Death at Thorburn Hall by Julianna Deering

Love Drew, Madeline and Nick. Wasn’t too happy with Carrie through most of the book. I didn’t think she was that wimpy in the other books. I hope Carrie gets a bit more gumption in the next book. Her aside I loved the rest of the group and the story. I did not want to put this book down. I hope there are many more in this series. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this a five out of five stars.

Detective Drew Fathering and his wife Madeline go on vacation in Scotland. They find it strange when their host Lord Rainsby, an accomplished horseman, dies during a riding accident. Lord Rainsby’s business partner begins to act suspicious. As they search for a murderer, they uncover Nazi spy involvement leaving national security in danger. Not the enjoyable vacation they originally had planned.

Holding the Fort by Regina Jennings

I am never disappointed by a Regina Jennings book. This story was great as always. I loved Louisa Bell. She was a fantastic character. She may have been a dance hall singer but she is a wonderful person. Major Daniel Adams learns what a great person that Louisa is. This story made me laugh and cry. I received this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this a five out of five stars.

Louisa Bell is a dance hall who singer loses her job at the Cat-Eye Saloon. Her brother is a cavalry soldier stationed in Indian Territory. She goes to him for help and while there she is mistaken for a governess at Fort Reno. In need of a job, she takes the position working for Major Daniel Adams to teach and train his two teenage daughters. Taken by her good looks, Daniel turns a blind eye to her unconventional teaching methods. She must keep up this act long enough to help her secure the respectable future she has always wanted.

The Hope of Christmas by Jodie Wolfe, Terri Wangard and Linda Shenton Matchett with a giveaway

This was a perfect book for me to read at this time of year. This really lifted my spirits. It is a book that is very easy to read and the three stories are fast and enjoyable.

The first story is called Picking a Bride for Paul by Jodie Wolfe. This story is about best friends and a mail orde bride. This is funny and sad at times.

The second story is Typhoon Prompting by Terri Wangard. This story takes place on a ship during a typhoon in WWll. Jerry learns that maybe he does want to marry his sweetheart from home through her last letters to him. Very good.

The third story is called A Doctor in the House by Linda Shenton Matchett. This takes place in England during WWll. Emma is a doctor who is going to run a convalescent hospital in England and here she meets the owner of the home, Archie, who isn’t happy about a woman doctor in his home. I love this story. It made me laugh and cry.

Each story is well done and enjoyable. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give these a five out of five stars.

About the Book

Title: The Hope of Christmas

Author: Jodie Wolfe, Terri Wangard, Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Historical Christmas

Release Date: November 24, 2017

Picking a Bride for Paul

When Teddy Love’s neighbor and best friend breaks his leg, she pitches in to do whatever she can to help him on his farm. But when he enlists her aid in finding a wife, she comes to realize she has feelings for him.

Paul Baker follows his heart mother’s wishes by looking for a bride from the East who is refined and gentile, two qualities Teddy isn’t. When his potential bride arrives, he finds himself comparing her to Teddy. How can he go back and change things before he makes the biggest mistake of his life?

Typhoon Prompting

A destroyer escort is among the smallest of warships, but the USS Tabberer has the heart of a giant. A typhoon threatens the US Fleet in the Pacific during World War II, days before Christmas. The men of the Tabberer stand tall as they rush to the aid of their fellow sailors. For Seaman Jerry Collier, the typhoon prompts a greater awareness of what he wants in life. First, though, they have to survive.

A Dr. in the House

Emma O’Sullivan is one of the first female doctors to enlist after President Franklin Roosevelt signs the order allowing women in the Army and Navy medical corps. Within weeks, Emma is assigned to England to set up a convalescent hospital, and she leaves behind everything that is familiar. When the handsome widower of the requisitioned property claims she’s incompetent and tries to get her transferred, she must prove to her superiors she’s more than capable. But she’s soon drawn to the good-looking, grieving owner. Will she have to choose between her job and her heart?

