Thursday, December 28, 2017

MY HEART BELONGS IN NIAGARA FALLS, NEWYORK by
AMANDA BARRATT

With a spectacular backdrop of Niagara Falls, the most death defying act was soon to astound the audience. Oh my I was hooked as I read what Drew was about to do. Who in their right mind would walk across Niagara Falls on a flimsy pole? I can hear Drew’s heart as the first step was taken. The author draws readers in with the heartpounding adventure of a man who is willing to risk his life . Drew isn’t out to be famous, but to help his sister who he adores. They are desperate for money and he is willing to walk on water for her. I loved Drew so much because he was a humble person who put others before himself.

Adele is a wonderful young lady who had it all; well until her family fell on hard times. The family name was once upon a time worth riches and they had outlandish places to live. That all changed when the family becomes almost penniless. I liked the journey Adele took to America. Her hopes were high as she sought after a husband who could save her family from ruins. What really caught my attention in the story was the faith that Drew had as he became a victim of a terrible accident. He never complained, but became more dependent on what God said. As his feelings become more clear towards Adele, she fights to keep hers under wraps.

The story is a reminder that God loves each of us and sees the beauty in us. Adele needed to trust that God would be with her and help her in her time of need. The scriptures used in the story were so beautiful to read. I love being reminded that if we wait upon the Lord, He will give us strength. Patience is a hard thing for many of us. We try to hurry things along when God is telling us to wait and trust Him. The author also touches on feeling like you are a failure in God’s eyes. One character will learn just how important they are to Him and be free from the guilt and shame they have carried for so long. This is one story that I savored every word and felt every emotion as the characters faced pain, disappointment and redemption.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk , and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31.

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

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

About the book:

This Christmas, there's plenty of room at the inn.

Nestled in the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe, the Grey Sage Inn looks like the perfect place for weary travelers to escape the craziness of the Christmas season. There's plenty to see in historic Santa Fe during the day, and the inn's owners, Maude and Silas Thornhill, are happy to spend their evenings hosting this year's guests from across the country.

But an unusual snowstorm throws a wrench in the festive mood. The sprawling inn becomes close quarters as stranded guests discover this Christmas won't be the relaxed vacation they expected. Tension and fear mount as the storm worsens, and Silas, a retired doctor, is called away in the middle of the night to care for a neighbor. The snow and stress unlocks tongues-and in the unexpected conversation that follows, secrets and pasts are revealed, and hearts are healed.

In the midst of snowdrifts and fireside conversations, of tales of days gone by, the warmth of Christmas brings a renewed hope as these trapped strangers become friends-proof again that the joy, hope, peace, and love of Christmas can be experienced no matter where you are.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Phyllis Clark Nichols believes everyone could use a little more hope and light. Her character-driven Southern fiction explores profound human questions from within the simple lives of small town communities you just know you've visited before. With a love for nature, art, faith and ordinary people, she tells redemptive tales of loss and recovery, estrangement and connection, longing and fulfillment, often through surprisingly serendipitous events. Phyllis grew up in the deep shade of magnolia trees in South Georgia. Now she lives in the Texas Hill Country with her portrait-artist husband, where red birds and axis deer are her ever-ravenous neighbors. She is an English major and classically-trained musician, seminary graduate, concert artist and co-founder of a national cable network for the health and disability-related programming. After retiring as a cable network executive, Phyllis began leading mission teams to orphanages in Guatemala and now serves on three non-profit boards where she works with others who are equally passionate about bringing hope and light to those who need it most.
Find out more about Phyllis at http://www.phyllisclarknichols.com.

This is the perfect book to get you in the Christmas spirit. The characters are funny, quirky, loveable and full of cheer. I loved reading about Santa Fe and all its charm. I would love to be a guest at the Inn and bask in all the wonderful food served there. It has always been full of Christmas spirit until a tragedy took the joy away from Maude and Silas.

