Tell Tale Book Reviews

E-Book Review - From Rome With Love by Kate Lloyd

2/27/2021

Genre:
Romance

From Rome With Love
by Kate Lloyd

-From Goodreads-

Lucy Goff's new job caring for the quirky daughter of a wealthy Seattle couple comes with an unexpected perk: being whisked off to Rome the week before Christmas. Putting up with fifteen-year-old Tabatha's mood swings, not to mention Lucy's own fear of flying, is worth the opportunity to explore The Eternal City.

But Lucy's dreams of a relaxing European vacation are upended almost as soon as they arrive. Tabatha's parents disappear, and Tabatha herself turns out to be more than a handful. The only person Lucy can turn to is Mario, the smooth and handsome Italian who volunteers to be their personal tour guide. Can she trust him? And what about Brad, the old boyfriend who wants to pick up where they left off?

When a mysterious painting opens up painful family secrets, it seems as though Lucy's romantic holiday is over for good. Instead, she must confront not only her employers, but also her own feelings about love and loyalty. Is she ready to see that Christmas is just the beginning?

ASIN: B08K2VDYKC

Will she find more than she expected in Rome?

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Kate Lloyd

Rome is a city that I've just not thought very much about, ancient and full of history as it is, but author Kate Lloyd brought The Eternal City to life in such a vivid way that I now can't help but want to visit it. Though, if I ever do I will watch my suitcase like a hawk so there won't be any odd surprises!

At times I had a mixed reaction to Lucy. She is stronger than she thinks and I loved her determination to not make the same mistakes again. She genuinely cares for Tabatha even when the teen is being a real pill, which is frequently. But, oh! She made me so mad when she wouldn't put a stop to the way one of the men in her life treated her. Girl, get some backbone!

From Rome With Love was an enjoyable read. It's a bit romance, a tad women's fiction, a touch of suspense, and more of a clean read than anything else. The setting is fascinating, the characters are flawed enough to be real, and I just like Kate Lloyd's straightforward tone in her storytelling.

If you are looking for an escape from all the tough stuff going on right now and want a chance to travel, even if it's only through fiction, may I recommend From Rome With Love, it's a fun read!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives From Rome With Love by Kate Lloyd a 4 Bark rating.

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2021 Birthday Celebration - Spotlight Butterfly Kisses & Windsong by Lynnette Booner (Giveaway)

2/26/2021

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He’s a staid, by-the-book doctor.
She’s a free-spirited artist.
Together, they share a son.

Right out of high school, Shiloh Finn moved to Europe to attend her dream art-school, leaving her son, Quin, for his father to raise. Now, changed by Jesus, she’ll do anything to be part of Quin’s life again. Move back home. Give up painting. Even—dare she say it—risk her heart by spending time with Quin’s father.

Michael Stanton, Micha to his friends, thought he’d stopped longing for his son’s mother. But now, Shiloh is back home, invading his well-ordered life with her free spirit and silvery laughter, and filling him with nostalgia for years-gone-by. And, heaven help him, his son has discovered the joys of butterfly kisses and is putting his matchmaking skills to good use—or bad, depending on one’s perspective. On some days, Micha feels a little of both.

This contemporary, sweet, clean romance takes you to small-town America, where
the river serenades and birdsong fills the air, all the neighbors knoweach other's
business, and the police chief's biggest worry is where to find his next fishing hole.

ASIN: B08VNRGNVG

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Lynnette Bonner is generously giving away an e-book copy of Butterfly Kisses & Windsong

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Lady Wynwood's Spies: Archer by Camillie Elliot (Review, Guest Post, Giveaway)

2/26/2021

1 Comment

She met him again by shooting him.

Part one in a Christian Regency Romantic Adventure epic serial novel with a supernatural twist. After four seasons and unmarried because she is taller than most of her dance partners, Miss Phoebe Sauber receives the shocking news that she is being callously banished from her father’s estate because he is remarrying. Feeling betrayed by her father and by God, and wanting to escape her family’s presence, she attends an archery tournament with her friends.

But her perfect aim fails her, and her arrow hits a piece of paper held by Mr. Michael Coulton-Jones, whom she hasn’t seen much in society in several years. But strangely, her arrow tears a section of the paper with a partial symbol that looks eerily familiar to her.

He met her again while searching for a killer.

Michael had quit his work as a spy for the Foreign Office when his brother was poisoned. His search for the murderer leads him to Apothecary Jack, a criminal underworld leader with a penchant for poisons, who is gathering a powerful army through an alchemical potion that can give men supernatural strength.

But his path unexpectedly crosses again with Miss Sauber, who saves him from a trap laid by Jack. She and her Aunt Laura, Lady Wynwood, have found a vital connection to Apothecary Jack and the mysterious group he works for.
Now Michael, who had vowed to never again allow civilians to come to harm, must work with a nobleman keeping dangerous secrets, a human lie detector, a chemist, a fellow former spy, and the one woman he’s never allowed himself to get close to.

And it is only this ragtag group that stands against a traitorous organization that could enable Napoleon to conquer the world.

Genre: Christian Historical Romantic Suspense
Release date: December 8, 2020

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

They will have to work together...

I've read a couple of Camille Elliot's romantic suspense books, written under another name, but Lady Wynwood's Spies: Archer is the first one that I've read of her Regencies. But trust me, this book just ain't a normal historical romance. Nope, this one adds a healthy dose of suspense and some elements that are reminiscent of Speculative fiction.

Part of what first attracted me to Lady Wynwood's Spies: Archer was the pretty cover, oh, and I loved the title as well. The idea of a woman having a crew of spies was intriguing and sounded like fun reading. And it was quite the story. I was never sure exactly what to expect from Camille Elliot and her characters, an afternoon tea or a life-or-death narrow escape. What I did figure out fast was to always expect the unexpected.

I will take the time to give you a quick warning. This is the first book in a serialized series, meaning there is some resolution but the overarching plot will not conclude until the final installment.

