A Holland Reads: March 2017

March 31, 2017

Renegade's Pride by B.J. Daniels - Excerpt and Giveaway

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: HQN Books (February 28, 2017)

About the book:

The renegade cowboy returns

It’s been nine years since Trask Beaumont left Gilt Edge, Montana, with an unsolved crime in his wake, and Lillian Cahill has convinced herself she’s finally over him. But when the rugged cowboy with the easy smile suddenly shows up at her bar, there’s a pang in her heart arguing the attraction never faded. And that’s dangerous, because Trask has returned on a mission to clear his name and win Lillie back.

Tired of running, Trask knows he must uncover the truth of the past before he can hope for a future with the woman he’s never forgotten. But if Lillie’s older brother, the sheriff, learns that Trask is back in town, he’ll arrest him for murder. Now Trask is looking for a showdown, and he won’t leave town again without one—or without Lillie.

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

About B. J. Daniels

NYT and USA Today Bestselling author B.J. Daniels was born in Texas but moved with her family to Montana at the age of five. Her first home was a cabin in the Gallatin Canyon and later a lake house on Hebgen Lake outside of West Yellowstone.

Most of her books are set in Montana, a place she loves. She lives now in a unique part of the state with her husband and three Springer Spaniels.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to play tennis, boat, camp, quilt and snowboard. There is nothing she enjoys more than curling up with a good book.

Connect with B. J. Daniels
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Excerpt:

Back at the Stagecoach Saloon, Darby made enough breakfast for the three of them, but Lillie had lost her appetite. She kept thinking of Trask in the days before he’d left nine years ago. Something had been bothering him for several weeks. A darkness had taken hold of him. Her usually cheerful, laid-back lover was moody and irritable. She’d often found him scowling and he’d definitely been distracted.

“Is it your job?” she had asked.

“What?”

“This mood you’re in.”

“Sorry, I’ve just had things on my mind.”

“Things you want to talk about?”

He’d pulled her to him, kissed her and said, “It’s nothing to do with you. I’ll handle it, okay? Just give me a little time.”

She’d had no idea what that meant. He’d even been at odds with his best friend, Johnny Burrows. She’d seen the two of them having a heated argument one day when she’d went by the Lazy G Bar Q Ranch, where Trask worked. When Trask had seen her, he’d quickly stepped away and pretended it was nothing.

“I’m not a fool. What’s going on between you and Johnny?”

“Just a difference of opinion. It’s nothing.”

She suspected that all of it had been leading up to the fight with his boss, Gordon Quinn, and him getting fired. But did she really believe that Trask had come back that night and killed Gordon?

Now she half listened distractedly as her father and Darby talked about the weather, the price of gold and the decline of elk in Yellowstone Park and the rest of Montana because of the reintroduction of wolves. She’d been pushing her food around on her plate until her brother finally took her plate along with his own and her father’s, and headed for the kitchen. She followed him, wanting to talk to him alone.

“Flint thinks we need to do something about Dad,” she told him, making sure their father was out of earshot.

“What do you think?” Darby asked as he began stacking the rinsed dishes in the commercial dishwasher, then looked at her.

“I don’t know. One minute he seems so like his old self, and then he starts talking about aliens and abductions. He swears they came after him again last night. Apparently, that’s why he got so drunk and so…‘disorderly,’ as Flint put it.” She smiled, feeling almost ashamed as she did. “He punched Harp in the eye.” She winced. “His eye was swollen shut when I saw him at the jail this morning.”

Darby chuckled. “You can bet that Harp asked for it. As for Dad, it doesn’t sound like anything new to me. But you shouldn’t always be the one to take care of him. Call Cyrus or Hawk next time. They aren’t that busy on the ranch that they can’t get Dad out of jail once in a while. And you know you can always call me.”

“I know, but I didn’t mind going,” she said with a shrug. Her brother’s smile was thanks enough. “I’d better get him home. He’s determined to stay there alone. At least until he can’t take it anymore and heads for the hills.”

Giveaway:

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B. J. Daniels’ TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, March 6th: A Bookaholic Swede – excerpt

Wednesday, March 8th: Urban Girl Reader – excerpt

Friday, March 10th: Books and Spoons – excerpt

Tuesday, March 14th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy – excerpt

Wednesday, March 15th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, March 16th: Bewitched Bookworms – excerpt

Monday, March 20th: Broken Teepee

Monday, March 20th:Stuck In Books – excerpt

Tuesday, March 21st: Stranded in Chaos

Wednesday, March 22nd: Back Porchervations

Thursday, March 23rd: Books a la Mode – excerpt

Friday, March 24th: Moonlight Rendezvous

Monday, March 27th: A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, March 28th: The Romance Dish – excerpt

Wednesday, March 29th: The Sassy Bookster

Wednesday, March 29th: Becca the Bibliophile

Thursday, March 30th: Run Wright

Friday, March 31st: A. Holland Reads – excerpt

March 30, 2017

What We Find by Robyn Carr - Review

Book Details:

Series: Sullivan's Crossing #1

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: MIRA; (April 5, 2016)

ISBN-13: 978-0778318859

About the book:

Join Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Virgin River and Thunder Point series, as she explores the healing powers of rural Colorado in a brand-new story of fresh starts, budding relationships and one woman's journey to finding the happiness she's long been missing

Between the urban bustle of Denver and the high-stress environment of a career in neurosurgery, Maggie Sullivan has hit a wall. When an emergency high-risk procedure results in the death of a teenager, Maggie finds herself in the middle of a lawsuit—and experiencing levels of anxiety she's never faced before. She knows she needs to slow down before she burns out completely, and the best place she can think to do that is Sullivan's Crossing.

