Saturday, February 8, 2025

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Presents: Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory

 


Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory


About Soft Serve Sleighing


Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Long Island, NY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing (January 28, 2025)
Number of Pages – 226
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DLHPWDNT
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From author Lena Gregory comes a delightfully delicious cozy mystery…

With most of Eastern Long Island closed down for a blizzard, Danika Delaney and her friends are holed up in her old fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, with ice cream and hot chocolate. However, their plans to wait out the storm in cozy company are interrupted when a popular YouTuber and her two companions show up at the door—they’ve been trapped by the storm, and Dani generously offers to serve them breakfast. But her generosity isn’t rewarded in kind, as the reviewer then tries to extort money from Dani in exchange for a good review! When the storm finally clears, Dani is happy to have seen the last of them.

Or so she thought.

Dani and her friends decide to go sleigh riding the morning after the storm clears, but instead of a winter wonderland, they find the extorting YouTuber…dead! To make matters worse, Dani suddenly finds herself accused of the woman’s murder. Intent on restoring her reputation, Dani sets out to prove she didn’t do it. This is one storm she’s not sure she can weather…

About Lena Gregory

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

Purchase Links
Amazon    B&N    Kobo

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 28 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 28 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

January 28 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

January 30 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

January 31 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

January 31 –  Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 1 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER INTERVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

February 1 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

February 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

February 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 3 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 3 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 4 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 4 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

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

February 6 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 7 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

February 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 10 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 10 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

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Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
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Friday, February 7, 2025

Celebrate Lit Presents: The Maestro’s Missing Melody Author: Amy Walsh

About the Book

Book:The Maestro’s Missing Melody

Author: Amy Walsh

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Release date: September 13, 2024

She was thrilled to apprentice with her fiddler hero—until she got to know him. He regretted his decision to play teacher to college kids—until he got to know her.

For aspiring musician and college student McKay Moonlight, winning a summer internship with Scottish master fiddler Huntley Milne was a dream come true. When a last-minute change moved the internship program from the Scottish Highlands of her ancestors to a village she’d never heard of along the River Deben, McKay was determined to make the best of it. However, she didn’t expect to make such a terrible first impression on her summer mentor.

Hosting a bunch of college students was the last thing Maestro Huntley Milne needed. He was already up to his ears in problems, with Aunt BeeBee being placed in a care home, resulting in him having emergency custody of his tween nephew and niece. Then he met McKay Moonlight, and the chaos really began.

The Maestro’s Missing Melody is a charming story featuring endearingly eccentric characters, a treasure hunt caper through the nooks and crannies of a mansion, and genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Sunshine and thunderclouds attract in this delightful age-gap Christian romantic comedy from Amy Walsh.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Amy Walsh is a 5th-grade teacher who loves teaching children about what she loves to do herself: reading and writing. She enjoys outdoor activities, especially hiking and camping. Amy also appreciates opportunities to share her faith through singing, teaching, and writing for her church family. Amy and her husband, Patrick, have three children: Bree, Spencer, Liz, and a son-in-law, Kyle. Amy and her family love to spend time together celebrating special occasions, listening to great music, swimming and kayaking, and having occasional ping pong tournaments.

 

 

More from Amy

The Maestro’s Missing Melody Cast of Characters

Maestro Huntley Milne regrets committing to host a group of college students, especially when Aunt BeeBee ends up in a care home, forcing him to move into the Milne Monstrosity on Sycamore Street which is about two hours northeast of London. Aunt BeeBee is nagging him to locate the missing Milne stave book, Dory and David are fretting about being put back into foster care, and even his aunt’s cats are high maintenance. Then he meets McKay Moonlight…

McKay Moonlight was thrilled when she won the musical apprenticeship at Maestro Huntley Milne’s Highlands Music Center.  After all, she had a little crush on him for years after seeing him play at the Rocky Mountain Fiddler Championships. When the apprenticeship is relocated to a tiny town near the Deben River, rather than the Highlands of her ancestors, she takes it in stride. Who would think her traveling mishaps would cause her to be late and forget something very important – ruining her chance to make a good first impression on her summer mentor.

