Saturday, August 26, 2023

About the Book

Book: Death in High Places

Author: Sara L. Jameson

Genre: Mystery /Suspense/Romance

Release Date: February 28, 2023

An Interpol agent with a deadline he can’t miss.

Urgent intel warns of terrorist cells planning coordinated attacks throughout Europe. Special Agent Jacob Coulter of Brussels Interpol is assigned to find the terrorist financiers supporting these groups and shut down their funding operations.

An opera singer’s life and career hang in the balance.

The Queen of the Night’s vocal pyrotechnics have launched many a soprano’s international career. But Riley Williams, Jacob’s fiancée, is terrified of heights, and her Antwerp Opera debut as the evil queen requires her to sing from a hydraulic lift forty feet above the orchestra pit. When newspapers cite Riley’s recent unmasking of an international terrorist plot and the lift malfunctions, Jacob suspects terrorist sabotage.

He encourages Riley to accept her BFF’s invitation to stay the Savoy Hotel in London where she’ll be out of danger. Or so he thinks …

A series of murders connected to a notorious terrorist financier known as the Priest leads Jacob across Europe. When the victims’ deaths point to London, his Interpol partner convinces him London is a haven for terrorist financiers.

But the clock is ticking, and what Jacob uncovers is more devastating than anything he could have imagined.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sara L. Jameson won Scrivenings Press’s grand prize publishing contract in 2020. They released her debut romantic suspense novel, Cruise to Death, in June 2021. Death in High Places, (Book 2 in the Troubled Waters series), releases February 28, 2023, to be followed by Vengeance in Vienna, December 17, 2023.

Sara is the pseudonym of a multi-published former university professor who writes non-fiction under her real name. She also writes WWII historical novels. When not writing, she enjoys reading, swimming, cooking, and dog-sitting.

More from Sara

God never wastes our life experiences. I never suspected my love of travel and years as a professional classical singer in Europe would lead to a romantic-suspense series. Schlepping a suitcase of opera and art-song scores on cross-country trains kept me trimmer than a gym. A few encounters with they-shall-remain-unnamed international security agencies created fodder for the Troubled Waters series. And a lead character who’s far gutsier than I.

My personal experiences often generate story events. Sigh. Even some of the embarrassing moments soprano Riley Williams endures in Cruise to Death and Death in High Places. Sadly, the blue-eyed hunk, Special Agent Jacob Coulter of Brussels Interpol, is pure fiction. Whenever possible, I visit or have lived in my novels’ locales.

Cruise to Death launches Riley’s attempts as a musical theater singer, a romance she never saw coming, and tracking terrorists. In 2019, I revisited each stop of the riverboat cruise that inspired the book.

Trips to London and stays with a friend in Sussex inspired the unsettling events in Death in High

Places, which released February 28, 2023. I’m indebted to my friend for help verifying details in key scenes. When I travel, I don’t necessarily expect a day sightseeing to morph into a life-and-death moment in a book someday. Well, not until now. Naturally, Antwerp and Burie’s Chocolatier, my favorite Belgian chocolate shop, had to feature in this story too.

I’m excited to announce Vengeance in Vienna releases December 19, 2023. The book draws on my years in Austria and a disturbing criminal element now active there, which I was made aware of in 2019.

And ideas are already flowing for book 4!

MY REVIEW

The book is filled with intrigue that keeps readers entertained throughout the story. Fighting terrorism is keeping Jacob busy as he tries to unravel the threats. I liked how he was calm under pressure and was able to focus even when danger gets too close to him. He does have a little distraction involving his fiancée though.

Riley is a good character and I loved following her adventure in the opera world. She is excited about her upcoming show until she learns that she will be lifted above the stage. I can tell you I felt her tremble as she was hoisted up with shaky cables. With a near tragedy she and Jacob learn that her life is in danger. How will Jacob protect her and find the man known as the Priest?

