A Holland Reads

October 31, 2013

Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley - Review ad Giveaway

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

Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley
The Brides of Last Chance Ranch Series - Book 3
ISBN: 9781595549723
Trade Paperback

Synopsis: In a case that could change her career, Miranda uncovers a love that will change her life.

When Miranda Hunt sees the classified ad for an heiress to the legendary Last Chance Ranch, she knows assuming the identity of Annie Beckman is the perfect cover. As one of the finest agents for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Miranda has been tasked with apprehending the Phantom---an elusive and notorious train robber thought to be hiding on the sprawling ranch.
But she isn't the only one at the ranch with something to hide. Wells Fargo detective

Jeremy Taggart is working undercover as well. Their true identities may be a secret, but it is impossible for Jeremy and Miranda to hide the sparks flaring between them.
Neither is about to let romance interfere with such a huge case. Besides, Miranda hasn't removed Jeremy from her list of suspects yet. The closer they get to uncovering the identity of the Phantom, the more dangerous he gets---and no one on the ranch is safe.
The longer Miranda and Jeremy spend working together, the harder it becomes to keep their feelings in check. Their careers-and their lives-depend on solving this case. Love will just have to wait.

My review: This book is a very good book as was the entire series. I like how it is historical fiction mixed with some romance, humor and mystery. A little something for everyone. There were parts of this book that had me smiling and parts that had me guessing. Another thing I liked was that Miranda was also an agent for the Pinkertons. I really enjoyed the way Miranda and Jeremy's relationship came together. Margaret did a very good job of developing these characters and making them play off of each other. The book was a quick read because you just could not put it down.

Meet the author: Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this---except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter at the time. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, "Maybe God's calling you to write fiction." So that's what Margaret did. She's now a New York Times bestselling author and a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist with more than 25 novels to her credit. Her first non-fiction book Grieving God's Way: the Lasting Path to Hope and Healing has won much critical acclaim. She is currently working on the third book in her Brides of Last Chance Ranch series. Not bad for someone who flunked 8th grade English. Just don't ask her to diagram a sentence.

Learn more at Margaret's website: http://margaretbrownley.com

Check out the rest of the stops on the tour - here

Margaret Brownley's latest release, Gunpowder Tea, is receiving high praise, and she's celebrating with a Kindle Fire giveaway and a "Tea with Margaret" Facebook party!

One winner will receive:

A Kindle Fire
Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 7th. Winner will be announced at the "Tea with Margaret" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 7th. Connect with Margaret and friends for an evening of book chat, prizes, and get an exclusive look at Margaret's next book!

So grab your copy of Gunpowder Tea and join Margaret on the evening of November 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on 11/7!

Save JFK: A Mission Thru Time by Armando Pazos - Book Spotlight

Save JFK: A Mission thru Time by Armando Pazos
EBook
Published: September 11, 2013

Synopsis: Jack Randolph, a second-generation Secret Service agent (his father was on JFK’s detail), crosses a time portal by an unfathomable twist of fate and travels back to the year 1963, only a few days before President Kennedy’s assassination. There, Jack faces his new destiny and the question that many of us have asked. Is it possible for a human being who travels back in time to change events in history?

A mini-thriller for readers on the run.

October 28, 2013

Banquet of Lies by Michelle Diener

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

Banquet of Lies by Michelle Diener
ISBN: 9781451684452
Trade Paperback
Published: October 22, 2013

Synopsis: A young noblewoman flees to London and poses as a servant to evade a murderer in this richly detailed and “compelling” (Publishers Weekly) historical novel.
Frightened for her life after her father, a British spy, is murdered, Giselle Barrington flees with the secret document her father gave her for safekeeping. Needing to hide from those now chasing her, and knowing that no one would look for a wealthy young society lady in a kitchen, she takes a job as a cook for a nobleman, determined to use her anonymity to uncover the murderer. Life below stairs gives her a new perspective on the hard realities of servants’ lives, even though she’s a highly paid one. And when her employer is drawn not only into her investigations, but also to her, they find themselves faced with the power imbalance between servant and master.

My review: I have to say that I really enjoyed reading this book. I think one thing I liked was that is grabbed me from the start and seemed to moved pretty quickly. To me the author did a good job with the character development. I like that the book had both mystery and romance in it as well as it is historical fiction all three things a hit in my book. Another part of the book that I liked was how Giselle is able to hide in plain sight to hide from those looking for her and solving the mystery of her father's murder. This was my first book by this author but I plan on looking for more by her after reading this. I encourage you to give this book a shot as you will not be disappointed.

