About the Book

Book:  The Ice Swan

Author: J’Nell Ciesielski

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: July 6, 2021

Amid the violent last days of the glittering Russian court, a Russian princess on the run finds her heart where she least expects it.

1917, Petrograd. Fleeing the murderous flames of the Russian Revolution, princess Svetlana Dalsky hopes to find safety in Paris with her mother and sister. But the city is buckling under the weight of the Great War, and the Bolsheviks will not rest until they have erased every Russian aristocrat from memory.

Born the second son of a duke, the only title Wynn MacCallan cares for is that of surgeon. Putting his talents with a scalpel to good use in the hospitals in Paris, Wynn pushes the boundaries of medical science to give his patients the best care possible. While treating Svetlana for a minor injury, he is pulled into a world of decaying imperial glitter and underground Russian clubs where drink, culture, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.

Out of money and options, Svetlana is forced into a marriage of convenience with Wynn, who will protect her and pay off her debts. It’s the right thing for a good man to do, but Wynn can’t help hoping the marriage will turn into one of true affection. As the Bolsheviks chase them to different corners of the earth, Wynn and Svetlana begin to see they will never be able to outrun the love they have for one another.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages Award and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com.

 

More from J’nell

When we think of the Great War we often only think about events happening right on the battlefield of France, Belgium, and Germany. It was a time of great upheaval for so many people and countries, none more so than Russia. It was during the Great War that the Bolsheviks rose up against the monarchy, assassinated the tsar and his family, and plunged Russia into civil war. The country was in such chaos that they pulled out of the war to deal with their own revolution. The Russian Revolution was the result of centuries of oppression and imperialism that finally boiled over. As the Bolsheviks seized power, nobles and anyone associated or favorable to the monarchy were stripped of their privileges and homes, many killed, and still thousands of others fled in fear of their lives where they became the great wave of White emigres.

 

The stories of the ill-fated Anastasia and the evil Rasputin are legendary, but it wasn’t until recently when I watched a Russian miniseries called Road to Calvary that I became fascinated with the nobles and their struggle and from all that an idea sparked that would become my upcoming release, The Ice Swan. It’s about a Russian princess fleeing the Revolution to Paris in 1917 where she meets a handsome surgeon who is breaking new grounds in cardiology. We see the plight of the White emigres who have taken refuge in Paris and founded their own little Russia in the heart of the city, the exhausted City of Light after four years of war, the overflowing hospitals, and highly controversial advancements in surgery. Plus, a romance to prove that true love can overcome any difference and who doesn’t need a little more love these days?

MY REVIEW 

I had such a hard time getting into this book at first. I don’t know if it was the Russian language throughout the story, the broken English or the fact that I didn’t like Svetlana. I thought she was snotty and I was getting tired of being reminded that she was a princess in her country of Russia. Then I spoke to a dear friend who was reading the book also. She gave me a different perspective of the princess. Maybe she was being snotty to people because she was in fear. Wow. That made a lot of sense. When we are afraid we put up defenses to protect ourselves. Well no wonder she was acting the way she was. After all she had to flee her country to survive. With nothing but the clothes she had along with a few jewels and her mother and her sister she had to lean on her instincts to keep herself and others alive. 

I enjoyed getting to know Wynn the most. His ability as a surgeon is much needed as the war rages on. When he finds himself helping Svetlana and her family their journey begins as we witness destruction and danger. It was interesting to read about how difficult it was to hide out and not be recognized as Svetlana tries to keep her family safe from the enemy. Finding shelter was hard and at times they did without warmth and food. There is one part of the story that I really liked. Wynn performs a surgery that others question and it does take a toll on him as his surgery comes into question by the board. 

Although there is a lot going on in the story I just could not connect with Svetlana. I did like how we see pride becoming a stumbling block for the two main characters. They each had to find a way to let go of hurt and accept that sometimes change is to help us not hurt us. It is a good story that shows how determined people are when faced with struggles and I did like how Wynn was there to protect Svetlana. This is not one of my favorite books by this author, but I do think there were some great moments in the story that shows how important trust and forgiveness is. 

