by admin | May 6, 2017 | Books, Gilded Age, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I always love getting to read a new novel by Jen Turano. I enjoy her sense of humor plus the way her heroines are generally not accepted by the high society set. That just makes the character all the more interesting to me, especially when she is as feisty and kind-hearted as Permilia Griswold. And oh, the names! Turano has a real gift for choosing unusual names for many of her characters, often names I have never heard before. Such fun!
Now motherless Permilia had spent much of her life following her father from one mining interest to another so she had not learned all the fine skills society demanded of young women. Her ineptitude earned her a position and reputation as a wallflower at society events. Not particularly interested in making a match, Permilia used her near invisibility to good use in her anonymous gossip columns. Everything changed when she overheard a sinister conversation threatening Asher Rutherford’s life. When he refused to believe her, Permilia took it upon herself to protect him – and that is where the hilarity ensued!
Although the story got off to a somewhat slow start due to all the necessary details about the Vanderbilt ball, it picked up its pace later with plenty of action and romance, laced with a bit of danger and suspense, and as always, several delightfully laugh-out-loud moments. Of course there was a surprise or two in store. Most importantly I was quite pleased to see a couple of not-so-nice characters receive their due comeuppance.
All in all, “Behind the Scenes” was another fun read that kept me engaged throughout its entirety. I am looking forward to this author’s next offering.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Click to purchase
Miss Permilia Griswold may have been given the opportunity of a debut into New York high society, but no one warned her she wasn’t guaranteed to “take.” After spending the last six years banished to the wallflower section of the ballroom, she’s finally putting her status on the fringes of society to good use by penning anonymous society gossip columns under the pseudonym “Miss Quill.”
Mr. Asher Rutherford has managed to maintain his status as a reputable gentleman of society despite opening his own department store. While pretending it’s simply a lark to fill his time, he has quite legitimate reasons for needing to make his store the most successful in the country.
When Permilia overhears a threat against the estimable Mr. Rutherford, she’s determined to find and warn the man. Disgruntled at a first meeting that goes quite poorly and results in Asher not believing her, she decides to take matters into her own hands, never realizing she’ll end up at risk as well.
As Asher and Permilia are forced to work together and spend time away from the spotlight of society, perhaps there’s more going on behind the scenes than they ever could have anticipated. . . .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jen Turano, author of nine 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.
INTERVIEW WITH JEN TURANO:
- What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you personally?
Amusing things happen to me all the time, but I think my favorite was back in college when I was a lifeguard. You see, there’s a lifeguard code – You will be cool at all times, especially when you’re sitting in a lifeguard chair, twirling your whistle exactly so, and, you know…looking cool. So, there I was, in my black lifeguard bathing suit – swinging my whistle. It was an unusually hot day, so I’d angled my umbrella exactly right as I watched the diving-board section. Now, I know this might come as a surprise, but being a lifeguard at the neighborhood pool isn’t exactly thrilling. It’s rare that anything exciting happens, and that particular day was no exception…until a large gust of wind came out of nowhere and the umbrella took it upon itself to close – right over me. And because it was now really gusty, the umbrella then lifted up, taking me with it right off the chair and into the depths of the deep end of the pool. From all accounts, it was quite the sight. First, there I was, swinging my whistle and looking groovy. Then all you could see were my legs flailing about as the umbrella covered the rest of me, and then…I was plummeting toward the pool, hit the water with the umbrella over me, and promptly sank. Obviously I managed to get out of the umbrella, but in the process, part of my bathing suit came off, and…well, that’s a story for another day.
- What is your favorite book from your childhood?
“Andrew Henry’s Meadow.” It was actually my little brother’s book, gotten from one of those book of the month clubs, but I loved it. I recently found a copy on an e-site and ordered it, and it’s just as delightful today as it was back in my childhood.
- Who does the cooking and cleaning in your house when you are on a deadline?
