The Christmas Gathering

It's October right now.  Pumpkins hot apple cider and a Christmas collection of some wonderful stories that kept me inside today.

I loved every story of this brand new collection. And how can you resist the beautiful cover!   

The three authors are Shelley Shepard Gray, Lenora Worth and Rachel J. Good.  Each author delivered sweet stories based around the Christmas season.

I can't thank Shelley Shepard Gray enough for the opportunity to read this book and give a honest review.

#blogtour

#Christmasfiction

Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital

 

Dr. Frances Brakespeare has many unanswered questions about her birth and her adoption. She needs to find answers especially after her adopted mother's sister threatens to take her name and reputation away from her. Frances is a fighter and she will get the answers. But the truth might come at a cost.

On a historical note, it covers a time period where birth control is just being introduced to women in this community.  It's frustrating in seeing how some husbands felt it was a threat.  A threat to what? 

This is Book two of the series.  I was familiar with the characters as I read the previous book.  I loved catching up with them.

I expect this story will continue as it ends with wanting more. I'll be right there ready to read more about Frances and the Orchard County Hospital. 

Thank you Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read this story to review.

#blogtour

#BoldwoodBooks

#LizzieLane

 Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital

Times are changing as secrets unfold…

Somerset, 1931Doctor Frances Brakespeare continues to settle into her new life in rural Somerset at Orchard Cottage Hospital, striving to improve the medical treatments on offer to the community.

After successfully establishing a mother and baby clinic, Frances is determined to move with the times and add family planning advice to her roster – but are the residents of Norton Dene ready for such progress or will she face opposition?

In her personal life, her relationship with the Reverend Gregory Sampson becomes her safe haven whilst battling with an embittered family relative in London. As always, Frances strives to honour the values inherited from her late benefactress Izzy Brakespeare.

As further dark family secrets and sins unfold, it seems the Brakespeare family name will have more resonance to Frances than she ever imagined and when a stranger enters her life, Frances may finally have the answers she has always sought.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/familyaffairsatsocial

Author Bio – 

Lizzie Lane is the author of over 50 books, a number of which have been bestsellers.  She was born and bred in Bristol where many of her family worked in the cigarette and cigar factories, this inspired her saga series for Boldwood The Tobacco Girls.

Social Media Links –  

Twitter: @baywriterallat1

Instagram: @baywriterallatsea

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LizzieLaneNews

Bookbub profile: @baywriterallatsea

Counting Miracles

Nicholas Sparks never lets you down.  He always delivers a book that you will enjoy.  This is no exception.  

I loved the story and the characters became real to me.  

Jasper tugged at my heart.  He had suffered so much in his life. But he never lost faith.  The kindness he received from his Doctor and her son was a blessing.  More than a blessing because it brought him Tanner.

Great book.

A Wife for the Rancher

Ryder was in a terrible predicament.   He needed a mother for his young son, Boone.  His only choice was to write to a mail order bride.

Genevieve needed to get away and she needed to do it fast.  She escaped to Colorado and married Ryder under false pretenses.  

Both needed to keep a physical and emotional distance from each other.  Genevieve felt this was a temporary situation.  Ryder was burned before and was waiting for it to happen again.

I really enjoyed the story.  It was a delight to see how their expectations of each other changed and how their relationship developed.

Close to the end of the book two characters were introduced.  Mr. Abercrombie is the least person you would expect to be a lawyer.  But wow, he was good and honest with his advice.  Emmitt was hired to bring Genevieve back to Colorado against her wishes.  He turned out to be one of her biggest protectors.   She couldn't go wrong with them and Ryder by her side.

Thank you, Jody Hedlund for allowing me to read this book to review.

#blogtour

#Jody Hedlund

About the author

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over fifty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet, clean historical romances with plenty of sizzle (but without the spice).

Healing- The Prayer Jar Devotional

I am a big fan of Wanda E. Brunstetter.  She writes wonderful Amish based fiction books as well as cookbooks.  I have quite a few.

Her new book is a touching and important devotional about healing.  We all have suffered some loss or hurt in our lives. 

This collection is helpful to so many.  I can relate to some.  I appreciate the devotion called ONE DAY AT A TIME, SWEET JESUS.  The Prayer attached to this is:

"I know this is a process, Jesus. I will trust you even on the tear-filled days. Amen."

Important and relevant.

