To Win Her Favor (Belle Meade Plantation, #2) by Tamera Alexander

A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who can help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing for good.

An Irish-born son far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He’s come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and start a farm, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he’d wagered, especially when Maggie Linden’s father makes him an offer he shouldn’t accept yet cannot possibly refuse.

Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the annual Drayton Stakes at Nashville’s racetrack––the richest race run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance, and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder, Maggie’s father––aging, yet wily as ever––makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail––Maggie must marry a man she’s never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

Cullen and Maggie need each other in order to achieve their dreams. But their stubborn, wounded hearts––and the escalating violence from a "secret society" responsible for lynchings and midnight raids––may prove too much for even two determined souls.

About The Author

Tamera Alexander

Tamera Alexander is a bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded or nominated for numerous honors, including the Christy Award, the RITA Award, and the Carol Award. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband have returned to their native South and live in Tennessee, where they enjoy spending time with their two grown children.

Tamera invites you visit her website, her blog, on Twitter, or Facebook.

More Info

Twitter

@tameraalexander

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/tamera.alexander

Website

http://www.tameraalexander.com 

Celebrate the release of To Win Her Favor with a Kindle Fire and book giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD 6
• A copy of To Win Her Favor

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 10th. Winner will be announced May 11th on Tamera’s blog. Plus stay tuned for more opportunities to win after May 11 with a special Pinterest contest—more details coming soon!

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

My Review

Mail order bride, nope, mail order groom, not quite, more like 1860’s Nashville TN and a father picking someone off the highway as a prospective son-in-law. This time period is just after the Civil War, we are in the South, and so many families are hurting. Now the carpetbaggers are taking over, or the less than scruples individuals who take from those who are hurting and looing everything, besides their loved ones.
Cullen McGrath is looking for land; he wants to fulfill his deceased wives wish. Everywhere he turns he hits prejudice, former slaves and Irishmen are lumped together as being unreliable and lazy. No one wants to sell anything to him, and he is told to leave town.
Now he is offered a picturesque piece of property, and all that goes with it, and all he has to do is marry Mr. Linden’s daughter. Maggie knows she has to marry this man she has never met in order to save Linden Downs.
Will Maggie go through with marrying this man, and an Irishman at that? Will she be able to race her beloved horse, or will the new owner take away her dreams? It all lies in her hands, which way her decision goes.
Come along with for a different look at the post Civil War era, and how so many lives were affected. I didn’t want the book to end, and there are some unanswered questions here, and I am happy that there is another book coming. Yeah!
I received this book through the Litfuse Book Bloggers book tour, and was not required to give a positive review.

An Amish Man of Ice Mountain by Kelly Long

Joseph King has good reasons to work an oil rig far from his beloved Ice Mountain . . . and to mind his own business. He hopes to protect his younger brother Edward from worldly influences. And maybe he can finally forget how yielding to temptation forced him to leave home in disgrace. Still, no honorable Amish man would let Priscilla Allen and her four-year-old daughter remain homeless, living out of their car. And how can he not be drawn to the feisty waitress's bravery and hidden strength . . .

Offering Priscilla a home on Ice Mountain as his wife-in-name-only gives her a place to start again. For Joseph, it's also an unexpected chance to regain his reputation and standing in the community. But Priscilla's warmth, caring, and determination to adjust to Amish society are renewing Joseph's long-buried hope. Now as his guilt and her wrenching secrets threaten the fragile trust growing between them, they will need the riskiest of miracles to put the past to rest--and fulfill a promise only love and renewed faith can bring.

About The Author

Kelly Long was born and raised in North Central Pennsylvania. There was an Amish hitching post at the small grocery store in her town. She loves to write Amish romance and is the author of novel, Sarah's Garden, the novella Amish Christmas Expanded Edition with some other great Amish authors, Amish Love with Beth Wiseman and Kathy Fuller, and Lilly's Wedding Quilt--the sequel to Sarah's Garden. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and children. 


