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Saturday, February 24, 2018

Death by a Whisker: A Cat Rescue Mystery
by T. C. LoTempio

The opening scene alone will pull cat loving mystery readers right into the book as Syd discovers yet another headless Melvin the Marvelous Mouse toy on the kitchen floor and she threatens to stop buying the expensive toy for Toby if he doesn’t stop mutilating them!
~Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows
Full of realistic characters the story has lots of twists and turns until I get only thought I knew who the killer was.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews
This book has been a quick read, easy to be inside the plot and love the main characters since the beginning . . .
~Varietats
The suspects and motives were varied and believable.
The cats add details to the mystery and helped us better relate to the characters.
~Laura’s Interests 

About the Book

Death by a Whisker: A Cat Rescue Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Crooked Lane Books (February 13, 2018)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1683314875
Digital ASIN: B072395VJN
Getting used to life back home in Deer Park, North Carolina, Sydney McCall and her right-hand tabby, Toby, are helping her sister Kat run the local animal shelter. Syd and Kat are all excited about the prospect of the shelter’s newest fundraiser: shopping channel queen Ulla Townsend. Shelter admin Maggie Shayne vehemently refuses to have anything to do with the woman, but the fundraiser ensues as planned. That is, until Ulla turns up dead in the middle of the event.
The cause of death is determined to be an allergic reaction, but Syd and Toby are sniffing out something fishy. When Syd met Ulla, it was clear she was distasteful and rude. And right before the event, Syd spotted some behind-the-scenes drama between Ulla and her manager. As they begin to investigate, they realize there is no shortage of suspects, and Maggie is at the top of the list.
Now Syd and Toby must claw their way to the truth before everything goes paws up at their animal shelter in Death by a Whisker by national bestselling author T. C. LoTempio.

About the Author

While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic.  She (and ROCCO, albeit he’s uncredited) pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime – the first volume, MEOW IF ITS MURDER, debuted Dec. 2, 2014. Followed by #2, CLAWS FOR ALARM.   #3, CRIME AND CATNIP, was released in December. She, Rocco and Maxx make their home in Clifton, New Jersey, just twenty minutes from the Big Apple – New York. Catch up with them at www.tclotempio.net and www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com
Where to find them:
ROCCO’s blog:
Website:
Twitter: @RoccoBlogger – https://twitter.com/@RoccoBlogger
Purchase Links:


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Syd McCall is very passionate about animals. With her work at the shelter she keeps herself busy but not busy enough to keep herself out of trouble. It’s a big day in her small town when none other than Ulla Townsend is coming to town to promote her book and give a part of the proceeds to the shelter. I wouldn’t say everyone  was thrilled to find out that Ulla was coming back to town. She did become this famous television personality but can it erase all the horrible things she did to some of her classmates in school? I can’t believe how vicious she was. Ulla is what I call a first class bully.

Syd is really a smart person who has a bit of a problem. She doesn’t seem able to keep her nose out of trouble. The author sets readers up for the crime in a setting that is sure to cause a stir among the community. Ulla is all set to sign her new book as a big crowd starts to grow. I was not surprised that Ulla was going to be the victim and I figured out how she was killed. What I couldn’t figure out was who did The dastardly deed. With a room full of suspects and a list a mile long of people she had tortured in the past, I found it hard to narrow it down to just one suspect. I’m not saying she deserved to die, but let’s just say sometimes your past can come back and cause you harm. I wanted to feel sorry for Ulla, but she was just a conceited and mean person.

I thought the story was well written and I loved that the author showcased pet adoptions. The author really made me want to adopt a cat after reading about all the love able ones up for adoption. I as kinda upset that Syd kept going behind her boyfriends back to investigate the crime. After all, Will is a detective and I’m pretty sure he is good at his job. What makes the story so appealing is their relationship. He seems sensible, smart and patient. Syd is none of those things which makes them the perfect couple. It’s a great read and one that I enjoyed with all the shenanigans Syd got involved in. Overall a good book and one I would recommend to all those who like a fast pace mystery.

