May 30, 2018

Confessions of a Red Herring by Dana Dratch - Review and Giveaway

Book details
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 
Kensington (May 29, 2018) 
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages 
ISBN-13: 978-1496716569 
Digital ASIN: B075C8FDT5
  

Book description
As a reporter, she’s used to covering the news. Now she’s the headline.

Alex Vlodnachek has been a reporter for 12 years, a P.R. rep for three months, and a murder suspect for all of 24 hours. When her agency's double-dealing CEO is stabbed, scheming co-workers cast the new redhead as a compelling red herring. The story is media catnip—especially her salacious nickname: Vlod the Impaler.

Even Alex has to admit she looks guilty.

Out of a job and under suspicion, Alex is running low on cash, when she’s visited by a second disaster: her family. Soon her tiny bungalow is bursting with her nearest and not-so-dearest. To keep herself out of jail—and save what’s left of her sanity—Alex returns to her reporting roots. She goes undercover to reclaim her life, break the story, and unmask a murderer. Pretty much in that order.

What she doesn’t know: The killer also has a to-do list. And Alex is on it.

Meet the author - Dana Dratch
Dana Dratch is a former newspaper reporter and current personal finance writer. When she's not finishing Seeing Red—the next Alex Vlodnachek mystery—you'll spot her byline on a host of top news sites. You can learn more about her mysteries at ConfessionsofaRedHerring.com.

Purchase Links Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play BookBub 

My thoughts
I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good start to a new series. I liked how the story flowed off the page and was a quick read. It was fun getting to know Alex and her crazy family. Who of us does not have a little crazy in our families too. Alex had her work cut out for her trying to solve the mystery of who offed the CEO of the company she worked for. Everyone thought she did it and she had no choice but to prove them wrong. I liked the little twists the author gave and had a fun time trying to figure out for myself who did the deed. I thought this was a fun, quick read and look forward to the next book. 

Giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
May 28 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews - REVIEW, GUEST POST 
May 29 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf - AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
May 29 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW 
May 30 – The Ninja Librarian - REVIEW, GUEST POST 
May 30 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW 
May 31 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog - CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
May 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 
June 1 – Cozy Up With Kathy - AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
June 1 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT 
June 2 – MJB Reviewers - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
June 2 – The Montana Bookaholic - CHARACTER GUEST POST 
June 3 - Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
June 3 - Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW 
June 4 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
June 4 – Sinfully Wicked Book Reviews – REVIEW 
June 5 – The Self-Rescue Princess – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
June 5 – My Reading Journeys - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
June 6 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT 
June 6 – Moonlight Rendezvous - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
June 7 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW 
June 7 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW 
June 8 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST 
June 8 – StoreyBook Reviews - REVIEW 
June 9 – Brooke Blogs - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
June 9 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW 
June 10 – The Mysterious Inkspot – REVIEW 
June 10 – Laura's Interests – CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 25, 2018

General Data Protection Regulation


I just want to say a grateful thank you to all of my followers and subscribers and to let you know that your privacy is very important to me. I would not want you to receive emails from me unless it is your wish to. 

You may have heard about the new General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), that comes into effect today, May 25, 2018. To help comply with GDPR consent requirements, I need to confirm that you would like to receive content from me.

I hope you continue to email being a follower/subscriber to my blog and Facebook page. To see all the details about GDPR and legal disclaimers please visit the legal disclaimer tab above. Thank you. 

May 23, 2018

Nine Birds Singing by Edythe Anstey Hanen - Spotlight and Giveaway

Book details
Nine Birds Singing by Edythe Anstey Hanen
Publication Date: December 5, 2017
New Arcadia Publishing
Paperback; 276 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-0981024158
Genre: Literary Fiction

