Category: February 2022

Throwback Thursday - February 10th, 2022

2/10/2022

In the heartwarming style of Little House on the Prairie, Janette Oke takes us even further west than Marty travelled in the first story, Love Comes Softly. In the second one, Love's Enduring Promise, daughter Missie and Willie LaHaye were married. Now we find them on the trail west in a covered wagon.

How did those pioneers face the hardships of the trail? The rain, the mud, the impassable river fordings--and even death. The initial elation of a new adventure soon wears thin, and Missie must learn how to live her faith as she faces homesickness, boredom and deprivation.

And then, when she finally arrives at her new home...

Missie's shocking discovery is not the end of the story, but it almost brings her to the end of her endurance.

Travel with Missie and Willie on Love's Long Journey.

ISBN-13: 9780553805659

My Thoughts

Love's Long Journey was, for some unknown reason, one of the harder books in the Love Comes Softly series for me to find. By that token it was also one of the most satisfying to finally get to read. It has been a couple of decades since then but I remember that it was more than likely the first wagon train story that I read not aimed at kids. Janette Oke's trademark has always been clean and wholesome romance, books that you wouldn't be embarrassed to hand your teen or your grandmother, so it was the perfect starting point for me to begin reading adult fiction.
Love's Long Journey turned out to be one of my favorites in the series. Since then I've seen the Hallmark movie of the same name, and though it's good in its own right, there's nothing like reading Janette Oke's original words as she brought the adventure and romance of a young married couple's journey west to life.

0 Comments

Streaming Episode Review - Sons Of Thunder: Redemption - Episode 5 Loss Of Trust (Giveaway)

2/9/2022

2 Comments

Gibson Ranch is getting ready for the rodeo. Jacob and Logan bond over a ride until Jacob discovers the truth.

Themes

Teamwork and cooperation.
Loyalty.
God’s unconditional love.
Putting so much faith and trust in our parental figures only to be let down.
Abandonment and feelings of not being good enough.

Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. – Psalm 27:10 (NIV)

Sign up for PureFlix to watch this series for yourself!

PureFlix

My Review

The past just caught up....

You ever notice how sometimes just when things are beginning look up they all come crashing down? In the aptly named Sons Of Thunder: Redemption episode 5 Loss Of Trust, exciting preparations for the rodeo that will hopefully save the ranch go awry when the truth about Jacob and Logan comes out in front of everyone, issues with the proper permits for the rodeo arise, and a simple mistake may have dire consequences on more than one member of the Gibson family.

Sons Of Thunder: Redemption is a little bit different from its predecessor, for one thing it's more of a continuity series, but it is every bit as good. My family and I have been saving up a couple of episodes to watch at a time because those mean ol' cliffhangers get us every time. We did that with episode 5 Loss Of Trust and the previous episode so now I have to wait the interminably long week for episode 6 so I can get at least a few answers. And just as things were heating up as the Devil's Hand finally find out where Jacob has gone to...

The family ranch setting has been an interesting switch for this show and one that has been growing on me as the season progresses. Loss Of Trust amps up the tension with both the rodeo and biker gang threads and it sure has my family curious what will happen next. The episode also had one of my favorite quotes so far, “'Remember, I told you we don't call 911 around here.”

Now to wait.....wait.....wait.....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Sons Of Thunder: Redemption episode 5 Loss Of Trust a 4 Bark rating.

(Disclosure: Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a temporary subscription for this review.
Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.)

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Enter to win a 3 month subscription to PureFlix

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#SonsOfThunderMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork #PureFlix

2 Comments

2022 Birthday Celebration - Guest Post from Jenna Night

2/9/2022

1 Comment

What a typical writing day looks like for me...

by Jenna Night

Lots of authors have regular jobs along with their writing. When I have a day that I can dedicate to working on my book, I plan it out in detail so I can be monumentally productive. Here’s what usually happens, instead:

Set the alarm for 6 AM, smack the snooze button several times, and if all goes well I roll out of bed by 6:45 or so.

Start a pot of coffee, feed the cat, then sip coffee while reading my devotionals, praying, planning my day and staring off in to space. I do a fair amount of staring off into space in the morning.

