9.29.2022
Earning Her Trust by Brenda Minton // Review
9.28.2022
I'll Be Seeing You by Robin Lee Hatcher // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
9.26.2022
Worthy of Legend by Roseanna M. White // Review
About the Book
After a summer of successful pirate-treasure hunting, Lady Emily Scofield and her friends are forced to hide the unprecedented discoveries they’ve made, thanks to the betrayal of her own family. Horrified by her brother who stops at nothing to prove himself to their greedy father, Emily is forced to take a stand against her family—even when it means being cut off entirely.
Bram Sinclair, Earl of Telford, is fascinated with tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table—an interest he’s kept mostly hidden for the last decade. But when a diary is unearthed in the islands that could lead to a secret artifact, Bram is the only one able to piece the legends together.
As Bram and Emily seek out the whereabouts of the hidden artifact, they must dodge her eager family and a team of archeologists. In a race against time, they must decide what makes a hero worthy of legend—is it fighting valiantly to claim the treasure . . . or sacrificing everything in the name of selfless love?AMAZON
Ebook | Hardcover | Paperback
Barnes & Noble
Ebook | Hardcover | Paperback
Christian Book
Ebook | Paperback
For a full list of retailers visit Bethany House Publishers
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.roseannamwhite.com
The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
9.25.2022
As Silent as the Night by Danielle Grandinetti // Celebrate Lit Tour, Review, and Giveaway
About the Book
Book: As Silent as the Night
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense
Release date: September 13, 2022
He can procure anything, except his heart’s deepest wish. She might hold the key, if she’s not discovered first.
Chicago, 1933―Lucia Critelli will do anything for her ailing grandfather, including stand in a breadline to have enough food to make him a St. Nicholas Day meal. When she catches the eye of a goon who threatens her grandfather, she discovers the end of Prohibition doesn’t mean the end of the mafia’s criminal activity.
Retired Marine Scout Giosue “Gio” Vella can find anything, especially if it helps a fellow Italian immigrant, so he has no doubt he can locate his neighbor’s granddaughter, who has gone missing from a local church. Keeping her safe is another matter. Especially when he chooses to hide out with his Marine buddy in Eagle, Wisconsin, the site of a barely-held truce among striking dairy farmers.
Will Christmas bring the miracle they all need or will Gio discover there are some things even he can’t find, particularly when he stumbles upon the most elusive gift of all: love.
As Silent as the Night is the Christmas novella to To Stand in the Breach and A Strike to the Heart.
Click here to get your copy!
My Review: A wonderful heartwarming addition to the series just in time for Christmas.
When Lucia Critelli is taken by the mafia, Gio Vella must use his head and his connections to keep her safe, but he finds that his heart is also in danger.
I loved returning to the familiar faces from the previous books, like Katie, Joey, Miles, Lily and more, catching up with them as well as how they made Lucia feel welcome. This novella could probably be read as a standalone if the reader desired.
Overall, a quick read just in time for Christmas, with likeable characters that brought a smile to my face. I loved the Christmas theme, elements of suspense, and that Gio get's his own story. A wonderful companion to the rest of the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About the Author
Danielle Grandinetti is author of A Strike to the Heart and To Stand in the Breach. She is also a book blogger at DaniellesWritingSpot.com. Her short stories have appeared in several publications and her writing has won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Danielle especially loves quiet mornings served with the perfect cup of tea.
More from Danielle
I have this memory, from when I was a little girl, of Christmas at my grandma’s house. The table was expanded to hold a dozen people. The little Christmas tree stood on a table before the window, the Nativity beneath it. A gingerbread house sat on the radio cabinet, which played my grandpa’s old Christmas records.
In the kitchen, my Italian grandma, now a widow, had on a ruffled apron as she cooked the Christmas meal. She had short, graying black hair, perfectly curled, and large, round glasses. And, was still taller than me, though she was under 5 foot in height.
Through the haze of childhood memory, I can’t recall everything she cooked that Christmas, I just know it filled the table to overflowing. I can guess who celebrated with us, but I know the large table was completely surrounded by people I loved. And, I’m sure I received gifts, but that’s not what I remember from that day.
What fills my memory is the feeling of family and the love my grandma showed us, through food. My full belly. My contentment. The wonder of the holidays. All through the eyes of my young self.