About the Author:
Michelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout and John Parker series starts with IN A TREACHEROUS COURT. Set in the court of Henry VIII, it features the real historical figures of artist Susanna Horenbout and Henry's Keeper of the Palace of Westminster and Yeoman of the King's Robes, John Parker. It was followed by KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS, also featuring Susanna Horenbout and John Parker, and DANGEROUS SANCTUARY, a short story with the same characters, set between the two books, is currently available as an ebook only.
A new historical novel, set during the Napoleonic Wars in London in 1811, THE EMPEROR'S CONSPIRACY, was released on November 27th, 2012.
Michelle also contributed a short paranormal story to the ENTANGLED Anthology entitled BREAKING OUT. All the proceeds of the sale of ENTANGLED go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Michelle grew up in South Africa, and now lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
For more information, please visit Michelle's website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Check out the rest of the tour stops by clicking here.

Illuminations by Mary Sharratt

Illuminations by Mary Sharratt
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9780547567846
Published: October 15, 2013

Synopsis: Illuminations chronicles the life of Hildegard von Biingen (1098-1179), who was tithed to the church at the age of eight and expected to live out her days in silent submission as teh handmaiden of a renowned but disturbed young nun, Jutta von Sponheim. Instead, Hildegard rejected Jutta's masochistic piety and found comfort and grace in studying books, growing herbs, and rejoicing in her own secret visions of the divine. When Jutta died some three decades later, Hildegard broke out of her prision with the heavenly calling to speak and write about her visions and to liberate her sisters and herself from the soul-destroying anchorage.
Like Anita Diamant's portrayal of Dinah in The Red Tent, Mary Sharratt interweaves historical research with psychological insight and vivid imagination to write an engaging and triumphant portrait of a courageous and remarkably resilient woman and the life she might have lived. Deeply affecting, Illuminations is a testament to the power of faith, love, and self-creation.

My review: This book was a very interesting book to me. I had not heard of Hildegard before I picked up this book but I thought it would be an interesting read. Mary does a good job in developing the characters throughout the entire book. I also like the author's description of the scenes so you can feel as if you are there and can see what the characters see. The visions was something different for me and sometimes I had a hard time with them but I think they were an important part of the story. I can't imagine being sent away from home at the age of eight to become a nun and live in the monestary. The story of Hildegard's life was a very intriguing one to read about.

Click here to follow the rest of the tour

October 27, 2013

You've Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

You've Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
ISBN: 9780446198974
Mass Market Paperback

Synopsis: Struggling to make ends meet, photographer Kristin Burns works full-time as a nanny for the wealthy Turnbull family. When her pictures are considered by an elite Manhattan art gallery, it seems she might finally get her career started. But Kristin has a major distraction: forbidden love. The man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. Breathless with an inexhaustible passion and the excitement of being within reach of her goals, Kristin ignores all signs of catastrophe brewing. Fear exists for a reason. And Kristin can dismiss the warnings for just so long. Searching desperately for the truth through the lens of her camera, she can only hope that it's not too late.

My review: This was a good book for me although it was a little strange at times but in a good way. I liked how the chapters were so small as that made it read even faster. The story itself has me so interested I could not put the book down as I could not wait to see what happened next because I was not sure what was next and I was trying to figure out what was going on but the authors did such a good job of keeping you in suspense that you had to keep turning the page to figure it out. All in all a good book that makes you think twice.

October 18, 2013

The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser

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

The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9780824934279
Book 6 in the American Tapestry Series

Synopsis: When a socialite from the nation's capital embarks on a journey to the Wild West, her life is changed forever.
A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.

My review: I think Josephine was a strong woman to leave her city to head into the Wild West and a place that is just starting to develop. One thing that interested me about this book was that is was centered around the building of the railroad. I have been interested in that part of history for a long time. The relationship between Josephine and her father was very strong which was nice to read about. The author did a good job in making the characters in this book seem like real people. In this book you will read about action, adventure and romance all rolled together what a better mixture. I suggest this book to fans of historical fiction and light romance alike.

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/nmoser

October 16, 2013

An Amish Country Christmas by Charlotte Hubbard - Review and Interview

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

An Amish Country Christmas by Charlotte Hubbard/Naomi King
Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 9781420131888

Synopsis: “The Christmas Visitors”: For spirited Martha Coblentz and her twin Mary, the snow has delivered the perfect holiday and birthday present to their door—handsome brothers Nate and Bram Kanagy. But when unforeseen trouble interrupts their season’s good cheer, it will take unexpected intervention—and sudden understanding—to give all four the blessing of a lifetime.

“Kissing the Bishop”: As the New Year’s first snow settles, Nazareth Hooley and her sister Jerusalem are given a heaven-sent chance to help newly widowed Tom Hostetler tend his home. But when her hope that she and Tom can build on the caring between them seems a dream forever out of reach, Nazareth discovers that faith and love can make any miracle possible.

