The Last December by Velda Allard McElroy - A review

The Last December by Velada Allard McElroy

293 pages - Paperback

Published September 19th, 2019

ISBN: 9781088588451

About the book:

TAKE A WILD THROUGH HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE THE LAST DECEMBER!
Eighteen-year-old Pearl Hardisty discovers the small town of Silver Lake in Eastern Oregon has more to offer than dry sage brush, old farmhouses, and unbearable freezing cold winters when she met Frank Bunyard. The kindhearted, handsome cowboy made her glad she decided to move with her family after all. Through stories Frank shares with her she learns about friendship, survival, and an unforgettable story of privation and loss from a small band of Modoc Indians who were left behind after the Modoc war. When the tightly knit community of Silver Lake experiences its own tragedy on Christmas Eve in 1894, they learn just how fragile life really is and how important it is to lean on one another and open their hearts and homes to those they once tried to destroy.

Meet the author - Velada Allard McElroy:

Velada Allard McElroy is proud to call Eugene Oregon her home. Her ancestors settled in the Oregon Territory mostly in Lake Co. around the mid 1850's after crossing the plains. Hearing stories that were passed down through generations she learned about the Silver Lake fire on Christmas Eve in 1894 where several of her relatives perished and about her third great grandfather, George C. Duncan, who was instrumental in helping several Modoc Indians after the Modoc war.

Velada is an Office Manager & Bookkeeper for a non-profit who loves creative writing, genealogy, studying history and cultural anthropology.

My thoughts:

I enjoyed reading this book from a new to me author.  Reading this book felt like you were right there feeling the same emotions as the characters.  The author did a good job of making you feel as if you were a part of the story. The Modoc Indian War was not one I had heard of before and I am thankful to have learned more about it through the author's telling of it.  Another tragic event in the Native American History.  I also liked how this was based on true facts and that the author had a person connection to the characters.  A very good book in my opinion. 

American Duchess by Karen Harper - Review

Book details

Paperback : 368 pages

ISBN-10 : 0062748335

ISBN-13 : 978-0062748331

Publisher : William Morrow Paperbacks; Illustrated Edition (February 26, 2019)

Book description

Karen Harper tells the tale of Consuelo Vanderbilt, her “The Wedding of the Century” to the Duke of Marlborough, and her quest to find meaning behind “the glitter and the gold.”

On a cold November day in 1895, a carriage approaches St Thomas Episcopal Church on New York City’s Fifth Avenue. Massive crowds surge forward, awaiting their glimpse of heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt. Just 18, the beautiful bride has not only arrived late, but in tears, yet her marriage to the aloof Duke of Marlborough proceeds. Bullied into the wedding by her indomitable mother, Alva, Consuelo loves another. But a deal was made, trading some of the vast Vanderbilt wealth for a title and prestige, and Consuelo, bred to obey, realizes she must make the best of things.

At Blenheim Palace, Consuelo is confronted with an overwhelming list of duties, including producing an “heir and a spare,” but her relationship with the duke quickly disintegrates. Consuelo finds an inner strength, charming everyone from debutantes to diplomats including Winston Churchill, as she fights for women’s suffrage. And when she takes a scandalous leap, can she hope to attain love at last…?

From the dawning of the opulent Gilded Age, to the battles of the Second World War, American Duchess is a riveting tale of one woman’s quest to attain independence—at any price.

Meet the author - Karen Harper

Karen Harper is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of romantic suspense and historical novels. A native Ohioan, Karen is a former high school English teacher and English-and-writing instructor at the Ohio State University. (Go Bucks!) The Harpers are avid Ohio State football fans, but they have a serious side too. They were on the 10-year committee which revamped the main library on campus. The Ohio State Library houses her author collection in Rare Books and Manuscripts.

The Harpers love to travel, and Karen often uses her favorite places as settings for her novels. She's recently written books set in Edwardian England and South Florida, the latter where she lived for 30 winters. Her latest trilogy is THE SOUTH SHORES NOVELS, with forensic psychologist Claire Britten and criminal lawyer Nick Markwood. Her most recent historical is THE IT GIRLS.
These bring her published books to over 70 in a 35-year writing career.

Karen belongs to several writer's organizations, including International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and The Historical Novel Society.

My thoughts

I loved this book.  It gave me a chance to meet someone in history that I really did not know about.  I also liked how I was able to learn a little about Winston Churchill's personal side.  I felt bad for Consuelo for having to marry someone who she did not want to marry or love. I know things were done that way a lot in the past to keep your social standing but I dod not agree.  In the end though she stands up for herself and finds true love and happiness. 

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray - Spotlight, Interview and Giveaway

July 14^th marks Bastille Day, a pivotal turning point in the French Revolution, now celebrated as France’s national independence day.

Book Details

THE WOMEN OF CHATEAU LAFAYETTE by New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray 

(Berkley hardcover; on-sale March 30, 2021)

A pre-order link à https://bit.ly/3iLkURa

Add to your Goodreads list à https://bit.ly/320tkya

Sign up for Stephanie’s newsletter à https://www.stephaniedray.com/fun/newsletter/

About the book

An epic saga from New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy in three of humanity's darkest hours.

Most castles are protected by powerful men. This one by women...

A founding mother...

1774. Gently-bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband's political partner in the fight for American independence. But when their idealism sparks revolution in France and the guillotine threatens everything she holds dear, Adrienne must choose to renounce the complicated man she loves, or risk her life for a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

A daring visionary...

