Flirtation Walk by Siri Mitchell
4/18/2016
About the BookTrying to escape the shambles her con-man father has made of their reputation, Lucinda Curtis arrives in West Point, New York, determined to land a husband from the military academy. Campbell Conklin is first in his class and preparing to embark upon a storied career in the U.S. Army. Lucinda thinks Campbell will make the perfect husband . . . as long as he does not find out about her father. Seth Westcott also has taken a liking to Lucinda. He's kind, smart . . . and working extremely hard to graduate last. Tradition states that the worst cadets are assigned to the cavalry out west. And west is where Seth must head to track the swindler who stole all of Seth's mother's money. Seth is smart enough to vie for the top spot, but life isn't fair and this is his chance to catch the man who ruined his family. It's too bad Campbell is all shine and no substance, but Lucinda will surely see through all of that, won't she? About the AuthorSiri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi. But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listening to a speaker and taking notes, chances are, they’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If they nod in response to a really profound statement, they’re probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.” When they edit their manuscripts, they laugh at the funny parts. And cry at the sad parts. Sometimes they even talk to their characters. Siri wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before signing with a publisher. In the process, she saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than she cares to admit. At various times she has vowed never to write another word again. Ever. She has gone on writing strikes and even stooped to threatening her manuscripts with the shredder. Siri's fourteenth novel, Flirtation Walk (2016), follows prior Bethany House releases: A Constant Heart (October 2008), Love's Pursuit (June 2009), She Walks in Beauty (Apr 2010),A Heart Most Worthy (Mar 2011), and The Messenger (2012), Unrivaled (2013), Love Comes Calling (Mar 2014), and Like a Flower in Bloom (2015). Siri has also written 2 novels under the pseudonym of Iris Anthony: The Miracle Thief(2014) and The Ruins of Lace (2013). She Walks in Beauty won the inaugural INSPY Award for Historical Fiction in Dec 2010. Three of Siri's novels, Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door, and She Walks in Beauty were Christy Award finalists. Love's Pursuit was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award. Siri is represented by Natasha Kern Literary Agency. ReviewSiri Mitchell has written a fun historical novel that readers will enjoy. Although the story moves a bit slow, and it took me a little bit to get into the story, I appreciated this historical fiction read. Lucinda’s father is a con man and he lied, even to his own daughter. After her father’s death and Lucinda goes to live with relatives, she must learn that there is more to life than manipulating people to do and behave how you want them too. Lucinda also has her sights set on Seth Westcott from the nearby Army Academy. He is smart and fun and has the potential to be at the top of his class. But he is determined to find the man that stole his family’s money. Meanwhile, Lucinda is determined Seth will not find out who her father is. Will these two find romance, or will other matters get in the way? I would recommend this novel to readers that enjoy historical romance novels. Genre: historical, inspirational, romance, Christian Publisher: Bethany House Publication date: March 1, 2016 Number of pages: 384 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 4 stars A review copy of this book was provided by Bethany House.
The Reluctant Duchess (Ladies of the Manor #2) by Roseanna M. White -- Book Tour Review + Giveaway
4/18/2016
About the BookWill Fleeing the Scottish Highlands Only Leave Her in More Danger? Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she’s never felt good enough–not for her father, not for the man she thought she’d marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she’s willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping those threatening her life. Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, yet the last thing he needs is the distraction of the newly introduced Lady Rowena. He has enough on his plate having recently come into possession of a rare treasure for which many would kill, yet those around him seem intent on pairing him with this desperate but beguiling girl. Rowena is reluctant to marry this notorious flirt. And when she learns that Brice is mixed up in some kind of questionable business with a stolen treasure, she fears she’ll end up in more danger than she fled. About the AuthorRoseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. The Reluctant Duchess is Roseanna’s eleventh published book. Her novels range from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. She lives with her family in West Virginia. ReviewAuthor Roseanna M. White’s novel A Reluctant Duchess, is a novel readers will not soon forget. From page one, Roseanna enraptures readers and takes them to the world of Lady Rowena Kinaird, heiress to a Highland earldom. Men have never treated her the best, including her father and the man she thought she would marry and would take her away from her abusive father. After being attacked by her former love, Lady Rowena is even less confident in herself than ever before. But Brice Myerston, Duke of Nottingham, comes to her rescue. Even going so far as to marry her when she is placed in grave danger. Will a love like no other blossom between these unlikely couple, or will secrets of questionable business with a stolen treasure be their undoing. Roseanna’s characters will steal your heart away as you fall in love with them, as well as the wonderful and engaging historical romance. I would recommend this novel to fans of Downton Abbey. Series: Ladies of the Manor Genre: historical, Christian, romance Publisher: Bethany House Publication date: April 5, 2016 Number of pages: 389 Content Rating: PG, some violence and abuse, nothing graphic Book Rating: 5 stars Other books in the series: 1-The Lost Heiress 3-A Lady Unrivaled (coming September 2016) A review copy of this book was provided by CelebrateLit. GiveawayTo celebrate the release of her book, Roseanna is giving away a few of Roseanna’s favorite things. Enter the giveaway HERE. Tour ScheduleApril 12: Just Commonly
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tips back into a more normal orbit. And when drastic measures are required, it's the girl next door who's there to save the day.
