BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 04 August 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – KATHERINE’S ARRANGEMENT by BLOSSOM TURNER

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – KATHERINE’S ARRANGEMENT by BLOSSOM TURNER

 

THE BLURB

Marrying him is her only choice to save her family, but Josiah Richardson isn’t at all the man she expected.

Katherine Williams’s family was left destitute when their home was burned to the ground by Yankee soldiers, so the ready solution presented by the prominent Mr. Josiah Richardson seems almost too good to believe. He’ll provide a home, work for her pa, and a new beginning for her family…if only Katherine will accept his proposal. A marriage of convenience is the last thing she wants, but there doesn’t seem to be a better option for her family or herself. Setting aside her dreams of love, Katherine agrees to the arrangement.

The gentleman in Josiah Richardson can no more force his frightened bride into his bed, than he can force her into loving him, so he sets out to gently woo her. He works hard to befriend her, to earn her trust and win her love.

Katherine is pleasantly surprised to find herself drawn to the man she thought she would never love, until an unexpected friendship tears apart all they’ve worked for. Where once the promise of love had budded between Josiah and Katherine, now they wonder what to do with their so-called marriage. Is love strong enough to weave its healing power through two broken hearts?

 

THE AUTHOR

Blossom Turner is a free-lance writer published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, former newspaper columnist on health and fitness, an avid blogger, and published novelist. Her authentic understanding of the power of forgiveness through life experience has inspired this compelling novel, Anna’s Secret, where failure, God’s love, and romance collide. She and her husband, David, have two grown children and live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Read more at blossomturner.com.

 

MY REVIEW

The realities of war escape most of us. Certainly the up close and personal cruelties of Yankee soldiers and the total and utter loss of everything familiar.

Add to that, the ancient practice of an arranged marriage left Katherine feeling like a pawn in some grim game.

The premise of this story offers much with the veiled similarity to the Biblical story of Ruth. But sadly I found I could not connect with the characters. At first, I felt Katherine’s dismay, but when it turned to bitterness she lost me. Josiah was a delight at first, his morals and honor the badge of a gentleman. But the repeated mention of his physical desire for Katherine and his struggle to control himself got old fast.

The make-it-or-break-it for this reviewer, the dialogue, did not ring true to the era.

Ms. Blossom builds the tension, then eases it, then jerks it taut again as Katherine and Josiah dance around their situation and their marriage. And not only did she toss in one secret, but two—one of them with a surprise twist—with hints smattered throughout the pages until each secret was revealed.

The Spiritual struggle, though, was evident. Unbelievers surrounded with praying folk—and resenting any mention of the Bible of prayer. And yet, each of them felt the stirring, burning within, the longing for God, even if they didn’t recognize He was their answer.

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

THREE FEATHERS

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Katherine’s Arrangement, Blossom Turner

BLOGWORDS – Saturday 1 August 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-SATURDAY – BOOK REVIEW – FALLING FOR GRACE by JANET FERGUSON

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-SATURDAY – BOOK REVIEW – FALLING FOR GRACE by JANET FERGUSON

 

THE BLURB

Grace Logan has taken a lot of tumbles in life, but she works hard to bounce right back. Dreams shattered and hope for reconciliation gone, Grace needs a place where she can pick herself up now that her ex is marrying her former best friend. Her boss’s beach house in Santa Rosa seems like the perfect getaway, but stumbling into the attractive-but-damaged handyman next door isn’t part of the plan.

After losing his infant son—and his marriage—Seth Gibbs is left with smothering grief and guilt. Bad memories make it difficult to find a new normal, so he escapes to his family’s vacation home. Three years later, he’s still in Santa Rosa with no plans to leave. That is…until Grace falls into his life.

THE AUTHOR

Janet W. Ferguson is a Grace Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.

 

MY REVIEW

Sometimes it takes the broken in us to see the broken in others.

I’ve come to know that when I read a story by Ms. Ferguson, I will fall in love with her characters. Grace Loga and Seth Gibbs are no exception.

Her trying to escape a broken heart, him hiding from his, and they keep bumping into each other. And as stone sharpens stone, Grace and Seth’s encounters begin to strip away the sting and broken edges.

Ms. Ferguson digs into deep heart issues—grief, unforgiveness, betrayal—and roots them out, exposing them for the damage they create. She takes Grace and Seth through a steep learning curve, both individually and together. I appreciate her understanding of human nature, and the beauty of her stories that tell on us all so well.

