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A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado by Kathleen Denly Review and Giveaway

October 30, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado

Author: Kathleen Denly

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: October 8, 2024

When death visits Coronado, will secrets of the past keep them from uncovering the truth?

Her entire life, Eleanore Wainright has been molded to fit the ideal society wife in the glittering world of New York’s elite. Her father’s aspirations for her are clear: marry a man of wealth and status, and secure their family’s future. But when she arrives at the Hotel del Coronado with intentions to do just that, Eleanore’s carefully laid plans are thrown into disarray when she comes face to face with Thomas Harding, the man who shattered her heart and disappeared without a trace.

Working as a bellboy at California’s newest and most prestigious resort, Thomas never imagined crossing paths with Eleanore again, let alone amidst the backdrop of a suspicious death.

As the investigation continues and tensions rise, Eleanore and Thomas are forced to confront not only the ghosts of their past but also the secrets that threaten to destroy their future and the futures of those they hold dear. With the eyes of New York’s elite upon them, they must choose between the responsibilities they’re expected to fulfill and the love they’ve always yearned for, risking everything in the process.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kathleen Denlylives in sunny California with her loving husband, four young children, two dogs, and ten cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

More from Kathleen

A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado was inspired first by the true events surrounding the tragic death of a mysterious woman that occurred at Coronado’s world famous hotel in November of 1892, and second by the fun antics of Miss Scarlet in the Masterpiece television show, Miss Scarlet and the Duke.

Although Miss Scarlet is a professional sleuth, I chose to make my heroine, Eleanore Wainright, an amateur sleuth who typically puts her keen observation skills to use when secretly writing her own mystery novels. That is, until an unexpected death compels her to use those skills to uncover the truth. Of course my hero, Thomas Harding, gets wrapped into helping her despite the tension of past heartbreak lying between them.

One of the most fun parts of writing this story was seeing Eleanore’s spunky Aunt Gladys support and encourage her niece. Aunt Gladys has an energy and sassiness that belies her years. And today, her curiosity has got the better of her. You see, Eleanore is being stubborn and won’t reveal the title of her current work in progress, so Aunt Glady is snooping through her niece’s room for clues.

To learn more about the true history behind this story, look for the author’s note at the back of the book!

My Impressions

“Secrets truly are the Achilles’ heel of powerful people.”

So many things drew me to this book, A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado. One is that the author is Kathleen Denly, and I always enjoy her historical romance writing! The second is that it is yet another, book eight, to be exact, of the Romance at the Gilded Age Resorts, each book by a different author and often featuring a famous hotel of the time that I don’t know much about. Thirdly, we have visited Coronado Island. The hotel there was much too fancy for our pocketbooks, and it is interesting to learn its background. I could only imagine how beautiful the hotel must have been, all decorated for the Christmas season.

I enjoyed seeing the romance between well-to-do Eleanore and her social underling, Thomas. Would they find a way to figure out what divided them in the past, plus figure out a way forward to renew their shattered love?

I do believe that Eleanore’s aunt is my fave secondary character. She knows the hearts of those closest to her, but keeps confidences. She loves the flawed people around her, and isn’t afraid to encourage them without giving away other’s secrets.

Speaking of secrets, there are some good mystery threads going on in this novel. I really enjoyed the twists, and I think other readers of western historical fiction will, too.

There are a few words of language in the book, but they are, in my opinion, totally appropriate.

Reading the author’s notes is a must!!

I received a copy of the book from the author and Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Novels are nothing more than a poor man’s excuse for not working and a dull-witted woman’s method of passing the time for want of anything worthwhile to do.”

“If God left it up to us to earn His love and forgiveness, we’d all be damned.”

“Precious little is more important than tradition.”

“Surely, God would want her to help, and that trumped any of society’s rules.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So many things to like about this A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado!

Blog Stops

Holly’s Book Corner, October 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29

Texas Book-aholic, October 30

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 2

Devoted To Hope, November 3

Pause for Tales, November 3

Connie’s History Classroom, November 4

She Lives To Read, November 5

Simple Harvest Reads, November 6 (Guest Review from Donna)

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 7

Stories By Gina, November 8 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, November 8

Hannahbandanarama, November 9

Cover Lover Book Review, November 10

Blossoms and Blessings, November 11

Bizwings Book Blog, November 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize of an enamel mug, scented candle, A6 journal notebook, ballpoint pen with black ink, and 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/00adcf5481

ARC, Bethany House, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, PB, Purchase

Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham Review and Giveaway

October 29, 2024October 30, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Hope Like Wildflowers

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Release date: October, 2024

An Appalachian Girl Seeks a Place to Belong
Return to the mountains of 1910s Appalachia with beloved author Pepper Basham to discover Kizzie McAdams’s story.

Kizzie McAdams spent her childhood longing to see beyond the mountains of home, but when her job as a servant in a landowner’s house results in an unplanned pregnancy, her world tips into uncertainty and heartbreak. Disowned by her father, she seeks comfort in the arms of the man who promises to take care of her, but his support is conditional and inconsistent. She finds acceptance in the home of a nearby family who not only offer Kizzie friendship but point her to a deeper understanding of God’s love.

Despite her change of heart, her status as a social outcast brings with it continued threats and alienation so she flees her past in hopes of starting over in a nearby town. But her new world carries many of the same prejudices as the old. It also brings the unexpected friendship of businessman Noah Lewis, a man who lives with the same desire as Kizzie for helping the marginalized.

Unfortunately, Kizzie and Noah’s attempts to help those in need pit them against Noah’s elder brother, a powerful mill owner who holds control of the family finances. Is Kizzie and Noah’s growing romance strong enough to battle family power, social expectations, and Kizzie’s past to capture their happy ending? And when Kizzie’s first love returns to claim her, which future will she choose?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Pepper Bashamis an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

More from Pepper

It’s pretty easy to overlook wildflowers.

I mean, until they show off all their pretty colors, especially in the middle of a barren place, then they’re noticed and usually appreciated but did you know there’s a lot more to wildflowers that…meets the eye?

Apart from providing food and shelter for smaller animals and/or insects or assisting bees in pollination, wildflowers can be used as an ingredient for healing remedies and contribute to soil health and reduce erosion.

Especially in places where other plants aren’t likely to grow. They’re known as “hardy” because they can survive all sorts of weather conditions, extreme temperature, animal damage, even drought.

So why am I talking about wildflowers??

Because, in lots of ways, wildflowers are a great example of what hope looks like.

