Tuesday, August 8, 2023

The Wessex Turncoat by Michael E Wills

 

A personification of history. Aaron is a young man, a good kid, who when he travels alone to a nearby city is treated to a very rough deal, changing his life. He is basically shanghaied into the British army and put on a boat to fight in Canada and America during the revolutionary war. Very detailed historical tale yet told from Aaron's personal view, making it easy to understand and envision. Men and women readers alike have to love this kid. You easily become attached and want only the best for him, although he has a rough life and it's rarely easy for him. From a British perspective, but fair to both sides. Interesting ending makes you want to know more. Good long read. 99.9% clean read. 

I received this book free from the author, 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 #TheWessexTurncoat #MichaelEWills #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #BooksGoSocial #HistoricalFiction #FiveStarHistorical

My reviews

Anne by Rena Groot: Prairie Roses Collection Book 27



Set in 1881, a treasure of a story. Simply, deeply, faithfully told. Anne is a new mail order bride on a wagon train when her husband is killed. Her travels and trials from there are full of deep pain and great joys, supported by scripture. Beautiful descriptions of the scenery as they travel. Several historical lessons of the areas they went through. Rena is a great storyteller!

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

#Anne #RenaGroot #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #FiveStarNovel #CelebrateLit



About the Book

Book: Anne

Author: Rena Groot

Genre: Historical Romantic Fiction

Release Date: 2023

It is 1881. Anne is 19, a widow travelling on the Oregon Trail. She has no option, but to travel with her husband’s murderer.  As she struggles to survive on the unforgiving trail, Anne must confront her own doubts and fears. Will she succumb to the darkness in her heart and seek vengeance at any cost? Or will she find the strength to forgive, and discover a path to redemption and healing? With each step she takes, Anne must face the harsh realities of life on the frontier and the deep mysteries of faith, trust, and grace. She dreams of revenge…but God has other plans.​​​​​​​ 

Click here to get your copy! 

About the Author


I am an artist, writer, online course creator (Broken to Beautiful…rena-groot.mykajabi.com), B & B host, have a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Religious Education, have been a teacher in Canada and China, a tour manager from the Rockies to the Pacific, and God has given me the honor of being an ambassador with “The Department of Eternal Affairs” to so many cool places—He must have laughed knowing His plans for me…that one day I would be praying with a voodoo queen in Haiti, another day leading a dying woman to Jesus in a hut in Belize, another day sharing the love of Jesus as an earthquake shook the Earth under my feet. God is beyond amazing. I started a blog to bless, encourage, and sometimes challenge people. Here’s the link. renagroot.com. 

More from Rena

Blog Stops

By The Book, August 1 (Author Interview)
Madi’s Musings, August 1
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 2
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 3 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 4
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 5 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 5
Texas Book-aholic, August 6
Sylvan Musings, August 7 (Author Interview)
Books You Can Feel Good About, August 8
The Book Club Network, August 9
Connie’s History Classroom, August 10
Bliss, Books & Jewels, August 11 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, August 12
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 13
Lily’s Book Reviews, August 14

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Rena is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed 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/26f4b/anne-celebration-tour-giveaway


My reviews

Thursday, August 3, 2023

A Fond Farewell for the Tobacco Girls by Lizzie Lane

 



Wow the war is finally over and so much has changed in their lives, but the three M's are still tight friends. What a great journey! complicated for each of them, such depth. Gives you a good overview of what life must have been like during the war, from different perspectives. Stretches your heartstrings with sorrow, joy, wondering, unknown, starting new. Excellent long read. 
I received this book free from the authors, 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 #AFondFarewellfortheTobaccoGirls #LizzieLane #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #BoldwoodBooks #HistoricalFiction

My reviews

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

To Free the Stars by J'nell Ciesielski

 



1927. This is one where really, it's best to have read the previous book to understand the full depth of Jack and Ivy's relationship. Very deep, complex. Perfectly matched. Orphans, brought together at a young age. Secret agents for our country, trained in weaponry, self defense, hand to hand combat, stealth. Each assassins when necessary. They spent 10 years apart in agony because of an organization called the Order - dark, nefarious. Action filled story, so well written you can feel their heartbeats.  Would make quite the movie as they help save the world as well as themselves. Hard to put down! Intense love story of healing and redemption. 

I received this book free from the authors, 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 #ToFreeTheStars #jnellciesielski #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ThomasNelson #HistoricalFiction @jnellciesielski @tnzfiction #upcomingrelease #winteriscoming

My reviews

A Summer At Thousand Island House



Sweet summer romance - a quick read. Addie is hired at a resort hotel in the Thousand Islands. Since she had previously been a teacher, she brought those skills to what was kind of a nanny position. Liam is her boss but becomes captivated by her in her new adventures there. Faith filled. Includes interesting lessons about various history in the area. 

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

#ASummerAtThousandIslandHouse #SusanGMathis #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #FiveStarNovel #CelebrateLit #ChristianHistoricalRomance


About the Book



Book: A Summer at Thousand Island House

Author: Susan G. Mathis

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 25, 2023

She came to work with the children, not fall in love.

