Genre: Amish Romance In this uplifting inspirational romance series, award-winning author Amy Lillard unites a “Widows Club” of women who share solace, friendship, faith—and mouthwatering Whoopie Pies—in the Amish community of Paradise Valley, Missouri. Will appeal to fans of Charlotte Hubbard, Molly Jebber, Susan Lantz Simpson, and Kelly Long. Hattie Schrock’s lively optimism makes her the Widows Club’s most outgoing member. The circle has helped her through widowhood—and in building a thriving popcorn shop with her cousin. So when Elsie bets Hattie that she can’t help Paradise Valley’s most cantankerous man learn to be happier, Hattie tackles the challenge head-on. But what can she do when she finds Christian Beachy is far more complicated—and appealing—than she thought? Christian lives his faith through hard work, supporting his overbearing sister, and growing the Valley’s best vegetables. After all, a good Amish man should be dedicated to duty. Yet suddenly, Hattie’s warm-hearted attentions and knack for unexpected adventures is showing him life can be so much more—especially if Hattie can share it with him. But when he discovers her wager, can she and the Widows Club ever convince him that her growing love is the real thing—and that risking together forever will be the sweetest, most fulfilling chance of all? ISBN-13: 9781420155273 My Review Will they see the second chance in front of them? You know, sometimes you just need to sit down, take a little time out, and let yourself drift away reading a sweet romance. The Paradise Valley series from Amy Lillard is always good for that in my opinion. The characters are likable but flawed, they have realistic problems that they work through, and in the the 'boy' finally gets the 'girl'. I, of course, use those terms loosely because... One of the things that I love best about Amy Lillard's Paradise Valley series with its band of 'Whoopie Pie' Widows is the variety in ages of the heroes and heroines – from early 20s to grandmothers. When Hattie Finds Love is the perfect example of this as both Hattie and Christian have grown children and a small flock of grandchildren. I really like how each generation has problems that are different and that are the same. The humorous moments such as Christian and Hattie with the bicycle are perfect alongside the more poignant ones. A friendly warning while reading When Hattie Finds Love, don't read it hungry because if the whoopie pies don't get your stomach growling Hattie and her cousin's popcorn certainly will. If you love sweet Amish romances that are not just cookie cutter of every other one that you've read, I'd definitely recommend When Hattie Finds Love and the rest of the charming Paradise Valley series from Amy Lillard. They are all easy reads and will make you smile... Tell Tale Book Reviews gives When Hattie Finds Love by Amy Lillard a 4 Bark rating. (I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Interview with Thomas#1. What was the inspiration for this book? The Amana Colonies are a cluster of seven historic villages not far from where my wife grew up and where my wife and I now live. The Amanas have been an important part of my own story (you’ll hear more about this when I answer question 4) and I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful setting for a novel. Remain True – Amana takes place during Covid. I felt inspired to write a novel dealing with the emotions of a man facing relational pain during one of the most difficult times in the history of the earth. Yet, my goal was a story of God’s ability to surprise us with joy when it seems impossible. #2. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book? Absolutely! I fell in love with several characters in this book. Oma Zuber is an elderly neighbor woman who surprises Tim, the main character, with her magical storytelling ability. She is a woman with a difficult past yet has learned to appreciate and communicate the beautiful reality of life redeemed by God’s grace. Chimichanga is Tim’s dog, a pug with the ability to make people feel loved without speaking a word. I think it’s fun to have animals as important characters in my novels. #3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book? Great question. Hearing what readers take away from my novels has been one of the most interesting and surprising things I’ve experienced as an author. People often share meaningful messages they have taken away from my stories that I didn’t even think about or plan. I do try to have concepts and lessons tied into each book. In Remain True, I’m hoping readers can relate with the personal pain my characters are experiencing and receive hope as they read about the way God comes through for them. These ideas are based on true life experiences of friends, family, and me. #4. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends. My wife’s Mennonite grandparents farmed about 20 miles south of the Amana Colonies. My wife and I are still here on the family farm and our children grew up in the same house where their great-grandparents raised their family. My grandfather grew up on a farm about 20 miles north of the Amanas. Both families visited the Colonies for meals over the years. My parents were married in 1951 and my grandparents took the newlyweds for a meal in the Amanas on their wedding day. 30 years later, in 1981, My wife and I honeymooned in the Amana Colonies. #5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart: Remain True does not have many Bible quotes in the pages. II Timothy 2:13 is quoted a few times in this novel because I used it as a theme. “If we are faithless, he (God) will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” The word Amana is a term which means “remain true.” A person might read this book and not think of it as a spiritual story. However, I have quite intentionally laced the message of God’s faithfulness throughout the pages of the book and as a theme for the story. God is faithful to us even if we show ourselves faithless. He cannot disown his kind character no matter what we do or fail to do. How willing we should be to remain true to such a kind king and to the people God has placed into our lives. Thank you, Jasmine Augustine, for offering to interview me about my writing and personal life. This has been a fun interaction and I really enjoyed putting some thought into my answers. I hope I didn’t get too long winded. Authors are communicators and if you ask us about our books, we might give you a longer answer than you hoped for. LOL More from ThomasMost of us have experienced some dark episodes in this life. How do we find our way back into hope and sunshine? My wife and I have been married for almost 43 years, but about halfway through we were separated for 4 months. The storyline of Remain True has almost nothing in common with the details of my dark time. The difficult emotions and subsequent hopefulness of God’s graceful intervention led me to write this novel. For Timothy Hayes, life has become incredibly dark. In the opening scene we find him reluctantly removing his wedding band and placing it in a miniature, coffin-like box. To make matters worse, Tim’s personal struggle coincides with the heaviness of the Coronavirus outbreak. His will to live is shrinking. Tim visited the Amana Colonies ten years earlier and thought of the villages as a hauntingly beautiful getaway where he could sulk. God has another plan. Small town Iowa is not the place to isolate, even during Covid, as it proves an epic failure in social distancing. Social awkwardness, however, is at an all-time high as a host of quirky neighbors invade Tim’s personal space and refuse to allow him any opportunity to submerge into depression. I hope those who read Remain True will be able to relate with Tim’s struggle enough to rejoice with him as God provides a ray of sunshine during his darkest hour. My wife and I found hope and restoration and are looking forward to our 43rd anniversary. We thoroughly enjoy grandparenting our 9 grandchildren (and counting) together. God is good!