Named for Maggie's great-grandfather, the land and charming general store at the crossroads of the Colorado and the Continental Divide Trails have been passed down through the generations and now belong to Maggie's eccentric father, Sully. When she shows up unannounced, he welcomes her with open arms, and she relishes the opportunity to indulge in his simple way of life.

But shortly after arriving, Maggie's world is rocked once again and she must take on more responsibility than she'd planned. Though she's relieved a quiet and serious-looking hiker, Cal Jones, is willing to lend a hand, Maggie is suspicious of this mysterious man's eagerness to help—until she finds out the true reason for his deliberate isolation.

Though Cal and Maggie each struggle with loss and loneliness, the time they spend together gives Maggie hope for something brighter just on the horizon…if only they can learn to find peace and healing—and perhaps love—with each other.

My thoughts:

This was a good start to a new series by one of my favorite authors. We get to meet the people of Sullivan's Crossing. This I am sure is going to be the beginning of some new friendships. I fell in love with Sully from the beginning. Now I have to say I was wondering about Cal when he first came on the scene but once we got to know him he was very lovable. I felt very bad for Maggie. She is such a kind person and just had so much go bad all at once. There were a few parts of this book that had me choked up, but the rest of the book was very good and touching. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series very soon.

About the author:

Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of almost fifty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. Her highly anticipated new series, Thunder Point, was released March 2013. Robyn and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at www.RobynCarr.com.

March 28, 2017

The Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini - Guest Post

Book Details:

Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini

Publisher: Mill City Press (Nov 17, 2015)

Category: Historical Fiction, Romance, Pioneer Woman, Strong Female Character, Western

Tour date Mar/Apr, 2017

ISBN: 978-1634138291

Available in Print & ebook, 560 pages

Description of Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini

IN THIS EPIC TALE of love, loss, and redemption, the year is 1861, a time when women are expected to be married by a certain age. At 26, spinster Emily Wainwright has no reason to believe her sheltered life will ever change—until the charming Samuel Todd unexpectedly crosses her path. Samuel yearns to homestead and start a family in Oregon, but he first needs to find a wife. Blinded by Samuel’s good looks, and grasping at her final chance to have a husband and children, Emily accepts his marriage proposal. However, Samuel is not the man she thought he was, and her marriage becomes a cold, cruel prison, offering her no solace amidst the hardships of farm life. When Samuel dies and a second chance at love and happiness arrives in the form of farmhand Cole Walker, Emily must overcome her bitter past—or risk losing Cole and the life she has always dreamed of having.

Guest Post:

SECOND CHANCES: The Power of What if?

Fiction gives us a second chance that life denies us – Paul Theroux, novelist

Readers of historical fiction are lucky. The books we read are time machines: they transport us to other places and eras. Historical fiction allows us access to other lives and loves, triumphs and hardships, all from the comfort and safety of our favorite easy chair. In a sense, historical fiction, though remaining true to the era, creates an opportunity to change the past, to create an alternate or parallel past.

Writers of historical fiction are also lucky. When we create a character living in the past, we get to step into that person’s shoes and experience their life for big chunks of time. We get to see the world through their eyes, imagine what it's like to be alive during a certain time, with all the restrictions and challenges that entails. And we have the opportunity to change our own history through the telling of a fictional character's story.

Which is why I'm a big fan of What if?

Whenever I’m in a new place, it’s not long before I’m asking myself: What if I lived here? A trip to London might get me thinking: What if every morning I looked out on Kensington from one of these fancy white row houses? What would that be like? And What if I were living here fifty years ago? A hundred? Two hundred? What would I be wearing? Eating? Saying? What would I be doing? Who would my friends be? My enemies? My family? And most important, who would I be? How different or similar would I be, or be allowed to be?

From such questions fiction is born.

Writers play What if? all the time. We set up What if? situations in order to explore different eras and historical events. We invent What if? circumstances to challenge our characters and test their mettle. We create What if? antagonists to force our heroes and heroines to act. I'm constantly testing What if? scenarios in my head, trying to think several steps ahead in the story. What if the character did this? What would those actions mean? How would the other characters react? Where would it take the story?

Since I'm almost never where I want to be, What if? is a perfect game for me. When I was a kid, trying to cope with my highly dysfunctional family, I created alternate lives for myself to escape the chaos and free-floating rage in our house. But I also did it as a way to problem-solve my way out of those difficult situations. If I could imagine a stronger me, might I possibly find that strength inside me, just waiting for me to use it? I used my imagination to create a second chance. This is the power of What if? – learning through stories who we are, and what we’re made of.

