The Keys to Gramercy Park by Candice Sue Patterson – Review & Giveaway

My Review

The Keys to Gramercy Park, by Candance Sue Patterson, is book twelve in the Door to the Past series. This is a series written by different authors that gives a look into events of the past. This is a dual time-line story that focuses on twin brothers in 1862 and a modern day mystery of where money hidden in a wall came from. Andrea found old money in her wall, with Beau’s help she investigates how the money got there and by who. She is trying to write an outstanding article for the Smithsonian Magazine to earn a promotion. Beau is running for political office and fears her research may hurt his campaign.

This is a fun story to read, it has mystery, suspense and romance all in one. The dual time-line is like having two separate stories. I appreciate the struggle Andrea endured to write a job-winning story while not hurting anyone in the process. The story shows how two people raised in the same household could become so different. It also shows how what one person does may affect their family many years in the future and the secrets kept about family members may affect lives in the future, when the truth comes out. This story has well defined characters. It is so well written it is easy to really dislike one of the twins. I appreciate the research the author did to point out things that really happened, the way women were institutionalize unjustly, and the dangers of the soothing syrup for children. It was interesting to read of the beginning of the Secret Service and the background information regarding counterfeit money after the civil war.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this story, this is my honest review.

About the Book

Book: The Keys to Gramercy Park

Author: Candice Sue Patterson

Genre: Christian / Historical / Romance

Release date: April, 2023

Secrets Sealed Within a Wall Come to Light in Lower Manhattan

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Investigative historical journalist Andrea Andrews is tired of waiting tables to make ends meet. If she could find and write the next breakout story, she could secure a promotion with Smithsonian Magazine as their writer-at-large. But not much happens in lower Manhattan out of the ordinary until she discovers post-Civil War counterfeit bills hidden in the wall of her historic district apartment.

Politics have always been Beau Davidson-Quincy’s passion, despite his family’s real estate empire. His clean image and single status make him a target in the media as he prepares to build his campaign for New York governor. He has nothing to hide until a cute waitress unravels a mystery that could destroy his family’s reputation.

Two centuries earlier, wounded Civil War veteran Franklin Davidson lost everything—his house, his wife, his standing in society. In his darkest moment, he’s awarded a position with the newly formed Secret Service to combat the spread of counterfeit U.S. currency. His life and new home in Gramercy Park are the envy of his peers, but nothing is as it seems. Secrets are meant to be kept, and Franklin will take his to his grave.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Candice Sue Patterson studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature and is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, splitting wood, or decorating cakes, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes Modern Vintage Romance—where the past and present collide with faith. Her debut novel How to Charm a Beekeeper’s Heart was a 2012 ACFW First Impressions finalist and made INSPYs Longlist for 2016.

More from Candice

A locked secret garden in Manhattan with historical significance and the only ones privileged to step inside are the wealthy residents who purchase a key—count me in! The plot for The Keys to Gramercy Park was born at our dining room table when my husband looked up from the book he was reading and asked if I knew about Gramercy Park. I hadn’t, so we started Googling and discovered it was a real garden in Manhattan built in 1841 for the cream of society. The fact that it’s been off-limits to the public for one hundred and eight-two years instantly brought all kinds of story ideas to my mind.

Not long after, I discovered that Barbour Publishing Inc. was looking for dual-time stories to fill their Doors to the Past series. I love reading dual-time novels but I’d never written one. I love a good challenge, so I began plotting and before I knew it, I had another first—creating a villain.

I’ve only ever seen the New York City skyline from the New Jersey ferry that travels to and from the Statue of Liberty, so after the story was contracted, I spent several weeks researching Manhattan and Gramercy Park. New York is full of rich history and it was so fun to stumble across the historical details of The Player’s, Edwin Booth, and the stories behind each home along Gramercy Square.

One of my favorite things about writing this story was the juxtaposition of the timelines. We don’t have the present without the past, and what happens in the past affects the future, but the future can also determine how we view, feel, and learn about the past. That’s essentially what The Keys to Gramercy Park is about—the butterfly effect of past events reaching ahead two centuries with dire consequences. I love how in one scene the characters are sending telegraphs and in the next scene, they’re sending text messages.