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
February 12 – Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 12 – Books Direct – GUEST POST
February 13 – Mysteries with Character – INTERVIEW
February 13 – La libreria di Beppe – SPOTLIGHT
February 14 – My Reading Journey – SPOTLIGHT
February 15 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST
February 15 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – GUEST POST
February 16 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
February 17 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
February 18 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
February 18 – Varietats – REVIEW, GUEST POST
February 19 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
February 19 – Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf – INTERVIEW
February 20 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
February 20 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
February 21 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – GUEST POST
February 22 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy –REVIEW, GUEST POST
February 23 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
February 24 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
February 24 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW
February 25 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 26 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?



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Thursday, February 22, 2018

SWEETWATER RIVER ROMANCE BY
MISTY M. BELLER

Synopsis:
A Christian Historical Romance novel. Taking flight from their quiet Pennsylvania town seems like the only way for Tori Boyd to protect her dearest cousin’s virtue. And the success of their escape may now depend on the man she’s been writing letters to for over a year now in the vast wilds of the Wyoming Territory. Ezra Reid has finally stepped out from under the shadow of his older brother and sister, now having full responsibility to man the Rocky Ridge Stage Stop through the winter. The success or failure of the stage and telegraph contracts falls squarely on his shoulders, and he’s entirely focused on the work – at least until his mysterious correspondence partner shows up on his doorstep. As Ezra takes on the search for a proper situation for Tori and her cousin, there seem to be no good options for the ladies. Especially since Tori won’t even discuss the one option that might succeed – marriage. When the danger chasing the women takes on a form none of them anticipated, how far will Ezra have to go to keep the Tori and her cousin safe? It’ll take a lot more than luck to ensure his heart is the sole casualty.







Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. For a limited time, you can get her bestselling novel, The Lady and the Mountain Man, FREE here: http://eepurl.com/bGt1er She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy. God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. Writing is a dream come true for Misty. Her family–both immediate and extended–is the foundation that holds her secure in that dream. Learn more at www.MistyMBeller.com.

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As I began to read the story, I knew I was in for a grand adventure. I’ve had pen pals before when I was younger. It was fun to read about where they lived . I never once thought to travel to visit my pen pal though. Tori has been corresponding with her pen pal for awhile. With no other option she and her cousin take off to a new territory. They are hoping to find a place that is safe and start over. Tori has endured a tough life and maybe with a fresh start, she can finally find happiness. I admire her bravery for traveling so far without a real plan. I wonder what her mysterious pen pal will think when she shows up in his town? I love how the author gives us a wonderful character who is fierce and determined to make life better for her and her cousin Opal.

Ezra was truly shocked when he realizes who has stepped off the stagecoach. What in the world has he gotten himself into. I could just see his look of utter shock when Tori reveals who she is. Can you imagine what must be going through Ezra’s mind? I loved Ezra and found him to be such a gentle person. Even though he was unprepared for Tori and Opal, he is willing to help them out. The book captured a time when it was hard to make a living. Towns were just beginning to sprout up and families  had to find ways to survive. I loved the feel of a good western story mixed with a bit of danger and romance. Will  Tori learn to trust a man again? Can she open up to Ezra and allow him to share his faith?

The book is very well written and I loved the description of how a telegraph machine  works. We have cell phones and texts that are easily retrieved. What would we do if suddenly we were left with only a telegraph machine to correspond with? Tori and Opal have secrets that hold them back from being happy. Will Ezra be able to convince them that they are safe and that God loves them? I really enjoyed the story and loved how the author allowed readers to be taken back to a time when survival was hard, faith was important and people helped each other.