1914. Glittering New York socialite Beatrice Astor Chanler is a force of nature, daunted by nothing--not her humble beginnings, her crumbling marriage, or the outbreak of war. But after witnessing the devastation in France and delivering war-relief over dangerous seas, Beatrice takes on the challenge of a lifetime: convincing America to fight for what's right.

A reluctant resistor...

1940. French school-teacher and aspiring artist Marthe Simone has an orphan's self-reliance and wants nothing to do with war. But as the realities of Nazi occupation transform her life in the isolated castle where she came of age, she makes a discovery that calls into question who she is, and more importantly, who she is willing to become.

Intricately woven and beautifully told, The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a sweeping novel about duty and hope, love and courage, and the strength we find from standing together in honor of those who came before us.

Q&A WITH STEPHANIE DRAY

What made you fall in love with Adrienne Lafayette and why do you think readers will fall for her as you did?

Thanks to a popular musical, the Marquis de Lafayette is known to a new generation as "America's Favorite Fighting Frenchman"--and there's good reason for that. He's easily the most lovable of our Founding Fathers, and his wife, whom he called his dear heart, is just as lovable if not more so. Adrienne was our French Founding Mother, so right up my alley as a heroine, but at first I worried she was too sweet, devoted, and forgiving. In short, too gentle for a novel. Little did I realize that more than any other historical heroine I've ever written, Adrienne fought and sacrificed for her principles, courageously threw herself into danger, confronted tyrants, and endured trials that would have broken lesser mortals. She truly humbles me, and when I talk about the Lafayette legacy, I think of it as every bit as much hers as it is his.

How long did it take you to write this book? Did the story evolve as you researched, or did you always know you wanted to take on the lives of these particular women?

I was always interested in Lafayette--an interest that grew as Laura Kamoie and I co-authored America's First Daughter and My Dear Hamilton. I think I had the germ of the idea for a Lafayette novel at least seven years ago, but I had other projects in the way. And I was always in search of an angle that would be fresh and unique. That came to me when I discovered that Lafayette's castle in Auvergne, which had been purchased and renovated by Americans, served to shelter Jewish children from the Nazis. Knowing how deeply the Lafayettes both felt about religious freedom, I knew this would have pleased them, and it touched me. I was then determined to know which Americans had purchased the chateau, and when I found out, yet another glorious chapter in the Lafayette legacy was born. That's when the story took shape for me about one special place on this earth where, generation after generation, faith has been kept with principles of liberty and humanity. I find that very inspirational, now more than ever.

The book is centered around Lafayette’s castle, the Château de Chavaniac, and the pivotal role it played during three of history’s darkest hours—the French Revolution and both World Wars. If you could have dinner with any three people (dead or alive) at Chavaniac, who would you choose and why?

Believe it or not, this is actually a difficult choice because so many incredible men and women passed through those doors. I'd have to start with the Lafayettes--though I hope they would not serve me pigeons, which were a favorite at their wedding banquet. To join us for dinner, I'd choose the colorful stage-star of the Belle Epoque, Beatrice Chanler, because she was a force of nature without whom Chavaniac might not still be standing. Actress, artist, philanthropist, decorated war-relief worker and so-called Queen of the Social Register, she was as mysterious as she was wonderful, and even after all the startling discoveries I made researching her larger-than-life existence, I have a million questions about the early life she tried so hard to hide. I can't wait for readers to meet her!

Giveaway

Enter to win an advance reading copy using this sweepstakes link - https://bit.ly/SDCoverSweeps

The Portrait by Cassandra Austen - Spotlight and Giveaway

Book details

The Portrait by Cassandra Austen

Publication Date: December 31, 2018 

Apollo Grannus Books 

eBook & Paperback; 340 Pages 

Genre: Historical/Romance/Suspense

 

Book description

Lady Catherine, banished to the countryside as a useless girl with a lame leg, got her revenge by playing a dangerous game. And now it will ruin her. When the old earl dies, his only child feels no sorrow. The earldom will now revert to the crown and Lady Catherine will continue to live life exactly as she pleases. But when she learns that she is the heir to a secret family title, everything changes. Marriage had once seemed unnecessary and out of the question; now it is the only thing she wants. The two men in her life both need her influence and wealth. Whom shall she choose? The kind but secretive Captain Avebury? Or the notorious Sir Lyle, the handsome smuggler? Both men deal very differently with honor. And when Catherine's secret self-destructs, which man can be trusted to save her? The Portrait is about a strong woman, foolish decisions, trust, and the definition of honor. Fans of Jane Austen's independent women will recognize in Catherine a voice which will not be silenced. 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Meet the Author - Cassandra Austen

Cassandra Austen writes historical and contemporary fiction set in both old and New England. She is the author of The Portrait, a historical romance that takes place during the Regency period in England, and Coming Home to Greenleigh, a contemporary New England romance. She lives and works in her 1700s farmhouse in northern New England, but you are welcome to visit her at her virtual home: cassandraausten.com. You can also find Cassandra on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads.