The Milne Monstrosity was built by a wealthy plantation owner, who brought his family to England just prior to the American Civil War.  This mansion is a hodgepodge of turrets, towers, secret passages, and gables – – and does not fit in with the other homes on Sycamore Street AT ALL. Beatrice Milne has filled the mansion with many colorful and eccentric collections. Other unique features of the Milne property are a tiny guest house which is the exact replica of the Monstrosity, and a stone amphitheater decorated with musical gargoyles within view of the River Deben.

Dory and David are tween twins who went from foster home to foster home until they were finally adopted by Mama Bee. Dory enjoys riding her bike around her village, learning to play the flute, reading great books – – and finally having a family, even if her adopted mother is much older and let’s say “different” from other parents. David plays the guitar very well, but his real passion is for building gadgets. The twins were content living in the Milne Monstrosity in Eden Cove with Mama Bee encouraging them to explore their interests and grow their talents. But now, Mama Bee is in a care home and they are stuck with grumpy Uncle Huntley until Mama Bee comes home. That’s IF she ever comes home.

Beatrice Milne, aka Aunt Bee Bee or Mama Bee, always had her fingers in so many pies, and those pies were always so splendid, that she seems larger than life to the people of Eden Cove.  Now she is a patient of Balmy Bay Residences, the care home she helped refurbish as one of her projects.  What’s with her change in personality – and her obsession with Huntley needing to search for the missing Milne stave book?

Arabella and Gerard are Aunt Bee Bee’s ginormous cats who have a love/hate relationship with the Maestro.  Who knows, maybe they can help with the treasure hunt for the missing stave book…

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 25

Stories By Gina, January 26 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, January 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 28

Texas Book-aholic, January 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 31

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 1

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 2

Blogging With Carol, February 3

For Him and My Family, February 4

Fiction Book Lover, February 5 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, February 5

Holly’s Book Corner, February 6

Pause for Tales, February 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amy is giving away the grand prize of a $50 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/00adcf54141


 

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Lethal Connections (Targeted for Elimination #3) by Jennifer Chastain


 Being a Marine prepared him to fight, but not for his heart.
Travis Beckett has perfected the surfer guy persona with a devil-may-care attitude. He lives simply, but he longs for more. Forced into the Witness Protection program five years ago, he had no choice but to walk away from the only woman he’s ever loved, and he was positive he’d never see her again—but then she shows up in Hawaii, and now, they’re both in danger.

Five years is a long time to mourn for a man who left her at the altar.
When Kaitlyn Daniels flies to Hawaii to attend a medical convention, she expects a relaxing week spent furthering her career. Instead, she escapes a fire at the hotel, gets shot at, and discovers her supposed-deceased fiancé is alive and living in Hawaii. Together, they barely escape all the danger, and she’s more than ready to go home.

Trouble comes knocking on her front door.
As a new Christian, Kaitlyn’s faith is tested to its limits when the trouble from Hawaii follows her home to Providence, NC—so does Travis. Now, a more sinister danger lurks behind every shadow, and if she and Travis can’t work together to find out who is behind the violent attacks, and why, they can both say goodbye to their second chance.

Amazon 

 

About The Author


 

Jennifer Chastain is a member of ACFW, ACFW-NC, Blue Ridge Reader Connections, and My Book Therapy/Novel Academy. Several of her other stories were finalists in the Blue Ridge Mountains Foundations contest and she was a finalist in the Touched by Love contest, sponsored by the Faith, Hope, and Love Romance Writers. Her contemporary romance stories contain themes of redemption, grace, and forgiveness. Book 3 in her romantic suspense series, Targeted for Elimination: Lethal Connections, will be released in February 2024.

A hopeful romantic, Jennifer loves dark chocolate, Diet Coke, old movies, and a good rom-com. Growing up in the snowy North, Christmas has always been her favorite holiday, with the scents of cinnamon, vanilla, and pine scenting the air. When she's not reading, she's a night-time writing ninja, typing furiously to make deadlines.

She and her husband have been married for over 25 years and they are permitted to co-exist with their black rescue cat.