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

FOUR FEATHERS

 

 

This book was given to me as a gift. I offer my review of my own free will, and the opinions expressed in my review are my own honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day-on-Saturday, #TRD, Book Review, Falling for Grace, Janet Ferguson, Coastal Hearts

BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 28 July 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – THE HAUNTING OF JOSIAH KASH by DANA PRATOLA

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – THE HAUNTING OF JOSIAH KASH by DANA PRATOLA

THE BLURB

“The odds of being struck by lightning are practically the same as finding the love of your life.” ~Josiah
Josiah doesn’t believe in ghosts. But he can’t deny this abandoned house with its dark history holds more than just shadows of the past. Whether he’s dealing with something other-worldly or the effects of a near devastating head injury, there’s no doubt he’s being haunted.
Brenna’s life has been rough enough lately. Homeless and alone, she’s found safety in an old house atop Unger Hill. But she isn’t alone. She’d heard the rumors of the haunting here, but the handsome stranger invading her sanctuary is all too real, and might be more dangerous than any spirit.

THE AUTHOR

I’m passionate about Romance. I write about real people with real struggles, temptations, and desires. My characters often have difficult choices to make – and don’t always make the right ones. My stories are not what you expect, and everything you want.
God has blessed me with a wonderful husband and three dynamic children, all of whom are destined to make wide, colorful splashes in this world. We share our New Jersey home with two dogs. I have no hobbies to speak of unless you include writing. I don’t.

Connect With Me at: http://www.DanaPratolaRomance.com to join my mailing list and receive news of new releases, giveaways, etc.

 

MY REVIEW

I’ve loved every one of Ms. Pratola’s books that I’ve read, and this one, told in first person, just sucked me right in.

I’ve felt helpless before but never so desperate as Brenna’s situation. And I’m tenacious, but I do believe she OWNS tenacity! Then again, sometimes ya just need to ask for help.

Talk about headstrong!! (Though apparently not in a match against a horse hoof… ) First of all, checking himself out of the hospital days after his injury, and then insisting he stay alone in an abandoned house, Josiah takes man-stubborn to new levels!

The twists in this story are unexpected and intriguing, tugging the reader page after page. Ms. Pratola understands the human psyche, and it shows in how she portrays her characters. The dialogue—often a make-it-or-break-it for this reader—is snappy and vivid.

This story kept me reading in anticipation to the last page.

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

ALL | THE | FEATHERS!

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, The Haunting of Josiah Kash, Dana Pratola

BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 21 July 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY –BOOK REVIEW – LU. by BETH TROY

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – LU. by BETH TROY

 

THE BLURB

In a debut novel readers are calling “true to life,” “captivating,” and “cleverly written,” author Beth Troy takes on the story of Lu Sokolowski and her life upended. Lu’s plans have turned sideways, taking her back to the family and town she always planned to leave.

Lu is a modern woman’s honest journey to faith, that unapologetically addresses:

• The big questions women ask about their beliefs.
• The struggles women face in creating a fulfilling life.
• The complexity of family relationships.
• The tension between hope and reality.

Lu. by Beth Troy is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read. In turns witty and sincere, snarky and heartfelt, it is a study in brokenness and redemption. – Reading is my SuperPower

Lu is a story for readers looking for real growth in relatable characters who aren’t afraid to ask real questions. It’s for women who want to experience the full spectrum of who they are and what they believe. It’s for women who want a story about how faith integrates into the whole life of a woman. You will want to share this story with a friend – after you read it again yourself.

 

THE AUTHOR

Beth Troy is an American writer and educator who teaches courses in Creativity & Innovation and Women & Entrepreneurship at Miami University.

When not teaching, she spends her time writing. Her first novel is Lu, a sequel to which is being released in Summer 2020. She writes what she believes and asks questions that aim to spark debate and positive changes in her readers.

Beth lives in Ohio with her husband and three sons.

 

MY REVIEW

If #allthefeelz is a hashtag, then this book is #AlltheRealz!!!

 

How coincidental that today’s morning Scripture (Colossians 2:9-10) says, “… you are complete in Him…” Which is exactly Lu’s story, the journey she was on. To discover who she is, what her purpose is. And how this whole Bible thing relates. Or if it relates.

