Slightly Murderous Intent: A Southern California Mystery
Traditional Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Level Best Books (October 20, 2020)
Print Length: 323 pages

 

Synopsis

 

There’s a shooter on the loose who keeps missing his target. But that doesn’t stop him from trying again…and again. It’s up to Corrie Locke, rookie lawyer and spunky sleuth, to find the gunman before he hits his mark, Assistant Deputy D.A. James Zachary, Corrie’s hunky and complicated frenemy.

When Corrie is stuck with more questions than answers, she enlists a team with various strengths, from weapons to cooking skills, to help her find the shooter. Her computer whiz boyfriend Michael is onboard. So is former security guard Veera. Toss in an over-the-hill informant and a couple of feuding celebrity chefs and Corrie’s got her very own A-Team. Okay, maybe it’s more like a B-Team.

Can Team Corrie hunt down the shooter before he scores a bulls-eye?

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Cliff Hanging

 

I’ve been told that I have a knack for cliffhanging. Not literally, of course, although I might if I tried. I’m talking about ending chapters with a cliffhanger…what’s going to happen next? I have a very good reason for ending the chapters that way, which I’ll explain in a bit.

If you’ve been around the writing world, you’ve likely heard of plotters vs. pantsers. Plotters outline and consider the stages and steps of the book. Pantsers just go for it, compass be damned. They hope to somehow reach those two coveted words, “The End” with a story that makes sense. You’d have to be out of your mind to be a pantser, unless you enjoy torture and confusion. That would be me because I’m a pantser. I fly by the seat of my pants and I enjoy every moment of it…afterward.

When Book #2 in my Southern California Mysteries came along, I sat up and told myself serious writers plot. So I wrote an outline.  It was pretty good. Then I started  writing the book, following the outline. I promptly tossed out the outline…after Chapter One. It took out the excitement of writing. I didn’t want to know what happened next. I wanted the story to unfold beneath my pounding fingers.

I start out nearly every chapter by putting my heroine, Corrie Locke, in a situation that’s shaky and unstable. I end each chapter by putting Corrie on the spot and possibly in danger. Will she or won’t she? That’s where the cliffhanger comes in.

For instance, in my latest installment of my Southern California Mystery series, SLIGHTLY MURDEROUS INTENT, the chapter opens with Corrie attending a celebratory dinner where everyone at her table is served dinner, but her. That pushes Corrie over the edge and she does what many famished diners would do: she hunts down the server. She never does get her meal; she’s served crime a la mode instead, which ignites the first of many action scenes in the novel.  Corrie’s not your average young female attorney. She’s the daughter of a well-known PI, and together they’d cracked a few high profile cases. Even without Dad, she’s become quite the crime-cracker and has the notches (and the weapons) to prove it. Back to the cliffhangers.

When I end each chapter with a cliffhanger, it provides momentum for me to continue writing. Like my readers, I want to know what’s going to happen next. And, as I write, I insert the usual characters: Corrie’s sidekicks who play co-starring roles in helping solve the crime, and in helping me create the cliffhangers. At this stage in my writing life, I don’t know how NOT to end a chapter without a cliffhanger, except for the very last chapter where I need to wrap things up. If I ended with a cliffhanger there, I wouldn’t know where to stop. Which would make me the author of one extra long novel!

 

 

About the Author

 

Lida Sideris is an author, lawyer, and all-around book enthusiast. She writes soft-boiled mysteries and was a recipient of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America scholarship award. Slightly Murderous Intent is #4 in her Southern California Mystery series, published by Level Best Books. Lida lives in the northern tip of SoCal with her family, rescue dogs, and a flock of uppity chickens.

 

Website * Blog * Facebook

 

Twitter * Goodreads * Instagram

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

For the last three years, I have been fortunate enough to be chosen as a blogger for Abrams Books and their dinner party. It brings together bloggers, instagrammers, and others to spread the word about new cookbooks and the like from this publisher.

I’ve had a slow start this year in sharing the books, but am hoping to rectify that over the next week. Let’s just say 2020 hasn’t been the best year for anyone.

