by admin | Oct 16, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Tamara G. Cooper is a new-to-me author but the cover and book description of The Vacant House both appeared interesting so I took a chance on it. I found a book with a fast-moving plot filled with likeable characters, some of them quite quirky. Heroine Sophie O’Brion is a best-selling author who lives in a small town and finds herself accused of killing her neighbor’s cat. From that point things escalate quickly with Sophie in danger of landing in jail or losing her life.
In this entertaining mystery that seems to make absolutely no sense at times, there are a number of possible suspects as well as motives but the author does a great job of untangling all the threads to where it makes perfect sense at the end. I certainly had no clue where it was all going! Action, danger, plenty of humor, second chance romance, and lovable pets that play a major role all work together to assure readers of an enjoyable few hours of reading time. 
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 Vacant House
Author: Tamara G. Cooper
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: June 3, 2019
Click here for your copy!
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She knows she didn’t do it, but everybody thinks she did.
It all begins when best-selling author Sophie O’Brion is the last person to see a murder victim alive. She looks even more guilty when a woman from her church is beaten, and Sophie was seen with her just hours before. Suddenly, people she has known her entire life begin pointing accusing fingers at her.
Marine Master Sergeant Burke Maguire, an old flame who dumped Sophie years ago, has recently been hired as a police officer in Forman Falls, Texas, and is assigned her case. She doesn’t want his help.
As she gets deeper and deeper into trouble, though, she must rely on him, but trusting him is another matter.
Will they be able to work together, maneuver dangerous twists and turns, and finally clear her name?
A clean romantic suspense novel that grips you from the very beginning and won’t let you go! The Vacant House is an unforgettable adventure. Read it today, if you have plans to stay up all night.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tamara G. Cooper lives in Texas with her husband, three sons, five dogs, and loves writing mysteries with a touch of romance.
MORE FROM TAMARA:
Book 1 of Sophie O’Brion Mysteries introduces us to Sophie O’Brion, a quirky, funny, and reclusive mystery writer who lives in a small town in East Texas. Because Sophie looks at life through a lens of humor, funny moments appear often. There are frightening moments, too, in her quest to clear her name from pointing fingers accusing her of murder and attempted murder. Sophie is vulnerable, yet strong; reclusive, yet kind; funny, yet serious. And she is determined! It doesn’t help that added to all this is the return of her high school sweetheart who dumped her 12 years before to join the Marines. As a new police officer, Burke is assigned her case, but she doesn’t want his help. Sparks fly, trust doesn’t, and love stays comfortably in the past. Will Sophie and Burke be able to save her reputation and re-ignite their love for each other? I hope you enjoy this book! Happy reading!
| Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 3
Godly Book Reviews, October 3
Pause for Tales, October 4
Emily Yager, October 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 5
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6
Mary Hake, October 6
Texas Book-aholic, October 7
CarpeDiem, October 7
janicesbookreviews, October 8
All-of-a-kind Mom, October 8 |
Quiet Quilter, October 9
Betti Mace, October 10
Blogging With Carol, October 10
Remembrancy, October 11
A Reader’s Brain, October 12
For Him and My Family, October 12
Moments, October 13
Inklings and notions , October 14
Maureen’s Musings, October 14
My Devotional Thoughts, October 15
HookMeInABook, October 15
Daysong Reflections, October 16 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Tamara is giving away a copy of the book and a $50 Amazon gift card!!
by admin | Aug 31, 2019 | Books, Edwardian, England, Gothic Romance, Mystery
MY REVIEW:
Finding Lady Enderly has all the essential elements required for the perfect gothic novel. Its naive heroine finds herself recipient of everything she ever dreamed only to realize she is caught up in a plot she doesn’t understand that has turned her dream into a nightmare. At least one truly diabolical character threatens both Raina and the man she loves if she refuses to cooperate with his scheme. Various twists and turns take the reader on a breath holding trip into the mysterious Rothburne Abbey which holds its share of secrets.
I can now understand why other readers have raved about this book. Its dark and brooding atmosphere is the perfect backdrop for the story that shines a revealing light on what makes us who we are. Scattered throughout the story are numerous quotations that build layer upon layer an emphasis on the difference between outward appearance and inner strength. Chapter headings are thoughts from the heroine’s journal. I also loved how Raina and Sully communicated secretly with passages from favorite books.
Beautifully written, Finding Lady Enderly is filled with surprises around every corner and a deep spiritual message that each of us can take to heart. I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author through Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Raina’s dreams are all about to come true.
But some dreams turn out to be nightmares.
Raina Bretton is a rag woman in London’s East End when a handsome stranger appears in a dank alley, offering her a glittering smile and a chance for adventure. Rothburne Abbey has a unique position for her, one that will take her away from her hardscrabble life and give her a chance to be a lady.