What’s your favorite thing about dual-time novels? Make sure to check out the other books in the Doors to the Past series!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 26

lakesidelivingsite, May 26

Melissa’s Bookshelf, May 27

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 28

Blogging With Carol, May 28

Book Looks by Lisa, May 29

Connie’s History Classroom, May 29

Texas Book-aholic, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 30

Cover Lover Book Review, May 31

Where Faith and Books Meet, May 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 2

Blossoms and Blessings, June 2

Remembrancy, June 3

Holly’s Book Corner, June 3

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 4

Pause for Tales, June 4

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, June 5 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 6

Inklings and Notions, June 6

Simple Harvest Reads, June 7 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Labor Not in Vain, June 7

She Lives To Read, June 8

Books I’ve Read, June 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Candice is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/2626e/the-keys-to-gramercy-park-celebration-tour-giveaway

Indigo Isle by T I Lowe

My Review

Indigo Isle by T. I. Lowe is a contemporary story that takes place off the coast of Charleston. This is a well written story that has a lot of depth to it. Sonny is a Hollywood location scout who oversees locations and housing for movie shoots. She accidently wanders onto a private island, Indigo Isle, that is known for the person who lives there. Hudson move to the island owned by his family after a fire changed his life forever. He is known locally as a monster who keeps to himself and doesn’t like intruders.

This story is so good. It give a look into the happenings behind the making of a movie. It gives a look into the friendships that form as well as the not so nice things that happen. It also shows the depths of hurt a person can feel when their tragedy hits. I really enjoyed how Sonny was so persistent in becoming a friend to Hudson and how that friendship unfolded. I enjoyed learning of the making of indigo dye. This story kept me reading to see how their friendship would turn out and how the experiences forced on Sonny by a movie producer would turn out. This story does have parts that would not be suitable for the younger reader.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

About the book

“Storms show up and there ain’t a thing we can do to stop them.” Sonny Bates left South Carolina fifteen years ago and never looked back.

Now she’s a successful Hollywood location scout who travels the world, finding perfect places for movie shoots. Home is wherever she lands, and between her busy schedule and dealing with her boss’s demands, she has little time to think about the past… until her latest gig lands her a stone’s throw from everything she left behind. Searching off the coast of Charleston for a secluded site to film a key scene, Sonny wanders onto a private barrier island and encounters its reclusive owner, known by locals as the Monster of Indigo Isle. What she finds is a man much more complex than the myth.

Once a successful New York attorney, Hudson Renfrow’s grief has exiled him to his island for several years. He spends his days alone, tending his fields of indigo, then making indigo dye—and he has no interest in serving the intrusive needs of a film company or yielding to Sonny’s determined curiosity. But when a hurricane makes landfall on the Carolina coast, stranding them together, an unlikely friendship forms between the two damaged souls. Soon the gruff exterior Hudson has long hidden behind crumbles—exposing the tender part of him that’s desperate for forgiveness and a second chance.

A story of hanging on and letting go, of redemption and reconciliation, and of a love that heals the deepest wounds, from the author of the breakout Southern fiction bestseller Under the Magnolias. This book offers these extra helpful and fun features:

• Discussion questions—we’ve got you covered for book club!
• Recipes
• A playlist inspired by Sonny and Hudson’s love story

About the Author

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, but Christmas 2011 is one I am ashamed to admit I did not celebrate. I began battling the most treacherous storm of my life during this season.

Sitting by my mom’s side in an unfamiliar cancer center, I heard words so foreign to me I had to have the doctor repeat them, and then spell them for me—“small-cell carcinoma lung cancer.” From the doctor’s grim expression and cautious words, my mom and I knew she had been handed a death sentence.

I armed myself with research and set out to stand by my mom through rounds of radiation, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and a barrage of tests and paperwork.

I prayed without ceasing, “Please, God. Please heal Momma.”

While I begged God for a miracle, a story began to take root in my heart that became my creative outlet when the reality of losing my mom was too great a burden to bear.

During endless treatments, I shared some of the story with my mom. She made me promise to share it with the world. And I agreed that one day I would, but not right then. At that point, our focus had to be her and her healing.

In spring 2013, God answered my prayer, but not in the way I had envisioned. Rather than healing my mom’s body, he healed her soul, freeing her from the abusive past and sinful life that had held her captive for far too long. That healing was the most precious gift I had received since the birth of my children, for my mom had suffered greatly long before the cancer invaded.

In May 2013, Lulu’s Café was completed. I put the manuscript away for safekeeping and set out to help my mom get her affairs in order before the cancer robbed her of the ability to make decisions. Yes, the cruel disease had rebelled against treatments and had spread.

In summer 2013, I felt devastating pain and anguish I never knew could exist. I had to say good-bye to my mom, and selfishly, I was not ready. Watching her suffer and fade rendered me broken and defeated.

As I held her fragile body during the early evening of September 19, 2013, my mom took her last breath on earth, and I felt my own breath leave me in acute grief.