My Review

I just finished the second book in this series, and yes you should read the first, but this can be a read alone. When the first book ended Joseph King was departing the mountain to follow his brother Edward and be there for him.
We find the men working on an oil rig, and living in West Virginia, with Edward continuing some of his bad choices. Joseph is trying to help, but finding Edward often out of control, how can he change him and continues to plead to God.
Joseph has an encounter with a pretty divorced woman and her precocious 4 year old, who he find out are living in their car. Joseph has let all know that he is not interested in marriage, but does God have other plans?
I so enjoyed this book and how you don’t see what is coming next. There is such compassion shown by these people, and makes you want to live here. We revisit the ice mine on this picturesque mountain in Pennsylvania. Loved how some of the evil that is present is shown the hand of God, and dealt with in a loving but firm manner.
This is a fast and enjoyable read, and you should read the first book, it is referenced and continued here, but you can read this one alone, but don’t deprive yourself! I can’t wait for the next book, and what happens between Edward and Sarah?
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington Books and was not required to give a positive review.

Thick as Thieves (Circle C Milestones, #1) by Susan K. Marlow

Girls will love Andrea's new adventures in Circle C Milestones, the continuation of Susan K. Marlow's two popular Circle C series

It's no secret that Andrea Carter would rather ride her beloved palomino, Taffy, than do anything else. Now Taffy's having her first foal, and Andi can't wait to train it to become as good a companion as its mother. The only distraction from those delightful plans is the fear that something may go wrong. When her foaling fears are realized, Andi is grateful for her brother Chad's intervention. It looks like smooth sailing from now on!

Unfortunately, life as a teenager might not be all fun and games after all. There's a new girl at school assigned to sit beside Andi--but Macy Walker is nothing like the other girls. She's homeless and ill-bred, and her mistakes do more than make Andi uncomfortable; they put her life in danger. Meanwhile, cattle rustlers have suddenly descended on the Valley and the Circle C ranch is a target. These outlaws mean business--and their business is theft.

When the thieves change from stealing cattle to stealing horses, it means heartbreaking loss for Andi. Her unpleasant classmate Macy may hold the key to getting Taffy's foal back. Can Andi trust Macy to do the right thing? Does she have a choice?

Picking up the story line of Andrea Carter and the Price of Truth, Thick as Thieves sees Andi growing up just in time for her loyal readers to grow alongside her. The Circle C Milestones series will follow Andi from age 14 to 17, as she begins to tackle the more serious issues facing an older audience and--eventually--discovers love.


About The Author

Susan K Marlowstarted writing stories when she was ten years old. I never planned on becoming a published author. I just liked writing stories. But eventually others found out about my secret "writing" and encouraged me to submit.

I love to teach. I taught in Christian schools before I home schooled. After twenty years, I finished home schooling but find myself "back in the saddle" as I help other home schooling families, including my grandchildren.

You can find FREE stuff to go along with the books at www.circlecadventures.com. Study guides, coloring pages, on-line puzzles, and a link to Andi's Blog. 


My Review 

A sweet read for a young teen girl, full of action, and happenings that they can understand. Although, the story takes place back in 1882, making decisions based on looks is something that happens everyday.
Andi Carter has grown up on a well to do ranch and has her own horse, Taffy, and awaiting the birth of a new foal. We watch her sleeping in the barn, and alerting the family with every breath that Taffy takes that she feels is different. The whole family is joyful when the young horse is born!
We go to school with Andi and see her reaction to Marcy, a girl with really no upbringing and a family of ne’re-do-wells. She smells, and could just picture these kids reaction to her. Of course this story does end up revolving around Andi and Mercy, and a personal relationship with God.
Enjoy this action packed quick read, you will not regret it, it become a real page-turner. 

Every Bride Needs a Groom (Brides With Style, #1) by Janice Thompson

Somewhere in a sea of tulle and taffeta, satin and crepe, Katie Fisher needs to find a key ingredient of the perfect wedding--the groom.
Small-town girl Katie Fisher is busy planning her fairy-tale wedding. Sure, her boyfriend hasn't managed to pop the question just yet, but that doesn't mean she shouldn't enter a contest in Texas Bride magazine to win the dress of her dreams, right? Anyway, she's sure he'll be getting down on one knee any time now. And a one-of-a-kind designer dress doesn't just fall out of the sky right when you need it.

