Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Murder on the Moor review and Giveaway


 


Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book




 



Book: Murder on the MOOR, A Drew Farthering Mystery

 



Author: Julianna Deering

 



Genre: Historical Mystery

 



Release Date: February 2017



At the urgent request of an old school friend, Drew and Madeline Farthering come to Bloodworth Park Lodge in the midst of the Yorkshire moors, a place as moody and mysterious as a Brontë hero. There have been several worrisome incidents around those lonesome rolling hills–property desecrated, fires started, sheep and cattle scattered. Worst of all, the vicar has been found dead on the steps of the church, a crime for which Drew can discern no motive at all.



Few in the town of Bunting’s Nest seem like suspects, and Drew can’t keep his suspicions from falling on his friend’s new bride. Do her affections lie more with her husband’s money and estate, while her romantic interests stray to their fiery Welsh gamekeeper? As the danger grows ever closer, it’s up to Drew to look past his own prejudices, determine what’s really going on, and find the killer before it’s too late.

My thoughts: I enjoy this series immensely, since it is a fun set of mysteries that is just enjoyable! I really like the time period it is set in, England in the 1920-1930's. The characters are interesting, as they develop over the course of the series. I liked the themes in this one and the chance to visit the Moors through it.;) I would love to go in person someday!
After I started this one, I realized that I missed the 4th one, which I will have to remedy.
I highly recommend this delightful mystery!
I received this book through Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.


About the Author






Julianna Deering is the creator of the acclaimed Drew Farthering Mystery series. She has always loved British history and is a particular fan of the writings of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in business administration and spent several years as a Certified Public Accountant. She lives outside Dallas, Texas. For more information visit www.juliannadeering.com.



Blog Stops


March 11: Book by Book
March 12: Radiant Light
March 12: Bigreadersite
March 13: Carpe Diem
March 14: Pause for Tales
March 15: Baker Kella

Giveaway


[Insert Giveaway Picture Here]

To celebrate her tour, Julianna is giving away a set of the A Drew Farthering Mystery (5 Book Series)!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4664b0499
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The Elusive Miss Ellison


Pride, prejudice and forgiveness...
Hampton Hall's new owner has the villagers of St. Hampton Heath all aflutter--all except Lavinia Ellison. The reverend's daughter cares for those who are poor and sick, and the seventh Earl of Hawkesbury definitely does not meet that criteria. His refusal to take his responsibilities seriously, or even darken the door of the church, leave her convinced he is as arrogant and reckless as his brother--his brother who stole the most important person in Lavinia's world.

Nicholas Stamford is shadowed by guilt: his own, his brother's, the legacy of war. A perfunctory visit to this dreary part of Gloucestershire wasn't supposed to engage his heart, or his mind. Challenged by Miss Ellison's fascinating blend of Bluestocking opinions, hoydenish behavior, and angelic voice, he finds the impossible becoming possible--he begins to care. But Lavinia's aloof manner, society's opposition and his ancestral obligations prove most frustrating, until scandal forces them to get along.

Can Lavinia and Nicholas look beyond painful pasts and present prejudice to see their future? And what will happen when Lavinia learns a family secret that alters everything she's ever known?

My thoughts: It seems like I pick up Regency style novels with nervous excitement. Will this be a delightful read? Or will it be another author trying (and failing, since they aren't the real McCoy) to one up Austen? I was excited to receive this book in the mail for those reasons.
Thankfully, this book wound up being delightful. I enjoyed the characters and their verbal sparing. I love that Lavinia is a not an insipid character.;) I also delighted in the surprises of the story. I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.
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Thursday, March 2, 2017

Tightropes and Teeter-totters


Do you wonder if you will ever find balance?

Lisa Pennington knows how to get up after losing her balance, even with a full house, a not-so-full bank account, and never enough energy. In her latest book, she offers readers:

—Strategies for finding balance in marriage, motherhood, and bad moods
—Playful yet biblically based tips for turning hard days around
—Inspiration for shaping obstacles into opportunities
—Ways to respond to irritations with gratitude
—Enthusiastic encouragement for living out God’s purpose.

For every woman who wonders if her satisfaction in life will ever match her dreams, Pennington has real-life answers full of hope and humor.

My thoughts: I very much enjoyed this book! The other does a wonderful job of making the reader feel like this is a chat between friends. She is hilarious as she shares about discovering balance in your life. I love that she is in the same journey as well, which makes it even easier to relate to her and enjoy this book. Whether you are looking to balance your life in the area of finances, being a wife or mom, or friendships, along with a myriad of other topics, this book is an excellent one to pick up.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my review.
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Murder on the Moor Spotlight


Mystery Awaits on the Mysterious Yorkshire Moors
At the urgent request of an old school friend, Drew and Madeline Farthering come to Bloodworth Park Lodge in the midst of the Yorkshire moors, a place as moody and mysterious as a BrontE hero. There have been several worrisome incidents out on the moor--property destroyed, fires started, sheep and cattle scattered--and worst of all, the vicar has been found dead on the steps of the church.
Drew's friend is obviously smitten with his bride of eight months, though it's hard to imagine what she sees in the awkward man. Drew can't help wondering if her affections lie more with the man's money and estate, while her romantic interests focus on their fiery Welsh gamekeeper. As the danger grows ever closer, it's up to Drew to look past his own prejudices, determine what is really going on, and find the killer before it's too late.

