Friday, October 4, 2019

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Stitches in Time by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 

About the Book


Book: Stitches in Time
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Contemporary Amish fiction
Release Date: October 1, 2019  

Detachment had worked well as a life strategy for horse trainer Sam Schrock. Until he met Mollie Graber . . .

New to Stoney Ridge, schoolteacher Mollie has come to town for a fresh start. Aware of how fleeting and fragile life is, she wants to live it boldly and bravely. When Luke Schrock, new to his role as deacon, asks the church to take in foster girls from a group home, she’s the first to raise her hand. The power of love, she believes, can pick up the dropped stitches in a child’s heart and knit them back together.

Mollie envisions sleepovers and pillow fights. What the 11-year-old twins bring to her home is anything but. Visits from the sheriff at midnight. Phone calls from the school truancy officer. And then the most humiliating moment of all: the girls accuse Mollie of drug addiction.

There’s only one thing that breaks through the girls’ hard shell–an interest in horses. Reluctantly and skeptically, Sam Schrock gets drawn into Mollie’s chaotic life. What he didn’t expect was for love to knit together the dropped stitches in his own heart . . . just in time.

Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the little Amish church of Stoney Ridge for a touching story of the power of love.   

Click here to purchase your copy.


My Thoughts:


I have really been enjoying my visits to Stoney Ridge and this one was no exception. My favorite character, Luke and his wife Izzy are back, a little more matured but still Luke. This story also focuses on his brother Sam and new schoolteacher Mollie Graber.

What I liked: these characters did not wallow in self pity. That was refreshing and I liked that. Also watching these characters grow in maturity has been a very nice theme running through these books. Luke and Izzy are a married couple with marital problems, and like all marriages the outside world tends to push itself into their lives. I liked learning a little bit more about the Amish customs, in particular how they picked ther deacons and the very important roll a deacon fills in that culture.

This is also a story about foster children. The love and support that they need and the complications and needs that arise. Children no matter what are a gift from the Lord, albeit challenging gifts and complicated at times. 

I felt welcomed back to Stoney Ridge and it was nice to see all the familiar faces again. 

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


About the Author



Carol-award winner Suzanne Woods Fisher writes untold stories about inspiring people. With over one million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction, ranging from Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World to the historical novel Anna’s Crossing.   

More from Suzanne

Have you ever felt the tug to become a foster parent?

On any given day, there are nearly 438,000 children in foster care in the United States. Most states have a critical need for more foster parents, and the number of children placed in foster care increases yearly.

There are plenty of assumptions about having foster children, but most are incorrect. The media has a tendency to focus on the negative, but from all the research I conducted to write this book, for every bad news story, there were two good ones. Good stories just don’t make the news.

Below are some of the most common assumptions about foster care, with corrected information that is applicable across the United States (but keep in mind that each state has their own requirements).

Myth: Kids in foster care are bad or troubled.

Truth: Children in foster care are good kids taken out of a troubled situation. They need a caring foster parent who is patient and understanding. When given the opportunity, most of these children begin to thrive.

Myth: To be a foster parent, you need to be married and own a home and be a college graduate.

Truth: You don’t need to be married or to own a home or even be a college graduate. That means if you’re single or renting, you can be a foster parent.

Myth: I can’t afford to be a foster parent.

Truth: There are monthly reimbursement rates for children in foster care based on the level of care you provide. Medical and dental care is paid through state Medicaid programs.

Myth: Most kids in foster care are teenagers.

Truth: The average age of a child entering foster care is seven years old.

Myth: Most kids are in foster care because their parents have abused drugs.

Truth: Now, this one is not a myth. It’s true. There are fifteen categories that can be responsible for a child’s removal from a home. Drug abuse from a parent has had the largest percentage increase.

Myth: Fostering could require a commitment until the child turns eighteen.

Truth: Generally, children remain in state care for less than two years. Only six percent spend five or more years in foster care.

Myth: It’s too hard to give a child up to his biological family.

Truth: Most children are in foster care for a short time, returning to their biological families. Reuniting a child to his family is the ideal situation. Foster families provide a safe haven for a child. Healthy grieving is to be expected, but it’s for the right reasons. It’s healthy.

Myth: You can’t adopt foster children.