Hope nourishes. Romans 15: 14 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” When we recall and reflect on what the Bible says about who we are in Christ, our hearts are encouraged and given the spiritual energy they need to remind ourselves of truth in the middle of hard times and wilderness-living.
Hope spreads – Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” A heart filled with the knowledge of the love of God is a heart filled and “overflowing” with hope…and that hope is contagious. When we know whose we are and what our future looks like because of the One who loves us, we live in joy…even when the storms come.
Hope restores and heals: “Isaiah 40:31 reads, “For those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
Hope protects – Psalm 62:5-6 “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Life is hard. Sometimes, bone-achingly, soul-shakingly hard. If we’re reliant on our own ability to protect our faith or mind or soul, we will fail. We’re not strong enough and neither is any of our human defenses, but God is amply able to protect us from the storms, trials, and droughts that mean to wither our hope. HE is the hero of our heart’s story and he is armed to overcome so we can trust Him with our hope and our futures.
And hope grows in the hard places. Hope does not consist of weak or wishful thinking, it grows out of nutrients squeezed from the soil it has. Hard-won, many times. Romans 5:3-4 “ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” A life with Christ doesn’t mean that pain is taken away, but there is a promise and purpose in the pain. The promise that God is with us and a purpose that He is making us more like Him.

Hope Like Wildflowers tells the story of hope, but the main character, Kizzie, isn’t relying on her own abilities to keep her hope strong. Oh no! She learned to trust in the only One who is strong enough to BE her hope. He nourishes her heart when her life has turned upside down and she’s been forsaken. He restores and heals her when she’s been broken and cast out. He protects her from dangerous men who try to hurt her, but also he protects her heart from choosing the wrong path. And through the hard places of life, Kizzie’s hope overflows in joy to touch the lives of those around her.

And it’s beautiful and unexpected.

Like wildflowers.

How has God helped bring hope to your life? What trials has His hope helped you through?

My Impressions

“Somehow, even in the middle of broken dreams, God touches the raw, painful remnants with a teensy bit of stardust.”

Pepper Basham invites us back to the 1910s in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where people are still divided by their socio-economic and racial status. This book, Hope Like Wildflowers, is so well-titled! As Basham explains, wildflowers will fight their way up through mountain rock and other areas that one would think impossible soil. Yet, beauty springs out of surprising hardship. It is leaning into the Rock that is bigger and stronger than ourselves that gives strength to endure and overcome. We cannot do it on our own, as Nella encourages Kizzie. “Life is hard, Kizzie. You can look for easy in all kinds of places, but more likely than not, that easy turns to its own kind of hard. The real test is what you do when the hard comes. There’s bound to be more times in life than not that the hard gets too big for your own shoulders. That’s why you need someone bigger, stronger, wiser.”

What a journey you will go on with young Kizzie McAdams. We first see a bedraggled, rejected, pregnant, poor, mountain girl struggling to survive. But as Kizzie begins to spend time with her friends John and Nella, she begins to see there is a different road to life available, if she chooses. One that she will not have to walk alone. At first, it seems Kizzie will get trampled and tossed aside by those who are bigger and stronger. Every decision she makes will have you yearning with her as you see her difficult choices.

Fortunately, Faith is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. As Kizzie makes decisions and moves to leave her old life behind, life actually gets harder in many ways. Will she return to her old ways, to the promised security, or will she continue to step out in faith and love?

Ms. Basham pens her novel with beautiful descriptions of the Appalachians, slices of local color, and great relatable characters with tough choices. While part of a series, this book can stand alone. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Catherine Marshall’s Christy.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own copy for my keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“It’s difficult to smile when your focus is on things that rarely lead to joy.”

“Sometimes the very best folks rise out of a second chance because they know what they’ve been forgiven of.”

“My mama says that our true self rises to the top when we’re mad or when no one’s looking.”-Kizzie

“The Lord don’t want nothing to do with the likes of me, Nella.” “Well, that just goes to show how little you know about the Lord. The broken kind’s who He’s been after from the start.”

“True compassion cared with a steel spine.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! What a poignant time to read Hope Like Wildflowers- when Appalachia must again wade through a very difficult time, but is buoyed by the strength and resilience of its people and their hope for the future!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 30

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 30

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 31

Devoted To Hope, November 1

Texas Book-aholic, November 1

Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 2 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3

Wishful Endings, November 4

Book Looks by Lisa, November 4

Sylvan Musings, November 5

For Him and My Family, November 5

lakesidelivingsite, November 6

Blossoms and Blessings, November 6

Connie’s History Classroom, November 7

Labor Not in Vain, November 7

Holly’s Book Corner, November 8

An Author’s Take, November 8

Back Porch Reads, November 9

Inklings and Notions, November 9

Cover Lover Book Review, November 10

Pause for Tales, November 11

Just Your Average reviews, November 11

To Everything There Is A Season, November 12

Vicky Sluiter, November 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon eGift card and a print 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/00adcf5482

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Kregel, Launch Team, PB, Purchase

Fiancé Finale by Angela Ruth Strong Review and Giveaway

October 23, 2024October 22, 2024 Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Fiancé Finale by Angela Ruth Strong hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Fiancé Finale
Series: Love Off Script #3
Author: Angela Ruth Strong
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: October 22, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Charlie Newberg is sure about one thing: Nicole Lemaire is the woman God wants him to marry. There’s a slight problem, though—he’s already left her once. The day before their wedding. To make a documentary.

But he’s got a plan. The marketing firm she works for is the ideal choice for promoting his new film. Collaborating will give him the perfect chance to propose again, so he conspires with her boss to make sure she runs the campaign for the same kind of documentary Charlie left her—basically at the altar—for.

Despite Nicole’s resistance, the two work well together. But Charlie’s going to need more than teamwork to convince the jilted bride to give him a second chance. In fact, he might need to fall in love in a way he’s never really understood.

More Books from this Series:

About the Author

Angela Ruth Strong is the founder of IdaHope Christian Writers. Her books have earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been a finalist for the Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon best sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana released as a movie in 2022. Strong lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband.

Connect with Angela by visiting angelaruthstrong.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

My Impressions

“A man always has to choose the woman he loves. Over and over and over again. Because that’s what love does.”

Wow! My emotions are all tangled after finished Fiancé Finale by Angela Ruth Strong. I laughed loud and long at Strong’s humor. I loved the vivid descriptions of the Pacific Northwest. I cringed at obtuseness and misunderstandings. I related to being a pastor’s daughter and wondering whether family or church would come first this time. How I both cheered for Charlie and Nicole to rekindle their broken relationship, and wondered if it was even wise.

Each chapter starts with a great love quote by a famous author, plus a bit of film roll is depicted. Charlie and Nicole alternate narrating chapters, which probably has a lot to do with the back and forth emotional tug. If the road to true love is never easy, surely Charlie and Nicole prove this. Meri and Kai and Gemma and Karson all appear from earlier books, so this series really needs to be read in order.

The big question is, when Charlie, an independent filmmaker, and Nicole, a publicist, are assigned to work together, will they be able to figure out what went wrong with their first engagement before they develop and destroy a second? It is nip and tuck all the way!!

Alice the jeweler is my fave secondary character. She really sees people. Alice is both comforting and challenging in her responses in her loving responses.