I fell into that grief for several months, not knowing how to resurface. Life kept going without me. My prayers were now for my own healing, for my heart was broken. The past three years had been all about fighting my mom’s cancer, and now that the battle was over, I felt lost. I begged God to help me move on.

Finally in January 2014, God said it was time to share Lulu’s Café. I was scared and didn’t feel worthy to share it, but I had made my mom a promise. And I intended on keeping it. Through honoring the memory of my mom and through the strength of my heavenly Father, my broken heart slowly began to heal. I know it will not completely heal while I’m still on this earth, but one day . . . 

Since sharing Lulu’s Café, an abundance of stories have knocked on my heart’s door and asked to be shared also. They are not perfect stories, for I am not a perfect woman. But as long as God keeps giving me these stories, I promise to share them.

Thank you for reading and helping me keep my promise to my mom.

I am running with patience the race set before me, looking to Jesus, my author, and finisher of my faith.

Where to Purchase

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/indigo-isle-t-i-lowe/1142530449?ean=9781496465597

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Indigo-Isle-Hardcover-9781496465597/1119464511

https://www.tyndale.com/p/indigo-isle/9781496465597

https://www.christianbook.com/indigo-isle-hardcover/9781496465597/pd/465597?event=AFF&p=1023387

Lone Star Sweetheart Epic Book Launch

About the Book

Book: Love’s True Calling

Authors: Lori DeJong

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release date: June 27, 2023

After years of jumping through other people’s hoops to be all they thought she should be, and enduring a tragedy no mother should, self-described “newbie” Christian, Harper Townsend, has finally found her true calling … and her true love. Until it appears that to follow one may mean leaving the other behind.

Adolescent Psychologist, Wyatt McCowan, is beyond delighted to have the-girl-that-got-away back in his life, and his heart. But even as they fall more in love, he realizes that being obedient to God’s calling on each of their lives may pull them apart. She rejected him once in favor of another, which left him hurt and angry. But this time, he can’t fault her for following hard after the God she loves with all her heart, even if it means leaving him once again. Will Ryan return to his faith and stay with her in Sweetheart or leave when the election ends?

Book Excerpt

Excerpt 1

Harper had never felt so … old. She fidgeted in her seat at the end of the second row as her classmates gathered in groups around the room on this first day of the fall semester, the proverbial square peg. The last time she sat in a college classroom, most of these kids were in middle school. Of course, starting her sophomore year of college nine years after her freshman hadn’t been the original plan, but then, well … life. There was no way to see what lay around that next curve. And hers had seen plenty of curves in her scant twenty-eight years. A quick glance at her watch told her class should have begun five minutes ago. Odd for a professor to be late the first day, especially one with as stellar a reputation as Dr. Marjorie Vance. A man strode into the room and closed the door behind him. “Okay, everybody, please take your seats, and we’ll get things rolling.” Harper froze. She hardly recognized the man, but that voice she knew. The voice she’d witnessed transition from boy to adolescent crackle on the way to its present smooth, deep timbre. The voice she last heard the night she broke his heart. The night he took hers with him when he walked away.

Missed Any Excerpts, Come back June 9th to see them.

About the Author

Lori enjoys writing stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire hope, joy, laughter, and perhaps even touch a soul or two to get to know Him better. She resides in Georgetown, Texas, with her husband and two fur-babies and is the mother of one grown daughter. Love’s True Calling is the 2022 winner of the ACFW Genesis Award for Romance.

The Title Wave by Chautona Havig – Review & Giveaway

My Review

The Title Wave by Chautona Havig is book three in the Suamalie Islands series. This is a series that is being written by different authors.  This is a fun, well written story to read. I enjoyed going back to the island and seeing what was happening. I tried imagining Henri to see what type of man would get all the attention he got from women. So much so that he would use someone who was so special to him when he was younger. I also tried to imagine what kind of woman Ezra was to agree to his foolish plan. The characters were caring people with a past that held hurts.

It was fun to get the background information on Ezra, her parents and how she got her name. She keeps herself so busy with the bookstore and helping her father and his girlfriend. I enjoyed reading of how she lived on the bookstore boat. It’s interesting to see how one could live with so little of today’s modern conveniences to get by. This is an enjoyable romance island read to get lost in.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

the Book

Book: The Title Wave

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: April 25, 2023

All he wants to do is help people, but local women want to help themselves… to him!

When Henri Tupuola returned to Suamalie to open his holistic mental health clinic, he had no idea what he was getting into. After ten years in Australia getting his degree and practical experience under his mentor, the locals had all but forgotten the quiet “boy”  who had always made them feel like he could see right through them.