Though Raina has traded squalor for silk and satin, something about the abbey is deeply unsettling. As she wrestles with her true identity, the ruin, decay, and secrets she finds at the heart of the old mansion tear at her confidence and threaten to reveal her for who she really is. Only one man stands between her and the danger that lurks within–and only if he decides to keep her biggest secret hidden.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears and A Rumored Fortune. She freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. She is always on the hunt for random acts of kindness, people willing to share their deepest secrets with a stranger, and hidden stashes of sweets. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan and shares stories that move her at www.jdpstories.com.
by admin | May 6, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Humor, Mystery
I’ve been told that it is National Beverage Day which makes it the perfect day for a cover reveal for Angela Strong’s latest book A Cuppa Trouble. What could be more appropriate than a somewhat humorous mystery featuring two friends, one who loves coffee and one who is a tea drinker all the way. Or are they?
MY REVIEW:
A Cuppa Trouble is the second book in Angela Ruth Strong’s CafFunated Mysteries series. With a strong emphasis on caffeine in both coffee and tea, the series also contains a wealth of quirky characters, plenty of mystery and danger, and of course fun by the bucketful. It is imperative that you pick up a copy of the first book, A Caffeine Conundrum, in order to become acquainted with Tandy, Marissa, and some of their friends as you await the release of A Cuppa Trouble which takes up where the first book left off.
As Tandy and Marissa prepare for the grand opening of their coffee/tea shop, there is a good deal of friendly competition about their personal favorites. When their very first customer is murdered nearby, the duo are determined to solve the mystery. After all, they have one successful case to their credit. What ensues is a delightful mixture of action, hilarity, danger, mystery, and romance. I was kept guessing along with our intrepid “sheroes” (I ran across that word recently and loved it) as several possibilities for the guilty party present themselves. Don’t you know, it’s always the one you least expect!
Loved this book and catching up with favorite characters and meeting new ones. The author has a wonderful sense of humor and is able to mix it seamlessly with mystery as well as blend a touch of spiritual wisdom in for good measure. Don’t miss out on this one!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Plans for a Valentine’s Day grand opening of a small town coffee shop go awry when the first customer is killed. Evidence points toward the victim being mixed up in a car theft ring, but shop owners Tandy and Marissa have reason to believe he was framed. An assortment of suspects–from a pink-haired heir to Tandy’s charming ex–all seem to know a little too much about grand theft auto.
Without approval from either their boyfriends or the gum-chewing FBI agent in charge, the shop owners go on stakeouts, plan stings, and pursue justice in a high-speed car chase. If they don’t find the killer soon, it might be more than their love lives in trouble.
Preorder a copy today!
by admin | Mar 30, 2019 | Books, Historical, Mystery, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
When You Are Near is a rousing introduction to Tracie Peterson’s new Brookstone Brides series. What’s not to like about an all-girl wild west show, trick horseback riding, murder and mystery, wrapped with with a bit of romance?
The Bookstone Wild West Extravaganza is a family owned and operated show that travels from town to town in railroad cars. The Brookstone family car was parked on a side rail during their stay in each town and housed the family. It was fun to imagine life on the rails with this family as I read their story. I also found details about trick riding and the work involved to be of interest. The characters were mostly likeable with the exception of a couple of true villains. I enjoyed seeing how many of them relied on their strong faith even in the midst of difficult trials. Plenty of action, conflict, and various relationship developments including a possible love triangle helped to hold my interest throughout the entire book.
Once again Tracie Peterson has managed to grab my attention and hold it through the entire book. Not only that but she has me eagerly awaiting the next installment of this 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: When You Are Near
Author: Tracie Peterson
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: March 5, 2018 |
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After her father’s death, Lizzy Brookstone, a trick rider in the all-female Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza, wants nothing more than to quit her role as the star of the show and live a quiet life on her family’s ranch. But returning home would bring Wesley DeShazer, the ranch’s foreman and the man who broke her heart, back into her life. In addition, the Brookstones’ new manager fears that Lizzy’s departure could doom the already cash-strapped show.
Hope grows in Lizzy during a stopover at Fleming Farm. Ella Fleming not only has a natural talent for trick riding and could easily replace Lizzy, but she’s eager to join the show to flee a forced betrothal. However, while there, one of the show’s wranglers is killed in a manner Lizzy finds suspicious. And during her escape from the farm, Ella stumbles across a secret that could affect all of their lives, as well as the future of the Brookstone Extravaganza.
Click here to purchase your copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tracie Peterson (www.traciepeterson.com) is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.
GUEST POST FROM TRACIE:
Introducing…When You Are Near!
I’m excited about the new Brookstone Brides series and had so much fun researching for the various characters and locations. This is a story about a fictional Wild West show with all female performers. Prior to the rodeos we see today, the Wild West shows traveled throughout America and Europe to entertain people and give city dwellers a taste of what the American frontier was like. At least their version.
Buffalo Bill Cody was famous for his shows, which brought Native Americans and their culture into the world of people who might otherwise never have even seen an “Indian.” Pawnee Bill was another entertainer who sought to keep these shows alive.
For the fictional show in my novels, I wanted to focus on three female characters who became a part of the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza for varying reasons. Lizzy Brookstone is the heroine in book one, When You Are Near, and as the daughter of one of the show’s owners, she has enjoyed a starring role as a trick rider.