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

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, July 19

Where Faith and Books Meet, July 19

Books and Everyday Life, July 19

Texas Book-aholic, July 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 20

Reflections From My Bookshelves, July 20

All-of-a-kind Mom, July 20

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 21

She Lives To Read, July 21

The Write Escape, July 21

Lakesdielivingsite, July 22

Remembrancy, July 22

Inklings and notions, July 22

For Him and My Family, July 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 23

The Christian Fiction Girl, July 23

deb’s Book Review, July 24

Rachael’s Inkwell, July 24

To Everything There Is A Season, July 24

Life, love, writing, July 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 25

Life of Literature, July 25

Inside the Wong Mind, July 25

Betti Mace, July 26

Bliss, Books & Jewels, July 26

Older & Smarter?, July 26

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 27

Connect in Fiction, July 27

Mary Hake, July 27

Connie’s History Classroom, July 28

Back porch reads, July 28

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, July 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 29

Blossoms and Blessings, July 29

Genesis 5020, July 29

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 30

Splashes of Joy, July 30

Simple Harvest Reads, July 30 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Through the fire blogs, July 31

Just Your Average reviews, July 31

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 1

Labor Not in Vain, August 1

The Adventures of a Travelers Wife, August 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, J’nell is giving away the grand prize of a paperback 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/10fa9/the-ice-swan-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book:  A Lady in Attendance

Author: Rachel Fordham

Genre: Christian Historical

Release date: June 1, 2021

Will the Past Destroy Her Future? 

Ada, Mi.—Rachel Fordham’s historical novels have received high praise for their warm and engaging story lines filled with romance, adventure, and happy endings. In A Lady in Attendance, Fordham beautifully blends these same great features in a novel about overcoming obstacles in the past to make room for a better future.

After spending the last five years in a New York state reformatory, Hazel is desperate to begin life anew, but she knows that a tarnished name could ruin her chances. She accepts a job as Doctor Gilbert Watts’ lady in attendance but does so under an alias so she can hide her shameful past.

Dr. Watts has come to enjoy the pleasant chatter of his new dental assistant, but he senses her sadness and wonders if there is more to her story than she’s shared with him. As their friendship deepens, Hazel must grapple with her desire to trust him.

Can Dr. Watts and Hazel’s friends help expunge her record? And can Hazel possibly find hope and love along the way?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Rachel Fordham is the author of The Hope of Azure Springs, Yours Truly, Thomas, and A Life Once Dreamed. Fans expect stories with heart, and she delivers, diving deep into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters. She is a busy mom, raising both biological and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about). She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.

 

More from Rachel

Ten behind the scenes extras from A Lady in Attendance:

1. This book takes place in Amherst and Buffalo New York, places I lived for four years. Buffalo has had some rough years but if you ever visit the area you will see gorgeous old buildings, beautiful parks and cemeteries and understand why it was once a booming and prosperous city (and why I love it still). Gilbert and Hazel both grew up in the area (though, they did not know each other until the story begins). Two of my children were born in Buffalo and though they aren’t being raised there, I tell them stories.
2. Hazel spent five years in a New York State reformatory. Reformatories were basically the first juvenile delinquent facilities (the ages of who could be sentenced there was different from today). Reformatories were a new idea. There were still a lot of people who believed in “bad blood” and that a criminal could never be anything but a criminal. There were some heroes who fought hard to convince the public, that people could change. Because of this book’s storyline, I could not go too deeply into this subject, but it is fascinating!
3. Gilbert Watts is this book’s leading man. I gave up on being able to use the name Gilbert on one of my own kids and instead gave it to a character. I adore the name Gilbert and everything about this character, hope you do too!
4. There is a joke at the end of the book about a graveyard (don’t worry, it’s not scary) and it’s a nod to my mom who used to use this joke on us every time we passed a cemetery. I really love sneaking in things into my stories that will make my kids, family and friends smile when they read it. I often think of my books as love letters from me to others and the best kind of love letters are personal.
5. My husband is a dentist and as a result, we tend to notice dentist in media. They are often portrayed as villains or comic relief. I decided it would be my goal to write a romantic dentist that would change the image in readers minds.
6. Gilbert tells Hazel that being a dentist is really being an artist. When my husband was first trying to decide on a career path, he shadowed a dentist. He didn’t really think it would be for him, but he was open to exploring options. He came home and told me that the cool thing about dentistry was that you were essentially making art that was functional, every day. Little sculptures that helped people eat and smile better. Gilbert from the book is very different from my husband, but it was fun sneaking in little pieces of him in there.
7. One of my favorite scenes from this book take place at a corn husking. There is a tradition that says, if a red ear of corn is found, the finder gets a kiss. Sigh, I love that scene!
8. Without always meaning to, my books end up having messages woven into them. I believe one of the messages in A Lady in Attendance is forgiveness. In this case, it’s forgiving of one’s self. I believe this message is one that we all need at some point in our lives (or many points!).
9. My books are coming out in a different order than they were written in. I actually wrote this book before Yours Truly, Thomas and after A Life Once Dreamed. This story has been waiting a long time to be in print! During that time, it has been reshaped in little ways. It gained a prologue and lost an epilogue, it was tamed down in places and intensified in others, but the heart of it has always been the same!
10. One last piece of A Lady in Attendance trivia—several of my books have had their titles changed. It’s part of the writing process. The books get a working title and later a title that the rest of the world knows it by. The Hope of Azure Springs was originally just Azure Springs. Yours Truly, Thomas was originally Dear, Azure Springs. A Life Once Dreamed was originally The Belle of Penance. A Lady in Attendance began as A Lady in Attendance and stayed A Lady in Attendance. Not only is this title fitting because dental assistants were knowns by this or as an attending lady, but also because Hazel wrestles with her worth. In a society that believes a mistake made once can leave a mark forever, it takes the right eyes and open heart to realize that there truly is a lady in attendance.

