by admin | Mar 6, 2020 | Books, Historical, Romance, Suspense, True Crime
MY REVIEW:
Each and every book I have read from the True Colors series has been excellent. I have enjoyed the historical tales based on true American crimes. Some of them are almost too strange to believe but it is obvious that the authors have researched their chosen subjects well.
The Green Dress is a somewhat disturbing addition to the series. The story itself is very good with well developed, three dimensional characters who practically leap off the pages of the book. Even the villains of the story showed more than one side of their personalities. The disturbing thing is the very idea that such evil people exist in our world and the depths of their lack of conscience and depravity. The fact that the story is based on a true crime is indeed unthinkable.
I tend to enjoy suspenseful novels. The Green Dress contained just the right touch of mystery and suspense to hold my interest and keep me turning the pages. I found Harriet and Michael to be perfect heroes with their loyalty, determination to find the truth, and resolve to help. It was not too much of a surprise when the truth was exposed but satisfaction that the horror had been stopped. I found it particularly interesting when the role of the green dress was revealed.
I highly recommend The Green Dress as well as the entire True Colors series. I don’t intend to miss a single book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
| Book: The Green Dress
Author: Liz Tolsma
Genre: Christian Historical Suspense
Release Date: June 2020
Click here to get your copy!
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Death Seems to Follow Harriet’s New Friend
Book 6 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History
When Harriet Peters came to Boston in 1882, the Robinson family took her in like one of their own, and Harriet became closer to Lizzie Robinson than her own siblings. Now, four years later, Lizzie is deathly sick, failing quickly just like several others in her family have done over the past few years. How can so many in one family die from the same mysterious illness? Harriet doesn’t have answers, but she is determined to help the family, bringing in a new-to-the-neighborhood doctor, Michael Wheaton.
As Harriet and Michael close in on the answer, putting their own lives at risk, can the cause be found before anyone else dies?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Liz Tolsma is a popular speaker and an editor and the owner of the Write Direction Editing. An almost-native Wisconsinite, she resides in a quiet corner of the state with her husband and is the mother of three. Her son proudly serves as a U.S. Marine. They adopted all of their children internationally, and one has special needs. When she gets a few spare minutes, she enjoys reading, relaxing on the front porch, walking, working in her large perennial garden, and camping with her family.
MORE FROM LIZ:
We’ve all been there—started a letter or an email or even a list, didn’t like what we had, crossed it out or hit the delete button, and tried again. Now imagine that happening when you’re writing a novel.
That’s what occurred with The Green Dress. Finding the perfect place to start a novel can be tricky, but when you’re trying to balance fact with fiction, it’s even harder. I needed the fictional heroine, Harriet Peters, to have a good reason to come into contact with and become close to the factual Robinson family. And I needed for the hero, Michael Wheaton, to meet Harriet early on. So I dove into the story. Five chapters later, the hero and heroine hadn’t yet met. The book wasn’t working.
I scrapped those chapters and started at a different point. At first, it seemed to be going better. I was happy. Until I got to the fifth chapter, when I realized again that the book wasn’t working. Frankly, it was boring. So those ended up in the virtual trash bin. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking on my deadline. I was desperate to find the right starting point, at a place with high tension. Finally, I had an “aha” moment, and the story flowed from there. That’s how the first five chapters (and the rest of The Green Dress) came to be.
—Liz Tolsma
BLOG STOPS:
| The Power of Words, June 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 26
deb’s Book Review, June 26
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, June 26
A Reader’s Brain, June 27
Rebecca Tews, June 27
For Him and My Family, June 27
Texas Book-aholic, June 28
Back Porch Reads, June 28
Inklings and notions, June 28
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 28
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 29
Genesis 5020, June 29
Emily Yager, June 29
Christian Bookaholic, June 30
Robin’s Nest, June 30
To Everything There is A Season, June 30
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 30
Blogging With Carol, July 1
Bigreadersite, July 1
Read Review Rejoice, July 1
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 2
Life of Literature, July 2
Connie’s History Classroom, July 2 |
Betti Mace, July 3
Southern Gal Loves to Read, July 3
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, July 3
Stories By Gina, July 3
For the Love of Literature, July 4
Remembrancy, July 4
Reviewingbooksplusmore, July 4
Godly Book Reviews, July 5
Splashes of Joy, July 5
Vicky Sluiter, July 5
Older & Smarter?, July 6
Through the Fire Blogs, July 6
Daysong Reflections, July 6
amandainpa, July 6
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 7
Pause for Tales , July 7
Just the Write Escape, July 7
Hallie Reads, July 8
Where Faith and Books Meet, July 8
Blossoms and Blessings, July 8
Spoken from the Heart, July 9
With a Joyful Noise, July 9
Artistic Nobody, July 9 (Guest Review from Donna Cline) |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/fcd8/the-green-dress-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jan 26, 2020 | American Crime, Books, Historical
MY REVIEW:
I was not aware of how much I would enjoy The Gray Chamber when I first began to read it nor how difficult it would be to stop reading in order to get a little sleep before a busy day. I am so thankful that our society has changed enough that women are not as easily committed to such institutions as the Blackwell Island Asylum for selfish reasons such as Edyth was.
