Thursday, February 27, 2020

Cold Case Connection Review + Giveaway


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About the Book

Book:  Cold Case Connection
Author: Dana Mentink
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Release Date: February 1, 2020
Cold Case Connection Cover
Convinced his sister’s death wasn’t an accident, private investigator Sergio Ross is determined to catch her killer. But with all the clues hinting at a connection to another unsolved murder, he has to join forces with Helen Pike—a woman linked to both deaths—to find the truth. Can they follow the cold evidence trail to get justice…before they become the next victims?

Click here to get your copy.



About the Author

Dana Mentink
Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Harvest House. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the  nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

More from Dana

Cold Case Connection was really fun to write because it’s Helen’s story. She’s an intelligent, sensitive woman who is the sister to the men living on the Roughwater Ranch. Liam is her biological brother, but she’s just as close to Chad and Mitch who might as well be blood relatives. In this novel, Helen has to relive the worst moment of her teenage life, the night when a mysterious murder occurred during a teen prank. Helen is going to have to face the past in order to preserve her future. Cowboys, a case gone cold, a coastal ranch and a whole lot of danger…I hope you will enjoy the ride!

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, February 14
The Avid Reader, February 15
Texas Book-aholic, February 15
Inklings and notions, February 16
janicesbookreviews, February 16
Betti Mace, February 17
She Lives to Read, February 17
Genesis 5020, February 17
For Him and My Family, February 18
Remembrancy, February 20
Older & Smarter?, February 20
Blogging With Carol, February 20
deb’s Book Review, February 21
Bigreadersite, February 21
EmpowerMoms, February 21
Christian Bookaholic, February 23
KarenSueHadley, February 23
Emily Yager, February 24
Pause for Tales, February 24
Simple Harvest Reads, February 25 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Maureen’s Musings, February 26
Hallie Reads, February 26
Livin’ Lit, February 27
Daysong Reflections, February 27

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a Mentink giveaway bundle, including a bag, a copy of the book, and an Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

 GIVEAWAY!

My Thoughts

I just love Dana's stories and this book is one of my favorites! I loved the characters and the suspense kept me flipping the pages. This book takes you into a murder from the past and digs up old memories and people who might have been the killer. It was really fun to "investigate" along side Helen and Sergio. The romance is sweet and for such a short book it is very well written. This series has been great so I highly recommend that you read all the books! 

Five 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."

Saturday, February 22, 2020

The Fifth Avenue Story Society Review with Celebrate Lit Tours


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About the Book

Book:  The Fifth Avenue Story Society
Author: Rachel Hauck
Genre:  Contemporary Romance/ Women’s Fiction
Release Date: February 4, 2020
The Fifth Avenue Story Society 

An invitation to join The Fifth Avenue Story Society gives five New York strangers a chance to rewrite their own stories.
Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.
Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.
Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.
Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.
Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.
When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to bear their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.
 Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.

Get your copy of the book here.

About the Author

rachel-hauck-LR-5 
Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com; Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauck.

Read an Excerpt

Read an excerpt here.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 10
The Avid Reader, February 10
Livin’ Lit, February 10
Genesis 5020, February 10
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 10
The Power of Words, February 11
A Baker’s Perspective, February 11
Rebecca Tews, February 11
All-of-a-kind Mom, February 11
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 11
Older & Smarter?, February 12
Seasons of Opportunities, February 12
Texas Book-aholic, February 12
Inklings and notions, February 12
deb’s Book Review, February 12
My Devotional Thoughts, February 13
Just the Write Escape, February 13
For Him and My Family, February 13
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, February 13
CarpeDiem, February 13
Remembrancy, February 14
Christian Bookaholic, February 14
Connect in Fiction, February 14
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 14
April Hayman, Author, February 14
Robin’s Nest, February 15
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, February 15
Britt Reads Fiction, February 15
Just Your Average reviews, February 15
Blogging With Carol, February 15
Batya’s Bits, February 16
Bigreadersite, February 16
A Reader’s Brain, February 16
Worthy2Read, February 16
Stories By Gina, February 16
Back Porch Reads, February 17
janicesbookreviews, February 17
Literary Reflections Book Blog, February 17
Inside the Wong Mind, February 17
Mary Hake, February 17
Through the fire blogs, February 18
Mia Reads, February 18
Baker Kella, February 18
EmpowerMoms, February 18
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 18
Maureen’s Musings, February 19
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 19
Coast and Anchor, February 19
Spoken from the Heart, February 19
SPLASHES of Joy, February 19
She Lives to Read, February 20
By The Book, February 20
Wishful Endings, February 20
Moments, February 20
Simple Harvest Reads, February 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Andrea Christenson, February 21
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 21
Pause for Tales, February 21
For The Love of Books, February 21
Lis Loves Reading, February 21
Reader’s Cozy Corner, February 22
Hallie Reads, February 22
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, February 22
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, February 22
To Everything There Is A Season, February 22
Godly Book Reviews, February 23
Daysong Reflections, February 23
SusanLovesBooks, February 23
Lights in a Dark World, February 23



