Wednesday, September 10, 2025

The Pit Girl

Mari lived with her parents and siblings in a town in Wales. Her father and brother worked in the coal mines. It was a dirty and difficult job. A dangerous job. Many were injured and even killed there.

Life went on. Day by day, the family doing their very best to make ends meet. Then one day the unthinkable happened. Their whole life was turned upside down. Drastic measures were needed. Mari cut her hair and became a pit girl. Well, really a pit boy. A young girl doing a man's job. A secret that must be kept.

This was a page turner. I finished it faster than I wanted to. I loved so many of the characters. Big Al, looks tough, but was a wonderful, caring man. Mari's Mom who has a Christian heart. Mrs. Jones who gives Mari a place to find some comfort and a cup of tea.

I highly recommend.

I received this book to review from Boldwold Books.

#blogtour

#rararesources

The Pit Girl

With no one to rely on, she must make an unthinkable choice...Mari Evans has always known life would be hard, but nothing could have prepared her for how quickly things would fall apart. First, the devastating news that her father has a second family–and chose them over her. Then the tragic accident in the pit that leaves her eldest brother unable to work.

It started as an off-hand joke, a comment by her brother.‘Cut your hair, Mari. You could pass for a lad and work the pit in my place.

’But with cholera sweeping the village and hunger gnawing at their stomachs, it’s Mari’s only option. Disguised as a boy, she takes her brother’s place underground, risking everything to keep her family from ruin.

But danger isn’t only found in the harsh conditions of pit work. One wrong step could cost her the job, her safety–and even her life. As whispers circulate and secrets threaten to surface, Mari must tread carefully. How far will one girl go to protect the people she loves?

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

Author Bio–Lynette Rees lives in Wales and has been writing since she was a child. She enjoys the freedom of writing in a variety of genres including: crime fiction and contemporary romance, though her first love is historical fiction.

When she's not writing, or even when she is writing, Lynette enjoys a glass of wine and the odd piece of chocolate as she creates stories where the characters guide her hand. She honestly has no idea how a story will turn out until the characters tell their own tales in their own unique ways.

Social Media Links–Facebook: @authorlynetterees

Twitter: @LynetteRees0

Instagram: @booksbylynetterees

7Newsletter Sign Up:https://bit.ly/LynetteReesNews

Bookbub profile:@romancewriter0Notes

Sunday, September 7, 2025

Her Amish Refuge

What a blessing! I just discovered a new author. And I loved her book.

Florene has made a mess of her life. She has lost all hope. And today she just may die.

But GOD was there with her. The gentle giant, Gil, found her and brought her to his home. And with time, she felt she belonged there.

Florene was trying to figure out what to do next. Could she go home? Will she be shunned?

We all have ups and downs in our lives. During those times we have choices. We can hold on to our faith and pray for strength, healing or peace. Or we can turn away from GOD and continue making a mess of our lives. It appears to be an easy choice. But not always.

Thank you to Ms. Wright for allowing me to read an early copy of this story.

#Amish

#blog

AUTHOR

Pamela Desmond Wright grew up in a small, dusty Texas town. From the time she learned to read, books have been her passion. A veteran of the e-book revolution of the late ’90’s, Pamela moved into traditional publishing, writing in the paranormal and adult romance genres for Kensington and NAL/Penguin. Nominated 2 times, she won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2010. Pamela was also a founder of the scam publishers and agents website, The Write Connection, which was transferred to the SFWA through (then) vice-president A.C. Crispin to become Writer Beware. She currently writes Amish romance for Harlequin Love Inspired, crafting heartfelt stories where characters face life’s challenges with courage and grace.

www.pameladesmondwright.com

Find Pam on Social Media @pamdwrites Facebook/Twitter/Instagram

Saturday, September 6, 2025

The Search For The Shadow Cat

About the Book

Book: The Search for the Shadow Cat

Author: Kurt Mahler

Genre: Magical Realism Fantasy

Release Date: October 20, 2025

Venture into a lush, mystically supercharged natural world where the fate of an entire animal kingdom hangs in the balance in The Search for the Shadow Cat, the captivating third installment of the Jaguar Oracle series.

After a long absence from the Rio Grande Valley, the majestic jaguar named Oracle returns for a perilous quest to restore the three feline tribes—bobcat, ocelot, and long-lost jaguarundi: the “shadow cat.”