But when Katie's boyfriend takes a job in another town and breaks up with her--on the very same day she wins her dream dress--her world is turned upside down. Dare she go to Dallas to claim her prize? And will the hunky pro basketball player who runs the beyond-swanky bridal shop--yeah, you read that right--discover her humiliating secret if she does?


About The Author

Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson offers an inside look at the wedding business, drawing on her own experiences as a wedding planner. She is the author of the hugely popular Weddings by Bella series and the Backstage Pass series, as well as Picture Perfect, The Icing on the Cake, and The Dream Dress. She lives in Texas.

Learn more at www.janiceathompson.com.


My Review

Back in Texas with Brides, and there are mentions of previously loved characters that we have come to know well. This book focus on a young woman obsessed with getting married, and probably she should be, as she has been in a long-term relationship. When the book opens she is expecting Chase to pop the question any day, or today to be exact.
With the anticipated proposal Katie Fisher enters a contest to win an exclusive wedding gown made especially for the winner. When she wins and her prospective groom leaves to take a job elsewhere, what should she do? She feels a moral dilemma to let those the bridal shop know that she is not getting married.
What will Katie do? God has his hand on her, and you will love how things work out for her and her family. I never saw all the relationships that are about to start! There is also a sad, long standing, and I mean years, of no contact between Katie’s Grandmother Queenie and her sister. How sad.
Come along and enjoy a sweet fast read, that once you pick up you can’t put down. There are a lot of surprises, and family love, enough to go around, I loved this!
I received this book from Revell Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review

A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron | Blog Tour and Giveaway Basket

Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection in Kristy Cambron‘s new book, A Sparrow in Terezin. Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains and fight to protect all they hold dear—even if it means placing their own futures on the line.
Kristy is celebrating by giving away a basket filled with goodies inspired by her new book!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A set of poppy notecards
• A poppy pin
• A copy of I Never Saw Another Butterfly
• A copy of the Mrs. Miniver DVD
• Literary tea bags
• Tumbler
• A copy of A Sparrow in Terezin

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 28th. Winner will be announced April 29th on Kristy’s blog.



{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

###

A Sparrow in Terezin (Thomas Nelson, April 2015)
Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection through one survivor’s story of hope in the darkest days of a war-torn world.
Present Day—With the grand opening of her new art gallery and a fairytale wedding just around the corner, Sera James feels she’s stumbled into a charmed life—until a brutal legal battle against fiancé William Hanover threatens to destroy the perfectly planned future she’s planned before it even begins. Now, after an eleventh-hour wedding ceremony and a callous arrest, William faces a decade in prison for a crime he never committed, and Sera must battle the scathing accusations that threaten her family and any hope for a future.
1942—Kája Makovsky narrowly escaped occupied Prague in 1939, and was forced to leave her half-Jewish family behind. Now a reporter for the Daily Telegraph in England, Kája discovers the terror has followed her across the Channel in the shadowy form of the London Blitz. When she learns Jews are being exterminated by the thousands on the continent, Kája has no choice but to return to her mother city, risking her life to smuggle her family to freedom and peace.
Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, these two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains and fight to protect all they hold dear—even if it means placing their own futures on the line.

About The Author

Kristy Cambron fancies life as a vintage-inspired storyteller. Her second novel, A Sparrow in Terezin, was named Library Journal Reviews’ “Pick of the Month (Christian Fiction)” for February 2015.
Cambron is an art/design manager at TheGROVEstory.com storytelling ministry. She holds a degree in art history from Indiana University and has nearly 15 years of experience in instructional design and communications for a Fortune-100 company. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three football-loving sons, where she can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good Christian fiction read.


Find out more about Kristy at http://kristycambron.com.




My Review

Kristy Cambron has woven another historic reminder of the evil that took over the world when Hitler came to power. We travel between current times and beginning in 1939 through WWII, when horror took over the world.
The story opens with the continuation of the first book, The Butterfly and The Violin, which was such a fantastic read, but this book does read alone. We are at the wedding of Sera and William, and when the ceremony is finish, an arrest happens for a crime that he never committed.
The story connects through the decades in unexpected ways, and again we experience the horrors of the concentration camps, and the connection between the families. It’s a world gone mad, and the innocent souls who succumb to the evil, and for what, and how can it end, a timely reminder to this day.
This is a page-turner, and one that will linger with you for a long time after the last page is turned. It is a timely reminder of what happens when Satan takes over, and the havoc he pushes forth on a world that has turned it back on God.
Come and find the connection between Kája and Sera, and of course Sophie, you will be surprised and heart warmed.
I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

A Heart's Obsession (A Journey of the Heart, #2) by Colleen Coble

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of A Heart’s Disguise
• A copy of A Heart’s Obsession
• A copy of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge (blog tour coming in mid-April)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen’s website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge! RSVP here!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!

