Tell Tale Book Reviews

Book Review - The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection by Lena Nelson Dooley, Rebecca Jepson, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Candice Sue Patterson, Kathleen Rouser, Pegg Thomas, Marilyn Turk

11/16/2018

Genre:
Historical Romance

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection
by Lena Nelson Dooley, Rebecca Jepson, Carrie Fancett Pagels,
Candice Sue Patterson, Kathleen Rouser, Pegg Thomas, Marilyn Turk

-From Goodreads-

Lighthouses have long been the symbol
of salvation, warning sailors away from
dangerous rocks and shallow waters.

Along the Great Lakes, America’s inland seas, lighthouses played a vital role in the growth of our nation. They shepherded settlers traveling by water to places that had no roads. These beacons of light required constant tending even in remote and often dangerous places. Brave men and women battled the elements and loneliness to keep the lights shining. Their sacrifice kept goods and immigrants moving. Seven romances set between 1883 and 1911 bring hope to these lonely keepers and love to weary hearts.

ISBN-13: 978-1683227694

Will they find love or be lost to the stormy waters?

Anna's Tower by Pegg Thomas
This is one of the two stories that I most looked forward to in this collection and I was not disappointed. I loved the sweet romance between two very different characters and the dash of danger was just right.

Beneath A Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson
So this author is one of the new-to-me ones in this collection. I loved this story and definitely hope to read more from her in the future. Having visited other parts of Michigan before I could really visualize this story as I read it.

Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson
I think this may just be my favorite story in the collection. Not only because of two-decades-old mystery but also because I have actually visited the lighthouse where the story is set! It really made the story and characters come to life for me.

Love's Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels
This was the second story that I most looked forward to when I started the collection. Mystery abounds in this tale of intrigue and sweet romance. Not to mention this story has the most adorable little girl! You just want to hug her!

The Last Memory by by Kathleen Rouser
This was the second totally new-to-me author in this collection and I found myself enjoying story set on Lake Huron. It starts out with a real bang, a shipwreck, and slowly leads into a wonderfully sweet romance.

This Book received a 5 Bark rating.

Lena Nelson Dooley

Carrie Fancett Pagels

Kathleen Rouser

Marilyn Turk

Rebecca Jepson

Candice Sue Patterson

Pegg Thomas

The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley
Aside from the obvious parallel to Salvation, the other word that seems to be associated with lighthouses would be 'mystery'. And boy, does this romance about a woman doctor and her handsome have quite the adventure within!

The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk
What an intriguing title this novella has, and it really matches this tale of loss, love, and forgiveness. This was the final new-to-me author in the collection and now I'm curious to discover any other stories she might have.

Overall
Really, all I had to see was the word 'lighthouse' and this book went straight onto my wishlist. I am a longtime lighthouse fan and I've been to 7 on Lake Michigan. Then I saw a couple of names of familiar authors and that only added icing on the cake.

I really loved this themed collection of novellas, from both familiar authors and new ones, and I would highly recommend it to any fan of Barbour's novella collections and especially to anyone who loves lighthouses.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection
by Lena Nelson Dooley, Rebecca Jepson, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Candice Sue Patterson, Kathleen Rouser, Pegg Thomas, Marilyn Turk a 5 Bark rating.

0 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Light Before Day by Suzanne Woods Fisher + Review & Guest Post & Giveaway

11/15/2018

6 Comments

“Henry, this . . . fortune, this sudden wealth . . . I fear it will change our lives. And I don’t want my life to change.”

After three years on a whaling voyage, Henry Macy returns to Nantucket to news that his grandmother has passed, bequeathing her vast fortune to him and his sister, Hitty. And it was truly vast. But Lillian Coffin was no fool. The inheritance comes with a steep cost, including when each should marry and whom—a Quaker in good standing, of course. But if they relinquish the inheritance, it all goes to Tristram Macy, their father’s thieving business partner.

As Hitty and Henry seek a way to satisfy the will’s conditions, they’ll be faced with obstacles on every side—and it may be that Lillian Coffin will have the last word after all.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: October 2, 2018

Click here to purchase your copy!

Find out more about this amazing deal at
http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com/thelightbeforeday

My Review

Will they make the right decision...?

I have to confess that Nantucket Island is not a place that I have ever given much thought to. But as I've read the Nantucket Legacy series I've found myself enjoying the story and fascinated by the history, the people, and the culture, albeit an odd one at times. And in the spirit of confession I have to admit that I also didn't know much about the Society Of Friends, or Quakers, since the history books that I read for school only touched lightly on them and their history.

The Light Before Day is the final book in the series and I'm a bit sorry to say goodbye to the intertwined and often quirky Macy, Starbuck, Coffin, and Foulger families. I'm especially sorry to say goodbye to Great Mary as we have watched her from girlhood to grandmotherhood. Her wit and wisdom benefiting generations of family members as they face trying times. One must also not forget the hero and heroine of this book, Henry and his twin Hitty, who will leave readers applauding them and shaking their heads as the two find their purpose...and maybe love...

I think one of my favorite elements of the story is how Suzanne Woods Fisher wove a thread of suspense into what otherwise would have simply been a historical romance. Add in the fascinating historical details and some weird and wonderful characters and you have a pretty good story.

If you like to be entertained while learning a little bit about history this book, and series, would be a good one to check out.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Light Before Day by Suzanne Woods Fisher a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Guest Post

from Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Mortgage Button

In each story of the ‘Nantucket Legacy’ series, there’s a reference to a mortgage button in the newel post of a stairway. Phoebe Starbuck, the main character in Phoebe’s Light, made a point to notice it in the captain’s house on Orange Street, the famous residences of sea captains. In Minding the Light, Daphne Coffin touched the mortgage button on the newel post of her horrible mother’s grand house each and every morning. Hitty and Henry Macy were well aware of the absence of their childhood home’s mortgage button—and all that its absence symbolized—in The Light Before Day.

Mortgage buttons meant something to each of those characters. It made a statement to anyone who walked into a house.

Have you ever seen a mortgage button? It’s a very Nantucket-y tradition. In fact, some say the mortgage button originated on Nantucket Island, thirty miles out to sea.

Supposedly, when a house’s mortgage was fully paid and there were no liens against the property, the homeowner drilled a hole in the newel post of the main staircase, rolled up the mortgage document, put it inside, and capped the hole with a decorative plug of scrimshaw.

