Ramona, please message me at www.facebook.com/kathleenefriesen with your email and/or mailing address so you can receive your gift.
The winner of a copy of Valerie Goree's fantastic book, Weep In The Night, is Ramona Hadfield!
Ramona, please message me at www.facebook.com/kathleenefriesen with your email and/or mailing address so you can receive your gift.
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TITLE: Murder at the Courthouse AUTHOR: A.H. Gabhart DATE: 2015 PUBLISHER: Revell STARS: **** After a few years as a police officer in Chicago, Michael Keane has no trouble relaxing into the far less stressful job of deputy sheriff in his small hometown. After all, nothing ever happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky. Nothing, that is, until a dead body is discovered on the courthouse steps. Everyone in town is a little uneasy. Still, no one is terribly worried--after all the man was a stranger--until one of their own is murdered right on Main Street. As Michael works to solve the case it seems that every nosy resident in town has a theory. When the sheriff insists Michael check out one of these harebrained theories, his surprising discovery sends him on a bewildering search for a mysterious killer that has him questioning everything he has ever believed about life in Hidden Springs. Murder at the Courthouse fits Wikipedia’s definition of a cozy mystery to a T: sweet and warm, in spite of the body propped against the courthouse pillar. Michael Keane left the big, fast-paced city of Columbus to avoid this kind of scenario. After all, everyone knows everyone in his hometown, so other than a few minor incidents, what could go wrong? With quirky characters and an attractive small town, this story is easy to read, and its mystery kept me guessing. A.H. Gabhart brings Hidden Springs and its inhabitants to life with. Except for the murdered stranger, of course. The story’s pace felt more like a stroll than a race, but it seemed fitting. I enjoyed Murder at the Courthouse and award it four stars. The publisher offered me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion, which I have given. TITLE: Starlight in Her Eyes AUTHOR: JoAnn Durgin DATE: 2015 PUBLISHER: White Rose Publishing STARS: ***** Colin Young embraces the Christmas season as the new television co-host of Wake Up, Philadelphia! His fun and spontaneous “Out and About” segments in the City of Brotherly Love are a ratings winner. Only one problem—the beautiful but intriguing assistant assigned to help make his transition easier doesn’t seem to like him much. Serena Monroe has no time for the cheeky Brit with a glowing professional reputation and a lengthy personal history with women. Betrayed by one high-profile man, she doesn’t need another. Serena's sole focus is her daughter, Lily. But then Serena begins to see that Colin is nothing like she assumed. Dare she take a chance on love again? When Colin invites Serena and Lily to share Christmas with him in the little town of Starlight, Iowa, can they discover a holiday miracle of their own? As warm and satisfying as a mug of hot cocoa complete with whipped cream, Starlight in Her Eyes, wraps the reader in rich layers of hope, forgiveness, and love. Colin is an old friend, since I’d been introduced to him in Ms. Durgin’s Sleigh Ride Together With You, and it was fun to meet him again in a new setting—and with a new attitude. Now a man of faith, Colin is still irrepressible and cheeky, as well as being tall, blond, and British. And deliciously handsome. When he decides to try to break through his gorgeous assistant’s frosty demeanor, he finds a treasure. Serena is so much more than he’d expected, and her little Lily-Love steals Colin’s heart (and mine) without even trying. This Christmas-themed romance hits all the right notes, with a soul-satisfying ending. I loved Starlight in Her Eyes, and give it a five-star rating. Highly recommended. I was given an e-copy of this book by the publisher in return for my honest opinion, which I have given. TITLE: Vendetta (The Nikki Boyd Files) AUTHOR: Lisa Harris DATE: October 2015 PUBLISHER: Revell Stars: ***** No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels this case has become personal, and she is not the hunter . . . but the hunted. With this explosive first book in The Nikki Boyd Files, award-winning author Lisa Harris takes you on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have you holding your breath until the heart-stopping finish. This book should come with a warning: Do not begin to read unless you have time to finish it! I made the mistake of starting Vendetta in the late afternoon. I did put it down to go to bed, but woke to finish