by admin | Jan 10, 2019 | Books, Historical, Humor, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Oh my! Jen Turano has done it again. Somehow she always manages to combine a truly memorable romance with one hilarious, witty scene after another, as well as inject just the right amount of mystery. I love her characters with the delightfully quaint names given the heroine and other females. Heroes are always swoon-worthy and readers will usually find at least one thoroughly detestable person in the mix. The addition of charming children and rambunctious pets sends the story over the top.
I loved everything about Flights of Fancy. It was such fun observing pampered heiress Isadora pretend to be a housekeeper. As readers can imagine, her chores were filled with mostly humorous mishaps that were often witnessed by the handsome hero Ian. Witnessing Isadora’s transformation from a spoiled, self-absorbed lady to one who cared about others and learned to depend on the Lord was very gratifying.
Flights of Fancy is a fun, romantic tale devoid of objectionable scenes or language. I would not hesitate to allow a teen daughter to read it.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author through Bethany House Publishing. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high-society world she’s always known and finds herself an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.
Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely through traditional hard work. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he’s unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.
Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when a chain of mysterious incidents on the farm point to a larger threat, they’ll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after.
Read an excerpt here.
Purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jen Turano, the USA Today bestselling author of eleven books and two novellas, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.
by admin | Jan 7, 2019 | Books, Civil War, Contemporary Fiction, Historical, Michigan, Split Time
MY REVIEW:
Debut novelist Erin Bartels has taken on difficult subject matter in her novel We Hope For Better Things. This split time narrative explores relationships between blacks and whites through the stories of three different women in the Detroit, Michigan area. Their individual stories take place during the civil war, the volatile sixties, and the present time. While the reader is presented with views from both sides of the equation, it is evident that we still have a long way to go if we are ever to resolve the divide between the races.
Overall, the story is well told although I found myself lost a time or two when the plot switched from one time frame to another. The characters are strong ones but I would have liked to get to know each of them more thoroughly than was possible in a split-time story. I did feel like the story was well researched and presented a historically accurate view of the respective time frames, especially the effects certain choices made on the women and their families. By the end of the book, most of my questions had been answered with the exception of the true cause of one death. I have my suspicions but I imagine the author intended for her readers to draw their own conclusions.
Erin Bartels definitely has a way with words and should find more of her novels on store shelves in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The past is never as past as we’d like to think
When journalist Elizabeth Balsam is asked to deliver a box of old photos to a relative she didn’t know she had, the strange request seems like it isn’t worth her time. But as she explores her great-aunt’s farmhouse with its locked doors and hidden graves, she soon discovers just how dramatically some of the most newsworthy events of the previous two centuries shaped her own family. As she searches for answers to the riddles around her, the remarkable stories of two women who lived in this very house emerge as testaments to love, resilience, and courage in the face of war, racism, and misunderstanding.
Take an emotional journey through time–from the volatile streets of 1960s Detroit to Michigan’s Underground Railroad during the Civil War–to uncover the past, confront the seeds of hatred, and discover where love goes to hide.
Purchase a copy HERE.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
by admin | Jan 3, 2019 | Books, Colonial America, Historical, Romance, Scotland
MY REVIEW:
What an amazing book! I found myself so engrossed in the story that I pretty much neglected everything else. A Bound Heart is the kind of historical tale that avid readers would love to see acted out on screen – as long as it remained true to the written story. Honestly, this book would make an epic movie filled with lush scenery and a star-crossed narrative that extends from the rugged shores of Scotland across the Atlantic to the New World.
I loved this story of two childhood friends who grew up together on a Scottish island, separated as adults by their stations in life. Despite her soft heart for Magnus, Lark knew her place and endeavored to serve both him and his wife well. Magnus too was circumspect in his dealings with Lark. At the death of Magnus’ wife, Lark found herself accused of her murder and Magnus’ attempt to defend her sent them both to prison and then to Virginia as indentured servants, a situation that could have ended in death for either or both of them.
It was inspiring to read how time and time again, what may have seemed to be coincidence could only have been Divine intervention that showed each of them favor. To say more would reveal more than I would like. Just be assured that if you love Christian historical fiction, you DO NOT want to miss A Bound Heart.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is just the keeper of his bees–and the woman who could provide an elixir to help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Can they make a new beginning in this New World? Or will their hopes be dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony?
