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Just Read Blog Tour - Children of The Shadows by Erica Vetsch (Giveaway)

10/25/2023

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Children of the Shadows by Erica Vetsch,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Detective Daniel Swann and debutante Juliette Thorndike once again team up to solve a dangerous mystery--while trying to keep their growing romance secret.

Someone is preying upon the street children of Regency London. They seem to think no one will notice when urchins go missing--and even if they are noticed, who will care?

Daniel needs to do something about the missing children. But with recent revelations about his past and an unexpected, somewhat unwelcome inheritance to deal with, this is a terrible time to dive back into the seedy underbelly of the crime world. Nevertheless, he's still a Bow Street runner, and his partner Lady Juliette is sensitive to the plight of these wayward youngsters. They're on the case, searching shadowed alleys and coal-drenched streets to find the missing.

But the tangle of expectation and the dynamics of power cannot be easily ignored, even if there are children in danger. When Daniel's past threatens to overwhelm his future, he will need a miracle and the help of his friends to both apprehend the villain and unravel his tangled family web. And it may be that his new responsibilities demand that he leave the children of the shadows to their terrible fate--or lose everything.

Erica Vetsch's popular Regency mystery series concludes with a bang, sure to satisfy readers who have hung on every page since book one.

Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: October 23, 2023
Genre: Christian Regency Mystery

More in This Series

My Review

Will this mystery be the end of their romance?

Well, it's hard to believe that Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries series is over...I've come to like the characters so I hate having to say goodbye to them. Anyway...

Children Of The Shadows was one twisty-turny mystery! Erica Vetsch had me guessing and second guessing myself all the way through. Which I find utterly fascinating as this third Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery was also very much a Regency romance with all of the angst and glittering balls that one has come to expect from the genre. Erica Vetsch did a great job blending the mystery and Regency romance genres in a way that allows the spirit of each to shine through.

Another thing that I really enjoyed about Children Of The Shadows – and the rest of the series – is that a few familiar faces from Erica Vetsch's previous Regency mystery series make appearance in some expected and unexpected places...

If you haven't read Erica Vetsch's Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries series yet, you are missing out. They are all enjoyable reads, from book one to the exciting conclusion to the series in Children Of The Shadows, they are sure to entertain and intrigue for hours...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Children Of The Shadows by Erica Vetsch a 4 Bark rating.

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

Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota.
Connect with Erica by visiting ericavetsch.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

(1) winner will win a complete paperback set of
the Thorndike and Swann series, and a $10 amazon gift card

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 23, 2023 and will last through
11:59 PM EST on October 30, 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!

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I Read With Audra Blog Tour - The Debutante's Code by Erica Vetsch (Review, Interview, Giveaway)

12/5/2021

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Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes in this new Regency mystery series

Newly returned from finishing school, Lady Juliette Thorndike is ready to debut in London society. Due to her years away, she hasn't spent much time with her parents, and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love. But when they disappear, she discovers she never really knew them at all. They've been living double lives as government spies--and they're only the latest in a long history of espionage that is the family's legacy.

Now Lady Juliette is determined to continue their work. Mentored by her uncle, she plunges into the dangerous world of spies. From the glittering ballrooms of London to the fox hunts, regattas, and soirees of country high society, she must chase down hidden clues, solve the mysterious code her parents left behind, and stay out of danger. All the while, she has to keep her endeavors a secret from her best friend and her suitors--not to mention the nosy, irritatingly handsome Bow Street runner, who suspects her of a daring theft.

Can Lady Juliette outwit her enemies and complete her parents' last mission?

Best-selling author Erica Vetsch is back with a rollicking, exciting new series destined to be a hit with Regency readers who enjoy a touch of mystery in their love stories. Fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, and Anne Perry will love the wit, action, and romance.

Click here to read an excerpt.

My Review

Her mission just complicated his case...

I have been looking forward to The Debutante's Code for months now. I was totally intrigued by the title and after enjoying Erica Vetsch's previous Regency Era series so much I was more than ready to dive into her new Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries.

What a story! It wasn't precisely what I expected and yet it was exactly what I anticipated. There were so many more threads, surprises, and even some familiar faces made an appearance or two. In keeping with the title The Debutante's Code had a bit of a younger vibe, not YA by any means, but still a touch of coming-of-age for both of its main characters.

Erica Vetsch has a real knack for blending Regency Era historical romance with all of its polite manners, graceful dances, and elegant dress with mystery and intrigue that almost comes across as romantic suspense. Those talents are on full display in this first Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery.

I definitely enjoyed The Debutante's Code with all of its charming twists and turns. It was a great start to Erica Vetsch's new Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries series and I absolutely cannot wait to find out what happens Juliette and Daniel, as well as if some of my suspicions about the past are correct....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Debutante's Code by Erica Vetsch a 4 Bark rating.

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

An Interview with Erica Vetsch

Q: Introduce us to the new Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery series which has been described as Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes.

This story has been a long time in the making! It has to be almost ten years ago that I first thought up the story idea, and originally, it was set in Gilded Age New York. But when I began writing stories set in Regency England, I realized the original tale could easily be adapted to the Regency Era.

Our heroine longs to be reunited with her parents and have her debut season in London, but her plans go awry when her parents do not meet her at the docks and are, in fact, missing. She discovers that she comes from a long line of spies for the Crown, and she has a choice, either to finish what her parents started, or turn her back on her heritage and become the socialite she assumed she would be all along. Her mind is made up when murder is afoot.

Our hero is a Bow Street Runner, one of London’s earliest policemen, and he’s on the hunt for a stolen painting…then other valuables from the same shipment of rare items disappear one by one, and an art dealer is found murdered in his gallery. Each clue leads our hero closer and closer to the thief and killer, but he’s disconcerted to find that his chief suspect has become the debutante he finds so attractive.

Q: Why does Juliette not only feel abandon by her parents, but abandoned by God?

We often form our views of a Heavenly Father from our experience with our earthly parents, for good or for ill. Juliette has not been ill-treated by her parents, or at least she didn’t think she had, but if they could abandon her on the eve of her coming out in society (in what should be the most important year of her life), can she trust anything about them?

Their priorities clearly don’t line up with hers. They put their work ahead of their daughter. Is that fair? Is that right?

They’ve taught her that God is with her, that He will never abandon her, but can she trust what they have taught her when they can lie so easily?

