Showing posts with label Split-Time Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Split-Time Fiction. Show all posts

3.16.2024

Between You and Us ~ Review

Between You and Us
By Kendra Broekhuis

What if you were given a choice between two divergent paths—paths that had already been chosen, paths that are vastly different yet have similarities, paths that diverged because of a single moment—a moment in which you either shared the truth or hid and buried it deep within yourself?

This is the choice before Leona—and what a choice it is: a cold husband and her very much alive daughter or a loving, caring husband with no daughter in her arms. Wealth or financial struggles? Is one path worth the other? Which life is better? How is she to choose? And more importantly, can she choose? If she chooses the life she knows, is there a way to return to it?

This story is presented in a back-and-forth between the present and the past. The past shows Leona's life in relation to her husband, David, from before they were married. The present starts with a trip across town in a taxi that Leona had to save for to share a pricey dinner, she had also saved for, to enjoy with her husband. This was the start of a new beginning, to try to step out of their shared grief. Well, it was a new beginning, just not one that anyone would have believed possible.

I think anyone who has lost a child would be torn by the choice Leona was facing. I have to be honest if given the choice of having a loved one back in your life but at the cost of something else dear, it could be tempting and yet not. I think it was interesting to see the whole relationship thing between Leona, her mother, her in-laws, and even her friend and sister.

This is a well-written read that has an emotional draw that will pull you deeper into the story as Leona tries to figure out everything. The characters are compelling and the contrast between the timelines is interesting. Well worth the time spent reading.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:
When a grieving woman unexpectedly steps into a different version of her life, she must choose between the husband she loves and the daughter she lost in this brave, gripping novel.

Three lives. 

Two outcomes. 

One impossible choice.

When Leona Warlon heads across the city to meet her husband, David, for a rare dinner out, she hopes they can share a moment of relief after their year of loss. But Leona quickly realizes this is no ordinary date night. She hasn’t just stepped into an upscale ristorante; she’s stepped into a different version of her life. One in which her marriage is no longer tender, in which her days are pressured by her powerful in-laws, and in which her precious baby girl lived.

Now Leona must weigh the bitter and sweet of both trajectories, facing an unimaginable choice: Stay in a world where tragedy hasn’t struck but where the meaningful life she built with David is gone? Or return to a reality that’s filled with struggle and sorrow but also deep and enduring love?

12.13.2023

Trust the Stars ~ Review

Trust the Stars
By Tricia Goyer

This is one of those books that just draws you into it. I love books that are both contemporary and historical fiction, which Trust the Stars is. The two stories are drawn together by a diary Princess Alessandra Appiani kept detailing the dangers she faced and the sacrifices she made during WW2 to help save those in need.

The contemporary portion focuses on Olivia Garza, a young woman, scarred by the decisions her mother made. But Olivia is on a journey of discovery. She wants, needs to understand her mother and is sharing this journey with the world via a podcast. 

Enter a stranger who manages to touch Olivia's life. But said stranger is actually a royal from a little known European country who needs to avoid a wedding. A wedding for the woman he thought he'd marry. In the one day that they Louis and Olivia connect. All is going great until Olivia finds out who Louis is and she cuts out of her excursion to Kenya less than pleased with Louis. After all how can someone used to the life and privileges of a royal possibly understand her normal day-to-day life of working with troubled teens in Little Rock's inner city?

This is where the diary comes in and I really enjoyed Alessandra's portion of the story. Her strength even in the face of losing everything she held dear - her husband, her children, and even her life. Her story provides inspiration to not only the reader, but Olivia. Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone to do the right thing.

Highly recommended read to either end 2023 or to begin 2024.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thought expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Olivia Garza, a woman committed to making a difference in the world, thrives in her unconventional, service-oriented life. By day, she helps troubled teens in inner-city Little Rock. By night, she creates a viral docu-series in an attempt to better understand her mother’s desperate decisions by retracing her steps with a camera. So far, Olivia has always been the anonymous narrator, but she’s promised to reveal herself in the last stop on her Kenya.

