Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me

by Julie Wright

Publication Date: 10/21/19

Page Count: 336

Fiction / Romance / Contemporary

Cover Design: © Shadow Mountain

Art Direction: Richard Erickson

Design: Kimberly Kay

 

Synopsis

 

Can the fairy tale bring Charlotte the happiness she’s looking for or was he always there to begin with?

A modern reimagined Cinderella story.

When aspiring author Charlotte Kingsley finally gets published, she thinks all her dreams have come true. But the trouble begins when her publicity firm reinvents her quirky online presence into a perfectly curated dream life. Gone are the days of sweatpant posts and ice cream binges with her best friend, Anders, replaced instead with beautiful clothes, orchestrated selfies, and no boyfriend. Only, that carefully curated fairy tale life is ruining her self-esteem and making her feel like a fraud.

When a bestselling author takes Charlotte under her wing—almost like a fairy godmother—she helps Charlotte see the beautiful person she already is and the worth of being authentic. But is it too late to save her relationship with Anders? The clock is quickly ticking towards midnight, and Charlotte must decide between her fairy tale life and the man she loves before he’s gone forever.

 

 

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Praise

 

“This sweet, heartfelt tale of authentic characters facing intriguing challenges is at once very romantic and charmingly chaste.” -Booklist, starred review

“Wright spins a modern-day and very meta Cinderella tale. This fast-paced, lighthearted romance also carries a moral lesson about falsehoods getting in the way of the quest for true happiness.” -Publishers Weekly

“Aspiring author Charlotte ‘Lettie’ Kingsley writes fairy tales and hopes to be published. When she gets one more rejection, her feelings of pique lead her to an inspired idea: She’ll write a self-help book called The Cinderella Fiction that will encourage readers to live their best lives. Lettie’s agent has big plans for the book and has created a team to make it a bestseller, including a PR firm that demands a complete makeover for Lettie. From wardrobe to apartment to a new nickname, ‘Char,’ every detail is changed to create an image that inspires admiration and a legion of followers. However, it also means that her real-life relationships are affected, and the new Char is so different from the old Lettie that she’ll have to sift through what she wanted, and what she’s gained, so she can live her own best life, authentically. Wright updates ‘Cinderella’ with a modern twist and smart, satisfying details.” -Kirkus

 

Review

 

This book will make you laugh but also give you pause to look at your own life and if you are living behind a mask.

After years of rejection, Lettie has had a book accepted to be published and her life is about to turn upside down on all fronts.  She has a tenuous relationship with her mother, she has a stepsister that she adores, and a hunky paramedic neighbor that is about to become more than just friends.

Lettie is probably like most of us, comfortable in her skin but has yet to have her dream of being a published author of fairy tales come true.  It is only when she writes a self-help book called The Cinderella Fiction, that her dream comes true.  But the sacrifices she will have to make nearly ruin her life.  You probably have read stories about people that seem to have a “perfect” life via social media but have learned it is all staged.  That is what happens to Lettie but not by choice, it is forced onto her by her publicist.  I get that the publicist is trying to help improve her image so that when her book is published she seems authentic.  But what she has Lettie doing going against her normal nature and this causes rifts with her stepsister, Kat, and her now boyfriend (and neighbor) Anders.  Lettie has to go on her own journey to find herself and thankfully she does in the end.

I admired Lettie for pursuing her dreams but I don’t think she was very confident which is why she found herself in the situations she was in throughout the book.  But a book without some angst wouldn’t be as much fun to read.  The witty banter between Lettie and Anders had me laughing.  The book was about soul searching, not only for Lettie, but for Anders too.  I think even Lettie’s mother learned a few things by the end, not only about her daughter but about her stepdaughter too.

There are so many great lines in this book and here are just a few of my favorites (and I have quite a few!):

“What? You think every time I say I don’t believe in marriage, a married couple drops down dead?”

“What happened?  I have a shovel and a pretty decent knowledge of the surrounding woods  If she broke your heart, all you have to do is say the word.”

“I don’t know.  Maybe if a member of the Mafia murdered someone on a couch, they’d need a quick replacement.”

“You know, when I was a kid and we’d first moved to the States, my parents told me that the ice cream truck music only ever played when the truck had run out of ice cream.”  “You have nothing to say to that?”  “I’m paying my respects to your stolen childhood with a moment of silence.”

 

This was a fun book and we give it 4 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Julie Wright started her first book when she was fifteen. She’s written over a dozen books since then, is a Whitney Award winner, and feels she’s finally getting the hang of this writing gig. She enjoys speaking to writing groups, youth groups, and schools. She loves reading, eating writing, hiking, playing on the beach with her kids, and snuggling with her husband to watch movies. Julie’s favorite thing to do is watch her husband make dinner. She hates mayonnaise but has a healthy respect for ice cream.

 

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Beyond the Horizon

by

Ella Carey

 

Historical Fiction / Friendship

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Date of Publication: October 15, 2019

Number of Pages: 326

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

From the author of The House by the Lake comes a powerful novel of friendship during World War II, fighting for the truth, and making peace with the past.

At the height of World War II, Eva Scott’s dream comes true. Accepted into the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), she leaves balmy California and the man she loves for grueling training in Texas, ultimately landing at formidable Camp Davis in North Carolina.

Vastly outnumbered by men and amid contempt, discrimination, and sabotage, Eva and her closest friends, the unconventional Nina and straight-laced Helena, remain loyal to their mission and to each other. They stay focused on the horizon, determined to prove themselves capable women pilots. Until a fatal mission sends Eva’s dream crashing to earth . . .