Q: What kind of research was required to write a mystery set in the early 1800s? What are some of the methods detectives of the day would have to depend on?
There was quite a bit of research involved in this one, from police procedures to art history. Much studying of maps and the hierarchy of society, the lives of British spies, and fitting it all into the current political and social situations of the times. I had fun deciding upon the various items that would go missing, from statues to jewelry to artwork, and deciding upon different ways each piece could be acquired.

As to the police methods of the day, the Bow Street detectives didn’t have our current levels of forensic science to help identify culprits. They relied upon eyewitness testimony, circumstantial evidence, catching someone red-handed, and by following the paperwork/money trail. Some things have not changed. The main motives for lawbreaking still fall into three categories: money, power, and sex. Who has it, who wants it, who wants to deny someone else from acquiring it? And in Regency times, the detectives were still looking for motive, means, and opportunity. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Debutante’s Code is my first true mystery, and it’s all wrapped into a heist story, so layering those different threads together was a new adventure for me.

Q: Can you give us a tease of what to expect in the remainder of the Thorndike & Swann series?
The next book, Millstone of Doubt, begins with a bang! Literally! A grist mill on the Thames explodes, but when the rubble and dust are cleared, a man is found dead, not from the explosion, but from a gunshot! Was the mill blown up to cover the murder? Who would want the mill owner dead? Daniel and Juliette put their heads together to sort out the crime, while Juliette juggles her new career as a spy and a debutante, and Daniel uncovers many of the secrets he needs to piece together the puzzle of his past.

Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch is the author of many novellas and novels, including the popular Serendipity & Secrets Regency series and the new Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery series

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found
on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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I Read With Audra - The Indebted Earl by Erica Vetsch (Review, Interview, Giveaway)

4/11/2021

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Can Captain Wyvern keep his new marriage of convenience all business--
or will it turn into something more?

Captain Charles Wyvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life--especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero's dying wish is for Wyvern to escort the man's grieving fiance and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell.

When he and the ladies arrive at his new manor house in Devon, they discover an estate in need of a leader and a gaggle of girls, all wards of the former earl. War the new earl knows; young ladies and properties he does not. Still wishing to provide for the bereaved Lady Sophia Haverly, Charles proposes a marriage of convenience.

Sophie is surprised to find she isn't opposed to the idea. It will help her care for her betrothed's elderly mother, and she's already fallen in love with the wayward girls on the Rothwell estate. This alliance is a chance to repay the captain who has done so much for her care, as well as divert her attention from her grief. When Wyvern returns to his sea commission, she'll stay behind to oversee his property and wards.

It sounds so simple. Until the stalwart captain is arrested on suspicion of smuggling, and Sophie realizes how much he's come to mean to her. Now she'll have to learn to fight, not only for his freedom but also for his love.

Click here to read an excerpt.

My Review

Can they both find a new dream...together?

I have to admit that the title of this book really made me curious. Why would they choose to call it The Indebted Earl? What did he owe and to whom? But, as Spencer Tracy said in the movie Desk Set, “Never assume!” And my initial guesses were quite charmingly proven wrong.

I've now read all of the stories, 3 novels and a Christmas novella, in the Serendipity & Secrets series. I've enjoyed them all, how can you not love an Erica Vetsch story, but I think The Indebted Earl might just be one of my two favorites. It's fun, it's romantic, it's entertaining, and it even has a delightful dash of mystery. What secrets will come to light when the new, and unwilling, earl takes up residence, hmmm?

One thing I'd like to touch on was Erica Vetsch's gentle portrayal of one of my favorite characters, Mamie. If you've ever had a parent or grandparent with age-related memory problems you'll know the pain and joy that can come with it. That's Mamie in this book, but she never lets it stop her and it certainly doesn't prevent those around her from falling for her sweet charm. I know that the hero and heroine are supposed to be your favorite characters but I will confess that Mamie, as well as little Thea, quite stole my heart away.

I loved this third novel in the Serendipity & Secrets series and I was a bit sorry to say goodbye when I turned that last page. This entire Regency era series from Erica Vetsch is well worth reading so don't miss out on The Indebted Earl!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Indebted Earl by Erica Vetsch a 4.5 Bark rating.

An Interview with Erica Vetsch,
Author of The Indebted Earl

Erica Vetsch brings her much beloved Serendipity & Secrets series to a close with the highly anticipated release of The Indebted Earl (Kregel Publications). This latest installment tells the story of Lady Sophia Haverly, the free-spirited and energetic younger sister of Marcus Haverly readers will remember from The Gentleman Spy, and Captain Charles Wyvern, a longtime naval officer trying to find his footing on dry land.

Q: Both Lady Sophia Haverly and Captain Charles Wyvern feel a responsibility to care for someone that is left behind. From where does that sense of duty come?

Lady Sophia’s care of her fiancé’s mother is born out of her love for him. She was also instilled from birth with the social customs of noblesse oblige. As a woman of noble birth, she has an obligation to live up to that nobility by behaving nobly. While her fiancé is at war, he has entrusted her with the care and companionship of his mother, Lady Richardson. Sophie is delighted with the responsibility, because it allows her to demonstrate her love, and it gives her a bit of freedom that living in her older brother’s household would not afford.

Captain Wyvern naturally shoulders responsibility for his ship and his crew. As the leader, everyone under his command is also under his care. This responsibility extends to the dependents of his crew, including the fiancée of his late best friend. Charles feels he bears the blame for his friend’s death, and he must attempt to make some sort of amends. His natural leadership abilities cause him to throw his mantel of responsibility over Lady Sophia, Lady Richardson, the three waifs who wash up on his shore, and the estate and community he’s inherited.

Q: Marcus tries to get Sophie to come back to Haverly Manor with him after her fiancé dies. Would a single woman in her situation during the Regency period have the choice to live on her own?

It would be difficult for an unmarried woman in the Regency era to live on her own. Though Sophie had the financial means to live independently, it would have been considered improper for her to live alone. However, for her to continue to live with Lady Richardson, as her companion and friend, was entirely proper.

Though Marcus is acting out of an abundance of compassion and brotherly concern, Sophie is reluctant to return to his home. She’s reluctant to give up the freedom she’s gained, as well as reluctant to live in a house where everyone will be watching her grieve. She wants to remain at Primrose Cottage with Lady Richardson.

Q: Can you give us a quick lesson in peerage and the hierarchy of society during this time period?