Archibald “Archie” Heron is the last survivor of the Heron dynasty, his two older brothers having been lost at Dunkirk and Trondheim and his parents in the Blitz. After his wife is killed in a bombing raid while visiting Brighton, he begins to feel like a modern-day Job. To add insult to injury, the British government requisitions his country estate, Heron Hall, for the U.S. Army to use as a hospital. The last straw is when the hospital administrator turns out to be a fiery, ginger-haired American woman. She’s got to go. Or does she?

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Authors

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She’s been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests and is a member of ACFW. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at http://www.jodiewolfe.com.

Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.

Linda Shenton Matchett is a journalist, blogger, author, and history geek. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry, Linda has lived in historical places most of her life-from Edison, New Jersey (named for the famed inventor of the light bulb) and Washington, DC to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (reputed to be the oldest summer resort in America). She volunteers at the Wright Museum of WWII and as a trustee for her local public library.

Blog Stops

Christian Author J.E. Grace, December 10

Blogging With Carol, December 10

Genesis 5020, December 11

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, December 11

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 12

Have A Wonderful Day, December 12

Mommynificent, December 13

Inklings and notions, December 13

Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 14

Mary Hake, December 14

The Power of Words, December 15

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 15

A Greater Yes, December 16

Texas Book-aholic, December 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 17

Radiant Light, December 18

Janices book reviews, December 18

Carpe Diem, December 19

A Baker’s Perspective, December 19

Reading Is My SuperPower, December 20

margaret kazmierczak, December 21

Pursuing Stacie, December 21

Maureen’s Musings, December 22

Blossoms and Blessings, December 23

Bigreadersite, December 23

Giveaway

To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit Publishing is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c514

Where We Belong by Lynn Austin

This book was fantastic. I think this was a tad bit different for Lynn Austin. I loved the areas that the characters traveled to. I did not want to put this book down. This went from the past and the present to explain each of the characters. Rebecca and Flora were two very unique Victorian women. Not many people would have the types of adventures that they had even today. This made me laugh and cry. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this a five out of five stars

In the city of Chicago in 1892, the rules for Victorian women are strict, their roles limited. But sisters Rebecca and Flora Hawes are not typical Victorian ladies. Their love of adventure and their desire to use their God-given talents has brought them to the Sinai Desert–and into a sandstorm.

Accompanied by Soren Petersen, their somber young butler, and Kate Rafferty, a street urchin who is learning to be their ladies’ maid, the two women are on a quest to find an important biblical manuscript. As the journey becomes more dangerous and uncertain, the four travelers sift through memories of their past, recalling the events that shaped them and the circumstances that brought them to this time and place.

Valley of Time by Jeremy D. Holden

This is the second book that features Mal Thomas. You do not have to read the first book to enjoy this one but I would recommend doing it because you will understand more of the background. This has a bit of science fiction in it and is well written. I really liked Mal and his wife. His other friends were great also. His Hudson is definitely different. This story definitely kept my interest the whole way through. I look forward to more books featuring Mal and his friends. I received a copy of this book from Smith Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this a four out of five stars.

ABOUT  VALLEY OF TIME (and the Mal Thomas Mystery Series)

In October 2016, author Jeremy D. Holden introduced readers to one of contemporary fiction’s most charismatic new protagonists with Sea of Doubt: The Greatest Story Ever Sold – A Mal Thomas Mystery. An “oddly believable […], swift, unusually entertaining journey through present-day public relations” (Kirkus Reviews), Sea of Doubt followed Mal and his team of mad men and women as they embarked upon an extraordinary assignment – promoting the alleged second coming of the Messiah at the behest of a powerful and mysterious industrialist – and brought to bookshelves a laugh-out-loud funny, eerily timely story about the media, alternative facts, and modern society’s endless obsession with fame.

