Abduction by Gillian Jackson

8 August, 2000

A carefree birthday party goes horribly wrong. The children scatter to play hide and seek. But one little girl never returns.

Three-year-old Grace has vanished without a trace.


Fourteen years later

With the case long-since gone cold, Grace’s family have done their best to move on.

But her sister, Elise, has never given up hope.

And now Elise thinks she may have found her…

Is Elise going crazy? Could Grace really have returned?

And if she has, where was she taken…?

ABDUCTION is a page-turning kidnapping mystery which confronts every parent’s worst nightmare. This emotional psychological thriller will stay with you long after the pages have turned. 

Amazon


About The Author

Author of the 'Maggie Sayer' series and other stand alone novels published by Sapere Books.

Wife to Derek and mother to four, grandmother to nine.

Our lovely rescue dog Liffey completes my family and ensures that I take regular breaks from my desk!

Website


My Review    

A story about a family’s worst nightmare, one you don’t even want to imagine, and yet we know that it happens!
The book is written so we know the thoughts of the person who is currently thinking or working on finding Grace or whom we are following at that time.
While I figured out the ending or who was the culprit early, I had to keep reading to find out if I was correct, and sadly, yes, I was right!

I received this book through Net Galley and Sapere Books Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

Love at Pebble Creek (Hope Chest of Dreams #5) by Lisa Jones Baker

In Lisa Jones Baker's heartwarming series, precious hand-carved chests hold treasured dreams--and bring blessings to a new generation ...
Anna King has a talent--and a secret. Like the birth mother she never knew, Anna is gifted at sketching and longs to study and teach art one day. Unbeknownst to her beloved adoptive family, she's even entered a contest to win a full scholarship to art college. Sketching isn't a desirable vocation in her community, so Anna does her work in a remote spot by Pebble Creek and stores it in her beautiful hope chest. Only her family's farmhand, Jesse Beiler, knows her plans--and that's by accident ...

The bishop's son, Jessie is surprised to discover Anna's contest entry form. He can't imagine wanting a life beyond having his own farm and raising a family. Still, he admires Anna's spirit and promises to keep her secret, despite their differences. Yet the better he and Anna get to know each other, the more they find their personalities--and their hearts--complement one another. With Gott's guidance, can they forge the futures they desire--together?

Amazon


About The Author

Lisa Jones Baker grew up near a small Amish town in Illinois that she frequented with her family on weekends. She's also a dog lover and a fan of Scottsdale, Arizona, where she spent nearly two decades. Lisa graduated from Illinois State University with a French major, has been on 5 out of 7 continents, and considers her parents the best in the world. Raised in a Christian home, Lisa has always been blessed with love and support. 

Website 


My Review

I loved being back in Pebble Creek, and visiting with old friends, and remembering dear Sam, and missing the love, kindness and wisdom he shared with others.
This story is a bit different when an adoptive daughter Anna King, decides she wants to discover her roots, and an old friend, Jessie Beiler, encourages her. Will you see the sparks fly between then?
The author sure gave Jessie a hard part, he is falling in love with Anna, or maybe he has always loved her, but he sees her talent and encourages her dreams. He seems to be between a rock and a hard place.
You hope that a sheltered girl, thinking she can uproot herself and head into the world will realize what she has before she leaves, if only Sam were still here to advise her.
I know how I was rooting, but you will have to read this quick book, and see for yourself!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zebra, and was not required to give a positive review.
 

All He'll Ever Need (A Little Child Shall Lead Them #1) by Loree Lough

Among the New-new Order Amish of Oakland, Maryland, children bring precious hope, joy--and sometimes an unexpected second chance at love ...

For Amish widower Philip Baker, providing for his family in the wake of his wife's death means back-breaking work and renewed dedication to his faith. Still, his strength can't help him relate to his little son's struggles. It seems a godsend when new doctor Emily White is able to treat Gabe's shyness and fear even as she helps heal him. But no matter how strongly Philip is drawn to the caring Englischer from the city, their differences may be too great to overcome ...