I no longer need to tell myself stories to escape my life, except for the sheer pleasure of reading and writing, but I still do my share of daydreaming: What if I'd gone to Harvard? What if I were a six-foot tall, blonde, blue-eyed Swede? What if I were a cat or a dog? You may not want to change a thing about your life – I don't any more – but as readers or writers of historical fiction, we can try on other lives as easily as trying on a new pair of shoes, with no consequences. Well, there may be one consequence: if we're not careful we're likely to learn something we didn't know before.

Fiction, especially historical fiction, is a doorway to someone else’s world. The more we understand other lives, as seen through the lens of another time, the more we begin to understand our own. We then build empathy for others as we embrace our messy, wonderful, human lives – our own personal collection of What ifs and imagined second chances – right in the here and now.

Praise for Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini

“All of Righettini’s characters are well-rounded, in particular Emily herself, whose personal growth throughout the novel is richly detailed and memorable.”-Historical Novel Society

“This novel is about second chances and the courage needed to take them. The most compelling aspects of The Blue Hour are not the vivid, expansive descriptions of life on the vast (and seemingly never-ending) Oregon Trail or the well-drawn characters who dance (and often trudge) between hardship and hope. Instead, the brightest lights burst forth from nuanced moments tucked throughout the story. Read this book if you want to immerse yourself in the wilds of western America in the 1860s or get lost in the even denser wilderness of love and loss. Maybe this recommendation needs to be simplified even further – read this book. It’s exhilarating to root for a character who is trying to navigate uncharted territory and make the greatest discovery of all.”-Underground Book Reviews

“The Blue Hour is one of the finest historical novels I've ever read. You will love the author's writing and the detailed historical references. The characters are vividly portrayed, and I felt as if I knew them well. Long after I'd finished reading, I still thought about the story. It's part adventure, part love story, and part survival. Highly recommended.”-Ann Creel, Author

About Vicki Righettini
Vicki Righettini is an award-winning, nationally produced playwright, and her recently-published historical novel, The Blue Hour, was a badge winner and Pitch Perfect Pick at Underground Books. Originally from Los Angeles, Vicki lived in Oregon for over twenty years, where she developed an abiding love of the land and the Oregon way of life. Before turning to full-time writing, she worked for forty years as a singer/actress and performing arts instructor. Her blog, Between a Book and a Hard Place, focuses on the ups and downs of the creative process (http://www.vickirighettini.com). Vicki lives in San Diego with her software-developer, Jeopardy!-champion husband, and the world's shyest cat. Facebook: http://bit.ly/2h2UZGy Twitter: https://twitter.com/VRighettini

Buy Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini
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Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Mar 3 Kick Off, Interview, & Giveaway

Indie Review Behind the Scenes Mar 4 12 pm cst Live Interview

Rockin' Book Reviews Mar 6 Review, Interview, & Giveaway

Second Book to the Right Mar 7 Excerpt

Book Reviews Etc.. Mar 8 Review

The Book Diva's Reads Mar 9 Guest Post & Giveaway

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers Mar 17 Review

Secret Pearls Reviews Mar 22 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Infinite House of Books Mar 23 Interview

Reviews From The Heart Mar 27 Review

A Holland Reads Mar 29 Guest Post

Rainy Day Reviews Mar 31 Review

Wall-to-wall books Apr 4 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Library of Clean Reads Apr 5 Review & Giveaway

Reading Bliss Apr 7 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Apr 10 Review

Hardcover Feedback Apr 18 Review

What U Talking Bout Willis? Apr 21 Review

Lisa's Writopia Apr 24 Review & Interview

Celticlady's Reviews Apr 26 Excerpt & Giveaway

A Room without Books is Empty Apr 27 Review

Turning the Pages Apr 28 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

March 27, 2017

When The Grist Hit The Fan by Maddie Day - Review

I received this book free from the publisher

Book Details:

Series: A Country Store Mystery (Book 3)

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Kensington (March 28, 2017)

ISBN-13: 978-1617739293

About the book:

Despite the bitter winter in South Lick, Indiana, business is still hot at Robbie Jordan’s restaurant. But when another murder rattles the small town, can Robbie defrost the motives of a cold-blooded killer?

Before she started hosting dinners for Indiana University’s Sociology Department at Pans ‘N Pancakes, Robbie never imagined scholarly meetings could be so hostile. It’s all due to Professor Charles Stilton, who seems to thrive on heated exchanges with his peers and underlings, and tensions flare one night after he disrespects Robbie’s friend, graduate student Lou. So when Robbie and Lou go snowshoeing the next morning and find the contentious academic frozen under ice, police suspect Lou might have killed him after their public tiff. To prove her friend’s innocence, Robbie is absorbing local gossip about Professor Stilton’s past and developing her own thesis on the homicide—even if that means stirring up terrible danger for herself along the way . . .

About the author:

Maddie Day is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-nominated author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau and three cats in Massachusetts.

As Edith Maxwell, she write the Local Foods Mysteries (Kensington Publishing) and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Midnight Ink).

You can find all Maddie's/Edith's identities at www.edithmaxwell.com. She blogs every week day with the other Wicked Cozy Authors at wickedcozyauthors.com. Look for her as Edith M. Maxwell and Maddie Day on Facebook and @edithmaxwell and @maddiedayauthor on Twitter.