I'm set to review this book for Celebrate Lit, so be sure to watch for a review and giveaway!
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Monday, February 27, 2017

Take Ten: books I liked more than I thought I would



1. The Chronicles of Narnia

Yes, it's weird to admit this now, but this series had quite a few strikes against it. Part of that had to do with being traumatized by watching a cartoon version of this one (my mom had heard it was a good story. This is why, as a parent, you should always screen movies first. lol) at a young age. I was also pretty young when I first started the series. I'm glad I stuck with it! So, moral of the story: stick with something until you have given it a fair chance since it just might surprise you.;)

2. Harry Potter

There was some pretty mixed reviews about this series when I was growing up, so I didn't read it until I was an adult. It surprised me just how well written the books are and they are now a favorite!

3. Lord of the Rings

Apparently, I had a thing against fantasy style series when I was young.;) This was one I had to grow up a bit before fully appreciating. I had such a hard time keeping everyone straight until I watched the first movie...;)

4. Emma

A lot of critics and people I know don't care for the story of Emma, but I've always loved how she grows up over the course of the story. Not to mention, it's already been established that I like the girl next door stories, and this one is kind of a classics version.;)

5. King's Folly

My sister warned me that this series is a bit dark, but it is a fantasy style series based on history, which really sucked me in from the get go! I'm looking forward to starting King's Blood.

6. Valiant Hearts

While this series looked interesting to me when I first started it, I didn't realize just how much I would enjoy it!

7. The Hearts We Mend

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and didn't think there was any way that the second book would measure up. I was thrilled to be wrong in this case.;)

8. When Love Arrives

This was another one where I loved the first book in the series. I also didn't think I would like a book with Brett as the hero, but it worked well!

9. The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill

To a certain extent, Klassen's books are hit and miss with me, some of them I really enjoy and some I have not been as crazy about. This one was SO good though! I look forward to the next book in the series.

10. An Elegant Facade

This is another one where I read the first book and wasn't sure I would like the main character in this one. I loved getting to know Georgina though!

Bonus:
Waves of Freedom

I hadn't read anything by Sarah before picking up this series. I need to go back and read the rest of her books now, since this series has been a fun look at women working during WWII.
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Door to Freedom


"It's rough and it's smooth. It's dark and it's light. It's a masterpiece. It's us. Here in Sudan. We are scared of it and drawn to it. There is an open door, and there is much opposition."

In the dusty, Islamic country of Sudan, Mia, who is raising her family in a Muslim country, has learned to boldly share her faith. Rania, the daughter of a wealthy Sudanese Arab, seeks to find the reason for her sister's sudden disappearance. Mia holds some of the answers, but both women quickly discover they must each walk through their own doors to freedomthe freedom that only comes when you trust God's sovereignty more than manmade security.

Part of New Hope Publishers' line of contemporary missional fiction, Door to Freedom, the sequel to Side by Side, opens the reader's eyes to modern-day persecution and the life of Muslims in Sudan. Based on real-life events, Door to Freedom also reveals some of the struggles that Christians face when living under Islamic law. The reader will be inspired to pray for those who are persecuted for their faith as well as for the salvation of the persecutors.

My thoughts: While this book is exceptional, I think I liked the first one the best, since it really showed the sacrifice that Muslims have to make when they accept Jesus as their Savior. That said, this one was wonderful and I did appreciate the message of serving God even when persecuted. Jana does a fantastic job of bringing her characters to life, their struggles and joys. I enjoyed the taste of what it would be like to live in modern Sudan and what an adjustment it is to be in a different culture. I highly recommend this series!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.
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Shine Like the Dawn review and giveaway




 


Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book




 



Book: Shine Like the Dawn

 



Author: Carrie Turansky

 



Genre: Historical



In a quiet corner of northern Edwardian England, Margaret Lounsbury diligently works in her grandmother’s millinery shop, making hats and caring for her young sister. Several years earlier, a terrible tragedy reshaped their family, shattering an idyllic life and their future prospects. But Maggie is resilient and will do what she must to protect her sister Violet. Still, the loss of her parents weighs heavily on her heart and she begins to wonder if what happened that day on the lake…might not have been an accident.

