The Baby With Three Families, Two Countries,

 

And One Promise

 

An International Adoption Story

 

by

 

JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR

 

Illustrated by Saman Chinthaka Weerasinghe

 

 

Genre: Children’s Fiction / Picture Book / Adoption

Publisher: Bayou City Press

Date of Publication: December 9, 2020

Number of Pages: 40 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise is a children’s book designed to be read by parents to a child adopted from a foreign country. The story is first recounted from the perspective of the parents in the USA, who are very sad not to be able to have a child. The perspective then switches to that of the biological mother, who realizes that she does not have the wherewithal to raise a child. She makes the difficult decision to give up her baby. Next readers learn about a foreign adoption agency, to which the biological mother surrenders her child. The adoption agency identifies foster parents to take care of the baby temporarily. The foster parents give the baby a temporary name.

The parents in the USA begin researching international adoption possibilities and connect with the foreign adoption agency. The parents begin the adoption process and have to go to a school to learn how to be adoptive parents. When the foreign adoption agency matches the USA parents with the baby, the USA parents fly to the foreign country, where they meet the baby and the foster parents at the adoption agency. They find out that the temporary name given to the baby by his foster parents is one of the names they have selected for the baby. Their last requirement in the foreign country is to secure a visa for the baby from the U.S. Embassy.

With the baby’s visa in hand, the parents and baby return to the United States, where they are joyously greeted by their dog, their friends, and the baby’s new grandparents. When the parents tuck their baby in at night, they tell him his story—that he has three families, two countries, and a promise for the future to visit the country of his birth when he is older.

 

 

Amazon│ Bayou City Press

 

 

Praise

 

Children’s Picture Book First Place Winner, 2021 North Texas Book Festival Awards

“Clearly laying out some of the key reasons, factors, and steps in the emotionally complex process of overseas adoption, this book delicately explores the subject, making it a great launching point for conversations between parents and children.” Self-Publishing Review

“International adoption is a complex topic, but under the dual, in-depth focus of author Julie Gianelloni Connor and illustrator Saman Chinthaka Weerasinghe, the story comes to life to teach all ages about the emotional and organizational process involved in joining a child to new parents.” Donovan’s Literary Services

 

 

 

Sometimes parents don’t know how to explain adoption to younger children and this book explains it simply for children to understand. Not only does it explain adoption but it briefly discusses miscarriages and gives parents an opportunity to talk about that if it has happened to them.

There are many steps involved with an international adoption and even I learned something from this book regarding the process. It isn’t simple but that is why there are multiple agencies to help guide new parents through the process. There is even a section that talks about how Jeff and Jeanette had to take parenting classes before an adoption would occur. I liked this line from that section:

“You are the real, true parents of your adopted child.”

I think most adoptive parents know this, but it was nice to see it reinforced.

I don’t know how many adoptive parents will take their child back to the country where they were born, but what an experience that would be for him or her. They could understand their heritage of where they came from and blend that into their current life.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking to adopt a child to explain it to younger children.

We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julie Gianelloni Connor is an award-winning author and retired senior Foreign Service Officer. Her first book, Savoring the Camino de Santiago: It’s the Pilgrimage, not the Hike, garnered no. 1 status on Amazon in both the category for new books on hiking and walking and the category for Spain and Portugal. It subsequently went on to win a silver medal in the eLit national competition as well as being selected as a finalist by Self-Publishing Review (SPR). She released her second title, a children’s book, in 2021. It has just won first place in the children’s book category at the North Texas Book Festival. The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise tells an international adoption story. Her short stories have appeared in four anthologies.

Julie is the owner and publisher of Bayou City Press (BCP) in Houston, Texas, which focuses on travel writing, Houston, history, and international affairs. Julie writes a weekly newsletter for BCP updating subscribers about activities. She founded BCP after spending 33 years as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service, first with the U.S. Information Agency and later with the U.S. Department of State. She had nine overseas assignments in seven different countries: Israel (twice), Paraguay, Guatemala, Indonesia, Colombia (twice), Malaysia, and Chile. In Washington, DC, Julie worked on a variety of matters, ranging from nuclear non-proliferation to narcotics control to women’s issues. She has one son and two cats, Halloween and Charles Augustus V.

 

  Website  ◆  Facebook  ◆  Twitter ◆  Amazon

 

  Goodreads  ◆ Instagram ◆  LinkedIn

 

 

 

 

————————————–

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

 3 signed copies of

 

The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise!

