tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42530400211219146282024-03-19T01:46:07.059-07:00Reflecting on Days Gone ByConnie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.comBlogger547125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-76015325803376009812024-03-17T01:00:00.000-07:002024-03-18T18:38:14.508-07:00My Thoughts - The Spy Across The Water by James Naughtie<p> <img alt="The Spy Across the Water (The Will Flemyng Thrillers)" class="a-dynamic-image a-stretch-horizontal" data-a-dynamic-image="{"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81nBIfOFqDL._SY522_.jpg":[522,340],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81nBIfOFqDL._SY342_.jpg":[342,223],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81nBIfOFqDL._SY425_.jpg":[425,277],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81nBIfOFqDL._SY466_.jpg":[466,303],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81nBIfOFqDL._SY385_.jpg":[385,251]}" data-a-image-name="landingImage" data-old-hires="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81nBIfOFqDL._SL1500_.jpg" id="landingImage" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81nBIfOFqDL._SY522_.jpg" style="max-height: 426.811765px; max-width: 278px;" /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>ABOUT THE BOOK</b></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">From one of our most treasured BBC broadcasters, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">The Spy Across the Water</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"> is the third instalment in James Naughtie's brilliant spy series, woven around three brothers bound together through espionage.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">We live with our history, but it can kill us.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Faces from the past appear from nowhere at a family funeral, and Will Flemyng, spy-turned-ambassador, is drawn into twin mysteries that threaten everything he holds dear.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />From Washington, he's pitched back into the Troubles in Northern Ireland and an explosive secret hidden deep in the most dangerous but fulfilling friendship he has ever known.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And while he confronts shadowy adversaries in American streets, and looks for solace at home in the Scottish Highlands, he discovers that his government's most precious Cold War agent is in mortal danger and needs his help to survive.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In an electric story of courage and betrayal, Flemyng learns the truth: that his life has left him a man with many friends, but still alone.</span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: arial;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR</b></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: arial;"><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><img alt="James Naughtie" aria-hidden="true" class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded" data-sizes="auto" data-src="https://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/author_images/4592729/jim-naughtie-147535180.jpg" sizes="120px" src="https://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/author_images/4592729/jim-naughtie-147535180.jpg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" title="James Naughtie" /></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10); color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Hind, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">James Naughtie,</b><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10); color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Hind, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> special correspondent for BBC News, is one of the country's best-known broadcasters. He presented </span><i style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10); color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Hind, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Today</i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10); color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Hind, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> on Radio 4 for 21 years, and has reported for the BBC from around the world for more than three decades. Alongside his journalism he has wide cultural interests, and has written and produced many documentaries on music and books, and presented concerts from across Europe for radio and television. On Radio 4, he has hosted every edition of </span><i style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10); color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Hind, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Bookclub</i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10); color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Hind, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> since it began in 1998.</span></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10); color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Hind, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: arial;">MY THOUGHTS</b></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Spy Across The Water is written by James Naughtie. This is book two in the Will Flemying Thriller series. I have not read any of the books - but I did not have any issues following along. This is a thrilling policital thriller espionage story. The book drew me in within the first few pages. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Flemyng is now the British Ambassador in Washington. He still has intelligence links. He finds out that </span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">his brother, Abel, has been found shot dead. He realizes that he has no idea what his brother has been involved in. </span></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He finds himself brought back in time to Ireland where there were double agents. Did these past dealings catch up with him? </span></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The book is well written. There are a lot of characters to keep up with. I hope to read more from this author. Thank you to the author, publisher and Rachels Random Resources for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. </span></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></p>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-19614386481091555862024-03-16T19:34:00.000-07:002024-03-16T19:34:39.210-07:00MY THOUGHTS - The Girl From Provence By: Helen Fripp<p> <img alt="The Girl from Provence: Absolutely gripping and heartbreaking WW2 historical fiction" class="a-dynamic-image a-stretch-horizontal" data-a-dynamic-image="{"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81R3E0ohVtL._SY522_.jpg":[522,344],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81R3E0ohVtL._SY342_.jpg":[342,225],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81R3E0ohVtL._SY425_.jpg":[425,280],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81R3E0ohVtL._SY466_.jpg":[466,307],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81R3E0ohVtL._SY385_.jpg":[385,253]}" data-a-image-name="landingImage" data-old-hires="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81R3E0ohVtL._SL1500_.jpg" id="landingImage" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81R3E0ohVtL._SY522_.jpg" style="max-height: 421.848837px; max-width: 278px;" /></p><p><br /></p><p>ABOUT THE BOOK </p><p><br /></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">South of France, 1942. Twenty-one-year-old farmer’s daughter Lilou </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">is horrified when her best friend is dragged away by the Nazis simply for being Jewish. </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">Risking her life for the French Resistance is Lilou’s one way to fight back.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Soon she’s smuggling hidden messages in fresh-baked loaves of bread and meeting pilots in remote moonlit fields. She lives in fear that </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">Kristian</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, a blue-eyed German soldier stationed in the village, knows about her work – but does he keep her secrets because he is undercover, too?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Then Lilou is given her most important task: to keep a frightened little boy, </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">Eliot</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, hidden safe in her farmhouse. All alone in the world, Eliot refuses to speak as he clutches his treasured children’s book close to his chest. Inside is a beautiful story of stars, planets and the night sky. But why is this innocent child the one, among thousands, who Lilou must save?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When she is told Eliot’s book will help her decipher coded messages, Lilou knows he must have knowledge that could change the course of the war. But the day Kristian arrives at her farm searching for hidden Jewish families, </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">Lilou is terrified that Eliot is in more danger than ever…</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Can Lilou trust the one person who could tear her world apart? </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">And will she ever help Eliot find his way home?</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">A totally stunning and heartbreaking read about the incredible sacrifices ordinary people are forced to make each day in wartime. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">and Rhys Bowen.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br /></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br /></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR</span></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"><img alt="Helen Fripp profile image" class="Image__circle__pUnV6" data-feature="cf" data-testid="image" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/pratolcdis3413u3346tbto9t1._SY450_CR0%2C0%2C450%2C450_.jpg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-weight: 400;" /></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Ember, amazon_ember, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best-selling author of The Girl From Provence, The French House and The Painter's Girl. I love delving into the past to uncover new stories, and in my writing, the tiniest historical detail can spark an idea for a whole chapter. My female characters rail against the social constraints of their time, and often achieve great success, but they are of course flawed and human, like the rest of us. It’s the motivations, flaws, loves and every-day lives of my characters that I love to bring life, against sweeping historical backdrops - and I will find any excuse to take off and research a captivating location or person for my next story.</p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Ember, amazon_ember, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I spent a lot of time in France as a child, have lived in Paris, and spent a year with my family in a fishing village in South West France, so that’s where my books have ended up being set so far. Who knows where next!</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Ember, amazon_ember, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">MY THOUGHTS</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">The Girl From Provence is written by Helen Fripp. This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it will not be my last. This story grabbed my attention from the first few pages and I did not want to put it down. <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Lilou is twenty one years old. She is selling her lavender honey from her family farm. Suddenly she sees the Nazi's storm her hometown. She watches helplessly as her best friend is dragged away, just because she is Jewish. </span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">She soon sees everyone in her village starting to chose sides. It pains her to see the way neighbors are acting towards each other. </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">Lilou joins the resistance and takes on many tasks. </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">Soon she is assigned the care of a little Jewish boy, named Eliot. He does not say much and has been clutching his children's book. </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">Lilou finds out that she can decode messages with the book. </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I admire Lilou and her courage. She was living in a world of darkness and was determined to make a brighter day. The author writes this story so beautifully. I hope to read more of her work in the future. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you to the author and publisher for <span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><br /></p>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-72644585554265457462024-03-09T12:12:00.000-08:002024-03-09T12:12:52.050-08:00My Thoughts - What I Promise You Author: Liz Tolsma<p> </p><header class="entry-header" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Montserrat, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 2.5rem; line-height: 1.225; margin: 0px 0px 1.05em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></h1></header><div class="entry-content" style="border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27348" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/what-i-promise-you.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/what-i-promise-you.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/what-i-promise-you-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/what-i-promise-you-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.272727; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Book: </strong>What I Promise You</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author: </strong>Liz Tolsma</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Genre:</b> Christian Fiction / Romance / Historical Fiction</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Release Date: </strong>February 1, 2024</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27349" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 197px) 85vw, 197px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/9781636097770-197x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/9781636097770-197x300.jpg 197w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/9781636097770-672x1024.jpg 672w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/9781636097770-768x1170.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/9781636097770-1009x1536.jpg 1009w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/9781636097770-1345x2048.jpg 1345w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/9781636097770-1200x1828.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/9781636097770.jpg 1650w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="197" />A Family’s History Is Lost to the Ravages of WWII in Southwest France</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">1942<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Noémie Treves, a young, pregnant Jewish woman, had her entire world shattered when she is arrested and taken to the Camp de Rivesaltes transit camp in Southwest France. No sooner does she arrive, though, than she assists in helping two young girls scheduled for transport escape to a nearby maternity hospital. The matron there befriends her and changes her name to help hide her. But nothing goes according to plan, and Hannah finds herself doing the unimaginable to save one precious life.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">2022<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Caitlyn Laurant is haunted by recent events in her life and hopes becoming a nurse on the mission field will help her forget. While in training, she and her friends travel to France where her grandfather was born. What should have been an easy search for his birthplace turns into anything but and reveals secrets that no one alive has ever heard.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/47zI9WB" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.272727; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-23329" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 85vw, 200px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LizTolsma-1-200x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LizTolsma-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LizTolsma-1-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LizTolsma-1-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LizTolsma-1-1023x1536.jpg 1023w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LizTolsma-1-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LizTolsma-1-1200x1801.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LizTolsma-1-scaled.jpg 1706w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" />Liz Tolsma</strong> is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.272727; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">More from Liz</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Story behind the Cover of <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">What I Promise You</em></strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">In the late summer, I got the preliminary cover for <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">What I Promise You. </em>While Barbour Publishing always does a great job with their covers, and the one they sent was very nice, I wasn’t crazy about it because it didn’t tell the story at all. The mansion that plays such a big part in the novel was nowhere to be seen. Barbour is fantastic when it comes to working with me to get great covers, so I asked if we could include the real mansion that the story is based on. Turns out that they were having trouble getting copyright permission to use any image they could find of the maternity home.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">That was disappointing. But I got brave and let them know that I took a picture of it when I was in France last year, and they could use it, but I’m not a very good photographer and I only used my iPhone. I attached the photo to the email and didn’t hear anything for a while.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Then in October, I wanted to include a preorder link to the book on social media or something and went to Amazon to grab it. And there was the cover. I went back and forth between the cover and my picture, and sure enough, it was the picture of the maternity home I had sent them! So I not only wrote <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">What I Promise You, </em>but some of my photography is on the front. I never thought that would happen. Am I in the wrong profession?? Just kidding!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 26pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MY THOUGHTS</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-44b1bb1a-7fff-21f1-d5e9-b4d2b0d2ce1c" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 21pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I Promise You is written by </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Liz Tolsma. This is book two in the Echos of the Past series. One of the things that I love about this author, is her ability to transport readers back in time. She always does such extensive research to bring her stories to life. She has written the timeline split seamlessly. We see stories in 1945, 1955 and 2022. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 21pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Noémie Treves, a young, pregnant Jewish woman, had her entire world shattered when she is arrested and taken to the Camp de Rivesaltes transit camp in Southwest France. The author does a fantastic job showing us what Noémie had to navigate. The pain that Noémie experiences when being separated from her husband and the uncertainty of her safety with her unborn child was so heartbreaking. The emotions come off the pages as you feel her pain. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 21pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our 1955 character, Helene, did not get as many chapter as the other time periods but her story is important in connecting the story. Helene and her faith is so strong. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 21pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Present day, Caitlyn Laurant travels to France while she is a nurse in training. She wants to go to the place where her grandfather was born, however she has a hard time finding his presence. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 21pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went through a lot of emotions reading this story. The author captured the darkness of World War II so vividly. I have really enjoyed this series. Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.272727; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Book Reviews From an Avid Reader"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Book Reviews From an Avid Reader</span></a>, February 27</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; 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margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bizwingsblog.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Bizwings Book Blog"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bizwings Book Blog</span></a>, March 5</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"lakesidelivingsite"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">lakesidelivingsite</span></a>, March 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, March 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":2561,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":2575891}}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Gina Holder, Author and Blogger"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</span></a>, March 7 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://southerngallovestoread.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Southern Gal Loves to Read"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Southern Gal Loves to Read</span></a>, March 7</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Tell Tale Book Reviews"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tell Tale Book Reviews</span></a>, March 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://agoodbookandcupoftea.wixsite.com/agoodbookandcupoftea" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Good Book and Cup of Tea"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Good Book and Cup of Tea</span></a>, March 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, March 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie's History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Connie’s History Classroom</a></span>, March 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly's Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, March 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, March 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://labornotinvain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Labor Not in Vain"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Labor Not in Vain</span></a>, March 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://reneek-littlehomeschoolontheprairie.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Little Homeschool on the Prairie"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Little Homeschool on the Prairie</span></a>, March 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.beccahope.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Becca Hope: Book Obsessed"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Becca Hope: Book Obsessed</span></a>, March 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lightsinadarkworld.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lights in a Dark World"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lights in a Dark World</span></a>, March 11</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.272727; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img height="207" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/84dde685-4df6-465b-984d-b80367d862b9" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="247" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and print copy of the book!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2a3ce/what-i-promise-you-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/2a3ce/what-i-promise-you-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.272727; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></h1></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-76215734780193439232024-02-22T07:39:00.000-08:002024-02-22T07:39:47.637-08:00My Thoughts - Roses in December (Hamilton Place Book 2) by Mark A. Gibson<p> <strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Book Details:</strong></p><p><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></strong></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0BPxnfrisRXX9Tw5V8-aOeSoW8Km9pUqJacn8CQmGvWRsALu6K8iyN2P6d4nyx5nQ1xjDvYcEN9770mrlboO9ztmbEm0U9gaBt781xJPf-bGcdrE7mz1y1nQxXncUtI6MY4i-jfQKnYAR_pv7H1KWupLN_q_fQ0oTWDwP_g2QaAI0C6uRd7VIG0xF6M/s1800/IMG_9129.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1149" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0BPxnfrisRXX9Tw5V8-aOeSoW8Km9pUqJacn8CQmGvWRsALu6K8iyN2P6d4nyx5nQ1xjDvYcEN9770mrlboO9ztmbEm0U9gaBt781xJPf-bGcdrE7mz1y1nQxXncUtI6MY4i-jfQKnYAR_pv7H1KWupLN_q_fQ0oTWDwP_g2QaAI0C6uRd7VIG0xF6M/s320/IMG_9129.jpeg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></strong><p></p><div class="paragraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /><u>Book Title</u>: <span style="color: #1f1f1f;">Roses in December (Hamilton Place Book 2)</span> by Mark A. Gibson<br /><u>Category</u>: Adult Fiction 18 yrs +, 358 pages<br /><u>Genre</u>: Family Saga Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction<br /><u>Publisher</u>: <span style="color: #1f1f1f;">Hamilton Press (Self)</span><br /><u>Release date:</u> April, 2024<br /><u>Format available for review</u>: <span style="color: #202124;">print (</span><span style="color: #202124;">print - softback / USA and Canada</span><span style="color: #202124;">) and ebook (</span><span style="color: #202124;">EPUB and PDF</span><span style="color: #202124;">)</span><br /><u>Tour dates</u>: Feb 5 to Feb 23, 2024<br /><u>Content Rating</u>: A<span style="color: #202124;"> soft R for the following: Language, although appropriate for situation, does have a smattering (perhaps 5 uses over 350 pages) of the F-word. Sexual situations are more so implied than graphic, although there is one soft description of fellatio. There is no use of derogatory descriptions for persons, sexes or races. No graphic violence is described.</span></div><div class="paragraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Book Description:<br /><br /></strong><span style="color: #1f1f1f;">Jimmy Hamilton overcame childhood tragedy to become a hero in Vietnam, only to die there in 1967. All but forgotten, Jimmy leaves behind a young wife, an infant son, and a man wracked by guilt.<br /><br />Circumstances allow Becca, his young widow, to be manipulated into an abusive, loveless union with Jimmy’s brother and into raising her son ignorant of his father’s true identity—a wrong she knows must be set right…but how? When?<br /><br />Like Jimmy before him, James, Jr. is an intellectually gifted, albeit troubled man. Hamstrung by the false narrative of his life and then tormented by an unspeakable loss, his days are spent treading the knife’s edge between present day reality and a past he’s incapable of forgetting.<br /><br />With his final act of bravery, Jimmy unknowingly saved the scion of a powerful Washington family. In so doing, he set in place circumstances that just might draw his son back from the abyss…but only if he can somehow make it home from Vietnam.<br /><br /><strong>Roses in December</strong> concludes the Hamilton Place series, an epic family saga extending from the Great Depression to present day. Through war and peace, love and loss, triumph and tragedy, follow the Hamilton family on their journey from a run-down farm in South Carolina, through the jungles of Vietnam, to the top of the world in New York City, and through the gardens of stone at Arlington.</span></div><div class="paragraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong>Buy the Book:</strong><br /><strong><em style="position: relative;"><span style="font-size: inherit;">(preorder now!)</span></em></strong><br /><strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3ul8vhj" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Amazon</a></strong></div><span class="imgPusher" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(142, 142, 142); color: #8e8e8e; display: block; float: right; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(142, 142, 142); clear: right; color: #8e8e8e; display: table; float: right; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; position: relative; text-align: justify; width: 293px;"><a style="color: #5199a8; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;"><img alt="Author Mark A. Gibson" class="galleryImageBorderBlack wsite-image" src="https://www.ireadbooktours.com/uploads/5/0/0/5/5005989/published/author-pic.jpg?1702064996" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 10px; max-width: 100%; padding: 3px; position: relative;" /></a><span class="wsite-caption" style="caption-side: bottom; display: table-caption; font-size: 13.5px; font-weight: bold !important; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: -10px; text-align: center;"></span></span><div class="paragraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: inherit;"><strong>Meet the Author:</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #1f1f1f;">Mark A. Gibson is a physician who practices Cardiology in the mountains of rural North Georgia. He was raised on a small farm in upstate South Carolina—the last postage-stamp sized sliver of a much larger parcel granted to the family by land grant from King Charles II in 1665—and may or may not have once gotten in trouble for digging up his mom’s calla lily bed in search of the family’s long-lost charter.<br /><br />Dr. Gibson graduated from the Citadel in Charleston, SC with a BS in Biology. Afterwards, he received his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, SC. He received his Internal Medicine training through the University of Tennessee Medical System and Cardiology training through the Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center. He served for eight years on active duty with the US Air Force, before leaving the military for private practice.<br /><br />Although a cardiologist by profession, Dr. Gibson is a dreamer by nature. He is a self-styled oenophile who enjoys travel and fine food. In his spare time, he builds sandcastles and dreams of distant shores.<br /><br /><strong>Roses in December</strong> represents Dr. Gibson’s second offering to the world of literature, and the conclusion of his Hamilton Place Series. All previous publications have been of the professional, peer-reviewed, medical variety, and make for lovely sleep aids.</span><br /><br /><strong>Connect with the author: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-A-Gibson/author/B0CR1V7J67" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">amazon</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/MGibsonAuthor23" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">X/Twitter</a> </strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><p class="p1" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;">My Thoughts </span></p><p class="p2" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Roses in December is book two in the Hamilton Place series. The series is written by Mark A. Gibson. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This series has been such an amazing read. This was a new to me author, and I’ll be on the lookout for his work moving forward. </span></p><p class="p2" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jimmy Hamilton overcame childhood tragedy to become a hero in Vietnam, only to die there in 1967. All but forgotten, Jimmy leaves behind a young wife, an infant son, and a man wracked by guilt. His wife is shattered when Jimmy dies. She soon finds herself in an abusive marriage with Jimmy’s brother. Oh my heart broke for her. She wants so desperately to right the wrongs of the past and keep Jimmy’s memory alive. </span></p><p class="p2" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The author has created such a variety of characters. They are flawed, have pain, relatable and all have an important voice in the story. This series was such an emotionally wrecking story. He did great research to bring this Vietnam era book alive. </span></p><p class="p2" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Thank you to the author, publisher and IRead book tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. </span></p></div><hr style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify; visibility: hidden; width: 338px;" /><div class="paragraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Tour Schedule:</strong><br /><br />Feb 5 <a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-song-that-never-ends.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Cover Lover Book Review –</a> book series spotlight / giveaway<br />Feb 5 <a href="https://amybooksy.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-tour-and-giveaway-song-that-never.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Locks, Hooks and Books –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 6 <a href="https://bigreadersite.wordpress.com/2024/02/06/a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-a-gibson-with-a-giveaway/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Bigreadersite –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 7 <a href="https://jbbookworms.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder –</a>book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway<br />Feb 7 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3B4ttUSsvU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Leanne Bookstagram –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 8 <a href="https://ginaraemitchell.com/a-song-that-never-ends/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Gina Rae Mitchell –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / guest post / giveaway<br />Feb 8 <a href="https://countrymamaswithkids.com/book-reviews-and-tours/f/a-song-that-never-ends-book-tour-a-story-that-transcends-time" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Country Mamas With Kids –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / author interview / giveaway<br />Feb 9 <a href="https://www.thesexynerdrevue.com/2024/02/newblogpost-ontour-booklovea-song-that.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– The Sexy Nerd Revue –</a> book series spotlight / giveaway<br />Feb 9 <a href="https://lieseblog.com/2024/02/09/book-spotlight-a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-book-i-by-mark-a-gibson/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Liese's Blog –</a> book spotlight of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS <br />Feb 9 <a href="https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-a-gibson-book-tour-guest-post-more-ends-3-1-24/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- </a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-a-gibson-book-tour-guest-post-more-ends-3-1-24/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Rockin' Book Reviews -</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / guest post / giveaway</span><br />Feb 12<a href="https://www.fundinmental.com/a-song-that-never-ends/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– fundinmental –</a> book series spotlight / giveaway<br />Feb 12 <a href="https://mlmopinions.home.blog/2024/02/12/book-review-a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-a-gibson/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Welcome To MLMOPINIONS Reviews –</a>book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 13 <a href="https://mlmopinions.home.blog/2024/02/13/book-review-roses-in-december-by-mark-a-gibson/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Welcome To MLMOPINIONS Reviews –</a>book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 13 <a href="https://bigreadersite.wordpress.com/2024/02/13/roses-in-december-by-mark-a-gibson-with-a-giveaway/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Bigreadersite –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 14 <a href="https://storeybookreviews.com/2024/02/review-giveaway-a-song-that-never-ends/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– StoreyBook Reviews –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 14 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3TtZp1Scxi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Leanne Bookstagram –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 15 <a href="http://novelsalie.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">–</a><a href="https://novelsalive.com/2024/02/15/5-star-review-a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-a-gibson/?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Social%20Media&utm_campaign=REVIEW" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Novels Alive</a> <a href="http://novelsalie.