Prince Louis, heir to the throne of the small European kingdom of Alloria, is in Kenya to run away from a broken heart—and the media circus that comes with it. When he meets Olivia, he recognizes her voice right away from the docu-series that has stirred his heart. Though they share a magical day on safari, any dreams of happily ever after come crashing down with the flash of the paparazzi cameras when Olivia realizes that he represents everything she most despises in the world.

In World War II, Rome, another royal, however, has her own life-changing choices to make. Princess Alessandra Appiani could have chosen quiet safety within the walls of the Vatican, but instead, she risks her life—and her family—to save the Jewish children so in need of someone to show them the love of God.

When Olivia is hired to help create a documentary about Alessandra, learning about the sacrifice of a royal who goes from palace to prison forces her to face the hard questions of, "Should she continue on the path she’s carved for herself or trust God to give her the future she never thought she wanted?"

9.26.2023

The Legacy of Longdale Manor ~ Review

The Legacy of Longdale Manor
By Carrie Turansky

When Gwen Morris makes a costly error she is sent to England's Lake District in a hope to redeem herself and get out of the public's eye. What she never expected was to find a link to her own family. With questions about her father she sets off on a journey of discovery while at Longdale Manor. But some questions are almost impossible to answer when secrets are closely guarded. But with the help of David Bradford, grandson of the owner of Longdale Manor, Gwen looks for what may be long hidden away in the rescesses of the home.

Charlotte Harper is doing what she can to see that her mother and sister are provided for. But in 1912 any meaningful employment for women is nearly impossible to find. Fortunately the Storey family has offered them a place in their home. And as Charlotte grows closer to Ian she has to deal with what she sees as a betrayal. And this betrayal will have an affect on her life and her decisions. But can all of life be judged by another's deceit? This is something that Charlotte will have to discover before she can move forward.

I love how these two story threads are woven together. The questions that both Gwen and Charlotte face are ones so many have to face at some point in life. The struggles that they face and their reactions to disappointments along the way make the journey meaningful when we get to the end. Was it worth the fight that they put forth? Or a fruitless endeavor? This is a lovely book that is worthy of its cover and one you won't want to miss!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own



About the Book:

Two women—a century apart—embark on a journey to healing, faith, forgiveness,
and romance.

In 2012, art historian Gwen Morris travels to England's Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she meets David Bradford--the owner's handsome grandson--who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd's staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she's left searching for answers.

In 1912, after her father's death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte's grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.

PRAISE FOR The Legacy of Longdale Manor
 "This novel will stir your faith—and your desire to visit England's Lake District!"
—Julie Klassen, bestselling author of The Sisters of Seaview
 "Turansky opens the door of Longdale Manor and invites readers to explore the
secrets hidden inside."—Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of Chateau
of Secrets
 "A beautiful book to warm and lift the heart." —Cathy Gohlke, Christy Hall of
Fame author

PURCHASE LINKS


AUTHOR BIO

Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of twenty-one inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She loves traveling to England to research her Edwardian novels, including No Journey Too Far, No Ocean Too Wide, Across the Blue, and the
Edwardian Brides series. Her novels have been translated into several languages and have received starred reviews from Christianbook.com and Library Journal. 







QUICK FACTS
Title: The Legacy of Longdale Manor
Author: Carrie Turansky
Genre: Historical Romance, Dual Timeline Fiction, Inspirational FictionPublisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 26, 2023) Length: (352) pages
Format: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook 
 ISBN: 978-0764241055‎

8.05.2023

In This Moment ~ Review

In This Moment
Timeless #2
By Gabrielle Meyer

Maggie has inherited her parent's time-crossing gift, but she has inherited both of their abilities, so she lives in three separate time periods. In 1861, she is the daughter of a US Senator and friends with the Lincolns as the nation teeters on the edge of war. In 1941, she lives with her time-crossing parents and is a Navy nurse. At this time, the world is caught up in a war that the US has thus far stayed out of, But Maggie knows all too soon they will join the conflict. And in her third life, she lives in 2001, a medical student well on her way to becoming a surgeon. And a world she has no foreknowledge of.