Purchase Here-

The Prayer Jar Devotional: Healing
https://a.co/d/02tnh9u 

  

Dial M for Mennonite

Samantha Price was a new author to me within the last year or so.  I was first introduced to her Amish Bonnet Sisters' books.  I then received a book about two sisters who help solve crimes in their community.

This book is about Ettie and Elsa-May, sisters, who find themselves not only involved in murder mysteries but become part of them.  They just can't help themselves. 

This book is no exception.  And what a joy it was to read how they figure out whodonit!! 

Great characters.  Love this cover.

I received a complimentary copy by the author.

#blogspot

#SamanthaPrice

About the author

Samantha grew up in the Brethren community and has a deep affinity for the Amish way of life, which she has studied in detail during over a decade of dedicated research. Her stories radiate authenticity and heart, transporting readers into the peaceful and inspiring world of the Amish community. Samantha is also an animal lover. She shares her home with two spoiled dogs and a rescued cat who thinks she's also a dog.

Samantha loves hearing from her readers. Connect to:

SamanthaPriceAuthor dot com

The Last Bookshop in Prague

It's difficult to read something like this without feeling sad.  But the story must be told.  Helen Parusel did an excellent job telling this story.  

Jana loved her bookshop.  It brought her closer to her mother that died a few years ago. It meant everything to her.  

Everything came crashing down when the Germans invaded Prague.  The life she knew changed and not for the good.

I was amazed by the determination and strength of Jana and of her neighbors.  They did what they could to hold on to what was dear to them.   

It's important to know what really happened during this horrendous period of time.  And it's important to not forget.

I received this book from Boldwood Books to review.

#boldwoodbooks

#blogtour

#HelenParusel

The Last Bookshop in Prague

Was she incredibly brave or incredibly stupid? Neither. Just a bookshop girl doing what she could against her country’s oppressors.

The banned books club was only the beginning; a place for the women of Prague to come together and share the tales the Germans wanted to silence.

For bookshop owner, Jana, doing the right thing was never a question. So when opportunity comes to help the resistance, she offers herself – and her bookshop. Using her window displays as covert signals and hiding secret codes in book marks, she’ll do all in her power to help.

But the arrival of two people in her bookshop will change everything: a young Jewish boy with nowhere else to turn, and a fascist police captain Jana can’t read at all. In a time where secrets are currency and stories can be fatal, will she know who to trust?

A heart-wrenching and powerful story of courage, tenacity and love. Fans of Suzanne Goldring, Mandy Robotham and Debbie Rix will devour this unforgettable novel.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/bookshoppraguesocial

Author Bio – 

Helen Parusel is a historical novelist, having been a teacher and a clothes buyer for M&S. She currently lives in Hamburg.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @HelenParusel

Twitter: @HelenParusel

Instagram: @helenparusel

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/HelenParuselNews

Bookbub profile: @helenparusel

Once Upon a Courtship

This is a collection that I highly recommend.  I loved each one.  The stories were written by authors I am quite familiar with. 

I read the first story and it enjoyed it.  But each one got better and better. 

The Privateer's Prize made me think of an old Errol Flynn movie.  There was a damsel in distress and a swashbuckler fighting for her honor.  

Courting Miss Darling was one of my favorites.  I enjoyed the courting and the romance between Peter and Miss Darling. A simple letter can change your whole future.

I received this sampler of  12 stories from Celebrate Lit to review.

#blog

#CelebrateLit

About the Book

Book: Once upon a Courtship

Authors: Kit Morgan, Chautona Havig, Tricia Goyer, Marylu Tyndall, Regina Scott, Marlene Bierworth, Linore Rose Burkard, Camille Elliot, Louise M. Goudge, Lisa M. Prysock, Teresa Slack, Marilyn Turk

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release date: October 22, 2024

Once Upon a Courtship: A Sweet Historical Romance Collection
A Limited-Time Collection of 12 books from 12 beloved Christian authors spanning rustic landscapes, elegant ballrooms, rugged cowboys, enigmatic spies, and daring pirates! Delight your romantic heart with Colonial, Regency, Victorian, Western, and Gilded Age Romance and preorder your copy today!

Mail-Order Millie by USA Today Bestselling Author Kit Morgan
Imagine mail-order bride Millie’s surprise when she finds out her so-called husband is really a spy working for the president.