Scrimshaw is a term for an American folk art developed during the 18th and 19th centuries. Whaling in New England was an industry that lifted Nantucket Island to become the world’s wealthiest port. After a whale’s oil was rendered, the ship’s captain would give his crew the sperm whale’s teeth or bones to carve during long tedious hours at sea. Whaling had its exciting moments, but they were far and few between. As a pastime, sailors carved all kinds of useful gifts to bring home to their loved ones: needles, combs, games, clothespins, busks…and mortgage buttons.

But let’s jump back to the mortgage button. Some legends say that the actual mortgage papers were ceremoniously burned and the ashes stashed inside the drilled hole before sealed with the button. However, as appealing a thought as that might be, it is most likely a myth. There’s never been any evidence of ashes or even hidden mortgages found in salvaged newel posts. Still, mortgage buttons are common among Nantucket homes, and the tradition has spread to other parts of the country. In southern states, for example, they’re called brag buttons. Whether myth or truth, today it’s more a matter of a charming nostalgic custom than a nod to your healthy (or…not so healthy) net worth.

-Suzanne Woods Fisher-

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including Phoebe’s Light and Minding the Light, as well as the Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series. She has also written several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. Fisher lives in California.
Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow her on Twitter @suzannewfisher and Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/d773/the-light-before-day-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

November 4
The Avid Reader
Just the Write Escape
November 5
Texas Book-aholic
Godly Book Reviews
November 6
Southern Gal Loves to Read
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
November 7
Jeanette’s Thoughts
Locks, Hooks and Books
November 8
Among the Reads
Blossoms and Blessings
November 9
Blogging With Carol
A Baker’s Perspective
November 10
Mary Hake
Connies history classroom
November 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy
Carpe Diem
November 12
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess
Simple Harvest Reads
November 13
Inspiration Clothesline
Janices book reviews
November 14
Captive Dreams
Bigreadersite
November 15
Tell Tale Book Reviews
By The Book
November 16
Pause for Tales
Book by Book
November 17
Have A Wonderful Day
Bibliophile Reviews

6 Comments

Book Review - Mark Of The Raven by Morgan L. Busse

11/15/2018

0 Comments

Genre:
Fantasy

Mark Of The Raven
The Ravenwood Saga book 1
by Morgan L. Busse

-From Goodreads-

Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate.

As she discovers her family's dark secret, Selene is torn between upholding her family's legacy--a legacy that supports her people--or seeking the true reason behind her family's gift.

Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house.

One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?

ISBN-13: 978-0764232220

Is she a killer or will she discover the Light?

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Morgan L. Busse

Author Website

There are two kinds of fantasy novels out there; charmingly captivating, and deliciously dark. Mark Of The Raven is one of the latter. I don't know what it was that caught my attention, I haven't read any of Morgan L. Busse's previous books. Maybe it was the gorgeous eerily mysterious cover, which is much like the heroine herself, or maybe because I was just in the mood for a fantasy novel that promised to be a shadowy tale of danger and intrigue. Oh, I got just that and more! This dark and absorbing tale will have you, as it did me, immersed in the battle between The Light and the Dark Lady played out in the sinister halls of the ancestral home of the Ravenwoods and also in the dreams of the powerful and the powerless.

While aimed more at the YA market Mark Of The Raven is just as appealing to adults. There was something about Selene's struggle with upholding family expectations and her natural bent to protect those weaker that will capture the attention of readers both YA and adults alike.

Fantasy fans are in for a real treat with Morgan L. Busse's new book and will quickly find themselves, like me, impatiently awaiting the next release in the Ravenwood Saga series. Seriously, I HAVE to know what happens!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Mark Of The Raven by Morgan L. Busse a 4.5 Bark rating.

0 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Kitchen Marriage by Gina Welborn & Becca Whitham + Review & Guest Post & Giveaway

11/14/2018

4 Comments

A bright future awaits the women of courage and faith who boldly chase their dreams across the wide-open Montana Territory, prepared to embrace adventure and forge their own destinies . . .

When French immigrant Zoe de Fleur is forced out of her position as household cook for a high society New Yorker, the pretty and talented chef seizes an unexpected chance to head west for a new beginning. She pursues what she thinks is a prestigious job in the frontier’s “finest kitchen,” but instead finds herself in a matchmaker’s agency . . .

Isaak Gunderson is one of Helena, Montana’s most eligible bachelors, but he’s too focused on running for mayor and his family’s business to think about a wife and family. His twin brother, Jakob, is supposed to be too busy as well, yet sends for a mail-order bride anyway. Isaak doesn’t want to fuel an ongoing rivalry with his twin, but this tempting newcomer can’t be ignored. If only she’d come to Helena a different way and loving her wasn’t a betrayal . . .

Publisher: Kensington Publishers
Genre: Inspirational romance/Historical America set in the old west
Release Date: September 25, 2018

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Review

Sparks fly in the kitchen and in the heart...

I've been looking forward to The Kitchen Marriage since I read book 1 in the Montana Brides Romance series last year. Within a few pages I was immersed in the lives of Zoe, a certain young rapscallion, and the equally charming and frustrating Gunderson brothers.

The Kitchen Marriage was a lovely blend of sweet romance, a dash of humor, and a continuing thread of suspense. There were some real twists and turns in the story, not so much in the romance end but in the suspense thread, that left me quite surprised.

One of the reasons that I really liked this book, and its predecessor, is that the authors consulted with one of most knowledgeable people at the Montana Historical Society, and it really shows in the quality of the historical details and sense of setting. The streets and people of New York, Denver, and especially Helena, Montana came alive under the talented hands of Gina Welborn & Becca Whitham.

Gina Welborn & Becca Whitham make a great writing team, one that I enjoy quite a bit, and I am definitely looking forward to my next adventure with them in historic Helena, Montana...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Kitchen Marriage by Gina Welborn & Becca Whitham a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Guest Post

from Gina and Becca

Dear Reader,

What’s better than fulfilling a dream? Why…taking the journey with a friend, of course. And we have the army to thank for it. Gina, whose father spent most of his army career at Fort Sill, had just moved back to Lawton, Oklahoma when Becca’s husband received orders to Sill. We were both looking for friendship and found a kindred spirit.

When we first conceived the Montana Brides series over Frappuccinos (Gina) and Chai Tea Lattes (Becca) at our local Starbucks, we set out to make our make our mail-order bride stories different.

The first thing we decided on was setting our series in Helena, Montana because, in 1888, the city boasted the most millionaires per capita in the United States. We liked the idea of a former mining town grown into a cultured city and that it wasn’t the usual isolated ranch setting for a Western.

