THANK YOU, GARDEN

 

By LIZ GARTON SCANLON

 

Illustrated by Simone Shin

 

Children’s Picture Book / Poetry / Environment / Ages 3-7

Publisher: Beach Lane Books / Simon & Schuster

Date of Publication: March 3, 2020

Number of Pages: 32

 

 

 

A community garden unites neighbors in this celebration of all the things that grow there, from flowers and fruits, to friendships!

 

This ode to working together for a better world will have young readers wanting to plant gardens of their own!

 

 

 

 

 

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Barnes and Noble ║ Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of many beloved books for kids, including the brand new Thank You, Garden, as well as the Caldecott Honor book All the World and others, including several co-authored with her pal Audrey Vernick. Scanlon also wrote the middle grade novel The Great Good Summer and is published in numerous poetry anthologies. She serves on the faculty of the Vermont Faculty of Fine Arts and is a frequent and popular presenter at conferences and festivals. Find more about her life and work at www.LizGartonScanlon.com

 

 

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BookBub ║ Amazon Author Page ║ Website

 

 

 

 

Follow illustrator Simone Shin on Instagram!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

———————–

 

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS

 

Each winner gets an autographed/personalized copy of

 

THANK YOU, GARDEN and ANOTHER WAY TO CLIMB A TREE

 

MAY 14-21, 2020

 

(US ONLY)

 

 

 

 

 

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The Nightjar’s Promise (Book 4 of The F.I.G. Mysteries) by Barbara Casey

 

YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 130 pages

 

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy

 

Publisher: Gauthier Publications (Hungry Goat Press)

 

Release date: April, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Jennifer Torres, one of the three FIGs (Females of Intellectual Genius) who is a genius in both music and art, is the last to leave the closed rehearsal for her upcoming performance over Thanksgiving break at Carnegie Hall when she hears something in the darkened Hall. Recognizing the tilt of the woman’s head and the slight limp of the man as they hurry out an exit door, she realizes it is her parents who were supposedly killed in a terrible car accident when she was 15 years old. Devastated and feeling betrayed, she sends a text to Carolina and the other two FIGs—THURGOOD. It is the code word they all agreed to use if ever one of them got into trouble or something happened that was too difficult to handle. They would all meet back at Carolina’s bungalow at Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women to figure it out.

As soon as they receive the text, because of their genius, Dara starts thinking of words in ancient Hebrew, German, and Yiddish, while Mackenzie’s visions of unique math formulae keep bringing up the date October 11, 1943. That is the date during World War II when the Nazis—the Kunstschutz—looted the paintings of targeted wealthy Jewish families and hid them away under Hitler’s orders. And as Carolina waits for the FIGs to return to Wood Rose, she hears warnings from Lyuba, her gypsy mother, to watch for the nightjar, the ancient name for the whip-poor-will.

As they search for “The Nightjar’s Promise” and the truth surrounding it, Carolina and the FIGs come face to face with evil that threatens to destroy not only their genius, but their very lives.

 

 

 

 

 

Interview

 

Today we are lucky enough to have Barbara here with us on StoreyBook Reviews.  I enjoyed her answers to the questions and I hope you learn a little bit more about her as I did.

 

When writing about the F.I.G.s (Females of Intellectual Genius) and Carolina in The Nightjar’s Promise, did you have a favorite character?

 

Carolina and the F.I.G.s (Dara, Mackenzie, and Jennifer) have been living in my life and imagination for several years now. I am embarrassed to say how attached I have become to them, and writing The Nightjar’s Promise, knowing it would be the final book in the series, was emotional. I guess you could say I love Carolina and each of the F.I.G.s equally because they are so different and in spite of their flaws.

 

Where did you get inspiration for your stories in this series?

 

I lived in Raleigh, North Carolina, for many years. I attended NC State University and then later worked there. Near where I lived was an orphanage, and I think driving by it each day is what first gave me the idea of writing a book about orphans. Then, once I actually started writing The Cadence of Gypsies years later, followed by The Wish Rider, The Clock Flower, and now The Nightjar’s Promise, I researched things that were out of the ordinary that would somehow connect to either Carolina or one of the F.I.G.s. The Voynich Manuscript, the most mysterious document in the world, was perfect for Carolina and her story. In Dara’s story, The Wish Rider, I felt it was important to learn the reason her mother abandoned her in a candy shop when she was a little girl. Mackenzie, in The Clock Flower, also needed to find the answers to the questions she had; such as why was she turned over to an orphanage right after she was born, and who were her parents? And most important, why is she in danger? Jennifer’s story in The Nightjar’s Promise was especially difficult because she was betrayed by the people who should have loved and cared for her the most. By connecting each girl’s genius to the reasons they were in an orphanage to begin with seemed to provide the answers.