I don’t actually cook much even when I’m not on deadline, so that’s not really an issue. Al and I do a lot of salads or throw some chicken on the grill. We also have a lot of grocery stores that have wonderful deli and gourmet foods, so we get a lot of things there. As for cleaning, I’m one of those neurotic people who can’t work without everything being in place, so I do a lot of tidying up before I go to bed. And, because I do some of my best thinking when I clean, I’ve been known to abandon my writing when I get stuck and pick up a mop or cleaning rag, which means my house is rarely a disaster since I need to get unstuck a lot.
- Where is your favorite place to write?
I do the majority of my writing in my office, although I will occasionally take a pad of paper and a pen outside to handwrite when I get bored of my office or it’s a really nice day and I don’t feel like being trapped inside. It’s not that my office is my favorite place to write, it’s more that my writing is my job and I’m more focused on that writing when I approach it as such.
- What is your favorite part of the writing process?
I really like when characters and new story ideas begin to fester. That normally happens when I’m in the midst of another series. By the time I’m done with whatever series I’m working on, the next series is pretty firmly set in my mind, which means I can jump right in as I wait for edits on recently completed work. My absolute favorite part of writing, though, is when I turn in the very final edit on a book and don’t see it again until it comes out in print. Although, I must admit, I’ve never, not once, read one of my books after it has gone to print. Seems rather pointless since I do always know how the book is going to end.
- Why did you choose the timeframe or setting this book is written in?
I’ve been wanting to set a book during Alva Vanderbilt’s famous costume ball of March, 1883, for years. Since I decided to slowly travel through the Gilded Age, I just reached 1883 on my plot timeline, so knew I was finally going to get to throw some characters into the very midst of Alva’s ball. It was a blast to write, loved going back to all my books on this particular ball and seeing the pictures, and only wish the Vanderbilt house at 660 Fifth Avenue was still standing so I could visit it in person to visualize the splendors located inside a little more clearly.
- What inspires you?
I think like most writers, I simply get inspired by the world around me. I love to people watch, and I love to imagine all sorts of outlandish scenarios as I do that watching. I also get inspired by reading the headlines of the daily papers, and by the research books I read. I also love to look through old photographs of the Gilded Age, and became intrigued with Alva Vanderbilt’s ball when I saw a picture of a young lady, Miss Kate Strong, with a stuffed cat on her head and wearing a choker necklace with the name Puss engraved on it. That was all it took for me to investigate the Vanderbilt ball further, delighted to discover it truly was a ball that only comes along every blue moon.
BLOG STOPS:
April 27: Reading Is My SuperPower
April 27: The Scribbler
April 27: Genesis 5020
April 27: These Splendid Sentences
April 28: Back Porch Reads
April 28: Smiling Book Reviews
April 28: Fiction, Faith, and Fun
April 28: Just the Write Escape
April 29: Bookworm Mama
April 29: Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
April 29: Books. Books. AND More Books.
April 29: Karen Sue Hadley
April 30: Lighthouse Academy
April 30: Radiant Light
April 30: Bigreadersite
April 30: Lane Hill House
May 1: Faithfully Bookish
May 1: Counting Pinecones
May 1: Blogging With Carol
May 1: Moments Dipped in Ink
May 2: inklings and notions
May 2: Blossoms and Blessings
May 2: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses
May 2: Neverending Stories
May 3: For The Love of Books
May 3: Singing Librarian Books
May 3: Book by Book
May 3: Pause for Tales
May 4: A Baker’s Perspective
May 4: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner
May 4: cherylbbookblog
May 4: Rachel Scott McDaniel
May 5: With a Joyful Noise
May 5: Baker Kella
May 5: A Reader’s Brain
May 5: Southern Gal Loves to Read
May 6: A Greater Yes
May 6: Christian Bookaholic
May 6: Connie’s History Classroom
May 6: Splashes of Joy
May 6: Just Commonly
May 7: A Simple Life, really?!