Strong brings up so many themes. Hypocrisy in the church, being afraid to love, redemption, selfishness, redemption, lost sheep, making peace with past relationships, mercy, truth, and love. Wow! No matter where you see yourself on the spectrum of faith, you will be challenged to better love others and better live out the Truth.

I received a copy of the book from the author and JustRead Tours. I also bought a copy of the book for my keeper shelf. No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“We accept the love we believe we deserve.”

“She flies with her own wings.”

“Perhaps that’s the meaning of reckless love. God still loves us at our worst.”

“That’s been my experience with God. He doesn’t seem to calm the storms in my life, He just holds an umbrella over my head to protect me until the sun comes out again.”

“In a world where appearances are everything, I have committed the most grievous of offenses. I’m imperfect.”– Nicole

“Is there anything better than being known and being loved?”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Angela Ruth Strong’s rom-coms will not only have you in stitches and sighing, but will also have you evaluating how you live your life.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Fiancé Finale and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 23, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 30, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

ARC, Bethany House, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, PB, Purchase

A Hope Unburied by Kimberley Woodhouse Review and Giveaway

October 20, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: A Hope Unburied (Treasures of the Earth Book Three)

Author: Kimberley Woodhouse

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: September 24, 2024

Beyond the perilous landscape lies a love that defies extinction. . . .

In the bustling world of paleontology in 1916, Eliza Mills defies societal expectations to pursue her passion. Having published her early groundbreaking papers under a false name, she has finally earned her place at the Carnegie Museum and seizes the opportunity to work at Dinosaur National Monument with a renowned paleontologist. But things in Jensen, Utah, aren’t what they appear. When Eliza gets the chance to dig up bones at a ranch with a dark history, it sparks a chain of events that will rock the very fabric of her carefully constructed world.

Devin Schmitt, Eliza’s closest friend since childhood, harbors unspoken feelings for her but knows he will never be able to win her heart. Just as he vows to give her up for good, Eliza begs him to visit her in Utah for another grand adventure. He reluctantly agrees, and within a few days of his arrival, he and Eliza find themselves entangled in a web of danger where the stakes are much higher than they ever anticipated. Together, Devin and Eliza must hold on to God as their hope as they navigate a treacherous terrain of betrayal to unbury the truth and save Eliza from those who wish to see her fail.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of thirty-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandkids, and research all the history around them.

More from Kimberley

A couple of years ago, I asked readers on my Facebook page what they were interested in reading in Christian fiction. When one reader and friend suggested I write about the Bone Wars, I was intrigued and instantly excited. I had no idea how much of a blessing writing the Treasures of the Earth series would be.

I traveled all over western Colorado, eastern Utah and southern Wyoming, looking at the incredible displays of bones of magnificent creatures of our past. Stopping at every tiny museum along the way, and even driving miles and miles into the middle of nowhere to find just the right setting for The Secrets Beneath. But it was going to Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen, Utah that truly helped these three books come to life.

The monument was established in October 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson. The 80 acres encompassed the Carnegie Quarry, where paleontologist Earl Douglass was digging, trying to find intact dinosaur skeletons to send back to Carnegie’s museum in Pittsburgh. Eventually, President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the park to encompass more than 200,000 acres.

But this monument wouldn’t exist without the determination of one man: Earl Douglass. I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Diane Douglass Iverson, his granddaughter, during one of my research trips. She was generous with her time and memories as she shared her grandfather’s journals and memories with me. The longer we talked, the more the idea for what would be the third book of this series took shape. Though Earl is not a primary character in Eliza’s story, his presence and impact on the science of paleontology is felt through the pages.

In fact, each chapter of all three books has a quote from the book his son created out of his journal entries, titled Speak to the Earth and It Will Teach You. I am grateful to Diane for the opportunity to share his struggles, hopes, and dreams with my readers.

With this last book, I hope you enjoy Eliza’s joyful spirit, as well as her struggles to find her place in this world. She’s a spirited young woman with a passion for fossils and how God has created this incredible planet. You’ll get to visit Dinosaur National Monument with her, seeing the founding of this great national treasure through her eyes. I hope you love visiting there in your imagination and that you get the opportunity to visit on your own someday. But even more than that, I pray that, like Eliza, you find joy and confidence where God has placed you in His story.

My Impressions

“Promise me we’ll always be best friends. That we won’t ever let anything come between us.” ~ Eliza

(BTW- if you don’t read prologues, you will be missing a lot with this book!)

A Hope Unburied ( Treasures of the Earth, #3) by Kimberley Woodhouse is a tremendous conclusion to this series about the Bone Wars. I think this book can stand on its own. Historical fiction has gotten even better lately, as authors are beginning to add mystery, suspense, and danger to the straight-forward historical fiction genre! With dinosaur digs, a woman paleontologist struggling to prove her worth, a forbidden love, the Carnegie museum, intrigue, and plotting behind the scenes, this was one of my highly anticipated novels! Kimberley Woodhouse certainly knows how to slowly tease the reader with bits of the unknown, ( two different mysteries in this case) all the while developing solid, complex characters who discover they still need to grow and change. While most readers may not be aspiring paleontologists like Eliza or best friends to a rich family’s daughter like Devin, we can relate to the insecurities, inferiorities, lack of trust, and trying to do things on our own. Eliza finally is confronted by Devin about her lack of trust. “She’d been trying to deal with everything in her own strength. Once again. Why couldn’t she rest in her Savior? His salvation was perfect. And that was all that truly mattered.”

You will find this novel very captivating and romantic as you race towards the end to find out who is behind the rumors and disasters. You may end up wishing you had a best friend as steadfastly loyal like our hero, Devin. *Sigh.* Sometimes I wonder what we could accomplish as people who understand the feeling of truly being loved by the One Who forgives and loves us most of all.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought a few copies of the book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Attempting to walk in the way of Jesus without actually walking with Him, without letting Him work through her, was a sure recipe for disaster. The fruit of her actions proved that.”

“The battle between science and faith was real. Overwhelming at times.”

“It was exactly as Darwin said, survival of the fittest. Conquer or be conquered. Kill or be killed.”

“But what if He’s disappointed in me too? If He’s decided I’m too much of a problem to redeem?”

“Maybe He needed to get you alone so you would listen to Him. Wholly and completely.”

“Then he could go back home to his routine and work to carve her out of his heart.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!! Kimberley Woodhouse is an A-list author for me!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 21

Bigreadersite, October 21

lakesidelivingsite, October 22

Where Faith and Books Meet, October 23

Lighthouse Academy, October 23

Daylong Reflections, October 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 25

For Him and My Family, October 25

Texas Book-aholic, October 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 27

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 28

Connie’s History Classroom, October 29

Mary Hake, October 29

Holly’s Book Corner, October 30

Cover Lover Book Review, October 31

Pause for Tales, October 31

Book Looks by Lisa, November 1

Lily’s Corner, November 2

Live.Love.Read., November 2

Labor Not in Vain, November 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kimberley is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card and a paperback set of the Treasures of the Earth series: The Secrets Beneath, Set in Stone, and A Hope Unburied!!