You can follow Jennifer on Instagram @Jenniferchastain.author or Facebook @JenniferChastain.writer

 

My Review


This is the third book in this series, but it can be read alone!
A man who wanted to do the right thing. but in the end ends up in Witness Protection, and ends up breaking the heart of the women he loves.
Travis Beckett now lives, or hides in Hawaii, where his former bride to be, Kaitlyn Daniels, is now attending a medical convention. Kaitlyn and Travis's life are about to change, and we are there for the danger that appears around every corner. This read does have non-stop action, and most you won't see coming.
Will justice be served, or will the evil ones finally get what they want?
Yes, you will be holding your breath and hoping for the people you now care about to survive!
This is a page turner read, and when the last was turned, I wanted more!
I received this book through the Launch Team, and was not required to give a positive review. 

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Presents: Wheels and Dirty Deals: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Harper and Moon Investigations) by Trixie Silvertale

 


Wheels and Dirty Deals: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
(Harper and Moon Investigations)
by Trixie Silvertale

About Wheels and Dirty Deals


Wheels and Dirty Deals: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Harper and Moon Investigations)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Pin Cherry Harbor – also known as “almost-Canada.”
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sittin’ On A Goldmine Productions LLC (February 18, 2025)
• Number of Pages – 250
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DLVJGZ4J
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A cryptic murder. A complete lack of suspects. Can our psychic sleuth find a lead or is she spinning her wheels?

Mitzy Moon is brimming with excitement. Planning an anniversary surprise, she’s working overtime to hide the details of a luxurious European vacation from her husband. But before she can book a single ticket, a shockingly suspicious murder lands in her lap.

With only a flimsy lead, Mitzy heads undercover into the local roller derby league. And though she rallies her entitled feline and meddling Ghost-ma to help hunt down clues, she fears if she can’t break out of the pack, this bout will turn deadly.

Can Mitzy find the killer, or will this be her final lap around the track?

Wheels and Dirty Deals is the sixth book in the hilarious paranormal cozy mystery series, Harper and Moon Investigations, a spinoff from the popular Mitzy Moon Mysteries. If you like snarky heroines, supernatural intrigue, and a dash of romance, then you’ll love Trixie Silvertale’s twisty mystery.

Buy Wheels and Dirty Deals to put the guilty in the penalty box today!

About Trixie Silvertale

USA TODAY Bestselling author Trixie Silvertale grew up reading an endless supply of Lilian Jackson Braun, Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew novels. She loves the amateur sleuths in cozy mysteries and obsesses about all things paranormal. Those two passions unite in her Mitzy Moon Mysteries and Harper and Moon Investigations, and she’s thrilled to write them and share them with you.

 Excerpt

A mournful sigh escapes my lips. “My mother was amazing, though.”
“I have no doubt.” Ghost-ma claps her hands as though I’ve given the best Oscar acceptance speech of the night. “She raised you!”
“She barely had a chance to raise me. I was so little when I lost her. And then almost seven years in foster care! It’s a wonder I didn’t end up on the wrong side of the law.”
As though the mere suggestion of law enforcement can summon him, the secret bookcase door slides open, and in saunters the tall drink of water that is my smart, sexy, somewhat dreamy husband, Erick Harper.
Grams squeals. “The vacation!” She flies toward the computer, too frantic to summon enough corporeal form to click the mouse.
Thankfully, Erick can’t hear Isadora, and my fiendish feline is a step ahead.
Pyewacket leaps from the floor to the desktop in a single blur of tan, furry excellence. His powerful paw smashes the mouse as though it were a living creature, and, after completing his amazing act, the wise caracal flops down on the keyboard, obscuring most of the screen with his broad head and black-tufted ears.
Erick gazes from Pyewacket to me and chews the inside of his cheek, as his luscious blue eyes survey the situation with seasoned expertise. “If I was still sheriff of Birch County, I would definitely suspect a cybercrime underway.”
Eager to change the subject, I rush toward him, tripping over my own foot and falling into his arms like one of those damsels in a bodice-ripper novel.
He chuckles, and his voice drops an octave. “You don’t have to ask me twice, Mrs. Moon.”
Despite my status as a married woman, my cheeks flush with heat. “Knock it off, Harper. I tripped, as per usual, and you happened to be the beneficiary. There was no salacious plot.”
Of course, the minute I deny a salacious plot — Oh, the human mind is a powerful visualizer!
His arms slip tighter around my waist, and his soft, pouty lips curve into a mischievous grin as he leans in.
Ghost-ma’s chuckle ruins the moment, and I wriggle away in a fluster of embarrassment. “As you might’ve guessed, we’re not alone.”