May 7: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
May 7: Daysong Reflections
May 7: The Power of Words
May 8: Ashley’s Bookshelf
May 8: Eat, Read,Teach, Blog
May 8: Giveaway Lady
May 8: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
May 9: Bibliophile Reviews
May 9: History, Mystery & Faith
May 9: I Hope You Dance
May 9: Simpleharvestreads
May 10: His Grace is Sufficient
May 10: History, Hope, Laughter & Happily-ever-after
May 10: Raining Butterfly Kisses
May 10: Reader’s Cozy Corner
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away a $25 Barnes and Noble Gift Card and the four books: After a Fashion, In Good Company, Playing the Part, Behind the Scenes!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4664b04910/
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by admin | Apr 22, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Pursued” starts off full speed ahead with a plane crash and the action doesn’t let up until the very end. After the crash, the passenger next to Nikki is missing so Nikki is asked by the FBI to help find her. She is pulled immediately into the case and her reunion with Tyler, the man she cares for, has to be put on hold. As Nikki and the team frantically search for the woman, the body count increases at every turn and they all find themselves potential victims as well.
Action-packed with twists and surprises around every corner, “Pursued” kept me engrossed until the end. The story is so fast-paced that there is very little time for contact between Nikki and Tyler, let alone time for their romance to develop. Hopefully they will find more time in the next installment. There is also very little development in Nikki’s search for her missing sister so that is another matter I hope to see resolved one way or another in the next book. Despite both of those situations, the book was not lacking in excitement or enjoyment. I would highly recommend it as well as previous books of the series to all who enjoy fast-paced suspense.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Nikki Boyd’s flight into Nashville was routine–until the crash landing at the airport.
When the dust settles, Nikki discovers that the woman who had been seated next to her on the plane is missing–and no one will admit she was ever there. When she learns that Erika Hamilton had been flying to Nashville with an air marshal as a key witness in an upcoming grand jury trial, Nikki wonders if her disappearance from the crash site means she’s running from trouble–or straight into it. Before Nikki can even see her family, she and her team are pulled into a missing persons case where the motives are as unclear as the suspects.
Bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris has planted danger around every turn in this can’t-put-it-down thrill ride that will leave you stunned.
Read an excerpt of “Pursued” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times. She has sold over thirty novels and novella collections. Along with her husband, she and her three children have spent over ten years living as missionaries in Africa where she homeschools, leads a women’s group, and runs a nonprofit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. The ECHO Project works in southern Africa promoting Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way for her to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves . . . the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice” (Proverbs 31:8).
When she’s not working, she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa, visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com or her blog at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com. For more information about The ECHO Project, please visit www.theECHOproject.org.
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by admin | Apr 22, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
If Hope Harbor was a real place, I would be ready to move there in a jiffy. I do realize, of course, that it is a fictional town and reality is rarely what I find between the covers of my books. My daughter and her husband have lived in the general vicinity of this imaginary town for a year and although they love the coast of Oregon, they have not encountered anyone similar to the characters in Hannon’s Hope Harbor series. Oh well! I would be quite happy if Irene Hannon would extend this series to eight or ten novels. I don’t think I would quickly tire of reading about the residents of Hope Harbor, both human and animal. Charlie is a fixture who I would love to encounter on a regular basis.
Lexie and Adam were both characters that I grew to love. Adam was such a great guy, one who was always finding ways to help others but saw himself as a real loser and had very little hope for his own future. Police chief Lexie was too busy with her job and young son to even think about romance but something about Adam made her take notice when circumstances threw them together more than once. Too bad it would never do for the police chief to spend much time with an ex-con!
A little drama, a bit of mystery, a touch of suspense, and lots of romance work together to make “Sandpiper Cove” a special tale that kept me turning pages well into the night. Hannon is a pro when it comes to character development and her stories always touch my heart. I try to never miss one of her novels whether it is a solid suspense or a contemporary romance. “Sandpiper Cove” is not to be missed and I would also suggest picking up the other books in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Wishing for things that can never be is foolish . . . or is it?
Hope Harbor police chief and single mom Lexie Graham has zero time for extracurricular activities–including romance. Ex-con Adam Stone isn’t looking for love either–but how ironic is it that the first woman to catch his eye is a police chief?
When Lexie enlists Adam’s help to keep a troubled young man from heading down the wrong path, sparks begin to fly. Could it be that God may have a different–and better–future planned for them than either could imagine?
