JUST CLAIRE by JEAN ANN WILLIAMS
I really enjoyed the story and thought the author did a great job of giving readers a glimpse into the world of a young girl with big responsibilities . Claire takes on more than she can handle at times, but I loved her commitment to her siblings. After her mom has a baby, she seems different. Claire takes on the chores of taking care of the baby while her mama sleeps all the time. I liked how the author described what it is like for some women after having a baby. It's hard for some women to shake postpartum depression and Claire's mom is really having a hard time.Claire has a lot on her shoulders and I really could identify with her when she tried so hard to get others in school to like her. I remember being the girl who wore long dresses and was so shy I barely spoke in school. Like Claire, I came from a family who was not rich. My mom made all of my clothes and there were times I was embarrassed to wear them. Claire is a very strong character and there are times she may feel discouraged but her faith sustained her.
The Lavender Girls were fun to read about. There is always that one group of girls in school that everyone wants to be like. I liked how the author showed how hard it was for Claire to pick who she wanted to be friends with. Her friend, Belinda is loyal and warns Claire not to join the group. Will Claire listen to her friend? I liked how the author talked about bullying . There is so much of that in schools today and it can be difficult for kids to shake it off. The story is centered around Claire as she experiences trying to fit into a new town. Her love for her family is heartwarming . It was nice how the author showed Claire's frustrations at times as her mom struggles with her illness. It is hard to watch someone you love fighting to get better. This is a very emotional story at times and I thought the author really showed how important faith and family are.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Bookfun.org. The review is my honest opinion.
The Lavender Girls were fun to read about. There is always that one group of girls in school that everyone wants to be like. I liked how the author showed how hard it was for Claire to pick who she wanted to be friends with. Her friend, Belinda is loyal and warns Claire not to join the group. Will Claire listen to her friend? I liked how the author talked about bullying . There is so much of that in schools today and it can be difficult for kids to shake it off. The story is centered around Claire as she experiences trying to fit into a new town. Her love for her family is heartwarming . It was nice how the author showed Claire's frustrations at times as her mom struggles with her illness. It is hard to watch someone you love fighting to get better. This is a very emotional story at times and I thought the author really showed how important faith and family are.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Bookfun.org. The review is my honest opinion.
MY HEART BELONGS IN FORT BLISS, TEXAS by ERICA VETSCH
I loved how the author described the territory and made you feel like you were there with the soldiers. The details of the herbs used by the Indians for healing were well researched. I am always amazed at how gifted this author is. She has brought a story set in the late 1870s to life with vivid descriptions of the land and army life. I could picture the soldiers as they guarded the fort and the Indians as they rode throughout the land.
Priscilla has come to Fort Bliss, Texas to bring her niece and nephew home with her. After learning of the tragic death of their parents, she must do her duty as their aunt and rescue them from a life in the military. She is a very gifted artist and I was fascinated about her work. What a wonderful job to have in those days as an artist for a catalog. She drew beautiful pictures of fancy dresses and loved her work. Will she bring the twins back to her home with no problem?
After a very long ride in a stagecoach she arrives at her destination. Her dislike for army life is well known within moments of being at Fort Bliss. She knows if her brother and sister-in-law had not been there , they would still be alive. She is on a mission to get the twins and leave the dreary place as quickly as she can. There is one person she did not know existed and will prove to be a force she must battle with.
Major Elliot Ryder is a great character. He loves his niece and nephew and will do anything to protect them. He is a busy surgeon but always has time for the children. Priscilla and Elliot are both surprised to realize they each exist and want the children. The story is well written and emotional at times. I loved the feeling of being in a different era and watching the story unfold before me.
I was captivated by the love everyone had for the twins and loved how they enjoyed living at the fort. They are quite taken by their aunt but the reason she is there worries them. Can Priscilla and Elliot make a decision that is best for the children? Will Priscilla's bitterness towards army life cloud her judgment? This is one story you don't want to miss. It is filled with adventure , faith and family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."