it in the wee hours of the morning. How’s this for an opening line? The initial step off the sheer face of a three-hundred-plus-foot drop was always the most terrifying. I was hooked. Heroine Nikki Boyd and I have almost nothing in common, and yet through the skillful writing of author Lisa Harris, I entered her life—and her danger. Nikki is haunted by her sister’s abduction, and that loss pushes her to seek rescue and justice for other abductees, no matter the personal cost. The suspense holds tight, and the mystery of the perp’s identity kept me guessing right to the end . I was offered a copy of this book by the publisher and Graf-Martin Communications in return for my honest opinion. Vendetta earns five stars and is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys well-written suspense. TITLE: Fiddler’s Fling AUTHOR: Linda Wood Rondeau DATE: October 2015 PUBLISHER: Elk Lake Publishing STARS: ***** When Jolene Murdock receives a call from an old boyfriend, her carefully crafted world crumbles. Told of her estranged father’s terminal illness, she returns to a town she’d left three years ago, the scene of her secret sin. She thought her pending marriage to rising political star Robert Ashworth the penance God required of her … to forget her talents, her music, and her love for Brookside. Dwight Etting is now the junior partner in Murdock & Etting. But Big Mike Murdock has run the business into the ground. In hopes of saving the company, Dwight convinces Big Mike’s daughter to return to Brookside to help her terminally ill father. Why does she cling to her resentment over a stupid argument on prom night? What happened to that spirited girl, whose fiddle playing won the hearts of all Essex County? At first glance, I thought Fiddler’s Fling would be a typical long-gone-wrong-and-then-right-again romance. But it is so much more. Author Linda Wood Rondeau tackles prickly family relationships, soul-deadening secrets, and conspiracies in this wonderful story. And does it spectacularly. Jolene and Dwight, high school sweethearts, no longer have much in common. In fact, they are poles apart in almost everything. Until Jolene finds out that her father is dying. Past hurts and present ambitions try to keep the father and daughter at odds with one another, and I had to keep reading to discover who or what would triumph. Fiddler’s Fling grabbed me at the first page and held me spell-bound to the end. Parts of the story required a box of tissues close at hand as the lead characters strove to find their way. The satisfying ending was worth every tear. Linda Wood Rondeau and Fiddler’s Fling earn five stars. I was offered a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion, which I have given. TITLE: Bathsheba: Reluctant Beauty AUTHOR: Angela Elwell Hunt DATE: August 2015 PUBLISHER: Bethany House STARS: ***1/2 After sending his army to besiege another king's capital, King David forces himself on Bathsheba, a loyal soldier's wife. When her resulting pregnancy forces the king to murder her husband and add her to his harem, Bathsheba struggles to protect her son while dealing with the effects of a dark prophecy and deadly curse on the king's household. Combining historical facts with detailed fiction, Angela Hunt paints a realistic portrait of the beautiful woman who struggled to survive the dire results of divine judgment on a king with a divided heart. This book, while well written, puts a Biblical hero, King David, under a microscope. No rose-colored glasses here; Ms. Hunt’s lens tends to be more in blue-gray shades. Every Bible scholar is familiar with the story of David’s fall from grace with the beautiful Bathsheba. This story delves deeper into assumptions of intent, guilt and innocence. It is admittedly fictional, and it was the fictional aspects that bothered me the most. That being said, I did appreciate Ms. Hunt’s descriptions of life in King David’s kingdom in spite of its brutality. The author has obviously researched her topic diligently, and that knowledge shines through her prose. I wanted to love this book, but perhaps I’m too much of a romantic. Bathsheba: Reluctant Beauty is interesting historical fiction, not a romance. This book earns three and a half stars from me. The publisher offered me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion, which I have given. Today's guest is world traveler Valerie Goree, and I can't wait to introduce her to you. American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award winner Valerie Massey Goree was born in South Africa and grew up in Rhodesia—now Zimbabwe. She attended a Christian university in the USA and then returned to Zimbabwe with her husband, Glenn, where they