Part-nanny, part entertainer, Addison Bell has always had an enduring love for children. So what better way to use her creative energy than to spend the summer nannying at the renowned Thousand Island House on Staple’s Island? As Addi thrives in her work, she attracts the attention of the recreation pavilion’s manager, Liam Donovan, as well as the handsome Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector, hotel patron, and single father of mischievous little Jimmy.

But when Jimmy goes missing, Addi finds both her job and her reputation in danger. How can she calm the churning waters of Liam, Lt. Worthington, and the President, clear her name, and avoid becoming the scorn of the Thousand Islands community? 

Click here to get your copy! 

About the Author

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than twenty-five times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has eleven in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Peyton’s Promise, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment and A Summer at Thousand Island House. Her book awards include three Illumination Book Awards, four American Fiction Awards, two Indie Excellence Book Awards, and four Literary Titan Book Awards. Reagan’s Reward is a Selah Awards finalist. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more. 

More from Susan

Behind the scenes at A Summer at Thousand Island House

I’ve been writing about the Gilded Age for several years now. A Summer at Thousand Island House is my eleventh published story, and I had so much fun creating it. The American Gilded Age was a time of rapid technical advances, industrialization, and thousands of new inventions from about 1870-1910. Mark Twain coined the term in his 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today that satirized the era of social problems that were masked by a layer of thin, gold gilding.

It’s a fascinating time in history, especially in the Thousand Islands. I grew up just twenty minutes from the Thousand Islands in upstate New York. Actually, half of the 1,864 islands are in NY and the other half in Ontario, Canada. All of my books are set during the Thousand Islands Gilded Age, when the wealthy came and scooped up the islands and built lavish summer homes, mansions, and castles. 

It was an era of economic growth and wages were higher than Europe, so massive immigration drew about twenty million to the U.S. shores. Unfortunately, it was also a time of unequal distribution of wealth where the rich got richer and the poor working class suffered. 

Many young women worked as servants until they married, and that’s what my stories are about—those nameless, faithful women who cooked and cleaned and served tables for the rich and famous. These “downstairs” women had fascinating stories to tell, and I plan to tell many of them. 

All my novels are based on a specific place in the Thousand Islands and are the true stories of the owners of that island. So, my plot is generally true. There really was an entertainment pavilion on Staple’s Island where the patrons of Thousand Island House enjoyed all kinds of amenities, including a daycare. And US Presidents, including President Grant and President Chester Arthur (whom you meet), vacationed at Thousand Island House. 

Then I overlay the storyline of the fictional servants to create the story. This makes my stories a bit more challenging, but I love a good challenge. Addison Bell cares for children. Liam Donovan manages the pavilion and Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector and single father, comes and goes. 

And all of my Thousand Islands’ stories have hope as the central theme. Hope for a better future. Hope for love. Hope for healing. A Summer at Thousand Island House also focuses on healing broken hearts and embracing God’s redemption. 

Mathis’s attention to detail and rich history is classic Mathis, and no one does it better.—Margaret Brownley, N.Y. Times bestselling author

Blog Stops

Giveaway


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

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/26b9c/a-summer-at-thousand-island-house-celebration-tour-giveaway


My reviews

Thursday, July 13, 2023

ROUTE 60 trailer




This looks like it is very interesting and full of good information. From what the trailer shows, it's beautifully filmed and appointed. We're looking forward to seeing this new film.

A documentary about Israel's most famous route, hosted by Secretary Mike Pompeo and Ambassador David Friedman. The film is being released in theaters on 9/18-19/23 only. 

Synopsis: 
Carving through the heart of the Promised Land is the biblical spine of Israel, sometimes referred to as the Path of the Patriarchs and officially designated as Route 60. A highway of deep historical significance while often the scene of unrest and violence, this 146-mile road of asphalt and concrete begins in Nazareth, Israel’s largest Arab city, and ends in Beersheba, one of Israel’s high-tech centers. Running north to south, Route 60 connects ancient Israel with modern Israel, Jews and Christians with Muslims, and Israelis with Palestinians.

Trailer: LINK

Website: LINK

#Route60MIN #MomentumInfluencers #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #importantFilm #fathomEvents

Monday, July 10, 2023

Across the Shores by Angela K Couch; Kelly J. Goshorn; Carolyn Miller; Cara Putman

 Four Women, Bound by Generations, Find Love Where They Least Expect



1851 to 1942 four stories that each feel like it's own get lost in book, yet with an overlap of generational relatives. Different places, different circumstances, with a necklace that has a bible scripture engraved that is the same through time, shining a light to their unique situations. Excellent investment! 

I received this book free from the authors, 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 #AcrossTheShores #AngelaKCouch #KellyJGoshorn #CarolynMiller #CaraPutman #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #BarbourPublishing #ChristianHistoricalFiction

My reviews