Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Celebrate Lit Presents: The Socialite by J'Nell Ciesielski


About the Book

Book:  The Socialite
Author: J’nell Ciesielski
Genre:  Historical Romance
Release Date: April 14, 2020


Glamour, treachery, and espionage collide when an English socialite rushes to save her sister from the Nazis.
As the daughter of Sir Alfred Whitford, Kat has a certain set of responsibilities. But chasing her wayward sister, Ellie, to Nazi-occupied Paris was never supposed to be one of them. Now accustomed to the luxurious lifestyle that her Nazi boyfriend provides, Ellie has no intention of going back to the shackled life their parents dictate for them—but Kat will stop at nothing to bring her sister home.
Arrested for simply trying to defend himself against a drunken bully, Barrett Anderson is given the option of going to jail or serving out his sentence by training Resistance fighters in Paris. A bar owner serves as the perfect disguise to entertain Nazis at night while training fighters right below their jackboots during the day. Being assigned to watch over two English debutantes is the last thing he needs, but a payout from their father is too tempting to resist. Can Barrett and Kat trust each other long enough to survive, or will their hearts prove more traitorous than the dangers waiting around the corner?

Click here to get your copy!


About the Author

With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages Award and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com.

More from J’Nell

I blame Pinterest. Too many hours are spent chasing rabbit holes of glorious pictures of fashion from eras gone by, Highlanders in kilts, WWI ambulances, and fairytale castles. One day I was browsing something super important (or possibly escaping from the actual work I was supposed to be doing, er, we’ll never know) and stumbled across a black and white picture of six beautiful girls. Who are these lovely ladies? I wondered. A quick search brought up the Mitford sisters. Six gorgeous daughters born into an aristocratic English family, each girl with a different passion: Diana the fascist, Jessica the communist, Unity the Hitler lover, Nancy the novelist, Deborah the duchess, and Pamela the poultry connoisseur. Whoa. You know dinner time around their family table was interesting. How could such different personalities belong in the same family? What would you do if your sister got moon-eyed over Hitler??
Bam. An idea was born.
In the beginning, my little rebel Ellie was going to be a full-fledged Nazi ideology lover, but she quickly informed me that it wasn’t so much the Nazis or their crazy ideas she loved, but one man in particular. One twisted Nazi who had fallen completely under her spell, and she under his. The ideas of love can often be more difficult to break as Kat finds out when she tries to rescue her naïve sister. Luckily, she has a hunky Sottish bartender to help her while providing a few romantic intentions of his own. With everyone hiding past hurts and true identities, how will they ever hope to find the love they each long for when war rages under the bright lights of Paris? Guess you’ll have to read to find out 😉

Blog Stops

Emily Yager, May 22
Simple Harvest Reads, May 25 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Livin’ Lit, May 26
Betti Mace, May 27
Genesis 5020, May 28
Remembrancy, May 28
Mia Reads, May 29
Rebecca Tews, May 30
Moments, June 2
Andrea Carmen, June 3
Hallie Reads, June 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, J’nell is giving away the grand prize of a book and a book sleeve!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

My Review


As this book opens, we are in Paris, and what should be a beautiful place is now occupied by the enemy. Kat has made it there and wants to convince her sister to come home to England, and this is where we join the story,
I can't even imagine the horror of living during this time of evil, but we are soon hobnailing it with the Germans and the leaders at the very top.
There is a bit of romance, violence, and a fear that those we begin to care about may not make it out alive.
I will note that this is definitely not a Christian book, and was surprised, but the read made this period very real.
I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Lizzie's Heart by Susan Lantz Simpson






Fall in Southern Maryland’s Amish country is a time of fiery falling leaves, a bountiful harvest, and bracing, frost-touched days. It’s the perfect season for one irrepressible maidel to try an unexpected match . . .

