Thursday, April 30, 2020

Goldfinch Mornings


 Our backyard was FULL of these delightful yellow finches this past week. I could have watched them all day.




Tuesday, April 28, 2020

The House At The End Of The Moor Review + Giveaway!


About the Book

Book:  House at the End of the Moor
Author: Michelle Griep
Genre:  Christian Historical
Release Date: April 2020

An Opulent London Opera Star Escapes to the Rugged Landscape of the English Moors
Opera star Maggie Lee escapes her opulent lifestyle when threatened by a powerful politician who aims to ruin her life. She runs off to the wilds of the moors to live in anonymity. All that changes the day she discovers a half-dead man near her house. Escaped convict Oliver Ward is on the run to prove his innocence, until he gets hurt and is taken in by Maggie. He discovers some jewels in her possession—the very same jewels that got him convicted. Together they hatch a plan to return the jewels, clearing Oliver’s name and hopefully maintaining Maggie’s anonymity.

Click here for your copy!


About the Author


Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.


 More from Michelle

What comes to mind when you hear the word moor? For some, images of Jane Eyre spring to life. For others, The Hound of the Baskervilles starts barking. But for most, it’s a big fat goose egg. The fact is that most Americans don’t have a clue what a moor is, but never fear, my friend…after you read the next few paragraphs, you’ll never again go blank-minded when you hear the word moor.


Last summer I skipped across the pond and tromped around Dartmoor with my daughter and husband. What an awesome experience. I learned first-hand just how windy this vast stretch of land can be, for that’s really what a moor is at heart: a vast stretch of land. Webster’s defines it as an expanse of open rolling infertile land. Sounds rather desolate, eh? Yeah. Kind of. But it’s oh so much more.

In spring and summer, green does abound. Gorse bushes. Scrubby grasses. Lambs and sheep and goats. All these animals roam free so there are trails worn into the dirt that you can hike along. But I hear you…where could you possibly go if there’s nothing besides some farm animals roaming around the place?

You could hike to a tor, which is a “high, craggy hill.” Some of them can be a little treacherous to climb, but sweet mercy, what a view! The earth stretches out like a green and brown quilt. As I hiked that day last spring, whispers in the wind inspired me to wonder a lot of what-ifs, and those what-ifs came together in a story of intrigue and betrayal.

What would you do if you found a half-dead man bleeding in the middle of nowhere? Find out what heroine Maggie Lee does in The House at the End of the Moor.

Blog Stops

Batya’s Bits, April 18
The Avid Reader, April 18
Life of Literature, April 18
The Power of Words, April 18
For Him and My Family, April 19
Texas Book-aholic, April 19
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 19
Among the Reads, April 20
My Devotional Thoughts, April 20
As He Leads is Joy, April 20
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 20
Just the Write Escape, April 21
Reflections From My Bookshelves, April 21
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, April 21
Where Faith and Books Meet, April 22
deb’s Book Review, April 22
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 22
Inklings and notions, April 22
Remembrancy, April 23
Hookmeinabook, April 23
Christian Bookaholic, April 23
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 24
Britt Reads Fiction, April 24
Emily Yager, April 24
Betti Mace, April 25
Stories By Gina, April 25
Adventures of a Traveling Wife, April 25
Blossoms and Blessings, April 25
Splashes of Joy, April 26
Simple Harvest Reads, April 26 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Vicky Sluiter, April 26
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 26
Blessed & Bookish, April 27
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 27
Pause for Tales, April 27
Through the Fire Blogs, April 28
Hallie Reads, April 28
Faery Tales Are Real, April 28
To Everything There Is A Season, April 28
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 29
Bigreadersite, April 29
Older & Smarter?, April 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 29
Genesis 5020, April 30
Read Review Rejoice, April 30
By The Book, April 30
For the Love of Literature, April 30
All-of-a-kind Mom, May 1
Bookishly Beverly, May 1
Daysong Reflections, May 1
Artistic Nobody, May 1 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

 Giveaway

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




 My Thoughts


I absolutely LOVE the setting for this book! Right from the start you are transported to Dartmoor and I really think I could live there. This book is somewhat of a mystery and really you can't help but keep reading because you have to know what happens next. I really enjoyed Oliver's character though I struggled loving Maggie. I think the middle of the book slowed down a lot but the rest of the book held my interest enough to keep reading. I liked the mysterious feeling of the story line and Oliver as the hero made this book a decent read. Having read a few of Michelle's books I am excited to read what she writes next. 