Book description
Maddie is a writer of local history but wants to use her words to unlock the hidden truths that lay just below the surface of her life. But it’s magnetic words on a refrigerator door – Have dreams. Must travel – that push Maddie into the journey she must take: the search for what she has yearned for all her life: independence and freedom from the abusive fanaticism of her parents’ religious beliefs. From Vancouver in the sixties to present day Mexico and a small island on the Canadian west coast, Nine Birds Singing is a love affair with words. It weaves through past glories and youthful hubris in a search for understanding and acceptance. Profound friendship, skewed love and loss all play a role in Maddie’s search for redemption. 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Praise for Nine Birds Singing
"In Nine Birds Singing, Edyth Anstey Hanen’s appealing narrator Maddie recalls and examines her own search for independence from her parents’ restrictive values. The writer and Maddie, together, gather the reader in to share an intimate, wise, and moving tale." -Jack Hodgins, Author of Spit Delaney’s Island "Nine Birds Singing is a finely written book, lovingly crafted, poignant and perceptive. A tale of gradual self-understanding, awakening and ultimate release." -Nick Bantock, Author of the The Griffin and Sabine Trilogy "If, like me, you despair for the collapse of the English language take comfort. In Nine Birds Singing you will discover a veritable Aladdin’s Cave of delights. Edythe Anstey Hanen not only uses the basic blocks of language, words, to propel her characters and her story, each word has been selected with meticulous care with attention to its meaning and its ability to resonate. The work is a symphony for the logophile. Don’t miss it." -Patrick Taylor. USA Today, New York Times and Globe and Mail best-selling author of the Irish Country Doctor series "Readers will enjoy the unique views and poetic pacing of Nine Birds Singing by Edythe Anstey Hanen. She savours and survives landscapes and relationships in teasing but tasty quick episodes. Her novel takes readers via circular time travelling through decades of Mattie’s life in Canada and Mexico. Enjoy this new voice!" -Bernice Lever, Small Acts, Black Moss Press, 2016

Meet the Author - Edythe Anstey Hanen
Edythe Anstey Hanen has published prize-winning short stories and poetry in literary magazines including Room Magazine and anthologies across Canada, in addition to articles in the Globe & Mail, National Post and the Hamilton Bay Observer and is a regular contributor to Mexconnect, an online travel magazine. She lives on Bowen Island in British Columbia, Canada, where for many years she was the editor of the Bowen Island Undercurrent.
 
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away three copies of Nine Birds Signing! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on June 6th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to residents in the US and Canada only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. Nine Birds Signing 

Blog Tour Schedule

Thursday, May 17 Review at Peppermint Ph.D. 

Monday, May 21 Review at Books and Glamour 

Wednesday, May 23 Feature at A Holland Reads 

Friday, May 25 Excerpt at Teaser Addicts Book Blog 

Tuesday, May 29 Feature at Donna's Book Blog 

Friday, June 1 Interview at Passages to the Past 

Monday, June 4 Feature at CelticLady's Reviews 

Wednesday, June 6 Review at SJ2B House of Books

Becoming the Talbot Sisters by Rachel Linden - Review and Guest Post

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 1, 2018)

Book description
Twin sisters Waverly and Charlie Talbot have drifted far apart as they pursue opposite dreams of stardom and service to the poor. On an astonishing journey across Central Europe, they must come together to face their fears, find their courage and fight for what they love.

Celebrity chef Waverly Ross has built a successful career with her home-entertaining show Simply Perfect. Yet she and her husband, Andrew, have never been able to realize the true desire of Waverly’s heart: to become a mother. Meanwhile Waverly’s twin sister, Charlie Talbot, buries her bitter disappointment and shattered idealism beneath a life spent serving others as an international aid worked in Budapest, Hungary.

When the beloved aunt who raised them passes away, Waverly and Charlie come together in their grief after living years on separate continents. Struck by a fierce desire to bridge the distance between them, Charlie offers Waverly and her husband the selfless gift of surrogacy.

But soon the sisters find they are each in danger of losing their jobs, seemingly putting their dreams on hold once again. When Waverly shows up unannounced in Budapest with a plan to rescue Simply Perfect, the sisters embark on an adventure across Central Europe that could save them both from occupational hazards. Though the twins haven’t had to rely on each other since childhood, an unforeseen dangerous turn in their journey across Europe forces them to stand together to save their careers, the baby, and each other.


Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Meet the author - Rachel Linden
Rachel Linden is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures living and traveling in fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her stories. She holds an MA in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College, a BA in Literature from Huntington University, and studied creative writing at Oxford University during college. Currently, Rachel splits her time between Seattle, Washington and Budapest, Hungary where she lives with her husband and two children. Rachel enjoys creating stories about hope and courage with a hint of romance and a touch of whimsy.
Connect with Rachel
Website | Facebook

My thoughts
It is always nice to experience new authors and this one was no execption. I enjoyed getting to know the two main characters and watching their closeness come back as they traveled. This book had plenty of emotional feel as well as adventure and mystery thrown in. The author writing was easy to read and flowed nicely. Even her descriptions of scenes were well written from international places to what Waverly was doing on her cooking show. It made things seem a little more real. All in all I enjoyed this book and am glad I had the chance to read it. 

Guest post
How My Real Life Experiences Influenced Becoming the Talbot Sisters 

I am often asked where I get the inspiration for my books and how much of my real life is in each one. The short answer is: a lot comes from my personal experiences! I love creating stories about hope, courage and connection with a hint of romance and a dash of whimsy. I also enjoy setting each story in beautiful locations around the world that are meaningful to me. Here are 5 ways my real life experiences enriched Becoming the Talbot Sisters!

