Books and Broomsticks

Books and Broomsticks: On the Other Side of Last Night

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 20:28:00 +0000

Books and Broomsticks: On the Other Side of Last Night: Ever have that experience that knocks you off-tracks and tilts your view in such a way that everything around you looks and sounds a bit di...

Review & Giveaway! LANDING IN MY PRESENT by Mary Walker Clark

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 07:30:00 +0000

LANDING IN MY PRESENT

Mary Clark

Biography / Aviation / Historical / WWII

Publisher: Hellgate Press
Date of Publication: June 15, 2020

Number of Pages: 218

Scroll down for the giveaway!

Mary Walker Clark barely knew her father. When he died, he left not only the obvious void every teen would experience, but took with him scores of Indiana Jones-style tales about flying the Hump, a treacherous series of US missions that transported supplies over the Himalayas to China during World War II.

It would take a chance interview with a pilot who had flown with her father in the war to launch a series of extraordinary journeys—into a shrouded past and halfway around the globe to India and China—for Clark to finally come to know the father whose absence had haunted her for decades.

Landing in My Present chronicles the adventures of a daughter who chose to pry open a painful past while enlarging her view of an adventurous father long thought lost.

CLICK TO ORDER ON:
AMAZON • HELLGATE PRESS

When Kristine the Book Siren posted the sign-up for LANDING IN MY PRESENT by Mary Clark in our blogger group, I knew I had to jump at the chance to read and review this book.

You see, I’ve got a lot in common with this author. No, we do not know each other, and, no, we are not even in the same generation (technically-kinda-sorta), but we do have a great deal in common.

I tell y’all all about it.

But first things first. Yeah, I might give one or two spoilers.

DON’T GET USED TO IT, THO, YO!

What immediately struck me about Clark’s story was her now almost desperate need to know her father. Not that she didn’t know him, but he’d died due to an accident at work when the author was at the pivotal age of 16. You know…those angsty years when we are more self-centered and interested in our friends and swooning over love interests.

That is the point at which my heart shattered. In fact, I will confess that I had to read this book in short segments, because of all the feels.

You see, I was a true Daddy’s Girl, the baby of the family, and I adored my Daddy like he hung the moon. Speaking of the moon … My Daddy, like Clark’s own father, was a work-a-holic, like most men in The Greatest Generation. So most of the time when my Daddy was just getting home from work, it was at the end of the graveyard shift, when the world was dark and quiet. When the only things awake were night creatures and the jewels and gems strewn across the sky, scattered around the moon.

He’d always awake me when he’d get in, still in his work clothes, and whisper, “Belle Buttons, wanna take a walk with Daddy?” I’d scramble out of bed, slip on shoes (still in my PJs), and Daddy and I would walk the woods and pasture without a flashlight, using only moon and starlight to guide our steps. He taught me the magic of the night. He’d stop and whisper, “Let’s listen to the nightlife for a while.” And we’d stand, hand-in-hand, listening to the creatures of the night singing their songs to the twinkling sky above.

I learned the constellations by name, Orion is still my favorite, the Little Dipper coming in second, and he taught me to appreciate how the silvery moonlight dripped from the edges of the tree leaves against the canvas of the velvety night sky.

Daddy was magic. At that young age, and even now at my not so young age, he was, and will always be, a giant in my eyes. Though he was relatively small in stature. Indeed, it had been such a shocking blow when he succumbed to a hospital infection at the young age of 81 that it truly nearly crushed me.

Seventeen years later, I still speak to him every day.

And I listen to the nightlife as it sings to the night sky every night.

Thank you, God, that I had my Daddy until I was 35 years old and that he'd lived long enough to teach that same magic to my daughter.

My heart ached for Clark as I read how she’d not had the time to truly know her father. But I was immediately swept up in intriguing the story of how she’d pieced together the giant mystery of her father’s past life in the military.

Clark’s search for the story of her father’s untold part in the Army Air Corp during WWII is so tangible that I felt as if I were right there with her, helping her put the evidence together. Her style of toggling betwixt the present and her childhood pulls the reader deeper into the story until the reader feels personally invested in finding out the truth and getting to know her father.

Well, it hit me deeply in my heart, because, as I stated earlier. Clark and I have a lot in common, though we are (kinda-sorta) not in the same generation. You see, my Daddy had also been in the Army Air Corp during WWII doing armed reconnaissance in the South Pacific, stationed on New Guinea. My uncle, Daddy’s older brother, coincidentally served in Africa (where Clark discovers her father had also served) and later on the beaches of Normandy.

Daddy was also a photographer for the Army Air Corps, and we have many of his original photographs from the war. Many of the ones you see in books of the South Pacific were taken by him and his group.

Is Clark’s father in some of those photos? I have to wonder, I wish I knew!

This is my Daddy before the war. He'd enlisted at the age of 17, before Pearl Harbor.

Isn’t it odd that I, a GenXer has so much in common with a Baby Boomer? Actually, I’m kinda in a gen all my own, since Daddy was 21 years older than my mother. *Le Gasp*! (Yes, it was both of their first and only marriage.) Indeed, I have so much in common with Clark that I wasn't even surprised to discover that she had majored in History just like moi!

But I, once again, digress…

Clark has taken me on a long drive into her past, and in doing so has turned my gaze backwards, too. The difference betwixt mine and Clarks’ stories is that Daddy told us all about the war. It was ingrained in us. In fact, I frequently did school reports about Daddy’s war service and took his pictures to school for presentations. It truly struck me in my heart that Clark had to really work to search for clues about her father’s personality, military service, and what he’d been like in his younger years.

Y’all, I can see this book being turned into a Netflix original movie. There are so many bits and pieces of the puzzle that Clark unearths, and along that way, she gets to know her father who’d died all those years ago. I'm pretty sure she may have used a bit of magic of her own!

And that’s why I grant

LANDING IN MY PRESENT

Mary Clark

5 Fabulous Flying Brooms!

Mary Walker Clark is a retired attorney turned travel writer who loves taking readers with her to worldwide destinations. She has been traveling independently and internationally for over fifty years. Her essays may be found in the Paris News, at her blog, "Mary Clark, Traveler," and her podcasts at KETR 88.9, an NPR affiliate. Clark is an award-winning member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and a contributor to Still Me, … After All These Years, 24 Writers Reflect on Aging.

In 2016, Clark traveled to India and China to follow her father's WWII footsteps when he was a Hump pilot flying over the Himalayas. Her journey to connect with him fifty years after his death is told in her book, Landing in My Present.

Clark is a fifth generation Texan living in Paris, Texas.

Website ║ Facebook ║ Blog

Instagram ║ Amazon Author Page

-------------------------------------

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THREE WINNERS

FIRST WINNER: $25 Amazon card SECOND WINNER: Signed copy of Landing in My Present THIRD WINNER: $15 Amazon card.

July 21-July 31, 2020

(US only)

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CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY. Or, visit the blogs directly:

7/21/20	BONUS Post	Texas Book Lover
7/21/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
7/22/20	Review	Book Bustle
7/22/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
7/23/20	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
7/24/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
7/24/20	Review	Jennifer Silverwood
7/25/20	Review	The Clueless Gent
7/26/20	Review	It's Not All Gravy
7/27/20	Review	That's What She's Reading
7/27/20	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
7/28/20	BONUS Post	All the Ups and Downs
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7/29/20	Review	Sydney Young, Stories
7/30/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
7/30/20	Review	Hall Ways Blog

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Review & Giveaway! A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING by Stephanie Raffelock

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 07:30:00 +0000

A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING

Stephanie Raffelock

Genre: Inspirational / Spiritual / Essays / Self-Help
Publisher: She Writes Press
Publication Date: April 28, 2020
Number of Pages: 119 pages

Scroll down for the giveaway!

All around us, older women flourish in industry, entertainment, and politics. Do they know something that we don’t, or are we all just trying to figure it out? For so many of us, our hearts and minds still feel that we are twenty-something young women who can take on the world. But in our bodies, the flexibility and strength that were once taken for granted are far from how we remember them. Every day we have to rise above the creaky joints and achy knees to earn the opportunity of moving through the world with a modicum of grace. Yet we do rise, because it’s a privilege to grow old, and every single day is a gift. Peter Pan’s mantra was, “Never grow up”; our collective mantra should be, “Never stop growing.” This collection of user-friendly stories, essays, and philosophies invites readers to celebrate whatever age they are with a sense of joy and purpose and with a spirit of gratitude.

PRAISE for A Delightful Little Book on Aging:

“Where are the elders? The wise women, the crones, the guardians of truth here to gently, lovingly, and playfully guide us towards the fulfillment of our collective destiny? It turns out that they are right here, in our midst, and Stephanie Raffelock is showcasing the reclamation of aging as a moment of becoming, no longer a dreaded withering into insignificance. A Delightful Little Book on Aging lays down new and beautiful tracks for the journey into our richest, deepest, and wildest years.”
– Kelly Brogan, MD, author of the New York Times bestseller A Mind of Your Own

“A helpful, uplifting work for readers handling the challenges of growing older.”
– Kirkus Reviews

CLICK TO PURCHASE:
Amazon ┃ IndieBound

Well, howdy, y’all! How’s everyone progressing through this weird Covid-19 pandemic thing? All I can say is that I’ve just given myself my second quarantine haircut. I won’t say any more about it, except that there was hair all over the bathroom when I was done. And seeing as how my hair is pret-near (East Texas slang for “pretty near”) blood-red, the aftermath looked like a murder scene, which it kinda was in relation to what I did to my Pompidou. My hairdresser will likely loathe me with the flames of a thousand suns when she finally gets to see me again.

All of this Covid-19 stuff makes me feel shut off from the world with my memories of freer days. It’s as if we, as a society, have had our childlike innocence stripped from us, and now we see the world through raw eyes. It’s as if carefree days are gone forever – no more last-minute trips to the coffeeshop with friends or lingering visits to my favorite museum for fear of contracting the plague.

I am reminded of a quote in one of the Harry Potter movies regarding Dementors:
“It’s as if all happiness has gone out from the world.”

Headmaster Hogwarts Running Club GIF from Headmaster GIFs

And this makes me feel old.

How timely is it that Kristine-the-Book-Siren messaged me about an upcoming review op of a book about aging? Okay, I confess that my nostrils flared, my eyes grew wide, and I huffed.

“She’s calling me old!” I said to myself. “How dare she insinuate such a thing!” I huffed as I typed my deets into the blogger tour sign up form. “Well, I never! The very audacity of the thing!” I blustered as I clicked the “submit” button.

And then I remembered that I’m a GenXer, and I am kinda - sorta … in a roundabout way … aging…

Heck fire and save the matches! This is the oldest I’ve ever been!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

Help arrived on a scalding hawt summer afternoon. It was hawt as a firecracker when I peered into my mailbox and withdrew the envelope, which contained the most adorable little hardback book I’ve seen in a long while. It’s even got a prim little dust cover! I confess that I squeed out loud in the blistering heat, just before wilting like an old flower out of water. Thank goodness my truck has a powerful AC. Hallelujah and amen!

By now, y’all know that the first thang (yes, I meant to include that “a”) I did was carefully turn back the adorbs cover to look for that all encompassing and most desired autograph. Alas, there was none. I daintily checked the next two pages. Nope. Nada.

“Well, son of a biscuit!” my internal voice echoed in my head. “Le sigh. At least she sent a note with the book.” My bottom lip pooched out, and I headed back to the house to begin my journey through the pages of A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING by Stephanie Raffelock.

This little book feels so good in the reader’s hands. It has a tangibility of quality and collectability (me likes alliteration) that book nerds love. It also came with a darling little ethereal bag tied with a white satin ribbon that contains a neat stack of pocket cards of “inspiration and light,” according to the card on top.

Those three words are a perfect description of these lovely pocket cards. Each one is inscribed with a bit of wisdom, of, well, inspiration and light!

Except for the last one in the stack:

Sorry, Stephanie, I plan on becoming a vampire and living forever.

But I digress…

I thought this little book would be an easy, quick read. At just over 100 pages, it shouldn’t take long to plow through, right?

Lie Detector Maury GIF from Liedetector GIFs

Test results determined that was a lie.

A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING is packed with thoughtful essays, though short, are richly filled with a lifetime of wisdom mixed with a dash of Stephanie’s personal stories, and topped with an indescribable spice that rests on the mental palate and makes the reader want to slow down and savor each one. And learn from them.

Each year, I try to have a theme for myself. This year has been a theme dealing with anxiety by learning to mediate. It’s a journey of learning deep, life-changing wisdom that I’d never known was possible through the practice of sitting in mediation. I’ve learned this through the Calm App on my phone. It’s extraordinary how it changes the way one looks at everything.

At how one learns to be present and in the moment with gratitude.

This great big little book is in tandem with what I’ve been learning through meditation. And it’s exceptional. It’s beyond meaningful. Reading Stephanie’s essays, stopping to relish a sentence or paragraph once more, is like having that longed-for, last-minute trip to the coffee shop with a friend during which one lingers over a steaming mug of coffee and crumbly bites of cake while engaging in rich conversation and connection with a close friend.

I feel less alone. I feel understood.

I feel less old and more wise. (I know it should say "wiser," but just roll with me here.)

I feel as though I’ve made a new bestie. That's why I decided that only a certain bookmark would do for this book. Yes, Stephanie Raffelock is my new best friend!
(I promise not to stalk you, Steph! It's okay if I call you "Steph," right?)

There’s a richness in Stephanie’s prose … a certain (almost) poetic quality that draws the reader into the innermost part of each essay, as if the reader is a little bee and each essay is a blossoming, fragrant flower. Just as it is impossible for the bee to leave a flower without becoming covered in pollen, so it is impossible for the reader to come to the last sentence without having gleaned some deep magic.

Am I proposing that Stephanie is some mystical siren or magical being? Mayhap she is!

A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING by Stephanie Raffelock is anything but little. Once the reader turns back the cover and steps in, she discovers just how deep this book is. It is a veritable library of life wisdom.

Richly and warmly written, A DELIGHTFUL BOOK ON AGING by Stephanie Raffelock is a priceless jewel worthy of reading again and again.

And that’s why I grant

A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING

By Stephanie Raffelock

5 wise brooms of gratitude!

Stephanie Raffelock is the author of A Delightful Little Book on Aging (She Writes Press, April 2020). A graduate of Naropa University’s program in Writing and Poetics, she has penned articles for numerous publications, including the Aspen Times, the Rogue Valley Messenger, Nexus Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, Care2.com, and SixtyandMe.com. Stephanie is part of the positive-aging movement, which encourages viewing age as a beautiful and noble passage, the fruition of years that birth wisdom and deep gratitude for all of life. She’s a recent transplant to Austin, Texas, where she enjoys life with her husband, Dean, and their Labrador retriever, Jeter (yes, named after the great Yankee shortstop).