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two copies of The Portrait! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on July 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open internationally. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen. The Portrait

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, July 1 Feature at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots 

Tuesday, July 2 Feature at A Holland Reads 

Wednesday, July 3 Review & Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads 

Thursday, July 4 Interview at Passages to the Past 

Friday, July 5 Review at A Chick Who Reads Excerpt at Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen Monday, July 8 Interview at Let Them Read Books 

Tuesday, July 9 Feature at CelticLady's Reviews 

Wednesday, July 10 Review at McCombs on Main 

Thursday, July 11 Feature at What Is That Book About Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit Friday, July 12 Review at Coffee and Ink Review at Book Reviews from Canada 

Monday, July 15 Review at My Vices and Weaknesses

Abe & Ann by Gary Moore - Review

Book details

Publication Date: May 15, 2019

Komatik Press

eBook & Paperback; 220 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book description

ABE & ANN brings to life the little-known story of Abraham Lincoln’s passionate romance with Ann Rutledge when he was young and timid and hopelessly in love. Years later he would be enthroned in Washington after saving democracy, his wisdom and greatness legendary. Was it all because of a woman?

Auburn-haired Ann Rutledge, feisty and fed-up with propriety, is frontier royalty, the 18-year-old daughter of the founder of the village where the 22-year-old Lincoln comes looking for work. She is lively and literate and funny, and Abe is homely and poor, but full of high ambition. Lincoln courts the dazzling red-haired woman who comes into his life like a revelation. In the spell of their feelings, the lovers question the limits in their lives and boldly dream of a better future. But she is engaged to another man.

Readers who enjoyed Doris Kearns Goodwin’s bestselling Lincoln book Team of Rivals, Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster film Lincoln, and George Saunders’ Lincoln in the Bardo will marvel again at this very different and compelling tale of Lincoln as a young man.

Not a grand historical treatment but a lyrical telling of a deeply personal tale, ABE & ANN dares to give readers an earnest but untutored Lincoln whose humanity every reader can share, who was weak before he was strong, frightened before he was bold, and deeply in love with a woman whose admiration confirmed the greatness growing within him.

AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE

Meet the author - Gary Moore

Author Gary Moore is a playwright and poet who has been making creative use of Abraham Lincoln in drama, poetry, and performance art for more than thirty years. Gary’s bilingual musical in Shanghai, The Great Emancipator Meets The Monkey King, introduced rap-music to the People’s Republic of China six months before Tiananmen. His play based on that experience, Burning in China, sold out at the 2010 New York International Fringe Festival after being featured in the New York Times and recommended by the New Yorker. ABE & ANN, to be published by Komatik Press in May, 2019, is his first novel.

WEBSITE | GOODREADS

My thoughts

I thought this was an interesting book and it gave a different view of Lincoln than what most people are used to seeing. For me it gave a little bit of a more personal side to him. You got to see him as a young man and how he felt about Ann.  The writing was done well and I thought the author did a good job with his research and getting the details of the time period correct. 

Gold Digger by Rebecca Rosenberg - Review and Giveaway

 

Book details

Gold Digger by Rebecca Rosenberg

Publication Date: May 28, 2019 

Lion Heart Publishing 

eBook & Paperback; 312 Pages 

Genre: Fiction/Romance/Historical/American

   

Book description

 One look at Baby Doe and you know she was meant to be a legend! She was just twenty years old when she came to Colorado to work a gold mine with her new husband. Little did she expect that she'd be abandoned and pregnant and left to manage the gold mine alone. But that didn't stop her! She moved to Leadville and fell in love with a married prospector, twice her age. Horace Tabor struck the biggest silver vein in history, divorced his wife and married Baby Doe. Though his new wife was known for her beauty, her fashion, and even her philanthropy, she was never welcomed in polite society. Discover how the Tabors navigated the worlds of wealth, power, politics, and scandal in the wild days of western mining.
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Praise for Gold Digger

“Rosenberg’s rollicking Western adventure strikes gold with a gutsy, good-hearted spitfire of a heroine and action aplenty.” —THELMA ADAMS, bestselling author of Bittersweet Brooklyn and The Last Woman Standing "Gold Digger tells the true story of Lizzie 'Baby Doe' Tabor, a beautiful young woman who in 1878 marries the son of a wealthy miner in order to save her family from penury. Shrewd and stubborn, Lizzie fights back-biting Victorian society, wins and loses vast fortunes, and bests conniving politicians in her larger-than-life story. A twisting tale worthy of Mark Twain, with a big-hearted heroine at the center." —MARTHA CONWAY, author of The Underground River

Meet the Author - Rebecca Rosenberg

A California native, Rebecca Rosenberg lives on a lavender farm with her family in Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon, where Jack London wrote from his Beauty Ranch. Rebecca is a long-time student of Jack London’s works and an avid fan of his daring wife, Charmian London. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is her debut novel. Rebecca and her husband, Gary, own the largest lavender product company in America, selling to 4000 resorts, spas and gift stores. The Rosenbergs believe in giving back to the Sonoma Community, supporting many causes through financial donations and board positions, including Worth Our Weight, an educational culinary program for at-risk children, YWCA shelter for abused women, Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center to provide performances for children, Sonoma Food Bank, Sonoma Boys and Girls Club, and the Valley of the Moon Children’s Home. For more information, please visit Rebecca’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Goodreads. Visit the Facebook page for The Secret Life of Mrs. London.