 

Author Links 

Trixie’s Website    https://trixiesilvertale.com

Trixie’s Patreon    https://patreon.com/TrixieSilvertaleCozyMysteryBooks

Amazon Author Page  https://www.amazon.com/author/trixiesilvertale

BookBub Author    https://www.bookbub.com/authors/trixie-silvertale

Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/trixiesilvertale/

Facebook Author  https://www.facebook.com/TrixieSilvertale/

Purchase Link – Amazon – 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT  

February 3 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 12 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

February 13 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

February 14 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

February 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Want to Book a Tour?
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Celebrate Lit Presents: Maggie’s Journey Author: Lena Nelson Dooley

About the Book

Book: Maggie’s Journey

Author: Lena Nelson Dooley

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: January 7, 2025

A secret adoption, a quest for identity, and a love that could change her life forever.

Margaret Lenora Caine has never fit the mold her mother set for her. When Maggie discovers proof she was adopted, the rift between them only tears deeper. Feeling the sting of betrayal, Maggie requests permission to visit her grandmother in Little Rock, Arkansas. There she’ll set her sights on her dream of becoming a successful dress designer and maybe find her true identity in the process. Her father’s one condition is that she must be travel with her young aunt and her father’s handsome business partner, Charles Stanton—the man who once held her affections.

Charles Stanton, a thriving businessman, has taken a calculated risk by joining forces with Maggie’s father in a joint venture. When asked to chaperone his new partner’s sister-in-law and daughter on a cross-country trip, Charles sees it as an opportunity to strengthen their business ties. Though he initially sets his sights on Maggie’s charming and composed aunt as a potential wife, Charles soon finds himself increasingly captivated by Maggie’s resilience and charm.

With each passing mile, the bond between Maggie and Charles deepens, challenging both Maggie’s plans and her heart. Will the love growing between them help her embrace her identity—or complicate her search for what truly matters in life?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Multi-published, award-winning author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 1,000,000 copies of her 50+ books sold. Her books have appeared on the CBA, Publisher’s Weekly, and ECPA bestseller lists, as well as Amazon bestseller lists. She is a member of American Christian Fiction and the local chapter, ACFW – DFW. She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network. She likes to create characters and stories that grip her readers hearts.

 

 

 

Book Excerpt

“Mrs. Caine.” Angus McKenna came to an abrupt stop and cleared his throat before starting again. “I’ve come to ask you something that . . . I never dreamed I’d . . . ever ask anyone.” His voice rasped, and he stopped to take a gulp of air, staring off into the distance.

She couldn’t take her eyes from him, even when the baby in her arms squirmed. “How can we help you?”

New tears followed the trails down his cheeks and disappeared into his beard. He grabbed a bandanna from his back pocket and blew his nose with one hand. “I’ve just lost the most important thing in my life.” He paused and stared at the ground. “I don’t know how I can go on without her.” His voice cracked on the last word. Once again he paused, but much longer this time. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed several times. “I’ve been crying out to God, but I don’t think He’s listening to me right now. If He were . . . ”

What a thing for a man to admit to them. Florence knew he must be near a breakdown. He did need help, but what could they do?

“I’ve decided . . . it would be best to find another family to raise one of my girls.” He stood straighter. “I’ve watched you with Margaret Lenora . . . ”

“Is that what you’ve named her?” Florence gazed at the sleeping baby, and her heart ached for the child. To grow up without a mother.

“Yes.” Angus looked straight at Joshua, and her husband gave a slow nod.

“Your husband has told me . . . how much you’ve wanted a child.”

For a moment, anger flared in her chest. Joshua shouldn’t share her secret with anyone. She took a deep breath to keep from saying something she’d regret. Even though she didn’t even look at her husband, she could feel his gaze deep inside. She was grateful he couldn’t see the ugly jealousy and covetousness that resided there.

