Friday, January 31, 2020

Month in Review -- January

Wrote everyday at least a minimum of 100 words? yes
Number of days that I wrote 500 words a day: 28
Wrote 15,643 words this month
Be creative

Tat: 3 crosses
Crochet: 1 teapot, 1 teacup, 1 book
Knit
Sculpt

Exercise 5 days a week? yes
Read my Bible everyday? yes
Blog posts that weren't book reviews: 1
Read 9 books

"The Gray Chamber" by Grace Hitchcock -- Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Gray Chamber

Author: Grace Hitchcock

Genre: Christian Historical / Suspense

Release Date: January, 2020

Will Edyth prove her sanity before it is too late?

Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

On Blackwell’s Island, New York, a hospital was built to keep its patients from ever leaving.

With her late parents’ fortune under her uncle’s care until her twenty-fifth birthday in the year 1887, Edyth Foster does not feel pressured to marry or to bow to society’s demands. She freely indulges in eccentric hobbies like fencing and riding her velocipede in her cycling costume about the city for all to see. Finding a loophole in the will, though, her uncle whisks Edyth off to the women’s lunatic asylum just weeks before her birthday. And Edyth fears she will never be found.

At the asylum she meets another inmate, who upon discovering Edyth’s plight, confesses that she is Nellie Bly, an undercover journalist for The World. Will either woman find a way to leave the terrifying island and reclaim her true self?

My Thoughts

"The Gray Chamber" is in the True Colors series, but each of the books are completely independent of each other. Grace Hitchcock did throw a cameo appearance into The Gray Chamber with Jude Thorpe helping Bane six years before he becomes the hero of The White City. It was fun to get a glimpse of him as a younger man. I found the book to be well written and easy to read. I liked Bane and Edyth and really disliked the Fosters. I had previously read a little about Nellie Bly and her undercover stay at an insane asylum so I knew a little about the poor conditions there, but this story really helped to bring to light the true horrors that the women endured. It was heartbreaking to realize the trivial reasons that women were admitted to the asylum and that they had no recourse to do anything about what was happening to them. I think that despair was felt through this book. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

About the Author

Grace Hitchcock is the author of three novellas in The Second Chance Brides, The Southern Belle Brides, and the Thimbles and Threads collections with Barbour Publishing. The White City is her debut novel and releases March 2019 with Barbour Publishing. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in southern Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, and son. Visit Grace online at GraceHitchcock.com.

More from Grace

I am thrilled to share with you my second novel in the True Colors series, The Gray Chamber, which is set in New York City in 1887. I loved writing about Edyth Foster, our cat-rescuing, spunky heroine who spends her days painting, fencing with her dreamy instructor, and avoiding society at all costs, which as you can imagine, comes back to haunt her before the end. I’ve never written about a character who despised reading, so that was a new one for me. Edyth just doesn’t like to sit still long enough to finish a book, but you’ll find out why later.

I am pretty certain the librarians at my local branch are wondering what in the world my hobbies are, judging from the stacks of fencing books for beginners, histories of New York crime in the 19th century, and Nellie Bly’s Ten Days in a Mad-House, and more that I have continuously checked out since moving back to Louisiana.

The inspiration for this book came from Nellie Bly’s scandalous exposé for Joseph Pulitzer’s newspaper, The World. In reading Nellie’s articles, I was shocked at the grounds by which the asylum would commit women and that’s when I discovered a tiny mention about an heiress with family members who had her tucked away so they could have her fortune. . .and Edyth Foster was born.

I hope you will enjoy reading about our eccentric leading lady and her fencing master hero, Raoul “Bane” Banebridge. If you are interested in seeing pictures of the asylum and to see what I pictured the characters looking like, check out my Pinterest board here.

Thank you for joining the fun for the Celebrate Lit tour! Join my author newsletter for more bookish news and to find out what is coming next! Just enter your e-mail address and name here. Happy Reading!

