Texas Book-aholic: 2017-09-10

Saturday, September 16, 2017

The setting of this book was so intriguing . I loved how the author brought historical facts into the book to enhance the story and make it come alive. I learned some very interesting things like how hard it was to make a living in 1816. People worked hard and leaned on each other for help. I can't image having to work in the fields all day and do chores on their farm as well. One of the most likeable characters in the story fascinated me. I learned about McAlister "Mac" Albright as a sea captain. Being on a ship for long periods of time were hard and having to oversee everything must have been so stressful. When he come to Shenandoah valley, will he be able to start a new life away from the sea?

Lily was another favorite character of mine. She watched out for her little brothers after her dad passed and help her aunt on the farm. I loved Lily's sassiness and loyalty to her friends and family. I laughed so hard when Mac and Lily first met. It was quite an embarrassing moment for her. As if Lily doesn't have enough to deal with, now Mac is accusing her of being on his land. What a jumbled mess they find themselves in. It makes for a wonderful story filled with adventure, trust, deceit and discovering God's plan for their lives.

Now to the character I loved to hate. Just saying his name makes me want to spit nails. Mr. Everett is the epitome of an evil man. He is deceitful, mean and abusive . His words cut through Lily and at times make her feel unclean. He has one goal and that is to control Lily and everything her father left her. The author draws readers in with a battle between right and wrong. It breathes realistic scenes with danger and twists that keep readers glued to their chairs. Will Lily get to keep her land? Can Mr. Everett convince everyone that Lily's dad deeded the land to him? Will Mac and Lily become more than neighbors? Don't miss this wonderful book that captures the true setting of 1816 and characters that make this story stand out in the historical genre.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Friday, September 15, 2017

About the book:

What did the president know?
And when did she know it?

For the members of SEAL Team Six, it was a rare
mission ordered by the president, monitored
in real time from the Situation Room.
The Houthi rebels in Yemen had captured
an American journalist and a member of the
Saudi royal family. Their executions were
scheduled for Easter Sunday. The SEAL team
would break them out.

But when the mission results in spectacular failure,
the finger-pointing goes all the way to the top.

Did the president play political games with
the lives of U.S. service members?

Paige Chambers, a determined young lawyer,
has a very personal reason for wanting to know the answer. The case she files will polarize the nation and test the resiliency of the Constitution. The stakes are huge, the alliances shaky,
and she will be left to wonder if the saying on the Supreme Court building still holds true.

Equal justice under law.

It makes a nice motto. But will it work when one of the most powerful people
on the planet is also a defendant?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Randy Singer is a critically acclaimed author and veteran trial attorney. He has penned more than ten legal thrillers, including his award-winning debut novel "Directed Verdict." In addition to his law practice and writing, he serves as a teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He also teaches classes in advocacy and ethics at Regent Law School and serves on the school's Board of Visitors.

If you are looking for a book with espionage, action and abuse of government power,
this book is for you. From the opening scenes with the Navy Seals,
the author attacks with split second decisions that leave you gasping for air.
The description of the dangerous mission was intense and it seemed
as though I was watching it from a front row seat.

Paige is a wonderful character. She is a great lawyer and is dating a Navy Seal.
I thought they were a perfect match. Will she say yes when he asks her
to marry him? When she takes on a case of epic proportion,
she will be tested, stressed and threatened with such accuracy
that only the strong will survive. What happens when a mission goes
wrong and casualties prevail? For Paige and family members of
Seal Team Six, they are left with heartbreak and unanswered questions.
Is it possible that the president knew more about the mission than she is telling ?
Is it possible to take on the most powerful people in the nation and win?

I loved reading about different laws and how the judicial system works.
The author takes us front and center inside a courtroom where the
stakes are high and secrets could destroy a nation. The CIA , the president,
and other dignitaries are on edge as Paige plows ahead to get answers
and make sure that the Seals didn't die in vain The drones were a bonus
to learn about. It is amazing how they go into the smallest of spaces
and not be detected. The question Paige will confront, is what did
the drones target and destroy ? Will she get justice for Seal Team Six?
This is one book you don't want to miss. It has the components of
a major movie that would draw crowds to see a lawyer take
on the President, CIA and other secret groups buried deep in the government.

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

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/RSinger

Blog Tour Schedule:

A Christmas Peril (A Theater Cop Mystery)
by J. A. Hennrikus

…readers will have laugh out loud moments with Sully and friends. Then you get the whirl wind of mystery with murder, and seeing Sully in her element. It is a super start to a series, and this series is a must read in the making.
~Bibliophile Reviews

Sully is already a strong main character with strengths and flaws that make her relatable.
~Carstairs Considers….