It's Time For A Giveaway!To celebrate his tour, Thomas is giving away the 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! Blog StopsBook Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 6 Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 7 Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 8 Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 9 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway) Texas Book-aholic, November 10 Locks, Hooks and Books, November 11 Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 12 Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 13 lakesidelivingsite, November 14 Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 15 Artistic Nobody, November 16 (Author Interview) Exploring the Written Word, November 16 For Him and My Family, November 17 Pause for Tales, November 18 Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 19 (Author Interview) Mary Hake, November 19
Interview with JW#1. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book? Ranger Dan Wilson. He’s an important character throughout the trilogy, but had limited exposure in Mojave Rift. This book allowed me to develop his character fully, and show both his humorous and his authoritative sides. #2. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book? Hope for the future. Right now, things look bleak in this world. But Revelation 20 (and over 1,000 other verses) tells us Jesus will return and rule this planet, along with many others who are resurrected specifically to rule with Him. That means world peace, as I try to show in this trilogy. We need that. #3. How did you name your characters? I try to use mostly common names since, as an avid reader, I’ve struggled with names I don’t even know how to pronounce. Some of my characters have names of people I know; some are common to their particular ethnicity; some are complete fabrications. #4. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book. The place where I located ArcPoint actually exists. The hills, highways, towns, etc. I carefully mapped it out to get it correct. But as I wrote book three, I discovered I had the Mojave River flowing the wrong direction. It took me weeks to go back through the first two books and correct that error. #5. If you could change one thing in your life, past or present, what would it be? I’d be more skeptical. I fell for evolution as the origin of man, and abandoned my belief in God. By faith I believed it, even though there’s no evidence. When I gave my life to Christ at twenty-one, I believed everything I was told about the Christian life, and some of it was error. As I studied the Bible, I found the truth about God and how I should live. I should have asked questions earlier, about both. I’m better now. Bonus. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart. Peace on earth, good will toward men. We say that, but have a hard time believing it will ever happen this side of Heaven—but it will, and soon. Sure, all hell will break loose before we see it. We’ll need to endure that, but Christ said He’ll help us, if we ask. That’s what this trilogy is ultimately about. More from JWI became an avid fan of Christian fiction, especially after reading This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. Working 12-hour night shifts as a data center technician, I had ample time on my hands. At one point I was devouring a book per night, but my favorite genre—action/adventure—was almost non-existent in Christian fiction. So, as is the case with many would-be authors, I decided to write the book I wanted to read. The setting? The future when Jesus is ruling the world, as told in Revelation chapter 20. My protagonist? Arcon, an adventurous young man from an isolated tribe of people. The premise? The people of ArcPoint don’t know that the outside world is safe and that Jesus has returned. My first attempt at writing went well. I wrote my first draft in three weeks, edited it for six months, and landed a hybrid publisher with the final manuscript. The book garnered four- and five-star reviews, so I was pleased. (Not bad for someone who’d flunked English three times.) I was glad the reviews showed that the writing was good, but my readers were missing the message. I pulled it off the market. For the past few years I’ve been honing my skills as a writer and reworking my ArcPoint story. There have been a few challenges. While researching, I found over a thousand verses in the Bible that sparked ideas for the time period I was writing about. Now the original book has become a trilogy, plus a prequel. However, traditional Christian publishers were not in the market for adventure stories, so I had to learn about self-publishing. And then, like a page right out of my prequel, the unexpected happened—a pandemic. I decided it would be best to put off publicizing until the entire trilogy was available. Now it is. To see if the first book was ready to be self-published, I sent copies of Mojave Rift to Reader’s Favorite for professional reviews. It got five stars across the board. Then I entered Mojave Rift in their contest and won a silver medal. All the reviewers seemed to appreciate my inclusion of action, romance, and humor in a squeaky clean, fast-paced, futuristic novel. I hope my ArcPoint series receives high scores from English teachers, but since I still don’t know a passive voice from a hole in the plot, we’ll see. Writing likable characters and adventure stories that run deep and inspire is something I enjoy. I’ve worked hard and it’s a thrill to get high audience scores. BTW, did I mention the world-building for the isolated tribe in my story is set in America? Now that was a challenge.
It's Time For A Giveaway!To celebrate his tour, JW is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a print copy of Mojave Man!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! Blog StopsVicky Sluiter, November 9 (Author Interview) Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 10 By The Book, November 11 (Author Interview) Texas Book-aholic, November 12 Simple Harvest Reads, November 13 (Author Interview) Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 14 For the Love of Literature, November 15 (Author Interview) Mary Hake, November 15 Locks, Hooks and Books, November 16 Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 17 (Author Interview) Blogging With Carol, November 18 Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 19 (Author Interview) The Lit Lady, November 20 Artistic Nobody, November 21 (Author Interview) Exploring the Written Word, November 21 Guild Master, November 22 (Author Interview) In theaters starting November 10!
Whether you like musicals or not, you’ll love the brand new music in this film, Journey to Bethlehem, starring Antonio Banderas, Milo Manheim, and more!
A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic
Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told—the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it. See JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM in theaters beginning November 10.
Buy tickets today to see Journey to Bethlehem
in theaters starting November 10th!
Other Resources
Downloadable family discussion guides: LINK
Downloadable coloring sheets: LINK Spanish resources: LINK Listen to the soundtrack album: HERE Heart Of video: LINK “Can We Make This Work” Music Video: LINK “Brand New Life” Music Video: LINK
My Review
Musical fun for the whole family...
