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Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Craks in a Marriage (Mah Jongg Mysteries)
by Barbara Barrett


About the Book

Craks in a Marriage (Mah Jongg Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Florida
Self Published (February 6, 2018)
Print Length: 204 pages
ASIN: B079DCX8WQ
When Sydney Bonner overhears a fellow mah jongg player arguing on the phone with her husband, she realizes the couple’s “perfect marriage” isn’t all it appears to be. A few days later, the husband is found dead, his head bashed in. Fearing she’ll be considered the most likely suspect, the widow prevails upon Sydney and her three friends—Marianne, Kat and Micki—to find out who really killed him.
Though none of these four fun-loving, take-charge retirees has any training as detectives, the women agree to launch a secret investigation. As they dig under the happy veneer of their community’s social life, they find more than enough suspects, from shady ladies to resentful golf buddies, to keep them looking over their shoulders.
Could the murderer be lurking among the talent in a chaotic production put on by Sydney’s husband, who will do anything to keep busy in retirement? Could the sheriff, who may have more than a professional interest in chanteuse Kat, end up pinning the crime on the women instead? Each discovery during their investigations and their weekly mah jongg game keeps them running as they close in on the killer—but the killer may also be closing in on them.

About the Author

Barbara Barrett started reading mysteries when she was pregnant with her first child to keep her mind off things like her changing body and food cravings. When she’d devoured as many Agatha Christies as she could find, she branched out to English village cozies and Ellery Queen.
Later, to avoid a midlife crisis, she began writing fiction at night when she wasn’t at her day job as a human resources analyst for Iowa State Government. After releasing eleven full-length romance novels and one novella, she has returned to the cozy mystery genre, using one of her retirement pastimes, the game of mah jongg, as her inspiration. Not only has it been a great social outlet, it has also helped keep her mind active when not writing.
Craks in a Marriage, the first book in her “Mah Jongg Mystery” series, features four friends who seek the murderer of another mah jongg player’s husband before she is charged. None of the four is based on an actual person. Each is an amalgamation of several mah jongg friends with a lot of Barbara’s imagination thrown in for good measure. The four will continue to appear in future books in the series.
Anticipating the day when she would write her first mystery, she has been a member of the Mystery/Romantic Suspense chapter of Romance Writers of America for over a decade. She credits them with helping her hone her craft.
Barbara is married to a man she met her senior year of college. They have two grown children and eight grandchildren.
Now retired, she is a resident of Florida, although she spends her summers in Iowa, her home state. She earned her B.A. degree in History from the University of Iowa and her Master’s Degree in History from Drake University.
When not in front of her laptop creating her next story, she plays Mah Jongg, knits, and enjoys lunches with friends.
Author Links
Subscribe to my newsletter: barbarabarrett747@gmail.com
Purchase Links
Amazon   B&N 

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I just love a book that is full of intrigue, gossip and exciting characters. Rumor is going around that someone is having an affair. Now people have heard who it is, but others don’t want to know. They believe in giving a person a benefit of the doubt, but that doesn’t stop the gossip spreading throughout the community.

 My heart beat so fast when the victim was identified by his wife. You could feel the tension as the body was revealed and the moment that the spouse knew her life was forever changed. It was a very well written scene and made me think of how difficult it would be to go through such a traumatic event like that. The question now is who is the killer? Sydney and her friends are persuaded in a way to try to find out who killed someone’s husband. I loved that these ladies were retired and all set to have a fun and enjoyable life, but what do you do when someone you know is in trouble?

The stakes are high in this first in a series and the author does a great job of giving us a collection of unique characters. The four friends have their hands full as suspects start to pop up. I loved how they gathered information and slowly went through intricate and damaging evidence. As the investigation grows, there is another big goings on in the town. I couldn't wait to hear all the details of the folly that Sydney's husband is in charge of.  It  is the talk of the town and suddenly people wan to be a part of it.   I had to laugh at one of the acts that was booked for the show. It is a funny moment that lightens the mood in the story.

