Sunday, October 6, 2024

Virginia Review


About the Book

Book: Virginia (Daughters of the Lost Colony Book Four)

Author: Shannon McNear

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Romance

Release date: September, 2024

The White Doe of the Outer Banks Grows into Womanhood

Return to the “what if” questions surrounding the Lost Colony and explore the possible fate of Virginia Dare–the first English child born in the New World. What happened to her after her grandfather John White returned to England and the colony he established disappeared into the mists of time? Legends abound, but she was indeed a real girl who, if she survived to adulthood, must have also become part of the legacy that is the people of the Outer Banks. In the spring of 1602 by English reckoning, “Ginny,” as she is called by family and friends, is fourteen and firmly considered a grown woman by the standards of the People. For her entire life she has watched the beautiful give-and-take of the Kurawoten and other native peoples with the English who came from across the ocean. She’s enjoyed being the darling of both English and Kurawoten alike—but a stirring deep inside her will not be put to rest.

One careless decision lands her and fellow “first baby” Henry Harvie, along with their Croatoan friend Redbud, in enemy hands. Carried away into Mangoac territory, out of the reach of Manteo and the others, she must learn who she truly is—not only the daughter of Elinor and Ananias Dare but also a child of the One True God, who gives her courage to go wherever the path of her life might lead.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in the Deep South, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s the author of four novellas, the first a 2014 RITA® nominee and the most recent a 2021 SELAH winner, and six full-length novels. Her greatest joy, however, is in being a military wife, mom, mother-in-law, and grammie. She’s been a contributor to Colonial Quills and The Borrowed Book, and is a current member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers. When not cooking, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies.

 

More fron Shannon

So—here we are! I am just so, SO, sooo blessed to get to be on Celebrate Lit yet again. And book FOUR of my Lost Colony series! Initially I thought two, maybe three books. I pretty much disregarded the possibility of writing Virginia Dare’s story because, well, there’s a good bit of mythology surrounding her, and I felt absolutely no inclination to tackle any of that.

Until early last year. The idea dropped into my head and seemed too obvious to turn away. I didn’t have much idea of what would actually happen in the story, although I knew I wanted to explore the identity of the Mangoac, who held the interior of what is now North Carolina and Virginia when the Spanish and the English first arrived in the New World. They spoke an Iroquoian language and were referred to with dread and distaste among all their neighbors, including the Powhatan. Those people are what we know now as the Tuscarora.

Little was known of the Tuscarora before John Lawson wrote of his journey through the Carolinas in 1700-01. A few years later, Lawson himself met with a fairly horrible death at the hands of the Tuscarora (one wonders what he might have done to tick them off), and tensions soon escalated between settlers and indigenous peoples into all-out war. After their defeat by the English, the Tuscarora people moved northward and became the sixth nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.

They call themselves Skaru:re—pronounced sgah-ROOO-rah (with that long “ooh” held out a little extra)—translated variously as “Long-Shirt People” or “Hemp People,” for the garments they would weave from “Indian hemp,” also known as milkweed. The Tuscarora word for milkweed does indeed contain the same root as Skaru:re, but no one knows when as a people they might have made the transition from merely using milkweed fiber for cording or twine to spinning and weaving it into fabric, as the English did flax for linen.

I decided to have a bit of fun in my story, then, with Ginny being questioned about the making of a linen garment, and then a later mention of a “rough, twiny fabric.” I’d meant to expand upon that a bit, or at least address it in the historical notes at the end—and then completely forgot until working through the galleys.

So I get to talk about it—now. ðŸ˜Š

You might guess that both details, which may feel random to the casual reader, are a nod to the translation of the name Skaru:re, and to the influence that either the Spanish or the English might have had on various Native people groups. A good author endeavors, of course, to not have any random details littering a story. In Virginia, many small things point back to previous stories—there are hints of connection to Rebecca as well even though either story could be read before the other. By the same token, all four books are what we could term alternate history—a reach beyond what is known into what might have been. I think it most likely that as Native peoples acquired European fashions, they used what they already had (in the case of the Skaru:re, a familiarity with milkweed and other materials to provide fiber) to produce garments and other items modeled after what the Spanish and English used. They were nothing if not eager to take advantage of new technologies—and what if their contact with members of the Lost Colony was what sparked the idea behind their famed “long shirts”?

