Monday, September 12, 2022

About the Book

Book: As Silent as the Night

Author: Danielle Grandinetti

Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense

Release date: September 13, 2022

He can procure anything, except his heart’s deepest wish. She might hold the key, if she’s not discovered first.

Chicago, 1933―Lucia Critelli will do anything for her ailing grandfather, including stand in a breadline to have enough food to make him a St. Nicholas Day meal. When she catches the eye of a goon who threatens her grandfather, she discovers the end of Prohibition doesn’t mean the end of the mafia’s criminal activity.

Retired Marine Scout Giosue “Gio” Vella can find anything, especially if it helps a fellow Italian immigrant, so he has no doubt he can locate his neighbor’s granddaughter, who has gone missing from a local church. Keeping her safe is another matter. Especially when he chooses to hide out with his Marine buddy in Eagle, Wisconsin, the site of a barely-held truce among striking dairy farmers.

Will Christmas bring the miracle they all need or will Gio discover there are some things even he can’t find, particularly when he stumbles upon the most elusive gift of all: love.

As Silent as the Night is the Christmas novella to To Stand in the Breach and A Strike to the Heart.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is author of A Strike to the Heart and To Stand in the Breach. She is also a book blogger at DaniellesWritingSpot.com. Her short stories have appeared in several publications and her writing has won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Danielle especially loves quiet mornings served with the perfect cup of tea.

More from Danielle

I have this memory, from when I was a little girl, of Christmas at my grandma’s house. The table was expanded to hold a dozen people. The little Christmas tree stood on a table before the window, the Nativity beneath it. A gingerbread house sat on the radio cabinet, which played my grandpa’s old Christmas records.

In the kitchen, my Italian grandma, now a widow, had on a ruffled apron as she cooked the Christmas meal. She had short, graying black hair, perfectly curled, and large, round glasses. And, was still taller than me, though she was under 5 foot in height.

Through the haze of childhood memory, I can’t recall everything she cooked that Christmas, I just know it filled the table to overflowing. I can guess who celebrated with us, but I know the large table was completely surrounded by people I loved. And, I’m sure I received gifts, but that’s not what I remember from that day.

What fills my memory is the feeling of family and the love my grandma showed us, through food. My full belly. My contentment. The wonder of the holidays. All through the eyes of my young self.

In As Silent as the Night, I attempt to capture some of this nostalgia, lace it with suspense, and wrap it in romance. I show about some of the traditional holidays celebrated by my characters, from St. Nicholas Day to Christmas Eve. And, while Gio can find anything, love eludes him. However, Lucia may hold the key, but he must first save her.

Silent as the Night concludes my Strike to the Heart series, which began with prequel novella To Stand in the Breach. As sad as it is to say goodbye to the farmers of Eagle, Wisconsin, I have loved sharing the stories of Katy and Joey, Lily and Miles, and Gio and Lucia with you. I hope you’ll enjoy this last installment and I look forward to sharing more stories from other places with you.

Buon Natale.

Merry Christmas.

MY REVIEW

The opening pages gives us an insight into what we are about to engage in. I remember the old movies where Tommy guns were used in heists. The fear in people were evident as the mob seemed to run the city. Thinking that Ice would get away with his extra assignment that fateful day was his biggest mistake. The author quickly grabbed my attention and I was transported back to Chicago, December , 1933.

Lucia is determined to keep her grandfather safe. Standing in long lines to get a loaf of bread, she wants to bring it home to make her grandfather happy. I could feel the tension in the air as the mob seemed to be running everything. I held my breath as Lucia found herself in danger. Grabbed off the street to be used for criminal acts, she fears if she doesn’t do what she is told, her grandfather will be killed. The author paints a picture of desperation on the women who have been gathered up.

Gio right away is a man with determination to help others. He has been known to rescue those who are targeted by the mob. I adored him when he comes to Lucia’s aide. Now he needs to convince her to leave the city for her safety as well as her grandfather’s. Gio is asking a lot from her, but she will need to trust him if she is going to survive. When they arrive in Eagle, Wisconsin the welcoming is not as warm as he had hoped. I can’t blame his family for being upset. After all Gio has brought a woman that the mob wants. How are they going to keep everyone safe?