1. The main themes of the story – infertility, miscarriage, and the exploitation of women are all deeply personal for me. While living in Budapest, we lost our first baby through miscarriage, so I really connected on an emotional level with Waverly’s struggle to have a baby and her loss of multiple pregnancies.

2. Working with a faith based NGO in central Europe, I met and helped many women in trauma. Some of them had endured trafficking and all had endured sexual abuse of some kind. Hearing their stories gave me very authentic insights for the plotline involving Charlie’s past trauma and her dilemma about helping vulnerable women.

3. I set the story mainly in central Europe and Budapest where we lived for 5 years. It’s a beautiful, somewhat undiscovered region of the world, rich with history, culture and delicious food! It was a total delight to allow Waverly and Charlie to experience so much of what I did in my years living and traveling there! My love for the region and my wonderful memories of life there definitely enhanced the story considerably.

4. I am passionate about helping women, and am so excited to be donating 10% of my author proceeds to help end the sexual exploitation and trafficking of women in Europe! I am partnering with an amazing organization, Hope Dies Last, which is based in Budapest and works all over Europe to help women who are being sexually exploited. I have volunteered with this organization and love how they help women!

5. The overarching theme of the story, women being “every day brave,” is one I am deeply passionate about. As women we face so many challenges in life, and I wanted to write a story that encouraged women everywhere to face each challenge with hope, courage and strength! This theme of courage resonates strongly with me, and I hope it will encourage all readers to be “every day brave!”

Review tour:
Tuesday, May 1st: Blooming with Books
Wednesday, May 2nd: Openly Bookish
Thursday, May 3rd: Patricia’s Wisdom
Friday, May 4th: A Bookish Way of Life
Monday, May 7th: Write Read Life
Tuesday, May 8th: Laura’s Reviews
Wednesday, May 9th: Books a la Mode – guest post
Thursday, May 10th: Midwest Ladies Who Lit
Friday, May 11th: View from the Birdhouse
Monday, May 14th: Fiction Aficionado
Tuesday, May 15th: A Chick Who Reads
Wednesday, May 16th: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Thursday, May 17th: Girl Who Reads
Friday, May 18th: Broken Teepee
Monday, May 21st: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Monday, May 21st: Time 2 Read
Tuesday, May 22nd: Kritter’s Ramblings
Wednesday, May 23rd: A Holland Reads
Thursday, May 24th: Peppermint Ph.D.
Friday, May 25th: The Book Diva’s Reads
TBD: Fiction Aficionado – guest post

May 22, 2018

Honor Kills by Nanci Rathbun - Spotlight and Giveaway

Book details
Hard Boiled Mystery 
3rd in Series 
Dark Chocolate Press LLC (March 14, 2018) 
Paperback: 284 pages 
ISBN-13: 978-0998755748 
Digital ASIN: B07BH61872
  

Book description
Did honor force him to abandon his wife and kids? Or is he just a weasel? Six years ago, Marcy Wagner hired PI Angelina Bonaparte to find her missing husband Hank, who cleaned out their bank accounts and disappeared. Then Angie finds his obituary in an upstate newspaper. Marcy wants to know what why he abandoned her and the kids. Angie does, too! She embarks on a mission that will blow the lid off Hank’s hidden life and reveal the reasons he ran. Was he a lowdown skunk? Or did he do the honorable thing when he left? Angie follows a twisted path to the truth and discovers that it lies perilously close to her own family life.

Meet the author - Nanci Rathbun
Nanci Rathbun is a lifelong reader of mysteries – historical, contemporary, futuristic, paranormal, hard-boiled, cozy … you can find them all on her bookshelves. She brings logic and planning to her writing from a background as an IT project manager, and attention to characters and dialog from her second career as a Congregationalist minister. Nanci grew up an Army brat, living in Germany, France, and Korea, as well as several states in the U.S. After her dad retired from the service, the family settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There, Nanci raised her daughter and son, while working at AT&T. She never expected to move, but when her second grandchild was on the way, she wanted to be closer. One of her greatest joys is hearing her three granddaughters shout ‘Nana’ when she comes in their front door in Fort Collins, Colorado. Nanci’s Maltipoo, Teeny, and she now live in Wellington, Colorado. No matter where she makes her home, she will always be a Packers fan. 