With Patch the raccoon, Plod the horse, Bog the toad, and the child named Miracle, Oracle navigates a richly-drawn landscape, pressing through pain and perplexity to rediscover ancient wisdom that will awaken creation, from a jabber of green jays to secretive turtles to trees holding on to treasured knowledge. Along the way, Oracle finds an unexpected ally in a conflicted young entrepreneur, while a hermit holds the key to unlocking the jaguar's destiny.

Blending magical realism, mythology, and environmental advocacy, this pulse-pounding adventure will captivate readers with its tale of courage, honor, and the power of reclaiming our forgotten roots.

Book Excerpt

I’m not dominated…I’m safe. I’m invited. I can hope again…And who knows but that the beauty I’ve seen, in the absence of anything good or true, might just go ahead and do the work of all three. Now…get out of my way!”

And with that, Gem closed her eyes and threw herself beak-first at the frigid image of the spirit. The mask shattered, the air became instantly warm, and all that remained was a distant howling. Whether it was the spirit, the weather, or both, Gem could not tell. Hovering in the air, she panted as she recovered in the space of silence the shattering created.

From beneath the branches of the sweet acacia, a summer tanager emerged. “Thank you,” she sang in her robin-like way. “I thought winter had come early—but look, instead, a laughter from a future spring! See how the sweet acacia blooms!”

The bright yellow blossoms of the sweet acacia sang their presence from a lone branch near Gem, radiating a joy that eclipsed the bleak moment a second before. The tanager gave the green jay hackberries from her cache, and in the strength of that food, Gem hastened on her way.

Excerpts:

Excerpt One: https://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Two: https://www.guildmaster97.com/posts/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-epic-book-launch-and-excerpt/
Excerpt Three: https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Four: https://www.fictionbooklover.com/posts/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Five: https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/2025/09/06/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-by-kurt-mahler/
Excerpt Six: https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-search-for-shadow-cat.html
Excerpt Seven: https://nannie3.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-search-for-shadow-cat.html?m=1

About the Author

Kurt helps those who built someone else’s dream finally build their own.

As a speaker, advisor, and award-winning poet, he draws from twenty years of lived experience in forty nations.

He is a sought-after voice on five continents, advising expats in places as challenging as Cuba, Persia, and North Korea. He has published multiple books , hundreds of articles, and well-respected poetry.

Kurt and his wife Karen have been married since 1993 and raised their family in Afghanistan, where they founded a community development agency. They are Americans living in the Emirates with ties to the Gulf Coast, the Rio Grande Valley, Central Texas, Louisiana, and New England.

He writes in the poetic tradition, inspired by the wonder of creation, the mysteries of the Ancient Faith, and the drama of the nations. Guiding sources for his work include the Hebrew prophets, the Desert Fathers, Dante, Milton, George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien.

Monday, August 25, 2025

The Pretender

Wanda E. Brunstetter has a special place in my heart after meeting her a few years ago. I have been reading her books for quite a few years. And this new story wraps up the three book set. This new book is Book 3 of the Middlin County Mystery.

Rosa has found herself in a mess. And Anthony says he'll help her out and takes a couple of weeks off at his parents' restaurant. Two weeks landed up being a few weeks more as Anthony found himself sick or injured.

Forgiveness is one of the main themes. Can Rosa forgive others as well as herself? Will her sister admit her own mistakes and ask for forgiveness? Can Anthony's father and Rosa's father relax and forgive?

The Great Pretender is being not really who you are. Rosa, Susan and Anthony were not the people they appeared to be. You had to look beyond their acts.

I enjoyed this story. Another hit!

Thanks, Wanda’s Clippity Clop Club!

#blogspot

https://youtu.be/3oS3nIX8nok?si=clMu8gzQAed2Q4H9

Sunday, August 24, 2025

The Teacher

I'm not one to read books like this. I kept seeing this author's name. I was curious. My step-daughter sent me some of her books, and I picked this one up at a resale shop.

Well, oh my! I was reading this book fast and furious. I was enthralled. I loved it. I couldn't believe how it caught my interest.

Great story. Couldn't believe the ending!!

The Marriage Masquerade

1906. Noah, a ship captain, suffered a great loss. His guilt weighed heavily on his mind. On top of that, his father insisted he marry someone he didn't know. He must leave now before it is too late.

Anastasia felt trapped after her father told her she must marry a stranger. No way. She hatched a way to escape.

It turned out to be quite an enjoyable story. There were a few secondary characters that you can't help to adore. Seriously almost all the characters were wonderful. Okay. One was not so nice.