In As Silent as the Night, I attempt to capture some of this nostalgia, lace it with suspense, and wrap it in romance. I show about some of the traditional holidays celebrated by my characters, from St. Nicholas Day to Christmas Eve. And, while Gio can find anything, love eludes him. However, Lucia may hold the key, but he must first save her.
Silent as the Night concludes my Strike to the Heart series, which began with prequel novella To Stand in the Breach. As sad as it is to say goodbye to the farmers of Eagle, Wisconsin, I have loved sharing the stories of Katy and Joey, Lily and Miles, and Gio and Lucia with you. I hope you’ll enjoy this last installment and I look forward to sharing more stories from other places with you.
Buon Natale.
Merry Christmas.
Blog Stops
Texas Book-aholic, September 13
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 14 (Author Interview)
The Sacred Line, September 14
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 15
Inklings and notions, September 16
For Him and My Family, September 17
deb’s Book Review, September 18
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 19
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 20
Inkwell Inspirations, September 20
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 21
Connie’s History Classroom, September 22
Betti Mace, September 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 24
Holly’s Book Corner, September 24
Labor Not in Vain, September 25
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 26
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Danielle is giving away the grand prize package of a Bag of Books Bundle, which includes a signed copy of each book: To Stand in the Breach, A Strike to the Heart, and As Silent as the Night, plus a Donkey Tote to carry the books!! (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1130961309/donkey-canvas-tote-bag-heavy-duty)
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/2159f/as-silent-as-the-night-celebration-tour-giveaway
9.20.2022
The Baby's Christmas Blessing by Meghann Whistler // Review
Legacy Peak // Movie Review and Giveaway
#LegacyPeakMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork
Giveaway: 3-month subscription to Pure Flix
(Note: This is limited to US winners only, and only to those who have NOT won a sub scription in the last 6 months).
Deception by Patricia Bradley // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
9.19.2022
A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Long Way Home by Lynn Austin // Review
9.17.2022
Honor Bound by Hallee Bridgeman // Review
9.15.2022
Sold on Love by Kathleen Fuller // Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
9.14.2022
Code of Courage by Janice Cantore // Review
9.13.2022
Entrusted by Jody Hedlund // Review
9.12.2022
Laura's Shadow by Allison Pittman // Celebrate Lit Tour, Review, and Giveaway
About the Book
Author: Allison Pittman
Genre: Christian/Historical/Romance
Release date: August 1, 2022
Family Secrets Spill One Conversation at a Time
Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.
De Smet, South Dakota—1890
Young women growing up in DeSmet live by two rules: don’t go out in a snowstorm and don’t give your heart to Cap Garland. Young Mariah Patterson only managed to obey one. Orphaned and having devoted her youth to scrapping out a life with her brother Charles, Mariah finds herself with no interesting suitors or means of support. Throwing caution to the wind, she seizes an opportunity to lay her feelings at Cap’s feet, even though she knows Cap sees the world through the torch he carries for Laura Ingalls. Mariah is certain her love for Cap will be strong enough to break both bonds, and she’s willing to risk everything to prove it.
De Smet, South Dakota—1974
Trixie Gowan is the fourth generation of living Gowan women residing in the sprawling farmhouse on the outskirts of De Smet. Well, former resident. She’s recently moved to Minneapolis, where she writes ads for a neighborhood paper edited by Ron Tumble. She might live and work in the city, but her co-workers still call her Prairie Girl. Thus the inspiration for her comic strip—“Lost Laura”—in which a bespectacled girl in a calico dress tries to make her way in the city. The name is a quiet rebellion having grown up in a household where she’d been forbidden to mention the name, Laura Ingalls. But when her great-grandmother Mariah’s declining health brings Trixie home for a visit, two things might just keep her there: the bedside manner of Dr. Campbell Carter and the family secret that seems to be spilling from GG’s lips one conversation at a time.
Click here to get your copy!
Review:
A dual timeline novel that delves into the world of America's most beloved prairie girl.
Written in Ms. Pittman's signature lush prose, with descriptions that make you want to pause and linger on the mental image, she brings to life briefly mentioned characters from the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder novel. I was intrigued by the premise, though at times it was hard to read because I could see the wheels churning in Mariah's head leading up to a choice she made and couldn't stop her. I think that readers should be warned that there is a fade to black sex scene, and I didn't find the way that it was dealt with in the aftermath satisfying for me personally.
