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Wednesday, October 16, 2024

MY THOUGHTS - Her Own War (Book 3 iChâteau de Verzat) written by: Debra Borchert


About the Book





Imprisoned for the crime of impersonating a man, Geneviève LaGarde fears giving birth in an asylum could be certain death for her and her unborn child. Desperate for her release, her husband, Louis, trades his freedom for hers and must join Bonaparte's army in Egypt.

As Geneviève wages her own war against the tyrannical general, she not only risks her own life but also those of her children and the four hundred families who depend on the Château de Verzat estate. Knowing her desperate actions could cause the government to confiscate the entire vineyard, she sacrifices everything to save her husband and protect the people who become her family. A captivating tale of the power of love, hope, and courage, and the strength of community.


About the Author


Debra Borchert has had many careers. She debuted, at the age of five, as a model at a local country club where her crinoline petticoat dropped to her ankles in the middle of the runway.

Since then, she’s been a clothing designer, actress (starring in her first television commercial with Jeff Daniels for S.O.S. Soap Pads), TV show host, spokesperson for high-tech companies, marketing and public relations professional, and technical writer for Fortune 100 companies.

Her work has appeared in The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Christian Science Monitor, and The Writer, among others. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and independently.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she weaves her knowledge of textiles and clothing design throughout her historical French fiction. She brings her passions for France, wine, and cooking to all her work. The proud owner of ten crockpots, she is renowned for her annual Soup Parties at which she serves soups from different cultures. She offers her soup recipes on her website.

Debra’s debut novel, Her Own Legacy, is the first in a series that follows headstrong and independent women and the four-hundred loyal families who protect a Loire Valley château and vineyard, and its legacy of producing the finest wines in France during the French Revolution. Her Own Revolution is the second book in the Château de Verzat series.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and standard poodle who is named after a fine French Champagne.

Please follow the author on her social media platforms:

Instagram

FaceBook Page

LinkedIn

Goodreads

Here are some nice Articles to read at your leisure if you have any interest in learning more about Debra Borchert and her books:

The Good Life France

France Today

A Taste of France





My Thoughts

 Her Own War is book three in the Château de Verzat series that is written by Debra Borchert. I love reading her work. She has the ability to transport readers back in time with her careful research and brings history to life through her stories. I have read one of the books in the series, but not all of them. I did not have any issues following along.


The setting is post-monarchy France. At this time  the Royalists and Republicans were sworn, brutal enemies. post-monarchy France when the Royalists and Republicans were sworn, brutal enemies.  Geneviève LaGarde fears giving birth in an asylum could be certain death for her and her unborn child. Desperate for her release, her husband, Louis, trades his freedom for hers and must join Bonaparte’s army in Egypt. You can feel her pain flow off the pages. 


Genevieve is brave enough to stand up against Napoleon, but has to do it in a way that will not lead to her execution. Most are having to deal with  Napoleon’s harsh policies. The author captures what lives may have been like for those living through this time. 

I have enjoyed this author's work. She always crafts such beautiful stories. The characters are well developed. The research is careful and accurate. I felt like I had been transported in time. Thank you to the author, publisher and Books and Wine Book tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. 

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

My Thoughts - When the Mountain Crumbled (A Day to Remember Book 4) Author: Angela K Couch

 


About the Book

Book: When the Mountain Crumbled (A Day to Remember Book 4)

Author: Angela K Couch

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release date: September, 2024

Though Mountains Crumble, Hope Is Not Buried

Enjoy a series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.

Discipline and rules are the foundation on which Samantha Ingles has built her life—the life of a spinster schoolteacher in a small mining town in the Canadian Rockies. All that crumbles from her grasp when part of a mountain crashes down on their community.

Constable David Harty has little patience for the strict schoolmarm but has no choice but to leave his three young nieces in her care while he tries to discover the fate of his brother. Already, the girls have lost their mother and brothers to the landslide and require comfort and love while they await the fate of their father, possibly buried in the coal mine.

With the mountain looming over their heads threatening more lives, and the town scrambling to save who they can from the rubble, can hearts find healing—both for their own sakes and the children in their care?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

To keep from freezing in the great white north, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the 2016 International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and toasty warm) by chasing after five munchkins.

 

 

More from Angela

Around 4:10 am on April 29th, 1903, approximately 110 million metric tonnes of limestone broke from the side of Turtle Mountain and crashed down into the Crowsnest Valley, burying ranches, camps, an active coal mine, and a part of the town of Frank. What has come to be known as “Frank Slide” was the deadliest landslide in North American recorded history, claiming the lives of more than seventy people.

I first visited Frank Slide as a child, as it is located only an hour’s drive from my home. All I remember from that experience was the heaps of rocks and boulders, and the story of the mine-horse named Charlie. When driving through the Crowsnest Pass as an adult, I began to appreciate the terror of that night and the horrible loss of life. Not until expanding my research while writing this story, did the miracles of Frank shine through everything horrible that happened. That became the focus of my story, When the Mountain Crumbled.