 

Are you writing anything now?

 

I have gone back to an adult novel I have been thinking about. I am also thinking about another young/new adult series.

 

Do you have a set routine when you write?

 

Absolutely! That is the only way I can create anything. I have always needed routine in my life, having grown up in a military family. So, early (very early) mornings are my time to write. The rest of the day I devote to my agency and to the independent publishing house that focuses on nonfiction/true crime where I am a partner. There are three rescue cats now in our little family who are learning how to get along, and my mother who lives with us is 97 years old. Everything considered, I have a pretty full day.

 

I want to thank you for inviting me to be a guest on your blog and for your interest in my books. I wish you and your bloggers my very best. ~Barbara

 

 

About the Author

 

Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, author/agent/publisher Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, N.C. State University, and N.C. Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. In 1995 she established the Barbara Casey Agency and since that time has represented authors from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2014, she became a partner with Strategic Media Books, an independent nonfiction publisher of true crime, where she oversees acquisitions, day-to-day operations, and book production.

Ms. Casey has written over a dozen award-winning books of fiction and nonfiction for both young adults and adults. The awards include the National Association of University Women Literary Award, the Sir Walter Raleigh Literary Award, the Independent Publisher Book Award, the Dana Award for Outstanding Novel, the IP Best Book for Regional Fiction, among others. Two of her nonfiction books have been optioned for major films, one of which is under contract.

Her award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have appeared in both national and international publications including the North Carolina Christian Advocate Magazine, The New East Magazine, the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Sunday Telegram, Dog Fancy, ByLine, The Christian Record, Skirt! Magazine, and True Story. A thirty-minute television special which Ms. Casey wrote and coordinated was broadcast on WRAL, Channel 5, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories. Her award-winning science fiction short stories for adults are featured in The Cosmic Unicorn and CrossTime science fiction anthologies. Ms. Casey’s essays and other works appear in The Chrysalis Reader, the international literary journal of the Swedenborg Foundation, 221 One-Minute Monologues from Literature (Smith and Kraus Publishers), and A Cup of Comfort (Adams Media Corporation).

Ms. Casey is a former director of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida, where she served as guest author and panelist. She has served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida, and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003. In 2018 Ms. Casey received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas. She makes her home on the top of a mountain in northwest Georgia with her husband and three cats who adopted her, Homer, Reese, and Earl Gray – Reese’s best friend.

 

Website ~  Goodreads ~ Facebook

 

Giveaway

 

Prizes: ​ Win 1 of 3 print or 1 of 3 ebook of Barbara Casey’s THE NIGHTJAR’S PROMISE, or a $25 Amazon Gift Card (open USA & Canada) (7 win (ends May 29)

 

 

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Title: THE MARVELOUS MECHANICAL MAN

Author: Rie Sheridan Rose

Publisher: Independent

Pages: 270

Genre: Steampunk Adventure Romance

 

Synopsis

 

The Marvelous Mechanical Man is the first book in a Steampunk series featuring the adventures of Josephine Mann, an independent woman in need of a way to pay her rent. She meets Professor Alistair Conn, in need of a lab assistant, and a partnership is created that proves exciting adventure for both of them.

Alistair’s prize invention is an automaton standing nine feet tall. There’s a bit of a problem though…he can’t quite figure out how to make it move. Jo just might be of help there. Then again, they might not get a chance to find out, as the marvelous mechanical man goes missing.

Jo and Alistair find themselves in the middle of a whirlwind of kidnapping, catnapping, and cross-country chases that involve airships, trains, and a prototype steam car. With a little help from their friends, Herbert Lattimer and Winifred Bond, plots are foiled, inventions are perfected, and a good time is had by all.

 

 

Guest Post

 

I love it when I find new Texas authors and while I have never ready this series, the author is here to the rescue to tell us about the characters in this book.  Sort of an introduction if you will.  I love this little snippet about the various characters and it gives me a little more insight into them and I hope that you will find them intriguing as well.

 

Top Ten Characters in The Marvelous Mechanical Man

 

10) Vanessa, the companion/maid who keeps Aunt Emily’s house running like clockwork.

 

9) Aunt Emily Estes, Alistair’s widowed aunt with a sharp eye and a convenient piano box.

 

8) Paul Blessant, a professorial colleague with an eye toward profit.