There are five ranks of nonroyal peerage in Britain: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron, in descending order of rank. Most titles were entailed, meaning they passed from father to son, or to the next closest male in the lineage. Often a peer would also hold subsidiary titles at the same time, and his heir would be given use of one of the lesser titles as a courtesy. For example, an earl may also hold the subsidiary title of viscount, and while the earl is alive, his son would use the lesser title of viscount until he came into his inheritance.

The British aristocracy during the Regency period was quite small compared to the entire population of England. The government was divided into the House of Lords (where one must be a member of the peerage to have a seat) and the House of Commons, which was open to any elected official. Land was most often owned by members of the peerage. As the Industrial Revolution gained momentum, more and more commoners became wealthy, which caused some friction. As the wealth of a member of the peerage declined, they might look outside their exclusive set to marry some of that new money.

Q: All of your leading men in the series end up with titles and responsibilities they weren’t expecting. Within moments of arriving at his new home, Charles’s new responsibilities multiply. Can you tell us about the surprise he receives?

Charles finds himself as the guardian to three young girls, sisters who were born on the estate. His uncle, the previous earl, had, for reasons of his own, taken on the orphaned girls as his wards and paid for them to go to boarding school. But at his death, the girls were returned to the estate.

The eldest is nearing womanhood and is a romantic, eager to fall in love and bewildering to Charles. The second is a daredevil, tomboy, and adventuress in whom Charles sees glimpses of his younger self. And the third is a girl barely six summers old, who is fascinated by Charles and imitates him at every turn. He’s not certain which of the girls scares him most, and as a collective, they have that crusty old sea captain shaking in his boots.

Q: Charles is comfortable leading a ship full of men but finds himself in a house full of women. Does the very stern military officer become a softy?

As a captain in the Royal Navy, Charles has been trained to show no softness, no weakness. Conditions were harsh aboard ship, discipline strict, and the dangers of nonconformity very real. In addition, he’s not spent much time around women in general and none at all around girls. He mistrusts their giggling, crying, emotion, and, above all, what he sees as their lack of discipline.

But as he is exposed to them and their bewildering array of emotions, they each in their own way begin to break down those walls of sternness and discipline, teaching him that kindness and love will not make him vulnerable but, instead, make him stronger than he’s ever been.

Q: Will you be sad to let this trilogy—your first Regency series—go? What can readers look forward to next?

There’s such a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in seeing this series completed, but to answer your question . . . YES! I am so reluctant to let these stories and characters go that I’m bringing some of them back in my new series, the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries!

The first book, The Debutante’s Code, should arrive in the fall of 2021 and features Lady Juliette Thorndike and Bow Street Runner Daniel Swann in a fast-paced tale of intrigue, espionage, and art thievery!

Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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2020 Favorite Books (Giveaway)

1/4/2021

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Please note: If you are using a mobile device this post will appear quite long and you will need to scroll down.

Favorite Books From 2020

Here is a list of Tell Tale Book Reviews' favorite books read and reviewed in 2020.
You can find all of these reviews and many more by visiting our Book Review List page

2020 Reviews

Top 20 Print Christian Fiction Books

Honorable Mention
The Raven by Mike Nappa
The Major's Daughter by Regina Jennings
One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn

Secular Fiction

May contain elements of faith but are not strictly 'Christian' fiction

Top 10 Love Inspired Books

Honorable Mention
Her Cowboy Till Christmas by Jill Kemerer
Amish Country Kidnapping by Mary Alford
Wilderness Sabotage by Heather Woodhaven

Top 10 E-Books

Dangerous Deceptions

Honorable Mention
Reviving The Commander by Nadine C. Keels

Top 10 Fiction Audiobooks

Christian & Clean Reads

Top Dramatized Audiobooks

Honorable Mention
The Sacrifice by Karin Kaufman
A Glazed Finish by Eryn Scott
Love In Lead by Kari Trumbo

Top 10 YA Books

Christian & Clean Reads

Honorable Mention
Fated by Kaylin Lee
The Secret Of The Wooden Lady by Carolyn Keene
A Curse Of Gems by Brittany Fichter

Top 5 Non-Fiction Books

Christian and Secular

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Historical Duo

Contemporary Duo

I'm giving away winner's choice of the Historical Duo or the Contemporary Duo
Both sets contain Print copies.
USA ONLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We are excited to start reading and reviewing in the
new year and hope you will be joining us for...

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8th Blogoversary Celebration - This Or That Interview with author Erica Vetsch & character Cilla Haverly from Joy To The World

12/7/2020

1 Comment

Inspirational Regency romance with a Christmas twist from three best-selling authors

In Joy to the World, three popular romance authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.

"Heaven and Nature Sing" by Carolyn Miller
Two music lovers, deeply devoted to each other, were on the brink of engagement when family circumstances drove them apart. How can they ever overcome both their obligations and their fears to find their way back into each other's arms?

"Far as the Curse Is Found" by Amanda Barratt
One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?

"Wonders of His Love" by Erica Vetsch
A Scots portrait painter finds work at a noble manor house over the holidays. He never imagined he'd fall in love with the emotionally frozen widow there. Now he wants nothing more than to thaw her heart.

ISBN-13: 9780825446696

Our Review

This Or That Interview with
Erica Vetsch & Cilla Haverly

Thank you so much, Jasmine, for allowing me to help you celebrate your blog’s birthday! Congratulations!

Today I’ll be answering the questions from a This Or That Interview, both as myself, and as my heroine Cilla Haverly. A bit about Cilla: She was widowed quite young, while expecting her first child. Her husband was the heir to the Haverly dukedom, and when he died and her baby was born a girl, the title passed to her husband’s younger brother. Now she feels caught in stasis. She is the companion to her mother-in-law, mother to her infant daughter, but who is she really? What does her future hold? Cilla goes on journey of a bit of self-discovery in Wonders of His Love, found in the Joy to the World Regency Christmas collection.

#1. Coffee or Tea?
Erica Vetsch: Tea! I love the smell of coffee, but I don’t drink it. I love Earl Grey Tea, and my current favorite is Crème of Earl Grey from David’s Tea.

Cilla Haverly: I love tea. A nice tea break in the late afternoon, a chance to catch a bit of rest, to refresh. Ah, bliss. I prefer Darjeeling.

#2. Print or E-reader?
Erica: I’m a hybrid. I read fiction on my ereader and nonfiction in print. Most of my nonfiction is for research, and I like to flip through the book, making notes, flagging pages with sticky notes, looking at maps and charts and pictures. I read fiction at night before I fall asleep, and it’s nice to use an ereader so the light doesn’t bother my husband.