On November 5, 2017 – not incidentally the day our clocks “fall back” per Daylight Savings Time! – Holden continues Mal Thomas’s adventures with the release of Valley of Time: The Greatest Journey Ever Taken [Clean Publishing], the second book in the ‘Mal Thomas Mystery’ series.

A sequel that also works as a standalone novel, Valley of Time sees Mal approached by another enigmatic billionaire with an incredible proposition: Huw Hudson – think Richard Branson meets Elon Musk plus a dash of Howard Hughes – wants to position his company, Space Rider, as the leader in commercial space tourism.

Of course, there’s a twist: Hudson has evidence of an alleged UFO encounter, which he thinks could damage his business plans, and needs Mal and his team to investigate and manage the breaking news story.

Mal discovers a deeper purpose at work as he crisscrosses Sao Carlos, Miami, London, and Dubai in furtherance of Hudson’s audacious ambition while being forced to keep an unbelievable secret from the FBI, and even his closest friends.

A page-turning thriller that follows the launch of a massive global PR campaign to promote one of the most seismic events in human history, Valley of Time ultimately corners Mal into confronting his deepest fears – and takes readers on a journey that will challenge the very core of our beliefs about space and time.

ABOUT JEREMY D. HOLDEN

Jeremy D. Holden is the author of the Mal Thomas Mystery Series, which to date includes the critically acclaimed novels Sea of Doubt (2016) and Valley of Time (2017) – with a third release planned for 2018. An award-winning creative professional and accomplished author, Jeremy has earned many of the advertising industry’s top honors, including the prestigious “Gold Effie” (the Golden Globe of the ad world). His first book, Second That Emotion: How Decisions, Trends, and Movements Are Shaped [Prometheus Books, 2012], explores how movements are created in the political, cultural, and commercial realms, and received attention from national media outlets, including Fast Company, The Huffington Post, CNN, and NPR.

A UK native, Jeremy currently lives and works in Raleigh, North Carolina where he is President and Chief Strategy Officer of Clean, an award-winning integrated branding agency. He also teaches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the School of Media and Journalism. A popular speaker and facilitator, Jeremy has run workshops with fellow authors Malcolm Gladwell and Professor Dan Ariely.

Find Jeremy D. Holden on Twitter, Goodreads and at https://jeremydholden.com/

Like moonlight at low tide by Nicole Quigley with a giveaway

This is a good young adult story. It is funny at times and very sad at times. This can be a fun story and a depressing book. This does show some of what many teenagers go through each day of their lives. I hope that this story will help some teens to understand that they are loved. I received this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this a four out of five stars.

About the Book

Title: Like Moonlight at Low Tide

Author: Nicole Quigley

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Release Date: 2012

When high school junior Melissa Keiser returns to her hometown of Anna Maria Island, Florida, she has one goal: hide from the bullies who had convinced her she was the ugliest girl in school. But when she is caught sneaking into a neighbor’s pool at night, everything changes. Something is different now that Melissa is sixteen, and the guys and popular girls who once made her life miserable have taken notice. When Melissa gets the chance to escape life in a house ruled by her mom’s latest boyfriend, she must choose where her loyalties lie between a long-time crush, a new friend, and her surfer brother who makes it impossible to forget her roots. Just as Melissa seems to achieve everything she ever wanted, she loses a loved one to suicide. Melissa must not only grieve for her loss, she must find the truth about the three boys who loved her and discover that joy sometimes comes from the most unexpected place of all.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Nicole Quigley is the author of Like Moonlight at Low Tide, a winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers “Carol Award” and “Genesis Contest” for best young adult fiction. Nicole works in public relations and spent many years in Washington, D.C. She now lives on Florida’s Gulf Coast, where she grew up. Nicole holds a B.S. from Appalachian State University, where she majored in Communications/Public Relations and minored in English. Her favorite place in the world is Western North Carolina, and her favorite place to write is a late night coffee shop, wherever she can find one open.