My Thoughts

 
I never know what to expect when I pick up a Rachel Hauck book. Every single one is totally different and unexpected. I do love this cover! This story has A LOT of characters but surprisingly it is fairly easy to keep up with them all. I really enjoyed the story society aspect and how it pulled all of the characters and pieces of the book together. Coral and Jett are my favorites simply because of their personalities and perspectives. While I was expecting a little stronger faith aspect some details at the end surprised me and so I encourage you to read until the end. While this story isn't terribly fast paced I really enjoyed looking into the lives of the many people involved. I liked seeing how the characters grew over the course of the pages. While this wasn't my favorite book by Rachel I still found it enjoyable! 

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."

Monday, February 17, 2020

More Than We Remember Review


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About the Book

One night changes everything for three women. . . .

When Addison Killbourn's husband is involved in a car accident that leaves a woman dead, her perfectly constructed life crumbles apart. With her husband's memory of that night gone and the revelation of a potentially life-altering secret, Addison has to reevaluate all she thought she knew.

Emilia Cruz is a deputy bearing a heavy burden far beyond the weight of her job. Her husband is no longer the man she married, and Emilia's determined to prevent others from facing the same hardship. When she's called to the scene of an accident pointing to everything she's fighting against, she's determined to see justice for those wronged.

Brianne Demanno is hiding from reality. She was thriving as a counselor, but when tragedy struck a beloved client, she lost faith in herself and her purpose. When her neighbors, the Killbourns, are thrown into crisis, Brianne's solitary life is disrupted and she finds herself needed in a way she hasn't been in a while.

As the lives of these women intersect, they can no longer dwell in the memory of who they've been. Can they rise from the wreck of the worst moments of their lives to become who they were meant to be?
One night changes everything for three women. . . .

When Addison Killbourn's husband is involved in a car accident that leaves a woman dead, her perfectly constructed life crumbles apart. With her husband's memory of that night gone and the revelation of a potentially life-altering secret, Addison has to reevaluate all she thought she knew.

Emilia Cruz is a deputy bearing a heavy burden far beyond the weight of her job. Her husband is no longer the man she married, and Emilia's determined to prevent others from facing the same hardship. When she's called to the scene of an accident pointing to everything she's fighting against, she's determined to see justice for those wronged.

Brianne Demanno is hiding from reality. She was thriving as a counselor, but when tragedy struck a beloved client, she lost faith in herself and her purpose. When her neighbors, the Killbourns, are thrown into crisis, Brianne's solitary life is disrupted and she finds herself needed in a way she hasn't been in a while.

As the lives of these women intersect, they can no longer dwell in the memory of who they've been. Can they rise from the wreck of the worst moments of their lives to become who they were meant to be? (Goodreads)



My Thoughts

This story left me thinking about it's characters long after I closed the book. There are a few different story lines happening but I loved how they intertwined together. The author did an excellent job with the multiple different characters. This story starts off with a bang and pretty much has you guessing until the final chapters. What I loved most about this story is that you think you know what is going on, as the reader you get to understand all sides, but the ending had a nice surprise. There are some really challenging life issues that are a part of these families lives and I thought it was all really well written. Forgiveness and healing are huge components in this book and I think it is what makes the book worthwhile. 
This author reminded me a bit of Jodi Picoult's writing. 

Five Stars.

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









 

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Top Ten Favorite Fiction Love Stories


I have come up with some of my favorite love stories. This was challenging so here are just a few! 