Laura Frantz’s prose sparkles with authenticity as she digs into her own family history to share this breathless tale of love, exile, and courage in colonial America.
“An epic journey of faith and love wrought through hardship.”—Julie Klassen, bestselling author
“From start to finish, A Bound Heart is an absorbing, tenderhearted story about the grace of second chances.”–Lori Benton, author of Many Sparrows and the Christy Award-winning Burning Sky
“A Bound Heart keeps you riveted until you’ve turned the last page. Highly recommended!”–Michelle Griep, award-winning author of The Captured Bride
“A soaring tale. With her trademark attention to detail and lush imagery, Laura Frantz takes readers on an unforgettable journey certain to stir the soul.”–Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of Between Two Shores
Purchase a copy HERE.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Laura Frantz is a Christy Award finalist and the ECPA bestselling author of several books, including The Frontiersman’s Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Colonel’s Lady, and The Lacemaker. She lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky. Learn more at www.laurafrantz.net.
by admin | Dec 28, 2018 | Books, England, Historical, Mystery, Regency, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Abigail Wilson is another debut author I plan to keep my eyes on. Her first novel In the Shadow of Croft Towers is an excellent and promising start to a possible long career as author.
Vivid imagery, intriguing characters, and ample mystery and plot twists kept me turning the pages until the end. The brooding atmosphere is the perfect setting for this novel filled with secrets, spies, smugglers, and murder where no one is quite whom they seem. A touch of romance is welcome but even that is wrought with mystery. Surprising revelations and a dramatic climax brought the book to a satisfying conclusion.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel with its Gothic tone and look forward to more offerings from this talented new 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: In the Shadow of Croft Towers
Author: Abigail Wilson
Genre: Historical fiction, romantic suspense
Release Date: January 15, 2019
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From debut author Abigail Wilson comes a mysterious Regency tale of secrets and spies, love and treachery.
Orphaned Sybil Delafield jumps at the opportunity for a position at the mysterious Croft Towers. She believes she was hired to act as companion to a dying woman, but a highway robbery and a hostile welcome from the Chalcroft family cause her to wonder if she was actually hired to help someone spy for France.
An unsolved murder adds intrigue to this already secretive family, and Sybil recognizes Mrs. Chalcroft’s handsome grandson as one of the infamous highwaymen who robbed her. Sybil must determine if this man’s charming smile and earnest eyes speak the truth or if he is simply using her like others in the house. Everyone seems to have something to hide, and Sybil must decide who to trust while also coming to terms with the truth about her own past.
Click here to purchase your copy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A Registered Nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the National Parks, attending her daughter’s gymnastic meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five contest and ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children.
Connect with Abigail at www.acwilsonbooks.com
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK:
1813
THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE
I often wonder what my life would have been like if I had never learned the truth. I wouldn’t have set off as I did for Croft Towers. I never would have met him.
It’s strange what I remember about the day I left London. The mail coach was late; the weather wretched. The clock had struck midnight long before two strangers and I ducked beneath the postmaster’s outstretched umbrella to board the Royal Mail and rumble across the North Downs.
That difficult journey east marked the beginning of an unseasonably cold autumn. Frigid rain pelted the coach windows. The undercarriage squealed beneath the seats as a metallic scent wound its way between the drafty boards. I gripped the windowsill, wondering if the coachman intended to hit every bump in the road.
“Far to go, miss?”
The woman’s voice startled me. Dressed head to toe in red
satin, she’d endured the last few darkened hours with a handful of smelling salts and a tongue hot for complaints, but she hadn’t spoken to me until now. Not until the first hint of rain-soaked daylight peeked over the horizon.
I lowered my gaze and fiddled with my bonnet ribbons. “Yes, ma’am . . . well, not too much farther, I hope.”