Priscilla has come to Fort Bliss, Texas to bring her niece and nephew home with her. After learning of the tragic death of their parents, she must do her duty as their aunt and rescue them from a life in the military. She is a very gifted artist and I was fascinated about her work. What a wonderful job to have in those days as an artist for a catalog. She drew beautiful pictures of fancy dresses and loved her work. Will she bring the twins back to her home with no problem?
After a very long ride in a stagecoach she arrives at her destination. Her dislike for army life is well known within moments of being at Fort Bliss. She knows if her brother and sister-in-law had not been there , they would still be alive. She is on a mission to get the twins and leave the dreary place as quickly as she can. There is one person she did not know existed and will prove to be a force she must battle with.
Major Elliot Ryder is a great character. He loves his niece and nephew and will do anything to protect them. He is a busy surgeon but always has time for the children. Priscilla and Elliot are both surprised to realize they each exist and want the children. The story is well written and emotional at times. I loved the feeling of being in a different era and watching the story unfold before me.
I was captivated by the love everyone had for the twins and loved how they enjoyed living at the fort. They are quite taken by their aunt but the reason she is there worries them. Can Priscilla and Elliot make a decision that is best for the children? Will Priscilla's bitterness towards army life cloud her judgment? This is one story you don't want to miss. It is filled with adventure , faith and family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."
 About the book:
Why did their differences matter so much?
Link Whitman has settled into the role of bachelor
without ever intending to. Now he's stuck in a dead-end job and, as the next Whitman wedding fast approaches, he is the last one standing. The pressure from his sisters' efforts to play matchmaker is getting hard to bear as Link pulls extra shifts at work, and helps his parents at the Chicory Inn.
All her life, Shayla Michaels has felt as if she straddled
two worlds. Her mother's white family labeled her African American father with names Shayla didn't repeat in polite-well, in any company. Her father's family disapproved as well, though they eventually embraced Shayla as their own. After the death of her mother, and her brother Jerry's incarceration, life has eft Shayla's father bitter, her niece, Portia, an orphan, and Shayla responsible for them all. She knows God loves them all, but why couldn't people accept each other for what was on the inside? For their hearts?
Everything changes one icy morning when a child runs into the street and Link nearly
hits her with his pickup. Soon he is falling in love with the little girl's aunt, Shayla, the beautiful woman who runs Coffee's On, the bakery in Langhorne. Can Shayla and Link overcome society's view of their differences and find true love? Is there hope of changing the sometimes-ugly world around them into something better for them all? 
About the author:
Deborah Raney's novels have won numerous awards including the RITA,
National Readers' Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, the Carol Award, and have three times been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken Raney have traded small-town life in Kansas-the setting of many of Deb's novels-for life in the city of Wichita.
Find out more about Deborah at http://deborahraney.com.
Join Deborah on Thursday, March 23, for a live author chat party in her Facebook groupwith fun prizes to be won! Click the graphic below for more details and to RSVP. Hopeto see you there-bring a friend or two who loves to read!
I am very saddened to see this series come to an end. I have enjoyed my time in Chicory Inn. The author has made readers feel like part of the family. The inn was the central point of each story as the family gathered there for dinners, marriages and spending quality time togther. Each story in the series seemed to build on to each other. We became acquainted with the Whitman family and experienced their trials and accomplishments. The final book in this engaging series is the most powerful and emotional book the author has ever written. She has surpassed my expectations of a storyline that some will consider uncomfortable and writes with real depth and honesty. Thank you for saving the best for last. I wiped away tears during many scenes and at times I was angry because of the ignorance of people that still see others differently.
Shayla is a beautiful black woman who helps her dad at the family owned bakery. She is a hard worker and fiercely protective of her niece. After her mom died, her father seemed a bit more stern in watching over Shayla and Portia. Her father has faced many hardships in his life and I admired his determination to make things better for Shayla and Portia. Shayla is bitter over the irresponsible choices her brother has made and it showed how one bad choice can have a ripple affect on others.