Yet her time is short; she has mere months left to live in two of her lives. But when you are only 20 years old, how can you choose which lives to give up? Which family do you say goodbye to?

As Maggie struggles to make a decision, she must weigh all her options. She has determined to not fall in love in any timeline so as to not allow romance to make her decision for her. But her heart has other plans, and in each, she meets someone who could sway her decision.

I love this series and I can say with all honesty I would not want to be Maggie and faced with such a decision. How does one decide who to leave behind forever? And how can you be sure you made the right choice in a life where you won't get a second chance, a do-over? And to be that, you have to bury any knowledge you retain of the future forever. That would be so hard, especially if your knowledge could save lives, but at the cost of your own life in that timeline.

This reads best after reading the first book in the series - When the Day Comes. And in my opinion, would make a really good pair of movies if done like the books.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious British gentleman. The prickly, demanding doctor. The charming young congressman. She's drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer.

With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

7.25.2023

Like Honey for the Bones ~ Review

Like Honey for the Bones JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 
Like Honey for the Bones by Brandy Heineman, 

Like Honey for the Bones

Like Honey for the Bones
By Brandy Heineman

This is an interesting book. First it is split-time so we are offered two stories in different time periods. The first is set in the present day and Solveig Borja is dealing with the death of her granfather and closing out all he had in Virginia. The second story is set in 1919, and Gussie Rice is waiting for her fiancee's return from the Great War. And she is waiting for word from him, while having to deal with issues in her own home.

In both stories we are presented with two young women who are facing secrets. Secrets that have a bearing on their future. And each has a young man there waiting to offer a helping hand if they should need it.

Now I will say I did have a little bit of trouble getting into the story at first. I think it is the mood of the story - it is dark and troubled, but that is to be expected when one is facing the loss of one's beloved family member. But it is the hostility she faces from those who caused her to flee Virginia years ago that makes it difficult. And yet one offers her a glimpse of hope, even if it is hope that she can't accept at the time, but still it is offered.

Once the book got into it the story was easier to get into, so this is one of those books that persistence is worth your time. And as the storylines bring the two periods together the intrigue drew me further into the stories of these women's lives. I do love a thread of mystery weaving everything together.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book

Title: Like Honey for the Bones
Author:
Brandy Heineman
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date:
July 24, 2023
Genre:
Christian Split-time Romantic Mystery

TWO HEARTS BROKEN ALONG THE SAME JAGGED EDGE MAKE A GRISLY DISCOVERY DEEP IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY 

Present Day. Solveig Borja fled Virginia to escape the guilt of one reckless night, and once she settles the family estate, she’s Norway-bound and never looking back. Meanwhile, Kyle Benton has come seeking asylum from past sins—which Solveig shatters even as their hopeless romance blooms. But when they discover a skeleton at Rice Caverns, its century-old mystery holds startling links to the here-and-now.  

1919. The Great War is won. Gussie Rice longs for her beau's return from France, until she learns he’s confined at a stateside hospital and her closest confidant is part of the secret. Her bid for love sparks a confrontation that ricochets through time... 

Bad blood and escalating threats swirl around Solveig, and Kyle’s new life proves no haven from the old with his brother's killer trolling the shadows. As the past rears up, the cavern’s hidden places beckon with power to light their hope or to swallow them in utter darkness.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub


About the Author

Brandy Heineman

Brandy Heineman is a book hoarder, cat herder, and Christian author of dual timeline novels. Antique shops and digital newspaper archives top her list of happy places, and she fuels her day job in marketing and life as a novelist with endless cups of tea. Brandy has served as president of the North Georgia chapter of ACFW and lives in Metro Atlanta with her husband, Michael.

Connect with Brandy by visiting brandyheineman.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.


Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will win a signed, print copy of Like Honey for the Bones and $25 VISA gift card!

Like Honey for the Bones JustRead Tours giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 24, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 31, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

10.20.2022

Double Dog Dare ~ Review

DOUBLE DOG DARE (AN OWL'S NEST MYSTERY) by C.S. McDonald

 

DOUBLE DOG DARE (an Owl's Nest Mystery) by C.S. McDonald

Double Dog Dare

The Owl's Nest Mysteries #3
By C.S. McDonald
Read by Maren Swenson Waxenberg

Detective Bobby Starr is back and Alexa is about to be pulled into another unsolved cold case from Bobby's past. But this time, everything is different. First off, they are given five days rather than three to solve the case. And the potential suspect has two potential murders tied to his name. And if Bobby can solve this case, he'll be part of Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. And Alexa is more than ready to have Bobby out of her life.

But when Alexa is suddenly thrown back into the future, her feelings of unease are explained. Worse she's brought a tag-along from the past with her, and that's in addition to the always slumbering Bassett Hound that has somehow made its way into her home. Soon Alexa is caught up in her contemporary troubles while Bobby continues working on his murder case from 1963. 

Double Dog Dare offers a change-up to the previous cases that Saint Pete has sent this sleuthing duo on. The unexpected twists find Bobby and Alexa working hard to find answers to different questions this time. As always, this book is a fun and entertaining escape from this reader's day-to-day. It is written so a reader new to the series could easily pick this up and enjoy it as a standalone title. And then there is a particularly amusing scene with a Roomba, you have to read it to fully enjoy it! This a contemporary read that is a cozy mystery that as well as magical realism with a touch of romance. The book is just over seven and a half hours, making it a perfect afternoon/evening commute listen.  The narration by Maren Swenson Waxenberg is well done, the pacing is good, and provides an excellent version of this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - All thoughts expressed are my own.

Book Details:

Book Title: Double Dog Dare (The Owl's Nest Mysteries) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  Adult Fiction, 274 pages
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  May 2022
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.


00:00
00:00
Prologue - Double Dog Dare
Book Description:

That ornery, but oh, so handsome, charming, and somewhat, wayward angel, Detective Bobby Starr, has returned. This time, he’s back to fulfill his third and, hopefully, his final requirement to get into Saint Peter's prestigious Guardian Angel Squad. This time, the usually reluctant time traveler, Alexa Owl, is ready to go back to the 1960's to assist in solving one more long-ago murder. Why? Because if all goes well, she'll be rid of the menacing angel once and for all. Except, an emergency jerks Alexa back to her own time, and to complicate matters, she’s got a tag-along. Can Bobby solve this last case without Alexa’s help? After all, she’s got her hands full with a life-or-death mystery in the twenty-first century!
Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible 
add to goodreads
Also Available:
BACK TO THE BURGH (an Owl's Nest Mystery) by C.S. McDonald
Book Details:

Book Title:  Back to the Burgh and Beyond (The Owl's Nest Mysteries, Book 1) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  Adult Fiction, 208 pages
Run Time: 5 hours, 59 minutes
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Sep 10, 2020
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.

Book Description:

​Meet Alexa Owl. She's returned home to Pittsburgh after a divorce to start a new life and a new business, The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to her surprise, she's getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he's no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who's returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. He's been sent by none other than Saint Pete to acquire Alexa’s help to solve three cold case murders he left behind. Except, here’s the catch: he’s only been allotted four days to solve the first case! How in heaven’s name is she supposed to do that? Alexa is a professional seamstress—not a detective. Bobby insists the only way to solve the first case is to return to 1953, and Alexa’s not in love with that idea at all!
Buy the Book:
Audible

Amazon ~ B&N
Add to Goodreads
MAXED OUT (an Owl's Nest Mystery) by C.S. McDonald
Book Details:

Book Title:  Maxed Out (The Owl's Nest Mysteries) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  Adult Fiction, 184 pages
Length: 5 hours, 32 minutes
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  April 2021
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.