A stretch, for sure. But there’s a reason why I’ve always enjoyed writing speculative fiction as well as historical. ðŸ˜Š

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 6

To Everything There Is A Season, October 6

Devoted To Hope, October 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 8

lakesidelivingsite, October 9

Texas Book-aholic, October 9

Betti Mace, October 10

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 11

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 11

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 13

Bizwings Book Blog, October 14

Cover Lover Book Review, October 15

Lights in a Dark World, October 15

Holly’s Book Corner, October 16

Sylvan Musings, October 17

Pause for Tales, October 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

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

GIVEAWAY



 My Thoughts


I have so enjoyed this series! It has made me do extra historical research on my own after reading- it is that interesting! This book is one of my favorites in the series. Virginia Dare is in herself interesting simply because she was the first English child born in the New World. Add to that fact so many of the details and possibilities of these people co inhabiting and living with the Native people. I love the research that is done and I do recommend reading the author notes in the back of the book! There is adventure and grief and a really strong religious plot thread in this novel. I think there was more conversations about knowing the Lord on a personal level than in the previous books and it surprised me but in a good way. I do recommend reading Elinor and Mary (two other books in the series) first to fully understand a lot of the back story. Elinor especially would be helpful in reading first BUT you could read this as a stand alone. It was a pleasure to journey back to the time of the Lost Colony. History lovers will enjoy! 


Four Stars. 

"I received this book from the publisher for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review." 

Friday, October 4, 2024

White Bird Movie Review and Gift Card Giveaway




About the Movie

From the world of Wonder, which sparked a movement to "choose kind," comes the inspirational next chapter: WHITE BIRD. Struggling to fit in at his new school after being expelled for his treatment of Auggie Pullman, Julian (Bryce Gheisar) is visited by his grandmother (Helen Mirren) and is transformed by the compassionate and heroic story of her attempts to escape Nazi-occupied France during WWII. From the director of Finding Neverland, WHITE BIRD reminds us to be brave and choose kind.



 Buy tickets today to see White Bird in theaters starting October 4th!





GIVEAWAY

$10 Amazon gift card. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US entries only please. 


 My Thoughts

I really love period films. There are so many stories to be told based on past events so I was really excited to watch White Bird. This is a really great movie and be prepared for lots of tears. It is awful how humans treated/treat other humans, especially during WWII. My goodness this is a hard thing to watch and I recommend not watching this with young children. Unlike the movie poster portrays, this is a gruesome film in parts and it doesn't shy away from the horrific things that went on at the time. You see people get shot, a young man attacked by an animal, people mocked and hurt for being Jewish, and how evil the Nazi soldiers were overall. While the film makers showed the hard things it is also important to understand so these horrors don't repeat themselves. 

 The main thread of the story follows a young girl and boy and their sweet friendship and imagination that is created from a world of utter darkness. I love how this film showed continual hope amid the fear and uncertainty of daily living. The light shines in the darkness. 

Helen Mirren is one of a kind and her scenes add so much as you can imagine. I love how the story line is set up with Sara (Mirren) telling her grandson her story and how it ties in with his current life. It makes this film relatable to us today and also proves how important it is to know our history.  

Overall this is a great film that needs shown to the next generation and to those who think these things never happened or that it doesn't matter anymore. It did happen and it does matter. 


#WhiteBirdMIN #WhiteBirdMovie #BeBraveChooseKind

Many thanks to Kingdom Faith Marketing Services for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.


Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Across the Star-Kissed Sea Review






About the Book


 When May becomes a lady’s maid at sea, she’s hoping for an innocent adventure but instead must navigate rough waters, deadly combat, and unexpected love.


Mediterranean Sea, 1811

May Byam grew up following her father to his work at the ropemaking factory and listening to her uncle’s tales of life aboard a Royal Navy ship. After tragedy and scandal shatter her family, May is desperate to escape the shame that follows her. Despite her mother’s pleadings against it, May signs on as a lady’s maid to the young wife of a naval captain. If she’s going to run, she may as well do it in honor of her late uncle and cousin and where there is food, shelter, and perhaps even adventure. But the frosty reception she receives from the ship’s clergyman makes her feel far from welcome.