Taken from “In the Shadow of Croft Towers” by Abigail Wilson. Copyright © 2018 by Abigail Wilson. Used by permission of http://www.thomasnelson.com/.
| Just the Write Escape, December 20Faery Tales Are Real, December 20
The Avid Reader, December 20
Reflections From My Bookshelves, December 21
seasons of opportunities, December 21
Mary Hake, December 22
Carpe Diem, December 22
Inklings and notions, December 23
Blogging With Carol, December 23
A Baker’s Perspective, December 23
Stories By Gina, December 24
Remembrancy, December 24
Madeline Clark, December 25
The Christian Fiction Girl, December 25
For the Love of Literature, December 26
Blossoms and Blessings, December 26
Janices book reviews, December 26
Back Porch Reads, December 27 |
Book by Book, December 27Daysong Reflections, December 28
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 28
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 28
Godly Book Reviews, December 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 29
Bigreadersite, December 29
Inspiration Clothesline, December 30
A Rup Life, December 30
Bibliophile Reviews, December 30
A Reader’s Brain, December 31
Texas Book-aholic, December 31
Just Your Average reviews, January 1
Bookworld Reviews, January 1
Pause for Tales, January 1
Reading Is My SuperPower, January 2
Simple Harvest Reads, January 2 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Abigail is giving away a grand prize of one finished copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/d777/in-the-shadow-of-croft-towers-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Oct 14, 2018 | Books, Christmas, Dickens, England, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
A Tale of Two Hearts is the second book in Michelle Griep’s delightful Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. Set in Dickens era England the story features Mina Scott who secretly admires William Barlow. When he asks her to pose as his bride for just one evening to help him gain a desperately needed inheritance, Mina jumps at the chance only to find herself caught in a rapidly growing trap of lies and deceit. This story is a fine example of the often quoted “O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!” by Walter Scott. One lie led to another one as Mina and William’s good intentions seemed to offer them excuses to continue the charade.
The plot was creative and expertly crafted with wonderful characters, some of whom were extremely easy to dislike. A strong theme of grace, mercy, and redemption was skillfully woven throughout the tale and I loved how the author wrapped it all up at the end.
A Tale of Two Hearts is a perfect Christmas story, especially for lovers of Dickens and historical fiction. Both this book and the previous one 12 Days at Bleakley Manor would make excellent gifts for readers in your circle of family and friends.
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 Title: A Tale of Two Hearts
Author: Michelle Griep
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: September 1, 2018 |
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Innkeeper’s daughter Mina Scott will do anything to escape the drudgery of her life. She saves every penny to attend a finishing school, dreaming of the day she’ll become a real lady—and catch the eye of William Barlow, a frequent guest at the inn.
William is a gentleman’s son, a charming rogue but penniless. However, his bachelor uncle will soon name an heir—either him or his puritanical cousin. In an effort to secure the inheritance, William gives his uncle the impression he’s married, which works until he’s invited to bring his wife for a visit.
William asks Mina to be his pretend bride, only until his uncle names an heir on Christmas Day. Mina is flattered and frustrated by the offer, for she wants a true relationship with William. Yet, she agrees. . .then wishes she hadn’t as she comes to love the old man. And when the truth is finally discovered, more than just money is lost.
Can two hearts survive such a deception?
Click here to purchase your copy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the author of historical romances: The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan.
GUEST POST FROM MICHELLE:
Victorian Christmas Foods
So, it’s September, and you know what that means? It’s back to school. Pumpkin spiced everything is just around the corner. And it’s nearly time for cardigans and colored leaves. But besides all these autumn staples, it’s also time to start thinking about Christmas, because it will be here before you know it. How about this year you plan ahead to serve some traditional Victorian food?
In my newest release, A Tale of Two Hearts, the heroine’s father is known for his annual oyster stew that he serves on Christmas Eve. Here’s a bit of the background on that tasty soup.
Victorian Oyster Stew
Oysters have been savored in Britain since the days of the Romans. By Victorian times, industrialization cheapened oysters to the point of them becoming a staple of the poor man’s diet and were a frequent fare served in public houses. This, however, depleted their abundance, and by the mid 1800’s, the natural oyster beds became exhausted, making it harder to find good oysters. While other foods were served as well on Christmas Eve, oyster stew was as common as goose or turkey.
Another Victorian favorite that goes great on a crisp evening is good ol’ hot chocolate, though in Dickens’ England, it would’ve been called something else.