Edyth was actually a delightful character. She was one who stretched the bounds of society as far as possible with her love of fencing, horseback riding, and how she loved to travel on her bicycle rather than by carriage like a proper lady. Despite her unique personality and characteristics, Edyth had a heart of gold and was willing to help so many others in need. Nevertheless her uncle Boris managed to use her peculiarities against her in order to have her put away in an asylum so that he could inherit her wealth before she reached the age he would no longer be her guardian. Edyth’s good friend Bane played an important part in the story and was instrumental in her release. Pardon me if that is too much of a spoiler.
This novel contains riveting descriptions of the unthinkable treatment of the women doomed to live in the asylum. At times it is difficult to read, knowing that these things actually took place not so long ago in our history and possibly still exist in other places in our world. Filled with plenty of action, danger, betrayal, romance, and even a touch of humor, the story also illustrates the importance of faith and trusting in the Lord to help us during difficulty circumstances.
I loved The Gray Chamber and will certainly be on the lookout for more books by this promising author.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
| Book: The Gray Chamber
Author: Grace Hitchcock
Genre: Christian Historical / Suspense
Release Date: January, 2020
Click here to get your copy! |
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Will Edyth prove her sanity before it is too late?
Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime
On Blackwell’s Island, New York, a hospital was built to keep its patients from ever leaving.
With her late parents’ fortune under her uncle’s care until her twenty-fifth birthday in the year 1887, Edyth Foster does not feel pressured to marry or to bow to society’s demands. She freely indulges in eccentric hobbies like fencing and riding her velocipede in her cycling costume about the city for all to see. Finding a loophole in the will, though, her uncle whisks Edyth off to the women’s lunatic asylum just weeks before her birthday. And Edyth fears she will never be found.
At the asylum she meets another inmate, who upon discovering Edyth’s plight, confesses that she is Nellie Bly, an undercover journalist for The World. Will either woman find a way to leave the terrifying island and reclaim her true self?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Grace Hitchcock is the author of three novellas in The Second Chance Brides, The Southern Belle Brides, and the Thimbles and Threads collections with Barbour Publishing. The White City is her debut novel and releases March 2019 with Barbour Publishing. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in southern Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, and son. Visit Grace online at GraceHitchcock.com.
MORE FROM GRACE:
I am thrilled to share with you my second novel in the True Colors series, The Gray Chamber, which is set in New York City in 1887. I loved writing about Edyth Foster, our cat-rescuing, spunky heroine who spends her days painting, fencing with her dreamy instructor, and avoiding society at all costs, which as you can imagine, comes back to haunt her before the end. I’ve never written about a character who despised reading, so that was a new one for me. Edyth just doesn’t like to sit still long enough to finish a book, but you’ll find out why later.
I am pretty certain the librarians at my local branch are wondering what in the world my hobbies are, judging from the stacks of fencing books for beginners, histories of New York crime in the 19th century, and Nellie Bly’s Ten Days in a Mad-House, and more that I have continuously checked out since moving back to Louisiana.
The inspiration for this book came from Nellie Bly’s scandalous exposé for Joseph Pulitzer’s newspaper, The World. In reading Nellie’s articles, I was shocked at the grounds by which the asylum would commit women and that’s when I discovered a tiny mention about an heiress with family members who had her tucked away so they could have her fortune. . .and Edyth Foster was born.
I hope you will enjoy reading about our eccentric leading lady and her fencing master hero, Raoul “Bane” Banebridge. If you are interested in seeing pictures of the asylum and to see what I pictured the characters looking like, check out my Pinterest board here.