 

(US only, ends midnight, CT, 3/28/2022)

 

 

 

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:

 

3/21/22	Author Video	Jennie Reads
3/21/22	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
3/22/22	BONUS Promo	Hall Ways Blog
3/22/22	Guest Post	Book Fidelity
3/22/22	Review	Missus Gonzo
3/22/22	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
3/23/22	Author Video	Forgotten Winds
3/23/22	Guest Post	It’s Not All Gravy
3/24/22	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
3/24/22	Author Video	Reading by Moonlight
3/25/22	Guest Post	All the Ups and Downs
3/25/22	Review	Rox Burkey Blog

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.

In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect–a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.

Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases–a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea’s surprise, Beth says yes.

They meet regularly at Beth’s mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she’s not looking, and she could swear she’s seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn’t right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?

 

 

Amazon | B&N | Apple Books | Indiebound | Google Books

 

Murder By the Book | Poisoned Pen | Chapters | Audible

 

 

Review

 

I am not a true crime junkie like some of my friends, but this story pulled me in from the start. A true crime blogger believes there is more to this cold case than meets the eye and starts digging around and even contacts the lone survivor from the family that was impacted. She is shocked that she is able to get an interview with Beth, but at the same time, I think Beth’s motivation to talk about this case stems from deeper issues and carrying around these details for all those years.

This book has so many twists and turns and just when I thought I had a handle on what was happening, something new would happen or new information would be shared. I figured out a small part of the story but was surprised when it went even deeper than I could have imagined. There is a paranormal twist with a ghost haunting the mansion and this is where it really gets interesting as we slowly learn the details behind the family, the murders/deaths, and so much more. And even though we find out the “who” about 1/2 of the way in, we still don’t know the why until much later as the details are slowly shared with us.

Shea really digs into the mystery surrounding Greer House and even has a private investigator helping her out with some of the details. Shea has her own issues, including not driving or even getting into a car, which stems from an incident she was involved with as a child. While it appears that this is a small town, it does have a really good bus system since it gets her where she needs to go including Greer House which seems to be off the beaten path.

This book is also about family – Shea’s family, Beth’s family, and those of the town. Both Shea and Beth have to come to terms with their own issues and their past and move forward into a new life. Just as I thought I had a handle on the dynamics of the family, another layer was peeled back that provided more depth and information.

The story flips back and forth in time and is told from Shea and Beth’s POV. There is so much insight and I wanted to tell the other character, “hey, this happened to her and it impacts what you are doing.” But alas, I could not.

This book has so much going for it and if you are a fan of true crime you will probably enjoy this new release. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Simone St. James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel, The Broken Girls, and The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.

 

Website * Twitter

 

 

 

A Love for Lexi, a friends to lovers later in life romantic comedy

Series: Love will OUT, #7

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance, later in life romance

Published: February 10, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

Friends. Just friends. It’s really not a difficult concept. 

Milwaukee is merely a pitstop while I try to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. I’m not hiding from my family of moonshiners back in West Virginia. I’m just … figuring some things out before I confront them.

Lenny acts like he’s fine being friends, but I know he wants more. It’s not hard to figure out when his lips find mine every chance he gets.

He thinks he can charm his way into me taking down my walls. Ha! Good luck with that. My walls are steel reinforced.

But then the whole mess back home catches up with me, and Lenny’s done with gentle. His battering ram is at the ready, prepared to take my walls down no matter the consequences. Gulp.

He claims Love will OUT in the end.

Easy for him to say. He doesn’t know the disaster awaiting him.

This friends to lovers later in life romantic comedy features a woman doing her dang best to resist a silver fox’s charm, a silver fox that will do anything in his power to change her mind, a gang of friends who don’t know the definition of nosy, and a group of former military buddies who are looking for any excuse to get back in the game. 

A Love for Lexi is a standalone book in the Love will OUT romantic comedy series.

 

 

Amazon

 

A Hero for Hailey – Hailey and Aiden’s story

A Protector for Phoebe – Phoebe and Ryker’s story

A Soldier for Suzie – Suzie and Grayson’s story

A Fox for Faith – Faith and Max’s story

A Christmas for Chrissie – Chrissie and Wally’s story

A Valentine for Valerie – Valerie and Barney’s story

A Love for Lexi – Lexi and Lenny’s story

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

What a great way to end the series with the last of the “brothers” finding a soulmate.