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/00adcf5473/

ARC, Barbour, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, Purchase

Virginia by Shannon McNear Review and Giveaway

October 3, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Virginia (Daughters of the Lost Colony Book Four)

Author: Shannon McNear

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Romance

Release date: September, 2024

The White Doe of the Outer Banks Grows into Womanhood

Return to the “what if” questions surrounding the Lost Colony and explore the possible fate of Virginia Dare–the first English child born in the New World. What happened to her after her grandfather John White returned to England and the colony he established disappeared into the mists of time? Legends abound, but she was indeed a real girl who, if she survived to adulthood, must have also become part of the legacy that is the people of the Outer Banks. In the spring of 1602 by English reckoning, “Ginny,” as she is called by family and friends, is fourteen and firmly considered a grown woman by the standards of the People. For her entire life she has watched the beautiful give-and-take of the Kurawoten and other native peoples with the English who came from across the ocean. She’s enjoyed being the darling of both English and Kurawoten alike—but a stirring deep inside her will not be put to rest.

One careless decision lands her and fellow “first baby” Henry Harvie, along with their Croatoan friend Redbud, in enemy hands. Carried away into Mangoac territory, out of the reach of Manteo and the others, she must learn who she truly is—not only the daughter of Elinor and Ananias Dare but also a child of the One True God, who gives her courage to go wherever the path of her life might lead.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in the Deep South, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s the author of four novellas, the first a 2014 RITA® nominee and the most recent a 2021 SELAH winner, and six full-length novels. Her greatest joy, however, is in being a military wife, mom, mother-in-law, and grammie. She’s been a contributor to Colonial Quills and The Borrowed Book, and is a current member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers. When not cooking, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies.

More fron Shannon

So—here we are! I am just so, SO, sooo blessed to get to be on Celebrate Lit yet again. And book FOUR of my Lost Colony series! Initially I thought two, maybe three books. I pretty much disregarded the possibility of writing Virginia Dare’s story because, well, there’s a good bit of mythology surrounding her, and I felt absolutely no inclination to tackle any of that.

Until early last year. The idea dropped into my head and seemed too obvious to turn away. I didn’t have much idea of what would actually happen in the story, although I knew I wanted to explore the identity of the Mangoac, who held the interior of what is now North Carolina and Virginia when the Spanish and the English first arrived in the New World. They spoke an Iroquoian language and were referred to with dread and distaste among all their neighbors, including the Powhatan. Those people are what we know now as the Tuscarora.

Little was known of the Tuscarora before John Lawson wrote of his journey through the Carolinas in 1700-01. A few years later, Lawson himself met with a fairly horrible death at the hands of the Tuscarora (one wonders what he might have done to tick them off), and tensions soon escalated between settlers and indigenous peoples into all-out war. After their defeat by the English, the Tuscarora people moved northward and became the sixth nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.

They call themselves Skaru:re—pronounced sgah-ROOO-rah (with that long “ooh” held out a little extra)—translated variously as “Long-Shirt People” or “Hemp People,” for the garments they would weave from “Indian hemp,” also known as milkweed. The Tuscarora word for milkweed does indeed contain the same root as Skaru:re, but no one knows when as a people they might have made the transition from merely using milkweed fiber for cording or twine to spinning and weaving it into fabric, as the English did flax for linen.

I decided to have a bit of fun in my story, then, with Ginny being questioned about the making of a linen garment, and then a later mention of a “rough, twiny fabric.” I’d meant to expand upon that a bit, or at least address it in the historical notes at the end—and then completely forgot until working through the galleys.

So I get to talk about it—now.

You might guess that both details, which may feel random to the casual reader, are a nod to the translation of the name Skaru:re, and to the influence that either the Spanish or the English might have had on various Native people groups. A good author endeavors, of course, to not have any random details littering a story. In Virginia, many small things point back to previous stories—there are hints of connection to Rebecca as well even though either story could be read before the other. By the same token, all four books are what we could term alternate history—a reach beyond what is known into what might have been. I think it most likely that as Native peoples acquired European fashions, they used what they already had (in the case of the Skaru:re, a familiarity with milkweed and other materials to provide fiber) to produce garments and other items modeled after what the Spanish and English used. They were nothing if not eager to take advantage of new technologies—and what if their contact with members of the Lost Colony was what sparked the idea behind their famed “long shirts”?

A stretch, for sure. But there’s a reason why I’ve always enjoyed writing speculative fiction as well as historical.

My Impressions

“Her firstborn, taken by the People. Just as she herself was, all those years ago…“

Any history buff with the slightest interest in the lost colony of Roanoke should read this series, Daughters of the Lost Colony, and this book in particular, Virginia. Shannon McNear has outdone herself on this one. I loved every minute of this heart-rending, suspenseful book! I would encourage you to read the prior three novels so you have a better base for understanding some of the background and people involved.

Barely a young woman, Virginia Dare, who lives in the village that is a mixture of Kurawoten and English, is taken captive, along with two young male friends. Encouraged beforehand to do what they must to survive if such a capture by an enemy occurs, how far must they go?

Will the Skaru:re tribe that took the young people make them slaves, torture them, or assimilate them into their culture? Why are Sees Far and others not coming to the captives’ rescue? How can God turn something so tragic into an instrument for good? This is a major question that resounds throughout the book, very timely in our country today.

Many people argue that tragedy shows an absence of a loving God. Not so, says Ginny as she shares her mother’s belief. “He is God, regardless. The good things we enjoy, the little miracles that come, they come because He is good and loves to bless us. But the lack of blessings does not prove His absence or lack of care.” I loved the way that McNear shows that faith has to become real and personal for each individual. I loved the heartfelt prayers of Ginny and others as all they can do is cry out to God for help.

Danger, romance, history, and a fair look at different people groups are all present in this fast-paced story. But so are the plan of salvation and an impassioned plea to see God as a loving Sovereign when all we can see is tragedy. Will we have the faith to trust God when we cannot see what only He can? “We must trust that He is able to weave our past into good for us, and indeed does so. And we must trust Him with each day. This day. And then the remainder of our lives.”

Is this easy? As Master Johson encourages Ginny, it is not. “…if ’twere easy to trust, then where would be the need for faith?”

Don’t miss this exciting conclusion to the Daughters of the Lost Colony Series! Expect a few surprises!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit and Netgalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“But love is as much a choice as it is a feeling. Mayhap more.”

“Perhaps the difference lies in a counterquestion. What is your present commitment to Christ and to His ways? It matters not if you were born and reared a Christian, if you abandon your faith upon reaching your majority.”