If you are looking for a Regency Era historical romance, but enjoy a good twist, you should look into Camille Elliot's serialized Lady Wynwood's Spies, especially book one, Archer.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Lady Wynwood's Spies: Archer by Camille Elliot a 4 Bark rating.

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

More from Camy

I love Regency romances! I started reading them when I was 13 years old and haven’t stopped since.

There’s something about the Regency time period and culture that’s glamorous and decadent and the epitome of elegance. The resplendent dresses! The brooding, romantic Lord Byron and the distinguished Beau Brummell! Dashing naval captains and army lieutenants, glittering ballrooms and winsome debutantes!

The flip side of my personality loves romantic suspense and action adventure. I love seeing strong women face danger with courage and smarts, and strong men willing to do anything to protect their loved ones and fight for justice.

So, basically, the Lady Wynwood’s Spies series grew out of my desire to see Mission: Impossible in the Regency era!

My Regency “IMF” team is brought together when my spinster heroine, a botanist and a skilled archer, discovers that her late uncle had ties to a mysterious group. She goes to her aunt’s best friend, a gentleman who has secretly been a spy for decades, and he forms his team of ex-agents and uniquely gifted civilians to battle this group of alchemists who want to ensure that Napoleon wins the war with England. (Cue the Mission: Impossible theme music!)

I’ve also structured the series a little differently. It’s a very long serial novel, similar to a Japanese manga or light novel series, with 12 volumes that each have a completed story arc, but the main plot isn’t resolved until the end.

I hope you’ll join me on this epic Regency romantic adventure!

Camy Tang (Camille Elliot)

Camy writes Christian contemporary romance and romantic suspense as Camy Tang and Regency romance as USA Today bestselling author Camille Elliot. She lives in San Jose, California, with her engineer husband and rambunctious dog. She was a staff worker for her church youth group for over 20 years and she currently plays on one of the Sunday worship teams.

Visit her websites at http://www.camytang.com/ and http://www.camilleelliot.com/ to read free short stories and subscribe to her quarterly newsletter.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Camy is giving away the grand prize
of a 1-year subscription to Kindle Unlimited!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/1074a/lady-wynwood-s-spies-1-archer-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 15
CarpeDiem, February 15
Hebrews 12 Endurance, February 16
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 16
Artistic Nobody, February 17 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Inside the Wong Mind, February 17
Through the Fire Blogs, February 18
Mia Reads, February 18
Sara Jane Jacobs, February 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 19
HookMeInABook, February 19
Betti Mace, February 20
Inklings and notions, February 20
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 21
Texas Book-aholic, February 21
Connie’s History Classroom, February 22
The Artist Librarian, February 22
Pause for Tales, February 22
For Him and My Family, February 23
Labor Not in Vain, February 23
deb’s Book Review, February 24
Fiction Book Lover, February 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 25
Just Your Average reviews, February 25
Simple Harvest Reads, February 25 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 26
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 26
Blossoms and Blessings, February 27
Britt Reads Fiction, February 27
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, February 28
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, February 28
Blogging With Carol, February 28

1 Comment

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Rubber Band by Christy Hoss (Interview, Guest Post, Giveaway)

2/24/2021

5 Comments

THE RUBBER BAND

What do Roadkill Rocky, Bossy Becca, and Pinhead Eddie have in common? Nothing. A rag-tag bunch of elementary school kids come together to form a rock and roll band and enter the Sun Valley talent contest. Will they be strong enough to overcome prejudice and see the dream of winning through, or will an unforeseen medical emergency break the bond of the band?

Genre: Middle Grade
Release date: July 31, 2020

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Christy

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
As a teacher, I watched a third-grade rock band perform “Born to be Wild” in a school talent show. I had so much fun enjoying their performance, I asked the Rubber Band to play at my 50th birthday party. I couldn’t shake the idea of what a great middle grade book this would make. Correcting papers one day, my eyes wandered to a forgotten rubber band on the floor. It was then I connected the dots to come up with the main premise for The Rubber Band of Eddie getting in trouble for shooting a rubber band at Becca, then sitting in the principal’s office and seeing the contest sign.

#2. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I was an elementary school teacher for 12 years then quit to work as a substitute to support my writing career. I am unemployed now because of COVID. When I was working, I derived my characters and the outrageous situations from the many children I encountered over the years. It’s not hard to describe characters or choose them when I have yearbooks full of faces and stories, some of which actually happened to me.

My favorite genre is middle grade. I have seen firsthand how children fall in love with reading, can’t get enough of books and actually walk around at recess with open books in their hands! This genre is full of surprises, some magical, some realistic, and is short enough to read in a day and write in a month. I grew up thinking when I became a writer that I would write romance novels. In writing middle grade novels, I’m encouraged that the process doesn’t take as long as a 400-page novel does. Middle grade has become my favorite because secretly, I am still a little girl bottled up in an adult and this genre allows me to indulge my inner child and fulfill my second-grade dreams of being an author.

#3. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
My favorite character is Eddie, the good-hearted kid who never gets in trouble but when he does, he finds a way to make good happen out of it. When Eddie is hospitalized with a life-changing disease, he thinks he’ll have to give up the contest dream until his band friends tell him elsewise. I was diagnosed with Eddie’s disease 30 years ago and thought it was the end of the world. Before I left the hospital, I determined I would never let it get the best of me. Later in life, my son was diagnosed at eleven. Eddie represents my son and will always remain my favorite character, although Roadkill is catching up. I fell in love with his character writing the second book in the Rubber Band series, The Rubber Band Stretches- Rocky’s Story, due out early 2021.

#4. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
I hope my readers will dare to dream big dreams and work hard to achieve them no matter what comes their way. Eddie almost gives up taking the band to the contest he dreamed of winning when he is diagnosed with a lifelong disease. Instead, he is inspired by his friends to keep working on the dream to see it through. We are given dreams for a purpose, to become who God gifted us to be. Never let your dream go. I believe when we work toward fulfilling our dreams, we find our path in life, especially if we are guided by God.

#5. How did you name your characters?
Some of my characters are named after actual students. Some I made up, like Roadkill Rocky, yet others are derived from my childhood.