Cilla: E-reader? I don’t have much time to read these days, what with my responsibilities to my mother-in-law and caring for my infant daughter, but when I do get a chance to read, I take recommendations from my sister-in-law, Charlotte. She’s well-read, and she always has a new story to talk about.

#3. Cake or Cookies?
Erica: I like a good cookie. Chocolate Chip is #1, but I like oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodles, biscotti. Cookies go great with tea. ☺

Cilla: Tea cakes. Our cook makes such lovely little cakes for afternoon tea. They’re tiny and light, with a hint of citrus peel that complements a hot cuppa so well. My little girl, Honora Mary, loves a good biscuit, which you Americans call cookies.

#4. Early Bird or Night Owl?
Erica: I tend more to the night owl side of things. I stay up way too late reading most night. ☺

Cilla: Our schedule varies. When we’re in the country, early mornings are normal, but during the London Season events are scheduled to run late into the night, so we tend to have a lie-in after a party or ball.

#5. Introvert or Extrovert?
Erica: Introvert. I like my alone time, I recharge by being alone, by disappearing into my own head and story worlds. I’m blessed because I married an introvert, so we’re not pulling against each other in that regard.

Cilla: I believe I am an introvert. Until recently, I went to the extreme of not speaking up for myself, and being an introvert contributed to that. But lately I’ve been feeling a bit restless and have decided that an introverted nature is not an excuse for not standing up and voicing an opinion now and again.

#6. Historical or Suspense?
Erica: I love both! I love historical, especially if they have a bit of mystery to them. And I love suspense/thrillers/police procedurals, too.

Cilla: I prefer historical fiction and the history books my sister-in-law recommends. I don’t read things that are too…intense? The recent publication of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein…no thank you!

#7. Green or Pink?
Erica: Between the two, I’ll take green. Red is my favorite, and I don’t wear a lot of or own a lot of pink things.

Cilla: Pink. I love pale, rosy pink in dresses, in draperies, in flowers.

Bonus. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
The verse that came to mind is

It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster year, hasn’t it? And yet one thing for certain has not changed. God has not forsaken us, and He is trustworthy.

Erica Vetsch

Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she married her total opposite and soul mate! When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/EricaVetschA... where she spends way too much time!

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Happy 8th Blogoversary!

12/6/2020

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Yes, we are celebrating Tell Tale Book Reviews's

Blogoversary!

And we have some great things going on!
Spotlight from:
Keely Brooke Keith
Guest Post from:
Jill Kemerer
An Excerpt from their newest release from:
Denise Weimer
A Cover Reveal from
Heather Woodhaven
Interviews with:
Carol J. Post
Jen Turano
Regina Jennings
Erica Vetsch
Amy Lillard
Terri Reed
and Giveaways!

Hurry and check it all out!

HERE

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Kregel Blog Tour - Joy To The World by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch

11/18/2020

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Genre:
Historical Romance / Holiday

Joy To The World
by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch

Inspirational Regency romance with a Christmas twist from three best-selling authors

In Joy to the World, three popular romance authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.

"Heaven and Nature Sing" by Carolyn Miller
Two music lovers, deeply devoted to each other, were on the brink of engagement when family circumstances drove them apart. How can they ever overcome both their obligations and their fears to find their way back into each other's arms?

"Far as the Curse Is Found" by Amanda Barratt
One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?

"Wonders of His Love" by Erica Vetsch
A Scots portrait painter finds work at a noble manor house over the holidays. He never imagined he'd fall in love with the emotionally frozen widow there. Now he wants nothing more than to thaw her heart.

9780825446696 | $16.99 | Paperback | 336 pages

Step into the rich tradition of Christmas long ago...

I've been anticipating Joy To The World for months now as I really wanted to read Erica Vetsch's story in this three novella collection. But, just as I knew I would, I enjoyed Carolyn Miller's and Amanda Barratt's stories every bit as much.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Carolyn Miller

Website

Amanda Barratt

Website

I'll confess that Regency is not an era that I usually favor because the portrayal is frequently boring and silly. However, there are many exceptions to that and Joy To The World is one. It's true that the novellas in the collection are full of romance and holiday cheer but there is a lot more to each one. There's also a dash of danger and adventure woven into these tales of forgiveness, hope, redemption, and faith.

I found quite a bit within the pages of Joy To The World. Heaven And Nature Sing introduced me to a new author for me to enjoy. Far As The Curse Is Found gave me my favorite story in the book. And Wonders Of His Love was the tale that I most looked forward to finally reading.

If you are looking for a charming jaunt into Christmas past during this holiday season I would definitely recommend this novella collection from the talented pens of Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, and Erica Vetsch. Grab a fuzzy blanket and cup of hot cocoa or tea and simply enjoy...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Joy To The World by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, and Erica Vetsch a 4 Bark rating.

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E-Book Review - His Prairie Sweetheart, The Bounty Hunter's Baby, A Child's Christmas Wish by Erica Vetsch

8/30/2020

1 Comment

Genre:
Historical Romance

A Home for Her Heart

After being jilted at the altar, Southern belle Savannah Cox seeks a fresh start out West and accepts a teaching position in Minnesota. But between her students' lack of English, the rough surroundings and sheriff Elias Parker's doubts and distrust, Savannah's unprepared for both the job and the climate. However, she's determined to prove she can handle anything her new town throws her way.

Elias gives it a week—or less—before the pretty schoolteacher packs her dainty dresses and hightails it back home. But no matter how many mishaps he has to rescue her from, Savannah doesn't give up. Yet the real test is to come—a brutal blizzard that could finally drive her away, taking his heart with her…

ISBN-13: 9780373283613

Brought Together by a Baby

Bounty hunter Thomas Beaufort has no problem handling outlaws, but when he's left with a criminal's baby to care for, he's in over his head. And the only person he can think of to ask for help is Esther Jensen, the woman whose heart he broke when he left town. But can he convince her to put aside the past until he tracks down the baby's outlaw father?

Esther is ready to run Thomas off her Texas ranch—until she spies the abandoned newborn in his arms. Soon, working together to care for the precious babe stirs old hopes of a family. With trouble heading to their door, they could overcome it together—if she'll entrust her wary heart to this sweet, second-chance family…

ISBN-13: 9780373425129

A Baby for Christmas

The only Christmas gift Oscar Rabb's four-year-old daughter prays for is one the widower can't provide: a baby sibling. And when his neighbor's house burns down, he's willing to open his home to pregnant and widowed Kate Amaker and her in-laws—but not his heart. Even if his little girl's convinced Kate's unborn child is the answer to her wish.