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">–</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 15 <a href="https://www.bookcornernewsandreviews.com/2024/02/book-review-spotlight-song-that-never.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- </a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.bookcornernewsandreviews.com/2024/02/book-review-spotlight-song-that-never.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Book Corner News and Reviews -</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway</span><br />Feb 15<a href="https://lieseblog.com/2024/02/15/book-spotlight-roses-in-december-hamilton-place-book-2-by-mark-a-gibson/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Liese's Blog –</a> book spotlight of ROSES IN DECEMBER <br />Feb 16 <a href="https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-gibson.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Book Reviews by Linda Moore –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 16 <a href="https://novelsalive.com/2024/02/16/5-star-review-roses-in-december-by-mark-a-gibson/?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Social%20Media&utm_campaign=REVIEW" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Novels Alive –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 16 <a href="https://www.bookcornernewsandreviews.com/2024/02/book-review-spotlight-roses-in-december.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- </a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.bookcornernewsandreviews.com/2024/02/book-review-spotlight-roses-in-december.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Book Corner News and Reviews -</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway</span><br />Feb 16 <a href="https://storeybookreviews.com/2024/02/review-giveaway-roses-in-december/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank"> – StoreyBook Reviews –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 19 <a href="https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/roses-in-december-hamilton-place-book-2-by-mark-a-gibson-book-tour-giveaway-ends-3-1-24/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">-</a><a href="https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/roses-in-december-hamilton-place-book-2-by-mark-a-gibson-book-tour-giveaway-ends-3-1-24/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank"> </a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/roses-in-december-hamilton-place-book-2-by-mark-a-gibson-book-tour-giveaway-ends-3-1-24/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Rockin' Book Reviews -</a> book spotlight of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway</span><br />Feb 19<a href="https://amybooksy.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-tour-and-giveaway-roses-in.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Locks, Hooks and Books –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 20 <a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/2024/02/my-thoughts-song-that-never-ends.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Connie's History Classroom –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / guest post / giveaway<br />Feb 20 <a href="https://ginaraemitchell.com/roses-in-december/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Gina Rae Mitchell –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / guest post / giveaway<br />Feb 21 <a href="https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwritingahas.blog/post/a-heartfelt-journey-through-generations-a-song-that-never-ends-book-review-and-author-interview" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's –</a>book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / author interview / giveaway<br />Feb 21 - <span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dana.loves.books" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">@dana.loves.books</a> - book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway</span><br />Feb 21 <a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Connie's History Classroom –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 22 – - <a href="https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwritingahas.blog/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's</a> – book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 22 -<a href="https://countrymamaswithkids.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Country Mamas With Kids</a> – book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 22 - <span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dana.loves.books" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">@dana.loves.books</a> - book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway</span><br />Feb 23 –<a href="http://www.dianesbookjournal.wordpress.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Diane’s Book Journal –</a> book series spotlight / giveaway<br />Feb 23 <a href="https://teatimeandbooks76.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-tour-song-that-never-ends-hamilton.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- </a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://teatimeandbooks76.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-tour-song-that-never-ends-hamilton.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Teatime and Books -</a> book series spotlight / giveaway</span><br />Feb 23 --<a href="https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Book Reviews by Linda Moore –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway</div><div class="paragraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong><div class="blog-social " style="caret-color: rgb(142, 142, 142); color: #8e8e8e; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><div class="blog-content" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 15px;"><div class="paragraph" style="color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 1em !important; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><strong>Enter the Giveaway:</strong><br /></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 1em !important; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 1em !important; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://gleam.io/WJ41l/a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-by-mark-gibson-book-tour-giveaway?l=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ireadbooktours.com%2Fblog---current-tours%2Fbook-tour-a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-book-i-by-mark-a-gibson&r=" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">https://gleam.io/WJ41l/a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-by-mark-gibson-book-tour-giveaway?l=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ireadbooktours.com%2Fblog---current-tours%2Fbook-tour-a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-book-i-by-mark-a-gibson&r=</a></div><div><div align="center" class="wcustomhtml" id="249023067248709921" style="overflow-y: hidden; width: 338px;"></div></div></div><div class="blog-social " style="line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; position: relative;"></div></div></strong><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start;" /></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-60313402953236053052024-02-20T07:05:00.000-08:002024-02-20T07:05:18.423-08:00My Thoughts - A Song that Never Ends (Hamilton Place Book I) by Mark A. Gibson<p> </p><div class="blog-header" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(142, 142, 142); color: #8e8e8e; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 338px;"><h2 class="blog-title" style="border: medium; color: #484848; font-family: Lora, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><a class="blog-title-link blog-link" href="https://www.ireadbooktours.com/blog---current-tours/book-tour-a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-book-i-by-mark-a-gibson" style="color: #5199a8; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;">BOOK TOUR: A Song that Never Ends (Hamilton Place Book I) by Mark A. Gibson</a></h2><p class="blog-date" style="color: #515151; float: left; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="date-text" color="rgb(142, 142, 142) !important" face="inherit !important" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;">12/8/2023</span></p><p class="blog-comments" style="color: #515151; float: right; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><a class="blog-link" href="https://www.ireadbooktours.com/blog---current-tours/book-tour-a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-book-i-by-mark-a-gibson#comments" style="color: #24678d; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;">0 </a></p></div><div class="blog-separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; caret-color: rgb(142, 142, 142); clear: both; color: #8e8e8e; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 2px; height: 2px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"> </div><div class="blog-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(142, 142, 142); clear: both; color: #8e8e8e; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-align: justify;"><div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-thin wsite-image-border-black" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 2px !important; padding-right: 2px !important; padding-top: 10px; padding: 10px 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxRHl8oN78KRwLGevgSdojY1U98r_kEnRgpiFXjDuGa8HHwA/viewform" style="color: #5199a8; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><img alt="A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS by Mark A. Gibson" src="https://www.ireadbooktours.com/uploads/5/0/0/5/5005989/hamilton-place-tour-banner_orig.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(208, 208, 208); margin-left: -2px; margin-right: -2px; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; width: auto;" /></a><div style="font-size: 13.5px; font-weight: bold;"></div></div></div><div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-thin wsite-image-border-black" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 2px !important; padding-right: 2px !important; padding-top: 10px; padding: 10px 2px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxRHl8oN78KRwLGevgSdojY1U98r_kEnRgpiFXjDuGa8HHwA/viewform" style="color: #5199a8; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><img alt="A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS (Hamilton Place, Book One) by Mark A. Gibson" src="https://www.ireadbooktours.com/uploads/5/0/0/5/5005989/a-song-never-ends-by-mark-gibson-front-cover_orig.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(208, 208, 208); margin-left: -2px; margin-right: -2px; max-width: 100%; padding: 1px; width: auto;" /></a><div style="font-size: 13.5px; font-weight: bold;"></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden;"></div></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><br /><br /><strong>Book Details:</strong><br /><br /><u>Book Title</u>: <span style="color: #1f1f1f;">A Song that Never Ends (Hamilton Place Book I)</span> by Mark A. Gibson<br /><u>Category</u>: Adult Fiction 18 yrs +, 338 pages<br /><u>Genre</u>: Family Saga Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction<br /><u>Publisher</u>: <span style="color: #1f1f1f;">Hamilton Press (Self)</span><br /><u>Release date:</u> January, 2024<br /><u>Format available for review</u>: <span style="color: #202124;">print (</span><span style="color: #202124;">print - softback / USA and Canada</span><span style="color: #202124;">) and ebook (</span><span style="color: #202124;">EPUB and PDF</span><span style="color: #202124;">)</span><br /><u>Tour dates</u>: Feb 5 to Feb 23, 2024<br /><u>Content Rating</u>: A<span style="color: #202124;"> soft R for the following: Language, although appropriate for situation, does have a smattering (perhaps 5 uses over 350 pages) of the F-word. Sexual situations are more so implied than graphic, although there is one soft description of fellatio. There is no use of derogatory descriptions for persons, sexes or races. No graphic violence is described.</span></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><strong>Book Description:</strong><br /><br /><span style="color: #1f1f1f;">Home.<br />For over three hundred years, that’s what the Hamilton family has called a shrinking swath of farmland in the Appalachian foothills of South Carolina.<br /><br />Home.<br />That’s the failing tobacco farm where Walter and Maggie Hamilton choose to raise their three children. Walter has big plans to make the farm more profitable, but his plans are interrupted by World War II and family heartbreak. Walter returns from the war a changed man, and finds Maggie, too, has changed; neither of them for the better. But at least their family is together at...<br /><br />Home.<br />More than anything, that’s where their eight-year-old son, Jimmy Hamilton, wants to be. However, after an unspeakable tragedy, he’s sent away from the only life he’s ever known—to live with a kindly uncle in North Carolina, far from…<br /><br />Home.<br />That’s where Jimmy is finally going to be, unless fate has plans of its own…<br /><br /><strong>A Song that Never Ends</strong> is the first installment of the Hamilton Place series, an epic family saga extending from the Great Depression to present day. Through war and peace, love and loss, triumph and tragedy; follow the Hamilton family on their journey from a run-down farm in South Carolina, through the jungles of Vietnam, to the top of the world in New York City, and beyond the gardens of stone at Arlington.</span></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong>Buy the Book:<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3uT2Xuw" style="color: #24678d; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Amazon</a></strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;"><strong>Meet the Author:</strong></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;" /><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: justify;">Mark A. Gibson is a physician who practices Cardiology in the mountains of rural North Georgia. He was raised on a small farm in upstate South Carolina—the last postage-stamp sized sliver of a much larger parcel granted to the family by land grant from King Charles II in 1665—and may or may not have once gotten in trouble for digging up his mom’s calla lily bed in search of the family’s long-lost charter.<br /><br />Dr. Gibson graduated from the Citadel in Charleston, SC with a BS in Biology. Afterwards, he received his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, SC. He received his Internal Medicine training through the University of Tennessee Medical System and Cardiology training through the Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center. He served for eight years on active duty with the US Air Force, before leaving the military for private practice.<br /><br />Although a cardiologist by profession, Dr. Gibson is a dreamer by nature. He is a self-styled oenophile who enjoys travel and fine food. In his spare time, he builds sandcastles and dreams of distant shores.<br /><br /><strong>Roses in December</strong> represents Dr. Gibson’s second offering to the world of literature, and the conclusion of his Hamilton Place Series. All previous publications have been of the professional, peer-reviewed, medical variety, and make for lovely sleep aids.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;"></span><strong style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;">Connect with the author: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-A-Gibson/author/B0CR1V7J67" style="color: #24678d; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">amazon</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/MGibsonAuthor23" style="color: #24678d; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">X/Twitter</a> </strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;"><br /></strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;"><br /></strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><p class="s3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Guest Post</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Why Select </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">an </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Epic Family Saga </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">for Your Next Reading Adventure</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">?</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Mark A. Gibson</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Please allow me to present you, dear reader, with </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">the following</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">list:</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span></p><p class="s5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 14px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Colleen McCullough’s</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The Thorn Birds</span></span></p><p class="s5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 14px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Margaret Mitchell’s </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Gone </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">with</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> the Wind</span></span></p><p class="s5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 14px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">One Hundred Years of Solitude</span></span></p><p class="s5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 14px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Irwin Allen’s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Rich Man</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Poor Man</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">and</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Beggar Man, Thief</span></span></p><p class="s5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 14px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">John Steinbeck’s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">East of Eden</span></span></p><p class="s5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 14px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">John Jakes’</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> North and the South</span></span></p><p class="s5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 14px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The Century </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Trilogy</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> by Ken Follett</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> do these titles have in common?</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">First</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, they are all phenomenal reads </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">crafted</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> by authors at the top of their story</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">telling games. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">They feature strong lists of characters, fabulous locations</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">epic </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">story lines that cross genres. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Second</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">each of these books</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> are </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">fictional </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">family sagas</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, meaning they</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> focus</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> on one or more generations of a family</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> (</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">or </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">a few </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">interconnected families</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">)</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">closely follow</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> their fates, fortunes</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and passions</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> over years or </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">even </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">decades</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Finally, and most unfortunately in my opinion, with the exception of </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Ken Follett’s </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Century </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Trilogy</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> titles</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> (</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Fall of Giants</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Winter of the World</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">and </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Edge of Eternity</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">), </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">all were </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">published well</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> before 1990.</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Although the genre ruled the best-seller lists from the late 60</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s until the early 80</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, those days seem to have passed us by</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. More shelf</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">space today is dedicated to romance</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">novels</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, thrillers, horror, sci-fi, and books “written” by celebrities</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">than to the venerable family saga</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. Even anime</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> garners more </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">acreage at my local Barnes & Noble. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Why then</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> have I created and p</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">ositioned</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> the </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Hamilton Place Series</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, featuring </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">A Song that Never Ends</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Roses in December</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, within this dying genre?</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">It’s simple, really. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">As a kid, I used to sit on my grandfather’s knee listening to tales from The Great Depression and World War II. Sometimes</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> he told </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">me </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">stories that </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">his</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> grandfather had told </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">him</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> about the Civil and Revolutionary Wars. I loved it</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">! I’d sit</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> there totally mesmerized until my mom or dad </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">dragged me from his side.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Who here among us </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">doesn’t</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> have a dotty old aunt, a great-uncle</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">of dubious integrity, a grandparent</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> or elderly family friend who likes to regale listeners with tales</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> both real and imagined</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> of derring-do or life “back when?”</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Thus, family sagas are relatable.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Rather than a blockbuster thriller</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> filled with explosions, terror, and suspense, the family saga provides a slow burn</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">a build to a climax that will leave the reader still engrossed in the characters</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">’</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">lives</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> long after the final page has been turned. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Instead of an exciting, supersonic flight to Paris on the Concord, t</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">he family saga is </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">a cruise ship sailing across the Atlantic…and the cruise ship just </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">might</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> turn out to be the </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Titanic</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Fans of historical fiction, international intrigue/thrillers, and even romance novels can all find s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">omething to love</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> within the pages of a family epic</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">—</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">t</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">hey’ll just get there a little slower</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, enjoying the journey as much as the destination</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">That, dear readers, is why I choose to write in the genre of epic family saga. Who knows? Maybe my little stories will </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">someday </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">help to trigger a resurgence in popularity?</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: start;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;">My Thoughts </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A Song that Never Ends is written by Mark A. Gibson. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is book one in the Hamilton place series. This is the first book that I’ve read by this author. I am excited to read the second book in this series. I wasn’t prepared for the emotional roller coaster this book took me on. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We meet the Hamilton family. They have not always had the best of luck throughout the years. This story will draw you in within the first few pages. I loved getting to know this rural fictional South Carolina town. The author has done a wonderful job creating <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>realistic characters. They’ve got baggage, heartache, have gone through trials and continue to persevere. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This book looks at primarily WWII and Vietnam. It shows how the Hamilton family handles life after tragedy. We see a primary focus on Maggie and Walter and their son, Jimmy/James. Jimmy is sent to live with his uncle and he tries to write home but his letters come back to him. It was sad to see the evolution of a strong family start to shatter. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Thank you to the author, publisher and IRead book tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. </span></p></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;"><br /></strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;"><div class="blog-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(142, 142, 142); clear: both; color: #8e8e8e; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 15px;"><div class="paragraph" style="color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 1em !important; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: inherit;">Schedule:</span></strong><br /><br />Feb 5 <a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-song-that-never-ends.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Cover Lover Book Review –</a> book series spotlight / giveaway<br />Feb 5 <a href="https://amybooksy.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-tour-and-giveaway-song-that-never.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Locks, Hooks and Books –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 6 <a href="https://bigreadersite.wordpress.com/2024/02/06/a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-a-gibson-with-a-giveaway/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Bigreadersite –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 7 <a href="https://jbbookworms.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder –</a>book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway<br />Feb 7 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3B4ttUSsvU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Leanne Bookstagram –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 8 <a href="https://ginaraemitchell.com/a-song-that-never-ends/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Gina Rae Mitchell –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / guest post / giveaway<br />Feb 8 <a href="https://countrymamaswithkids.com/book-reviews-and-tours/f/a-song-that-never-ends-book-tour-a-story-that-transcends-time" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Country Mamas With Kids –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / author interview / giveaway<br />Feb 9 <a href="https://www.thesexynerdrevue.com/2024/02/newblogpost-ontour-booklovea-song-that.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– The Sexy Nerd Revue –</a> book series spotlight / giveaway<br />Feb 9 <a href="https://lieseblog.com/2024/02/09/book-spotlight-a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-book-i-by-mark-a-gibson/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Liese's Blog –</a> book spotlight of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS <br />Feb 9 <a href="https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-a-gibson-book-tour-guest-post-more-ends-3-1-24/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- </a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-a-gibson-book-tour-guest-post-more-ends-3-1-24/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Rockin' Book Reviews -</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / guest post / giveaway</span><br />Feb 12<a href="https://www.fundinmental.com/a-song-that-never-ends/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– fundinmental –</a> book series spotlight / giveaway<br />Feb 12 <a href="https://mlmopinions.home.blog/2024/02/12/book-review-a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-a-gibson/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Welcome To MLMOPINIONS Reviews –</a>book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 13 <a href="https://mlmopinions.home.blog/2024/02/13/book-review-roses-in-december-by-mark-a-gibson/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Welcome To MLMOPINIONS Reviews –</a>book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 13 <a href="https://bigreadersite.wordpress.com/2024/02/13/roses-in-december-by-mark-a-gibson-with-a-giveaway/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Bigreadersite –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 14 <a href="https://storeybookreviews.com/2024/02/review-giveaway-a-song-that-never-ends/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– StoreyBook Reviews –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 14 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3TtZp1Scxi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Leanne Bookstagram –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 15 <a href="http://novelsalie.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">–</a><a href="https://novelsalive.com/2024/02/15/5-star-review-a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-a-gibson/?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Social%20Media&utm_campaign=REVIEW" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Novels Alive</a> <a href="http://novelsalie.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">–</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 15 <a href="https://www.bookcornernewsandreviews.com/2024/02/book-review-spotlight-song-that-never.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- </a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.bookcornernewsandreviews.com/2024/02/book-review-spotlight-song-that-never.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Book Corner News and Reviews -</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway</span><br />Feb 15<a href="https://lieseblog.com/2024/02/15/book-spotlight-roses-in-december-hamilton-place-book-2-by-mark-a-gibson/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Liese's Blog –</a> book spotlight of ROSES IN DECEMBER <br />Feb 16 <a href="https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-song-that-never-ends-by-mark-gibson.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Book Reviews by Linda Moore –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway<br />Feb 16 <a href="https://novelsalive.com/2024/02/16/5-star-review-roses-in-december-by-mark-a-gibson/?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Social%20Media&utm_campaign=REVIEW" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Novels Alive –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 16 <a href="https://www.bookcornernewsandreviews.com/2024/02/book-review-spotlight-roses-in-december.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- </a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.bookcornernewsandreviews.com/2024/02/book-review-spotlight-roses-in-december.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Book Corner News and Reviews -</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway</span><br />Feb 16 <a href="https://storeybookreviews.com/2024/02/review-giveaway-roses-in-december/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank"> – StoreyBook Reviews –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 19 <a href="https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/roses-in-december-hamilton-place-book-2-by-mark-a-gibson-book-tour-giveaway-ends-3-1-24/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">-</a><a href="https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/roses-in-december-hamilton-place-book-2-by-mark-a-gibson-book-tour-giveaway-ends-3-1-24/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank"> </a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/roses-in-december-hamilton-place-book-2-by-mark-a-gibson-book-tour-giveaway-ends-3-1-24/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Rockin' Book Reviews -</a> book spotlight of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway</span><br />Feb 19<a href="https://amybooksy.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-tour-and-giveaway-roses-in.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Locks, Hooks and Books –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 20 <a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Connie's History Classroom –</a> book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / guest post / giveaway<br />Feb 20 <a href="https://ginaraemitchell.com/roses-in-december/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">– Gina Rae Mitchell –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / guest post / giveaway<br />Feb 21 - <a href="https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwritingahas.blog/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's</a> – book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / author interview / giveaway<br />Feb 21 - <span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dana.loves.books" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">@dana.loves.books</a> - book review of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS / giveaway</span><br />Feb 21 <a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- Connie's History Classroom –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 22 – - <a href="https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwritingahas.blog/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's</a> – book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 22 -<a href="https://countrymamaswithkids.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Country Mamas With Kids</a> – book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway<br />Feb 22 - <span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dana.loves.books" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">@dana.loves.books</a> - book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway</span><br />Feb 23 –<a href="http://www.dianesbookjournal.wordpress.