Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Celebrate Lit Presents: A Canine Christmas Author: Jennifer Sienes

 

About the Book

Book: A Canine Christmas

Author: Jennifer Sienes

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance, Christmas Fiction, and Southern Fiction

Release date: November 18, 2024

What do you get when you mix a mail carrier, a monstrously large canine and his surly owner, and a mysterious death?

Amelia Hutchinson can’t seem to find her place in the world. Or maybe she’s just watched too many Christmas Hallmark movies. But come on, how come Aurora Teagarden and Hallie Dean get more exciting careers and all Amelia gets to be is a mail carrier? Not to mention, she’s living in her sister and brother-in-law’s guest house and the only man she could find was one who didn’t appreciate the purity ring her daddy gave her.

Rayce Jasper just wants to sell his late granddad’s farm and throw away the painful past that comes with it as soon as possible. But the memories of the man who betrayed him, a ditzy mail lady, and a strange request put a kink in his agenda.

As Rayce’s and Amelia’s worlds collide, neither of them can deny that God must be weaving His own Christmas story for the two of them.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Jennifer Sienes holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in education but discovered life-experience is the best teacher. She loves Jesus, romance and writing–and puts it altogether in inspirational contemporary fiction. Her daughter’s TBI and brother’s suicide inspired two of her three novels. Although fiction writing is her real love, she’s had several non-fiction pieces published in anthologies–two in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has two grown children and one very spoiled Maltese. California born and raised, she recently took a step of faith with her real-life hero and relocated to Tennessee.

 

More from Jennifer

I’m often asked where inspiration comes for my books. Does it start with a character or a setting or maybe something from my own life? The answer is, “Yes.” Each of those have sparked story ideas. A Canine Christmas is my fourteenth book, but it’s the first (and possibly last) novel/novella motivated by a dog.

You would think it would be my own canine that inspired one of my books—but that’s not the case here. I have a short story in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog titled “Soul Sniffer” based on my late Bichon Friese, Einstein. He was also in Providence—and his name was Dashiell. I have another short story in Inspire Joy titled “Canine Redemption” about Cheyenne, a rescue dog we had for a short time. But an entire book? Never.

It started with my granddaughters’ Cano Corso, Porter. The biggest (and I mean that in every sense of the word) baby I’ve ever encountered. He’s massive, and yet hides behind eight-year-old Kennedy at the slightest loud noise. His size alone is enough to intimidate the average person, but he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. However, he wasn’t the only inspiration for this Christmas novella.

The setting was influenced by my affinity for old family farms and historic cemeteries (of which there are over 33,000 in the state of Tennessee.) Add a ditzy mail lady who has an intense fear of dogs, and a disgruntled man trying to put his past to rest, and A Canine Christmas was born.

This is romance through and through, and it was a pure joy to write. I hope you’ll come to love Amelia and Rayce as much as I did—and of course, Porter, the canine matchmaker.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 22

Stories By Gina, November 23 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, November 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 25

She Lives To Read, November 26

An Author’s Take, November 27

Guild Master, November 28 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 29

A Reader’s Brain, November 30 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 30

MrsK Books to Go, November 30

Texas Book-aholic, December 1

For Him and My Family, December 2

Holly’s Book Corner, December 3

Back Porch Reads, December 4 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54104

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Lady Anna’s Favor by Karen Tuft

 

London, England, 1814

Lady Anna Clifton has arrived in London with a secret purpose. Her soldier brother has been reported wounded and missing in France, and if he is dead, his title and their family's estate will go to a horrible distant cousin, and Lady Anna will be homeless. Desperate to find her brother alive, Lady Anna blesses her good fortune when the Duke of Aylesham offers his yacht to carry her to France so she can look for her brother there herself.

James Jennings wants nothing more than to enjoy a relaxing journey back to Paris on the Duke of Aylesham's yacht before rejoining England's diplomatic war efforts against Napoleon. However, the strikingly beautiful young woman already on board catches him off guard. When he receives only a cold reception from her, he dismisses her outright and blasts her disruption of his trip—until he learns the tragic reason she has set out on such a perilous journey. As infuriating as Lady Anna's brash behavior and indifference to him is, her search seems much too dangerous for her to undertake alone, so James reluctantly offers to assist her.

The two embark on a search through France for Lady Anna's brother all while trying to reconcile their differences. With every step, they come closer to solving the mystery of Lady Anna's brother's disappearance—but every step also pushes their hearts closer together.

Amazon 

 

About The Author


 

Karen Tuft was born with a healthy dose of curiosity about pretty much everything, so as a child she taught herself to read and play the piano. She studied composition at BYU then graduated from the University of Utah in music theory as a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies. In addition to being an author, Karen is a wife, mother, pianist, composer, and arranger, and has spent countless hours backstage and in orchestra pits for theater productions. She also has a 75 percent success rate when it comes to matchmaking and is a big believer in happy endings. Among her varied interests, she likes to figure out what makes people tick, wander through museums, and travel--whether by car, plane, or paperback.

Karen is also a 2016 Foreword INDIES finalist.

 

My Review


I enjoyed this read, family is so important, and in this book Lady Anna feels like she has none.
This is the time of Napoleon, and having a brother in France missing, and possibly deceased.
This is a journey for answers, Lady Anna's survival, and the finding of her brother, she needs answers.
James Jennings is a lawyer and a diplomat, with the defeat of Napoleon he is helping with the negotiations. He is traveling on a yacht owned by his friend, but he doesn't expect is to be traveling with seasick women.
Fate has now put James and Lady Anna together and we are there as he offers to help her find her missing brother. What an adventure your about to embark on. I'll pass on the buggy or wagon rides!We are offered some sweet romance, along with some hard times, and rough rides, but will they find her brother, and in time?
I received this book through the Publisher Shadow Mountain, and was not required to give a positive review. 