Reeling from her own tragic loss, Emily keeps loneliness at bay through her clinic work. Somehow, though, Gabe and his gentle, sad-eyed father are making her want to risk opening her heart again. But can she find acceptance in their Plain world--and a way to turn their separate lives into a family forever?

Amazon


About The Author

With the upcoming release of the books in her new Kensington series, bestselling author Loree Lough will have 121 books on the shelves (8,000,000+ copies in circulation). Her writing style has been compared to Nicholas Sparks and Mary Jo Putney, and readers and reviewers often call her “a gifted writer whose stories touch hearts and change lives.”

With a long list of industry awards, it isn't likely this prolific author will ever retire...not even to her cozy li'l cabin in the Allegheny Mountains. She loves to hear from her readers and personally answers every letter sent to http://www.loreelough.com/.


My Review

The author has offered us a very different Amish read, a man who has lost his wife, and is raising his four-year-old son, with the help of his mother. Sounds normal, but Phillip is walking to the beat of his own drum. He is a member of a new order sect, but he pushes his own way to the ultimate, but we see his heart is with being Amish.
Enter a difficult time in these characters lives, and little Gabe becomes ill, will he bend to the culture and put all in the hands of God, or receive help that God has provided by way of modern medicine?
This makes for a page turning read, and I loved the epilogue. Thank you Loree Lough!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.

Celebrate Lit Presents: The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken

About the Book

Book: The Yellow Lantern
Author: Angie Dicken
Genre: Christian Historical/Suspense
Release Date: August, 2019
 
Josephine Is Forced to Spy for Grave Robbers
Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime
In Massachusetts in 1824, Josephine Clayton awakes on the table of the doctor she’s assisted all these months. She was presumed dead by all and has become the doctor’s next corpse for his medical research. Frightened, the doctor tries to kill her, but Josephine begs to be spared. A deal is struck—Josie will leave her village and work at a distant cotton mill. All the while, she’ll await her true mission—posing as a mourner to help his body snatcher procure her replacement. At the mill though, Josie is praised for her medical remedies among the mill girls, gaining attention from the handsome factory manager Braham Taylor. Yet, when Braham’s own loved one becomes the prey for the next grave robbing, Josie must make a choice that could put her dark past behind her or steal away the promise of any future at all.
What price will Josie pay for love when her secrets begin to unravel?

Click here to grab your copy.

About the Author

Angie Dicken credits her love of story to reading British literature during life as a military kid in England. Now living in the U.S. heartland, she’s a member of ACFW, sharing about author life with her fellow Alley Cats on The Writer’s Alley blog and Facebook page. Besides writing, she is a busy mom of four and works in Adult Ministry. Angie enjoys eclectic new restaurants, authentic conversation with friends, and date nights with her Texas Aggie husband. Connect with her online at www.angiedicken.com.

More from Angie

Barbour’s True Colors Crime concept intrigued me from the very beginning. Being the daughter of a doctor and discovering the ties of grave robbing to the early medical profession, I was excited to dive deep into 19^th century Massachusetts. Grave robbing around Boston and New York was often employed by doctors desperate for medical advancement. Men and women were both involved in the procuring of bodies for doctors. Finding these accounts led me to take took a look at the current medical remedies of the time—tinctures, elixirs, and herbal concoctions. My heroine was created in the tension of a desire to heal and the desperation of medical pursuits.
Amidst these medical ties to the historical moment of 1824, something was also shifting among women in rural areas of New England. Many women were employed by newly built cotton mills (Lowell Mill was my inspiration for the fictional Gloughton Mill in The Yellow Lantern). These working opportunities for women offered an escape from their home-bound lives and the rare chance for independence. Of course, with such industrial environments, injuries, and sometimes death, would occur. Noting the accounts of these kind of fatalities in historical articles, my research came full circle.
I found three strong threads to weave into my grave-robbing story—desperate doctors in need of research, a doctor’s assistant needing an escape from her village, and a mill, not only offering that escape, but the chance at bodies for the desperate medical community.
My heroine, Josie Clay, found life in the tangle of these threads of mills, medicine, and grave robbing—all playing out within the pages of The Yellow Lantern.