Now, decades later, is it possible to discover the truth about the night that changed her life? Is there any hope she’ll recover all that she’s lost? When Eva finds herself embroiled in the fight to get military recognition for the WASP, she’s forced to confront the past and to make a decision that could forever change her future.

Thrilling and inspiring, Beyond the Horizon is a portrait of love, friendship, and valor in a time of war—and a tribute to the brave women who risked their lives for their country.

 

 

Praise

“With snappy dialogue, impressive historical details, a sense of adventure and courage on every page, and even a love story, Ella Carey has hit all the markers that make fine historical fiction.” —Ann Howard Creel, bestselling author of The Whiskey Sea

“Fans of inspirational World War II fiction will cheer on Eva and her fellow pilots as they chase their dreams, endure heartbreak, and discover their true strength. Carey’s evocative descriptions bring home the exhilaration of flight—and the everyday indignities endured by young women who challenged the expectations of their time. The story’s final twist makes for a surprising and moving conclusion.” —Elizabeth Blackwell, author of On a Cold Dark Sea and In the Shadow of Lakecrest

“A moving, beautifully written novel about the amazing WASP during WWII. True to life and packed full of emotion. I thoroughly enjoyed feeling like I was one of these extraordinary women pilots as I read the story.” —Soraya M. Lane, Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Girls of Pearl Harbor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is so much in history that I don’t know and this book brings to light another aspect of WWII, the female pilots in the US that helped support our military troops.  I’m talking about WASP – Women Airforce Service Pilots.  This group of women did things to assist the military in training the men for combat – like pulling targets in the air for men to shoot at to perfect their aim.  That takes some guts to be willing to drag a target and be shot at in the air!

While this book is fiction it is based on real places and events. This enabled me to learn more while enjoying the story about a band of women that forged a bond over planes and their love of flying.  These women endured many hardships during their five month training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater Texas, but it made them stronger both physically and mentally.

The story opens in 1977 at a farmer’s market and Eva’s son rushes up to her informing her that someone is trying to get the WASP recognized as part of the military for everything they did during the war.  This simple action brings back some memories for Eva but not many as we learn she was in a horrible accident which wiped that event from her memory.  Eva’s story unfolds as she decides to assist by testifying in front of Congress about her time in the WASP.  Each chapter opens with a question from Congress followed by Eva’s response.  If you have ever listened to inquiries by a congressional committee, they are very dry and sometimes you have to wonder if someone thought about the question before asking.  We are then brought back in time as events unfolded in Sweetwater, California, and North Carolina over the span of about a year and followed a small band of women – Eva, Nina, Rita, and Helena as the primary group.  We follow their lives, the rough conditions they endured while training, the lack of respect from many men, the fear of washing out from the slightest impropriety, to the success of earning their wings at the end of the training.

Eva is the main focus of the story, and for a woman in the 1940s, she is progressive thanks to the influence of her father.  Her mother is fairly typical of the time and only wants to see Eva married with children.  Thankfully, Eva’s dreams a bigger and brighter.  Eva’s mom was annoying at times, but that is my perception based on being born and raised decades later.  Eva has two close friends, Harry and Nina.  Harry works with Eva at the Lockheed facility and teaches her to fly, including some intense training once she is accepted as a WASP.  Harry is also Eva’s first love but unfortunately he doesn’t see her in the same light.  Nina has the same dream as Eva, to fly through the skies.  Both women feel a sense of peace when up in the clouds.  Being accepted to the WASP program is a way for Eva and Nina to spread their wings beyond their community in Burbank CA.

I was enraptured by this story from beginning to end. The intertwining of stories from the past to the present, the joy and heartbreak that the characters endure.  There were some surprising twists and turns that caught me by surprise and Eva too since it affected her life.  Because many of these happened near the end I won’t go into detail since some of it is spoilers.  But suffice it to say that I wondered about the motivation of some of the characters, especially Jack who Eva eventually marries.

There were a few lines that stood out to me while reading that I feel captured the essence of the story the author is telling.

“Mom, Dad, have you ever experienced a true taste of freedom?  Have you ever known what it feels like to soar, high over the land? Its as if nothing matters when you are up there.  It’s as damned close to infinity as you can get.”

“Ever since Meg died, I feel like I’ve been just existing.  Pushing one foot after the other.  Nothing feels alive anymore.  But when I’m up in the sky with you….”

“It’s an opportunity that women of my generation would never have had.  That’s why I say it’s doubly important.”

“The freedom to fly and be paid for it.  The chance to contribute in a real way to our country and to the war.”

“We need to keep today with us.  Always. We need to remember the women who dies flying for the WASP. We must not pretend our time as WASP never happened.”

“The gavel came down on the WASP bill, and the House of Representatives moved straight on to the next matter in two seconds flat.”       

 

This is a story for anyone that loves to fly or enjoys learning about WWII history.  I learned a lot and enjoyed the author’s notes at the end that told about her personal connection and interest in this subject.  We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

Ella Carey is the international bestselling author of The Things We Don’t Say, Secret Shores, From a Paris Balcony, The House by the Lake, and Paris Time Capsule. Her books have been published in over fourteen countries, in twelve languages. Her sixth novel is Beyond The Horizon, set around the Women Air Force Service Pilots during World War Two.