My thoughts:

It was fun to visit the Pans 'N Pancakes cafe and all our friends again. Of course what is more fun then visiting a quaint little country town. Oh wait we had a murder so that adds a little tension. The author gives us plenty of suspects but in the end it is only one who was guilty. I was kept guessing until the end of the book and I hope you are too. I liked the added plot line of Robbie tearing down walls to add rooms for a B&B. She even finds a few surprises while doing the remolding. You may get a little hungry while reading this book as there is some mention of food and you are in luck because some of the recipes are in the back of the book. I am looking forward to the next book to see what is going to happen with Robbie next.

March 25, 2017

Thank you God, for Grandpa and Thank you God, for Grandma by Amy Parker - Review

I received these books from the publisher for free

Book Details:

Published: March 21, 2017

Number of pages: 20

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Synopsis:

Thank you God for Grandpa

No matter what you call him, there is nothing like the love between a grandpa and his grandchild! With whimsical rhymes and charming illustrations, Thank You, God, for Grandpa encourages little ones to treasure God’s special gift of grandfathers.

Thank you God for Grandma

No matter what you call her, there is nothing like the love between a grandma and her grandchild! With sweet, rhyming text and adorable illustrations, Thank You, God, for Grandma encourages little ones to treasure God’s special gift of grandmothers.

About the author:

Amy Parker has written more than twenty books for children, teens, and adults, including the best-selling A Night Night Prayer , Thank You, God, for Mommy, and Thank You, God, for Daddy. She has also collaborated with authors ranging from New York Times bestsellers to her very own son. Most importantly, she is a wife to Daniel and a mom to their amazing sons, Michael and Ethan.

My thoughts:

Both of these books are fun little books to enjoy with your young ones. The illustrations were beautifully done. It is nice that it is a board book so that way little hands can turn the pages with ease. In the grandma book we have the cutest bear and bear cubs with fun little poems to tell you how much they liked grandma. In the grandpa book we have two little gorillas with grandpa gorilla. They as well have poems to tell us why they love their grandpa. I am looking forward to sharing these books with my little niece.

March 24, 2017

Smallin Civil War Cave by Wanetta Bright - Review

Published: 2013

Publisher: Ozark Caves & Caverns

Number of pages: 128

Genre: Non-Fiction

Synopsis:

Deep in the Ozarks hills there lies a mysterious, legendary cave. Know to people dating back to the ancient Native Americans, beautiful Smallin Cave is both a geological wonder and a historical treasure. As you read the story of Smallin Cave, you are reading a story as old as life itself. A story of creations, of brave explorers, of family and relationships, of strife, war and retribution, of courageous characters and cruel villains, of healing and new beginnings, all set in and around the beautiful, timelss sanctuary known as Smallin Cave.

My thoughts:

I do not like to write bad reviews of books as I know a lot of hard work goes into writing them. That being said I was disappointed in this book. I was recently visiting Springfield, Missouri and heard about the Smallin Cave. Knowing I did not have the time to tour the cave I drove out to where it is located to visit their gift shop to see if they at least had a book about it. It intrigued me as it said it was a Civil War cave. I spoke with the person running the gift shop who also happened to be the author of the book. After speaking with her I was even more interested, so I bought the book. When I got home I started reading it and ended up being disappointed. For me the writing style was very dry. I was happy each of the chapters and stories were very short only a page or two so that made it go by a little faster. I wanted more stories about the cave and things that happened around the cave. This book had very little about the cave. It was more about the town of Ozark and the surrounding areas. We had the story of of how the cave was created geologically, the story of the Baldknobbers, and a few Civil War stories about Missouri but not in connection with the actual cave and the book ended with a scientific study of bugs and animals that live in the cave. I so wanted to enjoy this book more than I did.

Single Malt Murder by Melinda Mullet - Guest Post and Giveaway

Book Details:

Single Malt Murder: A Whisky Business Mystery

Ballantine Group; Alibi

On Sale: March 21st, 2017

ISBN: 9780399179051

300 Pages

Price: $4.99

About the book:

When Abi inherits her uncle’s quaint and storied single malt distillery, she finds herself immersed in a competitive high-stakes business that elicits deep passions and prejudices. An award-winning photojournalist, Abi has no trouble capturing the perfect shot—but making the perfect shot is another matter. When she starts to receive disturbing, anonymous threats, it’s clear that someone wants her out of the picture. But Abi’s never been one to back down from a fight.

Arriving on the scene with her whisky-loving best friend, Patrick, and an oversized wheaten terrier named Liam, Abi seems to put everyone in the bucolic village on edge—especially her dour but disturbingly attractive head distiller. Acts of sabotage and increasingly personal threats against Abi make it clear that she is not welcome. When one of Abi’s new employees is found floating facedown in a vat of whisky, Abi is determined to use her skills as an investigative journalist to identify the cold-blooded killer and dispense a dram of justice before he strikes again. But distilling truth from lies is tricky, especially when everyone seems to have something to hide.

About the author:

Melinda Mullet was born in Dallas and attended school in Texas, Washington D.C., England, and Austria. She spent many years as a practicing attorney before pursuing a career as a writer. Author of the Whisky Business Mystery series, Mullet is a passionate supporter of childhood literacy. She works with numerous domestic and international charities striving to promote functional literacy for all children. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her family.