Heartbroken young Chaplain Elias Doswell returns to a harsh life at sea, but preaching to disinterested sailors isn’t the escape he’d hoped for—until a captivating young woman boards the ship. However, a case of mistaken identity ensures that he starts off on the wrong foot with the newly hired lady’s maid, who clearly wants nothing to do with him. But the close quarters of the ship forces the pair together, and May begins to see a side of the handsome clergyman she didn’t expect. As they struggle to navigate their deepening feelings, the danger of war with the French looms on the horizon, threatening their lives—and their love. (Goodreads)










My Thoughts


I started this book having no clue that it was tied to Georgana's Secret which is the book Hawks wrote previously with a similar setting. I LOVED that book so I was even more excited to dig into this one! While you don't have to read the previous book, I do recommend it because this story means so much more if you do! 
I just love stories that are set on a ship and this book holds quite the adventure. The characters are well developed and so fun to read. The only thing is that I I really struggled to like May's character. By the end I did like her but I didn't see a lot of character development by the last page. Elias is such a unique individual and I applaud the author for creating a hero that isn't perfect. I so enjoyed getting to see the life of Dominic and Georgana again and I think that was the highlight for me while reading. This isn't my favorite by this author but still a good read. 
This is a good book for an escape to the high seas!


Three Stars. 

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."  























Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Meddling with Mistletoe Review






About the Book


 Whitney Garrett is preparing to enter culinary school in the spring, but first she has to sell enough homemade pies at the local Christmas markets to pay her tuition. When her oven breaks, Whitney asks Marie Sloan, proprietor of the Red Door Inn, if she can use the inn's kitchen to keep up with her orders. Marie agrees, with a Whitney has to watch the three Sloan children and cook breakfasts for the Red Door in return. The inn is busy with holiday guests--including Aretha Franklin Sloan's perpetually single nephew Daniel and Ruby, a businesswoman in town to purchase Aretha's antiques store. Intent on making a Christmas match for the two, Aretha enlists Whitney's help in her schemes. But the deeper Whitney gets, the more she realizes that Ruby is definitely not the right woman for Daniel--and the more she thinks that she just might be his perfect match. Cuddle up for some warm holiday cheer as New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson explores the unforeseen consequences of meddling with mistletoe when love is on the line. (Goodreads)



PURCHASE HERE



My Thoughts


My goodness what a fun and cozy read! I absolutely love PEI so when I found out this book had that wonderful setting I was excited! If you haven't read the previous books by this author, specifically The Red Door Inn, I highly recommend you do! It was pure delight to go back to the inn for the holidays and I really enjoyed the new characters. Whitney is very real and probably will remind a lot of readers of themselves. Daniel is a surprising character that I just love! He is so serious and seems rather drab at the start but my goodness keep reading! Aretha is wonderful as always even if she drives you a bit crazy. Is it a bit "Hallmark" and predictable? Of course. Is it worth reading? Yes! There is humor and so much heart in this story. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 


Five Stars. 

"I received this book from Revell for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."












Tuesday, September 17, 2024

A Thieving at Carlton House Review

A Thieving at Carlton House JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for A Thieving at Carlton House by Erica Vetsch hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

A Thieving at Carlton House Title: A Thieving at Carlton House 
Series: Of Cloaks & Daggers #1 
Author: Erica Vetsch 
Publisher: Kregel Publications 
Release Date: September 17, 2024 
Genre: Regency Mystery Romance

Unlikely alliances form when a killer is on the loose... but who can be trusted?

The Home Office has asked Sir Bertrand Thorndike to head an investigation into stolen royal jewels. And as with everything concerning the Prince Regent, discretion is paramount. 

It's the perfect chance for Bertie to step out of his brother's long shadow. Unfortunately, his superior, The Duke of Haverly, has a plan that makes him balk: in order to sell his cover, Bertie must play the part of a man looking for love, ready to reform his rakish ways. The duke is willing to let Bertie name his own investigative team, but his recommendation that the team include 

Philippa Cashel has Bertie on his guard. Does the duke--known for his behind-the-scenes machinations--have an ulterior motive? Philippa Cashel escaped her life as one of society's best-known courtesans, devoting her life to helping other women in dire straits. So when Sir Bertrand Thorndike approaches her about joining his team as an agent of the Crown, she is skeptical. Why her? She's focused on getting her school for underprivileged women up and running, not in cloak-and-dagger skullduggery. Her hope is that if she labors hard enough at her charity work, she might begin to feel worthy of God's forgiveness of her past. 

When one of Philippa's rescued girls is arrested for stealing the royal jewels and another is murdered, Philippa will risk partnering with Bertie to find the loot and stop the killer. 