Good-hearted and impulsive, twenty-year-old Lizzie Fisher has many chores—and secrets. She’s caring for kittens abandoned by their mother and practicing her drawing talent away from disapproving eyes. So the last thing she needs is someone like handsome Stephen Zimmerman constantly “helping” her out of trouble. But when she discovers they both have lovelorn siblings, she has an idea: why can’t she and Stephen bring his older brother and her older sister together? After all, how hard could matchmaking be?

Even though he’s the youngest son of an Old Order Mennonite family, Stephen is used to looking out for everyone else. Yet somehow the romantic schemes he and Lizzie cook up keep going awry—in ways that hint they may suit each other. But their deepening bond is both delightful and complicated. For bridging their differences will take bravery, compromise—and faith in their hopes and dreams


Amazon 


About The Author





tories and poetry ever since she penned her first poem at the age of six. She has always loved the magic of words and how they can entertain and enlighten others. Her love of words and books led her to earn a degree in English/Education. She has taught students from Prekindergarten to high school and has also worked as an editor for the federal government. She also holds a degree in nursing and has worked in hospitals and in community health. She writes inspirational stories of love and faith and has published a middle-grade novel (Ginger and the Bully) in addition to her inspirational romances (Plainly Maryland Series and Southern Maryland Amish Romances Series). She was a finalist in the OCW Cascade fiction contest. She is a member of ACFW. She lives in Maryland and is the mother of two wonderful daughters. When she isn't writing, she enjoys reading, walking, and doing.


My Review




A chance encounter with a strange, a plain gentlemen, has a life changing effect on Lizzie  Zimmerman. Of course this encounter leads to a incident that is almost life ending for the both of them, and it is repeated again in this book
If you have a love of animals, this one is going to make you smile, and while others in Lizzie's family do not agree with her, I enjoyed the family dynamics.
You feel sorry for Lizzie's sister Frannie, but when the facts come out you wonder why she is so prickly, but keep reading!
We get a glimpse into two different plain families, and I'll have to admit there was one that I would prefer to live in, but you will have to decide for yourself!
Come and get lost in this sweet Amish read!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zebra, and was not required to give a positive review. 


Friday, May 22, 2020

Love Inspired Presents: Her Amish Suitor's Secret by Carrie Lighte









Sometimes the truth comes at a cost.

Can she forgive him

when she learns his true identity?
Posing as an Amish groundskeeper at Rose Allgyer’s lakeside cabin retreat, Englischer Caleb Miller is determined to clear his brother’s name of theft. But as he’s drawn to Rose’s good nature, the burden of his ruse gets heavier—especially after learning Rose was deceived by her ex-fiancé. Still guarded, will Rose trust Caleb with her heart when she discovers he isn’t who he claims to be?

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781488060199_her-amish-suitors-secret.html 


About The Author

Carrie Lighte enjoys traveling to Amish communities across the United States and she hopes to visit a few in Canada soon, too. When she isn't writing, reading or researching, she likes to hike, kayak and spend time at the beach.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveInspiredBooks/







Excerpt, HER AMISH SUITOR’S SECRET by Carrie Lighte (Love Inspired)

“Isn’t it quiet where you live in Wisconsin?”
“It’s not this quiet. This peaceful. There’s something about being here, where sometimes the loudest sound I hear is water lapping the shore… It makes me feel so calm. I feel like that when I’m working in the fields, too. Probably because when I was young I used to es-cape to the garden when—”
Rose stopped paddling, eager to hear the rest of his sentence. He hardly ever talked about his youth. “When what?” she pressed, looking over her shoulder to get a glimpse of his face.