Suddenly the Inn wasn’t cheerful or really welcoming to guests. It would sit there year after year with no decorations, no guests and no joy. Maude and Silas were both such great characters. They loved having guests, but it became hard after their loss to continue spreading joy to anyone. When a friend asks them to host a group during the holidays, Maude and Silas decide to let them come. The group had heard how spectacular the Inn has looked during Christmas and were excited to see it all lit up. To their dismay, no decorations were there and soon the group can’t wait to leave.

My heart went out to Maude and Silas. It has been many years since they lost a precious gift. Will this year bring them joy? When the group gets snowed in, that is when the real Christmas begins. Each person brings a different perspective of Christmas. Through their sharing and compassion, maybe the Inn will become a beautiful place to celebrate this year. I loved how each character seemed to know the right words to say to heal hearts, become friends and bring a smile to faces. There are some very touching moments in the story where the author really grabs the readers and fills them with tenderness and peace. I loved the writing and was sad the story ended. I would love to see a sequel of this book.

The story is a wonderful reminder of what Christmas is about. I cried, laughed and cheered throughout the book. This is a must read for anyone wanting a heartwarming Christmas story.

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

About the Book

Name of book: Solve by Christmas

Author: Amber Schamel

Genre: Historical Christmas

Release Date: September 1, 2017

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

“Amber Schamel’s engaging prose weaves together not one, but two edge-of-your-seat threads in this historical mystery. With the hero racing against time to solve the two cases readers will be kept guessing as they attempt to crack the case. “ ~ Laura V. Hilton author of Christmas Admirer (Whitaker House)

About the Author

Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call “historical fiction at its finest”. A homeschool graduate from a family of 12 children, Amber found her calling early in life. First published at age 21, she has continued to hone her craft and has been awarded the 2017 CSPA Book of the Year Award in Historical Fiction. Between ministry, family and working in their family-owned businesses, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples. Find her on the Stitches Thru Time blog, or on any of the major social media sites. Amber is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Pick up your copy here.

Guest Post from Amber Schamel

Thank you so much for joining us on the Celebrate Lit blog tour for Solve by Christmas!! I am so excited you’re here. For this special event, I wanted to share the inside scoop behind the story.

Solve by Christmas is a historical Mystery set in Denver during the great blizzard of 1913. It has a unique storyline, so people often wonder where the idea came from. Honestly, it was one of those ideas that just popped into my head, then took on a life of its own and evolved over several weeks.

I wanted to give my readers a new story before the year was out, but I didn’t have a specific plot in mind. I did know I wanted to write a Christmas story. So, I had that much. Then I decided I wanted something with a firm deadline.” Ifthis doesn’t happen by this date, everyone dies” sort of thing. Then “By Christmas” popped into my head and flicked on a light. What if Christmas wasthe deadline?

I’ve always loved detectives and mystery stories, and they go perfectly with deadlines. So, then I thought, what if a detective must solve the case by Christmas or death wins?

Sometimes, as an author, there are ideas and thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere. Almost like God dropping a card into your mental mailbox. The next point of Solve by Christmas was that way. What if a detective was assigned a case that he had to solve by Christmas, but it wasn’t a real case –at least not the type of case he wanted—but something completely different? From there, the story began to really take shape.

The next step, of course, is to come up with a character to be the detective. I wanted the story to have a Sherlock Holmes feel, so I started by studying his character a bit. But my story also has a less serious side since it isn’t a murder mystery and takes place at a sugar factory. I wondered…what would happen if you took Sherlock Holmes and meshed him with Barney Fife?

Now THAT would be hard to pull off. But I was determined to try. So, I made a list of Sherlock Holmes traits, and one of Barney Fife’s traits. I began to see that they actually DO have several similarities. They’re both a bit socially awkward. They both have a very similar flavor of pride. And they both have this air of authority…although Sherlock can back his up while Barney struggles in that area. Then I began to pick and choose between the traits that were left, this Barney trait, this Sherlock trait, and pretty soon I had Detective Jasper Hollock forming on the page. Whether you will get a Barney Fife and Sherlock feel when you read Solve by Christmas, I can’t say. But I do believe I was successful in creating a unique, quirky character that will bring this Christmas mystery to life.

