... Whiskey Tales

Grave Heritage by @BlancheManos Pre-Order @PenLPubing to win a signed copy, link in post!

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 13:13:00 +0000

Darcy’s Grave Heritage

by Blanche Day Manos

My cozy mysteries might be called “homespun.” They are not set in metropolitan areas (except for brief visits.) They take place in small town, Levi, Oklahoma and they showcase two unassuming women, Darcy Campbell and her mother, Flora Tucker.

After the death of her husband, Darcy returns to her hometown for peace, quiet, and healing. The healing happens slowly, but the peace and quiet are hard to come by. Fans of Darcy Campbell and Flora Tucker have followed them through three mysteries: The Cemetery Club, Grave Shift, and Best Left Buried.

The fourth Darcy and Flora cozy, Grave Heritage, will be released by Pen-L.com

September 19.

In Grave Heritage, Levi experiences the rainiest July in history. Did the excessive rainfall have to do with dampening Darcy’s feelings for Grant? I would never accuse Darcy of being fickle, but a handsome preacher sweeps her off her feet. Both Darcy and Flora nearly lose their lives at the hands of a killer. As if this were not enough, some bewildering news about Flora’s birth father comes to light, which leads her to lament that Darcy’s heritage is not the shining one she would have wished, and is, at best, a grave one.

Writing mysteries is fun for me. If not, I wouldn’t write them. I like developing characters, making them come to life on the pages of a book, getting them into some sticky situations and watching them get themselves out. I mean this literally because my characters seem to come to life and pretty much take over. I simply record what they say and do.

I feel as if Darcy and Flora are my friends. We have become pretty well acquainted over the course of these four books. As I finish writing each mystery, I know it is my favorite. And, guess what? I really like Grave Heritage best of all.

Pre-Order Now!

Grave Heritage is available for pre-order from Pen-L Publishing ... Ordering here will automatically enter you in a contest for a free, signed copy.