We also wanted to create stories of mail-order bride romances gone wrong. In fact, our original series title was Mail (Dis) Order Brides. We brainstormed all the ways a mail-order bride story could go sideways and settled on our top three: a widow before a wife; two brothers, one bride; and a deceitful—though well-meaning—matchmaker. The Kitchen Marriage is the second book in this series and puts our heroine, Zoe de Fleur, between twin brothers, Isaak and Jakob Gunderson. Like our first bride, Emilia Stanek (The Promise Bride), Zoe shows up in town knowing no one. Does that sound familiar? As a former military kid and current military wife, we are very familiar with needing to start over, forge new friendships, and make strangers into family.

Thank you for taking a journey into the past with us. We pray you find our stories filled with hope, humor, and happily-ever-afters.

Sincerely,
Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham

GINA WELBORN is the bestselling author of sixteen inspirational romances. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers, and serves on the ACFW Foundation Board. Sharing her husband’s passion for the premier American sports car, she is a lifetime member of the National Corvette Museum and a founding member of the Southwest Oklahoma Corvette Club. Gina lives with her husband, three of their five children, several rabbits and guinea pigs, and a dog that doesn’t realize rabbits and pigs are edible.
Visit her online at GinaWelborn.com.

BECCA WHITHAM (WIT-um) Multi-published author, paper crafter, and Chai tea lover, Becca and her twelve-foot-long craft cabinet follow her husband of more than thirty years to wherever the army currently needs a chaplain. In between moves from one part of the country to the other, she writes stories of faith that touch the heart. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a Genesis Contest finalist.
Connect with her online at BeccaWhitham.com.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate their tour, Gina and Becca are giving away
a copy of The Kitchen Marriage to ten lucky winners!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/d772/the-kitchen-marriage-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

November 1
Genesis 5020
Christian Centered book Reviews
Carpe Diem
November 2
Cultivating Us
Remembrancy
November 3
Inklings and Notions
The Becca Files
November 4
Stories By Gina
A Baker’s Perspective
November 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy
Texas Book-aholic
November 6
KarenSueHadley
Luv’N Lambert Life
Maureen’s Musings
November 7
cherylbbookblog
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
November 8
SusanLovesBooks
Book by Book
Janices book reviews
November 9
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess
Have A Wonderful Day
November 10
A Rup Life
Baker Kella
November 11
Bibliophile Reviews
Black ‘n’ Gold Girl’s Book Spot
November 12
Britt Reads Fiction
Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet
Bigreadersite
November 13
Daysong Reflections
Vicky Sluiter
November 14
Singing Librarian Books
Tell Tale Book Reviews

4 Comments

E-Book Review - The Cost Of Betrayal by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

11/13/2018

1 Comment

Genre:
Romantic Suspense

The Cost Of Betrayal
by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

-From Goodreads-

In Dee Henderson's novella "Betrayed," Janelle Roberts is freed--thanks to people she doesn't know--after serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she did not commit. But a murderer is still at large, and Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another betrayal.

In Dani Pettrey's "Deadly Isle," Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer bent on betrayal before they become the next victims?

In Lynette Eason's "Code of Ethics," trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John saves the life of Detective Isaac Martinez. After a betrayal leads to him getting shot and then attacked while in recovery, Isaac is now a key witness determined to testify. But someone is intent on silencing him--and those around him--forever. Together, Ruthie and Isaac go on the run, desperate to escape the killers hunting him.

ASIN: B07D6XP73F

Betrayal hits close to home for 3 strong women...

Betrayed by Dee Henderson
While I really enjoyed the premise of the story and the way it slowly played out I have to admit that I just wasn't able to connect with the characters. There were also a couple of loose ends that I wish had been tied up. I liked this novella in the collection but I can't say that I loved it.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Dee Henderson

Lynette Eason

Dani Pettrey

Deadly Isle by Dani Pettrey
This is the story that I looked forward to the most in this collection and I was by no means disappointed. This story had all the chills and thrills of one of the author's full-length novels just in a smaller package. I was kept guessing and second guessing myself all the way through.

Code Of Ethics by Lynette Eason
It's been awhile since I've read one of this author's books, and, now after reading this novella I'm wondering why it has been so long. Non-stop action and adventure had me glued to my Kindle and desperately trying to figure out who the good guys and the bad guys were.

Overall
A great a collection of romantic suspense novellas from three of Christian fiction's talented and best-loved authors. I really enjoyed The Cost Of Betrayal and I find myself hoping for another such collection sometime in the future. Don't miss this trio of novellas, you'll be in for a real treat.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Cost Of Betrayal by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, and Lynette Eason a 4.5 Bark rating.

1 Comment

My Heart Belongs In Galveston, Texas: Madeline's Search by Kathleen Y'Barbo

11/13/2018

0 Comments

Genre:
Historical Romance

My Heart Belongs In Galveston, Texas
Madeline's Search
My Heart Belongs In... book 10
by Kathleen Y'Barbo

-From Goodreads-

Dodging bullets takes a simple missing person case to a new level as Jonah Cahill, a Pinkerton agent, and Madeline Latour, an investigative reporter, form a tentative truce in Galveston, Texas, 1880. Are they on to a much bigger story when their best witness is suddenly kidnapped?

ISBN-13: 978-1683225003

Can they work together to find the truth?

I have really been enjoying the My Heart Belongs In... series from Barbour and have been eagerly awaiting when my state will eventually make its appearance.

Kathleen Y'Barbo is a fairly new author to me, I've only read one of her previous books, but I really find myself enjoying her blend of historical romance and mystery/adventure. My Heart Belongs In Galveston, Texas: Madeline's Search had plenty of both. It kept me intrigued, turning those pages, and thinking about the story in between. I actually picked up the book in the late morning and had it finished late that night, which is pretty good for me lately.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Kathleen Y'Barbo

Author Website

If you are looking for a sweet historical romance with healthy dash of decades old mystery and set in a fascinating location you really should check out Kathleen Y'Barbo's book My Heart Belongs In Galveston, Texas: Madeline's Search which is a great addition to this series. Oh, and don't forget to check out the author's note at the end, there is some really interesting stuff in there for history buffs like me...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives My Heart Belongs In Galveston, Texas: Madeline's Search by Kathleen Y'Barbo a 4 Bark rating.