#6. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
I was able to connect with my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Olson when my hometown Thief River Falls, Minnesota paper wrote a feature article on me. Mrs. Olson inspired me to be a writer when I won first place in a writing contest in her class. She told me I was destined to be a writer and I never forgot those words that gave my little heart a dream to pursue.

#7. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
I live in Northern California, married to the love of my life for 31 years, I have three adult children, two rescue dogs and one diabetic alert dog, Aiden who has saved my life countless times by smelling my blood sugar dropping and alerting me before it becomes dangerous.

#8. If you could change one thing in your life, past or present, what would it be?
I would have started my writing career sooner. But all things happen according to God’s perfect timing for those who love Him and with this series, His hand has definitely been in it from the beginning.

#9. What one piece of advice would you like to give readers?
Dreams are God-given and worth chasing. Never give up on them.

#10. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
Romans 8:28 God works all thing together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. When I was discouraged in the hospital with a diagnosis of diabetes, I cried out to God and the Bible opened to Isaiah 41:9-10, telling me not to be afraid, and that God would give me strength and hold me with His righteous right hand.

More from Christy

Noodles is the reason I am a writer. Noodles was my childhood dog’s name. I loved her oodles and oodles. She was a dachshund, not a poodle. I often drew her in my doodles. (Can you tell I’m an elementary school teacher?) A few short years ago, when I was in second grade, I entered a class writing contest. My story was five sentences long but won first place. The teacher told me I was destined to be a writer. That encouragement never left me. I grew up in the small town of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and always loved writing in school, especially fiction. I wrote stories for my friends and for myself to create situations I could only dream of. As an adult, I moved to California, determined to live for God. He led me back to college where I fell in love with writing again. I won a state-wide award for my feature article in the JC’s newspaper, confirming my heart’s desire. Fast forward through marriage, kids, and a teaching job—my friends begged me to write about a recurring night dream I had, which was like watching the ending of a suspense thriller movie. Through writing conferences, critique groups and late nights, I wrote Palms of Death by starting at the end and working my way backwards. After rewriting it several times, I self-published it in 2018. At my first major writers’ conference, the Lord undeniably called me to write. So, the real reason I write is not because of Noodles, but because I want to always be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and wholeheartedly follow His direction. That’s my story, just a bit of the whole kit and caboodle.

Christy Hoss

Christy caught the writing bug in second grade after winning a prize for a five-page story about her dog, Noodles. Mrs. Olson told her she was destined to be a writer and that dream never left her thoughts. After teaching elementary school for fifteen years, Christy fulfilled her childhood dream with her debut novel, The Rubber Band. She substitute teaches to support her writing career, deriving writing inspiration from the students and situations she encounters.

At age twenty-five, she was diagnosed with type-one diabetes but refuses to let it limit her. Her diabetic alert dog, Aiden, has saved her life uncountable times and will appear in future installments of The Rubber Band. Christy lives by this equation: Living + diabetes = LIVE-abetes.

Christy is a freelance editor and writes children’s Bible stories for Focus on the Family ClubHouse magazine and has written articles for Guideposts. She is a featured speaker for conferences, retreats and special events.

Christy lives in Northern California with Kevin, the love of her life. They have three grown children.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Christy is giving away the grand prize of $25 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/10869/the-rubber-band-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 19
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 20
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, February 21 (Author Interview)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 21
Texas Book-aholic, February 22
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 23
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 24 (Author Interview)
Sara Jane Jacobs, February 25
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 26
Wishful Endings, February 27 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, February 27
Inklings and notions, February 28
deb’s Book Review, March 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 3
Artistic Nobody, March 4 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

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Monday Movie - February 22nd, 2021 (Love Is A Ball)

2/22/2021

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Love Is A Ball
starring
Glenn Ford ■ Hope Lange ■ Charles Boyer

(1963)

The hilariously mad story of all the best things in life that are not free... and the one thing that definitely is!

On the French Riviera, a professional matchmaker assisted by an American adventurer arranges for convenience marriages between titled impoverished aristocratic men and rich low-bred women.

Ever get so bored that you watch a movie you probably wouldn't have under normal circumstances only to find that you really like it? Love Is A Ball was one of those for me. Normally I'm not a fan of either Glenn Ford or Charles Boyer, but I was bored. But, then again, boredom has actually lead me to several good Glenn Ford movies, The Gazebo, It Started With A Kiss, and this one, to name a few.

I watched this movie when I was in need of what I call “a fluff piece.” And Love Is A Ball is exactly that. Light, easy to watch, fun, amusing, humorous, and with the very necessary happy ending. A little while after I watched it I also put it on for my parents to watch. A little surprisingly, they seemed to enjoy it as much as I did and I heard more than one chuckle during some of the funnier moments. Of course, it is hard not to laugh at this little group of so charmingly mercenary people.

I will note that if you have little kids this 60s rom-com is aimed at adults, it's a little PG-13 in nature though it is implied only and absolutely nothing is shown. Seriously, you have to admire the extra skill it took to tell this kind of a story and get it by the censors.

Though I thought Hope Lange was a trying a little too hard to be Sandra Dee, and I could definitely have seen Maurice Chevalier in Charles Boyer's role, I did get a kick out of it. Oh, and if you choose to watch Love Is A Ball yourself, pay attention to the scenes with Hope Lange driving Glenn Ford and you just might recognize some of the scenery....To Catch A Thief, anyone? Oh, one more thing, you just gotta dig those snazzy race cars! There's some real automobile history there....