Truth: In 2016, more than 65,000 children—whose mothers and fathers parental rights were legally terminated—waiting to be adopted. Also in 2016, more than 20,000 children “aged out” of foster care without permanent families. Research has shown that those who leave care without being linked to a “forever family” have a higher likelihood than the general youth population to experience homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration as adults.

Is there room in your heart and family for a child in need? There are many ways to get involved, some that do not even require foster care. One recommendation: volunteer with The National CASA Association (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children. You can find out more information here: www.casaforchildren.org.

Or consider small ways to connect to children in need—after school tutoring at your public library. Volunteering at a community center. Buy Christmas gifts for a family in need through an Adopt-a-Family program with a local church. Support a family who does provide foster care with respites—babysitting or meals. There’s many ways to get involved to care for children in need. And every little bit makes a difference.


Blog Stops

The Power of Words, September 26
The Becca Files, September 26
SusanLovesBooks, September 26
Through the Fire Blogs, September 27
Texas Book-aholic, September 28
Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 29
Blogging With Carol , September 29
Hookmeinabook , September 29
The Avid Reader, September 30
Mia Reads, September 30
janicesbookreviews, October 1
CarpeDiem, October 1
Stories By Gina, October 2
Activating Faith, October 2
A Reader’s Brain, October 3
EmpowerMoms, October 3
Wishful Endings, October 3
Pause for Tales, October 4
Quiet Quilter, October 5
Vicky Sluiter, October 5
Hallie Reads, October 5
Bigreadersite, October 7
By The Book, October 7
She Lives to Read, October 7
Moments, October 8


Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of her book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: The Vacant House by Tamara G. Cooper


About the Book


Book: The Vacant House
Author: Tamara G. Cooper
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: June 3, 2019

She knows she didn’t do it, but everybody thinks she did.

It all begins when best-selling author Sophie O’Brion is the last person to see a murder victim alive. She looks even more guilty when a woman from her church is beaten, and Sophie was seen with her just hours before. Suddenly, people she has known her entire life begin pointing accusing fingers at her.

Marine Master Sergeant Burke Maguire, an old flame who dumped Sophie years ago, has recently been hired as a police officer in Forman Falls, Texas, and is assigned her case. She doesn’t want his help.

As she gets deeper and deeper into trouble, though, she must rely on him, but trusting him is another matter.

Will they be able to work together, maneuver dangerous twists and turns, and finally clear her name? 

A clean romantic suspense novel that grips you from the very beginning and won’t let you go! The Vacant House is an unforgettable adventure. Read it today, if you have plans to stay up all night. 

Click here for your copy.


My Thoughts:

This was quite an amusing and very in depth cozy mystery. Like Sophie, we as the reader are brought into her story quite unexpectedly when ridiculous rumors begin to spread that she is a cat killer. She is not and she cannot believe how everyone begins to believe these rumors. Sophie, being a famous mystery writer, decides to take things into her own hands and begins investigating. However, this story takes on a life of its own and many, many secrets begin to be uncovered.

With a host of cooky characters; nosy neighbors, a great best friend, a very handsome police officer (an ex-boyfriend who just happens to have moved back in town), and a few animal friends makes this mystery downright page turning.

This story put me in the mind of one of my favorite shows, Castle, except with the rolls reversed. This was a fun read by a new to me author and I look forward to more in this series.

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

 
Tamara G. Cooper lives in Texas with her husband, three sons, five dogs, and loves writing mysteries with a touch of romance.

More from Tamara

Book 1 of Sophie O’Brion Mysteries introduces us to Sophie O’Brion, a quirky, funny, and reclusive mystery writer who lives in a small town in East Texas. Because Sophie looks at life through a lens of humor, funny moments appear often. There are frightening moments, too, in her quest to clear her name from pointing fingers accusing her of murder and attempted murder. Sophie is vulnerable, yet strong; reclusive, yet kind; funny, yet serious. And she is determined! It doesn’t help that added to all this is the return of her high school sweetheart who dumped her 12 years before to join the Marines. As a new police officer, Burke is assigned her case, but she doesn’t want his help. Sparks fly, trust doesn’t, and love stays comfortably in the past. Will Sophie and Burke be able to save her reputation and re-ignite their love for each other? I hope you enjoy this book! Happy reading!

