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Tuesday, September 5, 2017

 THE PROMISE OF A LETTER by KATHLEEN FULLER


The second installment of An Amish Letters  Novel is one which does an excellent job on the subject of forgiveness and trust. I found the story to  be emotional and well written. The author takes a subject that is hard for many and walks characters gently through the steps with compassion and understanding. One of the hardest things I've found is to forgive and trust. It has been a stumbling block in my walk with God. After reading this story, I find myself feeling at peace knowing what I must do to be free from the bondage that has held me back for so long.

I want to start with the character Roman because I can relate  to him so well. Having grown up in a home where there was no love was very difficult for me. I resented my parents and it hurt to know I was never wanted.  Roman has decided he should leave the Amish and start over somewhere else. . He didn't have a good childhood and I think the hurt of having parents that never showed any affection was very difficult for him and his brother. It was nice to know that their grandmother stepped in and showed them that they were loved and wanted. When Roman receives a letter from his grandmother, he finds his life changed forever. She had one last wish and wanted Roman to promise to fulfill it. Can you imagine how hard it was for Roman to go home and face his brother?

Leanna is a great character who is very smart , has a keen eye for working on mechanical things like engines and other things. It is not an ideal job for a woman  among the Amish but I loved how the author showed how Leanna could do the work with no problem. She is happy at her job until gossip starts up about her. We hear it spoke of many times at church, but gossip seems to get hold of people and before you know it, it is spread like wildfire. What people forget is that gossip can be hurtful and  can destroy a person. I thought the author did a wonderful job showing  readers how gossip can change an innocent person's life.

There are some very heartbreaking moments in the story that will test Barbara and Daniel's faith. I loved the moments they shared as they grew closer during a tragedy. Can Roman find his way back to his brother and reconcile? Will the brothers be able to forgive each other and theirselves?  Do Roman and Leanna find a way to start more than a friendship between them? Don't miss this beautiful story of redemption, trust , faith and forgiveness.

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

Death Distilled: A Whisky Business Mystery
by Melinda Mullet


Death Distilled: A Whisky Business Mystery 
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Alibi (September 5, 2017)
Print Length 300 pages
E-Book ASIN: B01N6FSSUX
Photojournalist by trade, distillery owner by blood, and amateur sleuth by necessity, Abigail Logan learns that murder can’t stay bottled up forever in this charming Whisky Business Mystery.
It’s been three months since Abi Logan last checked in on Abbey Glen, the celebrated whisky distillery she inherited. With her oversize wheaten terrier, Liam, by her side, Abi returns to the quaint Scottish village of Balfour. But her relaxing Highland homecoming takes a stressful turn when she unearths an unseemly bit of village history, welcomes a group of Japanese whisky enthusiasts, and becomes shepherdess to an unexpected flock of sheep—all within the first twenty-four hours. Still, nothing’s more stressful than murder. . . .
Local celebrity Rory Hendricks is the hotheaded, hard-rocking former frontman of the Rebels—and Abi’s girlhood crush. After meeting him in person, Abi can’t say no to anything he asks, like photographing his upcoming show . . . or figuring out who’s trying to kill him. Turns out someone’s been bumping off his old bandmates, with the drummer dead under mysterious circumstances and the keyboardist in a coma following a hit-and-run. Now a series of threatening messages leads Rory to think he’s next on the chopping block. And the band has a devil’s share of broken hearts and bitter disputes in their past, leaving Abi a huge batch of suspects to sift through—all before the killer takes another shot.
Melinda Mullet’s delightful Whisky Business mysteries can be read together or separately. Enjoy responsibly:
SINGLE MALT MURDER | DEATH DISTILLED
Melinda Mullet was born in Dallas and attended school in Texas, Washington D.C., England, and Austria. She spent many years as a practicing attorney before pursuing a career as a writer. Author of the Whisky Business Mystery series, Mullet is a passionate supporter of childhood literacy. She works with numerous domestic and international charities striving to promote functional literacy for all children. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her family.
Author Links 
Purchase Links
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Review.jpg

This is such a wonderfully written story that ties the 1800s to present day Scotland. The description of the land was breathtaking. I have always wanted to go there. After reading this book, I am even more determined to visit. The author does an amazing job of taking readers on a guided tour of a distillery by words that are vivid . I could smell the blends of different flavors that will become drinks that many will love. I don't know why, but I kept picturing a little pub set off in the countryside. People are  there raising their glasses as the latest  new drink is served .

I loved that there was two stories going on that blended so well to come together as one. Abi is by far my favorite character in the story. She is savvy, inquisitive, caring and has a keen eye for detail.  After a photo journal assignment, Abi has come back to check on the distillery she inherited. I don't think I would have a clue what to do with a distillery,  but Abi seems to take it in stride. I love her calmness and the way she can make quick decisions.  When bones are discovered close by , It was very fascinating to find out who the bones were . The writing of this part was superb and I loved the historical characters that were involved with the distillery. Readers will be glued to their seats as they uncover the mystery surrounding the bones that are very important to the present day story.

When Rory was introduced into the story I wasn't very impressed with him . He once was a very famous member of a band back in the day. He hires Abi to do some photos for his upcoming concert and also to keep her eyes open for anything out of the ordinary. When bodies start dropping from Rory's past, Abi knows he is in real danger. Now why would he fight her on decisions that would keep him safe? I wanted to scream at him and tell him to stop being on an ego trip. But of course the author handles the situation much better than I would. Abi knows how to do her job and doesn't back down from Rory.  I have really come to like the authors style of writing and no nonsense way of delivering characters that are so relatable. I must end with that note because there is so much more to this book and readers need to discover it for themselves. .  Will Abi find out who is trying to kill Rory before it is to late? Be sure you grab a copy, get comfy and enjoy a story full of intrigue and surprises.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

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