served as missionaries. After they settled back in Texas, Valerie served 25 years in the public school system, focusing on students with special needs. Now retired, she resides in the Texas Hill Country with Glenn, two dogs, and three cats, and spends her time writing and spoiling her grandchildren. Valerie loves to hear from her readers. What was your inspiration for this story, Weep in the Night? Years ago I wrote in first person. One day I thought about the opening sentence for a novel. “I’d been in the witness protection program for three years when . . . ” The idea percolated and became the premise for Weep in the Night. What is its take-away value? Forgiveness is a recurring theme in my novels. Although Sadie lost her family, her career, and her faith, she helps another character find forgiveness, and in the process, overcomes her negative attitude toward God. Tell us a bit about your writing routine. Routine? What routine? In every other part of my life, I’m super organized, but I have to be in the right frame of mind to escape into my story. I help take care of my 95 year-old mother, and I find it difficult to set aside the emotional exhaustion to focus on my characters. When possible, I prefer to set aside a day or two a week to write. My husband is very supportive of my schedule, which I appreciate. What’s your next writing project? My next novel is a stand-alone sequel to Weep in the Night. Lela is an operative in Weep in the Night. The next novel tells her story. Just for fun: Coffee or Tea? Both. Coffee first thing, then hot tea, brewed in a teapot mid-morning and mid-afternoon – or anytime! Snacks: sweet or salty? Sweet, preferably with chocolate Dream vacation? Israel. #1 on your bucket list? I’ve already been to Australia to locate my mother’s kin. Next, I’d like to visit Ireland to trace my father’s family. Thank you, Valerie! Valier Goree is offering a print copy of her latest novel, Weep in the Night to one reader who comments below. Be sure to include your email address, so we can notify you of your win! Wow--I love this cover! Please tell us more about Weep in the Night. After three years in the witness protection program, Sadie Malone’s life in Texas is bland and humdrum—until she meets a new co-worker. Bowen Boudine ignites a flame in Sadie’s long-dormant heart, but when she discovers he knows her true identity, she attempts to flee. He thwarts her escape and reveals the reason he’s been sent to locate her. Bowen, a seasoned operative with International Retrieval Organization takes his job escorting Sadie safely back to California seriously, but quickly finds he’s falling for her. Can he maintain a professional relationship while he protects her from the crime boss her testimony helped convict? Sounds fantastic! And now, here's a taste to whet your appetite: Sadie and April left the break room together. “Have you met the new guy? Ooh, muy caliente.” April fanned her face. “If I didn’t have my Victor, I’d set my sights on him.” “No, I haven’t seen this new, hot guy.” After all that had happened, meeting men, good-looking or otherwise, was not high on Sadie’s priority list. Since the car accident that killed Aaron and Hannah, she had little interest in a romantic life. Her routine consisted of work, developing a few friendships, and most important, staying safe. A jab in the ribs brought her back to the wide store aisles. “There he is. Over there.” April pointed to a group of men examining a stack of cedar fence posts. To appease her, Sadie asked, “Which one? I recognize Oscar and Greg.” “He’s the one in the blue shirt.” The men concluded their discussion and the new guy turned, heading down the aisle. Eyes on the approaching figure, Sadie had to agree with April. Muy caliente indeed. About average height, thick black hair—a stray curl flopped on his forehead—and an athletic body. He beamed a hundred watt smile at April. “Hi.” His deep voice complemented his physical appearance. Don't forget, dear readers, to post a comment for your chance to win a copy of Valerie's wonderful book, Weep in the Night. Purchase links: amazon.com/Weep-Night-Valerie-Massey-Goree pelicanbookgroup.com barnesandnoble.com/w/weep-in-the-night-valerie-massey-goree Very nice, Valerie. Thank you for sharing your story. I look forward to reading more from you. Today’s spotlight shines directly on wonderful author Wendy Davy and her latest book, Night Waves. Wendy Davy is an award-winning inspirational romance writer who enjoys outdoor activities and small town charm. As you read her books, you will visit special places close to her heart. No matter where her characters come from or where they take you, it will always be an exciting