Oddly in this dual timeline story I actually enjoyed the more contemporary story better, as Trixie decides between the familiar and taking a chance on something new. I loved her friendship with Ron, and his quirky charm.
Overall, I have really mixed feelings about this book. It definitely has a little of everything going on with forbidden love, love triangles, arranged marriages of convenience, Laura Ingalls, and family secrets revealed. Some things I really loved, and others I didn't. A story of love and longing, that does a great job bringing the South Dakota prairie to life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About the Author
Allison Pittman is the author of more than a dozen critically acclaimed novels and a four-time Christy finalist—twice for her Sister Wife series, once for All for a Story from her take on the Roaring Twenties and most recently for the critically acclaimed The Seamstress which takes a cameo character from the Dickens’ classic A Tale of Two Cities and flourishes her to life amidst the French Revolution. She lives in San Antonio, Texas, blissfully sharing an empty nest with her husband, Mike. Connect with her on Facebook (Allison Pittman Author), Twitter (@allisonkpittman) or her website, allisonkpittman.com.
More from Allison
I can credit Laura Ingalls Wilder for just about every aspect of my identity. I’m a reader because I read her books over and over and over again, checking them out from my little elementary school library. I can still see them—last bookcase, bottom shelf. During the summer, I checked them out from the Bookmobile, and one magical Christmas, I received my own set. The well-worn, yellow paperbacks have a place of honor in my office: top shelf, center stage. It was amazing to my eight-year-old self that I could pick up Little House in the Big Woods, skip the dull parts, and jump straight to These Happy Golden Years in a single afternoon.
Looking at Laura’s writing now (as I often do), I realize I spent my childhood absorbing the art of telling a story. Her books masterfully string meaningful vignettes within an over-arching conflict. She creates stories-within-a-story-within-a-story whenever Pa launches into a tall tale, and minor characters come to life no matter how brief their appearance. (Aunt Docia, anyone?)
When I first came up with the concept of writing a story set in the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder, I knew I couldn’t bring Laura herself in as a character. There’s a sacredness to her story, and I wouldn’t dream of inserting myself into the cannon of her pages. But—I thought—surely she had peers who grew up alongside her, classmates who also hated Miss Wilder, young men who might have set their own cap for her, townsfolk who remembered the vibrant young woman with the button-brown eyes and dark curls. And then I pondered further: maybe there was another side to Laura—a side that she kept from the romanticized ideal skipping through the pages of her books. My first thought was to create a fictional De Smet town girl, but then…
In researching and reading Pioneer Girl, The Annotated Autobiography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, I came across a bit of information that brought the story to life for me. In These Happy Golden Years, Laura teaches her first class: five students, two families. And while the “Brewster” children are documented in other sources, the Harrison children are not. There are no census records, land deeds, or any official documents to support the identity of Charles and Martha as they are depicted in the novel. And so, it clicked. If Laura could fictionalize these people, well, then, so could I. Thus Martha Harrison was lifted from those pages, renamed Mariah, and given a new life and a new story in mine.
Writing Laura’s Shadow allowed me to indulge in a few favorite directions. First, I’m fascinated with the idea of extreme longevity (showcased in my novel All for a Song), and creating a character whose lifespan stretches from homesteading to disco was delightful. My Mariah chafes at the romanticized depiction of pioneer life, telling us in her old age that it was really more of a daily struggle for survival. I also enjoyed exploring the family dynamic of four generations of women and how each generation faced the same battles and fought them so, so differently. Finally—and this is what truly speaks to my fourth-grade self…
You know that Elton John song, “Your Song” with the lyrics, “I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words…” Well, I got to put down in words my lifelong crush on Cap Garland. Sure, Almonzo is great and everything, but I always thought Cap was more exciting. More fun. More…more. Bringing him to life in this book set my old heart racing. My research for this novel took me to De Smet, and to his gravesite, where I spoke this story to his stone. I like to think he’d approve, and I hope all of the Laura fans will join me in this tale and let their imaginations run wild.