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, January 23

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 24

Artistic Nobody, January 25 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 25

Texas Book-aholic, January 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 28

Devoted To Hope, January 29

Guild Master, January 30 (Author Interview)

Sylvan Musings, January 30

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 31

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 1

Simple Harvest Reads, February 2 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, February 3

Holly’s Book Corner, February 4

Pause for Tales, February 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lena is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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/00adcf54139

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Guilty Until Innocent: A Novel by Robert Whitlow

 

Life in prison is often a nightmare, but Joe Moore believes he is just where God intends him to be. Twenty-five years ago, while high on meth, he makes one terrible mistake after another, culminating in the brutal murder of a young, influential couple. Today, Joe is a radically different person, thriving in his role as a ministry leader and role model to his fellow inmates.

After being fired from two previous law firms, young lawyer Ryan Clark and his wife, Paige, have settled into a small North Carolina town. Hired by a distant relative, Ryan is committed to connecting with the right clients and handling the mundane tasks while his cousin Tom takes on the high-profile cases.

But when critical health issues land Tom in the hospital, Ryan is forced to take the helm at the law firm--just in time for the town's biggest case in history to be reopened. Joe Moore's niece has been doing some digging and, convinced that her incarcerated uncle is innocent, insists that Ryan relaunch the investigation immediately.

After Ryan meets with Joe, both men receive threats that put their own lives--as well as the lives of those around them--in danger. It appears that together they've pulled back a dark curtain that hides a deeper evil than anyone in town suspects exists. Now they must determine if continuing with the case is worth the risk--and if the cost of proving one man's innocence is too great when the lives of so many others would be placed in mortal danger.

Amazon 

 

About The Author


Robert Whitlow grew up in north Georgia. He graduated magna cum laude from Furman University with a BA in history in 1976 and received his JD with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1979. A practicing attorney, he is a partner in a Charlotte, NC law firm. He and his wife Kathy have four children and nine grandchildren.

Robert began writing in 1996. His novels are set in the South and include both legal suspense and interesting characterization. It is his desire to write stories that reveal some of the ways God interacts with people in realistic scenarios.

 

My Review


 What a compelling page turner, from beginning to end I was hooked.
What a great job the author did with this story, and it takes really to the end to get most of the answers.
A faith based read, it made me realize that things were probably the way they should be, and doing God's work is not always easy.
With all the evidence pointing to Joe's guilt, a double murder, a trial, and then twenty six years later, we are at the prison where so many lives are being touched by Joe and the Holy Spirit.
There is danger and we are with Joe's new lawyer and his wife, Ryan and Paige, and see how Joe touches their lives.
You will be ducking bullets, fires, and the evil lurking.
What a journey, but answers come and so do surprises! I'll be looking for more by Robert Whitlow!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive

 

Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

 


As the German war machine devours the Netherlands, the only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the occupation is to do the unthinkable--train to become a spy for the Nazis. Once dispatched to Britain, she plans to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. But her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

Yet perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence employs her to radio misleading messages to Germany from the lighthouse at Dunnet Head in Scotland--messages filled with naval intelligence Lachlan must provide. If the war is to be won, Lachlan and Cilla must work together. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy--a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

Amazon

 

About The Author

 


 

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling and Christy Award-winning author of Midnight on the Scottish Shore (coming February 2025), Embers in the London Sky (2024), The Sound of Light (2023), Until Leaves Fall in Paris (2022), When Twilight Breaks (2021), and several World War II series.

Sarah's novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. Until Leaves Fall in Paris received the 2022 Christy Award, The Sky Above Us won the 2020 Carol Award, The Sound of Light was a finalist for both the Christy Award and the Carol Award, and When Twilight Breaks and The Land Beneath Us were finalists for the Christy Award.

A mother of three, Sundin lives in Southern California and enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers' groups. Sarah serves as program director for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference.