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, April 27, 2020

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

One Hundred Valleys Review with Celebrate Lit Tours

 


About the Book

Book:  One Hundred Valleys
Author: Bonnie Leon
Genre:  Historical Romance
Release Date: March 15, 2020

After the death of her mother, Emmalin Hammond discovers she is not the heiress she’d always assumed she’d be. The revelation exposes her fiancé true intentions when he withdraws his marriage proposal, leaving Emmalin heartbroken and humiliated. When she discovers the father she believed to be dead is still alive and living in the Oregon Territory she decides it is time to meet the man who has been hidden from her all of her life.
Accompanied by her Uncle Jonathon she sets out for the Oregon Territory in search of answers and hoping for a renewed relationship with her father. When tragedy strikes, she confronts the terrifying challenge of completing her quest alone. Faced with few options, she entrusts her life to a mountain man named Jacob Landon who agrees to transport her to a small settlement in Southern Oregon called Deer Creek, a place also known as the Land of One Hundred Valleys.
Emmalin is not prepared for the hardships of life in the Oregon wilderness. Each day presents a new challenge. Newfound friends, including the reserved Jacob Landon, come alongside to help her adapt and she gradually finds her way. Yet, she feels out of place. Should she brave the arduous journey back to Philadelphia and the life she once knew or remain and hope for something better in the Oregon wilderness?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author


Bonnie Leon is the author of twenty-two novels, including the recently released Return to the Misty Shore, the popular Alaskan Skies and bestselling The Journey of Eleven Moons. Bonnie’s books are being read internationally and she hears from readers in Australia, Europe, Poland, and even Africa. She enjoys speaking for women’s groups and mentoring up and coming authors.
Bonnie and her husband, Greg, live in Southern Oregon. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

More from Bonnie


Why this story?

In the spring of 1980 my husband and I, our two-year-old son, and our infant daughter left city life in Washington state and moved to Southern Oregon. We gave up our community of friends and family along with my husband’s reliable and well-paying job. Our friends thought we were crazy, but we were determined that Oregon was where we belonged. We were scared but not deterred.

I think the change in my own life as a young woman had a lot to do with why I wrote this story of Emmalin Hammond. To be sure, Emmalin’s level of difficulty and danger is distinctly different than mine, but there are similarities. We both experienced adventures, joy, and, yes, even danger.

Oregon has been my home for forty years now, and I am glad my husband and I made the decision to move here. We’ve had a good life in this wild and beautiful country. Sometimes I wonder about the women who made that choice during the nineteenth century. Emmalin set out on her harrowing journey to Oregon in the spring of 1855. Many who began that journey did not make it across the plains and desserts of America.
When I put down roots in Douglas County, Oregon I was thrilled to be here, but the changes weren’t all easy. The old farmhouse we lived in had more broken windows than intact ones. It was mouse infested. The plumbing needed major repair. And yet I loved it. The countryside was lush and green, and the rolling hillsides were dotted with farm animals, wildlife, and broad-limbed oak trees. There were wild blackberries sprawling along the farm’s fences and fresh fruit in our orchard. It looked much the same as the Oregon Emmalin discovered in my story, One Hundred Valleys.
I loved hard work and spent a lot of time splitting logs for our only heat source—a wood burning stove—felling trees on our new property, and working alongside my husband in our vegetable garden.
I had run-ins with things like poison oak and skunks, but that did not dampen my enthusiasm as a new Oregonian. I loved picking wild blackberries, fishing the high mountain lakes, hiking mountain trails, and fishing the North Umpqua river. I cherished those days as a farm wife and mother. Those were the best years of my life. I have never regretted our move to the beautiful land of one hundred valleys in Southern Oregon.

I am thankful for the early explorers who challenged the wilderness in the Oregon Territory more than a century ago. It is their courage and determination that made it possible for me and my family to live and thrive in this beautiful place.

Blog Stops

Bigreadersite, April 18
Emily Yager, April 18
Stories By Gina, April 19
Betti Mace, April 20
Pause for Tales, April 20
Splashes of Joy, April 21
Simple Harvest Reads, April 22 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Worthy2Read, April 23
Older & Smarter?, April 24
Vicky Sluiter, April 26
Mary Hake, April 26
Genesis 5020, April 27
Artistic Nobody, April 28 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Bonnie is giving away the grand prize package of a $15 Amazon Gift Card and Vintage Oregon myrtle wood porringer bowl!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.


My Thoughts

This is a new to me author so I was excited to discover this book! I really enjoyed this story and was eager to keep reading and not put it down. I thought that the story line was well written and the characters pretty well developed. It took some time for me to really like Emmalin as she got a bit on my nerves but grew on me after a while. I liked Jacob a lot and the setting was a fun place to escape. The only thing was that the dialogue seemed a bit choppy especially at the start of the book. I think a few of the conversations could have been written slightly differently to avoid it being disjointed. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I am eager to read more from this author. 

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. "