Book Description:

The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe is a huge success! Business is booming and Alexa Owl’s love life is heating up. Yet much to the seamstress’s dismay, Detective Bobby Starr is suddenly back again! Bobby isn’t your everyday gumshoe. Rather, he’s an angel who’s trying to earn a place in Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. He’s required to solve murders he had left unsettled from when he walked the earth in order to be accepted into this prestigious group. Of course, they will need to return to the time period in which the murder took place, and again, Alexa is a reluctant time traveler. Oh, and there’s one more little problem—this time, Bobby’s brought along a friend, Maxi Krogen, and she’s no angel!
Buy the Book:
Audible

Amazon ~ B&N
add to goodreads
Meet the Narrator:

Voice Over Artist Maren WaxenbergMs. Waxenberg is a voice-over artist and presentation coach.  She serves as a consultant to the Professional Development Company, Inc., teaching presentation and interview skills seminars to a variety of clients, Columbia MBA, and SIPA graduate students.  Maren has a 30-year background in special events, performing arts production and the entertainment industry.   In 1996, she founded Maren Productions which produces audio books, radio and television voice-overs, and podcasts.  Maren Productions also offers special event production and consultancy services. 

Ms. Waxenberg has worked in Special event production with George Trescher Associates, theater production and management at the TheatreVirginia in Richmond, the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, and The New Dramatists in New York. She edited and formatted feature films for ABC Motion Picture Post Production.  Maren served as the concert manager of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall for four years, produced events for the promotion department of The New York Daily News, and has produced chamber music recitals at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.  Ms, Waxenberg has produced, directed and performed in numerous Off-Broadway theatre productions.  She trained with the CoActive Training Institute.

Author C.S. McDonald
Meet the Author:

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.

Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister. 

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram


8.27.2022

When the Day Comes ~ Review

When the Day Comes
Timeless #1
By Gabrielle Meyer

Libby is a woman in two worlds, and she must decide which life she will sacrifice. All her life, Libby spends her days in one world and her nights in another because sleep allows her to cross time. And her two worlds couldn't be more different. In 1774, Williamsburg, she is living on the edge of revolution, while in 1914, New York, she is living on the cusp of change. She knows the decision she plans to make - in one life, her family needs her, and her heart belongs to another. But Libby can't make her decision, leaving one of her lives behind until her 21 birthday. 

In 1774, her family works as a public printer. The work is hard and takes much of her day, but she is living through history - seeing and hearing moments that will change not only her life and those around her but also the world. 

In 1914, Libby lives a life of wealth and privilege, and to her mother's consternation she takes an active interest in the cause of suffrage rather than pursuing a marriage to English aristocracy. What Libby doesn't know is that the rumors of war are about to change the world yet again.

When the Day Comes is an intriguing story. What life would one choose if you could only live one? Which family would you give up? What would decide for you the path that you would take? I have to admit I don't know if I could make such a choice. In one life, she is known as a time-crosser, but in the other, she is just a daughter. I understand why Libby chose the path that she did, but still, it was heartbreaking for her as she said her goodbyes silently, unable to share all that was on her heart. This is the first book in a new series, and though this book is complete, there was most definitely an opening made for what could come next (or before, depending on the time and the time-crosser). 

Who would you leave behind, dying to the life and family you willingly gave up?

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:
How will she choose, knowing all she must sacrifice?

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she's the same person at her core in both times, she's leading two vastly different lives.

In Colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives--and any hope of love--are put in jeopardy.

Libby's life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about--women's suffrage--is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe only complicates matters.

But Libby knows she's not destined to live two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path and forfeit the other--but how can she choose when she has so much to lose in each life?