There you have it. The scoop behind Solve by Christmas. I hope you enjoy the story, and best wishes in the giveaway! I will be stopping by along with Jasper and Denny (the two main characters) to answer any questions you may have about the story or the characters, so please do leave us a comment.

I love mysteries that keep me guessing. The author has risen to the challenge with a story that takes on Sherlock Holmes meets Scrooge. I say Scrooge because why would Mr. Rudin want to ruin Christmas for his family, friends and employees by contemplating suicide on Christmas Day? Dare I say there is much more to Mr. Rudin than we know. He is a powerful man who runs The Rudin Sugar Factory. I loved the descriptions of the factory and how the machines kept things running. I loved the setting that takes place in 1913 and how the author was able to take us back in time with outstanding details.

Detective Jasper Hollock is ready to tackle a big case. When he gets a call from Mr. Rudin, his hope soars with a dream of cracking a big case. What he finds waiting for him is a rather unusual situation. His job is to prove to Mr. Rudin that his life is important. That sure is a tall order for a detective that thought he was getting a big case with bad guys maybe trying to sabotage his business. Oh wait, funny thing about that. Suddenly unexplained things are happening at the factory. Bolts missing that run machines, contamination that could cause sales to drop. Looks like he has his hands full with all the shenanigans going on.

I really loved Denny so much. That kid is hungry for adventure and being a detective will give him action he never dreamed of. He keeps trying to convince Jasper that he needs a sidekick. I say let him help. An eager person will go the distance to get answers and Jasper sure could use some. The story is funny at times and the characters are quite unique. I loved the mystery which I tried to figure out. Who was behind the sabotage of the factory? Will Jasper be able to save Mr. Rudin from harming himself? The story has a special message for everyone which I thought the author showed at the end of the story. Don’t miss this very intrguing heartwarming book.

“When you feel like you’ve come to a dead end, He brings a new beginning.”

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

Blog Stops

A Baker’s Perspective, December 12

A Simply Enchanted Life, December 12

Connie’s History Classroom, December 13

Bigreadersite, December 13

The Fizzy Pop Collecton, December 14

Genesis5020, December 14

Baker Kella, December 15

Daysong Reflections, December 15

History, Mystery & Faith, December 16

Karen Sue Hadley, December 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 17

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, December 17

Aryn The Libraryan, December 18

A Reader’s Brain, December 18

Bibliophile Reviews, December 19

Mary Hake, December 19

Texas Book-aholic, December 20

Simple Harvest Reads, December 20

Babs Book Bistro, December 21

Reading Is My SuperPower, December 21 (Interview)

Seasons of Opportunities, December 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 22

Just the Write Escape, December 23

The Power of Words, December 23

Live.Love.Read., December 24

Carpe Diem, December 24

Blogging With Carol, December 25

The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate, December 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amber is giving away a grand prize of a Christmas themed basket which will include a paperback copy of Solve by Christmas and The Swaddling Clothes (my two Christmas books) as well as a Christmas terrarium jar, and a Solve by Christmas notepad!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c5bb

Tour Reminders

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

About the Book

Name of book: Hope Travels Through

Author: Loni Kemper Moore

Genre: Contemporary Lit

TeJae Smythe gave up on God and her hometown of Evansville, Indiana, ten years ago, but a deep personal loss requires her to return to both. Her life as a stewardess is going to be perfect. She has a plan. If only life would stick to it.

In Hope Travels Through, TeJae finds the biggest challenge comes from the conflict within herself. Will she hold it all together? Or will she fall apart and embrace the beauty in the midst of disaster?