Ms. Troy’s storytelling is real and gritty and honest. Told in first person (this reviewer’s favorite) the story pulls the reader deeper into Lu’s discontent and unrest. Ms. Troy makes it clear that there is only one answer to fill the emptiness Lu knows so well.

I think any one of us, if we’re honest with ourselves, have known some of Lu’s feelings and doubts, if not the depth of them. But the cord, heavy and cumbersome, through it all was how Lu wanted to believe. How she tried.

Lu pounded Jackson with questions about the Bible and about his faith; he readily answered every time. Ms. Troy neatly tied Lu’s story with his, knitting them in a comfy cocoon of friendship. And maybe more…

Life is complicated and messy, and so is Lu’s story. Ms. Troy asks the questions that we ask; she lays bare the soul, because the walk of faith is not an easy one. Lu is a bold telling of an earnest search for answers, played against the familiar, the comfortable, the known with answers we all resist but desperately need.

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

ALL | THE | FEATHERS!

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Lu., Beth Troy, JustRead Publicity, #AlltheRealz

BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 7 July 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – MURDER ON EDISTO by C. HOPE CLARK

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – MURDER ON EDISTO by C. HOPE CLARK

THE BLURB

A big city detective. A lowcountry murder.

Peace, safety, a place to grieve and heal. After her husband is murdered by the Russian mob, Boston detective Callie Jean Morgan comes home to her family’s cottage in South Carolina. There, she can keep their teenage son, Jeb, away from further threats.

But the day they arrive in Edisto Beach, Callie finds her childhood mentor and elderly neighbor murdered. Taunted by the killer, who repeatedly violates her home and threatens others in the community, Callie finds her new sanctuary has become her old nightmare. Despite warnings from the town’s handsome police chief, Callie plunges back into detective work, pursuing a sinister stranger who may have ties to her past. He’s turning a quiet paradise into a paranoid patch of sand where nobody’s safe. She’ll do whatever it takes to stop him.

THE AUTHOR

Hope Clark is the award-winning author of The Carolina Slade Mystery Series, also set in her home state of South Carolina. In her previous life, she performed administrative investigations for the federal government and married an agent she met on a bribery investigation. She can be found either on the banks of Lake Murray or Edisto Beach with one or two dachshunds in her lap. Clark is also editor of the award-winning fundsforwriters.com. Find out more about her at chopeclark.com

 

MY REVIEW

NOTE: For my followers who read only clean Christian fiction, there are several instances of swear language, and one scene in particular that gets pretty steamy. 

Having started reading this series with Book #3 or 4, it’s fun to go back and see how it all started. I mean, I knew Callie had issues, but to witness how they started—I just wanna give her a great big HUG! I felt for Callie, with attacks—and not just physical—coming from every side, even within her own mind as memories torment.

NOTE: The books in this series are stand-alone, but I appreciate getting to know Callie and her cohorts better.

Nobody tells a story like C. Hope Clark! Taut story, crisp writing, in-your-face dialogue! And real, believable characters. And the tension she builds from the first page had my heart racing!

In a new place where there are more unknown than familiar faces, Callie teeters between civilian life—foreign to her—and taking this crime spree head on. Especially since it seems aimed at her.

As she ticks through possible suspects—and no one is exempt, it seems—the clues get stranger and stranger.

Ms. Clark builds the suspense with each page, holding my attention in a tight grip to the unexpected twist at the end.

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

ALL | THE | FEATHERS!

 

 

This book was given to me as a gift. I offer my review of my own free will, and the opinions expressed in my review are my own honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Murder on Edisto, C. Hope Clark, Edisto Island Mysteries

BLOGWORDS – Friday 3 July 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-FRIDAY – BOOK REVIEW – VOLITION by CHAUTONA HAVIG

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-FRIDAY – BOOK REVIEW – VOLITION by CHAUTONA HAVIG

NOTE: I originally had this review scheduled for 16 May, but following my father’s death the week prior, I was too unfocused to keep up my reading pace, and deferred my post till I could get caught up. And though the tour is long over, I wanted to give credit where credit is due—after all, it is through Celebrate Lit that I came to read this little gem!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Book:  Volition

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre:  Christian fiction, futuristic

Release Date: December 31, 2019

 

THE BLURB

“I should have made that left turn at Tucumcari.”