Two brilliant minds--with two wary hearts--and one cunning deceiver are on a collision course in Regency England. 

Beloved Regency author Erica Vetsch begins this new series with all the elements that keep her readers coming back. From historical accuracy to rousing mystery to deep character faith journeys, A Thieving at Carlton House will please Regency lovers--and anyone else who loves a great story.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available:

The Lost Lieutenant (Serendipity & Secrets Book 1) The Debutante's Code (Thorndike and Swann Regency Mysteries Book 1)


About the Author

Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota.

Connect with Erica by visiting ericavetsch.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of A Thieving at Carlton House and a $25 Amazon gift card!

A Thieving at Carlton House JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 16, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on September 23, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. International prize ebook and egift card. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours





My Thoughts

I am so excited about this new series! While there are ties to the authors previous books (and a really awesome family tree in this book!) you can read this one as a stand alone. BUT it is fun to tie all of the people together from her previous books if you want to read those at some point. This story is really great and I love Philippa Cashel's character. As a previous courtesan (prostitute), Philippa has quite a story of redemption and forgiveness that carries over into her desire to help others. There is terrific mystery and intrigue throughout this novel that I found to be well written. Personally I thought it was a bit obvious about half way through who the "bad guy" was but the details and the "why" didn't fully make sense until the end. There is a lot going on in this book and the reader really has to pay attention to fully grasp the story lines and different characters. I bet I could read it again and find things I missed the first time around! All that to say this is an enjoyable read and I highly recommend to those who enjoy a little mystery set during the Regency time period in England!

Four Stars. 


"I received this book from Kregel Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Saturday, September 14, 2024

I Think I Was Murdered Review





About the Book

 A grieving young widow. The AI program that allows her to continue to "talk" to him. And a message she never expected: "I think I was murdered."


Just a year ago, Katrina Berg was at the pinnacle of her career. She was a rising star in the AI chatbot start-up everyone was talking about, married with an adoring husband, and had more money than she knew how to spend. Then her world combusted. Her husband, Jason, was killed in a fiery car crash. Her CEO was indicted and, as the company's legal counsel, Katrina faces tough questions as the Feds take over and lock her out of her office. The final blow is the passing of her beloved grandmother.

Her most prized possession is the beta prototype for a new, ultra-sophisticated chatbot loaded onto her phone. The contents of Jason's email, social media backups, pictures, and every bit of data she could find were loaded into the bot, and Katrina has "talked" to him every day for the past six months. She has been amazed at how well it works. Even the syntax and words the bot uses sound like Jason. Sometimes, she imagines he isn't really dead and is right there beside her. She knows it's slowing her grief recovery, but she can't stop pretending.

On a particularly bad day, she taps out: Tell me something I don't know. The cursor blinks for several moments and seems frozen before the reply flashes quickly onto the screen: I think I was murdered.

Distraught, Katrina returns to her cozy Norwegian-flavored hometown in the northern California redwoods and enlists the help of Seb Wallace, local restaurateur and longtime acquaintance, to try to parse out the truth of what really happened. They must navigate the complicated paths of grief, family dynamics, and second chances, as well as the complex questions of how much control technology has. And staying alive long enough to do that is far more difficult than either of them dreamed. (Goodreads)








My Thoughts


The title of this book captured my attention and when I saw the authors I knew this was a book I had to read! This is a story that I have thought about often after reading because it is so unique and also terrifying what is possible in our world today! As typical murder mysteries go there is a tragedy BUT the twist- no one thinks it is murder until technology says otherwise. As a reader I was totally fascinated with how this could work and how the AI program (made up of course) worked in figuring out the truth of what happened. I have never thought about technology in this way and I think the the authors did a great job at creating this chatbot. This was a thinking outside of the box plot line and it held my attention until the end. The characters I didn't fully connect with and honestly I didn't love Katrina but the full story as a whole I really enjoyed. I recommend if you are looking for a unique mystery read!

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from NetGalley for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."














Thursday, September 12, 2024

God's Not Dead: In God We Trust Movie Review




 

Amid political and spiritual turmoil, Reverend David Hill steps up to run for
Congress after an incumbent's sudden death. Battling against Peter Kane, who aims
to erase religion from policy, David's fight becomes a beacon of hope and optimism
for people seeking moral leadership in a divided world.

 


Buy tickets today to see God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust in theaters starting
September 12th!

 

Watch the interview with female lead, Samaire Armstrong.