At the computer by 9, whereupon I start by checking my email and taking a look at my author social media accounts and a few other things and suddenly it’s 10:15 and I’ve done nothing productive. I finally focus on work only to be interrupted by a hollering cat who is ready for second breakfast.

Back at the computer a short time later I open my manuscript-in-progress and get to work. Once I’m warmed up, I’ll likely roll along with my writing for an hour-and-a-half or so, whereupon I will reach a point where something like this happens: I’m imagining a character and he looks like ‘that guy’ in ‘that movie’ but I can’t remember the name of the guy or the movie. It doesn’t matter for the sake of my story. Not one bit. And yet, I can’t stop wondering about it. So I go online to check and the next think I know it’s 1 PM and time for lunch.

After lunch, I’m back at it and I’m really going to focus. That lasts until the cat wakes up. He likes to stealthily approach me from behind so that I have no idea he’s there and then let out a yowl that makes me jump out of my skin. Of course he wants food. He’s also full of energy and wants me to play with him. If I don’t play with him, there will be repercussions. More than once, he has taken a flying leap onto my keyboard while I’m writing. When feeling ignored, he also loves to go into the bathroom and knock objects from the countertop onto the tile floor so they make a nice loud clattering sound. That gets my attention. Oh yes, it does.

Around 2:45 or so I start to realize I’m nowhere near my word count goal for the day. So I really buckle down and get to work for the next 2 or 3 hours. And here’s the funny thing, oftentimes the entire chapter or scene I wanted to write for the day is crystal clear in my mind at this point. It wasn’t earlier, but it is now. So I work until dinnertime. And then I’m done for the day.

Before you ask, let me just say that if I skip the morning busyness and just sit down to write in the afternoon, it doesn’t work. I wish it would. That would be so much more efficient. But despite the distractions, this meandering process works for me. At least for now And the cat seems to be happy with it. Which keeps him from leaping onto my keyboard.

Jenna Night writes for Love Inspired Suspense. Her newest series, Range River Bounty Hunters,
debuts in April with the release of ABDUCTION IN THE DARK. You can find her on Facebook,
BookBub, or her website, JennaNight.com where you can sign up for her newsletter.

1 Comment

Movie Review - The Tiger Rising (Giveaway)

2/7/2022

4 Comments

Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid star in this beloved tale based on the New York Times best-selling book by Kate DiCamillo. When 12-year-old Rob Horton (Christian Convery) discovers a caged tiger in the woods near his home, his imagination runs wild and life begins to change in the most unexpected ways. With the help of a wise and mysterious maid, Willie May (Queen Latifah) and the stubborn new girl in school (Madalen Mills), he navigates through childhood memories, heartache, and wondrous adventures in this heartwarming adaptation.

Website

Resources

My Review

Sometimes you have to let the tiger rise...

Life can sometimes be messy and hard and no two people deal with things the same way. Some bury it all inside. Some lash out in anger. Some retreat from life. All are in cages not made with bars. And if not allowed to process their grief that pain can physically manifest itself in unexpected ways. This is the tough stuff that two 12-year-old kids must face with the help of a wise hotel maid who learned that wisdom the hard way.

I'll admit that when I decided to watch The Tiger Rising I had never heard of Kate DiCamillo's novel that was the basis for the film. I was, however, familiar with Because Of Winn Dixie (both film and book) so I had an idea of what I might expect. And true to form the story was both bitter and sweet and teaches some life lessons that are applicable for all ages.

I was quite impressed by the quality of The Tiger Rising film production. The children who play Rob and Sistine were very well chosen. Christian Convery had the dreamy, vague, miles away persona down to a T. And Madalen Mills was a real master with her facial expressions, particularly her annoyed with the world stare that she uses quite often to challenge those around her. The adults also filled their roles very well. But, I'm gonna tell you that what really captured my appreciation was the way the production company handled Rob's imagination and the how it sprang to life in the most surprising ways. Another thing I sincerely liked was the fact that they chose to only use CGI when needed with the tiger, yes, the tiger was quite obviously very real in many of its scenes. With the unnecessary overuse of CGI these days it was like a breath of fresh air, in my opinion.