MY REVIEW 

One of the things I liked about this book was the unique profession of the two main characters. This is probably one of the few books that focuses on a dentist in 1898. I’m so glad we have technology today that makes going to a dentist less painful and easier to treat. Gilbert is a great character who is looking for someone to help him out at his office. Here is where I found the story interesting as the title had me thinking in a different direction. 

Hazel is a woman who needs to find  work quickly and hopefully without many questions to answer about her past. I think her sincerity and poise helped convince Gilbert to be her assistant. Have you connected the title to Hazel yet? It seems her duties are referred to as “A Lady in Attendance.” These two characters seem to work well together and and times start to be more at ease with each other. 

The main plot of the story focuses on Hazel and her wanting to prove her innocence. I understand that it is important to have those charges against her removed but at times I could see that she didn’t quite trust God. She had moments of doubt and other times she drew others in to help her. The best  part  of the story is there among the pages where a lesson on forgiveness and trust awaits us. 

There is a mystery in the story that Hazel is a part of. Her wrongful conviction is slowly beginning to unravel. She always knew that someday she would find the truth that would set her free. I liked how Hazel has moments where she wished things had been different for her, but God always has a plan for us. The beauty in this book lays at the most simplest of truths. We are forgiven. That statement sets us free from our past and allows us to find joy in everything. Hazel’s journey from being behind bars to learning to let go and find happiness is a true example of trusting God. 

“Love the life you are given.” 

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

Blog Stops

Girls in White Dresses, June 30

The Sacred Line, June 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 30

lakesidelivingsite, July 1

Inklings and notions, July 1

For Him and My Family, July 2

Reflections From My Bookshelves, July 2

Mary Hake, July 2

deb’s Book Review, July 3

Remembrancy, July 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 4

Reviewingbooksplusmore, July 4

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 5

Breny and Books, July 5

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, July 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 6

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, July 6

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 7

The Christian Fiction Girl, July 7

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 8

Simple Harvest Reads, July 8 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 8

Older & Smarter?, July 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 9

Connie’s History Classroom, July 10

For the Love of Literature, July 10

Pause for Tales, July 10

Splashes of Joy, July 11

Life of Literature, July 11

Daysong Reflections, July 12

Bliss, Books & Jewels, July 12

Labor Not in Vain, July 12

Through the fire blogs, July 13

Texas Book-aholic, July 13

Blossoms and Blessings, July 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of A Lady in Attendance as well as A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham, a signed bookplate, book swag, and a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble!!

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/10e71/a-lady-in-attendance-celebration-tour-giveaway

ALONG A STORIED TRAIL by 

ANNE H. GABHART

This is a wonderful book that gives us a glimpse into a time period where folks worked hard to survive. I really enjoyed getting to know Tansy. Her love of books makes her perfect as a packhorse librarian. It must have been hard taking books to people way up in the mountains during all kinds of weather. She loved doing it  because it gave others enjoyment . Can you imagine the only was to get books was to rely on someone who came by horse? I thought it was sad that the books were not in good shape and outdated. It was interesting to read how much getting books has changed. It makes me appreciate libraries so much more.

