Scrapbook Page & Giveaway: Tarnished Brass by Max L. Knight

TARNISHED BRASS

by

MAX L. KNIGHT

  Genre: Historical Fiction / Novella / War 

Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.

Date of Publication: September 20, 2019

Number of Pages: 114

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The war in El Salvador as seen through the eyes of a U.S. Army officer, a guerrilla leader, and a refugee turned gang member

Patrick Michael Moynihan finds himself returning to the small Central American country where, as a young impressionistic junior officer, he was thrust into the middle of a brutal civil war.Miguel Alejandro Xenias, once a member of the ruling elite in El Salvador, recalls his change of heart, advancement within the guerrilla movement, and his new-found hope for the country now that the FMLN is in power.Antonio Cruz, seeking a new life in America, finds only a different kind of hatred and conflict, joins the street gang MS-13, and returns home bringing with him a new kind of warfare.These perspectives spotlight an ongoing struggle in El Salvador that continues to impact the immigration crisis on our southern border and the spread of gang violence throughout the United States.

 

More than just a history of the war in El Salvador, a conflict that ended almost thirty years ago, Tarnished Brass gives voice to those who fought and those who only wanted to escape the violence.

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Max Knight was born in Panama and grew up in the Canal Zone and in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in English. A Distinguished Military Graduate, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and served twenty-four years in the Air Defense Artillery retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

In addition to assignments within his basic branch, Max also specialized as a Foreign Area Officer in both the European Theatre of Operations (Germany and Greece) and within USSOUTHCOM (Panama, Honduras, and El Salvador). He received the Defense Superior Service Medal for his service in El Salvador during that country’s civil war. Max earned his master’s degree in government from Campbell University, and retired from the Army in 1997.

Upon retirement Max was hired by RCI Technologies in San Antonio and became its Director of Internal Operations. He also was the first volunteer docent at the Alamo working within its Education Department. However, following the tragic events of 9/11, he became an Independent Contractor and spent the next ten years as a Counterintelligence Specialist in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Central America before cancer forced him to quit.

Max has since published a memoir, Silver Taps, and a novel of westward expansion, Palo Duro. He resides in San Antonio with his wife, Janet “Gray.” They have three surviving children; Lisa, Brian, and Sean, and three grandchildren; Tony, Nicholas, and Cecilia Marie.

║ Blog ║ Twitter ║ LinkedIn ║ Goodreads║

 

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OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 8, 2019

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

10/29/19	Promo	All the Ups and Downs
10/29/19	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/30/19	Author Interview	That’s What She’s Reading
10/30/19	Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/31/19	Scrapbook page	Missus Gonzo
10/31/19	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
11/1/19	Playlist	The Clueless Gent
11/1/19	Review	Forgotten Winds
11/2/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
11/2/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight

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Review & Giveaway: Comfort Songs by Kimberly Fish

COMFORT SONGS

a companion novel to Comfort Plans

by

KIMBERLY FISH

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction

Publisher: Fish Tales, LLC 

Date of Publication: September 19, 2019

Number of Pages: 348

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Award-winning author of Comfort Plans, Kimberly Fish, delivers a novel about family, forgiveness, and the seeds of second chances.Eight years ago, Autumn Joy Worthington, still reeling from the bitter divorce of her Grammy-Award-winning parents, endured the betrayal of a man who’d promised her a wedding. Running from pain seemed the logical response. Reinventing herself in Comfort, Texas, as a lavender grower, she creates a wildly successful gardening haven that draws in tourists and establishes an identity far removed from her parents’ fame. Her mother’s retirement from stardom inspires AJ to offer her refuge and nurse the dream that they could move past old hurts and the tarnish of the music industry … to find friendship. A grandmother in the early stages of dementia and the return of AJ’s father complicate the recovery, but nothing sets the fragile reality spinning like the arrival of Nashville music executive, Luke English.

 

As Alzheimer’s slowly knocks away the filters of their family, AJ comes to appreciate the true meanings of love and forgiveness — and that the power of redemption can generate from the most unlikely sources. When AJ uncovers the grit to make hard choices, she also discovers that the flowers that bloom the brightest can have the most tangled roots.

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When I read books, my brain tends to turn the story into a cinematic experience. Comfort Songs by Kimberly Fish very easily converted into a movie in my mind because of its vivid imagery (and lovely smells!) and natural dialogue. I wasn’t surprised to read that several of the characters from the companion book, Comfort Plans, reappear in this novel. Fish obviously has a clear picture of each character and effortlessly translates that image onto the page so that we can see it as well.