1 hour 51 minutes

Principal Cast

Glenn Ford...John Lathrop Davis
Hope Lange...Millicent 'Millie' Mehaffey
Charles Boyer...M. Etienne Pimm
Ricardo Montalban...Duke Gaspard Ducluzeau
Telly Savalas...Dr. Christian Gump (Millie's uncle)
Ruth McDevitt...Mathilda
Ulla Jacobsson...Janine
Georgette Anys...Mme. Gallou
Robert Bettoni...Milkman
Mony Dalmès...Mme. Fernier
Laurence Hardy...Priory
Jean Le Maitre...Carlo
André Luguet...Maurice Zoltan

Filming Location(s)

Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
The South, France

Trivia

Based on a novel by Lindsay Hardy called "The Grand Duke and Mr. Pimm"

Glenn Ford was 17 years older than Hope Lange. Despite this age gap, Ford outlived Lange by 20 years, passing away in 2006 at age 90, three years after Lange died in 2003 at age 70. Ricardo Montalban was 13 years older than Lange, and also outlived her, in his case by 18 years, passing away in 2009 at age 88. Of the four actors portraying the two couples, Ulla Jacobsson had the shortest lifespan, passing away in 1982 at age 53.

This was originally announced as a Blake Edwards picture with Alec Guinness and Peter Ustinov starring.

WATCH ONLINE

WATCH ON DVD

Affiliate links used.

Thanks to IMDB.com for most of the info for this movie.

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2021 Birthday Celebration - Cover Reveal & This or That Interview with Margaret Daley

2/21/2021

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Cover Reveal

Family Feud. Attraction. Murder.

Maggie Somers returns from her grandfather’s funeral to find his house trashed. Zach Collier, the grandson of her family’s nemesis, stands in the middle of the mess looking as guilty--and handsome--as sin. For decades the two families have feuded over the priceless diary of Father Santiago. Zach’s grandfather has also recently died, and he believes the deaths are somehow connected. The diary's discovery along with a possible treasure map is what destroyed the family friendship.

Danger is everywhere when Zach and Maggie realize they're not the only ones looking for the treasure. If they are ever going to find answers to their grandfathers' deaths and unravel the ancient diary's secrets, they must put aside their anger. It doesn't take long to realize the killer is now after them. Will Maggie and Zach learn to trust each other before the treasure and their lives are lost?

ASIN : B08W4SKSQJ

Buy at Amazon

This or That Interview
with author Margaret Daley

#1. Coffee or Tea?
I love tea. I don’t drink coffee.

#2. Print or E-reader?
I like both of them.

#3. Ice Cream or Pie?
I like both. My favorite is having vanilla ice cream on top of a slice of pecan pie.

#4. Early Bird or Night Owl?
I’m a Night Owl. While I taught school, I was an Early Bird but not now.

#5. Introvert or Extrovert?
Extrovert. I love meeting people.

#6. Historical or Suspense?
Definitely suspense. That’s what I love to write and read.

#7. Green or Pink?
Pink. My office has walls painted pink.

Margaret Daley

Margaret Daley, a USA Today’s Bestselling author of over 110 books (five million plus sold worldwide), has been married for over forty-nine years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling or being with her two granddaughters, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense/mystery thread and corralling her cat who thinks she rules the household.

To find out more about Margaret visit her:
Website ■ Facebook ■ Twitter ■ Goodreads ■ BookBub

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Of Gold And Iron by Nicki Chapelway (Review, Guest Post, Giveaway)

2/21/2021

3 Comments

“Swear on something else. Swear on your humanity.”

I suddenly find it very hard to swallow. My humanity? With a jolt I realize that there are far greater things at risk here than just my life. I’m in the faerie world, anything could happen. Even immortality.

The Otherworld is the home of the faeries, deceitful, decadent, and deadly. As the next in line to be-come Guardians, Jaye and her brother Thomas are tasked with defending the human world from all things magical. But when a routine scouting mission ends with them trapped in the Otherworld, it becomes pain-fully clear that someone doesn’t want them to leave the world of the faeries. Determined to not become an immortal’s pawn, Jaye kidnaps Ravven Crowe, an arrogant solitary faerie, so that he can guide them safely home. But things quickly go from bad to worse when they are captured by the Winter Court and embroiled in a plot to start a faerie civil war. Thomas is enslaved by an Unseelie faerie, and it seems that the only way to save her brother and avoid a war is for Jaye to ally herself with Ravven.

The faeries are governed by a set of strict laws. For their own safety, the Guardians have their own rules. But with Thomas’s life hanging in the balance there is only one way to save him that does not include breaking the faerie’s Fair Law, a crime that ends in death. Together Jaye and Ravven must compete in a series of deadly tests given by the faerie courts in order to earn Jaye the right to be named the Fair Assassin and wield the Blade of Gold and Iron. As the Fair Assassin she will be permitted to kill any faerie she so chooses, but first she has to live long enough. Walking a fine line between destruction and further entanglement with Crowe, Jaye is going to have to break her own rules if she wants to win. She must trust a faerie. Her life and humanity depend on it.

Genre: Young adult, fantasy, romance, mythology/folklore, faerie
Release date: Sept 20, 2020

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Someone is out for their blood...

I'm going to start of this review by saying how mad I am at the author! How could she do this to me?! How could Nicki Chapelway get me so invested in the story and then end the story the way she did? How can she leave me in this cruel state of wondering and waiting, desperate to know what happens next with Jaye, Ravven, Thomas, and the others?

OK, dramatic intro aside, Of Gold And Iron was a surprisingly good book. I ran the gamut of emotions while reading it, pretty much like the heroine, Jaye, does as she 'lives' the story. I was completely immersed, sometimes in spellbound horror, in the faerie's Otherworld realms. The worldbuilding was excellent, varied, detailed, interesting, but the author did not get bogged down in the minutiae of it. Very easy to visualize in your mind's eye. And Jaye herself? Well, she managed to surprise me at every turn.

And, while I'm thinking of it, I want to mention how much I appreciated Nicki Chapelway's portrayal of faeries and the Otherworld. Not the cutesy tiny winged creatures we are used to, no, these are the manipulative, spiteful, and even vengeful, beings of Irish legend. And in my estimation this is what made this YA book so good.