4.18.2022

The Master Craftsman ~ Review

The Master Craftsman
By Kelli Stuart

Ava Laine hasn't seen her father for ten years. He was always too busy treasure hunting to settle down and be a present father. But he is dying, and she is his only chance to complete his last hunt - the missing fifty-third Imperial Fabergé egg. But this isn't just any Fabergé egg; no, this is one that was hidden away to preserve it and to keep Karl Fabergé's loyalties secret. And Nick Laine is convinced that the time has come to discover this lost treasure.

We are taken from the present to Imperial Russia (1904-1917) in an alternating chapter shift as these two timelines converge at the end of the book. We see Russia through the eyes of Peter Karl Fabergé as discontent grows towards the excesses of the Russian royalty and the rich while the common people struggle to survive from one day to the next. The inhumanity Karl observes inspires him to create one of his greatest works, but the very creation of such a piece endangers him. And as everything comes to a head, Karl is caught in the middle of everything. But he entrusts the protection of his creation to Alma Pihl.

Who is Alma Pihl? This is the question that will launch Ava's quest and place her in danger. But Ava has the drive and stubbornness of her parents and is determined to see it through to its success. 

I found this to be an enjoyable and engaging read. The Master Craftsman is a Split-time Romance set in early Twentieth-Century Russia and the present day. I loved the back-and-forth between the two timelines as the story progressed.  The characters have depth, and the settings are detailed without wordiness. But what is the treasure they seek? And will it be discovered? 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

When Ava Laine’s dying treasure-hunter father entrusts her with his mission to find a missing Fabergé egg, she has no idea how high the stakes will climb–or how her allegiances will be tested. Join the hunt in this lavish, dual-time narrative that plunges you into the 1917 Russian Revolution, the fall of the Romanovs, and long-buried Soviet secrets.

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in the House of Fabergé, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history–an unknown Fabergé Egg that Peter Karl Fabergé secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial tsar’s family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family.

Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance–and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.

This modern-day treasure hunt from award-winning author Kelli Stuart transports you into the opulent and treacherous world of the Russian Revolution to unearth mysteries long buried.

3.10.2022

Love's Fortress ~ Review with Spotlight and Giveaway

Love's Fortress JustRead Takeover Tour

Welcome to the Takeover Tour for 
Love's Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik, 

Love's Fortress
Love's Fortress 
Doors to the Past 
By Jennifer Uhlarik 

Twenty-six years ago Dani Sango's father Franklin was convicted of art forgery. His conviction destroyed Dani's world and her family. But her father has died and she is left with questions that need answers.

Brad Osborn's brother has made a mess of his life and Brad has custody of his young niece Brynn. Juggling his work-life as curator of the Andrews Museum of Western Art with his home-life with a dropped in his lap four-year-old is about to get even crazier. 

In 1875, in St. Augustine, Indian prisoners are brought from all they know and settled in the fort. Sally Jo Harris has desired to be a missionary and given a chance to share the Good News with these beaten-down people. Sally Jo along with Luke Worthing and Sarah Mather accept the challenge to reach out with God's love and care.

It is interesting to see these two stories come together. The commonality that draws them together is ledger art - artwork, drawings created by the Indian prisoners. Having visited St. Augustine's fort several times as a child/teen when I lived just north of St. Augustine I always cringed when the tours went through the areas that the various Indians were housed. And I could totally relate to Brynn's dislike of the dark enclosed places within the fort. It's been years since I've seen the fort but this book most definitely described it well and I felt as if I was there again. 

The Doors to the Past series are all stand-alone stories so you can easily read this or any book with no worries about wondering what you may have missed. This is a split-time book that offers a story that progresses but alternates between the two times bringing one to the climax. I will say that if you are a reader who likes to skip ahead don't do it. You will miss too much by doing so.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Love's Fortress 
Series: Doors to the Past 
Author: Jennifer Uhlarik 
Publisher: Barbour Fiction 
Release Date: March 1, 2022 
Genre: Fiction / Christian / Romance 

An Epic Love Story From the Past Brings Closure to Dani’s Fractured Family Roots 

Upon receiving word that her long-estranged father has passed away, Dani Sango inherits the former art forger’s entire estate. Among his many pieces of artwork are a series of obviously Native American drawings and paintings, which lead her to research St. Augustine of 1875. White Elk is transported to Florida to join other Cheyenne braves already being held in Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris is at the fort teaching the Indians. When a friendship develops between them and false accusations fly, it could cost them their lives. Can Dani discover how their story ends and how it shaped her own father’s life?