Or, you may pre-order from Amazon

Remember, the release date is September 19!

~~~

Thank you, Blanche, for allowing us into your world of writing mysteries. I know I have enjoyed having Blanche guest write a series of posts, I hope you did too.

Blanche can be found on Facebook and on Twitter as well as at her website where she writes for her own blog.

Guest Post by "In The Reins" Romance Author Carly Kade { @CarlyKadeAuthor }

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 16:22:00 +0000

Jackson Hole, Wyoming: The Perfect Cowgirl Getaway for a Cowboy Romance Author

By Carly Kade, Author of In The Reins

I couldn’t stop bouncing in my cowgirl boots when I learned that my husband (turned cowboy) was gifting me a cowgirl getaway to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was the perfect birthday gift for this author’s cowgirl soul! So when Maria asked me if I’d like to write a guest post for Whiskey Tales, I immediately thought I’d share a post about how a cowgirl getaway can jump start a cowboy romance author’s creative juices. So here’s three awesome ways to inspire your inner cowgirl in Jackson Hole, Wyoming!

Stay at Hotel Jackson

Hotel Jackson is top notch and the perfect spot for a cowboy romance author’s cowgirl getaway. The boutique hotel boasts equine and Western-themed art on just about every wall, is located in the heart of Jackson Hole and offers impeccable service! I recommend visiting the library at Hotel Jackson. It is the perfect location for an inspired writing session. Once you settle into one of their plush leather armchairs in front of the fireplace and pop open your laptop, you’ll realize you are surrounded by gorgeous horse paintings and big beautiful picture books about the cowboy way! I made some major headway on the sequel to In The Reins in their peaceful Western-lifestyle inspired library.

Hotel Jackson

Horseback Ride at Local Outfitters

On the first day in Jackson Hole, we rode at Horse Creek Ranch through beautiful mountain trails. Located just south of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, they offer one hour, two hours, three hours and half day horseback rides. My husband and I chose one of their full day rides with lunch. I highly recommend it! From the back of our horses, we crossed creeks, looked out on the majestic Gros Ventre Wilderness and took in the breathtaking views of the Teton Mountain Range. We even saw a moose and her calf during our ride! It was a great outdoor adventure and turned out to provide some excellent research for the second novel in my horse book series! Our guide was a born and raised Wyoming cowboy. A regular bull rider at the Jackson Hole Rodeo, he shared his adventures training his horse as a heeler in a roping event!

On our second day in Jackson Hole, we rode at the famous Mill Iron Ranch. The Mill Iron Ranch has been a Wheeldon family tradition for four generations and has been in business since 1921. The Ranch is bordered on three sides by the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the second Largest State Ran Elk Feed Yard in Wyoming. It made for spectacular horseback riding! I loved that their horses are born and raised on their ranch. I recommend going for the four-hour trail ride and then attending their real cowboy cookout maybe even have a lil' whiskey too! I felt like an authentic cowgirl (one that might have ridden back in the days when people traveled by horse rather than automobile) spending time at these two wonderful Jackson Hole Outfitters!

Horseback riding at the local outfitters in Jackson Hole

Million Dollar Cowboy Bar

Do the boot scootin’ boogie at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole, Wyoming! It is like being transported back in time and is an awesome display of the true Wild West. I was fascinated as I wandered around admiring the amazing collection of western memorabilia and cowboy décor draped over all the walls! Being inside the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar made me reminisce about writing the Silver Spur scene from In The Reins where McKennon Kelly and Devon Brooke share some of their first romantic sparks. This is no ordinary bar. It is the type of place where McKennon or Devon could walk through the door at any moment! At this establishment, you don’t pull up a bar stool; you take a seat in a western saddle.

The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is located in Jackson’s town square and is walking distance from Hotel Jackson. Since it’s famous for its western dancing and live entertainment, I pulled on my favorite red cowgirl boots and grabbed my cowboy’s hand for some two-stepping in front of the famous stage where well-known entertainers on the country music scene have been known to play … think Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Jr., Tanya Tucker, and Willie Nelson (just to name a few).

Million Dollar Cowboy Bar

It felt so good to unplug from the real world & have fun with my hubby turned cowboy for a week. This cowgirl getaway to Jackson Hole really inspired my writing! My hubby has given me the best gifts a writer could ever ask for and I recently recounted them in a blog post called "5 Gifts for the Author in Your Life" so other people with authors in their lives might gain some insight on what those best gifts are on birthdays, holidays or merely simple days! Thanks to my husband for knocking my 40th birthday out of the park. I can't wait to see what the next 40+ brings!

Carly Kade in Jackson Hole

Thank you to Maria for the opportunity to write this guest blog post. As McKennon and Devon’s story continues, I will be sharing sneak peeks, updates and new release info on my blog for readers that can’t wait to find out what happens next for the handsome cowboy and his wannabe cowgirl.

About Carly Kade

Carly Kade is an Arizona-based equestrian author. In her free time, Carly enjoys competitively showing her registered Paint Horse, works on her next novel, reads voraciously, and loves exploring the great outdoors.

In The Reins, Carly’s cowboy romance novel inspired by the equestrian lifestyle has steadily climbed the charts to rave reviews. The book has been an equestrian best seller on Amazon for more than 10 weeks and is an official 2016 EQUUS Film Festival literary selection. The novel is available now in paperback and eBook on Amazon. Filmed in Arizona, the book trailer is viewable at http://www.carlykadecreative.com/media-room.

Connect with Carly Kade Creative on Facebook or Twitter @carlykadeauthor.

Thank you, Carly!

In The Reins by Carly Kade

A city-girl-gone-country, a handsome cowboy and a
horse meet by fate on a southern farm. She's looking for a
fresh start and unexpectedly falls for the mysterious cowboy.
But can a man with a deeply guarded secret open himself up
to the wannabe cowgirl in the saddle next to him?

Deeply romantic and suspenseful, In The Reins captures
the struggle between letting life move forward and
shying away from taking the reins. Passionate, captivating,
and full of equine epiphanies, this is a love story
sure to touch your inner cowgirl.

Purchase your copy at Amazon

Cover Reveal and #Giveaway for SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE by Kristy Woodson Harvey @kristywharvey #GoodBooks

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 10:00:00 +0000

On my list of favorite authors is Kristy Woodson Harvey who has written Dear Carolina, and Lies and Other Acts of Love. You may have read my reviews of those two books, and you may have also read Kristy's guest post on this blog. Well, along with an action-packed touring schedule, she has been very busy behind the scenes writing the first book of a new series of books.

SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE will be the first in The Peachtree Bluff series published by Gallery/Simon and Schuster, April 25, 2017. If it's anything like her others, I'm sure the story will be engaging and heartfelt. I'm delighted she has signed on to write a series.

Today is the publishers cover reveal, and it is, as her others were, gorgeous.
The kind of cover I gravitate toward automatically. I think you'll agree!

To celebrate, Kristy is giving away a $100. Amazon gift card and several bundles of books on her blog.

That's a super sweet giveaway!

Kristy's new book is available for preorder on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, through your local bookstore and everywhere else books are sold. I'll order mine from Bookworks, my favorite Indie!

"From the next “major voice in Southern fiction”

comes the first in an all-new series chronicling the journeys

of three sisters and their mother—and a secret from their past

that has the potential to tear them apart and reshape

their very definition of what it means to be a family."

~New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand)

And here it is! The Cover is revealed...

Slightly South of Simple

Read a little bit, get a little taste of SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE:

Caroline Murphy swore she’d never set foot back in the small Southern town of Peachtree Bluff; she was a New York girl born and bred and the worst day of her life was when, in the wake of her father’s death, her mother selfishly forced her to move—during her senior year of high school, no less—back to that hick-infested rat trap where she'd spent her childhood summers. But now that her marriage to a New York high society heir has fallen apart in a very public, very embarrassing fashion, a pregnant Caroline decides to escape the gossipmongers with her nine-year-old daughter and head home to her mother, Ansley.Ansley has always put her three daughters first, especially when she found out that her late husband, despite what he had always promised, left her with next to nothing. Now the proud owner of a charming waterfront design business and finally standing on her own two feet, Ansley welcomes Caroline and her brood back with open arms. But when her second daughter Sloane, whose military husband is overseas, and youngest daughter and successful actress Emerson join the fray, Ansley begins to feel like the piece of herself she had finally found might be slipping from her grasp. Even more discomfiting, when someone from her past reappears in Ansley's life, the secret she’s harbored from her daughters their entire lives might finally be forced into the open.Exploring the powerful bonds between sisters and mothers and daughters, this engaging novel is filled with Southern charm, emotional drama, and plenty of heart.

Go to Kristy's blog and enter the giveaway today, then share this blog post with your friends. I just know they will enjoy Kristy's writing, and some lucky ones just might be winners!

Artistic Photography?

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 08:30:00 +0000

Such an Artsy photo, I just had to post this photo. I think it's fabulous! What do you think?

Would you want to cast this model in your next photo shoot?

Guest Author Blanche Day Manos ~ Those Shivery Cozies @BlancheManos

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Those Shivery Cozies

by Blanche Day Manos

I have often said that the characters in the books I write tell the story. I just put on paper what they say. Although this may seem nonsensical to some, it is really quite true.

Pre-order beginning
August 19th!
Available everywhere in
September!

The Cemetery Club, Grave Shift, Best Left Buried and the soon-to-be-released Grave Heritage are stories about two women sleuths, Darcy Campbell and her mother, Flora Tucker. They live in Levi, a small town in northeast Oklahoma. The area is rich in folklore, natural beauty, and mysterious happenings.

“Oh the surface,” Darcy says, “Levi seems to be a peaceful, placid town but it’s like a still pool with deadly currents swirling beneath the beauty.”

It’s those deadly currents that land Darcy and Flora in a heap of trouble. As I said, these ladies pretty much tell the story. If I write something that doesn’t sound like either one, I instinctively know it and set about re-writing. When the story is finished, it must be a believable mystery that Darcy and Flora have lived.

The first book, The Cemetery Club, involves a brush with unscrupulous men hunting for hidden Cherokee treasure. Grave Shift derived its name from two things: the shifting of the earth during two Oklahoma earthquakes, and a hidden grave which comes to light in a most unusual way. Darcy decides that some secrets are Best Left Buried in book number three.

Happily, the fourth Darcy and Flora cozy, Grave Heritage, is to be released by Pen-L Publishing this September. In it, our intrepid sleuths inadvertently become involved in yet another mystery. The danger comes at them from two points: the rainiest July in history and a heartless killer in town.

My latest cozy mystery is Moonlight Can Be Murder with a new protagonist, Ned (or Nettie) McNeil. Ned is a middle-aged woman with a healthy curiosity. She did not return to her hometown of Ednalee to be involved in a murder, but she finds herself plunged into a mystery that is forty years old. The way she discovers the deranged killer and her near brush with death keeps the reader turning pages.

A second “Moonlight” book is in the works. By the Fright of the Silvery Moon continues with Ned in the Granger Mansion in Ednalee trying to unravel a murder which seems to be connected with the history of her home.

Writing is a demanding, exciting, tiring job, but it is a work I love. I hope to keep turning out mysteries this year and the next year and the next…