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Diane’s Book Journal –</a> book series spotlight / giveaway<br />Feb 23 <a href="https://teatimeandbooks76.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-tour-song-that-never-ends-hamilton.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">- </a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><a href="https://teatimeandbooks76.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-tour-song-that-never-ends-hamilton.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Teatime and Books -</a> book series spotlight / giveaway</span><br />Feb 23 --<a href="https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Book Reviews by Linda Moore –</a> book review of ROSES IN DECEMBER / giveaway</div><div class="paragraph" style="color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 1em !important; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: inherit;">Enter the Giveaway:</span></strong><br /></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 1em !important; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: inherit;"><br /></span></strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: rgb(81, 81, 81) !important; font-family: Roboto !important; font-size: 1em !important; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://gleam.io/WJ41l/a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-by-mark-gibson-book-tour-giveaway?l=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ireadbooktours.com%2Fblog---current-tours%2Fbook-tour-a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-book-i-by-mark-a-gibson&r=">https://gleam.io/WJ41l/a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-by-mark-gibson-book-tour-giveaway?l=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ireadbooktours.com%2Fblog---current-tours%2Fbook-tour-a-song-that-never-ends-hamilton-place-book-i-by-mark-a-gibson&r=</a></div><div><div align="center" class="wcustomhtml" id="249023067248709921" style="overflow-y: hidden; width: 338px;"></div></div></div><div class="blog-social " style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(142, 142, 142); color: #8e8e8e; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><div class="blog-social-item" style="float: left; margin-right: 33px; position: relative; z-index: 2;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="blog-comments-bottom" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(142, 142, 142); color: #8e8e8e; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 40px; text-align: left;"><br /></div></strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;"><br /></strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;"><br /></strong></div><div class="paragraph" style="color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong style="caret-color: rgb(81, 81, 81); text-align: justify;"><br /></strong></div></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-68500471159563597672024-02-16T11:14:00.000-08:002024-02-16T11:14:33.302-08:00My Thoughts - Book: A Season of Harvest Author: Lauraine Snelling<p> </p><header class="entry-header" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 29.984375px; margin-right: 29.984375px;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Montserrat, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; hyphens: auto; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></h1></header><div class="entry-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 29.984375px; margin-right: 29.984375px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27217" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Book:</strong> A Season of Harvest</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author: </strong>Lauraine Snelling</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Genre: </b>Historical Fiction</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Release Date: </strong>January 30, 2024</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27218" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 194px) 85vw, 194px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest_Cover_9780764235788-194x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest_Cover_9780764235788-194x300.jpg 194w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest_Cover_9780764235788-663x1024.jpg 663w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest_Cover_9780764235788-768x1187.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest_Cover_9780764235788-994x1536.jpg 994w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest_Cover_9780764235788-1200x1855.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Season-of-Harvest_Cover_9780764235788.jpg 1294w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="194" />Can her dreams for the future–and a budding romance–survive the trouble that comes calling?</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Larkspur Nielsen is determined to keep her family homestead running and to fulfill their dream of starting a seed catalog, with or without her siblings’ help. With Isaac McTavish back in town, Lark finds herself at odds with her own heart and her determination to shoulder the burden of carrying her responsibilities alone. But Isaac is set on convincing her that he’s here to stay and she doesn’t have to carry everything by herself.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">As a new romance blossoms between Lilac and an old schoolmate and the other Nielsen sisters are busy caring for their families, Lark bears more and more responsibility on the farm. When a long-feared threat returns and Lark approaches the breaking point, the life she has always dreamed of is in danger of disappearing forever.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3GMuQXy" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27219" height="263" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Snelling_Lauraine1-300x263.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Snelling_Lauraine1-300x263.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Snelling_Lauraine1-1024x897.jpg 1024w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Snelling_Lauraine1-768x673.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Snelling_Lauraine1.jpg 1199w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" />Lauraine Snelling</strong> is the award-winning author of nearly one-hundred books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold more than five million copies. She makes her home in Tehachapi, California.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></h1><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">More from Lauraine</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Please provide a brief summary of your new novel, <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Season of Harvest.</em></strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lauraine Snelling:</strong> With her three sisters all finding their own paths of life and love, Larkspur Nielsen determines to shoulder their family farm and business dream herself and stay single—even if drifter Isaac McTavish, claiming he’s back in town for good, now seeks her heart. When danger from the past comes knocking, Lark must choose whether to insist on going it alone or accept the love and support God—and Isaac—hold out.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Each of the previous books in your current series, Leah’s Garden, follows a different Neilsen sister as the main character. What led you to save Larkspur’s story for the series conclusion?</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">LS:</strong> I’d actually planned Larkspur’s story to be first since she’s the oldest. However, once <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Seeds of Change</em>started coming together, Forsythia took over the story! So the first book became hers.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Loyalty plays a key role in <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Season of Harvest</em>. Without giving spoilers, can you hint at why loyalty is at the core of the story?</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">LS:</strong> Loyalty threads through the whole series. These sisters are loyal to each other, to their friends, and to everyone they know. Through all the books, they take care of each other so faithfully. Even their initial departure from Ohio stems from drastic action they take to protect each other and their family. Loyalty then streams over into other characters in the series, especially Isaac McTavish, who really grows into loyalty in this book. Even our villain stays loyal to his purpose all the way through.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Which of the four Neilsen sisters do you personally resonate with the most? </strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">LS:</strong> Truth be told, I resonate with each of them. But really, I tend to identify with whichever one I’m writing at the moment! <img alt="😊" class="emoji" draggable="false" role="img" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f60a.svg" style="background: repeat; border: medium; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline; height: 1em; margin: 0px 0.07em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: -0.1em; width: 1em;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Season of Harvest</em></strong><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"> returns to a major conflict from the first book in the series, </strong><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Seeds of Change</em></strong><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">. Was it always in your plan to circle back and address that conflict again in the series conclusion?</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">LS:</strong> It wasn’t always in our plan, but as the book came together, it became inevitable. One benefit of a great editor is that they sometimes contribute ideas, and my editor, Jessica Sharpe, pointed out how key it would be for Ringwald to confront Larkspur at the end of the series. As the book went on, it became so important to resolve that conflict, and we kept the villain in the stories just enough to keep readers from forgetting about him.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">What do you hope readers learn or take away from this series?</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">LS:</strong> A reminder of how important our families are. The Nielsens stood by each other in so many crises, and that’s what I would hope readers take away—just a reminder of how important your family is and how absolutely critical faith in Christ is. Salton becomes a place of healing, a place for people to recover joy. That we have so many joys and things to learn in this life is a theme that weaves through all my books.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">What led you to set these stories in the homesteading period? How was the setting important to the story you wanted to tell?</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">LS:</strong> It’s one of my favorite periods! The homesteading era was such a time of change and adventure. As for why Nebraska, I hadn’t set stories there very much yet. For Kiersti, it was special to join in on <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Seeds of Change</em> and get to write about Nebraska homesteaders living in a soddy because her great-grandfather, a son of Danish immigrants, was born in a soddy in Nebraska in the late 1800s.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Is this truly the last your readers will see of the Neilsen sisters and the rest of their community?</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">LS:</strong> As far as we know!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Now that you’ve wrapped up the </strong><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Leah’s Garden</strong><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"> series, what are you working on next?</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">LS:</strong> A series set in 1889 near Decorah, Iowa. Six-year-old Ruth and twenty-one-year-old Amalia are thrown together on a ship crossing over from Norway when their families die of cholera. Ruth’s dying mother gives her daughter into Amalia’s custody, and the two orphans travel to Iowa to take over the family boardinghouse Ruth will inherit. They must battle a greedy relative trying to claim the property and somehow make ends meet for the motley band of orphans who gather under their roof, while finding a way to make this new land home.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;">My Thoughts </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A Season of Harvest is written b</span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">y </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Lauraine Snelling. This author is one that I first read when I became a Christian. She always does such a fantastic job with her stories. This is book four in the Leah’s garden series. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve not read all the books but I didn’t have any issues following along. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Nielsen sisters have found some hardships with starting fresh. However their sister bond is strong and lean on each other when things are not going great. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In this story, it’s Lark and Lilac’s <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>turn to find happiness. However Lark wants to love on her sisters families and work the farm. Enter Isaac McTavish. He has fallen in love with Lark, but she doesn't feel she can depend on him and pushes him away.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Lilac has to return to Ohio to assist her brothers and hopefully bring Sam back to help with the Harvest. While she is there she reconnects with an old classmate, Sam. Sam has his teaching certificate and a mother who is constantly hovering. When Lilac recommends her town for teaching he sees it as a good thing. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I love the historical detail that the author has put into the story. I love this family. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book all thoughts are my own. </span></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wishfulendings.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Wishful Endings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Wishful Endings</span></a>, February 5</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, February 5</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, February 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, February 7</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The Avid Reader"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Avid Reader</span></a>, February 7</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, February 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":2561,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":2575891}}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Gina Holder, Author and Blogger"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</span></a>, February 9 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://booksyoucanfeelgoodabout.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Books You Can Feel Good About"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Books You Can Feel Good About</span></a>, February 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shelivestoread.com/category/book-reviews/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"She Lives to Read"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">She Lives to Read</span></a>, February 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://nannie3.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Jeanette’s Thoughts "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Jeanette’s Thoughts</span></a>, February 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mary.a.hake" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Mary Hake"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mary Hake</span></a>, February 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, February 12</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, February 13</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Splashes of Joy</a></span>, February 13</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly’s Book Corner "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, February 14</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/?m=1" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, February 15</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie's History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Connie’s History Classroom</a> </span>, February 16</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://paulakrueger.substack.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Paula's Pad of Inspiration"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Paula’s Pad of Inspiration</span></a>, February 16</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lovewhatyourreading.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Live. Love. Read."}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Live. Love. Read.</span></a>, February 17</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jodiewolfe.com/blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Jodie Wolfe - Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet</span></a>, February 17</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"lakesidelivingsite"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">lakesidelivingsite</span></a>, February 18</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, February 18</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img height="205" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/973d5dfc-ce5d-4586-938b-0595f90dedad" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="244" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Lauraine is giving away the grand prize package of a $15 Amazon gift card and a paperback set of all four books in the Leah’s Garden Series: The Seeds of Change, A Time to Bloom, Fields of Bounty, and A Season of Harvest!! (US Only)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/29c4f/a-season-of-harvest-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/29c4f/a-season-of-harvest-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-3396215539730835772024-02-09T04:19:00.000-08:002024-02-09T04:19:20.890-08:00My Thoughts - When the Waters Came Author: Candice Sue Patterson<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 29.984375px; margin-right: 29.984375px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26921" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/when-the-waters-came.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/when-the-waters-came.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/when-the-waters-came-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/when-the-waters-came-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Book: </strong>When the Waters Came</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author: </strong>Candice Sue Patterson</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Genre: </b>Christian/Historical/Romance</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Release Date: </strong>January, 2024</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26923" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 197px) 85vw, 197px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9781636097589-197x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9781636097589-197x300.jpg 197w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9781636097589-672x1024.jpg 672w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9781636097589-768x1170.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9781636097589-1008x1536.jpg 1008w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9781636097589-1345x2048.jpg 1345w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9781636097589-1200x1828.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9781636097589.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="197" />An act of greed or an act of God?</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Introducing a new series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic American disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Pastor Montgomery Childs has tended his flock in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for two years. While his pews are full every Sunday, he most desires to see a reckoning between God and the kings of industry who recreate on Lake Conemaugh. The pleasure grounds, flowing alcohol, and business dealings of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club taunts Monty as he works to heal the wounds inflicted from his own privileged childhood among Pittsburgh society. Like Noah, Monty prays against the evil surrounding him, but he never expects God to send a flood.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">It takes five days for the Red Cross to respond to the Johnstown flood disaster, but when it does, Annamae Worthington is ready to help. Apprenticing under Clara Barton has prepared her for the job, but nothing can prepare her for the death and destruction that awaits. As if the survivors haven’t suffered enough, typhoid fever ravages the town, resurfacing suppressed emotions regarding her father’s death.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Narrowly surviving the flood and the horrifying things he’s witnessed, Monty’s faith is floundering. Then a Red Cross nurse puts him to work helping with the typhoid fever victims arriving at the hospital tents every hour. Monty and Annamae work together distributing disinfectants and supplies, housing orphans, and serving those left behind. Slowly, his faith resurfaces. A kinship forms between them neither can ignore. But when an investigation into the collapsed dam points to the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, secrets emerge that may tear them apart.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/47yh4DV" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26924" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 253px) 85vw, 253px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CandicePatterson-253x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CandicePatterson-253x300.jpg 253w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CandicePatterson-865x1024.jpg 865w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CandicePatterson-768x909.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CandicePatterson.jpg 974w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="253" />Candice Sue Patterson</strong>studied at The Institute of Children’s Literature and is an elementary librarian. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, snuggling with her Great Pyrenees, or helping children discover books they love, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes Modern Vintage Romance–where the past and present collide with faith. For more on Candice and her books, visit www.candicesuepatterson.com.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">More from Candice</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">On May 30, 1889, the industrious residents of Johnstown, Pennsylvania fell into slumber to the sound of rain pattering their rooftops, unaware that, for many, it would be their last night on earth. This was the thought I carried with me through the entire journey of writing <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">When the Waters Came</em>. Every survivor’s account of that day, every loss, every miracle, every emotion will stick with me for years to come.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">My first knowledge of the Johnstown Flood came several years ago when I watched <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Men Who Built America</em> in its first airing on the History Channel. The idea that so great a loss of life could’ve easily been prevented by some of the richest men in the world strummed an invisible chord inside me. I remember looking at my husband and saying, “I’m going to write a book about it someday.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">A few more years went by and each time I sat down to plot a new story idea, Johnstown whispered across my heart, but the timing wasn’t right. Then, in 2021, I was shopping at our local community book fair and stumbled upon a first edition of <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">History of the Johnstown Flood, Illustrated</em> by Willis Fletcher Johnson, published in 1889, months after the disaster. Not meaning to sound hokey, I felt as if God handed me the book Himself and confirmed He wanted me to write this story. The next year, at the same book fair, I found a first edition of <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Life of Clara Barton</em> by Percy H. Epler, published in 1919. It contained transcripts of her journals and correspondence, some specifically mentioning the Red Cross and her role in aiding the survivors of the Johnstown flood. Once again, I felt that God had provided all the material I would need to tell my tale. Then, in 2022, when my publisher reached out looking for proposals for a new series centered on disasters, I knew the time had come to remind folks of that tragic day.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I’ll be honest, I shed a lot of tears during my research. The accounts are heartbreaking. But the faith and determination in some of those accounts are inspiring as well. Many of the characters in <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">When the Waters Came</em> are real survivors of the flood, and Clara Barton, herself, walks on and off the pages throughout the story.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">In May 2023, a month before I turned the manuscript in to my publisher, my husband and I traveled nine hours to Johnstown to experience what we could for ourselves and to make sure my historical facts were correct. I stood where the South Fork Dam once did. I imagined the roar of the water as the dam crumbled. I toured the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club clubhouse, where America’s elite once recreated. I stood at Colonel Unger’s homestead where he’d stood that fateful day, powerless to reinforce the dam and save the folks in Johnstown below. I walked the rows of 777 graves in Grandview Cemetery honoring the unidentified bodies that were rescued. I thought of all the lost loved ones never found.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Where the retelling of the Johnstown Flood is hard and tragic, I also packed the story with plenty of faith, hope, and love to give readers a well-balanced experience. For on-site videos, behind-the-writing-scenes info, and more details about the Johnstown Flood, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook and Instagram.</p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;">My Thoughts </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">When the Waters Came is written by Candace Sue Patterson. This is the first book in a multi author series that focuses on <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>historical disasters that transformed landscapes and lives. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This book is about the Johnstown Flood. Pastor Montgomery Childs grew up with a life of luxury and high society. However he saw the greed that came along with that society. He’s been pastor in Johnstown, Pennsylvania for two years. He’s saddened to see the rise of alcohol, salooons and soiled doves in a city where the evil ways of the world seem to be forefront. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">When the flood hits so many are killed. Families are washed away, children become orphans. This leads Monty to struggle with why God would allow this to happen. The Red Cross shows up five days after the flood. Led by Clara Barton, Annamae Worthington is excited and nervous about her first disaster relief assignment. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I loved seeing Annamae grow and evolve throughout the book. She wants to make a difference. She’s got bitterness in her heart. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I loved the authors reminder that God can heal all pain. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Well written with a throughly researched storyline. I am so excited for this new series. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. </span></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Book Reviews From an Avid Reader"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Book Reviews From an Avid Reader</span></a>, January 27</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://luannabubbles.wixsite.com/devotedhope" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Devoted To Hope"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Devoted To Hope</span></a>, January 27</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, January 28</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Tell Tale Book Reviews "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tell Tale Book Reviews</span></a>, January 29</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; 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margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, February 1</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://babblingbeckyl.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions</span></a>, February 2</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shelivestoread.com/category/book-reviews/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; 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margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/?m=1" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, February 5</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://booklooksbylisa.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Book Looks by Lisa"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Book Looks by Lisa</span></a>, February 5</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lifeonchickadeelane.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Life on Chickadee Lane"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Life on Chickadee Lane</span></a>, February 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, February 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, February 7</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, February 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie's History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Connie’s History Classroom</a></span>, February 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"To Everything There Is A Season "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ihopeyoudanceinlife.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">To Everything There Is A Season</a> </span>, February 9</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img class="" height="200" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/d3e70626-ac58-4c3a-8bee-08a33a324a88" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="238" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Candice is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a copy of the book!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/299c0/when-the-waters-came-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/299c0/when-the-waters-came-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-75378049424888943312024-02-07T04:32:00.000-08:002024-02-07T04:32:18.728-08:00My Thoughts - A Summer on Bellevue Avenue Author: Lorri Dudley<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27443" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/summer-bellevue-2.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/summer-bellevue-2.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/summer-bellevue-2-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/summer-bellevue-2-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book: </span>A Summer on Bellevue Avenue</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Author: </span>Lorri Dudley</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre: </span>Christian historical romance</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>January 9, 2024</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26917" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 85vw, 200px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ASummerOnBellevueAvenue-200x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ASummerOnBellevueAvenue-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ASummerOnBellevueAvenue-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ASummerOnBellevueAvenue-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ASummerOnBellevueAvenue-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ASummerOnBellevueAvenue-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ASummerOnBellevueAvenue-1200x1800.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ASummerOnBellevueAvenue-scaled.jpg 1707w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" />In the world of the elite, reputation is everything…</em></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Wealthy heiress Amanda Mae Klein is set to marry the man she loves, Wesley Jansen—the only person she trusts to help ease her anxiety among the social climbers of high society. Until the daughter of a union boss falls down a flight of stairs at Wesley’s office in the middle of the night…and the woman claims Wesley pushed her.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Seeking solace from the growing scandal, Amanda flees to the mansion-dotted seaside of Newport. Wesley follows to disprove the rumors and win back the trust of Amelia and her father. But soon, Amanda finds not only her social status but her life at risk. As dire events pit the two against each other, will their love find a way to survive?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/40ZCbMK" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26918" height="294" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LorriDudleyProfilePic-300x294.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LorriDudleyProfilePic-300x294.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LorriDudleyProfilePic-768x752.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LorriDudleyProfilePic.jpg 967w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" />Lorri Dudley</span> has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">More from Lorri</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Moguls, Millionaires, and Midas</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><a href="https://www.celebratelit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Marble-House-Newport.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-14662 alignleft" height="200" loading="lazy" src="https://www.celebratelit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Marble-House-Newport-300x200.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 1.75em 1.75em 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a>Imagine parties where the dining guests could dig through a sand centerpiece for rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and other precious stones to take home as party favors. Or celebrating elaborate pet birthdays, where dogs are seated around a formal dining table and served liver, rice, and cake. Fancy dining on horseback as guests eat while riding. At the mention of the Gilded Age in Newport, Rhode Island, Robin Leach’s voice naturally pipes in my head, “These are the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Imposing wrought iron gates, expansive manicured lawns and gardens, and opulent French chateaus or Italian palazzos—the summer “cottages” of Newport’s famous self-made moguls of America’s Gilded Age stir the imagination and leave us wondering if we glimpsed a bit of what heaven may look like. What was accomplished, built, and achieved still impresses, and I had oodles of fun researching the era and its eccentric society walkers.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><a href="https://www.celebratelit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Breakers-Newport-RI-scaled.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-14663" height="300" loading="lazy" src="https://www.celebratelit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Breakers-Newport-RI-300x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a>One of my favorite stories regarding the elites was the rivalry between “old money” Caroline Astor and “new money” Alva Vanderbilt. Legend has it that Caroline Astor frowned upon the Vanderbilts and did much to prohibit the new money Vanderbilts from having true social standing. Alva Vanderbilt concocted a plan to pry her way into old-money elitism by planning a fabulous costume party with all the who’s who of New York’s knickerbockers. Alva personally delivered Mrs. Astor’s invitation, and when Mrs. Astor refused to receive her, Alva Vanderbilt rescinded Caroline Astor’s daughter, Carrie’s, invitation. Hearing she was uninvited to the event, Carrie bent her mother’s ear and got her to acquiesce. Caroline Astor formally visited Alva Vanderbilt and attended the costume party, solidifying the Vanderbilt’s arrival into high society.