Not anymore! The ladies of Lafoina are eager to meet the island’s therapist and spend hours staring deeply into his eyes on their weekly dates… ahem, sessions.

Desperate for relief, he hightails it down to The Title Wave and begs Ezra to order him a couple dozen copies of his own book. Yes, author copies would be cheaper, but he needs these things fast. Maybe if he hands out his book like an old-time quack handed out pills, the ladies will get the hint and leave him alone.

But when he tells his troubles to Ezra (who’s the therapist now?), and she jokes at how much her father would love to have people flocking to his “sessions” so to speak, Henri gets an idea that could save his sanity… if only Ezra will agree.

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

It happens with every book—probably for every author. What “it” is… that’s always different. Sometimes it’s the moment you realize that your character has morphed into someone you didn’t intend for him to. Other times it might be that you discovered a huge plot hole in your mystery and there’s no way any of it would have happened (not that I’ve ever had to deal with that or anything). It could be that your characters don’t have chemistry (and that doesn’t have to be romance—friends should have it!). Let’s face it. Lots of things can derail a book.

And if you don’t lay some new track fast (think Gromit in A Grand Day Out laying tracks as fast as he can as the toy train hurtles him after the penguin), your story could end up as the biggest trainwreck this side of… wherever they have bad train wrecks.

Or in my case, sink the book boat.

So there was blithely typing my first chapter when I realized something was wrong with my premise for The Title Wave. See, I had a plan. This would be a fake-dating romance. A local therapist needs a fake girlfriend to get the women to quit hitting on him when he was supposed to be helping them with their problems. Reasonable right?

Yeah. There’s all kinds of problems with this… starting with the fact that I don’t actually enjoy FAST romances… and I wanted them together—like totally committed—by the end of the book. OOPS! Not only that, but come on. Fake boyfriend/girlfriend? Ezra is an MK. This girl isn’t going to want to live a deception like that. She’s got a sensitive conscience, thanks to close ties with the Holy Spirit Who indwells her. She’s not going to do that.

But I needed her to.

I have this group of ladies who read everything as I write it. Most have been with me for over ten years! So, when I realized my book was in serious trouble (as in drowning before it really got out to sea!), I went to them and told them what I wanted/needed to happen and why it wasn’t going to work.

Guess what? They came through for me (as they always do—love you, Escapeables!). After just a bit of tossing out ideas and lobbing them back and forth, things fell into place.

Yes, Henri will approach Ezra with the idea.

Yes, Ezra will have a fake boyfriend.

And yes, being the romance it is… they WILL be committed by the end and without irritating myself with a bunch of insta-love.

Somehow. Since I’m writing this before it all plays out, we’ll both have to see just how that all works out. Join me for a cruise through love-tossed waters?

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, May 24

Lots of Helpers, May 24

The Sacred Line, May 25

By the Book, May 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 27

Aryn The Libraryan, May 28

Texas Book-aholic, May 29

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 31

For Him and My Family, June 1

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 1

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 3

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, June 4 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 4

Simple Harvest Reads, June 5 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

She Lives to Read, June 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/26266/the-title-wave-celebration-tour-giveaway

Operation Return by Kari Trumbo

My Review

Operation Return, by Kari Trumbo, is the second book in the Wayside Ranch series. This story takes over where the previous one ended, so it is best to read these books in order. The author does a fantastic job of writing this book and giving background information, so this book is also a good stand alone story. This story is filled with action and suspense with touches of romance. I enjoyed how this story focused on multiple thing happening at the same time and how they all tied together in the end.

I especially enjoy how the men working at the ranch are encouraged to correct a mistake they made in their past. For Cole, it was reaching out to the girl, Erica, he left behind when he enlisted in the military. Erica is struggling to raise their son by herself. Her son is her priority and that has resulted in another job loss.

I also enjoy how the story brings back characters from the earlier books and the work they are doing. I look forward to reading he rest of the series.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, this is my honest review.

About the Book

Cole Bradley isn’t who he says he is.

As an intelligence officer, Cole faked his death then went undercover to find the spy in their group. When the dust settled, Cole discovered the government had mistakenly notified his next of kin of his death, though he was very much alive.

Through anger and resentment at having no identity other than the one they gave him, he comes home with a chip on his shoulder. He loves his country, but he has nothing.

Until Conner Kincade offers him a job at Wayside Ranch.

That job comes with one stipulation, he must face his one regret. That would be the woman he left behind. The woman who would now think he’s a ghost.