It’s Doctor Who meets mail-order brides when “rescuers” from the future arrive to save Andi Flanders from a happy life with her loving family and fiancé.

Okay, so they meant to get her suicidal roommate, but hey. Mistakes happen, right?

And as far as Andi’s concerned, they can fix them—by sending her home.

However, when she learns what happens when she disappears from home, Andi has an impossible choice. Stay in the government-controlled futuristic world she despises and never see her family again or return to the twenty-first century and doom an innocent person to death.

Volition— Life and death decisions are so overrated.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

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

What Happens When You Explore Logical Progressions?

She used chopsticks. Me? I’m a fork kind of gal. But over plates of sesame chicken and fried rice, we hashed out what our NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) books would be. Every year, I challenged myself.  Once by writing drippy romance (Discovering Hope).  Once by turning a sermon into a story that wasn’t preachy (Argosy Junction). (psst… links are affiliate links—they provide a small commission at no extra expense to you!)

This time, I’d decided the challenge would include writing in the first person.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I don’t like the first-person perspective. As we tried to figure out what our plots would be, my friend added another challenge. “Do science fiction.”

I’ll be honest. I almost laughed her out of the restaurant. But then an idea hit me.  Why shouldn’t I?  I could kill two dislikes in one book.  Bam! Done!

That kicked off a book I probably never would have written otherwise.

I knew doing major techno-science stuff wouldn’t be conducive to trying to write 50,000 words in thirty days, so I immediately chose futuristic over space travel.  The decision to go with a form of time travel was probably inspired by Doctor Who, now that I think of it. I didn’t back then. I just went with what I thought I might be able to make interesting—to write, if not to read.

That kicked off an idea that sent my brain spinning.

What would happen if you got kidnapped and taken to the future, but returning to your former life means someone’s soul will never be redeemed?

Of course, it would take a really strong, amazing character to pull off that kind of thing. Not everyone could do it. But who… who give up her life for someone else?

That’s when I knew. That soul saved would have to belong to someone my character didn’t even like. Gotta raise the stakes, you know?

That’s also when I discovered that I wouldn’t like her—not at first.

Andi Flanders jumped onto the page with hands on hips and eyes flashing. She was livid that people in the future had interfered with her life. Then she’s broken when she realizes she can’t go back.

Fiercely independent, Andi enters futuristic Rockland with a critical eye and condemning spirit.  Since most sci-fi stuff I’ve seen focuses on sleek, pristine futures full of glass and steel, I wanted to go a different direction.  But how?

That’s when my solution came to me.

I’d take today’s world and push everything to logical exaggerated conclusions.

• Environmentalism? We’ll have a world that tries not to encroach on nature any more than necessary
• Population? I took China’s “one child” policy and made it worldwide… and then let the future deal with the fallout.
• Globalism? I let them have their one-world government that protects everyone from themselves.
• Apathetic faith? I didn’t persecute Christians. I just let their faith die a slow, natural death.

And then I threw in a character with a love for Jesus and a minor obsession with Ayn Rand’s objectivism.  Yes, I’m aware that those two things can be mutually exclusive. That was the fun of it.

This Rand-spouting, Jesus loving, freckle-faced, fiery redhead had to deal with all if this stuff in a world as opposite from her freedom-loving self as can stand.

Ninety-thousand words later, I was done.  And then I shelved the book.

For ten years.

On December 27, 2019, I got a message from my son.

He’d found a book cover design contest and wondered if he should enter.  And if so, with what book?  We hashed out ideas when I remembered Volition.  It wasn’t edited.  Done, but not edited.  Could I possibly get the whole thing cleaned up before December 31 rolled over into January 1?

I decided to try.

Nolan got to work on a cover while I began editing like nobody’s business.

With the help of my amazing launch team, an incredible editor, and no sleep, the book was live on New Year’s Eve with three hours to spare.

Then my son decided not to worry about entering this year.

He lives. This is a testimony to God’s grace and control over my life.  And my hands.

Or maybe it’s because he lives three hours south of me, and I’ve only seen him once since then. You don’t kill your son at your daughter’s wedding reception. Just sayin’.

But let’s go with the first reason. It makes me sound more spiritual or something. 😉

 

MY REVIEW

I don’t even know where to begin!! Amazing seems to small a word for this story!

A fan of stories written in first person (if done well,) I was immediately drawn into Andi’s dilemma. And the situation with her roomie.