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Living a little over an hour from Newport, I’ve toured many of the mansions and hiked the cliff walk along the luxurious shoreline. It was during one of these tours that the plot idea struck for <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Summer on Bellevue Avenue </em>and the romance between two Gilded sweethearts torn apart by scandal was born.</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">My Thoughts </span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">A Summer on Bellevue Avenue is written by Lorri Dudley. I have read several of this authors books and have always really enjoyed all of them. <span style="color: #1e1915;"> This is a wonderful </span><span style="color: #1e1915;">addition to the Romance at the Gilded Age Resorts series, taking place in Newport, Rhode Island in 1895. Each book is written by a different author, but is tied together by the Gilded Age Resort theme. </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wealthy heiress Amanda Mae Klein is set to marry the man she loves, Wesley Jansen. He helps her with her anxiety - however there is an accident at Wesley’s office in the middle of the night. A girl has accused Wesley of pushing her down the stairs. Amanda flees to the sanctuary of Newport, Rhode Island trying to sort everything out - however Wesley follows her there and tries to win back her trust and prove her innocence. However it seems that trouble is also following them there. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I really liked these characters. While they want for nothing, they are experiencing the downfall of high society. I loved how down to earth they seemed. I loved how Wesley balanced Amanda out - she deals with the fears of messing up in society. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This book is well written characters and an intriguing storyline. I loved the element of suspense with the story. I have been enjoying every book in the series. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book., all thoughts are my own. </span></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://babblingbeckyl.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions</span></a>, January 26</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; 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font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://booklooksbylisa.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Book Looks by Lisa"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Book Looks by Lisa</span></a>, February 7</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tblbkreviews.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lily's Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lily’s Corner</span></a>, February 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shelivestoread.com/category/book-reviews/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"She Lives To Read"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">She Lives To Read</span></a>, February 8</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img class="" height="130" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/e5f4939d-cd96-45de-b748-8fb15bc1a0af" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="130" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Lorri is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/299bf/a-summer-on-bellevue-avenue-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/299bf/a-summer-on-bellevue-avenue-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-57169358650493005432024-01-27T06:52:00.000-08:002024-01-27T06:52:28.680-08:00My Thoughts -Faces in the Window Authors: Andrew Busch and Melinda Busch<p> </p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book:</span> Faces in the Window</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Authors: </span>Andrew Busch and Melinda Busch</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre:</span> Christian Historical Fiction</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>October, 2022</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27077" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 199px) 85vw, 199px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Faces-in-the-Window-Front-Cover-f-199x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Faces-in-the-Window-Front-Cover-f-199x300.jpg 199w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Faces-in-the-Window-Front-Cover-f-681x1024.jpg 681w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Faces-in-the-Window-Front-Cover-f-768x1155.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Faces-in-the-Window-Front-Cover-f-1021x1536.jpg 1021w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Faces-in-the-Window-Front-Cover-f-1362x2048.jpg 1362w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Faces-in-the-Window-Front-Cover-f-1200x1805.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Faces-in-the-Window-Front-Cover-f-scaled.jpg 1702w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="199" />Franz Maedler, an officer in the Wehrmacht, loses a leg in Stalingrad and is evacuated just before it becomes impossible to do so. He returns to a desk job with the Army General Staff in Berlin but is deeply conflicted. His father is committed to the Nazi cause, as seems to be his brother Friedrich. Yet his girlfriend Katrin is a devout Christian, as was his now-deceased mother, and his conscience is haunted by things he was a part of on the Eastern Front. He wants to marry Katrin, but she will not agree until he decides who he is and who he follows. Then, unexpectedly, a moment of crisis forces Franz to choose. Will he side with the cross or with the swastika? And what will it cost him?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3R2WzJM" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Authors</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27078" height="214" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/andrewandmelinda-300x214.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/andrewandmelinda-300x214.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/andrewandmelinda-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/andrewandmelinda-768x548.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/andrewandmelinda-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/andrewandmelinda-1200x857.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/andrewandmelinda.jpg 2048w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" />Andrew and Melinda Busch </span>were both born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, and were introduced in 1994 by their junior high school math teacher. They married in 1995 and have three grown children. They now live in Rialto, California.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Andrew teaches American government at Claremont McKenna College in southern California. He has authored or co-authored about two dozen books on American politics, government, and public policy. He received his Ph.D. in Government from the University of Virginia. Melinda is a freelance author who has published numerous short stories and children’s books. She received her Master’s degree in education from Concordia University-Portland. <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Faces in the Window</em> is their first co-authored book.</p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">More from Andrew and Melinda</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">We came up with the idea for our book after a trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. in 2006, but didn’t start writing it until late 2019. The COVID lock-down gave us a lot of time at home to work on it.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Writing together was fun. Sometimes one of us would draft a section and the other one would revise it and then we would go back and forth until we were satisfied with it. Other times, when there was important dialogue, we would each pick a character, go onto Google Docs, and have the conversation in real time. We had to be sharp, since our characters often found themselves in a tight spot. Though we planned out the story, sometimes the conversations took on a life of their own, and things went in a different direction.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">One of us is a poet and an author of children’s books, fantasy stories, and fan fiction, while the other is a professor who has written extensively about American government but has never before dipped his toe into the vasty depths of fiction. Together, we had a great time!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><u>My Thoughts</u></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I was not prepared for the emotional journey that this book took me on. Faces in the Window is written by<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"> </span>Andrew Busch and Melinda Busch. This book drops us in the middle of WWII - and we see a German Soldier, Franz Maedler, who returns home after an injury. He is haunted by what he has seen and what he has become. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Franz is dealing with a lot of conflicting issues. He sees that Hitler may not be right. He is wrestling with his a lot. His father was VERY committed to Hitler and his cause, yet his mother was a Christian woman. He is worried on how his father will react with him being injured and given a desk job. After all the horrible violence he has seen he really wrestles if he even still believes in God. He wonders how God can let so much suffering and such happen if he is a God of Grace. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">The war, Franz soon realizes has put some doubts in his girlfriend, Katrin also. Katrin is a devout Christian and she tells him that he needs to make a decision who he will be loyal too. Hitler of God. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I appreciated the authors putting in so much historical research into this story. I have read alot of WWII era books the last year and this one is in the top 10 of the ones that I have read. The authors also do a great job with portraying how those serving in the German Army may have had so many moral demons they had to wrestle. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">The book is well written. The storyline is 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. </p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":2561,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":2575891}}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Gina Holder, Author and Blogger"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</span></a>, January 17 (Author Interview)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bizwingsblog.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Bizwings Book Blog"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bizwings Book Blog</span></a>, January 18</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, January 19 (Author Interview)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, January 19</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, January 20</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Splashes of Joy</span></a>, January 21 (Author Interview)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/macebetti/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4225,"3":{"1":0},"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Betti Mace"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Betti Mace</span></a>, January 22</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jodiewolfe.com/blog" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Jodie Wolfe - Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet</span></a>, January 23 (Author Interview)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, January 24</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.guildmaster97.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guild Master</span></a>, January 25 (Author Interview)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, January 26</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.margueritemartingray.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Sylvan Musings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sylvan Musings</span></a>, January 27 (Author Interview)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie’s History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connie’s History Classroom</span></a>, January 27</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, January 28</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Modern Day Fairy Tale"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</span></a>, January 29 (Author Interview)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, January 30</p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img class="" height="210" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/3517bace-c17b-4be0-aa3a-2cdfd24592ec" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="250" /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate their tour, Andrew and Melinda is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/297c8/faces-in-the-window-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/297c8/faces-in-the-window-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-48596846093618629032024-01-25T18:20:00.000-08:002024-01-25T18:20:03.833-08:00My Thoughts - Loving Beth Author: Bonnie Rose Ward<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJzPm63OUjpht1VchyMt9Y32HBZGbYTfGisrYo_G58HF0QjQiffWrMP4NgcbX5vRz9_CGSeelK72mgu_fEDqY5ULXJoCwNmuX5dsupZ9ytCwVCUFbeTvxqnCvJw2wa7gERxBodg1jyLwS5ecbe5nCLbHV3fN6GrVbuiUU_mxNX0GUQFiSI18PRxk3-JYg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJzPm63OUjpht1VchyMt9Y32HBZGbYTfGisrYo_G58HF0QjQiffWrMP4NgcbX5vRz9_CGSeelK72mgu_fEDqY5ULXJoCwNmuX5dsupZ9ytCwVCUFbeTvxqnCvJw2wa7gERxBodg1jyLwS5ecbe5nCLbHV3fN6GrVbuiUU_mxNX0GUQFiSI18PRxk3-JYg=w400-h148" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book:</span> Loving Beth</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Author: </span>Bonnie Rose Ward</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre:</span> Christian Historical Romance Fiction</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>June 8, 2023</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27072" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 85vw, 200px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CLBD2023_BonnieRoseWard_DaugthersOfAppalachiaSeries_01_LovingBeth_EBOOK_FINAL20230417-corrected-200x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CLBD2023_BonnieRoseWard_DaugthersOfAppalachiaSeries_01_LovingBeth_EBOOK_FINAL20230417-corrected-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CLBD2023_BonnieRoseWard_DaugthersOfAppalachiaSeries_01_LovingBeth_EBOOK_FINAL20230417-corrected-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CLBD2023_BonnieRoseWard_DaugthersOfAppalachiaSeries_01_LovingBeth_EBOOK_FINAL20230417-corrected-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CLBD2023_BonnieRoseWard_DaugthersOfAppalachiaSeries_01_LovingBeth_EBOOK_FINAL20230417-corrected-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CLBD2023_BonnieRoseWard_DaugthersOfAppalachiaSeries_01_LovingBeth_EBOOK_FINAL20230417-corrected-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CLBD2023_BonnieRoseWard_DaugthersOfAppalachiaSeries_01_LovingBeth_EBOOK_FINAL20230417-corrected-1200x1800.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CLBD2023_BonnieRoseWard_DaugthersOfAppalachiaSeries_01_LovingBeth_EBOOK_FINAL20230417-corrected-scaled.jpg 1707w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" />A courageous woman, a bitter man, and God’s plan.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Times were hard after Beth McCullough’s father died in the Civil War, but she and her mother are getting by on their little farm outside Rosewood, West Virginia. The kindly banker holding the loan lets them pay what they can. Then Beth’s mother dies suddenly, and the banker’s arrogant son gives her only thirty days to pay her full debt. Beth is left alone and lonely and fears losing the only home she’s ever known. It would be nice to have someone in her life like Jacob, the handsome man who found her mother. Then to her horror, Beth discovers two small children who’ve been abandoned. It’s one more thing for her to worry about, but Beth has to keep faith in God’s ability to work miracles.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Although he has to travel to Baltimore to care for his ailing mother, Jacob Wallace can’t stop thinking about Beth, but he’d promised his late wife he’d never love again after her tragic death. After receiving a letter with terrible rumors about Beth, Jacob returns to Rosewood, angry, bitter, and disillusioned, more determined than ever to keep his vow to never love again. He’s right to close his heart against Beth.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">As Beth struggles to protect the children and keep her farm, she’s also defending against Jacob’s unfounded suspicions. The danger escalates with an attack and threats to her life. But God moves in mysterious ways. Is there room in Jacob’s heart for a new love? Will they learn to trust each other and have faith in God’s plan to find their way together?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/47AptpZ" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27071" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 85vw, 200px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bonnies-pic-corrected-200x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bonnies-pic-corrected-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bonnies-pic-corrected-681x1024.jpg 681w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bonnies-pic-corrected-768x1155.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bonnies-pic-corrected-1021x1536.jpg 1021w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bonnies-pic-corrected-1362x2048.jpg 1362w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bonnies-pic-corrected-1200x1805.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bonnies-pic-corrected.jpg 1465w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" />Bonnie Rose Ward</span>, an award-winning author celebrated for her vivid memoirs recounting life in the Alaskan wilderness, currently resides in West Virginia with her husband. Bonnie’s homestead is nestled within the serene foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. The spirit of these mountains and her husband’s familial tales from the region breathe life into her compelling narratives of Appalachian resilience, strength, and the quest for love. Drawing from her fifteen-years in the wilderness, Bonnie’s present lifestyle encapsulates the essence of self-sufficiency. Together with Samuel, she tends to a menagerie of goats, chickens, Zebu cattle, and other barnyard animals, while also cultivating their verdant gardens. When not immersed in her rural responsibilities, Bonnie transitions into her writer’s persona. At her keyboard, she masterfully weaves new tales echoing the valor of women, the fidelity of men, and the extraordinary miracles that God orchestrates in their lives. Bonnie Rose Ward is not just an author, but a storyteller—painting vivid pictures with her words that resonate with the human spirit’s trials, triumphs, and faith.</p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">More from Bonnie</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">My husband, and I lived in the Alaskan wilderness for many years. We built cabins and lived off the land. While there, Sam shared stories about his ancestors—especially those of his spunky great grandmother, Easter Mullens. I was fascinated by her life. We eventually purchased my husband’s mother’s old homeplace nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, and together we built our home by hand, reminiscent of the cabins we built in Alaska. Living in the wilderness for fifteen years gave me the skills and understanding of how our forefathers and mothers’ must have lived in the 1800s. Sam often talked about his aunts foraging from the land—they knew what vegetation you could eat and what you couldn’t. I became enamored with these hardy, resilient mountain people and their stories.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I started to write Easter’s story as nonfiction, but my imagination took over and a fictional story grew from the fragments of her life and circumstances.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">As you know, characters are typically a composite of people we know and characters we imagine, with a bit of ourselves sprinkled in there. Beth originally was a combination of Sam and my ancestors—at least, how I imagined them to be. As I worked with her, she took on a life of her own. Instead of simply being impressed by her courage, I realized how vulnerable she is. I also realized that being so young, she is going to make mistakes a more mature person wouldn’t. But I think her driving characteristic is her spunk. She does what she has to do to survive in a harsh world and to protect those she loves.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Jacob is a decent man whose devotion to his departed wife leaves no room for another. He has to come to terms not just with his wife’s death, but with what is expected from him as he puts the pieces of his life back together. Most importantly, he must realize his harshest expectations are those he has cast upon himself—and that his stubbornness is destroying not only his own happiness, but the happiness of those he loves.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Faith, love, and determination are the main themes of the book. Faith has been so important in my own life and got me through so much when we lived in the Alaskan wilderness. Therefore, I wanted to illustrate the role faith played in the lives of Beth and Jacob. Love comes in so many different forms, and I wanted to explore the different types of love. There’s the love between a man and a woman; the love between parents and children—even if they are not biologically related; and, of course, the love that grows from relying on good neighbors and friends. Determination is what allows us to survive the unsurvivable. Without the determination that seeds in our guts and grows to see us through the worst times of our lives, we would not succeed. Of course, determination can also work against us. When we stubbornly adhere to principles that are no longer relevant, our determination cause much more harm than good.</p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">My Thoughts </span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Loving Beth is written by <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"> </span>Bonnie Rose Ward. This is a well written story that is set in Appalachian West Virginia right after the Civil War. Beth's father was killed in the Civil War. Beth and her mother are struggling to keep their farm afloat. Thankfully the banker in charge of their loan has been letting them pay. However, when her mother dies, the banker's son makes the loan due in 30 days</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">Jacob Wallace is a widower who promised his late wife that he would never love another woman. However, when he meets Beth, under unfortunate circumstances, he has a hard time getting her off his mind. Rumors start to swirl about Jacob and Beth - so he leaves angry. </span><span style="color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">Life does not get easier for Beth. She finds two children that are abandoned and she wants to raise them. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite all the circumstances, Beth keeps her faith in God. Jacob has been running from his grief. I really liked these two characters. The author has created a wonderful story with realistic hardships. She has brought post Civil War history to life. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you to the author, publisher, and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, January 13</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bizwingsblog.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Bizwings Book Blog"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bizwings Book Blog</span></a>, January 14</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://exploringthewrittenword.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Exploring the Written Word"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Exploring the Written Word</span></a>, January 14</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly's Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, January 15</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"lakesidelivingsite"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">lakesidelivingsite</span></a>, January 16</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://madismusingsblog.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Madi's Musings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Madi’s Musings</span></a>, January 16</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, January 17</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4225,"3":{"1":0},"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lighthouse Academy Blog (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lighthouse Academy Blog</span></a>, January 18<span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4225,"3":{"1":0},"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lighthouse Academy Blog (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"> (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, January 19</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":2561,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":2575891}}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Gina Holder, Author and Blogger"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</span></a>, January 20 (Author Interview)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://luannabubbles.wixsite.com/devotedhope" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Devoted To Hope"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Devoted To Hope</span></a>, January 20</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://abbasprayerwarriorprincess.com/blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess</span></a>, January 21</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, January 22</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, January 23</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, January 23</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, January 24</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, January 25</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://mybooksiread.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Books I've Read"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Books I’ve Read</span></a>, January 26</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie’s History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">Connie’s History Classroom</a></span>, January 26</p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img height="208" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/fad2f0e6-e0f6-4ccb-9548-3aaec6634ee1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="248" /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Bonnie is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card & a paperback copy of the book!!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2979d/loving-beth-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/2979d/loving-beth-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-21084053319281118432024-01-21T13:50:00.000-08:002024-01-21T13:50:39.816-08:00The Secret Pianist is written by Andie Newton<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNZmrBgVS7FbquqlZs51Oad7wLdNfy53EQJLzcKumC6pKB0pn4vyyNxD9DEc7UVDdxWUISM54HtydVNd0d7h7m61bG9-t8S7LnCot1qwwIZnfRIyHMpJ6eh7DYj3IyGGB_gn8zYM32fNai7Vwfu561fXlg0WpeEvEKxN6xA69SWvTjOKJmKv-igamo_E/s700/The%20Secret%20Pianist.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="700" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNZmrBgVS7FbquqlZs51Oad7wLdNfy53EQJLzcKumC6pKB0pn4vyyNxD9DEc7UVDdxWUISM54HtydVNd0d7h7m61bG9-t8S7LnCot1qwwIZnfRIyHMpJ6eh7DYj3IyGGB_gn8zYM32fNai7Vwfu561fXlg0WpeEvEKxN6xA69SWvTjOKJmKv-igamo_E/s320/The%20Secret%20Pianist.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Secret Pianist</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdzB1-4D-lsQoy_KpPqJqRdGQ0hKye6AOQkZ2amnvfWs28mM0W7gIkdBQd4dXSsIQVaQF9sgDyq9sHlm_lBJuHMUr_tNWAaYCL3-pdG08X_mL0tGR1pBqq_kh1kRQkVkYP67lpuxRE_my8FsDP5FBqxiuzuMmiCqwFFG96o8-8slX6EzEE8_RQQ_O8DPI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="405" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdzB1-4D-lsQoy_KpPqJqRdGQ0hKye6AOQkZ2amnvfWs28mM0W7gIkdBQd4dXSsIQVaQF9sgDyq9sHlm_lBJuHMUr_tNWAaYCL3-pdG08X_mL0tGR1pBqq_kh1kRQkVkYP67lpuxRE_my8FsDP5FBqxiuzuMmiCqwFFG96o8-8slX6EzEE8_RQQ_O8DPI" width="160" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-088bb3fa-7fff-fc30-70b5-4dc75a23d7ae"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sisters. Traitors. Spies.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When a British RAF Whitley plane comes under fire over the French coast and is forced to drop their cargo, a spy messenger pigeon finds its way into unlikely hands…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The occupation has taken much from the Cotillard sisters, and as the Germans increase their forces in the seaside town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Gabriella, Martine and Simone can’t escape the feeling that the walls are closing in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Yet, just as they should be trying to stay under the radar, Martine’s discovery of a British messenger pigeon leads them down a new and dangerous path. Gaby would do anything to protect her sisters but when the pianist is forced to teach the step-daughter of a German Commandant, and the town accuses the Cotillards of becoming ‘Bad French’ and in allegiance with the enemy, she realizes they have to take the opportunity to fight back that has been handed to them.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now, as the sisters’ secrets wing their way to an unknown contact in London, Gaby, Martine and Simone have to wonder – have they opened a lifeline, or sealed their fate?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Readers can’t get enough of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">USA Today</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> bestselling author Andie Newton:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘A brilliant tale of resistance, sisterhood and dangerous secrets. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Andie Newton is a master storyteller!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">’ Sara Ackerman, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">USA Today</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> bestselling author of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Codebreaker's Secret</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘If you believe every WW2 story has already been told, think again. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This one is special.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">’ Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Witch of Tin Mountain</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Purchase Links</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Amazon US: </span><a href="https://amzn.to/47WCr2t" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://amzn.to/47WCr2t</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Amazon CA: </span><a href="https://amzn.to/3SEGjzL" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://amzn.to/3SEGjzL</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Amazon UK: </span><a href="https://amzn.to/3Esf2Iy" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://amzn.to/3Esf2Iy</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Author Bio – </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq69WBz_JfrZ1fFrOqxZ3MaNMl_IqrYk6NxhXUza6gdtYlfQhrtfydyYGvZeHcjj7hZdpGr5Nxeug2VS20ozcXofKHx1wP3sEX5-LDPK-dcf778YPt56GmwKjbBuxCs9hzvbjUUx0ivHbzNDFvXYiiR-30CDtbGyubASNbZbxPnO7W9KlaLHzc2Tm67bQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="340" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq69WBz_JfrZ1fFrOqxZ3MaNMl_IqrYk6NxhXUza6gdtYlfQhrtfydyYGvZeHcjj7hZdpGr5Nxeug2VS20ozcXofKHx1wP3sEX5-LDPK-dcf778YPt56GmwKjbBuxCs9hzvbjUUx0ivHbzNDFvXYiiR-30CDtbGyubASNbZbxPnO7W9KlaLHzc2Tm67bQ" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Author Bio: Andie Newton is the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">USA</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Today</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> bestselling author of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A Child for the Reich,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Girls from the Beach</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Girl from Vichy</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Girl I Left Behind</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family. When she’s not writing gritty war stories about women, you can usually find her trail-running in the desert and stopping to pet every Yellow Lab or Golden Retriever that crosses her path. Andie is actively involved with the reading and writing community on social media. You can follow her on X (Twitter) </span><a href="https://twitter.com/AndieNewton" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">@andienewton</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> and </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/andienewtonauthor/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Instagram</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, or check out her author page on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/newtonauthor" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Facebook</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Social Media Links – </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(Twitter) </span><a href="https://twitter.com/AndieNewton" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">@andienewton</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/andienewtonauthor/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Instagram</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/newtonauthor" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Facebook</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Publisher links:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One More Chapter:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://x.com/0neMoreChapter_?s=20" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Twitter</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">X</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/onemorechapterhc/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Instagram</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">HarperCollinsUK:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://x.com/HarperCollinsUK?s=20" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Twitter</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/harpercollinsuk/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Instagram</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">HarperCollins360 US:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://x.com/Harper360?s=20" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TwitterX</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/harpercollins360/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Instagram</span></a></p><div><br /></div></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3900000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">MY THOUGHTS</span></p><br /><br />The Secret Pianist is written by Andie Newton. This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it will not be my last. Set in France, during the Nazi invasion, this story follows three sisters. Gaby, Martine, and Simone are three sisters living on their own, on the coast of Northern France. They try and live a quiet life, earning wages as seamstresses. However, one day everything changes,. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Martine finds a messenger pigeon, and as soon as she tells her sisters, a local Commandant comes knocking on their door. Gaby is forced to work for the Commandant - and soon, they are all labeled traitors and bad French citizens. The sisters also decide to keep the pigeon and send messages back and forth to London. <br /><br />The author has written an amazing historical fiction story. The book has some twists and turns that I did not see coming. I loved the sisters. I hated seeing neighbors turning against neighbors. <br /><br /><br /><br />The book is well written, the characters engaging. Thank you to the author, publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. <br />Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-47996732826777033312024-01-20T13:09:00.000-08:002024-01-21T13:27:32.730-08:00My Thoughts - The Austrian Bride written by Helen Parusel<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Austrian Bride</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh32A6AelbfnP1L6GC7IrfIt4qG5MAN3oyw4gVgki2aKx2t8AyacQ2E-fPEz7b-3XA4Gqw7VRIiBmBCnW6ttEx0_N-D3BBdzuBWNVWUK9qCmxGmb_0Mn40lElSgb-Nd2RieZnR5wY5Zd5_ngrmme27zObp4VnPpgy1NY_5VnmEQG2h7yH7a-KTkaBVEB3U" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="405" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh32A6AelbfnP1L6GC7IrfIt4qG5MAN3oyw4gVgki2aKx2t8AyacQ2E-fPEz7b-3XA4Gqw7VRIiBmBCnW6ttEx0_N-D3BBdzuBWNVWUK9qCmxGmb_0Mn40lElSgb-Nd2RieZnR5wY5Zd5_ngrmme27zObp4VnPpgy1NY_5VnmEQG2h7yH7a-KTkaBVEB3U" width="160" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-46f4edd8-7fff-0616-44f2-2d0f53ff4e1a"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 10.5pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Austria, 1938</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 10.5pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">After years of hardship, Ella is full of hope for a better future for Austrians, and when Hitler marches into Linz, she can’t help but become swept up in the euphoria of her boyfriend, Max.