Website ║ Facebook ║ Instagram ║ Amazon
---------------------------------

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TWO WINNERS:
Signed hardcover copy of A Delightful Little Book on Aging + a set of 50 pocket inspirations
ONE WINNER: A set of 50 pocket inspirations JULY 7-19, 2020

(US ONLY)

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or visit the blogs directly:

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7/11/20	Author Video	All the Ups and Downs
7/12/20	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
7/13/20	Author Interview	Texas Book Lover
7/13/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
7/14/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks
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7/15/20	Review	Kelly Well Read
7/16/20	Review	It's Not All Gravy
7/17/20	Guest Post	Missus Gonzo
7/17/20	Review	Sydney Young, Stories
7/18/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
7/18/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight

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READ MY REVIEW & ENTER TO WIN! GATES OF MARS by McFall & Hays

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 16:01:00 +0000

GATES OF MARS

The Halo Trilogy #1

CLARK HAYS AND KATHLEEN McFALL

Genre: Science Fiction / Detective (hard-boiled)
Publisher: Pumpjack Press on Facebook

Date of Publication: June 16, 2020

Number of Pages: 336

Scroll down for the giveaway!

IN THE AGE OF SURVEILLANCE, HOW CAN A PERSON GO MISSING?

The year is 2187. Crucial Larsen, a veteran of the brutal Consolidation Wars, is working as a labor cop on Earth. The planet is a toxic dump and billions of people are miserable, but so what? It’s none of his business. He’s finally living a good life, or good enough. But then Essential, his beloved kid sister, disappears on Mars. When Halo—the all-powerful artificial-intelligence overseeing Earth and Mars on behalf of the ruling Five Families—can’t (or won’t) locate his sister, Crucial races up-universe to find her.

In the Choke, the frigid, airless expanse outside the luxury domes, Crucial uncovers a deadly secret from Essential’s past that threatens to shatter his apathetic existence … and both planets. Blending science fiction with the classic, hard-boiled detective story, Gates of Mars is a page-turning, futuristic thrill-ride featuring a gritty, irreverent anti-hero, Crucial Larsen. The first book of the Halo Trilogy, Gates of Mars is the eighth novel by award-winning authors, Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall.

PRAISE FOR GATES OF MARS:

"An indelible introduction to an interplanetary saga and its sublime characters."
—Kirkus Reviews

"The authors' imaginations again run wild, this time a science fiction/detective series looking at what our lives may hold in the not too distant future if everything that can go wrong does go wrong. And they've done it with their trademark undercurrent of humor that lifts an otherwise dreary future into something resembling—do I dare say?—hope. Their best work to date. And the giraffes? You'll have to read Gates of Mars to find out. I'm already wishing they could write faster." —Renee Struthers, East Oregonian newspaper

"With twists and turns true to some of the best noir detective pieces—but with an other-world setting and futuristic society—along with psychological insights and connections, Gates of Mars is a riveting, unexpected story, filled with intrigue and change. Sci-fi and detective story readers alike with find Gates of Mars one of a kind, worthy of avid pursuit." —Midwest Book Review

CLICK TO PURCHASE
|| Amazon ||

Howdy, y’all! I hope all’s well with ya’ll. Yesterday, the Govnah of the Great Republic of Texas released an Executive Order that all Texans must wear “face coverings” at all times in public. (Rest assured that my rebellious self has been wearing a mask since day one. So calm down!) While I know this is probably wise in the scheme of things, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s a weird thing to be thrust upon the residents of The Lone Star State. We’re an independent, rebellious lot … well those of us who have true roots here are. Transplants from other states … not so much. So there’s lots of tension in the air.

And that’s one of the things that connected me to some of the themes in GATES OF MARS by Kathleen McFall & Clark Hays.

I know … I know … y’all are shocked that I’m not bogging y’all down with a bunch of my usual rambling. Well, I’m just too dadblasted excited to give y’all a run-down on some sci-fi deliciousness. So wipe that shocked look of y’all’s faces, and listen up!

It’s no surprise, surely by now, that I lurve me some sci-fi. I mean … it’s what I write! So when the confounded book siren … y’all know of whom I speak … posted up the call for reviewers in the blogger group, well, I signed up lickety split for this here book.

And I’m glad I did.

The authors of this book must have some sort of pre-knowledge, or something, because there’s a feel to this book that’s timely for our current events. Are they time travelers or fortune telling writerly folks with a magic deck of sci fi Tarot cards? I know not.

All I know is, they are darn good writers.

This story begins at 10:20 A.M. on August 31, in the Year of Our Lord 2187. (I have a sneaky hunch that McFall & Hays hopped into a time machine and visited this very date. Just sayin’)

Well, I lurve me some futuristic, sci fi, time traveling, post-apocalyptic stories in which AI is reigning supreme, so tumbled right on down the rabbit hole and landed smack dab into the middle of an inquest in which an all-knowing AI system robot thingie is interviewing the main character, a man named Crucial Larsen.

That name spoke volumes to me. It whispered to me that this dude was born to do something important … something, well, crucial. And the hook dug right on into my jib and reeled me in.

NOPE! I ain’t telling y’all any more spoilers or hints. Y’all keep on trying to drag ‘em outa me. You’re gonna have to score a copy of this book to find out all the deets y’all’s-selves.

However, there are some things I will tell y’all about GATES OF MARS. *Le Gasp*

The feeling of this story is engrossing. To me, it’s Terminator (think Skynet) + Blade Runner + AI + Altered Carbon + Matrix + The 5^th Element + Dune (the books, not that wacko movie) + some others I’m too lazy to name.

The world building in GATES OF MARS is immediate and tangible. I was actually there while reading this book and suffered a bit of book hang-over when I finally put it down. The shift from the story to reality was a mind trick. I think the authors may have done that on purpose, yo!

In fact, I was truly impressed with the crisp, intelligent prose in this book. Some hard sci fi books are flat out boring and bog the reader down in too many unnecessary deets as an attempted mode to trick the reader into thinking the writer knows what he/she is talking about. But that’s not a necessity when writing fiction. And it’s also why I choose to write soft sci fi, myself, because who wants to purposely read something that’s going to bore them out of their minds? (Now y’all might be surprised to hear me ask that question, seeing as how I’m working toward a PhD in History. Hush up! History is fascinating I tells ya!)

This book is the first installment in The Halo Trilogy, and I cannot wait to get my grabby hands on the next two books! (If you wanna know what “Halo” is, well, you’re just gonna have to read the book! I promise, you’ll love it!)

McFall and Hays successfully spun science fiction elements into their prose in such a way that the reader experiences them instead of just reading about them. That’s what makes GATES OF MARS deliciously engrossing.

And that’s why I’m granting

GATES OF MARS

Kathleen McFall + Clark Hays

5 Trillingly Sci Fi Brooms

Clark and Kathleen wrote their first book together in 1999 as a test for marriage. They passed. Gates of Mars is their eighth co-authored book.

Facebook ║ Instagram

Connect with Kathleen

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Goodreads ║ Amazon ║ Facebook ║ Twitter

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TWO WINNERS: One Winner: First edition copy of A Very Unusual Romance

One Winner: All four books in The Cowboy and the Vampire Collection

June 29-July 8, 2020

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6/29/20	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
6/29/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
6/29/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
6/30/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
6/30/20	Review	Sybrina's Book Blog
7/1/20	Author Interview	StoreyBook Reviews
7/1/20	Review	Book Bustle
7/2/20	Excerpt	All the Ups and Downs
7/2/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
7/3/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
7/3/20	Review	Bibliotica

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Read My Review & ENTER TO WIN! The Outlaw's Daughter by Margaret Brownley

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Fri, 29 May 2020 07:30:00 +0000

THE OUTLAW'S DAUGHTER
HAYWIRE BRIDES, BOOK 3

MARGARET BROWNLEY

Western / Historical Fiction / Clean & Wholesome Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of Publication: May 26, 2020
Number of Pages: 384

Scroll down for Giveaway!

He may be a Texas Ranger, but he only has eyes for the outlaw's beautiful daughter . . . Texas Ranger Matt Taggert is on the trail of a wanted man. He has good reason to believe that Ellie-May's late husband was involved in a stagecoach robbery, and he's here to see justice done. But when he arrives in town, he discovers the thief has become a local hero . . . and his beautiful young widow isn't too happy to see some lawman out to tarnish her family's newly spotless reputation.

Ellie-May's shaken by her encounter with the ranger. Having grown up an outlaw's daughter, she'll do anything to keep her children safe—and if that means hardening her heart against the handsome lawman's smiles, then so be it. Because she knows Matt isn't about to give up his search. He's out to redeem himself and find proof that Ellie-May's husband wasn't the saint everyone claims . . . even if it means losing the love neither expected to discover along the way.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE

Hey, Y’all! Well, here we are, almost at the end of May. Summer is right around the corner, and I’m still staying the heck at home, away from germs and the people who carry them.

This gives me more time with my books, both reading and writing ‘em, and it gives me time to do other things like this:

Yes. I actually did this to my own dog. It’s like she’s a time traveler against her own fur-will. I confess at having laughed way too hard whilst doing this portrait of Sascha Marie, who you can follow on Facebook by clicking on her name (which I just now typed). I’ve been spending some time honing my Photoshop skills, and in doing so, have even gotten my first commission for a pet portrait, yo! Check it out.

I titled this portrait, Her Grace Callie Mae, Duchess of Purrington. Not bad, huh?
(My next one will be a portrait of a fish in Renaissance garb.)

What have y’all been doing during all this extra at-home time?
Leave a comment below. I’m lonely and need human interaction.

Speaking of which …

Kristine, siren of all books she surveys, lured me in once more. Come to think of it, I bet she’s got one of them confounded voodoo dolls with curly red hair and blue buttons for eyes. Instead of jabbing it with pins, she prolly tapes books on it and whispers “Belle, you are gonna lurve (yes, I think she actually whispers that word) this book. Sign up to review it.
DO IT NOW, OR I’LL JAB YOU WITH A PIN!”

That’s when my eyes fly open, in the dark of the night, and I immediately go to the blogger group and start searching for the book title I’d heard whispered in my dream-mare (I just made that word up.) But, ya know what? Somehow, the book temptress is always right. She could be, like, a millionaire with her canny bookish book bloggerness in all her glory.

Alas, I digress.

Let’s get on with the review, shall we? (I saw you nodding your head off, tired of my rambling. Yes, I’m looking at you!)

THE OUTLAW’S DAUGHTER by Margaret Brownley is not a genre that’s usually on my self-chosen, non-book-siren-influenced forte of reading material. I usually personally go for something with a fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi blend or to the other end of the scale -- something that’s extremely literary (think Shakespeare or Beowulf) or some obscure Viking history book that’s frankly boring to most people. But, Kristine knows me well, I tells ya! Yes. She knows something historical is gonna tickle my ever-loving fancy. And she was right on the money.

It was a sunny day when THE OUTLAW’S DAUGHTER arrived in my mailbox. The rays of afternoon sunlight glowed on the gorgeous cover of Brownley’s book as I slipped it out of the envelope. But something else slipped out, too. A lovely, handwritten note from the author. I carefully turned back the gorgeous cover (y’all know how I love to keep a book looking like it’s never been read) and there it was … another note and the author’s autograph (y’all also know I love it when the book is autographed. GAZE UPON THE SPLENDOR!

Not only does this book look great on my library shelf, as you can clearly see, but it also sits well in the reader’s hands. It has a nice, tangible quality that makes ya not wanna put it down. But that’s not the only thing that keeps the reader glued to this book.

Ms. Brownley has the unmitigated gall to quote Mark Twain even before she gets to the hook, which you’ll read about here in a second. Now, quoting witty ole Twain is the perfect way to snag a Literature Major’s heart. (I’m beginning she did it on purpose. Heck, maybe she’s even in cahoots with Kristine the Book Siren. NO, I AIN’T PARANOID!)

The reader quickly learns on the first line of Chapter 1 that this book takes place in the Year of Our Lord 1887 in a place called Haywire, Texas. “That sounds like a place where I belong,” I says to myself as I snuggled down into my reading nook and tucked into the story.

And there it was. Right there. The hook.

Of course, I had no other option but to continue reading. And so, I tumbled headfirst into THE OUTLAW’S DAUGHTER by Margaret Brownley. The roads were dusty in Haywire, when I picked myself up from whence I'd landed in the story. There’d been a drought for some time, and the town folk were scurrying to and fro, stirring up clouds of dust. I stood at the edge of the dusty street, watching horses and wagons pass by and listening to people chatter on about an upcoming town celebration to do with a bronze statue. (I hoped none of them could see me standing there in my nightgown.)

Imma stop there, because y’all know I don’t give spoilers.

But I will tell y’all this: there are a lot of things that I enjoyed about this book. First, Brownley has the gift of a true storyteller. Each page fed my interest in the story until I was actually invested in the characters. Indeed, I was so enthralled that I plowed through this book in one sitting.

Of equal enjoyment is how Brownley allows her characters to be their authentic selves. Ya know what I mean? She actually allows them to say the things and speak the way you’d expect if you met them in person. For example:

I’ve added this line to my repertoire of future insults, by the way. Thank you, Ms. Brownley!

This story has everything a reader longs for in a book: tragedy, tenderness, suspense, romantic tension, and a good lookin’ Texas Ranger. Boy, howdy and lawd have mercy! *Fans Self*

via GIPHY

Most of all, Brownley’s writing is crisp, intelligent, and witty. I enjoyed the heck out of this book and my visit to Haywire, Texas. No matter what genre the reader usually prefers, THE OUTLAW’S DAUGHTER by Margaret Brownley has all the elements to keep any reader enthralled until the very last satisfying sentence.

And that’s why I grant The Outlaw’s Daughter

Five Haywire Brooms!

New York Times bestselling author Margaret Brownley has penned more than forty-six novels and novellas.

A two-time Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist, Margaret has also written for a TV soap and is a recipient of the Romantic Times Pioneer Award. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth-grade English. Just don't ask her to diagram a sentence.

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May 26-June 5, 2020

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5/26/20	Promo	All the Ups and Downs
5/26/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
5/27/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
5/27/20	Review	Book Bustle
5/28/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
5/28/20	Review	That's What She's Reading
5/29/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
5/29/20	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
5/30/20	Review	Book Fidelity
5/31/20	Review	Bibliotica
6/1/20	Review	The Page Unbound
6/1/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
6/2/20	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
6/3/20	Review	It's Not All Gravy
6/4/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
6/4/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks

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Book Blitz & GIVEAWAY! THANK YOU, GARDEN by Liz Garton Scanlon

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Thu, 14 May 2020 14:56:00 +0000

THANK YOU, GARDEN

By LIZ GARTON SCANLON

Illustrated by Simone Shin

Children's Picture Book / Poetry / Environment / Ages 3-7
Publisher: Beach Lane Books / Simon & Schuster

Date of Publication: March 3, 2020

Number of Pages: 32

A community garden unites neighbors in this celebration of all the things that grow there, from flowers and fruits, to friendships! This ode to working together for a better world will have young readers wanting to plant gardens of their own!