I didn’t get around to casting everyone in the book, but the first person I pictured in the role of July Sands was Jane Fonda. I know that the age isn’t quite right, but I felt like she had the looks and feistiness to pull off the singer struggling with her forced retirement. As for the beautiful and strong Autumn Joy, I couldn’t shake Reese Witherspoon out of my head. I could see her defiance, challenging anyone to try to prove that her own hand didn’t carve the life she led. And finally, I saw Bradley Cooper as the charming and handsome Luke English: a man who can flip that corporate switch just as easily as he can draw you in with his own brand of southern charm.

In case you can’t tell, I was fully immersed in this story because of the interesting characters. There were so many moving parts as we jump back and forth from the past to the present to see what makes the three generations of women tick. If you thought you had mother-in-law issues, you haven’t seen anything yet. And you would think that someone who suffered constant abuse at the hand of another person would remember that feeling and not continue that awful cycle of abuse. I guess that would only happen in a perfect world. And despite the picturesque backdrop of lavender fields, this particular slice of Comfort, Texas is anything but perfect.

While the book’s resolution left me feeling cozy, it didn’t have that cloying air that many romantic novels have when things end a little too perfectly. I am having trouble explaining why that is, but maybe it’s as simple as the story being realistic. At any rate, I highly recommend this book to the romantics and any readers who appreciate phenomenal storytelling.

Kimberly Fish is a professional writer with almost thirty years of media experience. She’s been telling stories far longer. She published her first novel, a WWII historical fiction novel, because of a true story in her adopted hometown that was too good to ignore.  She quickly followed that success with a sequel. Since then, she’s continued writing fiction and added a contemporary second-chance romance series set in Comfort, Texas, to her list of fun, fast-paced novels. Kimberly lives with her family in East Texas.

 

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SIGNED COPY OF COMFORT SONGS
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OCTOBER 22-NOVEMBER 1, 2019

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10/22/19	BONUS Promo	All the Ups and Downs
10/23/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/23/19	Review	KayBee’s Book Shelf
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10/30/19	Review	The Clueless Gent
10/30/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
10/31/19	Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/31/19	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles

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Review & Giveaway: Longing for a Cowboy Christmas

LONGING FOR

A COWBOY CHRISTMAS

with stories by

ROSANNE BITTNER, LINDA BRODAY,
MARGARET BROWNLEY, AMY SANDAS,
LEIGH GREENWOOD, ANNA SCHMIDT Genre: Romance Anthology / Western / Historical
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of Publication: September 24, 2019
Number of Pages: 528

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Find your very own cowboy to keep warm these long, wintry nights as you cozy up with six sweeping, epic tales of heroism, passion, family and celebration from bestselling authors Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas.

 

 

Fall in Love with Christmas

Whether it’s a widower finding an unexpected new start, a former outlaw and his new wife welcoming their very own Christmas miracle, a long-lost lover returning just in time for a special holiday celebration, a second chance at love between two warring hearts given peace at last, an unlikely pair working together to bring joy to a small Texas town, or a cowboy and his dark-eyed beauty snowed in one unforgettable wintry eve…every Christmas with a cowboy is filled with light, laughter, and a forever kind of love.

 

“It’s not the size that matters, it’s how you use it.” That double entendre is among my favorites and it fits this book perfectly. When I picked up this midsized paperback, I was a little skeptical that it could hold six stories that would satisfy me in such a small amount of space. I am glad that I was proved wrong. I believe that one of the stories is a snippet of a full-length book while the other five are novellas, but they all very much represent the best of this genre. While each story has its own distinct flavor, the high-quality editing is evident throughout the whole package. There are no messy typos or confusing text in this little gem. (ETA: Oh darn, the page numbers on the index are a bit off in the ARC, but I’m sure they fixed it in the final copy.)

Greenwood’s A Fairy Tale Christmas and Brownley’s A Love Letter to Santa has descriptions that make my brain dance with delight. I could see everything because they described every detail so carefully. I read those stories deliberately so that I wouldn’t miss anything. A Fairy Tale Christmas is the perfect story to start the anthology with because it is the least steamy of the six. Although A Love Letter to Santa is also pretty tame in the sexy department. But don’t get me wrong; there is tons of delicious tension between the love interests. However, if you’re more accustomed to historical romances that follow the “normal and proper” rules of courting behavior from that era, those two stories will leave you breathless but not quite flushed.