 

My Review


Sarah Sundin has done it again, bringing WWII alive. This time we begin in the Netherlands, and through the eyes of Cilla van der Zee, as she personally witnesses the brutality of the German War Machine. She wants out and love the twist she develops, as she gets to Scotland, with the German's help.
Now Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie is out for a walk, he need to clear his head, when he finds a spy entering his beloved country. He can't believe his eyes, and has his pistol handy, and it doesn't take long that he realized the He he sees is a She.
Not what Cilla was hoping for, but boy now the she is in another predicament, and in another dangerous situation.
What a story the author weaves, spies, counter spies, espionage, and then the family drama. You will be quickly page turning for answers, and they do come, but with a lot of surprises.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

Monday, February 3, 2025

Celebrate Lit Presents: Tracy: A Sweet, Quirky, Romantic Masterpiece (Book 6 of the Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue series. It can be read as a stand-alone.) Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

 

About the Book

Book: Tracy: A Sweet, Quirky, Romantic Masterpiece (Book 6 of the Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue series. It can be read as a stand-alone.)

Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

Genre: Sweet, Wholesome Romance (Retro)

Release date: October, 2024

Her heart can’t take more breakage…

…He’s been wounded enough

Yet they’re becoming best friends without ever having met.

Tracy Callahan has learned that relationships aren’t for her. The struggling glass artist puts up barriers to keep romantic entanglements from causing more pain. However, her feelings are growing for her roommate’s brother, despite having never seen him in person.

How can just his voice on the phone hold that much attraction?

Danny Mitchell left a large part of himself in Viet Nam and is learning how to navigate life back here in the states. It’s better to just avoid the public. As long as he doesn’t have to see anyone in person, he can pretend he’s his old self, and the caller on the other end of the phone won’t know the difference.

But Tracy is breaking through, resurrecting feelings he thought were dead and gone.

They might find a way to make a telephone relationship work. Unless meddling loved ones get involved.

When that happens, can Tracy and Danny’s friendship survive meeting face-to-face?

Or could there be something more than friendship in store for them? Maybe a God-designed masterpiece built from their broken parts?

Return to 1973 Kokomo, Indiana where the legend of the cardinal in the sycamore can still prove true love.

You will enjoy this sweet, quirky tale of hidden worth, because sometimes what we need is right in front of us.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Historical Christian Romance author, Jennifer Lynn Cary, likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. Now transplanted to the Arizona desert, this direct descendant of Davy Crockett and her husband of forty plus years enjoy time with family where she shares tales of her small-town heritage and family legacies with their grandchildren. She is the author of The Crockett Chronicles series, The Relentless series, and The Weather Girls trilogy as well as the stand-alone novel, Cheryl’s Going Home, her novella Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café, and her split-time novels The Traveling Prayer Shawl and The Forgotten Gratitude Journal. Her current spin-off series, The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue, contains standalones with a common thread.

 

More from Jennifer

Have you ever met characters in a story that stayed with you, even when they weren’t the main characters? That’s what happened to me after I wrote Runaround Sue. Sue’s brother and her roommate seemed to hit it off so well, and I loved those characters.

It only made sense to give Tracy and Danny their own story.

However, I will confess that I had planned to make a character named Tracy because of the song, “Tracy” by the Cufflinks. It’s such a happy, bouncy tune and I thought that fit Sue’s roommate.

I do need to add that I relied on a childhood friend for some Danny’s antics. At one point I was told that something he did wasn’t possible. The problem was, I knew it was because my friend, Maureen McKay did that very thing. Maureen had a personality like Tracy’s and determination like Danny’s.

A few years ago I was back in Kokomo for a special wedding anniversary party. I noticed a guy sitting at a table and went to talk with him. At that time, I was combing faces for someone I’d known back when I went to school there. He had that look, but as we talked, it was obvious we didn’t know each other.

A little later I told my cousin about that, and she said that he was ahead of us in school, but he had a younger sister who would’ve been about my age. I knew immediately why he’d looked familiar. He was Maureen’s big brother.

I searched him and his mother out quickly and let them know I remembered Maureen. I mentioned a few of our escapades. Then I told them that my husband and I had lost a son, and that the kindest thing anyone could say was that they remembered our Ian. So, for that reason, I wanted them to know I remember Maureen.