Courting Miss Darling by USA Today Bestselling Author Chautona Havig
Muriel Darling thought her heart rode off with a cowboy, but when his boss writes letters, maybe romance is in Miss Darling’s future after all.

The Privateer’s Prize by Christy Award Finalist Author MaryLu Tyndall
Left at the altar, a woman must rely on the man who broke her heart to deliver a message to change the course of the Revolutionary War.

Grace in the Storm by USA Today Bestselling Author Tricia Goyer
As hurricane winds howl, a feisty pirate and a captivating tavern owner find their destinies changed by the storm’s fury.

Leftover Mail-Order Bride by Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author Regina Scott
When mail-order bride Victoria’s groom left her at the altar, she vows to find love, but meets Jack, seeking help on the ranch, love optional.

Clara’s Compassion by Critically Acclaimed Author Marlene Bierworth
Clara’s compassion for workers on the frontier of the Canadian Rockies proves conflicting for railroad boss, Graham, in matters of the heart.

Miss Spencer Meets Her Match by Multi-Award-winning Author Linore Rose Burkard
Miss Spencer attends a Cinderella Ball unwillingly, not knowing the “prince” is in disguise.

Lissa and the Spy by USA Today Bestselling Author Camille Elliot
Seeking a marriage of convenience, plain Lissa becomes entangled with enigmatic Lord Stoude and a secret mission for the Crown.

Abiding Faith, Freedom’s Call by Multi-Award-Winning Author Louise M. Gouge
A pacifist Quaker widow and a prisoner of war officer risk their lives. Will the gap between peace and the American Revolution be a chasm too wide?

Jory’s Story by USA Today Bestselling Author Lisa M. Prysock
When a spy and local adversaries descend, can a governess protect the duke’s children and her heart?

Priscilla’s Promise by Award-Winning Author Teresa Slack
Priscilla Channing wants to honor her father by marrying the man he chose. But he’s not the same man, nor she, the same woman.

The Gilding of Minnie Tucker by Multi-Award-Winning Author Marilyn Turk
A Biltmore maid opens the wrong door and stumbles into a guest whose mutual attraction could be their doom.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Authors

Twelve authors bring you stories that span from the Colonial era, through Regency, Victorian, Western, and into Edwardian and the Gilded Age.

 

More from Chautona

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to write historical fiction?  Here’s a “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” version that sorta shows how it can go.

If you give an author a historical assignment, she’ll want to choose an era for it. If she chooses Colonial, she’ll need to research what that period included.

She’ll research it and discover that there were lots of places colonized by lots of countries.

She’ll pick one. If she picks American, she may discover how big of a role ships played in that period. A pirate might appear.

If a pirate appears, she’ll jump the Colonial ship for a swashbuckling one and buy an eyepatch—just to get into character.

While learning of how lawless the open sea could be, pictures of a lawless Old West with cowboys and sheriffs might tempt her to leave rolling sea waves for waving prairie seas.

She’ll buy a covered wagon. If she buys that wagon, her HOA will demand she get it out of her front yard. She’ll settle for spurs. The cat will not be amused.

If her cat protests too much, she’ll decide to get him a girlfriend. She’ll go online and order one. That will remind her of mail-order brides.  She’ll begin researching. The idea of dip pens and beautiful paper and wax seals will make a serious hit to her budget. She’ll justify it as “research.”  If she goes overboard, she might start a story-by-mail service with a new letter sent each week. Reams of paper fill her front yard.  The HOA will send a sternly-written letter.

But the deadlines loom on the horizon. She’ll pray for help.  Thinking about prayer will remind her that her (not-as-yet-to-be-put-on-paper) fictional town needs a church.  And some civilizing.  If she prays and all that happens… she’ll research more.

While researching, she’ll remember she meant to do a story from earlier in the century. She’ll buy a ball gown—Regency style. What’s a ball gown with nowhere to wear it?  She needs a ball!

If she wants to go to a ball, she’ll need to know how to dance. She’ll sign up for English country dance lessons and learn that the waltz of that time is very different from ours.

She’ll research how it evolved. If she studies well, she’ll learn how scandalized folks were and decides to move her story forward. She likes the waltz.  To prove it, she’ll buy vinyl albums of Strauss’ waltzes and play them nonstop.