If you want to feel the heat and read a happy ending (double entendre strikes again!), Bittner’s Christmas in Paradise, Broday’s A Christmas Wedding, and Schmidt’s One Snowy Christmas Eve are juicy appetizers to the sinfully sensual Through the Storm by Sandas. I don’t know if it’s because of the time period, but I appreciate that the couples in these stories have way more going on under the surface beyond just pure, animal physical attraction. With the exception of One Snowy Christmas Eve, the lovers in all of these particularly steamy stories fell in love pretty quickly but it is obvious to the reader that they found their match and simply were not wasting any time in expressing their love for each other.

I really enjoyed how this anthology featured scenarios that I’m sure existed at the time but I never put much thought into before. For example, A Christmas Wedding is set in a town populated by asylum refugees, ex-outlaws, and other society castoffs. Christmas in Paradise’s male protagonist is a divorcee and One Snowy Christmas Eve’s female protagonist turns down the love of her life to become a doctor. I feel like the common thread in all of these stories, besides the Christmas bit, is an independent woman who finally falls in love when she meets a man strong enough to catch her. Take your pick of wine or hot cocoa and settle in. You need these stories in your life!

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PRAISE FOR LONGING FOR A COWBOY CHRISTMAS: 
“Greenwood is a master at westerns.” ―RT Book Reviews for Leigh Greenwood

“An emotional powerhouse! This classic historical western is destined for the “keeper” shelf.” ―RT Book Reviews, Top Pick for Rosanne Bittner

“Fun and sensual…great for fans of history, romance, and some good old Texas grit.” ―Kirkus for Linda Broday

“A great story by a wonderful author.”―#1 New York Times bestselling author DEBBIE MACOMBER for Margaret Brownley

“The perfect read.” ―RT Book Reviews for Anna Schmidt

 

“A genuine page-turner…electric and absorbing.” ―Kirkus for Amy Sandas

Blog Tour Participating Authors (L to R): Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Amy Sandas

Rosanne Bittner:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Blog * Amazon
Linda Broday:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Pinterest * BookBub * Amazon 

Margaret Brownley:
Website * Facebook  * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon

Leigh Greenwood:
Website * Goodreads

Amy Sandas:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Instagram * Amazon

Anna Schmidt:
Website * Pinterest&nbsp* Goodreads

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Grand Prize: Copies of: Longing for a Cowboy Christmas, The Cowboy’s Honor,

Logan’s Lady, Cowboy Charm School + $25 Amazon Gift Card

2nd Prize: Copies of:  LFACC, The Cowboy’s Honor, Logan’s Lady + $25 Amazon Gift Card

3rd Prize: Copies of: LFACC, Logan’s Lady

October 15-October 25, 2019 

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

10/15/19	Book Trailer	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/15/19	BONUS STOP	Hall Ways Blog
10/16/19	Review	Book Fidelity
10/17/19	Author Spotlight	That’s What She’s Reading
10/18/19	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/19/19	Author Spotlight	All the Ups and Downs
10/20/19	Author Spotlight	StoreyBook Reviews
10/21/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/22/19	Author Spotlight	The Page Unbound
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Scrapbook Page & Giveaway: Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

JOURNEY OF

THE PALE BEAR

by

SUSAN FLETCHER

Middle Grade / Medieval Historical Fiction
(grades 3-7)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Date of Publication: October 2, 2018
Paperback: October 1, 2019

Number of Pages: 302

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A runaway boy befriends a polar bear that’s being transported from Norway to London in this lyrical and timeless adventure story about freedom, captivity, and finding a family.

 

The polar bear is a royal bear, a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England. The first time Arthur encounters the bear, he is shoved in her cage as payback for stealing food. Restless and deadly, the bear terrifies him. Yet, strangely, she doesn’t harm him—though she has attacked anyone else who comes near. That makes Arthur valuable to the doctor in charge of getting the bear safely to London. So Arthur, who has run away from home, finds himself taking care of a polar bear on a ship to England.

 

Tasked with feeding and cleaning up after the bear, Arthur’s fears slowly lessen as he begins to feel a connection to this bear, who like him, has been cut off from her family. But the journey holds many dangers, and Arthur knows his own freedom—perhaps even his life—depends on keeping the bear from harm. When pirates attack and the ship founders, Arthur must make a choice—does he do everything he can to save himself, or does he help the bear to find freedom?

 

Based on the real story of a polar bear that lived in the Tower of London, this timeless adventure story is also a touching account of the bond between a boy and a bear.

 

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ACCOLADES AND PRAISE FOR

JOURNEY OF THE PALE BEAR:

Honor Book, Golden Kite Awards, 2019

Vermont’s 2019-2020 Dorothy Canfield Fisher list
2020 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award Children’s Masterlist
School Library Connection highly recommended book
Junior Library Guild Selection
50 Must-Read Historical Fiction Books for Kids, bookriot.com

“…a stupendous coming-of-age-tale stuffed with adventure and laced with deeper questions… A richly satisfying story saturated with color, adventure, and heart.” –Kirkus, starred review

“I simply adore this novel. It has it all: gorgeous prose, fascinating history, riveting adventure. But it’s the unlikely tender friendship between a lonely boy and a polar bear that makes this a story to cherish. A lovely little miracle of a book.”

–Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan“I loved every single thing about this large-hearted and riveting medieval adventure.” —William Alexander, National Book Award-winning author of Goblin Secrets

 

Although Susan loves to write about long-ago and faraway places, she can’t bring those worlds to life without grounding them in the details of this one. To that end, she has explored lava tubes and sea caves; spent the night in a lighthouse; traveled along the Silk Road in Iran; ridden in a glider, on a camel, and on a donkey; and cut up (already dead!) baby chicks and mice for a gyrfalcon’s dinner. To research Journey of the Pale Bear, she explored the grounds of the Tower of London and went backstage at the Oregon Zoo, where, standing breathtakingly near, she watched polar bears Tasul and Conrad lip grapes from their keepers’ open palms.Journey of the Pale Bear is Susan’s 12th book, including the Dragon Chronicles series, Shadow Spinner, and Alphabet of Dreams. Collectively, her books have been translated into nine languages; accolades include a Golden Kite Honor Book, the American Library Association’s Notable Books and Best Books for Young Adults, BCCB Blue Ribbon Books, and School Library Journal’s Best Books.

Susan has an M.A. in English from the University of Michigan and taught for many years in the M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College. She lives in Bryan, Texas with her husband, historian R.J.Q. Adams, and their dog, Neville.

Website ║ Facebook ║ Instagram 
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Amazon Author Page

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THREE AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF JOURNEY OF THE PALE BEAR

OCTOBER 10-20, 2019

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR

10/10/19	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
10/10/19	Excerpt	Max Knight
10/11/19	Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/12/19	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/12/19	Author Interview	That’s What She’s Reading
10/13/19	Review	Tangled in Text
10/14/19	Review	Books and Broomsticks
10/15/19	Guest Post	All the Ups and Downs
10/15/19	Deleted Scene	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/16/19	Review	Forgotten Winds
10/17/19	Review	The Page Unbound
10/18/19	Guest Post	StoreyBook Reviews
10/18/19	Scrapbook	Missus Gonzo
10/19/19	Review	The Clueless Gent
10/19/19	Review	Librariel Book Adventures

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Review & Giveaway: A Distance Too Grand by Regina Scott

A DISTANCE TOO GRAND

(American Wonders Collection, Book One)

by

REGINA SCOTT

  
Genre: Historical Fiction / Christian Romance
Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: October 1, 2019

Number of Pages: 384

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Meg Pero has been assisting her photographer father since she was big enough to carry his equipment, so when he dies she is determined to take over his profession–starting with fulfilling the contract he signed to serve on an Army survey of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in 1871. What she doesn’t realize is that the leader of the expedition is none other than the man she once refused to marry.

Captain Ben Coleridge would like nothing more than to leave without the woman who broke his heart. He can’t afford to be distracted during this survey, which is a screen for another, more personal mission, one he cannot share with any member of his team.

As dangers arise from all sides–and even from within–Meg and Ben must work together to stay alive, fulfill their duties, and, just maybe, rekindle a love that neither had completely left behind.

PRAISE FOR A DISTANCE TOO GRAND:

“Five stars is not a rating I usually bestow. But Regina Scott’s A Distance Too Grand merits it. Lively, realistic, engaging characters. A compelling and intriguing plot with life and death consequences kept me turning pages. I hated to put the book down.”–Lyn Cote, Carol Award-winning author

 

“Adventure, danger, and romance in a wonderful, fresh setting: the Grand Canyon of 1871. Readers will find much to love.“ –Julie Klassen, bestselling author

 

“Regina has done an excellent job of bringing the setting and characters to life. I could see and feel the canyon and picture the characters going about their tasks. A balance of mystery, romance, and adventure with enough factual information that I almost felt I could take over for the heroine. I highly recommend this book.” — Linda Ford, award-winning, fan-favorite author of the Glory, Montana series

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Additional Retailers

If you have read a few of my reviews by now, then you are very much aware that I judge a book by its cover constantly. As a librarian, that’s probably a terrible admission to make. But as someone who also works in publishing, I like to think that I’m keeping it real. If the choice of font doesn’t tell you that this book is a historical romance, then the lovely lady in early American garb posing with an old fashioned camera is informing you very loudly. Message received and let me tell you, I love these types of books and I am infatuated with this one in particular.

Blame Laura Ingalls Wilder, but I adore stories about America in her youth and how so much of her expanse was still unexplored. I can’t explain my fascination with the dress, the food, and the customs, but my brain laps it up and my heart sighs with content. The author does an amazing job of painting the surroundings and characters with her words – she has an impressive vocabulary, I might add. I think I read this book 1/3 slower than normal because I would look up the definition of a word (I could have just context clued it but I wanted to hear what Webster had to say) or look up images and short descriptions of things I found interesting. I wanted to know what a lemonade berry looked like and how a stereograph worked, just to name a few. Scott really did her research because this book is chock-full of historically accurate and interesting tidbits.

I found the major arcs of the story to be a bit predictable but that did not detract from the pleasure I took in reading. To be completely honest, if the author had gone off the rails and taken the plot in a nonsensical direction, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it so much. I think that if you care about the characters and can see everything in your mind’s eye, then the experience will be enjoyable no matter the destination. I got a sense that Scott put a lot of thought and care into this story, giving us all the details we craved but not pulling what I like to call A Heart of Darkness (i.e., going on and on about a river).

Without ruining the book for you, I just wanted to share my favorite quote because it echoes one of my own personal philosophies: “Everyone is good at something. Everyone has a story to tell. You just have to listen.” Fantastic, isn’t it?

I can see why this book is classified as a Christian romance since I would weigh it as being about middling heavy on the Biblical references, hymnal verses, and private conversations with God. But if you’re a fan of historical romances set in this time period in America, then I think that the piety can be seen as a cultural norm rather than the author pushing her spiritual agenda. I keep going back to Laura Ingalls Wilder, but notice that her books are not labeled as Christian books for children and they are cherished by people the world over. My point being, don’t put this book down just because it is a Christian romance. You would be missing out on a really great historical fiction book. I read the sneak preview of the next book and cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

Regina Scott is the author of more than 40 works of warm, witty historical romance. Her writing has won praise from Booklist and Library Journal, and she was twice awarded the prestigious RT Books Reviews best book of the year in her category. A devotee of history, she has learned to fence, driven four-in-hand, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research. She and her husband of 30 years live south of Tacoma, Washington, on the way to Mt. Rainier.

Website ⬥ Facebook ⬥ Blog  
Pinterest ⬥ Goodreads ⬥ BookBub 
⬥ Amazon Author Page ⬥
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FIRST PRIZE: Copy of A Distance Too Grand + 2020 National Parks Calendar;
SECOND PRIZE: Copy of A Distance Too Grand  + Grand Canyon Candle;
THIRD PRIZE: Copy of A Distance Too Grand  + Parks Pencil Set
October 8-October 18, 2019

(U.S. Only)

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

10/8/19	Notable Quotable	Nerd Narration
10/8/19	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
10/9/19	Author Interview	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/10/19	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
10/11/19	Excerpt	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/12/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
10/13/19	Excerpt	All the Ups and Downs
10/14/19	Review	The Clueless Gent
10/15/19	Scrapbook Page	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/16/19	Review	Missus Gonzo
10/17/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight

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Notable Quotable & Giveaway: Christmas in Winter Valley by Jodi Thomas

CHRISTMAS 

IN WINTER VALLEY

Ransom Canyon, #8 

by

Jodi Thomas

Genre: Contemporary / Western / Holiday Romance
Publisher: HQN
Publication Date: September 24, 2019

Number of Pages: 288 pages

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Ransom Canyon welcomes you back for a Christmas that has everything you’re looking for: romance, family, and a whole lot of Texas.

Cooper Holloway would take nature over people any day—especially visiting relatives. That’s why he’s headed for a rustic cabin in remote Winter Valley, where he’ll care for a herd of wild mustangs. But Cooper’s plans are quickly thwarted by the arrival of two unexpected guests: one, a stranger in desperate need of his help, and the other, a very attractive young veterinarian.

Elliott is busy trying to keep Maverick Ranch running smoothly with Cooper gone, which is no easy task with family visiting. And when a long-lost love suddenly reappears in his life, Elliott knows he’ll have more than just books to balance this season.

With a big, chaotic family Christmas around the corner and love blooming in surprising ways, the Holloway men will have to make big choices about the future—just in time for the holidays.

PRAISE FOR CHRISTMAS IN WINTER VALLEY:
“This book has everything you would want. Laughter, drama. And tears both happy and sad. I highly recommend this book.” — Patty Champion (5 Stars, Goodreads Review)“I could not put this book down once I started it and longed for more once I was done.” — Melanie (5 Stars, Goodreads Review)

“I got lost in the world that she [Jodi Thomas] has created and enjoyed seeing her characters with their overlapping and interconnected stories find a happiness that none of them expected to ever find.” — B. (5 Stars, Goodreads Review)

 

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With millions of books in print, Jodi Thomas is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty novels and countless short story collections. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas and draw readers from around the world.

In July 2006, Jodi was the 11^th writer to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. With five RITA’s to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Thomas has proven her skill as a master storyteller.

Thomas was honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and served sixteen years as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

 

When not working on a novel, or inspiring students to pursue writing careers, Thomas enjoys traveling with her family, renovating an historic home, and “checking up” on two grown sons and four grandchildren.

 ║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter  ║
║ Instagram ║  Amazon  ║ BookBub ║
║ Pinterest  ║ Goodreads ║

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October 3-13, 2019

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

10/3/19	Notable Quotable	The Page Unbound
10/4/19	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
10/4/19	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
10/5/19	Author Video	All the Ups and Downs
10/6/19	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
10/7/19	Excerpt	StoreyBook Reviews
10/8/19	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
10/9/19	Scrapbook Page	The Clueless Gent
10/10/19	Review	The Book Review
10/11/19	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/12/19	Notable Quotable	Missus Gonzo

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Review & Giveaway: Paranormal Texas by Tui Snider

PARANORMAL TEXAS
Your Travel Guide
to Haunted Places
Near Dallas & Fort Worth
2ND EDITION

by

TUI SNIDER

Genre: Travel / Haunted Places / Texas History

Publisher: Castle Azle Press

Date of Publication: September 19, 2019

Number of Pages: 210 with 100+ black & white images

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More Haunted Places and True Ghost Stories!

Tui Snider’s popular travel guide to haunted places in North Texas is back with a fully updated 2nd Edition featuring more haunted places and true ghost stories!

What’s new in Paranormal Texas, 2nd Edition?

Just like the original travel guide, Paranormal Texas 2nd Edition gives readers haunted history and directions to sites where paranormal activity is reported in the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex.

The 2nd edition now includes:

• Photos: Readers asked for photos of haunted places. Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition has over 50 photos of haunted towns, haunted hotels, and more.

• Ghost hunting tips: Tui Snider explains what she has learned since she began attending paranormal investigations with Texas ghost hunters.

• More haunted places: Several new venues (including a haunted doll museum!) with fascinating haunted history were added to Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition.

• Firsthand accounts: Readers asked for more true ghost stories and hauntings. (She even shares personal experiences with paranormal activity, including a strange encounter with her doppelganger at a haunted hotel!)

All the above, PLUS a paranormal activity evidence database:

See the paranormal activity for yourself: Readers can access an online database with links to EVPs, ghost photos, videos, and other evidence gathered by paranormal investigators who have visited the haunted sites in her book.

•Continually updated: This database will be continually updated with EVPs, anomalous photos, videos, and other data gathered at haunted places featured in Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition.

•Add your paranormal activity: Readers can contact the author if they have paranormal evidence to add!

 

Is Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition for YOU?

1. Ghost Hunters – If you want to plan a fun road trip to haunted places (with or without ghost hunting equipment) Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition can help.

2. Armchair Travelers – If you prefer reading about haunted history, Paranormal Texas, 2nd edition can take you on an exciting armchair tour through haunted towns of North Texas.

“Tui’s 2nd edition is spot on fun and thrilling for everyone 

to read as only Tui can tell it!”  

– Greg Stephens, Paranormal Investigator (RIP)

 

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

With Halloween just around the corner, Paranormal Texas was a very timely read. In a strange and spooky coincidence, the last book I reviewed was about angel statues in cemeteries, and this book features the creepy image of one on its cover! While we’re on the subject of the cover, let me just say that I like the layout – it looks like a guidebook – but I found the font difficult to read (especially since it’s in white). I also appreciate that it informs you of the updates from the first edition: photos, evidence, ghost hunting, and experiences!

The thing I love most about this guidebook is Snider’s voice. I could tell immediately that I would enjoy her storytelling and hope to hear it in person one day. The introduction gives us the lowdown on what is in this second edition and how it came to fruition. I felt a little giddy hearing how an author actually listened to her readers and gave them what they wanted! I am also extremely pleased that she shares her Paranormal Texas Evidence Database with us. She could have easily kept that jewel to herself to be used for future editions, but she is so generous to share these experiences with fellow paranormal fans.

There were a few formatting issues and typos in the book, but nothing too distracting from the interesting subject matter. And while I appreciate that she gives us a key to ghost hunting jargon, it would have been good to have it from the very beginning before she actually used any of them. But for the most part, Snider does a fantastic job of explaining things in a way that even a non-ghost hunter like myself can be kept entertained and intrigued. Some might be put off by the black and white photos, but I thought that the lack of color contributed to the eeriness of the images.

I have read a fair amount of guidebooks and I think it is so cool how Snider can maintain the guidebook tone while covering quirky/spooky locales and experiences. Although I found a few of the backstory/history sections to be a bit on the long side, I found the majority of them to be interesting enough that I plan to research some of them in my spare time. But don’t count on me actually visiting these places – I’m a huge chicken. Strange, considering that I’ve never had a paranormal experience to traumatize me or anything.

For future editions, I would like to see Snider include symbols that indicate how “hot” a spot is (like 4/5 ghosts) and maybe how expensive ($$) a tour or stay at a hotel is. Speaking of hotels, why are there so many haunted hotels and libraries? I would like to hear the author’s thoughts on that question as well. Also, I would like to hear about a hostile ghost encounter since she only talks about friendly ghosts in this book.

I will close this review out with my favorite quote, “… where there’s history, there will be hauntings!” So if you’re into either, definitely pick up a copy of Paranormal Texas.

Tui Snider is an award-winning writer, speaker, photographer, and musician specializing in offbeat sites, overlooked history, cemetery symbolism, and haunted lore. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction, but then I moved to Texas!”

Tui lectures frequently at universities, libraries, conferences, and bookstores.This fall, she will speak about the Great Airship Mystery of 1897 at this year’s UFO Congress and teach a course on Understanding Cemetery Symbols at Texas Christian University. She also shares weekly info-videos based on her research at her YouTube channel.

Snider’s writing and photography have been featured in a variety of media outlets, including WFAA TV, Coast to Coast AM, LifeHack, Langdon Review, the City of Plano, Wild Woman Waking, Shades of Angels and many more. She has several more books in progress.

◆  WEBSITE  ◆  FACEBOOK  ◆  TWITTER◆

◆  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  ◆

◆  INSTAGRAM◆  YOUTUBE  ◆
GRAVE HOUR ON INSTAGRAM

————————————— 

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 GRANDPRIZE (US only): 
Signed Paperback + Handmade Cemetery Angel Pendant
+$10 Amazon Gift Card

2^ND PRIZE (US only): Signed Copy

3^RD PRIZE (International): Kindle eBook

(US ONLY)

October 1-October 11, 2019

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

10/1/19	Reading by Moonlight
10/2/19	Bibliotica
10/2/19	Book Fidelity
10/3/19	StoreyBook Reviews
10/4/19	Nerd Narration
10/4/19	Hall Ways Blog
10/5/19	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/6/19	Forgotten Winds
10/6/19	Books and Broomsticks
10/7/19	The Page Unbound
10/8/19	The Book Review
10/8/19	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/9/19	Missus Gonzo
10/10/19	All the Ups and Downs
10/11/19	That’s What She’s Reading

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Author Interview & Giveaway: The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal

THE GRYPHON HEIST

(Talia Inger, Book One)

by

JAMES R. HANNIBAL

Genre: Contemporary Christian / Thriller / Suspense
Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: September 3, 2019

Number of Pages: 400

Scroll down for the giveaway!

Talia Inger is a rookie CIA case officer assigned not to the Moscow desk as she had hoped but to the forgotten backwaters of Eastern Europe–a department only known as “Other.” When she is tasked with helping a young, charming Moldovan executive secure his designs for a revolutionary defense technology, she figures she’ll be back in DC within a few days. But that’s before she knows where the designs are stored–and who’s after them.

With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where criminal minds and unlikely strategies compete for access to the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault that hovers in the mesosphere. But is Tyler actually helping her? Or is he using her for his own dark purposes?

PRAISE FOR THE GRYPHON HEIST

“A movie-worthy tale of espionage and intrigue. Hannibal has done it again.”–Steven James, national bestselling author of Every Wicked Man

“James Hannibal has crafted a story slam full of mystery, danger, twists, and turns. I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough–or bother to stop to breathe. You don’t want to miss this one!”–Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author of the Blue Justice series

“The Gryphon Heist plunges readers into a world where no one can be trusted, nothing is as it seems, and choosing the wrong side could be catastrophic.”–Lynn H. Blackburn, award-winning and bestselling author of the Dive Team Investigations series

“Leap on board The Gryphon Heist and ride the whirlwind of suspense. Don’t let go!”–DiAnn Mills, bestselling author of Burden of Proof

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Baker Book House ◆ Amazon ◆ Barnes & Noble

Christianbook.com ◆ Kobo ◆ Books-A-Million
Additional Retailers

INTERVIEW WITH JAMES R. HANNIBAL

As a former tactical deception officer and stealth pilot, you bring a wealth of knowledge to your high-action suspense stories. Can you relay how your knowledge helped you write The Gryphon Heist?

In the intelligence world, we have a saying: “You don’t know what you don’t know.” That means an operative or analyst must work not only to find specific answers but also to discover what information or questions he or she didn’t even know to look for. Experience gives me an advantage in writing spy thrillers, because I know to look for information where others may not. I still do heavy research, but I have a head start. Additionally, you can’t truly know that world unless you’ve lived as a part of it. I’d like to caveat that statement by adding that fiction, in my opinion, should be escapist and enjoyable. So I expand on certain realities and create new ones over what real intelligence work is like in order to take the adventure to the next level for the reader.

What was your inspiration behind your book?

I had two inspirations: thieves and millennials, not necessarily in that order. I wanted to start a series of spy thrillers for the up-and-coming generation. So many thrillers these days are based on the older guy who has been around for a while. Instead, I wanted to see this world fresh, through the eyes of a rookie— and I wanted to make that today’s rookie, not me as a rookie. By the way, that took as much research as the technical stuff. While mulling my rookie over, I also got into thievery—not in any illegal sense. In a section of my last kids’ mystery series, I went deep into the pickpockets and thieves of a London thieves’ guild. That got me thinking about an elite team of thieves working for the CIA. From there, the story ran away with me.

You have several key characters in your new series. Among the thieves, spies, and assassins, do you have any favorites?

I love all my characters the same. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to say? Honestly, Tyler is at the top. No spoilers, but this guy has a shady past with layer after layer I can peel back through the story. Exploring this world with him at my side is a lot of fun. Finn, the daredevil cat burglar, and Darcy, the chemist-slash-explosives expert come up as close seconds. Darcy’s a bit off, so I never know what she’ll do next. Finn has a subconscious death wish combined with great skillsets, both aerial and criminal, so he is fun as well. I also liked playing him off our hero Talia, although he’ll have to get over himself if there’s going to be any real romance there.

In addition to offering a gripping tale, you also include an underlying theme of forgiveness in The Gryphon Heist. Can you elaborate on that?

Forgiveness emerged as a natural theme in this story amid the overall exploration of morality. God, as creator, is the author of morality, and he calls us to forgive. Most people don’t realize that a directive to forgive immediately follows the Lord’s Prayer in the Bible. As a former foster child who has endured a hard youth, Talia must overcome a great deal of anger if she is to grow as the hero and return to her faith. She must even learn to forgive the man responsible for her father’s death.

Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his Section 13 mysteries for kids and a Thriller Award nominee for his Nick Baron covert ops series for adults. James is a rare multi-sense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells and hears flashes of light. He lives in Houston, Texas.

Website ⬥ Facebook
Twitter⬥ Instagram
Goodreads⬥ Amazon Author Page –————————————

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

GRAND PRIZE: Copy of The Gryphon Heist 
+ Gryphon Ornament + Clip Bookmarks + $10 Starbucks Gift Card; 
SECOND PRIZE: Copy of The Gryphon Heist + $25 Barnes and Noble Gift Card;
THIRD PRIZE: Copy of The Gryphon Heist  + $10 Starbucks Gift Card
September 26-October 6, 2019

(U.S. Only)

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

9/26/19	Notable Quotable	The Clueless Gent
9/26/19	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
9/27/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
9/28/19	Author Interview	All the Ups and Downs
9/29/19	Review	Max Knight
9/30/19	Excerpt	StoreyBook Reviews
10/1/19	Review	The Page Unbound
10/2/19	Top Ten List	That’s What She’s Reading
10/3/19	Author Interview	Missus Gonzo
10/4/19	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/5/19	Review	Momma on the Rocks

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COMING MARCH, 2020!