Based on actual events of December 13, 1977, a date most people don’t remember, but one many living in the Ohio River Valley will never forget, the crash of the University of Evansville men’s basketball team plane.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Loni Kemper Moore is a Denver-Broncos cheering, Diet-Pepsi sipping, Rocky Mountain adventure-seeking kind of girl. She’s passionate for God and wants to share His beautiful love through life’s ugliness with remarkable women around the globe. Her writing came alive seven years ago after she broker her ankle. The crazy time of being laid up forced her to flip through decades of diaries which inspired the story that became Hope Travels Through. When she’s not writing, she’s an entertainer, technical support analyst; mom of a teenager named Adam; traveler with Robert, her dear “Hugsband,” stepmom to University of Evansville alumna Becca and her husband, Anthony; and spender of way too much time on Facebook. With her experiences of learning to trust God through tragedy, being employed by travel agencies and Delta Air Lines, and attending University of Evansville graduate school, she’s the best person to tell this story.

Guest Post from Loni Moore

What Made Me Write Hope Travels Through?

The weathered orthopedic surgeon shook his head and stared at the x-rays. Without making eye-contact, he said, “I usually work on Olympians and professional athletes. This doesn’t look good. She’s going to have arthritis and limp for the rest of her life.”

I hadn’t had anything stronger than Tylenol since the entire weight of my 128 (at the time) pounds crunched my left ankle, 24 hours earlier.

Robert, aka Dear Hugsband, had told me, so very graciously, when we arrived at Skate City, “Once you’re over 50, you shouldn’t roller skate.” But our son, Adam was 10 and I wondered how many more years he’d want me to hang out with him, so I’d strapped on the skates and joined the crowd of skaters. I avoided landing on the body of the five-year old who cut me off. Didn’t that count for something?

However, none of that mattered at that moment. I needed drugs, and Robert agreed to whatever that surgeon said to get my prescriptions.

One afternoon, my stomach growled on a gurney as I waited in the surgery center with IVs in my hands until a perky nurse announced, “The doctor will need to reschedule because something came up.”

REALLY? After waiting 10 days, he no-shows?

I’ve never loved Robert’s New York attitude more than the next day when by 7 pm that evening I was at Red Robin, post-surgery, eating a celebratory French Onion soup. Thanks to a nerve blocker the new, cute surgeon had provided after rebreaking bones and inserting pins.

Adam was able to complete his homeschool work with little interference from my drug infested brain and I occupied my time by flipping through decades of accumulated diaries. The story of a woman surviving tough times percolated in my brain and I remembered my mother saying, “Everyone has a Great American Novel in her. You just need to take time to write it.”

As my leg healed leaving no arthritis nor limp, I returned to the million things life demands, including a visit to our Becca at the University of Evansville, where I’d done my graduate work. As she showed us the Weeping Basketball, my protagonist informed me the story began in 1976, not 2011. The story climaxed when the university’s men’s basketball team plane crashed, but I was too busy to spend much time on it.

Three days before Christmas that year, my younger sister passed away from Lyme complications, I could barely breathe. I’ve seen it a dozen times someone’s busy life prevents her from taking care of herself until something stops them in their tracks and they cannot move on. That happened to me.

At the time, Dear Hugsband programmed Coca-Cola’s Freestyle machine (you’re welcome), so Adam and I joined him in Atlanta for several months. During that time without the cooking-cleaning-requirements and Adam insisting he preferred independence of his homeschool curriculum with minimal input from me, I processed my grief by putting the story that became Hope Travels Through on my computer.

“In a weak moment, I have written a book.” Margaret Mitchell – Gone With The Wind

Dear Hugsband loved his project with Coca-Cola and enjoyed everything about working in Atlanta except the humidity, the traffic and the commute. Typically, he worked in Georgia every other week, and was home every weekend.

But occasionally, he’d be forced to stay in Atlanta over the weekend and tried to find something to entertain himself. One weekend, after seeing every movie running, he decided to go to the Margaret Mitchell House Museum where one of my favorite books, Gone With The Wind, was written.

He bought me a mug with the above quote on it which he said was to encourage me in my writing, along with several commonalities between myself and the famous author.