Author Links Website: https://nancirathbun.com 
Twitter: @nancirathbun 

Purchase Link: Amazon 

Giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
May 17 – StoreyBook Reviews - GUEST POST, EXCERPT 
May 17 – Varietats - REVIEW 
May 18 – Valerie's Musings - REVIEW 
May 18 – Island Confidential - AUTHOR INTERVIEW, EXCERPT 
May 19 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - REVIEW 
May 19 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT 
May 20 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
May 20 – Book a Plenty Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
May 21 – The Editing Pen – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
May 22 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT 
May 23 – A Blue Million Books - AUTHOR INTERVIEW, EXCERPT 
May 24 – The Pulp & Mystery Shelf - AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
May 25 – Babs Book Bistro - REVIEW, GUEST POST 
May 25 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
May 26 – The Book Diva's Reads - CHARACTER GUEST POST 
May 27 – Brooke Blogs - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

Herons Landing by JoAnn Ross - Review and Giveaway

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Book details
Series: Honeymoon Harbor
Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: HQN (May 22, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1335949356

Book description
There’s no place to fall in love like the place you left your heart

Welcome to Honeymoon Harbor, the brand-new, long-awaited series by beloved New York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross, where unforgettable characters come face-to-face with the kind of love that grabs your heart and never lets go.

Working as a Las Vegas concierge, Brianna Mannion is an expert at making other people’s wishes come true. It’s satisfying work, but a visit home to scenic Honeymoon Harbor turns into a permanent stay when she’s reminded of everything she’s missing: the idyllic small-town charm; the old Victorian house she’d always coveted; and Seth Harper, her best friend’s widower and the neighborhood boy she once crushed on—hard. After years spent serving others, maybe Brianna’s finally ready to chase dreams of her own.

Since losing his wife, Seth has kept busy running the Harper family’s renovation business and flying way under the social radar. But when Brianna hires him to convert her aging dream home into a romantic B and B, working together presents a heart-stopping temptation Seth never saw coming. With guilt and grief his only companions for so long, he’ll have to step out of the past long enough to recognize the beautiful life Brianna and he could build together.



Meet the author - JoAnn Ross
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author JoAnn Ross has been published in twenty-seven countries. A member of Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll of bestselling authors, JoAnn lives with her husband and three rescued dogs — who pretty much rule the house — in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her on the web at www.joannross.com.

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

My thoughts
This is the first book I have read by this author and it will not be the last. I enjoyed her writing style and getting to know the residents of Honeymoon Harbor. The descriptions of the town help you to see just what the characters see and where they are living. I enjoyed the small town feel of the story. It was good getting to know both Seth and Brianna and their stories. You really found yourself pulling for them and wanted them to be happy in the end. In fact as you are reading this you are full of emotions right along with the characters. I also liked how the romance was subtle and not so in your face and over the top. I can't wait to  see who we will get to meet next and what their story will be.

Giveaway
This giveaway is for the US/Canada only. The winner will be drawn randomly via rafflecopter. Once the winner has been drawn they will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If you do not respond a new winner will be chosen. It is mandatory that you leave a comment on this post. This will be verified and if you do not leave a comment then your entry will be thrown out. Thank you and good luck.

Review Tour Stops:
Monday, May 21st: Books a la Mode – excerpt
Tuesday, May 22nd: A Holland Reads
Wednesday, May 23rd: Becky on Books – excerpt
Thursday, May 24th: Into the Hall of Books
Monday, May 28th: I Wish I Lived in a Library
Tuesday, May 29th: Bookmark Lit
Wednesday, May 30th: Stranded in Chaos
Thursday, May 31st: @read.write.coffee
Monday, June 4th: Moonlight Rendezvous
Tuesday, June 5th: Running Through the Storms
Wednesday, June 6th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Thursday, June 7th: Why Girls are Weird
Monday, June 11th: From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, June 12th: Book Date
Wednesday, June 13th: What is That Book About – excerpt
Monday, June 18th: Palmer’s Page Turners
Tuesday, June 19th: The Romance Dish
Wednesday, June 20th: Jathan & Heather
Monday, June 25th: Books & Bindings
Wednesday, June 27th: Romancing the Book
Thursday, June 28th: Written Love Reviews
Monday, July 2nd: Deborah Blanchard

May 21, 2018

The Face on the Other Side by John Carenen - Spotlight and Giveaway

 

Book details
Mystery 3rd in Series 
FPS (February 10, 2018) 
Paperback: 340 pages 
ISBN-13: 978-1945338946
  

Book description
He’d promised Sheriff Payne that he wouldn’t take any more matters into his own hands. So, when on a leisurely morning drive, SEAL-trained Thomas O’Shea sees two girls attacking a boy on a sidewalk, he opts not to intervene. When the boy is later murdered in the local hospital, though, all promises are off. What seems at the start to be a simple case of gang activity turns out to be far more. Even O’Shea, who has seen more than his share of evil, could not have guessed what is about to transpire…