Will Sydney and her friends solve the murder before the sheriff stops their snooping? I enjoyed the story and how well it flowed. The characters are interesting and I absolutely loved the four women turned sleuths that take investigating serious. You are in for a treat with this well written mystery that is neatly wrapped up at the end. I have to say the ending was tense and I loved how it kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this new series.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. The review is my own opinion.
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TOUR PARTICIPANTS
February 28 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
February 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
March 1 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 3 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 4 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
March 4 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 5 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 6 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
March 7 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW
March 7 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
March 8 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
March 8 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 9 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST
March 9 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

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Six Dogs ’til Sunday (A Mae December Mystery)
by Lia Farrell

The Mae December mysteries is one of the best series for character development that I’ve come across.
~The Power of Words
A complicated plot involving intertwined crimes both past and present. Intriguing psychological content and police procedural elements make this a very interesting mystery to untangle.
~Laura’s Interests
Six Dogs grabbed me from the prologue. . . the point where your heart starts beating a little faster in anticipation. And the text excellently fulfills the prologue’s promise.
~Back Porchervations

About the Book


Six Dogs ’til Sunday (A Mae December Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Tennessee
Camel Press
Paperback Release (March 1, 2018)
Digital Release (February 15, 2018)
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1603812504
Digital ASIN: B077KFFH52
It’s January in Rosedale, Tennessee, and Mae December is preparing for her March wedding to Sheriff Ben Bradley. Mae, who boards dogs for a living, is also busy tending to her pregnant dog and scouting locations for the movie featuring the music of her former fiancé Noah West, who died in a car accident four years earlier. Fortunately, the picturesque old house at the end of Little Chapel Road is for rent.
Just as filming is about to begin, a man is shot on the set, but manages to drive himself to the hospital, where he dies before he can ID his killer. He was a member of the film crew, but also a local, and circumstances point to his being a confidential informant for Ben’s predecessor, Sheriff Trey Cantrell, also the owner of the house turned movie set. At the time of the shooting, the victim had been stealing a large sum of money from a safe on the premises. Whose money is it, and where does it come from?
The Rosedale Sheriff’s Office not only has another murder case on its hands, but one that will dredge up a past long buried. How far will the guilty parties go to protect their secrets?

About the Authors

Lia Farrell is the nom de plume for a mother/daughter duo of writers. Mom Lyn Farquhar and Daughter Lisa Fitzsimmons have been collaborating on the Mae December mystery series for four years.
lyn
ABOUT LYN
Lyn Farquhar taught herself to read before starting school and honed her storytelling abilities by reading to her little sister. Ultimately, her mother ended the reading sessions because Lyn’s sister decided she preferred being read to over learning to read herself. She fell in love with library books at the age of six when a Bookmobile came to her one-room rural elementary school. The day the Bookmobile arrived, Lyn decided she would rather live in the bookmobile than at home and was only ousted following sustained efforts by her teacher and the bookmobile driver.
Lyn graduated from Okemos High School in Michigan and got her college and graduate degrees from Michigan State University. She has a master’s degree in English literature and a Ph.D. in Education, but has always maintained that she remained a student for such a long time only because it gave her an excuse to read. Lyn holds the rank of Professor of Medical Education at Michigan State University and has authored many journal articles, abstracts and research grants. Since her retirement from MSU to become a full-time writer, she has completed a Young Adult Fantasy trilogy called Tales of the Skygrass Kingdom. Volume I from the trilogy is entitled Journey to Maidenstone and is available on amazon.com. Lyn has two daughters and six stepchildren, nine granddaughters and three grandsons. She also has two extremely spoiled Welsh Corgi’s. Her hobby is interior design and she claims she has the equivalent of a master’s degree from watching way too many decorating shows.
ABOUT LISA
lisa
Lisa Fitzsimmons grew up in Michigan and was always encouraged to read, write and express herself artistically. She was read aloud to frequently. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, she was seldom seen without a book in hand. After becoming a mom at a young age, she attended Michigan State University in a tri-emphasis program with concentrations in Fine Art, Art History an Interior Design.
Lisa, with her husband and their two children, moved to North Carolina for three exciting years and then on to Tennessee, which she now calls home. She has enjoyed an eighteen-year career as a Muralist and Interior Designer in middle Tennessee but has always been interested in writing. Almost five years ago, Lisa and her mom, Lyn, began working on a writing project inspired by local events. The Mae December Mystery series was born.
Lisa, her husband, and their three dogs currently divide their time between beautiful Northern Michigan in the summertime and middle Tennessee the rest of the year. She and her husband feel very blessed that their “empty nest” in Tennessee is just a short distance from their oldest, who has a beautiful family of her own. Their youngest child has settled in Northern Michigan, close to their cabin there. Life is good.
Purchase Links
Amazon  B&N   Kobo


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I enjoyed the story very much and thought the author gave us wonderful characters. What I liked the most about the story was the mystery surrounding the old house. It seemed to be the focal point of the story and it really fascinated me. I could see the house with shutters hanging off and stairs that creak beneath your feet. I could imagine cobwebs climbing down the walls as a lonely guitar was found that had long been forgotten.