Kate quickly sees the generous but aloof Oscar has little interest in growing closer to his houseguests. Still, she intends to make the coming Christmas a season to remember for his daughter. And as Oscar starts to open up to her, Kate can't help picturing just how wonderful the holidays—and a future together—might be.

ISBN-13: 9780373425495

Very rarely, more like almost never, do I ever read several books by the same author in a row. But, for some reason unknown to even myself, I did read these three Love Inspired Historicals from Erica Vetsch back to back. As soon as I finished one I just went ahead and started the next.

His Prairie Sweetheart was the first one that I read and I liked it. Sometimes Elias's stubborn belief in the worst drove me crazy but coming from a cold northern state myself and having visited the south I can see why Savannah had a bit of a culture shock. The book was a fun prairie romance with a strong faith thread and a real belief in the value of family. Oh, and I just fell in love with Cap the dog!

The Bounty Hunter's Baby was the second book that I read and I think it might have been my favorite. Two of the main reasons I enjoyed it were the fact that the hero is a bounty hunter which is pretty rare in Christian fiction, and absolutely adored Rip who happens to be a dog who can go from catching the bad guys to guarding a newborn baby in a twinkling. I also really wanted to see things work out for Thomas and Esther, two really hurting people who need a little faith and a little love.

These Books received a 4 Bark rating.

Erica Vetsch

Author Website

A Child's Christmas Wish was the third title that I read. Not only did this one have a wonderful Christmas setting, which I was reading in August, by the way, but this one also had the strongest message of the need for faith and hope in hard times and the incalculable importance of family. I genuinely liked the Bernese Mountain Dog in this one but it was little Miss Leisl who won my heart.

I've not read very many books from the Love Inspired Historical line but I did enjoy these three, of course, it didn't hurt that I've always liked every Erica Vetsch book that I've read. I absolutely loved that she included a dog in each book and that the dogs all had important roles in the story. If you enjoy Christian historical romances, two of which have interesting cultural notes, you should check out His Prairie Sweetheart, The Bounty Hunter's Baby, and A Child's Christmas Wish from Erica Vetsch.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives His Prairie Sweetheart, The Bounty Hunter's Baby, and A Child's Christmas Wish by Erica Vetsch each a 4 Bark rating.

(I received copies of these books from the author in exchange for my review. All opinions are entirely my own.)

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I Read With Audra Blog Tour - The Gentleman Spy by Erica Vetsch + Review & Interview & Giveaway

8/15/2020

2 Comments

He only wanted a duchess for a day--but she's determined to make it a marriage for life...

When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she's meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life--as a secret agent for the Crown.

But his bride has other ideas. She's determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society--the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she'd remain in the background as he ordered.

Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?

ISBN-13: 9780825446184

My Review

He's stubborn..She's opinionated..the sparks fly!

Another charming, delightful, romantic, and deliciously suspenseful tale from Erica Vetsch! After enjoying the first book in the Serendipity & Secrets series I had high hopes and expectations for The Gentleman Spy, which, I am pleased to say it lived up to and exceeded them.

While it did take me a couple of chapters to get into the story, namely because the shabby treatment of the heroine from the people who should have loved her most made me so mad, but when the hero and his lady met for the first time...BAM! I was so intrigued by the story I couldn't put it down. I read it until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I read it first thing after waking up. I read while I was eating. And I read while the family was watching a movie. Needless to say, I finished in less than a day. That's about as fast as I can read a 300+ page book and still get a few things done.

I, of course, loved the suspenseful threads in The Gentleman Spy but I also enjoyed that fact that much of the book features the hero and heroine as a married couple. They both have misplaced expectations when they get married and they both come with a lot of emotional baggage. It was fun, and sometimes frustrating, watching them tentatively learn about each other, slowly adjust to their new normal, and ultimately fall in love.

I've probably said it before but I'll say it again, Erica Vetsch has most successfully jumped eras with her historical romance. I wouldn't hesitate to say that she is now one of my favorite Regency authors. You really can't go wrong reading her Serendipity & Secrets series!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Gentleman Spy by Erica Vetsch a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

An Interview with Erica Vetsch,
Author of The Gentleman Spy

A woman who loves reading and everything about books meets a handsome, mysterious duke, gets married, and falls in love in Regency England. He even gives her a library! How can a story get better than that? In her much-anticipated follow-up to The Lost Lieutenant, The Gentleman Spy (Kregel Publications), Erica Vetsch offers readers a story they won’t be able to resist.

Q: For those who haven’t read The Lost Lieutenant, give us an introduction to Marcus Haverly.

Marcus was such a fun character in The Lost Lieutenant because he always seemed to know more than one would think, pop up when he was needed, and be so comfortable in his own skin. He could move in a variety of circles, both high society and those of lower rank. He was mysterious, intriguing. A handsome stranger who always seemed to be in control of his situation.

I knew that in the second book, I wanted to disturb Marcus. He was much too comfortable in his role in The Lost Lieutenant, and I knew he would need to be pushed out of that to reveal more about his character. Marcus needed to learn that control is an illusion, and that when it comes to dealing with people, relationships can be untidy.

Q: Being the second son and single meant that no one paid much attention to Marcus’s comings and goings, which was ideal for his life as a spy for the Crown. What did his work as Crown agent entail?

Marcus is involved in both intelligence and operations for the Crown. With England engaged in a protracted war with France, the need for intelligence was great. And the home front was no different. Marcus keeps tabs on various people’s activities.

I created Marcus to be a sort of “eyes and ears” of a fictional branch of the Home Office. He has a network of informants, and he has the ability to go undercover and interact with individuals who are socially distant from the salons and ballrooms of society.

Upon occasion, Marcus has worked as a spy, infiltrating France to gather intelligence, but now that he’s the Duke of Haverly and his actions are scrutinized more closely, he fears his work as a spy is in jeopardy.

Q: Why was it so scandalous for a woman to read books, and especially read a newspaper, during this period in history?

Chivalry and the protection of women were a large part of proper English society during the Regency, and it was feared that too much academic work or exposure to the more, shall we say gritty, elements of life were both improper and could be dangerous to the “weaker female mind.” I’d like to think the men of the era had women’s best interests at heart, or at least thought they did, but I suspect it was because they were afraid of just how smart women are!