The action is good and I loved the twists in the story. The author does a good job of keeping the characters storyline moving and giving us a little romance along the way. What I really like about this story is that the author takes us inside the opera world where we see how much work goes into a show. Just as we catch our breath from the danger Riley is in, we follow Jacob on his dangerous mission to stop someone who not only is killing people but causing sabotage wherever they go. Get ready for a story that will keep you guessing til the end.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 22

Book Looks by Lisa, August 22

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, August 23 (Author Interview)

Melissa’s Bookshelf, August 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 24

Holly’s Book Corner, August 24

Betti Mace, August 25

Texas Book-aholic, August 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 27

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 28

Exploring the Written Word, August 28

Cover Lover Book Review, August 29

The Book Club Network, August 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 31

Pause for Tales, August 31

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 2

Blogging With Carol, September 3

Lights in a Dark World, September 3

For Him and My Family, September 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sara is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon Gift card and a copy of Death in High Places in paperback!!

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/27734/death-in-high-places-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, August 24, 2023

About the Book

Book: Itty Bitty Faith

Author: Jennifer Sienes

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction, and Southern Fiction

Release Date: July 18, 2023

Sometimes your past comes back to haunt you…

As a single mama, Alyssa Mitchell learned to depend on no one but herself while raising her boy. She never even gave Jared’s daddy a single thought—well, not often anyway. Why would she when he left her behind to go off and save the world? It didn’t matter one little bit that he was unaware she was pregnant, she felt betrayed just the same. But when she overhears Jared lamenting over not even knowing who his daddy was, she tucks her pride away long enough to track him down.

Brandon Jamison spent years bringing clean water to third-world countries. It was downright confounding why God would see fit to bring him back to the states – with no job or clue what to do next. That is until Alyssa Mitchell shows up and drops a bomb – Brandon has a seventeen year old son. All his past failures and shame came to the surface just like the lemon in Mama’s sweet tea.

It’ll take more than itty-bitty faith to put the past behind them.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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–two 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

It’s easier for me to write an entire novel (or novella) then to come up with a title. I wasn’t impressed with Itty Bitty Faith, and hoped my publisher might change it. No such luck. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to fit.

I love that the Bible tells us in Matthew 17:20 “…Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Faith as small as a mustard seed is what I’d call itty bitty faith.

Even though I was raised in the church, I didn’t come to truly know Jesus until everything I held dear was taken away, and I had nowhere to go but my knees. Some of us like to think we’re in control—and I was no exception. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”—Proverbs 16:18. And boy, was I proud. But it didn’t keep my children safe, or my marriage intact, or my mother from dying of cancer. And it wasn’t until I acknowledged the goodness and sovereignty of God (yes, that’s sometimes a hard one to reconcile) that I began to truly grow in my faith.

Alyssa Mitchell struggles with a faith-crisis of her own. A single mother to a teenage boy, living under the same roof as her own mama, she thinks her family is a victim of some cruel curse. The high school boy she loved left her alone and pregnant to serve the Lord. It’s enough to make her suspicious of the so-called righteous, and she’s held onto bitterness longer than a body should. It’s not until she hears her son Jared lament over never knowing who his daddy is that she takes a step of faith (although it’s not what she’d call it) to search out Brandon Jamison.

The key theme in this story is how God works in the background to give us the desires of our hearts long before we even know what they are. Isn’t that incredible? We just need to open our hearts and eyes to see His hand in every detail. Bitterness is poison to the soul, but when we can let go of it and trust in Him, life has a way of working out far better than we can hope or imagine.

I pray you will enjoy this journey alongside Alyssa, Brandon, and Jared. And that even if your faith is still itty bitty, the Lord will grow it to gargantuan proportions.

MY REVIEW

I love when I read a story that flows well, has great characters and shares lessons we all can relate to. In this book we have Alyssa who maybe didn’t make a great choice when she was in high school, but she received a blessing from it. Her son is well mannered, respectful and a little curious about who his dad is. It has been seventeen years and Alyssa has not mentioned who Jared’s father is. Funny how a seventeen year old boy is about to change not only his life but others as well.

Alyssa knows it is time to track down Brandon and find out why he never responded to her letter that she was pregnant. I am impressed with Brandon and how he stepped up as soon as he found out he had a son. It is important to note that he never received a letter from Alyssa all those years ago. When the three come together there is a bit of anger and mistrust between the three. It will be a slow process for healing and reconnecting.

The story comes with an emotional journey that captures what a little bit of faith can do. When we ask God to forgive us our slate is clean. Both Brandon and Alyssa walk a path that shows them that second chances can be a blessing.