My review: What a better book to read this time of the year than an Amish book with a Christmas theme. This is a great book to get you in the mood for the season and there are some great recipes in the back of the book to enjoy as well. These two stories are part of the Seasons of the Heart and Home at Cedar Creek series but you can read them as stand alone stories and still enjoy them just as well. I love that the stories are set in Missouri as well since I am also from the Midwest. Another thing that was fun to read was about the twins and how they ended up falling for brothers. This book was a quick read that you don't want to put down and will have done in one weekend. I suggest picking this book up right away.

About the Author:

I’ve called Missouri home for most of my life, and most folks don’t realize that several Old Older Amish and Mennonite communities make their home here, as well. The rolling pastureland, woods, and small towns along county highways make a wonderful setting for Plain populations—and for stories about them, too! While Jamesport, Missouri is the largest Old Order Amish settlement west of the Mississippi River, other communities have also found the affordable farm land ideal for raising crops, livestock, and running the small family-owned businesses that support their families.

Like my heroine, Miriam Lantz, of my Seasons of the Heart series, I love to feed people—to share my hearth and home. I bake bread and goodies and I love to try new recipes. I put up jars and jars of green beans, tomatoes, beets and other veggies every summer. All my adult life, I’ve been a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and we hosted a potluck group in our home for more than twenty years.

Like Abby Lambright, heroine of my Home at Cedar Creek series, I consider it a personal mission to be a listener and a peacemaker—to heal broken hearts and wounded souls. Faith and family, farming and frugality matter to me: like Abby, I sew and enjoy fabric arts—I made my wedding dress and the one Mom wore, too, when I married into an Iowa farm family more than thirty-five years ago! When I’m not writing, I crochet and sew, and I love to travel.

I recently moved to Minnesota when my husband got a wonderful new job, so now he and I and our border collie, Ramona, are exploring our new state and making new friends.

You can visit her website at www.CharlotteHubbard.com

Her latest book is An Amish Country Christmas.

Visit her website at www.charlottehubbard.com.

Here is my interview with Charlotte:

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

This anthology features two novellas—one with two “young and restless” couples, and one with two couples falling in love in mid-life. The teenagers—a set of identical twin girls and a pair of brothers—fall in love at first sight in “The Christmas Visitors”. . . even if the boys aren’t always sure which sister they’re with! I had so much fun writing “Kissing the Bishop” because Jerusalem and Nazareth Hooley are in their fifties, and are old maid school teachers who figured they were beyond the stage where any worthwhile men would consider them attractive. The message here is that love and romance are for folks of any age! The Christmas settings make these romances all that much more festive and joyous.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I’ve always been a reader, and was good at language arts from early grade school—became an English teacher and a school librarian when I got out of college, so the “word” thing has always been a part of my life and work. My very first published story appeared in True Love, the confession magazine, after the death of one of my high school students inspired me to explore my feelings in a fictional form. That was back in 1984—and I’ve been scribbling ever since, with more than 70 confession stories and more than 35 books published so far.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

The covers of my books are always designed by the publisher’s art department, although I’m usually asked to suggest some images or seasonal details. My editor and I both love sleighs, and when she came up with the concept for this anthology that features a story by each of me (I write an Amish series as Charlotte Hubbard and another one as Naomi King) we immediately agreed that a sleigh should be on the cover and figure prominently in the stories. The sleigh that ended up on the cover is not the curved-back, upholstered, romantic style of sleigh featured in these two stories . . . but you go with what the art department gives you sometimes.

Who is your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

In “The Christmas Visitors” Beulah Mae Nissley, who my At Home in Cedar Creek readers recall as the gossipy, rather sharp-tongued owner of Mrs. Nissley’s Kitchen, can be a difficult character to like because—like aunts and grandmas we all know—she gets cranky when the younger generation doesn’t follow her rules or appreciate the efforts she goes to. Older readers will no doubt relate to her because they know how tired and maybe achy with arthritis they get after being on their feet, cooking all day. However, this story gives Preacher Abe Nissley a chance to shine as her good-natured husband who recalls how he, too, broke a few rules when he was courting Beulah Mae many years ago.

What do you think is the best/worst thing about being a writer?

Writing keeps your mind VERY active—and in these days when writers not only have to write their books but also do a lot to promote them, a writing career can call upon organizational skills and technology skills that might not come so easily to us. While I love the creative part of concocting the plot and characters, and the actual writing, sometimes the pressure to promote in person and online can take over your life. I’m promoting THREE books this fall, all while writing a full-length book that’s due in December. Sometimes I go around in a lot of circles trying to be sure I’ve done all the copy edits, blog posts, appearances—and Facebook interacting—and other things each day brings me. But even on a too-busy day, writing is still more appealing to me than any other job.

Pages