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 10.5pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But she soon realizes her mistake. When she witnesses a woman being shot in the street and a childhood friend’s Jewish department store is closed down, she knows she must do something.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 10.5pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s a dangerous time to be a resistor, especially when her fascist boyfriend proposes to her. Knowing the secrets she can uncover, Ella enlists in a Reich Bride School, finding herself propelled into the social elite of the Nazi circle.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 10.5pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ella knows she has a duty – to her family, her friends, and her country – so while Europe teeters on the brink of WW2, a desperate race begins to save the people she loves. But betraying the Nazis could be her death sentence…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A powerful and unforgettable story of the strength of women and the unwavering courage of those who seek a better world. Fans of Suzanne Goldring, Mandy Robotham and Debbie Rix will devour this heartbreaking tale.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Purchase Link - </span><a href="https://mybook.to/theaustrianbridesocial" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://mybook.to/theaustrianbridesocial</span></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Author Bio – </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIB9-YdE0SUPt7UzzDT7kFjql0I66dnuPU9tDwjYFCxfgGNlZEtvPisN1GR4rSEFtLLo0a491dO-r1STLgHGiwy9NqTeo3imB5h2Qvt585e3kqlS9oIW45DYLl9HgvhaDy9_mMRCLZl0d5Pg-yZJfFwBVo764bPzZyCQOblMkl0iH-uOgmwrt7Fggi1LU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="340" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIB9-YdE0SUPt7UzzDT7kFjql0I66dnuPU9tDwjYFCxfgGNlZEtvPisN1GR4rSEFtLLo0a491dO-r1STLgHGiwy9NqTeo3imB5h2Qvt585e3kqlS9oIW45DYLl9HgvhaDy9_mMRCLZl0d5Pg-yZJfFwBVo764bPzZyCQOblMkl0iH-uOgmwrt7Fggi1LU" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Helen Parusel is a debut historical novelist, having been a teacher and a clothes buyer for M&S. She lives in Hamburg, and her first book is based on the Nazi invasion of Norway in 1940; while her second is inspired by war stories from her mother’s homeland of Austria, where she spent her early holidays.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Social Media Links – </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088036770453" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088036770453</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Twitter </span><a href="https://twitter.com/HelenParusel" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://twitter.com/HelenParusel</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Newsletter Sign Up:</span><a href="https://bit.ly/JanetHoggarthnews" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></a><a href="https://bit.ly/HelenParuselNews" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://bit.ly/HelenParuselNews</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bookbub profile:</span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/janet-hoggarth" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></a><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/helen-parusel" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Helen Parusel Books - BookBub</span></a></p><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>MY THOUGHTS</b></span></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-40c7f084-7fff-51ed-3505-c9779d210bfc"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Austrian Bride is written by by </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Helen%20Parusel%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Helen Parusel</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it will not be the last. This book is </span><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Set in March 1938 in Linz just as Austria is annexed for the Third Reich. </span></h1><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ella Mayer who is twenty one years old, and is in love with her handsome boyfriend, Maximilian Giesler. However, Maximilian is soaking up all the Nazi theology. He proposes to her quickly after they start dating. </span></h1><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">However, shortly after the Nazis move in - Jewish citizens start to be humiliated in public. Ella and her mother who previously loved shopping at a Jewish owned store - soon find that it’s taken over by the Nazis. Ella is tapped to go to a Reich Bride School. (I had no idea this was actually a thing) Ella starts to notice that her fiance has changed. He becomes very anti-Jewish, he’s harsh and he scares Ella. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Does Ella go through with her marriage? Or betray the Nazi party and risk the same treatment that the Jews have experienced. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This story is beautifully written and hard to read at times. However, it’s a part of history that we seem to have forgotten. The author has done a great job with this story. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thank you to the author, publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-78163986150827443722024-01-15T19:03:00.000-08:002024-01-15T19:03:01.298-08:00My Thoughts - Murder at Merewood Hospital - Written by: Michelle Salter <p> <span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Murder at Merewood Hospital</span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO4Ea4ed9w0LYAjblFm_F_i9no_FXM7NalZpAj3k4V9gB87ffBkZIUih3hTqKVJ7OOONc89WsM783b5Fs4tod8TlCBZ7hvPMDu7yYIdGX8rdToRduArqlP1IJ02S1BCW41pTgZknW8p6CYkCsMq3KziNOUO6NzVDJbE-eeQuPZ4ETI2Q1Mq-xQyMTxdMM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO4Ea4ed9w0LYAjblFm_F_i9no_FXM7NalZpAj3k4V9gB87ffBkZIUih3hTqKVJ7OOONc89WsM783b5Fs4tod8TlCBZ7hvPMDu7yYIdGX8rdToRduArqlP1IJ02S1BCW41pTgZknW8p6CYkCsMq3KziNOUO6NzVDJbE-eeQuPZ4ETI2Q1Mq-xQyMTxdMM" width="156" /></a></span></div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7acff9f3-7fff-1d13-66f8-d15ab757b1ca"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The patients survived the Great War only to face a new danger…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In 1916, Sister Helen Hopgood was sent with a team of nurses to care for wounded soldiers at Merewood Farm, a temporary military hospital in Hampshire.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now the war is over, only five patients remain – and she is the only nurse. The last ward must close, and Helen is doing all she can to find new homes for the injured servicemen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joseph Wintringham has to sell the farm to keep Merewood Manor. But since the murder of Nurse Taplin, locals believe the place is cursed - perhaps by the doomed nurse or by the patients who perished from their war wounds.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Is the hospital haunted? Or is someone very real behind the unnatural deaths that begin on Midsummer’s Night 1919?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Can Helen discover the truth before it’s too late..?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Purchase Link - </span><a href="https://mybook.to/MurderHospitalSocial" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://mybook.to/MurderHospitalSocial</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Author Bio – </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWxbn0OAPCSRGm88RP0xSJQZZ_BCeQ4TONXIRnSPrIUbdV3Vh3PBsAZ_3TAJ4d4t3P2SolSLygulsJHJNFznCGj-xvE9W975uLw6YFjUov5Iu3Gqx_FoMhp3_YYg-kGktl5ZpjaVmZsjjpZ-GyBqrt_xV8Bq2SO1iZvY9eHmO83hQtuEmm8DNFaOHsGc/s3649/Michelle%20Salter%20Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3649" data-original-width="2931" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWxbn0OAPCSRGm88RP0xSJQZZ_BCeQ4TONXIRnSPrIUbdV3Vh3PBsAZ_3TAJ4d4t3P2SolSLygulsJHJNFznCGj-xvE9W975uLw6YFjUov5Iu3Gqx_FoMhp3_YYg-kGktl5ZpjaVmZsjjpZ-GyBqrt_xV8Bq2SO1iZvY9eHmO83hQtuEmm8DNFaOHsGc/s320/Michelle%20Salter%20Photo.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Michelle Salter writes historical cosy crime set in Hampshire, where she lives, and inspired by real-life events in 1920s Britain. The first book in her Iris Woodmore series, </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Death at Crookham Hall</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, draws on her interest in the aftermath of the Great War and the suffragette movement.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Social Media Links – </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MichelleSalterWriter" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.facebook.com/MichelleSalterWriter</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Twitter </span><a href="https://twitter.com/louisedouglas3" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #faf7f4; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://twitter.com/MichelleASalter</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Instagram</span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/janet_hoggarth_author/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/louisedouglas3/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #faf7f4; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.instagram.com/michellesalter_writer/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Newsletter Sign Up:</span><a href="https://bit.ly/JanetHoggarthnews" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></a><a href="https://bit.ly/MichelleSalterNews" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://bit.ly/MichelleSalterNews</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bookbub profile:</span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/janet-hoggarth" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></a><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/michelle-salter" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Michelle Salter Books - BookBub</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">MY THOUGHTS</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Murder at Merewood Hospital is written by Michelle Salter. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it will not be my last. This is set right after the end of World War II. I really liked how the author wrote how the war affected soldiers. </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sister Helen Hopgood was sent with a team of nurses to care for wounded soldiers at Merewood Farm. Now the war is over, only five patients remain – and she is the only nurse. The last ward must close, and Helen is doing all she can to find new homes for the injured servicemen. <span style="color: #1e1915;">Joseph Wintringham wants to sell Merewood Farm - however the locals think it's cursed since a nurse was murdered and unexplained soldier deaths. </span></b></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>I enjoyed reading this creepy historical mystery. There was times were the hair was standing up on my neck. The characters are well written - the story line will draw you in within the first few pages. </b></span></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Thank you to the author, publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. </b></span></span></p><div><br /></div></span>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-10788220927195589342024-01-01T18:40:00.000-08:002024-01-01T18:40:18.789-08:00My Thoughts - The Juliet Code Author: Pepper Basham<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26704" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Juliet-Code.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Juliet-Code.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Juliet-Code-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Juliet-Code-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book: </span>The Juliet Code</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Author: </span>Pepper Basham</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre: </span>Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>December, 2023</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26706" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 197px) 85vw, 197px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/9781636096940-197x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/9781636096940-197x300.jpg 197w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/9781636096940-672x1024.jpg 672w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/9781636096940-768x1170.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/9781636096940-1008x1536.jpg 1008w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/9781636096940-1345x2048.jpg 1345w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/9781636096940-1200x1828.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/9781636096940.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="197" />Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley Finally Reach Their Honeymoon Destination Only to Encounter a New Mystery in Need of Solving</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Frederick and Grace Percy finally make it to Italy to enjoy a delayed honeymoon and explore the beauties of the historic city of Venice. To their surprise, their friend, Detective Jack Miracle, is also in the city, investigating a series of art heists starting at the house of eccentric millionaire, Laraby Covington. Drawn into a world of boat races, mysterious houses, and parties of the rich and unusual in Venice, Frederick and Grace learn of the existence of the Juliet paintings, (Renaissance paintings feature Shakespeare’s tragic heroine) rumored to hold a secret code to an underground vault of similarly treasured artwork assumed lost over the centuries. As Freddie and Grace are pulled deeper into the mystery and their beloved Detective Jack disappears, can they use their wits and work as a team to find the thieves and Jack before it’s too late.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Juliet Code</em> is a Freddie and Grace Mystery, sequel to <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Mistletoe Countess </em>and <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Cairo Curse</em>.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/40jHm9Y" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27248" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 85vw, 200px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PepperBasham-1-200x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PepperBasham-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PepperBasham-1.jpg 533w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" />Pepper Basham</span> is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge </em>and <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Red Ribbon</em>, and her contemporary novels, the <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mitchell’s Crossroads</em> and <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pleasant Gap</em> series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">More from Pepper</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">The Ever After</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I’ve always loved fairytales.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Especially the romanticized version (#romancewriter).</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">The wonderful sense of a two people meeting, overcoming obstacles to be together, and then the happily-ever-after?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Well, those are some of my favorite reasons to read and write fiction. However, I didn’t realize the challenge I took on when I agreed to write a second and third book with the main characters staying the same!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">You know what I mean?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">In most series, the main characters from book one become secondary characters in the consecutive books so that the secondary characters in book one can become the main characters in book 2 (everybody still following along? <img alt="🙂" class="emoji" draggable="false" role="img" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f642.svg" style="background: none !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline !important; height: 1em !important; margin: 0px 0.07em !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; width: 1em !important;" />)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">One of my favorite book series that do this so well is the Amelia Peabody series. I fell in LOVE with Amelia and Emerson in book one, but just loved watching their continued dynamic as a couple grow with each new book. I felt as if I got to know them so much better in their “ever after” while they engaged in all sorts of adventures together.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">So…that’s what I hoped to accomplish with Freddie and Grace.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Where <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Mistletoe Countess</em> ends with a happily-ever-after, <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Cairo Curse</em> and <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Juliet Code</em> take over to show us more of the…ever after – my attempt at showing how two main characters continue to grow beyond the end of book one.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I didn’t realize what a daunting feat it would be. Watching two characters meet, fall in love, and show some growth in book 1 was what I was <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">used</em> to doing. But how was I supposed to continue that character growth in consecutive books?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Well, I had to grow myself as a writer to understand how small changes can make lasting differences especially when writing about a beloved couple.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I think The Juliet Code shows a little of that growth – of our Freddie and Grace have not only matured spiritually and, in Grace’s case, experientially, but also as a couple.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Do you have a series that you love where the main characters stay the same?</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">My Thoughts</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"> Pepper Basham is back with the 3rd book in the Freddie and Grace mystery series. The Juliet Code is probably my favorite one yet. Freddie and Grace are on their delayed honeymoon in Italy. However, we are taken on another adventure when they find out that their friend Detective Jack Miracle is investigating art heists. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The art heists have been of "Juliet Paintings". They seem to be linked to clues that could lead to a hidden treasure (this reminds me of National Treasure.) The Juliet paintings are based off Romeo and Juliet. However, whoever owns these paintings end up with a unfortunate ending. I loved the twists and turns that this story took me on. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">In true Pepper fashion, we have fun sarcastic characters. We have a story that will draw you in within the first pages. The characters are well written. The storyline is intriguing and I love this series. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. </span></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thesacredline.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The Sacred Line"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Sacred Line</span></a>, December 28</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; 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margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://girlsinwhitedresses.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Girls in White Dresses"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Girls in White Dresses</span></a>, January 3</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://daysongreflections.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Daysong Reflections "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Daysong Reflections</span></a>, January 4</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly's Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, January 4</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">Splashes of Joy</a></span>, January 4</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":2561,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":2575891}}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Gina Holder, Author and Blogger"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</span></a>, January 5 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wishfulendings.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Wishful Endings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Wishful Endings</span></a>, January 5</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Modern Day Fairy Tale"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</span></a>, January 5</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.beccahope.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Becca Hope: Book Obsessed"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Becca Hope: Book Obsessed</span></a>, January 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blossoms and Blessings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blossoms and Blessings</span></a>, January 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; 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margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lovewhatyourreading.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Live. Love. Read. "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Live. Love. Read.</span></a>, January 7</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://labornotinvain.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Labor Not in Vain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Labor Not in Vain</span></a>, January 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.walshmountainpublishing.com/blog" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Mornings at Character Cafe"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mornings at Character Cafe</span></a>, January 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://worthy2read.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Worthy2Read"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Worthy2Read</span></a>, January 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://allofakindmom.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"All-of-a-kind Mom"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">All-of-a-kind Mom</span></a>, January 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, January 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://thelitlady733988438.wordpress.com/blog-2/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The Lit Lady"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Lit Lady</span></a>, January 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tblbkreviews.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lily's Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lily’s Corner</span></a>, January 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://beckiebythebook.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"By The Book"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">By The Book</span></a>, January 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"To Everything There Is A Season "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ihopeyoudanceinlife.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">To Everything There Is A Season</a></span>, January 10</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img class="" height="208" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/a9e7f944-fa5c-415b-bd42-fe534e3d60e5" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="248" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon eGift card and a print copy of the book!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/293d6/the-juliet-code-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/293d6/the-juliet-code-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-2335678653260942692023-12-26T16:37:00.000-08:002023-12-26T16:37:06.594-08:00My Thoughts The Paris Housekeeper Author: Renee Ryan <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz58xKTeCyzL0K0ML6T0FQXyIQzdWn4rdpGcCRrra4uZpsN1VA4unpzO2ZzsmCNFTvDxIvj6Bkv1u08x1g2bAT5OkiZPTSVqTd67YVVo0R90wirK5MBwOnF8_rsSZVIdjFrad-mIlGITS0R8p6184UXdE_WRLXnlSdpTOXktmYwsyi205AXGX0Agam9VQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz58xKTeCyzL0K0ML6T0FQXyIQzdWn4rdpGcCRrra4uZpsN1VA4unpzO2ZzsmCNFTvDxIvj6Bkv1u08x1g2bAT5OkiZPTSVqTd67YVVo0R90wirK5MBwOnF8_rsSZVIdjFrad-mIlGITS0R8p6184UXdE_WRLXnlSdpTOXktmYwsyi205AXGX0Agam9VQ" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book: </span>The Paris Housekeeper</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Author: </span>Renee Ryan </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre: Christian Historical Fiction </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>December 26, 2023</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">From the author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">The Secret Society of Salzburg</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> comes a powerful and moving story of bravery and resilience in World War II Paris and one woman who must face impossible choices to survive</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">…</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">Paris, 1940</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />German tanks rumble through the streets of Paris, forcing frightened citizens to flee. But not everyone has the luxury to leave. Camille Lacroix, a chambermaid at the world-famous Hôtel Ritz, must stay to support her family back home in Brittany. Desperate to earn money, Camille also acts as a lady’s maid for longtime guest Vivian Miller, a glamorous American widow—and a Nazi sympathizer.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Despite her distrust of the woman, Camille turns to Vivian when her friend and fellow hotel maid Rachel Berman needs help getting out of Paris. It’s then that Camille discovers that Vivian is not what she seems… The American has been using her wealth and connections to secretly obtain travel papers for Jewish refugees.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />While they're hiding Rachel in an underground bunker under a Nazi’s nose, a daring escape plan is hatched. But as the net grows tighter, and the Germans more ruthless, Camille’s courage will be tested to the extreme…</span></b></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_72rR6jBGqh4HU5Lc7rQg9MbfkuXNh5_pjw3o567IHq4VYPYnwPWFqshkMyENg4UCpEIEobkR2X3F23Xm6vwkjdYGpq00JSdS5wbcMmlzVqDFBi8-TR7iaxyr9SgdTkyR06UtBrrJKOeq1mRaQ_ws2HO0sw5CrdlqOrvz--l8_J2TQTmJQL_OTBFetFg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_72rR6jBGqh4HU5Lc7rQg9MbfkuXNh5_pjw3o567IHq4VYPYnwPWFqshkMyENg4UCpEIEobkR2X3F23Xm6vwkjdYGpq00JSdS5wbcMmlzVqDFBi8-TR7iaxyr9SgdTkyR06UtBrrJKOeq1mRaQ_ws2HO0sw5CrdlqOrvz--l8_J2TQTmJQL_OTBFetFg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #002f36; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Ember, amazon_ember, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.75px; text-align: start;">Renee Ryan is the author of thirty novels and counting. She sold her first book in 2001 by winning the inaugural Dorchester/Romantic Times New Historical Voice Contest. She published her second book with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical and has since sold books to other Harlequin imprints and to Amazon's Waterfall Press. Renee grew up in a Florida beach town where she learned how to surf very poorly. Armed with a degree in Economics and Religious Studies from Florida State University, she explored various career opportunities, including stints at a Florida theme park, a modeling agency, and three cosmetic conglomerates. She went on to teach high school AP Economics, AP American Government and Latin while coaching award-winning cheerleading teams. She currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband and a large, fluffy cat many have mistaken for a small bear.</span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></div><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><li style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">My Thoughts </span></h1></em></li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="color: #222222;">The Paris housekeeper is written by </b><span style="color: #222222;"><b>Renee</b></span><b style="color: #222222;"> Ryan. This is a beautifully written story of three women during World War II. The story is set in Paris. The story drew me in within the first few pages. </b></span></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="color: #222222;">We meet Rachel Berman, who is a Jewish Parisian citizen. She works at the Hotel Ritz, and when Germany invades Paris, she is terrified for herself and her family. Camille Lacroix, who is a chambermaid to an American widow is Rachel’s friend. Camille wants to help Rachel, when it becomes evidence that Rachel will be in trouble just because of her Jewish heritage. Vivian Miller who is an American widow who has been living in the Hotel Ritz for a long time. </b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">It appears that Vivian Miller, the American widow that Camille works for is a Nazi sympathizer. Camille learns that all is not what it seems that Vivian has been using her connections and her money to help obtain travel papers for Jewish refugees. </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, the Germans soon start moving into the hotel Ritz, and it appears that one German soldier, Hans-Dieter Gunther Vin Bauer, has taken a liking to Vivian and wants to date her. Vivian has seen with the soldier is thought by many that Vivian sides with the Nazis. </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">The author flips back-and-forth between the three women and their points of view. The story is so beautifully written, and you can feel their emotions coming off every page. </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">In this story, we see the treatment of Rachel, disintegrate the farther and farther that the Germans invade Paris. And make sure heartbreak for her. Camille has some baggage of her past that she needs to deal with. She has fled her home town and send most of her wages back to her family in Brittany. Vivian, who lost her dear husband, and wants to use her wealth and status for good.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="color: #222222;">The author has written, engaging characters and a storyline that will draw you in within the first few pages. </b><span style="color: #222222;"><b>Ms.</b></span><b style="color: #222222;"> Ryan has done careful research to bring her story alive. </b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.</span></b></p></div><br /></span></div></div><p><br /></p>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-41364817793568538212023-12-23T06:58:00.000-08:002023-12-23T06:58:00.012-08:00My Thoughts -The Gilded Curse Author: Marilyn Turk<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26581" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/The-Guilded-curse.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/The-Guilded-curse.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/The-Guilded-curse-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/The-Guilded-curse-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book: </span>The Gilded Curse</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Author: </span>Marilyn Turk</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre: </span>Historical Suspense</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>July 31, 2023</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26582" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 216px) 85vw, 216px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/The-Gilded-Curse-new-cover-from-Cynthia-2023-216x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/The-Gilded-Curse-new-cover-from-Cynthia-2023-216x300.jpg 216w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/The-Gilded-Curse-new-cover-from-Cynthia-2023.jpg 249w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="216" />In early 1942, a mysterious telegram draws Lexie Smithfield back to the island her mother thought was cursed. Now the only heir to the dwindling family fortune, Lexie plans to sell the family’s vacation “cottage” in the Millionaire’s Village on Jekyll Island. But someone else is interested in the cottage and is getting more desperate to find what they’re looking for, even to the point of murder.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Lexie’s childhood friend, Russell Thompson, is now the Jekyll Island Club’s superintendent and the keeper of members’ secrets, especially one that would shatter Lexie. When he learns Lexie is in danger, he stays close to protect her, but soon discovers an attraction to Lexie he didn’t expect.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Could the danger be from someone they know or is it possible that the threat of Nazi invasion on their coast is a reality? Or is the island really cursed?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Russell and Lexie must work together to discover the real danger and keep from getting hurt or killed in the process.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3QFTD5z" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26583" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 214px) 85vw, 214px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marilyns-2022-Profile-picture-214x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marilyns-2022-Profile-picture-214x300.jpg 214w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marilyns-2022-Profile-picture-731x1024.jpg 731w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marilyns-2022-Profile-picture-768x1075.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marilyns-2022-Profile-picture-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marilyns-2022-Profile-picture-1463x2048.jpg 1463w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marilyns-2022-Profile-picture-1200x1680.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marilyns-2022-Profile-picture.jpg 1500w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="214" />Award-winning author <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Marilyn Turk</span> writes historical and contemporary fiction flavored with suspense and romance. Marilyn also writes devotions for Daily Guideposts, Walking in Grace, and contributes to other Guideposts publications. She and her husband are lighthouse enthusiasts, have visited over 100 lighthouses and also served as volunteer lighthouse caretakers at Little River Light off the coast of Maine.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">When not writing or visiting lighthouses, Marilyn enjoys reading, walking, boating, fishing, gardening, tennis, and playing with her golden retriever. She also sings in the choir at her church and leads a women’s Bible study group. Marilyn and her husband have a combined family of four sons, one daughter, and four grandsons. She’s still hoping for a granddaughter someday.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Word Weavers International, and the United States Lighthouse Society.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Marilyn is also the director of the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference.</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">More from Marilyn</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">When my agent told me a certain publisher was looking for Southern Gothic novels,</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I wondered what those were. What I found out was that they were gothic-style novels set in the South, usually an old antebellum mansion, for example, “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte.” Think “Jane Eyre” or “Wuthering Heights” set in the southern United States. I had just visited Jekyll Island, Georgia and toured the Millionaires’ Village there, so those mansions came to mind. These homes, which were actually vacation “cottages” of the rich and famous, were built in the Gilded Age of the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is said that the 100 members of the club represented most of the wealth in America at that time. However, the members aged and passed away, leaving their wealth or debt to their descendants, the Great Depression caused many to lose their fortunes, then two world wars wreaked havoc on the country, so most of those homes were abandoned. Thanks to ongoing renovation efforts by the state of Georgia, many have been rebuilt. My main character in The Gilded Curse, Alexandra Smithfield (Lexie), inherits one of those abandoned mansions right at the start of World War II. The family fortune gone, she intends to renovate and sell the mansion she hasn’t seen since childhood since her mother believed the island cursed, due to some tragedies that happened to their family while there. So Lexie is “cursed” in two ways – by inheriting something she can no longer afford to keep and by the imagined curse her mother believes. When suspicious events happen around her cottage, she wonders if her mother was right.