Meet the author - John Carenen
John Carenen, a native of Clinton, Iowa, graduated with an M.F.A. in Fiction Writing from the prestigious University of Iowa Writers Workshop and has been writing ever since. His work has appeared numerous times in Reader’s Digest (including a First Person Award), McCall’s, Dynamic Years, and other periodicals. He has been a featured columnist in newspapers in Morganton, North Carolina and Clinton, South Carolina. His fiction has appeared in regional literary magazines. A novel, Son-up, Son-down, was published by the National Institute of Mental Health. He is happily married to (long-suffering) Elisabeth, and they have two grown daughters, Caitlin and Rowe. When he isn’t writing, he thinks about getting in shape, cheers for the Iowa Hawkeyes and Boston Red Sox, and takes frequent naps. He has traveled extensively, having visited 43 states and 23 countries. He is a USAF veteran, having served in the Philippines and Massachusetts. A retired an English professor at Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina, he is hard at work on another novel.

Author Links
johncarenenwrites.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CarenenJohn/
@JohnCarenen

Purchase Links Amazon 

Giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
May 9 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
May 9 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST 
May 10 – Fantastic Feathers - REVIEW 
May 11 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW 
May 11 – Valerie's Musings - CHARACTER GUEST POST 
May 12 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT 
May 13 – A Blue Million Books - CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
May 14 – Blogger Nicole Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
May 15 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
May 16 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT 
May 17 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – GUEST POST
May 17 – Maureen's Musings – REVIEW 
May 18 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 
May 19 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
May 20 – StoreyBook Reviews - CHARACTER GUEST POST 
May 21 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT 

Secrets of a Wallflower by Amanda McCababe - Review

I received this book free from the author. All opinions are my own. 

Book details
Series: Debutantes in Paris (Book 1)
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Mills & Boon; ePub edition edition (May 31, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0263932907
ISBN-13: 978-0263932904

Book description
A secret shared... But can she trust him? In this Debutantes in Paris story, Diana Martin is thrilled to be a writer covering the Parisian Exposition. Her new role must be kept quiet-her parents would never allow it! When enigmatic Sir William Blakely discovers her ruse, he knows it could lead her into danger. With the sparks igniting between them, William realizes the only way to protect Diana is by staying as close to her as possible!

Meet the author - Amanda McCabe
Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)

She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.

When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.

My thoughts
When I saw this book I thought it would be the perfect book for me to read and review. I love all things Paris. The author did not disappoint as she allowed me to travel back in time to a city I would love to visit. Her details in the descriptions helped me to feel like I was there alone with Diane. I loved that there was a mystery and adventure along with the romance between the two main characters. This was a quick read for me that left me feeling fulfilled. I enjoyed every minute of the book. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 

May 16, 2018

The Road to Freedom by Shawn Pollock - Spotlight


Book details
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Bonneville Books (December 12, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1462121314
ISBN-13: 978-1462121311

Book description
World War II is ending, but for Captain Meier, the fight for his life has only begun. Stranded behind enemy lines and tormented by his past, his only ally is a young private who practices a strange American religion. As they travel through treacherous Germany, the two quickly realize they will have to trust in a merciful God to have any chance of escaping a deadly fate.

From the back cover
"""We could go to Elbe River."" Kohler didn't have to say the rest. After a baleful stare, the captain did it for him. ""You want to surrender to the Americans."" Kohler gulped. In 1945, World War II is ending but not in favor of Germany. Hans Kohler is a young Mormon German who knows more about farming than being a soldier. A worn copy of the Book of Mormon is the only thing that brings him comfort. Captain Christoph Meier seems to be the perfect German soldier. His pristine Aryan features and strong family ties to the Nazi Party should have placed him at a far better post than this unit. Instead, he's leading broken veterans and inexperienced greenies. When the Russians attack their unit, it leaves Meier and Kohler trapped behind enemy lines. To get past snipers, the Nazi SS, and the Russian Army, they need to use all of their skills, including believing that God wants them to survive."

Meet the author - Shawn Pollock
Shawn Pollock grew up in Cache Valley, Utah, served a mission in Japan, and graduated from Utah State University with degrees in Professional Writing and Instructional Technology. He works as an instructional designer in the software industry. His short story, "Hats," won first place in The New Era magazine's fiction contest. Any time not devoted to work and family goes to cooking, reading about history, and participating in the League of Utah Writers. The Road to Freedom is his first novel.

