Monday, November 14, 2022

A Fallen Sparrow by Lynne Basham Tagawa - Celebrate Lit Blog Tour



About the Book

 


Book: A Fallen Sparrow

Author: Lynne Basham Tagawa

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: August 13, 2022

Ruth Haynes uses the pen name Honorius when she writes for her father’s newspaper. Boston has changed beyond recognition, and her Loyalist views soon get her in trouble. With war looming, what will their family do?

Jonathan Russell hides a guilty secret. The Battle of Bunker’s Hill sweeps him and his Shenandoah Valley family into the war. The unthinkable happens, and he’s forced to deal with both his grief—and his guilt.

Lieutenant Robert Shirley is summoned by his godmother and introduced to the Earl of Dartmouth, who charges him to gather intelligence in Boston. He is horrified but must obey.

Gritty, realistic, and rich with scriptural truth, this story features Dr. Joseph Warren, Major John André, Henry Knox, and Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author



Lynne Tagawa is an educator and author with four sons and five grandchildren. She is the author of a narrative Texas History curriculum, Sam Houston’s Republic, and enjoys writing historical fiction. She lives with her husband in South Texas.

 

More from Lynne

When writing my books, I study all sorts of things: soapmaking, rifles and muskets, and horses. What breeds come to mind when you think of horses?

Here in Texas today, quarter horses are quite common, although you will find a plethora of other types: Arabians, Tennessee Walking horses, Morgans, even Friesens! Interestingly, in the 18th century, the quarter horse did not exist. Thoroughbreds (“hunters”) were fairly common as well as carriage / early draft horses: Cleveland Bays and Canadians. Narragansett pacers were popular as riding horses; George Washington was partial to pacers, and their descendants include the Tennessee Walker. Ponies and mules thrived in the backcountry.

Exotic breeds were imported as well. I included a Friesen stallion in A Fallen Sparrow because—well, because I could. Friesens were part of the ancestry of one of the very first American breeds: the Morgan.

In my stories, the horses all have names and personalities. I hope you enjoy these characters as well as my human ones!

Blog Stops

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Lynne is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card, a signed copy of the book, and handcrafted soap based on the soap a character makes!!

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/22674/a-fallen-sparrow-celebration-tour-giveaway

Link to purchase book: https://amzn.to/3M5tXLM


What I thought:

This takes place in 1770 at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The people living in Boston, Virginia and the rest of the country originally had come from England and had been loyal to their king. Then things changed. When they rebelled against unfair laws, the Brits attacked them and their homes. Very real characters with time taken to develop them in the story. You can really feel how they felt, their struggles with their changed world. Ruth had stayed loyal to the King but as they fled his men, she was looking at sewing a flag for the patriots, embedded as her family was in the movement. A couple of romances here too, crossing the patriotic line for a time, adding to the tension/trust relationships. Excellent read! Part of a series but reads fine as a stand-alone.

I received this book free from Celebrate Lit and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#CelebrateLit #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #LynneBashamTagawa #HistoricalFiction @celebrate_lit

My reviews:

Monday, November 7, 2022

A Bride For Harley by Heidi Gray McGill

 




Always be yourself.

1867-68. Christian Historical Romance standalone novella with depth. Loretta is 17 and chafes against her sister managing their lives since they became orphans. She also doesn't know that their finances have run out. Her sister contracted a marriage by proxy and wed a man in Montana, a friend of their father's. Leaving everything they had, unwillingly, she begrudges every step as they travel. Then reality steps in. Very well told, you can deeply feel every thought she has. Harley and his family are not what she expected, and she learns more about her sister than she expected. Great story, right to the end. Beautiful Christian messages, lessons. Heartbreaking, heart wrenching as Loretta's becoming herself unfolds, delight in how she grows and who she is.

I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#HeidiGrayMcGill #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalRomance #ABrideForHarley

My reviews

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

The Hat Girl's Heartbreak by Lindsey Hutchinson

 



England 1906 It's so nice to read a story where a group of girls come together and completely support one another. The warmth jumps right off the page. Ella had a hard time of it but is trying to move on. She designs hats and has a partner in their own millenary shop. Lovely story as she goes on, with other girls coming into her life, the success that grows in the shop. She still ends up in danger but has quite a team to help her out. Excellent read right to the end. The kind of people you want to know and feel right at home with.
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#TheHatGirlsHeartbreak #NetGalley 
@raresources @LindseyHutchinson @BoldwoodBooks @BookAndTonic
#raresources #LindseyHutchinson #BoldwoodBooks #BookAndTonic #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