Mae is a wonderful character and I was pleased to read of her upcoming marriage to none other than the dashing Sheriff Ben Bradley. I was a bit concerned that she wasn't quite over Noah. As a film crew comes to town to shoot at the old house, things really start shaking up. What is found under the staircase in a closet? Why are so many people interested in the previous sheriff? Ben has proven to be a great replacement as new sheriff but he has his hands full when a murder takes place.  Prior residents of the town start to show up and this makes for a fun adventure of secrets and lies. It's hard to say who is telling the truth as the author delivers incredible character development. 

I can't forget to mention Mae's mother who uses her profession as a reporter to dig into the murder and other shady goings on in the town. I felt sorry for Ben at times when he tries to keep Mae safe and his future mother-in-law from snooping around. This is one book that I really thought was cleverly written with subtle hints of who the guilty person was, but also has some surprises I didn't see comingTthis is the last book in the series and it comes to an ending that will please fans. 

I received a copy of the book from The Great Escape Virtual Book Tours. The review is my own opinion.





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TOUR PARTICIPANTS
February 21 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
February 22 – Socrates’ Book Reviews  – SPOTLIGHT
February 23 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
February 23 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT
February 24 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
February 25 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 26 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
February 27 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – REVIEW
February 28 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
March 1 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
March 2 – The Montana Bookaholic – SPOTLIGHT
March 3 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST
March 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 5 – La libreria di Beppe – SPOTLIGHT
March 6 – T’s Stuff – INTERVIEW

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Monday, February 26, 2018


RETURNING HOME BOOK BLAST





Jo Ellen Baker is shocked to find out that the boy who teased her mercilessly throughout high school, has returned to their hometown of Freedom Lake, and he’s missing a leg. When his mother asks her to renovate their carriage house to give him a place to gain his independence back, she wants to say no. But one look at him brings a rush of forgotten feelings. 
Evan Carter can’t believe he has to return home and live with his parents. Every hope and dream he ever had dissipated in a car crash that cost him his leg. Stuck in a wheelchair, he’s forced to reexamine his relationship with God and the local carpenter, Jo Ellen Baker. 
Will renovating his home open the door for a mended relationship, or are some wounds too deep to heal from?  
Buy links – 
Social media links –



Author bio –
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.
She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and president of the Virginia Chapter.

You can find her on her website at http://tonishiloh.wordpress.com.
Buy links – 
Social media links –
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortonishiloh 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tonishilohwrite 
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tonishiloh 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tonishiloh 
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/tonishiloh 
BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/toni-shiloh 
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cmNFKD


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There are so many great things about this book I’m not sure where to begin. I think I’ll start with the topic of church. I loved how the author gives us real characters where one is struggling with their faith.  I remember when I was younger I never missed church when the doors were open. It could also have been because my dad was a preacher and I was expected to go. I almost fell out of my chair when JO said “I  don’t want to be another hypocrite. You know the type, they smile and open the door for you, but as soon as it shuts they’re spreading your business quicker than a flea can jump on a dog.” Yes we have all experienced that type of person in a church. What I thought was so eye opening is Evan telling Jo not to be that kind of person.  If we remove that judgmental attitude, we can begin to soak in His presence. I applaud the author for reminding us to go to church with an open heart and not to worry what others are thinking of us.

Jo and Evan were school friends who definitely didn’t get along. Now that Evan has come back to town, he is a changed man. His disability has softened him and I love his humbleness. Will he be able to convince Jo to forgive him for being so mean to her in school? I say  let that grudge go girl and rekindle that friendship. I don’t think things happen by accident and with Jo’s help she can make Evan’s life better by helping him become more independent. Both of them have some pride issues they need to deal with and lurking behind that is the need to forgive.

The book is rich in scripture and a message of hope and having a relationship with God. There were times I wanted to cry when the characters went through heart wrenching trials. I loved how the author surrounded the characters with friends and family that encouraged them. I cherish each moment I spent reading this book because it is realistic and dealt with issues we all may face at some time. The book is a powerful message of forgiveness that I will not forget. One of the best parts of the book for me was when a group came together for bible study. These friends hungered to understand the Bible and the author does an amazing job of having questions we all wonder about answered with grace and scripture. I encourage everyone to grab a copy of this book and read it with the knowledge that there is hope, love and forgiveness for each of us.

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


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Sunday, February 25, 2018

 Real-Life Romance by Rhonda Stoppe Party and Prize Pack Giveaway BLOG CODE: Whether you're single and looking for a reason to believe in love or a parent watching your own child fall in love, Real-Life Romance by Rhonda Stoppe will inspire you to believe in life-long love. This collection of beautiful, real-life accounts will bring laughter and tears as you enjoy each story of ordinary people who found extraordinary love. Don't let the world define romance for you! See how God is at work in the hearts of His people-knitting together hearts in a love that forever endures.