Lenny is all about loving the person and not the gender. That is until he meets Lexi and after that, it is game over. He knows she is the one he is meant to spend the rest of his life with.

Lexi is best friends with Chrissie and is running from something but we don’t know what until about halfway through the book. And when the secret is revealed, it is heartbreaking and will make anyone angry at the others involved. Of course, this brings out Lenny’s protective streak.

Lexi puts off Lenny as long as she can, but the chemistry between the two is off the charts and it takes great effort to hold him off until her secret is resolved. And when she finally lets him in? Fireworks!

I really enjoyed this series and that many of the characters are a little older (40’s and 50’s), but there are some that are younger. But the combination blends well with the women forming their own pack and there is no privacy or many secrets in this gang. The men band together as well and while most of them served in the military together, there are three others that manage to blend in with this group and they are all there to protect their women. I have to laugh because several of the women are more than capable of taking care of themselves, but it is heartwarming to see the men realize their worth and protect them at all costs.

There are many laugh-out-loud moments and I found myself chuckling throughout the entire book. It was the perfect book to end the day.

I loved that the last chapter is ten years in the future and gives us a recap of what has happened with all of the couples, children that were born, and other situations that arise. It was the perfect way to end the book and not leave us hanging wondering what the characters have gotten up to over time.

While you can read any of these books on their own, it is best to read in order so you can follow the progression of time and the characters.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound like one of the cool kids. She was born and raised in the U.S. but has spent the majority of her adult life abroad living in cool-sounding places like Istanbul, Heidelberg, and The Hague. She has job hopped from military policewoman to lawyer to B&B owner. She finally jumped off the job-hopping bandwagon a few years ago when she decided to turn her addiction to romance novels into a career. If anyone has ideas on how to turn a love of wine into a job, she’s all ears.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon author page

 

Pinterest * Instagram * BookBub * Newsletter Sign up * LinkedIn

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Friends becoming something much more in this hilarious romantic comedy from author Ann Marie Walker. A whirlwind trip to Ireland is supposed to end with a suitcase full of wool sweaters and souvenir pint glasses—not a husband you only just met!

After one-too-many whiskeys, fledgling screenwriter Cara Kennedy takes a page out of someone else’s script when she gets caught up in the Irish tradition of women proposing on Leap Day. She thought she might have dreamt everything until she wakes the next morning with a hot guy in her bed and a tin foil ring on her finger. Her flight is in four hours, her clothes are all over the room, and she has the most important meeting of her career in exactly two days—and on top of everything else, her husband has a dog who thinks Cara is a perfect surrogate mother, despite the fact that she has never been much of an animal lover…

Deciding to work things out stateside, Finn and her new fur baby accompany her to LA, where Finn spends his days going on auditions and his nights charming his new bride, leaving Cara to wonder whether this is real love, or if Finn is another aspiring actor just after her Hollywood connections? With limited time on his tourist visa, will Finn be able to convince Cara that she’s the right girl for him, or will time run out on their Hollywood ending?

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * IndieBound * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

Sometimes you just need a light fluffy romance to end your day…or your night as in my case. I started reading this book and was close to finishing it but decided I needed to go to sleep since it was about midnight. Well, I couldn’t fall asleep so thought it was best to just finish the book. And what do you know, I could go to sleep after that!

Cara ends up in Ireland despite a breakup with her boyfriend. She was supposed to go with him but decided that she had the ticket and why not go and get a stamp in her passport. Granted, there is always the chance that she will run into him since they are staying in the same hotel, but maybe not. Yeah, that is wishful thinking on Cara’s part. Things don’t go well on arrival as her luggage is still in London, but Cara is a trooper and makes the most of her moment including a hunky Uber driver, Finn, who kindly lends her his sweater since her previous ride splashed her. But this is a good thing because there is chemistry between the two and fate intervened to put them in the same car so they could meet. It doesn’t hurt that Finn has a dog, Oscar Wilde, that decides he really likes Cara. Just another sign that something should happen between the two…and boy do things happen between these two!

This was just a fun read! It is fast-paced and so much happens for Cara and Finn once they arrive in the states. Everything is going along smoothly until some information arises that has Cara questioning Finn’s motivation. I won’t spoil it but had I been in Cara’s shoes, I would have thought the same thing and wouldn’t have known any differently. However, Finn knew and he chose not to disclose this tidbit of information. I understand his motivation, he fell for Cara right off the bat and didn’t want to let her go.