Thank you for joining the fun for the Celebrate Lit tour! Join my author newsletter for more bookish news and to find out what is coming next! Just enter your e-mail address and name here. Happy Reading!
“With beautiful description and shiver-worthy scenes, Grace Hitchcock has penned an incredible fiction story based on true history. The Gray Chamber was a fascinating and chilling read. Edyth’s story had me glued to the pages. But as I journeyed with the heiress and her eccentricities, the greed of her family which saw her locked up in an asylum against her will made me grateful for the freedoms I have today. And made me pray that my voice would never be silenced. The nightmare was brought to life so vividly that I found myself holding my breath and then cheering on Bane as he never gave up on Edyth. This is a story that will stick with me for a long time…”
~Kimberley Woodhouse – Carol-Award winning and Best-Selling Author of more than twenty books, including: MissTaken Identity, The Express Bride, The Golden Bride, The Patriot Bride, and The Mayflower Bride.
BLOG STOPS:
| A Reader’s Brain, January 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20
Texas Book-aholic, January 20
Emily Yager, January 21
All-of-a-kind Mom, January 21
Older & Smarter?, January 21
Bigreadersite, January 22
Inklings and notions, January 22
For Him and My Family, January 22
Genesis 5020, January 23
deb’s Book Review, January 23
Blogging with Carol, January 23
Christian Bookaholic, January 24
KarenSueHadley , January 24
Mary Hake, January 24
For the Love of Literature, January 25
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 25
Godly Book Reviews, January 26
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, January 26 |
The Becca Files, January 26
Through the Fire Blogs, January 27
Daysong Reflections, January 27
Back Porch Reads, January 28
Robin’s Nest, January 28
Connie’s History Classroom, January 28
Betti Mace, January 29
Rebecca Tews, January 29
Vicky Sluiter, January 29
By The Book, January 30
Hallie Reads, January 30
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, January 30
Blossoms and Blessings, January 31
A Baker’s Perspective, January 31
Remembrancy, February 1
To Everything There Is A Season, February 1
With a Joyful Noise, February 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 2
Pause for Tales , February 2 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a free copy of The Gray Chamber!!
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/f4a2/the-gray-chamber-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jan 22, 2020 | Books, Historical, Romance, Romantic Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I always hesitate a bit before requesting a review book from a new-to-me author. What if I don’t like it? I really don’t like leaving negative reviews and sometimes it’s just plain difficult to leave a tactfully positive one if I don’t care for the book. Yet I have added quite a few new favorite authors to my must read list so I usually like to take a chance. Rachel Scott McDaniel is one of those new-to-me authors and I am pleased to say I am writing a genuinely positive review for her new book Above the Fold. I liked it so well that I will definitely be on the lookout for her next novel.
Above the Fold is a romantic mystery set during what is known as the Roaring Twenties. My grandmother was a young woman during that era so it is always fun to read about the times she lived in during her younger years. The story was everything I love in a book. Not only was it romantic but it was witty and suspenseful and blended with a perfect touch of faith. I enjoyed the characters, especially Elissa and Cole who both came to life on the pages of this story. I was impressed by their integrity and their dedication to finding and reporting the truth and the way each of them was willing to lay down their own ambitions for the other.
Details about the newspaper business were interesting as were the descriptions of Pittsburgh during the twenties. I can’t wait to read more from this delightful author.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
| Book: Above the Fold
Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: December 3, 2019
Click here to get your copy. |
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Confined behind a secretarial desk at her father’s struggling newspaper, Elissa Tillman longs for her father and the world to take her seriously—not just as a suffragette, but also as a full-fledged journalist.
Cole Parker regrets the day he’d abandoned Pittsburgh to chase a high-profile journalism job in New York, but now he’s returned to the steel city to amend his mistakes and win back the woman he once spurned.
The murder of a millionaire offers the perfect chance for Elissa to nab the headline and prove her skills. But there’s a catch. To get her story above the fold, she must compete for it. Her rival is none other than Cole Parker, the very man who shattered her heart.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel Scott McDaniel is an award-winning author of historical romance. Winner of the ACFW Genesis Award and the RWA Touched By Love award, Rachel infuses faith and heart into each story. She currently enjoys life in Ohio with her husband and two kids. Rachel can be found online at www.RachelScottMcDaniel.com and on all social media platforms.
