Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Brought to Book

About the Book

Book: Brought to Book

Author: Barbara Cornthwaite

Genre: Christian cozy mystery

Release Date: June 24, 2020

1- Brought to Book-sm There’s nothing in Emily Post about dealing with murder.

Katrina just wanted to spend time among the books at Frank’s Bookstore. Yes, that’s an unimaginative name for a store, but Frank’s an unimaginative guy–or he was.

Now he and his murder are the reason Katrina is spending her spare time with Wilkester detective, Todd Mason. Or, that’s what she tells herself.

Why would anyone want to kill Frank Delaney? Who would do it? And is Katrina herself even safe?

Mixing faith, literary humor, sweet romance, and a cozy mystery that will keep you guessing, Barbara Cornthwaite’s first Wilkester Mystery has everything you want for a cozy read.

Begin your investigation of Brought to Book today.

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

I enjoy reading cozy mysteries and trying to figure out who the guilty person is. This book has a distinctive feel of old time gumshoe with a touch of etiquette. I loved discovering the rare books from the bookstore and how much history was behind each one. Our victim in the story did not have much of time with us, but his death unravels a lesson in greed, lies and literature.

I would love to work in a bookstore and can understand why Katrina spent so much time at Henry’s Bookstore. It wasn’t a surprise that he had willed the place to her, but it certainly opens doors from the past that collide with an intriguing who is the guilty person plot. It is a clean read and I appreciated the reference to faith several times throughout the book.

Todd is a good detective but I think he was a little distracted by Katrina at times. You can get the sense that a romance is developing between them. Todd has the task of finding Henry’s killer and keeping Katrina safe. There are a few funny moments and references to classic books that I absolutely loved. Katrina is not sure where her future is but she knows that she needs to trust God. I liked how the foster care system was incorporated in the story. It gives a light to something that is rewarding and Katrina ponders if that is where God is calling her.

I liked the story and am happy to know that the author has a new book coming soon. I want to know more about Katrina and Todd. Their relationship will be interesting to follow as they get to know each other better. The mystery is good and I was a bit surprised at who was the guilty person. It is a nice start of a very promising series .

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

About the Author

Barbara Cornthwaite headshot Barbara Cornthwaite lives in the middle of Ireland with her husband and children. She taught college English before “retiring” to do something she loves far more; her days are now filled with homeschooling her six children, trying to keep the house tidy (a losing battle), and trying to stay warm in the damp Irish climate (also a losing battle). She is surrounded by medieval castles, picturesque flocks of sheep, and ancient stone monuments. These things are unappreciated by her children, who are more impressed by traffic jams, skyscrapers, and hot weather.

More from Barbara

Meeting of the Minds

A Wilkester Mysteries Introduction

Detective Todd Mason knew Katrina was the one the first time he met her. The woman had witnessed a murder—if not with her eyes, at least with her ears. She’d seen the man dying and called for help, afraid all the while that the killer would return for her. So much he’d been told before he went into the interrogation room.

“How’s she handling it?” he asked the officer who had arrived first at the scene and escorted her to the police station.

“Not too badly,” said Gary. “She’s in shock, of course, but she’s trying to hold it together. Katrina Peters. She’s in Room 2.”

He’d gone in then and gotten his first look at her. Late thirties or early forties. Brown hair that fell to her shoulders in loose waves. Brown eyes that were red-rimmed from crying. Hands clutching a tissue. She managed a faint smile when he walked in.

“Hello, Ms. Peters. I’m Detective Todd Mason. I need to ask you some questions, if that’s all right.”

“Miss,” she said, almost as a reflex.

“I beg your pardon?” Todd wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly.

“It’s Miss Peters.” She said it firmly, repudiating the term Ms. even at such a stressful moment. Something made her blush then, and he saw her glance at his left hand. “Never mind,” she murmured.

She’s afraid I’ll think she’s trying to advertize her availability. It amused Todd to see the blush—if only she knew how refreshing it was to see a woman who would even be conscious of such a thing. Old fashioned, he thought. In a good way.

She answered his questions as calmly as she could, and even apologized for the tears that insisted on coming out now and then. When she alluded to Daniel in the lion’s den, he knew she really was out of the ordinary, and it took all his self-control not to offer to drive her home himself.

To join the investigation, read your copy of Brought to Book today.

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 10

21st Century Keeper at Home, October 10

The Avid Reader, October 10

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 11

Remembrancy, October 11

For the Love of Literature, October 12

Worthy2Read, October 12

Genesis 5020, October 12

deb’s Book Review, October 13

Blogging With Carol, October 13

Robin’s Nest, October 13

Texas Book-aholic, October 14

Losing the Busyness, October 14

April Hayman, Author, October 14

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 15

Inklings and notions, October 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 16

Daysong Reflections, October 16

Older & Smarter?, October 17

For Him and My Family, October 17

Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 18

Just Your Average reviews, October 18

Lis Loves Reading, October 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 19

As He Leads is Joy, October 19

Emily Yager, October 19

Sodbusterliving, October 20

Artistic Nobody, October 20 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Labor Not in Vain, October 20

She Lives To Read, October 21

Bizwings Blog, October 21

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 21

Godly Book Reviews, October 22

Mary Hake, October 22

Vicky Sluiter, October 22

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 23

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Barbara is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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/10210/brought-to-book-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, October 12, 2020

About the Book

Book: Texas Troubles

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 2, 2020

Brothers are for conflict; and he who finds a wife has found a good thing.

