Saturday, August 27, 2022

The Sugar Baron's Governess

She needs a new start…He knows a reckoning is coming.

Banished from Charleston for his misdeeds years earlier, Joshua Becket built a new life on both sides of the law in Jamaica. As sugar plantation owner and member of the governing British Assembly, he’s known and respected on the island. But he guards a secret identity. As swashbuckling Captain Jay, he leads daredevil privateering exploits on his ship, the Eagle, when the mood suits him. Currently, he needs a governess for his young daughter whose mother has passed.

Widowed gentlewoman Abigail Welch accepted the governess position, leaving behind her disintegrated life in Charleston. This new start in Jamaica might finally help her find healing for her broken heart after losing her husband in the Revolution and their infant son to yellow fever.

Joshua’s precocious, undisciplined daughter is the drawing card that brings him and Abigail together like clashing cymbals of disagreement…and fiery attraction. Can love and the miracle power of God give them a new beginning and a happily ever after?

My thoughts: While I have read a little bit about what life was like in the Caribbean islands during the Colonial period, I still feel like I am unfamiliar with what life was like back then. So, I enjoyed picking up this story and reading about Abigail and Joshua! Right from the get go, Abigail is put in a difficult situation, when the ship transporting her to the island is attacked by pirates. This story covers a variety of different aspects about life back then, including some of the uncomfortable ones, like slavery. I appreciated Abigail and her spunk! This is a fun story to read. I look forward to reading more by the author!

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.

Click here to get your copy! This post contains affiliate links.

About the Author

Elva Cobb Martin is a wife, mother, and grandmother who lives in South Carolina with her husband and a mini-dachshund. A life-long student of history, her favorite city, Charleston, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. Her love of writing grew out of a desire to share exciting stories of courageous characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and encouragement. Connect with her on her web site at https://www.elvamartin.com/ .

More from Elva

I had an amazing thing happen when first beginning The Sugar Baron’s Governess. My precious husband had booked a week for us in a comfortable condo at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to help me concentrate on my plotstorming—without the “do me” call of our vacuum, washing machine, or phone calls when at home. Of course, he likes to fish from a pier while I’m writing.

The first morning I sat at the kitchen table overlooking the Atlantic, with my laptop, researching Jamaica and especially the historic Maroon settlement of warriors and escaped slaves in the mountains that could play a part in my story. I was also praying for the Lord to help get a good start on this fourth novel in my series. Should I even be including the fierce Maroons in my plot?

A knock came at the door. I had requested no room service, so I was surprised to be interrupted. When I answered it, a black male employee asked if we needed any cleaning done or fresh linens. I almost gave him a short answer, wanting to get back to my laptop, but my ear discerned a British accent. –Here’s our amazing conversation:

“Where are you from?”

“Jamaica.”

I opened the door wide and invited him in. “That’s most interesting. I’m writing a novel set in Jamaica.”

His eyes widened. “You are?”

“Yes, in fact,” I gestured to my laptop, “I’m right now researching a group of warriors in historic Jamaica, called the Maroons. Know anything about them?”

His mouth fell open. “I’m a descendant of the Maroons.”

I got a tingling chill up my arm. How likely was this kind of thing to happen? He further told me he never worked the 15th floor but for whatever reason, had been assigned our floor that day. He told me was a Christian, and he shared several things with me about the Maroons and how they finally won their independence and rights the British government of Jamaica had long withheld. At times, because of their desperate existence, they did hurtle down from their mountain strongholds and burn sugar plantations, as history records.

I decided I had a definite confirmation to include the Maroon warriors in my Jamaican story. They are instrumental in convincing my hero Joshua Becket to turn back to God when his life and plantation are sorely threatened. Whoops, there I go giving away some of the story! Hope you enjoy Joshua and Abigail’s exciting, romantic adventure in Jamaica. Can they survive and make it back to Charleston and a happily ever after?