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Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of many beloved books for kids, including the brand new Thank You, Garden, as well as the Caldecott Honor book All the World and others, including several co-authored with her pal Audrey Vernick. Scanlon also wrote the middle grade novel The Great Good Summer and is published in numerous poetry anthologies. She serves on the faculty of the Vermont Faculty of Fine Arts and is a frequent and popular presenter at conferences and festivals. Find more about her life and work at www.LizGartonScanlon.com

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REVIEW & GIVEAWAY! First Herd to Abilene by Preston Lewis

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Thu, 07 May 2020 07:30:00 +0000

FIRST HERD TO ABILENE

An H. H. Lomax Western, #5
by

PRESTON LEWIS

Genre: Historical Fiction / Western / Humor
Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
Date of Publication: February 5, 2020

Number of Pages: 449

Scroll down for the giveaway!

HISTORICALLY SOUND AND HILARIOUSLY FUNNY!

H.H. Lomax meets Wild Bill Hickok in Springfield, Missouri, and is responsible for Hickok’s legendary gunfight with Davis Tutt. Fearing Hickok will hold a grudge, Lomax escapes Springfield and agrees to promote Joseph G. McCoy’s dream of building Abilene, Kansas, into a cattle town, ultimately leading the first herd to Abilene from Texas. Along the way, he encounters Indians, rabid skunks, flash floods, a stampede, and the animosities of some fellow cowboys trying to steal profits from the drive. Lomax is saved by the timely arrival of now U.S. Marshal Hickok, but Lomax uses counterfeit wanted posters to convince Hickok his assailants are wanted felons with rewards on their heads. Lomax and Wild Bill go their separate ways until they run into each other a decade later in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, where Hickok vows to kill Lomax for getting him fired.

First Herd to Abilene is an entertaining mix of historical and hysterical fiction.

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Hey, Y’all! How’s quarantine life going? Truth be told (since I’m a hermit) not much is different for me, except I cannot make a dash into the store when I wanna. *Le Sigh* I’m seriously missing the dollar store, at the moment.

Most of y’all know that I’m an author who lurves writing about alien invasions in Small Town, Texas. But I’m also an Instructional Designer with my own (award winning) boutique firm called Star eLearning. (If you happen to know someone who needs Instructional Design services, send ‘em my way, yo!) Therefore, I work from home 24/7. So, I’m still mostly just doing what I usually do, except for wearing a ninja mask once a week on a short trek to town. This makes me feel uppity and ninja-like in all my masked glory.

But I digress…

In betwixt designing elearning modules for clients and writing on my current WIP (no, I ain’t gonna give y’all any deets on that), I’ve been luxuriating in reading A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES by Deborah Harkness. Right when the plot is getting all juicy and vampirey (I just made that word up), here comes Kristine, all sneaky like, with FIRST HERD TO ABILENE by Preston Lewis in her tantalizing biscuit hooks.

She stroked the lush cover of Lewis’ western (knowing full-well that I’m a complete history nerd), and purred “trust in me…just in me…open your eyes…and trust in me…”

Well, not really like that... But she somehow (in her mystical book siren way) knew that this book would be a good fit for moi and my penchant for history. I minored in history at UH, ya see. Albeit with a study in Viking history, but how different are cowboys from Vikings, really? Basically, one shouts “vallhallah!” whilst the other calls out “yeehaw!”

Well, there are one or two other differences, but this dude kinda has a little of both, wouldn't you say?

via GIPHY

I know, I know, I always make y’all listen to me yammer on and on instead of coming on out with the review. Dang! I’m gittin’ to it! Hold yer horses (or mules, donkeys, camels, etc.)!

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about FIRST HERD TO ABILENE by Preston Lewis, to be honest. It just didn’t sound like it had any UFOs or aliens in it, I guess. But not many books do, these days. However, I do lurve me some Texas (and cowboys ain’t bad, either.) So, I turned on my Kindle and commenced to read.

Aha…there it was. The hook. Right away. Lewis had the confounded, dadblasted nerve to straight up tell me in the Introduction that he’s writing about an actual historical figure who he’s been researching for many years.

“Well, heck,” I says to myself. “How am I supposed to put this book down now?” I huffed as I continued reading. “I hope Lewis is happy!” My nostrils flared as I took a big ole gulp of coffee and dug on into the story.

Before I knew it, I had slipped into the skin of H. H. Lomax, a man who knew the likes of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. A man who'd done and experienced all sorts of things in his younger years than most modern folks would have the chance to do in a lifetime. And since I'd slipped on into Lomax's boots, I was experiencing those things, too!

Ya see, Lewis has a way with spinning a yarn. I’d thought this particular type of storytelling had become a lost art. But I was dead wrong.

This book is penned in such a way that the reader has no choice but to become part of the story. This is the type of book that nerds yearn for. If one wants to get lost from reality, then I recommend grabbing a copy of FIRST HERD TO ABILENE by Preston Lewis. Reading this book is akin to taking a vacation from life.

And, given that we’ve all been in a dadgum pandemic, we can all use a little bit of escape right about now. Though I’ve featured Preston Lewis here on Books & Broomsticks in the past, this is the first of his books that I’ve read. But, I assure y’all that it won’t be the last.

I sorely needed that break from modern day (pandemic riddled murder hornet) life, and Lewis took me on a wild west adventure far away from my worries and troubles.

Lewis’ writing is witty, timeless, and intelligent.

FIRST HERD TO ABILENE won a place in my

Texas lovin’ pea pickin’ heart!

And that’s why I’m granting

FIRST HERD TO ABILENE

By Preston Lewis

5 Fantastical Brooms!

Preston Lewis is the Spur Award-winning author of thirty novels. In addition to his two Western Writers of America Spurs, he received the 2018 Will Rogers Gold Medallion for Western Humor for Bluster’s Last Stand, the fourth volume in his comic western series, The Memoirs of H. H. Lomax. Two other books in that series were Spur finalists. His comic western The Fleecing of Fort Griffin received the Elmer Kelton Award from the West Texas Historical Association for best creative work on the region.

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4/28/20	Excerpt	The Page Unbound
4/28/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
4/29/20	Review	Max Knight
4/30/20	Author Interview	Forgotten Winds
5/1/20	Review	The Clueless Gent
5/2/20	Scrapbook Page	All the Ups and Downs
5/3/20	Excerpt	StoreyBook Reviews
5/4/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
5/5/20	Author Interview	Texas Book Lover
5/6/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
5/7/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
5/7/20	Series Spotlight	#Bookish
5/8/20	BONUS Review	Bibliotica

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Book Blitz BAYOU CITY BURNING by D. B. Borton

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 08:00:00 +0000

BAYOU CITY BURNING

Harry & Dizzy Lark, Book 1

D.B. BORTON

Mystery / Detective / Humor / Historical

Publisher: Boomerang Books

Date of Publication: May 30, 2019

Number of Pages: 390

Houston, 1961: comedy meets mystery and history. It's hard to be hard-boiled when your biggest fan and worst critic is your twelve-year-old daughter, especially when she's cracking your case for you and defending you from the bad guys, along with sidekicks human and feline. Houston is still a cowboy backwater, but Texas politicians dream big. P.I. Harry Lark is out to save the city for President Kennedy's moon mission. Dizzy Lark is out to save Harry. Jani

Brooks of Romance Reviews Today calls Bayou City Burning “a terrific mystery loaded with humor, lots of excitement, and fascinating, well written characters” and rates it “a Perfect 10 book.”

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Visit D.B. Borton's website to read the Prologue, Chapter One, and Chapter Two of Bayou City Burning!

Click to start reading now!

= = = =

D. B. Borton is the author of two mystery series—the Cat Caliban series (Berkley, Hilliard and Harris) and the Gilda Liberty series (Fawcett)—as well as the recent novels Second Coming, Smoke, and Bayou City Burning (all from Boomerang Books). She is Professor Emeritus of English at Ohio Wesleyan University. A native Texan, Borton became an ardent admirer of Nancy Drew at a young age. At the age of fourteen, she acquired her own blue roadster, trained on the freeways of Houston and the broad stretches of oil-endowed Texas highway, and began her travels. She also began a lifetime of political activism, working only for political candidates who lost. She left Texas at about the time everyone else arrived. In graduate school, Borton converted a lifetime of passionate reading and late-night movie-watching into a doctorate in English. She discovered that people would pay her to discuss literature and writing, although not much. But because she found young people interesting and entertaining and challenging, she became a college teacher, and survived many generations of college students. Later, during a career crisis, she discovered that people would pay her to tell stories, although even less than they would pay her to discuss stories written by someone else. Borton has lived in the Southwest and Midwest, and on the West Coast, where she has planted roses and collected three degrees in English without relinquishing her affection for the ways in which actual speakers constantly reinvent the language to meet their needs. In her spare time, she gardens, practices aikido, studies languages other than English, and, of course, watches movies and reads.

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Read My Review & ENTER TO WIN! Finding Esme by Suzanne Crowley

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 08:30:00 +0000

FINDING ESME

SUZANNE CROWLEY

Genre: Middle Grade (3-7)
Magical Realism / Family & Loss
Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Date of Publication: August 14, 2018

Number of Pages: 288

Scroll down for the giveaway!

After her grandfather died from a heart attack while driving his tractor on Solace Hill, twelve-year-old Esme's been inextricably drawn to that spot, although her grandmother warns her to stay away. But when she follows her little brother, Bo, and her dog, Old Jack, up the hill while chasing fireflies, she makes an incredible discovery—dinosaur bones peeking out from underneath the abandoned tractor. The bones must be a message from her grandfather, a connection from beyond the grave. But when word gets out that the farm is hiding something valuable, reporters, researchers, and neighbors arrive in droves. Esme struggles to understand who has her best interests at heart, especially as the memory of her grandfather begins to slip away. Full of friendship and adventure, and featuring a palpable Texas setting, Finding Esme is a moving and heartfelt story about family, friendship, and learning to deal with loss.

PRAISE & HONORS FOR FINDING ESME:

“Esme is a brave, appealing heroine with the odds stacked against her… Bad blood and layered family secrets drive this story to its ultimately optimistic and satisfying conclusion.”
- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“Esme McCauley is a lonely but spirited 12-year-old who feels nothing ever happens to her the way it’s supposed to...A poignant tale for readers who enjoy character-driven realism.”
- School Library Journal

“Readers muddling through preteen changes or unstable family lives will identify with Esme’s struggles, but the thrill of discovery will appeal to most.” - Booklist

Texas Library Association 2019 Spirit of Texas (SPOT) reading program selection

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Well, my goodness, y’all! Here I am, again, with a review that’s sure to knock your socks off!

“How do you know it’ll knock my socks off?” you ask, whilst reading the above sentence.

“Because this book knocked my socks all the way into last month, that’s how, you sassy thang!” I reply, as I continue to type this here review.

Oh, this book … y’all … this book took me all the way back to my childhood in a way that only a well written book can. It all started with the delicious (dust) cover of this hardback book. Yes, I’m here to tell y’all that a book can, indeed, be judged by its cover. The intriguingly artistic cover of FINDING ESME by Suzanne Crowley is as sweet and delicious as a sun ripened peach from Esme’s grandmother’s farm.

And guess what? Ms. Crowley sent me an AUTOGRAPHED copy of this book and a bookmark!

YAASSSSS! GAZE UPON THE SPLENDOR!

*Le Sigh*

Y’all know I shoot straight from the hip when it comes to books and reviews. I don’t know whether or not it’s the fact that I studied English Literature or the fact that I, myself, am an author (of the best sci-fi books in Texas), but I kinda get a little picky with the books I read, yo!

Just ask Kristine.

Oh, yes, you know of whom I speak … the Lone Star Literary Life Book Siren, herself. She knows just how to lure me in with a gorgeous cover and an intriguing blurb. But I digress.

This book is magical realism at its best. I simply lurved it. I lurved it a whole lots!

What I enjoyed most about FINDING ESME by Suzanne Crowley was the constant tension in her prose. Her writing is sprinkled with a … je ne sais quoi … if you know what I mean. The reader is continually aware that something is off, not quite right. Something is coming, and it may or may not be good.

Only time will tell (once the reader finishes the book, of course!)

FINDING ESME by Suzanne Crowley took me all the way back to the magic of childhood summers before cellphones and computers … before technology distracted kids from the wonders of summer nights, chasing fireflies, the true value of friendship and how ones actions towards peers can affect others deeply.

Long gone are the days of dealing with others face-to-face, making amends in person or by slipping secret gifts of apology where the offended party will find them. Most of today’s kids are conditioned to social media and the ease it brings of forgetting the person on the other side of the screen is a living, breathing human with feelings.

I find this enormously saddening.

Speaking of sadness. Without giving away any spoilers (‘cause y’all keep asking, and y’all know I ain’t gonna!), this book strikes a tender nerve in anyone who’s lived through those angsty pre-teen years. Not only that, but this book deals with actual real world issues such as: depression, absentee parenting (both in person and flat out abandonment), grandparents who must step back into parenting shoes, deep loss, the value of true friends, and knowing when to tune in to one’s intuition.

Oh, this book has it all! Magic. Ghosts. Mystery. Witching Sticks. Pie Made of Sun Ripened Peaches, a faithful ole horned toad (who may or may not really be a ghost), and, of course, a faithful ole dog. It’s a story as sweet as Bee’s honey. As bewitching as a witching stick. As mysterious as a ghost who leads the way to long-buried bones.

But I’ve gone too far here! Y’all’ve almost tricked me into spoilers, y’all sassy thangs!

Look …

Crowley’s writing is honey sweet … her writing voice as mesmerizing as a misty spirit in the night calling to the reader from betwixt the covers of FINDING ESME. I simply could not rest until I finished the book!

And that’s why I grant

FINDING ESME

By Suzanne Crowley

5 Peachy Sweet Magical Brooms!

Suzanne Crowley is the author of two acclaimed novels for young readers, The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous and The Stolen One. The author, who is also a miniaturist and dollhouse collector whose work has graced the covers of magazines worldwide, was born in a small town in Texas and lives in Southlake, Texas. When not hugging her dog or imbibing in chocolate, she can often be found taking a nap.

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TWO READERS EACH WIN A SIGNED COPY OF FINDING ESME, TWO CANDLES, BOOKMARKS, FUN FACT CARDS, AND A PEN! February 11-21, 2020

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

2/11/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks
2/11/20	Review	The Page Unbound
2/12/20	Audio Review	Hall Ways Blog
2/12/20	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
2/13/20	Review	Jennifer Silverwood
2/14/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
2/14/20	Review	#Bookish
2/15/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
2/16/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
2/17/20	Review	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
2/17/20	Review	Rebecca R. Cahill, Author
2/18/20	Review	All the Ups and Downs
2/19/20	Review	That's What She's Reading
2/20/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
2/20/20	Audio Review	Forgotten Winds

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Read My Review & ENTER TO WIN The Mail Order Bride's Secret by Linda Broday

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 23:21:00 +0000

THE MAIL ORDER

BRIDE'S SECRET

Outlaw's Mail Order Bride,

Book Three

LINDA BRODAY

Genre: Historical Western Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca Publication
Date: January 28, 2020

Number of Pages: 352 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

When the West was wild and man's law favored the few, these extraordinary women could be found...in the heart of an outlaw.