Author Links
Webpage – http://melindamullet.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/mulletmysteries/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/mulletmysteries

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N Google Play

Guest Post:

A Winter’s Tale becomes a Winter’s Tail

In the throws of a snowy winter a writers fancy turns to curling up in front of the fire with a pot of tea or a glass of wine and writing….and writing…and writing. Nirvana for the soul, deadly for the thighs. But by the time my Fit Bit buzzes me for the 5th hour in a row telling me I haven’t taken more steps than I need to stagger to the kitchen and back, the guilt sets in.

It used to be when I talked about the discipline of writing I meant the importance of selfishly setting aside time every day to write without guilt. Now, as I writing becomes a vocation and not an avocation, the discipline has become finding ways to incorporate exercise into my work day. To force myself to get up from the job at hand and move. This battle of the bulge is fought whether you work at home or in an office setting. As a chronic multi-tasker I like to try to find a way to keep on working while I excercise.

For you like minded souls here’s a couple of tricks I’ve found helpful.

Take advantage of immersing yourself mind and body in something else. I like yoga. I’ve been doing it for more than forty years and it still works. The key is to take a class and let someone else lead. Go in with a tricky plot point on your mind and then forget about it. Focus on your body. On breathing and moving. Stretch your body and let your mind fend for itself. Allow it to roam randomly through your head space without judgement, but always steer it back to its focus on the body. By the end of class I inevitably find that the solution to my conundrum pops into my head unbidden.

When the weather cooperates, walking is great for blowing the cobwebs out of your head and dispelling any lingering traces of writer’s block. The dog is always there to drag me out and I often talk through issues as we go. The dog is always singularly receptive to my discourse, not helpful mind you, but attentive without being judgmental. The perfect sounding board. I will run through conversations and character backstories. Making notes on a pad in my pocket when something occurs to me. The increased flow of blood to the brain usually ensures a better resolution than the bag of Cheetos I was staring down before I left.

If you have no particular issue on your mind create a soundtrack for your walk that you find evocative of your story line. Let it put you in the right head space so that when you come back to the keyboard your creativity blossoms. For my Whisky Business series soft Celtic music always brings to mind the soft mists and the heather covered hills.

If you are at a stage of final edits I find it helpful to run through my story as if it was a movie. Picturing the fade ins and outs, the flow between scenes and purpose of each scene. You’ll be surprised how often you will find awkward transitions and missing links.

On those brutal outdoor days I resort to the treadmill. If I need inspiration I’ll turn to one of the masters, and hour spent with Poirot, or Lynley or Holmes can jump start your creative engine. Get you looking at things in different ways. Watch the threads of evidence twist and unravel.

Most important, keep moving and keep on writing.

Giveaway:

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Tour Participants

March 20 – MysteriesEtc – REVIEW

March 20 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

March 21 – Community Bookstop – SPOTLIGHT Will review at a later date.

March 21 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT

March 22 – Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW

March 23 – Rainy Day Reviews – REVIEW

March 23 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

March 24 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW

March 24 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

March 25 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW

March 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

March 27 – My Journey Back – REVIEW

March 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 28 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

March 28 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW

March 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

March 30 – Dee-Scoveries – SPOTLIGHT

March 30 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 31 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW

April 1 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

April 1 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT

April 2 – Varietas – REVIEW

April 2 – Author Annette Drake’s blog – INTERVIEW

March 23, 2017

Best Laid Plans & Other Disasters and Wallflower Blooming by Amy Rivers - Review

I received this book free from the publisher

Paperback: 236 pages

Publisher: Wooden Pants Publishing (January 13, 2017)

Cambria Trilogy - Volume 2

About the book:

A year after she is elected mayor of a prosperous Colorado city, Gwen’s career and life are fully on track, all according to plan. So why is she in such a slump emotionally and physically? New conflicts keep boiling over in city government, and her earlier allies no longer support her. She and her boyfriend have an ideal relationship, which she finds inexplicably dissatisfying. Without telling her, he decides to take a new job that has him traveling out of state every week. Suddenly unexpected developments turn everything topsy-turvy, and Gwen is forced to re-examine her carefully-planned life.

“Witty, warm, and compulsively readable. Rivers has deftly created lovably flawed and relatable characters you don’t want to miss.” –Amy Avanzino, author of Wake-Up Call and From the Sideline

About the author:

Amy Rivers was born and raised in southern New Mexico and currently resides in Colorado with her husband, kids and cat. She has a Master’s degree with concentrations in Psychology and Politics, two topics she loves to incorporate into her personal essays and novels. Amy has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Nurses, Novelty Bride Magazine, ESME.com and Splice Today.

Connect with Amy

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

My thoughts:

This was a new to me author. I was asked to read both books for this author. I thought the book was a fun quick read. Even though this was a sequel you can read it as a stand alone book just fine. Gwen was a believable character and could have been anyone's friend or sister. I liked that she was an important woman in her town but yet in her personal life she is a mess. Like most people. All in all a pretty good chick lit type of book.