Blog Stops

Genesis 5020, August 15

Seasons of Opportunities, August 15

All-of-a-kind Mom, August 15

Bigreadersite, August 16

Emily Yager, August 16

Inspired by fiction, August 16

The Christian Fiction Girl, August 17

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, August 17

Daysong Reflections, August 17

Retrospective Spines, August 18

Spoken from the Heart, August 18

Kathleen Denly, August 19

Through the Fire Blogs, August 19

Christian Bookaholic, August 19

Maureen’s Musings, August 20

For the Love of Literature, August 20

Simple Harvest Reads, August 21 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Godly Book Reviews, August 21

A Reader’s Brain, August 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 22

Betti Mace, August 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 22

Hallie Reads, August 23

Mary Hake, August 23

Inklings and notions, August 23

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 24

For Him and My Family, August 24

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, August 24

Connie’s History Classroom, August 25

Pause for Tales, August 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 25

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 26

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 26

amandainpa, August 26

Blossoms and Blessings, August 27

Texas Book-aholic, August 27

janicesbookreviews, August 27

Back Porch Reads, August 28

Just the Write Escape, August 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Angie is giving away a grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of each of the books in the series!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/e71c/the-yellow-lantern-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

I had a hard time getting into this book, the beginning was so realistic, and scary, I can’t even imagine, but that being said I didn’t know where we were going with the story, but quickly found out!
There is greed here, and surprises happen right up until the last page is turned, keep turning those pages.
Sadly, this story is based on true crimes, and when you think of this actually happening, and when the need is not met, well, just add a few!
When I was reading this story, I felt I was in old Europe, but no this is 1820’s Massachusetts!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

Great Escapes Virtual Book Blast : Two Bites Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein

BOOK BLAST Two Bites Too Many (A Sarah Blair Mystery) by Debra H. Goldstein

 

About the Book

 

Two Bites Too Many (A Sarah Blair Mystery)  

Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Kensington (September 24, 2019)  

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages 

ISBN-10: 1496719484 ISBN-13: 978-1496719485 

Digital ASIN: B07MB4779P 

Far from a domestic goddess, Sarah Blair would rather catch bad guys than slave over a hot stove. But when a dangerous murder boils over in Wheaton, Alabama, catching the killer means leaving her comfort zone . . .

Things are finally looking up for Sarah Blair following her unsavory divorce. Settled into a cozy carriage house with her sassy Siamese cat, RahRah, she has somehow managed to hang on to her modest law firm receptionist job and—if befriending flea-bitten strays at the local animal shelter counts—lead a thriving social life. For once, Sarah almost has it together more than her enterprising twin, Emily, a professional chef whose efforts to open a gourmet restaurant have hit a real dead end . . .

When the president of the town bank and city council is murdered after icing Emily’s business plans, all eyes are on the one person who left the scene with blood on her hands—the Blair girls’ sharp-tongued mother, Maybelle. Determined to get her mom off the hook ASAP, Sarah must collect the ingredients of a deadly crime to bring the true culprit to justice. But as neighbors turn against her family, can she pare down the suspects before another victim lands on the chopping block?

Includes quick and easy recipes!