“Their coming to the New World, they said, ’twas more than uprooting in body and soul and trying to make a home in a completely different country. There was a clash between old ways and new ways, between old gods and the one true God, a conflict not just of thought and ideals but of spiritual forces. How many times had she heard Master Johnson and others read the verse about not wrestling with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers? And yet … she had never truly comprehended.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!! I will long be mulling over the McNear-based possibilities of The Lost Colonies!!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 6

To Everything There Is A Season, October 6

Devoted To Hope, October 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 8

lakesidelivingsite, October 9

Texas Book-aholic, October 9

Betti Mace, October 10

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 11

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 11

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 13

Bizwings Book Blog, October 14

Cover Lover Book Review, October 15

Lights in a Dark World, October 15

Holly’s Book Corner, October 16

Sylvan Musings, October 17

Pause for Tales, October 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift Card and a print 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/00adcf5458

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Launch Team, Purchase

K-9 Ranch Protection by Darlene L. Turner Review and Giveaway

September 24, 2024 Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Blog Tour for K-9 Ranch Protection by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: K-9 Ranch Protection
Series: Crisis Rescue Team #6
Author: Darlene L Turner
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
A killer on the loose.
A K-9 keeping watch.
Police constable Izzy Tremblay knows her father’s death was no accident, so when she finally discovers a lead and is immediately attacked, her suspicions are confirmed. The ambush leaves her in the hospital with three hours of crucial memory missing, which she knows holds the key to finding her father’s murderer. For protection, she takes refuge with her ex-partner, Austin Murray, on his K-9 ranch while she races to uncover the truth. But with danger still lurking, can they stay alive long enough to take down a killer?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Harlequin | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub
More Books In This Series

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning and a Publishers Weekly best-selling author and lives with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message.
Connect with Darlene by visiting darlenelturner.com, where there’s suspense beyond borders, to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

My Impressions

“We don’t hide our gifts. God gave them to us for a reason. Use it, Izzy.”

K-9 Ranch Protection by Darlene L. Turner has so many elements that make it exciting and fun! I loved learning about hyperthymesia in our female protagonist, Constable Izzy Tremblay. With her perfect memory, she can easily help solve cases. Until the one case closest to her, her father’s murder, officially ruled an accident, again turns into a dead end as Izzy suffers from amnesia.

We also have the male protagonist, Austin Murray, a former crush, who left the force after an important crisis. He has turned to raising and training police dogs on his ranch. I loved his deep connection with his dogs, especially Névé, a beautiful, sensitive Malamute. Izzy doesn’t want to trust Austin again… but no one else believes her father’s death was a murder.

You’ll read this romantic suspense, looking around every object and trying to see past the eyes of every character you meet. Just who could be the mastermind, “Padilla,” who seems to have inside info on Izzy and and Austin’s every move?

“They would never be safe from Padilla if they didn’t soon find answers to the missing pieces of her perfect memory. Somehow, they held the key.”

While searching for the killer, Izzy and Austin can only hope and pray to find him or her before he or she takes them or Izzy’s family out permanently. On the run physically, Austin deals with guilt over that long ago event and feels rejected by his birth parents. Izzy is upset with God because He is not clearly laying out His path for her.

Can Izzy and Austin safely find the murderous mastermind and make peace with their pasts and with God?

I did feel one character’s words didn’t line up with their actions timing-wise for me. But overall, a very enjoyable story!

I received a copy of the book from the author and Just Read Tours, plus I bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“It’s just the unknown and I hate the unknown.” She chewed on her lip. “It’s why I’m struggling with God right now. He seems to have hidden His path for me.”

“He was unworthy of love. His biological parents had proven that to him when they gave him up for adoption. They didn’t want him. And neither did any woman.”

“Son, being adopted is a gift. It means God loved you enough to send you into our lives for safekeeping. Until one day, when you grow up and have kids, you can show them how love works. It’s not about the bloodline. It’s about love—pure and simple.”

“It’s hard to see God’s journey for us when we can’t even see around the bend in front of us. He knows the big picture.”

“Austin positioned himself beside Izzy, his woodsy scent wafting into her space. Don’t do that to me. It was getting harder and harder to keep herself from falling for this man a second time.”

“Well, God doesn’t seem to show me His path for me anymore or be listening to my prayers.” “Sometimes God shows us, but our blinders prevent us from seeing His plan.”

”Trusting in Someone you can’t see isn’t easy.”

“I don’t understand why God chooses some circumstances to take longer than others, but what I do know is, He knows best and I trust His timing. I trust in His journey for me. For us.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! You have to love a K-9 trainer and an amnesia victim story!

Tour Giveaway

(4) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon egift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 23, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Misty M Beller Books, Purchase

Winning the Mountain Man’s Love by Misty M. Beller Review and Giveaway

September 2, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Winning the Mountain Man’s Love (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch, Book 5)

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: September 3, 2024

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

As the second brother of six, Jonah Coulter has no shortage of family, yet he’s more than ready to find a woman who doesn’t see him as her second choice. Haunted by the loss of his sister Lucy and the rejection of his former fiancée, he sets out to find the aunt of a lost child his family has taken in. Maybe reuniting the girl with her only remaining family will give him the purpose he craves.

After fleeing her past and the man who killed her late husband, Patience Whitman has reinvented herself in the untamed Montana Territory. Relying on her gambling skills to survive, she’s determined to earn enough to buy the life she dreams of—a bit of land and a home of her very own, far enough away from people that she can finally find peace. But then a man shows up in town searching for her and says his family has taken in her niece, Patsy’s perfectly laid plans go awry. If Anna really is here in the Montana Territory, Patience can’t abandon the only family she has left.

As Jonah and Patsy navigate the treacherous landscape of their pasts and little Anna’s future, they must confront their deepest fears and learn to trust each other. But when Patsy’s dangerous past catches up to them, they must risk everything to claim the happily ever after they both crave.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain family saga filled with high stakes adventure, a surprise guardianship, and love that heals wounded hearts.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Misty M. Belleris a USA Todaybestselling author with over 1 million books old. She writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

A glimpse into our heroine’s world

In Winning the Mountain Man’s Love, Patience’s work as a gambler in the mining town Missoula Mills plays a significant role in shaping her character and her journey. But what was the reality of gambling in this time and place?

During the 1870s, the Montana Territory was a wild, untamed land, attracting adventurers, miners, and those seeking to make their fortune by profiting from the miners. With the influx of men and money, gambling became a prevalent pastime and a lucrative business. Saloons, gaming houses, and even street corners became hubs for various games of chance, including poker, faro, and dice.

For many, gambling offered a quick path to wealth, but it also led to addiction, debt, and desperation. The lack of regulation and high stakes often attracted unsavory characters, making the gambling scene a dangerous and unpredictable world.

Women like Patience, who found themselves caught up in this world, faced even greater challenges. They were often viewed as mere entertainers or worse, and their involvement in gambling was seen as a mark of moral failure. However, for some women, gambling provided a means of survival in a society that offered few opportunities for financial independence.

Despite the risks and the societal stigma, gambling continued to thrive in the Montana Territory throughout the 1870s. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that anti-gambling laws and reformers began to push back against the pervasive gaming culture.