The author examines the effect prohibition has had and the after effects of it being overturned. Many people benefitted from selling alcohol illegally. Now that things have changed profits are dwindling. The chaos seems to be trickling down as the mob is using young women to be messengers. The question is why was Lucia singled out? The danger increases for everyone around Lucia as someone wants her back. I loved how the author draws us to the fact that greed will cause chaos. There is so much going on that I sat on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Gio and his family would be able to keep Lucia safe.

The story is filled with faith, danger, compassion and hope. I liked how the author develops Lucia and Gio’s relationship slowly. Gio is afraid of hurting Lucia but his feelings run deep for her. Lucia feels the same way toward Gio but something stops her from giving her heart to him. “Relationships only survive because of communication.”

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

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, September 13

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

The Sacred Line, September 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 15

Inklings and notions, September 16

For Him and My Family, September 17

deb’s Book Review, September 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 19

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 20

Inkwell Inspirations, September 20

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 21

Connie’s History Classroom, September 22

Betti Mace, September 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 24

Holly’s Book Corner, September 24

Labor Not in Vain, September 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Danielle is giving away the grand prize package of a Bag of Books Bundle, which includes a signed copy of each book: To Stand in the Breach, A Strike to the Heart, and As Silent as the Night, plus a Donkey Tote to carry the books!! (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1130961309/donkey-canvas-tote-bag-heavy-duty)

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/2159f/as-silent-as-the-night-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Mabel Goes to the Dogs

Author: Susan Kimmel Wright

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release date: June 5, 2022

Mabel plans to bring the thrills of volunteering to the masses—if she doesn’t go to the dogs first.

When Mabel finds herself sharing a thicket with a dead body while volunteering with canine search-&-rescue, her life has clearly—once again—gone to the dogs!

After her losing her job at age forty-nine, Mabel thought she’d turned things around. Now she’s

Mabel Goes to the Dogs Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: Mabel Goes to the Dogs

Author: Susan Kimmel Wright

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release date: June 5, 2022

Mabel plans to bring the thrills of volunteering to the masses—if she doesn’t go to the dogs first.

When Mabel finds herself sharing a thicket with a dead body while volunteering with canine search-&-rescue, her life has clearly—once again—gone to the dogs!

After her losing her job at age forty-nine, Mabel thought she’d turned things around. Now she’s doing good by volunteering, and surely, she’ll soon be a successful author, writing about her experiences. After solving two notorious decades-old cold cases while serving as a historical society volunteer, she’s already getting invitations to appear on TV.

Her new assignment couldn’t be simpler. All she has to do is hide in the woods and let Millie the search dog practice finding her. But to her horror, Millie finds more than Mabel—there’s a dead body hiding in the same patch of brush. To make things worse, Mabel’s maybe-boyfriend, suspended PI John Bigelow, has a dark history with the victim.

While struggling with maid-of-honor duties for best friend Lisa, a string of disasters created by handyman Acey, and a disagreeable new neighbor, can Mabel solve another murder in time to save John’s detective license—if not his neck?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Susan Kimmel Wright is a child of the Appalachian Mountains. A former lawyer, Susan has published three children’s mystery novels and is a prolific contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Mabel Goes to the Dogs, Book Two in Mysteries of Medicine Spring, her first cozy mystery series for adult readers, is now available from Mountain Brook Ink. Susan shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs.

More from Susan

A bit about Mabel and how she got herself into this situation…

One of the great joys of writing this series has been the wonderful reaction my main character Mabel has gotten from so many readers. Typical comments are: “I love how quirky and imperfect Mabel is…Mabel is a fun character with a big heart who has the best of intentions.” (I also hear “hilarious” a lot… 😉)

Mabel is fifty, and her entire life has just unceremoniously changed. For the past twenty-three years, she’s had a job as a low-level attorney in a law firm. Boring, yes, but every day, she knew where she was going, what she was doing, and when and how much she was going to get paid. But suddenly, she gets the ax, and her old life is over. Blessed with a severance package from her former employer, as well as an inheritance from her grandma (also named Mabel) that includes a cluttered Victorian house in the town of Medicine Spring, Mabel resolves to reinvent herself. She will do good by volunteering while building a glamorous new career as a writer.

