

Love’s gentle promise becomes nothing more than a withered dream.

With dreams of love and a hope for belonging, shy Belle Parish leaves her position as a maid in Charleston to travel to New Mexico with her best friend to become mail-order brides. Colt Lawson’s letters hold great promise and while his devilishly handsome face matches his picture, something does not add up. Discovering his lie only moments before they wed, Belle flees the church and straight into the Castañeda Hotel Harvey House. Giving up the prospect on ever marrying, she dons her nun-like uniform and focuses on her role as a Harvey Girl waitress until a strong, former Texas Ranger rides into her life.

Colt Lawson didn’t want to send that letter to Belle Parish in the first place, but her first response had all but captured his heart. When he is left standing at the altar alone, he is left with two choices—either release his dream of a love marriage, or attempt to win her heart. Wooing her would be a lot easier if that Texas Ranger wasn’t back in town. Who wants a dusty rancher with a past when she could have a shining knight in a Stetson?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

What a read this one was as the second installment of the series Aprons and Veils. It started off one way and then it changed direction, and when it did it was quite a change. Here we have Belle Parish, once the lady's maid of Miss Fairfield, of whom the first book is about. Now Belle is traveling with another friend to New Mexico as a mail order bride to get away from a very controlling and cruel family. What she doesn't expect is a train robbery before she even gets to her new home. Belle is already terrified and second guessing her decision to marry enough as it is.

However, things go from bad to worse after a dinner at the local Harvey restaurant and after listening to others about her intended groom, Colt Lawson, Belle runs away from him at the alter and to the Harvey hotel to be a Harvey girl. Belle figures that once she pays Colt for the train price they will be even. Not so for Colt as he already fell in love with Belle through her letters, no matter how that all started.

Colt is trying to change his life now for the better. Marrying Belle would have made his happily ever after come true. Now she will barely give him the time of day to explain what really happened. Forced to deal with other jealous women, a gang of train robbers, and a Texas Ranger who won't stop flirting with Belle, Colt decides she is worth the price and continues in his pursuit of her.

Then everything changes as danger does its own pursuit of not only Colt but Belle as well. As secrets are uncovered, will Colt and Belle have a second chance of love at all? I could not put this romantic adventure story down and stayed up way too late reading it.

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

Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in the New Orleans area with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.

More from Grace

Questions from READERS for Grace Hitchcock

Q: As a mom, how/when do you find time to write?

Grace Hitchcock: I used to walk around the block to my favorite coffee shop in New Orleans, writing with a delicious latte and scone beside me, headphones in with the perfect soundtrack playing waiting for the muse. . . and now days, I write during Sofia the First episodes blaring in the background for my toddler while the baby sleeps and my Kindergartner is in half-day school.

On the days when I can’t get the word count down during those tiny moments, my husband takes the babies for an hour in the evenings and tells me to go write! When I’m on tight deadline with days left to go, the house usually isn’t the cleanest and Laundry Mountain, in all its splendor, may just fall on top of us. Sometimes while on deadline, I get the urge to pause and clean, but if I ignore the impulse long enough, the feeling generally passes. Once the book is in to my editor, it’s time to clean.

Q: What is your favorite source of inspiration for creating the characters in your stories?

Grace Hitchcock: For main characters, I use Names Through the Ages to figure out their names based on their background and once I know a character’s name, it’s as if the heroine/hero stroll into my writing room and I get to know their personality, the story closely following.

For the supporting characters, I have a need/plot point that they need to fill and I build their personality around that need. Not quite as exciting haha but they serve a purpose. But, I always remind myself to try to fill them out because they do not know they are not the main characters.

Q: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Grace Hitchcock: One of my earliest memories is writing stories in my little diary in my closet. (Remember the diaries with the locks on them that were super easy to pick, but still dreamy to have a book with a lock on it.)

I started taking my desire to write seriously when I was a senior in high school. I was homeschooled and my mom let me write a novel for my senior English project to test that theory if I wanted to write. It was so fun to write, I knew that’s what I wanted to do, so I got my Masters in Creative Writing and I’ve been typing away ever since 

Q: What is your writing process like?

Grace Hitchcock: I usually begin with a spark of an idea that I at once research to see if it would work with the eras I enjoy writing (Gilded Age and Regency England). From there, I do a deep dive into writing out a chapter by chapter plot, which generally takes about a week to ten days.

Once I have my plot down, I do about a week or two more of basic research and begin the first very, very rough draft that I usually finish at 50,000 words after 3 months of writing.

Then, I research any spots that needed improving in the first draft and go full editing mode, pausing throughout the book to research spots that need more description and historical accuracy, which is about two months and then, I do a third round of edits and research while doing a line edit, which takes a month.

By the time I get to the 6-month mark, I am more than ready to have a break haha and I send my 75,000/80,000 word novel off to my publisher/editor who does a content edit, sends it back to me for three weeks, another editor does a line edit, sends it back to me for three weeks, then another editor does a copy edit and sends it to galleys (where they format the book) and send it back to me to proof one last time for two weeks! Then, it goes to press at usually 75,000-100,000 depending on the novel. So long story short, 6 months to write and about 2 months to edit!

Q: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

Grace Hitchcock: In this business, just about every author gets a rejection from a publisher . . . even by publishers who later accept them!

When I began sending out one of my first manuscripts, I thought it was pristine, but after about 15 rejections, I put it on the shelf and focused on a new manuscript with fresh eyes and new goals based on some of the industry professionals’ suggestions. Six months after I shelved that first manuscript, I went back and looked over it . . . the professionals were right. It wasn’t ready and it would require a lot more love (aka bleeding edits) before I attempted to send it out again. Sometimes, time is what you need to get a fresh perspective.