In a nutshell The Tiger Rising is a bittersweet film made for and meant to be watched by families. There are words of wisdom for everyone no matter what age they are. And, even though there are moments that will make you want to cry, joy can triumph in the end as each of us finally let our own tiger rise...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Tiger Rising a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this movie for review. All opinions are entirely my own)

It's Time For A Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY of a digital code for The Tiger Rising

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#TigerRisingFilmMIN #TigerRisingFilm #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

4 Comments

2022 Birthday Celebration - Excerpt from Buried Cold Case Secrets by Sami A. Abrams (Giveaway)

2/7/2022

7 Comments

Recovering her missing memories could be the key to solving a murder.

Searching for her best friend’s remains could help forensic anthropologist Melanie Hutton regain her memories of when they were both kidnapped—unless the killer gets to Melanie first. For her safety, Melanie must rely on Detective Jason Cooper, who still blames her for his sister’s death. Can Jason set the past aside to solve the cold-case murder…and shield Melanie from the same fate?

ASIN: B094R941NW

Harlequin ■ Barnes & Noble ■ Amazon ■ Walmart ■ Target

Excerpt from Buried Cold Case Secrets

   Allison, I’ll find your body. I promise.
   Melanie swiped the wetness from her cheeks and lowered herself into the grave. She picked up her trowel and searched for more bones.
   An hour later, Melanie’s headache had become unbearable, causing her stomach to roil. Her eyelids grew heavy. Something was off. She sat on the edge of the hole.
   “Jason, help.” Her words were slurred. She struggled to stay upright.
   Jason knelt and came face-to-face with her. “What’s wrong?”
   “I don’t know.”
   “Help me out here. What’s the last thing you did?”
   “I—I... Took a break a while ago. Only digging since.”
   His gaze flew to a spot behind her.
   She wilted into him. Her vision tunneled, and darkness closed in.
   “Keith! Grab the cooler and her bag!”
   Jason’s frantic voice registered, but her body had shut down.
   His warm arms lifted her. Her head bobbed and landed on his shoulder.
   His rhythmic breathing was the last thing she heard before the world went dark.

Sami A. Abrams

Sami Abrams grew up hating to read. It wasn't until her 30's that she found authors that captured her attention. Now, most evenings you can find her engrossed in a Romantic Suspense. In her opinion, a crime and a little romance is the recipe for a great story.

Sami has finaled 15 times in writing contests, including receiving first place in American Christian Fiction Writer's Genesis Contest in 2019 and 2020, and Faith Hope and Love's Touched By Love Awards in 2018.

She lives in Northern California, but she will always be a Kansas girl at heart. She has a love of sports, family, and travel. However, a cabin at Lake Tahoe writing her next story is definitely at the top of her list.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Sami is generously giving away
1 signed copy of Buried Cold Case Secrets (US only) OR 1 e-Book

And if you sign up for my newsletter at www.samiaabrams.com
you’ll receive a free short story. Silencing the Witness.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

7 Comments

2022 Birthday Celebration - Guest Post by Darlene L. Turner (Giveaway)

2/5/2022

8 Comments

Witness protection should have kept them safe.
Instead, it left them completely exposed…

Canadian border patrol officer Emma James has only one concern after putting a crime boss behind bars: keeping her daughter safe. But witness protection has a leak, and Emma's enemies know exactly where to find her. Now on the run with no safe haven, trusting her estranged former brother-in-law, police constable Mason James, to shield them is her only hope…

Pre-order links:
Amazon (US) ■ Amazon (CA) ■ Chapters-Indigo ■ Barnes & Noble

Trusting in God’s Plan

by Darlene L. Turner

Jigsaw puzzles seem to be the rage lately. Do you remember doing them as kids? Placing each piece in its specific spot was fun . . . until you either couldn’t figure out how one fit—or heaven forbid—you lost a piece. Then everything changed. It wasn’t fun anymore. More like frustrating. This got me thinking about life and how much our lives are like a jigsaw puzzle. When things are going along nicely, the pieces fit perfectly. The picture is becoming clear. We can see it and it’s just within our grasp. Life is good. You have it all planned out. And then--

Something happens. We can’t make the next piece fit or we’ve lost one. Our path changes. And not the way we want it to. We question God. “What are You doing? This is not the life I wanted.” We’re blindsided when our journey unexpectedly changes.