If you are up for a clean read YA fantasy tale of danger, intrigue, and maybe a little romance, I'll suggest you check into Of Gold And Iron, the first book in Nicki Chapelway's exciting Of Dreams And Nightmares Trilogy...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Of Gold And Iron by Nicki Chapelway a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

More from Nicki

I find mythology fascinating, and one of my favorite mythological creatures are faeries (and dragons, but this book is mostly about faeries—although there is at least one dragon…). Growing up as a self proclaimed tom boy, I found faeries to be boring and trite creatures, all sparkle and not enough teeth. I preferred elves with their factions: wood elves, light elves, dark elves, high elves… etc.

Tolkien has inspired so much about my fantasy worlds—actually he is directly responsible for why I write fantasy—and because of that I adopted his own source of inspiration for many of the events of Middle Earth: myths.

I started reading up on myths, especially Celtic which is where Tolkien derived some inspiration for his elves (the elf part is of course Norse, but the returning to the Undying Lands is based on the mysterious disappearance of the Tuatha De Danan in Celtic myths which were originally considered to be gods but later became known as a type of faerie). As I dug deeper into Celtic myths and started reading Irish folklore, I came across creatures that were so complex that one individual could have the characteristics of light, dark, high, and wood elves all meshed together. I became fascinated by these walking contradictions. Immortals that can be harmed by such mortal things as iron and bread. Tricksters who cannot lie. Beings with powerful magic, but governed by a very strict set of laws and compelled into obedience.
And much, much scarier than the faeries I grew up hearing about.

Irish mythology gave me everything I needed, from many different forms of faeries to defining characteristics and names. All I had to do was fit them into my world… and come up with a plot and characters, of course, but those I actually got from a dream.

Nicki Chapelway

Nicki is a twenty-something author of clean YA speculative fiction. She has been writing since she was eleven years old, and has published several works including portal fantasies such as A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dresses and A Certain Sort of Madness; as well as Winter Cursed a dark fantasy Snow White retelling.
Nicki lives in Ohio where she spends far too much time watching TV and sleeping. She listens to music basically all the time, and adores obsessing over mythologies, her shows, and her slew of fictional boyfriends. When not writing, she can usually be found at her desk with either a paintbrush or a pen in her hand.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Nicki is giving away the grand prize package of signed paperbacks of Nicki’s other three novels, a limited edition art print for Of Gold and Iron, and a coaster!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/10746/of-gold-and-iron-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Through the Fire Blogs, February 12
Rebecca Tews, February 13
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 14
Texas Book-aholic, February 15
Blogging With Carol, February 15
Sara Jane Jacobs, February 16
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 17
Inklings and notions, February 18
Heidi and Books, February 18
For Him and My Family, February 19
deb’s Book Review, February 20
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 21
Artistic Nobody, February 22 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 23
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 24
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 25
Breny and Books, February 25

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2021 Birthday Celebration - Interview with Jill Kemerer (Giveaway)

2/20/2021

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A family for the summer…
Or the beginning of forever?

Eden Page reluctantly agrees to babysit Ryder Fanning’s five-year-old identical twin daughters—but only for the summer. After that, she’s taking charge of her own life, even if it means leaving behind her family ranch that Ryder now owns. But this cowboy, who’s determined never to marry again, could give her everything she wants…including the family and childhood home she loves.

ISBN-13: 9781335488732

Purchase Links

Author Interview with Jill Kemerer

#1. What started you on the “Alpine Path” (writing career)?
I’ve always loved to read, and even as a kid I wrote short books and a magazine. But I never considered writing a novel until I was in college. A few years after I graduated, I found a book called How to Write a Romance and Get It Published by Kathryn Falk and realized I could pursue a career as a novelist. It would take me several more years before I completed my first novel, but I was hooked.

#2. Are you a full-time author or do you have another job?
I’m a full-time author. When my kids were babies, I was a stay-at-home mom. Then when my youngest went to preschool, I wrote part-time. I was blessed to transition to full-time writing as they became more independent.

#3. What is the hardest part of being an author?
Easy. Rejections! They’re so hard. They’re always hard.

#4. How has becoming a published author changed your life?
I’ve always considered myself a business woman, even during the years I wasn’t published. But getting my first contract really solidified it for me. It drove me to write more, improve my craft and continue to put out my best work. I feel more confident now.

#5. What genre(s) do you write and what drew you to it/them?
I write Christian (inspirational) contemporary romance, sweet (clean and wholesome) contemporary romance and the occasional nonfiction book.

I’ve been reading romance novels since I turned thirteen. I adore love stories. And since my faith is a huge part of my life, it was natural for me to write faith-filled romance novels. I also have a few sweet novellas that reflect my Christian worldview without having a faith element. And I write nonfiction books on topics close to my heart. My book Game On: The Christian Parent’s Sports Survival Guide was inspired by years of my kids’ participation in sports and how competitive it is for the players and the parents.

#6. What is the craziest thing you've done in the name of research?

I haven’t done much! My books are pretty tame. I did have to research corporate espionage and how to cyberattack pacemakers for a book that remains unpublished. That was probably the craziest research I did.

#7. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice what would it be?
Great question. I’d tell myself not to put so much pressure on myself. The publishing process—including getting that first contract—is different for everyone. My wait was long, but the wait is worth it.

#8. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that has happened in your life as writer.
The first time I went to a local RWA meeting, I was so nervous I accidentally walked into the men’s room upon arriving. I wanted do disappear! I almost left. I’m so glad I stayed, though. The speaker was very kind and full of knowledge. She said a few simple words to me while we did a group exercise that had a big impact on me. She said, “You think like a writer.” It was exactly what I needed to hear. I’ll never forget her.

Bonus. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart. Alternate Questions What authors have influenced you the most? How do you choose your characters names? What part of the writing process do you like the least?
For the past year or so, one Bible verse has come to mind again and again. I can easily slip down the muddy path of discouragement. This verse reminds me God wants us to have hope and peace and joy—we just need to trust in him.