0 Comments

WWI Armistice Day 100th Anniversary

11/11/2018

0 Comments

World War I
"The Great War" at a glance

Countries Involved

Allied Countries
Great Britain
Canada
United States
Australia
New Zealand
Russia

Allied Countries cont.
France
Greece
India
Italy
Serbia
South Africa

Central Powers Countries
Germany
Bulgaria
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman (Turkey) Empire

Romania, Belgium, Montenegro and Portugal were “Neutral Countries” also caught up in the conflict.

Timeline Of Events

June 28, 1914 - Gavrilo Princip, who has ties to the Serbian terrorist-type group the Black Hand, assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary.
July 28, 1914 - Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
August 1, 1914 - Germany declares war on Russia.
August 2, 1914 - Ottoman Empire and Germany sign a secret treaty of alliance.
August 4, 1914 - Germany invades Belgium. President Woodrow Wilson declares that the United States is neutral. Britain declares war on Germany.
August 10, 1914 - Austria-Hungary invades Russia, opening the fighting on the Eastern Front.
August 26-30, 1914 - Battle of Tannenberg, Prussia.
September 12, 1914 - First battle of the Aisne in France begins, marking the beginning of trench warfare.
November 3, 1914 - Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire.
November 5, 1914 - Great Britain and France declare war on the Ottoman Empire.
April 22-May 25, 1915 - Second Battle of Ypres, marking the first wide-scale use of poison gas by Germany.
May 7, 1915 - A German U-20 submarine sinks the British passenger ship, the Lusitania; 1,198 are killed, including 128 Americans.
June 1915-November 1917 - Battles of the Isonzo, Italy.
1915 - Battle of Krithia, Gallipoli peninsula, Ottoman Empire.

February 21-July 1916 - Battle of Verdun, France, the war's longest battle, with almost a million casualties.
May 31-June 1, 1916 - Battle of Jutland, North Sea near Denmark - a sea battle between British and German navies.
July 1, 1916-November 1916 - First Battle of the Somme River, France. The British introduce the tank.
April 6, 1917 - The United States declares war against Germany after the interception and publication of the Zimmermann Telegram and the sinking of three US merchant ships by German U-boats.
June 26, 1917 - American troops begin landing in France.
November 20, 1917 - Battle of Cambrai, France.
December 3, 1917 - Russia signs an armistice with Germany.
March 3, 1918 - Russia signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending hostilities with the Central Powers and withdrawing Russia from this war.
March 21-April 5, 1918 - Second Battle of the Somme River.
September 29, 1918 - Bulgaria signs an armistice.
October 30, 1918 - Ottoman Empire signs an armistice.
November 3, 1918 - Austria-Hungary signs an armistice.November 11, 1918 - Germany accepts the armistice terms demanded by the Allies, ending the war.
June 28, 1919 - The Treaty of Versailles is signed at the Palace of Versailles, France.

Philadelphia City Hall celebrating Armistice Day, November 11, 1918.

Estimated Cost of WWI
(for each of the major countries involved)

Country
Russia
Germany
Great Britain
France
United States
Canada
Belgium

Troops Deployed
12,000,000
11,000,000
8,905,000
8,410,000
4,355,000
619,500
267,000

Killed
1,700,000
1,773,700
908,371
1,357,800
126,000
66,655
13,716

Wounded
4,950,000
4,216,058
2,090,212
4,266,000
264,000
172,950
44,686

War Cost in Dollars
$22,293,950,000
$37,775,000,000
$35,334,012,000
$24,262,583,000
$22,625,253,000
$1,665,576,000
$1,154,468,000

Global WWI Losses

Military Casualties
9,720,450

Military Wounded
19,769,102

Civilian Casualties
8,865,650

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

Composed by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae at the battlefront
on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium

http://www.flandersfieldsmusic.com/WWI-statistics.html
https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/09/world/world-war-i-fast-facts/index.html

0 Comments

Veteran's Day 2018

11/11/2018

0 Comments

Veteran's Day

We Thank You
for everything you have sacrificed for us.

Father, we could never thank our military men and
women enough for their courageous service and sacrifice
to our country and its people.Yet today we lift up our
voices to express gratefulness and honor to these military
troops both from the past and present. Show us ways in
our communities, churches, and families to thank and love
them better. Keep and protect these heroes and their
families, in the powerful name of Jesus.
AMEN

Prayer taken from http://www.militaryfamiliespray.com

0 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White + Review & Guest Post & Giveaway

11/10/2018

4 Comments

Once London’s top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker’s daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.

Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can’t help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.

As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge—and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina’s father soon finds his whole family in danger—and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape it.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Review

Who will triumph, Love or the enemy, during WWI?

I've only read two books by Roseanna M. White, An Hour Unspent is the second, but I am already very much a fan. And I find myself wondering why I waited so long to check them out?!

With the 100th anniversary of WWI occurring over the last 4 years there has been a surge in interest in The Great War. This interest has brought forth quite a few books, both fiction and non-fiction, and I have to say that of the fiction variety Shadows Over England has been one of my absolute favorites. Roseanna M. White's blend of romance and suspense against the backdrop of an England at war and the turmoil of social reform on the homefront is a winning combination. Her attention to historical detail is such that the reader honestly feels transported to the time and place.

An Hour Unspent was a story that I greatly enjoyed. The setting and history are fascinating but it was the characters that really made it interesting. By turns I loved them, wanted to shake some sense into them, sympathized with their problems, and felt like giving a few of them a real comeuppance! I definitely recommend this particular book from Roseanna M. White as well as the series in general. Don't miss it!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Guest Post

from Roseanna M. White

Last year, as I finished up the writing of An Hour Unspent, my great-grandmother passed away at the age of 103. As I sat at her funeral service and listened to the heartfelt memorial raised up to her by her kids and grandkids, I realized anew that this woman had been a matriarch in the truest sense of the word. She’d taught my family for generations how to love the Lord and each other, how to serve the Lord and each other, and how to trust the Lord and each other. Grandma Seward was, in so many ways, the one who instilled in me my idea of what family really is.

That idea—that it’s those knit together by love more than blood, and that faith is the strongest foundation—is what I built my unusual family of thieves upon in the Shadows Over England series. And strange as it is to liken my twenty-something reformed-thief hero to my 103-year-old-grandmother, Barclay Pearce is very much to his family what Maxine Seward was to mine.

The founder. The caregiver. The leader.