Walk through Doors to the Past via a series of historical stories of romance and adventure. 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Christianbook | BookBub

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES


Jennifer Uhlarik

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a preteen, when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a BA in writing, she has won five writing competitions and was a finalist in two others. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers and is a lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, teenage son, and four fur children.

CONNECT WITH JENNIFER: 


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Love's Fortress and a $15 Amazon e-gift card!

Love's Fortress JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway began at midnight on March 9, 2022, and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on March 16, 2022. The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

1.06.2022

High-Wire Heartbreak ~ Takeover Tour with Review and Giveaway

Hard-Wire Heartbreak JustRead Takeover Tour

Welcome to the Takeover Tour for 
High-Wire Heartbreak by Anna Schmidt, 

High Wire Heartbreak
High-Wire Heartbreak 
Doors to the Past 
By Anna Schmidt 

Chloe Whitfield is combining work with pleasure as she researches her upcoming book. She plans to create a historical mystery set at Ca'd'Zan John Ringling's Sarasota, Florida home. It's just an added bonus that her long-lost great-grandmother Lucinda Conroy happened to be a performer in Ringling's circus as a trapeze artist. 

Little is known of Lucinda "Lucy" Conroy other than the fact of her occupation and that she did not raise her own daughter. Why did Lucy abandon her parental rights and duties to her daughter. Chloe is determined to unearth the truth. But some secrets the past is loath to give up. 

High-Wire Heartbreak takes the reader to 1936 and the present-day as two women attempt to find what they want from what life has given them. Love, marriage, a family - the choices and situations they both currently face will determine what their tomorrows hold.

This book is part of the Doors to the Past series in which each book is written by a different author and is complete in and of itself. These books can be read in any order and are not dependent on reading the others. 

I have to say I love split-time books there is just something about the back-and-forth between the past and the present that appeals to me. I love how the two storylines slowly unfold and then come together as the truth that time has hidden come to light. This excellent reading and should not be missed.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: High-Wire Heartbreak 
Series: Doors to the Past 
Author: Anna Schmidt 
Publisher: Barbour Fiction 
Release Date: January 1, 2022 
Genre: Fiction / Christian / Romance 

In 1936--A party at the Ringling mansion Ca d’Zan in Sarasota, Florida, leads to a robbery--and possibly death. 

A successful historical mystery writer, Chloe Whitfield comes to Ca’ d’Zan to research her next novel. Chloe’s fascination with the circus is rooted in family stories of her great-grandmother Lucinda Conroy, who reportedly was a trapeze artist of some renown. She’s heard hints of scandal—and perhaps larceny, but no details. 

Chloe’s grandmother—rumored to be Lucinda’s only offspring—was raised in an orphanage and never knew her mother. Intrigued as she is, Chloe has no intent of writing about Lucinda until she sees a poster featuring Lucinda as the star performer for a 70th birthday gala for John Ringling in May of 1936. From there the trail goes cold. 

Who was Lucinda and what happened to her? 


PURCHASE LINKS*:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Christianbook | BookBub

Also available in the Doors to the Past series

 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anna Schmidt


Anna Schmidt
 is the author of over twenty works of fiction. Among her many honors, Anna is the recipient of Romantic Times’ Reviewer’s Choice Award and a finalist for the RITA award for romantic fiction. She enjoys gardening and collecting seashells at her winter home in Florida.


CONNECT WITH ANNA: Website | Twitter



TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of High-Wire Heartbreak and a $15 Amazon gift card!

High-Wire Heartbreak JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight January 5, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on January 12, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.