Of course, Charlotte thinks this notion that reading is dangerous to women is a load of twaddle, and she reads as much as she can, even though she has to hide her books from her father. When she faces a problem, she turns to books to find the answers. And when she marries, she finds joy in being given run of the house library.

Q: A major part of the story involves coming to the aid of women involved in prostitution. That’s not a popular subject in Christian fiction. Tell us more about this aspect of the story and why you decided to make it a part of The Gentleman Spy.

Charlotte discovers early in the story that she has a half sister, the product of her father’s long affair with his mistress, and that both her sister and her sister’s mother have been tossed out to fend for themselves. Her sister, Pippa, makes the difficult choice to become a high-class prostitute in order to survive. Charlotte wants to help her newfound sister and forge a relationship with her, but Pippa doesn’t trust anyone, especially not a half sister who has all the advantages she never had growing up.

Portraying social issues like prostitution in Christian fiction is tricky. The last thing I want to do is write an “issue book” where I’m expounding my views on a particular theme or social situation. I don’t want my story to feel as if I’m standing on a soapbox on a street corner and shouting about how the reader should sit up and take notice of my cause and my views and do something! Any social issue, whether it is the treatment of veterans as in The Lost Lieutenant or the world of prostitution and exploitation of women and the double standards of society as in The Gentleman Spy, must be organic to the story and grow out of the characters’ lives and actions.

As Christians, we cannot be blind to these issues, but for me, as a novelist, the issues must be an integral part of the story I’m writing rather than something inserted with the purpose of preaching to the reader. If one of my stories gets someone thinking about what they could do regarding a social issue, that’s great. But it isn’t the primary reason for writing the story.

Q: What can readers look forward to in the last installment of the series, The Indebted Earl?

Between the release of The Gentleman Spy and The Indebted Earl, there will be a bonus novella! Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection releases in October of this year, and my novella, “Wonders of His Love,” is included. This novella takes us to Haverly Manor, the home of Marcus and Charlotte, for the Christmas season. Cilla Haverly, widow of the former heir, is wondering what her next step in life should be. Is she doomed to be the dowager’s companion forever, with no real place in society any longer? When an intriguing Scottish painter arrives to paint the portraits of the new Duke and Duchess of Haverly, he ignites in Cilla a spark of independence that has the dowager’s feathers ruffled and Cilla thinking thoughts of revolt . . . and love.

And finally, in March of 2021, the last installment of The Serendipity & Secrets series, The Indebted Earl, arrives. The story of Sophie Haverly, younger sister of the duke, The Indebted Earl takes the reader to the Devon coast as Sophie and Captain Charles Wyvern navigate grief, survivor’s guilt, rambunctious orphans, a dear woman suffering early dementia, smugglers, and a growing love that neither is sure is proper.

Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com.
She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Twitter (@EricaVetsch),
Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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I Read With Audra Blog Tour - The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch + Review & Interview & Giveaway

5/11/2020

2 Comments

He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?

Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.

Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.

Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith.

ISBN-13: 9780825446177

Read an excerpt from Kregel by clicking here!

My Review

Their lives change forever at the whim of one man...

I've been a bit leery of Regency era fiction in recent years. It seems like if you've read one you've read them all, though there are definitely exceptions. But, I put aside all reservations because The Lost Lieutenant is an Erica Vetsch novel and she had won me over years ago with her historical westernish romance. I've never regretted reading one of her books and that still very much holds true.

I was continually surprised by The Lost Lieutenant and I really enjoyed that fact. It's not one of the myriad Austen retellings nor an endless round if teas and dancing. There is so much more to Erica Vetsch's characters than that. They both hold secrets, ones that could mean serious heartbreak, but if they are going to make their unexpected and certainly unplanned marriage work they are going to have to learn to trust each other.

One of the other pleasantly unexpected parts of the story was the suspense thread, especially near the end of the book. I loved it! When it got to the showdown I was riveted to the page and couldn't have put the book down even if I wanted to, which, of course, I didn't.

I really liked The Lost Lieutenant and I think I've discovered my new favorite Erica Vetsch novel. And, the best part? This is only book 1 in the very engaging Serendipity & Secrets series, I can't wait for the next one!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

An Interview with Erica Vetsch,
Author of The Lost Lieutenant

Who doesn’t need to be swept away to another place and time every now and then? After all, there’s never a bad time for a good story. For readers ready to take a trip back to early nineteenth-century England, The Lost Lieutenant (Kregel Publications) by Erica Vetsch is a perfect means of transport.

Q: Up until now, many of your books have been historical releases but set in the American West. Why the move to England for the new series?

If there is one thing my family and friends know about me, it is that I always want to be learning and researching new historical topics. Having written and researched so many books set in the American West, I found myself feeling as if I was in a bit of a rut. I was having difficulty coming up with something fresh and interesting, where I could really dive into the research.

I had been reading quite a bit of Regency, thanks to some recommendations from an author friend, and the more I read, the more I realized I didn’t know many specifics about the era. Suddenly, there were so many avenues to explore, like the aristocracy, the clothing, the amusements, the Napoleonic Wars, and much more! My imagination sparked, and I was hooked!

Q: Tell us a little bit about your new book, The Lost Lieutenant.

The Lost Lieutenant is a combination of an arranged-marriage and a fish-out-of-water story. The hero, Evan, continually finds himself having his life dictated by others and wondering if God has made a huge mistake. Evan is a soldier, a sharpshooter in the British Army. The son of a parson, he knows more about battlefield tactics than how to conduct himself in London society. And yet, when he is conferred an earldom and a bride to go along with the title, he is forced to accept his new role and make it his own.

While he’s struggling with his new responsibilities, his bride, Diana, is hiding secrets from her husband, her father, and the man who could destroy everything. If the truth gets out, it could cost a baby his life. What she doesn’t realize is that her husband is keeping secrets of his own, secrets that could cost him his freedom.

The Lost Lieutenant is a story of falling in love while learning to trust. Trust God. Trust your heart. Trust your spouse.

Q: Diana and Evan both find themselves caught in circumstances beyond their control. How do they each handle themselves?

I think they each arrive at the same conclusion, that God is sovereign and God is good, but by different routes. Diana is used to being bossed and coerced by her domineering father, and she has less trouble with God’s sovereignty and more issue with whether God is good to someone like her—someone who keeps secrets and lies, even though she means well.

Evan continually wonders if God really intends him to be an earl, to have a wife, to abandon the life and career he built for himself. And if so, now what?

Through their circumstances, and through learning to love one another, each teaches the other the truth about God that they know, and they also discover a few truths together.

