July 15, 2017

A Letter from Lancaster County by Kate Lloyd - Review

I received this book free from the publisher

Book details:
Series: Lancaster Discoveries (Book 1)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (July 1, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-0736970211

About this book:
Two sisters get a second chance at life and love

Angela---Her mother's untimely death, a struggling marriage, a strained relationship with her sister, Rose, and regrets over what might have been haunt her. Despite being a wife and mother, she feels she has little to show for her life.

Rose--Still single, she longs for a husband and children. But Angela has all that and still isn't happy. Rose wants to be closer to her older sister, but she and Angela couldn't be more different. Both strong women, will their sibling rivalry ever end?

* * *

When a letter arrives from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Angela and Rose decide to visit Aunt Silvia, their mother's Mennonite sister, in the heart of Amish country. This vacation could provide the opportunity both sisters need to sort out their issues. And yet instead of finding a new way of connecting with each other, Angela and Rose discover surprising family secrets that add to their strife and threaten Rose's romance with a new beau.

Through it all, the two sisters must find the faith necessary to face their personal problems and allow God to restore hope and healing to their hearts and relationship as only He can.

Meet the author - Kate Lloyd:
Kate Lloyd is a bestselling novelist whose books include "A Portrait of Marguerite" and the Legacy of Lancaster trilogy. A native of Baltimore, she enjoys spending time with friends and family in rural Pennsylvania and is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. She now resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband.

Find out more about Kate at http://katelloyd.com.


My thoughts:
I am enjoying this new series by Kate. As you are reading this you are finding out secrets about Angela and Rose's family right along with them. I did not want to put the book as I could not wait to see what they would find out next. It was also nice to see the mix between the Mennonite/Amish world and the English world. The characters were great people to get to know and to travel along with in their journey. In this story the author explores relationships in a way that is touching and emotional at time. This like the last Amish book is not like your traditional Amish book which made it even more appealing to me. I can't wait to see what the author has in store with the rest of this series. 
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His Guilt by Shelley Shepard Gray - Review

I received this book free from the publisher

Book details:
Series: The Amish of Hart County
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Avon Inspire (July 4, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-0062469137

About the book: 
A suspenseful tale of an Amish man who will risk all to protect the woman he loves.

Mark Fisher has returned home to Hart County, determined to put the past behind him. Two years ago, after being wrongly accused of assault, he left the Amish community, though never forgot his home. When the one person who had helped him through his rough times asks for help, Mark returns. But it is pretty Waneta Cain who makes him want to stay...
Neeta is one of the few people in Hart County who doesn't believe Mark is guilty of hurting anyone. However, his worldliness and tough exterior do make her uneasy. As she begins to see the real man behind all the gossip and prejudice, she wonders if he is the man for her.

Just when Mark starts to believe a new life is possible, a close friend of Neeta's is attacked. Once again, everyone in the community seems to believe he is guilty. But what hurts most is Neeta's sudden wariness around him. When another woman is hurt, a woman who is close to both Neeta and himself, Mark fears he knows the real culprit. And time is running out. Will Mark be able to find him before Neeta becomes his next victim?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Meet the author - Shelley Shepard Grey:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.


My thoughts:
I enjoyed this turn on the traditional Amish fiction. This story had a bit of a mystery going on which I enjoyed. It made the book even more fun to read than normal. The author liked to drop clues when you were not expecting them. I thought she also did a good job in describing what it was like growing up in a small town. Everyone knows everything about everyone. This is not the typical book that Shelley writes but I have enjoyed it. If you are looking for a fun new series than I suggest this one. This is the second book in this series. It is better if you read them in order but it can also be read as a stand alone. 
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July 14, 2017

Killer Party by Lynn Cahoon - Spotlight

KILLER PARTY
by Lynn Cahoon

Genre: Cozy Mystery 
Pub Date: 7/11/2017


For a gang of old college buddies, the quaint resort town of South Cove, California, is the perfect spot for a no-holds-barred bachelor party. But for Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books and More—this stag party is going to be murder . . .

After a few months of living with her boyfriend Greg, Jill is still getting used to sharing such close quarters, but she’s got no hesitation about joining him for a weekend at South Cove’s most luxurious resort. While Greg and his college pals celebrate their buddy’s upcoming wedding, Jill intends to pamper herself in style. But when the groom is found floating facedown in the pool, Jill must find the killer fast, or she might not have a boyfriend to come home to any more . . .