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Today, you can take tours of the Millionaires’ Village and see the former “cottages” of Pulitzer, Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan, etc. You can also stay at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, renovated and now part of the Jekyll Island Club Resort. Some of the characters in my book were real people who lived in 1942, particularly the Maurice sisters, two single sisters who loved the island and never wanted to leave it, even when the President of the United States wanted the island vacated during the war. One interesting thing about the Maurice house: efforts to renovate it have met one obstacle after another, leading some people to believe the sisters’ spirits are still there and very particular about what they want done to their house.</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">My Thoughts</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">The Gilded Curse is written by Marilyn Turk. This is a historical fiction story that is set in 1942. Lexie Smithfield heads back to her family vacation home. It's on Millionaire Row on Jekyll Island. Lexie is the sole heir to her family fortune. However, due to the Great Depression the fortune is dwindling. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Lexie wants to sell the home - it's a shell of it's former self. Lexie's mom had always said that the house was cursed. Lexie soon finds out that may be true. Lexie’s childhood friend, Russell Thompson is the superintendent of Jekyll Island Club. He knows a lot of secrets about the members and owners. It soon becomes clear that these secrets are important enough for someone to kill. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I really liked the angle that the author took with this story. We forget that despite classes so many lost so much during the Great Depression. Russell helps to restore Lexie's family home. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">The author writes such detailed scenes that you feel that you are sitting there watching everything unfold. The book is well written, characters are 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. </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://babblingbeckyl.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions</span></a>, December 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; 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margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":2561,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":2575891}}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Gina Holder, Author and Blogger"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</span></a>, December 22 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Little Homeschool on the prairie "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://reneek-littlehomeschoolontheprairie.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">Little Homeschool on the prairie</a></span>, December 22</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie's History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connie’s History Classroom</span></a>, December 23</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tblbkreviews.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lily's Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lily’s Corner</span></a>, December 24</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img class="" height="209" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/ccc0046b-610c-443e-8dd5-3dddefd4a5ed" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="249" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Marilyn is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/293d1/the-gilded-curse-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/293d1/the-gilded-curse-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-30561769136094315382023-12-16T11:13:00.000-08:002023-12-16T11:13:00.819-08:00My Thoughts - When Love Comes Author: Penny Zeller<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 29.984375px; margin-right: 29.984375px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26683" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/When-Love-Comes.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/When-Love-Comes.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/When-Love-Comes-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/When-Love-Comes-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Book: </strong>When Love Comes</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author: </strong>Penny Zeller</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Genre: </b>Christian Historical Romance</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Release Date: </strong>December 5, 2023</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26684" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 188px) 85vw, 188px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Charlotte-188x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Charlotte-188x300.jpg 188w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Charlotte-640x1024.jpg 640w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Charlotte-768x1229.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Charlotte-960x1536.jpg 960w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Charlotte-1280x2048.jpg 1280w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Charlotte-1200x1920.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Charlotte.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="188" />Can love be found amidst broken hearts and unexpected loss?</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Determined to heal her broken heart, Charlotte Eliason visits her aunts in Prune Creek, Wyoming. What should be a time of peace and calm becomes one of chaos and unwelcome surprises when she discovers her longtime foe, Tobias Hallman, is the new blacksmith. To make matters worse, her two meddlesome aunts are constantly inviting him to supper and encouraging friendship between the two sworn enemies.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Tobias Hallman has always wanted to be a blacksmith, so when an opportunity arises to own his own shop in Prune Creek, he seizes it. However, he doesn’t expect to cross paths with his childhood nemesis, the annoying Charlotte Eliason.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />When tragedy strikes, close proximity soon forces two reluctant hearts to become allies in a quest to rescue Tobias’s orphaned niece. Can Charlotte and Tobias put aside their preconceived disdain for each other and find love in the midst of challenging circumstances? Does God have a plan for them and for a young girl grieving the untimely loss of her parents?<em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3Sec6XV" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26685" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/another-author-photo-again-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/another-author-photo-again-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/another-author-photo-again-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/another-author-photo-again-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/another-author-photo-again.jpg 960w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" />Penny Zeller</strong> is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Today Penny is a multi-published author of nearly two books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">More from Penny</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">One of the most exciting things about writing a book is creating memorable characters. I couldn’t wait for Charlotte and Tobias to have their own story—and to revisit Aunt Myrtle and Aunt Fern. I hope you enjoy this short excerpt from <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">When Love Comes</em>.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Blessings,</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Penny</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">“Charlotte! Oh, Charlotte!” Two jubilant voices garnered her attention. Aunt Myrtle and Aunt Fern waved at her from the north end of the boardwalk. Charlotte bustled her way through the crowds and toward the aunts.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">My, but if they hadn’t begun to have a strong resemblance in their older years. Both had completely gray hair, and while Aunt Fern wore spectacles, her round face and pert nose matched her sister’s.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“Best not ever say they resemble each other,” </em>Ma told her before she embarked on this trip. <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“Even if they do. For you might find yourself sleeping in the chicken coop for such a comment.” </em>Ma and Charlotte had laughed over that, even as Ma insisted it would be detrimental to suggest their likeness.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">“Look at you! You’ve grown into such a lovely young lady,” Aunt Myrtle wrapped her arms around Charlotte. “We’re so glad you’re here.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Aunt Fern gave her a hug next. “Yes, we are. It’s been too long since an Eliason was here in Prune Creek. The buggy is thisaway. It’s a slight bit too far for us to walk to the Peabody house these days.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">“Too far for you, maybe,” chided Aunt Myrtle. She fingered her decorative hat. “What do you think about my hat, Charlotte? Mrs. Peabody was about to discard it when I salvaged it.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Since she was taller than Aunt Myrtle, Charlotte could see the top of the hat and the fake bird immersed in a portable flower garden. “It’s lovely.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">“Well, it is not,” declared Aunt Fern. “Who wears a hat with a bird on it?”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Aunt Myrtle lifted her chin, nearly causing the hat to topple from her head. “Women of high society who take a fancy to the latest and most elegant fashions.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">“But you’re neither.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">“Pshaw. Hush, Fern.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">They walked down the boardwalk on the way to the buggy. As they passed the barbershop, a balding man with the thickest spectacles Charlotte had ever seen perched in the entryway. “Well, hello, Fern. Would you like a haircut?”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">“You know full and well, Mr. Gorman, that I do not need a haircut.” Aunt Fern fluffed her gray curls and tossed him a disgusted look. “That vexing man asks me if I would like a haircut every time I walk by the barbershop. Far be it from me to allow someone with magnifying glasses for spectacles to see well enough to fashion my coiffure.”</p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;">My Thoughts </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">When Love Comes is book three in the Wyoming Sunrise series writt</span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">en by </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Penny Zeller. I’ve read all the books in the series and I was excited for this release. This is a nemesis to more story with second chances. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Charlotte Eliason visits her aunts in Prune Creek, Wyoming. She is surprised to run into a childhood foe, Tobias Hallman. Seeing the two of them interact was hysterical. When she realizes <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that he is the town blacksmith and is shocked. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Her aunts, who start to meddle and invite him to dinner. They also tend to argue with each other which made me chuckle. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">It was nice to catch up with characters from previous stories. As always the author has woven a wonderful story with faith prevalent throughout. The characters are well written, storyline engaging. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. </span></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://babblingbeckyl.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions</span></a>, December 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"lakesidelivingsite"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">lakesidelivingsite</span></a>, December 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://alenamentink.com/blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Alena Mentink"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Alena Mentink</span></a>, December 7</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shelivestoread.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"She Lives To Read"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">She Lives To Read</span></a>, December 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vickysluitercom.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Vicky Sluiter"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vicky Sluiter</span></a>, December 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, December 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, December 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://empowermoms.net/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"EmpowerMoms"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">EmpowerMoms</span></a>, December 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, December 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, December 12</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, December 13</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://luannabubbles.wixsite.com/devotedhope" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Devoted To Hope"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Devoted To Hope</span></a>, December 14</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, December 14</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, December 15</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly's Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, December 16</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie's History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connie’s History Classroom</span></a>, December 16</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Splashes of Joy</span></a>, December 17</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, December 18</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lifeonchickadeelane.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Life on Chickadee Lane"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Life on Chickadee Lane</span></a>, December 19</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mary.a.hake/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Mary Hake"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mary Hake</span></a>, December 19</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-27659" height="251" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/When-Love-Comes-Giveaway-300x251.png" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/When-Love-Comes-Giveaway-300x251.png 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/When-Love-Comes-Giveaway-768x644.png 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/When-Love-Comes-Giveaway.png 940w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Penny is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift and a signed copy of the book!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2924a/when-love-comes-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/2924a/when-love-comes-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-50165791138172159072023-12-11T18:17:00.000-08:002023-12-11T18:17:17.810-08:00My Thoughts - When the Curlews Call Author: Joanne Markey<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26734" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/when-the-curlew-calls-1.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/when-the-curlew-calls-1.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/when-the-curlew-calls-1-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/when-the-curlew-calls-1-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book: </span>When the Curlews Call</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Author: </span>Joanne Markey</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre: </span>Christian Historical Mystery, Fairytale retelling</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>September 5, 2023</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26735" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 194px) 85vw, 194px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Markey-Curlew-Calls-663x1024-1-194x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Markey-Curlew-Calls-663x1024-1-194x300.jpg 194w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Markey-Curlew-Calls-663x1024-1.jpg 663w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="194" />Some say all Sophia Randall thinks of are romance novels and dance frocks…</em></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">That may have been true once, but when war broke out, reaching even to our isolated corner of the bush, my priorities changed. I now read news from afar and dance but rarely.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Only my love for the Almighty God, for family and friends, for the man who captured my heart, for the bush, and for the call of the curlew haven’t changed. Especially the call of the curlew.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Some say it’s mournful—even sinister—but I’ve always delighted in that lonely cry heralding the end of another day. And when Kenny went off to war, it became a promise—a reminder of his love and determination to return.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">When the unthinkable happens, my prayers become listless. New challenges surface. Ghostly footsteps join the coal trucks rumbling through town. Dingoes lurk in the shadows. Valuables vanish. A… presence chases me through the bush. Burdens weigh me down, and I forget to remember.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">But is all lost? Would the pain in my heart be easier to bear if I stopped to listen for the curlews’ call?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Loosely based on “The Boy Who Disappeared”, <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">When the Curlews Call </em>is a story of ghostly doings, missing airmen, and a young girl desperate to keep the home fires burning when all hope seems lost. Told through a series of letters, readers will follow Sophia’s journey, sharing her triumphs and trials all through the long, dark days of World War II.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/46UAn9F" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-20518" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 214px) 85vw, 214px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DSC_1287-571x800-214x300.jpeg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DSC_1287-571x800-214x300.jpeg 214w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DSC_1287-571x800.jpeg 571w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="214" />Originally from Australia, <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Joanne Markey</span> now lives in Ohio with her husband and seven children. When she’s not reading or writing, you might find her wandering the property with her kids in search of whatever seasonal treasure they’re trying to find.<span class="Apple-converted-space" style="box-sizing: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><u style="box-sizing: inherit;">Enjoy an Excerpt!</u></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: right;">Sunday, 17th September, 1939</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> My dear friend Lilian,</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">The war has hardly begun and already I wish it were over! From the way they talk, we live in daily fear that my beloved brothers, Hans and Peter, will enlist. They hardly talk of anything else. Hans has begun to wave goodbye in the morning with a cheery—as only Hans can manage!—warning that Mum ought not be surprised if he should sign up before nightfall.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">It’s only a joke, but there is a serious glint in his eyes that would seem to imply he is thinking it through. I don’t know why, but he seems to be biding his time.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Perhaps for Mum’s sake? It’s so near Christmas—only a little more than three months—it would not be a surprise if he waited until after that date, because we all know how much the Yuletide season means to our mother.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">As much as I would hate to see them go, they feel very strongly about doing their bit. Which one cannot fault them for!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">But when I think of the other boys from our district, my heart grows heavy. When will they feel the call to serve God and country? When will we be forced to say goodbye to those we love?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">In particular, when will he feel the call to serve?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Oh, how I wish you were here so we could sneak away for one of our late-night yarns. Curled up in the hammocks with our blankets pulled to our chins, and the stars shining overheard as we share the deepest secrets of our hearts. I know you are doing the right thing there in the city, dearest Lilian, but oh, how I miss you!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Don’t mind me. It’s just that I feel particularly emotional tonight, and as I listen to the curlews call and try not to spill tears onto my paper, I will attempt to share as we used to do face to face.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Changes have come to our little town since you’ve been gone. The Salvation Army hall was sold to the Methodist church, and they have begun to remodel the building to be used for services. I miss our little meetings held there, but Mum is longing forward to the day when she can sit down in a good old-fashioned Methodist church again.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Did you know that the McCormicks regularly attend the Methodist church in Clermont?! I only learned that yesterday, and I learned it from a very reliable source.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Kenny! Yes, you read that right.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Kenneth McCormick himself told me that his family regularly attends church in Clermont, but now that we have our own little Methodist church, he might consider coming here. He’s often over this way to visit his cousin Duncan at the Birimgan sawmill, so he didn’t see why they couldn’t ride into Blair Athol for church before he goes back to his father’s station, Wallaby Run.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I’m sure you are wondering how I came to be talking to Kenny, and that, my dear friend, is why I wish you were here. It would be so much easier to tell you what happened than to write it out. But we cannot change our circumstances by wishing, so I’ll do my best.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Early yesterday morning, Dad trucked a huge load of wethers in. There was a slight mix-up in the time the train arrived, so the man who’d arranged to meet Dad hadn’t come by the time the train got here. I don’t know how or why, but there wasn’t anyone around to help unload, so Dad had me help. He had me don a pair of Peter’s dungarees and boots that were at least a dozen sizes too big. My only hope was that no one would see me, but sadly that wasn’t the case because…</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Partway through unloading, Dad called for me to go into the yard with the sheep to close a gate. That would have been all fine and dandy, but just as I got the gate halfway closed, the sheep, being sheep, decided they didn’t want to be in that yard. They wanted to be in the other yard. The one I was trying to close them out of. So, they turned and charged, bleating like their lives depended on it.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I heard yelling but couldn’t decipher the meaning due to the noise of the bleating. All that came to mind was the need to get that gate closed.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">However, remember those boots I had to wear? One caught on the other, and instead of closing the gate, the only feat I managed was to fall on my face in the dirt and muck in front of a mob of four thousand charging sheep.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I barely had time to cover my head with my arms before the first sheep rushed by me. My last thought was that this was it. I would never see Mum, Dad, my brothers, you, or Kenny ever again. All I could do was pray that the end would come as swiftly and as painlessly as possible.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Then something strange happened. Instead of being trampled to death, my body rose above the sheep. In my wild, fear-addled state, I momentarily thought death had come and my body being transported to the afterlife. I don’t think it happens that way, but one doesn’t think clearly when one is under the shocking impression one has died!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Only a moment passed before I realized that it wasn’t an angel carrying me, it was a man. One whose voice I recognized as Kenny’s the moment he yelled to Dad that I was okay.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">But I wasn’t okay!</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">My Thoughts </span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">When the Curlews Call is book 13 in the Ever After Mystery series. The series is written by multiple authors, but is tied together by the fairytale retelling. This book is written by Joanne Markey. This book is set in WWII Australia. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I really liked how this story was told through letters. Sophia's letters are filled with what's going at home, and she tries to offer encouragement. However, sometimes she writes of not so great news. I really enjoyed the letters between her and Kenny. The mystery part of this story is his disappearance during the war. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">This book is loosely based off of "The Boy Who Disappeared". This is a story that I was not familiar with. The book is well written and will draw you in within the first few pages. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Stories By Gina "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Stories By Gina</span></a>, December 1 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, December 2</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Beauty in the Binding"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Beauty in the Binding</span></a>, December 3 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lifeonchickadeelane.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Life on Chickadee Lane"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Life on Chickadee Lane</span></a>, December 3</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, December 4</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, December 5 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, December 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Tell Tale Book Reviews"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tell Tale Book Reviews</span></a>, December 7 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, December 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guild Master</span></a>, December 9 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, December 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Fiction Book Lover"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Fiction Book Lover</span></a>, December 11 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly's Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, December 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie's History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connie’s History Classroom</span></a>, December 12</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tabithabouldinauthor.home.blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Through the Fire Blogs"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Through the Fire Blogs</span></a>, December 13 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, December 14</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img class="" height="195" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/09641dc4-dee3-48d5-8b05-6483fa2c3b2d" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="232" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Joanne is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2909c/when-the-curlews-call-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/2909c/when-the-curlews-call-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-88677295184001511992023-12-10T09:45:00.000-08:002023-12-10T09:45:44.554-08:00My Thoughts - Capturing Hope Author: Angela K Couch<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26336" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/capturing-hope-1.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/capturing-hope-1.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/capturing-hope-1-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/capturing-hope-1-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book: </span>Capturing Hope</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Author: </span>Angela K Couch</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre: </span>Historical Christian Fiction</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>November, 2023</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26337" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 197px) 85vw, 197px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/9781636096919-197x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/9781636096919-197x300.jpg 197w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/9781636096919-672x1024.jpg 672w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/9781636096919-768x1170.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/9781636096919-1008x1536.jpg 1008w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/9781636096919-1345x2048.jpg 1345w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/9781636096919-1200x1828.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/9781636096919.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="197" />One step ahead of the Nazi’s. . .leaves Nadia little room for hope.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">After her father is murdered by Nazis and her mother flees to her native Germany, hope is something of which Nadia Roenne feels little—even if it is the meaning of her name. It isn’t until an American photographer sacrifices his escape from Poland to save a Jewish family, that she finds a purpose. David Reid is very familiar with failure, but when he is charged with getting Nadia safely out of Poland, he is determined to succeed—even if she works against him at every turn, putting other’s lives ahead of her own. While they race against the daily shower of bombs over Warsaw and the ever-nearing German army, Nadia grows used to risking her life. . .but dare she risk her heart?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3M5UiKS" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26338" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AngelaCouch-1-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AngelaCouch-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AngelaCouch-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AngelaCouch-1.jpg 450w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" />To keep from freezing in the great white north, <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Angela K Couch</span> 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.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">More from Angela</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">When I first decided to set a story during the invasion of Poland, I was woefully unprepared for the pain and horror I found there. I wasn’t new to World War II and had just finished writing <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Rose for the Resistance</em>, which is set in France during the war and deals with the resistance and the Normandy invasion. The atrocities and genocide in Poland cut so much deeper.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">In the early hours of September 1, 1939, the small town of Wielun, Poland, woke to a shower of bombs on their community. They did not house an army or warehouses, only homes and civilian businesses. Wielun was not the only town or village targeted—demonstrating the Nazi goal to spread fear and death. Six months earlier, Hitler had promised that if Poland did not bow to his wishes, he would wipe them off the map. Over the next month, and more so in the following six years, he came very close to succeeding.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">For the full month of September 1939, while German armies rolled across the country, the city of Warsaw endured daily bombardment. Homes, workplaces, churches on Sunday morning, the Warsaw maternity hospital— nowhere was safe. On the tenth of September, someone recorded seventeen separate air raids over the city. I was moved to tears while viewing photographs of women and children who had been shot in the streets and fields by the bombers after they had dropped their payloads over the city.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">No one came to their rescue.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Poland was abandoned by its allies to the Nazis.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">So how do you write about all that and more while still trying to keep hope alive in the story and in the characters who have to live through such a frightening and demoralizing history?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I invite you to read <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Capturing Hope</em> to find out.</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><u>My Thoughts</u></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">Capturing Hope is written by Angela K Couch. This is part of the Heroines of WWII series The series is written by multiple authors, but is held together by strong female characters during WWII. In this story, we see Nadia Roenne. She lives in Poland and its close to the German invasion. However, her father is murdered by the Nazi's. An American photographer, David Reid is tasked with getting Nadia to safety.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">Nadia who in the beginning of the book seems like a spoiled girl - starts to put others before her. This causes some tension with her and David, since he had strict orders to get her out of harms way. Nadia starts to see David differently, when he saves the life of a Jewish family. . One of the most beautiful things about this story is the adventure they go on. Nadia and David create a group that feels like family. A family determined to survive.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.</span></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://jeanninebennett.com/an-authors-take/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"An Author's Take"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">An Author’s Take</span></a>, November 30</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, November 30</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://babblingbeckyl.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions</span></a>, December 1</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tblbkreviews.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lily's Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lily’s Corner</span></a>, December 1</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, December 2</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, December 2</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, December 3</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For him and My Family</span></a>, December 3</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/macebetti/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4225,"3":{"1":0},"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Betti Mace"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Betti Mace</span></a>, December 4</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://booksyoucanfeelgoodabout.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Books You Can Feel Good About"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Books You Can Feel Good About</span></a>, December 4</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lifeonchickadeelane.