Erica Jameson can’t make ends meet. Her five-year-old son thinks the world of her and she’s let him down one too many times. When she gets the notice that her lease is expiring and they refuse to renew her and the camp where her son had a scholarship changed their minds, all on the same day, she’s pretty sure her life can’t get worse.

Until the man she thought was dead shows up on her doorstep.

He’s just as handsome as ever and offers her solutions to all her problems without even knowing they were there. But what about when the month ends and she has to face her life again?

Especially if she doesn’t tell him . . . that her son is his.

About the Author

Kari Trumbo is a two time bestselling author of Christian and sweet romance. For those who like romance, she writes under her name. For readers who like less romance, she writes women’s fiction under the name Teri Blake. 

She writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with historical detail and heart.

Kari is a stay-at-home mom to four vibrant children. When she isn’t writing, or editing, she pretends to keep up with them.

Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, three cats, a sometimes naughty bunny, and one hungry wood stove.

She’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment on a blog post or contact me; .

Where to Purchase

Double Indemnity by Robert Whitlow

My Review

Double Indemnity, by Robert Whitlow, is a stand alone Christian who done it story. This story grabbed my attention from the very beginning and held it to the very end. This is a story that kept me guessing who the killer was. The story is fast paced and full of mystery and suspense with a touch of romance. I enjoyed the descriptive writing with the views Connor saw on his hikes.

It was interesting to read of the legal aspects of the story and the fine line attorneys have to do their jobs. Liz was committed to putting her priorities to Elena, even when the client was overly demanding. Liz had to fine a way to keep Connor as a friend yet help him legally.

I especially enjoyed the characters of the members of Connor’s church. I enjoyed the importance of prayer in this story. It was nice to see the support he received from some, while others turned their backs on him and the church.

I enjoyed this book so much. I voluntarily received it from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

About the Book

Someone stands to gain millions of dollars from a hunter’s accidental death . . . unless that death wasn’t an accident.

Matt and Elena Thompson present the picture of perfection. But their enviable life isn’t all it seems. Their marriage is on the rocks, and financial disaster looms. Then Matt is killed in a hunting accident, and the questions and accusations begin to mount.

Attorney Liz Acosta, newly arrived in the mountains of north Georgia after graduating from law school, plans to get some job experience on her resume before returning home to seek a position with a big-time firm. Intellectual pastor Connor Grantham isn’t sure that shepherding a rural congregation is what he ultimately wants to do with his life. Drawn to philosophy, theology, and nature, he’s beginning to feel more at home in north Georgia—especially after he meets the brilliant and energetic Liz.

While Liz and Connor spend more time with each other and discover just how compatible two people from wildly different backgrounds can be, they’re also being drawn into the shadowy world of Matt and Elena Thompson. As the couple’s marriage counselor, Connor finds himself in the middle of their explosive arguments. As Elena’s attorney, Liz is caught in the tailspin created by Matt’s death.

Together, Connor and Liz attempt to solve the mystery of what really happened to Matt. If his death is ruled an accident, then the double indemnity clause in his life insurance would go into effect, essentially doubling the payout. But as Liz sorts through the legal paperwork of who stands to gain an immense sum of money from Matt’s death, Connor is accused of the unthinkable with much more at stake than millions of dollars.

• Contemporary Christian legal drama
• Perfect for fans of John Grisham
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

About the Author

Robert Whitlow is the bestselling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. He received his JD with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review.

Where to Purchase

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-indemnity-robert-whitlow/1142714164

https://www.christianbook.com/double-indemnity-softcover/9780785234739/pd/234739

Double Indemnity

Murmur in the Mudcaves by Kathleen Denly – Review & Giveaway

My Review

Murmurs in the Mudcaves is book four in the Chaparral Hearts series. Having not read the previous book in the series, I was able to enjoy this story as a stand alone story. This is a well written story that shows the strength and endurance women can have when it comes to their home and livelihood. It also shows the length one will go to connect with family they have not seen in a long time and how determined they may be to help them. The story also give a look into some of the lingering effects war has on the soldiers who participate in it.

This is an easy to read story with strong characters. When Biddie receives a letter from her older sister, her adoptive family agree to help her sister. Her best friend is there beside her as she travels and helps work her sister’s land. Gideon hires on to be a cook as he can no longer do physical jobs, but when he is needed he steps in to the point of making himself violently ill. I enjoyed the way he and Biddie become friends and how their relationship grows. I also enjoy how Biddie finds a way to put her baking to use in helping out financially.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

About the Book

Book: Murmur in the Mudcaves

Author: Kathleen Denly

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 16, 2023

He came to cook for ranch hands, not three single women.