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 23

Texas Book-aholic, August 24

For Him and My Family, August 25

deb’s Book Review, August 26

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 27

Inklings and notions, August 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 30

Connie’s History Classroom, August 31

Holly’s Book Corner, August 31

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 1

Betti Mace, September 2

Pause for Tales, September 3

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, September 4

Beauty in the Binding, September 5 (Author Interview)

Of Blades and Thorns, September 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Elva is giving away the grand prize 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/20e11/the-sugar-baron-s-governess-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, August 26, 2022

A Sojourner's Solace

Is an old love letter the key to her past… and her future?

When Kate Mallory’s mother is killed in a tragic car accident, she’s left with nothing but dead-end jobs, an on-again, off-again boyfriend, and a craving for something… more.

Despondent, she clears out her mom’s apartment and discovers an old love letter from a William Wheaton of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Could this be the father her mom refused to discuss? With nothing left to lose, she decides to find out.

Noah Wheaton honed the gift of discernment the hard way—through a twenty-year military career and an unfaithful ex-fiancé. So, when gutsy Kate Mallory shows up at the family restaurant and applies for a waitressing job, his internal lie-detector flies off the charts. Why would a native New Yorker seek out a job in small-town Tennessee? Whatever she’s up to, messing with his family is not an option.

Kate could never have imagined that a spontaneous journey to search out an absentee dad was not spontaneous after all. A force bigger than both Kate and Noah is at work, and they may get more than they bargained for.

My thoughts: I have enjoyed many of Jennifer Sienes' other stories, so I was excited to pick up this one! I enjoyed the story of Kate, and her quest to figure out who her father is. I can only imagine what it would be like to not know who one of your parents is as you are growing up! So, when she finds a photo that points her to a small town in Tennessee, she takes the leap and moves there. I enjoyed the characters in this story, as well as the way the story unfolds. This is an excellent book to pick up and enjoy!

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.

Click here to get your copy! This post contains affiliate links.

About the Author

Jennifer-Siennes Jennifer Sienes holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in education, but discovered life-experience is the best teacher. She loves Jesus, romance and writing—and puts it altogether in inspirational contemporary fiction. Her daughter’s TBI and brother’s suicide inspired two of her three novels. Although fiction writing is her real love, she’s had several non-fiction pieces published in anthologies including several in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has two grown children and one very spoiled Maltese. California born and raised, she recently took a step of faith with her real-life hero and relocated to Tennessee.

More from Jennifer

I grew up with three sisters and a brother, and although life could be chaotic and a little crowded, I can’t imagine any other childhood. We spent summers camping with my grandparents and great uncles, and holidays with lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles. Being part of a large family was central to my life. I thought about this as I created the Wheaton family for my Bedford County summer novella. Four siblings—two sons and two daughters—who often rub each other the wrong way, but at the same time, would lay down their lives for one another.

Noah is the oldest sibling in the Wheaton clan—retired military who’s been badly burned by a woman in the past. Trust doesn’t come easy, and he’s as loyal to his family as they come. Born and raised in the small Middle Tennessee town of Bell Buckle, he’s not a fan of the big city—or of people from the big city. His family owns and operates a restaurant in a nearby town where everybody knows everybody. He’s suspicious of outsiders, especially those of the female persuasion.

And that’s where our heroine, Kate Mallory, comes in. A native New Yorker, raised by a single mother, she never knew who her father was. She arrives in Bell Buckle on a quest to find what she’s missed all her life—family. What she discovers is far more than she bargained for, and her mother’s words come back to haunt her—“Be careful what you wish for.”