 

 

 

A Heart’s Obsession (Thomas Nelson, April 2015)

Will Sarah’s journey west lead her back into the arms of the one man she can trust?
When her father succumbs to a long illness, Sarah Montgomery is freed from duty to family. At last she can be with the love of her life, Rand Campbell, who has gone out west to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Sarah and her younger brother Joel make the arduous journey filled with hope.
But at Fort Laramie, the reception Sarah meets isn’t what she had hoped for. Her friend Amelia is thrilled to have her, but Rand seems to be in the clutches of Jessica DuBois, the scheming daughter of the post commander.
Sarah resolves to remain at Fort Laramie and try to win Rand back. But things will get tougher before they get easier . . . especially when her ex-fiancé Ben Croftner arrives in Wyoming, obsessed with having her back in his arms.


Learn more and purchase a copy at the Thomas Nelson website.

About The Author

USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble has written several romantic suspense novels including “Tidewater Inn,” “Rosemary Cottage,” and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series.

Find out more about Colleen at http://www.colleencoble.com/.

My Review 

A Heart’s Obsession is the second book in Colleen Coble’s Journey of the Heart series, and like the first we are left with a cliffhanger. When we begin this book Rand has departed for Ft Laramie, Wyoming, Indian Territory. He has left Sarah Montgomery devastated. She is now dealing with the grief of loosing her Dad and the love of her life. She begins her journey to Wyoming with her brother Joel and her best friend Amelia. We are about to experience what she finds when she gets there, and the long arm of evil. The evil appears to come in different forms, and we root for the defeat. Of course the Ben from the first book shows up again, and now there is another person. Another quick read, and has me wanting more, I want to know what happens, and can hardly wait!

 I received this book through Litfuse Blogger Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

WNL Virtual Book Tours Presents: Jeff Hastings The Mos Successful Failure In the World

Author: Jeff Hastings

Book Title: The Most Successful Failure in the World

Genre: Business, Fiction, Leadership

Publisher: Chart House Press, Released February 24, 2015

Paperback: 196 pages

ISBN-10: 1631250523

ISBN-13: 978-1631250521

When a terminal diagnosis puts Alex’s non-stop working and partying life on a six-month deadline, things draw into tight perspective for the CEO and founder of Moss Global. He realizes that while he achieved everything he’d ever set out to do, the regret over what he’d sacrificed for success weighs heavily on his heart. He can’t go back in time, but can he change his daughter’s future? Or will the business he built tear her apart too?

Alex’s eldest daughter is following in his footsteps, right along with his best friend and Director of Customer Relations, Peter Walker. Through a series of tests and reformations, Alex works against time and the disease in his body to save his loved ones and his company from the life he modeled. Can the most successful failure in the world be redeemed?

Other books by the author: Recruit, Recruit, Recruit – Achieving Success One Agent at a Time

Social Links:

Website: http://themostsuccessfulfailure.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JHastingsAgency

Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/jeff.hastings.author

Facebook Book page: https://www.facebook.com/themostsuccessfulfailure

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SX7CPC8

About The Author

Starting a business from the ground up can be one of the most stressful, time-consuming and gut-wrenching challenges that one can endure. With 85% of business owners failing before year five, many entrepreneurs who chase their dreams end up emotionally and financially bankrupt in the process.

Jeff Hastings knows all about the good intentions that pave the road to success. He has been in your shoes and experienced great triumphs and tribulation and has lived to tell the tale. As a small business owner, he developed one of the largest and most productive sales teams in the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. His team of over 60 insurance agents and 150 support staff generated an estimated $85 million in annualized premium. In one year, his district generated over $13 million in profit making him one of the most profitable district managers since the company’s inception in 1928. Often being recognized for his performance, the pinnacle of his insurance career came in 2005 when he received the CEO’s top award, District Manager of the Year.

