Saturday, February 13, 2021

About the Book

Book: Dance with Me

Author: A.M. Heath

Genre: Christian Historical Romance (1960s)

Release date: April 2019

Will a new partnership tear their worlds apart … or will it be the piece they never knew was missing?

In 1959, Arleen Thatcher and Neil Fox are fierce competitors on the dance floor, so they’re the least likely pair to enter a televised competition together. But when rivaling studio owners decide to team up, the two find a partnership they never thought possible.
Arleen’s reputation around town is reason enough for Neil to keep his distance from his new partner. But as Neil gets to know Arleen, he discovers a side of her few others have seen, one of dark family secrets and carefully-constructed facades.
God’s plan for their partnership may involve more than a single dance; it may be the key to the healing Arleen so desperately needs.

The Art of Love series is compiled of stand-alone novels where the characters tell their own stories and love means so much more than passion.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Besides being an Indie Author, I’m a wife, mother of four, children’s Sunday School teacher, sweet tea drinker, history fanatic, romantic, bubbly, lover of broccoli, and a retired cake decorator who has a soft spot for Christmas trees, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What I’m not is a laundress (or at least not one who keeps up very well), a duster, tall, or patient in a doctor’s office.

More from A.M. Heath

Breathing Life Into A Novel

One of the common remarks I get from my readers is how they felt like they had been transported into the story. The characters felt like real people and the setting felt authentic. And that’s always a blessing to hear as an author!

But the question is how do I do it?

Well, I’ll let the cat out of the bag. Since I’m not big on heavy descriptions, I allow other features to weigh in and help create the setting. In a nutshell, “I’m just keeping it real” (as we used to say in the 90s). And there are 3 areas to focus in on, especially when working with a historical novel:

Common objects or daily habits

Names

Slang

Common Objects:

It’s all about those minor details. The everyday objects or habits that a character might have that will help create the setting and bring authenticity to it.

Here are a few items found in the 1950s that aren’t as common today:

Two-toned painted vehicles

Phones attached to the wall, with a cord, and a rotary dial

Jukeboxes

Soda shops

Records

Pull tab canned drinks

Clothes lines and ironing boards

Names:

I use the U.S. census to preview the top 1000 baby names in any given year starting in 1880. But I also make note when I run across a name that sounds modern but is found in a real historical document.

While I’m writing, I create a name bank so I have era approved names on hand to use for my secondary characters.

Here’s a preview of a name bank for characters set in the 1950s:

Female:

Jan

Tabitha

Mabel

Judy

Paula

Rita

Male:

Dennis

Gary

Marvin

Earl

Barry

Rodney

Slang:

I must admit, the slang is my absolute favorite. I browse slang for each era through online searches and history books. But my favorite place to collect phrases is directly from the source. Anytime I’m watching an old movie or TV show, I jot down phrases I heard and the year it was filmed. It doesn’t get anymore authentic than hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth.

While I’m writing, I’ll preview my list and create a smaller word bank of phrases that my characters are most likely to use, so I can remember to weave them into the story.

Here’s a look at some of the fun phrases:

Say, (use at the start of your sentence)

Call dibs

Don’t have a cow

Flick (movie)

Cool it

Righto

No sweat

Cloud 9

Teed off or sore (mad)

Burn rubber

Get bent

Dullsville

Dig it

Fellas

Doll

Gee

Neat

Swell

I hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek into the 1950s. Dance With Me was a real neat novel to write. It’s set in 1959, so there’s a strong greaser vibe throughout the story. Believe me, I was on cloud 9 the entire time.

Now it’s your turn! Do you have a favorite era in history to read about?

Which one of these swell phrases will you dust off and use in normal conversation today? Lol You should definitely surprise someone with it, then tell me about it. It’s a load of fun. My kids get sore at me all the time for using “lame” phrases, but I must say that they have a wide lingo vocabulary whether they wanted it or not.

Happy Reading!

MY REVIEW

Grace, beauty, nostalgia, memories, healing and God's love. Those are the first words I thought of after reading this wonderful story of two people who are not only dance partners but so much more. I loved reading about the dances and it reminded me of the show American Bandstand. I may be showing my age, but that show had couples sliding across the dance floor with moves that impressed everyone. The story takes us from present day back to the late 1950s where dancing was just starting to be the craze.

Arleen reminds me of a flower that is just starting to bloom. The brilliant colors are starting to come out, but the flower is holding back. Arleen has not had a good home life and Neil may just be the person to help her overcome her insecurity. Her reputation around town is riddled with rumors that cause people to think bad of her. I could feel her pain buried deep down inside her. It was hard to read about Arleen's abusive father, but the author handled it with compassion . It lets readers get a glimpse into when she was younger and how her family life shaped her. Arleen has always been told that she was ugly so to get attention and to feel better about herself she flirted with guys. I can relate to her so much. My dad always told me I was ugly and would never amount to anything. Those words are hard to forget and for Arleen, she became an empty shell inside. It's easy to believe that you are nothing when you hear it everyday.