“With beautiful description and shiver-worthy scenes, Grace Hitchcock has penned an incredible fiction story based on true history. The Gray Chamber was a fascinating and chilling read. Edyth’s story had me glued to the pages. But as I journeyed with the heiress and her eccentricities, the greed of her family which saw her locked up in an asylum against her will made me grateful for the freedoms I have today. And made me pray that my voice would never be silenced. The nightmare was brought to life so vividly that I found myself holding my breath and then cheering on Bane as he never gave up on Edyth. This is a story that will stick with me for a long time…”

~Kimberley Woodhouse – Carol-Award winning and Best-Selling Author of more than twenty books, including: MissTaken Identity, The Express Bride, The Golden Bride, The Patriot Bride, and The Mayflower Bride.

Blog Stops

A Reader’s Brain, January 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20

Texas Book-aholic, January 20

Emily Yager, January 21

All-of-a-kind Mom, January 21

Older & Smarter?, January 21

Bigreadersite, January 22

Inklings and notions, January 22

For Him and My Family, January 22

Genesis 5020, January 23

deb’s Book Review, January 23

Blogging with Carol, January 23

Christian Bookaholic, January 24

KarenSueHadley , January 24

Mary Hake, January 24

For the Love of Literature, January 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 25

Godly Book Reviews, January 26

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, January 26

The Becca Files, January 26

Through the Fire Blogs, January 27

Daysong Reflections, January 27

Back Porch Reads, January 28

Robin’s Nest, January 28

Connie’s History Classroom, January 28

Betti Mace, January 29

Rebecca Tews, January 29

Vicky Sluiter, January 29

By The Book, January 30

Hallie Reads, January 30

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, January 30

Blossoms and Blessings, January 31

A Baker’s Perspective, January 31

Remembrancy, February 1

To Everything There Is A Season, February 1

With a Joyful Noise, February 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 2

Pause for Tales , February 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a free copy of The Gray Chamber!!

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/f4a2/the-gray-chamber-celebration-tour-giveaway

"The Gray Chamber" is available in paperback:

Series: True Colors
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books (January 1, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1643522353
ISBN-13: 978-1643522357
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches

and in Kindle edition:

File Size: 2381 KB
Print Length: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books (January 1, 2020)
Publication Date: December 15, 2019
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B0815S32YS

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

"More Than a Second Chance" by Lisa Renee --Author Interview, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: More Than A Second Chance

Author: Lisa Renee

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Release Date: August 30, 2019

Does Cassie deserve another chance at love?

Cassie Chambers, a dedicated youth worker, is determined to rescue the troubled youth in the city of Perth, Australia.

Cassie has made mistakes but hasn’t allowed tragedy or divorce to stop her. She devotes every working hour at Youth Connect. But her own needs are neglected.

Chef Chris Evanson offers work experience to young men from Youth Connect. Cassie and Chris’s encounters become more than sassy bantering with a hint of attraction. Chris is a sincere romantic.

How will Chris respond when he finds out her secret? She must tell him before he falls in love. Will he believe she deserves more than a second chance?

To complicate matters, one of Youth Connect’s troubled teens needs rescuing. She’s pregnant and moves in with Cassie, bringing absolute chaos. Chris gains insight into what life with Cassie involves. Does he still want the total package? Is Chris her true soul mate?

Click here to get your copy.

About the Author

Lisa Ren’ee is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Omega Writers, Australia. With an Australian theme, she wrote the Single Again series featuring More Than a Second Chance and Acres of Promise, to encourage women to heal past wounds and to dare trust again.

Lisa adores babies enough to have seven of her own. Recently, Lisa has taken up breeding Ragdoll cats instead of breeding humans.

The tribe lives in Australia, where Lisa and her husband enjoy their writing projects, public speaking, and are on the pastoral team at their church.

More from Lisa

What inspired you to start writing?