From the publisher
Will it be tears or triumph for the Hat Girl from Silver Street?
It’s been five years since Ella Bancroft lost the love of her life, Harper Fortescue, and despite her friends’ encouragement, she’s still not been able to move on. The one thing keeping Ella smiling is the success of her hat shop, Ivella. Her beautiful designs and fabulous creations are the first choice for the fashionable Edwardian ladies of Walsall, and her fame is spreading far and wide. Darcie Newland won’t ever forgive Ella for stealing her fiancĂ© and ruining her life, even though
Harper was never really hers in his heart. After being exiled by her parents to Scotland after yet another scandal, Darcie is now back in Birmingham and set on revenge.
As her hat shop flourishes, and the possibility of a new love appears when she least expects it, Ella finally dares to hope for a happy future. But storm clouds are gathering over the Black Country, and life might have other plans for the hat girl from Silver Street. The Queen of the Black Country sagas is back with this page-turning story of friendship and fun, love and second chances. Perfect for fans of Val Wood and Lyn Andrews.
Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3RvKmLJ

Author Bio –
Lindsey Hutchinson is a bestselling saga author whose novels include The Workhouse Children.
She was born and raised in Wednesbury, and was always destined to follow in the footsteps of her mother, the multi-million selling Meg Hutchinson.

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Tuesday, October 25, 2022

It's Christmas Again - upcoming movie

 


Just a short trailer, but it looks like it will be pretty good. So far everything we've watched from Momentum has been excellent. So nice to have something GOOD and family friendly to watch.  Looking forward to watching the movie!

Jake Young (Lawson Touliatos) wants nothing more than to spend his Christmas vacation with his girlfriend, Abbey Walker (Leela Owen). So when Abbey volunteers for her church’s Christmas play, Jake is ready to skip Christmas this year until an unexpected turn of events lands him in a field outside Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. While on his journey with the shepherds to find the promised Messiah, Jake discovers the true meaning of Christmas. Coming this Christmas season, IT’S CHRISTMAS AGAIN is a modern-day musical the whole family will love! 

Watch trailer here: https://itschristmasagainmovie.com/?mc_cid=f02b179476&mc_eid=8178308bbe

#ItsChristmasAgainMIN #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #Momentum



Thursday, October 20, 2022

The Brilliance of Stars by J'nell Ciesielski

 




Wow what a page turner. Tense, action packed, breath holding story with a deep, sweet love story. Action rivaling a Bond or Mission Impossible movie. 

Ivy and Phillip are young orphans who were turned out on the street. In 1917 as they are trying to sell papers in a new neighborhood to survive, they stumble into a spy meeting. They're taken into a secret organization where they meet Jack. The three form a tight bond as they train. Their mission takes them to Russia, Germany, Romania to take out a madman selling weapons of mass destruction. Their disguises and accommodations vary from opulent to peasant and they excel. Their education involves book learning and tactical defense, espionage and assassin.  Each has their own skill they bring to the group and mission. This is really hard to put down. Many of their situations on their missions are impossible, but the team comes through, outsmarting the bad guys. They're up against really, really evil people who don't die easy. Amazing read. 

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#TheBrillianceofStars #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #HistoricalFiction @JnellCiesielski

My reviews

Saturday, October 15, 2022

Star of Wonder by K. Lyn Smith


 

Victorian Christmas romance 1840 England. Andrew has been a soldier in India trying to prove himself worthy to marry Aster. They promised to wait for each other, but he's been away too long. We're never quite good enough in our own eyes, are we? To her it seems he must not care anymore though. When he learns she's to be married he gets back home quickly. His perfect timing turns interesting. Very well told, sweet and deep characters you can't help falling for. Excellent read. Works as a stand-alone, but part of the Something Wonderful series. Don't you just LOVE that cover?

I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#KLynSmith #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #SweetRomance #VictorianRomance


My reviews
Goodreads


Tuesday, October 4, 2022

The Invincible Miss Cust by Penny Haw

 



1874 to 1922 Ireland and England. The true story of a very strong lady who pursued her passion for animals and became a veterinary surgeon. She had to fight men and her own family to do so. I understand her position as I was also brought up around boys and could never understand why things were different for me than for them. I could do everything they could, sometimes better, they got to have all the fun. 
Aleen was from an Aristocratic family during a time when women's lives were so much more restricted and rigid, making her situation harder to want to care for animals, especially horses and dogs. She lived an interesting life, was very lonely and treated unfairly. Through it all she still loved her family and tried to reach out to them over all the years and keep in touch, after they disowned her. She had a guardian and his family to support and guide her, through college and eventually back to Ireland. It's a good long read that I had a hard time putting down and thought about often throughout my day. Inspirational. Excellent writing brought her to life.
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout @bookmarked @sbkslandmark #TheInvincibleMissCust #PennyHaw

My reviews