About Debra H. Goldstein

 

 Judge Debra H. Goldstein is the author of Two Bites Too Many, as well as One Taste Too Many, the first of Kensington’s new Sarah Blair cozy mystery series. She also wrote Should Have Played Poker and IPPY Award-winning Maze in Blue. Her short stories, including Anthony and Agatha nominated “The Night They Burned Ms. Dixie’s Place,” have appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies including Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and Mystery Weekly. Debra serves on the national boards of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and is president of the Southeast Chapter of MWA and past president of SinC’s Guppy Chapter. Author Links Website http://www.debrahgoldstein.com Blog http://www.debrahgoldstein.com/blog Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DebraHGoldsteinAuthor/ Twitter @DebraHGoldstein Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-h-goldstein-72473a11/ GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4906340.Debra_H_Goldstein Purchase Links Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play

 

TWO BITES TOO MANY BOOK BLAST PARTICIPANTS

Babs Book Bistro

My Reading Journeys

The Book's the Thing

Literary Gold

Celticlady's Reviews

Rosepoint Publishing

Maureen's Musings

Laura's Interests

Here's How It Happened

Mallory Heart's Cozies

Brooke Blogs

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!  

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

2 CHILDREN FOR SALE

The scrawled sign, peddling young siblings on a farmhouse porch, captures the desperation sweeping the country in 1931. It’s an era of breadlines, bank runs, and impossible choices.

For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when the image leads to his big break, the consequences are devastating in ways he never imagined.

Haunted by secrets of her own, secretary Lillian Palmer sees more in the picture than a good story and is soon drawn into the fray. Together, the two set out to right a wrongdoing and mend a fractured family, at the risk of everything they value.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photo that stunned readers across the nation, this touching novel explores the tale within the frame and behind the lens—a journey of ambition, love, and the far-reaching effects of our actions.

Amazon


About The Author

KRISTINA MCMORRIS is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her novels have garnered more than two dozen literary awards and nominations, including the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, RWA’s RITA® Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, her works of fiction have been published by Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Kensington Books. Her forthcoming novel, Sold on a Monday (Sourcebooks Landmark, 8-28-18), follows her widely praised The Edge of Lost, The Pieces We Keep, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves, and Letters from Home. Additionally, her novellas are featured in the anthologies A Winter Wonderland and Grand Central. Prior to her writing career, Kristina hosted weekly TV shows since age nine, including an Emmy® Award-winning program, and has been named one of Portland's "40 Under 40" by The Business Journal. She lives with her husband and two sons in the Pacific Northwest, where she is working on her next novel. For more, visit www.KristinaMcMorris.com


My Review

The title of this book drew me in, but as I turned the pages the plot got better and better.
Yes, most of what happens here I never saw coming, but it reads like real life, things you really don’t know about another person.
Once you finish the book, which really didn’t take me long, I had to have answers, make sure you read the author’s notes. Yes, sadly it is based on a true story, not the actual story, but I could see how the author used parts of it and then the reality of what happened through the eyes of the writer became even clearer.
This one becomes a compelling page turner, and pulls in a lot of different areas, and how they all pulled together, you don’t want to miss this one!

I received this book through EdelweissPlus and the Publisher Sourcebooks, and was not required to give a positive review

All The Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio

Two women are connected across time by the city of Paris, a mysterious journal, and shocking secrets, sweeping from World War II to the present--for readers of Sarah's Key.

When Caroline wakes up in a Paris hospital with no memory of her past, she's confused to learn that she's lived a sad, reclusive life for years in a sprawling apartment on the Seine. Slowly regaining vague memories of a man and young child, she vows to piece her life back together--though she can't help but feel she may be in danger. A budding friendship with the chef of a charming nearby restaurant takes her mind off of her foggy past, as does a startling mystery from decades prior...

In Nazi-occupied Paris, young widow Celine lives a quiet life with her father, the local florist, and her daughter, Cosi. When a ruthless German officer discovers the family's Jewish ancestry, he blackmails Celine, forcing her to become his mistress in exchange for the others' safety. The trio plans an escape, but their mission goes horribly awry and Celine's beloved father and daughter are sent away to a cruel fate. Initially distraught, Celine fears the worst. Yet she soon discovers that Cosi has snuck away and followed her into captivity. More motivated than ever, Celine must now fight to hide and protect the person she loves most.