I loved Cara’s friends, Julia and Jonathan, they are quite a hoot and help to round out the storyline in various places. Plus they are good sounding boards for various issues that arise.

While the book is mostly happiness, there are also some growing moments for Cara and Finn which help balance the romance in the story.

I think Oscar (the dog) steals the show and I really enjoyed the epilogue told from his perspective. Something happens that I suspected might have happened from earlier in the book but we don’t know until the epilogue.

This was one of my favorite lines from the book

“Besides, it’s not like I married you because of your career.” He winked, “I just needed a mother for Oscar.”

A fun book and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ann Marie Walker is the author of eight novels, ranging from romantic suspense to romantic comedy. She’s a fan of fancy cocktails, anything chocolate, and ’80s rom-coms. Her superpower is connecting any situation to an episode of Friends, and she thinks all coffee cups should be the size of a bowl. You can find her at AnnMarieWalker.com, where she would be happy to talk to you about alpha males, lemon drop martinis, or Chewbacca, the Morkie who is kind enough to let her sit on his couch. Ann Marie attended the University of Notre Dame and currently lives in Chicago.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

 

 

Synopsis

 

The staffers at Hope Springs Farm greet guests with smiles. But trouble brews beneath their calm demeanors. Stella faces her first crisis as an adoptive mom when a second-grade bully wreaks havoc on Jazz’s life. When their beloved teacher is suspended on bogus charges, Stella takes on the principal and the president of parents’ association.

Ollie experiences crippling panic attacks as she struggles to cope with her parents’ death. While she loves her new friends at Hope Springs, her job as wellness center manager is a pit stop on her journey of life. Her hopes soar when she discovers a vineyard for sale in the nearby town of Lovely. But there’s a catch. Why is the price of the property so low? Does it have to do with the current owner’s ancient feud with his neighbor.

Cecily is falling in love with Parker. But she’s worried it’s too soon after breaking off her engagement. Lyle begs for another chance, but Cecily isn’t interested. Lyle’s advances become increasingly more aggressive, placing Cecily’s life in danger.

Presley’s baby is due in a few short weeks. But she’s heard nothing from her country music star husband in months. Is it possible the rumors are true? Could Everett be having an affair with his attractive young co-star? Or is he hiding a more serious problem?

The exciting conclusion of the bestselling Hope Springs series where some journeys are ending while others are just beginning.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * IndieBound

 

 

Review

 

I am sad to see this series come to an end, but the author does a wonderful job wrapping up all of the storylines, or mostly anyway! There are a few things that we don’t know, such as when Stella gives birth and the gender of the baby.

This band of women has formed a bond with each other and brought each other into their lives as friends, confidants, and so much more. I have fondly watched from this side of the page and compared their friendship to some of my own. They aren’t afraid to go to bat for each other, let them know when they aren’t doing something wise, and make sure that nothing bad happens to one another.

The book is not without a few tense moments for Cecily and a new employee, Kate. The author even addresses issues such as bullying with Jazz, alcohol abuse with Presley and Everett, anxiety with Ollie, and someone stalking Cecily. The subjects are handled beautifully but also bring home the point that these issues are not acceptable and how they can be handled diplomatically and peacefully. It also reminds us that we have to take care of ourselves first before trying to take care of anyone else.

As I mentioned, each storyline is wrapped up nicely and I was excited to see that a new series would be coming called Virginia Vineyards which will feature two of the characters from this series, and my guess is Ollie and Fiona because of what happens near the end of this book. I hope we see some snippets of the old gang in this new series.

This is a must-read series and highly recommend you pick it up and read all five books. You won’t be disappointed. We give the book and the series 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her bestselling Sweeney Sisters series has touched the lives of many.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she’s lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Bookbub

 

Subscribe to Ashley Farley’s Newsletter for monthly updates, release info, sneak peeks, and more.

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

An eternal bachelor convinced he’s finally found ‘the one’ vs. a woman scarred by her past. It’s gonna get messy…

I came back to Wisconsin seeking peace. The PI firm You Cheat, We Eat was not the place to find it. Not when the owner’s uncle takes one look at me and knows I’m hiding a big, fat secret.

Wally can keep looking. I’m not divulging my past to anyone. But when it turns out I have a stalker, Wally will do everything in his power to help me and keep me safe, but first he needs me to reveal my entire ugly past.