But then the story felt off-putting, and I didn’t think the futuristic aspects would hold my attention. Boy was I wrong!

Now, having finished the book, I think I was feeling some of Andi’s confusion and frustration—and disbelief! (that first person point of view!) Then the choice she had to make—would I be that strong? How many of us could do that? Make that much of a sacrifice?

James was likeable enough, easy going, non-condemning. But frustrated and confused, too. After all, it was his [SPOILER] that was mixed up. He was just as bewildered with Andi’s previous life experience as she was with his. And yet, made great allowances for her, and defended her time and again.

The progression of this story, the incredible character arcs, were a thing of beauty. Little by little, two steps forward, one step back, dancing around feelings that at first weren’t there, Andi and James came to know and understand one another. Both thrust into a situation neither asked for, their first days were more than a little rough. Abrasive better describes it.

Ms. Havig created not only a plausible if tragically lost future world but wrapped a plausible and victorious story into it. With each page, each chapter, some new revelation unfolds, another rough edge of conflict was made smooth. As the story progressed and the characters evolved, so too did their marriage—from an arrangement to a friendship to something more.

A page-turner and tear-jerker, Ms. Havig’s story kept me captive to the last page. The last, lovely, tear inducing page.

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

ALL | THE | FEATHERS!

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day-on-Friday, #TRD, Book Review, Volition, Chautona Havig, Celebrate Lit Publicity

BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 30 June 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – THE GREEN DRESS by LIZ TOLSMA

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – THE GREEN DRESS by LIZ TOLSMA

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Book:  The Green Dress

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian Historical Suspense

Release Date: June 2020

 

THE BLURB

Death Seems to Follow Harriet’s New Friend

Book 6 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History

When Harriet Peters came to Boston in 1882, the Robinson family took her in like one of their own, and Harriet became closer to Lizzie Robinson than her own siblings. Now, four years later, Lizzie is deathly sick, failing quickly just like several others in her family have done over the past few years. How can so many in one family die from the same mysterious illness? Harriet doesn’t have answers, but she is determined to help the family, bringing in a new-to-the-neighborhood doctor, Michael Wheaton.
As Harriet and Michael close in on the answer, putting their own lives at risk, can the cause be found before anyone else dies?

Click here to get your copy!

 

THE AUTHOR

Liz Tolsma is a popular speaker and an editor and the owner of the Write Direction Editing. An almost-native Wisconsinite, she resides in a quiet corner of the state with her husband and is the mother of three. Her son proudly serves as a U.S. Marine. They adopted all of their children internationally, and one has special needs. When she gets a few spare minutes, she enjoys reading, relaxing on the front porch, walking, working in her large perennial garden, and camping with her family.

MORE FROM LIZ

We’ve all been there—started a letter or an email or even a list, didn’t like what we had, crossed it out or hit the delete button, and tried again. Now imagine that happening when you’re writing a novel.

That’s what occurred with The Green Dress. Finding the perfect place to start a novel can be tricky, but when you’re trying to balance fact with fiction, it’s even harder. I needed the fictional heroine, Harriet Peters, to have a good reason to come into contact with and become close to the factual Robinson family. And I needed for the hero, Michael Wheaton, to meet Harriet early on. So I dove into the story. Five chapters later, the hero and heroine hadn’t yet met. The book wasn’t working.

I scrapped those chapters and started at a different point. At first, it seemed to be going better. I was happy. Until I got to the fifth chapter, when I realized again that the book wasn’t working. Frankly, it was boring. So those ended up in the virtual trash bin. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking on my deadline. I was desperate to find the right starting point, at a place with high tension. Finally, I had an “aha” moment, and the story flowed from there. That’s how the first five chapters (and the rest of The Green Dress) came to be.

 

—Liz Tolsma

 

MY REVIEW

This series!! What horrific tales!!! The depravity of man exposed in a “palatable” fashion—fiction, with fictional characters woven deftly through the fabric of the story.

Ms. Tolsma opens her story with a chilling scene, dousing the reader immediately with high drama and tension. As Lizzie fades away and Harriet struggles with the loss, Mrs. Robinson stands out as either a suffering mother and victim herself—or a sinister and wicked woman.

I was fond of Harriet and appreciated her devotion to the Robinson family. But I questioned her willingness to be manipulated; it happens of course, but Harriet was clever and quite tenacious at times, too.

