Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Review + GIVEAWAY: Grace Restored by Toni Shiloh




Grace Restored
By Toni Shiloh
Freedom Lake #2
Indie, 2017
Summary

 Michelle Thomas has it all. Beautiful and successful, she’s just opened her own law firm in Freedom Lake. What more could she want? When her old flame rolls back into Freedom Lake, she’s intent on ignoring him. But how can she give the widower and his precious twin girls the cold shoulder?

 Still reeling from the death of his wife, Guy Pierre returns to Freedom Lake to take over as town sheriff and raise his twin daughters. Alone. Yet, life keeps throwing Michelle in his path and sparks of interest began to rise.

 Will old secrets tear them apart again or can they find the faith to let God’s grace restore what has been broken?

My thoughts
Could God really have enough grace to cover her sins?

 If I had to encapsulate the message of Grace Restored in one word, it would be what is to me the most beautiful word in the English language, and that is grace. Toni Shiloh is an excellent writer who has the ability to weave together an entertaining storyline with character depth and spiritual gems that will long stay with the reader. There will be no doubt that you are reading Christian fiction. In a way, Shiloh’s writing reminds me somewhat of Grace Livingston Hill’s style, one that blends sweet romance with a clear gospel message.

 Michelle and Guy are so easy to connect with because they are flawed, making poor choices that impact their lives just like the rest of us. This story can stand alone, but the Freedom Lake series (even the title has spiritual overtones) revolves around a group of friends who have depth and you just want to keep coming back to them. Some have remained committed to Christ through the years, others have stumbled, questioned, drifted away, and are beginning to seek again. At the heart is the group’s Bible study where they discuss topics like grace, using your pain to help others, and the truth that sets us free. What I like so much is that the focus isn’t merely on where life and faith intersect, but how faith becomes a part of our daily walk. And on a personal note, I have to admit that Grace Restored made me reflect on how I might judge certain sins as a group, rather than looking at the individual’s situation.

 There’s good romantic chemistry between Michelle and Guy, and part of Jo and Evan’s story is continued as well. I look forward to much more from these characters in the future, especially Chloe. I’ll end with this beautiful quote from Michelle …
“The idea of being forgiven for every wrong I’ve ever
committed is like a glass of water in the
middle of the desert. I’m desperate enough to drink.”

Highly recommended.
_________________________
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

 She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and president of the Virginia Chapter.

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 Blog Contributor:
Putting on the New | Heartwings Blog |  Diversity Between the Pages | ACFW Virginia



Tour Schedule


March 19-Among the Reads
March 23-Remembrancy
March 27-Robin’s Nest



GIVEAWAY

 For a chance to win an e-copy (International) of Grace Restored by Toni Shiloh, please leave a comment in response to this question: When you think of God’s grace, what verse is especially meaningful to you?

 BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Saturday, March 31. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

 Eligibility: International
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Sunday, March 18, 2018

Review (+ Tour GIVEAWAY): The Innkeeper's Daughter by Michelle Griep




About the Book

Title: The Innkeeper’s Daughter  
Author: Michelle Griep  
Genre: Historical Christian Fiction  
Release Date: March 1, 2018
   
A London officer goes undercover to expose a plot against the Crown Dover, England, 1808: Officer Alexander Moore goes undercover as a gambling gentleman to expose a high-stakes plot against the king—and he’s a master of disguise, for Johanna Langley believes him to be quite the rogue. . .until she can no longer fight against his unrelenting charm. 

 All Johanna wants is to keep the family inn afloat, but when the rent and the hearth payment are due at the same time, where will she find the extra funds? If she doesn’t come up with the money, there will be nowhere to go other than the workhouse—where she’ll be separated from her ailing mother and ten-year-old brother. 

 Alex desperately wants to help Johanna, especially when she confides in him, but his mission—finding and bringing to justice a traitor to the crown—must come first, or they could all end up dead.

 CBD │ Amazon │ B&N



My Thoughts

Dover, England - 1808

 Romance, history, intrigue and espionage … a book by Michelle Griep is simply not to be missed, and reading The Innkeeper’s Daughter is sheer delight. The story moves at a steady pace that kept me eager to turn the pages. Griep does British settings, my favorite sub-genre, so very well. Along with romantic suspense, I always learn something new from the historical detail and delightful humor adds to the charm. Without going into detail, there’s a historic gem that gave me new insight into a line from The Star Spangled Banner.