She was short—I am 5 feet tall, if I stretch;
Her husband was over 6 feet tall—mine is 6’3 1/2”;
She started writing her novel, after an ankle injury– I started writing after I a similar injury;
She used a typewriter—I use a computer;
Her mother gave her the quotes she used about how to survive in an upside-down world – my mom had a Bible verse for every occasion. I think her favorite was Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind, Loni to whomever…”;
It took Margaret ten years to complete her novel – I’m not far behind, at nearly eight years.

Obviously, I don’t have one commonality with Margaret, in that she died at the age of 48 in a traffic accident, but his conclusions are precious.

I’m well aware the odds of my little novel being successful, without the industry connections Margaret had, are low, but it’s been a fun journey even if no one buys a copy!

The author takes us back to the late 1970’s where Tab was still a drink that was well liked. In the south we call all soft drinks Cokes. I loved how the author made the era exactly the way I remember it. I grew up in the seventies where the Vietnam War was a subject no one wanted to talk about.

TeJae was a flight attendant and loved her job. I remember thinking how cool it would be to be a flight attendant and travel all over the world. She is still grieving the loss of her brother and is angry with him. She never got to say goodbye and it pains her to have unfinished words she wanted to say to him. She meets interesting people on the flights. I really liked the description of the planes and the tasks that TaJae was expected to do during the flight.

When she meets Mikel while on a trip in Hawaii, she is a bit cautious of him. She finds out he is a chaplain in the army and I think that may have made her hold her feelings towards him at arms length. She is angry with God for taking her brother. Can Mikel help her through her grief? Can he lead her back to God? When a devastating accident occurs , TeJae is shaken to the core. Her foundation, her security is gone. How will she handle another loss of family members?

I loved how the author incorporated the famous basketball team known as the University of Evansville men’s team. They were very well liked and everyone in the town came to see them play. The authors knowledge of basketball and well known players make the story come alive. The tragedy of losing a basketball team was devastating for everyone. With the authors beautiful words, the scene came to life. I saw the destruction of a plane crash and heard the agony as loved ones were told the painful news of a death.

The story is filled with grief that only God can heal. I loved how the author wove a story of overcoming tragedy and the faith the characters found as they found forgiveness and love.

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 16

Karen Sue Hadley, December 16

Jami’s Words, December 17

Quiet Quilter, December 18

Reading Is My SuperPower, December 18

Inspiration clothesline, December 19

Texas Book-aholic, December 19

Radiant Light, December 20

Carpe Diem, December 21

Avid Reader Book Reviews, December 21

A Reader’s Brain, December 22

A Greater Yes, December 23

Blogging With Carol, December 23

Books, Books, and More Books, December 24

SusanLovesBooks, December 25

Remembrancy, December 26

Mary Hake, December 26

Janices book review, December 27

The Power of Words, December 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 29

Just Jo’Anne, December 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Loni is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c5be

Saturday, December 16, 2017

OATH OF HONOR by
LYNETTE EASON

This book is one action packed story that will have readers on the edge of their seats. Izzy is a great police officer and is very smart. Her intuitions are always spot on and her keen sense of caution helps her in her job. I loved her partner Kevin. He is a rookie cop and is out to save the world. I liked how they seemed to work so well together.

One evening on a tip Kevin and Izzy go to investigate a warehouse. From the moment Kevin steps in the building, the story moves at a quick pace with intense moments. I can’t imagine how nerve racking it would be to investigate a building not knowing what you will find. It’s like going in blindly and hoping for the best. That night turns out to set in motion a riveting story. There were times I wasn’t sure who the good guys were. The author writes a suspenseful story and leaves the readers guessing at every turn.

Ryan is Kevin’s brother and a cop as well. I liked the chemistry between him and Izzy. Ryan is dealing with the loss of his brother Chris. Will his brother Kevin be able to stay out of danger? The author does a great job of keeping the action going with twists and turns. I loved reading about how elections are run and learning the ins and out of a police station. With the realism of the story, I could easily picture every movement characters were making. I love when an author can take a story and have it come to life with such vivid descriptions. The story is a sure winner with appearances from gang members, organized crime and corruption in the police department. I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Librarything Early Reviewer’s Program. The review is my own opinion.

