Monday, July 24, 2017

A Name Unknown (Shadows Over England #1) by Roseanna M. White + A GIVEAWAY



Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book


Book title: A Name Unknown  
Author: Roseanna M. White  
Release date: July 4, 2017  
Genre: Historical Romance  


She’s Out to Steal His Name. 

Will He Steal Her Heart Instead? 

 Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they are no longer pickpockets—now they focus on high value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. Rosemary’s challenge of a lifetime comes when she’s assigned to determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany. How does one steal a family’s history, their very name? 

      As Europe moved closer to World War I, rumors swirl around Peter Holstein. Awkward and solitary, but with access to the king, many fear his influence. But Peter can’t help his German last name and wants to prove his loyalty to the Crown—so he can go back to anonymously writing a series of popular adventure novels. When Rosemary arrives on his doorstop pretending to be a well- credentialed historian, Peter believes she’s the right person to help him dig through his family’s past. 

     When danger and suspicion continue to mount, though, and both realize they’re in a race against time to discover the truth—about Peter’s past and about the undeniable attraction kindling between them.

My Review

     This is an incredible historical romance!

     I was enthralled by the fact that this book in set in 1914 Edwardian England. This is a period that I have rarely seen novels written about. That means that it drew me into a new era for me. It captivated me.

     I love both of the main characters. They are vastly different from each other and they both have very deep secrets that they are concealing. Though they both live in England their worlds are at opposite ends of the spectrum. They are so wonderfully well developed that I was able to connect with both of them from the beginning. I quickly found things about their lives to sympathize with.

     The hint of mystery and suspense that flows through the book was well crafted. I was caught up from very early on in trying to figure out who Mr. V was as well as the identity of the person harassing Peter Holstein.

     I’m already looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I’m giving this marvelous book a rating of 5 stars and highly recommending it.

     I received a free eBook copy of this novel through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the Author


Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of over a dozen historical novels and novellas, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her British series. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to make their way into her novels…to offset her real life, which is blessedly boring. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.


Guest Post from Roseanna White

     It’s always a challenge to make a historical setting authentic—especially when it’s set in a region you’ve only ever read about. As I was writing A Name Unknown, I learned so much about Cornwall—all the more when I had the opportunity to visit the gorgeous Penzance region while the book was still in edits! I quickly learned that I had far too many trees in my story, and hadn’t quite captured the uniqueness of the coastal setting. I dove into rewrites with excitement and gusto, ready to make my fictional Cornwall more like the real one.

     I studied the Cornish accent, Cornish foods, typical Cornish coloring in hair and eyes. I’ve now gotten rather proficient at making pasties (beef hand pies) from scratch, I’ve special-ordered ingredients to make Cornish ginger cookies called fairings, and I’ve spent quite a lot of time listening to videos of people speaking in a Cornish accent.

     Delving into this rich region and its history was a blast! And I’m so excited to get to share the culture of Cornwall—and a taste of their unique flavors—with you. In a special Celebrate Lit giveaway, I’ll be offering not only a signed copy of my book, but also some homemade ginger fairings! Here’s the recipe I used . . . after special ordering the Mixed Spice (reminiscent of pumpkin pie spice) and Golden Syrup (a thick syrup with a bit of a toffee flavor) from Amazon. 😉 (I have a gram scale so did use the weight measurements rather than volume—also, English teaspoons and tablespoons are a bit bigger than American, so I heaped them, and I turned out deliciously.)

GINGER FAIRINGS RECIPE

100 grams butter, cold and diced
225 grams all-purpose flour
¼ heaping teaspoon salt
2 heaping teaspoons baking powder
2 heaping teaspoons baking soda
1 heaping teaspoon ginger
2 heaping teaspoons mixed spice
100 grams superfine (caster) sugar
4 heaping tablespoons golden syrup

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper.

Combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and spices in a stand mixer. Add the butter and beat until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Stir in sugar.

In a small saucepan, warm the golden syrup until it’s clarified a bit; stir into the flour mixture until a dough forms. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and put on prepared baking sheets a few inches apart.

Bake 8-10 minutes, until golden. Cool a few minutes on the trays and then transfer to a cooling rack.