Lauded by Library Journal as “a master at character development,” Irene Hannon welcomes you back to this charming Oregon seaside village.
Come home to Hope Harbor
where hearts heal–and love blooms
Read an excerpt from “Sandpiper Cove” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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by admin | Apr 18, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, England, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have been hearing good things about Pepper Basham for awhile and have even purchase some of her books. Unfortunately my review calendar has not allowed much time for reading books not on it. I was excited to actually put “Just the Way You Are” on my calendar so I could see for myself what everyone was talking about. Just wow!
First of all, this author has an amazing gift with words. The dialogue was so natural and engaging. Characters were strongly defined with enough of both good traits and flaws to make them realistic. Of course at least one character exhibited quite a few more flaws than the others. I was captivated at the opening scene and didn’t want to put the book down until I finished it.
If you can imagine laugh-out-loud humor combined with sizzling romance and topped off with strong faith, that is what you get with “Just the Way You Are”. The book is filled with so many perfectly quotable lines that I would find it difficult to choose a favorite. I loved both Eisley and Wes. Eisley could be such a klutz but was always able to laugh at herself and move on. Wes turned out to be so different from what one would expect of a man in his position and it was easy to see why Eisley would fall for him despite her vow to avoid romance.
“Just the Way You Are” is a fun yet serious look at learning to see ourselves how God sees us and following His plans for our lives. I thoroughly enjoyed Basham’s pairing of two such opposite characters from opposite sides of the world. I look forward to another visit to Pleasant Gap. I hope I don’t have to wait too long!
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Click to purchase
Single mom, Eisley Barrett, prefers to keep romance safely housed within a centuries-old mystery, but when she travels to England to unearth the secret, an actor with a sordid past offers her reluctant heart a very different type of discovery.
Wes Harrison has a past he’s ashamed to confess. Suspicious and cynical, he’s managed to avoid romantic entanglements since a tragedy upended his career and life, that is until American Eisley Barrett comes along. Her authenticity and kindness upend his bitter assumptions and send his heart into unscripted territory.
When his past threatens to ruin a second chance at love, can some Appalachian matchmaking and letters from the grace salvage their unexpected romance?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes novels inspired by her love for history and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her Penned in Time series has garnered recognition in the Inspys, Grace Awards, and the ACFW Carol Awards. Her contemporary romance novel, A Twist of Faith, received 4-stars from Romantic Times, and most recently, her newest release, The Thorn Healer, received a Top Pick from RT with 4 ½ stars. Her newest contemporary romance, Just the Way You Are, releases in April 2016. You can get to know Pepper on Facebook, or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley, or Instagram.
GUEST POST FROM PEPPER BASHAM:
Thank you so much for featuring my newest novel, Just the Way You Are, on CelebrateLit. I am THRILLED to be a part of this and to share a story that is very dear to my heart.
Just the Way You Are is my first ‘true’ Britallachian romantic comedy. Even though I’ve written comedy in some of my other novels and included elements of both Appalachia and Britain, this one embodies the tag #britallachian to the core. For those of you who’ve read some of my previous books, you know I’m a big fan of my native Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian culture. You may also know that I’m a proud Anglophile.
Those two loves met in Just the Way You Are – and I tossed lots of other things I love best into the mix. What are those ingredients, you might ask?
Well, let me just tell ya! Just the Way You Are is a blend of Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian culture, big (hilarious) family dynamics, matchmaking, Britain, a swoony English hero, a quirky, magnanimous heroine, a bunch of adorable kids, Scooby Doo and Indiana Jones references, lots of humor, a historical mystery, a devious villainess, stately manor houses, secret rooms, love letters, and matchmaking all rolled into one…oh, and did I mention brain-numbing romance?
(Did anyone else feel the need to add “fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, miracles, true love….” From the Princess Bride?) J I don’t think I included torture, giants, or monsters in Just the Way You Are…but I may have the other elements in this novel J
Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating about the brain-numbing, but I do have a tendency to err on the side of overly dramatic J
Within the pages of Just the Way You Are, you’ll meet people from my own family, people from my imagination, and some people who stepped into the story without one ounce of my planning to ever meet them. This story came out of my desire to write something I love reading – spicy romance, clean humor, culture clashes, the big love of family, and redemption.