I’ve read many wonderful Christian novels of first-time love. Unfortunately, not all of us have experienced a strong lasting marriage. I’ve met many women who’ve had a husband turn away from their Christian faith and left the marriage. I want to encourage those women that God can restore what was lost with a faithful man.

My message is not to rush ahead of God’s timing. My characters are more cautious since they know life can throw unexpected blows. They learn to trust and open their hearts again, which takes time.

My first series tackles the central issue of divorce. More Than A Second Chance also addresses the challenges of infertility and grief. The story is wrapped around a new romance with plenty of humor and light-hearted moments to balance out the themes.

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 17

For Him and My Family, January 18

Through the Fire Blogs, January 19

Susan K. Beatty, Author, January 20 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 22

janicesbookreviews, January 23

For the Love of Literature, January 24 (Author Interview)

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, January 24

Just the Write Escape, January 25

Inklings and notions, January 26

By The Book, January 27 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 28

Simple Harvest Reads, January 29

Blossoms and Blessings, January 30 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lisa is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift voucher and free eBook of More Than A Second Chance!!

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/f49f/more-than-a-second-chance-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

"An Uncommon Woman" by Laura Frantz -- Book Review

About the Book

Unflinching and plainspoken, Tessa Swan is not your typical 18th-century woman. Born and bred on the western Virginia frontier along with her five brothers, she is a force to be reckoned with.

Quiet and courageous, Clay Tygart is not your typical 18th-century man. Raised by Lenape Indians, he returns a hero from the French and Indian War to the fort that bears his name, bringing with him Tessa's long-lost friend, Keturah, a redeemed Indian captive like himself.

Determined to avoid any romantic entanglements as fort commander, Clay remains aloof whenever he encounters the lovely Tessa. But when the unthinkable happens, his hand--and heart--are forced, leading to one very private and one very public reckoning.

Intense, evocative, and laced with intricate historical details that bring the past to life, An Uncommon Woman will transport you to the picturesque and dangerous western Virginia mountains of 1770.

My Thoughts

I have read other books set in Colonial America, but I had never thought about settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains. "An Uncommon Woman" brings to life what it was like to live in Indian territory of Colonial times. The book had a lot of adventure and twists and danger that kept me guessing what was going to happen (other than the spoiler in the book blurb--which I altered above to take out the spoiler--I dislike when the blurb gives spoilers!) The plight of returned captives intrigues me and I found that element of the story to be very interesting. There were some terms that I had to look up because they were not familiar to me, but I liked that it was realistic to the timeframe. Most of the terms, I had a general idea what they were based on the context, but I just liked making sure. I enjoyed reading this book and thought it was well written and easy to read. I look forward to reading more books by Laura Frantz.

About the Author

Laura Frantz is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky. According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net.

"An Uncommon Woman" is available in paperback:

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Revell (January 7, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800734955
ISBN-13: 978-0800734954
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches

and in Kindle edition:

File Size: 9558 KB
Print Length: 382 pages
Publisher: Revell (January 7, 2020)
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07VNHCWBP

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

Friday, January 24, 2020

"The Way of the Brave" by Susan May Warren

About the Book

Former pararescue jumper Orion Starr is haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong. He may be living alone in Alaska now, but the pain of his failure--and his injuries--has followed him there from Afghanistan. He has no desire to join Hamilton Jones's elite rescue team, but he also can't shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali.

Former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun's yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from the guilt that has sunk its claws into her. As a consultant during a top-secret mission to root out the Taliban, she green-lighted an operation that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she'll be forced to trust her life and the lives of her friends to the most dangerous of heroes--the man she nearly killed.

Her skills and his experience are exactly what's needed to prevent another tragedy--but in order to truly set Orion free from his painful past, Jenny will have to reveal hers. They'll have to put their wounds behind them to survive, but at what cost?

Leap into action with this high-octane, breakneck new series from bestselling author Susan May Warren.