We received this journal in our first box. I will admit I’m not a big journaling fan, but I can see the potential for this journal especially if it is used with someone young or old. I can envision answering the questions with a young child and then perhaps bringing it back out years later and see how the answer change. For our older generation, I can see using this as a tool to create dialogue regarding the changes in food preparation, meals, and the like. It could be a great resource for future generations.

While reading through this book, there are some questions that a child couldn’t answer, such as bars where the bartender knows me. A senior may not be able to answer that one either BUT they might have some interesting stories to tell about their youth. I think, in either case, this journal should be used as a starting point and let your imagination run wild from there.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful and complement the topic. I had to check out the website to see what other works have been created. I discovered that she lives in the Netherlands and does work for a lot of larger companies. Annalies has some serious talent.

 

I am giving away a copy of this book to one follower in the US (shipping costs). Many ways to enter, so don’t delay!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

THE KISSING TREE

 

Four Novellas Rooted in Timeless Love

 

by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings,

 

Amanda Dykes, and Nicole Deese

 

 

Genre: Christian / Romance / Anthology

Publisher: Bethany House

Date of Publication: October 13, 2020

Number of Pages: 400

 

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

In this Texas-sized romance novella collection, courting couples, decades apart, leave a permanent mark of their love by carving their initials into the same oak’s bark.

 

Regina Jennings: “Broken Limbs, Mended Hearts”

 

When a young man from her past returns and upends their small town with a new invention, schoolteacher Bella Eden is reminded of the heartbreak she suffered years ago under the old oak tree. When her job is on the line, can she trust the man who disrupted her life to help her fight for a brighter future?

 

Karen Witemeyer: “Inn for a Surprise”

 

Determined to keep love alive for others, Phoebe Woodward builds an inn that caters to couples. When her father sends a property manager to help make it a success, she finds her whimsical vision thwarted by his stodgy practicality. Finding the right blend of romance and reality is a challenge, and her spinster heart may be in for a surprise.

 

Amanda Dykes: “From Roots to Sky”

 

WWII airman Luke Hampstead found comfort in letters from the sister of a lost compatriot. When he visits Texas to thank her, he discovers her constructing a project with surprising ties to his letters . . . and that she herself is even more surprising. While a promising opportunity awaits him elsewhere, will what they’ve shared be enough to give their future flight?

 

Nicole Deese: “Heartwood”

 

Abby Brookshire’s world is turned upside down when the historic tree she’s strived to preserve as the head groundskeeper at the Kissing Tree Inn is put in danger of removal. Making matters worse, the only way to protect its legacy is to partner with the man she’s been ignoring since he left town years ago. Will she have the courage to move on from the past and start a new beginning?

 

 

Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Baker Publishing Group

 

 

 

 

 

These four novellas travel through time in Oak Springs, Texas, and weave together love stories surrounding the Kissing Tree. While each story is independent of the other, there are a few ties that bring them all together besides the tree. The main characters in the first story, “Broken Limbs, Mended Hearts”, Bella and Adam, make an appearance in “Inn for a Surprise”. The Kissing Tree Inn is constructed in “Inn for a Surprise” but is still around in the last two stories and it is a descendent from the story “From Roots to Sky” that ties the fourth story into the book. Each story brings together two souls that thought they couldn’t find love and they couldn’t be more wrong.

I don’t think I can pick a favorite out of these four stories. Each has a unique tale to tell and I fell in love with all of the characters and the situations that they endured to get to the apex of finding their true love.

 

“The magic found in Oak Springs had less to do with a romantic inn and everything to do with the nature surrounding it.”

 

Broken Limbs, Mended Hearts features Bella and Adam. You could say there were not bosom buddies while in their last year of school, in fact, a situation occurred that had Bella changing her chosen profession. I don’t think she ever forgave Adam for that incident until he arrives back in town several years later and realizes she is the one that he wants as his wife. I liked how Adam realized he had a couple of hurdles to cross to win her affection and he is quite creative in helping get past those barriers. I enjoyed this line because progress happens no matter the time and this reminded me of that. Adam says this line to Bella – “I came to Oak Springs to bring our town up to date. It’s the 1870s. Progress needs to happen.”