I knew as I began the series that I would write about Barclay in book three, and as I got to know him better throughout the series, I grew so excited to share his story! This is a man who led his family first into and then out of a life a crime, always for the right reasons—so he could provide for the children under his care. All he ever wanted to do was give them what he himself had lost. To show them love. To prove to them that they were worth any sacrifice.

It was truly a blessing for me to get to write the story in which Barclay found someone to come alongside him, to appreciate and learn to understand him. To finally share what started him down this path. I loved the idea that only a reformed thief could steal the time another family needed to overcome their own trials.

There are many historical items in the book that were such fun to explore—watchmaking of the era, the suffrage movement in England, technological advancements of the war—but at the heart, this isn’t a story about any of those.
It’s a story about how far people should go for love. I hope you enjoy Barclay’s story as much as I did!

-Roseanna-

Roseanna M. White

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.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Roseanna is giving away a grand prize of
a signed book, a London mug, and a 48-pack Twinings tea sampler!!

Click the link below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

https://promosimple.com/ps/d570/an-hour-unspent-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

October 30
The Avid Reader
The Power of Words
Back Porch Reads
Kat’s Corner Books
Janice’s Book Reviews
October 31
Where Faith and Books Meet
Reading Is My SuperPower
Faithfully Bookish
Genesis 5020
November 1
Fiction Aficionado
Among the Reads
The Lit Addict
Just the Write Escape
November 2
Multifarious
Godly Book Reviews
Real World Bible Study
Madeline Clark
November 3
Reflections From My Bookshelves
Christian Bookaholic
Inspirationally Ever After
Bookworm Mama
Bigreadersite
November 4
Blogging With Carol
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
Life with the Tribe
The Becca Files
November 5
Kathleen Denly
Cordially Barbara
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess
Simple Harvest Reads (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)
November 6
God’s Little Bookworm
All-of-a-kind Mom
Faery Tales Are Real
Christian Chick’s Thoughts
Carpe Diem
November 7
Margaret Kazmierczak
Locks, Hooks and Books
Christian Author, J.E.Grace
Blossoms and Blessings
November 8
Maureen’s Musings
Connie’s History Classroom
Book by Book
Just Commonly
November 9
cherylbbookblog
The Christian Fiction Girl
Have A Wonderful Day
With a Joyful Noise
November 10
KarenSueHadley
Tell Tale Book Reviews
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions
Baker kella
Bibliophile Reviews
November 11
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses
Inklings and Notions
Two Points of Interest
Inspiration Clothesline
A Baker’s Perspective
November 12
Henry Happens
Texas Book-aholic
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

4 Comments

Book Review - Lost Christmas Memories by Dana Mentink

11/10/2018

0 Comments

Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Lost Christmas Memories
Gold Country Cowboys book 4
(Love Inspired Suspense)
by Dana Mentink

-From Goodreads-

A witness with amnesia

Can she trust this Gold Country Cowboy with her life?Tracy Wilson witnessed a murder--but after a head injury, she can't remember what she saw. Now someone plans to silence her for good, and only cowboy Keegan Thorn believes her. With a killer after her at Christmas, Tracy is running out of time to remember...and falling dangerously hard for the cowboy who could break her heart.

ISBN-13: 978-1335490728

The memory is a powerful thing...even when lost...

This book came in the mail and I have to confess that I couldn't even make one day before picking it up. I didn't even get it cataloged in my book app because I couldn't put it down long enough.

I love Dana Mentink's stories, each of her Love Inspired Suspense books seems to be better than the last, and the Gold Country Cowboys series more than proves the point.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Dana Mentink

Author Website

Lost Christmas Memories is an action-packed romantic ride that is sure to thrill readers to the very end. Plenty of twists and turns kept me guessing, second guessing, and beginning to think I was wrong about everything. Needless to say, I definitely recommend Lost Christmas Memories to any fan of Dana Mentink and her riveting romantic suspense...and to anyone who loves the genre....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Lost Christmas Memories by Dana Mentink a 4.5 Bark rating.

0 Comments

Singing Librarian Books Blog Hop - The Kingdom Of Nereth by TJ Amberson + Spotlight & Interview & Giveaway

11/9/2018

0 Comments

Dark times are upon the land of Nereth. Centuries have passed since the rightful heir to the throne was banished. The people are losing hope in ancient legend, which foretells of one who will rise up, overthrow the evil king and queen, and restore peace. Like all others in Nereth, Edlyn has suffered greatly. Orphaned as a child, Edlyn grew up as the serf of a drunken lord. Now a spirited seventeen-year-old, Edlyn works to buy her freedom while fighting off the unwanted advances of Sheriff Hurst. One morning, Edlyn discovers a young man hiding in the stable. He is fleeing from Sheriff Hurst and inflicted with a sword wound that will surely be fatal without her help. In a split-second decision, Edlyn conceals the young man from Sheriff Hurst and begins nursing him back to health. As the young man’s strength returns, Edlyn learns that his name is Maddock, and she is stunned to find that he has come from the mysterious land to the north. Maddock soon comes to Edlyn’s aid, rescuing her from Sheriff Hurst. Suddenly declared outlaws, both Edlyn and Maddock must escape for their lives to enchanted Ravenshire Forest and then the desolate mountains beyond. As their adventure unfolds, Edlyn and Maddock discover that their meeting may have been more than chance, for their lives prove bound by a fate that neither of them could possibly have imagined.

Series: Nereth Trilogy
Genre: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Historical, Mideval
Publisher: Indie
Publication date: March 1, 2016

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Interview with
TJ Amberson

1. Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
I’m glad that you asked for “some” favorite authors, because I have too many to list, and they’re of quite different genres and time periods! So, in no particular order, here are a few:

L.M. Montgomery introduced me to Anne and the world of Avonlea when I was a young girl, for which she remains a favorite author of mine. Shakespeare, Shakespeare, Shakespeare. Victor Hugo wrote my favorite novel, LES MISERABLES. Jane Austen because, well, Jane Austen. Charles Dickens. Sophie Kinsella. Alexandre Dumas, especially for THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. Dan Brown. Beverly Cleary. I could go on and on!

2. What does a day in the life of TJ Amberson look like?
It varies! On the days when I’m not at work, I am typically doing immensely glamorous things like laundry, grocery shopping, or other errands. From spring through early fall, I spend time in the garden. If it’s not raining, I’ll go on a bike ride; on rainy days, I’ll exercise on the elliptical while watching re-runs of GILMORE GIRLS. Most days, I make time for author-related activities – it may be early in the morning, mid-day, or the last thing that I do before heading for bed.