The location, a lighthouse, was perfect for me. I love lighthouses. I live in Michigan. the Great Lakes State, so I've seen a few.

I received this book to review from Celebrate Lit to review.

#blogtour

About the Book

Book: The Marriage Masquerade

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 8, 2025

A disgraced captain and a runaway heiress—hiding from the past and bound by fate—will their marriage masquerade lead to true love?

Noah Kennebrae, disgraced ship captain, has escaped to a remote lighthouse to avoid his grandfather’s schemes and the ghosts that haunt him. Taking a job under an assumed name, he’s determined to start over—until he meets Annie Fairfax. The feisty housekeeper’s warmth and spirit captivate him, and he falls for her despite his best efforts. But he’s keeping secrets that could destroy her trust…and his chance at redemption.

Desperate to escape the calculating grasp of her father, Anastasia “Annie” Michaels flees home to become the unlikely housekeeper on an isolated island. Working incognito at the lighthouse, she finds solace in her newfound independence and unexpected friendship with Nick. However, as their relationship deepens, Annie’s fear of abandonment resurfaces when she learns the truth Nick has been hiding.

Caught in a marriage masquerade of their own making, Noah and Annie must navigate secrets, lies, and painful pasts in hopes of a future together.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

More from Erica

I love a hidden identity story! And in the case of The Marriage Masquerade, both the hero AND the heroine are hiding their true identities.

The Marriage Masquerade features Noah, who is running from the guilt of a mistake he feels he made that lost both a Great Lakes ship and several lives. Anastasia Michaels is running away from an arranged marriage.

They both flee to a remote lighthouse on the North Shore of Lake Superior, he as an assistant lighthouse keeper and she as a housekeeper and cook.

The lighthouse in The Marriage Masquerade is based directly upon the Split Rock Lighthouse, one of my favorite places to visit along the North Shore. Situated on a cliff high above the lake, Split Rock is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.

When I first visited this exquisite place, I fell in love. And when I fall in love with an historical site, I need to know as much of the history of the place as I can. Several of the incidents that occur at the fictional lighthouse in the story come directly from the history of Split Rock.

Filtering liquid mercury, polishing the Fresnel lens, hiding dishes in the oven when the inspector comes, and other happenings in The Marriage Masquerade actually happened in the real lives of the lightkeepers at Split Rock.

Noah and Anastasia’s story is a forced proximity romance, with a dash of hidden identity, redemption, and learning to stand on your own two feet. I hope you’ll enjoy their journey from fearful, guilt-ridden characters to healed through love, confident, and ready to embark on a lifelong journey together.

If you would like to learn more about Split Rock and see glorious photos of this picturesque site, check out: https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock

Blog Stops

Pens Pages & Pulses, August 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 12

She Lives To Read, August 13

Fiction Book Lover, August 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Devoted Steps, August 14

Melissa’s Bookshelf, August 14

Life on Chickadee Lane, August 15

Texas Book-aholic, August 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 17

Devoted To Hope, August 17

For Him and My Family, August 18

Simple Harvest Reads, August 18 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Books You Can Feel Good About, August 19

Inklingsandnotions, August 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 20

Inkwell Inspirations, August 20

Artistic Nobody, August 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Blossoms and Blessings, August 21

Little Homeschool on the prairie, August 22

Vicky Sluiter, August 22

An Author’s Take, August 23

Books Less Travelled, August 23

Holly’s Book Corner, August 24

Pause for Tales, August 24

Jeanette’s Thoughts , August 25

Jodie Wolfe, August 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erica is giving away the grand prize 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/00adcf54276

Friday, August 22, 2025

A Match for the Amish Teacher

Single.

Amish.

Decent job as a teacher.

Handsome.

These are all the reasons David was one eligible bachelor. The single women were coming out of the woodwork. Plus there was a lot of matchmaking going on.

David had other ideas. He didn't want to court anyone. He didn't plan to marry anyone. He just wanted to be the best teacher he could be.

An event was coming up and he knew what was going to happen. But he had other ideas. He invited his correspondent, Anna, as his date. This had to stop all the matchmaking.

What a cute story. I loved it. The characters were likeable and relatable. I particularly loved Sami. A young girl who really knew what was going around in her community.

#blog

#Amish

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Match-Amish-Teacher-Dreams-Prince-ebook/dp/B0DWV5YZ79

About the author

Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author, Amy Grochowski's appreciation for the Amish faith and way of life stems from six years of living and working with a Beachy Amish family, as well as her own Anabaptist roots. After a nursing career of over twenty years, Amy is now fulfilling her long-awaited dream as an author of inspirational romance. She lives in the bustling foothills of North Carolina with her husband and two sons, one of whom has autism spectrum disorder. Learn more at amygrochowski.com or follow Amy on Facebook.