MORE FROM RACHEL:
What does the classic movie His Girl Friday, famous mystery writer Agatha Christie, and my husband’s grandfather all have in common? They were all used as inspiration for my debut novel Above the Fold.
His Girl Friday is one of my favorite stories. This movie captures the thrill of the newspaper world—that drive within the reporter’s heart to get the scoop, that hum of activity from the newsroom to the firing of the presses, and that inescapable pursuit to beat out the opposing paper. But what I loved most about this movie was the chemistry between the two main characters. They share a romantic history. In turn, there is major tension, but man oh man is there spark! So this triggered my creative mind. What would happen if I switched the roles and had the heroine be the one that gets jilted? What if I set this story in the 1920s when the profession of journalism was male-dominated? What if I add some more mystery? Cue Agatha Christie.
My husband and I love Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple series. Did you know that she wrote over 74 books? That’s staggering to me. My mind reels at how intricate and varied all her plots are. My husband and I would try to guess who the murderer was at the beginning of a story and more often than not, we were wrong! On one particular night we were watching a PBS version of Miss Marple and an idea struck me. What if I changed my story to go this route? What if I made this person the villain instead of that one? The idea that came to me had nothing to do with the story we’d been watching, but one thing that’d been said flickered a light in me. I love it when that happens! And I also love it when I can incorporate pieces of my personal life into the book. This brings me to the biggest inspiration of the story—my husband’s grandpa.
Grandpa Jay Lewis had two loves in his life—his wife and the newspaper press. He’d started working for the local newspaper during his early teens and made his way up the ranks until he became the press foreman. Here’s a picture of Jay when he was in his early 20s. The hat shown was made of folded newsprint paper and worn to keep the ink from dripping on his head. But the expression in this picture says it all—the press was his happy place. He’d worked with the presses for over five decades, until he no longer had the strength. In 2004, he passed away, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of many. So in tribute to Jay and his great passion for the newspaper world, I included him in the cast of characters. I only hope I was able to capture his zeal.
So there you have it. Inspiration came to me in a myriad of ways, but they all worked together to bring you a story that I pray delights your heart.
BLOG STOPS:
| April Hayman, Author , January 14
Robin’s Nest, January 14
Godly Book Reviews, January 15
Where Faith and Books Meet, January 15
Just the Write Escape, January 16
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections, January 16
Through the Fire Blogs, January 17
mypreciousbitsandmusings, January 17
Betti Mace, January 18
All-of-a-kind Mom, January 18
Texas Book-aholic, January 19
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 19
janicesbookreviews, January 20
Emily Yager, January 20 |
She Lives to Read, January 21
For the Love of Literature, January 21
Inklings and notions, January 22
Life of Literature, January 22
Daysong Reflections, January 23
For Him and My Family, January 23
Stories By Gina, January 24
Jacquelyn Lynn, January 24
Hallie Reads, January 25
Beauty in the Binding, January 25
Back Porch Reads, January 26
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 26
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 27
Batya’s Bits, January 27 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her giveaway, Rachel is giving away the grand prize package of an Autographed Paperback copy of Above the Fold, A Custom Newspaper-Themed Book Cozy, An Above the Fold vintage-style bookmark!!
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/f46d/above-the-fold-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jan 16, 2020 | Books, Historical, Regency, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Lorri Dudley is a new author to me and I am delighted that I took a chance and agreed to review her novel The Duke’s Refuge. I actually was expecting the usual Regency era tale filled with ballrooms, debuts, and calling cards. What a pleasant change to find a story set primarily on a leeward island as well as several perfectly fascinating characters.
I loved the idea of a runaway Duke who was disenchanted with English society after the death of his beloved wife. Harrison Wells spent his time attempting to raise his son properly and help educate the underprivileged children of the island. I also loved Georgia Lennox whose attempt to gain her mother’s approval by becoming the perfect lady in order to find an acceptable husband. Unfortunately practicing her feminine charms and wearing pink actually made her miserable. Georgia’s first encounter with Harrison was a disaster and subsequent encounters did not improve either one’s impression of the other.