Link Whitman has run into Shayla several times in town and finds himself smitten with her. I loved how he looked past the color of her skin and saw the beauty she had inside. The story tackles the issue that goes on still today. Shayla knows what it is like to look different and wishes she looked like her mom. Her mom was beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes. It was tough to be in a biracial marriage and the consequences for Shayla's mom was devastating.
Portia is a firecracker of energy and her smile is contagious. She is very well mannered and innocent. What crushes my heart is when she comes face to face with prejudice. Link is convinced that he can win Shayla over but after witnessing an altercation at the movies between Shay, Portia and some ill mannered young men, he starts to understand why Shayla is so unsure they should have a relationship. Will their relationship out Shayla and her family in danger?
This is one book where the author writes with passion as she shows readers how society still treats others with little respect. Will we ever get to the point where it doesn't matter what color our skin is? When will we remember that children are innocent and should not have to face hate at any age? I was very impressed with Link and his family. They welcomed Shayla into their home and made her feel welcome. I wish miss Chicory Inn but the author leaves us with a powerful message. Love is all we need and with faith we can overcome anything.There are bonus questions at the end of the book that you don't want to miss. I want to thank Deborah Raney for writing a book that we all need to read . Thank you for your love for everyone and helping us through Shayla and Link's story to examine our hearts and see people the way Jesus sees them.
I was given a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group. The review is my own opinion.
The
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Friday, March 10, 2017
| About the book:
Why did their differences matter so much?
Link Whitman has settled into the role of bachelor without ever intending to. Now he's stuck in a dead-end job and, as the next Whitman wedding fast approaches, he is the last one standing. The pressure from his sisters' efforts to play matchmaker is getting hard to bear as Link pulls extra shifts at work, and helps his parents at the Chicory Inn.
All her life, Shayla Michaels has felt as if she straddled two worlds. Her mother's white family labeled her African American father with names Shayla didn't repeat in polite-well, in any company. Her father's family disapproved as well, though they eventually embraced Shayla as their own. After the death of her mother, and her brother Jerry's incarceration, life has left Shayla's father bitter, her niece, Portia, an orphan, and Shayla responsible for them all. She knows God loves them all, but why couldn't people accept each other for what was on the inside? For their hearts?
Everything changes one icy morning when a child runs into the street and Link nearly hits her with his pickup. Soon he is falling in love with the little girl's aunt, Shayla, the beautiful woman who runs Coffee's On, the bakery in Langhorne. Can Shayla and Link overcome society's view of their differences and find true love? Is there hope of changing the sometimes-ugly world around them into something better for them all?
About the author:
Deborah Raney's books have won numerous awards including the RITA, National Readers' Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas-the setting of many of Deb's novels-for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita.
Find out more about Deborah at http://deborahraney.com.
    |
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Death By Chocolate Lab
by Bethany Blake
Death By Chocolate Lab is full of subtle humor, intriguing characters, and dogs with a great deal of personality. Oh – and a really well-plotted mystery with lots of twists and turns.
~Reading is my SuperPower
~Reading is my SuperPower
A great fast paced read that will keep you guessing until the end and even I was taken back by who it was.