Neil is a strong dance competitor and finds himself teamed up with Arlene to win a contest. His faith will be tested as he encounters trials and a young woman who desperately needs to know that God loves her. I'm glad Neil came into Arleen's life just when she needed encouragement the most. It was beautiful to read Neil sharing God with Arleen. She needed to hear that she was loved, valued and could trust others.

The story is a journey that captures the beauty of a romance rich in humility, compassion and the unconditional love of God. Arleen and Neil's story is one you won't forget as you picture them dancing together while the world around them fades away. They embrace each other with honor and integrity and allow God to heal wounds that have stolen happiness from a young woman who wanted to be accepted. It's hard to leave this story without a tear or two as I feel like they have become my friends. I can still hear Neil whisper to Arlene, "Dance With Me."

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

Blog Stops

Artistic Nobody, February 13 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Texas Book-aholic, February 14

deb’s Book Review, February 15

Connie’s History Classroom, February 16

Labor Not in Vain, February 17

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 18

Sara Jane Jacobs, February 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 20

Inklings and notions, February 21

For Him and My Family, February 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 24

Blossoms and Blessings, February 25

Rachael’s Inkwell, February 25

Blogging With Carol, February 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, A.M. is giving away the grand prize package of a multi-artist CD and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10747/dance-with-me-celebration-tour-giveaway

Duplicity

About the Book

Book: Duplicity at the Lowell House

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Christian Historical Mystery

Release date: January 20, 2021

Duplicity, At The Lowell House Ebook Cover Large There’s nothing covered that won’t be revealed.
Greed weaves a tangled web at the Lowell House in downtown Dallas, 1866, but a murderer must get up pretty early in the morning to outfox the hotel’s proprietor. With the help of his friend and former sergeant, Morgan Lowell sees through the duplicity . . . but can he prove it? And will Charity, the love of his life, ever give up her matchmaking web? Enjoy an exciting mystery.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

leopard 5 Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—over fifty published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and twenty-to-be grandsugars with Ron, high-school-sweetheart-husband of over fifty years, Caryl and Ron live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

Something new for this author! I call it a historical, romantic mystery! If you’ve read QUINCY & PRISCILLA At The Lowell House, then you know a favorite couple–Morgan and Charity Lowell (book four, LEAVING TEXAS) own the hotel.

In the twelve years since they opened the Dallas hotel, there had never been a murder until—of all people—a Mister John Smith is found dead in room three-thirteen, and his clandestine demise needs to be solved posthaste.

The chief deputy sheriff in town, Tatum McCarthy, served as sergeant alongside Captain Lowell under General Henry Buckmeyer during the war, and the men remain good friends. So guess who comes to Dallas as a character witness . . . Henry! Along with his beautiful wife May Meriwether (book three HOPE REBORN) Buckmeyer!

That’s right! The patriarch of my Texas Romance Family Saga series!

What fun to discover the wonderful connection of these Texas heroes! I’ve never enjoyed anything more in my writing career than to link these two series! Cross Timbers and Texas Romances make DUPLICUITY At The Lowell House a rip-roaring good time as Charity pulls out all the stops entertaining her favorite author—other than Morgan, that is!

This first mystery will be followed by others that Morgan and Charity will work on together. I’ll promise you now, there’s no telling who might pop up when there’s a murder to be unraveled! I pray you will all enjoy the fun and seeing these characters, natural friends in early Texas, come together for new stories!

MY REVIEW

This is a change of pace for the author and I am happy to say that it has been a fun book to read. I love mysteries and this sure has one complete with deceit, greed, and a surprise or two along the way. Set in Texas around 1866 we meet old friends Morgan and Charity who run the Lowell Hotel. I loved having them in this story and they bring fun and laughter to the book. Now it is no surprise that there is a murder. The rumors start flying as the body is removed from the hotel. Poor man never had a chance. Someone wanted to make sure he would never talk again.

Charity is determined to solve the mystery even though her husband has told her to leave it alone. I laughed because I knew she was going to go snooping around til she solved the case. The suspect is quite a looker and charms men into getting her way. Oh my did she play the poor young woman being picked on by the mean lawmen card. She is very calculating and thinks that her charm will win the men on the jury to find her innocent. I didn’t see the twist coming , but it sure is a humdinger. There is historical facts scattered throughout the story which I found to be intriguing . I have to say I played sleuth as the story went on. If you pay attention, the author cleverly drops hints that point you in the right direction.

I am thrilled to have one of my favorite authors step away from an emotional story and gives us a glimpse of the talent she has. God has blessed her with the gift of writing and continues to provide readers with fresh ideas. I am excited to see where the next book in this series takes us. It has been a delight to travel to a town and watch a trial go on during this time period. It was handled very nicely and felt like I had a front row seat in the courthouse. Get ready for a fun adventure which murder is the crime and “all things hidden will be revealed.”