For research I went to Pueblo, Colorado to the ranch of Karen Vold, a famous trick rider and rodeo star. Linda Scholtz, a famed trick rider, was teaching a clinic there along with Karen at the Red Top Ranch Trickriding School.
These are two remarkable Christian trick riders who have long worked to keep the sport alive. I spent three days getting to know them and what they do and learned so much. And just to prove that we weren’t all work and no play, I thought I’d share my attempt at trick riding. What I won’t do for research!
The series will have three books, as usual, and each book will focus on a different lady and her skills. Mary is a trick shooter like Annie Oakley, and Ella is a Roman rider who stands on the backs of two horses for her part in the act. It was so interesting learning about each of these types of performers, and I hope you’ll get a chance to read all three and enjoy the stories of the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza.
| Among the Reads, March 26
The Power of Words, March 26
Christian Author, J.E. Grace, March 26
Inklings and notions, March 26
The Meanderings of a bookworm, March 27
Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, March 27
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 27
Vicky Sluiter, March 27
Carpe Diem, March 28
The Avid Reader, March 28
Genesis 5020, March 28
The Lit Addict, March 29
Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 29
Back Porch Reads, March 29
Just the Write Escape, March 30
Splashes of Joy, March 30
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 30
Emily Yager, March 31
Daysong Reflections, March 31
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 31
Life of Literature, April 1
EmpowerMoms, April 1
For the Love of Literature, April 1 |
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 2
Through the Fire Blogs, April 2
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, April 2
For Him and My Family, April 3
Remembrancy, April 3
Inspiration Clothesline, April 3
Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 4
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 4
Pause for Tales, April 4
Older & Smarter?, April 5
Stories By Gina, April 5
Book by Book, April 5
Bigreadersite, April 6
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, April 6
Connect in Fiction, April 6
Godly Book Reviews, April 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 7
Texas Book-aholic, April 7
Blossoms and Blessings, April 8
janicesbookreviews, April 8
A Reader’s Brain, April 8
The Becca Files, April 8 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Tracie is giving away a grand prize of When You Are Near, Tracie’s A $25 Barnes and Noble Gift card, and the three books in The Heart of Alaska series and three other winners will receive a copy of When You Are Near!!
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/dcdd/when-you-are-near-celebration-tour-giveaway
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 23, 2018 | Amish, Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have never met a book by Cindy Woodsmall that I did not enjoy and that includes those for which she has recently joined forces with her daughter-in-law Erin. The two of them make a great team and the story flows so flawlessly that I couldn’t determine that more than one person was involved in its creation.
The Christmas Remedy features an unexpected Amish character, a young woman so vested in the health of her community that she is willing to forego a husband and family in order to become a pharmacy technician. If only she were not so tempted by Joshua Smucker who always makes her think of a home of her own with him.
This wonderful book is populated by wonderful characters – some good ones and perhaps one or two who are not so good. Holly’s giving spirit and focus on helping others made her a favorite of mine. Joshua’s understanding support of Holly and his willingness to help her succeed made him the perfect hero. The story was spun against an idyllic small town backdrop and an unexpected mystery added the perfect counterpoint to the sweet romance developing between Joshua and Holly.
The Christmas Remedy is the perfect read for a long winter evening by the fire. I enjoyed it very much and am sure others will also.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author and Waterbrook Multnomah. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When an Old Order Amish woman takes a job at a small-town pharmacy struggling to survive in a world of “big box” stores, her motive is to help her Plain community. But the advent of the holiday season brings an unusual mystery to the surface–and possibly love.
Twenty-four-year-old Holly Zook lives a unique life for a young Amish woman. Years ago, her bishop allowed her to continue her education and become the lead technician for Greene’s Pharmacy, an old-timey drugstore that looks out for the Amish community–a group largely without secure healthcare plans. She knows she can’t marry and hold onto her professional job. She’s Amish, and she can only have one or the other, so she spurns love and works toward addressing treatable diseases–like the one that claimed her father’s life.
As long as Holly continues to avoid Joshua Smucker, the one man who draws her like a warm hearth in winter, she should be fine. When something unexpected threatens Greene’s Pharmacy, Holly and Joshua must work together to unravel what’s happened and find the “missing” patient before the Board of Pharmacy shuts them down. As the snows of December arrive, with Christmas in the air, will Holly succumb to the generous spirit of the season?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times, CBA, ECPA, and USA Today best-selling author who has written twenty-two (and counting!) works of fiction and one of nonfiction. Cindy has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal,and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the one of the top three most popular authors of Amish fiction.
She’s won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer’s Choice Awards, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings’ Best Books of the Year. She’s been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards.
Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn’t realize it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl. Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and cape dresses. Her parents didn’t allow television or radios, and many other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times Luann came to Cindy’s house to spend the night, her rules came with her and the two were careful to obey them–afraid that if they didn’t, the adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier to keep when they spent the night at Luann’s because her family didn’t own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating around the adults’ disapproval and the obstacles in each other’s lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into their teen years, until Cindy’s family moved to another region of the US.
As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite communities–from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.
Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.
If you’d like more information or to contact her, you can go to her website: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorcindywoodsmall