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a little skeptical of most modern musicals as they very rarely seem to grab me. Even though they were decades before my time, give me a good old classic musical from the 50s or 60s and I'm good to go. However, every so once in awhile a new movie exception will slip through and Journey To Bethlehem just happens to be one of those exceptions. It had everything that I like to see in a good musical – catchy songs, vibrant costumes, and I will say that the settings and locations were much better in this movie than those painted backdrops and sound stages of yesteryear. The acting was pretty good and I did enjoy the touches of humor that were slipped into a story that is otherwise pretty serious. The best part is that the film is family friendly but it isn't childish – people of all ages will find something in there that they can relate easily relate to. In the music department I loved how they mixed in a select few familiar Christmas carols with the original songs so the whole movie didn't come across as just another stereotypical Christmas pageant. In a similar vein I really liked the fact that this was a Journey To Bethlehem so much of the focus of the story was on Mary and Joseph and what they might have faced before that night in the stable. Instead of the one dimensional and vague characters that they often are, Mary and Joseph are simply people. They have hopes and dreams and when their lives are turned upside down they both have some serious decisions to make as they come to terms with what faith really means. There is definitely some poetic license taken in the movie but, hey, it's a musical and that kinda comes with the territory. I appreciated that the filmmakers actually addressed it in the closing credits. Anyway, this movie is a good one that you can take your whole family to and later on add it to your yearly Christmas movie list... Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Journey To Bethlehem a 4.5 Bark rating.
(Disclosure: Many thanks to AFFIRM Films, Inc. for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.)
It's Time For A Giveaway!
1 winner will receive 2 tickets to see the movie*
*Please be sure to check show times and locations for your area.
(USA ONLY)
#JourneyToBethlehemMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork
Genre: Romantic Suspense Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can't help him find the places in the photographs, no one can. But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition--that he help her track down her friend's killer. As the two close in on the answers they crave, they'll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They'll have to learn to trust one another--and face the dark secrets of the past--if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice. ISBN-13: 9781493443505 My Review Just whose past is coming back to haunt them? If there's one thing that Elizabeth Goddard knows how to do well it is twists and turns – and that fact is never more in evidence than with her Missing In Alaska series and Shadows At Dusk in particular. What could a missing woman in Alaska and an attempted murder in Africa have to do with each other? Well you are in for one wild ride to find out! Trust me, I was not kidding when I said Shadows At Dusk is a wild ride. Elizabeth Goddard really packed it in with secrets, betrayal, sabotage, murder, sacrifice, kidnapping, crashes, explosions, gunfire, time deep underground, not to mention the rest of the wild Alaskan landscape – oh, and those trademark romantic sparks. If you thought the first Missing In Alaska book was exciting, this second one more than keeps up with it. Shadows At Dusk kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed every minute spent within its pages. The Missing In Alaska series has been quite an adventure so far and I can't wait to see where Elizabeth Goddard will take her characters next... Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Shadows At Dusk by Elizabeth Goddard a 4 Bark rating. (I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
My Review Danger surrounds them on all sides... I knew the final Wyoming Sunrise novel would be both exciting and full of shocking revelations about the Deadeye Gang. And I was right, I really was. Mary Connealy just delivered that and a whole lot more in Marshaling Her Heart. I have been both dreading and anticipating Marshaling Her Heart. Dreading because it means saying goodbye to the Wyoming Sunrise characters. Anticipating because I knew that Mary Connealy would give Becky and Nate a humdinger of a tale and that the Deadeye Gang would finally get theirs. Marshaling Her Heart kept me turning those pages with Mary Connealy's trademark blend of humor, romance, and wild west danger. I loved the addition of the young couple with new marriage issues getting some help and advice from the the 'older' married couples. I remember feeling a little annoyed when they got married so getting to see them have an adjustment and growing up period added some nice realism to the story. As I said, I'm sorry to be saying goodbye to the Wyoming Sunrise ladies with their unusual and fascinating career choices. I do know that the end of one series leaves the possibility of a new one and making some new book friends, so.... Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Marshaling Her Heart by Mary Connealy a 4 Bark rating. (I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.) More from MaryBecky Pruitt has a problem. Her ranch is being invaded by good guys. Becky wants the Deadeye Gang caught and thrown in jail as much as anyone, but the lawmen asking her to hire them on at her ranch aim to do their investigating while working undercover as cowhands. She runs a good ranch, however, and doesn’t like the idea of a bunch of low-skilled men making her look like she’s hired them foolishly. Yet she goes along with it, suspicious and annoyed, because her foreman, Nate Paxton, a man she trusts, convinces her that these men are honorable. Then the three lawmen she hires, all of them U.S. Marshals, urge her to send every single one of her regular cowhands—except Nate, a former Marshal himself—off on a cattle drive. Now she’s got Marshals cropping up everywhere. Her ranch isn’t being run in a way that suits her. She’s got trouble with her father, and an important speaker is coming to town to talk about women’s suffrage. So much is distracting her when all she really wants to do is make sure her herd is being tended properly. Before long, Nate starts to question the behavior of the U.S. Marshals Service. They’re secretive to the point that they put him in jeopardy a few times before he decides to quit. Here he’d found a decent job on a top ranch, and he even shared a few special moments with his pretty, feisty boss that gave him ideas of how he’d like to change things around a little just so he could be with her. And then his brother, who’s still a U.S. Marshal, invades the ranch with a few fellow lawmen. Quite a few. Meanwhile, the Deadeye Gang is more dangerous than ever. The woman coming to Pine Valley to speak is now at risk, which makes Becky frantic to protect her. The cattle aren’t being looked after like they ought to be. And yet Nate finds himself being drawn closer to Becky with each passing day. He’s determined to stand firmly between her and danger, but he’s got to keep up with her to do that. He soon discovers that nothing is easy when it comes to the hard-charging Becky Pruitt. Wyoming Sunrise is a series I wrote in which I cast women as having nontraditional jobs: Forged in Love has a woman blacksmith, Laws of Attraction a woman justice of the peace, and Marshaling Her Heart a woman rancher. Those are all nontraditional for sure, but not really in my case personally. I must force myself not to make all my heroines feisty lady ranchers. It’s almost a reflex at this point. I fought that reflex as hard as I could, but I decided it would be okay to sneak one lady rancher into this series, and that’s Becky Pruitt. I slipped her into the western vernacular, the tough attitude, the riding skirts and boots and Stetsons—and I loved it. Marshaling Her Heart is my first true lady rancher, and so I let loose and had fun with Becky. The foreman Nate recognizes intelligence and competence in his boss, and he’s smart enough to take orders from her because he knows those orders are the right way to run the ranch. Add in the backdrops of the other books in the series, the vicious, stagecoach-robbing Deadeye Gang, the coming of the lady suffragist speaker to town, and you’ve got a story full of trouble, action, adventure, romance, and fun.
It's Time For A Giveaway!To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback copy of the entire Wyoming Sunrise series!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! Blog StopsTexas Book-aholic, October 27 Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 27 Locks, Hooks and Books, October 28 Bizwings Book Blog, October 28 Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29 Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 29 Books You Can Feel Good About, October 30 Lighthouse Academy Blog, October 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway) lakesidelivingsite, October 31 Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 1 Book Looks by Lisa, November 1 Connie’s History Classroom, November 2 Mary Hake, November 2 Wishful Endings, November 3 An Author’s Take, November 3 Betti Mace, November 4 Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 4 For Him and My Family, November 5 Holly’s Book Corner, November 5 Splashes of Joy, November 6 A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 6 Pause for Tales, November 7 Life on Chickadee Lane, November 7 Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 8 Cover Lover Book Review, November 8 Labor Not in Vain, November 9 Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 9
Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Christian Western Release Date: March 8, 2023 Click here to get your copy! Interview with Karen#1. What was the inspiration for this book? Being the fifth son in a family is rough. I felt Preston’s position within the family made him the perfect candidate for a Prodigal Son story. I’ve had my own prodigal journey so it’s a theme dear to me. I want other prodigals to know you are never too far gone for God’s love and redemption. #2. How long did it take to finish writing this book? About three months. Most of my books take roughly three to four months from first word to final edit. I’ve been writing since 2010, so I’ve got my system down. The one unusual thing with The Restless Wrangler (Colter Sons Book 5) is that I wrote it after I wrote book 6. #3. What drew you to write in this particular genre? I’ve been a long-time fan of Christian historical romance—ever since the eighth grade. When I first started writing, I had been living in Arizona for more than ten years but didn’t know anything about the history of my adopted home state. Once I started researching Arizona history, I was hooked. I would be surprised if I ever write a book that is not somehow tied to Arizona. #4. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book? Hetty Clark is spunky, independent, and I just loved writing her. She was inspired by a few sentences in a research article about the earliest women’s competitions in the “Cowboy Tournaments” in Prescott, Arizona. There was a woman named Hetty who was named as a competitor. I used my great-grandma’s last name. That article inspired me to think about what kind of woman would have the courage to compete in a rodeo in the 1890s. Thus Hetty was born. #5. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book? People can change. God can miraculously change any heart. Preston and Hetty are both proof of that. It doesn’t just happen in fiction. #6. How did you name your characters? In the case of the Colter Sons, the last name was easy, since their parents were in the Prescott Pioneers Series. Sometimes the character names just come to me. Other times I scroll through different name lists or character name generators online to get inspired. I also keep a running list of names l like in a notebook. And, fun fact, my husband points out football player names that “would make a great cowboy name.” I may occasionally mix and match some football player names. Just saying. #7. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book. There’s a scene toward the later part of the book where Preston’s family rallies around him. When I wrote the scene, I originally included his brother James. It wasn’t until the third or fourth read through that I realized James could not possibly be there. He was in Chicago (per Book 3) on those dates. Yikes! I was just glad I caught it before it went to press. #8. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends. My hubby Jim and I live in Arizona. We both moved here in our 20s and met here. We both don’t ever want to live where there is snow, so I doubt we would ever move. We enjoy history and a favorite pastime is visiting airplane museums. One day we hope to visit the big one in Dayton, Ohio. #9. What one piece of advice would you like to give readers? Writing a book is a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of time and deliberate thought and prayer. Writing Christian fiction is even harder. Sometimes authors need to take characters places that might be a little uncomfortable, maybe even offensive to some, to fully illustrate what redemption looks like. Please give us grace. Our intentions are good, and we do seek to honor God in what we write. #10. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart. Psalm 34:18 (ESV) says: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” If you feel crushed or brokenhearted today, know that He is near. He loves you and His love never fails. Ask Him to make that tangible to you today. More from KarenWhat was the inspiration behind Preston Colter’s character? I love a good prodigal story—partly because I was one. I also figured in a family with five boys and one daughter, at least one of them had to have a rebellious streak. Very early in developing the series, I felt like this role would be perfect for a fifth son. Why did you write the series in the first person? A few years ago, I read a historical series by Tess Thompson where she wrote the hero and heroine in the first person. I had enjoyed how the point of view felt deeper when written in the first person, so with the Colter Sons Series, I decided to give it a try. Since then, I’ve loved hearing from many readers how much they’ve enjoyed it. If you’re a little nervous about reading something in the first person, please take advantage of the sample download feature available on most ereaders, including Kindle. The point of view characters are clearly marked at the beginning of the chapter and whenever the point of view changes. Hetty Clark is a rancher?! What inspired you to choose that profession for her, especially since the book is set in 1893? One of my favorite research sites for Arizona territorial history is the Sharlot Hall Museum’s online archives and “Days Past” articles. I read several articles about the early days of Prescott, Arizona’s Independence Day Celebrations. These were HUGE events for the town and surrounding communities, which eventually expanded into Cowboy Tournaments (aka Rodeo). After reading an article about the women winners in the Cowboy Tournament in 1888, I dug deeper into what competitions the women participated in. I was surprised to learn that many of the women worked on ranches right alongside their husbands or brothers. I enjoy writing strong female characters in unconventional roles, so making Hetty Clark a bronc rider and a ranch manager fit perfectly with the type of woman I pictured for Preston.
It's Time For A Giveaway!To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 gift card with signed paperback copy of the book!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! Blog StopsGina Holder, Author and Blogger, November 2 (Author Interview) Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 3 By The Book, November 4 (Author Interview) Texas Book-aholic, November 5 Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 6 (Author Interview) lakesidelivingsite, November 7 Sylvan Musings, November 8 (Author Interview) Locks, Hooks and Books, November 9 Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 10 (Author Interview) Bizwings Book Blog, November 10 Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 11 Artistic Nobody, November 12 (Author Interview) For Him and My Family, November 12 Simple Harvest Reads, November 13 (Guest Review from Donna Cline) Guild Master, November 14 (Author Interview) Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 15
Genre: Christian Fiction / Cozy Mystery Release Date: October, 2023 Click here to get your copy! My Review Fires and explosions and tornadoes, oh my... Brenham, Texas has gone to the dogs again and mystery is afoot – or should that be 'a-paw' – as not only does a tornado roar through town but there are explosions and a fire of suspicious origin. Add onto that a romance on the rocks and you have another fun Gone To The Dogs Mystery from Kathleen Y'Barbo. I rather surprise myself by saying so, but I think that New Leash On Life may be my favorite book of the series. It had everything my cozy mystery enjoying heart could wish for including a pretty cool dog and even a surprise feline. I really liked the mystery in New Leash On Life. There were multiple elements and more than one suspect to keep you guessing and trying to puzzle out things out alongside Nora, Lane, and the rest of the pet-loving crew. While I did figure out some of the who-done-it, Kathleen Y'Barbo did slip in a surprise or two for me in this sixth Gone To The Dogs Mysteries. Honestly, if you haven't visited Brenham, Texas yet, New Leash On Life is only one of the books in a fun cozy mystery series. There are more Gone To The Dogs Mysteries to dive into from Kathleen Y'Barbo and the second author in the series Janice Thompson. Two very talented authors of a delightful series off pet-filled and paw approved cozies with a little dash of romance... Tell Tale Book Reviews gives New Leash On Life by Kathleen Y'Barbo a 4 Bark rating. (I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.) More for KathleenYou’ve most likely seen military working dogs (MWDs) on television shows or in the news. Maybe you’ve seen police dogs in action or read about them. They’re often fierce looking and always well-trained and intelligent. Along with their handler, the MWD is a brave and not so secret weapon in the military and law enforcement world. And did you know that an MWD always outranks his or her handler? It’s true. I was very aware of all of this, but I had no idea what happened to these dogs when they were too old or perhaps physically unable to continue in their roles. People retire from their careers, so it makes sense that MWDs would as well. I first learned about retired MWDs from watching my friend Ronie welcome a gorgeous Belgian Malinois, Vvolt, to her family. Anyone who knew the family or came to know Vvolt through social media fell in love with that dog. With his ears cocked just so and his bigger-than-life personality, I knew I had to write about him someday. When I was given the opportunity to co-write a cozy mystery series with my dear friend, Janice Thompson, I knew one of those books would have to include an MWD. Because MWDs are used in so many situations, from military police work to bomb sniffing to PTSD care and more—I had to narrow down the choice of what my dog would be doing. I won’t give anything away, but I can tell you that Pal, the fictional Belgian Malinois in NEW LEASH ON LIFE is very good at what he does. He also loves a good Whataburger when his regular kibble isn’t available, but I digress. When I set out to create the personality for Pal, I looked to what I knew and loved about Vvolt. Big personality, toothy grin, and the ability to run and jump like a champ were all included in my dog’s version of the MWD. And like Vvolt, my MWD develops a strong bond with his handler and the family who welcomes him into their home. Pal is loyal, friendly, and apt to stand between his people and danger at the slightest provocation. Pal’s person in NEW LEASH ON LIFE is Dr. Lane Bishop, a Texas A&M University research veterinarian and Air Force veteran. Lane deals with nightmares that came out of his military experiences. As you can imagine, this causes an issue or two with Nora Hernandez, the woman Lane adores but has not shared his worries with. Then along comes Pal, a stray (or is he?) with a habit of disappearing and then turning up at the most unlikely places just when he’s needed. I won’t give away the story, but let’s just say that sometimes it takes an animal to show the humans what needs to be done. Perhaps all this talk about MWDs has you curious about them. Maybe you’re someone who would love to explore the opportunity to give a retired MWD a second chance. Check the Airforce 37th Training wing’s website for details on how this can be done: https://www.37trw.af.mil/Units/37th-Training-Group/341st-Training-Squadron/Military-Working-Dog-Adoption-Program/ . NEW LEASH ON LIFE is the story of new starts and second chances, of how God can doesn’t just use humans to achieve His purposes. For this and so many other reasons, the tale of Lane and Nora and Pal is dedicated to the memory of Vvolt and his people. Well done good and faithful servant.
relatives, Kathleen inserts an ancestor or two into her historical and mystery novels as well. Recent book releases include bestselling The Pirate Bride set in 1700s New Orleans and Galveston, its sequel The Alamo Bride set in 1836 Texas, which feature a few well-placed folks from history and a family tale of adventure on the high seas and on the coast of Texas. She also writes (mostly) relative-free cozy mystery novels for Guideposts Books. Kathleen and her hero in combat boots husband have their own surprise love story that unfolded on social media a few years back. They make their home just north of Houston, Texas and are the parents and in-laws of a blended family of Texans, Okies, and one very adorable Londoner. It's Time For A Giveaway!To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a copy of the book!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! Blog StopsBabbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 26 Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 26 Wishful Endings, October 27 Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 27 Texas Book-aholic, October 28 Karen Baney Reviews, October 28 Locks, Hooks and Books, October 29 Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 30 Boodock Ramblings, October 30 Lighthouse-Academy, October 31 Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 31 Blogging With Carol, November 1 For Him and My Family, November 1 Holly’s Book Corner, November 2 Mary Hake, November 2 Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3 Splashes of Joy, November 4 Pause for Tales, November 4 Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 5 Bigreadersite, November 6 Cover Lover Book Review, November 6 Labor Not in Vain, November 7 Life on Chickadee Lane, November 7 Lily’s Book Reviews, November 8
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Deadly Yellowstone Secrets by Kari Trumbo,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
My Review
If a killer doesn't get them the weather will...
Anyone who lives near a national park or protected area knows that the wilderness can be a deadly place – but Deadly Yellowstone Secrets puts that danger on steroids – in all of the best Love Inspired Suspense ways, of course. I'm actually not completely new to Kari Trumbo's books as I've read and listened to some of her historical fiction, so, when I saw her name on a romantic suspense novel I knew I had to read it. And Deadly Yellowstone Secrets did not disappoint in either the suspense category or in the romantic sparks. Kari Trumbo certainly keeps her readers on the edge of their seats as well as guessing in this exciting Love Inspired Suspense novel. It's a quick read that is perfect for curling up with a cup of something hot and a warm blanket as you get a little shiver from the icy cold Yellowstone wind... Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Deadly Yellowstone Secrets by Kari Trumbo a 4 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
It's Time For A Giveaway!
(1) winner will win a signed print copy of
Deadly Yellowstone Secrets and a $25 visa gift card! (1) winner will win a signed print copy of Deadly Yellowstone Secrets and a signed print copy of Operation: Restoration!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 1, 2023 and will last through
11:59 PM EST on November 8, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Mountain Storm Survival by Cathy McDavid,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
My Review
Will an unforgiving landscape spark forgiveness...
As a kid I read lots of treasure stories and articles, so, of course, many of them were about the Lost Dutchman Mine, Weaver's Needle, and the Superstitions. So, to pick up a Love Inspired book featuring just that particular area – with lots of suspense and romantic sparks – was a lot of fun. I was intrigued by Mountain Storm Survival right from the start. One of the things that I found to be unexpected and different with this story was that as present as the mystery angle was, Cathy McDavid kept her focus more on the characters themselves – their motivations and their journeys to find both forgiveness and physical safety. Honestly, I liked it even better that way. That being said, Mountain Storm Survival was still an entertaining read and Cathy McDavid kept me on the edge of my seat wondering if the characters could take any more from man and elements alike – not to mention whether there was even one single person that they could trust. This book was a good quick read and I doubt it will be the last Love Inspired novel that I get my hands on from this author... Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Mountain Storm Survival by Cathy McDavid a 4 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
A lover of all things western and former avid horsewoman, her stories include riding, ranching, and rodeo because,
well, who doesn’t enjoy a good cowboy romance? Mother of grown twins and married to her own real-life sweetheart, Cathy is living her dream penning heart-stopping suspense thrillers and heart-touching family dramas for Harlequin. Connect with Cathy by visiting cathymcdavid.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates. It's Time For A Giveaway!
(2) winners will win a print copy of both Blizzard Refuge and
Her Surprise Cowboy Groom, a $5 Starbucks gift card and a cowboy coffee mug!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 31, 2023 and will last through
11:59 PM EST on November 7, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Interview with Amy1. What drew you to write in this particular genre? To be honest, the original story I began writing while teaching online due to COVID-19 was a totally different genre, inspired by a virtual tour of an antique store and by local tuberculosis hospital ruins. The premise was a historical ghost story for middle grades and teens. I was having fun writing Voices in the Sanitarium that way until a Wednesday night Bible study prompted me to change the storyline. I began thinking of the ways children are steered in all different directions but toward God, and I decided I didn’t want to give young readers the wrong idea of what happens in the afterlife. So then I scrapped most of what I had written and began again. I changed my audience somewhat and geared the novel more towards women in general. I can’t explain why without SPOILING some of the plot, but I changed the genre twice more before I ended up having only a month to write the novel in order to have time for the editing, revising, and formatting process. (while setting up my classroom in a new school.) This was a hard novel to write because I got so personally attached to the real-life characters during 1931, and their families that still live in the area. I think that made me protective of those who live near the West Mountain Sanitarium, which in turn affected my plotline. As I created Katherine, the mother and main narrator of the story, I had to delve into all the possibilities of what was happening to Aislyn, just as Katherine would have. What an eye-opener to all that can challenge our modern-day teens, especially those who haven’t been taught to lean on Jesus through hard times. 2. Do you have a favorite character(s) in this book? I became attached to many characters. However, I wanted to hit some of them over the head with a book or something that wouldn’t do permanent damage but might knock some sense into them. Ha ha! I have to say the character I came to admire the most was probably Bart Gilroy, the real-life caretaker of the sanitarium grounds for fifty years. Ireland was still devastated by the effects of the Potato Famine and politics when Bart left for America at the turn of the century. He was brawny and witty and therefore obtained a job immediately with the railroad. However, he missed the rolling hills and farming, so every time he had a day off, he’d hike the mountains. He happened to be crossing over Bald Mount and into the Sanitarium potato fields one day and came upon a worker who had just had a minor accident. The man was having a bit of a tantrum over how much he hated farm work. The guy quit on the spot, and Bart immediately volunteered to take his place. That began decades of Bart taking care of the property and the patients. I could go on and on about all he accomplished out of his love for people and farming. But two that I love most are how he sold surpluses of vegetables, hogs, and chickens to the county jail so he could buy more playground equipment for the sanitarium children, and how he gave up his own salary at times so that the superintendent would take on patients that she didn’t feel they had the funds to take in. 3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book? Characters are complicated. So are we! We have health issues passed down through our genetic code. We have family challenges, belief systems, and circumstances throughout our lives that build who we become. I hope readers take the time to analyze who they are and who they want to be after reading the novel. As my pastor has said many times, life’s challenges can make us better or bitter. I hope to always choose better. I think I have a particular message for mothers as well. I hope Voices reminds us not to be complacent. To be discerning of the directions we are steering our children. To be on our knees in prayer – especially for our teens. That time between childhood and adulthood can be so painful, for both parents and their children. Lastly, Voices became very much for Irish folks. I married into an Irish family, and now have three children of my own who have Irish genes. Those genes can be tricky, and through elements of Irish culture, it can become even trickier. I started the novel during the COVID pandemic, and I noticed almost an epidemic of suicide and self-harm among young Irish immigrants in large cities in the US. That played a part in my research for the novel. Why had that group in particular been hit so hard during the isolation of the pandemic? No need to worry, readers, no suicide attempts are made during Voices, but Aislyn’s father does mention some of his theories as to why the Irish are statistically more prone to struggle with certain psychiatric disabilities. Perhaps acknowledging a possible predisposition in any ethnic group can lead to making proactive choices that promote health. 4. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book. I was encouraged by Scranton locals to do a presale on Amazon, which is essentially a contract stating a book will be publication-ready by a certain date. There was great interest in the West Mountain Sanitarium by Westsiders in particular. Many had relatives who had spent time at the tuberculosis hospital. Others had partied in the ruins when they were in high school. And many are interested in urban decay, especially when there are rumors of ruins being haunted. Well, I never expected the year of the presale to have so many ups and downs. I ended up staying with my grammy during sacred nights of her saying farewell in hospice. I wrote a novel for the Whispers in Wyoming series while she slept. I published a fantasy for middle grades that year, and wrote another novel for the Thanksgiving Books and Blessings series, A Dark Lustre. I also took my first trip to the UK, with Pepper Basham and Laura Frantz’s Lasses in Hats Tour – and ended up being “trapped” in Edinburgh for an extra ten days because I came down with COVID and couldn’t get back into the United States. (I use the word trapped lightly because it was a beautiful place to be ill.) In the meantime, I was also teaching 5th grade, parenting, and wife-ing. The weeks until Voices had to be ready to go live were dwindling, and I was still dealing with COVID brain fog. My recall and vocabulary were not up to par, plus there were roadblocks in my research. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get the novel written in time and was considering the alternatives when I decided to call my parents to vent. Well, my dad listened to me whine a bit and then prayed with me over the phone. Within a couple of hours after that prayer, it was as though the plotline straightened itself out – an ending I had never considered “came out of nowhere” and a man from West Mountain I had been trying to reach finally contacted me and was able to give me the information I was missing regarding the West Mountain Sanitarium. I am so grateful for that lesson in the value of prayer and the necessity of asking God to steer my pen. Not everyone will like the genre, the ending, or even the style of writing I used for Voices in the Sanitarium, but I have no doubt that there is a reason why this novel is out in the world. 5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, or whatever is on your mind/heart. There is an epidemic of depression and anxiety amongst our young people today. It breaks my heart to see students in 5th grade already grappling with identity crises and self-hatred. Youth group leaders in churches report that teens fight heavy and dark spiritual battles in percentages they never dealt with before. Our youth seem more fragile and less resilient than ever before. As men and women of faith, we need to acknowledge and develop an understanding of mental health – and the biological, spiritual, and social components of these challenges. Just like in every other area of life, the TRUTH sets us free. There is healing in investigation, discussion, and confession. There are key verses that help keep my own mind on the right path, and I love to share these and others with children in my family and when teaching children’s church. 2 Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:6-8, Proverbs 3:5,6, and James 1:2-5. More from AmyMam’s Apple Cinnamon Scones with Maple Cinnamon Glaze These are the scones Katherine’s mother makes the morning their new friend Cadence comes for an Irish tea. This time of fellowship marks a turning point in the plot of Voices in the Sanitorium. The dough: 2 3/4 cups flour 1/3 cup granulated sugar 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 stick of softened butter 1 diced small apple 3/4 cup cinnamon chips (optional) 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup applesauce For best results, follow the steps below. However, if you are as busy as Katherine is with four children and a thriving Irish textile business, you can just melt the butter in the microwave and throw all the ingredients together at once, and these scones will still be delicious.
Notes: If pressed for time, Mam just makes drop scones. When guests are coming, she forms the dough into a circle about ¾ inch high, cuts the dough into pie pieces on the parchment paper, then gently pulls the pieces apart and uses her fingers to form them into perfect isosceles triangles. Sometimes Mam puts the dough into the freezer after forming it on the baking pan. She says freezing dough for a half hour makes them softer. Katherine has never noticed a difference. Glaze: 1 ½ cup powdered sugar, 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon 3 tablespoons melted butter 3/4 teaspoon vanilla 4 ½ Tablespoons maple syrup If the glaze needs to be thickened, add more powdered sugar. If it is too thick, add more syrup, cream, or milk. You can put it in the microwave for about fifteen seconds if it starts to get firm while you wait for the scones to come out of the oven.
It's Time For A Giveaway!To celebrate her tour, Amy is giving away the grand prize package of $40 Amazon card, a hardcover copy of the book, and historical memorabilia related to the West Mountain Sanitarium in 1931!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! Blog StopsBabbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 17 Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 18 Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, October 19 (Author Interview) Avid Reader Nurse, October 19 Texas Book-aholic, October 20 Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 21 Locks, Hooks and Books, October 22 Connie’s History Classroom, October 23 Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 24 Denise L. Barela, October 25 Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 26 Blogging With Carol, October 27 For Him and My Family, October 28 Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 29 (Author Interview) Mary Hake, October 29 Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 30
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling Release Date: October 10, 2023 Click here to get your copy! My Review There is more under the sea than lost treasure... Finally a mermaid story that doesn't star the Little Mermaid... Nope, our aquatic heroine has her own story to tell and it's a real doozy! To be honest, I was surprised when I found out that The Mermaid's Tale with it's vividness and complexity is more than just the start of Chronicles Of The Undersea Realm, it is also L.E. Richmond's debut novel. Color me impressed! Right from the start I loved the way author L.E. Richmond cleverly blended locations in the real world - like the Mediterranean and the North Sea – with her imaginative and colorful Undersea Realm. The mix of the familiar and the magical almost makes you wonder if there is more to the ocean depths than we know... It also makes for some delightful and sometimes intense reading as the fate of the underwater realm falls onto the shoulders of one young mermaid without a tail. The Mermaid's Tale is a fun adventure filled YA read with many twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it all figured out – I didn't. As much as I love guessing things correctly I also love to simply be surprised by a story now and then. This first Chronicles Of The Undersea Realm book certainly delivered in that department. There was only one single thing that I didn't like about The Mermaid's Tale...How could by L.E. Richmond leave me hanging like that?! How?! I already wanted to read the next Chronicles Of The Undersea Realm novel but now I am utterly desperate.... Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Mermaid's Tale by L.E. Richmond a 4.5 Bark rating. (I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.) More from L.E.I am a discovery writer, so when I first started The Mermaid’s Tale, I knew only the general plot and that the romance would be between the main character and the older brother of her brother-in-law. The catalyst for this choice came from a novel published in England in 1815. Darin Aalto, famous treasure hunting Merman from the Mediterranean, was inspired by none other than Mr. Knightley from Shropshire. He, like Jane Austen’s hero, is kind, experienced, confident, and attentive to the needs of others. On the other hand, my heroine, Locklyn Adair, is not much like Emma Wodehouse, struggling with a lack of confidence rather than the overabundance which plagues the young mistress of Hartfield. Even though Locklyn differs greatly from Emma in temperament, she shares one marked similarity with her – a deep devotion to her sister’s children. In fact, it is to save her niece from the rejection which legs bring to Mermaids that leads Locklyn to encourage Darin to claim a disputed treasure which in turn leads to hostility from the warrior queen of a neighboring kingdom which leads to a duel to the death which leads to . . . You’ll have to read the book to find out.
It's Time For A Giveaway!To celebrate her tour, L.E. is giving away the grand prize package of a hardcover copy of The Mermaid’s Tale and a $50 Amazon gift card!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! Blog StopsBecca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 19 Madi’s Musings, October 19 By the Book, October 20 Locks, Hooks and Books, October 21 Denise L. Barela, October 21 Texas Book-aholic, October 22 Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 23 Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 24 Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 25 Inklings and Notions, October 26 Life, Love, Writing, October 27 Blogging With Carol, October 27 Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 28 Labor Not in Vain, October 29 Holly’s Book Corner, October 30 Simple Harvest Reads, October 31 (Guest Review from Mindy) Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, November 1 (Author Interview) Of Blades and Thorns, November 1 As a former smokejumper, arson investigator Bri Tucker knows her way around fires. But after a mysterious blaze takes the life of a former colleague, Bri inherits a curious puzzle from him that raises questions about several fiery deaths. Someone, however, doesn't want her picking up where he left off in search of answers. When she teams up with ATF Special Agent Marc Davis to solve the puzzle, the danger escalates. But will they manage to track down the person behind the mysterious deaths before their budding romance--and maybe even their lives--go up in flames? The bestselling and award-winning queen of romantic suspense is back with a brand-new series that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you burn through the pages to discover the truth. ISBN-213: 9780800741884 My Review They'll have to pass through fire for answers... I haven't read as many of Irene Hannon's books as I would like to but I always try to keep up with her new romantic suspense releases. They always entertain and keep me guessing and I enjoy them. Into The Fire is the first book in her Undaunted Courage series, and it has started of this series right. There are new characters to meet and make friends with and new villains to try and figure out... I will admit that I did figure out the villain's identity somewhat early on in Into The Fire but Irene Hannon had me second guessing myself a few times until most of the way through the book when the revelation rather surprised me. It was an 'ah-hah' moment and then I was beyond curious to find out the why behind the fiery murders. I actually finished Into The Fire much sooner than I expected as I found myself digging it back out every spare moment – and even some I didn't have to spare. I just had to know where this first Undaunted Courage novel was going, whether I was right or wrong about certain characters (I was both), and, of course, why the killer chose fire... Irene Hannon has a good – and very exciting – start to this new series and I will most certainly be anxiously awaiting the release of the next Undaunted Courage book... Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Into The Fire by Irene Hannon a 4 Bark rating. (I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.) |
11th Blogoversary 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. 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.
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Your blog is one of the most professional that I've seen. Thanks so much for hosting me!
DiAnn Mills - Author Jasmine, WOW! This post is incredible. Once again, you've blown us away by going above and beyond, from the Baltimore fun facts, to the amazing nautical divider graphics, and everything in between. Thank you for the amazing blessing of this post, of your time, and of who you are!
Amanda D. - Publicist I've been on your site and reading your reviews. Good stuff there.
Shelley Hitz - Author It is always refreshing to visit your blog and we really appreciate the thought you put into everything. I’m looking forward to your future reviews.
Bethany House Staff Member Jasmine, what a lovely surprise to read your review. I'm so pleased that you like The Chamomile. And five barks - I'm smiling.
Susan F. Craft - Author |