 I’m not an expert on styles, but The Innkeeper’s Daughter seems to combine elements of Regency and Dickens – all I know is that I loved it. From the lead characters, Alex and Johanna, to a wonderful supporting cast, all are well-drawn. Fans of Griep’s earlier novels will be delighted to see Brentwood’s appearance. And I think she created one of the most unusual secondary characters I’ve ever come across – Mr. Nutbrown, who speaks through a puppet.

 Going undercover in seeking the identity of a suspected traitor among Dover’s elite puts Alex in Johanna’s world, and I was totally at a loss in knowing who to trust. Alex was famous for going beyond the rules to capture a criminal, and when it came to the prim, yet saucy Johanna, Alex thought that “Bow Street could use an interrogator like this woman.”

 Griep’s writing is very descriptive, giving me a clear feel for the era and it’s people. There’s a beautiful example that I want to share, taken from a scene when Alex visits Lord Cobum’s mansion:

 He knew no one, but could name them just the same. The fat merchant hoping to sell his soul to gain a contract with the viscount was Greed. The servant sneaking off for a tryst in an unused closet, Lust. And the pair of matrons whose plan was to allow their charges enough slack to hog-tie a bachelor? Self-serving Languor. Here in a manor home or down at a quayside bawdy house, people were people the world ‘round.

 There’s nothing to indicate that The Innkeeper’s Daughter isn’t a standalone novel, but I certainly hope more is on the horizon. Romance seems likely for Johanna’s mom and Alex’s boss. There’s a moving scene involving an injured Mr. Nutbrown at the end and I’d love to know more about him. And then there’s Alex’s fellow worker, Thatcher – a man of few words, an “officer of shadow and dust” with a unique ability at camouflage. More, please!

 Highly recommended.

 I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.


About the Author

Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She seeks to glorify God in all that she writes—except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager. She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. 

 An Anglophile at heart, she runs away to England every chance she gets, under the guise of research. Really, though, she’s eating excessive amounts of scones while rambling around a castle. 

 Michelle is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and MCWG (Minnesota Christian Writers Guild). Keep up with her adventures at her blog “Writer off the Leash” or visit www.michellegriep.com.

Guest Post from Michelle Griep

Celebrating Oak Apple Day

Spring is just around the corner, or maybe it’s in full bloom in your neck of the woods. Regardless, by this time of year, everyone is ready to celebrate. . .and nothing new is under the sun. For centuries people have been eager to welcome budding greenery and warmth. 

 In my recent release, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, I incorporated a spring holiday that’s been around for over 500 years in England, one you may never heard of. 

 Oak Apple Day. 

 This ancient celebration dates back to the year 1651. At the time, Charles II escaped the Roundhead army by taking cover in an oak tree. Everyone loved ol’ Charlie and was glad he lived, so in his honor, a new national holiday was born—one that in some parts of England is still celebrated today. 

Another name for this annual event is Royal Oak Day and the festivities occur every May 29th. Celebration traditions vary from parades to the ringing of bells, but one thing that is standard is that it’s a day to pin an oak leaf on your lapel. If you fail to wear one, you could end up getting pinched. 

The hero in my latest release is kind enough to remind the heroine that she forgot to pin on her leaf, thus saving her from untoward pinches. Interested in hearing more about this gallant fellow and the forgetful miss? Here’s a blurb about The Innkeeper’s Daughter… 

 Tension is high with the threat of a Napoleonic attack in Regency England, but risk from abroad means nothing when there’s danger at home. 

 Officer Alexander Moore goes undercover as a gambling gentleman to expose a high-stakes plot against the crown—and he’s a master of disguise, for Johanna Langley believes him to be quite the rogue . . . until she can no longer fight against his unrelenting charm. 

 All Johanna wants is to keep the family inn afloat, but when the rent and the hearth payment are due at the same time, where will she find the extra funds? If she doesn’t come up with the money, there will be nowhere to go other than the workhouse—where she’ll be separated from her ailing mother and ten-year-old brother. 