Monday, December 2, 2024

Great Escapes Virtua Book Tours Presents: Mystery in Marseille: A Bite-Sized Art Heist Mystery (Sophie’s Adventures) by Nupur Tustin

 

Mystery in Marseille: A Bite-Sized Art Heist Mystery
(Sophie’s Adventures)
by Nupur Tustin

About Mystery in Marseille


Mystery in Marseille: A Bite-Sized Art Heist Mystery (Sophie’s Adventures)
Travel Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Marseille, France
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Foiled Plots Press (October 18, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 168 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DJK8MLSY
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A holiday in France; an art thief on the run! Art sleuth Sophie must stay a step ahead of a brash criminal . . .

A rare Matisse in Marseille provides a convenient cover for undercover art sleuth Sophie Poisson’s covert romantic plans in the city.

But when the painting is unexpectedly stolen, Sophie finds herself chasing an art thief instead of romance.

With a wily thief one step ahead of her and her undercover partner, Uncle Arthur, out of town, can Sophie devise a strategy to recover the Matisse before it sails out of Marseille, never to be seen again?

About Nupur Tustin

A former journalist with a Ph.D. in Communication, Nupur Tustin orchestrates murder in the historical Joseph Haydn Mystery series and paints intrigue in her contemporary Celine Skye Psychic Mystery series, based on the true  story of the unsolved Gardner Museum theft. Travel, disguises, and stolen art form the basis of undercover art sleuth Sophie’s adventures in the Sophie’s Adventure series.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 2 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

December 3 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 3 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 3 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT  

December 5 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

December 6 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

December 6 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

December 7 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

December 7 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

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Celebrate Lit Presents: Falling for a Smart Cowboy (Vargas Ranch Book 4) Author: Karen Baney

 

About the Book

Book: Falling for a Smart Cowboy (Vargas Ranch Book 4)

Author: Karen Baney

Genre: Contemporary Christian Cowboy Romance

Release date: June 25, 2024

She’s on a mission to bring orphaned children hope. He wants off his family’s ranch for good. Will they survive his shocking family secrets?

Devon Vargas longs to be more than just a cowboy. After finishing his teaching degree, he plans to leave his family’s guest ranch for good. Between his growing affection for the new children’s program director and a huge family secret revealed, he second guesses everything about his life.

Raina Crawford lost her parents at a young age. Through the grace of God, she survived life in the foster system. She desperately wants to bring children the life-changing faith that gave her hope. The job at Vargas Ranch was supposed to be a steppingstone. Except she’s losing her heart to the smart, ambitious cowboy bent on leaving his family’s ranch—and her—behind.

Will Raina finally find the family she’s always wanted? Will family secrets unravel his new dreams? Will those same secrets tear them apart?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Karen Baney is passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.

Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. Both Jim and Karen are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.

More from Karen

Big Family Drama

I love writing big family drama in my novels! It provides such great material for the relationship between characters.

Part of this comes from my family’s drama. My mom was the youngest of eight kids, making my extended family huge. I remember going to the Independence Day family reunions as a kid. It was both fun and a little intimidating. Most of my cousins were adults by the time I was a tweener. So, my siblings and I tended to hangout with my “oops!” cousin since we were only a few years apart.

And boy, did we have drama! There was the aunt who seemed to be offended and left early year. Someone always ended up injured, but only once do I remember an ambulance showing up. There were cliques and turf wars and so much more.

As an adult, though I’ve rarely been able to fly clear across the country to see my extended family, the drama of my husband’s big family serves as inspiration too. He is the oldest of five kids. My first introduction to his large family was at his sister’s wedding. I had no idea what I was getting into. We’d only been dating for about six weeks. Everyone kept pushing me to join the family photos, and I kept trying to gracefully get out of the pictures. I didn’t want him to regret having me in the pictures if we broke up. In the end, my hubby and I outlasted that marriage.

In Falling for a Smart Cowboy, I introduce a new character to the series, Raina Crawford. She was orphaned as a young girl and has longed for a forever family, even into adulthood. Devon Vargas, the fourth out of five sons, learns a family secret that makes him want to avoid his large family. I loved writing this juxtaposition between Raina and Devon over family relationships. It helps each of them see a new perspective. It was also fun writing new friendships for Raina—even if all the friendships tied to Devon’s family. My experience with both my family and being a newbie to my husband’s family provided inspiration for both Raina’s and Devon’s characters.

If you like big family drama, the Vargas Ranch Series provides it in spades. Enjoy!

Blog Stops

Stories By Gina, November 20 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 22

Guild Master, November 23 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, November 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 25

Denise L. Barela, November 26 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, November 27

Artistic Nobody, November 28 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Simple Harvest Reads, November 29

For Him and My Family, November 30

Fiction Book Lover, December 1 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 1

Labor Not in Vain, December 2

Back Porch Reads, December 3 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54103

Celebrate Lit Presents: A Canine Christmas Author: Jennifer Sienes

  About the Book Book:  A Canine Christmas Author:  Jennifer Sienes Genre:  Christian Contemporary Romance, Christmas Fiction...