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Giveaway


To celebrate this tour, Roseanna is giving away a grand prize of a paperback copy of A Name Unknown & 2 dozen cookies from Roseanna!!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/bc0e


Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Wilderness Reunion (Wilderness, Inc. #4) by Elizabeth Goddard













Title: Wilderness Reunion (Wilderness, Inc. #4)
Author: Elizabeth Goddard
Pages: 215
Release Date: July 4, 2017
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense
Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     Moving Targets!

     After stumbling on a drug operation, Alice Wilde races through the woods as bullets whiz past, using her skills as a wilderness guide to elude her pursuers. But she doesn’t stay safe for long once one of the armed men recognizes her…and starts stalking her. When the sheriff asks her to guide his men and photojournalist Griffin Slater—her ex-boyfriend—to the crime scene, though, she can’t refuse. Alice knows Griffin’s just there for a story, but after the two of them are separated from the rest of the group, he’s the only person who can save her. And with someone willing to do anything to hunt them down, Alice must put aside their past if she wants to survive.

My review:

     Filled with intense heart-pounding action and danger!

     This is a stand-alone story. Really the only thing that you can gain by reading this book after the others in the series is the ability to recognize the names of some very minor characters.

     I love the vulnerability that Alice displays. At the same time she has the courage and strength to carry on and do what she needs to do. Her help is vital to the cause of bringing justice. She is wounded by a past memory and it has crippled her abilities. She is also carrying wounds caused by Griffin’s departure from her life. The emotional journey that she goes on in this book trying to learn to trust Griffin again is great. She also has to learn to lean on God for His protection.

     The story is very twisted and it really kept my interest. I desperately wanted Alice and the rest of the group to survive their trek into danger. I needed to find out who the bag guys were and see how they were dealt with.

     This marvelous book is getting a 5 star rating from me. I highly recommend it.


Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Sunday, July 16, 2017

An Awakened Heart (Orphan Train #0.5) by Jody Hedlund













Title: An Awakened Heart (Orphan Train #0.5)
Author: Jody Hedlund
Pages: 157
Release Date: April 4, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Format: eBook (available for free in Kindle format)

About the book:

     Trying to heal the ache she feels in her empty life, wealthy Christine Pendleton
Trying to heal the ache she feels in her empty life, wealthy Christine Pendleton decides to volunteer at Centre Street Chapel. Ministering to one of the most deprived parts of New York City, the chapel aims at making a difference in the lives of the impoverished immigrants flooding the city. After seeing firsthand the hopelessness of the poor women and orphans, Christine is convinced more can be done to help them.

     Guy Befell has been serving at the chapel and pouring his heart out for the people he’s grown to care about. When Christine begins to challenge his methods and offers a new vision for reaching out to the community, can he trust that perhaps God has bigger plans in store for him—plans that may include this feisty socialite?

My review:

     This is an incredible historical romance!

     The characters are truly three dimensional in this remarkable beginning of a new series. I love it when a new group of books is introduced in a novella such as this. 

     This wonderful story is set in New York City in 1857. I have read books from this period about the wealthy and those in high society. I have seldom found a book that is focused on the plight of the poorest of immigrants. The picture drawn of how they are trapped within their circumstances without any foreseeable way out is very poignant. My heart broke for what Elise and her sisters were facing. 

     At the same time Christine Pendleton and Reverend Guy Bedell were doing what they could to try and help. I was quickly able to empathize with Christine and the heartache she has experienced as well. I was caught up in longing to see her life improve as well.

     I am looking forward to reading this entire series. I have to give this marvelous novella a rating of 5-stars. I am highly recommending it.

Friday, July 14, 2017

My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring by Carrie Fancett Pagels













Title: My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Mooring
Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels
Pages: 256
Release Date: July 1, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Barbour Books
Format: eBook (also available in paperback)
Note: I received a free eBook copy of this novel from the author. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     Moor your heart on Mackinac Island along with resident sweetheart Maude Welling, an heiress trying to prove her worth by working incognito as a maid at the Grand Hotel. Meet Ben Steffans, a journalist posing as a wealthy industrialist who has come to the island to uncover a story about impoverished men pursuing heiresses at the famed hotel. Will a growing love between Maude and Ben be scuttled when truths are revealed in this Gilded Age romance?

My review:

     This is a delightful historical romance!