Parallel timelines intersect when Caroline discovers Celine's diary tucked away in a closet, and it is revealed that the walls of her apartment harbor dark secrets. With the help of a local student from the Sorbonne, she realizes that she may have more in common with Celine than she could ever imagine.

Amazon 


About The Author 

Sarah Jio is the New York Times bestselling author of ALWAYS, published by Random House (Ballantine), as well as seven other novels from Penguin Books, including, THE VIOLETS OF MARCH, THE BUNGALOW, BLACKBERRY WINTER, THE LAST CAMELLIA, MORNING GLORY, GOODNIGHT JUNE, and THE LOOK OF LOVE. Sarah is also a journalist who has contributed to The New York Times, Glamour, O, The Oprah Magazine, Glamour, SELF, Real Simple, Fitness, Marie Claire, and many others. She has appeared as a commentator on NPR’s Morning Edition. Her novels are translated into more than 25 languages. Sarah lives in Seattle with her three young boys. 

Website  


My Review

A book that is full of love, hope and unfortunately evil, and you find yourself quickly immersed in these stories, and the lives of the individuals the author has presented to us.
We become personally acquainted with these folks, and we are spanning decades, all the while being located in Paris, France. We begin with present day, but flash back to a horrible time when the building we are staying in was occupied by a German Officer.
I loved how this story is all tied together, and while I was reading each chapter and becoming very engrossed with where I was at that point, we would change, but it wasn’t long and I was back where I was before.
I am so glad that I chose to read this historical fictional book, I loved it!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Ballantine Books, and was not required to give a positive review. 

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Presents: Apples and Alibis [A Down South Café Mystery] by Gale Leeson Book Blast

About Apples and Alibis

Apples and Alibis (A Down South Cafe Mystery Book) Cozy Mystery 4th in Series Grace Abraham Publishing (August 13, 2019) Print Length: 188 pages ASIN: B07V1X8SW3

That's the last time Amy agrees to do a favor for a stranger... Down South Cafe owner, Amy Flowers is in over her head. Operating a cafe while hosting the first Farmers' Market in Winter Garden has her swimming in apples. And when an elderly woman calls the cafe, pleading for a delivery for her upcoming party, Amy relents, feeling compelled to help the desperate customer. But when she arrives, the woman is slumped over her kitchen table, and Amy is catapulted into the middle of a small town crime. Guilt-ridden for not arriving earlier to save the woman, she sets out to unravel the mystery surrounding the woman. Now, between running the cafe and dealing with the chaos of the farmers' market, Amy is squeezing in a murder investigation, a run-in with her boyfriend's mom, and her own mother's quirky life decisions. Life can't get any worse...or can it? This cafe owner needs a break--in the case.