In Safe House Exposed, Canadian border patrol officer Emma James is changed in an instant. After helping bring a ruthless family to justice, she’s targeted and everything in her world changes—her identity, home, relationships are all ripped away. Her perfect life plan did not work out the way she’d hoped. She questions God and what He’s doing. She goes through a roller-coaster set of emotions and has to work through the journey of trusting in God’s sovereignty. Her bump in her journey didn’t fit into her perfect jigsaw puzzle. The picture is now distorted and she can’t see the end result. However, God holds her close and she realizes that He just steered her down a different path. His path.

We’ve all been there, right? Realized our plans aren’t working out the way we intended? So, what do we do when that happens? Do we shove the entire puzzle on the floor and start over? No. We pick through each piece one at a time and trust we’ll find the right one. Emma has to do this too and in the end became stronger.

God knows the big picture. He sees all the pieces of our lives—from the beginning to the end. Every happy moment and every blip in the road. Do we throw Him to the curb and stomp our feet thinking we can do things on our own?

No. We fall to our knees and TRUST. He’s sovereign and knows all. From the beginning to the end. He has bigger and better plans than anything we could ever dream possible.

We just need to trust Him with every piece of the jigsaw puzzle.

Darlene L. Turner

Darlene L. Turner’s love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message.
Darlene won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense twice and an ACFW Genesis award. Her debut book, Border Breach, (Love Inspired Suspense) won the Word Award (Romance category) in Canada and was also a double winner at the Selah Awards, taking third place in the First Novel and Romantic Suspense categories. She’s represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. She has three books releasing in 2022: Safe House Exposed (Feb 22), Fatal Forensic Investigation (June 28), and book #2 in her Canadian Protector series (Oct 25).

Darlene met her husband Jeff at the turtle races in Ontario, Canada. She loves flavored coffee and plaid shirts. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

Facebook ■ Twitter ■ LinkedIn ■ BookBub ■ Pinterest ■ Instagram

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Question for giveaway:

Do you find it hard to trust God with every piece of your life?
How do you cope when one doesn’t fit into your jigsaw puzzle?

Answer the question above in the comments below and
one person will win an e-book copy of Safe House Exposed!

8 Comments

Book Review - The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin Bartels

2/4/2022

0 Comments

Genre:
Contemporary

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water
by Erin Bartels

-From Goodreads-

When Kendra Brennan moves into her grandfather's old cabin on Hidden Lake, she has a problem and a plan. The problem? An inflammatory letter from A Very Disappointed Reader that's keeping her from writing her next novel as long as its claims go unanswered. The plan? To confront Tyler, her childhood best friend's brother--and the man who inspired the antagonist in her first book--in order to prove to herself that she told the truth as all good novelists should.

What she discovers as she delves into the murky past is not what she expected. Facing Tyler isn't easy, but facing the truth of her failed friendship with his sister, Cami, may be the hardest thing she's ever had to do.

Award-winning novelist Erin Bartels searches the heart with this lyrical exploration of how a friendship dies, how we can face the unforgivable, and how even those who have been hurt can learn to love with abandon.

ISBN-13: 9780800738372

Do any of us know the real truth?

I can only imagine how difficult this book was for the author to write. In all honesty, there were times that it wasn't the easiest to read. But it was real. Messily, heart-achingly real. There are many things I'd like to say about The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water but I'm afraid I would give too much of the story away. I will simply do my best.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Author Website

Of the two Erin Bartels books that I've read this one was the most emotion driven. The layers that make up the story are so skillfully intertwined, the past and present building one on the other, creating a multi-faceted gem that sparks thought and introspection on the part of the reader. The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water does not judge and gives no clear one-size-fits-all answers. Instead through fiction Erin Bartels explores the hard to answers questions and little nuances of each person's story.

One of the things I found fascinating about The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water was the format it was written in. Erin Bartels's choice to write the story from the perspective of her heroine writing a series of letters to an absent friend as she traverses and comes to terms with their shared past and uncovers decades of hidden secrets was masterful and a stroke of genius. It allows the story to become personal at a completely different level.

Every year I read one or two stories that are emotionally moving in a way no other reading in that same time period. I strongly suspect that The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water is one of those books for this year. Erin Bartels's sometimes raw storytelling in this book may easily be the catalyst for many to rip off the secrets and shame of the past and allow the balm of healing and forgiveness to do its work. Though, those first steps may be some of the hardest ones to make...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin Bartels a 4 Bark rating.