Guest Post from Nicole Quigley

Three Things I Hear from “Like Moonlight at Low Tide” Readers

When I first wrote “Like Moonlight at Low Tide,” I thought my readers were going to get the same things out of it that I did. The book gets off to a start when Missy Keiser sneaks into her neighbor’s pool to go nightswimming. She thought no one was home until she sees the figure of an unknown guy standing in the dark, at the edge of the pool.

Missy was bullied when she was younger, but this story is about what happens after she is bullied. What happens if you got everything you ever wanted? Would it be enough? I think that when we really look at the reasons behind why we want things and why the things we want can become so big in our lives, especially in high school—we often find that there’s really a bigger question left for all of us.

Who is going to love me?

Since “Like Moonlight at Low Tide” debuted, I’ve been so honored to hear from readers who could relate to Missy’s story. One thing that has surprised are the things I hear about from readers time and again.

First, I always hear about the ending! I definitely wrestled with how to bring the book to a close. I won’t say more about it (no spoilers!), but I have to laugh because most readers tell me I was really close to hearing a lot more from them! Second, I always hear about a certain guy who becomes the male protagonist. Yes, girls, I have to admit that I loved writing him!

Lastly, I often hear the book was written “just for them.” That’s what touches me most of all. I wrote this story from the heart. It means so much to hear that it reached others, and often in ways I never predicted. I love that.

Once a reader picks up my story and brings her own experiences to it, it becomes something new. And it’s really special to connect with a reader on some of these heart questions that we all have in common. One reader who has really made an impact on me sent me a hand-made charm bracelet based on the book. She took Missy’s story, and she turned it into something entirely new. Her creativity is really special, and the bracelet is now one of my most treasured possessions

I love hearing from readers about what they liked (or even didn’t like) in Missy’s story. As it turns out, listening to readers is one of the very best parts of writing for them.

Blog Stops

Avid Reader Book Reviews, December 9

amandainpa, December 9

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 10

Multifarious, December 10

Rembrancy, December 11

allofakindmom, December 11

SusanLovesBooks, December 12

Reading is my Super Power, December 12

proud to be an autism mom, December 13

A Greater Yes, December 13

Texas Book-aholic, December 14

Power of Words, December 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 15

The Fizzy Pop Collection, December 16

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 16

Janices book reviews, December 17

Blogging With Carol, ecember 17

Carpe Diem, December 18

A Baker’s Perspective, December 19

Pause for Tales, December 20

Red Headed Book Lady, December 21

Bigreadersite, December 21

Pursuing Stacie, December 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Nicole is giving away a $50 Amazon Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c402

Miracle at Christmas by Debbie Mason release day blitz

I will be posting a review in about a week.

Miracle at Christmas (a novella) by Debbie Mason

Part of the Christmas, Colorado SERIES

Goodreads | December 19, 2017 | Forever Yours | .99 cents

SUMMARY

Charlotte Bailey needs a miracle. She came to this sleepy little Colorado town to keep the local hospital afloat, but now her scrooge of a boss is demanding she close it down. Charlotte is going to need all the help she can get, even from Dr. McSexy–er, Dr. Matt Trainer–if she’s to save Christmas before, well, Christmas!

All Matt wants for Christmas is for Charlotte to give it–and him–half a chance. But with the town looking to him to save the hospital and Charlotte itching to get back to New York in time to see the city decked out in lights, Matt doesn’t have much time to make things right. But he’s got faith–after all, miracles happen every day in Christmas.

FIND THE BOOK HERE

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2CAP5oT

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2gVSRQ1

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2ilyNae

iBooks: http://apple.co/2z4FuIj

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2xMBZlS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debbie Mason is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series and the Harmony Harbor series. Her books have been praised for their “likable characters, clever dialogue and juicy plots” (RT Book Reviews). When she isn’t writing or reading, Debbie enjoys spending time with her very own real-life hero, their three wonderful children and son-in-law, two adorable grandbabies, and a yappy Yorkie named Bella in Ontario, Canada.