3. What inspired the idea for The Kingdom of Nereth?
The concept for THE KINGDOM OF NERETH started when, out of nowhere, the opening scene began playing through my mind. I saw a medieval farm. It was sunrise. A young woman—strong and intelligent—was carrying water toward the barn. The visual impact of that scene struck me so much that I immediately began writing a story around it.

4. What did you as an author take away from writing The Kingdom of Nereth?

Awesome question. Some years ago, I made the decision to write and publish professionally because I wanted to provide tween and teen readers with new, well-written, original novels that were also age-appropriate. I believed (hoped!) that there were young readers out there looking for novels that didn’t contain swearing, sex, drug use, extensive violence, or other more adult-type content.

What I have taken away from writing THE KINGDOM OF NERETH is that there are young readers out there looking for this type of novel. I can’t articulate how gratifying to hear from a reader – or a parent – that they loved THE KINGDOM OF NERETH and appreciated that the story was age-appropriate. Giving young readers wonderful stories like the ones I grew up with is the reason that I write.

5. What is your current WIP? What can you tell us about the project?
I’m thrilled to announce that THE COUNCIL OF NERETH – the sequel to THE KINGDOM OF NERETH – is coming out in December of 2018!

I’m also in the middle of tidying up another young adult novel, BETWEEN, which I intend to release in 2019. It’s an exciting, paranormal story of a young woman who winds up in limbo between heaven and earth.

On the adult side, I am also working on my next romance novel, THE BEST MAN, which I also hope to release in 2019. Wish me luck!

-TJ Amberson-

TJ Amberson

TJ Amberson hails from the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband and nutty cocker spaniel. Her most recent novels include The Kingdom of Nereth, The Council of Nereth, Fusion, and Love at Lakewood Med. When she’s not writing, TJ can probably be found enjoying a hot chocolate, pretending to know how to garden, riding her bike, playing the piano, or surfing the Internet for cheap plane tickets.

With a love of writing in multiple genres, TJ Amberson strives to provide well-written, age-appropriate, and original novels for tweens, teens, and new adults.

GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE

It's Time For A Giveaway!

USA ONLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

November 5
Wishful Endings | Why Not Because I Said So
November 6
Emily Yager | Paulettes Papers
November 7
cherylbbookblog
November 8
Edits & Reviews by Leslie
November 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews
November 10
Blooming with Books

0 Comments

Book Review - Shelter Of The Most High by Connilyn Cossette

10/30/2018

1 Comment

Genre:
Biblical / Historical

Shelter Of The Most High
Cities Of Refuge book 2
by Connilyn Cossette

-From Amazon-

The daughter of a pagan high priest, Sofea finds solace from her troubles in the freedom of the ocean. But when marauders attack her village on the island of Sicily, she and her cousin are taken across the sea to the shores of Canaan.

Eitan has lived in Kedesh, a City of Refuge, for the last eleven years, haunted by a tragedy in his childhood and chafing at the boundaries placed on him. He is immediately captivated by Sofea, but revealing his most guarded secret could mean drawing her into the danger of his past.

As threats from outside the walls loom and traitors are uncovered within, Sofea and Eitan are plunged into the midst of a murder plot. Will they break free from the shackles of the past in time to uncover the betrayal and save their lives and the lives of those they love?

ISBN-13: 978-0764219870

Can love overcome the pain of the past?

This is only the second Connilyn Cossette book that I've read but already I have come to expect a lot from her. Biblical accuracy, historical detail, vivid imagery, characters that are both flawed and memorable, and most importantly an emotionally and spiritually moving story that stays with you long after the last page is turned. Shelter Of The Most High was all of that and then some.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Connilyn Cossette

Author Website

I found myself more than entertained by this story and its characters, I was also by turns inspired and convicted as both Sofea and Eitan travel a road darkened by loss, fear, and betrayal. Discovering along the way that forgiveness is key and that love, in all its forms, can come in the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected places.

Shelter Of The Most High is a beautiful story of redemption and of God's guiding love even through the darkest of moments. The rich historical detail leaves readers feeling like they are standing right there with the characters. Those two things are sure to delight readers of Connilyn Cossette's new Cities Of Refuge series and have them, as I am, anxiously waiting for more...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Shelter Of The Most High by Connilyn Cossette a 4.5 Bark rating.

1 Comment

E-Book Review - Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets by Jill Kemerer

10/30/2018

0 Comments

Genre:
Romance / Holiday

Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets
Wyoming Cowboys book 3
(Love Inspired)
by Jill Kemerer

-From Goodreads-

A nanny at Christmastime…
Will she find love in this Wyoming Cowboys novel?

Six weeks on a ranch caring for quadruplets—aspiring nurse Ainsley Draper’s prepared for a busy Christmas. When the children’s handsome uncle opens the door, her task gets extra complicated. Marshall Graham is upholding his promise to look after his twin sister, the babies’ mom. But as family loyalty clashes with new love, will the perfect present include a future with Ainsley?

ASIN: B079YQVVYG

Can they move past their own baggage to find love?

I'm relatively new to Jill Kemerer's delightful romances having only started with the Wyoming Cowboys series but I am already more than hooked. Like its predecessors, Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets was another enjoyable read from one of my favorite Love Inspired romance authors.

If you are in the mood for a sweet, romantic, holiday read this is the book for you. With a touching theme of forgiveness, of others as well as one's self, that is quite timely with the holidays around the corner.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Jill Kemerer

Author Website

Don't miss Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets or any of the other books in Jill Kemerer's lovely romantic Wyoming Cowboys series.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets by Jill Kemerer a 4 Bark rating.

0 Comments

E-Book Review - The Rose And The Briar by J.M. Stengl

10/26/2018

0 Comments

Genre:
Fantasy

The Rose And The Briar
Faraway Castle book 3
by J.M. Stengl

-From Goodreads-

Power-hungry princes
are Rosa's greatest dread.

Deep within the gardens of Faraway Castle sleeps a secret Rosa the gardener has sworn to protect with her life--the legendary princess Zafira. For three years she has hidden the princess almost in plain sight. But two nosy princes threaten to undo the work of a century.

When asked to take his sister's old job as Faraway Castle's Magical-Creature Controller, Prince Briar leaps at the chance to disguise himself as a commoner, earn a place in the magical world, and be trained by the mysterious Gamekeeper. Nothing works out the way he'd expected, and he is far too busy working to gain Rosa's trust to bother about uncovering her secrets.