It’s not so simple. I can’t divulge my secrets. Seriously. I will be in big trouble – the kind where you end up in jail – if I open my mouth. But it turns out Wally has a surprise of his own. A surprise that can help him learn all about my past.

Wally claims he’ll take care of my stalker and then I’ll see how Love will OUT. Oh boy.

This seasoned romantic comedy features a woman who’s been burned by her past – literally – there were flames and everything, an eternal bachelor ready to give up his bachelor ways who will pull out all the stops to make sure his Angel stays safe, a group of friends who will do just about anything to find out what in the world is going on since someone’s not telling, and a makeshift family of former Army buddies who can not only tell dirty jokes but still have skills.

A Christmas for Chrissie is a standalone book in the Love will OUT romantic comedy series.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

A Hero for Hailey – Hailey and Aiden’s story

A Protector for Phoebe – Phoebe and Ryker’s story

A Soldier for Suzie – Suzie and Grayson’s story

A Fox for Faith – Faith and Max’s story

A Christmas for Chrissie – Chrissie and Wally’s story

A Valentine for Valerie – Valerie and Barney’s story

A Love for Lexi – Lexi and Lenny’s story

 

 

Review

 

If you need a book that will make you chuckle yet keep you on the edge of your seat with adventure, then this is the book to check out. This series is fantastic because it features a group of “older” men (50’s) that served in the military together and have the skills to keep their women safe, perhaps to their detriment as well since women aren’t fragile creatures, but what woman doesn’t like having a man look out for her? I know I don’t mind my spouse taking care of me even though I am perfectly capable.

Chrissie has a background that would rival any of the men, but when a piece of her past rears its ugly head it brings Wally even closer to protect her from those issues. I love how Wally falls for her right away and Chrissie puts up a fight to keep him at arm’s length. Granted, she hasn’t had the best past, but at some point, you have to move forward and leave the past in the past. I love that she doesn’t let him leave her out of the plans and while it might have gone against his desires to keep her safe, she can definitely keep up with the best of them.

This story is sweet, steamy, and amusing. The pranks, the jokes, the interactions between the characters, all of these make for a fantastic read. There is even a sweet ending.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound like one of the cool kids. She was born and raised in the U.S. but has spent the majority of her adult life abroad living in cool-sounding places like Istanbul, Heidelberg, and The Hague. She has job hopped from military policewoman to lawyer to B&B owner. She finally jumped off the job-hopping bandwagon a few years ago when she decided to turn her addiction to romance novels into a career. If anyone has ideas on how to turn a love of wine into a job, she’s all ears.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon author page

 

Pinterest * Instagram * BookBub * Newsletter Sign up * LinkedIn

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A family’s old, beloved dog takes a final road trip to help his humans find forgiveness and healing.

Meg Gorton finds herself alone and lonely in Florida. Three years earlier, she had packed what she could fit into her sister’s car and asked her estranged husband, Gary, to take care of Moses, their beloved black Labrador. Things between Meg and Gary hadn’t been the same after the loss of their only daughter many years ago. Even after raising their grandson, Troy, it was clear that if Meg wanted a new beginning, she would have to do it alone.

Haunted by the tragedy of his daughter’s death, Gary is stuck in his life in Woodstock, Virginia. He still owns and drives the bus for their hometown minor league baseball team, and he still thinks about the day his wife drove away.

Everything changes when Meg contacts Gary with a request to bring Moses to visit her one last time before the old dog passes on. Gary is reluctant, but Troy thinks it’s an excellent idea. They could even travel together in Gary’s bus. Along the way, Gary takes a detour to visit Troy’s ex-girlfriend, Grace. Gary might not know how to fix things with his wife, but he knows he doesn’t want Troy to make the same mistakes he did.

Although Moses is just a dog, he’s very observant. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out they are going on to see Meg. He knows he’s an old dog and that his time is near, but he also knows his family needs his help.