And that’s why Tracy is dedicated to the memory of my friend Maureen McKay.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 21

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 22

Texas Book-aholic, January 23

Vicky Sluiter, January 24 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, January 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 25

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 26 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 27

Simple Harvest Reads, January 28 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 29

For the Love of Literature, January 30 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 31

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 1 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, February 2

Blossoms and Blessings, February 3 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, February 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer 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/00adcf54137

Celebrate Lit Presents: Kisses from Heaven, Book Three: Unique, Inexplicable, Extraordinary, and Supernatural Tales from the Heart of a Miraculous God Author: C.B. Caleb Woodworth

 

About the Book

Book: Kisses from Heaven, Book Three: Unique, Inexplicable, Extraordinary, and Supernatural Tales from the Heart of a Miraculous God

Author: C.B. Caleb Woodworth

Genre: RELIGION / Christian Living / Personal Memoirs/ Prayer/ Inspirational

Release date: December 10, 2024

Jesus proved who He was by signs and wonders. Here, pastors and restoration ministers C.B. Caleb Woodworth and intercessor wife, Emily Anne, are ready to serve you a banquet of real-life God Stories, personal testimonies of Jesus’ unique, inexplicable, extraordinary, and supernatural ways to illustrate, once again, He is still the same yesterday, today, and forever.

If you’ve ever wondered whether God was still performing miracles in our day, this series will be a welcome reminder of his power and goodness.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

A Marine aviator and family physician, C.B. Caleb Woodworth and Proverbs 31 wife, Emily, left the world to follow Holy Spirit as restoration (inner healing) missionary pastors over the last twenty-six years. Today, the Woodworths continue ministry among those in need from America’s heartland, making the most of their time, for the days are short.

 

 

 

 

More from C.B. Caleb

In a world that is growing darker and where hope seems far away, we need to hear about the goodness and faithfulness of God all the more.

This little book of true God Stories will introduce you to the wondrous ways Holy Spirit works to accomplish His will and purposes. Sometimes referred to as miracles, these “Kisses from Heaven” have most often come as a complete surprise or at the eleventh hour to turn ordinary events into inexplicable, extraordinary, or even supernatural ones.

Whether you are doubtful and need a reason to believe or you are a faithful believer grown weary in your walk, you will find story after story of God’s gracious intervention in the lives of mortal men and a hopeful reminder of the goodness and faithfulness of our heavenly Father.

So, Christian, come join us for a walk through our encouraging, if not eye-opening, personal little book of God Stories. We pray it becomes the harbinger of Jesus sharing tender mercies to and through your own lives, leading to an awesome Kiss from Heaven or two for you to pass on to the kids, grandkids, and generations to come.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 22

Artistic Nobody, January 23 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, January 24 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 24

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 25 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 26

Guild Master, January 27 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 28

A Reader’s Brain, January 29 (Author Interview)

Godly Book Reviews, January 30

Back Porch Reads, January 31 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 1 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, February 1

Fiction Book Lover, February 2 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 3

Simple Harvest Reads, February 4 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, C.B. Caleb is giving away the grand prize of a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of all three books in the series!!

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/00adcf54138

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Presents: Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery by Iris March

 


Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery
by Iris March

About Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents


Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wandering Gingko Press (January 23, 2025)
~250 Pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DQQ8XJLL
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The annual Buckeye Trail Town Festival. A trail construction site. And one dead naturalist.

The charming town of Hawthorn Heights is celebrating its connection to the Buckeye Trail with a weekend-long town festival. When a local naturalist is found dead at the bottom of a ravine off the trail, amateur sleuth and garden center manager Molly Green finds herself tangled in a murder investigation – again.

As the Trail Festival concludes, Molly unearths unexpected secrets about the bird-obsessed naturalist’s life along with other people in her small community. When the police focus on who Molly knows is the wrong suspect, she starts her own investigation with her flock of fellow amateur detectives. Will Molly and her team identify the killer or will they fly away free?

Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents is a heartwarming and suspenseful cozy mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of small-town mysteries and amateur sleuths with both birding and eco-friendly themes.

About Iris March

Iris March has a reputation for killing houseplants and now she’s killing people off in books? Coincidence? Perhaps not. Iris has spent two decades working in the sustainability field and is usually either reading a book or on a trail. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and three cats.