Paperback: 186

Publisher: Wooden Pants Publishing; 2 edition (August 15, 2016)

Cambria Trilogy - Volume 1

About the book:

Val Shakely is a list-maker. Daily routine. Check. Calm, quiet (but successful) business. Check. No drama. No excitement. Some might call it boring, but it’s precisely the way Val likes it. She loves her hometown of Cambria, nestled in the mountains of Colorado, and runs a fruitful PR firm. It's more than enough for Val. So what if she doesn’t have a social life? Then, her cousin Gwen decides to take on the local political bully, Mayor Roger Barton, in head-to-head combat for his position, and Val takes her company reluctantly, and against her better judgment, into the fray. The minute Val takes on Gwen’s campaign, the safe world she carefully constructed begins to unravel. She feels the pressure of the campaign and the personal attacks by Barton. And as if that wasn’t complicated enough, Val finds herself falling in love with local businessman John Hatfield, a man just as boring as her at first glance. Both charming and confrontational, Val is drawn to John in a way that cracks the simplicity of her life. In the end, Val’s desire to stay on the sidelines is put to the test and she’s forced to reexamine the life she’s built as she trudges toward a new and more exciting future.

My thoughts:

This was a nice book to read. I liked that is was a short book as you can read it in a weekend. I enjoyed getting to know Val. She was a fun character to follow along through the story. Val and her cousin are both strong women yet they are like your everyday friend who has some problems. I thought the author's writing style was easy to read as well. I am glad I got the chance to review this series.

TOUR STOPS:

Monday, February 20th: Book by Book

Thursday, February 23rd: Kritter’s Ramblings

Monday, February 27th: Run Wright

Wednesday, March 1st: Write Read Life

Thursday, March 2nd: Deborah Blanchard

Friday, March 3rd: Patricia’s Wisdom

Monday, March 6th: Stranded in Chaos

Wednesday, March 8th: Tina Says…

Thursday, March 9th: Sue Roberts

Thursday, March 9th: Girl Who Reads

Monday, March 13th: 5 Minutes for Books

Wednesday, March 15th: Books and Bindings

Thursday, March 16th: Chick Lit Central

Monday, March 20th: All Roads Lead to the Kitchen

Wednesday, March 22nd: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Thursday, March 23rd: A Holland Reads

Date TBD: Thoughts on This ‘n That

March 22, 2017

Grace and the Preacher by Kim Vogel Sawyer - Review

I received this book for free from the publisher

Book Details:

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: WaterBrook (March 21, 2017)

ISBN-13: 978-0307731418

About the book:

At the age of twenty-three, postmistress Grace Cristler has all but given up hope of finding a husband among the narrowing group of eligible men in her town of Fairland, Kansas. But when her uncle decides to retire from the pulpit, Grace is responsible for corresponding with the new preacher set to take his place. She can’t deny the affection growing in her heart for Reverend Rufus Dille—a man she deeply admires but has only met through his letters.

Theophil Garrison is on the run from his past. Ten years ago his outlaw cousins convinced him to take part in a train robbery, but Theo fled the scene, leaving his cousins to face imprisonment. Now they’ve finished their sentences, but the plan for vengeance has just begun. Branded a coward and running for his life, Theo has aa chance encounter that could provide him with the escape he needs.

But the young man’s desperate con might come at an enormous price for the tenderhearted Grace—and the entire town. Will Grace’s undeserved affection and God’s mercy make something beautiful from the ashes of Theo’s past?

About the author:

Award-winning, bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer is a wife, mother, gramma, chocolate-lover, cat-petter, and--most importantly--a daughter of the King! With more than 1.5 million books in print in seven different languages, Kim enjoys a full-time writing and speaking ministry. Her "gentle stories of hope" are loved by readers and reviewers alike. Kim and her retired military husband, Don, reside on the plains of Kansas, the setting for many of her novels.

My thoughts:

This was a nice book about the story of a lady who just wants to live a happy life. The author did a good job of capturing the time and place setting in this book. As with previous books I have read of hers she did a good job in developing the characters. The romance is nice but it is not overpowering. There are also some other things you can learn from this book like forgiveness. As Grace learns. A good book that will keep you entertained.

A Lady in Disguise by Sandra Byrd - Review

I received this book free from the publisher

Book Details:

Series: The Daughters of Hampshire #3

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Howard Books (March 21, 2017)

ISBN-13: 978-1476717937

About the book:

In this intriguing novel of romance, mystery, and clever disguise set in Victorian England, a young woman investigates the murder of her own father.

After the mysterious death of her father, Miss Gillian Young takes a new job as the principal costume designer at the renowned Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. But while she remembers her father as a kind, well-respected man of the Police Force, clues she uncovers indicate he’d been living a double life: a haunting photograph of a young woman; train stubs for secret trips just before his death; and a receipt for a large sum of money. Are these items evidence of her father’s guilty secrets? His longtime police partner thinks so.

Then Gillian meets the dashing Viscount Thomas Lockwood. Their attraction is instant and inescapable. As their romantic involvement grows, Gillian begins to suspect even Lockwood’s motives. Does Lord Lockwood truly love her? Or is his interest a front for the desire to own her newly inherited property? And what should she make of her friend’s suggestion that Lockwood or men like him were involved in the murder of her father?