Author Information

Author Website: http://bit.ly/1tArzDq

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2dqEEbZ

Twitter: http://bit.ly/1Un7Csb

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2dqFkxO

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2dEh3YV

BookBub: http://bit.ly/2wAPg0q

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jYETyY

Giveaway

Ten winners will receive an eBook copy of Miracle at Christmas.

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https://app.viralsweep.com/view_widget/3531d9-26717

Follow Forever Online

Website: http://bit.ly/1W6ZY8C

Facebook: http://bit.ly/1Zmyycz

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2aF6B0X

Instagram: http://bit.ly/1Xco7tE

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/23uLXQZ

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/foreverGR

#ReadForever

Holly, Ivy and Intrigue by Joanie Bruce, Alexa Verde and Denise Weimer with a giveaway

Loved these 3 novellas. They each have some romance and some intrigue.

The first is Christmas Murder Mix-Up by Joanie Bruce. What would you do if you thought you overheard your husband plotting to kill you? I love how this one is answered. I loved Paige and Cooper.

The second story is Holiday Pursuit by Alexa Verde. Liam finds a dead body in the trunk of a car that he “borrows” and this starts a roller coaster ride for him and his sister. Fantastic read.

The third story is A Holiday Intruder by Denise Weimer. Kelsey has a small store that is only doing ok. It is close to Thanksgiving so she is hoping for more traffic. She meets two men, has her store broken into and thinks she is being followed. How does she handle everything in her life. I love the characters and the story.

All three of these have great stories and characters.

I received an ebook copy from the author(Joanie Bruce). And Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

About the Book

Title: Holly, Ivy & Intrigue

Author: Joanie Bruce, Alexa Verde, Denise Weimer

Genre: Mystery/suspense, Christmas

Release Date: November 13, 2017

Christmas Murder Mix-Up

“I have to get rid of her now.”

After four months of a blissful marriage, Paige is devastated to overhear her husband, Cooper, say those words to his best friend. Because of a suspicious Christmas gift, a gas leak, and a home invasion, Paige’s love for Cooper is tested to the limit. Will their marriage survive the Christmas Murder Mix-up?

Holiday Pursuit

When Brianna Rockwell’s brother finds himself in danger and disappears three days before Christmas, she does everything to rescue him. Brianna dodges bullets, escapes fire, and even turns to her longtime crush for help. But the closer she gets to solving the mystery and finding her only sibling, the more desperate someone gets to silence her forever…

A HOLIDAY INTRUDER:

Kelsey Jordan prefers upcycling junk and refinishing antiques for her store in a Georgia mountains town to being the center of attention. When a robbery and an unknown benefactor shove her in the middle of a decades-old mystery, and a real estate developer and a former baseball star compete for her attention, Kelsey isn’t sure who to trust.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Authors

As an avid reader, Joanie Bruce welcomed the transition from reading to writing and considered it a wonderful new experience to please others with her words. She has three published Christian suspense novels, and enjoys writing from her home in the country. Thankful that God has given her the ability to write, draw and paint, Joanie strives to use them to encourage others and to honor Him in all her accomplishments.

Alexa Verde penned her first literary masterpiece, a rhymed poem, at the ripe age of eight, and since has had 200 short stories, articles, and poems published in the five languages that she speaks. She has a bachelor degree in Spanish, a master’s in Russian, and enjoys writing about characters with diverse cultures. She’s worn the hats of reporter, teacher, translator, model (even one day counts!), caretaker, and secretary, but thinks that the writer’s hat suits her the best. After traveling the world and living in both hemispheres, she calls a small town in south Texas home. The latter is an inspiration for the fictional setting of her series Rios Azules Christmas and Secrets of Rios Azules.