How did my heroine Eisley Barrett evolve? Out of thin air. I was washing dishes one afternoon and staring out the window into our small backyard with the Blue Ridge Mountains painting a purplish-blue frame on the horizon when I closed my eyes. Into my imagination came this ginger-headed woman walking through Heathrow International Airport pulling a hot pink bag behind her…and then, she tripped and fell. That was it. That’s how I was introduced to my insecure, hilarious, romance-loving, single-mom heroine.
And the dashing hero? Okay, this may sound ridiculous, but I was watching an interview about Richard Armitage (Thoron Oakenshield, Guy of Gisborne, etc) regarding his lovely costume drama North and South where he plays a very dashing British hero. Anyway, he was SUCH a gentleman to watch during the interview. So polite. Kind. Funny, in a sweet way, and then, out of the blue, he said the word ‘gosh’. I know, that may not be a big deal to anyone but me, but after watching celebrity interviews where every other word needed a censor, the very fact that this elegant man used the word ‘gosh’, sent my writing brain into motion. My first internal question? What if a movie star with a tender heart had been burned by the pretension and expectation of celebrity status? What kind of woman could touch a heart who’d lost his faith in love’s authenticity?
Enter my red-head single-mom toting her pink bag through Heathrow and you have the very beginning of Just the Way You Are – a story of forgiveness, second chances…and a little bit of movie magic.
BLOG STOPS:
April 6: Reading Is My SuperPower
April 6: cherylbbookblog
April 6: Fiction Aficionado
April 7: Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
April 7: Smiling Book Reviews
April 7: Singing Librarian Books
April 8: Bookworm Mama
April 8: my site/autism mom
April 9: Quiet Quilter
April 9: Inklings and notions
April 10: Faithfully Bookish
April 10: Back Porch Reads
April 11: Robin’s Nest
April 11: Christian Chick’s Thoughts
April 12: Blogging With Carol
April 12: Just the Write Escape
April 13: Cordially Barbara
April 13: Moments Dipped in Ink
April 14: His Grace is Sufficient
April 14: A Greater Yes
April 15: Just Commonly
April 15: 100 Pages per Hour
April 16: Book by Book
April 16: A Baker’s Perspective
April 17: Splashes of Joy
April 17: Christian Bookaholic
April 17: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
April 18: Karen Sue Hadley
April 18: History Mystery & Faith
April 18: Through the Open Window
April 19: Henry Happens
April 19: Baker Kella
April 19: Daysong Reflections
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away a Grand Prize consisting of:
A ‘chest’ – in JTWYA historical letters are discovered in a chest that relates to the historical storyline, so all of these lovely goodies are going to be safely inside this chest.
Chocolate – several references take place in JTWYA that compare the hero to chocolate ?
A plaque about family – because that’s a main point of importance in JTWYA
A Spider-man zipper pull – Pete, the heroine’s son, is a major Spider-man fan.
English Breakfast Tea – The hero is English…swoony English
A dishcloth – again, something that relates to a scene in the book regarding the hero and dishes (twice)
Stirring spoon and measuring cups – food and cooking are a big part of Appalachian culture and fellowship, something celebrated in JTWYA
A notebook – Eisley (the heroine) is taking notes about a historical family mystery
A lovely container full of cloth flowers (for fun, and beauty) – the container says – Love and you will be loved. Loving others has an amazing way to find its way back to us (as is what happens in JTWYA)
A little plaque that reads “You are Loved” – a theme of this story
A beautiful lace doily from England (the English part of the story)
Some “Pixie Dust” a fun visualization of the ‘magic’ of romance in this story
and A copy of Just the Way You Are!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/b3e0
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by admin | Apr 18, 2017 | Books, Colorado, Historical, Romance, Western
Now, get ALL THREE of the bestselling Defiance books in ONE collection, along with a BONUS, never-before-published prequel novella, The Lost Chapters.