New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho expat. She grew up living the small town life she now loves to write about. Currently, she’s living with her husband and two fur babies in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. Guidebook to Murder, Book 1 of the Tourist Trap series, won the 2015 Reader’s Crown award for Mystery Fiction.


Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!


July 13- kickoff at The Silver Dagger Scriptorium
July 13- Mythical Books – GUEST POST
July 13- Moon Shine Art Spot - REVIEW
July 14- A Holland Reads – GUEST POST
July 15- Readeropolis-GUEST POST
July 20-Mello & June
July 21- Anna Del C Dye
July 24-The Book Town
July 27- Sylv.net
Aug 1- Laura's Crammed Books - REVIEW
Aug 3- FUONLYKNEW
Aug 5- Buried Under Books -REVIEW
Aug 6- The Literary Apothecary - REVIEW
Aug 12-Laura's Interests – REVIEW, GUEST POST


















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July 13, 2017

The Detecting Duchess by Kate Parker - Review and Giveaway

I received this book free from the publisher

Book details:
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
JDP Press (May 18, 2017)
Paperback: 312 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0996483162
E-Book ASIN: B071J129MG

About this book:
The only thing standing between Georgia and her fairy-tale wedding is a murder. Or two.

When a young woman pleads for help from Georgia Fenchurch in locating a missing Crown investigator, Georgia resists. Her wedding is only a week away. Before she can say no, she’s knocked to the ground by an assailant attempting to kill the young woman.

Georgia now feels she must help. She soon finds herself up to her wedding veil in stolen treasure and coded letters. With the Duke of Blackford’s help, Georgia follows a trail of missing men and dead bodies. Every victim had one thing in common – a desire to possess a fortune in gold.

In between the society balls and social calls of late Victorian London, Georgia works on her last case before the big day. Will she stop a ruthless killer in time? Or will Georgia find getting to the altar on time is going to be murder?

Meet the author - Kate Parker
Kate began reading Agatha Christie mysteries and the Nancy Drew books while her classmates were reading Dick and Jane. She particularly likes historical mysteries and the feeling of time travel a good historical book can give the reader. Combined with her love of late Victorian to World War II architecture and fashions, she found an outlet for the stories and characters that fill her head by writing The Victorian Bookshop Mysteries and The Deadly series, as well as taking part in the Christmas Revels anthologies.

Author Links:
Website: www.KateParkerbooks.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Author.Kate.Parker/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KateParkerbooks
Goodreads: www.Goodreads.com/Kate_Parker

Purchase Links: Amazon B&N

My thoughts:
I enjoy reading Kate's book if nothing else for the setting. She has a way of describing the settings so that you feel like you are right there along with the characters. I also like that Georgia owns a nice bookstore. There are too many things that I like about Georgia that it is hard to mention them all. I can't imagine anything worse than having a murder at a wedding. The author did a good job of giving us enough clues so that I felt like I had everything figured out then I found out I was wrong. The characters were well developed and very likable. The was a can't put down type of book.  I have not read the rest of the series yet but was able to keep up just fine. I do plan on reading the rest of the series but could not pass up the chance to read this one. 

Giveaway:
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 verfied and if you do not leave a comment then your entry will be thrown out. Thank you and good luck.
 



TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 12 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
July 13 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
July 14 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
July 15 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
July 16 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST
July 17 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
July 17 – Student of Opinions – REVIEW
July 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 19 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
July 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
July 20 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY 
July 21 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT
July 21 – Teresa Trent Author Site – SPOTLIGHT
July 22 – Varietats – REVIEW
July 23 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST
July 24 – Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
July 24 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
July 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 25 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

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July 12, 2017

Dead Air & Double Dares by Janis Thornton - Review

I received this book free from the publisher

Book details:
Series: An Elmwood Confidential Cozy Mystery
Paperback: 310 pages
Publisher: Cup of Tea Books (June 18, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-1939403391

About this book:
WHO KILLED Horace Q. Ogilvie, owner of Elmwood’s radio station and the most hated man in town? Crystal Cropper, editor of the Elmwood Gazette, needs to solve the mystery—pronto! Horace turned up dead just moments before he planned to ruin yet another Elmwood luminary with a vindictive radio editorial. The good news? Horace left a list of future VIP targets, so the police have plenty of suspects. The bad news? Crystal’s name is at the top! "Grab your favorite mug of tea and snuggle down in your most comfortable chair. Crystal Cropper is back!"--Jo-Ann Lamon Recoppa, author of the Jersey Girl Cozy Mystery series

Meet the author - Janis Thornton
Janis Thornton is an award-winning novelist, freelance writer, personal historian, and journalist. She is the author of the cozy mystery Dust Bunnies & Dead Bodies, a finalist in the East Texas Writers’ Guild Book Awards Contest. Dead Air & Double Dares is her second book in the Elmwood Confidential series. She also authored two local history books, Images of America: Tipton County and Images of America: Frankfort. Upcoming projects include No Place Like Murder, a collection of fifteen true crime stories set in Indiana and scheduled for publication in 2018. Janis lives in a small Indiana town not unlike Elmwood. You may connect with her via her website at www.janis-thornton.com.