Ella is incredibly excited to share this book with her readers, as her mother was a W.A.A.A.F during World War Two, and her father was in the R.A.F, flying airplanes over occupied France. Ella travelled to Sweetwater, Texas, to research the novel, and is grateful to Ann Hobing, the then Executive Director of the WASP museum for sharing her wonderful knowledge of the WASP. Ella also worked with two pilots to craft the flight scenes.

Ella loves to connect with her readers For more information on the background to her novels and updates about her next release, and to contact her about appearances at your local book club, please visit her website.

Website ║ Facebook  ║ Goodreads

BookBub  ║ Instagram  ║ Twitter

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THREE PAPERBACK COPIES OF BEYOND THE HORIZON

OCTOBER 17-27, 2019

(U.S. Only)

 

 

 

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

10/17/19	Promo	Texas Book Lover
10/17/19	Promo	Hall Ways Blog
10/18/19	Review	Sydney Young, Stories
10/19/19	Excerpt	Forgotten Winds
10/20/19	Review	Bibliotica
10/21/19	Character Interview	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/21/19	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/22/19	Guest Post	Nerd Narration
10/23/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
10/23/19	Review	Book Fidelity
10/24/19	Excerpt	That’s What She’s Reading
10/24/19	Scrapbook	All the Ups and Downs
10/25/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/26/19	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/26/19	Review	The Clueless Gent

 

 

 

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Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Independently Published
Print Length: 212 pages

Synopsis

Two and a half weeks ago magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack arrived home to find Ira Pollack, her half-brother-in-law, had blinged out her home with enough Christmas lights to rival Rockefeller Center. Now he’s crammed her small yard with enormous cavorting inflatable characters. She and photojournalist boyfriend (and possible spy) Zack Barnes pack up the unwanted lawn decorations to return to Ira. They arrive to find his yard the scene of an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza. His neighbors are not happy with the animatronics, laser light show, and blaring music creating traffic jams on their normally quiet street. One of them expresses his displeasure with his fists before running off.

In the excitement, the deflated lawn ornaments are never returned to Ira. The next morning Anastasia once again heads to his house before work to drop them off. When she arrives, she discovers Ira’s attacker dead in Santa’s sleigh. Ira becomes the prime suspect in the man’s murder and begs Anastasia to help clear his name. But Anastasia has promised her sons she’ll keep her nose out of police business. What’s a reluctant amateur sleuth to do?

Christmas craft projects included.

 

 

Amazon * Kobo * iTunes * Nook

 

Guest Post

 

Keeping a Series Fresh

 

Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide, is the eighth book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series. I have always gotten ideas for my plots from actual events I’ve read about or seen on the news, and this time is no different. The plot is inspired by a murder that occurred in New Jersey last year. But as with most of my other “ripped from the headlines” stories, to say more would reveal a huge plot spoiler.

However, my series is about more than just having my amateur sleuth solve a murder in each book. Family drama and interactions play a huge role in my books, and the various supporting characters all have story arcs that move along from book to book.

Since I introduced Anastasia’s half-brother-in-law in Revenge of the Crafty Corpse, the third book in the series, readers have gotten to know Ira Pollack and his three extremely spoiled children, all of whom continue to try poor Anastasia’s patience. But for all her Jersey Girl attitude, Anastasia is a genuinely nice person. She may think nasty thoughts, but she never acts on them. The fact that she continues to allow her hateful communist mother-in-law to live with her speaks volumes to her character.

However, when Ira moves from across the state to across town and inserts himself and his kids deeper into her life, Anastasia’s patience begins to reach its limit—a fact that comes to a head in Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide.

 

About The Author

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.

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Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Serf and Turf: A Silicon Valley Mystery
BGM Press (October 9, 2019)
Paperback: 213 pages

Synopsis

He’s afraid of losing his girlfriend. But maybe he should be more concerned about the dead body she’s crying over?

Marty Golden can barely string a voicemail message together, let alone keep up with his new love. This quirky uncle’s hectic Silicon Valley lifestyle needs a reboot when a youth league soccer game becomes a murder scene. And nothing can stop him from donning his amateur sleuth uniform when he discovers his sweetheart used to have quite a thing for the dead guy …

With a not-so-helpful paw from Buddy the Labrador,  he does his best to sniff out a long list of possible suspects. But between gossipy soccer moms and the costume-clad members of a Renaissance Faire, Marty’s theories fall harder than a jousted knight.

Can Marty solve the case before the trail and his new flame grow cold?

Serf and Turf is the third book in the zany, Silicon Valley cozy mystery series. If you like laugh-out-loud comedy, dorky sleuths, and a festival of old-world fun, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s humorous murder mystery.

 

 

Review

With all of the possibilities available for the who the killer might be, the answer came out of left field!

Marty is still a quirky engineer that helps design a driverless car for a company called Rover.  I crack up every time he has the car “stay” especially when he is in an area that getting another car would be nearly impossible.  He has two adorable nieces that are spitfires, a compassionate neighbor that helps him out especially when he doesn’t even know he needs help, a girlfriend that has many interests that confound Marty at times, and a sister that loves to drive a “loud” car when it comes to the paint color.  And we can’t forget Buddy, his sister and niece’s dog, that Marty somehow gets roped into taking care of more than he expects.

I have to laugh at how Marty thinks he is a special investigator for the police, but it is his sleuthing that usually helps solve the case and this book is no different. Detective Mace has given Marty a code name so when they type Marty’s name into the computer it pops up and the police tend to treat Marty a little differently.  I had to laugh when he learns what his codename is in the system.  Normally he has his coworker Raj helping him, but Raj is out of the country and he has a new coworker assisting, Fernando.  There are some tense situations that arise but everyone keeps their cool and escapes unscathed, at least somewhat.