Elle Drake wanted nothing more than to create beautiful pottery and have a family, but when her millionaire husband publicly dumped the renowned artist for another woman, Elle moves back to Cedar Mills to start anew, the spinster artist with her big potting shed. But when her to-die-for good-looking neighbor thinks marriage is a good idea, Elle figures he's either crazy, desperate or right. But a marriage of convenience can become its own conundrum, and when life takes sudden turns, can this marriage become all that they bargained for? And maybe more than a promise?
Multi-published, bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne loves God, her family, her country, dogs, chocolate and coffee! A country gal with a heart for the big city, Ruthy likes nothing more than to write the kind of books she loves to read, and she's even more happy that now she gets paid to do it! She's been married for a Very Long Time and she and her husband Dave live on a small farm in upstate New York where lake effect snow buries them on a regular basis in winter. But that's all right... it gives her more time to write!
Check out the interview + guest post HERE.
1. I have friends in the excavating business, and a comment they made once a long time ago, about how some folks figure they’ve got plenty of money, and put off paying them… so that became the reasoning behind the financial difficulties that raised up to trip up the company
2. Somewhere there are three boys who were the original three little boys who came into church SO RELUCTANTLY about six years ago, and inspired this book… and I hope they’re all well and happy! 3. The Polish aspects of Elle’s family were inspired by a wonderful wedding reception I attended years ago, where the ladies of St. Stanislaus’s Church did a Thanksgiving dinner, pass the plate at each table kind of meal, and it was marvelous! Wonderful turkey and stuffing, puddles of gravy and delicious cranberry sauce and homemade pickles. I love church dinners! 4. And at that same wedding, I made the wedding cake, drove it hours to the reception and a layer CRACKED…. Luckily I had made an extra layer (just in case!) and I took the broken layer out, slipped the extra layer in, frosted, decorated and used real red roses to give a “cascade” effect, and NO ONE KNEW A THING!!!!! Yes! 5. The three boys were actually based on two brothers and a sister I’ve had in daycare/after school care for years… Amos is based on Casey, when she was little, and my readers see Casey on my facebook page, on my blog, and in Yankee Belle Café because she’s my “mother’s helper” now and helps on the farm in the summer. And she’s ALMOST DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOL so you can see that life has moved on since I wrote “More Than a Promise”, LOL! 6. Sarah, Plain and Tall is one of my favorite children’s stories, and I used that premise to write an adult version in “More Than a Promise”. If you’ve never read “Sarah, Plain and Tall”, you should… it’s just a wonderful marriage of convenience story set in the early 1900’s. I love it! 7. I love heroes that work with their hands… and guys with big equipment are as happy as little boys with Tonka Trucks until they break! And then they are GRUMPY. If you’re wondering about farmers, insert “tractor” for “backloader” or “grader” and you get the same result! And don’t talk to these men about weather!!!!! EEEK! 8. I love the church setting in Cedar Mills. The fun of older Catholic churches is how the church may reflect the ethnicity of the immigrants who came here with nothing, but pooled together to explore and expand their right to practice their faith freely. Neighborhoods were often defined by these beautiful churches and the congregations that flocked there weekly and daily. 9. I’m always amazed at how pockets of art can bring mass appeal. I wanted Elle’s work to be that way, based on a Thomas Kincade-type fame. Her longing and love came through her work and appealed to the masses, the “you and me” types. But there’s a downside to some of that because “true artistes” often find fault with commercial art, and abandon their friendships. Is it jealousy? Or disregard? 10. And finally… The spray-painted dog is a real thing. It happened a long time ago, and it wasn’t one of my kids (although it could have been!) and it took a long time for that dog’s fur to grow out. But… it did. Eventually!
+ a few more...