Gideon Swift, a visually impaired Civil War Veteran, responds to an ad for a ranch cook in the Southern California desert mountains. He wants nothing more than to forget his past and stay in the kitchen where he can do no harm. But when he arrives to find his employer murdered, the ranch turned to ashes, and three young women struggling to survive in the unforgiving Borrego Desert, he must decide whether his presence protects them or places them in greater danger.

Bridget “Biddie” Davidson finally receives word from her older sister who disappeared with their brother and pa eighteen years prior, but the news is not good. Determined to help her family, Biddie sets out for a remote desert ranch with her adopted father and best friend. Nothing she finds there is as she expected, including the man who came to cook for the shambles of a ranch.

When tragedy strikes, the danger threatens not only her plans to help her sister, but her own dreams for the future—with the man who’s stolen her heart.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kathleen Denly lives in sunny Southern California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

More from Kathleen

The Making of a Hero

Picture in your mind the typical male rancher or cowboy. Can you see him? If we’re going for the full stereotype, you’re looking at a tall, handsome man who is, above all, strong. Particularly in the nineteenth century, it takes strength to build a house, install fencing, chop wood, haul water, heft hay bales, and most of all manage cattle. Not to mention the 101 other things it takes to start and keep a ranch running. 

Now consider the aftermath of the American Civil War. Many men never returned from the battlefields, and those who did often returned with injuries that would remain with them the rest of their lives. Some would suffer chronic pain until the day they died. 

In considering whose story I wanted to tell next, I wondered about that last group of men in the context of running a ranch. How could a seriously injured man, suffering chronic pain, keep his ranch going in an era where able-bodied men were more difficult to find? And what about those whose ranches were too new and small to support the cost of hiring help? 

This was the beginning of my inspiration for Gideon Swift–a Civil War Veteran still struggling daily with the consequences of having gone to war, ten years after his injuries sent him home. 

Raised to believe true men were strong and weak men were next-to useless, Gideon’s identity is shattered when an explosion leaves him with brain damage that causes recurring migraines with aura and the loss of periphery vision in one eye. For those unfamiliar, a migraine with aura is a severe headache preceded or accompanied by sensory disturbances called aura. Examples of such disturbances include flashes of light, blind spots, general blurry vision, and blurry or shimmery lines in vision. There can also be speech or language difficulty, muscle weakness, and/or numbness or tingling in one side of a person’s face, one hand, or one limb. Gideon experiences most of these at different times, but his most common sensory disturbance is a curled shimmery line that appears in his vision.

He is further humbled by a series of tragic losses partially triggered by his medical condition. These are the events that send him to California, determined never to work with cattle again, and never to marry.

I am often asked how much of myself I put into my characters. In Gideon’s case, I modeled his pain partially after my own. While I have no peripheral vision loss, nor brain damage, I do have recurring migraines. In my case, these are brought about by my menstrual cycle and only occasionally involve aura symptoms. Still, these severe headaches have lasted from a mere hour, up to nearly a week, and are frequently beyond anything my medications can alleviate. Too often, this pain leaves me unable to function. If I’m lucky I can sleep through it. If not, I lay awake in a darkened room for hours with pain preventing me from drifting into blissful unconsciousness. Nauseousness, foggy thinking, dizziness, and exhaustion are frequently parts of my experience. I have also experienced one-sided tingling numbness and the same curly, shimmering line that Gideon experiences. Yet, I know others who have far worse migraines. So, in describing Gideon’s episodes, I combined my own experiences with those of family and friends whom I have witnessed suffering. 

Through Murmur in the Mud Caves, we see how God works in Gideon’s life and heart to remind him of where his true value and strength come from. It is my hope that his journey will touch the hearts of readers and encourage them in whatever trials they may be facing. We are never alone. Whatever God brings us to, He will bring us through. He loves us and has a good purpose for everything we endure in this life, even when we cannot understand His reasons.