Many readers have told me they see themselves in Mabel. As one reviewer said, “She’s a bundle of insecurities ironclad in over self-confidence and I can relate to that!” And I guess I do too! While Mabel is certainly a product of my imagination, she also reflects a bit of me. I left my job as a lawyer after about twenty years too (though I didn’t “get the ax!). I also live in a somewhat ramshackle Victorian farmhouse with a bunch of animals, and I see many of Mabel’s insecurities in myself. (Not to mention Mabel’s love of food—writing about Mabel’s diet gives me the opportunity to indulge in all the yummy things I try to limit in real life!)

Of course, nothing goes according to Mabel’s master plan. Mabel knows little about writing, her new old house is stuffed to the rafters with her grandma’s accumulations and comes with a hostile neighbor bent on continuing a decades’ old feud, and her first volunteer endeavor comes complete with a dead body. On the plus side, Mabel and her cat Koi acquire a new family member—Grandma Mabel’s big dog Barnacle, and Mabel seems also to have acquired a possible boyfriend, suspended PI John Bigelow.

By the time we run into Mabel in Mabel Goes to the Dogs, she has stumbled through two homicide investigations and also discovered the solution to an eighty-year-old cold case—the ax murder of a father and son in a neighboring historic house. This has gotten her an invitation to appear on a local morning TV show—and little else. Then Mabel undertakes a new volunteer assignment, helping train search-and-rescue dogs. The discovery of yet another body makes her wonder if she’s somehow bringing this on herself. Boyfriend John assures her, “You’re not causing dead bodies with the power of your mind, you goof.” Mabel isn’t so sure. Nobody else seems to be having this problem.

At least, life is now far from boring in the village of Medicine Spring…

MY REVIEW

There is so much to love about this story so let’s start with the main character. Mabel is a volunteer who wants to help everyone out. She also is a mess at times with her insecurities, people pleasing need to make everyone happy and a desire to be a writer. She could easily write a book about her adventures whether it’s remodeling her grandma’s place or training dogs for search and rescue. It seems like a full life but what happens when she solves an old cold case and stumbles upon a dead body? Will people start wondering about her? Oh Mabel your curiosity might get you in trouble but you keep doing what you do best.

John is not having the best of times lately. He has been suspended as a PI and now is in the midst of a murder investigation. The only bright spot for him is his girlfriend Mabel. I love how he opens up to her about his past. It seems to help them grow closer. The mystery sure gets intense as bodies drop, and Mabel and John get deeper into an unexpected turn of events. The author gives readers plenty of action with arson, bullets flying and a mysterious hidden treasure that people are after. Get ready for plenty of suspects, deceit and greed in this story.

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 8

Lily’s Book Reviews, September 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 9

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 10

Inklings and notions, September 11

Texas Book-aholic, September 12

Pause for Tales, September 13

deb’s Book Review, September 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 14

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 15

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 16

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 17

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 18

Blogging With Carol, September 19

For Him and My Family, September 20

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 21 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, September 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize package of $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of Mabel Goes to the Dogs!!

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/2159b/mabel-goes-to-the-dogs-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, September 11, 2022

About the Book

Book: Trusting Her Amish Heart

Author: Cathy Liggett

Genre: Amish Inspirational Romance

Release date: August 1, 2022

Her heart may learn to love again…

But can it trust?

Running from betrayal, Leah Zook finds purpose caring for the older owner of an Amish horse farm. But when he’s injured and his estranged son returns home looking for redemption, Leah’s resolve is tested. The mysterious Zach Graber has all the power to fix the run-down farm— and Leah’s locked-down heart. But together will they be strong enough to withstand his secret…and hers?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

ACFW award-winning author Cathy Liggett is an Ohio girl who never dreamed writing would take her across the world and to Amish country, too. But she’s learned God’s plans for our lives are often more creative than the ones we imagine for ourselves. That includes meeting her husband at a high school reunion and marrying three months later–forty years ago. Together, they enjoy visiting kids and grandkids, and spoiling their pup Chaz. Visit her: www.cathyliggett.com

More from Cathy

Trust. It’s a small word with huge implications, isn’t it?