journey, page after page. Ms. Davy enjoys traveling and searching for new places to include in her stories. She is offering an autographed print copy of Night Waves to one commenter, so be sure to leave a comment along with your email address. Here’s the blurb for this exciting romantic suspense novel: Newspaper reporter, Cali Stevens, boldly walks into Sheriff Nick Justice’s office, with one goal in mind: To find her best friend who disappeared while vacationing. When the no-nonsense sheriff refuses to give her details of the investigation, Cali takes matters into her own hands and starts her own investigation. She never intends to fall for the sheriff…or into the clutches of the Coral Isle’s first serial kidnapper. Coral Isle’s recent abductions give Nick Justice enough to worry about without adding any complications into the mix, and his attraction to Cali Stevens is definitely a complication. When Nick encourages Cali to leave the island, she refuses. Now he must manage to find the missing women while keeping Cali and the rest of the women on Coral Isle safe. And for a taste of the action, here’s a brief excerpt: “So that’s it? You won’t tell me anything?” “No. I can’t tell you anything. Not yet.” Cali looked away, took in a deep breath and walked past him out of the pool gate. He let her lead the way back to her rented room. Stopping in front of the door, she wrapped her arms around herself and studied her toes. Nick slipped the key into the slot and turned it, opening the door an inch. When she moved to step inside, he caught her slender arm in his grasp. “Stop snooping, Cali. Don’t put yourself at risk.” Her full lips tightened. “I can take care of myself.” “Yeah? That’s probably what Serena thought too.” A brief flash of pain crossed her eyes before they became guarded. “Listen Cali, I’m only trying to keep you safe. It’s my duty to protect you.” Renewed determination swirled in her eyes along with a spark of anger. “Yeah? Well, don’t do me any favors. It was your duty to protect Serena too. And look what happened to her.” Ooh, that makes me want to grab a copy and dive in! You, too? Great! Here are some links for that purpose: http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=8787017c2df31d494a62e5b16f32f292&keyword=wendy+davy http://www.amazon.com/Night-Waves-Wendy-Davy-ebook/dp/B002TG4OE6/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1444489729&sr=8-1&keywords=night+waves+wendy+davy I asked Wendy Dave some nosy questions, so we could all get to know her better, and here are her responses. What was your inspiration for this story? I was vacationing on the Outer Banks of N.C., walking on the beach at night and my imagination took over. I began thinking...What if a woman was running on the beach alone at night? What if there was a killer on the loose?...What if a stranger approached her from behind, grabbed her and then....? The plot for Night Waves was born. What is its take-away message? The take away message for Night Waves is Christian based. The characters must learn to rely on God to guide them through difficult circumstances. Tell us a bit about your writing routine. Do you have set hours? Do you get dressed first? I write whenever I can squeeze in the time. An hour here or there, sometimes I’m blessed with an entire four hours at a time! That’s rare, but it does happen on occasion. I often have to find a room to hide in, as my house is often filled with a flurry of activity. Do you travel for research? Where and when do you do your best work? I enjoy travelling and writing about the places I visit with my family including the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Shenandoah Valley, Va. and Smith Mountain Lake, Va. I recently visited Gatlinburg, Tn. Perhaps that’s a setting I’ll use someday. I do my best work in a quiet room over the garage. But, if inspired, I can write just about anywhere. What’s your next writing project? I’m working on an inspirational suspense, and then I hope to write a sweet Valentine’s Day romance, and sometime in the future, a Christmas novella. Just for fun: Coffee or Tea? Neither. Water or Milk is my preference. Snacks: Sweet or Salty? Sweet. Baked goods are my favorite! Dream vacation: Belize, where I can go tubing in a natural cave. #1 on your Bucket List: See above. Tubing in a natural cave in the middle of the jungle. Wendy Davy Inspirational Romance Author Just One Kiss ~ 2015 The Carolyn Readers Choice Award Finalist Deadly Chase ~ 2013 Inspirational Readers Choice Award Finalist Reluctant Bridesmaid ~ 2010 1st Place Winner SARA Merritt Contest www.wendydavy.com ~ Adventures of the Heart ~ Thank you, Wendy! |
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