DENISE WEIMER holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. An associate editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, Denise is the author of The Restoration Trilogy, The Georgia Gold Series, romantic novella REDEEMING GRACE, and ACROSS THREE AUTUMNS: A Novella of The Backcountry Brides Collection through Barbour Publishing (May 2018). This wife and swim mom of two daughters always pauses for coffee, chocolate, old houses, and to write any story God lays on her heart.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, December 3

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 3

Reflections From My Bookshelves, December 4

History, Mystery & Faith, December 4

Zerina Blossom’s Books, December 5

proud to be an autism mom, December 5

Mommynificent, December 6

Inklings and notions, December 6

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 6

Allofakindmom, December 7

Blogging With Carol, December 7

Blossoms and Blessings, December 8

Have A Wonderful Day, December 8

Janices book reviews, December 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 9

Carpe Diem, December 10

Mary Hake, December 10

A Baker’s Perspective, December 11

Daysong Reflections, December 12

Avid Reader Book Reviews, December 12

Reading Is My SuperPower, December 13

Remembrancy, December 13

Multifarious, December 14

Margaret Kazmierczak, December 14

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, December 15

Pursuing Stacie, December 15

Vicky Sluiter, December 16

Bigreadersite, December 16

Giveaway

To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit Publishing is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c515

The Sea Beneath Us by Cathy Slusser with a giveaway

I really enjoyed this historical fiction book based on real people. The characters really did seem more like real people. These people had real depth. I liked Florence the best and Lou. I had troubles liking Henrietta. She was always too sad. I received this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

About the Book

Name of book: The Sea Beneath Us

Author: Cathy Slusser

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: June 20, 2017

Etta just wants a home, a safe haven for her family; her daughter Florence wants to make a positive difference in the world. After suffering tragic loss, Etta walls off her heart. Florence opens hers to love again. Though they do not understand each other, both understand the struggle with cultural expectations of the day for women. They also grapple with personal insecurity and faith. Set in the early twentieth century, the stories of Etta and Florence intertwine as each seeks fulfillment. Follow them from Midwest America to the state of New York; from the Isle of Pines, a tropical spot off the coast of Cuba, to the heart of American power, Washington, DC.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Cathy Slusser is a second generation Floridian who grew up in St. Petersburg, but spent holidays and vacations with her grandparents who lived in Manatee County. She moved to Terra Ceia Island in northwest Manatee County in 1979. Cathy fell in love with history upon reading Eugenia Price novels in Middle School. When she traveled to St. Simons Island, Georgia and saw the places those characters lived, she knew that the subject of history could be alive and exciting. Ever since that time, she has made it her goal to share that message with others. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Furman University and a Master’s Degree in History from the University of South Florida. She has worked for the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court’s Office since 1984 and is Chief Historian. In this role, she supervises five historical sites, the Manatee Village Historical Park, the Manatee County Historical Records Library, and the Florida Maritime Museum, the Palmetto Historical Park, and the Manatee County Agricultural Museum. Cathy has two grown sons, Rob and Tim, a fabulous daughter-in-law, Miranda, and a daughter of the heart, Christina. She has been married to her husband, Glen, a third generation Floridian since 1981. She enjoys dog training, sewing and writing. Cathy is the author of three novels about Manatee County history and the Atzeroth family, first settlers of Terra Ceia Island, published as a trilogy called From A Heavenly Land and a fourth novel, The Sea Beneath Us about her grandmother and great-grandmother. Cathy is passionate about preserving Manatee County’s past and telling its stories to residents and visitors of all ages.

Guest Post from Cathy Slusser

Writing a book about my grandmother, Florence Louise Tichenor Pace was not on my “to do” list. I am one of those people who loves “to do” lists. I enjoy the satisfaction of crossing completed items off my list so much that I add things that I have already done to the list just so I can cross them off! But, I never thought to write a book about my own ancestors.