I enjoy the witty banter between characters and trying to solve the mystery.  The concept of the driverless car is always fascinating and what new features they are adding to the vehicle.

At the end of the second book, we were left hanging to the color of the new car for Laney and we finally learn the color about 2/3 of the way through the book.  WOW is about all I’m going to say.

Overall we enjoyed the book and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

For most of my life, I’ve been inventing stories. Some, especially when I was young, involved my sister as the villain. As my sister’s brother for her entire life, I’m highly qualified to tell the tale of this evolving, quirky sibling relationship.

My writing skills were honed in years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley. While my high tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, we called these marketing collateral, emails, and ads.

The publication of my first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave me permission to claim “author” as my job. And achieving Amazon Best Seller status gave me even better adjectives to use in front of “author.” This has led to way more interesting discussions than answering “marketing.”

My family would tell you that Marty’s character isn’t much of a stretch of the imagination for me, but I’m comfortable with that situation.

Like Marty, I live in Silicon Valley and can’t believe that otherwise normal people would willingly jump out of an airplane and call it fun. Unlike Marty, I have a wonderful wife and a neurotic but sweet, small dog, who is often the first to weigh in on the humor in my writing.

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Giveaway

 

 

Dragonwatch: Master of the Phantom Isle

 

by Brandon Mull

 

Publication Date: 10/1/19

Page Count: 496

Juvenile Fiction / Fantasy & Magic

Ages 10 And Up, Grades 5 And Up

Cover Illustration by Brandon Dorman

Book Design: © Shadow Mountain

Art Direction: Richard Erickson

Design: Sheryl Dickert Smith

Author Photo: Busath Photography

 

Synopsis

Cursed by the Key of Forgetting, Seth has lost all memory of his past—his relationships, his experiences, and who he really is. For now he will align with his new mentor, Ronodin, the dark unicorn, who takes him to the Phantom Isle, the secret gateway to the Under Realm. Though Seth is not formally a prisoner, Ronodin wants to use him and his shadow charmer powers for his own dark ends.

Kendra is frantic to find her missing brother, but the quest will take her and her companions, including Warren, Tanu, and Vanessa, far from Wyrmroost to Crescent Lagoon—a recently fallen dragon sanctuary made up of many islands and underwater domains. Its caretaker has regained a foothold on one of the islands. If Kendra and her friends can save that sanctuary, they might uncover the answers they need to rescue Seth.

With each sanctuary the dragons overthrow, Celebrant, the Dragon King, comes closer to the dawn of a new Age of Dragons. With the forces of darkness on the march, can Kendra and her allies gather enough power to win the epic dragon war?

 

 

IndieBound * Amazon * B&N

 

Walmart * BAM * Deseret Books

 

Praise

 

“Fans of Mull’s popular Fablehaven books will be delighted with this rousing opener to a new sequel series, which builds upon familiar characters and plot points from the original fantasy series. . . . The excitement of the adventure will sweep up existing fans and undoubtedly create new ones.” -Booklist

“Will intrigue young readers with a fondness for Tolkien’s Middle-earth. With dragons on the loose and key characters missing, there’s plenty of scope for sequels.” -Foreword Reviews

“Fans of the series will welcome a new story arc stocked with familiar characters, settings, and adventures.” -Kirkus

 

Trailer

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his four children and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.

 

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Longing for a Cowboy Christmas

with stories by

Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley,

Amy Sandas, Leigh Greenwood, and Anna Schmidt

Genre: Romance Anthology / Western / Historical
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of Publication: September 24, 2019
Number of Pages: 528

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

Find your very own cowboy to keep warm these long, wintry nights as you cozy up with six sweeping, epic tales of heroism, passion, family and celebration from bestselling authors Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas.

Fall in Love with Christmas

Whether it’s a widower finding an unexpected new start, a former outlaw and his new wife welcoming their very own Christmas miracle, a long-lost lover returning just in time for a special holiday celebration, a second chance at love between two warring hearts given peace at last, an unlikely pair working together to bring joy to a small Texas town, or a cowboy and his dark-eyed beauty snowed in one unforgettable wintry eve…every Christmas with a cowboy is filled with light, laughter, and a forever kind of love.

 

 

Amazon  ⬥  iTunes

Barnes & Noble  ⬥  IndieBound

 

Praise for Longing for a Cowboy Christmas

“Greenwood is a master at westerns.” ―RT Book Reviews for Leigh Greenwood

“An emotional powerhouse! This classic historical western is destined for the “keeper” shelf.” ―RT Book Reviews, Top Pick for Rosanne Bittner

“Fun and sensual…great for fans of history, romance, and some good old Texas grit.” ―Kirkus for Linda Broday

“A great story by a wonderful author.”―#1 New York Times bestselling author DEBBIE MACOMBER for Margaret Brownley

“The perfect read.” ―RT Book Reviews for Anna Schmidt

“A genuine page-turner…electric and absorbing.” ―Kirkus for Amy Sandas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margaret Brownley

AUTHOR OF A LOVE LETTER TO SANTA

Included in Longing for a Cowboy Christmas Anthology

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned more than forty-five novels and novellas. She’s a two-time Romance Writers of American RITA^® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is also a recipient of the Romantic Times Pioneer Award.