My thoughts

I thought this was an interesting book about someone in history that I knew nothing about.  Baby Doe had to endure a lot on her own.  I am not sure I could have survived on my own in that time like she did. But I liked how she kind of rebelled against what people thought women should do in that time and did what she had to do the way she wanted to do it to survive. The author did a good job with her research. I liked how she packed a lot of information into this book without making it feel heavy.

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we will be giving away a copy of Gold Digger, a gold facial mask & soap set, and recipe brochure to five winners. Three winners will receive an ebook of Gold Digger. To enter, please use the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on June 28th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. Gold Digger

Blog Tour Schedule

Wednesday, May 15 Review at Pursuing Stacie 

Thursday, May 16 Review at Passages to the Past 

Friday, May 17 Review at View from the Birdhouse 

Monday, May 20 Interview at Passages to the Past 

Tuesday, May 21 Excerpt at Donna's Book Blog 

Friday, May 24 Feature at Just One More Chapter 

Monday, May 27 Review at Orange County Readers 

Tuesday, May 28 Excerpt at Kimber Li Review at Diana_bibliophile 

Wednesday, May 29 Review at 100 Pages a Day Review at Oh, the Books She Will Read 

Thursday, May 30 Review at A Bookish Affair Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads 

Friday, May 31 Interview at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots 

Monday, June 3 Review at A Chick Who Reads 

Tuesday, June 4 Excerpt at Maiden of the Pages 

Wednesday, June 5 Review at A Book Geek 

Thursday, June 6 Review at Comet Readings 

Friday, June 7 Review at History From a Woman's Perspective 

Saturday, June 8 Interview at Comet Readings 

Monday, June 10 Review & Guest Post at Clarissa Reads it All 

Tuesday, June 11 Excerpt at Old Timey Books 

Wednesday, June 12 Interview at T's Stuff Review at Proverbial Reads 

Thursday, June 13 Review at Cheryl's Book Nook 

Saturday, June 15 Review at Suzy Approved Book Reviews 

Monday, June 17 Author Spotlight at RW Bookclub 

Tuesday, June 18 Review at Books In Their Natural Habitat 

Thursday, June 20 Review at A Holland Reads 

Monday, June 24 Review at RW Bookclub 

Review at CelticLady's Reviews 

Thursday, June 27 Review at Mama's Reading Corner 

Friday, June 28 Review at Coffee and Ink Review at Cover To Cover Cafe 

Decision at Fletcher's Mill by David Caringer - Review

Book details

Paperback: 300 pages

Publisher: Elm Hill (March 12, 2019)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 159555789X

ISBN-13: 978-1595557896

Book description

The American revolution has no end in sight. Slavery has plagued the southern colonies as long as anyone can remember. The British have opened a second front in the south. Southern society is fragmented as rebels strive to throw off British tyranny, while loyalists fight to remain under English rule. Neighbor turns against neighbor. Families are torn apart.

Young Billy Morgan enters this chaotic world as a militiaman during the decisive battle of Cowpens. He becomes the butt of many jokes before the battle by trying to gain acceptance from his comrades through a foolish boastful lie. At Cowpens, the other men learn that there is much more to Billy Morgan than any of them thought possible when he leads them into the fiercest part of the fight. He is rewarded with a promotion and given a task that is much larger than his limited experience and apparently questionable character would seem to support.

Ira Fletcher is one of the richest men in South Carolina. He has powerful political connections. Fletcher is a complex man with a fiery past, and a passion for the Gospel. He owns Fletcher’s Mill and almost everything around it for miles. Rumors abound regarding vast treasure hidden in or under the mill. Ira abhors slavery. He elevates former slave, Ezekiel, to a position of authority at the mill. Elizabeth, Ira’s orphaned granddaughter, is raised by the widowed Ira, Ezekiel, and family friend Mona Partridge. The jealousy of His planter neighbors explodes into cruel violence that threatens everything Ira holds dear. He is forced to choose what is truly valuable.

Love and loyalty, greed and violence, courage and grace all abound as these people and many others are drawn together. Choices must be made. Change is coming. It is a time of weighty decision at Fletcher’s Mill.

Meet the author - David Caringer

David Caringer was born in Chicago in 1957. He grew up with two older brothers and a younger sister. Their father was a Nazarene minister and their mother was a sweet and saintly lady of the church. The family moved from Illinois to southern California and then to Missouri where he finished High School and joined the US Army to become an infantry paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Far from home and family, Caringer turned quickly away from his strong moral upbringing and became involved in the hedonistic lifestyle of sex drugs and rock & roll that was so prevalent in the post Vietnam army of the 1970's. His life became a dark and dank search for love joy and peace through people, events, and places that were incapable of providing or even comprehending the true meaning of those virtues. This time was punctuated with many moments of true humor and stark terror.

Living a desperate double life, Caringer was involved in many grand adventures and senseless tragedies over a period of nearly thirty years. He was educated in college, in numerous military and civilian training schools, and on the street. His professional resume includes occupations like paratrooper, police officer, army officer, private investigator, and many others. His tragic lifestyle of rebellion against all that he had been taught as a child provides a dark description of a man full of rage, loneliness, passion, and stubborn selfish pride.

Thankfully, his story doesn't end there. In January of 2003, during a time of desperate trouble, Caringer finally came to the end of himself and found redemption in and through Jesus Christ. The explosion of change in him since this event has been so profound that he is now hardly recognizable as the same person. He has lived this new life now for over twelve years, having found the true source of love, joy, and peace. He now works in the low voltage security industry. He is also a volunteer chaplain and an ordained non-denominational minister of the Gospel. He and his wife Patti live in southwest Missouri where they are heavily involved in the discipleship and Life Group (house church) ministries of James River Church.