However, once had reached the top he realized the sacrifice of health and family wasn’t worth the reward he’d been working towards for so many years. An already prolific author, motivational speaker and E-Myth coach, Jeff retired at just 47-years young to venture out on his own to develop a business coaching firm and publishing agency in 2014. Inspired by a dream one night, his new endeavor was designed using the principle of expressing your passion through your work while never losing sight of what is truly important. His publishing agency, Chart House Press, is one of the fast growing book publishing agencies in the country. The agency currently houses over 120 writers, editors, illustrators, cover designers and publicists working worldwide to help authors get their ideas in print.

In his latest book, The Most Successful Failure in the World, Jeff explores the personal sacrifices and trials of owning and operating a business. The key point is to make certain your business adds to your life, and not the other way around.

Jeff is the proud father of three children, Kristin, Avery and Logan and resides in Richmond, Texas.

The Inn at Ocean's Edge (Sunset Cove #1) by Colleen Coble

Title: THE INN AT OCEAN’S EDGE
Author: Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
April 2015
ISBN: 978-1401690267
Genre: Romantic suspense


A vacation to Sunset Cove was her way of celebrating and thanking her parents. After all, Claire Dellamore's childhood was like a fairytale. But with the help of Luke Elwell, Claire discovers that fairytale was really an elaborate lie . . .

The minute she steps inside the grand Inn at Ocean's Edge, Claire Dellamare knows something terrible happened there. She feels it in her bones. Her ensuing panic attack causes a scene, upsetting her parents. Claire attempts to quiet her nerves with a walk on the beach, to no avail. She's at too great a distance to make out details, but she believes she witnesses a murder on a nearby cliff. When local police find no evidence of foul play, they quickly write off the "nervous" woman's testimony as less than credible.

But Luke Elwell, home on leave from the Coast Guard, has reason to believe Claire. Years ago when his mother went missing, Luke's father suspected she'd been murdered. He died never having convinced the police to investigate. So when an employee of the grand hotel doesn't show up for work, Luke steps in to help Claire track down the missing woman.

As Claire and Luke put together the pieces of a decades-old mystery, they discover that some family secrets refuse to stay buried. And some passions are worth killing for.


About The Author

Colleen Coble is a USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble has written several romantic suspense novels including “Tidewater Inn,” “Rosemary Cottage,” and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series.

Find out more about Colleen at http://www.colleencoble.com/.




My Review

Colleen Coble has done it again with another great suspenseful mystery. This one is a real page-turner from beginning to end, and the suspicion of whom was responsible for the murder or murders changes as I read along.
Along with a bit of romance and a rather earth-shattering meeting between the two main characters Claire and Luke, we have missing children. For poor Claire everyone in her family seems to know the secrets and yet no one is willing to reveal anything, why?
Luke is dealing with his own demons of loosing his own mother at a young age, was she murdered or just took off? How these people are thrown together in a jumbled twist of fate, and when can you tell what is up and what is down, and who is responsible for all the carnage?
This is one twisted tale and keeps giving bits of answers as you turn the pages, but then it seems to change and you are in for a wealth of surprises that you will never see coming.
I hated for this one to end and really wanted more when it finished and am so glad that there is at least another book to come. Count me in I really loved this one!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.


 

Pump Up Your Book Presents The Logic Bomb Virtual Book Publicity Tour

Title: The Logic Bomb
Author: Scott Richard Lord
Publisher: The Logic Bomb
Pages: 264
Genre: Thriller
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle

Fiction collides with fact with frightening prescience in Scott Lord’s ripped-from-the-headlines techno-thriller, THE LOGIC BOMB.

In his exciting debut as a novelist, Lord, a practicing lawyer, mixes shady financial deals, organized crime, and the real-life threat of cyber warfare into an unlikely but always entertaining blend of high drama and comedy.

Scott Turow, author of the bestselling legal thriller PRESUMED INNOCENT, hails Lord as “a terrific writer. Read THE LOGIC BOMB.”

Kirkus Reviews praises THE LOGIC BOMB as “rife with tense scenes dominated by gleefully unpredictable characters.”