 

7) Ma Stark, landlady with a heart of gold and a kitchen that never seems closed.

 

6) Miss Priss, Jo’s bosom companion and solace in times of trouble.

 

5) Herbert Lattimer, whose airship is indispensable in saving the day.

 

4) Winifred Bond—Fred to her friends—who shoots straighter and spits further than anyone else Jo knows.

 

3) Phaeton, the Marvelous Mechanical Man himself, who is really the heart of the matter.

 

2) Our hero, Professor Alistair Conn, whose ingenuity exceeds even his own expectations.

 

1) And, of course, our heroine Josephine Mann who narrates the story with her own inimitable style.

 

 

Excerpt

 

I was debating just what I should do next when I heard the sound of a key in the front lock. Hurrying back to the laboratory, I was just in time to see Alistair Conn step inside.

“Professor Conn! Am I glad to see you.”

He set the bundles he was carrying down on the counter.

“What is it, Miss Mann?”

“Your mechanical man…can it walk on its own?”

He frowned, glancing quickly at the rear door and back.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I rolled my eyes.

“We don’t have time for shilly-shallying. Yes, I know I didn’t have your leave to look in the back rooms, but I did. I saw the automaton, or statue, or whatever he was, but when I opened the door to the hallway this morning, the door to the storage room was ajar and the man was gone.”

“Gone?” All the color fled his face, and he pushed me aside, practically running down the lab to the rear door. He threw it open and darted to the storage room. “No…no! This is impossible! How could he be gone?”

“That’s what I was asking you.”

“He can’t move on his own, Miss Mann. He has no power source. He’s just a big metal doll without his heart—and that doesn’t work yet.” He wiped his hand across his lips then turned and ran back to the lab, searching furiously amid the items I had so carefully arranged—apparently to no avail—on the counter. “It’s gone!” he cried. “They got that, too? Oh, this is disastrous, indeed.”

“Got what?” I asked, following him back to the lab, where he seemed determined to destroy all my neatening efforts of the day before.

“The heart, Miss Mann, the heart! I showed it to you yesterday morning—it’s an oblong machine, about so big….” He held up his hands about six inches apart. “You asked me what it did.”

I stepped over to the counter and opened the drawer beneath it. Rummaging in the back, I withdrew the silk-wrapped package I had placed within it the night before.

“Is this what you’re looking for?”

He practically snatched it from my hand.

“Thank God! Oh, that was most clever, Miss Mann. Most clever.”

I decided there was no need to tell the man it was only chance that had protected his precious…whatever it was. Let him think it had been foresight.

“You say that’s the statue’s heart?”

“Well, it will be, if it ever starts working. This little object will provide the power necessary to move the automaton’s limbs, to let him think. He will be a true mechanical man.”

“But it doesn’t work.”

He sighed.

“Not yet.” He set the oblong down on the counter. “I’ve done everything I can think of, but I just can’t make it do anything.”

I looked down at the funny little machine. I couldn’t tell him I had played with it and added things. He would never forgive me.

Something looked odd about the assembly. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what, so I put my finger on the machine instead. There was a tiny lever half-hidden by the new gear assembly. It shifted under my fingertip, and suddenly, the heart began to beat.

 

 

About the Author

 

Rie Sheridan Rose multitasks. A lot. Her short stories appear in numerous anthologies, including Nightmare Stalkers and Dream Walkers Vols. 1 and 2, and Killing It Softly Vols. 1 and 2. She has authored twelve novels, six poetry chapbooks, and lyrics for dozens of songs. These were mostly written in conjunction with Marc Gunn, and can be found on “Don’t Go Drinking with Hobbits” and “Pirates vs. Dragons” for the most part–with a few scattered exceptions.

Her favorite work to date is The Conn-Mann Chronicles Steampunk series with five books released so far: The Marvelous Mechanical Man, The Nearly Notorious Nun, The Incredibly Irritating Irishman, The Fiercely Formidable Fugitive, and The Elderly Earl’s Estate.

Rie lives in Texas with her wonderful husband and several spoiled cat-children.

 

Website * Book Website * Twitter * Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

She’s sweet and wholesome. And hiding something.
He’s back home, resurrecting old ghosts.
One of them is going to get hurt.

Molly arrives in Sutter’s Hollow out of gas and out of options. The rundown ranch seems like a perfect place to hide. Except the man who owns it seems just as dangerous as what’s chasing her.