 Alex desperately wants to help Johanna, especially when she confides in him, but his mission—finding and bringing to justice a traitor to the crown—must come first, or they could all end up dead. 

It’s a race against time for them both.


Blog Stops

Mommynificent, March 16
Among the Reads, March 17
Mary Hake, March 17
Karen Sue Hadley, March 18
Kathleen Denly, March 19
Remembrancy, March 20
Book by Book, March 20
Bookworm Mama, March 22
Vicky Sluiter, March 22
Carpe Diem, March 22
Pause for Tales, March 23
margaret kazmierczak, March 23 (Interview)
A Greater Yes, March 24
Simple Harvest Reads, March 26 (Mindy Houng Guest Post)
Pursuing Stacie, March 27
Bigreadersite, March 27
The PhD Mamma, March 28

Giveaway



If you’re willing, please help spread the word by clicking on this link and sharing my Facebook post. Thank you!

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away a grand prize of a signed copy of The Innkeeper’s Daughter and a $25 gift card from Barnes & Noble!!

Click the image above or the link below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

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Monday, March 12, 2018

Review: Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren


Keturah
By Lisa T. Bergren
The Sugar Baron’s Daughters #1
Bethany, 2018
Summary

 In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father's estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.

 Although it flies against all the conventions, they're determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, conventions are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined-and that's just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this harsh and unfamiliar world.

 Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.

 To keep her family together and save the plantation that is her last chance at providing for them, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

 Learn more and purchase a copy.
My thoughts

 Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren is refreshingly different from anything I’ve ever read, brought alive by beautiful historical detail, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. From a historical standpoint, the Colonial period is my favorite setting for fiction, and I found this era and the exotic West Indies locale fascinating. There’s adventure and romance, political and cultural intrigue. When it comes to social injustice, Bergren writes with a realistic touch that I appreciate. I’ve always enjoy her writing and am glad to see this new series beginning.

 The series follows three sisters as they leave England and sail to the Caribbean island of Nevis, determined to save their deceased father’s sugar cane plantation. The eldest, Keturah, is a complex and not always the most likeable of leading ladies, which made for fascinating reading. Keturah has the background of an abusive marriage, which directly affects the woman she has become. I loved the sisters’ close relationship, especially Selah’s joyous faith in God contrasted with Keturah’s lack of faith, feeling abandoned by God.

 The story opens in the years leading up to the American Revolution, and I realize it’s easy for me to look back on this era and question how people fighting for their independence could morally defend the owning of slaves, but it’s still illogical to me. Social injustice plays a big part in this story, and it’s not a pretty picture. I felt for Keturah as she quickly found that succeeding on Nevis was like a game of chess.

 Clay, with his playboy past, had changed and made an appealing hero. I loved the way his faith impacted Keturah and I also can take his words to heart … “All God asks of us is to do our best, from morning until night. He does not expect us to do things that only He can accomplish, only what we’ve been given to do, and to trust Him with the rest” (p. 186).

 There’s some predictability to this story, and Keturah’s ability to get past her abusive past might have come about a little too neatly, but this is fiction and I loved it. I assume Verity and Selah’s stories will follow, and I’m eager to continue reading.

 Recommended.

 I received a complimentary copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

_________________________
Lisa T. Bergren has published more than 40 books with more than 3 million books sold combined. She's the author of the Christy Award-winning "Waterfall," RITA®-finalist "Firestorm," bestselling "God Gave Us You," and popular historical series like Homeward, Grand Tour, and more. She's also a recipient of the RT Lifetime Achievement Award.

 She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and three teen-and-older children.

 Find out more about Lisa at http://lisatawnbergren.com.




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Sunday, March 11, 2018

Review + GIVEAWAY: Lethal in Old Lace by Duffy Brown




Lethal in Old Lace
By Duffy Brown
Consignment Shop Mystery #5
Crooked Lane Books, 2018
Summary

 Reagan Summerside returns in national bestselling author Duffy Brown’s fifth Consignment Shop mystery, now for the first time in hardcover.