Over the past couple of weeks while chatting with Rose, Caleb had occasionally forgotten to guard his Englisch identity, but until now, he’d always guarded his emotions, especially those concerning his upbringing. He hadn’t meant to disclose his feelings tonight—he hadn’t even intended to spend any time alone with Rose. But opening up to her seemed to happen naturally, in spite of yesterday’s resolution to put distance between himself and the Amish of Serenity Ridge. So he continued, “My mamm and daed bickered a lot and it helped to go outdoors to get away from them. When I was gardening, I forgot about their troubles. Tending to Gott’s creation made me feel… Well, it made me feel tranquil.” Kind of like how I feel right now.
Caleb had also stopped paddling and mild waves gently rocked the canoe. In the moonlight, he could see Rose’s eyebrows were furrowed and she appeared to be contemplating what he’d just said. After a quiet spell, she questioned, “Does gardening still bring you a sense of tranquility?”
“Jah, it does.” Caleb’s mouth went dry as he anticipated her next question: she was going to ask why he’d become a teacher instead of a farmer, and he couldn’t drum up a credible reply.
Instead, she gave him a fetching smile and, before twisting forward in her seat again, she added, “I’m glad. For our sake, as well as for yours.”
Caleb let his breath out slowly. He dipped his paddle into the water and Rose did, too. As they journeyed he thought about how amazing it felt to confide in her. Maybe he wasn’t being honest about the facts of his life, but tonight he’d been honest about his emotions. And even though Rose’s back was to him as she sat in the bow, there was something so…not necessarily romantic, but so personal about being with her that he’d never felt with his friends or any of the women he’d ever dated. Rose seems to enjoy spending time with me, too, Caleb rationalized. So what’s the harm in continuing to develop friendships here as long as no one finds out I’m Englisch?
When they pulled onto the shore near the trailhead by Paradise Point, Caleb hopped out and dragged the canoe several feet up the embankment so Rose wouldn’t get her shoes wet, and then they headed for the forested path. It was much darker beneath the trees than on the open water, so Rose shone the flashlight on the ground in front of her. Caleb initially tried to follow in her foot-steps but after tripping twice, he decided to accompany her side by side on the narrow path in order to get the benefit of the light.
“I think we should talk so we don’t startle any animals,” Rose announced loudly. “Or we should sing.”
“My singing would frighten the animals,” Caleb jested. 
“In that case, you should have serenaded the skunks on the porch—maybe they would have left.”
“Or they would have sprayed me,” Caleb said. “This probably isn’t the right time to ask, but are there many other kinds of animals in these woods?”
“Serenity Ridge has a family of moose that sometimes make their presence known. The other night when I was coming back from the dining hall, I thought I heard one in the bushes behind me, but then it went quiet.”
Caleb’s ears perked up. “What night was that?”




My Review





How far do you go to help your brother? Caleb Miller is doing just that and you wonder if he will be found out? He is a college professor and is going to Maine to pose as an Amish man, wow, well considering he is fluent in German, but it would seem hard to be something he isn't, but we get to see him give it a try and also find the coins to help his brother.
We also meet Rose who is trying to put her own life back together, and it seems is a talented backer and cook. We also are there when these two meet, and it wasn't pretty, but I did have a few chuckles.
This is a sweet read, and you will have to get the book to see how it all comes out, and if these two people from different world can form any type of relationship!
You will be quickly page turning for answers here, and when the last page was turned I found myself wanting more!
I received this book through Harlequin Love Inspired Tour, and was not required to give a positive review.












 


Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Carolina Breeze (Bluebell Inn Romance, #2) by Denise Hunter






A jilted bride. A struggling innkeeper. And a romantic mountain getaway that changes everything.

Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina—the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down.

Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the financial state of the inn—a secret he’s been keeping from his sisters.

When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don’t expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely locked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk—or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead.

This Bluebell Inn romance takes us to a quiet North Carolina retreat that holds more secrets than it shares.


Amazon


About The Author



Denise Hunter is the award-winning author of more than 30 novels, three of which have been made into Hallmark movies.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest. In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!


Website


My Review



I loved being back at the Bluebell Inn and with the Bennett family, and we are also introduced to Mia Emmerson a successful Hollywood actress.
I loved how Mia was related to the inn, and how it all played out with her visit, sad and happy, all at the same time.
The author gives us a lot of family dynamics here, and through it all we find a love of God and those who he has placed in our lives. We see the pressure of every day life here, whether we are a celebrity, or just trying to make a living. I did enjoy the treasure hunt that went on here, but then when averse things take place we hope for the best.
I am hoping we will be back with this family and we have another sibling!