Cord’s mantra growing up? Get out of Sutter’s Hollow. Now he’s back in town, but only long enough to get rid of his grandma’s ball and chain—the ranch. He doesn’t need a complication like Molly, who reminds him of an injured baby bird. He’s no protector. So why can’t he tell her to get lost?

 

 

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Excerpt

 

What was she going to do?

Molly caught her knuckle as she twisted the wrench on a nut that just wouldn’t give. She gritted her teeth as the skin scraped away. She sucked on the skin, the iron tang of blood settling on her tongue.

Questions bounced through her mind as a cold wind blew straight down the collar of her jacket.

Once she got the nut loosened, the dead alternator would lift out. Another hour, and she’d have the new one installed in its place.

And then what?

She’d promised Cord she’d get off his property. He’d been kind, letting her stay the past two nights. She’d repaid him by cooking some of Mama’s favorite meals, though she’d left him to eat in peace, staying in her room and strumming her guitar.

She hadn’t slept other than in snatches. 
She needed to get the fear under control. She couldn’t keep going like this.

She’d seen a random stranger walking down the street and panicked. A full blown attack, with the shakes and trouble breathing. In front of Cord, who obviously pitied her.

Pitied her, but wasn’t going to invite her to stay.

I’ll never let you go.

I’ll kill anybody you get close to.

Toby’s cutting voice had been bouncing through her brain ever since.

You’re mine.

She wasn’t his. Never had been.

But no matter how many times she repeated it to herself, his voice followed her.

She’d found a measure of safety on Cord’s land. It was quiet, peaceful. Maybe she could find someplace like it.

She tried to tell herself she would be fine.

But she didn’t believe it.

Footsteps crunched in the dried grasses, and she startled so badly that she dropped her wrench into the engine with a clang.

She might’ve uttered a cuss word under her breath as she retrieved it.

She shot a glance at Cord, approaching from the house, but he pretended he hadn’t seen her jump like a lunatic.

“Need some help?” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. His flannel shirt was unbuttoned above a T-shirt that clung to his abs.

“No thanks.” She’d fight with this bolt a little more, and then she’d win. She’d do the next step and the next until the engine was rebuilt.

Too bad she didn’t have a manual for how to rebuild her life.

He shifted his feet. Opened his mouth. Shut it again. Then blurted, “Can you come inside for a minute? I wanna talk.”

“What’s there to talk about? I told you I’m getting ready to leave. You’ll have your solitude back.”

He mumbled something under his breath. When she shot him a look, he awarded her a tight smile. It was some improvement over his fierce frowns. What would it take to drag a real smile from him?
”Please, will you come inside?”

The nut finally loosened, the tension giving away under the strain in her arm. 
”Fine,” she said.

It was the work of a few seconds to remove the nut and bolt, and then she lifted out the alternator and set it on the ground beside the truck. An empty spot was left behind in the truck’s engine.

That’s how she felt right now. There was a huge piece missing inside of her. She didn’t know how to get it back.

She wiped her grease-stained hands on a rag as she followed Cord to the house. 
In the kitchen, he motioned her to sit in one of the kitchen chairs. She crossed her arms and leaned against the counter instead.

He leveled a look on her. “You okay?”

She dropped her gaze to the floor. “I’m fine.”

She wasn’t fine. But he’d already seen her at her worst, and she didn’t want to face his pity again.

“Molly.”

She heard the skepticism in the single word. 
She turned away and started running water at the sink. She scrubbed her hands with the rough green bar of soap left there. And rinsed.

And then he was close behind her, reaching around her to turn off the water. Her body was betraying her again. It was awareness of him at her shoulder—not fear—that made her heart pound.

That and the sickening memory of Toby.

“I want to know what’s going on,” he said. The words emerged heavy, as if they’d cost him.

She squeezed her eyes closed.

He touched her, cupping one hand beneath her elbow.

And when she looked up at him again, something was burning behind his eyes. “I have to know. Did someone hurt you?”

She clutched the edge of the sink. “He tried.”

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see on Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published fifty books in almost a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog.

 

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Synopsis

 

Growing up in Reading, Michael Bond never thought of himself as a writer. He quit school at the age of 14, served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and later went on to work as a cameraman for the BBC. Struggling to tap into something more creative, the inspiration came to him after an unexpected trip to a toy shop, where he bought the last bear on the shelf for his wife. This would later become Paddington Bear.