Thankfully, Patience didn’t have to wait so long to leave the gambling world behind her, but that life certainly left its mark on her. I won’t share any spoilers, but I pray you enjoy Patience and Jonah’s story in Winning the Mountain Man’s Love!

Blessings!

Misty

My Impressions

“He knew what it was to be judged for the surface of things, for the mistakes and missteps. He knew what it was to need someone to look deeper, to see the true heart beneath.”

Misty Beller writes great historical fiction, using the Rocky Mountains and frontier times for her background setting. Winning the Mountain Man’s Love is the fifth book in the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series and tells Jonah’s story. Because each story builds a little more of the reader’s understanding of the unique occupation and relationship of the brothers, I suggest reading these books in order. You will be happy for the answers found in each new book!

That said, Jonah has lost at life and love…again. To take his mind off this, he volunteers to be the one to leave the Montana territory ranch in search of little Anna’s aunt. All 8-year-old Anna can tell them is that her aunt’s name is “Patsy” and she has very red hair. Plus, her aunt came west to be married.

Little does Jonah realize that in trying to bring healing to a new “family” member, he will bring heartache to himself and many of those he loves. I feel for Jonah. Because he has been unlucky in love, he feels like he is inferior in the eyes of women. Because he is never quite perfect enough in his family’s eyes, and is an easy target for their mocking laughter, great furrows of hurt have been plowed deep into his soul.

When Jonah meets Patience, he quickly recognizes she may be Anna’s aunt. But she has seen so much meanness and abuse from men, she’s not about to trust another, even though Jonah seems so kind. She wants “freedom from the control of any man. Even this one, as tempting as he was right now. He wouldn’t always be like this. No man could be trusted.” Can Jonah convince her he can see past her surface, into her soul, like he himself longs to be seen?

Yikes! The whole social question that is still very alive today- is a child better off with family, because they are related, or might they be better off where they have been placed for a while, and are loved? What is in the best interest of the child? I wanted to shake Patience a few times with her insistence on following her path. Maybe call out the social workers, too!!

Patience having two different names just about drove me crazy. I wanted her to be called one name or the other. But maybe, the way she seems to teeter back and forth on a couple of major decisions, the double name is on purpose?

As always, just when it seems we could be ready for a happy settlement, the “Oregon Trail” music cues, and disaster strikes. This sets us up for more excitement, more chances to forgive, and more chances to restore relationships. This also gives us a headstart on yet another brother’s story.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“God wants more than anything for us to turn to Him when trials come. He wants us to hide in His protection when it seems nothing can go right. To let Him show us just how much He loves us. He does hate sin, but He’s not a God of punishment. He’s made a way for us to be free, so that when we come to Him and ask His forgiveness, our sin disappears. Then He wraps us in His arms…and loves us.”

“It seems like scratching at a sore again and again for years would make it hard to heal.”

“Don’t let fear hold you back from reaching for something better.”

“But just ’cause you’re good at something don’t mean it’s where you belong forever.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great! I’m always ready for the next Misty M. Beller story!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 3

Melissa’s Bookshelf, September 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 4

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 5

Truth and Grace HomeschoolAcademy, September 6

Devoted To Hope, September 6

Lighthouse Academy Blog, September 7 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Texas Book-aholic, September 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 9

lakesidelivingsite, September 10

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 10

Books You Can Feel Good About, September 11

Stories By Gina, September 12 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 12

Blossoms and Blessings, September 13

Holly’s Book Corner, September 14

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 14

Cover Lover Book Review, September 15

An Author’s Take, September 16

Pause for Tales, September 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away he grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5430/

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase

Fugitive Search by Dana Mentink Review and Giveaway

August 19, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Fugitive Search (Security Hounds Book 2)

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Christian Fiction

Release date: August 20, 2024

A murderer out for revenge…

who is closer than they think.

When the man who killed her father is finally arrested, Catherine Hart thinks it’s safe to come out of hiding…until he escapes and abducts her. But private investigator Garrett Wolfe and his tracking dog rescue her just in time. Now they must work together to escape the criminal on their heels, find Catherine’s kidnapped uncle and stop her sister from walking straight into the fugitive’s path. But when their search yields more questions, can Catherine and Garrett survive the terrifying truth?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion. She’s written over fifty titles in the suspense, lighthearted romance and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Poisoned Pen Press.

More from Dana

After dreaming up Wally, the supremely naughty bloodhound, in book one of the Security Hounds series, I didn’t think the next fictional dog could possibly compete in the personality department. Surprise! Pinkerton, the stalwart bloodhound companion to Garrett Wolfe, scrambled onto the scene and into my heart. His faithful dedication and selflessness make up for the streams of slobber he leaves everywhere. He’s also instrumental in solving the latest case complete with twists, turns, and an ending you won’t see coming. (I hope!)

Enjoy this next installment in the series and look out for more bloodhounds in the next three books!

My Impressions

“Despair clawed at the edges of her mind. Her father was dead. Her sister and uncle, gone. And now Stone would have her too.”

My emotions are a whirling mess after reading Fugitive Search by Dana Mentink. I enjoy romantic suspense, especially clean and faith-based novels. Add in canines, and a book has a good start. Mentink takes us on a see-saw of emotions as we identify with her relatable characters.

Mentink brings us the second of her Security Hounds series. I enjoyed Wally and his handler in the first book. Now we are presented with Garrett Wolfe, and his bloodhound, Pinkerton. Garrett bungled an arrest of murder suspect Porter Stone ten years ago, and it cost him his job with the local police. Now, he is thrown into the awkward position of trying to protect the daughter of the murder victim, who blames him for ten years of living under an assumed alias for safety. Garrett’s inner radar says something isn’t right about this case, but his honesty may cost Security Hounds any chance of keeping Catherine and Antonia Hart safe.

Catherine and her sister have suffered severe trauma. Sometimes I liked Catherine. Like when she begins to trust Garrett, realizing that “Garrett hadn’t taken her father’s life. He was simply the one left on whom she’d hung her burden of anger. Him and God.” Starts to reframe thinking and attitudes. How important it can be to evaluate our attitudes in the light of God’s Word and reframe our thinking!

As Catherine begins to trust Garrett, his underlying suspicions come out and Catherine refuses his and his family’s help once again. Both Catherine and her sister have “Lone Ranger” tendencies, very perilous when trying to escape a dangerous psychopath.

I did love how Catherine challenges Garrett about hiding behind a false personality. “If God loves you, then why do you have to cover up who you are?”

Garrett also challenges Catherine. Catherine has turned her back on God, because He didn’t save her father from dying. Garrett explains why that thinking is not valid. “But if we only worshipped a God that gave us what we wanted, He’d be a cosmic vending machine, wouldn’t He? A glorified personal assistant.”

I loved Pinkerton. He is very accepting of Catherine and has a way of comforting her. His tongue seems to be a very notable part of him! He is a great tracker, but also needs a lot of affection.