Favorite quote: “Plenty of time for rest in the grave” (Ben Franklin) AND “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission” (Eleanor Roosevelt)
Favorite book: Christy by Catherine Marshal and “Sweet Hush” by Deb Smith Favorite soda: Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash!!!!! Favorite ice cream: Abbott’s Frozen Custard, I am in love with their recipe!!!! Favorite dessert: Pie. And more pie. And Tina Radcliffe’s Coconut cake. Favorite candy: Sponge candy, but really, anything chocolate (as she hits the Easter basket AGAIN…) Favorite flower: All. All, all, all, in the north we appreciate flowers like no one else can! Favorite season: Fall. Gorgeous up here, and I love the busyness of pumpkin season and veggies and fall colors! Favorite musical: 1776 and The Sound of Music Favorite movie: Ooo…. So many. “Remember the Titans” and “The Princess Bride” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” Favorite T.V. series: NCIS (there is really no other answer that should be considered, is there? I mean, GIBBS??? HELLO???????) Favorite country you want to visit: Ireland Favorite comic book character: Snoopy. He’s such an in-your-face brat dog, he and I would get along just fine! Favorite place to visit: Any of my out-of-town kids, anytime!!! Favorite Restaurant: Arlington Family Restaurant, right here in upstate! Favorite ice cream place: Abbott’s Frozen Custard of Hilton Favorite Island: Ireland, again! :) Favorite author: Tooooo many! Karen White, Lisa Wingate, Catherine Marshall, all of the Seekers, Deb Smith, Herman Wouk, James Michener, James Herriot, and so many others… Katherine Patterson (YA books) Favorite holiday: Easter, we haven’t commercialized it yet, I love it!
I love to write.
I have always loved to write. First I loved to read, and then I wanted to make up my own stories. Tell my own tales. Are all writers born this way? I don’t know, but some are. I can see the creative urge in some of my children, and now my grandchildren. Some are storytellers. Some aren’t. So then I think genetics, that long spiral, that double helix that repeats non-stop and sets us in motion. What part of that curling piece makes us artsy? Athletic? Musical? What parts feeds genius? I’ve heard that the chasm separating the right from left brain is narrower in brilliant people. (Of course they have to be DEAD to prove that, so not too many volunteer their brains for a check on it until it’s well… Let’s just say it’s “late”….) But what if it isn’t just spacing and selective genetics? What if there’s a subjective component of “nurture” or (in my case) “lack of nurture”? Hi, I’m Ruthy and I love making up stories, but because I was born into a very poor, dysfunctional family, I think it was more than gifted genetic talent that spurred my goals. I wanted to fix things. From the time I was young and realized our family had few happy endings, I wanted to create stories that erupt into a solid happy ending. I wanted, no, make that longed to show that happy endings don’t have to be obscure. They’re here, right here, at our fingertips if we’re willing to make the necessary choices. I wrapped my goals in faith and a solid work ethic and (as life often does) I met a number of left turns including six children, multiple jobs and a quiet push from God to be patient… What choice did I have? But looking back, I see the path much more clearly now! Waiting to jump into the writing pool offered me the chance to hone a lot of life experience, on-the-job training for book research, a fun study of human nature, cute kids, brats and everything in between! I birthed children and helped birth dogs and calves. I’ve milked cows and processed fresh chickens! I’ve smoked bacon and grown just about every fruit and veggie you can imagine. I’ve worked as a billing clerk, a teacher’s aide with emotionally disturbed children, a waitress, a bridal consultant, a babysitter… gosh, so many nametag and hairnet jobs, I can’t list them all. But each one brought me a little more experience under my belt… and more story fodder! I love to write, and I would encourage anyone who loves this craft to jump in. Do it! Don’t hesitate. When the time is right, go for it. Writing can be learned. I’ve seen that often. But storytelling is often an inborn gift, so if that’s your talent? If that’s your inclination…. Do it. This Erma Bombeck quote sits above my kitchen sink where I see it several times a day: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, "I used everything that you gave me." And that’s my goal. To use everything he gave me, making others smile. And when you read a “Ruthy” book… It’s my hope that’s exactly what you’ll do…. Smile and walk away a little big happier and more hopeful. And that’s a pretty sweet goal!
I had the honor and pleasure of reading this novel several months ago to "endorse" the book.
You can see my endorsement that is on the back of the book below.
April 11--cherylbbookblog | A Holland Reads
April 12--Toni Shiloh Prayerfully-Lifted Romance | Reading Is My SuperPower April 13--Buzzing About Books | The Power of Words April 14--Smiling Book Reviews | Singing Librarian Books April 15--Katie's Clean Book Collection | Colorimetry | The Green Mockingbird April 16--Just Commonly | Red Headed Book Lady About the BookWith Prince Wilek still searching Armania for a murderer, his brother Prince Trevn finds himself pulled deeper into the politics of who will be Heir. Trevn, though, is far more interested in his studies with a local priest and the attentions of a young honor maiden. The book that he has been copying during his lessons is not the book that teaches of the god of the soil. Instead, it teaches of a one true God. If accurate, then it means there is no soil god to satiate. There is nothing they can do to save their world, and all of King Echad's sacrifices have been futile. Add to GOODREADS | Purchase on AMAZON The Kinsman Chronicles Book 1: |
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