More Than Marmalade: Michael Bond and the Story of Paddington Bear (Chicago Review Press; March 3, 2020; Ages 9 to 12), by Rosanne Tolin, is the untold story of Paddington Bear’s author Michael Bond. This middle-grade biography uncovers the many important elements that inspired the Paddington story, including Bond’s early life, world history and the cultural events of the 1950s. Kids will be captivated as they learn about the true events—such as WWII and the refugee crisis—that influenced many of the details in the series, events that are still relevant to this day.

Aiming to shine a hopeful light on what we can learn from the past, the book captures the care that went into Bond’s creation of Paddington Bear and how Paddington has become a timeless, beloved character in both children’s literature and film. Chockfull of whimsy, heartfelt anecdotes and charming takeaways, the book captures the loving relationship between Bond and his protagonist. Tolin explains how this relationship soon spanned nationwide, as Paddington went on to win the hearts of families across the world.

A story of perseverance and imagination, More Than Marmalade will inspire young readers, telling the unlikely success story of a brave displaced bear and his writer. Along with plenty of pictures of Michael and his personal Paddington Bear, kids will learn about life as it was during the 1950s.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Michael sighed heavily. Another rejection had arrived from another magazine. As hard as it was, Michael read every refusal, hoping for comments from the editor. Although he was happy that he and Brenda could affora modest home with the income from his job as a cameraman, his dream was to support his family as a published author. Sometimes editors sent him short notes, offering suggestions to make his story better. These rare but encouraging words were what he needed to press on with his writing.

Most times, however, he was turned down with nothing more than a form letter. The only thing he could do was sit down at his desk, crank a fresh sheet of paper into his typewriter, and write something new. But where should he begin?

He could write an article about how the face of Britain had changed with the rise in immigration since the war. Hoping to fill an urgent need for workers, nearly 500 men came by ship from Jamaica. Many people from India and Pakistan had arrived in West London, where Michael lived, looking for labor. Eastern European evacuees who had fled the dangerous Nazi regime decided to stay, too. All day long, rushed exchanges in a symphony of languages rose above the busy city streets like musical notes. Michael listened closely to the tunes of many tongues on his way to work, relishing the stream of sounds that swept past his ears.

The number of immigrants had been climbing steadily for 20 years. Britain used to be called the British Empire because they governed a lot of other countries and territories. The king of England even ruled the colonies that became the United States. England also held power in India until 1947, and ruled Hong Kong until 1997. Many people from these areas in Asia settled in the United Kingdom, too.

Michael’s apartment stood right in the middle of this melting pot of people. On Portobello Road, he shopped at Notting Hill market. The Afro-Caribbean shops that lined the street offered stall after stall of foods from the West Indies. The salty, fresh aroma of goat stew wafted into his open window as he worked. As Michael’s thoughts took shape, he tapped out a few words about the distinct talk and tastes of foreign cultures. Nothing seemed to take hold with that special spark a writer needs. He was too exasperated to think clearly, but giving up wasn’t an option. Thankfully, he knew one man who always stayed calm. That man was Michael’s literary agent, Harvey Unna.

Literary agents help writers sell their work to publishers. If anyone could help Michael out of this writer’s block, it was Harvey. He was a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany who would later inspire Paddington’s good friend Mr. Gruber. When Michael phoned, they talked a bit about the mounting rejection letters. Then Michael took a deep breath. He was about to admit a frustrating thing for a man with a huge imagination. He needed to stay strong. “Harvey, I just don’t know what to write next. My mind is utterly blank.”

Harvey didn’t seem surprised or upset. Instead, he had an immediate reply.

“Describe your room,” Harvey said.

“You want me to write about my room?” Michael asked. Harvey laughed gently. “No, not exactly. Tell me what’s in your room. Look around. What do you see?” Michael scanned the objects around him. Since there wasn’t space for a private office, he worked in the living room. The first thing he saw was the antique wall clock, then swiftly turned his sights to a framed picture of his parents on his desk. The black-and-white photo made them look more old-fashioned than Michael recalled. As he continued to look around, his eyes landed on Paddington.

“We have a small bear,” Michael said.

“A bear?” Harvey asked.

“Yes,” Michael said. “He is honey colored and has soft brown eyes. His name is Paddington.”

“Write about that,” Harvey said. “Write about Paddington Bear.”

 

 

About the Author

 

An experienced and well-respected journalist, Rosanne Tolin is the creator and editor of the ALA award-winning children’s e-zine and website Imagination Café. Tolin is also the former managing editor of Guideposts for Kids magazine and the Guideposts for Kids website. She lives in Chesterton, Indiana.