When I finished the From A Heavenly Land trilogy, a lot of people asked me what was next. I had some ideas, but before I could put fingers to keyboard, I felt compelled to write this story. Maybe it was because every time I look into a mirror, I see my grandmother’s eyes looking back at me. I look very much like her, as does my mother, Emily Pace Bayless. I imagined Grandma saying, “You write about extraordinary women. What about me? When are you going to put my story on paper?”

I could have argued that she had already done an excellent job of that, having left us her handwritten autobiography in a spiral notebook. Once at a historical meeting, participants were asked to bring a memento that we treasured. I brought that notebook. In it, I learned about my grandmother’s tenacity, her creativity and her love of God.

Those characteristics were nothing new to me, having known my grandmother until her death at age 97 in 1992. Grandma was an intimate part of my life. During my childhood, she and Granddaddy travelled once a week to our house where they greeted my sister and me upon our return from school. She made many of the clothes my sister and I wore, including Nehru jackets and pants which were all the rage at the time. She did not like the “loud” colors, but made them anyway because she loved us. I still have a wrap around skirt that she made me in high school.

We spent many holidays and weekend trips with her and Granddaddy at their retirement home on Ware’s Creek in Bradenton and shared a love of books. I knew that I could read all weekend without being told to get up and do something productive. Reading was productive in her eyes. She often gave us books as gifts, but most of the time, we found potato chip crumbs inside, evidence that she read them before passing them along.

One of the stories that most characterizes my grandmother is her involvement with our local health department. She sewed baby layettes that included clothing, blankets and diapers and donated them to the health department for distribution to the poor. She embellished the pastel colored flannel outfits with embroidery saying, “Every baby, no matter what their circumstances should have a pretty, new outfit to come home from the hospital.”

A second story involves me. When I was in girl scouts, I started an embroidered sampler in order to earn my sewing badge. My grandmother taught me the stitches, but it was clear that I was not interested in the work, nor that I would finish it in time to earn my badge. While she finished it for me, she left one flower incomplete as a message that I had not done my part. It is signed FP and CB with both our initials.

My grandmother was a remarkable woman who made a strong impact on me and everyone who knew her. Just recently, I talked to someone who remembered Grandma and told me a story about her even though she has been dead 25 years.

The story she never told us and left out of her autobiography are the details about her relationship with her mother, Henrietta Emily. I sensed some conflict between the two women and wanted to know why. I don’t know for sure that my version of the story is accurate, but it is a good theory.

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 2

Simple Harvest Reads, December 2(interview)

Inklings and notions, December 3

Mary Hake, December 3

Lane Hill House, December 4

All 4 and about books, December 5

proud to be an autism mom, December 6

A Greater Yes , December 7

Reading Is My SuperPower, December 7 (interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 9

Janices book reviews, December 10

Carpe Diem, December 11

A Baker’s Perspective, December 12

Pause for Tales, December 13

Pursuing Stacie, December 14

Bigreadersite, December 15

The Power of Words, December 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cathy is giving away a grand prize of a special quilt handmade by Cathy!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c3e6

Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel with a giveaway

This was a fun historical mystery. I really enjoyed all the characters but did have trouble understanding Mr. Rudin, who wasn’t sure if he wanted to live or die. That is the sad part of the story but there was a lot of light hearted things going on also. Detective Jasper Hollock was a great detective.and a wonderful guy. He wanted to seem hardened but was soft. I received this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this a five out of five stars.

About the Book

Solve by Christmas Historical Mystery

Name of book: Solve by Christmas

Author: Amber Schamel

Genre: Historical Christmas

Release Date: September 1, 2017

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

“Amber Schamel’s engaging prose weaves together not one, but two edge-of-your-seat threads in this historical mystery. With the hero racing against time to solve the two cases readers will be kept guessing as they attempt to crack the case. “ ~ Laura V. Hilton author of Christmas Admirer (Whitaker House)

About the Author

Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call “historical fiction at its finest”. A homeschool graduate from a family of 12 children, Amber found her calling early in life. First published at age 21, she has continued to hone her craft and has been awarded the 2017 CSPA Book of the Year Award in Historical Fiction. Between ministry, family and working in their family-owned businesses, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples. Find her on the Stitches Thru Time blog, or on any of the major social media sites. Amber is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Pick up your copy here.