 


 

 

The film is engaging with a captivating story and has a renowned cast that keeps the
whole family entertained allowing families and friends to discuss how to engage in
this current political climate with courage. Most importantly, this film that demonstrates Christians should be optimistic, excited, and hopeful about the future.

 

 The film stars David A. R. White (GOD’S NOT DEAD, Evening Shade), Isaiah Washing-
ton (Grey’s Anatomy) Dean Cain (Lois & Clark), Samaire Armstrong, (The O.C.), Ray
Wise (ROBO COP), Scott Baio (Happy Days), Charlene Tilton (Dallas), with guest appearances by Governor Mike Huckabee and Newsboys.

 

GIVEAWAY

$10 Amazon gift card

This is limited to US winners only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



My Thoughts

I have watched the other God's Not Dead movies and enjoyed them. This one is all about politics and for some that might make you think "oh no I don't want to watch a movie about such things". BUT I encourage you to see it! It went a different direction I wasn't expecting and I thought the acting good and the final and main point was made clear. It held my interest the entire time and I am not someone who is really into anything political aside from reading, listening, and voting. Regardless of opinion I would watch this movie with an open mind. It doesn't claim to portray a specific political person and it is mainly making a statement that your vote matters. Apparently 40 million Christians don't vote and 15 million aren't even registered to vote. That is astonishing to me. I know people who don't vote because they don't think it matters (the film even has a scene portraying this) but reality is that if so many people "don't think it matters" it turns into millions of people not voting! THAT does have an impact!

I enjoyed the movie and I found it worth the watch!


#InGodWeTrustMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork


Many thanks to Pinnacle Peak Pictures for providing a sample of the product for this
review. Opinions are 100% my own.


 

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Provide a Much-Needed Escape

Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Provide a Much Needed Escape!

Well I would say most all fiction is an escape of some sort. These are some books that I thought about off the top of my head that felt like a good escape into another place. 

 

This story is set in a delightful small town that I wouldn't mind living in.


I loved the fall vibes and humor from this story. I also just enjoyed being taken to another town that has a hockey team. Very fun!
I am not a "sea" person but this book is a delightful journey that takes you to the English seaside.

This story is SO different from what I typically read and it was good to be in a totally different fantasy world.

Prince Edward Island---need I say more?!

This is a cozy creepy escape that would be perfect to read on a rainy or chilly fall day.

I have read this book multiple times and it makes me smile every single time.


This whole series is a fun escape to Scotland.

1750s frontier adventure and it is a perfect fall read!

A chilly suspense kind of escape.




Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Lady Flyer Review

  


 About the Book

Based on a true story and set against the backdrop of WWII, a young woman’s love of flying becomes an epic fight for identity and equality.

In the quiet town of Houghton, Michigan, sixteen-year-old Nancy Harkness discovers a passion that ignites her heart in ways she never expected. The arrival of barnstormer pilots brings more than just the thrill of their daring stunts; it brings the promise of adventure. Nancy vows she will be a pilot someday.

Years later, as the dark clouds of World War II gather on the horizon, Nancy’s dreams take a new and daring turn. With unwavering determination, she envisions a squadron of female pilots. Yet, her path is far from clear. The male-dominated world of aviation pushes back, determined to keep women out of the skies.

But Nancy isn’t alone in her quest for equality. Jackie Cochran, a formidable aviatrix and Nancy’s rival, has her own dreams and ambitions for women in aviation. As they both navigate the turbulent skies of a nation at war, their destinies intertwine in a story of rivalry, respect, and competition. (Goodreads)


BUY HERE!


My Thoughts

 

I was so excited to read this book because I didn't know anything about this history! Nancy Harkness Love led quite a life and this book is so well written that it captivates your attention. This is fiction but reads a lot like a biography. The author takes us from when Nancy was young up until her later years and then adds a TON of historical facts and tips at the end. I didn't know anything about the "lady flyers" or WAFS or WASP. Most books set during WWII are in Europe and not what was happening in the USA during that time. I really loved reading from Nancy's perspective on flying but also cultural events and historical accounts. There are SO many details and clearly is a well researched novel. I also really enjoyed the portrayal of Nancy and her husband. Their meeting and life together made me smile often. 

This is historical fiction at its finest! I highly recommend! 


Five Stars.

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."





Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Involving Food

 Top Ten Books Involving Food!

This one was pretty tricky and I had to think to books I read LONG ago!