You can purchase the book at Amazon: Decision at Fletcher's Mill

My thoughts

I enjoyed reading this book. The writing was nice and easy to read. It was like the story flowed off the pages. I liked the subject and time frame.  The characters were well developed.  In fact the more I read about Ira the more I loved him.  I would like to know more about Ezekiel. He seemed liked he would be an interesting person.  I also had a soft spot for Billy.  Now I can't say the same for Crispin or Throckmorton.  They were the characters you love to hate. I am looking forward to the next book and hope to hear more about Billy and Elizabeth's story and what lies in their future. 

Decision at Fletcher's Mill by David Caringer - Spotlight and Interview

Book details

Paperback: 300 pages

Publisher: Elm Hill (March 12, 2019)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 159555789X

ISBN-13: 978-1595557896

Book description

The American revolution has no end in sight. Slavery has plagued the southern colonies as long as anyone can remember. The British have opened a second front in the south. Southern society is fragmented as rebels strive to throw off British tyranny, while loyalists fight to remain under English rule. Neighbor turns against neighbor. Families are torn apart.

Young Billy Morgan enters this chaotic world as a militiaman during the decisive battle of Cowpens. He becomes the butt of many jokes before the battle by trying to gain acceptance from his comrades through a foolish boastful lie. At Cowpens, the other men learn that there is much more to Billy Morgan than any of them thought possible when he leads them into the fiercest part of the fight. He is rewarded with a promotion and given a task that is much larger than his limited experience and apparently questionable character would seem to support.

Ira Fletcher is one of the richest men in South Carolina. He has powerful political connections. Fletcher is a complex man with a fiery past, and a passion for the Gospel. He owns Fletcher’s Mill and almost everything around it for miles. Rumors abound regarding vast treasure hidden in or under the mill. Ira abhors slavery. He elevates former slave, Ezekiel, to a position of authority at the mill. Elizabeth, Ira’s orphaned granddaughter, is raised by the widowed Ira, Ezekiel, and family friend Mona Partridge. The jealousy of His planter neighbors explodes into cruel violence that threatens everything Ira holds dear. He is forced to choose what is truly valuable.

Love and loyalty, greed and violence, courage and grace all abound as these people and many others are drawn together. Choices must be made. Change is coming. It is a time of weighty decision at Fletcher’s Mill.

Meet the author - David Caringer

David Caringer was born in Chicago in 1957. He grew up with two older brothers and a younger sister. Their father was a Nazarene minister and their mother was a sweet and saintly lady of the church. The family moved from Illinois to southern California and then to Missouri where he finished High School and joined the US Army to become an infantry paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Far from home and family, Caringer turned quickly away from his strong moral upbringing and became involved in the hedonistic lifestyle of sex drugs and rock & roll that was so prevalent in the post Vietnam army of the 1970's. His life became a dark and dank search for love joy and peace through people, events, and places that were incapable of providing or even comprehending the true meaning of those virtues. This time was punctuated with many moments of true humor and stark terror.

Living a desperate double life, Caringer was involved in many grand adventures and senseless tragedies over a period of nearly thirty years. He was educated in college, in numerous military and civilian training schools, and on the street. His professional resume includes occupations like paratrooper, police officer, army officer, private investigator, and many others. His tragic lifestyle of rebellion against all that he had been taught as a child provides a dark description of a man full of rage, loneliness, passion, and stubborn selfish pride.

Thankfully, his story doesn't end there. In January of 2003, during a time of desperate trouble, Caringer finally came to the end of himself and found redemption in and through Jesus Christ. The explosion of change in him since this event has been so profound that he is now hardly recognizable as the same person. He has lived this new life now for over twelve years, having found the true source of love, joy, and peace. He now works in the low voltage security industry. He is also a volunteer chaplain and an ordained non-denominational minister of the Gospel. He and his wife Patti live in southwest Missouri where they are heavily involved in the discipleship and Life Group (house church) ministries of James River Church.

You can purchase the book at Amazon: Decision at Fletcher's Mill

Interview

What made you decide to want to write a historical fiction book?

I've had a passion for history since childhood, and I love to tell stories.

Where did you come up with the characters?

During long walks with my wife on late afternoons in our neighborhood.

Who is your favorite author or your favorite book?

My favorite book is the Bible. My favorite fiction author is CS Forester, and my favorite non-fiction author is David McCullough.

Do you have any rituals or things that you do to prepare you before you start to write?

I don't have any rituals that I do before I write. However, I do often pray and ask God to help me know what to say.

Who inspires you to write or who is your biggest supporter?

My wife, Patti, is my best friend (next to Jesus). She inspires and encourages me throughout each project and in every part of my life.

What is one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?

Research carefully, and just start writing. You can fix the problems with a manuscript after you get it on paper.

What are your future book plans?

I have two sequels planned for my new novel, Decision At Fletcher's Mill. Many of the characters from this book will travel through all three as the romances develop and the adventure intensifies.

What are five random things about you?