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Life on Chickadee Lane"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Life on Chickadee Lane</span></a>, December 5</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, December 5</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://alenamentink.com/blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Alena Mentink"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Alena Mentink</span></a>, December 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"lakesidelivingsite"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">lakesidelivingsite</span></a>, December 6</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, December 7</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blossoms and Blessings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blossoms and Blessings</span></a>, December 7</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":2561,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":2575891}}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Gina Holder, Author and Blogger"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</span></a>, December 8 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://luannabubbles.wixsite.com/devotedhope" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Devoted to Hope"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Devoted to Hope</span></a>, December 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bizwingsblog.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Bizwings Book Blog"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bizwings Book Blog</span></a>, December 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.exploringthewrittenword.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Exploring the Written Word"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Exploring the Written Word</span></a>, December 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly's Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, December 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, December 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie’s History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connie’s History Classroom</span></a>, December 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Labor Not in Vain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://labornotinvain.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">Labor Not in Vain</a></span>, December 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://agoodbookandcupoftea.wixsite.com/agoodbookandcupoftea" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Good Book and Cup of Tea"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Good Book and Cup of Tea</span></a>, December 12</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lightsinadarkworld.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lights in a Dark World"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lights in a Dark World</span></a>, December 12</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://joysuzannehunt.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Joy Suzanne Hunt"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Joy Suzanne Hunt</span></a>, December 13</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mybooksiread.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Books I've Read"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Books I’ve Read</span></a>, December 13</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img class="" height="210" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/33dd2059-d8ba-48a7-b22b-fce23a0f9021" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="250" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Angela is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon eGift card and copy of the book!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2909b/capturing-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/2909b/capturing-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-69506412117345200272023-11-30T18:18:00.000-08:002023-11-30T18:18:16.977-08:00My Thoughts - Hearts of Gold Author: Grace Hitchcock<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26377" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Heart-of-Gold-1.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Heart-of-Gold-1.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Heart-of-Gold-1-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Heart-of-Gold-1-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book: </span>Hearts of Gold</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Author: </span>Grace Hitchcock</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre: </span>Historical Romance</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>August 14, 2023</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26378" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 85vw, 200px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CLBD2022_GraceHitchcock_Collection_HeartsOfGold_EBOOK_FINAL20220909-200x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CLBD2022_GraceHitchcock_Collection_HeartsOfGold_EBOOK_FINAL20220909-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CLBD2022_GraceHitchcock_Collection_HeartsOfGold_EBOOK_FINAL20220909-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CLBD2022_GraceHitchcock_Collection_HeartsOfGold_EBOOK_FINAL20220909-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CLBD2022_GraceHitchcock_Collection_HeartsOfGold_EBOOK_FINAL20220909-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CLBD2022_GraceHitchcock_Collection_HeartsOfGold_EBOOK_FINAL20220909-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CLBD2022_GraceHitchcock_Collection_HeartsOfGold_EBOOK_FINAL20220909-1200x1800.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CLBD2022_GraceHitchcock_Collection_HeartsOfGold_EBOOK_FINAL20220909-scaled.jpg 1707w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" />The Bridal Shop</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Alice Turner, the owner of one of Charleston’s finest bridal shops, is determined never to be dependent on a man for anything after the disgrace of her father’s prison time. When her best friend requests Alice to be her maid of honor, she reluctantly sets aside her feelings on marriage and dons a stylish bridesmaid’s gown, never intending to catch the eye of the handsome groomsman. Will he be able to convince Alice to open her heart again?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Miss Beaumont’s Companion</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">When Italian lady’s companion Aria St. Angelo is coerced into posing as her political employer’s absent daughter for the evening at the Louisiana Governor’s masquerade ball, she wasn’t planning on falling for Byron Roderick—the most eligible bachelor in the capitol. But, when he pays call at the Beaumont’s home, Aria is quickly shuffled into the shadows once more, forced to watch him fall in love with another woman.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Becoming of Miss Blanche</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Content to remain a Harvey Girl forever, fiery Tacy Blanche has worked in nearly every Harvey House down the Santa Fe line. But, when she accepts the position of second waitress at the new Montezuma resort, Tacy isn’t expecting her former fiancé’s brother to return to her life—</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Pinkerton Jasper Caffery had long abandoned hope of ever finding Tacy again, but while on holiday in New Mexico, Jasper collides with the woman who had never noticed him before. He decides to take his chances and attempt to woo her. However, when Tacy’s past catches up with her, more than Jasper’s heart is at stake.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3Fh2RhW" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><a href="https://www.celebratelit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-Grace-Hitchcock-Author-Photo-scaled.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-14461" height="300" loading="lazy" src="https://www.celebratelit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-Grace-Hitchcock-Author-Photo-219x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="219" /></a>Grace Hitchcock</span> is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in the New Orleans area with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">More from Grace</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Q: What do you love about writing historical fiction?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Grace: </span>I absolutely love the research aspect. I love learning and discovering little known pieces of history. In that research, I love asking the great “what if” question and see where it takes me while still having to follow the guidelines set up for historical fiction.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I’m pretty certain every author started as an avid reader who dreamed of how they would change an ending or change who the heroine ended up with if they could write the book instead. (Anyone else think Theodore Laurence should have married Jo March?) It’s that ever-beautiful question of “what if” that has haunted some of my favorite stories and often drives my own stories to spark to life.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Q: Have you traveled to any places you’ve written about?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Grace: </span>My books have been set in Chicago, many in New York, Newport, New Orleans, and Charleston, which I’ve been able to visit! My upcoming Regency Romance, <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">To Catch a Coronet</em>, is set in London, which I toured many years ago. After writing my Regency, I’ve added an overflowing number of places to visit in England, and even Scotland where my third book will be set.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Want to know which book is set where?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Hearts of Gold</em><a href="https://amzn.to/45u7BMZ" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">:</a> Charleston, Baton Rouge, and New Mexico</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Finding of Miss Fairfield</em><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">:</em> Charleston and New Mexico</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Pursuit of Miss Parish</em>: New Mexico</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">To Catch a Coronet</em>: London</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">My Dear Miss Dupré</em>: New York and Newport</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Her Darling Mr. Day</em>: New Orleans</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">His Delightful Lady Delia</em>: New York</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Gray Chamber</em>: New York</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The White City</em>: Chicago</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Q: How do you incorporate faith into your storylines?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Grace: </span>I always weave in a faith theme, or verse, into the story. My goal with this novella collection, Hearts of Gold, is to provide readers with clean entertainment while subtly pointing them to Christ. And as with all of my books, something that I am learning inevitably ends up in the story in some form or another. Even though it feels a bit vulnerable to put my personal lessons in a book, I think that it offers a level of genuineness that can bring life to the story and hope to the reader.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Q: What aspect of romance do you enjoy writing about?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Grace: </span>Before I started writing for publication, I would be reading and get very aggravated if the heroine chose the wrong hero in my eyes and I would rewrite the ending in my head, or even set aside the book with only pages left so I didn’t mess up the ending I wanted. Writing a romance is so much fun because now I understand the “formula” if you will about the obstacles placed in the lover’s path and the beauty of when they finally are together.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Q: Please tell us about your most recent book.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Grace: </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">To Catch a Coronet </em>releases with Kregel Publications in May 2024! This Regency Romance has been so much fun to research and while it is a challenge to change eras from Gilded Age to Regency, I’ve loved finding new, unique ways to get my heroines into trouble that inevitably has them meeting their true hero!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">About <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">To Catch a Coronet:</em></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">London, 1813</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Sometimes the only way to out stride scandal is to catch a crown big enough to silence it.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">After breaking off two arranged engagements, country baker turned heiress Muriel Beau takes matters into her own hands and asks the visiting baron she loves to marry her in a very public proposal and is met with an emphatic rejection. With no other course but to flee Kent society, Muriel knows the only way out of this debacle is to out stride it by catching what every society matron dreams of obtaining—a coronet with a sumptuous title to match. And after a glittering reception in the courts of London, Muriel’s best laid plans might come true after all.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">My Thoughts </span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Hearts of Gold is a collection of novellas written by Grace Hitchcock. I always love reading anything by this author. She always has a way of transporting readers back in time. This is such a fun collection set in the late 1880's. All three stories are fun easy reads. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">The Bridal Shop is the story of Alice Turner. She owns a fine bridal shop in Charleston. She has some hidden pain and does not want to be dependent on a man. While she does not want to get married, she does agree to be her maid of honor. During the wedding, one of the groomsman catches her eye. Can she put aside her past?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Miss Beaumont's Companion is the story of Aria St. Angelo. She is a Mildred's companion. She is asked/forced to stand in for another woman during the Louisiana Governor’s masquerade ball. She did not count on catching the eye of the most eligible bachelor, Byron Roderick. However she has to hide her true self. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">The last story is The Becoming of Miss Blanche and the author takes us to Harvey Girl, Tacy Blanche. She really likes being a Harvey girl, so much so that she has worked in just about every Harvey House. She becomes a second waitress in the new Montezuma resort. Suddenly her ex fiance's brother pops up. He just happens to be Pinkerton Jasper Caffery. He had been looking for Tacy. Tacy had changed her name and was hoping to outrun her past. What will happen if that world comes crashing down?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">All three of these stories are fantastic. I love the Gilded Era stories. Thank You to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://babblingbeckyl.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions</span></a>, November 18</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://luannabubbles.wixsite.com/devotedhope" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"DevotedToHope"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">DevotedToHope</span></a>, November 18</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, November 19</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":2561,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":2575891}}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Gina Holder, Author and Blogger"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</span></a>, November 20 (Author Interview)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, November 20</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lakesidelivingsite"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lakesidelivingsite</span></a>, November 21</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, November 22</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, November 23</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://alenamentink.com/blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Alena Mentink"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Alena Mentink</span></a>, November 23</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, November 24</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, November 25</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://instagram.com/hannahbandanarama" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Hannahbandanarama"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Hannahbandanarama</span></a>, November 25</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, November 26</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://booksyoucanfeelgoodabout.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Books You Can Feel Good About"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Books You Can Feel Good About</span></a>, November 26</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://melissawardwell.com/category/backporch/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Back Porch Reads "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Back Porch Reads</span></a>, November 27</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.exploringthewrittenword.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Exploring the Written Word"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Exploring the Written Word</span></a>, November 27</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blossoms and Blessings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blossoms and Blessings</span></a>, November 28</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly's Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, November 29</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Splashes of Joy</span></a>, November 29</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, November 30</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie’s History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connie’s History Classroom</span></a>, December 1</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lights in a Dark World "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://www.lightsinadarkworld.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">Lights in a Dark World</a></span>, December 1</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Giveway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img class="" height="246" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/f81d909c-9f81-4b2e-8d47-c08cfaa91363" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="246" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away the grand prize package of an autographed Copy of My Dear Miss Dupré, Her Darling Mr. Day, and His Delightful Lady Delia!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/28ef0/hearts-of-gold-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/28ef0/hearts-of-gold-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-32536497088351069872023-11-30T17:22:00.000-08:002023-11-30T17:22:11.345-08:00My Thoughts - The Silent House of Sleep - Written by Allan Gaw <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxnKBNIv-05G_ipMs9sJAjsCOrJ9a8Z0l0SBvdgQ8m63_OwL_XUz6c9vO3B5ARCYCNIXPGxifS_-32kGX6RxZpl30_1DY0Afqu4nL3JKrIRfxMAYmc_LMy6w41BbrD4lUHjMQT-YrVJpwqa2cIsFetKP9TPndbG7jb89Hf2Nzy92FE3QijdOvHtbRdjw0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="657" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxnKBNIv-05G_ipMs9sJAjsCOrJ9a8Z0l0SBvdgQ8m63_OwL_XUz6c9vO3B5ARCYCNIXPGxifS_-32kGX6RxZpl30_1DY0Afqu4nL3JKrIRfxMAYmc_LMy6w41BbrD4lUHjMQT-YrVJpwqa2cIsFetKP9TPndbG7jb89Hf2Nzy92FE3QijdOvHtbRdjw0" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Silent House of Sleep</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEituVFLCi979z5uFwBAcZHy84KxlPvaw7rC-u_LABtfKIUmr1dJIWk2sdFOyJIMlwhbjVz_H9Ue9er4d4QdqHqHzCZOVGBCqeKbpLO2yzrk6DpEjwx_Aw_awWXXBJu41cLPC995VdGXN0HBTCvfAEt_6Algv4WGffBPaSarPpNta-YXmJki8JHGxrkKa3k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="229" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEituVFLCi979z5uFwBAcZHy84KxlPvaw7rC-u_LABtfKIUmr1dJIWk2sdFOyJIMlwhbjVz_H9Ue9er4d4QdqHqHzCZOVGBCqeKbpLO2yzrk6DpEjwx_Aw_awWXXBJu41cLPC995VdGXN0HBTCvfAEt_6Algv4WGffBPaSarPpNta-YXmJki8JHGxrkKa3k" width="157" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ea08419d-7fff-e872-9a88-6cd8ae5daba5"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘No one likes death. It just happens to be our business.’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Nobody who meets Dr Jack Cuthbert forgets him. Tall, urbane, brilliant but damaged, this Scottish pathologist who works with Scotland Yard is the best the new DCI has seen. But Cuthbert is a man who lives with secrets, and he still battles demons brought back from the trenches.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When not one but two corpses are discovered in a London park in 1929, Cuthbert must use every tool at his disposal to solve the mystery of their deaths. In the end, the horrifying truth is more shocking than even he could have imagined.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As he works the case, Cuthbert realises that history rarely stays in the past. And even in the final moments, there is still one last revelation that leaves him reeling.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Purchase Links </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silent-House-Sleep-Cuthbert-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CK8SZJLF/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silent-House-Sleep-Cuthbert-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CK8SZJLF/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Silent-House-Sleep-Cuthbert-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CK8SZJLF/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.amazon.com/Silent-House-Sleep-Cuthbert-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CK8SZJLF/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Author Bio – </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQi7wo6eHfqPjdyq1AzxzHJJ1ZLCp-x2G7GPQOKvGy638ATy9F_mVTp8mpIl67gyzFFkVBBt09I7sesXMUmumFcjUOxW4tlTTSqfQK580KKt4PmwPu9q_hlftRo3jKgUsaLa3C-B1lI9zj3s6CCzcfuyYCIWblUeRGmR-JWve3W2H8-HEBQOcj-Vdl0Js" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="174" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQi7wo6eHfqPjdyq1AzxzHJJ1ZLCp-x2G7GPQOKvGy638ATy9F_mVTp8mpIl67gyzFFkVBBt09I7sesXMUmumFcjUOxW4tlTTSqfQK580KKt4PmwPu9q_hlftRo3jKgUsaLa3C-B1lI9zj3s6CCzcfuyYCIWblUeRGmR-JWve3W2H8-HEBQOcj-Vdl0Js" width="156" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Allan Gaw is a Scot who lives and works near Glasgow. He studied medicine and is a pathologist by training but a writer by inclination. Having worked in the NHS and universities in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and the US, he now devotes his time to writing.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Most of his published work to date is non-fiction. These include textbooks and regular magazine articles on topics as diverse as the thalidomide story, the medical challenges of space travel and the medico-legal consequences of the Hillsborough disaster.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">More recently, he has been writing short stories, novels and poetry. He has won the UK Classical Association Creative Writing Competition, the International Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize, the International Globe Soup 7-day Writing Challenge and was runner-up in the Glencairn Glass/Bloody Scotland Short Crime Fiction Competition. He has also had prose published in the literary journal, From Glasgow to Saturn and anthologies from the Edinburgh Literary Salon and Clan Destine Press in Australia. His poetry has been published by Dreich, Soor Ploom Press and Black Bough Poetry. His debut poetry collection, Love & Other Diseases, was published in 2023 by Seahorse Publications. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Silent House of Sleep is his debut novel and is the first in the Dr Jack Cuthbert Mystery series. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You can read more about him and his work at his website: </span><a href="https://researchet.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://researchet.wordpress.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> . </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Social Media Links – </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Twitter (X): </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ResearchET" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">https://twitter.com/ResearchET</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p></li></ul><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/allangaw8/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.instagram.com/allangaw8/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4edb29ff-7fff-40ca-d117-a2a204a83cbc"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Silent House of Sleep</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Allan Gaw</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EXTRACT </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This extract is from the opening of chapter three where we learn of the discovery of a body in a shallow grave two months after the disappearance of the law student, Freddie Dawson. The Scottish pathologist, Dr Jack Cuthbert, who works in London with Scotland Yard, is called to the scene. There we have our first glimpse of him at work.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">London: February 1929</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘…and then you called the police, sir?’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘What else was I to do, officer? It was horrible. I didn’t know what it was at first, but then I knew it had to be a body. There was such a stink. It was Sheba who found it. I don’t know how much she disturbed it. I’m sorry about that. I certainly didn’t touch it. I didn’t have to — I knew there was nothing I could do.’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Please don’t distress yourself, sir. There are just a few more questions to ask if you don’t mind…’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Detective Sergeant Baker had switched shifts and found himself on an early that day. He was now sitting with Mr Danvers on the park bench, taking his statement. All the while, the labrador, still scenting what she had unearthed 30 yards away, was straining to get back to it. Baker, who had already seen what the dog had discovered, was pleased he only had a human nose. He was already feeling sorry for the pathologist who would be called out to deal with it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">…</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When Cuthbert arrived at the Common, the uniformed officers were gathered across the expanse of grass near a small copse of trees. They were clustered around a hollowed area about 20 yards from the pathway. He strode towards them and was immediately recognised by Sergeant Baker whom he had previously met under similar circumstances.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Good morning, Dr Cuthbert. The remains are just over here, sir. They were discovered at around half past six this morning by a dog walker. The dog has caused some disturbance, but it looks to be minimal. Otherwise, the scene is untouched in accordance with your standing instructions.’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Very good. And, of course, good morning to you too, sergeant.’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cuthbert walked on ahead of the sergeant, towards the find, and Baker was reminded just how tall and broad the man was. Both men were in their early thirties but that was almost all they had in common. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When anyone at the Yard spoke of Cuthbert, what they usually talked about were his boots. They were always polished to a mirror-like gloss. Baker had also always admired his clothes, which he could see were expensively cut and well pressed. But, more importantly, he was pleased to have this pathologist on the case because he always gave out an air of calm authority. Indeed, he had a reputation at the Yard as the most meticulous of all the police pathologists. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cuthbert’s ideas of crime scene management and his methods were thought by some to be mere affectations. They would even on occasion say as much out loud. Others failed to understand his requirements. Baker was not one of them. He had already worked with Cuthbert on several cases over the last months and had been impressed by the towering Scotsman’s approach. Today, he set out to ensure that he had everything he needed to work the case. Baker’s own job would be that much easier if he let the doctor do his because Cuthbert also had a reputation for getting it right.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As expected, Cuthbert’s first action was to take the attending constables aside and brief them on how he wanted the scene protected. They were to rope off the area and station themselves around the perimeter to prevent any intrusion.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Next, as part of his routine, Cuthbert changed from his overcoat into a white coat. From his bag he took a pair of rubber gloves, two metal probes, a notebook and a pen. Using the probes, he began to separate away the mud and bracken to reveal more of the body. Regularly, he would pause to make notes on the numbered pages of his book, neatly recording every detail of the work in black ink.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Half an hour later, relatively little had been uncovered, such was the slow and painstaking way in which Cuthbert worked, but there were already two pages of notes. Sergeant Baker was expecting Inspector Franklin at any moment, as the news of the discovery on the Common would have reached his desk by now. Right on schedule, a police car drew up at the north gate and Franklin got out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Just to let you know, Dr Cuthbert, Inspector Franklin is on his way over.’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cuthbert did not break his concentration but did register the faint alarm in the sergeant’s voice. He was well aware of the inspector, and there was no love lost between them. His work was not fast enough for Franklin, who wanted quick answers, even if they were the wrong ones. As the inspector approached the rope cordon, he hitched it up and was irritated that he still had to stoop to enter.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘So, what’s the story, doctor?’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Good morning, inspector. Do watch where you’re putting your feet, won’t you?’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘I don’t have all day, sir.’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Well, I’m afraid you’re going to have to be patient for this one.’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Is it Dawson?’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Dawson?’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Missing person in December, male, early twenties, student, average in just about every way.’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘No, I would say it is unlikely to be your Dawson.’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘How can you be so sure?’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.95pt;"><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Well, for one thing this is the body of a much older man, say in his sixties. Also, from a very preliminary assessment, the deceased was short and probably overweight. However, as you can doubtless see, inspector, nothing is that clear, as yet. I need to get the remains out of the ground and back to the slab. And given the state of decomposition, that needs to be done very carefully. Only after a thorough examination in a good light, will I be able to start giving you some answers.’</span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">MY THOUGHTS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Silent House of Sleep is the debut novel buy Allan Gaw. This is the first book in the Dr. Jack Cuthbert series. The author will draw you into the story within the first few pages. This is the story of pathologist Jack Cuthbert. He is a war veteran who trained as a doctor but instead of going to the hospital he become a forensic pathologist. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The author has written a dual time line and we get to see war time - and how he became who he is. The author does write in detail about some of the war. When a body turns up it becomes clear that there will be more in the shallow grave. I loved the crumbs that the author left us throughout the story. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you to the author, publisher and Rachels Random Resources for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-81954732760446859222023-11-21T03:52:00.000-08:002023-11-21T03:52:54.921-08:00My Thoughts - A Courageous Betrothal Author: Denise Weimer<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 29.984375px; margin-right: 29.984375px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26562" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/a-courageous-betrothal.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/a-courageous-betrothal.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/a-courageous-betrothal-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/a-courageous-betrothal-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Book: </strong>A Courageous Betrothal</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author: </strong>Denise Weimer</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Genre: </b>Christian Historical Romance</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Release Date: </strong>November 7, 2023</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26564" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 85vw, 200px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACourageousBethrotal-200x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACourageousBethrotal-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACourageousBethrotal-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACourageousBethrotal-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACourageousBethrotal-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACourageousBethrotal-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACourageousBethrotal-1200x1800.jpg 1200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ACourageousBethrotal-scaled.jpg 1707w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" />A wounded lieutenant, a woman fierce enough to protect her family, and an American Revolution with everything at stake. </em></strong></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Red-haired, freckle-faced and almost six feet tall, Jenny White has resigned herself to fame over love. Possessing the courage and wits to guard her younger siblings against nature, natives, and loyalists in Georgia’s “Hornet’s Nest” gives life meaning until she meets scout, Caylan McIntosh.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">From the time Jenny nurses the young lieutenant back to health after the Battle of Kettle Creek, she can’t deny her attraction to the vexing Highlander, who seems determined to dismantle her emotional armor. But when Georgia falls to the British and Caylan returns to guide Jenny’s family on a harrowing exodus into the North Carolina mountains, will his secrets prove stronger than his devotion? Or will their love be courageous enough to carry them through the battles ahead.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/3Q39yKZ" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-23685" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 260px) 85vw, 260px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Denise-Weimer-Head-Shot-260x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Denise-Weimer-Head-Shot-260x300.jpg 260w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Denise-Weimer-Head-Shot-888x1024.jpg 888w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Denise-Weimer-Head-Shot-768x885.jpg 768w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Denise-Weimer-Head-Shot.jpg 1046w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="260" />North Georgia native <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Denise Weimer</strong>has authored over a dozen traditionally published novels and a number of novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">More from Denise</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Welcome to the Hornet’s Nest…the setting for <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Courageous Betrothal</em>. In my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier Series, we started with my September release, <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Counterfeit Betrothal</em>, in 1813. We’ve moved backward in time to middle Georgia, where the conflict between Patriots, Loyalists, and Native Americans became so intense during the American Revolution the area was dubbed “the Hornet’s Nest.” Little is known about this portion of the war, but it’s not just the setting that makes <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Courageous Betrothal</em>unique.