Jill Kemerer

Jill Kemerer is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of inspirational romance novels for Harlequin Love Inspired. Her essentials include coffee, M&Ms, a stack of books, her mini-dachshund, and long walks outdoors. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Jill Kemerer is generously giving away a copy of her book Hers For The Summer

Print (USA) E-Book (International)

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First Line Friday - February 19th, 2021

2/19/2021

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I Read With Audra Blog Tour - Roots Of Wood And Stone by Amanda Wen (Review, Interview, Giveaway)

2/17/2021

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This historic home holds the keys to their destiny . . . and their hearts...

Abandoned at birth, her family roots a mystery, historical museum curator Sloane Kelley has dedicated her life to making sure others know theirs. When a donor drops off a dusty old satchel, she doesn’t expect much from the common artifact...until she finds real treasure inside: a nineteenth-century diary. Now she’s on the hunt to find out more.

Garrett Anderson just wanted to clean out his grandmother’s historic but tumbledown farmhouse before selling it to fund her medical care. With her advancing Alzheimer’s, he can’t afford to be sentimental about the family home. But his carefully ordered plan runs up against two formidable obstacles: Sloane, who’s fallen in love with both the diaries and the house, and his own heart, which is irresistibly drawn to Sloane.

A century and a half earlier, motherless Annabelle Collins embarks with her aunt and uncle on the adventure of a lifetime: settling the prairies of Sedgwick County, Kansas. The diaries she left behind paint a portrait of life, loss, and love—and a God who faithfully carries her through it all. Paging through the diaries together takes Sloane and Garrett on a journey they never could have planned, which will change them in ways they never imagined.

This warm, beautifully written split-time novel will resonate with readers looking for stories that reveal the beauty of God’s plan for our lives, and how our actions ripple for generations.

ISBN-13: 9780825446689

My Review

When the chips are down family means everything...

I picked Roots Of Wood And Stone for two reasons. The first was that it's a split time story, and the second is those three little words that describe the heroine's job, 'historical museum curator'. That's all it took. Amanda Wen had me completely intrigued.

I had a lot of random thoughts while I was reading Roots Of Wood And Stone, all of them good. The first came only a page or two in when the author perfectly describes the problems museum's face with old attic junk donations and the entire process of needing proper documentation before the item can even be considered for accessioning (acquisitions). Let me just tell you that I have experience with the entire process and it's exactly like it is in the book. Second, is just how impressed I was by the author's writing skills, not everyone can manage a split time novel, and you'd never realize that this is Amanda Wen's debut novel. In the same vein, I loved how she handled the historical threads of the story, it's not all tea parties and lace petticoats. I also have to tell you how much I loved the characters! They are flawed, they make mistakes, they get hurt, but with faith and a little love they also persevere through difficult circumstances. You can't help falling for them all, historical and contemporary alike!

I absolutely enjoyed this first Sedgwick County Chronicles novel and I can tell you that I am eagerly anticipating the release of book two. Roots Of Wood And Stone was a great read and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. Once you've read Amanda Wen's debut you will be as impatient for more as I am....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Roots Of Wood And Stone by Amanda Wen a 4 Bark rating.

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

An Interview with Amanda Wen,
Author of Roots Of Wood And Stone

For readers who can’t decide if they would like to pick up something historical or contemporary
for their next read, debut author Amanda Wen offers them the bestof both worlds in her new release. Roots of Wood and Stone (Kregel Publications)is a warm, delightfully written
split-time novel that will resonate with readers lookingfor stories that reveal the beauty
of God’s plan for our lives, and how our actions ripple for generations.

Q: Which character in Roots of Wood and Stone was easiest for you to write and why? Which character presented the biggest challenge?
The most challenging character was probably Sloane. An introvert by nature, and one who’s been dealt some serious wounds, she doesn’t trust easily. In fact, that included me when I was first getting to know her. I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer, so the only way I get to know characters is by writing them, which doesn’t work well when a character isn’t quite ready to talk. We spun our wheels for a bit, but I finally decided to put a little of my own love for music into the book and gave Sloane a musical hobby. That, it seemed, gave us enough common ground for her to feel comfortable opening up to me.

By contrast, Jack Brennan was the easiest character for me to write. Inspired by (but not based on) Jack Pearson from This Is Us, Jack sprang into my head fully formed and quickly stole all his scenes in the best possible way. He wears his heart on his sleeve and was thus very easy for me to get to know and love.

Q: Roots of Wood and Stone was inspired by your own family history. Can you tell us a little bit about your family’s story and what parts made their way into your book?

The seed of inspiration for Roots of Wood and Stone is an 1890s farmhouse not far from where I grew up (and where I now live) which belonged to my great-great-grandfather, Francis Thomas Little. He immigrated to the United States from Ireland as a child and became one of the earliest settlers of Maize, Kansas. Grandpa Little, as he’s known in my family, wrote a memoir, A Kansas Farmer, which was an invaluable resource during my research process.

Francis Little married Mattie Stevens, daughter of another early settler, William Fletcher Stevens, who lost his first wife and infant son shortly after arriving in Sedgwick County in 1870. (In fact, my great-great-great-grandfather would go on to bury a second wife and eight of his fourteen children.) I wondered how someone would cope with such a tragic loss and emerge with his faith intact, and it’s this first early loss that forms the crux of the spiritual journey for my past hero, Jack Brennan.

My past heroine, Annabelle Collins, is very loosely based on a paternal ancestor, Antoinette Patrick Peterson, who as a young child was left with an aunt and uncle after the death of her mother. She moved to Kansas with her aunt and uncle, who raised her to adulthood, and I grew curious about the impact of such a decision on a child. The rest of Antoinette’s life was no less interesting and colorful, but I decided to save it for a future book.

Q: What did God teach you through the writing of Roots of Wood and Stone? What do you hope your readers take away from the book?
Roots of Wood and Stone was my first attempt at split time, and I depended on God for the wisdom to know how to weave the two time lines and stories together. It was an intimidating undertaking, and one possible only through him. Also, trusting God has always been a challenge for me. Like Garrett, I’m a type-A uber planner, one who needs a plan A, plan B, and plan C to feel fully on top of things. While writing this book, I quickly discovered that I could control very little. My characters had their own ideas of how the plot should progress, and the story was frequently better if I let go and trusted them.