A likeable lead character, good secondary characters, a solid mystery and a smidgen of romance kept me turning pages from start to finish.
~Queen of All She Reads

The suspects start out being a short list but then as evidence is discovered and additional deaths occur, other possibilities open up. I started to suspect several persons.
~Laura’s Interests

I enjoyed reading about all the backstage activities of Cliffside’s A Christmas Carol. I didn’t want A Christmas Peril to end…
~Jane Reads

This was an absolutely delightful book!
~Valerie’s Musings

A Christmas Peril is a fun and exciting cozy mystery.
~Sapphyria’s Books

This book was a promising start to a new series. The theater aspect of this book really caught my attention and intrigued me and it delivered well on that end.
~Bookworm Cafe

A CHRISTMAS PERIL is an intricately plotted mystery with fascinating characters.
~Cozy Up With Kathy

The author weaves the story along with the production of A Christmas Carol keeping the reader interested and anticipating the end almost in a bittersweet way. I wanted to see how it ended. But I knew it would end too soon.
~My Reading Journeys

A Christmas Peril (A Theater Cop Mystery)\
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Midnight Ink (September 8, 2017)
Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738754154

When Edwina “Sully” Sullivan’s life imploded, she left behind her job on the police force and her unfaithful husband to start a new life as the general manager of her hometown theater, the Cliffside Theater Company. For five years, she focused on budgets instead of crimes and kept the Cliffside running alongside its mercurial artistic director.

But when her best friend is arrested for killing his father, the rich and powerful Peter Whitehall, no one is looking for another suspect. So, in between keeping A Christmas Carol on budget and Scrooge sober, Sully dusts off her investigative skills to find a killer. Her two lives collide when her ex-husband gets on the suspect list and she’s forced to confront her past in order to save her present.

About The Author

J. A. Hennrikus is the author of the Theater Cop Mystery series. As Julianne Holmes, she writes the Agatha-nominated Clock Shop Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime. Hennrikus blogs with the Wicked Cozy Authors, is on the board of Sisters in Crime, and is a member of Mystery Writers of America. She is also an arts administrator who lives in Massachusetts. Visit her online at www.JHAuthors.com.

Webpage – https://jahennrikus.com/

Wicked Cozy Authors Blog – https://wickedcozyauthors.com/

She tweets under @JulieHennrikus, and am on Pinterest and Instagram, and have a page on Facebook. I also blog on Live to Write/Write to Live, and I blog on Killer Characters on the 20th of each month.

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N

The theater has always interested me. My son was in theater in high school and then in college. I loved going to the plays and watching the show. What intrigued me the most was the sets they made. They were so phenomenal and I couldn't believe they were built by the students. The book definitely brought back some great memories and I loved how the author described the inner workings of a theater. There is always going to be actors that disagree or financial backers who grumble when more money is needed and that sets the stage for a wonderful quest to solve a murder.

Sully has come back to her hometown to be general manager of the local theater. I loved her description of being very tall and maybe not as thin as she would like. I laughed at her shoe size because not many women have the foot of well I guess I will say big foot. I loved her character so much and found her dry sense of humor so refreshing. It's funny that she thinks she is retired from the police department. When someone is found murdered, the town seems to look to Sully to help out. The death of someone in the town turns up an assortment of suspects.

The dead person has a few family members I thought needed to take a chill pill. Either they were guilty of something or wanted attention. They sure did make for a great story and gave Sully a run for her money. She has to try to keep the Christmas play on track, while dealing with an ex-husband and a list of people of interest in the crime. I was very pleased to find out that I didn't guess who the killer was. To say I was a bit surprised is an understatement. The author has written a great book in the first of a series that will only get more intense with intrigue and characters that jump off the pages. I will be looking for the next in this series with anticipation.

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 7 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

September 7 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW

September 8 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

September 8 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT

September 9 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

September 9 – Jane Reads – REVIEW

September 10 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

September 10 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

September 11 – Sapphyria’s Books -REVIEW

September 11 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

September 12 – Bookworm Cafe – REVIEW

September 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

September 13 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

September 13 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

September 14 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

September 15 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

September 15 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 16 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

September 17 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW

September 19 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW

September 20 – Community Bookstop – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Thursday, September 14, 2017

SPOTLIGHT ON BETTE LEE CROSBY

From the Author – Betty Lee Crosby – First I would like to Thank Deana for having me as a guest here on The Texas Bookaholic Blog. Before I talk about Silver Threads, I would like to say that my heartfelt prayers are with the countless number of Texas families affected by Hurricane Harvey.

I would like to believe that somewhere beyond this earth we know there is a Keeper of the Scales with a large supply of rose-colored stones destined to drop bits of joy on those who need it most.

Although it can hardly be considered ‘magic’ I do believe we are connected to one another in ways that we cannot possibly imagine. Often we shy away from the circumstances enabling us to make these connections, and we need a small shove… as Drew Bishop does in this story. It is the story of a man facing the worst of life’s tragedies; one of a father loving a child so much that he is willing to let go of everything to give her the happiness she deserves.

I loved writing this story and imagining that there actually is a keeper of life’s scale, a being that measures out our joys and sorrows, balancing one to the other.

I hope if you haven’t already read it, you will give this book a try. You can download a free sample on Amazon, iBooks or at Barnes and Noble. If you find yourself wanting to know more about the characters in Silver Threads, stop by for a visit at betteleecrosby.com or catch up with me on FaceBook. I truly enjoy connecting with friends and fellow book lovers.