When three young children show up on outlaw Tait Trinity's doorstep, he knows he can't help them―a wanted man has no business raising kids. And yet he can't bring himself to turn them away. At a loss, he sends for the mail order bride he'd been writing to, hoping the demure dressmaker will be the answer to his prayers. Melanie Dunbar is nothing like the bride Tait was expecting. She's rough and tumble...and hiding an ulterior motive. Dangerous men have taken her sister hostage, and if Melanie wants to see her alive, she'll have to betray her new husband. There's only one problem―the more time she spends with Tait, the more she comes to care for him. Yet as the noose begins to tighten, Melanie will have to make a terrible choice: save her sister...or the man she loves.

PURCHASE THE BOOK │iBooks │ Amazon │ Indiebound│ │Barnes and Noble│Kobo│

PRAISE FOR THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE'S SECRET:

“This is another page-turning period romance from Broday.” Publisher’s Weekly “Broday does a fabulous job of telling a story filled with humor, angst and some candid truths just so we don’t romanticize this period in our history.” Fresh Fiction “This book was absolutely mesmerizing with nonstop action, full of laughter, tears and just a downright good Old fashioned Wild West story as only Linda Broday can do.” Glenda (Goodreads reviewer)

Y’all, I’ve come to suspect something … Kristine is either an evil mastermind or an all-knowing book siren. I’m not sure which one – yet – but, believe you, me, I’ll puzzle this business out as soon as possible.

Why do I say such a thang?

Well, let me tell you why.

I’m over here, minding my own dadgum business, trying hard to finish writing my fourth book (about aliens in Texas, of course), and not bothering a soul. Heck, I’ve even been working like a dog on my day job (though, in all honesty, the only work my dog does is herding me around like a cow. So, I have no idea where that there term comes from.) Y’all didn’t know that I’m also an instructional designer with my own business called Star eLearning, did y’all? Well, wonders never cease!

But I digress.

Look, Kristine had the confounded nerve to put out a call for reviewers for one of my new fave authors, the tantalizing Linda Broday right in the midst of my own personal maelstrom. “How dare she!” I flared my nostrils and internally shouted as I filled out the Google sign up form (all the while drooling over the gorgeosity (I just made up that word – I fancy myself as a modern-day Texas Shakespeare.)

I mean … have you ever seen prettier covers than the ones on her books? (Besides, the title alludes to secrets … and y’all know how I lurve me some secrets!)

*Le Sigh* Kristine – and Ms. Broday – reeled me in like a large mouth bass with this one! (Did I just hear you say “large mouth is about right?”) *Intensifies Glaring*

Alright, alright! I’ll get on with the review. Heck! Y’all have gotten bossy as all git out!

One thing about Broday’s books is this: you can definitely judge her books by their covers. Her writing is just as enthralling as the artwork in which her stories are packaged. I kid you not!

By now, all y’all know I won’t give spoilers. This review is no exception. But I’ll tell ya enough to whet your appetite, I will! This story begins on a Texas Panhandle summer night in 1881. The very first paragraph is a perfect hook that pulls the reader into the story. I immediately felt the chill in the night air that slipped through the window as if, itself, were a character in the story. I heard the gong of the clock down on the town square. Eight gongs, in fact. And just like that *snaps fingers*, I was there, in the past, experiencing a dilemma that will change the course of several lives.

“For good or bad?” You ask, eagerly awaiting my response.

“Well,” I chuckle whilst shaking my head. “You’ll just have to read the story for yourself to find out.”

I see you scowling at me.

Ms. Broday has a way with words and a talent for world building. Her characters are so alive and authentic that I’m beginning to believe she’s a cotton pickin’ time traveler. I was literally addicted to this book from the moment I tore open the envelope in which it arrived.

The only thing that woulda added to my enjoyment of this well-written, enthralling book would be an autograph. Alas, it has none. But maybe she’ll send a signed bookplate? *Looks wistfully at the screen as I type this.* One can only hope.

The point is: if you love a well told story with believable characters and a setting that is as real as the one in which you are currently sitting (or standing, floating, lollygagging, etc.), then Linda Broday is your gal! Grab a copy of this book. Heck! In all honesty, I recommend all her books!

I’ve been needing a vacation, and after reading The Mail Order Bride’s Secret by Linda Broday, I feel as if I’ve just gotten back from the Texas Panhandle (star date 1881).

And that’s why I hereby grant

THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE’S SECRET

By Linda Broday

5 Fabulous Time Traveling

Tantalizing Texas Brooms!

I'm a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty historical western romance novels and short stories. I reside in the Texas Panhandle on land the American Indian and Comancheros once roamed, and at times if the breeze is just right, I can hear their voices whispering in the wind. Texas’ rich history is one reason I set all my stories here where cowboys are still caretakers of the land. I’m inspired every day by their immense dedication and love for the wide-open spaces. When I’m not writing, I collect old coins and I’ve also been accused (quite unfairly I might add) of making a nuisance of myself at museums, libraries, and historical places. I’m also a movie buff and love sitting in a dark theater, watching the magic unfold on the screen. As long as I’m confessing…chocolate is my best friend. It just soothes my soul.

║ WEBSITE ║ FACEBOOK ║ PINTEREST

TWITTER ║ GOODREADS ║ LINKEDIN ║ BOOKBUB

-------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

Three Winners

1st: $25 Amazon Gift Card; 2nd: Autographed Set of All 3 Books in the Series; 3rd: Autographed Copy of The Mail Order Bride’s Secret.

January 28-February 7, 2020

(US Addresses Only)

Click on Image to Go to Rafflecopter Form

VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

1/28/20	Notable Quotable	All the Ups and Downs
1/28/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
1/29/20	Excerpt	That's What She's Reading
1/30/20	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
1/31/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
2/1/20	Character Interview	It's Not All Gravy
2/2/20	Top Ten List	StoreyBook Reviews
2/3/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
2/4/20	Series Spotlight	Jennifer Silverwood
2/5/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
2/6/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight

blog tour services provided by

ENTER TO WIN! Road to Hope by Dena Jansen

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 08:30:00 +0000

ROAD TO HOPE

How One Woman Went from Doubting Her Path to Embracing Her Inner Journey

Dena Jansen

Genre: Memoir / Inspirational / Christian Life
Publication Date: November 15, 2019

Number of Pages: 240 pages

Scroll down for a giveaway!

Have you ever felt stuck? If so, you are not alone. As a 36-year-old wife, mother, and corporate executive, Dena Jansen’s life looked successful by society’s standards. But she found herself at an intersection—stranded at a real-life crossroads in her life.

Over a matter of years, darkness and doubt slowly crept in, leaving her unsure and unsettled in her life, marriage, and career. And after stalling out multiple times and nearly wrecking everything, she finally grabbed hold of a life-saving truth: She had a choice to make. She could stay stuck, or she could try and find new roads that would lead to the peace and joy she was looking for. With a glimmer of hope, Dena embraced the gifts of curiosity and grace and began a journey of self-discovery. And she chose to believe in a new truth: She was meant for more and could no longer settle. In Road to Hope, Dena invites you to join her as she wanders the roads she traveled and take anything you need from her story to help you in yours. She shares how she grew from a woman who doubted her path to one who is confident and ready for the next adventure. And she wants you to experience a similar shift. And more than that, she believes you can.

CLICK TO BUY

Dena Jansen, Founder and Voice of Dena Speaks, launched her new business surrounded by family, friends and colleagues. See what the night was all about...

Dena Jansen’s calling to lift others up is profoundly personal. She understands the fears and doubts that hold people back because she has them too. Her own path to fulfillment is a real-life journey that’s still very much in progress. As a CPA and retired partner from Austin-based CPA firm Maxwell Locke & Ritter, she launched Dena Speaks to inspire potential seeking individuals and businesses. Dena shares life and love with her husband, JP, and their two children, Trace, and Elizabeth in Buda, Texas. She loves romantic comedy movies, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her family and friends.

║ Website ║ Instagram║ Goodreads║

LinkedIn ║ Facebook ║ Twitter

║ Amazon Author Page ║

-------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

ONE WINNER: Signed copy + $10 Starbucks Gift Card + Dena Speaks swag

TWO WINNERS: Signed paperback OR audio code + $10 Starbucks Gift Card

JANUARY 21-31, 2020

(U.S. Only)

Click Image to Go to Rafflecopter Page, Yo!

VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

1/21/20	Author Video	Books and Broomsticks
1/21/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
1/22/20	Author Interview	All the Ups and Downs
1/23/20	Review	Book Fidelity
1/24/20	Playlist	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
1/25/20	Review	Jennifer Silverwood
1/26/20	Scrapbook Page	Chapter Break Book Blog
1/27/20	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
1/28/20	Excerpt	StoreyBook Reviews
1/29/20	Review	Tangled in Text
1/30/20	Review	Missus Gonzo

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REVIEW & GIVEAWAY! Santa Claus Bank Robbery by Tui Snider

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 08:00:00 +0000

SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY A True-Crime Saga in Texas

TUI SNIDER

Genre: Nonfiction / Texana / Texas History

Publisher: Castle Azle Press

Date of Publication: December 8, 2019

Number of Pages: 146 pages + black & white photos

Scroll down for Giveaway!

When Marshall Ratliff dressed like Santa Claus to pull a Christmas-time heist, he thought it would be easy. Unfortunately for him, when the citizens of Cisco heard Santa was robbing a bank, they came running - with loaded guns in hand! But can you blame them? In 1927, the only way to earn the $5000 Dead Bank Robber Reward was to kill a bandit while the crime was in progress.

This bungled bank robbery led to a wild shootout and a getaway with two little girls as hostages. And that is only the beginning! Tui Snider’s true-crime tale reads like a comedy of errors as the consequences of the Santa Claus Bank Robber’s actions escalate to include a botched car-jacking, one of the biggest manhunts in Texas history, and a jailbreak leading to a deadly conclusion. Meanwhile, it’s up to readers to decide whether or not a mysterious blonde helped these gangsters escape. And if so, did she get away with murder?

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

It’s a rare thing for me to pick up a Christmas themed book and give it a read. It’s not that I don’t like Christmas, because I seriously LURVE me some Yuletide. It’s just that I usually find Christmas themed books to be all syrupy and, well, quite frankly …. Bleh.

Y’all know how busy this time of year is, and I just didn’t have the time to read and review a book. I’ve got shopping to do and prezzies to wrap, cookies to bake and eat, so I can bake some more and eat them, dangit!

Enter Kristine, the ever-loving, brazen temptress of bloggers. She had the audacity to post up a call for reviewers for Tui Snider’s SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY. My nostrils flared, my eyebrows turned into a V (sorta like Spock's, only sassier), as I clicked on the sign-up link.

Because she knew … oh, she knew good and well that I could not pass up reading and reviewing one of Tui’s books! “HOW DARE SHE ENTRAP ME LIKE THIS DURING THE HOLIDAYS!” I shouted whilst filling out the Google sign-up form. Then I started typing faster, for fear that someone else would get higher on the list (and boot me out of getting a review copy), faster and faster I typed until I looked like this:

via GIPHY

I hope Kristine is happy!

But I digress.

Y’all, it’s no secret that EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas. This story is no dadgum exception, with the exception that it’s a mere 140 pages long. Size doesn’t matter (in this instance), because the story that lies betwixt the covers of this book is the absolute most Texas-y (pronounced “Texasie” – I just made that word up) story I have ever read in my entire cotton-pickin’ life.

SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY by Tui Snider is the true story of the craziest bank heist I have ever heard of … and y’all … it includes a dude dressed up like Old Saint Nick! GAHHHH! This is the first time I have ever wanted to give spoilers in a book review, because this book is simply marv-to the-lous! Look, I’m not going to give y’all any spin here. I’m gonna shoot straight from the hip. Y’all have simply got to read this book! I freaking devoured it.

This book has every single solitary thang (yes, I said “thang”) in a book that you could possibly want. There’s a Santa who’s officially on the naughty list for all eternity, there’s a group of dummies who had no business plotting a robbery, and there’s a reward that had just been instituted that promised to pay thousands to whomever managed to kill a bank robber. The latter, y’all … oh, my gosh … the latter added to the craziest mayhem I’ve ever heard about in my entire life, and I write science fiction!

Tui starts the book out by telling the reader about a homey restaurant she and her husband came across during their travels in West Texas where she happened upon the most outlandish tale you’ll ever read. From there, it’s as if the reader is sitting at the table in the tightly packed café, listening to Tui recount all the wildest, craziest events surrounding a Christmastime heist gone terribly wrong.

This author has quickly become one of my faves. Seriously. I’ve reviewed a couple of her books before, and I simply adore her talent for storytelling and for, quite frankly, her skill at researching and uncovering the truth … and that’s exactly what she’s done in this book. Tui even discovers that there was an unknown blonde headed woman involved in the whole crazy business on that fateful day, and the heifer got off scot-free!

Another thing that I totes geeked out over about this book was there are photos of the guilty and innocent who were involved in this crazy-arse story. She even added a diagram of where the witnesses and Santa (with his helpers) were located in the bank when the whole thing went down (in a very bad, wildly rabid, unbelievably cray-cray sorta way).

And, I’ll admit, y’all, to LOLing (out loud, waking the dog) like a madwoman during the part where Santa meets his demise. Not that I was happy about it, but because of the downright irony of where and how it happened. Seriously, it had to be more than a coinky-dink. There is no way in heck it was by accident! No stinking way! No way was it on purpose. It was one of those strangely cosmic events that adds to the outright oddity of this story.

Seriously, if someone would PLEASE take Snider’s book and turn it into a movie, it would be a dadgum blockbuster of a thing, and I will personally write her and ask to be included in the movie (even as an extra)!

One thing I want to make sure to mention is that prior to receiving my review copy of this book, Tui sent me a lovely postcard letting me know that the book was on the way and thanking me for reading and reviewing her book. It included a sweet picture of her kitty cat with her book. So, I shall forthwith return those sweet sentiments with this picture of Sascha Marie (who you can follow on Facebook by clicking here) with said marvelous book.

Tui Snider’s ability to take an actual historic event, with all its twists and turns, and compose it into a chronological tale is deliciously fabulous! I’m in love with her writing!

And that’s why I hereby grant

SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY

By Tui Snider

5 GLORIOUSLY CHRISTMAS BROOMS

Tui Snider is an award-winning writer, speaker, photographer, and musician specializing in offbeat sites, overlooked history, cemetery symbolism, and haunted lore. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction, but then I moved to Texas!” Tui lectures frequently at universities, libraries, conferences, and bookstores.This fall, she will speak about the Great Airship Mystery of 1897 at this year’s UFO Congress and teach a course on Understanding Cemetery Symbols at Texas Christian University. She also shares weekly info-videos based on her research at her YouTube channel. Snider’s writing and photography have been featured in a variety of media outlets, including WFAA TV, Coast to Coast AM, LifeHack, Langdon Review, the City of Plano, Wild Woman Waking, Shades of Angels and many more. She has several more books in progress.