About the Book

Name of book: 12 Days at Bleakly Manor

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Historical Christmas

Release Date: September 1, 2017

England, 1851: When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet feels compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of five hundred pounds.

But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, Benjamin Lane.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar. Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they’ve been striving for isn’t what ultimately matters.

What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the author of both Regency and Colonial historical romances but also leaped the writerly fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. Keep up with her escapades at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Guest Post from Michelle Griep

Go Green With Victorian Christmas Décor

Guest post by Michelle Griep

Walk in any store and you’ll be bombarded with displays of Christmas lights, gaudy ornaments, and inflatable life-size lawn characters. Commercialization at its worst. 150 years ago, that wasn’t the case. Yearning to decorate in a simpler fashion this year? Here are some ways you can bring a bit of the nineteenth century to your home this Christmas…

TREE DECORATIONS

Queen Elizabeth’s husband, the German Prince Albert, introduced the concept of a Christmas tree to Windsor castle. And you know, if it’s good enough for royalty its good enough for the common folk, right? So, the tradition spread. Generally trees were brought inside on Christmas Eve and taken down on January 6th. Trees were decorated with homemade ornaments from paper or fruits and nuts, strings of popcorn or cranberries, or hanging cookies such as gingerbread men from the branches. And remember, an authentic Victorian Christmas tree would’ve been small, like small enough to stand on a table.

GREENERY

Holly. Evergreens. Mistletoe. Most Victorians couldn’t afford store-bought decorations even were there a commercialized industry at the time (which there wasn’t). So the next best thing was to bring in some free/natural ornamentations. Greenery would’ve been perked up with berries, ribbons, dough ornaments or flowers. Pinecones were also scattered throughout the house.

WREATHS

“Writhen” is the root word where we get the word wreath from. It’s an old English word meaning “to writhe” or “to twist.” While the art of hanging wreaths goes back to Roman times, Victorians continued the tradition.

CANDLES

Candles were primarily placed in one of two spots during a Victorian Christmas. A single candle in a window was lit to show that the house was willing to provide food and shelter to travelers. Candles were also used on each and every branch of a Christmas tree, which meant a huge danger of fire. Usually a servant would stand nearby with a bucket of water just in case the thing started to burn.

DRESDENS

Dresdens are ornaments hung from the tree, from a window, or really hanging pretty much anywhere. These were handmade by cutting out shapes (usually animals or trains) and painted with metallic paint so that they looked like metal.

And that’s about it. No obnoxious Santas or reindeer inflated on the front lawn. No psycho Christmas lights strobing enough to give every passerby a seizure. Just plain and simple decor that made the home feel cozy.

And speaking of cozy, how about grabbing a blanket and a cup of hot tea and settling in for a holiday read that’s sure to put you in the Christmas spirit? My latest release is 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, a Victorian blend of Dickens and Agatha Christie.

I enjoyed going to back in time to the late 1800s and finding very interesting historical facts scattered throughout the book. It definitely reads like a Charles Dickens story, but with a bit more flair of intrigue. The characters were quirky and somewhat hard to keep up with. I thought there was a lot going on in the book with so many characters.

I did like the idea of a group of people ascending upon a manor house to spend Christmas. Their task was to be the last person there and be rewarded handsomely. Clara is not sure about the invitation, but with a promise for money to help her family, she decides to go. I’m not sure I would go traipsing off to a strange place so quickly.

Ben is my favorite character. He has been wrongly accused of stealing from Clara’s family and sent to prison. It was no surprise to me that he would be one of the guests of the manor. There is friction between Clara and Ben when they first see each other. Clara believes Ben ruined her family business. Perhaps she was more upset by the fact that he had left her at the altar. It is a good story with emotions that run high at times , but overall a story that gives hope and peace to all.

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