 

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Fireworks, A Firecracker & Foul Play
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Independently Published
Number of Pages: approximately 200 (including recipes)
Digital ASIN: B0862DF52C

 

Synopsis

 

How do you plan the perfect July 4th wedding with the groom in jail for murder?

Anna is not about to find out. And no way is she getting married in the jail house. Not happening. Instead, she’s off to uncover the actual murderer, because there’s no way her fiancé Logan would hurt anyone. Yeah, sure, he looks kind of intimidating, but he’s a cop. He fights crime. He doesn’t commit it!

Will the gals of Callie’s Cakes solve the mystery before Anna’s wedding is ruined?

Cupcakes not included, although recipes for all the delicious cupcakes Anna bakes are.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

If you are looking for a mystery series that is a quick read (say over lunch) then check this series out. Not only is their a mystery to be solved, but the quick pace and humor will also keep you entertained. I know I was chuckling throughout the book.

Anna is quite the character. At 5′ nothing and hair that changes color with her moods, she is a force to be reckoned with especially when it comes to her man, Logan. It doesn’t matter that he is a police officer and better equipped to handle finding a killer, Anna isn’t going to let that stop her with the assistance of Callie and Kristie, her work partners in crime.

While the mystery isn’t really one to be solved by the reader (since the killer is never mentioned in the cast) it is fun to watch Anna try and sneak around to solve the case so it doesn’t interfere with her wedding that is just a week away.

I enjoy this series and suggest starting at the beginning to get to know all of the characters and their quirks.

We give this 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

 

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Giveaway

 

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A FIRM PLACE TO STAND

 

by

 

LORI ALTEBAUMER

 

 

Genre: Christian / Romantic Suspense

Independently published

Date of Publication: January 25, 2020

Number of Pages: 321

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

She’s either being stalked or losing her mind.

A job at a camp in the rustic and often rugged landscape of West Texas offers Maribel Montgomery a chance to escape both, especially if she makes sure no one knows she’s there. But when the body of a woman washes up in the river on her first morning, her hopes of a safe place to start over are swept away.

The suspicion that she’s being watched follows her to her new home, and Maribel is forced to take a stand or keep running. Does she have the courage to face the danger stirring at the Pool of Siloam Camp? If she doesn’t, another girl might die. If she tries and fails, it could be her.

Circumstances force her into the acquaintance of Conner Pierce—a man with secrets of his own. Can Maribel risk working with him in order to save the next victim and find a missing girl? Or is he the killer?

 

 

 

 

 

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I don’t even know where to start with this book and how much I enjoyed it and the message.  I highlighted so many passages because they spoke to me.  This book is more than faith, suspense, or trust. It is the culmination of so many different aspects, thoughts, beliefs, and actions of the various characters.  Let’s just start with how the book starts:

 

“Journalists traveled light – especially the unemployed ones running from a tsunami of poor choices. Of course, she wasn’t exactly running since she had nowhere else to go.”

“Somewhat telling that at age twenty-six everything Maribel owned had fit into the back of a car.” 

 

Maribel is a lost soul whether she realizes it or not.  She doesn’t believe she is worthy of love or anything else all because of some bad journalistic moves on her part.  But perhaps this new job at the Pool of Siloam camp will be her salvation, or at least give her a place to sort out her life.  But everything is not as it seems as we travel the pages of this novel and follow Maribel’s journey.  I felt for Maribel because she beat herself up over an event that was not her fault (especially near the end as we really learn the truth about the events) and her lack of faith in herself.  She also didn’t believe that she was worthy of God’s love and forgiveness which is the furthest thing from the truth.  Her time in this small Texas town and interactions slowly lead her down a new path to forgiveness and as the title states, A Firm Place to Stand.

I really felt the passion that Mack and Conner had for God and forgiveness and their calling to bring Maribel back into the fold.  They have a long hard road ahead of them because Maribel carries a lot of guilt and emotional baggage that tends to get in the way of her life.  But these new friends in her life can see past her baggage and despair and continue trying to bring her around to a more positive light.

Outside of the religious/belief aspect is the suspense/mystery portion.  Why was Maribel brought to this sleepy little town in Texas?  What happened to the missing camp counselor and camper?  Who is trying to harm Maribel and why?  All of these questions kept me hooked on the story and trying to figure out who had ulterior motives.  There are some red herrings and not everything as it appears, but closer to the end of the book I had a feeling about a few characters and their motives, and I wasn’t far off base.  While the “why” surprised me, it was somewhat obvious to me that these character(s) were up to no good.