While the story was gripping—who was the guilty party and why—I felt that it rather dragged on somewhat. The dialogue was, for this reader, dry and bland. And though Mrs. Robinson was a seamstress, there was (if memory serves) only one vague reference to a green dress with a subtle implication that it presaged Harriet’s death, which begged the question of the purpose of the title.

Still, as the story built, and more people died, the more I kept turning the pages to find out the answers.

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

THREE FEATHERS

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

To celebrate her tour, Liz 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/fcd8/the-green-dress-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

BLOG STOPS

The Power of Words, June 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 26

deb’s Book Review, June 26

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, June 26

A Reader’s Brain, June 27

Rebecca Tews, June 27

For Him and My Family, June 27

Texas Book-aholic, June 28

Back Porch Reads, June 28

Inklings and notions, June 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 29

Genesis 5020, June 29

Emily Yager, June 29

Christian Bookaholic, June 30

Robin’s Nest, June 30

To Everything There is A Season, June 30

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 30

Blogging With Carol, July 1

Bigreadersite, July 1

Read Review Rejoice, July 1

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 2

Life of Literature, July 2

Connie’s History Classroom, July 2

Betti Mace, July 3

Southern Gal Loves to Read, July 3

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, July 3

Stories By Gina, July 3

For the Love of Literature, July 4

Remembrancy, July 4

Reviewingbooksplusmore, July 4

Godly Book Reviews, July 5

Splashes of Joy, July 5

Vicky Sluiter, July 5

Older & Smarter?, July 6

Through the Fire Blogs, July 6

Daysong Reflections, July 6

amandainpa, July 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 7

Pause for Tales , July 7

Just the Write Escape, July 7

Hallie Reads, July 8

Where Faith and Books Meet, July 8

Blossoms and Blessings, July 8

Spoken from the Heart, July 9

With a Joyful Noise, July 9

Artistic Nobody, July 9 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, The Green Dress, Liz Tolsma, Celebrate Lit Publicity

BLOGWORDS – Saturday 20 June 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-SATURDAY – BOOK REVIEW TRIPLE HEADER #3 – THE MISCHIEF THIEF by JOHNNIE ALEXANDER

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-SATURDAY – BOOK REVIEW TRIPLE HEADER #3 – THE MISCHIEF THIEF by JOHNNIE ALEXANDER

 

THE BLURB

Two wrongs don’t make a right . . . except when they do.

For con artist Chaney Rose, life hasn’t been easy. In desperate need of cash, she readily agrees to find Mischief, a stolen racehorse. Hunting for clues, she breaks into the suspected horse thief’s home only to be caught—with a few pilfered items in her pockets—by the police detective who’s tailing her.
By-the-book Adam Thorne was fired from his church because of his father’s involvement with the valuable thoroughbred. In a burst of Les Miserables-inspired grace, Adam tells the detective that he gave Chaney the stolen items.
Adam wants Chaney to find his missing father. When Chaney learns that Mischief’s owner intends to kill the racehorse, she needs Adam’s help expose the cruel plan before it’s too late.
Will a con artist with a conscience and a minister without a ministry risk imprisonment to do the wrong thing for the right reason?

THE AUTHOR

Johnnie Alexander is a wannabe vagabond with a heart for making memories. Whether at home or on the road, she creates characters you want to meet and imagines stories you won’t forget.
Her award-winning debut novel, Where Treasure Hides, is a CBA bestseller and has been translated into Dutch and Norwegian. She also writes contemporary romances, cozy mysteries, and historical novellas. The Mischief Thief is her first suspense novel.
Johnnie is on the executive boards of Serious Writer, Inc. and Mid-South Christian Writers Conference, co-hosts an online show called Writers Chat, and interviews inspirational authors for her Novelists Unwind program. She also teaches at writers conferences and for Serious Writer Academy.
A fan of classic movies, stacks of books, and road trips, Johnnie shares a life of quiet adventure with Griff, her happy-go-lucky collie, and Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon.

 

MY REVIEW

What a wonderful story!

We all have them. Life circumstances that we never thought we’d have to face. Perhaps not so overt or drastic as to steal to keep from going hungry. Perhaps more subtle, more “excusable,” more hidden. Sometimes, though, it’s simply all we have ever known. Like Chaney Rose.