There is much to love about the book as we find two men vying for the attention of Tansy. One is familiar to her  and the other is a new addition to the town. I can see how Tansy’s head was turned by the new fellow. After all he is polished, full of adventure and nice to look at. However, sometimes looks can  be deceiving. 

The best character of the book for me was Aunt Perdie. She is one firecracker not to be messed with . She is full of stories that can keep you entertained for days. Her cat is not friendly and Aunt Perdie is definitely someone you want on your side. I liked how in the wake of a disaster she still finds something to be thankful for. As we get to know Perdie we can see the heartaches she has overcome and the wisdom she has gained. I loved following along the trail as tragedy, forgiveness and hope bring this story to a great ending. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads . The review is my own opinion. 

 

 

Christmas on Breakers Point Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book:  Christmas on Breakers Point

Author: Chautona Havig and Christa DelSorbo

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: September 1, 2020

One man’s last Christmas wish might change two lives forever.

Mallory Barrows has one last Christmas with her uncle. She’s determined to make it the best one he’s ever had.

She knows when she asks what he wants as his final gift, it won’t be a tie or a new mug. He won’t need those where he’s going, and he’s quite happy about that.

Mallory just didn’t think he wanted a miracle wrapped in paper and tied with a shiny red bow!

In a twist on a “last chance romance,” Christmas on Breakers Point introduces a new series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

Christmas on Breakers Point is the introductory book to the Independence Islands Series.

The Independence Island Series: Beach listens aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Chautona Havig

Author of the bestselling Aggie and Past Forward series, 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.

Christa DelSorbo

“The voice of a friend.”

Christa has a great sense of humor and extensive experience with accents, particularly those of the Southern United States and Great Britain. Her most recent credits include: local live musical theatre actress and choreographer, regional radio commercial voice actress, and speaker for national business events.

MY REVIEW

I read this book back in 2019 and picked it as one if my favorites for the year. This year I received the audio copy to review. Now I will confess that I have never listened to an audio book before. I have all kinds of excuses why I haven’t listened to one before. I started the book and sat down to follow along. Oh my was I in for a treat. The narrator has this soothing voice that carries you from page to page. She makes the story come to life as she speaks with clarity and emotion. Christa DelSorbo has made me a fan of audios. With her gift of making this story even better has made me want to hear more from her. It is no surprise that I already loved the book, but now with the addition of audio, it is a joy to experience the story once again. I hope you enjoy my review that follows and please consider getting the audio version as well as the book. 

This story was an emotional journey that I was hesitant to take because it deals with someone who has colon cancer. My brother passed away in March 2019 from colon cancer and I took care of him until he passed. The author does an excellent job of being sensitive to death as we get to know Uncle Bud. 

I loved everything about him but especially his faith. Oh how that man loved God and wanted everyone else to know him as well. His relationship with Mallory is special and their time together was spent laughing, reminiscing and sharing God with each other. Uncle Bud has one last gift he wants from Mallory before he dies. Will she be able to give him the gift ?

Mallory is everything I hope for in a character. She is loving, giving and always thinking of others. Taking care of her Uncle Bud is a time for her to cherish memories and give him comfort and peace during the time he has left. I loved how faith is shared in the story and the discussions that take place between several characters. The doubt that someone has about God is well written. I have often asked some of the same questions in my walk. I do find that people get legalistic and judgmental. It is hard to fit in sometimes when you see things that don't line up with the bible. 

The story is a beautiful reminder that life is short and we need to take every moment to share God, love each other and be a Godly example to others. I can't count how many times I cried throughout the story but I do know they were healing tears. I needed this book at this moment to help me grieve my loss. Before my brother passed, I was determined to lead him to Christ. The Friday before he passed he said the salvation prayer the best he could. With tears streaming down both our cheeks, he gave his heart to Jesus.

I appreciate an author that isn't afraid to give both sides of the debate whether God is real or not. The author's voice can be heard in the characters as they give their arguments and right there is sweet Uncle Bud loving how bold his niece is. His heart was full of love and he knew he could prepare himself for his "expiration date." 