Five random things about myself... That's a tough one, but here goes: (1) I've lived in ten different states, and worked in professions ranging from paratrooper, to policeman, private investigator, surveillance system technician, and several others. (2) I enjoy reading, jigsaw puzzles, and watching old black and white movies. (3) My father was a Minister of the Gospel, and I'm a Corporate Chaplain. (4) My mother has an identical twin. (5) I've been totally sold out to Jesus Christ for the past sixteen years after spending the previous several decades in a dark and desperate search for life and meaning.

Is there anything else you would like to say to your readers?

I hope you will enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them.

Be sure to watch for my review of this book. I had the pleasure of hearing David speak at a local library and it made me want to read the book even more. I started the book last night and I have to say that I am already hooked. 

Ribbons of Scarlet - Cover Reveal

Six bestselling and award-winning authors bring to life a breathtaking epic novel illuminating the hopes, desires, and destinies of princesses and peasants, harlots and wives, fanatics and philosophers—six unforgettable women whose paths cross during one of the most tumultuous and transformative events in history: the French Revolution.

RIBBONS OF SCARLET: A Novel of the French Revolution, releases October 1st, 2019! Check out the amazing cover below and pre-order your copy today!

 

About RIBBONS OF SCARLET: A Novel of the French Revolution (Coming October 1, 2019)
Ribbons of Scarlet is a timely story of the power of women to start a revolution—and change the world.

In late eighteenth-century France, women do not have a place in politics. But as the tide of revolution rises, women from gilded salons to the streets of Paris decide otherwise—upending a world order that has long oppressed them.

Blue-blooded Sophie de Grouchy believes in democracy, education, and equal rights for women, and marries the only man in Paris who agrees. Emboldened to fight the injustices of King Louis XVI, Sophie aims to prove that an educated populace can govern itself--but one of her students, fruit-seller Louise Audu, is hungrier for bread and vengeance than learning. When the Bastille falls and Louise leads a women’s march to Versailles, the monarchy is forced to bend, but not without a fight. The king’s pious sister Princess Elisabeth takes a stand to defend her brother, spirit her family to safety, and restore the old order, even at the risk of her head.

But when fanatics use the newspapers to twist the revolution’s ideals into a new tyranny, even the women who toppled the monarchy are threatened by the guillotine. Putting her faith in the pen, brilliant political wife Manon Roland tries to write a way out of France’s blood-soaked Reign of Terror while pike-bearing Pauline Leon and steely Charlotte Corday embrace violence as the only way to save the nation. With justice corrupted by revenge, all the women must make impossible choices to survive--unless unlikely heroine and courtesan’s daughter Emilie de Sainte-Amaranthe can sway the man who controls France’s fate: the fearsome Robespierre.

✭✭✭PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF RIBBONS OF SCARLET TODAY✭✭✭

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Apple Books | Kobo

Add to Your Goodreads

Meet the authors

About Kate Quinn: Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with "The Alice Network" and "The Huntress." All have been translated into multiple languages. Kate and her husband now live in San Diego with two rescue dogs named Caesar and Calpurnia, and her interests include opera, action movies, cooking, and the Boston Red Sox.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub | Goodreads

About Stephanie Dray: Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical women's fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into eight languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. She lives near the nation's capital with her husband, cats, and history books.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub | Dray & Kamoie Website

About Laura Kamoie: A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction, Laura Kamoie has always been fascinated by the people, stories, and physical presence of the past, which led her to a lifetime of historical and archaeological study and training. She holds a doctoral degree in early American history from The College of William and Mary, published two non-fiction books on early America, and most recently held the position of Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy before transitioning to a full-time career writing genre fiction. She is the author of AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER and MY DEAR HAMILTON, co-authored with Stephanie Dray, allowing her the exciting opportunity to combine her love of history with her passion for storytelling. Laura lives among the colonial charm of Annapolis, Maryland with her husband and two daughters.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub | Goodreads

About Sophie Perinot: Sophie Perinot is an award-winning, multi-published author of female-centered historical fiction, who holds both a Bachelors in History and a law degree. With two previous books set in France—during the 13th and 16th centuries—Sophie has a passion for French history that began more than thirty years ago when she first explored the storied châteaux of the Loire Valley. She lives in the Washington DC metropolitan area with her husband, children and a small menagerie of pets.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub | Goodreads

About Heather Webb: Heather Webb is the award-winning and international bestselling author of six historical novels set in France, including the upcoming Meet Me in Monaco, set to the backdrop of Grace Kelly’s wedding releasing in summer 2019, and Ribbons of Scarlet, a novel of the French Revolution’s women in Oct 2019. In 2015, Rodin’s Lover was selected as a Goodreads Top Pick, and in 2017, Last Christmas in Paris became a Globe & Mail bestseller and also won the 2018 Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR Award. Her works have received national starred reviews, and have been sold in over a dozen countries worldwide. When not writing, you may find Heather collecting cookbooks or looking for excuses to travel. She lives in New England with her family and one feisty rabbit.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub | Goodreads

About E. Knight: E. KNIGHT is a USA Today bestselling author of rip-your-heart-out historical women’s fiction that crosses the landscapes of Europe. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She can still remember standing before the great golden palace, and imagining what life must have been like. She is the owner of the acclaimed blog History Undressed. Eliza lives in Maryland atop a small mountain with a knight, three princesses and two very naughty newfies. Visit Eliza at www.eknightauthor.com/eknight, or her historical blog, History Undressed, www.historyundressed.com. You can follow her on Twitter: @EKHistoricalFic, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EKnightAuthor, and Instagram @ElizaKnightFiction.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub | Goodreads

Tasting the Apple by Sherilyn Decter - Spotlight and Giveaway

Book details

Book 2 of The Bootleggers’ Chronicles

 By Sherilyn Decter

Publication Date: March 2019

Genre: Literature Historical Women’s Crime Fiction

About the book

When you hear the word Prohibition, images of Flappers, gangsters and jazz. But there was also a lot of mystery in the Roaring 20s. Today we get a chance to see how the ghost of a policeman helps a widow deal with criminal elements.