~~~~

For more about Blanche's work go to www.Pen-L.com/GraveHeritage.html and https://www.amazon.com/s

Thank you once again, Blanche, for sharing your writing world with us. I am looking forward to your next article as our Guest Blogger.

~~~

Check out the indie bookstore I like the most at Bookworks

Guest Blogger: Cozy Mystery Writer Blanche Day Manos @BlancheManos

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 18:51:00 +0000

Photo Credit: Blanche Day Manos

I am so excited to announce that my new friend and cozy mystery Author Blanche Day Manos is our Guest Blogger and will be writing a series of posts about herself, her books, the process and her newest book due out in September.

Blanche writes in a very genuine, down-home way. If you read some of her blog posts on her website, you'll see what I mean. Having lived most of her life in Oklahoma, she often writes vividly of that place and time, and she incorporates details from her Cherokee heritage into her stories.

From a Classroom to a Murder Mystery

by Blanche Day Manos

“I have another friend who is a writer,” my neighbor Levern told me. “I’d like you to meet her.”

So, Barbara’s and my mutual friend introduced us. Barbara Burgess and I discovered we were both from small towns, of Cherokee ancestry, and had heard many mysterious stories about the people who lived in the hills of Oklahoma and Arkansas. We collaborated on our first book, The Cemetery Club, and my career as a cozy mystery writer was launched.

The Cemetery Club

Barbara and I wrote three cozy mysteries together. Grave Shift and Best Left Buried followed our first book, with protagonist Darcy Campbell and her mother, Flora Tucker. Since that time, Barbara has had to take a break from writing because of illness, but I persevered. The fourth Darcy and Flora cozy, Grave Heritage, will be published in September.

Grave Shift

Sometimes people ask me how I got from the classroom to the bookshelf. (I was a kindergarten teacher for many years.) I tell them it was an easy step since I’ve always enjoyed books and writing and encouraged my kindergarteners as well as my son and grandchildren to love reading. As for the genre, well, cozy mysteries are not the hard-core, graphic kind; rather, they are gentler, with most of the violence taking place off-screen.

Best Left Buried

Although Darcy and Flora’s hometown looks placid and quiet on the surface, such is not the case. This mother-daughter pair faces danger and heart-stopping moments with regularity, but, fortified with coffee and encouraged by Darcy’s old flame, the sheriff of Ventris County, they make sure that justice always wins. A couple of years ago, I began a new series with a new protagonist, Ned McNeil. The first book is Moonlight Can Be Murder. A sequel, Fright of the Silvery Moon is a work in progress.

A few years ago, I left my native Oklahoma and moved to NWArkansas. It’s a beautiful area, close to my children, and is the perfect place to pursue my writing career. I’ve started a writers’ critique group which meets in my home. We encourage and inspire each other.

Cozy mysteries have satisfactory endings. Life isn’t always like that, but the books I write are! They are great to read when a storm pounds the house or snow settles softly on trees and fence posts. A cup of coffee and a warm fire is the perfect setting for reading, but cozies are intriguing any time of year. Hopefully, the further adventures of Darcy Campbell and Flora Tucker will continue for a good, long while.

I'm thankful to Blanche for sharing her books with us. Please feel free to find Blanche on her website, Facebook or on Amazon and please share this post so that others could learn about her and her writing. I am a big supporter of indie book stores so I would be delighted if you had a look at Blanche's books at your local independent book store. My favorite indie bookstore is Bookworks in Albuquerque, NM.

Photo Credit: Blanche Day Manos

Come back to see the next of Blanche's posts August 1, 2016 ... and leave a comment below to let us know you're a cozy mystery fan.

Journey of a Reluctant Writer

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 17:10:00 +0000

Catch up with my girl Marsha on her adventure into blogging at Journey of a Reluctant Writer. Not only is she baring her soul as a Language Arts teacher who admits that writing is her challenge, but she also has some pretty cool pictures of her recent trip to Cali.

Hey, didn't we all think the Language Arts teacher was supposed to be the perfect writer?

Photo Credit: Journey of a Reluctant Writer

Yoga and Horseback Riding in the Texas Hill Country!

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:10:00 +0000

Review: Lowcountry Boneyard by Susan M. Boyer { @susanmboyer }

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 21:42:00 +0000

"I'd bet my mamma's pearls these folks are eccentric." ~Liz

Susan Boyer's Liz Talbot Mystery series is a cozy paranormal delight. Set in South Carolina's lowcountry with a few fictional places thrown in for good measure, the setting is a delight, and recognizable to anyone who has spent time in the lowcountry.

A paranormal element adds quite a bit of fun to the storyline. Colleen, the guardian spirit, is quite the character popping in when she is most needed and sometimes when she isn't. The mortal characters each seems to have a nice depth to them, with a bit of down home southern humor.

A quick read, Lowcountry Boneyard twists and turn with multiple villains and hidden family secrets that keep you guessing along the way.

Please remember to support you local independent bookstores!

Review of Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews { @mkayandrews }

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 13:20:00 +0000

I haven't read anything by Mary Kay in quite some times, so it was nice to pick up this book that had been sitting on my TBR pile for so long.

An enjoyable story with a bit of intrigue, a bit of romance and a bit of comedy, but it was also a bit slow in places and didn't have much depth. The tense relationship between jealous Kullen Kane and florist Cara Kryzik could have been an exciting element of intrigue had it been developed more, but overall it was a nice story.

Preview Save the Date at Goodreads!

I like Mary Kay's stories and will continue to follow her work. Her next book will be The Weekenders, which will be available May 17, 2016, and can be pre-ordered now. It sounds like it will be a good story!

Please remember to support you local independent bookstores!

Review of The Sound of Glass by Karen White { @KarenWhiteWrite }

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 00:49:00 +0000

The New York Times bestselling author of A Long Time Gone

now explores a Southern family’s buried history,

which will change the life of the woman who unearths it,

secret by shattering secret.

― Goodreads

Ever since first being introduced to her writing, I have found Karen White's work to be enjoyable, a story well told. I enjoy seeing flawed characters find themselves. We are all flawed in a way, we each carry baggage sometimes much to heavy to bear.

The Sound of Glass hit those pressure points for me. Characters who are vulnerable and who have life events that create a nick in their personality. A rich interplay of people who have not much in common but everything in common. A story that is not quick but cleverly moderate in pace so that one has time to feel the characters, the setting and the intrigue that haunts the background of this story.

Beautifully written, heartfelt and slowly simmering, I loved this story about how generations carry scars, a family is sometimes created through tears and secrets always rise to the surface.

“We travel with the same packed bags we’ve always had,

until we take the time to unpack them.”
― Karen White, The Sound of Glass

Synopsis: "It has been two years since the death of Merritt Heyward’s husband, Cal, when she receives unexpected news—Cal’s family home in Beaufort, South Carolina, bequeathed by Cal’s reclusive grandmother, now belongs to Merritt.

Charting the course of an uncertain life—and feeling guilt from her husband’s tragic death—Merritt travels from her home in Maine to Beaufort, where the secrets of Cal’s unspoken-of past reside among the pluff mud and jasmine of the ancestral Heyward home on the Bluff. This unknown legacy, now Merritt’s, will change and define her as she navigates her new life—a new life complicated by the arrival of her too young stepmother and ten-year-old half-brother.

Soon, in this house of strangers, Merritt is forced into unraveling the Heyward family past as she faces her own fears and finds the healing she needs in the salt air of the Low Country." ― www.karen-white.com

If you are interested in this book, I'd appreciate it a lot if you would support your local community by making your book purchase at an independent bookseller (Indies) in your area.