About Gayle Leeson

About the Author

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. I also write as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, I write the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee, I write the Embroidery Mystery series. The cake decorating series features a heroine who is starting her life over in Southwest Virginia after a nasty divorce. The heroine, Daphne, has returned to her hometown of Brea Ridge to open a cake baking and decorating business and is wrestling with the question of whether or not one can go home again. She enjoys spending time with her sister, nephew, and niece, but she and her mother have a complicated relationship that isn’t always pleasant. Daphne has also reconnected with her high school sweetheart and is pursuing a rekindled romance while desperately trying to put her past behind her. Kerry Vincent, Hall of Fame Sugar Artist, Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show Director, and Television Personality says the series is “a must read for cake bakers and anyone who has ever spent creative time in the kitchen!” Says Dean Koontz, #1 New York Times bestselling author, “One day I found myself happily reading . . . mysteries by Gayle Trent. If she can win me over . . . she’s got a great future.” The Embroidery Mystery series features a heroine who recently moved to the Oregon coast to open an embroidery specialty shop. Marcy Singer left her home in San Francisco, along with the humiliation of being left at the altar, in order to move to Tallulah Falls and realize her dream of owning her own shop. She takes along her faithful companion, a one-year-old Irish wolfhound named Angus O’Ruff. She makes many new friends in Tallulah Falls, but she also makes a few enemies. Thankfully, her best friend Sadie MacKenzie and her husband Blake run the coffeehouse right down the street from Marcy’s shop, the Seven-Year Stitch; and Detective Ted Nash always has her back. Publishers Weekly says, “Fans of the genre will take kindly to Marcy, her Irish wolfhound, Angus O’Ruff, and Tallulah Falls. This is a fast, pleasant read with prose full of pop culture references and, of course, sharp needlework puns.” Pat Cooper of RT Book Reviews says, “If her debut here is any indication, Lee’s new series is going to be fun, spunky and educational. She smoothly interweaves plot with her character’s personality and charm, while dropping tantalizing hints of stitching projects and their history. Marcy Singer is young, fun, sharp and likable. Readers will be looking forward to her future adventures.” (RT Book Reviews nominated The Quick and the Thread for a 2010 Book Reviewers’ Choice Award in the Amateur Sleuth category) I live in Virginia with my family, which includes her own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. I’m having a blast writing this new series!  
Webpage: http://www.gayleleeson.com http://www.gayletrent.com  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GayleTrentandAmandaLee/  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GayleTrent  
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gayletrent/pins/  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gayletrentleeson/  
Purchase Links - Amazon B&N Kobo

BLAST PARTICIPANTS

The Book's the Thing

eBook addicts

Celticlady's Reviews

Babs Book Bistro

Literary Gold

I'm All About Books

Ruff Drafts

The Power of Words

The Cozy Pages

Nadaness In Motion

FUONLYKNEW

Reading Is My SuperPower

Laura's Interests

Mysteries with Character

My Devotional Thoughts

Book Babble

That's What She's Reading

MJB Reviewers

Lori's Reading Corner

Melina's Book Blog

Maureen's Musings

Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews

Baroness' Book Trove

A Wytch's Book Review Blog

Brooke Blogs

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Sapphyria's Books

Carla Loves To Read

I Read What You Write

StoreyBook Reviews

Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!


   

State of Lies by Siri Mitchell

One woman is forced to question everything she knows in this domestic suspense novel from award-winning author Siri Mitchell.

Georgie Brennan may be a world-class quantum physicist, but she grapples with life as a single mother after her husband is killed. When she receives a message from beyond the grave, it leads her to question the details of her husband’s death.

As she follows the clues he left behind, her discoveries increasingly implicate those closest to her. When her father is nominated as the new United States Secretary of Defense, she must uncover the truth before his confirmation hearing—even as the same people who killed her husband are now after her. Nothing is at is seems. Lies are truth; enemies are friends. Even her child is at risk. As every possibility but one disappears, Georgie may find herself to be the antithesis of everything she’s thought herself to be.

Amazon 

About The Author

iri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi.

But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listening to a speaker and taking notes, chances are, they’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If they nod in response to a really profound statement, they’re probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.” When they edit their manuscripts, they laugh at the funny parts. And cry at the sad parts. Sometimes they even talk to their characters.

Siri wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before signing with a publisher. In the process, she saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than she cares to admit. At various times she has vowed never to write another word again. Ever. She has gone on writing strikes and even stooped to threatening her manuscripts with the shredder.