Inn for a Surprise is the story of Phoebe and Barnabus. This story had me in stitches because Barnabus thinks that this inn is a lost cause when it comes to marketing and has, in his mind, renamed the inn with several alliterations, including the Inn of Pecking Pulp Providers. When Phoebe stumbles across this information, I think it causes her to see Barnabus in a new light. They work well together as a team and it shouldn’t be too surprising that they fall in love. What did surprise me was her father’s reaction. You’ll have to read the story to discover that answer.

From Roots to Sky is Hannah and Luke’s journey. Luke came to Oak Springs out of a sense of obligation to Hannah’s brother that died during WWII. He had taken on the task of writing to Hannah and he included drawings of what he saw in Europe, much like her brother had done for her before he died. Hannah is endearing and scattered all at the same time. I’m sure many are not sure how to handle her proclivity to keep moving and not wait for anyone to help her do anything. I admired her determination to forge her own path and not a traditional path that might be expected of a woman in the 1940s.

Heartwood is the last novella and brings together Abby and Griffin. Abby is a descendent of a character mentioned in “From Roots to Sky”, Arnie, and the cottage built in that story by Hannah and Luke is another tie to all of the stories. I enjoyed watching these two lovebirds (when they finally admit it) reconnect even though it takes some time to get there since Griffin is there to assess the Kissing Tree and this riles Abby up to no end.  Abby and Griffin know each other well and both love nature and the outdoors. In fact, I liked this line that Abby says to Griffin – “You’ll always smell like trees no matter what you squirt on your shirt. Nature’s in your DNA.”

 

No matter what sort of story you might like, each novella in this book will appeal to you in one way or another, from the characters to the setting.

We give this book 5 paws ups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voted #1 Reader’s Favorite Christian Romance Author of 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author  Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.

 

 

Website ║ Karen’s Posse Reader Facebook Group

 

 

 

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, with a degree in English and a minor in history. She’s the winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, a two-time Golden Quill finalist, and a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.

Website ║ Facebook

 

 

Amanda Dykes is a drinker of tea, dweller of redemption, and spinner of hope-filled tales who spends most days chasing wonder and words with her family. She’s a former English teacher and the author of Whose Waves These Are, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, as well as three novellas.

 

Website ║ Instagram

 

 

 

 

Nicole Deese’s eight humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels include the 2017 Carol Award-winning A Season to Love. Her 2018 release, A New Shade of Summer, was a finalist in the RITA Awards, Carol Awards, and INSPY Awards. Both of these books are from her bestselling Love in Lenox series. When she’s not working on her next contemporary romance, she can usually be found reading one by a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two rambunctious sons, and princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.

 

Website ║ Facebook

 

 

 

————————————-

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

SIX WINNERS! Grand prize: print copy of The Kissing Tree plus custom, 18” x 3.5” wooden sign;

 

five other winners: print copy of The Kissing Tree.

 October 20-30, 2020

 

(U.S. Only)

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary LIfe Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily.

Or, visit the blogs directly:

 

10/22/20	BONUS Promo	Hall Ways Blog
10/22/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/22/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
10/23/20	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/23/20	Review	Book Fidelity
10/24/20	Review	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/24/20	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
10/25/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
10/25/20	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
10/26/20	BONUS Promo	All the Ups and Downs
10/26/20	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
10/26/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

I am NOT!

When enough of the world comes at you, telling you you’re nothing, you believe. You become what you believe. You become until the pain of becoming is too great to bear. You constantly ask yourself: What if I don’t know the answer? What if I’m wrong? What if they know I’m wrong? What if they laugh? What if fearing failure makes you fail? You’re faced with a choice. To stay. Or to change. Or to end. If you’re lucky, enough love begins seeping through, lighting a path to change.

This is the story of I Am NOT!, a memoir of triumph over verbal and emotional abuse, bullying, disordered eating, and societal norms. A journey of self-deprecation and the promise of continued growth. An anecdotal warning of the challenges kids, teens, and adults still face today.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Chapter Indigo

 

 

 

Praise

 

Brutally honest, beautifully empowering, and haunting in how many of our own lives’ bits and pieces we can see in Rachel’s journey. – Kristen Caldwell, High School Library Media Specialist

I Am Not is more than a memoir. It’s a mirror for all of us. Rachel’s reflections of who she was, is, and strives to be, resonate with all of us. Her recollections vividly transport the reader from our most vulnerable to our most victorious and serve as a reminder that we are all growing, learning, and becoming our best selves. ~ Marla Zack, Entrepreneur