Do you believe in true love?
In a world of broken relationships and hurting people, it can seem like all we ever see is heartache-that marriages are doomed from the start and romance isn't worth the risk.
But heart-fluttering, long-lasting love is all around us...we just have to look for it!
This collection of beautiful, real-life accounts will bring laughter and tears as you enjoy each story of ordinary people who found extraordinary love. Page after page, you will find inspiration to
-rekindle the romance in your love story
-trust in God's providence and timing
-faithfully hope for your own happily-ever-after
-celebrate true romance
-believe in life-long love
Don't let the world define romance for you! See how God is at work in the hearts of His people-knitting together hearts in a love that forever endures.
About the Author:
Rhonda Stoppe is the No Regrets Woman. With more than 20 years of experience as a past









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This book is full of treasured stories that encourage, bring a smile  and give insight into relationships that made it through good times and bad times. I’m sure we each have our own story of how we met our mate. I know when I first met my husband we didn’t like each other at all. We seemed to clash every time we saw each other. What I really liked about this book was the transparency that the couples shared as they took us on their journey to find the right one. Each story is unique but has one thing in common. They each drew on their faith and strength as they pursued their relationships.

I loved how the book includes a section called “Ponder This” and “Ask Yourself.” These are great tools to use as you soak up each story. As I read each story I began to understand more of the blemishes I still had in my life. Did I really forgive when I said I did? Do I still have insecurity issues? The good news is that I am still a work in progress.  This book just reinforces for me how thankful I am that I persevered and continue to be thankful for God’s grace and mercy.

One of the keys points of the book for me was to not have secrets from your mate. One of the stories touched on that and it really hit home. For years I guarded a secret that I didn’t realize was affecting our relationship. As the Bible says, “The truth will set you free,”is such a powerful passage that made me feel like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. Even though the secret was something from my childhood, I was still fearful of what my husband would think. I am encouraged by this book and the stories that range from sadness to happiness. I loved each story and gathered wisdom from them. My hope is that when you pick up this book to read you “will be better prepared to not only survive life’s storms, but to thrive in times of trouble.”

I received a copy of this book from Lit Fuse. The review is my own opinion.Landing page:


Blog Tour Schedule:

2/14
Crystal | Our Perfectly Imperfect Life
chantal | This Chattanooga Mommy Saves
Lauren | A Beautiful Inheritance
Debra | 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
Alexis | God is Love
Andrea | The Young Girl Who Loved Books
Kristie | Moments
Amy | A Day of Small Things

2/15
Monique | The lemonade diaries
Kara | Nothing But Room
Margaret | The World As I See It

2/16
Sara | SK Bell
Ylva-Elana | Chasing after Butterflies

2/18
Amanda | Inklings and notions

2/20
Becky | Living Outside the Lines

2/21
amy | The ramblings of miss aimymichelle
Carole | The Power of Words
Tima | Book Reviews by Tima

2/22
Kendra | Happily Managing a Household of Boys

2/23
Rosalyn | All-of-a-kind Mom

2/24
Marjolaine | Books, beautiful books
Amy | Pause for Tales

2/25
Deana | Texas Book-aholic

2/26
Carol | Buttercup Counts Her Blessings
Rebecca | My Ink Dance

2/27
Colleen | ColleenRichman.com
Wendy | Life at Rossmont
Sherry | My Journey Back

2/28
Veronica | Veronica's 'Views
Heather | Misadventures of the Dynamic Uno
Suzanne | Clicking Her Heels

3/1
Julius | The Little Friar
Grace | Onto Her Bookshelf
Rebecca | Raventhreads
Janice | Janices book reviews

3/3
LeAnne | Rockin' My Mom Jeans

3/4
Kelly | Simply Kelina
Lisa | A Rup Life
Inderpreet | Eloquent Articulation

3/5
Lois | The Minister's Wife
Hearther | Married to the Cloth

3/6
April | Dixie n Dottie
Bethany | The Perfect beginning
Shantelle | Between the Pages of this Bookish Life
Lydia | Noveltea
Urailak | Fruitbearers
Leslie | Did you Hear About the Morgans?
shirley | A Mom After God's Own Heart
Amanda | The Talbert Report 
Join Rhonda and other real-life romancers on March 6 for a Facebook Live party, plus enter to win the Make Your Own Real-Life Romance prize pack!


One grand prize winner will receive:
  • One copy of Real-Life Romance
  • A $50 restaurant gift card
  • A $25 movie gift card
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 6. The winner will be announced at Rhonda's Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Rhonda and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway and Facebook Live party via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

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