Soon Gillian is convinced that her father has left evidence somewhere that can prove his innocence and reveal the guilty party. But someone wants to stop her from discovering it. The closer she comes to uncovering it, the more menacing her opposition grows. With her life on the line, Gillian takes on an ingenious disguise and takes on the role of a lifetime to reveal the true killer—before it’s too late both for her and for those that she loves.

About the author:

After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published fifty books.

Sandra's new series, Daughters of Hampshire, historically sound Gothic romances, launched with best-selling Book One: Mist of Midnight. That book earned a coveted Editor's Choice from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, will publish in March 2017. Sandra's latest nonfiction title is The One Year Home and Garden Devotions.

Check out her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named by Library Journal as a Best Books Pick for 2011 and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr, was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.

Sandra has published dozens of books for kids, tweens and teens, including the best-selling, The One Year Be-Tween You and God, Devotions For Girls, and two read aloud picture books.

She is passionate about helping new writers develop their talent and their work toward traditional or self-publication. As such, she has mentored and coached hundreds of new writers and continues to coach dozens to success each year via novelcoaching.com

Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype.

My thoughts:

I enjoyed trying to figure out the mysteries that Gillian's father kept as she was trying to figure out who murdered him. I was a little worried for her at times as there were a few things that threatened her life as she got close to figuring out what happened. The bit of romance that was included in this story was nice as well. It kind of lightened the mood in spots. It was nice how the author was able to put some facts from the time period in with the story. In fact at the end of the book after the story is all done she gives us some more historical notes. I thought she did a good job of getting the time and place down. Her descriptions were vivid and her characters well developed. I have enjoyed each of the books in this series. You can read them as a stand alone if you wish but I recommend reading them all. I am looking forward to the next series she will give us.

March 21, 2017

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - Review

I received this book from the publisher for free

Book Details:

Published: June 6, 2017

Number of pages 352

ISBN: 9780425284681

Hardback

About the book:

Two families, generations apart, are forever changed by a heartbreaking injustice in this poignant novel, inspired by a true story, for readers of Orphan Train and The Nightingale.

Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents—but they quickly realize that the truth is much darker. At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together—in a world of danger and uncertainty.

Aiken, South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions—and compels her to take a journey through her family's long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation . . . or redemption.

Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong

My thoughts:

When I finished this book last night the first thing I had to say to myself was wow - what a powerful book. I have read all of Lisa's Carolina series and loved each of them and thought they were touching, but this one was even more so. If that is even possible.

I had never heard the story of Georgia Tann or the Tennessee Children's Home Society so this was all new to me. From page one I felt horrible for Rill/May and her entire family. I can not even begin to imagine what is must have felt like to have total strangers come and take you away never to see your parents again. Nor how the parents felt to find their children had disappeared or even worse to be told they died when in fact they did not. How extremely painful.

I liked ho Lisa told both tales of Avery and Rill/May. Avery the granddaughter who was wanted to find out the secret of her grandma's past and how she is connected to May. Then Rill/May's story of survival of a childhood that you cannot imagine. Some of the things he as well as the other kids had to endure was unthinkable. You wonder how they survived such things and were able to overcome some of it.

Lisa did a great job in the details of the emotions and the scenes. I felt as if I was right there with Rill/May. I wanted to give her a hug and to help her in whatever way was possible. She is one of the few authors that can write a book that effects me so much. With each page I wanted more of the story, more of the history, even at the end I wanted more. I wanted to sit down and listen to May and Judy talk about their past and here their story told by them. I loved the ending but wish I could have know what actually happened to the other three siblings.

This book would also make a great movie. I highly recommend it. It is one of the best books I have read this year.

About the author:

Lisa Wingate is a former journalist, an inspirational speaker, and the bestselling author of more than twenty novels. Her work has won or been nominated for many awards, including the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize, the Oklahoma Book Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, and the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. Wingate lives in the Ouachita Mountains of southwest Arkansas.

The Enemies of Versailles by Sally Christie - Guest Post and Giveaway

Book Details:

The Enemies of Versailles

Historical Fiction

Release date: March 21, 2017

Atria Books/Simon & Schuster 416 pages

ISBN: 978-1501103025

Website | Goodreads

Synopsis:

In the final installment of Sally Christie's "tantalizing" (New York Daily News) Mistresses of Versailles trilogy, Jeanne Becu, a woman of astounding beauty but humble birth, works her way from the grimy back streets of Paris to the palace of Versailles, where the aging King Louis XV has become a jaded and bitter old philanderer. Jeanne bursts into his life and, as the Comtesse du Barry, quickly becomes his official mistress.

"That beastly bourgeois Pompadour was one thing; a common prostitute is quite another kettle of fish." After decades of suffering the King's endless stream of Royal Favorites, the princesses of the Court have reached a breaking point. Horrified that he would bring the lowborn Comtesse du Barry into the hallowed halls of Versailles, Louis XV's daughters, led by the indomitable Madame Adelaide, vow eternal enmity and enlist the young dauphiness Marie Antoinette in their fight against the new mistress. But as tensions rise and the French Revolution draws closer, a prostitute in the palace soon becomes the least of the nobility's concerns.