When I think of trust, the first thing that comes to mind is our dog Chaz. We – or rather she – rescued us when she was a little over one year old. At the time she first came into our home the poor pup was too scared to even sleep. She’d start to doze off, then jerk and open her eyes, looking all around trying her utmost to stay on guard. Now, at 13 years old, our furry gal has cushy dog beds in every room in the house. Which makes perfect sense since she undoubtedly rules our roost. It’s been our joy to be able to spoil her all these years. But I have to say, Chaz isn’t the only one who has had trust issues.

While penning Leah and Zach’s story, I was so happy because it took me back to Sugarcreek, and not just in spirit or through sweet memories. As it happened, my critique partners (and dear friends) decided Ohio Amish country would be the perfect spot for a writing retreat. How could I disagree?

In the four days we spent in a rustic cabin we got ideas flushed out and chapters written too. But we also laughed, shared, celebrated, and ate more snacks and sweets than we should have.

I’m telling you this because coming home I thought how the chance to know and share with these special women may have never happened. Many years ago, I almost didn’t say ‘yes’ to their invitation to join their critique group. I’d been working in a creative field but writing a book was something new, and they were so far ahead of me. Can I tell you that as I sit typing this, that I’m so thankful I shared my writing and myself with them?

As just noted, like Leah and Zach, I know it’s not always easy to open up and to trust. But, also like the two of them, I’ve learned when I do trust God and the special people (and pups) He sends into my life, those relationships can be beyond rewarding.

Oh! And lastly – if you’re in the mood for something sweet like the characters in this book, here’s the recipe for the “Chocolate Chip Cake” they all raved about. It’s quick, easy and delicious. Trust me!

Chocolate Chip Cake

Ingredients:

1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix

4 eggs

½ cup oil

1 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 package vanilla instant pudding

6 oz. package of chocolate chips

4 oz. bar of Baker’s German Chocolate grated

3 Tablespoons confectioner’s sugar

Floured tube pan

Wax paper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour tube pan and line bottom with wax paper.

Set aside 3 Tablespoons of confectioner’s sugar. Mix everything else together except for chocolate.

After mixed, fold in all chocolate chips and ¾ of the grated German chocolate.

Add to pan and bake for 1 hour (a little prior to 1 hour, check for doneness).

Mix the remaining ¼ of the grated German chocolate with the 3 Tablespoons of confectioner’s sugar. Sprinkle this chocolate sugar mixture on top of cake. Bake 3-4 minutes longer.

Remove from oven and cool thoroughly. Remove from pan.

MY REVIEW

This has been a nice story that examines relationships. I especially liked learning more about Zach and why he left home so suddenly. When he returns several years later to help his dad out he wants to mend their relationship. We slowly see why he left and how his dad is slow to forgive him. I really enjoyed watching these two interact with each other. It reminds me of the story from the Bible about the prodigal son. However the father in this story isn’t as welcoming as the one in the Bible. The author illustrates how pride can interfere and cause tension when a relationship has been damaged.

Leah is a very giving person. All her life she has cared for others and never once complained. The hurt she experienced from her ex-fiancé has caused her to be cautious of building a new relationship. I cheered for Leah as she began to open up a little to Zach and how she encouraged him to not give up on his reconciliation with his dad. She is very compassionate and shows grace to others. Will she learn to trust again after something that hurt her deeply?

When secrets between Zach and Leah start to be exposed the author shows us how important it is to be honest with others. I liked how these two discover that they have been afraid of allowing each other into their lives for fear of rejection. With Zach’s secret it affects his father in a big way. How will he explain to his dad what he wants to do with the farm? Will it cause them to drift further apart? Leah admits that her eye sight is becoming a problem and is afraid to tell Zach for fear he won’t want to be around her. What a great example the author has given us. We need to learn to swallow our pride and let others into our lives. When we learn to trust others we can begin to allow God to help us. As we turn away from people, we allow division to separate us from others as well as God.

This has been a good book to learn about trust and forgiveness. The relationships between father and son are repairable if they forgive each other and begin to see how important family is. Leah has a journey that will find her on a road to trusting God to heal her eyesight. “The Lord does provide healing in many ways, doesn’t He? If we’re open to it, that is.”