The publishing journey was no different. Through the very lengthy (and also agonizing) submission process, I had to trust every day that the God who gave me the idea for the story and enabled me to put it on paper would do with it what he chose in the timing that was very best, not only for me but for all who will read the book.

As for those readers, I hope they come away with a renewed and restored faith. Though I would never in a million years have chosen to release my debut novel during a global pandemic, I think the message of the book—that God will take all your loose ends and broken pieces and weave them into something more beautiful than you can imagine—is especially timely for such a difficult period in our world.

Many of us have been forced to alter the vast majority of our plans this past year, including plans for things—church, work, school, family get-togethers—that we never thought we’d have to alter. But God is still in control. This pandemic has not changed, nor will it change, his good and perfect plan.

Q: What’s next from you? Can readers hope for more stories from Sedgwick County?
I am working on a sequel to Roots of Wood and Stone that features with two secondary characters from that book: Garrett’s sister, Lauren, and his grandmother, Rosie. After a tailspin in her late teens, Lauren’s life is finally on track. Her food blog is successful, her photography studio bustling, and her battle with bulimia seems to be under control. But an unexpected wrinkle appears in the form of Carter Douglas, the summer fling whose rejection launched her downward spiral. When old feelings reappear with new strength, can Lauren risk her heart to love a man who already broke it once?

TV meteorologist Carter Douglas has a job he never thought he’d take in a city where he never planned to live . . . and comes face-to-face with a woman he never thought he’d see again. He’s determined to make the most of this second chance with Lauren, but when circumstances force the same decision he made as a teenager, will he have the courage to make a different choice?

When Lauren’s elderly grandmother calls out a name from the depths of dementia, the name of a man her family has never heard of, Lauren and her family seek the truth. Who was this man? Who was he to her grandmother? Their journey takes them to the 1950s, when a gently blossoming love attempts to withstand a storm of racial prejudice and separation. As stories are told and secrets revealed, Lauren and Carter embark on a journey of forgiveness and second chances that will change their lives forever.

Amanda Wen

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple writing contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions contests. She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist.

Wen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She also frequently interviews authors for her blog and is a contributor to the God Is Love blog. Her debut novel, Roots of Wood and Stone, releases from Kregel Publications on February 2, 2021.

In addition to her writing, Wen is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist

who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team. She serves as a choral accompanist as well. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Wen lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.

To find Amanda Wen’s blog and short stories, visit www.amandawen.com.
Readers can also follower her on Facebook (@AuthorAmandaWen),
Twitter (@AuthorAmandaWen), and Instagram (@authoramandawen).

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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Help Bring "The Dead" To Life! #TheDeadSeaSquirrels (Giveaway)

2/16/2021

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NEW animated series safe for the whole family!

VeggieTales co-creator and voice of the lovable “Larry the Cucumber” – Mike Nawrocki
and his team, including renowned Disney Animator Tom Bancroft and legendary Producer / Filmmaker / Recording Artist Steve Taylor, are gathering resources to bring
THE DEAD SEA SQUIRRELS to life.

What are THE DEAD SEA SQUIRRELS?

THE DEAD SEA SQUIRRELS tells the story of Merle and Pearl, 2,000-year-old squirrels from Israel who were petrified in sea salt in the caves of the Dead Sea, where 12-year-old Michael discovers them 2000 years later and sneaks them into his backpack to bring them home. The zany adventures of this salty couple and their new friend are full of adventure, humor and character-building lessons. And just as with VeggieTales, Nawrocki once again uses high quality animation to teach biblical principles that families can trust.

Watch The Video

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Wanna make history as a Founding Backer who brought
The Dead Sea Squirrels to life?

If 8,000 people give $25 each, we would have enough for an entire episode! Visit the kickstarter campaign

Kickstarter Campaign

It's Time For A Giveaway!

1 winner will receive copies of the first 6 books in The Dead Sea Squirrels series!

(Open to North American addresses ONLY)

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Happy Valentine's Day!

2/14/2021

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2021 Birthday Celebration - Character Interview with Ariel Potter from Alaskan Rescue by Terri Reed (Giveaway)

2/13/2021

12 Comments

A mountain search-and-rescue mission
turns into a fight for their lives.

Sent to find a wedding party that disappeared during a hike, Alaskan state trooper Hunter McCord and his K-9 partner, Juneau, discover bridesmaid Ariel Potter hanging from a cliff. But this was no accident—she was pushed—and her hiking companions are missing. Now it’s up to Hunter and Juneau to find them…and make sure whoever wants Ariel dead doesn’t finish the job.

ISBN-13: 9781488072277

Character Interview with Ariel Potter
from Alaskan Rescue by Terri Reed

1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
Hi, I'm Ariel Potter. I breed champion Alaskan husky sled dogs and own a small kennel on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska. Growing up, I lived in a lot of places. My parents were nomads who followed the sled dog racing circuit and trained dogs for mushers around the globe. After college, I settled in Anchorage and started my business. My best college friend Violet James has asked me to be her bridesmaid in her upcoming wedding and we’ve been doing all sorts of pre-wedding adventures.

2. What is the ONE thing you just CAN'T do without?
The one thing I can't do without is my dogs. My dogs are my companions, my best friends and my guardians. I have a new puppy named Sasha that I’m hoping to breed, he’s just the cutest.

3. What do you most fear?
One of my biggest fears is something happening to my dogs and my friends. I don’t have many friends, really only Violet. I also fear that I'll be a failure in love, so I think not falling in love is probably the best idea. Fear seems to be a constant in my life.

4. If you could change one thing in your life, past or present, what would it be?
If I could change something about myself, it would be my inability to say no. I’m a people pleaser and often find myself taking on more then I should.

5. What is the most important thing to you?
The most important thing to me is been respected for the person I am and not just my accomplishments.

6. What is your greatest strength and your greatest flaw?
My greatest strength is my loyalty, and my greatest weakness is my fear of not being perfect.