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Anne + Gilbert



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Marty + Clark

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Caroline + Charles



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Angel(Sarah) + Michael


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Ella + Charlie


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Lark + Magnus



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Victoria + Albert (A True Love Story)

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Tamsen Littlejohn+ Jesse Bird

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Ivy +Darek


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Meg + Bo





















Monday, February 3, 2020

Veiled in Smoke Review


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 About the Book

Meg and Sylvie Townsend manage the family bookshop and care for their father, Stephen, a veteran still suffering in mind and spirit from his time as a POW during the Civil War. But when the Great Fire sweeps through Chicago's business district, they lose much more than just their store.

The sisters become separated from their father, and after Meg burns her hands in an attempt to save a family heirloom, they make a harrowing escape from the flames with the help of Chicago Tribune reporter Nate Pierce. Once the smoke clears away, they reunite with Stephen, only to learn soon after that their family friend not only died during the fire--he was murdered. Even more shocking, Stephen is charged with the crime and committed to the Cook County Insane Asylum.

Though homeless, injured, and suddenly unemployed, Meg must not only gather the pieces of her shattered life, but prove her father's innocence before the asylum truly drives him mad. (Goodreads)




My Thoughts

 Jocelyn has such a way with writing historical stories. I have read a few books about the Chicago fire but this one is my favorite. I loved the characters and probably my favorite thing about this book is Stephen's story. I can not even imagine what it must have been like to come home after fighting in the Civil War. It is really awful to think that people who clearly would be suffering mentally and emotionally after the war, would be committed to an insane asylum. Most historical novels take you into the battle or the time during the war, many don't describe the realities after such horrors. I love that Jocelyn brought this to light in this story. I was also fascinated with the historical tidbits that involve the fire. This book takes you right into the chaos of the ashes. I felt like I was there in the middle of it all. 
I am excited to read the next book and if you enjoy reading historical fiction I recommend you pick this one up!
Five Stars.

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









Sunday, February 2, 2020

A Mother's Secret Review

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About the Book
 
Her home is at stake… and her first love holds the key.

Joy Gordon’s life is far from perfect. The lavish house she lives in with her children was loaned to her by a wealthy philanthropist—and his death means she has to give up her home. To satisfy his controlling father, Chase Asher must take his great-uncle’s property from the woman he once loved…but what will he do when he learns he fathered Joy’s twins?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope. (Goodreads)


My Thoughts

I have been enjoying Gabrielle's books for a few years now and I am always excited to read her latest. This story has a fun setting of Bee Tree Hill, which is a historical mansion in a town called Timber Falls. I really loved the characters in this story. With this being a shorter novel I still felt like I got to know them well. There are a lot of difficult issues brought up within the pages. Forgiveness and past regrets and healing. Also, being able to stand up for what you know is right and the importance of family. There are some great scenes with Chase and his dad and the author really showed how we can and often should act. I loved the foster parent situation and I wish it was in more stories that I read. 
I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend any of Gabrielle's books. 
Five Stars. 

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












 

Saturday, February 1, 2020

The Gray Chamber Review + Giveaway with Celebrate Lit Tours


The Gracy Chamber FB Banner


About the Book

Book:  The Gray Chamber
Author: Grace Hitchcock
Genre:  Christian Historical / Suspense
Release Date: January, 2020
The Gray Chamber 
Will Edyth prove her sanity before it is too late?
Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime
On Blackwell’s Island, New York, a hospital was built to keep its patients from ever leaving.
With her late parents’ fortune under her uncle’s care until her twenty-fifth birthday in the year 1887, Edyth Foster does not feel pressured to marry or to bow to society’s demands. She freely indulges in eccentric hobbies like fencing and riding her velocipede in her cycling costume about the city for all to see. Finding a loophole in the will, though, her uncle whisks Edyth off to the women’s lunatic asylum just weeks before her birthday. And Edyth fears she will never be found.
At the asylum she meets another inmate, who upon discovering Edyth’s plight, confesses that she is Nellie Bly, an undercover journalist for The World. Will either woman find a way to leave the terrifying island and reclaim her true self?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

GraceHitchcock_BW
Grace Hitchcock is the author of three novellas in The Second Chance Brides, The Southern Belle Brides, and the Thimbles and Threads collections with Barbour Publishing. The White City is her debut novel and releases March 2019 with Barbour Publishing. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in southern Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, and son. Visit Grace online at GraceHitchcock.com.