Website 


My Review

This book grabbed me right from the beginning, and kept pulling me in, with my heart in my throat, and fear for those I cared about. Whom do you trust here, and I felt like I was watching the evening news, yes, this story could be true.
A little boy and his Mom dealing with the loss of their beloved Dad/Husband, and why?
Be aware you will be up late trying to find out the answers here, and the bombshells keep dropping right up to the end, even locked doors won’t keep out the evil.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

Celebrate Lit Presents: Jessie and James by Jennifer Beckstrand

About the Book

Book: Jessie and James
Author: Jennifer Beckstrand
Genre: Western Historical Inspirational Romance
Release Date: July 24, 2019
Jessie Madsen has her hands full helping her parents run their small farm and boarding house while every fortune-seeker in the country seems to be flocking to her small town in search of gold. It’s bad enough that claim jumpers won’t quit trespassing on her property, but geologist James Kelsey, mildly intriguing and surprisingly handsome for an Easterner, seems more interested in her than the mining business. Jessie is certain she doesn’t have the time or the need for a man, and after getting her heart broken, she has resolved never to fall for an outsider again. Add stolen cash, a fast-talking con man, and a pair of bandits, and Jessie is indeed up to her eyeballs in trouble. Will she soften her rock-hard exterior and let the geologist discover the hidden treasure in her heart?

Click here to grab your copy!

About the Author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the two-time RITA-nominated, #1 Amazon bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hillseries, The Honeybee Sistersseries, and The Petersheim Brothersseries for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer and Home on Huckleberry Hill were both nominated for the coveted RITA® Award from Romance Writers of America. Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth, the Honeybee sisters’ aendiBitsy, and Alfie and Benji Petersheim. Jennifer has written twenty-one Amish romances, a historical Western, and the nonfiction book, Big Ideas. She and her husband have been married for thirty-four years, and she has six children and seven adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

More from Jennifer

Jessie and James is my first published Western historical novel, and I couldn’t be more excited. The first book I ever wrote was a historical Western, and I’ve been wanting to write another one for ten years. (That first Western is still hanging around my house somewhere. I might decide to publish it next. J) For my research, I traveled to a real mining town about two hours from my house. Yes, it really is named Eureka, and it was a boomtown in the 1880s, the period in which my book is set. I met an old-timer in Eureka who told me some fascinating stories about mining then and now.
Did you know that you may own the ground your house sits on, but you only own it to sixty feet deep? So a mining company can come in and dig a mine right under your house, and it’s perfectly legal. Many mines were dug straight down or in any direction that would get them to ore faster. In the 1880s in Eureka, often they’d dig straight down using only picks, shovels, and dynamite. A plumb bob was utilized to make sure their tunnels were straight up and down. They usually dug down 600 feet then drifted horizontally a couple hundred feet, then dug down again. Some mines went deeper than 1800 feet. Nowadays, there aren’t many mines that deep. They’re more dangerous, so they’re too expensive to insure.
In Jessie and James, James is an ex-cowboy turned geologist looking for gold. Jessie is a feisty, independent woman who runs a boarding house with her parents and thinks Eureka needs a little more fire-and-brimstone preaching to keep the incorrigible miners in line. Jessie doesn’t want anything to do with a gold digger, and she’s willing to use her shotgun to run James off. But James doesn’t scare that easy, especially when the woman on the other end of that shotgun might turn out to be the love of his life.
Jessie and James is full of shotguns, bandits, and heart-stopping romance. Don’t miss it!

Blog Stops

Reading Is My SuperPower, August 1

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 2

Betti Mace, August 2

Inklings and notions, August 3

Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 4

Blossoms and Blessings, August 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 5

Christian Bookaholic, August 6

Splashesofjoy, August 6

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 7

Connie’s History Classroom, August 8

Maureen’s Musings, August 8

Through the Fire Blogs, August 9

Bigreadersite, August 9

A Reader’s Brain, August 10

Blessed & Bookish, August 10

Texas Book-aholic, August 11

For Him and My Family, August 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 12

Just the Write Escape, August 13

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 14

janicesbookreviews, August 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to two winners!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e57b/jessie-and-james-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

I loved this sweet story by an author I’m familiar with, but in a different genre, that being said, I knew I wanted to read this!
I was quickly drawn into this story with the offer of a strong young woman, who with a few chuckles on my part, could really take care of herself. Then we are offered what at first look could be a dandy, a New Englander, college educated, man wearing a ridicules hat!
Add in greed and danger, and even then, we find a “silver lining”, and surprises abound and I could not figure out how everything could work out.
With dreams of delicious cherry pie, you are set to embark on quite an adventure, and in the end, I wanted to continue on with the lives of these characters.