May 15, 2018

Picked Off by Linda Lovely - Review and Giveaway

 

Book details
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series 
Setting - South Carolina 
Henery Press (June 5, 2018) 
Hardcover - 270 Pages 
ISBN: 9781635113457 
Trade Paperback ISBN: 9781635113426 
Digital ASIN: B07B9K3FJ9
  

Book description
It’s been seven months since Brie Hooker, a vegan, moved to Udderly Kidding Dairy to live with her feisty Aunt Eva, a confirmed carnivore.

But tonight there’ll be no family feud over dinner entrees.

Udderly’s hosting a campaign fundraiser for Eva’s best friend, who hopes to be South Carolina’s next governor. The candidate’s son, a pro quarterback, is flying home for the wingding. And Brie’s eager to get a close-up view of the cute tush she’s admired on TV, even though she’s reluctantly sworn off even more tempting local beefcake.

The campaign fundraiser promises to be a huge success until a pitchfork attack turns the goat farm into a crime scene—again.

To protect her friends, Brie puts her sleuthing skills to work. Will she live long enough to find out who’s behind a vicious assault, a kidnapping, blackmail, and murder?

Meet the author - Linda Lovely
Linda Lovely finds writing pure fiction isn’t a huge stretch given the years she’s spent penning PR and ad copy. Linda writes a blend of mystery and humor, chuckling as she plots to “disappear” the types of characters who most annoy her. Quite satisfying, plus there’s no need to pester relatives for bail. Her newest series offers goodnatured salutes to both her vegan family doctor and her cheese-addicted kin. She’s an enthusiastic Sisters in Crime member and helps organize the popular Writers’ Police Academy. When not writing or reading, Linda takes long walks with her husband, swims, gardens, and plays tennis.

Author Links Website: www.lindalovely.com 

Purchase Links Amazon B&N 

My thoughts
This was a fun quick read for me. Also this is the second book in the series and eve though I did not read the first one I did not feel lost at all. It may be read as a stand alone. I fell in love with the goat farm, it would be such a fun place to visit. This story was full of fun, revenge, murder and a little betrayal. The author did a good job of keeping you guessing until the end. Her writing style was very flowing so that once you sit down and start reading and before you know it the day is gone. All in all a good book to me. 

Giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
May 15 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
May 15 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW 
May 16 – Laura's Interests - REVIEW 
May 16 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST 
May 17 – The Power of Words – REVIEW 
May 17 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
May 18 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
May 18 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST 
May 19 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 
May 20 – T's Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
May 21 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
May 21 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
May 22 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
May 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, GUEST POST 
May 24 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW 
May 25 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
May 26 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
May 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
May 28 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

The Wedding Quilt Bride by Marta Perry - Review and Giveaway


Book details
Series: Brides of Lost Creek
Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired (April 17, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335509461
ISBN-13: 978-1335509468

Book details
The single mom’s second chance… To become one of the Brides of Lost Creek!

Widow Rebecca Mast returns to her Amish community with her son and a dream—to own a quilt shop. Carpenter Daniel King is determined to help Rebecca and revive their childhood friendship. But as he bonds with her son, Rebecca’s afraid the secret she’s been keeping will be revealed. Can Daniel convince Rebecca he’s a man she can trust—and love?

Meet the author - Marta Perry
Marta Perry realized she wanted to be a writer at age eight, when she read her first Nancy Drew novel. A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led Marta to the books she writes now about the Amish. When she’s not writing, Marta is active in the life of her church and enjoys traveling and spending time with her three children and six beautiful grandchildren. Visit her online at www.martaperry.com

My thoughts
I am a fan of Marta Perry's so every time I get the chance to read a book by her I am excited. This book did not disappoint. I enjoyed following along on on Rebecca's journey of getting a new home and quilt shop all in one shot. In fact I was drawn from the first page as this was a real engaging story. It was nice to hear the story from both Rebecca's and Daniel's points of view. I honestly can't say anything bad about this book because it was just that good to me. 

Giveaway
The prize is a $100 Visa gift card

May 7, 2018

One Feta in the Grave by Tina Kashian - Cover Reveal

ONE FETA IN THE GRAVE

The 3rd Book in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery Series

As summer comes to an end in her Jersey Shore town, Lucy Berberian continues to manage her family’s Mediterranean restaurant. The Kebab Kitchen also has a food tent at this year’s beach festival. But now a local businessman is under the boardwalk—dead by the sea . . .
With a sand castle contest and live music, Ocean Crest bids a bittersweet farewell to tourist season. Summer will return next year . . . but Archie Kincaid won’t. The full-of-himself store owner has been fatally shot, soon after a screaming match with Lucy’s best friend. Katie’s far from the only suspect, though, since Archie had some bitter rivals—as well as some relationships no one knew about. It’s up to Lucy to look into some seedy characters and solve the case before the wrong person gets skewered . . .
Recipes included!
     