Click here to find an Indie near you!

Review of Rough Patches by Deanna Dickenson McCall

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 13:16:00 +0000

This author knows her way around a ranch, understands the ranching community, and knows the hardships as well as the benefits of a life few in this country still grasp.
The short stories in this book range from sad to dark to humorous but each one has a basis in reality, and that is what "Rough Patches" is about, stories about those times in life when things just aren't going right. The thing about going through a rough patch though is that you get over them, the brighter side is just 'over there.'
McCall writes about strong female characters handling tough situations in a challenging landscape and come out of it for the better maybe understanding one more thing about themselves and one more thing about life.

More about this author can be found on her website at http://www.deannadickinsonmccall.com/

Review - Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey @kristywharvey #BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 01:10:00 +0000

"In life, you have to be prepared for the surprises,

good and bad, and take them in stride

with grace and humility."

~Lovey

LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE (Berkley/Penguin Random House) is coming in Spring 2016.

Kristy Woodson Harvey has once again written a heart-grabbing story of family, and what it means to love wholeheartedly even if that means the love is glued together with white lies.

"The best things in life are the unexpected ones."

~Lovey

Written so beautifully and in a sweet southern voice, "Lies and Other Acts of Love" is an unexpected story examining flawed individuals, imperfect families, and the love that the one has for the other. The story gripped me from the very beginning but this story gets better as it's told and by the near end of it, my tears ran down my cheeks, and it seemed each act was increasingly unexpected. And yet the last chapter, my favorite, provided the closure needed to feel gratified by a story well told.

Kristy Woodson Harvey is fast becoming a favorite author. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good tale, decidedly gracious characters, and a charming southern place.

"But that's the thing about a secret
that haunts your dreams and fills those

empty spaces in your mind.

Once you know a thing so huge,

you can never un-know it again."

~Annabelle

"Kristy Woodson Harvey is the author of Dear Carolina. She blogs at Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life and loves connecting with readers at kristywoodonsharvey.com. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's school of journalism and holds a Master's in English from East Carolina University. She is a regular contributor for The Salisbury Post, Domino magazine, and Houzz. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and [young] son."

Add this book to your Goodreads bookshelf or pre-order it at your favorite bookseller.

I'd be delighted if you supported your local independent bookstore.

Review: Ladies of the Canyons: A League of Extraordinary Women and Their Adventures in the American Southwest by Lesley Poling-Kempes

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 19:58:00 +0000

Adventures in the American Southwest

Ladies of the Canyons: A League of Extraordinary Women and Their Adventures in the American Southwest
by Lesley Poling-Kempes (Goodreads Author)

Maria Norcia Santillanes's review

Nov 12, 15 · edit

5 of 5 stars

Read in November 2015 — I own a copy

I enjoyed this book and delighted in learning the history of these ladies and of the incredible lives they lived. It's also a story of place and a story of southwestern arts. In its way, it proves a historical truth about the ladies past, and current for whom the West and New Mexico, in particular, is a strong draw. Poling-Kempes is an excellent writer and I've enjoyed quite a few of her books. This book is well-written, obviously well-researched and a real page turner, a historical work that reads like fiction.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1440810632

Cover reveal of LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE by Kristy Woodson Harvey #actsoflove @kristywharvey

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 06:05:00 +0000

Well friends, Kristy Woodson Harvey author of Dear Carolina has done it again. Her new book Lies and Other Acts of Love releases on April 5, 2016, but today we have a sneak preview of the beautiful book cover. I think it's swoon worthy fabulous!

and on the back cover you'll find a nice tease:

Dear Carolina was praised as “Southern fiction at its best.”* Now author Kristy Woodson Harvey presents a new novel about what it really means to tell the truth . . .After sixty years of marriage and five daughters, Lynn “Lovey” White knows that all of us, from time to time, need to use our little white lies.Her granddaughter, Annabelle, on the other hand, is as truthful as they come. She always does the right thing—that is, until she dumps her hedge fund manager fiancé and marries a musician she has known for three days. After all, her grandparents, who fell in love at first sight, have shared a lifetime of happiness, even through her grandfather’s declining health.But when Annabelle’s world starts to collapse around her, she discovers that nothing about her picture-perfect family is as it seems. And Lovey has to decide whether one more lie will make or break the ones she loves . . .

GIVEAWAY INFO

To celebrate the LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE cover reveal, we are giving away three wonderful bundles of books penned by Tall Poppy Writers! Enter below to win!

Book Bundle 1:

MY VERY BEST FRIEND, Cathy Lamb;

THE DOG YEAR, Ann Wertz Garvin;

CONFESSIONS OF A PARIS PARTY GIRL, Vicki Lesage;

VINTAGE, Susan Gloss;

DEAR CAROLINA, Kristy Woodson Harvey;

FUGITIVE COLORS, Lisa Barr

Book Bundle 2:

THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE, Amy Guertin Reichert;

CLOSE TO DESTINY, Adria Cimino;

LEMONGRASS HOPE, Amy Impellizzeri;

KEEP THE ENDS LOOSE, Molly Duncan Campbell;

ROME IN LOVE, Anita Hughes;

LITTLE BLACK LIES, Sandra Block

Book Bundle 3:

THE MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE, Sonja Yoerg;

WAKING UP JOY, Tina Ann Forkner;

WHILE YOU WERE GONE, Kate Moretti;

THE BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS, Nicole Baart;

ENTANGLEMENT, Katie Rose Guest Prya;

DEAR CAROLINA, Kristy Woodson Harvey

Click here to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway

“LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a richly detailed, intergenerational tale of love, loss, and loyalty. Harvey pulls the reader into the hearts and souls of her characters.”

-- Heather Gudenkauf

~ New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To pre-order Kristy's new book follow the link of your choice:

LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE releases 4.5.16 from Berkley/Penguin Random House. Currently available for pre-order at your local bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Here is a list of Bloggers participating in this reveal and giveaway. Stop by and give them some love! Tell them Whiskey Tales sent you.

Participating Bloggers:

Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

Chick Lit Central Facebook

Shelf Pleasure Facebook

Kristy Woodson Harvey

Design Chic

LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE will grab you by the heartstrings and pull hard. A perfect story about the lies we tell and the secrets we keep-- all in the name of love.”

– Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke,

authors of The Status of All Things and Your Perfect Life

Links for DEAR CAROLINA:

Ladies of the Canyon by Lesley Poling-Kempes

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 13:38:00 +0000

I am looking forward to this read. I expect her writing will be excellent as always.

Guest Post by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Author of Dear Carolina ... @kristywharvey

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 06:15:00 +0000

“Characters with rich, complicated lives…

beautifully shows how a family comes to be.”

—New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas

(about Dear Carolina)

For several weeks, I have been sharing the news about the soon to release book Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey. If you read my review of her book, you'll know I was head over heels about the story and her writing. You can only guess how delighted I was that she agreed to write a guest post for Whiskey Tales even with her crazy, busy schedule. So, without any further introduction let's hear from Kristy.