Blog Stops
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 30
Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, August 30
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , August 31
Texas Book-aholic, August 31
Genesis 5020, September 1
Inklings and notions, September 1
The Avid Reader, September 2
For Him and My Family, September 2
deb's Book Review, September 3
Simple Harvest Reads, September 3 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 4
Blogging With Carol, September 4
Betti Mace, September 5
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 5
Blossoms and Blessings, September 6
Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 6
lakesidelivingsite, September 7
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 7
Connie's History Classroom, September 8
Mary Hake, September 8
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 9
Through the Fire Blogs, September 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 10
Bigreadersite, September 11
Pause for Tales, September 11
For the Love of Literature, September 12
Labor Not in Vain, September 12
Remembrancy, September 13
To Everything There Is A Season, September 13
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Allison is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon E-gift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/210cb/laura-s-shadow-celebration-tour-giveaway
9.09.2022
Twin Murder Mix-Up by Sami A. Abrams // Celebrate Lit Tour, Review, and Giveaway
About the Book
Book: Twin Murder Mix-Up
Author: Sami A. Abrams
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release date: August 23, 2022
A case of mistaken identity…
has lethal results
After capturing a murder on her camera, photographer Amy Baker becomes the next target—but her identical twin is killed instead. Now on the run with her sister’s newborn, Amy has only one person to turn to—Detective Keith Young, her childhood crush. But when they discover Keith is the baby’s father, can he regain Amy’s trust to keep them safe…before the killer strikes again?
Click here to get your copy!
Review: A suspense filled chase.
Amy accidentally captures a murder on film and finds herself in a dangerous game trying to stay one step ahead of the killer who knocked off her twin sister by mistake.
A high octane read, action packed, as they unravel the twisting mystery of what the killer is trying to hide. There is definitely a lot going on in this book, and I liked that Amy kept her head throughout all the peril, despite everything that she had been through and all that had been revealed.
A highly satisfying read with well developed characters, great relationship building, a mystery that kept me guessing, strong faith themes, and an unputdownable pace. You won't want to miss it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About the Author
Sami A. Abrams lives in Northern California, but she’ll always be a Kansas girl at heart. She loves to travel and watch sports. However, most evenings, you’ll find her engrossed in a romantic suspense novel. She thinks a crime plus a little romance is the recipe for a great story.
More from Sami
#Authorproblems That’s what the excitement around Keith Young was…a problem—Kinda. Lol!
When I started to hear request for his story, I panicked. Authors don’t want to disappoint their readers. And being new to the published scene…Well, you get the picture. 😊
After the release of Buried Cold Case Secrets, many readers told me they wanted Keith’s story. In fact, the overwhelming response puzzled me. What had I done to create such a buzz about Jason’s partner? And of course, I had to ask why?
The general answer I received…Keith’s a nice guy and the perfect partner.
I have to admit, I got a little nervous since I had already written his story. And I worried if I’d done his character justice?
However, after writing Buried Cold Case Secrets, I knew Keith had to have his own story. He’s such a great guy and needed his happily ever after. So, I dove in and asked, what would happen if he made a huge mistake? Not just a physical one, but a heart one.
By the time I finished, I loved seeing Keith and Amy move past their poor choices and hurt to find acceptance and love. The perfect ending to Keith’s struggles.
All that to say, I hope you love Keith and Amy’s story as much as I do. #TeamKeith
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 27
Bizwings Blog, August 27
The Avid Reader, August 27
Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, August 28
Christina's Corner, August 28
Genesis 5020, August 29
Texas Book-aholic, August 29
Inklings and notions, August 30
Through the Fire Blogs, August 30
EmpowerMoms, August 30
Betti Mace, August 31
deb's Book Review, August 31
For Him and My Family, September 1
Pause for Tales, September 1
The Sacred Line, September 1
She Lives To Read, September 2
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 2
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 3
Britt Reads Fiction, September 3
For the Love of Literature, September 4
Lights in a Dark World, September 4
Paula's Persuasion, September 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 5
Book Looks by Lisa, September 5
Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting, September 6
Vicarious Living , September 6
Mary Hake, September 6
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 7
Bigreadersite , September 7
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 8
Blogging With Carol, September 8
Simple Harvest Reads, September 9 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Labor Not in Vain, September 9
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Sami is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon card and signed copy of Twin Murder Mix-Up (US only) or eBook for outside the US!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/210ca/twin-murder-mix-up-celebration-tour-giveaway