“When we go our own way, God’s hand isn’t far from us.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, August 25

By the Book, August 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 27

SusanLovesBooks, August 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 28

lakesidelivingsite, August 29

An Author’s Take, August 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 31

The Book Club Network, September 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 2

She Lives To Read, September 3

For Him and My Family, September 4

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, September 5 (Author Interview)

The Lit Lady, September 5

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 6

Splashes of Joy, September 7

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/27785/itty-bitty-faith-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

About the Book

Book: Robbing the Races

Author: Tabitha Bouldin

Genre: ChristianHistorical Mystery, Fairytale retelling

Release Date: July 4, 2023

The Legend of Locksley might just get Robin and Marian killed.

Robin Locke’s career as a jockey is far more successful than he ever expected. When a groom is found dead in the stables, Robin sets out to right the wrongs of Locksley. Unfortunately, Robin’s rival is dead set on proving him guilty!

Marian Silvers sets out to find a once in a lifetime story that will ensure her career as a reporter withstands the masochistic attitudes of the paper where she works. As she and Robin dig into the groom’s murder, she finds another side to the legend of Locksley…a side he would prefer stay hidden forever.

While the murderer wreaks havoc in their small town, Marian and Robin find that all is not as it seems. And then they become the next targets. They just need to evade the killer long enough to bring him to justice… and perhaps find love along the way.

This 1940s Robin Hood retelling features swapped character roles and a race against the clock

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Tabitha Bouldin is a student at Southern New Hampshire University, where she is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Creative Writing. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she works with critique groups and provides endorsements for other authors. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart. Tabitha spent ten years working as a Medical Assistant before God opened the door which allowed her to become a stay-at-home-homeschooling-mom and author.

More from Tabitha

As a kid who grew up with Disney films, the Robin Hood cartoon fascinated me. I wanted to know what made Robin Hood such a cavalier thief. I understood his mindset of “steal from the rich and give to the poor” but why did he need to steal?

My uncle David had a saying for years. He’d say, “Steal from Peter to pay Paul and David stays broke.” What he meant was, no matter how hard he tried, he never managed to get ahead in life. Uncle David had a saying for everything and they always made sense in a convoluted sort of way.

In Robbing the Races, I didn’t want to try and persuade Robin that he had a right to steal, I wanted him to have a reason to think it was okay, then show him otherwise. I love heroes who need a little nudge back onto the straight and narrow. Robin sees families suffering, and when he can’t provide for them himself and he sees others who have an excess of money, he decides to take it to help the less fortunate.

Kind of like the two wrongs don’t make a right, Robin learns that his version of justice might help for a moment but that does not excuse his actions. He’s still wrong.

Robin is not the most forgiving character, but he was certainly fun to work with.

MY REVIEW

This was a fun book to read where the author takes us into the world of horse racing. It is a time when war was going on in the 1940s. I loved having a behind the scenes look at what takes place to get the horses ready. It is cutthroat business for some as winning is everything to those who will do anything to achieve the winners circle.

I did like Marian and how determined she is to prove that a woman deserves to work as a reporter for the newspaper. She is not taken seriously by everyone and when a murder happens she finds that certain people won’t share information with her. Her fierce desire to solve the case can lead to danger if she is not careful.

Robin grabbed my attention instantly. He is struggling trying to support his mother and siblings as a jockey. When the horse he is suppose to ride turns up missing, he sees his dream slipping away. When he stumbles upon someone who was murdered he knows that there are whispers of him being guilty. I liked how humble he is and how he reaches out to his uncle that he hasn’t talked to in a very long time. As he explains to Marian, gambling can destroy lives. Marian knows very well about gambling and the evil that follows it.

With a take on the story of Robin Hood we are treated to how Robin tries to do the right thing and help those who are in need. It didn’t get past me the names used in the story. I laughed half way through the story when I realized the significance of our main characters names. Very clever indeed , Tabitha. The adventure was fun and the mystery kept me guessing.

The author does an amazing job of retelling Robin Hood and showing us how greed can lead to jealousy. “The love of money is the root of all evil,” and this beautifully written story illustrates how that love can turn friends into friends enemies. The ending is not without a lesson in forgiveness and finding peace when you allow God in your life.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 23

Texas Book-aholic, August 24

By the Book, August 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 26

Holly’s Book Corner, August 26

Connie’s History Classroom, August 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 28

The Book Club Network, August 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 30

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 31

Book Looks by Lisa, September 1

She Lives to Read, September 1

Blogging With Carol, September 2

Lily’s Book Reviews, September 3

Simple Harvest Reads, September 4 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, September 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tabitha is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and 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/27780/robbing-the-races-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, August 21, 2023

About the Book

Book: Maeve’s Pledge

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 21, 2023

Pledges can’t be broken, can they?