◆ WEBSITE ◆ FACEBOOK ◆ TWITTER ◆

◆ AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE ◆ GOODREADS ◆

◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ YOUTUBE ◆

---------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

GRANDPRIZE (US only): Signed Paperback +$10 Amazon Gift Card + Thank You Post Card

2^ND PRIZE (US only): Signed Copy + Thank You Post Card

3^RD PRIZE (International): Kindle eBook

December 12-22, 2019

CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

12/12/19	Review	Bibliotica
12/12/19	Review	Hall Ways Blog
12/13/19	Review	That's What She's Reading
12/14/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
12/14/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
12/15/19	Review	Book Fidelity
12/16/19	Review	All the Ups and Downs
12/17/19	Review	The Page Unbound
12/17/19	Review	Books and Broomsticks
12/18/19	Review	The Book Review
12/19/19	Review	The Clueless Gent
12/20/19	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
12/20/19	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
12/21/19	Review	Momma on the Rocks
12/21/19	Review	Forgotten Winds

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EXCLUSIVE! Cover Reveal! EXECUTION IN E by Alexia Gordon

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 15:15:00 +0000

Lone Star Literary Life EXCLUSIVE!

Lone Star Literary Life is honored to present the cover

of the fifth book in the Gethsemane Brown Mysteries

by Alexia Gordon & Henery Press.

To be released March, 2020

PRESENTING . . .

ABOUT THE BOOK: Romance is in the air. Or on the ‘gram, anyway. When an influencer-turned-bridezilla shows up at the lighthouse to capture Insta-perfect wedding photos designed to entice sponsors to fund her lavish wedding, Gethsemane has her hands full trying to keep Eamon from blasting the entire wedding party over the edge of the cliff. Wedding bells become funeral bells when members of the bride’s entourage start turning up dead. Frankie’s girlfriend, Verna, is pegged as maid-of-honor on the suspect list when the Garda discover the not-so-dearly departed groom was her ex and Gethsemane catches her standing over a body. Gethsemane uncovers devilish dealings as she fights to clear Verna, for Frankie’s sake. Will she find the killer in time to save Frankie from another heartbreak? Or will the photos in her social media feed be post-mortem?

EXECUTION IN E TO BE FEATURED ON LONE STAR BOOK BLOG TOURS MARCH, 2020

Visit the tour page now on Lone Star Literary Life

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A writer since childhood, Alexia Gordon won her first writing prize in the 6th grade. She continued writing through college but put literary endeavors on hold to finish medical school and Family Medicine residency training. She established her medical career then returned to writing fiction. Raised in the southeast, schooled in the northeast, she relocated to the west where she completed Southern Methodist University’s Writer’s Path program. She admits Texas brisket is as good as Carolina pulled pork. She practices medicine in North Chicago, IL. She enjoys the symphony, art collecting, embroidery, and ghost stories.

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Instagram ║ ║ BookBub ║ Twitter ║ Goodreads ║

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Review & GIVEAWAY! Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 07:30:00 +0000

JOURNEY OF

THE PALE BEAR

SUSAN FLETCHER

Middle Grade / Medieval Historical Fiction (grades 3-7)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Date of Publication: October 2, 2018
Paperback: October 1, 2019

Number of Pages: 302

Scroll down for the giveaway!

A runaway boy befriends a polar bear that’s being transported from Norway to London in this lyrical and timeless adventure story about freedom, captivity, and finding a family.

The polar bear is a royal bear, a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England. The first time Arthur encounters the bear, he is shoved in her cage as payback for stealing food. Restless and deadly, the bear terrifies him. Yet, strangely, she doesn’t harm him—though she has attacked anyone else who comes near. That makes Arthur valuable to the doctor in charge of getting the bear safely to London. So Arthur, who has run away from home, finds himself taking care of a polar bear on a ship to England.

Tasked with feeding and cleaning up after the bear, Arthur’s fears slowly lessen as he begins to feel a connection to this bear, who like him, has been cut off from her family. But the journey holds many dangers, and Arthur knows his own freedom—perhaps even his life—depends on keeping the bear from harm. When pirates attack and the ship founders, Arthur must make a choice—does he do everything he can to save himself, or does he help the bear to find freedom?

Based on the real story of a polar bear that lived in the Tower of London, this timeless adventure story is also a touching account of the bond between a boy and a bear.

CLICK TO PURCHASE
BRAZOS BOOKSTORE ◆ BLUE WILLOW BOOKSHOP ◆ BOOK PEOPLE AMAZON ◆ BARNES AND NOBLE ◆ INDIEBOUND

ACCOLADES AND PRAISE FOR

JOURNEY OF THE PALE BEAR:

Honor Book, Golden Kite Awards, 2019

Vermont's 2019-2020

Dorothy Canfield Fisher list 2020

Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award

Children's Master list School Library Connection highly recommended book

Junior Library Guild Selection 50 Must-Read Historical Fiction Books for Kids, bookriot.com

“…a stupendous coming-of-age-tale stuffed with adventure and laced with deeper questions… A richly satisfying story saturated with color, adventure, and heart.” –Kirkus, starred review

“I simply adore this novel. It has it all: gorgeous prose, fascinating history, riveting adventure. But it’s the unlikely tender friendship between a lonely boy and a polar bear that makes this a story to cherish. A lovely little miracle of a book.”

–Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan

“I loved every single thing about this large-hearted and riveting medieval adventure.” —William Alexander, National Book Award-winning author of Goblin Secrets

Do you ever get that indescribable hankering deep down in your soul for a different kind of read? You can’t put your finger on it, but it’s that inner gnawing that just won’t shut up and go away.

I’ve been having that dadgum nagging hankering for a while now. Now, I’ve got a TON of books in my house. Every single room is loaded with them (it’s taking forever to complete the conversion of my spare bedroom into a library). Even my little ole Kindle is so full of unread books that I’m surprised it hasn’t exploded yet.

But nothing has sounded good. I was getting hangry for something different. I was about to give up. Until Kristine had the confounded, all-out nerve and unmitigated gall to post a sign-up in our blogger group for some book about a bear.

I shrugged, squinting at the image of the cover on the Google form sign-up page.

“Hmmm … well, the cover is my favorite color,” I says to myself. “Why the heck not?” I also says to myself.

So I shrugged once more and typed in my deets, not too overly-concerned or ecstatic about getting selected to review a book about a boy and a bear.

And then I forgot I signed up for the blog tour.

Until one bright, sunny autumn day. I was minding my own confounded business, checking my mail, and discovered a very suspect and suspicious envelope in my mailbox.

I immediately imagined that it was a bomb.

I mean…what else could it be. Right?

Well, I let my boss - AKA Sascha Marie, resident four-legged bomb squad and herder extraordinaire – sniff the package, just in case. She was instantly bored and went back to snoozing on her pillow. So, I felt it was safe to tear into the strange envelope.

Follow Sascha Marie on Facebook by Clicking her Pic

I gingerly put my hand in and felt something smooth and cool to the touch.

I withdrew the alien object to discover …

An absolutely GORGEOUS book!

Y’all, allow me a moment to geek-out and gush. The publisher sent me a lovely hardcover copy and a letter, to boot. No, it’s not autographed, and I’m smirking about that, even as I type this. Y’all know how I lurve it when the author signs the book.

Le Sigh.

Maybe she’ll send me a signed bookplate?

*crosses fingers*

But I digress. I know … I know … y’all came here for a review.

I’ll get on with it. Dang, y’all are about as bossy as Sascha Marie!

This book feels great in your hands. Its tactile quality is lovely. But what is even better is what’s inside.

Now, y’all know that I’m a huge history nerd. I wasn’t even expecting to take a trip back in time. Yet, there I was (in my flannel pajamas) traveling back to 1272, London. I could hear the sounds - the clink of chain mail, the clank of a sword; feel the feels - the hand-carved boards of the wooden drawbridge beneath the soles of my leather shoes; see the sights - the glare of a torch held before my face, its warm glow leaving spot of light swimming in my eyes.

And into the past, I tumbled, head-over-heels, landing onto the cobblestones of the outer bailey of an ancient fortress.

Fletcher reeled me in, line and sinker from the very first word. What a hook!
(She was prolly laughing maniacally whilst reeling me in with that whopper of a hook in my ever-loving jaw, yo!)

Like so:

No, I will not give y’all any sort of spoilers! Y’all keep on asking like I’m finally gonna give in!

This book deserves to be devoured, for it is a delicious banquet served in troughs placed on wooden tables in the great hall. It simply must be enjoyed, picking every single nibble from the bone until the very last word.

But what I will tell y’all is - though this book is written for middle-grade, it is so intelligently written, one would think it was penned for YA or adults. There is no pandering in Susan’s writing. She is holding up a literary standard, and the story is so good that even young readers will rise to the challenge.

JOURNEY OF THE PALE BEAR by Susan Fletcher is one of those rare books one is loath to put down for fear of missing something whilst away.

Within these covers, the reader becomes the main character, and the author is the bard-ess, sitting across the fire, the warm glow of light reflecting in her eyes as she recounts the tale of the journey of the pale bear and her beloved companion. I know it must be a true story! It simply must! It’s too good to be fictitious!

Simply put:

Fletcher’s writing is so lyrical, tangible, and delicious … It left me hungry for more!

All y'all need to read this book! Grab a copy! Heck, scroll down to enter to win!

And that’s why I grant

Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

5 Glorious, Ancient Brooms!

Although Susan loves to write about long-ago and faraway places, she can’t bring those worlds to life without grounding them in the details of this one. To that end, she has explored lava tubes and sea caves; spent the night in a lighthouse; traveled along the Silk Road in Iran; ridden in a glider, on a camel, and on a donkey; and cut up (already dead!) baby chicks and mice for a gyrfalcon’s dinner. To research Journey of the Pale Bear, she explored the grounds of the Tower of London and went backstage at the Oregon Zoo, where, standing breathtakingly near, she watched polar bears Tasul and Conrad lip grapes from their keepers’ open palms. Journey of the Pale Bear is Susan’s 12th book, including the Dragon Chronicles series, Shadow Spinner, and Alphabet of Dreams. Collectively, her books have been translated into nine languages; accolades include a Golden Kite Honor Book, the American Library Association’s Notable Books and Best Books for Young Adults, BCCB Blue Ribbon Books, and School Library Journal’s Best Books. Susan has an M.A. in English from the University of Michigan and taught for many years in the M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College. She lives in Bryan, Texas with her husband, historian R.J.Q. Adams, and their dog, Neville.

Website ║ Facebook ║ Instagram Goodreads ║ BookBub Amazon Author Page

-------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

THREE AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF JOURNEY OF THE PALE BEAR

OCTOBER 10-20, 2019

(U.S. Only)

Click Image to Go to Enter Giveaway!

VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR

10/10/19	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
10/10/19	Excerpt	Max Knight
10/11/19	Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/12/19	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/12/19	Author Interview	That's What She's Reading
10/13/19	Review	Tangled in Text
10/14/19	Review	Books and Broomsticks
10/15/19	Guest Post	All the Ups and Downs
10/15/19	Deleted Scene	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/16/19	Review	Forgotten Winds
10/17/19	Review	The Page Unbound
10/18/19	Guest Post	StoreyBook Reviews
10/18/19	Scrapbook	Missus Gonzo
10/19/19	Review	The Clueless Gent
10/19/19	Review	Librariel Book Adventures

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Read My Review & Enter to Win! PARANORMAL TEXAS by Tui Snider

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 07:30:00 +0000

PARANORMAL TEXAS
Your Travel Guide to Haunted Places
Near Dallas & Fort Worth
2ND EDITION

TUI SNIDER

Genre: Travel / Haunted Places / Texas History

Publisher: Castle Azle Press

Date of Publication: September 19, 2019

Number of Pages: 210 with 100+ black & white images

Scroll down for Giveaway!

More Haunted Places and True Ghost Stories!

Tui Snider's popular travel guide to haunted places in North Texas is back with a fully updated 2nd Edition featuring more haunted places and true ghost stories!

What's new in Paranormal Texas, 2nd Edition?

Just like the original travel guide, Paranormal Texas 2nd Edition gives readers haunted history and directions to sites where paranormal activity is reported in the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex.

The 2nd edition now includes:

• Photos: Readers asked for photos of haunted places. Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition has over 50 photos of haunted towns, haunted hotels, and more.

• Ghost hunting tips: Tui Snider explains what she has learned since she began attending paranormal investigations with Texas ghost hunters.

• More haunted places: Several new venues (including a haunted doll museum!) with fascinating haunted history were added to Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition.

• Firsthand accounts: Readers asked for more true ghost stories and hauntings. (She even shares personal experiences with paranormal activity, including a strange encounter with her doppelganger at a haunted hotel!)

All the above, PLUS a paranormal activity evidence database:

See the paranormal activity for yourself: Readers can access an online database with links to EVPs, ghost photos, videos, and other evidence gathered by paranormal investigators who have visited the haunted sites in her book.

•Continually updated: This database will be continually updated with EVPs, anomalous photos, videos, and other data gathered at haunted places featured in Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition.

•Add your paranormal activity: Readers can contact the author if they have paranormal evidence to add!

Is Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition for YOU?

1. Ghost Hunters - If you want to plan a fun road trip to haunted places (with or without ghost hunting equipment) Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition can help.

2. Armchair Travelers - If you prefer reading about haunted history, Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition can take you on an exciting armchair tour through haunted towns of North Texas.

"Tui's 2nd edition is spot on fun and thrilling for everyone

to read as only Tui can tell it!"

- Greg Stephens, Paranormal Investigator (RIP)

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

5 Surprising Facts about Haunted Places in Paranormal Texas

I don’t always choose to drop my name in the hat for each book review opportunity that pops up in our blogger group. But, seeing as how Halloween was coming up, and, quite frankly, seeing as how this book looked totes awesome, I nearly screamed my ever-loving lungs out whilst filling out the review request form. It’s a good thing that Google forms don’t record sound, ‘cause Kristine would prolly’ve called the Po-Po thinkin’ there’d been some bloody-murder occurrence.

At any rate, I squealed with glee when I received my autographed … YES, AUTOGRAPHED (y’all know I lurve it when the author signs the book) copy in the mail. I was so uppity about the signed copy that I didn’t even realize that the fabulous Tui Snider had also included a cute handwritten postcard (featuring herself and an alien-looking dude. Y’all know I lurve me some aliens!) until I carefully (‘cause y’all know I love my books to remain looking new) turned back the cover and –

Out popped the SWAG!

“Be still my beating heart!” I says to myself. “Herself must be a kindred spirit!” I also says to myself.

Gaze upon the splendor. Is it not Coolio?

Alas, I digress from my moment of fangirlitude.

I know…I know. Y’all came here for a book review. And so, I shall sally-forth and tally-ho, yo!

Y’all. This book … gosh … this book is just plain F to the U to the N – FUN! The other day, I saw a post on Facebook in which one of my friends was saying how she wishes she could do some traveling like she sees some other people on Facebook doing.

PARANORMAL TEXAS by Tui Snider is the kind of book that makes you feel as if you’ve just taken an enthralling, albeit spooky, road trip with your BFF.