~~~+~~~

Kristy Woodson Harvey

One of the most nerve-racking things about putting your book out into the
world is wondering if people are going to “get it.” You worked for months on this
manuscript, and you’ve put so much of your heart and soul into it, and now you’re
launching it into the world. That wondering if people will get it is, probably in a
larger sense, connected to that paramount question: Are people going to like it? (I’m
a bit of a people pleaser, so I always have that question in mind!)

Maria was one of the first people to review Dear Carolina, and, when I saw
that her post was live, my heart dropped into my stomach. I felt those nervous
butterflies and a surge of adrenaline. This, after almost two years of writing, editing
and waiting for publication, was the moment of truth.

Then I clicked on the link. And then I started reading. I realized quickly that
she had enjoyed the book, which, of course, was a tremendous relief. Because your
editor and the other people at the publishing house can like it all they want to, but,
until it’s in the world, that fear is going to be there that it isn’t going to resonate with
readers.

But, as I continued reading, I realized that Maria not only liked the book but
that she also got it.

You see, I don’t write in chronological order. Quite frankly, I don’t write in
any order at all! I write what pops into my head, usually the most emotionally
wrought scenes of the book, and then I puzzle piece it together in the ways that
make the most sense.

The very first scene of Dear Carolina that I wrote was the one where Jodi is
sitting on the beach, trying to come to terms with this decision that she has to make.
And the very first lines I wrote of Dear Carolina were the ones that Maria picked out:
“I don’t know the theory of relativity or the speed of light or any of that other math.
But I knew right well, watching the moon rise over the water that night that, no
matter what them smart scholars say, love is the hardest equation.”
For me, those two lines are the heart of the book, its emotional core. Because
this story isn’t just a story about two mothers and their daughter; it’s a story about
the ways we create our families. It’s a story about how we meet our partners in life
and the best friends that are there for us no matter what. Dear Carolina is a book
about love, in any form, and, no matter what relationship that love pertains to, it
isn’t always of the sweet, sticky, Hallmark-card variety. It tends to get tricky from
time to time.