Guest Post from Amber Schamel

Thank you so much for joining us on the Celebrate Lit blog tour for Solve by Christmas!! I am so excited you’re here. For this special event, I wanted to share the inside scoop behind the story.

Solve by Christmas is a historical Mystery set in Denver during the great blizzard of 1913. It has a unique storyline, so people often wonder where the idea came from. Honestly, it was one of those ideas that just popped into my head, then took on a life of its own and evolved over several weeks.

I wanted to give my readers a new story before the year was out, but I didn’t have a specific plot in mind. I did know I wanted to write a Christmas story. So, I had that much. Then I decided I wanted something with a firm deadline.” If this doesn’t happen by this date, everyone dies” sort of thing. Then “By Christmas” popped into my head and flicked on a light. What if Christmas was the deadline?

I’ve always loved detectives and mystery stories, and they go perfectly with deadlines. So, then I thought, what if a detective must solve the case by Christmas or death wins?

Sometimes, as an author, there are ideas and thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere. Almost like God dropping a card into your mental mailbox. The next point of Solve by Christmas was that way. What if a detective was assigned a case that he had to solve by Christmas, but it wasn’t a real case –at least not the type of case he wanted—but something completely different? From there, the story began to really take shape.

The next step, of course, is to come up with a character to be the detective. I wanted the story to have a Sherlock Holmes feel, so I started by studying his character a bit. But my story also has a less serious side since it isn’t a murder mystery and takes place at a sugar factory. I wondered…what would happen if you took Sherlock Holmes and meshed him with Barney Fife?

Now THAT would be hard to pull off. But I was determined to try. So, I made a list of Sherlock Holmes traits, and one of Barney Fife’s traits. I began to see that they actually DO have several similarities. They’re both a bit socially awkward. They both have a very similar flavor of pride. And they both have this air of authority…although Sherlock can back his up while Barney struggles in that area. Then I began to pick and choose between the traits that were left, this Barney trait, this Sherlock trait, and pretty soon I had Detective Jasper Hollock forming on the page. Whether you will get a Barney Fife and Sherlock feel when you read Solve by Christmas, I can’t say. But I do believe I was successful in creating a unique, quirky character that will bring this Christmas mystery to life.

There you have it. The scoop behind Solve by Christmas. I hope you enjoy the story, and best wishes in the giveaway! I will be stopping by along with Jasper and Denny (the two main characters) to answer any questions you may have about the story or the characters, so please do leave us a comment.

Blog Stops

A Baker’s Perspective, December 12

A Simply Enchanted Life, December 12

Connie’s History Classroom, December 13

Bigreadersite, December 13

The Fizzy Pop Collecton, December 14

Genesis5020, December 14

Baker Kella, December 15

Daysong Reflections, December 15

History, Mystery & Faith, December 16

Karen Sue Hadley, December 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 17

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, December 17

Aryn The Libraryan, December 18

A Reader’s Brain, December 18

Bibliophile Reviews, December 19

Mary Hake, December 19

Texas Book-aholic, December 20

Simple Harvest Reads, December 20

Babs Book Bistro, December 21

Reading Is My SuperPower, December 21 (Interview)

Seasons of Opportunities, December 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 22

Just the Write Escape, December 23

The Power of Words, December 23

Live.Love.Read., December 24

Carpe Diem, December 24

Blogging With Carol, December 25

The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate, December 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amber is giving away a grand prize of a Christmas themed basket which will include a paperback copy of Solve by Christmas and The Swaddling Clothes (my two Christmas books) as well as a Christmas terrarium jar, and a Solve by Christmas notepad!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c5bb