Q: What role does faith play in the lives of your main characters, Diana and Evan?

Evan has a background and foundation of faith to draw on, being the son of a preacher. He has a good relationship with his father that helps him in his relationship with his heavenly Father. While Evan doesn’t always know what God is doing, he finds it quite easy to ask through prayer for God to help him make sense of things. He has enough faith to not fear asking and questioning when things aren’t going according to Evan’s plans.

Diana has some training, through a childhood teacher, about faith being more than a weekly ritual, about needing to have a personal relationship with God through His Son. She prays, but because her father is so domineering and mean, she wonders if God could possibly be good to her. She has very clear lines about what is right and wrong, but she also fears that if she crosses God, He will seek retribution.

Through seeing a godly man, her new husband, Diana is able to gain confidence that she is both loved and lovable, that a man can be kind and therefore demonstrate that God can be kind as well.

Q: Without giving away too much, what can readers expect as the Serendipity & Secrets series continues?

Big things! There are two more stories in the Serendipity & Secrets series coming this summer and in early 2021, The Gentleman Spy and The Indebted Earl. And as a bonus, there’s a spin-off novella this Christmas in the Joy to the World novella collection. My story is “The Wonders of His Love,” and I think readers will enjoy visiting the characters in this series again.

The Gentleman Spy is the story of Marcus, Duke of Haverly, and a crusading bluestocking named Charlotte. Readers first meet Marcus, who becomes a good friend of Evan, in The Lost Lieutenant. Marcus marries Charlotte and thinks he can relegate her to the margins of his life so he doesn’t have to change too much, but Charlotte is not one to be pushed aside and ignored.

The Indebted Earl is Sophie Haverly’s story of loss and newfound love. When Sophie’s fiancé is killed in the war, his best friend and commanding officer returns to England to repay a debt. Charles carries the weight of guilt, feeling himself to be responsible for his friend’s death. If he can fulfill his promise to look after Sophie, maybe he can pay part of his debt.

“The Wonders of His Love” in the Joy to the World collection is the story of transformation and spreading wings for widow Cilla Haverly. With no real place now in society, she wonders if her future is as bleak as it feels. Enter Hamish, a Scottish painter brought in for the holidays to paint the portraits of the new Duke and Duchess of Haverly. But Hamish creates more than just likenesses in oil on canvas. He also creates a longing in Cilla that she can’t deny.

Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Twitter (@EricaVetsch), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

It's Time For A Giveaway!

2 Comments

2018 Favorites (E-Books & Audiobooks)

1/6/2019

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Favorite E-Books & Audiobooks From 2018

Here is a list of Tell Tale Book Reviews' favorite
e-books and audiobooks read/listened and reviewed in 2018.
You can find all of those reviewed and many more by visiting our Book Review List page

2018 Reviews

E-Books

Formula Of Deception

Fawkes

Dangerous Obsession

The Rose And
The Briar

Cold Truth

The Cost
Of Betrayal

Once Upon A
Montana Summer

Deadly Memories

The Kitchen
Marriage

Abridged

Shorter Stories
under 200 pages

By The Waters
Of Babylon

The Trail
Boss's Bride

For Such A
Time As This

Sugarplums And
Second Chances

Of Cash
And Cats

Audiobooks

Cowboy Charming

The Beastly Princess

The Lost Princess

We are excited to start reading and reviewing in the
new year and hope you will be joining us for...

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Book Review - My Heart Belongs In Fort Bliss, Texas by Erica Vetsch

3/7/2017

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Genre:
Historical Romance / Western

My Heart Belongs In Fort Bliss, Texas:
Priscilla's Reveille
by Erica Vetsch

-From the back cover-

A Custody Battle Brings
Two Stubborn Individuals Together
at a Remote Texas Fort

Fashion artist Priscilla Hutchens has a grudge against the army that has ruined her family and taken the people she holds most dear. When her niece and nephew are left orphaned at Fort Bliss, Texas, she seeks custody of them immediately. There is just one thing standing in her way – the post surgeon, Major Elliot Ryder, who also has a claim to the children. Priscilla and Elliot will cross swords, but each will have to lay down arms if they are to find a lasting peace on which to form the family both are longing for.
Journey now to Fort Bliss in West Texas of 1874, where a battle is about to be waged between hearts.

ISBN-13: 978-1634099301

In losing it all she may find everything

Long, long ago.... a girl nervously wrote her first ever review for a book she'd just read, the book was a wonderful historical by Erica Vetsch. Fast forward awhile and I'm still loving Erica Vetsch's exciting, humorous, and romantic westerns. My Heart Belongs In Fort Bliss, Texas was no exception.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Erica Vetsch

Author Website

In this book two very stubborn know-it-alls butt heads over EVERYTHING. Rarely can these two agree on anything. The results are definitely humorous for the reader. Though, there were times I just wanted to grab them both and shake some sense into them. As you can tell, I became emotionally invested while I was reading My Heart Belongs In Fort Bliss, Texas, wanting the characters to find family, love, and home.

This slim book was a quick but fun read, one I definitely enjoyed. At times I saw little wisps that reminded me a little of the movie Rio Grande, my favorite of the John Wayne cavalry trilogy. Fans of westerns, historical romance, and Erica Vetsch will be sure to love My Heart Belongs In Fort Bliss, Texas. Don't miss it!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives My Heart Belongs In Fort Bliss, Texas by Erica Vetsch a 4 Bark rating.

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2017 Birthday Celebration - Character Interview with Esther Jensen from The Bounty Hunter's Baby by Erica Vetsch + Giveaway

2/4/2017

10 Comments

The Bounty Hunter's Baby
(Love Inspired Historical)
by Erica Vetsch

Brought Together by a Baby

Bounty hunter Thomas Beaufort has no problem handling outlaws, but when he's left with a criminal's baby to care for, he's in over his head. And the only person he can think of to ask for help is Esther Jensen, the woman whose heart he broke when he left town. But can he convince her to put aside the past until he tracks down the baby's outlaw father?
Esther is ready to run Thomas off her Texas ranch—until she spies the abandoned newborn in his arms. Soon, working together to care for the precious babe stirs old hopes of a family. With trouble heading to their door, they could overcome it together—if she'll entrust her wary heart to this sweet, second-chance family…

with Esther Jensen from
The Bounty Hunter's Baby by Erica Vetsch

#1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
My name is Esther Jensen, and I am alone. My mother died when I was young, my father took his own life a few years ago, and I have no siblings. I thought I had found a man who might love me forever, but he rode away a few days before my father died, taking my heart with him. The storekeeper’s wife, Trudy Clements, and the sheriff’s wife, Sarah Granville, are my friends in town, though I don’t see them often.