I plan on messaging that FB friend and advising her to grab a copy of this book. Because, it really, truly does feel as if I’ve taken a drive across Texas to some places I’d like to visit – and to some places I actually have visited years ago – whilst doing some ghost (and alien) hunting.

Snider takes you for an informative ride to, and a guide through, some of the most haunted places near Dallas & Fort Worth, Texas. I totes geeked out over the history she weaves throughout each haunted visit. The backstory of each place was also enthralling. Y’all know I’m a history nerd – I minored in history at university, after all! And I really loved how she managed to clear the name of one poor dude who’d been accused all these years of having murdered his entire family, before hanging himself. Poor ole fella had been innocent all along (though the folks of his own time actually knew how he and his family died) No, I ain’t gonna tell ya! You’ve gotta read the book to find out this kinda stuff, yo!

Now, y’all know I don’t give any spoilers, and I wish y’all would stop asking. No, I won’t give away any in this review, either. But what I will give you are these deets:

This book is organized alphabetically by the town names, and then by HAUNTED sites within each town. This is very handy for those who’d love to plan an actual road trip (unlike the armchair one I took.) Each section includes enough information, without droning on and on. Short, fun, and to the point.

I simply loved the Introduction. I got a really good feel for the author’s sense of humor and writing style, before digging into the meat of the book.

One of my absolute geekiologiest (I just made that word up) moments in reading PARANORMAL TEXAS was in the Introduction. The author has actually created the Paranormal Texas Evidence Database where readers can go check out some EVPs and other stuff to scare the doowocky out of themselves in the dark of the night (‘cause that’s when I do my best reading – and writing – in the dark of the night. Hence the perpetual dark circles under my eyes.) She also gives readers the option to submit their own spooky stories to her via email to be added to the database.

Should I submit my story about those freaky, disembodied legs I experienced just up the road from here?

Hmm …. I may just do that.

Okay, okay, I might give y’all one teeny tiny itsy-bitsy spoiler: there’s a Texas cemetery that I’ve long wished to visit. I’m not going to tell you the name of it, but I will tell you that it’s known to contain the grave of an extraterrestrial that died in a fiery UFO crash in the 1800s. Yes. You can imagine my level of midnight geekitudology (I just made up this word, too) whilst reading that section.

Or…maybe you can’t. Prolly not.

Oh! Before I forget …

One of my fave things of this book is that Snider has included photos she took, herself, of many of the places she visited whilst writing PARANORMAL TEXAS. The photos are in black and white. Normally, I would scoff at the fact that they weren’t in color. But, truthfully, the black and white photos lend that extra je ne sais quoi of spookiness to the pages of chilling ghost stories and hauntings in Snider’s PARANORMAL TEXAS.

I fear I may have droned on for too long here. Suffice it to say that I truly enjoyed PARANORMAL TEXAS by Tui Snider. It’s a great book to read for any time of year, but especially for the month of October … when spirits find that opening in the fabric betwixt this world and the next and slip through to scare the doowockie out of the unsuspecting living.

Grab a copy for yourself and and one for your BFF! Plan a spooky October road trip, even if it’s an armchair one! And come back here and let me know which was your favorite stop along the way of haunted places near Dallas & Fort Worth!

The bottom line of this here review of PARANORMAL TEXAS by Tui Snider is this:

Her writing is witty, engaging, and intelligent … just plain fun!

And that’s why I hereby grant

PARANORMAL TEXAS by Tui Snider

5 Gleaming Scary As All Get Out Brooms!

◆ WEBSITE ◆ FACEBOOK ◆ TWITTER ◆

◆ AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE ◆

◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ YOUTUBE ◆ GRAVE HOUR ON INSTAGRAM

---------------------------------------

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GRANDPRIZE (US only): Signed Paperback + Handmade Cemetery Angel Pendant +$10 Amazon Gift Card

2^ND PRIZE (US only): Signed Copy

3^RD PRIZE (International): Kindle eBook

(US ONLY)

October 1-October 11, 2019

Click the Image to Go to the Giveaway Page!

ENTER TO WIN, YO!

CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

10/1/19	Reading by Moonlight
10/2/19	Bibliotica
10/2/19	Book Fidelity
10/3/19	StoreyBook Reviews
10/4/19	Nerd Narration
10/4/19	Hall Ways Blog
10/5/19	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/6/19	Forgotten Winds
10/6/19	Books and Broomsticks
10/7/19	The Page Unbound
10/8/19	The Book Review
10/8/19	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/9/19	Missus Gonzo
10/10/19	All the Ups and Downs
10/11/19	That's What She's Reading

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Excerpt & Giveaway! YAZZY'S AMAZING YARN by Cathey Graham Nickell

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 05:00:00 +0000

YAZZY'S AMAZING YARN

CATHEY GRAHAM NICKELL

Illustrated
by
Emily Calimlim

Genre: Children's Picture Book, Ages 4-8

Publisher: Twenty-Eight Creative

Date of Publication: August 1, 2019

Number of Pages: 32

Scroll down for giveaway!

Yazzy is a creative girl, always sketching out her next adventure. She loves yarn, and she loves to knit! Her neighborhood park is dull and rusty, but Yazzy has a grand plan.

With a little help from her friends, Yazzy’s knitted wonders transform Penny Park into a fuzzy rainbow of warmth and color. What yarn-tastic idea will Yazzy think of next?

The book includes a “History of Yarn Bombing” page for readers who are not familiar with this creative and whimsical type of art.

“As a teacher, it's refreshing to find a book that exposes children to an alternative art form. I'm inspired by Yazzy's story, and I know my students will be, too.”
-- Deborah Horwitz
Art Teacher
The Emery/Weiner School
Houston, Texas.

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Cathey Nickell is a busy author and elementary school speaker, having presented at more than seventy schools to date. Yazzy’s Amazing Yarn is her second children’s book about creativity and outside-the-box artistic endeavors. She is also the author of Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car, which was awarded first place by the Texas Association of Authors in the category of Children’s Picture Books-All Ages. Cathey lives with her husband, Kevin, in Houston, where they raised their four children.

WEBSITE ✦ FACEBOOK ✦ TWITTER INSTAGRAM ✦ GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Emily Calimlim, while not a knitting whiz herself, loves creating art with humorous and lively watercolor pictures for children. She lives in Houston with her fiancé, George, and silly studio bird, Simon. Emily spends her days capturing her ideas and imagination with paint and pencil.

WEBSITE ✦ FACEBOOK

TWITTER ✦ INSTAGRAM

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THREE AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF YAZZY'S AMAZING YARN

August 27-September 6, 2019

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

8/27/19	Top Ten List	Sybrina's Book Blog
8/27/19	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
8/28/19	Review	That's What She's Reading
8/29/19	Review	Sydney Young, Stories
8/30/19	Sneak Peek	The Page Unbound
8/31/19	Deleted Scene	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
9/1/19	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
9/2/19	Excerpt	Books and Broomsticks
9/3/19	Sneak Peek	Rainy Days with Amanda
9/4/19	Review	All the Ups and Downs
9/5/19	Review	Missus Gonzo

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Let's See Them Aliens!

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 19:28:00 +0000

Who else needs

this limited edition

Storm Area 51 T-Shirt?

I know I do!

Y'all know I need to seem them aliens!
Visit the T-Shirt Store!

I'll be ordering one today.

Who else will?

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY! Hitchin' Post by Julie Barker

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 07:30:00 +0000

HITCHIN' POST
and the Tornado Twistin' 4th of July Celebration

JULIE BARKER
illustrated by Carolyn Altman

Genre: Children's Picture Book / Western / Fantasy

Publisher: BookBaby

Date of Publication: September 28, 2018

Number of Pages: 50

Scroll down for giveaway!

Hitchin’ Post, the cowboy jackrabbit, is back with an all new adventure on the 6Bs'Ranch.

Hitch’s brothers come to visit for the annual 4th of July rodeo and dance, but they get much more than a long-awaited visit with their brother. When a giant tornado threatens to cut their Independence Day celebration short, Hitchin’ Post, his brothers, and the rest of the cowboys have to work hard to save the ranch and the celebration. Hitchin’ Post shows that even though he is just a small jackrabbit, he has the courage it takes to bring everyone together to rebuild what the tornado destroyed. Because of old Hitch being a great leader, the 6Bs' 4th of July celebration will go on!

This is the second book in the Hitchin’ Post series by Julie Barker, where Julie once again collaborates with her mother, artist Carolyn Altman, who provides the illustrations in this romping, stomping cowboy adventure!

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

Hitchin’ Post and the Tornado Twistin’ 4th of July Celebration is a brilliantly woven story with a strong plot that will easily entertain anyone. The illustrations by Carolyn Altman are fun and engaging, complementing the story. I love how Barker has written an interesting story that will teach kids how working together as a team makes the hard work a whole lot lighter and much more rewarding. – Readers’ Favorite, 5 STARS

CLICK TO PURCHASE

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PURCHASE SIGNED COPIES

Howdy, y’all! Guess who’s makin’ another appearance on the B & B Ranch? That’s right! None other than good ole Hitchin’ Post, the cowboy rabbit who works the 6 B Ranch! Now, I’m sure you’re scratchin’ your noggin’ and thinkin’ that the name “Hitchin’ Post” sounds mighty familiar. And you’d be right! Ole Hitch stopped by a while back, and you can click right here to read my review of HITCHIN’ POST by Julie Barker .

Now, I know what you’re thinkin’— Why am I readin’ and reviewin’ children’s picture books here on Books & Broomsticks? Am I right? I knew it! Whelp, it’s like this … I’m a nerd, and I love me some picture books, that’s why! They are (almost) always magical, and they have big ole colorful pictures in them. And those aren’t the only reasons. I especially like Barker’s picture books, because they are woven together with some good ole fashioned ethics and morals that are missing in a lot of today’s children’s books. What do I mean by this?

Read on, and find out, cowpoke!

In Barker’s HITCHIN’ POST and the TORNADO TWISTIN’ 4^TH OF JULY CELEBRATION (whew, that’s a mouthful!), good ole Hitch has got his work cut out for him. Independence Day is just hours away, and he’s gotta see to it that the barn is ready for the big celebration. Now, I’m not gonna give away the storyline (I don’t know why y’all keep expecting me to), but I will say that there’s a whole lotta hurdles a’gittin’ in the way of Hitch’s plan for a blow out celebration. Including, dare I say, a danged ole twister?! Heck fire, y’all!

“Okay, but what about them morals and ethics you mentioned above?” you ask.

“Well, heck! Give a cowgirl a chance, dangit!” I reply.

My favorite things about this gorgeously illustrated children’s book are these things:

This book is written in rhyme, and I think that’s awesome!
Hitch and his crew are proud to be Americans.
Hitch and his crew are proud Texas who are proud to celebrate Independence Day.
Hitch believes that hard work pays off in the end.
Hitch is a family man. He is so happy when his brothers surprise him with a visit.
With teamwork, anything is possible.
Last but not least: sometimes the smallest person (or rabbit) can save the day.

There. Are y’all happy now?

Good.

All joking aside, I’ve gotta tell y’all that this book is gorgeous. It’s a nice, big picture book and the colors are vivid, the materials it is printed on are high quality, and this book would be a fantastic gift for any kid … even those of us that don’t (legally) qualify as kids anymore.

Carolyn Altman's illustrations are rich and enchanting! This book is sure to become a treasure in any child’s personal library.

Barker filled this enchanting book with some good old fashioned American and Texan standards. We need more children's books like this!

And that’s why I give good ole Hitchin’ Post

5 Texas Sized Brooms!

Scroll down for your chance to ENTER TO WIN a copy of this lovely book!

What are you waiting for, y'all?

Julie Barker is the author of Hitchin' Post, her debut children's storybook. With inspiration from her West Texas roots and being surrounded by the ranching heritage, Julie is fulfilling her dream of becoming a children's author. Along with the encouragement and beautiful illustrations from her mother and artist, Carolyn Altman, the story of Hitchin' Post the cowboy jackrabbit was born and is now officially a series. The second book, Hitchin' Post and the Tornado Twistin' 4th of July Celebration, was released September 2018.

WEBSITE ┃ FACEBOOK ┃ GOODREADS

TWITTER ┃ AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Carolyn Altman is an artist and the illustrator of the Hitchin’ Post children’s book series, in which she collaborated with her daughter, Julie Barker, the author. Carolyn resides in Vernon, Texas, with her husband Stanley. They have two daughters and six grandchildren, all of whom live nearby. “Touch the Heart with Original Art” is Carolyn’s slogan, which she has used for the past 40 years as she creates lighthearted and inspiring art with subjects such as wildlife, horses, cattle, and cowboys, in hopes of helping to preserve this way of life for many years to come.

The beginning of her art career consisted of using mostly oil and acrylic mediums, then Carolyn began creating baby memory books in which she incorporates her art into each page. Each baby memory book is personalized and truly a work of art in itself. Carolyn believes that her experiences throughout her life are what inspires her art.

She has spent her life in West Texas surrounded by wide open spaces and the beauty of the farming and ranching heritage, and that way of life will always show up in her paintings and illustrations. Her latest creations include a series of angel paintings depicting what she deems most important in her life -- her faith.

WEBSITE ┃ INSTAGRAM ┃ ETSY

TWITTER ┃ PINTEREST ┃ FACEBOOK

-----------------------------------------

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GRAND PRIZE:

Author & Illustrator Signed Copy of Hitchin' Post and the Tornado Twistin’ 4th of July Celebration + $50 gift certificate to CarolynAltmanArt.com;

TWO WINNERS: Signed Copy of the Book.

May 29-June 7, 2019

(U.S. Only)

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

5/29/19	Sneak Peek	Texas Book Lover
5/29/19	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
5/30/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
5/31/19	Review	That's What She's Reading
6/1/19	Review	All the Ups and Downs
6/2/19	Review	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
6/3/19	Playlist	StoreyBook Reviews
6/4/19	Review	Missus Gonzo
6/5/19	Review	Books and Broomsticks
6/6/19	Review	Book Fidelity
6/7/19	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog

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Enter to Win! PANIC POINT by Bill Briscoe

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 07:30:00 +0000

PANIC POINT
Pepperman Mystery Series Book Two

BILL BRISCOE

Genre: Mystery / Crime Fiction / Stand-Alone

Publisher: self-published

Date of Publication: March 26, 2019

Number of Pages: 248

Scroll down for Giveaway!

When Earl's bride Morgan vanishes in the Smoky Mountains on their honeymoon, the former Navy SEAL is certain she's been abducted. The park rangers disagree, and after a storm washes away any potential evidence, they call off the official search. Then another man loses his daughter in the same area. Can one last lead help Earl find Morgan before he loses her forever? WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER

BUY THE BOOK
Amazon ║ Barnes and Noble ║ Kobo ║ Apple

Bill grew up in the oil and gas refinery town of Phillips in the Texas Panhandle. After graduating from college with a master’s degree, he spent most of his career working for a major insurance company as an agency manager and consultant.