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, May 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 18

Books You Can Feel Good About, May 18

Texas Book-aholic, May 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 20

Melissa’s Bookshelf, May 21

Connie’s History Classroom, May 21

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 22

Betti Mace, May 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 23

Madi’s Musings, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 24

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 25

Kristina Hall, May 25

Vicky Sluiter, May 26

Blossoms and Blessings, May 26

Blogging With Carol, May 27

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 28 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 28

Cover Lover Book Review, May 29

Holly’s Book Corner, May 30

Karen Baney Reviews, May 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of 1 set of beautifully engraved, metal measuring spoons, 1 pouch of “Baking Day” potpourri, 1 Cat and Mouse kitchen timer, 1 vintage wooden sign with Christian encouragement message, 1 Cowboy Hat cookie cutter with recipe for Cowboy Sugar Cookies, 1 Kitchen towel that reads, “This Home is our Happily Ever After”, and 1 Kathleen Denly engraved pen!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/2606f/murmur-in-the-mudcaves-celebration-tour-giveaway

26 Below by Kimberly Woodhouse Blog & Review Tour & Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

My Review

26 Below by Kimberly Whitehouse is the first book in the Alaskan Cyber Hunters series. This is an awesome start to a new series. This tory is well written, easy to imagine, fast-paced and filled with action and suspense. This story had me “sitting on the edge of my seat” just to see what was going to happen, how fast and why.

I totally enjoyed this story. The characters are so real. I enjoyed the character of Darcie as she often struggles with what is going on and what is happening. Though she did hide away a little to often when a crisis was happening. I especially enjoyed the character of Jason. I appreciate how he depends on his men friends and his faith. I enjoyed how the team worked together, especially how on top of things and prepared Darcie’s assistant was. I liked how the beginning of each new chapter was almost like a countdown to disaster. This is a great Christian suspense thriller that is very easy to read. This is a story that will make the read sit back and wonder if they are prepared for something similar to happen.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

About the Book

Title: 26 Below
Series: Alaskan Cyber Hunters #1
Author: Kimberley Woodhouse
Publisher: ‎ Kregel Publications
Release Date: April 4, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

“A THRILL RIDE . . . AS CURRENT AS TODAY’S FRONT-PAGE NEWS!” –Colleen Coble, USA Today best-selling author

A curse.
A killer.
A chill in the air.

Temps are dropping and time is running out.

In her new role as Emergency Operations Center director for Fairbanks, Alaska, Darcie Phillips prevents disasters. But none of her training can prepare her for the terror that’s coming.

As a cybersecurity specialist, Jason Myers is determined to ferret out any threats to the town he now calls home–and that includes his reckless brother and his ecoterrorist friends.

When an old woman’s wild prediction–widespread destruction as soon as the Fairbanks temperature falls to 26 below–hits national headlines, neither Darcie nor Jason sees a real risk to anything but tourism. Then the bodies start dropping.

Darcie is relying on her experience and intelligence to stop a killer; Jason is relying on God to guide the way. But they’ll have to work together to find the truth and prevent their Alaskan town from becoming a city of nightmares.

“An action-packed page-turner that . . . blew me away. If you like stories of intrigue, action, romance, and biblical hope, this is the story for you.” –Tracie Peterson, ECPA and USA Today best-selling author

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

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About the Author

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling author of more than thirty books and novellas, including A Deep Divide, Bridge of Gold, and The Mayflower Bride, as well as the coauthor of the Heart of Alaska series with Tracie Peterson. Kimberley’s writing has earned a Carol Award, the Christian Market Novel of the Year, the Holt Medallion, and many others. A proud former resident of Alaska, she now makes her home in the Pennsylvania Poconos.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 15, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 22, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US Amazon accounts only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

Bullseye Bride by Kari Trumbo

My Review

Bullseye Bride by Kari Trumbo is book 5 in the Pink Pistol Sisterhood series. Having not read the rest of the series, I was easily able to read and enjoy this story. This is a well written, easy to read story that is easy to imagine. This is a fun story to read to see how the family struggled to get by and the dangers they faced from a family member. It also shows the strength and talent Kitty has to help the family put meat on the table and keep control of their home. The story shows the greed some people can have to the point of harming their own family.

I enjoyed how generous Thad was in helping those less fortunate than him. He not only gives them food or money, he listens to them and tries to find solutions to their problems, even if it makes others in the community look down on him. He puts his whole livelihood on the line to help others.

I enjoyed the story of the pink pistol. The history behind it and letter in the wooden box are magical. It was also fun to have Hannah and Blake from Belle Fourche in the story.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

About the Book

When Kitty’s father disappears, she and her family must find a way to pay for their house.
Another payment missed and they lose everything. Kitty has one shot to save them, the winning prize would earn her freedom from a dastardly uncle, if only she had the chance to make it.

Thad is setting up the Deadwood annual shooting tournament and thinks he’s solved Kitty’s problem by setting up a women’s division. There’s no prize, but she can compete. With her continued pressure, he realizes there’s more to the story, but his hands are tied. If he allows a woman to compete against the men, all the donors could pull out and he would be a laughingstock.

Especially if she wins.
And, he’s not so sure she wouldn’t.