0 Comments

2022 Birthday Celebration - Author Interview with Allie Pleiter

2/3/2022

1 Comment

Facing the past…could change his future.

Veterinarian Neal Rodgers is in Wander Canyon seeking the truth about his past—not to rescue a litter of kittens under his next-door neighbor’s porch. But persistent single-mom Tessa Kennedy is impossible to ignore—especially when she uncovers a family secret of her own.
Discovering the hidden facts of their histories could be the key to unlocking everything in this small town.

https://alliepleiter.com/books/wander-canyon/secrets-of-their-past/

Author Interview with Allie Pleiter

#1. What started you on the “Alpine Path” (writing career)?
Oddly enough, it was a dare from a friend. I started life as an actor. One day a friend dared me to write a romance novel. That friend happened to be the editor for a major New York publishing house romance line! She introduced me to my agent, and the rest is a history of over 50 published novels. I tell people God set it up so that I couldn’t take any credit for it, because He knew I would try. Some dares really are worth taking!

#2. Are you a full-time author or do you have a another job?
I am blessed enough that I am a full-time author. Although, it’s not all I do. I am a book coach and I do a lot of public speaking. Many people know me for The Chunky Method, my productivity system for writers. I’m a raging extrovert, so I’m not the kind of person who can sit in her office and just write—I thrive on people and variety.

#3. What is the hardest part of being an author?
I constantly struggle to come up with titles that fit the needs of category romance. That’s a very specific metric and I’m always trying to be too clever. And I suspect many writers would agree with me that major, gut-wrenching revisions are the hardest part of what we do.

#4. How has becoming a published author changed your life?
I love the variety, the freedom to set my own schedule, and the particular fun of getting to talk to experts in a wide variety of fields in the name of research. I’ve been self-employed for most of my life, so the entrepreneurial aspects of being an author suit me well. And I have to say, the flexibility of being an author was a tremendous blessing when my son was very ill as a teenager. There’s probably not another job I could have kept while meeting the needs of his care at that time (he’s a well and healthy 25 year old now!)

#5. What genre(s) do you write and what drew you to it/them?
I started out in mass market romance because that’s where my friend was working (see question #1). Then I wrote two parenting books for Zondervan. After that, I started my longstanding career with Love Inspired, doing chick-lit, historical, and contemporary romances for them. I still write contemporary romance for that line. I have two non-fiction books for writers that I self-published, as well as an inspirational romance series. Earlier this year I launched a general mass-market cozy mystery series for Berkley. Like I said earlier, I thrive on variety!

#6. What is the craziest thing you've done in the name of research?
Oh, this is my most favorite question! I’ve done some really amazing things. The most unique was learning to walk a tightrope from a member of the famous Wallenda family for one of my parenting books. I’ve learned how to pull an espresso from a world-ranked barista, learned how to crack a bull whip from a weapons expert at a circus arts school, done aerial acrobatics in a stunt plane, been in a stampede on a bison ranch, and am currently trying to get my hands on super-exclusive vicuña yarn for my mystery series. Research with fascinating experts is the best part of what I do!

#7. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice what would it be?
Don’t fret about how others are doing it. Get sound advice, but do things how they make sense to you. And, I wish I could tell my 14-year old self that it won’t be the problem I thought it’d be to be six feet tall.

#8. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that has happened in your life as writer.
I had the blessing to be on national television for one of my parenting books. On the flight home, one of the other passengers kept staring at me, and I thought, “this is it, someone is finally going to recognize me…this is what it’s like to be famous.” He did come up to me and say “I recognize you.” But he went on to say “You’re the lady with the tiny laptop computer from my flight out earlier this week.” So…not exactly the fame I thought I had. It was definitely an ego check that I can laugh about now.

Bonus. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
I am always asked to give writing or professional advice, and I always say the same three things:

Hush up and write. Don’t fret or overthink—just write. Nothing makes you a better writer than writing.
Nine times out of ten, the right business strategy is just to figure out the next right step and take it.
Eat more pie. Pie makes everything better.