~Bab’s Book Bistro
~Bab’s Book Bistro
Death by Chocolate Lab (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Kensington (February 28, 2017)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496707383
E-Book ASIN: B01GBAG2T0
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Kensington (February 28, 2017)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496707383
E-Book ASIN: B01GBAG2T0
Pet sitter Daphne Templeton has a soft spot for every stray and misfit who wanders into the quaint, lakeside village of Sylvan Creek. But even Daphne doesn’t like arrogant, womanizing Steve Beamus, the controversial owner of Blue Ribbon K-9 Academy. When Steve turns up dead during a dog agility trial, Daphne can think of a long list of people with motives for homicide, and so can the police. Unfortunately, at the top of the list is Daphne’s sister, Piper—Steve’s latest wronged girlfriend.Certain that Piper is innocent, in spite of mounting evidence to the contrary, Daphne sets out to clear her sister’s name—and find Axis, Steve’s prize-winning chocolate Labrador, who went missing the night of Steve’s death. Aided by Socrates, her taciturn basset hound, and a hyperactive one-eared Chihuahua named Artie, Daphne quickly runs afoul of Detective Jonathan Black, a handsome and enigmatic newcomer to town, who has no appreciation for Daphne’s unorthodox sleuthing.Can a free-spirited pet sitter, armed only with a Ph.D. in Philosophy and her two incompatible dogs, find the real killer before she becomes the next victim?Includes recipes for homemade dog treats!
About The Author
Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she’s not writing or riding horses, she’s wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley’s Premium Pet Care.
Author Links
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N
Amazon B&N
The author is off to a grand start with this new series. I was so impressed with the writing style and how the story kept my attention. I love reading about animals and adore dogs. The setting for the story was great and oh how I loved the characters.
Daphne is quite the dog whisperer. Well maybe not to some of the dogs but as a pet sitter she is perfect. Getting to know the animals she takes care of were fun. I absolutely love Artie. He would be the dog I would adopt without question. The author described him so well I could see his big eyes and bulging teeth with only one ear on a face that you have to love. Socrates is such a laid back dog and I laughed as Daphne tried coaxing him on walks. Daphne lives with her sister Piper, who happens to be a veterinarian.
Piper is a very intelligent woman and is much more serious than her wacky sister Daphne. As it gets closer for the agility trail for dogs , Daphne is helping her sister set up for it on her farm. I would love to watch one of these trails in person. I can just imagine the beautiful and powerful dogs showing their strength and ability to listen to commands. It must take a lot of work to train them. Unfortunately something goes wrong and the trail is cancelled. A body has been found and who do you think discovers the body?
Detective Jonathan Black is the investigator on the case. He really sounded like a good man with no tolerance for people who try to interfere . He is pretty quiet about his personal life and I enjoyed his encounters with Daphne. Will Piper be charged with the crime? Can Daphne stay out of the Jonathan's way? The story is funny and the trouble that Daphne finds herself in exasperates everyone around her. With Daphne the pet sitter on the case , shenanigans are sure to follow. Don't miss this fun cozy mystery filled with laughter and intrigue.
I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.
: a Rafflecopter giveaway
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No Way Home
by Annette Dashofy
Dashofy’s No Way Home is off the charts fantastic! Fantastic characters, fantastic mysteries, fantastic book!! Get your copy and hold on tight, it is going to be a bumpy ride as you find out if everyone make their way home.
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
No Way Home is the best one yet. Great story that keeps you on the edge.
~Shelley’s Book Case
~Shelley’s Book Case
Make your way to No Way Home’s pages. You’ll uncover a wonderful addition to Zoe’s story, as well as a superb story in and of itself. But I definitely suggest reading the whole series. The more you read, the more you’ll find to love.
~Back Porchervations
~Back Porchervations
A fantastic book that I loved reading. I couldn’t put the book down. It was great mystery that had me from the first pages.
~Books, Dreams, Life
~Books, Dreams, Life
Annette Dashofy has crafted a suspenseful and satisfying story in No Way Home; it’s possibly my favorite of the Zoe Chambers mysteries to date.
~The Girl with Book Lungs
~The Girl with Book Lungs
No Way Home was a fast paced keep you on the edge of your seat Cozy read. No Way Home is a ‘stand alone’ book although be cautioned you’ll probably want to read the beginning of the series!
~The Journey Back
~The Journey Back
Annette is a great writer, providing the reader with such a mystery that you guess through out the book on the “who-done-it” and yet, even in the end you are surprised to see the actual suspect come to light.