Even the Dog Knows is a novel that will take readers on a thousand-mile journey to find forgiveness, understanding, healing, and the meaning of true and lasting love.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * BAM * IndieBound

 

Bookshop * Deseret Books

 

 

Praise

 

“Jason has gone back to his roots. Even the Dog Knows is a compelling relationships story of secrets and second chances, hurt and healing, doubts and detours. But above all this fast-paced road trip journey is about what matters most—family.” —Glenn Beck, Nationally Syndicated Radio Host and Founder TheBlaze.com

“Outstanding and brilliant. This heartfelt story is packed with laughter and tears and takes readers on the road trip of a lifetime, reminding us of the most important things in life. Sure to be an instant classic that cries out for repeated binge reading.” —Rebecca Connolly, author of A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice

“Jason Wright’s new masterpiece is an example of how family, love and friendship can save us in times of great woe and trouble. EVEN THE DOG KNOWS delivers twists and turns within a heartfelt tale that teaches us how to work through our most harrowing times. Here’s the quick takeaway—read it!” —Herb Scribner, Deseret News

“Join a team of relatable flawed characters who will quickly feel like family along this hopeful journey of regret, reconciliation, and the chance to find beauty through grief and love through loss. As readers have come to expect from Jason F. Wright’s novels, this latest tale, EVEN THE DOG KNOWS, keeps the curveballs coming until the very end.” —Josette Keelor, The Northern Virginia Daily

 

Review

 

This is such a touching story that encompasses multiple family members and the issues that they are dealing with, and even Moses the dog has some thoughts about everything that is going on with his family.

A tragedy happened 20 years ago which caused Gary and Meg to raise their grandson, Troy. Gary is obsessed with baseball and when Troy shows promise, he thinks that Troy will be the one that makes it in the world of baseball. That is a lot of pressure to put on someone, but Gary didn’t do it intentionally or knowingly. But in the midst of his obsession, he manages to shut out Meg. Everyone grieves differently, and sometimes it is the awareness to realize that losing the love of your life may not be the best way to deal with tragedy.

The journey that Gary, Meg, and Troy are on in this story brings in others that have their own intertwining story. Grace is Troy’s high school sweetheart and they seem to have lost their path with each other but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still there. There are just some discussions they need to have to find out if they can recover what was lost. Macy is Meg’s home health aide, but there is so much more to her story that we discover at the end. You may be able to figure it out, but maybe not. Then there is Mark and Beverage, a hitchhiker and his dog that Gary and Troy pick up. Mark is no ordinary hitchhiker and he definitely isn’t homeless, but his story is touching just the same and it gives Gary and Troy something to think about when it comes to relationships in their own lives.

This journey is about self-discovery, finding love again, and realizing that what was lost can be found. There are so many touching and moving parts to this story and it is just a feel-good story that all can enjoy. I think they should have included a picture of the bus that is a story of its own.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

JASON F. WRIGHT is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-selling author. He is also the host of the popular podcast Wright Where You Are. He writes an occasional column, which has appeared in over one hundred newspapers, magazines, and websites across the United States including the Washington Times, the Northern Virginia Daily, the Chicago Tribune, the Deseret News, Forbes, CNN.com, FoxNews.com, and others.

Jason grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, but has also lived in Germany, Illinois, Brazil, Oregon, and Utah. In 2007, while researching Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley for a novel, Jason fell so in love with the area that he moved his family to Woodstock. He is married to Kodi Erekson Wright. They have two girls and two boys they love, and two grandchildren they love even more.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter

 

To invite Jason to your book club, school, church, conference or other event, connect online: jasonfwright.com, facebook.com/jfwbooks, Instagram.com/jasonfwright.

 

 

 

 

Jousting and Justice: Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Better Beginnings, Inc. (February 15, 2022)
Number of Pages 315

 

 

Synopsis

 

An invitation to a medieval festival. A ferry ride to a mysterious island. A scheming, inept witch. An office break-in, an unidentified body, and a string of suspects. Can Hayden, her brave, sassy cat, Latifa, and the people of Destiny Falls solve the mystery and enjoy the festival?

Jousting and Justice follows the series format of combining two stories that blend into one. A murder mystery and the island mystery.

The Island Mystery: Hayden and all her friends get an invitation to a medieval festival – but it’s on “the forbidden island.” It’s too enticing to pass up. Of course, strange things will happen once they get there! . . . You’ll also learn the truth about the witch’s sister!

The Murder Mystery: A dead body shows up in the most shocking place. First, they need to figure out who this dead guy is. Then, who killed him and why. There are so many twists and turns on the way to the answers! But we know that Hayden, Latifa, and their family and friends will figure it out and justice will be served.

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This has been a delightful series to read. There is something about the characters, setting, and mysteries that draw me in and keep me coming back to Destiny Falls.

While this book could be read as a standalone, you will be better off starting at the beginning of the series to truly understand how Hayden came to Destiny Falls, meet the rest of the family, and have a better grasp of the dynamics of this town and island.