Drinking Chocolate
What we now call cocoa or hot chocolate was called drinking chocolate in the mid 1800s. This beverage was a favorite among Victorian ladies. You can find recipes for it even from the Regency era (early 1800s) and here is one for you to make at home.
And last, but not least, who hasn’t heard of Christmas pudding? To our American ears, that sounds like a tasty dish that you’d eat with a spoon and slap a little whipped cream on top. Actually, it’s more like a fruit cake.
Christmas Pudding
Christmas pudding is quite a production, one that begins well before Christmas Day. In fact, it begins on Stir-Up Sunday, the last Sunday before Advent (which is five weeks before Christmas). This is why when Mina, the heroine in A Tale of Two Hearts, returns home from dinner at Uncle Barlow’s, and though it’s not yet Christmas, she sees the pudding moulds on the kitchen table.
If these tastes and the accompanying smells still aren’t quite enough to get you in the Christmas spirit, then snatch yourself up a copy of the second book in the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. A Tale of Two Hearts is sure to get you in the mood.
BLOG STOPS:
| Kat’s Corner Books, October 2 |
Simple Harvest Reads, October 9 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng) |
| Creating Romance, October 2 |
Mary Hake, October 9 |
| Just the Write Escape, October 2 |
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 9 |
| The Avid Reader, October 2 |
Carpe Diem, October 9 |
| Genesis 5020, October 3 |
Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, October 10 |
| The Power of Words, October 3 |
Britt Reads Fiction, October 10 |
| Just Commonly, October 3 |
Luv’N Lambert Life, October 10 |
| Baker Kella, October 3 |
A Baker’s Perspective, October 10 |
| Among the Reads, October 4 |
By The Book, October 11 |
| Fiction Aficionado, October 4 |
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11 |
| Godly Book Reviews, October 4 |
Book by Book, October 11 |
| Inklings and Notions , October 4 |
Bigreadersite, October 11 |
| Captive Dreams Window, October 5 |
More Of Him, October 12 |
| Christian Author, J.E. Grace, October 5 |
Pause for Tales, October 12 |
| Proud to Be an Autism Mom, October 5 |
With a Joyful Noise, October 12 |
| Multifarious, October 6 |
Have A Wonderful Day , October 12 |
| Reading Is My SuperPower, October 6 |
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 13 |
| The Christian Fiction Girl, October 6 |
Bibliophile Reviews, October 13 |
| Texas Book-aholic, October 6 |
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 13 |
| Remembrancy, October 7 |
Vicky Sluiter, October 14 |
| Splashes of Joy , October 7 |
Daysong Reflections , October 14 |
| Blossoms and Blessings, October 7 |
To Everything A Season, October 14 |
| Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 7 |
Henry Happens, October 15 |
| Back Porch Reads, October 8 |
All-of-a-kind Mom, October 15 |
| A Reader’s Brain, October 8 |
Reader’s Cozy Corner, October 15 |
| Christian Chick’s Thoughts, October 8 |
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, October 15 |
| Janice’s Book Reviews, October 8 |
|
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Barnes & Noble 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/d4ef/a-tale-of-two-hearts-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Oct 10, 2018 | Books, Cover Reveal, England, Historical, Romance, Romantic Suspense
Most readers of Roseanna White’s novels, especially her most recent Shadows over England series, will most likely be eagerly awaiting the publication of the next series which will include familiar characters and perhaps a chance to catch up with others from the previous series. To add to our anticipation and impatience, the gorgeous cover to The Number of Love is revealed today.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough.
Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy that just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the too-intelligent Margot, but how to convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life’s answers lie in the heart?
Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them, but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.
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Voila!!
Pre-Order from Amazon
(other retailers not yet available)
View The Number of Love Pinterest Board
Add to your list on Goodreads
ABOUT ROSEANNA:
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
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Erin Bartels has been a publishing professional for more than 15 years. Her short story “This Elegant Ruin” was a finalist in The Saturday Evening Post 2014 Great American Fiction Contest. A freelance writer and editor, she is a member of Capital City Writers and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and is former features editor of WFWA’s Write On! magazine. She lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her husband, Zachary, and their son, Calvin, and can be found online at 