There were multiple minor characters that also drew me into the story including Peg, who brought her here for research and a family history project; Rock Griger, the town sheriff, that just didn’t seem on the up and up; Daylee, one of the campers that had been abandoned by her family.  The supporting characters had depth and I felt they were an integral part of the whole story.

Here are some of my favorite lines in the book (and there were quite a few)

 

“By the time she returned, the sun would be up, baking everything with the unrelenting heat of Texas in July.”

“The determination to stop giving herself away piece by broken piece was strong but she also knew her weaknesses.”

“Order and control eliminated chaos. Order and control took away the anxiety laden sleepless nights. Order and control equaled safe right?”

“Maribel may not have as many Texas generations behind her name, but it only took one to understand the character of those who did. A character she admired and respected.”

“How would it feel to have that strong a connection to something, roots running that deep? A simpler, purer life perhaps. A life without regrets.”

“Everything about the woman picked at the stitching holding Maribel’s heart together. Eventually she might find a loose thread and Maribel would be unraveled.”

“Peg wasn’t picking at the loose strings of Maribel’s heart.  She had simply cut her anchor line and tossed it overboard, instead of being anchored in place, Maribel sensed release.”

“She reminded Maribe of a giant metal clip trying to hold her pieces together.”

“Something – or someone – spoke to her in the soft rustle of the breeze, like a breath whispering truth in her ear. You are enough.”

“The notes didn’t just silence the night. they silenced the noise in her head and the chaos in her heart, demanding she be still.”

“Maribel felt more broken and vulnerable than ever before. The protective shell she worked to build crumbled around her. After everything she told herself, she knew what she had wanted wasn’t possible.”

 

I was inspired by this book and it had me looking deeper within myself and was I enough?

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A life-long Texan, Lori lives in a small community not far from the rugged West Texas landscape she loves to write about. The mother of now-grown twins, she has learned that the secret to survival is a well-developed sense of humor and an active prayer life. After years spent working in the insurance business, Lori now uses her time to educate, inspire, encourage, and entertain through the written word.

 

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———————–

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS: 

 

1ST PRIZE

 

Signed Copy of A Firm Place to Stand + $25 Gift Card to the Texas Indie Bookstore of Choice

 

2ND PRIZE: Signed Copy of A Firm Place to Stand

 

3RD PRIZE: eBook of A Firm Place to Stand

 

APRIL 30-MAY 10, 2020

 

(US ONLY)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Check out the other blogs on this tour

 

4/30/20	Notable Quotable	Texas Book Lover
4/30/20	BONUS post	Hall Ways Blog
5/1/20	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
5/1/20	Excerpt 1	Reading by Moonlight
5/2/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
5/3/20	Excerpt 2	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
5/4/20	Review	Nerd Narration
5/4/20	Review	Bibliotica
5/5/20	Top 5	Book Fidelity
5/5/20	Review	The Page Unbound
5/6/20	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
5/7/20	Playlist	All the Ups and Downs
5/7/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
5/8/20	Review	Tangled in Text
5/9/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
5/9/20	Review	Missus Gonzo

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

After a divorced Chicago father is charged with killing his girlfriend and unexplainable secrets about her come to light, he’ll have to figure out how much he’s willing to risk to find out the truth . . . and how much of it he wants to know.

Liam Parker finds his girlfriend, Elise, dead in the bathtub, wrists cut. Suicide, he figures. But the truth turns out to be more complex than anyone might expect. While trying to clear his name, Liam uncovers clues that suggest Elise was not who he thought she was: she was living under an alias, has a record, and lied about where she worked and where she grew up.

Making matters worse, his relationship with her has tied his fate to those of a conman and a stockbroker, neither of whom he has ever met. And as these three men’s lives hurl unexpectedly toward each other, Liam learns he’ll have to do more than just prove he’s innocent—he’ll have to unravel a mystery that threatens to destroy everything he cares about.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

I enjoy a good suspense/thriller novel and this one did not disappoint.  The interactions, secrets, and the devious nature of multiple characters will keep the reader on their toes.

This story is woven together with insights from multiple characters and no one character knows everything or the how and why events play out as they do in this tale.  But the tale they tell all comes together in the end and it all makes sense.  It may not be right, but the answers fall together.

Liam seems to have his life in order until he discovers his girlfriend dead in her apartment.  That triggers the first domino to fall and life gets out of control for Liam in ways he cannot even imagine.  I won’t spoil it but some of the revelations at the end shocked me because I didn’t expect those answers.  I’m surprised that Liam was able to investigate as much as he could, even with the help of some unlikely characters.