Her story, A Pony Express Christmas, appeared in the Old West Christmas Brides collection, and book three of her Haywire Brides series will be published May 2020.  Not bad for someone who flunked eighth-grade English.  Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.

 

About A Love Letter to Santa

 

She’s turned his life upside-down.  Could she really be the right woman for him?

Holly Sanders plans to make this the best Christmas for a town hard hit by the drought.   Okay, maybe she’s overdone the bows, baubles and garlands.  But is that a reason for the new blacksmith Tom Chandler to declare war on tinsel?

Tom doesn’t mean to play scrooge. But when his dog’s objections to the endless caroling gets them tossed out of his boarding house, he decides enough is enough.

The escalating battle takes an unexpected turn when he spots Holly struggling against the wind with an armload of presents and rushes to help her. Before he knows what happened, the green-eyed beauty recruits him to play Santa’s helper. After helping make one small boy’s Christmas wish come true, he’s utterly hooked, and suddenly has a wish of his own!   But convincing Holly he’s the right man for her would require a miracle—and maybe even a little help from Santa.

 

 

Excerpt From A Love Letter To Santa

 

Holly picked up a piece of chalk. “All right, boys and girls. Today, we’re going to write letters to the North Pole, and I want you to use your best handwriting.” She turned her back to the class and began writing on the blackboard. “This is the correct way to begin a letter.”

She wrote Dear Santa on the board. The name Santa had grown in popularity in recent years and had replaced St. Nick. As she wrote the last sample on the board, she heard whispers behind her.

She dropped the chalk in the ledge and turned to face her class. “Is there something you wish to share, Bobby?”

Bobby Baker sat back in his seat, arms folded, his expression too hard and cynical for an eight-year-old. “Santa ain’t gonna bring us any toys. He didn’t bring us anything last year, and he ain’t gonna bring anything this year.”

Since hurt feelings were more important than grammar, Holly ignored the urge to correct his speech. There would be time enough later for that. Instead, she folded her hands together and surveyed her class. Fifteen pairs of eyes turned to her. Little Alice Harper looked close to tears, and she wasn’t the only one.

Holly sighed. She’d hoped the English assignment would bring smiles, not tears. But then she could hardly blame Bobby for feeling the way he did.

“Last year was a bad year for everyone.” She spoke in a calm voice that she hoped would both soothe and encourage. “Even Santa had a bad year. But this year will be different. Santa has a lot more helpers, and he promises to do his best to pay a visit to each and every one of you on Christmas Eve.”

Her assurances brought a look of relief to some, but not Bobby. The poor boy had had too many disappointments in life to believe that things would be different. Bobby was the oldest of four. His mother had died in childbirth, and his father had his hands full keeping his business running and taking care of the children, the youngest being two.

“Any questions?” she asked.

Sandra Miller raised her hand and Holly called on her. “Can Santa bring me a baby brother or sister?”

Before Holly could answer, the minister’s grandson, Jimmy Johnson piped up. “No, silly. That’s God’s department.” Jimmy considered himself an authority on the subject.

Since Sandra seemed content, Holly let Jimmy’s answer stand and called on Willie Tustin. “You have a question, Willie?”

“Can I ask for two things?”

“Only if you’ve been very good,” Holly said. Since no one else raised a hand, she looked at her pendant watch. “You have twenty minutes to write your letters.”

As her students began writing, she wandered from desk to desk, looking over each child’s shoulder.

Some children asked after Santa’s health. Others made sure to describe themselves in such saintly terms, Holly couldn’t help but smile.

Jerry Maine wrote that he wanted a folding knife. This made Holly wonder whether the new blacksmith would be willing to donate one. Probably not, the old Scrooge.

Actually, the man wasn’t that old. Probably not a day over thirty. Too bad he had such an aversion to Christmas.

Shaking the thought away, she stopped at Bobby’s desk. His paper was still blank.

 

Order the first two Haywire Brides books now

And watch for book three in May 2020!

PS these are GREAT books!  I’ve read the first two and can’t wait for the 3rd one

 

 

 

 

Rosanne Bittner:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Blog * Amazon

Linda Broday:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Pinterest * BookBub * Amazon 

Margaret Brownley:

Website * Facebook  * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon

Leigh Greenwood:

Website * Goodreads

Amy Sandas:

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Anna Schmidt:

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Grand Prize: Copies of: Longing for a Cowboy Christmas, The Cowboy’s Honor,

Logan’s Lady, Cowboy Charm School + $25 Amazon Gift Card

2nd Prize: Copies of:  LFACC, The Cowboy’s Honor, Logan’s Lady + $25 Amazon Gift Card

3rd Prize: Copies of: LFACC, Logan’s Lady

October 15-October 25, 2019

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10/15/19	Book Trailer	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/15/19	BONUS STOP	Hall Ways Blog
10/16/19	Review	Book Fidelity
10/17/19	Author Spotlight	That’s What She’s Reading
10/18/19	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/19/19	Author Spotlight	All the Ups and Downs
10/20/19	Author Spotlight	StoreyBook Reviews
10/21/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/22/19	Author Spotlight	The Page Unbound
10/23/19	Review	Missus Gonzo
10/24/19	Review	Forgotten Winds

 

 

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An indispensable new cookbook from James Beard Award-winning food writer Michael Ruhlman 

From Scratch looks at 10 favorite meals, including roast chicken, the perfect omelet, and paella—and then, through 175 recipes, explores myriad alternate pathways that the kitchen invites. A delicious lasagna can be ready in about an hour, or you could turn it into a project: try making and adding some homemade sausage. Explore the limits of from-scratch cooking: make your own pasta, grow your own tomatoes, and make your own homemade mozzarella and ricotta. Ruhlman tells you how.