My Thoughts

When I finished "The Way of the Brave", I just sat and stared into space in a bit of daze while I came back to the reality of life around me. The book caught me up in an avalanche of adventure and emotion. The story hit the ground running and never let up all the way through to the end. The characters are realistically flawed and relatable. I did not want to put the book down and read it mostly in one day. There is a great spiritual faith thread through the book and many good biblical principles are shared. This book (and the series) is interwoven with the Marshalls of Montana series, so some characters and events are shared. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.

About the Author

With over 1 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA and Carol award-winning author of over seventy-five novels with Revell, Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com and Christmas novellas.

With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award.

Of her books, Publisher’s Weekly has written, “Warren lays bare her characters’ human frailties, including fear, grief, and resentment, as openly as she details their virtues of love, devotion, and resiliency. She has crafted an engaging tale of romance, rivalry, and the power of forgiveness.”

And Library Journal adds, “Warren's characters are well-developed and she knows how to create a first rate contemporary romance…”

Susan is also a nationally acclaimed writing coach, teaching at conferences around the nation and winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year award. She loves to help people launch their writing careers and is the founder of Novel.Academy and www.LearnHowtoWriteaNovel.com, a writing website that helps authors get published and stay published. She’s also the author of the popular writing method, The Story Equation.

"The Way of the Brave" is available in paperback:

Series: Global Search and Rescue (Book 1)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell (January 7, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800735846
ISBN-13: 978-0800735845
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches

and in Kindle edition:

File Size: 10867 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell (January 7, 2020)
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07VNHDB1J

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

"The Thief of Lanwyn Manor" by Sarah E. Ladd -- Book Review & Blog Tour

About the Book

Book: The Thief of Lanwyn Manor

Author: Sarah E. Ladd

Genre: Regency Romance

Release Date: January 7, 2020

In this sweet Regency romance, Julia knows Matthew Blake, copper mine owner and very eligible bachelor, is the gentleman she should set her eyes upon. But why can’t she steal her gaze away from his younger brother, Isaac?

Cornwall, England 1818—Julia Twethewey needs a diversion to mend her broken heart, so when her cousin invites her to Lanwyn Manor, Julia eagerly accepts. Lanwyn Manor is at the heart of Cornwall’s mining industry, and as a guest Julia is swept into its intricate world. It’s not long, though, before she realizes something dark lurks in the home’s ancient halls.

As a respected mine owner’s younger son, Isaac Blake is determined to keep his late father’s legacy alive through the family business, despite his brother’s careless attitude. In order to save their livelihood—and the livelihood of those around them—the brothers approach the master of Lanwyn Manor with plans to bolster the floundering local industry. Isaac can’t deny his attraction to the man’s charming niece, but his brother has made his intentions to court the lovely guest clear. And Isaac knows his place.

When tragedy strikes, mysteries arise, and items go missing, Julia and Isaac find they are pulled together in a swirl of strange circumstances, but despite their own best efforts to bow to social expectations, their hearts aren’t so keen to surrender.

My Thoughts

"The Thief of Lanwyn Manor" is the second book in the Cornwall Novels series. I always think it is best to read books in order, but I think that you could read this book without having read the first book. You do meet Julia in the first book and learn about her Uncle Jac coming to be their guardian, but I don't think that you would have gaping holes in the story from not reading it first. I liked Julia and her spunk and her wish to be kind to the people of Goldweth. I also liked Isaac's quiet, steady nature. I found the book well written and easy to read. The mystery behind what was happening kept me turning pages. I figured out one of the players behind the mystery, but not what was going on. I wish I could go visit Lanwyn Manor and check out the hidden rooms and secret passages. I look forward to reading more books by Sarah E. Ladd.

About the Author

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing family and spunky golden retriever. Visit her online at SarahLadd.com; Facebook: SarahLaddAuthor; Twitter: @SarahLaddAuthor.