Until dashing Prince Javier of Evora pursues Rosa . . . and Briar suspects the rival prince of dark motives. Can Rosa and Briar learn to trust each other soon enough to prevent a magical disaster?

Will the kiss of a prince really awaken true love?

ASIN: B07JN5RS71

Can he see beyond her secrets? Can she see past his?

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

J.M. Stengl

Author Website

So, I was in the mood for a fantasy story, which is odd for me since fantasy is not my preferred genre, and I had The Rose And The Briar was on my Kindle. While I've not read any of J.M. Stengl's fantasy books, I have read some of her historical romance novellas in the past. I was in for a pleasant surprise and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this delightful fairytale.

Fun and whimsical, The Rose And The Briar is sweet and imaginative retelling of Sleeping Beauty. This story has all of the magic and the enchantingly quirky characters of an Emily Rodda or Gail Carson Levine novel. The story had a YA feel but I was able to get right into the story even as an adult.

I really enjoyed this story and will definitely be digging into my trusty Kindle and reading more of J.M. Stengl's lovely fairytales at Faraway Castle...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Rose And The Briar by J.M. Stengl a 4.5 Bark rating.

0 Comments

Prism Book Tours - Legacy Of Mercy by Lynn Austin + Review & Giveaway

10/25/2018

1 Comment

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

She Knew Her New Life Would Not
Be Easy, But Nothing Could Prepare
Her For What Waits Ahead

Having returned to Chicago, young socialite Anna Nicholson can't seem to focus on her upcoming marriage. The new information she's learned about her birth mother continues to pull at her, and she hires Pinkerton detectives to help her discover the whole truth.

But as she meets people who once knew her mother and hears stories about the past, Anna soon discovers that some secrets are better left hidden. With pressure mounting to keep the past quiet, she discovers daily that her choice to seek God's purpose for her life isn't as simple as she had hoped.

When things are at their darkest, Anna knows she can turn to her grandmother, Geesje de Jonge, back in Holland, Michigan. Geesje's been helping new Dutch immigrants--including a teen with a troubled history--adjust to America. She only hopes that her wisdom can help all these young people through the turmoil they face.

Christian Historical Romance
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 400 Pages
October 2nd 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

Goodreads│Amazon│B&N│Book Depository
Christianbook│Kobo│Bethany House

Praise for the Book
"Varying points of view, well-placed clues, and an interesting subplot about Anna's grandmother welcoming Dutch
immigrants to Michigan keeps the story interesting. Austin skillfully embeds her strong spiritual message into the actions
of her characters, creating a wonderful historical tale that is naturally inspirational."--Publishers Weekly starred review

Other Books in the Series

My Review

Can their faith sustain them?

So, I must make a confession....Despite having heard many great things about her for quite a few years I had not read a Lynn Austin book until I picked up Legacy Of Mercy. Yes, it is a sequel so it probably is an odd choice to start with but I enjoyed myself anyway.

I have to admit that much of the time I just wanted to shake some sense into Anna, and yet, her heart for the hurting and her love for her adoptive parents was wonderful. It was actually Oma Geesje, I have no idea how to pronounce it but that's OK, who won my heart. She is the grandmother that everyone would love to have, a grace-filled woman of faith who has been knocked around by life but has managed to hang onto that faith even when things seemed bleakest.

Legacy Of Mercy was a sweet historical romance, a story of loss and love, finding one's place and purpose, and most importantly a story of forgiveness and faith. The theme of hanging onto God's love through the dark times, when things just don't make sense, is a good reminder for us all.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Legacy Of Mercy by Lynn Austin a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Lynn Austin

Lynn Austin has sold more than one and a half million copies of her books worldwide. A former teacher who now writes and speaks full-time, she has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction. One of those novels, Hidden Places, has also been made into an Original Hallmark Channel movie. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and make their home in western Michigan. Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Pinterest

Check out the Bookstagram Tour schedule October 22 - 26 here!

Tour Giveaway

- One Grand Prize Winner will receive Waves of Mercy
and Legacy of Mercy by Lynn Austin and tulip notecards.

- Two additional winners will receive Waves and Mercy and Legacy of Mercy.

For US winners only—international readers may enter, but a $35 gift
card will be substituted for their prize if they are chosen as winners.
Ends October 26, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

October 15th
Launch
Cover Lover Book Review
An Indie Adventure
Author Kelly D. Scott
October 16th
Romancing History
Uplifting Reads
October 17th
The Power of Words
Hearts & Scribbles
October 18th
Fiction Aficionado
Splashes of Joy
October 19th
Wishful Endings
Stacking My Book Shelves!
Rockin' Book Reviews
October 22nd
Among the Reads
Book by Book
October 23rd
Jen Around the World
Heidi Reads...
October 24th
Jorie Loves A Story
Radiant Light
October 25th
Tell Tale Book Reviews
Locks, Hooks and Books
October 26th
Reading Is My SuperPower
Remembrancy

1 Comment

<<Previous

6th Blogoversary

6th Blogoversary Countdown

Tell & Jasmine
He does the talking
She does the reading

Author

Reading and history have been my passion since early childhood when my parents encouraged both. I was introduced to Christian fiction around age 4-5 while listening to radio drama adaptations of books by great authors including Janette Oke. I have been a voracious reader and avid library patron ever since. I started Tell Tale Book Reviews in December 2012. I am also an active volunteer in the areas I hold most dear, library, museum, and pets. Hobbies include a small bead jewelry business, watching classic movies/ TV, listening to Irish/Celtic music, and autograph collecting.

TELL
2008-2017
Born in October, he was a purebred Alaskan Malamute. His red fur and sparkling green eyes highlighted his happy and loving personality. He loved walks, hugs, sneaking human food treats, and Milk Bones.

Our Rating System
1 Bark - OK
2 Barks - Good!
3 Barks - Great!
4 Barks - Excellent!
5 Barks - WOW!
+ Barks - .5 (1/2)

If I consider a book less than OK I won't review it.

RSS Feed

Click the Thumbs Up to
Rate our Reviews
on Amazon

NOTE
If you are using Ad Blok you are likely missing out on content from my posts. Just disable Ad Blok -at least for Tell Tale Book Reviews- and you should be able to see everything.