If she plays the music too late, her neighbors will call in a noise complaint.  The HOA will call an emergency meeting. She’ll miss it. She’s too busy deciding between that mail-order bride and an antebellum miss (and stuffing a thousand envelopes to mail tomorrow).

Pictures of waltzes at balls with hoopskirts and satin prompts her to order her own.  If she puts it on, it threatens to get stuck when she tries to walk out the front door.

If she gets stuck, she’ll shimmy out of the dress (good thing it was a little big) and lets it sit there as décor.

The HOA comes armed with pitchforks and scissors. Fascinated, she wonders where they got the pitchforks. The gown does not survive.

Her indignation prompts her to reconsider and write something more Gilded Age—the long, close-fitting gowns (except for bustles as big as those hoopskirts!).  If she puts one of those on and walks out the front door, she’ll find a man there. Gaping. She may think she looks stunning. If she thinks that, he might pull out a stungun—along with a court order to appear and pay a fine.

When she sees that fine, she may swoon (or it could be she didn’t know how to lace the corset correctly).  He’ll catch her and help her to her couch (it’s not a fainting couch).

When he brings her a drink, she may tell him the whole story.

And if she tells him the whole story, he might suggest writing Sci-Fi would be safer.

After a long nap and a weird dream, she decides he’s right. She’ll write about people in space.  And chances are, if she researches writing about people in space, she’ll discover that it’s just another Colonial story.

(Oh, and she’ll need a new home. She had to sell hers to pay the HOA fines. Anyone want to subscribe to her story letters?)

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 13

Book Looks by Lisa, September 13

Melissa’s Bookshelf, September 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 15

Texas Book-aholic, September 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 17

Stories By Gina, September 18 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, September 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 19

Devoted To Hope, September 20

For Him and My Family, September 21

Holly’s Book Corner, September 22

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 24

Books You Can Feel Good About, September 25

Madi’s Musings, September 26

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, the Authors are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5441

Winning the Mountain Man's Love

Patience was just trying to survive.  She had a dream but it had to wait until she saved up some money.

Jonah was sent on a mission to locate a red head lady named Patsy.  Her niece was left alone and this was her only remaining relative.

GOD has a plan for each of us.  We have freewill and sometimes we get in the way of his plan.  

Patsy was close to losing her chance of true happiness. Was she too focused on her past dreams to see what was right in front of her? I hope not.

This is Book 5 of the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series.  Pretending to be the Mountain Man's Wife will be Book 6.  I can't wait.  This is a great series.  I highly recommend it.

#blogtour

I received this book to review from Celebrate Lit.

About the Book

Book: Winning the Mountain Man’s Love (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch, Book 5)

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: September 3, 2024

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

As the second brother of six, Jonah Coulter has no shortage of family, yet he’s more than ready to find a woman who doesn’t see him as her second choice. Haunted by the loss of his sister Lucy and the rejection of his former fiancée, he sets out to find the aunt of a lost child his family has taken in. Maybe reuniting the girl with her only remaining family will give him the purpose he craves.

After fleeing her past and the man who killed her late husband, Patience Whitman has reinvented herself in the untamed Montana Territory. Relying on her gambling skills to survive, she’s determined to earn enough to buy the life she dreams of—a bit of land and a home of her very own, far enough away from people that she can finally find peace. But then a man shows up in town searching for her and says his family has taken in her niece, Patsy’s perfectly laid plans go awry. If Anna really is here in the Montana Territory, Patience can’t abandon the only family she has left.

As Jonah and Patsy navigate the treacherous landscape of their pasts and little Anna’s future, they must confront their deepest fears and learn to trust each other. But when Patsy’s dangerous past catches up to them, they must risk everything to claim the happily ever after they both crave.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain family saga filled with high stakes adventure, a surprise guardianship, and love that heals wounded hearts.

 Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author with over 1 million books old. She writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

A glimpse into our heroine’s world

In Winning the Mountain Man’s Love, Patience’s work as a gambler in the mining town Missoula Mills plays a significant role in shaping her character and her journey. But what was the reality of gambling in this time and place?

During the 1870s, the Montana Territory was a wild, untamed land, attracting adventurers, miners, and those seeking to make their fortune by profiting from the miners. With the influx of men and money, gambling became a prevalent pastime and a lucrative business. Saloons, gaming houses, and even street corners became hubs for various games of chance, including poker, faro, and dice.