The town will be attending a medieval festival on another island and everyone is excited. However, they don’t know the true story behind the festival, at least not in time to not attend. Even though everyone is in frantic preparations for the festival, a dead body is still found and this time in Hayden’s newspaper office. What they uncover is more than they expected and many were surprised at the turn of events. There are a few suspects but new details thwart their efforts to uncover the killer quickly.

We are introduced to the Knitting Club when Hayden is told to go undercover to try and learn some information from one of the members. I love the name of the yarn shop, Knitty Gritty, and while I love the thought of knitting, it isn’t something I have tried myself yet. Maybe one day. There is a surprise member that Hayden discovers at her first meeting. You might never guess who and I’m not going to tell you, so pick up the book and find out.

There are so many characters to love in this series from Bear the personal chef for the Caldwell family to Han, Hayden’s love interest. He isn’t in the book very much since he was called away for a security emergency. But that is ok because Hayden has plenty to keep her busy until his return. There is also the cat trio of Latifa, Lola, and Chanel, which add a little flavor to the story. Lola is still a kitten and I can imagine her voice in my head anytime she says something.

This has been a fun series to read and there is so much to learn about the characters and the town. I can’t wait to read the next book to learn more. We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Pantley says that writing the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book series is the most fun she’s ever had at work. Fans of the series say her joy is evident through the stories she tells. Elizabeth is also the internationally bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the beautiful inspiration for the enchanted Destiny Falls world.

 

NoCrySolution​.com | Facebook | Pinterest

 

Instagram |  Website | Amazon

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

OUT OF TEMPER

 

Bean to Bar Mysteries Book 3

 

by

 

AMBER ROYER

 

 

Categories: Cozy Mystery / Women Sleuth / Romance

Publisher: Golden Tip Press

Date of Publication: February 1, 2022

Number of Pages: 264 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

Felicity Koerber’s bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston’s historic Strand has been the scene of two murders – both of which she has been instrumental in helping solve. So when she gets invited to demo her chocolate skills aboard a cruise ship sailing out of the local port, she’s excited at the chance to get away from the shop long enough to regain her equilibrium. She even brings her best friend along and makes plans for time at the spa. But when she gets on board, she finds out that she’s been booked for a mystery-themed cruise, and said best friend, Autumn, has to finally deal with the real reasons she quit writing mysteries. Only – if that wasn’t stressful enough – it doesn’t take long before there’s a real murder on the cruise, and someone Felicity knows becomes the prime suspect. When said suspect asks her for help, she can’t exactly say no, can she?

Felicity finds herself surrounded by cruise goers who all had connections to the victim – and finds that both Logan (her business partner, whom she recently kissed) and Arlo (the cop who was once Felicity’s first boyfriend, before she moved away from Galveston) are dealing with the case until more official help can arrive. How will Felicity survive the ensuing awkwardness?

One thing that helps: the retired police dog turned therapy dog she meets on board. Satchmo helps Felicity deal with being back on the water after tragedy in her past – and also helps her uncover a vital clue to the case. Can Felicity unmask the killer and keep a friend from being framed before all the suspects leave the ship?

 

 

Amazon│ Barnes and Noble │Apple Books │Kobo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How can anyone not enjoy a mystery that involves chocolate? Ok, it would be better if I could have it while reading the book…oh marketing idea, each book comes with a bar of chocolate! But I digress. This series is fascinating and I love the discussion about how cacao beans are processed (in previous books) and how we get the chocolate we see in the market today. There is such a history to chocolate and if you ever get a chance to hear the author speak, please do because there is so much information to be learned.

Felicity is off to work on a cruise and talk about how chocolate is made. And it wouldn’t be a mystery without someone ending up dead, and in this case, a character that isn’t well-liked and has something of a shady past according to his ex-wife, girlfriend, and other characters. There are so many red herring clues that you have to put on your thinking cap to figure out who and why. I figured out the who close to when it was revealed and could guess the why once I fixated on this character. There are clues now that I look back that might point you in the right direction, but maybe not. Read the book to see how well you can spot the clues.

I loved the idea of the mystery cruise setting. This sounds like something I would enjoy and might even sign up to do as long as no one really ends up dead. That coupled with a chocolate demonstration and authors sound like my fantasy trip! I will be curious to see if this cruise line makes it into future books with a mystery tied to it. There are so many possibilities and we did see a glimpse of a cruise ship in other books, so I wouldn’t rule it out as an option.