Which leads into the other essential line that Maria also chose to use in her
review: “You can never have too many people who love you.”
It may be one of the simplest lines in the book, and, on its own, it doesn’t
seem like much. But, today especially, I think it’s an important thing to remember.
With blended families and stepparents and grandparents, in some families there can
be a huge number of people vying for the attention of you, your spouse, or especially
your child. But, as Khaki reminds us, even if it can be complicated, all that means is
that more people love us. And, while the details might be complex, at its core, it’s
really just more love.

Thank you so much for loving this book, Maria, for championing it, and, most
of all, for “getting it.” I’ll never forget the relief I felt when I clicked on that link and
realized that, no matter what happened, someone out there felt as connected to Dear
Carolina as I did! Thank you so much for having me today and allowing me to share
with your wonderful readers. It was a privilege!

~~~ # ~~~

Kristy, Thank you for the gracious compliment. I am incredibly excited to learn you are working on your second book due out April 2016, and I am looking forward to another great read.

"Southern to the bone and full of engaging characters,

Dear Carolina is a strikingly beautiful story of love and sacrifice.

Kristy Woodson Harvey’s debut novel captures your heart

and doesn’t let go; her keen insights into a mother’s love

will stay with you long after the last page."

--Kim Boykin, author of Palmetto Moon

"Kristy Woodson Harvey holds a degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s in English from East Carolina University. She writes about interior design and loves connecting with readers. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three-year-old son. Dear Carolina is her first novel."

"Dear Carolina is like the Southern women within it’s pages

and those who will love this book, sweet as sweet tea on the outside

and strong as steel on the inside. The dialect of the south

is so entwined in these pages the reader is

transported to a place where women and children

are treasured and family rules all. Kristy Harvey is a natural."

—Ann Garvin, Author of On Maggie’s Watch and The Dog Year

You can learn more about Kristy and her work as an Author and a Designer by visiting her website where you can also pre-order Dear Carolina that is set to release May 5, 2015. As well, all the usual places including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, but if you are so inclined, I suggest purchasing at and supporting a local independent bookstore in your neighborhood.

Read my review of Kristy's book here!

You can connect with Kristy on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kristywoodsonharvey and Twitter at @kristywharvey

Paperback, 320 pages
Expected publication: May 5th, 2015 by Berkley
ISBN 0425279987 (ISBN13: 9780425279984)

What's new in this growing TBR

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 17:59:00 +0000

Pretty soon, my mailbox should be exploding with new books just in time for the warmer days to appear. I don't know about you, but I'm still looking around corners for some lemonade and popsicle warmth. Spring is certainly taking it's time this year.

A few of the books will be coming with a lagniappe, a small gift for pre-ordering. How thoughtful and yes, a nice marketing strategy! I find pre-ordering to be very convenient so for me a small gift is a gracious addition. And since I like to see favorite authors when they are in my neck of the woods, I know that many times pre-ordering will give the publisher that push that sets an author on tour. How about you, do you pre-order books or wait until they are available for purchase?

Seems my first book arrival should be here soon. Everything is looking pretty peachy, I'd say!

Lowcountry Boneyard

Available April 21

"Where is Kent Heyward? The twenty-three-year-old heiress from one of Charleston’s oldest families vanished a month ago. When her father hires private investigator Liz Talbot, Liz suspects the most difficult part of her job will be convincing the patriarch his daughter tired of his overbearing nature and left town. That’s what the Charleston Police Department believes.

But behind the garden walls South of Broad, family secrets pop up like weeds in the azaleas. The neighbors recollect violent arguments between Rivers and her parents. Eccentric twin uncles and a gaggle of cousins covet the family fortune. And the lingering spirit of a Civil-War-era debutante may know something if Colleen, Liz’s dead best friend, can get her to talk.

Liz juggles her case, the partner she’s in love with, and the family she adores. But the closer she gets to what has become of Rivers, the closer Liz dances to her own grave."

the sound of glass

COMING MAY 12

"The New York Times bestselling author of A Long Time Gonenow explores a Southern family’s buried history, which will change the life of the woman who unearths it, secret by shattering secret."

"It has been two years since the death of Merritt Heyward’s husband, Cal, when she receives unexpected news—Cal’s family home in Beaufort, South Carolina, bequeathed by Cal’s reclusive grandmother, now belongs to Merritt.

Charting the course of an uncertain life—and feeling guilt from her husband’s tragic death—Merritt travels from her home in Maine to Beaufort, where the secrets of Cal’s unspoken-of past reside among the pluff mud and jasmine of the ancestral Heyward home on the Bluff. This unknown legacy, now Merritt’s, will change and define her as she navigates her new life—a new life complicated by the arrival of her too young stepmother and ten-year-old half-brother.

Soon, in this house of strangers, Merritt is forced into unraveling the Heyward family past as she faces her own fears and finds the healing she needs in the salt air of the Low Country."

Beach Town

NEW HARDCOVER!
COMING MAY 19

"Greer Hennessy is a struggling movie location scout. Her last location shoot ended in disaster when a film crew destroyed property on an avocado grove. And Greer ended up with the blame.

Now Greer has been given one more chance—a shot at finding the perfect undiscovered beach town for a big budget movie. She zeroes in on a sleepy Florida panhandle town. There’s one motel, a marina, a long stretch of pristine beach and an old fishing pier with a community casino—which will be perfect for the film’s climax—when the bad guys blow it up in an all-out assault on the townspeople.

Greer slips into town and is ecstatic to find the last unspoilt patch of the Florida gulf coast. She takes a room at the only motel in town, and starts working her charm. However, she finds a formidable obstacle in the town mayor, Eben Thinadeaux. Eben is a born-again environmentalist who’s seen huge damage done to the town by a huge paper company. The bay has only recently been re-born, a fishing industry has sprung up, and Eben has no intention of letting anybody screw with his town again. The only problem is that he finds Greer way too attractive for his own good, and knows that her motivation is in direct conflict with his.

Will true love find a foothold in this small beach town before it’s too late and disaster strikes? Told with Mary Kay Andrews inimitable wit and charm, Beach Town is this year’s summer beach read!"

The Summer's End

Book Three of the LOWCOUNTRY SUMMER TRILOGY -- out May 19

"In the powerful and heartwarming conclusion to her bestsellingLowcountry Summer trilogy, New York Times author Mary Alice Monroe brings her readers back to the charm and sultry beauty of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, to reveal how the pull of family bonds and true love is as strong and steady as the tides."

"It is summer’s end and Sea Breeze, the family’s beloved estate on Sullivan’s Island, must be sold. It is an emotional time of transition as Mamaw and the three sisters each must face loss and find a new place in the world.

Harper, the youngest sister, arrived at Sea Breeze intending to stay only a weekend, but a rift with her wealthy, influential mother left her without direction or a home. During this remarkable summer, free from her mother’s tyranny and with the help of her half sisters, Harper discovered her talents and independent spirit.

But summer is ending, and the fate of Sea Breeze hinges on Harper’s courage to decide the course of her own life. To do so she must release her insecurities and recognize her newfound strengths. She must accept love fully into her life—the love of Mamaw, Carson, and Dora, the love of Sea Breeze and the lowcountry, and most of all, the love of a Wounded Warrior who has claimed her heart."

"The third book in Mary Alice Monroe’s trilogy that brims with “stories that touch the mind and heart of her readers” (Huffington Post), The Summer’s End follows three half sisters bound by love for their grandmother and the timeless beauty and traditions of the lowcountry."

