My Thoughts - Seeking Simon Author: Susan Pope Sloan

 

About the Book

Book: Seeking Simon

Author: Susan Pope Sloan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 26, 2024

When a mysterious stranger claims to be her fiancé, the fight to save her land turns into a battle for her heart.

Daviana Spalding dreams of leaving Georgia in search of a place where she can prove her worth as more than a claim to land. And when a handsome and kind stranger wanders onto the farm in need of help, she can’t help but see him in those dreams too. Yet those are only daydreams…until the Freedmen’s Bureau shows up threatening to take their land, and her guest steps forward claiming to be her betrothed.

Simon McNeil is a man haunted by his past and his time in a Confederate prison, seeking redemption and a fresh start back in Alabama. But his journey home is delayed when a bout of malaria keeps him bedridden, depending on strangers for help. As Daviana nurses him back to health, Simon is drawn to her strength and beauty, and when her home is threatened, he steps in to help.

When their fake engagement becomes real, Simon and Daviana must confront their feelings for one another as they face escalating threats that could tear them apart. And when a long-lost friend returns, all their plans could come crashing down.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Born into a family of storytellers, Susan Pope Sloanpublished her first articles in high school and continued writing sporadically for decades. Retirement provided the time to focus on writing and indulge her avid interest in history. Her Civil War series begins (and ultimately ends) in her home state of Georgia with references to lesser-known events of that period. She and husband Ricky live near Columbus where she participates in Word Weavers, ACFW, and Toastmasters.

 

 

 

More from Susan

When I started the series, I thought it would stop with the end of the war, but I became intrigued with the McNeil family who lived near the Alabama-Georgia line. (My family also is scattered on both sides of that state line, but farther south.)

Troy McNeil and his brothers had fought on opposing sides, which could lead to some tense moments. Simon became the prodigal son longing to go home after a long separation. This book delves into the relationships within the McNeil family and also with their former slaves. As a Southerner who grew up in the 1960’s, I’m well aware of the cultural distinctions that existed during that time, but I also know that relationships between individuals can emerge despite those distinctions. I believe the same could have happened in the previous century.

Seeking Simon also let me bring back that rascally Rufus Spalding from Loving Lydia. Rufus was a fun character to write, but I hadn’t paid much attention to his daughter, who was destined to become Simon’s love interest. Dottie/Daviana Spalding represents many women of the Civil War, who struggled within the confines of the old socio-economic system and longed for personal significance, symbolized here by the change in her name.

I pray that reading this book will encourage those who feel insignificant and long to matter in their world and also those who are praying for a prodigal to return. My favorite line from the book is “Every prodigal runs out of road sooner or later.”

Thank you for taking a look at Seeking Simon.

MY THOUGHTS 

Seeking Simon is book four in the Rescued Hearts of The Civil War series that is written by Susan Pope Sloan. I’ve read the whole series, however you can read them as stand alones. One of the things I love about this author is the fact that she can transport readers back in time. The Civil War Era is one of my most favorite time periods and she captures it beautifully. 

Daviana and Simon’s relationship starts off as a pretend engagement. Daviana has dreams and they are on the edge of being crushed when the Freedman’s Bureau says they are taking the land. Simon, who spent time in a Confederate Prison steps forward and says he’s her finance, Daviana  is grateful for his help. 

What started off as a fib, starts to grow. Both have some hurt and ghosts they have to deal with.  Simon who was a prisoner of war has some deep scars that he tries to hide. 

The author does a great job in capturing life how it might have been post War. The South had a lot of healing to do. This book does touch on slavery, assaults and hate crimes. However the author handles it with grace. 

The book is well researched and the author is knowledgeable of the time period. The story line engages you from the beginning. 

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

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 7

Texas Book-aholic, December 8

Connie’s History Classroom, December 9

Stories By Gina, December 10 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, December 10

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 12

Cover Lover Book Review, December 13

Simple Harvest Reads, December 14 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Artistic Nobody, December 15 (Author Interview)

Allyson Jamison, December 15

For Him and My Family, December 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 17

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, December 18

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 19 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, December 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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/00adcf54112

My Thoughts - LOVING LIZZIE FINN Tamara Hughes

 

LOVING LIZZIE FINN

Tamara Hughes

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GENRE:  Historical romance

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BLURB:

Lizzie Finn grew up in a brothel, and she’s reminded of that fact every day. She dreams of finding a job and becoming independent. Only then can she be free of her aunt’s disdain. First, she must find an employer who won’t turn her away because of her past.

Byron Greeley is determined to save his family’s business after Lizzie’s uncle falsifies the amount Byron owes on a loan from the bank. Determined to find proof of Teague’s perfidy, Byron slips into the banker’s house and rummages through the study only to be discovered by Lizzie, a red-haired beauty who utterly captivates him.

Byron offers Lizzie a job in exchange for information about her uncle, and because she believes her uncle is innocent, she agrees. When Teague discovers Lizzie and Byron’s growing affection, he threatens to destroy Byron and his family, insisting Byron is exploiting her. Is Teague’s warning well-founded? Are Byron’s feelings for Lizzie true, or is Byron using her for his own gain?