Author Sherilyn Decter is visiting today to share her latest release, TASTING THE APPLE, the second installment in her Bootleggers’ Chronicles. She also has an exciting giveaway she’s hosting for the tour. Be sure to check it out at the end of the post.

A young widow on the edge. A policeman back from the dead. Together, can they take down the city’s most notorious bootlegger?

Philadelphia, 1925. With a son to raise and boarders to feed, Maggie Barnes is at her wit’s end. But when a criminal element infiltrates the police force, the single mother puts her cares aside to help. As she tries to dig up dirt on bootlegger mastermind Mickey Duffey, Maggie realizes she can’t take on the case alone…

Inspector Frank Geyer used to patrol the streets of Philadelphia before Maggie was born. As he attempts to clean up crime from beyond the grave, the spirit uses his Victorian sensibilities to fight back against lawbreakers. But with corruption throughout the police force, can the phantom informant save his city and Maggie’s livelihood?

With the roof leaking and the lawlessness spiraling, Maggie and Frank have one chance to take down a criminal and prevent the unthinkable…

Check out TASTING THE APPLE on Amazon.

Those readers that aren’t familiar with the author, here’s some background information on her.

Meet the author - Sherilyn Decter

The Roaring Twenties and Prohibition were a fantasy land, coming right after the horrors and social upheaval of World War I. Even a century later, it all seems so exotic.

Women got the vote, started working outside the home, and (horrors!) smoked and drank in public places. They even went on unchaperoned dates (gasp)! Corsets were thrown into the back of the closets, and shoes were discovered to be an addictive fashion accessory after hemlines started to rise. And thanks to Prohibition, suddenly it was fashionable to break the law. The music was made in America- ragtime, delta blues, and of course jazz. Cocktails were created to hide the taste of the bathtub gin. Flappers were dancing, beads and fringes flying. Fedoras were tipped. And everyone was riding around in automobiles (aka struggle buggies and I leave it to your imagination why- wink.)

Bootleggers’ Chronicles grew out of that fascination. Writing as Sherilyn Decter, I will eventually have a series of historical crime fiction novels dealing with the bootleggers, gangsters, flappers, and general lawlessness that defined Prohibition. The Bootlegger blog rose out of all the research that I’ve been doing about this incredible era.

Growing up on the prairies and living next to the ocean, I am a creature of endless horizons. Writing allows me to discover what’s just over the next one. My husband and I have three amazing daughters, a spoiled grandson, and two bad dogs.

Sherilyn Decter is enthralled with the flashing flappers and dangerous bootleggers from the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition. Through meticulous research, that lawless era is brought to life. Living in a century-old house, maybe the creaking pipes whisper stories in her ear. 

To get the inside skinny on the Bootlegger’s Chronicles, you can reach Sherilyn at the following links:

WEBSITE FACEBOOK PINTEREST

GIVEAWAY

Author Sherilyn Decter is giving away an autographed paperback copy of TASTING THE APPLE and INNOCENCE LOST. Click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instruction to enter. If you can’t see the widget, just click HERE.

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff - Review

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

Book details

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Park Row; Original edition (January 29, 2019)

ISBN-13: 978-0778330271

Book description

From the author of the runaway bestseller The Orphan’s Tale comes a remarkable story of friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female secret agents during World War II.

1946, Manhattan

One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, Grace Healey finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. In a moment of impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.

Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a network of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.

Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.

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

Meet the author - Pam Jenoff

Pam Jenoff is the author of several novels, including the international bestseller The Kommandant’s Girl, which also earned her a Quill Award nomination. Pam lives with her husband and three children near Philadelphia where, in addition to writing, she teaches law school.

Connect with Pam
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My thoughts

I thought this book was interesting.  The story of women training to be spies was intriguing to me. I don't think I could have been that strong that I could have done that. The characters were strong and I enjoyed getting to know them and follow their story. I liked how the author use each chapter to tell a different woman's story. It helped to move the story along. This was a good book in my opinion.

The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey - Spotlight

Book details

Paperback: 366 pages

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (February 5, 2019)

ISBN-13: 978-1542044523

Book description

A novel of love, courage, and danger unfolds as World War II’s brightest heroines—the best of friends—take on the front lines.

1944: Fiona Denning has her entire future planned out. She’ll work in city hall, marry her fiancé when he returns from the war, and settle down in the Boston suburbs. But when her fiancé is reported missing after being shot down in Germany, Fiona’s long-held plans are shattered.

Determined to learn her fiancé’s fate, Fiona leaves Boston to volunteer overseas as a Red Cross Clubmobile girl, recruiting her two best friends to come along. There’s the outspoken Viviana, who is more than happy to quit her secretarial job for a taste of adventure. Then there’s Dottie, a shy music teacher whose melodious talents are sure to bring heart and hope to the boys on the front lines.