~~~~~~~~~~+~~~~~~~~~~

Of course I can't forget to suggest a few others that I've read that just tug at my heartstrings since the writing and the stories are so beautiful. I think you'll love these two books:

Due out on May 5th. Read my review here .

You can learn more about Kristy and her work as an Author and a Designer by visiting her website where you can also pre-order Dear Carolina - See more at: http://beachwalkermari.blogspot.com/search/label/Reviews#sthash.WOs07mxq.dpuf

Available now. Read my review here.

All of Amy's books can be purchased directly from her website where all books are signed by her - See more at: http://beachwalkermari.blogspot.com/search/label/Reviews#sthash.WOs07mxq.dpuf

All of these books can be found on the authors website or at all the usual places including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, but if you are so inclined, I suggest purchasing at and supporting a local independent bookstore in your neighborhood.

What books are in your 'to be read' stack?

Happy birthday Barbara Kingsolver

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 14:04:00 +0000

“She kept swimming out into life because she hadn't yet found a rock to stand on.”

― Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

“There is no point treating a depressed person as though she were just feeling sad, saying, 'There now, hang on, you'll get over it.' Sadness is more or less like a head cold- with patience, it passes. Depression is like cancer.”

― Barbara Kingsolver, The Bean Trees

Sweetgrass Lowcountry Weddings by Charmayne

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 23:27:00 +0000

Lovely, refreshing, and visually stunning are just a few of the descriptions a Charleston Lowcountry wedding evokes. It's a gracious location rich in tradition, perfect for that very special day and, of course, holds the allure of that sweet, slow, southern feel of the sea island culture.

Photo: drive2.subaru.com

A popular trend for the past few years that does not appear to be going away anytime soon has been to add a bit of unique, local flair to your wedding with Sweetgrass Baskets. Include locally crafted, handmade Sweetgrass Baskets to your tables, and as lovely favors for your guests to keep. Delightful as a ring bearer tray, flower girl basket or as beautiful holders for your table flowers, sweetgrass baskets make for an authentic Lowcountry experience and cherished remembrance.

Handmade Sweetgrass Palmetto Roses by Charmayne Nezz Art LLC

"Tradition holds that during the War Between the States,

Southern Ladies would give their true love a palmetto rose

to keep them safe from harm and like her love for him, was everlasting.

Today the Palmetto Rose is still a keepsake symbolizing everlasting love."

Charmayne Nesbitt is one of the very talented "basket ladies" who has been sewing baskets in the Lowcountry tradition, preserving the history and educating about the art of sweetgrass basketry. Since she sewed her very first basket, Charmayne has honed her craft and has become sought after for her careful detail and polished finish of her work.

Photo: Handmade Old Fashioned Sweetgrass Basket by Charmayne Nezz Art LLC

Charmayne will help you to set the right mood with her wedding packages including table baskets, flower holders, Palmetto Roses, and wedding keepsakes. Of course, she will be happy to work with you to customize the perfect package for your special day!

"Also called the Everlasting Rose or the Charleston Love Rose,

the Sweetgrass Palmetto Rose makes a lovely and lasting bouquet

and adorned on the groom and groomsmen, they are fabulous boutonnieres."

Photo: Handmade wedding favor by Charmayne Nezz Art LLC

"Coiled basketry is one of the oldest African crafts in America,

appearing in South Carolina during the late 17th century."

Each of Charmayne's pieces is made by her hand with all the care and love that comes with preserving a piece of history.

Photo: Handmade by Charmayne Nezz Art LLC

For inquiries/orders, please call 843-412-0567 or 843-336-4383 or email Charmayne at nesbu2@peoplepc.com and visit her website at http://mkt.com/nezz-art-llc .

Handmade with care requires time, and some orders may require a 30-60 day notice.

You can visit her basket stand in Mount Pleasant located at the intersection of 2966 Hwy 17 N. and Muhlenbergia Drive. (Front entrance to Gregorie Ferry Landing Apartments)

Photo: Nezz Art LLC

Anne Neilson Fine Art

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 12:20:00 +0000

I just spent two cups of morning coffee looking at the very beautiful artwork of Anne Neilson of Anne Neilson Fine Art in Charlotte. I think that's a morning well spent. We all love pretty don't we?

This image belongs to and is of Anne Neilson's original artwork called "A Greater Joy."
For more information, click to go to her website

She shares her inspirations and stories that create her art. This image is of the cover of Strokes of Compassion.