Three beautiful, Christian sisters, ranging in ages and life experiences, find themselves stranded in the lawless mining town of Defiance, Colorado. But God is moving everything into place–planning for something good to come from their individual heartbreaks. Naomi, Rebecca, and Hannah have futures bright with hope–even if they can’t see it at first.
A Lady in Defiance
Charles McIntyre owns everything and everyone in Defiance. Still, he is intrigued enough by the sisters to allow them to open a hotel in his town, especially since he views feisty middle sister Naomi as his next conquest. Naomi, angry with God for widowing her, wants no part of Defiance or the saloon-owning, prostitute-keeping Mr. McIntyre. But the Lord may have other plans.
Hearts in Defiance
McIntyre built Defiance practically with his bare hands … and without any remorse for the lives he destroyed along the way. Then a glimpse of true love, both earthly and heavenly, changed him. The question is, how much? His wife is a beautiful, decent woman. She says she loves McIntyre, that God does, too, and the past is behind them now. But McIntyre struggles to believe he’s worth saving … worth loving. Unfortunately, the temptations in Defiance only reinforce his doubts. Eventually, old enemies and old weaknesses will come calling…
A Promise in Defiance
When McIntyre founded Defiance, he was more than happy to rule in hell rather than serve in heaven. But things have changed. Now, he has faith, a new wife…and a ten-year-old half-breed son. Logan Tillane carries a Bible in his hand, wears a gun on his hip, and fights for lost souls any way he can. Newly arrived in Defiance, though, he has trouble telling the saints from the sinners. When a scandalous madam flings open the doors to a raunchy saloon, these two good men will fight their personal demons to the death. Unfortunately, only one will survive.
The Lost Chapters – A Novella
In this prequel novella, set in North Carolina, meet Naomi’s first husband, her childhood sweetheart. He is faced with trying to hold the family together before a scandal and a greedy rich man can tear it apart.
And what was it like for sixteen-year-old Hannah to deal with the shame of carrying a bastard child? Rumors are swirling. Did the father of the baby abandon them of his own accord, or was he forced to leave by a family bent on protecting a grand ambition?
Rich with gritty drama and historical detail, these tales are told by real, flawed women who fight for love and faith in a godless frontier town. The Ladies of Defiance.
Pick up your set of all three books plus the bonus Lost Chapters HERE while it is only $0.99!
MY REVIEW:
I have previously read “A Lady in Defiance” and possibly one or both of the other full-length books in this series. I have read so many books over the past several years that sometimes my memory fails me. I do have copies of all three on my Kindle and actually just sprang for the new boxed set. I just noticed that I never reviewed “A Lady in Defiance” so I need to remedy that oversight in the near future (even if I have to read it again to do so).
I did just read the Lost Chapters and thoroughly enjoyed learning the background of the three sisters and how they found themselves in Defiance. It is a short, quick read but I liked how it set the stage for the rest of the series.
If you are a fan of historical western romance, this is a series you will want to check out.
by admin | Apr 15, 2017 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
“Surrendered” is the second book in Elaine Manders’ Intrigue Under Western Skies series. I so appreciated that I was informed that the first book of the series was a free Kindle offering and I had a chance to read it first. I suppose “Surrendered” might be enjoyed as a stand alone but so much happened in “Pursued” that led up to the events in the second installment. My opinion is that “Surrendered” will be appreciated more if the series is read in order.
Anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time knows that I adore western novels. It’s probably a throwback to evenings spent watching westerns on TV with my dad but I definitely have a soft spot for cowboys. The front cover was all it took to grab my attention. Fortunately the story inside the covers was worthy of that handsome cowboy on the front. I found plenty of action, danger, and drama as well as a beleaguered romance that kept me wondering how it would all work out.
Both Rhyan and Carianne were strong characters who were surrounded by an excellent supporting cast, especially Colt and his mother. I especially liked how often faith and prayer were included as a natural part of the story throughout both books. Some surprises along the way kept things interesting yet everything turned out exactly right by the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Click to purchase
The fight never ends until someone surrenders.