Ready . . .

                                   

Set . . .

                             

Reveal . . .


    

Coming in March 2019 from Kensington Books!

Sign Up For Tina Kashian's Newsletter HERE to be alerted when One Feta in the Grave is available to pre-order!

 

Book 1 - Hummus and Homicide is Available Now

Book 2 - Stabbed in the Baklava will be released August 28, 2018

Pre-Order Here

Meet the Author - Tina Kashian

Tina Kashian is an attorney and a former mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. Tina spent her childhood summers at the Jersey shore building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business, as her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. Tina still lives in New Jersey with her supportive husband and two young daughters. Please visit her website at www.tinakashian.com to join her newsletter, receive delicious recipes, enter contests, and more!
You can also connect with Tina at Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Goodreads

May 6, 2018

Together Forever by Jody Hedlund - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Series: Orphan Train (Book 2)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (May 1, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764218050
ISBN-13: 978-0764218057

Book description
Marianne Neumann has one goal in life: to find her lost younger sister, Sophie. When Marianne takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York, she not only hopes to give children a better life but seeks to discover whether Sophie ended up leaving the city on an orphan train.

Andrew Brady, her fellow agent on her first placing trip, is a former schoolteacher who has an easy way with the children--firm but tender and funny. Underneath his handsome charm, though, seems to linger a grief that won't go away--and a secret from his past that he keeps hidden. As the two team up placing orphans amid small railroad towns in Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever.

Meet the author - Jody Hedlund
Winner of 2016 Christian Book Award for fiction and Christy Award for historical romance, best-selling author Jody Hedlund writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

Interview with Jody Hedlund
1. What is the inspiration behind your orphan train series?
I have long been fascinated by the era of the Orphan Trains and the heart-wrenching stories of the homeless and helpless young orphans that were taken from the streets of New York City and other eastern cities and shipped west by the dozens. I was familiar with stories of those scared orphans who were placed out in what was thought to be a more wholesome, healthy environment of the newly settled Mid-Western states. Some of the orphans found happy endings and were adopted into loving families. Others experienced great abuse and heartache in their new homes.

While stories of the orphans who rode the trains have been told—and rightly so—the stories of the women who were involved in the movement are not as well known. One of the things I particularly like to do when telling my stories, is focus on women who have been overlooked by the pages of history. I consider it a great privilege to be able to bring forgotten women to life for our modern generation. Thus, throughout this series, I’ll be focusing each book on a different aspect of the Orphan Train movement, particularly from the perspective of women who experienced riding the trains in one form or another.

2. What special research did you do in writing Together Forever?
In researching the roles of CAS placing agents, I came across one of the most well known placing agents, Clara B. Comstock, who traveled west with children from 1911 to 1928. During her years as a placing agent, she made seventy-four trips and wrote about her experiences.

I drew from her notes about what it was like before the trip, the clothes the orphans were given, to the detailed lists of supplies and food she packed. She also spoke of what it was like during the journey west along with what happened once they arrived at their destinations, including an incident where she was quarantined with a young five year old boy who contracted diphtheria.

At the end of her life, Clara Comstock said this about her experiences: “The work was a great adventure in Faith. We were always helped and grew to expect kindness, deep interest and assistance everywhere. A sense of responsibility was keenly felt by all the workers. My life has been greatly enriched by the varied experiences found in everything the Children’s Aid Society and the contacts made. It is an honor to have followed from afar, the founder of this work.”

3. Usually readers are more sympathetic to the orphans and less forgiving of the charity organizations who placed the orphans in the west. How do you elicit reader empathy for the placing agents? In Together Forever, I hoped to portray the struggles that placing agents felt right along with the struggles of the orphans. I have no doubt what the orphans experienced was far more emotional and painful; nevertheless, the job of the placing agent was not an easy one. It consisted of weeks of demanding traveling, difficulty in placing children, as well as the logistical challenges in revisiting each child before returning to New York City.

The agents not only faced the ups and downs of handling such a wide variety of children, but they also faced the challenges of the job itself. Since nothing had ever before been done like the placing out, the agents basically had to learn on the job and make up the rules as they went.

In the early years, record-keeping was inconsistent, placements irregular, and the screening process non-existent. While many of the agents meant well and truly cared about providing better lives for the children in their care, the lack of consistent practices provided further hardships to many orphans. Overall, I hope readers are able to gain a better appreciation for the well-meaning efforts, even if things didn’t always turn out the way everyone wanted. 

