Sunday, October 2, 2022

A HALLOWEEN HOMICIDE BY TONYA KAPPES

It's spooky season in Holiday Junction and Halloweenie Festival is a hauntingly great time. Treats aren’t just sweet and delicious, sometimes they’re also deadly.

Holiday Junction really knows how to throw holiday festivals, and it goes all out for Halloween.

The holiday celebration includes a ghost walk of haunting tales, a hay ride, carnival games, pumpkin carvings and costume party.

Violet Rhinehammer has the perfect assignment—represent the Junction Journal by attending all the fun festive activities and reporting on them.

When Violet reluctantly goes on the ghost walk, she realizes the body that fell out of the fake casket is a real one and not a prop. She knows trouble is brewing. She puts on a sleuthing costume after someone she loves becomes Chief Strickland's number one suspect in order to catch the real monster.

MY REVIEW

What a perfect time to read this book as Halloween fast approaches. I loved the excitement in the air as the town gets ready for the festival. Violet has been invited to go on the Ghost Walk before the event starts. The author gets us in the mood with goblins, ghosts and spooky trails. What no one expected was to find a dead body in the casket. I think I screamed when they found the poor man. I don’t know about you, but I would be running as fast as I could away from whatever was just found.

Violet is once again in the middle of a murder mystery as she happens to be present when the body was discovered. This is where I get really interested in the story because the author gives us clues along the way with plenty of suspects to keep readers guessing. I grabbed my journal and started jotting down notes to see if I could solve the mystery. Finding Peter dead raises a lot of questions and Violet is curious as she begins to investigate. Could the mayor have anything to do with the murder? Peter did want the mayor out of office and was campaigning for a reelection. Well I can see why some would want a new mayor. After all the mayor is a dog. Yes folks a dog is in charge and has fierce competition or is it jealously when it comes to the powerful position of being in charge of the town. The couple who own the mayor could become suspects and Violet was ready to dig into the clues.

Violet’s mom is a hoot and her southern charm is easy to fall for. She has decided that she is joining Violet with the investigation. Her shenanigans are funny and entertaining. Millie Kay is by far my favorite character in the story. She oozes with enthusiasm for everything she is involved with. I laughed so hard when Millie Kay invites all the suspects to her house along with Violet. Talk about a time bomb ready to explode. The house is in chaos as fingers point at each other and tempers start to flare. A secret about the paper is exposed and let me tell you, I think I fell out of my seat.

I loved the interaction between Violet and Darren. I think they have a love/hate relationship at times. They are both stubborn and at times don’t communicate well with each other. I enjoyed getting to know them better and how the author explores their undeniable attraction to each other. It does give a little realism to the story as we see these two work through their issues. I also liked how an old murder starts to play an important role in the story. As we find out, there has been a very well kept secret about a certain person who has been in prison. Could this be the reason that Peter was killed just a few days ago? The plot thickens as I began to check my notes.

I hope you are ready for ghosts, secrets, revenge and a taste of adventure in this latest book that highlights Halloween. I didn’t figure out the killer and I was very shocked at the ending. I never saw this person as a suspect and how it all started such a long time ago. This is a great story that will satisfy any mystery buff.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

Southern Hospitality with a Smidgen of Homicide

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Tonya Kappes has written more than 175 southern cozy mysteries, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and Woman's World Book Club pick twice . Best known for stories charged with southern charm, emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband in northern Kentucky. Now that her four boys have flown out of the nest, Tonya writes full-time in her camper!

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Saturday, October 1, 2022

About the Book

Book: Escape from Amsterdam

Author: Lauralee Bliss

Genre: Christian Fiction/ Historical / Romance / Intrigue

Release date: September 1, 2022

A University Student Smuggles Children Out of Amsterdam

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

Helen Smit believed she was called by God to become a teacher. Little does she know that her care for kids will take a drastic turn for survival when the Germans occupy Amsterdam and Jewish children and parents begin to be deported. Now all she can think of is helping all the kids escape before it’s too late.

Erik Misman’s newfound love for Helen is tested when he joins a plot to help move Jewish children to a safe place in the countryside. If danger can foster a closer bond with Helen and save the lives of the little ones, he will do it all. But a German patrol that stumbles upon the farm where they are hiding with three children and a soldier who takes an unexpected interest in Helen, could well destroy their plans for safety and love.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lauralee Bliss is a published author of many romance novels and novellas, both historical and contemporary. Lauralee’s prayer is that readers will come away with both an entertaining story and a lesson that speaks to the heart and soul. When not writing, Lauralee can often be found on the trails where the author has logged over 10,000 miles of hiking. She makes her home in the Blue Ridge mountains with her family. Visit Lauraleebliss.com for more information about the author and her adventures.