With plenty of action , the two young people are slowly losing their hearts, yet one pulls back repeatedly. This inflicts emotional damage and possibly leads to many others putting themselves in unnecessary danger. How will this stalking situation end? You will be as surprised as I was when I realized the truth of the situation! Great twists!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Arrested decay. The term made her shudder. A place stuck in the past, like she and her sister.”

“Give yourself a break. You’re a work in progress without—” “A completion date,”

“God is worthy of my devotion, not because He answers my prayers the way I want Him to, but because He’s God. He loves me, all of us, and He made us to love Him back, no matter what.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Ready for the next Security Hound!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 20

Lily’s Corner, August 20

The Avid Reader, August 21

She Lives To Read, August 21

Life on Chickadee Lane, August 22

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 22

Devoted To Hope, August 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 23

Stories By Gina, August 24

Texas Book-aholic, August 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 25

Betti Mace, August 26

EmpowerMoms, August 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 27

Blogging With Carol, August 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 28

Because I said so- adventures in parenting, August 29

Simple Harvest Reads, August 29 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, August 30

Blossoms and Blessings, August 31

Labor Not in Vain, August 31

Holly’s Book Corner, September 1

Pause for Tales, September 1

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, September 2

Lights in a Dark World, September 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize package of a $75 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5419

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, Purchase

The Italian Musician’s Sanctuary by Danielle Grandinetti

August 18, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Italian Musician’s Sanctuary

Series: Our House on Sycamore Street

Author: Danielle Grandinetti

Publisher: Hearth Spot Press

Released: August 13, 2024

Hunted by one man, can she open her heart to another?
If you love historical romance with intrigue, you’ll love The Italian Musician’s Sanctuary.

Eden Cove, England, 1931—Margherita Vicienzo flees Italy pursued by her former fiancé, a member of Mussolini’s Blackshirt. Smuggled illegally into England, Margherita is a foreigner at the mercy of strangers. Her limp from an improperly healed broken leg means she has nothing to offer the Ferryman family, who offer her sanctuary, and nothing to appease their son who resents her presence.

Luke Ferryman needs a wife. He wants to marry for love, but carries the weight of his family’s generations-old expectations on his shoulders. Though he inherited the role of both baker and ferryman, he knows he can’t fulfill both needs once his aging grandparents retire. A wife would help, but not an illegal one like the refugee his matchmaking grandmother is harboring.

As opposite as night and day, Luke and Margherita forge a tentative friendship that grows despite the constant threat of Margherita’s discovery. But when strangers appear in the close-knit seaside town, threatening Luke’s livelihood and Margherita’s safety, the choice between justice and mercy becomes harder. And sacrifice proves the only answer.

Our House on Sycamore Street
Our House on Sycamore Street is a new multi-author, multi-genre series set in quaint and quirky Eden Cove, an English seaside town with plenty of spirit. With stories of redemption and salvation behind every door, you’re sure to find a new tale of romance, intrigue, humor or heart. All you have to do is knock!

The Ferryman’s Light by Anna Jensen
The Italian Musician’s Sanctuary by Danielle Grandinetti
The Outsider’s Welcome by Vida Li Sik
The Daughter’s Truth by Claire Lagerwell
The Light Keeper’s Wife by Jennifer Mistmorgan
The Key Collector’s Promise by Donna Jo Stone
The Maestro’s Missing Melody by Amy Walsh
The Niece’s Aussie Patient by Meredith Resce
The Runaway’s Redemption by Allyson Koekhoven
The Bookbinder’s Daughter by Lynn Dean
The Widow’s Request by Ashley Winter
The Lost Daughter’s Irishman by Carolyn Miller
The Mother’s Song by Caroline Johnston
The Wedding Planner’s Predicament by Dianne J. Wilson

About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is an inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books, and the occasional nature walk. A 2023 Finalist in the FHLCW Reader’s Choice Award, she has also won the UNW Distinguished Faith in Writing Award and the CROW National Excellence in Story Telling Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Find her online at daniellegrandinetti.com.

My Impressions

“You are not useless. You have felt useless.”…“The difference is in how you see yourself. You’ve allowed others to view you in such a way. It is not the truth. You are useful, Margherita. God has a purpose for you.”

I have loved every Danielle Grandinetti book I have read, but The Italian Musician’s Sanctuary may be my favorite of hers yet! The novel begins with Margherita, a young woman with a limp, that has put her on the expendable list of pre-WW II Italy and Mussolini’s Black Shirts. We also meet Luke Ferryman, a young Englishman whose two aging grandparents are all he has, other than their separate legacies of being a ferryman or baker.

While Margherita is definitely the one in peril from her jealous ex-fiancé, I didn’t know who to empathize with most. Poor Margherita finds it hard to hide in the small English village when her limp confines her to close quarters with an attentive Luke. Guilt hangs over her head as she has been cruelly labeled and assured she is worthless, undeserving to live. “Why are you not supposed to be alive?”

“Because I am incapace … unfit, incapable … there is no use for me in the world.” Poor Margherita, who values peace, feels the stress her stay with the Ferryman family brings. “She prized harmony. Discordant notes were her least favorite within a piece of music. To be that chord here among the Ferryman family was its own thorn of doubt under her skin.” And then.. cue up the suspenseful music as things start going wrong!

I loved Luke, but, wow, is he conflicted! He is drawn rather unknowingly into protecting Margherita, then agonizes over whether it is right to conceal her , breaking the law, or whether it would be right to turn her in, sentencing her to deportation and certain death. He is so gentle, so attentive with Margherita, even though he struggles with the rightness of his actions.

Gotta love Gran and Granddad, they both have formative parts in the story. Well- drawn!

Do yourself a favor, get this book if you like 1930s historical fiction, and swoony romance.(“‘You can tell me anything. Ask me anything. You know that, right?’ Goodness, he might as well hand his heart to her on a platter right here and now.” ) Le sigh! And don’t forget the suspense factor coupled with tested faith and plot twists! Superb! Excuse me while I return to daydreaming about this amazing romance!

I received a copy of the book from the author. I also bought my own copy. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Margherita was as strong as the sea. And as gentle as water. She belonged on the water. A pearl of great price, created through trial and hardship.”

“if my heart is so full of love for Him, there is no room for hate. Loving my neighbor is merely an overflow.”

“Did God collect her every sorrow? Did He write each of them in His book? She was niente, nothing. Why would God deign to bend an ear to someone as … broken … as she?”

“The way he said her name. The sensation wrapped around her like a warm breeze blowing in from the Mediterranean. Like he’d found a beautiful daisy. A daisy, like her name meant when translated from Italian to English. It had been so long since someone saw beyond her deformity.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Danielle Grandinetti is one of my few no questions asked, buy immediately authors!

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

The Enchanting of Miss Elliot by Grace Hitchcock Review and Giveaway

August 16, 2024August 16, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Enchanting of Miss Elliot (Aprons and Veils: Book Three)

Author: Grace Hitchcock

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: July 29, 2024

She thought he was her forever—he had other plans.