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Excerpt:

A spring in her step, Emma placed the rose gown on the bed and returned to the wardrobe. “I saw the most handsome man last night.”

Lizzie’s pulse leaped. “You did?” Had Emma seen the drunken stranger in Uncle’s study? The handsome intruder had occupied Lizzie’s thoughts all night long.

“Of course I did. He is a sight for sore eyes.” Emma returned with the green skirt and carefully lowed it over Lizzie’s head. “Dark eyes, almost black in color, with a gaze so intense he nearly stole my breath.”

Yes. Exactly. As much as she’d tried, she couldn’t get the memory of those eyes out of her head.

Emma secured the skirt and grabbed the bodice. “And his hair, the same as his eyes, black as night.”

Slipping her arms into the sleeves, Lizzie disagreed, “I would hardly call it black, more a dark brown, the color of chestnuts. Which suits him quite well.” With strong, bold features, and a lean frame … She smiled a little when she thought of him. A handsome devil to be sure.

Emma came around to face Lizzie and began to button the gown’s front. “No. I’m quite sure Felix has darker hair than that.”

“Felix?” Had that been his name?

“Yes, our new footman.”

Footman? Lizzie’s cheeks flamed, and her smile dissipated. The man she’d met last night was no footman. He’d spoken of running his family’s business. How embarrassing to be caught admiring a complete stranger. What was wrong with her?

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A small-town girl with a big imagination, Tamara Hughes had no idea what to do with her life. After graduating from college, she moved to a big city, started a family and a job, and still struggled to find that creative outlet she craved. An avid reader of romance, she gave writing a try and became hooked on the power of exploring characters, envisioning adventures, and creating worlds. She enjoys stories with interesting twists and heroines who have the grit to surmount any obstacle, all without losing the ability to laugh. To learn more, stop by her website: www.tamarahughes.com. 

You can also find her on:

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/tamarahughesauth 

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tamara-hughes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamara.hughes2/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7738043.Tamara_Hughes

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/tamarahughes

Buy link for Loving Lizzie Finn: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFMQ4X1H

My Thoughts

Loving Lizzie Finn is written by Tamara Hughes. This is my first book that I have read by this author, and it will not be the last. One of the first things that drew me into this book, is the cover. The cover artist did such an amazing job and I feel that it captured Lizzie beautifully. 

Lizzie was born in a brothel. Her mother died when she was young, and she was taken in my her aunt and uncle. Her uncle has always been good to her, while her aunt holds her at arms length. Her aunt, Margaret, also loves to tell everyone where and how Lizzie grew up. This makes it impossible for Lizzie to be accepted into the high society. She has no interest in getting married. She wants to earn her own money and be independent. However, with her past no-one will hire her. 

Byron has taken over his family business due to his father's declining health. However, he has found that the loan his father has taken out has been altered, and he cannot find the original copy. He is caught by Lizzie snooping in her uncle's study - and he asks for her help. What he does not count on is how breathtaking he is. He is so consumed by her beauty. 

Lizzie agrees, because she thinks her uncle is innocent. They work together and soon you can tell that sparks are flying. Lizzie's aunt is trying to get her married off even if Lizzie does not want to. Lizzie also has been trying to help two friends from the brothel to escape. 

I loved the perfect blend of action, mystery and suspense. The author developed the story and characters well. It moves at a comfortable pace. My heart went out to Lizzie. She cannot help where she came from, only that she wants to secure her own future. 

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. 


Content Warning: semi descriptive bedroom scene and a few swear words

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5010

My Thoughts - Into the Sunset (A Western Light Book Three) Author: Mary Connealy

 

About the Book

Book: Into the Sunset (A Western Light Book Three)

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: October 15, 2024

Will the sun set on their chance at happiness before they can seize it?

To finally escape the clutches of her controlling husband and the threat of being recommitted to an asylum, Ginny Rutledge enlists the help of her friends, Maeve O’Toole and Dakota Harlan. Fleeing their own tumultuous pasts, the group embarks on a journey to prove Ginny’s sanity. However, as they confront the shadows they wish they could forget, danger looms from unexpected places.

Maeve grapples with her mother’s impending remarriage and seizes a rare chance to escape her homestead–but that means reuniting with Dakota, the man she holds responsible for her father’s death, who is caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful family. As the two of them navigate their shared history and a dangerous mission, Dakota is forced to confront his deepest fears and fight for the woman who has unwittingly captured his heart.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series Wyoming Sunrise and The Lumber Baron’s Daughters and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

 

 

More from Mary

Into the Sunset is the third book in A Western Light series, and I always love the wrap up of a series. In this book I’ve got a deliciously evil villain, and I’ve worked that villain in and out of the characters lives at the end of each of the first two books, but he keeps coming back. This time, he really gets what’s coming to him. Anyway, it’s not a shocking thing to say: the bad guy loses. I’ll bet most readers of my work knew that was coming. It’s the HOW that makes it fun.