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">If the story sounds faintly familiar, that’s because it was originally <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Across Three Autumns</em> of Barbour’s Backcountry Brides (2018). That’s why it’s a short novella instead of a full-length novel. The story became a free agent just in time to join my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier. It was a perfect fit not only because of the subject matter but also because some of the real people and places show up in this story as well as the novels of the series.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><a href="https://www.celebratelit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Nancy-Hart.jpg" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-14428" height="225" loading="lazy" src="https://www.celebratelit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Nancy-Hart-300x225.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a>Another thing that sets <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Courageous Betrothal</em> apart is its heroine. As authors, we occasionally create characters who take on life and burst off the page. That’s Jenny White. Maybe because she was based on a real person, Nancy Hart. Six feet tall, red-haired, pock-marked, and a crack shot, Nancy was called “Wahatche” or “War Woman” by local Indians. She spied for Colonel Elijah Clark and captured Loyalists and British soldiers on more than one occasion. Her exploits are echoed in Jenny’s.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">So are her insecurities, which make her relatable. Jenny’s given up on the notion of finding love. Men always prefer women like her dainty younger sister. And then she meets Caylan McIntosh, a scout for Colonel Clark whose Highland heritage makes him an ardent admirer of Jenny’s strength. Her doubts—along with the shorter word count and the time needed for love to grow between wartime encounters—are a reason I chose to write the novella solely from Jenny’s POV.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">By no means does Jenny outshine Caylan. He’s still probably the most swoon-worthy hero I’ve written. Here’s a little snippet of him persuading Jenny to dance.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://www.celebratelit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/123582577_3078794822220919_4988731745928429038_n.jpg" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-14429" height="300" loading="lazy" src="https://www.celebratelit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/123582577_3078794822220919_4988731745928429038_n-225x300.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 1.75em 1.75em 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="225" /></a>The unseen fiddler took his cue. The notes anchored themselves inside Jenny’s chest, with invisible strings tugging her toward the sound. Caylan and presumably several other Scots started a jig. From his fancy footwork and agile leaps, the lieutenant appeared dead sober. She found herself propping the pitchfork against a wall and drifting closer in the shadows, her mother’s previous warning drowned out in the waterfall of lilting notes. </em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">When the musician warbled into “Soldier’s Joy,” a woman faced off with her husband. As they greeted and turned, two frontiersmen leapt up to join them. Caylan looked around as though searching for a partner and noticed Jenny standing just outside the circle of light. He came toward her, hand outstretched.</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“Come, lass, will ye dance with me? Ye know this one.”</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Indeed, she did. She had seen settlers perform the steps on the Yadkin River. Before Jenny had time to think, Caylan whirled her into the circle, and a man dancing a female part grabbed her for a ladies’ chain. She caught a brief glimpse of Gabriel’s alarmed face as she whizzed past. </em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Delighted with the actual women who joined them, the men paid courtly attention that caused Jenny’s face to flame. But none more than the sensation of Caylan’s eyes, warm amber in the firelight, fixed on her every time they met. The roughened strength of his large hand made hers feel small. </em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">When the song changed, Jenny gave an awkward curtsy and tried to back away, but her partner caught her arm. “’Tis just a Cumberland Reel.”</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“I know no Cumberland Reel. Remember, we do not dance.”</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“Oh. I did forget that.” But Caylan’s smirk hinted otherwise. “Seems to me Wahatchee would not grow lily-livered at a wee promenade. See, ’tis only a skip step, toe to heel?”</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Jenny turned her lips down. “Wahatchee has a mother.”</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Caylan threw his head back and laughed. “What? That slip of a woman has a Highland princess like you all a’cower?”</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“I am English, sir.” She clasped her hands behind her petticoats.</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“Well, pardon me, my lady,” he retorted with mock offense, “but yer regal bearing and coloring beg otherwise. I wager some hint of Celtic besmears the White family past…far back in the recesses of time, no doubt.”</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The “regal coloring” went up in flames. Jenny repeated what she’d heard her mother proudly state many times. “We come from pure English stock.”</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“Well, then, I dare ye to prove a proper English lady has no fear of a Cumberland Reel.”</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“Those are break teeth words, McIntosh. If I chose, I could dance until daybreak, and still be dancing long after you collapse.” So saying, Jenny stalked to the tail of the reel and waited for the laughing Scotsman to follow her. </em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Just like firing a gun, riding a horse, clearing brush, and swimming, dancing provided no challenge. Jenny did all physical things well and with endurance. What she had not expected, however, was the way Caylan’s obvious approval made her feel. It answered a craving deep inside that she had attempted to discredit for years. Not to mention the brush of his fingertips, the pressure of his hand on her waist, spread the bonfire to her bones.</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">From that moment to Jenny nursing Caylan back to health after the Battle of Kettle Creek, through the climactic, real-life exodus of civilians from Georgia to the mountains of North Carolina, Caylan fights for Jenny’s trust with as much determination as he fights the British. I hope you’ll be swept away by their romance amid the dangers of the Hornet’s Nest. And if you like Scottish characters, stay tuned for book three of the Scouts Series, coming in January and set in 1775 on the border of Georgia and South Carolina.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;">My Thoughts </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A Courageous Betrothal is written by Denise Weimer. This is book two in the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier. One of the things I live about this author is her ability to transport readers back in time. The author has done careful research to bring her story to life. Set in Revolutionary war times and based on a real life figure you will enjoy getting lost in Jenny and Caylan’s story. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jenny is such a strong character. She’s tall, brave, protective and unmarried. She takes protecting her family very seriously. Caylan is injured after the battle of Kettle Creek. Jenny helps him to recuperate. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jenny is also concerned about the growing tension from the British and Natives. She’s worried about losing everything. The author has captured the struggles that one may face accurately. I’ve really been enjoying this series. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">My only complaint is that I wish this was longer. I would love to get more of their story. Their characters are written well. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. </span></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, November 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</a>, November 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, November 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, November 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blossoms and Blessings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blossoms and Blessings</span></a>, November 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://booksyoucanfeelgoodabout.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Books You Can Feel Good About"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Books You Can Feel Good About</span></a>, November 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.simpleharvestreads.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Simple Harvest Reads</a>, November 12 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://babblingbeckyl.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions</span></a>, November 13</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Lighthouse Academy Blog</a>, November 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"lakesidelivingsite"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">lakesidelivingsite</span></a>, November 14</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, November 15</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, November 16</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lifeonchickadeelane.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Life on Chickadee Lane"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Life on Chickadee Lane</span></a>, November 16</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, November 17</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, November 18</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, November 19</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ihopeyoudanceinlife.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"To Everything There Is A Season "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">To Everything There Is A Season</span></a>, November 19</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly's Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, November 20</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie's History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connie’s History Classroom</span></a>, November 21</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 2em 0px 1em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img class="" height="165" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/e5f4939d-cd96-45de-b748-8fb15bc1a0af" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="165" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/28d33/a-courageous-betrothal-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/28d33/a-courageous-betrothal-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-64470936265362461072023-11-14T03:00:00.000-08:002023-11-14T03:00:00.140-08:00My Thoughts - To Spark A Match Author: Jen Turano<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggD1xZvZOxDQeHPY6Ox7YTUwTSsolycQevCHnAfz-A6q7fV7cxABVw2xrDGbgo0fEDdZfy1mjwd2-z58xqOHiVudCiOQ2HZDvrnZAbPHXBQ-_jn-eKgw_vM1hyR8rTaBPVeHQg4wTcu6gA88kjCIarRNS5XSWCGZpPNphLlJoQxS7tciUqIhCbN0Uj-Qk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="180" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggD1xZvZOxDQeHPY6Ox7YTUwTSsolycQevCHnAfz-A6q7fV7cxABVw2xrDGbgo0fEDdZfy1mjwd2-z58xqOHiVudCiOQ2HZDvrnZAbPHXBQ-_jn-eKgw_vM1hyR8rTaBPVeHQg4wTcu6gA88kjCIarRNS5XSWCGZpPNphLlJoQxS7tciUqIhCbN0Uj-Qk" width="155" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></p><p><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book: </span>To Spark A Match </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Author: </span>Jen Turano</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre: </span>Christian Historical Romance</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>November 14, 2023</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif;">After five unsuccessful Seasons on the marriage mart, Miss Adelaide Duveen has resigned herself to the notion that she's destined to remain a spinster forever--a rather dismal prospect, but one that will allow her to concentrate on her darling cats and books. However, when she inadvertently stumbles upon Mr. Gideon Abbott engaged in a clandestine activity during a dinner party, Adelaide finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue that resembles the plots in the spy novels she devours.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif;">Former intelligence agent Gideon Abbott feels responsible for Adelaide after society threatens to banish her because of the distraction she caused to save his case. Hoping to return the favor, he turns to a good friend--and one of high society's leaders--to take Adelaide in hand and turn her fashionable.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif;">When danger surrounds them and Adelaide finds herself a target of the criminals in Gideon's case, the spark of love between them threatens to be quenched for good--along with their lives.</span></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTF0gteC4LKbNpHJxSEQrXSqIGbSZjY0ffJpPr3dKpI5svnCEduqwyAj212AmijkfZdZWFmrXDsVxfZNE8XnFCbceZutqKegNiVaEfi8pZi-7V_L1d5nkfWwC97ihZuKGqvF3RRWkTlw56SW8wTeaWeDe9zrJjCCSIR6OI0AxVXJQaVJBMBHF81i4yXE0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="178" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTF0gteC4LKbNpHJxSEQrXSqIGbSZjY0ffJpPr3dKpI5svnCEduqwyAj212AmijkfZdZWFmrXDsVxfZNE8XnFCbceZutqKegNiVaEfi8pZi-7V_L1d5nkfWwC97ihZuKGqvF3RRWkTlw56SW8wTeaWeDe9zrJjCCSIR6OI0AxVXJQaVJBMBHF81i4yXE0" width="161" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;">Named One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she’s not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;">Readers may find her at </span><a href="http://www.jenturano.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #00635d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">www.jenturano.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;"> - </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #00635d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoaut...</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;"> , </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jenturanoauthor/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #00635d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/jenturanoau...</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;"> or on Twitter at JenTurano@JenTurano</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">https://jenturano.com/</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">My Thoughts </span></h1><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">To Spark A Match is book two in the Matchmakers series that is written by Jen Turano. This story can be read as a stand alone. This author is a master at her craft. She transports readers back in history. Her careful research and fun historical details make her stories so fascinating to read.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">In this story we’re in 1888. Adelaide has been unsuccessful in finding a mate. She’s not that disappointed in this. She much prefers cats and books. She’s got a habit of leaving her mark in dinner parties. She frequently becomes the topic of conversation in social circles.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Enter Gideon. Adelaide finds him in a secret activity and she helps to bail him out. He finds himself in Adelaide’s debt. To try and repay her he enlists the help of a socialite, Camilla to try and make her more fashionable. Adelaide finds herself thrust into a world that she’s only read about in spy novels.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">In true Turano fashion our main character is witty, humorous and doesn’t fit in the society’s norm. I loved that this story had so much packed into it. We’ve got spies, gangsters, books, cats and mystery. The characters have great chemistry. I absolutely love this series.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.</span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Giveaway </span></h1><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;"><ul class="prize-list" style="background-color: #fefefe; border: 0px; color: #262a2c; font-family: Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class-if-cond="past(i < selected) present(i == selected) future(i > selected)" class="prize-container present" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; left: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="prize-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 30px 32px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 400px;"><div block-title-if="block" class-if="block-title-outer(block)" class="prize-title-line" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class-if="block-title-inner(block)" data-html="text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;">To Spark a Match Release Day Giveaway - Five (5) winners will each receive a print copy of the book. US addresses only.</span></span></div></div></div></li></ul></span></h1><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h1><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h1><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-size: small;">ENTER: <a href="https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7b21d89b84/?fbclid=IwAR3hqAfQ0DvS52FRpjKztUjGHPM1rP-OFV6VfT8dWV8nRIYdZ6gyrz9kPkc " target="_blank">HERE</a></span></span></h1><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; position: relative; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></h1></span></div></div><br /><br /></span></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-88831471148807943102023-11-13T14:47:00.000-08:002023-11-13T14:47:21.768-08:00My Thoughts - Estelle’s Endeavor Author: Linda Shenton Matchett<p> </p><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26317" height="315" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/estelles-endeavor.jpg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/estelles-endeavor.jpg 851w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/estelles-endeavor-300x111.jpg 300w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/estelles-endeavor-768x284.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="851" /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Book</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Book: </span>Estelle’s Endeavor</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Author: </span>Linda Shenton Matchett</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Genre: </span>Christian Historical Romance</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: </span>September 26, 2023</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26318" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 197px) 85vw, 197px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Estelle-Endeavor-197x300.jpeg" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Estelle-Endeavor-197x300.jpeg 197w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Estelle-Endeavor.jpeg 329w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="197" />Will a world at war destroy a second chance at love?</em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Estelle Johnson promises to wait for Aubry DeLuca to return from war, but then she receives word of his debilitating injuries. Does she have the strength to stand by him during his hour of need?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Aubry DeLuca storms the beaches of Normandy, then wakes up in a hospital, his eyes heavily bandaged. Will the only woman he’s ever loved welcome him home or is he destined to go through life blind and alone?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><pre style="border: 1px solid rgb(209, 209, 209); box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Inconsolata, monospace; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.3125; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 1.75em; text-wrap: wrap;">Click <a href="https://amzn.to/467EfEl" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-25469" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 85vw, 200px" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/LMatchettAuthorPhoto-2-200x300.png" srcset="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/LMatchettAuthorPhoto-2-200x300.png 200w, https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/LMatchettAuthorPhoto-2.png 461w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" />Linda Shenton Matchett</span> writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">More from Linda</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Dear lovely readers,</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">I was thrilled to be asked to participate in Thanksgiving Books & Blessing Collection Five because Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. When I was growing up, no matter where we lived (and we lived a lot of places thanks to my dad’s job!), my parents would bundle all of us into the car and we’d make the trip to my maternal grandparent’s house in Maryland; the tiny town of Burtonsville to be exact. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, with the occasional “honorary family member” (anyone who had nowhere to spend the holiday) would gather.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">The adults ate at a HUGE table in the dining room, and the kids were relegated to card tables in the living room. My grandmother and great aunt must have prepared for days. After dinner, we kids were responsible for washing the dishes (and with 20-30 people, there were tons!). I have countless happy memories from those days. Our Thanksgiving celebrations are much smaller now, but no less joyous.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">In <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Estelle’s Endeavor</em>, I wanted to explore the holiday and the concept of thankfulness in light of a world at war. Could people find it in their hearts to be thankful in spite of their circumstances not because of them? Additional themes emerged as the story unfolded, and I hope you are encouraged by the characters’ journey.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Blessings,</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Linda Shenton Matchett</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">My Thoughts </span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Estelle's Endeavor is written by Linda Shenton Matchett. I adore this author. She is in my opinion, one of the best historical fiction writers out there. She always does such amazing research to bring her story to life. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">In this story, the author has crafted a town with a library at the center of the city. Estelle works at the library and has been waiting for word of her love, Aubry, who is away at war. Estelle enjoys her job but has a prickly co-worker she has to deal with. Aubry who has been injured is haunted by what he has seen at war. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">When he returns home he deals with nightmares and PTSD. This confuses Estelle. She really is not sure how to deal with it. Because of the lengthy absence, the couple has to get to know each other again, and navigate the new waters. War has changed them both. This is also a story of healing and trusting God. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">The book is well written, the storyline is intriguing. Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. </span></p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, November 7</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The Lofty Pages"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://www.theloftypages.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">The Lofty Pages</a>, November 7</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Maureen's Musings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Maureen’s Musings</span></a>, November 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://alenamentink.com/blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Alena Mentink"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Alena Mentink</span></a>, November 8</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bizwingsblog.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Bizwings Blog"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bizwings Blog</span></a>, November 9</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, November 10</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, November 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mary.a.hake/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Mary Hake"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mary Hake</span></a>, November 11</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.walshmountainpublishing.com/blog" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Mornings at Character Cafe"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mornings at Character Cafe</span></a>, November 12</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, November 13</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Connie's History Classroom "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connie’s History Classroom</span></a>, November 14</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/macebetti/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4225,"3":{"1":0},"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Betti Mace"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Betti Mace</span></a>, November 15</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shelivestoread.com/category/book-reviews/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"She Lives To Read"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">She Lives To Read</span></a>, November 15</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lifeonchickadeelane.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Life on Chickadee Lane"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Life on Chickadee Lane</span></a>, November 16</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, November 17</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The Lit Lady "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://thelitlady733988438.wordpress.com/blog-2/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">The Lit Lady</a></span>, November 18</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://paulakrueger.substack.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Paula's Pad of Inspiration"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Paula’s Pad of Inspiration</span></a>, November 18</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly’s Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, November 19</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://susanlovesbooks.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"SusanLovesBooks"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">SusanLovesBooks</span></a>, November 20</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://penspagesandpulses.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pens Pages & Pulses"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pens Pages & Pulses</span></a>, November 20</p><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.0625rem; line-height: 1.27273; margin: 1.69697em 0px 0.848485em; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;">Giveaway</span></h1><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><img class="" height="208" loading="lazy" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/030f1636-3e3b-45a3-bcf0-f421e373dd62" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="248" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Visa Gift Card and signed copy of the book!!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/28d32/estelle-s-endeavor-celebration-tour-giveaway" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">https://promosimple.com/ps/28d32/estelle-s-endeavor-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p></div>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253040021121914628.post-36019157970128746142023-11-13T06:41:00.000-08:002023-11-13T06:41:26.074-08:00My Thoughts- The Girls of Bomber Command written by Vicki Beeby <p> <span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 11.04pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Girls of Bomber Command </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHcxpVvuzHOa6ajsAywAVjqeJcz3_rFwDWPsxy3QQ1RtBp0JyvbeygV6creyTkW7a__QnWq_VFV0DRZyrKHWJmRltLLMNg9SjZdmVfn3cpkUQHjejZQaz_m7H0EmaYprVjqDJae9jBzT0sL5nbql20MnZds0q1T4fdOMvuSIQyRrjFXVwara7wknwIXQ/s1666/IMG_5598.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="1160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHcxpVvuzHOa6ajsAywAVjqeJcz3_rFwDWPsxy3QQ1RtBp0JyvbeygV6creyTkW7a__QnWq_VFV0DRZyrKHWJmRltLLMNg9SjZdmVfn3cpkUQHjejZQaz_m7H0EmaYprVjqDJae9jBzT0sL5nbql20MnZds0q1T4fdOMvuSIQyRrjFXVwara7wknwIXQ/s320/IMG_5598.jpeg" width="223" /></a></div><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 11.04pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.264961pt; margin-top: 9.576355pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With an enemy in their midst, can they still protect their fighters in the skies? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.307452; margin: 9.796265pt 0.765808pt 0pt 0.32016pt; text-indent: 0.64032pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pearl has given up on her dreams of being a journalist after being denied a promotion because of her gender. Joining the WAAF as a radio telephone operator for Bomber Command, Pearl's new job at RAF Fenthorpe serves two purposes – providing an income for her grandmother, and keeping a close eye on her younger sister, Thea, an instrument repairer at another Lincolnshire bomber station. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.303831; margin: 8.807739pt 3.710571pt 0pt 0.529922pt; text-indent: 0.430557pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pearl befriends Met WAAF Jenny as well as Australian pilot Greg, who she guides home safely during an emergency. Pearl's journalism background doesn't go to waste, however – a series of thefts from pilots rekindles her investigative fire and she is soon caught up in the mystery. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.303825; margin: 8.72113pt 9.626831pt 0pt 0.861122pt; text-indent: 0.099358pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But when all signs point to the perpetrator being her sister, she finds herself up against the clock to prove her sister’s innocence… </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 2.0318; margin: 8.75116pt 77.246582pt 0pt 0.220802pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.574074pt; text-indent: -0.574074pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A captivating and heartwarming WWII saga for fans of Daisy Styles and Johanna Bell. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purchase Links </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.717598pt; margin-top: 2.023804pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girls-Bomber-Command-uplifting-charming </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.430557pt; margin-top: 1.516266pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ebook/dp/B0CFGZWRWC/</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.717598pt; margin-top: 9.676331pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.amazon.com/Girls-Bomber-Command-uplifting-charming-ebook/dp/B0CFGZWRWC/</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.308533; margin: 32.236298pt 4.316345pt 0pt 0.09935pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.055206pt; text-indent: -0.055206pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Bio –</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.308533; margin: 32.236298pt 4.316345pt 0pt 0.09935pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.055206pt; text-indent: -0.055206pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1zmWlR2TXKd_l6wb8fzIoL4q4_7hsDde5rjTCFZmTPI6BTVnPOEBr4y1_OCawOxnloM9qKvXOfyEkQtuSvCPYjADktWs61aB6CdChqvb3AIrMobYzzMO9u6WgyCSGXxgn-CFykoL10e0iGDtb3o8jYoUNozdJ628N_vYsa2MEYFZbl_mTz4BBixyk08/s1042/IMG_5599.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1042" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1zmWlR2TXKd_l6wb8fzIoL4q4_7hsDde5rjTCFZmTPI6BTVnPOEBr4y1_OCawOxnloM9qKvXOfyEkQtuSvCPYjADktWs61aB6CdChqvb3AIrMobYzzMO9u6WgyCSGXxgn-CFykoL10e0iGDtb3o8jYoUNozdJ628N_vYsa2MEYFZbl_mTz4BBixyk08/s320/IMG_5599.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.308533; margin: 32.236298pt 4.316345pt 0pt 0.09935pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.055206pt; text-indent: -0.055206pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vicki Beeby is a saga author who writes about the friendships and loves of service women brought together by the Second World War. Her first job was as a civil engineer on a sewage treatment project, so things could only improve from there. Since then, she has worked as a maths teacher, an education consultant before she turned freelance to give herself more time to write. She is published by Canelo and represented by Lina Langlee of The North Literary Agency. She was a finalist for the RNA Romantic Saga award in 2021 and won it in 2023. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.375359pt; margin-top: 8.677795pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social Media Links – </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.794876pt; margin-top: 9.43634pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook page: </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.facebook.com/VickiBeebyAuthor</span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.39312pt; margin-top: 9.036011pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter: </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://twitter.com/VickiBeeby</span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.333122pt; margin-top: 8.915985pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram: </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.instagram.com/vickibeebyauthor</span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.39312pt; margin-top: 8.79599pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Threads: @vickibeebyauthor </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.39312pt; margin-top: 8.79599pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.39312pt; margin-top: 8.79599pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>MY THOUGHTS </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.39312pt; margin-top: 8.79599pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Girls of Bomber Command is written by Vicki Beeby. This is my first book that I have read by this author - and it will not be my last. I loved Pearl. She had such big dreams of becoming a journalist - however when she is passed over for a promotion just because she is female she quits. Worried about bills, she signs up with the WAAF. Her grandmother is worried that she just wants to keep an eye on her younger sister, Thea. However, it's greater than that.
Pearl becomes a radio telephone operator in the Bomber Command. She befriends Jenny. The forge a nice friendship. She also gets to know Greg. Greg is an Australian pilot. However, valuables start to go missing so the group starts to investigate. Pearl is not going to let her investigative skills go to waste. What is shocking is her sister seems to be the prime suspect. Can Pearl prove her innocence?
While I have read my fair share of WWII stories - I have not read one that focused on the Bomber Command. I was not familiar so I read a little bit about their story. The author has done careful research to bring her story to life. I really hope to read more from this author.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.430557pt; margin-top: 31.866028pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.04pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Giveaway to Win a Paperback copy of The Girls of Bomber Command (Open to UK Only) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.315688; margin: 10.396317pt -0.320007pt 0pt 0.331917pt; text-indent: 0.697205pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Terms and Conditions </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 9.96pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.</span></p>Connie Hill http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897594122346113261noreply@blogger.com0