You may wonder why I chose New York City for Kate’s upbringing. My son lived in Tokyo for five years—a city of almost 14 million people. He told me on several occasions that living there, he never felt more alone or isolated. I wanted Kate in A Sojourner’s Solace to experience the same thing. Plopped into Middle Tennessee, she discovers a world as foreign to her as Tokyo was to my son—just in the opposite way.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 24

Christina’s Corner, August 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 25

Texas Book-aholic, August 26

Books, Books, and More Books., August 26

Inklings and notions, August 27

For Him and My Family, August 28

Genesis 5020, August 29

Book Looks by Lisa, August 29

deb’s Book Review, August 30

lakesidelivingsite, August 31

Sylvan Musings, August 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 1

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 2

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 3

Back Porch Reads, September 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 4

Splashes of Joy, September 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card & 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/210c7/a-sojourner-s-solace-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Hidden Danger

The greatest threat to this K-9 team is the one they don’t see coming.

Cora Isaksson’s guilt has shadowed her life ever since drugs ensnared her brother and he disappeared. When Bradley suddenly returns, Cora and her narcotics detection K-9 are thrust into a battle against the drug cartel that wants him back.

DEA Special Agent Kent Thomson has his own personal reasons for bringing justice to the cartel. Cora and her drug-sniffing K-9 will only get in his way. Or are they assets that will enable him to right the wrongs of the past?

When the cartel targets Cora, she and Kent join forces with her teammates at the Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency to end the cartel before it ends her. They’re prepared for danger, but when more lives than their own hang in the balance, can they trust God for the rescue that’s out of their reach?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this high suspense, action packed story about Cora and her K-9 dog. The characters are relatable, and I enjoy the added element of having a K-9 be part of solving the mystery, since I find it interesting to read about how well trained the dogs are and their many talents. This is a delightful read, hard to put down with its unexpected twists and turns. I highly recommend picking this one up!

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.

Click here to get your copy! This post contains affiliate links.

About the Author

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner, but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes romantic suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies. Find more of Jerusha’s thrilling, fear-fighting stories at JerushaAgen.com.

More from Jerusha

Hi, readers! Have you ever noticed how dog owners and their canines can seem to look alike? This tendency was illustrated hilariously in 101 Dalmations, the original animated movie. I had fun creating a similar match in my romantic suspense novel, Hidden Danger.

Hidden Danger features Cora Isaksson and her narcotics detection K-9 Jana who partner with a handsome DEA agent to take on a drug cartel targeting the Twin Cities and her brother’s life.

As the securities technologies specialist at the Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency, Cora is known by her teammates as the sweetest of them all. Her Christian witness comes through loud and clear as she lives it out daily. But she also has an uncanny ability to understand others and show empathy—a gift that enables her to persuade and influence even hardened criminals, at times.

Cora’s perfect match is Jana. A beautiful golden retriever, Jana matches her blonde human partner’s angelic appearance and personality. Whether searching for narcotics or meeting new people, Jana exhibits an obvious joy and gentle spirit. The sweet golden retriever also seems to share Cora’s intuition and can sense the emotional needs of people. Jana doesn’t hesitate to offer a soft head to stroke or just her calming, gentle presence whenever someone needs comfort.

While Cora came to my imagination for Hidden Danger mostly from scratch, Jana was inspired by a real-life model. Before I was born, my parents got their first dog as a newly-married couple—a golden retriever puppy they named Jana.

From day one, Jana was the most perfect dog imaginable. She instantly housetrained herself and was, according to my parents’ stories, a perfectly obedient and trainable pup. The only thing she ever did that was less than desirable was chew a hole in a wall. But considering that was prompted by fear when lightning struck a radio in the room where Jana was alone, one could hardly blame her for wanting to escape.

When my parents started having children, Jana remained the ideal dog. Gentle and sweet with everyone, including a passel of babies and toddlers, Jana was a calm and comforting presence in the lives of those who knew her.

I can’t recall any memories of Jana myself, as I was very young when she passed away. But I love looking at a photo my parents have, of Jana next to me when I was a baby in a cradle. Though I don’t remember her, she left a legacy that has deeply impacted my life.