Can their new friendship bud into more if Kitty hides who she is to save her family or will they both lose everything if she’s found out?

About the Author

Where western meets happily ever after.

Kari Trumbo is an international bestselling author of historical and contemporary Christian romance and romantic suspense. She loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota—where the trees and lakes are plentiful—with her husband of over twenty years, two daughters, two sons, a few cats, and a bunny who’s the star of one of her books.

Want a free book? Just visit herat: https://KariTrumbo.com

Where to Purchase

Coming Home to Mercy by Michelle De Bruin – Review & Giveaway

My Review

Coming Home to Mercy is the first book in the Coming Home series by Michelle De Bruin. This is a Christian historical fiction set in 1913. It is well written with good strong characters who care deeply for each other. Margaret is a person who has endured so much. I enjoyed the character of Margaret so much. She his so realistic and strong. After losing her husband, she moves into her wealthy brother’s home. When her daughter gives birth, she goes to help. Without domestic help, she is cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and planting gardens. She also struggles with deciding how long to help her daughter, when to go back to her brother’s and other daughter.

This is a fun story of second chances and taking chances. When Margaret arrives at her daughter’s home, the doctor, Matthew, is there for a visit. The two met at her daughter’s wedding and have thought of each other since. He seeks to fulfill his dream of owning a plane. This story gives a look into the changes in transportation, how people perceived the changes, and how the changes help in people’s lives.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

About the Book

Book: Coming Home to Mercy

Author: Michelle De Bruin

Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

Release date: August 14, 2021

A society woman leaves her comfortable lifestyle so that she can help her daughter adjust to the arrival of twin sons in a small town where the courageous doctor teaches her about taking risks.

Wealthy and sociable Margaret Millerson has always thought of her brother’s Chicago mansion as her home. But when she receives the telephone call that her daughter has given birth to twins three weeks ahead of the expected due date, Margaret must leave her comfortable home, her family, and her friends to travel out of state. While she is helping her daughter care for the infants, Margaret becomes reacquainted with the town’s doctor, Matthew Kaldenberg.

Dr. Matthew Kaldenberg stays busy caring for the health of the citizens of his small town. His profession offers him daily practice in defeating death, his greatest enemy. During the twenty years since losing his own wife and baby in childbirth, Matthew has saved his money for the purchase of a flying machine. But when Matthew takes Margaret for flights on his biplane, he learns that his dreams of rising above the griefs and losses of his past come with a cost. He doesn’t want to lose the trust of the people he cares about most, or the chance at a relationship with Margaret.

Both Matthew and Margaret must make difficult decisions to hold on to the love they have discovered. Will Matthew’s heart recover from sorrow? Will Margaret find her true home?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Michelle De Bruin lives in Iowa with her husband and two young adult sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in Religion with a Christian Ministry emphasis, and in Music. Michelle serves as a Chaplain for Pella Regional Health Center. She writes inspirational historical romance about people who live in rural communities. Characters that bring to life the delights of farm and small-town living, whispers of Dutch heritage, and Christian faith make Michelle’s stories distinct. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always on the lookout for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story.

More from Michelle

Coming Home to Mercy is the first in a trilogy of books set in a small Iowa town during the years 1913 through 1918. This is the second series of books I have written. The Tomorrow series is the first set, and if you’ve already read it, you will recognize characters that appeared in Hope for Tomorrow, Promise for Tomorrow, and Dreaming of Tomorrow.

This book is a graceful story of two people who thought faithful, committed love could only come into their lives once. But they both discover that they get another chance to experience it again.

I wrote Coming Home to Mercy to show what healthy marriages and healthy families are like. I trust this story gives us a glimpse of how true love works, what faithfulness means, and what compassion can do; not only in one person’s life, but in the daily workings of an entire community.

The hero in this story has a sad, broken heart at the beginning. As the story unfolds, he heals and gains a deeper understanding of God’s work in his life. Dr. Matthew Kaldenberg finds love and peace as his belief grows that God truly does work all things together for good.

Thank you for joining me on this tour. I hope you enjoy the blog posts and enter the drawing for the giveaway. Follow me on social media and subscribe to my newsletter at https://michelledebruin.com/.

Grace and peace,

Michelle De Bruin

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, May 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 8

Texas Book-aholic, May 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 10

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 11

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 12 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, May 12

Connie’s History Classroom, May 13

Cover Lover Book Review, May 14

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 15 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 16

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 17 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 17

Blogging With Carol, May 18

Sylvan Musings, May 19 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card & copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/25ca6/coming-home-to-mercy-celebration-tour-giveaway