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

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 10

Texas Book-aholic, September 11

The Avid Reader, September 12

Lighthouse Academy Blog, September 12 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Writing From the Heart Land, September 13

Inklings and notions, September 14

Britt Reads Fiction, September 14

Bigreadersite, September 15

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 16

deb’s Book Review, September 16

She Lives To Read, September 17

SusanLovesBooks, September 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 18

Holly’s Book Corner, September 18

Bliss, Books and Jewels, September 19

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 20

Mary Hake, September 20

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 22

Vicky Sluiter, September 22

Cats in the Cradle Blog, September 23

For Him and My Family, September 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cathy is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and with a copy of my 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/2159d/trusting-her-amish-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, September 9, 2022

About the Book

Book: Where You Are & How to Get There

Author: Nolan Ryan Recker

Genre: Lifestyle

Release date: August 4, 2022

Have you ever had the thought or asked yourself the question, “How did I get here?”

You know, the kind of question examining the indirect decisions and circumstances that led you to the point life that you even need to ask such a question.

One of the oldest questions ever recorded in human history speaks to this very question we ask ourselves in moments of doubt. What if that ancient question was a question we ought to ask ourselves on a regular basis?

Journey with me as we wrestle with a question that if meant for us, today, would change everything about we view the life we choose to live.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Nolan’s toughest and rewarding opportunities are being a husband and a father. As a husband and a father, Nolan wants his family members to discover and live a flourishing life. Nolan’s life experience has covered the spectrum from being a camp counselor to a school teacher to a custodian to a Lead Pastor of a church. This, is why he writes. If he wrestles with the ideas he writes about, maybe others wrestle with the same things, and if they do, would they benefit from a different perspective? He’s honored to listen to anyone who graces him with their time to tell their story; especially if it involves coffee or pizza.

More from Nolan

Hi there! The name’s Nolan & I love this book.

Seriously, it was a labor of love.

Sometimes writing for the sake of the enjoyment and scrutiny of others can lead to some pretty sad writing days. One of my favorite writers recently said something along these lines, “Sometimes, writing is opening up a blank word processor, staring at it for eight hours, closing the processor, and not writing a thing. It still counts!”

For me, I used to seek perfection in much of what I attempted to do. I wouldn’t try something if the odds weren’t favorable. It wasn’t until I learned that life is a lot like staring at a blank word processor. Even though I didn’t accomplish anything on a specific day or season of life, the fact that I showed up is what counts.

Learning to live life in this way. Discovering rhythms of creating, rest, consuming, pain, work, play, purpose, and my people; helped me to rediscover a life-story worth living.

A life-story worth writing.

I am so many things and wear so many different “hats,” but first and foremost, I am a loved human being, created in the Image of a loving and creative God.

I enjoy being a husband and a father.

I love the passion of writing.

When something comes together, there is no greater treasure than to put something into the world that brightens someone else’s experience of this life.

Wearing the “hats” of Pastor, Teacher, Coach, Friend, Advocate, etc. time and I again I would have conversations with people regarding the very things you will read in “Where You Are & How To Get There.”

We are all on this life journey together, and I am glad to journey on with all of you.

MY REVIEW

Why am I here and what is my purpose? I know that I have asked this question many times and never fully received an answer. It comes from a place of not feeling like I belong since I was a child. The first few pages of this book gives you many questions to think on and begin to point you towards seeking the answers of “Who am I and what is my purpose?”

One of the points the author makes is how we can lose our focus. The author talks about the parable of the prodigal son. This is perhaps one of my favorite stories from the Bible. It reflects that no matter what you do there is forgiveness waiting for you. I did start to find myself being confused when the author started talking about a god-being and goes on a tangent about scientists and how the earth is tilted. I don’t quite understand his point of taking about “celestial patterns that mark the created order of time.”

But in the midst of the book I did find some useful information that helped me look at myself and understand that “we are not to live alone.” God wants us to have personal time with us but also desires us to fellowship with others. The author does get one point across that is very important. That point is to develop meaningful friendships that will encourage you, forgive you and love you unconditionally. The author also says, “The moment you discover what your purpose to be and to do in life is when this whole living experiment becomes real?

I’m glad I didn’t give up on the book because towards the end, I was able to connect with the author and begin to see what he was unraveling for each of us. God loves us and wants us to be happy, prosper, find like minded people to fellowship with and deepen our relationship with Him. “What He spoke into us at our creation will accomplish all He wants us to become —in the end.”

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