Because of how wonderful she was, my parents continued to have golden retrievers, giving me the blessing of growing up with one of the best breeds in the world. These goldens showed me how special dogs are and the incredible gift it is to love and be loved by a dog. I thank God for bringing Jana into our lives because of the legacy she left. And I’m grateful for the chance to honor her in Hidden Danger.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 20

Hallie Reads, August 20

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 21

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 22

Betti Mace, August 22

lakesidelivingsite, August 23

deb’s Book Review, August 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 25

Inklings and notions, August 26

For Him and My Family, August 27

Blogging With Carol, August 28

Mary Hake, August 28

Simple Harvest Reads, August 29 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Texas Book-aholic, August 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 31

Inkwell Inspirations, August 31

CarpeDiem, September 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jerusha is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card, one signed copy of Hidden Danger, and book swag!!

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/20e0b/hidden-danger-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Dial W for Wrangler

♥ Can one radio show host wrangle two hearts and help them beat as one? ♥

When Wade Garrett took over the family ranch, he knew he’d need help. He can tell you anything you need to know about breeding, raising, and selling cattle. He can even wrangle a wild horse or ten every year. He just can’t wrangle numbers into proper columns and have them all add up.

Enter Ainsley Jones. New in Sweetwater, the office manager from Los Angeles is out of her element and loves every second of it—except the moments when her boss can’t speak a civil word to her.

When Wade hears about the local Dial-a-Deal host and her ad-hock romantic advice success, he starts selling off everything he can find—even sneaks a few things out of Granny’s basement—just to have an excuse to call in and get Vi’s help.

Will this impromptu decluttering jag get rid of some of his personal baggage along with twenty sleeping bags and an antique egg scale? Enough for him to admit that she’s the one thing he doesn’t want to declutter from his life or his heart?

My thoughts: I loved this unique characters and story! It was fun to get to know Vi, with her radio swap shop that had some interesting things for sale. When she is called upon for advice, and delivers some sound words of wisdom, it makes her show appealing to some, but gets her in a bit of hot water. I enjoyed how creative Wade was, as well as the small town feel of the story. This is a fun story to pick up and enjoy!

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.

Click here to get your copy! This post contains affiliate links.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author of Aggie and Past Forward series, 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

Stay Tuned for This Radio Announcement

“Hello there. I’m Vi Willis with Dial-a-Deal on K-SWT out of Sweetwater County, Wyoming, and have I got an update for you.

“We’ve won an award! My boss is livid that it’s not for selling the most junk in the least amount of time, but hey. Can I help it if folks are tuning in from all over the country to listen in on the heart troubles of folks around here? So far, we’re credited with three engagements, six marriages, and a whopping thirty-five saved relationships! I don’t know who nominated us for that award, but thank you!

“Now look… there’s one small problem. This really is supposed to be a show for selling your old comic book collection or that garden wagon your husband just had to have until he discovered he really hates gardening. So, when you call in, can you please be sure you have an item to sell? Di, the operator who screens the calls? She’s under orders not to let any calls through without an actual item for sale.

“So declutter the junk from your closets, your garages, your barns and what have you as you try to declutter the troubles from your life, okay? Now… I’ve got Jeff Corbin on the line, let’s see what he’s got for us today….”

And that’s how it all started.

Well, sort of. You see, I spent six weeks at my mom’s house back in late 2019. And one of the things Mom did every day was listen to the Dial-a-Trade show. She never bought a thing, but she listened. And, since I was in the room, I learned a lot about that show.

Some people seemed to call a few times a week. I finally decided they were lonely and it was how they kept a connection with other people. Others were obviously selling things out of spite—ex boyfriends, girlfriends, or spouses beware!

Basically, it was a great way to get rid of stuff and a great way to figure out what was going on in the lives of folks in the area.

So, when Lisa Prysock reminded me that she’d invited me to be a part of this series, I knew immediately that my first book would most definitely include a radio host for a sale show who just can’t help but solve people’s relational problems.