My heroine is one I really enjoyed: Maeve O’Toole—a red-headed, sassy Irish lass with a mild brogue. And my hero, Dakota Harlan, has interested her from the first moment she laid eyes on him. Except that moment was several years ago, and she blamed him for her father’s death on the wagon train Dakota was leading. Then life separated them as he went on to Oregon and her family turned aside to homestead in Idaho. Now Dakota is back in Maeve’s life again. She’s had a chance to see that her anger with Dakota was unfair and has discovered that Dakota has always admired her. He’d probably scoop her up and marry her, if it wasn’t for the men trying to kill him. He doesn’t have much room for a wife in the life he’s living now.

In this story, I bring back all the characters from the earlier two books. The villain who’s been harassing them all along reappears, and the men hunting Dakota show up, too. Ginny must go to court to break the hold her evil husband has over her, declaring her insane and locking her away. She’s been hiding ever since. But now she’s ready to face him in court, but a conniving, wealthy man like her husband never plays fair.

Into the Sunset is packed with love and action, adventure and danger. All play out against the hectic railroad town of Cheyenne, Wyoming a few years after Wyoming becomes the first state to give women the right to vote. And there are some tough, smart women ready to stand between Ginny and a cruel husband. And plenty of tough smart cowboys, too. I hope you love this story!

My Thoughts 

Into the Sunset  is book three in the A Western Light series that is written by 

Mary Connealy. I’ve not read the whole series but had no problems following along. The author does a wonderful job in transporting readers back in time. I also love that this book touched on the rights women were staring to gain 

Ginny has not had the best marriage. She’s been committed to an asylum and decides to face her past and fight for her freedom. she enlisted the help of her friend, Maeve and Dakota. She finds the courage to find a judge who will declare her to be sane. 

However, l her husband pops back into the picture , things seem to go from bad to worse. One of the things Ginny is counting on is that Wyoming  Wyoming favors women's rights, and that justice will prevail. 

This is a book about facing your past. About not being afraid to stand up for yourself. I love the courage that Ginny possessed. The book is well written. The characters engaging. 

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

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 9

Book Looks by Lisa, November 10

Devoted To Hope, November 10

lakesidelivingsite, November 11

Texas Book-aholic, November 12

For Him and My Family, November 12

Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 13(Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 14

Jeanette’s Thought , November 14

Betti Mace, November 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 16

Holly’s Book Corner, November 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 17

Stories By Gina, November 18 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, November 18

She Lives To Read, November 19

Cover Lover Book Review, November 20

Labor Not in Vain, November 20

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 21

Connie’s History Classroom, November 22

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card and a full paperback set of the A Western Light series by Mary Connealy: Chasing the Horizon, Toward the Dawn, and Into the Sunset!!

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/00adcf5491

Tour

My Thoughts-Investigation of a Journalist by Danielle Grandinetti

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Investigation of a Journalist by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Investigation of a Journalist
Series: Harbored in Crow's Nest #6
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press
Release Date: November 19, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Romance/Suspense

A second chance to set the record straight, and rekindle a lost love.

Wisconsin, 1931—Buck Wilson refuses to accept failure as his reward for all he has sacrificed, but he’s kept secrets for too long to be believed. With his freedom on the line, there’s only one person he trusts to mine for the true story: the woman he left one month before their wedding.

All investigative journalist Caroline Wagoneer wants is to shine a light on the truth wherever darkness threatens to obscure it. Which is the only reason she agrees to help her ex-fiance when he begs for her to go undercover in Crow’s Nest. What she discovers paints Buck in a whole new light.

With lies and rumor hemming them in, Buck and Caroline realize their love may be doomed on the altar of altruism.

Unless love can truly conquer all.

Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy Directly From the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

Also Available

    

About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books. As a FHLCW Reader’s Choice and Selah Award Finalist, she mixes romance, suspense, and history to bring her stories to life. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons.

Connect with Danielle at daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

My Thoughts 

Investigation of a Journalist is book 6 in the Harbored in Crow’s Nest series that is written by Danielle Grandinetti. While they can all be read as stand alone the series has been pretty amazing. I’ve been on the ride since book one, and I’m sad to see the series end. However I’m super excited to see what comes from the author next. 

Caroline Waggoner is an investigative journalist in Chicago.  I love that she works for a female firm. The book is set in 1931 so it was fun to see a strong female profession. She had her heart broken a month before her wedding. So when her ex fiance, Buck Wilson shows up at her job she’s intrigued. 

Buck has not made the most wise decisions. He trusts that Caroline will help cover the truth. He wants to uncover a plot that someone close to him has set in motion to see his demise. 

Caroline agrees to go undercover in Crow’s Nest. It forces her to put her broken heart aside and see what she is able to uncover. Buck’s freedom depends on it. 

This was my favorite book in the series. The author transports readers back in time. She’s paid attention to detail. I’m going to miss Crow’s nest. 

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

Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each win a paperback copy of Confessions to a Stranger, a Crow's Nest tote bag, and a Crow's Nest Journal!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 19, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 26, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!