More from Grace

I am thrilled to share with you my second novel in the True Colors series, The Gray Chamber, which is set in New York City in 1887. I loved writing about Edyth Foster, our cat-rescuing, spunky heroine who spends her days painting, fencing with her dreamy instructor, and avoiding society at all costs, which as you can imagine, comes back to haunt her before the end. I’ve never written about a character who despised reading, so that was a new one for me. Edyth just doesn’t like to sit still long enough to finish a book, but you’ll find out why later.

I am pretty certain the librarians at my local branch are wondering what in the world my hobbies are, judging from the stacks of fencing books for beginners, histories of New York crime in the 19th century, and Nellie Bly’s Ten Days in a Mad-House, and more that I have continuously checked out since moving back to Louisiana.

The inspiration for this book came from Nellie Bly’s scandalous exposé for Joseph Pulitzer’s newspaper, The World. In reading Nellie’s articles, I was shocked at the grounds by which the asylum would commit women and that’s when I discovered a tiny mention about an heiress with family members who had her tucked away so they could have her fortune. . .and Edyth Foster was born.

I hope you will enjoy reading about our eccentric leading lady and her fencing master hero, Raoul “Bane” Banebridge. If you are interested in seeing pictures of the asylum and to see what I pictured the characters looking like, check out my Pinterest board here.

Thank you for joining the fun for the Celebrate Lit tour! Join my author newsletter for more bookish news and to find out what is coming next! Just enter your e-mail address and name here. Happy Reading!

“With beautiful description and shiver-worthy scenes, Grace Hitchcock has penned an incredible fiction story based on true history. The Gray Chamber was a fascinating and chilling read. Edyth’s story had me glued to the pages. But as I journeyed with the heiress and her eccentricities, the greed of her family which saw her locked up in an asylum against her will made me grateful for the freedoms I have today. And made me pray that my voice would never be silenced. The nightmare was brought to life so vividly that I found myself holding my breath and then cheering on Bane as he never gave up on Edyth. This is a story that will stick with me for a long time…”

~Kimberley Woodhouse – Carol-Award winning and Best-Selling Author of more than twenty books, including: MissTaken Identity, The Express Bride, The Golden Bride, The Patriot Bride, and The Mayflower Bride.

Blog Stops

A Reader’s Brain, January 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20
Texas Book-aholic, January 20
Emily Yager, January 21
All-of-a-kind Mom, January 21
Older & Smarter?, January 21
Bigreadersite, January 22
Inklings and notions, January 22
For Him and My Family, January 22
Genesis 5020, January 23
deb’s Book Review, January 23
Blogging with Carol, January 23
Christian Bookaholic, January 24
KarenSueHadley , January 24
Mary Hake, January 24
For the Love of Literature, January 25
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 25
Godly Book Reviews, January 26
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, January 26
The Becca Files, January 26
Through the Fire Blogs, January 27
Daysong Reflections, January 27
Back Porch Reads, January 28
Robin’s Nest, January 28
Connie’s History Classroom, January 28
Betti Mace, January 29
Rebecca Tews, January 29
Vicky Sluiter, January 29
By The Book, January 30
Hallie Reads, January 30
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, January 30
Blossoms and Blessings, January 31
A Baker’s Perspective, January 31
Remembrancy, February 1
To Everything There Is A Season, February 1
With a Joyful Noise, February 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 2
Pause for Tales , February 2

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a free copy of The Gray Chamber!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
 My Thoughts


I love books based upon true events. I loved the history behind this story. I find asylum settings to be rather fascinating and of course these places were not well controlled/monitored for a lot of our past history. Reading about Nellie Bly and getting to be in that world for a few pages was fun and a bit disturbing. Edyth Foster's character I didn't love. I thought it was a unique point of view but the character didn't thrill me. I liked the historical aspect and bits and pieces of the chapters I enjoyed. Overall this wasn't my favorite book but it did make me look into a bit more of that time period and women's asylums. 

Three 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."