With each vignette, we feel the impact of the heartbreaking reality of a society that unapologetically tells us that we are ‘not good enough’. Yet through Rachel Boehm’s deeply human and emotionally vulnerable story, we are reminded of the beauty in resilience and are inspired to begin our own journey toward unconditional self-love. ~ Alison Morogiello, National Certified Counselor

 

 

About the Author

 

Rachel Boehm is an award-winning journalist, turned workplace wellness organizer and advocate. Her experiences with school and workplace bullying, fat shaming, disordered eating, perfectionism, and verbal and emotional abuse began at a young age and continued into her late-twenties.

Embracing a survivor’s mindset, Boehm now views her journey as a calling to transform the way individuals and organizations view well-being, the beauty of the human body, metrics of success, and the fragility of time.

Boehm was raised in Austin, Texas. A love for the fine arts, film and television took her to Southern California for undergraduate studies and to pursue a career in the industry.

A quarter-life crisis fueled by the tumultuous nature of the industry and a realization of society’s flawed definitions of beauty and success, sent her on a multi-year soul-searching quest. She traveled back to Austin, then on to the UAE, Syria, Jordan, Europe, and New York City, before accepting a graduate studies scholarship with American University in Journalism and Public Affairs. Following commencement, she moved to Northern Virginia.

This journey is detailed in her memoir I Am NOT, which in many ways provides the backstory for her 2018 self-published collection of quips and lessons learned, Tripping in Public.

Today, Boehm works at an individual and organizational level to change the dialogue around the workplace well-being experience. She shares her story and works to help others: redefine success and beauty; develop mindfulness and self-compassion; and embrace the art of the “always something” mindset.

Through her many endeavors (day job, side hustle, and private practice), Boehm seeks to help everyone bring their best selves to work and life, and to truly love the skin they’re in. You can learn more about Boehm and her work at YesYou.Co, and connect with her directly via Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. You can join her YesYou Community on Facebook.

 

Facebook * LinkedIn * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

 

Paws for Concern (A Canine Confections Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Donelson Press (August 22, 2020)
Paperback: 264 pages

 

Synopsis

 

 

Life is good for Samantha Armstrong. She left her cheating boyfriend, settled into her cozy cottage on her Aunt Mary’s Palm Beach estate and is finally opening Canine Confections, her dream dog bakery on the ritzy Worth Avenue.

But Samantha’s happy new life goes doggone crazy when Palm Beach resident and pastry shop owner Whitney Goodwin is found dead on Canine Confections’ floor, whisking Samantha into the middle of a murder investigation. The only bright spot is that she finds herself adopting Whitney’s loveable dog Sweet Pea.

As the killer strikes again, it’s obvious that the shopkeepers on Worth Avenue are the target. Samantha’s impatience won’t let sleeping dogs lie. She takes it upon herself to move things along by padding around town with Sweet Pea and sniffing out clues to clear her name and Canine Confections’ reputation—before it is too late …

 

Includes a recipe from Chef Sarah Deters at the test kitchen of Three Dog Bakery, the original bakery for dogs!

 

 

 

Amazon – B&N

 

 

Recipe

 

If you have a dog (or dogs), you probably have run into them wanting everything that you eat. At least that was the case with my two while they were here. If they were still here I would try this recipe for them, I’m sure they would love it!  We would just have to be careful of where they ate it because I imagine it might leave a little bit of a mess on the carpet.

 

 

FROZEN PUP TREATS

by Amy Hueston

 

Ingredients:

*Cooked Marrow Bones

Nonfat Plain Yogurt

Peanut Butter

 

1. Fill cooked marrow bones with the yogurt and peanut butter.
2. Put on a small plate in freezer for at least an hour.
3. Give to your dogs and watch their tails wag.

 

Extra toppings:

Have fun and keep your dog healthy and happy with the creative variations you come up with – try adding a couple of drops of honey or a spoonful of blueberry preserves. Search for other options of foods that are good for dogs and foods to definitely stay away from (no chocolate of course, and no grapes, either).

 

*Cooked marrow bones: Boil the marrow bones for 5 minutes. Give to your dog and keep the bone after to use for the above recipe.