As his retirement was on the horizon, he had an idea about a book. That story, Pepperman’s Promise, became the prequel to The Pepperman Mystery Series, and Perplexity and Panic Point, the next two books in the series, are now available.

Bill and his wife of fifty years live in West Texas.

Twitter ║ Facebook ║ Email

Website ║ Goodreads

║ Amazon Author Page ║ BookBub

--------------------------------------------

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Grand Prize: Autographed Copies of the Full Pepperman Mystery Series Two Winners: Autographed Copies of Panic Point

April 16-26, 2019

(U.S. Only)

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4/16/19	Book Trailer	Texas Book Lover
4/16/19	Notable Quotable	Hall Ways Blog
4/17/19	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
4/17/19	Excerpt	The Clueless Gent
4/18/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
4/19/19	Review	#Bookish
4/20/19	Scrapbook Page	All the Ups and Downs
4/20/19	Character Interview	Max Knight
4/21/19	Review	That's What She's Reading
4/22/19	Author Interview	Forgotten Winds
4/22/19	Series Spotlight	Book Fidelity
4/23/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
4/24/19	Promo	Books and Broomsticks
4/25/19	Review	The Page Unbound
4/25/19	Review	The Love of a Bibliophile

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Read the Top 11 List & Enter to Win! THE STAMP OF HEAVEN by Julia Robb

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 07:30:00 +0000

THE STAMP OF HEAVEN

JULIA ROBB

Genre: Historical Fiction / Civil War

Publisher: self-published

Date of Publication: February 19, 2019

Number of Pages: 196

Scroll down for Giveaway!

The Union Army wants former Confederate Army general Beau Kerry for alleged war crimes, but he’s hiding out where the Yankees least expect to find him: in the United States Cavalry. Beau is fighting Apaches out West and praying nobody recognizes his famous face. But Lieutenant Kerry's luck changes when he runs into Sergeant Ike Jefferson and says, "The last time I saw you, I had you bent over a barrel and I was whipping you.” Ike is not only Beau's best friend (or worst enemy, depending on the day), he's Beau's former slave -- and Ike knows there’s a $5000 price on Beau’s head. Caroline Dietrich has vengeance on her mind. Married to Colonel Wesley Dietrich, the Union fort commander, Caroline believes the best path to getting revenge against the Yankees, her husband included, is seducing her husband’s officers. Especially Beau. From the killing fields of the Civil War, to the savagery of the Indian wars, the characters are also battling each other and searching for what it means to be human.

5-STAR PRAISE FOR THE STAMP OF HEAVEN:

"Her characters are vivid, relatable, and endearing. She brings to life the rigors of frontier duty, the harsh beauty of west Texas, and the complexity of war and reconciliation. A must read!”

"Julia Robb creates a masterful tale of friendship, loyalty, cowardice, deceit, and redemption in this fascinating story set in the aftermath of the War Between the States...Not a simple western yarn, this novel will keep you thinking and asking the Big Questions long after you finish reading it.”

CLICK TO ORDER ON AMAZON

ELEVEN FACTOIDS FOUND

IN RESEARCHING

THE STAMP OF HEAVEN

BY JULIA ROBB

1. What is a striker, as they were called in the U.S. Army?

A soldier servant, always a private. They cooked, they watched the kids, they did whatever an officer and an officer’s wife wanted them to do.

2. What was the worst thing about serving at Camp Grant, Arizona Territory, in 1870 or so?

The buildings were built of unplastered adobe, and scorpions would often fall from the ceilings. You could be sleeping and wake up to horrible pain, not on your head or face, hopefully.

3. When Apaches attacked Anglos, what were the Apaches called?

A killing party

4. Did 19th century Americans practice dental hygiene and if so, what did they use?

Yes indeed, they used toothbrushes made with pig bristles, among other things, and dental powder made with chalk, sugar, and peppermint or cloves.

5. What was an Apache camp called?

A rancheria

6. What was one of the worst afflictions for cavalry riding through the desert?

Sweat running into a soldier’s eyes. Even when a soldier wiped his forehead, and tied a bandana above the eyebrows, after a time even that couldn’t keep the sweat out, and it made the soldier’s eyes burn so painfully it was hard to see.

7. What were the Confederates often called?

Secesh

8. Who was the most famous composer of 19th century American music?

Stephen Foster, who wrote “Swanee River,” “Beautiful Dreamer,” “De Camptown Races,” “Old Black Joe,” “Old Folks at Home,” “Oh! Susanna,” “I Dream of Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair.”

9. What was the name of the newspaper owned and published by Frederick Douglass?

The North Star

10. What weapon was most common among Union cavalry during the Indian Wars?

The carbine

11. What did 19th century Americans call railroads?

The cars

Julia Robb is a former journalist who writes novels set in Texas. She’s written Saint of the Burning Heart, Scalp Mountain, Del Norte, The Captive Boy, and The Stamp of Heaven.

Julia grew up on the lower Great Plains of Texas and lived in every corner of the Lone Star State, from the Rio Grande to the East Texas swamps.

Twitter ║ Facebook ║ Pinterest

Website ║ Goodreads

║ Amazon Author Page ║

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1st Prize: Signed Copy of The Stamp of Heaven + $5 Cash 2nd Prize: Signed Copy or eBook Copy of The Stamp of Heaven

April 3-13, 2019

(U.S. Only)

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

4/3/19	Character Interview	That's What She's Reading
4/3/19	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
4/4/19	Review	Max Knight
4/5/19	Guest Post	The Page Unbound
4/5/19	Author Interview	#Bookish
4/6/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
4/7/19	Review	Syd Savvy
4/8/19	Scrapbook	Book Fidelity
4/8/19	Playlist	StoreyBook Reviews
4/9/19	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
4/10/19	Author Video	The Clueless Gent
4/10/19	Top 11 List	Books and Broomsticks
4/11/19	Review	Margie's Must Reads
4/12/19	Review	Forgotten Winds
4/12/19	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda

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*Check Out This Book Trailer & Enter to Win!" THE JANUS WITCH by Michael Scott Clifton

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 08:30:00 +0000

THE JANUS WITCH

MICHAEL SCOTT CLIFTON

Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy / Romance
Publisher: Book Liftoff
Publication Date: September 1, 2018

Number of Pages: 372 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

Malice vs Love

A beautiful witch, a member of a murderous coven, is torn from her medieval world and transported to East Texas. The passage leaves her with no memory of her previous life. She falls in love with a young pediatrician, but her dark past threatens to reassert itself…and make her a threat.

CLICK FOR PURCHASE OPTIONS:

PRAISE FOR THE JANUS WITCH:

This book is filled with magic, intrigue, excitement, and fantasy. Michael Scott Clifton is a truly gifted author.
-- Teresa Syms, Readers’ Favorite

This novel was an absolute page turner with action and great character development. I enjoyed every minute of it. I'm excited for the next work by Mike Clifton.
-- Bronwyn Pegues, Librarian, Longview Public Library

“Michael Scott Clifton weaves and casts a magical spell in his fantasy romance The Janus Witch. A must read for any Fantasy Romance, Urban Romance, or Paranormal Romance enthusiast!"
-- Ranay James, Author of The McKinnon Legends: A Time Travel Series

A continuous flow of witchery and energy that kept this reader captivated until the end. -- The Electric Review, 5-Star Review

Michael Scott Clifton, public educator for over 38 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, currently lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas with his wife, Melanie, and family cat, Sadie. An avid gardener, he enjoys all kinds of book and movie genres. His books contain aspects of all the genres he enjoys...adventure, magic, fantasy, romance, and relationships. He has been a finalist in a number of short story contests. Clifton’s fantasy novel, The Conquest of the Veil, won a First Chapter Finalist award. Professional credits include articles published in the Texas Study of Secondary Education Magazine. Clifton’s latest book, The Janus Witch, the July Book Cover of the Month, is a featured book on the We Love Indie Books website. Currently, Clifton is completing Book I of The Conquest of the Veil, which will be released in March 2019. He can be reached at mike@michaelscottclifton.com.

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram ║

║ Goodreads ║ Amazon Author Page ║

-------------------------------------

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THREE WINNERS! One Winner: One Signed Copy + $10 Amazon Gift Card + Bookmark

Two Winners: eBook Copies DECEMBER 4-13, 2018

(U.S. Only)

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

12/4/18	Excerpt	All the Ups and Downs
12/4/18	Book Trailer	Books and Broomsticks
12/5/18	Review	Bibliotica
12/6/18	Author Interview	That's What She's Reading
12/6/18	Top 5 List	StoreyBook Reviews
12/7/18	Review	Momma on the Rocks
12/8/18	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
12/8/18	Promo	The Book Review
12/9/18	Review	Book Fidelity
12/10/18	Author Interview	Rebecca R. Cahill, Author
12/10/18	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
12/11/18	Review	Nerd Narration
12/12/18	Guest Post	Rainy Days with Amanda
12/13/18	Review	The Clueless Gent
12/13/18	Review	Reading by Moonlight

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Excerpt & Giveaway! A SPARKLE OF SILVER by Liz Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 07:30:00 +0000

A SPARKLE OF SILVER

Georgia Coast Romance #1

LIZ JOHNSON

Genre: Contemporary / Romance
Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: October 16, 2018

Number of Pages: 368

Scroll down for the giveaway!

Millie Sullivan plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of a palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where her great-grandmother was a real guest ninety years ago. When Millie learns of a lost diary that may contain the location of a hidden treasure on the estate and reveal the identity of her great-grandfather, she sets out to find the truth of her heritage—and the fortune she desperately needs. But it won’t be easy.

When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate’s private library, he threatens to have her fired. Still, her story seems too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up.

Get ready for a romantic escapade through dark halls and dusty corners that will have you holding your breath and sighing with delight.

PRAISE FOR A SPARKLE OF SILVER:

“A mystery, a treasure hunt, and a split-time romance—all set within a beautiful chateau. What more could we want?”
—Katherine Reay, author of Dear Mr. Knightley and A Portrait of Emily Price

“A charming romance about real people triumphing over real problems. Add in a dash of mystery, a treasure hunt, and old family secrets, and you have a story that will warm every corner of your heart.”—Victoria Bylin, award-winning author of Together with You

“Lovers of history will enjoy this treasure-seeking adventure through a historic estate, and readers will appreciate a story that turns up riches of the lasting kind.”
—Denise Hunter, bestselling author of Honeysuckle Dreams

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Baker Book House ◆ Amazon ◆ Barnes & Noble

Christianbook.com ◆ Kobo ◆ Books-A-Million

CHAPTER ONE, PART TWO

OF A SPARKLE OF SILVER

BY LIZ JOHNSON

Click to read Chapter One, Part One with Lone Star Book Blog Tours!

“Miss Sullivan?”

Millie jumped, a shiver racing down her spine. She knew that voice, and it never brought good news. But she was paid up. She was. Her last check hadn’t bounced, and Golden Isles had cashed it immediately.

Turning toward the woman at the open door, Millie bestowed the smile she’d been saving for her grandma on Virginia Baker.

The woman’s sleek bob wobbled in greeting, but she didn’t bother returning the grin. “May I have a word?”

A word, sure. It was imagining the second, third, fourth, and fifth that sent her stomach into a nosedive. Still, Millie turned her back on Grandma Joy and walked toward the door.

Virginia held out her hand in a silent invitation for Millie to step into the hallway. Millie tried to take a steadying breath. The rumble in her stomach was far too much like that time she’d been called into the principal’s office for falling asleep in class during high school. She hung her head the same way she had all those years ago as she stepped past Virginia from the warm tones of Grandma Joy’s room into the garish lights of the hallway.

“Miss Sullivan, there’s just no easy way to say this.”

Suddenly it was hard to breathe. She pressed a hand to her throat and tried to gasp a thread of air, but it didn’t help. Neither did Virginia’s unforgiving monologue.

“She’s getting worse.” When Millie opened her mouth to offer an argument, Virginia shook her head. “I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know.”

Millie risked a glance toward Grandma Joy, who had closed her eyes and let her mouth drop open. The even creaking of her chair had ceased, and she looked at peace. No longer disturbed by the arrival of a woman she couldn’t recognize.

With a sigh Millie nodded. She knew. And no matter how much she wanted to deny it, there had been no evidence to indicate otherwise.

Grandma Joy wasn’t going to get better. Her memories weren’t going to come back—at least not for longer than a few minutes. But they were in there, and every so often one surfaced, only to nosedive back into oblivion before Millie could use it to pull her grandma closer.

“Your grandmother needs better care. More personalized. She needs someone to look after her one-on-one. All day. And night.”

“I know, but—”

Virginia held up her hand. “I know money is a concern.”

That was the understatement of the century. Money wasn’t just a concern. It was the only one. It was all that was holding Millie back from giving Grandma Joy the finest room in the best memory-care facility.

But she couldn’t make money where there was none. As far as she knew, it was still illegal to print her own. Besides, she’d need a printer for that, and she highly doubted the library would let her use theirs. Not that she would do such a thing even if she could, of course.

“There is government help available.”

“I know. I’ve applied for all of it. But they’ve turned her down. Her diagnosis isn’t severe enough or something.”

Virginia rubbed her chin, a frown tugging at the corners of her lips. “Then you have to appeal. Get a lawyer and take it to court.”

Millie held back a snort, but only just. That required money too—a lot of it. And time, which was hard to come by when she was working two jobs just to make ends meet. And even then she’d been late with her own rent again last month.

Maybe Virginia read her face, because she moved on to another option with a hopeful lilt in her tone. “Well then, what about her Social Security?”

“What about it? It doesn’t even cover half of your fine establishment’s fee every month.” As if on cue, the fluorescent light above them flickered, and Virginia’s shoulders drooped.

“I’m sorry,” Millie said, forcing her sarcasm to stay in check. It wasn’t Virginia’s fault. None of it. And she couldn’t afford to alienate the home’s administrator. “I’ve tried everything I can think of, but we’re out of options. Golden Isles is our only choice.”

Chewing on her lower lip, Virginia shook her head. “We have a list of people who belong here waiting to get in. I’ll give you ninety days. And then you’re going to need to find her other arrangements.”

Click to read the rest of Chapter One of A Sparkle of Silver!

Liz Johnson is the author of more than a dozen novels, including The Red Door Inn, Where Two Hearts Meet, and On Love’s Gentle Shore, as well as a New York Times bestselling novella and a handful of short stories. A marketing manager for a Christian film company, she makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona.

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ ║ Instagram║ Goodreads ║ ║ Pinterest ║

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10/16/18	Author Interview	Book Fidelity
10/16/18	Bonus Notable Quotable	Hall Ways Blog
10/17/18	Excerpt	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/18/18	Review	That's What She's Reading
10/19/18	Character Interview	Chapter Break Book Blog
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10/21/18	Playlist	All the Ups and Downs
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Excerpt & Giveaway! BURDEN OF PROOF by DiAnn Mills

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 07:30:00 +0000

BURDEN OF PROOF

FBI Rapid Response #1

DiANN MILLS

Genre: Inspirational /Mystery / Suspense / Romance
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Date of Publication: October 9, 2018

Number of Pages: 416

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Reeling from a negotiation gone wrong, FBI Special Agent April Ramos is caught off guard when a frazzled young woman shoves a crying baby into her arms, then disappears. Worry for the child’s safety quickly turns to fear when a man claiming to be the girl’s father abducts them at gunpoint. April puts her hostage negotiation skills to use to learn more about who she’s dealing with: Jason Snyder, a fugitive accused of murder.