And sometimes, we think we’re above all that. Like Adam Thorne. After all, he was a minister. A man of God. How would he have undesirable character traits?

Ms. Alexander poses not only these questions, but she mixes the two—Chaney and Adam—in a tale of mixed emotions. And perhaps some mixed ethics.

Iron sharpens iron as circumstance repeatedly throws Chaney and Adam together, smoothing the rough edges of their initial meeting.

A peculiar mix of near childlike guile and innocence and a sharp wit and cunning mind, Chaney rambles through her life, and into Adam’s. With no real conviction, save for concern for others—and especially for Mischief—the niggling guilt of her lifestyle and profession press against her. The kindness—the Les Miserable twist—that Adam shows her imprints on her heart, begging questions she’d not dared ask before.

Ms. Alexander builds the adventure, teasing the reader with every word, every page, pushing to the end, and [SPOILER] outcome.

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

ALL | THE | FEATHERS!

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day-on-Saturday, #TRD, Book Review Triple Header #3, The Mischief Thief, Johnnie Alexander, JustRead Publicity Tour

BLOGWORDS – Saturday 20 June 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-SATURDAY – BOOK REVIEW TRIPLE HEADER #2 – VICTORIA GRACE: THE JERKFACE by S.E. CLANCY

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-SATURDAY – BOOK REVIEW TRIPLE HEADER #2 – VICTORIA GRACE: THE JERKFACE by S.E. CLANCY

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Book:  Victoria Grace: The Jerkface

Author: S.E. Clancy

Genre:  Young Adult Contemporary

Release Date: June 15, 2020

THE BLURB

Ever since Tori Weston and MamaBear were abandoned by her dad, finances have been tighter than a new pair of skinny jeans. As if keeping her grades up for scholarships and working every spare moment weren’t enough, Tori gets suckered into visiting a retirement home and paired with ancient resident Marigold Williams. After learning she’s the only one to visit Marigold in decades, Tori becomes a regular at Willow Springs. Besides, someone has to help with her history homework.

Corbin Dallas barges into Tori’s life with a prosthetic leg and a dimple, working his way into her hectic schedule. Though she tries to deny it, there’s something beyond his Texan drawl that gets Tori hoping she’s more than his sidekick. Together, they race to find Marigold’s missing family before she fades away. Tori ditches her soul-sucking job, along with her dreams of having a paint-peeled clunker to call her own, in order to help her friend one last time.

Click here to get your copy!

THE AUTHOR

S.E. Clancy (aka Sarah) is a bit of a sci-fi nerd, geek, and self-proclaimed dork. There isn’t much she won’t try at least once…unless it involves mayonnaise, because that stuff is just gross. You can learn more about her at seclancy.com.

 

 

MORE FROM S.E.

Victoria Grace the Jerkface started as a short story after I’d listened to my favorite song by Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song. I’d overheard a teenager say, “I don’t even know what a chestnut is.” I typed that into a note on my phone because it struck a chord. Within days, a photographer named Tom Hussey issued a series called “Reflections” that featured elderly people gazing into mirrors and seeing their younger selves. That same night, one of my children asked for a project to earn school credits. Like flint to tinder, the idea of this teenager who didn’t know what a chestnut was having to visit an older person left in a care home began to grow.

To add in a bit of my mom and myself to the story, I had my main character Tori (Victoria Grace) love her mom’s meatloaf. It’s a recipe that my mom used from her grandma, an amazing woman we called Grandma Ted.

Ted’s Meatloaf

• 1 pound thawed ground beef or turkey
• 1 packet of dry onion soup mix
• 1 – 2 heels of bread torn into dime-sized pieces (1 for turkey, 2 for beef)
• 1 egg

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients in a single bowl. Works best if you use your hands, but mix really well if you use a spoon to incorporate all of the ingredients.

Spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray. Do not use parchment paper—no one wants a soggy bottom. Plop the entire mixture into the pan and place into the middle of the oven. Cook for an hour.

This recipe doubles easily, just change the cooking time to 1 ½ – 1 ¾ hours and check the internal temp with a thermostat.

 

MY REVIEW

Ms. Clancy has shoved some very real and very deep issues into a quirky and entertaining. Told in first person—this reader’s favorite point of view—Jerkface is a discovery of one teen’s wretched existence. Wretched being Tori’s own perception.