The island setting was so well described that I could almost feel the humid heat and hear the crashing of waves. The imaginative plot was such fun with plenty of laugh inducing scenes for my enjoyment. Both Georgia and Harrison were painted with a broad brush with all their perfections and blemishes exposed. It was refreshing to watch as not only Georgia and Harrison’s relationship developed but also how her bond to her father grew stronger. And lest I forget, there is at least one perfectly awful person who probably gave the word evil its meaning.
By all means, grab a copy of The Duke’s Refuge as soon as possible. I can almost guarantee that you will not want to put it down until the very end.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
| Book: The Duke’s Refuge
Author: Lorri Dudley
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: January 7, 2020
Click here to get your copy! |
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When love comes in a tempest, who knew it would wear pink?
Georgia Lennox has traded in her boyish ways for pink gowns and a coy smile to capture the eye of the Earl of Claremont. However, on the day she’s convinced the earl will propose, Georgia is shipped off to the Leeward Islands to care for her ailing father. But when she arrives on Nevis, the last thing she expects is to learn that her abrupt departure was not at her father’s bidding but that of the infuriating, yet captivating, island schoolmaster. And now her plans may well be shipwrecked.
Harrison Wells is haunted by the memories of his deceased wife and hunted by the subsequent women who aspire to be the next Duchess of Linton. Desiring anonymity, he finds sanctuary in the Leeward island of Nevis. He’s willing to sacrifice his ducal title for a schoolmaster’s life and the solace the island provides. That is until unrest finds its way to Nevis in a storm of pink chiffon—Miss Georgia Lennox.
As Georgia and Harrison’s aspirations break apart like a ship cast upon the rocks, a new love surfaces, but secrets and circumstances drag them into rough waters. Can they surrender their hearts to a love that defies their expectations?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household. Find her online at www.lorridudley.com.
MORE FROM LORRI:
After being buried under the largest snowfall in Massachusetts history, I wrote The Duke’s Refuge as an escape to warmer tropical climates, and what better respite than a romantic Caribbean isle with a mysteriously missing Duke? In the process I fell in love with the beauty of Nevis, it’s rich culture, and history.
My heroine Georgia lured me in the moment I realized she only wore pink. My psychology background had me digging deeper. I needed to know why. Why the obsession? What was the root behind the hurt? Why pink? How did she go from being a Tomboy to a dignified, Regency socialite? And how did she wind up in the Leeward Islands? Enter her beloved, sick father who always saw Georgia’s potential even when it was hidden under boy’s clothing and often smelled of marsh. Although, he held the best of intentions, his relocating to Nevis left Georgia with deep abandonment issues.
Harrison was a completely different beast. After reading about Mudlarks who trolled the Thames River searching for treasure and even picking the pockets of dead people washed up on the shores, I knew Harrison’s would wind up caked in the Thames’s thick mud and devastated at the loss of his wife. The Leeward island became not only a reprieve from his grief but also from the women who snuck into his carriage or cornered him at parties clamoring to become the next Duchess.
Oddly enough, part of the story formed when a friend of mine spoke of their family trip to visit his mother. She happened to own a parrot, and after a week of the kids yelling each other’s names, the parrot imitated their shrieking. Even long after they returned to the U.S. the bird still screeched out their names. I couldn’t resist adding a mimicking parrot to add a comical element and harass my main characters.
The Duke’s Refuge is meant to be a fish-out-of-water, case-of-mistaken-identity, love triangle romance with a happily-ever-after. It demonstrates how God’s love fervently pursues us, no matter how far we run, and that sometimes, something we would never have chosen can bless us in a way we would never have expected.
To learn more, check out my website at lorridudley.com or click here to watch The Duke’s Refuge’s book:
BLOG STOPS:
| Batya’s Bits, January 9
Genesis 5020, January 9
Texas Book-aholic, January 10
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 10
Betti Mace, January 11
KarenSueHadley, January 11
janicesbookreviews, January 12
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 12
Remembrancy, January 12
Reading Is My SuperPower, January 13
Through the Fire Blogs, January 13
Reflections From My Bookshelves, January 14
Kat’s Corner Books, January 14
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 15
Books, Life, and Christ, January 15
She Lives to Read, January 16 |
Blessed & Bookish, January 16
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 16
Daysong Reflections, January 17
Mary Hake, January 17
Inklings and notions, January 18
April Hayman, Author, January 18
For Him and My Family, January 19
Britt Reads Fiction, January 19
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, January 20
Hallie Reads, January 20
Pause for Tales, January 20
deb’s Book Review, January 21
Life of Literature, January 21
Just the Write Escape, January 21
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 22
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, January 22 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Lorri 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/f468/the-duke-s-refuge-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jan 14, 2020 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
If you enjoy adventure novels with a frontier setting along with a touch of romance, then Freedom in the Mountain Wind just might be for you. A story about a young woman who sets out on a journey to the Rocky Mountains with her dying father to fulfill his last wish to see the mountains. Neither of them expected the trip to be so arduous or for his health to fail so quickly. Just when Susanna thought they would no longer be able to go on, they encounter a young Indian man who agrees to help portage their boat past the waterfall. His act of unexpected friendship encourages Susanna to continue their journey.