     I fell in love with the characters in this book quickly because they are amazingly well developed. There is an incredible variety of personalities which made the whole story come alive. 

     There were a number of people that at times were pretending to people that they weren’t. Some of them were shown for what they really were from the very beginning. Some of them were kept as a mild mystery for much of the book. It was a lot to fun to try and figure who was really who. I was enthralled to see how the relationships between many of the different characters would develop.

     I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book and am giving it a rating of 5-stars. I highly recommend it.


Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Gladden the Heart (Amish Turns of Time #5) by Olivia Newport + A GIVEAWAY


Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book

Book title: Gladden the Heart  
Author: Olivia Newport  
Release date: July 1, 2017  
Genre: Historical Amish  

“When you have experienced the Holy Ghost as I have, you would see that it is difficult to turn back.” 

 When the lively fervor of nineteenth century revivalism endangers the staid customs of the Amish community in the lush but rugged Kishacoquillas Valley of central Pennsylvania in 1847, the Amish church must deal with a divisive question: What is a genuine spiritual experience? 

 The question turns personal when Susanna’s beloved cousin Noah begins preaching while under trances and even though he is not a minister he gives long sermons that attract increasing attention. Curious, she helps to keep Noah safe during his trances. At the same time Adam, Susanna’s intended, feels pressure from the bishop to speak out against the ways of revivalism. 

 Susanna and Adam are pushed to opposite sides of a controversy that threatens their traditional Amish faith.. Now they must grapple with whether love is possible…even if they come to different conclusions. 

 When Noah goes missing at a time of day when he often preaches while asleep, circumstances thrust community members with divergent opinions into a crisis that demands they recognize the humanity they share regardless of beliefs. But can strong-held opinions be softened by the truths that shape their lives?

My Review

A fascinating look at an Amish community in 1847!

The Characters in this book are wonderful. They are so well developed and have such a wide variety of personalities that I was able to connect with a number of them. Some of them were just plain annoying, just like people in my own community.

I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that there was a deep question that was being grappled with by most of the characters. The entire community was affected by it. Each person had to sort out their own beliefs and feelings on a personal level as well as wishing the whole group.

I haven't read the earlier books in this series but I will be going back to read each one of them.

I am giving this incredible, thought provoking book a 5 star rating and highly recommending it.

About the Author


Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to discover where faith and passions meet. She chases joy in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is. Her books include the Avenue of Dreams series set in 1890s Chicago; the Valley of Choice series, which intertwines contemporary and historical Amish stories; the historical Amish Turns of Time series; and Hidden Falls, a warm, contemporary, small-town novel.

Guest Post from Olivia Newport

Sleepy Sundays 

 Now don’t laugh, but my guess is that if you looked around your church on any given Sunday morning, you’d see somebody sleeping. It might be an infant or toddler whose nap time collides with the worship time resting in a parent’s arms, or it might be a senior citizen who has perfected the art of dozing in an upright position. 

 What you don’t expect is that the person sleeping will be the preacher. 

 I’ve always been interested in church history. I even read a magazine called Christian History on a regular basis and consider it pleasure reading. In my ambling through church history, I came across a notation about “sleeping preachers” in the nineteenth century in various denominations, including the Amish. The accounts suggested that individuals who were not ministers would fall unconscious, wake up to preach for lengthy periods, sleep again, and have no recollection of their actions. 

 Could this possibly be true? Or a giant hoax? What’s a genuine spiritual experience, and what do we do when don’t agree on how to answer that question? Let’s face it, even now, 150 years later, we still don’t quite know what to do with our varying traditions when we don’t agree on how to answer that question. 

I knew I had the makings of a story. Gladden the Heart travels back to 1847 and wrestles with these questions. When a divided community faces a life-or-death situation, they must respond to a crisis that challenges them to look past their differences. But can strong-held opinions be softened by the truths that shape their lives? 

Gladden the Heart is the fifth story in Olivia Newport’s Amish Turns of Time series of historical Amish novels. Olivia chases joy in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is.

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Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away a Grand Prize that consists of: 

All five books in the Amish Turns of Time series 

PLUS 

Bonus: All three books in the Valley of Choice series 

PLUS 

$25 Amazon Gift Card!! 

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/bc59