Bette Lee Crosby, USA Today Bestselling Author

Website: http://betteleecrosby.

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away a paper book of Silver Threads. (U.S. only- international will receive an e-copy)
Leave a comment and your email. Random.org will choose winner.

I just finished reading this book and can't believe how powerful the writing is. The author grabbed my attention right away and I found myself reading as fast as I could. The story captures a tragedy that no family wants to face. I fell in love with Brooke right away. She is a sweet little girl who has a happy life until one day her world is shattered. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to face your child and tell them news that will break their heart. The author does a great job of showing the emotional turmoil Brooke goes through. I wanted to hug Brooke and cry with her. The emotions in this book are so raw and reach deep into your heart and tear it piece by piece.

Drew I thought was at first a little distant from his family , but really came to be a man who loved his daughter deeply. Everyone grieves in their own way and I think for Drew it was hard to care for Brooke while trying to keep his emotions under control. I loved when Drew makes the decision to move away from all the hurt and takes his daughter to a new place to start over.

I was fascinated by the thread and the Keeper of the Scales. We encounter people in our lives that somehow seem to fit and make our lives more enjoyable. When Drew and Brooke find themselves at The Memory House Inn I wanted to stay there as well. What a wonderful place to feel loved and relaxed. There is a bit of suspense in the book which I found to be very well written. I didn't see it coming and thought it added a sense of closing a chapter in the lives of Brooke and Drew. I am so impressed with the writing style and how the author can breathe life into a character with words. I became invested in Brooke and Drew right away and found the ending to be a perfect way to thread their lives from sorrow to happiness.

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

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

SPOTLIGHT ON ELIZABETH MADDREY PLUS

GIVEAWAY

What will it take for a former starlet to find love with an average Joe?

After the accident that killed her husband five years ago, Serena Johnson left Hollywood—and her stage name—behind to set up shop as a potter. Her online business keeps her occupied and fulfilled, but she misses having someone special to share her life.
Micah Baxter has enjoyed the year he’s worked in his family’s bakery in Arcadia Valley, even if his siblings are all finding love, leaving him the odd man out. When Micah delivers the cookies Serena ordered for an event at her pottery studio, the attraction between them is hard to deny. But so are their differences.

Having been a fan when he was younger, Micah knows all about Serena’s bad-girl history. So how can he trust the feelings that grow between them? And if Hollywood comes calling, will Serena be content to stay?

Welcome to Arcadia Valley, Idaho, where a foodie culture and romance grow hand-in-hand. Join my friends and me as we release a book every month set in Arcadia Valley. You’ll enjoy meeting old friends and making new ones as each of the six authors’ books intertwine with the previous stories in this Christian romance series. Get started with Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley and follow along at Arcadia Valley Romance dot com to make sure you don’t miss any installments!

Cookies & Candlelight is the second full-length novel in the Baxter Family Bakery series set in Arcadia Valley. It follows the novel, Muffins & Moonbeams. The series begins with a novella, Loaves & Wishes, that was introduced in Arcadia Valley Book 1, Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley. Get your copy today to spend more time baking with the Baxter family.

Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.

Social Media:

Website: http://www.ElizabethMaddrey.com

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/ElizabethMaddrey

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ElizabethMaddrey

Twitter: @elizabethmaddre

One of my favorite things about the book was how the author wrote a beautiful story of two people getting to know each other and not afraid to share their faith. It is a very refreshing story and I loved the setting in Idaho. I went to Idaho when I was younger and have never forgotten how beautiful it is there.

Serena is a character that I immediately connected to. She is sweet and is looking for a place to belong without all the glamour and star treatment she once had. I thought the author did an exceptional job describing the inner workings of pottery making. I could see Serena working with the clay as she molds it into a work of art. It was a great stress reliever for Serena and God gifted her with a talent to make works of art. After suffering a tragic accident I can understand why she would want to get away from the gossip and grieve in her own way. She walked away from fame and never looked back.

Micah is every woman's dream. He is good looking, helps with the family business and can cook. Oh I know as people walked into the bakery they could smell fresh bread, muffins hot out of the oven and cookies that melt in your mouth. I loved the first encounter that Serena and Micah had. I'm sure Micah thought Serena was a bit pushy. I love Serena's take charge attitude and the way she handles herself around others.

The story is easy to read with characters that share their faith without hesitation. Serena does have a past that will soon catch up with her. How will Micah react when he finds out who she is? Will Serena be able to let go of the past and allow Micah into her heart? They are so different from each other, but there is no denying the attraction between them. I wanted the story to go on forever because I fell in love with the people in this quaint little town.

The author has written a story that made me realize that our past doesn't have to define who we are today. How hard would it be to ignore rumors about someone you love? Could you forgive them of their past?

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

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away 2 Kindle copies of her new book COOKIES & CANDLELIGHT.

To win one of the the copies please leave a comment and email. Two winners will be chosen by random.org

Search This Blog