Chosen for their inner strength and outer charm, the trio isn’t prepared for the daunting challenges of war. But through it all come new friendships and romances, unforeseen dangers, and unexpected dreams. As the three friends begin to understand the real reasons they all came to the front, their courage and camaraderie will see them through some of the best and worst times of their lives.

Meet the author - Jane Healey

Jane Healey left a career in high tech to become a freelance writer. Her passion for historical fiction became her new career when her debut novel, The Saturday Evening Girls Club, was published in 2017. Based on the true story of a group of Jewish and Italian immigrant women in Boston’s North End at the turn of the twentieth century, the Amazon bestseller was hailed by Redbook as “a breathtaking ode to female empowerment and the American dream.”

With this Pledge by Tamera Alexander - Review

Book details

Series: The Carnton Series (Book 1)

Hardcover: 448 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 8, 2019)

ISBN-13: 978-0718081850

Book description

History takes on vivid life in the stunning first full-length novel in bestselling author Tamera Alexander’s new 4-book Southern series… The Carnton Novels

What can a woman–a mere governess–do against the scourge of slavery?

.

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Clouston’s quietly held principles oppose those of the Southern Cause–but when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home, where she is governess, is commandeered as a Confederate hospital; and Lizzie must summon fortitude to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death–even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiancé and lifelong friend.

.

A young soldier’s dying words convey an urgent message that Lizzie promises to deliver, yet she knows little more than the boy’s first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate. Even if it costs him his life.

.

Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers’ respect as she tends the wounded convalescing within Carnton’s walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn’t realize she is already pledged to another. But Captain Jones holds secrets of his own, which prove costly for Lizzie. Because a betrothed woman shouldn’t harbor feelings for a man other than her intended. Especially not when that man is a slave owner.

.

When Towny vanishes after a crushing battle in Nashville, Lizzie must confront the costs of war. And torn between love, principles, and promises made, she struggles to be true to her own heart while standing for what she knows is right–no matter the cost.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Meet the author - Tamera Alexander

Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous industry-leading honors, including the Christy Award (two-time winner, seven-time finalist), the RITA Award (two-time winner, four-time finalist), the Carol Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best Award, and Library Journal’s top distinction, among others. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband now reside in Nashville, Tennessee, where they live a short distance from Belmont Mansion and Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of Tamera’s two USA Today bestselling Southern series.

Connect with Tamera

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

My thoughts

I really enjoyed this first in a new series by Tamera. She does such a good job adding all the historical details. This book grabbed me from the start and for me moved along at a good pace. The characters were strong and well liked. Lizzie was a strong woman and wanted make sure she followed her beliefs while at the same time helping soldiers.  I liked reading about her and Roland and how their relationship progressed. All in all a great book that will hold your attention and is fully of historical accuracy. 

Tamera Alexander’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, January 14th: Book By Book

Tuesday, January 15th: Blooming with Books

Wednesday, January 16th: Read Eat Repeat

Thursday, January 17th: Fiction Aficionado

Friday, January 18th: Amy’s Book-et List

Monday, January 21st: The Caffeinated Bibliophile and @thecaffeinated_bibliophile

Tuesday, January 22nd: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Wednesday, January 23rd: Running Through the Storms

Thursday, January 24th: Christian Bookshelf Reviews

Friday, January 25th: Rockin’ Book Reviews

Monday, January 28th: The Sketchy Reader

Tuesday, January 29th: Laura’s Reviews

Wednesday, January 30th: Jathan & Heather

Thursday, January 31st: A Holland Reads

Monday, February 4th: Reflections from My Bookshelves

Tuesday, February 5th: Christian Fiction Girl

Wednesday, February 6th: @booktimistic

Friday, February 8th: View from the Birdhouse

Tuesday, February 12th: The Lit Bitch

Courage Between Love and Death by Joseph Pilliterri - Review

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

Book details

Paperback: 302 pages

Publisher: Fireship Press (March 29, 2018)

ISBN-13: 978-1611793888

Book description

Elspeth has recently landed a nursing position at the 1901 Pan American Exposition Hospital in Buffalo, New York. This is a big boon for her, but things are not going as expected. She has to navigate mischievous patients, egotistical doctors, rival nurses and prejudices. For an Irish girl with a temper, this is no easy feat. Now President McKinley is coming to visit the Expo and everyone is in an uproar. On the home front, her life is no less hectic as she struggles to put food on the table and look out for her younger siblings.

When the unthinkable happens, it is a turning point, not only for the medical industry and our country’s security, but for Elspeth personally. With her career and reputation on the line, will she have the courage to overcome the challenges she faces to clear her name and continue to be there for the ones she loves?

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

Meet the author - Joseph Pillitteri

While working at Roswell Park Memorial Hospital in Buffalo, NY, Pillitteri became intrigued by the role Dr. Park played in the surgery of President McKinley at the 1901 Pan American Exposition. He shaped facts and fiction together to tell the story.

My thoughts

I thought this was an interesting book. I learned some as I was reading this book as I did not really know anything about the death of President McKinley.  The author did a good job with the historical details. It added to the story to me and made it seem like I was learning about a piece of history.  You also learn a bit about the medical fit at that time in history as Elspeth gives us a good view. She was a strong woman character and in that time was not always the case. This was well written and easy to follow. An enjoyable book for me.