As Jason spins a tall tale about being framed for the killing of his business partner, April must sort through his claims to find the truth. A truth that becomes all the more evident after April overhears a conversation between Jason and the local sheriff and realizes something more sinister may be happening in their small town of Sweet Briar, Texas. But aligning herself with a known fugitive to uncover the burden of proof could cost April her job . . . or worse, her life and the lives of other innocent people.

PRAISE FOR DiANN MILLS:

"The tension level rises as layers of lies are peeled away in multiple plot twists." --Library Journal

"DiAnn Mills is a master of fast-paced and intricately plotted romantic suspense." --Colleen Coble, Bestselling author

"[A] fast-moving, intricately plotted thriller." --Publishers Weekly

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CHECK OUT THE BOOK TRAILER!

CHAPTER 3, PART THREE

FROM BURDEN OF PROOF

BY DiANN MILLS

Clickto Read Chapter 3, Part 1

Click to Read Chapter 3, Part 2

“Not yet. Put Isabella in the car seat.” He kept his distance.

No one was in sight to even question the crime taking place. Once the baby was secure, he pressed the barrel of the gun against her back.

She sighed. Was he reading her mind or had she left all logic at the office with Benson’s suicide?

“Let’s talk about what’s bothering you and get this straightened out.”

“Open the driver’s door and scoot over to the other side. Don’t try a thing, or I’ll use the gun.”

She obeyed and crawled over the console. As soon as her feet hit the floorboard on the passenger side, he was seated and locked the doors. No way to kick him with the console . . .

“Don’t forget the seat belt,” he said.

“Sir, your actions will have serious consequences.”

His brown eyes bored hard into her face. “I’m a desperate man.”

This must be a domestic or custody dispute. The baby no longer cried, a blessing since April questioned what kind of insanity she’d met for the second time today. Images of the early morning death slammed into her brain. In truth, the memory would never leave her.

“Do you live alone?” her abductor said.

“Yes.”

“Address?” She gave him one.

He typed into his phone. “That belongs to the FBI.” He pulled the Beretta from his jacket and aimed it at her. “This is a life-and-death matter. I hate pulling you into my circumstances. But I have no choice when my daughter is threatened.”

Definitely a troubled man. She’d gain the upper hand at her home. With that reassurance, she gave him the correct address.

“We’ll talk there.” He typed into his phone and placed the truck in reverse.

***

While Jason drove to Agent Ramos’s home through heavy traffic, he worried the cops were on his tail. Emotion for what he’d experienced over the last several hours threatened to break loose. He’d shed nearly as many tears as when Lily died. Now Russell . . . And he’d almost lost his baby girl. Jason stared at Isabella through the rearview mirror. “Daddy is so sorry for what you went through.” She’d been the victim of his worst nightmare: an abduction.

“Are you ready to talk?” the agent said.

“Not yet.” The tiny woman beside him probably had hand-to-hand combat skills beyond his imagination. He’d done his best to avoid a flying fist or foot. At least he had her purse, most likely containing a cell phone and a weapon. A huge risk. But her influence in law enforcement could right a terrible wrong. Several of them. “I’m thinking through how to present my story.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“I’m Jason, and you’ve met my daughter, Isabella.” April nodded.

“I’m glad I was there. Would you like for me to call Isabella’s mother and let her know her daughter’s safe?”

“Isabella’s mother died a year ago, giving birth to our daughter.” He’d disappointed Lily too. She’d kissed Isabella at two hours old, just before saying good-bye to them forever. What had he just done? “Nabbing a federal agent was an impulsive decision. Not my normal way of handling a problem.”

“I won’t deny you’re in a lot of trouble. Let’s talk this out.”

He swallowed hard. “No amount of talk can fix the tragedy affecting my life.”

“Then I need to hear what you have to say.”

After two more turns, he pulled into a driveway in front of a cottage-style home. A risky plan formed, one of justice and a way to solve a murder.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader's Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She's an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers.

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ ║ Instagram║ Goodreads ║ LinkedIn ║ ║ YouTube ║ Pinterest ║ Google+ ║ BookBub

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10/9/18	Excerpt	Hall Ways Blog
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Notable Quotable & Giveaway! OLD BUILDINGS IN NORTH TEXAS by Jen Waldo

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 07:30:00 +0000

OLD BUILDINGS

IN NORTH TEXAS

JEN WALDO

Sub-genre: Literary Fiction / Dramedy

Publisher: Arcadia Books

Date of Publication: April 1, 2018

Number of Pages: 213

Scroll down for the giveaway!

After rehab, Olivia, a 32-year-old cocaine addict, is required to move back in with her mother and pregnant sister. Having left a promising career in journalism in New York, she’s now working as a sales assistant for a family friend in her home town in North Texas.

Under pressure from her court-mandated counselor – an old high school friend - to take up a hobby, Olivia decides on "urbexing." Soon she’s breaking into derelict homes, ex-prisons, and old drive-ins across North Texas, and it’s not long before she’s looting state property and making money off the possessions, fixtures, and fittings that have been left behind.

Old Buildings in North Texas is about a modern woman’s search for personal equilibrium and wild adventure -- the attempt to find stability in existence without losing sight of what makes life worth living. Jen Waldo’s style modulates effortlessly from domestic nuance to taut adventure, tackling social and moral transgressions with incisive observation and vivid humor.

PRAISE FOR OLD BUILDINGS IN NORTH TEXAS

“A lot of Jen Waldo’s debut novel takes place out on the porch of Olivia’s mother’s house. […] With its casual, confidential tone, Old Buildings in North Texas puts the reader in one of those porch chairs, reclining on a warm evening with a cool drink.” -- The Skinny

“Old Buildings in North Texas is an amusingly written and well worked book” -- Trip Fiction

“This novel is an absolute blast. There are serious moments of course, but Jen Waldo looks for the comedy in everything to create a memorable scenario that reminded me very much of the style of Six Feet Under.”
-- Shiny New Books

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AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE AUDIBLE BOOKS-A-MILLION

Jen Waldo lived in seven countries over a thirty-year period and has now settled, along with her husband, in Marble Falls, Texas. She first started writing over twenty years ago when, while living in Cairo, she had difficulty locating reading material and realized she’d have to make her own fun. She has since earned an MFA and written a number of novels. Her work has been published in The European and was shortlisted in a competition by Traveler magazine. Old Buildings in North Texas and Why Stuff Matters have been published in the UK by Arcadia Books. Jen’s fiction is set in Northwest Texas and she’s grateful to her hometown of Amarillo for providing colorful characters and a background of relentless whistling wind.

◆ WEBSITE ◆ TWITTER ◆

◆ AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE ◆ ◆ GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE ◆

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10/2/18	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
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10/5/18	Excerpt	Max Knight
10/6/18	Guest Post	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/7/18	Review	Momma on the Rocks
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10/8/18	Notable Quotable	StoreyBook Reviews
10/9/18	Review	Reading by Moonlight
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10/10/18	Sequel Spotlight	All the Ups and Downs
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Guest Post & Giveaway! COWBOY CHARM SCHOOL by Margaret Brownley

noreply@blogger.com (Belle) — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 07:30:00 +0000

COWBOY CHARM SCHOOL
HAYWIRE BRIDES, #1

MARGARET BROWNLEY

Sub-genre: Western / Clean Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Date of Publication: September 4, 2018

Number of Pages: 384

Scroll down for Giveaway!

When Texas Ranger Brett Tucker accidentally derails a wedding, he's determined to bring the estranged couple back together...but he never dreamed he'd start falling for the bride!

Texas Ranger Brett Tucker hates to break up a wedding, but the groom—notorious criminal Frank Foster—is a danger to any woman. So he busts into the church, guns blazing...only to find he has the wrong man.

STOP THAT WEDDING!

Bride-to-be Kate Denver is appalled by her fiancé's over-the-top reaction to the innocent mistake and calls off the wedding—for good. Guilt-ridden, Brett's desperate to get them back on track. But the more time he spends with Kate, the harder he falls...and the more he yearns to prove that he's her true match in every way.

"Light and airy as cotton candy, this tale charms."

-- Publishers Weekly

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AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE iTUNES

For the Love of Candy

Save the Earth; it's the only planet

with chocolate

Guest Post by Margaret Brownley

I’ve got candy on my mind this month and it has nothing to do with the empty box of chocolates on my desk. The real reason I’m thinking of all things sweet is that my book Cowboy Charm School has just been published and it features a heroine who owns a candy shop.

While doing the research for my book, I turned up some fun and interesting facts. For example, we can blame our sweet tooth on our cavemen ancestors and their fondness for honey. But the most surprising thing I discovered was that marshmallows grow on trees—or at least used to. That was before the French came up with a way to replace the sweet sap from the mallow tree with gelatin.

I also learned that during the middle ages, the price of sugar was so high that only the rich could afford a sweet treat. In fact, candy was such a rarity that the most children could expect was an occasional sugar plum at Christmas. (BTW: there are no plums in sugar plums. Plum is another word for good).

This changed during the early nineteenth century with the discovery of sugar-beet juice and mechanical candy-making machines.

Soon jars of colorful penny candy could be found in every trading post and general store in the country. It took almost four hundred candy manufacturing companies to keep up with the demand.

This changed the market considerably. Children as young as four or five were now able to make purchases independent of their parents. (Had youngsters known that vegetables including spinach were used to color candy, they might not have wasted their money.)

Children weren’t the only ones enjoying the availability of cheap candy. Civil War soldiers favored gumdrops, jelly beans, hard candy and hub wafers (now known as Necco wafers).

Never one to miss a trend, John Arbuckle off coffee fame, noted the sugar craze that had swept the country and decided to use it as a marketing tool. He included a peppermint stick in each pound bag of Arbuckle’s coffee to encourage sales.

“Who wants the peppermint?” was a familiar cry around chuck wagons.

This call to grind the coffee beans got a rash of volunteers. No rough and tumble cowboy worth his salt would turn down a stick of peppermint candy, especially when out on the trail.

Arbuckle wasn’t the only one to see gold in candy. Outlaw Doc Scurlock, friend of Billy the Kid and a Bloody Lincoln County War participant, retired from crime in 1880. Though he was still a wanted man, he moved to Texas and opened up a candy store.

Cadbury, Mars and Hershey rode herd on the chocolate boom of the late 1800s, early 1900s. Penny candy still made up eighteen percent of candy sales but, by that time, some merchants had refused to sell it. Profits were thin and selling such small amounts to children was time-consuming. Chocolate was more profitable. The penny candy market vanished altogether during World War II when sugar was rationed. Fortunately, no war could do away with chocolate.

Okay, now that your sweet tooth has gone into overdrive, tell us the name of your favorite candy? Anyone have a candy memory to share?

New York Times bestselling author MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned more than forty-five novels and novellas. She's a two-time Romance Writers of American RITA^® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is also a recipient of the Romantic Times Pioneer Award.

Her story, A Pony Express Christmas, will appear this fall in the Old West Christmas Brides collection, and book two of her Haywire Brides series will be published May 2019. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth-grade English. Just don't ask her to diagram a sentence.

◆ WEBSITE ◆ FACEBOOK ◆ TWITTER ◆

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Books and Broomsticks

Books and Broomsticks: On the Other Side of Last Night

*Review & Giveaway!* LANDING IN MY PRESENT by Mary Walker Clark

*Review & Giveaway!* A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING by Stephanie Raffelock

*READ MY REVIEW & ENTER TO WIN!* GATES OF MARS by McFall & Hays

*Read My Review & ENTER TO WIN!* The Outlaw's Daughter by Margaret Brownley

*Book Blitz & GIVEAWAY!* THANK YOU, GARDEN by Liz Garton Scanlon

*REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!* First Herd to Abilene by Preston Lewis

*Book Blitz* BAYOU CITY BURNING by D. B. Borton

Read My Review & *ENTER TO WIN!* Finding Esme by Suzanne Crowley

*Read My Review & ENTER TO WIN* The Mail Order Bride's Secret by Linda Broday

ENTER TO WIN! Road to Hope by Dena Jansen

*REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!* Santa Claus Bank Robbery by Tui Snider

EXCLUSIVE! Cover Reveal! EXECUTION IN E by Alexia Gordon

*Review & GIVEAWAY!* Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

*Read My Review & Enter to Win!* PARANORMAL TEXAS by Tui Snider

*Excerpt & Giveaway!* YAZZY'S AMAZING YARN by Cathey Graham Nickell

Let's See Them Aliens!

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Storm Area 51 T-Shirt?

*REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!* Hitchin' Post by Julie Barker

*Enter to Win!* PANIC POINT by Bill Briscoe

*Read the Top 11 List & Enter to Win!* THE STAMP OF HEAVEN by Julia Robb

*Check Out This Book Trailer & Enter to Win!" THE JANUS WITCH by Michael Scott Clifton

*Excerpt & Giveaway!* A SPARKLE OF SILVER by Liz Johnson

*Excerpt & Giveaway!* BURDEN OF PROOF by DiAnn Mills

*Notable Quotable & Giveaway!* OLD BUILDINGS IN NORTH TEXAS by Jen Waldo

*Guest Post & Giveaway!* COWBOY CHARM SCHOOL by Margaret Brownley

Review & Giveaway! LANDING IN MY PRESENT by Mary Walker Clark

Review & Giveaway! A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING by Stephanie Raffelock

READ MY REVIEW & ENTER TO WIN! GATES OF MARS by McFall & Hays

Read My Review & ENTER TO WIN! The Outlaw's Daughter by Margaret Brownley

Book Blitz & GIVEAWAY! THANK YOU, GARDEN by Liz Garton Scanlon

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY! First Herd to Abilene by Preston Lewis

Book Blitz BAYOU CITY BURNING by D. B. Borton

Read My Review & ENTER TO WIN! Finding Esme by Suzanne Crowley

Read My Review & ENTER TO WIN The Mail Order Bride's Secret by Linda Broday

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY! Santa Claus Bank Robbery by Tui Snider

Review & GIVEAWAY! Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

Read My Review & Enter to Win! PARANORMAL TEXAS by Tui Snider

Excerpt & Giveaway! YAZZY'S AMAZING YARN by Cathey Graham Nickell

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY! Hitchin' Post by Julie Barker

Enter to Win! PANIC POINT by Bill Briscoe

Read the Top 11 List & Enter to Win! THE STAMP OF HEAVEN by Julia Robb

Excerpt & Giveaway! A SPARKLE OF SILVER by Liz Johnson

Excerpt & Giveaway! BURDEN OF PROOF by DiAnn Mills

Notable Quotable & Giveaway! OLD BUILDINGS IN NORTH TEXAS by Jen Waldo

Guest Post & Giveaway! COWBOY CHARM SCHOOL by Margaret Brownley