Tube marrow bones fill easier but the small, “sliced” can work too. Microwave for 10 seconds if freezing makes them stick to plate.

Never give your dog bones that can splinter and even with marrow bones, never leave your dog alone with them.

 

 

About the Author

 

Author Amy Hueston writes mini-mysteries for Woman’s World when she isn’t writing mysteries and suspense books. Paws for Concern is the first book in A Canine Confections Mystery series.

Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * Website * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

She Hates Him But She’s In Debt To Her Millionaire Foe

Releasing on 25th October

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

When the songbird owes the business tycoon…

Former gangster, Devansh Thackeray has finally managed to carve the life he’s always aspired to.

Building a chain of seven-star hotels all over the world, a reputation for being an honest businessman…and all the women he could ask for.

Ansh’s life is perfect. Or so he thinks.

Because he is about to hit by a lightning bolt from the past that’ll make him question everything he’s worked so hard for.

And her name is Kahini Palekar.

Kahini’s life is a nightmare.

She works three jobs to pay off the loan sharks circling her.

But, Kahini doesn’t mind because she also gets to do the only thing she’s always wanted to do.

Sing.

Even if it is at a shady nightclub in the backstreets of Goa, the beach paradise of India.

Kahini’s day of reckoning arrives when Ansh arrives back in her life, right when she’s almost assaulted by the manager of the nightclub.

Ansh offers both salvation from her debt and a chance to sing at the most exclusive wedding of the decade.

But there’s just one catch.

Kahini hates Ansh’s living guts and blames him for the destruction of her life.

Even though he was the boy she once recklessly gave her heart to.

Can Ansh get to the bottom of the problems plaguing Kahini or will this songbird fly away again after repaying her debt to him?

Meet the Millionaire Foes – rising from ruin through ruthless ambition, these self-made tycoons have everything. Except, the heart of the one woman who means everything.

 

The Millionaire Foe Quartet series contains four steamy romances set around the world, each of which can be read as a standalone. 

 

 

 

Amazon – IN * Amazon – US

 

 

Excerpt

 

Ansh entered the bar when the lights had dimmed, already in a foul mood from the altercation he’d had outside Grungy’s.

The term “bar” was a loose translation for what the seedy confines really were. It was set in a shady part of Calangute Beach, where the locals lived. It was not the area the posh, firang tourists frequented. The air here smelled of brine and fish and cheap liquor.

The smell of the ocean was everywhere.

It was, after all, Goa the beach paradise of India.

And to everyone who came here, it promised nothing but a good time.

The patrons of Grungy’s, the small-time bar that operated till four in the morning during season, had that look about them. They were local men, embittered and looking for cheap thrills. And some willing victim to provide that for them.

Ansh knew the type. They resented the tourists for showing up and flinging their foreign currency around and expecting their silly demands of room temperature water and late-night cruises to be catered to.

And they really resented needing the silly tourists and their foreign currency too.

A classic catch-22.

But, tonight, these patrons, and that was a loose term too for what the customers of Grungy’s were, were not looking for foreign currency or cheap thrills.

They were all gathered on the rickety tables that the bar owner had graciously provided and murmuring amongst themselves while the poorly-named stage was being set up.

She was the main act tonight.

Ansh frowned and sank deeper into his chair while the bar-back set him up with a glass of the local feni – a local toddy made from fermented coconut water and rum. He frowned deeper when he saw the lipstick mark around the edge of the shot glass and gingerly cleaned the lip with his monogrammed handkerchief.

Places like these reminded Devansh Thackeray of his squalid past.

He couldn’t stand them anymore.

Then, the spotlight hit the stage. The band struck a chord and a woman in black walked up to the mike.

Ansh sat up straighter.

Was she going to start stripping or something? He hadn’t heard the best things about these places on the wharf and this one didn’t have a stellar reputation either.

And, what the hell was she doing here anyway?

He’d sent her plenty of funds seven years ago, deposited in the account her brother had set up for both of them when he had turned eighteen.

Kahini had enough money to keep her in style, because he’d instructed the company’s bankers to always replenish the funds in that account should the need ever arise. The need had never risen, to the best of his knowledge. Even though he knew the money would never bring back her dead brother.