Author Links
Website https://irismarchbooks.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/searchingformysteries/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076150266393
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22404252.Iris_March

Purchase Link – Amazon – 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 27 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 28 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 28 – Frugal Freelancer – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 29 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 30 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

January 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

January 31 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 31 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

February 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 1 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

February 2 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 2 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Saturday, February 1, 2025

Celebrate Lit Presents: The Way Back to Eden: Book 2 of the Jaguar Oracle Series Author Name: Kurt Mähler

 


 

 

About the Book

Book Title: The Way Back to Eden: Book 2 of the Jaguar Oracle Series

 

Author Name: Kurt Mähler

 

Genre: magical realism

 

Release Date: Feb 28, 2025

 

A Mystical Journey to Restore the Natural Order as Hope Guides the Way

 

In the lush wilderness of the Rio Grande Valley, a centuries-old prophecy is about to be fulfilled. The jaguars, once the revered rulers of the animal kingdom, have vanished—until a brave jaguar named Oracle begins a journey to summon the scattered tribes and restore their rightful place.

 

A captivating quest and an unforgettable journey home.

 

His quest intersects with young Paco and his extraordinary animal companions—a wise horse named Plod, a storytelling toad called Bog, and a clever raccoon named Patch—as they navigate the mystical landscapes of the Texas-Mexico borderlands and Brazos River bottomlands, a quest that weaves through ancient forests, mysterious towers, and sacred sanctuaries.

 

Guided by ancient wisdom and the enduring loyalty of his animal friends, Oracle's epic journey leads him through a world on the brink of upheaval. As greedy developers encroach on the land and threaten the delicate balance of nature, Oracle must navigate a tangled web of human greed, betrayal, and violence to find the missing jaguarundi tribe and unite the warring factions of the animal realm.

 

The fate of the Valley rests on Oracle recovering lost memories and rediscovering the original harmony between man and beast. From vast Texan ranches to ancient palm forests, from well-ordered zoos to untamed wilderness, The Way Back to Eden weaves together a rich tapestry of cultures, legends, and the immutable power of the natural world.

 

Blending elements of magical realism, environmental advocacy, and pulse-pounding adventure, this sweeping tale transports readers into a vibrant, unforgettable world where Oracle's quest is to preserve the ancient balance and the interconnectedness of all living things.

The Way Back to Eden, a deeply satisfying and thought-provoking fantasy epic, is the second installment in the six-volume Jaguar Oracle series. Discover the magic that awaits where ancient wildlife sanctuaries hold secrets, where ghosts and tree house hermits guide lost souls home, and where the path back to Eden might just be hidden in plain sight.

Follow the trail. Find the tree. Change the world.

 

Book Excerpt

Use your ‘logic,’ as the sages of Man would say. Did I not curse you to your face when you defied the way things are in your unfenced Sian Ka’an where you roamed wild and free? Did I not pronounce your doom when you refused the law of hospitality between my kind and yours? Behold what has befallen. You have lost the path. You are trapped in a place you did not want to go. ‘Lord of the Valley’ you call yourself? See, now you are lord of the Pit. That is who you are.”

“Say no more,” Oracle growled.

The spider monkeys whooped in nervous response—and in glee at seeing a new drama more important than all their domestic squabbles put together.

“Lord of the Pit,” they twittered. “Lord of the Pit. That’s who he is. Lord of the Pit! Lord of the Pit!” And they forgot their fear as they scorned the cat below.

“Ah, yes, yes, that is who he is,” jested the spirit. “But the lord of the Pit makes a decree to ‘say no more.’ And such a proper decree from this sovereign. It is prudent to ‘say no more’ before the truth would be told.

 

 

Missed Any Excerpts, Go Here

 

***Insert Links Here***

 

About the Author

 


 

Kurt writes in the prophetic and poetic tradition, inspired by the wonder of creation and the cultures of the nations. Guiding sources for his works include the Hebrew prophets, the Desert Fathers, Dante, Milton, George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien.

 

Kurt and his wife, Karen, married since 1993, raised five children in Afghanistan and have spent more than twenty years in forty nations as encouragers in the Christian faith. Their travels led to the discovery of the beauty and wisdom of storytelling. Their roots include the Gulf Coast, Rio Grande Valley, and Heart of Texas.

 

Kurt writes to give readers courage for their faith journeys, as he believes that no disappointment, however profound, should prevent you from completing it.

 

His website kurtmahler.com features his essays, poetry, and books.

 

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Presents: Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory

  Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory About Soft Serve Sleighing Sof...