When we learn the why of this story, it saddens me a bit because of the motive of those behind Liam’s downfall.  While I understand their reasoning, it doesn’t make it right and perhaps a different result could have happened with a different approach.

We truly enjoyed this book and will have to look at this author’s other works to see if they are just as suspenseful to this reader.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Reagan Keeter is a #1 Amazon bestselling author and a National Indie Excellence Awards finalist. His previous book is a psychological thriller called BURIED.

Reagan has worked as a writer and editor at Georgia newspapers. From Georgia State University, he earned his undergraduate degree in Journalism and from Southern Polytechnic State University his master’s in Technical and Professional Communication. He has lived in Bucharest, Prague, Manchester, and Chicago. Currently, he resides with his wife and two dogs in Atlanta, Georgia.

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A Murderous Misconception (Victoria Square Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Publisher: Polaris Press (May 8, 2020)

 

Synopsis

 

Katie Bonner loses her lunch—literally—when her social media account serves up a shocking announcement. Her boyfriend Andy’s assistant manager, Erikka, is pregnant, and apparently with his child. And when Erikka turns up dead, the Sheriff turns up the heat on Katie and Andy, certain that one of them is to blame. But Erikka wasn’t pregnant after all. Was Erikka’s misconception the only way she could conceive of stealing Andy from Katie?

When Katie finds planted evidence, it’s her friend and former detective, Ray, who insists on concealing it. Is it his growing affection for her that causes him to act against his training and code of ethics, or could he be responsible for Erikka’s death? Katie is afraid to find out.

 

 

Amazon – B&N – Kobo

 

About the Authors

 

Lorraine Bartlett

 

The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorraine Bartlett‘s pen name Lorna Barrett on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent — whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett — that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s).

 

Gayle Leeson

 

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. Gayle has also written as Amanda Lee. She is currently writing the Kinsey Falls chick-lit/women’s fiction series, the Down South Cafe cozy mystery series, and the Ghostly Fashionista cozy mystery series. Her book KILLER WEDDING CAKE won the Bronze Medal in the 20th Anniversary IPPY Awards. Gayle lives in Southwest Virginia with her family and enjoys hearing from readers.

 

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Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

The Songbirds is a literary tale that goes to the heart of what’s ailing today’s world and tries to find the answers to our most pressing questions.

Amidst poetry and the innocence of youth, the love story of Kasim and Sumera sprouts in the romantic settings of Bada Ghar, the mystical house of a long-gone but not forgotten poet, Bulbul Baba, their mutual ancestor. To carve a better future for Sumera and himself, Kasim migrates West. But, once there, an increasingly westernised Kasim begins to see his for love for Sumera as taboo. So, instead, he tries to find fulfilment in London, forcefully burying his love.

However, with time, Kasim realises that the West doesn’t have the answers he is looking for and his yearning for Sumera returns, becoming stronger than ever, but a huge barrier now stands between them. Not only that, but time could also be running out because, back home, Sumera has gone on to become a fiery blogger over controversial issues, earning herself many enemies, possibly one too many.

“A meditation on love’s complicated intimacies…A stunning literary tale!”

To the free bird in all of us…

 

 

 

 

Excerpts

 

#1
The study room at Bulbul Baba’s Bada Ghar. To me, it is the most magical room in the whole world, for it has the poetry of the heavens. There, year after year, I see many bulbuls sing, competing with each other to see who has the sweetest song. There is one, in particular, a young bulbul, whose chirps rise like the scented petals of jasmine caressed by the breeze and touch the heart.

 

#2

Ironically, years ago, I had taken a big leap to reach where I now precariously stood. I hadn’t known then that the hand I had leapt for would turn out to be a mirage. Not only that but in making that leap, I had let go of the only hand which had truly ever anchored me; I had let go of her hand.

Now, as my hands flail in desperation, she is the only one who can save me. However, the distance that separates us is the distance which separates the Moon from the Earth. Still, impossible as it may seem, I have to reach for her hand.

Though, there is also a fear that she is no longer there, waiting for me. For all I know, it could be another mirage beckoning me, but I have to find out. I have to leap back to her; only this time it is a leap of faith. My faith in love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

I write because silence is not an option. At the same time, my novels brim with hope in addition to having a riveting plot. My debut novel, which was published by a boutique publisher in Europe some years ago, was seen to be refreshing.

My recent novel Guns and Saffron has received exceptionally good reviews on Amazon, NetGalley, and Goodreads saying that it is addictive, fresh and enlightening. The Songbirds, a literary tale, is my latest novel.