Blog Stops


Godly Book Reviews, October 3
Pause for Tales, October 4
Emily Yager, October 4
Mary Hake, October 6
Texas Book-aholic, October 7
CarpeDiem, October 7
janicesbookreviews, October 8
All-of-a-kind Mom, October 8
Quiet Quilter, October 9
Betti Mace, October 10
Blogging With Carol, October 10
Remembrancy, October 11
A Reader’s Brain, October 12
Moments, October 13
Maureen’s Musings, October 14
HookMeInABook, October 15
Daysong Reflections, October 16


Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Tamara is giving away a copy of the book 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.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Review, Snippet, and Giveaway: My Fair Spinster by Rebecca Connolly

My Fair Spinster Blog Tour

About the Book

My Fair Spinster

Series: The Spinster Chronicles
Genre: Adult, Historical, Regency, Romance
Publisher: Phase Publishing
Publication date: October 1, 2019

The spinster next door…Grace Morledge is a failure. Or so her father believes, as she is unmarried despite her advantages. In his mind, Grace must have significant flaws to be a spinster and something must be done about them. To her mortification, he demands she be fully examined and all flaws recorded. And the man he chooses is the worst possible candidate of all.Aubrey Flint, Lord Ingram, has known Grace since childhood, but he never anticipated Lord Trenwick demanding he examine her for flaws. How can perfection have faults? Reluctantly, he accepts the assignment, and finds far more than he bargained for, and perfection becomes more and more tempting.


About the Author




Rebecca Connolly writes romances, both period and contemporary, because she absolutely loves a good love story. She has been creating stories since childhood, and there are home videos to prove it! She started writing them down in elementary school and has never looked back. She currently lives in the Midwest, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa addict.


Snippet


"They were smart to include you." Grace jerked slightly to look at him again. "What?" He nodded fervently. "I mean it. Georgie is no fool, Grace, and I have no doubt she made a study of the other unmarried women in Society. You are the best of the lot. It was only natural they should choose you." Her heart leapt for joy and seemed to be burning within her. "You don’t know the rest of the lot, Aubrey." "Don’t have to," he quipped. "I know you." Oh, but the look in his eyes made her feel like a lovesick girl of twelve again, and it was all she could do to keep from smiling an accompanying lovesick smile that would have been entirely too obvious. Not that she was lovesick. She was simply touched. And embarrassed. And perhaps a bit feverish. That was all. Aubrey blinked and the look was gone. He slapped his thighs and rose fluidly, running a hand through his hair and disheveling it in a way that reminded her of the boy she had known in Derbyshire, and her heart lurched. "Well, I suppose that’s enough for today," he rambled, his words not quite as crisp as normal. "I will see you tomorrow at the Sterlings’, and I will assess your interaction with various people at that point." Grace slowly rose, watching Aubrey curiously. "Very well. Miranda will be there, you know. We could confront her." "Yes, yes, excellent thought," he replied absently. "I’ll bring my suit of armor for whatever she tosses in retaliation." Grace laughed at the image that brought, and Aubrey seemed to shudder at it. "Right," he said, turning to her and bowing. "Good day, Grace." "Good day, Aubrey." He left before she finished, and she stared after him, still curious. What in the world? Then her mother crossed the corridor, casting another knowing look at Grace. All curiosity and delight evaporated swiftly, and Grace snapped back into discontent, moving quickly towards the music room. He was not good for her. He couldn’t be.

Quote Memes


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Review

What do you do when you have a parent who is bound and determined to find out your flaws and fix you no matter what. Grace is a beautiful and lovely young woman who has not yet been married.  And in her father's eyes, that is just unacceptable. So instead of thinking that the young men are just foolish, it must be Grace's fault instead. So her father sets up quite a shocking scheme to have her "examined". And when I say shocking, I find this scheme shocking even by today's standards.

I liked Grace and her friends stand by her through the thick and thin. Aubrey, the gentleman her father has chosen to examine her is doing so only to protect her. Aubrey himself finds all of this quite shocking. Their banter was great fun to read and I really enjoy their slow fall into love. There was some really great lines in this story. 

I enjoy author Connolly's stories very much. This is a clean read but does contain some minor language. I look forward to more in this series as the other Spinsters find their love matches. The cover is gorgeous as well.

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

Giveaway

MFS Tour Gieaway
Enter the giveaway HERE.
Giveaway ends October 4 at 11:59pm MT. ​ Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.

Tour Schedule

Check out the tour schedule HERE.

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