There are easy and more complex versions for most dishes, vegetarian options, side dishes, sub-dishes, and strategies for leftovers. Ruhlman reflects on the ways that cooking from scratch brings people together, how it can calm the nerves and focus the mind, and how it nourishes us, body and soul.

 

My Thoughts

I love to cook and trying new dishes (as you know if you have followed me for any length of time!).  There are some things I have never done like roasted my own chicken in the oven.  I’ll admit it, it is easier to purchase a rotisserie chicken then figure out how to roast a chicken.  That was until I read this book and realized that it really isn’t that hard to do at all or at least not according to Michael Ruhlman’s directions.

Besides the chicken, I have discovered many new twists to some dishes I already make, like risotto.  I also learned a new way to make slow-roasted ribs.  I usually put them in my crockpot and they meat just falls off the bones, but I’m going to give his method in the oven a try next time.

I do wish that there were more photos but Michael Ruhlman does a great job of describing everything so you have a feel for what the dish should look and taste like when it is done.

This book covers so much that it would be a great starter cookbook for a new cook or one that has some basic skills and looking to perfect a few basic dishes.

Here is the recipe for what I made so go out and buy a whole chicken and try it out, you won’t be sorry!

Roast Chicken with Jalapenos, Lemon, and Garlic

1 3-4 lb whole chicken
Kosher salt to taste
2 jalapenos, cut into 1/4 rounds – seeds and all
1 lemon cut into 8 wedges (I actually used 2 lemons)
10-15 garlic cloves, peeled but left whole (you can never use too much garlic)

Preheat your oven to 450° degrees or 425° if you are concerned about smoke (I cooked it at 425°).

Salt the chicken aggressively and put it breast side up in an oven-safe skillet (I used a stoneware but will try our iron skillet next time).  Scatter the jalapenos, lemon wedges, and garlic around the chicken.

 

Roast for 1 hour, basting the chicken several times during the last 30 minutes of cooking.  **I have to note that I cooked my chicken for 1 1/2 hours.  I guess I read it wrong and thought it was cook for 1 hour and then baste over the next half hour.  My chicken still came out very moist so I’m not sure if it was the lower temperature or what!  Also, my bird didn’t put off a lot of juices so I added some chicken broth to the pan during the last half hour so the flavors could meld with the garlic, jalapenos, and lemon.**

Remove the bird from the pan and let it rest on a cutting board for 15 minutes before carving (I actually left it in the pan).  After carving, serve with the juices and pepper/garlic/lemon over the top.

 

So in the photo above, I asked my husband to baste the chicken with the juices and he decided to put EVERYTHING on top of the bird.  He is a bit nuts but hey it still tasted divine!  And we enjoyed the leftovers for several days.  So much that I have already bought another whole chicken and the other items needed to make this again.

I also made the Quick Sauteed Brussels Sprouts recipe but had to add garlic and red onion to spice it up.  Plus I cooked it in a garlic olive oil and to me, it was just perfect.

 

 

About the Author

Michael Ruhlman (born 1963 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American writer. He is the author of 11 books and is best known for his work about and in collaboration with American chefs, as well as other works of non-fiction.

Ruhlman grew up in Cleveland and was educated at University School (a private boys’ day school in Cleveland) and at Duke University, graduating from the latter in 1985. He worked a series of odd jobs (including briefly at the New York Times) and traveled before returning to his hometown in 1991 to work for a local magazine.

While working at the magazine, Ruhlman wrote an article about his old high school and its new headmaster, which he expanded into his first book, Boys Themselves: A Return to Single-Sex Education (1996).

For his second book, The Making of a Chef (1997), Ruhlman enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America, completing the course, to produce a first-person account — of the techniques, personalities, and mindsets — of culinary education at the prestigious chef’s school. The success of this book produced two follow-ups, The Soul of a Chef (2000) and The Reach of a Chef (2006).

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Synopsis

This delightful collection of short stories offers insight into the lives of Syrian women, both the married and the brides-to-be. It reveals the warmth and humor as well as the oppression in the Syrian society. The stories make the reader laugh while addressing serious issues such as domestic violence.

Um Hussam can’t find a suitable bride for her son, testing each candidate’s sight, hearing and reading skills, occasionally cobbing a feel. Jamila’s husband Hassan can’t forget his deceased wife until she makes sure he never mentions her again. Rami can’t help but wonder whether his new bride is a natural beauty or a talented surgeon’s masterpiece. Khadija’s maid stabs her in the back while Rana’s husband Muafak can’t find the right excuse to avoid a fight.

 

Review

This is an interesting collection of short stories.  While the stories are set in Syria, the issues they deal with span the globe and aren’t limited to just their country.  Some of the stories made me chuckle and some were a little heartbreaking especially when it came to domestic abuse.  The women in Syria have just as many issues with their men as I see in the US.  Men that abuse their spouse, those that are shallow, infidelity, and so much more.  But the women don’t let that stop them!  Some are very clever and devious, and some are just trying to survive.

Each story had a moral to it but not all stories ended where I felt that it was wrapped up and concluded.  I wanted to know what happened next in a few cases.  I liked one story where a woman wanted a divorce and the “judge” said for her to bring him a cake but she had to ask for all of the ingredients from her neighbors.  On this journey, the woman realizes that maybe her life isn’t as bad as she thinks.  Sometimes I think that needs to happen in my country!