 There are two social functions in Savannah guaranteed to get people talking: weddings and funerals. And just as consignment shop owner Reagan Summerside agrees to marry the hunky Walker Boone, her neighbors, sisters Annie Fritz and Elsie Abbot, step up their business as professional mourners. They are so successful that the Sleepy Pines Retirement Center has hired them as a part of their retirement package. But the celebration over good business is cut short when the residents at Pines suddenly begin dying at an alarming rate. And the sisters are the first suspects.

 Reagan has her doubts, however, and begins to look into the strange phenomenon. But then something even stranger happens: a body winds up in the sisters’ pink Caddy. The evidence begins to pile up and the suspicious case of Willie Fishbine, who swindled the sisters out of a fortune and coincidentally died prior to the Pines case, is reopened.

 Not wanting Willie to be buried until they can find the killer responsible for the murders, Reagan must catch the culprit in time to walk down the aisle.

Amazon │ B&N │ Kobo


My thoughts

 Lethal in Old Lace is that perfect blend of crime, quirky characters, humor, romance, southern charm that doesn’t come along often. And did I mention humor?!

 I love this story! I can honestly say that I’ve never read anything like Lethal in Old Lace, and it just might be the funniest cozy mystery I’ve ever read. Duffy Brown is not only a talented writer with a natural gift for humor, but she brilliantly captures the southern charm of Savannah, Georgia, a beautiful coastal city in my home state. I hate that it has taken me this long to discover the Consignment Shop series and can’t wait to start from the beginning.

 This story can stand alone, but it’s obvious that characters have evolved throughout the series and I believe this story begins right after the previous one ended – with Walker proposing to Reagan, in fact. The author doesn’t rehash events from past books, but does give sufficient detail to keep readers from feeling lost.

 Lethal in Old Lace is a fun, exciting ride – filled with southern mores, quirky characters and witty, snappy dialogue – and moving from one madcap adventure to the next. Corpses play a big part … one keeps appearing and disappearing, while another is kidnapped from the local funeral parlor. There’s no way my thoughts can convey all the wonderful humor, so I’ll just share a few quotes that I loved from some of the key characters …

       -- Reagan’s mamma, the judge: “Normal people don’t have bodies popping up in their lives like this except for that Jessica Fletcher woman in Cabot Cove. I can’t understand why anyone in their right mind would want to be her friend. They all wind up dead, and now you’re getting to be the same way.”
      -- Reagan’s loveable dog, Bruce Willis (BW): “Not that he was much of a watchdog; BW was more of a comfort dog. He was someone I got into trouble with and things didn’t seem so bad because there were two of us freaking out.”
      -- Aunt Kiki, on her husband’s love of golf: “I need to be getting home before your Uncle Putter finishes up that DVD he’s been watching on 18 Ways to Throw Your Golf Club and starts wondering where I am. I tell you, men and golf are like a religion around here. Just put golf in the title and they believe.”
      -- Mercedes, Reagan’s friend at the funeral home: “She was a respectable housekeeper by day, mortician beautician by night, and she had half of Savannah fighting over her for both reasons. Mercedes was a woman of many talents.”

 I adored Lethal in Old Lace and hope this series continues for a long time, for I don’t believe I will ever tire of these characters.

 Highly recommended.

 I received an e-copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

_________________________
While other girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy Brown longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. Today she conjures up who-done-it stories for Berkley Prime Crime and has two series, the national bestselling Consignment Shop Mysteries set in Savannah and the Cycle Path Mysteries on Mackinac Island.

 Website │ Facebook │ Twitter │ Pinterest



TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 9 – A Cozy Experience – REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 10 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 10 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
March 11 – The Power of Words – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 11 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
March 12 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
March 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
March 13 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 14 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
March 15 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
March 16 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 17 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST
March 17 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 18 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 18 – Readeropolis – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 19 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW
March 21 – La libreria di Beppe – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY

Duffy Brown is giving away a tote bag at several stops on this tour. Be sure to check out the tour list above, then visit and enter.

For my giveaway, please help spread the word by clicking on this link and sharing my Facebook post, then leave a comment here letting me know that you shared. And if you’ve read any of Duffy Brown’s other books, I’d love to know your thoughts.

 BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Wednesday, March 21. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

 Eligibility: US residents
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