I find our own lives follow a similar pattern. Tragedy, hardship, sickness and disappointment… but do we see the miracles?


My Thoughts 


When the Mountain CrumbledIs written by Angela K. Couch.  This is book four in the A day to remember series that is written by multiple authors but focus on real life events. I’ve enjoyed this series so much.  This story is set in April of 1903. It focuses on a rockslide that crashes down on a mining community. 


The author did a wonderful job in writing a story to showcase this small mining town that dealt with a devastating loss. Samantha is a spinster school teacher.  She’s built her life and it all comes crashing down (literally).  


Constable David Harty is desperate to find his brother. He’s not a fan of Samantha but he does not have a choice when he needs someone to look after his nieces. Their world has fallen apart yet they see the power of faith. I loved the author reminder that even when things are bleak, God’s love is there. 


The story is well written. You can feel the characters emotions coming off the pages. I love when authors bring historical events to life. I’ve not heard of this rock slide. 


Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 2

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 2

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 3

Betti Mace, October 4

Lighthouse Academy Blog, October 5 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Devoted To Hope, October 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6

Texas Book-aholic, October 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 9

Bizwings Book Blog, October 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 10

Holly’s Book Corner, October 11

Blossoms and Blessings, October 11

An Author’s Take, October 12

Cover Lover Book Review, October 13

Mary Hake, October 13

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 14

Pause for Tales, October 15

Connie’s History Classroom, October 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Angela is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon card and a print copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5456

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

My Thoughts - A Token of Love Author: Carrie Turansky

 


About the Book

Book: A Token of Love

Author: Carrie Turansky

Genre: Fiction, Historical Romance

Release date: September 3, 2024

Separated by centuries, the lives of two women intertwine through their shared pursuit of love, truth, and justice.

In 1885 London, Lillian Freemont embarks on a treacherous journey to reunite with her long-lost niece, Alice, who was abandoned at the Foundling Hospital eight years ago. Fueled by her sister’s plea and armed with the gold token that identifies her niece, Lillian teams up with investigative reporter Matthew McGivern to expose the grim reality of the shadowed streets of London. As Lillian and Matthew unravel the mystery of Alice’s disappearance, their partnership blossoms into one of shared purpose and undeniable attraction.

In present-day London, Janelle Spencer finds herself unexpectedly running the Foundling Museum. When filmmaker Jonas Conrad arrives to document the museum’s history, their collaboration takes a surprising turn as they uncover articles from the past that shed light on a haunting connection to the present. As Janelle becomes caught between exposing the truth and protecting the museum’s reputation, she must decide if she can risk everything for what she believes.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of twenty-one inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She loves traveling to England to research her Edwardian novels, including No Journey Too FarNo Ocean Too WideAcross the Blue, and the Edwardian Brides series. Her novels have been translated into several languages and have received starred reviews from Christianbook.com and Library Journal.

 

 

 

 

More from Carrie

Come with me to London!

My latest novel, A Token of Love, is a dual-time story set in London during the late Victorian Era and present day. That prompted my husband and I to take a trip to London earlier this year. We were especially delighted to visit the Foundling Museum which tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, the first children’s charity home in England. The Foundling Hospital and Foundling Museum tie the historical and contemporary plots together in A Token of Love.

Thousands of children were taken in by the Foundling Hospital when their mothers could no longer care for them. Some of the mothers left small items such as coins, thimbles, and pieces of jewelry with their infants as identifiers in the hope that if their situation changed, they might be able to return and reclaim their child. Those items were called tokens, and we saw several of them on display at the Foundling Museum.

Each token is unique and represents a mother’s love and desire to be reunited with her child. It was very moving to view them on display and think of all the heartache and hope behind each token.

More than two years ago, I saw an image of the tokens on Pinterest. That sparked my curiosity, and I followed the research trail to learn more about them. That led to the Foundling Museum’s website, which offers a treasure trove of information and personal stories about the mothers and children connected by those tokens. What I discovered helped me develop the characters and plot for A Token of Love. The story highlights one mother who gave her daughter into their care, then eight years later tries to reclaim her. But her daughter is missing, and that sets off a series of events that stirs all of London. Family drama, romance, inspiration, and a touch of mystery will make the story meaningful for readers.

If you like stories based on true events in history that will touch your heart and lift your spirit, then I think you will enjoy reading A Token of Love!

If you’d like to see more photos from my research trip to London and the Foundling Museum, I hope you’ll visit my website photo page!


My Thoughts 


A Token of Love is written by Carrie Turansky. One of the things that I love about this author is the fact that she has the ability to transport traders back in time. She always does such careful research to bring the story alive. This is a a dual timeline story. 


In this story it’s 1885 in London. Lillian Freemont embarks on a treacherous journey to reunite with her long-lost niece, Alice, who was abandoned at the Foundling Hospital eight years ago. However she’s met with a mystery. She teams up with investigative reporter Matthew McGivern.  However there’s so much darkness on the streets. Family members can come back to get their children by leaving a token with the child to help identify them so that they can return home to their loved ones, but very few do. Lillian has a locket to be able to claim Alice. 