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

  

Friday, May 15, 2020

Celebrate Lit Presents: When Valleys Bloom Again Review Promo Blast






 



After fleeing impending war in England, nineteen-year-old Abby Stapleton works to            correct her stammer and to become a teacher in America, only to discover this conflict   has no boundaries and that a rejected suitor is intent on destroying her name, fiancé, and fragile faith.



As war approaches in 1939 Abby Stapleton’s safety is under threat. Her father, a British diplomat, insists she go back to America until the danger passes. Abby vows to return to her home in London—but where is home? With her family facing mortal danger so far away and feeling herself isolated, she finds it hard to pray or read the Bible. Did she leave God behind in war-torn London too? Abby becomes friendly with Jim, a gardener on her uncle’s estate.

Jim can’t get Abby out of his mind. Did she have a sweetheart in England? Was it foolish to think she’d consider him? He curses his poverty and the disgrace of his father’s desertion and drunkenness haunts him. Can he learn to believe in love for a lifetime and to hope for a happy marriage?

Abby couldn’t know the war would last a long time, nor that she would fall in love with Jim—soon to be drafted by the U.S. Army—or that she’d have to confront Henri, a rejected suitor, determined by his lies to ruin her reputation and destroy her faith in God’s providence. Will she discover the true meaning of home and find happiness with Jim?





About The Author

 

 

PAT JEANNE DAVIS  has a keen interest in 20th Century United States and British history, particularly the period of World War II. Her longtime interest in that era goes back to the real-life stories she heard about family members who served during the war. When Valleys Bloom Again is a debut inspirational romance set in WWII. She enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with her British-born husband.  She writes from her home n Philadelphia, Pa. Pat has published essays, short stories and articles online and in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.  She loves to hear from her readers. Visit her at https://www.patjeannedavis.com







LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-jeanne-davis-34290422/                   




Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2yc2PZH
           


My Review





What a journey we embark on as we turn the pages of this book, some of the hardest times that we have had, and we are there to walk in their shoes, so to speak, but the reality of what is happening in the world, and although fiction, this book is based on facts.
When Abby Stapelton arrives in America, her parents wanted her out of England, and, and away from the danger of WWII, she doesn't realize how much her life is about to change.
There are secrets here, and unknown danger, besides the war, but there is also a bit of sweet romance. We wonder if all we are let to care about will make it to the end, and if the evil that seems to be lurking everywhere will win or with justice prevail, you will be quickly page turning for answers here.
I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.


 








Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Unveiling the Past by Kim Vogel Sawyer





 
Mysteries, family secrets, and learning to love and trust again rest at the heart of this contemporary novel from the best-selling author of Bringing Maggie Home .

Newlyweds and cold case detectives Sean and Meghan Eagle have been given the task of investigating the twenty-years-past disappearance of a husband and father, Anson Menke. A judge ruled that the missing man chose to leave the country and abandon his family, but his wife wouldn't concede that he left his family nor declare him dead. Their mother now gone, his children want answers.

As Sean and Meghan follow the man's last known steps, they also involve themselves in a more personal inquiry: locating Meghan's biological father. But as Meghan struggles to balance her work and her new role as a wife, she becomes terrified of failure. She doesn't want to hurt Sean or jeopardize the Menke investigation by falling short of his expectations.

When her mother, Diane DeFord, sees Meghan's turmoil, she decides to take action, potentially reuniting father and daughter. As the two searches intertwine, Meghan must become vulnerable with Sean, letting him into her life and being a true partner, while letting her heart be tender to God, the One who truly knows the journey each disrupted life needed to take to Him.