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

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Love by the Numbers FB banner Template copy

About the Book

Love By The Numbers Cover
Title: Love by the Numbers
Author: Laura V. Hilton
Genre: Christian Amish fiction
Release Date: February 6, 2018
After her fiancé dies in a buggy accident, Lydia Hershberger is invited to Jamesport to manage her Mennonite aunt’s gift store while her aunt and uncle are on a mission trip. While there, Lydia gets acquainted with her aentie’s best friend, Bethel Bontrager, and her grown son, Caleb. Lydia is surprised to find herself drawn to handsome clockmaker, Caleb Bontrager. But in spite of an instant flame of attraction between them, he doesn’t seem interested. In fact, pesky Caleb treats her like he doesn’t even like her.
Bright and sparkly. That’s Caleb’s first impression of Lydia. He’s always been attracted to sparkly things. In fact, his affinity for those things, and the trouble they can cause, are exactly why he’s determined to change his ways and settle down. With Lydia’s aentie gone, he is handling the books for the gift shop and is forced to spend too much time in her presence.
When God offers Lydia a second chance at love and family, will she take it? Or will the secret Caleb harbors cause her even more heartbreak?

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Laura picture (1)Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.
Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.
When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.

Guest Post from Laura V. Hilton

Story Behind the Story – Love by the Numbers

Caleb was a minor character in couple of my Amish books – I think he first made a by name appearance in Amish Wanderer and Christmas Admirer. A minor character. Lydia was a very minor one-time appearance in those stories, too, a girl who happened to be in the room with Bethany and Susanna at a wedding. (This story is stand alone!) But I knew when Caleb first saw Lydia that they would end up together by the way he reacted to her presence. I wondered what their story was.
Powerful Tornado - destroying property with lightning in the background
March and April is tornado season in Arkansas (and in many other states) and in 2011 we had a bad one. I was out and about that day, driving to the county seat with my five children, and there was something in the air. It was heavy, hard to breathe, and the sky was black off to the west. I’m sure I broke speed limits racing to Melbourne, and then home again so we wouldn’t be out in the storm.
Later that afternoon, tornado sirens went off. One went over our house – even from the basement we could hear the sound of a train roaring overhead. Scary. And still thanking God it didn’t touch down. Highland, Ash Flat, and Evening Shade, Arkansas were hit hard. Buildings completely gone. When we drove out that way later in the week there were pickup trucks in the tops of trees. Other things in odd and unusual places. I always wondered how they got the treetop pickups down. I would’ve stopped to watch if I’d been out there when it was done. I did hear that some of those trucks weren’t damaged at all. Unreal. My two sons and my husband both helped with clean up and my oldest son went with a crew to Joplin, Missouri, to help with clean up there.
There has been other occasions I’ve been out in tornados. Once I was in the Walmart parking lot when a tornado went through a town west of it. We could see the funnel touching down from where we stood. It did hail when we were on our way home, praying our house was still standing. It was.
Head shot of a blue eyed Siamese cat on a green background
On a different note, in 2016 my oldest son came home with a kitten. She was the sweetest thing ever, and he named her Rosie. Sadly, I was highly allergic to her. I couldn’t even be around the children after they played with her. They’d have to go change clothes and wash their hands, otherwise I couldn’t breathe. Rosie was full Siamese, blue eyes and all, and she was so adorable. I allowed my son to keep her in the shed. I was about four chapters into the story when Rosie found some poison (I think, not sure) and died. We all cried.
Also about the time I was writing this, a very dear friend of a lot of writers died. I told my street team I was going to name a character after her, and was told a lot of writers would be. I agreed. And a lot of their books were released already. But Aenti Judith in this story is named after Judy Burgi. I still miss her and pray for her family.
One of the verses my daughter had to memorize in Sunday School was 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. ‘We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.’ Perfect for the faith message in Love by the Numbers! I love how God always provides the perfect verse for my characters’ faith messages. I’m pretty sure this verse is one I never memorized, and I never would of thought of it on my own, but God put it in my daughter’s lessons for Sunday School, so she had to memorize it – and thus I did too since I help my daughters learn their verses every week.
I hope you’ll enjoy the story!

Because of Him,
Laura V. Hilton

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What I liked the most about this book was the details of a shunning. I have often wondered exactly how it works and if everyone is in agreement with it. I loved Lydia and her humbleness. After a tragedy at her hometown , she finds comfort in a new place. Her aunt has graciously asked her to come run her gift shop while she is away. I would be running as fast as I could to get away from all the rumors stirring around me back home.