 In the 2023 story, Janelle Spencer is helping to run the Foundling Museum and oversee the Foundling Museum Gala. The Foundling Museum has enlisted the help of videographer Jonas Conrad to create a documentary of the Museum’s history. However when they start to uncover the history it’s quite surprising. 


I enjoyed the journey that this story took me on. The author has woven together two time periods together seamlessly. The book is so well written. 


Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. 



Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 7

Maureen’s Musings, October 7

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 9

Connie’s History Classroom, October 9

Texas Book-aholic, October 10

Devoted To Hope, October 10

Simple Harvest Reads, October 11 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Live.Love.Read., October 11

Stories By Gina, October 12 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 12

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 13

lakesidelivingsite, October 13

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 14

Cover Lover Book Review, October 14

Lighthouse Academy Blog, October 15(Guest Review from Marilyn)

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 16

Blossoms and Blessings, October 17

Holly’s Book Corner, October 17

Inspired by Fiction, October 18

Pause for Tales, October 18

Labor Not in Vain, October 19

To Everything There is A Season, October 20

Romances of the Cross, October 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of A Token of Love!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5461/


My Thoughts - Side Launch - By Brock Martin

 

SIDE LAUNCH

Brock Martin


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


GENRE:  Historical Fiction


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


BLURB:


1939, Canada unprepared but defiant, declares war on Germany and mass produces a mid-size warship, the Corvette. Thus starts the creation and journey of Canada's first Corvette, the HMCS Collingwood. Neither designed nor equipped for the North Atlantic, Collingwood is tasked to protect convoys and take on the predatory Sea Wolves lurking below the waves.


Heart breaking wartime romance as Ian and Kate struggle with love in difficult times. Our hero Ian, takes command of the Collingwood. He is ready to fight with any weapon he is given having witnessed Nazi atrocities and now driven by hatred. Kate is the daughter of the Collingwood shipyards owner, a brilliant woman with a strong desire to make something of herself. She is ready to fight for her country, but first she must fight for success in a male dominated world.



EXCERPT:


Kate woke with a smile, propping another pillow behind her back. She always took a few moments to collect herself and get excited about her day, and today was a big day. She was thinking of Ian, Robbie and her father, and how today seemed to weave together her relationship with each of them. She was particularly happy with the truce that seemed to have occurred between her and her father. Maybe she was reading into his reactions; perhaps he was just excited about today’s launch. But it did seem like he was coming to accept some of her choices. It wasn’t her imagination that her father received her last night with more affection and warmth than she had previously felt. Last night he called her Kate, a small thing perhaps, but she would hold on to any sign of his approval. She had always been “Kathryn” when he was upset with her, and she had been Kathryn for a long time now.


Action packed historical fiction based on true events of WWII and the Battle of the Atlantic. Murderous Wolf Packs, German Commandos, a nail-biting secret mission, spies and saboteurs. Side Launch takes the reader through a roller coaster of emotion.


If you are a fan of history and love to learn, this Canadian historical fiction is for you.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:





Brock Martin, a retired captain, served ten years as a Canadian Forces Search & Rescue pilot before his current role. The Canadian Forces gave him the opportunity to travel many areas of Canada and gain an immense appreciation of his country. He has been involved in operations across Canada, including the high arctic.


His free-spirited upbringing in the wilds of Northern Ontario gave him a love of the outdoors and adventure.


Brock is fascinated with historical fiction. He loves to learn of past thrilling adventure through the eyes of fictional characters. He was captivated when he learned the very ships that fought in the Battle of the Atlantic were built in Collingwood.


The Battle of the Atlantic was a massive achievement of Canadian perseverance, dedication and sacrifice of its men and women. Brock wrote this fast-paced, action packed story to honor Canadian heroism.


CONNECT WITH BROCK MARTIN


WEBSITE: https://www.brock-martin.ca/


FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Brock-Martin-102136659247617


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22345264.Brock_Martin




PURCHASE LINKS SIDE LAUNCH


Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228860180

Chapters Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/side-launch/9780228860181-item.html

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/side-launch-brock-martin/1141317544





MY THOUGHTS

Side Launch is written by Brock Martin. It is a historical fiction about Canadian involvement in The Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. It tells the story of Canada's first Corvette, the HMCS Collingwood. I love military history, but have never looked at World War II from Canada's point of view. The author has done a good job in creating a story that will draw you in within the first few pages of the story. 


I learned a lot from this book. I love that we got a look at the WRENS (Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service). I love reading about women and their contributions to war. The author has written some great descriptions to where you feel like you are watching the story unfold through the pages. 

Not only is this a historical fiction book, there is also a romance. I loved seeing the romance build between Ian, who is Captain of the HMCS Collingwood and Kate who is the daughter of the  Collingwood Shipyard owner. 


The book is well written. The storyline is engaging. The author has done careful research. Thank you to the author, publisher and Goddess Fish Promotions for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. 




GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE


The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.


ENTER: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4985