The dialogue is simply delightful—a make it or break it for this reader—and Ms. Clancy has written winning dialogue, crackling with humor and very real evasive non-answers and almost slapstick flirting.

Marigold is just a delightful old lady, full of sparkle if not vim and vigor. Tori’s connection to her is quick, and deep, an old soul leading and schooling a young whippersnapper.

And Corbin! Can I just say, oh my! And swoon for a minute!!! The epitome of friendly Southern kindness.

An enjoyable story with lessons none of us are ever too old to learn (or revisit) that kept me turning the pages!

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

ALL | THE | FEATHERS!

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

To celebrate her tour, S.E. is giving away the grand prize package of signed book, origami bookmark, marigold seeds, & $10 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/fc81/victoria-grace-the-jerkface-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

BLOG STOPS

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, June 15

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 16

Books, Life, and Christ, June 16

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 18

Texas Book-aholic, June 19

Inklings and notions, June 20

Robin’s Nest, June 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 21

Nancy E Wood , June 21

For Him and My Family, June 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 23

deb’s Book Review, June 24

Batya’s Bits, June 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 26

CarpeDiem, June 26

Pause for Tales, June 27

Artistic Nobody, June 28 (Guest Review from Kelsey Barela)

 

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day-on-Saturday, #TRD, Book Review Triple Header #2, Victoria Grace: The Jerkface, S.E. Clancy, Celebrate Lit

BLOGWORDS – Saturday 20 June 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-SATURDAY – BOOK REVIEW TRIPLE HEADER #1 – WHERE THE ROAD BENDS by DAVID RAWLINGS

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-SATURDAY – BOOK REVIEW TRIPLE HEADER #1 – WHERE THE ROAD BENDS by DAVID RAWLINGS

 

THE BLURB

He ripped back the zip, his heart pounding as red dust trickled in and landed on his face. He stood, brushing the dust from his eyes, a sense of vertigo launching itself up his spine. One step from the swag and his eyes snapped open. He started to lean into a void. Over a cliff. 

Fifteen years after college graduation, four friends reconnect to keep a long-ago promise and go on a trip of a lifetime in the Australian Outback.

Eliza needs to disconnect from her high-powered fashion job to consider the CEO position she’s just been offered. Lincoln hopes to rekindle a past relationship and escape from another one. Bree looks forward to a fun getaway from home and her deeply buried disappointments. Andy wants to disappear from the mess he’s made of his life—possibly forever.

Dropped at a campsite in the middle of nowhere, the friends quickly discover they aren’t the same people they once were, and they begin to confront hard truths about one another—and themselves. Then a bizarre storm sweeps across their camp, scattering them across the desert. Wondering if they are part of some strange escape game, each of the friends meets a guide to help them find exactly what they need: purpose, healing, courage, and redemption.

But they’ve already traveled far down the road of life and course-correcting to become the people they were meant to be won’t be easy.

 

THE AUTHOR

David Rawlings is an Australian author, and a sports-mad father of three who loves humor and a clever turn of phrase. Over a 25-year career he has put words on the page to put food on the table, developing from sports journalism and copywriting to corporate communication. Now in fiction, he entices readers to look deeper into life with stories that combine the everyday with a sense of the speculative, addressing the fundamental questions we all face.

 

MY REVIEW

Mr. Rawlings sure knows how to dig deep into the souls of his characters, weaving powerful and poignant and heart wrenching stories around them, weaving the tattered threads of each character’s story into a single compelling tapestry.

Four friends stuck in their journey in life. A reunion that, when planned, was to have been a joyous celebration of their successes and happiness in life. The reality that all were hiding their own truths and none were prepared to reveal their failures, both real and perceived.

Just as God uses dreams and visions and “strangers unaware,” so, too, does Mr. Rawlings take his characters—and his readers—behind the veil, to witness the deeply personal and spiritual moments of truth and revelation.

What once had been a tight friendship between the four, Eliza and Bree and Lincoln and Andy, was changed, morphed into an unrecognizable discomfort. As they journeyed to the depths of the Outback of Australia—an adventure and much-appreciated bonus for this reader—the four friends each stepped into a journey into the depths of their own soul.

The imagery, both of the Outback and of the inward visitations, was vivid and riveting, keeping this reader turning pages well into the wee hours.

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

FOUR FEATHERS

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day-on-Saturday, #TRD, Book Review Triple Header #1, Where the Road Bends, David Rawlings