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

Blog Stops

Connie’s History Classroom, February 10

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 11

Splashes of Joy, February 12

Sara Jane Jacobs, February 12

Texas Book-aholic, February 13

Inklings and notions, February 14

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, February 15 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 15

For Him and My Family, February 16

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 17

deb’s Book Review, February 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 19

Artistic Nobody, February 20 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 22

Pause for Tales, February 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10743/duplicity-at-the-lowell-house-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, February 12, 2021

About the Book

Book: Bookers on the Rocks

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

If it ain’t broke, why’s she so intent on fixing it?

Tessa Booker hates romance.

For twenty-five years, Tessa Booker has insisted that romance is something Hollywood cooked up to sell books and movies. Yes, she knows the word existed before movies. She doesn’t care. That’s her story, and she’s sticking to it.

So when Ross gets a gentle nudge from Mallory Barrows to look into what Tessa’s doing every day while he’s at work, he discovers a romance in the works–one that sounds a little too “ripped from the pages” of his life!

Who is this woman, and what has she done with his wife?

Armed with advice from 101 Ways to Romance Your Wife and a copy of the manuscript he printed while she was napping, he’s determined to figure out what’s up with his wife… and if maybe a little romance wouldn’t be a good thing after all.

In a twist of the “on the rocks trope,” this book introduces the next island in the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

Who Needs Romance? My Marriage Is Great as It Is!

Writing a book about a couple who are in love, devoted to each other, and don’t have marriage problems is… challenging. Let’s face it. Most books about married couples, especially ones “on the rocks,” are going to have fights, an affair (at least of the emotional variety), or some big thing threatening to send them straight to divorce court.

Mine doesn’t.

In fact, Bookers on the Rocks shows what happens when couples become too comfortable in their routines—so comfortable, in fact, that they become blind to each other’s needs. If you asked Tessa Booker if anything is wrong in her marriage, she’d say no. If you asked her if she wanted anything different, she’d say no. The age old, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality.

Still, if you look at stories in Scripture, you see deep love and even romance in some places. Elkanah, who loved his wife enough to say, “Am I not more to you than ten sons?” Jacob who worked fourteen years to marry the woman he loved. Solomon and his love for the Shulamite woman. While the first two do not make me squirm, Solomon does. That book… oh, that book.

What I think Song of Solomon does is remind us of the Lord’s wooing of His people and how invested the Shulamite woman was in being delighted in her beloved—in all of him. If that isn’t a picture of how we should devote ourselves to our Lord, I don’t know what is.

In Bookers on the Rocks, I explore the possibility that those of us who aren’t naturally romantic might just be missing a vital ingredient in our marriages. A body can look and feel perfectly healthy for years—even decades. But if some essential nutrient is missing in a person’s diet, eventually that body will show it in some way. A lack of calcium can create brittle bones. No one sees the problem until a slight stumble turns into a nasty break.

Did it change how I view my marriage? No… not yet. Then again, yes it did, too. I’m more… aware of what is going on in my marriage these days. I doubt candlelight and roses will ever become a thing in our relationship, but translating what romance might mean and look like to my husband has become something I do think about from time to time. That probably means more Wienerschnitzel and less broccoli, but hey. He did a lot of dishes, dinner, and diapers (my perfect three Ds of romance) when our kids were small. I can endure a hot dog or three thousand, right?

My REVIEW

This has been a nice story where we look at a marriage from a woman’s perspective and a man’s perspective. I loved how the author dissects a marriage and let’s us look beneath the surface. I could relate to this story so much. I have been married for thirty-seven years, yet there are times I feel all alone. We get comfortable and start to take each other for granted.

Tessa could be be. Wait. Did the author write about me? Oh I’m just kidding but I recognize Tessa’s feelings so well. She starts to get restless and wonders where did the romance go. Does her husband still love her? I laughed when she decided she would write a romance novel. I believe that was God prompting her to write her feelings down. As she writes she sees that she needs to work on herself first.

Ross has no clue his wife is unhappy. He is the kind of man who thinks everything is great. After all she isn’t complaining. There are subtle hints that he starts picking up on. Sometimes I think we need to bop our husbands over the head to get their attention. Slowly he sees that there is something really wrong and he sets out to fix it. That is what men like to do after all.

Now I’m not big on flowers, candies or any of that mushy stuff. Like Tessa I like to hear that I’m appreciated. I want to be shown that I’m loved by a hug or kiss. Tessa needs those to be reminded what it was like the first day they fell in love. The book is a great illustration of how we should always treat our spouse with unconditional love. It starts with us. What do we need to do to make the relationship better? Instead of pointing fingers, pray and ask God to show you what you need to work on.

There is a side story about domestic abuse with a secondary character. I wondered how the author would tie this into the main story. With grace and tenderness the author uses it to reinforce how important communication is. Through a series of events Tessa finds herself in danger. Trying to help out someone, she finds herself in a hospital. The moment that Ross sees his wife laying in the hospital bed wrecks his insides. All the walls they have built around their heart slowly falls. I kept thinking about how pride stops us from admitting we are wrong. We don’t want to be the first to say we are sorry. Tessa and Ross find themselves on a journey of falling in love all over again. My husband is my best friend and I enjoy life because of him. This book has awaken me to do better in showing him that he matters.

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