Allie Pleiter

Bestselling international author Allie Pleiter honed her talents in the world of popular fiction, where she still releases multiple books a year. Allie has over 50 published titles to her name, and over 1.5 million Allie Pleiter fiction and non-fiction books have been sold around the world.
Her well-known Chunky Method system trains writers at every level to formulate plans and meet deadlines in a way tailored to their unique working style. Allie runs an active coaching practice helping writers and all kinds of creative people be more productive, as well as training productive people to be more creative. Already a national speaker among writing associations, Allie now extends her reach to entrepreneurs, speakers, consultants, and anyone who needs to bolster their productivity and creativity in a demanding marketplace.

Allie is an avid knitter, confirmed coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better.” She holds a BS in Speech from Northwestern University and lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband and the world’s most adorable dog.

1 Comment

Celebrate Lit Epic Book Launch - Beneath A Star-Lit Sky by JL Crosswhite

2/2/2022

0 Comments

Small town girl looking to mend her broken heart…
…Small town boy needing to repair his reputation.
Who knew those simple goals could unearth life-threatening danger?

Holcomb Springs has a wild past, and the wilderness outside its borders hides a treacherous present.
Teacher Ella Sommer is ready to forget about her broken engagement and escape from running into her ex. An overnight hiking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail offers what she needs to clear her head and breathe out under the stars.

Ex-military Reese Vega left Holcomb Springs with a bad boy rep, but has returned wiser, longing for a fresh start in his hometown. His hiking tour business offers that opportunity, especially when he can get into the great outdoors and let his past evaporate into the mountain air.

When Reese and Ella are thrown together on the overnighter, what starts as a simple trek ends up being filled with danger when they stumble across something they weren’t supposed to see.

Can they put aside their history and use their wits to get out of this situation?

Or will it be too late?

You’ll love Beneath a Star-Lit Sky because while the wilderness can’t be tamed, the human heart can.

Genre: Christian romantic suspense
Release date: February 21, 2022

Excerpt from Beneath A Star-Lit Sky

“It hurts to stand on it.”

He should have her friends help her back down the trail. “Let’s get one of your friends on the other side.”

Another woman stepped to the side of Andrea, and between the two of them, she hobbled down the trail.

“It’s a good thing we have a strong guy like you to help us out of trouble,” the friend said, someone else whose name he couldn’t remember.

And there it was. Raul was married, so maybe he didn’t have women hitting on him all the time, but there was almost always one on every tour he’d done so far. “Best not to get into trouble in the first place.”

He got them back down to the van and loaded up. “Do you want me to take you to the urgent care clinic? It’s not big, but we have a doc who can check out your ankle.”

Andrea shook her head. “No, it’s not as sore as it was at first.”

Her cheeks tinged pink, and he wondered if it hurt at all.

“Besides,” she quickly added, “my friends can take me later if I need to go. I’ll just put some ice on it back at our room.”

JL Crosswhite

JL’s favorite thing is discovering how much there is to love about America the Beautiful and the great outdoors. She’s a mom to two, navigating the young adult years while battling her daughter’s juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, exploring the delights of her son’s autism, and keeping gluten free. A California native who’s spent significant time in the Midwest, she’s thrilled to be back in the Golden State. Follow her on social media to see all her adventures and how she gets inspired for her books!

Blog Stops

Excerpt One: https://janemouttet.wordpress.com/2022/02/02/epic-book-launch-beneath-a-star-lit-sky/

Excerpt Two: https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2022/01/epic-book-launch-beneath-star-lit-sky.html

Excerpt Three: https://www.amoderndayfairytale.net/2022/02/beneath-star-lit-sky-epic-book-launch.html

Excerpt Four: https://happywhenreading.wordpress.com/2022/02/02/beneath-a-star-lit-sky/

Excerpt Five: https://amandanicolle.blogspot.com/2022/01/beneath-star-lit-sky.html

Excerpt Six: http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews/celebrate-lit-epic-book-launch-beneath-a-star-lit-sky-by-jl-crosswhite

Excerpt Seven: https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/2022/01/13/beneath-a-star-lit-sky-epic-book-launch/

0 Comments

WORD Wednesday - February 2nd, 2022

2/2/2022

0 Comments

2022 Birthday Celebration - 5 Things... Interview with Jen Turano (Giveaway)

2/1/2022

13 Comments

When Arthur Livingston arrives out of the blue at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire the agency to seek out a missing heiress, Eunice Holbrooke realizes her past has finally caught up with her.