Told in Christie's witty and engaging style, the final book in The Mistresses of Versailles trilogy will delight and entrance fans as it once again brings to life the sumptuous and cruel world of eighteenth century Versailles, and France as it approaches irrevocable change.

About the author:

Sally Christie is the author of The Sisters of Versailles and The Rivals of Versailles. She was born in England and grew up around the world, attending eight schools in three different languages. She spent most of her career working in international development and currently lives in Toronto. Learn more her Versailles trilogy on her website Become a fan to hear about her next novels! Visit her Facebook Page Check her Pinterest page

Follow Simon & Schuster on Twitter and Facebook

Pre-order the book | on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound

Guest Post:

Animals at Versailles

Just like today, people in the 18th century kept a great deal of pets: cats, dogs, birds. Because of their importance for the hunt, dogs especially figured large in every aristocrat’s life. Louis XV was so fond of his hunting dogs he got individual portraits done of each of them!

Then just as now, people kept pets for love and companionship, but also for status. As the century wore on and trade expanded, travelers and explorers bought back exotic birds and animals like monkeys from Asia and Africa. The palace of Versailles was also home to a Menagerie, stocked with exotic animals given as gifts from foreign rulers to the king of France. It was built when the palace of Versailles was built in the 17th century, but Louis XV, despite being a great animal lover, was not as interested in it as his predecessor. During the Revolution most of the animals died and the cages were used to house political prisoners.

My books about the mistresses of Louis XV are full of animals and pets: the Comtesse du Barry adored birds; Madame de Pompadour had a pet monkey, and one of her friends was obsessed with rabbits. Another lady liked to carry around her miniature pug in a basket, and barking dogs are constantly causing friction in the close living quarters at Versailles. The King’s adored cat Snowball (the cat was real but the name is mine), that he used to bring to council meetings when he was younger, even makes an appearance.

This rather snooty 18th century lady was apparently so fond of her cat that she sat with it for her portrait, and the luxurious, padded kennel (or cat house?) shows that their masters spoilt them as much as we spoil our pets!

Giveaway:

You can enter the global giveaway here or on any other book blogs participating in this tour. Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter/Facebook, they are listed in the entry form below.

ENTER HERE

Visit each blogger on the tour: tweeting about the giveaway everyday of the Tour will give you 5 extra entries each time! Just follow the directions on the entry-form. Global giveaway - open to US residents - 5 winners of a print copy

CLICK ON THE BANNER TO READ REVIEWS, EXCERPTS, GUEST-POSTS

Tour Schedule:

Monday, March 20

Spotlight + Guest-post + Giveaway at Bibliojunkies

Tuesday, March 21

Spotlight + Guest-post + Giveaway at A Holland Reads

Wednesday, March 22

Review + Excerpt + Giveaway at I am, Indeed

Spotlight + Giveaway at A Bookaholic Swede

Thursday, March 23

Review + Giveaway at Words And Peace

Monday, March 27

Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Tuesday, March 28

Review + Excerpt + Giveaway at

Musings of a writer and unabashed francophile

Thursday, March 30

Spotlight + Giveaway at Libri Amori Miei

Thursday, March 30

Review + Giveaway at Just One More Chapter

Friday, March 31

Spotlight + Excerpt + Giveaway at Book Nerd

March 20, 2017

Starting Over on Blackberry Lane by Sheila Roberts - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: February 28, 2017

Number of pages: 400

Genre: Romance

Series; Icicle Falls #10

Synopsis:

Time for a Change—or Three!

Stefanie Stahl has a husband with renovation ADD. He can't seem to finish anything he starts and her house is littered with his "projects." If he doesn't smarten up, she swears she's going to murder him and bury him under the pile of scrounged lumber in the backyard.

Her friend Griffin James is suddenly single and thinking maybe she needs to sell her fixer-upper and follow her career bliss up the ladder of success, even if that scary ladder is clear across the country. Getting her place ready to sell proves harder than she originally thought. She needs help.

She's not the only one. Cass Wilkes, their neighbor, has an empty nest—with a leaking roof. When her ceiling crashes in, she knows it's time to do something. When Grant Masters offers his handyman services at a fund-raiser auction, the three women go in together to outbid the competition and win their man. (Cass's friends think she should win Grant in a different way, too!) Now it's time to make some improvements…in their houses and their lives.

My thoughts:

Since this is a Sheila Roberts book of course I loved it. I have not read one of her books yet that I have not loved. I liked how it had three story lines in one. We also got to see all of our old friends from Icicle Falls. It was fun watching Cass toy around by with the idea of having a man in her life. Steph's story line kind of reminded me of my own husband, so many projects but none done. Then there is Griffin who I completely understand what she is going through with the things her family has said. I have my own experiences with things like that. I did feel bad for her in her relationship. They were all pulled together by the lovely Grant. I loved his personality and how he interacted with all the ladies from Icicle Falls. Each of these three stories had a way of pulling at your emotions. I really liked the end and am now looking forward to the next chapter in our friends life.

About the author:

Bestselling author Sheila Roberts has seen her books translated into over a dozen languages. Her novels ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS and THE NINE LIVES OF CHRISTMAS were made into movies for the Lifetime and Hallmark channels. When she’s not hanging out with her girlfriends or dancing with her husband she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:
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