Having vanquished his political enemies, Rhyan Cason is anxious to get home to his beloved Carianne. Then he receives word an anthrax outbreak threatens his ranch. Even as he ponders how he can afford to take a wife, dark secrets from the distant past shake his beliefs to the core and convince him he’ll never be able to find forgiveness or make Carianne happy.
Carianne Barlow is stunned when Rhyan breaks their secret engagement. She leaves Sollano, the beautiful ranch house she loves almost as much as its owner, and returns home to Westerfield. While waiting for her shattered heart to heal, she shifts her attention to building the library she’s promised the town.
Even though Colt Holliman offers her a new courtship, circumstances keep drawing her back to Sollano and Rhyan. Torn between her affection for Colt and her love for Rhyan, Carianne realizes almost too late Rhyan’s troubles lie deeper than saving the ranch. He fights an evil that threatens more than his love for her—one only God can defeat.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Elaine Manders writes wholesome Christian romance and suspense about the bold, capable women of history and the strong, dependable men who love them. She prefers stories that twist and turn and surprise, told by characters who aren’t afraid to show their love for God and each other. She lives in Central Georgia with a happy bichon-poodle mix. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, crafts, and spending time with her friends, daughter, and grandchildren.
GUEST POST FROM ELAINE MANDERS:
I was born with the gift of story. The make-believe of childhood never left me, but it wasn’t until my daughter left for college, and I was left with the empty nest, that I decided maybe it was time to start writing the stories crowding my mind. I joined a local writers’ group, took a fiction writing course, developed the craft, went to conventions, and started pitching to editors.
Since I wrote romance, I found the publishing industry pushing me to a place I didn’t want to go. The secular publishers wanted steamier writing, and I complied as much as I could. Then when I was offered a chance for publication, I couldn’t allow my name to go on the book. The Christian publishers had a very narrow marketing concept. Again, I tried to comply until I felt the joy of story being squeezed out of me. I took a twelve year hiatus from writing.
Then in 2012, I was sitting in church listening to the familiar parable of the talents. When my pastor asked the question, “Are you hiding your talent?” I immediately visualized that closet filled with my unpublished manuscripts. I rededicated myself to putting my talent to use, and I asked God to send me a new story, if this was what he wanted me to do.
Later that week, I was on the golf course when I laid down on a little hill waiting for my husband to chase a ball in the woods and stared into the deepest, bluest sky I’ve ever seen. The sun was high in the sky, but the shade of blue was so dark I could actually see, not only the moon, but some of the stars. Looking into that sky, I experienced a strange sensation, as if I’d lost contact with the earth and was moving into infinity. I wondered, as I had many times before, how an atheist could look into the heavens and not believe in the Creator. This led me to an investigation of scientific atheism, Darwinism, and the entire series, Intrigue under Western Skies, was born. My protagonist is a Darwinist of the 1880s. Book 1, Pursued, is his spiritual journey to belief in Christianity, and Book 2, Surrendered, takes him to acceptance. The heroine, of course, helps him on this journey, while dodging all the dangers the old west has to offer. Incidentally, Pursued will be free on Amazon Apr 18-19.
BLOG STOPS:
April 11: 100 pages per hour
April 11: Karen Sue Hadley
April 12: History, Mystery & Faith
April 13: Moments Dipped in Ink
April 14: Bigreadersite
April 15: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner
April 16: Daysong Reflections
April 17: cherylbbookblog
April 17: Baker Kella
April 18: I Hope You Dance
April 19: Inklings and Notions
April 20: Reading Is My SuperPower
April 20: Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses
April 21: Pause for Tales
April 21: Have A Wonderful Day
April 22: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
April 23: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
April 24: Connie’s History Classroom
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Elaine is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card! Click below to enter.
Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
https://promosimple.com/ps/b5ae
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Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty novels, including Buried Secrets, Thin Ice, and Tangled Webs, as well as the Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of Justice, and Private Justice series. In addition to many other honors, she is a seven-time finalist for and three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA’s elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.