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Wedding Bells For The East End Library Girls

Three very different women who work together at the local library. They are dedicated to serving their customers. It's not always easy especially when their beloved library is destroyed by a bomb.

I have enjoyed getting to know Cordelia, Mavis and Jane. Cordelia is the boss. And she's a great one. She goes out of her way to care for her staff and the community she works and lives in.

Jane's self confidence needs a boost. Mavis has a secret. Cordelia prays her fiancée comes home safe.

I've read the complete series and enjoyed every one.

#rararesources

#blogtour

Wedding Bells for the East End Library Girls

The library girls are determined to keep their community’s spirits high.

With their beloved library damaged by bombing, they’ve found a temporary home in the local school, but they long to return to the place they love.

Mavis’s wedding should be a time of joy, but beneath the celebrations, she carries a secret. Determined to stay strong, she refuses to dampen the happiness of those around her.

Jane is finally stepping into the life she deserves. After years of self-doubt, she is beginning to find her confidence and – with the support of her two best friends – perhaps even an opportunity she

never thought possible.

And for Cordelia, hope is also on the horizon. As the war winds down, her partner Robert may finally return from Africa. For the first time in a long time she is looking forward to a future filled with love and joy. But dare she dream of more wedding bells?

A heartwarming and uplifting story of resilience, love and the power of friendship, perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Elaine Roberts, and Lesley Eames.

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

Author Bio –

Patricia McBride is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books as well as numerous articles.

She loves undertaking the research for her books, helped by stories told to her by her Cockney mother and grandparents who lived in the East End. Patricia lives in Cambridge with her husband.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @patriciamcbrideauthor

Instagram: @tricia.mcbride.author

Newsletter Sign Up: bit.ly/PatriciaMcbridenews

Bookbub profile: @patriciamcbride1

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Samantha Price- Amish Widow's First Love

I loved loved loved this story. I've read quite a few of her books but this one stands out to me.

This book has valuable lessons between the pages. God certainly has a plan for you. Love appears when you least expect it to. People can change. And there is hope even after difficult times.

Yes, this is all in one book.

Nadine and Ned was able to find happiness. And I spent an enjoyable night getting to know them.

I received this book from the author to review.

#blogspot

#SamanthaPrice

Samantha Price

Samantha Price is a USA Today bestselling and Kindle All-Star author of Amish fiction. She is best known for the Amish Bonnet Sisters series and the Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries series. When not writing, she loves having fun with her seven grandchildren, her dog, and her rescue cat who thinks he's a dog.

Saturday, August 9, 2025

The Orphan's Promise

Okay. Fifty eight chapters. I knew I had to read this as my review is due in a few weeks. How was I to finish this in time? Well, I started last night and I just finished tonight. I couldn't put it down. I barely gave myself time to ear.

Yep. I loved it. The story kept my interest to the very last page. It was unpredictable. I had my "OH MY" moments.

I loved Rose. She was caring and loving. Her relationship with the maids, the cook and the butler was touching. They became her family. Now her relationship with her Aunt was a different story. The fights that they had were numerous and loud. And eventually it lead to more serious consequences.

A great book. I loved it. I loved every single page.

I received this book to review from Boldwood.

#rararesources

#blogtour

The Orphan's Promise

A legacy of lies, a promise of love...

Orphaned at a young age, Rose Hamilton can barely remember a mother’s warmth or a father’s protection. Instead, she has endured the cold, loveless rule of her embittered Aunt Win, a woman who seems to take pleasure in making Rose’s life as difficult as possible. The only comfort Rose has ever known comes from the loyal household staff—Jackson, the butler, Mary, the cook, and Katy, the housemaid—who have become the family she never had.

But as her twenty first birthday draws near, Aunt Win is determined to see Rose married off—to any man who will have her. Rose, spirited and independent, refuses to be bartered away like chattel and makes a promise to herself – she will only ever marry for love.

As Rose fights to take control of her own future, she stumbles upon a long-buried secret—a revelation so shocking it threatens to unravel everything she has ever believed about her past, her family, and even herself. And when a connection sparks with a man her aunt vehemently opposes, another promise takes root within Rose – to wait, no matter the cost, for the hand her heart truly desires.