Lord’s hero, Tom Tresh, is a Los Angeles lawyer living on an aging sailboat while struggling to support his seven-year-old son and an ex-wife. When a friend offers him a “huge payday” if he helps with a shady deal to sell a complex but seemingly harmless computer program to a Hong Kong company, Tresh finds himself in a firestorm of intrigue, because the program is actually a powerful cyber weapon, capable of infiltrating and destroying computer systems.

Lord cites former National Security Advisor Richard A. Clarke’s 2010 book, “Cyber War,” as one of the chief inspirations for writing THE LOGIC BOMB. Lord explains that a logic bomb is a type of cyber weapon, a "virtual explosive," that can infiltrate various systems and wreck them.

So-called “logic bombs” actually exist, says Lord, and, according to the best authorities, are already planted in U.S. software programs that run our financial, transportation, utility and – scariest of all – defense systems.

(Clarke’s book) “describes in great detail the types of cyber attacks which we are all becoming familiar with,” Lord explains. “I decided that one of the cyber weapons he describes, a logic bomb, would be an excellent `MacGuffin’ for my story. Now cyberwar is filling the news. Little did I know!”

For More Information

• The Logic Bomb is available at Amazon.
• Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.

Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.


About The Author

Scott R. Lord has been a highly successful criminal and civil trial lawyer for 35 years and is active in the practice of law with the law firm of Cohen & Lord, a P.C., located in the Century City area of Los Angeles. Scott is a devoted student of Italian language and literature. He is the father and step-father of six children and lives with his wife and children in Santa Monica, California.

His latest book is the thriller, The Logic Bomb.

For More Information

• Visit Scott R. Lord’s website.
• Find out more about Scott at Goodreads.

Contact Scott Richard Lord.





   

Book Excerpt (from Chapter 8)

My telephone rang at 5:20 a.m. When I picked up, a computer voice told me it was a collect person-to-person call from “Charles Papadoks.” I accepted. The only people who call collect these days are in jail.

“Tom, you there?” It was Charlie, of course.

“Charlie,” I yawned, “what’s going on?” There was a lot of crackling on the line.

“Tom, I’m in jail. They arrested me an hour ago, just came to my house and took me to the police station. All they’ll tell me is that a couple of guys got killed, they think I know something about it.”

I sat up in my bunk. “Did they say who?”

His voice came back through the interference, “No, they won’t tell me. But there’s a TV in here, it’s all over the news. Says it happened somewhere in the west valley, maybe near Chatsworth.”

“Chatsworth?” Naturally. “But why would they arrest you, they think you did it? That’s crazy!”

“I know,” he shouted, “completely crazy! Tom, there’s going to be some kind of lineup later this morning. They say they got someone saw me in the area. You gotta help me.”

I came fully awake. “Sure, Charlie, I’ll be there. I’ll try to find out what’s going on.”

“Tom, you think this could have anything to do with… “

“Shut up, Charlie.”

“What?”

“Just shut up. Take my advice for once.” They didn’t advertise the fact, but pay phone lines at jail are recorded. I hung up. 

I turned on the television to a local station.

I could see a helicopter view of a crime scene lit up like a movie set, with crime scene tape and dozens of people milling around. The reporter was saying that two bodies were found near the old Spahn Ranch. The early morning news anchor, clearly hyped on too much caffeine, was playing up the Manson angle and the crawl at the bottom of the picture kept repeating, “Spahn Ranch Bloodbath – Manson Copycat Feared.” A police helicopter was circling overhead, and at least two news helicopters were there to cover the “breaking” news. The anchor quoted an unnamed police spokesman as saying that one of the victims had been killed with one shot in the head, and the second body had been disemboweled.

The police couldn’t, or wouldn’t, say whether the bodies had been killed in the field, or killed elsewhere and dumped in the field. An eager young reporter at the scene, dressed in a bright red leather miniskirt and a matching jacket, reported that there was a swastika tattooed or cut into the forehead of

the second victim.

Smith answered his cell phone. “We have a witness, Tresh. She was walking her dog a few minutes after midnight. Says she saw someone coming from this field. Charlie’s business card was in one of the victim’s pockets.