More from Lauralee Bliss

Oh, the simple beauty of the Netherlands. Windmills. Tulips. Dutch wooden clogs. Beautiful Delftware and delicious speculaas cookies. Quaint villages nestled beside the waters. And here I am, an American that was able to visit this beautiful country on the heels of my husband winning a contest through his work. We had planned to immerse ourselves in Dutch culture, see the sites, and yes, visit places like the Secret Annex of Anne Frank and the town where Corrie ten Boom and The Hiding Place existed. Little did I realize though that this unique trip would become a journey into the heart of a hurting country in World War II. During our time there, we visited the Jewish Quarter in the center of Amsterdam and learned the details of Nazi occupation for many years that eventually caused two-thirds of the Dutch Jewish population to be exterminated. Walking in the place where a theater once stood and Jewish people gathered there to be deported was indescribable. Seeing the Jewish stars embedded in the pavement and noting the name of a man or woman killed at Auschwitz, was heart-wrenching. But through these horrendous details came the strength of courage and heroism. Across the street from the theater, Jewish children were rescued because of the efforts of those who gave everything to see them go into hiding. Thus the book, “Escape from Amsterdam” was born. It honors those that aided and hid Jewish children from the Nazis to avoid deportation. I am grateful for the opportunity to write this story of two common Dutch people, a college student and a grocery store clerk, called to a dangerous mission to save the innocent when the odds were the greatest. It is a timely book that magnifies the strength of courage in adversity and allows us to become better people because of it. I hope you enjoy this journey and as you do, remember those who came before us and allow their acts of courage to encourage you to persevere, no matter what.

MY REVIEW

With a breathtaking look at Amsterdam during a war that changed so many lives, the author illustrates how dangerous it was in this period of history. I enjoyed how we felt like we were there with the people who lived peacefully in Amsterdam. When the Germans invade their peaceful land, we witness how the enemy destroys quickly and without remorse.

The plight of the Jewish people during this time was so hard to read. They were treated poorly and had to find certain places to live. The author does give us an insight into how hard it was to survive and the vicious attacks on them physically and emotionally. As we are introduced to Helen we see how compassionate she is. Her dream to become a teacher is in jeopardy as German soldiers slowly start to occupy areas where Helen used to feel safe.

Erik is very much a person who believes in helping others. He sees friends and neighbors losing their jobs and homes because they are Jewish. When he meets Helen they form a friendship that will take them on an adventure where they will see lives taken as chaos surrounds them. It is hard to read how horrible it was for people to find shelter and keep their families safe. As the enemy gets close, Erik knows he must do something to help the innocent people who are being tortured because they are Jewish.

The story takes a dark turn when talk of death camps is explained to Helen. Erik tells her that children are being taken there as well as adults. The ones who are taken away never come back and Helen suddenly understands the need to save children from this horrific place. There is an urgency to get the few children they can to safety. When Helen and Erik return to friends they had met before, this loving couple took them in without hesitation. I adored Ephraim and Delia and found them to be a very important part of this story. For me they were the real heroes of the story. They risked everything to hide Erik, Helen and the three children from German soldiers. Their faith was very strong and they knew that God had called them to do this mission.

I found the book to be interesting and really gave a voice to the Jewish people who had suffered at the hands of evil which I hope will never be repeated. The author notes at the end gives us more details about this war and the people who were persecuted. We find that there were people who were willing to risk their safety to help others who needed to find shelter. I loved how the author used faith throughout the story and showed how people were faithful to trust God to keep them from harm.

“We must care for each other as God would have it. There is no greater calling on earth.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 29

The Write Escape, September 29

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 30

Inklings and notions, September 30

deb’s Book Review, October 1

Holly’s Book Corner, October 1

Texas Book-aholic, October 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 3

Mary Hake, October 3

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 4

Through the Fire Blogs, October 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 5

Cover Lover Book Review, October 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 6

Labor Not in Vain, October 6

Connie’s History Classroom, October 7

Betti Mace, October 7

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 8

Remembrancy, October 8

For Him and My Family, October 9

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 9

lakesidelivingsite, October 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 10

Splashes of Joy, October 11

Lights in a Dark World, October 11

Blossoms and Blessings, October 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lauralee is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/2224b/escape-from-amsterdam-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, September 30, 2022