Having fled from the scene of her grandfather's murder seven years before, Eunice is a lady with secrets--the most important that she is the missing heiress Arthur is seeking. She has no intention of allowing him to learn she's been disguising herself, especially when she has reason to believe Arthur could hold her responsible for her grandfather's death.

In order to avoid Arthur and conceal her real identity, Eunice takes on another case that requires her to go deep undercover. With secrets from the past--and Arthur--appearing wherever she looks, she wonders how she will ever uncover the truth behind her grandfather's murder. Will what she discovers set Eunice free or place her in peril's way?

ISBN-13: 9780764235337

5 Things I Never Expected About Becoming An Author
Jen Turano

1. I think the first thing I never expected when I decided to attempt to get a book published was how long it was going to take. I mean, when you write that first book, it’s almost impossible to understand the scope of the competition. I quickly realized it was going to be a rather daunting task because there are millions of writers out there. That’s when I also realized I was going to have to learn everything I could about the publishing industry. It was less than reassuring when I ran across this informative tidbit – Only 3% of authors ever receive a traditional publishing contract with a legitimate publishing house and…get this…of that 3 %, only 1 % ever experiences success in that they earn out their advances and receive additional contracts. Talk about the odds not being in your favor.

However, I decided to continue on, and I also knew I only wanted to go the traditional route, but knew I really had to up my game with my writing craft in order to attract the attention of an agent. It took me seven manuscripts and five years before I produced a work that could be considered publishing-worthy. That book landed me an agent, but she never sold it, instead selling a book I wrote after I signed with her, that being my first published work, “A Change of Fortune.” I’ve been writing for Bethany House ever since.

2. Odd questions/request from fans. The oddest request I ever received actually went to my agent first. A very wealthy, and need I add obviously eccentric woman, asked if she could buy the film rights to one of my early works because she’d always had a hankering to act, and she thought one of my side characters would be the perfect role for her – I think it may have been Abigail, who was an older, somewhat meddling kind of character. However, this woman wasn’t going to film the book set in the Gilded Age. Nope, she was going to make it contemporary. Well, I didn’t actually own the film rights to that particular book, so my agent sent her off to speak to my publishing house and I never heard from the lady again. It would have been interesting to see how one of my stories would do turned into a contemporary romp.

3. Strangest historical fact I’ve uncovered. - Since the Gilded Age was a time of unprecedented change in America, I’ve found a slew of interesting tidbits, but the strangest thing I’ve uncovered has to do with a lady by the name of Gladys Deacon. She was quite the beauty, and gentlemen chased her around the world. Gladys, however only had eyes for the 9th Duke of Marlborough, who was married to a lady known throughout the Gilded Age – Consuelo Vanderbilt. Well, Gladys didn’t seem to be bothered by the idea that her love interest was married, and she pursued him quite diligently and ended up marrying the man after Consuelo divorced the duke.

And, okay, that’s not the interesting tidbit, although it was quite the story. Here’s the strangeness involved with Gladys. She eventually decided her beauty was flawed because she had a small dent at the bridge of her nose. Because of that, off she went for an experimental treatment that, unfortunately, went horribly wrong. She actually had doctors inject paraffin wax into her nose to plump out that dent – quite like Botox today, but get this – the wax, after a very short amount of time, began to melt and it slid down the inside of her face and settled in her jaw, completely distorting her features. She was eventually forced to have surgery to remove the wax, which left a permanent scar and was why she demanded all the mirrors be removed for all of her residences. As an aside, the duke eventually divorced her and she ended up in an insane asylum for the last decade of her life.

Gladys Deacon

4. strangers say when they discover I’m an author. – This is one of those amusing things in my life because, without fail, as soon as a stranger discovers I write romance for a living, they immediately assume I write the naughty kind of romance. Case in point, I once attended a dinner at a friend’s house and met this lovely man by the name of George. Well, I told George what I did for a living, but I didn’t expand much because it’s weird to talk about my writing at a dinner party. It’s on the same lines of getting stuck next to an accountant during tax season, so I tend to merely mention what I do and change the subject. I probably should have taken the time to expand more to George because throughout dinner, the man kept staring at me, and then whispering to his wife during the courses. He then went and spoke to the host after the meal, and my friend was dying. Why, you ask? Because George had come to the conclusion that I made my living writing porn but he didn’t think I really looked the type. It was beyond amusing, and is one of those stories that’s still told at dinners to this day.