Through the first battle to the end of the Civil war, partners Aaron Van Zandt and Rich Worley fought on opposite sides. The women who loved them lived in prayer and learned to trust God even more to maintain sanity. While their men battled each other, best friends Josie Jo Worley and Cass Andrews struggle with jealousy, worry, and regret. Experience the war as one left behind in this epic romance. See how they cope . . . and if you’re able to stop turning the pages.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—over fifty published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and nineteen grandsugars with Ron, her high-school-sweetheart-husband of over fifty years, she lives in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

The families in the Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga have embedded themselves into my heart. This story takes them through the Civil War, and not everyone comes home to Texas. Josie Jo, born in book one of the series is ready to confess her love because he’s leaving . . . and she may never see him again.

Her best friend Cassandra shouts her love for the same man and her brother loves her friend! I love to see how God untangles our messes! He walks with them through every trial, all their pain, and the waiting, waiting, waiting for the end of the war, news of their beaus, and to be married.

The title TEXAS TROUBLES came from an incident that occurred in North Texas just prior to the Days of Aggression. In the scorching July heat, reported one hundred and ten degrees on that fateful day, three downtowns—Dallas, Denton a little to the north, and Pilot Point, more of a hamlet—went up in flames.

Immediately word spread that slaves and pro-union abolitionists were responsible, and justice came swiftly at the hands of the vigilante committee. Three slaves, one a preacher, hanged the following day on the banks of the Trinity River which then was nearest the land now known as Dealy Plaza, made famous by President Kennedy’s assignation there.

Though it proved to be an extraordinarily hot summer—water wells dried up and crops withered in the fields as the hundred-degree days went on and on. On the 8th of July, 1860, many residents of Dallas sought refuge at Wallace Peak’s downtown drugstore; that’s where the fire started.

Flames spread quickly from one business to another, blown by the hot winds from one to the next. By the time the fire was extinguished half of Dallas’ business district was gone. Now, phosphorous matches are said to be the culprit through spontaneous combustion for the fires as they all started in establishments carrying the highly flammable fire-lighting sticks.

Many say the incident called the Texas Troubles precipitated the Southern States’ cessation and even the Civil War itself. Mainly because of the FAKE NEWS spread by a young editor at the Dallas Herald. He sent letters to newspapers in Houston, Austin, and others across the state blaming a slave up rise for the fires and warning that the slaves were rising up.

Guess we aren’t the first Americans to deal with fake new! Before it was all over, at least a hundred men had hanged, slaves and their white abolitionist advocates. The panic never truly abated because too soon, the war between the states that pit brothers against brothers began.

This is where TEXAS TROUBLES, book five in the Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga begins. One brother went the way of the vigilantes, the other traveled north to join the Federalists. I think you’ll love this story of love and the most terrible times our country has ever experienced.

MY REVIEW

Oh my goodness what a wonderful journey the author takes us on. I was intrigued about the Civil War and how it divided families. The opening of the book is very tranquil and festive as we are introduced to four characters. Oh how fun it would be to dance and laugh with no cares in the world. Cass and JoJo are best friends who have their eye on a certain someone. The jealousy that came up was written so well. Two young ladies wanting the attention of the same young man leads to hurt feelings. Will they be able to swallow their pride and forgive each other?

Aaron and Rich are captivating young men who find themselves on opposite sides of the war. It must have been so hard on Cass and JoJo knowing the men they love were essentially enemies. The conflict of the war is emotional and I loved reading how it affected the men. They want to do the right thing and take a stand, but will their women stand by them?

I especially liked the letters between the two couples. It was easier to share their feelings on paper. As the two women are left behind they pray for the safety of all. I especially liked how JoJo had enough faith to believe that God would bring both men home safely. We do get a glimpse of what it was like on the battlefield. There were many lives lost yet in the midst of it all, God was there to encourage those who stood in battle.

The author is one of the best historical writers around. It is evident in the story how much research was done to make it authentic to the time period. The faith element is good and weaves throughout the story in a graceful way. Once again I have grown closer to God after reading one of the author’s books. The lesson I learned is to never give up hope and trust God in everything.

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

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 3

Inklings and notions, October 4

Betti Mace, October 5

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 6

Splashes of Joy, October 7

Pause for Tales, October 7

For Him and My Family, October 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 9

Connie’s History Classroom, October 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 11

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 11

Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 12

Texas Book-aholic, October 13

lakesidelivingsite, October 14

Artistic Nobody, October 14 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

deb’s Book Review, October 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

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/101a1/texas-troubles-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Sand & Mistletoe

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance (Holiday)

Release Date: November 24, 2018

Sand & Mistletoe What’s Christmas without family drama, an accident, and mistletoe?