About the Book

Book: Pursued in the Wilderness

Author: Loretta Eidson

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: September 27, 2022

Her baby’s life…depends on one man and his K-9

The murder of her ex-husband at a remote cabin and the discovery that the killers want to take her about-to-be-born baby sends Brooke Chandler running into the Tennessee mountains. She stumbles into the campsite of K-9 handler Trent Williston and his search-and-rescue dog, Rex. Trent vows to get Brooke and her baby to safety. But with the killers on their heels, the impending birth of Brooke’s baby and the threats of the wilderness, they must first survive…

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Loretta Eidson lives by the motto ‘never a dull moment,’ especially with her husband, four children, and thirteen grandchildren. Her love of reading began in middle school, where she devoured Phyllis Whitney’s mystery novels. Loretta’s heart is writing romantic suspense. She believes in the power of prayer and loves putting her hero and heroine in realistic predicaments where they must trust God to pull them through.

Connect with Loretta on social media or through her website at www.lorettaeidson.com. Be sure to sign up for her quarterly newsletter www.lorettaeidson.com/newsletter-signup/

More from Loretta

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been mesmerized by the majesty of the mountains. I love log cabin vacations on the mountain top, sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch, and enjoying my early morning coffee. Low-lying clouds hang over them like a soft blanket and slowly dissipate while birds sing their wake-up songs. The perfect place to reminisce about life and dream about the future. Serene and beautiful.

One would think with my admiration of the mountain range I would accept all the mountains have to offer. Not so. Even though there are many hiking trails, I have ventured out on very few. Animals of the wild frighten me, but none near as much as a bear. I am certain every bear in the forest hides in the tops of trees, waiting for my arrival so they can pounce on me. I know it’s silly, but my apprehension is real.

What could be more suspenseful than to write a novel about Brooke Chandler, thirty-eight weeks pregnant, running for her and her baby’s life through the mountains? She must face her fears of the wild, including bears, if she wants to save her baby from the killers that murdered her husband. To make it worse, she’s in the forest alone in the inky darkness.

Handler Trent Williston and his K-9, Rex, escape the city, away from all pregnant women. He refuses to deliver another baby after a mishap with an emergency delivery while on the job. A camping trip to the mountains with Rex is his go-to for relaxation – until Brooke falls into his camp with three killers on her trail.

I hope you enjoy Trent and Brooke’s story as they face their challenges together.

MY REVIEW

This story starts with a very intense scene where we find Brooke running for her life in the woods. Her mistake was meeting her soon to be ex-husband at a secluded place in the Tennessee Mountains. I did think it was not a great decision for Brooke since she is eight months pregnant. It kinda frustrated me that she would be so gullible to meet him anywhere since she has been through a very tough marriage with him. She knows he can’t be trusted so why did she decide this was the best time to bring the divorce papers to him and see why he needed her to travel to him?

The author does a great job of bringing suspense into the story as Brooke stumbles upon Trent and his K-9 dog who happen to be out hiking. I really liked Trent and how he stepped up to help Brooke. You could feel the tension between the two as each one sized the other up. Brooke is not a big fan of Trent’s dog or the wilderness but I had a feeling the dog would be a great protector for her. They find themselves barely staying ahead of the men after Brooke. The dangerous terrain and weather is enough to stop anyone in their tracks.

I didn’t much care for Brooke at first because she was a complainer at times and the repeating mention of her being pregnant really got to me. I did finally understand why Brooke was so unsure of herself which helped me relate to her a little better. I want to applaud Trent for being a person who puts others before himself. His ideas to keep them safe was good and definitely showed his survival skills.

I did like how the author illustrated how both characters needed to work through doubt and trust. They each have something from their past that keeps them from allowing God to truly be the one they depend on. I enjoyed the ending and appreciate that the author focused on them being rescued and how strong they each became at the end.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 1

Texas Book-aholic, October 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 2

Blogging With Carol, October 2

Inklings and notions, October 3

deb’s Book Review, October 4

Paula’s Pad of Suspense & Detection, October 4

Betti Mace, October 5

Lily’s Book Reviews, October 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 6

Simple Harvest Reads, October 6 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 8

Hallie Reads, October 8

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 9

Holly’s Book Corner, October 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 10

Mary Hake, October 10

Through the Fire Blogs, October 11

For Him and My Family, October 11

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 12

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 12

Pause for Tales, October 13

Labor Not in Vain, October 13

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, October 14 (Author Interview)

Lights in a Dark World, October 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Loretta is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/21c37/pursued-in-the-wilderness-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, September 29, 2022

About the Book

Book: Flight

Author: Kristen Young

Genre: YA dystopian sci-fi

Release date: September 13, 2022

The Fight for What is Right is Also a Fight to Survive

On the cusp of graduation, Cadence is finally feeling in control. She’s about to become one of the prestigious Elites working in the Hall of Love. Plus, she can take her place as a full member of the underground Sirens who meet secretly in Love City. She’ll finally be able to use her memory skills for good, instead of reporting people as a Watcher.