The well paced plot and vivid descriptions of the vast wilderness makes the story a pleasure to read. Susanna and Beaver Tail’s story is filled with hardship, dangers, friendship, compassion, romance, and a beautiful story of salvation. A grizzly encounter as well as other accidents leaves more than one character injured and even fighting for their life.
I was so impressed by the way these three strangers took Susanna and her father under their wings and abandoned their own plans to protect them and help them reach their goal. The author brought out the tenderness in these rough men in such a way that it was perfectly believable. I could say so much more but I’ll leave it to you to discover the depths of this most excellent novel by a very talented author. I will definitely be reading more books by Misty M. Beller!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
| Book: Freedom in the Mountain Wind
Author: Misty M. Beller
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: January 14, 2020
Click here for your copy. |
 |
The last epic journey before her life changes forever.
Susanna Wilkins will do anything to make her father’s final dream come true, including trek along the path Lewis and Clark explored into the untamed wilds of the Rocky Mountains. Every mile is more crucial now that lung cancer is stealing Pa’s last days faster than she can come to terms with losing him. The journey becomes harder than she ever expected, but paddling upriver through fierce rapids and fighting hungry grizzlies isn’t what terrifies her the most.
Beaver Tail endured more than he can stand from the women in his Blackfoot camp, but the last disaster gave him the final shove he needed to join this band of brothers searching for one of their group who’s gone missing. The last thing he expected was to find a white woman and her sick father stranded at the base of massive waterfall. His plan is to help them carry their oversize canoe and supplies, then leave them to their strange mission. Yet, the more he learns about the pair, the more he realizes his life is about to be derailed—again.
From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.
She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.
MORE FROM MISTY:
When God Directs a Google Search…
I’m a history lover, but you may have guessed that since I write historical romance stories. ? Most of my books are set in the Rocky Mountains during the mid-1800s, but as I began brainstorming ideas for this new series, my heart became drawn earlier to the earlier part of the century—a time period with which I wasn’t quite as familiar with the history.
I love when God orchestrates even the most mundane part of our lives, including Google searches! During one particular search (I can’t even remember what I was originally looking for), I stumbled across part of a journal entry from the Lewis and Clark expedition, which trekked across Montana during the time period I was looking into. I’d forgotten that expedition had even entered the territory that would later become Montana, but now I was fascinated.
After finding an audiobook of the abridged journals of Lewis and Clark, I happily listened to almost 19 hours of fascinating stories from the Corp of Exploration’s journey up the Missouri River and across the mountains to the Pacific Ocean, then back mostly the over the same path they’d come. The stories the men told were so amazing, and the detail of their trials so absorbing, I’ve actually re-listened to the audiobook twice! Many of the true tales wouldn’t be believable in fiction, but as I listened, my mind formed the premise for Freedom in the Mountain Wind: a father/daughter duo who sets out almost two decades after Lewis and Clark’s journey, determined to retrace the steps of that famous expedition.
I hope you enjoy this story as much as I loved writing it! And whether you’re a history lover or not, I pray that you too will be touched by this “epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.”