If you ask Portia Spears, it’s a horror movie—especially since she’s never the one caught under that mistletoe. And who thought it was a good idea to spend the last Christmas as a family unit away from their family home?

Her bossy older sisters, that’s who.

Christmas at his parents’ house with his son—just the way Reese Whitaker likes it. But a chance encounter on the beach might just change everything. How often do you meet someone who loves kids and knows American Sign Language?

Not often. Trust him.

However, with just two weeks to get to know each other and two families that couldn’t be more different vying for their time, will they even have a chance to test out that mistletoe they found?

Find out today in Sand & Mistletoe.

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

I can read Christmas stories all year round and still not get tired of them. Being around Portia and her family would absolutely drive me crazy. So much bickering, anger and jealousy made me want to scream. The plan was to have a memorable loving Christmas as a big happy family. No attitude was allowed but it came anyway. Get ready for an adventure like no other in this holiday story.

Portia is not pleased to be at a place where it is hot for Christmas surrounded by family that is opinionated about everything and everyone. Portia irritated me at times with her sour attitude and then I noticed that I was relating to her more than I realized. Part of her family is determined to have the best family Christmas ever, while the others just want it to be over. I didn’t mean to laugh when Portia’s dad ended up in the hospital but everything else was going wrong why not have poor dad have an accident. Then why don’t we fight over his care and who stays with him. Oh my this family kept me intrigued wondering if they would ever celebrate the holidays.

I can’t forget about Reese and his adorable son Duncan. They are perfect for Portia but I’m not sure she sees that yet. I liked how the author implemented a deaf child into the story and showed how much they want to be a part of everything. It worried me that Duncan took to Portia so fast. I don’t want his little innocent heart broken when Portia goes back home. The story is filled with emotion, faith and a look at family dynamics. I liked the romance in the story that wasn’t over the top but slow and tasteful. Portia and Reese do have times where their communication between each other is not exactly perfect. I loved this quote from the book, “I think when we hide stuff from our ‘other half...‘that’s when we start listening to the lies of the world.” That statement should remind us to always be open and honest with our other half . Secrets always come out and sometimes hurt others. The big question I wanted answered in the story is, “Will Reese and Portia become a couple?” I’m not telling. You must read the story and fall in love like I did with the characters that are realistic and draw you into their lives. Well done Chautona. Once again I have spent my time immersed in a story filled with hope, faith, family and a heart full of joy.

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

About the Author

Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

What Happens When an Author Rewrites History

To be fair, almost none of us wanted to be there.

And really, that wasn’t fair. Two of our daughters planned as a “destination Christmas” bash for the whole family—just a nice getaway in San Diego for the “last” Christmas we’d probably all be in the same place on the same days. The kids were getting older, getting married, and even moving out of state. It was a beautiful thing for them to try to do for us.

But Havigs are homebodies who like their traditions, and most of us left in Ridgecrest weren’t too thrilled being “dragged” four hours south to celebrate Christmas in a beautiful house on a cliff overlooking the San Diego countryside. It had everything, game room, lots of space, yards, hiking trails, an infinity pool, a hot tub…

Yeah. That hot tub kicked off the weekend with a splash all right. With no lighting around it, and no railing either, my husband stepped out of it and right off the ledge—down a hill (at least fifteen feet), bouncing off boulders and thankfully, stopped by a fence. Otherwise, he’d have rolled for a LONG way.

Get this. He broke nothing. Don’t even ask me how (because we all know Who took care of that, right?).

Still, I spent my Christmas Eve sitting in an ER waiting for someone to tell us the damage (superficial scrapes and deep bruising). The whole time I thought, “This has got to be a book.”

Two years later, it was.

I say this at the end of the book, but I need to say it again.

People who know our family will recognize some of my kids (I left four of them out of the story). They will also say, “Wait, she’s not like that!”

And that’s the point. I put just enough of real people in it to really capture the feel of the personalities, meshed some quirks (including the ones that got left out), and then set them in a stressful situation and really way over-exaggerated actual responses. I want to say this here again. None of us acted just like I portrayed us in Sand & Mistletoe (although, frankly, I wouldn’t have blamed a couple of them if they’d wanted to). Unlike A Bird Died, I didn’t even try to stick to facts.

Instead of San Diego hill country, I put us at my favorite beach—Ventura. I stuck our rented beach house where the Pierpont Inn is/used to be (don’t even know if it exists anymore). Reese’s parents live in the house I lived in when I was nine—right there on Pierpont just a block from the beach. And where they went to get mistletoe… one of my favorite places in the world.

So, here’s my version of the tale—the one I wrote instead of told. Just like Francie Nolan learned from her teacher in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. When I tell the story, I tell it exactly how it happened. However… I wrote what should (not) have happened! (this is much more interesting than the real story).