When wealthy inventor and industrialist William Harcourt dies, his son Nathaniel, who is Maggie’s estranged childhood friend, returns from his time in the Royal Navy and inherits his father’s vast estate, Morningside Manor. He also assumes partial control of his father’s engineering company and the duty of repaying an old debt to the Lounsbury family. But years of separation between Nate and Maggie have taken a toll and Maggie struggles to trust her old friend.

Can Maggie let go of the resentment that keeps her from forgiving Nate—and reconciling with God? Will their search for the truth about her parents’ death draw them closer or will it leave them both with broken hearts?


My thoughts: This one is a delightful, Edwardian style story. I've enjoyed Carrie's previous series, so I was thrilled to have a chance to read this one! I liked that this novel wound up having so mystery in it, though it was so sad. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and enjoyed that there is a lot of historical detail to this story, like what it was like to own a small shop in the early 1900's and dealing with owning a factory. If you enjoy historical stories, I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.
About the Author





CARRIE TURANSKY is an award-winning author of more than a dozen novels and novellas. She has been the winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the Crystal Globe Award, and the International Digital Award, and a finalist for the Inspirational Readers Choice Award and the Maggie Award of Excellence. A prolific writer of contemporary and historical romance, women’s fiction, short stories, articles, and devotionals, Carrie lives in central New Jersey with her husband Scott. They have five adult children and four grandchildren.



Guest Post from Carrie Turansky


Hats, Glorious Hats!

 

By Carrie Turansky

 

One fun part of my research for Shine Like the Dawn was learning about hat making in the early 1900s. My heroine, Maggie Lounsbury is a milliner who designs women’s hats. She learned this skill from her grandmother who owns a small shop in the village of Heatherton. Maggie has an artistic eye and she enjoys making stylish hats, but she doesn’t like the overdone designs some of their customers request, so that creates some humorous conflict in the story.



Hats in the Edwardian era were large and often covered with feathers, flowers, lace, netting, berries and bows. The “bird nests,” as Coco Chanel called them, were held on with large hat pins stuck through piles of hair on the crown. These hats were called Gainsborough or Picture hats because of the way they framed a lady’s face. They often featured huge dried flower arrangements and sometimes included real leaves and twigs! No doubt the Garden hat was a fitting name.
1907 The Merry Window hat became very popular after the leading lady in the play by that same name wore a hat that was even taller and wider than usual. Some people complained these hats were too big and obtrusive in public places like the theater or picture shows. But English women loved them and wore them to all kinds of events.



The popularity of using large feathers and stuffed birds on hats caused concern for the welfare of birds. Many protective laws took effect and milliners had to use more ribbon and tulle and only large ostrich feathers to decorate hats. Those ostrich feathers came from birds that were raised on farms and their feathers were collected as they fell out naturally.
The movement toward smaller hats began around 1913 when hats still had high crowns but smaller brims. Straw boaters, small top hats, and mini versions of picture hats were very common.



Motion pictures had the greatest influence on Edwardian hat fashion. After the release of The Three Musketeers many ladies wanted to wear tricorne and bicorne shaped hats. They were still very large but now had shapes other than just round. Hat brims were folded up on the side, at an angle, or all around to create drama. Veils disappeared in the early 1900s only to come back again as a long scarf that wrapped over the hat and under the chin for the new sport called motoring.



I’ve had fun dressing Edwardian style for book launch tea parties and other book events. It made me feel very special to wear these lovely hats. What do you think of Edwardian Hats? Would you like to wear one?



Thanks to friends at the Vintage Dancer website for some of this information.




Stop by Carrie’s Facebook author page and view her live videos February 21 – 25, 3:00 pm Eastern. She’ll be talking about the story behind Shine Like the Dawn and giving away a fun prize each day to one person who leaves a comment. Even if you can’t catch the live video you can still enter for 24 hours after it’s posted. She is also hosting a book launch celebration and giveaway on her blog February 25 – March 6.


Like to my Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/authorcarrieturansky/
Link to my Book Launch Blog Post: http://carrieturansky.com/index.php/blog/

Blog Stops


February 21: New Horizon Reviews
February 21: Bookworm Mama
February 22: Book by Book
February 23: Bibliophile Reviews
February 23: A Readers Brain
February 23: Faithfully Bookish
February 23: Lane Hill House
February 24: Back Porch Reads
February 24: The Scribbler
February 24: I Hope You Dance
February 25: Stuff & Nonsense
February 25: The Power of Words
February 25: A Greater Yes
February 26: cherylbbookblog
February 26: Splashes of Joy
February 27: Genesis 5020
February 28: Karen Sue Hadley
February 28: Neverending Stories
March 3: Mary Hake
March 4: Radiant Light
March 6: Baker Kella

Giveaway


[Insert Giveaway Picture Here]

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away all 4 books: Shine Like the Dawn, The Governess of Highland Hall, The Daughter of Highland Hall, and A Refuge at Highland Hall.! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
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