For many, gambling offered a quick path to wealth, but it also led to addiction, debt, and desperation. The lack of regulation and high stakes often attracted unsavory characters, making the gambling scene a dangerous and unpredictable world.

Women like Patience, who found themselves caught up in this world, faced even greater challenges. They were often viewed as mere entertainers or worse, and their involvement in gambling was seen as a mark of moral failure. However, for some women, gambling provided a means of survival in a society that offered few opportunities for financial independence.

Despite the risks and the societal stigma, gambling continued to thrive in the Montana Territory throughout the 1870s. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that anti-gambling laws and reformers began to push back against the pervasive gaming culture.

Thankfully, Patience didn’t have to wait so long to leave the gambling world behind her, but that life certainly left its mark on her. I won’t share any spoilers, but I pray you enjoy Patience and Jonah’s story in Winning the Mountain Man’s Love!

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 3

Melissa’s Bookshelf, September 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 4

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 5

Truth and Grace HomeschoolAcademy, September 6

Devoted To Hope, September 6

Lighthouse Academy Blog, September 7 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Texas Book-aholic, September 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 9

lakesidelivingsite, September 10

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 10

Books You Can Feel Good About, September 11

Stories By Gina, September 12 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 12

Blossoms and Blessings, September 13

Holly’s Book Corner, September 14

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 14

Cover Lover Book Review, September 15

An Author’s Take, September 16

Pause for Tales, September 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away he grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5430/

The Orphan Songbird

 

The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful.  This is the gorgeous face of Darcy.  The poor girl suffered much.  Her parents are dead and she is left in the care of her Uncle.  Boo hiss! He's no uncle of the year candidate. 

Darcy soon discovers her true strength.  She meets incredible people that will become very important to her. They become her family. She won't be an orphan anymore.  She belongs. 

Love finds Darcy with the family who took her in.  Love finds Darcy in the arms of an Italian named

Danny. 

Love is what you find in the pages of this touching story.

I was given the privilege of reading this book to review by Boldwood Books.

#blogtour

#raresources

#boldwoodbooks

The Orphan Songbird

With no parents to protect her, Darcy Earnshaw must make her own way in the world.

After the death of her beloved mill-owner father, thirteen-year-old Darcy Earnshaw is left in the care of her lascivious uncle Abe. Not only is he determined to steal her inheritance, but as she blossoms into a captivating young woman, he longs to steal her innocence too. Desperate to avoid his advances, Darcy decides to flee.

Alone and homeless, she is soon taken under the wing of John Carver, a kind-hearted beloved street performer and his family who is captivated by Darcy’s beautiful voice. But it’s Danny, an Italian singer, who captures Darcy’s heart and finally seems to offer the promise of a happy future.

But, when war breaks out, and the pressure on Danny and John to enlist mounts, all Darcy’s dreams start to crumble. And with her evil uncle Abe still determined to wreak his terrible revenge on her, surely now there can be no happy ending for the orphan songbird?

Heartbreaking, heart-warming, page-turning and uplifting, Chrissie Walsh’s brilliant stories are perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Dilly Court and Kitty Neale.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/orphansongbirdsocial 

Author Bio – 

Chrissie Walsh was born and raised in West Yorkshire and is a retired schoolteacher with a passion for history. She has written several successful sagas documenting feisty women in challenging times.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063501278251 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WalshChrissie 

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/ChrissieWalshNewsletter 

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/chrissie-walsh

Written in the Stars

Both Gio and Bess have very physical jobs that leaves them exhausted and energized at the same time.

They have been friends for awhile.  Neither have ever crossed the line into boyfriend/girlfriend status.  But they were tempted.

Bess appears as though she has it all together.  She has a secret.  This secret makes her feel  disappointed and ashamed. 

Gio's secret makes him feel on edge.  He is always expecting the worse.  He is hard on himself as well as his mother.

Both have much to learn about asking for help and accepting it.

Gio sounds pretty hot to me in his fireman uniform.  I think he must be hard to resist. But Bess keeps him at a distance until it is impossible for her to fo so anymore.  And the sparks fly as if is "Written in the Stars".

Helen Rolfe is the author of many bestselling contemporary women’s fiction titles, set in different locations from the Cotswolds to New York. Most recently published by Orion, she is bringing sixteen titles to Boldwood – a mixture of new series and well-established backlist. She lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.