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

 

More from Christa

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 2

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 3

Cats in the Cradle Blog, July 4

Inklings and notions, July 5

For Him and My Family, July 6

deb’s Book Review, July 7

Remembrancy, July 8

Texas Book-aholic, July 8

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 10

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 11

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 12

Splashes of Joy, July 13

Mary Hake, July 13

Blogging With Carol, July 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Christa is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book in the winner’s preferred style (Audio/Paperback/eBook)!!

*Only U.S. residents may receive a paperback copy. If the winner lives outside the U.S., then the winner is limited to an audiobook or eBook.

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/10e72/christmas-on-breakers-point-audiobook-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book:  Blood Sisters

Author: Jim O’Shea

Genre: Christian Suspense/Thriller

Release date: June 16, 2020

Libby Meeker is seeing things.

The young Salt Lake City architect is experiencing visions of her twin sister, despite the fact that Melissa died mysteriously almost one year ago.

If that’s not bad enough, a serial killer surfaces in northern Utah, and a series of bizarre clues lead Detective Troy Hunter to Libby…and unspeakable possibilities that begin to shatter her fragile world.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

The author of two previous highly-rated thrillers (The Linen God and The Reluctant Disciple), Jim O’Shea spends his time crafting novels of suspense that frequently tackle the dynamic between faith and science. Jim believes God continues to reveal his creation masterpiece through scientific discovery, and that Christian fiction is a great tool to expose those emerging truths.

His third novel, “Blood Sisters”, is also very highly rated on Amazon but takes a more traditional approach to mystery/thrillers with a mind-bending whodunit in the tradition of Agatha Christie. His fourth novel, “The Beacon”, will return to his faith/science roots and feature a compelling blend of espionage, leading-edge science, and salvation.

 

More from Jim

I’m fascinated by science in general, but more specifically by discoveries over the past hundred years that point directly to a Creator and His creation. The new findings fly in the face of mainstream physics which suggests matter and energy make up everything in our universe and that all things, including our consciousness or soul, are direct results of their interactions.

Fortunately, humankind’s advancements in physics, cosmology, quantum mechanics, biology, etc. point directly to the fact that the universe had an actual beginning as claimed in the Bible and our existence can not be explained by natural processes such as evolution. This should be a great comfort to every Christian, and my writing often tries to take these emerging truths and wrap them up into page-turning stories that provide the reader not with just a thrill ride, but also a glimpse into God’s glory!

MY REVIEW 

The only way I can describe this book is a physiological thriller that gave me chills throughout the story. Nothing was what it seems and I had to make sure my door was locked as I read late into the night. There is some talk about mental illness in the book which I thought the author did in a very tactful way. It is without a doubt I believe Libby’s mother suffered from something and as her health declined it became more obvious.
Libby is on the verge of a mental breakdown when she starts losing family members to tragic accidents. I knew she wanted to believe that her twin sister was alive, but oh how creepy it was for her to think she sees her dead sister in the house. When Detective Hunter joins the story he has his hands full with a serial killer who preys on young women with red hair. It was intriguing that puzzle pieces were left on the victims bodies. What did these puzzle pieces have in common? I thought is was brilliant how the author incorporated scriptures that held clues to the killer. 
I have to say I didn’t see the ending coming and was shocked at the outcome. I was beginning to think that Libby was mentally ill and maybe she was the killer. Or could her twin be alive and killing people because she was unstable? I really enjoyed this story with physiological aspects that will keep readers on the edge of your seat. At times I though a few of the characters were a little crass and disrespectful in their actions. I didn’t find much in the way of a faith element except when scriptures were mentioned. I do remember Libby’s father was a pastor who did rely on his faith but I’m not sure the rest of the family were as committed to their faith. Get ready for a story that will set your skin crawling as nothing is what it seems. When a deep secret is revealed be prepared to try not to scream. This has been a good thriller that I will remember for a long while. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 3

Beauty in the Binding, July 4 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, July 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 6

Mary Hake, July 6

Inklings and notions, July 7

For Him and My Family, July 8

deb’s Book Review, July 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 10

Blogging With Carol, July 11

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 11

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 12

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 13

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 15

SodbusterLiving, July 16

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Jim is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Starbucks 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/10e73/blood-sisters-celebration-tour-giveaway