My thoughts:
This is the first book I have read by this author and even though it is the second book in a series you are able to read it as a standalone. The murder victim was not well liked so there were a few people to choose from who committed the deed. The author would drop a clue here and there to help you figure out who was the real killer. The characters were fun and easy to get to know. I also liked the author's writing style as this book flowed nicely. Once you get started reading this you will not want to put it down. All in all a good book especially for a rainy day. 

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July 11, 2017

Fifo "50 States" by Hayley Rose - Review

I received this book free from the publisher

Book details:
Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: Flowered Press (March 15, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-0998248349

About this book:
In this delightful rhyming story, Fifo, a warm and loveable brown bear, is bitten by the travel bug. Fifo dreams of diging up diamonds in Arkansas, looking for fossils in Kansas, enjoying a delicious bowl of gumbo in Louisiana, and even seeing a Broadway show in New York. Yes, America is an exciting place! Fifo's second book is full of adventure. A colorful reference-like geography book, Fifo discovers the wonders each state has to offer. He learns along the way each state's capital, shape, flag, motto, and much, much more. The possibilities are endless! So, come along with Fifo and you'll soon discover the beauty of America one state to another. A positive experience for both Fifo and the reader. Learning should always be this much fun!

Meet the author - Hayley Rose
Hayley Rose is a #1 best-selling, award-winning author, dedicated to bringing fun, educational and inspiring books to kids through her brand Books by Hayley Rose. Hayley's children's books have won numerous literary awards, including the prestigious Mom's Choice Awards®, KART Kids Book List Award®, Creative Child Magazine's Preferred Choice® and four Reader's Favorite International Book Awards®, an honor she shares alongside actor Jim Carrey and author Sheri Fink. In 2012 Hayley was selected as one of The Top 50 Writers You Should Be Reading, by the AuthorsShow.com. Before writing children's books, Hayley had been working in entertainment business management for over 15 years, specializing in concert touring. She has worked with many A list musicians including Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart and Candlebox just to name a few. Hayley hopes to one day soon release an album of children's songs.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading this book on my own and this when I gave it to my nephew he was just as excited. He wanted me to find the first state and start with that one. The bright colors draw your eyes right to the page. I also love the drawings of Fifo and his travels. Each state has it's own little poem that tells you the capital, state bird, flower, tree among other things. Then the picture shows you things that each state is famous for. This is a fun book to use to teach your child about the 50 states. 
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A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White - Review

I received this book free from the publisher

Book details:
Series: Shadows Over England (Book 1)
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 4, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-0764219269

About the book:
Edwardian Romance and History Gains a Twist of Suspense

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?

Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.

But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?



Purchase Links

Meet the author - Roseanna M. White
Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna’s fiction ranges from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. She lives with her family in West Virginia.
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Connect with Roseanna
Website | Facebook | Twitter

My thoughts:
I thought this was a great start to a new series. The setting is perfect for a nice day of reading. I liked how she described each setting. It really made me feel a part of this book. Reading about Rosemary's life from where she came from to what she is doing "now" was interesting. I also liked getting to know Peter. Then to have their stories intertwine was a good way for this book to go. You can tell that the author had done her research as the historical details really come out in her writing. I am looking forward to more books in this series.

TOUR STOPS:

Monday, July 10th: Write Read Life
Tuesday, July 11th: A. Holland Reads
Thursday, July 13th: Cafinated Reads
Friday, July 14th: View from the Birdhouse
Wednesday, July 19th: Just Commonly
Thursday, July 20th: Books a la Mode – author guest post
Monday, July 24th: Reviews from the Heart
Tuesday, July 25th: Laura’s Reviews
Wednesday, July 26th: A Chick Who Reads
Thursday, July 27th: Book by Book
Monday, July 31st: Fiction Aficionado
Wednesday, August 2nd: Dwell in Possibility
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