There is a bit of a love triangle for Felicity. There is her high school sweetheart, Arlo, that is now available after a breakup in the 2nd book. There is also Logan who is her partner in the chocolate shop. Both would be good choices and it will be hard for her to make a decision quickly. But who says she has to decide now? She still mourns her husband but that is decreasing as time goes by.

I enjoyed watching the characters continue to grow and we learn more about them as this series continues. Autumn reveals some truths which surprise a lot of people, but I can see why it was kept under wraps. We don’t see as much of Carmen in this book since she is holding down the fort, but I look forward to some of her new baked goods in future installments.

Seriously, a great series and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amber Royer writes the Chocoverse comic telenovela-style foodie-inspired space opera series and the Bean to Bar Mysteries. She is also the author of Story Like a Journalist: a Workbook for Novelists, which boils down her writing knowledge into an actionable plan involving over 100 worksheets to build a comprehensive story plan for your novel. She also teaches creative writing and is an author coach. Amber and her husband live in the DFW area, where you can often find them hiking or taking landscape/architecture/wildlife photographs.  If you are very nice to Amber, she might make you cupcakes.  Chocolate cupcakes, of course! Amber blogs about creative writing techniques and all things chocolate.

 

 Website  ◆  Blog ◆  Facebook  ◆  Twitter

 

  Amazon  ◆  Goodreads  ◆ Instagram ◆  YouTube

 

 

————————————–

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

 ONE WINNER

 

Signed copy of Out of Temper +

 

a chocolate bar from French Broad Chocolates!

 

(US only, ends midnight CST, 3/5/2022)

 

 

 

 

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:

 

2/23/22	Playlist	Chapter Break Book Blog
2/23/22	BONUS Promo	Hall Ways Blog
2/24/22	Review	Missus Gonzo
2/24/22	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
2/25/22	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
2/26/22	Scrapbook Page	All the Ups and Downs
2/27/22	Top 10 List	The Plain-Spoken Pen
2/28/22	Review	Bibliotica
3/1/22	Top 10 List	Reading by Moonlight
3/2/22	Review	Forgotten Winds
3/3/22	Guest Post	Book Bustle
3/4/22	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Everyone else in the tiny town of Enfield, Texas calls fall football season, but for the forty-three members of the Fighting Enfield Marching Band, it’s contest season. And for new saxophonist Anna James, it’s her first chance to prove herself as the great musician she’s trying hard to be.

When she’s assigned a duet with mellophone player Weston Ryan, the boy her small-minded town thinks of as nothing but trouble, she’s equal parts thrilled and intimidated. But as he helps her with the duet, and she sees the smile he seems to save just for her, she can’t help but feel like she’s helping him with something too.

After her strict parents find out she’s been secretly seeing him and keep them apart, together they learn what it truly means to fight for something they love. With the marching contest nearing, and the two falling hard for one another, the unthinkable happens, and Anna is left grappling for a way forward without Weston.

A heartbreaking novel about finding your first love and what happens when it’s over too soon. Ashley Schumacher’s Full Flight is about how first love shapes us—even after it’s gone.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

I could relate to this book like you wouldn’t believe! It may be 30+ years since I was in high school, but I was in the band and in a small Texas town and understood the dynamics of Friday night football, band competition, and small-town life.

Anna and Weston are destined to be together once they get past their hangups and controlling parents (at least on Anna’s side). However, these two are good for each other as they bring out the best in each other and push each other to strive for more than they thought they could achieve.

This novel encompassed many aspects of life from the teen perspective and I felt like these were spot on with what kids might experience in high school from friendship, bullying, pressure, and so much more. While the synopsis hints at what happens at the end, it still broke my heart and I admit to having a few tears running down my face. It was hard to imagine how I might have felt in the same situation.

I did feel like Anna’s parents were overbearing and while I know they were just trying to protect her, she also had given them no reason to go overboard with their judgments of Weston. It was a shame they took so long to get to know him because, in the end, that time wasn’t enough.

Make sure to have some tissue on hand for the last 15-20% of the book. You will need it.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

ASHLEY SCHUMACHER is a young adult author with a degree in creative writing from the University of North Texas. She lives in a small town with her antisocial but lovable husband and more books than is strictly necessary. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her belting Disney or Broadway songs, protecting her snacks from her greedy golden retriever, hand embroidering, or playing Mario Kart. Amelia Unabridged is her first novel. She lives in Dallas, Texas.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram