This year has started off with a bang. My resolution was to take in less review requests so I could start whittling down those books on my TBR. Well, that started great and then a whole bunch of new books caight my eye and I had to read them. LOL You know how that is, don’t ya?
So, I’ve been reading like crazy, but not feeling quite as much pressure to get reviews done on a deadline. That makes my reading even more enjoyable too.
And, I’ve either been incredibly lucky or my book radar is dead on because the majority of books I’ve read this year have been 4 and 5 Star reads.
If you click on the banners, it’ll take you to my challenge page and you’ll find links for my reviews.
Let me show you!
My 2016 Quarterly Reading Challenge Updates
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Books so far – 5
I take my time choosing which books to add to this challenge as I read so many throughout the year.
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Books so far – 18
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Books so far – 7
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My Goodreads Reading Challenge
I set my goal at reading and reviewing 125 books. I’ve completed 45 so far and am at 36%.
This is always fun to do. So many books already. Too many to post here.
I didn’t want to feel pressured so I didn’t sign up for a challenge. Just using this to keep track.
So far I’ve read 21 from my TBR.
Not even a dent in that sky high pile. LOL But, working on it. And I’m going to wait to showcase the books after I complete the challenge. Many also go with some of my other challenges too.
I’m sure many of you will recognize author Michael Hebler from my review posts of his Chupacabra series.
This year he’s written a new novella in a whole other genre and I’m thrilled to share lots of news about it.
Check out The Ghost Of Christmas Past.
Enjoy all of the exciting news about Michael’s new release.
Watch his Q&A.
And learn how you can get an early copy.
Release date currently scheduled for September 27th, 2016.
And read to the end for some more exciting news!
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The Ghost Of Christmas Past
A Novella
by Michael Hebler
My Review
The title probably has you thinking this a retelling. Wait, though. It may start that way, but very quickly the author steers you in another direction. The focus shifts from the person being visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past to the ghost itself.
In order to save lost souls, the ghost needs its light to guide them. When the light is lost, the ghost must now go on a journey of its own. Go into the past and discover who it once was and regain its light to save Christmas.
In many places written in prose similar to Charles Dickens, it reads like a classic. As the characters are introduced, past and present, their lives deepen the story, and it tempted to skip ahead to see their stories conclusions. I resisted though.
For me to enjoy a story, I require strong, genuine characters who’s welfare means something to me. They need to have flaws, and I don’t have to like all of them or approve of what they do. But, they need to be believable and the author needs to keep them true to their personalities.
Michael’s characters could walk off the pages. I tried to picture them in my head from his descriptions and they came to life. Once that happened, I couldn’t put the book down.
I’ve read Michael’s Chupacabra thrillers and very much enjoyed them so I was curious about reading a story in a different genre.
Strong writing and atmospheric detail made this a fulfilling read and I enjoyed the direction the author chose with his tale.
The Ghost Of Christmas Past gets my highest recommendation for all readers.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
Based on Charles Dickens’ character of the same name, the first of three spirits from A Christmas Carol is the center of its own story when taken on a spiritual journey to find meaning for its existence.
The Ghost of Christmas Past has had its fire extinguished. Lost souls cannot find their way to righteousness without the Spirit’s luminescence to guide them through their shadowed memories. To rekindle its flame, the Ghost of Christmas Past must journey back to a life long forgotten. Guided by the Christmas Angel, the Spirit braves witness to how it lived as a boy in life, and learns what will become of Christmas should it fail.
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Intended Audience
The Ghost of Christmas Past is unique. The novella has appeal to readers of all ages, nationalities, and gender. Thanks to Mr. Charles Dickens, the main character name, Ghost of Christmas Past, is already as recognizable as Mickey Mouse, and the general population has shown remarkable interest in learning the backstories of supporting characters from popular works of fiction. The most notable example would be the novel Wicked by Gregory Maguire, the backstory of the witches from Oz. The Ghost of Christmas Past will appeal to fans of drama, mystery, fantasy, Literary Fiction, the supernatural, and Christianity.
Like A Christmas Carol, The Ghost of Christmas Past is not heavily religious but a story based around a Christian holiday. In 2014, more than 52 million religious books sold in the U.S., representing an increase of over 10.5% from the previous year. (Nielsen.com: Focusing On Our Strengths: Insights into the Christian Book Market)
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Check out this exciting news from Michael.
Never heard of Publishizer? Well, until a month ago, neither had I.
It was then that I was personally contacted by the company’s team mentor. He had seen that my novel, Night of the Chupacabra, had won an award and asked if I would be releasing another book any time soon.
“As a matter of fact, Yes,” I replied.
The mentor, Lee, then explained what Publishizer was about, how long the site had been live, and how it differed from other crowdfunding sites. Now before I continue, please note that I have no financial obligation or monetary interest in Publishizer beyond what I hope to achieve with my proposal for The Ghost of Christmas Past.
Essentially, Publishizer is a lot like Kickstarter or Go Fund Me, but for books only. They do not have to be newly released titles, but unpublished books are preferred. Publishizer went live about one year ago, and categorizes its proposals from non-fiction to a select number of genres. The simple formula Publishizer uses should be very familiar to anyone who has visited a top crowdfunding site: you donate money to help propel a project to success, and for your donation, you receive exclusive rewards that vary by the amount you donate (and trust me, I have some offerings that are very exclusive).
Upon learning of Publishizer, there were two distinctions about the service that had me sold. As any of my fellow authors can attest, when a book is pre-ordered, the feeling is akin to winning the lottery. Not only is someone interested in your story enough to purchase an advance copy, but they trust you as an author, which is priceless. Any donation made on Publishizer typically includes the reward of a pre-order (however, this is up to the author, though a popular choice). The second big perk Publishizer offers it’s authors comes at the end of your campaign if you achieve your set pre-order goal. Publishizer will blast your achievement to multiple publishers, demonstrating the amount of interest your title has accumulated. And if you reach at least 500 pre-orders, you’ll be blasted to the Big 5. I took it upon myself to investigate this aspect before joining and was surprised by how many titles were in a bidding war between at least two publishers.
For those solely interested in staying independent from publishing companies, you may not think the blast to publishing houses isn’t important. But how awesome would it be to have that kind of attention for your work? That’s about where I stand. I will never say “never” to a contract, but my previous works have done impressively well (thanks to honest reviewers and book bloggers like our dear friend, Laura) and I wouldn’t mind continuing on as an indie author/publisher.
So, please, if I stirred your curiosity about Publishizer, put your mind at rest by visiting their site. And while you’re there, please help participate in making history by supporting The Ghost of Christmas Past between March 29 and April 30, 2016. At the very least, you’ll receive a copy at the retailer rate of $5 for eBook and have it one month early.
For anyone who subscribes to my newsletter at http://www.michaelhebler.com/ , they will receive a free PDF copy of Night of the Chupacabra (Book I).
Simply visit the page. In about 10 seconds, a pop up to subscribe appears. Then subscribe with your email, which will then take you to the download page. Simple as that.
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And some more news!
Michael has a new story releasing soon!
Let me show you!
What Adam Wants
Synopsis
Losing a child at birth is difficult, but not as difficult as when that child refuses to leave.
Days after losing her child while giving birth, Rachel, and her estranged husband, David, are haunted by the incessant cries of a baby. It is their baby, Adam, and he wants something from Rachel… something deadly.
Amazon
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Author Michael Hebler
Prior to becoming an award-winning author of his dark fiction Chupacabra Series, Michael was a full-time international film publicist who had worked on multiple titles for Walt Disney, Pixar, Lionsgate, Lakeshore Entertainment, Warner Bros., Summit Entertainment, and the 2013 Academy Award-winning Best Foreign Language Film, “La grande bellezza” (The Great Beauty).
Born in the early 1970’s in Los Angeles County to a salesman and homemaker, Michael dreamed of following his passions for entertainment and storytelling by acting. It was while studying theatre arts at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, did he realize his penchant for stories were better suited on the page rather than the stage. But creating tales with suspense, laughter, and heart is not Michael’s only love. Hebler also enjoys volunteering in his local community, as well as aid in the capture/spay/neuter/release feral program.
To date, Michael’s publications include NIGHT OF THE CHUPACABRA, CURSE OF THE CHUPACABRA, and LEGEND OF THE CHUPACABRA (Books I, II, & III of the six-part Chupacabra Series) as well as his first publication, THE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS, a holiday picture book for believers of any age. Michael’s fourth book in the Chupacabra Series, DAWN OF THE CHUPACABRA will be available in print and for ebook on October 13, 2015.
This isa Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry.
Read on to learn how you can win some books!
After reading my review, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental for more and check out her review. Two chances to win!
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I’m With You
by Taylor Dean
My Review
The author reveals at the beginning that this book deals with the sensitive issues of baby loss grief. I’m very sensitive on this topic so it took me some time to read it.
I’ve enjoyed all of Taylor’s books, and I knew she’d take me down a hard path, sometimes dark, sometimes light.
Taylor Dean writes from her heart. You will feel all of the emotions; sadness, loss, hope, love. It’s always smart to have some tissues handy.
That being said, I loved this book. As I mentioned, it’s about love. Love for a tiny being yet to enter the world. Love for and from family and friends.
A couple are elated when they find they’ll soon have a baby to share their lives.
It’s about understanding. Understanding the all consuming grief over the loss of a child.
They are told the baby will not survive. It tests and breaks their bond.
It’s about consoling. How do you console someone who’s gone through such a life altering tragedy. What do you say. I’ve often struggled over what words to use when trying to comfort someone. If I’m very close to them, I often am just there. There when they need a shoulder to cry on. There just to be a comforting presence so they don’t feel alone.
A woman is lost in grief. Drowning in it.
It’s also about love. Love for a child. The most powerful feeling I’ve ever felt, for sure.
She’ll never forget her child. Even if she never gets to see him grow up. Share his life.
With the grief, comes the rage. Rage at others who couldn’t possibly understand. Jealousy of others who have what you lost.
What do you say to someone who’s suffered such a loss? How long before they should stop grieving?
So many stages of grief. But there’s another stage too. A light that begins to flicker, to grow stronger, brighter. That’s hope.
Life does go on, even when you don’t want it too. Someday, you will breathe again. Smile again.
I don’t want you to think that’s all this book focuses on. There’s a love story here. A journey to finding oneself.
While the author’s story is written from true events in her family’s life, the character’s and much of the story are fictional. I was torn between what I thought should happen and what I wanted to happen.
The characters are genuine. They hurt. They rejoice. You’ll want to gather them close. Grieve with them. Laugh with them. Celebrate life with them.
A story that tears at your heart but fills it too. I hope you read it.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
Can three little words irrevocably change your life?
When the doctors inform Chloe Brennan that her pregnancy is “incompatible with life,” her subsequent choices will change her path forever.
She becomes one of the quiet, unsung heroes of this world, incredibly strong, yet somehow wrongly looked upon as damaged.
Three people will pierce Chloe’s existence: her husband, a stranger, and a precious baby.
One will say goodbye, one will say hello, and one will say both at the same time.
I’m With You is a novel about selfless love and the sacredness of life.
Please note: While this book is a romance novel, it also deals with the sensitive issue of baby loss grief.
The emotions are real, and sometimes dark.
If you are sensitive to this issue, this may not be the book for you.
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.
To find out what Taylor Dean is up to, follow the links below:
Head on over and leave a link to your Sunday Post and hop around to visits others.
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Some chit chat.
Hello everyone and Happy Easter!
Not much happening here. Just chilling, watching movies and reading some good books. My son and I will probably have pizza delivered and stay right here at home. Yucky weather, anyway. Lots and lots of rain.
Wouldn’t you know it. With spring here, I thought the flu bug missed me. Nope, here I am, all yucky feeling. Hot one minute, cold the next. Muscles feel like they’ll break if I use them. LOL Luckily, it doesn’t appear to be too bad, and I’m hopeful it will go away quickly. I find staying busy keeps my mind off it, so, after spending a good portion of Saturday in bed, I’ve been reading and writing reviews for the next month or so. I also plan on going to work Monday no matter how I feel. It seems to help me not think about how I feel and, working pretty much alone, I don’t risk giving it to others.
Speaking of that. I don’t know anyone who is sick, so where did I get this bug? One guess. The grocery store. You pick up an item, someone has already handled it, and voila! You got a gift. LOL
Got lots of books to share, so let’s get to it!
I’ll be hopping over to check out your Sunday posts so be sure to leave me your link!
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New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.
Print books.
New eBooks
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And here are some freebies for ya!
Click on the covers to get yours and remember to make sure they’re still free before you click that buy button.
I hope ya’ll realize I don’t grab all of the free books I show on my posts! LOL
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Books I reviewed this week. Click on the covers for my reviews.
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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.
And a new one by Michael Hebler that I’ll be revealing on Thursday.
Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share reviews of all things scary.
For today I have another Ellie Jordan: Ghost Trapper book to share with you. I adore this series. So fun and so scary.
But before I get to that, I have something exciting to share with you! The first book in this series is free right now on Amazon. Click on the cover below to grab your copy and get started on this series now!
And now, without further adieu….
Terminal
Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #4
by J.L. Bryan
My Review
All aboard! This series takes a trip to the past. To the wild west, train robberies, and murder. What begins as a banshee threatening a family quickly becomes a show down between Ellie and her team and gun slinging ghosts.
It’s bad enough to trap ghosts in one location. Imagine a whole ghost town, and a haunted train.
I’m still loving this series and it’s characters.
The hauntings get stranger and scarier.
The romance is there. Not too much in this book as there are too many things going on for any of them to be indulging much in affairs of the heart.
And a big change might be coming soon. Ellie’s boss, the owner of the ghost trapping agency, has been acting morose, withdrawn. He’s mentioned maybe selling the agency and retiring. What will Ellie do then? She can’t see herself working for some phony ghost busting show, or bilking customers for large amounts of money. Can she keep doing this without him? Is she ready?
This installment in the series is more complex, tighter. There’s a lot of history leeching into it. There’s always some of that as the things being investigated are dead. You have to go back to the beginning of their stories to solve the current hauntings. But this was double fun. I love the old west and couldn’t be happier with how this investigation went down.
Another excellent book in the series. Still loving it.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
Ellie Jordan and her apprentice Stacey investigate a house in an elaborate planned community that was only half-built before it went bankrupt, leaving an instant ghost town with only a few residents. The entity haunting this house is a banshee that feeds on sadness and misery.
Unfortunately for Ellie, this is no simple haunting, but just one symptom of the cursed land on which the suburban community was built. The old railroad line running through the nearby woods might just be a conduit for lost souls, including dark spirits with ill intentions toward the living. Ellie soon finds herself facing one of the most complex and difficult hauntings she’s seen in her career.
And nest week I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the fifth book in this series
House Of Whispers
Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #5
By J.L. Bryan
Synopsis
The luxurious Lathrop Grand Hotel is a Savannah institution that has entertained guests for more than a century and a half, offering some of the finest accommodations in the city. Famously haunted, the hotel draws tourists from around the world eager to encounter its numerous ghosts. The hotel is also known for being honeycombed with hidden doors and secret passages, enabling staff to appear and disappear quickly as they attend to the hotel’s guests.
Now some of the spirits in the Lathrop Grand have turned violent, even murderous. Ellie and Stacey must determine which ghost has become dangerous and remove it from the hotel before it can claim any more lives. They soon learn the hotel has secrets even darker than the notorious string of nineteenth-century murders that made it famous, and the powerful entities inhabiting it don’t intend to leave without a fight.
I have a lovely little story to share with you today.
Please enjoy the authors guest post.
Check out my review.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
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Author Christopher P. Stanley is here to tell us about the inspiration behind his book and about the images.
Hello!
The inspiration behind my book was a walk that I took with my infant son a few months ago. It was in mid-summer, and there were many things on my mind. From issues at work, to dealing with simply trying to keep my house clean when four children live there, I felt very distracted and was definitely not being mindful of my many blessings. I decided that I wanted to walk down to the park a mile away from where I live, and I took Sam along so that he could have a change of scenery. As we started walking, I was not really paying attention to my surroundings as I was getting stuck in my thoughts. When we were down the street a bit, I looked down at Sam to see how he was doing – and that’s when everything changed. You should have seen his face. Here was this baby boy, all of 9 months old, teaching me about wonder, joy, and mindfulness. The way he was looking up at the trees, I could see how amazed he was. And he was right! I stopped to look as well, and it was really quite extraordinary. We are fortunate enough to have many mature trees in our neighborhood, and I was overcome with their beauty and just their…dignity. As we continued along, I joined Sam in being mindful of my surroundings, and many of those questions and scenarios from the book happened on this walk. It’s truly amazing what we can experience just by paying attention.
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Furthering my inspiration, I have always loved picture books and realized just how much they have to offer the reader. I remember getting The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base when I was about 10 years old, and I was just obsessed! As picture books were such big parts of my life, I always wanted to make my own. I made simple ones as a child, but I really started wanting to make a picture book when I was 26 years old. I had a good idea, and even wrote an outline, but never did anything with it. It really wasn’t until that walk with Sam that “The Muse” spoke to me, as it were, and I decided to actually follow through with my life-long dream of writing children’s books. So it took almost ten years, but I’m happy to report I’m following through. I’ll have another release in a couple of months, and I’ve finally started to work on my original idea from almost a decade ago. What a walk that was, huh?
The images were a lot of fun to create. My artistic medium has always been photography/digital art. For this story, I decided to capture some of the actual trees that Sam and I encountered on our walk. So over the course of a couple of months, I took pictures. Some I had Sam pose in, others I did not. The image from the cover is actually a Beech tree in my front yard! One of my favorite pages, the page with the autumn leaves, is on a street by my eldest daughter’s middle school. I turned down the street and knew right away I needed this picture for the book. So after I took the photos, I started manipulating them on my computer. Some photos took little time and effort, while others I spent a lot of time getting what I wanted. Some pictures worked beautifully while others I had to do a lot of manipulating and creating. It was definitely hard work! Overall, it took about 4 months to get them all done.
I’ve always loved trees. Loved to lie on the ground and peer up through the branches. Hear the leaves rustle in the wind. And even loved rolling in them when the trees shed their leaves for the winter.
Do you remember doing that? Do you remember being buried in a pile of leaves, breathing their earthy scent? I do to this day.
This book is like taking a walk into the past. To those younger years when everything seemed so large and miraculous.
The delightfully colorful illustrations in the story burst from the pages. It makes me want to get out some watercolors and do some painting.
One of the first things I painted with water colors was a tree. Loved drawing the sturdy trunk, adding the branches, and the smaller limbs. Then came the leaves. All shapes and sizes.
Come take a walk with Christopher and Samuel. Next time you’re outside, stop and look at the trees. See their strength and beauty.
While this picture book is intended for early readers, I’d recommend it to all ages. The beautiful illustrations and story fill you with a sense of wonder.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
This story draws inspiration from the author taking his son, Samuel, on a walk to the park. He noticed how amazed Samuel was at everything there was to see – especially the trees that towered above him. With artwork depicting these trees that forged such awe in young Samuel’s eyes, “The Tree Watcher” takes the reader along on this wonder-inducing walk.
Christopher P. Stanley grew up in Grove City, OH and had a childhood that centered around imagination, play, and exploring the outdoors (mixed in with a healthy amount of Nintendo). A large part of his, perhaps over-active, imagination is owed to books – “Where the Wild Things Are”, “Vinegar Pancakes and Vanishing Cream”, and “every single Dr. Seuss book” made up just a small sampling of the children’s books that filled him with wonder – and continue to do so to this very day!
Christopher graduated from Ohio Dominican University with a degree in Education, and has been an educator for the past 10 years in both the K-12 and Higher Education settings. He currently lives in Upper Arlington, OH with his wife, Morgan, and their four children – Rylee, Olivia, Lylah, and Samuel – who remind him every day of the magic that is childhood.
Christopher is an author and co-founder of Jump Splash Books, and he aims to highlight imagination and celebrate the joy of childhood through his stories. He co-founded Jump Splash with his childhood friend and artist Alex LeVasseur, and the name of the company encapsulates their vision – through imagination and wonder, we can find joy; even in something as simple as jumping in a puddle.
They are like pages of a much-loved book, worn and crumpled from use but never changing.
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Read on if you want to know more.
Synopsis
50 YEARS OF MEMORIES ARE HIDDEN IN THE WALLS OF THE LOFT…
Annie only needs to find one… the one that will save Oliver’s life.
On the day of their wedding, Annie saw nothing but happiness ahead, but when an accident calls her back to Memory House, her world is changed forever. Ophelia Browne, the woman who taught Annie to find the memories in a forgotten object, is leaving the house and she’s leaving all those powerful memories behind.
After only three nights in the loft, Annie must now find the single most meaningful memory in Oliver’s mind. If she finds it in time, she can save his life, if she doesn’t…well that’s something she can’t afford to think about.
Readers will welcome back the much-loved characters from Memory House and enjoy a few new friends!
I’m such a huge fan of these authors. How could I pass up a chance to read their new mystery. It’s different from their cozies and takes place in the late 1800s.
The first thing I was going to talk about was the beginning. That first chapter had a doozy of an ending. I was all ready to tease you about Jacks, but then I read the blurb and that burst my balloon. You see, when you first meet Pinkerton’s finest agent, you have no idea Jacks is a woman, Julia Jackson. I really had no idea until a conversation revealed it. From there on, I was riveted.
Julia’s transformation begins the day of her wedding. Her husband to be is gunned down and dies in her arms. From that day forward, she’s consumed with vengeance. She’ll do whatever it takes to track down Jonathon’s killer and exact retribution. Hopefully by her own hand. So begins Julia becoming Jacks.
She goes to Pinkerton for help, but ends up with a job. He strikes a deal with her. Work for him and he’ll help her. Now she has a name to put to the face of the killer, Zeke Castle.
Sounds thrilling, doesn’t it? Boy, that first case was wild. Jacks is saddled with a green agent, Davey Hume. He’s only been an agent for a month and is overly excited to be working with the legendary Jacks. Things go boom, a gang is taken down, and Jacks’ infamy grows.
Now she has a new case, Track down the Cherokee Indian named Coyote. He kidnapped the wife and son of a railroad man associated with Pinkerton, sending grisly proof. Jacks usually works alone, but this time she’ll have company. The husband of the victims, David Boyd, the newbie Davey Hume, and their guide, Running Wolf, who will come in handy when they have to enter Cherokee territory in pursuit of Coyote.
Jacks senses something hinky about the case right away. But with Coyote’s ties to Zeke Castle, her fiance’s killer, she heads off in pursuit.
About a a quarter of the way into the book, I started to pick up on a bit of a supernatural or paranormal theme. What’s with the raven that keeps following Jacks? And those yellow eyes peering in at her from the darkness outside? Or that voice that whispers in her ear when no one can be seen? Getting creepy.
The only hitch with this book is the cover. It works as their is some mysticism in it. But I think having Jacks on the cover, maybe standing in the roadway of a western town, back to us, arm ready to draw her gun, would be amazing. She’s become a favorite character of mine and I’d like to see her in action. Just sayin.
It’s only fair I should warn you. There’s a cliff hanger ending. A big one. I have a love/hate relationship with it. Hated that the story ended where it did. Loved that there would be more. Gonna miss the whiskey drinkin, cigar smokin, gunslinging, Jacks. Curious whether Davey Hume will continue to work with her. And I’m hoping their might be something going on between her and Running Wolf.
I’ll be ready for the next story. The authors have built a strong character base and I’m excited to see where they go.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
Three years ago, Julia Jackson was a well to do young woman from Boston whose fiancé, Jonathon, was killed right before her eyes. Obsessed with finding the killer, a man whose face she saw only in a flash as he walked up and shot Jonathon, she leaves her family and her life behind. She starts a new life as ‘Jacks’ Jackson—a cigar smoking, dead eye, female Pinkerton agent…pretending to be a man.
Now Allan Pinkerton needs Jacks to find the man who kidnapped the wife and son of a railroad official, David Boyd. Their only clues are the severed finger from the man’s wife, complete with wedding ring, and a map of the Qualla boundary, the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina.
Jacks doesn’t like the way the whole thing sounds from the beginning. David Boyd isn’t important enough to target for a kidnapping. And why travel so far with two hostages?
But Pinkerton tells her that he believes the man responsible for the kidnapping worked with Jonathon’s murderer in a train robbery five years ago. Jacks agrees to go after the kidnapper with hopes of catching him before he can reach his home grounds.
Pinkerton insists that Jacks bring three men with her—Boyd, her new partner, and a Cherokee guide named Running Wolf, who’s always watching her, like he’s trying to figure it out.
Can Jacks catch the kidnapper with her secret—and her life—intact?
Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.
I’ve read most of Bette Lee Crosby’s books and adored them. She has this southern flavor in her writing that appeals to my soul.
Memory House is the first book in the collection and enchants you right from the get go.
Ophelia is nearing 90 years old, and while she’s slowing down, she still has a lot of living to do. Searching from someone to pass her guardianship of treasures to, she waits for that someone to appear.
Ophelia can capture memories from objects. She feels their emotions, and sometimes visualizes them. She keeps the objects she comes across in her loft, keeping them alive to become others memories too. Perhaps that’s why so many of us are drawn to antiques and old things. We’re curious about them, wonder about the owners.
In walks Annie, looking for some time away after a bad break up with her boyfriend. She stumbles upon Memory House Bed & Breakfast, where a kind elderly woman welcomes her in. They quickly form a kinship and Ophelia feels that special someone has finally arrived. Now to see if she’s right.
I especially enjoyed it when Ophelia introduced her treasures to Annie. I recognized character’s the objects belonged to from some of her other books. It took me back to those beloved places and characters. A treat and such a clever idea.
Memory House a lovely read. Bette never fails to deliver engaging, step from the pages character’s that quickly become special friends to you. Her story is woven with magic. It entices, evokes your emotions, and you finish with a need for more.
I’m now reading the second book, The Loft, and it take places not too long after this book ends. Right back into this world and eagerly turning the pages.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A MEMORY TO OUTLIVE ITS OWNER?
Ophelia Browne knows the answer is yes. She knows because she’s been granted the unique gift of finding and caring for those forgotten memories. But now she’s nearing ninety, and Browne women seldom live beyond ninety.
Before time runs out Ophelia must find a successor. Someone who can take hold of the gifts and keep the memories from fading.
When broken-hearted Annie Cross shows up on the doorstep of The Memory House Bed and Breakfast, Ophelia knows she is the one. The two women forge a bond of friendship as they sip magical dandelion tea and share stories. When Annie starts to sense the memories Ophelia is delighted, but then a thread of violence begins to unravel and Ophelia fears things have gone too far.
Head on over and leave a link to your Sunday Post and hop around to visits others.
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Some chit chat.
Hello everyone and happy Sunday!
Time sure is flying. And so was everything outside my house this week!
Around 9 P.M. Thursday night I heard a strange whistling noise approaching my house. It got louder and louder, and then I heard this chuffing noise. I feared it was a tornado.
Thinking fast, I grabbed my cat and called my dog to me as I ran to my son’s room. We all gathered in a small hallway at one end of the house. The safest place because it’s surrounded by rooms.
We only had seconds before the storm hit. Could hear branches slamming on the house. Outdoor furniture tumbling off the back porch. And a loud crash as something broke. The rain and hail made such a din.
After about 20 minutes, the storm lessened and I dared to look outside. It was hard to see in the dark, but I noticed the pool ladder was gone, along with the outdoor furniture.
Living on the Gulf Coast, I’ve been through plenty of storms and hurricanes, but this scared me like you can’t imagine. I was sure it was a tornado and we were goners. Thank God we made it through safely.
In the light of day, I went out to view the damage. The pool ladder was in the middle of the yard, and my lawn furniture was all the way over by the fence. The loud crash was explained too. I had just replaced a toilet and the old one was on my porch, waiting for garbage day. It had blown over and the tank shattered. There were huge limbs broken around the house and my trash cans were in the road.
No major damage, just lots of clean up. All that and we never lost power! I hope I never go through that again.
Got lots of books to share, so let’s get to it!
I’ll be hopping over to check out your Sunday posts so be sure to leave me your link!
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New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.
Print books.
New eBooks
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And here are some freebies for ya!
Click on the covers to get yours and remember to make sure they’re still free before you click that buy button.
I hope ya’ll realize I don’t grab all of the free books I show on my posts! LOL
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Books I reviewed this week. Click on the covers for my reviews.