Can Rose uncover the truth before it’s too late? Or will her aunt’s scheming change the course of her life forever?

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

Author Bio –

Lindsey Hutchinson is a bestselling saga author whose novels include The Workhouse Children. She was born and raised in Wednesbury, and was always destined to follow in the footsteps of her mother, the multi-million selling Meg Hutchinson.

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lindsey-Hutchinson/100031928935691/

Twitter: @LHutchAuthor

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

Bookbub profile: @LindseyHutchinson

Hunting for a Husband

Joe gave up hoping for a future. His future had four wheels.

Leah always dreamed of meeting her future husband. Her family was "Hunting for a Husband" for her. She soon could be called an old maid.

You never know when you can find love. It happens when you least expect it. Leah found Joe attractive. Now all she needed to do was convince him that they could have a future together.

I enjoyed the story. It is not often a main character has physical disabilities. Joe was more than an Amish man in a wheelchair. He was the husband Leah was hunting for. How can she convince him, too?

I received this book from Celebrate Lit to review.

#blogtour

#CelebrateLit

#MindySteele

About the Book

Book: Hunting for a Husband (The Heart of the Amish Book Nine)

Author: Mindy Steele

Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction

Release Date: July, 2025

Love Is the Bull’s-Eye Leah Aims For

Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.

Ten years ago, Joe Shetler took a leap, and it cost him his ability to walk. Accepting that this is God’s will for him, Joe finds his independence running Shetler Outdoors, an archery and outdoors shop.

Leah Wickey moves to Kentucky where her father has set up a deer farm. With a strong desire to marry, she soon sets her sights on Joe who, despite his disabilities, has determination and an easy way about him. A sticky situation finally affords the opportunity for a friendship to form between them.

When the Wickey’s prize buck attracts attention in the community—and attempted poachers—Leah is caught in the crosshairs, and Joe’s fears of inadequacy haunt him when he fails to protect her. A future once bright has dimmed.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Mindy Steele was raised in Kentucky timber country and has been writing since she could hold a crayon against the wall. Steele writes Amish Romance peppered with just the right amount of humor, as well as engaging Suspense, using rural America and the residents as her muse. Steele strives to create realistic characters for her readers and believes in engaging all the senses to make you laugh, cry, hold your breath, and root for the happy ever after ending. A hopeless romantic, with a lyrical pen, Steele wants her readers to find themselves somewhere within her pages. A mother of four and grandmother to a half dozen blessings, Steele enjoys hiking and gardening, coffee indulgences and weekend road trips, and is personally doing all she can to make peanut butter its very own food group.

More from Mindy

The Story Behind the Story

I love thinking outside the box and crafting a story filled with originality as well as taking the common trope and hijacking it to suit my own reading interest. Thankfully readers do too as they continue buying my books. However, none of what I create is mine to claim, as God continues to spark my imagination in the ordinary every day. Hunting for a Husband started with a chance encounter, a few God winks, and ended with lots of research on my part.

Long story short, my husband was commissioned to work on an all-terrain vehicle for a Mennonite gentleman who was disabled. His condition didn’t allow him to drive a vehicle, and his livelihood was quite unique. This gentleman owned and operated an outdoor shop with archery being the center of the focus. Before this book was released he sold the business, but the echoes of his many years remain.

I had the opportunity to meet him. He was funny, informative, and had a beautiful wife and family. I never crossed over to asking his story. It’s his story after all, but everything about the encounters struck a chord in my writer’s brain.

Fast forward a year when I came across an article about deer breeding farms. Don’t ask. You have to be married to an avid hunter to understand why some things pique my interest. And we do have a few deer farms locally. Discovering one of the most well-known deer farms belongs to an Amish gentleman surprised even me.Again, all these little bits collected in my head. It wasn’t until I learned of an Amish man who aligned bows and was an avid hunter that I realized I needed to stop sitting on these thoughts and start writing them.

Thus, the Wickey deer farm was born. This story took me across four state lines, a short novella, and a very detailed and informative conversation with a surgeon!

The Wickey deer farm was first introduced to readers in Leaving Lancaster, a short novella in A Lancaster Amish Christmas. Readers fell in love with the three Wickey sisters, and though the plot twist appealed to readers, Leah deserved to find the same love as her sisters. She wasted so many years on the wrong man. Joe Shetler, after years of accepting his future was set by one boyhood mistake, needed to learn that God is the Author of our lives.

I hope you smile, laugh, and find yourself immersed within these pages of second chances, leaps of faith, and the power of friendship and family.

Mindy