BLOG STOPS:
| Simple Harvest Reads, January 15 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Daysong Reflections, January 15
My Devotional Thoughts, January 15
Genesis 5020, January 16
Blossoms and Blessings, January 16
Connect in Fiction, January 17
SPLASHES of Joy, January 17
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 17
Emily Yager, January 18
Deanne’s Book Thoughts, January 18
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, January 18
A Baker’s Perspective, January 19
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, January 19
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 20
Jeanette’s Thoughts, January 20
Mary Hake, January 20
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 21
Wishful Endings, January 21
All-of-a-kind Mom, January 21 |
Pause for Tales, January 22
Bigreadersite, January 22
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, January 22
Through the Fire Blogs, January 23
Betti Mace, January 23
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 23
Older & Smarter?, January 24
For the Love of Literature, January 24
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 25
Rebecca Tews, January 25
For Him and My Family, January 25
She Lives to Read, January 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 26
Inklings and notions, January 26
Blessed & Bookish, January 27
janicesbookreviews, January 27
deb’s Book Review, January 27
Texas Book-aholic, January 28
Hook Me In A Book, January 28 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/f49e/freedom-in-the-mountain-wind-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jan 12, 2020 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
I grew up watching westerns on TV with my dad and I tend to enjoy a good western novel from time to time. I would have to say that Heather Blanton’s Defiance series comes closest to the shows I remember so fondly from so many years ago. At first glance one might consider her books to be a bit violent or to touch on objectionable subject matter. My husband has been watching a lot of old westerns lately and I have been surprised at their content. I guess as a child, much of it was over my head. Anyway, those were supposedly the good old days of TV and was considered family friendly. The author’s books do contain some violence and a few inappropriate characters but what shines out to me is that she has woven the word of God throughout the narrative. In her stories, even the most hardened characters have a chance of redemption and mercy always triumphs over justice, although justice is also very important.
A Destiny in Defiance continues the Defiance story with many of the same characters from the previous books. This novel can be enjoyed on its own but reading the previous three gives the reader more background on what has gone before which makes certain aspects of the story easier to understand. I won’t go into details here but the story features a continuing rivalry between two men and at least one love story. Plenty of action and danger fill its pages and the reader can expect some twists and surprises along the way. And like I mentioned earlier, following the Lord plays an important part in the lives of many of the characters which I certainly appreciate.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Destiny in Defiance as well as the previous books of the series. I hope you will take a chance on them too. Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read it there or it can be purchased in paperback or kindle format.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Romances and rivalries are simmering in Defiance…
Charles McIntyre’s dark past is dead and buried. Now, he is a peaceable man striving to serve God, love his new wife, and bring respectable industries to the once lawless town of Defiance.
When his nemesis threatens everything Charles cares about, though, will he give the fight to the Lord, or unchain his demons? The choice is clear because no one is going to hurt his family. No one.
Hope Clark comes to Defiance intent on proving a woman can be as fine a doctor as any man. To accomplish the task, however, she’ll have to keep her medical background a secret for a bit. When her lies force some ugly choices between life and death, love and loneliness, will hiding the truth be worth the sacrifices?
In a town turning as explosive as a keg of dynamite, no one is in Defiance by accident. No one is without hope or love—if they’ll lift up their eyes…
Grab your copy today of book 4 in this exciting series!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Heather Blanton is the independent bestselling author of several Christian Westerns, including the “Romance in the Rockies” series which was recently OPTIONED for a LIMITED TV SERIES.
She is a former journalist and avid researcher who endeavors to seamlessly weave actual history in among fictional storylines. She loves exploring the American West, especially ghost towns and museums. She has walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence Rock, and even held an outlaw’s note in her hand.
“Heather Blanton is blessed with a natural storytelling ability, an ‘old soul’ wisdom, and wide expansive heart. Her characters are vividly drawn, and in the western settings where life can be hard, over quickly, and seemingly without meaning, she reveals Larger Hands holding everyone and everything together.”
MARK RICHARD, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AMC’S HELL ON WHEELS, and PEN/ERNEST HEMINGWAY AWARD WINNER
Her novels are all Christian Western Romance because this is the genre that lets her write about feisty pioneer women who struggle to find love and keep their faith. Like all good, old-fashioned Westerns, there is always justice, a moral message, American values, lots of high adventure, unexpected plot twists, and often a touch of suspense. Of course, romance is always a strong element in her stories because it is such a beautiful gift from God and a perfect reflection of how he loves us: sacrificially and lavishly. Her work is inspired by authors like the great Louis L’Amour, Francine Rivers, and Linda Lael Miller, to name just a few.
She grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina on a steady diet of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and John Wayne Westerns. Her most fond childhood memory is of sitting next to her daddy, munching on popcorn, and watching Lucas McCain unload that Winchester! Her daddy also taught her to shoot and, trust us, she can sew on buttons with her rifle.
She is a proud member of Western Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers.