Overall I enjoyed reading these stories and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

Inspiration for writing the stories:

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Title: Enamored

Author: J.S. Scott

Release Date: October 15, 2019

Publisher: Montlake

 

Synopsis

Like his brothers and sisters, Seth Sinclair went from blue-collar to billionaire overnight, and he’s decided to invest in what he knows best: construction. There’s only one thing in his way—the endangered birds nesting on a piece of prime beachfront real estate. And fighting for the birds is Riley Montgomery, a stubborn, pain-in-the-ass, drop-dead-gorgeous environmental lawyer. The worst part? Seth will do anything to keep her around—even if it means hiring her to be his fake girlfriend.

With a cause to fight for, Riley agrees to Seth’s scheme. If she keeps the superficial women away from Seth, then he’ll leave the wildlife sanctuary alone. But pretending to be his girlfriend comes with ground rules: No ass grabbing. And absolutely no sex. Ever. The problem? The sexual tension sizzles when they’re together.

Seth isn’t so keen on Riley’s rules, but he’ll keep his word, at least until she decides otherwise. But bringing Riley into his circle has brought her past back to haunt her in ways that neither of them expected. Now it’s less about broken rules and more about broken hearts, and Seth will do whatever it takes to protect the woman he loves.

 

 

Excerpt: Enamored by J.S. Scott

“You said you’d trade for my services,” I prompted. “But I don’t have much to offer to a man like you.”

He studied me for a moment, which made me uncomfortable.

I didn’t want anyone to know me better.

A man like Seth would never understand me.

“You have a hell of a lot to offer any guy,” he considered.

“Not exactly true,” I disagreed. “I was engaged once, but I was never enough for Nolan Easton,” I muttered, instantly wishing the name hadn’t left my mouth.

For some odd reason, Seth was easy to talk to, but I needed to guard my words better.

He whistled softly. “Nolan Easton? Head of Easton Investment Firms? The very wealthy Nolan Easton?”

“Yes,” I said tightly.

“Even so, I can’t believe he dumped you,” Seth answered.

“He didn’t,” I admitted. “I finally broke it off. He didn’t know how to keep it in his pants, and I didn’t want to spend my entire life being who he wanted me to be.” I coughed nervously. “Now can we get back to the business at hand?”

“Not yet,” he insisted. “I’m still trying to get why any guy would want to change a single thing about you. Not that I exactly love your line of work right now, but you’re passionate about it. You’re beautiful. You’re smart. You seem to know exactly what you want. Considering our circumstances, I can’t say I’ve seen your sense of humor, but I’m assuming you have one of those, too. What the hell else did he want?”

I ignored his question. “I have three older brothers,” I shared. “I have to have a sense of humor or they’d drive me crazy.”

He rested his arms on the table and leaned forward. “You didn’t answer my question, Riley. What else did he want?” His voice was low and persuasive.

“It’s not important. My engagement has been over for a while, and I’m happy. I finally found my own home here in Citrus Beach, and I’m pretty content with being alone. It’s a lot nicer here than San Diego. Quieter.”

It was a hell of a lot better than being with a man who made me feel like I was less than nothing.

“When exactly did you move here? And where are you living now?”

“Almost two years ago,” I ground out, growing impatient to get back to business. It wasn’t wise to dump a lot about my personal life to a defendant—no matter how good a listener he might be. “I had a condo, but I recently purchased your sister’s cottage. I’ve settled there now. She and Eli have the bigger home next door, so I already knew I’d have good neighbors.”

“I’m right down the beach from there,” Seth said, sounding surprised. “I’ve never seen you.”

“Like I said. It’s recent. I just moved in.”

I was squirming in my chair. I didn’t care for the feeling of being interrogated. I was usually the one asking the questions.

He shot me a playful grin that made my heart trip. “Welcome to the neighborhood,” he said jokingly.

“Thanks,” I said uncomfortably. “Now tell me what you want from me to leave that piece of property alone.”

He took his time answering, and the silence seemed to stretch out forever.

I gulped down the last of my tea while I waited for him to answer.

Was he playing with me?

Or did he actually have some kind of proposition?

Probably the former—since I really didn’t have much to offer him in the way of services. I could guarantee that Eli Stone had set Seth up with his gaggle of business attorneys. Why in the hell would he need an environmental attorney?

“If you’re playing with me, this encounter ends right now,” I said tersely.

“I’m not,” he said emphatically. “I’m just wondering how to explain what I want.”

“If it’s acceptable, I’ll write up the contract today,” I offered.

“It’s not exactly the contract I’m thinking about,” he said thoughtfully.

God, I was jittery, and I wasn’t used to feeling that way. I was pretty certain that it wasn’t the extra-large chai I’d just consumed, either.

It was him.

Maybe it was the way he studied me.

Or the way his steely gray eyes never left my face.

I couldn’t read him, and that completely pissed me off. As an attorney, I’d gotten very good at judging exactly where a defendant’s mind might be, and what their motives were.

“Just name your terms,” I said irritably. “I’ll work out the details.”

I forced myself to meet his eyes in what I thought would be a battle of wills, and then was sorry that I had even glanced his direction.

My breath hitched as I fell into a stormy gaze that wouldn’t let me go.

I was stunned at the possessive way he eyed me.

I was confused about the emotions I saw there.