The question arose for me when I started reading  the story, how someone can be shunned without actual proof of what they did? The author does an amazing job of delving into that question with grace and wisdom.I appreciate how griping and honest the story was.  I loved that Lydia was welcomed at her new place with warmth and love. There is one person that just got on my nerves. I won’t name who it is because I want you to discover for yourself who it is. I will say this person is vindictive and has a jealous streak that causes a lot of hurt feelings and misguided accusations. I am sure we have all encountered a person like this.

Of course I can’t forget to mention the dashing Caleb. What’s not to like about him? He’s handsome, smart, caring and did I mention handsome. He sure got my attention and believe me I rooted for him the entire story. I understand his hesitation with Lydia, but the author does such a beautiful job of developing their relationship that I wanted to shout from the rooftop. I’m a bit partial to characters who are hurt by gossip and love a knight in shining armor. The details of making a clock was so fascinating I looked up more information on the Internet after I finished the book.

The story is emotional at times and I love how Lydia was willing to help others even when they don’t show grace towards her. This has been one of the best stories I have read about shunning and how God reveals the truth. I asked myself if I have been guilty of blaming someone without giving them a chance? The ending is powerful and I loved how Lydia took comfort knowing that there were people surrounding her that were willing to stand up for her. Don’t miss this story that reminds us that,
"He will never leave you nor forsake you."

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

Blog Stops

Pursuing Stacie, February 13
Quiet Quilter, February 13
Red Headed Book Lady, February 13
Babs Book Bistro, February 13
Blogging With Carol, February 14
Among the Reads, February 14
Blossoms and Blessings, February 15
SusanLovesBooks, February 16
Carpe Diem, February 16
Splashes of Joy, February 17
vickysluiter.com, February 18
A Reader’s Brain, February 19
C Jane Read, February 20
Daysong Reflections, February 20
margaret kazmierczak, February 20
Bibliophile Reviews, February 21
A Greater Yes, February 22
Texas Book-aholic, February 22
Pause for Tales, February 23
Have A Wonderful Day, February 23
cherylbbookblog, February 24
Simple Harvest Reads, February 24
Christian Bookaholic, February 25
Janices book reviews, February 25
For The Love of Books, February 26
Jeanette’s Thoughts, February 26
Bigreadersite, February 26

Giveaway

182904e8-2489-419c-bca8-846dc02854ac
In honor of the tour, Whitaker House is giving away
Grand Prize Package: Love By the Numbers, Healing Love (Amish of Webster County #1), and The Snow Globe (The Amish of Jamesport #1) by Laura Hilton; “The Angels Cry Holy” scented candle in tin with lid from Abba Jerusalem
1st Place Package: Love By the Numbers, The Snow Globe (The Amish of Jamesport #1) by Laura Hilton, and Whitaker House/Anchor Coloring Book with Colored Pencils
2nd Place Package: Love By the Number by Laura Hilton and Whitaker House/Anchor Coloring Book with Colored Pencils!!!


Click the link to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c6ca
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Monday, February 19, 2018

Cover Reveal - Dead as a Doornail by Tonya Kappes
Beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone. And doesn’t our Sheriff Kenni Lowry know that? Well, she knows a lot of things.
Lucy Lowell takes great pride in writing negative reviews in the local newspaper for anything that does not go her way. When Lucy is found dead, it appears to be from natural causes.
But Sheriff Kenni Lowry knows there is more to it because the ghost of her grandfather, the ex-sheriff, is standing over the body.
His presence can only mean one thing: Murder!
Since Kenni’s relationship with Deputy Finn Vincent has heated up, Kenni is having trouble conducting the investigation without Finn questioning her every move.
Can Kenni unravel the mystery on her own or will she have to tell Finn the real reason she knows it was murder—the ghost of her poppa?
It’s blowin’ up a storm and only Kenni knows how it’ll end.
 

Ready…..

                     

Set…..

                     

Reveal!!

                     

   

Dead as a Doornail by Tonya Kappes will be available May 15 from Henery Press!

It is Available for Pre-Order Today!!