Finally, out from under her father’s tyrannical thumb, Maeve Wycliffe can live life on her terms. So what if everyone sees her as a spinster to be pitied. She’ll funnel her energies into what matters most: helping the less fortunate and getting women the right to vote. When she’s forced to team up with the local newspaper editor to further the cause, will her pledge to remain single get cropped?

Widower Gus Deighton sees no reason to tempt fate that he can find happiness a second time around. Well past his prime, who would want him anyway? He’ll continue to run his newspaper and cover Philadelphia’s upcoming centennial celebration. But when the local women’s suffrage group agrees that the wealthy, attractive, and very single Maeve Wycliffe acts as their liaison, he finds it difficult to remain objective.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

More from Linda

When asked to contribute a story to the Suffrage Spinsters series, I immediately sat down and researched the suffrage movement. I was surprised to discover that the crusade to get women the right to vote began the 1830s. Nearly twenty years later, a women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York, an event considered the actual “birthplace” of women’s suffrage.

The history of suffragism in America is fascinating because of the large percentage of women who were against getting the right to vote. As I continued to delve into the history of the movement, I unearthed many references to an incident that occurred at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton decided to write a document similar to the US “Declaration of Independence,” call it the “Declaration of the Rights of Women,” and present it at the Exposition’s July 4thcelebration.

Their request to speak was summarily dismissed, and in fact, few women were able to obtain tickets to the event.

Undeterred, Anthony came up with an alternate plan. On July 4th, in the midst of Richard Henry Lee’s speech (grandson and namesake of one of the Declaration of Independence signers), she marched down the aisle inside Independence Hall and handed a scroll tied in a festive navy-blue ribbon to the host, then turned and made her way out of the building, distributing copies to the clamoring crowd as she went. Outside, she read the document aloud as the remaining copies were distributed. Newspapers covered her presentation and printed portions of the document. Word spread, and countless newspapers outside of Philadelphia picked up the article.

I knew I had my story, and I hope in some small way Maeve’s Pledge honors those tenacious men and women who fought to gain women the right to vote.

Blessings,

Linda Shenton Matchett

MY REVIEW

The story is a look at how women had to fight for the right to vote. The author gives us important historical facts that enhance the story. I loved reading about Susan B. Anthony and her dedicated work to help women become active in voting and other areas where women were thought of as a weak link. It surprised me how long it took to get the laws changed and I admire the women who went before me to pave the way for our rights.

Maeve is a woman who happens to be wealthy and looked on as a commodity to some men. Her money could help them expand their business ventures but they never treated her as a person who was intelligent. She has a fire within her to change the stigma about women and sets out to do her part. I don’t think she was quite ready to be a reporter for a newspaper though.

Gus doesn’t make a great first impression on Maeve but as things go, he finds himself with a new employee. He is not sure how this arrangement will work but I like that he was willing to give it a try. Not everyone is pleased with the new hire and a scene unfolds in the office. As a widower he never thought having Maeve around would be so upsetting to his deceased wife’s sister. Talk about being rude, Hester makes it known she is not happy to see Gus with another woman.

I loved how the author portrays Maeve as a gentle and kind woman. Instead of being offended by Hester she shows her grace. I wonder if we are quick to judge others instead of giving them grace? Like Maeve explains, no one knows what other people are going through. Their anger could be their way of showing how much emotional pain they are in. It is a great lesson for us to remember. God wants us to love our enemies.

The author intrigued me as I followed Maeve and Gus. Although Gus may be having feelings for Maeve she doesn’t seem interested. He seems to understand her more than she realizes though. She has this idea that all men are controlling and is closed off to the idea of marriage. Her lack of trust in men is something she will have to deal with.

I enjoyed learning more about a pivotal historical fact that changed the lives of women. Maeve has proven to be a good advocate and also along the way has a chance to allow God to heal her heart. I loved the ending and applaud the author for writing a story that inspires readers to stand up for what is right.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.