Amazon 


About The Author




Award-winning, bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer told her kindergarten teacher that someday people would check out her book in the library. The little-girl dream came true in 2006 with the release of Waiting for Summer's Return. Kim's titles now exceed 1.5 million copies and are available in six different languages. A former elementary school teacher, she now enjoys a full-time writing and speaking ministry. Kim's passion lies in writing stories that point the reader to a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. When Kim isn't writing, you'll find her traveling with her retired military hubby, spoiling her granddarlings, petting the cats, quilting, or--as time allows--participating in community theater. You can learn more about Kim's writing and speaking ministries at her website, KimVogelSawyer.com. 


My Review




This read had several stories that we follow, and yes, answers are forthcoming on all, but we take it day by day until the end.
The author gives us a young Christian woman who is living her faith, but has stumbled as far as having children with her husband, and why? That is part of what this book contains, and we journey here for reasons and answers.
What an interesting job Meghan has along with her husband, she looks at Arkansas's cold cases, and some that become personal to their supervisor. How many lives are changed here, and I loved that the author gave us some chance meetings!
From beginning to the end, I loved this book, and saw how God worked in the lives of believers.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Waterbrook, and was not required to give a positive review. 
 

Monday, May 11, 2020

Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner






Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanaugh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he's sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley.

As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.

Fan-favorite Bethany Turner serves up a heaping helping of humor and romance with this thoroughly modern story centered on cooking, enemies, and second chances.


Amazon


About The Author






Bethany Turner is the award-winning author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and Wooing Cadie McCaffrey and the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former bank executive and a three-time cancer survivor (all before she turned 35), Bethany knows that when God has plans for your life, it doesn't matter what anyone else has to say. Because of that, she's chosen to follow his call to write. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Colorado, where she writes for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight. Learn more at seebethanywrite.com.


My Review




Hadley Beckett is a Southern cook with a lot of sass, but has she is in a competition with the best with Maxwell Canvanaugh, and his acting like a jerk, you wonder if she will lose to him.
While you could see how the network/agent would love the bickering between these two, you wonder how they can forge any kind of relationship.
While watching these two, we do get an in-depth look into their lives, and what is the driving force behind their them.
There are some laughs here, along with some deep sadness, but will they resolve their differences, and we get to what or read what happens.
I loved that there is an epilogue at the end, and with it we see how everything turns out, and more!
I received this book through Revell Reads Blogger Team, and was not required to give a positive review.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Starfish Pier (Hope Harbor #6) by Irene Hannon







year ago, ex-Delta Force operator Steven Roark left the rigors of combat behind to run fishing charters in Hope Harbor, decompress, and talk some sense into his kid brother. Business is good--but making peace with his past is more challenging than he expected.

First-grade teacher Holly Miller leads a quiet, low-profile existence--until she's recruited to advocate for a cause that's dear to her heart. When she solicits Steven's assistance, sparks fly--especially after they find themselves on opposite sides of an issue that disrupts their placid seaside community.

As these two seemingly incompatible souls search for common ground, might they discover a deeper connection--and find that love can banish darkness and light the way to a future filled with promise?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites you back to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.


Amazon


About The Author






Irene Hannon, who writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 50 novels. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) and she is a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Other awards for individual books include National Readers' Choice, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers Choice, Booksellers' Best, and Reviewers' Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.

A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com


My Review




I was so happy to be back in Hope Harbor, this is the sixth book in the series, and I will let you know that it can be read alone. Past characters did play parts in this read, and some just made a cameo, but it was great to meet up with them.
This story tugs on your emotions, and you want to help, but of course, we are unable, will one of the characters here die, because he has decided, will another loose everything because of his addiction? Then there is a sweet young woman who has recently moved to this area and become a first grade teacher, but she is dealing with life long problems, this touched me as the problem was close and personal, but she has dealt with it remarkably.
Then we are given a man that served his country with Honor, but will these two be able to overcome their heart held differences, and one that is totally filled with guilt?
Journey in the lives of these dear people who inhabit Hope Harbor, you won't be disappointed, and it made me want to live there!
I received this book through Revell Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Present: Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate: A WWII Tale of Political Shenanigans and Snookery (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries) by Elaine Faber

  Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate: A WWII Tale of Political Shenanigans and Snookery (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries) by ...