So, was she doing this for kicks?

Some poor little rich kid slumming it thing that all the society madams were doing these days?

He honestly had no idea. And that ate at his insides, like the strength of the feni he’d gingerly taken a sip out of.

Ansh had come here to find out what the hell she’d been up to the last seven years. Since the last time he’d seen her and she’d flung bitter, accusing words at him.

 

 

About the Author

 

Hi, I’m Aarti V Raman aka Writer Gal. I have been a former journalist, editor, and even a sometime-teacher before I plunged into my dream job. That of being a full-time writer.

In fact, my three favorite words are ‘happily ever after.’

This comes in handy as I primarily write bestselling contemporary romantic women’s fiction, which is all about living happily, after going through some hard times.

My more notable works include the Geeks of Caltech and Royals of Stellangård series, Something Old, Something New, More Than You Want, and The Perfect Fake among others. My chicklit family drama, The Worst Daughter Ever, has been picked up for screen adaptation.

I always love to hang with you, my dear reader friend. I’ve created Writer Gal’s Reader Pals on Facebook for this reason and I hope to see you there.

If not, I’m there on all social media as @aartivraman but I’m most active on Instagram.

 

Newsletter * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * Writer’s Pals FB group

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

The third book in the Highland, Georgia romantic comedy series from Laura Trentham, A Highlander is Coming to Town, full of love, laughs…and highlanders!

You better watch out. . .

Holt Pierson is dreading Christmas. His parents absconded to Florida for the season and left him to handle the family farm which will be his one day―whether he wants it or not. Driven by duty, Holt has always followed the path expected of him. But lately, he’s been questioning what he wants and where he belongs. Will assuming the responsibility of the Pierson farm make him happy or is there something―or someone―else out in the wider world calling to him?

To Claire Smythe, the Scottish lead singer of a touring band, Highland, Georgia, is the perfect place to hide . . .until a very handsome and deeply curious Holt begins to ask all the questions Claire doesn’t want to answer. As Holt draws Claire out from under and into the fabric of small-town life, can Claire put the past behind her and embrace the unexpected gifts of the season―including the new and lasting love?

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This has been a fun series to read and I enjoy the ties between Scotland and this town in Georgia.

If you delve into this series, make sure to start with the first book since the characters continue from book to book and there is a little bit of an introduction into the various characters. I haven’t read the second book (this is book 3) and I feel like I missed something regarding Claire and her decision to leave the band she was singing with and hide out in Highland. There are some mentions of running from her family and the obligation, but I don’t know what caused her to leave the band.

I enjoyed watching the interaction between Claire and Holt. They definitely have some sizzling chemistry, but Claire’s walls hold him back from having a serious relationship. Claire’s secret is holding her back from a full relationship with him or anyone else. It is a shame that she feels she has to hide away from those in town and dress in clothing that disguises who she is. But time helps her realize what she wants out of life.

I think one character that steals the book is Mrs. Meadows that Claire lives with and is assisting with various tasks around her house. She is a feisty woman that has endured a lot in her life and we get a glimpse of those tragedies. She isn’t afraid to stand up to Holt in the beginning for the wrongs his family had done to her in the past. Thankfully, she is a smart woman and moves past those.

If you are looking for an escape this might be a good choice to pick up.  We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

LAURA TRENTHAM is an award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance. She is a member of RWA, and has been a finalist multiple times in the Golden Heart competition. A chemical engineer by training and a lover of books by nature, she lives in South Carolina.

 

Website * Facebook * Facebook Reader Group * Twitter * Pinterest

 

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NOTHING SHORT OF WONDROUS

 

(American Wonders Collection, Book Two)

 

by

 

REGINA SCOTT

 

Genre: Historical Fiction / Christian Romance

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: October 20, 2020

Number of Pages: 336

 

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

In 1886, the U.S. government gave control of Yellowstone, the country’s first national park, to the cavalry to stop predation by poachers, hunters, and vandals. Mrs. Kate Tremaine is all for the change. The young widow and her late husband held the lease to operate one of the hotels in the park. She has raised her six-year-old son among God’s wonders and knows every inch of the mountainous park like the back of her hand. It is her home, and she has vowed to protect it.