But it is also important to remember that when you get a rejection letter, they are not rejecting you. They are rejecting the work. And as much as you see it as a work of art, the publishers see it as a product. They are there to sell a product and if the product isn’t ready, it won’t sell well, so take heart and “hone your craft” and focus on any feedback you received that has merit.

That critique was very hard for me to hear haha but it helped push me to keep learning, attending writer conferences, and following my dreams. Over the years, I have had novels rejected by Barbour, Bethany, and Kregel, but I tried again and again and eventually signed with each publishing house! So keep it up! You can do it!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , June 16

Vicky Sluiter, June 16

Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 17

She Lives To Read, June 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 18

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 18

Texas Book-aholic, June 19

Alena Mentink, June 19

All-of-a-kind Mom, June 20

Bigreadersite, June 20

Connie’s History Classroom, June 21

Books You Can Feel Good About, June 21

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 22

Betti Mace, June 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 24

Karen Baney Reviews, June 24

Blogging With Carol, June 25

For Him and My Family, June 25

Labor Not in Vain, June 26

Mary Hake, June 26

Cover Lover Book Review, June 27

Holly’s Book Corner, June 27

Splashes of Joy, June 28

Pause for Tales, June 28

Jodie Wolfe -Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 29

Lights in a Dark World, June 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away the grand prize package of an autographed copy of The Finding of Miss Fairfield AND The Pursuit of Miss Parish with bookmarks and book magnets, and 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/2658d/the-pursuit-of-miss-parish-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

My Thoughts and More on A Not So Peaceful Journey by Sandra Merville Hart

About the Book

Book: A Not So Peaceful Journey

Author: Sandra Merville Hart

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 13, 2023

Dreams of adventure send him across the country. She prefers to keep her feet firmly planted in Ohio.

Rennie Hill has no illusions about the hardships in life, which is why it’s so important her beau, John Welch, keeps his secure job with the newspaper. Though he hopes to write fiction, the unsteady pay would mean an end to their plans, wouldn’t it?

John Welch dreams of adventure worthy of storybooks, like Mark Twain, and when two of his short stories are published, he sees it as a sign of future success. But while he’s dreaming big with his head in the clouds, his girl has her feet firmly planted, and he can’t help wondering if she really believes in him.

When Rennie must escort a little girl to her parents’ home in San Francisco, John is forced to alter his plans to travel across the country with them. But the journey proves far more adventurous than either of them expect.

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My Thoughts:

What do you do when the love of your life has a different dream than you do? Do you force one and let the other die? Or do you go your separate ways? This is the problem that has aroused in Rennie and John's relationship. Rennie wants to settle down in their hometown and raise a family while John has a stable job, completely understandable. Only John wants to be an author and travel out West to get ideas before he settles down, also understandable. As I read this novel and the previous ones, I was really hoping that John and Rennie's relationship would survive.

What happens is an opportunity for Rennie to escort a little girl from Ohio to California, where her sick mother is, and John, since he is heading that way is the best guy for the position of protection. So along with Rennie's younger sister, Veronica as a chaperone, these four set off on a train journey through the West that will test them in many ways. And through it all, Rennie and John will realize what matters to them most.

I was very happy to read John's story as he has grown into a young man and the big decisions he needs to make. Taking inspiration from his younger years and from his birth family, he is doing the best he can. I also liked the growth of Rennie and the reining in of some of her overbearing ways. A nice journey across the USA in 1884.

I was provided a copy of this novel by the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Sandra Merville Hart, award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of inspirational historical romances, loves to discover little-known yet fascinating facts from American history to include in her stories. Her desire is to transport her readers back in time. She is also a blogger, speaker, and conference teacher. Connect with Sandra on her blog, https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.com/.

More from Sandra

It was fun to invite readers on this book’s journey!

To those who lived in the 1880s, venturing into this newly-settled and largely-unsettled West had become much safer—though not without danger—with the system of railroads already in place. I enjoyed taking readers to Chicago, Omaha, Oakland, Ogden, and Sacramento, as well as frontier towns along the journey such as Cheyenne.

Our heroine is a telegraph operator. She temporarily leaves her job to escort a little girl to her ailing mother in San Francisco.

My research about telegraph jobs taught me quite a bit of terminology.

For example, a clatter arises when another operator “calls.” The call begins with something like “B m—X n”, which means the B m is the station receiving the call and X n is the caller.

B m must signal a reply that she’s ready to receive the call.

The Sounder receives sounds of the alphabet in dots and dashes. Some operators sent messages too rapidly to understand. When this occurs, the receiving operating asks for it again with a Break (she opens her “key” to break the circuit) and interrupts with “Please repeat.”

“G.A. the—” means “Go ahead” and “the” was the last word she understood.

Operators end every message with his/her own private “call” as well as the office’s call and “O.K.” at the end of each message.

Wired Love, which was written by telegraph operator Ella Cheever Thayer in 1879, provided many insights about the job’s daily tasks.

One of them was the lack of privacy on the lines. She can hear the messages sent to other wires but only offices on the same wire. In Wired Love, operators heard messages sent to and from twenty offices.

By the way, the public grew so fascinated with the role of women in telegraphy that it became the topic of romance novels and short stories, creating a new genre called “telegraphic romance” in the latter 1800s. That’s a little-known fun fact for you!

I enjoyed writing this series. I invite you to read the whole “Second Chances” series beginning with A Not So Convenient Marriage, Book 1, A Not So Persistent Suitor, Book 2, and A Not So Peaceful Journey, Book 3.