But a dangerous trap is set, throwing Cadence into unwelcome and unfamiliar territory. Someone in the Collective remembers things that could very well get her killed. The Muse is by her side, after all, but will she be protected when someone powerful wants her dead?

Cadence just wants to be normal, free from politics or squad intimidation. Will she be able to achieve her Elite dreams, or will sinister forces leave her running for her life?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

A Scottish-born Australian author, Kristen Young has worked in children’s and youth ministry for decades. She writes fiction and non-fiction for teens, and always has a notebook on hand to capture stray story ideas. In her spare time she loves hanging out with her family, watching movies with subtitles, and enjoying a little too much chocolate.

More from Kristen

Interview with Kristen Young, author of Flight

Okay, so Flight is the final novel in the Collective Underground series. Was it hard writing the conclusion?

The funny thing is, Flight was originally book 1! I wrote the story ages ago, and the manuscript won a Caleb award for unpublished fiction. The prize for that was a manuscript assessment, which came back with the comments, “This is good, but it starts a little fast. Can you add some backstory?”

So the backstory turned into two books?

Yes! Of course, by the time I came back to Flight, there were so many more story threads to follow, so the final result is very different to the original.

What did you change?

Some of the characters in Apprentice and Elite needed to re-appear, and so I had to change some of that. Like Hodge, who didn’t exist when I wrote the first version of Flight. There was also quite a lot of unfinished business that carried over from the first two books, and I felt that they needed some resolution, too. I can’t tell you too many details, though, because that would spoil the fun.

What can we look forward to in the final installment?

More thrills, more plot twists, and maybe some love. Just a whole lot of excitement, really. But seriously, Cadence is thrown into some pretty difficult situations this time, and she has to re-evaluate her whole mission. There are also some pretty high-level plots going on in the government that might send her a bit of trouble, too…

Love? Does that mean what we think it does?

I’ve already said I can’t spoil the fun of reading.

Oh, go on. Tell us.

Sorry. You’ll just have to read it. 🙂

MY REVIEW

I remember how much I loved the previous books in this series and am excited to see what happens with Cadence. I do think it would be beneficial to read the previous books in this series in order to be able to understand what is happening. This book is the last in the series and will give readers an exciting adventure as we anticipate the ending.

The big day is fast approaching for Cadence’s graduation. It seems like everything is falling into place for her to finally become an Elite working in the Hall of Love. I was excited for her but the author throws a curve ball and a trap is set that could endanger Cadence. Who sends her a code that sets up a cat and mouse scenario? I had my suspicion but with the author’s brilliant writing the story takes on secrets, danger and a question of who Cadence can trust.

I loved following Cadence as she tries to stay hidden from the enemy who is hunting her down. She encounters several people who I found to be intriguing. I especially liked Lark. She is there at the right time to help Cadence and brings her a safe place for now. With her injured leg she can’t do much. Lark makes her feel welcome in this secret underground environment. Will Lark be someone who Cadence can depend on?

I like that the author has Wil and Cadence cross paths again. The people she is staying with seem to trust him, but she knows how deceitful he can be. It is hard for her to forget the things he did yet these people trust him. Cadence is having a hard time understanding how Wil can be forgiven after she tells everyone about him. When Cadence can’t hold her anger anymore she turns on Wil. She didn’t quite get the reaction she wanted and runs away from the scene. This reminded me of a recent encounter I had with someone. After being verbally attacked by someone, I decided to walk away yet was expecting someone to comfort me. When it didn’t happen I felt shame and hurt. Cadence must have felt the same as she thought perhaps others would see that Wil is not who he says he is.

There is a lot going on in the story but one thing is clear. Faith and forgiveness are evident in this story as Cadence faces betrayal, danger and surprises that keep the story going. I loved how the author shows us how a person can be forgiven and changes into a person who wants to do right. The author also touches on worry. “We can’t extend our lives by worrying.”

The ending is explosive, intense and dangerous as Cadence encounters old friends that come to help her. I am sad to see the series end but really loved the characters and being reminded about forgiveness and trust.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.