Of all the dares Lorna Elliot had accepted, becoming a Harvey Girl waitress was by far the dumbest—and she’d pulled some pretty foolhardy antics. Her back was sore. Her feet were swollen. And she had done it to herself in a fit of pique over a Texas Ranger who was mooning over another woman. Lorna had longed for distraction at the time, but after weeks of training, she might keel over and die in the middle of the dining room floor with a plate of apple pie in one hand and a pot of coffee in the other. But, she’s an Elliot. And Elliot’s never quit. The only thing she’d ever quit was attempting to win Ranger Reid and now that he’s the new sheriff in her hometown, it’s going to be impossible for her to move on unless she takes control of her heart—for better, or for worse.

Sheriff Reid had never wanted to settle down until he had fallen hard for a runaway mail-order bride turned Harvey Girl who chose another. When news of an outlaw’s escape lands on his desk, he eagerly rides out in pursuit all the way to Topeka and overhears the outlaw’s plans that revolve around the wealthy Elliot family and their daughter, Lorna. It’s up to Reid to see his childhood friend safe . . . despite Lorna insisting that she can protect herself without him.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas, including the American Royalty, True Colors, and Aprons & Veils series. She holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives on the Northshore of New Orleans, with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter in a cottage that is always filled with the sounds of sweet little footsteps running at full speed. When not writing, or chasing babies, she’s baking something delightful and can usually be found with a book clutched in her fist.

More from Grace

Q & A with Grace Hitchcock

Q: What is your favorite trope to read? Which of your books have that trope?

To name a few, I love stories about marriage of convenience, fake dating, mail-order brides, runaway brides, and enemies to lovers. In my books, I do have some of those tropes, but I adjust them to fit my story

My Harvey Girl books by tropes:

Runaway Bride: The Finding of Miss Fairfield

Mail-Order Bride: The Pursuit of Miss Parish

Friends to Lovers/Fake Dating: The Enchanting of Miss Elliot

I’d love to write an enemies-to-lovers trope in the future!

Q: Have you ever been asked to spice up, or down, a kissing scene? How did you do it?

For my May release, To Catch a Coronet, the editor challenged me to make the kissing scene longer and more romantic. Haha it took me my entire writing session that day to make the short scene two paragraphs longer in order to make the kissing more swoon-worthy, while still staying true to the level of affection I have in my books. With that critique in mind, I attempted to add a bit more “swoon” in The Enchanting of Miss Elliotas well.

Q: What historical novel has most impacted you? How?

Grace: I feel like every season, there is a novel that touches me. The one that stuck the longest has to be Tracie Peterson’s Westward Chronicles (a Harvey Girl series). They are moving, unique tales that inspired me to write my own Harvey Girls series! I re-read the Westward Chronicles every few years.

Q: How does your faith integrate into your writing in practical ways?

Grace: No matter how subtle my theme or short the verses, my stories will always point the reader to the Lord. Usually, whatever I am personally learning spiritually while writing impacts my heroine/hero in some way.

For The Enchanting of Miss Elliot, the heroine, a firm believer, is despairing that God will not give her the desires of her heart and sets out to find a new future and a re-directing of her heart. It’s a very realistic struggle, and the reader can see through the story the beauty of trusting God in our daily walk and with our biggest dreams.

Q: What’s your life like outside of writing?

Grace: Besides reading at least one to two books a week, I love to take long walks to the park with my family, exercise on my bike, plan the family’s next travel adventure, and try new baking challenges. As a wife and mama of three, I usually have some happy recipients for the new recipe.

Q: Will there be more Harvey Girl books from you?

Grace: Yes! I am currently working on Book Four in the Aprons & Veils series, The Vanishing of Miss Victoria. It will release mid-2025.

About The Vanishing of Miss Victoria:

Love got her into this mess—never loving again would get her out.

Corinna Victoria Roberts had never been lucky—not in her choice of husband, or her lot in life after the man she’d eloped with had promptly abandoned her, taking her gold and jewels with him. When her husband’s thieving, lawless relatives show up at her door announcing his death and demanding that her late father’s restaurant empire be signed over to them, her life is in danger. She flees to take a position no one expects of her—as a Harvey Girl waitress in New Mexico.

Tanner Sterling has hunted his last bounty. As the new foreman on his friend’s ranch, he wasn’t expecting to rescue a Harvey Girl from a raging river his first day. He is intrigued by the shy beauty and becomes friends with Corinna over many meals at the Harvey House. But, when a picture of her on a wanted poster with a massive bounty arrives in Tanner’s mail, everything he knows about Corinna shifts. If he doesn’t claim the bounty on her head, he knows far less honorable men who would love to ride off with the stunning Harvey Girl. Despite wanting to hang up his past along with his gun belt, Tanner will do anything to protect Corinna from the coming storm.

My Impressions

“We all have a bone to pick with Reid, so it stood to reason that he would be our first target.”

The third book of the Apron Strings series, The Enchanting of Miss Elliot is another great book by Grace Hitchcock featuring the Harvey Girls. With more than a touch of the Old West, fine vistas, fancy hotels, and proper serving girls, plus elements of danger, faith, and romance, you’ll be glad you read this book.

A friends-to-lovers trope, Lorna has become a Harvey Girl on a bet with her brother. She hopes to be placed in a hotel far away from her hometown of Las Vegas, New Mexico, but is placed exactly there instead. How is a girl to get over her childhood crush if she has to see him often? For his part, Sheriff Gaston Reid has grown up as Lorna’s brother’s best friend, but was enamored of another Harvey Girl. When that girl marries another, Reid takes s second look at his old friend… who has built up s wall protecting her heart from interest in him.

However, the leader of The Death Riders, a very dangerous gang, has escaped prison, along with his outlaw wife, and life in the West just got a lot more hairy for both Reid and Lorna. There are some unique twists in this book.

Can Reid keep Lorna safe as he promises? Will she ever see him as more than a friend? The Death Riders are like a bad penny. They keep turning up over and over again, and know one knows just when or where they’re going to appear next. While it actually applies to another character, Lorna easily could have said, “…it is a daily act, giving God my fears…” She certainly is learning to trust God through these times!

Lorna suffers from a lack of friends, which is why Reid’s friendship is so valuable to her. She does make friends with some of the other waitresses at the Harvey House Hotels. One of them, knowing Lorna is working at getting over Reid, reminds her, “Remember your goal, and when you waver, count all the blessings the Lord has given you, and pray that He changes the desire of your heart.”

What will it take for this couple to admit that what they feel for each other is more than friendship and God is directing their course to each other?

In summary, the danger, romance, and twists kept me intrigued from the moment I started the book. I am glad there will be more Harvey House Girl historical romances by Hitchcock!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“…bitterness and rage only blinded the person holding on to the offense.”

“But wouldn’t an apology like that hurt her and the confession would be more for me than her? Yes. Yes, it would.”