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if he only knew fb banner copy

About the Book

Title: If He Only Knew
Author: Michelynn Christy, Brandi Gabriel
Genre: Historical romance
Release Date: August 19, 2017
It’s 1968, and love is in the air in the small coastal town of Cambridge, California.
Donna Peterson, the preacher’s daughter, has her entire life ahead of her and the future looks promising. But things aren’t as they seem in Cambridge. A tangled web of secrets threaten to destroy the lives of each person involved – Donna, her boyfriend Bobby, and Rick, Bobby’s best friend. Will the truth make them free, or will they lose their friendship forever?

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Author Michelynn Christy resides in the Midwest and enjoys creating romantic stories that point to Jesus. Her faith in God shines through the pages of her writing. Michelynn’s debut novelette A Christmas to Remember launched in late 2015. While this pen name and genre are somewhat new to her, she has penned over twenty titles under another pseudonym, has won awards for her works, and has earned best-selling title status. With that said, all glory goes to God!
Brandi Gabriel is co-author of twelve Christian fiction books, including this one. Her first solo novel, The Orphan Bride, released in 2016 and she has since added a sequel in the same series. Her goal in writing is to touch readers’ hearts in some special way and to glorify Jesus Christ, her Lord and Saviour.

Guest Post from Michelynn Christy & Brandi Gabriel

Take a step back in time…
If He Only Knew is a novel set in the late 1960s. The book deals with family relationships, loyalty, friendship, love, and loss. The main topic is somewhat controversial in nature, but we won’t mention what it is lest we spoil the story for readers. A similar book was written in a different genre under another name and the story really resonated with readers. We felt compelled to share this story with others who perhaps wouldn’t pick up that particular genre, and that is how this book came about. It may be set in the sixties, but the message is as relevant today as ever. Our prayer is that God will touch readers’ hearts and draw them closer to Him.



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The story is set in 1968 but it is one that is relevant even today. I related to Donna because like her, I was a preacher’s kid. I felt like everyone was watching me just waiting for me to mess up. For some reason preacher’s kids are held more accountable by others. What people don’t realize is that anyone can sin no matter who they are or what their upbringing is. I walked on egg shells around my dad praying that I wouldn’t disappoint him. My childhood was quite different than Donna’s but in a way very similar. As children we all want to please our parents. We hunger for their love and protection. The author captured a moment of weakness and has written a story that explodes with emotion. I cried through the entire book and even now I shed tears because the story is so eloquently written.

The best way to review this book is for me to tell you how much God loves us. It doesn’t matter what we do, He is there waiting with open arms. I know the feeling of not being loved. I know what it feels like to make a decision that changes your life. Donna, in a vulnerable moment makes a choice that will have a chain reaction of guilt, loss, hurt and secrets for many years to come. It is hard to live with a secret and in this story , the author explores with great transparency how one secret can destroy many lives. I loved the three main characters and thought the author did an amazing job of allowing readers to identify with each one.

In the story Donna experiences the fear of rejection and the hurtful words said by people who judge without thinking. I am reminded of what I heard one time. “ You don’t know what someone is really feeling until you walk in their shoes.” I hope this book will touch many and be reminded that you are forgiven.

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

Blog Stops

Bibliophile Reviews, February 17
A Greater Yes, February 18
Texas Book-aholic, February 19
Inklings and notions, February 19
Radiant Light, February 20
Janices book reviews, February 21
Jeanette’s Thoughts, February 22
Karen Sue Hadley, February 23
margaret kazmierczak, February 24 (Interview)
Bigreadersite, February 25
Among the Reads, February 25
Simple Harvest Reads, February 26 (Guest post from Mindy)
Pursuing Stacie, February 27
Red Headed Book Lady, February 27
Maureen’s Musings, February 28
Carpe Diem, February 28

Giveaway

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To celebrate their tour, Michelynn and Brandi are giving away the following:
Grand Prize: ONE themed book box, (this will contain small items that relate to the story
1st Place Prize: ONE $25 Amazon gift card,
2nd Place Prize: ONE signed paperback copy of If He Only Knew
3rd Place Prize: ONE signed paperback copy of If He Only Knew!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c601

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