Lieutenant William Prescott needs someone of Kate’s caliber more than he knows. Congress has appropriated funds for only one guide, who is required elsewhere in the park, and the cavalryman is having some trouble finding his way around much less tracking down the troublemakers. As Kate and her son help him, he doesn’t dare give in to the tender feelings she raises in him. A tragic mistake eight years ago nearly derailed his career and made him question his own abilities. Not even Kate’s encouragement or God’s forgiveness can blot out the stain on his conscience.

When Kate’s son disappears, Will and Kate must work together to rescue the boy and protect the park. In doing so, they may just find that two wounded hearts can lead to one powerful love when God is in control.

 

 

 

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When I read the first book in this series from Regina Scott, I was whisked away to the past and the beginnings of our National Parks.  I had high hopes for this book as well and it did not disappoint.

As I’ve grown older, I have come to appreciate the history of our country and the various landmarks that surround us. I may not have visited many of them yet, but I enjoy reading about the various spots and little tidbits you may not have known. I have to give two thumbs up to Regina Scott for the amount of research she has done for these books. Many of the characters are actual people but how they are portrayed in the books is fictional.  With her description of Yellowstone, I can see it in my mind and can only imagine the beauty and the danger in this park. Yellowstone is definitely on my bucket list.

 

“You warned us when you took us around the first time. There are too many ways to die in Yellowstone.”

“But only one way to live.”

 

There is quite a variety of characters assembled in this book with multiple personalities to contend with on a daily basis. Kate has her staff at the hotel and the guests that visit Yellowstone to see the geysers. I admire the loyalty in her staff considering they are somewhat remote from town. But I think that has a lot to do with her treatment of them and considering them family. The guests for the most part are respectful, but bad manners abounded back much like it does today. Will is seeking a second chance to make up for events in the past that haunt him to this day. The servicemen assigned to his company seem like a good lot for the most part, but there is one that has his own past that he is running from and he seems to butt heads with Will a lot. But perhaps that helps them understand each other.

 

“I never knew what home felt like until I came here.”

 

Home is where you feel at peace with your surroundings and the people around you. What Kate and Will find in each other is home and that includes Kate’s son Danny. I love how he looks up to Will and has taken to him. Perhaps it is because he needs a strong male role model in his life. I think that is what Will needs as well, someone that he can guide and mold.

 

“It seemed God still wanted his heart. Joy bubbled up inside him like mud from a paint pot.”

 

Faith plays an important role in this book, and perhaps it is really the lack of faith in themselves and others. It takes a while for Kate and Will to realize that there is more to life than their past and while it plays a significant role, it should not define who they become.

I truly loved this book and all aspects of the story and the setting. When Will revealed his past to Kate, it wasn’t nearly as bad and he felt it was or how she might react. This is not revealed until near the end of the book and I do wish it had been discussed earlier but it keeps the reader guessing. There is a bit of a mystery regarding a poacher that is on the run from the calvary, but it wasn’t hard to connect the dots when certain situations occur near the end.

If you enjoy history and our National Parks, you definitely want to check out this series. You won’t regret it in the least.  We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regina Scott is the author of fifty works of warm, witty historical romance, including A Distance Too Grand. She was twice awarded the prestigious RT Book Reviews best book of the year in her category. A devotee of history, she has learned to fence, driven four-in-hand, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research. She and her husband of thirty years live south of Tacoma, Washington, on the way to Mt. Rainier.

 

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THREE WINNERS! FIRST PRIZE: Both books in the American Wonders collection, tote bag, book swag, and $25 B&N gift card; 

 

SECOND & THIRD PRIZES: Copy of Nothing Short of Wondrous and book swag. 

October 13-October 23, 2020

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily.

 

Or, visit the blogs directly:

 

10/13/20	Notable Quotables	Forgotten Winds
10/13/20	BONUS post	Hall Ways Blog
10/14/20	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/15/20	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
10/16/20	Review	Book Bustle
10/17/20	Excerpt	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/18/20	Scrapbook Page	The Page Unbound
10/19/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks
10/20/20	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
10/21/20	Series Spotlight	All the Ups and Downs
10/22/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews

 

 

 

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The Firefly Warriors Club (Texas Boys Adventures)
Middle-Grade Story – Age Level: 9 – 12
1st in Series
Publisher: Hastings Creations Group (October 13, 2020)
Paperback: 200 pages

 

Synopsis

 

They chase a light and then it chases them.