#2. What is the ONE thing you just CAN'T do without?
My ranch. Pa made me promise to hang onto it, no matter what. Though I’m doing my best, I’m not sure I can raise the tax money again this year. I’ve sold nearly everything of value, and I’m working hard as laundress…the tax date is coming much too quickly.

#3. What do you most fear?
Not keeping my promise to my father and losing the ranch.

#4. What is your greatest strength and your greatest flaw?
I reckon my stubbornness is both. It keeps me pushing forward when I want to quit, but it can also keep me holding onto something that I should’ve let go a long time ago. Like my feelings for Thomas Beaufort. What I feel for him refuses to go away.

#5. If you could change one thing in your life, past or present, what would it be?
I would learn in time that my pa’s ranch hands were rustling him blind. If he hadn’t been in such despair about being robbed, he wouldn’t have ended his life. I wouldn’t have been left alone. And I might’ve had the courage to tell Thomas how I felt about him before he left…though I don’t know about that. What if I declared my love for him only to have him ride off anyway?

#6. What do you hope that people will learn from your story?
That you have more strength than you reckon you do. That God knows every part of your story, and He loves you anyway.

#7. What is the most important thing to you?
Family and belonging to someone, belonging somewhere. I have the ranch, but I don’t know for how long. It is the place that I belong…but I could bear leaving it behind if I only had someONE to belong to.

#8. What comes next for you and where do you see yourself in the future?
In the immediate future, I see several more loads of laundry to wash, rinse, and hang out to dry. I try not to think much beyond the next job, or else I might despair. Who’s that coming down the road? Another cowboy with clothes that need laundered? Wait, that dog…that’s…Rip? And if Rip is here, Thomas Beaufort can’t be far behind.

Is it possible that my past is riding up my drive…possibly bringing my future?

Erica Vetsch

Multi-published, best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and college basketball. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she married her total opposite and soul mate! When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/ where she spends way too much time!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Erica Vetsch
is graciously giving away
a Print (US only) or E-Book (International) copy of
The Bounty Hunter's Baby

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stock photos from pixabay.com

10 Comments

2015 Favorites (Print)

12/31/2015

4 Comments

Favorite Print Books From 2015

Here is a list of Tell Tale Book Reviews' favorite books read and reviewed in 2015.
They are in not listed in any particular order.
You can find all of these reviews and many more by visiting our Book Review List page,

Here

The Wood's Edge

Shadows Of Ladenbrooke Manor

The Pharaoh's Daughter

The Memory Weaver

A Most Inconvenient Marriage

Beyond All Dreams

The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story

Sabotaged

Tiffany Girl

The Good Girl

Uncharted Redemption

Taken

The Cactus
Creek Challenge

Vendetta

Every Girl
Gets Confused

In Good Company

Lorie's Heart

Standoff At Christmas

My Brother's Crown

A Reason To Stay

Through
Waters Deep

Dangerous Tidings

Not By Sight

Emissary

The Huntress Of Thornbeck Forest

Yankee In Atlanta

Deadlock

We are excited to start reading and reviewing in the
new year and hope you will be joining us for...

With love,

4 Comments

Life As A Writer Interview with Erica Vetsch + Giveaway

12/7/2015

8 Comments

an interview with Erica Vetsch

#1. How did you become a writer?
I think I was always a writer, but I didn’t know it. I always had stories spinning in my head, often daydreaming in school or when I should’ve been paying attention. My folks grew accustomed to telling me not to ‘dilly-dally.’ It wasn’t until I found myself a homeschooling mom that I started putting words on paper.

#2. Are you a 'plotter' or a 'pantser'?
I am definitely a plotter. I started out just winging it, but after I sold my first book, my publisher wanted a chapter-by-chapter synopsis of future stories, so I had to buckle down and plot. Now I can’t imagine writing without a plot!

#3. How long does it usually take to finish writing a book?
It really depends upon the project. I am told I write fairly quickly, so finishing a book in 3-4 months isn’t unusual. The fastest I’ve ever written one is five weeks, but there are some I am still not finished with!

#4. What does a typical writing day look like for you?
The beautiful thing about being a writer is that there really is no typical writing day. I do most of my writing at a coffee shop, so after getting to the shop, ordering my tea (I don’t drink coffee) and doing the daily crossword puzzle, I’m ready to write. Sometimes this means writing blog posts or doing marketing or reviews, but I try to make time to get a couple thousand words written or more chapters plotted.

#5. What do you do to inspire creativity?
I like to quilt, read, cross stitch, crochet, watch movies, all sorts of things. ☺

#6. What would be one thing you wish readers knew about authors or the writing life?
How much it encourages us when readers send us a note and/or write a nice review of one of our books. We often wonder if we’re reaching anyone, if our stories are touching lives. Unless the reader responds somehow, we can’t know for sure.

#7. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that has happened in your life as a writer.
I don’t want to be a downer here, but one regret I have is that my mother-in-law, who encouraged me in my writing, didn’t live to see my first book published. She passed away in June 2009, and my first book came out in November of that year.

Bonus. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
I’ll share my favorite Bible verse, one that helps me through tough times:

Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God.
I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee
with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch, is a transplanted Kansan now residing in Minnesota. She loves history and romance, and is blessed to be able to combine the two by writing historical romances. Whenever she’s not immersed in fictional worlds, she’s the company bookkeeper for the family lumber business, mother of two, wife to a man who is her total opposite and soul-mate, and avid museum patron.

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It's Time For A Giveaway!

Erica Vetsch
is graciously giving away a Print copy of her novel
The Cactus Creek Challenge

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Giveaway runs from 12 am MST (Mountain Standard Time) December 7th, 2015 through 12 am MST December 12th, 2015. I will email the Winner and they have 7 days (1 week) to claim their book.

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This Or That Interview with
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Joy To The World
by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch

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Author of The Gentleman Spy

It's Time For A Giveaway!

An Interview with Erica Vetsch,
Author of The Lost Lieutenant

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My Heart Belongs In Fort Bliss, Texas:
Priscilla's Reveille
by Erica Vetsch

The Bounty Hunter's Baby
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by Erica Vetsch

with Esther Jensen from
The Bounty Hunter's Baby by Erica Vetsch