Jasmine's bookshelf: Currently Reading

Here Is Where: Discovering America's Great Forgotten History

by Andrew Carroll

2018 Reading Challenge

Jasmine has read 0 books toward her goal of 75 books.

hide

0 of 75 (0%)

view books

The Genesis
Tree by
Heather L.L. FitzGerald

High As The Heavens by
Kate Breslin

Many
Sparrows by
Lori Benton

The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

Holly, Ivy,
And Intrigue
by Multiple

Renegades
by
Thomas Locke

Cold Truth
by Susan Sleeman

Starting From Scratch by
Kate Lloyd

A Refuge
Assured by
Jocelyn Green

Beneath The Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn

The Golden Vial by
Thomas Locke

Mission To Protect by
Terri Reed

The Backcountry Brides Collection

Framed For Murder by
Mary Alford

Of Cash
And Cats
by Darlene Franklin

Fatal Recall
by Carol
J. Post

Lone Witness by
Rachel Dylan

Kappy King And The Pickle Kaper by
Amy Lillard

Holding The Fort by
Regina Jennings

Kill Shot
by Susan Sleeman

Captivated
by
Alana Terry

The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson

Flaw Abiding Citizen by
Christy Barritt

A Love
For Leah by
Amy Lillard

By The
Waters Of Babylon
by Mesu Andrews

A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano

Amish Country Ambush
by Dana R. Lynn

Fawkes
by Nadine Brandes

The Amish Quilter by Mindy Starns Clark & Leslie Gould

Snowbound With The Best Man by
Allie Pleiter

Reckoning At Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright

Texas Baby Pursuit by Margaret Daley

Caught By Surprise by
Jen Turano

A Wells Landing Christmas by Amy Lillard

Dead Drift
by
Dani Pettrey

Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets by Jill Kemerer

The Rose
And The
Briar by
J.M. Stengl

Shelter Of The Most High by Connilyn Cossette

A Secret To Die For by
Lisa Harris

Legacy Of Mercy by
Lynn Austin

A Sparkle Of Silver by
Liz Johnson

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection

Lost Christmas Memories by
Dana Mentink

Christmas Hideout
by Susan Sleeman

Amish Weddings by
Leslie Gould

King's Blood
by
Jill Williamson

Above Rubies
by Keely
Brooke Keith

Deadly
Memories by
Mary Alford

Clean Getaway by
Christy Barritt

A Dangerous Engagement
by Melanie Dickerson

The Captive Brides
Collection by Multiple

A Plain
Leaving by
Leslie Gould

A Child's Christmas Wish by Erica Vetsch

A Passionate Hope by Jill Eileen Smith

Cold Fury
by Susan Sleeman

All Things Beautiful
by Keely Brooke Keith

Cold Case
by Susan Sleeman

Dangerous Obsession by Jessica R. Patch

Standoff At Midnight Mountain by Mary Alford

A Simple Singing
by Leslie Gould

Grave Peril
by
Mary Alford

Lady Of A Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd

Cold Pursuit
by Susan Sleeman

Amish Christmas Emergency by Dana R. Lynn

In Too Deep by Lynn H. Blackburn

Enclave
by
Thomas
Locke

Nov 20th

Once Upon A Montana Summer
by Lisa T. Bergren
Dec 3rd

Cold Case Christmas
by
Jessica
R. Patch
Dec 4th

The Lieutenant's Bargain by Regina Jennings
Dec 4th

Lone Star Christmas Witness by Margaret Daley
Dec 4th

Who I Am With You
by
Robin Lee Hatcher
Dec 11th

Sold Into Freedom
by Carole Towriss
Dec 12th

Kappy King And The Pie Kaper by
Amy Lillard
Dec 18th

Moondust Lake
by
Davis Bunn
Dec 18th

Flights Of Fancy
by
Jen Turano
Jan 1, 2019

The Curse Of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright
Jan 22, 2019

The Warrior Maiden by Melanie Dickerson
Feb 5, 2019

Never Let
Go by Elizabeth Goddard
Feb 5, 2019

Between
Two Shores
by
Jocelyn Green
Feb 5, 2019

Taken In Texas
by Susan Sleeman
Feb 5, 2019

Of Fire
And Lions
by
Mesu Andrews
Mar 5, 2019

Romanov
by
Nadine Brandes

May 7, 2019

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
May 14, 2019

Until The Mountains
Fall by Connilyn Cossette
Jul 2, 2019

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection by Lena Nelson Dooley, Rebecca Jepson, Carrie Fancett Pagels, ​Candice Sue Patterson, Kathleen Rouser, Pegg Thomas, Marilyn Turk

Guest Post

-Suzanne Woods Fisher-

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Blog Stops

​Mark Of The RavenThe Ravenwood Saga book 1by Morgan L. Busse

Guest Post

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Blog Stops

The Cost Of Betrayal by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

My Heart Belongs In Galveston, TexasMadeline's SearchMy Heart Belongs In... book 10 by Kathleen Y'Barbo

World War I"The Great War" at a glance

We Thank Youfor everything you have sacrificed for us.

Guest Post

-Roseanna-

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Blog Stops

Lost Christmas MemoriesGold Country Cowboys book 4(Love Inspired Suspense)by Dana Mentink

Interview with TJ Amberson

-TJ Amberson-

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Tour Schedule

Shelter Of The Most High Cities Of Refuge book 2 by Connilyn Cossette

Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets Wyoming Cowboys book 3(Love Inspired) by Jill Kemerer

The Rose And The BriarFaraway Castle book 3​ by J.M. Stengl

My Review

Tour Giveaway

Tour Schedule

Author

Follow Us

Archives

Categories

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection
by Lena Nelson Dooley, Rebecca Jepson, Carrie Fancett Pagels,
Candice Sue Patterson, Kathleen Rouser, Pegg Thomas, Marilyn Turk

Mark Of The Raven
The Ravenwood Saga book 1
by Morgan L. Busse

The Cost Of Betrayal
by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

My Heart Belongs In Galveston, Texas
Madeline's Search
My Heart Belongs In... book 10
by Kathleen Y'Barbo

World War I
"The Great War" at a glance

We Thank You
for everything you have sacrificed for us.

Lost Christmas Memories
Gold Country Cowboys book 4
(Love Inspired Suspense)
by Dana Mentink

Interview with
TJ Amberson

Shelter Of The Most High
Cities Of Refuge book 2
by Connilyn Cossette

Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets
Wyoming Cowboys book 3
(Love Inspired)
by Jill Kemerer

The Rose And The Briar
Faraway Castle book 3
by J.M. Stengl