And I was mesmerized by the carnal desire that flared up in his steely irises like a bolt of lightning as he held me still with a single look, unable to rip myself away from his fixed stare that was holding me in place.

I knew I was blushing like a damn teenage girl with her first major crush. My brain was begging my body not to react, but my stupid body wasn’t listening.

His voice was hoarse and beguiling when he finally said, “I need a woman, Riley. And that woman has to be you.”

About the Author

J.S. “Jan” Scott is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of numerous contemporary and paranormal romances, including the Sinclairs and the Accidental Billionaires series. She’s an avid reader of all types of books and literature, but romance has always been her genre of choice—so she writes what she loves to read: stories that are almost always steamy, generally feature an alpha male, and have a happily ever after, because she just can’t seem to write them any other way! Jan loves to connect with readers. Visit her website at www.authorjsscott.com.

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Journey Of The Pale Bear

by

Susan Fletcher

 

Middle Grade / Medieval Historical Fiction

(grades 3-7)

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Date of Publication: October 2, 2018

Paperback: October 1, 2019

Number of Pages: 302

 

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A runaway boy befriends a polar bear that’s being transported from Norway to London in this lyrical and timeless adventure story about freedom, captivity, and finding a family.

The polar bear is a royal bear, a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England. The first time Arthur encounters the bear, he is shoved in her cage as payback for stealing food. Restless and deadly, the bear terrifies him. Yet, strangely, she doesn’t harm him—though she has attacked anyone else who comes near. That makes Arthur valuable to the doctor in charge of getting the bear safely to London. So Arthur, who has run away from home, finds himself taking care of a polar bear on a ship to England.

Tasked with feeding and cleaning up after the bear, Arthur’s fears slowly lessen as he begins to feel a connection to this bear, who like him, has been cut off from her family. But the journey holds many dangers, and Arthur knows his own freedom—perhaps even his life—depends on keeping the bear from harm. When pirates attack and the ship founders, Arthur must make a choice—does he do everything he can to save himself, or does he help the bear to find freedom?

Based on the real story of a polar bear that lived in the Tower of London, this timeless adventure story is also a touching account of the bond between a boy and a bear.

 

 

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Accolades and Praise

 

Honor Book, Golden Kite Awards, 2019
Vermont’s 2019-2020 Dorothy Canfield Fisher list
2020 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award Children’s Masterlist
School Library Connection highly recommended book
Junior Library Guild Selection
50 Must-Read Historical Fiction Books for Kids, bookriot.com

“…a stupendous coming-of-age-tale stuffed with adventure and laced with deeper questions… A richly satisfying story saturated with color, adventure, and heart.” –Kirkus, starred review

“I simply adore this novel. It has it all: gorgeous prose, fascinating history, riveting adventure. But it’s the unlikely tender friendship between a lonely boy and a polar bear that makes this a story to cherish. A lovely little miracle of a book.”  –Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan

“I loved every single thing about this large-hearted and riveting medieval adventure.” —William Alexander, National Book Award-winning author of Goblin Secrets

 

 

The Journey of the Bear

Guest Post by Susan Fletcher

 

The bear was a gift from the king of Norway to the king of England in 1252.  We have no records of the bear’s journey, but she must have gone by ship from a medieval port in Norway (I’ve chosen Bergen), across the North Sea, and up the Thames River in England to the Tower of London.  In the 13^th century, most ships sailed near land whenever possible, so I imagine that they hugged the coastlines of Norway, Denmark, and the Low Countries.  Arthur and the bear run into some trouble (no spoilers!), so the journey turns out to be longer than expected.  But the distance, by sea, from Bergen to London is roughly 600 nautical miles, or roughly 690 land miles.

 

 

 

 

Although Susan loves to write about long-ago and faraway places, she can’t bring those worlds to life without grounding them in the details of this one. To that end, she has explored lava tubes and sea caves; spent the night in a lighthouse; traveled along the Silk Road in Iran; ridden in a glider, on a camel, and on a donkey; and cut up (already dead!) baby chicks and mice for a gyrfalcon’s dinner. To research Journey of the Pale Bear, she explored the grounds of the Tower of London and went backstage at the Oregon Zoo, where, standing breathtakingly near, she watched polar bears Tasul and Conrad lip grapes from their keepers’ open palms.

Journey of the Pale Bear is Susan’s 12th book, including the Dragon Chronicles series, Shadow Spinner, and Alphabet of Dreams. Collectively, her books have been translated into nine languages; accolades include a Golden Kite Honor Book, the American Library Association’s Notable Books and Best Books for Young Adults, BCCB Blue Ribbon Books, and School Library Journal’s Best Books.

Susan has an M.A. in English from the University of Michigan and taught for many years in the M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College. She lives in Bryan, Texas with her husband, historian R.J.Q. Adams, and their dog, Neville.

 

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check out the other great blogs on this tour

 

10/10/19	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
10/10/19	Excerpt	Max Knight
10/11/19	Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/12/19	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/12/19	Author Interview	That’s What She’s Reading
10/13/19	Review	Tangled in Text
10/14/19	Review	Books and Broomsticks
10/15/19	Guest Post	All the Ups and Downs
10/15/19	Deleted Scene	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/16/19	Review	Forgotten Winds
10/17/19	Review	The Page Unbound
10/18/19	Guest Post	StoreyBook Reviews
10/18/19	Scrapbook	Missus Gonzo
10/19/19	Review	The Clueless Gent
10/19/19	Review	Librariel Book Adventures

 

 

 

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