This image belongs to and is of Anne Neilson's art book called "Strokes of Compassion."
For more information, click to go to her website

She has several gorgeous art books and is making beautiful journals which will be due out very soon but can be pre-ordered on her website. She has four different images, but this one is my favorite.

This image belongs to and is of Anne Neilson's art journal called "Light of My Presence Journal."
For more information, click to go to her website

Garden Inspirations by Charlotte Moss

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 19:33:00 +0000

This book because we all love pretty gardens and pretty books.

Expected publication: April 28th, 2015 by Rizzoli (first published April 14th, 2015)

Pre-order now at http://charlottemoss.com/books/

Let's make a PITCHER OF COCKTAILS

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:36:00 +0000

Let's make this recipe for what seems to be a delightfully refreshing cocktail from the Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits

A PITCHER OF COCKTAILS

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups Tequila

1 cup citrus juice (mixture of freshly squeezed lime, orange, lemon & tangerine juices)

3/4 cup (or more) soda water

Ice cubes

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pitcher and stir.

2. Pour into cocktail glasses and serve over ice.

Photo from food52.com

Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey ... @kristywharvey #BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 15:54:00 +0000

Dear Carolina is an ambitious first book for a young Author indeed, and a book well done. Two mothers different by circumstance, holding space for each other with similar heart, one a biological mother, the other the adoptive mother each tell a love story to their child. This young author has written a story of families coming together in support of each other; it's a story of pain, heartbreak, renewals and love. Written in beautiful southern voice, it is lyrical.

"You can never have too many people who love you."

~Khaki from Dear Carolina by @kristywharvey

Tweet this

There have been times when I've been asked to read an advance copy and give an honest review but find myself uninterested in the story or writing. In those rare times, I'll simply decline to publish the review; this time was quite different. Immediately taken with this story from the very first few pages, I found myself wishing I could keep reading instead of working.

The strength of the women, the richness of the characters traveling this story is beautiful, and it's lovely and it's brave. It is a book well worth reading for the writing and the story.

"But I knew right well,

watching the moon rise that night,

that no matter what them smart scholars say,

love is the hardest equation."
~Jodi from Dear Carolina by @kristywharvey

I enjoyed Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey. I'd recommend to anyone who believes family doesn't just mean blood relations. Tweet this

About the Author

There's more
You can learn more about Kristy and her work as an Author and a Designer by visiting her website where you can also pre-order Dear Carolina that is set to release May 5, 2015. As well, all the usual places including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, but if you are so inclined, I suggest purchasing at and supporting a local independent bookstore in your neighborhood.

Review of Out With the Tide by Lola Faye Arnold ... @arnold_lola

noreply@blogger.com (Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert) — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 07:10:00 +0000

I just finished the last page of Out With the Tide by a new author Lola Faye Arnold. I picked up this book because I liked the title and the cover art, a book set in parts of South Carolina familiar to me. The place a story resides in is important to me and I was pleased with the author's choices. I was also pleasantly surprised when one of her characters, though only with a brief part hailed from Albuquerque, New Mexico, another place familiar to me.

I don't often use the word nice when writing about a book I've read, but I will, in this case, it was a nice story. Wordy and perhaps a bit overdone, it was nice; it was sweet ... until the end, when I was caught off guard. You see I didn't expect much from the ending because I found the middle of the book to be drawn out with just too many words and no clear understanding of where the story was going or why I should be interested. There were elements I would have wanted to know more about such as the main character's capacity for the supernatural and there were other elements such as the constant mind talk that I could not have cared less about but only because there was too much of it. I skimmed through large sections of the book sticking with it just to see how it played out and if there would be a point. I wanted to like this book.

It was the end that told the story and perhaps will be the beginning of a sequel for this author to pursue. That one last chapter made reading the book worthwhile and gave me the impression that this author might be one to watch.

Follow the author at @arnold_lola and on Goodreads. Out with the Tide can be purchased on Amazon

... Whiskey Tales

Grave Heritage by @BlancheManos Pre-Order @PenLPubing to win a signed copy, link in post!

Guest Post by "In The Reins" Romance Author Carly Kade { @CarlyKadeAuthor }

In The Reins by Carly Kade

Cover Reveal and #Giveaway for SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE by Kristy Woodson Harvey @kristywharvey #GoodBooks

Artistic Photography?

Guest Author Blanche Day Manos ~ Those Shivery Cozies @BlancheManos

Guest Blogger: Cozy Mystery Writer Blanche Day Manos @BlancheManos

Journey of a Reluctant Writer

Yoga and Horseback Riding in the Texas Hill Country!

Review: Lowcountry Boneyard by Susan M. Boyer { @susanmboyer }

Review of Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews { @mkayandrews }

Review of The Sound of Glass by Karen White { @KarenWhiteWrite }

Review of Rough Patches by Deanna Dickenson McCall

Review - Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey @kristywharvey #BookReview

Review: Ladies of the Canyons: A League of Extraordinary Women and Their Adventures in the American Southwest by Lesley Poling-Kempes

Adventures in the American Southwest

Cover reveal of LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE by Kristy Woodson Harvey #actsoflove @kristywharvey

Ladies of the Canyon by Lesley Poling-Kempes

Guest Post by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Author of Dear Carolina ... @kristywharvey

What's new in this growing TBR

Lowcountry Boneyard

Available April 21

the sound of glass

COMING MAY 12

Beach Town

NEW HARDCOVER!COMING MAY 19

The Summer's End

Book Three of the LOWCOUNTRY SUMMER TRILOGY -- out May 19

Happy birthday Barbara Kingsolver

“She kept swimming out into life because she hadn't yet found a rock to stand on.”

― Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

Sweetgrass Lowcountry Weddings by Charmayne

Anne Neilson Fine Art

Garden Inspirations by Charlotte Moss

Let's make a PITCHER OF COCKTAILS

A PITCHER OF COCKTAILS

INGREDIENTS

Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey ... @kristywharvey #BookReview

Review of Out With the Tide by Lola Faye Arnold ... @arnold_lola

NEW HARDCOVER!
COMING MAY 19