4. Do you have any writing quirks?
I don't have too many quirks, other than needing a cup of coffee on hand while I'm writing (especially in the morning!).

One of the things I like to do to help me keep on track with my writing is give myself half hour word count challenges–a specific goal of how many words I can get written in a thirty minute time span. Doing these mini-challenges keeps me from getting too distracted by other things while I'm in a writing mode. 

5. What advice do you have for anyone interested in writing and pursuing publication?
Write a couple of books first and unleash your creativity. Then start reading books that explain how to write. Study techniques, practice them, and keep writing. When you begin reaching a level in your writing where you think you’re ready for publication, get a critique partner or two to read your work and give you feedback, vamp up your online presence, and immerse yourself in the writing industry by learning all you can about traditional and self-publication. Don’t rush into either! Make sure your writing craft and story-telling skills are ready first.
 
My thoughts
I enjoyed this book even better than the first one. The author does a good job of really making the emotions of the story come across in her writing. She did a great job with her research and really bringing out the details of the Orphan Train. Your heart just breaks for the kids. I liked that there were two people who really had a passion for helping the kids find good homes and in the mean time may even grow closer together themselves. Marianne had hopes of finding her lost sister and we got to go on her emotional journey of searching for her. Even though that was her original purpose for joining up with the Children's Aid Society she was a good asset and caring for the kids. The author kept me reading as I also wanted to find out what Andrew's secret from his past that he was keeping hidden. I thought the characters were very well developed and likable. I will be looking forward to the next book in this series. 


May 4, 2018

A Slave of the Shadows by Naomi Finley - Review and Giveaway


Book details
A Slave of the Shadows by Naomi Finley
Publication Date: March 5, 2018
Huntson Press Inc.
eBook & Paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction

Book description
In 1850 Charleston, South Carolina, brutality and cruelty simmer just under the genteel surface of Southern society. In an era where ladies are considered mere property, beautiful and headstrong Willow Hendricks’ father has filled her life with turmoil, secrets, and lies. Her father rules her life until she finds a kindred spirit in spunky, outspoken Whitney Barry, a northerner from Boston. Together these Charleston belles are driven to take control of their own lives—and they are plunged into fear and chaos in their quest to fight for the rights of slaves. Against all odds, these feisty women fight to secure freedom and equality for those made powerless and persecuted by a supposedly superior race. Only when they’ve lost it all do they find a new beginning. Book 1 presents Willow and Whitney—and the reader—with the hardships the slaves endure at the hands of their white masters. 


About the Author
Naomi lives in Northern Alberta. Her love for travel means her suitcase is always on standby while she awaits her next plane ticket and adventure. Her love for history and the Deep South is driven by the several years she spent as a child living in a Tennessee plantation house. She comes from a family of six sisters. She married her high school sweetheart and has two teenage children and two dogs named Ginger and Snaps. Creativity and passion are the focus of her life. Apart from writing fiction, her interests include interior design, cooking new recipes, throwing lavish dinner parties, movies, health, and fitness. A Slave of the Shadows is her first novel. For more information, please visit Naomi Finley's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

My thoughts
I thought this was a good historical fiction book that did very well with getting the historical details correct. It felt like the author did her research well when writing this book due to the accuracy of some things. I liked the bond that the main women characters had in this book. The author did such a good job with their development that I could almost hear there voices as they were talking. The setting was well written about and you could see the places the author was talking about in each scene. This story deals with a sensitive issue of that time period but she does a good job of helping the reader to understand each characters emotions. I felt the book moved at a good pace and was a great start to a new series. 

  

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a Kindle Fire HD 8" 32GB & signed copy of A Slave of the Shadows! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on May 22nd. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to residents in the US/UK/Canada only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. A Slave of the Shadows

Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, April 23 Interview at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, April 24 Excerpt at Donna's Book Blog
Wednesday, April 25 Feature at Creating Herstory
Friday, April 27 Interview at Maiden of the Pages
Monday, April 30 Review at Books and Glamour
Tuesday, May 1 Excerpt at Teaser Addicts Book Blog
Thursday, May 3 Feature at Button Eyed Reader
Friday, May 4 Feature at A Holland Reads
Monday, May 7 Review at Pursuing Stacie
Tuesday, May 8 Feature at Just One More Chapter
Thursday, May 10 Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Friday, May 11 Feature at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Saturday, May 12 Review at Cup of Sensibility
Monday, May 14 Review at A Chick Who Reads
Wednesday, May 16 Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Review & Interview at Clarissa Reads it All
Friday, May 18 Review at Nicole Evelina's Blog
Tuesday, May 22 Review at Reviewing Nerds