 

When a mysterious light entices twelve-year-old Davy and his bothersome cousin, Anderson, into the woods, they discover the forest is alive with wonder. Firefly magic dazzles the boys, and they vow to save the insects from destruction.

Then a fire rages in the forest. Despite the cousins’ creative efforts to help the firefighters, the situation for the fireflies plummets from grim to dire. As the blaze consumes the fireflies’ habitat, the young warriors despair.

They enlist the support of the neighboring farms to protect and save the habitat of the magical treasures. If only there was—even one left.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Susan Count writes for the joy and entertainment of young readers. She is a best-selling, award-winning author of the Dream Horse Adventures Series. Susan confesses to being overly fond of brownies, and horseback riding on forest trails. The Firefly Warriors Club was written for her three grandboys who wanted an adventure of their own. What’s a fairy grandmother to do, but wave her magic pen and create.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

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Synopsis

 

As both a teacher and school principal, Meredith Essalat has lived the daily challenges of helping children navigate through their young lives. She has seen the struggles that parents have as they balance longer working hours with the demands of home life. Essalat offers hard-won pointers, enabling parents, teachers, and students alike to encourage one another while holding everyone accountable for their actions.

Combining humor with straightforward, practical advice, “The Overly Honest Teacher” is a fresh take on 21^st century child-rearing and development. The results will be well-adjusted, positive, enthusiastic young adults ready to work hard and take on the world. And isn’t that what we all want for our children?

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Someone once said to me, “The hardest part of your job must be that no matter what you do during the day, it doesn’t make a full impact if it’s not being done at home, too.”

As teachers, we come to realize that much of our work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. is unraveled the moment our students vacate campus. That boulder of molding, shaping, guiding, and coaching rolls right back down to the base of the proverbial hill the next morning, when said student comes bounding in the front doors of the school tossing expletives like confetti. And it doesn’t just have to do with language. Healthy eating habits, time management, respect for self and others, responsible use of technology, self-advocacy, volunteerism, benevolence, tenacity, wearing a helmet—the list goes on and on. If we, as educators, aren’t working in tandem with you, as parents, to establish similar expectations, then how can any of us expect to witness growth and change in your kids?

“No” cannot exist in a vacuum. “No” cannot be said once, brought to the bargaining table, and then somehow rationalized, or pulverized, into a tepid “Yes.” No really does mean no. Sometimes you are able to give your child a choice—I often do the same thing. It’s an easy way to establish clean boundaries, to steer your student in the proper direction, all the while giving them the opportunity to be involved in healthy decision-making.

“No, you can’t avoid an assessment on The Book Thief, but you can choose which way you’d like to show me what you know: an essay or a quiz?”

“No, you can’t throw your lunch away because it’s essential that you fuel your body. But you can pick two of the three items to eat and take the rest home for a snack later.”

“No, you can’t go out without a jacket because it’s too cold on your body. But you can pick between your parka and your fleece.”

Explain. Elaborate. Establish. The three Es of productive conversation with your child. Will it always end in unicorns and harmony? Not a chance. But will it help to foster healthy conversation with your child? Absolutely.

Explain your rules, rationale, reasons.

Elaborate on your expectations when they push back.

Establish clear boundaries and expectations.

At the end of the day, we’re all on the same road traveling to the same destination, as parents, teachers, and children. Let’s be both clear and kind. Let’s have boundaries. Let’s travel together, holding one another accountable when our students want to assert their independence beyond the limits of what’s acceptable.

 

 

About the Author

 

Meredith Essalat is a K-8 school principal in San Francisco, CA, and author of The Overly Honest Teacher. With a career in academia that has spanned more than 17 years, she started off in collegiate student activities before moving into both elementary and secondary academic communities. She spent nine years in middle school education as both teacher and Dean of Middle School Curriculum. In each of these opportunities, she witnessed the gamut of the scholastic, social, and developmental experiences of today’s student. She possesses a BA in Mass Communication, a California-Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and a second M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Essalat resides in California with her husband, Cameron.

 

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