5. How my own reading habits have changed. This was an incredibly interesting discovery for me because, yes, my reading habits have changed since I began writing. I cannot read historical romance while writing a first draft because I tend to start mimicking whatever book I’m reading, which isn’t cool at all and completely messes up my writing voice. I limit my reading while doing a first draft to non-fiction or sometimes an occasional suspense or thriller, although that doesn’t always work either because once, after reading a thriller, I included a serial killer in my work in progress, something my editor made me take right out because nothing says romantic comedy quite like a serial killer.

Jen Turano

Named One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she’s not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO. Readers may find her at www.jenturano.com or https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/or on Twitter at JenTurano @JenTurano.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Jen is generously giving away a print copy of To Disguise The Truth

(USA ONLY)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

13 Comments

Reading Challenge: 12 Books Recommended by 12 Readers - February

2/1/2022

3 Comments

February

It's time to reveal my second of book for this reading challenge. It was recommended to me by Brittany.
I am still looking for recommendations so comment below!

3 Comments

2022 Birthday Celebration - How It Works

1/31/2022

1 Comment

2022 Birthday Celebration

How It Works

During the month of February we will be featuring some wonderful content from some great authors!
To find a celebration post just look for the phrase
"2022 Birthday Celebration"
at the beginning of the blog post title and the

symbol at the top of the post.
If there is a giveaway associated with that post you will see the word
"Giveaway" at the end of the blog post title.

So, come on over and check out the fun all month long!

You can get started

HERE

Don't forget to enjoy our regular reviews and posts during the month as well!

1 Comment

Forward>>

Throwback Thursday - February 10th, 2022

My Thoughts

Streaming Episode Review - Sons Of Thunder: Redemption - Episode 5 Loss Of Trust (Giveaway)

Sign up for PureFlix to watch this series for yourself!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

2022 Birthday Celebration - Guest Post from Jenna Night

What a typical writing day looks like for me...

Movie Review - The Tiger Rising (Giveaway)

It's Time For A Giveaway!

2022 Birthday Celebration - Excerpt from Buried Cold Case Secrets by Sami A. Abrams (Giveaway)

Excerpt from Buried Cold Case Secrets

It's Time For A Giveaway!

2022 Birthday Celebration - Guest Post by Darlene L. Turner (Giveaway)

Trusting in God’s Plan

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Book Review - The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin Bartels

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water
by Erin Bartels

2022 Birthday Celebration - Author Interview with Allie Pleiter

Author Interview with Allie Pleiter

Celebrate Lit Epic Book Launch - Beneath A Star-Lit Sky by JL Crosswhite

Excerpt from Beneath A Star-Lit Sky

Blog Stops

WORD Wednesday - February 2nd, 2022

2022 Birthday Celebration - 5 Things... Interview with Jen Turano (Giveaway)

5 Things I Never Expected About Becoming An Author
Jen Turano

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Reading Challenge: 12 Books Recommended by 12 Readers - February

February

2022 Birthday Celebration - How It Works

2022 Birthday Celebration

So, come on over and check out the fun all month long!

Author

Follow Us

Get new posts by email:

Jasmine's bookshelf: Currently Reading

2023 Reading Challenge

Archives

Categories

My Thoughts

Sign up for PureFlix to watch this series for yourself!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

What a typical writing day looks like for me...

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Excerpt from Buried Cold Case Secrets

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Trusting in God’s Plan

It's Time For A Giveaway!

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Waterby Erin Bartels

Author Interview with Allie Pleiter

Excerpt from Beneath A Star-Lit Sky

Blog Stops

5 Things I Never Expected About Becoming An Author Jen Turano

It's Time For A Giveaway!

February

2022 Birthday Celebration

So, come on over and check out the fun all month long!

Author

Follow Us

Get new posts by email:

Archives

Categories

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water
by Erin Bartels

5 Things I Never Expected About Becoming An Author
Jen Turano