7. What do you hope that people will learn from your story?
From my story, I hope people will see that having faith in God and others, like a hunky Alaskan state trooper and his K-9, will get you through the difficult times.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Terri is giving away a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card and a backlist book to a commenter.

Giveaway ends February 21st

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Vanished In The Mountains by Tanya Stowe (Review, Guest Post, Giveaway)

2/13/2021

8 Comments

A search for missing women leads to a deadly pursuit.

When domestic violence counselor Dulcie Parker uncovers evidence of a human trafficking ring in the Four Corners area, she’s determined to stop it or die trying. With corruption all around her and killers on her trail, Deputy Sheriff Austin Turner’s the only one she can trust. But can they work together to expose the crime ring before she becomes the next victim?

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Release date: February 3, 2021

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Can they survive a human trafficking ring?

If I hadn't already picked up Vanished In The Mountains because it was a Tanya Stowe book I would have chosen it because of that gorgeous cover! I'm always a fan of mountain scenes and this one looks particularly chilling. It also totally matches the story, as in it is just as chilling as the whole human trafficking theme.

Something that really impressed me about Vanished In The Mountains was that Dulcie, the heroine, doesn't have it all together. She has found meaning and purpose in helping victims of abuse but sometimes those old fears and reactions come flooding back and get the best of her. This, I think, is very realistic and it was a smart move by Tanya Stowe to incorporate into the story.

I really enjoyed Vanished In The Mountains. It was romantic and also had some of the best moments of action adventure that I've read in Love Inspired Suspense so far this year. Tanya Stowe kept me glued to the page with her vivid descriptions of the Four Corners and Canyon de Chelly area, as well as with her spine-tingling suspense. If you like Love Inspired Suspense I definitely recommend adding this book to your TBR shelf...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Vanished In The Mountains by Tanya Stowe 4.5 Bark rating.

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

More from Tanya

When my children were very young, my husband and I took a trip to Colorado for a family reunion. After the reunion we traveled through Colorado to see the sights. We stopped in Silverton and my sister and I took my young son and daughter down the narrow-gauge railroad to Durango. Riding the swaying train down slopes covered in pine trees with the rushing white water of the Animas River below, I knew I’d write about the area someday. Many years later my husband and I took our first “kid-less” vacation in our motorhome. We stayed in a campground on the Navajo Nation next to Canyon de Chelly. We had no running water or electricity and that night, a storm blew in from the west.

Canyon de Chelly

We watched the sky change to hues of purple and pink and then sat mesmerized as lightning strikes crossed the magnificent valley. Once again, I planted the scenes in my mind, determined to write about them one day. Little did I know both vacations would combine into one story. I hope you find my memories of the Four Corners area as unforgettable as I did! Blessings!

Tanya Stowe

Tanya Stowe is a Christian Fiction author with an unexpected edge. She is married to the love of her life, her high school sweetheart. They have four children and twenty-one grandchildren, a true adventure. She fills her books with the unusual…mysteries and exotic travel, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you…on a trip to foreign lands or a suspenseful journey packed with danger…be prepared for the extraordinary.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Tanya is giving away the grand prize of a $25 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/10712/vanished-in-the-mountains-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 8
Through the fire Blogs, February 8
Lighthouse Academy, February 9
Among the Reads, February 9
Hebrews 12 Endurance, February 9
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 10
Betti Mace, February 10
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, February 11 (Author Interview)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 11
Pause for Tales, February 11
KarenSueHadley, February 12
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 12
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 13
deb’s Book Review, February 13
Because I Said So – and Other Adventures in Parenting, February 14
Reviewingbooksplusmore, February 14
Hallie Reads, February 14
Older & Smarter?, February 15
Texas Book-aholic, February 15
Artistic Nobody, February 16 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Blogging With Carol, February 16
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, February 16
Inklings and notions, February 17
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 17
She Lives To Read, February 18
Genesis 5020, February 18
Bigreadersite, February 18
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 19
Labor Not in Vain, February 19
Simple Harvest Reads, February 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
HookMeInABook, February 20
Daysong Reflections, February 20
For Him and My Family, February 21
Fiction Book Lover, February 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

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Throwback Thursday - February 11th, 2021

2/11/2021

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Tragedy brought them together, but love bound them into a family.

Clark and Marty Davis, the pioneer couple thrown together after the death of their first spouses, now preside over a growing number of youngsters in their prairie home. Together they face the joys and trials of life on a homesteader's farm.

Will they be able to find a suitable teacher for the long-awaited new school? Is the "very learned" Eastern preacher going to be able to communicate with the simple people of the West? And how do Clark and Marty guide their lovely daughter, now grown to womanhood, in her choice of a partner?

ISBN-13: 9780764228490

My Thoughts

This was the very first Janette Oke book that I owned and read. And read it I did! Several times over. I was given a secondhand copy when I was around 9 or 10 and that book was not only the founding book in my nearly complete Janette Oke collection but it was also one of the very first titles in my now several thousand volume collection of print books. I loved this book very much! I felt so grown up reading it and I lived a dozen lives through it. Janette Oke captured my imagination in this sweet faith-filled romance and she encouraged my love of history and historical fiction - loves that continue on to this day.

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From Rome With Loveby Kate Lloyd

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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Love Is A BallstarringGlenn Ford ■ Hope Lange ■ Charles Boyer

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This or That Interviewwith author Margaret Daley

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An Interview with Amanda Wen, ​ Author of Roots Of Wood And Stone

​It's Time For A Giveaway!

NEW animated series safe for the whole family!

What are ​​THE DEAD SEA SQUIRRELS?

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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Character Interview with Ariel Potterfrom Alaskan Rescue by Terri Reed

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From Rome With Love
by Kate Lloyd

Love Is A Ball
starring
Glenn Ford ■ Hope Lange ■ Charles Boyer

This or That Interview
with author Margaret Daley

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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An Interview with Amanda Wen,
Author of Roots Of Wood And Stone

It's Time For A Giveaway!

What are THE DEAD SEA SQUIRRELS?

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Character Interview with Ariel Potter
from Alaskan Rescue by Terri Reed

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