I received this book through Celebrate Lit Blogging Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

A Glitter of Gold (Georgia Coast Romance #2) by Liz Johnson

Anne Norris moved to Savannah, Georgia, for a fresh start. Now her pirate-tour business is flagging, and paying the rent requires more than wishful thinking. When she discovers evidence of a shipwreck off the coast of Tybee Island, she knows it could be just the boon she needs to stay afloat. She takes her findings to local museum director Carter Hale for confirmation, but she runs after a disastrous first meeting.

Carter has been searching for the location of the wreck detailed in the worn pages of an 18th-century diary, the discovery of which could open the door to his dream job at a prestigious museum. But convincing Anne to help him fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle is no easy task. And working with Carter means that Anne will have to do the one thing she swore she'd never do again: trust a man.

Finding a monetary backer and sticking with a search that's turning up nothing will take all their dedication--and every secret they've tried to hide. If they can find the lost ship, they may discover a treasure worth more than all the pirate gold in the world--love.


Amazon


About The Author

By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager. She makes time to write late at night—that’s when she thinks best anyway. Liz is the author of more than a dozen novels, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She’s a Christy Award finalist and a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. She makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she enjoys exploring local music, theater, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories of true love filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters.

Website


My Review

The author gives us a young woman Anne who is really down on her luck, and her trust of her fellow man is at an all-time low.
Enter a young man who is trying to make a name for himself without relying on his famous last name, and fate throws them together.
Can Anne end up trust a man? Can Carter help himself and also Anne?
We are also given a backstory, a relative of Carter’s, but this relative and her precious diary begin to tie everything together.
Once you turn the first page, you will be page turning, and watch how wonderfully the author has the past meet the present. A don’t miss read!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

The Killing Tide (Coastal Guardians, #1) by Dani Pettrey

When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, CGIS special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous and volatile crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer's adrift cutter, and the direction the clues point will test him and the guard to their limits.

Complicating matters further is the arrival of investigative reporter Harper Grace. An unrelenting journalist who was nearly killed as the result of her last expose, Harper has been sent to Wilmington on the hunch of her boss that the Coast Guard is stonewalling the truth about the officers. An interview with the dead victim's wife convinces her there's a story worth uncovering, even if it means risking her life again.

Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Harper can't ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them, but will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer before they become his next mark?

Amazon


About The Author

Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).

Her Alaskan Courage series and Chesapeake Valor series have received praise from readers and critics alike and spent multiple months topping the CBA bestseller lists. Dani has also been honored with multiple awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award finalist, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award.

From her early years eagerly reading Nancy Drew mysteries, to paging through Agatha Christie novels or watching on-the-edge-of-her-seat adventure movies, Dani has always enjoyed mystery and suspense. She considers herself blessed to be able to write the kind of stories she loves—full of plot twists and peril, love, and longing for hope and redemption. Her greatest joy as an author is sharing the stories God lays on her heart. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland, where she lives with her husband. Their two daughters, a son-in-law, and two adorable grandsons also reside in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit danipettrey.com.


My Review

From the first to the last page Dani Pettrey kept me on the edge of my seat, and quickly page turning.
You never know what is around the next corner, and it is a good thing, the surprises are very abundant, and most I never saw coming, and don’t won’t get too comfortable in your surroundings.
Past meets present, and facing your life hits you head on, and while there is a bit of romance, you need to hold your loved one’s close as you don’t know whom will be here tomorrow.
When you think all that is bad has finished, be careful!
I love that this is the first in this series and more is to come!

I received this book through Net Galley and Bethany House Publishers, and was not required to give a positive review.