~Bibliophile Reviews
~Bibliophile Reviews
No Way Home 
(A Zoe Chambers Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Henery Press (March 14, 2017)
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635111774
Kindle 9781635111798
(A Zoe Chambers Mystery)Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Henery Press (March 14, 2017)
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635111774
Kindle 9781635111798
Synopsis
A relaxing trail ride turns tragic when Paramedic and Deputy Coroner Zoe Chambers discovers the body of a popular county commissioner in her Pennsylvania woods. Inconsistencies surround the horrible accident, but before she can investigate further, she’s pried away by a plea for help from her best friend whose son has been deemed a person of interest in a homicide over a thousand miles away. When he vanishes without a trace, his mother begs Zoe to help clear him and bring him safely home. The task takes Zoe out of her comfort zone in a frantic trip to the desolate canyons and bluffs of New Mexico where she joins forces with the missing boy’s sister and a mysterious young Navajo.Back at home, Vance Township’s Chief of Police Pete Adams must deal not only with the commissioner’s homicide, but with an influx of meth and a subsequent rash of drug overdoses in his rural community. Bodies keep turning up while suspects keep disappearing. However little else matters when he learns that half a continent away, a brutal killer has Zoe in his sights.
Books in the Zoe Chambers Mystery Series:
(#1)
(#2)
(#3)
(#4)
About The Author –
Annette Dashofy is the USA Today best-selling author of the Zoe Chambers mystery series about a paramedic and deputy coroner in rural Pennsylvania’s tight-knit Vance Township. CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE
, published by Henery Press, was a finalist for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel and for the David Award for Best Mystery of 2014. LOST LEGACY
, was released in September 2014 followed in April 2015 by BRIDGES BURNED
, which has been nominated for the Agatha for Best Contemporary Novel. WITH A VENGEANCE
, the fourth in the series, was released May 3, 2016.
, published by Henery Press, was a finalist for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel and for the David Award for Best Mystery of 2014. LOST LEGACY, was released in September 2014 followed in April 2015 by BRIDGES BURNED, which has been nominated for the Agatha for Best Contemporary Novel. WITH A VENGEANCE, the fourth in the series, was released May 3, 2016.
Author Links
website– www.annettedashofy.com
Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/annette.dashofy
Twitter– @Annette_Dashofy
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N
Amazon B&N
I am not sure what I expected when I got this book to read, but I can say it is going on my favorite books list. I loved everything about this book. The characters are phenomenal and the mystery is so intense I couldn't stop reading. If you have not read a book from this author you are missing out on a superb writing style. I was so engrossed in the story I could almost imagine it being a movie.
Zoe is a woman with many talents and has nerves of steel. She is able to keep calm in the most chaotic situations. As she gets ready to hit the trail at the boarding facility she runs, a lone horse shows up. Where is the rider? It seems odd to Zoe and she starts looking for the rider. What she discovers will set into motion a mystery that will span the countryside and into another state. There has been a lot of friction going on in town due to fracking . I found this very interesting and wanted to learn more. The author does a great job of explaining what it is. I also had some inside information from my husband who works in the oil and gas industry. Was someone out to stop any plans dealing with fracking in their town?
The people in town are shocked to learn who the person was that Zoe found. Let's just say the person was well known and had maybe upset a certain group in town. The brilliant writing takes us on a journey that also involves some mysterious deaths of young people. Someone very dear to Zoe turns up missing and she finds herself going to New Mexico to search for him. This is where I found myself on the edge of my seat. The action really takes off and Zoe is kept wondering who to trust .
There is one character that really stood out and I quickly found myself liking him. He is known as 'pony boy" or "Yellowhorse' as some call him. He was someone I would want to have on my side if I was in danger. He is very smart, knows the land well and will protect those with him at all costs. The story is riveting and I loved how the author ties it all together. This is one story that keeps you guessing with an ending you won't see coming.
I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tour. The review is my honest opinion.
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