When we called him, he told us that he’d been up here earlier, visiting a house in the area. He wouldn’t explain what his visit was about. Denies being here last night.”

“Why the quick lineup? Don’t you need time to beat a confession out of him?”

“Very funny. I’m pretty sure it’s not Charlie, but I gotta follow up. And all Charlie’ll say to us is he wants his lawyer and you’re it.

Either the old broad recognizes him or she doesn’t. I’ve got no interest in a phony ID.”

“Why arrest him then?”

“He’s a flake, Tom. I just wanted him to be somewhere I could find him.”

“How far away was she from the guy she saw, assuming it was a guy of course?”

“About fifty feet she says. She was near a streetlight.”

“What have you told her about Charlie?”

“Just that we have a man who might have been in the area, can she come down and look and see if he’s the man she saw.”

“I’d like to go to the crime scene first, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure. We could use a first-class mind like yours, help us with any clues we might have missed.”

I ignored the sarcasm. “You still be there in an hour?”

“Yeah.” He hung up.

The first victim was a young man with a blond crew cut, a beatific smile, and a small red round hole in the middle of his forehead. It struck me that if you didn’t know what had happened, you might think the young man was one of those Western devotees of the Hindu religion, lost in the joy of

meditation under the stars, quietly chanting his mantra as he lie still. His feet were splayed out and were clad in leather sandals. His hands were flung loosely at his sides, the way yogis do when they take the position of savasana, the corpse pose. Of course, if you looked closer, you would notice the small

trickle of blood from the red spot on his forehead and the fact that he didn’t seem to be breathing. He wasn’t in a yogic trance or pose. He was a corpse.

And I knew him. His name was Chet Harris.

An Empty Cup by Sarah Price

Amish woman Rosanna Zook lost her self-confidence within the confines of a loveless and abusive marriage. In the years spent quietly dealing with her burdens and dutifully caring for others, she forgot her sense of self and ability to feel. But after her first husband’s untimely death, she gets a second chance with Reuben Troyer, a godly man who welcomes Rosanna and her two children into his life.
Despite the love and respect she finds in her new marriage, Rosanna soon learns that juggling the demands of her family and church community is more than she can handle. When Rosanna becomes ill, she is forced to confront a hard truth: one empty cup cannot fill another. For a woman who has spent her life giving, will Rosanna finally be able to let go and receive?

Amazon 

About The Author

The Preiss family emigrated from Europe in 1705, settling in Pennsylvania as the area's first wave of Mennonite families. Sarah Price has always respected and honored her ancestors through exploration and research about her family history and their religion. At nineteen, she befriended an Amish family and lived on their farm throughout the years.

As a masterful storyteller, Sarah Price prides herself on presenting an authentic Amish experience for her readers. Many of her stories are based on actual people she has met and her own experiences living among the Amish over the years. Sarah now resides in Morris County, New Jersey with her family.

While she started out as an Indie author, she signed on with Realms, an imprint of Charisma House and Waterfall Press, an imprint of Brilliance Publishing. Her first book, First Impressions: An Amish Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice was released in May 2014.

Get the latest news about Sarah Price on Facebook, Twitter, and sarahpriceauthor.com.

My Review


As the book opens we meet Rosanna and Timothy, a typical Amish couple. Nope not by a long shot, at least not Timothy, he sure doesn’t seem to live his faith.
Fast forward ahead a few years, and we find Rosanna living a better life, or is she? She is now married to Reuben and as we meet him we feel a breath of fresh air. He appears to care about his wife and children, and seems to be a man of deep faith.
Rosanna has a very full plate, taking care of her family, all her household chores, and her love of her community. We walk in her shoes as she goes about her daily chores, and those chores seem to multiply as each day comes. She seem to be at the breaking point at times, and you will worry about her health, how much can one woman take?
Enter a new woman whom Reuben seems to have taken under his wing, and has arrived at a time when he wants to cut back on his working. Nan looks like a Godsend, she is in love with the business, and has her hand in everything, including expanding.
Sounds like a perfect Amish life here, but things are not how they are being presented. Come along for another impossible to put down read by Master Story Teller Sarah Price, you will not be disappointed.
I received this book from the Author and was not required to give a positive review.